The Empty Ones (Fantasy Romance)

20. About freedom

"Weedy, don't talk blasphemous words," whispered Mairi. "Not here, not now with all the eyes watching."

We entered the dorm and I slammed the door shut.

"Look. I thought about it. When you are about to die you put things in perspective, I suppose. I don't want to stay here after all. I want to be where you are and I think the best for Chioma is to be away from here. And you, freedom suits you like nothing else."

"Very dreamy of you but also completely delusional. Oh, I sound like you. But now it makes no sense. We have no climbing gear and likely no time or coin to get another. Besides that, you are blasting it here before Salma so that she can tell on us."

"No. Salma will come too. She is actually a key piece."

"Zara, you seem frighteningly optimistic. Sit down and breathe. I have to take care of Chioma."

And I was. It seemed like the only right way.

"Salma is with child and the father will not refuse her anything. He will be forced to hide us till we are out of sight. After that they can leave together and so can we. It was done before and it worked. Sometimes the simple plans are the best," I explained enthusiastically.

The adrenaline was pumping wildly in me. The girls were looking at me as if I went crazy.

"It was done? Where? In books?"

Mairi's tone irritated me. I was high on a very strange kind of optimism.

"No. I did it. With Fera and with Salma. We hid a wounded boy in the caravan and he escaped. The caravan is big and we can all hide there because Yamal will not want Salma to be discovered. He came back at the right time. I think it's a sign from the gods. But we have to leave tonight. Tonight is good though, because nobody will pay any attention to us."

My palms were sweaty, my heart was beating so fast I could feel it in my wrists and in my ears and I was full of mad purpose.

"Are you making this up?" asked Mairi. Since when was she so cautious? "Or are you feverish?"

"No. We did," whispered Salma. "But, I am not sure if Yamal will help us."

"What? But he is the father of the baby, isn't he?" asked Mairi. Her brows knitted into a frown.

This time I was more familiar with Salma's feelings. Being a parent didn't mean he would love or want to care for that child.

"He... He is afraid I think. I thought we were going to run away together for moons already but he keeps disappearing. He says he cannot come whenever he wants and has to do what his commander tells him but... I am not sure if I should believe him anymore. If I stay here they will likely kill me now, won't they? So I suppose he doesn't love me as he said he does."

"Oh, he will love the hell out of you," said Mairi and a sly smile appeared on her face. She believed me now and more than that, she thought it could work too. "Get dressed. Make it as thick as possible. Pack some food and water, I will go get some weapons. Weedy, you're with me."

We tiptoed into the hallway and thought we were going into the training room but we actually headed to the kitchen.

"Why are we here?"

"To get food and knives. Duh.."

"Why wouldn't we get some weapons from the training room?"

"Because those are enchanted. You can only maim with them, not kill."

"Oh. How do you know?"

"I tried."

"With whom?" I frown.