“You missed a spot, Aurora,” Elizabeth said flatly, pointing at a dark stain on the countertop she was seated on, “right there.”

He looked up, sighing falsely and wiping away whatever had been stuck there before he glanced up at the girl that had been no help whatsoever. “Better?”

“Here too,” she said, tapping a hand against the wooden surface.

Daniel laughed from where he was nearby, broom leaned against his chair rather than in his hands. He’d was supposed to, from what Evander remembered, be sweeping while the other two tended to the other areas, cleaning and wiping things down. Evander didn’t ask where Jackson was going when he’d left a few hours ago, not daring to question him even if the innkeeper wasn’t the most intimidating in voice or stature.

Neither of the two, Evander assumed, wanted to cross him.

“You could help me too, you know?”

He heard Daniel laugh again, tapping the handle of the broom against his chair. “I think she just likes watching us do all the work instead.

“Since you two showed up, I haven’t had to do any of the work myself. So, yes, I am enjoying myself. Can’t I have a little fun?” she asked, smiling and hopping down from the countertop.

Evander tossed down the rag before vaulting himself over the countertop, landing less than gracefully on the other side and cursing when his knee gave out beneath him. It had been three days since he’d woken up in the room that Daniel and Jackson had carried him into after he’d been beaten senseless in the streets.

They had been helping out where they could, doing whatever work Jackson asked of them. Nothing was too dreadful, Evander decided, cleaning and only small things that he was able to do without straining himself. Evander didn’t mind helping but since they’d started the work, Daniel barely did a thing.

Elizabeth walked to where Daniel was seated, tapping him on the shoulder. “Shouldn’t you be sweeping?”

He shrugged, eyes staring across the room uninterestedly.

“Your father is out right now and he won’t mind if I rest, will he?”

“You’ve been resting for four hours,” Evander interjected.

Evander was slowly deciding that after spending only a few days with Daniel, he was incredibly frustrating. He was useless, from what he could tell, with any sort of means of defending himself. It was a waste, he’d decided, to even send the Dravara after him.

It wasn’t his fault and, after all, the two hadn’t come from the same place.

“A few hours of rest never killed anyone. If you helped me, we could finish it faster-“

An annoyed snort sounded from Evander as he glared sharply at the jade eyed boy. “Do it yourself, spoiled runt.”

“Spoiled runt?” Daniel scoffed.

Evander crossed his arms in front of his chest, watching as Daniel took a few firm steps forward towards him but then seemed to hesitate, bravery wavering. He raised a finger accusingly, eyes narrowing in what was likely supposed to be a threat but Evander only found himself smiling.

“How dare you?” he snapped. “It’s not like I’m the one who nearly got himself killed a few nights ago! And with a name like yours, who wouldn’t be able to resist beating you into-“

“You unlettered son of a bitch-“

“Aurora!”

Anger ran hot through Evander’s veins, liquid fire boiling in his blood, and the next thing he knew, Elizabeth was standing between them.

“Boys, now that’s enough.”

Daniel gave an apologetic nod to Elizabeth. “I’m sorry. I don’t think he can control himself to begin with-“

He was cut off, words pinched off when Evander’s hand closed over his throat, shoving him hard back against the wall. Daniel yelped, scrambling against him but Evander only held fast, watching as the other runaway’s eyes widened in fear. They weren’t so strange, so dark, when he was afraid. Instead they were clear, unburdened by a false sort of bravery he’d been trying to hide behind since they arrived. He wasn’t hiding anything, leaving whatever true part of him where Evander could see quite clearly.

“Take it back! I’ll think about not snapping your neck,” he hissed, bringing himself back into reality again.

Daniel let out a whine, standing up on his toes and grabbing at the arm that held him pinned against the wall. “I’m…not afraid,” he wheezed, “of you, Aurora.”

“Oh?”

The other runaway gulped fearfully.

“Oh.”

His expression fell, eyes dropped as he stopped suddenly, taking a step back and watching as Daniel went sputtering and gasping to the ground.

“What’s going on here? Aurora, what are you doing?”

Daniel scrambled backwards, clutching at his throat and stumbling away in a series of sharp coughs. He didn’t say a word, only wiping his mouth on his sleeve and retreating back further when Jackson walked up to take Aurora by the collar of his shirt.

“Care to explain why you two are killing each other in my inn?”

“He insulted-“

“Aurora is the one who started it-“

Jackson reached for Daniel, pulling him over to stand beside Evander.

“Enough,” he snapped, raising a hand to silence the both of them. “Apologize and forget about what happened.”

