Rose
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Is Jon crazy or just stupid. Oh and promotions all around!
Alex woke in the morning. The tent was empty. He looked around, sitting up. The other cots looked like they were still occupied, and he could see a pail where Sandra had been cleaning their clothes. Alex tried to move, to get out of bed. Then his leg started to hurt all the way through, as if he was getting stabbed again. Alex quickly moved back down, not wanting to trust his weight to his leg. He lay there, wondering where everyone else had gone. He supposed the army was stopped for the other wounded that he was sure they had.
This state of affairs lasted for quite some time, with Alex simply stairing at the celling. Then Colman walked in. He looked slightly the worse for wear, two small cuts across his left arm and a whole lot of mud smeared over his shirt. ├óÔé¼┼ôColman├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said, sitting up ├óÔé¼┼ôWhere is everyone?├óÔé¼┬Ø. Damn Silverbacks hit us again├óÔé¼┬Ø Colman said ├óÔé¼┼ôBut we pushed them back. The talk about the camp is the General is going to send some reinforcement divisions out here. Not that the'll arive in any time soon enough├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhere's Jon...and Josh and Gary?├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex asked ├óÔé¼┼ôWhere are they?├óÔé¼┬Ø Colman sat down on his cot and ran his hand over his face ├óÔé¼┼ôGary and Josh are helping with the wounded. Jon is probably getting another damn medal for valor├óÔé¼┬Ø
Another!├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said ├óÔé¼┼ôBut...what did he do this time?├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôHe saved an officer's life. The silverbacks had brought up a cannon and Jon spotted it first. He ran through two sword fights and knocked over the officer before the cannon ball took his head off. Then he topped his kill record...again├óÔé¼┬Ø. Colman groaned ├óÔé¼┼ôThat little bastard is going to either become the youngest Dragoon in this century, or he's going to die bravely in battle├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôOr both├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex muttered. At that moment Jon walked into the room, Sandra trailing behind him obediently.
├óÔé¼┼ôDamn it├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon was saying ├óÔé¼┼ôWhy do they have to hand out these medals hand over fist?├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôI don't know master├óÔé¼┬Ø Sandra said ├óÔé¼┼ôMaybe they like the cut of your jib├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôMy what?├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon asked, looking over his shoulder at her. ├óÔé¼┼ôYour jib├óÔé¼┬Ø Sandra said :You know...├óÔé¼┬Ø she leaned over and whispered something in Jon's ear. ├óÔé¼┼ôOh├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon said, his face brightening. He giggled. Alex watched this exchange silently. ├óÔé¼┼ôJon, my boy├óÔé¼┬Ø Colman said ├óÔé¼┼ôStop flirting and get over here├óÔé¼┬Ø. Jon blinked ├óÔé¼┼ôSorry├óÔé¼┬Ø he said, sitting down on his cot ├óÔé¼┼ôWhats up?├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôAlex is talking, if he aint walking├óÔé¼┬Ø Colman said. ├óÔé¼┼ôOh├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon said, looking at Alex. ├óÔé¼┼ôDid I hear correctly├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said ├óÔé¼┼ôYou got another medal!├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôuhhh...yeah├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon said, looking shiftily to the left and right. Colman sighed ├óÔé¼┼ôI tell you├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôJon has a death wish├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôI do not├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon snapped. ├óÔé¼┼ôThen why do you keep trying to kill yourself?├óÔé¼┬Ø Colman asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôI...uh...its a job├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon said, looking down ├óÔé¼┼ôA job that needs doing├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôYeeeeah├óÔé¼┬Ø Colman said, dragging the yeah out sardonically. ├óÔé¼┼ôStuff it├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon said. ├óÔé¼┼ôAll right├óÔé¼┬Ø Colman said. He lay back on his cot and closed his eyes. In a few seconds he was asleep. ├óÔé¼┼ôThats a nice trick├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said ├óÔé¼┼ôHe never acts tired until he's asleep├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôOh├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon said, looking somewhat sheepish. Alex sighed, laying back down ├óÔé¼┼ôRemember├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôIf the silverbacks attack again don't be a hero and get yourself killed├óÔé¼┬Ø. He closed his eyes and tried to sleep.
He heard some whispered conversation between Sandra and Jon. It was not quite audible, but it was irritating enough that Alex couldn't quite make it out. He ignored it, still trying to sleep..Then Jon walked out of the tent, presumably to bask in the glory he had won. Alex was just about to fall asleep when Josh and Gary walked in, proclaiming themselves loudly. ├óÔé¼┼ôWe are the Champions!├óÔé¼┬Ø Josh said. Alex shouted back ├óÔé¼┼ôI am TRYING To sleep!├óÔé¼┬Ø. They both looked somewhat abashed and shut up. Alex lay back down and jammed his eyes shut. Then he managed to fall asleep.
The next morning dawned. Alex was already awake, as his leg had been bothering him for quite a while, and he had been lying there. In pain. Alex hated wounds, in general. But seeing what his job was, they were a near constant presence. They were either small enough to be annoying, or large enough to kill you. It was very rare that a sword would strike, in just the right place to disable a man. Not unless you were fighting a trained swordsman. And Alex highly doubted that he would face such a man in the Southlands. Unless, for some reason, he had to fight Jon.
The other men woke at the ringing of the gong. Jon and Colman were first out, being more consummate professionals. Gary and Josh took their sweet time, grumbling about how they had to work with 'damn cripples'. Alex, catching that last bit, sat up ├óÔé¼┼ôHey!├óÔé¼┬Ø he said. ├óÔé¼┼ôWell├óÔé¼┬Ø Gary said, fumbling for words. Josh cut him off, grinning at Alex ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat are you complaining about, you damn cripples?├óÔé¼┬Ø They both walked out of the tent, laughing at Alex's expression. ├óÔé¼┼ôassholes├óÔé¼┬Ø he muttered. Then Sandra walked past, holding an empty pail. ├óÔé¼┼ôAre you leaving me too?├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôI need water with witch to wash your clothes, Master Alex├óÔé¼┬Ø Sandra said, walking out of the tent.
Alex lay there. ├óÔé¼┼ôDamn├óÔé¼┬Ø he muttered. The day dragged by at a painful, almost excruciating pace. Alex hated being useless even more then he hated being injured. When he said as much to Sandra she had snorted and handed him some dirty linen. Alex, who had washed his own clothes before Sandra had arrived, glowered at her. ├óÔé¼┼ôWell├óÔé¼┬Ø Sandra said ├óÔé¼┼ôYou washed your clothes before. So you might as well do something├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôI thought we paid for you so you do this stuff├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex muttered, starting to scrub the muddy shirt. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou don't pay me├óÔé¼┬Ø Sandra said, smiling broadly. ├óÔé¼┼ôWe did once├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex muttered. ├óÔé¼┼ôWell look here├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon said, walking into the tent ├óÔé¼┼ôIsn't this a nice image. Alex the warrior working for Sandra the silverback├óÔé¼┬Ø.
├óÔé¼┼ôJon├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said ├óÔé¼┼ôDon't start├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôWeren't you the one who said we shouldn't work with those of the...how did you put it? 'Lesser races'?├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon continued, putting his foot up on the cot. Sandra's face twisted ├óÔé¼┼ôLesser, is it?├óÔé¼┬Ø she yanked Alex's shirt out of his hands. ├óÔé¼┼ôI don't think you want to sully yourself with 'lesser' work├óÔé¼┬Ø Sandra said, walking out of the tent. Alex's face purpled ├óÔé¼┼ôInsolent whore!├óÔé¼┬Ø he shouted after her. Jon backhanded him. Alex lay there, his leg and face burning from pain. ├óÔé¼┼ôNever speak to Sandra like that├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon said ├óÔé¼┼ôShe's my servant and is not to be insulted in that fashion├óÔé¼┬Ø. Alex whipped his cheek ├óÔé¼┼ôYour completely out of your mind!├óÔé¼┬Ø he snapped to Jon. ├óÔé¼┼ôI will assume that your going crazy, sitting in bed├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon said ├óÔé¼┼ôI'll get you a crutch├óÔé¼┬Ø.
He walked out of the tent, fists balled. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat?├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex asked after him. He didn't get a response. He lay back in the bed, his leg still in serious pain. ├óÔé¼┼ôAll this fuss over a silverback├óÔé¼┬Ø he muttered. But even so he felt a faint feeling of guilt in the back of his mind. ├óÔé¼┼ôOh don't you start├óÔé¼┬Ø he muttered to himself ├óÔé¼┼ôIts just a silverback├óÔé¼┬Ø. Or was it? Did he really think of Sandra as 'just a silverback' anymore. Alex groaned. Jon was rubbing off on him. Think the devil's name and he will appear, the old saying went. Jon walked into the tent, holding a crutch ├óÔé¼┼ôCome on├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôLets get you to work├óÔé¼┬Ø. Alex raised his hands, about to protest. Jon tossed the crutch into his hands and Alex was left there, holding the ungainly thing.
Alex hobbled around camp. It was starting to look like an actual camp, not just a bunch of tents. A wooden wall was already surrounding half the camp, with ladders for archery. A few bubbling pots were set up under the walls, tillium crystals already starting to sprout from the formula. Scut workers were starting to chip bits off them off and fashioning more grenades. Alex was put to work there, making sure no bit of tillium ever got big enough to explode. That was how the crystal expanded, in the wilds. It got bigger and bigger till it exploded and spread more chunks of it everywhere. Then, during the summer, those chunks grew and grew until they exploded, creating a new field of tillium.
The day ended. Alex's leg was actually feeling better, the wound now just a faint red line. Maybe the old adage about putting weight on your wounds was true. He got back to the tent and collapsed face first into his cot. ├óÔé¼┼ôI hear├óÔé¼┬Ø Gary was saying as he entered ├óÔé¼┼ôThat this is going to be a new fort├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôI hear├óÔé¼┬Ø Josh cut in ├óÔé¼┼ôThat the silverbacks had burnt Bastion to the ground. ├óÔé¼┼ôNo├óÔé¼┬Ø Sandra gasped. ├óÔé¼┼ôI think thats a load of hooy├óÔé¼┬Ø Colman said, not even paying heed to Sandra, who was staring at the wall of the tent. Jon looked at her ├óÔé¼┼ôWhats wrong, Sandra?├óÔé¼┬Ø he asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôMy father lives in Bastion├óÔé¼┬Ø Sandra said softly.
Then there was a horn call. ├óÔé¼┼ôBattle lines!├óÔé¼┬Ø someone shouted ├óÔé¼┼ôToo the walls!├óÔé¼┬Ø. Alex struggled to his feet, but the others were already out of the tent. Even Sandra picked up a medical bag and ran out with them. Alex hobbled out last, swearing at his leg as he tried to pull even with Sandra, who was walking. He failed at that, and came to a stop, exhausted. The energy he had felt earlier that day was gone, and instead he felt ashen and dead. Alex looked around at the soldiers running too and fro purposefully. ├óÔé¼┼ôArchers, ready!├óÔé¼┬Ø a officer shouted. ├óÔé¼┼ôBow up! Come on men!├óÔé¼┬Ø Another man shouted from the still half completed wall.
Then something Alex never expected rounded the corner of the wall. Silverbacks...on horses. He didn't know they were even capable of such a feat. Alex looked around for a weapon, anything. Then the archers on the wall opened fire and half the calvary fell, peppered with both bolts and arrows. They had ridden right into the archer's line of fire. Alex's mouth twisted. They could ride horses. Just not very well. The other half was still charging at the camp, swinging swords. None of them had fire, witch was just another notch against them. Alex remembered he was directly in their path and dived to the side as a horse rumbled past him. He brought his crutch up and shoved it between the legs of a horse. It held, tripping the poor beast up.
The silverback on the horse fell forward and landed, his sword sliding across the snow. It landed right at Alex's feet. ├óÔé¼┼ôhuh├óÔé¼┬Ø he muttered, picking the sword up. The silverback ran at him. He brought the sword around and sliced the silverback in the chest. The silverback fell, tail twitching one last time. The other horses stopped, looking at him. The silverbacks also looked at him. ├óÔé¼┼ôYeah├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex gasped, feeling like he was going to faint, looking around at the horses and swords aimed at him. They looked ready to run him through. Alex backed up slightly and hit a wall. It was a tent. ├óÔé¼┼ôRight├óÔé¼┬Ø He said, rising his sword up. Then he lost balance, his leg giving way, and he fell backwards through the tent wall.
It was the hospital tent. The other wounded were inside, being tended to by some of the walking wounded. And Sandra was there as well. Alex stood back up, using a empty cot as a crutch. He brought his sword back up and aimed it at the silverbacks, who were dismounting and getting ready to walk into the tent. ├óÔé¼┼ôBring it├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said, sure to make a good figure before he died. A silver back ran at him. Alex parried the blow, lost balance and fell to the ground, gasping. A silverback stood over him and put his foot on his back. He shouted something in his guttural language. Sandra, hearing that, spoke up ├óÔé¼┼ôHe's not going to kill wounded├óÔé¼┬Ø. Alex tried to get to his feet.
Then he heard a battle roar and the silverbacks turned, seeing a bunch of Royal knights run straight at the silverbacks. The battle started. Alex caught a glimpse of Jon, who was fighting like a madman in the center of the mellee. Alex brought his sword up, ready to fight if need be. But the battle was over in a matter of minuets, the silverbacks surrendering. Alex dropped the sword to the ground. It was a copper sword, of poor silverback make. It broke when it hit the packed dirt ground of the tent. Then Alex fell into the cot and sighed ├óÔé¼┼ôI suppose├óÔé¼┬Ø He muttered ├óÔé¼┼ôI'll stay here for a bit├óÔé¼┬Ø.
When he woke up he was back in his cot. Jon was talking with Gary, looking happy. From that point of view, he looked very unlike someone who should be in the war. He looked very young, almost like a boy, rather then a man. Alex felt something in his gut. ├óÔé¼┼ôJon├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôI suppose this is the second time I owe you my life├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôDon't mention it├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon said ├óÔé¼┼ôI just noticed the cavalry had dismounted├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôRight├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said ├óÔé¼┼ôI will pay you back. I swear it├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôThanks├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon said, grabbing Alex's hand and pumping it. Alex nodded and fell asleep again.
The next three days were uneventful. Alex's leg healed slowly, the wall was finished and the tents were slowly changing to quickly set up cabins. Alex was still in a tent when he started walking again. A day later and the reinforcements arrived. They were truly a splendid affair, fifty Royal Knights in full plate, their steeds also decked out in horse mail. Alex and his friends all watched them as they road up to what was fast turning into a real fort. ├óÔé¼┼ôI suppose├óÔé¼┬Ø Josh said ├óÔé¼┼ôThat this place is important enough to send plates├óÔé¼┬Ø. Alex grinned, his leg still a bit wavering slightly. His outfit wore mail, and were considered a rank or two below the full plate knights. He looked at Jon, who was looking intently at the plates. ├óÔé¼┼ôNever seen someone in full plate before?├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôNo├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon said ├óÔé¼┼ôHow can they stand wearing that stuff?├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôThey stand it├óÔé¼┬Ø Colman said ├óÔé¼┼ôBecause it stops arrows in their tracks. Not at close ranges, for sure, and definitely not crossbows, but at the ranges most infantry have to worry about arrows, they can walk through it as if it were rain├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôThat must be a sight to see├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon murmured. ├óÔé¼┼ôWell├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said ├óÔé¼┼ôIts fine...till your bogged down in mud and get hacked apart by some silverback with an ax├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôI can see that being a problem├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon muttered darkly. The knights finished marching into the fort and Alex heard an officer shouted ├óÔé¼┼ôStop lallygagging and get back to work!├óÔé¼┬Ø. Alex and his friends leaped to preform, not wanting to be singled out by a angry officer. The fort required some up keep, after all.
Later that day Alex was told that he was getting promoted. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou lucky bastard├óÔé¼┬Ø Colman said. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhy is he getting promoted over Jon!├óÔé¼┬Ø Gary said. At that moment Jon walked in, staring at a latter ├óÔé¼┼ôI├óÔé¼┬Øm getting promoted├óÔé¼┬Ø he said softly. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou lucky sod!├óÔé¼┬Ø Gary shouted at Jon. ├óÔé¼┼ôA second ago you were├óÔé¼┬Ø Josh started. ├óÔé¼┼ôShut up├óÔé¼┬Ø Gary punched him. Alex read his letter again. It said to report at six bells. He heard the time keeper bell. Once...three...six times. ├óÔé¼┼ôShit├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said ├óÔé¼┼ôI need to report to the commander├óÔé¼┬Ø. He got out of bed and started to hobble to the fort's HQ. It was one of the permanent buildings, made of wood.
Alex and Jon walked into HQ. ├óÔé¼┼ôSo├óÔé¼┬Ø the commander said ├óÔé¼┼ôYou two are the Knights who have been causing so much stir├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôSir?├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said. ├óÔé¼┼ôCome now├óÔé¼┬Ø The commander said ├óÔé¼┼ôYou, Jonathan Wingates here has been the talk of the camp. Your deeds, thought few in number, are exemplary. And you, Alex Winfred Mayflower, stood down an entire cavalry division with nothing but a crutch and a sword. You are also a excellent soldier, who has served with this army for three years without a single demerit├óÔé¼┬Ø. Both Alex and Jon gulped. Hearing compliments from one commander always felt wrong for some reason. ├óÔé¼┼ôNow├óÔé¼┬Ø The Commander said ├óÔé¼┼ôI would love to keep you both. But after reading my report the General decided to recruit you to his personal Division├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Alex and Jon looked at each other. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou are both to be given horses. Then you will ride to Centralia City and report to the Generals office. I'm sorry to lose you both. Good by├óÔé¼┬Ø The commander looked down at his papers and started to write on them. He looked up at the two soldiers, who were still standing, somewhat dumbfounded. ├óÔé¼┼ôDismissed!├óÔé¼┬Ø he said, putting an emphasis on the request, making it an order. Alex and Jon both turned around and walked out of the room. They trudged down to their tent and walked in. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhy are you two so glum?├óÔé¼┬Ø Colman asked, looking at them. ├óÔé¼┼ôWe've been recruited into the General's Personal division├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said ├óÔé¼┼ôWe're leaving today...right now, actually├óÔé¼┬Ø.
The others were muted. Sandra almost dropped the bit of clothes she was washing. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou lucky sods├óÔé¼┬Ø Gary said. ├óÔé¼┼ôSandra├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon said ├óÔé¼┼ôYour coming with us├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôDamn├óÔé¼┬Ø Josh moaned ├óÔé¼┼ônot only are they leaving, but they are taking our maid├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôI only wonder how you lived without me├óÔé¼┬Ø Sandra muttered. Josh ignored her, still talking to Alex ├óÔé¼┼ôEnjoy your trip to Centralia City├óÔé¼┬Ø he said. ├óÔé¼┼ôRight├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon said, looking nervous ├óÔé¼┼ôIt...It will be a fun trip├óÔé¼┬Ø. Alex grabbed his bag and walked out of the tent. Jon and Sandra followed. They left the tent, and their friends behind.
The ride to Centralia city was long. It started out freezing cold. Sandra walked beside the two horses, grumbling about droppings. After a while they arrived at the base of the Shield mountains. ├óÔé¼┼ôOver those├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said, pointing at the still distant peaks ├óÔé¼┼ôis the true heartland of the Empire├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôI've never been there├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon said softly ├óÔé¼┼ôI was born out here...trained at Stelvi, down near the Wastes in the West├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôWell├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said ├óÔé¼┼ôThe heartlands are a treat. Might be a trifle warm for your tastes├óÔé¼┬Ø he smiled. He was enjoying the ride, long as it was. Jon was an interesting companion, who talked long about literature and other learned matters. Unlike most Knights, Alex and Jon volunteered. It was a good way to keep there money safe and earn land, without needing to sit through the tedium of the Land Courts. So, unlike most Knights, Jon and Alex could read. Not that there was much to read that hadn't already been read.
The rode over the Shield Mountains without incident, thought Sandra made constant note of how high they were. Sandra's shoes gave out halfway over the mountains so Jon let her ride behind her. Alex thought about objecting to having a silverback be at the same level as an imperial, but Sandra still nursed hurt feelings about the 'lesser races' comment. Then Alex blinked. He was more worried that Jon would make a fuss. Was he? Did he care about Sandra's feelings? Alex couldn't decide. So he just kept riding as Sandra rode with them. Finally, after about a week of travel, they arrived over the mountains and were in the heartlands.
The heartlands were a sharp contrast with every other land on the map. The tundra they had just left was repeated down North. The deserts to the east was as dry as the Tundra and just traded unbearable cold for unbearable heat. The Wastes in the West was only occupied by the Imperials who had to mine tillium and those savages who actually liked living there. Those people made Alex's head hurt. Who would go to the North or South, let alone the Wastes, when they could live here. The heartlands was a massive valley, ringed with mountains. On the inside was a pattern of lakes and rivers that crisscrossed the city. Centralia City was really just one city, split up and down and crisscrossed by rivers.
The rivers were split and resplit into straight lines, creating a grid. People lived in that grid and farms were in the larger islands, where there was room. The farms, despite their small size, put out more food then a farm of equal, or even greater size, in any other place. The buildings of the city were made up by white stone and marble, mined from the mountain ranges. Alex and Jon stood on a outcropping of rock on the higher parts of the mountain range. They both looked out over this massive city, gaping at the size. ├óÔé¼┼ôIts still amazing├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said ├óÔé¼┼ôEvery time I see it├óÔé¼┬Ø he trailed off. ├óÔé¼┼ôIts amazing├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon agreed. Sandra was simply staring at it dumbly ├óÔé¼┼ôHey...Sandra├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said, looking down at her ├óÔé¼┼ôYou're making history├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôHuh?├óÔé¼┬Ø Sandra looked up at them, looking puzzle. ├óÔé¼┼ôYour the first silverback to get this close to Centralia City├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôReally?├óÔé¼┬Ø Sandra asked ├óÔé¼┼ôWill it cause problems├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôNo├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said ├óÔé¼┼ôWe have law's concerning slaves├óÔé¼┬Ø
Alex woke in the morning. The tent was empty. He looked around, sitting up. The other cots looked like they were still occupied, and he could see a pail where Sandra had been cleaning their clothes. Alex tried to move, to get out of bed. Then his leg started to hurt all the way through, as if he was getting stabbed again. Alex quickly moved back down, not wanting to trust his weight to his leg. He lay there, wondering where everyone else had gone. He supposed the army was stopped for the other wounded that he was sure they had.
This state of affairs lasted for quite some time, with Alex simply stairing at the celling. Then Colman walked in. He looked slightly the worse for wear, two small cuts across his left arm and a whole lot of mud smeared over his shirt. ├óÔé¼┼ôColman├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said, sitting up ├óÔé¼┼ôWhere is everyone?├óÔé¼┬Ø. Damn Silverbacks hit us again├óÔé¼┬Ø Colman said ├óÔé¼┼ôBut we pushed them back. The talk about the camp is the General is going to send some reinforcement divisions out here. Not that the'll arive in any time soon enough├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhere's Jon...and Josh and Gary?├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex asked ├óÔé¼┼ôWhere are they?├óÔé¼┬Ø Colman sat down on his cot and ran his hand over his face ├óÔé¼┼ôGary and Josh are helping with the wounded. Jon is probably getting another damn medal for valor├óÔé¼┬Ø
Another!├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said ├óÔé¼┼ôBut...what did he do this time?├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôHe saved an officer's life. The silverbacks had brought up a cannon and Jon spotted it first. He ran through two sword fights and knocked over the officer before the cannon ball took his head off. Then he topped his kill record...again├óÔé¼┬Ø. Colman groaned ├óÔé¼┼ôThat little bastard is going to either become the youngest Dragoon in this century, or he's going to die bravely in battle├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôOr both├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex muttered. At that moment Jon walked into the room, Sandra trailing behind him obediently.
├óÔé¼┼ôDamn it├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon was saying ├óÔé¼┼ôWhy do they have to hand out these medals hand over fist?├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôI don't know master├óÔé¼┬Ø Sandra said ├óÔé¼┼ôMaybe they like the cut of your jib├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôMy what?├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon asked, looking over his shoulder at her. ├óÔé¼┼ôYour jib├óÔé¼┬Ø Sandra said :You know...├óÔé¼┬Ø she leaned over and whispered something in Jon's ear. ├óÔé¼┼ôOh├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon said, his face brightening. He giggled. Alex watched this exchange silently. ├óÔé¼┼ôJon, my boy├óÔé¼┬Ø Colman said ├óÔé¼┼ôStop flirting and get over here├óÔé¼┬Ø. Jon blinked ├óÔé¼┼ôSorry├óÔé¼┬Ø he said, sitting down on his cot ├óÔé¼┼ôWhats up?├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôAlex is talking, if he aint walking├óÔé¼┬Ø Colman said. ├óÔé¼┼ôOh├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon said, looking at Alex. ├óÔé¼┼ôDid I hear correctly├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said ├óÔé¼┼ôYou got another medal!├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôuhhh...yeah├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon said, looking shiftily to the left and right. Colman sighed ├óÔé¼┼ôI tell you├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôJon has a death wish├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôI do not├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon snapped. ├óÔé¼┼ôThen why do you keep trying to kill yourself?├óÔé¼┬Ø Colman asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôI...uh...its a job├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon said, looking down ├óÔé¼┼ôA job that needs doing├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôYeeeeah├óÔé¼┬Ø Colman said, dragging the yeah out sardonically. ├óÔé¼┼ôStuff it├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon said. ├óÔé¼┼ôAll right├óÔé¼┬Ø Colman said. He lay back on his cot and closed his eyes. In a few seconds he was asleep. ├óÔé¼┼ôThats a nice trick├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said ├óÔé¼┼ôHe never acts tired until he's asleep├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôOh├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon said, looking somewhat sheepish. Alex sighed, laying back down ├óÔé¼┼ôRemember├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôIf the silverbacks attack again don't be a hero and get yourself killed├óÔé¼┬Ø. He closed his eyes and tried to sleep.
He heard some whispered conversation between Sandra and Jon. It was not quite audible, but it was irritating enough that Alex couldn't quite make it out. He ignored it, still trying to sleep..Then Jon walked out of the tent, presumably to bask in the glory he had won. Alex was just about to fall asleep when Josh and Gary walked in, proclaiming themselves loudly. ├óÔé¼┼ôWe are the Champions!├óÔé¼┬Ø Josh said. Alex shouted back ├óÔé¼┼ôI am TRYING To sleep!├óÔé¼┬Ø. They both looked somewhat abashed and shut up. Alex lay back down and jammed his eyes shut. Then he managed to fall asleep.
The next morning dawned. Alex was already awake, as his leg had been bothering him for quite a while, and he had been lying there. In pain. Alex hated wounds, in general. But seeing what his job was, they were a near constant presence. They were either small enough to be annoying, or large enough to kill you. It was very rare that a sword would strike, in just the right place to disable a man. Not unless you were fighting a trained swordsman. And Alex highly doubted that he would face such a man in the Southlands. Unless, for some reason, he had to fight Jon.
The other men woke at the ringing of the gong. Jon and Colman were first out, being more consummate professionals. Gary and Josh took their sweet time, grumbling about how they had to work with 'damn cripples'. Alex, catching that last bit, sat up ├óÔé¼┼ôHey!├óÔé¼┬Ø he said. ├óÔé¼┼ôWell├óÔé¼┬Ø Gary said, fumbling for words. Josh cut him off, grinning at Alex ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat are you complaining about, you damn cripples?├óÔé¼┬Ø They both walked out of the tent, laughing at Alex's expression. ├óÔé¼┼ôassholes├óÔé¼┬Ø he muttered. Then Sandra walked past, holding an empty pail. ├óÔé¼┼ôAre you leaving me too?├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôI need water with witch to wash your clothes, Master Alex├óÔé¼┬Ø Sandra said, walking out of the tent.
