They stepped outside into the cloudy autumn morning. Five horses were prepared and waiting with the rest of the squad. “Kismet, you’ll be riding with her. Everyone mount up. We’re heading out.”
Kismet helped Isella onto the saddle before sitting behind her. The squad trotted east out of Koln. As soon as they were on the road, Sara broke the silence. “So Lucas, is this really Isella?”
He nodded silently, his face full of confusion. He still couldn’t believe it himself. “Did you know she was helping the Kival like this?” continued Sara.
“A little over a year ago, I heard that my family was attacked by a group of bandits when they were visiting my aunt. Once my parents regained consciousness from the attack, Isella was missing. We never knew what happened to her, and never received any demands for ransom. I looked for her ever since, searching for any leads on where she may be, but it all seemed so hopeless. With every month that went by, I feared that she was dead.”
Lucas looked at Isella. Her face appeared sunken, her body famished. Her bony body showed signs of severe exhaustion and strain. Even though it had only been a year, it looked as though it had been five. A strange sense of guilt gnawed at Lucas. “Was this my fault?” he asked himself. “If only I weren’t always away for training…”
By mid afternoon, they reached the other side of Jastor’s Pass. They found a stream off the side of the road to take a break and let the horses drink. Lucas sat beside Isella, hesitantly, and offered her some jerky. She leaned over and took a bite without a word, carefully avoiding any eye contact. “Why have you never told me anything, after all this time?” asked Lucas.
Isella didn’t answer. She continued to chew on the jerky, squeezing out every bit of flavor she could. Lucas grew irritated. “Why couldn’t you at least let me know you were still alive? Do you have any idea how worried I’ve been?”
She held back her tears and remained silent. She wanted to tell him, she always had, but she couldn’t. Telling him would only have made things worse.
She rose to her feet and began walking off. “Where do you think you’re going?” asked Devin.
“I need to pee.”
Devin waved her off. “You can go behind that tree.”
Isella gave one look back before slipping behind the tree. She crept through the brush, keeping out of sight. She moved quickly, but silently, a skill she quickly picked up over the past year. Glancing back, it seemed no one noticed her escape as she slithered behind one tree to the next, deeper into the woods. “If I make it deep enough,” she thought to herself, “there’s no way they’ll find me in this place.” Her confidence grew as she continued deeper for another minute, until a sharp pain stabbed into the side of her leg. With a cry of pain, she looked down at the long ice needle that pierced her leg.
“Did you honestly think you could run away that easily?” slithered Nakita’s voice, with a tinge of amusement. She flicked another needle into Isella’s other leg, causing her to fall to the floor. “What a fool you are.”
“Nakita, let’s go,” called Devin.
Nakita ripped the needles from Isella’s legs. The punctures began to leak a small trail of blood down her legs. Nakita tossed one of the needles away and tossed the second in her hand. She placed the point against Isella’s shoulder. Its cold tip stung sharply against her skin as it pierced her tunic. Nakita glared at the Kival. “Get up and let’s go.”
First: Kismet vs. Bandits, Scene v1
Previous: Unexpected Reunion, Scene v1
Next: An Unusual Luxury, Scene v1
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Riding Back, Scene v1
They stepped outside into the cloudy autumn morning. Five horses were prepared and waiting with the rest of the squad. “Kismet, you’ll be riding with her. Everyone mount up. We’re heading out.”
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Unexpected Reunion, Scene v1
“Garrick, stop! That’s enough!”
Tears welled up in Garrick’s eyes. He staggered to the side and dropped to his knees. His two loyal soldiers ran to his side, while he struggled to regain control over himself. Devin stood over the Kival woman. “Get up.”
She rose to her feet, cringing in pain. Blood seeped from her shoulder down her arm as she applied pressure to it with her right hand. Devin searched her, seizing her dagger and pouch. The rest of the squad ran up after having bound the unconscious soldiers. The Kival groaned in pain as Devin bound her hands behind her back and tied up her wound.
“I—Isella?!” exclaimed Lucas.
Isella averted her eyes shamefully. Kismet stared at her face, the same face she saw that night, not just in Koln, but also at the pond near Levan. As soon as she saw Lucas brave façade quickly crumbled into a troubled look filled with guilt and confusion. “You know her?”
“Isella...your girlfriend?” asked Sara, confused.
Lucas was at a loss for words, unable to believe his own eyes. He stared at her in disbelief, his eyes stung with tears. Devin turned to Garrick with a look of uncertainty. Garrick gave him a slight nod with renewed focus. “Let’s head back.”
The soldiers carried the captured Kival back to Koln in silence. Between Elena’s death, and Lucas’ shock, no one dared to speak a word. Devin was walking Isella. Kismet quickened her pace to Devin’s side, speaking softly, “General, this woman is the same woman I saw at Levan, and the pond that one night.”
“Are you sure?”
Kismet nodded. Devin looked at Isella’s face. It appeared surreal, even to him, that it was the same person as he saw four years ago. When he delivered the grave news to Lucas’ family of his father’s death. she was a live-in house servant at the time. Eventually rumors began to spread of a relationship developing between her and Lucas, but he never spoke much of his personal life. Unfortunately, the current state of things was not in Lucas’ favor.
The next morning, Devin walked into the town’s prison. It baffled him that even the prison was well kept and presentable. Koln made no effort in showing its pride in being the largest border city of Lokem. But Devin, having lived and served in Rokan City all his life, knew all too well that even the most beautiful cities have their fair share of problems.
“Devin, I’m glad you stopped by before leaving,” greeted Garrick. “Sorry for getting you mixed up in yesterday’s mess.”
The commander’s concerned look was unfitting. He had always been a jolly man, full of pride and laughter. Devin gave him a reassuring smile. “Don’t worry about it. The Kival are a problem for the both of us. Speaking of which, that Kival woman. I’ll be taking her with me.”
“Why? Clearly she was involved with what happened at the tower, and the journey back to Rokan will only give her a chance to escape.”
“Back in Rokan, Kismet claims she saw her spying on us, and is closely associated with someone by the name of Kain. Any idea who he is?”
Garrick shook his head. The idea of handing over the prisoner still left him uneasy. “Never heard of him. Besides, what does that have to do with anything? What if the furlicker is wrong, or lying? She probably is just looking for some sort of praise.”
“I know it’s hard to deal with, but I really do trust what she says. She’s never been one for fame or glory. As for Kain, according to what we know so far, he plays an active role in the Kival efforts. It seems he has been organizing something in the Rokan region, and that woman was involved in, or at least knows, what he was planning.”
Garrick massaged his scalp with his fingertips, mildly irritated. He let out a long sigh. “I guess if she is involved with something in Rokan, it would be best for you to take her.” He opened the steel reinforced door and led Devin to Isella’s cell. She sat slouched against the back wall, her hands still bound behind her back. Her bowl of food was licked clean near the cell door.
Garrick unlocked the door. Devin stepped into the cell, looking down at her worn face. Even in the poor lighting, he could see the exhaustion and lack of sleep in the shadows around her eyes. “Isella, right? You’ll be coming with us. Let’s go.”
