Unforgivable….so late…life…sigh.

I don't own Pokémon obviously.

Chapter 21: Everybody has Reasons

The morning broke and even though it was still early, the sounds of the city coming to life reached May's ears. She had had a restless night. The bed had been lumpy and she much preferred the ground over it, and on top of that the excitement of finding Drew made sleep a rare visitor.

As such she had to wait until Arden awoke. Even though the man was a light sleeper, he could sleep about anywhere he wanted. May had seen him more than once sleeping in the saddle. The stone floor of the room didn't bother him and May was too grateful for her companion to awake him from the little sleep he got.

Instead she silently unpacked her sword that she had used for the last few months. She thought she was becoming rather skilled and even if she hadn't needed to draw blood yet, the metal had suffered first under the snow and cold of the mountain and then the heat and the sand.

As focused as she had been on getting here, she had neglected taking good care of here stuff, even with Arden telling her to do so. So while she waited she brushed up her sword. It was only when she laid it down and wondered what she was supposed to do now that Arden sat up and stretched.

"You good now?" May asked him teasingly.

Arden blinked at her bleary and then mumbled something about a hellcat and better Drew than him as he packed his stuff as well; they weren't going to stay here much longer than that one night. "First food," he grumbled.

To that May couldn't bring in any argument as her stomach too was protesting, and they packed up quickly. In the bar were barely any customers. Either they were not up yet or the inn was less visited than they had thought.

The burly innkeeper immediately sped at them. "You visiting what?" he asked, trying to make small talk after putting some strange bread on the table and some strange sour juice that May was sure was imported.

May kept her head down as Arden answered, "Just going around the city and then continuing."

The innkeeper nodded: it probably was common answer. "Don't make question," he advised. May understood: the city might be easy toward strangers but you were not to question whatever you saw. No, they were not going to question anything, they were questioning after a person.

"Good horses you have," the innkeeper spoke while Arden gave the man some coins. "Could not get to door."

Arden and May grinned: must have been trained by Ash going by Roserade's and Pikachu's behavior They waved the innkeeper goodbye, and went towards the stables. As they had expected Blaziken and Umbreon were still there and scuffling a bit in their boxes.

Blaziken immediately came towards May when saw his rider, and pushed her with his nuzzle. May looked at him sternly, "And now eating humble pie?" she said. "Well, it's good you won't let yourself taken away but strangers too should be able to care for you," she scolded.

The fox had the decency to look guilty, May wasn't sure how considering he was a horse. Arden looked at her amused, "Ready to go?" he asked. May nodded, saddling up the now rather meek horse. It was not that they could go fast within the city but they could hardly leave behind their stuff.

The two went at a foot pace through the city, Arden guiding them. May clearly saw the further they god the more shabby the hoses looked. "Arden, where are we going?" May whispered.

Arden glanced back at her and then looked forward again, glaring at some of the shabbier people. May thought their hands looked a bit too quick and tightened her hands on the reins. She couldn't blame Arden for his suspicion.

"Slave markets are never in good or middle districts, princess. Poor people can't complain and more buyers mean more places for begging."

Well that explained the direction they were going as the area could hardly be called good. Then she saw something she hoped she would never have to again and she heard Arden curse under his breath.

It looked like large wheels , two a piece with wooden planks between them. But the monstrosity wasn't the thing itself that made her breakfast come up. It was the emaciated tortured bodies of the men in them; clawing and climbing the same never-ending circle for all they were worth. Their faces were mostly empty but for the one in few that looked tortured, the whips coming down on their backs.

If watching Drew get whipped was hard then this was unbearable.

"How can they do that to humans?" May asked, her voice small.

Arden carefully kept his face blank so that they were not seen discussing this topic, "Slaves…are not humans, May. Perhaps it's wise here to not think of them as humans," he said.

May was horrified as she watched the souls for whatever goal that couldn't be worth this atrocity. "Even dogs get treated better than that!" she whispered.

Arden tightened his lips, pulling her away from what he knew were the wheels. He furiously hoped that wherever Drew was sent, it was not there. If he was still alive after all this time, and he prayed to whatever deity that he wasn't, he did not want May to even glance at Drew and he'd kill his old friend himself. That was the only mercy he could deliver.

