Klaudius stopped in front of the woman who had probably drunk too much. He talked to her, but received no answer. She just looked at him absently, suddenly sagged and fell forward. He quickly caught her and carried her to the side to get some fresh air. After a while she slowly came to and looked at him first confused and then scared. "You lost consciousness for a little while, miss." Amaya started when the Roman addressed her so politely.
Apparently he mistook her for a Roman. "Thank you for your help, sir." Klaudius looked at her more closely and suddenly he recognized her. Before him sat the daughter of Festizius, whom he had found and taken from Armenia. She was almost unrecognizable, she had changed so much. from the arid, a shy girl had grown into a beautiful, confident woman.
"You're sick.", he stated and was ashamed to have accused her of being drunk. Amaya nodded. He was right, but she couldn't be weak now. She was responsible for her mistress and had to get up Terra watch out. _Terra_! She looked around quickly and found her next to Tristan at the table with some other Romans talking at length and loudly. Apparently she hadn't realized what had happened. Amaya slowly mounted and gratefully took the soldier's helping hand "Do you recognize me?" he asked as he released her and she stood in front of him. Amaya nodded and looked back at Terra. "I didn't think you could do it." - "You could have killed me. Why didn't you do it?" The Roman thought for a while, "I don't know.
I think your look held me back." A Roman soldier who spared a half-dead girl because of her look? After he snatched babies from their mothers' arms and threw them into the river and slit the throats of boys who were far too young to be soldiers against the Romans? Amaya was sure that her gaze hadn't softened the iron Roman heart of this soldier. God had a plan for her life and made the soldier hesitate. How much Amaya would like to tell him about her God. But Nila's warning shot into her head again and this time her fear won out. The soldier's silver sword shimmered through the lights and Amaya was sure that the soldier would kill her on the spot. "I should go back to my mistress," she said, more to herself. The soldier made way for her and Amaya pushed through the crowd and stood behind Terra.
Tristan noticed her and grinned sideways at Amaya. "You can lend me your slave girl for one night, Terra." He grabbed Amaya's hand, but she quickly pulled her to her chest. Terra noticed Amaya now and put on a seductive smile. "Why do you want a simple one Slave if you can have a coveted Roman?". Tristan laughed coldly and then kissed Terra insistently on the mouth. Amaya felt nauseous but pulled herself together. "We should go mistress.
It's getting late." Terra ignored Amaya and waved her away. Exhausted, she leaned against the tent wall and closed her eyes. It started to rain and more and more people came into the big tent to avoid getting wet. Drunks, Romans Men gave Amaya meaningful looks, but she knocked them down with a skillful look, until she eventually stood unnoticed on the edge of the crowd. She felt someone standing next to her and opened her eyes. A man leaned against the wall next to her and his face looked familiar. Hazy memories of before slowly surfaced and when he looked directly at her she was able to place him.
"Emin?" The man smiled relieved and nodded. "Oh Emin!" She noticed her eyes getting wet. How long had she not seen him? three years? Maybe four? Emin was her father's lawyer, administrator and best friend in Armenia. To her, he was her uncle Emin, who used to tell her stories during his breaks. Her father had sent him on a long business trip, which is why he was not in Armenia at the time of the war. ,, I heard that the daughter of Festizius would also be at the festival today and I was hoping to find you." - "How do you know that I survived?" Emin laughed, amused: "For a while, the only thing spoken of in the whole Roman Empire was the daughter of Festizius." Amaya blushed and lowered her gaze.
"I wasn't on a business trip, Amaya." She looked up at him confused. "Your father quickly noticed the new tensions with Rome. He sent me away and a few days later they wouldn't let anyone through the borders. The men fit for war had to remain in the city." Painful memories played clearly in Amaya's mind. "He gave me almost all his possessions. I took the money to Arabia and put it safely.
Amaya gaped at Emin. "I thought the Romans plundered and destroyed everything." Emin thought back to the images of the ruined city he had visited. Even the expensive, luxurious villas inhabited by Armenia's upper class were crumbling ruins, which now offered the rats a new home.
The city was dead, as were its inhabitants. "Yes they were," he finally answered quietly. "You won't be able to go back, but you have enough money to start a new life." Amaya slowly let a tear slide down her tender cheek. "I can't. I'm a slave." How hopeless their situation seemed...
"You can buy your freedom." Amaya shook her head. "I have to be at least 20 years old to buy my freedom." - ,, Some masters let their slaves go earlier." Sadly, she looked into his eyes: "You don't know my mistress, Emin. Even if she released me, I could trust her to revoke the release. Then it would become my property automatically belong to her." Emin slowly seemed to understand.