Alex lay there. ├óÔé¼┼ôDamn├óÔé¼┬Ø he muttered. The day dragged by at a painful, almost excruciating pace. Alex hated being useless even more then he hated being injured. When he said as much to Sandra she had snorted and handed him some dirty linen. Alex, who had washed his own clothes before Sandra had arrived, glowered at her. ├óÔé¼┼ôWell├óÔé¼┬Ø Sandra said ├óÔé¼┼ôYou washed your clothes before. So you might as well do something├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôI thought we paid for you so you do this stuff├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex muttered, starting to scrub the muddy shirt. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou don't pay me├óÔé¼┬Ø Sandra said, smiling broadly. ├óÔé¼┼ôWe did once├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex muttered. ├óÔé¼┼ôWell look here├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon said, walking into the tent ├óÔé¼┼ôIsn't this a nice image. Alex the warrior working for Sandra the silverback├óÔé¼┬Ø.
├óÔé¼┼ôJon├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said ├óÔé¼┼ôDon't start├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôWeren't you the one who said we shouldn't work with those of the...how did you put it? 'Lesser races'?├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon continued, putting his foot up on the cot. Sandra's face twisted ├óÔé¼┼ôLesser, is it?├óÔé¼┬Ø she yanked Alex's shirt out of his hands. ├óÔé¼┼ôI don't think you want to sully yourself with 'lesser' work├óÔé¼┬Ø Sandra said, walking out of the tent. Alex's face purpled ├óÔé¼┼ôInsolent whore!├óÔé¼┬Ø he shouted after her. Jon backhanded him. Alex lay there, his leg and face burning from pain. ├óÔé¼┼ôNever speak to Sandra like that├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon said ├óÔé¼┼ôShe's my servant and is not to be insulted in that fashion├óÔé¼┬Ø. Alex whipped his cheek ├óÔé¼┼ôYour completely out of your mind!├óÔé¼┬Ø he snapped to Jon. ├óÔé¼┼ôI will assume that your going crazy, sitting in bed├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon said ├óÔé¼┼ôI'll get you a crutch├óÔé¼┬Ø.
He walked out of the tent, fists balled. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat?├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex asked after him. He didn't get a response. He lay back in the bed, his leg still in serious pain. ├óÔé¼┼ôAll this fuss over a silverback├óÔé¼┬Ø he muttered. But even so he felt a faint feeling of guilt in the back of his mind. ├óÔé¼┼ôOh don't you start├óÔé¼┬Ø he muttered to himself ├óÔé¼┼ôIts just a silverback├óÔé¼┬Ø. Or was it? Did he really think of Sandra as 'just a silverback' anymore. Alex groaned. Jon was rubbing off on him. Think the devil's name and he will appear, the old saying went. Jon walked into the tent, holding a crutch ├óÔé¼┼ôCome on├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôLets get you to work├óÔé¼┬Ø. Alex raised his hands, about to protest. Jon tossed the crutch into his hands and Alex was left there, holding the ungainly thing.
Alex hobbled around camp. It was starting to look like an actual camp, not just a bunch of tents. A wooden wall was already surrounding half the camp, with ladders for archery. A few bubbling pots were set up under the walls, tillium crystals already starting to sprout from the formula. Scut workers were starting to chip bits off them off and fashioning more grenades. Alex was put to work there, making sure no bit of tillium ever got big enough to explode. That was how the crystal expanded, in the wilds. It got bigger and bigger till it exploded and spread more chunks of it everywhere. Then, during the summer, those chunks grew and grew until they exploded, creating a new field of tillium.
The day ended. Alex's leg was actually feeling better, the wound now just a faint red line. Maybe the old adage about putting weight on your wounds was true. He got back to the tent and collapsed face first into his cot. ├óÔé¼┼ôI hear├óÔé¼┬Ø Gary was saying as he entered ├óÔé¼┼ôThat this is going to be a new fort├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôI hear├óÔé¼┬Ø Josh cut in ├óÔé¼┼ôThat the silverbacks had burnt Bastion to the ground. ├óÔé¼┼ôNo├óÔé¼┬Ø Sandra gasped. ├óÔé¼┼ôI think thats a load of hooy├óÔé¼┬Ø Colman said, not even paying heed to Sandra, who was staring at the wall of the tent. Jon looked at her ├óÔé¼┼ôWhats wrong, Sandra?├óÔé¼┬Ø he asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôMy father lives in Bastion├óÔé¼┬Ø Sandra said softly.
Then there was a horn call. ├óÔé¼┼ôBattle lines!├óÔé¼┬Ø someone shouted ├óÔé¼┼ôToo the walls!├óÔé¼┬Ø. Alex struggled to his feet, but the others were already out of the tent. Even Sandra picked up a medical bag and ran out with them. Alex hobbled out last, swearing at his leg as he tried to pull even with Sandra, who was walking. He failed at that, and came to a stop, exhausted. The energy he had felt earlier that day was gone, and instead he felt ashen and dead. Alex looked around at the soldiers running too and fro purposefully. ├óÔé¼┼ôArchers, ready!├óÔé¼┬Ø a officer shouted. ├óÔé¼┼ôBow up! Come on men!├óÔé¼┬Ø Another man shouted from the still half completed wall.
Then something Alex never expected rounded the corner of the wall. Silverbacks...on horses. He didn't know they were even capable of such a feat. Alex looked around for a weapon, anything. Then the archers on the wall opened fire and half the calvary fell, peppered with both bolts and arrows. They had ridden right into the archer's line of fire. Alex's mouth twisted. They could ride horses. Just not very well. The other half was still charging at the camp, swinging swords. None of them had fire, witch was just another notch against them. Alex remembered he was directly in their path and dived to the side as a horse rumbled past him. He brought his crutch up and shoved it between the legs of a horse. It held, tripping the poor beast up.
The silverback on the horse fell forward and landed, his sword sliding across the snow. It landed right at Alex's feet. ├óÔé¼┼ôhuh├óÔé¼┬Ø he muttered, picking the sword up. The silverback ran at him. He brought the sword around and sliced the silverback in the chest. The silverback fell, tail twitching one last time. The other horses stopped, looking at him. The silverbacks also looked at him. ├óÔé¼┼ôYeah├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex gasped, feeling like he was going to faint, looking around at the horses and swords aimed at him. They looked ready to run him through. Alex backed up slightly and hit a wall. It was a tent. ├óÔé¼┼ôRight├óÔé¼┬Ø He said, rising his sword up. Then he lost balance, his leg giving way, and he fell backwards through the tent wall.
It was the hospital tent. The other wounded were inside, being tended to by some of the walking wounded. And Sandra was there as well. Alex stood back up, using a empty cot as a crutch. He brought his sword back up and aimed it at the silverbacks, who were dismounting and getting ready to walk into the tent. ├óÔé¼┼ôBring it├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said, sure to make a good figure before he died. A silver back ran at him. Alex parried the blow, lost balance and fell to the ground, gasping. A silverback stood over him and put his foot on his back. He shouted something in his guttural language. Sandra, hearing that, spoke up ├óÔé¼┼ôHe's not going to kill wounded├óÔé¼┬Ø. Alex tried to get to his feet.
Then he heard a battle roar and the silverbacks turned, seeing a bunch of Royal knights run straight at the silverbacks. The battle started. Alex caught a glimpse of Jon, who was fighting like a madman in the center of the mellee. Alex brought his sword up, ready to fight if need be. But the battle was over in a matter of minuets, the silverbacks surrendering. Alex dropped the sword to the ground. It was a copper sword, of poor silverback make. It broke when it hit the packed dirt ground of the tent. Then Alex fell into the cot and sighed ├óÔé¼┼ôI suppose├óÔé¼┬Ø He muttered ├óÔé¼┼ôI'll stay here for a bit├óÔé¼┬Ø.
When he woke up he was back in his cot. Jon was talking with Gary, looking happy. From that point of view, he looked very unlike someone who should be in the war. He looked very young, almost like a boy, rather then a man. Alex felt something in his gut. ├óÔé¼┼ôJon├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôI suppose this is the second time I owe you my life├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôDon't mention it├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon said ├óÔé¼┼ôI just noticed the cavalry had dismounted├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôRight├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said ├óÔé¼┼ôI will pay you back. I swear it├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôThanks├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon said, grabbing Alex's hand and pumping it. Alex nodded and fell asleep again.
The next three days were uneventful. Alex's leg healed slowly, the wall was finished and the tents were slowly changing to quickly set up cabins. Alex was still in a tent when he started walking again. A day later and the reinforcements arrived. They were truly a splendid affair, fifty Royal Knights in full plate, their steeds also decked out in horse mail. Alex and his friends all watched them as they road up to what was fast turning into a real fort. ├óÔé¼┼ôI suppose├óÔé¼┬Ø Josh said ├óÔé¼┼ôThat this place is important enough to send plates├óÔé¼┬Ø. Alex grinned, his leg still a bit wavering slightly. His outfit wore mail, and were considered a rank or two below the full plate knights. He looked at Jon, who was looking intently at the plates. ├óÔé¼┼ôNever seen someone in full plate before?├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôNo├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon said ├óÔé¼┼ôHow can they stand wearing that stuff?├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôThey stand it├óÔé¼┬Ø Colman said ├óÔé¼┼ôBecause it stops arrows in their tracks. Not at close ranges, for sure, and definitely not crossbows, but at the ranges most infantry have to worry about arrows, they can walk through it as if it were rain├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôThat must be a sight to see├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon murmured. ├óÔé¼┼ôWell├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said ├óÔé¼┼ôIts fine...till your bogged down in mud and get hacked apart by some silverback with an ax├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôI can see that being a problem├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon muttered darkly. The knights finished marching into the fort and Alex heard an officer shouted ├óÔé¼┼ôStop lallygagging and get back to work!├óÔé¼┬Ø. Alex and his friends leaped to preform, not wanting to be singled out by a angry officer. The fort required some up keep, after all.
Later that day Alex was told that he was getting promoted. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou lucky bastard├óÔé¼┬Ø Colman said. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhy is he getting promoted over Jon!├óÔé¼┬Ø Gary said. At that moment Jon walked in, staring at a latter ├óÔé¼┼ôI├óÔé¼┬Øm getting promoted├óÔé¼┬Ø he said softly. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou lucky sod!├óÔé¼┬Ø Gary shouted at Jon. ├óÔé¼┼ôA second ago you were├óÔé¼┬Ø Josh started. ├óÔé¼┼ôShut up├óÔé¼┬Ø Gary punched him. Alex read his letter again. It said to report at six bells. He heard the time keeper bell. Once...three...six times. ├óÔé¼┼ôShit├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said ├óÔé¼┼ôI need to report to the commander├óÔé¼┬Ø. He got out of bed and started to hobble to the fort's HQ. It was one of the permanent buildings, made of wood.
Alex and Jon walked into HQ. ├óÔé¼┼ôSo├óÔé¼┬Ø the commander said ├óÔé¼┼ôYou two are the Knights who have been causing so much stir├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôSir?├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said. ├óÔé¼┼ôCome now├óÔé¼┬Ø The commander said ├óÔé¼┼ôYou, Jonathan Wingates here has been the talk of the camp. Your deeds, thought few in number, are exemplary. And you, Alex Winfred Mayflower, stood down an entire cavalry division with nothing but a crutch and a sword. You are also a excellent soldier, who has served with this army for three years without a single demerit├óÔé¼┬Ø. Both Alex and Jon gulped. Hearing compliments from one commander always felt wrong for some reason. ├óÔé¼┼ôNow├óÔé¼┬Ø The Commander said ├óÔé¼┼ôI would love to keep you both. But after reading my report the General decided to recruit you to his personal Division├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Alex and Jon looked at each other. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou are both to be given horses. Then you will ride to Centralia City and report to the Generals office. I'm sorry to lose you both. Good by├óÔé¼┬Ø The commander looked down at his papers and started to write on them. He looked up at the two soldiers, who were still standing, somewhat dumbfounded. ├óÔé¼┼ôDismissed!├óÔé¼┬Ø he said, putting an emphasis on the request, making it an order. Alex and Jon both turned around and walked out of the room. They trudged down to their tent and walked in. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhy are you two so glum?├óÔé¼┬Ø Colman asked, looking at them. ├óÔé¼┼ôWe've been recruited into the General's Personal division├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said ├óÔé¼┼ôWe're leaving today...right now, actually├óÔé¼┬Ø.
The others were muted. Sandra almost dropped the bit of clothes she was washing. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou lucky sods├óÔé¼┬Ø Gary said. ├óÔé¼┼ôSandra├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon said ├óÔé¼┼ôYour coming with us├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôDamn├óÔé¼┬Ø Josh moaned ├óÔé¼┼ônot only are they leaving, but they are taking our maid├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôI only wonder how you lived without me├óÔé¼┬Ø Sandra muttered. Josh ignored her, still talking to Alex ├óÔé¼┼ôEnjoy your trip to Centralia City├óÔé¼┬Ø he said. ├óÔé¼┼ôRight├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon said, looking nervous ├óÔé¼┼ôIt...It will be a fun trip├óÔé¼┬Ø. Alex grabbed his bag and walked out of the tent. Jon and Sandra followed. They left the tent, and their friends behind.
The ride to Centralia city was long. It started out freezing cold. Sandra walked beside the two horses, grumbling about droppings. After a while they arrived at the base of the Shield mountains. ├óÔé¼┼ôOver those├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said, pointing at the still distant peaks ├óÔé¼┼ôis the true heartland of the Empire├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôI've never been there├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon said softly ├óÔé¼┼ôI was born out here...trained at Stelvi, down near the Wastes in the West├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôWell├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said ├óÔé¼┼ôThe heartlands are a treat. Might be a trifle warm for your tastes├óÔé¼┬Ø he smiled. He was enjoying the ride, long as it was. Jon was an interesting companion, who talked long about literature and other learned matters. Unlike most Knights, Alex and Jon volunteered. It was a good way to keep there money safe and earn land, without needing to sit through the tedium of the Land Courts. So, unlike most Knights, Jon and Alex could read. Not that there was much to read that hadn't already been read.
The rode over the Shield Mountains without incident, thought Sandra made constant note of how high they were. Sandra's shoes gave out halfway over the mountains so Jon let her ride behind her. Alex thought about objecting to having a silverback be at the same level as an imperial, but Sandra still nursed hurt feelings about the 'lesser races' comment. Then Alex blinked. He was more worried that Jon would make a fuss. Was he? Did he care about Sandra's feelings? Alex couldn't decide. So he just kept riding as Sandra rode with them. Finally, after about a week of travel, they arrived over the mountains and were in the heartlands.
The heartlands were a sharp contrast with every other land on the map. The tundra they had just left was repeated down North. The deserts to the east was as dry as the Tundra and just traded unbearable cold for unbearable heat. The Wastes in the West was only occupied by the Imperials who had to mine tillium and those savages who actually liked living there. Those people made Alex's head hurt. Who would go to the North or South, let alone the Wastes, when they could live here. The heartlands was a massive valley, ringed with mountains. On the inside was a pattern of lakes and rivers that crisscrossed the city. Centralia City was really just one city, split up and down and crisscrossed by rivers.
The rivers were split and resplit into straight lines, creating a grid. People lived in that grid and farms were in the larger islands, where there was room. The farms, despite their small size, put out more food then a farm of equal, or even greater size, in any other place. The buildings of the city were made up by white stone and marble, mined from the mountain ranges. Alex and Jon stood on a outcropping of rock on the higher parts of the mountain range. They both looked out over this massive city, gaping at the size. ├óÔé¼┼ôIts still amazing├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said ├óÔé¼┼ôEvery time I see it├óÔé¼┬Ø he trailed off. ├óÔé¼┼ôIts amazing├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon agreed. Sandra was simply staring at it dumbly ├óÔé¼┼ôHey...Sandra├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said, looking down at her ├óÔé¼┼ôYou're making history├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôHuh?├óÔé¼┬Ø Sandra looked up at them, looking puzzle. ├óÔé¼┼ôYour the first silverback to get this close to Centralia City├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôReally?├óÔé¼┬Ø Sandra asked ├óÔé¼┼ôWill it cause problems├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôNo├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said ├óÔé¼┼ôWe have law's concerning slaves├óÔé¼┬Ø
Jon reveals another dribble about his past. Alex does something very stupid and does something even stupider to try and fix it. Sandra gets annoyed at Imperial's views on sex.
They arrived at the pub. But they were stopped when a bouncer pointed at a sign. It said ├óÔé¼┼ôno dogs├óÔé¼┬Ø. Sandra sat down on the steps, her tail swishing back and forth. Jon tossed the bouncer a coin ├óÔé¼┼ôProtect this woman, or I will cut your head off├óÔé¼┬Ø. The bouncer wordlessly caught the coin and nodded. Jon and Alex walked into the pub. It was a musty place, with thick smoke gently wafting over the ground. The drinkers were mostly confined to the tables, none of them even looking up at the new comers. Alex and Jon both sat down at the bar table. ├óÔé¼┼ôAh├óÔé¼┬Ø the bartender said, pausing in his polishing ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat can I do for you young lords?├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôI'm not a lord├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon said ├óÔé¼┼ôJust a Knight├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat do you want?├óÔé¼┬Ø the bartender asked, his smile freezing slightly. ├óÔé¼┼ôTwo beers├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said. The bartender smiled and grabbed two cups out and poured beer into them. Then he walked off to help someone else. Alex looked at Jon, who was staring into his cup ├óÔé¼┼ôI can see├óÔé¼┬Ø He said ├óÔé¼┼ôWhy you hate your father├óÔé¼┬Ø. Jon nodded, gulping ├óÔé¼┼ôHe was either there or he wasn't. He always hated me for not being a daughter├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôReally?├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex asked ├óÔé¼┼ôOne would think it would be the other way round├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôNot for my father├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon said darkly ├óÔé¼┼ôMy sister joined the Priesthood when she was fourteen├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôThats...young├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said, thinking of how young Jon looked.
├óÔé¼┼ôYes├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon said ├óÔé¼┼ôBecause she hated it so much there├óÔé¼┬Ø. Alex tried to imagine what could be so terrible it would drive both a son and a daughter out of a house. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat did your father do, to drive her out so?├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôHe...├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon trailed off, looking at the cup ├óÔé¼┼ômy sister...she said├óÔé¼┬Ø he couldn't continue. Alex saw a tear squeeze out from the side of his eye. It ran down his nose and dropped into his beer. ├óÔé¼┼ôHey├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said ├óÔé¼┼ôDon't worry about it. I don't need to no├óÔé¼┬Ø. Jon ran his hand under his nose, whipping away the tear ├óÔé¼┼ôI have to tell you├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôMy sister...she said Father...touched her. At night├óÔé¼┬Ø. Alex felt like he had been punched in the chest.
Jon shook his head ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd in an instant I believed her. I knew it, or thought it, long before that point. But those words made it solid. And...and I knew I couldn't stay. So I left as soon as possible├óÔé¼┬Ø. Alex's mouth was dry, so he drank it down ├óÔé¼┼ôWhy don't you report your father to the Death Hand? They would end him. Your sister could back you up├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôBut that is where the problem is├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon said ├óÔé¼┼ôIt would mean telling the world at large what happened to my sister├óÔé¼┬Ø he looked away ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd she would be tossed out of the church. She would be 'unclean' because my father forced himself on her├óÔé¼┬Ø. He looked back at the cup ├óÔé¼┼ôSo my father lives in luxuries, safe from retribution├óÔé¼┬Ø. Alex sighed ├óÔé¼┼ôIf its how the Gods want us to dance, we dance├óÔé¼┬Ø.
They finished their drinks and walked out of the pub. Sandra was chatting with the bouncer, who was looking at her bosom hungrily. Sandra had filled out considerably, now that she was being fed better and, as little as Alex wanted to admit it, she was starting to cause his over active manhood to rise from its slumber. He was hitting that age, he supposed. He looked away from Sandra as Jon ordered her to come with them. They both started to walk to the Armory, a squat building with many guard. Sandra, once again, was asked to wait at the door. She, used to it, tried to chat up a guard. The guard slapped her, his palm leaving an angry red mark on her cheek.
Alex had to hold Jon back, but he delivered an equally furious stream of words to the guard. He reminded the guard of their vows and told them if they dared to manhandle a woman, of any race, he would see them dead. The guards took two young Dragoon's seriously, and snapped to it. He even bowed to Sandra. Sandra, not pushing her luck, accepted his apology. Alex sighed as he looked through the arms and armor that were being offered at the Armory. He was given a full suit of plate mail, but he declined it. He instead chose a very fine, blessed sword, and a excellently crafted shield. Then he got some fine chain mail. It was lighter then he expected. Then he heard Jon's exited shout ├óÔé¼┼ôAlex! Come here!├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Alex walked over to Jon. Jon had found the ranged weapon zone. ├óÔé¼┼ôOfficer├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat are these things?├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôGrenades├óÔé¼┬Ø An officer said, looking up from his work. ├óÔé¼┼ôThese don't look like grenades├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon said, looking over the rounded spheres. ├óÔé¼┼ôThey explode on contact├óÔé¼┬Ø the man said ├óÔé¼┼ôYou throw them and then they blast apart├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôReally?├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon asked ├óÔé¼┼ôWhen are these getting shipped to the Southlands├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôThese├óÔé¼┬Ø the man said ├óÔé¼┼ôAre for Dragoon's only├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôOh├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon murmured ├óÔé¼┼ôI'll take ten├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôTen?├óÔé¼┬Ø the man said ├óÔé¼┼ôYou could take thirty, actually. But okay├óÔé¼┬Ø.
├óÔé¼┼ôSo├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon said, looking at Alex and Sandra ├óÔé¼┼ôI need to handle some things in the City├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat things?├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôI'm going to speak with my sister├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon said ├óÔé¼┼ôWe need to visit. So why don't you and Sandra, head that way├óÔé¼┬Ø he pointed over the mountains ├óÔé¼┼ôand I'll meet you as you travel├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôAll right├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said ├óÔé¼┼ôI'll keep Sandra safe├óÔé¼┬Ø. Sandra, however, was looking depressed. ├óÔé¼┼ôDon't worry├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon said ├óÔé¼┼ôWe'll meet back up in two days, at least├óÔé¼┬Ø. Sandra gulped ├óÔé¼┼ôAll right├óÔé¼┬Ø She said. Jon nodded ├óÔé¼┼ôSandra gets my horse, for now├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Alex watched as Jon left. Then he looked at Sandra. Excitement flared in his loins as he looked at her. Even the tail and fur didn't matter too much to his eye. He forced himself to be calm and looked away. ├óÔé¼┼ôLets go├óÔé¼┬Ø he said. They both set off, leaving the city behind him. Alex forced his mind to focus on Sandra's prattle as she talked endlessly about her menial tasks. Then his mind snapped to attention when Sandra said ├óÔé¼┼ôDo you find me attractive?├óÔé¼┬Ø. Alex snapped his head around to look at her. She was looking at him, her eyes beady. Her tail swished in time with the horse's tail. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat?├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôDo you find me attractive?├óÔé¼┬Ø she asked.
├óÔé¼┼ôWhy do you ask this?├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôBecause I saw you looking├óÔé¼┬Ø Sandra said ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd I smelt your arousal├óÔé¼┬Ø. Alex, who's loins were betraying his mind, felt flustered ├óÔé¼┼ôYou have a fine nose├óÔé¼┬Ø he muttered. ├óÔé¼┼ôDo you?├óÔé¼┬Ø Sandra said. ├óÔé¼┼ôYes├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex muttered, his face red. It felt odd to be embarrassed by talking about a woman's body with the woman looking at him. ├óÔé¼┼ôThank you├óÔé¼┬Ø Sandra said ├óÔé¼┼ôbut my master said that I was to remain pure. You can use your hands├óÔé¼┬Ø. Alex's spin shot straight up, eyes wide. Sandra was looking back out across the maintains that they were climbing. ├óÔé¼┼ôSandra├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said ├óÔé¼┼ôI never would use my hands in such a fashion├óÔé¼┬Ø.
├óÔé¼┼ôWhy not?├óÔé¼┬Ø Sandra asked ├óÔé¼┼ôIf you don't you'd swell up and explode├óÔé¼┬Ø. Alex, who's face felt like it was on fire, stopped talking. They road till night, not talking much. Alex thought about using his hands, but he refrained. What would word with a silverback would never work with a Imperial. He was better then them. But his dreams were odd, very fragmented and disjointed. One second he would be kissing a woman, then the next he would be stabbed in the back by a Aryia. He awoke in a sweat. Sandra, who was sleeping a few inch's away from, murmured in her sleep. Alex's hand reached for her, but stopped half way. He was not sure what he wanted to do.
He wanted something, but he wasn't sure if Sandra was it. He lay back and tried to clear his thoughts. Jon's young face rose to mind. He missed his friend. Then he heard Sandra roll over. The reminder that she was close flared in his crotch. Alex closed his eyes, not sure witch had come first. The roll over, or the sudden heat. Did his manhood awaken before Sandra rolled over, when he was thinking of...Jon. He wasn't sure. He looked at Sandra, who's blanket had fallen partly off. Her chest rose and fell as she breathed in and out. Alex reached out and brushed some hair out of her face. Then he got up and walked outside into the night.
He stood there and looked out over Centralia City. He was beginning to realize why Josh and Gary, who were both twenty, wanted to visit the 'night life' so much. He gulped and turned around. He was wondering why no one did the math yet. He had joined the army three years and had admitted that he was only seventeen. He had joined the army when he was still two years underage. He looked twenty. He had always looked older, the same way that Jon looked younger. Alex turned around and walked back in the tent. Sandra had rolled onto her back, her blanket falling forward. Alex was frozen with indecision. A very dark thought slowly worked through his mind
Rape her the thought worked its way through his mind. To Alex's shame, his body tensed as if ready to do the odious deed. He imagined pressing his hand against her lips, closing off her mouth. She wouldn't be able to scream.... Alex turned around and bit his knuckle. The pain snapped him out of it. He then threw himself into the bed, not caring how much noise he made. He heard Sandra gasp as he landed, sitting up. ├óÔé¼┼ôAlex├óÔé¼┬Ø Sandra said ├óÔé¼┼ôAre you okay?├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôFine├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said, not looking at her. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou were looking at me├óÔé¼┬Ø Sandra said softly. Alex squeezed his eyes shut ├óÔé¼┼ôGo to sleep, servant├óÔé¼┬Ø. Sandra lay back down. After ten or so minutes Alex managed to drift off into a fitful sleep
In the morning neither of them spoke to one another. They road till night, and got almost over the mountains. Then they set up camp again, still speaking little. Alex was confused. His mind was a turmoil of strange emotions. Sometimes he could barely notice Sandra's presence, other times he wanted to throw her on the ground and live out his fantasy's. He wanted to have Jon come back. While Jon was there everything seemed clear. Alex set up the tent, wishing that Sandra would sleep outside so that she wouldn't be so tantalizingly close and so far away. He turned around in the tent and saw that Sandra was standing behind him, in the tent door. He stepped past him, his hand brushing on her buttocks. Her tail twitched.
