A Crimson Tale

by K. L. O Johnson

  “It’s okay. I don’t mind.” he says before scanning the valley below us. “Where do you think we should start?” The landscape before us is serene and peaceful. It is odd to see something so calming—I feel hesitant and jumpy as we stride through the forest. Turning over my shoulder every now and again, ensuring I won’t be snuck up on. I walk right into something hard and turn to see Lifet looking at me with concern.

  “Sorry.”

  “You’re safe.” he says as if thinking what I’m thinking, his tone is sincere. All those thoughts about him being my enemy vanished in that moment and I nod. I realized then that I can trust him. We wonder through the forest for some time before we stop behind a large boulder to see a Snow Panther. That will be able to feed us for four days if we were generous with the game. The panther’s head picks up as if it senses our presence.

  Lifet and I drop behind a boulder. He hands me something. Tubit leaves. They were and still are used to conceal Zylarian scents. I nod and take it, rubbing it into my scales. Lifet does the same with his exposed parts. By the time we glance over the boulder the panther is gone, leaving behind a dead carcass behind, I realize that it’s a Wildebeest. How a large winter animal; similar to a boar on Earth—minus the tusks and snout. As if on impulse Lifet and I move from the boulder and towards the carcass, the smell didn’t bother us. We were used to it.

  I point to the distant frozen foliage. “There.” I say. “It went that way.”

  Lifet nods and we follow the paw prints of the Snow Panther. The panther we captured is, now, being skinned before Varden who intentionally shrinks at the sight of it, his lips gouge up in disgust as his blue eyes were watching us work—unable to pull away his eyes. “You don’t have to watch.” I say. He doesn’t turn to me nor away.

  “It’s hard not to.” he comments. I stop what I’m doing and so does Lifet. We turn to him.

  “Maybe Altair could use your help.” I suggest and he nods and stands striding over to Altair who remains in the same place in the same position as I had left him previously. He is an odd man, I’ll give him that much but Varden is someone who doesn’t have a strong stomach. I almost feel sorry for him, people so compassionate have no place in a world like this. I know that I’m one of them but I had to shield my heart in steel. Ensuring I cannot just survive physically but mentally and emotionally.

  The thought of my mental and emotional state will have to be assessed when I return to Nephelia. No doubt they’ll keep me in an isolated room for a whole week—monitoring me for change in brainwave frequency. Depending on my results they’ll probably increase my concentration of my medication. The ones I often use to help me battle my traumatic heart and mind. What I wouldn’t have given to be at home watching over children but then again, I don’t know what I would do without the outlet.

  People may think of me as crazy but when you see a darker side of life that I don’t often want to recount. Sometimes your mind is smart enough to block out the traumatic things. Explaining why when I was younger—teenage years. I couldn’t remember much prior to my twenty first birthday. I could remember what school, university, degrees and aspirations but people, places and things that gave me my ability to wield any weapon came up blank.

  I honestly questioned whether I was sane or not because I would have these crazy dreams, of crossfire, explosions, screams and gunfire. That wasn’t even the surface of it. I continue to skin the panther before I knew it we were on the road. The next town approaches us sooner than I can begin to announce. The boys, continue, to discuss topics which I have no interest in nor at the moment have the mental capacity to concentrate on. I demount my horse and walk over to where I see something rather peculiar stick up out of the ground. I slowly make my way towards it.

  “Kal, what’s wrong?” asks Altair and I ignore him—cautiously continue to approach and I stop. My jaw drops open.

  “Guys, you might want to come over and see this.” I suggest. I stare down at the sight before me shocked and surprised at the same time. Altair dismounts his horse and is by my side immediately.

  “What is it?” he asks and I point at the gorge below. A whole Grattican army appear to be marching towards the next down, I glance down the hill. I zoom in—spying several Grattican troops and Midra government peacekeepers on patrol. I turn to Altair and I know he saw what I saw. The enemy, have grown impatient. When we reach the town, we had to disguise ourselves. I honestly didn’t like this because my hair and my mismatched eyes but luckily I get to wear a bandanna around my head. I just will have to keep my eyes down as I walk around in a gown, only made it more annoying.

