Inheritance · Volume II

XIX - Separation

Evia's flogging ended in three days. She was handed back over to the King, before she was thrown in a cell alone, awaiting the convoy destined for Heshka.

Cassius and Tavian were put back with the others, and they waited nervously as days passed. Their prison cell was smaller and darker, with a single barred torch above them the only source of light. After four days of confinement, however, it flickered out, and they were left in almost complete darkness.

And Tavian stayed with Cassius, clutching his hand tightly, and showing no signs of ever wanting to let go.

----

Steedless looked out the window. His face was still, his eyes narrowed, and he was silent.

The door opened quietly behind him.

"What is it?" He snapped.

"Are... are you alright?"

Steedless' eyes widened as he turned. "Cerulean, I'm so sorry-"

"It's alright," she replied. "...What troubles you?"

Steedless sighed. "Father is sending Evia to Heshka, needs Cassius alive... and wants to kill the others."

Cerulean gasped. "What?"

"That includes your Scout and my Tandu." He said. "I've tried to talk to father, but he won't listen. And... I've found out the executions are tomorrow."

Cerulean shook her head. "No-"

"Here," Steedless pulled something out of his pocket, and pushed it into her palm.

She opened her hand and saw a key, on a loose piece of string.

"Wha-"

"Their cell." He said. "You can say your goodbyes."

"But can we do nothing?" Cerulean sobbed. "Can we not stop it somehow?"

"I'm so sorry," Steedless said, his voice lowered. "There's nothing we can do."

She nodded quietly before leaving him, clenching the key tightly.

He turned back to the window. Simply out of boredom, he casually eavesdropped on a conversation between the pair of guards on duty below him.

"Have you heard about the Esgarthian fiasco?"

The second laughed. "Who hasn't? She's off to Heshka, isn't she?"

"But what about that other one, the Arnon? Who knows what Meria wants with him."

"I've heard that he wants to send him to Heshka too."

He whistled. "What's he done, then?"

"Apparently he slept with her. Rumour has it that the boy up there was theirs."

"Hm," the first leaned on his spear. "Poor kid. Did they get his name?"

"Tavian," he replied. "My brother speaks Lilanon. He said it means 'freedom fighter' or something."

"It's a shame," the other coughed and shivered. "Snow's coming, they say. It'll be cold."

"At least the flogger had a good time."

They laughed together, their breath pouring from their mouths like smoke from dragons. But Steedless narrowed his eyes.

"Arnon," he whispered to himself, before clenching his teeth and stepping back from the window, out of their sight.

----

Cerulean nodded to the guards, holding up the key before they parted to let her open the door herself.

Scout stood as he saw her, before she ran to him and embraced him tightly.

Tandu, Enda, Tavian and Cassius watched for a while, but soon realised it was private and looked away.

"Cerulean?" he said, quietly. "What on earth are you-"

"My father wants you executed," She whispered. "Tomorrow."

Silence.

"I came to say goodbye." She swallowed down her tears. "And... I need to tell you something."

Gently, she placed his hand on her stomach.

Scout stared at her as she looked up.

"It's an Esament."

Their eyes locked. Scout shook his head. "Rue..."

"Don't worry about me, Scout," she murmured. She pulled the same strand of silver away from his face and smiled. "I'm sure I'll see you again. In another life."

She kissed him lightly on the cheek before turning away.

The other four pairs of eyes watched him in the dark as he sat back down, the door slamming shut.

Cassius swallowed. "What was that-"

"She says the execution is tomorrow." Scout said. He sighed sullenly. "We haven't got much time."

"What were you planning?" Tandu chortled. "An escape?"

Scout didn't reply. He could still feel his hand on her stomach, feeling the life inside her-

A fist tapped on the door twice before the door opened once more.

But this time, General Gandra walked in, followed by three guards.

"Cassius?" He said.

Nobody moved.

Instinctively, Gandra's hand shot out and grabbed Tavian, who cried out as a sword was drawn against his throat.

"Would Cassius care to come out now?"

Slowly, Cassius stepped forwards. He looked at Tavian reassuringly and caught him as he was dropped viciously.

"Take him."

The guards grabbed him and hauled him to the door, with Tavian screaming as Cassius was pulled away.

"Tavian," he said.

The boy shook his head as the dragonskulls put him in chains. He looked up at this man- his protector, his friend- and his question was finally answered as Cassius swallowed.

"The answer. It's... it's yes. I'm so sorry-"

Tavian stared in horror as the door was quickly closed again, and Scout let him run to the door and press his hands against it in agony. He whispered something unheard by the others, as they painfully watched the boy shake in mortification.

"...Father?"