Enslaved

Chapter 16: Graveyard

When they woke in each other’s arms, the rain had already stopped. After a hearty breakfast, they rode back to Tosa in silence. It was an uneventful journey. They pushed their horses to their limits until it was well past nightfall and they could see Tosa in the distance.

Nera felt as tired as the horses when they stopped in front of the dilapidated church. She yawned, sliding down her saddle. 

Thane helped her down, arms already carrying the meat he would be giving to the village. “I’m sorry we didn’t stop enough to rest. I wanted to be in Tosa before the day ended.”

She let out another tired yawn while cracking her back. “I’m fine.”

“Let’s take the herbs and meat to Michael.” He pointed to the doors. “We’ll rest after. You want more dinner?”

Nera shook her head sleepily. “No. I’m still full from earlier.” 

“All right. Let’s go.” He took her satchel full of herbs and led the way to the chapel.

The pungent smell of death assaulted their noses once more as they opened the doors. There were more bodies covered in white sheets than before they left. 

“Michael?” Nera called out, resisting the urge to cover her nose. Flies were flying around, frenzied by the smell of rotting flesh. 

A door behind the altar opened, showing a half asleep Michael in his bloodied robes. “Come in, come in.” 

“We have food and medicinal herbs.” Thane tells him, placing down the numerous bags of supplies down a wooden bench. “We also have animal hides the villagers can use for the cold weather.” 

Michael thanks them graciously, bowing his head low. “You two must be tired.” 

“We’re all right.” Nera assured, despite her aching body and the bags under her eyes. 

Michael ushers the two of them out of the chapel. “I’ve already had a house in town fixed for the two of you to stay in. It’s not much but it has a bed.” 

Nera nearly swooned at the mention of a bed. They followed him to the quiet and eerie town until they made it across the mass graveyard. Sharing a look, they don’t dare speak a word. 

“I apologize for the...” Michael searched for the right word. “View. It’s the only house that’s still standing without anyone living in it.” 

“I wonder why.” Nera whispered to Thane who smirked.

Michael leaves them to it, walking back to the chapel.

“We have much to do on the morrow.” Thane reminded Nera who nods half heartedly.

She was all for helping but she hoped it would be after they had a good night’s rest. Nera pushed open the door, the smell not as bad as it was in the chapel. She lit a candle while Thane carried their belongings inside. 

It wasn’t much. Almost too empty. Right across the door was a small fireplace. Two doors were open showing two bedrooms. 

Once settled in and dressed in cleaner clothes, the two bid good night. As Thane was closing his eyes, sleep didn’t come to him as he thought it would. He stared at the ceiling -of what was left of the ceiling- with his mind wandering towards Nera in the other room. 

It felt strange not to have her close. They’ve spent a couple of months together and each night was spent with her by his side. The familiar tinge of loneliness consumed him. He felt silly. Nera was literally in the same small house as he was. He shouldn’t be too attached.

He turned in his bed, facing the window, making it creek in protest of his weight. Seconds away from sleep, a soft knock on his door sounded.

Thane blinked several times, standing up to open it. Nera stood on the other side of the door dressed in her nightgown. 

“Everything all right?” He asked, inspecting her closely for anything amiss.

Nera shook her head, cheeks slightly pink. “I... uhm...”

Something clicked inside Thane and he understood. He opened the bedroom door wider for her and stepped aside. “Let’s sleep.” 

She gave a small smile before running to his bed and laying on her side, facing the window. Thane closed the door and followed suit. He laid down with her, arms wrapped around her protectively as he’s always done.

Sleep came easy then. 

The following days of waiting for the hired mercenary to deliver news about Brutus were a blur. Nera would help nurse a few of the injured people while Thane would lend a hand in rebuilding some of the structures in town... if he could call it rebuilding. Pretty much all they did was repair gaping holes in the ceiling and board up broken windows. Thane hunted for food and Nera would be left to continue whatever else Michael needed from her. 

It was a never ending cycle of doing little favors and requests here and there. Each day ended with the two of them in bed and sleeping as much as they could. It was tiring but also satisfying to know that they were helping people in need. 

On the morning of their fifth day in Tosa, Michael personally came around to their little home. “Try not to lose your breakfast but I’ll need you to dig graves. A few dozen.”

Nera shrugged her shoulders tiredly. “Digging doesn’t sound so bad.”

Thane turned to Nera. “When will you learn that when you say it’s not so bad, it becomes bad?”

Michael made an apologetic face, confirming his suspicion. “The mass graveyard doesn’t always have tombstones. You might be digging right into a grave and uncover... something.”

Nera paled just as Michael handed them shovels. “That’s absolutely vile.”

Thane could only grin at her despair. “You said it yourself. It’s not so bad.” 

She faced him. “Thane?”

His grin widened. “Yes, Princess?” 

Nera swung her shovel at his head. “Shut up.” 

He ducked right at the last second and broke into fits of laughter.

When they were done, Nera was positively scarred for life having dug not one, not two but six rotting bodies and not all were in separate pits. After a very long bath, they joined the other villages at the main square where Michael handed out food. Nera was quick to decline having seen things that have put her off food for a while. Instead, she helped Michael distribute the food. 

Thane rested the right side of his body upon a building, gaze gravitating towards Nera who laughed with some of the children. Before he could make sense of the torrent of emotions that flooded him everytime he looked at Nera, Michael appeared beside him.

“I was mistaken.” The older man said quietly.

Averting his attention from Nera to Michael, it took him a while to register what he had said. “Mistaken about what?”

Michael offered Thane a dried piece of meat which he politely refused. The younger man had no appetite after their last task. “She’s not your sister after all.” 

Thane could only nod, having remembered how he didn’t correct Michael of his assumption ten years ago when he took care of them. 

Following where he had previously been looking, Michael clutched Thane’s shoulder. “I see the way you look at her. It’s a different kind of affection you feel. You’re fond of our dear Nera.” 

Thane’s jaw clenched. “You're mistaken.”

The wise priest smiled knowingly. “I might have lost my wife early in life but I know love when I see it.” 

“Love?” Thane guffawed. 

“Yes. I see it in the way you act as well. They way you two interact.” Michael continued carefully, watching Thane’s reaction.

Thane waved away Michael’s outrageous words. “We share a past. That’s all.”

The older man patiently bobbed his head. “I’m sure you share a past with many people but none like Nera.” 

“That’s because we’ve been through hell together.” Thane explained. 

“Maybe.” Michael agreed, understanding the horrors they’ve been through. “It doesn’t change the way you feel. She’s a beautiful girl and a kind one.”

“She’s also very much spoken for.” Thane interjected with a flinch. 

Michael let out a hum, fighting off a smile. “Nera obviously feels nothing for that man if she looks at you the way she does now.”

As if on cue Nera turned her head slightly, meeting Thane’s gaze and smiling widely. The breath gets caught on his throat. 

Michael clapped his hands together in triumph. “See.” 

Thane hung his head low. “She’s a princess. It can never be.” 

Michael patted Thane’s back comfortingly. “The heart wants what the heart wants, Thane. In the way I see it, her heart wants you as well.”