Report!

We traveled to the city where Aranya's relatives were by caravan. It was too dangerous to reveal our identity, as Grihame had sent soldiers to investigate the non-appearance of Sona Troupe Eighteen at the warfront. It was the topic everywhere, especially in the caravan we followed, when the patrolling soldiers stopped us at a checkpoint near our destination.

"Why are they so many today? Is this not Valencia? What are Grihame soldiers doing here?" Someone grumbled, though not audibly.

"Are you the only one that have not heard?" Another person was quick to reply, also in whispers, "Sona Troupe Eighteen never showed up. The troupe just disappeared, like that," she snapped her fingers.

"But who could have done it?" yet another traveller murmured, "the safrohi already have enough on their hands-- they couldn't have dispatched a band to eliminate the troupe. And yet," he continued, "what good does it do? Is their leader not already poisoned?"

I exchanged glances with Thanos. Hhamir looked at me as if to say 'you see?'.

"Huu," everyone sighed when the last speaker concluded. There was silence within the caravan while the owners conversed with the Grihame soldiers. Then a young man broke the silence, speaking quietly.

"If only the southern empire across the border would join the war!"

Everyone drew in a collective breath. They all seemed to consider what the man had said.

"You are right, son," said someone sitting next to him, apparently his father, "but the southern empire has their own problems. They are not concerned even if Valencia rules the world!"

Everyone became quiet all of a sudden as the soldiers approached us, trailing the angry owner of the caravan and his servants.

"Enough!" One of the soldiers finally yelled at the owner, "I'm on a mission, and you can't stop me. Everyone, turn out your belongings!"

I chuckled inwardly.

"What do they expect to find?" An old man grumbled, "the body parts of the missing troupe??"

We all turned out our luggage in front of the watchful eyes of the soldiers. One of them stared at me.

"What's wrong with that child?"

I drew in a breath. Did the soldiers know that the Valek had a child?"

"Nothing," I replied, and stealthily made Aranya look as if she was sleepy.

"Are you her mother?"

"Aunt," I lied.

"Are they with you?" he gestured at Thanos and Hhamir.

"No," I lied.

He moved on to the next person.

The soldiers stood off at some distance away and conversed. They didn't look too happy.

"I'm betting," growled Hhamir, "that they'll hold us as hostages. It's been a whole day and no sign of the perpetrators of the 'evil deed'."

I frowned. Then I did something I had never done in my life. I thrust myself into one of the soldiers' mind. The one who looked to be the leader.

/*Sigh. Just let them go,*/

It worked. He waved an angry hand at the owner of the caravan, and, with many thanks, we resumed our journey.

We ate supper at an inn. I kept checking Iria's imprint every now and then. She seemed to be fine. I would have summoned Shaw if not that I didn't want to reveal my identity, even to Hhamir.

But he had his own plans. I wasn't sure if there was a bounty on my head or something, but he clung to me like a leech.

"My life is yours. What greater duty do I have than to serve you?" He'd said, when I told him to get lost.

Thanos rolled his eyes.

"I thought you had to obey me. I told you to leave. Why are you disobeying?"

He considered it for a minute.

"No. It pertains to your highness' safety. I cannot leave,"

I rolled my eyes.

"If I had not been keeping myself safe on my own, would you find me?"

"We shall credit that to her highness," he grinned, "but from now on I will accompany you,"

"Fine," I snapped, "now. Here are our plans. We need to avoid those soldiers long enough to leave this city. Then from there we hurry to the Rashar Plains. I need to--" I cut myself off, "I need to report this development,"

They both cocked their heads to one side and looked at me.

"I understand you have a relative in the safrohi army," Thanos said doubtfully, "but are they ranked high enough for you to barge in?"

"Yes," I assured them.

"What good will reporting do?" Hhamir countered, "they probably already know. If the Grihame know, I'm betting the safrohi know as well. You shouldn't put yourself in danger for nothing,"

"I have to go to the Rashar Plains," I growled, "no matter what you think," I added.

"On my part," Thanos mused, his hand on his chin, "I'm only accompanying you so you can take me to Hakorhi. And I need to have experience enough to stand out from the lot when the alchemist Sect is recruiting," he put his hand on the table, "I'm coming with you!"

"I'll follow you anywhere and everywhere," Hhamir put in, "even if it's off a precipice. So I'm coming too," he placed his hand on top of Thanos'.

"Good!" I covered their hands with mine, "we leave at dusk!"