Chapter 30

“I have helped you as much as i am able.”

“surely there is something else you could do... Please, i don’t want to kill anyone.”

“there is nothing i can do.” Panett whispered as he stood, moving to leave the hut.

The half-breed grabbed his arm, stumbling as she stood. “help me escape, we could go together, leave this place... You wouldn’t have to be a captive any longer.”

“it’s a bad idea, we would be caught.”

“not if we are careful, it is almost dark, we could use that.”

“where would we go?”

“we could search for my mother... I’m sure that with two of us, we could find her.”

“what if we are found before we make it to your mother? I cannot fight, i am a healer; not a fighter.”

“then i will use my power, i will stop anyone who tries to stop us? Please panett, you are my only hope of ever seeing my mother again.”

Panett went silent for a long moment, he supposed the risk was simply the price of freedom. But could he risk it? He had spent years with the bandits and their leader, could he leave all that behind, blindly follow the girl into certain death? Yet, she did have an amazing power, one that they could certainly use, perhaps they could even make it out of the boarders of sential.

“you cannot stay a captive forever.”

She did make a good point. He couldn’t stand any of them, he wanted them dead just as much as she did for what they did to his family, he wanted them to pay. No matter the cost to his own life. He had been an obedient prisoner for years, he had gained their trust, perhaps he could use that to aid them. 

“please...”

Panett bobbed his head, pulling his arm free from hers as he spoke; “very well, we will leave here together. But you will listen to everything i say, and if i tell you to dispose of someone then you must. I will only say it when it is our life or theirs.”

“what if i can’t do it?” Astria asked, worried that should it come to that she wouldn’t be able to bring herself to do it. It was the same question rolling around in her head, could she kill to save herself?

“you have done it before; this is no different.” He stated, collecting his medical bag from where he left it on the ground.

“but taking another life is wrong, isn’t there another way?”

“no, if we do this then it will either be them or us. Do you want to die?”

“no.”

“then you must take the lives of those who would do you harm, that is the only way to survive this world. Surely you have seen enough to know that?”

“ok.” Was all she said.

Astria followed panett from the hut in silence, pulling the hood of her cloak further over her face, ensuring that no one could tell who she was by a simple glimpse. They went over the plan of escape several times over the course of the night, dawn appearing over the horizon as they strolled through the masses of fabric homes, each one knowing that they would only get one chance at making it out of the camp alive.

Though perhaps not even that as they walked past the bandits who arose early from their slumber, each one glancing in their direction. The half-breed became increasingly nervous as the men around them began to chatter, wondering where the medical man was taking their leaders captive.

She prayed to the spirits that they would make it past them without incident, the less people she had to kill the better; she just wanted to see her mother again. She wished she would get the chance to meet her father, to spend more time with dane and explore the world beyond what she knew.

Panett grabbed her wrist without warning, quickening his pace as the men began to follow them, leaving their duties to ensure they both stayed within the boundaries of the camp. Astria knew that once they reached the horses, they would have a fight on their hands,Tarian's men would not allow them to leave so easily. Nor would they stop pursuing them, they had to stick to the plan, no matter the cost.

“are you ready?” Panett asked, tightening his grip on her wrist.

“what do you need me to do?”

“burn them.” He said commandingly, pointing towards the men that blocked their path.

The half-breed took a deep breath,ncounting in her mind until she reached ten, her mind screaming at her not to do it. That there had to be another way. But there wasn’t, it was either this orndeath. They reached the men only a few seconds after she finished counting, yet she still wasn’t ready, an internal battle within her mind preventing her from taking action.

Panett stopped just short of the men, glancing at her in panic before he spoke; his voice level and seemingly calm.

“morning gentlemen, can i help you?”

“where are you taking the girl?” One of them asked, staring down at her as though she was nothing other than a pest.

“i’m showing her around the camp, she was getting restless in the hut.” He lied, though did so skilfully.

“i see.” Another one said. “but why is her restlessness your concern?”

Astria’s heart rate increased rapidly when one of them stepped towards her, his bulky frame towering over her petite form as he reached out to grab her, her power surging. He worse a similar attire to the half-breed, only he had some armour to aid him in a fight, whereas she did not.

Panett shoved the girl behind him with a sudden speed, “it is my concern because she is my patient, would you like me to tell our leader that you have stopped me from doing my duty?”

The armoured man pulled back, clenching his fists as he spoke. “i hope that tarian gets bored of you, because as soon as you are no longer useful, i will personally ensure your fate matchesnthat of your family.”

Panett's grip on the girl tightenednat the mention of his family, now he knew which one of them gave the order to slaughter his new-born son and wife. He wanted nothing more than to kill that man, the promise of escape causing him to hesitate as he moved his hand into his medical bag, knowing that there was a large knife at the top. He had never killed before, but he would do anything to avenge those he loved.

“you are free to go.” Said the armoured man as he moved to the side, allowing them room to pass.