Chapter 39

Elias was sitting by the fire, looking at it's fading power as the morning sun peeked through the trees. Rea and Tivon were peacefully sleeping and Elias had no intention of waking them up yet. He moved his shirt up and moved the bandages to see to his wound. Whatever Tivon had been putting on him in the last couple days, had helped the healing drastically. It was almost healed.

Can I fight? He asked himself. He sat up and grabbed one of his swords. Elias moved a bit further in the forest so he wouldn't wake up Tivon and Rea.

He moved the sword in his hand, trying to find the right familiar grip. He hasn't been using the swords in almost seven days. He swung the sword through the air. For now the wound didn't hurt.

He felt a rush of embarrassment and anger running through him. He hated being this weak, especially in front of Tivon. He swung again, moving his body more. I got hurt because I was weak. He moved again, this time feeling a little sting at the side, but choose to ignore it. I could've died. Elias struck the sword into the tree. He could've died.

»Elias?«

Elias came back to the reality. He hasn't even noticed that he has been breathing heavily, his heart racing fast. He turned around to see Tivon standing behind him.

»Is everything okay?« Asked Tivon, his eyes, trying to find the reason to why he was acting that way.

Elias pulled the sword out of the tree. »Everything is okay. I was just trying to see if I can fight without the wound opening.«

Tivon came closer. »And?«

Elias moved his shirt. The bandages were clean. »I guess it's okay.«

He looked up to Tivon. The morning sun shone on him, lighting up his scared eye. So beautiful. I could've lost that. He came closer to him, but he didn't look at him.

»Tivon I'm sorry.« He sighed. »For these couple of days I was so weak. I was slowing us down. I still do.« He swallowed. »You could've died and I wouldn't be there to protect you.«

Tivon held his hand.

»Don't be sorry. It wasn't your fault and it never would be.« Elias looked at him and Tivon smiled. »And you need someone to protect you too.«

Elias smiled, letting out a small relived laugh. He squeezed his hand. He looked at his beautiful eyes. He could see that Tivon was tired, not just tired. Something was on his mind.

»Tell me.« Elias said quietly.

»Huh?«

»Something is on your mind.« Said Elias.

Tivon sighed and closed his eyes. »I saw her again, in the dreams. I saw Aileana.« He took a breath and looked at Elias. »For the most part I've gotten used to it, but the feeling of being unable to move, seeing her die.« Tivon looked away. »I just wished it was easier.«

Suddenly Elias dropped his swords and hugged him.

»I know how it is. I wished I could say that it gets easier, but I can't. I don't even know how to help myself, let alone help you.« He hugged him tighter. »But I'm trying to and I won't stop trying. I promise I'll stay with you and help you.«

Tivon hugged him back and Elias could feel Tivons warm tears on his shirt.

»Thank you.« Tivon said under his shirt.

»Thank you too.«

Elias held his shoulders and looked at him. »Now let's go prepare breakfast.« He said while he whipped away Tivons tears.

Tivon nodded and added. »And we need to weak Rea up.«

»We don't need to.« Smiled Elias.

Tivon shuddered him and Elias laughed. »I'm just messing with you.«

He took his sword off the ground and they headed to the fireplace. Elias grabbed some bread and fruit, while Tivon woke up Rea.

»Is it already morning?« She asked as she stretched her arms.

Elias split the food in three parts and handed it to Tivon and Rea. »Yes, and it's also time to move.«

He sat down and bit into his bread.

»And your wound is healed all of a sudden?«

»Actually, it is.« He moved his shirt up for Rea to see the clean bandages.

»Aha.« Said Rea, her face in disbelief.

Tivon had to laugh. »Just eat up, you two. We still aren't far away to be safe.«

»Where do you even plan to go? They will find us eventually.« Said Rea while biting into a plum.

»I'm not sure yet. But I'll figure it out.« He looked at both of them. »I promise.«

After they had eaten, they put everything in their bags, took out the fire and mounted the horses. They tried to cover up every evidence of them being here, but it was still quite obvious that they were here.

