The Shadow Princess

Chapter 3

Pain. That was Laila's first thought once she woke up. Even before she opened her eyes, she already knew that she must be seriously hurt. She felt that pain in her arm and chest, but she couldn't remember what it happened for to find herself like this. All she could remember was the sound of horses running down the road and the fear of being found. She wondered she would be found by the guards who should already be looking for her, and she regretted that her search for Darius would be over so precociously. Now that she was found, she was already preparing to face her parents and give them explanations. Laila finely managed to open her eyes and found herself in a completely strange environment. She was lying on a bed of straw with sheets and blankets of rustic fabric. Around her there were peeling walls and thatched roof. The cabin seemed to have only one room. On the opposite wall from where she was, she saw a woman in plain clothes, with her back to her, fiddling with the stove. Laila tried to adjust herself better, but the excruciating pain of the movement made her immediately regret it, letting out a groan. The woman at the stove turned to her and walked in her direction, bringing a bowl with water.

– Ah, you finally woke up! How do you feel?

Laila felt terrible. She had never been in a similar situation in her life. Sore and confused, she ignored the question and asked herself:

– Who are you? Where I am? – The effort to speak cost her another stab in the chest.

The girl, apparently the same age as Laila, smiled slightly embarrassed and said:

– My name is Priya. I and some other villagers found you by the roadside, at the bottom of a ravine, all bruised, so we brought you here. Since then, I'm taking care of you, your h... What's your name?

– My name is... Sarah.

– Sarah? - Priya looked slightly surprised. – Nice name! Please tell me what happened to you on the road.

– I don't remember very well ... I was walking, looking for... – Laila hesitated.

– Looking for who?

Laila decided it was best to take the opportunity to ask if anyone in the village had seen Darius.

– A man named Darius. Do you know if he passed through this village?

– I... I don't know any Darius. And I don't remember any traveler with that name. But I can ask the villagers if anyone knows him.

Laila nodded and added:

– Thank you so much for your help.

–s You're welcome. But please rest now. You have two fractures. This takes time to heal. You can stay with me while you recover.

Two fractures! It was no wonder she could hardly breathe and move! Even though she was embarrassed to depend on the assistance of strangers, Laila accepted the offer because, in fact, she would not be able to walk the road anytime soon.

After ten days, Laila was much better and was already able to walk around the hut and, using her good arm, helped Priya with some day-to-day tasks. So, she didn't need to lie down all day, with nothing to do or read, watching Priya come and go and take care of her. Gradually, they got to know each other better. Laila found that Priya lived in the village she had seen in the distance on the night she fell in the ravine. She lived in this hut alone since her mother died and took care of some chickens. She traded the eggs for other products. She also harvested fruit in the nearby forest, and sometimes hunted an animal and sold it. It was a very simple life, which Laila had never known closely, and which she could hardly imagine possible if she were not, herself, living in the same situation. For this very reason, she felt obliged to collaborate with whatever she could. She convinced Priya to accept some coins as a gratitude gift for the kindness and to help cover the extra costs that Laila should be causing her.