Sandra's hand grabbed his hand, forcing it to stay there. ├óÔé¼┼ôSandra├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex gasped. Sandra turned around ├óÔé¼┼ôSilverbacks are mostly...inactive. I had to learn how to get...active by smelling the arousal of others├óÔé¼┬Ø she said, her hand still clasped around Alex's wrist. ├óÔé¼┼ôSandra├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said ├óÔé¼┼ôyour master said you must remain pure├óÔé¼┬Ø. They both stood still. Sandra let go of his wrist ├óÔé¼┼ôYou watched me last night├óÔé¼┬Ø She said ├óÔé¼┼ôYou watched me for so long, not moving. What was going through your head?├óÔé¼┬Ø. Alex sighed ├óÔé¼┼ôI don't know├óÔé¼┬Ø he said. ├óÔé¼┼ôYour young, in some ways and old in others├óÔé¼┬Ø Sandra sighed ├óÔé¼┼ôPart of me wants to mother you, the other part of me...doesn't know what to do├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Alex grabbed her and forced her to the ground. Sandra didn't resist, but neither did she help him along. Alex's hands found her ample breasts and squeezed, hard. Sandra hissed, her teeth baring. Alex then slammed into her. It was over in a few minutes, both of them panting softly in the night. Sandra was still. Alex was still. Then Alex stood up and yanked his pants up. Then he realized what he had done. Sandra stared at him. ├óÔé¼┼ôOh gods├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex moaned ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat have I done?├óÔé¼┬Ø. Sandra buttoned up her pants and felt her body over for bruises. Then she stood ├óÔé¼┼ôI will not speak of this├óÔé¼┬Ø She said ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd neither will you├óÔé¼┬Ø. Alex gulped, not even worried that he was being ordered around by a servant. ├óÔé¼┼ôIf Jon asks how the trip was├óÔé¼┬Ø Sandra said ├óÔé¼┼ôWe will say it was fine. There were no problems├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Alex gulped ├óÔé¼┼ôRight├óÔé¼┬Ø He said. Sandra nodded, slowly running her hand down her hair ├óÔé¼┼ôI think it was just something you needed to get out of your system├óÔé¼┬Ø she said ├óÔé¼┼ôDon't feel bad about it├óÔé¼┬Ø. Alex did feel bad about it. He felt horrible. He had just touched his friends servant. Servants were supposed to uphold the honor of their masters. He had violated that honor, and had just violated the honor of Jon. His mind and soul was in turmoil, guilt racking through him. He swore, from that day forth, he would treat Sandra as a sister. He went to sleep and found that it was easy. Maybe now that he knew what was there, he did not want to explore it as much.
Jon met up with them next day. Alex heard his shout when he was laughing at a joke Sandra had just told . He looked up and saw Jon riding. He had been going faster them because, unlike two riders, he could simply roll out a bed roll at night rather then set up a tent. He also was riding his horse pretty hard, the beast was breathing heavily. ├óÔé¼┼ôHello!├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon said ├óÔé¼┼ôI hope that all was well├óÔé¼┬Ø. Alex felt his guilt roil up again. He had a sudden flash of him forcing Sandra to the ground. But he forced a smile to his mouth and shouted ├óÔé¼┼ôHello!├óÔé¼┬Ø. Jon rode up to them and slowly stopped. Sandra, who was beaming, leaned over and hugged Jon.
They all started to ride. When they set down for the night, Alex knew he couldn't keep silent any more. He brought Jon aside. ├óÔé¼┼ôJon├óÔé¼┬Ø He said slowly ├óÔé¼┼ôI...I have dishonored myself├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat happened?├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon asked, looking worried. ├óÔé¼┼ôIt was...a night ago├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said, keeping his eyes locked forward ├óÔé¼┼ôI forced myself on Sandra and took her...pride├óÔé¼┬Ø. His face reddened. Jon was silent, his mouth gaping. ├óÔé¼┼ôAlex!├óÔé¼┬Ø Sandra shouted. She must have heard ├óÔé¼┼ôYou moron!├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôI can't keep quite any longer├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said ├óÔé¼┼ôI am a foolish man who let his loins think for him, rather then his mind. I took your Servant against your and her will├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôFirst├óÔé¼┬Ø Sandra said, looking to Jon ├óÔé¼┼ôIt was not against my will. I would have been screaming a lot more if it was not. Second...Jon...please understand. It was something Alex needed to get out of his system├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Jon's hand balled up into a fist as he looked at Alex. ├óÔé¼┼ôIf you wish├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said ├óÔé¼┼ôI would lay my life in your hands├óÔé¼┬Ø. He knelt and bared his neck. ├óÔé¼┼ôFor the God's sake!├óÔé¼┬Ø Sandra shouted ├óÔé¼┼ôIt was just a quick one! My 'honor ' is exactly the same as it was when I joined you. I was a prostitute!├óÔé¼┬Ø. Jon and Alex ignored her, one looking at the other. Alex squeezed his eyes shut. He was sure Jon would kill him. ├óÔé¼┼ôAlex├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon said, his voice tightly controlled ├óÔé¼┼ôEvery one of us does something we wish we could...undo. I have experience with those matters. I forgive you├óÔé¼┬Ø. Alex stood up faster then he thought possible, staring at Jon ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat!├óÔé¼┬Ø he shouted. ├óÔé¼┼ôI forgive you!├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon shouted back ├óÔé¼┼ôIf Sandra forgives you as well, then I forgive you├óÔé¼┬Ø.
├óÔé¼┼ôNothing that needs forgiving├óÔé¼┬Ø Sandra muttered ├óÔé¼┼ôbut you Imperials are all stuck up prigs├óÔé¼┬Ø. Jon growled at that, willing to take only so much from a silverback. The rest of the night passed quietly. Alex felt more and more at peace. Sandra was attractive, easy to look at, yes. But she no longer aroused him as she did. They set out to the West. In three days they had arrived at the Western City.
They arrived at the pub. But they were stopped when a bouncer pointed at a sign. It said ├óÔé¼┼ôno dogs├óÔé¼┬Ø. Sandra sat down on the steps, her tail swishing back and forth. Jon tossed the bouncer a coin ├óÔé¼┼ôProtect this woman, or I will cut your head off├óÔé¼┬Ø. The bouncer wordlessly caught the coin and nodded. Jon and Alex walked into the pub. It was a musty place, with thick smoke gently wafting over the ground. The drinkers were mostly confined to the tables, none of them even looking up at the new comers. Alex and Jon both sat down at the bar table. ├óÔé¼┼ôAh├óÔé¼┬Ø the bartender said, pausing in his polishing ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat can I do for you young lords?├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôI'm not a lord├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon said ├óÔé¼┼ôJust a Knight├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat do you want?├óÔé¼┬Ø the bartender asked, his smile freezing slightly. ├óÔé¼┼ôTwo beers├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said. The bartender smiled and grabbed two cups out and poured beer into them. Then he walked off to help someone else. Alex looked at Jon, who was staring into his cup ├óÔé¼┼ôI can see├óÔé¼┬Ø He said ├óÔé¼┼ôWhy you hate your father├óÔé¼┬Ø. Jon nodded, gulping ├óÔé¼┼ôHe was either there or he wasn't. He always hated me for not being a daughter├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôReally?├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex asked ├óÔé¼┼ôOne would think it would be the other way round├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôNot for my father├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon said darkly ├óÔé¼┼ôMy sister joined the Priesthood when she was fourteen├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôThats...young├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said, thinking of how young Jon looked.
├óÔé¼┼ôYes├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon said ├óÔé¼┼ôBecause she hated it so much there├óÔé¼┬Ø. Alex tried to imagine what could be so terrible it would drive both a son and a daughter out of a house. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat did your father do, to drive her out so?├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôHe...├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon trailed off, looking at the cup ├óÔé¼┼ômy sister...she said├óÔé¼┬Ø he couldn't continue. Alex saw a tear squeeze out from the side of his eye. It ran down his nose and dropped into his beer. ├óÔé¼┼ôHey├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said ├óÔé¼┼ôDon't worry about it. I don't need to no├óÔé¼┬Ø. Jon ran his hand under his nose, whipping away the tear ├óÔé¼┼ôI have to tell you├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôMy sister...she said Father...touched her. At night├óÔé¼┬Ø. Alex felt like he had been punched in the chest.
Jon shook his head ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd in an instant I believed her. I knew it, or thought it, long before that point. But those words made it solid. And...and I knew I couldn't stay. So I left as soon as possible├óÔé¼┬Ø. Alex's mouth was dry, so he drank it down ├óÔé¼┼ôWhy don't you report your father to the Death Hand? They would end him. Your sister could back you up├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôBut that is where the problem is├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon said ├óÔé¼┼ôIt would mean telling the world at large what happened to my sister├óÔé¼┬Ø he looked away ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd she would be tossed out of the church. She would be 'unclean' because my father forced himself on her├óÔé¼┬Ø. He looked back at the cup ├óÔé¼┼ôSo my father lives in luxuries, safe from retribution├óÔé¼┬Ø. Alex sighed ├óÔé¼┼ôIf its how the Gods want us to dance, we dance├óÔé¼┬Ø.
They finished their drinks and walked out of the pub. Sandra was chatting with the bouncer, who was looking at her bosom hungrily. Sandra had filled out considerably, now that she was being fed better and, as little as Alex wanted to admit it, she was starting to cause his over active manhood to rise from its slumber. He was hitting that age, he supposed. He looked away from Sandra as Jon ordered her to come with them. They both started to walk to the Armory, a squat building with many guard. Sandra, once again, was asked to wait at the door. She, used to it, tried to chat up a guard. The guard slapped her, his palm leaving an angry red mark on her cheek.
Alex had to hold Jon back, but he delivered an equally furious stream of words to the guard. He reminded the guard of their vows and told them if they dared to manhandle a woman, of any race, he would see them dead. The guards took two young Dragoon's seriously, and snapped to it. He even bowed to Sandra. Sandra, not pushing her luck, accepted his apology. Alex sighed as he looked through the arms and armor that were being offered at the Armory. He was given a full suit of plate mail, but he declined it. He instead chose a very fine, blessed sword, and a excellently crafted shield. Then he got some fine chain mail. It was lighter then he expected. Then he heard Jon's exited shout ├óÔé¼┼ôAlex! Come here!├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Alex walked over to Jon. Jon had found the ranged weapon zone. ├óÔé¼┼ôOfficer├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat are these things?├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôGrenades├óÔé¼┬Ø An officer said, looking up from his work. ├óÔé¼┼ôThese don't look like grenades├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon said, looking over the rounded spheres. ├óÔé¼┼ôThey explode on contact├óÔé¼┬Ø the man said ├óÔé¼┼ôYou throw them and then they blast apart├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôReally?├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon asked ├óÔé¼┼ôWhen are these getting shipped to the Southlands├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôThese├óÔé¼┬Ø the man said ├óÔé¼┼ôAre for Dragoon's only├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôOh├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon murmured ├óÔé¼┼ôI'll take ten├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôTen?├óÔé¼┬Ø the man said ├óÔé¼┼ôYou could take thirty, actually. But okay├óÔé¼┬Ø.
├óÔé¼┼ôSo├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon said, looking at Alex and Sandra ├óÔé¼┼ôI need to handle some things in the City├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat things?├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôI'm going to speak with my sister├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon said ├óÔé¼┼ôWe need to visit. So why don't you and Sandra, head that way├óÔé¼┬Ø he pointed over the mountains ├óÔé¼┼ôand I'll meet you as you travel├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôAll right├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said ├óÔé¼┼ôI'll keep Sandra safe├óÔé¼┬Ø. Sandra, however, was looking depressed. ├óÔé¼┼ôDon't worry├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon said ├óÔé¼┼ôWe'll meet back up in two days, at least├óÔé¼┬Ø. Sandra gulped ├óÔé¼┼ôAll right├óÔé¼┬Ø She said. Jon nodded ├óÔé¼┼ôSandra gets my horse, for now├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Alex watched as Jon left. Then he looked at Sandra. Excitement flared in his loins as he looked at her. Even the tail and fur didn't matter too much to his eye. He forced himself to be calm and looked away. ├óÔé¼┼ôLets go├óÔé¼┬Ø he said. They both set off, leaving the city behind him. Alex forced his mind to focus on Sandra's prattle as she talked endlessly about her menial tasks. Then his mind snapped to attention when Sandra said ├óÔé¼┼ôDo you find me attractive?├óÔé¼┬Ø. Alex snapped his head around to look at her. She was looking at him, her eyes beady. Her tail swished in time with the horse's tail. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat?├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôDo you find me attractive?├óÔé¼┬Ø she asked.
├óÔé¼┼ôWhy do you ask this?├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôBecause I saw you looking├óÔé¼┬Ø Sandra said ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd I smelt your arousal├óÔé¼┬Ø. Alex, who's loins were betraying his mind, felt flustered ├óÔé¼┼ôYou have a fine nose├óÔé¼┬Ø he muttered. ├óÔé¼┼ôDo you?├óÔé¼┬Ø Sandra said. ├óÔé¼┼ôYes├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex muttered, his face red. It felt odd to be embarrassed by talking about a woman's body with the woman looking at him. ├óÔé¼┼ôThank you├óÔé¼┬Ø Sandra said ├óÔé¼┼ôbut my master said that I was to remain pure. You can use your hands├óÔé¼┬Ø. Alex's spin shot straight up, eyes wide. Sandra was looking back out across the maintains that they were climbing. ├óÔé¼┼ôSandra├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said ├óÔé¼┼ôI never would use my hands in such a fashion├óÔé¼┬Ø.
├óÔé¼┼ôWhy not?├óÔé¼┬Ø Sandra asked ├óÔé¼┼ôIf you don't you'd swell up and explode├óÔé¼┬Ø. Alex, who's face felt like it was on fire, stopped talking. They road till night, not talking much. Alex thought about using his hands, but he refrained. What would word with a silverback would never work with a Imperial. He was better then them. But his dreams were odd, very fragmented and disjointed. One second he would be kissing a woman, then the next he would be stabbed in the back by a Aryia. He awoke in a sweat. Sandra, who was sleeping a few inch's away from, murmured in her sleep. Alex's hand reached for her, but stopped half way. He was not sure what he wanted to do.
He wanted something, but he wasn't sure if Sandra was it. He lay back and tried to clear his thoughts. Jon's young face rose to mind. He missed his friend. Then he heard Sandra roll over. The reminder that she was close flared in his crotch. Alex closed his eyes, not sure witch had come first. The roll over, or the sudden heat. Did his manhood awaken before Sandra rolled over, when he was thinking of...Jon. He wasn't sure. He looked at Sandra, who's blanket had fallen partly off. Her chest rose and fell as she breathed in and out. Alex reached out and brushed some hair out of her face. Then he got up and walked outside into the night.
He stood there and looked out over Centralia City. He was beginning to realize why Josh and Gary, who were both twenty, wanted to visit the 'night life' so much. He gulped and turned around. He was wondering why no one did the math yet. He had joined the army three years and had admitted that he was only seventeen. He had joined the army when he was still two years underage. He looked twenty. He had always looked older, the same way that Jon looked younger. Alex turned around and walked back in the tent. Sandra had rolled onto her back, her blanket falling forward. Alex was frozen with indecision. A very dark thought slowly worked through his mind
Rape her the thought worked its way through his mind. To Alex's shame, his body tensed as if ready to do the odious deed. He imagined pressing his hand against her lips, closing off her mouth. She wouldn't be able to scream.... Alex turned around and bit his knuckle. The pain snapped him out of it. He then threw himself into the bed, not caring how much noise he made. He heard Sandra gasp as he landed, sitting up. ├óÔé¼┼ôAlex├óÔé¼┬Ø Sandra said ├óÔé¼┼ôAre you okay?├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôFine├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said, not looking at her. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou were looking at me├óÔé¼┬Ø Sandra said softly. Alex squeezed his eyes shut ├óÔé¼┼ôGo to sleep, servant├óÔé¼┬Ø. Sandra lay back down. After ten or so minutes Alex managed to drift off into a fitful sleep
In the morning neither of them spoke to one another. They road till night, and got almost over the mountains. Then they set up camp again, still speaking little. Alex was confused. His mind was a turmoil of strange emotions. Sometimes he could barely notice Sandra's presence, other times he wanted to throw her on the ground and live out his fantasy's. He wanted to have Jon come back. While Jon was there everything seemed clear. Alex set up the tent, wishing that Sandra would sleep outside so that she wouldn't be so tantalizingly close and so far away. He turned around in the tent and saw that Sandra was standing behind him, in the tent door. He stepped past him, his hand brushing on her buttocks. Her tail twitched.
Sandra's hand grabbed his hand, forcing it to stay there. ├óÔé¼┼ôSandra├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex gasped. Sandra turned around ├óÔé¼┼ôSilverbacks are mostly...inactive. I had to learn how to get...active by smelling the arousal of others├óÔé¼┬Ø she said, her hand still clasped around Alex's wrist. ├óÔé¼┼ôSandra├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said ├óÔé¼┼ôyour master said you must remain pure├óÔé¼┬Ø. They both stood still. Sandra let go of his wrist ├óÔé¼┼ôYou watched me last night├óÔé¼┬Ø She said ├óÔé¼┼ôYou watched me for so long, not moving. What was going through your head?├óÔé¼┬Ø. Alex sighed ├óÔé¼┼ôI don't know├óÔé¼┬Ø he said. ├óÔé¼┼ôYour young, in some ways and old in others├óÔé¼┬Ø Sandra sighed ├óÔé¼┼ôPart of me wants to mother you, the other part of me...doesn't know what to do├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Alex grabbed her and forced her to the ground. Sandra didn't resist, but neither did she help him along. Alex's hands found her ample breasts and squeezed, hard. Sandra hissed, her teeth baring. Alex then slammed into her. It was over in a few minutes, both of them panting softly in the night. Sandra was still. Alex was still. Then Alex stood up and yanked his pants up. Then he realized what he had done. Sandra stared at him. ├óÔé¼┼ôOh gods├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex moaned ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat have I done?├óÔé¼┬Ø. Sandra buttoned up her pants and felt her body over for bruises. Then she stood ├óÔé¼┼ôI will not speak of this├óÔé¼┬Ø She said ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd neither will you├óÔé¼┬Ø. Alex gulped, not even worried that he was being ordered around by a servant. ├óÔé¼┼ôIf Jon asks how the trip was├óÔé¼┬Ø Sandra said ├óÔé¼┼ôWe will say it was fine. There were no problems├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Alex gulped ├óÔé¼┼ôRight├óÔé¼┬Ø He said. Sandra nodded, slowly running her hand down her hair ├óÔé¼┼ôI think it was just something you needed to get out of your system├óÔé¼┬Ø she said ├óÔé¼┼ôDon't feel bad about it├óÔé¼┬Ø. Alex did feel bad about it. He felt horrible. He had just touched his friends servant. Servants were supposed to uphold the honor of their masters. He had violated that honor, and had just violated the honor of Jon. His mind and soul was in turmoil, guilt racking through him. He swore, from that day forth, he would treat Sandra as a sister. He went to sleep and found that it was easy. Maybe now that he knew what was there, he did not want to explore it as much.
Jon met up with them next day. Alex heard his shout when he was laughing at a joke Sandra had just told . He looked up and saw Jon riding. He had been going faster them because, unlike two riders, he could simply roll out a bed roll at night rather then set up a tent. He also was riding his horse pretty hard, the beast was breathing heavily. ├óÔé¼┼ôHello!├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon said ├óÔé¼┼ôI hope that all was well├óÔé¼┬Ø. Alex felt his guilt roil up again. He had a sudden flash of him forcing Sandra to the ground. But he forced a smile to his mouth and shouted ├óÔé¼┼ôHello!├óÔé¼┬Ø. Jon rode up to them and slowly stopped. Sandra, who was beaming, leaned over and hugged Jon.
They all started to ride. When they set down for the night, Alex knew he couldn't keep silent any more. He brought Jon aside. ├óÔé¼┼ôJon├óÔé¼┬Ø He said slowly ├óÔé¼┼ôI...I have dishonored myself├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat happened?├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon asked, looking worried. ├óÔé¼┼ôIt was...a night ago├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said, keeping his eyes locked forward ├óÔé¼┼ôI forced myself on Sandra and took her...pride├óÔé¼┬Ø. His face reddened. Jon was silent, his mouth gaping. ├óÔé¼┼ôAlex!├óÔé¼┬Ø Sandra shouted. She must have heard ├óÔé¼┼ôYou moron!├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôI can't keep quite any longer├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said ├óÔé¼┼ôI am a foolish man who let his loins think for him, rather then his mind. I took your Servant against your and her will├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôFirst├óÔé¼┬Ø Sandra said, looking to Jon ├óÔé¼┼ôIt was not against my will. I would have been screaming a lot more if it was not. Second...Jon...please understand. It was something Alex needed to get out of his system├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Jon's hand balled up into a fist as he looked at Alex. ├óÔé¼┼ôIf you wish├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said ├óÔé¼┼ôI would lay my life in your hands├óÔé¼┬Ø. He knelt and bared his neck. ├óÔé¼┼ôFor the God's sake!├óÔé¼┬Ø Sandra shouted ├óÔé¼┼ôIt was just a quick one! My 'honor ' is exactly the same as it was when I joined you. I was a prostitute!├óÔé¼┬Ø. Jon and Alex ignored her, one looking at the other. Alex squeezed his eyes shut. He was sure Jon would kill him. ├óÔé¼┼ôAlex├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon said, his voice tightly controlled ├óÔé¼┼ôEvery one of us does something we wish we could...undo. I have experience with those matters. I forgive you├óÔé¼┬Ø. Alex stood up faster then he thought possible, staring at Jon ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat!├óÔé¼┬Ø he shouted. ├óÔé¼┼ôI forgive you!├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon shouted back ├óÔé¼┼ôIf Sandra forgives you as well, then I forgive you├óÔé¼┬Ø.
├óÔé¼┼ôNothing that needs forgiving├óÔé¼┬Ø Sandra muttered ├óÔé¼┼ôbut you Imperials are all stuck up prigs├óÔé¼┬Ø. Jon growled at that, willing to take only so much from a silverback. The rest of the night passed quietly. Alex felt more and more at peace. Sandra was attractive, easy to look at, yes. But she no longer aroused him as she did. They set out to the West. In three days they had arrived at the Western City.
Sorry for the delay. My internet is...scratchy at best. And I'm in a beach house. So its funderfull to swim in the ocien!
The Western City, after Centralia City, felt...wrong. It was perfect square, hacked out of the surrounding wasteland by sheer brute force. Outside of the Centralia provinces, slavery was not just legal, it was smiled on. Silverbacks and Easterners were viably in chains. Sandra turned away from two Silverback men who were being beaten for some infraction. Jon frowned at it, reaching for his sword. But Alex placed his hand on his arm ├óÔé¼┼ôNo├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôWe don't have time!├óÔé¼┬Ø. Jon looked at him, anger dancing in his eyes. ├óÔé¼┼ôWe have our orders├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex hissed ├óÔé¼┼ôIf we stop to right every wrong we will arrive ten years late!├óÔé¼┬Ø. Jon let go of his sword and jerked his arm our of Alex's hold.
They road down the main street of the city until they arrived at the Mayoral Palace. There they dismounted, leaving Sandra to tend to their horses. Alex pounded his hand on the door and after a few moments the door was opened by a silent Aryia brawler. The four armed creature looked at them, its eight eyes somehow mournful. Jon blanched, and a moment later Alex saw it too. The Aryia's mouthes had been sown shut. The Aryia gestured, letting them in. Alex and Jon walked in, looking around. The manor was very huge, on the inside and very odd.
The oddest was the tillium crystals that made up the chandeliers. After some closer examination, Alex realized that they were even more valuable then that. ├óÔé¼┼ôThose are dilute tillium!├óÔé¼┬Ø he said, pointing. Jon did a double take ├óÔé¼┼ôI had... My sister has a neckless with a single bit of those! Its the most valuable thing in the house├óÔé¼┬Ø he said, also pointing. ├óÔé¼┼ôYes, they are most valuable├óÔé¼┬Ø A voice said. Alex and Jon looked up. It was a woman. Alex and Jon both knelt, thought it took Jon a moment to comply.
├óÔé¼┼ôStand, please├óÔé¼┬Ø the woman said ├óÔé¼┼ôI am Juliana DeShay. I have bad news...my husband is a bit...indisposed├óÔé¼┬Ø. Alex looked up, still kneeling. Lady DeShay was a very beautiful woman, with full breasts and long black hair. Her eyes were green, and her gown was almost certainly expensive. Her fingers were unadorned. That was strange. Most Mayoral wife's were decked out with as much jewelry. Juliana simply had a simple neckless, with a single dull stone set inside it. Jon stood swiftly and bowed to the woman. ├óÔé¼┼ôLady DeShay├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôWe are here to report to Lord Garret DeShay, Mayor of Western City. I am Jonathan Wingates and this is Alex Winfred Mayflower. We...We are reporting in for orders├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Juliana frowned ├óÔé¼┼ôThat is where the problem lays. Come with me├óÔé¼┬Ø. She gestured and walked up the stairs, her gown trailing behind her. Alex and Jon followed, feeling out of place in their dusty chain mail. They got to the second story and followed Juliana down the hall, till they arrived at a door. ├óÔé¼┼ôIn here is my husband├óÔé¼┬Ø Juliana said, wringing her hands ├óÔé¼┼ôhe is dying├óÔé¼┬Ø. Alex cracked the door open and looked inside. There a man, clean shaven and elderly. His face was pale, almost gray. His breathing was ragged, almost nonexistent. Alex closed the door. ├óÔé¼┼ôThis is a problem├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex murmured. ├óÔé¼┼ôHe usually awakens after sleep├óÔé¼┬Ø Juliana said ├óÔé¼┼ôHe can still give your orders, just not now. Why don't you two sleep here tonight├óÔé¼┬Ø.
├óÔé¼┼ôWe wouldn't want to intrude├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon said. Juliana looked at him ├óÔé¼┼ôNo├óÔé¼┬Ø she said ├óÔé¼┼ôI would be rude if I left you to sleep in the streets├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôThen├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon said ├óÔé¼┼ôI must request that my servant is lodged in here├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôWho are they?├óÔé¼┬Ø Juliana asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôJust a single woman, Sandra is her name├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon said. ├óÔé¼┼ôVery well├óÔé¼┬Ø Juliana said ├óÔé¼┼ôLet me show you to your rooms├óÔé¼┬Ø. Alex and Jon followed her as they walked there. Alex looked back one last time at the door. Something didn't seem quite right with Lord Garret's illness. But he couldn't quite place it.
Jon stood in his room. He locked the door, then slowly began to slide off his shirt. Then he heard a knock. He slammed his shirt back about his waist and spun around. Sandra was already walking to the door. ├óÔé¼┼ôLet me├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon snarled. Sandra backed up and let Jon open the door. Jon yanked the door open. It didn't budge. He swore under his breath and undid the dead bolt. Then he opened the door and looked at who was knocking. Juliana stood outside, wearing the self same gown she had before. ├óÔé¼┼ôGood day├óÔé¼┬Ø Juliana said ├óÔé¼┼ôI wished to speak with you├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôRight├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon said, looking back ├óÔé¼┼ôCome in├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôI can't speak├óÔé¼┬Ø Juliana whispered ├óÔé¼┼ôWith a silverback nearby├óÔé¼┬Ø. Jon sighed ├óÔé¼┼ôFine├óÔé¼┬Ø he turned around ├óÔé¼┼ôSandra, I and the Lady DeShay will be leaving. Please clean my gear├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôYes master├óÔé¼┬Ø Sandra said, ducking her head.
