by Tina Lee
“They are gone?” I knew this, I just didn’t want to act like I cared. So my suspicion was right. They have left the camp. And they aren’t back yet, so that meant they have gone beyond the Forest of Light.
“So, I was bouncing on his cock and he was moaning and begging—”
“Just skip to the part about Leo and Dante.”
“Okay. Okay. So while I was sucking— I persuaded him to tell me more about what was going on. Turns out, Leo and Dante headed West, alone. They never said what they were going to do, but he believes they are going to join with the west.”
“The West?! Those people are savages!”
“Keep your voice down.”
“The pack was depleted after the war. Our enemy had way more warriors than anyone could predict, and there could only be one reason for that; someone was helping them and giving them fighters. He believes it was the Red Moon in the east. Only they could have the resources to supply our enemy.”
“We destroyed the enemy, right?”
“But everyone is watching now that we are weaker. We may have more enemies now than ever before. And a leader who looks weak isn’t doing us any good.”
“He’s not weak!” I barked.
“I’m just repeating what I heard.”
This was not good. Now I was more worried for both of them than ever before. I kept telling myself not to think of them but I realized that it was futile. I cared for the both of them. That was something I could not change. I gave up the battle within me and accepted it. I loved Leo and Dante.
Ben returned with a bowl of hot stew. A little too late, for my appetite was gone.
Chapter Nine
Leo
Horns blew as we approached the gates of the west, a signal for us to stop. It was not like a king to show up unannounced, but Dante and I decided it was best we moved without anyone knowing our actions. The last time I saw King Agnor was when I was a teenager. A good friend of my father.
“You there! Stop where you are!” Guards leaped from the high walls with spears in their hands.
“Be careful with that,” Dante warned them.
“Let me do the talking,” I said to him.
“What business do you have here?” The biggest of the four guards asked.
“I wish to see the king.”
The guards chuckled. “I suggest you turn around and go on your way.”
I could sense Dante tensing, “how dare they mock us.”
“Calm down,” I told Dante. I walked towards the guards and immediately they got into battle formation. “I’m afraid you’re wasting time that I do not have. Let me through this gate.” I was close enough. They didn’t know who I was, but they knew what blood ran through my veins. They could see the blue in my eyes and knew what name it belonged to.
The guards’ eyes widened as they came to realization that they had just insulted a Lukas. The biggest of the guard whistled to the guard on top of the wall and shouted “Open the gate!” He then turned to me, “forgive us, we—”
I stopped him. “It’s alright. Just take me to your king.”
“Right this way.”
The kingdom had developed since I last came here. The streets were bustling with salesmen, vendors, shoppers, performers and prostitutes. This certainly wasn’t the struggling kingdom I visited with my father. I remembered seeing starving children sitting in the street with empty eyes, gazing into nothing. Dirt roads and half developed buildings.
Can anyone really call the west savages anymore? From the looks of things, they were far from it. A civilized state reflecting prosperity.
“When did this all happen?” Dante whispered to me as we walked through the crowd, following one of the guards.
“Your guess is as good as mine.”
An old woman caught a glimpse of my eyes and tugged the sleeve of the man beside her, pointing at me. Sometimes I wished I could conceal my eyes and take away the attention it gave me. When they look into my eyes, they saw a legacy. They didn’t see me.
The savages were not known for lavish lives and beautiful architecture, and yet, before me, the king’s castle was as beautiful as they come. Very modern, not old and painted with history like ours.
We stepped into the halls of all things luxurious, and what surprised us the most were the huge paintings that hung on the wall. Paintings were common things, but it was not known to us that the people of the West cared for paintings, or even more surprising, they had the capacity for deeper thinking.
Big heavy doors opened and revealed a large table with two wine glasses placed beside each other and a bottle of wine in front of it. He was briefed on our arrival. It seemed news traveled fast.
“I can’t believe it,” King Agnor walked in. “Leo and Dante all grown up. Reminds me how old I’m getting.” He made a wheezing laugh and hugged us both. “Sit. I know you must be tired.”
“No, we don’t tire so easily,” Dante said.
“Wine?” King Agnor offered.
“Sure,” I said.
“When one of my men told me that a Lukas was at our gates, I thought he was drinkin’ some goat piss.” He burst out laughing then wheezing.
“Two Lukas were at your gate,” Dante said.
“My men don’t know any better. They only recognize blues eyes with being a Lukas.”
“I’m not here to discuss eye color,” I intervened.
“Ah yes.” He poured us glasses of wine.
“Men of the West drinking wine is certainly strange,” Dante said.
“I do admit our people never really had a taste for wine like you Northerners, but I’m growing a liking for it.”
“You like it because now you can afford it.”
“I guess that has a part to play.”
“And how exactly do you afford all these things, King Agnor?”
“Do you know where you are? You’re in the West, in my kingdom. I don’t answer to you, Dante, nor anyone else.”
“I don’t care about how much coins you have. That is not what I’m here to talk about,” I intervened again.
