The cabin felt stifling after the encounter with the soldier. Alaric leaned against the door, his mind racing with questions he couldn't answer. What could the boy possibly have done to warrant the king's interest? What danger had Alaric brought into his home by taking Nico in?
Nico sat cross-legged on the floor, fiddling nervously with the hem of his tunic. His wide eyes followed Alaric, searching for reassurance that Alaric wasn't sure he could provide.
"What's going on?" Nico finally asked, his voice trembling.
Alaric sighed and ran a hand through his hair. He didn't want to push the boy, but he needed answers. If he was going to protect him, he had to know the truth. He crouched down to meet Nico's gaze, his voice steady but firm.
"Nico, who are you? Why is the king looking for you?"
The boy's hands froze, his expression shifting from fear to guilt. He looked down, avoiding Alaric's eyes.
"I… I didn't mean to cause trouble," Nico said softly. "I just… I ran away."
Alaric's brow furrowed. "Ran away? From where? Why?"
Nico hesitated, fidgeting with his tunic again. "From the castle. My family… they weren't good people."
The words hung in the air, heavy and loaded with implications. Alaric stared at Nico, trying to reconcile the timid boy in front of him with someone connected to the royal family.
"You're… from the castle?" Alaric asked slowly, his voice barely above a whisper.
Nico nodded, his small frame trembling. "I wasn't born there. I was adopted. They called me their son, but… they never really wanted me. I think they just needed me for something."
Alaric's chest tightened. He knew what royal families were like, the way they used people like pawns in their endless games of power. If Nico was telling the truth, then it wasn't surprising that the boy had been discarded when he no longer served a purpose.
"What did they need you for?" Alaric pressed gently.
Nico shook his head. "I don't know. I just… I heard them talking about me once, about how I was special. But I didn't feel special. I felt like… like I was just a thing they owned."
The boy's voice cracked, and Alaric's heart clenched. He saw himself in Nico—used, abandoned, and left to fend for himself.
"You're not a thing," Alaric said firmly. "Whatever they wanted from you, it doesn't matter now. You're here, and I won't let them take you back."
Nico's eyes filled with tears, but he nodded, his small hands clutching the fabric of his tunic.
---
As the afternoon wore on, Alaric couldn't shake the feeling of unease. He had made a promise to Nico, but how could he keep it? The kingdom's reach was vast, and Alaric's secluded life in the forest wouldn't be enough to shield the boy forever.
While Nico rested in the cabin, Alaric went outside to chop firewood. The repetitive motion helped calm his nerves, but his mind remained a storm of thoughts. The soldier's words played on a loop in his head: The boy must be found.
What did the king want with Nico? And why now, after the boy had escaped?
The sound of approaching footsteps snapped Alaric out of his thoughts. He turned, gripping the axe tightly, only to see a familiar face emerge from the trees.
"Cyril," Alaric said, his tone a mix of surprise and suspicion.
The man before him was tall and lean, with sharp features and a knowing smile. He carried a bow slung over his shoulder and moved with the practiced ease of someone who had spent years surviving in the wild.
"Alaric," Cyril said, his voice smooth as silk. "It's been a while."
"What are you doing here?" Alaric asked, setting the axe down but keeping his stance guarded.
"I heard rumors," Cyril said, leaning casually against a tree. "Something about a boy from the castle hiding out here. Thought I'd come see if it was true."
Alaric's jaw tightened. "You shouldn't be here."
Cyril chuckled. "Relax, old friend. I'm not here to stir up trouble. Just thought you might need some help."
"Help with what?"
"With keeping the boy safe," Cyril said, his tone turning serious. "You think the king's men will stop with one visit? They'll come back, and next time, they won't be so polite."
Alaric's eyes narrowed. "Why do you care?"
Cyril's smile faded, replaced by a grim expression. "Because I know what the kingdom does to people like him. He's not just some runaway, Alaric. He's important. And if they get their hands on him…"
He didn't finish the sentence, but the weight of his words was clear.
Alaric crossed his arms, studying Cyril. He didn't trust him—not completely—but Cyril's presence brought a glimmer of hope. The man had connections, knowledge of the kingdom's inner workings. If anyone could help Alaric protect Nico, it was him.
"What do you know about him?" Alaric asked, his voice low.
Cyril glanced toward the cabin. "Not much. Just that he's special. Something about his bloodline, maybe. Whatever it is, the king wants him back badly enough to send soldiers into the forest. That alone should tell you how valuable he is."
Alaric's chest tightened. He didn't know what to make of Cyril's words, but one thing was clear: Nico was in far more danger than he had realized.
"What do we do?" Alaric asked, the weight of his responsibility settling over him like a heavy cloak.
Cyril's lips curved into a sly grin. "We make it hard for them to find him. If they're going to hunt, we'll make sure they're chasing shadows."
Alaric didn't like the sound of it, but he didn't have a better plan. For now, he would have to trust Cyril.
As the two men began to strategize, the forest seemed to grow darker, as though the trees themselves were bracing for the storm to come.
Inside the cabin, Nico watched from the window, his small face etched with worry.
---
End of Chapter 5