The Beast Within

CHAPTER TWENTY

They were too exhausted to make the race back to the main part of Town, even if they had not been tired, they were too disheartened to think of competing against each other, almost getting murdered would do that to one.

The journey back was slow and quiet, neither of them was particularly chatty, even Ceraun who would constantly ramble no matter what.

Uneasiness settled in layers down his middle, what would they meet when they got back to the town?

What if they got there to see soldiers swarming around their huts, waiting to capture them.

Occasionally, he glanced at Adrik, who gave nothing away, staring straight ahead.

The only indication that he was nervous was how hard he gripped his leather flask and how he dragged each foot, almost like he was reluctant to get back to the village.

Ceraun could understand why, the fear of the unknown weighed heavily on his thoughts, even more heavily than the fact that he had taken a life.

Indeed, it was in self defense but he had still killed a man…

It had just been a year since he was under the huge fig tree, Nana Leona smiling benevolently down at him, telling the story of the Shadow Prince for the umpteenth time because he would ask for it even though everybody else was against it.

Fishing with the other village children, he did not have all bad memories of them, perhaps if he stopped asking for the same story each time they would not dislike him so much at story time.

And if he was not so impulsive, they might have tolerated him more but that did not matter anymore.

What they used to have, the laughter, the peace, all of the love… even if they did not quite have very much, they were content and happy but it was all gone.

As easily as two Sirens showing up on the shore or non-Mages burning up their huts.

It was very clear to Ceraun why all this happened to them even though they had done absolutely nothing to deserve it, it was because they were not strong enough.

If they had been strong enough, they would not have lost Dew or the rest of the villagers that had been ripped to shreds, nor would they have lost the only home they knew.

It was a world of the strong…

“I see your head smoking with your foolish thoughts.” Adrik muttered half heartedly as they started up the incline that would lead them back to the village.

Ceraun glanced at him, a small smile slipping out.

Adrik was right, they could not die yet…

There was no odd occurrence at the Town, no one paying them any mind even as they walked through the clusters of small nondescript huts.

The women were already back from the Weaving Pit so the town was bustling somewhat, a dark cloud always seemed to hang over the town, everyone speaking in hushed tones, laughter muted or nonexistent, children took care to not even dare cry.

He and Adrik parted silently, the secret privy to just the both of them and a dead non-Mage soldier, weighing heavily on each of them.

“How was your day, Ceraun?” His father asked as he always did when they sat down to dinner, on termite eaten rickety chairs and table but even then it was still an improvement from eating on the ground.

Although, his father asked him this question each evening, he did not alway have very much to say, neither did they but they still made the effort.

His heart thumped painfully as he picked at his food.. “It was fine, father, I was with Adrik.”

His father nodded at this, he had been expecting that. “A Mage was dragged out of the mines today, he was accused of the disappearance of a non-Mage soldier.” Elder Feyrer informed his family who listened with wide eyes to this tale.

Ceraun’s heart thumped even harder that he feared his parents would hear how loud his heartbeat had gotten, he was not worried about their reaction, he already knew what it would be, supportive.

He just did not want to drag them along as well.

He wanted to keep them safe, well, as safe as they could be in Thrika.

“A non-Mage soldier is missing?” Tes asked her husband, getting up to bring more water from the barrel for the meal.

“It was what we could deduce, as usual they were tightlipped about it.” He explained, ducking his head, “I would not be surprised if he was killed in a brawl and they chose a Mage to take the fall instead.”

“What will happen to the Mage?” Ceraun asked, in a voice smaller than he intended, he cleared his throat precariously to drive away suspicion.

Elder Feyrer looked despairing. “He would be lucky if he were sent off to the labor camps but what is most likely is imprisonment or death.”

Ceraun went silent, his parents studying him with worry. “Thank you, father, thank you, mother.” He said quietly, nearly toppling over his chair in his haste to leave the table.

“But you are yet to finish your meal!” Tes protested, a concerned frown on her face, meal times were regarded as a luxury.

“I am not so hungry anymore, ma.” He excused, eyes on the dusty earth underneath his bare feet. “I will be off to bed now, good night, father, mother.” He greeted politely, hurrying to his stall like bedroom.

Elder Feyrer and Tes watched on with worried expressions as their only son practically ran from the table.

“What do you think could be wrong with him?” Tes asked in worry, making a move like she might like to go after Ceraun.

“Leave him be, he will be fine, just a little troubled.” He continued his sparse meal in a stately manner although his hands shook a bit, the Mage that was made a scapegoat could have been him, perhaps Ceraun realized this. “I should not have told such gruesome news at meal time.” He added, staring out a low window to the darkness outside.