" Hello there..young travellers" They heard a voice say behind them.
Adrian turned his head towards the direction where the voice had come from. From behind a boulder, a man stepped out. Older, broad- shouldered, a cruel smile tugging his lips. His voice carried easily through the silence. Adrian could tell; he was the leader.
Panicked, He asked. " Who are you? What do you want? "
The man laughed in a manner that rally got on Adrian's nerves. " We are your ancestors. What do you think we want? " He replied.. questioning him back.
" Spare my master please! " Idowu blurted out in fear.
" Uhh..well, that depends. " He replied smiling, swinging his weapon from one hand to another.
" Who are you!!? " Adrian asked again. His voice was getting tensed.
" Young master. Your slave has asked us to spare you. But you know, this can only happen if you let us do this the easy way. " He paused then continued with a smirk. " Who are we? You should have guessed that now. "
" - Thieves " Adrian muttered to himself.
If they were here to kill him, they wouldn't have bothered talking with him and would have done so as soon as they surrounded them. Seeing their motive wasn't exactly to kill him, then they must be bandit.
" Hand over your bag. " The leader said to Idowu- his voice commanding.
Idowu held the bag more tightly. " No. "
The man scoffed. " Do you think we are acting here? " In a commanding tone he said to subordinate. " Capture them. "
Hearing this, Adrian turned to idowu. " Sa!!- Run!! ". Adrian and idowu both attempted to run away from the bandit but they were caught. Their strength were no match for the bandits.
Now on the ground and hands tied at his back... Adrian regretted not learning how to fight.
The leader laughed at walked closer to them. " You made a wrong move trying to run. Are you not afraid I'll kill you? "
Adrian looked up and glared at the leader.
" Look at that.. look at that. He is so spiteful. Young master you should be worried about your life and that of your slave but instead you are beng stubborn. This would not help you."
" Bring me their luggages. " He ordered. He emptied the luggages and with a beam he turned at Adrian. " What a rich young man. I've really hit jackpot today. Hahaha."
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The road out of the village stretched long and wet, the earth still soft from last night's rain. William walked in silence, his cloak brushing against the muddy path, the weight of a small hand clutching tightly at his own robe.
Beside him, the boy stumbled now and then, his steps uncertain, but he refused to let go. His eyes were red and swollen, yet he did not cry anymore. He simply walked— because William walked.
William glanced down once, briefly, then looked ahead again. His jaw was set, his thoughts heavy. "You slow me down." he muttered.
The boy's grip only tightened.
A sigh slipped past willam's lips. He didn't shake the child off. Not yet.
The horizon stretched before them, the distant hills marking the road that would eventually lead back to Irele. It was a path he had not intended to walk again so soon. Yet here he was— with a child trailing at his side, and the echo of a dying man's plea still ringing in his ears.
He had walked for hours when he saw them— figures in black gathered on the road, circling two men who knelt in the dirt, their hands bound tightly behind their backs.
Willam's steps slowed. His eyes narrowed as he drew the boy closer, one hand firm on the child's shoulder. Curiosity tugged at him.
On getting closer, he hid behind a rock and took a closer look at the situation. He could tell who the men were- Bandits. That much was obvious. And the men tied down with their backs turned to him
had fallen victims. Peering carefully, he studied the scene. The captives' faces were turned away, but their posture— defiant, tense even in defeat— told William enough. They were not common peasants.
His fingers twitched at his side. Under different circumstances, he would have stepped in without hesitation. A fight like this was nothing he couldn't handle.
But a glance at the boy beside him tightened his resolve. He couldn't risk it— not with the child here. A single wrong move could endanger them both.
" You can't take those. They belong to my master! "
William heard a familiar voice as he was about turning to leave. " Idowu? "
He just mentioned his master. Then, that means the man beside him must be...-
Pulling the boy back against the rock, William faced him. " Stay here. Remain hidden until I ask you to come out. " He murmured, his tone low but commanding. The boy nodded quickly, eyes wide. Without wasting a second and giving it a second thought..he came out of his hiding spot and walked up to them.
---
The leader sifted through the scattered belongings, his greedy eyes glinting. Necklaces, clothes, coins— all trinkets to him. He tossed aside what he didn't care for, pocketing the rest with a grin.
Adrian sat upright despite his bound hands, his face tight with fury. "Enjoy your little treasures." he spat, his voice dripping with disdain. "A rat is still a rat, no matter how much gold it hides in its nest."
The man froze mid- laugh. His gaze darkened, and in two steps he was towering over Adrian. He crouched, gripping Adrian's chin roughly. "You have got a sharp tongue for someone on the ground, boy."
Idowu's breath caught. "Master—"
Adrian met the bandit's eyes without flinching. "If you are going to kill me, do it. At least then I won't have to suffer your stinking breath another moment."
The leader's hand twitched, his grip tightening. For a moment, Idowu thought he might actually slit Adrian's throat out of spite. But then, to his surprise, the man only laughed again, though this time it was edged with anger.
"You have spirit. I will give you that. But spirit won't save you." He shoved Adrian back, hard enough that he hit the dirt. "Perhaps we will fetch a nice ransom for you instead, eh? A young beautiful master like you must have someone who will pay."
The bandits jeered, their weapons gleaming.
Adrian clenched his jaw, but a thought flickered in his mind— cold, unwelcome.
If only I knew how to fight… if only I had listened back then.
Idowu shifted anxiously closer, whispering as tears gathered in his eyes. "Master, what do we do?"
Adrian exhaled slowly, masking his own fear with that familiar glare. "We wait. " he muttered. "Someone always slips. And when they do… we take it."
But even as he spoke, his heart pounded. He knew luck would have to be on their side— because strength was not.
Suddenly, the air shifted. Even the bandits felt it.
Then, a lazy voice cut through the silence.
" Hey hey..what's going on here, Eh?"
The group of men heard a voice questioned out of nowhere. The bandits froze, their laughter stuttering as they turned toward the sound., and saw a lone figure stepped out of the shadows.
Adrian couldn't mistake that annoying voice for anyone else: " William?"
He turned his head, and it was indeed him.
For the first time, Adrian's chest eased- relief blooming where fear had been- though he would never admit it aloud. Not even if his life depended on it.