Chapter 6 #2
Fala began to conclude her meeting with Dritan.
Watching the two converse, was like watching two rigid cold worlds bend into each other.
Fala was beautiful, and Lord Dritan was also beautiful in his own way.
A way that made him look brave with those unfeeling assessing eyes.
He was no friendly man and neither was Fala a friendly woman.
She had her moments, where worry and concern broke through especially when I was the one causing it.
Nonetheless, they were both equally strong opponents and allies.
The inside of the tent was spacious, bigger than other tents the arena warriors were given, clean, bed made and dinner untouched which seemed to have gone cold long ago.
Fala's artefacts were always kept in here, such artefacts many would question as to how she came into possession with.
Fala had her secrets, just as everyone seemed to have theirs and yet her secrets had a darkness looming about.
Leaning against wooden dresser chests were swords, beautiful and enchanting instruments of metal.
Some of them were the ones Ezra had forged, she took pride in acknowledging what her younglings achieved.
The ones that were not Ezra's work, seemed to be the type that whispered of death in battle and glory all in one.
When looking at it for far too long, I could hear the steel whispering, the silent cries and screams from whom it pierced. Its seductive call was hypnotic.
"Don't stare." I scolded myself inwardly.
I immediately brought my eyes down, back to where Fala spoke hushed words to Dritan, pointing over to the map of Terran.
Dritan spoke lowly and then it happened so quickly, I couldn't decide if I had seen right, he had placed his palm over Fala's hand and brushed his thumb along her skin.
Without any question or rejection from Fala, he whipped around and left the tent, sparing me a glance of acknowledgment on his way out.
Fala didn't spare either Ezra or me a glance as she fixed her stare on the map of Terran. No doubt to the spot Dritan pointed at.
"So, are you finally going to tell us who we are performing for?" I asked, taking a step forward, fixing my gaze on the map. Ezra remained silent as he focused his gaze on Fala. I could tell he was in deep thought.
"No," Fala said, finally lifting her argent eyes.
My mood began to deflate, the frustration of getting my hopes up stung, but I listened nonetheless and kept silent.
Too frustrated to say anything to her. I straightened my posture and understood the look she was giving.
She needed something. That's the only reason she called.
Mother like figure or not, I was bound to her.
If it was a soldier she needed, a soldier I would be.
No matter how much she takes and uses from me, I would give and serve.
"I have a mission for you both. You leave before the moon rises," Fala said with an even tone and brushed her gaze back onto the map.
Ezra gave a dark chuckle. "Of course, you need something. Typical." He scoffed, looking away from her. I bit my tongue from scolding him for disrespecting Fala. She didn't bat an eye at his comment and merely went on, choosing to ignore his complaint.
She took a pencil into her hand and then circled a point on the map.
"Oakenhold Forest. That's where you two will be scouting and hunting.
There have been discrete rumours of bandits who plan to ambush our guests who arrive in two days.
Word has been told about this, and a good guess is they have set camp in Oakenhold, waiting for the arrival of these guests. "
Oakenhold Forest was a maze if you didn't know your way around.
With trees that had no differences from the others, bore no markings and contained no bushes or other flowers to identify whether you've passed a certain route before.
Without a tracker, you'd easily get lost and never be found again.
Luckily for ourselves, Ezra knew this forest so well deep into its roots that it became ingrained in his memory.
It's where he took Rhey to hunt bigger game.
The forest wasn't a problem at all. The two factors at hand were the actual issue.
My palms began to sweat and my mind fogged up.
Unable to think too much into detail about what this actually meant.
Ezra rolled his eyes and before he could give a snarky reply, I decided to cut in.
"The bandits. Dead or alive?" I whispered, unable to meet her eyes.
"Alive. Dead if there is trouble. Lord Dritan will take care of them if alive," Fala replied.
"Why can't Dritan take care of this mess?
Why ask us? After what happened the last time we went on your personal missions, I thought we had an agreement.
" Ezra bit out loudly, loud enough to startle Rhey from his slumber.
Ezra was fuming, he wasn't particularly pleased with what Fala had asked from us and he wasn't looking at me either.
Which meant he was upset with me for being compliant.
"You two will get the job done much quicker than Dritan's men.
