The merchant caravan wound its way through the verdant countryside, a snaking procession of wagons and mounted guards that left a trail of dust hovering in the afternoon air. Fields of golden grain gave way to rolling pastures, then dense woodlands that crowded the road on both sides, their ancient boughs creating a dappled canopy of sunlight and shadow.
Inside Merchant Hassim's largest wagon, arranged exactly as promised, a private compartment offered both comfort and discretion for its five occupants. Plush seats lined either side of the spacious interior, while cleverly designed windows provided views of the passing landscape without allowing outsiders to easily peer within.
The seating arrangement had established itself naturally, yet the resulting dynamic was anything but. Litty sat primly on one bench, flanked by Elara and Luna. The former maintained her regal bearing despite her disguise, while the latter observed everything with her characteristic detached interest.
