The Red King [Book II]

IV

James felt like a king. The wind bowed to his rule, lifting his feet as he ran. Weaving expertly amongst the town's people, he savoured their surprised puffs as he flew past. His heart felt full.

ㅤUp the hill, grass tickled his calves, the people and town far below him. Even though it was the height of summer, and the sun fervidly ogled them in its burdensome curiosity, the heat was cool. The luscious green hills rolled endlessly, pastures swishing with the breeze.

ㅤGrassland didn't die in the summer up here, unlike the dusty south. Flowers still bloomed.

ㅤ'Isn't it gorgeous?' He didn't receive a response.

ㅤA solitary tree was relaxing in the field. James untied his hair, locks brushing his shoulders, and picked a crisp red apple from a sprig. He settled there, on his back in the shade. It tasted sweet.

ㅤBranches twisted above him, leaves glowing lime with the sun. The sky peeped through the gaps. He closed his eyes.

ㅤThe peace was quickly spoiled. 'You must be out of your goddamn mind.'

ㅤJames peeked up, his mentor glowering over him. He took another crunch of his apple.

ㅤ'When I tell you to stay, you stay. This isn't a holiday, boy. I don't give orders for the sake of it.'

ㅤ'We weren't even on lookout,' James griped. 'I've sat in that dingy room for days, doing fuck all!'

ㅤ'And there's a reason for that.'

ㅤ'Eat shit.'

ㅤJames waited for the lashing his response warranted, his mentor glaring.

ㅤThe man had been on edge since they'd arrived there, more so than usual. James had waited days for the temper to pass, stuck in a dark room whilst this fresh town anticipated him beyond the window, but it'd only worsened. So, he'd escaped.

ㅤInstead of a beating, to James' surprise, he received a sigh.

ㅤ'Two hours,' his mentor said. 'Do you understand?'

ㅤ'Sure.'

ㅤThe grouch left and James bemusedly relaxed. The tension was an odd thing, they'd never been to this town before. It was unwarranted.

ㅤ'Was that yer da? He looked right pissed.'

ㅤIn the silence, a stranger had joined him. A teenage girl with pale northern skin, and freckles peppering her nose. She was crouching down, inspecting him curiously.

ㅤJames shifted his accent. 'What's it to you?'

ㅤShe smiled, her ginger hair falling over her shoulder. 'Yer not from here, are you?'

ㅤ'I'm from a wee village down the valley.'

ㅤShe invited herself to sit beside him and briefly looked over her shoulder. James didn't send her away.