Jon and Juliana walked down the hall. ├óÔé¼┼ôIt has been three weeks├óÔé¼┬Ø Juliana said ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd my husband has been getting worse and worse├óÔé¼┬Ø. Jon murmured something between words. Juliana turned around ├óÔé¼┼ôHe has not been satisfying his duties as a husband, even before this sickness├óÔé¼┬Ø she said. ├óÔé¼┼ôThat is too bad├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon said, only half listening. ├óÔé¼┼ôCan you...satisfy the duties he has left slack?├óÔé¼┬Ø Juliana asked, stepping closer. Jon, realizing what she was asking, backed three steps up ├óÔé¼┼ôNo├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôLady, this would be very inappropriate├óÔé¼┬Ø. Juliana stood and pressed her lips against Jon's. Jon tried to something, but it was muffled. Juliana stepped away, reaching behind herself for something. ├óÔé¼┼ôNO!├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon shouted, his voice a pitch or two higher. Juliana stopped. ├óÔé¼┼ôI must leave├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon said, pushing the Lady DeShay away and stalking away.
The next morning and Jon, Alex and Juliana all stood around the bed. Juliana was spoon feeding him some gruel that looked extremely unappetizing. Then Garret's eyes opened. Juliana whispered into his ear, explaining the situation to him. Garret pushed her away after a few moments, gesturing to Jon. Jon lent over. ├óÔé¼┼ôJona...Jonathan├óÔé¼┬Ø Garret wheezed ├óÔé¼┼ôI know who you are├óÔé¼┬Ø. Jon's eyes widened and darted to the left and right. Alex was trying not to listen in, and so he didn't catch the words. ├óÔé¼┼ôYour father...is wrong. The church...is wrong. Be who you are├óÔé¼┬Ø Garret said, his voice rising in pitch. ├óÔé¼┼ôLord├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon said ├óÔé¼┼ôI need orders├óÔé¼┬Ø. But Garret seemed to not notice, or care, about that. ├óÔé¼┼ôThe dragon will be proof to you...the proof to the world├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Jon took that as an order and stood away, looking at Juliana. ├óÔé¼┼ôWe will leave and slay the dragon├óÔé¼┬Ø He said. He walked out as if he had seen a ghost. Alex looked after him, then back at Juliana. Then he left as well. ├óÔé¼┼ôJon├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat the hell just happened back there!├óÔé¼┬Ø. Jon stopped ├óÔé¼┼ôI don't know├óÔé¼┬Ø He said ├óÔé¼┼ôIt seems Lord DeShay knew my father. And that is all I will say├óÔé¼┬Ø. He turned around on his heel and walked to his room. Then he and Sandra walked down the stairs and out the front door. Alex followed them after a moment, looking into the Lord's room. Garret was looking worse, even as he was being fed. There was something vaguely wrong with how Juliana was feeding him. Alex couldn't quite put his finger on it.
The road out of the overly efficient city and into the Wastes. The terrain was completely unlike the tundras of the Southlands. Rather it was a deep brown color, and very cracked. Mass fields of tillium were mined out here. Sandra and Jon spoke less, and Alex loosened his sword belt to make it easier to get. There were rumors of bandits out here. Bandits had a hard time existing in the Empire, with its amazing roads and fleet footed armies. But in the West there were no roads, no armies. Just some mines, some caravans and the single city in the West. The Dragon was, supposedly, somewhere out here.
After the night fell, Alex and Jon set up a tent. Sandra would sleep in a bedroll, as they only had one tent. Alex was relived that he no longer lusted after her as much. As much. He still entertained some shameful fantasy's about her. Some very...very shameful fantasy's. But that was all they were. Fantasy's. The next day dawned with Alex and Jon placing the tent in their packs and mounting up. Sandra was handing Alex a canteen as he was sitting on his hose. Jon was saddling up, strapping everything on the right place. Then an arrow slammed into a place between his ribs, burying itself half way into his side. Jon looked at it, feeling it with his hand. ├óÔé¼┼ôOh├óÔé¼┬Ø He said, his voice sounding very high. Then he collapsed. ├óÔé¼┼ôJon!├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex shouted, jumping off the horse and drawing his sword. Sandra ran to Jon, but Alex kicked her in the back before an arrow hit her in the neck. Then he slid Jon's shield off his horse and brought it up. An arrow bounced off.
Alex looked around for the archer, his eyes scanning the ridges that were near the camp. Another arrow flew out and struck his shield a glancing blow. Alex heard Jon shout, a pitch higher then normal. He looked at him. Sandra was pulling the arrow out. Alex looked away, knowing she would do good that. Then he saw a figure jumping from one patch of rocks to another. Sheathing his sword, Alex started to climb up the ridge. He got to the top and stood up. Then the figure leaped out, a knife flashing. Alex rolled to the side, but the knife still caught his upper right arm. Blood flowed. Alex slid his sword out and brought it around. The enemy danced back on its toes and the blade sliced nothing but air.
The enemy was wearing cured leather, with many patches sown in the fabric, and a nasty collection of knives spread over his chest. Alex slowly paced around the enemy, his sword and shield ready. The enemy snapped his wrist and a knife flew towards Alex. Alex tried to dodge, but the knife sunk into his side. He brought his shield up and blocked the enemy's second knife. Then Alex stabbed with his sword. Again it was too slow, and the enemy danced to the side, grabbing his arm. Then its leg came up and smashed into Alex's face. Then the enemy spun him around, yanking on his arm. Alex fell and the enemy placed his foot on Alex's chest.
Alex lay there, his sword a few inch's from his hand. His head was spinning from that kick. The enemy stood there, dancing from one foot to another. Then he reached up and undid the clasp on his head covering helmet. Then he pulled it off and a shock of bright red hair poured down her shoulders. It was an Easterner. And it was a woman. Alex blinked. He had never seen an Easterner woman before. And now he knew why. Her face was deceptively a kin to an Imperial, as opposed to the bald, round faced Easterner men. But unlike an Imperial, the Eastener's head had two horns sticking out of it. Horns was the best words that Alex could come up with, as they were rounded half circles, not the pointed ones he had seen in paintings of devils.
├óÔé¼┼ôNow├óÔé¼┬Ø The woman said ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat are you doing on my lawn!├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôLawn?├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex gasped ├óÔé¼┼ôYou almost killed me because I'm on your lawn?├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôDamn right├óÔé¼┬Ø The woman said ├óÔé¼┼ôYou Imperials think that no matter where you go, its yours. Well this place of the world is mine! And I hate it when someone pushes around, making waves├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôWe didn't know that there was anyone out here├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said, sitting up as the woman relaxed her foot on his chest. ├óÔé¼┼ôWell thats your fault for not being observant├óÔé¼┬Ø The woman said ├óÔé¼┼ôNow, tell me, why ARE you out here if not to cause me grief?├óÔé¼┬Ø. Alex stood up, reaching for his sword. The Eastener's foot impacted with the back of his skull and Alex staggered. ├óÔé¼┼ôThats sword can stay there├óÔé¼┬Ø the woman said ├óÔé¼┼ôNow...answer my question├óÔé¼┬Ø.
├óÔé¼┼ôI will├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex groaned ├óÔé¼┼ôIf you stop kicking me!├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôFine, fine├óÔé¼┬Ø the woman said ├óÔé¼┼ôNow answer my damn question!├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôMe and my friend and his servant are out here to slay the dragon├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôDragon?├óÔé¼┬Ø The woman asked. She suddenly seemed slightly more relaxed ├óÔé¼┼ôI was planing to kill that scaly bastard if he didn't stop his trouble making├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôNow├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said ├óÔé¼┼ôI must see to my friend├óÔé¼┬Ø. Jon shouted again. ├óÔé¼┼ôWho is she?├óÔé¼┬Ø The woman said. ├óÔé¼┼ôSandra├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said ├óÔé¼┼ôOur servant├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôNa├óÔé¼┬Ø the woman said ├óÔé¼┼ôI meant the woman in the armor├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôThats a man├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex snapped. ├óÔé¼┼ôRight├óÔé¼┬Ø The woman said ├óÔé¼┼ôyou Imperials have hair on your men. Its beastly├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Jon was set down on the woman's table. It was cleaner, more civilized, then Alex thought it would be. In fact, it was almost alike to an Imperial table. The house was cleverly disguised in a rock face, its windows covered by tillium crystal deposits. When Alex asked the woman about it, she simply said ├óÔé¼┼ôThey're the best we have around├óÔé¼┬Ø. The rest of the house was made of the local materials. Rock walls, a hole in the ground for the bathroom facilities. It was a simple, one room affair. Sandra had removed the arrow, but Jon refused to take he shirt off. So Sandra simply rolled it up to reveal the wound. Alex took over from there, knowing he might need to remove any bit of the shirt that was stuck in there.
After a few minutes of tense work he had gotten a bit of cloth that was still in the wound. It was bloody, but fit over the hole that was punched in Jon's shirt. Then they bound the wound and rolled Jon's shirt back down. Then Alex tended to his wounds, binding the knife puncture. It was not serious, as it was not a large knife, but it still hurt. Sandra watched this all, helping as best she could. The Easterner woman simply looked out one of the windows. Now that Alex had time to examine her, she looked less like an Imperial. Her face was rounder, her nose smaller. It was not enough for a definitive 'non-Imperial' look, but it was enough to make her look 'wrong'. All if you ignored the horns, of course. Once all the medical work had been done, Alex rounded on her.
├óÔé¼┼ôWhat is your name?├óÔé¼┬Ø he asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhats your's?├óÔé¼┬Ø She shot back. Alex felt anger rise in him. A few weeks ago he would have smacked her for talking back to an Imperial in that fashion. Now he simply balled his hand in a fist and sighed ├óÔé¼┼ôAlex├óÔé¼┬Ø he said. ├óÔé¼┼ôLucy├óÔé¼┬Ø the woman said, reaching her hand out. Alex took it and they shook. ├óÔé¼┼ôSo├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy said ├óÔé¼┼ôwhat brings two strapping young Imperial Knights out here├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôThe Dragon├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said ├óÔé¼┼ôAs I said before. We need to kill it├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôWell├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy said ├óÔé¼┼ôits about six or so Li that way├óÔé¼┬Ø she pointed. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat?├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex asked. Lucy shook herself ├óÔé¼┼ôSorry├óÔé¼┬Ø She said ├óÔé¼┼ôIts about├óÔé¼┬Ø she stopped, translating her distance to the proper Imperial measurements ├óÔé¼┼ôtwo miles... round about two miles├óÔé¼┬Ø.
├óÔé¼┼ôSo├óÔé¼┬Ø she said ├óÔé¼┼ôWhich of you is screwing the slave?├óÔé¼┬Ø. Sandra, hearing that, snapped her head up, teeth bared. Alex, however, blushed ├óÔé¼┼ôShe is not a slave├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôshe is our paid servant and we both keep her pure. Neither of us have...violated her├óÔé¼┬Ø. Alex's guts twisted as he said the lie. ├óÔé¼┼ôRight├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy said, obviously not believing him. Alex coughed ├óÔé¼┼ôHow will Jon fair?├óÔé¼┬Ø he asked. Sandra sighed ├óÔé¼┼ôHe's going to be fine, but in no condition to fight for at least two days├óÔé¼┬Ø. Alex shot Lucy a look. ├óÔé¼┼ôHey├óÔé¼┬Ø She said ├óÔé¼┼ôI thought you were bandits. Now the question here is about cost├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôCost?├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôCost for my house, for living in it├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy said ├óÔé¼┼ôBack home, in my village, we would settle on anything from swords, to arrows...to something more...flashy├óÔé¼┬Ø She smiled.
Alex blanched. He knew of prostitutes, but he had never heard of trading sex for lodging. ├óÔé¼┼ôDon't look like you swallowed a torch├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy said ├óÔé¼┼ôI have no need of fresh seed... well I suppose if you let me keep anything we find in the Dragon's lair, then I'll let you stay├óÔé¼┬Ø. Alex nodded ├óÔé¼┼ôThat seems fair├óÔé¼┬Ø He said. Lucy looked as if something hilarious had happened ├óÔé¼┼ôAll right├óÔé¼┬Ø she said ├óÔé¼┼ôI'll show you the bed├óÔé¼┬Ø. She walked down to five beds at the corner of the room ├óÔé¼┼ôThese were when my friends used to crash here├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy said ├óÔé¼┼ôBefore some Imperials decided they'd be fun to rape├óÔé¼┬Ø. Alex felt his neck tighten ├óÔé¼┼ôI'm sorry├óÔé¼┬Ø he said. ├óÔé¼┼ôIf I wasn't sure that you meant that├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy said ├óÔé¼┼ôI'd kill you├óÔé¼┬Ø.
The next three days passed uneventfully. There was a shouting match between Lucy and Sandra. Sandra wanted to tend for Lucy's needs along with Alex and Jon. Lucy wanted for Sandra to tend to her own 'gods damned needs' before any lazy Imperial assholes. Sandra disagreed with Lucy's assessment of her masters. They argued for quite a while till Jonathan stepped in, shouting from his bed, as he couldn't stand to knock the two women's head together. Finally they stopped arguing and went back to whatever they had been doing. Ironically Sandra was doing the laundry and Lucy was also doing the laundry, but Lucy was doing her laundry while Sandra was doing her laundry, along with Alex's and Jon's.
Another problem arrived when Jon hobbled to the bathroom. Then he turned around ├óÔé¼┼ôIs there a way to close this?├óÔé¼┬Ø he asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôNope├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy said ├óÔé¼┼ôIts just body parts├óÔé¼┬Ø. Jon's face reddened ├óÔé¼┼ôI can't go with other watching!├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôLearn├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy said, looking away from him. ├óÔé¼┼ôI'm going outside├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon muttered, hobbling. Sandra looked after him worryingly, but he didn't ask for her help. Jon came back a few minutes later, his face ashen, sweat pouring down his face. He sat down with a plomp and sighed ├óÔé¼┼ôThats better├óÔé¼┬Ø he said. Then he was snoring, head tilting forward. Alex simply closed his eyes, as he hadn't gotten out of the surprisingly comfortable bed.
After three days, Jon could move once again as well as he could before. He demanded a fourth day of practice where he could do some sword work. Lucy made ohhing and ahhing sounds as he did so. Alex was also impressed, he just didn't make as much noise while being so. He felt like he could watch Jon's liquid movements forever. There was something hypnotic about the way he handled a sword. Then Alex shook himself, feeling a bit sick to his stomach. He got up, refusing to think until he got inside. He went to the cistern that Lucy had sunk into the mountain, cupped some water in his hands and splashed his face till he could think straight.
They road out the next day, Lucy nimbly clambering over the rock formations that Alex, Jon and Sandra had to painstakingly maneuver around. She had declined a place on Alex, Jon or Sandra's horse, preferring to climb. She was amazingly good at it, Alex had to admit. She moved like something eerie and inhuman. It was the same kind of liquid grace that Jon had while wilding a sword, just applied to climbing. After a few hours of this slow travel they arrived at the dragon's lair. They all stopped, huddling together. Jon and Alex both wore their mail, Sandra wore her normal, simple clothes, and Lucy wore her leather armor, sans helmet. Instead she had opted to tying her hair back in a pony tail.
├óÔé¼┼ôSo├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon said ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat's the plan├óÔé¼┬Ø. Alex sighed ├óÔé¼┼ôHere's the plan. Sandra, you stay back. Jon and I will advance down the middle. Lucy you back us up from the side. Don't call attention to yourself. If you have a good shot, make it├óÔé¼┬Ø. Lucy nodded, patting her very odd 'bow'. It was really more of a sling that she hooked an arrow into, then slung. It worked as well as a bow and was easier to make, she said. Alex would have been skeptical, if he hadn't seen her put a hole in Jon's side with it. The plan ready, Alex and Jon advanced into the Dragon's Den.
The Western City, after Centralia City, felt...wrong. It was perfect square, hacked out of the surrounding wasteland by sheer brute force. Outside of the Centralia provinces, slavery was not just legal, it was smiled on. Silverbacks and Easterners were viably in chains. Sandra turned away from two Silverback men who were being beaten for some infraction. Jon frowned at it, reaching for his sword. But Alex placed his hand on his arm ├óÔé¼┼ôNo├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôWe don't have time!├óÔé¼┬Ø. Jon looked at him, anger dancing in his eyes. ├óÔé¼┼ôWe have our orders├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex hissed ├óÔé¼┼ôIf we stop to right every wrong we will arrive ten years late!├óÔé¼┬Ø. Jon let go of his sword and jerked his arm our of Alex's hold.
They road down the main street of the city until they arrived at the Mayoral Palace. There they dismounted, leaving Sandra to tend to their horses. Alex pounded his hand on the door and after a few moments the door was opened by a silent Aryia brawler. The four armed creature looked at them, its eight eyes somehow mournful. Jon blanched, and a moment later Alex saw it too. The Aryia's mouthes had been sown shut. The Aryia gestured, letting them in. Alex and Jon walked in, looking around. The manor was very huge, on the inside and very odd.
The oddest was the tillium crystals that made up the chandeliers. After some closer examination, Alex realized that they were even more valuable then that. ├óÔé¼┼ôThose are dilute tillium!├óÔé¼┬Ø he said, pointing. Jon did a double take ├óÔé¼┼ôI had... My sister has a neckless with a single bit of those! Its the most valuable thing in the house├óÔé¼┬Ø he said, also pointing. ├óÔé¼┼ôYes, they are most valuable├óÔé¼┬Ø A voice said. Alex and Jon looked up. It was a woman. Alex and Jon both knelt, thought it took Jon a moment to comply.
├óÔé¼┼ôStand, please├óÔé¼┬Ø the woman said ├óÔé¼┼ôI am Juliana DeShay. I have bad news...my husband is a bit...indisposed├óÔé¼┬Ø. Alex looked up, still kneeling. Lady DeShay was a very beautiful woman, with full breasts and long black hair. Her eyes were green, and her gown was almost certainly expensive. Her fingers were unadorned. That was strange. Most Mayoral wife's were decked out with as much jewelry. Juliana simply had a simple neckless, with a single dull stone set inside it. Jon stood swiftly and bowed to the woman. ├óÔé¼┼ôLady DeShay├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôWe are here to report to Lord Garret DeShay, Mayor of Western City. I am Jonathan Wingates and this is Alex Winfred Mayflower. We...We are reporting in for orders├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Juliana frowned ├óÔé¼┼ôThat is where the problem lays. Come with me├óÔé¼┬Ø. She gestured and walked up the stairs, her gown trailing behind her. Alex and Jon followed, feeling out of place in their dusty chain mail. They got to the second story and followed Juliana down the hall, till they arrived at a door. ├óÔé¼┼ôIn here is my husband├óÔé¼┬Ø Juliana said, wringing her hands ├óÔé¼┼ôhe is dying├óÔé¼┬Ø. Alex cracked the door open and looked inside. There a man, clean shaven and elderly. His face was pale, almost gray. His breathing was ragged, almost nonexistent. Alex closed the door. ├óÔé¼┼ôThis is a problem├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex murmured. ├óÔé¼┼ôHe usually awakens after sleep├óÔé¼┬Ø Juliana said ├óÔé¼┼ôHe can still give your orders, just not now. Why don't you two sleep here tonight├óÔé¼┬Ø.
├óÔé¼┼ôWe wouldn't want to intrude├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon said. Juliana looked at him ├óÔé¼┼ôNo├óÔé¼┬Ø she said ├óÔé¼┼ôI would be rude if I left you to sleep in the streets├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôThen├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon said ├óÔé¼┼ôI must request that my servant is lodged in here├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôWho are they?├óÔé¼┬Ø Juliana asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôJust a single woman, Sandra is her name├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon said. ├óÔé¼┼ôVery well├óÔé¼┬Ø Juliana said ├óÔé¼┼ôLet me show you to your rooms├óÔé¼┬Ø. Alex and Jon followed her as they walked there. Alex looked back one last time at the door. Something didn't seem quite right with Lord Garret's illness. But he couldn't quite place it.
Jon stood in his room. He locked the door, then slowly began to slide off his shirt. Then he heard a knock. He slammed his shirt back about his waist and spun around. Sandra was already walking to the door. ├óÔé¼┼ôLet me├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon snarled. Sandra backed up and let Jon open the door. Jon yanked the door open. It didn't budge. He swore under his breath and undid the dead bolt. Then he opened the door and looked at who was knocking. Juliana stood outside, wearing the self same gown she had before. ├óÔé¼┼ôGood day├óÔé¼┬Ø Juliana said ├óÔé¼┼ôI wished to speak with you├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôRight├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon said, looking back ├óÔé¼┼ôCome in├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôI can't speak├óÔé¼┬Ø Juliana whispered ├óÔé¼┼ôWith a silverback nearby├óÔé¼┬Ø. Jon sighed ├óÔé¼┼ôFine├óÔé¼┬Ø he turned around ├óÔé¼┼ôSandra, I and the Lady DeShay will be leaving. Please clean my gear├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôYes master├óÔé¼┬Ø Sandra said, ducking her head.
Jon and Juliana walked down the hall. ├óÔé¼┼ôIt has been three weeks├óÔé¼┬Ø Juliana said ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd my husband has been getting worse and worse├óÔé¼┬Ø. Jon murmured something between words. Juliana turned around ├óÔé¼┼ôHe has not been satisfying his duties as a husband, even before this sickness├óÔé¼┬Ø she said. ├óÔé¼┼ôThat is too bad├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon said, only half listening. ├óÔé¼┼ôCan you...satisfy the duties he has left slack?├óÔé¼┬Ø Juliana asked, stepping closer. Jon, realizing what she was asking, backed three steps up ├óÔé¼┼ôNo├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôLady, this would be very inappropriate├óÔé¼┬Ø. Juliana stood and pressed her lips against Jon's. Jon tried to something, but it was muffled. Juliana stepped away, reaching behind herself for something. ├óÔé¼┼ôNO!├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon shouted, his voice a pitch or two higher. Juliana stopped. ├óÔé¼┼ôI must leave├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon said, pushing the Lady DeShay away and stalking away.
The next morning and Jon, Alex and Juliana all stood around the bed. Juliana was spoon feeding him some gruel that looked extremely unappetizing. Then Garret's eyes opened. Juliana whispered into his ear, explaining the situation to him. Garret pushed her away after a few moments, gesturing to Jon. Jon lent over. ├óÔé¼┼ôJona...Jonathan├óÔé¼┬Ø Garret wheezed ├óÔé¼┼ôI know who you are├óÔé¼┬Ø. Jon's eyes widened and darted to the left and right. Alex was trying not to listen in, and so he didn't catch the words. ├óÔé¼┼ôYour father...is wrong. The church...is wrong. Be who you are├óÔé¼┬Ø Garret said, his voice rising in pitch. ├óÔé¼┼ôLord├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon said ├óÔé¼┼ôI need orders├óÔé¼┬Ø. But Garret seemed to not notice, or care, about that. ├óÔé¼┼ôThe dragon will be proof to you...the proof to the world├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Jon took that as an order and stood away, looking at Juliana. ├óÔé¼┼ôWe will leave and slay the dragon├óÔé¼┬Ø He said. He walked out as if he had seen a ghost. Alex looked after him, then back at Juliana. Then he left as well. ├óÔé¼┼ôJon├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat the hell just happened back there!├óÔé¼┬Ø. Jon stopped ├óÔé¼┼ôI don't know├óÔé¼┬Ø He said ├óÔé¼┼ôIt seems Lord DeShay knew my father. And that is all I will say├óÔé¼┬Ø. He turned around on his heel and walked to his room. Then he and Sandra walked down the stairs and out the front door. Alex followed them after a moment, looking into the Lord's room. Garret was looking worse, even as he was being fed. There was something vaguely wrong with how Juliana was feeding him. Alex couldn't quite put his finger on it.
The road out of the overly efficient city and into the Wastes. The terrain was completely unlike the tundras of the Southlands. Rather it was a deep brown color, and very cracked. Mass fields of tillium were mined out here. Sandra and Jon spoke less, and Alex loosened his sword belt to make it easier to get. There were rumors of bandits out here. Bandits had a hard time existing in the Empire, with its amazing roads and fleet footed armies. But in the West there were no roads, no armies. Just some mines, some caravans and the single city in the West. The Dragon was, supposedly, somewhere out here.
After the night fell, Alex and Jon set up a tent. Sandra would sleep in a bedroll, as they only had one tent. Alex was relived that he no longer lusted after her as much. As much. He still entertained some shameful fantasy's about her. Some very...very shameful fantasy's. But that was all they were. Fantasy's. The next day dawned with Alex and Jon placing the tent in their packs and mounting up. Sandra was handing Alex a canteen as he was sitting on his hose. Jon was saddling up, strapping everything on the right place. Then an arrow slammed into a place between his ribs, burying itself half way into his side. Jon looked at it, feeling it with his hand. ├óÔé¼┼ôOh├óÔé¼┬Ø He said, his voice sounding very high. Then he collapsed. ├óÔé¼┼ôJon!├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex shouted, jumping off the horse and drawing his sword. Sandra ran to Jon, but Alex kicked her in the back before an arrow hit her in the neck. Then he slid Jon's shield off his horse and brought it up. An arrow bounced off.
Alex looked around for the archer, his eyes scanning the ridges that were near the camp. Another arrow flew out and struck his shield a glancing blow. Alex heard Jon shout, a pitch higher then normal. He looked at him. Sandra was pulling the arrow out. Alex looked away, knowing she would do good that. Then he saw a figure jumping from one patch of rocks to another. Sheathing his sword, Alex started to climb up the ridge. He got to the top and stood up. Then the figure leaped out, a knife flashing. Alex rolled to the side, but the knife still caught his upper right arm. Blood flowed. Alex slid his sword out and brought it around. The enemy danced back on its toes and the blade sliced nothing but air.
The enemy was wearing cured leather, with many patches sown in the fabric, and a nasty collection of knives spread over his chest. Alex slowly paced around the enemy, his sword and shield ready. The enemy snapped his wrist and a knife flew towards Alex. Alex tried to dodge, but the knife sunk into his side. He brought his shield up and blocked the enemy's second knife. Then Alex stabbed with his sword. Again it was too slow, and the enemy danced to the side, grabbing his arm. Then its leg came up and smashed into Alex's face. Then the enemy spun him around, yanking on his arm. Alex fell and the enemy placed his foot on Alex's chest.
Alex lay there, his sword a few inch's from his hand. His head was spinning from that kick. The enemy stood there, dancing from one foot to another. Then he reached up and undid the clasp on his head covering helmet. Then he pulled it off and a shock of bright red hair poured down her shoulders. It was an Easterner. And it was a woman. Alex blinked. He had never seen an Easterner woman before. And now he knew why. Her face was deceptively a kin to an Imperial, as opposed to the bald, round faced Easterner men. But unlike an Imperial, the Eastener's head had two horns sticking out of it. Horns was the best words that Alex could come up with, as they were rounded half circles, not the pointed ones he had seen in paintings of devils.
├óÔé¼┼ôNow├óÔé¼┬Ø The woman said ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat are you doing on my lawn!├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôLawn?├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex gasped ├óÔé¼┼ôYou almost killed me because I'm on your lawn?├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôDamn right├óÔé¼┬Ø The woman said ├óÔé¼┼ôYou Imperials think that no matter where you go, its yours. Well this place of the world is mine! And I hate it when someone pushes around, making waves├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôWe didn't know that there was anyone out here├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said, sitting up as the woman relaxed her foot on his chest. ├óÔé¼┼ôWell thats your fault for not being observant├óÔé¼┬Ø The woman said ├óÔé¼┼ôNow, tell me, why ARE you out here if not to cause me grief?├óÔé¼┬Ø. Alex stood up, reaching for his sword. The Eastener's foot impacted with the back of his skull and Alex staggered. ├óÔé¼┼ôThats sword can stay there├óÔé¼┬Ø the woman said ├óÔé¼┼ôNow...answer my question├óÔé¼┬Ø.
