Chapter 2:
Foreigner in a Foriegn Land
"So do you still believe me to be mad?" Tiffania asked me as I sat down back on her bed, talking over the days events. It was still hard to wrap my mind around, that I was trapped in some kind of strange world which had very similar geography to Earth. I knew I was not high and sober because I felt completely awake and it should have worn off by now. As night set in I again looked to the sky and sure enough the 2 moons, 1 red and the other blue, were still there, as if mocking my sanity.
"I don't question your sanity, just my own." I admitted, still holding onto the idea that this was still just a dream. Tiffania just smiled at me and tilted her head before realizing something.
"By the way, I don't know your name." She said innocently, almost sounding like she was apologizing for her rudeness, even though I was clearly the rude one here.
"Because I didn't give it." I said a bit harshly.
"May I have the name of my rescuer?" She asked.
"Sherman." I replied in one answer. "As much as I appreciate your help I have to leave now, things to do and the like." I said, but Tiffania grabbed onto my arm before I left.
"Before you go, how about I help you get accustomed to the area, at least until you have a good idea of your surroundings." She said. I knew that it was a good idea to accept her aid for them moment, considering my lack of knowledge on how everything here works. Caving in, I decided to give her the benefit of the doubt and let her give me a small tour of the area. "Get dressed, I'll meet you outside." She exclaimed happily.
I still had my camo fatigues on, minus my shirt and only had on my undershirt. My black leather Jungle boots were on the ground next to the bed, so I decided to put them back on. No doubt I would need to get new clothes in order to better fit in around this place. I truthfully had no idea what their society would be like but I decided to just let the ball get rolling and hope for the best.
The last bit of gear I had that was useful was my K-bar knife and last Grenade, which considering my options for getting a new one were low, I decided to keep that stashed away. My body armor was in ruins and with so many bullet holes in it there was no real point in lugging it around everywhere.
Tiffania was waiting for me outside with a smile on her face and after jumping around for a bit out of excitement she told me to come along. We were heading to the city of South Gotha, which is where that I will get some supplies and hopefully get an idea of the worlds customs. I knew Tiffania didn't really believe me about other worlds, and thought I was still suffering from an injury, but I had a bit of respect for her after what she did for me. Which is pretty rare for people who know of me.
The city itself was far from impressive. Although I've never been to places like Paris, even a meager town from Earth was better than this dump. The technology looked like it was Colonial or Victorian and I swear that I could smell nothing but bad odor and rotting food all over the place. I suppose it did have its own charm though, I was used to bad smells from my days as a soldier.
"This is it, it's rather small compared to something like Londinium but it's a rather quaint place." She said, admiring the view a bit. There is one thing that confused me though.
"So why are you living alone in the forest? Why not live with your relatives?" She froze up at my question, as if she would get in trouble if she said anything. "You don't have to answer if you don't want." I said. I knew from my experience on the opposite side of the law where that look comes from. I honestly didn't care what she did or anything, whatever it was probably didn't effect me so who cares? She turned to me and gave a smile of gratitude at my understanding, though in reality I just didn't care.
"How dare you look at me Commoner!" I heard a pompous voice yell just up ahead. In front of me I saw a man dressed in fine clothing standing over a young woman who had 2 children with her. The man was rather ugly, dressed in a fine Military uniform and fat enough to mistake him for a blimp. He had a large fat double chin that looked like it was being supported by his massive neck, which jiggled every time he opened his mouth. I was amazed her could even see with his plump cheeks making it look like his eyes were squinted closed. Clearly this was a man of luxury who was pampered his whole life.
"Forgive me Milord." She begged as she bowed until her head touched the ground and her knees were firmly in the dirt. Her clothing, while not exactly bad, was somewhat dirty and ragged. I'd say she was on the lower end of the social spectrum but she was without a doubt beautiful. Her long pale blond hair almost appeared to shine in the sunlight, even though you could tell she was poor she still managed to make it look well kept and beautiful. After a nice bath to get rid of some of the dirt she would be a woman any man would die for. The 2 children, 1 boy and the other a girl, had many of her features and I could tell they were hers. The children looked no older than 7 or 9 and cowered behind their mother, following her example and kneeling in the dirt. The children had tears in their eyes and on further examination I could see a welt on her cheek.
"A Commoner like you doesn't even deserve to look at someone of my status, I should kill you where you kneel Commoner." He spat on the back of her head, which was still in the dirt.
