by Troy Snyder
That little human was trying to get her to confess to Alexander. “I was not!” Arri protested.
Alexander brought her hand to his lips and kissed it. “Of course you weren’t.” He said with a sly smile.
“I don’t appreciate your sarcasm.” She said puffing out her cheeks and glaring at him.
“I’ll leave you two alone for a while.” Antonio said closing the curtain and walking away. As he walked he thought to himself, he helped me with my new relationship, happy to return the favor. Having spoken to Odin about the mandatory checkup the truth quickly became evident.
Chapter 23:
Quetzalcoatl strode down the main strip in front of his grand palace. Not as grand now, seeing as the gold had been stripped from the sides, but a magnificent sight still in its enormous stature. The crowd parted as he continued his stride. Even though he wore leather boots covered in mud with white cotton pants and shirt with stains on them everyone knew who he was and made an effort to clear a path. The only thing setting him apart was the bright red sash at his waist emblazoned with the symbol of the God that led them, a golden sun.
Seeing how his people lived he felt the need to show them he too, even as a God, was sympathetic to their plight and would dress and act like them. In fact, he walked free of guards around him to feel closer to the people.
To his left and trailing behind was Gabriella. She wore the plain tan long sleeve shirt and pants of warriors in training with her favorite bright blue boots she begged Quetzalcoatl to buy her until his head nearly exploded. She wore them everywhere, even though he warned the color would fade after too long and it was not technically to uniform code.
While she walked she lightly tugged at the neck torc she now wore. Quetzalcoatl did not want to put the child through the pain of having one of them put on, but he relented when she demanded one. For a child she took the pain well and not once shedding a tear, but from time to time he would see her tugging at it trying to make it comfortable. She would get used to it.
As she passed by each stall she eyed the goods with intense curiosity and an eye out for anything she took a fancy to. She knew she could convince her new father to buy her anything. Quetzalcoatl called her name and she jumped realized how far she had fallen behind.
“Stay close child, I don’t want you getting lost.” Quetzalcoatl said as he took a turn onto another road packed with merchants.
Gabriella did as she was told, forcing herself to look ahead rather than at the stalls all around her. But as they grew ever closer to their destination she did not need to force herself to stop looking at the stalls. She had been many places in the city with her father on business, but never something like this. The Grand Archway, she heard her father call it. Her jaw hung open in awe.
It was enormous and spread throughout were scenes of epic battles so delicately carved by hand. Names were carved all along the top, but her reading and general knowledge of the language was lacking and could not read most of them.
Quetzalcoatl noticed her gaze. “The Grand Archway depicts many of the greatest battles of our history. The names on the top come in pairs if you cannot tell, the general that led the victory and the leader at the time. If you look there at the bottom right you will see my name along with my fathers.”
“You led a great victory?” Gabriella asked in excitement.
“Yes, I did,” He said stroking the child’s hair. “Look,” he continued, “There is room for one more and one more battle scene. I wonder who will be my general.”
Continuing to walk in silence knowing the gears in Gabriella’s head were spinning madly, but he did not let on to his plans. He could see the vision in her eyes of having her name on that archway with his own. Maybe one day, he thought.
Guards stood aside and let the two pass into the compound unmolested. Again, Gabriella was struck with awe at the sight. In front of her land sprawled out as far as she could see. Buildings were set in rows at regular intervals and all around more men than she had ever seen were running and training. She could see a set of huge buildings in the distance, but they seemed small from where she stood.
The sounds of the streets were flooded out. Sellers hawking their wares were replaced by the shuffles of feet and the grunt of men working. The smell of the delicious foods and different perfumes were replaced by the smell of stale sweat and a hint of vomit from those overworked.
They turned right after entering and they headed to building larger than the ones in rows next to it finding themselves in a square with large gates set into the buildings at angels on the corners.
Quickly they passed through another archway, this one much small, but still large in size. Gabriella craned her neck back to get a look at the large gate that looked like it would come crashing down on them and she increased her pace to get by it as quickly as possible.
Gabriella looked down as she noticed the crunch of the hard-packed dirt stopped and her feet sank into the ground with each step. The entire area in the center of the square was surrounded by white sand. They walked in a straight path through the sand toward two men talking. Before too long Gabriella could see it was Potan and Mikar, they seemed to be in a heated debate.
Both men stopped talking as they saw Quetzalcoatl and stood to attention. With a curt wave he set them at ease and the two of them watched the rest of his approach. He gracefully stepped onto the marble walkway surrounding the area of sand and stood before the two men.
Sand sprayed onto the marble floor as Gabriella tripped up the step but managed to catch herself from falling by grabbing Quetzalcoatl’s arm. He gave her a curious look but she shook her head and waved off the incident.
Potan watched the child, who he had come to see as a little sister trying to push the sand back into the center with the edge of her boot as if attempting to conceal evidence.
“What seems to be the problem?” Quetzalcoatl said in an even tone. For those who didn’t know any better it may have seemed like a slight inquiry, but to those who knew better, it was an order to tell him.
Both Mikar and Potan looked toward one another as if unsure how to approach the situation. In the end it was Potan who spoke up. “I’m sorry, my lord,” He bowed. “I’m having issues training the nobles.”
