The assassin was just about to advance when the door got kicked in and Gon was moving towards the man who tried to stab Gon. He tried multiple times, and the children ran to their mother. The man thought he had the upper hand as Gon moved back but Gon only wanted to get the man away from his family, so when the distance was great enough, he took a step to the side so the sword went past him. He then dislocated the man’s knee with a kick and grabbed the man’s sword from him. The man said “please” but Gon was furious someone tried to hurt his family and twisted him around facing the wall and told the man he would send him to the afterlife then cracked his back with his elbow.
As the man fell down in pain, Gon proceeded to make a hard stomp on his chest, breaking the ribs so they impaled the organs. The man died slowly from the injuries. Gon rushed to the kitchen, and the family hugged but soon other screams could be heard from outside. The retired guards were able to bring down three of the assassins and captured one and two other dogs got killed. The remaining ones ran back to the forest. The house was getting dangerous, and Senji said they had to go. Gon grabbed the children and prepared to run out and told them to run to the wagon that was standing without fire and hide under it. Senji told Gon to run fast and take the children and she would be right behind him.
They all ran out, and Gon went first with the kids under his arms and Senji after. They turned the corner of the house and a whistling sound was heard. Gon only heard Senji fall as he was about to put the children on the ground. Suddenly, everything else became slow motion and distorted around him as he turned back to help her. She lay on the ground hardly moving with an arrow in her chest. He moved fast and grabbed her then moved her quickly out of the way. He didn’t even feel the second arrow hit him in the back. He brought her behind the wagon and the children were crying in fear seeing their hurt mother. Gon had tears coming out and told her to please hang on. Senji looked at Gon and put her hand at his cheek; he held her hand and she told him that he and the children were the best thing that ever happened to her. She thanked him for coming into her life. Gon asked her not to talk like that, but she smiled and said she loved him. Gon said the same and felt her hand get loose and her breath left her for the last time.
He said no and asked her to wake up then put her hand to his heart and told her she could not leave him. There was no answer and very deep inside of Gon came a feeling he had never had before, and it made his tears fall even faster. The children sobbed quietly hugging their father, and Gon joined in as he held Senji close to him. His tears fell down onto her face as the guards and other people had come to aid Heiwan and tried to stop the fires. From the big hill, Sergeant Femil was watching and left quickly to join the other assassins that had escaped. The fires were out, and Gon got helped to take the children while he was carrying Senji’s body. He was not crying anymore and said nothing as he walked.
Gon was well-known and every one that saw who he was carrying bowed their head and in respect and some said a prayer. He lay her down on the make shift beds that had been made for the dead and injured. The children held their father’s hands and sobbed quietly as they looked upon the woman they knew as wife and mother. The high priest saw them, and he knew the family well since Senji had helped the temple a lot giving away food that Gon and her had made to the poor. His heart was breaking as he looked upon all the people that had died and went on his knees in front of the bed where Senji was lying and told her family he was sorry. Gon turned to a guard that had come up and was asking for him. Gon didn’t want to leave his children but asked the village woman that took them while he was carrying Senji to stay with them.
As they walked, the guard said they had dispatched soldiers to find the men and more soldiers were coming to secure the lands. Gon asked if the guard knew who they were but the guard said they would soon find out and told Gon to enter one of the houses. Gon got greeted by the men inside, and Hillmer, the high officer, knew Gon well since they met during the big tournament. He gave his condolences to Gon and said he had a gift for him. Gon looked over the room where the soldiers were moving away and saw one of the assassins sitting tied in ropes and looked at them.
‘He would not speak to us on who he was,’ Hillmer said. He then added that Gon, with such knowledge about martial arts, would perhaps be able to help get out some information. Gon walked slowly towards the man on the floor. The assassin got a cold chill and saw the eyes on Gon and for the first time, showed fear. Gon grabbed the man and held him up. Hillmer told some of the men to get out and help the others. As soon as they left, Gon asked the assassin about who he was and why they came. The then scared man was still keeping quiet. The main guard told the man he was looking upon the greatest fighter in the world and his wife was dead then. Gon grabbed the man’s hand that was tied behind his back and broke it off like it would be a twig. The man screamed but was silenced by a guard that put a mouthpiece on him.
Gon dropped him on the floor and cracked the man’s leg with a strike of his feet. He then lifted him up and pushed him towards the wall. The mouth piece got ripped off by Gon and he asked who they were. The assassin told them they were from the Darcolia land sent by a man working for King Arobe. He had been hired to come here to kill as many as possible and then return back to the castle. Gon held the man up and Hillmer asked for proof of this and the assassins told them what he had in the pocket. There was gold from the payment and also a paper from the evil king’s own security.
Hillmer asked where the others were and who was the leader but the assassin did not know the name of the leader since he was covered up and they were set to meet up at a farm house further away. The captain told his soldiers to ride to the farm and turned to Gon who asked if they need the assassin anymore. When Hillmer said he would be hanged for the crime, Gon said it would take too long and grabbed the head of the assassin and slammed it hard into the wall so the man died.
