Legacy of Dreams: Freedom

by Thomas J. L. Green

  Luna just stared, overwhelmed.

  There were thousands of them.

  7

  Luna

  “Ouch!” Luna shouted as Nibbles bit her in the ear.

  “I will give you a bite you little shit!” Luna caught him and opened her mouth. She froze. Raven was sagged by the wall in a pool of blood; the stone was cracked behind him.

  “Raven?” she let the rat go and leaped out of her bed, she rushed to him. “Wake up you idiot!” she shouted as she got to him. But he didn’t move. Panic flooded her veins.

  Shit! Shit! Shit! Shit! Shit!

  She grabbed him by the shoulders and lifted him up. Luna went on to drag him slowly, through the compound, cursing at every step. She didn’t know how to hold him to not further hurt him.

  Shit! Shit! Shit! Shit! Shit!

  She dragged him up the stairs as fast as she could.

  Sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry… She thought every time he bumped against a stair.

  Why am I so small?

  She dragged him all the way to the healers quarters, kicking the door open without even checking if its locked or not. It was empty. She went on to drag Raven through the healers quarters, kicking open one door after another.

  “Is someone there?” a sleepy voice sounded from within the place.

  Please don’t be Samantha. Luna wished as she shouted “Help! Come here and help!”.

  Samantha rushed in, dressed in what appeared to be a nightgown.

  “Oh my God, what happened to you,” she gawked at the blood covered Luna.

  “Not me! HIM!” she shouted back. Samantha turned pale as she saw Raven.

  Together they dragged him to her office, she instantly poured over him a strange-colored liquid and started working her magic.

  Luna just sat there, petrified.

  Who the hell beats Raven to a pulp without waking me up and then waltzes off like nothing happened? Why?

  She didn’t know. No, she did know. It was because of her. It was always because of her. She broke down into tears, holding Raven by the hand.

  “Will he be alright?” she pleaded Samantha.

  “I don’t know. He lost a lot of blood, his spine and most ribs are broken, his skull is almost smashed. Good that it’s so thick,” she answered without stopping her magic.

  I am so sorry, Raven, so sorry. Please don’t die on me. Please…

  Samantha worked steadily long past the morning. Luna just sat there.

  Useless! Useless! Useless! Useless! Useless! Useless! Useless! Useless! Useless! The word echoed through her head. She couldn’t wake up to help him fight; she couldn’t carry him here quickly, she couldn’t help him heal. She couldn’t do anything. And it was her fault. She didn’t know how or why, but she just knew it was.

  Samantha finally sat down and breathed out. Visibly exhausted.

  “Is he going to be alright?” Luna begged.

  “Likely, I have seen him get out of worse wounds” explained Samantha softly.

  “I will go make some ointments and tea,” Samantha raised up again after a short break.

  “Is there any way I can help?” Luna asked.

  “Stay here with him. He needs a friend more than anything,” she smiled. Luna had no answer and just held his hand tightly.

  “Sorry, didn’t want to make you worry,” Raven smiled at her as he woke up.

  “IDIOT!” Luna wept as she leaped on him to hug him.

  “ARGH!” Raven groaned as she did, pain shooting through his body.

  Not again! Sorry Raven, I’m really bad at this.

  “Sorry, I’m still a little weak,” he apologized.

  Luna wanted to smack him but stopped herself.

  Idiot…

  They spent the morning there. Luna helped Samantha wash his blood off and put healing ointments on the wounds. Raven kept protesting he’s fine, but he had no real chance against both of them. When he insisted that he wants to go back to the cell, Samantha kept refusing him, insisting that he isn’t going anywhere else than to another bed. Luna went to get one for him. It didn’t take long to find an unused room and borrow a bed from it. She snarled away anyone trying to help her.

  At least this much I can do for him.

  She figured as she dragged the bed all the way through the compound. After arranging it inside their cell, she went on to wash off the blood from the wall and ground.

  “Sorry about yesterday,” she apologized to Nibbles. He squeaked as if in agreement.