"Please Milord, it was my fault, punish me and let my children go." She begged, not daring to look up for fear of angering him even more. Her children openly sobbed now, desperately holding onto the fabric on her hips.
"LT." The man barked to his LT., who was right behind him. "Take her away, I will deal with her personally myself." He grinned sadistically. The children held a tighter hold on their mother and buried their tear stained faces in her skirt. They could not fathom what was going on but I and everyone else knew what the man had in store for the beautiful young woman.
Tiffania grabbed my arm and tried to pull me away, wanting to avoid getting spotted and knowing that nothing could be done. I did not need her to tell me that this society was based off of a bullshit Caste System, where the Nobility rules over the Common class with an iron fist. His public display also confirmed my guess that this kind of act was legal, or if it wasn't than it wasn't enforced. Everyone cowered away, afraid that their heads would be put on the chopping block if they even so much as looked the wrong way. All their eyes trying desperately to look anywhere but the scene before them, the shame of not having the power or the courage to stand up to the man.
This is why I went AWOL from the Marine Corps, this is why I fled America and became a fugitive on the run. It was because of fat cats like this man, this disgusting rich man who thinks that he has the power to dictate another just because he has a high position of wealth and power. I shook off Tiffania's hand and looked on the ground, spotting a large rock, about the size of my palm, and bent down to pick it up.
"Don't do it." Tiffania whispered. "I don't like this either but there is nothing anyone can do against Nobility." She said, clearly being a witness to these events before.
The woman's hair appeared to turn dark brown in my eyes, her pale skin shifted to a red hue. In my eyes I saw my own mother getting dragged away by some redneck who thought the Indian Wars were more recent than 200 years ago. As the fat cat turned and walked away, the sobbing woman being carried right behind him, I chucked that rock with all my might. Tiffania gasped as the rock flew through the air and collided with the mans head, giving him a bad cut on his head and knocking him down.
Everyone gasped, the guards stopped and everyone looked at the spot in amazement. Whoever threw that rock was dead, they would be put through tortures more severe than can even be imagined. They believed newer and more terrifying methods would be created just to deal with the culprit.
Getting to his own feet, the Nobel turned in my direction and tried to pick me out.
"Who is the dead man that threw that!?" He screamed so loud I thought his lungs were going to fly out. The crowd was completely frozen, unable to comprehend what happened.
"Sorry." I said, walking up towards him, stopping just past the end of the crowd. "I missed." The man had fire in his eyes and I felt like the only reason I was still alive was because he was too stunned at what happened.
"What do you mean missed?!" He asked with venom in his voice.
"I was aiming for your Fat Ugly FACE!" I yelled the last words out, my face contorting into a feral position, ready to pounce on the man. By now his guards released the woman and made a wall right in front of him.
"You DARE!" He yelled back incredulously.
"Which is shocking because you're a pretty big target to miss!" I spread my arms out in an exaggerated motion to force my point.
"SHUT UP!" He screamed, still not comprehending the situation.
"The only thing that surprised me is how you didn't make an Earthquake when you fell!" I made an exaggerated motion of him falling. Given the terminology, I knew that Earthquake went over everyone's heads but they seemed to understand that it was an insult.
"KILL HIM!" He screamed at his guards. "I want his bones grounded to dust, I want his insides spilled on the ground and left to rot until even the BIRDS won't be able to stomach it!" He pushed his guards, only seeing red where I stood. I locked my eyes with the woman's and motioned for her to run. With everyone distracted she could escape no problem. She ran over to her children, disappearing in the crowd as the guards charged.
There were only 4 of them, 2 armed with long Halberds and the other 2 with swords and shields. I knew that my K-bar would not be nearly enough to stop them since I was at a severe disadvantage. Why did I not keep my mouth shut? It's not like I knew the woman anyway. Deciding to cut my losses I did the only sensible thing...
"Sorry, I was talking to someone else." I quickly said and turned tail and ran for it. If I was better armed than I would be able to handle it but there was no way I could take on 4 armored guards in nothing but glorified PJs and a butter knife compared to their weapons.
I jumped to the left, slamming into a fruit stand because I felt something coming at me. I realized when I landed that it was a trail of fire that came at me. I followed the line of smoke and it came from the fat mans hand... no, a stick in his hand.
