by David Angelo
21
IN THE VILLAGE OF Notnedo, it was business as usual on a warm spring evening. At the pub Alto was wiping down tables after closing time, while Scarlet attended to things in the kitchen and Cathwise counted the day’s earnings behind the bar. Chok had left from his daily excursion a few hours before, leaving them with the promise that Fin was done with his training and that the team would be paying them a visit sometime soon. When that would be, no one knew, but Alto guessed that it would likely happen tomorrow. It was long after dark by this hour, and the rest of the staff had already gone to bed. Therefore, it came as a bit of a surprise when, just as Alto had finished cleaning the last table, there was a knock at the front door. Alto, Scarlet, and Cathwise jumped, believing that their homegrown prophet and companion was at the door. Cathwise stopped counting his rallods and looked up, and Scarlet emerged from the kitchen, clutching a broom. Alto threw his rag onto the table and glanced at the two eager youths.
“Don’t get your hopes up,” he said as he made his way to the door. With bated breath, Scarlet and Cathwise waited as Alto turned the deadbolt and opened the door, which was still connected to the hinge by a gold chain. From their positions, neither of them could see who was on the other side, but judging by the way Alto reacted, it was not Fin or anyone they knew.
“I’m sorry, sir,” Alto said, “but we’re closed for the night.”
“Out of the way, old man,” replied a cold hiss.
Alto was nearly knocked over when whoever was beyond the threshold kicked the door in and broke the chain. The door slammed into a nearby booth, giving Cathwise and Scarlet a clear view. The knocker was a Cullidon, clad in a blue trench coat with a right sleeve adorned with the two golden stripes of an Edonion police sergeant. The Cullidon calmly walked inside, the soles of his boots scuffling against the floorboards with each protracted stride. Scarlet froze, the events of five months ago playing in her mind’s eye.
“How can I help you?” Alto asked. He tried to stay as calm as he could, but his voice wavered slightly.
“First of all,” the Cullidon said, “my name is Kilo. Last fall my brother Cato was viciously murdered on the floor of this pub. I’m here to find the son of a bitch who did it, and if you don’t hand him over…” Kilo opened one side of his coat, revealing a large bowie knife in a leather sheath slung around his waist “…I’m going to start throwing bodies out the door. So, who wishes to speak up first?”
No one dared open their mouths, and a long, painful silence endured. Kilo slowly walked from table to table, careful to keep his knife visible to everyone.
“Anyone?” Kilo asked.
“He’s not here,” Scarlet said abruptly.
“Oh?” Kilo turned his attention to Scarlet and made his way toward her. “Then where is he?”
“He’s…” Scarlet started, choking on her words. “He’s somewhere you will never find him.”
“Really?” Kilo asked, reaching out and stroking Scarlet’s cheek with the back of his fingers.
Scarlet cringed.
“I have a hard time believing that,” he said, “and I’m not in the mood for lies. Do you know how long it took for me to find out where my brother died and how? Now that I’ve found the spot, I have no intention of leaving until you or one of your friends gives me the info I need. If not…”
Kilo reached for his knife and began to draw it.
“Leave her alone,” Alto said. “It’s me you want. I killed your brother.”
“Alto…” Scarlet protested, but Kilo had already turned away and was now scrutinizing her foster father.
“You killed my brother?” Kilo asked. “Judging by the looks of you, I have a hard time believing that.”
“I can kill anyone I want,” Alto said defiantly.
“Not my brother,” Kilo said. “He was too strong for someone as old and feeble as you. And besides, the report said that my brother was killed by a bartender.”
Kilo slowly turned to face Cathwise. The poor youth trembled as Kilo took a seat at the bar, drew his knife, and began to run his fingers over the blade.
“Tell me,” Kilo said. “Why did you kill my brother? What did he ever do to you to incur your wrath?”
Cathwise tried to respond, but only a whimper emanated from his mouth.
“Don’t admit to anything, Cathwise,” Scarlet said.