  This rat is too smart.

  As she went to make her bed and finally change herself from the bloodied nightgown, she noticed something black within her bed, hidden under the featherbed.

  There was a long black wooden case, decorated with carvings with a red ribbon over it. She opened it curiously. She gasped at the content, inside was sheathed a long thin double-edged sword, completely black with runes carved all across its blade. She lifted it up; amazed how it weighed almost nothing. Under it was a note with text scribbled on it.

  “If he tries something on you, stab him with it. James.”

  Her eyes filled with water.

  He remembered. She remembered too.

  Today it’s exactly eleven years since she first met James.

  She used to refer to this date as her birthday. As her memory flared up, she went to examine the sword more closely. The runes were ancient; metal was unlike any she had ever seen. Some strange leather wrapped the hilt. She couldn’t assign it to any creature or animal she knew. At the cross-guard, she found a small symbol of rose. She knew this sword. It used to hang on the wall of James’ house.

  She stared at the blade for a long while, digging through her memory.

  “I want that one,” little Luna pointed at the thin black sword hanging on the wall.

  “You are not ready for it, Lunariel, I’ve told you hundred times already,” James breathed, exasperated.

  “I don’t like that name! Give me another!”

  James ignored her.

  “Sounds lame! Everyone will laugh at me!” Luna protested.

  “I don’t remember anyone laughing at me,” James grinned.

  Luna paused.

  “That’s even more, reasons why I can’t have it; I am not of your blood and nothing like you! There is no way anyone would ever believe it.”

  “That is not for you to decide. One day I shall pass the sword of our bloodline to you anyway. If it accepts you, you are worthy of bearing the house Laen’Ash and shall carry it with you wherever the road takes you.”

  “What if it doesn’t? What road?” Luna probed.

  “The road of your life. If it doesn’t accept you, you will die and I will take it back,” James smiled.

  “I don’t want it! I’m not walking on some stupid road!”

  “You are not ready anyway,” concluded James and then kicked her in the chest so hard her body almost shattered when she hit the tree behind her.

  “Time to get back to training,” James grinned.

  As the memory flashed through her head. Luna knew.

  Thank you, James, for everything.

  Luna turned the blade around and ran it through her own heart.

  8

  Iowen

  “What’s the plan for the city?” Iowen asked carefully when she saw the walls of Crimson Gates in front of them.

  “There is a reception of Marquis Gorash tonight, we shall attend it,” Lucas revealed.

  “Marquis? I need more clothes and jewelry for that!” Iowen breathed.

  “Enjoy,” Lucas replied as he tossed her a large pouch full of gems.

  “Why does everyone seem to recognize you?” Iowen shot after putting the pouch into a pocket. They just passed the gates and, once again, nobody asked questions. The soldiers just nodded at Lucas.

  “I’ve been here before,” Lucas replied.

  “Just like everywhere else we’ve been, haven’t you? By the way, why is the Palai soldier’s instructor pointing at you while sayin
g something to the fresh recruits?” Iowen pressed on when seeing the attention they had gathered.

  “Well, we do look suspicious… black armors and all,” Lucas retorted.

  I have blue skin, red eyes, white hair and indigo lips. But sure, it’s the armor.

  “I used to think that. But no, no Palai soldier ever pointed at me when you weren’t around,” Iowen evaluated. “Who the hell are you, Lucas? You say you are an agent, your skills scream assassin… yet you are more famous than anyone I had ever met. It doesn’t add up,” Iowen added.

  “I said I’m an agent, not a secret agent,” Lucas smiled back.

  “Agents aren’t supposed to be more famous than a city lord. Yet the very lord needs to constantly display his status to be recognized. You wear a thousand times patched tunic, traveling cloak so tattered one could consider you a beggar… yet everyone seems to know who you are. Everyone other than me, of course,” Iowen cut back sharply.

  Lucas just smiled.

  “I need to proceed with that shopping. Have fun,” Iowen concluded and headed off into the town.

  “Excuse me, officer, would you happen to have a moment?” Iowen smiled sweetly at the Palai soldier she caught off alone.

