~Chapter 7~
Cassim
I loaded the kids into the back of a carriage while Tamara and I sat up front gripping the reins firmly in my hands.
"You two okay back there?" I asked.
The twins sat down contentedly in the hay that was in the back of the wagon and just like any six year olds, it wasn't long before they were playfully throwing the straw at each other. Hearing both of them laugh made my heart happy, but I desperately wish I knew why Jafar needed them. It was bizarre that the kids seemed so comfortable with me even though I was a stranger. Surely, their parents would be worried about stranger danger. We left the Isle of the Djinn quickly and Tamara pointed out the mountain peak in the distance that we were headed to. Sure, I could see it, but clearly this wouldn't just be a one day traveling journey. Not even ten minutes down the road, Jacob was poking my lower back since that was how high he could reach.
"C-Cassim?" Jacob muttered.
I pulled the reins back turning to him as the carriage came to a halt.
"You okay?" I asked.
"I need to go…" Jacob said crossing his legs.
"Oh boy, well go ahead and go find a tree. There's plenty around."
Jacob nodded and promptly hopped out of carriage to do his business.
"I need to go too." Brielle commented raising her hand in the air.
I sighed heavily.
"Geez, these kids." Cassim said.
"I'll take her." Tamara reassured me and they found another tree and were gone for just a few minutes. Jacob returned first and hopped back into the wagon.
"All good?" I asked.
He nodded.
"I bet your parents are missing you two, huh?" I asked him.
"Brielle and I are with you and we aren't alone, so I think it's okay." Jacob shrugged.
"You're a brave, kid." I smiled.
"Thanks, my mommy and daddy think so too."
Moments later, Tamara and Brielle joined us again.
"All good?" I asked Brielle.
She nodded. As I snapped the reins and the horse began walking again, I felt another tug at my sleeve though this time it was Brielle.
"Mister Cassim, I'm hungry." She whined.
I immediately groaned.
After a few hours, we made it into a town with a large cathedral with loud bells ringing.
"Too loud!" The kids cried.
Soon, we were stopped by a man in black robes who looked to be city official of some sort.
"What's your business here?" The man growled.
"Just passing through." I replied.
"Good, then you best be on your way." He said and promptly walked off.
We had every intention to leave, but not before getting us all some food for the road. It all fit in the back of the wagon with ease, so at least we wouldn't have to stop as much. The kids could sleep in the back and Tamara could too. I would just push through since I was used to lack of sleep from my days in the military anyway. I snapped the reins of the horse forward and we found ourselves soon returning to all too familiar desert.
AN: Ever scream at a TV screen for a character to notice something? This is what I'm doing with Cassim...if only he knew the twins were his family...
As always stay tuned for more! :D