The Boy in the Field (34 page)

Patient:
No. 2528342/Korsaan A
.

Patient is convinced that our facility is a prison and that
her doctors are the jailers. She has taken a particular dislike to Nurse
Vapasi. Her delusions seem more vivid when he is in the vicinity. Delusions
also increase in the vicinity of fellow patient Ethan Fatila. When both men
were close to her room, the patient needed to be sedated to avoid injury to
herself or facility staff.

Recommended treatment:
Regular therapy sessions with Dr
Miza; 20mg Amprocet daily; 2 x 300mg Fluroprizin daily.

Consultant:
Doctor Indra Adina, FRSP

The End
(Back to start)

You stood at Vapasi’s side in the Hanging Square, watching as
the peacekeepers led Ethan up onto the scaffold and secured the rope around his
neck. One of Vapasi’s colleagues was acting as the executioner, his hand on the
lever that would drop the panel beneath Ethan’s feet, sending him to his death.
The man read out a long list of charges, many of which you were sure had not
been mentioned at the trial. Ethan said nothing, just stared blankly out at the
gathered crowd.

“Was he married?” you asked Vapasi as you watched him. “Does he
have a family?”

“I never saw him with anyone and he did not wear a wedding
band.”

“He looks so lonely.”

Vapasi sighed and held you to his chest. “Don’t look at him.”

It was at that moment that the executioner pulled his lever.
Ethan dropped by a matter of inches, the rope too short to snap his neck. You
buried your face in Vapasi’s shoulder as he thrashed about, feet and hands both
looking for something to hold on to. The crowd made all kinds of noises, some
cheering, a few shouting, a couple of gasps. You tried not to imagine what they
were seeing.

“It’s over,” Vapasi said at last. “He’s gone.”

You looked up. Ethan’s body hung on the end of the rope,
swaying slightly, his limbs limp. That sight would haunt you for years, waking
you in the night. It made you wonder if there was something you should have
done to save him, if you’d make the same choices if you could live your life over
again.

The End
(Back to start)

You shook your head. “No. I couldn’t handle it.”

He pulled you close and held your head to his shoulder,
stroking your hair. “I’m sorry.” He kissed you. “I wish there had been another
way.”

You let yourself cry. “Maybe there was. Maybe we missed it. Or
maybe Ethan was always going to leave us. Just promise me this is over now.”

“Soon.” He kissed you again. “It will be soon. Once I’ve got my
promotion, things will be different. I promise.”

It was the first night in a long time that you had fallen
asleep with him holding you. For once, you believed that things would get
better. You sometimes found yourself wondering if there was anything you could
have done to save both brothers. Usually, the scenarios you imagined ended no
better than the one you had lived. Maybe the world was just too small for them
both to live in peace.

The End
(Back to start)

“I’ll be there.”

Vapasi smiled. “Good. I’ll get you a ringside seat. Make sure
you’ve got a really good view.”

* * *

The arena was packed on the day of the fight. The cost of the
trial had been repaid twice in ticket sales. They cheered and shouted, calling
for the duellists to make an appearance. As promised, Vapasi had you sit beside
the cage on the bench usually reserved for medics and arena staff. You were
close enough that you could have reached out and touched the bars if you had
wanted. From there, you could see the grains of red sand, stained with the
blood of countless other fighters.

The volume was almost unbearable as the people cheered when
Vapasi made his way into the cage. He didn’t look at you as he passed, holding
his sword over his head and encouraging the crowd to shout even louder. Two
peacekeepers followed him out of the preparation area and locked the door to
the cage behind him.

The cheers turned to boos and hisses as Ethan was brought out,
chained to his guards. Unlike Vapasi, he had no armour and his sword was
doubtless ill serviced. It wouldn’t take much effort from Vapasi to kill him,
but Ethan would have to fight with everything he had if he even wanted to
survive.

