Chapter 8
"Can't you run any faster?" Alistar called over his shoulder.
He slowed to a stop despite his taunt, resting a hand over the wondrous stone that sat hidden within his garments. This had become a habit over the past two years.
"We've been running all day, Alie," a tired Kaila wheezed. "We're almost back, so can we stop?"
He hunched over, sucking in deep breaths through a competitive, joyful grin. Turning to face her, he said, "Aren't you even a little curious about the new guards?"
"You're the one who wanted to play first thing after breakfast."
"And now I'm curious."
In truth, the bells that signalled the end of the workday had sounded mere minutes ago. Alistar and Kaila had been wandering through the caves since the onset of the day, and he was eager for his second and final meal. Although he was accustomed to hunger, he wanted to get back to the Resident Cavern as quickly as he could. Today was a special occasion that only happened once in a blue moon, which would have a large impact on the way the lives of the slaves would play out in the coming months. Today marked the day when a new block of guards would come to replace those who had overseen them since the last shift replacement.
At first, Alistar had been disinterested. What did it matter that the guards were changing, when all of them were the same? He had come to understand that there were only two types of guards in Crystellum. There were those that abused the slaves to a frightening degree, and those who watched and did nothing. The latter were higher in number and just as guilty in his mind as the ones that perpetuated the abuse.
As they had done the year before, he and Kaila had run off and spent almost the entire day away from the others. And, just as he had at that time, Alistar couldn't help but feel a slight curiosity, a slight hope, that this year's selection of guards would be a bit more merciful and a tad more understanding than those that preceded them.