The main factor is that this is my performance arena.
And if bandits want to sabotage our guests, then the responsibility settles on me.
I expect you two back at dawn. The both of you are more than capable," Fala explained as she pushed up from her desk.
All I could do was nod and take my leave.
I could hear the faint voices of Ezra speaking to Fala. "If it weren't for her taking your mission, I would have refused."
I clenched my fists and began my walk to the weaponry tent.
***
I hugged my cloak tighter, feeling slightly comforted by the evening breeze carrying the scent of fresh grass and the sweet chill air of the night to come.
I placed the rough thick rope I had in my hands into a compartment of the black satchel Ezra would be carrying.
I felt heavy, like a burden. I let out an anxious sigh, feeling the weight of blades strapped against my body, enough blades to take out at least a troop of men.
"You don't have to do this anymore," Ezra said while putting Rhey onto a nearby crate.
"I want to." It was a clear lie.
"No. You don't." He sighed and walked closer to me.
"We can't keep living this life, Morana. You. Can't keep living this life," he said almost pleadingly, my heart clenched in sorrow.
"And what do you suppose we do then, Ezra? What life are we supposed to live? Huh?" I took a step closer to him and demanded an answer.
He caught my hands in his and placed them over his chest. "Live a life with me, Mor.
We've earned enough over the years to let us live comfortably.
I could go work on the fields in Celaste.
We could have a small cabin together. Just the two of us.
" His eyes sparkled with each word he said and it made my heart feel like it had been pulled out and cut raw.
He had always joked about living in a cabin and running away together when we were younger. Now he was serious.
To be so happy. Carefree. To be with a person like him. Ezra was a good person.
My mind flashed to when I had first seen him.
A hollow face covered in dirt, his arms bruised and body malnourished. I remember the fear and pain in his eyes... it had mirrored the fear and pain I had in mine the day I was found by Fala. The type of fear and pain where you just wanted an easy way out, and the only way was death.
His father, the Lord of Petrem, a once beautiful land surrounded by great hills and large boulders which now contrasts the ash polluted land overtaken by troops of the king's army. His family along with all the soldiers whom served Lord Archeirus were slaughtered in the uprising.
Ezra was the next in line for the title of Lord but a ten -year-old boy couldn’t go against the court and claim his birthright, not with his family’s killers thinking they had killed every survivor in the lord's estate.
Ezra and I both owed our lives to Fala, she was our only parent figure after all, even if we eventually had to work under her and grow up in a performance arena as her arena warriors.
"And what do you suppose I do for a living?" I asked Ezra softly, coming back into the present, feeling his heartbeat against my palm. Looking back into his hopeful eyes.
"You don't need to do anything. Not unless you want to.
I will provide for you, Mor... I can take care of you.
And if you're feeling religious about us living together alone.
" He swallowed as he said his next words.
I felt heat come into my cheeks while I listened.
Holding onto his hand tighter that was pressed against his chest. "Then I'll be your husband.
We will be happy. Safe. You will be loved.
I promise," he whispered, his voice trembling at the end.
I couldn't help but let out a shaky breath and close my eyes.
"But that life isn't for me. It's not what I was meant to do. You deserve all of that. But with someone that's not me." My voice broke as it uttered the last few words. Ezra pulled away and his posture straightened as his cheeks flushed red. Almost in embarrassment.
"You can't keep living this life, Morana. You live the life of ash. That is a life not meant for anyone," he said with his eyes lowered, looking at the fire blades strapped against my body.
"Fala has given me everything, Ezra—"
"Fala gave you everything out of her free will. You did not ask for it. You've given enough to her, now you need to live your own life without her order." Ezra cut me off. I nodded, looking back into those angry blue eyes.
"I will give what you said some thought," I replied with a hesitant smile.
Ezra's eyes softened. "Thank you," he said in relief. Content with my answer, we both stepped outside of the weaponry tent and were blessed with the moon's light guiding our way.
My mind swarmed with thoughts of the upcoming mission we had on our shoulders. But one thought remained in my mind that hadn't been part of what we were about to step into.
They were Ezra's words.
"You can't keep living the life of ash. "
But what if that's the life I'm meant for...?