She glared at him suspiciously without a response. Devin helped her to her feet by the arm and led her to the door. Before stepping out, he turned back to Garrick. “Thanks Garrick, the next time we see each other, let’s grab a drink.”
The commander crossed his arms and gave him a small smile. “Sure, sounds great. Have a safe trip back.”
Devin nodded. He looked into Garrick’s eyes. The commander tried to hide the pain, but they were no longer the same. Elena’s death crushed his spirit. Devin gave him one last sympathetic look. “Stay strong, Garrick. For Elena.”
Garrick fought back his tears and forced a smile. “For Elena,” he echoed.
First: Kismet vs. Bandits, Scene v1
Previous: The Chase, Scene v1
Next: Riding Back, Scene v1
Friday, July 24, 2009
The Chase, Scene v1
... All she could do was stare helplessly at his tears and listen to him call to her, but she could not respond. Although she couldn’t feel the pain in her body, it was unbearable watching Garrick in such anguish. A thin stream of tears escaped from her eyes, as the color faded along with her life. Garrick hugged her body tightly, rocking her back and forth, unable to fight back the sobs that shook his body.
The soldiers closed their eyes in a moment of mourning. Devin and Sara returned to the tower’s fiery ruins. Kismet, on her back, cringed at the ache that filled her body. Her chest heaved laboriously. Sara stomped toward her yelling, “You! Your insane idea got two people killed!”
Devin backhanded Sara across the face. Devin glared at her as a thin trail of blood escaped her lips. “I’m sick of all your complaining. We would’ve all been dead if someone didn’t do something.” He offered his hand to Kismet. “You did well. You alright?”
Sara’s humiliation brought a smile to the Catheran’s face. She took the general’s hand and painfully rose to her feet. “Thank you. I’ll be fine…Elena—is she—?”
Devin nodded sadly. Garrick set Elena’s body gently on the floor. He brushed the hair out of her face and closed her eyes. “Those damned Kival…I swear I’ll find every last one of them. I will hunt them down and skin them alive.”
Kismet stepped toward him lightly. “Commander Garri—”
“What?!” he yelled, glaring at the Catheran, his eyes glossed over with fought-back tears.
“While we were on the tower, I saw a small group of people headed north through the woods.”
Garrick began recklessly marching ahead. Devin caught his arm. “Garrick, calm down. The Kival probably know we survived. Chasing after them headlong is suicide.”
Garrick shook off the general’s grip. He glared at him, his eyes filled with anger and anguish. “And what? You expect me to just let them get away with this?”
“Of course not, but following them without any reinforcements is too risky.” Devin stared him straight in the eye. He knew the commander was lost. No one would be able to stop him from pursuing Elena’s murderers. He watched Garrick run north through the woods, the two remaining Lokem soldiers loyally at his heels.
“Let me guess. We’re going to help him aren’t we?” sighed Nakita.
“We can’t just let them go on their own,” replied Devin. The five Rokan soldiers rushed north. They spotted the Republic soldiers ahead through the trees. As they drew closer, another set of footsteps tickled Kismet’s ears from further ahead. Four, she counted.
“There they are!” shouted Garrick. They dashed through the trees to close in the distance. The fugitives hastened their escape. Another set of footsteps arrived, then another. Three from the left, and three from the right. The runaways suddenly stopped.
“Ambush!” called out Kismet.
A small throwing knife lodged itself into Garrick’s left shoulder. The two soldiers by his side deflected their initial attacks. The Kival quickly surrounded the three soldiers who stood back to back. Garrick growled at the situation, with his spear in hand. Nakita fired a stream of water at the left flank. It crystallized as it pierced through the air, shattering as it closed in on the Kival. The shards of ice barraged the three Kival, sending them to the ground in agony. Amidst the confusion, Garrick lunged forward with a powerful swipe, cutting through one of his opponents. Kismet pounced on the nearest soldier from the right flank, knocking them into a second. She quickly knocked them unconscious with a swift blow to the head. The third slashed at her with his sword. She kicked his wrist, disarming him, then thrust both her feet into his stomach. Garrick stepped forward, impaling one of the Kival with a merciless stab.
The remaining two ran in terror. Garrick caught one with the edge of his spear. He continued his pursuit of the last remaining murderer. The Kival tripped on a large root. She turned around, her eyes wide with fear. She scrambled backwards in a futile attempt to get back on her feet. A cry of pain filled the woods as Garrick stabbed her shoulder. He retracted his spear and thrust it at her chest. Devin gripped it with both his hands, stopping it just as it pierced her skin. “Garrick, stop! That’s enough!”
First: Kismet vs. Bandits, Scene v1
Previous: Falling, Scene v1
Next: Unexpected Reunion, Scene v1
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Falling, Scene v1
Kismet dangled from the edge of the roof. She latched her feet onto the side of the tower with her claws. Focusing her energy, she softened the stone and slid down the outer wall of the tower. As she descended, the stone grew hotter and hotter. She reached a gap half way down the tower. Her foot slipped, followed by her hands. The Catheran found herself staring at the sky, at the soldiers on the roof who leaned over the edge and stared back at her. The stones of the wall became nothing more than a blur of grey.
Kismet shifted her focus to the air around her, creating as strong of a vertical wind as she could to slow her fall, but it wasn’t enough. The fear-struck faces of her comrades drew further and further away, until her eyes were forced shut under a crushing pain that shot through her body. She coughed out a small mist of blood. Her body was wracked with pain, but she pressed forward and laboriously brought herself to her knees. She crawled to the wall of the tower, relinquishing what remained of her stamina into deconstructing the stone. As the tower’s side crumbled, Kismet dragged herself away.
Elena held Garrick’s hand tightly, her eyes closed in silent prayer. He returned her prayer with both his hands around hers. The soldiers braced themselves as the tower began toppling over. The soldiers leapt for the trees with all their strength. One of the Lokem soldiers fell violently to the ground after losing his balance during the descent. The remaining soldiers jumped into the trees as a cloud of dust filled the air from the tower’s crash. Lucas lost his grip on a branch, but managed to recover on the next nearby branch. Elena grabbed onto a thin branch, but it snapped like a twig under her falling weight. Frantically she reached for the branches nearby but they all seemed out of reach. Her body twisted painfully as she collided into several branches during her descent. Tears of fear and frustration stung her eyes as the branches eluded her grasps. A brief surge of pain shot up her spine with a loud crack, but only for a moment. The pain had suddenly disappeared and her body no longer responded. She watched herself fall through the tree, feeling no pain, until finally she found herself staring at the branches above her from the ground. The autumn leaves showered over her in a cascade of red and yellow.
The survivors quickly descended the tree and searched for the two soldiers. The arm of the soldier who had fallen peeked out lifelessly from under the fiery ruins. Garrick rushed over to Elena, crying out her name. He dropped to his knees and held her battered body in his arms. “No…no…” he repeated over and over in disbelief. He gazed into her bloodied face with tear-stung eyes. She gazed back, because it was all she could do. Sadness overwhelmed her. She felt her life slipping away. She wanted nothing more than to hold him one last time, to tell him how much she loved him. But she couldn’t. No matter how hard she tried, no matter how much she wanted to, she couldn’t speak or move her body. All she could do was stare helplessly at his tears and listen to him call to her, but she could not respond. Although she couldn’t feel the pain in her body, it was unbearable watching Garrick in such anguish. A thin stream of tears escaped from her eyes, as the color faded along with her life. Garrick hugged her body tightly, rocking her back and forth, unable to fight back the sobs that shook his body.
