PROLOGUE
The peaceful afternoon dissolved into instant mortification, leaving Maria to face a formidable stranger in the most vulnerable state possible.
She was relaxing in the cool waters of a stream that ran alongside her home on a hot, humid day when Morabad and his men barged onto their private property, panicking her mother with their sudden appearance.
Maria was in an uncompromising situation, caught off guard in the waters. Believing in the privacy her property afforded, she had stripped bare before entering the cold, welcoming waters.
Morabad, on the other hand, oblivious to her predicament at first, then dawning into realisation, gave her hardly any time to get out of the water, to put on her clothes so that he could proceed with his intended questioning.
He was there to interrogate Maria and anyone else in her household about suspicious activities taking place in secret in the vicinity.
Maria couldn't understand his suspicion against them, the way he carried on.
To make matters worse, his impatience irked her, and Maria hated him for the imposing, lofty attitude he directed at her. He was most arrogant and merciless.
However, she did as she was told as quickly as she could. She was inquisitive herself. She wanted to know the details of the insurgents hiding in her village, if the soldiers cared to enlighten her, that is.
You are a amazing writer. The story took my attention and you held me to the last word.