├óÔé¼┼ôI will├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex groaned ├óÔé¼┼ôIf you stop kicking me!├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôFine, fine├óÔé¼┬Ø the woman said ├óÔé¼┼ôNow answer my damn question!├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôMe and my friend and his servant are out here to slay the dragon├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôDragon?├óÔé¼┬Ø The woman asked. She suddenly seemed slightly more relaxed ├óÔé¼┼ôI was planing to kill that scaly bastard if he didn't stop his trouble making├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôNow├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said ├óÔé¼┼ôI must see to my friend├óÔé¼┬Ø. Jon shouted again. ├óÔé¼┼ôWho is she?├óÔé¼┬Ø The woman said. ├óÔé¼┼ôSandra├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said ├óÔé¼┼ôOur servant├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôNa├óÔé¼┬Ø the woman said ├óÔé¼┼ôI meant the woman in the armor├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôThats a man├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex snapped. ├óÔé¼┼ôRight├óÔé¼┬Ø The woman said ├óÔé¼┼ôyou Imperials have hair on your men. Its beastly├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Jon was set down on the woman's table. It was cleaner, more civilized, then Alex thought it would be. In fact, it was almost alike to an Imperial table. The house was cleverly disguised in a rock face, its windows covered by tillium crystal deposits. When Alex asked the woman about it, she simply said ├óÔé¼┼ôThey're the best we have around├óÔé¼┬Ø. The rest of the house was made of the local materials. Rock walls, a hole in the ground for the bathroom facilities. It was a simple, one room affair. Sandra had removed the arrow, but Jon refused to take he shirt off. So Sandra simply rolled it up to reveal the wound. Alex took over from there, knowing he might need to remove any bit of the shirt that was stuck in there.
After a few minutes of tense work he had gotten a bit of cloth that was still in the wound. It was bloody, but fit over the hole that was punched in Jon's shirt. Then they bound the wound and rolled Jon's shirt back down. Then Alex tended to his wounds, binding the knife puncture. It was not serious, as it was not a large knife, but it still hurt. Sandra watched this all, helping as best she could. The Easterner woman simply looked out one of the windows. Now that Alex had time to examine her, she looked less like an Imperial. Her face was rounder, her nose smaller. It was not enough for a definitive 'non-Imperial' look, but it was enough to make her look 'wrong'. All if you ignored the horns, of course. Once all the medical work had been done, Alex rounded on her.
├óÔé¼┼ôWhat is your name?├óÔé¼┬Ø he asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhats your's?├óÔé¼┬Ø She shot back. Alex felt anger rise in him. A few weeks ago he would have smacked her for talking back to an Imperial in that fashion. Now he simply balled his hand in a fist and sighed ├óÔé¼┼ôAlex├óÔé¼┬Ø he said. ├óÔé¼┼ôLucy├óÔé¼┬Ø the woman said, reaching her hand out. Alex took it and they shook. ├óÔé¼┼ôSo├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy said ├óÔé¼┼ôwhat brings two strapping young Imperial Knights out here├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôThe Dragon├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said ├óÔé¼┼ôAs I said before. We need to kill it├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôWell├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy said ├óÔé¼┼ôits about six or so Li that way├óÔé¼┬Ø she pointed. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat?├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex asked. Lucy shook herself ├óÔé¼┼ôSorry├óÔé¼┬Ø She said ├óÔé¼┼ôIts about├óÔé¼┬Ø she stopped, translating her distance to the proper Imperial measurements ├óÔé¼┼ôtwo miles... round about two miles├óÔé¼┬Ø.
├óÔé¼┼ôSo├óÔé¼┬Ø she said ├óÔé¼┼ôWhich of you is screwing the slave?├óÔé¼┬Ø. Sandra, hearing that, snapped her head up, teeth bared. Alex, however, blushed ├óÔé¼┼ôShe is not a slave├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôshe is our paid servant and we both keep her pure. Neither of us have...violated her├óÔé¼┬Ø. Alex's guts twisted as he said the lie. ├óÔé¼┼ôRight├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy said, obviously not believing him. Alex coughed ├óÔé¼┼ôHow will Jon fair?├óÔé¼┬Ø he asked. Sandra sighed ├óÔé¼┼ôHe's going to be fine, but in no condition to fight for at least two days├óÔé¼┬Ø. Alex shot Lucy a look. ├óÔé¼┼ôHey├óÔé¼┬Ø She said ├óÔé¼┼ôI thought you were bandits. Now the question here is about cost├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôCost?├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôCost for my house, for living in it├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy said ├óÔé¼┼ôBack home, in my village, we would settle on anything from swords, to arrows...to something more...flashy├óÔé¼┬Ø She smiled.
Alex blanched. He knew of prostitutes, but he had never heard of trading sex for lodging. ├óÔé¼┼ôDon't look like you swallowed a torch├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy said ├óÔé¼┼ôI have no need of fresh seed... well I suppose if you let me keep anything we find in the Dragon's lair, then I'll let you stay├óÔé¼┬Ø. Alex nodded ├óÔé¼┼ôThat seems fair├óÔé¼┬Ø He said. Lucy looked as if something hilarious had happened ├óÔé¼┼ôAll right├óÔé¼┬Ø she said ├óÔé¼┼ôI'll show you the bed├óÔé¼┬Ø. She walked down to five beds at the corner of the room ├óÔé¼┼ôThese were when my friends used to crash here├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy said ├óÔé¼┼ôBefore some Imperials decided they'd be fun to rape├óÔé¼┬Ø. Alex felt his neck tighten ├óÔé¼┼ôI'm sorry├óÔé¼┬Ø he said. ├óÔé¼┼ôIf I wasn't sure that you meant that├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy said ├óÔé¼┼ôI'd kill you├óÔé¼┬Ø.
The next three days passed uneventfully. There was a shouting match between Lucy and Sandra. Sandra wanted to tend for Lucy's needs along with Alex and Jon. Lucy wanted for Sandra to tend to her own 'gods damned needs' before any lazy Imperial assholes. Sandra disagreed with Lucy's assessment of her masters. They argued for quite a while till Jonathan stepped in, shouting from his bed, as he couldn't stand to knock the two women's head together. Finally they stopped arguing and went back to whatever they had been doing. Ironically Sandra was doing the laundry and Lucy was also doing the laundry, but Lucy was doing her laundry while Sandra was doing her laundry, along with Alex's and Jon's.
Another problem arrived when Jon hobbled to the bathroom. Then he turned around ├óÔé¼┼ôIs there a way to close this?├óÔé¼┬Ø he asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôNope├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy said ├óÔé¼┼ôIts just body parts├óÔé¼┬Ø. Jon's face reddened ├óÔé¼┼ôI can't go with other watching!├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôLearn├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy said, looking away from him. ├óÔé¼┼ôI'm going outside├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon muttered, hobbling. Sandra looked after him worryingly, but he didn't ask for her help. Jon came back a few minutes later, his face ashen, sweat pouring down his face. He sat down with a plomp and sighed ├óÔé¼┼ôThats better├óÔé¼┬Ø he said. Then he was snoring, head tilting forward. Alex simply closed his eyes, as he hadn't gotten out of the surprisingly comfortable bed.
After three days, Jon could move once again as well as he could before. He demanded a fourth day of practice where he could do some sword work. Lucy made ohhing and ahhing sounds as he did so. Alex was also impressed, he just didn't make as much noise while being so. He felt like he could watch Jon's liquid movements forever. There was something hypnotic about the way he handled a sword. Then Alex shook himself, feeling a bit sick to his stomach. He got up, refusing to think until he got inside. He went to the cistern that Lucy had sunk into the mountain, cupped some water in his hands and splashed his face till he could think straight.
They road out the next day, Lucy nimbly clambering over the rock formations that Alex, Jon and Sandra had to painstakingly maneuver around. She had declined a place on Alex, Jon or Sandra's horse, preferring to climb. She was amazingly good at it, Alex had to admit. She moved like something eerie and inhuman. It was the same kind of liquid grace that Jon had while wilding a sword, just applied to climbing. After a few hours of this slow travel they arrived at the dragon's lair. They all stopped, huddling together. Jon and Alex both wore their mail, Sandra wore her normal, simple clothes, and Lucy wore her leather armor, sans helmet. Instead she had opted to tying her hair back in a pony tail.
├óÔé¼┼ôSo├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon said ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat's the plan├óÔé¼┬Ø. Alex sighed ├óÔé¼┼ôHere's the plan. Sandra, you stay back. Jon and I will advance down the middle. Lucy you back us up from the side. Don't call attention to yourself. If you have a good shot, make it├óÔé¼┬Ø. Lucy nodded, patting her very odd 'bow'. It was really more of a sling that she hooked an arrow into, then slung. It worked as well as a bow and was easier to make, she said. Alex would have been skeptical, if he hadn't seen her put a hole in Jon's side with it. The plan ready, Alex and Jon advanced into the Dragon's Den.
Read! I COMMAND IT!
Alex walked down the middle of the cave, glancing warily to the left and to the right. There was a deadly feeling in the air. Jon walked beside him, his sword already drawn. Alex glanced at that, then mimed placing his sword into his scabbard. Jon raised his eyebrow questioningly. Alex mouthed ├óÔé¼┼ôJust do it├óÔé¼┬Ø at Jon. Jon shrugged and slid his sword into his scabbard. Then Alex turned back to cave. It had bizarre tillium growths shoving into the open space. He caught a glimpse of something moving in the shadows, leaping from crystal to crystal. He thought it might have been Lucy. Or it could have been some shadows moving.
Then he heard a rumbling sound in the distance. Jon froze, but Alex simply kept going forward. He looked over his shoulder at the younger Knight. Jon looked terrified, staring up and over Alex. Alex, a flicker of panic running through his gut, turned slowly around. The Dragon was looking at them. It's body was still hidden in shadows, but its neck arch's up like a bridge. The head was long, narrow and had two large eyes that ran entire horse lengths. The head turned slightly so the left eye could look at both of the Knights.
├óÔé¼┼ôJon├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said ├óÔé¼┼ôReady?├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôNo├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon said, his voice a pitch too high. ├óÔé¼┼ôToo bad├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said, pulling his sword out. The dragon roared and charged forward, feet pounding. Alex and Jon dived aside as it trampled past. Alex got up in time to see a massive foot slam down right next to her left leg. He brought his sword around and hacked at it. It bounced off the scales harmlessly. ├óÔé¼┼ôCrap├óÔé¼┬Ø He muttered, getting to his feet. The Dragon's tail flew straight at him. Alex ducked and the tail smashed into the wall right next to him, sending rocks flying. Alex saw Jon flailing with his sword, smashing at the Dragon's other legs. It did about as much good as his attacks had.
The Dragon stopped its charge, trying to turn around. It was halted up by its bulk. Alex looked it over. It was a bit more...squat then he would have thought. It seemed to bunch up in the middle, like a barrel. Out of that squat rump extruded a long, sinuous tail that whipped around, brushing against the sides of the cave. ├óÔé¼┼ôAlex!├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon shouted, running under the tail of the Dragon. He stopped next to Alex, sweat already running down his face. ├óÔé¼┼ôRight├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said ├óÔé¼┼ôWe need to find a weak point├óÔé¼┬Ø.The Dragon roared loudly, its head suddenly whipping around. An arrow was jammed into the lower part of its eye, and blood was starting to pool under the eye. It was not enough to even blind it, as the arrow had only penetrated lightly. It had annoyed it thought, and it started looking around for the sender of the arrow.
Then Lucy dropped from the celling, two knives flashing in her hands. She landed on the head of the Dragon and stabbed downwards. One of her knifes bounced off, sparking. It clattered to the floor, bent out of shape. The second knife sank into a fleshy bit of the Dragon, slipping between scales. Blood started to pump and Lucy yelped, the scalding hot liquid. She frantically whipped it off her hands, where it smoked and boiled. Jon, taking advantage of this distraction, ran forward. The tail of the Dragon was arched up in pain, exposing its anus. Jon stabbed between the scales below the anus and dragged his sword violently down. Blood fountained, falling out of a new cut in the Dragon. Jon, not wanting to be scalded by the blood, ran forward, dragging his sword along with him.
He yanked the sword out half way down the Dragon. It was not a deep cut, but it was long and looked painful. Blood dribbled out of it, working its way around scales. Some of the scales had fallen to the ground, knocked lose by Jon's frantic run. Alex ran forward, ducking under the swishing tail of the Dragon. The Dragon was throwing his head, snapping and trying to bite at Lucy, who was dancing from one foot to the other on top of the dragon. Alex stabbed in a place where the scales were lose and ran before the blood could fall on him. Jon's sword was soaked in it, and the steel was slowly corroding. ├óÔé¼┼ôOh hell├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon muttered, dropping the sword. It shattered into many chunks that slowly melted.
Alex quickly whipped his sword on the ground, getting the goopy Dragon's blood off. Even so it was starting to look a little corroded. Then there was pain. Alex slapped at his shoulder, where a blot of Dragon's blood had eaten through his mail. ├óÔé¼┼ôGet it off GET IT OFF!├óÔé¼┬Ø He shouted. Jon grabbed his sword and slid it down the back of Alex's shirt. Then he cut the shit off with a quick jerk. The cloth fell out from under the chain mail over shirt, witch Alex tore of. Then Jon grabbed the shirt and plastered the rags over Alex's burn mark. He whipped, hard, and came away with most of the blood. It still stung, but not nearly as much. Alex gasped, sweat making his chest shine. The burn looked very very bad. Then the Dragon started to move again, running down the cave. ├óÔé¼┼ôSWORD!├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy shouted, her voice shrill ├óÔé¼┼ôSWORD!├óÔé¼┬Ø. Jon threw Alex's sword up. Lucy caught it and hefted it. The Dragon tossed its head again, trying to get her off.
Lucy braced herself over its right eye and stabbed down. The sword buried itself into the eye, blood flowing. Lucy danced back, getting a bit of the blood on one of her leather gloves. She tore the glove off and threw it away. Then she placed her thick boot on the sword hilt and shoved down with all her weight. The sword sank all the way to its hilt, then kept going. The blood changed from its normal green to a thicker, more disgusting dark green. She kept putting weight on it. Her leg vanished into the eyeball, up to the knee. Up to half way through the tight. Then the Dragon's head went slack and it toppled forward, its front legs collapsing at the knee. Lucy was thrown from the head, her left pant leg smoking madly as its blood ate through it.
She immediately unbuckled her belt, her face a mask of pain. Then she kicked her way out of the rapidly dissolving pants and stood, her bare legs plain to see in the open air. Alex, who was leaning on Jon for support, came out of the cave, skirting around the pool of blood that was pumping out of the Dragon's belly wound. Lucy stood there. Alex and Jon gaped. Lucy looked down at the beige colored underwear she wore. She blushed furiously and covered her self with her hands. Alex gulped and turned away. Jon called for Sandra. Sandra was already running forward, carrying what medical supplies they had brought. She threw a towel to Lucy, who wrapped her self with it.
├óÔé¼┼ôSo├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy said ├óÔé¼┼ôI get what we find in there├óÔé¼┬Ø. It was night time and they were gathered around a fire. Lucy had showed them the trick of taking rocks and placing them next to certain kinds of tillium crystal. It caused the rocks to burn, amazingly. Now they sat around this bizarre fire and discussed who got what. ├óÔé¼┼ôFine├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said ├óÔé¼┼ôI don't see what would be in there, other then rocks├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôI'll show you├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy said, grabbing a rock from the fire and holding it like a torch. Jon stood slowly. Sandra lay there, not wanting to move. Alex stood even slower then Jon, as his shoulder was wrapped with bandages. The burn looked like it would leave a mighty scar.
They walked into the Dragon's den, the massive Dragon laying there. The blood had congealed in a slight depression created by its acidic properties, making a strange looking pool. They walked gingerly about it, none of them wanting to fall in. Then they walked deeper into the cave. The tillium crystals grew less obvious, sinking back. Then they came to a bend, even as the cave got narrower. Then around that bend there was a pedestal. Alex, Jon and Lucy walked to the pedestal. Alex didn't know quite what to make of it. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat is it?├óÔé¼┬Ø he asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôIts a puzzle├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon said softly. Lucy, after leaning in close to inspect it, nodded ├óÔé¼┼ôYeah├óÔé¼┬Ø She said ├óÔé¼┼ôIts a puzzle├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Alex inspected it as well. It looked like a cage. Each bar of the cage had a different symbol on it. On further inspection, it appeared that each symbol could be rotated. At the top of the cage, a stylized N was written. Inside the cage was some strange looking rod. ├óÔé¼┼ôI don't get it├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said. ├óÔé¼┼ôWell├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy said ├óÔé¼┼ôThis is the symbol for Hu'te'za... that is Eastland, in my tong├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd this├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon said, pointing to another symbol, this one etched in the bottom of the cage ├óÔé¼┼ôThis one is the Empire seal!├óÔé¼┬Ø. Alex looked, bending over to see the bottom of the cage. ├óÔé¼┼ôIt is├óÔé¼┬Ø He said. ├óÔé¼┼ôSo...├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy said ├óÔé¼┼ôThis is East...this is the middle...this must be the Southlands, because I recognize that symbol from there├óÔé¼┬Ø.
├óÔé¼┼ôAnd this must be the west├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said ├óÔé¼┼ôMy Father has a mining company there. They use a symbol like this one├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôSo what do we do with them├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon murmured. Lucy reached forward and tilted the Southland symbol away from the N. Then she found the Northland symbol and tilted that towards the N. Then she tilted the East and West symbols away from each other, but not facing the N. Then she picked up the cage and said to Alex ├óÔé¼┼ôYank on the last one please├óÔé¼┬Ø. Alex grabbed it, fitting his fingers around the cube. Then he pulled. To his shock the entire cage opened up with a snap.
The rod fell out, onto the ground. Lucy chucked the cage away. Jon caught it and closed it with a snap. Each of the symbols spun around till they faced random directions. ├óÔé¼┼ôHow...├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôN is for North├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy said. ├óÔé¼┼ôCompass Rose├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon said, his face lighting up ├óÔé¼┼ôNow I get it!├óÔé¼┬Ø. Alex shrugged ├óÔé¼┼ôWhatever├óÔé¼┬Ø He said ├óÔé¼┼ôNow what is this?├óÔé¼┬Ø. He picked up the rod. Lucy yanked it out of his hands ├óÔé¼┼ôThis is mine├óÔé¼┬Ø She said. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat?├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex asked. Then he remembered his promise ├óÔé¼┼ôOh├óÔé¼┬Ø He said ├óÔé¼┼ôVery well, you can keep it├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat does it do?├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon asked.
├óÔé¼┼ôHell if I know├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy said, pocketing the rod ├óÔé¼┼ôLets go├óÔé¼┬Ø. Alex and Jon looked at each other. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat?├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy asked ├óÔé¼┼ôI'm coming with you├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôNo...no...no├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said. ├óÔé¼┼ôno├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon said after him. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhy not?├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy asked ├óÔé¼┼ôIts not like there's anything more interesting for me to do out here├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat about your home?├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôThats not my home├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy said darkly ├óÔé¼┼ôIf it where, I'd never leave├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôEven if we wanted you along├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon said ├óÔé¼┼ôNot that we do, mind you, how the hell would we get you into cities. The horns...the horns alone would get you branded as a different race, even if they don't know you're an Easterner. And most of them wont├óÔé¼┬Ø. Lucy rolled her eyes ├óÔé¼┼ôSandra is obviously a silverback├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôYes├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said ├óÔé¼┼ôbut legally...we own her. And slaves are common. We don't own you├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd you never will├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy said.
Alex ground his teeth, annoyed. Why did she have to be so annoyingly smug? ├óÔé¼┼ôWell├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy said ├óÔé¼┼ôIf you can't bring in a Easterner...what about an Imperial?├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou're not an Imperial├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon said, looking to the celling. Lucy pulled out a hat. She shoved it on her head. It was green and had two long tendrils that sprouted where her horns would be. Those trailed down to the back of her neck, where they ended in poof balls of fuzz. ├óÔé¼┼ôThat hat makes you look like an idiot├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said dryly. ├óÔé¼┼ôI does not├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy snapped ├óÔé¼┼ôBut now I look Imperial├óÔé¼┬Ø. Jon looked at her appraisingly ├óÔé¼┼ôIt could work├óÔé¼┬Ø He said. Alex shot him a glare ├óÔé¼┼ôno!├óÔé¼┬Ø He said ├óÔé¼┼ôWe can't take another freeloading woman...not an Easterner. Not even an Imperial woman I'd take!├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Jon looked at him funny. ├óÔé¼┼ôWell├óÔé¼┬Ø He said ├óÔé¼┼ôI wouldn't want to offend the high and mighty Lord Alex├óÔé¼┬Ø he bowed mockingly ├óÔé¼┼ôI suppose a simple 'freeloading' woman wouldn't be able to do anything at all├óÔé¼┬Ø. He smiled sardonically ├óÔé¼┼ônow who slew the Dragon? Was it the brave Lord Alex? The Brave Lord Jonathan?├óÔé¼┬Ø. Alex's face burned. He so wanted to punch Jon. But he held back. ├óÔé¼┼ôNo├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon said ├óÔé¼┼ôIt was this freeloading woman. She's coming├óÔé¼┬Ø. Lucy smiled at Alex meanly, then smiled at Jon for real. She leaned in and kissed him on the cheer, then walked out of the cave. ├óÔé¼┼ôJon├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said ├óÔé¼┼ôSomeday that mouth of yours is going to get you into trouble, and I'm not going to bail you out├óÔé¼┬Ø. Jon simply turned away, laughing.
They road back into the Western City, the Dragon's head dragged behind them. Lucy walked, ostentatiously by her own choice. The Lord Garret and Lady Juliana greeted the two hero Knights, and invited them to dinner. They even invited their fine Imperial Lady. Sandra was, once again, left in the cold outdoors. Garret was still looking very green about the gills, his face pale and gray, but at least now he was walking and talking. Juliana, however, seemed to be paying more attention to Jon then her food, or her husband. They all sat at the huge dinner table, the Lord at the head of the table, with his Lady on his right. Alex, being the eldest of the two Knights, sat on his left. Witch made Jon very glad, as he would not have to sit across from Juliana.
Lucy sat next to the Lady Juliana. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhy not take off the hat?├óÔé¼┬Ø Juliana quipped. Lucy placed her hands protectively on the hat ├óÔé¼┼ôTake off my hat?├óÔé¼┬Ø she asked ├óÔé¼┼ôYour mad├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Alex walked down the middle of the cave, glancing warily to the left and to the right. There was a deadly feeling in the air. Jon walked beside him, his sword already drawn. Alex glanced at that, then mimed placing his sword into his scabbard. Jon raised his eyebrow questioningly. Alex mouthed ├óÔé¼┼ôJust do it├óÔé¼┬Ø at Jon. Jon shrugged and slid his sword into his scabbard. Then Alex turned back to cave. It had bizarre tillium growths shoving into the open space. He caught a glimpse of something moving in the shadows, leaping from crystal to crystal. He thought it might have been Lucy. Or it could have been some shadows moving.
Then he heard a rumbling sound in the distance. Jon froze, but Alex simply kept going forward. He looked over his shoulder at the younger Knight. Jon looked terrified, staring up and over Alex. Alex, a flicker of panic running through his gut, turned slowly around. The Dragon was looking at them. It's body was still hidden in shadows, but its neck arch's up like a bridge. The head was long, narrow and had two large eyes that ran entire horse lengths. The head turned slightly so the left eye could look at both of the Knights.
├óÔé¼┼ôJon├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said ├óÔé¼┼ôReady?├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôNo├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon said, his voice a pitch too high. ├óÔé¼┼ôToo bad├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said, pulling his sword out. The dragon roared and charged forward, feet pounding. Alex and Jon dived aside as it trampled past. Alex got up in time to see a massive foot slam down right next to her left leg. He brought his sword around and hacked at it. It bounced off the scales harmlessly. ├óÔé¼┼ôCrap├óÔé¼┬Ø He muttered, getting to his feet. The Dragon's tail flew straight at him. Alex ducked and the tail smashed into the wall right next to him, sending rocks flying. Alex saw Jon flailing with his sword, smashing at the Dragon's other legs. It did about as much good as his attacks had.
The Dragon stopped its charge, trying to turn around. It was halted up by its bulk. Alex looked it over. It was a bit more...squat then he would have thought. It seemed to bunch up in the middle, like a barrel. Out of that squat rump extruded a long, sinuous tail that whipped around, brushing against the sides of the cave. ├óÔé¼┼ôAlex!├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon shouted, running under the tail of the Dragon. He stopped next to Alex, sweat already running down his face. ├óÔé¼┼ôRight├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said ├óÔé¼┼ôWe need to find a weak point├óÔé¼┬Ø.The Dragon roared loudly, its head suddenly whipping around. An arrow was jammed into the lower part of its eye, and blood was starting to pool under the eye. It was not enough to even blind it, as the arrow had only penetrated lightly. It had annoyed it thought, and it started looking around for the sender of the arrow.
Then Lucy dropped from the celling, two knives flashing in her hands. She landed on the head of the Dragon and stabbed downwards. One of her knifes bounced off, sparking. It clattered to the floor, bent out of shape. The second knife sank into a fleshy bit of the Dragon, slipping between scales. Blood started to pump and Lucy yelped, the scalding hot liquid. She frantically whipped it off her hands, where it smoked and boiled. Jon, taking advantage of this distraction, ran forward. The tail of the Dragon was arched up in pain, exposing its anus. Jon stabbed between the scales below the anus and dragged his sword violently down. Blood fountained, falling out of a new cut in the Dragon. Jon, not wanting to be scalded by the blood, ran forward, dragging his sword along with him.
He yanked the sword out half way down the Dragon. It was not a deep cut, but it was long and looked painful. Blood dribbled out of it, working its way around scales. Some of the scales had fallen to the ground, knocked lose by Jon's frantic run. Alex ran forward, ducking under the swishing tail of the Dragon. The Dragon was throwing his head, snapping and trying to bite at Lucy, who was dancing from one foot to the other on top of the dragon. Alex stabbed in a place where the scales were lose and ran before the blood could fall on him. Jon's sword was soaked in it, and the steel was slowly corroding. ├óÔé¼┼ôOh hell├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon muttered, dropping the sword. It shattered into many chunks that slowly melted.
Alex quickly whipped his sword on the ground, getting the goopy Dragon's blood off. Even so it was starting to look a little corroded. Then there was pain. Alex slapped at his shoulder, where a blot of Dragon's blood had eaten through his mail. ├óÔé¼┼ôGet it off GET IT OFF!├óÔé¼┬Ø He shouted. Jon grabbed his sword and slid it down the back of Alex's shirt. Then he cut the shit off with a quick jerk. The cloth fell out from under the chain mail over shirt, witch Alex tore of. Then Jon grabbed the shirt and plastered the rags over Alex's burn mark. He whipped, hard, and came away with most of the blood. It still stung, but not nearly as much. Alex gasped, sweat making his chest shine. The burn looked very very bad. Then the Dragon started to move again, running down the cave. ├óÔé¼┼ôSWORD!├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy shouted, her voice shrill ├óÔé¼┼ôSWORD!├óÔé¼┬Ø. Jon threw Alex's sword up. Lucy caught it and hefted it. The Dragon tossed its head again, trying to get her off.
