by Troy Snyder
She opened the door and there stood Potan. Inviting him in, she led him over to the chairs and took one for herself. Everything was crafted to the size of the snake men, so she sat on the edge swinging her feet in the air. Potan joined her a moment later.
“What are you doing here Potan? I know you didn’t cancel training due to a little rain.” Gabriella spoke.
“Not quite,” He said with a light chuckle. “Tell me, how are you feeling Gabriella?”
Since she had known him, Potan had become her big brother. A bit too protective of her though she thought. “I’m fine. How are you?”
“I’m doing well. Tell me, how are you holding up after your… incident, the one in the training arena.”
“You mean Ti? I’m alright. He was bad and weak. So, I don’t mind I killed him. I think I did well, don’t you?”
There was a long pause before Potan’s reply. “Listen Gabriella, I know you’re young and may not understand, but I must tell you some things. There are bad people in the universe. Like those old men who ruled while you father was away. They deserved to be put to justice for how they treated their subjects. Perhaps not in the way they received, but justice none the less.
I want you to remember these words though. Never rejoice in taking another life. Once someone is gone they can never return. Someone somewhere will mourn them. So never needlessly take a life unless it is necessary.”
“Like in battle?”
“Yes, like in battle, but let’s hope you don’t have to be in one of those.”
“Were you ever in a battle Potan?”
“No, but I have been in many brawls. It is never something to take lightly.”
“I bet old Mr. Mustache has been in battles.” She said referring to the old noble with the long mustache and beard.
Potan let out a laugh. “I’m sure he has. He may be old, but he is the one doing the best in training. Carries himself like a warrior as well.”
“Potan, do you think I did a bad thing? Killing Ti, I mean.”
Potan let out a breath and leaned back in his chair making it creak under his heavy build. “I don’t blame you for what you did. Whether it is right or wrong, that is not for us to decide. It could have been handled one of many ways. Do not dwell on the past though. You’ll end up looking like old Mr. Mustache with bags under your eyes.”
They both shared a laugh at that. The laughter died down as another knock came from the door. Quetzalcoatl stepped in and immediately Potan rose to bow, but Quetzalcoatl held up a forestalling hand.
“Be at ease, Potan. We are in privacy at the moment.” Quetzalcoatl said.
“I was checking in on your daughter to see how she was after the events with Ti.” Potan explained.
Quetzalcoatl knew how protective of Gabriella Potan was. He needed no explanation for the reasoning he was here, but he also needed him to leave.
“Potan, I must ask for time alone with my daughter. I’m sorry to cut short whatever conversation you may have been having.” The comment took Potan by surprise. It was the first time he had heard Quetzalcoatl apologize for anything. He knew it must be something serious.
“As you wish my lord,” Potan said with a quick bow before leaving the room without a glance back.
Quetzalcoatl moved to sit next to Gabriella. The seat was still warm from Potan and for some reason it made him feel uncomfortable. He moved to sit on the edge of the chair and rested his elbows on his knees. Staring into the fire he attempted to articulate the words in his mind.
“Tell me child,” He said after a long wait. “What do you know about the Craxi?”
“Potan told me they were our enemies. That they are the ones that destroyed all the cities here. He also said even the shortest of all of them are as tall as he is, but I think he was just lying.”
“No no, it’s quite true. They’re a giant people.” He let the comment hang in the air for a moment before changing the subject. “Do you miss your mother?”
Gabriella stopped swinging her feet. She clenched her fists in her lap and stared down at them. “I do lots, but she did something bad. When will she be done being punished?” She looked at him with sad eyes and Quetzalcoatl could feel a pinch in his heart.
“I have bad news my child. My men put your mother in a cell with other prisoners instead of her own. I only found out today, but it was too late. A Craxi we had imprisoned killed her.”
Silence filled the room but for the crackle of the fire. It took a moment for the comment to sink in fully. “No… that’s not true! It can’t be!” She was now kneeling on the chair leaning forward with her hands on the arm rest. Quetzalcoatl could see the tears welling in her eyes.
“It is true, my darling. I’m so sorry.”
She jumped off the chair and ran over to him kneeling at his side and burying her face in his thigh. Tears began streaming fully and sobs wracked her body. “I want the man dead, and the guards!” She managed to get out through her sobs.
He gently stroked her hair. “It has already been done. Now is the time to grieve. Let it out. I swear we will get vengeance on all Craxi for what happened.”
She nodded her head and continued to cry.
______________________
Gabriella stirred from her slumber as light peaked through the window in her room. Her eyes ached from crying the previous night. She felt like all she wanted to do today was lay there in bed, but her father’s words rung strong in her head, ‘we will get vengeance on all Craxi.’
Flinging the blanket back she hopped off her bed and walked with determination to her dresser. Today she was going to train even harder. Demand Potan teach her more and more. She would avenge her mother’s death.
Gabriella half walked and half ran to the training area in the palace, but when she reached it Potan was nowhere to be found. The training area was nothing but wood paneled floor with bare white colored walls. All the equipment she needed was in the storage area on the far end, to which only Potan had the key, of course.
