Roger emerged from the room, the door creaking shut behind him. As soon as he came out, he went to gather the necessary items, packing them into the bag.
Andrew's eyes followed him, his confusion growing as his gaze drifted back to the room Roger had just left. The silence felt thick, almost suffocating.
"Let us leave," Roger said, while he continued to gather the items into their belongings.
Andrew hesitated, his brow furrowing as he cast another glance at the closed door. "What about her?" he asked, while the throbbing pain was still there in his head.
"Mother... She said that she wanted to rest, so she is doing so," he replied, his tone steady, almost too steady, as if he had rehearsed the words in his mind.
Andrew stared at him, the words made sense, yet something felt off, as though a piece of the puzzle was missing. A cold knot of unease settled in his stomach, twisting tighter with each passing second.
The following day.
Finally, the first light of dawn began to creep over the horizon. "We're getting close, just a little while longer, and then we will be out from this kingdom," informed Roger softly, his voice tinged with excitement.
Roger brought the wagon to a halt, the creaking wheels coming to a stop on the uneven ground. He climbed down first, his movements careful but hurried. Andrew followed, his face an unreadable mask, though his mind a whirlwind of unanswered questions.
As they moved through the forest, the trees began to thin, revealing a hidden path that led to a small boat nestled among the tall reeds by the water's edge.
"Come on, help me with this," Roger called out, his voice tinged with impatience. He was already at the boat, trying to maneuver it into the water. But Andrew didn't respond, his feet feeling heavy as he stood there, staring at the boat with vacant eyes.
Roger frowned, his frustration bubbling just beneath the surface. He climbed into the boat first, turning back to extend a hand to Andrew. "We'll be safe once we get across," he said, his voice a mix of determination and exhaustion. "The safe house is just on the other side," he added.
But before Andrew could move, a sharp, commanding voice cut through the quiet dawn. "Now!"
Suddenly, the forest came alive with movement. Warriors emerged from their hidden positions, their swords gleaming in the early morning light.
And then Vanvi stepped forward. His demeanor, marked by a handsome man with a poker face, the captain's sharp eyes shifted towards Andrew.
The warriors approached Roger, their movements purposeful yet cautious. Tension hung in the air as they closed in from all sides and they forcibly held Roger, while he struggled in their captive. They held him by turning his hand behind his back and securing his wrists with a tied rope.
Vanvi stepped closer, his voice smooth yet commanding as he addressed Andrew. "This is good, Andrew."
"Now, come with us," the captain urged, his tone firm but measured. He wasn't asking; he was telling. "Don't make it even more difficult; for you and for us."
Andrew, with a measured resolve, stated, "I am willing to cooperate, but please ensure that no harm befalls my uncle."
"We will see what has to be done," Vanvi assured. "We will ensure that no harm befalls your uncle as long as he is with us.." he added, but the way he said it made Andrew's stomach twist with unease.
Numbly, Andrew walked over to the waiting vehicle, his steps heavy with resignation. As he climbed inside, his heart ached with a sorrow, tears welled up in his eyes, and this time, he didn't try to hold them back.
Vanvi issued a final command, his voice calm and authoritative. "Break that boat." The words were simple, but they carried a weight of finality that made Andrew's heart sink even further.
The car's engine roared to life, the sound jarring in the quiet of the morning. Vanvi settled into the seat beside him, his presence a constant reminder of the choice Andrew had made.
"Why did you inform the guard?" he asked, his voice cutting through Andrew's thoughts.
Andrew stared out the window, watching as the trees blurred past, his heart heavy with the weight of his decisions. "You have me, you caught my uncle. I don't think the reason should matter," he replied quietly, his voice flat, devoid of any emotion.
"Very well, as you want," Vanvi responded, his tone as cold and indifferent as before.
After traveling through the dense forest, navigating winding paths and crossing rivers, they finally arrived at the Mar'ge village. It was completely burned down, villagers crying outside. Andrew, did not knew what to feel about it or what emotion he should show on his uncle's cruelty.
Time passed and evening arrived. They had reached a town which was far from Gear and Mar'ge villages. As the car halted, the once still streets began to stir with life. The town's citizens, drawn by the unfamiliar sound of the car, moved with a careful, practiced ease, their curious gazes flicking toward the vehicle as they pretended to go about their evening routines.
Vanvi before stepping out, passed a cloth to Andrew.
Andrew followed suit, his movements slower, more hesitant. He clutched his bag tightly, as if it were a shield, and draped the cloth over his head, obscuring his face from view.
"What's with his clothes? Is he poor?" a voice asked, the tone sharp with a mixture of disdain and curiosity.
A woman nearby, with a seasoned gaze, replied, "No, that can't be. He is on a car."
A third voice, laced with both concern and gossip, speculated further, "Could he be the rumored boy? The one who is going to be taken as a prostitute by a noble.."
"How can you say that?" one asked.
"Can't you see, he is with Lord Vanvi Ambroz.."
The words hung in the air, creating a hushed tension among them, as they had concluded themselves for what was coming and will happen.
Just as the anxiety threatened to overwhelm him, Joe placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "Don't mind them. Just ignore them," he said softly.
The building had a rustic charm, with ivy climbing its stone walls and warm, inviting lights glowing from the windows. Vanvi walked to the reception desk, where he booked several rooms for their group.
"Captain, who will stay with the boy?" Joe asked, his concern for Andrew evident in his voice.
Vanvi didn't hesitate. His response was firm, final, brooking no argument. "It is simple," he declared, his eyes cold and calculating. "Michael, Hakira, and Nin will stay in the room with Andrew."
Inside the room, the atmosphere was cozy, and welcoming, but to Andrew, the coziness and comfort meant nothing. He stood in a corner in silence, clutching onto the blankets provided to him, his mind a mess and he kept staring outside through the closed window.
Michael while on the bed was observing, Andrew's distant posture. "That boy's been standing like that for quite a while now," he remarked, his voice low, laced with concern. Michael said to Hakira, who was eating rice beside him while he rested on a chair, his legs stretched out.
"Why don't you go and talk to him then?" suggested Hakira, while his focus was on eating his meal.
"I think I should not do that," he said quietly, a trace of sadness in his voice. After a moment's pause, he continued, "he has been through a lot in such a short time, poor boy. He needs his own mind right now and silence."
"Alright, don't talk to him.." said Hakira, his voice causal as always.
He stuffed another spoonful of rice into his mouth, chewing thoughtfully before swallowing. "You want to try their desert? It is very delicious..."
Michael stared at him for a while, with his eyes silently judging him, and after a sigh, he answered, "No."
"Oh my! Don't worry about that kid," he said between bites, his tone oddly reassuring despite his earlier indifference. "There is something weird but good about him. He will come back stronger," with those reassuring words, he took Michael's share of deserts and walked away.
Uninterested in making his own bed, or eating his own share of meal, Andrew just stood there lost in his thoughts, blankly staring outside through the closed window.
Micheal approached him and softly asked, "Are you just going to stand there? Wouldn't you like to sleep? Or perhaps eat?"
Andrew remained quiet, his gaze fixed outside the window. Nin, who is lying on the bed with his gaze fixed on the ceiling, simply was observing Michael and Andrew.
Nin sighed and placing a hand on Michael's shoulder. "Try to understand that boy's condition," he said as he turned to Andrew, offering a sympathetic smile to him, "Well, give me your blankets; I will arrange them for you."
Gently, he took the blankets from Andrew's hands. "Where would you like your bed? On that one?" He pointed to a bed near the window, offering a view of the outside world that seemed both comforting and distant.