The Broken Ones

Chapter 8:3 - Returning

Ana’s stomach growled and Ana’s pale cheeks got some of its glow back as they turned red.
-This is all Jagger’s fault, I’m never hungry in the morning. Better get something to eat.
She swung her right leg over the edge and carefully lifted the left leg from the bed. She tried to stand but faltered and to sit down again.
-Soi, can you give me my staff?
She reached for it where it leaned against the wall.
-Of course. Before we go down there is one thing I need to talk to you about.
-Well, it will have to wait after I’ve eaten, otherwise I will kill someone.
She limped to the door and Soi followed her.
-It’s about Nibbles.
-No, Ana said with a firm voice and took the first steps down the stair.
-No what? Soi looked surprised at her.
-No, I don’t think he run because of the rumors of the flute.
-I don’t either, but that’s not what I was going to say.
They were at the last step and he grabbed her shoulder and turned her around.
-Listen to me, he said under his breath. –Nebelius Silver is here. And he’s in the company of two men, the older of them miss three fingers on his right hand.
Ana’s eyes filled with suspicion and her jaws tensed.
-I think he’s a…
Before he could tell her about his suspicion a hand decorated with one too many rings and jewelry was put on her shoulder where Soi’s own hand had recently lied. Ana’s eyes flared open for a moment before she recomposed her expression to a resolute and bored look.
-Nibbles, Soi did precisely tell me you were in town.
Nibbles put his one-eye face next to Ana’s and kissed the line of her neck, playfully sinking his teeth into her neck.
-Missed me much, sweetheart? He whispered with a seductive voice and his eye locked with Soi’s slanted ones. Soi felt a chill run down his back like a drop of water when he realized the question was directed to him. But fortunate for Soi, Ana answered it.
-I think your stallion missed you more. Can you stop drooling over my shoulder, it’s hard to stand straight as it is!
She shot Nibbles a cold glance.
-I understood you had some kind of trouble. So it’s your leg that’s bothering you? Nibbles looked truly concerned.
-Among many things. Jagger’s forcing me to eat breakfast, Ana whined.
-Oh, dear girl. Yes, I can see that now, you look positively sick.
Nibbles nodded caringly, put his jewelry covered hand to his cheek and pouted a little with his mouth- drowning in empathy like an old lady.
-Oh please, a bit of breakfast hasn’t killed anyone!
Jagger stood at the top of the stairs and glowered at the three of them. Her hair was a mess as always and she could very well be taken for a young boy.
-Yet, Nibbles pointed out and smiled at the morning tired Jagger who narrowed her green eyes.
-You better not be in the company of that white snake this morning otherwise I’ll eat you for breakfast, she muttered and she clumsily tumbled down the stairs two steps at a time.
-You met them as well, Ana asked Jagger surprised.
-Me and Soi met them together. They arrived when we ate dinner. I don’t like the older one. They’re brothers, ain’t that right Nibbles?
-Absolutely correct, Nibbles answered with a wide smile and repeated his wink from last evening.
-What’s that? Ana asked curious and annoyed. –Why did you wink?
This time Nibbles rolled his eye instead.
-Dear girl, why would I wink if it wasn’t to point out that they are both two good looking brothers?
-So?
Rolling his eyes and sighing a little.
-Some things you are obviously too young to understand.
Jagger laughed and Soi had to turn away to hide his smile. Ana, however, was furious, her eyes got back some of their usual coldness, they were tiny slits and her eyebrows were wrinkled in irritation. But Nibbles just stood there, smiling like a fool. Ana stamped away, forgetting the aching in her left leg. The rest of them followed in her destruction and sat down at one of the many empty tables. Ana soon let go of her annoyance and their breakfast was taken in under a lighthearted mood. As Ana and Jagger competed in who could stuff in the most food, the front door of the inn opened and entered did the two white haired brothers.
-So it’s here you are hiding, Nebelius, Haz said.
His eyes weren’t warmer this morning when he smiled. Maybe it was as Soi imagined but he could almost swear Nibbles twitched when Haz spoke. Now he was his usual confident self and waved the two brothers to sit down at their table. But for a moment, wasn’t it fear Soi had smelled in the air?
Haz sat down beside Soi, with Ana opposite to them, and Ard sat down beside Jagger.
-Looks like we just missed breakfast, little brother, Haz leaned in over the table and gave Ard a meaningful look. –So I presume we have the honor of sharing table with the legendary immortal girl.
Haz sent a cold smile to Ana across the table, but she simply snorted when she heard the word girl and looked the other way.
-Really? Ard turned his eyes to Ana for the first time and watched her with admiration etched in his eyes.
-You would have noticed much sooner, young brother, had your eyes not been drawn immediately to another young girl.
Haz glanced at Jagger through the corner of his cold blue eyes and Ard’s cheeks flushed red instantly. Jagger didn’t notice Haz’s meaningful glance, his remarks or his brother’s flushed cheeks, as she focused fully on her plate. It was, unfortunately, empty.
Ard overcame his embarrassment and coughed a little to smooth it over. Then he directed his eyes once again to Ana.
-So, how old are you? You don’t look more than ten.
Protests against the question came from everywhere:
-How could you ask such a question, you should be ashamed! Jagger objected.
-There’s no point in asking, she doesn’t know herself, Soi put in.
-I wouldn’t ask if I were you, Nibbles warned him.
Ana herself, despite her earlier outburst, laughed which brought Ard back a bit.
-Did I say something wrong? He asked and looked around at the others to read their expressions, which had turned to an united look of surprise and suspicion to Ana’s reaction.
-No, nothing. It’s just that I don’t know. Age has never been important to me.
Ana smiled, an unusual sight for her friends if they didn’t include her sarcastic grin from time to time. Jagger recollected herself and turned something over in her head.
-Soi and I discussed this matter last night, she said which afforded her several curious glances not at least from Ana who still smiled, but it had changed a little and looked more like an annoyed grin.
-Did you now, there was a hidden tone of sarcasm in her voice, her head was slightly tilted to the right and she watched Soi through narrow eyes.
Soi find himself looking for the nearest exit but stayed put.
-Yes and as you and I met when I was around six years old, we, Jagger made sure to point out that “we” included Soi by pointing directly at him, came down to that you have looked like a fourteen year old girl for about ten years.
-So, you are sixteen, Jagger, was Ard’s first response and he got several irritated shots.
His brother was a step ahead of him.
-Then you, immortal girl, are by all means no longer a girl. You should be around four and twenty years of age.
This sent a shock of realization among all of them, though Ana was the first to cope from it by smiling proudly.
-See, I’m not a little girl, she said with broad smirk which made her look like a spoiled six year old.

To be continued...
By J.L.Frick

The Broken Ones

Chapter 8:2 -Returning

It wasn’t who Soi expected. Because at the bar stood he who had so suddenly vanished as he now had appeared again. Nebelius Silver leaned against the bar, raised his glass in Soi’s direction. He was in the company of the two white haired men, though Jagger was right in her descritption of the second one, he was around her age and looked more like a boy than a man.
-It’s Nibbles! Jagger exclaimed and darted up from her chair to greet him. Soi tried to stop her but it was too late.
-Darling Jagger, are you here?
Nibbles showered Jagger with kisses and she giggled like a girl. Soi rose unwillingly from his chair to follow Jagger.
-Soi, are you here as well? Nibbles sounded honestly surprised.
He placed a kiss on Soi’s palm and looked him right in the eyes with a cheaky spark hidden in the corner of his one eye.
-Lone time, no see, he smiled broadly. –This is my friends Haz (it was the older one) and Ard (it was the younger one). They are brothers.
At this point Nibbles winked at Jagger confidingly.
-So where is your mistress? Nibbles asked Soi.
-She’s sleeping, Soi kept it short.
-Tomorrow then, Nibbles said to the two men who stood behind him. –You see, this is Ana’s guard you have the honour of meeting, gentlemen. If you want to meet Ana, you go through him. If he doesn’t like you, there’s no way you’ll meet the legendary Ana, the immortal girl.
-You make her sound like a freak, Nibbles, she’s just Ana.
Jagger slapped Nibbles across his chest and pouted playfully. Then she pulled forward Ard.
-So why do you and your brother want to meet my sister.
-Is she really your sister? Ard widened his eyes.
-Not really, Jagger smiled.
-We would just like to meet her, she is a living myth after all, Haz smiled.
Jagger stopped smiling and stepped back.
-I don’t like you, she said with a grim face.
-That’s upfront for such a young lady.
Haz’s ice cold eyes bore into Jagger who defiantly kept the gaze. The tension was dangerous. Ard stepped in-between.
-My brother and I come from a country far away, we’re not used to spirited women.
-You should have stayed there then, Jagger muttered in the corner of her mouth, but Soi heard her and had to hold back a smile.
-And then we came here and here you have the immortal girl and strong-minded women. We are amazed, Ard smoothed out the tension cleverly.
Though Haz looked nothing like amazed.
-Of course you are, Nibbles continued and once again he winked with his eye at Jagger confidingly but this time her face remained stiff and resolute.
Soi admired her for her stubbornness. He himself had placed his hand on the sword sheath without anyone noticing and now he felt safer than before. Ard tried to smile but it seemed out of place.
-Haz, it’s been a long day, isn’t it time for some food? Ard led his brother away from the company.
-We’ll talk tomorrow.
Soi said and excused him and Jagger. When the two was out of sight and hearing, Soi and Jagger relaxed.
-I really don’t like him, Jagger gritted her teeth.
-You don’t like me either, Soi said to light up the mood. To his surprise Jagger’s cheek reddened.
-Well… you have improved after better acquaintance.
Soi laughed heartily. They returned to Ana’s room where she slept soundly.
-Do we tell her? Jagger asked Soi.
-It’ll have to wait until tomorrow. I don’t think she ever has slept this much, it’ll do her good.

