Separated

 

Sitting up, Fallon held Erthen to his chest as he scanned the room. He counted fifty or so People, none of them from the Jade tribe, most huddled together in small groups, stirring in the brightening room. A snarling noise at the entrance caused everyone to turn. Straining at the end of ropes, two young wolfbear led two Cawthingi guards, their arm muscles bulging with the effort to restrain the beasts.

Fallon turned to Drindl. “Wolfbear?”

Drindl shushed him. “Dog.” Looking closer, Fallon could see the distinction. Their front paws did not turn in as they walked. Their jaws were slimmer.

As the dogs circled along the outer wall, the People shrank from the threat, moving toward the entrance. Alpen motioned for them to do the same. Erthen, silent and in shock at the strange animals, twisted in Fallon’s arms as he followed their movements. Alithea took Fallon’s arm as they hurried to the entrance, then down the stone steps.

When they got to the corridor, a Cawthingi guard herded them aside with a long spear. Alpen began to put up some resistance, but Fallon cautioned, “Not here.” The guard motioned to Fallon to give him the boy. Fallon pretended like he did not understand. The guard said something and reached for Erthen, but Fallon stepped back and asked Alithea, “What is school? They want to put Erthen in a school place.”

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Alithea looked at him with a questioning look, then glanced at the guard and turned again to Fallon. “That’s where Bebe and I went when we were younger. That is where I learned medicine and surgery; Bebe the history of our people.” Looking out of the window opening, she saw a small group of other young People. What was this?

Then two more guards came forward and made threatening gestures. Alithea took some small comfort that they did not beat them. They did not want to hurt Erthen. Perhaps there was a school. She turned to the guard and motioned with her hand to her mouth, then to Erthen. The guard nodded and spoke something.

“He’s saying that Erthen will be well cared for,” Fallon murmured. He did not want ot betray his understanding of their language.

“Will they return Erthen tonight?”

“Tonight?” Fallon asked and gestured with his free hand.

One of the guards answered an impatient yes and signaled that they would bring Erthen back to the corridor tonight. “You work,” he swept his arm to the others, then repeated the word “work.” Fallon repeated the word and nodded.

Alithea spoke in a soft voice to the boy and he fell out of Fallon’s arms to hold onto his mother. She pointed to the other children outside and make an up and down motion with his arm. “Playing,” she said and smiled. She hoped the strain did not show in her face. She kissed the boy, then held him forward. As soon as she released the boy, the guard scooped him into his arms a bit too roughly and Alithea regretted her acquiescence.

When the guard turned away, the two other guards blocked her and Fallon. Alithea looked out the window opening to see the guard set Erthen down on the ground. One of the older children took Erthen by the hand. Alithea gasped when she saw a Fae in a flowing white gown lead the group away. It was the first time that she had seen a Fae without warrior clothing.