"Oh no! " Mishak remarked as his face turned ghastly pale.
Layah slowly turned her head around and her eyes fell on the very masculine soldiers looking down at her with no emotion in their eyes. She swallowed hard as this feeling of restlessness struck her yet again. Could she have gotten herself and Mishak in trouble?
She bit her lower lips as she thought and quickly looked at her hand when she felt Mishak grab it.
"What's going on out there?" A deep, displeased voice resounded from within an expensive carriage, pulled by the two white horses in front.
"General, there are some little problems out here. You might want to see for yourself." The soldier, with blonde hair and gray eyes, riding one of the horses dragging the carriage, said, and silence took over.
A few seconds later, the door of the carriage pushed open and someone dressed in a black general uniform with a golden-colored armor walked out.
Layah slowly raised her head only for her eyes to meet with the most unique eyes she had ever seen.
It was golden in color, with little specks of fire-like lights dancing in it.
In her life, this was the first time she had ever seen someone with such eyes. In fact, she never even thought such eyes existed.
Her lashes blinked vigorously and she glanced at his black silky long hair, which stopped at waist length, then to his face, where half of it was covered by a golden-colored mask.
While she was assessing him, the person who was none other than Damien walked down the stairs placed beside the carriage and made his way towards her. He stood in front of her, causing Layah to dart her eyes around in confusion. "Um... what are you doing?" She asked, and Damien's face abruptly darkened in what seemed like a sudden rage.
It was as though he had confirmed what he wanted.
His eyes narrowed vehemently at Mishak, who stood beside Layah, and a slow lethal smile ensued on his face. "We need as many slaves as we can get, don't we?" He asked, and his soldiers nodded in agreement. "General, do you mean we-"
"Yes, they will make good slaves." He said and turned around to walk back into the carriage, but an unknown glint instantly flashed in his eyes and he disappeared, appearing before Layah and Mishak, who had already taken off to escape them.
"Don't try me!" He threatened in a deadly voice, and Mishak swallowed hard, knowing he was not to be messed with.
He grabbed Layah's hand and stepped back to be apprehended by the soldiers.
Layah stared intently at Damien, and deep anger boiled within her. All they wanted was help, and now, instead of giving them help, they want to capture them as slaves. Humph! That is something she will never allow! She will never be anyone's slave!!
She drew her sword immediately after she thought this and proceeded to fight back, but Damien appeared in front of her and hit her on the neck, causing her to collapse to the ground.
Mishak's eyes widened in shock, and he glared at Damien before squatting down to check Layah's breathing. He wouldn't be surprised if he killed her, considering how much of a cruel person Damien was.
"Put them in the cage," Damien instructed his men and walked back, entering the carriage and shutting the door.
The soldiers obeyed his instruction and climbed down from their horses. They moved towards them and gripped Mishak by the arms, dragging him late to the cage. Then they lifted the unconscious Layah from the ground and carried her towards the cage.
They locked the two of them in there and returned to mount their horses, moving ahead afterward.
An hour had passed since the journey, and Layah, who had been unconscious since, finally awoke. She rubbed her aching neck and turned to glance at Mishak, who was looking drained.
"Mishak." She called him, and Mishak turned to look at her, a half-smile on his lips. "You're awake." He said, and she nodded her head at him. "What happened and where are we?" She inquired, on realizing that they were locked within a cage dragged by horses.
"They imprisoned us and currently they are taking us back as slaves," Mishak replied, and her eyes blinked rapidly. "What do you mean? Who are they? Why are they taking us as slaves? We only asked for help, didn't we?" She asked in a panicked tone, and Mishak grabbed her hand to calm her down. "It's okay. We will be fine. They only seized us because we are from the Ducrya empire," he said, and Layah's brows arched in confusion. "Because... we are from the Ducrya empire?"
"Yes. Didn't you see their uniform? They are soldiers of the Tecren empire. And since the two empires are enemies, it's no surprise they seized us." He explained, but still confused, Layah's brows furrowed. "But... how did they know we are from the Ducrya empire? I am sure nothing tells that or is there?"
"Yes, there is. It is me." Mishak replied, and her eyes fluttered furiously. "What do you mean?"