“She can’t help you,” Kilo said. “No one’s coming to help you, so you might as well just spit it out now and save your friends any pain.”
When Cathwise neglected to respond, Kilo stood up, grabbed Cathwise by the neck, and placed the blade of the knife under his eye.
“How’d you kill him, and where’d you bury his body?”
“I…”
“Show me where he’s buried,” Kilo snapped, “before I flay your face like a slice of mutton.”
“His body is buried in the backyard,” said a voice from behind.
All eyes turned to see Fin standing at the door, his hands balled into fists.
“Fin!” Scarlet gasped.
Fin ignored her and continued talking. “As I was saying, after I was finished beating your brother to death, we threw him in a shallow grave out back. That kid you’ve got right now”—he motioned to Cathwise—“didn’t even see it happen.”
Kilo let go of Cathwise and approached Fin, who had just crossed the threshold and made his way inside. They met in the middle of the dining room.
“So you’re the shithead,” Kilo said, sizing Fin up. “I can surely believe that you did it. Unlike the old man back there and that scrawny punk behind the bar, you’re strong and tough, like someone who could take my brother. So tell me, before I carve you up: why did you kill my brother?”
“He said some pretty nasty things to my girlfriend over there,” Fin said, motioning toward Scarlet. “I gave him a piece of my mind, and a fight broke out. Long story short, I got carried away and caved your brother’s face in.”
“So you killed him by mistake?” Kilo said, running his fingernail over the blade of his knife. “Do you expect me to find any mercy in that?”
“No,” Fin replied. “Your brother was the scum of Edon, and he got what was coming to him.”
“I take it you have no regrets?” Kilo asked.
“Not a single one,” Fin replied.
“You will,” Kilo whispered.
Kilo dove for Fin, the blade of the knife aimed right at his gut. Fin moved out of the way and knocked the stabbing hand to the side. He grabbed Kilo’s wrist, making sure to keep the edge of the blade away from him, while he extended the arm and slammed his forearm into the back of Kilo’s elbow. A sudden crunch echoed through the dining room, and Kilo screamed a bloodcurdling cry of pain. His hand relinquished its grasp on the knife, and his arm hung loosely in its skin. Fin grabbed Kilo by the collar and dragged him over to the fireplace. Pinning him against the marble mantel, Fin scowled at his wounded attacker through a pair of narrowed eyes.
“You listen to me, fuckwit. You’re on my turf now, and you’re gonna play by my rules. This time you got off easy, because I don’t feel like taking your life in front of Cathwise…”
“I can handle it, Fin,” Cathwise replied.
Fin ignored him and continued. “But if I catch you messing with my family again, I’m going to break more than just an arm.”
“You can’t get away with this,” Kilo gasped. “I’m a sergeant, and if my superiors ever find out that you laid a hand on me, they’ll hang you from the highest tree.”
“Sure they will,” Fin replied. “In fact, why don’t you go outside and tell them all about it?”
Fin dragged Kilo to the door and threw him face-first into the street. The first thing he saw when he looked up were all of his fellow police comrades, some of them tied up and gagged, others piled up in a heap of corpses. Black-Tooth, Kyu, and Chinaw were present, guarding the prisoners and counting the casualties. A crowd of Faranchie onlookers was present, looking out from the windows and doors of th
eir homes and businesses through sleep-deprived eyes.
Fin stood behind Kilo, his shadow falling onto the street from the light of the pub, while Alto, Scarlet, and Cathwise crowded at the threshold and observed the scene that was unfolding. Taking note of the newest hostage, Black-Tooth stepped forward and addressed Kilo.
“I hereby declare you a prisoner of the Children of the Dragon Storm,” Black-Tooth said defiantly.
“Is this the last one?” Fin asked.
“Not quite,” Black-Tooth said, “but out of the eighteen Cullidon police officers who patrolled Notnedo, ten are dead and seven have been captured, including this one.”
“The entire police force?” Kilo asked, astonished.
“Why, of course,” Black-Tooth said. “It’s amazing what you miss when your head’s up your ass.”
