When Lara left the village, the sun had disappeared from the west, and a black veil shrouded the entire landscape; thick and quiet, interrupted only by the whisper of wind brushing through the trees. Shadows stretched and danced along the path like restless spirits, but they were lucky the moon gave off enough light to guide them, its silver glow filtering through the branches overhead.
By the time the carriage pulled into Narra Alley, Reya was already outside the gate. Her shoulders sagged with relief the moment she saw the familiar outline of Lara stepping down. She leaned forward, squinting into the night to confirm it was really her, and exhaled sharply, like someone had just released her from a long-held breath.
Lara's heart warmed. Reya, her maid, was standing in front of the gate, her expression reminiscent of a worried mother waiting for her troublesome daughter to go home.
