Chapter 3. Who are you?

About a few minutes later, the soldiers who had entered the inn to search the place came out again and one said to the captain that led them, "Sir, he's not here."

Then the captain turned to the woman who had brought them the news about him, and from the look in his eyes, the woman knew what he wanted to ask, so she said, "Believe me sir, there is a young man from Gytle in our midst. I personally directed him to this inn."

"Did you just hear from the horse's mouth?" The captain turned to the inn owner. "So you had better provide him. Or better still tell us where you hid him."

"I am telling the truth sir. There is no one from Gytle in my inn." The inn master continued to beg even though deaf ears were paid to his plea.

Meanwhile, Gabriel, who had left the rooms in the inn and was now hiding by the corners of the road, watched the soldiers as they threatened the inn master. And after a few seconds, he left the spot where he was hiding so that he wouldn't be spotted.

With what he had just seen at the inn, he vowed never to reveal where he was from to anyone again. Due to the manner in which they searched for the one from Gytle, he sought to find answers. At first they were in Gytle looking for him, now he has come to the country to find the reason why he was sought after and their aim had changed to finding the boy from Gytle.

Since he was now a wanted man in Ceevah, Gabriel had to leave the city to the east, which was the city of Mayca. Unlike his experience when he first entered Ceevah, the people of Mayca did not mind who he was, and he just came to the conclusion that it was because he was coming in from another part of the same country.

His mission in Mayca was not different from the one he had when he entered Ceevah. His total aim was still on finding about his father, why he was killed and why they were now after him. Although there was something new, he also wanted to know why coming from Gytle was a problem to the people and soldiers of Ceevah. All his life, he knew that the people of Gytle were people of peace, so why must they be bothered because a Gytlean was in their midst.

All these questions which he needed answers to were so bothersome, but he never knew how he would come to find their answers. One thing he knew for sure was that in order to get the answers needed, his identity would be known to those who would tell him what he demanded to know.

After a very long and stressful day, because he had entered the city of Mayca in the evening, and he never wanted to go to any inn again, he spent the night under a tree, in a small farmyard.

Very early in the morning, an elderly man of about seventy years old came out of his house and sat in the his which was behind the building. He had come to receive the morning air as he would always do everyday.

While he sat on his wooden stool surveying the farm, he noticed some movements under one of the trees, so he asked with his old voice, "Who's there?"

When Gabriel heard the voice of the man, he was frightened at first but it didn't take a minute for that fright to fade away because he noticed that the voice belonged to an elder who probably could not harm him.

So Gabriel stood up and was made visible to the old man.

"Who are you? And what are you doing on my farm?"

He knew exactly what the old man was thinking, so he explained himself. "I'm not a thief sir. I just came in last night to spend the night here. I swear, I will be going immediately and you won't have to see me ever again."

"You only told me what you were doing but you didn't tell me who you were."

"I don't think who I am is important. I'll just take my leave now." Gabriel picked up his bag which he had used as a pillow and was about to leave.

Then the old man stood from his chair and took a close look at Gabriel as he walked towards the fence of the farm.

"You are a stranger here in Tadeas, right?"

And Gabriel instantly froze as he was surprised as to how the man knew he was not from Tadeas.

"I guess I'm right, you are not from this country? You should come into the house and get some proper rest before continuing on your journey."

At this point Gabriel was very confused, he sure needed the rest which the old man had offered but the words of his father kept ringing in his heart. 'do not trust anyone from Tadeas' and from his previous experience in Ceevah, he was so against taking the offer of the man.

While he struggled with his thoughts maintaining a stationed position with the old man waiting to get a response from him. Something within him said, 'accept the offer, you can never find the answers you need if you continue like this.'

So he finally took a turn and nodded to the old man's request.

Now Gabriel was inside the old man's house, and was seated at the table, where he had just finished the wonderful meal which the man presented before him.

"I hope you enjoyed your food?" The old man was also seated at the table.

"Yes I did. Thank you very much sir."

"You can call me Mueller."

"I'm Gabriel," he said out unknowingly. He had vowed not to tell anyone about himself again. Anyway, it was due to the kindness of the man that caused him to spill the info out.

"Okay Gabriel. So tell me, what brings you Tadeas, and where are you from?"

"Why ask?"

"Maybe I could help,"

Then he remembered when a woman offered to help but ended up leading soldiers to his location, and he never wanted such to repeat itself. "I guess you've helped a lot already."

"It's fine. I can tell that you are lost, and maybe I could guide you on your way."

"I'm sure I'll find my way."

"Alright, since you insist but know that you are always welcomed here and if you need anything I'd be glad to help."

So Gabriel stood from his seat, picked up his bag, and then the entrance door opened, and a good-looking young girl walked. She caught Gabriel's heart as he believed her to be the one who would help him with a little information but some negative thoughts were also registered in his head that he did not know what to do at the moment. So he was startled.