Second Born

by Lance Wilson

  “I thought you were better then this, I guess not” Ishmael says and gets up walking out of the room

  “What is his problem, the whole crew hates the captain and he will surly precede him?” Attonnan says knowing this is better for the crew and the ship.

  “We’re just a bit disappointed. Attonnan, I need to ask you something, and please don’t lie to me.” Kraken says watching Ishmael leave the room. He knows why he left, knows why he’s disappointed in Attonnan, he thought the same, that Attonnan had finally seen what freedom was and knew that he was nothing more then a slave to Fuma, a pet. But no, he only sees that his master was disgraced and like the obedient lap dog he bites the man when his master will not. But there is still hope in him, he has seen the fire in Attonnan and knows that Fuma, no matter how powerful and cunning, will slip, and that fire will be unleashed on him.

  “I have never lied to you before, I have no intention on lying now” Attonnan says lowering his head, he liked Ishmael, he thought he would be happy to be rid of the captain.

  “Do you like this life you have” He asks calmly, his eyes lowering to the chains on his wrists, he too was a slave, but he knows the chains that hold Attonnan are far stronger then the ones he had to break to be free.

  “Of course, I… . he has given me everything” Attonnan says his voice shuddering in the end as he shakes his head.

  “Not everything. I won’t be able to say goodbye tomorrow, so I want you to have something, a reminder you might say” Kraken says, and with that he pulls a small key out of his pocket.

  Kraken then unlocks the shackle on his left arm and slowly unwraps the chain from it. Then lays it on the table. Attonnan only stares at it in shock, these meant so much to him, he carried them for as long as he has been free. Why would he give him this one? But as he looks up to ask Kraken, he is gone. Left just like Ishmael. It doesn’t matter, they were his friends and he has a plan. He will kill the captain and make a better life for them. Slowly he picks up the chain and takes it into his room.

  Just like plan the ship docks around three in the mourning. Fuma walks into the room and shakes Attonnan awake. Attonnan looks up and his eyes sparkle to see his master, he has not seen him since the arena, it is like he has been avoiding him all this time. Seeing Fuma, seeing his master, to him it is like the sun parting from the mountains and showing on his face.

  “Master Fuma, how may I serve you?” He asks calmly but he can’t stop himself from smiling.

  Fuma sees the smile and child like joy in his eyes. This is more then perfect, a few days away and Attonnan is like a love struck child. He will do anything to make him happy, to get some kind of attention from him. He has broken and trained him well; he will be the perfect pet. He will never question him; never abandon him like Kenshi.

  “We are home, I would like you dressed and off this ship by the hour, you will not have to worry about crew, they are still asleep” he says and runs his fingers through Attonnan’s hair, the sweat and toil of the days have dirtied him, he will need a bath before he is marked and claimed.

  “My lord, may I ask to stay on the ship tell dawn, I would like to thank those that have taught me to sail, Kraken and Ishmael” Attonnan says smiling up at his master, this better work, this has to work

  “Tell dawn, no, if you must say goodbye, then I suggest that you get up and tell them, I think I saw them walking the hull of the ship” Fuma says calmly.

  So they are still awake, this puts things into play that he didn’t expect. The captain, he will be asleep though, he knows it, and he can almost feel it. This also puts him on a tighter schedule, but it can be done, or course it can be done.

  “Thank you master, I shall be dressed and out of this ship as soon as I say goodbye and no later, you have my word” Attonnan says thinking to himself, it’s not a lie, he is going to go say goodbye, just not to them that’s all.

