The Burden of the Protector by S.C. Eston Page A

in the food or the water. I do not know. But I am a prisoner here, easy prey.
    It is probably too late now. For me.
    Still, from now until the end, I will not eat, nor drink, in the hope that some of my strength will return, helping me to complete this recounting.
    More than before, I need to finish this manuscript. Somebody needs to know. I need to find someone, anyone, to take it out of Ta’Énia.
    But with Sia gone, I have no one.
    *
    Shading 27, year 3001, Dàr is 60.
    I have decided to talk to the one person I have left.
    My son, Faron.
    *
    Darkening 3, year 2966, Dàr is 25.
    I was not privy to much information about Vìr and Maéva’s plan. I didn’t see Sia for two days. Then, she gave me directions to a location on the outskirts of Ta’Énia, to the east. It was not far outside the village, but situated in such a place as to be completely hidden, in the deep crevasse of a valley. She instructed me to prepare a stash of provisions and store it there. I brought some dry food, water, and some items required for travel in the wild. A knife, two warm blankets, a flint and steel, torches, bandages, two bowls, a bundle of arrows and a short bow, boots, and a few extra items of clothing All this I arranged in two backpacks.
    While making these preparations, I didn’t get to see Vìr. It was too risky, and Eriéla was starting to be suspicious of my movements. It took me three more days before I returned to Vìr.
    As I stepped inside the tunnel, I instantly had a bad premonition. Frightened, I hastened my pace until I was running. A poignant smell assailed my senses, a potent stench of vomit, urine, and feces.
    I yelled Vìr’s name as I ran but got no reply. When I reached his cell, I found him lying facedown, a hand holding one of the bars of the door. I extended my arm, turned his face toward me. A low grunt escaped from his lips, but he didn’t move. Vomit ran down the side of his mouth, along his chin, down his neck.
    “Hold on,” I told him, whispered in his ear. “Hang on, Vìr. My friend. Hold on. I will be back with help.”
    I dashed out and tried to find Sia, walking rapidly through the village. I didn’t find her. Vìr’s condition was plaguing my every thought. I knew he wouldn’t last long. In my panic, I went to the only place I knew I would find help. I made my way to Maéva’s house.
    The knight soldiers at Maéva’s place tried to stop me, but I evaded them, almost broke through the door.
    I don’t remember the words I cried out to Maéva in my hysteria. Maybe that Vìr was sick or that he was dying. That he needed help. That I was sorry. Everything incomprehensible. I was silenced when Maéva slapped me hard. The pain awoke me and I noticed the soldier standing by the door, looking at me suspiciously.
    “I thought you might want to know,” I added with what I hoped was an air of villainy. “Vìr is dead…”
    I had my back to the soldier and I was desperately mouthing other words. “Help him”, I was pleading. “You have to help him.”
    The distress on her face probably mirrored my own.
    To appease the soldier, I knew I had to leave and return home. I could do nothing more.
    *
    How Maéva did it, I am not certain. That same night, I chanced going to the cave. I found it empty.
    *
    The next day and those following, I stayed away from the cave and from Maéva’s house. Everything was strangely normal in Ta’Énia, eerily normal. There was no way to know if the Sy’Iss knew about Vìr’s disappearance. The knights, protectors and soldiers, started to participate in regular training sessions, physical programs and friendly bouts.
    In a turn of luck, I came across a peculiar object in the knights’ armoury during that period. Vìr’s famous sword. I bided my time and when opportunity arose, I spirited it away. I then decided to make my way to the hidden stash, which I was only able to accomplish at dusk a few days later. Again, I covered my activities with lies to Eriéla.
    The stash