A.D., turned to Peter, "Be ready!" he urged, his voice tight with urgency. "We're going to Kango City. Start the vehicle; we have a long way to go."
On the road, the hum of the engine a steady drone, Mia, Peter's wife, leaned forward from the back seat. "A.D.," she asked, her brow furrowed, "tell me how we enter Kango City. And how do you know the way? Did you live there?"
Outside Kango City, Mia turned to A.D., her voice low with skepticism. "How do we get inside?"
A.D. glanced at the towering walls. "The only regular way in is through the supply shipments, but they check everything thoroughly." He paused, a thought forming. "The more secure way is through the woods. They use the forest heavily for their work, especially transporting full trees."
He pointed to a massive, ancient oak. "We can hollow out a space inside one of those logs. We'll ride in with the timber, get through the gates undetected. Then, under the cover of night, we'll slip out of the wood and begin our journey to Simon City."
The hollowed-out log, surprisingly spacious inside, offered a bumpy and dark ride. They endured the claustrophobia for hours, the rhythmic creak of wagon wheels lulling some to a fitful sleep. When the faint glow of dawn filtered through the gaps in the timber, they knew they'd reached their destination. They waited until the sounds of the lumberyard workers filled the morning air, then stealthily emerged from their wooden hiding place, blinking in the new light.
"Stay sharp, everyone," A.D. murmured, his voice low but firm. "Walk with purpose, but try to look casual. Just follow my lead." He set a brisk pace, navigating the unfamiliar streets with an unsettling familiarity. At the end of a winding lane, a small, unassuming house appeared. "Inside," A.D. instructed, and they slipped through the door.
Once out on the main thoroughfare, the city of Kango truly revealed itself. It bustled with life, a vibrant tapestry of sights and sounds. Laughter mingled with the cries of street vendors, and the scent of freshly baked bread mixed with spices. Happiness seemed to permeate every cobblestone.
As they passed a butcher's shop, two young men were deep in conversation. One, with a broad, welcoming smile, suddenly caught sight of A.D. His eyes widened, and a gasp escaped him before he lunged forward, seizing A.D.'s hand.
"A.D.! You came!" he cried, his voice thick with emotion.
A.D.'s own eyes welled up, tears blurring his vision.
Jane, witnessing the unexpected reunion, tugged gently on Mia's sleeve. "You know him?" she whispered, confused. "Who is he?"
"Mia, we have to keep moving. Time is short," A.D. said, his voice strained as he tried to pull his hand free.
"I have to go," A.D. insisted, his gaze pleading.
The man's grip tightened. "You came here after ten years, A.D.! Ten years! And now you say you have to go? Not for us, then at least meet Mom. She's waiting for you, she always has been."
A.D.'s shoulders slumped. "Brother, no. If anyone sees me here, it could put all of you in danger." His voice cracked, and a tear finally escaped, tracing a path down his cheek. "Please, let me go."
"What?" Mia exclaimed, her eyes wide. "He's your brother?"
Jane, still processing the shock, managed, "Stop crying."
Meanwhile, Daisy's thoughts drifted back to Danousa's words, the implications of A.D.'s connection to Kango City becoming clearer.
"Go, brother," A.D. repeated, his voice barely a whisper. The man, clearly heartbroken, finally released his hand and stepped back. A.D. turned to the group. "Go to that house. I'll meet you there tonight."
"Why?" Jane protested, stepping forward. "I'll come with you!"
Mia, seeing the opportunity, nodded. "Yes, Jane, go with him."
"Okay," A.D. conceded, a hint of relief in his eyes. "Let's go."
A.D. led Jane to a modest house nestled behind a small goat pen. Inside, an elderly woman with kind, weary eyes was tending to her goats. Jane, recognizing the moment, gently pushed A.D. forward to the doorway. "Mom!" she called softly.
A.D.'s mother looked up, her eyes widening. Tears instantly sprang to her eyes as she recognized her son. She dropped her work and ran, embracing A.D. tightly, her sobs echoing in the small enclosure. "My son! My son!" she cried, holding him as if she'd never let go.
Later, gathered around a small, humble table, they shared a meal. His mother had cooked A.D.'s favorite dish, and the simple act of eating together felt like a luxury after their perilous journey.
"Who is this beautiful girl?" A.D.'s mother asked, her gaze lingering on Jane, a playful glint in her eye. "Is she your girl?"
Jane's face immediately flushed crimson.
"No, no!" A.D. quickly interjected, shaking his head. "She's just a friend."
Despite the slight awkwardness, the evening was filled with chatter. A.D. spoke little of his ten years away, but his mother shared stories of Kango, and Jane listened, captivated by the warmth of a family reunion.
As night deepened, A.D.'s mother led Jane to A.D.'s old room. "Be with him," she urged, her voice soft. "Do you... do you like him?"
"Yes," Jane confessed, her heart pounding. "But I'm afraid he would reject me."
A.D.'s mother gently patted her hand. "Nonsense! Be with him. He is very slow, it might take time, but if you try, he will be yours."
Just then, A.D. appeared at the doorway. "Mom, I have to go."
His mother's face fell. "Go? Where, my son?"
"I have a work," A.D. replied, a familiar resolve hardening his features. "Please, let me go."
"No, you can't!" she cried, tears welling again. "You just came back after ten years, and now you want to leave again?"
"Mom, I'll come back after doing that," he promised, his voice gentle but firm.
"Okay," she said, nodding reluctantly. "But promise me you will come back."
"Promise, Mom." He hugged her tightly, then turned to Jane. "Let's go."
At the door, his mother held them both in her gaze. "Take care of yourselves," she called out, her voice softening. "And my daughter-in-law."
Outside, under the star-strewn sky, Jane couldn't help but smile.
"Why are you blushing?" A.D. asked, a rare hint of amusement in his tone.
"No, it's nothing," Jane mumbled, looking away.
They rejoined the others in the house they had found. They were all waiting, some already drifting off to sleep.
"Everyone, get some rest," A.D. announced. "Tomorrow, we have to move."
Later, as they settled into their sleeping arrangements, Mia whispered to Jane. "What happened?"
Jane, still blushing, buried her face under her blanket. "I met his mom. She likes me! She called me her daughter-in-law. After all this, I'm going to make sure we get married!"
Daisy, who had been listening intently, gasped. "What? No! Is that true?"
"Yes!" Jane muffled from beneath the blanket.
"We can marry on the same day!" Daisy blurted out, then paused. "Did you tell A.D. about your feelings? If you take too long, someone else might get him, so be quick!"
Jane's face went pale.
"Yes, tell him your feelings," Mia urged.
"Tomorrow," Jane whispered, her resolve set. "Tomorrow, I'll do that."