The Insurgency

Chapter 4

A/N: Please vote and comment if you liked the chapter : ) Thanks for reading xD

They walked in perfect silence after that. Delilah had her eyes trained on the road all the time, just hoping the man beside her would not turn out to be a killer, while the strange man took in his surroundings with curiosity lit eyes.

Delilah's village came into view. The entrance of the village had a large gate with its name Wolvreck scribbled on it. She stopped right there and turned towards the stranger.

"From here, you will have to go on your own. Keep walking until you reach a village named Manbeck," she said, remembering her way from Orshore to Wolvreck. "I suggest you stay at an inn in Manbeck for tonight and leave in the morning. I do not remember the way after this." she told him truthfully, "But you can always ask people there."

The stranger smiled a little at her, before bowing his head, "Thank you for your help." his face then morphed into a serious one as he took a step closer, "I am highly sorry for your loss. Was that your sister they took away?"

Delilah's eyes widened in surprise. Looking away, she asked, "How-You were there at the fest today?"

"Yes, I was and I am deeply sorry for what happened."

"It's okay." she said in a soft voice, "She-the Gods have chosen her. She shall be fine. She is lucky." Delilah repeated Mr Morkel's statement, though a single tear escaped from her eye. The man tilted his head and smiled funnily at her.

"I did not take you as someone who believes in all this nonsense." he chuckled making her frown, "Guess there are not many things I am right about." he continued, shaking his head, strands of his hair becoming a mess in the process.

"What-What are you talking about?" she questioned and took a step back.

"The maid of the Lord thing is senseless," he stated in a matter of factly voice, making Delilah gasp in surprise at his audacity.

"And I thought at least the upcoming generation was aware of this fact but-" he backed a little and looked at her with a scrutinising gaze, "-now I think this disease is not going anywhere anytime soon."

"That's blasphemy!" Delilah squealed with wide eyes which drew out a hearty laugh from the man in front of her.

"Darling," he took a step closer, "fear of God is no religion, it's superstition. I will take your leave, now. Thank you for telling me the directions." he bowed and took hold of her hand which rested on Timothy's back, and kissed the back of her hand.

Delilah's mouth hung open and cheeks flushed. The man took note of her expression and chuckled in response and walked away.

Delilah turned around to enter the village entrance, but not before hearing a familiar voice holler from behind her, "Take care, madam! Try not to get in trouble again!" making Delilah walk faster towards her home.

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Delilah stood up after planting the last walnut sapling. Stepping back, she looked at the farm she had been working on since morning.

Among okra, Jerusalem artichokes, spinach, onions and tomatoes; there were saplings of walnuts and pistachios as well.

"This would be enough." She thought to herself, her gaze falling upon the distant house of the Landlord whose farm they had taken on rent. Their own farm back at home did not yield much but it was enough for them to survive. Now, as they have left their home behind, they needed to build it from the scrap.

Looking up at the sky, she saw the red Sun slowly hiding behind the mountains, ready to disappear.

"Deli! Are you coming home or not?" she heard Timothy shout as he came running towards her through the trails.