Into the Gilded Walls

Chapter Two

Another day, more buckets to carry. He had stayed in the healers hut for a week, but Gillian didn't exactly feel better. He sighed as he placed the bucket by the builder. Gilian didn't exactly know why these outposts were being built, when this town already has some.

And why so inland? Who would come from behind and attack? Those raiders who gave up thirteen years ago? Too many questions, not enough answers. Gilian wished he could have those answers, and the answers to any of the questions he's ever had. He especially wanted to know what the goal of the Ra'aven was.

The bells that signaled “lunch” time rang, and people moved from their work to the clearing in the center of town. Gilian sat by Jrack, nibbling on his piece of bread as he listened to how the colonies of Galadanra had used to work.

Eleven colonies, each one had a chieftain. The chieftains would have meetings, but those were rare, never needed since there wasn't anything to converse about. No grudges, no disagreements. Everyone kept to himself, yet worked together in many ways. The farmers, fishers, and woodlanders brought food to the highlanders and the miners, who didn't have much food out in the mountains.

In return, the miners would give metals and gems, the highlanders gave herbs that were rare on the grounds below. There were seers within each colony, who would get visions from the Higher Power, prophecies, warnings. These people were special, and only one family from each colony had the ability to prophesy.

Jrack was about to talk about it more, but everyone was called back to work. Gilian drank up his water, knowing he wouldn't get some for a while.

He hurried to the tar pit where he would get the buckets. He saw Valri, one of the Healer's daughters, and a friend of his, by the tar pits. This was unusual, women and girls would be the healers, wash the clothes, make food for the Ra'aven. They weren't to do any of the hard work left to men.

“Valri?” Gilian asked as soon as he was within earshot. She looked his way, her golden hair blowing somewhat in her face. Her expression was solemn and her blue eyes didn't have their usual sparkle in them.

“I need to run away, Gilian… I can't stand this anymore.” She said firmly as he walked over to her.

“Run… away? Where? There’s water to the west and woods to the East, North is towards the mountains, South is an endless beach. There's nowhere!”

“But past the woods, that's where the raiders came from! We could find them, and get away from the Ra'aven.” She insisted, her eyes pleading with him.

“Hold on, we?” Gilian hissed under his breath. Yes, he'd been good friends with her for a while, and he trusted her. But run away with her? To who knows where? To be possibly eaten by a wolf or bear?

“Oh, Gilian, I know no one else who would come! You've always told me of how you wanted a life free from this slavery!” She took one of his rough, tar covered hands, and covered it with her soft warm ones and he considered it. That was true. He wanted a free life, and some real food. But something held him back.

“What about our families? Seven people would be hard to sneak out.” he started to feel anxious, he really needed to get the bucket of tar to another outpost. If he was caught planning an escape, they'd be tossed in the dungeon, or even killed.

Valri sighed and let go of his hand. “I'm willing to leave my Mami behind.”

“What? But… she'd miss you, and you can't just… leave her that's...”

“She's too weak, Gilian. To bring her with would be to kill her.”

Gilian couldn't imagine leaving his family, they only saw each other once a week, twice if they were lucky. He had two younger siblings, a brother and sister. He felt responsible for them, even though he barely knew them. He would be abandoning them if he left…

“I'm sorry, Valri.” He choked out as he picked up a bucket, letting go of her hand. “No matter how much I want to leave, I can't leave my family.” he turned to walk to an outpost. He knew soon, a watchman would come by, and if he saw Valri? She was in trouble.

“But- your dreams!” She walked next to him, her voice pleading.

“Are just those! Dreams! Nothing more.” He snapped at her and she stopped dead in her tracks, looking hurt. Gilian felt bad but kept walking, not wanting to talk to her. Maybe she'd think it over, obviously she wouldn't go alone. And who would be crazy enough to try to go through the woodlands? Sure, they used to be inhabited. Thirty-six years ago. Now they were overgrown and wild.

If you weren't caught before you got to the woodland, you'd be eaten by a bear anyways. In fact, sometimes Ra'aven would let you go, they'd let you run. The only way was the woodlands. And the woodlands was death.

Gilian didn't look back as he lugged the bucket of tar through the streets. He passed lots of other slaves, and some Ra'aven of course. The thought kept nagging his mind. And he did, he did want to run away, to experience freedom. But that was suicide. And if only he could have freedom, and not everyone else who was chained? Was it worth it? He sighed.

He hoped Valri went back to her work, that she'd forget about the fantasy of running away. Gilian started to feel conflicted. His footsteps faltered slightly. Would he really leave if it meant leaving his family? Maybe it was possible for them to come? No, he couldn't bring his five year old sister to her death. Nor little eight year old Felic.

He bit his lip as he walked up to the outpost and put down the bucket. He glanced at the Ra'aven guard, who didn't pay him any attention. He held back a sigh as he started waking again, his feet starting to hurt. There was nothing he could do about it.

He passed another Ra'aven, who purposely shoved past him. Gilian let it happen, he didn't want to get another beating like one from a week ago. That was the other thing, if he escaped with Valri, how would they defend themselves, when they didn't even know the basics of self defense.

Even though he didn't want to, he started thinking about escaping. His mind drifting to a freedom. To joining the raiders, or whatever they called themselves. If they were even still alive, his brain quipped.

He started doubting again. What if they were all dead? Eaten by wolves? What would he be running to? Nothing. Absolutely nothing.

He reached the tar pit again, and almost growled in frustration. As he spotted another one of those darned winged creatures, he made a choice. He just hoped it wasn't a choice he'd regret.