In his sleep glowing red and ice blue eyes haunted him and it was a relief to wake up the next morning. Even if it was on a hard, cold floor. Jagger and Ana shared the only bed in the room. None of the girls were awake which gave him time to sit and rework his saddle. He could hardly believe that he had carried on that narrow passage but he was glad he had taken it with him. It was made out of beautiful leather and had been perfectly modeled over the years, it was flexible and smooth. There were carvings of wild flowers and wild vine climbing up the flap. For a long time Soi could do nothing but watch the saddle. There was a funny story behind the saddle. Usually you buy a horse that suits you and then buy a saddle to match the horse’s back. For Soi it was the opposite.
When he first arrived in Sofara he didn’t have any riding experience but the mayor still excepted him because of his supreme fighting skills. Soon Soi understood that he was at disadvantage if he didn’t learn to ride. But he didn’t like horses in particular, the only thing interesting about them was the different kinds of saddles. So against all advice he had been given, he decided to buy a saddle first. When he saw its wild wine climbing across the leather he knew this was his saddle. The wild wine reminded him of his home that every summer was covered with wild wines climbing the walls. As Soi tried to find a horse to fit it, it became clear that the others were right. The saddle he had bought was more for decoration in one’s home than an actual saddle to use. But Soi didn’t give up, each free day he visited the stables close to Sofara’s centre were they bred horses to see if they had any horse that would fit his saddle. At that time his name begun to spread across Sofara as the mayor’s new guard who had quickly risen in rank and soon he was soon recognized in the stables. They all tried to sell him their best stallion, their most beautiful horse and horses with impressive bloodlines. Soi, with his lack of experience, couldn’t care less about bloodlines, if the stallion had many promising offspring or that if obviously mattered if he chose a stallion or a mare. He simply wanted a horse that could carry him and his saddle. Their talk about how well shaped the neckline of this horse or how proudly that horse held its tail soon made Soi dizzy. Finally he had had enough and begun to search anywhere else than the stables with their fancy horses.
In a dark crib in the corner of an old farm located in the edges of Sofara, he found his mare chained by the hooves, hanging deep with her head. She was nothing but bones. When she heard Soi move, she tiredly lifted her head slowly and their eyes met. He knew the saddle would match. He gave the farmer a golden coin for his worn-out farm horse and led the mare back to his home. Over the weeks, with much food, rest and long walks each day, she grew healthier and their bond became stronger. When he tried on the saddle it fitted perfectly. He led her out of the stable and mounted her. Soon he faced the ground again, head down. He had bought a horse that wasn’t a saddle horse, the mare had been used for draught work. But Soi’s mind was set and with another few weeks passing by he soon could stay up for at least five minutes. Now she was gone.
Soi remembered their days together and he was glad he kept the saddle, though he didn’t know what to do with it. A smile spread across his face.
-What are you smiling about? Ana asked, her blonde hair was a mess and her grey eyes cloudy.
-I know what to do with the saddle.
-Oh, let’s hear it then.
-Nothing, he said with a smile.
Ana didn’t get it, she stared at him as he was out of his mind.
-I won’t do anything to it, I’ll keep it as it is, Soi explained further.
-Are you going to carry it with you all the way to the Academy, across the plains?
-Well, no, he scratched the back of his head. –Didn’t think about that.
-Thought so.

To be continued...
By J.L.Frick

The Broken Ones

Chapter 8:1 -Returning

They arrived at the small village on the other side of the mountain just in time for sunset. The walk down the mountain had been easier, though it to maintain the balance in the steepest parts of the path. Their toes were throbbing with pain from the constant pressure from the shoes because of the downward slope. As they arrived to the village and the ground was somewhat more even, Ana’s left leg hurt so much that she couldn’t disguise her limping. Each step she took was followed with a grimace of endless pain. After awhile Soi hoisted her up in his arms and carried her instead. She was in too much pain that she didn’t try to reject him. Instead she rested her blonde head against his shoulder. The party took in on an inn and Soi carried Ana up the few steps to their room and put her into bed. She was sweating and her breathing was strained. Jagger, who had followed in Soi footsteps, sat down on the edge of the bed and watched Ana with worry in her eyes.
-Is there anything we can do? She asked Soi.
-She just need to rest, he answered though he felt that he should do something. –Maybe some water?
-I’ll go ask for a glass.
Jagger quickly disappeared out of the room and Soi took up his little dark bottle. He opened it and held it over Ana’s mouth when she came to and put her hand in the way. She tried to focus her grey eyes on Soi.
-I don’t need that, she whispered with a raspy voice.
-But…
-It’s as you said, I just need to rest. Save that for someone who really needs it. Who knows, one drop of that and I might not be able to save you anymore.
She put on a weak smile and her blonde hair was pasted on her temples with sweat.
-What do you mean?
-What if it healed me?
-Not one drop, Ana.
-You don’t know that, it might take away my powers, and I really need them now.
She shifted her head.
-Put the bottle away, Jagger’s coming, Ana warned and Soi did as he was told.
Jagger returned with a glass, the water was dripping over the edge and her clothes were all wet. Ana propped herself up on her elbow.
-And what I really need is some real water, she said and smiled at Jagger. –Did you run?
-No, Jagger panted.
Ana received the glass gratefully and swallowed half of the glass in one chunk before she put the glass away to crawl back into bed.
-Now I just need to sleep, but you two needs to eat.
She waved them away and as they left the room unwillingly the door shut close of its own just behind them. They had no choice but to do as Ana wanted.

