Chapter 194 The Cost of Burdens (1/2)

When Kit and Olly had left early that morning stating that they were going to see Falla about the blood contract, Iah and Sharli had been sceptical. They weren't capable of carving runes. Olly may have been able to read the Mist, but he was no Magician. Would he even be capable?

But Kit seemed sure, so they left without delay.

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”Do you think he's really capable of making the Charms? That being able to see the mist is the only thing that's required?” asked Iah.

Sharli sighed, pausing in doing her chores as she turned back to Iah.

”Kit seemed sure,” Sharli stated, ”Still, I can't help but think I'd be much more sure of everything if Rassa was here with us”.

Iah rolled her eyes at her sister, ”Sharli, you were in charge of this place for years before Rassa showed up, it's why he left you in charge. Sure there are more things to worry about now than just the next meal, but that doesn't change the fact that we trust your decisions. All of us”.

”I could barely get us to the next meal, Iah,” Sharli sighed, tossing the rags she was washing back into the water as she sat down, ”How can I get a business off the ground if I could barely find food?”

Iah looked at the pitiful vision of her sister and moved to sit beside her, ”Sharli, you need to have more confidence in yourself. In your decisions. Rassa was sure you could do it. I'm sure. Why can't you be?”

The question was left unanswered as one of the children, Meg, burst out of the back of the Ruin breathing deeply.

”Meg?” asked Iah, ”What's wrong?”

”Kit…he's hurt,” said Meg.

Iah and Sharli jumped up immediately, moving into the Ruin and following Meg to the bedroom where Olly had unceremoniously dumped him. The troubled young man was now rapidly drawing on a sheet of paper. Runes by the look of it, but he didn't appear to have a care in the world for Kit who looked pale and covered in sweat where he was sprawled on his bed.

”What, by the gods, did you do to him?!” shouted Sharli as she rushed forward, her hand going straight to Kit's pale and sweaty skin.

Olly looked near uninterested, ”He'll wake up later”.

”Gods, he has a fever, Iah go and get some water,” said Sharli, then she turned to Olly, her eyes fierce, ”What did you do to him”.

Olly didn't even look up as he repeated what he'd said, ”He'll wake up later”.

Sharli's expression turned frustrated and she stood, crossing to Olly's bed in two short steps before knocking the paper and charcoal from Olly's hands. Olly looked genuinely surprised as he looked at the scattered papers, then up at Sharli.

”I'm just practicing-”

Olly's head whipped to the side, a sharp smack ricocheting off the walls of the small room as Sharli's palm connected with his cheek. There was silence in the room, the only sounds Sharli's rage filled breath and Kit's ragged one. Olly raised his charcoal stained hand to cup his rapidly reddening cheek as he slowly turned back to face Sharli. His expression was different this time. So much so that Sharli took an unconscious step back. Gone were the innocence and childlike mania that usually graced his face. In its place was a cold, deadpan expression that terrified her. Olly stared at Sharli for a moment, then his eyes flickered to Olly and they softened ever so slightly. He dropped his hand, then he dropped to his knees on the floor, taking up the paper and Charcoal.

Sharli sucked in a breath of frustration, ”I don't give a damn about your practicing. I give a damn about my friend. My family, who was fine when he left this morning with you but is now looking like he's on the verge of death. I asking you, what happened?”

Olly gathered his papers and charcoal, then he stood, taller than Sharli, though he was always so hunched over whatever drawings he was working on it was rarely something she'd focused on. She focused on it now, his cold stare intimidating her.

”He will wake up, later,” Olly repeated, then he moved around her and walked out, clearly sensing that he wasn't welcomed. Sharli watched him leave, only snapping out of it when Iah returned.

”What's wrong?” asked Iah.