Chapter 2

The group of men had never seen anyone like her before. Although they have just really begun their journey, they couldn't believe a young woman in her condition was all alone. Clearly it looked like she had been running from something, but there was nothing chasing her and they hadn't picked up any nearby threats. They only thing they could see was her hand had a bad cut and she now had a black eye from her fall.

"We should tend to her hand as soon as possible Sin, it doesn't look good and I'm sure that's what caused her to pass out." Spartos said, worry lacing his voice.

"I agree" Sin stated matter-of-factly. "Ja'far, do you have everything you need to clean and stitch her hand?"

Ja'far looked at his leader almost in confusion. "Yes I do, but are you sure you want to use the last of our supplies on a strange girl?" he asked hesitantly.

Sinbad narrowed his eye as the comrade, a look that still sent shivers down his mens spines. Well that's a yes. He must like this silly girl. Ja'far thought to himself regretting his question.

"Well put her down Sin and I'll tend to her now." He all but demanded, because he still knew better to directly demand Sin to do anything. "Sin seriously! I can't do anything with her while you are holding her." Ja'far was really getting frustrated now.

Sinbad couldn't understand this pull this woman in his arms had on him. Sure he has seen many beautiful women before, and trust him he has worked his charm on all of them. As cliché as it sounds he knew she was special, she was strong and he was excited to see what her personality would be like. Would she be fierce? Kind? Quiet? "What have you been through?" He spoke to her just above a whisper.

"What was that?" Ja'far asked looking around Sinbad to the woman. She's sleeping, who the hell is he talking to? He thought with an eye roll.

"Nothing!" Sinbad barked out almost too quickly.

Hina just looked on from the distance. Something seemed different about his purple haired friend; he had an almost soft look on his face. It was subtle, but it was there. He had to admit the woman was quite striking. Her hair was just…different, it was dirty at the moment but he could only imagine what it looked like if it were clean. Soft striking silver hair with her pale skin, she would look almost angelic. She was also young he could tell. Maybe even a couple years younger than Sin himself, but she was also in need of food. She was too skinny almost starving which could be contributing to her young appearance. How did she have enough strength to make it this far? She's a strong one.

He could tell Sin and Spartos were concerned as well, Spartos hasn't stopped fidgeting since they found the young lady. Ja'far seemed indifferent towards her, but that was just how he acted most of the time. He decided to finally speak up. "Once her hand is wrapped we should get moving. There was a small village a little ways back, we should go rest there for the night and get some food as well."

"That's a good idea Hina, we all could use the rest and I'm curious about this one" Sin said pointing to Alya. "We have helped plenty of people this far in our journey, so why should we stop now?"

"You just want to work your charm on her!" Ja'far accused.

Everyone broke out in laughter. "It wouldn't be Sin if he didn't try, but I agree we need to get more information. It's not every day a girl would risk her life being alone outside any village." Hina shrugged.

"Fine, let's just go so we can get out of these woods." Ja'far mumbled as he stomped away.

At the inn Spartos paid for the 2 rooms and met the group waiting outside and handed out the keys.

"How are we doing this, they only had two rooms available and unfortunately each room has two beds." Spartos said in almost a panic.

"Hina and the girl need their own beds, Hina for obvious reasons." Sin said noticing the look Ja'far was giving him. "And honestly it will probably be easier on her with one strange man in the room versus two." They all shook their heads in agreement.

Hina stayed behind with Sin as the group split up. "Don't do anything foolish Sin, she is probably going to be very frightened and confused when she wakes. Just… don't try anything."

"For once I can Promise you I won't. She's different Hina; I want to know more about her." Sinbad looked unbroken in his resolve. Hina just nodded at his friend and walked away.

Once in the room Sinbad finally put her in the warm bed, it had been a chilly night and she was starting to feel cold. She was wearing thin clothing, and not much of it. It honestly had seen better days. I'm going to buy her something nice to wear tomorrow.

"Where the fuck did that come from?" he said out loud.

Giving an audible sigh, he proceeded to the wash room to get a damp towel and bowl of water to clean her up. "No funny business" he promised himself not that he was into unconscious girls anywise," I'm just going to clean her up a little. Damn, she's really banged up."