Kyu came up with a rope to tie Kilo down like his comrades. “Hey, look at his,” she said, grabbing Kilo’s arm and causing him to shriek. “This one’s a sergeant. I bet we can make a lot of money if we hold him for ransom.”
“The Cullidons will never pay it up,” Chinaw replied. “I bet they’d rather see him die than give precious rallod to a pack like us.”
“You mentioned that there was one on the loose?” Fin asked.
“Just one,” Kyu said, tying Kilo’s hands behind his back. “Someone trying to call for reinforcements. Chok went after him, so he shouldn’t get far.”
Just then, a shot rang out across the village, followed by a yelp.
“Got ’im!” Chok yelled from a few blocks away.
“I think you can change our casualty count to eleven,” Kyu said to Black-Tooth.
“He’s getting pretty good with that ax cannon,” Fin added.
“Yeah,” Black-Tooth said. “So much for our no-peashooter policy, but hey, whatever works. Now, let’s regroup and find a place to stash these jailbirds.”
“If I might suggest something,” Alto said from the pub’s threshold, “I think the wine cellar in the basement is large enough to hold them.”
“Why, thanks,” Black-Tooth replied.
“Also,” Alto said, “when you’re done come inside and have a few drinks on the house.”
“Even better,” Chinaw said, putting Kilo with his comrades.
“Good offer,” Black-Tooth said, “but I can’t sleep knowing I haven’t paid someone their fair due. Besides, I had a bet with Rocklier that he would have to buy me a drink if this mission went off without a hitch. Guess who’s buying my first round?”
The drinks flowed like water in the pub that evening, with all the members of the resistance enjoying a relaxing conclusion to a successful evening and the end of a long five months. While his comrades in arms migrated toward the bar, bragging about how they’d played the Notnedo police like fools, Fin found himself alone with Scarlet at a table by the fireplace. With the golden glow from the blazing fire bathing them in a sensual warmth, the two lovers sat in a world of their own; everyone and everything around them seemed to disappear into the background. They said not a word, content to look into each other’s thoughtful gazes.
“I’m so proud of you,” Scarlet said.
“How so?” Fin asked.
“Come on, Babe,” Scarlet replied, leaning back in her chair. “The last time you and I sat by this fire, you were telling me not to get my hopes up on you becoming a prophet. And look at you now.”
“It’s just the first step,” Fin replied. “I’ve still got a long road ahead before I would consider myself worthy of any praise.”
Scarlet laughed and shook her head. “Will you ever learn to gloat?”
“Gloating’s for people who can’t see past their own noses,” Fin replied.
“Humility was always your strong suit,” Scarlet said. “But anyway, what’s it like in the dead oak?”
“It’s nice,” Fin said. “The place where we’ll be living is called the Fist of the Elder. You’ll know why it’s called that when you see it for the first time. It’s where we’ll likely spend the bulk of our time, but Black-Tooth said that he expects us to travel a lot more as our numbers increase. We’ll probably open up shop in a secondary location or two, like an inn or another campground.”
“Sounds wild,” Scarlet said.
“It’s certainly a change from what I was used to,” Fin said. “Are you sure you want to take that kind of plunge?”
“Of course I do,” Scarlet said. “What’s the difference between freezing your tail off in the loft of a halfway home and freezing your tail off in a tent?”
“I wasn’t talking about the living conditions,” Fin replied. “I was talking about the culture shock of leaving everyone you’ve known for years to live and travel with a group of people you hardly know.”
“I know you,” Scarlet said.
“Of course you do,” Fin replied, “but you don’t know everyone else very well. Trust me, once homesickness gets to you, it doesn’t go away easily.”
Scarlet put her hand on Fin’s wrist. “Hon,” she said, “this move is what I’ve been anticipating ever since I got to know you intimately. I know it’s going to be hard, but as long as you have me and I have you, it’ll all work out. Besides, the apprentice I’ve been training is ready to replace me, and I’ve already said my goodbyes to the people I know and love. I’m every bit as ready as you are to ditch this place for greener pastures.”
