Chapter 8

❤️❤️ Separate Ways (Part 8) ❤️❤️

"I don't understand you," Juno said in bewilderment. What does the dwarf mean by that? What darkness is the dwarf talking about?

Storm eyes were moving around the market. The market women were minding their business, selling it seems odd that no one stared at their direction, not even once.

They didn't react when the old dwarf was pushed down, neither did the market women react when Juno pushed  all the Apples away, jot a single gasp escaped from their mouth. Something was off but he brushed that feeling away.

"You won't know Juno, but in the future, you will remember these very words and that's when we shall meet again. Thank you," the dwarf said with a smile, showing her crooked color and sharp teeth. "And I don't really need the apples my friend. I just needed to talk to you." she added and left without looking back at them.

"Wh-o w-as th-at?" Rumi asked as she stared at the dwarf leaving.

"I don't know, I haven't met her before." Juno replied to her.

"I didn't even hear what she was telling you," Storm said, "What did she tell you?"

"She was thanking me," Juno said, "Come on, let's head back home." she added and she didn't need to say it twice before they left the market.

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Warlord Emera House:

"They might be watching him."

"Phoenix is a strong fighter, I wonder what happened. What changed her and why she hid Storm away from me all these years and only came out now to introduce me to him. Who was that woman that was killed if it wasn't Phoenix? I am not understanding anything again."

"Maybe she left Storm with you because she knows this would happen, that means we have to carry on instead of pausing." Warlord Emera told her s friend.

"So are you saying that I should carry on with the plan and hide him fast before whoever gets his mother finds him?"

"Yes, your highness."

"But that's impossible, how can he learn how to read, write or know the laws of Ashland?"

"That's easy, your highness. We employ each and every teacher who is good in every aspect to go with him."

"Okay, I will start making the arrangements," Emperor Ariadne said.

At that moment, Juno, Storm and Rumi with the guards that were with them returned.

"How was it?" Emperor Ariadne asked Storm.

"Cool Papa, Juno helped an old dwarf after she was pushed down by a woman selling apples then she promised to teach me how to fight." Storm replied.

"Did you say a dwarf?" Emperor Ariadne and Warlord Emera asked together.

"Yes,"

"What did the dwarf tell you?" Warlord Emera asked his daughter.

"Nothing father, she just thanked me," Juno lied.

"Quickly, take me to the spot where you met the dwarf." Warlord Emera told his daughter. The Emperor, Warlord Emera, Juno and Storm entered the carriage and with some of the guards left for the marketplace.

Rumi couldn't go, she told Juno she was tried and needed some rest.

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Market Place:

When they arrived at the marketplace. Juno and Storm came down from the carriage and quickly took them to where she had thrown down the woman's apples but to their utter shock, there was nothing. They came face to face with a wall.

"Are you sure you are in the right place, Juno?" Emperor Ariadne asked, ignoring the people who were bowing down their heads at him. There weren't any apples on the floor. "Where is the woman you said that pushed the dwarf?" he asked.

"She was here, she was standing over here when I helped the dwarf," Juno responded. She walked to meet one of the market women that was selling fish. "Where is that woman who was selling apples right in front of the wall?"

"Sorry Juno, there was no woman selling apples." the woman selling fish replied.

"But you saw us, right?" Juno asked in anger, why was the fish woman lying.

"Yes, you and your friends were staring at the wall and please do not throw my bucket of fish away."

"Don't worry, let's head back home," Warlord Emera said after a while.

"Papa, we truly saw a dwarf. We are not lying," Storm said.

"I know, let's go back." They entered the carriage and the coachman hit the horses which turned and started going back to Warlord Emera house.

"Why are you so interested in finding the dwarf Papa?" Storm asked on their way.

"Long ago when the North, South, East and West were United, under the reign of my great grandfather, the Dwarfs and Elves once lived together with us."