I WILL FIND YOU.

Chapter 79: Blood

After their little scare caused by Kai's sneeze the next couples days went by peacefully. Kai didn't sneeze again and Minda was able to recover from their soirée. The journey also led them along a road that travelled through an old forest. As they rode along Kai chatted with Minda about some of the differences between where Minda grew up at the Capital and the North they were headed towards.

"It's getting dark. Why hasn't the General told everyone to set up camp yet?" Minda asked.

"I can't say for sure but the campsite he chose might be further away or he might have decided to make up for lost time by traveling into the night."

"I thought it was dangerous to travel at night?"

"It can be." Kai said.

He didn't want to worry Minda but there were several reasons the General might decide to continue moving forward. Most were because he felt it was too dangerous to stop, others were because he had a place he needed to be.

Wondering which reason it could be Kai looked around. His instincts had dulled but after days on the road he was feeling a lot more vigilant. After a quick glance around he noticed Houtian chatting with Daniu at the back of the caravan with serious faces.

"Not good, something is up." Kai mused. While he looked around for more clues Kai wrapped his arm around Minda's waist. He wanted to be ready for anything.

The speed of the cart ahead of them increased. Needing to keep of with them Kai snapped the reigns to get the horses to speed up. The change surprised Minda. He grabbed Kai's arm that was firmly placed around his waist.

"Honey, what's going on?" Minda asked. Even he could see that something was wrong.

"It will be okay." Kai said his eyes scanning the surroundings for any warning signs. Sadly his words did little to calm Minda's mind. Like Kai, Minda started looking around. He didn't see any danger or things to be suspicious of aside from the serious looks on everyone's faces and the sudden rush.

Kai wanted to hide Minda away inside the carriage like the last time there was trouble. But unlike previously Minda was sitting up front and they were moving too fast for him to move to the back safely. He could only hope they weren't attacked until they came to a safe stop.

Things were moving quick. Minda held tight, dizzy from everything going on around them. The enemy hadn't appeared yet but the air felt heavy.

"MinMin, I'm sorry." Kai suddenly said. Minda didn't understand. He tried to ask but before he could Kai grabbed him and threw him inside the carriage.

"Ow!" Minda muttered. Unlike a normal bed the carriage one had very little padding. When he landed on it he was hurt. It wasn't serious but it was enough to cause his eyes to water. He looked up to complain and ask Kai why he was thrown.

Swoosh... Thunk... Thunk... Thunk!

At the door three arrows appeared. Two hit the frame and one of them landed inside the carriage.

"Honey!"

"I'm fine. Get down and don't move." Kai said. Minda trusted him and was ready to believe him but couldn't when he saw a piece of Kai's gray robe hanging from one of the arrows.

"He's hit." Minda thought. He desperately wanted to check Kai. He headed for the door. He wasn't worried about getting hit he just needed to know that Kai was okay.

Kai was busy driving the carriage. Despite the attack they kept moving forward. General Lei had a plan and the best place to achieve success was further ahead. Minda reached forward over the chairs to grab the doorway when they hit a bump. The carriage shook. Minda fell to the floor and hit his head with a heavy bang on the way down.