“No!” Caleb twisted out from Rainbow’s grasp, slapping the little goblin’s hand away. Rainbow yelped clutching at his bruised limb, looking quite a bit more stunned than hurt. For a long moment, the two only stared at each other, Caleb letting his tears fall freely. Saltwater washing away some of the gore that clung stubbornly to his cheeks. The hall remained eerily silent, except for the steady dripping of blood on stone, it echoed loud and clear around the carved amphitheater. Ribbon whined and Rainbow’s face contorted into a sneer. That, Caleb decided was the ugliest look he had ever seen on a person. It made him want to punch the stinking, green skinned rabbit eared worm right in his smug little face! Caleb drew his sword causing the air to ring. That made Rainbow take a step back, but Caleb had no intention of using it. He spun on a heel hurling the battle stained blade with all the force his exhausted body could muster. It made a graceful arc, scattering droplets until it came clattering down upon the empty granite throne. His act of defiance done Caleb sank to the ground, his back planted firmly against the nearest pew. He tried to wipe away the blood, but his hands seemed permanently stained. A mewling cry emanated from his heart as his vain attempts succeeded only in spreading it around on his clothes a bit more. Eventually he ceased his efforts, hugging himself and shaking as the adrenaline ran out and the battle shock set in.
“Get up Caleb.” Rainbow gathered his courage, seeing the boy disarm himself and looking hardly a threat to anyone now, stepped closer, nudging at the human’s leg with the point of his boot. He sounded and looked considerably more reserved, trying to show a bit of empathy, despite not understanding the child’s sudden mental breakdown. “We’ll die if we stay here, we need to leave. You’ve had enough time so let’s get moving.” Luckily for Rainbow he was nimble enough to spring out of the way as Caleb lashed out, his balled fist sweeping dangerously close to Rainbow’s cranium. “What is your problem you stupid human!” Rainbow yelped, angry now.
“What is my problem!” Caleb screamed, choking back sobs. “Leave me alone you- you horrible person!”
“What do you not understand about death?” Rainbow gritted his teeth, trying to imagine some way to reason with the boy. It was as if Caleb had transformed into an entirely different person, an angry, emotional person who outweighed and outpunched Rainbow quite considerably. “If we stay here we’ll die, I don’t know how much plainer I could make it. So, I need you to get over whatever it is you’re going through and move your stupid self.”
“What’s going to kill me?” Caleb sneered, not moving a muscle. “They’re all dead, I killed them. In fact, if anyone else does come down here, I’ll kill them too!”
“With what, your sword?” Rainbow gestured towards the discarded weapon, now resting on the seat of the giant throne. “It’s over there, and if you had half a brain, you’d notice your only armament is way to high up for either of us to collect. That oversized chair is to steep to climb, and I see no means by which to fashion a ladder or ramp. Even these pews would be too heavy to move, which means you are effectively defenseless.”
Glowering daggers at Rainbow, Caleb reached over and pried a ceremonial knife from a deceased dwarf’s death grip and hurled it clumsily towards the goblin.
Rainbow ducked. “Fine!” He roared, thoroughly irritated. He stalked towards the great stone doors, yelling over his shoulder. “If you want to stay here and cry your pathetic little eyes out and get mauled by a thousand angry angorok spiderlings be my guest. I don’t need you any more anyway. You’ve outlived your usefulness, and I couldn’t care less what happens to you. I’ll find the crystal center easier on my own, c’mon Ribbon. Ribbon?” Rainbow stalled his exodus, glancing back towards the hound, who had laid down next to Caleb, resting his muzzle on the sobbing boy’s knee. The dog whined, his dark eyes reflecting the child’s grief and confusion back upon his surrogate master. Rainbow sighed, his anger melting away. Gingerly he approached Caleb, until he stood just outside of the boy’s effective striking range. “Caleb… I’m sorry I did not mean any of that, can I sit down?”
Caleb made no answer, only turning his head away. Taking the child’s lack of violent outburst or denial as an affirmative answer Rainbow reclined against the pew alongside Caleb. Obviously, human children were not the most rational of beings, he would have to tread carefully if he wished to save them, and quickly. There was no saying when the beasts that lurk in the shadows would scent the spilt blood and come prowling. Shuddering at the thought if being eaten alive Rainbow went for the most direct tactic.
“You know, Caleb you did a fine job down here. You fought brilliantly, like a proper warrior. Or whatsit human’s call them, knights? Yeah, like a true knight.” Caleb made no response so Rainbow pressed on. “Some people feel sad when they kill, but we had every right. They would have killed us in a heartbeat if given half a chance, and not cared one iota. Honestly, you probably did the us, the island, and the whole world a great service in extinguishing them all. Imagine how many other innocent people these earth-fondlers might have killed if you hadn’t gotten them first. I understand you’re sad, but you shouldn’t waste tears over the likes of them.”
“I’m not sad for them.” Caleb argued. At least he did not sound angry, he seemed confused more than anything else. “I hate them, and I would do it again in a heartbeat.” He sniffed, rubbing at his nose.
Very carefully Rainbow reached up and rested a hand on Caleb’s shoulder. The boy flinched but otherwise did not resist the physical contact. Rainbow swallowed his awkwardness, his own kind were not so responsive to the touchy-feely stuff, but if it helped the child, he was willing to try. “Then what’s wrong? You’ve done a good thing tonight.”
“I don’t know.” Caleb whined, desiring to be left alone and allowed to cry. “It doesn’t feel good.”
“That’s good.” This comment caused Caleb to finally look at Rainbow, confusion prevalent in his dark eyes. “After all,” Rainbow explained. “It’d be worse if you did not feel anything, or heavens forbid enjoyed the slaughter. Killing is hard, but not something you should be ashamed of. I think your ancestors would be proud to know you were able to fight and kill when the situation demanded violent action.”
“You think they would?” Caleb did not know his lineage, being an orphan for the vast majority of his life, but he liked to imagine the Crowsnests were a line of seafaring heroes. He bit his lip until it bled, racked by doubt. “What must they think of me. A hero would not weep like a baby. They would be ashamed to call a weakling like me their own.”
“No, no I guarantee they are brimming with pride.” Rainbow pressed, realizing he had struck gold, or at least silver. Something valuable anyway. “I bet they’re stamping their feet and raising their goblets to salute your name right now. If you must cry so be it, there is no shame in tears. If the task gets done, and you keep your honor clean. What more could they ask for really? After all you’ve proven their posterity a warrior and a man.”
This little speech gave Caleb fresh heart, and he even smiled appreciatively despite himself. He stood and Rainbow rose with him. Wiping away the last of his tears the boy straightened his back like the knights he adored, glancing forlornly towards his sword. A knight never would have thrown his weapon, and he certainly should not have thrown it somewhere inaccessible.
“I lost my sword...”
“Yeah, that was stupid, but swords are replaceable.” Rainbow assured him. “We’ll get you a better blade, one made of steel perhaps. Iron is a poor material, to easily dulled and broken.”
Caleb breathed a little sigh and collected a knife off one of the fallen before turning his back on his victims. Unable to look upon their shattered bodies any longer. Thrusting the stone blade into his belt he nodded to Rainbow. “Alright, I’m ready.”