Their dinner was filled with tension and worry. None of them ate much but poked around in their meal.
-I’ve never seen her this bad before. I know she limps but she usually cover it up. I didn’t know it bothered her so much, Jagger finally confessed with a guilty face. –I wish she wouldn’t suffer so much.
In his mind, Soi silently agreed. He nodded in response.
-I’ve always seen her as my older sister, but now when she was so pale and her eyes glowed with agony I just saw a little girl. Not much over ten.
-How old were you when you first met?
-I was six years old. I was in Mack’s garden, there was a loose plank in the fence and I was small enough to creep between and out of the garden. I wondered around in the forest and of course I got lost. The darkness was soon upon me and I was scared and cried. I was an easy prey for wild animals. And that was when I saw the red eyes in the dark around me.
Soi knew what eyes she was talking about, he had seen them all too often in his dreams now. Jagger continued her story;
-They had surrounded me and if they had gotten me I don’t know what would have happened to me. But I wouldn’t be normal, for sure. Then Ana silently came out of the forest. Her blonde hair was the first thing I saw, and actually the last thing as well. I don’t remember what happened after she arrived but the next thing I know is that I wake up at home.
-Those red eyes, it was monsters? Soi asked to make sure.
-Yes, the first and the last time I’ve ever saw them. I’m not sure if this is just my mind playing games but I remember them as huge humans with a lot of hair and pointy teeth, their backs all crooked. You know, they don’t attack normal people so I’ve always thought it to be strange that they would surround me. But I suppose they have to eat something as well, like your horse.
Jagger immediately regretted her words and put her hands across her mouth. Soi painfully wrinkled his eyebrows.
-I’m sorry, Jagger apologized.
-It’s alright, I’m sure she’ fine, she’s a smart animal.
It was another part of Jagger’s story that bothered him more. It fitted right into Ana’s theory that brokens or rather monsters were being created. His thoughts was interrupted by Jagger’s discreet little coughs. She steadily met Soi’s dark eyes with her green eyes.
-I want to say thank you for trying to save me even though it meant carelessly throwing yourself over a cliff for a girl who have done nothing but showered you with her hate since you first met.
-And that’s saying something, Soi ended with a smile. –I forgive you. I understand you care a great deal about Ana.
-As I said, she’s like my older sister.
-How long has she looked the way she looks like now?
-She’s been the same since I first met her. I’m sixteen.
-So…, Soi counted on his fingers. –For at least ten years she’s looked like she’s around fourteen. She really is immortal.
-She might not die from old age but she can still be killed. It’s just not so easy…
Jagger lowered her voice and sunk deep into her chair.
-What…
-Sch, she hissed and pointed behind Soi.
Soi carefully turned his head around and saw a strange man order some beer at the bar. At first Soi couldn’t understand why Jagger had reacted or why he at first sight thought he looked strange. But then he saw it. Though the man was of young age, around the same as Soi himself, his hair was completely white, his skin was pale and his eyes were blue as ice. The man suddenly turned his head at Soi’s direction, as if he had felt Soi watching him, and his eyes were ice cold even though he smiled invitingly.
-I don’t like him, Jagger whispered across the table.
Soi thought maybe Jagger had inherited some of her father’s intuition because Soi agreed with her on this matter, there was something about this man.
Then the man raised his glass in Soi’s direction and Soi’s heart sped up. He knew why he didn’t like this man. On his right hand he was missing three fingers, from the little to the middle finger. It was as if Sam stood in front of him holding out the silver dagger. Was this a monster as well? What should he do? Soi couldn’t move an inch from his seat and if he moved he would reveal his suspicions. And where would he go for that matter? He couldn’t go back to Ana if the man would follow him. He smiled weakly back at the man and turned his head back to face Jagger.
-I don’t like him, either, he said to her.
-Then what should we do?
-There’s nothing we can do, he has as much right to be here as we do. Let’s finish our meal and get back to Ana soon.
Soi concentrated on the meal in front him. But Jagger still looked behind his shoulder.
-Another one just walked in, she told him. –He also has white hair. But he looks a lot younger, around my age perhaps. I like him better, he looks less sinister somehow.
Soi laughed at her description and looked up from his plate just to see her face turn pale.
-What? He asked urgently.
But she wouldn’t answer, her eyes widened and she stared at whatever was going on behind him. He had to turn his head again. He soon understood that nothing could have prepared him for the shock.

To be continued...
By J.L.Frick

The Broken Ones

Chapter 7:3 -Climb every mountain

Ana was of course right. The moon soon shone on them as they made a quick flight to the passage Jagger had talked about. Up ahead Soi could see the narrow cliff. It was a foot narrow and at some places as narrow as his long finger. When they stopped in front of their only way away from the monsters, Soi was a lot more skeptical than he thought he would be.
-Do people really pass here during daylight? He questioned Jagger who nodded her head a little, seemingly skeptical herself.
-I have passed it myself, but it was wider then. You could easily lead a caravan of sheep pass it, it’s a risky business put people do a lot of stupid things to earn some money. I can’t believe it’s this narrow, I passed it last month.
-Someone has tempered with it, Ana pointed out grimly. –Probably someone who don’t want to be followed.
-Perhaps someone with something very valuable, Soi added quietly.
Ana heard him, their eyes met and they both knew that whoever passed here must be in possession of the flute. Soi thought he could hear the soft tones from a flute echoed in the mountains, as if the mountains were alive with the sound of music.
-What do we do now? Jagger asked.
-We’ll pass it.
Ana took the first steps. Soi saw how she forced her tired leg to walk as this was a walk in the park. This was a challenge twice as hard for Ana. Her damaged leg was on the verge of exhaustion, walking upwards all day and not allowed one minute of rest. Sweat made her resolute face shine in the moonlight, but she walked on. Jagger followed in her steps and at last Soi stepped out on the narrow shelf.
He had always had some fear of height since he was a child and it had gotten worse after the death of his father. Cliffs and mountains were things he avoided. But it had improved with his resolution to act as a proper guard. He now realized his initiative fear of height wasn’t gone. He did as he had these last couple of days, he kept his eyes on the red nest of hair in front of him, trying to ignore the spectacular view right at his feet. He swallowed loudly.
They rounded the mountain slowly, and Soi thought it must have been at least an hour since they had first sat their feet on the cliff. And it didn’t look like it would stop for another two hours. It wasn’t just Ana who was exhausted, they all were. Soi couldn’t think straight anymore which was caused by both the lack of rest and the high altitude. The monsters didn’t seem to be following them onto the passage but their roars still frightened Soi, he couldn’t get used to it.
There was no point of stopping so they kept moving with the monsters howling in the background. Soi concentrated on Jagger and Ana in front of him and at times he let some of the view slip in sight. If it wasn’t for the fact that they were stuck high up in a scary mountain, running away from monsters and were tired to death, the view would be stunning. He could almost see the ocean were it lay in the distance shining like silver. The moon was a narrow crescent and the whole world beneath him was dressed in its silver strokes. Soi’s cold and aching fingers reminded him of the reality and just in time to see Jagger loose her grip and fall. Her eyes widen in fear and her mouth fell open but no scream escaped her lips. Soi reached out his hand and gripped her upper arm. And then he fell. There was nothing he could hold onto. So he fell. And then nothing, he and Jagger hung in the air.
Ana had once again stopped him from doing something stupid. Jagger and Soi watched her with surprise. Her face was in agony and sweat dripped down her neck.
-If you could just stop being a hero this would take a lot less energy, she informed Soi with a big wrinkle between her blonde eyebrows.
Slowly the two was lifted upwards and back on the shelf. Soi and Jagger got their balance back and Ana released them both. For awhile the three of them stood there with their hands holding onto the mountain wall and panted. Then they were on the move again, but this time they took great care of keeping each other on the toes. The kept up a conversation were everyone had to talk and participate so they could be sure no one was falling off the cliff.
Sooner than Soi expected, the sun begun to rise and the moon disappeared in the west. A new day beun and they were still nowhere close to the end of the passage. At least that was what it felt like. When the sun begun to burn their skin and breathing became difficult they finally were at the end of the passage. From now on the path sloped downwards and in front of them lay the plains, almost like a desert with its short grass burned brown and yellow by the sun, like the golden sand of the desert. Soi had never seen anything like it but then again the thick forest beyond Sofara had surprised him when he first arrived. Of course there were plains on Spring Island but they were all green like on the first day of spring and they weren’t this big. This plain didn’t have an end, as far as Soi could see. In the east he could see more mountains but they were smaller than the ones dividing the forest and the plains.
-Over there, that’s where Beroal is, Ana pointed at the mountains Soi had his eyes on. Then she moved her hand to the north. Suddenly a strong light was reflected in the distance.
-That’s where we’re going. That’s the Academy.
Suddenly it became clear to Soi how long and difficult their journey would be from now on. So far they had been able to seek comfort among the trees but now there was nowhere they could hide, no trees, no big rocks and, from what Soi could see, no lakes. There was one wide river they had to cross and there had to be other water sources as this was called a plain and not a desert. But the plain seemed endless, just like the narrow passage had just a few minutes ago. It would take days of sun and nights filled with monsters to pass this plain.
-We’ll sleep now, then eat before Jagger take us down this mountain carefully. Then she’ll return back to Mack’s cottage.
Ana emphasized the last sentence and Jagger obediently bobbed her red head up and down like puppet.
They fell like logs to the ground, secure in the sun and none of them cared if a pebble cut into their backs.
When Soi rose again, Ana was already up and the sun stood high in the sky. She threw him an apple which he easily caught. In silence they each chewed on an apple and waited for Jagger to wake up.
-How long does it take to get to the Academy? Soi asked.
-Two weeks.
-When you walked? Did you have a guard with you then?
-No, but Sam was with me.
-Not Sassy of Nibbles?
-They don’t go to the Academy. Not if they can avoid it.
-Wasn’t it the brokens safe haven?
-For the first years, yes.
Ana turned her head away and Soi couldn’t see her expression.
Jagger finally lifted her red head and watched the two through tiny slits. And then she put her head down again, returning to sleep. Soon thereafter an apple came flying through the air and hit the back of Jagger’s head. She glowered at the potential throwe, namely Soi who held up his hands in surrender. Ana threw another apple at Jagger who caught it this time.
-What! She yelled.
-Get up or I’ll leave you here.

