Adira was furious, concerned, and desperate to get out. This was far from the first time that she was locked in the solitary imprisonment area of the slavery compound. Adira didn't stir up trouble the way that Hector did, but she didn't like to see him hurt. When his punishments were too harsh she would try to step in to stop them, or she would put all of her healing knowledge to use to ease his pain afterwards. Adira started being locked in solitary so that the warden and guards could punish Hector.
Adira knew that most of the other slaves would become discouraged and upset when they were locked in solitary for days on end, at the minimum. She wasn't usually bothered by solitary. She saw it as a break from the demanding expectations of the guards, and it gave her the chance to meditate. Adira was frequently locked in this familiar tiny cell for a week or two at a time, but more often than not she didn't mind it.
Of course, a big reason why Adira wasn't bothered by solitary was because more often than not Hector was thrown in a cell of his own just a few hours after she was. Their individual cells weren't guarded, so Adira and Hector were able to talk and converse casually while they were locked up. It was hard to get discouraged by solitary when one had a close brother right there with them.
The only time Adira had felt like she was close to losing her sanity from being locked up like this had been years ago, when Hector had tried to escape from this place. As soon as the warden knew that Hector was gone she ordered that Adira and Edmund were locked up. For the next week afterwards they hadn't heard a word about Hector. They didn't know if he'd managed to escape, or if he'd been caught, or if he was even alive.
It had been some of the most terrifying days of Adira's life. She'd felt absolutely helpless. There was nothing she could do for her brother. She and Edmund had been desperate for news, but when the warden came by and taunted them with Hector's terrible foot injury, and the fact that he was alone and no longer had the support of the Saporian's, they'd both wished that they hadn't heard anything.
Adira and Edmund had been locked in isolation for another three weeks before they were let out. It would have been even longer, but Hector's broken ankle had somehow gotten infected, and the warden couldn't be bothered to get him proper treatment. She'd finally let Adira and Edmund help Hector.
That had been the only time when Hector hadn't been brought into solitary just a few hours after Adira had been, and now she was terrified that something like that was happening again. Just like all those years before Hector had gotten caught trying to escape. His legs had been dealt a terrible injury that would take months to heal, even with proper treatment.
Adira had been hopeful that things wouldn't get that bad this time when she eventually heard the warden come by the cells and lock someone else up. It had to be Hector, because there was rarely anybody else who was locked up here. Adira couldn't hear the tell-tale raging from Hector, but maybe he was reluctantly behaving himself because he didn't want to be subjected to the warden's wrath again. He might also be unconscious, but Adira didn't want to consider that option.
As soon as Adira heard the warden leave she stepped towards where she knew the door was. Adira leaned against the door, ignoring the cold that seeped into her skin. She knew that the cold was supposed to prevent them from getting comfortable in these cells, but the warden underestimated just how cold the Dark Kingdom could get. Being locked in here made Adira feel at home.
"Hector?" Adira said, speaking up for the first time since they'd been locked up. "Brother, are you alright?"
"Adira," Edmund answered. "I don't believe that it's Hector."
"Who else would it be?" Adira asked.
"Adira, you saw what happened to Hector just as much as I did." Edmund said quietly. Adira flinched when she remembered the sound of Hector's bones shattering and his pained screams. She wouldn't ever forget the sound. "He wouldn't be able to walk on his own, and the warden wasn't accompanied by any other guards. She's strong, but she couldn't carry Hector here on her own."
Adira grimaced. Edmund was right, she knew he was, but she hated it. If Hector hadn't been brought here, where was he, and who was taking care of him? Was it truly like last time, where Hector was entirely by himself?
Adira was most concerned about her brother, but she had just a little bit of curiosity for the one that had been locked in a cell. "If it isn't Hector, then who is it?" Adira asked. Very few of the slaves were small and light enough that the warden could carry them here on her own, and Adira thought that she would have heard something if someone had walked themselves.
Edmund was quiet for a moment. "I can't say for sure, but do you remember that boy we saw on the platform?"