Lucy braced herself over its right eye and stabbed down. The sword buried itself into the eye, blood flowing. Lucy danced back, getting a bit of the blood on one of her leather gloves. She tore the glove off and threw it away. Then she placed her thick boot on the sword hilt and shoved down with all her weight. The sword sank all the way to its hilt, then kept going. The blood changed from its normal green to a thicker, more disgusting dark green. She kept putting weight on it. Her leg vanished into the eyeball, up to the knee. Up to half way through the tight. Then the Dragon's head went slack and it toppled forward, its front legs collapsing at the knee. Lucy was thrown from the head, her left pant leg smoking madly as its blood ate through it.
She immediately unbuckled her belt, her face a mask of pain. Then she kicked her way out of the rapidly dissolving pants and stood, her bare legs plain to see in the open air. Alex, who was leaning on Jon for support, came out of the cave, skirting around the pool of blood that was pumping out of the Dragon's belly wound. Lucy stood there. Alex and Jon gaped. Lucy looked down at the beige colored underwear she wore. She blushed furiously and covered her self with her hands. Alex gulped and turned away. Jon called for Sandra. Sandra was already running forward, carrying what medical supplies they had brought. She threw a towel to Lucy, who wrapped her self with it.
├óÔé¼┼ôSo├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy said ├óÔé¼┼ôI get what we find in there├óÔé¼┬Ø. It was night time and they were gathered around a fire. Lucy had showed them the trick of taking rocks and placing them next to certain kinds of tillium crystal. It caused the rocks to burn, amazingly. Now they sat around this bizarre fire and discussed who got what. ├óÔé¼┼ôFine├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said ├óÔé¼┼ôI don't see what would be in there, other then rocks├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôI'll show you├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy said, grabbing a rock from the fire and holding it like a torch. Jon stood slowly. Sandra lay there, not wanting to move. Alex stood even slower then Jon, as his shoulder was wrapped with bandages. The burn looked like it would leave a mighty scar.
They walked into the Dragon's den, the massive Dragon laying there. The blood had congealed in a slight depression created by its acidic properties, making a strange looking pool. They walked gingerly about it, none of them wanting to fall in. Then they walked deeper into the cave. The tillium crystals grew less obvious, sinking back. Then they came to a bend, even as the cave got narrower. Then around that bend there was a pedestal. Alex, Jon and Lucy walked to the pedestal. Alex didn't know quite what to make of it. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat is it?├óÔé¼┬Ø he asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôIts a puzzle├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon said softly. Lucy, after leaning in close to inspect it, nodded ├óÔé¼┼ôYeah├óÔé¼┬Ø She said ├óÔé¼┼ôIts a puzzle├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Alex inspected it as well. It looked like a cage. Each bar of the cage had a different symbol on it. On further inspection, it appeared that each symbol could be rotated. At the top of the cage, a stylized N was written. Inside the cage was some strange looking rod. ├óÔé¼┼ôI don't get it├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said. ├óÔé¼┼ôWell├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy said ├óÔé¼┼ôThis is the symbol for Hu'te'za... that is Eastland, in my tong├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd this├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon said, pointing to another symbol, this one etched in the bottom of the cage ├óÔé¼┼ôThis one is the Empire seal!├óÔé¼┬Ø. Alex looked, bending over to see the bottom of the cage. ├óÔé¼┼ôIt is├óÔé¼┬Ø He said. ├óÔé¼┼ôSo...├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy said ├óÔé¼┼ôThis is East...this is the middle...this must be the Southlands, because I recognize that symbol from there├óÔé¼┬Ø.
├óÔé¼┼ôAnd this must be the west├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said ├óÔé¼┼ôMy Father has a mining company there. They use a symbol like this one├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôSo what do we do with them├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon murmured. Lucy reached forward and tilted the Southland symbol away from the N. Then she found the Northland symbol and tilted that towards the N. Then she tilted the East and West symbols away from each other, but not facing the N. Then she picked up the cage and said to Alex ├óÔé¼┼ôYank on the last one please├óÔé¼┬Ø. Alex grabbed it, fitting his fingers around the cube. Then he pulled. To his shock the entire cage opened up with a snap.
The rod fell out, onto the ground. Lucy chucked the cage away. Jon caught it and closed it with a snap. Each of the symbols spun around till they faced random directions. ├óÔé¼┼ôHow...├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôN is for North├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy said. ├óÔé¼┼ôCompass Rose├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon said, his face lighting up ├óÔé¼┼ôNow I get it!├óÔé¼┬Ø. Alex shrugged ├óÔé¼┼ôWhatever├óÔé¼┬Ø He said ├óÔé¼┼ôNow what is this?├óÔé¼┬Ø. He picked up the rod. Lucy yanked it out of his hands ├óÔé¼┼ôThis is mine├óÔé¼┬Ø She said. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat?├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex asked. Then he remembered his promise ├óÔé¼┼ôOh├óÔé¼┬Ø He said ├óÔé¼┼ôVery well, you can keep it├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat does it do?├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon asked.
├óÔé¼┼ôHell if I know├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy said, pocketing the rod ├óÔé¼┼ôLets go├óÔé¼┬Ø. Alex and Jon looked at each other. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat?├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy asked ├óÔé¼┼ôI'm coming with you├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôNo...no...no├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said. ├óÔé¼┼ôno├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon said after him. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhy not?├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy asked ├óÔé¼┼ôIts not like there's anything more interesting for me to do out here├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat about your home?├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôThats not my home├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy said darkly ├óÔé¼┼ôIf it where, I'd never leave├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôEven if we wanted you along├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon said ├óÔé¼┼ôNot that we do, mind you, how the hell would we get you into cities. The horns...the horns alone would get you branded as a different race, even if they don't know you're an Easterner. And most of them wont├óÔé¼┬Ø. Lucy rolled her eyes ├óÔé¼┼ôSandra is obviously a silverback├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôYes├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said ├óÔé¼┼ôbut legally...we own her. And slaves are common. We don't own you├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd you never will├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy said.
Alex ground his teeth, annoyed. Why did she have to be so annoyingly smug? ├óÔé¼┼ôWell├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy said ├óÔé¼┼ôIf you can't bring in a Easterner...what about an Imperial?├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou're not an Imperial├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon said, looking to the celling. Lucy pulled out a hat. She shoved it on her head. It was green and had two long tendrils that sprouted where her horns would be. Those trailed down to the back of her neck, where they ended in poof balls of fuzz. ├óÔé¼┼ôThat hat makes you look like an idiot├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said dryly. ├óÔé¼┼ôI does not├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy snapped ├óÔé¼┼ôBut now I look Imperial├óÔé¼┬Ø. Jon looked at her appraisingly ├óÔé¼┼ôIt could work├óÔé¼┬Ø He said. Alex shot him a glare ├óÔé¼┼ôno!├óÔé¼┬Ø He said ├óÔé¼┼ôWe can't take another freeloading woman...not an Easterner. Not even an Imperial woman I'd take!├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Jon looked at him funny. ├óÔé¼┼ôWell├óÔé¼┬Ø He said ├óÔé¼┼ôI wouldn't want to offend the high and mighty Lord Alex├óÔé¼┬Ø he bowed mockingly ├óÔé¼┼ôI suppose a simple 'freeloading' woman wouldn't be able to do anything at all├óÔé¼┬Ø. He smiled sardonically ├óÔé¼┼ônow who slew the Dragon? Was it the brave Lord Alex? The Brave Lord Jonathan?├óÔé¼┬Ø. Alex's face burned. He so wanted to punch Jon. But he held back. ├óÔé¼┼ôNo├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon said ├óÔé¼┼ôIt was this freeloading woman. She's coming├óÔé¼┬Ø. Lucy smiled at Alex meanly, then smiled at Jon for real. She leaned in and kissed him on the cheer, then walked out of the cave. ├óÔé¼┼ôJon├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said ├óÔé¼┼ôSomeday that mouth of yours is going to get you into trouble, and I'm not going to bail you out├óÔé¼┬Ø. Jon simply turned away, laughing.
They road back into the Western City, the Dragon's head dragged behind them. Lucy walked, ostentatiously by her own choice. The Lord Garret and Lady Juliana greeted the two hero Knights, and invited them to dinner. They even invited their fine Imperial Lady. Sandra was, once again, left in the cold outdoors. Garret was still looking very green about the gills, his face pale and gray, but at least now he was walking and talking. Juliana, however, seemed to be paying more attention to Jon then her food, or her husband. They all sat at the huge dinner table, the Lord at the head of the table, with his Lady on his right. Alex, being the eldest of the two Knights, sat on his left. Witch made Jon very glad, as he would not have to sit across from Juliana.
Lucy sat next to the Lady Juliana. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhy not take off the hat?├óÔé¼┬Ø Juliana quipped. Lucy placed her hands protectively on the hat ├óÔé¼┼ôTake off my hat?├óÔé¼┬Ø she asked ├óÔé¼┼ôYour mad├óÔé¼┬Ø.
A shocking twist!
ANOTHER SHOCKING TWIST!
A THIRD, and finnal, SHOCKING TWIST!
All of this in the latest gut busting, sword slinging, action packed episode of Rose!
Alex and Jon, like all Knights, knew how to eat at a dinner party politely. Lucy did not. Alex used his fork and knife. Lucy did not, simply grabbing a hunk of cattlebeast and biting down on it. Garret simply smiled indulgently, while Juliana stared in horror. ├óÔé¼┼ôOh├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy said, seeing her stare, dabbed at the side of her mouth with a napkin, daubing away the smear of juice that was streaked there. Juliana ahemed and looked back at her salad. Jonathan kept digging into his cattlebeast doggedly, not even noticing Lucy's transgressions. He shoved a hunk slightly smaller then the one Lucy just swallowed into his mouth and chewed. But because he was using a fork, no one cared to notice.
├óÔé¼┼ôSo├óÔé¼┬Ø Garret said ├óÔé¼┼ôI never got to actually meet you Jon├óÔé¼┬Ø. Jon chocked on his meat. Then he forced it down one tube or another and looked at the Lord. Garret's eyes were twinkling ├óÔé¼┼ôYour father...talked quite a bit about you├óÔé¼┬Ø. Jon's face went beat red and he looked back at his food. ├óÔé¼┼ôI didn't believe half of it├óÔé¼┬Ø Garret said, still smiling oddly. Alex watched this one sided conversation bemusedly. Juliana finished off her salad and grabbed more ├óÔé¼┼ôSo├óÔé¼┬Ø she said ├óÔé¼┼ôWhere did you pick up this...young...lady├óÔé¼┬Ø she looked at Lucy. ├óÔé¼┼ôI was living near the Dragon. So I decided to come with them├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôI've never heard of an Imperial living out in the Wastes├óÔé¼┬Ø Lord Garret said, looking at Lucy. Lucy looked away ├óÔé¼┼ôYou must not have heard much then├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Juliana gasped, outrage written over her face. Garret laughed ├óÔé¼┼ôI like you├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôYou've got spunk, even for a woman├óÔé¼┬Ø. Lucy blushed, tugging her hat down a bit harder. Alex watched this conversation bemusedly. ├óÔé¼┼ôSo├óÔé¼┬Ø Juliana said ├óÔé¼┼ôWho did the deed?├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôJoint effort├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex murmured. Jon nodded ├óÔé¼┼ôYeah├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôDon't say that├óÔé¼┬Ø Juliana said, her eyes dancing from one Knight to the other ├óÔé¼┼ôI know one of you had to lay the killing blow...who was it?├óÔé¼┬Ø. Both Knights looked at each other. Then Jon snorted and got some more meat. Alex started to guffaw as well. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhats so funny?├óÔé¼┬Ø Juliana asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôNothing├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said ├óÔé¼┼ôI think Jon was the one who did it├óÔé¼┬Ø.
├óÔé¼┼ôReally?├óÔé¼┬Ø Juliana said, her eyes dancing ├óÔé¼┼ôHow...interesting├óÔé¼┬Ø. Jon coughed, pushing away from the table ├óÔé¼┼ôThats enough for me├óÔé¼┬Ø he said. ├óÔé¼┼ôCome now├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said, looking at the way Juliana looked at him ├óÔé¼┼ôYou've barely touched your salad├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôI'm not a salad person├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon hissed to Alex. Garret laughed again, pouring himself some more wine. ├óÔé¼┼ôSo├óÔé¼┬Ø Garret said as Jon was practically wrestled back into his chair by Alex ├óÔé¼┼ôYou gave the finishing blow?├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôHe also cut its head from its body├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said. ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd dragged it here├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy said ├óÔé¼┼ôIn fact, I'm in debt to him for saving my life├óÔé¼┬Ø. Jon looked at his friends, then at the Lady Juliana who was grinning predatorly at him. ├óÔé¼┼ôI need to go├óÔé¼┬Ø he said, standing up hurriedly and practically running from the room.
Alex, Lucy and Garret all laughed heartily. Then Garret's laughs turned to coughs, reinforcing his gray palour. Juliana didn't even look concerned. She reached over to refill Garrets drink. Then she slipped up. Alex saw a pill drop out of her sleeve, covered by her hand. Then it plopped in the wine and dissolved. Garret, not seeing this, picked up the cup to sate his coughing. ├óÔé¼┼ôStop!├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex shouted, shooting to his feet. He knocked over the cup in front of his place, sending wine dribbling over the table. Garret looked at him as if he were a madman. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat is the meaning of this?├óÔé¼┬Ø Juliana asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôShut up├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat!├óÔé¼┬Ø Garret said, looking at him ├óÔé¼┼ôHow dare you speak to my wife like this├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôShe's poisoned that cup├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said, pointing at the cup.
Garret stared at him, now sure he was a madman. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou're mad!├óÔé¼┬Ø He said, looking at the cup. Juliana, however, was staring at Alex as if he were Death herself. Lucy snorted ├óÔé¼┼ôJust now?├óÔé¼┬Ø she asked ├óÔé¼┼ôShe's been putting things in his food the entire meal├óÔé¼┬Ø. Alex looked at her. ├óÔé¼┼ôThen why didn't you tell us sooner!├óÔé¼┬Ø He snapped. ├óÔé¼┼ôI thought it was normal fare├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy said ├óÔé¼┼ôIt never occurred to me it would be poison├óÔé¼┬Ø. Garret looked at Juliana and saw her expression. ├óÔé¼┼ôSo its not been sickness├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôI've been poisoned├óÔé¼┬Ø. He seemed very calm. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhy?├óÔé¼┬Ø he asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôLook at yourself├óÔé¼┬Ø Juliana snapped ├óÔé¼┼ôYou're the worst governor this city has seen! You let lesser race's into this city, relax the race laws! You even let our daughter be courted by a silverback...A Silverback, of all creatures!├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôFelix is a fine young man├óÔé¼┬Ø Garret said mildly ├óÔé¼┼ôHe is one of the largest merchants in this city├óÔé¼┬Ø.
├óÔé¼┼ôHe's not an Imperial├óÔé¼┬Ø Juliana said. ├óÔé¼┼ôThank you for telling me├óÔé¼┬Ø Garret said, his face and voice still mild. ├óÔé¼┼ôKnight├óÔé¼┬Ø Garret said ├óÔé¼┼ôPlease arrest my wife and lock her in her rooms for the duration of the night├óÔé¼┬Ø. Alex hesitated for a moment. ├óÔé¼┼ôNo├óÔé¼┬Ø Garret said, his voice getting slightly angry. Alex took a step forward and looked at Juliana. She didn't resist as they both walked up the stairs. ├óÔé¼┼ôI could make it worth while├óÔé¼┬Ø Juliana said ├óÔé¼┼ôI'd be yours, if you helped me...├óÔé¼┬Ø. Before he had Sandra, Alex might have seen the allure. Now he knew it was not special, unless the person with you was special. ├óÔé¼┼ôNo├óÔé¼┬Ø he said, shoving her into her room. He closed the door and locked it with a key Garret had given him.
Lucy watched Alex as he left. ├óÔé¼┼ôI never knew about all that├óÔé¼┬Ø she said ├óÔé¼┼ôAbout the...leniency in this city├óÔé¼┬Ø. Garret sighed ├óÔé¼┼ôI'm old, and probably foolish├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôBut I believe that if we Imperials keep treating the world like a door mat, some day the others are going to get tired of it. Then we will reap the accounts of our actions. I hope I can stay that day...for a while at least├óÔé¼┬Ø. Garret smiled ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd that hat does not do justice to your beauty, fair lady├óÔé¼┬Ø. Lucy smiled, feeling more relaxed in the presence of this old Lord then she had for quite a while. She pulled her hat off. Garret beamed ├óÔé¼┼ôThey are quite pretty├óÔé¼┬Ø He said ├óÔé¼┼ôThey become you, Lucy Xue├óÔé¼┬Ø. Lucy blinked. He knew who she was. ├óÔé¼┼ôI know a lot of things├óÔé¼┬Ø Garret said, as if reading her thoughts. Lucy gulped ├óÔé¼┼ôYou won't...tell Alex or the others, right?├óÔé¼┬Ø.
├óÔé¼┼ôOf course not├óÔé¼┬Ø Garret said as Alex walked down the stairs. ├óÔé¼┼ôLucy, your...your hat!├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said, running down the stairs. Lucy looked at him, then at the hat she held in her hands. ├óÔé¼┼ôFear not├óÔé¼┬Ø Garret said ├óÔé¼┼ôIts obvious to one as well traveled as me that she is not of Imperial decent. Not many people would have seen through as simple a ruse as that, so I commend you on your fore thought├óÔé¼┬Ø. Lucy looked at Alex ├óÔé¼┼ôSo where do I get to sleep?├óÔé¼┬Ø she asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôSimply chose a room├óÔé¼┬Ø Garret said ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd tell that young serving girl outside that she can stop shivering in the cold. What kind of a host would I be if I left a woman like that in the rain?├óÔé¼┬Ø. Alex started, turning around. True enough Sandra was standing at the door, looking truly pitiful.
Once Sandra and Lucy were quartered away, Alex stood with Garret. The old Lord was definitely looking better, much better actually. His face was less gray, and color was rising in his cheeks. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou have an fascinating party there├óÔé¼┬Ø Garret said softly, holding a cup of wine in his left hand. Alex grunted ├óÔé¼┼ôIts just...├óÔé¼┬Ø he trailed off. ├óÔé¼┼ôJonathan...├óÔé¼┬Ø Garret said ├óÔé¼┼ôHe is younger then you think, both in mind and in body. Protect him├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôI owe Jon my life twice now├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said softly ├óÔé¼┼ôThere is no way that I will not stand by his side, no matter what├óÔé¼┬Ø. Garret hmmed. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat?├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôYour...faith...it will be tested. And soon├óÔé¼┬Ø Garret said ├óÔé¼┼ôWe will see if you stand beside Jon no matter what happens├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Alex felt a chill ├óÔé¼┼ôDo you know something that I don't├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôYes, I do├óÔé¼┬Ø Garret said. He didn't follow it up. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat?├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôI fear├óÔé¼┬Ø Garret said ├óÔé¼┼ôThat I can not tell you. That is something only Jonathan can reveal├óÔé¼┬Ø. Alex sighed slowly. ├óÔé¼┼ôNow your servant, Sandra...she has shown remarkable loyalty├óÔé¼┬Ø Garret said ├óÔé¼┼ôProtect her as well├óÔé¼┬Ø. Alex nodded ├óÔé¼┼ôSandra...├óÔé¼┬Ø he said, shame rising ├óÔé¼┼ôSandra is a fine woman. She's almost an Imperial to me├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôNo├óÔé¼┬Ø Garret said ├óÔé¼┼ôshe must become more then that. She...she is a silverback. You must not only accept that, but learn to ignore it├óÔé¼┬Ø. Alex sighed ├óÔé¼┼ôI can only try├óÔé¼┬Ø He said ├óÔé¼┼ôThinking of a silverback as an equal is...hard├óÔé¼┬Ø.
├óÔé¼┼ôAnd Lucy├óÔé¼┬Ø Garret said. ├óÔé¼┼ôI'm sorry I lied to you about her race├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said. ├óÔé¼┼ôFear not├óÔé¼┬Ø Garret said ├óÔé¼┼ôLucy is...Lucy is important, far more then you know├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôShe is?├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôShe must tell you the rest, Alex├óÔé¼┬Ø Garret said. ├óÔé¼┼ôDamn it!├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex snapped. Then he drew back, mollified ├óÔé¼┼ôI'm sorry, Lord, but it's...its frustrating to have all the answers close by and yet not hear them├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôDon't worry├óÔé¼┬Ø Garret said ├óÔé¼┼ôYou will learn it all in good time. If I were to tell you now, then what would the point be? If you find out when you are supposed to, then your decision will be more true...in ever sense of the word├óÔé¼┬Ø. Alex sighed ├óÔé¼┼ôWell├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôIts late...I'm going to bed├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôOh├óÔé¼┬Ø Garret said, looking at him ├óÔé¼┼ôI have one thing to say about Jonathan├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôYes?├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex asked.
├óÔé¼┼ôIf you meet his father...kill him├óÔé¼┬Ø Garret said. ├óÔé¼┼ôWho?├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôHis Father├óÔé¼┬Ø Garret said ├óÔé¼┼ôHe deserves death. If you give it too him, it would be all the more...appropriate├óÔé¼┬Ø. Alex felt a shiver go down his spine. There was a look in Garret's eyes that made him want to leave. Then Garret blinked, smiling ├óÔé¼┼ôIt won't come to that, not the way that man blasphemes...the Death Hand will get him, in the end├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôFrom what I've seen, no offense├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said ├óÔé¼┼ôThe Death Hand would come to you too├óÔé¼┬Ø. Garret breathed slowly ├óÔé¼┼ôPossibly├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôBut for me it will be a quite death. A dignified death. I will pass away in my sleep, a beloved...if somewhat mad ruler. Jon's father will die messily, in public, as the true monster he is├óÔé¼┬Ø.
The next mourning Alex, Jon, Sandra and Lucy all stood before Garret. The Lord was looking much much improved, as if eating nonpoisoned food and resting up had changed him over night. He was no longer the tired, sallow man he was last night. ├óÔé¼┼ôWell├óÔé¼┬Ø Garret said ├óÔé¼┼ôThis...fine gift├óÔé¼┬Ø he gestured to the Dragon's head, witch lay on a dirty sheet placed on the floor ├óÔé¼┼ôWill make an excellent addition to my wall. Thank you, young Knights and Ladies├óÔé¼┬Ø. Sandra blushed, hearing herself being called a Lady. Lucy looked away, not wanting to show gratitude.
Alex and Jon bowed ├óÔé¼┼ôThank you, Lord├óÔé¼┬Ø they both mumbled. Jon was also blushing. Giggling too, as if something funny had been said without someone knowing about it. Alex stood with his friend as Garret pulled out his sword. ├óÔé¼┼ôI dub thee├óÔé¼┬Ø He said, his voice dropping to the archaic speech of the past years ├óÔé¼┼ôHero's of the Western Province├óÔé¼┬Ø. Alex almost dropped his sword. Jon actually did trip slightly. Hero statutes was only rarely given, and would mean that Jon and Alex were only slightly less powerful then Garret himself. It was an amazing gift. ├óÔé¼┼ôRise, Knights├óÔé¼┬Ø Garret said ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd head back to Centralia City├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Lucy road side saddle, no matter how much she hated it. She understood the need to look Imperial, so she wore a gown and a conical hat that was in style. The story was she was Lord Garrets eldest daughter, Lucy DeShay, and if anyone asked why she was with them, then they should say that she had to go to Centralia city anyway, and Garret proffered her to go with two Dragoons, rather then anyone he could hire. So they road to the mountains, getting farther and farther away from the West with every foot step. ├óÔé¼┼ôThis is nice, leaving that damn place├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy commented ├óÔé¼┼ôThe Waste is certainly a nasty territory├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôThey are all nasty territory's├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex moaned. ├óÔé¼┼ôNot mine├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy and Sandra said at the same time.
Lucy looked at the city with awe. It was amazing, to her at least, that so many people could be crammed into such a small space. She saw the city as a thousand small spaces crammed together. ├óÔé¼┼ôIts just a city├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon said at her exclamations. They road down into the city, having to stop twice due to night falling. Finally they arrived at the West Gates, and road into the city. Lucy was actually afraid of the shouting, jostling crowds. Jon moved around her protectively, acting as a wave breaker for her, shoving through the crowds. Alex felt a flicker of disquiet. Jon was acting as if she were actually an Imperial. It irked him on more then one level. Alex shoved the disquiet out of his mind.
They got on a gondolier and gave him the coinage needed to get them to the Generals headquarters. Jon was looking nervous again. ├óÔé¼┼ôDon't worry├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex murmured into his ear ├óÔé¼┼ôWe're going to be fine├óÔé¼┬Ø. The gondolier stopped and they all got off, climbing ashore. Then Jon's hand clamped down on Alex's arm. Jon's face was a mask of panic, his eyes bugging madly. ├óÔé¼┼ôIts...its!├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon gasped. Alex looked where he was looking. There was a fat man standing there, his gut bulging madly around his middle, stretching his clothes. He was draped in necklesses, jewels and amulets. He also was unmistakably Jon's father. Then he looked straight at Alex. Then his eyes bugged, looking almost like his son. ├óÔé¼┼ôGAURDS!├óÔé¼┬Ø he screamed ├óÔé¼┼ôGAURDS!├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Jon turned and ran. Alex looked after him, and ran too. The guards ran to Jon's father, and looked confused. ├óÔé¼┼ôAFTER THAT...THAT MAN!├óÔé¼┬Ø father shouted, spit flying from his mouth as he pointed straight to Jon, who was running down the street away from him. The guards ran as well. Alex and Jon ran down the street. Then Jon rounded an ally, got halfway down the ally, and jumped up. He thrust his legs out, creating a V. He stood there, propped against both sides of the ally. Then he started to climb up, his face a mask of effort, sweat running down his body. Then he got to the roofs and clambered there. Alex watched this, then turned around and saw a cart. He grabbed the cart and maneuvered it in place in front of the ally. Then he jumped onto it and climbed onto the roof moments before the guards arrived.
The guards clambered onto the roof, swords ready. Alex turned around and saw the guards running at him. Jon was beside him, sword ready. ├óÔé¼┼ôJust like the brawl├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said, looking at Jon and grinning. He drew his sword as well. Then the guards were on them. Alex parried the first blow and kicked the man in the stomach. The man fell, his mail clattering as he rolled down the slanted roof. He landed on a fruit seller's cart, sending the apples and oranges and mango's flying. The men in the street were staring at the battle. Jon whipped his sword around, not wanting to damage any of the guards. One of the guards struck at him. Jon slashed the sword around. The sword flew in the air and landed. The now disarmed guard ran, tripping over the side of the roof and falling.
Alex dodged a sword blow and kicked the man in the crotch. It was a low strike, but it was better then disemboweling him. The guard slid slowly off the roof, groaning loudly. The two reaming guards ran straight at him, not caring to notice Jon. Mistake. Jon grabbed one behind the back and spun him around. Then he grabbed the sides of the man's head and smashed his face against the other man' face. The man fell backwards, dazed. The last guard slashed at Alex. Alex caught the sword in his chest. Blood flowed. Then Jon, yelling madly, hacked at the guards back. Blood sprayed and the guard fell, most likely dead. Alex hissed, looking at his wound. ├óÔé¼┼ôAh hell├óÔé¼┬Ø He muttered. Then he fell face forward.
