After two or three miles of weaving through the trees to get as much distance as possible from the coats. "This should be a good place to sleep tonight," I sighed.
"But how are we going to stay warm without sheet," asked Xandra? I took off my shirt and handed it to her though she looked at me funny. "What do you want to stay warm?"
"I can't help but look at your scars. What happened to you for you to get those?"
"That's a story for another time." She gave me the look of defeat and took the shirt, then laid down. "Thomas do you think mother passed Legenia's judgement into a good afterlife?" That's when it hit me she is actually gone and I can't take back what I said. I won't be able to say I'm sorry for all the hurtful things I said. "She passed judgement and is now with my father."
"How can you be so sure and I thought she hated him?"
"I thought the same thing for many years but today most of the story came to the surface. I will tell you when I understand the whole story....Xandra … Xandra?" That's when I heard her starting to snore. I can't blame her we did have an extremely hard day. First last night the coats were after me. Then there was a lots of coats in town square. Finally, they killed mother with us in the next room. I just wish to understand on why they're blaming me.
"Thomas wake up," whispered Xandra.
"Xandra why are yo-" She covered my mouth and that's when I heard it. Horses and men talking to each other and they're camped nearby. I looked at Xandra and gave her a look to stay put. She nodded and I snuck around to see on where they are at. About a hundred feet away from where we camped there was at least three travelers and seven horses talking to a red coat.
"Gentlemen, how are you this fine morning?"
The eldest of the three responded, "We're great except the fact we can't trade anymore in the Orc Empire for the time being."
"Yeah, we were doing great before things started getting shaky up there," continued the middle aged man.
"Other than that how can we help you," asked the elder?
"Well I was wondering if you have seen a young gentleman, about five and a half locks tall, pointed ears, sandy blonde hair, green eyes, sharp jaw line pass you last night or this morning?"
"Not at all it's only been my son and my grandson on this road last night and this morning. May I ask on why the coats are looking for him?"
"He is suspected to be an elf."
"Really is it just because of his ears?"
"Aight it is but his majesty wants to be sure. He is even putting a bounty on him for ten thousand gilles."
"Alright we'll keep an eye out for the young lad."
"Thank you gentlemen I best be on my way back to town now."
"Farewell and good luck finding the young fellow." The coat took his leave and started heading back to town. Once the coat was out of ear shot the eldest exclaimed, "Why the King must be losing his mind to think elves are still around. If we run into the young lad we ought to let him know what is going on."
"But what if the coats found out that we were letting him know on everything," replied his grandson.
"Well so be it because it ain't right to assume he's elvish stating he has pointed ears."
"Aight I just hope he lives long enough for this to pass for him." With that they saddled up and left the area. I started to head back just for me to find Xandra ten feet away from me. I looked at her and asked, "How much did you hear?"
She tried to shrink away but replied, "Enough that they think your an elf." That's when I knew there was absolutely no way of hiding this from her.
"Do you think that's why they killed mama. Just because you have unnormal pointed ears?"
"That could be but we won't know unless I turned myself in."
"NO! Don't you dare think about turning yourself in because if you do I will kill everyone to get you back." That's big talk for a girl whose only thirteen. How could she stand up against his majesty and his followers. Though if anyone is going to be killing it's going to be me.
"Thomas what are you thinking because I need to know to keep you out of trouble."
"I'm thinking we need to get to camp as soon as possible." With that we left the area and started heading toward camp Ares.
Almost nightfall we made it to camp in time for supper. Though everyone had spears, swords, knives, daggers, and bows pointed at us first. Once they realized it was me, they apologized and offered us food. My best friend Edwryd sat down next to us with a look of worry on his face.
"Hey Edwryd what's up? Is everything all right here at camp," I questioned.
"What oh nothing," he replied hurriedly. I could tell he was hiding something behind those sapphire blue eyes. Though if I try to push him things could get as ugly as last time.
"So what brought you back to camp so early Thomas? I mean we weren't expecting you till the end of the month." I looked at Xandra to leave so that way she doesn't have to worry about reliving that nightmare. Once she was out of earshot I replied, "Do you want the long story or short story?"
"I'd prefer the long story so I can better understand what happened these past three days." I told him the whole story starting with the coats following me to how his majesty thinks I'm possibly an elf because I have abnormal pointed ears. Edwryd's eyes seemed to freak out for a second when I said elf as if it was contagious.
"I'm sorry mate about all the drama that happened in such a small time span."
"It's aight I guess, I mean Xandra is still alive. If I lost her I would have started a war against his majesty."
