The men led them to the same small river where the original Jungle Followers had, and placed them in a small canoe.
The husband and wife sat next to each other, his hand intertwined with hers.
Raindrops were still falling at a steady pace and drummed loudly on the jungle leaves and the wood of the boat. The water was murky from the drops and swirled in a filthy brown and swamp green.
Looking up Bastian noted that the man who he'd spoken to, who appeared to be their leader, was steering the boat carefully with a long pole that pushed the canoe along.
He turned to look at Hydrangea and grew worried at her blank expression. He pulled the hood of her cloak on and squeezed her hand gently to get her attention. She met his eyes and without a word spoken he asked with his eyes if she was alright.
She gave a small nod.
After gliding down the small river for a few more minutes they stopped the canoe and were guided out.
Standing on the shore, their hands still holding the other's, they watched an exchange between the leader and his two subordinates. He met her eyes when one of them pointed across to them. She gave a sigh and a look that he understood to say, "What can we do?"
He gave a tilt of his head and gave her a playful look. They had not taken his sword yet, which was rather reckless on their part. He chuckled internally when he remembered that he was supposed to be a simple farmer.
He wiped the rain from his brow, wishing he had a cloak of his own, but he'd left his back at their camp.
With the poor horse.
He tightened his hold on her hand when the leader walked towards them, "As a precaution we will blindfold you."
He straightened and gripped her hand fiercely when he heard her gasp sharply. She glanced to him with a look of panic. He inhaled slowly when he thought of the last time they'd been blindfolded in Crescent.
The two other men came towards them with strips of fabric in their hands.
"Bastian." He heard her whisper and turned to face her. She was shaking her head, "I don't want to be blindfolded."
"It's not a request." The leader chuckled but signalled for his men to wait. Bastian shot him a look but returned his focus to Hydrangea.
The rain had dampened her porcelain white skin, her lashes were soaked and dark shielding her precious eyes.
He cupped her cheek tenderly and hoped that she could understand his emotions. He stuck his free hand out in the rain, "You can feel that, right?"
She blinked a few times then held her own hand out, her eyes softening, "I can."
He smiled, trying not to let his fear show in his eyes, "We'll be fine." He kissed her damp forehead and opening his eyes he saw she was staring up at him with determined eyes.
Leaning up on her toes she planted a kiss on his lips. He blinked, shock and happiness overtaking his mind. He wanted to laugh, to shout to the skies that his wife, his flower had finally kissed him.
His chest surged with warmth when he met her eyes that shone with the rain.
The warmth didn't leave him as the blindfolded was secured over both their eyes. He felt stronger than ever. They bound his hands and he felt his sword removed from his belt, but his knives were still hidden securely in his boots.
The circumstances were different from when they'd been in Crescent. In Crescent they'd both been convinced that they were facing their deaths. He'd thought that that would've been the last he'd see of her.
The thought, even now, constricted his breath.
The men grabbed his upper arm and led him up a slope. The rain drowned out the sounds that he'd grown accustomed to over the past few days. But, despite the pitter-pattering sound he began to hear people; feet shuffling about, whispers and mutterings. And he could've sworn he caught the sound of farm animals.
He began to feel a burning need to be able to see Hydrangea. He couldn't hear her. He was tempted to call out her name, but he wasn't sure what repercussions would follow.
His feet began walking on packed earth instead of loose dirt and plants. He heard the voice of the leader shout out but he couldn't understand it or distinguish a single word because of the rain.
He was pushed forwards harshly. His head shot up when he heard Hydrangea groan in objection, but she was close to him. He wished he could see her.
They were led down what felt like a cave by how their footfalls echoed and the way their atmosphere felt narrowed.
His shoulder was pulled on and he stumbled to a stop, finding it hard to balance with his wrists tied.
One pair of feet walked off a short distance and he heard hushed voices. He concentrated on the tones and was able to discern that one of them was the leader of the three men, and the other he guessed to be the chief.
The voices silenced and he was pushed forward again.
He stumbled down a step and heard a strangled sound come out of Hydrangea's throat. He immediately looked in the direction of where she was but the coarse fabric blocked his sight. They were forced to kneel on a rough, hard surface.
"Nos deixe. Amaru, voce fica.(Leave us. Amaru, you stay.)" A voice said and Bastian heard footsteps depart from there.
He could feel that they were in an enclosed room, it was rather warm and he could smell smoke, mixed with another scent.
"My son tells me that you're a simple farmer from, Waxingville was it?"
"Yes, chief."
"Yes.. and you've travelled all this way… why?"
Bastian blinked beneath the blindfold, "I did not want to live in a country that was being torn apart. It was dangerous for my wife and for-"
"Silence." The voice interrupted and Bastian clenched his jaw. "What is your name?"
Bastian remained silent, there were many names he knew but they fled him at that moment and only "Hiraeth" came to mind.
"Perhaps your wife will remember." The voice threatened.
"Hiraeth." He spat out, "Bastian Hiraeth." He cursed himself for not thinking of a different name.
He heard the person hum, "And does his wife agree?"
"Yes." Hydrangea's unshaken voice spoke, "My name is Hydrangea Hiraeth, wife to Bastian Hiraeth."
He smiled at the pride and affection he felt for her using his name.
"Remova suas vendas.(Remove their blindfolds.)" The voice said and Bastian felt the fabric around his eyes fall away. He looked up and blinked as he adjusted to the dim light in the room.
His eyes instantly searched for Hydrangea. He relaxed upon seeing her watching him, her face resolute.
Turning his head to the right he saw the chief directly in front of him.
"Why are you in the Aladera?" He asked, his bronze skin lit by the fire at the far left of the room.
"The lords that have taken the throne burned my land. So, I took my wife and fled to Crescent, in hopes that we could start a new life there. But we discovered that it was just as dangerous there, so we fled across the mountains and are here now." He lied effortlessly.
"You didn't flee into Viskogorny?"
"No. We decided that northern Selva would be the most secluded."
The chief leaned back on his seat and revealed more if his person. He wore a thick headband with bright colours patterned into it. His tunic was bright green with red strips and his poncho was the same as the warriors; brown with white accents.
"It is secluded." He paused, his eyes observing both of them scrutinizingly. After a minute of silence with just the fire to breach it, he spoke, "You may stay in this territory for one day. At the end of that time my warriors will escort you to the Umatu."
The Jungle Territory.
Bastian nodded, "You have our thanks."
The chief nodded, "From there you will travel to Lake Kuratuma and leave Selva. I would send my warriors with you to guide you, but the Umatu is too dangerous for them."
Bastian nodded again. A plan had already formed in his mind.
"Then you have my leave. Amaru will lead you to where you may stay. Asmulheres preparam algumas roupas para cadaum deles, nao queremos quenossos convidados fiquem enjetos dechuva.(Have the women prepare some clothes for each of them, we don't want our guests to get rain sickness.)"
"Of course, chief." Amaru bowed and then cut Hydrangea's and his bonds, "Follow me."
Bastian helped Hydrangea to rise and he frowned upon seeing that her clothes were soaking wet. They looked heavy on her shoulders.
He tucked a strand of her damp hair behind her ears and smiled at her. Then grabbing her hand he marched off following the chief's apparent son.