Day 25

Viola and her companion Ferox over slept from their exhaustion. Riding hard for two days had worn them out.

When Viola woke and saw that the sun had already risen, she was angry with herself.

“Ferox, get up. We need to go.” She said shaking him.

“You are not very nice.” He moaned.

“We must go.” She persisted.

“We need to eat.” He said.

“We eat on the move.”

Viola bought bread and fish and they ate on the move.

“Remind me why I am doing this?” he said rubbing his unwashed face.

“Because you are nicer than me and I will give you whatever silver is left over.” She answered.

“I am not doing this for silver. I have gold.” He stated.

“Eat you will feel better. Then we can ride hard for mount Jeku.” She said.

Ferox ate not because she told him too but because he was hungry.

They rode hard until the horses needed to rest. They had galloped for hours.

“Viola even if we keep pushing ourselves, we will not reach mount Jeku today. Please let’s be reasonable. The horses need to rest, we need to rest. Eat, bathe and enjoy the journey.” He tried to reason.

“I don’t want to be left behind. I don’t want to be stuck here forever.” Viola said.

“Would it really be so bad?” Ferox asked.

“If you were taken from here to a strange world that you cannot understand, your whole life gone. Would you not want to return to your family and your life?” Viola inquired,

“I have been here for weeks I want to go home. See my father and sleep in my own bed. Drink from my own cup, bath in my own house. Have my own money to spend. I want my life back. I do not want to live here.”

“Then you have to be smart. Making the horses tired and not eating is not smart. There is a short cut, but it’s dangerous, lots of thieves on the road and kidnappers for the slave trade. Let’s hire some men to take us safely through the pass.”

Viola thought about it. She had an uneasy feeling but she was so desperate to make her trip home that she agreed. At the next village they hired men and bought more supplies. The men were given half upfront and half once they arrive safely on the other side of the pass.

Ferox did not know these men but they looked capable and informed them, they always travel the pass.

They headed into the pass. It was a pathway between to cliffs. It was wide enough for two horses to walk next to each other comfortably.

“Thank you.” Viola said.

“Don’t thank me yet. We need to make it out of the pass. I did warn you it’s dangerous.” Ferox said.

“I find myself surprised that the most heart and character I have found is in aliens like you. The love I received from that family was more than I experienced on earth. They trusted me when they shouldn’t have and they inspired me. You have also been…” Viola shrugged.

Ferox looked at her waiting for her to say.

“Great.” She said.

“I feel like you are trying to complement me, but I am hearing a lot of alien and getting the ‘aliens don’t have good qualities,’ vibe. This is not complementary.” He told her.

“Well, I didn’t think they did, I have learnt it’s different from what I thought.” She replied.

Ferox shook his head.

“It boggles my mind that you even have friends.” He said.

She shrugged, “Guess not everyone is as picky as you. I hope you met a wonderful person who will be just want you need. I wish you well my alien.”

Ferox shook his head.

“You are the death of many.” He responded.

He had no idea how true his words were.

The pass was fine until they came to a rock slide blocking the road.

Everyone got off their horses and started moving the rocks. Viola started to feel pressurized for time again. She took a deep breath and let herself relax.

This was beyond her control and she couldn’t make thing happen any faster. She had tried and now there was a rock slide that blocked their way. Going back would cost her hours, clearing the pass would take hours. All her rushing had achieved nothing. She was still not going to make it.

If anything, her rushing had caused irritation and frustration.

Viola sat on a patch of grass.

Ferox stood in front of her blocking the sun. He passed her water.

She took it.

“Thank you.”

She drank. Ferox turned to leave.

“I am sorry, I am always being the worst version of myself with you. Nothing goes right for me in this world. My world I am in control. I am never caught off guard like this. Bad stuff doesn’t happen to me. I love my job, my dad and my world. I hate feeling so powerless and overwhelmed.” She confessed.

If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

Ferox sat next to her.

“Every time you apologize it’s so sincere. Why don’t you try to learn how this world works so you don’t feel dragged behind it? This world has space for everyone. There is fighting, death and also great joy. We have simple lives with complex designs. You have been here weeks as someone who resisted things. Try feeling its rhythm and move with it. You cannot change the world, but you can change how it affects you and your place in it.”

Ferox played with a stick.

“Rider and his family love you. You could go back to them.”

He fiddled with the stick drawing lines in the sand.

“There is more than one place for you in this world. You have a place with me.” He offered, “I am here because you needed help, not the gold or silver.”

Viola’s heart pounded in her chest.

‘Please don’t try to kiss me.’ She thought.

Ferox saw her expression of stone. He got up and extended his hand.