"I understand but remember everyone here will go to war with you so you're not alone." How could he be so sure everyone would join me? Hell before I left three days ago I made a couple enemies because I hate the gods. I mean the gods have only made my life super hellish except for my times at camp stating I feel welcomed compared to anywhere else. Though if they were to go to war with me I would deny their help. I don't want countless bodies dead for a war that we were destined to lose from the beginning.
"Thanks mate it's reassuring to know someone would back me up."
"So how long do you think you and Xandra will be staying?"
"Truth is I have no idea because we have no money, job, or a place to live. I was maybe hoping to stay here I can prove I'm not an elf." It took Edwryd a bit to come up with a response.
He finally replied, "I'm pretty sure mother will be fine with you and Xandra staying here for awhile." The drums started beating in the distance signaling the fire has just begun.
"Come on lets go and make an offering to the gods." We started heading toward the fire and Xandra started to follow us.
"Hey where are we going and what were those drums for," questioned Xandra.
"Those drums were to signal us to start heading toward the fire," replied Edwryd.
"Why must we go to the fire?"
I replied, "We are to make an offering to the gods or a god that you particularly want to have in their favor." With that she remained quiet even as we sat down at the fire. We waited for five minutes for the last bit of camp to make it around the fire. As the last person sat down Mother Tiriana started, "As always thank you for finding time to come down here. Some of you may have noticed that Thomlinar has made it back with his sister."
We stood up from where we are sitting so everyone can see us. There was murmuring all around debating if Xandra is to stay and on why I'm back so soon. "Please Thomlinar and Xandra take what is ours as it's yours." With that we sat back down though the murmuring raged into yelling.
"ENOUGH they are our guests for the time being until the council has a chance to talk about their issue."
"That still doesn't change the fact he hates the gods," yelled someone behind me. I got so fed up I yelled back, "Didn't you accept me before I renounced the gods?"
"Yea but-"
"Enough this time of night is supposed to make us closer and not cause war!" That's when everyone took their que, got up, and took their spots to ask blessing from the gods or certain ones. We all lined up by number of years at camp. So of course Edwryd is closer to the front. Xandra and I at the end of the line. I saved some food to bless the gods though Xandra didn't. I quickly handed her an apple.
"So who are you going to ask to be blessed from?"
"Most likely Legenia and Mathius so our family can maybe happy."
"How are we going to mourn over mama?"
"Truth is I don't know because we don't have money for a burial. Plus we don't know what the coats did with the body," After my comment she stayed quiet. Once it was my turn I mumbled as I through in a few berries and bread, "Lady Legenia and Lord Mathius please have passed mother into the heavens. Please bring good luck upon Xandra and I we're in great need of it. If we have done anything to offend you guys but I hate you because you have never been there for us when we were in need of help."
Once I finished I went back to my seat and watched Xandra do her little thing. Though for how long she was up there I wouldn't doubt that she prayed to every god and goddess that she knows. After a few moments she came back and sat down. Mother Tiriana stood up once more and looked at with pity or I imagined it.
"Everyone," yelled Tiriana. "Thank you as always for honoring the gods. You're all dismissed except the council." Before she completely finished her sentence pretty much everyone got up and tried to leave. After a couple of minutes all there was left was the council of five, Edwryd, Xandra, and I. The council rules over the camp three men, Lionus, Daedalus, and Mitziko. Then there is two women; Mother Tiriana and Zari.
"Thanks for staying after. As you all know Thomlinar is back and his sister," Tiriana gave me a quick look like she's sorry for what happens next.
"What is there to talk about? This kid disrespected the gods and now he wants to come back to us? I already think we should vote on this matter," exclaimed Lionus.
"Why don't we hear his story because it could be something serious Lionus."
"I still have my vote as no, even if it meant life or death for him or us. Either way child lets hear your story."
"So I told them the entire story from the moment I left to the moment I came back. "I'm so sorry," cried Zari.
"Do you want us to have a camp style funeral for her," asked Tiriana.
"If we could please," confirmed Xandra.
"We still need to vote on if he's staying or not and I vote no," exclaimed Lionus.
"He stays," from Tiriana.
"He is staying here," exclaimed Zari.
"He has no point staying here if he disrespect the gods," yawned Daedalus. Two-to-two I looked at Tiriana then to Xandra because one more vote could make or break us. If we have to leave I'll have Xandra turn me in so she can have some money to her name.
"He deserves to stay after everything that happened in the past couple of days." I nearly fell down when I got the verdict. Xandra ran to me and gave me a big hug. Though when I think of it maybe the gods are finally starting to listen to my prayers. Even though it took until after mother's death for things to start going my way. When I looked up still holding Xandra in an unforgiving hug I seen two slender lights in the distance. I squinted to make them out and one looked like an older version of me and... mother! They were holding hands and crying though I don't know why.