The Dark Touch of Silver [boyxboy]

In which Taymullah learns more and then some

Sitting opposite him were a semi circle of people dressed in embroidered clothing. They don't appear threatening, Taymullah thought trying not to stare too long at any one person. "Several weeks ago, we had two of our community killed by a wild animal." The woman with a delicate tattoo on her forearm to the far left began. "It was upsetting to say the least and according to our customs, they had to be replaced." Taymullah was nodding along until she finished speaking. "W-what do you mean, replaced?" Avaelor stood behind the seated silver haired man and shifted slightly. "Our community is built of outsiders; we all support one another within this place. When one of our own dies whether it is of natural or unnatural causes, their place in the community must be filled by someone."

"So you kidnap travelers to fix this?" Taymullah's lip trembled. "Wh-wh-why me, why Master Anid?" The eldest man quirked his thin lips and settled his dark eyed gaze on the shaking silver haired boy. "Because I think, we believe you can thrive here. Be yourself, be free." The younger man stared wide eyed and bit his lip. "I don't think I can do that. I'm a nobody, I'm scarcely considered a person back home-" The other man's eyes flashed. "This is your home. You are going to live here from now on." Taymullah's protests fell from his lips; he knew an order when he heard it. He bowed his shaggy head and nodded. "Yes..."

~

Days later, after much discussion and even more prompting from Surim and Alaevor, Taymullah was in the process of gaining his own home. He had begun to settle in; the villagers were open and welcoming to him. No one ordered him to do anything and while he was feeling safe, he couldn't help but think of Anid. He hadn't seen very much of him and that was a little concerning and a change from what his usual behavior was: loud and demanding. "Mas-,' He began one afternoon after he had eaten with Luhuhu. The two had a started a friendship of sorts, something Taymullah had rarely experienced at the la Sang manor. He hardly had time for anything other than what Anid wanted. Taymullah could say that he liked looking out for himself though he wasn't ready to say that out loud.

"Hmm?" Luhuhu raised a pale eyebrow. "Ah, I mean, Anid, is he still...?"The gray haired woman tilted her head thoughtfully. "He is taking a lot more time to adjust which is not a surprise to anyone who has come in contact with him." She said finally. Taymullah followed her down the rope bridge to the forest floor. "He's alive? May I see him?" Taymullah asked his heartbeat quickening. "Oh, my sweet boy, that is up to the elders." The woman replied shifting from foot to foot. "I do not know if it is safe for anyone to be around him, he is dangerous."

"Dangerous?" Taymullah's shoulders drooped. "But I must see if he's ok, he'll want to know if I am alive. He is, I mean, was my master in my old life." Luhuhu patted his shoulder affectionately. "Still, that is for the elders to discuss and decide." She leaned close, her loose gray hair mixing with his silvery, "I know that this Anid has been less than kind toward you." Taymullah stiffened, his mind going back to the days before they had left on the caravan; Anid had shoved him in the hallway. At a loss for words, Taymullah's subservient nature immediately appeared and he followed the woman with nothing more to say on Anid.

~

"Luhuhu..." Taymullah called from outside the closed door of her own hut. "I need your help." He shifted uneasily on the sturdy front porch. "Taymullah? Come inside." She beckoned before preparing a cup of tea for him. "I don't know what to do." He confessed sitting on the thick carpet. The day was warm but luckily the trees and the structure of each of the huts that hung in the branches shielded most of the heat. "About what?" She handed him a lukewarm cup and then sipped her own. "I...don't know what to do with myself." He confessed restlessly. "It's strange. Being able to do what I want." He reached up and began playing with his braid. "My life has always been about serving others. I don't know how to be myself." The lady reached up a sun spotted hand and wrapped her fingers around his. "Why don't we ask the Moakl for guidance?"