Chapter 24

The girl said nothing in response, though her heart lurched at the thought; fear seeping into her every muscle. Could he really make what just happened worse? Would he harm her in such a way?

"come to me." he ordered softly, his tone suddenly changing.

Astria nodded, rising to her feet slowly, fearful that she would fall as her head felt faint from the blood loss.

She stopped only inches away from him, her pulse quickening as she worried that it would all occur again. At first, he said nothing, only staring down at her as she trembled in terror. Not knowing what to expect, the girl wobbled where

she stood, almost collapsing into the ground; though managing to catch herself at the last possible moment.

Tarian sighed, lifting her from the ground and throwing her over his shoulder, her clothes caked in blood and mud.

She whimpered slightly when he began to walk back towards his horse, her stomach pressed into his shoulder.

"i hope that this has taught you a lesson." he murmured slowly, gently placing her onto the horse.

The girl once again opted to remain mute, not wishing to speak to the man who had caused her so much anguished pain, nor knowing what to say in response. If she argued, it would only occur again; yet if she said yes, he would see her as nothing but a scared child.

Which of course she was. But it was something she never wanted people to think of her, especially a man as merciless as tarian.

The ride back towards the camp was just as fear provoking as the last, her mind wondering over what his people may say about her and the fact that she was a half-breed. Would they want her dead as the law man had? Or would they see her as nothing more than a slave? A foolish prisoner that tried to run.

They rode through the tents as crowds of people gathered around them, each man and woman staring at her as they passed; their eyes filled with curiosity. In the centre of the camp was a large stone statue of a bear, its head lowered towards the largest hut, the girl guessing that it was where tarian resided; the leaders home. She took a short breath, still cradling her injured hand as they came to a stop directly beside the statue; the leader of the bandits jumping down from his horse. He aided the girl down as she continued to shake, her anxiousness only increasing as the people surrounded them; watching her with caution, observing her to see if she would attempt to run once more.

Tarian turned towards his people, addressing them as though he knew each one personally; which the girl guessed that he did. "this is astria." he said pointing towards her. "we are to protect her at all costs, i have decided that she is to aid us in a war against the law and with her abilities we are sure to win."

"what abilities?" a woman

called from somewhere in the crowd, her tone disbelieving.

"the girl can control fire, generate it from within her body and use it to kill."

Another woman shouted through the crowd; "what makes you think that she won't kill us all in our sleep?"

"she knows her place."

"where did you find her?" someone else asked, though this time it was a man.

"it was completely by chance whilst we were on a supply run. I took her away from her mother."

"what if the mother comes for her?" said an old lady, her hair as white as snow.

"then we kill her and the man she is with."

Astria gasped, shaking her head as

she spoke. "no, you can't."

Tarian smiled, "then you better hope that she doesn't come looking for you."

Tears welled up in the girl's eyes, she knew that her mother would come searching for her, she just didn't know when or if she would even find her. But the girl hoped that tuviel would steer clear of the camp, that she would understand that there was nothing she could do to save her daughter, not now.

One of tarian's soldiers smiled wildly. "perhaps we could keep her mother also."

"that is not an option. The deus are looking for the mother and we wouldn't want to go against an army of them." the leader shot back, clearly annoyed that one of his men would say such a thing.

"why are they looking for her?"

"because she broke their highest law when she had the girl." tarian explained, turning towards the girl as he continued to speak; "show them."

Astria knew exactly what he meant, he wanted her to show them her ears, to reveal that she was a half-breed and face their judgment. Having no other choice, the girl removed her hood and tucked her hair behind her ears; showing who she was. The people gasped, some taking a step back in shock and disbelief.

"she is a half-breed!"

"abomination!"

"kill her!"

"stone her."

"throw her in the pit!"