Branley And The Land Of Cors

Chapter 13

"Every single living thing is part of you love. Every tree branch, every fallen leaf, every wounded animal. Remember this as you go on, do not fear. Even the unknown is part of who you are."

"Mother?" Branley asked, but no voice came to answer him. 

It was one of his dreams again he was sure. But this one was somewhat different. This one was alive.

Branley opened his eyes slowly and a glimmer of morning light crept in between his lashes. He was in the forest once again. But of course where else could he possibly be?

"Hey. You're up early today." Came Kyne's voice. "Since you're already awake get your lazy ass up and let's keep going." he said and grabbed Branley's arm to make him stand up.

"No wait a minute! Stop pulling me you-" 

"What? What is it? Where are you looking at?"Kyne asked. 

Branley had a steady gaze and a harsh breath.

"Magic."he replied. "There's magic."

"Magic?"asked Kyne.

And it was true that. There was magic.

The two boys kept their heads straight and started walking towards the source of energy that now not only Branley could recognize. Slowly and with ragged breaths they went,until the treas around cleared out of their vision and there it was,the land of Cors.

Branley could hear his heart beating in his ears and sounded like a hundred birds flapping their wings. This was it. This was the place that he had read about,the place his parents had been warning him about since he had come to be. But it was strange, he did not feel the least bit afraid. He felt something else. 

He looked around scanning his surroundings. There were warm wooden houses all over,one not very far from the other. Stone covered the ground and Branley could feel the small roots of wild flowers trying to creep up the spaces between the flat stones, the brick shaped ones and the sand. It was a city full of life, and everyone seemed to be going about their business with a sense of achievement. Their steps sure, their faces lit by the morning sun.

This was not what he'd been taught to believe. This was not a land full of darkness and futility. 

He slowly turned his head  towards Kyne,"Hey-"he started to say,but stopped himself when he studied Kyne's expression. It was not at all like his had been. The blonde was not staring in awe at the picture in front of him,on the contrary. His jaw was clenched , his brows malformed,his breaths a little uneven,his eyes moving left and right in question.

"Why?"Kyne asked almost under his breath,"How come they can live as they wish? What about us?What about all that we had?"

Branley didn't answer him. He felt like he had betrayed his family, his village. They were all gone, and here he was looking starstruck over the damned city. Pull yourself together, he pleaded in his head.

"What are we going to do?" Branley asked.

Kyne didn't manage an answer and was cut off by another voice.

"What are you lads doing over there sitting all weird on the ground like that?"

Yes they were indeed crouched on the ground.

"Have you perhaps ran away from y'all's home?"

Branley turned around and his eyes laid on a man, having a rather interesting attire. Not interesting in a good way.

"I'm from the patrol unit of the castle."he continued. "I should ask you to follow me."

"Um no sir that is not necessary, we will find our way on our own, we need not trouble you."Kyne said.

"It is no trouble really. Now follow me." He answered more sternly than Branley's liking. They were doomed now. 

They slowly sat up and started walking, the guard behind them keeping them monitored.

"You boys are not from here are you?"came the patrol's voice.

"We came looking for work. To have ourselves a better life." Kyne answered, more quickly than one would expect. But it was true,he had it in him, the fast decision making and all.

"That so?"

"Yes."

They walked a little more and finally reached the first houses of the city.

"Where do you come from?"

So many questions, Branley thought, this man was becoming a handful.

"We come from a small village called Anara." said Kyne.

"Anara?"asked two voices in unison. The guard's and Branley's. Kyne gave him a sharp glance and sighed in exasperation. 

"Yes. Anara. It is on the other side of the map sir, no wonder you haven't heard of it."

The guard seemed to believe him well enough.

"Here we are then, now that I've escorted you boys in I should get a move on."

Branley looked at him dumbstruck. That was it? He had already made about a thousand scenarios on how the situation could go wrong and all this buffoon wanted to do was to escort them in the city?

"Yes, have a good day sir." Kyne replied giving his best forced smile, and the guard walked away.

"How are these people still in one piece with such a pitiful excuse of a patrol unit to watch over them?" Branley finally spoke and let out a breath he'd been holding all along.

"Oh quit it,you couldn't even keep a straight face in front of him,it's a good thing he didn't press on the subject more or you would've gotten us jailed."

"You're exaggerating."

"Am I?"

"You are."

And slowly a small grin made its way up Kyne's face and he looked at Branley. 

It was that smile again. One that said "I'm glad you're here, I'm glad I'm not alone.", and Branley didn't like it one bit. Was the fact that they only had each other the sole reason Kyne looked at him like that. If there was someone else here with him, would he have looked at them the same way?

"Let's go." Branley said and went on ahead,leaving Kyne behind.

Kyne ran after the boy and leaned in until their shoulders touched as they kept on walking towards what seemed to be the market.

"Are you a lost puppy?" Branley asked him.

"What?"

"Why are you clinging on to me like this? I've no snacks for you."

"Ha-ha very funny."Kyne said. 

By then they had reached the first market stall and looked at all the goods and food around. 

And then it struck them. 

They had no coin to spare. Not for food nor for a place to sleep at night. They would actually have to work to make ends meet. 

And what a terrifying thought that was.