Chapter 21

The guards came early the next morning, waking all the occupants of the cell hall with loud clangs that echoed through the long corridor.

Emeric, used to the early waking hour after weeks of routine, had woken a few minutes before the grueling alarm.  Kedo however, woke up with a start and gazed around with fearful eyes.  It took him a few moments to remember where he was and why. 

However, his recollection of his surroundings wasn't accompanied by relief, rather terror of the past events that had unfolded recently.

Emeric watched the young Rogue with concerned sympathy. Even though he had only just met the young boy, he already felt a brotherly protectiveness towards Kedo. 'Birds of the same feather has to stick together.' His father used to tell him.

The thought of his father sent a stab of sadness through Emeric as he tried to push down his emotions. He couldn't show weakness in this place. He had to stay strong, not just for himself, but also for the kid.

Emeric stood up, with a few painful grunts, as a guard came to a halt in front of his cell. He turned to Kedo, giving him a reassuring smile as he walked towards the gate, "See you later." He told the worried face that looked at him with desperate eyes...Desperate eyes that pleaded for Emeric not to go.

The guard cuffed Emeric's hands behind his back, much to his discomfort. His muscles were still stiff and complained under the straining position. However, to Emeric's surprise, the guard turned to Kedo, "Get up." He spat rudely.

Emeric blanched and planted himself firmly between Kedo and the guard, "No. He's too young." Emeric said threateningly, however, the desperation he felt shook in his voice. The guard shoved Emeric aside, with some difficulty, to the guard's displeasure.

He didn't have to tell Kedo twice. The young boy wanted to stay as close to Emeric as possible having realised that Emeric was the only one who didn't see him as a pest. He hastily went to stand by the older Rogue's side, watching the guard with fearful eyes.

Emeric groaned inwardly as he thought of what lay ahead. Training was going to be hard enough with his sore body. To add to that he was going to have to avoid Nedes and his goonies who would see him as an easy target in his weakened state. Now he would have to help Kedo do the coarse and protect him from the ravenous bullies...

It was going to be a hard day...

The training square looked just the way Emeric remembered it, though it was unlikely that it would change in the few days that he had been absent. They stood all bunched up, those who knew each other stood in close groups, talking about anything to pass the time. Emeric, as usual found it better to stand off to one side, but for the first time he wasn't alone. Kedo stood next to him.

Emeric could see the fear and curiosity shine on the youngster's face as he took in everything around him. He portrayed the exact feelings Emeric had felt when he had first entered the training square.

As they waited, Emeric made sure the he hid Kedo from view with his body. Trouble would sprout as soon as one of the others saw Kedo...He was an easy target...Emeric couldn't help but wonder what would happen if the boy was somehow separated from him. 'Just make sure that doesn't happen.' He thought dully.

Just when Emeric thought that they would go by unnoticed, a chiding voice hit his ears. "Oh look who decided to come back from his death bed." Nedes was already busy walking closer to Emeric. He still smarted gruesome looking bruises and for some strange reason they started to throb as the Chayran neared...Reminding him of who had done the injustice...

Emeric turned to face the taller juvenile, simultaneously keeping Kedo from view, who wisely knew that he was better off staying hidden.

"What do you want, Nedes?" The name tasted bitter on Emeric's tongue as he spoke. Nedes smiled, though the gesture never reached his eyes. "Just wanted to say that the new look suits you well." Nedes replied smoothly.

Emeric felt his face flush red with anger as Nedes referred to his bruised face. Emeric frowned, "Well, if that's all...you should probably go, before the look rubs off on you." Emeric's voice had no humour in it, but yet Nedes let out a loud, heartless chuckle.

"Will it now?" He questioned. Emeric was about to shoot an insult when he saw Nedes's eyes shift behind him...to Kedo. Emeric's blood froze when he saw the evil grin spreading over Nedes's features.

"Well, well, well...What do we have here? Did the Beast get a pet?" Nedes chided. Kedo wisely stayed behind Emeric, but he was standing in a manner where he could clearly see the bully and vice versa.

"Stay away from him." Emeric said in a soft, deadly voice. Nedes got a moment's hesitation at the threatening tone in the Rogue's voice, but then remembered that he had the upper hand of numbers on his side. He took a step forward, his eyes on Kedo.

"He almost looks just like you, Rogue." Nedes teased, "All he needs are a few bruises then you can call yourselves brothers..."

