"See. I told you to not get yourself involved with them. It is impossible to change their thoughts." Amar looked at Ira who was intensely staring at the tight rope that binded her hands. Her mind was wandering with thoughts on how to make those people open up to her. Strangely, Ira badly wanted to talk back to him.
"Let me tell you something. Even 'Impossible' contains the word 'Possible'. I am not sure when, but if I keep trying, who knows, I might even succeed!" Her smile was so charming that it outshone the beautiful and gentle light of the moon. Her beautiful dimples were visually attractive, that Amar forgot his purpose for a second as his eyes were fixed on her beautiful cherry like lips.
His heart was beating wildly on his chest as he shyly avoided to look at her.
"Sister!" The voice of a young child was heard which disturbed the deafening silence between Amar and Ira.
Ira turned around to look at the child who was dressed in rags. He was the same boy who was drooling over her food. He looked so thin and lean for his age.
The kid called out to her again, "Sister!"
"Hmm... come here, what happened?"
"Don't be mad at our elder. He is not a bad guy. Our elder used to be someone who held a high position in the court. According to my mother, his son and grandson betrayed him and our village for the power and money that position brought them. They aided the king in all the evil things he did."
Ira quietly listened to what the young boy was telling her. How the elder was betrayed by his own family and how he lost his official position and how be became like the person he was today.
According to what the young boy told her, it was evident that the elder lost his faith in people and life. He just wanted to die out quietly....
After saying what he wanted to say the young boy left.
Ira understood what was happening. She looked at Amar with a meaningful look in her eyes.
"My Lady, I can understand that you are planning on doing something now."
Before she even spoke out, Amar guessed what she was thinking. Ira with a soft smile on her lips looked at him.
"Do you remember your words?"
"Yes, I do! No matter what it is that you do, I will do whatever it takes to protect you!"
"The time has come for me to test your words. So, how about you remove this rope? " The air around them turned serious. But the words from her mouth the next moment destroyed that seriousness.
"That is never going to happen my lady."
"Che! You are so mean!"
The long night finally ended. But someone's heart was under attack by Ira's sweet charm that he lost his precious sleep.
.....
*Sounds of galloping horses*
"Lady Ira, wake up. We have to go. We can't stay here."
Amar shook her awake. lra was a little startled as she looked at him with questinable eyes.
"What happened? Why the hurry?"
"We have no time. We have to head back to the palace immediately. I shouldn't have responded to your wish in the first place! Get ready to leave, my lady."
"Hey, hey! Stop! First tell me what happened?"
"The finance minister is here with his men. If we get spotted by them, then it will cause a huge trouble. So we have to leave!"
Seeing Amar's agitated look, Ira was quite confused. But Amar didn't explain any further as he ordered his men to clear all the traces of their existence and return to the palace.
Ira wanted to help those people badly. But she can't force her will on him anylonger. It was even a miracle that he agreed to let her stay there for one night. So she quitely decided to follow him.
The villagers were forced to gather around by the finance minister's men. They handled the villagers in a rough manner.
Ira could see everything clearly from the place she was and the others were hidden.
The elder of the village appeared before him. His eyes were filled with a strong sense of justice mixed with a light numbing pain.
"You... Why did you come back here? You have already taken everything from us. What more do you want? Get out of here!"
"Oh my! How could you treat your son this way! I'm heart broken, Father."
"Don't call me that! My son is long dead! I don't have any son. You are nothing but a monster who is greedy for wealth and power! Get out of here!"
"How could you allow this senile old man to insult this great minister!? Teach this old man a lesson! Hahaha!"
The strong and sturdy soldiers who accompanied the minister, charged towards the elder and the people with their swords unsheathed.
"Father? Is that man, the elder's son?" Ira was a little surprised to see his own son to treat him that way.
"My Lady, we don't have much time. We should not get that man's attention." Amar tried to speak sense into her, but Ira wanted to help them no matter what.
"But how can we leave them? They may not survive! We need to help them. At least, release me. I will help them. Please! Please, I beg you! Please!"
Seeing her pleading with him, Amar couldn't help but give in.
"But one condition...."
.....
"What? Who is there? Come out!" The elder's son shouted as he noticed the presence of someone behind the bushes. He ordered his men to search that place.
The moment his men went near, he was attacked.
"ARGH!"
The wicked man panicked as he climbed down from his horse and held a small child as an hostage.
"Whoever it is, come on out! If you don't, I will kill this child!"
A few men showed themselves before him. They were all dressed in rags, but for some reason, they all looked so strong and well trained.
The man ordered his underlings to attack them. But unfortunately all of them were completely knocked out leaving him in horror.
A cold and charming voice was heard from the sidelines. The face of the man was covered using a piece of black cloth which made one hard to see his face.
"Let that child go if you want to live."
The man was shaking badly, but he persisted on holding onto the child. He violently grabbed the small child's neck as he started to strangle him.