Chapter 1094: Lies
Before Hesta and Victoria could dismount, the woman had already spotted Hesta. She let out a piercing cry and rushed toward Hesta—
"Salima!"
The men surrounding her also stopped what they were doing. Most of them moved to the roadside, bowed slightly in Hesta's direction, and lowered their heads. Only one still gripped the back of the woman's neck, pinning her firmly to the ground.
Hesta had intended to dismount, but seeing this, she decided to remain in the saddle so she would appear more imposing. As she drew closer, the woman desperately tried to raise her head, hoping Hesta would see her face—though the man forced her back down each time, Hesta still caught sight of it. A large Trion Family tattoo covered the woman's head.
"What's going on?" Hesta asked softly.
"She slipped away while working this morning. She was probably trying to run away..."
The woman kept screaming at Hesta, but everything she said was in the District 12 dialect. Hesta could not understand a single word.
"Let her go," Hesta said. "Help her up. Let her stand properly."
"...Salima, this woman is talking nonsense." The man bowed respectfully to Hesta. "She still has a great deal of work to do. We can't let her waste time here—"
"The only thing she has to do now is stay here," Hesta said, "because I have questions for her."
Victoria shook her reins and spoke softly to Hesta. "Do you need me to find Santa?"
"No." Hesta pointed with her riding crop toward the young women working in the nearby fields. "They should speak District 3 Language. Bring them over."
Victoria swung down from her horse and hurried toward the distant fields.
"How many times do I need to repeat an order?" Hesta's gaze returned to