Second Born

by Lance Wilson

  Snapping back to himself he glares at the room around him. Still hanging on the chains he growls and snarls. This is his test, he will pass it. Swallowing a little and taking a deep breath he takes his right hand and grabs the chain on his left shoulder and rips it from his body without hesitation, he reaches over to the other one holding his shoulders and rips it out. Blood pours from the wound and onto the floor. Taking a deep breath he thinks for a moment on which chain to pull next. He then grabs the chains on his chest, first the right and then the left. Then the one at the navel. The chains since they are not holding him up just fall to the ground but the sound is now muffled with the blood on the floor. Taking a deep breath he reaches behind and rips the chains from the back of he knees, first the left, then the right, continuing pushing away the pain that is burning through his body, the voice in his head now shouting for him to stop, just give in, he rips out the chains in his back along the spine. With that his whole weight dangles him upside down the weight now stretching the skin, he tries to lift himself to tear more chains, but after a few minutes his own weight does the work for him and rips the chains from the rest of his body. First tone connected to his inner thigh, both sides at once, then the ones on the tendons above the heel and the ones on the top of his feet give and he falls to the floor. No longer able to push it all away anymore he sobs to himself, curling into a ball. It is over, the test is passed he can rest now; he can be sure that he pleased his master and did all that was asked of him.

  It is only a few when lord Fuma and ladies ebon and Elana both all walk into the room. Lord Fuma stops short when he sees that Attonnan is no longer hanging from the chains but rather lying on the floor curled in a ball.

  “Three hours, I’m a bit surprised. Stronger elves wouldn’t have even tried that test. Yet here he is, Feff’s so called weakest son lying, passing a test that I myself had to do quite some time ago mind you. We reach Vivec in twelve hours that would make it just in time for the nightlife there. Tell me, can you have him healed and rested by then. Able to take in all that Vivec has to offer.” Fuma says, his voice more like a polite request rather then an order.

  “You have been asking quite a lot of me my lord. My skills as a healer have been tasked, I cannot make that kind of guarantee” lady ebon says smiling calmly and hoping that she did not anger him.

  “Quite true, that last bit of healing you did was quite the miracle, I shall tell you what, your skills have been tested, but your dear lady Elana has had plenty of time to rest her skills, could you do it.” he asks calmly smiling at her, this time his voice a little less like a request.

  “Lady ebon starts to open her mouth to speak, but instead she closes it back up and then nods, she dare not speak right now, with her hearing gone her words would make no sense anyway.

  “Good. Take your time, if you must you can leave some light scars, but if you have it in you, I would much prefer none.” Fuma says and smiles at her, it is not your normal smile though; it is one that more or less says that she should do as she is told or encore his wrath.

  She only nods again and then Fuma helps carry Attonnan to her own bedchambers where the healing will be done. For the next several hours she continues to work on him, mixing herbs and turning them into a fine paste. Trying only her finest recipes to make the finest healing salves, finally when she thinks it might be done she gently spreads some on one of the smaller wounds. She takes her index finger and gently spreads it over the edges of the wound. The salve seems to instantly be soaked into the wound and the edges glow a bright turquoise color. The skin and flesh begin to grow rapidly, healing over the ripped and torn flesh. Healing it almost instantly. She smiles to see that her skills as a healer have not at all been slacking. Smiling she around the bed and rubs the salve over the edges of all his wounds, she watches with a sparkle in her eyes as she watches each and every one of them heal as quickly and efficiently as the last one. Once the healing is done she looks over her work. It is good but there are scars and he specifically asked for no scars. Of course he wouldn’t want scars, not on his precious little toy here. She can see what is happening, the lord is now infatuated with him, they are going to Vivec and she is sure that he will take Attonnan to go see his master, Dagoth Ur, something none of them had the pleasure of doing. She should leave the scars on him, just to spite him. But even she knows better then that, if she left those scars on then it would be her that paid the price. Instead she lets out a bit of a growl as she mixes more herbs grinding them into another fine paste. Once it is finished she walks over to the sleeping Attonnan and then gently rubs some of in into his back, over one of the scars. She watches as the scar fades to nothing, leaving only his porcelain white, flawless skin again. She continues this for each of the scars all save two, one on each side of the inner thigh. She does not let these fade instead she leaves them. She knows she will pay for this, but she can’t help it, this is her own way of spiting Fuma for pushing her to one side just so that he can move on to the next conquest.