Jon dragged him into the semi-safety of a abandoned house. ├óÔé¼┼ôBugger├óÔé¼┬Ø He muttered, looking at Alex's comatose form. The wound was serious, and the guards tipped the swords with a mild poison, to knock their targets out. It was more human then just killing them. Jon sighed, looking around the abandoned room he was in. ├óÔé¼┼ôIf i had...If I had only told you├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon murmured, his voice soft and high ├óÔé¼┼ôYou'd have never risked your self for me├óÔé¼┬Ø. He started to cry ├óÔé¼┼ôDamn├óÔé¼┬Ø he whipped his face ├óÔé¼┼ôDamn it, don't cry├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Lucy rounded on the fat man. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou bastard!├óÔé¼┬Ø she shouted ├óÔé¼┼ôHow dare you accuse my fianc├â┬®e of anything!├óÔé¼┬Ø. The fat man laughed, suddenly. He was a step away from rolling on the floor, that was how hard he was laughing. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat!├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy asked, anger rising again. ├óÔé¼┼ôYo..you...you...you!├óÔé¼┬Ø The fat man said. Three guards ran to him ├óÔé¼┼ôSir├óÔé¼┬Ø they said ├óÔé¼┼ôThe two men you sent us after...they escaped├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôDamn it!├óÔé¼┬Ø The man said, his mirth vanishing ├óÔé¼┼ôI need to organize a city search to find and expose these...men!├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôStop right there├óÔé¼┬Ø Smithers walked out of his office, anger on his face ├óÔé¼┼ôhow dare you! How dare you turn our guards on the two newest Heroes├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôHeroes!├óÔé¼┬Ø The fat man blustered ├óÔé¼┼ôThats preposterous!├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôIn fact...I think you are under arrest for slander...guards...take him away├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Alex woke up with a pounding head ache. ├óÔé¼┼ôYour alive!├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon shouted. Then he kissed Alex. Alex shoved Jon off. Both men looked at each other. Alex's heart sized up. Jon had just kissed him. And he wanted to do it again. His mouth was suddenly dry, his throat seeming unable to work. He couldn't breath. He'd have to get away, to get away. His gorge rose in his stomach as he realized what he had just done. He had kissed a man. Queer. Pinky. Fagot. Those words and more would be branded on him if any one found out, and after that the Death Hand would make an example of him.
A memory. ├óÔé¼┬ØThrow! Throw Alex!├óÔé¼┬Ø his mother shouted. Alex hurled the tomato and it smashed against the man's face. The man looked truly pitiful, his ribs easily countable. A triangle was branded in his forehead. His...disgusting lover was next to him, another man. They were both at the stake, ready to be burnt. But first the crowd would have to have their fun. And Alex threw as well as the others. Fruits, too rotten for even animals to eat, where hurled at the fag's. And Alex loved every moment of it. He loved showing those disgusting perverts what happens to them. Just rewards, his father had told him. Just rewards. .
Alex threw up. The vomit felt good, scouring his throat and mouth. It was a necessary pain, a good pain. Alex needed to repent as best he could, undo what had been done. This wasn't something trivial. This was the worst thing that he could have done. It didn't matter that Jon had kissed him. What mattered was he had made Jon want to kiss him, to think Alex would like Jon to kiss him. Alex had to get away. He got up, but his chest burst from the cut. He staggered to the window. ├óÔé¼┼ôAlex!├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon said. He pushed the window open. There was a dizzying story drop into a back ally way. ├óÔé¼┼ôAlex!├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon said, his hand on Alex's shoulder.
├óÔé¼┼ôGet away from me!├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said, his face twisting ├óÔé¼┼ôGet away from me, you fucking freak!├óÔé¼┬Ø. He backed out of the window, wanting to get away from Jon. His foot went down where he thought more floor would be. Then he toppled backwards and fell into the ally. There was a hard crack and a brilliant flash of white. Then Alex knew no more.
ANOTHER SHOCKING TWIST!
A THIRD, and finnal, SHOCKING TWIST!
All of this in the latest gut busting, sword slinging, action packed episode of Rose!
Alex and Jon, like all Knights, knew how to eat at a dinner party politely. Lucy did not. Alex used his fork and knife. Lucy did not, simply grabbing a hunk of cattlebeast and biting down on it. Garret simply smiled indulgently, while Juliana stared in horror. ├óÔé¼┼ôOh├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy said, seeing her stare, dabbed at the side of her mouth with a napkin, daubing away the smear of juice that was streaked there. Juliana ahemed and looked back at her salad. Jonathan kept digging into his cattlebeast doggedly, not even noticing Lucy's transgressions. He shoved a hunk slightly smaller then the one Lucy just swallowed into his mouth and chewed. But because he was using a fork, no one cared to notice.
├óÔé¼┼ôSo├óÔé¼┬Ø Garret said ├óÔé¼┼ôI never got to actually meet you Jon├óÔé¼┬Ø. Jon chocked on his meat. Then he forced it down one tube or another and looked at the Lord. Garret's eyes were twinkling ├óÔé¼┼ôYour father...talked quite a bit about you├óÔé¼┬Ø. Jon's face went beat red and he looked back at his food. ├óÔé¼┼ôI didn't believe half of it├óÔé¼┬Ø Garret said, still smiling oddly. Alex watched this one sided conversation bemusedly. Juliana finished off her salad and grabbed more ├óÔé¼┼ôSo├óÔé¼┬Ø she said ├óÔé¼┼ôWhere did you pick up this...young...lady├óÔé¼┬Ø she looked at Lucy. ├óÔé¼┼ôI was living near the Dragon. So I decided to come with them├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôI've never heard of an Imperial living out in the Wastes├óÔé¼┬Ø Lord Garret said, looking at Lucy. Lucy looked away ├óÔé¼┼ôYou must not have heard much then├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Juliana gasped, outrage written over her face. Garret laughed ├óÔé¼┼ôI like you├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôYou've got spunk, even for a woman├óÔé¼┬Ø. Lucy blushed, tugging her hat down a bit harder. Alex watched this conversation bemusedly. ├óÔé¼┼ôSo├óÔé¼┬Ø Juliana said ├óÔé¼┼ôWho did the deed?├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôJoint effort├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex murmured. Jon nodded ├óÔé¼┼ôYeah├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôDon't say that├óÔé¼┬Ø Juliana said, her eyes dancing from one Knight to the other ├óÔé¼┼ôI know one of you had to lay the killing blow...who was it?├óÔé¼┬Ø. Both Knights looked at each other. Then Jon snorted and got some more meat. Alex started to guffaw as well. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhats so funny?├óÔé¼┬Ø Juliana asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôNothing├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said ├óÔé¼┼ôI think Jon was the one who did it├óÔé¼┬Ø.
├óÔé¼┼ôReally?├óÔé¼┬Ø Juliana said, her eyes dancing ├óÔé¼┼ôHow...interesting├óÔé¼┬Ø. Jon coughed, pushing away from the table ├óÔé¼┼ôThats enough for me├óÔé¼┬Ø he said. ├óÔé¼┼ôCome now├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said, looking at the way Juliana looked at him ├óÔé¼┼ôYou've barely touched your salad├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôI'm not a salad person├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon hissed to Alex. Garret laughed again, pouring himself some more wine. ├óÔé¼┼ôSo├óÔé¼┬Ø Garret said as Jon was practically wrestled back into his chair by Alex ├óÔé¼┼ôYou gave the finishing blow?├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôHe also cut its head from its body├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said. ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd dragged it here├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy said ├óÔé¼┼ôIn fact, I'm in debt to him for saving my life├óÔé¼┬Ø. Jon looked at his friends, then at the Lady Juliana who was grinning predatorly at him. ├óÔé¼┼ôI need to go├óÔé¼┬Ø he said, standing up hurriedly and practically running from the room.
Alex, Lucy and Garret all laughed heartily. Then Garret's laughs turned to coughs, reinforcing his gray palour. Juliana didn't even look concerned. She reached over to refill Garrets drink. Then she slipped up. Alex saw a pill drop out of her sleeve, covered by her hand. Then it plopped in the wine and dissolved. Garret, not seeing this, picked up the cup to sate his coughing. ├óÔé¼┼ôStop!├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex shouted, shooting to his feet. He knocked over the cup in front of his place, sending wine dribbling over the table. Garret looked at him as if he were a madman. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat is the meaning of this?├óÔé¼┬Ø Juliana asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôShut up├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat!├óÔé¼┬Ø Garret said, looking at him ├óÔé¼┼ôHow dare you speak to my wife like this├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôShe's poisoned that cup├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said, pointing at the cup.
Garret stared at him, now sure he was a madman. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou're mad!├óÔé¼┬Ø He said, looking at the cup. Juliana, however, was staring at Alex as if he were Death herself. Lucy snorted ├óÔé¼┼ôJust now?├óÔé¼┬Ø she asked ├óÔé¼┼ôShe's been putting things in his food the entire meal├óÔé¼┬Ø. Alex looked at her. ├óÔé¼┼ôThen why didn't you tell us sooner!├óÔé¼┬Ø He snapped. ├óÔé¼┼ôI thought it was normal fare├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy said ├óÔé¼┼ôIt never occurred to me it would be poison├óÔé¼┬Ø. Garret looked at Juliana and saw her expression. ├óÔé¼┼ôSo its not been sickness├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôI've been poisoned├óÔé¼┬Ø. He seemed very calm. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhy?├óÔé¼┬Ø he asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôLook at yourself├óÔé¼┬Ø Juliana snapped ├óÔé¼┼ôYou're the worst governor this city has seen! You let lesser race's into this city, relax the race laws! You even let our daughter be courted by a silverback...A Silverback, of all creatures!├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôFelix is a fine young man├óÔé¼┬Ø Garret said mildly ├óÔé¼┼ôHe is one of the largest merchants in this city├óÔé¼┬Ø.
├óÔé¼┼ôHe's not an Imperial├óÔé¼┬Ø Juliana said. ├óÔé¼┼ôThank you for telling me├óÔé¼┬Ø Garret said, his face and voice still mild. ├óÔé¼┼ôKnight├óÔé¼┬Ø Garret said ├óÔé¼┼ôPlease arrest my wife and lock her in her rooms for the duration of the night├óÔé¼┬Ø. Alex hesitated for a moment. ├óÔé¼┼ôNo├óÔé¼┬Ø Garret said, his voice getting slightly angry. Alex took a step forward and looked at Juliana. She didn't resist as they both walked up the stairs. ├óÔé¼┼ôI could make it worth while├óÔé¼┬Ø Juliana said ├óÔé¼┼ôI'd be yours, if you helped me...├óÔé¼┬Ø. Before he had Sandra, Alex might have seen the allure. Now he knew it was not special, unless the person with you was special. ├óÔé¼┼ôNo├óÔé¼┬Ø he said, shoving her into her room. He closed the door and locked it with a key Garret had given him.
Lucy watched Alex as he left. ├óÔé¼┼ôI never knew about all that├óÔé¼┬Ø she said ├óÔé¼┼ôAbout the...leniency in this city├óÔé¼┬Ø. Garret sighed ├óÔé¼┼ôI'm old, and probably foolish├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôBut I believe that if we Imperials keep treating the world like a door mat, some day the others are going to get tired of it. Then we will reap the accounts of our actions. I hope I can stay that day...for a while at least├óÔé¼┬Ø. Garret smiled ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd that hat does not do justice to your beauty, fair lady├óÔé¼┬Ø. Lucy smiled, feeling more relaxed in the presence of this old Lord then she had for quite a while. She pulled her hat off. Garret beamed ├óÔé¼┼ôThey are quite pretty├óÔé¼┬Ø He said ├óÔé¼┼ôThey become you, Lucy Xue├óÔé¼┬Ø. Lucy blinked. He knew who she was. ├óÔé¼┼ôI know a lot of things├óÔé¼┬Ø Garret said, as if reading her thoughts. Lucy gulped ├óÔé¼┼ôYou won't...tell Alex or the others, right?├óÔé¼┬Ø.
├óÔé¼┼ôOf course not├óÔé¼┬Ø Garret said as Alex walked down the stairs. ├óÔé¼┼ôLucy, your...your hat!├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said, running down the stairs. Lucy looked at him, then at the hat she held in her hands. ├óÔé¼┼ôFear not├óÔé¼┬Ø Garret said ├óÔé¼┼ôIts obvious to one as well traveled as me that she is not of Imperial decent. Not many people would have seen through as simple a ruse as that, so I commend you on your fore thought├óÔé¼┬Ø. Lucy looked at Alex ├óÔé¼┼ôSo where do I get to sleep?├óÔé¼┬Ø she asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôSimply chose a room├óÔé¼┬Ø Garret said ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd tell that young serving girl outside that she can stop shivering in the cold. What kind of a host would I be if I left a woman like that in the rain?├óÔé¼┬Ø. Alex started, turning around. True enough Sandra was standing at the door, looking truly pitiful.
Once Sandra and Lucy were quartered away, Alex stood with Garret. The old Lord was definitely looking better, much better actually. His face was less gray, and color was rising in his cheeks. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou have an fascinating party there├óÔé¼┬Ø Garret said softly, holding a cup of wine in his left hand. Alex grunted ├óÔé¼┼ôIts just...├óÔé¼┬Ø he trailed off. ├óÔé¼┼ôJonathan...├óÔé¼┬Ø Garret said ├óÔé¼┼ôHe is younger then you think, both in mind and in body. Protect him├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôI owe Jon my life twice now├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said softly ├óÔé¼┼ôThere is no way that I will not stand by his side, no matter what├óÔé¼┬Ø. Garret hmmed. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat?├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôYour...faith...it will be tested. And soon├óÔé¼┬Ø Garret said ├óÔé¼┼ôWe will see if you stand beside Jon no matter what happens├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Alex felt a chill ├óÔé¼┼ôDo you know something that I don't├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôYes, I do├óÔé¼┬Ø Garret said. He didn't follow it up. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat?├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôI fear├óÔé¼┬Ø Garret said ├óÔé¼┼ôThat I can not tell you. That is something only Jonathan can reveal├óÔé¼┬Ø. Alex sighed slowly. ├óÔé¼┼ôNow your servant, Sandra...she has shown remarkable loyalty├óÔé¼┬Ø Garret said ├óÔé¼┼ôProtect her as well├óÔé¼┬Ø. Alex nodded ├óÔé¼┼ôSandra...├óÔé¼┬Ø he said, shame rising ├óÔé¼┼ôSandra is a fine woman. She's almost an Imperial to me├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôNo├óÔé¼┬Ø Garret said ├óÔé¼┼ôshe must become more then that. She...she is a silverback. You must not only accept that, but learn to ignore it├óÔé¼┬Ø. Alex sighed ├óÔé¼┼ôI can only try├óÔé¼┬Ø He said ├óÔé¼┼ôThinking of a silverback as an equal is...hard├óÔé¼┬Ø.
├óÔé¼┼ôAnd Lucy├óÔé¼┬Ø Garret said. ├óÔé¼┼ôI'm sorry I lied to you about her race├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said. ├óÔé¼┼ôFear not├óÔé¼┬Ø Garret said ├óÔé¼┼ôLucy is...Lucy is important, far more then you know├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôShe is?├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôShe must tell you the rest, Alex├óÔé¼┬Ø Garret said. ├óÔé¼┼ôDamn it!├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex snapped. Then he drew back, mollified ├óÔé¼┼ôI'm sorry, Lord, but it's...its frustrating to have all the answers close by and yet not hear them├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôDon't worry├óÔé¼┬Ø Garret said ├óÔé¼┼ôYou will learn it all in good time. If I were to tell you now, then what would the point be? If you find out when you are supposed to, then your decision will be more true...in ever sense of the word├óÔé¼┬Ø. Alex sighed ├óÔé¼┼ôWell├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôIts late...I'm going to bed├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôOh├óÔé¼┬Ø Garret said, looking at him ├óÔé¼┼ôI have one thing to say about Jonathan├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôYes?├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex asked.
├óÔé¼┼ôIf you meet his father...kill him├óÔé¼┬Ø Garret said. ├óÔé¼┼ôWho?├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôHis Father├óÔé¼┬Ø Garret said ├óÔé¼┼ôHe deserves death. If you give it too him, it would be all the more...appropriate├óÔé¼┬Ø. Alex felt a shiver go down his spine. There was a look in Garret's eyes that made him want to leave. Then Garret blinked, smiling ├óÔé¼┼ôIt won't come to that, not the way that man blasphemes...the Death Hand will get him, in the end├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôFrom what I've seen, no offense├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said ├óÔé¼┼ôThe Death Hand would come to you too├óÔé¼┬Ø. Garret breathed slowly ├óÔé¼┼ôPossibly├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôBut for me it will be a quite death. A dignified death. I will pass away in my sleep, a beloved...if somewhat mad ruler. Jon's father will die messily, in public, as the true monster he is├óÔé¼┬Ø.
The next mourning Alex, Jon, Sandra and Lucy all stood before Garret. The Lord was looking much much improved, as if eating nonpoisoned food and resting up had changed him over night. He was no longer the tired, sallow man he was last night. ├óÔé¼┼ôWell├óÔé¼┬Ø Garret said ├óÔé¼┼ôThis...fine gift├óÔé¼┬Ø he gestured to the Dragon's head, witch lay on a dirty sheet placed on the floor ├óÔé¼┼ôWill make an excellent addition to my wall. Thank you, young Knights and Ladies├óÔé¼┬Ø. Sandra blushed, hearing herself being called a Lady. Lucy looked away, not wanting to show gratitude.
Alex and Jon bowed ├óÔé¼┼ôThank you, Lord├óÔé¼┬Ø they both mumbled. Jon was also blushing. Giggling too, as if something funny had been said without someone knowing about it. Alex stood with his friend as Garret pulled out his sword. ├óÔé¼┼ôI dub thee├óÔé¼┬Ø He said, his voice dropping to the archaic speech of the past years ├óÔé¼┼ôHero's of the Western Province├óÔé¼┬Ø. Alex almost dropped his sword. Jon actually did trip slightly. Hero statutes was only rarely given, and would mean that Jon and Alex were only slightly less powerful then Garret himself. It was an amazing gift. ├óÔé¼┼ôRise, Knights├óÔé¼┬Ø Garret said ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd head back to Centralia City├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Lucy road side saddle, no matter how much she hated it. She understood the need to look Imperial, so she wore a gown and a conical hat that was in style. The story was she was Lord Garrets eldest daughter, Lucy DeShay, and if anyone asked why she was with them, then they should say that she had to go to Centralia city anyway, and Garret proffered her to go with two Dragoons, rather then anyone he could hire. So they road to the mountains, getting farther and farther away from the West with every foot step. ├óÔé¼┼ôThis is nice, leaving that damn place├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy commented ├óÔé¼┼ôThe Waste is certainly a nasty territory├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôThey are all nasty territory's├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex moaned. ├óÔé¼┼ôNot mine├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy and Sandra said at the same time.
Lucy looked at the city with awe. It was amazing, to her at least, that so many people could be crammed into such a small space. She saw the city as a thousand small spaces crammed together. ├óÔé¼┼ôIts just a city├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon said at her exclamations. They road down into the city, having to stop twice due to night falling. Finally they arrived at the West Gates, and road into the city. Lucy was actually afraid of the shouting, jostling crowds. Jon moved around her protectively, acting as a wave breaker for her, shoving through the crowds. Alex felt a flicker of disquiet. Jon was acting as if she were actually an Imperial. It irked him on more then one level. Alex shoved the disquiet out of his mind.
They got on a gondolier and gave him the coinage needed to get them to the Generals headquarters. Jon was looking nervous again. ├óÔé¼┼ôDon't worry├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex murmured into his ear ├óÔé¼┼ôWe're going to be fine├óÔé¼┬Ø. The gondolier stopped and they all got off, climbing ashore. Then Jon's hand clamped down on Alex's arm. Jon's face was a mask of panic, his eyes bugging madly. ├óÔé¼┼ôIts...its!├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon gasped. Alex looked where he was looking. There was a fat man standing there, his gut bulging madly around his middle, stretching his clothes. He was draped in necklesses, jewels and amulets. He also was unmistakably Jon's father. Then he looked straight at Alex. Then his eyes bugged, looking almost like his son. ├óÔé¼┼ôGAURDS!├óÔé¼┬Ø he screamed ├óÔé¼┼ôGAURDS!├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Jon turned and ran. Alex looked after him, and ran too. The guards ran to Jon's father, and looked confused. ├óÔé¼┼ôAFTER THAT...THAT MAN!├óÔé¼┬Ø father shouted, spit flying from his mouth as he pointed straight to Jon, who was running down the street away from him. The guards ran as well. Alex and Jon ran down the street. Then Jon rounded an ally, got halfway down the ally, and jumped up. He thrust his legs out, creating a V. He stood there, propped against both sides of the ally. Then he started to climb up, his face a mask of effort, sweat running down his body. Then he got to the roofs and clambered there. Alex watched this, then turned around and saw a cart. He grabbed the cart and maneuvered it in place in front of the ally. Then he jumped onto it and climbed onto the roof moments before the guards arrived.
The guards clambered onto the roof, swords ready. Alex turned around and saw the guards running at him. Jon was beside him, sword ready. ├óÔé¼┼ôJust like the brawl├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said, looking at Jon and grinning. He drew his sword as well. Then the guards were on them. Alex parried the first blow and kicked the man in the stomach. The man fell, his mail clattering as he rolled down the slanted roof. He landed on a fruit seller's cart, sending the apples and oranges and mango's flying. The men in the street were staring at the battle. Jon whipped his sword around, not wanting to damage any of the guards. One of the guards struck at him. Jon slashed the sword around. The sword flew in the air and landed. The now disarmed guard ran, tripping over the side of the roof and falling.
Alex dodged a sword blow and kicked the man in the crotch. It was a low strike, but it was better then disemboweling him. The guard slid slowly off the roof, groaning loudly. The two reaming guards ran straight at him, not caring to notice Jon. Mistake. Jon grabbed one behind the back and spun him around. Then he grabbed the sides of the man's head and smashed his face against the other man' face. The man fell backwards, dazed. The last guard slashed at Alex. Alex caught the sword in his chest. Blood flowed. Then Jon, yelling madly, hacked at the guards back. Blood sprayed and the guard fell, most likely dead. Alex hissed, looking at his wound. ├óÔé¼┼ôAh hell├óÔé¼┬Ø He muttered. Then he fell face forward.
Jon dragged him into the semi-safety of a abandoned house. ├óÔé¼┼ôBugger├óÔé¼┬Ø He muttered, looking at Alex's comatose form. The wound was serious, and the guards tipped the swords with a mild poison, to knock their targets out. It was more human then just killing them. Jon sighed, looking around the abandoned room he was in. ├óÔé¼┼ôIf i had...If I had only told you├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon murmured, his voice soft and high ├óÔé¼┼ôYou'd have never risked your self for me├óÔé¼┬Ø. He started to cry ├óÔé¼┼ôDamn├óÔé¼┬Ø he whipped his face ├óÔé¼┼ôDamn it, don't cry├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Lucy rounded on the fat man. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou bastard!├óÔé¼┬Ø she shouted ├óÔé¼┼ôHow dare you accuse my fianc├â┬®e of anything!├óÔé¼┬Ø. The fat man laughed, suddenly. He was a step away from rolling on the floor, that was how hard he was laughing. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat!├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy asked, anger rising again. ├óÔé¼┼ôYo..you...you...you!├óÔé¼┬Ø The fat man said. Three guards ran to him ├óÔé¼┼ôSir├óÔé¼┬Ø they said ├óÔé¼┼ôThe two men you sent us after...they escaped├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôDamn it!├óÔé¼┬Ø The man said, his mirth vanishing ├óÔé¼┼ôI need to organize a city search to find and expose these...men!├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôStop right there├óÔé¼┬Ø Smithers walked out of his office, anger on his face ├óÔé¼┼ôhow dare you! How dare you turn our guards on the two newest Heroes├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôHeroes!├óÔé¼┬Ø The fat man blustered ├óÔé¼┼ôThats preposterous!├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôIn fact...I think you are under arrest for slander...guards...take him away├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Alex woke up with a pounding head ache. ├óÔé¼┼ôYour alive!├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon shouted. Then he kissed Alex. Alex shoved Jon off. Both men looked at each other. Alex's heart sized up. Jon had just kissed him. And he wanted to do it again. His mouth was suddenly dry, his throat seeming unable to work. He couldn't breath. He'd have to get away, to get away. His gorge rose in his stomach as he realized what he had just done. He had kissed a man. Queer. Pinky. Fagot. Those words and more would be branded on him if any one found out, and after that the Death Hand would make an example of him.
A memory. ├óÔé¼┬ØThrow! Throw Alex!├óÔé¼┬Ø his mother shouted. Alex hurled the tomato and it smashed against the man's face. The man looked truly pitiful, his ribs easily countable. A triangle was branded in his forehead. His...disgusting lover was next to him, another man. They were both at the stake, ready to be burnt. But first the crowd would have to have their fun. And Alex threw as well as the others. Fruits, too rotten for even animals to eat, where hurled at the fag's. And Alex loved every moment of it. He loved showing those disgusting perverts what happens to them. Just rewards, his father had told him. Just rewards. .
Alex threw up. The vomit felt good, scouring his throat and mouth. It was a necessary pain, a good pain. Alex needed to repent as best he could, undo what had been done. This wasn't something trivial. This was the worst thing that he could have done. It didn't matter that Jon had kissed him. What mattered was he had made Jon want to kiss him, to think Alex would like Jon to kiss him. Alex had to get away. He got up, but his chest burst from the cut. He staggered to the window. ├óÔé¼┼ôAlex!├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon said. He pushed the window open. There was a dizzying story drop into a back ally way. ├óÔé¼┼ôAlex!├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon said, his hand on Alex's shoulder.
├óÔé¼┼ôGet away from me!├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said, his face twisting ├óÔé¼┼ôGet away from me, you fucking freak!├óÔé¼┬Ø. He backed out of the window, wanting to get away from Jon. His foot went down where he thought more floor would be. Then he toppled backwards and fell into the ally. There was a hard crack and a brilliant flash of white. Then Alex knew no more.
You guy's reacted to the wrong twist, you bastards! I'll KILL YOU! I'LL KILL ALL OF YOU!
Just kidding.
Alex woke up. He was laying on a table, hastily cleared for his body. His head had a large bandage around it, obscuring the vision out of his left eye. The chest had also been bandaged, though it still hurt like hell. He sat up, feeling as if he had had a huge number of rocks dropped on his head. He looked around the room he found himself in. Sandra was sitting in a chair, watching him. Alex balanced. If Sandra was there, then... ├óÔé¼┼ôJon!├óÔé¼┬Ø Sandra shouted ├óÔé¼┼ôJon! Alex is awake!├óÔé¼┬Ø. Alex got off the makeshift bed. Then he fell to his knee's, pain burning in his chest and head. His vision swum, as if he was seeing it through water. Blood pounded in his temples.
Jon walked into the room, looking worriedly at Alex. Alex felt his throat size up again. He had trouble breathing. He wanted to get away again, away from Jon's young, boyish face. He remembered Jon kissing him. Alex felt like throwing up, not because the memory disgusted him. But because it didn't. ├óÔé¼┼ôAlex├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon said. Then he looked at Sandra. ├óÔé¼┼ôSandra, leave├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôBut I├óÔé¼┬Ø Sandra said. ├óÔé¼┼ôLeave├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon said, being far more curt then normal with his servant. Sandra closed her mouth, then walked through the door. It closed with a slam. Jon reached out his hand, wanting to help Alex to his feet. Alex shoved himself to his feet. Then his head swam and he almost dropped. Jon caught him.
