THE LAST KEEPER

”A child? Where is he then?” captain Felunka asked.

”He ran away and disappeared in the woods.” even salka’s answer sounded totally irritating to himself.

”A boy just can’t disappear, Salka, you are too smart to know that.” Felunka sighed, knitting his brows. It had been a week since he dispatched teams to watch and it had been silent on all fronts and finally when there was movement, it was a kid that his most competent junior couldn’t catch.

”You should go rest for a few hours before starting out on your shift at night.” Felunka said. The juniors saluted and headed to their sleeping areas.

Salka couldn’t sleep even so. He couldn’t shake an odd feeling about the kid. It’s like the kid had wanted to be caught. He couldn’t help but think he had missed something important. Why could a single child be so deep in the woods alone anyway? he could not even get to close his eyes even after a twenty four hour watch because of the thoughts gnawing at him. With a groan he decided to follow his gut.

Dark would soon blanket the horizon and he had to be back before then. He was disobeying a direct command from the captain anyway and he could only hope what he was doing was the right thing. He threw his quiver on his shoulders, carried as many daggers as he could and grabbed his bow before finally moving.

It was even quieter now in the woods as he moved in the direction he had last seen the boy. Perhaps if they waited longer the trail could go cold. He reached the spot in time at top speed. He circled the area carefully several times but just like during the day there was no one. He was about to turn around and widen his search when a rock hit him square in the face. He shifted around his daggers drawn out and he just managed to stop himself before he could commit an even bigger sin again. The boy was perched on a low branch perfectly hidden with the leaves of a tree. He was looking directly at salka and salka had never felt like such a fool.

”Why is it you again?” He huffed in frustration and the boy just looked at him with empty eyes but full of mischief.

”You are the one who came looking for me.” The boy answered unphased and salka had to remind himself he was just a child.

”What are you doing out here alone?” He asked in the most friendly way possible, putting his blades away and approached slowly.

”I’m not alone.” the boy answered in a matter of fact tone and salka almost felt like he was talking to a grown adult.

”Where are the others?” salka asked trying to hide his weary tone not to trigger the boy. He even crossed his hands on his chest to appear as relaxed as possible.

”What do I get in return?” The boy asked and salka had never met such a character. A smile took over his feature. The kid was amusing, that was for sure.

”How can I bargain when I don’t even know what I am bargaining for?” Salka said with a genuine smile breaking through his face. The kid might have been small in age but he was too canning and smart.

”I know you have been watching the border and the village. You won’t catch them.” the boy said and salka’s interest was piqued. He felt tense an urge to draw his blades was thick but he maintained his composure.

”And why would you think that?” Salka asked, moving closer.

”What do I get in return?” The boy asked again, his eyes growing even more mischievous. A thought crossed Salka’s mind to grab the little delinquent and beat the information out of him but he decided against it. Diplomacy had never been his way of handling things but beating a kid could be too low even for him.

”And what do you want in return?” Salka asked and the mischievous look in the boy’s eyes grew. The boy looked like he was thinking about the many things he wanted to ask for and Salka breathed, willing himself to be patient.

”I want to join a galka war academy next year.” The boy said and salka looked him over again from head to toe.

”That is not something I can grant. How old are you anyway? Have you ever even held a weapon in your life?” salka said and the boy frowned.

”All you adults do is lie. I won’t tell you then and you will all die.” The boy said and salka could only think how those were some heavy words for a little boy. The empty look in the boy’s eyes however begged to differ. Salka could tell that he was dead serious. The little brat had a backbone of steel.

”You brat. Fine. I might not be able to help you join but i know someone who can and if you tell me where the Lankanians are.” Salka said against his better judgement. He was not however one to make empty promises and he knew he had to follow it through.

”How do I know you are not lying?” The boy asked wearily and salka almost groaned but he knew the question was valid. even he couldn’t trust a stranger’s word.

”I’ll give you my honour blade with my name on it.” Salka said and the boy’s eyes widened. An honour blade is a dagger given to those who graduate from war college. Everyone had one engraved with their name on it and they could hold it with honour until the day they died. It is a badge of honour.

”Why are you acting surprised? I thought you were striking a fair deal.” Salka said feeling great about living the little brat speechless.

”Isn’t an honour blade one you get when you graduate from a war college?” the boy said his eyes filled with hearts and salka’s chest swelled with honour.

”Yes. and you are getting the golden one only given to the top one.” salka said and the boy gasped.

”Will you really give me your honour blade?” the brat asked and salka had long forgotten about teaching him manners. He unsheathed the blade from his side pocket and unsheathed it. the boy jumped down from the branch and floated over in a second.

”You are the number one of war college?” The boy gasped. ”I thought you were just big and stupid.” the brat added not at all afraid of the man standing in front of him. such disrespect from a brat who could not even reach his knees was diabolical and salka laughed.

”No one has ever reached my record or beaten it yet. so make sure you keep his blade safe and give it back to me when you beat my record.” Salka said, resting his hand on the brat’s head. The little brat looked speechless for the first time his hands stretched out to receive the blade with tears in his eyes. salka could tell the little kid rarely cried and making him cry made his chest swell even more with pride. He nodded vigorously looking at the blade with salka’s name embedded in it. Salka of course felt a bit nostalgic giving the blade away but it could only be a few years before he got it back. what good was a blade anyway if it wasn’t used in exchange for greater good.

Salka sheathed the sword and the boy finally snapped out of his trance.

”promise to train with it as hard as possible so you don’t embarrass me at the entry exam?” salka said and the boy nodded eager to receive the blade. salka did not want to keep the brat waiting any longer so he handed the blade to him. he couldn’t believe he was twelve. he received the blade with trembling hands and salka was almost convinced the boy had been stunned to muteness.

”Now tell me where the Lankanians are.” Salka said squatting to be almost at eye level with the boy. He was still taller even on his knees and he wondered if the boy even ate. He reminded him so much of someone.

”I don’t know.” The boy said, still absentminded, staring at the blade and salka almost fell on his butt. he was about to beat the little brat for real this time for wasting his time but the brat continued to speak.

”I know they come in from underground. Me and the kids were all hidden deep in the caves. they come at night to take the men ” Salka sighed in relief. No wonder they hadn’t been able to catch them. The brat knew quite a lot for his age.

”Can you show me the tunnels?” Salka asked and genuine fear edged in the boy’s face.

”I was not supposed to see but my father taught me how to track so when they took him months ago.” The boy said and Salka’s interest piqued at the new information.

so the disappearance had started months ago? damn it.

”I will protect you,” salka said and he meant it. Before he could finish talking however there was movement and he grabbed the boy and hid quickly. He could feel almost half a dozen footsteps moving and they were too stealth to be from his team. The boy clutched onto him and remained still as if he had done it a thousand times. He was a survivor. No wonder he had such a complex character.

”Ran to the camp. I know you know where it is,” he instructed and the boy froze.

”Don’t tell me you are scared I’ll get killed. I’m Tagayia’s number one. Show this blade to the man in charge. Captain Felunka. You are my second in command now. I’ll be waiting for your backup. Tell Felunka everything you told me.” Salka said. The boy looked at him again with fear but beneath it determination burnt brightly. The boy broke into a rum moments later. He somehow knew the little lad could make it to the camp.

Now, time to kill some vermin!