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Chapter Sixteen
As they walked, Rowan glanced back several times. All her nine years were spent in peace here in the valley, and she had grown to love everything about it; every blade of grass and every stone in the river, and all of the people she called her family and her friends. Such a love that one might ask themselves, ‘Would they fight for it? Would they die for it?’
The two of them headed back to the outskirts of the village when they were suddenly greeted by a young man, about his mid teenage years, rushing up to them. “Delmar!” he called out.
Delmar smiled as the boy stopped before them. “Morning, Matheus,” he replied.
Matheus caught his breath as fast as he could before speaking again. “Sorry to bother you,” he said coyly. “I was looking for your father.”
“He’s back
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Alex was still speechless, but he had no choice but to do what he was told. As he turned to follow the direction the man was taking him, Alex saw something out of the corner of his eye. It was something on the man’s outfit, on his left arm. It looked like a patch of some sort, but Alex was not able to make out what was on it. He was ushered through the crowd and back into the tower’s structure. He was led inside and to yet another staircase winding up the inner body of the tower, but before Alex got a chance to take a step, the man stopped him abruptly and turned him around to face him. “First of all,” he began, not sounding as harsh this time, “that was a pretty impressive run.” He seemed to be referring to Alex’s failed escape attempt. Alex narrowed his eyes in caution. “Thanks.” “Well then,” the man continued,
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Once outside, Alex came right back to the scene just before he entered the map room. Matheus and Rowan were standing by the lookout as if they had been talking to one another while Alex was inside. As he exited, they both turned their attention toward him. “How did it go?” Matheus asked, hardly sounding interested. Alex was about to mutter something before Matheus suddenly cut him off. “Just kidding, it’s not my business to ask,” he said with a clever grin about him. Alex was feeling less and less in the mood to deal with any more nonsense. He was stressed out enough as it was, and now it would seem he was going to be stuck here for a long time. “I do know, though,” Matheus continued, breaking the silence, “that we’re not permitted to let you leave these walls without Delmar’s consent. I can also see that your mind is dealing with a lot of stress and frustration right now.” “Really?” Alex responded sarcastically. “Did you figure that out on your own?” Nothing really seemed to faz
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