Flashes of Memory

Shaira's POV

We left Zuwua without any issues and ventured into the same jungle where I had awoken, memoryless, the day before. I felt deeply sorry for the trouble I had caused Angro, especially since he was the one who saved my life, risked himself for me, and cared for my safety until the very last moment when Omawit tried to take advantage of me. I regretted that his final intervention on my behalf could jeopardize his engagement to none other than Chief Owan’s daughter. I hoped that the misunderstanding would be quickly resolved, even if it meant I would never be able to return to Zuwua, a village that seemed to have taken a liking to me despite being a total stranger to its inhabitants.

As we walked along a path marked by the repeated passage of countless travelers, I tried to piece together the images that had flashed through my mind like bursts of light. They had been soldiers, dressed in uniforms similar to the tattered clothing that barely covered my body after an incident I couldn’t remember. What did these images mean? Were they connected to my past and who I was? Could I have been a soldier, some kind of warrior from a place different from the Opranchi, an Eteri, a traveler from the stars, as had been suggested?

"You seem very deep in thought, Shaira. Is something wrong?" asked Assu, who, true to his word, hadn’t made any insinuations or compliments during our journey.

"I’m trying to remember," I said, trusting him because he already knew what had happened to me, and if I was to stay in Sagoria as his wife or business partner, it was best to start building a bond of trust with him.

"Your memory, right? Well, actually, I think you might regain it at any moment."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, maybe when you see something familiar—a landscape, a smell, or anything related to who you are—you’ll remember."

"I hope so. You have no idea how unsettling this is. But speaking of the past..."

"I know what you’re going to ask, and yes, the answer is yes," Assu interjected, without any irritation in his voice but also without pride. "I am a smuggler."

"And everyone knows? I mean, Angro seemed to know, so I suppose others do too."

"I don’t know if Chief Owan’s son-in-law knows or not," I noticed Assu avoided saying Angro’s name, though I didn’t know why, "but his father-in-law definitely does."

That was another detail I had already suspected—that Chief Owan knew Assu and was likely aware of his line of work.

"And how is it that if Owan knows you’re a smuggler, he accepts it and does nothing about it?"

"Because he’s one of my main clients, if not the most important," Assu replied, his hawk-like eyes locking onto mine. "Shaira, what I’ve told you is confidential, and you can’t tell anyone. And I’m telling you this because I trust you. But more importantly, I trust that even if you don’t decide to remain my wife, you’ll at least be my business partner."

I didn’t know what to say, so I kept quiet because I wasn’t yet sure what my future held—whether it would include one of the two options Assu had suggested. I hadn’t completely ruled out staying his wife.

"Owan buys your smuggled goods?"

"That’s right," Assu said, glancing around, though it wasn’t necessary. We were probably the only ones on this path. "You’ve heard that trade with the Eteri is prohibited—a restriction they themselves imposed because their leaders are concerned about the Opranchi acquiring their weapons and military equipment. With their superior technology, the Opranchi could resist them and even drive them off our planet."

A shiver ran through me as I realized what Assu was doing.

"So you’re acquiring military equipment for Chief Owan," I stated.

Assu nodded.

"That’s why I was a special guest at the house of custody," Assu said, this time with a hint of pride. "And it’s also why Chief Owan so easily accepted my word that you were my wife. Do you understand?"

"You’re an arms dealer, then," I said, without any emotion in my voice.

"Or a helper in the process of freeing the Opranchi, depending on how you look at it," Assu retorted, his hawk-like eyes once again locking onto mine.

Assu was right.

I had judged him based on my first impression, but his understanding of the role he played left me without arguments to condemn his actions.

The Opranchi were his people. His own village, Sagoria, was besieged by Eteri patrols, and according to what I had heard from Assu and Angro, it was never a good thing for a native to encounter them. Assu had a cause that went beyond simple profit; he even risked his life with every deal he made.

"I’m sorry, Assu. I judged you unfairly," I said after a moment of uncomfortable silence. "Now I understand why you do what you do."

"I’d like you to help me with this," Assu replied after a few seconds. "You look like an Eteri. You could even find a seller inside the fortress because my contacts—those who provide the weapons—are settlers who don’t always get the best and most sophisticated equipment. Do you understand?"

"I... I’d have to think about it. But, is that why you want me to stay your wife?"

Assu paused for a moment and stepped closer, close enough that I could feel the warmth of his body.

"I made you a promise before we left—actually, two promises. One was that I’d undo our marriage once we reached Sagoria. The other was that I’d avoid complimenting you on your beauty—something that gets harder with every heartbeat I spend with you, Shaira." Assu’s hand reached out and gently held my chin. "If you decide not to participate in this, I’d still want you to be my wife. One has nothing to do with the other."

I knew he was sincere.

Assu’s hand returned to its place, and we continued walking. We stopped for lunch, and Assu pulled out some food from his bag. Then we resumed our journey, but as we approached what Assu called the boundary of Zuwua’s influence, we heard a group of runners approaching.

"Let’s hide," Assu said, grabbing my arm. But as we were about to leave the path, we realized it was too late.

"Stop, Eteri!" I recognized the voice that shouted, even though I couldn’t believe it. "You too, merchant. Now you’re complicit in this dirty dog’s attempt at deception."

We turned, and our eyes met those of Omawit and a group of five men who accompanied him, all armed with long, thick spears.

"Who are you, and what are you talking about? This woman is my wife, and I’m on my way back to Sagoria," said Assu, clearly stalling for time, but it seemed unlikely we could escape Omawit and his men.

"Enough with the lies, Sagorian," Omawit replied as he raised a strangely designed helmet, which immediately triggered flashes of memories in my mind. "I have here the proof that your supposed wife is actually an Eteri, just as I said. So, it’s better that you don’t resist and return my slave to me."