  Varden walks beside me as we act casually as possible. We had to separate to avoid arousing suspicion. I knew they were looking for him. I knew they were looking for Varden; they either planned to kill him on the spot or hand him over to Golgotha who’ll probably force him into slavery over my dead body will I let that happen.

  Several guards walk before us and glance down at me, instinctively Varden wraps his arm around me and pretends I’m shy which we both know I’m not. Still the guards don’t seem to notice us and I’m no longer wearing my heels which mimic that of dragon paws. When we were out of eye sight, Varden and I continued to scout out the city. All the Inns appear to have been taken by the soldiers. I glare at them and their men. “So, we’re sleeping in the woods tonight?” asks Varden and I can tell that the cold air is getting to him.

  We wouldn’t be in this town knowing that the enemy is stalking it’s streets but we need to supply especially with a new addition to the group.

  Lifet and Altair had to trade with the blacksmiths and healers, while Varden and I had to buy more food since we’ve already eaten the panther. It’s good that I can hunt but we may not see another panther for miles or birds. So we have to resupply. “Maybe…” I mutter deep in thought. A woman with long brown hair and winter shawl wrapped around her gown just like me as it wraps around her head.

  She appears to be collecting items knowing that it’s going to be expensive due to the inaccessibility of supplies. She glances at me and her eyes are wide. Her jaw drops as, I believe she may have recognized me. Several guards are not too far from us talking about our group and to keep an eye out for us. The woman turns from the guards and back to us her eyes are full of confusion and uncertainty. I bring my fingers to my lips and motion for her to keep silent.

  She glances at the guards and nods before going on her way with children trailing behind her. When I’m married, I’ll have to deal with that. I think as I eye the children trailing behind their hardworking mother. Varden and I continue to wonder through the markets picking out the food we can have there’s not much really to pick from, other than loaves of bread, oil, finely cut wood and potatoes. Varden holds open a bag as I pile in our items I had purchased and like that we make our way to the edge of town.

  It didn’t take long until Altair and Lifet manage to make their way with me, I can tell something’s past between them as Altair seems more confident while Lifet appears to be in a rather grumpy mood. I lift a brow at my fellow Assassin and he nods towards Altair with a fixed lip before turning away with annoyance across his face and I glare at Altair. “What?”

  I don’t say anything.

  “I don’t think we are welcome here.” comments Varden.

  “Of course not, they’re most likely after you.” states Lifet.

  “And what…I don’t know that?” Varden retorts and I glance over towards the east and estimate how much longer before we pass through the valley. I don’t like the rise of the hills and cliff sides. We’ll be prone to aerial strikes.

  “The Inns are full, too.” adds Altair and I nod. “What do you reckon we should do?” he asks me and I glance at where we had left our horses.

  “We leave, put as much distance between us and those men. I have a feeling we’ll have to be careful from here on out.” I move towards the horses. “That and I want to get out of this horrid attire. No wonder women in this period are vulnerab
le, there’s no way to defend yourself let alone run.” I mount my horse after I had placed the satchel Varden had so kindly carried for me in the travel pack on my horse and regard the boys who look at me oddly as they see I’m riding side saddle. Well the boys excluding, Altair.

  On Nephelia, noble women have to where fleecy dresses over their scales and headdresses and with that we are forced to ride side-saddle. Several other women of working, middle and lower class wear normal side slit skirts so they can run and fight should they be required to. Even our wardrobes are designed for combat. No surprise really. Altair is used to seeing women ride side saddle. “Well?” I ask Varden and Lifet as they glance at each other while Altair urges his horse beside me. They move to their horses and I wait until they’ve mounted and comfortable before leading the way.