First: Kismet vs. Bandits, Scene v1
Previous: The North Tower, Scene v2
Next: The Chase, Scene v1
Monday, July 20, 2009
The North Tower, Scene v2
Minor adjustments to include Elena.
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Citizens were already whispering rumors of a street fight that occurred during the night, but fortunately, there was no mention of a Catheran. Kismet touched her cheek lightly, relieved that the cut had healed before dawn before anyone could notice it. However, her encounter with the Kival spy left her uneasy.
The caravan rolled back to the entrance of town, the food replaced with salt, steel, coal, and oil. A Lokem soldier rushed to the entrance from outside the town. He fell to his knees, out of breath with a few cuts and scrapes. “C…Commander! The North Tower! The Kival...”
Garrick exchanged glances with Devin briefly before dashing North. Elena, along with six of his soldiers, followed while two stayed behind and tended to the exhausted soldier. Devin turned to his soldiers who whispered confusingly amongst themselves. “Nakita, Sara, Lucas, and Kismet, come with me. Sivelle, take everyone else and escort the caravan back to the capitol.”
The base of the tower was in shambles. Furniture was broken under the bodies of two Lokem soldiers. Blood stained the stone walls and floor of the tower. All of the cabinets and storage were stripped bare. Garrick rushed to his fallen comrades in hopes for a sign of life. He swore under his breath. Both of them were dead. He furiously kicked a loose board against the wall with fists clenched. “Damn those Kival! They’ve become nothing more than murderers. Harris, Cutter, Mason, stay here and watch the door. The rest of you come with me.”
They rushed up the stairs, passing by the stripped middle floor, and barged through the door to the roof. Attached to the door were two ropes attached to the lids of two barrels. The lids popped off when the door shot open. Oil spilled out of the barrels and oozed down the stairs.
“What the hell?” asked Garrick. He picked up a note attached to the side of the barrel and read it aloud. “ ‘Empire scum, may you burn in hell.’ ”
“Fire! They set the entrance on fire!” cried Harris from the bottom floor of the tower. The three soldiers began scurrying up the steps in a panic as the fire quickly spread across the room. The rush of oil flooded down the stairs at them. Cutter slipped on the oil and rolled violently down the steps, knocking over Harris and Mason. The three soldiers reached out helplessly for something to stop their fall but to no avail. Tormented screams filled the tower as their oil stained uniforms ignited in the flames.
Garrick cringed at the sound of their cries. “Damn it. Damn those Kival!”
“Celeste, please show us mercy,” prayed Lucas.
“The oil…the fire—!” cried Elena.
She didn’t have to say it. They all knew. The roof was stained with oil, and the fire was spreading quickly. It had already claimed three of their lives, but their only means of escape was now ablaze. The tower was far too tall to jump off, and the trees were beyond jumping reach. With every second, the fire drew closer to the roof.
“Can’t you just make a bunch of water and put the fire out, Nakita?” asked Sara.
“Don’t you think I would’ve done that already if I could? Using water would only spread the fire faster. It’s the oil that’s on fire, and water can’t douse it.”
Kismet ran to the tower’s edge to scan her surroundings. A small group of people fled north through the trees. The woods that surrounded the tower were close, but a leap of faith would not be enough to reach it. Entering the tower was not an option and jumping off would surely result in severe injury, or even death, for the most of them. She realized the first thing that needed to be done was to buy some time. She closed the roof door and kicked it in with a powerful thrust from both her legs. The door crashed down the stairs, into the rising flames. The Catheran placed both her palms on the doorway that led to the roof. She channeled her focus into the stone. The stone cracked loudly and began to crumble, collapsing the doorway over the stairwell.
“What the hell are you doing? You just trapped us up here!” yelled Sara in disbelief.
“I’m sorry. Did you want to go down there?” snapped back Kismet, as she continued by melding the stone together.
Nakita quickly crouched down beside Kismet and helped her in sealing the floor. “Now what? The tower will crumble once the supports burn out.”
“We jump for the trees,” announced Kismet.
“Are you crazy? There’s no way we can jump that far,” said Elena.
“I’ll climb down the tower and collapse its side. If I make it fall north, it should take you all close enough to jump onto the trees.”
“It sounds crazy, but I guess we have no other choice,” approved Devin. “I’ll trust you with this one.”
“You can’t be serious. The damned furlicker is going to get us killed!” snapped Sara.
“Do you have a better idea?” asked Devin. “I didn’t think so.”
Kismet dangled from the edge of the roof. She latched her feet onto the side of the tower with her claws. Focusing her energy, she softened the stone and slid down the outer wall of the tower. As she descended, the stone grew hotter and hotter. She reached a gap half way down the tower. Her foot slipped, followed by her hands. The Catheran found herself staring at the sky, at the soldiers on the roof who leaned over the edge and stared back at her. The stones of the wall became nothing more than a blur of grey.
First: Kismet vs. Bandits, Scene v1
Previous: Strangers in the Night, Scene v2
Next: Falling, Scene v1
A Second Home, Scene v2
Made a few necessary adjustments. No actual change to the scene really, just a small addition of a character. Main change is marked in a different color.
====================================================================================
It was not until sunset when the soldiers had finally reached their destination. A group of Republic soldiers stood at the entrance to the town to greet them.
“Devin! It’s been a long time. Glad to see you made it,” said the large soldier standing in front with a booming voice. His armor had the markings of a Lokem commander.
“As are we, Garrick. As are we,” replied Devin with an exhausted smile. He extended his greeting to the soldier beside Garrick. “Elena, I swear it seems you never age a bit. You still look as young as the day I met you.”
“You say that every time we see each other,” she chuckled.
The caravan entered the fortified walls of the border town of Koln. The soldiers handed the wagons over to the Republic. The exhausted soldiers were covered in mud and their uniforms disheveled along with their hair. Garrick let out a boisterous laugh. “Seems you’ve had quite the march. Come, we’ve arranged a stay for all of you at the towns finest—What is this, Devin? You actually brought that damned furlicker with you?”
“By order of the Silver Guard. It’s not as though I enjoy the complications she brings me.” Devin looked at all the turned heads and low whispers of onlookers. “I apologize for any problems it’ll cause, but please bear with it.”
Garrick sighed heavily. “Alright. But if so much as starts anything, she’s walking home.”
“Fair enough.”
Garrick wrapped an arm around Devin and began leading him further into town. The soldiers followed closely behind them, chattering amongst themselves and observing the busy market place. Kismet watched everyone stare at her nervously and point fingers, mumbling to one another.
“So tell me, how was the road? It seems you were caught up in the storm,” asked Garrick.
“It definitely could’ve been better. The past two days were rather miserable, but we did run into an old friend,” replied Devin.
