The Forbidden Compass Trilogy: Book One- Caged
Chapter 8

Mahna

Mahna holds Irelle’s head in her lap, combing her fingers through Irelle’s hair. They keep getting stuck in the kinky curls. She looks at the strongest person she knows, vulnerable and broken. Irelle’s fingertips and lips are blue from holding up the ice. Fenn had healed her from any frostbite, but they are still stained. Irelle’s leggings and sandals are ripped and stained red-brown by blood. Irelle will be disappointed. Over the past week, she’s learned Irelle had been a weaver in her old home. Fenn had earned himself several bruises that he had healed and several sharp comments for his prodding.

Mahna watches Omega, who had sacrificed his freedom to give them their, even though the attempt had failed, his chest rising and falling as he sleeps on his side, his wings spread from his back. They are black and reptilian with flecks of dried blood. Mahna feels her own wings, the feathers soft on her fingertips.

Fenn had fallen asleep, his blonde bangs stuck to his forehead with sweat, and Mahna doesn’t have the heart to wake him. She doesn’t think she could even if she tried; he snores like a bear. After he had brought her back from insanity, Mahna has started to trust him a little. And his grin and bright green eyes still make her stomach flip even when her head tells her to hate him. She is starting to realize he isn’t the ruthless bandit the rumors say he is. In reality, he’s just a boy who wants to fix things. To bad that had driven him to the path of thievery.

Mahna starts as Irelle groans in her sleep. Her eyes flicker open, and she sits up, moaning and rubbing her head. “Am I dead?” She asks, her voice harsh and groggy.

“No, you’re not dead, just back in the cage. You did get beat up pretty badly though.” Mahna explains, feeling guilt rise up once again. She wouldn’t have been if you weren’t so weak.

“What’s that noise?” Irelle asks, unaware of Mahna’s torment, her voice clearer.

“Just Fenn snoring.” Mahna starts to braid Irelle’s hair into a braid that starts above her left ear and ends over her right shoulder. Her hands need something to do, or she will go crazy. Again.

“Good. I thought the sky was falling.” Mahna forces a chuckle. “Is Omega alright?”

“His wings are full grown, but he’s still unconscious.”

“Wings?” Irelle’s head whips around to look at Omega’s sleeping form, taking in his wings. Mahna has to undo some of the braid.

“Turns out he was a dragon all along.” She continues crossing strands of blonde hair, adding a new strand each time.

“Makes sense. He always did smell like smoke.” She wrinkles her nose then notices her clothing. “Ugh, that mutt ruined my clothes. Does he know how long it takes to make these? Blood does not go well with blue.” Mahna smiles and laughs a bit, almost freely. She’s back! Irelle continues her rant. “I made these myself. And my sandals! It took me forever to get enough to trade for these. Makes me feel better about killing him. Besides the fact that he tried to kill me.” Mahna finishes the braid. Irelle fingers the tip. “Thanks.” Her forehead crease with worry. “Will it fall out?”

“No, most commoners in Korom wear this style.” Mahna reassures her. Her face relaxes with relief. The wagon hits a bump, and at that same instant Fenn snores louder. Both girls laugh quietly, hands over their mouths.

They hit another bump, jolting Fenn awake. He jumps, hitting Omega, who groans and swings his arm out, catching Fenn in the jaw. Fenn yelps, and Omega wakes up, ready for a fight. Mahna and Irelle laugh harder. Both boys give them strange looks, which causes them to laugh more. Irelle snorts, which causes the boys to laugh. Surprisingly, she doesn’t glare daggers at them. She tries, but fails. A Hunter bangs his spear against the cage, and they all go quiet.

“Why were we laughing again?” Omega asks, clearly confused.

Irelle gasps for breath, clutching her sides. Mahna guesses she’s never laughed that hard, if at all. “Fenn snored.” She wheezes, and Mahna interrupts, scared she will hurt herself.

“Then we hit a bump in the road, Fenn hit you, you hit Fenn, and Irelle snorts.” She gasps for breath, having said it all in one. His face makes Irelle snort again. He looks even more confused.

“Your face, Omega.” She tries to explain.

“My name’s not Omega.” He says.

“It’s not?”

“Actually, it’s Krade.”

“I like that better, sounds less wolfish.” Irelle says, almost smiling. Her smile brightens her face, making her look especially pretty.

“You should smile more.” Krade says, studying her.

Her smile disappears. “I don’t have much to smile about.”

Fenn is strangely quiet. Usually he adds some comment that earns him a punch right about now. He’s staring off, listening hard, but not listening to them. “What is it, Fenn?” She asks, suddenly nervous.

“We’ve stopped and it’s still light out.” He’s right; the usual creek of the wheels has gone silent. They all stand ready for what is next. Irelle’s fins stand straight out.

“Here we are, boys, the best fighting arena in all of Megnia and the Four Corners; The Devil’s Lair!” Alpha’s voice shouts. Mahna feels her heart stop in her chest. This was it, there would be no escape from here. This is my final cage. I will never be free.