She approached the door and stared at it for a moment. The lock was simple enough, just a bolt on top with a handle under it. She made her choice. Covering her fist in energy she slammed it into the lock. It did not budge. Another attempt resulted in the same, nothing, and another. She kept wailing on the door until she was out of breath.
Gabriella fell back and sat on the ground with her arms behind her and her legs stretched out front. As she leaned back looking up at the door it seemed to be mocking her. She got angry. “If I can’t open it, I’ll just go through it,” She muttered.
Standing up, she walked to the other side of the room and locked her eyes on her target. She needed to train and this door was not going to stop her. With a miniscule roar that was all her tiny body could muster, she sprinted forward at the door. Half way to it she covered herself in the red energy and pumped her legs even harder.
A deafening crack echoed off the walls of the training room as the door flew from its hinges and sending wood flying in every direction in an explosion of splinters. “Ow,” Gabriella moaned as she sat up and rubbed her shoulder. It was going to bruise she knew, but she got through the door.
Guards from the hall came running in to investigate the commotion. They saw Gabriella walking out of the storage room holding her shoulder. They rushed to her to see if she was injured. Everyone on the planet knew of the human girl who Quetzalcoatl claimed as his own child. To harm or insult her was almost assuredly death.
“I’m fine.” She said in a haughty tone. Then an idea struck her. She could not train alone. “You there, scar face,” She said pointing to one of the guards with her other hand on her hip in what she thought was a commanding stance. “Go find more guards. I need people to train with.”
At first the guard protested, but he quickly noticed how futile it was to argue with someone so stubborn. As the one guard ran off Gabriella went back into the room and started pulling out wooden weapons of all sorts. The remaining guard saw her struggling to carry a ha
ndful and decided it was bet to help her before he was yelled at as well.
Midday came around and Quetzalcoatl marched down the hall with Potan. They were discussing his new role as head of his family. The main branch made an attempt on his life in the night only to be foiled by a century passing by seeing the struggle. Half of the main branch now lie dead in a mass grave, the other were locked away in the dungeons below the grand palace.
Potan wanted to forgive them, but Quetzalcoatl demanded they must be made an example of. As it stood now, all in Potan’s immediate family became the main branch and no argument was ever made against it. After he finished training the other nobles, Potan would go on to be a general in Quetzalcoatl’s army.
The conversation moved along fluidly from one subject to another until Quetzalcoatl began to notice soldiers filing in one direction in almost a steady stream, talking excitedly. Without indicting any sign of noticing them, he followed their path, but continued his conversation. Potan noticed the change in direction.
Drawing nearer to the training area Potan grew quiet as the sound of cheers and jeers grew ever louder. Above the din the two men could hear bets being made or demands of more ale with shouts back to get it themselves. Curiosity began to peak in Quetzalcoatl, his men knew better than this but they seemed to have no fear, instead they were partying loudly in his palace.
Quetzalcoatl stood in the doorway alongside Potan and eyed the spectacle within. On the far side soldiers were nursing wounds while others laughed at them. On either side were benches from the storage area, all filled with men and women soldiers. Others stood and watched in a circle around the main attraction in the center.
In the middle of the room stood Quetzalcoatl’s daughter, she was covered in sweat and the tan training cloth was now brown. She stood in a fighting stance surrounded by several soldiers with a myriad of weapons. As he stared on a soldier charged in at her with weapon raised.
With fluid grace Gabriella sidestepped the attack and swung her fist backward into the offender’s side as he passed. He was sent sprawling onto the floor awkwardly reaching his arm around to hold his back and crying at the pain. The crowd lit up with a roar of applause and money was exchanged as Gabriella dispatched another attacker.
Quetzalcoatl looked sidelong at Potan to see his reaction. His face was one of seriousness. He nodded several times at the moves Gabriella was making and seemed to be storing the information for later training.
“She’s doing quite well, but she’s sloppy, if you don’t mind me saying.” Potan commented.
Quetzalcoatl let a small smile break through. “Yes, needs some guidance, but apparently could not wait for you to come get her.”
Potan let out a sigh, “Impatient as always.”
Quetzalcoatl’s laugh caught the attention of one of the soldiers who quickly stood knocking over his ale cup. Other’s caught on and soon the whole room was as silence as a graveyard. No one moved, unsure how he was going to react to happening upon the events.
“What in the world do you think you are all doing? You are soldiers!” Quetzalcoatl cried. All hung their heads in shame at his words. “I expected more from you. One, you can’t even lay a hand on her, and two even Potan can down those small ale cups in a single swig.”
The soldiers all looked toward each other as if looking for confirmation of what they just heard. Potan took a step forward. “You heard the Lord, go to the kitchen and get some real man’s cups and would one of you please show some backbone and actually fight her!”
“Pour me ale and whatever bets are going around, I want in.” A roar broke through the crowd as Quetzalcoatl took a seat with his cup and watched the fighting proceed. This would boost moral he thought, and get soldiers some training as well, for nothing Quetzalcoatl did was without some reason beneficial to himself.
