GOLDEN REBEL HEART

Chapter 11

Two, little outposts are left between the Golden Path and the Bridge. It seems surreal, to Karlie; how, in little time, the rebel movement has grown so much and has conquered so many important positions all over the country. The leader is grateful for Taylor's presence, for how the American has literally gave Pradesh a flicker of hope in the middle of the darkness that Pagan Min's tyranny caused. Karlie never expected all of this; she never expected the South to be (almost) theirs. She never expected to be so close to the King, after years and years of oppression. However, she never expected to grow feelings for the woman who has made all of this possible. They weren't as innocent as she liked to believe, because whenever Taylor wasn't there, she felt lonely. She felt as if there were a puzzle piece missing, and she hated to admit it to herself, but she didn't ask for this. After Lakshmana, she had promised herself that she wouldn't have fallen in love again, at least not when there was still a war going on outside their windows. Not when the world was falling apart around her. Still, she remembers the first time her heart had made that leap of faith, when her heart had made her whole body tremble with want and longing for a woman with blonde hair and blue eyes and perfect, full lips. Karlie remembers how she had gone to Lakshmana's temple, feeling like she was cheating on her past lover and had asked for forgiveness. She remembers the silence that had followed her prayer; how hard it had been to get up and walk the way back to Banapur. And then, there are Sanjay and Ashawary, her right-hand men, her most loyal soldiers and friends, who keep on teasing her about this little crush. They were happy for her, because they hadn't seen her so euphoric in years.

"Look at her, she's just so charming," Sanjay jokes, nudging her arm and smirking. Ashawary chuckles beside them. The olive skinned woman has short, raven hair, and crosses her arms, looking amused by the scene unfolding beside her.

The Golden Path, even though there were still two outposts left to conquer, had decided to celebrate at one of the recent positions they had captured. It was rather far from Banapur, near the mountains, therefore even though it was April, it was still a little bit too cold. The outpost was small, and there were less than twenty civilians there with the rebels, who were even less. They had built a little bonfire, and they had gathered around it to talk and to have fun. The trio, which consisted of Karlie, Sanjay and Ashawary, are all looking at Taylor, who is timidly having a conversation with three old ladies. The American was a giant beside them, and the thought makes Karlie laugh.

"So?" she replies, raising her brows at her two friends. "Good for her,"

Ashawary narrows her brown eyes. "Go, otherwise they will steal her from you," the woman teases.

"Stop," Karlie says, trying to sound serious but failing miserably when a laugh bubbles out of her throat. "It's just a little crush that will go away with time. Alright? Don't embarrass me,"

"Loud and clear, chief," Sanjay giggles.

Karlie rolls her eyes, and then with a shake of her head says, "I will go and sit down now. You might join me if you want,"

The three friends finally sit at the bonfire, and an old man gives them some food, thanking them for their service to the country. Karlie eats quietly, briefly glancing at Taylor from time to time. She's surprised when, after a whole of ten minutes, the American finally finds a seat beside her. Taylor greets them with a cheerful smile and glowing sapphire eyes, and the sight almost makes the brunette dizzy. After all that has happened to her, the scars that decorate her body make her even the more beautiful.

"Bhadra, that old woman over there, has told me that she would like to hear me play the guitar, since her son has one," Taylor says after a while, gazing at the woman beside her. Karlie's jade eyes briefly widen at the mention of the instrument, but she has no opportunity to speak because the old woman appears in front of them with, in fact, a wooden guitar.