Sages

Chapter Two: Changing Tides

Artemis jerked awake. Deep in slumber it took her a moment the realize her body forced her awake. She had been resting on her arm on top of her pillow; her hand went numb, pins and needles in her fingers tips. She groaned at the strange feeling. She sat up and stretched out her arm, moving her fingers slowly to get the circulation going. She yawned. She rested her arm at her side and allowed gravity to take its course. Soon enough, her arm was good as new. She scratched her head, she could have gone straight to sleep but decided to get herself a glass of water. She tossed the blanket off her and shuffled her way to the kitchen. In a small corner with a half wall to separate it from the living room, she flipped the handle up and waited for the water to run through. It made a horrible and loud gurgling sound, as if the faucet was being choked. Luckily, Morris slept through anything. She snored so loudly bombs could barely wake her. After a few moments, water poured through, but it came out brown. The filtration system took a moment to kick in, so she watched mud-water pour into their sink that she would have to clean later for sanitation sake. She went for a glass-only four-and when she came back, clean water was beginning to filter through. She took a deep breath. She never placed her glass underneath right at the beginning. She did a slow count to five before filling up her glass. She turned off the water and put the glass to her lips, the water flowed down her throat and quenched her thirst. She placed the cup down in front of her. Why did she drink from here? This water was artificial, did she have a death wish? Perhaps a part of her did. She shrugged and was ready to head to bed but stopped when she heard something heavy fall outside their door. She didn't think much of it, someone in the Hub must have given in but she couldn't ignore the wheezy and the painful groans. She should have but she couldn't. Breath labored and strained, she had to at least check that it wasn't a child. She went to the door and pulled back the curtain and to her surprise it wasn't a child at all, it was a man but by the look of him he hasn't from the Hub. She searched around for others, but he seemed to be the only one. His face was twisted up in pain and damp with sweat. She went out, barefoot, and kneeled beside the man. Face down into the ground she leaned in. A young face without flaws or scars, fifteen was her best guess. Silk, smooth blond hair splattered across his face. She pushed it away, he was incredibly pale. White as a ghost. He had on a cloak, but it was no ordinary cloak. Fine fabric. Beautifully designed, a member of Noble Society he had to be. But if that was so, how could he be here? She looked again for anyone who might claim him, but he was the only noise to fill this dead night.

"Sir, are you okay?" She whispered.

His eyes, previously closed, opened slightly. They were glossed over, she was sure he couldn't properly see her, but he made her out just enough to touch her arm and grip it tightly.

"Get...out of here...leave...me..." He barely managed to get the words out before his hand dropped and his eyes shut.

She stared at him for a moment. Moving him gently; he passed out. His words were clear enough and she should have abided by them. But Artemis had the horrible trait of never doing as she was told, even in her best interest. She looked back to the house and shook her head. She knew it was a bad idea and yet she was going to ahead with it anyway. She turned the man on his back, shocked by the golden necklace. She took hold of it and studied it carefully. It was beautifully crafted, a dragon's head. She looked onto the young man, he came from wealth but further begged the question of why he was here? The next major city was Exodus, a few days out but no one from there would ever step foot in Rohan. She dropped his necklace and glanced up. She heard approaching footsteps or, better yet, hooves and shouts in the distance. She looked down at the man-she had to get him out of here. She sat him up and put his arm over her shoulder. He didn't look much but he was heavier than she anticipated. She gasped, she was beginning to regret her decision. She took a deep breath and hauled herself, and him, to her feet. She was a little lopsided and if she wasted anymore time, she'd fall to her knees and whoever was coming would find them both and she had the sneaking feeling that that wasn't a good thing. She began to move as quickly as her body allowed with the extra weight, dragging the man in. She was struggling. Why is he so heavy? Did he have jewels on him? She just needed to get him through the door and she'd figure out the rest later. Peeling back the curtain once more, her body buckled, and she crumbled to the ground along with the young man. Her eyes went wide, and she looked over, but the man didn't wake. She felt a little out of her depth. She didn't normally help people. Other people's concerns weren't hers and if this was the special moment that had always waited for her she was upset it came in this fashion.