A/N one shot for the book series Longlight Legacy.
Roan's POV
"We don't intend to harm you, Roan of Longlight. The Prophet lives. He wishes to see you."
Hearing his former teacher's voice has a galvanizing effect on Roan. He empties his mind, completely focusing on the threat. Four Brothers are off their horses, two with spears.
Where are the other two? A quick glance doesn't reveal them, so he deals with the immediate danger. He feints, pushing one spear aside and grabbing the other with his free hand. He pulls hard, dragging the Brother off balance, and knocks him against the wall.
Roan turns to the other assailant, blocking the man's spear thrust. Leaning in, he grabs his opponent's arms and hauls him down. Jumping on the fallen man, he whirls to face the other Brother, who is now back on his feet. The two of them leap into the air, but Roan is faster. Grabbing the Brother's arm in midair, Roan yanks it toward him and deals a precise blow to the vital point below the armpit.
The Brother groans, falls. Roan reaches back, grabbing his hook-sword from his pack. But Brother Wolf has already dismounted.
"You've improved," says Wolf, aiming a kick at Roan's neck and swinging down with his own sword.
Roan blocks the kick and deflects Wolf's weapon with a crash of his hook-sword. But Wolf's fist lands a ringing blow to Roan's ear. Momentarily stunned, Roan can't stop his teacher's next sword stroke. It hits Roan's hilt with such force that his hook-sword flies from his hand, out of reach.
"Surrender," orders Brother Wolf.
In pain, Roan clutches his sword hand and kneels to the ground. But it's a ruse. He suddenly bursts up, attacking Brother Wolf full force. Retreating from the flurry of kicks and punches, Wolf backs toward the building, faltering against the wall.
"Drop your weapon," Roan orders breathlessly. Wolf nods and drops his sword.
Roan catches the flicker in the Brother's eye too late. A net drops on him. The other two Brothers have been perched on the roof. Roan fights to free himself from the webbing, but they hold the net tight. He's caught, and struggle is no use.
"Very, very impressive," says Brother Wolf. "But you lacked the foresight to anticipate complications." Wolf stares Roan down, Roan's betrayal hanging heavy between them.
For a moment Roan expects retribution, but Wolf just smiles and turns to the Brothers.
"Pack him up." The men start to pull on their quarry, but they freeze at the sound of a shrill, agonized wail.
The horses fidget, and the men's mouths drop open at a horrible sight. Lumpy, stark naked, his volcanic skin utterly exposed, runs toward them, waving his arms, howling as if mad with pain.
"Mor-Ticks, Mor-Ticks!" he screams. "Please! Please help me! Mor-Ticks!"
Brother Wolf aiming his spear at Lumpy's heart. "Let me put you out of your misery," Wolf shouts.
Roan shouted trying desperately to get free of the net even as the brother's held tightly, "Wolf, DONT! Lumpy back off please!"
Lumpy stopped his wide eyes looking back at Roan. Wolf looked back at him their eyes meeting.
"Roan we can take them," swallowed the older boy, "Don't give into the Brothers now. They will just drag you back to Saint.
Roan was ignoring his friend in favor of staring at his mentor. If he could make a deal with the Brother then maybe he could save Lumpy. It was their only hope at this point. Sacrifice his freedom for his friend's life.
Slowly Roan bit out, "My life in exchange for his. I will not fight you, will not try to escape. In exchange let Lumpy go. Please Wolf."
For a long moment the two just stared at each other. Then Wolf turned to Lumpy his hand still on his hook-sword, "Get out of here boy. If you follow us or try to help Roan of Longlight I will cut you down without hesitation."
Then he nodded to the Brothers who pulled him up onto the Wolf's horse. Once he was secured the other brothers mounted their own. A few moments of tense silence passed before Lumpy backed away. His hands were raised in a sign of surrender.
With that they took off on horseback. Roan's ride was uncomfortable as the net kept him secured but didnt stop his bouncing. Two hours after leaving the hospital Wolf called from them to stop. When they did the riders dismounted and there was a half second of hesitation before Wolf untied him from the horse.
A heavy hand on his shoulder dissuaded any thoughts of escaping as he planted on his feet. Wolf kept his hand there as he steered Roan towards the middle of the group. With a length of rope his hands were tied in front of him. Then he was forced to sit on the ground.
The others took sips from their flasks and small bites of food. No one said a word as they rested. Wolf always stayed within arms distance of him. Just in case he tried to run.
