The Lone House of Fire

Chapter 6

        A solemn Azria sat next to her father as he received news of the carriages that were approaching fast. Months had passed since the letter had arrived and although Azria was excited at first, she soon recovered and a scowl covered her gorgeous face. After all, why would they aid someone who once turned their back on them.

       Her father noticed the look on her face and he laughed lightly, "Azaria, my princess, you must learn to forgive and forget. We must not live in the past and instead look forward to the future."

        Azria sighed, "Yes father, I understand, but I fear you are too trusting."

        She took both of her fathers' hands in hers' and looked deep into his eyes.

        "Papa, I love you, but I fear that those people," she spat out, "will betray us once again."

        King Akbah gingerly touched her cheek and kissed her softly on her forehead, "Don't you worry child. The oracles have not seen any warning signs. It seems the gods are on our side this time. Besides, if they dare to double cross us, I don't doubt that either you or the Ember Knights will do something about it."

        Azria lightly smiled at that and hugged her father, "Thank you Papa."

        "You're very much welcome, princess. Now go on and find your little friend but be sure to be back in time for the arrival of the Northerners"

        Azria nodded and said her goodbye as she began to make her way to the gardens, where she knew Arman would be.

~~~

        Azria found Arman sitting on the roof of one of the main towers. She remembered the first time they had both stumbled upon that beautiful roof.

        Three children crowded over Arman as he tried to play with his simple wooden horse. He didn't remember a time that he wasn't ridiculed by the bigger kids, and he didn't doubt that it would continue forever, seeing as he was bony and short, in other words, a weakling. He didn't have anyone to protect him, as he was raised in an orphanage, and never really set out to make any friends.

        The largest of the three children, and also the strongest, yanked the toy out of his grasp and Arman struggled a bit to take it back.

        The large kid, whom later made a habit of bullying Arman and was named Hassan, began to taunt and his stupid face showed little emotion as he jeered, "Aww is tiny Ar-man going to cry?"

        The two followers began to laugh and Arman felt someone suddenly lift him into the air.

        Hassan had grabbed him from his shirt and threw him to the ground once again. The two followers chortled with laughter but suddenly stopped as a dark looming figure appeared behind Arman.

        "Hey!" The person behind Arman yelled out.

        Hassan and his two followers stared at the person in disbelieve. After all, who would be foolish enough to confront the great Hassan? He was, after all, taller than the daring soul and much stronger, Arman noticed once he was able to turn around and take a proper look at the figure.

        Hassan then snapped out of his daze and gave a daring look at the person whom defied him.

        "Who do you think you are?" He questioned.

        The figure stared at him hard before letting her eyes travel down to Arman, whom was still on floor, lifting himself slightly using the calm of his hands. Arman stared back into two unmasked eyes, blue and friendly, he noticed.

        A hand then slowly began to make its way up, to which Hassan and his goons retaliated by taking out their wooden, but sharp, knives. However, that did not stop the person from slowly lowering the hood of the cape and the scarf that covered the person's mouth and nose.

        Slowly, then all at once, long black hair was revealed like spilled ink over blank parchment. Blue eyes like diamonds, Arman swore he saw captured stars among them. Tan and even skin that reminded him of brown sugar and looked soft to the touch. She was magnificent.

        Arman then noticed that the people around him had kneeled and bowed their heads, among them was Hassan, and he began to worry whether or not he should join them. He began to shift over, seeing as he was still on the ground, but a hand on his shoulder stopped him. He lifted his head and saw a halo of light around the girls head.

        "Please stand," she whispered to him, and then said louder, "All of you, please stand."

        The crowd of people did as she asked and began to return to whatever they had been doing before.

        Arman turned around to see that Hassan and his goons had left and placed his attention on the girl that was still standing there.

        "Come on, I'll clean that up for you," She beckoned him towards the roof of the abandoned church, and only then did he realize the blood pouring from his knee.

        They both wearily climbed up the beaten uneven wall and onto the roof. Arman noticed that it was completely bare, there were no blankets, nor clothes anywhere. The only type of sign that showed this place as a lived in environment was the small chest that occupied the far left corner.

        The girl walked over to the chest and opened it using a key that was tied to a buckle on her pants. She pulled out some bandages, cotton, and a miniature vial that contained, what Arman could only guess as, alcohol. She then walked over to him and wet the cotton with the liquid from the vial.

        She gave him a look that said sorry and gently placed it on the wound on his knee. He hissed, but remembered the girl's presence and tried to make it look as if it didn't sting.

        The girl laughed and began to wrap his knee in the clean bandage. Once the cloth was wrapped tightly, she put everything in its place and sat down next to a quiet Arman.

        "Hey, are you okay?" She asked him.

        He merely nodded and stared at the blue sky.

        A moment of silence passed before a weak voice rang in the air, "Thank you."

       The girl looked at the skinny boy and smiled slightly, "You're welcome."

        The two once again entered an awkward silence as they both stared at the sun which was setting.

       The girl turned to face him once again when she heard him ask, "Are you an angel?"

         She then chuckled and smiled, "No, my name is Azria."

        "My name is Arman," he said smiling.

        He now had a friend. He had never had one before, and a wave of euphoria overcame him. He would have someone to play with, care for, and love. He had never experienced love before...