  “Make it quick.” Fuma says looking hard at Attonnan; he is up to something. He knows that look in a child’s eyes. But what, is he planning on running. He can’t allow that. Maybe that is why Kraken and Ishmael both were up, to help him. Attonnan will not be the only one staying on this ship, but he will stay to the shadows so that Attonnan will not see him, will not sense him. He will follow his young apprentice to find out what is going on. With that thought Fuma walks out of the room and into the hall, and just like that, he vanishes into the shadows to follow his young apprentice. They do not call him the demon lord for nothing, he too has gifts that he has not shown Attonnan, and will never show him. Attonnan quickly gets dressed in his full apprentice outfit, armor and all, then slowly reaches into a drawer on Fuma’s side, smiling he pulls a nice thin dagger, this will be perfect, but he is a bit surprised that Fuma left it. Taking no time to think of it more then that he walks out of the ship looking both ways. There is no one in the hulls of the ship. Quickly and quietly he makes his way thought the ship then up on the deck. It takes his eyes a moment to adjust to the starlight and the lights below him in the Hojo camp. It seems that the Hojo have all left the ship and he is alone on the deck of the ship, there are a few crewmembers here and there, but none of them pay him any attention. He makes his way calmly to the helm; he knows that under the helm is the door to the captain’s quarters. Fuma too makes his way to the deck of the ship, he smiles as he watches his apprentice go to the captains quarters, so this is what he had in mind, not desertion, but vengeance. He should have warned the captain what kind of person Attonnan was, that he had scolded a viper, but he guesses that the captain will learn that soon enough. Attonnan makes his way to the door making sure to act natural, nothing must seem out of place. He then calmly checks the door, it is unlocked, what a fool, leaving his quarters unlocked. Silently he opens the door, but only enough to slip in. then silently slips in shutting it behind him. He is shocked by what he sees. The cabin is lit with lamps and candles and the captain is not asleep but at his desk working, mapping out things, but he didn’t hear the door open, he is so involved that he doesn’t even see Attonnan. Quickly snapping out of his shock he moves his way behind the captain. The desk is facing to the side so he only edges his way along the walls, making sure not to make a sound. His nerves playing with him now, his mind blaring at him to get out, that he is going to get caught. Fuma too has entered the cabin, but he has entered it a different way, he has made himself dim. In a way it is like making yourself much like a ghost, those that don’t want to see you, seem to just overlook you. By being dim he can watch all this unfold in front of him and never been noticed. He watches as Attonnan moves his way along the walls, keeping silent, the captain, so engrossed in his work he doesn’t notice the young man in all white moving in his own quarters, the fool, what ever Attonnan has in mind he deserves for being so foolish. He should have laid a trap of some kind, if not for Attonnan, then for another crewmember. If they knew he was this easy to kill they would have done it ages ago he is sure. Soon Attonnan is behind the captain, Fuma watches as he slowly pulls the thin dagger from inside the folds of his shirt. Sweat is forming on his brow and he can see Attonnan’s hand tremble. Now is the time, strike now, Fuma thinks to himself knowing that Attonnan could loose his nerve. As if reading his masters mind Attonnan wraps his left arm around the captains forehead and pulls his head back, then quickly plunges the dagger right into the throat, in a slight downward angle, it is crude but Fuma takes careful note and sees that the wound is fatal and the captain has almost no time to live, the captain is too much in shock to fight back and only grips at the dagger in his throat pulling it out. He then turns around to see Attonnan blood splashing on the walls and floor, but most of it pours down the front of him like a fountain now. His eyes are huge as he stares at the white elven youth.

  “You thought my master nothing more then an insolent youth, you thought him weak, now see master Fuma’s weakness, if he would not strike you for your insolence to him, then I strike for him. You are nothing b
ut a ship rat. No one will know of your death, if you would have held your tongue, shown proper respect” Attonnan says his voice full of hate and bitterness, but his eyes streaming tears.

