Chapter 57

"Why hasn't he woken up yet?" Emeric ran his hand through his hair "It's been a week. He spoke to us...Wasn't that supposed to be a good sign? Why the hell is he still unconscious?" Emeric rambled as he paced up and down next to the tent where Kedo was still unconscious and without any sign of improvement.

Aire sat on a fallen tree, watching Emeric's nervous rant. "He needs time, Emeric. And it's only been two days not a week."

"It feels like a week." Emeric grumbled, collapsing next to Aire. Exhaustion had crept from his mind into his body, his bones felt heavy and every movement had grown sluggish.

He could take a sword to the gut and an arrow in the shoulder but not this. This was to much for him. What if Kedo never wakes up again? The thought gave him a physical pain.

Emeric let his face fall into his hands. He wasn't strong enough to lose Kedo. He gripped his hair, the slight sting distracting him. A hand hovered over his neck before rubbing against it soothingly. Aire. He relaxed into her grip. Her hand trailed next to the Traitor's brand and he felt a sudden rush of shame.

"How is it?" Aire asked, feeling him tense up under her fingers.

"It's fine." He lied.

"Don't lie to me Emeric,"

"I'm no-"

"Yes you are." She pulled away, before kneeling in front of him clasping his hands in her own, "You're not fine." Her voice held such emotion, "You're wound is still raw and your best friend in unconscious. Your more nervous and confused than ever." She rose to her feet, "Trust us Emeric. Not the whole world is your responsibility."

She unwound the bandage, her fingers fluttering across the burning skin. She shuddered as she threw away the bandage. Puss and blood had seeped through several layers and crusted in the outer layers.

"When did you clean this last?" She asked, her voice hinting at her displeasure.

Emeric clamped his mouth shut firmly. Whatever excuse he could possibly come up with had no effect on Aire and she would see right past it, and any explanation would rile up the slumbering physician inside her. Emotionally he could not handle a lecture right now so he kept quiet.

"Its okay Aire. I'll take care if it once Kedo wakes up." he replied softly. Aire felt compassion surge in her. He had always been like this, always second in his own mind. She could only imagine the pain he was in. He was punishing himself. Using the pain to remind himself of his mistakes.

"Emeric," His name flowed softly from her lips, "You can't be responsible for every little thing that goes wrong. Forgive yourself." Emeric didn't answer, "At least let me put something on for the pain." A light breeze fluttered past and Emeric flinched. With the bandage off, the wound was visible. It was an aching red and stood thick with swelling. It burned a hot and angry red, a telltale of coming infection, if was not already their. She would keep an eye on the wound for a while.

She cleaned the brand with some warm salt water, apologizing each time she saw Emeric flinch with pain. After applying a soothing paste, she rewrapped his neck with a fresh bandage. Emeric felt relieved with the mark concealed.

She was about to start up a conversation when Rayhan's booming voice echoed through the temporary camp. He called everyone together.

Emeric hesitantly glanced at the tent where Kedo lay, unwilling to leave his friend, but he knew his father wouldn't call everyone together if the matter wasn't serious.

Together with Aire, Emeric walked to the center of the camp where everyone was gathering. They were of the last to arrive, but Emeric's title as the chief's son made the people part for him and Aire as they made their way to the front.

Rayhan, Radclyf and Malrick stood in the center of the crowd. Emeric felt a wave of contempt wash through him when his eyes landed on the Etreshian who had branded him a traitor. His shoulders tensed as his mind brought up the pain that the man had caused. The fire burning by the three men's feat only worsened the malice that he felt. If Aire had not wrapped her hands around his arm he was afraid of what he might have done.

A few moments later Rayhan spoke. "Thank you for all gathering here. I know these are troubling times and we are all suffering the loss of fallen friends and family members. It is because of this that we are driven to follow the laws we set out when we started this rebellion. It was made to protect us and it has helped us live in peace for a couple of years now."

He paused, causing tension in the air.

"However, a few days ago one of those laws had been broken. Malrick turned against a fellow Rogue and attacked him without any good reason that can be backed by facts. The troubling matter is that none of the Etreshians present at that moment had done anything to stop the attack. It's not my son that was branded a traitor but rather one of us. How many battles has he fought for us and yet no one had stepped up to protect a man wrongly accused." Rayhan spoke the last few words with silent contempt.

"Malrick," Rayhan spoke, now turning to the man who had ruined his son's hope of living a peaceful life in their home country. "By branding Emeric with the traitor's mark, you not only broke our law, but you also turned against one of your own. You betrayed him. You are no less a traitor than he is. As chief of this rebellion, I see it fitting that you bear the same mark you so willingly burned into my son's flesh." With that, Rayhan placed the branding iron in the flames.

If Malrick feared the rod, he didn't show it. He stood valiantly as he awaited his punishment. At first Emeric felt satisfaction at the coming punishment the man would receive, but as the iron cooked in the flames, slowly starting to glow red, Emeric realised that Malrick's future was also going to be marred. He was one of Rayhan's loyalist followers, a leader of men, yet if he bared the mark of a traitor, no one would follow him.

At a nod from Rayhan, Radclyf forced Malrick to his knees. The accused didn't put up a fight. His honor wouldn't allow it. He was going to take his punishment without struggle. Emeric found himself damning the man's pride. Why won't he fight, struggle like Emeric had.

Radclyf held Malrick steady, although it wasn't necessary, while Rayhan retrieved the rod.

