The town is busy and Noriko's holding on to my jacket and walking very close to me so we don't become separated. I don't like how many bully gangs are hanging around the streets, and the numbers of soldiers is almost as bad. Normal life is going on, but the background noise isn't happy. It won't be safe for Noriko to explore the city on her own.
She apologized when she woke up, realizing that if I've freely taken care of her even through the diseases she gave herself, that her words were the height of ingratitude. She meekly promised to live and be obedient to my request. That was sufficient.
We're about half way to Gaya's store when Noriko steps very close to me, pulling on the back of my jacket a little, and pushes her face into my back. I can feel her trembling now that she's touching me. It isn't safe to stop right here so I walk us to the side of a building where we're out of the way and stop so she can recover. I'm keeping an eye on things around us as she does. "Are large places, many people new to you?" Always I'm wondering about her and where she came from.
Her head moves on my back, saying no. "That's not it." She takes a breath, still working to recover. "My home city is much, much bigger." I feel my eyebrow rise in surprise. I took her for a city girl, but not from a large one. "But all this is new. I'm seeing too much."
That I can understand. What her eyes are used to seeing and this may be similar, but are also different, I'm sure. I think it's also the fear of being left with someone she doesn't know in a place that is new, all over again. I fight to not feel with her, holding to the cool distance of the guard who's finally returning his charge to where he's promised to take her. It's also not safe to show weakness in places like this where eyes are already marking us and wondering if we're prey.
When she's calmed, she nods into my back and I resume our walk up the hill of this city. "Ah, please let me know when we close. I want to recognize it tomorrow," Noriko requests. It's a reasonable one. If she comes from a large city, she knows she needs to learn the landmarks to not become lost. I begin to point out the ones I use to find Gaya's store when we're getting close.
Noriko tugs on my jacket to stop me. "Izark, look right. Do you see them?" I scan the street to our right. There's a group of bullies there and I let my eyes linger on them so they know I know they are there. They look away as if they weren't thinking of anything. "Yes, them," Noriko says.
I look down at her. Her city must also have been similar. Were they also at war? "You can see those kind?"
She nods soberly. "What do I do in this place if they decide I prey?"
I get us walking again while I think. "Say you're on an errand and late. Run if you need to. If it's that many, don't use your knife. Keep it hidden. They all have them and you'll lose."
Noriko nods. "My world, same." It's a sad statement. "And soldiers?" she asks. "They are not in my world. ...Well not where I live." So some places are this bad, her's not so much. I suppose that's good.
I hope she won't run into the soldiers, though. It's troubling that they're marked as trouble makers. "Hide if you see them." I keep my eyes open and when I see a set of them, I nod towards them.
She studies how they look. "Hats over non-hats?" she asks astutely.
I nod. "If you're with Gaya, you might be okay to not hide, but if you're alone, always hide." They like to have their way with young women who seem alone. I also don't need them doing that then learning what she is, although I don't think they would. She isn't anything like what people imagine the Awakening to be. It's that she's just different enough that her story of being from an island might not be enough to satisfy them.
"Okay." Her grip on my jacket tightens a little.
I point to the last three landmarks, and then we are to the general store Gaya opened when our caravan ended it's trip here. Noriko lets go and comes at her own pace. Gaya was outside closing up the shop so has seen me. She greets me with a large smile and a hug. She's the only one that does that, and I suffer through it, pleased to see her as well. She's not surprised to learn I followed her advice and became a traveling warrior.
I step inside the shop with her to talk to her. Quietly I explain, "Gaya, I need you to watch over someone for me, if you're willing. Noriko's from a far island. Her family died of disease after they got here. I came across her alone and she's been with me since. She needs someplace safe to stay. If you could be an aunt to her, I would be grateful.
"She's very good with negotiation and would be helpful in the shop. She's always done her best to help me in what little ways she could, so I'm sure she won't be any more of a burden than she has to be."
Gaya turns to face Noriko who followed us into the shop and is waiting on us. Noriko bows to Gaya. "I've been teaching her our language, but she's still learning it," I add. "There are a lot of things about our continent that are strange to her."