He didn't pay any mind to Emeric. In the past Emeric hadn't made any move to defend himself and in Nedes's eyes, he was a weakling who posed no danger...

That was why he never saw the fist coming. As soon as he had been within arms reach, Emeric grabbed Nedes by the collar with blinding speed and jerked him forward with his left hand, hard enough to give the Domer a whiplash, while simultaneously throwing his best punch ever with his right fist...

Nedes was lifted off his feet as his head jerked backwards. Time seemed to stand still as every eye turned to the flying figure. He fell on a heap a few feet away, staring through teary eyes - a natural reflex against a hit in the nose - at the Rogue who returned his gaze dominatingly.

Emeric experienced a strange satisfaction when he noted that Nedes was clutching a bleeding, broken nose. He deserved it.

"Don't just stand there!" Nedes yelled at his goonies, "Get him." For the first time ever, the two bullies didn't do as Nedes had ordered. The shifted awkwardly from one foot to the other. But, it only took one glance at the furious Rogue and they decided that by facing the Rogue they would end up like Nedes...if not worse.

Before more brawls could break out a booming voice echoed down the courtyard, "What on dear Chayr is going on here." Everyone turned in surprise as they faced the Dome Keeper who had entered the training square unannounced. Everyone came to attention, accept for Nedes who still sat in the dust, clutching his bleeding sniffer.

Calvert scrunched up his nose at the pathetic site, "Seems someone beat me to you." Calvert stated calmly as he came to a stop in front of Nedes. The boy avoided Calvert's challenging gaze, showing his true cowardice.

With a scoff Calvert turned away from Nedes and faced Emeric, "Your doing?" he questioned.

"Yes sir." Emeric replied without hesitation and regret. Calvert's face turned to one of anger, but before he could reprimand the Rogue a voice interrupted.

"He didn't do anything wrong. Nedes was going to hurt the kid."

Surprised, Emeric turned and saw Aire slowly striding closer. He hadn't noticed her before, but he appreciated her presence.

"Is that so?" Calvert asked, though he didn't sound interested. Nonetheless, he turned to the rest of the trainees who stood in an ordered line now that the Dome Keeper was present. "Listen to me now, and listen carefully. If anyone touches that kid." Calvert pointed a finger at Kedo, "You'll be transferred back to the executioner's level and all the kills will be taken from your names...You'll have to start at the bottom once more."

The threat did it's job. Everyone present had reached the Eliminator's round and were halfway to earning their freedom. It had been hard going to get this far and if they had to start over, it was most likely that they wouldn't get this far again.

Calvert's eyes fell over each trainee one at a time before he gruffly nodded, "Good." he said and turned to Emeric, "As for you," Calvert said in a lowered tone of voice so that only Emeric could hear what he was saying. "If you disobey one order, the kid will feel the sting, not you."

And with that Calvert left, not waiting to see what reaction Emeric would have. In all honesty, Emeric was too shocked to react at all. The words and their finality sunk in and he was left dazed in shock.

If he didn't do exactly what they told him to do, Kedo would receive all the punishment.

Marven arrived a few moments later and sent the group around the perimeter fifteen times. and then another half a dozen rounds over the coarse. Emeric, although each and every muscle in his body was complaining against the intense exercise, did his best to keep up with the group.

As it turned out, Marven didn't expect anything form Kedo. The young Rogue had been chained to a post and remained there as a constant reminder for Emeric that he had to keep going, that he had to do as he'd been told...The last thing he wanted was for Kedo to suffer as he had.

At one stage, as Emeric shot a worried glance at the kid he noticed that Aire had taken a seat next to the kid. For a while Kedo had been noticeably tense, but with each lap that Emeric completed, the kid seemed to be more relaxed. At some stage he even heard him laugh softly at a joke that Aire must have made.

Emeric appreciated her, for having the heart to comfort the kid. Emeric was worried about the young Rogue. Growing up with a price on his head had been hard for Emeric, but Kedo was growing up in the heart of the enemy where no one cared about what happened to him...No one but Emeric and Aire.

Emeric was willing to do anything to protect his young friend. If it meant that he was going to have to push himself beyond the breaking point, then so be it. But there was not a chance that he was going to do anything rebellious that would cause Kedo any pain.

He decided there and then that if he was told to kill in the Dome, he'd do so. After all, if he had to choose between Kedo's life and a stranger's...The answer was all too clear...