The guards unchained Ethan and moved out of the cage, locking
the second door. One of them moved to the side of the cage, giving his
instructions to the duellists. He stood with his arms outstretched, telling
them to keep apart. Then, he brought his hands together in front of his chest,
stepping away from the cage to sit on the bench opposite you.

You watched as Vapasi paced around the cage, circling his
brother. You stood up, prompting the peacekeepers to move to your sides.

Choice:
234. Beg Them to Stop
or
235.
Watch Them Fight

“No.” You shook your head. “No, I don’t want to.”

“You don’t want to watch the duel? But you helped it come
about.”

“I’m not going to watch you kill your brother.”

“That won’t stop me doing it. He deserves it.”

You shook your head, unsure what to say. Anything that you said
was likely to anger him further and maybe make things worse for Ethan. As he
turned his back, you finally spoke.

“Kill Ethan and I will never forgive you.”

“Ethan is the enemy.”

“Ethan is your brother!” you screamed. “And he was mine too.
And if you want to kill him, I don't think I can stand to look you in the eye.”

He looked back at you. “You should find somewhere else to sleep
tonight. You’re not welcome in my house.”

You spent the night on the floor of a friend’s house. The whole
evening, they asked you questions about why Vapasi had kicked you out, what
happened in the courtroom and what it was like betraying your partner. Had it
not been for the rain outside, you would have walked the streets instead,
waiting for morning to find somewhere to stay.

Thanking your friends for their hospitality, you left as soon
as the clouds cleared, the sun beginning to show above the rooftops. Rather
than facing their interrogations for the rest of the day – or worse, an account
of the execution – you decided to head to one of the inns that catered for
travellers, the money in your pocket enough to buy a breakfast if not rent a
room.

People stared at you as you ate, no doubt whispering about the
trial and execution. They were probably thinking the same things as your
‘friends’. You were glad when no one spoke to you, leaving as soon as you
could.

You didn’t see Vapasi until the day after Ethan’s execution was
supposed to have taken place and then your paths crossed three times. He was in
his armour, probably on a street patrol for work. Although your money had run
out, you ignored him the first two times. On your third encounter, he waved to
you, a gesture that seemed unnatural in all the metal. You shook your head and
continued to walk, but he beckoned to you.

Choice:
236. Go Over
or
237. Ignore
Him

You sat at Noah’s bedside, holding his hand while you waited
for the medics to finish their assessments. He was face-down on the mattress,
has head turned toward you with the back of his medical gown open to reveal the
wound across his back.

“I’m so sorry, Noah,” you said. “I should have got you to a
medic right away. I thought I was doing the right thing.”

“The injury is not your fault,” he said. “You tried to stop us.
This is our fault.”

“Yeah, but if I hadn’t tried to fix you—”

“You did the right thing,
laraki
,” one of the medics
interrupted. “You probably saved his life.”

He stepped around the bed, poking Noah’s legs with the end of
his pen. Noah didn’t react. The medic then put his hand on Noah’s back beside
the wound. Noah shifted and grunted as the medic poked again.

“That’s a good sign,” he said. “With the right treatment, you
should make a full recovery.”

You grinned and squeezed Noah’s hand. “You hear that? You’re
going to be okay.”

* * *

It was three months before Noah could walk again without
assistance. He stayed with you and Ethan while he recovered until two letters
arrived one day, one bearing a return address for the Kinta Courthouse for
Ethan and the other from Ethigos for Noah. Ethan opened his first.

Mr Ethan Wicker,

Your presence is required at 10 o’clock morning, on 15
Treefall, in Room 7 of Kinta Courthouse for the case of His Imperial Majesty
Emperor Amariah Lawless of Serlora’s Imperial Military on behalf of Magister
Vapasi versus Ethan Wicker on charges of attempted murder. Please note that
failure to attend will result in immediate arrest and up to four years
imprisonment.

