Chapter Seven

                     The wanderer awoke slowly. Around her was nothing but darkness. This alone was enough to coax her back into the deep sleep from which she had come. However, she began to hear noises, noises that made sleep impossible. Groggily she sat up blinking in the darkness trying to get a clear picture of where she was. She appeared to be in some kind of thick canvassed tent. As hard as she tried the wanderer could not remember how she had come here, or even falling asleep. She had been running into the woods and then…

“She’s awake?” a voice from outside came.

“Yes sir.” Answered another voice.

“Ah yes. I hear her stirring about now.” The tent flap opened and man came inside. He quickly shut the tent door behind him and lit a small lap. The wanderer shielded her eyes from the light and blinked until she could see.

“Hello there. May I ask your name dear?” asked the man in a soft voice. The wanderer squinted to see his features but couldn’t see past the seemingly blinding light.

“I am the wanderer.” She said.

“No, I mean your real name.” The light suddenly grew much dimmer to the wanderer’s eyes and she could see the man clearly. She gasped with sudden fear upon seeing him.

“Ah, I see you recognize me now.” He cooed smiling. “I am Mahito an Arean general. I believe you an I met when you first came to this world.” The wanderer said nothing, watching him with wide fearful eyes. “Now that I have introduced myself please tell me your name.”

“I am the wanderer.” She repeated blocking out his intense gaze.

“You can tell me.” He assured her. “What harm could simply telling your name bring?” the wanderer swallowed.

“I am the wanderer.” Mahito smiled softly.

“Your afraid.” He said probing into her. “Not so much of me, but of what has happened inside your mind.” Seeing the wanderer’s eyes widened even more Mahito continued, now sure of himself. “You can’t find your name, can you? No matter how hard you search it seems to have vanished from your mind, where before it was such a second nature thing. Yes, I can see how that could be very frightening.” She stared at him in fascination as his eyes pierced into her mind reading her so clearly.

“Your name was stolen from you because some one arrogantly decided you must lose it for their purposes. It was washed right out of your mind. They stripped you of your very identity to use you as a puppet to achieve great evils.” The wanderer’s mind began to drown in confusion now. “Its alright though. They could not destroy your identity completely. Its still there, but buried deeply.” He moved closer to her. “Would you like me to find it?” the wanderer shrank back as a sick fear came over her.

“Leave me alone!” she cried squeezing her eyes shut. Mahito smiled again.

“As you wish dear.” He moved back and with a curt bow exited the tent, once again closing the flap from the outside.  The wanderer shuddered in the silence that was left. He had only wanted to play with her! She realized. Mahito had no intentions of getting any information, yet. He only wanted to shake her up. Play with her mind. She admitted he was very good at that. Even now, the remaining sheds of doubt plagued her mind. No! Mahito only wanted her to think such bad thoughts about Him. Azrael. Thinking of him drove the fear away, at least momentarily.

“Why does he want to know my name so badly?” the wanderer asked herself. As Mahito had said, what harm could it bring? She though about his hints about Azrael. Did not having her name have something to do with him? At any rate, she would not let Mahito have her name. That much was for sure. But how was she going to get out this current situation? 

 

 

“Wanderer!”

The wanderer jerked awake. Had she fallen asleep again? No time to think though. Mahito came inside the tent. He was carrying someone who was bound up with ropes.

“Will?” the wanderer asked, upon seeing him. Mahito threw him down on the floor. Will groaned but did not move.

“Wanderer, I told you before that I wanted some information. First your name. Then I would like to know where you are going and why, and also where the staff is that you have been carrying.”

“I won’t…” the wanderer trailed off suddenly think of Will. “Y-You…” Mahito smiled seeing that she understood.

“Yes. If you don’t tell me, I kill your friend.” The wanderer tried to conceal the horror and fear that swept through her. What should she do?… What would Tella do? She would know the right thing… The wanderer tried to think… Then…

“And what makes you think I care if you kill that boy?” the wanderer asked carefully. “I only know him as the servant boy on a ship. What does he matter to me?” she tried not to look at Will, for fear of seeing his face. But Will did not move.

