<i>"It is done," The looming figure took a step away from the rubble, but the smaller one didn't budge. "It is done," he repeated, though this time in a more commanding tone that earned him a side glance from the one he was with. The wood was still smoldering and three dark shapes lied burnt and disfigured among the remains of the home. Without having to repeat himself a third time, his companion turned their back wordlessly. If they didn't move quickly, they would be discovered. <br/>
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"You must hold no remorse for those who have wronged you. Let that be a lesson." The threat was hidden well within the words, but it terrified the younger of the two. Their eyes were kept downcast as they left the remnants of their fury. Not even two hours later, there were shouts coming toward them in the dark. The glow of torches started to illuminate their cloaks. The apprentice looked back to see several men following them. </i><br/><br/>And from that point, all she could remember was the numbing pain of fire. Eba awoke from a short spell of sleep, and noticed that the carriage was already miles away from where she last remembered it being. The driver was unfazed by her stirring and continued to guide the horses along the road. They were directly underneath the sky rather than a canopy of trees this time. She fixed her position on the bench to look behind. She had to lean to see around the carriage. All of the guards were still marching in their places, stone faced and unblinking. How much farther until they reached the gate? She didn't want to keep this up anymore. Eba wanted to stretch her legs. But the Lady - whom she hadn't seen since the day before departure - explicitly demanded that her Drow not tire out. She had referred to Eba as 'precious cargo.' and the term made her feel all sorts of horrible things.<br/><br/>She turned back around to face forward. In front of the pair of horses that pulled the carriage were two male archers on their own horses. Beyond them on the horizon was that famous wall, standing in all its grand excellence. Eba's eyes widened some and she turned to the driver of the carriage.<br/><br/>"Sir Gius, may I please walk the rest of the way? My legs are stiff."<br/><br/>"Absolutely not," the man bellowed as he adjusted his seat. "The words of the Lady remain."<br/><br/>"But-"<br/><br/>"Final."<br/><br/>Eba thought she would be able to get the kind man to let her off for the short amount of remaining time. But his loyalty was to his Lady, not her exotic young maid. Eba wrapped her headscarf more snug around her head. The bandages on her hands made it hard to feel the fabric correctly.<br/><br/>She then felt herself nodding off again as the carriage party grew closer to the divide. But she didn't let herself sleep again. She thought that if she was allowed to walk along with the guards, that she would actually be less tired. Unfortunately, she jolted awake when the carriage came to a sudden halt. The horses were breaking the dirt beneath their hooves and the wall stood over them, casting a menacing shadow. Eba shook her head and gently slapped her cheeks. She cursed herself. It was then that she noticed Gius was no longer sitting beside her, and was conversing with the two guards at the lavish, weathered gate. This was her chance.<br/><br/>She turned to her right to step off of the bench, but her path was blocked by a guard's stocky body. She could climb over his shoulders, or go forward, but that would be absurd. She looked to her left and sure enough there was another guard on the other side. Gius must have thought ahead. And when he came back, the guard on his side moved and he hulled himself up. Eba's attention snapped forward as the grind of steel rang out. The gate was opening and the two archers proceeded, followed by Gius and the carriage and the Lady's guards.<br/><br/>A light shiver came over Eba as they crossed over. After a moment, the cart stopped again, and Eba wasted no time pushing herself off the bench. Gius tried grabbing her arm or the back of her cloak, but wasn't able to get a grasp on her. She bent her knees when her feet hit the ground, and that stiffness was soon relieved. Though when she straightened her legs, she found herself looking down at a goose that was also staring up at her. She took a step back and then noticed a man on a stone bench. Gius then stood from his seat, continuing to hold the reigns.<br/><br/>"Brock? Are my eyes deceiving me?" Gius bellowed, keeping firm hold of the reigns. He seemed to be referring to the man who was once sitting on the stone bench.<br/><br/>Eba looked up, not realizing that she had backed up to the point of being against one of the carriage wheels.