  “Sure, ma’am, what can I do for you?”

  “You saw me come into the city with a man. Can you tell me how do you know him?” Iowen made the sweetest smile she could.

  “I woudn’t say I know him, ma’am.”

  “But you did tell something to the recruits you were training… I have traveled with the man for quite a while and he really doesn’t talk much about himself.”

  The soldier chuckled.

  “Well… I don’t know any details, just the general story. That’s agent Lucas. He shows up ever so often. When he shows up and things are good, they stay good. But when they are bad, they get better. It’s always good to see him around,” the soldier explained.

  “You are surprisingly open in talking about this… I expected to get some evasive answers,” Iowen breathed.

  “It’s general Palai folklore. Every soldier knows it. Almost every soldier has met agent Lucas and passed it around. It’s been like that since the times of my grandfather.”

  “Your grandfather?” Iowen tried to hide her surprise. She figured Lucas wasn’t young, but this was suspicious.

  “Well, he always used to tell me a story of a wyvern attacking the city because soldiers burned down its nest. The story ends with a man named Lucas stabbing it to death with a spear. It was when he decided to join the Palai Order. Not that we get to kill any wyverns since the city has anti-wyvern ballistae ever since.”

  “How long ago was this?”

  “About eighty years, ma’am.”

  “Are you sure it was the same agent Lucas?”

  “No ma’am. There are many rumors about it. One says that the name is just a placeholder for whoever is in that position. Others say it is a divine spirit that comes around when the Order needs help. Some even say it is the human disguise of Palai himself. One thing we know is that the name agent Lucas goes as far into history as everyone from the Order remembers.”

  “Thank you.”

  “How old are you?” Iowen shot at Lucas as soon as she got back from shopping.

  “Where does that come from?”

  “I heard you killed a wyvern in the city… eighty fucking years ago!”

  Lucas chuckled, “I am afraid I cannot confirm or deny any of these allegations.”

  “Oh come on? What are you really?”

  “Sorry, Iowen, there are things I just do not tell others.”

  Iowen knew she isn’t getting the answer from his adamant expression and dry tone.

  “Whatever. I will go get ready,” she snarled and went to the bathroom.

  “So… do you like thi… wha?” Iowen asked softly once she was done dressing up and walked out of the bathroom. Lucas was dressed in a suit that looked like it was woven of gold. Gold and rubies. The light of fire made the suit glisten in an unreal manner. Iowen just stared, breathlessly.

  King! That’s how I always imagined kings should look like.

  Lucas gave Iowen an evaluating look. She donned a bright red dress that was so revealing a whore wouldn’t wear it.

  “Where is the other half of the dress?” Lucas made a troubled face.

  “You look too sweet when you are embarrassed,” Iowen purred as she recomposed herself.

  “Ah well, guess we should get going,” Lucas smiled.

  “Wait… I… thank you,” Iowen stopped him.

  “Hmm…?”

  “It’s awkward… I don’t know how to put it… but thank you. I mean, you are a sadistic asshole and I wanna claw your eyes out… but you are also the first person to treat me like I wasn’t weird,” Iowen spoke softly. It was uncomfortable, but she felt like she needed to say it. Lucas waited patiently to let her form her words.

  “They… called me a monster for as long as I remember. Demon, witch, monster, devil… I have been called that for hundreds of times. You... you treat me like a human. In your own twisted way, but still… thank you… thank you for making me feel like I am worth something,” Iowen added weakly.

  “It’s alright,” Lucas smiled warmly.

  “That’s not it… just…” Iowen stepped to Lucas and hugged him tightly. He grabbed her firmly in his grasp.

  “I am pretty sure the reception is that way,” Iowen observed carefully as she realized they aren’t going there.

  “It’s too early for that. Got a meeting first.”

  “With who?”

  “You will see.”

  They soon arrived at the Palai barracks.

  “Yo!” Lucas greeted the men at guard. They smirked, one went inside and the other opened the gate for them. They advanced to the stone building.

