The Regenerates by Maansi Pandya Page B

go back to bed. I’d like to get some more sleep and let this medicine do its thing. Thanks, Claira.”
    She smiled warmly at him before disappearing around the corner. Ven gingerly gripped the railing, bracing himself for the several minutes it was going to take him to get upstairs. To his surprise, the medicine was already starting to work. He took careful steps, but breathed deeply as he felt the pain reduce exponentially.
    As Ven crawled back underneath the covers, he debated whether or not to tell Kayn about what he had heard. But what was the point? Kayn wouldn’t care at all.

CHAPTER EIGHT
    V en awoke to the sound of knocking and the chirping of birds. For a split second he thought he was back home and Hans and Florentine were trying to get him to wake up. He opened his eyes. Instead, Claira’s smiling face appeared at the door.
    “I’m sorry, did I wake you? I was going to see if you needed more blankets. It can get chilly here in the morning.”
    “Oh, no, that’s alright, you didn’t.”
    “When you’re ready, come down for some breakfast, okay? Your handsome friend is already at the table.”
    Ven cringed when she left the room.
    He freshened himself up and limped down the stairs to the kitchen, alert and awake. When he arrived, Kayn, Albar and Eve were seated around an old wooden table munching away at toast and tea. There was something very unnatural about seeing Kayn eat off of a copper plate as opposed to his usual silverware. In fact, seeing him eat at all was strange, even as they had been travelling. Ven had always had this impression that royalty ate in private, or that they didn’t eat at all and instead feasted on power and admiration.
    “Ah, he’s awake! How’s your leg, son?” said Albar. “Claira said she gave you some of her miraculous medicine earlier. Has it worked?”
    “It looks like it,” said Ven.
    “Excellent. Come, the food is getting cold.”
    Ven seated himself next to Eve and helped himself to toast.
    “Where exactly did you say you your home was?” Albar asked as he piled a small mountain of jam onto his bread.
    “Um…” Ven looked at Kayn. “It’s by Hygon Pass.”
    Albar and Eve stared blankly at him, as though waiting for him to continue. “We don’t mean to be so vague,” Ven told them. “It’s just important that we get there as soon as we can.”
    “Alright,” said Albar. “I won’t question you further.”
    “Will you be leaving, then?” asked Claira, who had entered the kitchen. “It’s not safe to travel on foot outside our town, especially with an injury.”
    Kayn shot Ven a dirty look before returning to his food. “I suppose we can stay one more night, if that’s not too much trouble.”
    After their stomachs were full, Eve took Ven’s hand and pulled him towards the front door. “I’ll give you a tour of the village. Rude one, you can come too.”
    Kayn looked like he wanted to hit her. It took Ven all the effort he had to not burst out laughing. To Ven’s surprise, Kayn followed them out the door. It seemed his curiosity of this unfamiliar town had been piqued.
    Once outside, Ven had to shield his eyes from the sun. When his eyes had adjusted, he raised his eyebrows. Nestled between rolling green hills, the small stone cottages were surrounded by colorful flowers and quirky lawn decorations. Children chased each other around the narrow, cobbled streets. As Eve led them around, shopkeepers advertising their goods waved and smiled at her. Ven soaked in the tranquility. Even though the sights and sounds were vibrant and loud, he had never seen a more peaceful place. If he hadn’t been so eager to get home, he could have stayed here for days.
    “It’s beautiful here,” said Ven. “What is this village called, again?”
    “Oh, this is the town of Pulma,” said Eve. “Daddy says it’s a trading stop between the cities of Crion and Muran. I think Cor was part of the treaty too, but they left for some reason. That kind of hurt our