"So, you wanna tell me your name?" the young boy who is using his shiny knife to peel an apple sits across from me on a crate in the back of this moving jeep.
We're the only two in here, an amazing feat due to the fact that almost everyone is trying to get out of Sanablan territory. I am going as far as I can, maybe even to the ancient city of Tullaw. My father had warned me this wouldn't be safe.
"You newness to get to the new world," he said in hushed tones. The Lookas were banging on our door. Any minute, they would bust in and kill us both. My father made sure that I made it out alive.
I watched in silent horror behind a large machine as they slaughtered him alive, shouting to find any others. They knew I was there. But I was too quick for them.
I knew he was already dying a slow death from the poison Jhalleel gave him a month ago. I knew it, but I still blamed the Lookas for his death. I hated them and their awful city ruled by Kahlan.
"No," I say quietly. The boy is armed, one gun stuffed down his waistband, another hitched on his ankle. A silver dagger hidden underneath the cuff of his shirt, and the knife he is using to skin the apple, which is what he plans to use if I make a move. I won't, not that visibly or loudly. I would rather poison his instead. "I don't."
He chews his apple piece slowly, surveying me. His eyes are the color of the forests I never see anymore. The rich ones, where rain is common and you can grow crops easily. They are not bright anymore since he has lost his brother to the war. They are dark and full of danger.
"Okay," he throws an apple skin to the side. My eyes land on it and stay there. "Then let's start with something more simple: why are you on this jeep?"
"That is not a simple question to ask," I say, avoiding the answer.
"I know," he positions the knife on his thigh. I finally turn my eyes to his. He thinks I am holding a knife to my stomach, since that is where my hand is. But, in fact, I am pressing my hand against a stab wound. It is still bleeding and if I were to take my hand out now, he would surely shoot me. "But I figure since I'm going to be riding with you for the rest of the way, I might as well have something to think about."
"You have plenty to think about." I watch him pick the nice back up and point the tip at me with an accusatory glance.
"How do you know that?"
"I know everything about every person I see."
"So you're a mind reader?"
No. "Yes, I suppose you could say that."
"No, you're an Ahk. Stop lying to me. Now are we going to sit like this all day or are you going to draw your weapon?"
Without hesitation, I take my hand out from under my shirt and hold it up, rich blood dripping down my bandaged fingers. He stares. "Sorry to diss appoint."