Chapter 62
"I mean it, Jaden. The world’s so big and we’ve never left this little county. Don’t you wanna see any of the cool creatures out there, like the ones that Corrie showed us drawings of? Or what about the oceans and lakes, or the big cities of other kingdoms? For Lucian’s sake, I’ve never even climbed a mountain and they’re all I can see half the time. How can I do all those things if I become a guard?"
A memory surfaced in Alistar’s mind, of the day that Kaila’s father had died of exhaustion. He’d told his father that he couldn’t wait for the day that they would leave the mines together, that he and his family would climb mountains, swim in rivers and lakes, eat all sorts of fruits and other foods, and play with dogs and other animals.
Looking out at the sun-streaked waters of the Greyline, his own voice played through his mind in a melancholic manner.
You’ll teach me, right Father? You’ll teach me to swim?
It had been a long time since he’d given the day any thought, though he now understood why his father had reacted with a mixed look of disheartenment and devastation. Deep down, he must have known that such things would never come to pass.
"You really cry a lot."
Hearing Jaden’s words, Alistar thought of his closest friend, whose face had always been stained with tear-made streaks. He wiped at his eyes and sat upright, glancing at what remained of the fish carcasses that they had cooked and then picked apart. "I’m sorry."
"Why’re you saying sorry?" Zech also sat up. "You’re thinking of the mines again, aren’t you?"
"But you’re free now," said Jaden. "I know it must have sucked, but now you can forget all about it, right?"
Alistar shook his head. "I can’t. Kaila and Grandpa Talon are still there. Servan’s also there, but he’ll be leaving soon when the new guard shift comes in. After that, they’ll be on their own."
"So you still have family there?"