All Of Us - Part 1: Summer

Chapter 7- Punishment

- Dæor -

"What ?"

I look at Keiti, completely off guard. She stares back, unflinching.

"You heard me. Thet tried to strangle the Princess, but the screams were heard and several came in time to pull him off her."

I curse soundlessly. Really, Thet ?

"I told all of you not to hurt her !"

"I know, D. I know."

"Don't call me that ! I've told you a thousand times - understood ?"

I face her off, my eyes ablaze. She doesn't answer me, only shaking her head slowly.

"Why- why did he disobey a direct order ? I told him, didn't I ?"

I take a step towards her, and she has to back up.

"Answer me ! I told you, didn't I ?'

She sighs, exasperated. Finished with me and my antics.

"Yes, Dæor. You did. But you don't have to worry. She's in the infirmary and she's safe, he's in her cell with a couple of others to look after him. All's fine now."

I continue to walk towards her, and she continues to move away.

"Fine ? Everything is fine ? Keiti - do you even understand what you are saying ? You come here and tell me that my - our biggest, no, our only edge against the King is in danger ? When she dies, it'll be on my command, not on Thet's !"

"Hey, if you had listened to what I said," she fires back, firm, "you would have understood that your precious bargaining chip is in safe hands."

"My precio- you know what, Keiti ?"

We are almost at the door now, and I continue to advance till we're out of my bedroom.

"You can take your attitude with you and fuck off !"

My voice reverberverates off the walls, and the echo amplifies my words. Keiti is standing in front of me, her face betraying absolute shock. I have never spoken to her like that before. She's not even mad anymore, only... stunned.

It is only at that moment that I notice that we are surrounded by a crowd of rebels. They had been assembled in front of my room, probably waiting to see what I would decide for Thet. Their faces also register surprise, shock. Disappointment. A cold wave of... something rolls over me. They have never looked at me that way before. I clench my jaw. Who cares ?

I brush past them and walk down the hallway to the cave. I know that they are trailing behind me. The horrible, horrible feeling still hasn't ebbed. It lodges itself inside my head and pounds against my brain till I have a splitting headache. What is it ?

We arrive at the cave opening. Three rebels - Hyacynth, Mouse and Ruthe - guarding the door turn around as they hear me.

"Oh, Dæor," Ruthe speaks first. Her eyes dart around me, avoiding mine. "He's in there." She points to the cave with her finger. With bothering to reply, I push the door open and step inside.

He looks terrible. His eyes are sunk into his skull; shadows loom beneath them. His right arm is nursing his left. Is that... blood ?

He heard me come in, but he doesn't lift his gaze.

"Thet."

Reluctantly, he looks at me. I can tell that he is focusing hard on keeping his expression unreadable, but by doing so he already tells me that he is dead nervous. I grab the chair and sit down on it, without losing eye contact. Behind me, I can hear the rebels shuffling to get a closer look.

"Why did you do it ?"

He averts his gaze again. I'm sure his heartbeat has quickened.

"Thet ! Look at me."

A few seconds pass by. No response. He is ignoring me.

"Fine," I utter through clenched teeth. "You're forbidden from visiting Isaac's grave until further notice."

He finally turns his head and gazes at me, wild panic mixed with despair in his eyes.

I can hear a collective gasp behind me. Spinning around, I bark: "Have you had enough entertainment ? That's the punishment and it is final !" No one utters a sound of approval or agreement. Scowling furiously, I scrape my chair back and rise to my feet. "You stay here till further notice," I command, staring down at Thet, before spinning on my heels and stalking away.

I push through the crowd. I don't care, but that feeling of discomfort is getting stronger. My headache is steadily growing fiercer. I need to leave.

Storming away, I leave the rest of the group behind me... all but one. A set of footsteps seems to be following me, and I try to outwalk it, but it persists. Exasperated, I plant my foot, turn and snarl: "What do you want ?"

Oh no. It's Ian. The last person I needed to hear right now. He looks at me intensely, his scar gleaming in the light.

"Dæor, I was thinkin', well, yah see-"

"Get to the point, buddy."

He pauses mid sentence, his mouth open. There's a beat, then he restarts:

"I was thinkin' we could torture the princess to get some info out a' her. It would be a waste not to. Imagine all of the things we could learn."

Suddenly, a rush hits me, so strong it nearly knocks me over. It's always the same sensation of utter discomfort, but this time around, it's somehow ten times stronger. I stumble and lean against the wall. Patches of cold surface all over my skin as my head begins to pound once more. Am I sick ? I can't hear anything but white noise; I see Ian's lips moving without hearing the sound. My pulse quickens. My hand drifts away from my head and starts to clutch my chest. What is this ? My heart seems as if it is about to burst out of my torso.

I try to open my mouth and tell Ian what I think - "Yes, it's a great idea"- but another tide comes at me and I stagger, off-balance.

Images flash in front of my eyes: Keiti arguing with me for the first time, the disapproving looks of the rebels, the shock on her face, the betrayal on Thet's, the hurt on her's. My notebook.

I close my eyes, and as magic, the feeling almost entirely disappears. Only a small chunk stays, embedded between my shoulder blades.

"No, Ian. We're aren't going to harm the Princess."