“Hazalin,” muttered Garrick sourly. “Let me guess. He wanted the food.”
Devin nodded. “But only three. He never was a greedy guy.”
“But you made it with all of them. How’d you get out of it?” chimed in Elena.
Devin gave a sly smile, his words filled with a fatherly pride. “We were originally with twelve wagons, but Raze had the back three filled with boxed rocks instead of food. It seems she predicted this would happen. Lucky for us, Hazalin used a strategy that prevented him from being able to check the wagons.”
Garrick roared with laughter. He shook Devin with amusement. “Oh how I would’ve loved to see the look on his face. I must say that’s quite some woman you raised there. She’s really proving herself to be General Atraea’s daughter. The both of you must be proud.”
Devin couldn’t help but smile. Every moment he spent or thought about Raze, he couldn’t help but feel remorse. But it was also Raze who saved him from wallowing in a pit of depression. Raze had become his light in the darkness…his pride and glory.
“Who wouldn’t be? She’s a living prodigy.”
“Hah! I guess I can’t argue with that.” The group reached a very large inn four stories in height, six rooms wide and two rooms deep. The only place in Rokan that compared was Heaven’s Perch. “I’m sure you’re all exhausted, so I won’t take any more of your time. The cargo should be loaded and ready to go by noon tomorrow, so feel free to rest in. You’ll be staying here, at A Second Home. We reserved the entire first floor for you. There’s a dozen rooms, each with two beds, so you’ll have to pair up.”
The owner greeted them with a smile. The small rim of grey hair left on his balding scalp accentuated the small wrinkles of age that were beginning to form on his face. “General Devin. It is an honor to host your stay here in Koln. I’m Owen Peterson, the owner of A Second Home. I hope you’ll find our inn suitable to your standards.”
Devin gave him a reassuring smile. He gazed at the large sign, decorated with a delicate floral pattern. “It certainly looks exceptional. Easily one of the nicest inn’s I’ve seen.”
“Your words are most kind. Please, come in.” Owen opened the doors and gestured the soldiers in. He snapped his head to Garrick when Kismet passed by. “Commander, you never told me they had a Catheran with them.”
“I apologize Owen. I didn’t expect it, myself. Please, just bear with it.”
“She’s going to end up scaring all my customers away. And people will hear that I housed a Catheran for the night!”
Garrick patted the innkeeper’s shoulder. “I’m sorry, but there’s no other option. Who knows what would happen if she roamed the streets on her own. It could cause a panic. If anyone ever questions the idea, just tell them it was by my order.”
Owen stared at Kismet and let out a long, drawn-out sigh, cursing his luck.
First: Kismet vs. Bandits, Scene v1
Previous: A Starving People, Scene v1
Next: An Impossible Pair, Scene v1
Saturday, July 18, 2009
The North Tower, Scene v1
Oh my, it's a longer post!
==================================================================================
Citizens were already whispering rumors of a street fight that occurred during the night, but fortunately, there was no mention of a Catheran. Kismet touched her cheek lightly, relieved that the cut had healed before dawn before anyone could notice it. However, her encounter with the Kival spy left her uneasy.
The caravan rolled back to the entrance of town, the food replaced with salt, steel, coal, and oil. A Lokem soldier rushed to the entrance from outside the town. He fell to his knees, out of breath with a few cuts and scrapes. “C…Commander! The North Tower! The Kival...”
Garrick exchanged glances with Devin briefly before dashing North. Seven of his soldiers followed, while two stayed behind and tended to the exhausted soldier. Devin turned to his soldiers who whispered confusingly amongst themselves. “Nakita, Sara, Lucas, and Kismet, come with me. Sivelle, take everyone else and escort the caravan back to the capitol.”
The base of the tower was in shambles. Furniture was broken under the bodies of two Lokem soldiers. Blood stained the stone walls and floor of the tower. All of the cabinets and storage were stripped bare. Garrick rushed to his fallen comrades in hopes for a sign of life. He swore under his breath. Both of them were dead. He furiously kicked a loose board against the wall with fists clenched. “Damn those Kival! They’ve become nothing more than murderers. Harris, Cutter, Mason, stay here and watch the door. The rest of you come with me.”
They rushed up the stairs, passing by the stripped middle floor, and barged through the door to the roof. Attached to the door were two ropes attached to the lids of two barrels. The lids popped off when the door shot open. Oil spilled out of the barrels and oozed down the stairs.
“What the hell?” asked Garrick. He picked up a note attached to the side of the barrel and read it aloud. “ ‘Empire scum, may you burn in hell.’ ”
“Fire! They set the entrance on fire!” cried Harris from the bottom floor of the tower. The three soldiers began scurrying up the steps in a panic as the fire quickly spread across the room. The rush of oil flooded down the stairs at them. Cutter slipped on the oil and rolled violently down the steps, knocking over Harris and Mason. The three soldiers reached out helplessly for something to stop their fall but to no avail. Tormented screams filled the tower as their oil stained uniforms ignited in the flames.
Garrick cringed at the sound of their cries. “Damn it. Damn those Kival!”
“Celeste, please show us mercy,” prayed Lucas. “The oil…the fire—!”
He didn’t have to say it. They all knew. The roof was stained with oil, and the fire was spreading quickly. It had already claimed three of their lives, but their only means of escape was now ablaze. The tower was far too tall to jump off, and the trees were beyond jumping reach. With every second, the fire drew closer to the roof.
“Can’t you just make a bunch of water and put the fire out, Nakita?” asked Sara.
“Don’t you think I would’ve done that already if I could? Using water would only spread the fire faster. It’s the oil that’s on fire, and water can’t douse it.”
Kismet ran to the tower’s edge to scan her surroundings. A small group of people fled north through the trees. The woods that surrounded the tower were close, but a leap of faith would not be enough to reach it. Entering the tower was not an option and jumping off would surely result in severe injury, or even death, for the most of them. She realized the first thing that needed to be done was to buy some time. She closed the roof door and kicked it in with a powerful thrust from both her legs. The door crashed down the stairs, into the rising flames. The Catheran placed both her palms on the doorway that led to the roof. She channeled her focus into the stone. The stone cracked loudly and began to crumble, collapsing the doorway over the stairwell.
“What the hell are you doing? You just trapped us up here!” yelled Sara in disbelief.
“I’m sorry. Did you want to go down there?” snapped back Kismet, as she continued by melding the stone together.
Nakita quickly crouched down beside Kismet and helped her in sealing the floor. “Now what? The tower will crumble once the supports burn out.”
“We jump for the trees,” announced Kismet.
“Are you crazy? There’s no way we can jump that far,” said Garrick.
“I’ll climb down the tower and collapse its side. If I make it fall north, it should take you all close enough to jump onto the trees.”
“It sounds crazy, but I guess we have no other choice,” approved Devin. “I’ll trust you with this one.”
“You can’t be serious. The damned furlicker is going to get us killed!” snapped Sara.
“Do you have a better idea?” asked Devin. “I didn’t think so.”