He was all too aware of the numbing powders that the slaves would do anything for. He could not save his general from that and he'd deliver God's mercy on one more soul.

May was silent during their trip and Arden was glad for that. It was better that she kept her head down and didn't meet anyone's eyes. He wished he could've left her behind but speed was of essence and she'd never have acquiesced to that.

Soon the sounds of a market place came to them and for a moment may cheered up, until she realized it wasn't like the markets at home. "They're being sold like cows," May whispered as she saw people inspecting a group of people on a stage, frightened looks on their faces.

Arden shook his head, "Don't take your freedom for granted, princess," he murmured.

And she wouldn't. Not if she thought of the fact that Drew had been in this spot something more than a year ago. "How are we going to find Drew?" May asked Arden. "I don't speak this language and they don't speak ours."

Arden looked thoughtfully, "I guess I hadn't thought of that," he said.

May felt despair coming up again, "How are we going to find him then! We can't call out: 'Who knows Drew?! We're looking for him! Out here," she bit at him, unconsciously raising her voice. Arden was about to hush her when they heard a small voice.

"Drew…know."

They turned around. There was a small group, consisting out of mostly boys in what looked like luxurious silks but didn't cover much. There were also two women, one old and rather severe looking. The other was covered up in reds and lilacs, her face covered and some of the boys were shading her from the sun with a huge umbrella.

The whole group was looking at them, but a small boy in front looked scared and kept his eyes down. "Drew…know," he murmured.

May and Arden looked at each other questionably and then decided it was worth a shot. "Do you know Drew, kid?" Arden asked slowly because it didn't seem the boy spoke their language well. He looked at the elderly woman who looked at the cloaked woman with tight lips. It seems the woman too was curious and nodded barely susceptible. The elderly woman pushed the boy forward and he almost fell in his stumble.

May quickly hastened forward to catch him and he flinched away from her with tears in his eyes. The fact she didn't do anything but keep him steady comforted him. "Know…Drew," he said again.

May smiled at him, "How do you know him?" she asked.

The boy looked for words and then said softly, "Him…guard us," he seemed unsure. "He gone. Sent away. No Drew, scary," he said, a shake in his voice. He shook his head and May didn't think she was going to get anything else from him so she raised her head to the two women.

"This boy says Drew was with you but that he is gone now. I want to find him," she said. She furiously hoped she sounded authorative enough. The elderly woman looked as if she wanted to hit her but the veiled woman held her back.

"Drew," she spoke, her voice rolling in a deep accent. "I do not know of such a name but I did send away a young man. Maybe I might give you insight, if you'll join me for the midday," she said.

Now this was a standstill for May, She didn't trust the woman at all but it sounded likely that she did know something about Drew. It was as if she was amused because from the face of the elder woman it was clear that she did not agree.

As long as she stayed amused, May supposed it was safe. A nod from next to her showed Arden thought the same of it. "I accept your offer," May said, careful to keep her voice even.

It felt as if the woman smiled, "I will take pleasure in getting you in something different than those rags." May could not help but feel even more apprehensive.

()()()()()()

As soon as May and Arden had been guided to a strangely formed building that resembled a palace with red bulbs for roofs, walls white, she was brought to a different room than her hosts, one with a bath and some maids. Even though she did not understand what they were saying she knew she was supposed to bath and did so in water scented of flowers and oil.

Oh, it felt good, but May did not feel comfortable not knowing where Arden was.

When she went outside, dressed in silks she could not make head or tails off but the maids had effortlessly draped over her, she saw Arden outside the room. He smiled wryly at her, "I won't let you in a defenseless state. Drew'd have my head," he said.

May smiled, "I think we'd better humor her: she has the information we need. She wants us bathed, so we'd better do that," she told him.

Arden sighed dejectedly, " And here I wanted to avoid these ridiculous clothing," he murmured.

May grinned, "You go, I'll keep my dagger close," she said.

Arden shook his head but went with the rather frustrated looking servants. May guessed they had been ordered to bath him but they had no idea how to do so against his wishes. Arden truly was impressive at times.