Adira remembered. She'd been paying attention to Hector during the presentation, but it would have been impossible to not take notice of the young boy that Hector had gotten hurt to protect. Hector didn't feel the need to protect most people, so what was so special about this boy. Why had Hector gotten hurt for his sake? Adira didn't blame the boy, far from it, but deep down she wished that Hector had saved himself.
It was terrible for anybody to get hurt, but Hector's injuries were far worse than the boys' would have been.
"Adira, Hector will be just fine." Edmund said.
"You don't know that." Adira said coldly.
"Yes, but you don't know that he won't be." Edmund said. It was odd to hear her king be so optimistic. He must be truly concerned about Adira's frustration. She appreciated his concern, but Adira would rather Edmund save his concern for Hector.
"I know what you're doing." Adira said. "I don't want to hear it right now."
Edmund sighed. "Very well, sister." Silence fell between the two of them. Adira sat on the ground, leaning against the door, listening. If the warden came back, bringing Hector, or if their solitary companion woke up, for they were surely unconscious, otherwise they would have said something by now, then Adira wanted to know the second it happened.
She would usually meditate when locked up like this, but Adira knew that she wouldn't be able to manage it at this moment. Her mind was far too muddled. She knew if she meditated she could clear her mind, but that didn't really feel right. If she let go of her concern for her brother, then would there be anybody here to worry about him? Even if Adira couldn't do anything to help Hector he at least deserved to be worried about.
The hours passed slowly. Adira's pitch black cell made it impossible to tell what time of day it was. Surely it had to be morning already, but just how long had passed? Was it afternoon? Evening? Had a full day passed already? Adira just knew that it couldn't have been a day and a half already, because the guards always came by with food and water every day and a half.
Adira wallowed in her own thoughts, feeling equally concerned and furious with her brother. She just wanted to know what state Hector was in. That shouldn't be too much to ask.
Finally, finally, Adira heard someone enter the solitary area again. Adira stopped dozing, snapping into awareness. She recognized the warden's footsteps. She walked right past Adira's cell, continuing on towards the cell that the stranger had been locked in earlier. Adira could hear the cell opening. She heard the warden impatiently say something, and then repeat her words louder and harsher.
A long moment passed before Adira heard the faint clicking sound of something being unlocked. She heard the warden walking back down the hall, but her footsteps sounded heavier and slightly slower, and Adira could hear something, or someone, being dragged across the ground. The sounds all stopped right outside Adira's cell.
"Step back, Adira." The warden said coldly. Adira did as she was told, retreating to the far wall. The door was opened. After being in the dark for several hours at the least Adira was blinded by the sudden assault of light. The hall was lit only by a few dim torches, but even dim light was blinding after being in the dark. It took a minute or two for her to recover. When her vision returned Adira saw the warden in front of her.
Adira normally wouldn't dare to take her eyes off the warden, as she was a dangerous threat, but her eyes were drawn to the boy next to her. The child that had been on the platform with Hector during the presentation was now slumped on the ground next to the warden, who was holding his wrist firmly. The warden had dragged him down here.
"What did you do to him?" Adira asked. It had been at least a few hours since the boy had been brought here. If he'd been unconscious the whole time then he had to be hurt somehow. "And where's my brother?"
"Save your questions." The warden snapped. "I'm not in the mood." She gave the boy a harsh pull. He whined in discomfort. He was definitely in pain, even while unconscious. "This idiot boy went and got an infection. We have work for him to do, so we need him back to health, but we have more important things to do than play nursemaid."
Adira frowned in confusion. She was usually forbidden from putting her limited medical knowledge to use to help any of the other slaves. This was the first time that Adira had been asked to treat anybody. Adira didn't really want to do any favors for the warden or guards, but this boy needed help, and she wasn't so petty as to let an innocent suffer just because it would inconvenience the warden.
Besides, Adira couldn't treat the boy's infection if she was stuck in solitary. This could be her ticket out of here, and she could see for herself if Hector was okay.
"I'll do what I can for him." Adira said.
"You'd better." The warden carelessly dropped the boy's hand, letting him fall to the ground. She stepped into Adira's cell and unlocked the tight manacle. Adira twisted her ankle, trying to bring some circulation back to her foot. Her foot was red and slightly swollen, as it always was when she was let out of solitary. They always locked their manacles too tightly.