“If you would not mind me killing him, then he has no purpose to me and I will kill him now.” Mahito said. The wanderer’s face flushed. She remained silent, knowing Mahito had seen through her.

“As I thought.” Mahito said. “Well then, answer my questions.”

“Wanderer, don’t tell him anything.” Will said suddenly. Mahito scornfully kicked at him, but Will continued. “If this mission of yours is important enough for an Arean general to be called in don’t tell him anything. Besides, he hasn’t been very nice to us, has he?” Mahito growled and pulled a small pointed staff out of his robes and aimed it at Will.

“Stop it!” the wanderer shouted. “Stop it! If you hurt him I won’t tell you anything!” Mahito stopped and slide the staff back into his robe. He looked up and smiled at the Wanderer.

“Alright.” He said. “I’ll give you tonight to think about this and in the morning if you don’t tell me, I will kill this boy.”

“I’m not a ‘boy’.” Will muttered quietly. Mahito turned slowly around and left the tent.

“Man, that guy gives me the creeps.” Will said once Mahito was gone. “Its like he’s just playing with us.”

“Yeah.” The wanderer said silently thankful that Mahito had left Will in the tent with her. She wiggled out of the chair in which she had been propped up in and moved closer to him. Her feet and hands were bound so it made everything difficult.

“Will,” she said. “I’m sorry. For saying… That.” He looked at her in confusion for a moment.

“Huh? What do you mean?” the wanderer’s faced reddened even more. She looked away in embarrassment. Will suddenly understood. She was genuinely embarrassed for making up that lie, he realized.

“Hey, come on.” He said smiling, “It was a bluff! You had to say something. That was really clever.”

“But I-” the wander started.

“It was a bluff. I saw through it okay. Heck, even the general guy saw through it.” He laughed warmly. “You take things too seriously.”

“You think so?” she asked in a small frightened voice. Will paused then laughed again quietly.

“Yes.” He said. “Its okay to loosen up a little around your friends.” The wanderer looked away again and smiled.

“Yeah...” She looked back at him suddenly as a new thought occurred to her, “Will, what about your uncle? He’s waiting for us isn’t he?”

“Uncle?” Will asked. “… Well… He was steering away after we left and...”

“What? Why?” the wanderer asked.

“Well, at first I thought he might be trying to avoid those big waves that we got into, but now that I think about it, uncle’s been watching me kind of weirdly the last couple of days… Smiling like he had a secret. I think he’s purposely left me here with you all.”

“But you live with him, you have to help with the business, right?” the wanderer asked.

“I can’t always live on a fish boat.” Will said. “I think uncle knew that. He’s been looking for people my age that would help me into the world.”

“Are you sure?” the wanderer asked. Will looked at her curiously.

“Yes. Besides, going with you all…feels right.” He said. The wanderer silently remembered how she had told Tella that Will was a part of their mission. Now, she wonderer if perhaps she had been right.

“Will, Mahito is going to kill you in the morning.” She said unhappily.

“Nah,” Will said, “I don’t think he will. You see, the Arean people are actually pretty friendly, even if they do live by logic. Heh, the general Mahito is a little weird in the head, but he won’t kill me. I’m the bait to get you to talk. Don’t worry about it…. Look, why don’t you get some sleep? I think it would do you good.”

“Maybe so…” the wanderer said. “I’ve already slept so much though, but I do feel really tired… Do you think I was drugged?” she asked.

“Its possible.” Will said. “But I wouldn’t worry too much about it. If you were so what? Sleep it off.” The wanderer nodded, reassured.

“Okay. Thanks Will.” she said and closer her eyes. The wanderer noted how warm she felt here with Will. It was comforting to have someone like him around. Someone so laid back in even the most dangerous situation.

Will watched the wanderer until he was sure she was asleep. Then silently he began to wrestle with his bonds. Despite the certainty he had displayed to the wanderer, Will was not quite so sure that Mahito would not murder him. As he had said, Mahito was a bit weird in the head. And he had a twisted sense of humor.

