The King's Scrolls

by Jaye L. Knight

  The choice smacked Timothy like a physical blow, and he stood in crushing indecision. If the soldiers only questioned Josan as they had him and left without trouble, then he would throw his job away for nothing. They’d have to live only on Aaron’s wages. It would never work.

  He grimaced and almost dropped his bag, but some gut feeling stopped him. Even if the soldiers didn’t cause trouble now, they could question others who might reveal that Timothy delivered the letters. That would lead them straight back to both him and Josan, and they would all certainly be arrested. The icy sensation churning inside him warned of this more sinister outcome. With a desperate prayer that he’d made the right choice, he looked at Harold. “I’m sorry.”

  He then turned and walked out the door. A moment of uncertainty gripped him, but outside, his focus centered on Josan and how little time he had. He glanced toward Tolman’s mine. He could never find Aaron before the soldiers reached their home, so he dashed into the street. He had to get to Josan first—whether just to warn him or more, he wasn’t sure yet, but he prayed for guidance.

  Using all the most familiar shortcuts, Timothy raced through Dunlow. When he caught a flash of gold and black, he slowed and peered around the corner. Marcus and his men stood in the street, talking to a couple of the townspeople. Though Timothy couldn’t hear their words, the men were nodding, and one gestured toward the edge of town. Doom settled around Timothy. Even if they knew nothing of the letters, if the men worked for Terrance Riggs, they might say anything just because Aaron worked for Tolman.

  Timothy ducked into an alley and pressed on, not slowing even when his leg muscles felt like they might rip from strain and fatigue. He and Josan would need every second he could buy them to figure out what to do. Please, Elôm, give us time. He repeated the prayer in his mind. Right now, they were the only words he could formulate.

  At last, panting, he scrambled up to the cottage and shoved open the door. “Josan!”

  The crete fumbled for his crutches, using one and the edge of the table to push himself up. “What is it?”

  Timothy could barely breathe and put his hand to the cramp in his side, but he forced out the words. “Soldiers are on their way here. They questioned me about the name Taan. They must know about the letters. They’re coming to question you.”

  Josan’s already-large eyes widened. “Do they suspect me of writing them?”

  “I don’t know.” Timothy braced himself against the table and dragged a deep breath into his burning lungs. “They seem suspicious of anyone with crete blood. I saw them questioning people on the way here. What if someone saw me delivering the letters? If they learn anything about that, they’ll arrest us.”

  He was always careful when he went out to deliver the letters, but all manner of people lurked the streets at night, scrounging for food scraps and old clothing. It would only take one of them to alert the soldiers, especially if they thought they could gain something from it. If he and Josan were arrested, it would be over. Thorough questioning would quickly expose their faith.

  Josan grimaced. “You’re right.” He reached out and gripped Timothy’s shoulder, gently pressuring him in the direction of the bedroom. “Gather your things and Aaron’s. Take the Scrolls with you. The two of you need to get far away from here. I’ll stay and do what I can to keep any suspicion from falling on you.”

  Timothy grabbed his arm and shook his head. “No. I won’t leave you here.” He’d only ever had three people he loved in this world. He wouldn’t lose any more of them if he could help it. “If you stay to face them, I will too. Otherwise, you have to come with us.”

  Josan let out a sigh. “There’s no time.”

  “Yes, there is.” Timothy glanced out the door. No black and gold dotted the path to the cottage yet. “We have maybe ten or fifteen minutes before they get here. More if they keep stopping to question people. Gather whatever you need. We’ll find somewhere for you to hide and I’ll get Aaron. Then the three of us will get out of Dunlow.”

  Where they’d go after that, he couldn’t say, but something told him they just needed to leave. The soldiers would eventually find what they were after if they stayed.

