“I will come with you,” Jose said finally.
“We are most glad,” the man’s wife said. “You remind me so much of my younger brother. I would hate for you to get hurt.”
“I would like to avoid being hurt as well,” Jose said with a slight grin. The man chuckled.
“You are a sarcastic one.”
“Yes, sir,” Jose said. He silently thanked his lucky stars that the amulet had transformed him into someone who could have a personality similar to his proper one. If he had become a young woman, he would have to act demure and polite. But as a teen boy, he had no such restrictions. “Please, tell me your names.”
The man introduced himself and his family. The man’s name was Santiago Martinez, his wife was Rosa, and his six-year-old twin sons in the cart were Matias and Mateo. The teen girl was their niece, Juanita. They were grocers at a shop in the capitol city that specialized in Estrellian ingredients. Now that the previous regime had been overthrown, however, they were returning to their hometown of Santa Yesenia in Estrellia.
“And what of you, Jose?” Rosa asked.
“I was a stableboy in the Royal Stables.”
“Did you steal that horse from your workplace?” Santiago asked. Jose chuckled. He patted Sierra’s neck.
“No, the steeds I tended to were far finer than Sierra. Sierra is my own.”
“Where are your parents?” Rosa asked.
“They passed away a few years ago,” Jose said. “Not long after we arrived at the capitol. I have been alone since then.”
“You will be alone no longer,” Rosa said firmly. “We are more than happy to take you in once we arrive in Estrellia.”
“Unless you have surviving family there,” Santiago suggested. Jose shook his head. “You truly are alone, then.”
“I did make one friend in the Palace,” Jose said, inspiration suddenly coming to him. “When we found out that there were rumors of a rebellion, she told me I could live with her family if needed. Alas, I only know she is from the Eastern Hills and nothing more specific.”
“It is best for you to come with us to Estrellia first,” Santiago said. “The fighting in Karagot will be intense for many weeks, possibly months. Estrellia is safe. Once Karagot is safe again, we will help you get to your friend in the Eastern Hills.”
“Thank you, very much,” Jose murmured. Santiago shrugged.
“It is no problem. You are one of us, after all.”