  “I see you went for the inconspicuous look,” a womanly voice remarked. Iowen gaped at the woman that now stood next to her. She was well over seven feet tall, clad in heavy plate mail armor, had a pretty clean face with pale eyes and semi-short auburn hair. I have mixed feelings in here… on one hand, she is seriously attractive, on the other hand, she is really fucking tall and the armor makes her look huge.

  “You know I’m always ready for a quiet evening. Iowen meet Merewen. Merewen meet Iowen,” he introduced them.

  “Pleasure to meet you,” Iowen said awkwardly. Merewen was terrifying. It felt like she could crush Iowen’s skull in her palm.

  “Is everyone around?”

  “Yeah. You are last… as usual,” Merewen confirmed.

  “Good,” Lucas smirked.

  “Gonna go get Nash,” Merewen remarked as they entered the barracks and went upstairs.

  One of the soldiers dressed in leather armor came to them. “Look who’s come… the main star has arrived,” he smiled.

  “Iowen, Elias,” Lucas made the obligatory introduction.

  The man had short blond hair, a well-trimmed beard and sapphire blue eyes.

  “Hello, beautiful, my name is Elias la Grace,” he smiled at Iowen.

  “Iowen, pleased to meet you sir,” replied Iowen shyly, having absolutely no idea what the hell is with all these people.

  Why are they all so casual?

  “Looks like Lucas hasn’t told you much about himself before shagging you,” a woman smiled from the door. Dressed in dark leathers, with long bright red hair and astonishingly captivating shining green eyes. She seemed young. Too young. The rest looked to be the typical unidentifiable thirty to fifty… Iowen would swear the girl cannot be eighteen.

  “Miranda?” Lucas smiled at her.

  “Sounds like you speak from experience,” Iowen smiled back poisonously. “Tell me, did Lucas steal your virginity before you realized you have it?” Iowen continued.

  “Typical Lucas, picking a whore with the biggest mouth he could find,” the girl retorted as she prowled forward to stand in front of Iowen and Elias.

  “Didn’t know Lucas had his own assigned bed w
armer, I guess the Order offers all types of services to its men,” Iowen continued unfazed.

  Iowen stop, they will have you burned for this.

  “Lucas has always known where to find the worst bitch… hasn’t he?” the girl inquired.

  “Don’t worry; he will get back to shagging kids eventually,” Iowen returned.

  “How about we all have a cup of wine and do something more pleasant than this battle for the queen of the hill,” Elias offered, trying to calm them both down.

  “Shut up!” was the synchronous answer from both of them and Iowen detached from embrace to stand straight in front of the girl. Elias sighed and went to sit next to Lucas who was sitting comfortably by the side of the room.

  “Seriously… Lucas, are you that tired of doing it yourself that you went for her? I mean really, you could have just picked a random whore from a local brothel and do better,” Miranda didn’t let up.

  “You would sound a lot more threatening if you didn’t have milk running down your chin. Have you ever even kissed anyone?”

  “That’s all you whores do, isn’t it?”

  “Would you like me to show you? Maybe you will learn something,” Iowen softly whispered straight in front of the girls face.

  The girl kept Iowen’s stare and stood firm in front of her.

  “Do I really look like I am someone at your level? The best you will get from me is a bowl of water,” Miranda shot back.

  “Sounds like someone got scared. Are you all Palai bitches such cowards that you run even from a kiss?” Iowen stabbed.

  The girl snarled.

  Got you, girl.

  “Do I look like I’m running?” refused the girl as she poised her face millimeters away from Iowen’s.

  “You should,” Iowen smiled as she slowly grabbed her face and kissed her.

  The girl jumped back in almost an instant, drawing a sickle with her right hand. Just from touching Iowen’s icy lips, her mouth was shredded and her tongue was bleeding.

  Iowen roared in victorious laughter.

  “You fucking bitch!” the girl swore.

  “You don’t taste bad, girl, but you don’t seem to be ready to play with adults just yet,” Iowen gloated.