All Of Us - Part 1: Summer

Chapter 28 - Revolt Pt.2

Trigger warning: physical and sexual violence

- Dæor -

Laughter. Laughter, all around me. Giggles and shrieks and full-out bellows. The amount of happiness in the room is absolutely crazy.

Someone slides up to me, and I don't need to turn to know it's Keiti. "Pretty big party, huh ? You sure outdid yourself this time, D," she comments, before taking a swig from her goblet. I take a sneak peek. All safe - it's apple juice. She pretends to ignore my gaze and adds: "Don't you dare say you have nothing to do with this." She brushes the air with her arm in a graceful, wide movement. "This euphoria... It's yours. Claim it for once, D." She winks at me, and changes subjects just as quickly. I had forgotten how fast her mind changed, how it would flit from thought to thought like a beautiful butterfly. "Brin was delighted to hear of our success when I returned the horses, especially considering that he was the one who tipped us off." She takes a sip. "Sheso, I love that man. He's so whole-hearted and dedicated." I nod. "I don't know what we would do without him. He... He didn't deserve what happened to his family." She agrees, tight-lipped, to my comment.

Brin's father was a farmer, just like his own father and grandfather and all the ones before him. Brin continued in his ancestors' path, but quickly became affluent due to his resourcefulness. His lands tripled in size, his output grew exponentially. And so did his wealth. Of course, the local Isfalt wasn't pleased. Though Brin was - and remains - a free man, the Isfalt still had power over him. Our friend never told us how, but his family perished at the hand of the noble, leaving Brin with wealth but no one to share it with. The Isfalt's wife took pity upon Brin, and convinced her husband to let him keep the farm. But the farmer was a changed man, despite the Isfalt's act of mercy. He turned to us, and now regularly lends us his horses. He's invaluable to our group.

"How's my pie ?" asks Keiti, interrupting my thoughts. I look down at the piece in my hand. Or rather, what's left of it. I lick the remaining few crumbs and reply: "Absolutely revolting."

"Uh-huh," she nods, unconvinced.

"Absolutely disgusting," I insist. "By the way, don't bother eating that piece. It'll make you vomit all over your lovely yellow battle clothes." Before she can't say anything, I lift the piece of pie balanced on her fingertips up and shove it in my mouth in one go. "Hey !" she exclaims. "You-"

"You were asking for it," I interject, crumbs spraying everywhere. She recoils in disgust at the dessert flying out of my mouth. "Fine," she huffs. "I'll go get another piece. I might have been tempting you just a tiny little bit," she throws over her shoulder.

Ha ! Knew it. I gulp and wipe off the remaining jam off my lips, but not my smile. That one can stay.

A cool breeze suddenly blows into the mess hall and ruffles my hair. I frown and lean to try getting a glimpse of the main hall. Ugh, someone forgot to close the gate. With a barely concealed groan, I make my way out of the camp and into the open.

It's the chilliness that hits me first. Compared to the heat emanating from two hundred tightly-packed bodies in the mess hall, this is freezing. I shiver and cross my arms over my chest. The darkness is really thick tonight. I squint my eyes, trying to catch a glimpse of something among the trees, but I can't spot anyone. Maybe the rebel who opened the gate came back inside. I'm about to head back myself when something catches my attention. Deep in the forest are yells.

Automatically, my hand goes to the hilt of my sword. I scan the trees before me, but they stay stoic and tall, refusing to tell me anything. I order my heart to slow down, and push the worst scenarios away. There's no way that those sounds come from Guards. Definitely no way. They couldn't have possibly found- What if they followed us ? Fear hits me hard, harder than the cold. I need to close the gate. I need to protect the others. But the gate can only be closed from the inside. And I don't have time to warn everyone.