They took one last look and continued their way through the forest. They were trying to get closer to the little village Penrith.

Six figures entered the cave where Rea and Tivon spent their childhood. They were dressed in black coveralls, their heads were wrapped up in ropes. Their faces were hidden behind dark green masks. The masks resembled a jade dragon. They were armed with all kinds of different weapons.

They looked around the cave, finding still fresh embers and dried up blood on the floor of the cave. The group of six looked at each other and signaled themselves with a nod. They quickly exited the cave and mounted their horses, running through the forest, looking at the ground for the marks of horses hooves.

They didn't stop, for they had work to do. They had to find the ones who killed their master's sister.

The trio stopped a little further away from Penrith, which was a rather small village by a forest clearing. They dismounted their horses by a small river and by a half open cave, for them to hide and sleep in.

»I'll go into the village to get us some clothes and food.« Said Elias as he was tying the horse to the tree.

»We'll make a fire in the meantime.« Said Rea and looked at Tivon who nodded.

Elias turned to go as Tivon said. »Be careful.« Elias turned around. »They might not know you, but still be careful.«

Elias smiled and nodded. He disappeared quickly and quietly as a shadow. Rea reached in the bag and picked out two apples. She turned to the horses and gave each one of them one apple.

»Ivan will be so mad.« She said, while stroking Ivans horse.

»They'll all be.« Laughed Tivon.

He started gathering wood that lay around, bringing it by the entrance of the cave. Rea helped him. For a couple of minutes they did that in silence, when then Rea asked.

»What made you cut your hair?« Tivon looked at her. »Not that it looks bad, I actually really like it.«

Tivon blushed slightly. »I didn't want to be limited. I felt trapped, so I just decided to cut it.«

He sat down by the gathered wood and tried to light it up. Rea sat on the other side, curious to hear more from him.

»I know that a lot of people hated it and some still do, but it made me more alive. And it helped me forget about The Jade Paradise.«

»The Jade Paradise?« Asked Rea.

Tivon sighed. He'll have to tell here one day. He might as well do it now. »It was a job assigned to me and Elias. We had to steal a necklace, but our plans changed. I had to be a part of The Jade Paradise.« He managed to light up the fire. Tivon lowered his posture.

»I became a jade boy. I became a part of the pleasure house.«

Elias moved from shadow to shadow. The streets were quite busy for such a small village. He hid himself in his coat and moved further through the town, making his way to the market square.

And just as he moved like a shadow, he stole a bread there, a shirt there and fruit there unnoticed by anyone, just like a shadow. When he had more than he could hold, he exited the village through a narrow street, leading straight back into the forest.

But something caught his eye. He turned his head to the wall. On it were three posters. Posters of three wanted people.

»A pleasure house?! Tivon who made you do such a thing?« Asked Rea hysterically.

»It was my own choice. And it does sound as bad as it was. Through time I figured out that the other boys weren't there voluntarily. They were sold as slaves. And if things couldn't get any worse. The woman who has these pleasure houses, The Green Woman. She has these houses all over Krens and even outside of it. One is even in the town by the castle.«

»Tivon-« Reas voice was worried.

»And if I wanted to finish the job,« Interrupted Tivon. »I had to meet up with her sister.«

Tivon grabbed his hands and pulled his knees closer.

»She knew about our plan and was planning to kill me. But I was quicker.« He looked away. »If you could say so.«

Rea ran to him and hugged him.

»Tivon I.. I« She stuttered.

Tivon could feel hot tears falling down on him. »I'm sorry. I'm sorry, I couldn't be there for you. I'm sorry, I didn't go look for you.«

Tivon slowly hugged her back. »Rea, you did enough. If it was just waiting for me. That was enough.«

He pulled her away to look into her eyes, which were filled with tears. »Now wipe those tears away. I don't like to see you cry.«

Rea smiled through her tears and laughed.

Suddenly Elias burst into the cave, startling both Rea and Tivon.

»Good news, I got myself a new shirt.« He said out of breath. »Bad news.« He showed them three posters, on each one of them the trio. Underneath of them was written wanted.

»We might have a slight problem.«