Page 65 of Dawn of Hope
“I’m new too. I just got here yesterday, right before you. We’ll have to figure things out together. Sound good?”
He nods, his smile a little bigger now, and straightens his spine. He seems to be warming up but is still flicking his fingers under the table.
“Did you get enough to eat already?” He has a plate in front of him, but he’s barely touched it.
He shakes his head, so I give him a little nudge. I pick up a wooden fork and spear a piece of potato. “Well, I’m starving, so I’ll be sitting here for a little while if you want to eat some more.”
He timidly picks up his fork and starts eating as he watches everyone around him.
I catch Dane on the other side of Fin, watching me. It occurs to me I don’t have any experience talking to children this young. There are none that live in or visit the castle, none that I had ever encountered. I don’t have any siblings. I hope to have children one day, but that hope feels out of reach because of how isolated I’ve been.
But talking to Fin feels natural. It makes me happy. I want to make him feel secure and comfortable, and to be a friend.
“How old are you?” One of the boys across the table, I think his name is Slade, asks.
“Six,” Fin says, his voice slightly louder and more confident than before.
“Why’d you come here Fin?” A boy named Roley asks.
“I didn’t mean to. My nana told stories, but I didn’t know how. My sister is really sick. No one knows what’s wrong with her. I was just sad. I ran away because I didn’t want to watch her die. I was crying, and then Dane was there.” Fin looks up into Dane’s face as if he was his savior.
“I’m really sorry to hear about your sister,” I tell him.
I am struggling with how to convey my emotions, besides telling him how sorry I am. He is clearly suffering with the struggles of his sister, and the magic led him here to give him a chance to help.
I realize as I look around at everyone else in the tavern, eating their meals, laughing, and chatting.
Every single one of us is in the same situation. Everyone has a person they love they want to help, to save. Many of them could have already lost someone, and didn’t get to say goodbye, all because they can’t find the elixir.
And then there’s Weston and the Castaways, ripping hope away and endangering all of us.
I rub my hand across my chest as my emotions settle there. Everyone here is hurting. The only difference is how long they have had to cope with the pain. Tears well in my eyes and I blink them away. I am not the only one suffering. These people understand me, even if they don’t really know me.
I clear my throat before I speak again. “We’re going to do everything we can to save your sister, Fin.”
He smiles then, and shifts on the bench, scooting a bit closer to me. It makes the pain I feel in my chest lessen slightly, knowing I have brought him some comfort.
My gaze meets Dane’s again as he mouths, “You’re a natural.”
Dane has been dealing with people in his role as the Guardian for years. He’s used to comforting and providing support, where this is completely new to me. I’m glad he thinks I’m doing something right.
“Did Dane explain everything to you already?” I ask him, taking another bite and watching as he mirrors my movements.
He nods. “Yes. But the Castaways scare me. Dane told me about them. Weston sounds mean.”
“I know, he does,” I agree, “but we are all here too, and we will help protect you. We can even teach you how to protect yourself, so you don’thave to worry.” I look at this sweet boy next to me and despite only just meeting him, I already feel protective of him. His small, almost frail body hints that he did not come from affluence back in our world. It would be nothing for Weston or one of the other Castaways to snatch him. “I could teach you how to shoot, if you want.”
He nods quickly, a big smile lighting up his face. “I’ve never held a bow before! You know how? Where did you learn?”
“My friend Brynne taught me. She taught me lots of things.” I see Dane’s eyes cut over to me and then back again to the conversation he is having with the other boys.
“Maybe we can go check out the armory after we finish eating. Although, it might be hard for me to shoot for a couple of days.” I hold my wrists up so he can see the bandages. “But that’s alright. I can still show you.”
“Lennox,” Dane says, butting into our conversation. “Tomorrow you’ll be with Mara. Fin, you’ll be with Storm. They’ll show you around, and then you’ll switch to someone new, just until you get acquainted and comfortable.”
I take another bite with a nod. I hope Mara won’t make things difficult tomorrow, based on that stony look she gave me earlier. Maybe if it is just her and me, and Dane isn’t around, it will be fine, but if there is a history between them, or if they are together, I do not have high hopes for how tomorrow will go.
These feelings I have toward Dane, whether they are friendship or something more, are completely new to me, and so is the idea of jealousy. I really need to clear things up with Mara, and hope that Dane really is a good guy, not leading either of us along.