My eyes search the camp for Cai, but I can't find him anywhere. Lolo brushes my hair for me and then brings me to the center of camp where a large pot of a very spicy and delicious smelling curry boils over a fire.
I eat the food greedily, It's some of the first real food I have had in a while, and with the rice and array of fragrant flavors it tastes amazing. But even as I eat, I keep my eyes up searching for Cai.
Lolo tries to introduce me to different people, many of the people in the camp speak the same language as her, but not as me. There are a few that share language with me though. That boy who is the grandson of the seer, the Earth Mage with the dazzling green eyes, ~I think his name was William?~ is one of them.
I notice him glaring at me over a his bowl of curry, but I pretend I don't notice. He looks unhappy with me, although I'm not sure why he would be... Maybe because he had to spend money on me when he didn't want to? It doesn't matter, I ignore him and keep my watch out for Cai, I want to know how the Earth Nomads will react to him being in their camp.
"Hey." I look up and the green-eyed boy -William- is standing in front of me. I stare up at his tall frame but say nothing. "I know who you are." he says and I can tell he's unhappy about it.
"You do?" I speak around a mouth full of rice.
"My grandma told me everything she saw about you." He says past narrowed eyes.
I drop my spoon into my bowl. "What did she say she saw?"
William sighs annoyed, "Why would I need to tell you that?"
I set the bowl down, my curiosity getting the better of me. "What CAN she see?" I ask, "Can she like see the future?"
William seems even more annoyed that I'm asking. "I don't have time to explain that to you." he says, "I'm just wanted to let you know, that I don't think she made the right decision to help you."
I blink at his words, unsure how to respond.
"And," he goes on, "If you bring any trouble to our people, I'll murder you in front of that damned duke of yours."
My eyes widen and I feel a shutter run through me, half because of his threat, and half because I have no idea how he could have figured that out. How could he have figured out that there was a duke chasing after me? Unless.... Can Aunty Ava really see a persons life when she looks in their eyes? I had a feeling that might be what it was, when she looked at me with those reflective eyes I assumed she had some kind of power, and the way she talked to me it felt like she understood what I had been through.
Could that mean she's even seen into my past life?
I consider asking William about this but he already looks pissed at me enough. So instead, I answer him in a way that might ease his anger. "I have no desire to bring any harm to your people."
"Then promise me this." He crosses he arms over his chest, "If your duke finds us, you will bargain yourself for our safety."
My mouth opens at his request, "But he won't find us-"
"Promise it." he shuts me up, and I think that I don't like this guy very much.
I shake my head but I know there is no way out of this, "Fine, William, I promise it."
"Willard."
"What?"
"My name is Willard, not William, you dummy." with that he turns and leaves me. Lolo beside me gives me a curious look, she probably wants to know what we talked about, but I only shrug at her.
Now I really really hope that Altan doesn't find me...