The Last Dragon And Guardian

It was almost midnight when the taskmasters finally arrived at the warehouse again with many more children. By now, Kidaya had woken up and was holding tightly to Ralph's shirt while hiding behind him.

"Get them into a single line and ready to leave. The ship departs soon." The bulky man with the baton says from the door before turning and walking away.

Ralph turns to look at Miya and her brother.

"Stick close to us," Miya whispers to him.

Nodding, Ralph held Kidaya and went over to where the two other kids stood.

~

"They are all my kids, Commander. The ones I told you about." Says the bulky man sneaking a purse of coins into the Commander's hand.

The Commander hides the coins away in his pocket and clears his throat. "You may pass with them." He says looking the other way.

Head bowed, Ralph held on tightly to Kidaya as they moved between the other kids. They were about to take their first step when they heard a man halt everyone. Ralph immediately looked up to see what was happening ahead. Some group of armed men were searching for every child tied up by the slave traders. Commander Ben was right when he told him he would be able to identify the Faceless men when he sees them, because right now, the men ahead were not wearing any masks, but he knew they were Faceless men.

Now the problem is, they were trapped. Ralph couldn't find any way he could escape and run away with Kidaya because their hands were tied up and they were in the midst of more than hundreds of kids. The Faceless men drew closer and Ralph panicked even more. This was the end, he thought. Frantically, he begins to pull on the rope that tied up his hands. Using even his teeth, he pulled on the ropes praying and hoping he is able to loosen himself and her before the Faceless men got to them. The men got closer and he was still pulling on the ropes when Miya nudged him with her elbow. He turns to look at her.

"You will draw their attention to yourself," Miya said to him. "Just stay calm."

But he didn't. Ralph kept on pulling on the ropes.

"Brother." Came Kidaya's voice and it stilled Ralph. He looks down at her and she smiles. "I'll be fine." She told him.

He was about to tell her they would still be able to recognize her because of her eyes, when he noticed that the Faceless men had gotten to them, so he kept quiet.

The men got to them and raised up Kidaya's face only to notice the child's eyes were closed. The one that had raised up her face turned to look at another man behind him.

"Open your eyes." The one in charge says walking forward.

Her eyes still closed. "I cannot." Kidaya says. "I was born this way." Ralph who had been about to interfere widens his eyes at Kidaya's words.

The men exchange looks.

"That boy is blind." The bulky man says coming to stand beside the men. "We found him like that. Tell me what child you are looking for and with a fine fee, I can help you locate him."

"It is a 'Her' we seek. A girl with long black hair and green eyes." Turning to face the child trafficker. "Have you seen one like that?"

"No, I haven't. But be rest assured that if I do find any that fits your description, I will let you know." The Bulky man says. "Can we leave now? We delay the ship."

~

"I told you they looked like big trouble to me. Why do you think those men were looking for her?" Sam says to his sister.

"Why do you think the Count's men were looking for us?" Miya asked the brother.

"You know that was different. The Count wanted to have us hanged for a robbery we didn't do."

"And those men may be searching for them to have them killed for a crime they didn't also commit."

"This looks different." Sam insists.

"Just like ours did. Sam, don't you pity them? The girl even had to shave off her hair and pretend to be blind just to avoid the men."

Sam glances at where Kidaya is seated behind Ralph holding onto him. "Well, I guess I pity the girl, but not the bo... Where are you going?" Sam asks when he sees the sister get up.

"To hand them some snacks," Miya says. "The girl stares at me with hungry eyes."

"How would you know what hungry eyes look like?"

"Because I have had them before too."

"We barely have enough to last us the entire journey here."

That's because you still believe we will be here till we reach the other side. Tomorrow, we escape from these taskmasters." Miya says heading for where Ralph and Kidaya were sitting. She stretches her hand to Kidaya. "Here, you can have my rice cake." She says with a smile.

Kidaya looks up at Ralph who nods for her to get it. They had lost their bag when the Taskmasters had captured them, so they had no food or snacks for the rest of the journey except the Taskmasters decided to feed them with one. He knew he could go some days without food, but he didn't want Kidaya to starve too. He was still thinking of how to go beg the girl for some snacks for Kidaya when he saw her get up and head their way.

After they had passed the Faceless men and got on board the ship, the slave traders had led them all to one room in the ship and had locked them in there after losing the chains from them. He was glad they were on board a ship out of Vianto Empire somewhere else, but now he would need to also get Kidaya away before they were sold into slavery.

"Thank you." Kidaya says getting the piece of cake and pushing everything into her mouth. She was starving.

"Here, you can have mine." Sam says hand stretched out to Ralph, while his face looked away as if he was still struggling with the decision of parting with his food.

"Thanks, but am not -" his stomach growled.

Miya smiles. "Just take it Ralph. Your stomach needs it if you want to survive this long journey."

Looking down, Ralph gets it but stretches it to Kidaya. "Take another one." He says to her.

Kidaya shakes her head. "You have it. She already gave me hers."

"It was small, this one will -

Kidaya holds his hand and takes it to his mouth. "Am okay, brother. You have this one." She said with a small smile.

"Should I take it back?" Sam snaps at both of them. "Am still hungry even though I gave it out. I don't know why I did."

Miya his sister laughs. "Sam never parts with his food. Be glad he did."

They were about to leave when Ralph recalled something. "Are you two still planning to escape from here?" He asked them and they both immediately turned to face him.

"Can you be any louder than that so the entire room will hear?" Sam hissed at him angrily.

Head bowed. "Am sorry. I was just-

"Yes, we are still planning to."

"Miya!" Her brother rebuked holding her by the hand about to drag her away.

"What! They also need to escape before that big stomach man finds out she is the one those men are looking for. You know he would do anything for more money and those men look like they can afford tons of that with their special looking sword."

"That is none of our business. Let's go back -"

Miya shackles out of his hold and moves closer to Ralph and Kidaya. She bends and whispers. "Tomorrow, by midnight, we escape here. When you see the light flash twice, hurry over to our side of the room. Okay? Don't be late, or we will leave you behind no matter how pretty your sister looks."