Earth and Sky

Chapter 10

Scarlet

I skip into the market. We are currently stocking some more supplies for our journey. Dried meat would be best for long distances, but if we buy some fruits and vegetables, we can eat them in the next few days. I grab a bundle of carrots, celery, and potatoes then leave some jewels on the counter. Jewels are the four kingdoms currency, named after the riches in the Earth. When I was packing, I have myself a fair sum of jewels just in case. Grabbing the food, I hurry to the center of the town to find Zeru. He is already there, leaning against a wall of a building. He nods when he notices me and gestures to the stables where we left our horses. I plop the food into my bag and hop onto my horse. Zeru follows my example and leaves the stable. I sigh, after all that progress we made earlier, my comment turned him against me- again. We arrive at the gates of the city, were we believe Araquiel is going. After going through the gates Zeru gets off his horse. He peers at the ground before groaning.

"What's wrong?"

"There are too many footprints! I can't even tell if Araquiel went this way." He puts his face in his hands. "We have two choices, continue this way or not." He peers at me from between his fingers, "what do you think?"

"If there is a chance that Araquiel is over here, were going to find her."

Zeru smiles at me. "Then let's go."

***************
Araquiel

I stir the steaming soup that Cyanide dropped in front of me. Its made out of some strange purple deer I watched him shoot earlier. Even though I know I should be eating, due to the fact I hadn't eaten in days, I don't feel hungry. I know the farther away from my country we go, the closer I will be to my death. I brush my hand against my small hope, my ice knife. I've been able to conceal it for now, but I don't know how I will use it. It doesn't seem just if I kill of hurt him without a trail, no matter what he did to me. So for now, I focus on an escape plan. All I have so far is when he goes to sleep at night. I look at the setting sun, and reason that I have at least thirty minutes before I'm forced to go to bed.

I lay back and start to make idle chit-chat. "So... Why do you need money?"

Cyanide looks up at me. "I've got no job and a family to support, my lady."

"Where are you from?"

"What is this, an interrogation? I'm sorry to say this but your a prisoner how can you be so calm about all of this?"

I shrug. "I'm actually not, it just appears so. What is the other guy who wants to kill me like?" A strange question for a strange situation.

"He's ruthless, and a trained assassin. I made that deal out of need, only in my wildest dreams would I think I could win. But I was gaining a name, and he took notice." He looks at me. "He's probably after us right now, lurking in the shadows, listening to us." He chuckles. "If I had to choose, I would rather be captured be myself. He might slay you on the spot because he didn't kill you the first time. He has absolutely no pity." Cyanide looks at the setting sun. "We should reach the town tomorrow, so go to sleep."

He secures my bonds and throws a blanket over me.

I look into the distance, a forest, my country, a plain in between us. My initial idea to run away in the night seems pretty silly. While worrying about my current captor, I forgot about the other assassin. I think about what Cyanide said.

'He's probably after us right now, lurking in the shadows, listening to us. He might slay you on the spot because he didn't kill you the first time.'

Could a man with no pity exist? A man with no mercy or compassion? Could Mother Earth let such a man walk freely among others, or is there a purpose? Why did that white haired boy save me? Are my friends and family coming for me, or do they think I'm dead somewhere?

Plagued by questions, I fall into a deep slumber.