Chapter 2:TheGuest
2002 Words
Kieran’s POV
By the time we reached my family’s house, Rowan was barely able to keep his weight on his
injured leg.
My mother hurried toward us the moment she saw him.
“What happened?”
“He was attacked by bandits,
” I said.
“I found him near the eastern border.
”
Her eyes moved over his torn clothes and bloodstained shirt.
“Bring him inside.
”Skyler and I helped Rowan through the doorway, but before we could reach the spare room, my
father appeared from the adjoining hall.
His gaze immediately settled on Rowan.
Then he looked at me.
“You brought a human into my home?”
I stopped.
“He was injured.
”
“That is not an answer.
”
“He needed help.
”
My father’s expression hardened.
“You know our rules, Kieran.
”
“I know.
”
“Then why did you ignore them?”
I glanced at Rowan. He was struggling to remain standing, one hand pressed against his
wound.
“Because he would have died if I left him there.
”
My father stepped closer.
“You should have taken him to the border guards and let them decide what to do.
”
“They would have had to carry him back here anyway.
”
“That was not your decision to make.
”
Before I could respond, my mother stepped between us.
“He is bleeding.
”
My father looked at her.
“He could be dangerous.
”
“He could be,
” she agreed.
“But right now he is injured, and we have the means to help him.
”
My father looked toward Rowan.“Who are you?”
Rowan straightened as much as his injuries allowed.
“My name is Rowan.
”
“Where are you from?”
“South of here.
”
“What were you doing near our border?”
“I was traveling.
”
“Where?”
“The human kingdom.
”
My father’s eyes narrowed.
“Why?”
“Business.
”
“What kind of business?”
“I trade cloth and spices.
”
My father studied him in silence.
I could see that he was trying to decide whether Rowan was telling the truth.
My mother finally broke the silence.
“You can question him after we treat him.
”
My father turned toward her.
“You trust him?”
“No.
”
She looked at Rowan.
“I simply refuse to let someone bleed to death while we argue about whether he deserves help.
”
My father sighed.For a moment, I thought he was going to order us to take Rowan back outside.
Instead, he stepped aside.
“He can stay.
”
Relief spread through me.
My father raised a hand before I could speak.
“Until he is strong enough to travel. After that, he leaves.
”
I nodded.
“Understood.
”
His gaze shifted to me.
“And you will be responsible for him while he is here.
”
“I will.
”
“If I discover that he lied about how he came here, he will leave immediately.
”
Rowan lowered his head.
“I understand.
”
My mother gestured toward the spare room.
“Now help me get him inside.
”
Skyler moved beside me.
As we carried Rowan into the room, he leaned closer and whispered,
“Your father is going to
regret this.
”
I gave him a warning look.
“Not now.
”
He shrugged.
“I am just saying.
”
My mother pointed toward the bed.
“Carefully.
”We lowered Rowan onto the mattress. He exhaled as though he had been holding his breath
the entire time.
My mother immediately gathered clean cloth, water, and herbs.
“Skyler, bring me another bowl of water.
”
“Yes, ma’am.
”
He left.
I stayed beside the bed while my mother examined Rowan’s injuries.
“This one is deep,
” she said, touching the wound along his side.
traveling like this?”
“How long have you been
“I am not sure.
”
“You were lucky someone found you.
”
Rowan’s eyes moved toward me.
“Yes. I was.
”
I smiled.
My mother noticed but said nothing.
She cleaned the wound carefully before wrapping fresh bandages around his side.
Rowan gripped the edge of the mattress when she pressed the cloth against the deepest cut.
“Sorry,
” she said.
“I have survived worse.
”
My mother paused.
“What happened before the bandits?”
Rowan looked at her.
“Nothing worth mentioning.
”
She studied him for a moment before continuing.
When she finished, she stepped back.“You will need to stay here until you recover.
”
Rowan immediately shook his head.
“I could not impose on your family.
”
“You are injured,
” she replied.
those wounds.
”
“You are not going anywhere until you can walk without reopening
“I appreciate your kindness.
”
“You can thank me by resting.
”
She gathered the used cloth and left the room.
Skyler remained near the doorway, his arms folded across his chest.
I knew him well enough to recognize that look.
“What?”
“Nothing.
”
“You have been staring at him since we brought him inside.
”
“I am making sure he doesn’t try anything.
”
Rowan gave him a tired smile.
“You are very suspicious.
”
Skyler’s expression didn’t change.
“You noticed.
”
I laughed quietly.
“Go help my mother.
”
He looked at me, then at Rowan.
“I will be outside.
”
Once he left, I sat beside the bed.
“How are you feeling?”
“Better.
”“That is good.
”
Rowan looked at me.
“You seem pleased.
”
“I am.
”
“Why?”
“Because I thought you were going to die in that forest.
