The Broken Ones

Chapter 14:2 -Beroal

-Although my side hasn’t always been fun and I haven’t always been alone, Nibbles voice had turned chilly and he hung with his head.
Soi studied Nebelius warily as the sun begun to set. Their campfire was burning steadily and the plain was quiet. Nibbles had kept an even mood since they left the Academy, ready for a fight with a wide smile plastered on his face. Soi knew it was to keep their spirits up as their situation was anything but bright. Nibbles sudden change of mood from sunny bright to gloomy dark was unexpected although Soi himself had a hard time thinking positive. They were closing on the mountains but so far they hadn’t a clue to how to save Ana.
-You know, you were right about me. I am untrustworthy, Nibbles continued and Soi straighten his back.
-What do you mean? Soi asked carefully glancing around for his sword.
-I didn’t want to be trusted, I didn’t want people to rely on me instead of themselves. Before I became a broken I had a family. It consisted of my drunken dad and my mum, me and my five little sisters.
-You have sisters? Just like…
-Just like you, yes. But my family was poor, we relied on the money others gave us, we were beggars. Dad drunk up most of it. Mum couldn’t work, she was too weak, so when I was eighteen I took a work on a cargo ship. The money I earned I sent back home. For five years I was out on the sea and when I came home our house was empty. I was told that my mum had died a year after I left and the rest of the family had moved to a smaller house.
The fire crackled and Soi realised the dark had surrounded them yet again. He had been drawn into Nibbles story that he’d forgotten about the monsters roaming the plains and the rest of the world.
-What happened next?
-I located the new house and found my dad drunk as ever and two of my youngest sisters. The other three were working my dad said. I was offered a meal and while I was being served by my sisters I realised they were scared of me. As I couldn’t understand why it made me sad and confused. After the meal my sisters led me to a room where I could sleep for the night. One of my sisters finally had the courage to talk to me which gladden me. She asked about the sea, if it was beautiful. I told her about its beauty but when I asked her what had happened while I was away she didn’t want to talk, she pursed her lips and looked at me with sad eyes. Late that night I was woken by the sound of an argument.
Nibbles voice dropped deeply by the last sentence and Soi feared the story would end badly. But he kept listening, he had always wanted to know how Nibbles become Nibbles.
-In the kitchen I found my dad and three girls wearing heavy make-up and ragged clothes. I had seen such ladies before and was surprised to see them in our house. I stayed in the shadows to learn more of the situation. My dad blames the girls for swindling away his money, the money they had earned by selling themselves. When the oldest girl argued against him he hit her and she fell to the floor and glared back up at him. I wanted to interfere but one of my youngest sisters took my arm and held me back. I looked confused back at her and she signed to me to keep quiet. The girl on the floor rose unsteadily, her cheek swollen and red. And then she said spiteful: “Why would we try to trick our own father?” I’m not completely sure what happened next but I know I hit dad, Nibbles voice turned bitter, not once or twice but several times. He deserved it, he had sold my sisters like common trash to strangers just so he could get his precious money to buy alcohol. I didn’t give him a chance to explain his actions, he didn’t deserve that either and what could he have said to explain why he was selling my sisters, his daughters!
Nebelius was yelling now, no more held back anger and Soi could very well understand his fury. Not much could upset Soi but if his sisters were treated wrongly he would go mad.
Nibbles sighed and took a long breath before he continued.
-I was thrown into jail and later in trial where I was convicted for the death of my father. The judge said I hadn’t seen the whole picture, that my father had done what had to be done to make sure the family survived and therefore my sentence was to lose one of my eyes. I did not see that way; my dad had always been a drunk. He was too lazy to sober up and get a real work. When I was released a year later, without my eye, I went back to my sisters’ house but they had left and this time no one knew where to. Without any family left and only one eye I become Nebelius Silver and I didn’t want anybody to rely on me ever again. The world of the broken ones suited me, but the Academy was too strict and I wanted to have fun after all the misery I’d been through so instead of working for the Academy I made my own living.
-Why are you telling me all of this? Does anybody else know?
-No, you’re the only one. I thought that since Ana has confided in you she finds you trustworthy, and I want at least one person to know my story.
-It wasn’t as much confiding as blurting everything out, Soi muttered and Nibbles smiled again.
-Anyhow, I’m telling you this because I want to change. When I became Nibbles trust was a word I erased from my vocabulary. Then I met someone who said that trust and loyalty were all that mattered. For the first time since my becoming Nebelius I wanted someone to trust me, I wanted her to trust me. The funny thing is that she never did.
Nibbles smile was finally completely restored to its usual brightness but it had different glow to it, it felt almost pink. This was the first time Nibbles had given Soi reason to think he actually had someone he liked.
-What happened to her? Soi asked with his usual curiosity.
-She was looking for someone and left to search in another city.
Nibbles stirred a little in the fire.
-As we are talking about trust, you know Ana has never trusted anyone like she trusts you, Nibbles picked up with light yet serious tone.
-How do you know? Soi snorted.
-Because I’ve seen her with Sam for years and can now conclude that she trusted him to an extent, she was sure never to make any mistakes around him. With you, on the other hand, she messes up completely. She’s even blurted her life story to you although you’re only a guard, not even a broken.
-So?
-So… Nibbles begun but changed his mind and stared at Soi. –You really are slow sometimes, Soi.
-Oh, come on, Nibbles, just tell me. Soi replied gruffly.
-No, you have to ask yourself, why would Ana sacrifice her own life and freedom for yours?
Soi gave it some thought.
-Because… she’s a caring person, he answered reluctantly as he couldn’t think of another reason.
-Yes Soi, Ana is a very nice and caring person. She almost killed you while caring for you after you got wounded by that dreamer. She’s also a broken, the most caring people in the world who only cares for other brokens.

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