May herself was guided to yet another room where the veiled lady was already seated on a wide array of pillows. "Ah, sit, sit," she said, waving for May to take place on another pile of pillows. She wasn't veiled now anymore and May could see the rich mocha skin and the deep brown eyes, hair falling in waves. To May, this woman was the epitome of beauty.

"I knew blue would suit you," she gushed. "Your skin flatters it. Oh," she lamented, "If only I could wear blue. Sapphire, cerulean, azure, so many shades open." May stared at her and the woman waved at her, "Oh, of course. I didn't introduce myself. I am Suha, I am the headmistress of this house," she said.

May nodded, "I am…" she wanted to say but a loud sound from outside interrupted and not a second later Arden stormed inside the room.

"I am not wearing these things!" he said irately, pointing at the rather flimsy clothes that May had seen on the other boy.

Suha sighed mournfully, "But you would look so handsome!" she claimed.

Arden looked at her hot-headily, "Either you get me something that does approve my dignity or I'll just be wearing my own clothes," he spat. May had to admit the head mistress had a point. Arden had shaped decently because of his fighting and travelling had made his muscles lean.

He and Suha glared at each other, the latter having more of a penetrating stare. She finally huffed, "Fine. We probably have some tunics laying around." She gave a few short to te servant and Arden followed grudgingly.

They waited in silence and tea was brought in. May didn't dare to drink any of it as long as she didn't know Suha's motives. It hardly seemed like the woman was of the generous kind. Arden had told her about some of the poisons here, a welcome pastime apparently, but May had no way of knowing when she was getting poisoned so she thought it safe to wait for Arden.

The woman didn't have a care in the world and sipped of her own drink. Maybe poisoning was that common because she didn't urge May to drink, indicating suspicious behavior The silence was just getting awkward when Arden came in looking more or less disgruntled, but wore the loose clothing that was so typical here.

"Well then," the headmistress said, "Now that you are both here, how about names?" she asked.

May looked inquisitively at Arden, out of them two more familiar with strange cultures, who shrugged. "I am May, and this is Arden. He is my guardian," she finally said. She wasn't going to tell her title unless needed so.

Suha nodded and waved to the tea. "Go ahead, I haven't had yet a reason to poison you," she said. May glanced at Arden who sniffed the drink and nodded to May. Suha smiled contently, "Now, how can I help you," she asked.

May hesitated: it was one thing for a small boy approaching her but to explain herself to someone else? Suha huffed, "Listen. The boy clearly spoke up because he knew something," she said irritated.

"I am looking for Drew," May said softly.

Suha chuckled, "I can't do anything with names. Who is Drew?"

This time it was Arden who spoke up, "Drew is my general," he said tersely.

At this, Suha laughed out loud. "If I don't even know his name, what makes you think I know his profession?" She seemed amused with the notion. "Every male that I get here has no longer any meaning to his name. To me, they are slaves for my enjoyment."

May swallowed heavily: if Drew had been here, would he have been seduced by this beautiful woman that commanded his fate with every demand? Would he still be hers? "Drew is about my age, green eyes and hair, and scars on his back," she added softly.

Suha's mouth dropped open in shock: "Him?!" she exclaimed. "Why would you go looking for him?"

May's heart leapt. "He's here?!" she asked hopefully.

Suha scowled, "I sent him away. Most useless boy I've had," she grumbled.

Arden narrowed his eyes at her: "I just told you he's my general. Just what is useless about him?" he complained as if he had been insulted himself. In some sort of way, he was.

Suha took another thoughtful sip from her tea. "And as I said, professions don't mean much here. Useless he was because he refused me. He wasn't bought to keep scrubbing floors."

May felt her throat constrict. "Refused…you?" she asked. Could it be true?

Suha huffed, "Yes. Can you imagine it? Me! He refused me! Going on about not wanting to betray his woman back home. He is a slave! Like he ever gets home again! The woman probably married another suitor by now!" She seemed genuinely insulted by the nothing but May felt happier than she had been in a while: Drew still had remembered her.

"She didn't," Arden said thoughtfully, looking at May's inward expression.

Suha scowled again, "Really now? That's even more sorrowful. What pig-farmer's daughter is so pitiful?" she cursed.

Pitiful, huh? May thought by herself, "I don't think that waiting for him is pitiful," she said softly.

Suha smiled grimly, "You are young still, girl. Marriage is nothing more than a convenience."

