The Kingdom of Broken Glass

Warped

Amon Scott

Amon was the picture of content. He was laying with the girl of his dreams under the warm sun, and they had spent the entire day together. Merigold played with a strand of Amon's hair as she laid beside him. They were in the meadow that they used to come to almost daily. He laid on his back and she laid on her stomach facing him. The sun shone brightly down on them but it was muted through the trees. Little pink daisies laid a couple feet away from them, partially turning Amon's stomach. He was trying not to look at them.

Amon ran his hand down her back, he had just finished telling her everything that had happened the past couple days. This included everything with Eleazar, Julian leaving Raysa and her army, and Liza refusing to leave the castle. However, he did leave out the part about Julian almost killing Violet. That story is not his to tell.

"My mother wants me to train to be a medic, like she is." Merigold starts, "She said if I start now, I will be an official medic by winter. That way I can help support us."

Amon tilts his head, "What about school?" Normally, every child goes to a small school here in the village until they are eighteen. Amon stopped going when he left for Raysa's. Julian and Violet still go, though. Liza only stopped going after she moved into the castle.

Merigold was always the top of their class. If she stays in school just for one more year, and finishes at the top of their class, she would get the scholarship to train in one of the Kingdoms. It seemed insane that her mother would want to give that up when Merigold is so close.

Amon didn't want to overstep, so instead he simply asks, "Is that what you want to do?"

"Um," Merigold stutters over her words for a moment. He can tell that she is thinking about her answer. "I think if my mother wants me to, then I should."

"But what about what you want?"

Merigold shrugs, "I mean. I don't need to train in one of the Kingdoms. I just need a job and I can get that here."

"It would be such an amazing experience though," Amon stopped himself. Deciding against swaying her decision, "Just make sure you've considered all of your options."

She smiles up at him, "Thank you. I will." Then she snuggles closer, "If I stay here, we can spend more time together." That was also true.

Amon chuckled, "Don't make any decisions based on me alone. Who knows? Maybe if you move to one of the Kingdoms, I will go with you."

"You would want to?" Her brows pinch together as she really takes him in, trying to see if he is serious.

He nods, "The only thing holding me here is you. I wouldn't give up the chance to go with you."

Merigold props herself up on her elbows, "Amon Scott. You are truly one of the best things to happen to me."

Before Amon has a chance to reply, he hears something. A whisper. He quickly looks around them, trying to make sure that no one is there. "Did you hear that?"

"Oh," Merigold leans back a bit. "Sorry. I didn't mean to, uh, move too fast or anything."

"What?" Amon squints at her. "No! It's not that, I just. I could have sworn I heard someone talking."

"Other than me?" she jokes with him.

He starts to smile at her teasing, but stops as he hears it again. Something was calling his name. It sounded like it was coming from a distance but also right beside him at the same time. He sits up, staring into the trees.

"Everything okay?" He looks over to see Merigold watching him, very clearly concerned.

"You had to have heard that," he pushes. "There is someone here."

Merigold shakes her head but suddenly her words are drowned out. Amon could see her lips moving but could not hear any sound coming out. Instead, he heard the same voice. It was calling to him. This voice was like a melody in his head, telling him that he was needed elsewhere. He felt like he was starting to float.

You need to go, the voice tells him. Amon feels it in his heart that this is true. Everything in him is telling him to follow, and he knew where he was meant to head. He stands, but stops for a moment as Merigold stands with him, putting her hand on his chest.

Amon looks down at her, but suddenly does not recognize her. He cannot see her properly, she is just a blurred figure of a person standing in front of him. Move them.

Amon brings his hand up to her mouth, using his magic to put her to sleep. She falls to the ground, landing awkwardly on her side. He steps over her.

The voice in his head sends soothing messages, confirming that this is what he needs to be doing. It does not outright tell him what needs to be done, he just knows where he is meant to go and what he has to do when he gets there.

It takes about twenty minutes to get back to their village. The sun was starting to set, painting their village in pretty hues of purple and pink. Some people waved to him as he walked past but he ignored them all.

Amon stopped in front of Merigold's home. He looked up at the wooden cabin, knowing what must be done. Flames sparked from his hand as he reached forward. Their home lit up brightly in the twilight.

He stepped back, hearing the screams from around him, just at a distance. This place was no longer his home. He knew where he was meant to be.

Amon heads into the forest, not following the trail. He was walking on a cloud, sipping on a root drink, while flying through the sky all at the same time. Everything was at peace. Finally, stopping in front of the steep castle, Amon knew his place in the world. He was ready for what was about to come.