บท 30: Another Escape
299 AC, Stoney Sept…
Rody ran into the room but it was empty. He did not idle around and attempted to leave the room to look around. However, he suddenly heard a squeaking coming from behind.
He turned his head to see a head going down the floor. He creased his brows and quickly went to grab the loose plank to reveal a head of blonde hair, holding a dagger with shaking hands.
The fear was apparent in the boy's eyes. And he was accompanied by two women with similar faces. However, one of them had the eyes of determination to survive while the other one had the eyes of a person who gave up on life.
Rody swatted the boy's shaking hands aside and grabbed him from his collar to pull him up. He left the boy lying on the floor while extending his hand again to the hole.
Serena grabbed his hand and pulled herself up. Then, she helped her brother's wife to climb out of the hole. While Rody was helping them out of the hole, the door suddenly opened and Hunter ran in with bated breath and a pale sweating face but as soon as he saw his wife and sister, a relief washed upon his face.
He quickly went to hug them but just as he was going to hug his wife, he stopped as he remembered what his wife lived through. However, his hesitation was broken by his wife as she was the one to hug him with a teary face.
Rody did not want to break their happy reunion but there was no time to waste. "We need to leave the town." He said after grabbing Hunter's shoulder.
Hunter left his wife's embrace and nodded his head. "I know a secret passage which I was using for poaching. No one knows about it so there won't be any other person."
"Is it far?" Rody asked.
"No, it is just at the back of my house." Hunter said.
"Good, you and your sister should pack up some food while me and my brother will grab our things and meet you in your backyard." Rody said while looking at the little boy with a fear stricken face.
Hunter nodded his head and quickly led his sister and wife out of the room into the kitchen while Rody quickly turned towards the prince and said, "Quick, help me to wear the armor."
Seeing the boy was still looking at him with his dumb eyes, Rody slapped him on head to wake him up. "What are you waiting for?! We do not have time for your childish problems."
The prince nodded his head like a chicken and quickly ran to grab Rody's leather armor. He helped Rody to wear it.
Meanwhile, Rody was thinking about what to do with all the weapons he collected. They were all stuffed inside a sack and standing just beside him. However, he couldn't bring them as they would slow him down.
There were at least twenty or so swords, spears and various other weapons. He also did not want to leave it here for those Lannister men to find them.
Then, he remembered the hiding place on the floor. As he was thinking about it, his armor was already on him. He stood up and grabbed the sack, leaning against the wall and threw it inside the open hole before taking two small daggers from inside. He grabbed the plank lying on the side and put it into its place.
When he turned around, he found the prince already in his clothes and ready to leave. He threw one last look around and found nothing amiss.
"Come, let's leave." Rody said and went out of the room with quick steps. He saw Serena running down stairs with a sack in her hands.
"Where is your brother?" Rody asked.
"He needed to take something from his room. He will be coming in a few seconds." Serena said.
"Let me help you then," Rody nodded his head and grabbed the sack from Serena.
Serena went to the table and helped Hunter's wife to leave the house through the backdoor while Rody and the prince followed them out.
Rody could see the flaming houses from a far. The cries of the people were already getting close. From the looks of it, raiders were very good at their jobs. However, one thing he realized was the raiders were getting overboard with their acts.
Generally, when they raid a town, they would kill several people to scare them and steal things from homes. However, this time, they were killing all the people they came across and burning all the houses.
While Rody was contemplating their current situation, Hunter left the house as well. Rody threw Serena's sack over his shoulder and waited for Hunter to lead the way.
Hunter untied his dogs' ropes and led the group towards the edge of the town and into an abandoned shack.
By the time they entered the shack, half of the town was already in flames. There was nothing but a dusty table, a wardrobe and a chair inside. Rody sneezed because of the dust as he watched Hunter pushing the wardrobe to reveal a trapdoor under it.
"It has been a long time since I used this path, let us hope it does not collapse upon us." Hunter murmured while entering inside.
His dogs jumped down without any reservation like they were used to it. Hunter helped his wife and sister to get down first. Then, he helped the prince to descend the ladder. While Hunter was doing that, Rody grabbed the half broken table and turned it down to block the door of the shack.
He did not hesitate any more and got down the ladder and shut the trapdoor behind him. The insides were dark as the night in the far North. Rody could only follow the narrow tunnel by touching the crude wall.
At first, there were still cries coming from the town but soon, the cries left their place to silence the tunnel. Rody did not know how much time had passed since they descended into the tunnel but he was aware their journey in this tunnel was going to last long as from the constant nagging of the boy, he was aware that they were near its end.