"What the fuck..." I muttered.
"Now you will know the penalty of assaulting a Mage Commoner!" He yelled and more fire shot out in my direction. By this time everyone panicked and ran, some where caught in the crossfire (Literally) but all they got were some bad burns, nothing life threatening.
Thinking quickly I rolled over to avoid the fire, only to get kicked in the face from a guard who flanked me. His armor apparently didn't cover his crotch so I uppercut it and he doubled over in pain. I took out his dagger on his sheath and expertly through it at the fat Mage, which hit him in the arm but bounced off of him, leaving only a small cut.
"You drew my blood." He said in astonishment. "You disgusting inbred Commoner!" He yelled again, throwing more fire at me. I again rolled out of the way and this time he hit his own guard, roasting him alive.
"When they say you get burned they don't mean literally... FUCK!" I yelled as he shot at me again, lighting some buildings on fire and hitting some more pedestrians. Getting sick of this whole thing I ran into an alley and hopped a small wooden fence, knowing that I was far faster an more agile than he was... unless he could fly in which case I was screwed.
I must have ran to the other side of town by now, hoping to have gotten away from the crazy magic man. Speaking of which... magic, yea. Didn't see that one coming. Sitting down in a puddle of mud, not caring about my hygiene, I just sat there until the shock wore off. In the commotion I lost Tiffania but I knew she would be ok.
After some time I lifted my head and saw an Inn in front of me. Not wasting any time I stood up and went in, hoping that a good drink will calm my nerves. Who knows, I could even find some willing women in there as well.
The place was somewhat empty, a few men here or there chatting and a single waitress taking orders. When she saw me she smiled and motioned over to the counter. Taking a seat at the counter I was shocked when I saw the mother I just saved was also working there as well, as a bartender no less.
"You..." she muttered when she saw me.
"Yea, me." I replied cynically. "Don't suppose you could get my a bottle of your strongest stuff." I wasn't asking. I fully exploited the fact that I saved her to get a free drink. She nodded, knowing that she owed me big time and got me a bottle of what looked and smelled like gasoline.
Taking off the wooden cork with my teeth and hearing the satisfying "Pop" sound, I began to chug the bottle, even as she prepared a glass for me. I put the bottle down in front of me after a long sigh and closed my eyes, hoping that I would wake up from this nightmare.
"I would be that way too after ruining my life in that way." She said.
"Right..." I said, already feeling a bit lightheaded. "I saved your life and you say I destroyed my life?" I asked.
"That man was Alistair Duncan, a high ranking officer in the Albion Military. A LT. General." She said with her arms crossed. "He has a reputation of taking young women and ravishing them. He did always return them though after a night or two. I would have been in pain but I would have made it out with little damage. Now if he finds me again I really will die and you, I don't even want to think of what he'll do to you." I just brushed her off like a bad cold. I really didn't care right now, all I needed was to wash away my thoughts with this disgusting drink.
"You could always resist you know." I said.
"Then what?!" She yelled at me. "Risk my children, my business. Me and my husband have been trying to keep this place afloat since my brother died in the invasion of Tristain. I would have suffered but at least my children would have been safe!" She was on the verge of tears now.
"Than why don't you take that little ass of your and whore yourself out to him, I bet that would send a good example to your children!" I slammed my hands down on the counter. I heard a small yelp to my right and saw the 2 kids hiding behind a corner, looking at the display. "I don't fucking need this right now." I said and walked away from the woman.
I took a few more bottles and began to drink in a small corner. That was the last thing I remembered that night.
Next thing I know, I'm waking up in an old spring bed completely nude and with a throbbing headache. I tried to move my limbs but discovered that my right arm was completely numb. Fearing that it may have been chopped off I turned to see a beautiful face. Right on my side was the waitress from earlier, the one who was probably employed by the mother. She had a look of satisfaction and pleasure on her face as she slept.
Pushing her head off my arm, not giving a thought to waking her, I tried to sit up only to have the nausea and dizziness hit. The young woman woke up at the sudden move.
"Feeling better now, are we?" I heard a voice from the door. It was the mother who was standing there with her arms folded. I turned my head and saw that it was dark out, probably around midnight. The waitress blushed furiously at what happened.
"I am terribly sorry mam." She said, gathering the blanket and wrapping it around herself, leaving me completely naked.
