Re:Creation Book 1: Allegiance

Ten

"District?" Reif groaned in annoyance. "There's an entire district set aside for prisoners?"

Earlier that day, he, Therias, and Telk had arrived in Syllict and put up in the upper levels of a small tavern called The Flying Fox. The only room left for rent was a bit large for their band of travelers, but Reif didn't mind the size. There were six beds in all, arranged in a "U" shape along the walls with Telk sitting on one against a large window on the far side of the room. In the corner of the room closest to Telk's bed stood a large wardrobe containing all of their belongings.

"That's what I heard," Therias replied from the opposite corner. He had just returned from asking around for information in the parlor downstairs while Reif kept watch over Telk. "Of all the criminals in Taëlas, the worst of the worst are brought here to Syllict and held in the Prison District." He glanced at Telk, who had been staring at the floor. "Did you know anything of this?"

It seemed to take a moment before Telk realized Therias was speaking to him. "Huh?" He had clearly been lost in thought, but upon seeing both Reif's and Therias's eyes on him, he answered. "Oh, you were asking me? No, I had no idea, but it would make sense."

"What do you mean?"

Telk looked from Therias to Reif to back again and shrugged. "Well, I've seen a lot of the same kind of carriages that carry prisoners in and around the city. More here than anywhere else, for sure."

"And you never questioned where they were going?"

"Not particularly." After seeing the looks of doubt from Therias and Reif, Telk defensively continued. "I'd heard a lot of different things from a lot of different people. I guess I eventually lost interest."

Reif rolled his eyes. Just what did Lev see in Telk that spurred him to bring the little thief along? They were in Syllict and the information Telk had to share was still mostly useless. He'd been nothing more than an animated map, and truthfully, Reif would have much preferred an actual map.

"Just because you lose interest in it doesn't mean you suddenly stop seeing the carriages go by," Reif scolded. "How could you be so dense that you couldn't tell there was something pertaining to them here?"

"Reif," Therias's tone was warning, though he said nothing else. Reif's words had alway seemed to strike a nerve within Telk, however, as his own expression grew more hostile.

"Look, I'm not daft," Telk rolled his eyes. "I knew that there was something over there, everyone does. I just didn't care what, so I never thought about it. And no one talks about it, because no one is allowed over there."

Reif could feel a familiar swirl of negative energy stirring inside of him. "Regardless, don't you think mentioning something like that would have been helpful?"

"I'm sure it would have, but I forgot about it until you two reminded me of it just now."

"Forgot? How could you forget something so important?"

Telk sat back and held up one finger as he were telling Reif to wait. "First off, don't act like you've never forgotten something in your life. And second, it wasn't important to me at all until this whole mess started, so stop riding my ass on it, eh?"

The swirling power within Reif grew stronger. Before, Telk could barely even form a sentence, and now he was snapping back as if he had any excuse to be so flippant.

"You of all people should be trying your hardest to fix this whole mess," Reif pointed out. "Need I remind you that you're the one who caused it?"

"Oh, so you mean the same reminder you you've given me at least ten times every hour? No, I think I've heard enough of that, actually."