Rose
Moderator: Moderators
Yes it took me two days longer then normal, and yes it ends on a sour note, and yes my feet are tired and I feel like a ton of bricks dropped on me thanks to marching band, and YES school is almost here, but thats not going to stop me from delivering...
ROSE!
Alex walked back into the house that has been given to him. Lucy and Sandra were sitting in the lobby, both with bags packed and ready to go. Joa walked in after him, looking glum. ├óÔé¼┼ôSo what are you're orders├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôWe have a long boat ride ahead of us├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said ├óÔé¼┼ôWe're going to the Eastlands├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôWe're...├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy trailed off. She looked completely dumbfounded ├óÔé¼┼ôBut...we're at peace with the Empire├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôExactly├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said ├óÔé¼┼ôWe're going to help you're home against Southlanders├óÔé¼┬Ø. Sandra looked a little pale too ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat do you mean by that?├óÔé¼┬Ø she asked.
├óÔé¼┼ôThe new faction├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa said. ├óÔé¼┼ôYeah├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said ├óÔé¼┼ôThe new faction that has been putting so much hurt on the Empire has also been hitting the Wastes and the Eastlands├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôWell I don't think anyone cares too much about the wastes├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy muttered ├óÔé¼┼ôI did spend...four years there├óÔé¼┬Ø she counted her finger, just to check. She nodded ├óÔé¼┼ôYeah, four├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôSo├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said ├óÔé¼┼ôWe're leaving tonight. Lets go├óÔé¼┬Ø. They were half way out the door when Lucy paused half way between putting her hat on. Then she turned to Alex ├óÔé¼┼ôAlex├óÔé¼┬Ø she said ├óÔé¼┼ôNo matter what you do...do not show anyone the hilt of that sword├óÔé¼┬Ø. Alex looked at the hilt of the sword, then at Lucy. ├óÔé¼┼ôIf you do...├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy said, trailing off. Alex nodded ├óÔé¼┼ôOkay├óÔé¼┬Ø he said. ├óÔé¼┼ôAnother thing├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy said ├óÔé¼┼ôDon't mention...my...├óÔé¼┬Ø she gestured vaguely to the side of her head.
├óÔé¼┼ôYout...├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex looked around. There was no one else there but Joa and Sandra, both of whom who were listening to the conversation with interest. Joa was tapping her left foot, impatient, but she didn't say anything immediately. ├óÔé¼┼ôHorns├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex finished. ├óÔé¼┼ôYes├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy said ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd don't ask questions about horns, and don't mention horns. Don't talk about horns├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôBut├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex started to say. Lucy grabbed him ├óÔé¼┼ôDon't talk about horns!├óÔé¼┬Ø she practically shouted. Alex looked at Lucy. There was anger in there, but also fear. It reminded Alex of when Joa, or Jon at the time, was talking about her father. ├óÔé¼┼ôLucy├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said ├óÔé¼┼ôIf there's something I should know then you should tell me├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Lucy looked around. ├óÔé¼┼ôInside├óÔé¼┬Ø she said. Joa and Sandra looked at each other. Alex nodded ├óÔé¼┼ôFine├óÔé¼┬Ø he said. Lucy opened the door and walked into the house. Alex followed her and closed the door behind him. ├óÔé¼┼ôSo├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said ├óÔé¼┼ôWhats this about?├óÔé¼┬Ø. Lucy sighed, pulling off her hat. She looked subdued, as if something very bad was going to happen. ├óÔé¼┼ôRight├óÔé¼┬Ø she said, unbuttoning her shirt. Alex grabbed her hands ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat are you doing!├óÔé¼┬Ø he hissed. There was no one else in the room, but he still felt his ears burning. ├óÔé¼┼ôLet go├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy said, turning around. She let her shirt fall of, exposing her back. Alex saw the tattoo. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat...what do these mean?├óÔé¼┬Ø he asked, pointing
Lucy told him. Alex felt as if he had been kicking in the chest. ├óÔé¼┼ôOh├óÔé¼┬Ø he said, blinking. Lucy pulled her shirt back on and buttoned up her shirt again. ├óÔé¼┼ôNow├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy said, looking tired ├óÔé¼┼ôPlease don't tell the others├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôRight├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said, running his hand through his hair ├óÔé¼┼ôRight├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou said right twice├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy said. ├óÔé¼┼ôRight├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said ├óÔé¼┼ôNow...how do we keep this from the Eastlanders?├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôWell├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy said ├óÔé¼┼ôIf I keep my hat on and don't take off my shirt, we should be fine├óÔé¼┬Ø. Alex grinned ├óÔé¼┼ôAre Eastlanders in the habit of tearing their shirts off?├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôNo├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy laughed. ├óÔé¼┼ôLets go├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said, opening the door. Joa and Sandra looked at them. ├óÔé¼┼ôLets go├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said. Joa shrugged and started to walk. Sandra followed her. Alex looked at Lucy ├óÔé¼┼ôThanks├óÔé¼┬Ø he said. ├óÔé¼┼ôFor what?├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôFor trusting me├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said ├óÔé¼┼ôIts funny but...it means a lot├óÔé¼┬Ø.
