Chapter Eight: Revelations: Part One

Aldric was sitting under a tree when Randolf found him.

Aldric was picking up dead leaves, fiddling around with them, then letting them fall back to the earth. He didn't break them, didn't crush them in his fist, he just looked that them then let the fall.

Randolf approached him. "Hey, Aldric," He said.

Aldric didn't respond.

Randolf sat down next to him. "Aldric," he said, nudging his friend's shoulder. "What are you up to?"

"Nothing."

"Leif thinks you are gathering berries."

Aldric continued looking at the ground. "No. Can't do that."

"What do you mean?"

Aldric turned to him, "You can't actually think I am capable of gathering anything," He said. "If I try to get some mint leaves I would come back with hemlock. If I try to find blueberries I would come back with nightshade."

"That is not true."

"Yes it is. I grew up inside castle walls, I never needed to know what a blueberry bush looks like. I f I was in charge of keeping anyone alive I would fail."

Randolf grabbed Aldric. "No," He said firmly. "You kept Leif alive. You kept me alive."

"That is not the same thing."

"You right it is not. What you did was harder."

Aldric stood up. "No. That was simple. Out here I am as useless as a fly. I should go back to the castle where I at least have a chance of being able to do something."

Randolf shot up. "You can't do that."

Aldric started to walked away.

"You can't go."

Aldric turned and shoved Randolf to the ground with more force that Randolf know he had.

"You can't stop me," Aldric said, eyes hard. "There is no point in trying."

Then as Aldric stalked off Randolf whispered. "Don't leave me."