CHAPTER 124: FRIEND IN THE DUNGEON

Olexa and her men made their way back to Moonville. After the rescue mission the previous night, they journeyed all through the night without resting, so as to help keep a safe distance between them and their pursuers, as they anticipated they wouldn't let them off that easy.

The people whom they rescued, especially those who had been imprisoned in the cave for a while, were hungry and exhausted. They barely had any sustenance while they were imprisoned.

"Don't you think we should let the people rest a bit, and probably try to hunt something to eat? They most certainly don't look like they'd go far chief," Tully suggested.

Olexa turned and looked at their faces. She indeed saw how weak they looked.

"We can't stop here now. We don't know how close they may be to us. In as much as we're cloaked by the witches, it's best to be ahead of them," she replied.

"I know you're right, but can the people keep up though?" Tully was still a bit concerned.

"Let's just move a little bit further, then we'll all rest," she responded. Tully nodded in acknowledgement.

"By the way chief, everyone is already applauding you, for your leadership prowess. It looks like you were a born leader," Tully said.

"Tch!" Olexa scoffed rolling her eyes.

"You don't believe me, do you?" Tully asked.

"When did I start, and what have I ever done to earn the admiration of anyone?" Olexa asked.

"Are you kidding me? Look behind you. You did that," Tully responded.

Olexa chuckled softly, smiling. "Thank you. But I was just doing what any sane person would do."

"Well, not everyone is as sane as you are. Only you could've dared to risk your life in such a way, putting forth your hand in the lion's mouth," Tully praised her.

"I honestly underestimated you, Olexa. You indeed are way tougher than you look," Mona added.

Olexa smiled at their compliments.

As they continued, they heard a little disturbance from within the people. Olexa turned to see what was going on.

She saw that some folks were supporting an elderly man who seemed weak. She came down from her horse and approached them.

"What's going on?" she bent down and asked.

"He is exhausted, and too weak to continue walking," one of the rescued replied.

Olexa looked at him compassionately, feeling sorry for him. The old man looked at her, furrowing his brow a bit weakly as he looked at her.

"There's a place up ahead that'll be most preferable for us to stop and rest at. So we can't stop here now. We need to get there," Olexa said to everyone.

"Help him up, and get him on my horse," she instructed.

The men did as asked and mounted the old man on the horse, and they continued on their way. Olexa walked beside the man, taking hold of the leash of the horse.

"Thank you," the old man appreciated, with a weak voice. Olexa smiled at him in acknowledgement.

Olexa occasionally turned to check on the old man and noticed how he kept looking at her.

"Excuse me miss, but have we met before?" he asked.

"Um, I highly doubt that," she replied. "For how long have you been there?"

"Twelve years."

"Wow! Those cruel bastards," Olexa fumed.

"I'm truly amazed seeing you," the old man stated.

"Really? Why do you say that?" she asked.

"You're the spitting image of a young woman I met in that dungeon when I first got there. She was kind to me as you are. And she had the same blue eyes and smile that you have," the man replied.

Olexa furrowed her brow and looked at him.

"I guess I'm just her lookalike," she shrugged it off.

"What was her name again? Um..." the old man strained his head, trying to recall her name.

"Aha! I remember. How could forget her," he smiled. "Her name was Jasmine."

Olexa stopped immediately, and turned looking at the old man, stunned at the mention of that name. Cold shivers ran through her body like electricity, as goosebumps emerged on her skin.

"That can't be! No!" Olexa shook her head vigorously in disbelief, looking down.

"What is it, Olexa?" Mona asked, wondering why Olexa looked distressed.

"My mother's name is Jasmine. And just as you said, I take after her in literally every aspect, physically. No, it couldn't have been my mother. No," Olexa vehemently refused to believe.

The old man looked at her weakly, not knowing what to say to her as further proof.

"She was killed after she was tagged a traitor. But I don't know what exactly she did to be tagged a traitor to the monarchy. I wasn't told by anyone, not even my father," said said.

The old man chuckled softly. "Is that the lie they told you? Of course, that's what they'd tell everyone."

"Tell me, what happened?" Olexa asked, with utmost curiosity. Tully and Mona paid attention to the exchange between the two, as did the other men.

"First of all, your mother was not beheaded, as they claimed."

Olexa was further stunned at what she just heard.

"Who they beheaded was someone else, dressed up as her, while they brought her to that dungeon. And the real reason for which she went through all that was because she was the leader of The Rebellion," he responded.

Olexa's mouth gaped in surprise. Everyone else was surprised at what they heard. Tears began flowing out of her eyes.

"After a while of being locked in there together, I don't know where they took her to. I never saw her afterwards," he revealed.

Olexa did her best not to cry in front of the people, but what she just heard overwhelmed her.

"Of all the people I ever encountered there, no one was ever so spirited and kind to me as she was. I guess you didn't just take after her only physically after all," the old man stated.

"So, is it possible that she could still be alive?" she asked.

"It is, but the chances are really slim," he replied.

"What are you thinking, Olexa?" Mona asked as Olexa reasoned for a bit.

"No matter how slim the chances are, I'm going to find my mother. But first, we need to take these people to safety," Olexa decided.

Tully was relieved to hear her say that. He thought she was just going to run off to go in search of her mother.