“And what exactly are you here to talk about?”
“The East; Your enemies and our enemies.”
“And what of the East?”
“They’re growing in numbers. I suspect that they will try to attack us again, this time, right in the heart of our city.”
“Ah, and your pack is weak.”
“Our pack is never weak. We just don’t have the numbers,” Dante said.
“That’s what I call weak, Dante. So, you want me to supply you with men.”
“The North and West has always been great allies—”
“Leo, since the day your father died and made you king, have ever stepped foot into the West? No. You are only here because you want something. The West and your father were allies. Not you.”
A brief silence fell between us. He continued, “I won’t hold it against you, but let this be a lesson, Leo; as King, one always protect the relationship of its allies.”
“So you will join us?” I asked.
“Your father was a good king, yes we all knew that, but he was more. He was a good friend.” He gulped down his wine. “You ask a lot of me. The East has left us alone for a long time. If we join you, then it’s back to the days when we had to be constantly looking over our walls.”
“We are stronger together.”
“Give me a day to think about it. Stay, drink, eat, we have plenty beautiful women to fuck. Tomorrow I will give you my decision.”
“Very well,” I said. I knew Dante wanted to say something but he smartly kept his mouth shut. Something that was very rare of him.
Vendors were replaced with more prostitutes as the night fell upon the noisy city. Drunk men staggering in the streets whistled at barely clothed women who turned their heads. The cost of their love was too much for the excited men so the women took their business elsewhere. Chanting and singing could be heard from the packed bars and loud moans of women faking
their pleasure echoed through the alleys.
Dante was somewhere, probably with a woman, I assume. He had a taste for all types of women.
A man crashed through the windows of the bar while other men cheered. A crowd quickly grew as the two men battled in the middle of the street. Other men used it as an opportunity to gamble on the winner. As the night grew darker, the more they returned to their savage ways. You can give savages money, but you can’t change who they are inside.
I wanted to leave this place, go back to the base, see her, and kiss her again. I shouldn’t have these thoughts, not as a King, not as someone who was expected to have a pure son. A human should have no such relation to a king. Who made these rules? And who said that I had to follow them?
She was the only one I thought of while I walked the street. A part of me believed that this was always intended from the moment my father introduced us. Why would my father introduce me to a beautiful human if he didn’t intend for something to happen. He took her in our house, fed her, cared for her. Why? There were thousands of other humans working in our city. He must have seen something special in her.
She was different. She saw what I wanted to achieve. She understood why I did everything I did, and the dream I have for the North.
I felt sorry for the son who will have to rule after me. To be born into a life of great expectations. To be boxed in a set of rules and a narrow way of life. I think of traveling south, into the famous Chiang Jungle, where I heard there were tigers as big as men. I would like to see for myself. On top of the holy mountain, is a man rumored to be the wisest man alive, there was no question that he couldn’t answer. It is said he had lived many lives, and while he may change body, he certainly cannot die. I want to speak with this man.
To be confined to a kingdom go against what it means to be free. I then realized that a King fights for freedom that he himself do not have. He is a ruler, but most importantly, he is a face. A face that needs to be present, worshiped and feared. All things that I could care less about.
There was a certain peace in walking the street and nobody knowing who I was. Nobody bowing, screaming my name or touching my robe as if it were holy cloth. The invisibility was something I could get used to. It reminded me of who I truly was, a mortal, who bleed, and who will one day die.
King Agnor was definitely up to something. How he got his gold was not my concern. I was only concerned about protecting my people from who may come to tear down our walls. For peace to last, there must be a clear message sent through all the lands. A message that the North will destroy all who threatens its way of life. Once we set an example, and proved ourselves true to our word, then we must negotiate. The North will compromise with all who want to compromise. All the lands will see that the North is fair and just, but will annihilate all who cross us.
Basking in the feeling of an ordinary life, I decided to stop at a bar and drink a beer. The bartender took my money then looked at me. “You from the North, eh?” He wiped my coin and examined it. “What brings you to the West?”
“Just business.”
“Yeah, men from all walks of life now come to the West for business. Never seen a Northerner though. Not since Demetri Lukas. Hey, you got anything from the North on ya? I’ll buy it. My wife, she collect these things.”
I checked my pockets, “I don’t believe I have—oh, you can have this.” I showed him a pocket watch with North’s emblem engraved.
“No, er, that looks a bit too pricey for me.”
“No charge. You can have it.”
“You sure?”
“I hope your wife likes it.”
“This, for free? What kind of businessman are you?” He laughed, took my glass and refilled it. “Free beer for you all night, my friend.”
“That was nice what you did.” A soft seductive voice said. She took a seat beside me and took a gulp of my beer.
“If you wanted a beer, I could have gotten you one.”
“No, I’d rather yours.”
I didn’t know the science behind the instinct of men, but my eyes were transfixed on her full and lovely breasts. She was definitely a prostitute. One of the more expensive ones. Soft eyes, long hair, full lips. I couldn’t deny that she was pretty.