Hillmer ordered the body to be burned and then rode with his men to the farm. As Gon came out from the house, the children and the village woman walked up to them. Gon had a different look to his face and thanked the woman and walked home with the children after he kissed Senji on her forehead as she lay still in the night. The next day, the whole village had gathered at the castle for the funeral of the twenty-three people slaughtered in the night including Senji. Gon sat quietly as he listened to the priests; the families of the dead and the king addressed the people.
At the big temple in the kingdom, many people had come. Kemi was there and showed her support together with her father. The king had a low voice but asked Gon to come up and speak a few words. Gon went up and was standing quietly and was looking in the casket holding his wife. She was surrounded by flowers and had a really nice dress on and looked peaceful. The room was dead quiet except for some sobbing coming from some people. They all knew the man standing at the podium and many were there when Gon and Senji got married. Gon opened his mouth and said a few words but stopped sometime to gather the strength. He heard the door open and in came Jay running.
When his eyes saw what was in the room, he stopped suddenly and stood like he was a statue. Jay fell on his knees and couldn’t move. People around could see and knew the story about the three friends. Gon saw Jay and looked at Senji and his two daughters. He then took a deep breath and started to tell the story about how they met and what a great wife and mother she was and the people really understood how important she was to him. Gon finished speaking and he looked again at Senji. Again, it was quiet and everyone was listening. Gon looked back to the people and spoke again. He told about the cowards that attacked Heiwan village and anger in his voice got clear when he said the Darcolia king’s security was behind this and the podium he stood behind started to crack. Gon did not realise his hands were crushing the wooden podium on its side, as he, with a dark voice, told them he would avenge the death of his wife. As he let go, the priests saw the podium being cracked.
Gon said hello to Jay and told him to come and see the girls after he h
ad said goodbye to Senji. They all left the temple in a line and proceeded to the cemetery for burial. Jay, Gon and the two daughters together with the whole kingdom said farewell to the fallen people. On the way back, Jay and Gon said nothing to each other and walked quietly next to some of the other people going back to their homes. At the house, Gon told the girls to join the other children at one of the other houses to talk with the people sent from the castle to help them understand and help them grieve. Jay sat at the table in the house and looked at the house still smelling of smoke from the fire. He asked Gon what he had in mind and what he was going to do. Gon walked around a little and collected some small things in the kitchen that had fallen down during the struggle. He then walked over to hatch in the floor and lifted it up. He took something wrapped in brown fabric and when he unwrapped it, Jay understood what was going to happen. Gon held his staff that he hadn’t used for over five years and gripped it hard.
Gon asked for information about the lands of Darcolia and since Jay knew Gon so well, he told him what he knew about the whereabouts of the Darcolia king and his security forces. Gon would not have taken no for an answer so Jay told him everything he knew. Jay helped Gon with packing and they talked about things from the past but Gon was changed and his speech was somewhat different. Truth of the matter was that Gon was going through in his head all his life and what had happened on the night and went through different scenarios about what could happen on the road to the Darcolia kingdom.
Gon had finished packing and put everything next to the door. Jay asked if Gon really was going and if so he could get escorted with several guards to aid him. Gon thanked Jay but told him they would be noticed from far away and he would do better by himself. Jay nodded and said he would come back later and said goodbye. Before he left, Gon asked him to buy something and Jay promised to get it for him. The night came and Gon and the girls were sitting and going through the letters that was delivered by some of the people wishing them well. Jay knocked on the door and brought in gifts from the kingdom. Jay and Gon said goodnight to the girls and sat and spoke about the road ahead. Jay said goodbye to his friend and wished him good luck. Gon gave him a big hug and said they would see each other again.
When Jay had left, Sophia came from behind and said she couldn’t sleep. Gon took her hand and walked to one of the packages that had yet to be opened. She asked what it was and he told her he had bought something for her. She opened the package and took out a bow with some arrows next to it. He told her he didn’t know what would happen in the future and he might not be there to protect them. He asked her to learn how to handle the bow, and if someone attacked then she would have to protect her sister. Sophia didn’t want to hear that her father might not be coming back but also knew what he meant. She promised she would practise every day and when he came back, she would be able to protect all three of them. He smiled and gave a hug telling her to be strong.
A small tear ran down his cheek and then he took her to bed where she fell asleep. When the morning came, Gon opened the door to the same lady who took care of Sophia and Isabel before. She had taken care of them several times before when Gon and Senji needed a baby sitter, and the lady had three children of her own so they played all the time with each other. Gon told the girls he would be back as soon as possible but they needed to know he had to go. Sophia said she knew and hugged her father hard when he had gone down on one knee. Isabel hugged him tight as well but had trouble with understanding but still had the courage to let go of his hand as he pulled it towards him but she silently sobbed. Gon thanked the woman and her husband for taking care of his daughters and told the girls he would be back soon.
