They silently left the city and made it back to the rock line without being seen. She could tell Tresit’s heart was beating fast and, when they got behind the rocks, he leaned against one and visibly tried to get himself to relax.

Kes didn’t say anything, but patiently waited with him, allowing herself the time to relax too. It was only a minute though, before Kes saw Tresit’s hands ball into fists as he stood away from the rock and looked to her. ”Let’s go, okay?” He said.

”Okay.” Kes agreed easily, again not saying anything else.

They were half way back when Tresit broke the silence. ”I tried to do what you did, you know.” He finally said.

”What’s that?” Kes asked gently.

”To steal food, water. Before, mother would… would beg, in the streets, for food. Or take jobs, cleaning, things like that, if she could get them. But then, her sight got worse… she couldn’t work anymore. I could have worked. In the mines. But… the only job they would give someone my age… it would be very dangerous. Mother made me swear on father’s memory that I wouldn’t work there, no matter what. So, I started to steal things. I thought I was good at it, but it only took four times for me to get caught. They beat me for what I’d done. Shamed me… Laughed… I made it back home, but I… I passed out as soon as I came through the door. I was sick, a fever, and my leg was hurt besides…” He told her, his words trailing off.

”That’s horrible.” Kes spoke, feeling deeply for him and wishing she knew something more to say. Wishing too that it hadn’t happened to him at all.

”I healed, but, by the time I was well enough to walk, our supplies had run out. I couldn’t move from hunger and thirst. I tried to, but I couldn’t. That’s… that’s when you came.” He confessed.

”I’m glad I could be there for you.” Kes told him.

”Me too. If only for mother and Lanam. But… that’s not why I told you those things… for sympathy.” He said.

”…Why, then?” Kes asked softly. She could tell that, for him, telling her those things had not been an easy thing for him. That he was still ashamed of his failure, even though her words might have helped him to get over that somewhat.

He looked over to her as they made their way from between two rocks. ”So you’ll know… What can happen.” He looked away again, towards where they were going. ”That it’s not safe, in the city. You have, whatever kind of power it is you have, I guess… and maybe that means… that you won’t be caught like I was. But, in case it doesn’t mean that, I just wanted you to know.” He looked over to her. ”So you’ll be careful.”

Kes sighed. ”Thank you…” She said softly. ”But, you don’t ever need to worry that I won’t be careful. I have my own story… not all that different form yours, in some ways…”

”Oh…” Was all he said.

He didn’t ask what her story was, and she was grateful for that, actually. It wasn’t something she liked to think about for one thing, and for another… she didn’t want to give this sweet little boy anything else to worry about. It was plain to see, he already had more than enough to contend with as it was.

”I have an idea.” Kes said. ”When we get back, can you teach me that game you were playing? With Lanam? Where you made different shapes? I thought they were beautiful.” She told him.

He smiled a little. ”If you want, I will… It’s a good game.” He told her. ”Mother invented it for us. Lanam can do it because she can feel the rocks we use, even if she can’t see them… There are four other games too, but that one’s my sister’s favorite.”

They talked a little more after that, mostly about small things, lighter topics.

————–

to be continued