Sil stayed up for a while, to guard while Eleni and Riya slept. The travel wore him out but he couldn't sleep. The forest was famous for its wild animals running amok at night, hunting for prey. He stared at his new 'family'. He was panicking inside, a single step wrong and the Dealer would take his life. No Mercenary leader was as strong as Dealer. The mercenaries not knowing his name was what gave him even more power.
The Dealer was powerful, in terms of strength, intelligence and even in the underworld. Sil had accompanied him on a few visits. Everyone immediately bowed to him when they knew of him. Sil had only seen his face once. When he first joined the group. The time when the Dealer was just a young boy of 19. A naughty noble, trying his hand in the underworld business.
Looking back, he was more like a friend. But things became different when he met that woman..... And now, he is a madman. Sil tried to convince him to walk down a good path, but he knew he couldn't change him once Dealer killed a fellow mercenary for refusing a mission as it was his wedding day.
Since then, their bond of friendship turned into a master-slave relation, with the cords of control wrapped tightly over his neck. He had to overthrow him to get him back to his senses. But Dealer was to good in his work. He left no loopholes, be it a murder, a theft, a heist or a tax document.
When Dealer assigned the task of Eleni, Sil asked him, why was such a huge bounty there on a small girl? The Dealer didn't reply but just said, " Its an order from the higher ups. I have no authority.", Hearing this Sil was shocked. Someone higher than Dealer? The Leader Tegan? Who?
His head ached as he thought about it. In his thoughts he slowly dozed away, unable to fight against his body's fatigue. He woke up to Riya tapping on his shoulders. He opened his eyes lazily to see her bright green eyes panicking.
"What's wrong? Do you feel alright? The baby?", He asked panicking.
"No! Not the baby! Its Eleni! Where is she?!", She screamed at his face.
Sil turned and the place where Eleni should be sleeping, there was just a shawl. He got up and took his sword to look for her. As he came out he bumped into someone, and saw. It was Eleni.
"E-Eleni?? Where were you?", He screamed.
"I was just relieving myself... I am sorry...", she said slowly.
"Still! Its not an excuse! Do you know how many wild animals stay here? You could have asked Riya!", Sil said.
"I apologize.", she said, her eyes filled with tears.
"Uh.. I.. didn't.. mean to.. scold-", Sil fumbled on how to console her. But she could have informed him or Riya..
"Stop it Sil! You're making her cry!", Riya came and hugged Eleni.
"I am really sorry, for everything.", Eleni cried on and on.
"We are sorry too, We care for you. I know its strange, a day ago we were strangers but now we are asking you to be a family with us. Its hard for you to trust us, but you should know we risked our whole lives and friends just to save you. We don't expect anything from you. We just want all of us to have a second chance at our life... Do you want to?", Riya asked.
"I... I never had a family... I.. don't know..", Eleni cried and said through her tears, her big blue eyes shined bright and looked glittery in the fire.
"Aw, It's okay, We are one from now.", Riya said pulling in Eleni for a hug.
"I... I am sorry.", Sil said.
"..", Eleni just stared at him.
"I know, I was one of the guys chasing after you and that you don't believe me, but I can assure you. I really want to help you. So, you should inform me, of your troubles, your likes and dislikes then I can proceed so..", Sil said as Riya mouthed him what all he needed to say.
"Its fine, I know you helped me. I .. trust you.", Eleni said as though that phrase was unfamiliar to her.
"I will be frank with you.", Sil said.
"...?..", Eleni looked at Sil with doubt.
"My boss was given 30 million to kill you. Normally a person's killing takes about 10,000. The rates go higher with status. The amount for assassination of the Holy Leader Tegan himself is 29 million. Who are you?". Sil asked.
"I.. am Eleni.", she said not meeting Sil's eyes. Riya tried to stop the conversation but Sil wanted to.. no.. he needed to know the answer.
"No one can easily get that much amount ready for an illegal business. If anyone makes a purchase for a service or item over the range of a million they are immediately jailed in suspicion of tax fraud. ", Sil continued.
"Honey, Don't..", Riya tried to stop.
"It is possible to escape under two situations, one, when your yearly paycheck is over a billion. two, when the task is carried by those who are assigned to stop it.", Eleni said.
"The only ones who get a billion are, the Dukes and Royalty of other nations, No one in Ezekiel has that much of a capacity except the Dealer of course.", Sil continued.
"Yes, It wasn't a foreigner. It was one of Ezekiel.", Eleni said.
"What do you mean? The only one who can get that much amount in a year is the Temple Leader... No way! Is Holy Leader Tegan behind you??", Riya shrieked.
"Yes.", Eleni said calmly looking at the fire.
"What? No way! he can barely hurt a mosquito! Why would he?" Sil asked.
"I.. I learnt something.. and I did something very wrong.", Eleni said.
"What's that gotta do with killing you? If children do wrong you must give them a scolding. That's it.. not a whole fricking group of assassins.", Sil complained.
"I put the whole world in danger. I brought something I shouldn't have.", Eleni said.
"How can you? It sounds very absurd that you brought harm to this world..", Riya said.
"Exactly.", Sil agreed.
"The solution to that is removing me. If I don't exist, The world is safe.", Eleni said and tears fell again from her cheeks.
"I don't think so.", Sil said placing his hand on hers.
"Me neither.", Riya said tucking away a golden curl behind Eleni's ear.
"Why?", Eleni asked.
"I don't think anyone is born to be killed. We may have purposes but Death isn't one, everyone is born to do something, feel something, be something. If you think that is your destiny... A destiny you can't escape... then just... undo it. Undo your destiny.", Sil said.
"Undo my Destiny?", Eleni asked.
"Yes, I was destined to be a farmer but here I am saying philosophical things to you while I still don't know how to plant a rose.", Sil said and he and Riya laughed.
"That wasn't even a joke...", Eleni said.
"It was.. I crack a lot of jokes you know." Sil said proudly and Eleni burst laughing.
"Finally you look like a kid.", Riya mumbled to herself.
"Just do what you can to escape from that bad fate and run after what you want.... Life changes itself and will bend to you.", Sil said.
"Yes, I will... I will Undo my Destiny!", Eleni said.
"Good, Now since the sun arose, We need to get moving. We have to reach Lozano territory by evening.. Can you both manage that?", Sil asked.
"Yes.. I think I can.", Riya said.
"I will!", Eleni said *grrrowl~* Eleni turned red with embarrassment as her stomach growled.
"Hahaha... It's okay kiddo, we will have breakfast soon.", Sil said and patted her head.
"Oh yeah.. I almost forgot..", Sil said.
"What?", Riya asked.
"Eleni, your hair.. you have to hide it... Lozano Nobles only possess blonde hair.", Sil said.
"Yeah, her bright hair would be a problem. It will attract unnecessary attraction.", Riya complained braiding Eleni's hair.
"Should I dye it?", Eleni asked.
"That would be for the best, but we don't have any dyes with us... " Sil said.
"I am sure there would be some markets in the nearby towns.. Which color do you want?", Riya asked.
"Red, like you.", Eleni said.
"I see, Okay then, We will take it at the next stop.. Let's go now..", Sil said packing up and removing traces of their visit and stay there.
Eleni felt strangely uncomfortable leaving the cave. It was the first time in the week that she felt this secure somewhere that she woke up thinking it was all a dream. She hadn't yet told everything to them, she was still scared. What if just like him... they would also betray her? But she just silenced her worries.
There was a hope in her heart, she felt warm and cozy when she stayed with them. A happy feeling. Maybe they won't betray her... She made up her mind to speak about it. Her crime..