Shattered trust
Milo looked at the many jewels and trinkets that Ralid kept in an overly ornate box. His lover had told him to look for something to adorn himself for that evening. The command was clear: pick something that makes you feel pretty. Milo had all the intentions to follow that order. He touched a golden necklace, similar to another he had never forgotten.
Milo by Hero Forge
Milo was the stable boy at the mayor's house. He ended up there after he escaped another town. Too many pickpockets and the mysterious disappearance of valuables belongings made it impossible to stay there.
In this new little town, Milo thought it would be best to play nice for a while, earn their trust, and maybe even deserve it. When he wanted, he could play the part of an innocent, kind boy, a hard worker. That's why how he got in the mayor's good graces.Milo also befriended his son, Lupin, a blond, skinny, delicate kid, the same age as him.
Lupin by Hero Forge
Milo liked the horses, he enjoyed taking care of them, brushing their manes, and tending to his needs. The horses were easy to talk to. They never judged him, as long he sneaked him treats from the house. For a couple of months, Milo felt safe, like he could stay there for a long time. He hadn't been given a room, he slept with the horses, and his pay was practically non-existent. But at least Milo had a roof over his head and was fed. What else could he need? He was close to turning sixteen years old, and even if some nights, he awoke screaming at memories that only visited him in his sleep, life was not so bad.
What made his life more bearable, was that he sometimes got to ride with Lupin. That moments with his friend made Milo happy. Lupin was smart and funny, his smile was brighter than the sun. Milo sometimes couldn't believe someone as special as Lupin, could enjoy spending his time with him, an orphan good for nothing. But Milo was selfish, and he never voiced these thoughts, afraid that Lupin changed his mind and didn't want to be friends with him anymore.
In one of those rides, Lupin suffered an accident. It all happened so fast that Milo barely had time to catch him before he fell from his horse. But the horse broke a leg. Milo was scared for his friend and brought him back to the house. Lupin clung to his chest with both arms, and a warmth that Milo couldn't name blossomed in his chest.
Milo's problems started when they reached the house. Of course, Lupin's father was there and he got furious for many reasons. He didn't know his son regularly neglected his duties to run around the fields with the stable boy, one of his horses would need to sacrificed, and that meant losing an asset, and Lupin almost got hurt in the accident. The mayor ordered Milo to leave the house immediately. He looked at his friend for support, but Lupin was silent.
The rest of the staff looked at him with disdain and didn't even acknowledge him when he tried to get their help to convince the mayor to let him stay. He wasn't allowed to say goodbye to the horses. They throw him out like he was as disposable as garbage.
Milo wandered off the path. He didn't know where he will go next. When the night was approaching, he came across a group of bandits. Milo was afraid, he knew these kinds of people, and if he didn't act fast, he would be dead, or worse. They were seven men. The taller of them spoke to him.
-Kid, give us anything of value you have now, and we may let you live.
-I have something valuable...- Milo made a decision ladden with guilt.- Information.
Milo exchanged his life for the mayor's house.
He didn't expect to be dragged with them to loot the place. Milo was terrified. His body followed the leader's command like he was the subject of that spell that makes people slaves. He had heard myths about that type of magic. There was no way any of the bandits could be a mage. Milo resigned himself to obey them, pushed by his fear and the pain of how the mayor had treated him and Lupin's silence.
The bandits not only used him to discover how to break into the place, he pointed all the hidden treasures and chest with coins. They also forced him to witness the destruction of the place. Whatever they deemed of no value ended in pieces. That included other people.
As Milo was dragged around the house, he did his best not to think about what they could have done to Lupin. Although he had to see the staff being beaten to a pulp, they haven't taken him to the mayor or Lupin. But Milo never had good luck or the things he wanted. That fateful night was not the exception.
Once they were done stealing and destroying everything, the bandits took him to a room that had a heavy lock. One he knew how to open. Inside that room were the mayor and Lupin. They were a shivering, crying lump in a corner. Milo hated himself at that moment, it was the first time that feeling poisoned his being, but it wouldn't be the last.
Milo saw that Lupin was clutching something to his chest. It was a necklace, a family's relic that held a lot of sentimental value, but wasn't worth many coins. Milo couldn't contain his trembling and fell to his knees when the leader's bandits spoke. Rough hands gripped his shoulders and kept him in place.
-This boy here was so eager to get us all here. He promised his former master's house was full of valuable things. He didn't lie.-
by Julian Ralid
The bandit circled the old man and his son. His minions had tied them and yanked away the necklace from Lupin's grasp. One of them inspected it, when he realized it was worthless, he crushed it under his boot.
-What do you want for yourself, boy? I'm a generous man. I can share the plentiful bounty you so willingly gave us.
Milo wanted only one thing, in truth he wanted many things: forgiveness, belonging, friendship, family, and love, but he knew he would never get that in his miserable life. Instead, he said.
-Please, let them live. Don't hurt them.
-Both of them? That's a lot. My generosity has limits.
-Please, I'll do whatever you ask.-Milo pleaded.- I know other houses, other people you can steal... and kill.-
-Fine, I'll let them live.
Milo looked at Lupin one last time. He would never forget how pain, rage and betrayal clouded the eyes that once had looked at him with love.
Ralid by Hero Forge
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