“One in particular,” Mikar cut in. “And our debate was on how to handle the situation. I wanted to step in my lord, but Potan wished to bring it to you. I did not want to bring the issue to you when there is already so much on your mind.”
Quetzalcoatl raised a hand to forestall any rebuke from Potan. “I imagine the issue resides with Ti, Potan’s family leader.”
Potan gave an even deeper bow. “I am sorry my lord. He has threatened on several occasions to expel me from the family if I was not lenient on him and he has severely fallen behind.”
The nobles had been training for some weeks now, but it was quite the surprise to hear there were only issues with one. It appeared the old man had reined in the others.
Quetzalcoatl gave one of his famous sinister grins, “Well it just so happens I’m here today to inspect the progress of their training.”
Potan disappeared into the barracks. He returned a few moments later with nobles trailing behind him. The nobles walked out into the sands with heads held high. None made eye contact with Quetzalcoatl as they passed, but by the increase in pace after they saw him, it was obvious they were surprised he was present. They were attempting to impress him.
The line of nobles stood in silence in a single line as Quetzalcoatl walked out onto the sand in front of them. His eyes flicked quickly from one to the next taking in every detail. As he came to the end of the line his eyes became slits. Running his eyes back over the line and counting. Eight, one was missing.
Potan, Mikar, and Gabriella remained by the barrack door as Quetzalcoatl made his inspection. Gabriella noticed Potan’s head was hanging low as if he were ashamed of something.
“Potan,” Quetzalcoatl called.
The words seemed to hit Potan li
ke a whip. His full body flinched at the sound of his own name. “Y-yes, my lord,” He stuttered.
“Where is Ti?”
“I…”
“He is inside, my lord.” Mikar said. “Ti uses his influence with Potan’s family to skip such things like inspection or training he does not like.”
Potan wished he could retreat into a shell. He knew Quetzalcoatl’s anger, and he rightly feared it. Silently he braced himself for the strike or harsh words he knew would be coming his way, but no strike came. Raising his head, he could see Quetzalcoatl standing in the same spot staring into the barracks, eyes alight with barely contained fury.
Gabriella noticed the look as well and slapped Potan’s thigh. His eyes switched to the child. She moved her head in a ‘get moving’ gesture. In case he did not get the hint, she pointed her thumb to the barracks.
Mere minutes after Potan disappeared once again into the barracks; Ti came bolting into the training area, eyes wide with fear and chest heaving. It was all too obvious the man knew the magnitude of the situation.
“My lord…” Ti tried pleading through gasps of breath.
“SILENCE!” Quetzalcoatl’s voice boomed off the walls echoing loudly and startling everyone, the malice in it all too clear.
Potan hung halfway out the doorframe to the barracks frozen as if the slightest noise would set Quetzalcoatl’s rage upon him.
Silence covered the training arena. Quetzalcoatl took several calming breaths. He would have to make an example out of this pitiful being, but how? A devilish sneer crept onto his face and the color began to drain from Ti.
“Ti and Potan, come here please.” Quetzalcoatl said, never dropping the toothy grin.
Ti remained frozen in place on the marble walkway and stared down at the sand like it was lava. Potan, on the other hand, determined to regain some of his lost dignity in the eyes of his master plowed forward, pushing Ti into the sand. He continued to shove Ti along until they reached their master.
Quetzalcoatl eyed the two men for a moment before focusing his eyes on Potan. “Potan,” He started, “in your opinion how has the training been going with my daughter?”
“Your daughter, my lord?” Potan’s reply contained complete confusion.
“Yes, how has she been progressing?”
After regaining composure Potan answered. “As you know my lord, she is human. I have never trained someone like that before. With her energy we had to improvise a completely new fighting style. In my opinion my lord she is progressing excellently.”
Quetzalcoatl stroked his chin in thought for a moment. He had only seen his daughter’s training in passing, but she was quite skilled he had to admit. “Very well,” He said coming to a decision. “Ti you will fight my daughter. If you win, you may continue to train, but if you lose…” The sentence did not need to be finished. All in the arena knew the consequence he had on his mind.
“Surely you cannot expect me to fight a child my lord. A human at that!” Ti protested.
In the blink of an eye the metallic tentacle from Quetzalcoatl’s brace wrapped around Ti’s neck cutting off the air flow. Ti’s body began to rise into the air and flail as he struggled to get free.
“You will fight her or you will die.” The words were spat out like venom.
Ti nodded as best he could and began to tap in submissiveness. His body dropped to the ground as he was released coughing and gasping for air. Rising from the ground he rubbed his neck he eyed his opponent.
Gabriella’s eyes lit up at the challenge before her. She had never faced another snake man before. This one was much smaller than Potan, whom she had sparred several times in training, but she knew never to underestimate her opponent. That, and several other lessons, had been drilled into her head for weeks. She walked quickly and half skipped out into the arena of sand with a smile on her face.
All the remaining nobles took several paces back to clear an area for the match. Potan and Quetzalcoatl stayed close at hand in case they needed to step in. Both Gabriella and Ti stood in the center of the sand readying for the impending fight. Ti looked down at the child and almost felt sorry for having to humiliate her.
