Survive As The Brute's Wife

[Last time…]

Alexandra averted her eyes from Arioch. His eyes were filled with pain. It reminded her of his tormented face seeing her dead on the ground and how easily he killed himself.

"You're not going to eat?" she decided to change the topic.

That is the one thing she is good at – diversion.

"You remember how this river came to be?" he asked looking around.

Alexandra shrugged. "I don't remember a lot, Tub- Arioch," she let out a sigh and looked around.

She tried to remember how this river is significant for her but she couldn't remember.

"Hmm…"

Arioch hummed and stared at her for a moment before eating that fruit. Alexandra wondered what goes on his mind as he seemed to be in deep contemplation.

He washed his face and walked to the horse. Since he didn't ask her to join him, Alexandra wondered if he is going to leave him here. She looked around to see the unfamiliar place. She didn't know where she could go from here.

"Where are you going?" she asked.

"Don't you want to go to him?" Arioch didn't look at her but he asked fixing the saddle on the horse. His tone was dry as if he has given up on her.

His question made her ponder. She did miss Max, but then she didn't want to go back to him either. She felt being controlled there and she still couldn't understand why he pretended to fall. He wants to expose her and he wants the Hashomer. She doesn't understand what he gains from all that.

[I just want to be left alone!]

"I will go with you," Alexandra said after thinking for some time.

Arioch turned at her swiftly and his eyes widened with shock. But seeing her serious face, a smile bloomed on his face.

"You will?" he ran to her and held her hand.

Patting her hand with his, he looked in her eyes with his lips twitching trying to control his grin. Alexandra nodded. Seeing his happiness, she started to feel joy too and her smile reached her eyes.

"Yes."

As if her word is the sweetest honey he tasted, Arioch laughed. Alexandra saw the twinkle in his eyes and felt a tingle in her heart.

"Alexandra…" his voice shook as his hand reached for her cheek. He leaned towards her face.

Alexandra sensed what would happen next. She didn't want that to happen. She casually held his hand and shook it.

"Where are we going?" she smiled.

"It's somewhere…" he retracted his hand with a tinge of sorrow ruling his face. "Prepare your heart," he then smiled, his eyes still filled with gentleness.

Arioch walked to the horse. The moment his back turned to Alexandra the smile on his face got replaced by the darkest of frowns.

<Why am I left with this face? She's not falling for it as she fell for my face!>

There were a lot of times he just wanted to tear his ugly face off, but then again he didn't want to hurt himself.

Alexandra walked behind him. She is not a fan of sharing a ride with the same horse but she didn't have another choice. She wanted to know if she could summon Kefir now but then decided not to. With the situation with her, she didn't know who might be keeping an eye on her.

[Who can be trusted?]

They passed through a wilderness and there were rocky hills around. She remembered this place. This is where they fought one of the longest wars during her past life. This is where she first started using her summoned beasts because only their military might was not enough to defeat the enemies.

She closed her eyes. Along with the clopping of the hooves of the horse, her memory from this place came back to her.

Till then, she was hesitant to use the beasts that answers her for the purpose of war. Only their side had the beasts and the other side just used magical devices and soldiers. Her beasts would be an unfair advantage over their enemies.

Also, she distinctly remembers how Kefir expressed his desire to only help others. She gave him her word that she would never use him for destruction.

But when she saw the deaths on their side, and the tears of Luke for his men, she had to beg Kefir and the others to join in the war.

And they did just because she asked them to.

The rims of her eyes got wet remembering that.

[The other side… They were brave soldiers and perished by the insanely powerful beasts… But did I take my time to remember them? No! I was busy trying to find time to talk to Luke…]

"We're here."

Arioch's voice made her snap out of her thoughts. She saw a hill that was made of silt mud and Arioch led her behind a small elevation. There was a small hole and Arioch knocked on something.

"Freedom"

He said and she heard a clicking noise. The uneven surface in front of them opened and there was a tunnel in front of them. The tanned man with a beard on his face, stared at her from head to toe and his eyes lingered on her feet. She covered herself with Arioch's cloak as she felt a chill.

"She's with me," Arioch covered her from that man's view. Holding her hand he walked through the tunnel that looked like hardened clay.

The place had a maze of tunnels and Arioch led her through the tunnels. She looked to see a stream trickling through one of the tunnels. And some women were sitting by the side and washing their clothes.

They were wearing tattered clothes and their skins were sticking to their skeletons. Their eyes focused on her as she passed through them. Seeing Arioch, they stood up and bowed their head. She turned to see Arioch walking with his head up high without even turning a glance at those women.

She turned to see the women taking a step back, still bowing their heads with their hands on their chest. They stood that way until they turned a corner.

Arioch led her to a narrow tunnel that led to a wooden latch. A couple of men stood guard there and they bowed at Arioch.

Arioch opened the latch and she saw a big room inside. It was lit with oil lamps and although it had no natural lights, that place looked well-lit. At one side there was the bed chamber with a big wooden bed and there even was a solid wood table and chair with writing equipment.

She looked at the other side to see a wooden partition and she could vaguely see a bathtub and buckets there.

[This is his room?]

"What is this place?" she asked Arioch who was rummaging in the chest that was near the table.

"I'll tell you, but first…" he passed her a bundle.

"There will be water there," he pointed behind the wooden partition. "Wash yourself up and change… These are my clothes. I don't know how they will fit," he looked at her.

"I am fine…" Alexandra pushed his clothes away.

She didn't feel like wearing men's wear now. But she looked down on her clothes that were torn and covered with dust and dirt.

"Thanks," she got the clothes and walked behind the partition.

It had a lot of holes and she knew he could see through them. She saw the tub pretty clearly some time ago.

Twisting her skirt with her fingers, she couldn't bring herslf up to undress herself. She tried to find out where Tubby is, but she couldn't see him. She stepped out of the partition to ask him to stay out until she changes but yelped as she hit on something hard. 

"What? Why are you here?" she looked up.

"I was…" he said rubbing his chest but then his lips curved up with a dangerous smirk. "Why are you still dressed?" he raised his eyebrows playfully.

Alexandra hid behind the partition pushing him away.

"Stay out until I…" she said peeking her head out of the partition.

"Why? It's my-"

"Please, Tubby!" she pouted and he let out a sigh as his face relaxed. But his eyes got sharper.

"I was going to ask you if you needed hot water. If you want I can ask-"

"I'm fine," she shook her head.

"I'll…" he pointed at the door but then he looked at her. The rims of his eyes reddened. "Am I late this time too, Alexandra? I didn't speak my heart the last time and this time you're already…"

A single drop of tear rolled down his cheek.  

Alexandra turned to let him see her back. She didn't know what to say to him.

She remembered that incident at the rooftop. Tubby kissed her and they he seemed confused. She too was confused but now she could understand what he meant.

[But I am married… I am connected by the Aion Stone with Max…]

"Shout for me if you need anything," Arioch said and she heard his footsteps leaving the room.

Alexandra stood staring at the floor for a while in deep thoughts.

Arioch stood by the door with fisted hands. The guards who stood by the door didn't know what made him this angry.. But no one dared to ask for he doesn't like it.