by Billy Wong
She chuckled. "Yeah, once."
"Really?! Why would you ever-"
"I'll tell you, but be warned, you might be distracted from the play."
He nodded eagerly nonetheless. It was quite a painful tale, involving a suit of mail being torn off piece by piece during a long, brutal fight, but still one they found amusement in. Too, she amazed him with her ability to identify the individual scars from that particular battle among the hundreds which scored her body. As she pulled down her trousers to show a thin white line over her hip drawn long ago by a scimitar's edge, the heroine of the play collapsed with an arrow in her bosom. Smiling helplessly, Finn handed Rose ten gold pieces.
#
Stopping by the house of Lise's friend Eve where she still took shelter from The Lost, Rose found the door locked. She thought nothing of it at first, assuming everyone was simply out, and thought to wait with Finn at the door. But then she realized Lise at least should be home, being in hiding, and decided to walk around the house. She soon spotted through a window the crumpled little body of Eve lying on her bedroom floor, face bloody. Climbing in, she was glad to find her mother's old friend alive, and began to dab at a big cut on her face while Finn struggled to follow through the window.
Eve came to with a groan. "Rose?"
"What happened?" she asked worriedly, fearful for her mother's safety.
Struggling into a seated position, Eve said, "Lise knocked me out."
Rose had expected her mom to have been kidnapped by one of her old enemies, or that a burglar had assaulted Eve or something, but not what she'd just heard. "My mom beat you up?!"
"Well, she only hit me once. I fell and hit my face on the dresser, and that's what actually knocked me out."
Okay, it wasn't as bad as it seemed, since her wound made it look like Lise had seriously put the boots to her, but it was still very odd that Lise would attack someone let alone the good friend she'd been living with. Though a big, strong woman, Rose's mother was hardly inclined towards violence. "Why were you fighting?"
Eve smiled weakly. "I questioned her taste in men."
So Lise had taken an interest in new romance. Rose would have normally been happy for her mother, but... "And what men might these be?"
"Well, one particular man. He's filthy, always drinking, and doesn't even have a job. You better watch out or he'll leech all of your money right out through your mom."
Money wasn't a big priority in her mind right now, compared to finding out why her mother would so lower her standards. "You know where she went after she hit you?"
"Doug is always at the tavern or home, but considering she wouldn't want to be spotted in public, probably at his house. You can't miss it, it's the one falling apart at the west end of town."
"Okay, thanks." Finishing her treatment of Eve with a bit of dressing from her pack, Rose turned to Finn and mused, "Looks like I got what I wanted in just the wrong way, huh?"
"Hey, don't judge a man that harshly just by a description. Eve could almost have been talking about me!"
True enough. The only bad trait Eve had listed that didn't apply to Finn was being unemployed, yet she loved him dearly and couldn't imagine a better man for her. "I guess we'll see when he meet him, then."
They arrived in front of the crumbling shell of a house at the edge of town that Eve indicated, and knocking on the rattly door Rose was surprised it didn't collapse on impact. Of course, just a little harder and... A pot-bellied man in his mid fifties opened the door. "Lise, look who's here!" he said, great fish lips flapping. "It's your kid and her man!" His breath stank of rotten meat mixed with rum, and Rose somehow already didn't like him. Her reasons might not seem satisfactory to Finn if she had to articulate them, but she didn't view men with the same standards for her mom as for herself...
Lise came to the door, read the look on her daughter's face, and greeted her meekly. "Hi, Rose, and you too Finn. This is Doug..."
"Mom, did you beat Eve up?"
Slowly, she admitted, "Yes... she's okay, right?"
Rose frowned. "Her life's not in any danger, but you did do a number on her face. I imagine her husband will have quite the shock when he gets home tonight. What's wrong with you, mom? You never hit people."
"She called Doug a pig," Lise said in a voice soft with guilt, "so I lost it and slapped her. I didn't expect her to go down that hard."
