Chapter Thirty Nine

                                    

                                          
When I thought of all the children in Reand, I remembered the little girl I had promised to save in Ameron. I promised her I would get her to her mother… but I lied. She was torn apart by the Marauders upon ambush. I know the same wont happen to the bright eyed children in Reand… but I cant help but remember the last time I made a promise to a child.

                          
“Merc, whats wrong?” Jean yelled, rearing his horse in front of Max.

                          
At first, I wanted to run Max right through them… I could to it easily, too. But I hung my head, the horrid images once again flashing behind my eyes, only torture for me.

                          
“I don't want to break my promise.” I said sadly. 

                          
Jean said nothing, just waited for me to continue as Elliot caught up.

                          
“In Ameron, about… say nearly three months ago, I made a promise to save a little girl. To get her back to her mother. I- I lied…”

                          
Jean nodded and Elliot held a solemn look, neither wanting to interrupt me the one time I was ready to talk about something.

                          
“They got her. We were ambushed in an alley… they… they... “ I began to hyperventilate.

                          
“Mercy, It's okay… Everything's all right.” Jean told me cautiously.

                          
“No it's not alright, Jean! They cut her! They cut her in fucking half!” I screamed, loud enough for Jean’s and Elliot’s mares to falter and take a step back. 

                          
I bit my lip as hard as I could to keep from lashing out at them. I didn't want to say anything I would regret. I glared at them over my mask, the blood dripping from my bottom lip unknown to them. 

                          
“I love you guys…” I sobbed loudly and threw myself down onto Max’s back, clenching his mane as the tears ran down my cheeks.

                          
“Hey.” Elliot said, putting a hand on my shoulder, “The Bandits not exposed to cry… she’s tough, and strong… and vicious.” 

                          
I looked up to his smiling face. It was calming. 

                          
“Just because things are hard doesn't mean they’re undoable. It just means only the strongest can do them.” Elliot whispered. 

                          
I raised my head and straightened, looking ahead at the vast plains laid out in front of me. Just over the next hill should be Ameron, in all it’s flaming glory. I refused to tell Jean and Elliot, but on our way into Reand, above where Ameron should be I saw dark smoke rising into the night. 

                          
I know Ameron was in ashes. Really, I always knew it. In my heart, I knew when it started. The day Jean and I left. When I saw...it. I knew what I saw was real… I just didn't want to admit it. Ameron was in flames then, and in smoldering ashes now.

                          
But that meant they hadn't found the key. They gave up on looking. They burned it because if they couldn't have it, no one could. 

                          
And that meant that I would have to take it from the hot fingers of fire and dark clouds of ash. 

                          
I don't know what I’m looking for, though. It could literally be a key, or a potion, a poison or a weapon. It could be a person… Although, if it is a person, then their almost most definitely dead.

                          
“Come on, Jean. If Merc wants to keep her promise then we better get moving. Ameron is just over the next hill, we can make it in three or four hours just by walking. We can make it in two if we run… But the way Mercy ran Max a few minutes ago we probably should just walk.” Elliot said, turning his mare to the west, towards Ameron. 

                          
Jean nodded, his mare falling into line with Elliot’s. Max snorted, walking in front of them. He preferred to lead the pack. Even with Marie, he liked to walk slightly in front of her.

                          
Within about a half hour, the horses came to a silent agreement on the formation they wanted to take. 

                          
With Max up front and in the middle, Jean’s mare flanked Max’s left while Elliot was to the right. Personally, I would rather stick to a small huddle to avoid the chance of ambush, which was growing greater and greater every second we got closer to Ameron. This formation looked more prideful than strategic, like a leader with her followers than a real team.

                          
“Jean… If we make it out of this, with or without the key, I don't want to go back to the NA permanently. I want to go back, of course, to say goodbye to Samson and to get some sort of supplies… but I don't want to stay.”

                          
“Merc, if we make it out of this alive, we won't be able to go back. We’re traitors now. But if we make it out alive, with the key, then that would make us stronger than the whole NA put together.” Jean laughed.

                          
“Um… when all of this is over… where do I go?” Elliot asked shyly.

                          
“With us, of course.” Jean said simply.

                          
“A-are you sure?” Elliot laughed excitedly.

                          
“Once on Team Bandit… Always on Team Bandit.” Jean told him, if that was reason enough.

                          
“Mercy… is that okay?” Elliot asked hopefully.

                          
“Welcome to the family.” I smiled.