Chapter Two: Glimpse of a Haz Knight's future
"You have a question for me, my Haz Knight." Mused Big Mama. Zaha only nodded. " I see. Then what is it?"
Zaha was hesitant to answer,"...I am in love with a woman, Holy Mother."
"Oh? And what is she like? This woman?"
"She seems so kind and gentle. Yet she is treated lower. I do not know her name. But she is beautiful." Zaha said.
"I see. Love, this feeling is new to you? Zaha you don't have time for a woman. The war is getting worse." Big Mama stated...
Zaha sat that evening at the dinning table with his Knights, who had all changed from their armor to something more comfortable. The Lei family waited for the food along with their guests. So Lei tried to begin a conversation." My daughter Jessi tells me that you have proposed to her." He mused.
Zaha looked up immeditatley and stared perplexed at Jessica who waved slyly at him and licked her lips slowly. Zaha glanced at Lei. He had a smile on his face. A joyful smile. One that would break Zaha's heart if it left."...yes..." He said without thinking. And again wanted to take it all back.
Lei laughed and slapped his hand upon the table top," Perfect! When shall the wedding be? Next spring perhaps. Eliza! Cinnamon!" He called," Where is the dinner!"
The only response was when Eliza, Guasta, Susan, Cinnamon, and a few others came in the dinning room, carrying trays of food. Placing it upon the table. Zaha smiled lightly at Cinnamon. She blushed. As she placed a plate infront of him. Then moved around the table. Jessica rudely grabbed her arm," You are to be lashed after the Haz Knights have retired. " She whispered harshly and let Cinnamon's arm go. Zaha lifted an eye brow, then leaned over to his second in command, Millefullie Yu. He muttered something then glanced disgustedly at Jessica. Which had been caught by Jessica's little sister, Brenda.
Millefullie spoke up," Your servants have done well in preparing this meal."
Zaha nodded in agreement, and was going to take a sip of the wine, however noticed the glass was empty. He was startled by Cinnamon right there close to him," Sorry, Captain, but I noticed your glass was empty. I should like to refill it." She offered.
"Thank you." He said softly he could smell her tied hair. It was of hay, and sweat. She was exhausted and her arm appeared to be trembling. He wanted to help her so much. She seemed so afraid. Was she this Cinnamon girl? He wondered. Cinnamon leaned up and stood back at the wall. Zaha could tell she was holding back tears. Zaha cleared his throat." You must treat your servants well." Zaha started seriously.
" Well, if you could even call them servants." Scouled Anabeth." They are not even worthy of slaves. Animals all of them."
'Now I know where Jessica gets her negativity' Zaha thought in his mind," On the contrary madam Lei. They stand on two legs, talk,walk, do as they are told. They most curtainly are human. "
A chuckle came from the women of the house, Anabeth, Brenda, and Jessica. This displeased Zaha. Very much." Captain. Might I be so bold as to ask, are you a slave lover? I will not let my daughter marry a man who would use these things as bed partners." Lei snapped.
" I most assure you, Zaha Torte is not a man of the flesh." Millefullie spoke for Zaha." He is merely trying to..."
"I know what he is trying to do!" Hissed Lei," He is trying to stand up for a poor servants. "
"Whipping them is a sign that we care, Captain." Jessica said.
"Leaving marks on thier bodies is more than abuse." Zaha responded. All Lei mouths opened and stared at Zaha." See, I meant nothing by that, only the fact that it does hurt. I know. Big Mama also believes in whipping."
"Listen Captain, no offense intended, but whipping is a form of displine. What is the use in disapline, if you can't teach them with the harsh sting of a whip?" Asked Lei.
"I believe disapline comes with age and experience." Zaha stated sipping his wine. Glancing slightly over at Cinnamon. " Take this girl for example. Cinnamon Tea, I believe her name is, she is to be whipped. Yet what has she done? She only does what she is told and does it without complaint."
"She has been caught stealing fruit from the orchards." Anabeth said. Cinnamon glanced up at her. "Yes, a little birdie has told us."
"I see. Then she may deserve it. But it also may have to do with survival. What is her pay?" Zaha inquired.
Chuckles. " We don't usually pay our servants. Perhaps a few shillings now and then." Lei answered." Now then, I would like to make a toast. To the Haz Knights and thier brave attempts to serve the human race for the goodness of all."
"To the Haz Knights!" The family said in unision.
Zaha closed his eyes slowly, and crossed his arms over his chest. Leaning against the barn door. Where inside Lei had Cinnamon's hands tied and she hung from a rafter. Her eyes tightly closed. The rat, Olive trembled from within Cinnamon's pouch. Keeping low. Trying not to make a sound. One small tear streaked down his little cheek from his tiny eyes. And then Cinnamon screamed. One lash against her spine. She held back her tears. Zaha all the while kept his eyes intensely upon her. Two, three, four more lashes. Cinnamon's glasses slipped from her face and hit the floor. As her legs felt weak. Five, six seven, and eight. Olive weapt for his new friend. And wanted more than anything to leap out and attack the man whipping Cinnamon. And then, after nine, ten, eleven, twelve, and then thirteen hard lashes, Cinnamon was cut down from the rafter and she fell onto the ground. Weakened and trembling with pain.