Rose supposed it was easy for forget how delicate people could be while angered, and Lise had more than a bit of size on Eve. "Could I talk with you alone for a minute?"
"Sure. Stay here, okay Doug?" Lise stepped out to walk a short distance away with Rose and looked suspiciously at her. "You're going to tell me how bad he is just like Eve did, aren't you?"
Rose caught Finn watching her expectantly, and supposed he was right that she shouldn't condemn a person too hastily. "I don't know him, Mom, so I can't really say that. But why'd you hit her? It's not in you to hurt people..." Not like Rose herself.
"I don't know. I just got mad."
"Yeah, but you've gotten mad before and never did anything like this. And then you just left her there—it's an understandable reaction I guess, if you were scared, but... this just isn't the way you act. What's wrong, mom? Even if Doug's a great guy, I wouldn't have expected you to consider courting someone like him before."
Lise's gaze dropped to the ground, and she began to sob. "I-I've never felt the same after I saw your child—my grandchild—die like that. I've been so scared ever since then, and I guess Doug just makes me feel... less scared, when he's around. He's strong, and he makes me feel strong... stronger, at least."
Rose choked back a sob of her own. She hadn't wanted to remember that again, when she'd almost been able to keep it out of her daily thoughts by now... She could understand why her mother would be so damaged by the experience—for a while, she hadn't even been sure if she could rebound from the despair it wrought, and she prided herself on her resilience. "And I bet hitting people makes you feel strong too, huh?" she said sadly. She wasn't unsympathetic towards that, having gotten much catharsis from killing her Lost enemies. But to hurt innocent people wasn't the way.
"I... suppose it did. But I know I shouldn't have. It isn't right of me to beat up my friends over nothing."
She was glad Lise understood she'd done wrong, and patted her shoulder. "It's alright, human nature practically requires we lose our tempers from time to time. I've slammed Finn through the floor of your house over an argument myself, remember? Just try to control yourself better next time."
"I will. I just overreacted to the attack on my man, who I'd come to identify with my safety. But I'll do my best to avoid being lectured by my daughter again. You think Eve will forgive me?"
"Of course she'll forgive you, Mom. You've been friends for so long, it'll take more than a slap to break your bond if you behave from now on."
"I will. And I'll make sure to give her a special apology, too."
Rose hugged her mom hard. "Sorry for making you see that," she whispered. "I didn't mean to hurt you so much."
Lise kissed her and said soothingly, "It's fine, Rose. You couldn't help it. Of course you didn't mean for me to see it, you never wanted it to happen at all. But it did, and we just have to deal with it however we can..."
"Good luck with your new man." She returned the kiss and grinned. "Say, if he does treat you badly, do I have your permission to kick his ass?"
She stared for a moment before breaking into laughter. "Of course, honey! You'll be the first I ask!"
"You really shouldn't leave Eve's home, though," Rose remembered to say. "The Lost are still out there, and if you're trying to keep a low profile..."
"I suppose you're right. What if he visits me, will that be okay?"
Rose bit her lip, considering. "How many people know you're seeing each other?"
"Not many—besides Eve, maybe none at all."
"I doubt it's none, but if not that many are aware and he comes and goes stealthily...
I guess it's not too big a risk."
Lise embraced her again. "Thanks, Rose. I'll be looking forward to you visiting again!"
"And I will too!"
As they left Doug's house behind them, Finn asked, "So what if he really does turn out to be a no-good bastard, like I could tell you were thinking?"
She looked down. "That... wouldn't be good." She shook her head and decided, "But my mom's a big girl, and she can take care of herself. If he is a bad guy, better for her to find out on her own and lesson learned, than to make her resent us by trying to force them apart against her will."
"That's wisdom." He threw his massive arm over her shoulders and laughed. "And of course she can take care of herself—she had you, didn't she?"
