Chapter 61

Emeric woke with a start as he hurdled himself into a sitting position.  He swore loudly as he rubbed his temples.  A torturous ache thundered in his head.  A haunted look marked his face, not because of the pain in his body or the fact that he had once again been caught off guard, but because the face of his attacker belonged to Kedo.

Emeric blearily glanced at his surroundings, confused by the forest that met his gaze.  It was still dark, but the soft glow hovering over the horizon hinted at the coming of dawn.  A small campfire fought a loosing battle as the last few logs were diminished to ashes.  An involuntary moan escaped his chest just as Rayhan came into his view.

Rayhan knelt down next to his son.  "Are you alright?" he asked with fatherly concern.  Emeric didn't pay any mind to him, his gaze grew haunted once more. 

"Where's Kedo?" He demanded. 

Rayhan mistook Emeric's question for concern. "He's alright.  He's with Radclyf and the others." Rayhan gestured behind him where voices could be heard and the slight glow announced a second fire.

Rayhan noted the angered yet worried look that met Emeric's eyes. 

"What's the matter?" He asked.  Emeric was distracted for a few seconds before he faced Rayhan again, taking a breath to calm his tingling nerves.

"Kedo shot me.  She's one of them.  She must be."  His words came out panicked.  Rayhan frowned as he regarded what his son had said.  "She?" he asked, the frown on his brow growing.

Emeric met his father's shocked gaze, "Didn't see that coming?" Emeric asked, "Well neither did I.  Guess she was a back stabbing liar from the beginning.  Everything was a lie.  It was probably all part of a bigger picture to capture more Etreshians.  The friendship, the loyalty...It was all a scheme to betray her own people." When Emeric realized he was ranting, he stopped himself. 

Rayhan regraded his son with confusion clearly marking his face.  Then realization dawned on him.  "Emeric, Kedo has a sister.  She's the one who shot you.  Kedo had nothing to do with this.  I promise.  He's still the same kid you met all those years ago."

Although Rayhan's words brought some relief, Emeric still wasn't convinced.  Kedo had lied about too much of his past.  Trusting him again would take some time.

Rayhan stood up, holding out a hand to help Emeric to his feet.  Father and son walked together to the remainder of their group.  Emeric took in the two prisoners tied up against a tree. He had to do a double take when he thought one of them was Kedo, but realized it was the sister that Rayhan had told him about.  The other was who he guessed to be the father.

Emeric spotted Kedo, who seemed to be busy treating Hunter's multiple abrasions.  The latter was either sleeping or unconscious, but Emeric rejoiced in the fact that his cousin was safe.  Kedo glanced up at Emeric on his arrival and gave him a greeting smile.  Emeric ignored the gesture, not returning it as he sat down next to Malrick around the fire.  He didn't see the hurt look on Kedo's face.

"So what happened?"  Emeric questioned, not liking being kept in the dark.  Rayhan also took a seat around the fire just as Radclyf started speaking.  "After you were knocked out, we managed to capture those two and get the others out.  But apparently, there are more hiding out there...More deserters."  Emeric turned his gaze to Radclyf, shocked, "Who?"

Radclyf shrugged, "Kedo's mother.  We tried finding out where she is but all we got out of those two," Radclyf gestured to the two prisoners, "Was that she was meeting up with the higher circle.  We have no idea where they are or who they are, just..."  Radclyf gazed at Rayhan, sharing a concerned look.

"What?"  Emeric asked, shifting his gaze between the two of them.

Rayhan sighed, "The camp wasn't attacked because you let Nedes go."  Emeric frowned, "But..."  Rayhan cut him off, "Sarthen found Ariam.  He told him of the settlement.  The attack had nothing to do with you."

Emeric paled as he registered what he had been told, but a sense of relief washed through him.  For months he had suffered under the weight of guilt, thinking he was responsible for the deaths of his comrades.  The traitor' s mark on his neck hadn't lightened the load.  He had accepted it, accepting that he had to bear the burden that he had brought upon himself.  But now, Emeric could breath without guilt for the first time.  The fact the he was alive and his comrades not wouldn't haunt his dreams anymore.

"Do...Do you think they'll attack again?"  Emeric asked hesitantly.

Rayhan nodded, "That's why we're getting out of here before they find out where we are.  We leave the country before the end of the month."

Emeric's eyes grew wide, "We're..."  his voice trailed off.

Rayhan nodded, "We're going to Etresh...We're going home."

*****

As dawn announced itself, Rayhan set the escapade of rescued Etreshians and prisoners on their way.  Malrick and Radclyf watched the two prisoners closely, but with their wrists securely bound behind their backs, there wasn't much that they could do.  Emeric walked with Hunter, offering his cousin a shoulder when the injured Rogue needed one.  Kedo trailed behind.  The knowledge that Emeric was avoiding him hit the young Etreshian like a blow to the stomach. 