  Josan didn’t argue this time. He picked up his other crutch, and Timothy hurried to the bedroom. He grabbed Aaron’s hunting pack first and stuffed his brother’s clothes and belongings into it. They didn’t have much besides their clothing and a few small sentimental items. Once he’d filled his own pack, he rolled up the blankets from their beds and dragged everything into the main room, where Josan worked as fast as he could to pack his things. Timothy caught bits of whispered prayer. His own joined in as he dropped to the floor to retrieve the satchel of scrolls. This happened so fast, Lord. I don’t know if I’m making the right decisions, but please lead us out safely and show us where to go from here.

  They couldn’t take everything. Food, clothing, and their very little money took precedence. It wouldn’t be nearly enough to start over somewhere else, and the coming winter loomed almost as threateningly as the soldiers. What if they couldn’t even find shelter? They’d freeze to death here in the mountains. But Timothy had to trust Elôm to provide what they didn’t have.

  He helped Josan lift his pack onto his back, and then turned to his things. After securing the satchel’s strap across his body, he lifted his pack up over one shoulder and Aaron’s over the other, then knelt down to take the blankets under each arm. Grunting at the weight, he pushed to his feet and stepped to the door where he sighed, finding the way still clear.

  He nodded to Josan. “Let’s go.”

  The crete stepped out, but Timothy paused in the doorway, looking back over his shoulder into the only home he’d known since shortly after his father’s death. Though they’d faced many trials here, it still held memories of all the years he’d spent with Aaron and Josan—years he considered precious, despite the hardships. Maybe they were wrong to run like this . . .

  But a subtle urging took hold of him again, as if an invisible hand was pulling him away, and he knew it was Elôm’s will for them to leave. With this surety, he set his gaze ahead and took the lead, angling for the southern edge of town. He didn’t think about the magnitude of what they were doing, not the fact that they’d be leaving behind friends they’d known for years without even saying goodbye, or that he’d never be able to explain to his students why he couldn’t teach them anymore. Right now, he had to focus on escape. His life, Aaron’s, and Josan’s depended on it. Elôm, help me.

  A few yards from the cottage, he looked back at Josan, who struggled to keep up on his crutches. Timothy slowed and cast an anxious glance toward where the soldiers would surely appear. They had to get out of the open before then. Nothing would condemn them faster than to have the soldiers find them in the midst of escape. If only he could help Josan run.

  Slowly and steadily, they made it into the cover of town. Once they were within the shadows of the buildings, Timothy breathed a little more easily, though all his nerves prickled with apprehension. As a boy, he’d once followed his friends into an abandoned mine shaft they’d been forbidden to enter, but the anxiety of that rebellious moment paled alongside the life and death choices he had to make now. If only the consequences of being caught here meant only facing his father’s disappointment, as painful as that had been.

  In a narrow alley behind a stack of lumber, Timothy stopped and peered both ways before setting the packs down and facing Josan. “Hide here while I get Aaron.”

  He would have to be quick about it. As soon as those soldiers realized they were gone, a search would surely begin. If the emperor had gone to the trouble of sending soldiers to this remote valley, they wouldn’t simply give up once they found Josan missing.

  He turned to go, but Josan caught his shoulder. The crete’s eyes shown as bright with determination as Timothy had ever seen, and it transferred into the strength of his grip.

  “If you run into trouble, don’t come back for me. Do you understand? You a
nd Aaron get to safety, no matter what.”

  Timothy didn’t respond for a long moment. How could he ever just leave Josan like that? He’d been like a father to him all these years. However, staring into those serious eyes, he couldn’t refuse. He swallowed hard and barely gave a nod. His voice rough, he said, “We’ll be here as soon as we can.”

  Josan squeezed his shoulder and let him go. Timothy forced himself to turn. Elôm, please don’t let this be the last time I see him. He jogged out of the alley. On the street, he scanned for soldiers, but found the way clear and ran on. All the way across town again, he forced his legs to keep moving. The fresh adrenaline from the escape helped dull the pain.

  Fifteen minutes later, he skidded to a halt at the mine work yard. The place teemed with miners. His eyes darted from face to face, and he prayed for one to be Aaron. When he didn’t spot his brother, he went farther, avoiding the overseers. They’d throw him out for sure if they caught him trying to take Aaron away from his work. Instead, he stopped one of the miners heading into the mine.

