Kload woke Yevish early in the morning, just as the sun was rising. Not that anyone could really tell that the sun was rising. The seemingly natural dust cloud blocked a portion of the light, and the high city walls and crowded buildings kept the rest from reaching the inn.
Kload lit the room candle so her and Yevish could put on their boots and bundle their possessions. They had slept in their clothes, as both of them had been doing for most of their lives. It simply wasn't practical to change clothes to sleep, especially now that they were traveling. After they had put on their boots and bundled the rest of their belongings, Yevish and Kload sat on the old wooden floor. Yevish was very quiet, and very excited. It was time for their morning study of what Kload called 'God's Guide to Life.' She said it was more commonly called the Bible, but personally Yevish like her name for it more. It was more true to what this book was. It was the inspired word of Kload's God, given to men to guide their lives. It have Yevish hope, and joy; hearing these words that taught of a God of Love. He was a God of many other things as well: justice, compassion, truth, life. But love was the part that stood out to Yevish the most, for it was the Love that he had never known before, it was the Love that Kload had shown him, the Love that he could feel burning inside him every time he thought of Kload's God. Yevish smiled as he listened to Kload read of Yeshua, God's son, and how he had turned water to wine at a wedding. It had made all the wedding guests so happy. It was beautiful.
Kload smiled at her little friend as she closed the small, hand-written, leather-bound book which contained the four Gospels from God's book. She had written it out herself, though it had taken nearly two years to do. She would have liked to have had a full copy of God's book, but such a thing was rare and would have been immense in size. She had copied these four books because they contained the story of Yeshua's life on earth and therein the story of salvation, which to her was the saving light of God, and the bread which she needed to live. She didn't specifically need a copy of God's book however. When she had arrived in Arthea and learned of God, she had developed a hunger like Yevish was developing now. A hunger to know everything about God and his son that she could. So, she had spent every spare minute reading, studying, and memorizing God's book. Now after all these years she could almost recite the whole thing by memory, and even if she couldn't remember the exact words she knew the stories and what they meant. The local church leaders in Arthea had aided her in every way they could, excited at having such an eager pupil. She now felt their excitement as she taught Yevish. She prayed that soon he would come to know God personally, through Yeshua, just as she had. So she had been and would continue to teach him diligently, telling him all she knew.
As Peace sat there looking at Yevish she suddenly realized that this was what God commanded her to do. This was helping those that she could. God had placed Yevish in her life as one of the many that she could help. Peace almost cried as the depth of this realization hit her. She would have liked to, but she knew she couldn't, not here, not now. Instead she thanked God for his provision, smiled and took Yevish's strong little hands in hers. Together they bowed their heads and closed their eyes, then Peace prayed. After she had finished asking God's blessing and protection on their day Yevish prayed. His prayer was simple, but heartfelt and honest. In all, it was one of the most beautiful prayers Peace had ever heard, and somehow she believed that God felt the same way about it.
After sitting for a a few moments in silence, listening to God as he spoke to their hearts, Kload and Yevish stood, hooked on their packs and left the room, taking the key with them. No one was in the common room this early in the morning, save the inn keepers teenage son. The inn keeper was to lazy to rise early in the morning, so he forced his son to run the desk in the morning. It wasn't that uncommon of a practice. The son of the inn keeper was quite smiley however, and seemed to be a morning person naturally, so Peace supposed it worked out just fine. Kload handed the boy their room key, and gave him a dep for being so cheerful. Then her and Yevish headed out to the stables. There were two men there, checking on their horses, though the man who had helped Yevish last night was apparently absent. Kload and Yevish saddled Darkstar together, as they had been doing for the past few weeks. Kload did this so Yevish could learn, but she also helped him simply because he wasn't large enough to do it by himself, and he probably wouldn't be until he was nearly full grown. After all, Darkstar was a Friesian, and a good sized one at that, being a war horse. After they had finished Yevish took the reigns and the three of them started towards the front of the inn. As they turned to go, one of the other men at the stables left his horse and quickly walked up in front of Kload, blocking her path. Kload defensively stepped in front of Yevish.
"That's a good strong young lad there." The man stated.
Peace didn't like the sound of this man's voice, it was too eager, too accustomed to changing to please others. Peace scowled, though it didn't particularly do any good, the man couldn't see it beneath her face mask.
"And you're a good strong man," the man smiled then commented under his breath, "though a bit wiry."
"What's your point?" Kload asked roughly. The other man at the stables leaned on his horse and watched with quelled interest.
"Well, you see sir, I'm getting on in years, and my youth is long gone." The man commented trying to look older and thinner than he really did. "And well, I be in need of a good house sla..." He coughed. "Servant, to help me out."
Kload had heard all she needed to, she had dealt with this man's kind before. He was a slave trader, she could tell it by his stance, his speech, his method of making his desires seem more kindly than they were. "My son," Kload emphasized the word, "is not for sale, sir." Kload took Yevish's hand and shoved her way past the man.
"But...but, I, well," The man struggled to find words, he obviously wasn't used to being refused. However he knew when he had lost and simply went back to his horse looking dejected.
Kload knew now that this had been the man who had been watching them the night before, her suspicions were correct. She sighed inwardly, this was going to make their journey more difficult. They all stopped at the front of the inn and Kload helped Yevish up onto the saddle. As she did so she sensed another watching them. Kload resisted the urge to look around for this person, she simply watched herself carefully to make sure that she appeared as man-like as possible. She quickly but carefully jumped into the saddle, and spurred Darkstar on down the street. Kload took one swift look back and saw a cloaked traveler watching her. She could see just enough of his face to tell that he was somewhat suspicious, though of what exactly she would never know.
Kload halted Darkstar by the gates. The guards were just getting around to opening the gates. Indeed she really couldn't blame them. The sun was just barely shedding enough light across the desert for it to leak into the city. Darkstar waited somewhat impatiently for the guards to open the gate, then trotted briskly out of the city. They rode in silence for a few moments before Yevish spoke up.
"So do you think we passed the first test?" He looked up at Peace as he spoke.
"I'm not sure, perhaps." She responded thoughtfully.
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