Evander glared, seeing how Daniel didn’t even look up at him but didn’t say a word.

“If you two are going to act like animals then you can both sleep in the stables. Apologize, both of you.”

Elizabeth was laughing, despite how she tried hiding the sound, and Evander only found his shoulders slumped forward dejectedly the longer the silence from Jackson went on. She had the right to laugh, he supposed, but it didn’t mean his cheeks weren’t flushed red with embarrassment.

“I’m sorry for calling you a spoiled runt,” Evander growled, glancing sideways.

Jackson grabbed the two firmly by their shoulders, turning them to face each other.

“I’m sorry for what I said too,” Daniel muttered, extending his hand out towards Evander. “End it now? No more fighting between us?”

For a moment, Evander was too stunned to say anything and only stared down at the hand blankly. Jackson cleared his throat impatiently but Evander was too surprised, too caught off guard, to respond.

“Boy,” the innkeeper hissed warningly.

“End it now,” Evander repeated to himself, taking Daniel’s hand gingerly. “No more fighting.”

Daniel smiled slightly, blood beading on his lip from where Evander assumed he’d bitten it in the squabble. He frowned at the sight of it, confused why Daniel didn’t seem to care it was there or perhaps he just hadn’t noticed. But whatever reason it was, Evander found himself briefly transfixed by the sight of it.

He hadn’t meant to draw blood.

“We could be friends, you know? Both of us have the same problem.”

Evander tore his hand away suddenly, blinking and looking down at the ground.

“I don’t need friends. I’m just fine all on my own,” Evander replied simply, stepping backwards away from him.

Daniel frowned, shrugging and smiling much in the same way as before, to Evander’s surprise and confusion. “Well, I do. Perhaps you could make an exception just this once?”

Evander looked up, one side of his mouth flicking upward briefly before it was overtaken by the same scowl from before. He glanced over at Jackson, raising an eyebrow questioningly before moving off towards the door to the inn.

“Not so fast. I need you two to get something for me,” Jackson called from behind him.

He stopped, leaning his head against the door.

“I’ll go alone. Tell me what you need for me to-“

“Take him with you. The two of you are going to get along if it’s the last thing I do. Elizabeth, go with them and be sure nothing else starts.”

The girl groaned in protest. “They can’t go alone?”

“No,” Jackson answered stiffly. “You know where Mr. Davidson works, don’t you. I’m expecting a letter from him and I’d like for you to get it for me. I want no trouble between the three of you.”

His daughter flashed him a smile, moving to the doorway in strides that made it look more like she was skipping rather than walking. But she paused then, turning back and shuffling behind the countertop, rustling around as if looking for something. Evander raised his head, hearing bottles clink and the clicking of metal while she dug.

“Elizabeth, what are you searching for?” asked Jackson.

“Well, she pausing, the sound of glass breaking interrupting her, “oh, sorry! If Aurora is going out then we wouldn’t want Aldwyn noticing him.”

“That still doesn’t answer my question.”

Elizabeth stood up, grinning wide and setting quite possibly the most ridiculous hat he’d ever seen on the countertop. “This!”

It was black, wide brimmed and folded up on one side, and decorated with gold ribbon and feathers, one black while the others were colorful, that extended towards the back of it. Evander started forward, lifting it into his hands and running a finger over the crescent charm at the front of it before he wandered over to the back, flicking through the colored plumages that sprouted from the folded side.

“What is this?”

Daniel laughed, the most hysterical and somehow, the greatest sound he’d heard in a while, only stopping to gasp out an obnoxious remark. “That has to be the most…atrocious,” he paused unsurely, “thing I’ve ever seen.”

“I can’t deny the fact I like it. It’s not atrocious, though I’m surprised you even know what that means. But I prefer to call it, imaginative…if you will.”

“Won’t that just make him stick out mor-“

“No, of course not. No one is going to be looking for a boy wearing something like that, will they?” Elizabeth sung.

“Put it on and go then,” Jackson said, waving his hand dismissively. “It was a gift from an old friend of mine. Snobby sort…but you’re welcome to keep the hat.”

“It’s imaginatively the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever seen. Bring it and let’s go, I don’t want to get caught outside when it’s dark,” Daniel called, stepping by him and still seeming to be stifling laughter.

Evander brushed dust from the rim, smiling dryly before he lifted the hat onto his head and slipped out the door behind the two of them. However, he found himself flicking it up out of his eyes the moment it sat comfortably on his head.

“Watch yourself out there,” Jackson warned. “I won’t be breaking up any more fights, understand?”

