Sewing Needle
Chapter 2: Napalaz
"Why did you ask to come, Baltazar?"
He winced. "Napalaz! I came because I can help."
"How are you helping? Why should we trust you?"
"Sir Nealan, are you always this annoying? I will help where I can, when I can, and how I can. You do not need to constantly pester me!"
Napaz did not function well around nosy people. He was actually ashamed that in all his imperial glory, he could not cooperate with people like that. Wouldn't Jima just love to hear about this!
Sighing, he brought his horse up beside the more peaceful Raul, fleeing another uncomfortable question.
"Come on Kel, please! Eat a little."
Napaz watched as Kel's friends tried to get her to eat. They had made camp sometime ago. Dinnertime was now and Kel refused to eat, as she had with breakfast and lunch. Dinner was soup. Dinner was good. But Kel refused to eat.
Napaz couldn't take it anymore. The way they talked, as if Kel wanted to listen to them, was pointless. He knew that stating the obvious- that she would die if she didn't eat- seemed a better choice of action to him.
"I knew a pregnant woman who didn't eat. She was okay, for a while. But her babies were born a month early and she was so weak she died when they were born. One died at the age of two. The other was mad. I believe he's locked in a tower somewhere. But hey! There's only a one in three chance of that happening to you, right!"
Kel's bowl was clean in ten minutes.
"Why don't you have a tent Napalaz?"
The young man in question sighed. Nealan of Queenscove could be viciously annoying. If only Ketya was here…
He stopped himself. Ketya wasn't there. She would never be there.
He brutally reminded himself why his empire hadn't had a First Honour in 2 years.
"Napalaz. Baltazar! Did you hear me? Why don't you have a tent?"
Napaz kept his mouth shut. He didn't need a tent. He had a blanket, that was all he required.
"Drop it Neal" Alanna said. She knew something Neal didn't.
Hope you like it.
Up next: Chapter 3: Kel.
The title is crummy but it's the best I can do for now.