Kingdoms In Ruling <Jamilton>

Chapter Nineteen...Constellations for Skin/

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\Philip POV/

Sweat dripped off my brow as I lifted the log onto my shoulder, knees bending to support the weight. The wood was splintered and rotten, yet my boss seemed to think it was good for fire. I blew a stray curl from my face absentmindedly and headed towards the barracks.

"Fuck off, snot-ass!" I heard a shout, so close that I stumbled in surprise, dropping the log. Luckily, it didn't break, I noticed as a sighed a breath in relief. The boss would surely have my head for a slip like that.

I turned to the sound just as a figure crashed into me. I instinctively pushed my arms out and ended up wrapping my arms around a body - both of us fell with a grunt, a small stone digging into my shoulder blade.

"Look what you did, you little shit." A different voice snarled, the person that fell on top of me scrambling up. A heavy boot landed on my ankle and I winced - the slight tremble I felt through the ground indicated that someone tripped over me.

"What I did? You pushed me into the pip squeak!" A solid thump was heard, followed by a soft cry, and I felt something hot drip onto my exposed legs.

I opened my eyes, finally, a stray beam of sunshine struggling through the foliage managing to directly hit my face. I groaned softly, arm going up to cover my eyes, body tilting.

"Fucks sake, man." A hand clamped down onto my shoulder and I was jerked up roughly, world spinning. Fingers snapped impatiently in front of my blinking eyes. "You good?"

"Yeah." I choked out, looking down at my leg to see blood trailing down slowly.

"Oh, that isn't yours." The boy in front of me jerked his thumb back, my eyes following. A different boy was on his back, hands covering his face - blood seeped through his fingers, sliding down his arms in slow pulses - groaning and turning.

"Cinth." The boy seemed unsure why he was suddenly introducing himself, yet I accepted it with a smile. He then held out his hand that wasn't covered in blood, unsmiling, face void from any expression.

I stuck my arm out stiffly, the other rubbing at the sore spot on my back. "Philip."

I heard footsteps, then, and saw a fist swing for Cinth's head. I immediately shoved him out of the way, taking the blow. Pain laced through my jaw and down my neck.

"Oh, fuck!" I heard Cinth shout as I fell back down, letting out a small cry. I wasn't exactly used to such pain just yet - I tend to stay out of trouble, so I don't exactly have any experience with this type of situation.

Hands grabbled for my waist suddenly, causing me to jerk. The person ignored my reaction and wordlessly lifted me up into their arms - my head lolled back against a broad shoulder. My vision was blurry as all I could see was slightly tan skin, then brown as the person looked at me.

"I can't believe I'm fucking doing this." The voice says. I vaguely connected it to the boy I just saved from getting sucker-punched when I closed my eyes, letting myelf slip.

The sound of wind blowing through leaves and the scent of cinnamon were the last things I noticed before I passed out.

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\Hyacinth POV/

Maker, the pip squeak was light. He barely moved at all as I carried him away from the bleeding man on the ground surrounded by splinters of wood, slightly pissed. Normally I would've just left the kid along with him, but the kid looked so innocent - I couldn't be that cruel.

It's weird how I've never saw him before - being here for eighteen years I should've known everybody, but I guess not.

The kid suddenly stirred and I about dropped him, cursing softly, holding him tighter to my body. The wind picked up as I hurried off to my tiny section of land - a small campfire accompanied with a dirty sleeping bag layed across the hard ground.