Chapter 11
Four months had passed since Alistar had met Servan. He and Kaila were currently waiting for him in one of the naturally formed tunnels of the upper mines. They hadn't returned to the lower levels since Alistar's seventh birthday, when they had discovered the strange flower within the crevice.
The only light to be seen was emanating from the lantern that Alistar held in his right hand. A slight crack marred one of the panes of glass that encased the slow-burning candle, the result of Alistar's absentmindedness while supporting Kaila during the process of retrieving the lantern.
Alistar subconsciously caressed the red stone that sat hidden in the pocket that his father had installed within his sackcloth clothing. His mouth was twisted into a deep frown. His easygoing lifestyle had taken a steep dive in recent weeks, and the cause of this unwanted change clawed its way into his mind at almost every waking moment.
His mother was sick
The symptoms she showed emulated the sickness that had taken his father. It was no longer her soft and comforting figure that smothered him with reassuring warmth in the resting hours of the day, but he who warmed her shivering body in a desperate attempt to lessen her discomfort.
It wasn't just his mother. Recently, his uncle Raidon's health had also shown signs of deterioration. He wasn't sure what the cause might be, but he guessed that it was related to their labouring. When he asked them what was wrong, they would say that they were fine, and that his mother just had a simple and harmless cold. He knew better. The shivering, the coughing, the shortness of breath—although it was still premature, he had seen this process before.
Kaila, who was aware of her auntie's condition, had also fallen into a dejected state. Not only did she seem worried about Laisha and Raidon, Alistar could tell that she was conscious of him as well. One night, he had woken from a grievous nightmare to find his face stained with tears, and had noticed Kaila's nocturnal stare from her and Talon's living space. During the following nights he had learned that Kaila nearly always watched him sleep, at least to some extent. She never said anything, but she must have been aware of the tears he'd shed so frequently since his father's death. He was almost always having nightmares these days, and was embarrassed that she knew this. Still, he was grateful for her discretion. Kaila was a good friend.
"Where is he?" she muttered.
Had something come up? They usually idled in the lit areas of an agreed-upon tunnel until sounds of his approach became apparent. They would then withdraw into the cover of darkness as a trio, and walk a ways so that their lanterns wouldn't draw attention to any passersby. Perhaps he had arrived early and was already awaiting their arrival?