Neoma (13)

As Dmitri became more and more accustomed to Godspeed’s presence and his abilities, he began to lighten up his attitude. This lightening brightened the group slightly.1

Rachel had started to teach Charles and Natty how to read and write. Natty held an unknown motive behind learning to read, and learned al lot quicker than Charles. However, Charles possessed a natural talent for swordplay in Dmitri’s opinion. Dmitri was pleased by Charles’s talent, but wasn’t really pleased when Natty would end up bruised and beaten and unable to learn anything from it. In the mornings Natty would often be unable to move so Rachel would have to patch some of the stiffer parts of Natty’s body up, but it slowed down the group much to Dmitri’s dismay.2

Although Natty’s days were quite full she would scheme about how to get a hold of Dmitri’s old book. She shared her ideas and plans with Charles as he could just about outmatch Dmitri in sword fighting, so he would be an excellent lookout. A sparrow chirped and Natty sighed, pushing a wave of her hair away from her face.3

“What are you thinking about?” asked a friendly voice from her left.4

“You know what, Charles.” Natty replied. Her eyes were still concentrated on the path.5

“Oh.”6

A silence followed where they all stopped walking. Dmitri, who was always up front with Rachel, stopped Godspeed. He coughed roughly and began conversing with Rachel. He was always talking to her about something and he occasionally looked back at Natty and Charles. And Natty, due to the lack of Dmitri’s attention, was forced to stand with Charles.7

Not that it was bad, talking to him. He was just really quiet and had a lot of thoughts. But it was different when he was angry or determined about something. She was surprised with how much she knew about him attitude-wise already. Natty could tell what he was normally thinking through his facial expression but he had mastered how to keep his emotions from showing on his face lately. She remembered when she used to call him a wimp or baby, but he had grown an itty bit taller and looked stronger than before.8

“So I guess we’re stopping now.” Natty said loudly.9

Dmitri turned and gave her a tern look. “Obviously,” he said. “Follow me.”10

Natty sighed loudly and followed Dmitri a little farther up the path. He tossed he a wooden dagger that he had made. He talents had been steadily improving but she had yet to do anything impressive by Dmitri’s standards.11

“Three… two… go!”12

Dmitri did well to parry Natty’s blows, but was bruised some lack of concentration. By the end of the hour, Natty was standing, breathing heavily along with Dmitri, with her dagger’s point hovering from his throat. Dmitri was leaning a bit backwards and smiling.13

“I yield.” He said, keeping his eyes on Natty’s.14

“That was surprising.” She muttered.15

“Nice job.” Dmitri said in a low voice, something clicked in his mind.16

He stood up straight and paced his hands on her shoulders. Natty could again feel his breath over her head and she froze, unblinking. Dmitri quickly kissed her forehead and cleverly didn’t hesitate to quickly walk away for the small fear that he would get hit. Looking at Rachel wasn’t needed because she hounded on him as soon as he was within earshot. He couldn’t blame her; it was his fault for going against himself.17

Dmitri wasn’t able to call Charles over because of Rachel. Charles smiled at Natty as she sat down beside him.18

“Didn’t see that coming, huh?”19

“YOU did?” Natty muttered, her immediate feelings hidden from him.20

“No, but I can’t say that I don’t mind.”21

“Thanks.” Natty said absently.22

There was a silence in which Dmitri could be heard explaining something urgently. Natty put her head on Charles’s shoulder. “Don’t get any wrong ideas. You’re just like a brother to me.”23

Charles nodded. “So can I hug you now?”24

Natty laughed and said nothing else. Dmitri abruptly stopped talking when Charles put his arm around Natty.25

* * *26

Much later, when the moon was just visible above the horizon, Dmitri was talking to Charles about the governments’ new inventions.27

“They say they have… I don’t know what. Most people say the invention is like a metal tube that is a bit complex and can embed a lead ball in you if it hits. And it can kill just about any living thing.”28

Charles’s face was a bit depressed. “Nothing’s going in the right direction.”29

“Point made. But there isn’t any way to change the world. Terrum is far worse than us. The people live in poverty and religion is forced on them. The government is tattered and headed nowhere. Terra is fairing well, but still worse than us. There is no middle-class, only rich and poor.”30

“What about us? Terid?”31

“With metallurgy on the rise, we’ll be there soon enough. Caeldonia is safe, though.”32

Rachel chimed in from across the fire. “Not forever, it won’t.”33

Charles looked over at Rachel. “Caeldonia?”34

“It’s my birthplace. None of the three countries think there is another place out there. We’re much more advanced and have a sturdy system of things.” Rachel explained. “I haven’t been there in years.”35

“That’s interesting.” Charles said as he laid down and looked up at the stars through the trees.36

“What’s so important about Caeldonia that sets it apart from the mainland?” Natty asked in a clear voice.37

“How you die.” Rachel tone was scary for the kind of person she was.38

“Can you explain?”39

“Every thousand years there is a plague where everyone with even a single speck of Caeldonian blood becomes ill. I received a letter from my aunt who lives in Terra not too long ago. She said our philosophers have a theory on how to survive the plague. The less natural Caeldonian blood you have, the less severe the plague is.” Rachel explained. “So if a pureblood interbred with mainlanders, many many years from now they will only get a cold or sore throat when the plague hits.”40

“Why is there a plague?” Charles asked.41

“We don’t know. But many say that we did something to upset the god.”42

“How much blood do you have?” Natty asked.43

“Her family is strict on who they marry. She has only Caeldonia blood in her.” Dmitri answered.44

Everyone stopped talking then, and the four eventually fell asleep. Godspeed had wandered into the woods and usually kept a yard away from everyone now.