The Ties that Bind Me Book 1

Of Loss and Love

I stepped back and looked at Lolek. I had a bit of fear in my eyes at his seriousness. "What's going on?"

He started to pace again. "It seems we were found out a few months back and Ghassan is livid. He has decided to split us all up when the next slave market starts. I didn't hear dates but it seems that Ghassan wanted me to know. We have to do our best to get you trained before they do this. And then of course you and I run across another problem. I won't leave you Imiri, I can't I love you too much. I don't want the life I had before you got here."

I held him tight as his shoulders started to shake, the fear and emotion was just too much. I moved us over to the bed and sat with him as I quietly ran over the problem in my head. I couldn't lose Lolek, he was the best thing that had ever entered my life and he had showed me that even when life gets hard you can find things worth living for, he was that for me. My mind raced with ideas of what would happen, of what could happen and what we together could do. My breath caught in my throat as a great idea passed over my brain.

I moved him to where I could look into his eyes. "My love, run away with me. Let's escape and make our way somewhere else. You and I could do it, with the amount of training I will get between now and then, we could fight our way out of here. I know it sounds crazy but we have to do something, we can't let them separate us and I won't be here any longer than I have to."

His eyes got wide for a moment before he smiled, got up and spun me around. "You are genius Imiri, that is what we will do. We will do our best to finish as much of your training as we can and then we will bust out of this hellhole. Thank you Imiri, thank you for giving me my hope back."

He kissed me then, a no nonsense passionate kiss that lasted me throughout the day since he had to leave and talk to the others about our plan. I slept that day and it was blissful as well as refreshing. Close to sundown Lolek woke me and I moved towards the east wall for my training. I wasn't going to let anyone down and if I had to I would get them out of this situation to. Ghassan wasn't known for his kindness and they would be going to places that would be worse than where they were now. I entered the training ground stretched and centered myself and as I did I felt a blindfold over my eyes. No words were spoken but the battles ensued.

Each movement was amazingly fluid and in time I could imitate them perfectly. We were moving in a flawless dance of death and I felt more calm and relaxed than I had when we started. Hours passed and I could feel a different movement to the dance and knew that it wasn't Hao I was fighting anymore. It was a new challenge for me but I worked through and learned that everything I had learned up to this point was preparing me for the next. I used each skill I had learned to fight the opponent, my strength to push the back, flexibility to maneuver, and each defensive movement to be able to fight back and defend myself. After a while I had lost track of time but every now and then my opponent would change. Then I was getting attacked on two fronts then three. I was being tested to my maximum level and I pushed myself through pain and tiredness, but I wouldn't stop. I had endangered those who would help me and the least I could do was to work my hardest and what they wished me to know.

All of a sudden the movement stopped and I stood still, the blindfold over my eyes. I felt someone walk over to me and remove it and I looked around to see that Hao, Gethin and Sarki were fighting me, pushing me beyond my limits unto new ones. I bowed to each of them in turn and looked at Hao's smiling face.

Hao* لقد تجاوزت كل شيء كنت أتمنى أن يكون. لو التقينا في ظروف مختلفة ، لا أعتقد أنني كنت سأعمل معك. عزمك قوي Imiri ويسرني أن أتيحت لي الفرصة للتعرف عليك. (You have surpassed everything I could have ever have hoped for. Had we met under different circumstances I don't think I would have worked with you. Your resolve is strong Imiri and I am glad that I had the chance to know you.)

My body tensed up from panic and my eyes welled up with tears.

Imiri* تعال معنا ، جميعكم. وأنا أعلم أننا يمكن أن تجعل من دون مشكلة. أنا لا أريد أن أرى أسوأ يأتي إليك من طلبي. لقد أصبحت عائلة لي. هاو أنت مثل الأخ بالنسبة لي ، مفرطة في القوة وتحاول ألا تؤذيني ، ولكن تدفعني إلى ما وراء حدودي في كل مرة. Gethin أنت مثل الأب بالنسبة لي ، أكثر بكثير مما كان يمكن أن يكون والدي من أي وقت مضى. لا أستطيع أن أتركك هنا ، من فضلك ، يرجى الحضور معنا عندما نغادر. (Come with us, all of you. I know we could make it out without a problem. I don't want to see worse come to you from my request. You have become family to me. Hao you are like a brother to me, overprotective and trying not to hurt me, yet pushing me past my limits each time. Gethin you are like a father to me, so much more than my father could have ever been. I can't leave you here, please, please come with us when we leave.)

All three shook their heads at me, there answer, no. Gethin came to me and hugged me tight.

Gethin* يا عزيزتي ، لقد عشنا هذا طويلًا جدًا للعودة الآن. أعرف أنني لن أتمكن من العيش هناك دائمًا على كتفي. على الأقل أنا أعيش في عرين الأسد ويمكن أن أراه قادمًا. نحن أقوياء بما فيه الكفاية لجعل طريقنا في العالم الذي وضعناه فيه. لكنك يا ابنتي اللطيفة ، أنت لا تنتمي هنا. (My dear we have lived this like too long to go back now. I know I for one wouldn't be able to live out there always looking over my shoulder. At least I am living in the lion's den and can see it coming. We are strong enough to make our own way in the world we have been placed in. But you my gentle daughter, you don't belong here.)

Gethin moved back and Hao moved forward, his eyes were hard but his face held the lopsided smile I had come to know.

Hao* يشرفني أنك ستطلب مني أن آتي معك ، صحيح أنني حاولت حمايتك في البداية ، لكنك فقط أخت صغيرة جيدة. وأنا أتفق مع Gethin كنا لفترة طويلة في عرين الأسد أننا لا نعرف حياة أخرى. أنت ، يجب أن تكون لديك فرصة للعيش ، للعيش حقًا. أنت ولوليك مناسبان تمامًا وأوافق على أنه يجب أن يذهب معك. اعتن بأختي ، وأنا فخور بالاتصال بك. الآن أنا أسلمك إلى أيدي ساركي القديرة وسيعلمك الأسلحة بأفضل ما يستطيع. أختي الحب كلها ، لأن هذا هو المكان الذي طرق طرق. (I am honored that you would ask me to come with you, it is true I tried to protect you at first, but you do just fine little sister. I agree with Gethin we have been so long in the lion's den that we know no other life. You, you should have a chance to live, to really live. You and Lolek are well suited and I agree he should go with you. Take care my sister, and I am proud to call you that. Now I hand you into the capable hands of Sarki and he will teach you weapons the best he can. My entire love sister, for this is where we part ways.)

Both Gethin and Hao left then bowing to me deeply one last time before walking out of my life. But part of them would always be with me and I would cherish that all through my days.