A sense of awe could be seen in the woman's gait as she made her way forward. It was evident that she was the group leader that had captured him, but when her eyes met the old man's, a mixture of fear and respect could be seen in them.
"Amos," she started, maintaining her composure despite the palpable tension that could be felt in the room.
She proceeded to describe how they had found Erik emerging from the woods without any weapons and appearing to be disoriented. She mentioned the beast that had been reawakened within the cave, alluding to Erik's unintentional part in the incident as she spoke about the creature.
As she continued her story, the atmosphere in the room became very quiet, and everyone's attention was drawn to the exchange that was taking place between her and the older man.
She didn't mince her words when she expressed the suspicions she had regarding Erik's background. She then turned her attention back to the young man for a brief second before saying, "We believe he may be a soldier from New Alexandria, Amos."
The mere fact that she had mentioned New Alexandria added another layer of complexity to the scenario. Her statement hung heavily in the air.
Amos maintained his silence for a few beats while he took in the information and studied Erik with an intensity that was on the verge of being unsettling. As the silence continued, the air in the room became thick with anticipation, to the point where it was difficult to breathe.
Erik held his breath as he became increasingly aware that the elderly man and the woman held a significant amount of responsibility for determining his future.
In his head, Erik started to assess the scenarios, working to take in all the information and formulate a plan for how to get out of the predicament he found himself in.
<New Alexandria... a soldier...what is exactly happening here?> He pondered, maintaining his outward calm despite the turmoil within. It was clear that they didn't have a reasonable opinion of the people from the city, meaning that something must have happened to them.
<Could they be the reason why they are so starved?> he asked himself. Despite his many questions, he understood the gravity of the situation: the wrong word or the wrong move could ignite a powder keg of suspicion.
He felt a chill creep up his spine as the realization dawned on him: he was entirely at their mercy. Erik was an outsider in a foreign land, surrounded by people who viewed him as a possible danger to themselves.
His eyes darted back and forth between the woman and Amos, and for a brief moment, a mute plea for comprehension flashed briefly within him and the older man.
Amos was given some space to think about the woman's words after she finished her story, and the woman took a few steps back as she did so. It was evident that she held a certain degree of respect for him—the kind of respect that comes from years of being led and guided.
As everyone in the room waited for the elderly gentleman to respond, the space remained calm and still, with anticipation filling the air. As Erik waited for the man's decision, he could do nothing but remain motionless, his heart thumping violently in his chest.
A lot was riding on the outcome, and the pressure was absolutely palpable. Every tick of the clock felt like an eon, and time itself seemed to drag on interminably. Indeed, he was sailing into uncharted territory at that point.
Amos, the elderly man, fixed Erik with a piercing gaze as he turned his silvery eyes, which shone with the wisdom of countless winters and the weariness of unspoken burdens.
The deep wrinkles etched into his face were a testament to the many challenges he overcame. Erik had the impression that he was looking at a fortress that was guarding its secrets with quiet resolve. Even though his stare was not outright hostile, it did hold an aloofness that was difficult to penetrate.
They were both looking at each other with intense concentration, the tension between them creating an intricate dance of uncertainty and inquiry. When his eyes locked on Erik, there was an almost palpable air of suspicion around him.
This man had clearly seen his fair share of combat; his very being exuded a sense of grit, and the look in his eyes conveyed tales of victories and defeats earned through arduous struggle.
There was something in his gaze, perhaps just a trace of interest, but a cautious reserve heavily masked it. Perhaps it was just a hint of curiosity. A glimmer of mystery floating in the middle of a sea of caution, like a solitary star amid a stormy night sky.
He appeared to be judging Erik, his glance like a breeze passing over an open book, reading the unsaid words and figuring out the untold stories.
Nevertheless, as Erik met his gaze, he discovered neither immediate acceptance nor a definite path toward trust. In this strange world, trust was a commodity that had to be earned and could not be taken for granted.
The awakener noticed the doubt in his eyes. He knew that was the right opportunity to get out of that mess.
Erik started by saying, "Excuse me..." but as soon as he opened his mouth to continue, Vanessa quickly cut him off, her tone being firm and unyielding throughout the exchange. "Silence! I warned you to keep your mouth shut!"
But before Erik could respond or swallow his words, a calm and firm voice echoed throughout the room, immediately commanding the attention of everyone in the room. It was Amos.
The old man issued the command, "Enough, Vanessa." His tone was authoritative without being raised or harsh, and it was not to be questioned in any way. After a moment of silence, Vanessa's hand on the spear she held relaxed ever-so-slightly, but her aggressive stance did not change.
Amos redirected his experienced gaze back to Erik, and this time there was a hint of interest shining in his eyes. "Let the boy speak," he proclaimed, retaining the barest trace of interest in his words.
There was a brief period of tense anticipation as everyone in the hall held their breath. The muscles in Vanessa's jaw tensed, but she refrained from raising any further objections. The only sound that could be heard in the room was the rustling of the wind outside the wooden structure as everyone waited for Erik's words.
The young man took a deep breath before starting his speech, keeping his composure despite the tingling sensation he was experiencing from the spears that were trained on him.
The young man spoke up and explained, "While I don't know what is happening, nor do I know what your problem is with the soldiers, I do understand a mistake is being made here today."
He then added some words with a look of sincerity: "I'm indeed from New Alexandria; there's no denying that. However, I'm not a member of the military. The city, in general, did not treat me very well," he said.
Amos responded to this with a raised eyebrow and a silent request for further explanation. Erik observed that there was a hush in the room, and even the wind seemed to be holding its breath in anticipation of his explanation.
"They tried to kill me," Erik admitted, looking straight into Amos's calculating eyes. "More times than I can count."
And with a resolute look, he said, "But they were unsuccessful..."
This content is taken from fr(e)ewebn(o)vel.𝓬𝓸𝓶