Caravan

The next morning, Sae approached us, arms crossed and face unreadable.

“I can’t keep you here much longer,” she said, her voice firm but not unkind. “There’s a caravan coming through in a few days. Once I’ve settled things with the traders, I’m heading back to Nala.”

She looked at Yun, eyes sharp. “From the looks of it, you two were heading west. Heading to the capital?”

Yun lifted his chin and nodded. “My uncle lives there.”

“If you are planning to follow the river it will take more than three days on foot. The caravan is headed out that way, it would be safer if you went with them. You have coin?”

Sae turned to me, her voice flat. “What do you plan to do when you get there? The boy’s family won’t know what to do with a one-eyed girl.” I stiffened, but she didn’t stop. “It’ll be hard to marry you off looking like that.”

Yun stepped forward. “Minah will be safe with me.”

Something about the way he said it—like I needed saving—made my blood boil.

“Yun, be quiet.”

I didn’t want his protection. And maybe… maybe Sae was right.

I was broken.

“Stay here.” she said, looking at me. I was confused by her words.

I wasn’t sure how to respond. Then she continued.

“I heard you saw the moon bear?”

I nodded.

With that she left us there feeling like we were rooted to the ground.