Kismet dangled from the edge of the roof. She latched her feet onto the side of the tower with her claws. Focusing her energy, she softened the stone and slid down the outer wall of the tower. As she descended, the stone grew hotter and hotter. She reached a gap half way down the tower. Her foot slipped, followed by her hands. The Catheran found herself staring at the sky, at the soldiers on the roof who leaned over the edge and stared back at her. The stones of the wall became nothing more than a blur of grey.
First: Kismet vs. Bandits, Scene v1
Previous: Strangers in the Night, Scene v2
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Friday, July 17, 2009
Strangers in the Night, Scene v2
I wanted to re-write it. And yes, it is significantly different.
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Kismet sat at a small table beside one of the windows and looked out at the moonlit streets of Koln. All of the traffic had vanished. Only a few people were returning to their homes from late-night errands. The clouds had cleared and the moon was bright. The stars sparkled luminously against the black night sky while the streets shimmered with a subtle blue. It was a beautiful scene she wished she could’ve shared with Delphi. The longest they had ever spent apart was three days, and it had already been six.
A traveling couple sipped their cups of tea nervously across the lounge, whispering between each other. “Is that—?”
“A furlicker? What is it doing here?”
“Is it safe?”
“I…don’t know. It’s wearing the Rokan colors. Are they using furlickers in their army now?”
Owen set his paperwork aside and approached Kismet. The whispers, the discomfort, it was all too familiar to her. She looked once more at the empty street. It looked so quiet, so lonely, and so peaceful. She rose to her feet and stepped outside before Owen could say anything. “I’ll leave on my own. Sorry for the trouble.”
Kismet closed the door behind her and inhaled the night air. It wasn’t a breath of ‘fresh’ air, as the saying goes. The streets in large towns often reeked of trade goods and waste, but nevertheless, it was peaceful and deserted at night. A hand touched her shoulder as she pulled the hood of her cloak over her head.
“If you’re going to walk around, be back by dawn and try to keep a low profile. The last thing we want is to cause a panic.”
Kismet gave Devin a nod. “Thank you, General. I’m sorry for all of the inconvenience I cause you.”
Devin gave her one last look before returning to the inn. She walked away from the inn into the market district, where only a handful of stores were still open. As she continued toward the entrance of the town, the streets became silent and shrouded in the blanket of night. She looked at the empty streets around her, basking in the peace of night. A silhouette of a cloaked figure peered from around a corner a few buildings ahead. Kismet locked her eyes on the mysterious figure, which quickly disappeared behind the wall. She pursued the suspicious person, heading toward the residential district. Reaching a fork in the road, she looked down the roads for signs of the person until a cry came from the distance. Keeping to the shadows, she darted after the voice.
“Let me go!” cried the cloaked young woman restrained by two men.
The third stripped off her cloak and eyed her up and down. “Well, well, well. Would you look at that? Seems we have ourselves a Kival; and a delicious one at that.” He grabbed her chin with a callused hand, examining her face. “Your kind aren’t supposed to be here. Since there are no guards around, I guess we’ll have to punish you instead.”
The Kival spat in the man’s face and spoke sharply with a voice that sounded oddly familiar to Kismet, “You Lokem disgust me.”
He wiped off his face slowly then punched her in the stomach. He twisted her tunic with his hand and pulled her close to his face with a low, menacing laugh. “I was going to be nice because you were so cute, but now you’re really going to regret that.”
He retracted his arm to hit her face. Kismet darted behind him, wrung his arm behind him, and locked him into a chokehold with her left arm. She twisted his face to hers, baring her fangs with a piercing hiss. He released the Kival’s tunic with a choked gasp of terror and brandished his dagger. The Catheran easily avoided his frantic attempts to stab her. He flailed his arms in desperation while his two accomplices turned to his aid. Kismet quickly swung her captive in the way of their attacks, sending them back. Seeing no other choice, the trapped thug attempted to stab Kismet’s arm. She quickly loosened her hold to move her arm out of the way. The thief cried out in pain as he plunged his dagger into his own shoulder.
Kismet left him groaning in pain and gasping for air on the ground. She stepped toward his accomplice on her right. He backed away cautiously, his knife held out in front of him. The second remaining thug lunged at her back. Kismet shifted to the side and gripped her attacker’s wrist. He dropped his knife as the Catheran twisted his wrist sharply. Kismet thrust her arm upward into his, dislocating his shoulder, filling the air with a scream of agony.
The final thug slashed at Kismet, nicking her across the face. She retaliated with a swipe that gouged his arm. She bared her fangs at him with a threatening hiss that sent him fleeing into the night.
Kismet picked up the fallen cloak and offered it to the Kival. She quickly took the cloak and backed into a wall. The Catheran gazed into her face. She looked to be no older than twenty. Her tanned skin, sharp facial features, black hair and black eyes clearly marked her of Kival descent; but nevertheless, she seemed to fall under what people considered attractive.
She stared back with a brave front, but the fear in her eyes, and the trembling of her hands that clung onto her cloak tightly hinted otherwise.
“Are you okay?” Kismet stepped toward her. She shifted along the wall to further the distance between them, while slipping her cloak back on. The Catheran took another cautious step toward the Kival, but she ran into the night. Kismet watched her silhouette fade into the darkness, a sight that felt all too familiar. When the Kival disappeared from sight, it was then she realized who she was. She had seen that woman before, heard her voice before; that silhouette.
First: Kismet vs. Bandits, Scene v1
Previous: An Impossible Pair, Scene v1
Next: The North Tower, Scene v2
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Strangers in the Night, Scene v1
Kismet sat at a small table beside one of the windows and looked out at the moonlit streets of Koln. All of the traffic had vanished. Only a few people were returning to their homes from late-night errands. The clouds had cleared and the moon was bright. The stars sparkled luminously against the black night sky while the streets shimmered with a subtle blue. It was a beautiful scene she wished she could’ve shared with Delphi. The longest they had ever spent apart was three days, and it had already been six.
A traveling couple sipped their cups of tea nervously across the lounge, whispering between each other. “Is that—?”
“A furlicker? What is it doing here?”
“Is it safe?”
“I…don’t know. It’s wearing the Rokan colors. Are they using furlickers in their army now?”
Owen set his paperwork aside and approached Kismet. The whispers, the discomfort, it was all too familiar to her. She looked once more at the empty street. It looked so quiet, so lonely, and so peaceful. She rose to her feet and stepped outside before Owen could say anything. “I’ll leave on my own. Sorry for the trouble.”
Kismet closed the door behind her and inhaled the night air. It wasn’t a breath of ‘fresh’ air, as the saying goes. The streets in large towns often reeked of trade goods and waste, but nevertheless, it was peaceful and deserted at night. A hand touched her shoulder as she pulled the hood of her cloak over her head.
“If you’re going to walk around, be back by dawn and try to keep a low profile. The last thing we want is to cause a panic.”
Kismet gave Devin a nod. “Thank you, General. I’m sorry for all of the inconvenience I cause you.”
