Silvia had told me to meet her at the temple of the goddess Hathor at noon, but it was already well past noon and still I hadn't found out where the temple was yet. There weren't very many, so one had to walk a very long distance to get to one and I didn't know which was which.
When it became evident to me that I could not find the temple on my own, so I decided to ask around. Janice's restaurant was a few steps in front of the last temple I had checked, so I walked into it.
She was arranging a table when she looked up and saw me. "Bren!" she yelled running towards me and giving me a bear hug. "I was beginning to think that you'd forgotten about me." she said gesturing for me to sit down at the table she'd been cleaning.
"How could I ever forget a friend?" I said holding her hands. She chuckled. "Soo, are you here to eat?" she asked. "No. Not yet. I just need direction to a place. Do you happen to know the temple of the goddess Hathor?"I asked. "Of course I do." Janice said clearing away another table. "My mother and I pray there almost everyday." "Could you please tell me where the temple is?" I asked, greatly relieved. "Well, if you pass the two oiled towers east, you'll see a magnificent building with white marble walls. That, is the temple."
"Janice you're a life saver!" I said hugging her and she giggled. "Don't forget to come over here for lunch!" she shouted as I hurried away.
With Janice's accurate description, I got to the temple in no time. Silvia was standing at a corner of the ceremonial hall. The gentle curves of her body weren't hidden despite the transparent veil she draped over her clothes. I was calling out to her, when she looked in my direction. "You're late." she said with a smile. "Sorry, I had a little problem locating this place." I said drawing closer to her.
"So what did you want to talk to me about?" I said watching around for any suspicions activity. She was wringing her hands together, so l sensed that she was nervous. "I would like to get away from my life here. From Doria. I chose a nice little town called Gondor to settle down, but the journey is very dangerous so I was wondering if you'd help me out."
I grabbed her shoulders gently and looked into her eyes. "I will help you. I promise." I said. She seemed a little relieved now. "So, when do you plan on going?" I asked. "Well, I was thinking about tommorow. My madame retires for the night as early as dusk, so I can sneak out, and meet you on the way to the river." "I'll be there." I said reassuringly.
"Thank you Bren. I... I don't know what to say, I mean, you barely know me and you're willing to do this for me. Why?" she asked.
"Because I know you have a good heart. And I'd do anything to help such a person." I replied.
Silvia smoothened her hands over the skin of my face, before hooking them behind my neck. "Well, that's very charming." She said with a husky tone whilst leaning forward to kiss me. Just before her lips could touch mine, I blocked them with my hand. "What happened between us in the market, was a mistake, and it happened because you caught me unawares Silvia. I won't let it happen again.". she chuckled, taking in fistfuls of my hair "is it because of her?" I removed her hands from behind my neck. "Maybe it is, and maybe it isn't." she chuckled. "it is"
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Gaius was having lunch in the servants dining quarters that afternoon. Lunch consisted of chicken stew and Irish potato pudding. Though he knew the food was quite good, he ate very little.
All the while they were eating, Priscilla continued to stare at him. Whenever he'd look in her direction, she would then pretend to be engrossed in her food. Every bite he swallowed felt as heavy as lead in his throat. Finally, when he couldn't bear it anymore, he stood up and walked away.
He was in the hallway when Priscilla caught up to him. "Gaius, Gaius wait!" she said hurrying after him with a smile on her face. Gaius felt he could no longer hold it in. He turned towards her, almost knocking her down in the process. "I nearly ran out of air trying to catch up with you." she said panting.
"Priscilla, I don't mean to be brash, but I believe that there has been a big misunderstanding between us..." Gaius began. "What do you mean?" she asked, confusion clearly written in her eyes. "What happened last time, between the both of us, was a mistake. I was emotionally unstable, and I feel that I have given you the wrong impression." He continued with an icy cold tone.
Priscilla was a very affectional person, and by now her eyes were glimmering with tears. This really hurt her. And he was hurting more for hurting her, but he could not go back. "I hope this clarifies the fact that there can never be anything romantic between us." He expected her to hit him. He sure as hell deserved it, but she didn't. She just stood there speechless, barely able to look at him. And as he walked away from her, he could hear her light heartbreaking sobs as they echoed down the hall. Gaius stopped for a moment, and half turned back at her, then continued walking away faster.
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That evening I did everything in a hurry, and now I was packing up some supplies for the journey in haste. I didn't want to be caught leaving by anyone, especially Gaius. Silvia was going to Gondor. A City about six hundred miles west, away from Doria. I was optimistic that if we walked all night, I would be back here by early dawn unnoticed.
I reached out to grab my sword from the bed, but a pair of familiar feminine hands got to it first. I looked up in alarm, to see Adriana. She was wearing a white nylon nightgown. Her glorious red hair cascaded over her shoulders in rich lovely locks which were in sharp contrast to the flawless white of her gown.
"Are you ready to get going?" she asked, handing the sword to me. I nodded, attaching it to it's strap on my belt. "Bren, those slavers who want you dead so badly are still out there. You must be careful!" Now I hugged her. "Why do you worry so much?" I asked. "I don't want to lose you." she said in a muffled whisper. "You won't.'' I said kissing her forehead gently, before leaving for the river.
In getting to the pathway by the river, I saw Silvia standing there already, holding a torch. She smiled when she saw me. "Well done..." she began. "... You aren't late this time around."
"We don't have much time. Lead the way." I said lighting a torch. My eyes scanned every direction in caution. Silvia nodded in approval, and we began our journey.
Somehow, I felt uneasy as we went on. I was constantly looking back to see if we were being followed. At about six hours to dawn, Silvia stopped at a place with lots of boulders. "Silvia? What are you doing?" I asked. She didn't answer. "Silvia, why did you stop here?" Silvia turned back, a tear trickling down her cheek. She had such a guilty look on her face. "I'm so sorry Bren. I'm so sorry." she said.
I couldn't comprehend the situation, and as I was wondering what the hell was going on, a stray arrow flew by and got me squarely in the calves. I yelped, falling down on one knee. Priscilla squealed "Stop!" she yelled, seemingly to thin air. "You promised not to hurt him!"
Simultaneously, about a dozen men emerged from behind the biggest boulder where they were probably waiting in ambush. I looked at Silvia now. "Why?I trusted you." I said genuinely disappointed.
Now she was crying. '' I'm so sorry, please forgive me Bren."
All the while the slavers were grinning. I noticed that they were holding all sorts of dangerous weapons which they were intending to use on me. A gray headed man with a shaggy, bushy beard, and wild eyes that seemed to dart here, there , and everywhere at the same time, pushed his way to the front of the small crowd. I recognized him as one of the chief slavers. Abdul.