The Silver Haired Boy {Silver Series Short Story}

Part Five

                I reached the edge of the forest just at high sun. I could see my parents through the trees, their eyes were frantically searching the trees for me. Standing behind them was my brother, picking at his nails and looking at the ground, mom had probably forced him to come with them, I know he could care less about what happened to me. Standing beside my father was the young knight who had been forced to escort me to the forest, he was also looking for any sign of me, but he didn't seem nearly as worried as my parents, he seemed to be genuinely curious about how this past week had gone for me. Then, behind them all on a horse sat the knight, Paul Maverick, the man who had sent me out here in the first place. He was grinning, waiting to announce that I was certainly dead. I waited, the young knight tried to console my crying mother, tried to give her hope as she turned away from the forest. She and the rest of my family began walking away from the tree line. I couldn't make her wait anymore. Just as Maverick was about to say something I emerged from the trees.

               "Y'all weren't about to give up on me now were you?" My mother turned and screamed before running to me and locking me in a tight hug. Maverick glared at me as my father wrapped his arms around us.

                "I knew you'd make it back kid!" The young knight said. My mother loosened her grip on me, settling with claiming my hand and I walked over to him.

                "Did you now?" I laughed and stretched out my free hand for him to shake.

                "Of course." His hand shook mine before returning to rest on his sword. "You said you had a plan when you went in. So I simply decided to believe it would work out."

                "Well I just had to make it back because I realized I'd completely forgotten my manners the last time we spoke and never asked your name."

                "The name's Taylor."

                "Well, hey there Taylor." We laughed. Mother had started to pull me towards our home when Maverick cleared his throat.

                "Well, as a knight I always live up to my word. You are completely forgiven for your actions. You are free to go." Without another word or glance he tugged on his horse's reins and turned back towards the castle.

                 My mother wouldn't stop clinging to me for the rest of the night. My father and Taylor spent the entire night questioning about my time in the forest and about how I'd managed to evade the Beast. The only normal one was my brother, who barely made any attempt to speak to me, just let the Taylor and dad do all the talking. I jumped at the chance to get away from them when my mother told them to stop badgering me because I must be exhausted and should sleep.

                 My mother woke me up the next morning, scaring me half to death because I'd gotten used to sleeping in late in the cave.

                  "Caiden, just because you survived the Beast in the forest does not mean that you can slack off now that you're back. Now go get the flower cart and get your ass up to the castle and, please, for the love of the Gods, do not go near that Maverick fellow. And change your clothes before you go." She said before leaving me alone in my small bedroom.

                   "Yes mother!" I called out. I got up and changed my clothes before going outside to retrieve the flower cart. Surprisingly I found Taylor leaning against the cart, waiting for me.

                   "Your mom asked me to chaperone you today so that you don't wind up spending another seven suns in the forest."

                   "I don't understand why she is so paranoid. I'm fine and I'm obviously never going near Maverick again. There's nothing more for her to worry about. I'm home and I'm not going anywhere."