Ira was still unconscious, she was not aware of what was happening around her. But she had a weird dream...In her dream, a woman appeared, she had white hair and blue eyes, she placed Ira on her lap as she caressed her silky black wavy hair lovingly.
"Child... Child... Wake up... are you alright? Can you hear me? Child... my precious baby... don"t be afraid... I will always protect you! Now hurry and wake up... there are a lot of people who are waiting for you... Wake up...
Hmm... who are you? I feel like I have seen you somewhere before...
You will know when the time is right. As of now, my child, you must return back to your friends. They are worried sick about you."
Ira felt like she had seen her somewhere before. She felt so tired. Her eyelids were quite heavier as lead. But somehow, those words spoken by that woman was ringing onto her ears. Her voice was smoothing and she felt calm and at peaceful while she was with her.
As per what she said to her, Ira wanted to know whom that woman was talking about. She could hear the faint voice of people talking.
She gradually opened her eyes and looked at those before her.
Shiv was the first one to notice Ira. He jumped towards her and grabbed her hand.
"Ira, Ira, are you awake? Can you hear me?? Ira..."
Ira was still a little sleepy, she was only half awake. She couldn"t understand most of the words he spoke. She tried hard to be awake as she stared at him...
"What? Ira is awake?? Let me see..." Abhinav rushed towards her and took her pulse.
"Everything if fine now.... Her pulse looks normal. It seems like she is half asleep. Good thing that she finally woke up. Once she is completely awake and well, we have to start on with our journey."
Aditya nodded in agreement with Abhinav. They certainly have to reach the hidden village sooner. The sooner they reach, the better it was. They don"t have good security at that village and besides there are only a very few people who could actually fight, taking the villagers into consideration.
If their enemy was to find out about them, it could become a big issue. But no matter what, they had to make sure that Ira was fully cured before they could start.
"Let"s, let her to get some rest. I am sure, she is feeling very tired right now. Let"s come back in a few minutes after discussing with those peasants. If, what she did, was exposed, then certainly there would be a lot of people who would come after her. Before that happens, we must do something..."
Aditya explained to Shiv and Abhinav the current situation with the peasants.
"We can just take them with us as per our original plan right?"
Shiv spoke as he stroked his chin, "We can, but I am not sure whether that would be the correct option in this situation..."
"We originally was at the need of wanting to save them... So we were okay to choose the most dangerous option. But now that the reason is invalid, I personally think it would be the best option for us to leave the peasants behind."
Aditya gave his opinion on the situation at hand.
Veer rushed into the tent as he bore an information with him
"Prince, it"s urgent! Some of the enemy soldiers have been spotted in the north, 900 meters from us."
"They are near... grab all of our things, don"t leave any trace of us here. Abhinav and Aditya go to the people and explain them of the situation immediately and be sure to explain about Ira."
"Yes!" They all took orders from Shiv and acted as he commanded.
Aditya and Abhinav gathered the villagers and explained the situation at hand. They specifically mentioned to them, to keep quiet about the matters regarding Ira. Abhinav went a step ahead and threatened the people...
"If any one of you were to disclose of the matters regarding Ira... be aware that you might all be killed. Not by us, but by them. You all are aware of how cruel they could be right? If you don"t want to lose your life again, be sure to feign innocence. That is the only way for you to save your lives..."
The people felt scared and anxious by his remarks. But somehow they all could sense the seriousness behind his words. Afterall, those people did burn down their entire village, and if it weren"t for these men and that little girl, they all would have been dead... Those people clearly understood that more than anything....
Aditya and Abhinav could sense their affirmation through their eyes. There was no need to speak further.
Shiv carried Ira on his arms as he headed for his horse. Ira was still not fully awake. She looked like she was on a trance.
Veer and Dev prepared their horses and packed up all of their belongings... They both made sure that absolutely everything was taken care of.
The two men brought by Veer and Dev, proposed that they would stay behind and keep those men occupied. They really had no time on their hands. That was the only way they could escape neatly.
But making them stay behind equaled to their deaths...
But that was something a warrior could never avoid...
They both removed their uniforms and disguised themselves as one of those peasants, so that they don"t arise any suspicion.
"Your good work will be praised by the heavens. We will be waiting and praying for both of you to return safely. Thank you and sorry." Shiv doesn"t know what else he could possibly say to those men.
Veer and Dev gave one last farewell to those two men and climbed onto their horses...
"Don"t worry about us. Prince, we are very glad that we were given the opportunity to serve an honorable man like you. Please take care of Lady Ira."
Shiv nodded with a serious look on his face. He and the others rode off without turning back...