World of Tiber

Chapter 46: The Speakers Name

Nightbreeze's PoV

I head to the front of the group and I start walking to Learoths house. I don't want to talk with anyone. Everyone is slowly walking and talking with each other so they haven't been bothering me. I'm remembering how it was to be a slave. Learoth never liked me because I always stood against him in any way I could. That's why when I got punished it was so much worse than anyone else. I also feel guilty. I got out of slavery and I didn't try to help the others. Yea Nava really did help get me out but I still could've tried to bring another person or two. I'm just thinking about my past when the Speaker asks me “What are you doing up here by yourself?”

“Thinking.”

“About what?”

“It's personal.”

“Is it about your life as a slave?”

“Some of it is.”

“I'm sorry. I should've done something to stop it years ago when I knew about it.”

“It's not your fault. You didn't start it. And you don't have any slaves yourself.”

“Is there anything good that has happened to you?”

“Nothing amazing. I was captured when I was seven. I've been a slave for over twenty years. I escaped with Nava's help but I didn't help anyone else escape. I got punished as a slave all the time. I went undercover in the Highlord army after being tortured to get information from them. I was in a relationship with the leader. I did start falling in love with him then I killed him. My childhood best friend turned to the Highlord army. I had to kill him. My dad killed himself. My mom was killed right in front of me. There hasn't been anything amazing except for making great friends. Even though me and Nava argue a lot and she sometimes gets on my nerves she's still a great friend. And she is like our parent. she's the leader of our group and she's like a mom. She worries about us even when we don't want her worrying. She does keep her past a secret but it doesn't bother me.”

“Sounds like they are great friends.”

“What about you? Like what's your real name? They always call you Speaker.”

“My name is Ailmar. What else do you want to know?”

“What was your childhood like? And your past.”

“My dad was the Speaker before me. My dad knew my mom was the one at first sight even though she really did play hard to get. As a kid I was always followed by soldiers anywhere I went. My childhood was uneventful. I was taught how to be the Speaker. My mom died when I was really young so I barely knew her but she was amazing. My dad was captured by the Highlord army when he was out hunting for sport with his soldiers. A couple weeks later they found his dead body. Then I became Speaker.” 

“Sorry about your parents.”

“My mom died from an illness that no one could heal. My dad told me when he left that he wouldn't be coming back and that it was my turn to be Speaker. That I was ready for it. I didn't believe him until they told us he was captured then shortly later that he was dead. But my dad telling me did help me get over his death faster. You had it way worse than me.”

Nava comes up to us and asks “What are you two talking about?”

Ailmar tells her “Your plans for after you leave Qualinesti.”

We go up the steps and go inside the house. The Elves taking care of the kids curtsy when they see Ailmar. He asks them “Are the kids ready to travel? They have a long journey ahead of them.”

One of them tells him “Yes they are. We got them their own bags with some clothes, food, and they each have a waterskin. They should be ready to go. And we helped them get a little better at speaking common. It's still not the best but it's better than when they came here.”