After walking in silence for most of the morning, Rayhan's voice caught Emeric off guard. 

"We need someone to tail us, just in case the other deserters are on to us sooner than we expected." 

Emeric swiftly volunteered, needing the silence of the woods to make sense of what had happened.  "I'll do it."

Rayhan nodded his appreciation to his son. 

"I'll go with him." A young voice echoed from behind them.  Emeric gazed at Kedo silently, then turned away, "I work better alone." With that, Emeric walked off into the woods to scout the area behind them.  Rayhan was surprised at the anger he felt towards Emeric.  It was evident that he was avoiding the young Etreshian and the sadness was also evident on the young boy's face.

Rayhan sighed sadly, placing a hand on Kedo's sagged shoulder.  "He's just working through some stuff. It'll only be a phase." Kedo raised his confused gaze.  "I just don't know what I did.  He started giving me the cold shoulder after Zerret was brought to the camp.  What if Emeric thinks I'm one of them?"  

Rayhan stood in silence for a few seconds then replied, "Go after him.  Put him on the spot and ask him what the hell's going on.  And don't stop bugging him until he gives you a worthy answer."

Kedo smiled at Rayhan appreciatively, "Thank you Sir."

Emeric came to a stop when he heard the crunch of leaves behind him.  He halted, gazing back to see who was approaching.  It wasn't an attacker, the feet came down too heavily, there wasn't any attempt to silence the approach.

Emeric gritted his teeth when he saw it was Kedo.  He didn't want to face the younger Rogue yet.  The betrayal was still too fresh, the pain too constant.

"I told you to stay with the others."  Emeric accused.  Kedo put on a brave face, standing his ground, "Not in so many words."  he muttered.   Emeric turned to the younger Rogue.  "What do you want?"  The impatience was clear in his voice. 

"The chief said I should go with you." 

Emeric raised an eyebrow, "Did he now."  He turned away and continued on his way.  Kedo hastily followed, "Yeah and he said..."  Kedo paused for a few seconds as if trying to recall the correct words, "How'd he put it? Oh yeah,"  Doing a brilliant imitation of Rayhan's voice, Kedo said, "Put him on the spot and ask him what the hell's going on. And don't stop bugging him until he gives you a worthy answer."

Emeric came to a reluctant stop. 

"What's going on Emeric?  You've been pushing me away.  This isn't like you."  Kedo's voice was soft now, not accusatory like before.  It appeared to be almost pleading.  Emeric lowered his gaze, his back still turned to Kedo. 

"You know what Kedo.  I never took you to be a liar, because I thought 'it isn't like Kedo to say anything but the truth' but now look where we find ourselves."

"Emeric..." Kedo started the hurt evident in his voice, but Emeric cut him off, "You told me that your parents were dead, that a disease took them, that you were their only child.  Now I find out that no, your parents are anything but dead, and to make things worse, they are psychopaths who sell their own countrymen to the Elites, as if their lives mean nothing at all, as if their deaths will mean nothing at all.  And your two lunatic siblings are just as sick in the head as their parents..."  Kedo lowered his gaze as Emeric spoke, his voice growing louder and louder with each sentence..angrier...

"Why Kedo.  Why would you keep something like that from me."  Emeric's voice held wrath as he turned on the younger Rogue.

Kedo swallowed nervously, "Because,"  He took a deep breath to calm his nerves, but before he could continue, Emeric muttered, "For all I know, you could be just like them."

"I'm nothing like them."  Kedo's words were soft, but Emeric felt the angered sting in them.  He'd never seen such an angry glint in the young Rogue's eyes before.

"How do you think I ended up in the Dome?"  Kedo accused, "I didn't just frolic in there because I wanted a change of scenery.  I stood up to Ariam each time he sold an Etreshian off.  I questioned his values.  I hated him for what he was doing, for what he was turning Zerret and Harpe into.  I guess he got tired of dealing with me so one night Zerret beat me unconscious.  When I woke up the Elites had me.  They sold me to the Dome."  Kedo's voice sounded just as angry as Emeric's. 

"And you want to know why I didn't tell you about my sick family?  If I told anyone, that's be making them all too real. The nightmare that haunted me at night wouldn't just be a dream, it would be a reality.  I made that fantasy of a loving family who died so that I wouldn't have to live with the reality that my parents hated me enough to sell me off to the enemy only to earn a few more months of freedom."

