First Well Chapter Thirteen

welp…….here we go. Not a very happy chapter. A long chapter. But not a happy one. Oy. Well, let’s just get into it shall we? (Oh, and I’m putting chapter titles now lol)

CHAPTER THIRTEEN: THE BOOK

Artham was asleep, and Esben was watching his brother rest. He was wrestling with guilt in his soul. Artham had practically sobbed his heart out in guilt and heartbrokenness last night. And yet….he clutched the side of his coat. It was still there. That little bound book. That book….oh could he dare show Artham? It would rock his brother to his core.

But hadn’t everything? Would this hurt him so much that he shouldn’t mention it? He started to pull it out, but then Artham stirred and he shoved it in his coat.

Another time. For now, he would watch his brother sleep and try not to think about that.

He was still looking at his brother intently when he heard  noise. Lifting his eyes, he looked toward the cell door, and saw Amarah unlocking the door. He stiffened. She gave a dubious looking smile and raised her finger to her lips, putting a finger at Artham, who gave a slight snore.

That brought peace to Esben. His brother never snored in his sleep, and only did when completely exhausted, or when he started to wake up.

Amarah took a step in. “How’s your companion?” Her voice was hushed.

Esben glanced at his brother, who stretched slightly, and whose eyes slightly fluttered open, but then closed again.

“I’m quite happy with him, thank you.” Esben did not whisper. He even spoke in a bit of a louder tone, and tried to touch his brother’s foot and shake him awake.

Amarah smiled. “Then perhaps you’d be interested in my other guests….”

That caught Esben’s attention, and he looked up, as she came in further. She had one large chain in her hand, and the keys dangled at her hip. She removed the chains that bound him to the wall, and then tied the chain around his wrists. She didn’t look at Artham, but Esben did, and noticed his eyes were half open, and he was watching Esben intently.

Amarah walked away, and leaned against one of the posts. “Get up, uncle.”

Esben winced. He hated hearing that word from her….from his other niece’s lips it slipped off her tongue so sweetly that his heart thrilled at the sound of it. But the way she said it made his heart shrink.

Esben stood, and now Artham raised himself to his elbows, his eyes now wide.

“I’d rather not leave my brother here alone.”

“Oh, well, you see, I have plans for your brother. And plans for you. I think it’s best if you leave him alone for now.”

Artham opened his mouth to say something, but then his mouth suddenly closed. His eyes were fixated on the ground. On a certain point. On a certain book.

Esben cringed. It had fallen out of his pocket! Amarah seemed to smile when she saw Esben’s face.

“What book is that, uncle?” She advanced forward, and Esben stood in front of it, but in moments a Wanderer detained him immediately, and then Artham was up, but another Wanderer detained him.

She picked up the little novel. “Hmm. My father’s brother was clever. Keeping all these things about Arthra, Arundelle,Madia, even yourself, Uncle Artham. Plus….the you know what’s are listed in here,” she said in a sing-songy voice.

Artham blushed. Then looked at Esben. He mouthed, ‘What is this?’

Amarah caught the look. “Well, while Esben comes and looks at his guests, maybe you could read this!” She dropped it on the ground, and the Wandere holding Esben dragged him out. Artham struggled against the Wandered that detained him. Anger burned in him.

In moments, the Wanderer was thrown off his back, his chains broke in a lighting like snap, and he was on the Wanderers clutching Esben. He soon was knocked down, but Amarah ran out of the room with a scream.

When the brothers were alone, Esben’s face looked guilty.

“What is that book?”

“It’s….it was given to me by Dralden. You remember he had two brothers? One named Wilden, the other Kalden. Kalden…..he worked with Bonifer. He charted things about Ari ever since after you got married, and things about Arthra, and about you. And about, what I went back for—, the item for the dragons. He sent it off to someone, or tried to, but Dralden intercepted it, and—“

“Why didn’t you tell me? You know I’ve had…safety concerns about them for years and you didn’t—“ Artham faltered.

“Never mind. It doesn’t matter.”

But it did. Who wanted to know these things about his wife? His daughter? Himself? The secrets of his home? Things only Throne Wardens and Kings needed to know?

Somehow it clicked in his mind. Was there someone worse than Gnag moving? Was Gnag…..dare he say it….a distraction? What kind of sick person would use a distraction so magnanimous. A distraction that caused so much destruction.

He looked at Esben, who looked like a little boy in trouble. “I’m sorry Artham. I really am. I should have told you….but I didn’t. I’m sorry….I don’t know why I did.”

Artham wanted to feel angry, but how could he? He would just have to move on, though he thought, with a grim smile, that if he had found out just ten years before, Esben would be on thin ice.

“It’s okay Es. Right now, we need to get out of here. Amarah won’t be gone forever.”

Artham broke his brother’s chains, and they both went through the corridors, dodging Wanderers who were on high alert since Amarah has spread word. They managed to find a main corridor, which seemingly was empty. There were doors on all sides.

“We should be safe in here for now,” Artham whispered.

On the opposite side of where they were, was large door, made of oak with a gold frame. It was beautiful, and much out of place in such a dingy place as Throg.

Thoughts swam in the brother’s minds.

Esben knew his brother was still agitated. But he knew why. His brother still felt like a failure around Esben. He knew Artham couldn’t be mad at him because of all he had done. But Esben would have much preferred his brother’s anger over this silence and concern over his face.

Artham looked fifteen years older than he really was. Esben knew his brother was bound to change in the nine years, but there never were those bags under Artham’s eyes. He never looked so thin before. There were many small appearances that only Esben’s (and Arundelle’s) eyes could detect, and Esben almost felt like scolding his brother for not taking care of himself.

Artham was just trying to think of a way to get himself and his brother safely out of there. No one knew where they were, so that was to his advantage. But this was the main corridor! Surely Amarah would check there soon.

Both brothers stiffened as the door behind them, the large one that I have made mention of, slowly creaked open, and then a little voice cried out, “Uncle Artham!”

Artham whipped his around and saw Leeli bound in chains. It broke his heart to see her. But then he saw Nia, and, “Podo?!”

His face paled in shock. But then Nia’s did the same thing as she whispered, “Esben?”

Esben was a confused mixture of joy and anger.

At the head of the group was Emerald, who ordered, in a faltering voice, for the Wanderers who dragged in the Igibys (and Helmer, Reteep, and Cobbler) to bind the brothers. Artham tried to fight back, but when a second Wanderer clonked him on the back of the head with a small wooden club, he fell to his knees, almost unconscious.

“So this…is what you are now, huh?” Artham slurred, before passing into yet another unconscious stupor.

okay. So. On the plus side, Esben is (sort of) with his family! Right?

And Amarah isn’t there, so that’s nice, right?!?

And…..we learned out about a key factor in my story, so that’s good, RIGHT!?!?!