Rebirth Of The Duke's Daughter

Chapter 41

ZH found himself at the center of attention, all eyes on him as he casually turned to Mila. "I was thinking of hanging around with your group for a while. You wouldn't mind, would you?" he asked, a playful smile on his lips. His tone was light, but there was an underlying sincerity in his offer.

Sara and Emmett exchanged a glance, their expressions wary. They didn't know much about ZH, and their protective instincts kicked in immediately. Both of them shot him a subtle glare, clearly on guard, ready to defend Mila if necessary.

Mila, however, couldn't help but laugh at the situation. The tension between her loyal companions and ZH was almost amusing, as if they were worried she was about to be swept off her feet into some unforeseen trouble. "Sure," she replied, still smiling. "But you'd better pull your weight if you're going to stick around."

ZH's smile widened, clearly pleased with her response. "Of course," he said, nodding in agreement.

Then, with a thoughtful expression, ZH looked around at the group and asked, "By the way, what do you think will happen when they wake up in the morning and realize their 'workers' are all gone?"

Mila's smile took on a mischievous edge. The thought of the slavers waking up to find their captives gone was satisfying, but she knew they had done enough for now. "It would be amusing to see," she admitted, her eyes sparkling with mischief, "but we've done what we came to do. It's best we keep moving before they have a chance to figure out what happened."
***
The next morning...

A wave of panic and disbelief swept through Wildeford as the townspeople awoke to a shocking sight. "They are all gone!!!!!!!!" Voices rang out, filled with fear and confusion, as everyone realized that every single one of their 'slaves' had vanished without a trace. The normally bustling town was now filled with shouts of alarm as people ran through the streets, frantically searching for any sign of the missing workers.

In the governor's home, the scene was even more chaotic. The governor himself had woken up bruised, beaten, and tied up, lying helplessly on the floor of his own bedroom. He hadn't felt a thing until the moment he opened his eyes to find himself in such a humiliating state. His groans of pain and frustration added to the growing sense of panic that was quickly spreading through the town.

"Find the slaves!!!!!" someone shouted, their voice echoing through the streets.

"They can't have gone far!!!!!" another cried, desperation creeping into their tone.

The townspeople quickly mobilized, sending their best men to search the surrounding areas. They were determined to recapture the slaves, to restore the order they had so ruthlessly maintained. But it was already too late. The sun was higher in the sky than usual; the slavers had overslept, unaware that the ones they considered mere property had used those precious hours to escape to freedom.

As the frantic search continued, one unsettling discovery brought everyone to a halt. In the center of the town, carved deep into the ground with a sword, were the words 'The Messengers of Beasts.' The message was clear, left behind as a final mark of defiance. It was a stark reminder to the people of Wildeford that those who oppressed others would not go unchallenged.

The governor, still bound and humiliated, could do nothing but stare at the words, a mix of rage and helplessness burning in his eyes. The townspeople stood around, whispering in fear and uncertainty, realizing that they had been outsmarted, and their once unshakable control had been shattered.
***
Mila slept soundly, nestled within the warmth of her small camp. Yet, as the night wore on, she began to stir, feeling an uncomfortable heat pressing in from all sides. Vivian, Sara, and Thelma had all snuggled close to her in their sleep, their bodies seeking warmth and comfort.