Fin smiled, comforted in his knowledge that Scarlet was stronger than he’d anticipated, both in mind and in soul. Perhaps she was stronger than him in those departments. Either way, he could not ask for anything more.
“You know,” Fin said, placing his hand on Scarlet’s wrist, “before we regroup for the dead oak in the morning, Black-Tooth has us on temporary leave. We have the entire night to ourselves, and I was thinking about taking a small walk up to the old tree.”
“You mean the one where you first kissed me?” Scarlet asked.
“Yep,” Fin said. “You and I will be all alone up there, with no one to bother us at all.”
“You talking about what I think you’re talking about?” Scarlet asked.
“What do you think?” Fin replied. As he looked into Scarlet’s picturesque smile, her yellow face glowing in a blaze of firelight, Fin replayed his plan for that evening in his head.
“Before we do anything,” Scarlet said, reaching for something beneath her seat, “I have a gift for you.”
Fin’s frills stood as Scarlet placed a small wooden box on the table, a red bow tied over its top. He looked at the box and cocked an eye.
“What is it?”
“Don’t ask,” Scarlet said. “Open it.”
Fin did so, and when he took off the lid, he beheld the familiar sight of his old pipe.
“Cathwise retrieved it a few days after you left,” Scarlet said. “I thought you’d be happy to see it.”
Fin smiled. “You know how long I’ve been waiting for this?” He took the pipe out and saw that there was already some herb inside. Taking a candle from atop the mantel, Fin lit the pipe and took a long, relaxing drag. He sighed and settled back down in his seat. This was going to be good night, a very good night.
As the herb took effect, Fin glanced at the fire, watching its flames dance among the glowing coals. It was then that Fin’s mind went somewhere else. He was no longer in the pub, or for that matter, on Edon. He was floating in a sea of clouds, the peaks of mountaintops poking out from the expanse like the sails of ships in a vast ocean. Before Fin could get an idea of his surroundings, part of the clouds swirled and took the form of a giant white blob standing in the center of the expanse. The sky grew as dark as night, and blue lightning flashed throughout the massive cloud, lighting it from within in a vivid array of colors. Fin floated to the base of the cloud, stopping just underneath it.
“Fin, do you hear me?” the familiar voice said. It sounded like Blizzard.
This is some good shit.
“Fin, I’m serious,” the voice said.
Rea
lizing that this was something more than a high, Fin replied, “Blizzard? Is that you?”
“Indeed,” Blizzard said. “Now, I want you to answer this question for me as truthfully as you can. Do you recognize this Cullidon?”
The cloud molded into the figure of a Cullidon adorned with long, draping robes of gold and white.
“I can’t say I do,” Fin replied. “Am I supposed to?”
“This Cullidon is named Darancho,” Blizzard said. “He is the leader of my church on Edon, but he is little more than a puppet of the state, one of a long line of corrupt leaders who’ve twisted my word to justify their tyranny. He is also camped out in a field not far from your position, with his entire entourage at his side. I want you to dispose of him.”
“When you say ‘dispose,’” Fin said, “what exactly do you mean?”
“I want you to coat the blades of your claws of fate with his blood,” Blizzard said, “along with any of his comrades who gets in your way. But spare a few so that they can go to parliament and instill the fear of me into their hearts. Now go! He leaves on the morrow, and if you wait, you’ll miss him. And don’t worry about directions, because you will know where to find him as soon as you step out of the pub.”
“Fin…?” a voice that sounded like Scarlet asked. “Are you still alive? Hello?”
Fin blinked, and instantly he was back in the bar, with Scarlet waving her hand over his eye.
“That’s some good shit I bought, isn’t it?” Scarlet asked.
“Um…” Fin started. “I need to speak to Black-Tooth.”
“What do you mean?” Scarlet asked.
“I just need to speak to him,” Fin said, standing up so quickly that he knocked his chair backward.
Black-Tooth looked up from the bar, where he was sitting with Rocklier and Kaw-Ki.