Roan kept his eyes on the ground unable to face the man he looked up to. Wolf had every right to be angry with him. To hate him. He tried to kill the man's Prophet in revenge for what happened to his village. Now he was a prisoner.
A flask was thrust in front of his face and Wolf ordered, "Drink."
Roan glanced up at the man briefly before taking it. A short sip of the water was all he dared to take. It was not his flask after all and there was no telling when they would have a chance to refill.
Only ten minutes passed before the order was given to mount back up. Roan was once again secured to the back of the horse. That night when they stopped his hands were once again tied in front of him.
This time he was given jerky along with an extra flask of his own to drink from. They didn't want him to die of dehydration obviously. Saint wouldnt be too happy with them if he did die.
The Brothers took turns keeping watch during the night. Every hour or so they would pass by him to ensure he was still there and secured. Not that he would get very far. In the sand next to him not five feet away was Wolf. If he moved too much the man would no doubt awaken. That night he slept fitfully more than once being awakened by nightmares.
The following morning he was awoken by Wolf shaking his shoulder. Once again he was given light rations before being hauled back up in the saddle. They didnt stop again until they were st Saint's camp. Roan felt his heart drop into his stomach at the thought of facing Saint.
They had betrayed each other and Roan had tried to kill the man. Revenge and violence was never the answer according to his village's teaching. Then again it was against everything they had stood for to eat meat. Something he had broken his very first day in camp.
Roan was pulled down from the saddle and led unsteadily towards Saint's tent. Wolf kept a tight grip on his shoulder as he led the way. The other brothers moved towards their own places in camp. Most likely they would speak with Saint later.
Roan swallowed unsurely as he entered the tent followed by Wolf. Saint was standing behind his desk with his back to them. The muscles of his were tense as if expecting bad news.
Wolf greeted and gave a polite bow even though the man's back was to him, "Brother Saint I have returned. And with our intended target."
The huge man moved faster than Roan expected. Eyes turned to face them and Roan's heart skipped a beat. Across the man's neck was a scar no doubt from where the boy had tried and failed to kill him.
Saint dismissed Wolf immediately his eyes never leaving Roan. The boy swallowed thickly unsure what to say.
"Hello, Little Brother," greeted Saint, "It's been too long."
Roan remains silent.
"Don't you have anything to say?"
"Sorry about the bike."
"It was much easier to replace than the other thing you took from me."
"What was that?" he questioned carefully.
"My trust. You shamed me in front of my men. And you shamed the Friend Himself."
"You invented the Friend," snarled Roan, "You invented it all. I've seen the proof."
For a moment, Saint is taken aback. Then he nods with understanding.
"Is that what this is all about?" he asks. "Yes, I found a book. But only after the Friend revealed Himself to me on the mountain. My revelation was real. I heard His Word. I am His Prophet. The book helps me to understand that experience."
Roan searches Saint's eyes in the flickering light of the fire, trying to find truth there. It's impossible to tell.
"The City wants you, Roan. They've ordered me on pain of death to return you to them. You and your sister united would give them unlimited power." He lowers his voice. "Roan, the Friend could use that power to contain their madness. Join me. Together we can bring justice to the Outlands."
"Why should I believe your intentions are any different from the City's?"
"The City is evil, Roan. You've seen the evidence of that. It wants to enslave all of us. I've witnessed the hideous things the City does to people."
"To children, you mean, with your assistance." Saint grimaces. "Roan. The Friend wants the terror to stop. I want the terror to stop. Join us, Roan."
Roan glares at him. "Were the children of Longlight sold too?"
The Prophet's eyes brim with emotion. "You met Kira. You've been in my empty house. We all make sacrifices, my Brother. I've made them too."
"Brother Saint, you chose your pain."
Saint smiles ruefully. "Stand with me. Stand with the Friend, Roan. King Zheng created a nation that lasted over two thousand years. He had his wall to build, and we have ours. Sacrifices will have to be made. But that is the cost of freedom."
"King Zheng was a tyrant. His nation was never liberated from dominance and control."
"But the unity he brought gave his people the strength they needed to survive."
"A strength constantly tested at their cost." Saint moves closer to Roan, his eyes calmer now. "The City sent me once before to claim you. I protected you then. I will not be given a second chance."
Saint said turning back towards the desk, "You will be staying in my tent or when I'm gone with Brother Wolf. You're a prisoner until you understand."