Adira stood up and followed the warden out of the cell, carefully picking up the boy as she went. His skin was warm to the touch and his face was flushed. It seemed that he did not just have an infection, but a fever as well.
The warden led the way out. Adira glanced towards Edward's cell before she followed the warden. She was brought outside, and Adira couldn't help but freeze in her tracks when she saw the darkness of night, illuminated just by the moon. Adira didn't think she'd seen the beauty of night for twenty five years, since they had been enslaved. The sight was even more beautiful than she remembered. The only thing that would make it better was if the moon was full and bright instead of in a waxing crescent.
"Adira." The warden said stiffly. Adira remembered where she was and who she was dealing with. She tore her gaze away from the sky and followed the warden. She was led back to the only wooden cabin in the compound, where the Brotherhood stayed, isolated from the other slaves.
Adira's breath got caught in her throat when she saw a figure chained to the shackles on the cabin wall. She would recognize her brother's silhouette anywhere.
"Hector." Adira said breathlessly. He was hanging there limp and unconscious. Adira could see the unnatural bend in his legs from his broken bones. The shackles were the only things keeping him up.
Adira felt a rush or protective fury for her brother. "How long has he been there?"
The warden looked at Hector's form and smirked. She had the audacity to look proud. "All day. It has sent a nice message to the rest of the slaves. This is what happens when you don't play by the rules."
Adira wasn't the type of person to hate people. She just had people that she really didn't get along with. Adira could swear that if evil was personified and walked this earth, it would be the warden. Or possibly King Frederic, who was the master behind this slavery scheme.
Adira just didn't know whether Corona's king was intentionally malicious and cruel, or if he was just an oblivious fool who was following the traditions of those that came before him and not questioning if they were actually good or not. Either way, King Frederic was not a good person, but Adira would reserve her judgement for him until he knew him for sure.
The warden on the other hand, Adira had seen enough of her to know that she was well-aware of how cruel and cold she was, and she took enjoyment in it. The warden didn't have some ridiculous notions about slavery somehow being a saving grace for people like the Saporians. She didn't see this set-up as a punishment for some crime, like some twisted form of justice. The warden just thought that Adira's people, the Saporians, and anybody else that was unfortunate to end up here, were nothing and nobody, and didn't deserve to be treated with basic human decency.
If it weren't for the fact that Hector was shackled and unable to walk, and Edmund was still in solitary, Adira would tear the warden limb from limb. Someday she would get her revenge. She would claim justice for her people. With the moon as her witness, Adira would make the warden, and every single one of these guards, pay for what they had done.
A single guard was keeping watch of Hector. The warden gestured to him. The guard nodded and unlocked the shackles. Hector collapsed to the ground, which couldn't have been good for his knees. The guard roughly grabbed Hector and carelessly threw him inside the cabin.
Still carrying the boy, Adira stepped inside the cabin. The warden lit a few candles, just enough to make it so that Adira could see, since she couldn't exactly work in the dark. She could work by the light of the moon, dim as it was, but their cabin blocked out all outside light.
Adira vaguely heard the warden say a few things, probably a few taunts, warnings, or instructions, but she tuned her out. Adira's focus was completely on her brother. As soon as the warden and guard left, locking them in the cabin, Adira left the boy on her bed and turned her full attention to her brother.
"Hector." Adira said urgently. She gently nudged his arm. "Brother, wake up." He didn't so much as groan in pain. Hector was out of it. If Adira couldn't feel his pulse she would think that he was dead. Adira knelt at Hector's side. "Please." Hector didn't respond, but Adira heard the boy on her bed let out a small whimper.
Adira turned to look towards the boy. He was not sleeping peacefully. Adira wanted to focus on her brother, but she didn't know what to do with him. She'd been tasked with treating this child. If the warden returned and found that Adira had ignored her command she might punish Hector for it.
Cursing the warden, Adira gently picked up Hector and laid him on his bed. She took a minute to gather the thin blankets and hard pillows from Edmund and Hector's beds. She used them to elevate Hector's legs just a little bit. She hoped it would help to reduce the swelling in Hector's legs. It wouldn't do anything to heal the broken bones, but any little bit helped.
