I hugged my cloak tighter, feeling slightly comforted by the evening breeze carrying the scent of fresh grass and the sweet chill air of the night to come. I placed the rough thick rope I had in my hands into a compartment of the black satchel Ezra would be carrying. I felt heavy, like a burden. I let out an anxious sigh, feeling the weight of blades strapped against my body, enough blades to take out at least a troop of men.
"You don't have to do this anymore," Ezra said while putting Rhey onto a nearby crate.
"I want to." It was a clear lie.
"No. You don't." He sighed and walked closer to me.
"We can't keep living this life, Morana.You.Can't keep living this life," he said almost pleadingly, my heart clenched in sorrow.
"And what do you suppose we do then, Ezra? What life are we supposed to live? Huh?" I took a step closer to him and demanded an answer.
He caught my hands in his and placed them over his chest. "Live a life with me, Mor. We've earned enough over the years to let us live comfortably. I could go work on the fields in Celaste. We could have a small cabin together. Just the two of us." His eyes sparkled with each word he said and it made my heart feel like it had been pulled out and cut raw. He had always joked about living in a cabin and running away together when we were younger. Now he was serious.
To be so happy. Carefree. To be with a person like him. Ezra was a good person.
My mind flashed to when I had first seen him.
A hollow face covered in dirt, his arms bruised and body malnourished. I remember the fear and pain in his eyes... it had mirrored the fear and pain I had in mine the day I was found by Fala. The type of fear and pain where you just wanted an easy way out, and the only way was death.
His father, the Lord of Petrem, a once beautiful land surrounded by great hills and large boulders which now contrasts the ash polluted land overtaken by troops of the king's army. His family along with all the soldiers whom served Lord Archeirus were slaughtered in the uprising.
Ezra was the next in line for the title of Lord but a ten -year-old boy couldn’t go against the court and claim hisbirthright, not with his family’s killers thinking they had killed every survivor in the lord's estate. Ezra and I both owed our lives to Fala, she was our only parent figure after all, even if we eventually had to work under her and grow up in a performance arena as her arena warriors.
"And what do you suppose I do for a living?" I asked Ezra softly, coming back into the present, feeling his heartbeat against my palm. Looking back into his hopeful eyes.
"You don't need to do anything. Not unless you want to. I will provide for you, Mor... I can take care of you. And if you're feeling religious about us living together alone." He swallowed as he said his next words. I felt heat come into my cheeks while I listened. Holding onto his hand tighter that was pressed against his chest. "Then I'll be your husband. We will be happy. Safe. You will be loved. I promise," he whispered, his voice trembling at the end. I couldn't help but let out a shaky breath and close my eyes.
"But that life isn't for me. It's not what I was meant to do. You deserve all of that. But with someone that's not me." My voice broke as it uttered the last few words. Ezra pulled away and his posture straightened as his cheeks flushed red. Almost in embarrassment.
"You can't keep living this life, Morana. You live the life of ash. That is a life not meant for anyone," he said with his eyes lowered, looking at the fire blades strapped against my body.
"Fala has given me everything, Ezra—"
"Fala gave you everything out of her free will. You did not ask for it. You've given enough to her, now you need to live your own life without her order." Ezra cut me off. I nodded, looking back into those angry blue eyes.
"I will give what you said some thought," I replied with a hesitant smile.
Ezra's eyes softened. "Thank you," he said in relief. Content with my answer, we both stepped outside of the weaponry tent and were blessed with the moon's light guiding our way.
My mind swarmed with thoughts of the upcoming mission we had on our shoulders. But one thought remained in my mind that hadn't been part of what we were about to step into.
They were Ezra's words.
"You can't keep living the life of ash. "
But what if that's the life I'm meant for...?
Chapter 7
A masterpiece behind skin
Unknown POV
As the sun rose, her eyes opened. Turquoise crystals. Emerald stones. Her eyes were the most unique part of her whole being. Her right, shone green and her left sparkled a deep blue.
The people in the village always stared and pointed, so inquisitive yet small-minded on the reasons her eyes had been this way.
"The unlucky one."
