Chapter-12 Just for a While

A sound came from the door. Rosa quickly got up alert and backed up towards the table putting one hand on Felix. He was still unconscious. She did not notice when she fell asleep. She looked back at the place where the sound came from. Someone was trying to open the workshop door. Rosa panicked her body trembled lightly. The door shook again this time louder. She remembered bolting half of the door with the battered metal desk. Whoever was behind the entrance was strong enough to slightly push the desk. She was scared of getting caught. Her eyes quickly went towards Felix without a second thought she took him in her lap and looked around for a place to hide him. She put him beside the broken chimney and over turned the wooden desk to make it look like a place of scraps. The metal desk on the entrance moved further. She decided to distract the intruder so that someone else can find Felix and save him.

She panicked again looking around for something. She saw the hammer on the floor. Rosa quickly took the hammer and hid under the broken stairs. There was more creaking sound. She gripped the hammer tightly with her right hand. The desk shifted further another push the door will be open for entry. Rosa lifted the hammer up gripping it with both her hands. She bought it close to her head ready to swing at the unwelcomed person. Finally the metal desk got pushed off and toppled on its side, this made Rosa jump slightly in the place she was hiding. She quickly steadied herself and took one step back hiding her figure more her hands became steady, her breath shallow.

The other half of the door broke. Rosa could not see who it was; she heard the crash of the wood on the floor. She swallowed nervously her throat felt dry. Her view went to the place where Felix it made her more determined and steady. She heard slow and almost soundless footstep. ‘This person must be trying to be as quiet as possible.’ She thought while trying to hear the surrounding sounds. The scrap metals on the floor helped her to determine the position of the uninvited guest in the workshop. The foot step sounded light she had a confusion to who it was as ‘The men who attacked the village should have heavier sounds in their steps due to their armor or this person is really good in masking their steps.’ This made Rosa more nervous if this person can mask their footstep that means they are really strong and she might not be able to escape if captured or worse killed. She started fearing for her life. Rosa bit her bottom lip and gripped the hammer tightly ready to swing as soon as she gets the chance. The footsteps moved in the opposite corner of the room. She heard sounds of heavy metal movement. It seems that the person is searching for something.

Rosa expected more footsteps around but there was only one. She still tried to listen harder in case there were more people surrounding the house but she could not hear anymore footsteps except the very silent one in the room. A single drop of sweat fell from her temple to her chin. ‘This is taking a long time what is that guy doing here? Why is he here?’ Rosa half hoped that he will turn around and leave the room. So she can relax but there was no chance of that happening as she heard the footsteps again and this time it was getting louder and closer to her. She got ready counting the steps in her head. It grew louder and louder finally he was close to her. He was wearing all dark clothes as they could not be seen with the low light from the window. There was no armor on him and there was no weapon visible. His back was turned towards Rosa and facing the other way. She saw him looking at the side of the chimney exactly the place where the table was kept to hide Felix. She panicked, ‘He will find Felix.’ Rosa quickly swings the hammer and tried to hit his head but luck was not on her side. Her feet made sound on the creaking wooden floor which gave out her position. The intruder avoided her attack and instead pushed her away from him. Rosa fell stumbling on the floor on her left arm. It made a crack sound. ‘Argh ... Damn it.’ Rosa swore at the situation there goes her only hope of attacking now she will really be killed. She kept her head down ready to be killed. She expected her opponent to cut off her neck. She waited eyes closed but for a while nothing happened. “Rosa?” he called out. This made her raise her head. She could not see the face at first and sat up. The figure sat in front of her coming close to her. “Kuon” she finally recognized the person in front of her.

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“This might hurt a bit try not to scream.” Kuon was holding her elbow with one hand and her arm with another. Rosa nodded in confirmation. He twisted the arm first then gripped the wrist and the twisted it. The whole time she felt cracking sounds and pain that was sharp. She still kept her mouth shut trying not to utter any sound. The pain left quickly from her arms. “Done you feel better?” Kuon moved and went over to Felix. She moved her arm and checked it. The arm does not hurt anymore. “Thank you.” She muttered and got up and stood beside Kuon. “He is coming up with a fever. Let’s move him from here.” Rosa did not say anything she just nodded. They got out of the house and walked for a bit. A carriage was there with two brown horse tied to it. Kuon slowly climbed in the covered carriage and put Felix in it. Rosa stood a few feet away from him. She walked close to get in but stopped in her path. There was no space for her another person was laid in it. Eugene was there he looked a mess with bloodied bandages. He looked really bad in shape. Rosa slowly climbed in bending her head and squeezing herself inside. She folded her legs and slowly picked up Felix in her lap and settled down. Kuon took the front seat and pulled the reign of the horses. The carriage gave a slight jerk and started moving.