With Hector taken care of for now Adira went to her bed. She pulled her basic medical kid out from under her bed. She didn't have anything for the boy's fever, but she knew that the fever was just his body's way of dealing with an underlying issue. Adira almost immediately found the culprit. The back of the boy's hand was swollen, red, and had some bad looking pus seeping from a sound. Adira couldn't get a good look at the wound itself, but she knew that it was a new brand mark. Something must have gotten into the cut.
Adira pulled out a clean cloth, one that she was always careful to keep tidy and clean. She grabbed a canteen of fresh water, soaking the cloth. She gently dabbed at the cuts on the boy's hand. He whined and flinched back. Adira stilled his hand to keep him still.
"I know it hurts." Adira said quietly. "But you need to let me clean the wound. You don't want to let this fester."
"D-dad." The boy whimpered. He was waking.
"I'm afraid I'm not your father." Adira said.
"Wan' m'dad." The boy muttered.
"I imagine so." Adira said. "But right now I'm all you have. I know that's not that reassuring, but despite what my brother says I'm capable of being gentle when I want to be." Adira continued cleaning the cut. The boy would keep whining and mumbling to himself. Adira answered, just to remind him that he wasn't alone.
As the minutes passed the boy slowly began to become more aware. He opened his eyes and watched Adira as she worked. She couldn't help but feel relieved. The hard part was about to happen, and she wanted the boy to be prepared for it.
"This is going to hurt." Adira warned. She set aside the cloth, satisfied that the wound was as clean as it was going to get on the surface. She needed to disinfect it though, and she knew it wouldn't be a pleasant experience. Adira set the now dirty cloth aside and pulled out a salve that she had made years ago to treat infected cuts. There wasn't a lot left, but it should be enough for the boy's hand and the marks on Hector's chest. After that Adira would have to find a way to make some more, even if that usually meant making deals with the guards.
The boy took a deep breath and nodded. He was braver than he looked. Adira moved to put the salve on Varian's hand, but stopped when she actually took a close look at the brand, which was much more visible now that his hand was cleaned. It seemed this was a night full of surprises.
"You have the mark of the Brotherhood." Adira said. Her voice was a lot more casual than she felt. "How-?"
"M'dad." The boy muttered. "S'got this mark."
"Your father has this same brand?" Adira asked. Varian nodded. "Who is your father? It couldn't be-"
"Qu'in." The boy whimpered. He sounded pained, beyond just physically. "M'Varian."
"Your name is Varian?" Adira asked. Varian nodded again. "And your father is Quirin." Adira had such mixed feelings. On the one hand, she was happy for her brother, that he was able to get out and make a family for himself. She'd been a little worried that he would just wallow in the past, like any of the rest of them might have. On the other hand, Varian wasn't safe, he was here, and the thought of Quirin's son being a slave wasn't a pleasant one.
"What are you doing here?" Adira asked as she gently rubbed the salve onto the infected brand. Varian hissed through his teeth and arched his back. He sounded very close to breaking down, but he held it together as Adira spread the salve. Eventually Varian calmed down. He leaned his head back and took several deep breaths.
"I-I poked where I should have bowed, apparently." Varian said tiredly. "Got mad. Got arrested. Got sent here."
"And your father, is he-?" Adira was afraid to ask. She would love to see Quirin, but not like this. Varian shook his head.
"Not here." Varian closed his eyes. "Don't even know if he's alive."
Adira's heart hurt, but she pushed her grieving aside. There was no guarantee that Quirin was dead. It was pointless to grieve for him now. Especially since Adira had another brother and a nephew to take care of.
"So you're family." Adira commented. Varian answered with a small smile. It was a nice sight. Smiles were rare in this place, and Varian's weak little grin seemed to light up the room. "Well, at least I understand why Hector protected you." Adira's brother was fiercely protective. He would do anything for those that he cared about.
Varian's small smile slipped away in an instant, and Adira felt bad for being responsible for taking that small amount of joy away from him. "I-I didn' want'im to get hurt." Varian whimpered. "Should've been me. It should've been me."
