Brecken sat at the edge of the beach in the grass next to the dirt path. His shoulder ached, but he knew it wouldn't leave any lasting damage. He returned his hand to flesh to dig out the metal beads in his stone shoulder. Lucas sat, next to him, breathing heavily while wrapping his wounded arm in cloth that he retrieved from his boat.
"I know what you are now, so that's good. You're an Elemental. An earth one to be exact, and those were water. I've never fought one before, of any kind. Did they shoot metal beads from their arms? How in The Way do they do that? The ones I've met didn't really do anything like that, they're all to themselves most of the time. Simple people, the Elementals," Lucas mumbled as much to himself as to Brecken.
"I'm an Eartheye, and those where Aquin. If you really are from beyond the storms, the King of All must know your here. The one that got away will report back, and once they know you killed two of them? They'll probably send ten next time, just to make sure you're dead." The pain in his shoulder was starting to throb in sync with the throbbing in his head. "How did you do that? What were those, things you created? I've never seen anything like it," Brecken asked as he took a bandage Lucas offered for his shoulder.
When he removed the metal beads, he returned to flesh. Red sores and bruises littered his torso where he'd been hit. Blood trickled down arms and body. His body ached. Holding his entire body in gifted form would have been easy had he not spent an entire day in the mines. Now he felt as heavy as he did while made of stone.
Lucas's expression turned concerned. "I shouldn't have used it, but I had no choice. It's way too much to explain. I can do things, let's just leave it at that. Now you answer me this, who were they? Why are they trying to kill you? It's a good thing I was here, or you'd have been out of luck."
"After me? They weren't after me, they were after you. Whoever, whatever, you are," Brecken snapped back. "I don't know how fast that Aquin can swim, or even where he would be swimming to, but we need to get off this beach as soon as we can. There might be another group on its way as we speak." He stood up and turned toward the path home. "This way."
"Hold on let me get something," Lucas said, running back to his boat to rummage through the chests in it. Brecken was too far away to see what he got but whatever it was, Lucas hurriedly stuffed it into his pants pocket before running back to Brecken at the edge of the beach. "Just some money and a keepsake from home is all," Lucas explained, noticing Brecken's concern. "A piece of bread too." He stuffed a small biscuit into his mouth.
*
Typhus was on the porch in a wooden chair, smoking a pipe, when they came out of the path. He stood up as he noticed the two figures walking towards his house. Upon recognizing his son, he let out a sigh, his face showing both worry and relief in the light of the lantern hanging on the wall.
"Where have you been? You never stay at the beach this late. Who is this?" Typhus eyes widened as Brecken stepped into the dim lantern light, stark red blood still showing through the small rips the metal beads tore in his shirt.
"Let's get inside and we'll talk," Brecken hurriedly replied as he walked past his father and into the house. The older man put out his pipe and gave Lucas, who deeply bowed to the older man, a vexed look. The two followed Brecken inside.
Brecken took off his perforated shirt and threw it in a heap on the floor. Walking to the wash bin, he began to dab the blood off his body with a clean rag. His father sat down next in a chair next to the cooking hearth at the center of the room. The fire used for dinner was still going, spreading light and warmth into the room. Lucas stood, still bleeding, awkwardly in the corner.