“Come we have rocks to clear. Your home waits for you.” He said.

Viola took his hand and got up.

They cleared the rocks and moved on. The sun set and Viola was forced to camp in the pass.

Ferox and Viola woke up, something had disturbed them. But the silence was now getting to them. Not a bug could be heard. Viola looked out of the make shift tent to see people quietly moving around the camp.

Viola pointed, he saw and they both crawled out the back of the tent against the cliffs.

“Hey they are not here!” a deep man’s voice said.

“They have to be.” A familiar male voice said.

“Look for yourself.” The deep voice said.

Viola started climbing the cliff against her back. Ferox followed, they both climbed up the rocks without ropes or equipment.

“I know that voice.” Viola said.

“It’s one the men we hired.” Ferox stated “I think it’s Haul. But I cannot be sure. I didn’t pay proper attention when Kab introduced me to his men.”

“We paid them to protect us and they have betrayed us?!” Viola was very annoyed.

Viola and Ferox climbed to the top of the cliff.

At the top Viola examined her bleeding hands.

“You did really well, I thought you weren’t going to make it.” Ferox said.

“It was rough, not use to doing it without gloves.” She replied.

They moved along the top of the cliff where they found rocks piled up and ready to push into the pass to block the way. Viola pushed the rock in and the pile tumbled after it. The noise echoed in the pass.

“Why did you do that?” Ferox asked.

“I am getting my money back and my horse. I am also taking whatever they have. No one betrays me.”

Ferox could see she was serious, she behaved like this was not the first time she had taken revenge either.

“Gold doesn’t matter, there is a town ahead called Opeth and my father’s bother lives there. We will get more horses. Let’s go on.” Ferox said.

“No. Go ahead without me if you want. But I will not let them steal from me. This is a matter of principle.” She moved quickly along the cliff towards the town she had come from.

Ferox followed her, he kept thinking ‘you stupid boy’. But he went anyways.

Viola saw them moving towards the rock slide. She needed to be quick if she was to get to town and back before they had moved the rocks. On her way she saw another pile of rocks and she pushed them in, the same thing happened all the rocks tumbled into the pass.

Viola ran all the way to the town. She considered herself to be fit, so it surprised her that Ferox could keep up, he was not with her but keeping a distance behind her, following her. She bought skinning knives and cooking oil. She still had her flint stone. She found a pair of gloves for riding and she bought them for herself and Ferox who was keeping his distance.

Viola then ran back. The new day was dawning. This helped Viola see better which meant she could run faster. When she got to the second rock slide that she had caused, trapping the men between two rock slides, she slowed down to a walk.

“Ferox! Come here!” she called in a low voice as not to get the attention of anyone in the pass.

Ferox didn’t respond.

“I know you have been following me the whole time. Now come here, I could use your help.” She hissed.

He came over.

“How did you know I was there?” he asked.

“I saw you every now and then.”

“Oh.” He was disappointed in his stealth skills.

“I am going to climb down. Here are gloves I got you to help protect your hands while climbing. Once I am down there, distract them and pour this oil all over them.” She said.

“This is a stupid idea. Don’t go down there.” He said

“Just do it.”

Viola started her climb down. The men had almost finished clearing the pass. Working at night had slowed them down a lot.

“They are not here. I have looked.” One said to the other.

“Are you saying they vanished into thin air?” the other snapped,

“Yes, they are gone.”

Viola reached the bottom, she threw a stone up at Ferox.

The sound of the stone hitting the cliff wall distracted the men. They looked to see Ferox at the top of the cliff.

“How did he get there?” Hugh asked.

Ferox threw oil all over them.

“Ahhh!” they objected.

“What is it?” the touch it and realized it was oil.

“Why did you do that?” he call up at Ferox.

“I don’t know.” He answered honestly.

Viola whistled at them from the wall of the other cliff.

“You have been bad! You betrayed me. I don’t like being betrayed. I want my gold back.” She said.

“What!?!” they started laughing.

“Why would we give you gold when we can take from you? You can’t stop us!”

Viola held up the flint stone. “Fire can.” She answered coldly.

“You wouldn’t.” he said.

“I am an earthling, I so would!” she replied.

They looked at each other unsure if she meant what she was saying.

“My gold, and your gold and silver. You intended to rob me, now I am robbing you.” She stated calmly.

“Now I am going to kill her not just sell her to the slave traders.” Kap said to his men.

Viola threw the knife into his knee.

“I am one, and you are many. So, I brought many knives. Throw the gold over! All of it.” She demanded.

“Like you said, one of you, many of us.” Gad said.

“I think she is serious. Let’s just let her go.”

