In Huck's Hands

Chapter 22: Wild Man

"I really don't think I should go with you anymore...You're all messed up." Tella's winces at the many bloody bandages that encased me were nothing more than pity--I did not need PITY! I needed answers.

My hand motioned to my left with a closed fist. "It was not that long ago when Yana was in a similar familial position, Tella. It is right for an intelligent person like yourself to be beaten like an animal." The frank remark caused a slight shiver in both of them.

It was not my aim to directly compel Yana to relive her father's abuse. I would need to be more meticulous in the future. Sloppy. "Fawi just gets carried away...Uncle Garan says that he's my Boss--What he says, goes." Tella picked at an open sore near the base of his chin, eyeing Yana from across my hospital bed. It was clear that he desired her in some way, his pupils were a dead giveaway,

"The only people who are beaten under my employ are those marked for death. No human being deserves to be treated like they are not such," The prolonged back and forth tired me, it would be a long flight back to the sands of Buriti once this whole matter of Saxun's death was squared away. "And I doubt your Uncle would mind so much if the KING of Buriti-Vasca were to take you under my wing, of course I would need to meet the man first."

Tella sighed, his mouth tried to form words but he settled on a frustrated groan. "I haven't seen my uncle since I was a little boy, almost 2 decades ago..." What the actual fuck? Tella was not a child!? This entire time I could have not been coddling him as if he were just a toddler! "I don't know--It seems dangerous to be around you also."

His pink eyes flicked over the bandages again, mocking me with their incessant compassion. It was weak. Tella was going with me either by design of my scheme or his own accord...Garan would understand loss. "I assure you back at the capitol I am highly regarded by all others, besides my cabinet," Yana had been glaring at me until the last teasing aside, smiling slightly.

Yana was hard to read, not as confusing as the enigma that formed Aiko, but still had a depth of emotions that alluded me. "Speaking of which, where are Aygu and my cousin? Did they not find it advantageous to see to my health...Or at least feign to?"

"Aygu and Aiko are standing watch outside as we speak, they did not consider it a safe place for you to wander by yourself in light of your...Activities." I did not know if she was speaking of the King of Svet's death or my torture. Neither was my fault tho, I had done all this due to her advice...

"Kyler...Where is my cousin?" I must have not blanketed my speech with the sweet tones a Tella had heard me give off before. He flinched with the ending of my sentence as if he received the end of a razor in his hand.

The end of my toes curled, anticipating the bout of wrath that my body was used to demonstrating. Yana spoke though, calming my mind. "He is on his way back to Buriti...It was a safety precaution--If both you and Kyler were killed there would be no Vascan left on the throne."

It was surprising how instead of leaping at the chance to spill Vascan blood as I had done to my older cousin Dennis, Yana actually seemed to care about the line of succession. "Well...I hope the giant son of a bitch makes it home in one piece, It would be a shame for him to--"

My eyes bulged at the sound of the door jiggling, Aiko and Aygu entered with President Parva and then Aiko quickly made her way back outside the door. "She insists to be let in...I hope this is not what I think it is." Aygu planted himself squarely between the Doigan leader and myself.

Parva ignored the insult, already hearing enough of my accusations of LoveMaidens and harlotry. "I am mortified that this has happened to you, it was our security team in charge of this year's events...By honor of Doiga, you are able to do with me as your country sees fit." She dramatically bowed herself to the floor, making everyone but Tella recoil in response to her display.