"It's alright Cassandra, get some clothes on and after you do the dishes you can go home." She said with a caring voice. The woman nodded her thanks and left the room. The mother just stared at me, a look of disapproval and disappointment. "After that Lewd display earlier you say I set a bad example for my children?" She said, clearly annoyed.
"What happened?" I asked.
"What didn't happen, as soon as sunset hit and people came in you became an animal. Getting into fights and lusting over every woman you saw, the only reason I didn't kick you out was because a man who is insane enough to attack a Nobel clearly has issues." I chuckled at that. I always was a rowdy one when I drank.
"How is the man Maria?" I heard a male voice behind the woman. Her disproving look was replaced with one of happiness and love as a man who had blonde hair as well but tanned skin. The most noticeable thing however was his black eye, which looked rather recent.
"If you can get over his state of dress, he's perfectly fine." She said with an annoyed voice and walked away. I flipped her off as she went, both of them not understanding the gesture.
"I picked some clothes for you, with what happened before it's not a good idea to run around in such obvious clothing, especially ones covered in blood." He pointed to a pile of clothes near me. Fighting down the nausea, I got up and began to put them on. They were pretty simple, a white cotton long sleeve button up shirt, black trousers and a brown sleeveless vest. For footwear I settled with simple brown leather boots which came up to about mid calf. My trousers were tucked it and the white shirt was as well. The boots were a bit tight but they didn't feel too different than regular combat boots.
"Thanks." I said lowly.
"Johnathon by the way." He extended his hand in a greeting.
"I didn't ask." I brushed him off, walking out of the room with him close behind me.
"Not very friendly, are you?" He asked. My silence confirmed his guess. "At least let me thank you for saving my wife." I stopped and turned to him.
"You're not angry like she is?" I asked.
"While I am afraid at what could happen, the thought of what she would have endured pushed those fears down. Had I been there I would have done the same, at least I hope I would have..." He trailed off but then replaced his sorrow with a smile. "She probably gave you a hard time though. She's a good woman, willing to endure anything to protect our children. She may not show it but she is grateful. It's just her motherly duties that keep her from fully accepting you."
"Time for me to go." I said, having enough of this happy go lucky family.
"Before you do, at least here me out." The man said. Turning around again I motioned for him to continue. "Alistair has been tearing down all of South Gotha looking for you, he won't stop until he has found you." He said. "Stay here for a couple of days, at least until things calm down and he thinks you went to another town. When that happens you can leave, we'll even pay you for your work." The man said.
"And your wife agreed?" I asked.
"Well, I am the man after all, she'll listen to me." He laughed. Apparently this world is still male dominated but in this case it works out to be more beneficial to me.
"Alright, I guess I can stay for a few days." I said.
"Excellent, I'll get your room ready, but not this one because this is ours... which by the way you'll need to wash our sheets." He said a bit awkwardly.
"I'll get on it right away." I walked over the bed and collected the sheets. "Where's your washing machine?" I asked.
"Pardon?" He asked confused. I mentally face palmed at my mistake.
"How do you wash these?" I asked. Can't say I ever washed clothes by hand.
"You're kidding... right?" He asked, to which I glared at him. "Clara, come here darling." He called out to the door. Just then the young girl, who is the older of the 2 children and looked to be about 9, peeked her head from the doorway. She had on a small dress that reached down to her mid calf's and showed her forearms. She had the same pretty face as her mother and I could tell she would grow to be even more of a beauty than her. "Help this man with the sheets, will you my dear." He kissed the top of her head making her giggle.
"You would trust me with your child?" I asked.
"Of course." He said confidently. "If you meant us harm I doubt you would have stood up to a Nobel as you did to defend them." I have to admit I was feeling a bit guilty. The only reason I jumped in was because I hated the man. I saved the woman because the scene reminded me of my mothers death. Had it not then I would have just kept on walking, however I wasn't going to admit that. "Then again you did hit me in the face when I tried to stop you from coming onto my wife." He traced his black eye, which made me feel a bit more guilty. He turned and smiled though. "But you were drunk so I can't blame your actions too much... however I will have to kill you if you do that again." He put a hand on my shoulder.
"Fair enough." For the first time since I got here I let out a genuine laugh.
The little girl grabbed my hand and led me to the back of the Inn where a large bucket was, along with that thing you see people scrape clothes on in the movies to clean them.
I knew this was going to be a long day.
End Chapter 2
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