Page 248 of The Lands Defying
Rhea
“What happened here?” I ask, my eyes taking in the terrible scene before me.
We are in a village as close to Fenrikar as we dare, not wanting the Highers or their guards to see us.
Bodies litter the dirt paths, people crying over them as some just sit there, staring into nothing.
I go to an older female as people seem to fuss over her every now and again. She looks tired, bone tired and I crouch before her, raising a hand slowly and holding hers in mine.
“What happened?” I ask as Darius nears, but he begins to help someone who is carrying what looks like another body to where they are all being placed in the center.
We all have our cloaks on, masks covering the bottom half of our face so no one recognizes us. We have no idea how the people will react to our presence, so it is just better all-around for us to keep hiding…for now.
The older woman looks at me, her eyes red from crying. “Death has us all.” I shake my head, not understanding.
“Rogures?” I ask quietly.
“Better the rogures than the guards.”
Guards?
“What do you mean?” I ask harsher than intended.
We have heard of the Highers guards being more strict, more harsh lately, but why would they fear them over the rogures?
“We had no wheat, this was a lesson.”
I pause. “You mean to tell me that you couldn’t pay the food tax and this is your punishment?”
“My son,” she says, a wrinkled hand going to her mouth as she begins to sob. “My boy, my poor boy.” I stand and pull her to me as she sobs into my chest.
I clench my jaw and look at Darius, seeing his own anger rise at what has happened here.
He walks over to his brothers and my pack speaking quietly, and then without words, they all help gather the dead.
“Come with us,” I whisper to the older female. “Come with us and we will protect you.”
“What can we do against the Highers guards,” she says, removing herself from me. “We are but fodder it seems.”
I crouch before her again and taking a deep breath, I drop the hood of my cloak, showing her my hair and markings.
“Do not lose hope,” I say to her, and her eyes take in the delicate lines on my face.
She looks around and sees Darius nearby, forever imposing with his arms crossed as he makes sure I’m safe, that no one lashes out at me or tries to grab me and take me to the Highers.
You just never know what could happen in the lands anymore.
“Heirs,” the old female says. “And Elites.”
I nod. “We don’t want to be under the Highers rule any longer, but we cannot do it on our own. We also cannot lose any more people. The Lands are dying and we need to fix it, but we need you to fight, too.”
She eyes her village, looking between the others who have now stopped to listen to me, to watch us.
“I am but an old female, how can I fight?” she wonders.
“By coming with us and staying alive.” I stand and step back, giving her space. “We have a safe haven, Eridian.”
“The Deadlands?”