The boat ride was horrible. They had ridden to the Eastern gate, witch, unlike the Southern and Western Gates, didn't open into a mountain range. It was built on a pass, and once through the pass, Alex, Joa, Sandra and Lucy arrived at the Eastern Port. It was a sprawling metropolis, with thousands of boats coming and leaving. Not that any of the boats were very large. Most were fishing boats that combed the Eastern sea for sweet fish and jumperflies to sell in Imperial Markets. Most of the ships were the slender Eastlander make, and a lot of Eastlanders were in the port, wearing conical straw hats. Lucy pulled her hat brim down low as they walked through the streets. Alex kept his sword hilt covered. Then they got on the boat.
The boat was very small and very...Eastlander. It was cramped, smelt of fish and had a lot of paper in the construction. After a two day ride, where Alex spent most of the time vomiting and being seasick, they arrived at the Eastlands. It was a huge island, with a thousand tiny villages dotting the mountain ranges that covered the place. ├óÔé¼┼ôThe problem with my home├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy said, looking at the mountains ├óÔé¼┼ôis those thousands of villages each have their own spin on our language├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôReally?├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa said ├óÔé¼┼ôthen how do we talk to them?├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôWe use the Royal Tong and hope that someone in the village understands us. If not we pantomime and shout profanity at each other├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy said. ├óÔé¼┼ôSounds inefficient├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa said. ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd funny├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said. Lucy elbowed him playfully.
At the port they were met by an Eastlander. He wore his traditional dress, a long green robe, and as he chattered excitedly in his language an Imperial ran after him. ├óÔé¼┼ôPlease├óÔé¼┬Ø he said in Imperial ├óÔé¼┼ôuse Imperial├óÔé¼┬Ø. The man switched to Imperial between words ├óÔé¼┼ôas saying that I am so very pleased to greet two dignified hero's and their...├óÔé¼┬Ø he paused ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat is word I am looking for?├óÔé¼┬Ø he asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôCourtesans?├óÔé¼┬Ø the Imperial said. Alex drew his sword and placed it under his chin. After a moment Joa's sword joined his, pressing into the man's chest. Neither drew blood, but they made the two Dragoon's displeasure quite clear.
├óÔé¼┼ôServants?├óÔé¼┬Ø the man corrected, raising his hand. The Eastlander simply looked on with a slight look of smugness playing over his face. ├óÔé¼┼ôThey are our companions├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa said ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd our friends. And they would like a apology├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôI...I am sorry├óÔé¼┬Ø the man said to Lucy. ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd the other one├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex snarled. The man looked at Sandra, his lip curled. ├óÔé¼┼ôI do not apologize to animals├óÔé¼┬Ø he said. Ales grabbed him, more then ready to slip his sword into his throat. But Joa slapped his blade out of the way and stepped in. even thought the man was taller then Joa by a full head, she still seemed to tower over him. ├óÔé¼┼ôListen├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa said ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd listen very carefully because I do not repeat myself├óÔé¼┬Ø. The man took an involuntary step back, almost completely cowed by Joa.
├óÔé¼┼ôYou will either apologize to this woman, who is partly responsible for why I am alive to have this conversation├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa said ├óÔé¼┼ôOr I will show you the Gods. Very slowly. And very...unpleasantly├óÔé¼┬Ø. The man almost toppled into the harbor, his feet scuffing the edge of the dock. ├óÔé¼┼ôI am sorry for both of my comments├óÔé¼┬Ø he said to Sandra, bowing again. The Easterner laughed uproariously and said something in a torrent of his language. Lucy's eyes widened and she covered her mouth, trying not to laugh as well. Joa let her sword fall slightly, and the man bowed to them both again. The Eastner said something in his language. The man blinked ├óÔé¼┼ôUm...Lord Heisuke says that we must really begin our trip├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôTell him that I agree├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa said, still sending a withering stair at the man.
They all walked to the gates of the Harbor city. There they were given a cart with a single very strange looking animal at the head. The animal had four legs, like a horse, but it was huge and wide, like a barrel. Its head was low slung, and had two horns sticking out of it. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhats that?├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôIts a bull├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy said ├óÔé¼┼ôNever seen a bull before?├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôNo├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said. ├óÔé¼┼ôWell├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa said, who had already clambered into the back of the cart ├óÔé¼┼ôAre you two going to come up here or not?├óÔé¼┬Ø. Alex gestured to Lucy, waiting for her to get in first. Lucy started to climb in. Alex aided her, pushing her up into the cart. Then he climbed in as well. Finally he reached down and pulled Sandra into the cart. It was a surprisingly comfortable interior.
There were two long couched on both sides of the cart, with slim windows behind them. In the middle of the cart was a carpet, emblazoned with a very strange looking dragon. Unlike the huge barrel chested ones that Alex was familer with, this one was narrow. Like a snake. It four legs, not the eighteen that an Imperial Dragon. Alex sat down on the couch, across from Joa. He was joined by Lucy, while Sandra sat next to Joa. Then Joa stood up and looked out of the window. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou can go now!├óÔé¼┬Ø she shouted to the driver. The driver grunted and a whip sounded. Then the cart lurched into motion. The road was of immensely poor quality, as Alex soon found. After a moment of riding forward the entire thing lurched up, then down.