“I like your accent. I’ve never been with a Northern man but I’ve heard good things. I heard you are all strong and know how to please a woman. Is that true?”
“That is true. We Northern men take great pride in that.”
She giggled. “Then why don’t you come to my room and show me what Northern men can do.” The softness of her voice was serenading, testing my will. She took out her breasts and squeezed. “You can do anything you want with me, free of charge”
“I’m sorry. I’m only here for business.”
“Oh, you have a lady back home, is that it?”
“Sort of.”
“I promise I will do things to you that your lady hasn’t even heard of.”
“You’re a pretty woman, but I can’t.”
She took another drink of my beer. “Too bad,” then walked away.
I watched as she left, bosoms shaking from left to right, attracting the attention of tipsy whistling men.
The bartender took my glass and refilled it. “She offered to fuck free of charge and said no. Seriously, what kind of businessman are you?”
“A bad one, it seems.” We both laughed.
Chapter Ten
Dante
I was awoken by groans and shuffling of arms and legs. I quickly sprung from the bed only to realize it was two whores from the night before. What was even stranger was that they were clothed. Two women slept in my bed and I did nothing. This was the behavior of a weakling.
Just how much did I drink last night? I slapped their legs and they responded by laughing. “What is it, baby? You ready to get it on?”
“Leave.”
They arched their backs, revealing everything under their skirts. “Come on, it’s all wet and ready for you.”
“I said leave!” I threw some coins at them and pointed at the door.
“Okay. Okay. Fine. I thought you Northern men were nice.” They took their time exiting, twisting their faces and rolling their eyes.
I couldn’t do it. I had two sexy women in my bed and I couldn’t do it. What is wrong with me? This was not like me.
First signs of the sunrise lit the street outside. Vendors all carrying their goods on the back and setting up shop. The whores have all gone after a long nights work. The city was ready for another day.
There was a knock on the door. “I said go away!”
“It’s Leo.”
I opened the door. “You’re up early.”
“I didn’t get much sleep.”
“Stop worrying over nothing. Agnor owed our father, he has to join us.”
“You’re right. Refusing to help us would be spitting in our faces.”
“And any kingdom who isn’t a friend of the North is our enemy. Do you agree, my brother?”
“Yes.”
“This new riches. It doesn’t seem strange to you?” I asked
“Of course. Something is definitely up.”
“And you trust him?”
“I don’t. But we need his men. Don’t you agree?”
“If it were up to me, I’d walk out that door. That fucking savage must be laughing behind our backs, stroking his cock on the thought of the North begging for help. He loves this.”
“And you think I want to be here. Sometimes you just have to swallow your pride,” Leo said
“I don’t believe in that. I’d rather die with my pride. No one can take that away from me.”
“That’s where we are different, brother. I can see beyond the illusion of pride. The only thing it does is control you. It can make you do great good or great evil.”
“And that’s we’re different. I accept both good and evil. For they are both sides of the same coin. Your illusion of peace will be shown for what it real
ly is, and when that time comes, you will fall, and I will have to fix all of your mistakes. There is no reasoning with the enemies. They lack the ability to reason.”
“Well, until that times come, we do things my way.”
“You know they lack faith in you, right? The way how you lead, it isn’t what our father would want.”
“I am not my father.” Leo walked up to me. “Now, we should get breakfast.”
“Don’t you worry that your own men will turn against you?”
“That would be treason, then I would have to kill them.” Leo opened the door. “You coming?”
“Yeah.”
***
The taste of her lips entered my mind. I wondered what she was doing, probably practicing with her bow and arrow. She had really grown a liking for it. She was a fast learner, and if she wasn’t a woman, she could have been a good warrior. She was a feisty one, and I liked feisty. I liked a woman that could fight back. A woman that understood what it means to kill.
In the woods, by the river of light, that was where I would rather be. With her, talking about her human problems while forgetting my beastly ones. I liked her hair, it was as dark as mine. After growing up in a home where everyone’s blond hair is glorified, it was nice to connect with someone like me. Someone that understood what it felt to be treated like an inferior. That was a bond that no one could break.
“Please don’t,” an old man cried.
Men with tribal markings on their forehead circle the old man and his small shop. I had never seen anything more pathetic.
“Pay up before I break every bone in your body.”
“This week was slow. Next week. I swear on my dead wife.”
“I don’t give a fuck about your dead wife!”
“I don’t have any money!” he cried.
“Then I’m going to have to remind you what happens when you are late.”
“That man said next week,” I said.
A bald head man with three circles tattooed on his forehead turned to me, “Fuck off and mind your own business.”
Before he could raise his arm to hit the old man, I dashed between them, his fist landing on my jaws. I tasted blood in my mouth, a taste that got me very excited. I didn’t have to shift to take down all these men. I was faster and stronger than they will ever be. It was my time to inflict pain, and I would enjoy this, it had been a dull past week.