"Indeed the safest road to Hell is the gradual one-- the gentle slope, soft underfoot, without sudden turnings, without milestones, without signposts." --The Screwtape Letters by C. S. Lewis
She looked around at everyone, it was as if she was completely useless, she had no idea what was going on.
"Can someone please explain...what's going on here?" she questioned politely, bowing in respect. "If possible...maybe I could be of assistance...do you...need a slave perhaps...?" she timidly continued.
Porcelain skin stained with tears,
Hands covering her face to hide from her fears.
His head snapped up the other girl spoke, red eyes flashing in anger. How many times had Kaz heard just that tone of voice, timid and broken. Gently he set Scia down on the ground, and turned to the girl. "You aren't a slave, not here. This is a rebel town, there are no slaves here, no core. Here everyone is equal, and everyone pitches in."
The girls eyes widened at that statement. Turning Kaz glanced around the square and sighed, "This is hardly the place for explanations, from everyone. Why don't we go over there?" Kaz nodded towards the inn and tavern. "We can at least get something to eat."
DANCE- Like no-one is watching LOVE- Like you've never been hurt SING- Like no-one is listening LIVE- Like it's heaven on earth.
Please read and review my novel. The title is Fireborn. Here's the link.
Kazuya's sarcasm hadn't lessened from when Barid had known him, it seemed, and the larger man simply had to grit his teeth and bear watching him mock both him and the princess. Normally, he wouldn't have tolerated such ways of addressing his friend and charge, but given that Caledonia clearly didn't want to be seen as a child in any way, Barid thought it best to restrict his protection to being against actual danger.
He kept a hand on the hilt of his sword as Kaz spoke to Cal. He didn't like the sounds of this plan, and he liked even less the fact that the two of them were trapped in a town filled with people set against the royal families, but it seemed that for the time being, they had no choice but to go along with the plan, whatever it was.
Then, a shout of glee ran out, and Barid turned to see a tiny blur charging into the rebel's waiting arms. To his horror, he saw that someone had carved out one of her eyes. What twisted monster could have...
His train of thought was cut off abruptly as a dagger blurred past him, almost too quick to see, and bounced off a shimmering blue shell that had formed around Kaz and the girl embracing him. The shield shocked him almost as much as the dagger, Could that have been her work? He looked around, and seeing no one else who could have, almost decided that it had been. Then he shook himself - he knew there was someone here capable of opening a gate, and he doubted that the child was that person. This 'Scia' had to be hiding herself somewhere.
Tyr had reacted faster that Barid, likely because the shield hadn't surprised him, and his companion's life was in danger. He bounded across to the assassin, grabbing her arms, and then twisting her wrist and crushing what fell from it into the ground.
The other girl seemed somewhat lost, asking if anyone needed a slave. But not even Barid particularly favoured the slavery system, and Kaz seemed amused at the question. "You aren't a slave, not here. This is a rebel town, there are no slaves here, no core. Here everyone is equal, and everyone pitches in." Then, at his suggestion, they started walking to the inn.
While staying close to Cal, Barid glanced at Tyr again, weighing the other warrior up. He was probably faster, Barid thought, though not as strong. Years of slave labour seemed to have moulded him into more of a duellist, whereas Barid had been trained into the role of bodyguard - while he had ample skill with the blade, he was supposed to protect rather than attack.
The guard nodded at Tyr, "You fought well, earlier." It was a compliment born of his father's command that Barid show due respect to opponents who fought with skill and honour. As far as Barid could see, Tyr fit that category. Even if he was a kidnapper, it was to aid in the achievement of equality amongst all people - something Barid had never even believed possible.
He had decided to live forever or die in the attempt. - Yossarian, Catch-22
Wide-eyed stupid.
If you're gonna rule the world, you've gotta get up early! - Joel S. Dickens
'A rebel town...one where everyone...is equal?' the thought played over in her mind as she followed Kaz. 'Should I ask if I can join them...? But what use would I have?' Destiny pondered over this thought as they finally reached the inn.
"How are we going to pay for this?" she questioned...knowing full well if they did in fact need someone to pay she defiantly could. Over the years she had developed a gift in the field of thievery, almost perfecting it. When her masters didn't feed her she would snatch up some food or money...either way she was sure to try to look after herself.
She overlooked Kaz, and then turned to the little girl, she smiled at her as if she knew exactly what that girl had gone through.
