Chapter 48

Emeric's heart pounded as he stalked through the shadows. The dark midnight hour concealed him, though he was never sure if there was a searching eye somewhere out there. He had doubted himself on multiple times as he waited for the hour to strike. He knew that he was betraying his people by helping Nedes escape...he was betraying his father.

He wasn't sure what would happen to him if he was found out, but regardless, Nedes's fate was all too clear and if Emeric didn't act soon, the ex-Domer would be unnecessarily executed at dawn.

Emeric stood silently in one of the shadows close to the building where Nedes was being held. The guards had just changed and the new one was alert. He watched his surroundings with keen eyes. However, the guards didn't suspect trouble from outside the building. The reason they were keeping guard was tied up and trapped within the building.

Although the guard was suspicious when he saw Emeric walk out of the shadows, he didn't draw a weapon or raise an alarm. He waited patiently till Emeric reached him before starting a conversation.

"Can I help you with anything?" The guard's tone of voice revealed that he was uncomfortable. Emeric smiled slightly in greeting, "I'm here to relieve you. It's my shift." He said and gestured at the building. The guard frowned. "But my shift doesn't end for two hours." Emeric frowned thoughtfully and scratched the back of his head, "Oh. I must have confused the time. I guess..." He didn't wait to finish his sentence before attacking. This caught the sentry totally off of guard.

Emeric knocked his head back against the wall of the building with a dull thud. The guard crumbled, but to Emeric's dismay, he was still conscious. He unsteadily got to his feet. Emeric saw him open his mouth to call for backup, but the young Rogue acted with lighting reflexes. He clamped his hand over the sentry's mouth and then grabbed him in a choke hold. The older man struggled, but he couldn't escape Emeric's vice grip.

Just before the guard lost consciousness, Emeric whispered, "I'm sorry." And then the man fell to the ground. He was as limp as a rag doll. Emeric made sure that he was still breathing and when he was reassured that the man wasn't dead, he burst into the building. He could barely make out the shape of Nedes in the corner, but the moonlight reflected from his eyes, sending chills through Emeric.

"About time." Nedes muttered when he recognized Emeric. Emeric simply grunted recognition and then moved towards the prisoner. He drew a long dagger and swiftly cut through Nedes's binds.

The two ex-Dome fighters stalked out of the building. As a second thought, Emeric dragged the unconscious guard into the building. He hoped that no one would realize the missing sentry. But he just needed an hour at the most to make sure that Nedes was gone.

"Come on." Emeric instructed softly and started moving towards the gate. Nedes gazed at the settlement in wonder as they made their way through the multiple buildings and houses. It was bigger than he had expected, and the thought made him uncomfortable. There was still a part of him that longed to be part of the Elite. However, now that he had gotten to know an Etreshian, he wasn't sure anymore.

They reached the gate without trouble which drew an audible sigh from Emeric. When they were outside of the settlement, Emeric broke into a ground covering sprint. Nedes was hot on his heals. When they were approximately five miles away from the settlement, Emeric slowed and searched around multiple trees.

"What are you doing?" Nedes asked in between swift breaths. Emeric took a few seconds to reply, "Looking for this." He lifted a large rucksack from where it had been hidden between the roots of a large tree. He shoved it into Nedes's hands. "It's food and supplies. Everything you'll need until you're far enough away to hunt again." Nedes gazed down at the sack in silent wonder and gratitude. Before he could speak, Emeric continued.

"The first few days are going to be tough. You can't stay in one place for long. Go East until you reach the river. Travel in it for as long as possible. It's the only way the Scouts will lose your trail. From there go North. The Scouts won't follow you there, it's too close to civilisation." Emeric explained hurriedly, knowing that his time was limited.

Nedes nodded his understanding.

"What are you going to do now?" Emeric questioned softly. Nedes sighed, "I'm going to look for my mother. Our old house was abandoned and the neighbors said that she moved to the coast in search of a job."

"Well then, make sure you take good care of her."

Nedes stayed silent for a few more seconds, not sure how to reply. "Emeric...Thank you. I really owe you my life. If I can ever repay the favour I will. I promise." Emeric grinned, "I'm sure you would, but I doubt we're ever going to see each other again." Nedes nodded agreement, he lowered his eyes, almost as if he was embarrassed, "I have a bad habit of judging people...I got you very wrong. It doesn't matter where you're from. You're a good person Emeric. And I'm glad I met you." This time it was Emeric who didn't know what to say. Was this the same person who had always mocked him in the Dome?

"Take care." Emeric finalized and turned back to the settlement. "You too." Nedes called from behind him. And as a last word of farewell Nedes added, "I promise I won't tell anyone about you guys." Emeric smiled, though he wasn't sure why, "We'd all appreciate that." He called back and then broke back into a sprint. Nedes too turned and ran as fast as he could in the direction Emeric had indicated. He regretted all the times he had taunted and hurt Emeric. He realised that he had never known a person with a kinder heart. If it had been anyone else, they would have cheered him to his death...But not Emeric. Despite all the times Nedes had hurt him, he had rescued him. He had risked his life to save his enemy's...

When Emeric was less than a mile away from the settlement a deep bellow from a horn met his ears. Panic rose inside of him. The guard had been discovered...Much sooner than he had hoped. He knew that he couldn't enter through the gate, it would be too suspicious and so he altered his coarse. He ran as fast as he could and soon reached the western side fence of the settlement. For the first time he realised how tall the wall was.

He hastily climbed a tree and leapt for the fence. He just barely made it as his fingers gripped the edge of the wall. With a grunt he hefted himself up and over. He dropped silently on the other side and then ran into the settlement. Armed warriors were gathering in front of his father's cabin. Emeric hastily made his way towards them. He pushed through the men till he reached the front.

