The Grounds Keeper

Chapter 7 The Little Stone

Eathon awoke with a scream of fear, The room was dark around him and the night sky twinkled in the light of a billion stars. He was back at the Academy. He looked around the room that was his own, alone in the dark and tears began to well in his eyes, no one was here, no one would see this, no one would judge him. He burred his face into his hands and sobbed his chest filled with guilt and loneliness. He wanted to see his father again, he wanted to work from the break of dawn lifting planks of timber, cutting bow tie joints and sharpening his old tools on the oil stone. He wanted to once again watch his hero join and shape and laugh as the work seemed to melt away around his masterful hands. 

The memories flooded in, every scraped knee that was patched up every, birthday that was made special, every lesson taught, every grasp of his shoulder or kiss of his cheek or bowl of food or tear of sympathy. And most of all the pain of knowing he did the one thing his father would never have wanted. He took the life of two men in rage. A part of him hoped he would be caught by them that night, that that had been killed in his reckless attempt. But now he had to live with this punishment. He was alone in this world. And he deserved it.

He took several deep breaths and wiped his tears on his cuff, he pulled himself out of bed his mouth tasting foul. And his stomach was growling in hunger.

He hadn't eaten anything in over 24 hours and his body well rested as it may be, had been put through hell twice in that time frame.

He breathed out a shuddering breath of relief. He was fully healed but the phantom pain that came with the memory of that monster plagued his joints, every time he met someone new these days he would end up in this hospital bed. The only issue was he had no clue where to go. He checked his pocket id. It was 11pm. He had been passed out for 6 hours. Just who was that monster?

Clever enough to know that he wasn't going to get answers any time soon, he set the boys' dorm room as a location and followed the illuminated path out the door and through the academy's grounds. It was as ever a pleasure to the eye, the silver light of two moons illuminated the place in pleasing silver. The old stone buildings were all dark and sleepy and a few establishments remained open, its patrons seeming the worse for drink. As he made his way down the cobble path under a bridge, a scent filled the air which enticed Eathon's staved gut. He followed the hypnotising aroma down the canal to a quaint ballast stone building with an arched entry covered in white roses that seemed to glow in the moon light, a sign atop the arch hanging from rusty chains and painted on timber proclaimed it to be Le Petit Bistro En Pierre. Eathon walked in unbidden. He heard a shocked voice babble from over the bar

"Louis, il y a quelqu'un"

A thin feminine featured young man in a well-fitting red chefs suit walked around the bar counter with a humble smile, his long eyelashes framed his bright hazel eyes. And his light brown hair was well groomed and neat. He bowed deeply

"Monsieur, I bid you welcome to the little stone Bistro; however, you must understand that we are not yet open for service, we would usually be overjoyed to serve a green class student however our preparations are not yet completed and most of the items on the menu are not yet available, please understand"

His smooth voice was only enhanced by the romantic accent of the French language but also seemed to contain a hint of what seemed like fear. Eathon seemed to come back to his senses and realized how strange this must have seemed no wonder the poor man was babbling so politely.

"Pardon me I just wondered in, I was enticed by the smells coming from your kitchen, I haven't eaten in a whole day and I'm a little hungry" as if to verify his words his stomach let out a long groan.

Something seemed to break behind the man's eyes, as though he was relived. His smile then seemed more sincere and to Eathon's eyes far more genuine, he gestured to a table "Well that will not do, not at all, please take a seat."