ch.03

Mysterious symbols and lines extend from the elbow to the wrist. He displayed these symbols to her and talked as though he was discussing something unimportant rather than the mark that criminals bear.

Her savior was a criminal.

"Do not be afraid; we, the Mertez warriors, always accomplish our tasks. You will return to your dear fiancé as soon as possible. Start the fire. We won't be able to move on an empty stomach. I'll go hunt something." 

" o...ok" She nodded in acknowledgment, her gaze fixed ahead instead of meeting his. She then busied herself with the task of igniting the fire. He is Mertez, and she is not stupid enough to oppose him. The only difference between him and Aluki is that he can speak. Will he actually return her to her home or do something else to her? She must obey and hope that she will somehow survive.

He came back carrying some fruits, sat down, and handed her a green fruit. "We should eat some fruits; we can't live only by eating meat, right?"

"Right," she nodded again. It seems that he did not find anything to catch around and returned with these fruits to save face، She felt the sour taste on her tongue. The fruit barely held any juice inside. It was almost dry. She certainly didn't dare tell him. She wasn't in a position to make any demands.

"What do you think?" ، His fruit in his hand, as if he wanted her to try it first, she swallowed the fruit in her mouth with difficulty and said, "It's good; thanks; I was really hungry."

"Really?" In a tone full of doubt and disbelief, he asked her, but he didn't seem to believe her lie. Is this some kind of game? Is he doing this for fun before he does something terrible to her? Tears gathered in her eyes. She did the only thing she thought would save her from the predicament she was stuck in: she took another fruit and put it in her mouth، "Y...yes, indeed....thank you very much."

"You mountain people are really weird; I would never put something like this fruit in my mouth, but I guess it's a cultural difference; well, here you go." He handed her the rest of the fruits he carried before standing up quickly, fearing he was headed for her. She raised both arms in front of her face.

"Oh, don't be afraid; there are no enemies or monsters near here. I just stood there to drink some water. Relax." She lowered her arms to see him already heading towards the river. If she continued to tremble and panic with every movement he made, she would die of fear before she returned home. 

"Sir, can you tell me what you are going to do to me?" She asked the question that had been on her mind ever since she heard the word mertez.

"I will return you to your village, as your fiancé requested." He answered her quickly and without hesitation.

"What if... I don't want to return to my fiancé or my village?" Of course she wanted to go home but not to Basson, but unfortunately, the two come in one package.

He looked at her and asked curiously, "What do you mean? Would you rather go back to the Aluki instead of your fiancé?"، Was that a threat? Was he now threatening to return her to the Aluki, or was he planning to leave her in the forest alone to become prey for other creatures?.

"No, no, I don't mean that; it's just... yes, right. The last time I spoke to my fiancé, we had an argument, and I was the one in the wrong, and I feel embarrassed if I go back to him now, after he sent you and your brave friends to bring me back from danger."

"A fight between lovers—I can't say I really understand—but your fiancé spent a lot to save you. I think this means he has forgiven you."

Lovers? She and Bassoon? Her and that bald old man? In what universe could something like this happen? Is he mocking her? She can't say. The part of his face she sees under the helmet looks like he's really worried about her relationship with her so-called lover.

"You know what? We will reach Matan town tomorrow if we move now. In the town, we can spend some time buying some jewelry and new clothes, and then from there, we will head to Three Fingers Mountain. It will take half a day to get there, right? Then you will go to meet him, even if he does not forgive you now. He will do so if he sees that you have dressed up to meet him." 

He said all that with a goofy smile covering his face. Did he really mean that, or was he mocking her?، "That's a great idea, sir, but I don't have any money on me, and I don't want to..."

"Don't be afraid; I will pay, and I will take the money from your fiancé as additional compensation." ، He did not give her any opportunity to say anything. In fact, in her conscience, she knew that he was not interested in her opinion and would return her to Basson in any case. He is Mertez, not a knight, after all.

"So, are you ready to go?" He put his arms around his waist, his face still dripping with water, and looked at her, waiting for her answer.

"Yes." She'll go with him now, whether she likes it or not. She chose to surrender in hopes of returning home safely. As for Basson... she would escape the village again, and on that day she would not fall into the hands of Aloki, or worse... She stared with hatred at the man who was standing confidently in front of the river and looking at her with a smile.

She would never fall into the hands of scum like him again.