The stars shiver into the reflection of the lake, i stay motionless looking at them.
"Would you want to stay here more?" the mesmerizing voice penetrates my ears.
A man in his fifties, with a rough gray beard, missing teeth and black eyes with a crazy look speaks beside me with his hands behind his back.
Staying here... The shimmering water reflects into my eyes.
My heart tightenes and i coff blood. I contort my face.
"Why are using this body?" I ask him cleaning my bloody hand on my dark clothes.
He chuckles and looks at his body "this is the first man i killed, it is a sort of tradition between us to choose the first man we killed" he gets closer and looks at the lake "when we get here it helps us remind who we were before that"
"Who was your first kill?" he touches his beard.
My eyes vacant "myself"
He chuckles.
I bite my lip. What did i do?
...
Two years before.
I let the arrow go. A slight breeze presses againts my face. The arrow flies againts the trunk of the tree, it vibrates for a few seconds and then stays still.
Clap, clap, clap.
I turn to my left, on a bench three people are sitting, Liver on the middle, with long brown hair, a blue jacket and an open white shirt is applauding at me in a jokingly manner, he has a book on his legs.
"You got better Tomh"
I give the bow to Will beside me, he has short red hair and frickels filling his face, he is much shorter than me.
"I hope so or else I've just waisted months of my life"
Will grabs the bow and puts himself in the position of shooting "i wish i could grow up faster" he says with a beaming smile "i cannot wait when i will be able to use it"
I roughel his hair "the time will come, you just have to listen to me" i jokingly say to him.
"Will stay as you are, when you grow up you will become despicable as all the men around me" Alina says beside Liver, she has short black hair, a small white hat on the top of her head and a long white dress, under the beaming.
Her eyes dark and lifeless.
I awkwardly smile at her and wipe the sweat from my forehead, she looks at me and then looks away.
"Alina you should know it isn't men fault but yours, who can love you when you act like that" Liver says leaning back "look at Tomh, you left him there standing, you should give him a smile back, am i right Troer?" He looks at Troer, with a slight darker skin than them, he is reading a book, ignoring the conversation, i can only see his black hair. He looks up and then says "you are always right boss" his eyes are slightly less open than thiers.
"What are you reading about?" Liver says to Troer.
"About the war accross the Bridge, it seems my people got involved"
I get closer and sit down on the grass, listening.
"It was time, you people are always late" Aline says giving only a side look to Troer. Will sits beside me with bow in between his legs.
"General Ravor isn't someone you go against just because, we had to know the condition before going in" he retorts.
"Yes yes" she exhales "keep telling yourself that"
Liver looks at them in excitement and then looks at me "what do you think Tomh? They are going against your people, but at the same time they are helping your people, witch side do you support?"
The question suprises me. The people here or the people of my late mother accross the Bridge.
"I don't know" i say putting my arms on the ground.
Alina gives me a look of disgust.
"What?" I say to her.
"You cannot even choose on your own values, what kind of man are you?"
I bitterly smile. I already know the answer but you might not like it, here you cannot have a different opinion.
"Values? I simply don't know because I don't have enough information yet, i cannot choose"
She smacks her lips lightly "what kind of thinking is this, you choose after you know the situation, this isn't a value, this is the behavior of the parvar"
I sit in silence not trying to get her mad. I will hear from father if i do.
Still... What is she talking about, you need to know what is happening before making a choice. Adults are weird.
"This is what happens when your mother isn't there to raise you"
My mind shut off, i give her a cold glance, holding myself back.
Liver looks at me and then smiles awkwardly.
"Come on Alina, don't say that it isn't nice" he closes the book "you know, what happened..."
"I know what happened" she looks me in the eyes with disdain.
Cursed child... This words echos in my mind, i keep my eyes on her. Come on say it.
"He isn't a man, he hasn't taken his powers yet" Troer says out of nowhere.
My eyes open unconsciously.
"What?" I say to him, Alina and Liver turn to him.
