Different paths, Chapter 19

The heavy breathing, the quick steps over both the mud and the grass in front of her, Isabel was panicking looking around and behind her checking if she was caught, from the distance she saw the red flower of light pointing her towards the camp, with stamina left in her, she sprinted towards that hope, when she finally got their she saw almost everybody was up, from guards, knights, and her friends, even the trading carriages with them were up from sleep, the sun was shining so she had to blend in so no one could tell on her being messing
Squeezing through the tents, behind the people walking around, until she reached the middle, her brother, Thomas, hurried towards her covering her with a blanket and getting her in, as she got in, she saw most the people gathering around the side, blood and corps everywhere, they seemed to be from mercenary people, confused she got in the tent
“Where were you for god’s sake” said Thomas “I had to cover up for you everything was chaotic here,”
“You need to hear about what I saw” she said before he replied fast
“No, you need to be responsible, we had to fight them off without being ready, I couldn’t find you or any track, you left without Nothing!!” he yelled at her as John went inside with the others one after another
“Relax man don’t be like- “said John before Thomas cut him
“Don’t ask of me to relax after what she did, it’s been hours we did not have the slightest idea about her”
“Just. Give her a chance” said John as Thomas sat down, it was obvious that he was annoyed, but without making eye contact he let her speak
They sat down listening to her as she went on and one
“So, we can say that the blind man is the one who hired the mercenaries,” said Henry
“Well, the timing makes it look like that, they seemed to know about our exact location, sadly they all died, the guards of the trading carriage were too focused on keeping their heads safe” replied John
“Aren’t you guys forgetting the obvious, we are not the first ones that he took in” said William “And it seems the ones before have a grudge on him for some reason”
“That just means that we got to be more careful with the passing time around him “said Henry “We don’t know what he prepared for us at the capital”
John was biting on his teethes, and his fingernails were scratching his skin as he was lost in thoughts, worried and anxious he said “That just brings us back to yesterday’s night talk”
“What do you mean his origins?” said Thomas looking at John after calming down a bit “That is a lost cause, you heard her, the blind man was on a completely different level, and yet no hit was on the side of the masked man”
“It wasn’t a fight at all, that was an execution, although he gave him many chances to run away, he was able to finish him at any given moment,” said Isabel
“What we know now is that the masked man at least in his 40s” said Henry “from what she said the blind one was in his 20s, with him being his student that is what we can get of info about him”
“Anyway, we got to get ready, if we continue to stay her suspensions will follow us,” said John
“But how did they all know about us walking this way at this time towards the capital said Henry as he went to open the tent’s door, from outside a shadow covered him as he looked back to see the masked man outside, blood on his stomach’s cover and some other parts as well
“You all seem to haven’t gotten, ready” said the masked man as he looked around the tent from outside, he stared at Isabel who did not want to make eye contact, Sara without raising his suspicions stood covering Isabel’s face and spoke
“We were just cleaning the blood from our cloths and speculating about what reasons could led to our location, or who could have a grudge pointed against him between us”
He stared at her for a moment and looked at the blood on their cloths, and the one on Isable’s blanket and spoke
“Get ready, we need to start moving now” before going away
“You heard him” said John “get ready”
The carriages went forward, this time instead of the reader boy being with them in the same carriage, he was switched with Bairen, the trusted helper of the trader
“So… what brings you guys to the capital” said Bairen trying to start a conversation, none of them answered
He smiled awkwardly for a moment before he spoke again “today was a hellish day, I wonder what could led those criminals to our location”, silence was the only answer there is
He looked at Isabel and said “So? How did you like the perfume from the other day? I could make you a good deal for 2 pieces” as he smiled at her, she was staring out the window, not a care in the world around her
He just sat there in silence, it was obvious he was annoyed, but he kept his fake smile on
After some time, the carriage reached the Capital, they went out of the carriage for inspections, the doors were huge, it looked more like a weapon then it of a place for the living,
“Nothing could possibly ever put a hole in these walls,” said John
“The only thing that could ever cross them is now nothing but an accessory upon these hights” said Henry as he pointed at one of the 2 dragon skulls on the side of the door above
The door was more of an outside room, where behind it the gates of the capital been planted, inside it was full of guards weaponized, around them, as they searched them all and the traders behind them, there was no sign of the masked man around, as John looked around searching for him, the guard inspecting him said
“What are you searching for”
“Oh me? Nothing” said John as he left to get his things, their blades were hidden in a hold beneath the carriage, so the guards did not see them
They went through the gates while being hidden inside the carriage they stared outside, around them they saw beauty in it loveliest looks, the hanged gardens around them, the high towers and the low houses had no difference in their aesthetics, everything was well built and well organized
After staring for a bit as they walked, in front of them hiding in the crowd the masked man was waiting for them hiding in a robe,
“I am very thankful for you ser for helping us cross these parts, send my regards to the king” said the old man who was in control over those traders they went with
“Just be carful danger neve fades, who ever wanted you dead wouldn’t stop with bandits and mercenaries,” said the masked man
The old man leaned forward to the reader boy and said “You can still go with us; I can pay you heavily for your works”
“I am very thankful for your offer, sadly I have to refuse, my dream isn’t about money” replied the boy holding his book
“If you ever need any help from me, my officials will be delighted to hear about it” said the old man as he gave the boy a pouch of silver and gold
“I can’t possibly- “said the boy before he cut him
“No, you better keep it, this is just to leave in good terms, just accept this kindness” said the old man as he went back inside his carriage
Bairen before going through the carriage ran back to the reader boy and hugged him dearly, the boy hugged back as Bairen said
“Until we meet again, my friend” with a smile on his face
He went back to the carriage and waved at him from inside
The boy with a very bright smile on his face waved back with all his strength holding the pouch dear to his heart, he looked back to say his goodbyes to the boys and girls of the masked man, but he saw none of them, left alone he put a smile on his face, with the pouch hidden inside his robe, he went through the crowd with hopes and dream covering his eyes
As the sun went down the masked man and the children he had with him reached the castle in the middle, from a secret door they went inside hiding from the eyes of the strangers, through the dark tunnel holding torches they walked until they hit a dead end
The masked man pushed it to reveal it being a painting in a closed dark room, no windows, just a brick removed here and they’re for air to whisper inside
They hanged the lights on the sides and started walking around the room with interested eyes
William wanted to pick up a book but the masked man beside him said “No, don’t touch anything”
All of them removed their hands from what they were about to inspect, another door opened with someone holding a light, the children held into their weapons getting ready, but all it was just a butler, he moved out the way to lead them as they walked more and more lights appeared, until they reached a clean hall with food and clothes ready for them, the butler spoke,
“Children, here is where you will stay for the time, until further more is decided” he went away opening a door with a key in hand, and taking the masked man with him leaving the kids inside alone