  Fuma watches smiling, so every time he kills he will shed tears, an interesting side affect to the teachings. And he killed for his master, even when ordered that it was not a large deal and that a captain such as him was hardly worth the wrath of the Hojo. His apprentice had other ideas; he would have no tolerance for anyone thinking ill of his master. Seeing the act done and the captain finally fall to the floor in front of Attonnan Fuma slips out of the room and onto the docks with the rest of his men. Attonnan looks over the captain one more time then quickly gets a look of himself in the mirror across from him, he was lucky and the blood did not splash him, his clothing remains unspoiled and he can go to his master not having to answer any questions about that. But something else catches his eyes as well, he is crying again. The man in the streets of Vivec, he meant nothing, and the captain, he hated the captain, this man deserved his fate, so why does he cry, he doesn’t feel anything, and why can’t he stop. Attonnan wipes his tears on his bell like sleeve and then walks out of the cabin and onto the docks. Fuma only smiles at him. He shall let Attonnan rest today, tonight they will feast, and he shall mark and claim him in the night. In the night in front of his own god, the god of war, the got that has favored him since he took power. With that they all walk into the town and Attonnan watches as the ship takes off once again, he hopes he can see the crew again, out of some kind of longing he reaches into a large pouch at his side and feels the cold steel chain that lays there, it is the shackle given to him by Kraken, he will hold it dear.

  The mourning comes quickly and Attonnan watchers the sun paints the sky a bright red as it crests over the mountains. Fuma has given him the day off and for the first time he is relaxed and a bit bored. Taking a breath of clean air he makes his way thought the Hojo fortress looking at everyone. As he walks though the halls he watches as servants and guards alike lower their heads to him, placing their right fist over their heart. His clothing and armor show that he is one of rank, an apprentice to the great Fuma Hojo, and they will show him the respect he deserves. He makes his way to the stables and finds that they are full of horses, he has ridden a horse before but as he looks over at these he can tell that his father, although respected and loved never had any like this. They are all well taken care of and as he walk in they seem to be friendly, many arch their neck to him so that he can scratch their nose. It is finally a black one that catches his eyes. He is a younger stallion, thin and lean, but not sickly. Attonnan walks over and smiles at him as he arches his neck like all the others. Attonnan scratches his nose then carefully goes to step into the stable with him. The horse takes a step back but once the gate is shut behind Attonnan it seems to relax. Attonnan then begins to rub the horses side and back. In return the horse grunts and whinnies in pleasure. It must be staved for attention. Attonnan spying a brush hanging up near him reaches up and begins to brush him down, talking slowly and softly to him. The horse loves the attention and snorts his approval. A few times even he clamps his lips on Attonnan long loose hair and flicks it in play. Attonnan only cleans the horse and then moves his way down to the hooves. Looking around he sees that the right tool is not in the stall, and then it shouldn’t be to begin with. He then gets out of the stall and finds the tool he needs, really it is nothing more then a folding knife uses to clean the hooves. Attonnan having spent a lot of time in the stables of Ronin learned all about caring for the horses. It was a place he always felt peaceful, and it was a place his father never looked for him. But there was a time or two, he would be tending to his fathers horse, his father would catch him and then. Well there was yelling, and hell to pay. He can still feel the sting of the horsewhip. Shaking it off he takes the knife and tests the edge, perfect. He then scratches and rubs down the side as he moves his way down the legs. Now is the tricky part, if the horse knows you and trusts you, you can just grab the ankle and it will lift it for you to work on it. But this horse has never met him. He can only hope that he has shared enough of a moment brushing him down that the horse might trust him. Taking a deep breath he reaches for the ankle. At first there is nothing and Attonnan’s mind rushes that he should get out of the stall, the horse may get angry and start to buck and shove him to the side, an elf could wind up in the infirmary for a long time, or worse. But only a few seconds later, too long for Attonnan, the horse lifts its foot and Attonnan begins to clean the hooves. He works on the back hooves first knowing that it is the hardest to get to, then the front. When all said and done he gets out of the stall again puts the knife where he found it and then looks around, as luck would have it he spots a piece of fruit. Smiling he cuts it open and goes back to the horse, the horse sniffs his hand and smells the sweet juice of the apple. Gently he takes it from Attonnan’s hand and Attonnan rubs the stallions face

  “You really have a way with him” a voice says from the entrance

  Attonnan shocked turns quickly spooking the horse who snorts and stomps his foot a few times. Right away Attonnan recognizes the person, it is the young man Aang. The one that showed him from the dojo to the bath

  “Hay Aang, I’ve always been good with horses, what’s this one’s name” Attonnan asks stroking the horses snout to calm him

  “Simeron” Aang says walking closer stroking some of the other horses as they ask for attention

  “Does he belong to someone, or just a stable horse” Attonnan says knowing that places like this, this large in men, sometimes have horses that stay in the stable only to be used when needed by someone without a personal horse.