  “I’m looking for my brother, Aaron Carliss. It’s an emergency. If you see him, please tell him I’m here.”

  The man nodded and disappeared into the mine. Timothy spun around and gave the same message to every man he could. After repeating it numerous times, he paused for a breath. His heart hadn’t stopped racing since he left the warehouse. Lifting his face toward the sky, he closed his eyes and began to pray. I always knew this might happen, Lord. I don’t know if we’ll get out, but we need Your guidance and protection. Please lead us past the soldiers to safety and show us what to do next. And if we’re caught . . . He swallowed.

  “Tim?”

  His eyes popped open, and he spun toward the mine. The moment Aaron saw his face, he ran to meet him.

  “What’s going on?” His expression was tense. “One of the men said there was an emergency.”

  Timothy checked around for anyone who might be listening. The miners appeared too focused on their work to notice them, but he kept his voice low. “Soldiers questioned me at the warehouse. They’re looking for who wrote the letters. They went to question Josan, but I reached him first and we got out.” He hesitated. The news would be as shocking and heavy as falling boulders in the mine. “Aaron, we have to get out of Dunlow before they find us.”

  Aaron’s eyes grew wider, and his mouth opened, but he closed it again. He glanced across town, toward home, before nodding.

  “Let’s go.” His voice was husky. After all, their familiar life, as difficult as it was, had just ended, and they faced an unknown future; one they didn’t even have time to prepare for.

  Timothy took the lead, and they moved quickly through town until they came across a small group of soldiers. The sight of their uniforms just about sent Timothy’s heart through his ribs as he and Aaron dashed around a corner. They waited a moment, but the men hadn’t spotted the two of them. Moving on, they took the streets more cautiously. When they finally reached the alley opposite Tolman’s mine, Timothy breathed out a heavy sigh to see Josan still waiting there.

  “Have you seen any soldiers?” Timothy asked.

  Josan shook his head.

  “Good. Hopefully they’re sticking to the north and don’t know we’re gone yet.” Timothy handed Aaron his pack. “I grabbed everything I could.”

  Aaron slid his arms through the straps and hoisted the pack up onto his back. His face had taken on the hard, determined expression Timothy was so used to when times were tough. It gave him a boost of strength to know he had his brother at his side and they could make decisions together.

  “Well, we’ve always talked about leaving Dunlow,” Aaron said in a deceptively light tone. “I just never expected it to be like this.” He looked down the alley and immediately fell into the role of leader, quickly and easily assessing the situation. “We’ll stick to the side streets for cover and head south. Once we leave the outskirts, we’ll try to reach cover before anyone spots us.”

  He glanced at Josan. No doubt he shared Timothy’s thoughts. If only the crete had both legs, they could all get to the high country where no one could find them. But that was impossible. They’d have to find safety elsewhere.

  Wasting no more time, they headed out of the alley and turned south. Not five minutes later, the thump of fast-approaching footsteps shot adrenaline through Timothy’s limbs. He and Aaron grabbed Josan, and they ducked into an alley to hide in the recess of a large door. Moments later, a group of soldiers hurried past.

  Timothy shook his head. “They’re looking for us.”

  Nearby, a voice shouted out orders. It wouldn’t be long before the entire city swarmed with soldiers, narrowing their escape routes down to almost none. Timothy leaned his head back. Elôm, what do we do?

  Aaron pushed away from the door and faced them. The look in his eyes stole Timothy’s breath.

  “I’ll distract them and lead them away from here. Tim, you get Josan out. I’ll catch up once you’re safely away.”

  He moved to go, but Timothy grabbed his arm. “No!” Though Aaron tried to pull away, Timothy held firm. He was not a child anymore. Aaron couldn’t escape him as easily as he had when he’d first taught Timothy how to wrestle. “We get out together. I won’t let you sacrifice yourself.”

  “Who said anything about sacrifice?” Aaron flashed a grin, but it failed to reach his eyes. “I know this town like the back of my hand. They don’t. They won’t catch me.”

