Derek peeks from a narrow street not too far from the outset of Amon. The curly nature of his cinnamon color hair has been restored, neat and glistering as his fair skin, he was now dressed in unbelted green tunic and black pants - the dress code of Ryan's squad.
There was only one open stall for it was still the early hours of the day, the atmosphere was a bit windy and crisp, the main streets were empty as far as he could grasp. If it were the marketplace a lot of stalls will be opened, but not in town, yet this vendor of fruits, vegetables and spice decided to come early; didn't matter anyway, it was as Ryan planned.
"Alright Derek, you are up." Ryan cheered from behind him. "Everyone is in place, are you set?"
"I'm good." Derek kept a straight face.
"I trust you on this."
Derek took deep breaths, jumping on one spot then hurried towards the stall. The vendor was seated on a small bench beside his stall, well-built in size, having short scanty hair - no facial hair - yet his looks were mature.
"Mister." Derek yelled out, stumbling over before the man.
The vendor got up, rushing to aid Derek on his feet. "What's wrong boy?" He spoke with a light innocent voice.
"Lila is in trouble."
Ryan had given him an orientation of how they survived the streets six days back, they steal from those capable of recovering within days.
How would he know that? Derek had asked.
Ryan knew every street and alley at the back of his head, his daily job was to pick a prey and watch their every movement, knowing their homes and how they lived, once confirmed they strike when things were heated up. Ryan had used a whole week to investigate this vendor, he is a caring husband of two wives and father of four children - off all his children, his youngest daughter Lila was his favourite, the perfect trap was set in place.
The vendor grabbed Derek by his shirt with both hands - taking him from the ground, "What happened to Lila?" He snapped.
Derek almost lost his cool, he never expected the vendor to act that way, but the vendor's voice still had the innocent effect even at high pitch.
∆∆∆
"No time to waste mister, hurry." Derek spoke worriedly - his voice already shaky.
The Vendor quickly put Derek down, he didn't think twice before following behind him towards another narrow street, he was already tensed. Derek gave a sigh of relief, the plan was in process.
They moved quickly through the narrow street, not giving eye or ear to the few passing people, as soon as they came to a silent and empty section of the street, Derek stopped before an alley by the side.
"In there." Derek points at the alley.
The Vendor hurried into the partly dark alley, having crates litter all over. "Where is she?" He yelled - scowling over at Derek.
Derek stood calm and reserved not startled by his yelling, he points forward towards the end were a high wall of stone ended the alley, there lied a basket.
"There, the basket at the end, she refused to let me help her."
"Come out Lila." The vendor spoke calmly as he trended to the end. "Papa is here," he got to the medium size basket and opened it, to his greatest surprise, it was empty. "What is this?" he yelled turning to Derek, but he wasn't there.
He stood still for a moment, brooding, then snapped his fingers, he hurried back to his stall and found everything in order, yet half his goods were gone.
∆∆∆
Derek, Ryan and his squad were back at the hide out, seated around the fire pit; it had a small cauldron on it, they were all laughing - except for Derek, who gave a feint smile, each enjoying the bowl of carrot and cabbage soup with other green vegetables and roasted beef.
"That was really amazing Derek." Ryan congratulated.
"Thank you," Derek tried to look pleased, he never enjoyed stealing - but desperate times calls fro desperate measures.
"For our next challenge." Ryan spoke, riveting everyone to him. "If we can pull this, we won't need to stay in Amon anymore."
His words caught Derek's attention, he was now fully interested, if possible he could return to Olives to check if anyone he knew survived the attack.
"With this plan we will each have a hundred silver Oz." Ryan grinned.
Mich whistled.
"There's a carriage that comes in at noon from Ozak, once at the end of the month, just an old man rides it, not sure why. I've watched the guards at the tower in the Bridge take out small bags of Oz silver hidden in the hay transported by the carriage. Can we do this lads?"
"Yes!!!" They screamed.
"Derek." Ryan waited for his response.
"Not letting this one slide by." Derek affirmed.
"It's settled then."
The plan was now in motion by noon the next day. The Bridge - as the folks of Amon calls it, was a flat curved ledge, a place were the long, solid - suspending rope bridge crossed the ravine into Ozak. The Bridge is separated from the path sloping down towards town by two large gray boulders, which had a narrow path between them for passage.
The Bridge has slate rocks of medium and small sizes here and there, its soil red as wine, a watch tower by the left flank and an apple tree by the right flank, which stood firmly at the edge of the ledge - its solid old branches stretching out to the ravine.
Derek stood at the safe side of the branch, watching the paths leading into Ozak while helping himself with an apple; his job was the hardest.
He was to hang on the lowest branch stretched over the ravine, screaming for help as soon as the tower guards came back.
Ryan had planned their movement, two guards stayed at the tower from the early hours of the day till noon, then leaves their post switching with another two guards, the time interval within them lasted for minutes, a good time to sneak into Ozak and ambush the carriage and when they return that's when Derek's role begins.
But all was failing for one reason, one of the exchanged guards came by early, Derek was stuck, he didn't know what to do - there was no sign of Ryan and his squad and hanging now will prove futile if they don't show up to cross over when the guard is drawn to him.
He ruffled his hair - shaking his head, thinking on what to do, an idea suddenly jerked him up. He quickly slid down the tree then hurried towards a rock, crouching behind it as he watched the guard head towards the tower.
