Horseback riding did nothing to improve Quirin's headache. The constant jostling and bouncing made it so much worse, and made his stomach churn in a way that made him feel like he actually was going to be sick. This was tolerable though, because Quirin could just close his eyes and cling to Edmund as the prince did all the work.
It felt like they were riding for an agonizing eternity, with his headache and worry about Hector making every minute drag on. This was taking way too long. Quirin just hoped that while Edmund had been saddling up his horse Adira had started to catch up to Hector. Because Edmund's horse had been trained to hunt and track in a way similar to, but less effective, than a hunting dog, and it was familiar with Adira's scent, it was easily able to follow her trail. Quirin wasn't worried about finding Adira, but there would be no good in finding her if she couldn't find Hector.
Eventually Edmund pulled the horse to a stop. He nudged Quirin as though to wake him, though he hadn't even been dozing. Even if his head wasn't hurting, he would be far too worried to sleep.
Quirin squinted his eyes open, grateful for the cover of trees that made the sunlight less blinding, though it was still bad enough to cause a spike of pain. It took Quirin a moment to focus his gaze, but when he did he couldn't believe what he saw.
"Hector!" Quirin practically fell off the back of the horse in his rush to get off. He was received, but also incredibly concerned. Adira was walking towards them, with Hector draped over her back. She had found him, which was great, but Quirin had a hard time even considering the possibility that Hector was unconscious for any reason that wasn't concerning. "What happened?"
"Calm down, Brother." Adira said as she came closer. She set Hector down under a tree, adjusting the vest that he was wearing as much as she could to make him as comfortable as possible. "He's fine, he's just sleeping."
Quirin didn't believe it, but he knew that Adira wouldn't lie to him about this.
"Why'd he run off?" Edmund asked. He walked towards them, though he kept a fair distance away, respecting Hector's caution about him, even while he was unconscious.
"I think he's scared of the Brotherhood training." Adira said. "He thinks that your mom and the Captain will be like his dad."
Quirin felt fury and protectiveness grow within him, partially at the thought of Hector's father, and partially because he was insulted on his mother's behalf that anybody could ever think that she would hurt and use somebody like that.
"They wouldn't do that." Quirin said sternly. Adira gave him a look that was both unimpressed and amused.
"Of course they wouldn't, but how would Hector know that?" Adira said. "He's still learning how to fight against his instincts that tell him that we are going to hurt him the way that his father did."
Quirin hated that Adira was right. He knew that Hector didn't really trust them, but he'd been doing his best to not think about just what that meant. Quirin was sickened by what Hector's father had done to him, and he didn't even know what the specifics were. The thought that Hector could possibly think for even a second that Quirin was capable of doing anything even remotely like that was absolutely horrifying.
Quirin wanted Hector's trust, but right now it was mostly just because he didn't want the younger boy to be so scared and defensive all the time. Hector deserved a lot more than to think that he was living in a world surrounded by enemies.
"If he doesn't want to join the Brotherhood, he doesn't have to." Quirin said. He would fight fiercely against the captain and his mom if they even thought about trying.
"I think the Brotherhood could be good for him." Edmund said. He raised his hands defensively when Quirin gave him a sharp look. "Of course it's his choice, but from what I've heard I think that a structured environment, safe discipline, and a sense of belonging with his peers could be just what he needs to adjust."
Quirin was protective of Hector, and he'd been dubious about the thought of him joining the Brotherhood, but Edmund made a good point. Edmund didn't know Hector very well, but Quirin thought that might make his opinion even more worthy of consideration. Quirin, his mom, and the captain had all seen how strong and terrified Hector could be when he felt trapped, and their observations were reflected in their opinions. Edmund didn't have that experience. He just saw a boy that needed help, and he thought that the Brotherhood could provide just that.
"He'll only feel like he belongs if he trusts us, but I don't think that's ever going to happen." Quirin gave Hector a sad look. Maybe…maybe Hector would be better off somewhere else. He shouldn't be out on his own, but it wasn't fair to force him to be with people that scared him so much either.
"It already is." Adira said. "He's trying to trust us. We just need to keep showing him that we just want to help." Adira looked at Edmund. There was a slightly mischievous look in her eyes. She was up to something. "And depending on how much treasure you have on hand I think we can take a big step in the right direction right now."
Quirin frowned, more confused than angry or annoyed. "Hector can't be bribed. I don't think he even understands the concept of riches."
"Probably not." Adira admitted. "But I know of somebody who does, and they happen to have some things that mean a lot to Hector. He was actually caught trying to steal them, and he would have been in big trouble if I hadn't been there." Adira sounded really smug and proud of herself. She always liked to have knowledge that others lacked.
Adira looked at Quirin. "Your head is still bothering you." It was a blunt statement instead of a question. "Stay here and relax with Hector. Me and Edmund shouldn't be gone too long." She turned and started making her way back where she had come from. Edmund frowned and gave Quirin an exhausted look before he hurried to follow her. Once Adira made up her mind, she didn't easily change it. It was just easier to go along with it.
