Drone

28 Farewell.

"This is a waste of time," Vidder said, with disapproval clear on his face.

"I won't be long," Niklas said. "I just need a moment."

Vidder looked eastward toward Pit Forest. "Make it fast."

Niklas nodded as he turned to the gate of the cattle compound. He walked quickly, noticing Vidder's clenched fist. The drone looked like he was pushing through the same constant headache that had berated Nikas over the past weeks.

Niklas stepped past the iron gate, which was partially ajar, and hurried to the Sommerfeldts compound.

He pushed the door open and slipped in without knocking. All of the Sommerfeldts sat at the table, awake and idle. They looked at Niklas in surprise before the table burst into an uproar. Trygve bolted from the table to hug Niklas with his short arms.

Lill blinked rapidly to be sure she was seeing correctly. "Niklas, thank heavens! Esther said that you were captured by Alred's guards!"

"How'd you get away?" Ivar asked, looking both surprised and impressed.

"Glad you're okay," Frode said. "Thought for sure you were gone."

Trygve's embrace tightened.

"No," Niklas muttered. "I'm okay."

"Praise Kel," Lill beamed. "You have the frez's own luck."

Niklas tried to smile, but knowing this reunion would be their last, he couldn't manage it.

"Niklas, what's wrong?" Lill asked.

Trygve looked up at Niklas with worry in his young eyes.

Niklas tried to swallow his emotions as he hugged the boy back. "I'm leaving."

The smiles vanished from the Sommerfeldts simultaneously.

"No!" Rasmus snapped. "Niklas, you're my friend, you can't go! You still have to teach me how to box!"

Niklas held up a hand to silence their protests. "I think it's in everyone's best interest for me to go. I have caused nothing but trouble and been a burden to this family."

Lill bolted to her feet. "Don't be selfish, Niklas! You haven't even asked what we want."

Niklas recoiled in surprise. "No. I guess I haven't."

"Yeah, Niklas. I think your coming here has been the best thing that has ever happened to us," Ivar said.

"What are you talking about?" Niklas demanded. "I haven't done anything but make your lives a living Pit."

"Niklas, you have become one of my sons," Frode said. "Watching you turn your back on us would break this old heart."

"You guys are not making this easy for me!" Niklas frowned in his fury of confused feelings. "A Drone from my people is here. He told me that they need me back home."

"One of you?" Ivar asked. "A New Sharderin? Niklas, do you really want to go back there? It sounds awful."

"I'm going!" Niklas snapped, and Trygve stepped away wide-eyed. "Now stop trying to change my mind! There is so much you don't understand!"

The Sommerfeldts looked at Niklas with pain in their eyes.

The young Rasmus broke the silence. "Niklas, we love you."

Niklas flinched. "Rasmus," he pleaded, "if I taught you how to box, you would get yourself in trouble, like me. You don't want to be like me, Rasmus. If I stay, I'll hang."