(Fol)

“I’m Deo,” the boy said, voice shaky and weak. He squirmed and tried to roll over onto his back. Wefyu jumped into action, rushing to his side. He put a hand on the boy’s shoulder, careful to avoid the wounds on his back and gently said, “don’t move, you’ll agitate your injuries.”

Rakii’s eyes widened at his eldest’s soft tone, then narrowed again when Wefyu’s gentle voice continued, “do you need some water?”

The boy, Deo, shook his head with a smile despite the pain furrowing his brow. Wefyu scowled, “you should drink some water. You lost a lot of blood.” He turned around to grab the pitcher of water and glass left on the nightstand by the doctor, now with his siblings also looking at him, astounded. They had never seen such expressions on his face before.

When Wefyu turned back around he ran into Rakii, who took the cup of water from him. Wefyu shrunk back from the cold look in the Fol King’s pitch-black eyes. Rakii slid his cold gaze down to the cup in his hands then over to the boy. Deo’s smile quickly disappeared, the pallor of his face becoming instantly more noticeable. “Who are you? Where did you come from?” Wefyu flinched at Rakii’s harsh voice and even Kisee and Anrhea were stunned.

“My name is Deo and I don’t...” the boy frowned, “I don’t know anything else...”

“You don’t know?” Rakii fully faced the boy, turning his back on Wefyu. Deo flinched, then grimaced as blood began to seep through some of his bandages. Wefyu rushed forward and hugged his father’s arm to his chest, causing him to spill the water. Wefyu racked his brain for a way to appeal to his father while cursing the fact that he could probably feel how fast his heart was beating. “He is chosen by the Yelii! It is clear he was sent to us to aid in our crusade against the Kasm!”

The Fol King smiled and Wefyu shivered, “Is that so?”

For a fear filled second no one moved, then Rakii shoved the water cup back into Wefyu’s hands, “Then we should treat him like the Holy guest he is.”

The Fol King leisurely departed, calling over his shoulder on his way out of the room, “I’m tired from the long journey, so I shall retire now. Wefyu make sure our guest is comfortable.”

Once he was safely out of the room the three children and one teenager all breathed a sigh of relief. “Why was Dad so scary!” Kisee whined, wiping away the sweat that had formed on his brow.

Anrhea patted her twin brother’s arm comfortingly, casting a complicated glance at Wefyu. But Wefyu wasn’t looking their way, already focused on helping Deo drink the cup of water and wiping away the sweat gluing his thick black waves to his forehead with the end of his sleeve. Anrhea sighed, “Nevermind it, Kisee. Let’s go play and I’ll tell you all about the Xul palace.”