Wandering Wolves

18. The Gift

When I returned to the building, Knightly asked a million questions. I ignored most of them, walked right passed a confused Beda and Stella, and lied down upon the bedspread. I unfolded the poster. Wasn't a flattering picture of me. Don't know where or when they got it as well. 1,000 gold was my reward. Back in my town that would have been more than enough to buy myself a house and few extra expenses. Hours passed by till Kate, Alex and Julian finally returned. Alex was helping keep Julian upright till he settled down in a chair provided by Knightly. Julian was all cleaned up and properly bandaged. Reebok appeared behind Alex, followed by Kate who was carrying Reebok's sister, Sara.

"What's this all about?" Knightly asked as Kate and Stella helped Sara lay down on one of the couches.

"This is the boy and his sister I was talking about. Reebok wants to help get medicine for his sister and we need all the help we can get. I don't feel comfortable leaving her alone at their house."

"I'm alright with it but wouldn't she be alone anyway?"

"No" Julian spoke "My Flora and I will stay with her."

Kate glanced at me, I just crossed my arms and leaned against the wall. She sighed and took a seat next to Julian.

"You must be tired but I need all the information you got from being in there. Matt, we need you too."

The look she gave me was stern. I knew it meant that I needed to not be selfish. That I needed to help regardless of everything that's happened. I've made it this far and I've known for a while now what I've gotten myself into.

I placed my hands on the table "Alright"

"Did you guys happen to see Worm or Donner yet?" Stella asked.

We shook our heads. Then something occurred to me.

"Wait, before I left the Pharoh said that there were intruders hiding on the lower level."

"That could be them" Beda said.

Kate leaned back in her chair "Those two managed to find a way into that pyramid and now can't get out."

"Should we change our plan to help them escape as well?" Knightly asked.

"No" Kate said "When we enter the pyramid it's going to start a commotion. Worm and Donner can take that opportunity to escape. If we don't see them after we get the medicine then we'll just have to figure out another way to get them out."

"You're seriously not going to help them?" I said. "They're your friends, your crew mates"

Kate turned to me "I know that, but I have no idea how to help them right now. I just have to trust that they can figure a way out themselves.I trust my friends and they trust me, got it?" She stood up and placed her hands on the table. She took a breath before speaking.

"I know that apologizing many times does not make the dead come back to life. I've tried that many times. I know that apologizing also does not make what happened go away. I came to your home asking for help and in return it cost someone dear to you to lose their life. Now you're a wanted man for actions that you took because of me. I did that." Kate removed her hands from the table and stood straight up. "You have a right to hate me, you can do that all you want. Right now though, there is a little girl who we can save, who you can save. You don't have to like me but help me help her."

Sara started coughing but laughed at Floras singing. She was right. I can hate Kate Oliver for as long as I wanted to but hating her doesn't help Sara out. I stared at Kate for a moment and sighed "I'll help"

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"There are a lot of people here." I marveled at the huge arena we were entering now. Seemed like anyone who wasn't a slave was here in the arena. We stayed up all night discussing the plan. It was now the day of and no one had gotten practically any sleep. Julian and Flora were staying with Sara and the rest of us were heading to where Knightly told us to meet him. He's busy fixing some part of the cart. It looked a lot better after all the fixes Beda and Alex did. Glancing at the other competitors though their carts were armed to the teeth with different weapons, even their fleckals had spiked armor on them. When we got closer, Knightly saw us and ran over. He was wearing the most elaborate clothing I had ever seen.