A groan from the other side of the cabin caught their attention. Varian and Adira turned to see Hector as he tried in vain to sit up. Adira quickly let go of Varian's hand and rushed to her brother's side. She tried to encourage him to lay back down, but he brushed her concern away.
"M'fine." Hector groaned. He squinted his eyes open and looked towards Varian. "Don' say that, kid. Never say that. Better me than you any day."
"B-but-" Varian started to disagree, but Hector didn't let him get very far.
"Nope." Hector said simply. "I'm older than you, which means I'm automatically right, so shut up."
Varian snorted, and there was that small smile of his again. Hector chuckled, satisfied at having lifted Varian's spirits. He turned his gaze away from Varian and looked at Adira. There was relief in his eyes. "Hey, sister."
"I would say that you need to refrain from doing this kind of thing, but we both know you won't stop." Adira brushed Hector's hair out of his face. "You're a fool, you know that?"
"Yep." Hector said, and he sounded almost proud. Adira could see a glimmer of excitement in his eyes. "Adira, I felt her. I could feel her. She was there." He almost sounded more delirious than Varian did.
Adira smiled. She didn't need to ask for clarification. There was only one thing that could bring out this excitement and awe from Hector. He may have been unconscious while he was outside, which was probably the only reason he'd been allowed to be out there after dark, but the Coronans underestimated their connection to the moon. The moon was a being of darkness and destruction, but also of night and dreams. Hector being unconscious had allowed him to feel the moon's influence in a way he might not have if he was awake.
"That's great, brother." Adira said. She knew how much Hector had missed the moon for all these years. "I saw her."
Hector's eyes widened. "You saw her? Tonight?" Adira nodded. Hector grinned. "You saw her, and I felt her. Sister, it's a sign."
Adira was still smiling, but on the inside she felt a little discouraged. She'd never been as devout a disciple to the moon as Hector had been. She recognized the moon as the Dark Kingdom's main deity, but she hadn't spent that much time practicing worship. That was much more Edmund and Hector's style. They were the ones who felt like they'd been abandoned by their god for all this time, and yet continued to look for her blessings and how to serve her.
"That's great, brother." Adira said. She took the salve and began to put it over the wounds on his chest. Hector didn't even flinch. "Why don't you get some sleep? Maybe you'll have a vision from her."
Hector huffed in amusement as he closed his eyes. "Don't think I don't know what you're doing."
"I've been wrong about your visions before." Adira said. After what had happened twenty five years ago it was impossible for her to deny that Hector had a stronger connection to the moon than anybody else she knew.
Hector sighed and adjusted his position, making himself more comfortable. "Take care of the kid. I'm fine."
"You're hurt." Varian said weakly.
"Yes, and you're sick." Adira said to the boy. Hector's eyes shot open.
"He's what?!" Hector tried to sit up again, but Adira pushed him down more forcefully than before.
"Don't worry about it." Adira said. "It's just a fever. You'll probably have one in a day or two yourself. I'll take care of Varian. Just take care of yourself." Hector nodded, satisfied. He relaxed and actually looked at peace. Adira watched him for a minute before she returned to Varian's side.
Adira took off her sash and poured the last of the water on it, soaking it. Adira folded the wet sash and put it on Varian's forehead. He sighed in relief and closed his eyes, snuggling as much as he could against the bed.
"Feels good." Varian said. "Thanks."
"Don't mention it." Adira said. "Family takes care of each other."
"Fam'ly." Varian hummed. The poor boy seemed exhausted, even though he'd probably been sleeping for the better part of the day. "I like family."
"As do I." Adira said. "Get some rest, young one. I'll keep watch through the night." Varian didn't acknowledge her words. He was already dozing off. Adira took some bandages and gently wrapped them around Varian's wound, just enough that should keep the wound at least a little clean.
When Adira was done with all she could do she left Varian's side and went to Edmund's bed, which was the closest to the door. She sat herself on it, keeping watch on her family as well as any intruders that may make their way in here.
So many terrible things had happened in a short period of time, and Adira had the terrible feeling that things were about to get worse, but at the moment she just felt content. Her brother was alive, and Adira was in a position where she could at least try to help him. She had a nephew, and Adira would do her best to keep him safe.
As dire as their situation was, at least they had each other.