Chapter 29

Once Scar had Ayla pack the things in the sachels, he got on his horse and started moving.

"Come on, sweetheart, you are riding with me," Nixx said and helped Ayla get on his horse.

She had never ridden with someone before, and having someone so close to her made Ayla feel very uncomfortable.

Nixx put his hands around her, grabbed the reins, and said into Ayla's ear, "Hold on, sweetheart!" before signaling the horse to start walking.

"My name is Ayla, not sweetheart!" she said.

"You have a beautiful name, but I like sweetheart more," Nixx murmured into her right ear. "Bet you taste real sweet too! Tell me, sweetheart, have you ever kissed someone before?"

Ayla blushed and said in a scandalized tone, "That's none of your business!"

"Quiet back there!" the harsh tone of Scar reached Ayla's ears.

In a serious tone, Nixx whispered to Ayla, "We have to talk in low voices. Scar doesn't like anyone to disturb him while he is thinking. Now tell me, have you been kissed before?"

"Of course!" Ayla said with a hiss, hoping Nixx would finally stop with the embarrassing question.

Nixx laughed in a boyish way, "So you haven't. I can be your first."

She felt that her face was burning so hard that it could melt the snow.

"Absolutely not!" Ayla said, and Nixx chuckled.

"Quiet, I said!" Scar said in an irritated tone.

"You are teasing me, aren't you?" she hissed her question.

"Give me a kiss, and I will tell you."

Ayla gritted her teeth and said nothing more.

After that, they traveled in silence, and Ayla observed that they never left the forest. They walked close to the main road but not too close enough to be seen by someone that would be on the road.

Ayla thought of a way to escape the men, but she had no weapons and didn't know how to fight. She thought for a long time until she remembered her messenger bag. After what she did to King Rhobart, Milton took out all the worm-rue from her, but she was sure she would find a plant in there she could use.

It was almost dark when Scar finally signaled that they could stop in a small camp next to a secondary road.

"We camp here tonight," Scar said.

"Are you sure?" Nixx asked.

"We haven't seen or heard anyone on the road all day long. And if someone will approach, our horses will alert us," Scar said and dismounted.

Nixx got off the horse and then helped Ayla get down. Scar sat on a log.

"Girl, get some wood from the shed. Nixx, tie the horses and then make the food. I am hungry!" Scar said in a grumpy voice.

While Ayla brought the wood, Nixx had already gathered ingredients for dinner and had a big kettle next to him. He looked at Ayla, "Put the wood next to the fireplace and fill this for me with snow, sweetheart," he said, pointing at the kettle.

Ayla looked at the kettle. It was bigger than the one the King had and no doubt much heavier.

"But it looks heavy," she said.

Scar said in a harsh tone, "If you want to eat, then you work!"

Ayla was so hungry, she was sure she could eat a horse. She dragged the kettle, filled it with snow, and then returned to Nixx.

"Thank you, sweetheart," Nixx said while he took the kettle from her and put it above the fire. "Now help me prepare the food. The faster we finish, the faster we eat."

"I haven't cooked before," Ayla, her cheeks turning red with shame, "so you will have to tell me what to do."

Nixx looked at her and grinned.

"You are one of those, aren't you?" Nixx asked in a low voice.

"One of those?" she whispered her question.

"Rich person. We can contact your family and get money from them in your exchange."

Ayla denied with her head, "I am nothing like that. I am no one. My family doesn't care about me."

In a very low voice, she said, "No one cares about me."

'The King probably gave up looking for me. I am no one. A slave. Even in that, I failed. Why would he search for me when he could have a slave that does not give him problems?' Ayla thought.

Nixx looked at her face, then at her clothes, then back at her face, and said, "You are wearing rather expensive clothes for someone that claims to be 'no one.'"

"As I said, I am no one," Ayla said once more.

Nixx shrugged, "As you wish."