Rogue Beyond the Wall by Giselle Jeffries Schneider

Author:Giselle Jeffries Schneider [Schneider, Giselle]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Giselle Jeffries Schneider

Harboring a Fugitive (Sanctus)

The boy burst into a sob, a spark of pain escaping into Sanctus’ senses, and he sagged. It wasn’t enough for the monk to feel completely as he twisted to catch him, however. Just enough to pick up loneliness and regret. There was some guilt woven in as well. Then fear seeped through.

This was the second indication of any type of emotion. A second reminder that the boy truly had a heart. He couldn’t believe he ever thought otherwise.

Then the emotion was gone. Just like that.

What is wrong with me? Sanctus couldn’t help but question. He was used to being overwhelmed and needing Salbatzaile to calm him. But this wasn’t about him, so he heaved the boy back onto his feet. “Hey,” he directed. “Now none of that.”

Nicholas’ sob erupted into a debilitating gasp, and he curled into Sanctus before the monk knew what was happening. They both went back down to the stones.

“Everythin’ all right, Sanctus?” came his wise brother’s voice, along with the promised calm.

He cupped the boy’s head into his chest and hugged him close, that thin frame trembling in his grasp.

“Do ye need ‘elp?”

“He just needs a moment,” he finally replied, dropping his own head onto Nicholas’. “Just let it out,” he whispered. “Don’t hold it in.”

Nicholas gasped further, clutched at the monk’s kasaya, and wiped his face on it. Then he inhaled deep, cleared his throat, and sob some more.

“It’s all right,” Sanctus’ continued to whisper as he proceeded to let his own tears spill. He wished so much to know what was wrong, what happened to harm the boy so deeply.

And then Nicholas stopped sobbing and shifted to breathing heavily against him.

“Ready to head back to your room now?” Sanctus ventured.

“No,” Nicholas croaked. “I want to go home. I want to be with my father.”

“You love him,” Sanctus replied, understanding. He felt the same for his sister, who had been gone for a millennium and a half.

Nicholas nodded. “I shouldn’t have left. I made a horrible mistake, and now he is paying for it.”

“Well that is all in the past now.” Those were the only words he could say, and he wished someone had said them to him long ago before he spent so many lonely nights crying over mistakes. “It is also not what your father desires for you. So please, let me take you back to your room so you can recover.”

Nicholas sucked in a deep breath and held it.

“What do you say?” Sanctus resumed. “Give this place a try. Whatever you came here for, we will gladly help you find.”

Nicholas released the air, and his stomach grumbled loudly. The echo within was noticeable.

“We can take some food with us, if you like.”

Nicholas shook his head. “No.”

A sigh escaped.

“If I am to give this place a try, I should eat with you and your brothers. It is what my father would have wanted.”

“Don’t believe him.”

Sanctus shifted his attention enough to find Brida just a few feet off the path, right by the wall and out of sight.

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