Emeric felt his own throat close when he saw the harsh metal...His neck throbbed with the pain that Malrick was going to feel. Rayhan met Emeric's eyes momentarily before moving towards Malrick...and at that moment Emeric knew that Rayhan was doing this for him son and not for justice. As a father he was stepping forward and not as leader. Emeric felt his own flesh burn. He was supposed to be better, he was supposed to rise above the brutality of human nature he had seen and experienced in the domes. Yet here he was, ready to mark one of his own out of revenge.

Malrick shut his eyes as Rayhan's shadow fell over him, preparing himself for the inevitable pain that would claim his mind and soul. Just as Rayhan held the branding iron over Malrick's neck, preparing to sear the skin and underlying flesh, Emeric rushed forward. Aire releasing him before he had even taken the first step, as if she had known what he planned on doing. "WAIT!" He yelled, suddenly out of breath.

Rayhan looked up at his son rushing forward.

"We have to stop." He stepped past the human line, entering the circle. "Why are we turning on each other in a time we should be comforting one another?" He thought of Aire, always ready to help, always comforting. "I let the Chayran go. If my compassion had been a mistake then so be it, but we should not raise that rod without understanding the burden it places on the victim." Emeric turned to Malrick, trying his best to see him not as his brander but rather a fellow Rogue and outcast. "Malrick does not deserve that burden."

Emeric paused as hateful protests rose up from the crowd around him, their hateful gazes fell on him. Rayhan had kept his identity hidden from most of the other Etreshians, not spreading the word that he had been responsible for the Chayran's escape. But now everyone knew and they glared at Emeric with malice. Rayhan's face fell as his son spoke...Fearing what the others would do now that they knew what Emeric had done.

"Malrick did what was necessary. I deserve this brand. He didn't do anything to earn one of his own." Malrick gazed up at Emeric in shock. His eyes showed all his emotions and more. Emeric was the last person who should be speaking up for him, yet here he was, calling for Malrick's forgiveness.

"Emeric, what are you doing?" Rayhan asked softly. Emeric met his father's gaze, "There's been too much pain. We don't need more."

Rayhan seemed to contemplate his thoughts when Emeric stepped closer. He took the branding iron from his Father's hand and hurled it back into the fire. Malrick got to his feet after Radclyf released his hold on him. He came to a stop in front Emeric gazing into the young man's face with an unknown respect. He nodded his head, his gesture saying more than words could.

Malrick walked away in silence. The crowd gazed at them, not sure what to make of the turn of events.

Rayhan sighed, "Well, I guess you can all get back to your duties."

There were a few protests from men in the crowd who moved forward now. Their accusatory gazes glared at Emeric. "Chief, respectfully, but I don't think the brand did justice for what the Chayrans have done to us, and he let the monster go...Now look at what we have left." The man pointed an accusing finger at Emeric as he spoke.

Rayhan placed himself between Emeric and the mob that was forming. More and more men started to mutter agreement with the man who had spoken up. Backing him up.

"So what are you implying, Aarin?" Rayhan demanded anger rising in him.

"You kicked Sarthen out and in my opinion his offense was far smaller than that boy's." Aarin stepped towards Rayhan, in a challenging manner. However, Rayhan remained composed and held his ground.

"So you're suggesting that I banish him as well?" Rayhan asked in an almost conversational tone of voice.

Emeric could sense the growing tension in the air. It sent prickles over his skin, warning him...

"Yes. He deserves nothing less."

Rayhan nodded slowly as he took a few steps closer to the fowl man till they were nearly standing nose to nose.

"He's my son. Like hell I'm kicking him out." The words were soft, yet they emitted fury.

"You're picking favorites Rayhan," all respect left Aarin's voice, "That is a bad show of leadership. An unfavorable characteristic..." A few of the men grunted agreement.

Rayhan was silently shocked by the insult. He didn't let it show on his face.

There came a light into Aarin's eyes, "That's why you banished Sarthen isn't it, because he hurt your precious little son."

Rayhan frowned angrily at the accusation, "You and I both know that Sarthen attacked others before Emeric. He deserved to be banished."

"But it's ironic, isn't it. That you banished him after he attacked Emeric...You didn't seem concerned before."

Rayhan's façade was starting to falter. The disrespect was starting to pull strings better left untouched.

Rayhan leaned slightly closer to Aarin, "Just don't forget who saved your sorry ass. I could have left you where you were, and you'd still be cleaning out lavatories."

The blow came out of nowhere. Rayhan teetered back in shock, but the blow had done little more than surprise him. In a split second he was hammering at Aarin. But Aarin had men who backed him. They too came at Rayhan.

Emeric rushed forward to stop the attack, but the men were determined. Rayhan held his own, but his feet were swept out from under him and the men fell on him, attacking him. Emeric threw men to the side as he tried to help his father. Radclyf and Malrick also rushed forward to help. Soon, the men were brought to bay, forced to their knees.

Emeric gripped his father's arm, hauling him to his feet. Rayhan angrily wiped the blood that dripped from his nose. His face was crimson with rage. A few bruises were already forming around his brow.

"One more act of rebellion from you Aarin and I'll send you off. You and your dogs." Rayhan spat angrily.

Aarin looked ready to come at Rayhan again, but he was outnumbered.

"Emeric!" a voice called urgently from between the tents. Hunter came running, his face pale.

Emeric felt his own face turn white. Hunter grabbed his shoulders when he reached him. Emeric was starting to feel lightheaded, expecting the worst. But the smile on Hunter's face reassured him otherwise.

"He's awake." Hunter paused for a second. "Kedo's awake."

Emeric met Rayhan's gaze for a second, but then they both turned and ran to the tent where Kedo would lay, holding all the answers of what had happened to the settlement.

Aarin and his men gazed after the retreating men with malice. They would settle their score some other time...