To be continued...
By J.L.Frick

The Broken Ones

Chapter 7:2 -Climb every mountain

It was around dawn when he woke again. Over the fire hung meat and in a pot water was boiling for tea. In a pan Jagger carefully roasted some slices of bread.
-This is all I can do for breakfast, Jagger said and handed Soi some bread with meat and a cup of tea. She offered Ana the same but Ana put her hand up and silently shook her head.
-Ana I know you don’t usually eat breakfast but if we’re going to climb these mountains you can’t wait until dinner before eating. We’re not leaving until you at least have eaten one bread slice with meat.
Ana tiredly measures Jagger with her eyes, how serious this threat was. And then she took the offered meal with a grunt. Jagger smiled proudly.
The breakfast was soon done and the camp settled. The group continued their journey upwards. Mack might have killed off the monsters following them but there were still many of them out there. As Soi remembered there would be twice the number on the other side of the grey teeth in front of them. The mountains had nothing but offered them trouble so far. They had gotten this far by luck, at least Soi thought so. They had been attacked twice by monsters, he had been attacked three times by Sam and been unconscious twice, threatened to death so many times he had lost track, it was a miracle that they had gotten this far. But they hadn’t gotten there without sacrifices. Nibbles and Sassa were both left behind. And his deepest secrets had been lost along with the sense of trust he had for Ana. But a lot of other things had been revealed as well, what the missing box contained, the truth about Sam, Ana ad their past relation. The world of the broken ones might have been introduced to him but he didn’t know anymore than that. And Ana was still a mystery for Soi, though he had decided that he had no right to know, as her guard. Even if he was the only guard of hers that had ever survived. But even that was luck, maybe it was all it took. As Soi spun that thought in his mind, their luck was about to change as the landscape changed from a thick forest to nothing but plain mountain everywhere they turned their heads and the slope got steeper. A winding narrow path led up the mountain, it was nothing but rocks and stones and soon Soi understood that his beloved mare couldn’t cope with these mountains. His horse was good at long sprinting distances not mountain climbing. He had to set her free.
-Is there no other way we can take? He asked Jagger.
She saw his uneasy glance at his mare.
-If it’s a smart animal it’ll survive in the wild, she said in her own comforting way. –Take everything you really need and leave the rest. Skip the saddle.
-I could use the leather, Soi suggested.
-It’s you who have to drag it with you, Jagger said with shrug and left him to decide.
He decided to keep the saddle. He took off saddle, bridle and all other packing and the horse was set free. When he begun to walk away, the mare followed him faithfully. Soi stopped the horse and tried to scare it off. She seemed to understand because the mare stayed behind and neighed miserable after Soi. It took deeper than Soi thought it would and persistently kept his eyes on the rocky path in front of him, refusing to look back at his mare. They walked upwards for hours and the horse neighed yet, heartbreakingly. But soon another sound blended with the neighs, a sound all too familiar and made everyone’s spine chill. They all stopped and looked back at the path they had taken. The sunset was beautiful, red and orange and with the stunning view of the forest they had walked through all the way from Sofara. The sun disappeared between two mountains, diving into the rich green of the forest. But all Soi could think of was about the monster waiting for them at the bottom of the mountain, where Soi’s mare was left alone. Suddenly those heartbreaking neighs changed to terrified high pitched neighs of despair. Soi begun to run downhill, back to his horse, but he all of a sudden it was as if he’d run into an invisible wall. He could feel his arms and legs stretch and then he couldn’t move at all. He was turned around in the air and he could see Ana with her outstretched hand and Jagger’s big eyes fixed on Ana with a fascinated expression. She had obviously never seen Ana use her powers.
-Let me down, Soi growled.
-You are supposed to protect me, not a stupid horse, Ana said with some anger glowing in her eyes.
But then her eyes softened and she put him down on the ground but he was still unable to move.
-You can’t save her now anyway, you’re too far away and what harm can you really do against a monster. And isn’t it better for the horse to die a quick death rather than an outstretched suffering and a slow death in the mountains.
Soi could see the logic in her speech but still he glowered back at her with a resolute face. Then he lowered his head, a few tears trickled down his cheek and he nodded. Ana let him down and they continued. A lonely howl of the monster followed them in the path. They didn’t stop when the darkness settled down around them but Ana quickened their pace. After awhile Jagger stepped in.
-We can’t continue any further in the dark Ana. There’s a narrow passage up ahead and there’s no way we can pass it without falling. It’s hard to pass even in broad daylight.
There was no way to see Ana in the darkness but the longer it took for her to answer Soi could guess what she was thinking.
-Ana, she said it was difficult even during daylight, you cannot seriously consider…
-We’re going through that passage tonight, Ana said with a firm voice and Soi could feel her cold eyes on him. –If it’s so hard as you say, the monsters can’t follow us.
-Ana! We’ll die! Jagger protested.
-No, the moon is soon up, we’ll see were we put our feet.
-But won’t the monsters…
-No, they’re too large to pass and they are stupid.
A roar echoed in the mountains in protest, and then there were several responses. There were at least seven monsters after them. This was not the time to discuss whether or not they should tug in for the night.
-Let’s move, Ana said through her teeth.

To be continued...
By J.L.Frick

The Broken Ones

Chapter 7:1 - Climb every mountain

Ana’s last words to Mack before they left Mack’s cottage was:
-If you see Sam, kill him.
It was for Mack’s ears alone but Soi snatched it up and watched Mack nod silently in response. Ana might not trust anybody, but Mack definitely trusted her. Soi wondered how long they had known each other and before he knew it he had asked Jagger.
-Since I was a little girl. Ana saved me. Mack claims he’ll always be in her debt for it. And each year since she has visited us.
Soi watched Ana’s back as she led the group up in the mountains. Then he remembered that he was nothing more than her guard and shouldn’t bother about her life, other than saving it. He tried to think of something else and his mind draw him to Nibbles. Where had Nebelius Silver gone to? Neither Ana nor Sassa had seemed worried about his disappearing. But it did upset Soi. Though Nibbles always had been a source of uncomfortable and at times scary moments for Soi, he had a sharp eye for contexts which often passed by Soi unnoticed. Now his disappearing was nibbling at Soi’s conscience. He wanted to ask but he couldn’t. But he was lucky, Jagger also seemed to have been bothered by Nibbles lack of presence. She asked Ana the same way she had bothered Soi about why Ana always avoided Soi these last days. Jagger used the same accusing tone but without the deadly glare.
-Where’s Nibbles? Why didn’t he come with you?
-He run.
-What do you mean? Jagger persisted.
-He got scared and run.
Surely not by the monsters, Soi thought which also exactly Jagger’s next question was.
-It couldn’t be because of the monsters that Mack killed.
-No, probably not, Ana answered but it wasn’t enough to satisfy either Jagger or Soi’s curiosity. But Soi bite his tongue.
-Then what did he run from? Jagger continued her stream of questions and Soi was surprised Ana didn’t at least threaten to kill her or say something of how she acted like Soi. But she did nothing but sigh.
-I don’t know what’s making him nervous, and if I knew I would probably run as well.
Soi recognised that immediately as a lie, Ana would never run from anything. But Jagger opened her eyes wide.
-Is it that bad? Is it true about the flute then?
Now it was Ana’s turn to widen her eye. Even Soi had heard about the flute, a myth very well liked and often told in Sofara. Supposedly the flute had the power to control people. But the story often varied from person to person. Soi had even heard that the flute could predict the future, transport you to wherever you wished to be. Or give you whatever you wished for.
The flute played an essential part in many myths. It helped a young man save a princess hunted by monsters up in a mountain, by playing the flute an avalanche started that killed all the monsters. It helped an old man cross a dangerous river by playing the flute and the river sunk and the man could pass the river unharmed. In another story the flute helped a wrongly convicted escape a prison by playing it and makes the guards fall asleep.
Though the flute was entangled in many stories, the myths were seldom about the flute itself, where it came from, who made it and who its owner was. And what powers the flute really possessed. The flute had never seemed like anything more than a myth to Soi. But if new rumours were now spreading Soi had to question the truth of the myths. And then he remembered the two boxes at the Black Eye.
-I guess we know now what was in that box, Soi said with a grim face.
-I already knew, Ana responded to his surprise.
Soi felt a twitch in his chest, what else had she kept from him?
Ana continued;
-I just couldn’t believe it. The pub owner at the Black Eye had probably never seen a flute before that box appeared, he didn’t give a very good description. It was too vague so I didn’t want to share that information with your mayor. But he probably had a good idea of what it contained. Jagger, where did you hear of the flute?
-It was a new rumour. It begun just before you two arrived. Mack told me not to listen to them. Did you really see the flute, Ana?
Jagger’s eyes glowed in excitement.
-No, it was stolen before I got my hands on it. So Sam delivered the flute…
-He did! Jagger exclaimed. –I thought he was on your side.
-He switched, Ana’s face was stern.
-To what side?
Of course Jagger would ask that, she didn’t know the truth about the monsters. But this question Ana didn’t answer, probably determined to keep Jagger in the dark or because the betrayal still stung her heart. She gripped her staff harder until her fingers whitened.

