The Exiles
Chapter 5
Aka nocked another arrow and let it fly at the target. Weeks had passed since the kiss that Rob and Aka had shared…and more. Fall had come and passed and now winter was on the land. They decided that Aka would train in earnest to further her human disguise. So they stayed at the manor during the day when they could and trained, and at night they trained in a different type of combat. The smile on her face was genuine as she shot again. Rob had no training with eastern weapons, and his knowledge of the bow was limited. None the less the demon was determined to master this skill. It would be so much easier for me to simply fight as I am, Aka thought as she drew the bow again. However she knew that was foolish thinking. She and Rob had joined a company of mercenaries, and she did not trust them. From her conversations with Rob, she knew he didn't either. Come spring they planned to leave the Inge region and move on. They had to wait for the snows in the passes to melt. Thinking of Rob caused her to lower her bow and look at the empty stable. Lord Hoji had summoned him two days ago, and the message was clear that only Rob was to attend him. In the five months since they had met this was the first time they had been apart. The snows were falling again, and the emptiness of the house was stifling. Nock. Draw. Loose. Nock. Draw. Loose.
Rob, where are you? I miss you. The cold wind blew harder, but Aka didn't notice. Her essence was fire, the flames of the phoenix. The only clothing she had on was the tunic that Rob had covered her with after they had first met. Her long black hair was unbound and blowing in the fierce wind. Nock. Draw. Release. Finally she walked to her target and retrieved her arrows.
The demon walked back to the house she had been sharing with her friend, her lover, her Rob. She stepped into the house and stripped nude. The woman walked outside and was engulfed in a flame; Aka transformed into a phoenix and took flight. The wind buffeted her, the snow stung her eyes. Rob, where are you? The demonic bird flew to Inge. Her eagle eyes could see no sign of Rob. She continued to fly on towards Haji's estate. The wind continued to challenge her; she shrieked in defiance. The guards of the estate were not alert at their posts because of the storm. And even if they were I doubt they'd see me in this storm. As she was preparing to land she saw the fat merchant come out with four of his men. They were armored and wearing furs. The merchant was speaking to them, but she couldn't hear the words above the howl of the wind. They approached the stables and the samurai soon came out with four horses…and one of them was Wind! The stallion bucked and kicked at the man leading him out. Aka flew down closer trying to hear something, but the effort was a failure.
Aka glided closer to the stables and flew inside. She perched on one of the rafters and waited. Her waiting was not in vain. Soon, two stables boys came in from outside to muck out the stables and feed the horses. "I can't believe that Chuichi was able to control that barbarian's horse," one of the servants said. "Well, it's not like the foreigner will need a horse again. You can't ride in dungeons." Both servants laughed and continued their work. Neither of them expected the attack to come. Aka silently landed behind them and transformed in a flash f flame into her humanoid form. The sudden flash of light started the servants and horses alike. The started beasts snorted and reared. One of the young men collapsed, his treat torn out. The other servant found it hard to breathe: a beautiful woman, completely nude, was standing in front of him her hand clutching his throat. "Where. Is. Rob?" The stableboy gasped and shook his head in a no motion. "Where is the foreigner?" Rage began to fill Aka and her eyes became blood red and widened. Her claws extended into the soft flesh of of the man's neck. Aka loosened her grip slightly and he gasped out the word "basement…"
Aka smirked. "Thank you." She then proceeded to tear the young man's throat out. Aka knew she had to get to Rob, but she'd need a distraction. She smirked and realized she had the perfect one available. She shot a ball of fire into the hay, then walked out into the deepening blizzard.
"Fire!" "The stables are on fire!" Alarm bells rang out and men came rushing out with bails of water. The women of the estate were pulling water from the well and rushing the buckets of water to the men. Aka waited in the shadows. Soon a young woman about her height was rushing past her; quick as a snake Aka grabbed the woman and snatched her into the shadows. A moment later, Aka stepped out wearing the servant girl's kimono and went inside the manor. She quickly searched the floor and discovered a lone guard patrolling by a set of stairs. There was a fire outside, yet this man was not out fighting it. That made these stairs important. "You girl, why are you not outside helping with the fire?" Aka smiled. "Because I set it!" She flung her hand forward and hurled flames into the man. He collapsed in a heap of smoke and charred flesh. She went down into the basement and looked around. There were three locked doors and a table with a bundle on it. Aka walked to the table and moved the blanket and saw the bundle was Rob's armor and sword. Her eyes, wide with horror, Aka snatched the closest door open, nothing. The second door was opened…and shackled to the wall was Rob! "Rob! Rob!" Aka rushed to the badly beaten man.
Who is calling my name? Rob lifted his battered head and saw a woman standing in front of her. "Rob!" "Rob!" How does she know my name?…his battered mind searched for an answer. "Rob, it's me, Aka!" Ron shook his head and whispered, "Aka? But she is safe at home…I didn't tell any…one…"
Aka rushed to Rob and took his face in her hands and kissed him. "I will save you, I swear it!" Aka tapped into her demonic strength. Her eyes widened and flared red, her claws extended and fangs came from her mouth. She gripped the cold steel with both hands and ripped the shackles off the battered knight. Aka quickly checked his many wounds. No bones were broken, but it was clear he was unable to stand much less fight. Why? Why do this to Rob? Then she remembered his words to her: "But she is safe at home, I didn't tell anyone…"
The demon became even more furious. She knew escaping with Rob was going to be very difficult. So be it. Aka gave Rob water, which seemed to revive him slightly. "Aka, why are you here," he asked quietly. She gently held Rob's hand and said, "When you didn't come home I came to search for you. Explanations can wait, we must escape. Can you walk?"
Rob struggled and with Aka's help was able to stand. He donned his armor and flenched with every movement. Blood from his torn skin flowed freely from his chest. He gasped for breath, and dropped to one knee. "Aka, leave me." The demon's eyes flashed and she roughly kissed him. "No! I will never leave you, and we both escape from here, or we both die here!"
From behind they heard clapping. "Finally, the truth is revealed. The true strength behind your duo. Things would have gone much easier for you fool if you'd simply told me the truth."