Esveldza: 'The Lonely Child of Fire'

Chapter XVIII-Glimpse of the future

Chapter XVIII

Glimpse of the future

It was a few days later when we prepared ourselves for our journey. I told Daarken what Jem had said and he said it would be good if we went to see Offikrin. The trip to Arimur volcano could take us a whole day to make our way up the volcano, even if we left early in the morning we would still reach it a few hours into the night.

So the day before we were going to go we got our resources together as well as preparing ourselves for a sleep on the side of the volcano. Daarken was as eager as I to go but Sarben seemed to only be going out of his friendship for us both.

We were about to head off for an early bedtime when the door knocked and Lianra answered it to reveal a man bearing the Rannen symbol on his hat and sash. He handed Lianra a package and left.

We gathered around the package as Lianra put it on the bench. It had a card on it with our address along with Daaken’s name.

“Throw it in the bin.” Daarken said shortly, turning away from it.

I looked at him with surprise, Sarben and Lianra shook their heads, this must not have been the first time this happened.

“Surely you do not want to at least open it?” I said and Daarken sighed turning back around.

“He should not even try; he does not even know my birthday…” He muttered to himself as he tore the card away, reading it out, “Daarken…” He glared at the card and through it on the bench.

I stared at the card, was that from the king himself? His card was late and he was a year off Daarken’s actual age.

Daarken ripped open the packaging and pulled out a box, he opened it to reveal another letter along with a large amount of money. We all gasped except for Daarken who snatched the letter and shoved it hurriedly in his pocket.

“Take it, Lianra, you need it more than I do.” He said.

Lianra shook her head but her eyes stayed on the money. With that much money you could buy a whole year’s worth of food, Lianra knew this and could barely comprehend it.

“You can use it to buy groceries, buy Sarben medicine and buy yourself something for once. Take it.” Daarken said again, leaning against the wall.

I looked from the money and Sarben and Lianra’s gaping face to Daarken’s cool and collected expression. The only thing Daarken had cared about was the letter, which he had scrunched up in his pocket.

“We could not take this Daarken, it is yours.” Lianra muttered, her eyes betrayed her.

Daarken smiled, “It is either you take it or I throw it in the sea. Take your pick.”

Sarben snatched the case into his arms, closing it, “That would be a waste!”

Daarken’s smile widened, “Yet I would still do it.”

 Lianra and Sarben looked at each other guiltily. “Thank you, Daarken.” Lianra said, her voice was soft.

“You are welcome.” He said casually before turning to leave, “I am going to bed now.”

We looked at each other as he left the room. “That was not the first time that had happened, was it?” I asked after Daarken had long since gone upstairs.

Sarben and Lianra were touching the money with such delicacy you would think they were touching a bomb about to explode.

 Sarben strayed his eyes away from the money reluctantly and to me, “No, last year Daarken had gotten a small pouch of money and it was over a month late but at least he had gotten his age right.”