#
Evan lay in an inn bed in the southeastern city of Quayn, wondering what he would know that he didn't right now if he had stayed in Victor's manor and continued receiving visions. It wasn't that he didn't enjoy his regained liberty—his tour of Kayland's liveliest cities had been exhilarating if sometimes scary thus far—but he also worried that his friends might be getting themselves in a heap of trouble. The Lost themselves, he figured Rose and Finn could handle. They were only men. But their spike with its demonic power could prove dangerous even for two legendary warriors.
He wanted to help them, but knew he was less than impressive in battle, and would be little more than a hinderance without his abilities of foresight. Sure, his visions had caused a lot of trouble in the recent past, but they were the only hope he had of affecting things in a meaningful way. Knowing that it was not even only his friends' lives, but also perhaps the future of the world itself at stake, Evan decided to use what he'd learned from his imprisonment for the cause of good. He'd go back to his old island and return with hopefully enough soil to keep his gifts working for a while wherever he went. Unlikable though he was, Victor had been right that his powers were a tool that could be used for bad or good. This time he would be more prudent and not just give out his knowledge to anyone who could pay for it, but only those who deserved it—like Rose and Finn, who he prayed could change the grim destiny which loomed over them.
#
Having heard that Evan headed for the port of Nacin, Justin was riding that way after him when he felt a sudden gust from above. Odd direction for the wind to blow, straight down... Then a shadow fell over him, and he looked up to have his eyes nearly pop from their sockets in disbelief. A reptilian beast the size of a hill hovered over him, hundreds of feet long, its head the size of a house and each of its eyes bigger than his entire body. Its hide was made of scales of every color which shimmered like gems in the bright sun, and its frame conveyed the graceful power of a hunting cat. It opened its mouth and even from here Justin felt the heat, like standing in front of the furnace in a forge, only this furnace was so large and hot it could be felt from afar. He realized the creature must be a dragon, but one larger than any he'd ever heard of.
At long last you reemerge, demon, a deafening voice boomed in his head, making his brain throb, and he knew it was the dragon's. And so your time ends. Orange lit glowed from the back of the titan's maw, which Justin knew to be its building fire. He imagined it blossoming forth, washing down, burning him and his horse to cinders.
"Wait!" he cried, holding up his hands. "I'm a man, not a demon!"
Of course you would say that, demon, to preserve yourself until such time that your power has returned. But you cannot deceive me, for I can sense within you the energy of the great enemy.
"What energy?! I'm just a common soldier, I don't even know magic let alone being a demon!"
The flames in the wyrm's throat subsided, and it bent its long, serpentine neck to bring its head low as if to examine him closely. Its look was... curious? Wait, you really don't know? it asked.
"Know what?"
You must have been pierced by the Devil's Horn. Its power is now inside you. But why would you sacrifice yourself, if you didn't know what you would gain?
"What the hell are you talking about?! I didn't sacrifice anything!" But then he remembered his escape from The Lost—the sharp pain in his chest as he fell in his chair, his uncomfortable awakening, the cut ropes, his torn shirt... and the missing spike. "Wait, I must have impaled myself on it..." And all that time The Lost had thought sacrificing others to the spike would release its power, but no—one had to sacrifice themselves. "But why didn't I die, and where did it go?"
It dissipated into energy inside you which healed you. If you cannot harness it, it will consume you.
Justin realized with a pounding heart that he might be on his way to fulfilling the very prophecy he had resolved to prevent. He had brought the demon lord's power back into the world inside himself, and if it corrupted him as he feared... He wasn't sure how Rose's children factored into the equation, but destiny worked in strange ways, and maybe someday they would trigger a loss of control in him and bring disaster to the world. He wished he could believe he had the will to stop himself from doing anything that would cause great harm, but with the foreign presence now inside him, he couldn't even completely trust himself...
"I-I never asked for this power, I got it by accident," he sputtered. "Please, I don't even want it anymore—take it away! Just let me live."
The energy infuses your very being now, and is too deeply rooted to be removed without your death. But I can tell you are not the same kind of monster as the one who last held it. Perhaps there is a way to spare you, after all.