From the time when Rosa and Kuon meet in the warehouse there was a silence between the two of them. The wagon made a slow rocking move. She did not know what to say or what to think right now. She felt devastated on the events that happened one by one. The silence kept on stretching longer and longer. She finally could not handle it anymore. She slowly faced towards the box seat. “Kuon what happened?” her voice had a strain of exhaustion. Kuon took a look behind him and back straight at the road. “The auction house was attacked. One of the buyers had soldiers with him. There was a big hassle. I got the news while riding back. The empire’s soldiers got involved. There is no news from there.” Rosa felt her heart sink; she felt as if someone is choking her with bad news one by one. Her eyes felt dry and it was burning. She wished no one was hurt but she knew that it is a too farfetched thought in her mind. Her shoulders slumped a bit and she looked unfocused in the opposite direction. But her eyes are still unfocused she is not directing on anything at all. “The village was it for the same reason?” He shook his head. “It is not clear until the Empire releases any news or statement. They blocked off all the news and access to the district until further release of statement. The village I think it is more of revenge, a lot of us did anticipate this but the Chief never took it seriously.”

Rosa felt jumbled at these words. Justin’s words came to her head, ‘Someday we will regret this two way deals.’ The strings of hope are tearing up one by one. ‘Is it necessary for everyone to move away one by one?’ She tried to get out of the negative thoughts that were knocking on her skull door. Kuon used this silence to ask more questions. “There was no warning?” She shook her head slowly. “There was no warning or any warning message. I was not in the party for long so I do not know how did it start? After Edan left I walked back to this.” Her voice shook. “I saw everyone except the chief and his wife.” She could not utter the word dead. The faces of lifeless people entered her vision again. Kuon nodded in silence. “You might want to rest for a bit it will be a long ride to the camp.” Even though her body was screaming for rest, her mind could not agree with the thought.

She was in fear of having nightmares in her sleep. “What made you come back?” She asked randomly without thinking. “I was planning to pay a visit in a few days when I heard about the problem in the auction house. I came back to check if everything is okay. However I did not know the village will be in this state so fast, who was the attackers, and did you get a look at them?” She half nodded then sighed. “I do not know any of them they were all masked and armored it was all black armor with violet and green cape or feathers on their helmets. This is the only time I saw them. Their voices were not recognizable. They might not be anyone close to us.” ‘They were also the similar to the attackers in Rante.’ She thought by herself but kept it to herself. Her face could not hide the worry and confusion. “The camp will be a safer place for these two. Rosa have you decided what you are going to do?” She looked at him with a confused and helpless look. She did not even realize where these thoughts are coming from. Finally she realized where Kuon is coming from. Felix and Eugene if things get well will get shelter in the camp. Since there are hardly any females in the camp she would be a burden. The village is in ruins with no one in it there might be some soldiers coming in from the empire which due to being a neutral village will cause them to get in really late. The only other option is to find accommodation in one of the states which will be difficult to get in with. Rosa did feel abandoned for a bit but on the other hand she did not wish to become a burden. She raised her head to look at Kuon once again. Kuon left the village against the wish of his family like Edan. He took entry in the medical tents in the camp. His situation was really bad. Kuon’s family was really disappointed at him it was to the point where they would not even meet him when he came back. They did not even see his face after that he did not return until Chief decided to call him. Kuon did visit the village just once then he kept in touch with the Chief only. ‘How did he survive all alone away from home like this?’ Then she remembered that she herself is far away from home. “Will we be safe on the way? Those armored men were very strong and brutal.” She asked looking around from the opening on her back. “We will be fine I did not see any traces of them around the road. Although we might end up meeting some Empirical soldiers on the way.” She nodded it is better to engage less with them. “But they should be close to the capital on the frontlines why they are here?” Kuon shook his head. “It is mostly because of the attack on Kanfe. I meet a group on the way here.”

“Yet there was no one to save the village.” She felt a shiver running down her bones. She felt anger slowly boiling into her. “You should not feel like that the soldiers did not know or get any messages for the village. Neutral zones do not get direct protection until they ask for it. Also it takes more time to gather a squad and there is unrest on the borders. The West faction is not being very co operative. ” Rosa felt helpless again. She patted Felix’s head. ‘His fever is slowly getting down. I wish I could take care of him better.’ She thought how Felix will automatically get in the squad and will be trained. Eugene will probably go back to his camp. “Where did you find Eugene?” She kept her gaze at his hand; she could not look at his face. “I found him close to the main house.” He looked at Eugene then back on the straight road. “Was he not in the party? He was there when I left the place.” she waited for an answer back. Kuon just shook his head indicating he does not know about that. “When I arrived everything was a mess. I wanted to get some supply from Babak’s place when I found you. That house felt suspicious with the door being bolted.” “It is my fault sorry I thought it would be a good hiding place.” she took a shaky large breath. The sun was high in the sky with the sky finally blue. Rosa felt like the sky was more red and orange due to the fire. “What will happen to everyone back at home?” “We don’t have time to think about that now do we? I need to get them to a safe place first.”

Rosa looked around not focusing at all in any of the people around her. She panicked a bit “Are we not going to the first camp?” “No I am better known at the front lines. I can talk to the captain to keep them safe there. Felix can be easily under our protection.” Rosa felt sad and a bit jealous. She knew the best thing for Felix now is to go with Kuon as she cannot enter the camp as a female, but she felt she will be alone and empty again and her heart did not wish to leave the boy in her arms. Instead of being a guardian to her she felt that Felix was the only one keeping her sanity in check. “I can arrange for you to stay in the capital. I know a fellow mates mother living there she can be of help.” Rosa held her hand up for a while thinking a bit. “Kuon let me stay with Felix for a while. Just for a little while I will leave when he gets better.”