Nathan merely nodded, unaffected by her wonder, though he noted the glint of newfound resolve in her eyes. Wrapping a cloth around her head to shield her face from prying eyes, he lifted her effortlessly onto his shoulder. With practiced silence, he moved through the tent's exit, his movements swift and precise as they slipped away into the night.
Astynome clung to him, her thoughts racing as she was carried out of the Greek encampment. With each step, her heart pounded, not just in fear but with a budding sense of freedom and possibility she had never imagined.