The door closed before Evander could call back an answer and the three moved out into the streets without another word. Evander rolled his shoulders, feeling for where the stitching tugged after being mended by Jackson the day earlier. But he was stopped, a hand closing over the back of his coat when Jackson ducked outside.

“Watch out for the other two. You be sure they don’t get into any trouble,” Jackson said sternly, tone lightening for the first time.

Evander smiled, sweeping the hat off his head in a low sort of awkward bow, stiff and wincingly rising again only to see the man chuckle.

“Go on then. You’re wasting time,” Jackson said, stepping back inside and closing the door behind him.

The cold greeted him like the snap of a whip but he didn’t mind the wind, though it wasn’t strong, that blew through his hair. He’d been used to the cold even if he didn’t like it and, he supposed, he liked it more than sweltering heat.

Elizabeth waved for him to follow, bringing the hood of a cloak over her head and nudging Daniel, who stood beside her with hands folded behind his back, to follow. Something about Daniel, no matter what he was doing, irritated him.

“Lead the way,” Evander called, tucking his hands into his pockets.

“Gladly,” she replied cheerfully, flashing a smile to the two of them.

During the day, the town was certainly more active than it was at night. People of all sorts, all walks of life, rode on wagons or trotted along through the snow just like they were doing. Very few paid attention, something that was to Evander’s relief, to the three who made their way down the street even despite the hat that he was sure made him stand out like a beacon.

He found himself watching everyone, nervously stepping sideways whenever someone walked too close or even said a quick word in greeting. It wasn’t fear, he told himself, but he was simply reminded of just how badly strangers could hurt him. Evander tried not to look as stiff as he was, as nervous, and did his best to avoid limping despite the added obstacle of snow that made walking more difficult.

Daniel nudged him with an arm and he flinched, jolting in surprise.

“Relax, will you? You’re acting like you’ve done something terrible.”

“I think I’m going back. I don’t like being-“

“Oh, will you stop that? We’re fine,” Elizabeth assured, walking between the two and taking their arms. “Mr. Davidson is the letter carrier and I promise you he’s not going to hurt either of you. I don’t know how the man can still ride with how old he is. But he works for Jackson whenever he has to send letters far away.”

“Did you just call your fathe-“

“Oh, I guess he hasn’t told you. Jackson isn’t my father, Daniel. Well, he is but he took me in when I was little. But anyway, we’re almost there.”

“Does your father have many people who work for him?” Evander asked.

She only shrugged, humming softly and tugging the two along down the road. Elizabeth turned a corner and Evander felt his knee wobble beneath him in protest. Whenever he thought it would hold his weight, there came along an annoying contradiction.

“I think-“

Elizabeth cut herself off, staring straight ahead at a sight that froze Evander’s breath in his throat. He felt a prickle of fear run down his spine, aching down through his legs and reminding him of what had happened a few days prior.

“Boys, I think we’re getting that letter another time.”

Daniel was the first to turn, pulling away from Elizabeth and starting back swiftly towards the inn again. Evander couldn’t bring himself to move or even to look away from the wagon that rumbled down the streets, pulled by a pair of weary white horses. He had seen one before not long ago when the distance between himself and the south seemed greater than the expanse of the skies.

He never dared to get close.

“Aurora, she hissed, pulling at his arm.

There was a driver and at his side a man holding a long barreled rifle that stuck out from behind him like a bare flagstaff that spoke more than a banner ever could. Evander swallowed, looking towards the body of the wagon where, just like a prison carriage, it was encircled by a cage of cold iron.

The wagon clicked by with a groan and a whinny from one of the horses, the only sound he heard aside from the frantic pounding of his own heartbeat. It wasn’t empty, in fact, it was quite the opposite.

The first figure was one he recognized instantly but instead of the eerie smile, the boy stood gripping the bars, teeth bared in a silent snarl that mirrored Orion’s when he had the runaway pinned to the road a few nights ago. Evander smiled, unsure of why he’d done it, but he met the eyes of the other runaway with a crooked smirk playing at the corners of his mouth.

He took the hat from his head, sweeping it low in the same way as before and watching as the boy’s fists turned white-knuckled around the bars. But he didn’t cry out, didn’t call that there were others, those fortunate enough to escape and instead the two were locked in a silent stare that lasted until finally the wagon disappeared.

Evander knew where they were going and he knew what the prison wagon meant. It was the worst nightmare for any runaway, the thing that made them run until their legs gave out and lungs heaved. It was the horror that stalked them, an inescapable prison in which they were a tool, disposable and under complete control of the Dravara.

And, worst of all, there wasn’t anything anyone could do about it.

Next Chapter: Chapter 8