Chapter 46

Tirr woke up slowly, still feeling groggy as he sat up, moving the slumbering Garm off his lap. Nearby, Maria noticed immediately and came over from where she had been resting.

“You finally woke up…” Maria said with a relieved smile. “Claire had some food brought over since we didn’t eat last night.” She guided him out into the common area where a table had been stacked with pieces of bread, fruits, and meats and slowly encouraged him to eat.

Tirr took the food mechanically, his mind going back to the ceremony they had witnessed. The ominous crimson shard flickering as it hummed, the sight of the crystalline veins spreading and growing, the smell of burning flesh. All of that… Came from him?

The thought repulsed him so much he instinctively gagged. Drawing more worried attention from Maria who stood nearby talking with Doron and the newly arrived Claire. As Maria fussed over him asking if he was okay, the others came over as well.

“Glad to see you up and at em big guy,” Claire said giving Tirr a lighthearted punch to the shoulder.

“The people from last night…” Tirr said suddenly, putting down a half eating bread roll. “Did they…?”

The friendly smile quickly faded from Claire as she shared a concerned glance with Maria and Doron before answering. “Three out of the twelve survived, one was the woman you helped. The other two might have passed away from injuries but Maria was able to help them.”

“Three out of twelve?” Doron repeated frowning.

Claire nodded sadly, “Apparently even that was more than expected. My father said it isn’t unusual for there to be no survivors.”

“Were those people forc…” Maria started before Claire cut her off angrily.

“They were all volunteers and warned about the dangers”

“I doubt any of them understood that…” Doron replied with a sigh.

“True, which is why my Father was happy with the help you were able to provide. He said even the ones that survive usually take weeks to recover, but thanks to your help all three will be ready for training soon. He’s hoping that if you help with the next one…”

“No,” Tirr said sternly, surprising the others.

“Ah,” Claire said while trying to force a smile. “Well if you don’t want to see another one of those ceremonies I understand. I don’t think I’m going to sleep easily for a while after that either. I’ll just ask my Father if you can go look at the Shard some other time.”

“I’m not going back there...” Tirr said quietly. The three followers shared another worried glance as the watched the silent god.

“Tirr…” Maria started hesitantly, “Isn’t the Shard one of your Blessin...”

“That thing has nothing to do with me!” The young god slammed his fist onto the table in front of him, a loud crack followed by its collapse told just how much force he had used.

Food rolled across the ground as they stood silently. Finally, Claire couldn’t take it anymore and spoke up, “How about we go out today? I promised to show you the best shops around the city right? We’ll go eat so much no even Garm could carry us back!”

After a moment Tirr nodded and the mood slowly mellowed as they talked about the places they could visit.

“I’ve been wanting to go greet some old military buddies so you three have fun.” Doron said giving them a wave goodbye before heading out.

The three of them planned their trip through the city carefully and soon the there was no sign of the awkward atmosphere and anger from before. They took off quickly traveling in one of the castle carriages as Tirr carried Garm and Claire talked about the first shop they were going to.

They spent the rest of the day traveling from shop to shop, ordering food and sweets. From jerky at a butcher’s Claire knew, to the pies of Mrs. Aber’s bakery. They traveled across the capital enjoying themselves and taking in the city. But as Maria watched Tirr smile and laugh as the ate and went sightseeing. She couldn’t help but feel that Tirr expressions seemed forced…

As they stopped in a nearby park to relax and let some of the food they had eaten settle, she watched him carefully. They talked and chatted watching some of the local children play. But Maria caught him staring off into the distance sometimes before suddenly coming back into the conversation. As Claire tried to keep the mood light, Maria became more and more sure that something was wrong.

“Who’s Bren?” Maria suddenly cut in, catching Claire and Tirr off guard.

The name brought Tirr a sudden stab of pain and he frowned as he looked at Maria. “What?”

“Who is Bren?” Maria repeated looking at Tirr with sad and concerned eyes.

The voice from Tirr’s dreams repeated in his head, drawing out his anger. “I don’t know what you’re talking about...”

Claire could sense the tension building, “Hey I think we’re not far from a food stall I…”

“You said it while you were sleeping, you were crying…”

The words caught Tirr off guard and he stood up, shouting, “That ridiculous, your lying!’

“Tirr, you felt something, didn’t you? At the Shard… It does have something to do with your Blessing, right?”

“I already said it doesn’t.”

“Tirr we can’t help if you don’t tell us...”

“I don’t need your help! I don’t need you!” Tirr yelled, anger and rejection coursing through him, the voice repeating in his mind over and over. “I’m a God! My Blessing is a gift! Not that… Thing!”

“Tirr…”

The sympathy in her watery eyes and shaking voice just made him angrier. Finally, he couldn’t take it and ran, moving with fast steps as he left the park and ran down the street.

Maria and Claire watched him leave, ignoring the curious glances the other park visitors were giving them.

“I know what you were trying to do,” Claire finally, scratching her head awkwardly. “But couldn’t it have waited a bit longer?”

“Probably… But it felt like something important was going to be lost if I didn’t speak up…” Maria replied still staring in the direction Tirr ran off.

“Go on back to the carriage for now. I’ll find him and bring him back to the Castle.” She gave Maria one last wave before running off after Tirr asking those nearby where the dark-haired boy had gone.

Maria watched her run off as well before turning back towards the carriage, wondering who Bren was and why he haunted Tirr’s dreams…