Dreaming of Sunrises

“Sol. Sooooooooool. Hey Sol, come on wake up!”
 
Solis awoke to the feeling of being jostled. “Mm wha? Wha’s goin’ on- Oh!” The small boy sat up at attention. Before him was someone who really wasn’t supposed to be down in the slave quarters, the young grandson of his masters. “M’Lord! Whatcha doin’ down here? Is somefin wrong?” Sol spoke quietly, trying not to disturb the other boy that slept beside him.
 
“No silly!” The noble child exclaimed with a laugh, “Come on! You gotta see this!” The noble grabbed Sol by the wrist and pulled. Sol, confused, let himself be dragged out of bed. “Hurry up, let’s go!”
 
Sol allowed himself to be pulled along as the two raced up through the building as fast as their little legs could carry them. Up from the slave quarters and to the highest balcony on the east side.
 
“Look! Look!” The noble boy exclaimed, pointing out to the horizon.
 
Sol looked at where he pointed and saw it. The sun beginning its slow ascent into the sky. A sunrise.
 
He marveled at the sight.
 
“You said you never saw a sunrise before,” Sol’s lord said, “So here we are!”
 
Sol walked up to the railing of the balcony and leaned on it. Out of the corner of his eye he saw the young master do the same. But when he turned to look at him the small boy was gone. In his place was a young man. Sol wasn’t a child anymore either. His horns now curling around his ears instead of barely poking out from his hair.
 
How many times had they watched the sunrise together? Enjoyed the quiet moments in the morning before responsibilities and expectations sent them on separate paths? Sol had lost count.
 
“Beautiful isn’t it?” The lord said.
 
“As always,” the tiefling replied.
 
“One day I’ll leave this place. Venture off into the sunrise and… Well I- I’d like to take you with me. Show you the world. Get you out of here.”
 
Sol’s face was red now. “You’re mother would throw a fit.”
 
“You say that as if she doesn’t already.”
 
Solis chuckled, his throat vibrating against the metal band around his neck and reminding him of its presence. His face fell. Could it really be that simple? Just run off in the direction of the sunrise? What was the rest of the world even like? When Solis looked up again his lord was standing closer.
 
“I’m serious,” he said, “You and me. W-we’ll charter a ship. I’ll smuggle you out in a supply crate if I have to. By the time they figure out you’re gone we’ll be halfway across the world. I-.”
 
-------
 
Solis’ dream was cut short by the sound of Plown running about in the hallway. As he awoke the tiefling sighed, dragging his hands down his face. Really? He was still dreaming about this? Sol chuckled darkly. “Gods and hells how thick could I be?” he said in a mocking tone as he sat up, “We’ll run away together into the sun. What a fucking joke.” He turned his head to look out the window and the blue morning sky. “So much for sunrises.”
 
He hadn’t set his eyes on one in years.