Sandra kept her balance quite well, but Joa, Lucy and Alex were all flung about. Alex landed on the carpet, Lucy fell to the side and almost banged her head against the side of the cart. Joa managed to land on her feet and quickly sit down on the couch. Alex climbed back onto the chair, and Lucy sat back up. The next pothole they hit almost sent everyone flying again, but Alex found out what the leather straps hanging from the celling were for. At first he had thought they were some kind of Eastner decoration. Now he hung onto it for life as the cart trundled slowly up the mountains that surrounded the harbor. ├óÔé¼┼ôSo├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy said, able to talk freely now that no one was around to here her ├óÔé¼┼ôNippon is-├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhats Nippon?├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou Imperials├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy sighed ├óÔé¼┼ôDo you really think we call our land the Eastlands? Its not East from our point of view. In my language Nippon means Origin of the Sun. It is in the East, after all├óÔé¼┬Ø. Alex nodded ├óÔé¼┼ôI can see that├óÔé¼┬Ø he said.
├óÔé¼┼ôNow├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy said ├óÔé¼┼ôNippon has a lot, and I man a lot, of tiny villages and hamlets. These hamlets and villages have all developed their own branch of our language. So there's the Royal Tong, witch the educated people speak, and then there's every single other dialect on the island├óÔé¼┬Ø. Alex sighed ├óÔé¼┼ôSo how do we talk to people?├óÔé¼┬Ø he asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôWell the translator back at the Harbor was speaking in the Royal Tong, so we can assume that we're only going to be talking to smart people├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy smiled. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat Dialect do you speak?├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôThe Royal Tong├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy said. Alex nodded. ├óÔé¼┼ôSo├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa said ├óÔé¼┼ôHow long do you think we├óÔé¼┬Ø they hit a pot hole ├óÔé¼┼ôhave till we get to Babylon?├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa groaned, feeling her head witch probably had a new bump.
The night fell, the cart still trundling along. Lucy snored loudly, her head lolling against Alex's shoulder. Alex was too much of a gentleman to move her. Joa was also sleeping, much quieter then Lucy. Sandra was the only other one who wasn't sleeping, and she was busy looking out the window. Then it struck Alex. He was the only man the entire group. Despite the fact that Joa looked like a very young man and not the woman she was, it still struck Alex as odd that there were no other males in the entire group. He had never been surrounded by females, and he had never wanted to be surrounded by females. Now he was, and it was a little disconcerting. Then the cart stopped. Alex stood up and looked out the window.
Sandra turned her head around, looking towards the driver. He was leaning over the edge, kept on his platform by a rail that ran around it. That was all keeping him there, as an arrow was sticking out of his neck. ├óÔé¼┼ôJoa!├óÔé¼┬Ø she screamed, ducking into the cabin. ├óÔé¼┼ôJoa!├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex shouted, ducking into the cabin. Joa woke up with a start ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat!├óÔé¼┬Ø she shouted. An arrow slammed into the side of the cabin, its arrow head puncturing the wall. Lucy snapped awake as well. She saw the arrow head, witch was black. She gulped and said something under her breath in her own language. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat?├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôIts bandits!├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy said. Joa pulled her sword ├óÔé¼┼ôI guessed├óÔé¼┬Ø she snapped. ├óÔé¼┼ôWell├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy said ├óÔé¼┼ôit could have been some├óÔé¼┬Ø. What it could be, they never found out, as the door of the cart was ripped open.
Four men stood outside, primitive curved bows aimed into the cabins. One of the bandits, who looked like all the other bandits, shouted something in the Eastner language. ├óÔé¼┼ôHe├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy said, falteringly ├óÔé¼┼ôI think he wants us to get out├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôNo├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa said, pointing her sword at them. The bandits raised their bows, aiming them at Joa. ├óÔé¼┼ôI don't think├óÔé¼┬Ø Sandra started to say. Then Alex leped forward and jerked the door out of the bandits hands. It slammed shut an instant before the arrows slammed into it. Then Alex pushed the door open with enough force to bowl over the bandit on the other side. Then he stabbed out with the Eastner sword he had, slipping the blade through the man's neck. Blood sprayed. The enemy's started to knock arrows, but one was smart enough to drop his bow and scrabble for his short sword.