“I gotta find a way out of here for us.” He whispered quietly to himself. “Getting her worked up and scared wouldn’t be good. If I do manage to find a way out of here, then I’ll wake her up, but if not there no use in her getting disappointed.” He wriggled his fingers out of the ropes and then pried them off his feet. Then Will began to examine the tent walls.

“If I knock into them it might tip the tent over, but that would draw a lot of attention I think. Hmm… The tent opening is sealed from the outside somehow, so no luck there. Maybe I can cut my way out… Ah yes. I have my pocket knife now lets see…” Will poked a small hole in the tent canvas. “Ah, good, I’m facing the woods. Now I just have to cut a large enough hole for a person to get out. It took him a few minutes buy Will finally was able to slip his knife through the canvas to cut out a fairly large hole.  “Great I’ll just wake the wanderer and we’ll be out of-” Will cut off abruptly as he turned back to the opening he had cut. A tall figure stood in the way. Will’s mouth opened in surprise, but before he could make a sound and strong hand clamped down over his mouth and anther hand reached for him, dragging him out of the tent completely.

Kyaaaaa! They found me! Will thought, Hey, wait a minute… He carrying me away from the camp. What…? Oh! Will looked up to catch a glimpse of the man. All he saw was an ear, pointed at the end. A Hailian! Maybe I’m okay!… Wait…No I’m not! He probably thinks I’m Arean and he’ll kill me or maybe he’s a thief that will try to rob me- wait I don’t have anything- Then he’ll kill me! Aaaaaaah!

Finally the man stopped, set Will on his feet and took his hand away from Will’s mouth.

“Please sir! Don’t kill me, I have so much more of life to experience!” Will pleaded. The man said nothing. Will panicked. “I’ve never seen the mountains, never smelt the flowers of the famed Gardens, I’ve never been with a woman!” Will said, “Surly sir, you can understand this?”

“Will, what are you doing?” a voice asked from behind him. Will spun around quickly to see Tella and Collin standing behind him.

“Oh, Tella. Collin… um, hi.” Will said, then turning to the man, “I assume you are not going to kill me then?” Demus looked away trying to hide a smile.

“No Will he will not.” Tella said. “This is Demus.”

“Young sir, you truly are missing some of the best things of life.” Demus said smiling, “The flowers of the famed Gardens are unmatched.” Will reddened and laughed.

“Oh!” he said suddenly serious, “The wanderer! We have to go back for her!”

“The wanderer?” Tella asked surprised and suddenly intent on Will. “She’s alive?”

“Yeah. She’s in the Arean camp, in that same tent I was in.”

“I didn’t see anyone else.” Demus said somewhat troubled.

“She was laying down asleep.” Will said.

“Asleep?” Tella asked scornfully.

“I think she was drugged.” Will said.

  “Then lets get back there! We have to get her! Demus will you go back…?” Tella asked. Demus lifted his head as if hearing something. His eyes were not focused on anything visible but he seemed deep in concentration.

“I don’t think that a good idea.” Collin said. He cocked his head to look up at Demus. “You hear the whistles?” Demus did not answer. “How can that be?!” Collin demanded.

“What are you talking about?” Tella asked scornfully.

“The camp has been altered to our presence.” Demus told her.

“Only Areans can hear those whistles!” Collin said aggressively.

“What whistles?” Will asked. “I don’t hear anything.”

“Obviously.” Tella muttered. “So that’s how you alert your troops huh? With a high pitched sound that only Arean can hear.”

“Areans and Hailians.” Demus said.

“No! Only Areans!” Collin nearly shouted.

“How else do you think we Hailians have escaped your people so easily, young one? We always knew when you came by the sounds of those whistles.” Collin glared at his with silent hatred. Demus glanced back at him uncertainly and then turned away.

“Why can’t I hear them?!” Will protested in the background. “I’m Iyokian! We can hear really well!”

“Not as good as a Hailian!” Tella growled at him.

“Yeah but-”

“Will you two shut up?!” Collin growled. Tella and Will glared at him.