├óÔé¼┼ôGet away from me├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said, shoving himself away from Jon. ├óÔé¼┼ôDon't be a moron├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon snapped ├óÔé¼┼ôYou're weak, and I need to help you├óÔé¼┬Ø. Alex, grudgingly, allowed himself to be set down on the table by Jon. ├óÔé¼┼ôNow' Jon said, leaning close to his head, pulling the bandage aside ├óÔé¼┼ôYou're looking quite better├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon said ├óÔé¼┼ôNot the best, mind you, but better├óÔé¼┬Ø. Alex drew away ├óÔé¼┼ôNow get away from please├óÔé¼┬Ø. Jon looked stricken momentarily. Then he laughed. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat?├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôNothing├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon said, sitting down. The laughter died on his face, and he blinked as he looked at Alex. ├óÔé¼┼ôI'm going to the Generals office as soon as I'm better├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd requesting to be transfered back to my squad├óÔé¼┬Ø. Jon nodded ├óÔé¼┼ôYou're not...not going to turn me in?├óÔé¼┬Ø he asked.
Alex sighed slowly ├óÔé¼┼ôNo├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôI can't...├óÔé¼┬Ø. Jon smiled ├óÔé¼┼ôI suppose thats a testament to my character├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôJon├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said, pausing ├óÔé¼┼ôYour...your sick. You need help├óÔé¼┬Ø. Jon smiled lopsidedly ├óÔé¼┼ôI can't...I can't go into the Church├óÔé¼┬Ø he said. ├óÔé¼┼ôThey would├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said ├óÔé¼┼ôThey spare repenters├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôIt's not that I wont...its that I can't├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon said softly. Alex looked at him ├óÔé¼┼ôWhy?├óÔé¼┬Ø he asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôBecause├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon said ├óÔé¼┼ôI can't explain it...please├óÔé¼┬Ø he looked into Alex's eyes directly ├óÔé¼┼ôtrust me on this. I can not go into a church for...that├óÔé¼┬Ø. Alex breathed slowly ├óÔé¼┼ôFine├óÔé¼┬Ø. He stood up ├óÔé¼┼ôI'm leaving. I wish you luck├óÔé¼┬Ø he stuck out his hand. Jon took it. Alex shook it slowly, then turned away. He walked out of the room, past Sandra and Lucy, then out the door.
├óÔé¼┼ôIdiot├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon gasped, sitting down in a chair. Tears ran down his face. ├óÔé¼┼ôAre you okay, Jon?├óÔé¼┬Ø Sandra asked, walking into the room. ├óÔé¼┼ôNo├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon said ├óÔé¼┼ôI'm an idiot. I...I...├óÔé¼┬Ø. Sandra looked at him, pain flickering across her face. She walked over to Jon and put her hand on his shoulder ├óÔé¼┼ôIf there's anything I can├óÔé¼┬Ø she said. ├óÔé¼┼ôNo├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon said ├óÔé¼┼ôNo its nothing you can fix. I suppose...my sister might├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôYour sister?├óÔé¼┬Ø Sandra asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôStay here├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon said, suddenly perking up ├óÔé¼┼ôKeep after Lucy. Make sure she doesn't take that hat off, even indoors├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôA-Alright├óÔé¼┬Ø Sandra said, looking confused. ├óÔé¼┼ôI'll be back├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon said, walking out of the door.
The Priestess looked up. A young man was standing in her door. After a moment she recognized him. ├óÔé¼┼ôJon!├óÔé¼┬Ø she said, standing up. ├óÔé¼┼ôI can't stay long, Dianna├óÔé¼┬Ø he said, reaching up and tugging on his ear. That meant he was worried someone might be listening. Di smiled, passing her hand over a crystal on her desk ├óÔé¼┼ôWe're safe now├óÔé¼┬Ø she said. ├óÔé¼┼ôThank the Gods├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon said, cricking his neck ├óÔé¼┼ôI'm afraid I've done something completely moronic├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat is it this time?├óÔé¼┬Ø Di asked, sitting down again. ├óÔé¼┼ôI...I├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon said, trailing off. Then slowly, faltering, he told his story. Di listened to it, her face impassively. She had been trained to listen like this as a Priestess.
Jon finished his story. ├óÔé¼┼ôThat is a pickle├óÔé¼┬Ø Di said ├óÔé¼┼ôIf you tell him the truth, he will hate you. If you don't...he'll also hate you├óÔé¼┬Ø. Jon sighed ├óÔé¼┼ôI suppose I should just give up now├óÔé¼┬Ø he said. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou never gave up. Now when you were in our Fathers house. Not before that, and not after that├óÔé¼┬Ø she smiled ├óÔé¼┼ôI'm sure that if you hit him enough, he'll learn├óÔé¼┬Ø. Jon closed his eyes and let a tear trickle out of them. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou really do love Alex, don't you?├óÔé¼┬Ø Di asked. Jon placed his hands over his face and started to cry ├óÔé¼┼ôYes├óÔé¼┬Ø he sobbed ├óÔé¼┼ôYes I do├óÔé¼┬Ø. Di frowned. She almost never showed the extreme emotions that Jon was doing now. It was part of her training. But some times she wished she could let the dams loose and cry her heart out.
Alex road the horse slowly over the mountains, his eyes closed. There was no one near him, no one around him. It was even more lonely then it was just him and Sandra. He had made one man rides farther, and slower then this. But this is different. He was used to Jon being near him. He missed Jon. That hurt the most. It made Alex want to... he wasn't sure. Crawl up and die was high on the list though. He continued to ride, even as rain clouds threatened. After two days of riding, most of it in the rain, he got to the Southlands. He road to the new Fort, with had yet to be named, and got to the gate. ├óÔé¼┼ôOpen!├óÔé¼┬Ø he called. ├óÔé¼┼ôIts Alex├óÔé¼┬Ø he heard someone say.
├óÔé¼┼ôHey Alex!├óÔé¼┬Ø Gary called. Alex started, looking up. Gary and Josh were at the top of the gate, waving madly. The gate cracked open and Alex dismounted, leading his horse into the fort. Gary and Josh met him there ├óÔé¼┼ôWhere's Jon?├óÔé¼┬Ø One of them asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôHe had...other matters to deal with├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said darkly. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhen will he arrive?├óÔé¼┬Ø Gary asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôI don't know├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said ├óÔé¼┼ôHe's been transferred to some other squad├óÔé¼┬Ø. Gary and Josh looked at each other, gulping. ├óÔé¼┼ôB...But what about Jon?├óÔé¼┬Ø Josh asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôStop hero worshiping├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex snapped, turning away from the other men. He walked to their tent, ignoring them.
├óÔé¼┼ôSo the Southlanders attacks are getting worse and worse├óÔé¼┬Ø Colman said ├óÔé¼┼ôWe've actually heard rumors of out right retreats by some of the out bound regiments├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôRetreats?├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex asked, lying in his cot. It felt wrong. He must be crazy. ├óÔé¼┼ôYup├óÔé¼┬Ø Josh said, sounding a little irritated about Alex snapping at him. ├óÔé¼┼ôTomorrow├óÔé¼┬Ø Colman said ├óÔé¼┼ôAbout half the Southlander army is being lead down here. We're going to give them a whipping├óÔé¼┬Ø. Alex was about to say something, but then Gary ran into the tent ├óÔé¼┼ôHey!├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôJosh is here! He's with a cavalierly detachment├óÔé¼┬Ø. Alex stayed in his cot, even as the others rushed out. Alex rolled over, feeling sick.
Alex panted, running as hard as he could through the snow. It was thick. Rout. He thought he would never hear that word. Rout. Gary, Josh, Colman...he wasn't sure. They could be alive, dead. Captured, even worse. Right now all he knew was the Fort was burning. He had to get back, to save anyone he could. A Silverback warrior spotted him, running at him with a howling yell. Alex ducked the sword and smashed the silverback in the gut. Blood and bits of intestines oozed out and the silverback fell, staining the snow red.
An hour ago. Alex heard screams, yells. The Southlander army had been clever and large. They had hit them from the side, running over the hill in fine form. Alex had been part of the platoon sent out to sortie. He felt good, being part of something larger then himself. Then they stopped. Alex careened around, trying to see what had occurred. Another Southlander regiment had smashed into the side of his group. ├óÔé¼┼ôDamn it├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex swore as the first Southlander regiment plowed into his part of the fight. He was now in the thick of it, swinging swords and dodging blows as best he could. He took an ax in the side, but it failed to penetrate his armor. It seemed as if his platoon was getting chewed up. Then salvation.
Jon road out, resplendent in full plate mail. He looked far more like a Dragoon then Alex did, even though Alex did wear the medals. The calvary, small as they were, plowed into the enemy. Alex fell back into the rythem of fighting, laying about himself as fast as he could, dealing out non life threatening, but disabling wounds. But it was clear that he was on the loosing side. The Southlanders out numbered them, and they had out flanked them. Then Alex heard something. He only vaguely remembered it from basic training. IT was the sound of a retreat horn. The formation around him broke and ran.
He was alone. He saw flames licking up, around the wooden fort. The Southlanders were as spread as the Royal army, but they were gleefully hacking up the Imperials. Alex ran towards the fort, pushing through the snow as best he could. He dispatched a silverback warrior. Then he arrived at the Fort. Through a gaping hole in the wall he saw ten or so silverbacks, all wearing what amounted to mail and wielding swords. They formed a circle about Jonathan. His eyes blazed with fury and he laid about himself with a sword, hacking at anyone who got too close. But he was moments away from being hacked apart by the Southlanders, who could hit him from behind even while he was holding them off a the front.
Alex, seeing his friend in danger ran forward screaming at the top of his lungs. Anger and rage shot through his veins at the sight. He hacked a silverback in the back. The silverbacks were weakly armored there, as they hated having too much junk over their fur. He still went through the mail with his sword. Blood sprayed as Alex jerked his sword around and bit into the neck of another silverback. Jon did likewise, sending a silverback's head flying. Then a silverback stabbed him in the back. Jon shouted, his voice high and weak. Then another Silverback hacked him in the leg and Jon fell to one knee. The one who stabbed him in the back didn't live long enough to retrieve his weapon, as Alex's sword bit into his back.
Jon, howling like a madman, spun around and brought his sword smashing against a silverback's head. He pivoted on his wounded leg, witch must have hurt him terrible. But he brought the silverback down. Alex stabbed a seventh through the eye socket. The silverback fell, jerking the sword out his hands. Alex looked up and saw the remaining silverbacks were fleeing. Alex looked at Jon, who was bleeding into the snow. He picked the other man up, marveling at how light he was. Then he ran to a building that didn't look too on fire. He laid Jon down there and, knowing he'd have to dress the wound, pulled Jon's armor off. ├óÔé¼┼ôNo├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon said weakly ├óÔé¼┼ôno, you...you can't├óÔé¼┬Ø. Alex grabbed his shirt and tore it down the middle ├óÔé¼┼ôI have to...dress...├óÔé¼┬Ø he stopped, staring.
There was a band of cloth bound about right where Jon's nipples would be. Alex blinked, feeling as if this were a dream. The world began to slowly spin. The wound was not too bad, despite the blood. It was the band of cloth that was bound over Jon. ├óÔé¼┼ôJon├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said ├óÔé¼┼ôI'm...I'm going to bind you wound├óÔé¼┬Ø He said, trying not to think. He would find it out later. He ripped some of Jon's shirt away and bound the wound as best he could. Then he sat down, looking at Jon in amazement. Beneath the binding were two small lumps, bound flat. Alex started to laugh. He couldn't stop.
The night ended with dawn breaking. Alex jerked away. It seemed as if the Southlanders had left, along with the Royal army. Alex didn't want to get up and expose himself, so he stayed put in the building. It seemed safe for the moment. Jon woke with a gasp, sweat standing out on his face. ├óÔé¼┼ôHey├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said ├óÔé¼┼ôYou should be healed up in a few days. At least enough to walk├óÔé¼┬Ø. Jon suddenly looked down at his uncovered chest, not counting the band. His hands flew up to the binding and he started to cry. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou know├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôYou know, gods blood...├óÔé¼┬Ø. Alex sighed ├óÔé¼┼ôJon...what the hell is your name?├óÔé¼┬Ø.
├óÔé¼┼ôJoana├óÔé¼┬Ø Joana said ├óÔé¼┼ôMy name is Joana├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôJon...Joa├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said ├óÔé¼┼ôSo there was never a son. There was just two daughters. One who went to the Church...and the other who went to the army├óÔé¼┬Ø. Joa cupped her head in her hands, smearing blood and tears over her face. Alex held her shoulders as she cried. Joa hugged close to him, not caring who he was. She sobbed for who knows how long. Once she was done she whipped her tears away. ├óÔé¼┼ôI hurt├óÔé¼┬Ø she said, laying back down. Blood had started to flow from her back wound again. ├óÔé¼┼ôStay still├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said. Then he stopped ├óÔé¼┼ôI'm sorry├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôI'm sorry for what I said├óÔé¼┬Ø.
They were both silent. Then they heard a knock on the door.
Just kidding.
Alex woke up. He was laying on a table, hastily cleared for his body. His head had a large bandage around it, obscuring the vision out of his left eye. The chest had also been bandaged, though it still hurt like hell. He sat up, feeling as if he had had a huge number of rocks dropped on his head. He looked around the room he found himself in. Sandra was sitting in a chair, watching him. Alex balanced. If Sandra was there, then... ├óÔé¼┼ôJon!├óÔé¼┬Ø Sandra shouted ├óÔé¼┼ôJon! Alex is awake!├óÔé¼┬Ø. Alex got off the makeshift bed. Then he fell to his knee's, pain burning in his chest and head. His vision swum, as if he was seeing it through water. Blood pounded in his temples.
Jon walked into the room, looking worriedly at Alex. Alex felt his throat size up again. He had trouble breathing. He wanted to get away again, away from Jon's young, boyish face. He remembered Jon kissing him. Alex felt like throwing up, not because the memory disgusted him. But because it didn't. ├óÔé¼┼ôAlex├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon said. Then he looked at Sandra. ├óÔé¼┼ôSandra, leave├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôBut I├óÔé¼┬Ø Sandra said. ├óÔé¼┼ôLeave├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon said, being far more curt then normal with his servant. Sandra closed her mouth, then walked through the door. It closed with a slam. Jon reached out his hand, wanting to help Alex to his feet. Alex shoved himself to his feet. Then his head swam and he almost dropped. Jon caught him.
├óÔé¼┼ôGet away from me├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said, shoving himself away from Jon. ├óÔé¼┼ôDon't be a moron├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon snapped ├óÔé¼┼ôYou're weak, and I need to help you├óÔé¼┬Ø. Alex, grudgingly, allowed himself to be set down on the table by Jon. ├óÔé¼┼ôNow' Jon said, leaning close to his head, pulling the bandage aside ├óÔé¼┼ôYou're looking quite better├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon said ├óÔé¼┼ôNot the best, mind you, but better├óÔé¼┬Ø. Alex drew away ├óÔé¼┼ôNow get away from please├óÔé¼┬Ø. Jon looked stricken momentarily. Then he laughed. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat?├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôNothing├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon said, sitting down. The laughter died on his face, and he blinked as he looked at Alex. ├óÔé¼┼ôI'm going to the Generals office as soon as I'm better├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd requesting to be transfered back to my squad├óÔé¼┬Ø. Jon nodded ├óÔé¼┼ôYou're not...not going to turn me in?├óÔé¼┬Ø he asked.
Alex sighed slowly ├óÔé¼┼ôNo├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôI can't...├óÔé¼┬Ø. Jon smiled ├óÔé¼┼ôI suppose thats a testament to my character├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôJon├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said, pausing ├óÔé¼┼ôYour...your sick. You need help├óÔé¼┬Ø. Jon smiled lopsidedly ├óÔé¼┼ôI can't...I can't go into the Church├óÔé¼┬Ø he said. ├óÔé¼┼ôThey would├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said ├óÔé¼┼ôThey spare repenters├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôIt's not that I wont...its that I can't├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon said softly. Alex looked at him ├óÔé¼┼ôWhy?├óÔé¼┬Ø he asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôBecause├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon said ├óÔé¼┼ôI can't explain it...please├óÔé¼┬Ø he looked into Alex's eyes directly ├óÔé¼┼ôtrust me on this. I can not go into a church for...that├óÔé¼┬Ø. Alex breathed slowly ├óÔé¼┼ôFine├óÔé¼┬Ø. He stood up ├óÔé¼┼ôI'm leaving. I wish you luck├óÔé¼┬Ø he stuck out his hand. Jon took it. Alex shook it slowly, then turned away. He walked out of the room, past Sandra and Lucy, then out the door.
├óÔé¼┼ôIdiot├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon gasped, sitting down in a chair. Tears ran down his face. ├óÔé¼┼ôAre you okay, Jon?├óÔé¼┬Ø Sandra asked, walking into the room. ├óÔé¼┼ôNo├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon said ├óÔé¼┼ôI'm an idiot. I...I...├óÔé¼┬Ø. Sandra looked at him, pain flickering across her face. She walked over to Jon and put her hand on his shoulder ├óÔé¼┼ôIf there's anything I can├óÔé¼┬Ø she said. ├óÔé¼┼ôNo├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon said ├óÔé¼┼ôNo its nothing you can fix. I suppose...my sister might├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôYour sister?├óÔé¼┬Ø Sandra asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôStay here├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon said, suddenly perking up ├óÔé¼┼ôKeep after Lucy. Make sure she doesn't take that hat off, even indoors├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôA-Alright├óÔé¼┬Ø Sandra said, looking confused. ├óÔé¼┼ôI'll be back├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon said, walking out of the door.
The Priestess looked up. A young man was standing in her door. After a moment she recognized him. ├óÔé¼┼ôJon!├óÔé¼┬Ø she said, standing up. ├óÔé¼┼ôI can't stay long, Dianna├óÔé¼┬Ø he said, reaching up and tugging on his ear. That meant he was worried someone might be listening. Di smiled, passing her hand over a crystal on her desk ├óÔé¼┼ôWe're safe now├óÔé¼┬Ø she said. ├óÔé¼┼ôThank the Gods├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon said, cricking his neck ├óÔé¼┼ôI'm afraid I've done something completely moronic├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat is it this time?├óÔé¼┬Ø Di asked, sitting down again. ├óÔé¼┼ôI...I├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon said, trailing off. Then slowly, faltering, he told his story. Di listened to it, her face impassively. She had been trained to listen like this as a Priestess.
Jon finished his story. ├óÔé¼┼ôThat is a pickle├óÔé¼┬Ø Di said ├óÔé¼┼ôIf you tell him the truth, he will hate you. If you don't...he'll also hate you├óÔé¼┬Ø. Jon sighed ├óÔé¼┼ôI suppose I should just give up now├óÔé¼┬Ø he said. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou never gave up. Now when you were in our Fathers house. Not before that, and not after that├óÔé¼┬Ø she smiled ├óÔé¼┼ôI'm sure that if you hit him enough, he'll learn├óÔé¼┬Ø. Jon closed his eyes and let a tear trickle out of them. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou really do love Alex, don't you?├óÔé¼┬Ø Di asked. Jon placed his hands over his face and started to cry ├óÔé¼┼ôYes├óÔé¼┬Ø he sobbed ├óÔé¼┼ôYes I do├óÔé¼┬Ø. Di frowned. She almost never showed the extreme emotions that Jon was doing now. It was part of her training. But some times she wished she could let the dams loose and cry her heart out.
Alex road the horse slowly over the mountains, his eyes closed. There was no one near him, no one around him. It was even more lonely then it was just him and Sandra. He had made one man rides farther, and slower then this. But this is different. He was used to Jon being near him. He missed Jon. That hurt the most. It made Alex want to... he wasn't sure. Crawl up and die was high on the list though. He continued to ride, even as rain clouds threatened. After two days of riding, most of it in the rain, he got to the Southlands. He road to the new Fort, with had yet to be named, and got to the gate. ├óÔé¼┼ôOpen!├óÔé¼┬Ø he called. ├óÔé¼┼ôIts Alex├óÔé¼┬Ø he heard someone say.
├óÔé¼┼ôHey Alex!├óÔé¼┬Ø Gary called. Alex started, looking up. Gary and Josh were at the top of the gate, waving madly. The gate cracked open and Alex dismounted, leading his horse into the fort. Gary and Josh met him there ├óÔé¼┼ôWhere's Jon?├óÔé¼┬Ø One of them asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôHe had...other matters to deal with├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said darkly. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhen will he arrive?├óÔé¼┬Ø Gary asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôI don't know├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said ├óÔé¼┼ôHe's been transferred to some other squad├óÔé¼┬Ø. Gary and Josh looked at each other, gulping. ├óÔé¼┼ôB...But what about Jon?├óÔé¼┬Ø Josh asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôStop hero worshiping├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex snapped, turning away from the other men. He walked to their tent, ignoring them.
├óÔé¼┼ôSo the Southlanders attacks are getting worse and worse├óÔé¼┬Ø Colman said ├óÔé¼┼ôWe've actually heard rumors of out right retreats by some of the out bound regiments├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôRetreats?├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex asked, lying in his cot. It felt wrong. He must be crazy. ├óÔé¼┼ôYup├óÔé¼┬Ø Josh said, sounding a little irritated about Alex snapping at him. ├óÔé¼┼ôTomorrow├óÔé¼┬Ø Colman said ├óÔé¼┼ôAbout half the Southlander army is being lead down here. We're going to give them a whipping├óÔé¼┬Ø. Alex was about to say something, but then Gary ran into the tent ├óÔé¼┼ôHey!├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôJosh is here! He's with a cavalierly detachment├óÔé¼┬Ø. Alex stayed in his cot, even as the others rushed out. Alex rolled over, feeling sick.
Alex panted, running as hard as he could through the snow. It was thick. Rout. He thought he would never hear that word. Rout. Gary, Josh, Colman...he wasn't sure. They could be alive, dead. Captured, even worse. Right now all he knew was the Fort was burning. He had to get back, to save anyone he could. A Silverback warrior spotted him, running at him with a howling yell. Alex ducked the sword and smashed the silverback in the gut. Blood and bits of intestines oozed out and the silverback fell, staining the snow red.
An hour ago. Alex heard screams, yells. The Southlander army had been clever and large. They had hit them from the side, running over the hill in fine form. Alex had been part of the platoon sent out to sortie. He felt good, being part of something larger then himself. Then they stopped. Alex careened around, trying to see what had occurred. Another Southlander regiment had smashed into the side of his group. ├óÔé¼┼ôDamn it├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex swore as the first Southlander regiment plowed into his part of the fight. He was now in the thick of it, swinging swords and dodging blows as best he could. He took an ax in the side, but it failed to penetrate his armor. It seemed as if his platoon was getting chewed up. Then salvation.
Jon road out, resplendent in full plate mail. He looked far more like a Dragoon then Alex did, even though Alex did wear the medals. The calvary, small as they were, plowed into the enemy. Alex fell back into the rythem of fighting, laying about himself as fast as he could, dealing out non life threatening, but disabling wounds. But it was clear that he was on the loosing side. The Southlanders out numbered them, and they had out flanked them. Then Alex heard something. He only vaguely remembered it from basic training. IT was the sound of a retreat horn. The formation around him broke and ran.
He was alone. He saw flames licking up, around the wooden fort. The Southlanders were as spread as the Royal army, but they were gleefully hacking up the Imperials. Alex ran towards the fort, pushing through the snow as best he could. He dispatched a silverback warrior. Then he arrived at the Fort. Through a gaping hole in the wall he saw ten or so silverbacks, all wearing what amounted to mail and wielding swords. They formed a circle about Jonathan. His eyes blazed with fury and he laid about himself with a sword, hacking at anyone who got too close. But he was moments away from being hacked apart by the Southlanders, who could hit him from behind even while he was holding them off a the front.
Alex, seeing his friend in danger ran forward screaming at the top of his lungs. Anger and rage shot through his veins at the sight. He hacked a silverback in the back. The silverbacks were weakly armored there, as they hated having too much junk over their fur. He still went through the mail with his sword. Blood sprayed as Alex jerked his sword around and bit into the neck of another silverback. Jon did likewise, sending a silverback's head flying. Then a silverback stabbed him in the back. Jon shouted, his voice high and weak. Then another Silverback hacked him in the leg and Jon fell to one knee. The one who stabbed him in the back didn't live long enough to retrieve his weapon, as Alex's sword bit into his back.
Jon, howling like a madman, spun around and brought his sword smashing against a silverback's head. He pivoted on his wounded leg, witch must have hurt him terrible. But he brought the silverback down. Alex stabbed a seventh through the eye socket. The silverback fell, jerking the sword out his hands. Alex looked up and saw the remaining silverbacks were fleeing. Alex looked at Jon, who was bleeding into the snow. He picked the other man up, marveling at how light he was. Then he ran to a building that didn't look too on fire. He laid Jon down there and, knowing he'd have to dress the wound, pulled Jon's armor off. ├óÔé¼┼ôNo├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon said weakly ├óÔé¼┼ôno, you...you can't├óÔé¼┬Ø. Alex grabbed his shirt and tore it down the middle ├óÔé¼┼ôI have to...dress...├óÔé¼┬Ø he stopped, staring.
There was a band of cloth bound about right where Jon's nipples would be. Alex blinked, feeling as if this were a dream. The world began to slowly spin. The wound was not too bad, despite the blood. It was the band of cloth that was bound over Jon. ├óÔé¼┼ôJon├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said ├óÔé¼┼ôI'm...I'm going to bind you wound├óÔé¼┬Ø He said, trying not to think. He would find it out later. He ripped some of Jon's shirt away and bound the wound as best he could. Then he sat down, looking at Jon in amazement. Beneath the binding were two small lumps, bound flat. Alex started to laugh. He couldn't stop.
The night ended with dawn breaking. Alex jerked away. It seemed as if the Southlanders had left, along with the Royal army. Alex didn't want to get up and expose himself, so he stayed put in the building. It seemed safe for the moment. Jon woke with a gasp, sweat standing out on his face. ├óÔé¼┼ôHey├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said ├óÔé¼┼ôYou should be healed up in a few days. At least enough to walk├óÔé¼┬Ø. Jon suddenly looked down at his uncovered chest, not counting the band. His hands flew up to the binding and he started to cry. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou know├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôYou know, gods blood...├óÔé¼┬Ø. Alex sighed ├óÔé¼┼ôJon...what the hell is your name?├óÔé¼┬Ø.
├óÔé¼┼ôJoana├óÔé¼┬Ø Joana said ├óÔé¼┼ôMy name is Joana├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôJon...Joa├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said ├óÔé¼┼ôSo there was never a son. There was just two daughters. One who went to the Church...and the other who went to the army├óÔé¼┬Ø. Joa cupped her head in her hands, smearing blood and tears over her face. Alex held her shoulders as she cried. Joa hugged close to him, not caring who he was. She sobbed for who knows how long. Once she was done she whipped her tears away. ├óÔé¼┼ôI hurt├óÔé¼┬Ø she said, laying back down. Blood had started to flow from her back wound again. ├óÔé¼┼ôStay still├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said. Then he stopped ├óÔé¼┼ôI'm sorry├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôI'm sorry for what I said├óÔé¼┬Ø.
They were both silent. Then they heard a knock on the door.
