Rebellion: Prince of Dawn

Chapter 24.3: In A Silent Way

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CLINT KINO

Sixteen days until the rings dissolve.

Yesterday's scuffle with the Nagas dropped our company's number down to twenty-two.

The little water we had was prioritized for the injured in hopes of speeding up their recovery. But even having a casual conversation had them out of breath. The iron in our blood distributes oxygen throughout our body. Losing enough made the act of breathing difficult.

Joji and Trebor were still pale by morning but recovered enough to stand on two feet. But not without Riko making them promise to get into the cart if they weren't feeling well.

Ilias was rendered paralyzed for the night.

His feats fighting off the Nagas made me realize that his skills as a jynxists were on a pedestal higher than anyone else I met on the road. But when he cast an explosion smouldering enough to trick the desert worms into thinking it was day, I knew he was worthy of the name Van.

After tending to the wounded, Jaime stuck with him the entire night, helping him eat by spoon-feeding the stew that was tonight's dinner.

Even though Uncle Salty was a major player in helping us get out of the earlier encounter, not a single one of us was moved enough to trust him. Once we were safe, he was tied up and blindfolded.

Since no one wanted to spoon-feed him, he was set free for supper. We all kept a close eye. And I had my hand positioned in a way that I could call out my pistol ready to shoot him.

"I think y'all are treating me too harshly," Uncle Salty complained.

Riko shook her head. "You did one good thing, so what? You would've died if you didn't. I'm letting you keep your eye. I can easily take it back so I'm one of the nice ones."

"I promised the wizard to help you all out and not do any funny business. I keep my word too."

"You? Keep your word? Why's that?"

"There are a lot of things that can lose their meaning. A lot of things I held dear certainly have. But my word is the last thing I have that's still worth something." The horse-man finished the last of his bowl and set it down. "I'm going to reach into my pocket."

Jaime unsheathed a sword and pressed it against Uncle Salty's neck. She motioned for Riko to search him, who found a weathered, cracked sheet of paper with folds beginning to crease and tear. She carefully opened it and began reading the messy letter in a child's hand.

Dear Uncle Salty,

You don't know who I am but I know who you are and what you did. My mother invited you into our home when the town turned their back on you. And you repaid that kindness by stealing the money she had been saving. That money was to pay for medicine that would have cured her sickness. But because you stole it, she died. All I know is your name. But I promise that one of these days I will find you. I will give you this letter so you can remember who I am and what you have done.

Jaime drew red along the prisoner's neck. "What happened to the child that wrote this letter?"

"Hek hek hek." Uncle Salty raised his hands, presenting himself. "He's right here."

"But you're..."

"When my mother died, I was left to fend for myself. I began to steal and cheat and deceive. At first, it was just so I could get by. But then I got good at it and I started to enjoy it. And then I felt so much joy preying on the weak." Uncle Salty sighed after a few silent moments. "Then one day on the street, I saw the body of a woman I conned. Her child was crying over her body, begging her to wake up. That was when I realized I had become the very man I detested. At that moment, I stopped using the name my mother gave me. I didn't deserve it. I was no better than the real Uncle Salty."