Chapter 86: Ch86 – Baby Brother

Ryan, Eleanor, and James walked back across the courtyard.

The sun had set. Lanterns flickered to life along the paths, casting long shadows across the stone.

James kept looking around at the grounds, scanning faces.

“He’s not here,” James muttered.

“He’ll turn up,” Ryan said.

“It’s been hours.” James’s voice was tight. “What if he’s—”

“He’s not,” Eleanor said firmly. “Jared’s smart. He will have got out.”

“Then where IS he?”

No one answered.

They reached the dormitory steps. James stopped and looked back one more time.

Still no sign of Jared.

“I’m going back out,” James said. “I’ll check the infirmary again. Maybe the healer stations near—”

“James.” Eleanor’s hand on his arm. “You’re exhausted. Get some rest.”

“I need to find him.”

“You need to—”

“James.”

All three of them spun.

A figure limped over to them. Dirty. Bloodied. And favouring his left leg.

Jared.

James broke into a run.

“You bastard!” James reached him, grabbed his shoulders. “Where the hell were you?!”

“I’m fine, I’m—ow, easy—”

“You’re HURT.” James pulled back, eyes scanning Jared for injuries. Blood on his shirt. Bruising on his face. A nasty cut across his forearm.

“It’s not bad,” Jared said quickly. “Really. Just scrapes.”

“Just SCRAPES?” James’s voice cracked. “Do you have any idea—I thought you were DEAD.”

“I’m sorry.” Jared looked away. “I stayed behind after we got separated. There were people trapped. In the rubble. I couldn’t just leave them.”

Silence.

James stared at him.

Then punched him in the shoulder.

“Ow! What—”

Another light punch. And another.

“You—” punch “—absolute—” punch “—idiot—” punch.

“Okay, okay! I get it!” Jared laughed despite himself, trying to block the hits. “I’m sorry!”

“You don’t just disappear for hours after an attack like that!” James’s voice was still angry, but his eyes were wet. “You don’t—I thought—”

He stopped. Pulled Jared into a rough hug.

Jared winced but didn’t pull away.

“I’m sorry,” Jared said quietly. “I didn’t mean to scare you, little baby brother.”

“You’re an idiot.”

“I know.”

They stood there for a moment. Then James pulled back, wiping his eyes roughly.

“Come on. Let’s get you to the infirmary.”

“I’m fine—”

“You’re limping. You’re going.”

Ryan and Eleanor followed as James half-dragged Jared toward the medical wing.

An hour later, Jared’s wounds were cleaned and bandaged. Nothing serious. Mostly bruises, cuts and exhaustion. The healer they had, the same one from the infirmary only a couple days ago, said he’d be fine with rest. “Keep your wounds clean and take this.” She handed him some cloth. “Change the dressing tomorrow morning.”

They walked back to the dorms together.

Most students had retreated inside their dorms, leaving a couple students that were waiting for their friends to leave the infirmary.

The courtyard was now littered with makeshift tents. Each one housed citizens who had no home left to go to, or were too injured to leave the vicinity of the academy’s healers.

They, at a slow pace because of Jared’s injuries, reached dormitory six. Climbed the stairs. The hallway was dark except for a few lanterns, the same could be said for their room.

“Get some sleep,” Eleanor said by her bunk. “Tomorrow’s going to be… difficult.”

“Yeah,” Ryan said.

She disappeared behind her curtain.

The brothers entered the room. James immediately collapsed onto his bed, still fully clothed.

Jared sat down more carefully, wincing as he moved.

Ryan stood by the window, looking out at the darkened academy.

Do we have classes tomorrow?

Ryan chuckled.

Knowing my knight instructors, we probably have double shifts…

It was Monday tomorrow. Normally he, along with James and Jared, would be up at dawn for a fun running around the grounds, twice-session.

Ryan didn’t know.

He pulled off his boots and lay down on his bed.

The ceiling was dark. Silent.

He could hear James’s breathing—slow, steady. Already asleep.

Jared shifted. Quiet groan of pain.

“You good?” Ryan whispered.

“Yeah. Just sore.”

“You should’ve come back sooner.”

“I know.” Pause. “But those people… some of them were still alive. Under the rubble. If I’d left…”

Ryan didn’t answer.

If that guard… Jakob, wasn’t there, would I have done the same as Jared?

Or would I have run?

He wasn’t sure.

“Get some sleep,” Ryan said finally.

“Yeah.”

Silence settled over the room.

Ryan closed his eyes.

————

Morning came too quickly.

Ryan woke to pale light filtering through the window. His body ached. His muscles were sore from yesterday’s chaos, or maybe they were still sore from the instruction classes last Friday. He couldn’t tell.

He slowly pushed himself up.

The room was cold, so cold he nearly went straight back under the covers.

James and Jared were still asleep. James snoring softly. Jared curled on his side, his bandaged arm tucked close.

Ryan reluctantly pulled on his boots. And then splashed water on his face from the basin.

Do we have classes today?

“Surely they’d cancel classes. Right?” He muttered.

Better go and find out. He sighed.

Ryan opened the door of the dorm and stepped into the hallway.

Ryan made his way downstairs. Out into the courtyard.

The morning air was cold. Clear. Like yesterday hadn’t happened.

But the smell of smoke still lingered, and the tents were still here.

Ryan looked around.

No instructors yet, but it was still a bit early.

The courtyard was nearly empty.

Apart from one place near the main building.

Several students were clustered together.

Ryan walked over.

It was a notice board, and a single piece of parchment was pinned to the board:

ALL CLASSES SUSPENDED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE

Students are advised to remain on academy grounds for your safety.

Counselling is available in the main hall for those who require it.

— Principal Helena

Ryan stared at the notice.

Surprising

He turned away from the board.

And nearly walked straight into someone.

It was… Marcus.

He had wild-eyes. His looked disheveled and he was holding something in his hands. Something unmistakeable.

Ryan’s bracelet.

“We need to talk,” Marcus said.

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