“And let it be said a woman robbed us?” Kap objected, “No!”

Viola then surprised Ferox as she mercilessly cut and butchered the robbers.

First Viola threw a knife into the face of Gad killing him. The big man fell hitting the earth hard. Next, she threw a knife into Hugh’s foot and another into his hand that was trying the remove the knife from his foot. She slit Kap’s throat as she walked over to Hugh.

“Should have given me the money.” She said kicking him in the face.

She stood in front of Lug, with her hand out to receive the money.

He put the money bag in her hand.

“Why did you hire us if you can take care of yourself?” he asked.

“I didn’t want trouble. Now go and be a good boy. Make your parents proud, stop being a thug.” Viola said.

Hugh groaned on the floor. Viola kicked him again.

“The next person might kill all of you. Get out while you can.” Viola said.

Viola took her horse, looked at the almost cleared pass and looked back at Lug.

“Clear the rocks. When I get to the next town, I will tell them thieves are in the pass, they will come fetch you and your dead.” Viola said.

“Who are you?” Lug asked.

“The earthling. I warned you. Now hurry!” she chased him to clear up faster.

Ferox found a nicer place to climb down.

“You didn’t even need me.” He said.

“I do need you. I don’t know the way.” Viola told him.

“You took down three men double your size and you killed two. Doesn’t that bother you?” he asked.

“It used to. Now not so much. I got over it.” She replied.

Lug cleared the pass and Viola did as she said she would. When they reached Opeth she told the men that thieves were in the pass. The queen’s men and law enforcers went to get the thieves.

Ferox stopped at his uncle’s home and they were welcomed. The uncle really liked Viola.

“A woman who can fight, and is brave and beautiful. We need more women like you. If you were not with Ferox, I would match you with my son. He needs a strong woman.”

Ferox’s uncle Calixto said.

Calixto was Lukente’s younger brother. He had four children, Aziz was his first born and oldest son. Then he had two daughters named Privily and Milena, then the youngest son Aiko. Darleen his wife was a beautiful woman and her children were fair to look upon.

Aziz was a handsome boy but he was not brave or hard working. His comfortable life had made him soft.

Ferox and Viola headed for mount Jeku after their visit. They declined staying all night and stayed in an inn on the edge of the next town. Hours from where Ferox’s uncle lived.

“Your whole family is forward.” Viola said.

Ferox shrugged. “We are Barrons, we have no need to talk in circles. I suspect talking in circles would bother you more. You are of a bonding age it is normal that someone would want to match you with their son.”

“I am not use to it.” Viola said.

“Where are you from?” Ferox asked “Don’t say far away.” He added.

“I don’t think telling you is a good idea.” Viola answered.

“Alright, what’s at mount Jeku?” he asked.

Viola paused then answered “A way home.”

“You ask me to trust you but you will not trust me.” He said.

“I have trusted you. I came to you to help me. But I am complicated and it could cause you grief.”

“Do you think I cannot or will not keep your secrets? Have I not kept your other secret?” he pushed.

“Fine, you win. I am from a planet or world called earth. I lie, steal and kill as my job and I like it. I want to go home to keep going my job that I love and see people I know and like. Not get bonded and not have children.” Viola looked at him “Happy now? I have told you the truth. Do you like knowing?” she snapped at him.

“Yes. I am glad I know. Now you make sense and your inner battles are not so crazy. Not that my opinion matters but I think you would be very happy as a mother, bonded to a man who knows you and loves you anyways.”

Viola laughed.

“Knows me and loves me. I think your world is more broken than mine. I am a danger to everyone who knows me and love is a fleeting emotion.”

“Love is a choice.” Ferox replied.

Viola considered what he said.

She changed the topic of conversation to him and his family. Mainly his relationship with his father.

But he was only distracted for a short while.

“Now many cycles, are you?” he asked her “Remember you need to be honest.”

“Twenty-six.” She answered.

“Why do you like killing people?” he asked.

“Well, I don’t, but I do and it does sometimes bother me, but most of the time I let them go like Lug.”

“Do they usually have a knife in them like Lug?” Ferox asked.

“Yes.” Viola answered beginning to regret the honesty part of their agreement.

“Would you bond with me?” he asked.

“That’s a trick question. You cannot ask me something like that.” Viola objected.

“But I have asked.”

“No, I will not have this conversation. We are not talking about me and you like that ever. No!” Viola defiantly objected.

“Honestly, I didn’t expect you to be honest with me.”

“It was our arrangement.” Viola stated.

“Exactly! So, answer the question, do you like me?”

“That’s not the question you asked. This conversation is over.” Viola stated.

Ferox knew already, he was just teasing her.