Invictus || Book 1

C.04 - Nakoa

Where am I? What is this place? Nakoa thinks to himself darkly.

He then cracks a smile, an inside joke only Hestia would get. But Hestia isn't here right now.

The smile drops.

Nakoa angles his head over his shoulder briefly, to the back of the small group that had made it off the beach, where the injured are being carried on stretchers that appear to be made out of some plant material he doesn't recognise. Nakoa doesn't care about that, only that Hestia is on one of them.

She's alright, for now, so Nakoa redirects his attention to the man he walks beside.

General Kiron, Nakoa had heard that name when the shooting had stopped. The older man was the first face Nakoa had seen when he'd dared to open his eyes; a too-serious, gruff-looking guy who possessed the peculiar ability to calm Nakoa down enough that when the young boy found his voice he felt he could ask for help in finding his sisters.

Hestia had been the last of the Vera siblings to be found, face pale, eyes shut and breathing difficult. The General had promised everyone that while he wasn't sure how they had come to be there, his queen would help them and he had personally assured Nakoa that his sister would be fine, once they made it to the castle.

Right, the castle. Because if anyone happened to slip through a hole and end up in a messed-up version of Narnia, it would be Nakoa and his sisters.

He frowns and takes another glance over his shoulder.

"She's a smart one, your sister." General Kiron says abruptly.

Nakoa snaps his head to the side, squinting at the tall man. Arching an eyebrow, Nakoa shrugs. "Yeah, I guess."

Whatever Kiron is looking for in Nakoa's face, he doesn't seem to find it because he keeps talking in that low voice he must think is reassuring to Nakoa. The younger boy would rather die than admit it is.

"Not many people have that type of quick thinking. It saved you all, and it's what will save her now."

Nakoa's shoulders sag for a fraction of a second and then a determined look passes over his face. "I hope you're right."

"I am, and she will be fine. The Queen has the best medics on her grounds, your sister will be in good health soon."

General Kiron doesn't talk much after that and Nakoa isn't all that interested in making small talk; not when they enter a town with tall buildings and a square patch of land that's just plants, trees and small ponds scattered throughout. It's what they walk through now, cutting the trip across the area short as it takes them straight through to the other side, where yet another long pebbled road leads to what Nakoa assumes will be the actual city.

About five minutes on the road Nakoa finds himself side-eyeing Francis, who sidles up beside him and quickly latches onto his arm to pull him away from General Kiron.

"What are we doing?"

"We're walking?"

"Well duh, but like...why?"

"Because...wait a minute, what are you trying to say? You're making no sense." Nakoa snaps.

Francis squares her shoulders like she's preparing to fight Nakoa, so Nakoa does the same. A quiet cough from Cora reminds them that they aren't alone and Nakoa slouches forward.

"We're following the general because he can get help for Hestia. That's all... that's all I can think about right now."

Francis purses her lips but leaves Nakoa alone otherwise. The remainder of the walk is done silently, at least from the Vera sibling's side. A few other kids, maybe older, maybe younger -Nakoa isn't entirely sure- argue loudly behind them as they walk and it grates on his ears just enough that he seeks solace with Kiron back at the front of the group.