Alex slashed his sword in an arc. He caught two of the bandit's bows with his sword. They fell in two pieces, the arrows clattering to the floor. The bandit with the short sword ran at him, only to be impaled by Joa's sword, witch she shoved over Alex's shoulder. Alex ran forward, making room for Joa to get out. The two surviving bandits pulled for their swords. Alex cut one down, his sword cutting a weltering red path through his ribcage. The man fell, screaming. Alex stabbed him through the eye, wanting to shut his high pitched scream up then out of any mercy. The bandit twitched and fell dead. Alex turned and saw the last bandit's head lay on the ground in a pool of his own blood. Joa sheathed her sword after whipping the blood off it with a cloth ├óÔé¼┼ôWell├óÔé¼┬Ø she said ├óÔé¼┼ôWho gets to ride on the outside?├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôI'll do it├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy said ├óÔé¼┼ôI know the land├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Alex was about to climb into the cart when Lucy chucked the body of the driver off the top. He stopped ├óÔé¼┼ôShouldn't we do something about his corpse?├óÔé¼┬Ø he asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôPut it on the roof. We'll say what happened├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy said. Alex did so, picking the man up and placing him on the room. Eastner were short, he noticed. Shorter and lighter. As he was about to climb down from the roof he saw the arrow sticking out of the man's neck. ├óÔé¼┼ôJoa├óÔé¼┬Ø he said, leaning into the cabin ├óÔé¼┼ôI'm going to protect Lucy. If we run into more bandits, maybe I can at least make sure she doesn't die├óÔé¼┬Ø. Joa nodded ├óÔé¼┼ôAll right├óÔé¼┬Ø she said. Alex walked around front, where the bull was standing placidly. It didn't even notice the blood that had splashed on its back. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat are you doing here?├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôWell├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said ├óÔé¼┼ôTwo sets of eyes might see the bandits before they riddle you with holes├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Lucy nodded, looking away ├óÔé¼┼ôI forgot about the bandits├óÔé¼┬Ø she said ├óÔé¼┼ôThey don't normally kill the travelers. Just the man in the front├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôWell├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said ├óÔé¼┼ôLets go. Its getting dark├óÔé¼┬Ø. The sun was falling the distance, already cut off by the mountains that surrounded them. The cart trundled along. Alex felt a little uncomfortable, sitting on the front with Lucy when the seat was made for just one person. ├óÔé¼┼ôSo├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy said after about a half hour of silence ├óÔé¼┼ôHow do you like my homeland?├óÔé¼┬Ø. Alex looked around. The mountains had a pristine kind of beauty, and the fog gathering around the bases of the mountains added an air of mystery to the scene.
├óÔé¼┼ôIts...lovely├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said after a while. ├óÔé¼┼ôIts too hot, humid and too mountainous. Half the people are starving because our Shogun has managed to divert almost all our funds into the military├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy said, her voice bitter. Alex opened his mouth to say something when the cart hit a pot hole. He was almost thrown to the side, crashing into Lucy. Through pure sadistic chance his lips landed on hers. Lucy said something, but it was muffled by Alex. Then she grabbed him, pulling him closer. Alex tried to push away, but Lucy tong pushed into his mouth. Alex's eyes widened even as her shut. He shoved himself. Lucy muttered something in her own language. ├óÔé¼┼ôLucy it was a├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex got that far before she hauled him back on top of her.
Joa chewed her lip. She would not cry. ├óÔé¼┼ôJoa?├óÔé¼┬Ø Sandra asked ├óÔé¼┼ôAre you okay?├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôYeah├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa said, her voice choked ├óÔé¼┼ôI'm fine├óÔé¼┬Ø. Sandra looked at her master. She was obviously not fine. She looked more like she was going to cry. They hit another pothole and Joa started to cry. Sandra put her hand on her shoulder ├óÔé¼┼ôBullocks├óÔé¼┬Ø she said, using an Imperial term ├óÔé¼┼ôYou're as fine as I'm an Aryia├óÔé¼┬Ø. Joa nodded, sniffling. Then she looked to the window, unable to put her head out the window and see what Alex was doing. She just couldn't take seeing it again. ├óÔé¼┼ôIts Alex, isn't it├óÔé¼┬Ø Sandra sighed ├óÔé¼┼ôhe's doing something stupid again, isn't he├óÔé¼┬Ø. Joa nodded, tears still trickling down her nose.
Alex had to shove Lucy down into the floor boards ├óÔé¼┼ôLucy!├óÔé¼┬Ø he snapped ├óÔé¼┼ôIts not like that!├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôBut I├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy said ├óÔé¼┼ôI...├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôIt was an accident├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said. Lucy looked at him, uncomprehending. Then a look of horror shot over her face. Then she slid out from under Alex jumped off the cart and ran off the road. Alex grabbed the reigns and hauled back on them. The bull stopped, looking annoyed. Alex got off the top even as Joa and Sandra exited the back of the cart. ├óÔé¼┼ôJoa├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said ├óÔé¼┼ôLucy just-├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôAlex you jerk!├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa shouted. She punched him hard enough to send him reeling. ├óÔé¼┼ôWha-├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex started to say. Joa shoved past him, not listening. ├óÔé¼┼ôSandra I├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex started to say, but Sandra slapped him ├óÔé¼┼ôYou idiot!├óÔé¼┬Ø she shouted at him.
Then she shoved past him, following after Joa. Alex stood, alone in the road, his head spinning and his cheek burning.
ROSE!
Alex walked back into the house that has been given to him. Lucy and Sandra were sitting in the lobby, both with bags packed and ready to go. Joa walked in after him, looking glum. ├óÔé¼┼ôSo what are you're orders├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôWe have a long boat ride ahead of us├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said ├óÔé¼┼ôWe're going to the Eastlands├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôWe're...├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy trailed off. She looked completely dumbfounded ├óÔé¼┼ôBut...we're at peace with the Empire├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôExactly├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said ├óÔé¼┼ôWe're going to help you're home against Southlanders├óÔé¼┬Ø. Sandra looked a little pale too ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat do you mean by that?├óÔé¼┬Ø she asked.