His father was still inside the cabin, but Emeric could hear voices conversing from within. He turned to one of the warriors, "What's going on?" He questioned. The Etreshian shrugged. Emeric clenched his teeth, somehow he knew that he was in trouble. He turned back to the cabin and entered without knocking.

Emeric felt his throat close when he saw who his father was talking to. The guard whom Emeric had knocked out. The guard's eyes grew wide and he took a step away from Emeric, "It was him Sir. He's the one who attacked me." Emeric felt his own eyes grow wide with disbelief and then he turned to see his father's reaction.

"What?" Rayhan exclaimed. His eyes bored into his son with disbelief. Emeric turned to the guard, "Attack you? What?" Emeric tried acting innocent but it made the guilt grow even heavier on his shoulders.

The guard frowned angrily, "Now don't you dare act like you haven't done nothing wrong." he turned back to Rayhan, "I'm telling you Sir, he's the one who helped the Chayran escape." Before Rayhan could reply Emeric spoke again, "Nedes is gone? What? How did he get out?" Emeric had to admit that he sounded quite convincing.

Rayhan's gaze shifted between the guard and his son. It was obvious that he wasn't sure who to believe. He didn't want to believe the guard, but he also knew that there wasn't a single person besides Emeric who would have protested against the Chayran's death.

"Alright, one of you better start telling the truth right now!" He demanded angrily. "I am Sir." The guard protested. Rayhan turned his eyes to Emeric, "Emeric...swear to me that you didn't do it." Emeric opened his mouth to reply, but he hesitated. Something in him just couldn't lie to his father. Emeric lowered his gaze, too ashamed to meet Rayhan's eyes.

Rayhan shook his head in disbelief, "How could you?" He accused venomously. Emeric wanted to shrink away. "I couldn't just let you kill him." He replied softly. Rayhan was seething with anger now. He shook his head, "So the life of a Chayran matters more to you than your own lineage. He's going to tell the Elites exactly where we are. We're going to lose everything, Emeric...Everything."

Emeric lifted his eyes to meet his father's, it was harder than he expected, "I care about every life equally, Dad. Whether someone's Chayran or Etreshian, we're all the same. And if you were going to kill him just because of who he is, that doesn't make you any better than them." Emeric wanted to run away rather than fighting with his father, but he wasn't a coward and so he stood his ground.

"You've thrown your lot in with them, Emeric, what will the others think? They'll force me to kick you out." Rayhan sounded almost hopeless. Emeric didn't reply.

"Where's he going?" Rayhan questioned. Emeric frowned but stayed silent. "If you help us now Emeric, I might be able to convince the council not to kick you out." Emeric shook his head, "I'm not going to stab Nedes in the back. And if that means that I'm getting kicked out, so be it." As the words left Emeric's lips he had to fight to keep the tears back. He didn't agree with what he had said. The thought of losing his father once more tore at his heart.

He lowered his eyes as tears started welling up in his eyes. "Please Dad. He won't tell anyone. I know him." Rayhan saw the turmoil his son was in. "Are you really willing to get kicked out because of a Chayran who nearly beat you to death?" Rayhan questioned. The grief was clear in his voice. Although he was disappointed in his son's actions, he would do anything to protect him from the judgement of the council.

Emeric stayed silent for a few seconds then shook his head. He was not prepared to give everything up for Nedes. He had done his best and he had gotten the Chayran out, but the rest was up to him.

"Where's he going Emeric?" Rayhan asked, in a gentler voice than before. Emeric let his head hang in defeat. "East...He's going East to the coast." Rayhan nodded, but he saw the melancholy his son suffered. He didn't say anything more and headed for the door.

"Dad..." Emeric said in an almost pleading tone of voice. "He only cares to find his mother. He's not a threat to the camp." Rayhan met his son's eyes. "And he also has quite a head start over us." Rayhan added and left the cabin. Emeric knew that Rayhan had tried to comfort him, but the words did little to soothe his racing heart.

"He's heading East. Take the hawks and hunt him down. We can't let word come out about this place." Rayhan's voice met Emeric's ears as he addressed the Scouts. Emeric felt his heart drop when nearly two dozen men left the settlement to hunt Nedes down. If they caught up with him, there was no way he would escape. Not when the odds were stacked up against him like that.

Rayhan met Emeric's eyes for a few seconds. As Emeric watched his father's face he wondered why he had done it. Why he had let Nedes go. He had lost his father's trust and he would have to work hard to rebuild their relationship. Had Nedes's life really been worth it. A part of him doubted it.

As Emeric made his way back to his cabin, someone called his voice. "Emeric." It was Hunter. Emeric didn't slow down. Hunter didn't seem t notice Emeric's dismissive body language and quickly caught up with him. "Did you hear?" He asked. Emeric felt a lump grow in his throat. Of coarse he had heard. Emeric stayed quiet. He knew that Hunter was going to tell him anyway.

"The Chayran escaped. And there's word that he had inside help" Hunter seemed almost excited as he told Emeric the news. Emeric didn't slow his stride as he replied, "Yeah, I heard." Was all he said as he kept on his track. Hunter frowned slightly, but kept pace with Emeric, "So...Who do you think helped him?" Emeric lowered his head. He had enough to deal with as it was...He didn't need Hunter's judgement too...But he didn't care anymore. He knew word was going to get out and soon everyone was going to know it had been him...Hunter might just as well hear it from Emeric's lips.

"It was me." Emeric said as he reached his cabin. He entered and shut the door behind him before he could see Hunter's reaction.

Hunter was too shocked to do anything. He was surprised that he felt pride instead of anger towards Emeric. He knew that Emeric had to have a good heart to pull off something like that. Strangely, Hunter found himself smiling at the turn of events. Life in the rebellion settlement was going to become quite interesting...Quite interesting indeed...