Heh. Hello. Well, we have an interesting chapter to tell. Heh………NIbbick.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN: BACK TO NORMAL
Artham was one hundred percent better. There were no more complaints of pain, and his suspension was over. Though really, the Guildmaster didn’t believe Artham had started the fight. But he knew boys don’t want their battle fought for them, and he wanted Artham to get a break. Nibbick got off with a warning, though Stubb watched him. He watched Nia too. Thankfully, Artham did not have to run the laps, and no one questioned him.
Artham was happy to be back at school, even if he had to avoid Nia and Nibbick, and all of Nibbick’s friends. He was relieved that his Guildmaster didn’t pair him against Nibbick or any of his friends in the wrestling.
Esben and Emerald had were also having a nice time of it, except they avoided the same people Artham avoided, as a loyalty to him. Emerald even stopped speaking to Nia, and Nia stopped sitting with them. She had never gone up to Artham or Esben or Emerald’s room when they lived with her. The guilt and shame was too great. Everyone treated her differently now. Those who followed Nibbick were nice to her, and those who were against him were strange towards her.
Esben and Emerald did have one severe trial that they both talked about practically every day.
“Our age,” Esben muttered, looking at his fruit with a sundry face.
“I know,” Emerald said.
“Artham is three years older than me, and five years older than you. He’ll be sixteen in two months. A man.”
Emerald sighed. “Then he’ll get married and abandon us.”
“Yeah. We will get to go home when he turns sixteen, but he’ll be able to boss us around. It gets worse and worse.”
“I don’t think Artham will just boss us around, Es.”
“True. But he might.”
“What are you two talking about?” Artham asked as he sat down by them with his tray full of food.
“You,” Esben said grumpily.
“What about me?”
“Your age,” Emerald said with a frown.
“What about it?”
“You’ll be sixteen in two months, and then you’ll be all grown up, and get married, and leave us,” Esben said grumpily.
Artham’s face turned serious.
“Look, guys, I’m the Throne Warden,” he said in a quiet voice. “You two, especially Esben, are my priority. You’ll come above anything else in my whole life. Anything. You don’t have to worry about me leaving you. Never. As far as I can see, I will always be by one of your sides.”
Esben looked down. Emerald looked at Artham and sniffled.
“You promise?” Emerald said.
“Of course.”
As they continued eating lunch, Nibbick Bunge came up to their table.
“Hey uh, Artham?”
Artham froze, and then he looked up. “What?”
“I need ta talk to ya. After school.”
“About what?” Artham could feel the hairs on his neck stand up straight.
“Man stuff,” he said with a condescending smile at Esben and Emerald.
“Fine. I’ll meet you…where at?”
“Beside the school.”
“Fine.”
Nibbick smiled and walked off.
“Artham, are you sure you know what you’re doing?” Esben asked, concern.
“No, but we’ll just have to wait and see.”
“I hope you’ll be okay,” Emerald said worriedly.
“I’ll be okay.”
Would he?
Will he? 😏
Nope. Probably not. sighs and scribbles something down before grabbing my thermos of tea and walking after the stampede that is my children