'Those that torture us...they are so pitiful. We do nothing but follow orders...' she frowned at the sudden realization, 'I refuse to go through that any longer...being controlled, manipulated...it sickens me,' she then looked around at everyone, "May I join you, I have no idea what type of assistance I can provide, but I will do whatever is needed."
*She has not discovered her power yet*
Porcelain skin stained with tears,
Hands covering her face to hide from her fears.
Despite everything that had been going on, Caledonia couldn't help but keep her eyes locked on the girl hanging off of Kazuya. The poor thing. Cal knew very well from her many visits into the slums of Cetra, that many slaves went through their own share of torture and suffering, but never had she seen something so... heartless.
The girl was missing one of her eyes, a few thin fingers, and her arms and legs were mauled with scars. She looked so young as well, maybe only five or six, if not younger. She was a very pretty little girl, nonetheless, but the torture that showed on her took away from the girl's sharp, yet childish features.
"This is hardly the place for explanations, from everyone. Why don't we go over there?" Kaz's voice suddenly tore Caledonia's eyes away from the girl, who had turned to stare back at Caledonia, as he nodded towards the tavern. "We can at least get something to eat." Caledonia swallowed the lump in her throat and slowly walked beside Barid. She, despite the situation she was in and how horribly bad she wanted to know why she was kidnapped, she also wanted to hear the girl's story, and how, even with the torture she'd obviously went through, she was so happy.
Oh, the tiger will love you. There is no sincerer love than the love of food. George Bernard Shaw
Tyr answered the hesitant girl, giving her a charming lopsided grin. His voice slightly rueful "Sure you can join. Everyone contributes to the revolt in one way or another. We're family. Psychotic, bizarre, and a hodgepodge of personalities that should probably never be blended. But we stick together through thick and thin."
Kaz passed the counter grabbing a mug and one of the steaming plates of food left out. He set them down at the large table and glanced over at Bar and Cally, they were staring at the common room wall. It was covered in names, symbols, and scrawled messages.
Taking a sip he came over to stand behind them. "It's the Joining Wall." Cally jumped when he spoke. "When an escaped or rescued slave joins the rebellion. They leave their mark on this wall. Proof that they existed, that they were more than just beasts of burden."
There was a haunted look to his red eyes. As Kaz reached out to touch one of the messages it had been burned into the wall, seared to the wood. I will no longer endure dishonour. K. "This one is mine." He sighed and went back to the table sitting down. "But enough of the past, we're here for the future."
Everyone took his lead grabbing food and a chair. The assasin sat as far from Kaz as possible, Bar and Cally were side by side. The newly freed slave stuck close to Tyr, and Scia pulled her chair as close to Kaz as she could get.
Glaring Bar strode over and grabbed two plates of food before sitting down. He ate some from both, no doubt testing for poisons. "Out of curiosity." He asked sarcastically. "What's to stop the Princess and I from telling the armies what you look like when we leave? I mean you are rebel leaders."
Kaz snorted taking a long drink of the fruit juice. Smirking, he answered Barid's question. "Two reasons. One, Tyr's power is illusion so you have no way of knowing if this is his real face. And two, if my father found out I was alive and a rebel to boot. It would almost guarantee a schism among the Union's royal families."
Laughing, Cal brushed long snow white hair out of her face. "For someone who claims to have no interest in being King, you seem to have a good grasp of Union politics."
"True, but the fight between the rebels and the Union isn't why you're here." Kaz was suddenly serious as he met Cal's eyes. "Rather it's warning of a common enemy. The mador and Core are using the Frieze to reach the Union's heartland."
He named the wild mountain range that stretch the breadth of the Union. Only the very brave or very foolish willingly traveled the Frieze. "You seriously expect us to believe that!?" Barid laughed.
"No. Which is why we brought you here. So you could see it with your own eyes." Kaz glanced around the empty common room, out through the windows into the deserted town. "This village has already been deserted. There's a small but elite force of Mador and Core not twenty miles from here. You can see for yourself"
The girl beside Tyr paled, turning a sickly grey. "We're in the Frieze?"
"That's right." Kaz smiled slyly. "When the rebellion was just beginning, we were just desperate enough to hide in these mountains. We learned to navigate them, survive in them, even thrive. And it's the perfect hiding place because no one else is suicidal enough to come here."
"Why let us know where the rebels are hiding?" Barid demanded. But it was Cally who answered him. "The enemy of my enemy is my friend, right?"
