Chapter 41: Chapter 41Mathias splashed his face with cold water. All night searching for Rose was fruitless as he did not come across any clues about where she had run off to. He believed that she was dead as she couldn’t have made it out of the mountain and then been hiding so well from him unless someone had helped her.

    Time was quickly going by and today, he had to return to Graham to let him know what he found or failed to find.

    Mathias just wanted to find Rose first and kill her for the trouble she was bringing him. He had Graham on his ass and now Alexander wasn’t speaking to him.

    For two people who were living as brothers for the last eight years, it was foolish of them to now be fighting over a woman. Rose of all people. Mathias could understand it if it were the princess they were at odds over.

    Mathias wet his face with cold water again and as his eyes were closed, he heard someone walk into the tent. When he opened his eyes, he found Alexander fetching himself a bit of water.

    Alexander was still playing the silent game which Mathias did not like.

    "You cannot go on ignoring me, Alex. We have to work together in the king’s army and I have heard the news that we are soon to go to the palace for a short visit. You must speak to me," said Mathias.

    Alexander kept his gaze on the water. "I do not like the way you speak about her. You know what I felt for her and that I have always wanted to keep my promise. I will not forget where I came from. You may do so but stop trying to force me to join you."

    Mathias didn’t enjoy this repeated conversation. Alexander was too stubborn to listen to what he was saying. "Fine. Keep holding on to what happened to you when you were younger. I should have known that it is pointless to stop you, but respect that I don’t want to remember it. I want it to die out."

    "Mathias," Alexander said, turning to his friend. "What makes you think that I would go around being careless enough to let it spill what happened to us? I know that it is important for you to keep it a secret. I am only saying that I will not forget my past but I will protect your secret."

    Alexander didn’t have any plans of having Mathias be taunted about once being a slave. He was going to protect his friend but they also had to find their other friend. "I would like it if you would help me find Rose. You do owe your freedom to her. She was the one to convince me to let you join us. Back then, I just wanted to run away with Rose," he revealed.

    Alexander didn’t like what the older women were telling Rose about her future days working in a brothel. They never tried to hold their tongues and jumped at every chance to tell Rose what awaited her. Now that he was older, Alexander believed they distracted themselves by seeing Rose be scared.

    "We spoke during the times we were in the same room and played when we could to distract ourselves, but I only cared to protect Rose then. When we planned to escape, she convinced me to let you join us. It might be cruel, but sometimes I wish you were too scared to join us," said Alexander.

    He couldn’t stop thinking about what his life would be if he had succeeded in running away with Rose. He would have taken care of her well and in time, maybe they could have become a couple. Alexander would have never returned here with her. They would live in bliss elsewhere.

    "You," Mathias started but couldn’t finish.

    "I know after all we’ve been through it must hurt to hear me say this but it is what happened then. I do care for you now as you are like my brother and while I have moments of regret, I still enjoy our days together. I only need you to understand why you cannot forget her. Everything about your freedom was thanks to her," Alexander said, hoping this would wake Mathias up.

    If Mathias still wanted to forget about her after this because they might be caught, then Alexander would have to go back not speaking to him.

    Mathias couldn’t believe the story Alexander was telling him. He knew that Alexander and Rose had always been closer but there wasn’t a moment when he thought the two were planning to go without him.

    Again, Mathias didn’t care about what happened in the past. He was free now and didn’t need to thank Rose for what happened so many years ago. He didn’t appreciate Alexander trying to guilt him now at a time when he was already stressed about Graham.

    Still, Mathias knew that he had to play like he cared to get back his friend. "I’ve been acting a fool. We should keep our promise to her. My only concern is which brothel we must go to because I forgot where it was and the face of the man who owned it." Sёarch* The Novёl?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "I know where it is now," Alexander revealed.

    With his back turned Alexander missed the look of horror that filled Mathias’s face.

    ’How?’ Mathias wondered, his body suddenly feeling cold. It had been eight years since Alexander was here in town and the brothel had drastically changed.

    "It took me a while but I started to remember a bit more about this town. Where they held us as children and where they took others to be sold. The doors were closed each time I went. I don’t remember the owner’s name but I will never forget the face," said Alexander.

    Mathias panicked as he tried to think of how to fix this. The brothel was going to be back in business soon if it was closed as Alexander said. The fire wasn’t so bad to stop a greedy man like Graham from opening his doors. The next time Alexander went, he might find his way in.

    Mathias only thought himself lucky as Rose wasn’t there but if Alexander stumbled upon Graham then there might be a fight.

    "I want to go there tonight to look around. Will you join me?" Alexander asked, holding his hand out to Mathias. He noticed Mathias’s fear and understood it. They might be recognised there.

    Mathias shook Alexander’s hand. "We’ve got to keep our promise so let’s find Rose quickly."