Temptation dared Jabari Tavor to lock fawn irises with the sun. He resisted the idiotic contemplation and cursed his recklessness all the while allowing procrastination to gnaw at his innards. Time had run its course and with that stream of time dying out, a new river of opportunity had begun to flow. Opportunity steeped in uncertainty. Jabari sighed. Rue this day he sorely did. 

“There you are, Jabari,” a light, feminine voice said. 

Jabari tore his gaze from the azure above and set it on the petite woman approaching him. He knew his sister would remain in his heart always, but he had no need to see her right now. Not today, of all days. He slipped his leather bracers over his wrists and tied them down. Swept his maroon tunic with a palm and did the same to ebony bottoms as he stood up from the rock presently digging into his ass. Hide boots sunk into the soft earth underfoot. 

“Sister. What are you doing here?” Jabari asked. He feigned annoyance. 

The woman chuckled. “Looking for you,” she said. “I knew you would be on the road just outside the village. So you leave without saying so much as goodbye?” 

Jabari averted his eyes to the brush and tree line just beyond the shoulder of the dirt road. His mind had so many things to say. To shout. To scream. Of course he was leaving, what else was there for him at home? It had been half a season since he left his knighthood behind and no one in town had forgotten or forgiven. People had turned their backs on a former knight, but they had ensured he remained invisible when he became a sellsword. They saw him as no better than a murdering thief. But none of them knew the truth. And within Jabari’s mental sanctum, he knew the truth was the one thing he would never say. 

“I’m sorry Jamelia. Accept my apologies, but do not try and stop me. Not this time. There’s a job that waits for me in Viscerium. Two days walk and a new life begins.” Jabari hung his head. 

Jamelia stepped closer. She grabbed one of his hands and held it up so he could see it. 

“Brother, I did not come to stop you. I came to remind you,” she said. 

Jabari looked at both hands. They were both the same darkened chestnut complexion. They had similar veiny patterns and wrinkles. Jamelia was the only woman who Jabari knew worked as hard as he had. He smiled briefly before the straight line of forced resolution reconstituted his countenance. He dropped her hand. 

“Thank you, sister, truly. I will not forget that we are of the same blood. It brings me comfort. I promise to return one day. On the day I know I’ll have made you proud.” 

Jamelia smiled and hugged her brother. Jabari reluctantly returned the gesture, taking in one last whiff of lilac from his sister’s voluminous, curled locks. Then the two separated. Jabari picked up his sheathed blade and belt that had been resting against the rock he’d occupied. He let the belt hang loosely on his waist, slightly dragged down by the heft of his sword on the left side of his hip. He patted the nearly empty coin purse near the small of his back on the same belt. Fretted briefly that he had no belongings to bring along.

“I must be off now, Jamelia. Give mama and father my regards,” Jabari said finally. Then he turned and began his trek down the shoulder of the dirt path. He wished he had a horse, but settled that once he’d completed this job, he’d have enough money to get one. Of course there was the matter of the companion he had to meet. Another sellsword to split the profits with. Jabari hadn’t willingly accepted the proposition, but he’d been assured there was no other choice. The job required the talents of two and couldn’t possibly be completed by a single man. 

Jabari scoffed as he walked. He wouldn’t believe it. The job described sounded simple enough. Escort the caravan of some important dignitary into Viscerium and collect coin. To have to meet another man to split the share with seemed wasteful, but Jabari brought himself to rationale as he strode on. This was likely a test, after all. A knight would only escort one of the Royal line and by the sounds of it, this dignitary was in the kind of danger he chose to surround himself with. Jabari shook his head. The escort’s shames or glories were of no concern to him. His first step was clear. The job would be a two day walk, but he’d meet his mysterious companion at the crossroads along with the caravan in a short while.