*Bar and Cally are their childhood nicknames, if that's alright with you guys.^-^ *
DANCE- Like no-one is watching LOVE- Like you've never been hurt SING- Like no-one is listening LIVE- Like it's heaven on earth.
Please read and review my novel. The title is Fireborn. Here's the link.
The assassin watched and listened, gaze calculating. They certainly were foolish if they thought she wouldn't run, regroup, and try again. She knew what this place was now; maybe there was no escape, but she could at least fulfill her duty.
Unless... perhaps there was a better way to go about this. Why not let them think she was just as scared as the other girl? Yes, that would do nicely. It would be difficult, as they certainly didn't trust her (unless they were bigger fools than she thought), but she could pretend to reform. It wouldn't be hard. Maybe after a few weeks, she'd be able to finish this and prove her worth, earn her mistress's approval.
She rocked in her chair nervously for a moment before scooting towards the others a little. Hsaiash kept her eyes averted.
"Indeed the safest road to Hell is the gradual one-- the gentle slope, soft underfoot, without sudden turnings, without milestones, without signposts." --The Screwtape Letters by C. S. Lewis
It seemed to Barid that the only thing that had really changed about Kaz was his allegiance. Otherwise, he was much the same - still as quick-witted and intelligent as ever. It was partly this, partly the obvious reasons, and partly the use of his childhood nickname that made him so hostile to the rebel leader. While he didn't seriously believe that the food was poisoned - the rebels wouldn't have bothered kidnapping them if they'd really wanted to kill them - testing for it was almost a habit now.
While Kaz's brand of wit wasn't exactly a strength of his, tactical thinking was. He could believe they were in the Frieze, rebels would have been noticed and crushed anywhere else in the Union. But how to get himself and Cal out was the real question. Firstly, he was going to have to deal with the barrier holding them inside, and then find a way to get himself and Cal down a mountain range without any equipment. He sighed inwardly, it looked like they were going to have to go along with the rebels for the time being.
He gave the assassin, now seeming far more demure, a suspicious glance. Was this some new ploy? Or had her initial attack merely been at someone who'd put her in a terrifyingly strange situation? Either way, he wanted to keep a careful eye on her. He knew she wasn't one of the few assassins Caledonia's father kept on retainer, and she'd been in Celtra, which could well mean she was after Cal.
Barid hid these thoughts with all the bluster expected of a young, arrogant guardsman, though he was a little surprised that the rebels were showing them where other rebels were. The enemy of my enemy is my friend... He thought, Very true, but then that would mean that Kaz and his friends don't want the help of the rest of the Core, or the Mador, in beating the Union.
“So, why are they your enemies, then?” He said, suddenly suspicious. What if they were just going to hand them over to the Mador, and were only using this whole story as a way of getting them there without having to fight. “I thought you were both against the Union.”
He had decided to live forever or die in the attempt. - Yossarian, Catch-22
Wide-eyed stupid.
If you're gonna rule the world, you've gotta get up early! - Joel S. Dickens
"We just want to be free Bar. Is that so wrong?" Kaz's voice was wistful as he met the guards eyes. "Regardless of our own griefs with the Union. It's still our homeland. It takes great strength of will for men who have known no kindness to show it to another."
Leaning forward, Tyr laughed softly. "That, and we're not crazy enough to ally with cannibals."
"What did you say?" Cal was pale at those words.
Kaz nodded sagely as he answered. "You heard Tyr, they eat people. And I personally don't want to be on the menu. Besides, the Core and Mador make no distinction between rebels and loyalists."
DANCE- Like no-one is watching LOVE- Like you've never been hurt SING- Like no-one is listening LIVE- Like it's heaven on earth.
Please read and review my novel. The title is Fireborn. Here's the link.
hey... im super lost, could someone bring me in? Id appreciate it a whole bunch
Words - so innocent and powerless as they are, as standing in a dictionary, how potent for good and evil they become in the hands of one who knows how to combine them. ~Nathaniel Hawthorne
((We're all in the rebel city right now. You could say that you were accidentally 'gated' when they kidnapped the princess. I'll see if I can bring you in later, if you can't figure a way into things.))
"Indeed the safest road to Hell is the gradual one-- the gentle slope, soft underfoot, without sudden turnings, without milestones, without signposts." --The Screwtape Letters by C. S. Lewis
"You know, sometimes all you need is twenty seconds of just embarrassing bravery. And I promise you, something great will come of it." — We Bought A Zoo
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