He could already feel the fresh air hitting his face. Finally, they reached the end of the tunnel and another trapdoor greeted them. When Rody climbed the ladders, he saw another shack similar to the previous one but in a more fit condition. Even then, the shack was in shambles and it looked like a place that was looted.
"Bastards, they must have raided this place as well." Rody heard Hunter swearing while his dogs barked.
"We cannot stay here, it won't be long before they discover the tunnel." Rody said.
"You are right," Hunter nodded his head with a stern look. "But where will we go?"
"I have a mission to complete," Rody said, putting his hand on the boy's shoulder. "You can come with me, if you want. Traveling alone with two women during these warring times would be difficult."
Rody would not have offered to travel with them if not for the prince not being completely healed yet. He did not know how to look after the boy, if he fell sick once again.
Hunter turned his head and looked at his wife and sister. Then, his eyes looked back to Rody, "I will take up your offer. Let us be on our way, lest we get caught by those bastards. From the look on your face, it will be a long journey."
…
As the sun rose over the war-torn landscape, Rody led the group of five travelers and their two hunting dogs through a dense forest. They had just escaped from the town that was raided through a secret tunnel, and were now headed towards the north of Riverlands. The journey ahead of them was long and treacherous, with danger lurking around every corner.
Rody, with his leather armor and a sword, walked ahead of the group, scanning the surroundings for any signs of trouble. The boy was walking just beside him, a child in fear of the war but trying to be brave. His head was shaved to hide his blonde hair, but it was slowly growing back. He was still healing from the cold he had caught, but he pressed on, determined to reach their destination.
Behind them walked Serena, and her older brother Hunter with his wife. They were accompanied by Hunter's two loyal dogs. He was determined to protect his wife and sister no matter what.
As they walked, they could hear the chirping sounds of the birds. The forest was dense and they had to navigate carefully, making their way through the underbrush and over rough terrain. They traveled for hours. At one point, they came across a small stream where they stopped to rest and drink their fill. They ate some bread and cheese they brought with them, and discussed their plans for the journey ahead.
As the day drew to a close, they found a small clearing where they set up camp for the night. They built a small fire, Rody and Hunter took turns standing watch, making sure no one would sneak up on them while they slept. The dogs curled up beside them, providing warmth and comfort.
The first day of their journey was over, but they knew there were many more challenges to come. They had at least nine more days of travel ahead of them to leave the Lannister controlled region. They settled in for the night, hoping for a peaceful rest before continuing on their perilous journey.
The group awoke the next morning, feeling groggy and sore from the previous day's travel. They quickly packed up their belongings and set out on the road once again. The terrain was rough but they were having a good time. The dogs ran ahead, barking and sniffing at anything that caught their interest.
As they walked, they noticed a group of men on horses in the distance, heading towards the south. They recognized the soldiers as their own, but they were fleeing the area, likely in search of a safer place. Rody signaled for the group to hide, knowing that they couldn't risk being seen. They quickly ducked behind some bushes, watching as the soldiers passed by.
Once the soldiers were out of sight, they continued on their journey, wary of encountering any more groups of soldiers. They traveled for several more hours until they came across a small village that had been abandoned. The buildings were rundown and there were signs of a recent battle. The group searched for any supplies they could use, but they found nothing of value.
As the day wore on, they grew tired and hungry. They found a small clearing where they set up camp for the night. They were hesitant to light a fire, knowing that it could attract unwanted attention. Instead, they ate some of their rations in silence, lost in their own thoughts. Hunter tended to his wife, making sure she was comfortable and warm.
As they settled in for the night, they could hear the distant sounds of skirmishes in the background. They took turns standing watch, scanning the surroundings for any signs of danger. The dogs were restless, barking at every little sound. But despite the unease, they managed to get some rest.
On the third and fourth day, the group continued their journey through the war-torn region, facing various obstacles along the way. They crossed several rivers and streams, climbed steep hills, and navigated dense forests. However, they encountered no other groups of soldiers or any other threats.
On the fifth day of their journey, they finally reached the High Heart, a tall hill that overlooked the surrounding countryside. They climbed to the top of the hill and decided to rest there for the night, taking advantage of the high vantage point to keep an eye out for any danger.
As they settled in for the night, they refrained from lighting any fires, as was their usual practice. They ate some bread and apples that they had gathered along the way, and soon fell asleep.
In the dead of night, Rody was on watch when he heard a voice calling out to him. He turned his head to see an old woman with long white hair, pale flesh, and red eyes. She was no taller than three feet and held a gnarled black cane.
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