  “What if they do?”

  “They won’t.”

  Timothy hung his head. As much as he hated it, none of them would make it out of Dunlow without some sort of distraction, and Aaron was the best one to provide it. His brother had an uncanny knack for survival. How many cave-ins had he miraculously survived in the last several years?

  “Tim, listen to me.” Aaron’s voice dropped to a grave degree. “Do not come back. I’ll catch up with you, all right? Just don’t come back.” He stared at him, willing Timothy to voice his understanding. “Promise me, Tim.”

  Timothy looked away and shook his head. How could he make a promise like that, to just leave his brother to whatever fate befell him? And yet, Elôm would be the One to determine that fate. Timothy had to trust Him to keep his brother safe from the soldiers, just as He’d kept him safe in the mines.

  “I p . . .” His voice faltered. He cleared his throat. “I promise.”

  Now Aaron did give him a genuine, almost sad smile. And with that, he tugged himself free of Timothy’s grip and ran out into the street.

  Liam couldn’t stop the clenching ache in the pit of his stomach as his brother gave out hasty orders to the men. This was one of his first real assignments, and it had unsettled him from the start. Why was it so important they find this man anyway? He was only one person. What harm could he do? According to the information they’d gained from other citizens, he didn’t seem like much of a threat. Actually, most people had spoken of him fondly. It hardly seemed worth the time and energy Marcus had them put into this.

  But with a sigh, Liam strode down the street to search, just as his brother had ordered. Marcus was so calm and sure about these things. He did his duty with ease and confidence. He never felt sick over it or questioned anything. Liam envied him. If only he could be the soldier they all expected him to be. He tried, but his heart was never in it. Just like today. When they’d found the cottage and discovered signs that the inhabitants had left in a hurry, his first instinct was to hope they wouldn’t be found. It would be different if they were actually criminals, but how did simply believing something break the law? It made no sense.

  A flash of movement caught his eye. He stopped short at the corner of an alley and looked down it. His already-aggravated stomach gave a violent twist. Two people attempted to flee—one man missing a leg. One of his crutches slipped, and he would have crashed to the ground if the other man hadn’t caught him. They looked back at Liam¸ their faces taut with grim acceptance. Recognition registered. The youn
ger man was the same one they’d questioned at the warehouse. He hadn’t seemed like a criminal.

  The one-legged crete pushed away from the other and braced himself against the building. “I’m the one you’re looking for. Take me and let him go.”

  “Josan,” the young man gasped.

  The crete held up his hand to silence him, but his eyes locked with Liam’s. “He was only trying to help me. He’s of no concern to you.”

  The moisture fled Liam’s mouth. These two stood at his mercy. Conflicting thoughts jumbled in his mind. Marcus had chosen to bring him along. He’d ordered him to search, and trusted he’d do his job. He’d be a hero if he brought them in, not the slow-witted fool most of the garrison believed he was. He could actually do something right for once. But could his conscience take that? With all the stories coming out of Valcré, he knew exactly what would happen to these two if he took them into custody.

  He let his shoulders sag. No, better to continue as the fool than to live with the knowledge that he’d caused the deaths of two people.

  “Go.” The word was past his lips before he could give it too much thought.

  They stared at him, their eyes wide and unblinking.

  “Get out of here,” Liam said more firmly, “before someone else sees you.”

  Breaking loose from the shock, the younger grabbed the elder’s fallen crutch and handed it to him.

  “Thank you,” he said, and they rushed on as fast as they could.

  Liam silently urged them to hurry as he watched until they were almost out of the alley. When someone called his name, he jumped and spun around. Marcus strode toward him, and his heart skittered as if caught. He glanced down the alley. The two men had just disappeared. He faced Marcus again, and his brother’s brows lowered.

  “Did you see anyone?”

  Liam shook his head. “No.” He winced at the lie.

  “Well, come on,” Marcus said with no sign of suspicion. The fact that he believed him entirely only fueled Liam’s regret. “Parker thought he saw someone fleeing north.”