Emeric was silent at this, not sure how to react.  He wanted to stay mad at Kedo, but knowing the truth and still being mad was nothing short of cruelty.  But then Emeric remembered the other lie that Kedo had been feeding him and the angered returned. 

"And..." Emeric cleared his throat, the words failing to come past the lump that was forming.  "And why didn't you tell me you are a..."  His voice drifted away.  He couldn't say it.  The thought of muttering the words brought a pink blush to his cheeks.

"A what?" Kedo asked, his voice stating that he expects another insult.

"Why didn't you tell me you're a girl?" The words were barely louder than a whisper, but the met Kedo's ears nonetheless.

When silence was all that Emeric got as a reply, he turned to face the young Rogue.

Kedo's eyes were wide with shock, her face pale, "How...Who?" Kedo asked. 

So it was true.  Somehow knowing for sure only made it worse.  Emeric had held on to the hope that Zerret had been messing with his head, that his sick desire to hurt people had caused him to mentally torment Emeric.  But no...the only one who caused Emeric mental suffering was the one who he had called family.  Kedo was responsible for the despair he felt...for his suffering...

"Was it Aire?"  Kedo asked, the utter despair evident in her voice. 

Emeric's eyes grew even wider, "Aire knew!"  Emeric felt ready to faint.

If Kedo had the choice, she would have turned tail and ran.  But running from her lies weren't an option any more. She lowered her gaze, not sure what to say.  

Emeric sighed.  "Zerret told me."  The words came before he could stop them.  Kedo didn't lift her gaze.  She seemed too ashamed. 

"Why didn't you tell me Kedo?" Emeric asked, his voice softer than before.  

Kedo raised her gaze, the glint in her eyes surprising Emeric.  They didn't seem innocent like before, rather, they shone with defiant anger.  

"What would you have done, if you were in my shoes?"  Emeric met her eyes, contemplating what she meant.  

"I was a 13 year old girl being sent off to the domes.  How long do you think I would have lasted if everyone had found out?"  The question was rhetorical, but Emeric answered nonetheless.  

"I get it, you did it to protect yourself, but why didn't you tell me?" 

"I didn't know you.  And the fact that you were Etreshian wasn't any reassurance either.  For all I knew, all Etreshians were blood thirsty psychopaths."   Kedo's voice rang with desperation.  It was evident that she hated fighting with Emeric, wishing the whole ordeal to be over.

"Did you honestly think I'd do something." Emeric's voice rang with betrayal.  

"I didn't know you, Emeric."  Kedo objected.

"Three years Kedo.  Three years we were stuck together in the same cell.  I called you family.  I suffered to keep you safe.  Why didn't you tell me once you knew I would protect you no matter what?"

Kedo lowered her gaze, "I didn't want to change what we had.  Look how you are reacting now.  You've pushed me away, given me a cold shoulder...That's why I didn't tell you, because I knew you would react like this."

Emeric gazed at Kedo, raising a challenging eyebrow, "No Kedo.  If you had told me the truth I wouldn't have reacted like this.  But the fact that I had to find out from your lunatic brother...That's what hurt me."   

A few seconds of silence passed between them, neither knowing what to say.  Kedo spoke, her voice soft, "I'm sorry." Emeric gazed at her.  The face was the same one he had woken up to each morning, the same kid who had been dumped in the cell with him.  It was hard for him to think that he was indeed a she.  He tried telling himself that nothing had changed, that it was still the same person, but he knew it would take time.

As Emeric watched her, he was hit with a truck load of guilt.  He hadn't thought of how hard these past few days had been for the younger Rogue.  Seeing her family again, the people who had abandoned her, sold her off to the Elites.  Treating Kedo the way he had was wrong.  

Emeric sighed, letting the remaining anger drain from his body.  He stepped forward and pulled Kedo into a hug, knowing that she desperately needed it.

"No, I'm sorry.  You had every right to keep it a secret.  But the way I treated you was wrong.  It was unfair, and I'm sorry."  Kedo squeezed Emeric tightly. A muffled "Thank you" could just barely be heard.

When they drew apart, Emeric grinned.  "So how long has Aire known?"  

Kedo grinned, "I told her that first day when you were taken to the training square."

Emeric's eyes grew wide, "Wow.  She really knows how to keep a secret." 

Kedo grinned, the relief evident on her face.  

"Anyway, we better get going...Squirt."  Emeric grinned, also experiencing an odd sense of relief.

Kedo chuckled softly at the nickname as the trudged into the woods.  Any and all hard feeling were left behind.  "Emeric."  Kedo said, drawing his attention.

"Yeah?"  

"Please, just don't tell anyone."  Kedo seemed reluctant as she spoke.

Emeric smiled reassuringly, "It's your secret to tell, not mine."