The Windcaster [Fantasy/Adventure | Featured | Complete ]

Chapter 24: Missing

Enlil's simmering silence maintained for the next few days. He spoke nothing more than what was polite and in response to Master Anu's questions. Anything and everything Tia or Mommu attempted was met with an indecipherable look.

Tia kept an eye out on the boy. At the same time, she also kept an ear out for any more news of Gwent, but she was disappointed to find not a single hint of any war-related news, much as she'd eavesdropped in the dining area. Enlil's silence made her uneasy. She knew he was plotting something and, perhaps too late, she regretted challenging his words and encouraging him to take action. Mommu was right... as usual.

Master Anu did not appear relaxed, either. Tia had no idea if he had heard about the impending invasion – he must have, surely? – but it was evident he intend to travel on to Capital as quickly as possible. His lined face appeared older every evening when he returned, and Master Mami's initial critical features were also replaced by worry.  Tia did not trust aloof, quiet Ki enough to ask her about the war, and the older girl made a point of not socialising with the other trainees even during their training sessions, keeping herself busy with her magic.

One day Tia was awoken by Mommu as he barged into the room the three shared in Lady Ishtar's Arms. The flimsy wooden door nearly flew off its hinges as the plump boy gasped, bending over and hands gripping his knees.

"What is wrong, Mommu?" she said sleepily, rubbing her eyes.

"It is Enlil!" the apprentice choked out, trying to catch his breath. "I cannot find him anywhere!"

She was wide awake at once and swung her legs out of the stiff, wooden bed that the inn had provided.

"Are you sure he is not in the tavern?" She flapped her hands at him. He turned around and she slipped into her tunic and leggings. "He is not in the stable, the dining area, the outhouse...?"

"I have checked!" Mommu's voice was rising in pitch. She shoved her legs into her boots and reached for her cerulean cloak, before changing her mind and swinging her travelling cloak around her shoulders.

The sun had barely risen; its rays struggled to peep through the heavy smoke that permanently sat above Hume. Despite the early hour, the streets were already filled with slaves moving to and from their working areas. The two struggled their way through the crowded streets, avoiding the swinging of heavy sacks of grains on the slaves' shoulders and the wheels of the carts stacked high with wooden boxes. They did not know the streets of Hume well, but by following the flow of people, they could guess their general direction of journey.

When they were exhausted, they stopped, sweaty and sticky, hungry and thirsty, perspiration dripping down their faces and their hair plastered to their foreheads. At extreme ends of the day, the sun's rays were blocked by the high buildings but at its highest point in the sky, the heat bore down unrelentingly, burning their heads and their skins, making their motions even more sluggish and reluctant.

They had gone to every single warehouse, shoemaker's shop, blacksmith's, woodcutters' store and more, yet the boy was nowhere to be found. Panic had settled in Tia's chest. Enlil could be anywhere, for all they know. He could have run away – out of Hume and anywhere beyond by now. He could have been arrested for assault if he saw a master punishing his slave and the boy did not control his anger. He could have been killed for treason if he was heard proclaiming his thoughts of overthrowing the king and liberating the slaves.

Liberating the slaves.

Something clicked in Tia's mind.

"Mommu!" She grabbed the boy's arm. "What if Enlil was going to speak to the slaves about his plan?"