"And what are you planning to do now?" Amaya watched the cold raindrops run down the tent wall and soak into the wet ground. "I don't know. I'll ask Nila. Until then, keep it to yourself, Emin. Nobody must know. Until I can take over my property, I want you to take care of it. I trust you. Father trusted you...". She took his hand and he nodded. "When do we meet again so you can tell me what the conversation turned out to be?" -,, Here in the marketplace in a week."
"Fine. I'll be here in the morning. But, Amaya,- remember: you're worth a lot more than your mistress tells you." They hugged goodbye and as quickly as Emin had come, he disappeared back into the crowd. Amaya looked after him and only now that he was gone did she realize how cold it was in the tent. She went back to Terra. It was time to go back. She was still sitting at the table with Tristan, surrounded by more and more Romans, but this time Amaya wouldn't give up. "Mistress Terra, we have to go. Otherwise we won't be home in time before the sun rises." To her astonishment, Terra nodded and stood up.
"I don't feel like it any more." Amaya followed Terra outside. The rain had gotten heavier and Terra stopped at the tent exit. "Since when does it rain?!" - "For about an hour, mistress. It's only gotten stronger since then." Fear flashed in Terra's eyes: "We can't wait, otherwise we'll be home too late!" She went out of the tent and to her horse. "Maybe it's too dangerous to ride back now and we should get here first stay?". Amaya followed her and was already soaked when she got to the horse. "No, we have to go back!"
Terra swung onto the horse and Amaya obediently took the reins. She went out of the tent and to her horse. "Maybe it's too dangerous to ride back now and we should stay here for now?" Amaya followed her and was already completely soaked when she also got to the horse. "No, we have to go back!" Terra swung onto it Horse and Amaya obediently took the reins.
She went out of the tent and to her horse. "Maybe it's too dangerous to ride back now and we should stay here for now?" Amaya followed her and was already completely soaked when she also got to the horse. "No, we have to go back!" Terra swung onto it Horse and Amaya obediently took the reins.
She could barely see ahead and the rain was beating down on her. The forest paths were muddy and Amaya dragged the struggling horse behind her with difficulty. They hadn't even made it halfway back and Amaya was already losing her strength. Her whole body was shaking and the images kept blurring in front of her eyes. She stopped. Just don't faint now. "Why are you stopping? Go on!", impatient and also soaked, Terra sat on the horse and looked at Amaya angrily. "I can't take it anymore." Tears rolled down her cheeks and Amaya wiped the sticky hair out of her face. ,,You need to! Go on!" Amaya obeyed and took a wobbly step in front of the others. She slipped and fell into the mud with a choked cry.
She struggled to get up and walked on. The fever rose and her head threatened to break. Then she felt the rims of her eyes tighten and the darkness enveloped her. God help us she mentally screamed before her legs buckled and she collapsed.
Terra prayed to all sorts of gods. What a stupid idea it had been to go to the festival alone! Amaya looked weak and Luca's words came back to her. She stopped again. Terra was just about to urge her to keep going when she suddenly fell and landed on the dirty ground. Terra was startled and quickly got off the horse. She stopped next to Amaya and lifted her head. Her eyes were closed and her mouth slightly open. What had she done? "Amaya!" She slapped her cheek lightly, but Amaya didn't react. Terra bakam afraid. "I'll get help. Do you hear? Everything will be fine!". She also encouraged herself with these words and then ran back to the horse. Without thinking, she thrust the stirrups into the horse's belly and galloped through the night.
The trees flashed past her and the rain got heavier and harder until Terra couldn't see anymore. She jumped off her horse and ran the last few meters to her house. The lights were off, the curtains drawn. Nobody noticed anything. Should she leave Amaya and pretend she ran away? Then she wouldn't get in trouble. And she would be a murderer if she wasn't already.
She rushed up the stairs and banged wildly on the front door. A sleepy slave with a candle in her hand slowly opened it and Terra stormed into the house. She quickly ran down the hall to Luca's room and pushed open his door. He sat up, startled, and stared with tired eyes at his soaked sister, who began talking wildly to him. until Terra couldn't see anymore. She jumped off her horse and ran the last few meters to her house. The lights were off, the curtains drawn. Nobody noticed anything. Should she leave Amaya and pretend she ran away? Then she wouldn't get in trouble. And she would be a murderer if she wasn't already.