– So beautiful, what's your name, young lady?
Izrun looked at Karayan as he walked beside him.
The man held his hand as he led him somewhere else. Looking back, he watched as he slowly lost sight of the prince.
Karayan looked worried, could this girl be mute? Or maybe she was afraid to speak. Looking carefully, her features were a little familiar, where had he seen someone like that before?
They walked for a while until they reached a calmer and quieter area, in a corridor full of doors. Karayan stopped in front of one of the doors and entered.
It was quite a luxurious room. Karayan sat Izrun down and looked at him thoughtfully for a while.
– I'll get some more suitable clothes for you, don't worry, I won't hurt you.
He left for a moment, Izrun took a deep breath, there was something about the man that gave him a sense of familiarity. Looking around he walked over to a small window, it was pretty tall.
Looking around for something that could climb, he looked at a chest next to the wall. Izrun quickly tried to push the trunk to the window, and as soon as he could, he climbed onto it to see outside.
It was still inside, where they were was a gigantic cave, he was way above the cave floor, and these rooms were apparently at the highest point.
Looking where he was previously, he caught a glimpse of Long's cage, sighing in relief to see that he was still there.
The door suddenly opened. Izrun turned around scared and Karayan stared at him in surprise.
Sighing, he walked in – You'll hurt yourself if you do that, get down there and put this on, it's more comfortable.
Karayan acted the same way, he had been a bit stunned by the girl, she wasn't trying to climb out the window, was she?
Izrun got down from the trunk, speaking lightly – Who are you?
Karayan was surprised again, looking at the girl he smiled – My name is Karayan, and you? What is your name?
Izrun approached, still suspicious, taking the robes the man offered him. It was a delicate cyan-colored dress and a pair of white shoes… he couldn't let the man find out he was a boy, otherwise he would probably be returned. Izrun pursed his lips.
- I thought it matched your eyes, you don't like it? I can get another one if you want.
Izrun shook his head, going to the corner behind the divider and changing.
A very good smell suddenly appeared, and Izrun quickly stepped out from behind the partition.
A small coffee table was filled with food.
Karayan raised a cup to his lips, by the smell it must have been tea – You must be hungry, come and eat something.
Izrun walked over to the table, eyeing the food with trepidation he remembered that Long must also be very hungry.
He murmured – My friend…
Karayan looked at him – I'm sorry, I work as a collector of beautiful things, I'm quite busy, and your friend didn't catch my attention as much as you did…
Izrun looked at him startled, seeming to realize what he had just said, Karayan choked on his tea, coughing lightly.
– I think I chose the wrong words, I just fell in love with your appearance and I have no means of taking care of more than one child, you are not an item in my collection, I am not that kind of person.
Izrun sat down, not being able to stand his hunger too much, he took a piece of a very attractive cake from the table and ate it.
Karayan sighed in relief, eating in silence.
After a while, he spoke again – If you don't have a name, I can give you one…
– Ive.
Karayan smiled – A rather simple name.
Izrun nodded, eating a few more pieces.
Watching him eat, Karayan was thoughtful, this girl reminded him of someone he had known a long time ago, but he couldn't remember who it was, it had been 15 years since his departure from the Empire, and many things had changed around here.
A knock sounded on the door suddenly, Karayan didn't spare a single glance at the blond-haired man entering the room.
– Overspending as usual, why did you choose such a room...
Izrun looked at Alessa in surprise, who also stared at him stunned.
Karayan took his look like someone with ulterior motives and quickly put his arm in front of Izrun, covering him with his cloak – Don't you dare, it's my child.
Alessa looked at him shocked – Don't make me laugh, where did you steal that child from?
Karayan frowned – I didn't steal anything, I just bought it from some charlatans in section three of the fourth floor.
Alessa looked at him in confusion, just a few days ago he learned from his palace informants that the prince had disappeared again, but this time, this information was hidden from the people, only a few high-ranking people knew about it.
So how come Izrun was here?
– Did you buy it?
Karayan nodded – Yes, I bought her a while ago, she was found in a forest to the north…
– Was there another child?
Karayan nodded slightly – …yes, but not the type for your business, keep those kids away from that filthy brothel of yours.
– Ha. As if the buyers here weren't going to do the same, if there was another kid, why didn't you buy him too? – Alessa approached quickly, going to the small window he pushed the trunk away, then watched through the cracks.
– It didn't catch my attention... what are you doing?
Alessa snorted, going to him and pulling him towards the door, Karayan was irritated, trying to get out of his grip. Alessa said – Take me to where you bought it, and you… – He looked at Izrun before leaving – Get out of here, there's an exit at the end of that corridor, just leave quickly.
Karayan pursed his lips – How can you talk like that, she's a child, she doesn't have the strength to defend herself…
Alessa pushed him forward, and when Karayan turned to look at him, he said – It's been so long, that you don't recognize anything anymore.
– What do you mean? – Karayan asked stunned.
– Doesn't he remind you of someone?
– ...he?
– It doesn't matter now, but doesn't he remind you of anyone?
Karayan looked behind Alessa thoughtfully, his eyes met Izrun's who watched as they talked.
Alessa sighed – He is the guardian's son.
Karayan looked back at him stunned – Guardian? What guardian?
– Ikalles! He is Ikalles's son!
Karayan froze – What?
Alessa shook his head, pulling him away again. Izrun knew there was something familiar about him, he had smelled him before, it was the same scent as Alessa, and it was also somewhat similar to Alba's scent.
Alessa was probably looking for Long, so he just had to get out of there. Izrun walked in the direction Alessa had pointed out as the exit, stopping suddenly and looking back, Izrun was thoughtful.
The two of them arrived here together, wasn't it wrong that only he left?
Long was the prince, his job as the guardian's son was to serve him, both now and when he became king.
Should he go after him too?
What if Alessa didn't find him?
Izrun turned around.
Running in the direction where Alessa and Karayan had left.
– You must be kidding, so why did you leave him alone? If he dies, what happens?
Alessa rolled his eyes – Don't be naive, that boy is very powerful, he knows how to defend himself, but the prince doesn't, he's without his powers now.
Karayan sighed, leading Alessa to the place where he had bought Izrun. Once there, the only thing left was an empty cage and the men who had brought the two children here.
– Lord Karayan? And… Alessa?? – One of the men spoke curiously at first until his eyes had found the blond-haired man, at this moment, his expression became enraged.
The other got up on the defensive – Alessa, finally decided to show up, did you come to return the money you owe us?
Alessa quickly walked behind Karayan, who raised an eyebrow – We don't have time for this, where is the other child?
The man was irritated by Alessa's presence, but he was very respectful of the man in front of him – I'm sorry, my lord, but I just sold him.
– For whom? Where is he?
The man pointed to the stairs that went down to the other sectors – He just left, my lord, he is dressed in green robes.
Karayan nodded, tossing the man a delicate pearl necklace. And while they stood grabbing the necklace, Karayan quickly pulled Alessa down the stairs.
Alessa sighed in relief, this place was dangerous for him, he had made many enemies here.
They walked quickly, looking everywhere for Long.
A man suddenly shouted as he grabbed Alessa – You finally showed up! Pay me what you owe.
– What the heck? How much do you owe them? - Karayan was shocked.
– I don't know... a few million...