He picked up a stone, pelting it at the guard, it was well thrown, hitting hard on the guard's head, causing him to turn quickly, pressing the spot.
"Who did that?" he snapped, no one was in view. "Better come out this instant," he approached the first medium rock in view.
"Assaulting a guard is punishable by fifty lashes you know." He glared behind the rock - there was no one, he walked towards the next. "Come out." he screamed then glared behind it, still no one, he approached the next.
A stone whacked the guard from behind, this time harder, he turned immediately with a scowl, there stood Derek.
"Hey! Lazy Donkey." Derek yelled running towards the path between the boulders, not waiting for the guard to make a move first.
"You are dead kid." The guard chased after Derek.
Derek ran as fast as he could through the lane leading to town, it had bushes and ferns on each side, stretching as far as the lane itself. He took slight peeks over his shoulder at the guard chasing from behind.
"Don't let me get you kid." He screamed angrily.
Derek didn't venture further towards the main streets of the town, people might get hold of him for the guard, he took a turn into the first narrow street.
"Stop that brat." The guard screamed.
His voice sounded close, Derek knew he was catching on, worse of all the few people in front were glaring at him, going through them will be a risk; he took a quick turn into an alley then another bend into another alley, off he went from the ground.
He pushed his left foot against the wall, moving to the side were he did the same with his right foot then grabbing unto the ledge of the stone wall he threw himself over to the other side of the alley.
He slumped to the ground - leaning against the wall, winded from the race, his tunic drenched and his face all sweaty.
∆∆∆
Derek strolled through the long alley leading towards the east outskirts of Amon, he was exhausted and the sun was setting, he had an assurance everyone has safely returned. Ryan was a smart boy, yet corny, the more reason he should keep a close eye on him.
He could hear mature voices ahead as he approached the turn, no adult should be here, they rarely came here, he thought.
Derek stopped on his track staring with wide-eyes, there were two guards ahead, he didn't wait to be seen, he turned quickly planning his escape.
There came a punch, hard as a rock on his cheek, it threw him to the side, slamming him against the wall, a loud wail slipping out from his mouth.
He dropped to the ground, still trying to get away, a kick to his face sent splatters of blood all over.
He laid numb on the ground, excruciating pain running through his nose, he was unable to scream or plead for mercy. It didn't stop at that, the dark-brown leather boot continued stomping hard on Derek's head and his belly.
An agonizing experience no one should ever go through, his breath seized with every stomp. Every breath he took in after each stomp sent frigid pain all over his body, breaking his body from within, the moment he was about losing consciousness the stomp came harder - bringing him back.
"That's enough Lonart." Another guard approached him, grabbing his shoulder.
"This runt and his gang stole from us." Lonart turns to the guard holding his shoulder.
"As you can see he was heading to the hideout, didn't even know his team had abandoned him."
"What's your point?"
"We'll take him for questioning."
"He'll hang for this." Lonart walks away.
The guard approached Derek who laid lifeless, he grabbed Derek by his shirt then pulled him away.
∆∆∆
The barracks of Amon - sitting at the edge of the South terrain, close to the seashore. Fenced in by a double layered palisade, the height of two average men put together. In the courtyard were two towers, one by a corner of the gate wing and the other at the corner by the end, each manned by two guards, there were few guards around, a few having a laugh beside the long log building while others gathered in front of another long log-building.
At the middle end were three cages made of wood with a sawdust flooring, Derek was seated by the corner close to the gate of the middle cage, his breathing deep and slow, his body still hurting - trembling at that, his nose was bloody and cheek swollen, almost covering his eyes.
This was far worse than the Lankins compound, to think he once thought of escaping, all this are happening because he wasn't fit enough to protect himself and those close to him, his rage dug deep within him, the only reason he hasn't collapsed yet.
He continued glaring at Lonart and his partner, just paces away form the cage.
Lonart was a pale fellow, having an average body and height, shaved head with scanty facial hair, thick brows always farrowed on wide eyes.
Lonart and his partner were talking to a tall, well-built man, his armor was different, he was vested in sleeveless torso brigandine.
The man glanced at Derek then approached him, Derek now had a clear view, the man could touch the top of the fence if he tried. His hair short - black and thick, despite his size he had a gentle-straight gaze, his eyes hooded and he had a big moustache with a touch of gray.
Even when he bent before him, Derek still had to look all the way up to meet his gaze.
"What's your name?" He spoke in a deep toneless voice.
It drove chills into Derek, his eyes trembled, ensnared in the man's jade green eyes, this was no man to mess with.
"Derek" he stuttered.
"You must have being through a lot to steal from the town guards," he sighs "that ends today." He looks over his shoulder, "I'll take custody of him," he straightened up.
"But that's out of order Commander." Lonart snared.
The man glared at him, forcing Lonart to step backward.
"Yes Commander Jerome." Lonart bowed then approached the cage, his hands trembling as he unlocks the bolt, he finally opened the gates then stepped aside.
"Come boy." Jerome commanded.
Derek helped himself up with the bars, his legs still unsteady, he supported himself towards the gate but fell to his face. Jerome didn't mind, he picked Derek up like he was a weightless bag then hung him on his shoulder.
"You are safe now Derek." He said.
Derek couldn't contain his tears anymore, it's been a very long time since he heard those calming words, he sobbed heavily - tears streaming from his eyes, the more he wiped, it came pouring.