Chapter 2: Her way home
The four steeds pulled the elegant yet well-fortified carriage, that seemed to fly. It was imperative to reach the mansion before sunset since there were no inns left on the road to travel. So, there could be no delay; not even a minute.
Eight elite knights guarded the expedition: three of them rode in the vanguard, while the other five were following the carriage.
It happened that in Scaz, despite all the measures taken: no traveler was safe, ever. It was true that by royal order more inns had been built in the province to make transit safer, especially on trade routes. However, there were always other obstacles of an unpredictable nature; such as carriage breakages or a horse being injured, among other accidental adversities.
"Oh, we'll be on time, my Nana." – Lynn consoled her traveling companion – "Are you still worried or is that frown because I insisted on riding?"
At Lynn's comment, the older woman rolled her eyes, however, she ended up smiling at the gorgeous girl.
"Please, be reasonable Lynn, you are already nineteen years old. God willing, the night doesn't catch us on these roads. I think we took too much time in that ruined castle you desperately wished to see" - She crossed herself - "Oh dear, I don't even want to think what could happen if..."
"Ah! I can't wait to see my brother and sister, Nana. Snowin and Joshua must have grown up quite a bit..."- Lynn let out, completely ignoring Nana's concerns.
The nanny looked at her raising an eyebrow. Apparently, the young woman was immune to the terror that everyone, who dared travel through those lands suffered. ¿Daring or prided? Daring, she took so much after her father. In Nana's judgment, the young lady was way too bold. ¿Couldn't the young lady take her words seriously for once? Perhaps she was just trying to get Nana out of her concerns. Seeming to consider this possibility, the nanny looked at her suspiciously, although finally, she took the bait:
"Indeed. I hope Mrs. April has done something to mend that little boy's manners. But my girl, there is still a long way ahead..." - The nana continued without being able to avoid worrying about their fate. She was a woman in her mid-fifties, rather unattractive but extremely affectionate and diligent. Her physic contrasted so much with the young lady that traveled at her side.
"Hurry up, coachmen, because Nana is afraid..." - The young woman shouted, sticking half her body out of the carriage window and causing Nana to exclaim in terror - "Seriously, I never intended that to rhyme."
Nana was speechless, Lynn was that unpredictable. So much that Nana would never get used to it. Sometimes the nanny would be shocked and would scold Lynn. On numerous occasions, Nana would end up laughing at the young lady's witticisms.
This time Nana had to end up laughing. However, they had a few hours left before sunset; therefore, once again concern began to show on Nana's face.
Seeing the nanny in such a state, Lynn made a very funny pout before hugging her.
"¿That somber expression again? Do you learn so little from me? Come on Nana, change that face. Life does not allow us to spend time worrying in such a way. Listen to my philosophy: if there is a problem, look for the solution, if you don't have a solution, look for help, and if after all there is no way out, then you have to embrace it and just continue with your life. As the saying goes: if you are smart you will not collide with the same stone twice. I think so... after all, the only thing that has no fix in this life is death."
"¡And may God have mercy on us! What a speech. ¿What kind of logic is that, Lynn? Speaking of worries, your parents must be really worried. They were waiting for us since yesterday..."
"I'm sure they're just fine; after all, we sent them a courier with the news." - Interrupted Lynn - "¡Today we arrive! Think... ¡Think... it's a joy that has been reserved especially for this day!"
Such an observation earned her a serious look from the nanny. At that moment the carriage, which must have hit a rock on the road, moved abruptly: causing all its gears to shudder and grind. The older woman waited for the noise to die down, and when the usual dissonance of the moving wagon returned, she answered Lynn:
"I wonder what they teach in that Academy of yours? Lynn, my dear girl: I can't judge if you are too crazy or if you are too optimistic. Is most likely that you're trying to tease me, though."
In response, Lynn let out a pleasant laugh and spoke, choosing to ignore her friend's opinion:
"Now, that was the kind of stone, I would never want to find again..."
"Oh Lynn" - Nana said - "Luckily we will be sighting Straugh territory very soon."
Just at that moment, while her nanny rolled her eyes, Lynn spotted one of her father's mine. They should be at least eight miles away from home by now.
Suddenly a strange melancholy seemed to take possession of Lynn´s spirit and she remained as if absent. Therefore, very intrigued, the nanny leaned out the window.
"It seems that you are not happy about something..." - She started saying.
"No Nana, it's not that... it's that I felt... I felt something very strange... Maybe I just need to rest." - Saying this, Lynn slid a hand over her face and ended up rubbing her temples.
Worried now, the other woman touched Lynn's forehead and cheeks. The sudden change in her attitude and also the fact of finding the girl in such a state of mind was very unusual.
"¿Are you perhaps sick?" - Nana doubted - "But if no illness has ever taken the smile off your lips. ¿Is something bothering you, Lynn?"
But the young lady seemed hesitant to reply. Rather, she seemed to be concentrating on something.
"Nana... I... ¿Can't you listen to him?"
"¿Who?"
¿And what was there to listen to? The older woman straightened up, beginning to get quite worried until she suddenly looked at Lynn, suspecting that the young woman might be joking again. Nevertheless, she finally gave in to worry:
"Do not scare me, Lynn! I hear nothing but the hooves of the horses and the wheels of the carriage against the road. Please tell me, what you are hearing."
"Nana..."
"Lynn, don't play with me... until a few moments ago... But ¿what is this sudden change? ¿Would you like some water? ¿Does your head hurt? Please don't joke, it's not funny..."
"Someone... he, a voice... is telling me..." - At this point, Lynn began to raise her voice - "¡No, I don't want to hear it...! ¿Is it really inside my head?
Things went from bad to worse. Lynn's face was twitching while she was chewing her lower lip rapidly, over and over again. Then she arched in the seat.
"¡Oh Lynn!" - Nana was pale - "I'm calling the captain."
There was no answer because Lynn didn't seem to hear her, then unexpectedly the young lady stiffened in her seat. Faced with such an action, the nanny paled and crossed herself once again. Her miss was showing a lost look. Then the fear did invade the nanny because, suddenly, the young woman began to writhe in her seat; with her hands, she was frantically covering her ears while shooking her head.
The older woman began to tremble from pure nerves and before touching Lynn, she crossed herself once more. This behavior was too strange and disturbing. The nanny didn't know what to do to help her miss. For a moment she thought about stopping the carriage, but they couldn't afford that luxury because if nightfall came to surprise them on the road: then all of them, would be lost.
Nana, as the Straughs used to call her, had always firmly thought that setting up the family business on the "cursed land" had been a horrible and crazy idea. So, when Mr. Straugh acquired the mines and began the project for the new residence, she almost left the family. However, Nana had worked for the Straugh family since her teens and she was very discouraged from starting over again at this point. She also couldn't get the idea of abandoning Lynn because she loved her like a daughter. As a consequence, Nana ended up following the family to Scaz.
And now here she was, feeling desperate.
"¿Who, what does he tell you?" - Nana asked desperately, not knowing what else to do.
"... Stop the carriage... they'll catch you up..." Lynn mumbled.
That didn't make sense. However, the nanny stopped thinking about the strange words when, unexpectedly, Lynn fell on her seat unconscious. The older woman paled even more, shivering and not knowing what to do. Then, suddenly Nana's face lost all expression; she leaned out the window and, addressing the coachman, she ordered:
"¡Hey! ¡Stop the horses!" – And then, as if talking to herself, she added: - "The horsemen must find us."
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