Ti stood at nearly six foot and Gabriella looked up at him from her barely four-foot frame, but she had no fear. She could tell immediately he was nothing like Potan who stood at near seven feet and was built like a bull. Why had Potan let this man boss him around? He must be a bad man, she thought. Bad people get punished.
Lost in her own thoughts she had not heard Quetzalcoatl call for the match to start. An orange scaled fist flew at her with extreme force. Gabriella lifted her hand and caught the blow. With the sand underfoot she was pushed back, but unharmed.
Ti eyed his fist. Surly he had made contact, but there was no cry of surprise, no scream of pain. Instead in front of his fist was a light red glow that gave off strange warmth. As he stared at his fist a tiny head popped out from behind it.
“Potan hits much harder. Maybe you need more training.” The seriousness in Gabriella’s voice sent everyone but Ti into laughter.
This was an outrage. This child just mocked him. A human child! He was born a noble, high above such a meaningless creature. He would destroy her for the insult!
Ti rained blow after blow down onto the child but none made contact. Somehow this child was managing to use her energy to stave off the strikes. He noticed though she had to deeply concentrate to block, and that, he saw, was his chance.
With a vicious kick sand flew into the air into Gabriella’s eyes. She fell back covering her face and coughing away sand she had inhaled. Defenseless, she stood no chance. Ti’s fist came down on her with all the rage he could muster for the insult she threw at him earlier. The child hit the floor and lay motionless.
Potan took a step forward to intervene, but a stalling hand from Quetzalcoatl froze him in place. Ti turned to face them with a grin of victory, but no eyes fell on him. He turned to see the child standing. Blood dripped from a busted lip and a large bruise was beginning to form, but she had managed to gain enough energy in the area to dampen a majority of the hit.
She spit out blood and took a fighting stance Potan had taught her. Her smile was gone and a villainous look covered her features. Ti had had enough of this; he was going to finish this. He took a step toward the child and raised a fist for a finishing blow.
Before the heavy fist could fall, Gabriella stepped into his reach and crouched low. She covered her hands in the red energy, balled her tiny fists at her side and plunged them forward. As she shot upward with all the leg force she could muster, and with a chilling cry, she threw her fists into Ti’s stomach.
With the added boost of the energy Ti was lifted off his feet and sent flying several feet backward. As he lay on his back gasping for air and clenching in pain Quetzalcoatl and the child stood above him. His eyes became wide as he knew what was about to happen. Attempting to plead for his life all that came out was gasps and blood. He would not last long even if he was spared; the force of the strike ruptured his insides.
Quetzalcoatl handed the dagger he had taken from Potan to his daughter and rested his hand on her shoulder. “You know what must be done child.”
She nodded and steeled herself for the task at hand. Falling to her knees next to Ti she looked him straight in the eyes. “You should have trained harder and been nicer to Potan. Bad people get punished.” She said as she plunged the dagger into Ti’s heart.
Chapter 24:
Gabriella sat on her window side reading nook starting out at the city below. Her room was dark but it made the lights of the city seem even brighter and more beautiful. Since her father had taken over, the city began to boom with business once more. He told her it was nothing compared to what it was in the past, but she couldn’t picture anything busier.
Rain pattered down and the sky was black but it did not seem to bother the populace below. They reminded her of ants with how they moved to and fro with what seemed like precision from above, but she
knew from below it was a bustling mess.
She curled into a ball and her mind went back to Ti. She had taken his life without a moment’s hesitation. Somewhere in her heart though she knew her mother would be frowning. Her mother. When was the last time she even thought of her mother? She could not remember.
The last time she had seen her mother, Graciana, she attempted to kill her new father. Why had she done such a thing? He saved her mother and her. He was not a bad guy. Her mother had said Quetzalcoatl was a monster, but why? Because he killed those men? They were bad men, weak. So was Ti. Why should she feel sorry for bettering society by taking that man’s life?
Instead she decided to look on the brighter side. Potan was given the title of head of his house, much to the dismay of both the other nobles and the other families in his house, though Quetzalcoatl quickly stamped out any objections. Potan remained in charge of the nobles training, he himself being head of the family and trainer had no reason to go through training with them. She knew Potan would make a great leader and strengthen the planetary army. So, her killing Ti was a good thing. Nothing could convince her otherwise.
A knock on the door took her attention from her thoughts. She slid off the nook and padded over the lush carpet floor. Quetzalcoatl roomed in a spartan accommodation with next to nothing, but he spared no expense for the comfort of his precious daughter. Her room was covered in thick carpet. Walls were lined with bookshelves with all kinds of reading material, none of which she could read yet, but in time she would. A hearth fire sat on the far end of the room with two chairs and a table where they would sit and he would read to her, or they would practice words and play games. Her bed was a masterpiece of craftsmanship; hand carved of the finest wood and must have been the life’s work of a master artisan. She had all the fineries anyone could desire, for she knew when it came to her, her father would do anything.
As she reached the door another knock came. “I heard you the first time.” Gabriella said testily.