”
He laughed softly.
“I suppose I owe you my life.
”
“You don’t owe me anything.
”
“That is a strange thing to say.
”
“Why?”
“Most people expect something in return when they help.
”
“I am not most people.
”
His smile grew.
“I am beginning to notice that.
”
I leaned back in the chair.
“Where were you going before the bandits attacked you?”
His expression changed slightly.
“I was traveling south.
”
“Toward the human kingdom?”
He hesitated before nodding.
“Eventually.
”
I had never been outside Arden territory, so the answer immediately caught my attention.
“What is it like?”“The human kingdom?”
I nodded.
Rowan smiled.
“You have never been there?”
“No.
”
“Then you have missed a great deal.
”
“Tell me.
”
A voice came from the doorway.
“Here we go.
”
I looked over.
Skyler was standing there with his arms folded again.
“What?”
“You are going to ask him a hundred questions.
”
“I am curious.
”
“That is the problem.
”
Rowan chuckled.
“It is all right.
”
He shifted against the pillow.
“The human kingdom has cities much larger than anything you have here. The streets are
crowded, especially in the capital. Traders arrive from distant lands, and there are markets filled
with things you have probably never seen.
”
“What kind of things?”
“Spices, weapons, jewelry, rare fabrics and books.
”
“Books?”
“Thousands of them.
”I stared at him.
“Thousands?”
He nodded.
I tried to imagine a building filled with thousands of books and failed.
“What about the capital?”
“I have been there.
”
“What is it like?”
“Beautiful.
”
His answer was simple, but something about the way he said it made me want to know more.
“What about the king?”
Rowan’s expression became more guarded.
“King Alaric?”
I nodded.
“What is he like?”
“He is powerful.
”
Skyler pushed himself away from the wall.
“That is not really an answer.
”
Rowan looked at him.
“It is the answer I can give.
”
I frowned.
“Have you met him?”
“Once.
”
“What happened?”
“Nothing.
”“You met the king and nothing happened?”
Rowan smiled.
“I was one of many travelers passing through the capital. Men like me do not usually attract the
attention of kings.
”
I considered his answer and it sounded reasonable, although I still had questions.
Before I could ask another, the front door opened downstairs.
My father was home.
Skyler’s expression tightened.
Rowan noticed.
“Your father?”
I nodded.
“He is not going to hurt you.
”
Rowan gave me a doubtful look.
“I hope not.
”
I smiled.
“He is not as frightening as he looks.
”
Skyler muttered,
“That depends on who you ask.
”
I laughed and left the room.
I found my father speaking with two members of the territory council in the main hall. He turned
when he saw me.
“Kieran.
”
“Father.
”
His eyes moved toward the stairs.
“Where is the human?”
“Resting.
”He looked at me for a moment.
“You brought him here without knowing who he was.
”
“He was injured.
”
“I know.
”
His voice was calmer than before, but the disapproval remained.
“I do not want you becoming careless because you feel sorry for someone.
”
“I wasn’t careless.
”
“You crossed a restricted border without informing a guard.
”
“I found someone dying.
”
“And you decided that was reason enough to ignore every rule you were raised to follow.
”
I lowered my gaze.
“I would make the same choice again.
”
My father stared at me.
For a moment, I expected another argument.
Instead, he sighed.
“Your mother has already convinced me to let him stay.
”
I looked up.
“Until he recovers?”
“Yes.
”
“Thank you.
”
He raised an eyebrow.
“You are very pleased with yourself.
”
I tried not to smile.
“Maybe a little.
”He shook his head.
“Go help your mother.
”
I turned toward the stairs.
As I walked away, I heard my father resume his quiet conversation with the council members.
When I returned to Rowan’s room, he was sitting beside the window.
He looked toward me.
“Your father agreed to let me stay?”
“For now.
”
“I am grateful.
”
“You should be, my mother had to argue with him.
”
Rowan smiled.
“She seems kind.
”
“She is.
”
He looked through the window.
From there, the entire settlement was visible. The valley stretched beneath the mountains, with
houses scattered along the main paths and guards stationed near the entrances.
Rowan remained quiet for several seconds.
“You have a beautiful home.
”
I followed his gaze.
“I have never thought of it that way.
”
“Why?”
“Because I have never known anything else.
”
He looked at me.
“Perhaps that is why you should see more of the world.
”
I smiled.“Maybe one day.
”
Later, I brought him a bowl of food.
“My mother said you need to eat.
”
He accepted it.
“You are very kind, Kieran.
”
I pulled the chair toward the window.
“You have said that already.
”
“I meant it both times.
”
I laughed.
Outside, the sun was beginning to disappear behind the mountains.
Rowan ate quietly while I watched the settlement below and wondered what it would be like to
leave Arden and see the places he had described.
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