  Chapter 4

  Apprentice

  It is hours later when Attonnan finally wakes, part of him is surprised that he is not on the floor of the chamber, but on the other hand for the last few days he has usually passed out in some place and awakened somewhere else. He looks around and smiles to recognize the room; it is lord Fuma’s chambers. He is lying in the bed, the covers pulled over him. His clothing is nowhere to be seen. Gently he rolls on his side to look at what is around him, he is surprised to find that this time he is alone. Calmly he pulls his arm out of the covers to look it over. As always there are no makings of what had previously happened to him. He is sure that there should be scars, but after having his eyes and tongue brought back to him he isn’t going to put anything past the healers here. He only has a bit of time before the door opens and he is again looking face to face with Fuma. Fuma smiles as he looks over at Attonnan.

  “My lord, I… . I did break the chains, did I pass the test” Attonnan asks his voice soft and weak

  Fuma only looks at him for a moment, his porcelain white skin, his long black hair, he cannot help but feel a bit of lust for the boy, this will not be the first apprentice he would have taken to his bed, it is a great way to dominate them and get them to worship you. But now is not the time, they have finally arrived at Vivec and it has been some time since he has enjoyed a night on the big city.

  “Yes my dear apprentice, you passed, with flying colors I might add. Now, now I would like reward you for all this hard work you have put in the last couple of days. I don’t think you realize how much it pained me to watch all that happened to you, and what lady Elana did, well, as I said that was uncalled for, she took out her anger at me onto you. But all that is over now, now when we get home we can focus on your real training, with the body and the blade. But for now, let us just enjoy Vivec.” Fuma says and gestures to the chest of drawers.

  Attonnan takes calming breath and then gets up; he can feel Fuma eyes on him, looking him over, his eyes lusting over him. He wants to say something to ask him to turn around, to took away, but, but he is his master right. He only closes his eyes and tries to ignore it as he walks to the chest of drawers and slowly opens them. He finds that Fuma has already made sure this apprentice outfit is waiting for him. The first thing he takes out is the white puffed out pants with the elastic in the waist and cuffs. The color seems to shimmer and shine since it is made of what he has only guessed was silk. He then pulls out the white fold over shirt with the red geometric floral pattern on the sleeves and right shoulder. Next he reaches in and pulls out the bright yellow sash with blue wavy pattern at the bottom, but before he can tie it around him he hears Fuma clear his throat.

  “Is they’re a problem master?” He asks looking over, the fold over shirt still wide open.

  “Not at all, but I have added something to your uniform. They are in the middle and bottom drawer”

