Chapter Two.
"I'm sorry you had to see that."
Why was she apologizing to me? It wasn't her fault we were casteless. And I understand her not wanting me to hear, that she was sleeping around for money. As much as I didn't like it, I understood. Here in dust town, we do what we can to survive.
"Rica, Beraht expects too much from you. If you put your foot down once in awhile you'd earn some respect-"
"How, can I earn respect from a man, who think's of me as a whore?" I had no answer for that question.
"I...don't know. But what I do know is that Beraht needs to be put in his place. Sooner or later..." I stated, mumbling the last part to myself darkly. Whether Rica heard me or not, she gave me a soft expression.
"I know you mean well," Rica began gently as she sat down on one of the old, broken chairs. "But, I have made my bed and now I must lie in it." My short temper exploded. She always took whatever Beraht dished out! No questions asked, except for 'when?' and 'what time?'. I work my ass off, fighting people who cheat Beraht. I've killed for him. But that must mean nothing in the eyes of my sister, if she followers his order's like a...like a fucking puppy dog.
"How can you just sit in that chair...and...and take it, like a bitch!" I yelled at her. As I yelled at her, I could feel my muscles tensing and my nostrils. "You take whatever he gives you! You always, always say 'thank you Beraht'. While I work my ass off for you and I never get a fucking slap on the back!" Rica shot up from her chair and grabbed me by the collar of my armor.
"You think I don't know that?" There was a great pause before she continued, her eyes locking mine. Her tone was even, calm and apparently unperturbed by my own antics. "I do whatever I can because mother won't. I know, that you work hard everyday, and I'm sorry if I never thank you. But all I see when you leave out that door to work, is my little sister... m-my baby sister going out to dirty herself with the blood of others." She let go of my collar, turning her face away and started crying. Guilt radiated in my chest, as I was the cause of these tears.
"I'm...sorry, Rica." I mumbled loud enough for her to hear.
"It's okay, I know you mean well," she continued, wiping her eyes. "But you know how desperate the nobles are for more children. They can barely field enough soldiers to hold the walls against the darkspawn."
She paced around the small living room and told me her plan. "If I could...give one of them a son, the whole house would celebrate. And we'd all be raised up to noble caste to join the family."
It did sound like a good plan to my ears, but there was always a bad side.
She let out the breathe in her lungs, sighing. "It's what Baraht's betting on. That's why he paid for my clothes, my voice lessons. He wants to share the reward" And there goes the downfall. I couldn't take anymore of this, she gives something to hope for then, I find out that the bastard wants in on what Rica earned. I need to get out of this hovel called a house.
"I...need to get going before Beraht comes back. See you later." I gave a quick goodbye, not making eye contact again. Her eyes would be red from her tears.
Even though I couldn't see it, I could feel Rica softened her eyes as she looked at me. "Stay out of trouble. I'll see you tonight."
I nodded my head and went over to the corner of the small living room, checking one of the small chests for my weapons. There were a couple of daggers, maces, and even a great sword. But my favored weapon was the bow, or the crossbow. I picked up the large crossbow, that had my father's name engraved in to the handle.
The smooth prod was made out of Sylvanwood and the tiller was silverite. I fingered the letters S&B on the handle, my father's initials. He gave it to me right before he left Orzamar for the surface. He never really loved my mother, only stayed with her because I was there. I guess he finally had enough. All I have to remember him by is my crossbow, and a small sliver ring. I looked around the inside and read the engraved words.
In blackest envy were the demons born.
I've always wondered what it meant and where it came from. He always looked to it when he was troubled from what I can remember. But I didn't want to think about that right now.
After sliding the ring on to my ring finger, I grabbed my bow and slung it over my back. Once the bow was secure, I grabbed the arrows sitting behind the chest. Walking to the front door, I saw my mother drinking her life away at the dinner table.
She groaned. "Whozzat? Why are you bothering me? Rica?" Did she really not recognize her own child?
"It's the guardsmen. You're under arrest for drunkenness" I joked, knowing she wouldn't take it as one.
"Don't you sass me, you little ungrateful brat! I made you and I can make another just like you." She will never change, my mother.
"Never mind. Sleep it off. Again." I was done with her. As I walked away I could hear her muttering.
"People bothering me all the time. I got important things to do here. Very important things..." I could've sworn she sounded almost sad when she said it.
I walked out the front door and was greeted by my best friend Leske.
"About sodding time. I was starting to think I'd have to burst in and get an eyeful of that spicy sister of yours. Ga-row!" Really Leske?
I was always used to having the beautiful dwarven sister Rica. I really looked nothing like her, I had tan skin, dark raven hair, and big blue eyes. Rica took more after our mother with her more pale skin, fiery red hair down to her back, but she always kept it in to rolled up braids, and her bright amber eyes. She could light a man on fire with her eyes alone and he would like it.
"Haven't I told you to never talk to my sister that way?" I said while smirking at him.
"Your just jealous because you want the majesty of Leske for yourself, you shameless hussy. What do you say?" I gasped in mock horror and leaned in closer to Leske, noses almost touching. Leske's eyes grew wide and I could swear I saw a sheet of sweat on his skin.
"When I saw your 'majesty', the sceptre was a little...soft." Leske's face turned a bright shade of red and he backed away from me, coughing slightly.
"I...kinda hoped you'd forgotten about that..." he said sheepishly. "But as much as I'd like to keep chatting, we'd better get down to business." His tone and stance was once again serious.
"Damn, Leske you take the fun outta everything." I said. And I noticed he still had a small blush on his cheeks. " Aww. I was hoping our mission was me making fun of you."
"No such luck," he continued. "Boss says we're out for a search and discipline. One of his smugglers is holding out on him. Name's Oskias, some surfacer. Beraht got word that he's been selling shipments topside that never make it to Beraht's ears down here." Huh, someone's selling out Beraht? I could feel a chuckle in my throat, but I held it back. I think I might marry this man. "He wants us to find the rotter and see what goods he's holding back."
"He stealing from Beraht? I like him already." Leske smiled back at me.
"Well, yours will be a short and tragic relationship." He motioned for us to get moving. "You ready to show him some pain." His eyes were excited.
"Let's show this duster what Beraht does to his cheaters."
"Poetry to my ears,salroka."
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