“We should leave this place now.” Demus told them, trying to change the subject. “In a few minutes the Areans shall be here.”

“We can’t leave the wanderer!” Tella shouted.

“This is our only chance!” Will joined in. “They won’t be so careless again!”

“That is not for us to decide. But right now if we venture back to that camp we shall most certainly be captured.”

“Then we just leave her?” Tella asked angrily.

“I am not suggesting that.” Demus said.

“If you want to bring her out of there alive you should retreat now and wait for another opportunity when they let their guard down. That time will come. Its always does.” Collin said stoically. Tella glared at all of them. The sound of feet and bodies pushing through the foliage came from a distance.

“Tella, maybe they’re right. If we get caught too then what help would we be to the wanderer? Come on.” Will said. Silently Tella allowed herself to be lead away into the night.

 

 

Daylight graced the land, it beams piercing the woodlands. Its rays even found their way into the open tent that the wanderer slept within. Mahito sat watching her in uneasy silence. Finally, her eyelids parted and the wanderer was awake. She had not seen him yet and so she sighed, relaxed.

“Will?” she called as she sat up. Instead of Will, she suddenly became aware of Mahito sitting in front of her. She jumped in surprise and pulled her legs up toward herself. Mahito smiled, amused.

“Good morning.” He said. The wanderer looked around in confusion and then back at him.

“Where is Will?” there was fear in her voice and her eyes were wide in horror and anxiety. Mahito allowed himself a bit of pleasure in her distress and smiled as he though of the things he could tell her.

“Will… The boy from last night?” he asked innocently.

“You didn’t kill him… Did you…?” the wanderer asked. Mahito was silent for a moment contemplating. Then he spoke.

“No. I did not, neither did any of my men. Your friend Will escaped last night.”

“Oh…” the wanderer sat back in relief and sighed. “I’m so glad.”

“Are you?” Mahito asked.

“Yes. And thank you.” The wanderer said. “You could have lied to me, and made me believe awful things. Thank you.” Mahito snorted in annoyance.

“Why should I lie?” He said, “When the truth is much more potent.” The wanderer blinked at him in surprise and confusion.

“What do you mean by that?”

“Are you so simple minded that you do not feel just a small amount of betrayal?” he asked.

“Betrayal?” she repeated, taken aback. “No! Of course not.” Mahito smiled.

“Of course. I wouldn’t expect that of some one like you. Would you like some breakfast?”

“I…” the wanderer stuttered, not sure of what he was trying to do, or what ideas he was planting within her. She didn’t like the feel of them at any rate.

“Would you or not?” he asked becoming impatient.

“Yes I would. But this time please don’t put drugs in it.” She asked.

“Drugs? Why would I drug you?”

“You did yesterday.”

“Ah. That must have been a side effect of the magic we used to capture you.”

“I don’t even remember being captured.” She said.

“It was strong magic.” Mahito muttered and left. He didn’t like thinking about just how powerful a spell he had needed to use to bring the girl down. She had been running, (the last thing the wanderer remembered) and Mahito upon seeing her, had given chase. After firing many lower spells after her, Mahito had in desperation and annoyance fired quite a large one, and had been worried that he might have killed her, but the girl kept running. Mahito had at once become suspicious and guessed correctly that something was protecting her. He had smiled knowing that nothing could withstand his spells for very long and so he had patiently fired off spell after spell until finally wanderer and who ever was protecting her failed and the girl fell to the ground unconscious.

Mahito ordered a few more men to stand guard over the wanderer’s tent. He knew her friends were around. They would not leave her so easily, especially when it seemed that she was the center of their mission. And she had the staff. Mahito had at once been captured by the beauty and power of that staff. But alas, when the wanderer was captured it was not to be found. Mahito cursed knowing that some intervention had prevented him once again from obtaining that wondrous staff.

But none of that mattered at the moment. They would be approaching the North Arean base soon. He smiled thinking of how his move north instead of south must be infuriating and vexing to the wanderer’s companions who naturally assumed he would be heading south, back to Area. He laughed and ordered the camp to pack up. They would be moving within the hour!