A/N: Please vote and comment if you liked the chapter : ) Thanks for reading xD

They walked in perfect silence after that. Delilah had her eyes trained on the road all the time, just hoping the man beside her would not turn out to be a killer, while the strange man took in his surroundings with curiosity lit eyes.

Delilah's village came into view. The entrance of the village had a large gate with its name Wolvreck scribbled on it. She stopped right there and turned towards the stranger.

"From here, you will have to go on your own. Keep walking until you reach a village named Manbeck," she said, remembering her way from Orshore to Wolvreck. "I suggest you stay at an inn in Manbeck for tonight and leave in the morning. I do not remember the way after this." she told him truthfully, "But you can always ask people there."

The stranger smiled a little at her, before bowing his head, "Thank you for your help." his face then morphed into a serious one as he took a step closer, "I am highly sorry for your loss. Was that your sister they took away?"

Delilah's eyes widened in surprise. Looking away, she asked, "How-You were there at the fest today?"

"Yes, I was and I am deeply sorry for what happened."

"It's okay." she said in a soft voice, "She-the Gods have chosen her. She shall be fine. She is lucky." Delilah repeated Mr Morkel's statement, though a single tear escaped from her eye. The man tilted his head and smiled funnily at her.

"I did not take you as someone who believes in all this nonsense." he chuckled making her frown, "Guess there are not many things I am right about." he continued, shaking his head, strands of his hair becoming a mess in the process.

"What-What are you talking about?" she questioned and took a step back.

"The maid of the Lord thing is senseless," he stated in a matter of factly voice, making Delilah gasp in surprise at his audacity.

"And I thought at least the upcoming generation was aware of this fact but-" he backed a little and looked at her with a scrutinising gaze, "-now I think this disease is not going anywhere anytime soon."

"That's blasphemy!" Delilah squealed with wide eyes which drew out a hearty laugh from the man in front of her.

"Darling," he took a step closer, "fear of God is no religion, it's superstition. I will take your leave, now. Thank you for telling me the directions." he bowed and took hold of her hand which rested on Timothy's back, and kissed the back of her hand.

Delilah's mouth hung open and cheeks flushed. The man took note of her expression and chuckled in response and walked away.

Delilah turned around to enter the village entrance, but not before hearing a familiar voice holler from behind her, "Take care, madam! Try not to get in trouble again!" making Delilah walk faster towards her home.

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Delilah stood up after planting the last walnut sapling. Stepping back, she looked at the farm she had been working on since morning.

Among okra, Jerusalem artichokes, spinach, onions and tomatoes; there were saplings of walnuts and pistachios as well.

"This would be enough." She thought to herself, her gaze falling upon the distant house of the Landlord whose farm they had taken on rent. Their own farm back at home did not yield much but it was enough for them to survive. Now, as they have left their home behind, they needed to build it from the scrap.

Looking up at the sky, she saw the red Sun slowly hiding behind the mountains, ready to disappear.

"Deli! Are you coming home or not?" she heard Timothy shout as he came running towards her through the trails.

"I am. Wait a moment," she said with a smile, picking up her hand plough.

They walked back home, Timothy running around all the while, excitedly telling Delilah about the new friends he made.

Reaching their house, Delilah started cooking dinner. An hour later, the aroma of warming up chickpeas with potatoes filled the house.

Gabriel came home not some moments later. Timothy opened the door excitedly, only to get back a tense smile in return.

"Here, papa." Delilah set his plate in front of him and sat across him with Timothy beside her. He simply thanked her and started eating.

"You look tense, is everything fine?" Delilah asked upon seeing his rigid posture. Gabriel took in a deep breath before exhaling it out. Shaking his head, he murmured, "It's nothing."

"Are you sure?" Delilah asked with much hesitation.

Gabriel sighed and leaned back. Fatigued, he spoke up, "It is nothing you can do something about. Just take care of the farm and do your best."

Delilah furrowed her eyebrows upon hearing the undertone of authority in his voice which made it clear that he would definitely not tell her anything. So she dropped the topic for now.

Like waves in an ocean, the days passed by; all same yet set in different time frames and dimensions.

Delilah felt worried for her father for every evening her father came back home, he had a troublesome expressions on his face. She tried talking it out from him but he never confided in her.

Restless, she decided to visit the market randomly one day and find out what was the matter.

Walking down the broad alleys of the market, Delilah realised nothing much had changed. If anything, then the marketplace was more vibrant and lively.