├óÔé¼┼ôThe new faction├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa said. ├óÔé¼┼ôYeah├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said ├óÔé¼┼ôThe new faction that has been putting so much hurt on the Empire has also been hitting the Wastes and the Eastlands├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôWell I don't think anyone cares too much about the wastes├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy muttered ├óÔé¼┼ôI did spend...four years there├óÔé¼┬Ø she counted her finger, just to check. She nodded ├óÔé¼┼ôYeah, four├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôSo├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said ├óÔé¼┼ôWe're leaving tonight. Lets go├óÔé¼┬Ø. They were half way out the door when Lucy paused half way between putting her hat on. Then she turned to Alex ├óÔé¼┼ôAlex├óÔé¼┬Ø she said ├óÔé¼┼ôNo matter what you do...do not show anyone the hilt of that sword├óÔé¼┬Ø. Alex looked at the hilt of the sword, then at Lucy. ├óÔé¼┼ôIf you do...├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy said, trailing off. Alex nodded ├óÔé¼┼ôOkay├óÔé¼┬Ø he said. ├óÔé¼┼ôAnother thing├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy said ├óÔé¼┼ôDon't mention...my...├óÔé¼┬Ø she gestured vaguely to the side of her head.
├óÔé¼┼ôYout...├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex looked around. There was no one else there but Joa and Sandra, both of whom who were listening to the conversation with interest. Joa was tapping her left foot, impatient, but she didn't say anything immediately. ├óÔé¼┼ôHorns├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex finished. ├óÔé¼┼ôYes├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy said ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd don't ask questions about horns, and don't mention horns. Don't talk about horns├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôBut├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex started to say. Lucy grabbed him ├óÔé¼┼ôDon't talk about horns!├óÔé¼┬Ø she practically shouted. Alex looked at Lucy. There was anger in there, but also fear. It reminded Alex of when Joa, or Jon at the time, was talking about her father. ├óÔé¼┼ôLucy├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said ├óÔé¼┼ôIf there's something I should know then you should tell me├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Lucy looked around. ├óÔé¼┼ôInside├óÔé¼┬Ø she said. Joa and Sandra looked at each other. Alex nodded ├óÔé¼┼ôFine├óÔé¼┬Ø he said. Lucy opened the door and walked into the house. Alex followed her and closed the door behind him. ├óÔé¼┼ôSo├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said ├óÔé¼┼ôWhats this about?├óÔé¼┬Ø. Lucy sighed, pulling off her hat. She looked subdued, as if something very bad was going to happen. ├óÔé¼┼ôRight├óÔé¼┬Ø she said, unbuttoning her shirt. Alex grabbed her hands ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat are you doing!├óÔé¼┬Ø he hissed. There was no one else in the room, but he still felt his ears burning. ├óÔé¼┼ôLet go├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy said, turning around. She let her shirt fall of, exposing her back. Alex saw the tattoo. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat...what do these mean?├óÔé¼┬Ø he asked, pointing
Lucy told him. Alex felt as if he had been kicking in the chest. ├óÔé¼┼ôOh├óÔé¼┬Ø he said, blinking. Lucy pulled her shirt back on and buttoned up her shirt again. ├óÔé¼┼ôNow├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy said, looking tired ├óÔé¼┼ôPlease don't tell the others├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôRight├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said, running his hand through his hair ├óÔé¼┼ôRight├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou said right twice├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy said. ├óÔé¼┼ôRight├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said ├óÔé¼┼ôNow...how do we keep this from the Eastlanders?├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôWell├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy said ├óÔé¼┼ôIf I keep my hat on and don't take off my shirt, we should be fine├óÔé¼┬Ø. Alex grinned ├óÔé¼┼ôAre Eastlanders in the habit of tearing their shirts off?├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôNo├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy laughed. ├óÔé¼┼ôLets go├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said, opening the door. Joa and Sandra looked at them. ├óÔé¼┼ôLets go├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said. Joa shrugged and started to walk. Sandra followed her. Alex looked at Lucy ├óÔé¼┼ôThanks├óÔé¼┬Ø he said. ├óÔé¼┼ôFor what?├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôFor trusting me├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said ├óÔé¼┼ôIts funny but...it means a lot├óÔé¼┬Ø.
The boat ride was horrible. They had ridden to the Eastern gate, witch, unlike the Southern and Western Gates, didn't open into a mountain range. It was built on a pass, and once through the pass, Alex, Joa, Sandra and Lucy arrived at the Eastern Port. It was a sprawling metropolis, with thousands of boats coming and leaving. Not that any of the boats were very large. Most were fishing boats that combed the Eastern sea for sweet fish and jumperflies to sell in Imperial Markets. Most of the ships were the slender Eastlander make, and a lot of Eastlanders were in the port, wearing conical straw hats. Lucy pulled her hat brim down low as they walked through the streets. Alex kept his sword hilt covered. Then they got on the boat.
The boat was very small and very...Eastlander. It was cramped, smelt of fish and had a lot of paper in the construction. After a two day ride, where Alex spent most of the time vomiting and being seasick, they arrived at the Eastlands. It was a huge island, with a thousand tiny villages dotting the mountain ranges that covered the place. ├óÔé¼┼ôThe problem with my home├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy said, looking at the mountains ├óÔé¼┼ôis those thousands of villages each have their own spin on our language├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôReally?├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa said ├óÔé¼┼ôthen how do we talk to them?├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôWe use the Royal Tong and hope that someone in the village understands us. If not we pantomime and shout profanity at each other├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy said. ├óÔé¼┼ôSounds inefficient├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa said. ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd funny├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said. Lucy elbowed him playfully.
