A fantasy short story set in the world of Tybraes. Young twelve year old Revas faces persecution from the Avali Clan in his sister Khes’s absence after her abduction. He does not know where she is, what is happening to her, and he desperately wants to find her. The Clan forbade him from running off on his own to look for her, because it endangers the entire Clan. He has spent his last measure of patience and grace and is finally facing punishment. As a foundling, he is at very real risk of being cast out of the Clan and back into the woods where he was found.
Content Warning: orphan, persecution, humiliation
Excerpt:
Squirming and throwing an elbow at his captor, the youth growled and sneered like a feral beast. The hunter raised his other hand to swat the side of his head. Then he pointed at Elihaet Calihl, indicating the boy should pay heed to his elder and, by the Venerate’s decree, guardian. Revas was disinclined to listen to anyone until he was not being held like a child. Julien het’Camio, however, only gripped his arm tighter and hauled it up a bit more to keep him off balance as the cleric approached with a somber pout.
[Cleric]
~Oh, Revas, look at you. Covered in soot… I can smell the Fogmire on you.~
The boy turned his head away, long blue tresses falling over his face, tangled and nettled with brush. The Elihaet waved at Julien to let him go, but the hunter shook his head. “He tried to bite me twice, Elihaet. I think it wise he be restrained until he is calmed. Perhaps you have some tea or herbal smoke to still him.”
“I shall manage, Julien, thank you.”
Revas jerked and pulled at the older Avali. The hunter tightened his grip. “Arrow works just as well.”