Chapter 35: chapter 35

Amelia followed Finn through the dimly lit camp, the soft crunch of their boots muffled by the layers of snow and dirt. The air smelled of damp earth and horse sweat, and the distant crackling of a fire carried faint echoes of men’s voices. They stopped in front of a large tent, its canvas flaps swaying gently in the icy breeze. Amelia hesitated as Finn pulled back the flap, revealing the dimly lit interior. The sharp scent of hay and the low snorting of horses greeted her.At the far corner of the tent, a figure caught her attention. Lying motionless on a bed of hay, a young boy—her brother, Adam—was bound at the wrists, his hands tied tightly behind his back. An old, tattered blanket covered him, barely shielding him from the cold.Amelia’s breath hitched as her eyes filled with tears. She stumbled forward, her voice trembling. "Adam!" she called, dropping to her knees beside him. "Adam, wake up! It's me, Amelia." Her hands shook as she gently touched his face, willing him to respond. "Please, Adam, can you hear me?"Adam stirred, his eyes fluttering open, dull with exhaustion. "Amelia?" he murmured, his voice hoarse and barely audible. "Is that really you?""Yes," she whispered, her voice breaking. "Yes, it’s me." She quickly untied his bindings, her fingers fumbling with the tight knots, and helped him sit up. He winced, his body stiff and bruised."Why are you here, Amelia?" Adam asked, his voice filled with confusion and fear. "Did they... did they take you too?""No," Amelia said firmly, forcing a smile that didn’t reach her tear-streaked eyes. "They didn’t take me. I came here to bring you home."Adam’s expression softened, his face lighting up with hope. "Really? But... will they let me go? They’re cruel, Amelia. They hurt Mama and Papa."Amelia’s heart clenched at his words, but she wiped her tears with the back of her hand. "They won’t hurt you anymore. I won’t let them. I promise." She pulled him into a tight embrace, feeling how cold and frail he had become. She shrugged off her shawl and wrapped it around his trembling shoulders.Rising to her feet, she turned to Finn, who had been standing silently by the entrance. His face was unreadable, but his gaze lingered on the siblings. "Please," Amelia said, her voice steady despite the quiver in her chest. "Let my brother go."Finn shook his head slowly, his tone apologetic but firm. "It’s not my decision to make," he said. "I was only ordered to bring you here."Amelia’s fists clenched at her sides as she took a step closer to him. "Then take me to whoever can make that decision. Tell your master I demand my brother’s release."Before Finn could respond, a commotion erupted outside the tent. Raised voices, the clatter of weapons, and hurried footsteps disrupted the tense silence. Finn turned sharply toward the sound, his hand instinctively going to the hilt of his sword. Finn stepped to the tent's entrance, pulling back the flap just enough to peer outside. His sharp eyes scanned the scene before he turned back to Amelia and Adam with a grim expression. "Sorry, girl," he said, his tone more resigned than harsh. "I have to tie you both for now. Something’s happening out there, and I can’t take chances. I’ll be back soon."Amelia’s stomach dropped, and she instinctively moved to shield Adam, her arms spreading protectively. "No!" she protested, her voice trembling with anger. "You can’t do this. Don’t tie us up, please. We’re not going anywhere!"Finn didn’t respond, his face unreadable as he grabbed a coil of rope from a nearby crate. He worked swiftly, his hands moving with practiced efficiency despite Amelia’s protests. She struggled, twisting in an attempt to break free, but his grip was firm, his strength far greater than hers."Stop fighting," he said gruffly. "I don’t like this either, but I don’t have a choice."Amelia’s eyes blazed with frustration. "You always have a choice! You don’t have to do this!"Finn didn’t reply, and within moments, both Amelia and Adam were bound, their hands tied securely behind their backs. He took a step back, glancing at them with an expression that held the faintest glimmer of regret. "Stay put," he said. "I’ll be back." Then he was gone, the heavy flap of the tent closing behind him.Adam, lying on the hay with tears streaming down his cheeks, turned his wide, fearful eyes to Amelia. "I told you," he said, his voice breaking. "I told you they’re bad people. Now look—they tied you too. You shouldn’t have come here, Amelia."Amelia’s heart ached at the sight of her brother’s tears. Shuffling closer to him despite her restraints, she gently wiped his face with her bound hands. "Don’t cry, Adam," she said softly, her voice as steady as she could make it. "We’ll get out of here. I promise. I won’t let them hurt us." She forced a reassuring smile. "Don’t be scared, okay? We’ll be fine. Just trust me."Adam sniffled, nodding weakly, though his eyes remained clouded with doubt.After what felt like an eternity, the flap of the tent was pulled open again, and Finn stepped inside. His expression was tense, but his hands held two folded blankets. "It seems like you both have to stay here for now," he said, his voice even. He knelt beside them, draping the blankets over their shivering forms.Amelia, her frustration bubbling to the surface, fixed him with a fiery glare. "Why?" she demanded. "Your master told me he would release my brother. It seems your master isn’t a man of his word."Finn paused, meeting her gaze with a straight face. "It’s complicated, girl," he replied, his tone giving nothing away. "The king is coming tomorrow morning. My master has preparations to make, and until then, no one is going anywhere. You’ll stay here quietly."Amelia’s jaw tightened, but she said nothing, the gears in her mind turning. That’s good, she thought. If the king is coming tomorrow, that gives me more time to figure out how to escape.Finn stood and adjusted his cloak. "I’ll bring food in the morning," he said curtly. Without another word, he turned and left, leaving the siblings alone once more.Amelia leaned closer to Adam, her mind racing. "We’ll wait until it’s quiet," she whispered. "I’ll find a way to get us out of here. Just stay close to me, no matter what."Adam nodded, his small hand clutching hers despite the ropes.