At the port they were met by an Eastlander. He wore his traditional dress, a long green robe, and as he chattered excitedly in his language an Imperial ran after him. ├óÔé¼┼ôPlease├óÔé¼┬Ø he said in Imperial ├óÔé¼┼ôuse Imperial├óÔé¼┬Ø. The man switched to Imperial between words ├óÔé¼┼ôas saying that I am so very pleased to greet two dignified hero's and their...├óÔé¼┬Ø he paused ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat is word I am looking for?├óÔé¼┬Ø he asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôCourtesans?├óÔé¼┬Ø the Imperial said. Alex drew his sword and placed it under his chin. After a moment Joa's sword joined his, pressing into the man's chest. Neither drew blood, but they made the two Dragoon's displeasure quite clear.
├óÔé¼┼ôServants?├óÔé¼┬Ø the man corrected, raising his hand. The Eastlander simply looked on with a slight look of smugness playing over his face. ├óÔé¼┼ôThey are our companions├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa said ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd our friends. And they would like a apology├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôI...I am sorry├óÔé¼┬Ø the man said to Lucy. ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd the other one├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex snarled. The man looked at Sandra, his lip curled. ├óÔé¼┼ôI do not apologize to animals├óÔé¼┬Ø he said. Ales grabbed him, more then ready to slip his sword into his throat. But Joa slapped his blade out of the way and stepped in. even thought the man was taller then Joa by a full head, she still seemed to tower over him. ├óÔé¼┼ôListen├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa said ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd listen very carefully because I do not repeat myself├óÔé¼┬Ø. The man took an involuntary step back, almost completely cowed by Joa.
├óÔé¼┼ôYou will either apologize to this woman, who is partly responsible for why I am alive to have this conversation├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa said ├óÔé¼┼ôOr I will show you the Gods. Very slowly. And very...unpleasantly├óÔé¼┬Ø. The man almost toppled into the harbor, his feet scuffing the edge of the dock. ├óÔé¼┼ôI am sorry for both of my comments├óÔé¼┬Ø he said to Sandra, bowing again. The Easterner laughed uproariously and said something in a torrent of his language. Lucy's eyes widened and she covered her mouth, trying not to laugh as well. Joa let her sword fall slightly, and the man bowed to them both again. The Eastner said something in his language. The man blinked ├óÔé¼┼ôUm...Lord Heisuke says that we must really begin our trip├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôTell him that I agree├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa said, still sending a withering stair at the man.
They all walked to the gates of the Harbor city. There they were given a cart with a single very strange looking animal at the head. The animal had four legs, like a horse, but it was huge and wide, like a barrel. Its head was low slung, and had two horns sticking out of it. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhats that?├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôIts a bull├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy said ├óÔé¼┼ôNever seen a bull before?├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôNo├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said. ├óÔé¼┼ôWell├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa said, who had already clambered into the back of the cart ├óÔé¼┼ôAre you two going to come up here or not?├óÔé¼┬Ø. Alex gestured to Lucy, waiting for her to get in first. Lucy started to climb in. Alex aided her, pushing her up into the cart. Then he climbed in as well. Finally he reached down and pulled Sandra into the cart. It was a surprisingly comfortable interior.
There were two long couched on both sides of the cart, with slim windows behind them. In the middle of the cart was a carpet, emblazoned with a very strange looking dragon. Unlike the huge barrel chested ones that Alex was familer with, this one was narrow. Like a snake. It four legs, not the eighteen that an Imperial Dragon. Alex sat down on the couch, across from Joa. He was joined by Lucy, while Sandra sat next to Joa. Then Joa stood up and looked out of the window. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou can go now!├óÔé¼┬Ø she shouted to the driver. The driver grunted and a whip sounded. Then the cart lurched into motion. The road was of immensely poor quality, as Alex soon found. After a moment of riding forward the entire thing lurched up, then down.
Sandra kept her balance quite well, but Joa, Lucy and Alex were all flung about. Alex landed on the carpet, Lucy fell to the side and almost banged her head against the side of the cart. Joa managed to land on her feet and quickly sit down on the couch. Alex climbed back onto the chair, and Lucy sat back up. The next pothole they hit almost sent everyone flying again, but Alex found out what the leather straps hanging from the celling were for. At first he had thought they were some kind of Eastner decoration. Now he hung onto it for life as the cart trundled slowly up the mountains that surrounded the harbor. ├óÔé¼┼ôSo├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy said, able to talk freely now that no one was around to here her ├óÔé¼┼ôNippon is-├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhats Nippon?├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou Imperials├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy sighed ├óÔé¼┼ôDo you really think we call our land the Eastlands? Its not East from our point of view. In my language Nippon means Origin of the Sun. It is in the East, after all├óÔé¼┬Ø. Alex nodded ├óÔé¼┼ôI can see that├óÔé¼┬Ø he said.
