Brothers

"Vera, I am leaving for the village, I need to see him," Banami picked up a wooden basket and some incense. He got ready to go to the village at the foot of Frook Mountain as he always do before the market day in Egur.

"Yes, that means you will only be back tomorrow morning," I asked. With a lazy giggle, he replied; "you know me well, hahaha... I don't know if he will be there, but I need to see him," he leaves every month saying those exact words. Him? he refers to his son, his biological son. On the day he brought me here, there was a woman and child in this house. His wife and son. He couldn't answer who was I to her so he lied I was his illegitimate blind son. His wife left, to her house in the village with their son. They both loathed me. Five years later she died of a plague and his son became someone notorious, villagers call him, Mazzi, and he is the leader of the major bandit gang of Nek-asrof now. He hated me because he thinks I am the reason for his mother's death. I am the one who ruined his life, well it's kind of true, Banami suffered all this because of me. Yet, he protects me like his child, and cares for me as much as for Mazzi, such a strange man! Every time Mazzi visits here, he treats me as if I am invisible in this world and I was scared of him. However, he is Banami's son and proved that once.

It was a summer day, and Banami got injured while cutting wood so I went to the market day of Nek-asrof instead of him. That was my first time alone, I had only gone with Banami. On the market days of Nek-asrof, people like Banami, merchants who sell their products in Egur or Utshani buy other necessary resources from there and sell them here. Banami buys essential oils, food grains, flour and salt for the money he gets from incense. We put up a stall and sell them for an affordable price, Mazzi is the one who helps us build the stall. That day Mazzi helped with the stall and then went without saying a single word. I struggled with the business; some even thought of fooling me since they thought I was blind. I tried my best but one man, who was considered the head of a bandit gang purposefully targeted my shop. Everyone called him master, he had so many scars on his large body. His mere stare made others urinate in fear. He was a brutal man with a cruel mind.

"Aren't you Banami's son? I heard you were born to a slut he fucked, is it true?" his words were harsh and dirty. I decided not to take them seriously or reply. But he was determined to make my day hell.

"I am speaking to you, blind bastard?" he yelled

"I think he sealed his ears along with his eyes, master, ku ku ku...." his minions laughed

"Are you mute too, dog? Talk?" he glared at me

"I- I am sorry sir, yes, I am Banami's son, Vera," I answered, nervously

"Vera? Haha... right? pack those food grains and flour," he ordered

"Yes," after packing them with my trembling hands; "it's fifty, you can pay in both Hillos and Yerek," I said

"You little rat, do you want master to pay for it? How dare you?" a man dragged me out of my stall and threw me to the ground. I know it was a mistake to ask him for money, yet I can't let Banami's hard work go to waste. "How dare he?" "Should we kill him master?" "Blind bastard," They began to abuse me with their comments.

"He is a little kid, I am not that heartless man. Take the stuff and leave him," like a benevolent king he replied smirking at my pettiness. I was not ready to give up, grabbing the man's hand who tried to take the grains, I said; "Please pay for your purchase, my father worked hard for these." The man punched right in my stomach, I felt a piercing lightning pass through my body, and the pain came out of my mouth as blood.

"Huh! This son of bitch! Letting you live was the kindest thing I ever did and he doesn't want it, Hahaha... Then die," his heavy foot stomped on my back, crushing me to the dirt, suffocating me. I struggled for my life under his feet, while the people around me stood silent, sympathetically watching me. His goons are laughing as if they are witnessing something wonderful. My weakness laughed at my face, my heart burned, and I wished the vanished power I inherited returned. As time went by I hoped someone to show up and help me. That's when a stone hit master's head, he backed off, looking around in rage for the one who throw it at him. I regained my breath and then crawled away from him.

"WHO IS THAT? WHICH BASTARD THROW THIS STONE AT ME?" the thunderous sound that came out from his mouth drove the crowd to shudder. I saw a Mazzi, coming forward with some stones in his hand. I wanted to run towards him, but I can't, I am blind to the world.

"Hey fatso, I am here," he replied bravely. Baffled, others gasped. Master took out his machete then roared; "I WILL KILL YOU, MOTHERFUCKER!" He ran towards Mazzi, the atmosphere was so heavy to breathe. "It's all because of me, I am putting his life in danger. It's all because of me," I pondered. However, my mind was changed in an instant seeing Master thrown into the mud and Mazzi holding his machete. It was so fast that no one could follow, not even the master. Mazzi beat them all with his bare hands, his red eyes gleamed like a hungry predator's. I have never seen him this much raged before, he is menacing, and he is annihilating them. His friends came to stop them and the master and his goons ran away.

I was still laying on the ground, puzzled. He came towards me; "I will not accept you as my brother nor see you as my family, but today you were brave. Go home, I will bring the money," he said without facing me. That day I realised he is just like Banami. When the master was arrested by the knights of Utshani, Mazzi became the leader of the Nek-asrof bandits. He has eyes everywhere, they say, not even a single fly can glide in without his knowledge. I wonder what is he doing now? Aaron? Brother?

....................

A group of horses dashed through the sandy desert-like region. They were covering their faces and Mazzi was leading them. The Nek-asrof bandits dashed targeting the cargo and carriages of Utshani, where Catherine and Helga travel.

"Mazzi, we will reach Aroo soon. They will only camp in open space," Mazzi's companion and childhood friend Sicil stated.

"A clever move, camping in open space will help them to guard and keep watch for their enemies in a place like this. I always wanted to par with the hero knight Ceasar Arkellis, Hahaha..." he fastened his ride with a creepy grin.

(TBC)