Gaya walks up to Noriko, who is obviously nervous. Gaya smiles at Noriko, who smiles back shyly. Gaya immediately pats Noriko on both shoulders enthusiastically, like she does. "She smiled! A girl is prettiest when she smiles." Noriko's surprised by that sort of greeting. I am, too, actually.
Then Noriko grins back at Gaya. I'm able to relax. Noriko will know how to get along with Gaya. Gaya turns to face me and wraps her arm around Noriko's shoulders. "Don't worry, Izark. She'll be fine here."
-o-o-o-
It's hard to settle to sleeping that night. Noriko is in the bedroom next to mine. It's my test to see if I can hold still and be content with her not in reach. I argue with myself a lot as I wait for the time I usually sleep. Most of it is spent telling all the parts of me to shut up.
I stay in bed as long as I can in the morning. I want to run away quickly but that would offend Gaya, to not stay for breakfast at least. It's really my own mind I want to run away from anyway. This confused mix of emotions that Noriko brings to me often.
I don't want to have to face her this morning. I don't want to see her eyes as I walk away. I'm afraid I won't be able to go if the Teacher looks out and scolds me, or if Noriko is too sad and her eyes beg me to take her with me again. I can't do it. I can't bring her the pain of my destiny.
I'm mostly dressed when I realize she's left her room and is on her way to or past mine. I stand in the middle of the room and watch my door, wondering what she's doing this time. My door clicks open quietly and she pokes her head in. Without saying anything, or waiting for invitation, she slips in and closes the door behind her. In her hand is her brush and light blue fabric - the color of her overdress. Has she been up all night working on that?
Noriko walks up to me and looks up into my eyes. Hers say very little. "Good morning."
I can't meet her eyes any longer than that. I look away and reply with the same. "Good morning."
That was taking my eyes off of her just long enough to remember why I keep them on her. She has my sleeve and is dragging me to sit back down on my bed. While I try to catch up, she kneels behind me and the next thing I know her brush is at the ends of my hair, brushing out the snarls gently from the ends to the top of my head as she works through all of it.
I shiver inside, remembering the time I finally relented and chose to enjoy touching her hair through the excuse of painting her itching welts. This can only be that moment returning to punish me. I keep my mouth closed, although I'm tense. If I have to pay for that time, I'll suffer through it and properly pay my penance.
One more time the brush goes through all the hairs as Noriko gathers them into one hand. She puts the brush down, then I feel her fingers begin to weave them. At that I do want to protest and begin to do so. Only women wear braids in this world. Noriko silences me before the words can leave my lips, firmly putting her hand on my shoulder and turning my head back so she can continue. Is this a strange going-away custom of her world? I wonder.
But the farther down the braid goes, the more my heart plunges into darkness. The ends are tied so the braid will stay in. It's as if the chain is completed and set. Then Noriko's hand is on my shoulder again and she's leaning over me. She places the embroidered bandana on my forehead, then leans back and ties it on. I swallow through a constricted throat as my neck feels like it was just bound, not my head. It's as if the Teacher has claimed the Sky Demon, all without words. Why have I sat here quietly and allowed it?
"Don't destroy it unless you're going to come back and get it repaired. At least remember I wanted to be at your back, and am walking with you." She's still unhappy with being left behind. Even if this isn't a tradition of her world, it is her farewell, her small protest, her gift that I don't want.
I rise to my feet to look into her face. Her expression matches her words. I cannot come back, even if she pleads with me in this way. And I cannot be happy that the Teacher has claimed me, to say I'm hers and no one else's.
Noriko bows to me and collects up my bag. I remember how it was her security before when I left her in the cave. Even if she keeps it this time, I won't stay. She stands ready to leave my room and looks back at me. "Thank you, Izark, for all things." Before I can answer or move, she's slipped out the door and closed it behind her.
I slump to my bed and reach for my boots, fighting the lump at the back of my throat that's too tight. My hand reaches for the bandana at my forehead, but stops on the way. When it returns to the boot lacings, I pull almost tight enough to snap the lacing.
All of the parts of me that argued all night war within me again. I can't remove what she's done, and I'm angry, but I'm also sorrowful and want to have the gift so that there is some part of her with me - that part that spent all night making it so she could gift it to me before I walk out of her life.