├óÔé¼┼ôNow├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy said ├óÔé¼┼ôNippon has a lot, and I man a lot, of tiny villages and hamlets. These hamlets and villages have all developed their own branch of our language. So there's the Royal Tong, witch the educated people speak, and then there's every single other dialect on the island├óÔé¼┬Ø. Alex sighed ├óÔé¼┼ôSo how do we talk to people?├óÔé¼┬Ø he asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôWell the translator back at the Harbor was speaking in the Royal Tong, so we can assume that we're only going to be talking to smart people├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy smiled. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat Dialect do you speak?├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôThe Royal Tong├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy said. Alex nodded. ├óÔé¼┼ôSo├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa said ├óÔé¼┼ôHow long do you think we├óÔé¼┬Ø they hit a pot hole ├óÔé¼┼ôhave till we get to Babylon?├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa groaned, feeling her head witch probably had a new bump.
The night fell, the cart still trundling along. Lucy snored loudly, her head lolling against Alex's shoulder. Alex was too much of a gentleman to move her. Joa was also sleeping, much quieter then Lucy. Sandra was the only other one who wasn't sleeping, and she was busy looking out the window. Then it struck Alex. He was the only man the entire group. Despite the fact that Joa looked like a very young man and not the woman she was, it still struck Alex as odd that there were no other males in the entire group. He had never been surrounded by females, and he had never wanted to be surrounded by females. Now he was, and it was a little disconcerting. Then the cart stopped. Alex stood up and looked out the window.
Sandra turned her head around, looking towards the driver. He was leaning over the edge, kept on his platform by a rail that ran around it. That was all keeping him there, as an arrow was sticking out of his neck. ├óÔé¼┼ôJoa!├óÔé¼┬Ø she screamed, ducking into the cabin. ├óÔé¼┼ôJoa!├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex shouted, ducking into the cabin. Joa woke up with a start ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat!├óÔé¼┬Ø she shouted. An arrow slammed into the side of the cabin, its arrow head puncturing the wall. Lucy snapped awake as well. She saw the arrow head, witch was black. She gulped and said something under her breath in her own language. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat?├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôIts bandits!├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy said. Joa pulled her sword ├óÔé¼┼ôI guessed├óÔé¼┬Ø she snapped. ├óÔé¼┼ôWell├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy said ├óÔé¼┼ôit could have been some├óÔé¼┬Ø. What it could be, they never found out, as the door of the cart was ripped open.
Four men stood outside, primitive curved bows aimed into the cabins. One of the bandits, who looked like all the other bandits, shouted something in the Eastner language. ├óÔé¼┼ôHe├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy said, falteringly ├óÔé¼┼ôI think he wants us to get out├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôNo├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa said, pointing her sword at them. The bandits raised their bows, aiming them at Joa. ├óÔé¼┼ôI don't think├óÔé¼┬Ø Sandra started to say. Then Alex leped forward and jerked the door out of the bandits hands. It slammed shut an instant before the arrows slammed into it. Then Alex pushed the door open with enough force to bowl over the bandit on the other side. Then he stabbed out with the Eastner sword he had, slipping the blade through the man's neck. Blood sprayed. The enemy's started to knock arrows, but one was smart enough to drop his bow and scrabble for his short sword.
Alex slashed his sword in an arc. He caught two of the bandit's bows with his sword. They fell in two pieces, the arrows clattering to the floor. The bandit with the short sword ran at him, only to be impaled by Joa's sword, witch she shoved over Alex's shoulder. Alex ran forward, making room for Joa to get out. The two surviving bandits pulled for their swords. Alex cut one down, his sword cutting a weltering red path through his ribcage. The man fell, screaming. Alex stabbed him through the eye, wanting to shut his high pitched scream up then out of any mercy. The bandit twitched and fell dead. Alex turned and saw the last bandit's head lay on the ground in a pool of his own blood. Joa sheathed her sword after whipping the blood off it with a cloth ├óÔé¼┼ôWell├óÔé¼┬Ø she said ├óÔé¼┼ôWho gets to ride on the outside?├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôI'll do it├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy said ├óÔé¼┼ôI know the land├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Alex was about to climb into the cart when Lucy chucked the body of the driver off the top. He stopped ├óÔé¼┼ôShouldn't we do something about his corpse?├óÔé¼┬Ø he asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôPut it on the roof. We'll say what happened├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy said. Alex did so, picking the man up and placing him on the room. Eastner were short, he noticed. Shorter and lighter. As he was about to climb down from the roof he saw the arrow sticking out of the man's neck. ├óÔé¼┼ôJoa├óÔé¼┬Ø he said, leaning into the cabin ├óÔé¼┼ôI'm going to protect Lucy. If we run into more bandits, maybe I can at least make sure she doesn't die├óÔé¼┬Ø. Joa nodded ├óÔé¼┼ôAll right├óÔé¼┬Ø she said. Alex walked around front, where the bull was standing placidly. It didn't even notice the blood that had splashed on its back. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat are you doing here?├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôWell├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said ├óÔé¼┼ôTwo sets of eyes might see the bandits before they riddle you with holes├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Lucy nodded, looking away ├óÔé¼┼ôI forgot about the bandits├óÔé¼┬Ø she said ├óÔé¼┼ôThey don't normally kill the travelers. Just the man in the front├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôWell├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said ├óÔé¼┼ôLets go. Its getting dark├óÔé¼┬Ø. The sun was falling the distance, already cut off by the mountains that surrounded them. The cart trundled along. Alex felt a little uncomfortable, sitting on the front with Lucy when the seat was made for just one person. ├óÔé¼┼ôSo├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy said after about a half hour of silence ├óÔé¼┼ôHow do you like my homeland?├óÔé¼┬Ø. Alex looked around. The mountains had a pristine kind of beauty, and the fog gathering around the bases of the mountains added an air of mystery to the scene.