  Dusk soon approaches and we’re forced to set up camp, leaving our horses not too far from us. Lifet leaves his white horse with my and Altair’s chestnuts and Varden golden-brown beauty. The fire burns before us keeping a flood of heat continuously flooding through the campsite where Altair and I at times had to add more wood to. We didn’t really need that much sleep since—we were built differently. It didn’t take us too long to arrive at the city of Midra, the large tall silver and golden sky towers scrape the sky gently and Varden gasps at it and I’m surprised. “You’ve never been to Midra?” I asked as we glanced from the hill.

  He shook his head.

  Currently, I eye the swarm of people around us and can’t help but feel almost claustrophobic but I try to not let it bother me all too much. Since after this large sea-side city is now surrounded by a frozen wasteland but when the snow melts it’s a city surrounded by a lush tropical rainforest where it sits on the edge of a cliff overlooking the ports that dock in and out cargo ships. I glance at Varden and see his eyes are darting around at the large gold and silver buildings and onyx stone streets where carriages and horses stroll along.

  Wondering through the busy streets of Midra caused alarms to ring in my mind. Something didn’t seem right—I glance over my shoulder. How can I be questioning that when I know that Golgotha will be sending the man with a dragon tattoo at the edge of the city where he waits for me to hand over the Prince, than what. I walk away with a broken promise, no thank you. Still I don’t know how to play this.

  I know then and there. I’m not handing him over. Solitude or not, he stays with me. It must have been sometime deep in thought. I hear Varden’s voice call me through the depths of my clustered mind. He’s staring at me with worry in his eyes. “Yes?” I ask unsure why everyone is staring at me. I’m no longer in my gown that I had to wear at that town—known as ‘Mykyra’.

  “Where does the ‘Central Palace’ reside?” he asks and I glance at the tallest silver tower surrounded by other towers and a grand silver wall. I nod in the direction behind him, he follows my gaze. “That place is either really big or we’re really close.”

  We’re not even close.

  “The Central Palace is in the center of the Inner Circle.” states Lifet not that I’m surprised, it’s his job to know. He leads the way, Varden follows and Altair does before he stops and turns to me.

  “Aren’t you coming?” he asks and I nod. Striding beside him, we make our way through the City towards the city center—the Inner Circle as they like to call it: the place where the majority of upper class patriots live. These people have had money dating back to the fourteen hundreds in Zylaria and that’s what gives them their ego. If they were to compare their linage with mine I would win without a doubt. Just like Earth, Zylaria has been made well after we were created. That’s when my line started.

  Passing the streets filled with people of different backgrounds and appearance, their hair is pulled back and falls down their backs emphasizing their high sharp cheekbones and plucky fashion of clothes. Dresses with tresses and satin curled in frills while they carry umbrellas in the same design—colors light, complementing the city’s variety in tone.

  Men are dressed in darker clothing their hair gelled back—no hair out of place. Their suits are pressed and wrinkleless. I have yet to come across a descent looking person, someone who doesn’t appear like a doll. They walk in pairs, never individually. It’s not bad but it’s not exactly surprising, that’s how they keep the eye on the criminals. The criminals in the city of Midra are not given any chance to redeem themselves as all crimes are investigated thoroughly three years before prosecution.

  Once sentenced guilty, their tongues and parts are cut off or out while the women are filled. They are then given community service with no way to release serotonin. This is both a blessing to the citizens and in my eyes a curse as they have just created more enemies of this world more treason against the Crown; more reason for an uprising. While the rich live comfortably and lively the poor are desperately trying to survive another day. On one hand at least they don’t have the Arena on Earth for criminals to die a bloody death against genetically altered super humans and animals.

  The world around me seemed to have changed from frozen and silent frost lands to warm and vibrant city centers. People brush past me desperate to move from one part of the city to the other not that it really mattered. I doubt they are actually working since we have finally managed to reach the Inner Circle. Large tall towers, circles us and I’m left captivated but try not to show it and instead scowl at people who look at me. “It’s not like it matters any way.” With disgust or jealous—they regard me. I didn’t care as long as they didn’t talk to me. I’m happy.

