Shadows of Avarice (BxB)

Chapter 48

Crossing the desert took them four days by carriage. It was a long journey and though the group spent most of the time in the carriage, they were still exhausted. Xia left the comfort of the carriage many times to stretch his legs and talk to Dariya. He needed to do something other than stay cooped up. If he didn't get out and breathe, then Xia would be lost in his thoughts. He didn't want to think as they left Rasea for good. Xia wanted to leave his old life behind him. There was still so much of the world waiting for him to explore. He felt relieved to finally be away from the desert kingdom, even if his heart ached right now.

After passing the desert, they reached a much more colorful and lush terrain. They had an oasis' in the desert, but it didn't compare to the greenery they crossed into. The sand turned into dirt, and grass and flowers bloomed. On one side of the path was a forest, while the other side had an open field of white flowers. The air also felt different. They no longer felt like they were suffocating from the desert heat.

"Welcome to Ambria," Dariya said with a smile when she saw how stunned her passengers were. "Ambria is the second most beautiful kingdom I've ever been to after the Eastern Empire. King Lucas and Queen Lillian rule this place. It is probably the most peaceful kingdom out of the four major kingdoms. Well, out of the three since Zuvelia is now a fallen kingdom. This is the best place to settle down if you're looking to start over. The people are welcoming, the scenery is beautiful, and this is the only kingdom not in political turmoil."

They might not have met anyone from Ambria yet, but the environment certainly felt more welcoming than Rasea. It didn't feel as harsh. Not just anyone could survive the desert, but Xia and his family did for their whole lives. A change of scenery was nice.

"Have you been to all of the kingdoms, Dariya?" Zakariya spoke up and asked.

Dariya looked at him, then grabbed a strand of her long black hair and nervously twirled it around her finger. "Yes. Even Zuvelia, before it fell to ruin. I've also traveled to the Winterlands, and across the sea to Cordea."

"That sounds like fun. I hope that one day I can travel to those places as well," Zakariya said with a smile.

"Perhaps you can travel with me," Dariya responded. Upon realizing what she offered, she blushed and quickly glanced away.

The other siblings noticed this exchange and looked at each other. It was obvious what was going on. Alishba was the first to comment in a low voice, "Is this what awkward flirting looks like?"

Tariq and Alishba chuckled amongst themselves, but Xia was hardly listening as he looked out the window at Ambria. They finally made it to another kingdom, one that might be more welcoming to them. Even though this was what the siblings always wanted, he couldn't find it within himself to be happy about it. Maybe he would feel differently once enough time passed. For now, Xia couldn't pretend that everything was okay, so he chose to stay silent instead. His siblings and grandmother noticed his downcast mood, but none of them commented on it. They gave him his space and let him work out his emotions.

The group talked amongst themselves as they continued to the city. Zakariya and Dariya found themselves locked in awkward conversation, while Alishba, Tariq, and their grandmother joked with one another. There were a few times when they tried including Xia in their conversation, but he never paid attention. Eventually, they stopped trying. Alishba looked at her brother, feeling sad about his loss. While they always wanted to leave Rasea, things weren't supposed to turn out this way. Xia was never supposed to be hurt.

Upon reaching the city of Ambria, the group departed from the carriage. With a sigh, Xia followed after them. It was early afternoon by the time they arrived at the city, and there were plenty of citizens walking the streets. Alishba was especially excited when she saw the attire the people of Ambria wore. In Rasea, the dresses were thin and flowy to be breathable for the harsh desert heat. In Ambria, the women wore long skirts and sleeves. It was easy to tell who was a noble by how fancy their attire appeared. Even the men wore nicely tailored suits. Alishba couldn't wait to try on one of their dresses. With the money from the sultan, Alishba would be able to live out her dream of trying different fashions from different kingdoms.

Tariq and Zakariya were also in awe as they looked at the kingdom before them. This was their first time away from Rasea after all. They were interested in exploring the city, and though they were itching to see more of it, they didn't want to separate from their group right away.

Dariya chuckled when she saw how enthusiastic the men were. "I will gladly give you all a tour of Ambria after we drop the supplies off. There is a lot to see, and it's quite easy to get lost here."

From what they could tell, Ambria was larger than Rasea. They agreed to join her for the tour, especially Zakariya. He didn't hesitate to accept her offer, and he seemed more than happy to lend a hand helping her with the supplies. Dariya's family was already ahead of them as they led the group to where they would be staying for the night. They had already given the group permission to stay with them until they were ready to settle down in Ambria.

Xia lagged behind the group until Dariya showed them to their temporary home. Once he saw where they would be staying, Xia gently tugged on Alishba's sleeve to get her attention. When she turned to him, Xia said to her quietly, "I'm going to go for a walk. I need to clear my head."

There was worry in her eyes. "Do you want me to go with you? The company might help, and I don't think it's safe for you to explore the city on your own. You'll get lost."

He shook his head. "I need time alone. I promise I won't go too far."

Xia didn't care if he got lost, but he didn't tell his sister that. He knew how much she worried about him. She was worried the whole time he was away from the family, but Xia would be fine. He had gone to many places in the desert he'd never been to before and he always found his way back home. This time wouldn't be any different.

She wanted to argue with him, but she also knew how he was feeling. With a sigh, she said, "Just . . . stay close. Please, Xia."

Xia nodded, then left without anyone else noticing. If he had said anything to the rest of them, then they never would have let him leave. He already knew his grandmother would scold him once he returned. She would be upset with him for not telling the rest of the group and for not bringing someone along with him. But they had to understand how he was feeling as well. Zak, Tariq, and Alishba might not have lost someone like this before, but his grandmother did. She knew what it was like to love someone and then lose them. It was hard to cope with this loss. He just needed a little bit of space.

This was Xia's first chance to be alone with his thoughts since leaving the palace in Rasea. Though there were many people around him now, he felt completely alone in the city. He received a few looks from the citizens of Ambria as they looked at his attire, but Xia hardly noticed them. He kept walking with no destination in mind. He didn't bother looking at anything as he walked through the streets of Ambria.

The more he walked, the more it felt as though his heart would shatter. He could continue to walk around aimlessly, but it didn't help to mend his broken heart. Nothing was helping to distract him from the pain he was feeling. How was Xia supposed to get over this when the wound was still fresh? He kept picturing Osiris' face in his head and the last words he left him with. Osiris didn't love him and that made him feel like he would be torn in two. Soraya would be the one beside Osiris instead of him.

So much for finding love. Xia always knew love was pointless, and that was why he avoided it for so long. His family were the ones who mattered. He always had his family. This was just an obstacle he had to jump over to learn what was truly important.

Xia told himself this, but it didn't help. His heart still ached. Before Xia broke down and cried in front of all of Ambria, he fled down one of the alleys before leaning against one of the walls. Xia sunk down with his back against the wall, and he placed his head against his knees. He didn't try to stop the tears from flowing this time.

Through his tears, Xia quietly said, "Osiris . . . I love you."

But it was too late to tell him now. Xia missed his chance to tell Osiris how he felt about him, and now, Xia was gone.