He sat down on the bed next to her laying form. Gently taking one of her legs, he started with her foot working his way up, slowly. She doesn't even have shoes. That thought bothered him more than it should have. Once he got to her thigh, where he skirt started, he stopped and started his work on the other leg. As much of womanizer as he knew he was; he was at least an honorable man. After the second leg was clean he started with her hand working up to her elbow, then shoulder. He rinsed the cloth again and worked his way across her collar bone and neck, then continues down the second arm.

Her skin is so soft. His mind wandered but then he noticed them... the scares, little white lines working their way up around her shoulder. Slowly he leaned her up and followed the lines over her towards her back. Just as he thought, white crisscross marks littered her back, some white and thin, others darker and angry looking. Was she a slaved that escaped!? Someone had whipped her for a long time it looks like. His mind was reeling and again he didn't understand why he was becoming so angry at the fact that someone caused her pain and scared her body. They haven't even officially met yet.

Laying her back down slowly, he leaned over to rinse the cloth one more time to clean her face. He ever so gently touched the warm damp cloth to her cheek and started to wipe. All of a sudden honey eyes met bluish green ones. Sinbad was taken aback by the depth of her eyes. They reminded him of the sea, they felt like home. What the fuck are you thinking Sin, get it together!

Alya tried to move quickly towards the head board, but her throbbing hand and pounding head prevented her from doing so.

"Where am I?" she almost screamed. Concerned written all over her face, she was unmoving waiting for an answer.

"Please don't be frightened! You are safe I promise. We found you in the woods hurt and unconscious. We bandaged your hand and brought you to an inn to rest and get you some food when you woke up." Sin spoke slowly.

Her eyes told him she didn't necessarily trust him, and why should she? She probably didn't trust anyone.

"Look, my name is Sinbad, my Friends call me Sin. My three comrades; Hina, Ja'far and Spartos are in the other room resting as well. I'm a dungeon capturer, and we are traveling together trying to form alliances with countries to develop out trading company. I know it all seems a little strange and you have no reason to trust me, but you are in no danger while I'm here, I swear to you." Sinbad almost pleaded with her.

"Okay" she squeaked out.

She took a moment to really look at him. She had never seen someone so handsome. She could feel the blush spread across her face. He was young, probably not much older than her and he had beautiful golden eyes and long purple hair that was tied back. She figured it was even longer than her own, which right now was knotted and an absolute mess. Gathering her thoughts, she also looked at her hand and noticed how nicely it was taken care of. She herself was also cleaner.

Noticing her face turning red and his own showing concern, he asked if she felt feverish.

Looking back up at Sinbad with a small smile she started to speak, "NO! I'm fine thank you, you didn't have to help me… But I really do appreciate it. I'm Alya by the way"

"Nice to finally meet you officially Alya" Sinbad grinned at her. Suddenly his face became more serious. "I can tell you were running from someone or something, and it's none of my business I know. But I hope you will allow us to help you. I know we can prove to you that you can trust us."

"You aren't wrong, but I would rather not talk about it right now." She said more to herself.

"Of course, you need your rest. Would you like any food?" he asked.

"I'm okay right now, I don't know where my bag went and I don't have much money". Embarrassed she put her head down.

"Oh no! You misunderstand; I'm offering you food don't worry about money. You see we just signed a contract with our third country, so we have plenty for food, and you are welcomed to it." He winked at her, "Also you bag is by the end of your bed."

Her face started to heat up again, why was he having this effect on her? "Thank you again, you really don't have to, but it would give me time to finish cleaning up a little more." She thanked him again on his way out as he shut the door, but right before closing it completely he peeked back in and told her if she needed anything while he was gathering food for the two of them to go ask his men, they wouldn't mind.

As Alya sat there, she wondered what she was going to do. Should she really trust the men who helped save her? Are they going to want something in return? She really didn't want to owe anyone any favors; it was just easer that way. At the same time she couldn't shake this feeling that he really wanted to help her. She even thought she could trust him, she saw it in his eyes. On her way to the shower she kept thinking that this was maybe even fate… that they were meant to meet. So she decided until they gave her a reason, she would trust the group of men, and see where this journey took them. At least she would be safe, right?