“Come on Sylva! We gotta get back to the stables before Mr. Bora gets home!” I yell, barely able to say it through my laughter. It was getting late, and Mr. Bora would soon be back home. Back home to the small village stables that we lived and worked on.
“Alright, alright, I’m coming Bell.” Sylva responds, wiping the tears from her eyes and moving her long, white hair behind her ear. We had been fooling around chasing rabbits and Sylva had just noted about how much they reminded her of Yalar, the local bully, seeing as how they’ll act big, but run once you get close. Yalar’s the son of a noble and has a nact for picking on anyone that can’t buy their way out of problems, or threaten to “get their daddy on you”.
“What do you think Mr. Bora will cook tonight?” I ask Sylva, wiping away my own jovial tears.
“I don’t know, I just hope he doesn’t make us go hand hunting again. Last time he did that I had to clean out 12 rabbits.” she said shuddered at the memory. “Shouldn’t he be making you do this? You are the man after all.”
“Yeah, now that you mention it I guess he should. Maybe he just wants you to be able to take care of yourself if you ever have to?” I say, grinning.
Sylva scoffs. “Yeah, and maybe he just wants me to take care of you.” She says, jokingly running her finger down my arm.
“I- I don’t think that's it.” I say backing off, definitely blushing. After Sylva sits there laughing for who knows how long, there is a long pause.“I think he mentioned something about going north in a few months, think he’ll still go through with it?” I ask, if only to break the silence.
“Probably not,” Sylva sighs. “you know how he gets with his crazy schemes, always saying he’ll do something new or change something, but once the time comes we’ll still be here.”
“Yeah,” I agree. “ I guess he does kinda follow that pattern, huh?” I glance over to see Sylva pausing, looking up towards the sky.
“Hey Bell,” She starts. “Do you think we’ll ever make it?”
“Make what?” I ask, almost blushing at the question.
“The Knight Corps, remember our promise?” She explains, holding up her pinky.
“Yeah,” I respond, raising my own to hers, making the promise hold. “I remember, and yes, I do think we’ll make it. First though, let’s get home, I’m starving.” We ran home, practically racing each other. After about 20 minutes of nonstop racing, we reach our quante little home, just in time to see Mr. Bora coming outside.
“So,” Mr. Bora bellows out from his large frame. “would you guys mind telling me where you’ve been running off to for the past two weeks? Did you guys think I wouldn’t notice?”
“We, we,” Sylva starts, glancing over to me, practically begging me for help. “we were-”
“We were practicing in the forest.” I interrupt, trying to take some of the heat off of her. Mr. Bora had a specific kind of ‘look’ he’d give you if he thought you were lying. He would scrunch up his face, pull up the corner of his mouth, and cross his arms. “You know, for the Knight Corps?”
“What?” His eyes widen after hearing the statement. “You two idiots are still going on about that crazy promise? Seriously?” He walks up to me, grasping my shoulders. “Listen Bellum, I know you're trying to impress Sylva but you both have to stop these foolish thoughts.”
“That’s not why-” I start.
“People like us don’t get a chance to join them. We can’t even make it to to Capital. Do you not understand that?” He interupts. He pauses for a moment, then stands up and moves towards Sylva. “And you Sylva, haven’t I already told you about this?” He asks, his voice getting louder and louder, like a humongous drum beat. “Why do you both insist on doing everything in your power to not listen to me? Do you not understand that I’m trying to keep you both from experiencing tremendous amounts of hatred from those who would be around you?”
“But-” Sylva starts.
“BUT NOTHING!” Mr. Bora screams.
“STOP SCREAMING AT HER DAMMIT,” I scream, ripping his hands away from Sylva. “WE ARE BOTH 17, WE CAN HANDLE OURSELVES!” As I say that I feel like I’m being surrounded by something, almost like a shadow.
Mr. Bora looks at me with an odd look, then pauses for a moment. After what feels like an eternity of silence Mr. Bora softly says: “Both of you go to your rooms now, I’m sorry, I apologize for yelling. I’ll bring your dinner in a moment.” As Sylva and I headed back to our room I turned back, and for the briefest of moments I see something I had never seen before. I saw Mr. Bora crying.
YOU ARE READING
The Lullaby
FantasyA lullaby, that was all Bellum could remember about his past. His mother telling him everything would be okay, a man banging on the door, and then a warm light. Now, Bellum lives in a small town with his adoptive father, Mr. Bora, and his best frien...
