Return of the General's Daughter-Chapter 23: Trapped in the Mountains

In addition to the neatly folded clothes and shoes, Jethru had packed twenty kilos of rice, ten of which were in each sack. He also included an assortment of spices that would improve the taste of their meals, so it was no wonder the sacks were heavy.

"Grandpa, all these things must have cost you a lot," Reya said, rummaging through the simple but new clothes the old man had given her.

"If I tell, are you going to reimburse me?" Jethru snickered.

Reya: "..."

"Why are you so mean to me, Grandpa?" Reya asked in an aggrieved tone. freewebnσvel.cѳm

"Because it amuses me." Jethru’s teasing grin softened the blow, though it left Reya exasperated.

...

That evening, they shared supper while the sun dipped below the horizon. For the first time in days, they ate rice. To Lara, it felt like the most delicious meal she’d had in ages.

But the warmth of the meal was soon overshadowed by Jethru’s grim announcement. "The situation at the border has worsened," he began, his tone heavy. "Northem has closed the gates to the capital and sent reinforcements to the border. Estalis has also shut down their borders."

"What do you mean, Grandpa?" Reya asked, her face full of apprehension.

"You are trapped here at the moment. The Alta-Sierra mountain range is a no man’s land and the border between Northem and Estalis. Many rebels and the soldiers from both sides have started camping at both sides of Mount Hainai." He added with a serious tone.

Hainai was around 20 kilometers from Ourea. It was one of the mid-rise mountains that form part of the Alta-Sierra.

"In that case, Master, isn’t it more dangerous if we stay here?" Lara asked, studying her master’s expression.

A faint smile tugged at the corners of Jethru’s lips as he regarded his disciple. She possessed a keen intelligence that sparkled in her eyes, making her truly deserving of the knowledge and responsibility he was prepared to hand down. In contrast, her maid, who often chattered thoughtlessly, looked like an idiot. Jethru’s gaze shifted back to his disciple, proud of the potential she held within her.

"How can we go back, Grandpa?" Reya exclaimed, her voice tinged with frustration. Lady Isabella must have been utterly heartbroken without her daughter. And what about the Sandoz? His family might have been desperately searching for him!" She paused, her brow furrowed with concern. "How is my young miss supposed to adjust to living in this unfamiliar place?"

At the mention of his family, Sandoz bowed his head, a shadow passing over his face. Apart from his mother, no one seemed to care about him genuinely. His father, a distant figure who only appeared for birthdays and holidays, felt more like a stranger than a parent. The thought weighed heavily on him, leaving him quiet and withdrawn.

"Let’s keep a close eye on the situation around us. There’s a possibility that conditions may improve, bringing more opportunities for a safer trip. For now, however, it’s crucial to remain where we are; venturing outside poses significant dangers that we must not take lightly."

As Reya paced back and forth, her unease palpable in the air, Lara remained unfazed, a serene smile gracing her lips. Unlike her friend’s restless energy, Lara’s was excited. She saw this moment as a golden opportunity to hone her skills alongside Jethru, the seasoned mentor whose mastery far surpassed any coach she had encountered. The prospect of training with him filled her with excitement.

How could he detect the faint, metallic smell of the snake when the rich, enticing scent of the cooked fish wafted through the air? And how did he possess the uncanny ability to sense that she had been awake the previous night?

That night, Reya lay restless on the unevenly slatted bamboo floor, the coolness of the night contrasting sharply with the turmoil of her swirling thoughts.

Shadows danced across the dim room as moonlight seeped through the cracks in the wall, illuminating her furrowed brows, her heart heavy with unanswered questions.

How long would they remain trapped in this isolated plateau, cut off from the world beyond? The haunting stillness outside only magnified Reya’s worries as visions of a different life tugged at her memories.

"Reya, what’s wrong? You seemed to be lying on pins and needles." Finally, Lara could not take her tossing and blurted her thoughts.

"I am worried about you, Miss. What if we are trapped here for a long time?"

"This place is not bad, Reya. For as long as we have food to it, it shouldn’t be a problem."

"But, Miss, your family might be worried. Your mother will get sick thinking about you. You are the apple of her eyes. And besides, you will miss your Music and Arts lessons. Didn’t you promise your teacher that you will attend no matter what?"

"Go to sleep. You are worrying about trivial things. Let us face the future, one day at a time."

Reya sighed. She was surprised that Lara was not as affected as she was.

In the following days, Jethru busied himself, teaching Lara and Sandoz ancient martial arts skills. Even Reya started training with them. He would train the trio in the morning and fortify their dwelling in the afternoon.

He tasked Lara and Sandoz to dig and carry soil from the Ourea Mountain and dump it on the western side, just in front of the house.

They worked together for a week to complete a raised garden bed one meter high and ten meters long. They reinforced the sides of the garden bed with rocks and tree branches, and then Lara planted bamboo.

While the three were transporting soil between the two mountains, Jethru was busy working on a mechanism to reinforce the bridge. The mechanism allowed the bridge to be lowered from the other end, rendering it unusable.

The old man worried that some rebels or soldiers from either side would accidentally sumble upon their hidden refuge and endanger their lives.

And the two ladies... he shuddered at the thought of what might happen to them given the ruthlessness of the rebels.