Devin gave her one last look before returning to the inn. She walked away from the inn into the market district, where only a handful of stores were still open. As she continued toward the entrance of the town, the streets became silent and shrouded in the blanket of night. She looked at the empty streets around her, basking in the peace of night. A silhouette of a cloaked figure peered from around a corner a few buildings behind. Kismet locked her eyes on the mysterious figure, which quickly disappeared behind the wall. She walked in its direction until her ears stirred at the faint sounds of a man’s faint pleas from the residential district. She abandoned the thought of pursuing the suspicious character and followed the man’s voice. She kept to the shadows until she found a father and his daughter surrounded by a group of three men.
“Please, I swear. That’s all I have!” cried the father, his daughter cowering in his arms.
“Sorry pops, but that’s not enough. You’re gonna have to give us more than that.” The man fixed his eyes on the little girl’s silver necklace. He yanked her by the arm out from her father’s arms. “I’ll take this!”
The young girl screamed, “Daddy!”
Kismet darted behind the mugger and locked him into a chokehold with her left arm. She twisted his face to hers, baring her fangs with a piercing hiss. He released the little girl with a choked gasp of terror and brandished his dagger. The Catheran easily avoided his frantic attempts to stab her. He flailed his arms in desperation while his two accomplices turned to his aid. Kismet quickly swung her captive in the way of their attacks, sending them back. Seeing no other choice, the trapped thug attempted to stab Kismet’s arm. She quickly loosened her hold to move her arm out of the way. The thief cried out in pain as he plunged his dagger into his own shoulder.
Kismet left him groaning in pain and gasping for air on the ground. She stepped toward his accomplice on her right. He backed away cautiously, his knife held out in front of him. The second remaining thug lunged at her back. Kismet shifted to the side and gripped her attacker’s wrist. He dropped his knife as the Catheran twisted his wrist sharply. A scream of agony filled the air as Kismet thrust her arm upward into his, dislocating his shoulder.
The final thief slashed at Kismet, nicking her across the face. She retaliated with a swipe that gouged his arm. She bared her fangs at him with a threatening hiss that sent him fleeing into the night.
Kismet offered her hand to the child to help her to her feet. “Are you okay?”
Her innocent eyes examined the Catheran’s foreign face curiously. Her father quickly pulled her away into his arms, his eyes filled with fear. “C-C-Catheran!” he gasped, as he ran with his daughter scooped in his arms. The confused child clung onto her father, and stared at her feline savior until the darkness grew too thick.
First: Kismet vs. Bandits, Scene v1
Previous: An Impossible Pair, Scene v1
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Tuesday, July 14, 2009
An Impossible Pair, Scene v1
Sara, wrapped in a blue silk bathrobe, muttered to herself as she scoured her clothes violently at the sink in her room. She draped the washed clothes next to the small fire heater before slumping into a chair. Wiping her daggers with a rag, she glared at Kismet who sat at the bed across from her. “Seriously, why do I always get stuck with you? It’s like people actually go out of their way to make me miserable or something.”
“It’s not like I enjoy it any more than you do, and your constant whining doesn’t help.”
“Why did you even join the military anyway? You could’ve made Princess Delphi much happier by just staying with her all the time. Hell, it would’ve made everyone a lot happier,” snapped Sara.
“I want to be able to protect her. Some of us have a purpose for joining other than fame and boosting our ego, you know.”
“Stop acting like you’re so noble. Besides, what do you know? You’re just a stupid furlicker. Now turn around and don’t look!”
Kismet averted her eyes with a sigh as Sara began slipping into her dried undergarments. “I don’t see why it even matters if I’m looking. It’s not like I’m ogling you or anything.” Kismet turned back to her and stared. “See? Whoooooops, I looked!”
Sara crumpled in a desperate attempt to conceal herself. “What the hell is wrong with you? Stop watching me!”
“Oh no! Don’t you feel so violated now? I don’t know if I can control myself after seeing you. You’d better be careful, I might rape you,” teased Kismet.
Sara spun her back to Kismet, her face burning with embarrassment. She slipped her undergarments on, careful to keep her back to the Catheran. “Shut up, that’s not funny.”
Kismet laughed at Sara. It felt wonderful to cause her so much embarrassment. “Why is it such a big deal anyway? I wouldn’t be surprised if almost half the soldiers have already seen you naked.”
“What do you think I am, some floozy whore? And for your information, I have never let a man see me.” She flung the robe at Kismet before huffily getting into bed. “Now stop bothering me. I’m going to sleep.”
Kismet welled with satisfaction. She watched Sara close her eyes and calm herself down. The power of sleep always amazed the Catheran in its ability to make everyone appear harmless and peaceful. But she found that such a façade is usually a lie. Only when everyone is asleep is there ever true peace for her. She slowly crept up to the archer until she was breathing down her neck. Sara opened her eyes, only to be licked across the face, making her shiver with disgust. “What the hell is the matter with you?!”
Kismet roared with laughter. Sara hooked her right arm into the side of Kismet’s face. She pointed at the door. “Get out and leave me alone!”
“What the hell is going on in there?” called in Devin, pounding on the door.
Sara pulled open the door, her face flushed with anger. “Tell that damn furlicker to stay away from me!” Kismet held out her robe to cover herself, but she slapped it away as she continued. “I’ll pay for my own room, I don’t care. Anything to get away from her.”
“I don’t know how in heaven’s name the two of you managed to make it this far. Do you have any idea how bad you’re making us look right now? If you hope to make it any further, you better shape up, and suck it up. The innkeeper has already reserved an entire floor for us. You’re not getting another room. Learn to deal with it and get some rest. And for heaven’s sake, shut the hell up.” Devin returned to his room next door, muttering to himself. “I swear...it’s like babysitting a bunch of kids.”
Sara closed the door with a growl. She glared at Kismet as she climbed back into her bed. “Leave—Me—Alone! If you don’t, I swear I’ll—”
“Whatever, I don’t care. Who would want to be in the same room with you all night anyway? I’ll just leave. Go ahead and get your beauty rest, you’re really starting to look like you need it.” Kismet grabbed her cloak and headed downstairs.
First: Kismet vs. Bandits, Scene v1
Previous: A Second Home, Scene v2
Next: Strangers in the Night, Scene v2
Sunday, July 12, 2009
A Second Home, Scene v1
It was not until sunset when the soldiers had finally reached their destination. A group of Republic soldiers stood at the entrance to the town to greet them.
“Devin! It’s been a long time. Glad to see you made it,” said the large soldier standing in front with a booming voice. His armor had the markings of a Lokem commander.
“As are we, Garrick. As are we,” replied Devin with an exhausted smile.
The caravan entered the fortified walls of the border town of Koln. The soldiers handed the wagons over to the Republic. The exhausted soldiers were covered in mud and their uniforms disheveled along with their hair. Garrick let out a boisterous laugh. “Seems you’ve had quite the march. Come, we’ve arranged a stay for all of you at the towns finest—What is this, Devin? You actually brought that damned fur-licker with you?”
“By order of the Silver Guard. It’s not as though I enjoy the complications she brings me.” Devin looked at all the turned heads and low whispers of onlookers. “I apologize for any problems it’ll cause, but please bear with it.”
Garrick sighed heavily. “Alright. But if so much as starts anything, she’s walking home.”
