Jail, was not bad to them. They needed the rest after trekking through the heat, fighting dozens of the undead, killing the necromancer and trekking through the heat once more. The rest was welcomed, but it was not just the rest. Hassian had numerous suitors; young women hoping for his hand in marriage. He had been raised to take a leadership role since birth and thus was extremely knowledgeable and capable. It didn’t hurt that Hassian was beautiful by almost any standard. Since the death of Zakia he had not taken care of his appearance as meticulously as he once did; but it hardly made any difference. Woman after woman brought forth food, professing her love for Hassian. He turned each of them down.

“Why do you not take one of these women as a suitor? They seem to love you deeply, and they are beautiful,” Kanu asked as he devoured food brought but another of Hassian’s suitors.

“To fall deeply in love with a woman is no longer in my nature, I’m not sure it ever was,” Hassian responded

“Well, please inform them of my existence,” Kanu laughed.

For four days that had remained in jail, Kanu felt relaxed. He faced execution but the longer they waited and the further camels pulled the cart holding them, the more it seemed they had forgotten. It was fine for him; he had been planning to escape as soon as an opportunity presented itself. His muscles had recovered, he had slept well and felt he had a chance if he could get hold of a weapon and a camel. If they could pull the carts, they could surely carry a man. He passed the time by pestering Hassian to teach him the language. He managed a few phrases; they were easier than individual words.

“You whore,” Hassian shouted at one of his suitors bring attention from Kanu and a guards.

The response was involuntary upon realizing the woman that stood before him was Rōs the woman he had assumed left them for dead.

“I am not a whore or traitor,” Rōs smiled.

She had never been, not even when she murdered her husband it was not out of malice. It was a painless poison to end a life of illness and suffering. If there had been a way for her husband to live, she would have chosen it. Hassian and Kanu didn’t know this, they never had the time to ask. It became clear to all three that none of them truly knew each other. A thought that had crossed Rōs’ mind several times as she gathered supplies for their exit with the help of an unexpected ally.

A horn sounded in the distance causing the two guards to rush off. It was a raid warning, the sign that raiders had been spotted and were going after the Cafila. Kanu, Hassian and Rōs were left alone with only the prisoners who refused their mission. Kanu stood, preparing to break the bars of the cell himself but stopped when Rōs produced a key, unlocking the door and allowing them out of the cart. Kanu put a stop to the other prisoners attempting to follow, slamming the door closed and tossing the key into the sand to be buried and lost along with their thoughts of escape.

“Put these, follow,” was all Kanu could understand of Rōs demand as she tossed garments to them.

The two were soon covered by cloth with the exception of their eyes; a style of clothing some of the women wore. Rōs lead them quickly through the crowd, attempting to not draw attention as others were rushing to the sound of the horn. Soon they were on the edge of the Cafila.

A small tiger cub, the only one left in the cage growled as they passed. Kanu could not help but stop as the others ran ahead. The cub stopped growling as Kanu stared into it’s eyes. Kanu was already a criminal, this would change nothing. He ripped the door from the cage, and took the cub. As he ran he placed the cub on top of his head and covered it as well. Rōs seemed to notice his newly misshapen head but did not speak of it. There was no time to speak as they ran.

“My boy,” Hassian’s father rushed to him, recognizing his son, even when hidden from others.

The man embraced his son as if it were the end for them both. Hassian did not push away from his father’s hug or even shy his face was revealed and kisses were planted on his cheeks and forehead. It was an embrace that Rōs found comical. Men would never show such emotion where she was from. Kanu could not draw his attention away from it. Was this what parents did? Would parents go this far to help their child? Kanu wondered what his own parents would have been like had he known them. Rōs reunited Kanu with his Assegai but not the sword. He didn’t bother question, still unable to take his eyes away from Hassian and his father embracing one another as if years had passed. Was he envious or just curious, he couldn’t answer the question. As tears flowed from Hassian and his father’s eyes Kanu could not help but wonder why he was longing for something he never had.

“I chose a path for you, but it is time for you to choose your own. It is not my choice how you choose to spend your life. I have given you the tools to survive whatever you may face,” Hassian’s father spoke, wiping away his son’s tears. “I hope that we will see each other again, but if we do not, know that I love and accept you for the man that you have become.”

“Thank you, father, I will do my best to make you proud,” Hassian forced back more tears.

“You,” the man shouted pointing to Kanu, speaking Kanu’s language “Do not allow harm to come to my child.”

“I will protect Hassian,” Kanu replied.

“Thank you,” Kanu understood as he hugged Rōs and thanked her for her part in this.

The camels prepared for them with provisions rushed into the unknown as Hassian’s father ran back to the Cafila, hoping to go unnoticed. If it was discovered that he staged and attack to allow his son’s escape his leadership position and his life would both be forfeit. He hoped to continue living, and see his son again; if he did not, he would still consider it worth it.