A few days had passed. The young man was healing, though slowly. From a distance, the two women watched the old woman tending to him with care, both deep in thought.
"We can't waste what little we have on this man. This doesn't make sense."Molava narrowed her eyes.
"Come on. What if it were you lying there?"Katizi answered quietly.
"Then I'd be dead already. I don't expect anyone to come for me. And that old woman's hand… it's not the hand of a healer—it's the hand of a witch. You two are up to something. I'm not stupid."Molava said with suspicion.
"If you'd just let the river take you, maybe you'd accept things as they come. Without all this confusion."Katizi's voice softened.
"Maybe I should rip your skin off. Then maybe you'd speak a language I understand."Molava growled.
The two locked eyes—hate flickering between them like lightning.
"Any news about Miera?"Katizi broke the silence.
"Same as yesterday. She's probably far away by now."Molava replied, arms crossed.
"Tomorrow we'll speak with the boy. As soon as we're done, we're going to look for her. I won't leave him alone with Ekatulia."Katizi said firmly.
"Leave him. Maybe the witch will sacrifice him. Isn't that what your gods thrive on?".Molava smirked.
"I miss your silence. Truly. Because right now, you're as lost as Miera. Shut your mouth."Katizi snapped.
At dawn, they found him sitting up outside the hut—weak, but conscious. His eyes were distant, like his thoughts were still stuck in another world. The women approached.
"Looks like you're awake. Welcome back."Katizi greeted.
"Are you just stupid, or were you trying to die?"Molava added bluntly.
The young man blinked, confused.
"My name is Katizi. This is Molava. You must have a name, creature."Katizi continued.
He looked at them, still in pain.
"Nivek. Nivek Dillow."he said slowly.
"Well. That's progress."Katizi nodded.
"He's not from here. Looks like he's from one of those far-off islands."Molava observed.
"You're right?"Nivek asked cautiously.
"But your face gives you away. And that cloak—doesn't belong to you. Who'd you steal it from?".Molava challenged.
"I'm no thief."he muttered.
"Oh good, that's a relief. So you're just a killer. Now I can finally sleep at night."Molava scoffed.
"I'm not. I come from a good family."Nivek said defensively.
"Of course. Only the 'good families' come rolling down hills to assassinate royals. Or maybe you're royalty yourself, they love killing each other."
"Enough."Katizi cut in.
"The old woman's asleep. You'll stay here with her. I'm taking him to find Miera."she ordered.
"I'm in no condition to walk. I'm weak, and the wound still bleeds."Nivek said, struggling to sit upright.
"What are you made of, sugar? I don't care if you bleed out or choke on your own tears. That old woman's had rough nights. Get yourself together, stop screaming like a little girl."Molava snapped.
"You'd have to stand in my shoes to know how it feels."Nivek muttered, frustrated.
She stepped closer and yanked her sleeve down, showing old scars across her skin.
"You cry so much, yet there's not a single mark on you. You want real pain? I'll grab my sword and draw you a map across your back, maybe it'll lead you home."Molava said coldly.
Katizi stepped between them and glared.
"Let this be your answer.I want this guy alive. If I left him with you, you'd kill him."she said sharply.
Molava turned away, scowling. She sat in the dirt beside ,arms folded.
Katizi and Nivek walked off into the woods.They traveled slowly through the forest, the morning light filtering through the trees.
"That friend of yours… I don't think she likes me."Nivek said.
"She doesn't need to. And you won't be around long enough to matter."Katizi replied dryly.
"What exactly are we looking for?"he asked.
"A girl. That's all you need to know. And if I leave you behind, Molava might kill you."Katizi warned.
"I may be injured, maybe even weak, but I can defend myself."
Katizi busts in to laughing.
"Don't underestimate a woman with a sword. That's your problem, your manhood gets in the way."Katizi said.
"You don't know me. You're guessing based on nothing. Nivek said.
"The way you used that dagger against those guards says enough. She replied.
"They… I… I had to do something. Besides—".Nivek began.
"Save your story. I don't want to hear it. The less I know, the better. Everyone has their reasons for striking at royalty. Yours don't interest me. Keep your foolishness to yourself." Katizi snapped.
"Don't worry. I'll help you find the girl—and then you'll never see me again."Nivek said bitterly.
"You talk like 'never' means forever. You Christians are always lost."Katizi muttered.
She kept walking. He stopped, surprised by her words.He stared after her, curiosity pulling at his thoughts. That last word—Christian—lingered. But she didn't stop or look back. He hurried after her.Just then, a voice—echoing and strange—called his name. He spun around. No one was there. His breath caught. But there was no time to search. He ran to catch up.