It was scorching; the sun hung high in the sky. A week had passed since their daring escape from the clutches of their masters. The journey had been fraught with peril, yet miraculously, they hadn't lost anyone along the path to freedom. Leena, once a scribe in servitude, now led this band of escapees. Her knowledge of the terrain, gleaned from her time as a scribe, became instrumental in orchestrating their flight. The sandstone mountains loomed ahead, treacherous and unforgiving; they dared not use the road, for it was a risk too great.
"Leena, are we nearing the pass?" questioned Akil, a former slave from the forges of Meereen.
"Yes, we are close. We should reach it within a day" Leena assured him.
"Good. Our supplies are dwindling, and foraging is becoming too perilous" sighed Akil, a palpable relief on his face.
"Once we reach the pass, everything will be fine. We'll be led to the promised land, where we can live free for the rest of our lives" Leena declared with fervent zeal.
With a nod, Akil went to inform the others, while Leena retreated into her thoughts. Before her stood a diverse group of people, each having known only a life of servitude. It was her duty to ensure their safe journey to the promised land.
Their eyes gleamed with hope a feeling foreign to slaves in these lands. They followed a rumor, a legend, risking everything on the mere possibility that it might be true. Yet, doubt and fear lingered beneath the surface of their hopeful gazes.
"No," Leena thought, pushing away her own uncertainties. "Not now, not when we're so close."
A distant sound interrupted her thoughts—the hooves of horses. Turning to the approaching scouts, she anxiously inquired, "Erdil, is the path safe? Any trouble?"
"We're being followed. The masters have sent their hunters after us" Erdil reported.
"Damn it" Leena muttered. The hunters, a new organization spawned in response to the escalating escapes,they were closing in. Why now she thought, why now when freedom seemed within their grasp?
Panic spread through the camp as the news reached them. Leena knew she had to take control immediately.
"Listen to me! ...LISTEN!" she shouted, trying to rise above the chaos. Slowly, the voices quieted.
"By now, you've heard we're being pursued. We've come too far to let our past shadows catch up. Our journey is not easy, but it's one we chose together. The promised land awaits, and we won't let the masters' dogs turn us away."
A murmur of agreement rippled through the group. Leena's words reignited the fire of determination and hope.
"Remember why we chose to escape. We chose freedom over chains, hope over despair. Today, we face a new challenge, but we face it together."
As the distant sound of hooves grew louder, the group remained undeterred, focused on Leena's words.
"The great liberator awaits. He shall save us, deliver us to the promised land, and lead us in his Holy crusade to free our brothers and sisters. This is why we must endure."
The air crackled with newfound resolve, and cheers erupted.
"Come, my brothers and sisters! The father of freedom awaits us!"
Leena led the masses forward to the mountain pass. They moved swiftly, but the hunters were closing in. Her resolve was melting away as she heard the thunder of hooves closing in.
"They are getting closer!" Akil yelled terrified.
As Leena prepared to accept her fate, doubt crept in. Had she displeased the great liberator? Maybe it was all a ruse, a cruel joke played by their masters a game for their entertainment.
Just as despair threatened to consume her, hooves thundered from the opposite direction. A large contingent of horsemen sped toward them, arrows flying at the hunters. Clad in leather armor they made their way to them.
"We were on a routine patrol when one of the our scouts spotted you," explained one of the horsemen. "It's good that we did. We shall escort you to Haven."
Relief washed over Leena as doubt evaporated. The horsemen sped past, dealing with the hunters. They were saved their suffering was at an end.
"Thank you. You've saved us all" Leena said to the horseman.
"Don't thank us. It's our duty. This is the largest group of escapees so far." he said with a smile "Let's not wait around; we must move to the pass. It'll be a day until we reach the first village." he said with urgency lacing his voice.
"I understand, We shall follow you" Leena replied with a relieved and grateful smile. They were safe; everything would be alright.