"Tell me, please! I don't want to die, I want to live and use this power for good! I know it's dangerous, and I have to be very careful—but will use it worthily, I swear!"
It laughed into his mind. And you know this how? It's such arrogance that brings many an otherwise reasoning man low. Justin's heart almost stopped, but it continued, But I do see you mean well, and though it go against my better judgment, at this moment I cannot bring myself to waste such potential. So you will live.
Justin began, "Thank-"
With me.
He wasn't sure the dragon wouldn't attempt to manipulate him into serving its own goals, but then he did need someone to help him learn how to use his newfound powers and who else was he going to turn to? The frightening resurrected emperor of Fanteia, or Rose and Finn who barely had experience with magic themselves? Besides, it wasn't like he was in any position to defy the wyrm's will. "So you're going to teach me?"
Yes, and hopefully you will grow into a wiser wielder of great power than your predecessor. The dragon picked Justin up in a gargantuan claw, somehow delicately for all its huge size. Of course, anything other than delicate probably would have squished him. The titanic wyrm considered his horse for a moment, then snatched it up too and threw it into its mouth. Justin winced as he heard the steed whinny in pain before its bones crunched and the tang of blood filled the air. The dragon turned and flew west, wind blasting against Justin's face as it streaked across the sky. A rush came over him, and he couldn't help feeling enthusiastic about his upcoming magical tutelage. He was going to make the world better.
By the way, what are you called, new demon lord? My name is Rexxon.
Chapter 7
"Looks like it's time for another vacation," Finn said to Rose one day in their room after receiving a bird-borne message. The rumors stemming from their confrontation with Victor hadn't affected their reputations too much, as they were only rumors weighed against their many lauded deeds. "Apparently, young King Matthew went missing while staying with your friend Alicia, and she wants us to help her find him."
"Still reading mail addressed to me, huh? But why does she want us specifically to help?" Being heir to the late King Benedict, Matthew was supposed to take over rule of the country when he came of age, so Duchess Alicia should readily be able to recruit the aid of many concerned others.
"Maybe she doesn't want to be embarrassed by letting the news get out? Hey, this isn't too bad. Weith isn't that far away, and we could use a break from running the cent
er. We can even bring the kids."
"Yeah Mommy let's go!" Amber said, tugging at her sleeve. "It's boring at home."
Finn patted the young girl's head. "Yeah Mommy, it's boring at home. Aren't you ready for another adventure?"
"Maybe I'm getting too old for adventure," she said softly.
He smiled at her. "Yeah, right. What's really going on, Rose? It's because Weith is where your... old love died, isn't it?" His voice had turned serious with sympathy, soothing her to a degree.
"Yeah." Rose looked away from her children, feeling tears form in her eyes. Though she couldn't imagine loving anyone more than her soulmate Finn, she still sometimes wondered what might've been had gentle Ethan not died in the last battle against the barbarian Vlin. As well, the memory of his passing always made her imagine with terror Finn's death; she'd lost one great love and couldn't bear to think of experiencing that again, a wound far worse than any physical pain she had felt. His last moments flashed before her, and she cringed with the recollection.
They'd all but won the battle, and resisting her body's urge to fall down Rose had stood straight and proud, though covered with wounds including a spear driven all the way through her chest. She'd shouted and waved to brave Ethan as if to tell him she was all right, but her action might have killed him. For he had stared at her horrible injuries in alarm, and while he stood transfixed a Vlin raider darted forward and cast a spear into his chest.
He'd died unable even to say any last words in her shredded arms, and nearly mortal grief instantly defeated her invincible self and drove her from the field. And yet, though her wailing departure with Ethan's corpse might have cost some of Weith's defenders in the closing moments of the fight, his killer never knew the blow he'd struck them and her. In the moment after he struck Ethan down, he'd fallen himself to an archer's shot into the base of his neck.
"I'm glad you're not one to be distracted by my wounds," Rose said breathlessly, and found herself feeling stupid.
Finn stroked her neck. "You mean you don't notice how much harder I fight when I see you hurt?"