  Attonnan only nods and open
s the middle and the bottom drawers. Shocked he lays out the new additions to his uniform. The first addition is a kind of armor that goes over his stomach and lower back. It is soft black leather armor, but as he feels it, he can feel that throughout the metal squares sewn into the leather. The sew job gives it a quilted look, the edges rimmed with shimmering, polished steel. To hold this in place are four straps, two on each side that can be tightened, but not too tight or you wouldn’t have the movement you wanted, then two more straps the were slung over the shoulders and tightened from behind. Fuma walks over seeing that Attonnan will need help to tighten this all up. Slowly he walks over and gently folds the shirt over and then puts the armor around him. Then first tightens the straps over the shoulder. Then, works on the straps on the side, making Attonnan turn and twist as he does. Once he is satisfied with the tightness he again steps back and admires his work. Attonnan then picks up the next part of the armor, it is a set of quilted black armor with polished silver edges but these go over the upper legs and he is guessing the front of back. All for of them are only long flexible piece of square armor. The four are connected with a basic belt, and then two smaller belts at the bottom for those that go over upper leg. Attonnan already knows exactly how this goes. First he wraps the belt around him and then pulls it loose, but tight enough that they cannot fall, he then positions the belt so all the pieces fall to where they are meant to, and then tightens it to it is comfortable. Then slowly bending down he tightens the lower belts above the knee. To make sure it is does not interfere with his fighting he throws a few kicks and smiles, the armor is heavy compared to what he is used to, but cause it is only small squares in leather, they are flexible. Then calmly he smiled and looked over the other parts of the armor, they are only boots and what look like some kind of bracers. Seeing that nothing more is going over his shirt or pants Attonnan again takes the yellow and blue sash and ties it around the armor. Slowly he puts on the boots, which are black harder leather that moves up to almost the knees. The bracer goes up to almost mid-forearm, they two are quilted leather, but instead of metal squares it is like metal rods. He then pulls up his boots and glances over at his master to see if there is any approval. Fuma looks over at his new creation and smiles

  “Are you ready for Vivec” Fuma asks smiling at him.

  Looking at his master something finally comes clear in Attonnan’s mind. This is his master, he is the apprentice, he will do as he must do all he can to please his master. His master is his light, his world, his vary breath. And with that he smiles and bows low to his new master.

  “I believe I am my lord and master” Attonnan his childish voice and appearance showing Fuma exactly how he is going to be underestimated when they are finished with him.

  With that the two of them walk through the hulls of the ship and then to the deck were Attonnan gets his first look at Vivec, the whole scene takes Attonnan’s breath away. In front of him are two huge castles of shimmering golden like stone. There are three layers each about thirty feet high. Then another layer smaller in geometry again thirty feet high, and then a third, again third layer, still smaller again thirty feet high. No matter how much the layers may shrink, even the smallest of the three layers is larger then four of his own castles put together. The castles seem to sit on an island of their own and between the different castles there is only water. At the bottom of each layer is a huge bridge wide enough to fit a small battalion of men without problems.

  “I know what your feeling, the first time I saw this with my master it took my breath away as well, these are not the only castle, there are six all together, and they are all connected, the house at the head of these castles is the council, the council is where all the races send there representatives to talk of wars and things of high political nature. I tell you this so that you can understand that Mecmed never went tot he council for his war, but he was smart enough to make his move quickly. He united the clans in your territory, and then struck the Unagi clan without mercy. He did this so that he could keep under the shadows of the council. But that is not the point tonight, tonight we celebrate your full initiation into the Hojo clan and my apprentice.”

  “How shall we celebrate my lord” Attonnan asks looking over at Fuma as they walk off the boat and onto the main roads of the first castle. As they walk the streets Attonnan is even more taken back as bright colored banners line the streets showing the nature of the shops. He watches as people walk up and down the streets, most are sober for the day is still early, but some are staggering drunk and singing loudly in the streets. Attonnan calmly smiles and looks at his master waiting for the reply but gets nothing. Instead he only smiles and chuckles at his young apprentice.

  “Come” Fuma says and walks down the streets.

  Attonnan only shrugs his shoulders and follows his master. It takes only a few minutes for Fuma to get his bearings then starts to walk down the streets with a rather fast pace. Attonnan has to struggle to keep up and not get in the way of others. It takes only a few moments for them to arrive at the door of

  “Yes, here it is” Fuma says and smiles at his young apprentice. He is about to give his young apprentice a wonderful night on the town. Fuma smiles and walks to the door holding open the door for his apprentice. Attonnan walks in seeing a little and rather warm restaurant. He is shocked to see that every kind of person in the world is in there. Orcs, trolls, dwarves, elves, humans, and all the races he has ever heard about but never seen. Fuma walks behind his apprentice and then gently lays a hand on his shoulder guiding him to a table in the corner near the fireplace. Almost as soon as they sit down a young woman, Fuma believes her to be a half elf walks up. She is dressed in loose fitting turquoise color dress that hangs on her but at the same time shows her full and luscious figure, her hair is a golden blond and her eyes a shimmering sapphire color.

