Chapter 4

As Jasmine stared in fear at him, Alibaba was processing what had just happened. The white headed traveler that he saw as a friend had just killed all the bandits without any trouble and she had done it because his life was threatened. 'She was amazing,' the blonde thought, 'But…'

"Your hurt!" Alibaba exclaimed as he appeared in front of Jasmine fussing about a cut on her cheek that she hadn't noticed. This surprised her as she had expected fear or anger not genuine concern for her and even more bewildering to her was that she was happy at his worry.

"It's just a scratch, I don't even feel it," She responded automatically to his concern. She was telling the truth she couldn't feel the cut she just didn't tell him that she had been beaten up enough as a child that she built up a pain-tolerances so high that she almost never felt any pain anymore.

"Still lets go back home," Alibaba said offering his hand to her.

Not believe what was happening but not wanting to lose the boy who made her feel hope Jasmine grabbed his hand and let herself be led to the caravan.

They were silent on the ride back to the town neither willing to break the atmosphere.

"You know when I took you in I tried to convince myself that I was doing it to earn more money, but the truth is I was lonely and wanted a friend," Alibaba started with a serious face as he kept staring ahead. "I grew up in the slums of Balbadd with my mother and two friends who were like siblings. My mother got sick and passed away leaving us to fend for ourselves. My friend fell into a bad crowd and resorted to stealing refusing to have us help him. Then one day the King came down to the slums and told me that my mother had worked in the palace and that I was his son. After a fight with my friend I went to the palace. For years I was an outsider there. I snuck out once to see the slums and met my friend again. He got me drunk and had me followed back to the palace so he could know about the secret passageway that I used. The next time I saw him the palace was on fire and he was robbing the royal treasury. The King, my father died that day and I left Balbadd. That's why I want to conquer a Dungeon so I can make up for my mistake. But that night my friend's betrayal hit me hard and I haven't allowed myself to get close to anyone for fear of it happening again," he stopped and turned to look into Jasmine's eyes.

"But despite my fear I grew to like having you around and started considering a friend. So you don't have to speak of what happened back there and no matter what your past is I will not care because I will always call you my friend." Alibaba finished with a wide smile aimed at her.

Jasmine went wide-eyed at his confidence in her. He considered her his friend and he didn't expect her to share her past? This boy was really one of a kind. And if the warm feeling in her chest had anything do to being called his friend then she might never leave his side. Looking at him from the corner of her eye she decided that he deserved the truth from her.

"I never had friends before but if after my story you really still consider me your friend then I will learn to be yours," Jasmine said.

"I will not change my mind," Alibaba declared determinedly

"Very well. I was born into an assassin order called Sham Lash and trained as an assassin from birth. I was told that I was born to replace my older brother who was one of the best assassins in the order by a young age but he betrayed the order. Do to his actions I was trained harder and taught to not make attachments. Despite my better training I failed at a task when I was six that my brother had succeeded at the same age. I was considered a failure and had my legs slashed and left to bleed out in the catacombs. I managed to escape and was found by a pasting traveler who nursed me back to health. Since I couldn't walk by myself for up to a year he took me with him on his travels. Even when I left him as soon as I could walk by myself I found myself continuing traveling. Do to being taught not to get attach I never stayed long in one place. And that's my story," Jasmine finished fixing a questioning look to the blonde beside her.

"I told you that no matter what you told me that I would still be your friend and you being an assassin changes nothing. So friends?" Alibaba asked with a smile.

Laughing Jasmine answered, "Yes friends. Why don't we change our deal while where at it? I'll follow you and help you to achieve your dreams if you stay the same compassionate person you are and help me find my brother I have something I want to tell him. Do we have a deal my friend?"

"Yes we have a deal my friend and I'll stay as someone that you want to follow," the blonde returned a laugh of his own.

"Ah good cause if you don't I'll slit your throat," replied the assassin with a cheerful smile on her face and a dead serious aura around her.

"Ha ha," Alibaba laughed nervously with a feeling of dread.