Chapter 4

Weeks passed and the group was getting closer to Balbadd. They didn't waste their time together though; they had all the fun they could have while on the road. And with the twins that involved a lot of singing and dancing that they dragged Morgiana into doing them with them.

During that time the twins came to befriend and trust Morgiana especially after she stopped a man from hitting them during a performance because they were blocking his way. The twins were more careful to stay close to her in towns after that experience reminded them that they didn't know this world very well.

They had also discovered that their pale skin did not agree with the sun and had taken to putting on their hoods from their hoodies and tucking in every last strand of violet hair out of sight.

Right now they were arriving at a new town six months after they had arrived in this world. But the minute they stepped inside they could tell something was wrong. The town was quiet and had a depressing air about it. The people that they could see looked defeated and were rough up a bit and their supplies packed up to leave.

"I wonder if something happened here," gasped Sahsa.

Seeing a man passing by with bags in his arms Leila asked, "What's going on?"

"An uprising in Balbadd. A bunch of failed bandits blocked the port in the town. You people have better take off as soon as you can," were the man's word as he continued walking.

The twins were worried as the bandits uprising could mean that the caravan's chief deeming a stop to Balbadd too dangerous. Also a blocked port meant that the ships to Sindria would be stopped. Even when Leila responded to Sahsa concern with determination to keep on selling the twins couldn't help but feel worried.

Then Leila bumped into a slave trader. They could only stare in fear as logically they had know about slavery being in practice in this world having been warned by the people of the caravan and having Morgianna confided in them about being a former slave. But hearing about it hadn't made it seem so real even with having seen the nightmares Morgianna still had. Now though seeing the slaver pulling a line of people behind him by chains connected to collars around their necks made the reality of their words sink in and with it the fear.

Sinclair held on tight to her brother's arm wishing for her mother to take her in her arms and promise that nothing would hurt her, but her mother was not here.

Sinjin wrapped his arms around hid little sister offering her all the protection he could as a seven year old with only two years of martial arts training. He thanked his mother for her insistent that they took lessons even if Sinclair had ended up trading for dance lessons instead, it meant they weren't totally defenseless in this world very much outclassed but not defenseless.

They stayed the night in a building in town. And as the twins had feared the day before the chief of the caravan had decided not to go to Balbadd do to a band of thieves taking over the direct road to the country, instead deciding to take a different route. Morgiana did as the twins expected of their friend and asked what would happened if someone took out the band of thieves with a determined look in her eyes that said she wasn't going to back down.

That night they stayed awake while the others slept and do to that caught Morgiana as she was leaving.

"So you're really going to go stop those thieves," stated Sinjin with his arms crossed startling the red head who hadn't noticed the twins.

"Yes, in order for me to go to my homeland and for you two to make it to your destination we must go to Balbadd and for that to happen these thieves must be apprehended," she replied in a serious manner.

"We won't stop you Morgianna, but you're our friend and we worry about you. So please be careful," pleaded Sinclair her eyes wide with worry knowing that she couldn't help her friend with her quest.

Eyes wide with surprise Morgiana couldn't help but feel touch by the concern from the two children who claimed her as their friend. Fueled even more to stop these thieve not only for herself but also for these caring twins who wormed their way into her heart. "I will my friends, for I am a Fanalis," she declared and disappeared into the night. Determining that their friend would keep her words the twins headed to bed.

The next day Sahsa and Leila discovered Morgiana missing and searched for her. When they went to the chief having come to the conclusion that she had gone to Balbadd on her own, ignoring how if she had she would of taken the twins with her (who were watching the chaos while being forgotten by everyone), and discovered that he had a band of mercenaries ready to raid the thieves hideout. The two women talked themselves into joining the group as they left.

"Do you thing they'll remember we're being left here by ourselves?" Questioned a curious Sinclair as she stared at the departing group.

"I think they forgot we were even here," commented Sinjin dryly.

They had indeed forgotten about them until they came back that night to celebrate the end of the bandits and the freedom of the people the slave trader was holding at the hideout. The twins joined in the entertainment with their music as they listened to the story of what happened. Apparently it was a tale of Morgiana single handedly taking out the bandits, vicious beasts, and the head slave trader to free the slaves and a giant destroying the hideout, all before the rescue group had arrived.

Morgiana introduced them to a boy a few years older then them that she knew named Aladdin. She explained that the caravan was still going to take a different route and that Aladdin and her were going to travel to Balbadd.

"So would you like to travel with us," asked the blue-headed boy cheerfully.

"Yes, thank you," said Sinjin gratefully.

And so the next day the group of four waved good bye to the caravan and headed on their way to Balbadd.

"Let's look out for each other ok miss Morgiana, Sinjin, Sinclair," exclaimed Aladdin

Morgiana let out a quite, "Yes," while the twins nodded their heads.

"Hey you know miss Morgiana is pretty long can I call you Morg?" asked the blue-headed boy.

The newly nicknamed Morg just hummed in agreement.

"Hey if we're giving nick names you guys can just call me Clair," Declared the female half of the twins.

"And you can call me Jin," added the male half.