Chapter 46 A thief
"Kaelith... I think he is heading towards us," Scarlet said, his eyes wide with confusion.
"He is," Kaelith muttered but didn’t move.
The boy’s feet thudded against the dusty road as he stumbled forward; his face pale with panic, his ribs showed through his torn shirt, and dried blood stained his shoulder. People stepped back, some shouting, others just staring.
Then the boy reached them.
Without hesitation, he collapsed at Kaelith’s feet, his arms wrapping tightly around his waist like a child clinging to the last thread of safety.
"Please... please don’t let them take me," the boy cried, his voice hoarse and trembling. "I didn’t steal anything...I swear it. I just wanted food. That’s all...please save me."
Kaelith looked down at him. The boy’s eyes were wide, brown, and filled with tears. He looked exhausted, terrified, and desperate.
Scarlet looked around nervously. "Kaelith... the guards are coming."
Indeed, the sound of armored footsteps echoed behind them. The four soldiers, dressed in red and gold, pushed through the crowd, panting.
"There!" one shouted, pointing at the boy. "Hand him over, my prince. He’s a thief."
The lead guard stepped forward. "With all due respect, my Prince, that boy stole bread from the eastern market. He’s a repeat offender. The punishment is clear."