Chapter 9

He saw the text, got scared, all the raider negative thoughts filled his mind which was all bunch of lies. Suddenly he decided to leave Tegan as soon as possible, but a very soft and beautiful known voice brought him out of his thoughts. "Hey, are you fine? Why are you so scared?"

He returned fearfully. Sarya was right there and he started to keep going his way, but she started chasing him "Why are you running away from me?" she said.

Athor had no time to lose and didn't trust anyone at that moment, "they have sent you, you don't need to ask." he said, wasn't sure about it at all, but couldn't believe her or the others, and she realized what he meant "If you meant that man and woman, I shall say you are completely wrong. They didn't send me; I just want to help you."

She was sad, he couldn't believe her and made his steps larger than before "I appreciate that, but I don't need anyone's help."

"You are brave, but please let me help you." She said.

She knew the only way to make him give a positive response was to follow him till he became tired, then had to accept her.

"Oh my lord, you won't stop stalking me. Alright, alright." He snarled.

He was disturbed so much because felt that her behavior would take all attention. Almost everybody was watching them; he knew that these people would do anything to earn some coins, but the worse was if that couple could see him. He couldn't comprehend why they don't stop seeking him. It was the third time of getting involved with escaping.

They turned to a narrow street with more folks were walking around and shopping. Hopefully, it was the season of shopping and it made a good running situation for him. He was too impatient to reach a safe place, if had the shoes put on wasn't able to run this fast. Spending two silver coins on them really worth it, although he would rather use it on a good day not a day like this, and for escaping.

Sarya got happy to that answer "let's go to that store; people are looking."

They went to the store, and she started buying some green apples and tangerines, trying to act normal when someone else came to the store. A woman was staring at them strangely; Sarya knew that something is wrong "Do you have any other place to go? You can't live on a street right? They will catch you." She knew the answer, but Athor was enough stressed out that he couldn't think well.

He turned to the wall and, waited till the woman passed, then he said "Yes, I do and now if you're finished, let's get out of here. Surely, I'll be happy if you don't tell anyone about my place."

He didn't want to show his place to her, but he had to trust her because that was better than being captured by those two monsters in man's bodies.

They got into the old crowded rotten carriage. "Do you always go to the city like this?" she asked.

"Yes, is there any problem?" He replied.

"No, just thought it must be kind of hard," she said.

He was looking at the jungle when he said: "After a while, it'll turn into habits."

She was interested in breaking the ice, but when she realized that he is not enthusiastic about talking, chose silence.

*

They arrived in the ruins; she was running after him "You are going so fast." she said wading so hard in a tough condition. He didn't care and still was so upset. The ground was wet and so muddy, hard for her to walk fast with that long dress. All people in the ruined town were glancing at the person with the perfect outfit. Till now she was the only noble who came to the Mirano where everyone broke down were living.

"Do you live here? Isn't it dangerous? It must be full of snakes, scorpions, and these out of pocket people." she said.

"I'm not afraid of snakes or scorpions, about these people, they are just like you and me, so there is nothing to be afraid of," he said. He didn't want to leave really from the deep of his heart he wanted that smithy job even though it was tough.

Near his room, they stopped. "Well, I got you some fruits, I have something to do and have to leave soon, but I'll return tomorrow morning," she said that while handing him the fruit.

Athor didn't accept it "I'll leave tomorrow morning, by the way, I didn't ask for fruits, I can buy myself."

She figured out he's proud, "I thought, maybe we are friends, and your parents will be so worried seeing you in such a condition," She said that intentionally to see his reaction.

"They're not my real parents, I was their step-son, but they used to treat me like a slave" He appreciated her effort to help him, but still couldn't trust her and had no patience to explain about his whole biography to a gringo. He was too tired of escaping.

"I'm sorry…what do you think about coming to my city?" She asked directly because had been waiting to hear about his decision, so expressed her request hopefully.

Athor tightened his eyes and waveringly said "Your city? Where is it then?" then thought, "who this person is? Why would she ask him to go with her?"

She was happy inside that she could finally make him curious "It's very far from here, no man can hurt you or find you, and by the way, it's amazingly beautiful and free."

He got drowned in his thoughts, and then he said "How should I trust you? I don't even know you?" and thought "Is there any city better than Tegan! Other place's conditions aren't better. They're even worse".

She understood that he couldn't merely trust her "I have two friends here. I came to visit them, but when I saw you, I thought that maybe you let me help you."

Athor said with a doubtful visage "Are you sure that you intend to help? Kidnapping scaled up these days."

Her eyes became amazingly wide "Am I look like a kidnapper or a criminal?"

He found out that he had spoken inappropriately to her, but he wasn't still sure about the person toward him "Ok, but please come early." He said. Anyways he had to leave Tegan with or without her.

He believed, trusting a friendly stranger is better than getting back to that house.

"You have my words; you are so similar to people who I love, someone I knew years ago," she said while sorrow filled her face.

"You said once before, but never mentioned who they are?"

"You are right … you look like my older sister and my nephew; his name is Suran, he's ten years older than you," she said that but the heavy emotion in her heart was appearing in her eyes and voice as she gulped, she decided to explain later.

"Then, what happened to them?"

She paused to this question of him. So again he said, "Why don't you say what happened to them?" he asked.

"My sister passed away sixteen years ago, but I think," She said sadly.

He noticed her pain "I'm sorry."

"Yes, I'm sorry, too," she said.

She thought, he is also in pain not physically, but for the hard life that he handled through these years. Besides she was also happy that he is still alive. She was sure that he is the missing part of his family. She brought two apples out of the packet, gave one of them to him and they started eating. She was biting in enthusiasts, seemed she loves green apples. Everyone could find out that by watching the way she was biting it.

"It seems apple is your favorite," He said that with a sweet flourish smile on his face.

"Yes, I love it, this fruit doesn't exist in my city. Eating a lot of it makes me feel dizzy."

"What?" "Don't you have an apple in your town?" he said surprisingly.

She shook her head and said, "Of course, we do, but most of them are red and I like the green ones."

Sarya glanced at the strange object on her wrist which was like a watch and said: "I must leave now, but please wait for me."

"Ok, don't worry," he said.

She stood up, "It is much better if you go inside, it is cold outside."

He obeyed but asked her to let him accompany her to get out of Mirano.

The sky was dark then, not safe for a young girl being out after all.

His courtesy didn't allow him to leave her like that;

They walked to the carriage station, she sat there on a bench and asked him to get back. He rejected at first, but after her tenacity, he came back.