  Still the journey towards the Parliamentarian Building seemed to have dragged on for ever, one moment I remember being in the streets surrounded by people with odd necessities for pale powered covered faces and slicked or permed hair ensuring that not a single hair is out of place, for civilians they act a lot like the Military. It’s almost too scary to think about the similarity especially they only talk to people they need to nothing more. In a way it’s good but at the same time it’s bad—that’s how the upper class gains their information; through their network of ‘Spies’ and ‘Recorders’. The men and women who not stalk from a distance but interact with their targets, they appear as normal as possible but they have a hidden agenda and these people often have good memories.

  We are greeted by a women with blond hair done up into a long braid down her back with loose ringlets as bangs at the side of her face. She looks at us for a second before her eyes fall on me, her lips open but no words come out. She clears her throat and hurriedly looks away. “Hello. What brings you here?” she asks Altair, purposely ignoring me, still, why did she have to act strange? It’s not like I was going to cut off her toes and skin her alive.

  I may be required to kill but I know when and who. I ensure I know who.

  “I’m Lieutenant Commander Keyes, Silver Knight’s First Infantry division. We’re here to see the Duke of Alland.” he says smoothly before adding, “We’re really on a tight schedule, maybe you could do me a favor.” My eyebrow uncontrollably twitches at those words: “maybe you could do me a favor”, knowing Altair I know he’s going to return the favor in the most adultery way possible. I clench my fists, how dare he, take advantage of the receptionist. I’ll teach him!

  “What favor might that be?” she purrs. I send daggers her way, I can tell she tenses under my gaze but attempts to act casually as Altair leans over the counter. Varden stands there staring at Altair’s display of flirtation and his face is crimson all over.

  “Get me to see the Duke in half an hour and I just may reward you.” The woman blushes and I fight back a growl I feel rising in my throat. I’m sure she has a husband or boyfriend, she can’t go around two-timing. Women like her give, women like us bad names but at the same time; Altair’s current situation doesn’t say anything better about the males of each species. Their need to attract a female counter-part is only to ensure reproduction.

  “How?” She has some nerve!

  “Well I could?” he’s cut short by my finge
rs wrapped around his lope as I yank hard causing him to call out “ow” several times not that I care, he’s lucky I didn’t threaten to slice off his manhood—sadly I need it. That man has the audacity to—!

  “You could what?” I growl and he shrinks back a bit, I still clutch his ear tightly. He seems to have lost his voice. “Well?” I growl and the woman I can see at the corner of my eye stares at us in disbelief as she sharply intakes air, Varden immediately begins to speak to her about our current situation. This time Varden speaks to her with respect while I deal with the womanizing Knight. Geez, just because he looks like a hero and all doesn’t mean all women should sleep with him. He’s lucky I’m not going to rip off his ear!

  “Ow, Kal, that hurts.” he mumbles and I yank his head closer to me. If he’s going to act like a man he can at least take this like one.

  “You’re such a womanizer.” I say and release him the moment Varden is done speaking to the receptionist. “So? Can we see the Duke?” I ask Varden completely ignoring Altair.

  “We can but not today, she says that she can squeeze us in at the end of the week. However, she said that you guys may need to report to the Branched Order in Midra the contentious section.”

  “Contuse Sector.” Altair and I correct in union and he smiles sheepishly at me and I cross my arms and turn away. What are you smiling at? I’m still mad at you.

  16:Contuse Sector

  © 2014—All rights reserved by author

  We arrive at the Contuse Sector. Here, in the Bronze Country there are several sectors set out in major cities of just about all government Orders except those of the Brotherhoods and Brotherbands, are not involved with the government. They have the Military, their own Secret Services to protect the President and their own Plovers (Homeland Security/FBI). The Plovers are the ones I really don’t like; after all they are the ones with the spies and are the one that practically provide the information to both the Military and Secret Services. I know they’ll just grow in size and power. Not that they can influence people, they take what they have from them via threats.