Resilience Run

Chapter 5

Waking up this time was significantly less awkward than last time, especially since I had gotten used to seeing Rhys in the same bed as me when I woke up. I climbed out of bed as carefully as I could so I wouldn't wake her, and got dressed. Rhys' deep breathing while sleeping was rather mesmerizing to listen to.

Of course, I couldn't listen to it all day, since we needed to keep moving. I took one last look at her, and then I made my way out into the main room. Fortunately, there didn't seem to be much happening this morning. In fact, other than the person behind the counter, and one guy nursing a mug in the corner, the place was mostly vacant.

"A nice, quiet morning," said Felice, "Let's enjoy it and hope it lasts."

"Morning, ma'am," said the guy behind the counter, "Can I get you anything for the morn? A meat pie for some energy, perhaps?"

"Sounds good to me." I said as I took a seat at the counter. The man nodded to me, handed me a mug of water, and stepped downstairs, out of sight.

I sipped from the mug, blinking myself further awake, and Rhys came out of the room as well, carrying our bags.

"Moving on after we eat?" I asked.

"We do have to keep moving," said Rhys, "Sungulf is a long ways away from here."

"Doesn't mean we can't live in the moment." I said.

The door of the tavern opened. I glanced back to see a boy walk in, a blank look in his pale eyes, and bloody scars on his face. I moved so fast towards him, I practically teleported, and took his hand.

"Where are your parents?" I asked the boy, "Are they around?"

"I have no parents." the boy said in a deadpan tone, "I only have my master, and I must get back to her as soon as possible."

The boy pulled away from me, but his sleeve pulled up as he tried. That was when I saw the scars, and my mind went to red alert immediately.

"Where did those come from?" I asked, motioning to the boy's arms.

"My master gave them to me because I was bad." said the boy, "I have to find her before she discovers I have gone missing, or I will receive punishment again."

My heart dropped to the pit of my stomach. Rhys gasped a little as well. Felice looked and felt like she wanted to kill someone.

"You don't have to worry about her anymore," I said, refusing to let go of the boy, "You... she... she gave you to us!"

"What?!" Rhys said. the two people in the tavern stopped to look at us. The boy's eyes widened, and all my attention was on him.

"I... I've been abandoned?" the boy asked. His voice was so emotionless, I couldn't tell if he was actually sad or happy, or if he was feeling anything at all.

"You've not been abandoned, you're just coming with us now," I said, "Come on, we were just leaving."

"Oh... okay." said the boy, "I will come with you then, new master."

"Uh, don't call me that," I said, "My name's Riley, you can call me that, and this is Rhys. You can call us anything that makes you feel better... except master, please don't."

"Okay." said the boy.

"What's your name?" I asked.

"Jagos." said the boy.

"Alright then, Jagos," I said, "Let's get going. Let me get some of that blood off you."

I moved away from Jagos and started walking to the counter. When I got there, I realized he had followed me very closely.