Thornless Roses

chapter two - black orchids

The four boys were wandering homeward, light snowfall crunching under their boots. Alex hadn't made a sound after the whipping, the boy who always had something to say had been silenced by the cane of an estranged old man. Blake was clearly showing signs of concern and anxiety.

"So," Connor started, desperate to ease the tension, "How was your first day of schooling, Marcus?"

Marcus shrugged in response.

Even if he could grasp how to put his feelings to terms, he surely couldn't, with Alex walking next to them. The older boy clearly had no sense of arguing this out, and Marcus would just seal his bottled-up fury. He'd never expect today to be the most distraught but, an immeasurable day of his life. They approached the town, A constant busy street of bakers shouting out promises. Along with the poor begging for bread and clothes. Candlemakers were having a gay time selling their candles for the harsh winter season. Shoemakers polished somehow sweating in the severe cold. Bankers dressed in dark suits, walking around all snobby with their briefcases and hats. Blake recognized his father idly waiting, becoming impatient with that smug look on his face. The face only found in drunks and wicked people. Blake said his farewells before walking into his father's bank, his father lazily walking behind him. The same bank that provided the school coins in the first place. No wonder Blake was in school, Marcus thought, he was oldest and therefore responsible for taking over the bank once his father passes.

"Well, I'd love to stay and chat, but pops will lick me for forgetting to purchase his cigars." Connor sighed, giving a sad smile before wandering off into the busy town.

They walked a few more miles before heading into the countryside of the village. Where Marcus, Alex, and Connor lived. Blake lived on the other side of town in a grand mansion made with layered bricks to keep out the cold, and rooms stocked with servants ready to bend at any command given by the family.

The countryside was very different.

All the farms were family-run, usually too poor to afford help from anyone other than slaves and children. Crops were a gamble to harvest, with any small factor able to affect the quality family's lively hood. Time's were tough for the countryside of Azark, and this year's winter wasn't helping by any means.

"I'm sorry, Marcus." Alex sighed, much to Marcus's surprise.

"What?" Marcus almost laughed at the sudden change of voice.

"I pretty sure I ruined your first day, and probably got Blake all in a worry." He said, looking up at the pale sky. "Again." He paused for a moment, glaring.

"But, I'm really not a bad person." He growled, kicking at the snow. Marcus was surprised Alex was opening up to anyone, and a kid he just met was even . Yet. nonetheless he deeply cared for Alex and saw straight past his mischievous facade as soon as he sat down in front of him at school. He slowly nodded to show he understood and was listening.

"I disappoint so many people, but it's not like I try too. Especially not Blake, but only the Lord knows how many times I've done that." He muttered under his breath. His breath was visible in the cold; every sigh sends another puff of vapor into the air, dancing like a stray feather flying through the breeze.

"You're not a bad person." Marcus chocked up, his voice strained from the cold. Alex shrugged, laughing to himself.

"I think you're the only one who genuinely considers that." He smiled, but Marcus frowned at this.

"You're family must think that." Alex shook his head at this.

"Unless I start making serious coin, they'll believe all my schooling was for nothing. I'll be left to become my dead-beat brother, who's currently milking cows for little to nothing. Can't establish himself left alone our starving family. Sorry, I ramble when I'm upset." Alex paused, glancing into Marcus's brown eyes and smiling. "Thank you." He whispered.

"For what?" Marcus questioned, tilting his head slightly.

"Listening." Alex smiled. Putting a hand on Marcus's shoulder as an older brother would. They approached Marcus's gate, and Marcus said farewell, pestering Alex about cleaning the wounds, who laughed but agreed. Alex smiled with finally filled with happy thoughts on his mind before walking deeper into the winter snow-storm, which was starting to get dangerous. He hummed a happy tune, finally satisfied with the people he associated himself with.

Later that night, Alex was filed as missing.