May stared back at her blankly, "And yet, Drew refused you because he had been promised to another?"

Suha looked at her curiously, "Why do you care so much about this Drew and whether he waited?" she asked slowly.

It seemed an honest curious question. "Because I am promised to him as well," May answered, her voice soft. She didn't know how the head-mistress would react: Drew had apparently hurt her pride pretty badly.

But Suha seemed confused, turning her eyes to Arden: "But he…?" she started, but Arden shook his head.

"I wouldn't dare to even touch her. Drew's my superior and my friend. He asked me to take care of her while he was gone," he said.

Suha let out a mournful sigh, "How beautifully tragic," she said softly. "But I cannot help but want that for myself as well."

Both Arden and May glanced at each other, "What was the woman talking about? "What do you mean Suha?" May asked.

Suha huffed, "My husband does not care for me. We were given each other because it was a good move but he rather seeks his joy in books or in other women. There is no passion when we are together."

May felt for the woman, even how different they were. Even if she'd bought and sold Drew. "Can't you learn to love each other?" she asked.

But Suha eyed her sadly, "If he needs love, he has his harem for that. As do I," she said. And May did not know how to respond to that. How could she if their situations were so vastly different. Suha sighed again, "What is done is done. There is no use chasing a camel that has fled in the desert. So you want to find him then? Even if you have been separated for so long?"

May nodded, "Yeah, he is a man I want to share my life with. So I at least have to try," she answered. Now that Suha had let off her steam she was decidedly more pleasant to talk to.

The mistress eyed her for a moment, "You seek a goal unimaginable to me and yet I can not hope but for you to succeed. However, if I help you, what's in it for me?"

Arden and May exchanged looks; what could they offer that she didn't have already? Then May got an idea, "You said you loved stories?" she asked. Suha nodded, quite confused and May continued, "Will you give me the information I want if I share mine and Drew's tale?"

For some reason Suha's face brightened and nodded shortly, "The information is not that precious to me to withheld it from you. Tell me your story."

And that was how May told the headmistress of her title, meeting Drew, the earlier war, Gar and all that had happened in the years she had known Drew. When she was done, Suha gaped at her. :"You're telling me that you're the princess Kamesh had been so angry over and the young man the general he fought against?" she asked.

May nodded and to her surprise, Suha smirked. "Nothing would please me more than to help you now. My butt-kissing husband might be trying to lick up to Kamesh, I'll gladly do anything he disapproves of." This, May had not expected but she smiled gratefully. How could one woman feel so frustrated with her husband that she'd do anything to annoy him even if he didn't know. "But one day, you'll have to invite me to your land! I want to see so much more than these familiar views."

This May could accept as a decent proposal so she nodded. "Drew," Suha started, "Has been sent to the galleys."

Silence fell.

"What!" Arden growled, "You mean to tell us that we've told you all this to hear that you've basically sent him to his death?" Arden sounded so angry that May suddenly felt apprehensive; she'd never heard of galleys but to warrant such a response from Arden it could not be could.

Suddenly, it seemed as if Suha had turned back to the unaccountable woman from before. "I never said anything about the content of the information. I however, will give you all the information we have on whom we sold him to." She gave a few short words to the old woman whom had not said a word all this time.

She scowled but left the room with a flurry. Suha settled her gaze on May sadly, "I did not want all of this to happen. Please understand that." Then she returned her gaze to her tea and didn't speak again.

May could practically feel the anger from Arden and she knew that wherever Drew was, it wasn't good, but the only thing she felt for the woman was sadness.

Only a very lonely person would be driven to acts like these.

But May did not know what to say so she kept silent. Then the old woman came back with a scroll in her hands and pushed it at Arden who took it grudgingly. The general's right hand stood up without saying a word and grabbed May's wrist. The look on his face was prove enough that for once he had lost his patience.

Before he could completely pull them out of the room while grabbing packages from the servants May suspected contained their clothes judging from the lumpiness, May turned around. "I will find Drew. I know I will," she said before following her guardian away from the house where yet another trail of Drew had run cold.

I am sorry about not updating! I really am!

I am not abandoning this story, so don't worry! I have lost my job today so from now on I will have a bit more time!