Kieladire


12•20•8993. 8:09.


     "Wait!"

     I call for the small group.

     "I have somewhere for you to hide," I say, thinking of the underground chamber.

     The two of them, the red-headed girl and the strong one, look at each other in confusion and concern, but also resolution.

     They hesitantly follow me.

     They stay warily at my heels as we weave through the colorful crowd. Every once and a while, I turn to smile at them.

     We come upon my tent; a large one with tables and baskets filled to the highest point with food, and we enter. This pile is worth thousands upon thousands of tosks, as food is scarce in our region. The colors give life to the sand-colored tent.

     I tell them to enter, and they do, though hesitantly. The red-headed girl is standing in the corner of the tent as if trying to eliminate a threat from behind her, and the strong one is in the center, analyzing and observing everything he can. They're smart ones.

     I gesture for the girl to move out of the way. She does, quickly, and jogs to another corner.

     I pull a sheet down over our tent and put out a sign that, in my mother tongue, says "Busy, Come Back Later."

     I reach down, gray dress brushing the ground, and reach into the sand, brushing it away. My hands find a handle and I pull upward. The sand moves out of the way to reveal an open hatch.

     "You want us to go down there?" asks the red-head.

    "Indeed," I suggest.

     "Check it out, Jane," says the strong one.

     The girl, Jane, slowly enters the hatch, holding it open with one hand and climbing down with the other, all while keeping her eyes on me.

     She quickly scans the underground room.

     "I think it's okay."

     I smile. "I'll keep you safe until they are gone. I'll also give you the necessary supplies for your journey."

     The strong one, with the other one on his back, carefully climbs down as well.

     We all enter my place of safety. This is where I come during unsafe times, but I don't let many down here. I just had a feeling about these three.

     They have that look on their face that marks the presence of my brother.

     I can't let him hurt these three.


•••••••••••


P.O.V.- Magnuson


12-20-8993. 8:13.


     I don't trust her.

     Although, I also do.

     I, with Arcadia on my back, enter the underground room.

     The room has dim, blue lighting. It's surprisingly large and full of books, food, water, and beds.

     I lay Arcadia on the last bed on the right, careful to tilt her head to the side to keep her from choking.

     I sit on the bed next to her and Jane sits next to me, a bit too close.

     The woman sits across from us, on the second to last bed on the left side of the room.

     "So," she says in her thick accent, "what are you two called?" Her English isn't perfect.

     "I'm Magnus," I say, "and this is Jane and Arcadia." I gesture to the two of them.

     "Who are you?" Jane questions.

     "Kieladire is what I am called," she murmurs.

     Why does that sound familiar?

     "Do I... Do I know you?" I ask.

     She looks worried for a moment, as if I'll hurt her, "I don't believe so, Mr. Magnus."

      Kieladire stands.

      "I'll let you know when it's safe. Feel free to use whatever you need," she says, gesturing to the rest of the room.

     She leaves through the hatch and closes it.

     Jane begins devouring an apple.

     I have no appetite.