Yours faithfully,

Kasia Taraka, Courthouse Recordkeeper

You read over his shoulder, both of you looking up at Noah at
the same time. It was a second or two later before Noah finished reading his
own letter.

“What did you do?” you asked. “I thought we had reached some
kind of understanding.”

Noah shook his head. “It wasn’t me.” He handed you his own
letter.

Dear Magister Vapasi,

It is with great relief that we received news of your full
recovery and we eagerly await your return to Ethigos. Your medics have
transferred your records to us and we are prepared to continue your treatment
in Ethigos, should the need arise.

With regards to your recent injury, we have taken the
liberty of beginning legal action against its perpetrator. A team of
investigators will handle your case; there is no need for you to take any
action.

Yours sincerely,

Magister Superius Bairi Skota

“I’m sorry.” He looked up. “I’ll do what I can to stop it.”

Ethan shook his head. “After what I did, imprisonment for
attempted murder is probably no more than I deserve.”

* * *

Ethan was sentenced to two years for assaulting a magister.
Noah’s statement did a lot to reduce the charges, but even he couldn’t have
them dropped once the Serloran military became involved. The case did a lot to
bring the brothers closer together with Noah staying in your house whenever he
visited the Kinta Courthouse. You hoped it would last; while Ethan was gone,
Noah’s friendship would be a blessing and you certainly had a lot of time to
make up for.

The End
(Back to start)

“Don’t worry about me,” Ethan insisted. “Go to him. He needs
you more.”

“Ethan, stop it. I’m here to see you. We don’t have long.”

“Go to him when they make you leave then,” he said. “I deserve
this for what I did.”

“It was an accident, Ethan. He could have just as easily killed
you.”

Behind you, the guard cleared his throat and gestured to the
hourglass sitting empty on the desk beside him. You nodded and stood.

“It’ll will be okay, Ethan. Trust me.”

Ethan nodded. “I love you. Now go to him.”

* * *

“They burned me,” Noah said when you arrived at the ward.
“They won't pay for my treatment. I've lost my job. I'd be surprised if they
even let me over the border.”

You took his hand. “What have the medics said?”

“I won't be fit for service. I'll never run again. I can't
fight. I'll be lucky to walk.”

“Oh, Noah. I'm so sorry.”

“Yeah? Don't be. It means you're going to get your husband
back. The charges against him will be dropped when they hear I'm not a magister
or a soldier. They'll probably go after me for invasion or impersonation.”

“Hey.” You shifted to sit at the head of the bed, giving him a
better angle to see you. “It's not all bad.”

“I tried to kill your husband. Why are you here? Why are you
trying to cheer me up?”

“You might be a
kuja
, but you're also family. I carried
your child for six months. That's not an easy thing to forget. I'm glad you
didn't actually kill each other.”

“I don't deserve to even speak to you.” He turned his face away
from you. “You have always been better than me.”

“Yeah? Well suck it up, sunshine. You're stuck with me.”

Ethan was released the next day, the charges dropped as Noah
predicted. The medics kept Noah in for the rest of the week before you and
Ethan brought him home. For a while, things were tight, Ethan's wages barely
covering the living costs for the three of you, but as Noah recovered his
independence, you were able to return to work for a few hours a day.

The court tried to bring charges against Noah, but Ethan
appealed against them; any fines the court imposed would simply come out of
Ethan’s pocket. In the end, they decided to drop the case. Noah’s damaged pride
was restitution enough for Ethan and Noah wasn’t likely to reoffend.

For you, having your family back was all that mattered. The
twins argued a lot more than they used to do, but it didn’t bother you. It was
like old times.

The End
(Back to start)

“Where did he go?” you asked. “Why?”

Noah shook his head. “He gave me painkillers. I don’t remember
what he was saying.”

“Try!”

“He was asking me questions about you. Or talking about you.”
He rubbed his face and shook his head. “He made me promise that I would look
after you if anything happens to him.”

