Bound By Madness

73. That Matters

"This way, Faith. Ellery is in this direction," Amicus whispered from behind me, nudging me on the side with the path he wanted me to steer the horse down, as I tried to keep the horse from going the wrong way.

How does everyone else manage to keep these beasts from just bolting off with them? And why do they have to be so huge? Never again, Amicus! After we find Cicero and Ellery, I'm never going to get on one of these beasts again! Not without someone else to steer them! I'm starting to see why Ellery doesn't like them so much! They might look trustworthy, but it's definitely a trap to lure people into getting on their backs!

"I'm sure that with enough practice, you would not have such problems with them. After all, you got along well enough with Cicero's horse. Take the left branch up ahead, the one leading northward. We need to go north," he mumbled, his arms wrapping around me as he tried to comfort my trembling form. "We are already so far behind them. I don't know how our Jester Assassin can keep going for so long. Has he even taken any rest breaks? We have been riding for two days already, Faith. We can't keep going like this. You need to rest."

I'll rest when we find our Cicero! I'm not stopping until I know he is safe! North, the north path... There! Hurry, horse! Go faster!

I would have shouted the words if only I could, but nudging the horse with my feet would have to do. Feeling it pick up its pace beneath me, I leaned forward and prayed that I would be able to keep my spot upon the beasts back.

Please, Mother. Please, help us make it in time. Keep my Cicero alive. Don't take him from me yet, I'm not ready. I can't lose him yet, please Mother. Let me keep him, at least for a while longer. Please. I'll do anything you ask, just don't take him from us.

North. Cicero was north of us with Ellery and so we would go north. Ever and always north.

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Yet another horse, this one brown instead of black, stretching as it sped northward on the path beneath my trembling legs. I could barely keep my eyes open, relying on Amicus to keep me from falling off the saddle those rare times I couldn't keep myself awake any longer.

Of course, even he could only do so much  and there had been a few times that I awoke to the horse pushing its nose against my face, new bruises added to the ones I already had. But we were finally getting closer, Amicus insisting he could almost hear Ellery's stressed cackling from just a little further ahead of us. And so each time I fell, I climbed back into the saddle and turned the horse back northward, ignoring the pain in my body and the ache of my empty stomach.

Those things could wait, but who knew if Cicero would be able to... No, everything else could wait until I knew he was safe. And if he wasn't... No, no, he had to be okay! He had to be!

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I stared in horror at the blood before me, the Too Tall Nord sprawled on the ground as he groaned in pain from the wound on his side. How could this be happening? How could our family be falling apart like this? How could they hurt each other like this?

Ahh, but if our Brother was alive, then surely my Cicero was also alive! After all, he wasn't out here so that must mean he escaped somehow!

Brother! Brother, where is my Cicero at? Why did you two hurt each other? What happened to cause such terrible things to happen?!

Running over toward him, I barely managed to keep on my feet until I got to him, sprawling on the ground at his side as I pushed his hands away so I could see his wounds. Such terrible wounds... Reaching into my pouch, I pulled out one of the healing potions I'd stuffed inside what must be days ago by now and pushed it toward his lips before his hand reached up and grabbed the bottle.

"Trying to poison me for hurting your Fool? I gave as good as I got, you know... He'll be-" he scowled as he looked at me, his wincing as he pulled himself up against the nearby rock, only stopping his words when I snatched the potion from him and downed it as he watched before pulling out another and pushing it once more toward his lips.

Drink, you idiot Nord! I'll not lose a Brother, even if he has proved himself stupid! Even if you seem to have forgotten how to treasure our Family, that doesn't mean I have forgotten as well! Now drink!

Pushing the bottle against his lips, I scowled at him until he finally brought his own hand up and tilted the bottle to pour the liquid into his mouth. Watching me with a frown, he sighed as his wound finally stopped bleeding.

"Why would you heal me after I admitted that I hurt him? Shouldn't you want me dead?" He stared at me, leaning more heavily against the rock as he looked down at his side, prodding gently at the tender looking skin.

Slapping his hand away, I pulled out a clean rag and poured a splash of another healing potion on it before I began gently wiping at the area, finally handing the rag to the man. Grabbing some charcoal from another pouch, I turned to another rock and wrote on it, dropping some coins on the ground after I was done.

'When you are well enough, go to the town nearby and get healed. Then go home. Our family is worried enough, don't make them mourn a Brother's loss when you are still alive.'

Turning away, I walked to the Black Door I had not even noticed until he'd mentioned it with a wave of his hand. I hurried my step when I noticed Ellery sitting beside the Door, lifting his head at my approach.

Ellery! Ellery, are you okay? Did you get hurt? How badly is our Cicero hurt? Oh, Ellery! Thank you for following him for me! Thank you!

"Well, I told you I would keep watch on him for you. I couldn't just leave him to escape alone. And if I hadn't, then how would you get inside without the password? Besides, you need both of us with you to open the Black Door, so at least this way I got to rest for a while before you arrived," he said, slowly climbing to his feet before walking over and brushing my hair away from my face. "And Faith? You're welcome."

Blinking up at him, I fidgeted for a moment before stepping back.

Oh... Umm, let's get the Door open so we can go find our Jester Assassin. He needs us, right? I've used up enough time!

Taking a step toward the Door, I placed my hand upon its cold surface, closing my eyes as I felt Amicus pat my shoulder as he stepped up next to me. Soon, another hand rested on my shoulder as Ellery placed his left hand against mine.

"Let's save our Fool. After all, we can't just let him die. It would break your heart and... I don't want to see you cry like that again. Once was enough, dear Valencia. I'll not let it happen, not again," Ellery said softly before turning to the door and waited for Amicus to place his hand upon the door.

What... is life's greatest... illusion?

Soon Ellery was whispering the words, "Innocence, my brother. A great illusion, indeed. And one that far too many shatter beyond repair, often without a thought of what they do until it is far too late to apologize."