Gaya's surprised at the braid in my hair. I blush in embarrassment, but don't say anything. Noriko studiously ignores us both. Only her hands could have done it and she doesn't care how we see it. Gaya, for once, wisely holds her tongue. I must suffer through a goodbye hug from Gaya, as she promises one more time to take good care of Noriko for me. Then it's time to leave.
Noriko hands me my bag. I look at only it. I even more can't meet her eyes now. "Water and herbs are full, as are trail snacks and soaps. Please be kind to your clothing." It's as if my wife has prepared for my leaving and is sending me on my way. I give her a nod and take the bag.
As I walk out the door, Noriko bows. I pause just outside the door to remove the tie holding the braid and shake out my hair. To walk through the city like that would draw too many eyes. As my hand clenches to hold the tie tightly in my fist, I realize she wasn't seeing from the perspective of a wife. Rather she was being a servant.
My eyes mist enough to make it difficult to see as I walk with purposeful strides away from Gaya's store. I don't want Noriko to be anyone's servant, least of all mine. I want her to be free to be whatever she wants to become here in the place. I want for us to be left alone and our destiny to not be written already. I want to see her smile as she does things that please her and fill her with excitement. I don't want the sober, cold creature she's turning into.
-o-o-o-
I found work before I left the town. I'm down far enough in coin that I need to make it up. It's rare for me to go for three months without work. I had the little the four men gave me for saving them from the shadow insects, but it wasn't enough for both an inn that night and meals. I'll need to sleep at inns until I'm far enough away from the area the shadow insects are in.
I found someone who needed help driving more than one wagon of supplies to a garrison of soldiers at the other end of the valley, closer to the capital city. I don't really want to be that close to it, but the pay was sufficient. They allowed me to sleep there in the hay loft for no charge and only a small fee for the meal.
They pointed me towards the nearest village where I'll look for more work to move me onward away from this place. As I enter the village, even they have complaints, and they are bad. It's as if the closer I get to the capital city the more corruption there is. The government controls the harvests, and thus the costs the people have to pay, and they're raising them rather than see their people properly fed.
The village leadership delays granting a merchant a permit until they pay a bribe, making his products more expensive as well. A mother bemoans her son's fate to be punished for the crimes of others in power because no one can go against them. It's a sad state this country and the world are coming to, where evil men prosper at the expense of the meek who merely wish to live their lives peacefully.
I'm paying attention to these conversations the wind brings me as I listen for possible work opportunities. I hear feet in a hurry, but am surprised when they carry a person into mine, and with a bump I'm paying closer attention to my immediate surroundings.
"I'm sorry," a female voice says.
Instinctively, I grab at her arm. "Noriko?" The name is out of my mouth before I can prevent it. The size and the fluffy hair were similar, but the surprised face looking into mine is of a local girl. "Ah, sorry, my mistake," I apologize and let her go.
I put my hand to my face in embarrassment as I walk on. I've become too accustomed to having Noriko with me. To have let down my guard enough to not have even noticed the woman was that close isn't like the me before Noriko came. It isn't bad that I let her through since she's what I protect also, but if I were to let anyone who meant me harm get that close it would be very bad. I would have another set of ruined clothing and that person would likely be dead before I realized what I was doing. She was lucky I only grabbed her.
I didn't need the reminder of Noriko. I'd been finally not thinking so much of her. I need to let her go and move forward. I try again as I look around for anything that might bring me work. Nearby is a tavern. Sometimes those who are in the middle of travels rest there. Sometimes I can hear things that will bring me work.
I head there and walk up to the bar. It's worth it to give up a little coin for drink if I can get more coin from work found. Not that any of it tastes any good in small villages like this, nor can I get drunk. Two who are trying turn to me to add another person to their tales of woe and complaint. Their business was taken from them because they couldn't meet the stringent requirements placed on them because they weren't the favored shippers. I could probably help them, but they're already too drunk and already have lost the work.
As I begin to listen to the wind, I suddenly hear instead my name. "Izark!" I turn and look around the room, but don't see anyone who would know me. I stand at the bar, confused. It almost sounded like Noriko's voice, and rather panicked at that. Am I hearing things now? I don't understand.
