Chapter 23: Trapped in the Mountains
In addition to the neatly folded clothes and shoes, Jethru had packed twenty kilos of rice, ten of which were in each sack. He also included an assortment of spices that would improve the taste of their meals, so it was no wonder the sacks were heavy.
"Grandpa, all these things must have cost you a lot," Reya said, rummaging through the simple but new clothes the old man had given her.
"If I tell, are you going to reimburse me?" Jethru snickered.
Reya: "..."
"Why are you so mean to me, Grandpa?" Reya asked in an aggrieved tone.
"Because it amuses me." Jethru’s teasing grin softened the blow, though it left Reya exasperated.
...
That evening, they shared supper while the sun dipped below the horizon. For the first time in days, they ate rice. To Lara, it felt like the most delicious meal she’d had in ages.
But the warmth of the meal was soon overshadowed by Jethru’s grim announcement. "The situation at the border has worsened," he began, his tone heavy. "Northem has closed the gates to the capital and sent reinforcements to the border. Estalis has also shut down their borders."