I am known as Iris Aniv-Calbran, though not anymore. Not since Alev Sunr took the chief title and arrested my whole family, executing everyone but me, as he intended to wed me. Heavens forbid! He changed his mind very quickly, ordering that everyone else in the cell be executed on the next day. They all begged me to agree to wed Alev Sunr. All except four teenagers like me.
They didn't even look at me. They had their heads bent together, conversing in whispers. I crawled over to them despite my chains and told them I would help.
.
I sat down near Cao and mopped his forehead. At least I could do it now, without his sister looking as if she wanted to shred me to bits. His face looked so tranquil in his sleep, I traced it with my finger.
I'd always liked Cao. He didn't know I knew him before the prison break, that a chief's daughter hid in the branches of a maple tree in his grandfather's yard, listening to him tell his sister stories and laugh with her.
.
Ruha looked up. I heard it too. My hearing was the best, in the group. I glanced at Cao's immobile figure and sighed.
"That's the horse neighing isn't it?" Ruha asked me. I nodded, saying nothing. I didn't like Ruha. Zin preferred her to me, and I couldn't stand that. I took Cao's hand and solemnly promised, in my heart, to do all I could to stand beside him in the future.
"We're back!" Oki's excited voice drifted to us, "come out, Ruha, Iris!"
I motioned to Ruha to go. I would remain by Cao's side. I heard Ruha say:
"Brother Oki, Sister Zin, you're really quick!"
Zin came into the cave. I rose up quickly, deciding to go along with this grand-aunt's wishes until I gained her trust. She didn't glance at me once throughout.
Oki came into the room.
"Zin, the sooner we leave, the better. Let me lift Cao into the wagon,"
Zin stood away from Cao and nodded to Oki. He immediately lifted him carefully and went outside. I followed behind Zin, biting my lip.
I looked at the horse they'd brought back. Chestnut, with a white blaze down it's nose, brown eyes fixed on Zin.
"All ready, let's go," Oki said.
Zin jumped into the wagon and sat beside Cao, who had been laid on his back. Ruha climbed in as well. Oki looked at me.
"Going in?"
"I'll walk," I said.
.
I'd never been more happy, realizing we had left the jungle behind and were now on the official road to Axihome. The sun shone overhead, warming up my skin. We passed several travellers. They all gazed curiously at us. We looked a state! Having lived wild in the jungle for a while, I understood their stares.
"Those are my people," Ruha came down from the wagon and pointed out some dozen dark skinned travellers ahead, "Elamoors are hospitable," without further words, she ran up to them.
Oki glanced at me.
"So she's an Elamoor?"
I said nothing.
But from what I knew, they might be hospitable to Ruha, they certainly wouldn't be hospitable to us.
A middle aged man came back with her.
"Join our company," he said stiffly, eyes darting rapidly from Zin to Oki and I, trying to find out who was the boss.
Zin nodded to Oki. We rode forwards and joined their company.
"Going to Axihome?" a pretty woman in the lead wagon asked Ruha. She nodded.
"Yes, to Furhad,"
The woman smiled.
"My son is in Furhad. He hasn't come home in a while. Drenh." she had a dreamy look in her eyes, "his father went to Furhad, and his grandfather as well,"
The middle aged man who'd come to invite us got excited.
"Yes, yes! Young master Drenh really lives up to expectations--"
I got distracted by a noise coming from the trees lining either sides of the road. Within three breaths, the road before us was blocked by bandits, the road behind by more of them.
"Hand over your possessions!"
The pretty woman we were with frowned.
"Outrageous! On the road to Axihome! Saled! Ferme!"
Her personal warriors jumped out and engaged the bandits. The other wagons weren't idle either. Every person that could fight joined the fray.
Oki looked at Zin.
"I'll join the fight!"
"Me too!" I said.
We both ran to the front. A burly bandit with earrings in his nose charged at us, taking us for two ordinary kids. Oki kicked him in the stomach and he bowled over, but still made a swipe at his head. I condensed my raw magic into a sword and parried his blow, making him stumble. He was just an ordinary person!
I rushed forwards and sank my sword into his belly, flipping him over despite his size. Strength was everything.
Blood splattered everywhere, and his eyes widened, not quite believing he had been killed by a sixteen year old. But a mage. That was an honour for his wretched life.