A Time of Tigers - From Peasant to Emperor

Chapter 81  The Cruelty of The Gods - Part 6

He didn't look very convincing as a small trail of blood broke free from the wound on his leg and made it down his shin. Both women now bore the unmistakable visages of anger.

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING, IDIOT!? ARE YOU GOING TO UNDO ALL OUR HARD WORK?" Nila shouted, attempting to shove him back in the chair.

"Nila – be gentle," her mother cautioned, but from the stern look on her face, she was equally of the same opinion.

Beam grabbed Nila's hand as she pushed, holding her tightly, knowing that he'd struggle to maintain his balance. His expression, for the first time in hours, returned to one of the utmost seriousness. "I'm sorry… After you put so much time into fixing me up – but I need to go. I have to see Greeves and I have to get back to the forest before sundown."

"You're not going to stay..?" Nila's mother asked, tilting her head. "But you can't walk anywhere like that, can you? You'll tear your stitches out."

Nila bit her lip, thinking the same. But she could tell that Beam was deadly serious, and though she wanted to say that he should rest, she knew that he wouldn't listen. She stared at the hand that was holding hers, feeling the rough calluses of his palm scratching her skin.

"He's got to go, mother," she said, "otherwise he'll get in trouble. I'll walk him back and make sure he doesn't push himself too much."

Her mother shook her head in worry. "Both of you – this is too much. He's already lost so much blood. If he keeps walking around like he has, he really will be in danger this time, you know?"

"Your stitches will keep me well," Beam told her gently. "I'll be back here in a week's time to help you with your firewood. Thank you for all the help you've given me."

But that seemed to be of no comfort to Nila's mother, as she just kept shaking her head, looking like she would cry. "That's foolishness, Beam. You'll be lucky if you can walk after a month – a week will be impossible. Don't worry about us. We'll be able to manage just off the first load of wood that you gave us."

Beam didn't say anything. That was a time frame that was simply unacceptable to him. Even if he had to spend every day on the edge of death as he walked covered in blood, he had to recover his movement, and soon. There was a test he had to complete, one more important than his life.

As he stood there, waiting for Nila and her mother to finish their conversation, his thoughts fell to his master.

He reached for the bag of Goblin heads that had been discarded by his chair, picking them up easily. Even though it had barely been an hour, he felt better than he had before, now that his blood wasn't leaving his body quite so freely. He knew that was more a psychological improvement than a physical one – because there was no way his blood would have been restored so soon – but with it, he felt sure that he'd be able to finish up with his tasks in town.

As he stood there, waiting for Nila and her mother to finish their conversation, his thoughts fell to his master.

Despite the toll it had put on him, his master had made him walk to the village for his stitches. With just a single glance, the man had been able to tell that whilst serious, the wound would not kill him. And with that order, he gave Beam opportunity – the opportunity to receive a hospitality that he wasn't sure even existed in the world.

For a boy that merely two weeks before had no allies to his name, and who did not trust a single person, the warmth that this family had given him shone a light on his darkened soul. It showed him what his master had been attempting to teach him – the importance of a good reputation. The importance of having people that you could rely on.

It made him clench his fist. 'I have to get stronger,' he told himself. So he could protect people like this. So he wouldn't be such a burden. And, more importantly, so that he wouldn't lose again. Two losses against one creature – that was far too many for his liking, and though he contained it well, his blood boiled and it ached for progress.

"Shall we go then, Beam?" Nila asked, offering her shoulder as she finished talking to her mother. Beam nodded and accepted her help, leaning some of his weight onto her so that he would not ruin the stitching.

"Take good care of yourself, Beam," her mother said as he left, her face the very picture of worry. Beam nodded resolutely, swearing to himself that he'd recover quickly, and make sure that this family could comfortably make it through the winter.

"Thank you," he said again as they left. Nila closed the door after them with a sigh.

"Do you not know how to say anything else?" She said wearily, the tiredness showing on her face. "Honestly, what a day this has been."

The two of them trudged down the road into the village centre, as people spared them curious glances. Nila with her bright red hair wild behind her head, and Beam with half a trouser leg cut off and his terrible looking wound on his leg bared for the whole world to see.

The two of them were too tired to pay any attention to the glances.

"Wait here, at the edge of the square. I won't be too long," Beam said, once they had passed the bakery.

"What? No way. You can't walk by yourself on that leg of yours. You'll ruin the stitches," Nila said, frowning.

But Beam shook his head adamantly. "Nila. You do not want to get yourself involved with Greeves," he said sternly. "I'll manage by myself."

She looked unhappy with his words, but seeing his expression, she couldn't protest. She mumbled "fine," and folded her arms, making her discontent clear. "But if I shouldn't get involved with him, then why are you?"