Chapter 8: She Can Live
Maximus smiled at Felixa walking shoulder to shoulder with him through the grove. Biting her lips she seemed to be in deep contemplation. He thought she’d grow a bit taller, but she barely reached his shoulder. Her hair was longer than he anticipated and her face was small.
But her eyes...the same; fearless and clear.
This is what he liked to see the most. He wanted her to search and find him.
And with a little effort and a decree, he got to see that. And now he wanted to hear her voice more.
He wanted to say a lot to her but he couldn’t find the words. Where would he start?
Like sprinkles of blessings descending from heaven, water droplets that were hanging to the leaves showered on them as the breeze blew. The path in front of them looked like the Milky Way galaxy as the moonlight reflected on the wet ground.
Felixa wondered how she should start the conversation. For some reason, although she thought she is going to die, she was not scared when she is with him. His presence was so familiar and relaxing. It was so relaxing, it distracted her from her original goal. But she knew she cannot get distracted.
She couldn’t think of anything to say to him other than ’I want to live and so let me go.’ But she knew that won’t be a very good conversation starter.
This is the man who laid siege to their fort and wants her dead. How should she start the conversation with him?
"Do you remember giving this to me?" Felixa showed him the stone she kept safe.
She shouldn’t think about anything else until her head escapes the ax.
Maximus stopped and turned to face her.