Page 15 of Kingdom of Rot & Ruin
Don’t fall asleep. That’s when they’ll kill you. Keep fighting.
I had no idea where we were going. We walked for a while until I was gently laid on a small little bed somewhere dark and quiet.
“Thank you for getting me. She might have killed him. L, was it?”
I struggled to open my eyes, the name familiar. I managed in enough time to see the nice Fireguard, young with dark hair like mine.
He saved me. He ran and got Vession, which made them stop.
“W-will he get in trouble?” I croaked out, trying to summon the energy to sit up and failing. The room was tiny, with enough room to only walk a few paces in each direction. It comprised the bed I was in, and one large chest witha thick candle on top, providing the only light source in the room.
Vession sat down at my side, his severe countenance softening even as the candlelight threw his already pointed features into sharper relief. His shoulders slumped. He ran a hand hard down his face, closing his eyes as if in pain.
I waited, tense.
When he opened his eyes, they were full of sadness.
“I believe in blunt honesty. You didn’t have the rough upbringing the boys from the mud quarter did, but you also don’t have the status and connections of the noble boys. I’m sure you’ve noticed by now you are a third category, all on your own.”
I wanted to know more, but it was hard to focus over the agony pounding through my body.
“You are in a unique position where you get to decide which faction you belong to. Pick your battles. Choose your allies wisely. Donotspit on the queen.”
He paused, shaking his head in disbelief.
My head spun.
“She did it then; the queen. She poisoned my mother. Why else would she look like … that?” I asked, my voice breaking. “You don’t poison friends. You … don’t.”
I didn’t know much about friendship and being around the other boys, but I was pretty sure about that part, at least.
Vession sighed, but didn’t meet my eyes. That was answer enough.
“My mother said she grew up with the queen. She said they were friends. How did you do that to a friend?” I stuttered out.
Vession rubbed his eyes.
“That is correct; they were very close. The queen trusted your mother. In fact, she was given a special task toperform for the kingdom. That was how high in esteem the queen held your mother.”
Horseshit. It was all horseshit.
“Idiot boy. You will sleep here tonight until I’m satisfied you won’t die,” Vession continued. “I’ll have the healer come by and give reassurances. The queen forbids you from using the infirmary tonight, but not from the healers visitingme.”
He moved out of the light toward the door. At the last moment, he turned back, one hand on the doorframe and a thoughtful look on his face.
“And stay away from the Fireguards. I don’t think they like you, as a whole.”
I snorted up blood and snot, a crazed laugh bursting through my throat. I must have imagined the small upturn on Vession’s upper lip as he walked away, because surely Vession didn’t do something as light-hearted as smile.
But I would not take this lesson Vession was offering me for granted. Because it most certainly was a lesson, even though it had come at quite a cost.
Little boys cried for their mothers. I wasn’t a little boy anymore.
My chin lifted slightly at the thought.
There was no room for grand posturing here. If I wished to advance in life, I would have to play on both sides of the wall—the noble boys and the mud boys. Both had admirable qualities and skills. If I took a little from each side, no one could touch me.
I’d use the manners and breeding of my noble upbringing to charm anyone I met. No more spitting. No more emotional outbursts.