He keeps reading his letter "he isn't a man, he is sixteen and hasn't have powers yet, so he cannot be a man"
That was a contort way of.... Defending me? Troer defending me?
Liver gives a side look to him, his face darker "during the night that might be true but when the sun comes out, well..."
I look up, the sun burns my eyelids, i flinch and close my eyes.
When the sun comes down we are all the same...
"That's even worse, why are you not taking your powers?" She asks with curiosity painted in her face.
This woman... She only cares about others.
I get up and sigh "is this an inquisition? I don't want to die young, i want to be ready before taking them, happy?"
The energy for being nice are ending. I turn towards Will and i pull my arm out and he gives me the arch back.
Why can't people leave me alone? They should look at their lives.
They look at me for a few second and then start talking with each other.
I slowly walk towards the tree and grab the arrow from the tree.
PHEW. The air splits apart, i immediately lunge down.
CRACK. I look up and an arrow is conficated inside the tree, only the back of it out.
How strong...
I look around but don't see anyone. The bow ready in my hands.
"Calm down Tomh" a mocking voice comes from behind, i turn around and a guy comes out of the forest, he has short brown hair and eyes, his jaw prominent, he has a stedy build, way better than mine, a confident and mocking smile painted in his face. Henry...
I wipe the sweat running down my face. Shit that was fast.
His hands are free. Just with his bare hands...
"Lord Henry, it's nice to see you" Liver says getting up.
Troer takes his eyes out of the book and straightens his back.
Alina gets up too and gives a slight bow "how was the hunt?"
He surpass me giving me a quick glance.
"Boring, we were too many, they scared all the animals"
"What did you get?" Will asks to his brother.
"You will see when they bring them"
I get up and loosen my grip on the bow "what are you doing?" I say to him.
He turns towards me and smile "i wanted to see your reflex, you know, if they were the same as those of peasants"
Alina giggles. Bitch...
Im about to responde when Henry turns around "tell me Troer, what is happening?"
Troer eyes glimmer "we joined the fight, it seems we have the advantage now, even if general Ravor has taken control of the castle at the edge"
Henry listens in silence, his blue clothes looking regal on him. "You shouldn't say your people, you are one of us now since you took the oath" his voice softer compared to when talking to me "those people that stay there or don't take the oath have nothing to do with us, just animals with clothes"
I grab the bow and put it up, i aim it to Henry head and let it go.
The movements are so fast i cannot see them, the next second Henry is facing me with the arrow in his hand. In his eyes i can see a shade of anger, supressed deep inside.
"Oh sorry i was just testing your reflex" i say smiling. You cannot show anger infront of them, isn't it right?
He lets the arrow fall. Will immediately picks it up and stands back.
"I heard the king has taken a special interest on you" he says out of nowhere.
Everyone around seem shocked by the phrase that Henry outed. To know what the king was up to, not many people in the world could.
"On me?" I ask suprised.
He nods "yes, it seems your father has begged the king to convince you to take the powers" he turns around towards Liver and Alina "he might be a rival of mine in the future, he thinks that if he is too weak that i might not have a real challenge for the role of the head of the council"
Begged... The word didn't get unnoticed by everyone but they acted as if they didn't.
Piece of shit, i know the game you are playing.
"My brothers will take care of that, i have other things to do" i say trying to act like i don't care.
"Your brothers? What happens if they die?" He turns his face towards me "and what is that important that makes you not interested in a long life of power and wealth?" The last question a real one for the first time, like he couldn't understand whyi wouldn't get my powers.
"Like i have to respond to you"
I clinch my fist. Why is everyone so interested in my life and my choices?
He smiles "you don't but tonight you will have for the king, and i don't think he will let you choose otherwise"
"That's good" Alina says with a low voice.
I click my tounge and walk away "we'll see"
"Come on don't get mad" he says out loud.
I put a hand up "i have things to do"
I throw the bow on the ground and keep walking.
Shit, if it's true, tonight i will be cornered. I bit my lip. Like hell, i will not let him, i don't care if he is the king.