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CHAPTER 14

"Symida? That must be your name!" I said casually. I was used to getting lied to about names by now.

The woman smiled and said, "Symida! What have I told you about that?" and she wasn't mad at all. I looked at her for a moment and came straight out with it.

"I have a way for you to get home! It's waiting outside as we speak!" I explained.

"Really?" the woman asked. She hoped it wasn't too good to be true.

"Yes ma'am!" I answered.

She grabbed my hands, kissed them, and said, "Please, call me Mira!" with teary eyes. It made me feel good that she still had hope.

"Oh, uh...OK!" I answered dumbly. "So how many of you are here?" I asked. I would have to give Anarya that number.

"Since we were only a few of our large group, I'd say there's 45 of us!" Mira answered.

"Excuse me!" I said taking a few steps away from them. "Anarya! Anarya, can you hear me?" I asked.

There was static and then, "Yes! I hear you! I'm so glad you're safe!" she said cheerfully.

I laughed and answered, "It's not easy to get rid of me! I miss you too!"

"When are you coming back?" she asked anxiously.

"Shortly! There's about 45 of them! So yeah, it's a full crowd!" I told her.

"45?" she repeated. "We can do it!" she confirmed.

"Good! I'll call back when I'm ready!" I said. She agreed and we signed off.

"Now," I thoguht. "How are we going to get 45 hostages out of here?"

Mira seemed to read my mind. "We know the way to safety! It is a risk only a fool or ones as desperate would take! I would say we are the latter," she said.

Symida popped up next to me and hugged me tight. "I'm so glad you have put yourself at risk for ones such as us! I shall take as well!" she said with a laugh.

Mira then said, "We must inform the others!" and she left with us trailing behind her. We got back to the large room and Mira called out, "People! This young boy, not of Dytarius, nor our home of Cantharia has heard our plea for help!"

The people looked at her, then me. All in disbelief that a mere boy could save their lives. "I have come with great ships to take you home! These belong to the Emperor himself!" I said. That got them interested.

No one could deny getting that kind of ride home! There was amad rush as they gathered what little they had. Roughly 15 min. later, 45 Cantharian nomads were ready to go home and back to their life of constant travel.

"Well lead the way!" I said. Me and Symida lead the party with Mira in back to keep the stragglers up. We came to a dead end and Symida stopped.

"Another door!" she informed me. "This is why the path is dangerous! We constantly have to go through these doors silently!" she explained.

She did the same as before and punched the door. Everyone hurried through, quiet as possible. We turned a corner and through another door. These hidden doors were abundant. I didn't ask, but I assume they were used as other rooms. They could throw off the guards if they switched every once in a while.

We did this about 6 times and finally Symida told me we were at the place. The door did not require a punch. I pushed it open and light flooded the dim passageway.

"Anarya! Everything is set to go! All we need is you!" I said into the walkie-talkie.

"Ok! Be there!" she answered.

"Have you heard from any of the sisters?" I asked.

There was a pause, then Braya's voice came in. "We're just fine! We were just getting into the ship with Anarya! We see you!" she exclaimed. After a minute, they pulled up to the door and let down a small ramp.

The people hurried in. Symida and I were last to get on. She held my hand we entered and I felt her tremble with excitement.

We were greeted by Anarya. She was smiling at me with that smile of hers. "Hello! I am Anarya!" she greeted Symida.

Symida bowed and said, "It is an honor and a true blessing from the Gods to be rescued by you!" Anarya gave me a suspicious glance and walked away.