"The good news is that it won't hurt at all." Marilla jumped in. "As Joab said, every receptor was destroyed in your leg, including the ones that respond to pain. We'll remove it later today and it'll be over in a heartbeat. Our best woodworkers are already building you a wooden replica that we can attach right below your kneecap, and they're working on a pair of custom crutches for you as well. In the meantime, you'll be able to stay with us and we'll keep you rested and safe."

Rubyn was shaking his head, anger building in his chest. "No! I don't want any of that!"

Joab laid a comforting hand on his shoulder. "We know, son. None of us..."

"You don't Understand! I've lost everything! Everything! My family, my friends, my home, my people, my comrades... There's nothing for me in this life. I became worthless as soon as the last battle and now I'm useless if I can't even walk!"

"Rubyn, don't. You know full well that isn't true."

Rubyn's eyes were like daggers as they stared vehemently into Joab's. "Tell me how, then. How is that not true? You don't know what it's like to lose everything so you can't tell me what isn't true when I know what is."

Joab leaned back on his haunches and gazed up at the ceiling. A long paused lapsed between them and Rubyn could hear his own pounding heart as loud as thunder.

"You're right," Joab said at last. "I don't know what it's like. And I can't do anything to convince you otherwise. But let me tell you now, Rubyn, you're worth something. To me and to everyone here in this village."

"How can you say that? You don't even know who I am."

"But I know enough about you. I know that you are brave and loyal to the Empire because you went off to fight. I know that you are strong-willed and stubborn because anyone else would be dead with the mental and physical state that you're in. I know that your time served in the war damaged you and caused you a great loss, whether it was your identity or your friends. I know that some of the things you witnessed were horrific and gave you a deep sense of hopelessness. And I know that you feel like you have nothing left to give in this world. Nothing else to contribute."

Rubyn felt the burning in his eyes as hot tears began to form. The sudden burst of energy drained from his body and his muscles relaxed and suddenly felt weak. He didn't know how to respond. All he could do was shake his head.

As Joab gazed steadily at Rubyn, the boy turned his head away. His throat was dry once again and he had nothing more to say. Everything Joab had said was true. But that didn't make him feel any better. In fact, it made the empty space of hopelessness inside his chest grow larger and the feeling tugged at him so hard he nearly felt sick again.

He stared with blank eyes at the wall and listened as Joab slowly stood and walked away, his heavy boots thudding on the floor with each step.

Rubyn didn't turn around again. Sunlight was beginning to stream through the window above his head and he breathed out a long sigh and closed his eyes.

Another day.

Why he had been the only one to escape the wars and see another day, he didn't know. It was just bad luck, probably.

Throughout the day, people streamed in and out of the house. Sometimes the voices were loud and rambunctious and other times serious and somber. But the one thing that never ceased was the smell of food wafting through the house.

Despite Rubyn's thin frame, he had always been able to shove at least three times the amount of food that his friends could hold and still not gain a pound. "Food is my second best friend." He was always telling people, but now, his stomach seemed to shrivel at the thought of food.

Marilla persistently tried to get him to eat in the hours leading up to the appointed amputation, but Rubyn refused. He knew in order for his body to rid itself of his raging fever he would need to eat and drink lots of water, but he didn't see the point. He had already resigned himself to inevitable death and didn't spend an ounce of his energy fighting it.

As evening rolled around and the sun began to set, Joab and the two other men from before approached Rubyn and told him it was time. They were going to carry him to the stable where they would give him a type of sedative to make him fall into a deep sleep. When he awoke, he would have a new wooden leg attached right below his kneecap and he'd be able to learn to walk again.

As the men explained this to him, Rubyn turned his attention away and gazed around the room. The voices speaking to him became background noise and nothing registered in his head. He didn't care what they were going to do to him.

Many of the people who had been streaming in and out of the house all day had gone home for the evening and only five or six people remained. Rubyn recognized Marilla, crouched next to the fireplace, feeding it log after log. And there, sitting nearly out of view at the large table through the open doorway was the boy from the wagon, Avery.

As Rubyn looked his way, the boy locked eyes with him and his gaze turned into a fierce glare. Rubyn didn't look away, refusing to be beaten in the staredown by a kid. But as he stared into those beady eyes, Rubyn recognized the look of subtle hatred lurking beneath the surface. He had seen the look before in many of the enemy's eyes and it made his pulse quicken slightly.

Despite the look, Rubyn knew the boy wouldn't come at him with a razor-sharp blade with the intent to kill. He knew that the Shroudspirian people were people of peace, and did not kill fellow men and women. But something told Rubyn that this particular boy didn't feel bound by the rules the others followed. It was evident in his demeanor, the way that he held himself, like he was the only one who could tell him what to do and no one else had that right.

Rubyn blinked. Avery had suddenly broken eye contact as the boy who was sitting next to him shook his shoulder to get his attention. Rubyn hadn't realized he'd been holding his breath until he looked away and felt the muscles in his chest tightening. He looked up at the three men surrounding him and became acutely aware of their boring eyes.

"What?" He said, almost snapping.

"He asked if all of that is okay with you." The taller young man on the left said, his mouth curved in a slight smirk.

"Sure, it's fine." Rubyn replied, his eyes wandering back to where the boy had been sitting, but he was gone.

"Alright, then," Joab said, clapping his hands together."I suppose we should get going if this is going to get done before sundown." The two men nodded and stepped back as Joab, by far the largest of all three, scooped Rubyn up and carried him out the door--the other two trailing behind.

A/N

Shoutout to TheProphet9 who was the first to vote AND comment on the last chapter! Thank you both so much :) Chapter 7 is coming this Wednesday!