My Right Hand

Whatever motivates you, use it.

"The entire time you knew I had a blade, and still slept so calmly never mentioning it."

"I think I trusted in your unique nature"

"Trust? I'm a dangerous women you know, I've killed you ten times over in my mind"

"So you didn't need to be saved did you?"

"Not entirely, but at least now I don't have to dodge authorities"

"Oh, it seems my perception of you is skewed"

Awaiting her response I looked at her, she was again looking off into the distance completely ignorant of what I was saying. Perhaps she really does want to flee.

"Would you like to be free?"

"Free?"

"Yeah...I'm not sure why it took me this long to realize. I bought you to save you, not keep you in chains or to keep you around for that matter"

She calmly turned to me and in a penetrating tone says

"So, you'll abandon me as well?"

"Oh! I thought.."

She turned back to face the skyline, away from my direction. Once again our conversation has ended in unusual sudden silence. Now I've done it, again.

The rest of the night was appropriately silent, with nothing but hand motions to guide us both. I tried to smooth things over but to no avail. In the morning was no different, she waited for me the same way she always had, remained calm and didn't say anything as usual. I've learned to accept the fact that Aldis will speak to me when she wants to, not the other way around. As unfair as that seems I'll be sure to get some form of clarity when the opportunity presents itself.

Regrettably, we haven't done enough to change our routine, but we have enough food and clothing to get by. However, the popularity of my pottery has grown. It wasn't by much, but at this point, everything helps.

As night struck again, so did my quiet companion.

"You have sharp sense's, first you saw when I snagged this dagger. Then knew what I was going to do, without even turning around. How?"

"I didnt know, I took a guess of sorts"

"Nice try! Even that guess was a bit too accurate. Allow me to be a bit more forward then, how is it you can guess so accurately?"

"I was born to be a tracker, from the moment we're able, we train all 5 of our senses to the highest of levels. For myself memorizing things like sounds, paths, rock positions, salt water and distinct trees are easy tasks."

"To have memorized the sound of body language, Impressive"

"Can I ask you something?" Without turning my way she responded swiftly.

"No, you cannot"

She completely shut me down, but I caught her looking my way for a brief second. Perhaps she was anticipating I was going to ask again.

"Who abandoned you?"

I realized that was very forward of me, especially because I said it so bluntly, I had to know. I want to know more about this girl.

"Parents"

I figured she'd give me the short answer, I shouldn't be this intrusive, but I am so close to finally getting her to talk to me.

"What Happened?"

"Curious are we? Curiosity killed the cat you know"

"It is true I am curious, but I am one slick cat"

She erupted in intense laughter for awhile, then, for a moment took a deep breath.

"Well if you must know. I'm from North of here, Northport to be exact. During our dry season a simple kitchen fire spread to set the entire house ablaze."

"Did your family die in the fire?"

"If only"

I was shocked by her brutal and quick response. No hesitation, no fear of repercussion.

"This mark here, was from the roof falling on my leg"

She removed her right leg sleeve, pointing to a significant burn mark that ran from her kneecap to her ankle. She hesitated after pulling it back down before continuing. It was clear from her closed and awkward demeanour that she hasn't told this story to many people, in fact I'd bet I'm the only one.

"Worried sick I ran to the front to see if my family had gotten out, but they were no where to be seen. After that I was on my own for some time, I caught hold that they were alive and having a funeral for me. I was ecstatic, I couldn't wait to see them again."

"Ecstatic about your own funeral?"

"I know crazy right, however that's not the worst part"

I marched right up to them as I entered the church, tears and snot streaming down my face. I cried out to them, excited, and you know what I was greeted with? Nothing. Instead of the enthusiastic welcome I had hoped for, they feigned not to recognize me. As if I were nothing, preferring that I keep silent and attend the funeral."

I could tell she was hurt, despite her best efforts to conceal it.

"They made me watch my own funeral, absolutely ridiculous, but we're family right? They must have an explanation for this, right? Wrong! After all was said and done, they walked past me like I didn't even exist, every last one of them except for my father. He at least had the decency to look at me."

Her face shifted from one of despair to one of pride. She clenched her fist and punched the ground slowly.

"He said words to me that I now live by, words that I now say to all of my enemies"

"What was it?"

"Pick a god and pray"

We're talking, finally. To keep the conversation going I Decided, I was going to tell her my story. She insisted she wasn't interested. Still, I rambled on anyways, telling her every detail leading up to this point. I slowly grabbed her attention.

"Wait, you stole from the dead?"

"You stole that blade"

She let out a chuckle

"He wasn't dead...yet but touché"

"Look I'm not proud of what I've done, you will find no flawless man here"

Instead of responding she looked at me, her gaze was still cold despite the slight smile on her face. She got up and moved away from me to go sleep.

It's morning again, and I awoke earlier than usual to see the sun rise above the horizon. She was still sleeping as deeply as one can on a rough floor; she's kind of cute when she lets down her guard. Believe me, it doesn't happen often, and I want her to trust me. After everything she's been through, it's no surprise she's so closed off.

"First things first, these are coming off"

I moved fast and silently so she wouldn't notice. I took the key the gentleman had given me and unlocked the shackles that were wrapped around her wrists. I peeled them off with caution, pausing when I saw the mark they left on her skin; she never showed any signs of suffering.

"I admire your strength"

I then moved on to her legs to repeat the process. This time she moved, and with her aggressiveness, one wrong move and I'm done for. Soon after, I was able to remove her ankle chains as well. I gathered both and threw them as far as I could into the sea.

"Hopefully this..."

"Are you sure that was wise?"

!!!!

I turned around slowly, I guess I did wake her up. Once I complete my turn, once again she has her dagger drawn. I put my hands in the air, this is risky business. Okay, first let me compose myself.

*Sigh*

"If you want to leave you can"

"Again with..."

"On the other hand, if your willing, travel with me and unlike your family..I will not abandon you"

"Bringing up my family eh? Tsk. You make me sound weak"

I walked right up to her, dagger drawn and all.

"My father once said everything has a weakness, for warm blooded animals it's the cold. For cold blooded, the warm. As humans we can neither be too warm, nor too cold. Our flesh protects, but is also easy to cut."

"Thus weakness is inevitable" she concluded, lowering her weapon slowly, reflecting on my words.

"Exactly."