LOST WARRIORS (ONGOING)

Village Tursia (10 years back)

"No,no it can't be. We have given you enough time. You have been buying more and more time since the first time we came. But now it's over. Our Lord is very angry." Flynn said with a very loud voice.

"Your Majesty, I am trying very hard to repay the amount. Nowadays, I am working thrice as hard as before. Please, give me another week. I will-" Marcus' voice got interrupted as Flynn raised his hands.

"Stop it! Don't repeat the nonsense again. Anyway, I have spoken out about what I have to do. The consequences depend upon your decisions." Flynn started to return with his peers, after finishing his words.

Marcus was sitting, with his hand on his cheek, seemed to be unconscious. Lyla came and put her hands on his head. Then asked,"Will we ever be able to repay at all? Our child is only one year old. They won't leave him alive."

Hearing this, Marcus looked at Lyla's eyes. Her eyes seemed watery. An unknown pain gripped his chest. He was unable to move for some time. Then, picking up his working bag and tools, he left the home. As he went, he just said, "Take care of him as well as yourself."

At night, Marcus returned home and Lyla was serving dinner for them. They didn't utter a single word during the meal. After finishing the dinner, Marcus, looking at Lyla's face, said,"I have only managed to repay 1/8th of the actual amount. The king's men came again to threaten me at my workplace. They said that the king has quadrupled our interest because we are late in paying the debt. They also said that they will not hesitate to kill us if we do not resolve it within today."

Lyla was washing dishes. Hearing this, one of the dishes fell from her hand and began to rattle. She looked upwards and said,"Why does it always happen to innocent people? God why are you so merciless? You know who is really guilty and who is not. But why are you punishing the innocent? Is this your judgement?"

Marcus clenched his jaw and said,"I have understood what is written in our destiny. I will leave our son at my distant relative's house. They can come at any moment."

Marcus wrapped him in a cloth and took it in his arms. Before leaving he said,"I will return soon. Lock all the doors."

Who knew that would be their last conversation?

When Marcus left, she covered her face with a swollen face and started weeping.

Meanwhile, Marcus was running continuously between the woods. He came across the River, crossed the bridge. He was having trouble breathing because of running that long.His lungs were already so weak from working in the coal mines. He was about to faint. But he soon regained his composure. He reached his relative's house and told them everything in brief. They asked him not to return home from the forest for that night and stay there. But Lyla was waiting alone at home. So, he had to return at midnight. But the body no longer had a sense of responsibility. So he collapsed after running some distance. When he regained consciousness, unfortunately, it was already too late.

He returned home to find his house on fire. There was nothing left. Everything was burnt to ashes.

He sat down and pressed his forehead. He began to sting his heart as to why he had left his beloved to die alone in the middle of the night when he knew what could happen. He could not forgive himself for this act. A mixed reaction of anger, disgust, and pain appeared in him. He took a heart-wrenching decision as he could not bear the pain anymore.

The next day, early morning, Marcus' body was found hanging from the tree. The neighbours already knew about the incident last night but they were silent due to two reasons. Firstly, Marcus' house was in the forest far away from the neighbors. But that was not the actual reason. The King's brutal force told them that when they did this no one should stop them from doing so. They were also paid to refrain from these. From that, anybody could understand that they would kill them even if they had repaid the actual amount. It was all part of a plan. Actually, Marcus was reuniting the coal-mine workers against the King to decrease the work times. They had to work everyday for 18 hours for the brutal King Henry the VI's despicable laws.

Arizona Desert

"Look, some camels are coming towards us." Emma said with a delightful voice.

"They aren't looking like our enemies, are they?" Lucifer asked.

"I don't think but don't put your guards down." Adam cautioned them.

As the camels came nearer, it was becoming clearer to see them.

Three people, one girl and two boys came down from their camels.

Massimo asked,"Do you guys live here?"

One of them replied,"Yes we do. We saw you from far away and thought that you might need help. That's why we come closer."

"I have to say you guys really have the guts to roam freely during this war period." Adam said, holding out his hand for a handshake,"What are your names?"

"I am Simon, and they are Stella and Travis. Nice to meet you. What are your names?" Simon said while shaking hands with Adam.

"I am Adam. He is my friend, Mike. And they are Massimo, Emma and Lucifer. Nice to meet you too." Adam showed and introduced them.

"Why are you here? Are you simply roaming around on your camels or is that something special?" Mike asked.

"We went out to fetch some water. You know, in desert water is rarer than gold." Travis laughed saying that.

"That's right. We are thirsty too. Can you give us some water?" Massimo asked.

"Sure, why not. I mean we are friends now, right?" Simon said while pouring a glass of water from the pitcher.

"Indeed" Massimo drank the water and offered his companions.

Stella, the most silent of them, said,"Would you guys love to take a look at our places?"

Hearing that, Adam and Mike exchanged glances. They thought, is it right for them to go at such a time? A lot of time has already been wasted. But they don't know the roads here. So they agreed to keep going together. Mike understood the eye gesture and said,"Alright. How will we go? By foot?"

Travis understood what they wanted to say and replied,"No of course not. You two, Massimo and Lucifer, come to my camel. Emma, you go to Stella's and the rest come to mine. Do you have any problems guys?"

"No, it's absolutely perfect." Adam said.

As usual, they mounted their camels and enjoyed the rest of the journey. Needless to say they were all very excited as they sat on the back of a camel for the first time in their lives. They continued talking to each other. As they progressed through the sand piles in the scorching sunlight they enjoyed the stories of Simon, Travis and Stella's lives. All three of them were greatly capable of driving camels.

After reaching Arizona Village, it was already afternoon. Simon said,"You guys must be tired. Rest for tonight, I will give you a tour of our area tomorrow morning."

"Wait a minute. Why didn't you ask from which territory are we from? If we are from your enemy territory, then it is dangerous for you." Mike asked.

"Because we already knew that." Simon smirked.

"What?" Mike asked with a great surprise.