Quirin sighed tiredly and sat on the ground next to Hector. He misjudged how close he was to him and accidentally nudged Hector's side as he sat. It was barely a touch, but it seemed to be enough to wake Hector up. He groaned and rolled over to look at Quirin. He didn't jolt or flinch though. Hector just looked curious.
Maybe Adira was right and Hector was starting to trust them.
"Are you okay?" Quirin asked.
"Tired." Hector tilted his head back against the tree.
Quirin eyed Hector's bandaged feet and various scrapes and bruises. He wanted to ask if they were hurting, but he didn't say a word. Adira had clearly taken care of things that she thought were the most concerning. Hector was probably still in pain, but Quirin didn't think that Hector knew what it was like to not be in any pain at all. As far as Hector was concerned, minimal pain was as good as it got, and that was probably where he was at right now.
Hector gave Quirin a long look. "Are you okay? Your eyes say you're hurt."
Hector was far more observant than Quirin was used to. He couldn't always hide his pain, but he didn't think he was so much of an open book that Hector would recognize it.
"If you're fine, I'm fine." Quirin said. He was in pain, but he could manage, just like Hector. And now that Quirin wasn't worrying about Hector his headache was already more manageable.
Hector pet the fur of Quirin's vest. He seemed to find comfort from it. Quirin thought he should look into getting Hector some fur of his own. He deserved to have his own belongings instead of just borrowing Quirin's things.
Hector looked like he wanted to say something, but he was reluctant. Quirin didn't push him. Hector needed to do things at his own pace, just to know that he had control over his life now.
"Is the training bad?" Hector asked. "Does it hurt?"
"For the Brotherhood?" Quirin asked. Hector nodded. Quirin sighed, trying to figure out what to say without scaring Hector off or persuading him to do something that he didn't really want to do, just because he took Quirin's word for it that it would be good for him.
"I wouldn't say it's bad." Quirin said. "But it's tough. The Brotherhood is expected to be the very best. The Captain pushes us to our limits, but he doesn't push us past what we can handle. It's our job to improve ourselves, both physically and mentally."
"Does he hurt you?" Hector asked. Quirin grimaced.
"No, never." Quirin said sincerely. "We might get a little hurt during training, because when we're sparring there's always the chance of injury, but the captain wouldn't hurt us for the sake of hurting us. If you ever get hurt, it'll probably be in a fight where you're just as likely to hurt them."
Hector nodded , but Quirin didn't know if it was because Hector believed him or if he was just doing what he thought Quirin wanted from him.
"You don't have to join the Brotherhood if you don't want to." Quirin said. "I will personally see to it that nobody tries to force you to do anything. If you don't want to join the Brotherhood, nothing has to change. You can stay at the castle with us. You'll be safe, and you won't have to do anything to earn it."
Hector was quiet for a really long moment. Quirin was about to figure out how to rephrase everything that he'd said in a simpler way that Hector might understand better when the younger boy finally spoke.
"Brotherhood…brother, like family?" Hector asked.
Quirin felt like he was treading on very careful ground, but he didn't know exactly why. "A lot of the knights see it that way, yes."
Hector tapped his fingers on the ground. "...I haven't had a family since my mom…I want that again."
Quirin put his hand near Hector's, not directly grabbing it. Hector quickly took his hand, gripping it so tightly that Hector's nails were digging into Quirin's hand. It hurt, but he didn't pull away.
"You don't have to join the Brotherhood to have a family." Quirin said. "Whether you join or not, I'll be here to help you no matter what." Neither of them knew each other well enough to truly be family, but Quirin had no doubt that it could get there if they both let it happen.
Hector gave a very small smile, and Quirin thought this was the first time that he had seen Hector smile. It made him look so small and innocent, like an actual child that hasn't been traumatized so much. Quirin wanted to do anything to see that smile again.
"If I try the training, but I don't like it, can I stop?" Hector asked.
"Of course." Quirin said. "The Brotherhood isn't for everybody, and the Captain knows it."
"Okay…okay. I want to try the training." Hector said.
"Then we can talk to my mom and the Captain when we get back, and get started preparing you for the trials." Quirin said. All of the potential trainees needed to pass a trial to even be accepted into the training. Everybody's trial was personalized, depending on what Quirin's mom felt was most important for the person to be tested on.
Quirin, as someone who had grown up surrounded by other people, had needed to go out into the shadowy wilderness of the Dark Kingdom and spend a week relying just on his own resourcefulness for his trial. Edmund needed to pass a test about the history of the kingdom and the responsibilities of the royal family, without having Quirin help him with his studying.
Adira's test had been very simple for her, and even to this day she would complain about how she'd been let off easy. Adira had just joined the trainees for all of their training and activities, and she needed to hold her own when it came to disagreements, teasing, and light harassment from the boys.
Adira had passed without issue. She didn't let anybody give her any trouble, and if they tried then she fought back with a vengeance. It hadn't even felt like a challenge for Adira, and she still felt like the trial hadn't been for her, but for any girl at all.
