Page 60 of Captured By The Alien Barbarian
Walter banters with the merchants, demanding cutthroat prices and casually driving them to the brink of ruin—just as he did to me. My teeth grind, gears of fury locked in place.
Once, I believed him to be a good man. Now, I see the truth of the matter. I see the women who keep their distance, and the men—brothers and husbands—standing by, fists clenched and jaws grinding, silently promising retribution.
Their pitying glances cut me to the core. The knowledge that they see my suffering, that they know what Maya and I endure, and that they do nothing... It stings like a slap to the face. All it would take is one courageous soul to stand up—and yet they all cower in fear.
“Wow, there are a lot of people here,” Maya says, gripping my elbow, her dark hand a comforting presence. She sidles so close that our legs brush against each other as we walk. “I don’t see Stacy anywhere. Maybe that’s a good thing—I’d rather she didn’t spend much time around the hunters, if possible. Once she found out you were back, though, it was nearly impossible to make her wait.”
A wave of warmth washes over me as I think of the youngest member of our little group. That’s just like her, always acting before thinking. She probably never considers that I’m hurt or need time to settle back in. No, all she thinks about is seeing me for herself.
Even when Stacy tries to be helpful, it gets her in trouble more often than not. It’s practically a full-time gig for Maya and me to keep her out of trouble.
Maya looks guilty as she continues, “I told her you’d be occupied with the doctor and we’d catch up with you later. I really believed you’d have seen one by now.”
I gently pat her arm in reassurance, as I too had expected to encounter a doctor by this point. She’s not to blame.
No. Walter is.
Yet, with every minute that passes, I’m starting to physically feel like a million bucks. Sure, I’m as hungry as a bear coming out of hibernation, but my body doesn’t ache half as much as it did when I rolled out of bed this morning. Or in my case, the lack of a bed.
“Hey, Maya? Is it possible for medicine to keep healing you way after you take it?” I ask.
Maya ponders my question and hums. “There are some slow-release drugs out there, sure. How long are you thinking? And what’s with the sudden interest?”
“Well, when I was with Taccit, I got hurt,” I say. I pat Maya’s hand as she winces. “He gave me some cream, and my wounds healed so fast that I thought I just imagined them. But now I’m not sure about any potential side effects.”
I pause and pull up my dress hem, revealing my previously scratched legs that now look like nothing more than faint lines. Maya’s eyes bulge.
“I feel good, Maya. Better than good, in fact. Do you think Stacy could figure out what kind of medicine it was?” I ask.
Maya looks at me in disbelief. “That’s not possible.”
Remembering that we are out in public, I drop the fabric of my dress.
Looking around to see if anyone noticed our odd behavior, I finally notice the unusually large crowd. The sheer number of unfamiliar faces is overwhelming.
There is a palpable sense of muscle among the throng, with some even daring to wear their tools atop their coats. Miners, no doubt. They typically have designated dwelling quarters and their very own mess hall, rarely venturing out to the marketplace. So, what could have lured them here today?
I lean in to whisper my thoughts to Maya, “Did a ship land while I was gone? New settlers, perhaps?”
Maya shrugs in shared puzzlement.
A tiny flame of hope flickers in my chest. What if this is the ideal moment to expose Walter for the conniving scoundrel he is? I could publicly denounce him and reveal his wicked ways. Surely someone would come to my aid.
On the other hand, I observe the way people cower in his presence. Even the burliest of miners seem to dodge his icy gaze.
Anxiety gnaws at my lip as I shoot a subtle glance at Maya. If I were to speak out and no one lent a hand, the situation could turn dreadful. I have no idea how he might lash out, and it’s not worth jeopardizing my friend’s well-being over reckless impulsiveness. If there’s any silver lining in the dark cloud of my current predicament, it’ll be aiding Maya in escaping this mess.
No matter what happens, my friends won’t have to deal with men like Walter in their lives anymore. They deserve to be happy, even if I can’t.
First, I need to figure out the reason behind this sudden gathering. No rash decisions.
Slyly observing the two men strolling ahead of us, I am relieved to see we’ve gained some distance. They’re engrossed in their own conversation, barely sparing a thought for Maya and me. They expect us to follow them, and it’s never occurred to them that we might not. Passersby weave between us, giving the impression we are mere strangers in the market rather than a connected group.
I attempt to break away from Maya, but her grip is alarmingly tight. So tight, in fact, that I am forced to grind my teeth in response. Again, I try to reassure her by patting her hand, “Trust me.”
Her wide, haunted eyes regard me for a moment, searching for something within them. Finally, she gives a small nod of approval and reluctantly releases her grasp.
I quickly make my way towards the most conspicuous person in sight—a towering figure draped in a thick cloak, the hood pulled low as protection from the biting cold. Surely someone who quite literally stands out from the crowd like a sore thumb would know what’s going on. Plus, with that height advantage, he’s got the best view in town!
