Different Paths (Paths #1)[ON HOLD]

CHAPTER 6

Ariala

Finally Ichad's party was here and it couldn't have come at a better time. All week I had been seeing shadows in every nook and cranny. It probably didn't help that Ranou had been so calm these past few days...like he was planning something.

I had told Henri of my suspicions but he had waved them off. "You are just nervous about seeing Ichad,that's all,"he had said.

The hosts are scattered around the small clearing seeing that each and every guest is having a good time. The wine and food are making rounds as well.
The only reason they were not crowding me was because of my cloak.

I had chosen a cloak as black as the midnight sky. It was perfect in diverting the attention away from me.

I let my shoulders relax. Throughout the week I had been tense,this was precisely what I needed to just let go. I take a deep breath and let it out slowly.
Glancing around my lips curve slowly as I take in Henri and Ichad squabbling over something.

I make my way over to them."The party is awe-inspiring,Ichad. You have totally outdone yourself."

"I'm glad it pleases you,even more so that you could come." I kiss him on both cheeks.
"I met your messenger. Where did you get her? The girl can be quick as a mouse."

He laughed. It was throaty,vibrant and of mirth."She's a distant relation,my sister's husband's uncle's something something else." His face turned serious in an instant,"I hate to take you away from some good time but there are matters to be discussed."

"As it should be. Bring Henri with you,I will be by the ships." I turned away from him,drew the cloak closer and began to make my way to the ships.

It took some time for the host to be separated from his party but Henri managed to drag him off.
"Tell me.What are the reports from Sidoan?"

"The rebels have started acting,nothing big as you said;a careless fire here,some petty thievery there. Honestly,they want to do more harm,they want their presence acknowledged and-"

"And we agreed that to do that would be to turn this mission into a suicide." I forced myself to calm down. Typical how men always want to do foolish things simply because a woman was able to get knowledge that could make or mar their lives for a lifetime.

"There is some new knowledge." I take a deep breath,neither of them was going to like what I was about to say.
"Ranou has told the emperor that to help quell the uprising there should be new recruits. He is planning to build an army."

"Sidoan already has an army." Ichad said, his brows furrowing.

"Aye. He plans to build another."

His brows almost touch each other now. Henri shuffles from foot to foot."All able bodied men are already in the army so unless he wants to share the army in half-"

Understanding dawns on his face and his eyes whip to mine,"Tell me what I am thinking couldn't possibly be true. Tell me he doesn't plan to recruit helpless women and children."

I was at a loss for words with which to console him. Child soldiers were a sore point for Ichad.He had been forced as a child to witness the horrors of war. Most of his playmates were recruited, children forced and taught how to kill. I never knew how he escaped from such fate and he never shared.

It was his dark past that he very much wanted to escape. He begins to pace,"I'll kill him first. I'll slaughter his battalions. I'll kill any one of them that touches a child with my bare hands."

"I think I will rest better if I knew that they could atleast put up some resistance. I think we should train the women."

I can see in their eyes that they don't think it will work but then the words of the gods flash through my mind.
Indeed the future lies not in stone.

Henri

I whistle as I walk back home,the perfect picture of a content happy man. That was perhaps the reason I didn't see them on time.

I stumble back as five soldiers ambush me on every side. They hold me down as the king walks up to me,a man trailing behind him.

"This is the one?",his voice like hard steel rang out."Yes,my lord." The other man answered. He puts his boot on my throat and looks at me like an insect he would so love to crush.

How?,I asked myself over and over again. We had been so careful not even her friends knew of us and yet here I was, about to face Ranou's wrath.

I had to think of something and fast,"I would think it is in your best interest not to kill me." I smirked despite my pounding heart.
Ranou's eyes turned darker,"I would think it is in your best interest to shut up." He pressed his boot harder.

I wheezed,"If you kill me, she will destroy you. Make no mistake about that. You have no idea what she is capable of."

"And you are the one who does?"

"I have seen her train with the Old Prophet. She is absolutely deadly. She would destroy you totally and I will be cackling in the Underworld."

The man beside him,must be his manservant whispered into his ear. I wasn't entirely bluffing,Ari would destroy him but I fear what he would do to her.

He casts dark eyes at me once more before removing his boot and ordering for me to be thrown into the dungeon.

I was thinking of how to get a message to Ari when something heavy hit me upside my head and I fell into darkness.