You went to the front door and looked outside. The street was
empty save for a foxet with a dead rat in its jaws. With a feeling in your
stomach as if you had swallowed a boulder, you returned to the living room to
lie awake on the floor beside Noah. He smiled and tried to reassure you that
everything was going to be okay, but his memory of Ethan’s last words was hazy.
The painkillers his brother had given him were probably too strong for his
needs, although whether it had been his intention to confuse him or not was
uncertain.

Three days passed before you heard anything from him and when
you did, his message came in the form of a short letter, his handwriting
unmistakeable. There was one for you and one for Noah.

Masuki, he needs you. Take care of him and forget about me.
E.

You glanced across at Noah. The envelope address to him contain
identity papers bearing Ethan’s name and his wedding band. The note was just as
short.

Ina, take my life as recompense. I stole too much. E.

“He's not coming back,” you whispered. “He’s left me?” You sat
in the middle of the floor, just staring at the papers in front of you.

Noah laughed. “I’m sorry. He must
really
hate you.”

You shook your head. “
Take my life
. What did he say the
other night? You said he made you promise to look after me. What else did he
say?”

He laughed again. “I don’t remember!”

“Then what did you say? What
do
you remember?”

“Nothing.” He turned away from you, his shoulders shaking. For
a moment, you thought he was still laughing, but then he sniffed. He was hiding
his face.

“Hey.” You put your arms around him.

“He’s left me again. What did I do wrong? Why does he hate me
so much?”

“He doesn’t hate you. He loves you.”

Noah pushed you away, planting the heel of his hand into your
shoulder hard enough to leave a bruise. You scowled and pushed him back. He
bared his teeth at you.

“I’d break your neck if I could move.”

You snorted and shook your head. “Come on, then!” You moved
closer to him. “You can reach from there!” You took his hand and put it to your
throat. “Go on! I’m not even going to fight you.”

“Why would he do this if he loved me? If he loved you?” He
moved his hand to the back of your neck and pulled himself upright, closer to
you. “He knows how I feel about you. He knew what would happen if he left me
alone with you!”

“What are you going to do, Noah? Go ahead. Make my day.”

He let his arm relax and lowered himself to the floor. “I’ll
make you hate me too. And then he’ll come back and break my heart again, just
like he always does.”

“Noah…”

“You were mine once. He took you from me. And if I stay here,
all I’m going to see is you, this constant reminder of everything I lost. Of
everything that I could have had. Everything he took.”

You picked up Ethan’s letter to him and the wedding band.
I
stole too much
.

“I can’t believe he’s done this.”

You crossed the room and took a roll of paper from the dresser
drawer. Then, you returned to sit beside Noah, taking his hand and sliding the
ring onto his finger.

“What are you doing?”

“What's the name on your identity documents?” You handed him
the papers Ethan had sent.

“They aren’t mine.”

“Do you know the penalty for stolen documents? Or not
presenting papers when requested. Try again.”

He sighed. “Ethan Wicker.”

You unrolled the paper you had taken from the drawer. “This is my
marriage certificate. What’s my husband’s name?”

He frowned and looked at the document. “Ethan Wicker.”

“He's always loved you more than he's ever loved me.” You
laughed. “And he probably thinks that I never truly loved him because part of
me still loved you. He knows I would have never married him if we’d all stayed
together. I would have married you. And that’s what he’s trying to give you.
Everything he thinks he stole.”

“But you
do
love him. Not me.”

“Of course I love him. But neither of us ever stopped loving
you.” You put your head down beside his. “He was scared to look for you. And
he’ll be scared to come back.”

“This isn’t fair.”

“Life isn’t fair. You’ve just got to make the best with what
you’re given.” You took his hand. “He thinks he’s doing the right thing for
you.”

Noah shook his head. “And what if he comes back? What then?”

“What if he doesn’t?” You smiled. “We don’t know what’s in the
future, Noah. All we can do is guess and try to make the best choices we can.”

The End
(Back to start)