  “Stable horse, I was gonna run him today, he needs the exercise, they all get run on certain days, well all but personal horses, we’re just to take care of them but not run them” he says calmly and glances over at a huge white war horse.

  “You want to run that one don’t you” Attonnan says seeing the gleam in his eyes. He knows what it’s like, he felt that way about his father’s horse, and he did run it once. He was lucky though and got away with it. It was Vulge who caught him, but never told his father. Running a warhorse was the most amazing feeling.

  “Ya, but I don’t dare, that is lady Elana’s” Aang says with a shiver.

  Attonnan only nods in respect, that is someone he would never cross again as well.

  “Tell you what, they all need rubbed down and cleaned, that’s a lot of work for one guy. I can do it, but I can’t do it and run him. Why don’t you take his run and I’ll keep going here,” Aang says gesturing to a saddle harness and bit

  “Really” Attonnan says his eyes blazing with joy

  “Sure, he’s free game. I’ll just say you wanted to run him. Don’t guide him though, your new here, he knows the rounds and he knows when to come home,” Aang says calmly

  Attonnan doesn’t even hesitate but quickly grabs a horse blanket and throws it on Simeron’s back, then saddles him. He then looks over the bridle and bit he then spots another bridal that also has a bit, but it isn’t metal but of some kind of leather that has been braded, folded and braided again. He smiles and takes that one instead. It was Vulge that taught him that a metal bit only hurts the horse and teaches them to move by pain. A real rider, a good rider will train their horse through trust and companionship. Vulge has had his horse as long as he could remember and he never even used a bridle, just the main of the horse. His father used a bit on his horse, and it was metal. He knows he’s not skilled enough to go without a bridal but he always hated metal bits. He slowly puts the bridal on Simeron and watches as a kind of shock comes over his eyes, as he tastes the leather bit,

  “That’s right boy, no metal today” he says and smiles patting the head.

  With that he unlocks the stall and leads him out of the stables, then quickly mounts. Remembering what Aang said he only squeezes Simeron a bit, just enough to let
him know it’s time to go. Simeron is up in a gallop in no time and Attonnan yells in delight, he feels so free on his back, like he’s flying, like he’s moving with the wind. Many times he lets go of the rains and just holds his hands out at his side like wings screaming in delight. He hasn’t felt this happy in a long time, Simeron runs for some time and before he knows it he can no longer see the Hojo fortress. But he doesn’t care, Aang said to trust the horse, and he will. They run for what seems like hours and soon Simeron runs out of steam and stops at a small spot with nice fresh grass and a few trees. Attonnan lays down under the three but makes sure to wrap the rains on the tree, he is exhausted and he’s not sure why and the last thing he needs is for the horse to go on home without him. Especially since he has no idea where he is. Letting the sun just warm him over he drifts off to sleep as Simeron grazes.

  Attonnan slowly wakes to the feel of Simeron nibbling gently at his foot. He looks up to see that the sun is beginning to set; he has spent the entire afternoon out here. Panic hits him; he knows that there was going to be some kind of feast tonight. He was to sit at the right hand of Fuma; he can only hope that he is not too late. Quickly he unwraps the rains for the tree and mounts Simeron.

  “Come on boy, with all that you got I need to get home” he says and kicks him into a gallop

  Simeron sensing the urgency of getting home runs faster then he ever has before, he has to beat that sun, and he has to beat it to the town. The surroundings seem to fly past them Attonnan says bent low, almost laying forward on his stallion. He wants to enjoy the run but he can’t all he can think of is how Fuma wanted him at the right side and how he has missed the feast, no, he can’t think that, they can beat it. This stallion can beat time itself. It takes them no time to get to the stables and Aang is waiting a pale look to him.