As he left the Heiwan, he waved to the girls who waved back but Isabel tried to run to him and her sister grabbed and hugged her. Gon walked the way past the cemetery and had brought with him an elixir containing a mixture of herbs that he had made for her, and at her grave, he poured them over it. He told her he loved her and she would be avenged, and when he came back, he would see her again every day. As he took off and walked the road that would take him one month to walk until he would reach the land of Darcolia, he heard the sounds of horses. He looked at the direction of the noise and saw the high officer Hillmer and his own soldiers returning. Hillmer stopped and told Gon they were able to kill another two and were looking for the last one. He took off, and Gon put his cloak on and walked away.
A Brief Trip to the Land of Domoro
Sometime before the Heiwan village was attacked, something else took place. Jay was at the entrance to the city surrounding the castle of Grasoll, looking at the carriages coming into the castle and checking for anything that might cause harm to the kingdom. He also helped with the inspection of the goods destined to the castle. It was terribly boring, and he was happy when he got interrupted by another guard that said he was requested in the tactics room. Jay left the rest to the soldier that had come to relieve him of the duties. He arrived at the castle and got shown in to the army tactics room.
Kemi was there looking at the maps and told one of the guards to find one of her advisers. Jay came up to the table, and she welcomed him to take part in the meeting. She started immediately telling him about the advances of Arobe’s army. He heard her say that since she would perhaps need help in the future, she must secure a meeting with Queen Lisaro of Domoro land. Jay listened and wondered what he was needed for. She told him she was not able to travel to the Domoro kingdom and was needed in the castle since her father was ill. She said Jay must go in her place and represent the Grasoll kingdom’s wishes.
Jay had never been there and wondered how many men he would take to the distant kingdom. Kemi said he must go alone because there was so much tension in the land, and it was possible that if they sent too big of a group, it might cause some more trouble. The other lands’ owners might become anxious, and they could lose their support. Kemi had no intention to start something that was not necessary and would work against her in the war to come. Jay would have to go alone all the way to the kingdom and meet with Queen Lisaro then present her with a signed paper from Kemi.
Jay was glad to have been given this task and would have to ride towards the Domoro Land already the next day. He received the papers and began to prepare for the trip. He got a map from the captain of the army, and on it were markings for short cuts and where bandits were at times. Jay walked home to his house and left all his equipment and then went to the market to pick up some of the things he would need on this trip. He picked up some food and a tent that he got for free and the castle would pay for. He went home after stopping at a small street food vendor and started to pack his things. He brought some food but also money to had on the road that he got from one of Kemi’s treasurer.
Everything was finally done, and he would have to get some sleep before the trip and tried to relax, but it was hard and his mind started to wonder about the mission ahead. Would he meet bandits or had to flee from soldiers that had come to make trouble. The road would be long but there were paths that would be faster. If he had to pass through the mountain, it would be a harder trip but shorter. However, according to some sources, the Darcolian soldiers had been spotted close to the border with Domoro. With such risk, he seriously thought about taking another route that brought him around the mountain. It might be longer but it was less likely to have any incidents, he thought.
The night did end and he eventually fell asleep thinking about the road ahead. When he woke up, he walked out to get his horse ready and had made sure it had been fed well. After everything was set, he started to move towards the gate that stood wide open for him. He could possibly go past Senji and Gon on the way since he hadn’t seen them for a while, he thought. He did so and arrived to the small village of outside of the kingdom soon where he met Gon. He was about to pick up some mushrooms from a seller that came to Heiwan village once a week. Gon said that he was planning a big cake for one of the elderly who had a birthday coming up. Gon brought Jay to the house and gave hi
m a nice breakfast. Jay had missed Gon’s food and ate a lot of it even he thought it might be a mistake since he won’t be able to move anymore. He was surprised by Sophia who had sneaked up on Jay from behind. He was happy to see her and she gave him a big hug. Senji was not far behind with Isabel who also gave Jay a hug.
They all enjoyed a nice breakfast, and Jay told about the mission while the girls played in the other room. Gon had certainly seen the decrease of merchants that were coming past Heiwan and understood it was because of the possible war that everyone seemed to believe was happening. Senji asked Jay to be careful and gave him a hug before he took off. Gon walked with him for a while and they talked about things that were going to happen. Jay finally revealed he was the one responsible for Theran’s death and told Gon to keep it to himself. Gon knew it might make him a target but believed Jay would be able to fight anyone. Gon promised to keep the secret then said good bye at the edge of the village. Jay promised to bring him and Senji a gift from the Domoro Land.
The adventure began, and Jay was excited to be going somewhere new. The road went on for several hours in the direction he was going, and he remembered he had been in the village he was coming to once before. It was a mission where a tradesman was smuggling mixes of potions from the village. The potions were used to clear off unwanted trees fast by making them die and then digging for minerals. They had caught the man responsible but he had taken his own life and never revealed who was making the potions. It annoyed him not to know but as long as the trees were left alone, he didn’t really care. It would take him a half day to reach the village and he needed to be undercover since it was supposed to be secret that he was meeting Queen Lisaro.
World of Taroo Page 27