├óÔé¼┼ôIts...lovely├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said after a while. ├óÔé¼┼ôIts too hot, humid and too mountainous. Half the people are starving because our Shogun has managed to divert almost all our funds into the military├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy said, her voice bitter. Alex opened his mouth to say something when the cart hit a pot hole. He was almost thrown to the side, crashing into Lucy. Through pure sadistic chance his lips landed on hers. Lucy said something, but it was muffled by Alex. Then she grabbed him, pulling him closer. Alex tried to push away, but Lucy tong pushed into his mouth. Alex's eyes widened even as her shut. He shoved himself. Lucy muttered something in her own language. ├óÔé¼┼ôLucy it was a├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex got that far before she hauled him back on top of her.
Joa chewed her lip. She would not cry. ├óÔé¼┼ôJoa?├óÔé¼┬Ø Sandra asked ├óÔé¼┼ôAre you okay?├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôYeah├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa said, her voice choked ├óÔé¼┼ôI'm fine├óÔé¼┬Ø. Sandra looked at her master. She was obviously not fine. She looked more like she was going to cry. They hit another pothole and Joa started to cry. Sandra put her hand on her shoulder ├óÔé¼┼ôBullocks├óÔé¼┬Ø she said, using an Imperial term ├óÔé¼┼ôYou're as fine as I'm an Aryia├óÔé¼┬Ø. Joa nodded, sniffling. Then she looked to the window, unable to put her head out the window and see what Alex was doing. She just couldn't take seeing it again. ├óÔé¼┼ôIts Alex, isn't it├óÔé¼┬Ø Sandra sighed ├óÔé¼┼ôhe's doing something stupid again, isn't he├óÔé¼┬Ø. Joa nodded, tears still trickling down her nose.
Alex had to shove Lucy down into the floor boards ├óÔé¼┼ôLucy!├óÔé¼┬Ø he snapped ├óÔé¼┼ôIts not like that!├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôBut I├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy said ├óÔé¼┼ôI...├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôIt was an accident├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said. Lucy looked at him, uncomprehending. Then a look of horror shot over her face. Then she slid out from under Alex jumped off the cart and ran off the road. Alex grabbed the reigns and hauled back on them. The bull stopped, looking annoyed. Alex got off the top even as Joa and Sandra exited the back of the cart. ├óÔé¼┼ôJoa├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said ├óÔé¼┼ôLucy just-├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôAlex you jerk!├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa shouted. She punched him hard enough to send him reeling. ├óÔé¼┼ôWha-├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex started to say. Joa shoved past him, not listening. ├óÔé¼┼ôSandra I├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex started to say, but Sandra slapped him ├óÔé¼┼ôYou idiot!├óÔé¼┬Ø she shouted at him.
Then she shoved past him, following after Joa. Alex stood, alone in the road, his head spinning and his cheek burning.
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Guessmyname
- Posts: 3301
- Joined: 28 Apr 2005, 21:07
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Guessmyname
- Posts: 3301
- Joined: 28 Apr 2005, 21:07
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Guessmyname
- Posts: 3301
- Joined: 28 Apr 2005, 21:07
Actually my Aunt and mother have gone through Darkside and totally spell checked and grammar checked and formatted it properly, so as to make it spelling mistake free!
I will do the same for all the other stories I'm going to put in book form. That is...all of them.
I was thinking the order would be:
Darkside
Hunters
Rose
Darkside: Extermination
Waste (After some touch up. It needs to be longer, I think)
Rings
Hunters: Vacation (Its in Cuba...hurray!)
Darkside: Extinction
The Thirteenth Hour (Psychological thriller!)
Mask (Gas Masks, not the crazy ├óÔé¼┼ôturn-you-into-a-green-dude-with-magic-powers├óÔé¼┬Ø kind
Hunters: Showdown (Its in Romania....Hurray!)
Now all I need to do is...write six of those titles.
I will do the same for all the other stories I'm going to put in book form. That is...all of them.
I was thinking the order would be:
Darkside
Hunters
Rose
Darkside: Extermination
Waste (After some touch up. It needs to be longer, I think)
Rings
Hunters: Vacation (Its in Cuba...hurray!)
Darkside: Extinction
The Thirteenth Hour (Psychological thriller!)
Mask (Gas Masks, not the crazy ├óÔé¼┼ôturn-you-into-a-green-dude-with-magic-powers├óÔé¼┬Ø kind
Hunters: Showdown (Its in Romania....Hurray!)
Now all I need to do is...write six of those titles.
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Guessmyname
- Posts: 3301
- Joined: 28 Apr 2005, 21:07