As I'm about to try listen to the other conversations in the room again, I feel a strong presence behind me. Words come with it. "I see. So I can win the prize just by twisting this girl's arm, eh?"
The wind brings me words to help me understand just a little better. These are from above, on the second floor of this place. "He's the champion of the last tournament. He's as strong and cruel as number three." I'm not interested in facing someone like that, even if they do need the lesson. Most believe I'm weak, being young and thin. It's not a good disguise when I want to be left alone by these kinds.
"Hey some rich guy wants to watch us fight. If you win, you can get a huge reward. He watching us from up there." The muscled man is bald at the top of his head, but the rest of his hair is long. He's dressed for fighting, no loose clothing and it's all simple, even short sleeved. He must be called upon frequently. The "rich guy" is standing at an opening from the second level that looks down on the tavern area. He has several guards and an attendant with him. He's cruel just from this distance.
I've come across people similar to this before. They bet on the fighters, but all they want to see is men hurting each other. I don't need a "reward" of that kind. The wind brings words from those watching from above again.
"It's obvious which one is going to win, Mister Nada. It'll be boring if the fight is over too quickly."
"Well, sometimes it's fun to watch a fast game." I recognize the name. He's one of the people in contention for the throne of Zago. My stomach turns. What an awful person to have lead a nation. I hope he doesn't win.
A sudden flash of sound distracts me. "Izark!" It's much clearer this time, and it's definitely Noriko in great distress. Are you calling me? What's happened? Is she in danger?
Regardless, I want out of this situation and place. I grab up my bag. "Sorry, I'm not interested in fighting. Go find someone else." I'm already moving.
"Hey, hey, you can't do this to me!" the big man confronting me says. He grabs my shoulder as soon as I'm past him. "I won't get the prize money until I beat you."
Like that's important?
From above, loud enough to be heard by both of us, and more, Nada says, "That's it! He'll have to fight to save his life."
"You hear that?" the big man says, pulling me back.
I answer him by grabbing his wrist and twisting his arm. He twists with it until I can push on his back. He flies past several tables and I'm headed out the door.
"Wait! Wait!" Nada calls out. I ignore him, striding out the door and back down the street the way I came.
Why am I hearing the voice of the Awakening? Noriko's never called to me in my head before, even when she was afraid. This isn't my skill, to hear the voices of others, nor to be a seer. Yet...I'm sure she's in trouble. I pause my forward motion in confusion again. Do I go back and make sure she's okay, or do I flee because the chain she put on me yesterday has pushed me even closer to what I don't want to become?
"I-zar-k ...help!"
I'm up on top of a building, looking towards the town I left Noriko in. If I run as fast as I can, I'll be there in two and a half hours. What will happen to her in that time? Will I get there in time?
I blink, surprised at myself, worried about my own safety as well as hers, then I'm interrupted by the feel of something even more than the man I just left behind. There's another man up here on the roof with me. Not very many men can do what I did and jump from the road to the roof of a building. Keimos comes to mind and I spin around.
It isn't him, to my relief. Rather it looks like another sort of fighter as before. I remember that Nada mentioned numbers. There are more fighters who are used for the sport of that slimy man. "Do you have supernatural powers?" he asks, but he doesn't care to wait for the answer. "Come with me. I can impress Lord Nada if I take you."
"Not interested," I reject him immediately. I don't live to make other people look good, nor for them to stroke their own egos.
I'm already to the next building's roof when his words and a wind reach me. "Don't make the mistake of thinking that I'm like that big ape you just saw, pal."
It wasn't my wind, and once again I'm taken off guard. I get a lungful of something in that wind. My own wind swirls up to chase whatever it is away, but it's already too late. "I have a supernatural power. I can control wind. You've already breathed in my wind, haven't you? It's a mixture of green-root herb and full-moon fragrance. Enjoy the taste."
I'm not. My limbs are already not responding to me and I slump to my knees. My eyesight is dimming and my head is swimming. As unconsciousness overtakes my poisoned body, I can only curse at myself for becoming too relaxed. This close to a city brimming with evil was not the time or place to allow that kind of slip up. My last thought is of Noriko. I'm sorry. Please stay safe.
