The flickering glow of the campfire danced on Alatricia's face, casting shadows that heightened the features of her Acadian race. As her captors carefully kept their eyes on her and her companion, she looked up from the fire to steal a look at her fellow captive.
“Was getting caught part of your grand plan?” Zeroi asked her.
“As it would happen, yes. I have some friends with this group that might be able to help us. But in the meantime, I suggest you stay calm. Wouldn’t want these folk getting the wrong idea.”
“Some friends you have.”
“The Red Bandits usually kill trespassers on sight, not escort them back to their camp. Thought you should know that.”
Zeroi did not say any more, instead opting to blow air out his nose and turn the other way. The next few minutes were silent, all around the camp, until a figure emerged from the darkness of the forest.
He was a man of exquisite beauty, his long brown hair shapen into a ponytail, and his lively green eyes looking at both of the prisoners with a charismatic intent. The bandits around him all seemed to look in his direction, ushering in some silent form of respect. Of course, the man in front of Alatricia was one she knew all too well.
"Reydal," she murmured in greeting, for the first time a hint of vulnerability creeping into her voice.
“Can we…” she took a side glance at Zeroi, who still seemed to be paying attention to the camp fire. “...speak in private?”
Reydal nodded, motioning to his guards to briefly stand down. Alatricia got up and followed the bandit leader down the trail, leading to a wider encampment at the foot of a beautiful patch of red trees.
“Been awhile, hasn’t it?” Reydal commented.
Alatricia looked on and the men and women they passed, all staring at the two. “It has.”
“I imagine, as much as I’d like for it to be true… you aren’t here to come back, are you?”
Alatricia stopped in her tracks. Reydal, who walked a few more steps, turned to look at her.
“Nathari. Ring a bell?” she questioned.
Reydal gave a subtle nod. “I have some friends in the area.”
Alatricia motioned her head back behind her. “Well, my good friend back at camp happens to be a member of the High Society. Says things in Nathari are… abnormal. Would you happen to know anything about that?
“You never struck me as a person who hung out with members of a high society.”
“You’re avoiding the question.”
Reydal looked down, kicking some rocks beneath his feet, before he looked up again.
“There’s going to be a reckoning soon, Aly,” he responded. “If you stayed with us… I could make sure you’re safe from the worst of it.”
“What the hell do you mean ‘a reckoning’?” Alatricia’s voice began to grow tense.
“I can show you what I mean tomorrow. You and your high society boy. It’s late now… you should get some rest.”
Alatricia sighed. She knew this behavior all too well. Reydal was hiding something, and he was throwing out every trick in the book to make sure it wouldn’t be heard. Still, she knew him well enough to know that she wasn’t going to get anything further out of him by badgering. She’d have to play his game.
“Alright then, tomorrow,” she accepted. “Myself and Zeroi.”
“Zeroi, huh?” Reydal said the words as if he were tasting them. He reacted as if they were bitter.
“There’s nothing there. I’m just doing my royal duty.”
Reydal nodded, but said no more. He looked up at the trees.
“The everreds are beautiful this time of year.”
Alatricia looked up with him.
“Yes… they sure are.”