part seventeen

                                    

                                          
The following morning, Mila, Leo, and Irina gathered their things for the long journey ahead. They had expected to be a bit more cramped now with an extra person, but Mr. Antonovas had come through in a way that none of them had anticipated.
"I've arranged something special for your trip," Mr. Antonovas said with a proud smile, gesturing towards the stable yard. There, waiting for them, was a large open-hood carriage, gleaming under the morning sun. It was drawn by two sturdy horses, their dark coats shining.
Mila's eyes widened as she approached the carriage. "This is for us?"
Mr. Antonovas nodded. "Yes. It's more spacious than what you were using before, and it should give you a much more comfortable ride. With three of you now, you'll need the extra space, especially as you travel through different lands. Consider it a parting gift from our family."
Leo shook Mr. Antonovas' hand with deep gratitude. "We can't thank you enough. This will make the journey so much easier."
Mila smiled brightly. "Yes, thank you so much. You've been so generous to us."
Irina, already sitting in the carriage, flashed a satisfied smile. "This will be perfect. We'll have room for our belongings and our supplies without having to squeeze in."
As they began loading their things into the carriage, Mila felt a sense of relief. The larger space meant she could easily stow away her painting supplies and sketches without worrying about them getting damaged. Leo carefully placed his remaining artworks in a secure spot, while Irina, true to her promise, added a few extra luxuries she had packed from her father's home.
Once everything was packed and secured, Irina leaned forward with an excited glint in her eyes. "Now, about the route. I've been thinking... Instead of heading straight to the Ottoman Empire, why don't we make a little detour through Lithuania? We can take in the sights there, then loop down through Hungary and Slovenia before making our way south."
Mila looked to Leo, who seemed intrigued by the idea. "That sounds like a good route," he agreed. "We'd be able to see more of the world that way, and it wouldn't add too much time to the journey."
Mila nodded, liking the plan as well. "I've never been to Lithuania or Hungary. It could be a great opportunity to see new places, maybe even gather some inspiration for more paintings along the way."
Irina clapped her hands together, clearly thrilled that they had agreed to her suggestion. "Perfect! I've always wanted to visit those places too. And who knows? We might find even more excitement before we reach the Ottoman Empire."
With the horses hitched and the carriage ready, they climbed aboard. Leo took the reins, leading the horses down the dirt path that would eventually take them out of Poland and towards the unknown roads ahead.
As they set off, Mila leaned back in her seat, a small smile on her face. She glanced at Irina, whose infectious enthusiasm for the journey was hard to ignore. Despite all her initial doubts, Mila felt more confident about the path they were taking. Lithuania, Hungary, Slovenia... each new land was a step closer to their dreams, and with the right company by her side, she was ready to face whatever came next.
The road stretched ahead, vast and full of promise. The journey had truly begun.