“Fair enough.”
Garrick wrapped an arm around Devin and began leading him further into town. The soldiers followed closely behind them, chattering amongst themselves and observing the busy market place. Kismet watched everyone stare at her nervously and point fingers, mumbling to one another.
“So tell me, how was the road? It seems you were caught up in the storm,” asked Garrick.
“It definitely could’ve been better. The past two days were rather miserable, but we did run into an old friend,” replied Devin.
“Hazalin,” muttered Garrick sourly. “Let me guess. He wanted the food.”
Devin nodded. “But only three of the carts. He never was a greedy guy.”
“But you made it with all of them. How’d you get out of it?”
Devin gave a sly smile, his words filled with a fatherly pride. “We were originally with twelve wagons, but Raze had the back three filled with boxed rocks instead of food. It seems she predicted this would happen. Lucky for us, Hazalin used a strategy that prevented him from being able to check the wagons.”
Garrick roared with laughter. He shook Devin with amusement. “Oh how I would’ve loved to see the look on his face. I must say that’s quite some woman you raised there. She’s really proving herself to be General Atraea’s daughter. The both of you must be proud.”
Devin couldn’t help but smile. Every moment he spent or thought about Raze, he couldn’t help but feel remorse. But it was also Raze who saved him from wallowing in a pit of depression. Raze had become his light in the darkness…his pride and glory. “Who wouldn’t be? She’s a living prodigy.”
“Hah! I guess I can’t argue with that.” The group reached a very large inn four stories in height, six rooms wide and two rooms deep. The only place that compared in Rokan that compared was Heaven’s Perch. “I’m sure you’re all exhausted, so I won’t take any more of your time. The cargo should be loaded and ready to go by noon tomorrow, so feel free to rest in. You’ll be staying here, at A Second Home. We reserved the entire first floor for you. There’s a dozen rooms, each with two beds, so you’ll have to pair up.”
The owner greeted them with a smile. The small rim of grey hair left on his balding scalp accentuated the small wrinkles of age that were beginning to form on his face. “General Devin. It is an honor to host your stay here in Koln. I’m Owen Peterson, the owner of A Second Home. I hope you’ll find our inn suitable to your standards.”
Devin gave him a reassuring smile. He gazed at the large sign, decorated with a delicate floral pattern. “It certainly looks exceptional. Easily one of the nicest inn’s I’ve seen.”
“Your words are most kind. Please, come in.” Owen opened the doors and gestured the soldiers in. He snapped his head to Garrick when Kismet passed by. “Commander, you never told me they had a Catheran with them.”
“I apologize Owen. I didn’t expect it, myself. Please, just bear with it.”
“She’s going to end up scaring all my customers away. And people will hear that I housed a Catheran for the night!”
Garrick patted the innkeeper’s shoulder. “I’m sorry, but there’s no other option. Who knows what would happen if she were roaming the streets on her own. It could cause a panic. If anyone ever questions the idea, just tell them it was by my order.”
Owen stared at Kismet and let out a long, drawn-out sigh, cursing his luck.
First: Kismet vs. Bandits, Scene v1
Previous: A Starving People, Scene v1
Next: An Impossible Pair, Scene v1
Thursday, July 9, 2009
A Starving People, Scene v1
“Rise and shine sleepy heads. We have a long day ahead of us, and it starts with resurfacing the caravan,” announced Devin.
Everyone groaned loudly in an exhausted stupor. The wheels of the caravan were submerged nearly to the axels. The rain had finally stopped, but the ground was still muddy. Devin lead the groggy group to the front wagon and patted the edge of it. “Let’s start with this one. Six on each side, let’s go. We have a lot of distance to cover. If you want to sleep in a bed tonight, we have to get moving.”
Nakita lead Kismet by the wrist toward the back of the caravan. “Come with me.” She released her grip once they reached the rear. “Since you’re a Catheran, you’re well attuned with the elements of nature, right?”
“I suppose so.”
Nakita knelt beside a back wheel and placed her palms on the floor beside it. “Help me raise the wagon.”
Kismet positioned herself at the other back wheel as Nakita began counting down, “On three. One…two…three.”
The pair sent a surge of energy into the ground, solidifying the earth around the wheel, while raising it up. Kismet practiced manipulating the earth through many of her sleepless nights, but never had she used it to lift such a large amount of weight. It was a bit taxing, but she surprised herself with being able to resurface the wheel so quickly.
“Tch. I guess Catheran blood surpasses years of training,” spat Nakita, who progressed slowly with her side.
The irritation in her face left Kismet uneasy. She slowed down her pace on the second wheel. “I usually practice throughout the night, since there isn’t much else to do.”
“Must be nice having all that extra time,” said the witch, sourly.
The Catheran dared not speak anymore. The lack of sleep was as plain as day on the sorceress’ face, and even more in her patience. Kismet slipped her a bit of help as she worked on her side.
“Stop it. I don’t want your pity.” Nakita’s voice pierced her ears like needles. She could feel the young witch’s icy glare through the wagon that separated them.
The air was thick and moist as they lifted the wagon out of the ground. Kismet eyed the ridge as they continued uphill through the pass. As the path grew steeper, it became more and more silent. The birds, even the wind, seemed to have disappeared.
As the end of the incline came into view, a man walked into view on the ridge in front of the caravan. Devin signaled for everyone to stop. “Who goes there?”
“Devin. It must have been almost two years now.”
“Hazalin? I guess it has. And if the stories are true, then this won’t be the kind of reunion I would hope for,” replied the general.
“Unfortunately, that is the case.” All along the ridge which surrounded the caravan rose a small army of Kival archers, arrows aimed and ready. The soldiers instinctively brandished their weapons, trembling in fear at their grim situation.
Devin and Nakita, although fully aware of their situation, maintained a stoic front. Devin never took his eyes off Hazalin. “Eleven years ago. Lokem archers lined theses ridges to ward off the invading Cathera. They expected a smooth operation, but they grossly underestimated the Cathera and nearly forty soldiers died. Surely you don’t want to make the same mistake again.”
Hazalin’s face briefly flashed with agitation and remorse. “Those soldiers died as heroes. If it were not for their bravery, thousands of people would have died by the fangs of those monsters. Besides, I’m sure the both of us would prefer avoiding any unnecessary bloodshed.”
“I’m sure you don’t expect us to just hand over the caravan.”
Hazalin let out an amused huff. He waved Devin’s words away with a loose hand. “Of course not. After all, you wouldn’t want your precious sister country starve. Fortunately, for the both of you, we’re not as greedy as The Republic. All we ask is for you to release your three back wagons.”
“The Republic won’t take too kindly to losing a quarter of its food shipment. Considering how desperate they are, it’d only be a matter of time before it becomes a manhunt if this continues.”
“You can tell The Republic what happened here if you wish, but don’t forget who we are, Devin. We’re fully aware of Lokem’s situation. We’re the ones who suffer for it, not them. Day after day we go hungry, scrounging for food, eating whatever we can find just to stay alive. Don't you see? We’re only taking what is rightfully ours. Until we establish our new home, we need food as well.”