Their small group of three people and Soi’s horse had left Mack’s after lunch and had since then steadily climbed the upward slope all afternoon. Soi felt a chill down his spine each time he looked up at the black tops of the mountains and images of his father on the cliff, bleeding and beaten, flickered through his mind. But he pushed the images away and kept his eyes fixed on Jagger’s red head bobbing in front of him.
The sun was too soon setting but Ana pushed them further for another hour in the dissolving light. When they finally settled down it was dark. Soi helped build a fire and offered to take the first watch. Jagger went out immediately, not used to walk all day. Ana didn’t go to sleep, she sat by the fire and watched the flames dance.
-I said I’ll take the first watch, Soi repeated.
-I heard you. I was just wondering what we’ll do about Sam’s ring.
Soi had totally forgotten about the ring. Since he had been unconscious he had slept undisturbed, he didn’t know if it was because he and Ana had shared room at Mack’s cottage or if Sam had given up. But he knew that the night he had made Ana run out crying he had slept fine, well, at least without any visits from Sam. He hadn’t really slept much that night at all. Then Soi remembered that it was last night Ana had disappeared from the cottage. And just this morning he had threatened her life. It all seemed so distance, so long ago and yet it was not even a day ago. To be moving again, it changed him.
-Do you really think he’ll continue? I think he has other things to worry about.
-He’ll continue.
Ana held the ring in the palm of her outstretched hand. Soi pushed it back to her.
-Then you take it, it’s you he’s really after.
Ana didn’t even protest. Soi watched her through weary eyes. She looked tired and she had been absentminded all day, she had not been her usual self with stinging comments and cold eyes. Soi wondered what had caused the transformation, it couldn’t be that she was still worried about his past. For the second time that day Soi wished that Nibbles was there to explain Ana’s moods to him.
Ana put the ring on her finger and went to bed. By the time Jagger released him from guard duty, Soi decided to keep close to Ana just in case Sam would attack him as well.

To be continued...
J.L.Frick

The Broken Ones

Chapter 6:3 -Guidance

It took a few hours before Soi could sleep. His eyes wouldn’t close but looked steadily at the roof, when he turned to the side he saw the door which Ana had run out of. Soi decided that sleeping on his stomach might be the best choice. It didn’t help, he only breathed in feathers from his pillow which made him cough.
His past and history were his secret. Throughout all the years in Sofara he had never once revealed were he actually came from. He had avoided or simply said that he didn’t want to answer any questions about his past. It was partly because he was ashamed of how he had left and to protect his home from invaders. If the water’s healing ability were to be discovered Spring Island wouldn’t stand a chance if it was invaded. It didn’t matter how many and talented Spring Guardians the island had, they would never be enough and islands habitants would eventually be massacred. His father might be dead but the rest of Soi’s family was still alive and Soi wouldn’t let them die, not because of a loose tongue anyway. But now she knew, and Soi was terrified she would leak the secret. It could change the whole world of the brokens, it could heal them.
Not only was Soi terrified, he was mad. She had intruded on his privacy, his secrets and past, without his consent and then she had lied about it as well. She wasn’t really proving to be a good keeper of the knowledge she had no right to know. He felt betrayed but then it hit him- he had trusted her! He had considered her a friend, not as a mission or work. Soi had acted as a guard many times before in Sofara but he had never got this close to any of the people he had protected. Maybe it was because of the mysterious world of the broken ones that had perplexed him and drawn him in, or simply because Ana was like no one he’d ever known. Both a child and an adult, and absolutely lethal. Whatever the reasons were, their relation had to be restored to guard and being guarded. In his opinion, as a guard he didn’t need to trust her, he only had to protect her. But first he had to make sure his secret was kept a secret- even if he had to kill her.

The next morning he woke early and helped Mack with the breakfast. Soi could feel Mack’s eyes resting on him several times but Mack didn’t say or ask anything. The cottage’s breakfast table was equally impressive as its dinner table. Mack and Soi set out five different kinds of bread. A light loaf, a heavy bread with nuts and fruits, small buns with sunflower seeds, a beautiful loaf with colourful flower petals and a thin, crispy bread. There was also several cheese’s, fresh fruit and berries picked from Mack’s garden, butter, juice, milk, tea and honey. Some egg, bacon and sausages. In the middle of the table Mack put a vase filled with flowers from his garden.
Soon Jagger appeared from her room with her short red hair sticking out at all sides. She rubbed her eyes and yawned before she gave her father a pick on the cheek, glowered at Soi, and sat down by the table.
-Where’s Ana? She asked and looked straight at Soi.
At that moment Ana entered the room from the kitchen. She didn’t look well, her eyes were red as if she had cried all night. She looked even tinier than usually, there was nothing dangerous about her. She looked like a little girl. A sad little girl who hung with her head. For a second Soi’s chest hurt, but he had already decided what to do so he put aside his feelings and looked the other way.
They all sat down by the full table and begun to eat. Ana, as usually, didn’t load her plate full. She took one apple and some berries and cheese. Soi could never get the hung of why she ate so little at breakfast and lunch but at dinner completely devoured everything in her sight. Soi shook his head and put the question out of his mind. It was not a question for him to ask. He looked down at his own plate. Today it was equally empty as Ana’s, he wasn’t hungry. But he forced himself to eat two slices of bread with butter and cheese, and some bacon and eggs, and then he just watched his plate. He couldn’t force down anymore.
During the meal he could feel Jagger’s eyes stare a hole into him but she didn’t say anything. Though she probably would have if Mack hadn’t been there. When she didn’t dug a hole into Soi, she watched Ana with worried eyes only to follow up with an angry stare yet again directed at Soi.
After a while when neither Soi or Ana had eaten for minutes, Soi rose from his chair.
-Ana, I need to talk to you.
She nodded slightly and rose as well to follow him outside. Soi led them to the corner of Mack’s garden before he turned around to face her. Ana still hung with her head, her eyes fixed on her toes. The sight of her made Soi sad but quickly his feelings changed to anger. Why did she make him feel sad and ashamed!
He drew a small dagger he had hidden by his waist and attacked her. She didn’t resist, maybe because of the surprise that her own guard attacked her, maybe because… They both fell to the ground, Soi on top of her, holding the dagger at her throat.
-I need you to promise me, to swear that you will never reveal the secret of Spring Island, Soi said through his teeth.
For the first time since last night, Ana met Soi’s dark eyes with her own grey.
-I promise.
-If you go back on this oath you will die.
-I know, she answered solemnly.
Soi put away the dagger, but he didn’t rise.
-If you ever do this to me again, I’ll kill you.
He rose and walked away. He didn’t care to help Ana up, though it would be difficult for her to get up with her leg. He walked away.

The next time he left his room the table was yet again filled to its edge. But not only with food. There were blankets, pans, cups, kitchen knives and many other types of equipment. Mack and Jagger stood bent over the table, discussing and pointing at the different things. Ana was sitting propped up against the wall.
-What’s going on? Soi asked everyone.
-You’re moving on, Mack answered him with a smile.
-And I’m coming with you, Jagger added. –As you are crossing the mountains you will need my help so you won’t fall off its edge.
Jagger’s smile wasn’t reassuring.

