Rain Drops

Chapter 17

At first I thought that the weather was getting warmer and warmer, but after a little while I realized that it was actually getting colder. I decided that I should hurry and go into town and buy some more provisions. But before I could get up from the grass, something landed next to me. The bird landed on my hand, looked at me for a second, and flew off in another direction. Once again it left me behind. I didn't follow. I got up, brushed off some of the dirt that remained stuck to my clothes, and continued walking through the fields, searching for the taverns and inns where the travelers stay.

There were many of them that I could remember from my past. I knew that most of them had been emptied during the time that the war broke out between the kingdoms of the North and South. Since the North and South hadn't joined forces during the war, they hadn't fought for the same goal. Therefore, they weren't allies. They were simply fighting each other. But since most of the civilians and merchants in the North had fled the capital city, and the people living in the Southern parts of the kingdom were also running away, it wasn't really surprising that the taverns had become empty. And when I walked in front of the first one, I realised that most of the people there were refugees from the north. They all looked pretty unhappy with everything that had happened, and I felt like I needed to offer them some advice. Maybe it would make their situation a little better. So I approached them one by one. Some of the refugees didn't know me at first. We introduced ourselves and tried to strike a conversation. However, I didn' t dare to speak in the common tongue because that was something that I was sure that even though they were refugees from the North and the South, they would still hate us. I decided to talk to the people using their own language, which they didn't understand. Most of them seemed to listen, but some of them didn't. Some of them didn't even understand what I was saying at all. Nevertheless, I was happy when I understood what was being said. And that made me hope that I could help them in any way possible. After speaking to the others I turned to them and talked with them as though they were my friends, asking their names, telling them about where I lived and about my family and my parents. The refugees listened to my words attentively.

And so, despite the fact that it was still dark outside, I ended up staying the whole day at the tavern where I had met the man and the girl the previous evening. After spending most of the day in the tavern, I went back out into the main street, hoping to be able to find somebody I knew, so that we could exchange information with each other and perhaps help each other. However, there was nobody around and I couldn't help wondering why, if I were already at the tavern before, then why I was now alone outside. I started to walk along the street again and I saw the man again, standing in the same place as yesterday, talking to the young man, whose face I had recognized yesterday, who was dressed similarly to him. He must be their servant.

I watched them quietly for a moment. After a few seconds, they seemed to finish their discussion, as the young man shook the old man's hand and they both headed in the direction of the gate. After seeing that their backs were turned, I walked slowly and cautiously to the gates of the city.

When I got near the gate, I slowed down my pace and then stopped in my tracks. Something was unusual here. The soldiers at the gate were sitting at the top step chatting, and they didn't look particularly tense, except for one guard. He was leaning against the wall with a serious expression on his face. I hesitated for a moment, trying to decide whether or not I should go over to the gate. I don't know what kind of reaction I might cause, but before I had time to think about it, one of the guards called:

"What are you doing out there?!"

I froze. I didn't know what to reply to them. Fortunately, the young man who had accompanied the old man earlier came to my rescue. He said something to the guard, and then the man smiled.

"Well, let' s hear what you have to say."

The young man came closer to the gate and looked at me carefully. He seemed friendly enough, and he smiled at me.

"You are Aniya, aren't you?" he asked.

"Yes," I said, nodding my head without saying anything more, but remaining calm, just like always.

He noticed this and continued to smile.

"My name's Jadestar and this is my friend, Hidetaka."

The two men held hands and started to chat together.

"Do you know why we're here? Why we're guarding the palace?"

Hidetaka interrupted him and asked me what was going to happen to me tomorrow.

They were worried about my future. Of course, I wanted to tell them that everything was going to be fine, but unfortunately they didn't understand. I told them that I didn't know what would happen tomorrow, and then added:

"But don't worry; you'll definitely be allowed to leave the city in the morning."

That was a lie. For me, leaving the city would only mean that I wouldn't be able to return to where I belonged. That was why I hadn't done anything to prevent it, since I didn't know if I would survive the day if I decided to escape.

"Good. I'm glad to hear that," Hidetaka replied happily.

Hidetaka and Jadestar both stood up from the steps of the gate, ready to leave for the palace. It seems that they had come prepared too because Hidetaka was carrying a large bag with food and medicine inside. It was obvious that he was planning on taking a nap and eating breakfast before leaving.