Devin scanned the archers above them. The odds were horribly against them with the two dozen soldiers outnumbered two to one. Even if they could make it through, heavy casualties would be inevitable. “Release the back three wagons.”
The three wagons slowly rolled back down the hill away from them. Hazalin signaled for the archers to retract their weapons. “You’ve made an honorable decision, Devin. You not only saved the lives of those here, but also the lives of many of my people.”
The Kival watched the caravan continue its march through the pass with Devin in the lead. He passed under Hazalin, leaving behind words that echoed in the Kival commander’s ears. “My pride is not worth risking the lives of my soldiers. That is all.”
First: Kismet vs. Bandits, Scene v1
Previous: Playing With Water, Scene v1
Next: A Second Home, Scene v2
Sunday, July 5, 2009
Playing With Water, Scene v1
“What did you see?”
“There was someone on the ridge about a hundred paces ahead of us. I only saw the person looking over here for a few seconds and haven’t seen them since. I couldn’t see much other than their cloak,” reported Kismet.
Nakita looked further down the pass. She couldn’t see more than twenty paces in front of her before it became pitch black. The earth was boggy and the wheels of the caravan were sunken. “Whoever it is, we should be safe for the night.”
She turned back inside and began drying the sleeping animals. Lu walked to her side, rubbed the back of his neck, and cleared his throat. “Thank you for drying our uniforms.”
“A sick soldier is a useless soldier,” replied Nakita, without redirecting her attention.
“If you don’t mind me asking, how did you dry everything so quickly?”
Irritation flashed over the young witch’s face. She resumed drying the animals as she explained, “I pull the water to the surface, turn it into ice, then shatter it so that it falls off.”
Lu crouched beside her to watch. Ever since he was little, he was always fascinated with magic. Unfortunately, his blood was never potent enough to control magic well. “That’s ingenious! Oh, I was also wondering, what do the essences on your gloves actually do?”
Nakita finished drying the horse in front of her with a sigh. She gazed at him coldly. “They amplify the ability to manipulate water, while also serving as a source. Want me to show you?”
“That would be great!” he exclaimed.
“It lets me create water, like this.” She took his hand in hers. She hung her right hand over his. A small stream of water trickled onto his open palm.
“And I can manipulate it, like this.” She froze the water into a long spike. He watched in terror as she thrust it downward. His heart stopped as the ice melted upon contact with his skin. The water that covered his hand froze and began to slowly encroach his arm. Nakita left Lu to his freezing arm and returned to Devin’s side. Lu desperately hammered off the ice that encased his hand before returning to the company of his sleeping comrades, with a lingering chill running down his spine.
Nakita pulled a pair of jerky out of her ration pouch and handed one to Devin. She filled his canteen with water as she spoke. “Having her keep watch throughout the night again?”
Devin tore the jerky with his teeth. “She offered. Says she has nothing else to do anyway.” He paused for a moment for a large gulp of water. “I’ll admit, she’s actually very useful to have around—”
“Low maintenance, definitely. But quite the headache when it comes to bringing down our reputation and having to stop all the quarrels. I just hope Raze knows what she is doing,” chimed in the young sorceress.
“I’m sure she does. She always thinks everything through. If I had to trust anyone, it would be her.”
Nakita let out a small laugh, “I wouldn’t really expect to hear anything else from her adoptive father.”
“And what about you? She’s been there for you ever since you came to Rokan. You two are basically sisters,” huffed Devin.
Nakita looked out into the rain. Kismet’s yellow eyes shimmered eerily in the darkness. “You know I trust her with my life. She just tends to be a bit more radical than I’d prefer at times.”
First: Kismet vs. Bandits, Scene v1
Previous: Jastor's Pass, Scene v1
Next: A Starving People, Scene v1
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Jastor's Pass, Scene v1
Despite being able to rest through the night at inns along the way, four days of sixteen hours of travel a day drained the energy and spirit out of the escort. Not an hour went by without the grumbling of fatigued soldiers, and it only grew worse with every passing day as the skies grew cloudy. It was the fifth day that everyone had dreaded, as there would be no town or village to rest at for the night.
The sun had set, and the rain began to pour. The caravan trudged through the mud, the soldiers clinging against the side of the wagons for shelter under the tarp. As the march continued, the tarp could not save them from the frigid winds that soaked them to the bone. The march was silent and exhaustive.
By the time the caravan had reached the Jastor Mountains, which served as the border between the Rokan Empire and Lokem Republic, everyone was shivering uncontrollably.
They quickly sought refuge behind a crevice in Jastor’s Pass, which separated the mountains and served as the main road between the two countries. The soldiers quickly erected three large fires and stripped down to their undergarments, laying their uniforms near the second fire. Everyone huddled around the fire, desperate for warmth, caring not for modesty, with the oxen and horses tied near the third fire.
Nakita stood beside Devin and Kismet as they watched the soldiers quickly set up camp. She eyed Kismet, who just watched everyone silently. The Catheran was soaked just the same, but did not shiver or display any signs of discomfort. “Aren’t you cold?”
Kismet shook her head. “No, I’m fine.”
“Go keep watch while we dry up,” ordered Devin.
Nakita was used to the cold. In fact, she enjoyed the cold, but being soaked for hours was too much for even her to endure. She felt what little warmth remained leave with Kismet as the Catheran stepped back into the rain. She turned back to Devin, who now also began to shiver. “You noticed it too?”
Devin nodded with a grim expression. His words were quiet. “No one was at the checkpoint, and the rain should bring no exception. Unfortunately, we have to make this delivery.”
“Heavens forbid we have a smooth delivery,” replied Nakita, tugging at the tunic that plastered itself uncomfortably onto her body. “I guess I should dry us so we can rest while we can.”
She hovered her palm over her drenched clothing. The essences imbedded in her gloves emitted a dim blue glow as the water that soaked her clothes and skin collected upon the surface, where it crystallized. As she continued along, the ice shattered into a small shower of scintillating beads that melted as they touched the earth. After finishing, she stepped close to Devin and began on him. The soldiers huddled around the fire eyed Nakita oddly, watching her slowly hover her palms over the General.
Devin followed Nakita to the uniforms that lay next to the second fire. He gazed out at Kismet who sat alone in the rain with a stoic face. “She seemed to notice as well.”
Nakita nodded as she dried the uniforms. “At least she’s more observant than this lousy bunch that can only think about themselves.”
“Who do you think it is? I doubt any group of bandits would be willing to risk targeting a military escort, much less the Kival.”
“It wouldn’t surprise me if it were them. They’ve been growing desperate, raiding our villages and kidnapping for ransom. Besides, I’m sure you’ve heard about Hazalin.” She rose to her feet and turned to the half-naked soldiers. “Your uniforms are all dried. Dress up when you’re done gawking at each other and get some rest.”
Nakita followed Devin outside. Kismet’s wet fur melded into the darkness, making her difficult to see apart from her eyes, which glowed a faint yellow when she looked back at the camp. She was completely drenched, but it didn’t bother her in the least. She combed her hair out of her face as she spoke. “We’re not alone.”
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