Hey you! Before you get reading into this next chapter of Wylde at Heart, you should go check out the poll on my profile. You'll help decide the future of future stories that have been mulling around in my head. So, please head over to that and vote, your input is greatly appreciated. Thanks!
Also, if you haven't already, go check out Ozan's Tale- The Rising Sun. Just head over to Runescape and type it into the search bar, it should come up. Not only do I cover some of the story in here, but it is also just a fabulous backstory told in true Ozan fashion. I didn't feel as though I could summarize it and do it any justice.
After a quick goodbye to Leela, Ozan and Arianna departed, heading east towards Al Kharid. With her injury, the journey was slow going though. She frequently needed to stop and rest, her side quickly developed into a large, nasty looking bruise.
"All you need is a good, hot meal, then you'll be feeling as good as new," said Ozan.
But with no major settlements until they reached the swamp village of Lumbridge, they had no way of getting any such meal. They didn't have much in the way of supplies, but Ozan managed to 'acquire' some simple rations from some of the farm houses that they passed along the way. This kept them mostly on bread and smoked fish, a less than savory diet.
The ground was also very unforgiving to her injury. It was beyond her how she managed to get sleep on those nights. She had never been so thankful when they saw the small, swamp village a few days later.
Lumbridge wasn't much to see, it was a handful of buildings and a small reinforced castle on the edge of a ghastly swamp. It was a peaceful place, though, as the inhabitants wondered about the few shops within the village. They passed a small blacksmith's forge with a single blacksmith hammering away at his work. A small river ran along the eastern edge of the settlement. Fishermen sat long the water's edge, casting out nets and lures into the depths.
As they headed south, looking for an inn to rest in, they passed a bridge that extended over the river.
"That's the way to Al Kharid," said Ozan. "Just over the river then through the sandstone gates towards home."
They soon found a place within Lumbridge that had enough rooms for the two of them, The Fine Flagon. It wasn't anything as big as some of the inns in the big cities, but it was a place they could get some well needed rest in some beds, and a decent meal. After settling into their rooms, they went back into the main room to eat.
Arianna watched as Ozan mindlessly played with the hot bowl of stew that was set before him. She had noticed that as they drew closer to Al Kharid, Ozan had become withdrawn. "Something wrong, Ozan?"
He looked up from the bowl. "No, nothing's wrong, Ari," he said, using the nickname he had 'created' for her at the beginning of their trip.
She rolled her eyes. "Oh, please, Ozan. In the past few days you haven't told a single one of your completely ridiculous stories."
"Hey! Those are all true," he said. But upon receiving a stern look from Arianna, he sighed. "You have known me for barely a week and you don't miss a thing, Ari."
She smiled a bit. "So, tell me what's wrong with the great thief Ozan."
He managed a brief smile, but didn't reply.
"Is this about going back to Al Kharid?"
He shrugged a bit. "Al Kharid is where I was born and grew up. I'd say raised, but it really isn't raising if I never knew my father and my mother passed when I was very young. I think my mother worked in the palace, but I can't remember that far back…" He paused, thinking for a moment. "So, I raised myself the only way I could- stealing to survive. But I had to leave not long into my teens, you know, banished and all, and I haven't been allowed back since. So, I'm not exactly welcomed in Al Kharid. That's why I wanted you to come with me if Leela wouldn't, I could do with a friend to vouch for me."
She nodded, understanding. "But let's just make sure that they don't find out I'm a thief as well. Somehow I get the feeling they won't go along with a thief vouching for another thief." She smiled and was glad to see him smile back. "So, what about Khnum? How did he play into all of this?"
"He is…or was a good friend. I meet him when he was a palace guard, and I was a thieving street urchin; he was the only guard who ever caught me. Didn't turn me in, though, and never did tell me why not either. But he looked out for me, you know? Maybe after this is all done, I'll pay him a visit in his new home. There may still be hope for him yet."
"So, what about Leela? How did you come to meet her?"
"Ah, Leela, Leela, Leela," Ozan said, smiling a bit more. "I only met her once before, back when we were both kids. She's just as headstrong now as she was then. There would have been no way to persuade her not to go after Lady Keli. I don't even know why I tried. She's a tough kid, though; she'll be fine…at least until we can get some help out to her."
"And you calling her princess…?"
Ozan laughed. "The first time we met I mistook her as a princess. She's not really a princess, but I've kept calling her it to wind her up."
She nodded thoughtfully, and turned back to her stew and ate in silence for a handful of moments. Ozan followed suit. "Tell me about Osman."
"Ah, yes, Osman," he said, returning to his less cheerful demeanor. "He's the one I'm gonna need your help with the most. He's Leela's father, as you've heard, and which I found out all too painfully. He's the reason I got booted out of Al Kharid. Well, okay, I'm the reason; he was just the boot." This sparked a question in Arianna's mind, but she let him continued before she asked. "he was head of the palace guard back then, but Leela said he's the spymaster now. If anyone can help rescue Prince Ali, it's him. From what I remember, he's harsh, but fair. I don't think he'll hold my past against me…but it doesn't hurt to have an honest-looking friend to vouch for me, and Leela's passphrase."
Arianna laughed. "'Honest-looking', really?"
"He doesn't have to know that you're a fellow thief," he said, laughing with her. Talking seemed to have lightened his mood greatly.
"What exactly was the reason for you being 'booted' out of Al Kharid? I know bit and pieces of the story, but not the whole thing. Obviously it affects you," she said.
Ozan sighed and began to tell her a story from his childhood. She was quiet as he spoke, telling his story of managing to get into the palace, and of stumbling upon the room where some 'Kharid-ib' was being kept, then being charged with attempting to steal this…whatever it was.
"So, this 'Kharid-ib', what is it exactly?" she asked.
"Well, it's a diamond, but it has been a symbol of power of the Emir and the pride of Al Kharid for a long time. It's not like any other diamond I've even seen, though, and I've certainly seen my fair share. It is flawless and absolutely brilliant in the sun." He sighed. "I was crazy to think that I could've taken it as a kid, but I was always ambitious. And well, that's how I came to be tossed out of Al Kharid."
Arianna shook her head. "I couldn't even imagine being unable to return home, especially to a place like Al Kharid, it sounds amazing."
Ozan nodded. "That it is," he said. "So, Ari, what about you? What's your story?"
"Oh, it's nowhere near as exciting as your story," she said with a shrug. "I'm from over in Kanarin, Yanille to be exact."
"And why aren't you still in Yanille?" Ozan asked. "From what I've heard it's not that bad of a place to live."
She shrugged again. "I decided that live there wasn't for me, and I just left," she said simply.
Ozan looked at her, curious for more of the story, but she would have none of it.
She pushed back her now empty bowl with a satisfied sigh. "You're right, Ozan, after a good, hot meal I do feel better," she said, changing the subject entirely.
He nodded. "And after a good night's sleep, you'll be feeling great."
She yawned and nodded as well. "I think I may go take advantage of a long night's sleep in a comfortable bed."
"Get some good sleep," said Ozan. "We should be able to reach Al Kharid by tomorrow."
She stood and bid him good night. She headed up to one of the two rooms they had taken and fell asleep as soon as she laid down.
So, next week is spring break for me, and while I would love to just spend that week updating non-stop, I'm having surgery this Friday (damn you wisdom teeth!) and likely be out of commission for a little while. I promise that once I'm off the pain meds and my writing is coherent, I will go straight back to writing for you guys. Cheers!