To be continued...
J.L.Frick

The Broken Ones

Chapter 6:2 -Guidance

The next few days Soi kept to himself, he didn’t talk or ask any questions. Most of the time he stayed in the guestroom and rested. During dinner he sat quiet and ate very little. He looked sick, his skin was pale and there were dark shadows under his eyes. Jagger snorted at the very sight of him and turned the other way.
-Pathetic, she said loudly and turned her chin up.
Mack and Ana, on the other hand, tried to make Soi talk and eat and breath. After three days Ana had had enough of his closure. She dragged Soi out in the sun and into Mack’s kitchen garden.
-I get why you’re afraid of mountains but that was a long time ago and it wasn’t your fault your dad died.
Soi met her eyes for the first time since his coma. Ana thought his black eyes looked like endless holes without life and he looked both scared and angry. She shuddered.
-How did you…
-You talk in your sleep, she lied. –Anyway, it wasn’t your fault. So don’t take the blame for it and don’t look so damn miserable.
Soi lowered his head and looked vulnerable, which upset Ana.
-And you know what, you lied to me! You said that this wasn’t going to be a problem and then you pass out when we’re being chased by monsters! How’s that not being a problem!
-I’m sorry, Soi murmured.
-If it wasn’t for Mack we’d be dead now!
-He saved us? Soi looked up.
-Well, it wasn’t your sleeping act that killed the monsters! Ana yelled at him and marched off.
Mack’s red head appeared from the kitchen door.
-I heard she’s yelling at you now, thought it would be good to step in. Where’s she?
-She left.
-Oh, well then, seems you’ll manage her just fine.
Mack withdrew his head. Soi followed him into the kitchen.
Both Mack and Jagger were excellent cooks and their garden provided everything they needed to produce a delicious meal. It had wide variety of herbs, vegetables and roots. And their kitchen, though it was tiny, had various knifes, both big and small ones, normal and strange looking forks, other useful tools, pans, pots, kettles and saucepans, cup and plates. The cottage kitchen was its own little restaurant without the paying guests. Mack had worked as a chef at the inn in the nearby village but he had been replaced by his own daughter who was equally talent as her father. From dawn to dusk Jagger worked at the inn and the cottage kitchen was Mack’s to use as he liked. But most of the time Jagger occupied that kitchen as well. If not every little teaspoon was in their right position Jagger immediately let her dad know what she thought of the mess of her kitchen. The only place left for Mack was the kitchen garden, which he kept neat and clear of weed and pestering insects.
Now Mack stood by the worktop and kneaded sticky dough into a fine loaf.
-I heard you saved us. How did you know where to find us?
-Others would say thank you, Mack smiled.
Soi was ashamed.
-I’m sorry. Thank you.
-It’s okay. I know you’re influenced by Ana.
Mack laughed heartily and Soi smiled back at him.
-Must be.
Mack continued to knead in silence and Soi watched the process, oddly at peace. Mack put the loaf on a baking plate and opened the oven and put it in. Then he began with the next dough.
-To answer your question, you could say I have a sixth sense about such things. For example, tomorrow it’ll rain. And a week ago I felt Ana was approaching in a hurry, and as I know Ana very well I assumed she was in some sort of danger.
-This sixth sense, is it because of your injury.
-Probably, yes. I’ve had it for years for so long that I don’t remember how it was before the accident.
Soi watched Mack as he stood calm in the kitchen, standing on just one leg and Soi felt embarrassed.
-Does it hurt?
-No. Actually it was a relief to get rid of the leg. You see, a long time ago, when I was young, I worked on a ship out on the ocean. I got a cut, a small cut just beneath my right knee, when were out at sea but it healed well, or so I thought. A week later my leg ached so much that I couldn’t stand on it and I had a high fever. It turns out that the small cut was infected. If I hadn’t amputated I would be dead now.
-But…
-No, it’s not something I regret.
Soi eyes widened and Mack smiled gently at him.
-I wouldn’t have met Jagger’s mother if it wasn’t for my missing leg. But that’s another story. I think the bread is done now, can you take it out for me?
Soi did as he was asked while he was thinking that if they had had a dark little bottle on that ship when the infection had been discovered they could have saved Mack’s leg and life. But then again as Mack had said he wouldn’t have met Jagger’s mum and he hadn’t saved Ana and him. The rest of the afternoon he spent together with Mack in that cottage kitchen baking and cooking. When Jagger got back from her working shift at the inn dinner was ready and Mack and Soi sat and enjoyed their each other’s company. She brushed back her short red hair and watched the two with an irritated look.
-Where’s Ana?
-I think she’s still out. Would you tell her that dinner is ready, darling?
-Sure, she said and disappeared outside.
The dinner was strange, both girls were distressingly quiet. Mack and Soi tried to maintain a conversation but were constantly interrupted by the awkward mood, Ana’s snores at the end of every comment Soi made and Jagger’s deadly glares over the table, all that was directed only at Soi. Soi could understand why Ana was mad, or at least he thought so, but why Jagger seemed to hate him he really couldn’t figure out.
-Jagger, will you bring in some tea and cheese? Mack asked his daughter.
-Is cheese really necessary?
She kept her gaze locked on Soi who begun feeling uneasy.
-Jagger, we have to treat our guests while they stay under our roof, Mack coaxed her.
She rose from her chair with a snort and turned her head with a jerk. Soi rose from his chair as well and bowed his head a little.
-I think I need to return to bed now. Thank you, Mack, for this day.

Soi was about to fall asleep when Ana knocked on the door and stepped inside. She had a remorseful look on her face.
-I’m sorry I lost my temper earlier today, she spoke with a soft voice.
-It’s alright, I can understand why.
She tipped to the bed and seated herself on the edge.
-You seem better, somehow.
-I had a good talk with Mack today. It helped, even though it had nothing to do with my dad.
-Good, that’s good.
She kept her head lowered and fiddled with a button on her trousers. There was something bothering her, that much Soi could read from her body language. But he waited patiently for her to speak first. Suddenly she lifted her head and looked at him with her cold grey eyes.
-I… when you were out, when you were unconscious, I… I fed you with some of that water you have in the small bottle.
Soi straightened his back and looked serious at Ana. She fiddled even more with that button.
-I was worried that you wouldn’t wake up, at all, so I, I just…
-It’s fine, Ana, Soi said and Ana looked up hopefully but met his grim face. –Don’t ever do that again.
-I… I’m sorry. I know it’s your responsible as the Spring Saviour and that I shouldn’t have…
-What did you say? Soi was appalled.
Ana closed her mouth tightly and lowered her eyes yet again.
-Where did you hear that?
When Ana didn’t immediately answer him he grabbed her shoulders and tried to meet her eyes.
-Where, Ana?!
-I’m sorry.
-For what?!
-I intruded on your mind while you were unconscious.
Soi squeezed her shoulders harder without noticing until she whimpered. He released her and stood up, not really sure what to do.
-I…, Ana begun.
-How could you!
-I was worried!
Soi just stared at her. Then he turned his back on her.
-Leave, he said at least. –I need to think.
Ana’s eyes begun to tear, but she stood up and left the room. Soi could hear how she run out from the cottage, but he couldn’t follow her. He felt betrayed and hurt. She knew every little thing about him and had even then lied to him.

To be continued...
By J.L.Frick

The Broken Ones

Chapter 6:1 -Guidance

-Damn Soi. He told me he didn’t have a problem with mountains and now look at him! He’s been unconscious for… Ana counted on her fingers. –Seven days! It’s been a week, for all the oceans! Wake up, dammit!
Ana shook Soi’s lifeless body. Two broad hands were places on her shoulders and pushed her gently away from Soi.
-Ana, he’ll wake up when the times come. There is no need to rush. You’re welcome for as long as you like. Now come and sit down, Jagger’s finished in the kitchen.
The hands belonged to a huge man with thick red hair and a beard covering most of his face, his eyebrows covered the rest. He led Ana into the dining room where there was a table filled with food. There were soup and bread and beef and roasted chicken and bacon and egg and stew and omelettes and some vegetables. There was not one space empty.
-How come that every night since I arrived this table has been filled to the edge with food?
-Ana, we know you well enough to know that you eat, a lot.
The man smiled widely at Ana who smiled back.
-I mean, where do you get all this food?
-We grow it. Jagger, done yet?
A girl’s voice answered him.
-Coming, Mack.
Ana turned her head to Mack.
-Does she still call you Mack, instead of dad?
-Yes, I thought it was just a phase when she started with it last year and that she would get over it but it doesn’t seem like it.
Mack shrugged his shoulder and gave a small smile. Right then, a young girl, not much older than Ana, stuck out her head from the kitchen. Her hair was red as fire, cut short like a boy and tangled like a bird’s nest.
-I’m almost done, just cutting some cheese for dessert, she said and withdrew her head.
-Cheese, oh no, that’s not necessary, Ana complained.
-Ana, just let her. She’s celebrating that you’ve stayed here one week. You know she admires you even though you only meet once a year, and then you usually stay one day or two during your visit. This is a rare occasion, worth celebrating according to Jagger.
-Oh well.
They all sat down around the square table, and by just looking at all the food Ana’s stomach felt full.
-Has he woken yet? Jagger asked Ana.
-No, not yet.
-Good.
-Jagger! Mack reproached his daughter.
-I just want Ana to stay a bit longer, that’s all.
-By wishing that young man bad health. This is not how I brought you up, young girl, Mack said with a stern voice.
Jagger’s face filled with remorse.
-I’m sorry Ana, but I…
-Yes, yes, I understand, Ana waved it off. –But why don’t you call Mack dad anymore?
Jagger immediately lifted her chin.
-He’s my dad, yes, but dad’s not his name. His name is Mack.
-But Jagger…
Jagger turned her head away and ignored any further comments on the subject. Mack shook his head with a little smile hidden in the red beard.
-There’s nothing you can do, Ana, she’s made up her mind. And she’s far more stubborn than you.
Ana sighed and set her teeth into a chicken leg.
Mack and Jagger’s cottage was small but they always had a room to spare for their friend. For the moment Soi was resting in the guestroom’s only bed and in the next room the rest of the company sat and dined. Soi whined in the next room and Ana left her plate and disappeared into the guestroom. Jagger leaned in over the table to her father.
-Mack, she whispered across the table.
-Yes, dear.
-Don’t you think she’s acting strange?
-What do you mean? Mack’s eyes glowered by the fire in the dining room.
-She would never rush to anyone’s side, not even for those friends of hers.
-So perhaps this is a special friend then? Mack smiled gently towards his daughter.
Jagger’s forehead creased in irritation.
-I don’t like him, she said between her teeth.
-You don’t like Sam either.
-No, but Sam’s weird, he’s not like Ana. Or you, Mack. Even though he’s a broken.
-No, you’re right, Mack sighed.