Quirin was a little worried about what Hector's trial could be. Even though the Captain led the Brotherhood and watched over the trainees, Quirin's mom was the one who was in charge of the tests. Quirin already knew that his mom was cautious about Hector joining the Brotherhood, and she would probably give him a test that he was not in a good place to handle right now. Quirin couldn't even prepare Hector, because they wouldn't know what the trial was until it was time to take it.
Hector didn't look worried about the trial, but Quirin didn't know if Hector even knew what a trial was.
"Can you do something?" Hector asked.
"I can try." Quirin sat up. Hector didn't often feel comfortable enough to ask for something. "What do you need?"
Hector closed his eyes and tilted his head far to the side, exposing his neck. "You can take it off."
Quirin stared at Hector's collar. "You'd trust me to do that?"
"I don't know." Hector said. "But I want to, and I don't want to be marked anymore."
Quirin was honored. He could tell that Hector was scared. His sharp breathing and tense posture made that much clear. But Hector was still willing to make himself vulnerable to give Quirin the chance to prove that he could be trusted.
"Okay." Quirin said quietly. He pulled out his dagger and adjusted his position to make this as simple as possible. "I need you to hold still for a few minutes. I'll go as fast as I dare, but I'm more worried about being careful than being quick." Rushing could make it far too easy to cut Hector's neck.
"I know how to hold still." Hector said. "No matter what."
Quirin wished that Hector hadn't said that. He was now imagining the younger teenager being beaten and abused by his father, and still holding impossibly still, just because he was too scared to move. Quirin felt anger, like he always did when he thought about Hector's parents. Quirin took a deep breath and clenched his fists before his hands could begin to shake.
When Quirin felt ready he put one hand on Hector's neck, just to steady both of them. He adjusted his grip on his black rock dagger and carefully pushed it against the collar. Little by little he increased the pressure from the dagger to make a cut through it. There was no resistance at all. All Quirin had to do was push and the dagger would go through the collar. He was just going slowly because as soon as he cut through the dagger he needed to stop and pull back before he reached the neck itself.
Finally, Quirin cut through the collar. He quickly pulled back the dagger, carefully setting it aside. Quirin grabbed the collar with both hands and slowly pulled it off. Hector took a deep breath and rubbed his neck, which looked red and swollen.
"Does that feel better?" Quirin asked.
"Yeah," Hector said. He gave Quirin another smile, larger this time. Hector leaned closer to Quirin, nuzzling against him. "Thanks."
Quirin was relieved that Hector was starting to be more comfortable with him, but he couldn't help but feel a pain in his chest at the gratitude. He felt like he was just showing Hector basic human decency. That wasn't something that he should be thanked for.
The two sat there for a few minutes before Quirin heard some noisy footsteps. Hector and Quirin both pulled back at the same time, looking to the sound. They saw an annoyed Edmund taking the lead while Adira practically skipped next to him. What was most baffling was that each of them were holding creatures that Quirin knew from his books were bearcats, but they looked rather large, even though they also seemed to be very young. Following behind them was an adolescent rhino, watching them cautiously.
Hector's eyes brightened when he saw them. "You saved them!" Hector stood up and ran towards them. He knelt in front of the rhino before Quirin could warn him to be careful. Hector and the rhino stared at each other for a long moment before the rhino huffed and gave him an aggressive but playful push. Hector laughed and pet it.
"What is going on?" Quirin frowned. He was beyond confused.
"Hector made friends with some circus animals, and he didn't want to leave without them." Adira said. "Edmund was gracious enough to offer a small fortune in return for the liberation of the animals."
"A small fortune?" Quirin looked at Edmund. "I didn't know you had any money with you."
"I didn't." Edmund said testily. He put down the bearcat, giving Hector and the rhino a chance to cuddle it. "But the man had an interest in my cloak clasp."
Quirin grimaced. "The one your father gave you for your eighteenth birthday?" It had been an elaborate clasp with the symbol of the royal family carved into it. It had been made from some black rocks, making it one of a kind.
"I don't want to talk about it." Edmund was nearly pouting.
"Hey, at least you weren't wearing the ancestral clasp today." Adira pointed out cheerfully as she cuddled with the bearcat she was holding. "That would be a lot harder to explain to your father."
Edmund pointed at her. "Not another word out of you." Edmund spoke using his princely tone that made most of the trainees cower. Adira just laughed. Edmund huffed and got onto his horse. He started for home. Quirin looked at Hector, who was so busy cuddling with the animals that he seemed completely oblivious to Edmund's bad mood and departure. Either that or he didn't really care.
Quirin put a hand on Hector's shoulder, getting his attention. "Come on, we should probably head home before it gets too late." Hector nodded and stood up, happily following Quirin while the animals kept close to him.
There weren't a lot of animals in the Dark Kingdom, let alone inside the castle. Quirin had no idea how he was going to explain this to his mother. Seeing Hector's pure joy though would make that conversation more than worth it.
