The Boy with No Name (Part 1 of 'A Tale of People and Apples' Trilogy)

Chapter 26: The Festival of Champions

Present day.

Luka looked upon the father who adopted him, Lleyton Alva, stunned.

He was his inner voice all this time advising him.

The man who trained him into what he was.

The man that lied to him.

The man that ordered him dead.

The man who was a loving father.

Trent, the man who shot Luka, began marching towards him with pace. Intent to kill him then and there was written within his gruff eyes, this time with certainty. Trent knew they would now have to improvise. Kill the boy before he alerted Aimos about who truly was within their gates.

In a stunning display of acting and quick thinking, Luka extended his hand forth for Lleyton to shake it, recomposing his face, mustering a polite smile, stifling his adrenaline and fear, trying best to turn his expression into one of a stoic first introduction.

Trent stopped in his tracks, shocked. Lleyton's eyes even wider. Luka prayed Aimos would interject and explain on his behalf.

And luckily he did.

In the very next moment, unknowingly saving Luka, Aimos said, "Poor boy doesn't remember a thing. Had an accident down by the river. We found him, nursed him to health. I fear it may have been the same men you just told me about, Lleyton."

Lleyton, Trent, and his soldiers exchanged glances with each other, grappling with the situation.

Lleyton took Luka's hand in his and shook. His grip, firm. Analyzing.

After several confused moments, analyzing Luka's face, Lleyton said, "Pleasure to meet you, Lleyton. I don't know how you escaped the Wolf Massacre. I thought all of my people were dead. It must be quite the story."

And so, the mind games began. Lleyton couldn't dismiss the shocked face on Luka's face the moment he saw him. Was it shock of seeing his adoptive father? Was it subconscious shock? Or shock of meeting the once Leader of his people? How much did the boy actually remember? Was their cover blown?

Panic swelled within Luka. He had to get Aimos one-on-one and tell him the danger that was now meters from him. "Aimos, can I speak with you?" he managed, calmly.

He contemplated blurting the information out. Everything he knew. That his brother was a monster. That his siblings were dead by his brother's hands.

Aimos didn't hear Luka, and said to his brother, "We have much to catch up on. Tell me again what happened, with you and your men?"

Lleyton, now also acting, said, "I joined these men in the wild eighteen years ago, after.... Anyways, we lived a simple, peaceful life in solitude as peaceful beings. But a violent tribe of Outlanders, they destroyed everything. They're the ones that disabled your radio contact. And I fear they will attack our siblings, Aimos. We must stop them. It is why we have come. They probably attacked this boy, too."

No. Lleyton beat Luka to the punch. Now if he blurted anything out, contradicting Lleyton, he would look like an insane person. Aimos always had a soft spot for his brother Lleyton. He would believe everything he said.

Lleyton was cunning. He would kill Aimos somewhere private if possible, but doing it in front of the Orcas would risk his capture, Luka thought to himself.

He would have to reach Eeva. Eeva would be able to tell her Dad to detain Lleyton, trusting her more than anyone. If Aimos was safe, the people were safe. As long as Luka could keep them in public for now, Lleyton wouldn't risk blowing his cover to kill his brother. Would he?