The Unraveling

Mayla

Mayla found Leon's mother/sister intimidating, but also sweet. Like the biggest piece of decadent chocolate cake that you knew was capable of ruining your night. There was a sharpness in her soft edges that made Mayla wonder what horrors she had seen. She had introduced herself as Birma and went straight to the kitchen to set about making tea. She hadn't asked a single question, just accepted the circumstances. Mayla wasn't sure how to respond to her nonchalance.

"Would you like something to eat? You look absolutely famished."

"How do you know Leon?"

Birma and Mayla spoke at the same moment, their words intertwined.

"Leon is my eldest son. Do you like soup?"

Mayla stared at Birma, mouth open.

The door opened, successfully distracting the both of them.

"Leon."

Leon stepped forward, engulfing his mother in an embrace. Mayla turned, not wanting to intrude on the moment.

"Mama. I'm okay. I'm okay."

He looked up and locked eyes with Mayla. She saw an answer to the question she couldn't bring herself to ask. The man following them was dead. Leon had killed him. She had yet been out of her village for twenty four hours and already was exposed to the worst dangers of the world.

"I was going to put on a stew. Will you and your guest be staying long enough to eat?"

Leon shook his head.

"King Vier is expecting us within the hour."

His mother pursed her lips. Mayla could all but read her mind. A just King wouldn't be upset about his soldiers taking time to eat with their mothers. However, no one had ever claimed King Vier was just.

"Thank you, Birma. For your hospitality."

Leon turned to head to the door without a word. Mayla followed him, smiling once more at his mother. She noticed that he waited until the door was completely shut to turn to her. "Did you say anything to her?"

"You mean beyond pleasantries? No. What would I tell her? I know virtually nothing about what's going on."

He looked even more tense now. Whatever had happened with the man following them hadn't been pleasant. She was almost afraid to ask. Her curiosity got the best of her.

"What happened? To the man following us? Why was he following us?"

Leon sighed and ran a hand over his face. "I don't know who he was. There was nothing that could identify him." The use of the word "was" did not escape her. He climbed onto his horse, holding out a hand to her.

"What happened to my horse?" Upon getting no response, she grabbed his hand and slid into the saddle behind him. Maybe the vendor hadn't been kind enough to tie him up. Maybe someone had decided to take him. It didn't matter now. All that mattered now was figuring out exactly what King Vier wanted from her.