Metal Cage

We run, we jumped branches, we dodged bushes, but the squirrels were faster and so far away from me, so so far away that I almost, but not entirely, lost them. I can use magic, remember?

Wait, no, that's not true, I am lying, but only to make me feel better. That day, I was totally and completely abandoned by three ungrateful squirrels when a group of armed men, soldiers, or knights from some Kingdom found me and trapped me.

Me, the great Eli Viel, or more like the young, weak, and feeble Jane Viel was captured by a group of brutish and smelly soldiers. Goodness, they knock me out and took me to a little camp in the forest.

So damn unlucky, I hate those squirrels that didn't hesitate to leave me, their master, behind. How awful of them, I hate them, I so hate them.

"Little Jane, why are you so sad?"

"Bruno, have you ever have people that you think were your friends but betrayed you and left you to die?"

"Mm... sigh, little lady," my new bulky tall knight friend looked at me with sad eyes, "I had many of those, but you know what?"

"What?"

"I killed them all."

"..."

I gulped but I didn't think he was bad. He had to get his revenge, right? Though I don't think of myself as some squirrel killer. Those big cute eyes are my total loss. At least, I will punish them a little, maybe three months with the form of a frog or a rabbit, and I will make the rabbit in the hat trick. Wonderful.

"Are you done eating, Jane?"

"Yes, thank you, Bruno," I passed him the empty bowl through the metal bars. This metal damn cage was all I got after we started the journey back then.

I can say that it was not that bad, not at all. It was a comfortable cage with metal bars, and some blankets, and even a pillow. Though not the best quality, it was not the grass or the hard floor.

Also, these soldiers were not soldiers, nor knights, but mercenaries, or more like slave traders. I had met several of them before, but I always get out from their clutches by mere luck, or by mere tricks, hehe... I took their money that time too. I guess I am on their black list now. Whatever.

This time I thought it would be the same, but guess what? Yes, you got me, I was depleted from any kind of magic and will to survive, I usually have. Now these men, bulky and strong men were my company for the rest of the road.

I knew where they were taking me, I knew the path, as I had walked there once before. However, at that moment in my life, I was only a sad and solitary soul with one thought in my mind, to continue my journey in this world, to gain money, to gain the hearts of people with my spectacle, and to gain my magic back.

Nothing much.

I was already on the right track, away from these roads, and away from that family. But, destiny is a bitch, right?

"Bruno, how much left?" I asked my bulky but friendly jailer and watcher, "is it that difficult to get there?"

He looked at me and nodded, "from that day in the Corn Town, the roads are being watched by those damn Dark Knights. We can get caught if we are not careful."

"Oh, what happened?"

"Little lady, you don't need to concern about that," he said and passed me an apple.

"Thank you."

I love this guy. I was lucky to meet him and not some perverts mercenaries. I would have to use all my remaining energy to fight them and kill them if I had to, but then, this guy here appeared.

Bulky, with a brown bear and gentle blue eyes. I guess he was some kind of knight but he gave up or deserted or was expelled. I don't know, but he was kind enough to put in order those dirty thoughts of his friends. He protected me from being harm in any way.

"By the way, Bruno," I said while eating my apple, "who is going to buy me? A noble? A rich noble, young and powerful? Or an old man with many young wives?"

He laughed, "I don't know little girl, but you should be prepared for everything."

He passed me a dagger and winked at me. I didn't say anything and smiled at him, then I winked back while hiding the dagger.

I know he was trying to win my trust, I can feel it. But I won't give it to him. If he were really trying to help me, then he should have let me out from this damn cage. Though I needed this free ride to Maliburne, the place I left many days ago.

Then a sound of a storm trying to hinder our journey erupted. The smell of rain and the feeling of mist stopped us from going further. We camped, more like, they camped and I was still in the cage on top of the cart.

"Oh Bruno, what will happen to me next," I said while the lovely bulky man put some covers on top of the cage to cover me. "I will have to suffer like the young ladies in the slavery camps, or I will suffer in the hands of some men with corrupted souls, should I just kill myself here?"

"Little Jane," he smiled, "your fate could be better if you want it."

"How?" I said while I was lying in the cage and looking outside at the rain. "How can it be better when I am trapped here?"

"You will see when we get there," he smiled at me again, then he left.

The sound of the rain came back again announcing the next part of my destiny. I hope those squirrels are following me or, maybe they will stay squirrels for the rest of their lives. Tch...

"Master," I heard a whisper, "Master?"

There they are.