Chapter 25:
Time passed on the ship Valhalla. Arri had taken to avoiding Alexander again. Now it was her nerves getting in the way. At first, she loathed the man, but then she saw he was a wonderful warrior and even though he lacked a beard and bulky figure like all men she had known growing up, he was still a man worthy of her time. Yet now that she had chosen to give him a chance, she could not bring herself to face him, she would get nervous and her tongue would seize up.
Whenever she saw his face she’d hide or turn the other way. She cursed herself for being so childish. He was only a man after all, a human at that. Sure, he showed courage in battle and yeah, he was honorable and sweet to her, but she checked off multiple qualities of the man she did not like. He did not build or forge things. He did not drink. He had no real beard, but it was growing. Yet she found herself drawn to him.
She screamed into her pillow. Why was she acting like this? She was an adult, a princess of the Broushin. She should go and face him.
With her mind made up she lifted herself out of the bed and went toward her trunk of clothes. Though she had been given her own room, she was still limited to only a trunk of personal effects. She rummaged through the chest tossing out clothes she thought were too bland or too flashy.
Finally, she settled on a violet silky dress her mother gave her before she passed, it went with her everywhere. She kept digging but as she reached the bottom her heart sank. All of her shoes had been left on her father’s ship. By the edge of her bunk sat her brown military boots given to her by the Craxi and the grey metal one’s issued by the Broushin military.
After much deliberation she chose the brown ones and walked toward the mirror at the back of the room. She looked herself up and down clenching and unclenching her fists. Letting out a sigh she decided it was best she did not go out looking the way she did.
A knock on the door startled her and she ran over to it. She looked down at what she was wearing and knew she could not let anyone see her like that. “Who is it,” She questioned through the door.
“It’s Alexander,” He called back in the Broushin tongue, probably attempting to set her at ease she thought.
“I’m busy right now. Come back later.”
“I need to talk to you, please let me in.”
Arri pressed her back against the door. Part of her wished he would just go away, the other part wanted to let him in. Before she could change her mind again she opened the door and hid behind it until he entered the room. She did not want anyone else to see her dressed in a silk dress and military boots. Closing the door, she turned to see Alexander staring at her.
“Stop looking at me.” She said as she walked over to her bunk.
“Sorry, you just look very beautiful in that dress.” He walked over to the bunk next to her. “Mind if I sit?”
She motioned him with a nod. She could feel her face heating up at his compliment and could not bear to look him in the eyes.
He sat down letting out a sigh. Sweat beaded down his forehead and she knew he must have just come from training. Suddenly she did not feel so bad about the way she looked.
“So,” She started. “Would you like some water?”
“No, thanks though.”
For a moment silence hung in the air between them, but Arri did not want it to get awkward. “So why did you come here?”
“Do you really want to do this?”
Arri was taken aback, she was not entirely sure what he meant, but she had some ideas. If she let her calm demeanor slip it went unnoticed, she collected herself before she answered. “What do you mean?”
“Tomorrow we’ll arrive on the Alfar home world. It will be announced to another race we’re getting married. I know your father and Odin agreed, but I want to make sure this is what you want. If not, I’ll talk to them, find another way.”
Again, silence hung in the air. Arri had never thought about it before. She had always assumed she was going to marry him, never thought she had a choice in the matter. Yet as she thought more on it, it did not seem too bad of a prospect. She could do worse. Besides, against everything, she felt something for this human. She would not admit it to him,
but she felt a connection growing.
“What is it you want?” She asked, turning the question on him.
For a moment she watched as he sat there. “You’re loud, frustrating, and you drink like a fish. Yet you’re such a beautiful woman and have an amazing heart, when you’re not trying to kill someone.” They both laughed. “I would be lucky to have you.”
The last line struck Arri. She felt an overwhelming urge to hug the man in front of her but calmed herself. “And you are a hairless, annoying, small human, but a great warrior and very charming. I suppose it wouldn’t be too bad to spend my life with you.”
“You’re calling me tiny? Your head just reaches my chin and your arms are like twigs.”
“Look at your muscles; you look like you couldn’t even lift a sheet a paper.”
They both laughed and began talking well into the afternoon. Just like before. It seemed to come easier now and it seemed as if the world was falling into place for Arri. They did not outright say it, but they had admitted feelings for one another.
As the end of the day meal came around the two of them left the room and walked down the halls hand in hand and fingers intertwined. All they passed stopped and stared, the two had been at odds for the longest time, now they walked together with obvious affection.
Entering the dining hall, curious eyes still followed as they walked to their table. As if they expected at any moment for the two to break into one of their now famous arguments. Odin was no exception. He raised an eyebrow at Alexander when he saw them. Alexander in return simply shrugged.
As they sat down, a crash came from the kitchen. Moments later Antonio came bolting through the doors followed by the giant purple Craxi, Tiny. Valaria’s brother. Antonio and Valaria’s relationship had become more serious, but because of this Logi felt it necessary to challenge Antonio even more. While he could do without the insanity and childish antics, Alexander loved how life was going of the ship. Deep in his heart though, he knew somehow this happiness would not last much longer.