In the small guestroom Ana sat on a wooden stool by Soi’s side and nervously watched how he murmured in his sleep and sweat gathered as shining pearls on his forehead. She didn’t know what to do, this was the second time he had been unconscious under her care. But he wasn’t really sick this time so she didn’t want to use his little dark bottle, not without his permission at least. Soi kept whining and Ana gritted her teeth. Ana’s hand slipped down in his backpack and found the little bottle. She prepared to open the bottle when suddenly Soi suddenly talked.
-Father, I’m sorry, I’m so sorry, he murmured. –I didn’t mean to…
Ana’s eyes went wide and she leaned in closer.
-What was it you didn’t mean?
But Soi didn’t say anything else and Ana’s curiosity grew. Ana took his hand and closed her eyes, she was immediately sucked into his memories.

Soi tried to open his eyes, they were heavy and sticky and wouldn’t open. His sight was foggy and blunt but he could see that there was a roof above his head instead of the usual velvet blue sky with stars glimmering like diamonds. Slowly he turned his head to one and the other side. On his left side he saw the top of a head he could have recognised anywhere. He stretched out his hand to touch her blond smooth hair with his fingers.
-I wouldn’t do that if I were you, a husky voiced advised him and Soi looked up.
In the doorway a giant man stood blocking out all the light from the next room. Except where his right leg should be, Soi thought.
-I am glad that you’re awake, the man continued. –Now we might get some peace back in the cottage. She hasn’t left your side not one of these days since were brought here.
-What happened?
-Don’t ask me, you were out already when I met the two of you. Seems you’re way above your head, young man. Heard the mayor of Sofara appointed you. Don’t know if he’s foolish or smart, but you’ve survived so far…
-Where am I?
-In my and Jagger’s cottage by the foot of the mountain.
-And who you are?
-He’s Mack.
Ana raised her head.
-How come that the first thing you do when you wake up after a seven days coma is to ask questions? Are you 6 years old?
-Looks like our conversation interrupted your beauty sleep, Ana, Mack laughed.
Ana snorted.
-I am serious, all he does is asking questions, most of them stupid may I add.
Mack chuckled and Soi looked sheepish at Ana’s surly expression.
-I’ll leave the two of you to discuss, Mack bowed his head and left.
-Are my eyes injured or did that man miss a leg?
-Yes, he’s a broken like me.

To be continued...
By J.L.Frick

The Broken Ones

Chapter 5:3 -Mountains

The fragrance of bacon and egg spread in the house and the seabirds cried from the rooftop. From a distance Soi could hear the waves crush into the cliff with roaring sound.
-Soi, are you up yet? Called his mother from the kitchen. -Your sisters are all up.
-Yes, yes, coming.
He threw one leg over the bed and opened his slanted eyes and let in the moring sun. He pushed his long black hair aside and yawned big. He stretched his back and then fell into the bed once again.
-Soi, are you ready? His father called up the stairs with a dark velvet voice.
-I'm up, I'm up!
Suddenly Soi was up and out of the bed in a second, he quickly dressed and flew down the stairs with a few steps and stopped in front of his father.
-I'm ready.
His father smiled widely.
-That's my boy, he said with a twinkle in his eye. -Let's go to the spring then.
Soi and his father walked the winding path up Spring Mountain with steady feet and a steady pace. Soi's were a bit anxious, this was the day he had been waiting for his whole life, but he corrected his steps after his father's pace. But it was as if he couldn't get there fast enough. Soi's father took each step with care and whistled on an old tune about Spring Island and all its mountains.
The spring on Spring Mountain had been there longer than anyone on Spring Island could remember. Probably before they had escaped the mainland to the island for 400 years ago. The Spring Guardians were founded the same year the spring was found and Soi's family had guarded the spring for several generations and now it was Soi's turn to be upheld the tradition. He was the youngest of five siblings and all his sisters were already guards. Soon he would carry the traditional armour which his father and sisters all wore. It was a blue armour to represent the spring's blue water and by the hip Soi would wear a blue leather scabbard and in it lay the sword which shone like silver in the sunlight. His mother had measured and sewn him the clothes he would wear to the ceremony, when the other guards would put the armour on him and present him the sword as a token of he being worthy the burden of guarding the Spring. It was a big responsibility and he had been nervous the last few weeks if he would manage it but his father and mother and all his sisters said he was ready.
Now he was climbing the mountain up to the spring, his hands were sweating of nervosity and his long black hair kept getting in his eyes. He should have braided it like his sisters did. Every morning by the breakfast table they braided each others hair and then put a ribbon around the head to hold back the hair. Soi loved his sisters, every one of them. From a young age Soi and his sisters had been trained to succeed their father and uncle. They had been trained in sword fighting, how to throw daggers, how to use bow and arrow and to fight with their bare hands. Soi, though the youngest, had quickly advanced and was soon beyond his sisters skill in fighting. But they were older so they had joined the Spring Guardians much sooner than him. The youngest sister had joined as a guard three years ago and now all the sisters worked all day and Soi was left alone to bide his time. It wasn't fun to be the best but not being able to join. But soon it was his turn. He just had to climb this mountain first.
Soi's family were one of four to guard the Spring and Spring Mountain, Soi's family guarded the north side of the mountain and the other families guarded the south, east and west side of Spring Mountain. During this year's ceremony Soi and two other boys and one girl would be introduced to the Spring Guardians. They would stand at the edge of the spring, looking out over the spring's blue water and be dressed in the blue armour by their parents. Then they would turn around and face the other guards. The apprentices would fall to their knees, put forth their hands and the sword with the blue scabbard would be placed in their open palms. And at last, one of the apprentices would be chosen as the Spring Saviour, the one who was trusted with the responsible of saving people with the use of the spring's water with healing powers. The one that would carry the burden of choosing who needed to be treated with spring water or not.
The selection of a saviour was only held roughly every 20th year. Many had thought that one of Soi's sisters would be chosen, that they would take over their father's burden, but none had so far and this year everyone suspected that the boy from the south would be chosen. Soi hoped it would be the south boy they chose, it was scary enough to be part of the Spring Guardians.
-Soi, his father called for his attention. -It looks like there's a heavy rain coming in over us, let's seek for a hide.
The weather was ever as vicious and swift as the dangerous mountains. As his father had pointed out the rain came flushing down the mountain with a strong force. The sky hung heavy grey and black and suddenly there was a lightning and thunder. It was close. Soi and his father had hidden in one of the many small shelters that the Guardians had built together on the mountain. Another lighting and following thunder hit nearby. The rain came down so heavy that the two couldn't see more than a few steps away from the shelter. Soi squeezed his eyes, wasn't there someone out there in the storm?
-Father, Soi tugged his father's sleeve and pointed at the figure in the grey rain.
-By all mountains, his father said. -Why would anyone...
The father and his son saw the figure fall in the mud and the strong stream taking the person with it.
-Soi, stay here. Soi's father put the sword and the little dark bottle containing the sacred spring water in Soi's hands.
-Don't loose these, alright, he said before he marched into the rain and disappeared in the storm.
Soi did as he was told and waited and waited and waited. But his father didn't return and the storm didn't calm down. The wind bit the edges of the shelter and roared in the sky and the rain hit hard on the ground and the mountain was like a waterfall. Soi thought he might stay in the shelter for the rest of his life but as suddenly as it had started the rain stopped. Soi had forgotten all about the ceremony, his thoughts centered about his father.
He stepped outside of the safety of the shelter and watched the sky with weary eyes, but it looked blue and fine for the moment so he decided to find his father. He tied the scabbard around his waist and put the little bottle in his pocket and he began his search. He went to the other shelters to see if they had taken their rescue there but they weren't in any of the shelters. As the hours went by Soi wandered more aimlessly, feeling more and more sad and gloomy about ever finding his father.
Suddenly he stood before a cliff, watching over the wild ocean surrounding their little island. Soi's feet had brought him there by themselves. He begun to whistle the tune his father had whistled just that morning and he heard a weak voice from beneath.
-Help...
Soi leaned forward to see who had spoken and found his father lying on a shelf right beneath the edge of the cliff. He was badly wounded and his breathing was heavy and irregular.
-Father! Wait, I'll help you! Lie still!
Soi lied down on the ground and stretched out his hand for his father to reach. But it was too far. He stretched a little more but he still couldn't reach his father's outstretched hand. All the worry he had built up in his chest trickled down his cheeks as tears.
-I can't reach you, he said with weak voice. -I can't reach you, father.
-It's alright Soi, it's alright.
-No! No, you need me and I can't help you.
-It's alright, the others with lift me up. Right now, boy, I just need you.
Soi's father coughed and some blood came up through his mouth. Soi's eye widened with scare.
-Father, wait here, I'll get the others, he spoke quickly.
-Soi! his father called him and Soi looked anxious into his father's eyes. -Stay here, my son, stay here with me. The others can't help me now. You'll have to show them this place later, but now, you'll stay here with me, my son.
-But the water.
-These wounds are too bad to be treated with just a few drops of the water and I'll die before I reach the spring. My time has come, son.
The tears run down Soi's cheek like the rain had flowed down the mountain during the storm.
-No, he whispered.
-Listen to me now, boy. You'll have to take over the family after me, make sure that they are fine and safe...
-No!
-Yes, you'll have to. Take care of all your sisters and your dear mother. And Soi, take over after me as the Saviour.
-I can't do it!
-Son, you can. Here, take me bracelet, it will help you and protect you.
Soi's father threw the blue leather bracelet up in the air and Soi caught it.
-Father, he cried.
-I love you, son. You and your sisters and your mother, all of our family. I love you dear Soi. Now go and tell the others were I am.
For the second time that day, Soi did as he was told and wandered up the mountain while his tears run down his cheeks. When he reached the spring and saw its blue beauty, he could do nothing but cry. He fell to his knees with the scabbard and his father's bracelet in his hands, and he cried.
The funeral was held the next day and preceding it was Soi's ceremony to become a Spring Guardian and the next Spring Saviour. Instead of getting a new sword he inherited his father’s together with the blue scabbard and he kept the little bottle with spring water. Around his wrist hang the blue bracelet.

