I fell to the ground and looked up to meet the dark, stony stare of the scarred boy named Tor.The curly-haired boy, who seemed the friendlier of the two, reached out a hand to help me up, but I batted it away and stood on my own, ignoring my shaking legs.
He gave me a broad smile that I didn’t trust.‘I’m Atlas, and this friendly fellow is Torgrin.’
Torgrin and Atlas.I surveyed them, trying to decide what to do.I tasted the metallic tang of blood as I gnawed on my bottom lip.Torgrin fixatedon my face while Atlas leaned casually against a tree, waiting for me to make my next move.
‘I’m searching for my mother.Those men … they had her knife.She might be in that tent.’I said finally, pointing behind me to where the white canvas of the tent could still be seen between the trees.
I tried to read the boys’ faces as they looked at each other.Torgrin’s expression became darker, and Atlas’ smile disappeared.
Atlas shook his head at Torgrin, who then looked back at me.
‘You can’t save everyone, Tor,’ said Atlas.
A tremendous roar filled the night, and we hurried to the tree line.A man’s angry voice was coming from the tent, along with whimpers and muffled screams.
Out came a woman with her hands tied behind her back.I tried to blink the sight away, tried to see her as I knew her.
This sobbing woman with cuts carved deep in her arms and chest, as if someone had angrily scribbled over her with something sharp, couldn’t be my gentle, quiet mother.
I wanted to scream, but all that came out was a little noise, barely a whimper.As though she’d heard me, she turned her head towards the trees and her gaze locked with mine, bright crimson blood dripped from a wound above her wide eyes.My legs froze, and my heart pounded painfully against my ribs.
‘Caris?’It was my mother’s voice, but not how I’d ever heard it.‘Run, Caris!’she screamed as she stumbled away from the tent.
A monstrous, black-bearded man wearing nothing but half-laced breeches appeared behind her.Mother began running towards the safety of the trees.My legs unfroze, and I ran to meet her, but she was slow, tripping over her torn skirt.
I was only an arm’s length away when she stumbled forward.Blood poured out of her mouth as she choked on my name.
I reached my mother’s side as the light left her eyes.A broadsword was buried deep in her back.
‘Mother!’I screamed and lunged for the sword, but it was as tall as me, and I couldn’t pull it out from the handle.My grief and fury knew no reason as I tried to pull the sword out by the blade.The iron sliced through my palms and I felt it reach the bone.Feeling no pain, I pulled with all my strength.I would take the sword and kill the man who was bearing down on me and my dead mother.
My mother’s killer smiled as he strode towards me.His eyes were terrifying, a blue so pale they made his pupils look like black pinpoints.
Out of nowhere, the young soldier appeared beside me and pulled the sword from my mother’s motionless body.My hands – useless and damaged – were unable to stop him.
I stared up at the young soldier with burning eyes.But instead of using it on me, he pushed me behind him and pointed the sword at my mother’s killer.
‘Get her out of here!’he yelled at the boys who were now trying to pull me away from my mother.Something solid hit the back of my skull, and I fell into nothingness.
I halted as my voice had grown hoarse, and my mouth dry.Cillian rose from his stool and fetched some water.I took a long drink, appreciating the cool liquid on my raw throat.
His fingers grazed my knee briefly, and I didn’t feel the usual instinct to withdraw from the touch.
‘What happened to your mother … and for you to be so young …’ He reached out to brush away a tear from my cheek.‘I’m sorry this happened to you.If I could take your pain as mine, I would.’
‘Thank you,’ I whispered, covering his hand with my own.
‘Who knocked you out?’Cillian asked, his brow furrowed.
‘Atlas did.’I shrugged.‘I was beyond reason, and it was the only way they could get me to leave my mother’s body.’I looked down at my gloved hands hiding the scars on my palms.
‘The young soldier who helped you.What happened to him?’
‘I don’t know.The next thing I remember is waking up in the woods with Torgrin and Atlas.’
‘They helped you escape?’Cillian asked.
‘Yes.’
