A Black Abyss

It was a dark abyss, that seemed to be slowly consuming him.

"Thomas you must escape now! While you can!" Nimblin's face, usually so clean and composed, was now bloodied, shallow and ragged with fear.

In the distance, fire roared. Screams ripped through the air.
"Go! What are you doing? Hurry!" Nimblin pushed Thomas towards the front entrance. Thomas stumbled, and fell. The fire, so bright and entrancing, so savage  and merciless, consuming everything he had ever known.

A black abyss.

Thomas seemed to snap out of it. "What are you saying?  This fire, these people, we must stop it, has someone called the local officials?" He had to shout over the ruckus, "this is outrageous, who dares to... Father, Father's men will deal with this. Nimblin, where is my Father?" 
Nimblin's face seemed to sag in distraught and his eyes dimmed.

"Your- your father is..."

"Speak!" Thomas demanded, an unknown feeling of dread threatening to overwhelm him. Somewhere in the distance, distressed cries rang, and a roof caved in.
The flames were so bright and as they danced, their intensity pierced his eyes, yet why was everything so dark?

2 days before...

"I imagine you have not yet found a friend, Thomas." Nimblin stared sternly down at the well-dressed (by Wednesday's house slaves), pampered child prodding at a wooden Italian-styled horse in a repetitious manner. The seven year old briefly turned his crystal blue eyes -so clear and untainted- towards Nimblin before shamefully averting his gaze and focusing on the wooden horse with renewed attention.

"I have simply not yet made an attempt." Young Thomas replied indignantly, the edge of his lip turning downwards as he stared intently at the horse.
"Are the other students not meeting your desires? I have arranged them to treat you with utmost community-"
"Well I'd like you stop that," Thomas interrupted sharply, "their behaviour is quite displeasing"
Nimblin frowned, and said in a puzzled tone, "How peculiar, I'll be sure to have a word with-"
"That is unnecessary," Thomas's voice increased in volume, "Stop meddling with my affairs Nimblin, I am quite mature enough to govern my own needs."
"Thomas, you know very well that your Father wishes for you to make frien-"
"Father knows nothing!" Thomas whirled around and glared at Nimblin furiously. Nimblin stared at him, speechless.
Thomas held his gaze for a few moments, before seemingly regaining his composure and returning his sights to the wooden horse. His beautiful blonde hair looked like gold in the sunlight.
"Father is busy with adult business, he has not time to worry about me." There was no accusation in Thomas' tone, but he spoke this coolly, as if stating a fact. Nimblin sighed, feeling a shred of pity for the boy. Despite being the son of the influential Lord Estuart of Granre, he is pitiable in that he has never traded words sincerely with another person, nor possess a close person to rely and share secrets with, subsequently causing him to be quite alone. However, this is precisely why he needed a friend.
"Your father is busy, however he cares a lot about you"
Thomas said nothing.
"I'd like you to make an effort, understand?"
Nimblin stood there, awaiting a response, on seeing that this was to no avail he turned and left, the hem of his long velvet robe trailing behind him.

Author's Note

Attack however you want, any good or bad feedback would be greatly appreciated. Feel free to point out all issues with text, even short comments will be very helpful.

Reviews

[Eric Cavazos and Lauren..]

The action at the beginning really caught my attention and drew me into the story. I also enjoy the shift in intensity from the action happening two days later and two days prior. Two days is such a short period of time, that I am very intrigued to find out more about what happened in that time to lead all that is occurring. Keep writing! I would love to see how Thomas and Nimblin develop as characters and how their relationship is bound to evolve.

[Nessy]

Thanks a lot for this review! It was very encouraging and extremely helpful to hear your thoughts.