others.” The voice became louder as it got closer and Siobhan turned the corner and came into view. Her eyes were red rimmed and puffy as if she had been crying. “I've come to help you.”
“Are you okay, cousin?” I asked in concern.
Shaking her head, she came closer. “I'm sorry,” she said. “Aldo's dead.”
“What? I don't understand.”
“It was the fire,” she cried, starting to hiccup. “He died while trying to save the stupid horses. Now the fire has spread to the next house, and everyone is trying to contain it. We must leave, cousin, because if they can't then your house is next. Your father wants you safely away.” She came over to me and I tried to stand but cried out as I put weight on my ankle.
Stupid, stupid stupid, I thought angrily at myself. “I'm gonna need help.”
Siobhan quickly wrapped her arm around my shoulder and helped me stand and walk towards the back door. It was when she was standing shoulder to shoulder to me that I noticed a fresh bruise on her face, but didn't comment on it as she deftly led me out.
The noise, light and heat from the fire were definitely weaker at the back of the house. I let Siobhan lead me away from the fire and into the dark. I could hear the sounds of people and animals crying out.
“How much farther?” I asked, as I limped along.
“I'm sorry, Thalia. Not much farther,” she went on.
“Siobhan, I never got a chance to apologize for how I treated you over the years. I really don't remember it too much, but Father says I was downright horrible.”
She froze mid step and listened. I quickly went on. “I was told I did it to prove my place as the next clan leader, but I don't know and really I don't care. I've had time to think it over and I was wrong, no matter what the reasons, no one should treat another poorly.”
Siobhan continued walking, although this time slower. I wished she would take faster steps so we could get to wherever we were going and I could sit.
“A lot of things have happened to me over the last few months and I've tried, I really have, to be the old Thalia that father wants me to be.” I took a quick intake of breath as I stumbled again, before finishing. “But I can't be her. I don't know her. I only know who I am now. And frankly, I don't want to go back to the way I was.”
Nodding her head in understanding, Siobhan spoke up. “You've changed. You are not the same power hungry, mean spirited cousin of before. You have grown. It's as if when you disappeared for months you grew and have emerged into a better person. Like a butterfly.”
I shivered at the comparison.
“Yes, Cousin, we do many things, good and bad, to try and please our fathers.” With her free hand she unconsciously touched her bruised cheek. “Thalia, you must understand... the need to make your father proud.”
“Unfortunately I do, Siobhan. So will you forgive me for how I treated you in the past?” We had finally quit walking and were at the edge of the village under a copse of trees.
“I...I can't.” She pulled her arm from around my shoulders. “I can't accept your forgiveness, knowing that in return you won't forgive me.” Two large figures stepped out of the shadows of the trees and came towards me. I tried to balance on one leg as my support walked farther away from me and turned back.
“I'm so sorry, Thalia. I had to. He made me.”
The he in question stepped forward out of the woods.
It was my Uncle Rayneld. The similarities in the looks between my father and his brother once again made me freeze in confusion. But I couldn't mistake the undertone of hidden contempt in Rayneld’s voice.
“Well, hello niece.”
“Hello, Uncle.”
“I’m so glad that you are safe.” I stared at Uncle Rayneld and had a moment of déjà vu. I looked around the dark forest in confusion.
“I’m surprised, really, that you don’t remember. I thought for sure when you showed up again that you would have called for my execution. I was surprised when you didn’t,” he said, taking another step forward. He paused and cocked his head as if to study me. “Well, I guess that works to my advantage.”
“Enlighten me. What exactly should I remember?” I asked. I couldn't ignore the hidden meaning and aggressive body language