Product of Love

The Escape

Dereck's eyes widened at the news. “They are forcing you now?”

Adrianna nodded as she wiped her eyes. “It was announced by his father this evening. I’m surprised you missed it.”

“I was finishing packing up uncle’s shop.” He replied. “We leave in an hour.”

“I thought you were going to stay for a little while longer.” Adrianna looked sadly at the human in front of her as a small spark of hope shone through her once again.

“We were, but there seemed to be a rise in taxes. The longer we stay here, the more money we’ll lose. We just packed the essentials so it’ll be an easy trip for the horses.” Dereck stroked her chin. “I wish I could’ve gotten to know you more, highness.”

Adrianna held his hand to her face as she looked him in the eye. “What if I disappear? It is hard to have an engagement when one person is missing.”

Dereck grinned as he pushed back his blond locks. “I suppose the horses will have to work a bit to get home.

An hour later, Adrianna huddled under a blanket in the wagon as it bumped towards the gate leading out of town. Soon, the wagon halted at the checkpoint. Adrianna strained to hear what Dereck said but all sound was drowned out by her heartbeat. The seconds ticked by and a line of cool sweat trickled down her spine. If she was found. . . .  She mentally shook herself, they wouldn’t find her and if they did, she wouldn’t let them hurt Dereck or his family.

The wagon finally moved towards the second and last checkpoint between Adrianna and her freedom. Her stomach turned to knots as the wagon slowed again. This checkpoint was more relaxed than the first one but she still worried. The time ticked by as she strained to hear what the guard was saying.

“I’m sorry, what was that?” Dereck’s tone worried Adrianna as she waited for the response.

“He said to unlock the wagon’s tailgate, human!” The authority and arrogance in the voice shook Adrianna to the core. What was Yoshi doing here? She clutched her identification necklace in fright and realized her mistake. All identification necklaces had a tracking program in them, by wearing it, she had blatenly left a breadcrumb trail to anyone looking for her. “Not you, I want the old man to do it.” Yoshi’s voice boomed through the wagon.

Adrianna felt the grape seller slowly rise from his seat. There was a brief jolt before Dereck cried out, “Uncle! Are you alright?” The sound of footsteps came to her ears as she peaked over the luggage in the back. Dereck helped his ailing uncle up but froze for a second before patting the old man on the shoulder.

“Get back in the wagon, human!” Ordered Yoshi and Dereck did as commanded.

Adrianna steeled herself as she took off her necklace. The shuffling footsteps of the grape seller came around to the back of the wagon.

“Open it,” Yoshi’s voice sent chills crawling down her spine as Adrianna prepared to throw her necklace at the man.

 The wagon creaked as the old man wrestled with the bolts on either side of the tailgate. Soon, the tailgate fell open. Adrianna held her breath as she felt Yoshi climb on board. There was a chuckle before the blanket was yanked from Adrianna.

“If you wanted to hide, you should’ve left your necklace at home. Come with me, and I’ll let the man from the arbor off lightly. Oh yes, Adrianna, I saw him and you down there. Be a smart girl and choose the only logical option.”

Before she could answer, the old man jumped on Yoshi’s back. “Go now!” He shouted to Dereck as he pulled the mage back causing the mage to become unsteady as the wagon moved forward.

“The only logical option I see  is to be a far away from you as possible. I would die before becoming yours!” Adrianna spat at the mage before as she swiped at him with her necklace. Yoshi cried out in pain as the sharp tip of the necklace got his eye. The mage stumble backwards, reeling from the pain and fell off the moving wagon with Dereck’s uncle still on his back. “Dereck! Your uncle!” Adrianna moved towards the front as she pointed behind her. “He is still in there!”

“I know,” Dereck replied through gritted teeth as tears streamed down his face. “I know. Uncle G knew the risk of us getting caught and so planned a diversion.” He looked at Adrianna with a mixture of grief and warmth in his gaze. “He also knew that you were worth it even if he didn’t make it.” Adrianna held Dereck as he led them safely away past the Dasicain boarder.

Yoshi looked at the old man on the ground. The fall had broken his neck and yet his face held a smile as if he had gone to a better place. Yoshi turned his good eye towards the trail the human had taken his mage, his Adrianna. He remembered her words to him. “I’d die before becoming yours!” “Well, Adrianna,” he murmered to himself. “You’ll get your wish.

Two years later.

Adrianna smiled as she heard the cries of her newborn son. She rested her head in exhaustion, the pregnancy had been hard and the healers had been worried she wouldn’t survive but she had.

“Your son.” The healer placed the bundled up baby into Adrianna’s arms as her husband rounded the bed.

“He has your blond hair.” Adrianna chuckled as she looked at their child.

“But he has your eyes.” Whispered Dereck giving his wife a loving kiss.

Adrianna looked at baby’s eyes. They were green as emeralds with shards of silver and amber in them.

“He has both of our eyes.” She pointed out to him. “What should we name him?”

“Your choice, Mrs. Preslar.”

Adrianna’s mind flashed back to the night Dereck had helped her escape Delgart and the loss of his uncle. “How about Gillith? Like your uncle.” She said looking into her husband’s eyes.

He smiled. “I like that, we could call him Gil for short.”

Adrianna bent to give their child a kiss. “Welcome to the family, Gillith Ichirou Preslar.”