Aromas of sweets and spices intermingled with the sweet refreshing, scent of saffron and sandalwood; luring the customers in.

On reaching her father's stall, Delilah found nothing unusual. There was the usual vendors and customers as they sold and shopped commodities.

"What are you doing here, Delilah?" her father asked surprised.

"I-" she found herself speechless, racking her mind to find an excuse.

"I came to give you this." she finally blurted out, extending a box of sweets towards him.

Gabriel looked at her suspiciously but said nothing. He simply nodded and accepted the box.

"You should leave now. I wonder how much work must be left pending on the farm," he stated.

Delilah lowered and murmured, "As you say. Come Tim." and they both made their way back to home.

"Deli, may I have a sapwhistle, please?" she heard Timothy request sweetly after a while.

Smiling, she handed him a coin, "Why not? But I can not see any toy shop here."

"There is one here, silly Deli!" Timothy giggled as he realised that it rhymed, making Delilah slightly roll her eyes at him. "Come, I will show you!"

Timothy dragged her behind himself across the road. Near the end of the alley, between two big sweet shops, Delilah raised an eyebrow at him on realising that there was actually a small toy store.

"You are a keen observer," she commented making Timothy giggle and blush.

"Come, silly. Buy me a sapwhistle." he dragged her towards the store.

As they were buying the toy, Delilah heard some sort of commotion behind her, but she brushed it off simply. After buying the toy, they started walking back home but Delilah stopped dead in her tracks as she saw a gathering.

Curious to know what was happening, she made her way towards the crowd.

"Ah!" she heard a very familiar voice scream in pain.

Scared, she rushed towards the crowd, pushing people out of their way to see what was happening.

"Mr Morkel!" she screamed, attracting the attention of some bystanders and a terrified Timothy fisted her dull blue gown in a tight grip.

Mr Morkel let out yet another screamed in pain as the soldiers whipped him mercilessly in the middle of the market. His shirt was tattered and soaked in blood, his face streaked with tears and blood as well as mud while the soldiers dressed in golden hue armour continued to strike him barbarically with a whip which had nails implanted on it.

"Why are you whipping him? Stop it!" she screamed but all her words fell on deaf ears.

She took a step forward but was restricted by a grey-haired hand that encompassed her forearm. She looked back to find her father looking at her with alarmed eyes. He readily pulled her back along with Timothy and took them away from the gathering while Mr Morkel continued to scream in agony.

"Do not meddle in other people's business, Delilah. How many times do I have to remind you that?" Gabriel stated strongly, making her cower in fear.

"At least, do not force my son into this kind of situations." his voice dramatically sharpened.

Her cheeks warmed up and unshed tears welled up her eyes as Gabriel continued scolding her.

"I am sorry, papa," she whispered and she meant it. She did not want to drag Timothy in trouble. Though, about trying to save Mr Morkel, she was not so sure.

Callously beating a man could not be excused in any way. Then there were those men, standing there mutely and doing nothing in the defence of the man.

"It's almost time. Let's get back home. Wait here for me." He said.

"I will come with you, papa." Timothy scampered towards his father, leaving Delilah alone.

A few moments later they left, the commotion increased. Delilah glanced at his father, realising they are long gone. Not being able to resist, she stalked towards the crowd, which had surprisingly gotten bigger.

Again pushing her way into the middle of the gathering, she gasped as she saw the soldiers still beating the man. She had thought that by now they would have stopped but the way they were still whipping while cursing him all the time, she did not think they would stop any time soon.

"Stop! Please stop!" she screamed as she saw Mr Morkel's head lull to his side.

"He will die! Please! Why are you people not doing anything?" she again hollered but no one heard her.

Not knowing what else to do, she stepped in and grasped the hand of the soldier who was whipping him, "Please stop!" she pleaded, stopping him from whipping him again.

The soldier faced her, a deep scar running across his left cheek, "You dare touch a soldier, you wench!"

He pushed her and she fell down on the ground. Looking back at the soldier, she found him stalking towards her. Upon hearing her, he raised his hand which was holding the whip to strike her.

Pain surged through her back as the whip came in contact with her back.

"Let us take her to the magistrate. She needs a good punishment."

She was captured after that, and as she struggled to get free, she saw her father and Timothy watch her.

Thrown inside a cage like carriage, she was taken away to the magistrate's office. With tear-filled eyes, she felt the carriage coming in motion.

They soon rounded the corner, making Timothy and her father disappear but it was not before she saw a familiar face of a certain green-eyed man watching her with furrowed eyebrows.