  “What might I get you my lord?” the waitress says her voice one of calm and collected nature, but she doesn’t like this man, she has seen him before.

  In his youth he was here with his master Dagoth Ur. This is Fuma Hojo, but she knew him as Dagoth Hojo. His skin and markings a show of what he is, a marked man of the Dagoth clan. The little one next to him is new though, the white skin shows that he is in training of the Dagoth clan, but… . no markings; he has not been marked by Fuma yet. Something else seems different, his eyes, they are so young, she can only guess by his size and features that he can’t be over fifty, still just a boy.

  “I would liked your roasted duck, spiced meat, a bottle of Silven wine, greens soaked in butter, carrots in brown sugar and honey, oh yes, and your berry pie for desert.” Fuma says not even flinching at the extent of the meal.

  “What to drink for the boy” She says not sure she wants to serve elvish wine to such a young child

  “He is 14 years of age, a man.” He says with a glare at her.

  Knowing better then to try and test Fuma’s patients she only nods and walks her way back to the kitchen, reciting the order.

  “My lord, that is a lot of food, are you sure we need that much” Attonnan asks calmly not sure if he is stepping over a boundary

  “I told you, this is a celebration, and no celebration is complete without a feast.” he says with a chuckle.

  It takes only a moment for the young girl to come back out with the bottle of wine and two crystal goblets. Fuma reaches at the bottle and pops the cork. Then gently takes the goblet nearest to Attonnan and pours him a full glass. The wine is a deep dark purple with a hint of red in it. Attonnan takes it in his hand and Fuma instantly glares at him, so quickly he sets it down. Fuma then pours himself a glass.

  “Now, a proper gentleman holds his glass with his palm up holding the bowl of the glass, the stem between the fingers. And a proper gentleman never takes his glass before his host, now a toast shall we, to the doors we shall open with your apprenticeship” He says and smiles as Attonnan now picks up his goblet just as Fuma has
instructed him.

  The two of them then clink glasses and Fuma sips his win and watches as Attonnan brings it to his nose and sniffs it. The wine smells like a field full of fresh summer berries. He then takes a deep sip, it is just as it smells, it taste like fresh summer berries. He can’t help but take a deeper drink, before he knows it he sets the glass down to find that it is now half empty. Fuma chuckles remembering his first taste of Silven wine, like Attonnan he too got caught up in the taste, but his master was kind enough to warn him and tell him when he’s had enough. He should do the same for Attonnan, but this time he thinks he will let the wine teach the lesson. It takes only a few moments for the food to arrive at the table; there is such a verity of dishes that it takes two women to carry in the food. They carefully lay everything out on the table and with a polite bow, go back to what they were doing. Attonnan’s eyes get huge as he sees the spread of food before him.

  “Well my young apprentice, this is your feast, eat up” Fuma says and gestures to the food

  Attonnan for a moment only looks everything in, taking in the sights and smells of it all, everything looks so good, like it would taste wonderful. Finally he takes a knife and fork and begins to cut bits of everything piling his plate high. Fuma only chuckles and does the same, however his portions are quite a bit smaller. The two of them only sit there, eating and drinking, by the end of the meal; Fuma has eaten two plates of food and finished only two glasses of wine. Attonnan however has eaten four plates of food and finished off the rest of the wine. When he is finished he only leans back and closes his eyes, he has never felt this comfortable, this happy. Fuma watches as Attonnan settles into his chair. Taking a glance at the window he can see that it is now time to go, they have spent enough time in here and he must continue to the real reason they are here.

  “Come Attonnan, we need to be moving on” Fuma says and smiles at him.