To be continued...
By J.L.Frick

The Broken Ones

Chapter 5:2 -Mountains

By lunchtime, Nebelius Silver still hadn’t returned to the camp. Ana was gritting her teeth and pulling her hair. Sassa on the other hand cleaned her nails and Soi didn’t know what to do.
-No, that’s it. I’m not going to wait any longer for him to find his way back. Soi, we’re leaving!
-But what about…
-He’s not a baby!
-Sa…
-She has her own guard, Ana cut off.
-Soi, you don’t have to worry about me. Though that’s sweet of you.
Sassa throw an airborne kiss to him.
-Yes, very sweet indeed, Ana added sourly.
A few minutes later the two were all set to go. With an uneasy feeling Soi looked back at the camp over his shoulder. Sassa didn’t seem a least bit worried. She sat leisurely in the knee of her guard, kissing his neck.
-Is it really alright to leave…
-If you utter one more word I will kill you. Is that understood.
It wasn’t really a question, but Soi nodded silently. Their journey continued for a while in silence, then Ana begun cursing and cussing Nibbles for being the unreliable jerk he always had been. Each step they took they got further and further north and closer to the threatening mountains that were hovering in front of them like a bad omen. They were always in the edge of Soi’s eyesight, bothering him.
-Do you think we’ll get any closer to the mountains before we set camp tonight?
Ana turned around and stared at him with a grim face. Soi looked nervously back at her.
-Not that, that was a question, he added mumbling.
-Are you seriously afraid of the mountains? Ana asked with an honest voice, though a bit irritated.
Soi looked up to meet her eyes.
-Yes…
-So what happened, you was having a little adventure up in some mountain and then you tripped on a pebble and fell down and broke one or two legs, making you injured for life? Ana said sarcastically.
-Something like that.
Ana stared at him.
-I was joking.
-I know.
Ana kept staring at him.
-You don’t have to tell me if you don’t have to.
-That doesn’t even make sense. Soi wrinkled his eyebrows.
-That’s because you have to tell me.
Ana looked serious right back at him.
-We’re not moving till I get the full story. I have to know if this is going to be a problem or not.
-It’s not a problem.
-Then tell me about it.
Soi sighed.
-Looks like we’ll have to stay, Ana concluded and sat down on the ground.
And they did. The camp was set up and soon a fire was burning with some game hanging over it. Soi hung with his head and looked deep into the red flames.
-I still feel that we should have stayed behind to wait for Nibbles, he said with a low voice.
-Look at it this way, you are just my guard and don’t have to care about my, Ana smirked, friends. Got it?
-I still feel…
-No! You don’t feel anything, you don’t have to feel. They are capable to take care of themselves, they are brokens.
A piercing scream echoed in the woods and Ana and Soi instantly stood up and watched around. Soi picked out his sword from the blue scabbard and prepared himself. Ana raised her staff and pointed it in front of her.
-Do you think…, Soi begun to mumble but was erupted by another scream.
It sounded like an animal, something between a wolf and a bear but with a tone of madness. Soi felt the hair on his back rise. And then there was another roar but from another direction. Soi was not one that was easily scared but with the history of the monsters fresh in his mind he couldn’t help but shudder. He had managed one out of pure luck, could he really defeat two? But this time he had Ana on his side at least.
-Ana…
-We should leave. Fast.
She limped toward Soi’s mare who stepped nervously from side to side.
-But our things?
-We don’t have time, take what’s necessary. Come on Soi!
Soi jumped up on his horse and dragged Ana up behind him. She clung to him, her mouth near his ear. Soi kicked the sides of the mare who made a scared jump forward before she lengthen her steps. Soi skilfully led the mare between the trees and avoiding rocks and bushes. From a distance he heard the monsters roar in the night, it was different now. It was closer. Soi urged the horse to move faster and looked back over his shoulder. That one second a branched ripped his face and Ana poked him in the side.
-Concentrate on getting forward, I’ll watch our back, she screamed in his ear.
-Where’re we going?
-The mountains.
Soi pulled the reins and stopped.
-What? No, Soi we can’t stop here! Get on.
Soi shook his head.
-I can’t, he uttered through his teeth. –I’ll stay.
-No, you stupid human, you’ll die. You were only lucky the first time and this time there are two of them!
-I’ll stay.
-Soi, didn’t you hear what I said?! You’ll die!
The roar closed in on them.
-Damn Soi! Look, it’s not really the mountains we’re going to, it’s a little village at the bottom of the mountain. Come on Soi, you can do it. Be the good guard you are and bloody protect me!
But Soi couldn’t move his arms or legs, his whole body shook and his breath was heavy. He couldn’t see straight and his fingers trembled. In his head he could hear man humming a familiar tune and Soi begun to hum along with the man. He could still hear the monsters roar but his head and heart were so afraid that they couldn’t move the body. In the distance he could hear Ana scream but it felt like a dream. All he could hear was that old man humming his tune and he saw only the green mountains of his home island. The wind was strong and his black hair was longer then it was now and waved in the wind. He could see the old man’s face, it was so familiar and warm, smiling. And his eyes were slanted and black.
-Damn it Soi, Ana cussed loudly and took the reins and pinched her legs tightly around the horse’s stomach. –Damn horses!
She urged the horse forward and tried to hold Soi upright. She could hear the monsters and she concentrated on fixing a barrier around them. The monsters moved in closer, running beside them, looking at their prey with glowing red eyes.
-Damn monsters! Ana cussed and flung out with her left arm and sent out a flash but missed the intended target.
And then they attacked and the horse discovered the beasts and jumped scared aside. The mare neighed afraid. Ana had a hard time to hold on, but she was still on the horse. She threw another flash and this time it was a hit and the monster disappeared in the dark. But there was one left. It was smarter than the other one and Ana could only see its red eyes in the dark. The mare had sped up the tempo and run fast, there was foam around its mouth and on its body. The nose flared open and its whites glowed in the dark.
Up ahead lights were glowing and Ana pushed the horse to run even faster. Suddenly something blocked their way and the world turned black.

To be continued...
By J.L.Frick