Araman

~ 25 ~

   Lozni was right that Unisayan travelled much faster than a horse. Raliena paid close attention now to how far they had travelled into the Canah, and relished the feeling of the wind whistling past her ears, and the trees fading past her.

They travelled for the rest of the day and through the night again with ease, neither needing to sleep or eat much. The Unisayan had far more energy and stamina than a horse. They arrived at the main road just before sunrise. Raliena gently halted Eni and turned him back into the forest, keeping out of sight as they followed the road.

Soon they spotted the carriage up ahead that Eni had showed her in the vision but could not see the General. There were no guards around the carriage and it was made to look like an ordinary traveller cart, with one driver and the shadow of a man inside, who was too large to be the General.

"Are you sure this is it?" Raliena whispered to Eni as they watched it through the trees.

The Unisayan snorted at her and stamped his hoof. Raliena rolled her eyes and pulled her hood high over her head, and wrapped her scarf round her nose and mouth so she would not be recognised.

They went ahead of the carriage ready to ambush it, and then Raliena jumped down from Eni.

"I need you to head back to the Lagania for me." Eni bucked his head in protest at Raliena's order. "Please, I need them to reach Verxia quickly and I cannot risk you being seen, you are too conspicuous."

Eni bowed his head in grudging acceptance and Raliena patted his silky neck in thanks then left the Unisayan.

She climbed a tree a similar height to the carriage, and watched as it made steady progress towards her. It had four brown horses pulling it but Raliena could still only see two people, the driver and the large man inside. They must just be delivering the General and the only place she could see that he could be, was one of the two chests attached to the carriage.

Once it was directly beneath her, she jumped down onto the front and knocked the driver out before he knew what was happening, then she pushed him to one side with ease and checked the chest but found nothing, but food and clothes for the journey.

The other chest on the back she knew would be locked and the man inside the carriage would have the key, so she pulled the horses to a stop and climbed down, unsheathing her sword.

"What is it? Why have we stopped?" The courier lent his head out the carriage window to get a better view, but stopped dead when a sword was placed across his neck.

"Ah. I've suddenly got the feeling I've done something wrong!"

Raliena stepped to the side bringing the point of her sword level with his Adam's apple.

"Get out the carriage." She commanded, but he just sat staring at her trying to fathom who she was, he was sure he recognised her from somewhere.

Raliena pressed harder and repeated, "get out the carriage. Now."

He looked at her again then obediently stepped out onto the cold ground.

"You will find no money with this carriage." He said. Raliena's sword stayed on his throat as she used it to guide him to the back of the carriage where the large chest had been attached.

"Your money is not what I am after." Raliena replied. "I am no bandit." She tapped her sword on the lock ignoring his confused expression.

"Open it!" She said. He did as he was told this time, through fear of losing his voice box.

The man took a golden key from his inside pocket and turned it in the brass lock, then replaced both back in his jacket. Indicating with his hand for Raliena to open, he stepped aside.