Zaha watched Lei leave the barn with disgust." Come Captain, I must speak with you." Lei shouted back into the barn. Zaha looked back down at a sobbing Cinnamon, and sighed, doing as asked.
Cinnamon could only crawl to the doorway of the barn and curl up in a little ball. Holding herself tightly.Her stinging back bled. She didn't realize it, but Olive slipped out of the pouch and crawled up to ther back. His little tongue gently licking the wounds. Cinnamon smiled." Thank you." She whispered. And then tried to stand. She fell again, then she eyed a stick, big enough to support herself upon. So, weakly, she made her way towards the woods, to her cabin. She slipped a few times. Her breathing labored, and then as she was falling for the third or forth time, she was caught in the arms of a man. Zaha Torte. She gasped and at first struggled" Relax." He whispered. It's me."
"Captain." Her voice was hoarse. They came to her cabin. Zaha gingerly laid her down upon her stomach on her bed." My glasses." She finally realized.
" Don't worry, I picked them up for you. I have them." He said softly. Olive, all the while relaxed upon the back of Cinnamon's neck. While Zaha gently pealed off Cinnamon's dress, well the top part on her back at least. After venturing to the stream, he set down a bowl with the cold stream water, and dipped a cloth in it, Cinnamon winced slightly when the cool liquid touched her wounds.
Zaha finally spoke to her," Why did you pilpher the fruit?"
" To feed one's self, when no money is made, yet you labor for it. Stealing is what must be done." She responded weakly.
"I see. Forgive me for asking. I am sorry that you had to go through that. Do you know who sold you out.?"
" Yes, I do. Eliza. She is never anyone's true friend. She always betrays us. Are you the haz Knight, Zaha Torte?" She asked.
"I am, yes. "
" Forgive me for being so bold as to ask, but what made you give up your title as a sorcerer?"
" Well...I gave up on darkness. I was not very satisfied with myself. So, I wanted to do better.Karune Stella or Big Mama came to me one night and offered me an alternative from dark magic." He explained.
" Whats she like?"
" She is a kind woman, she acts as mother to all. Big Mama however is not always sweet. when she is angered.All hell can break loose." Cinnamon lightly laughed.
" Zaha."
"Yes?"
" would you tell me, what the Stella Church like?"
" The Stella Church, is rich with shimmering crystals. The fresh scent of jasmine petals fills the air. When we return from war, Big Mama has a celebration for us. Where we dance, with masks. And dress in costumes. Dancing maidens with beads. We feast for days and drink nights. Indulge ourselves with simple pleasures. Candles are lit. And wine enebrates us. An Irish reel is played outloud..." He paused and noticed Cinnamon had fallen asleep to the softly sound of his voice.
Zaha smiled lightly and stood. He looked at the rat. Who was wide wake, still on Cinnamon's back. Which Zaha covered with a blanket." Look after her." He whispered down to Olive. He left the cabin and glanced up at the moon. " Zaha." A woman's voice said to him.
Zaha turned and Big Mama stood there, he lightly bowed to her," Karune." She was not alone, Millefullie was standing with her.
" You are engaged, yet not to this woman you look after." Big Mama mused.
Zaha nodded, glancing at Millefullie." I could not disapoint our host."
" You don't really love her. "
Zaha shook his head," She is a snob of a woman. She had a girl whipped, for taking food to feed herself. Cinnamon is alone in the world. I want to be there to protect her. This is a girl, with a kind spirit." Zaha said softly.
Big Mama exchanged glances with Millefullie, who nodded and crept off. leaving their Holy Mother to speak with Zaha.When Big Mama knew Millefullie was gone, she smiled kindly at her Captain." Let me see this Cinnamon." She requested.
Zaha took a slight bow and lead her inside the cabin," She is over there, asleep after a brutal punishment." He introduced the girl, pointing over to her sleeping form. Big Mama noticed that Olive was still wide awake upon Cinnamon's back.
Big Mama gently approached her and sat on the side of the bed, she stared down upon Cinnamon." She is a good woman, you are in love with the right woman." She said softly. She genty lifted the blanket and saw the girl's wounds.She touched them. Zaha watched as Big Mama healed Cinnamon of every wound upon her back. Then she stood," Zaha, please take care of her. If you are in love, then be sure that you only show it spiritually. If you make love to her, do so as she sleeps.In her dreams. A mortal woman is not your's to take. A Haz Knight can not have children of their own." She said.
Wanting so much to protest, Zaha took a step near Big Mama, but paused in mid pace, as Big Mama stood," I must ask you, walk with me, to the stream." She requested.
Zaha took and slight bow," Of course." He took one last look at Cinnamon and followed Big Mama out the cabin door.
" Do not worry, Olive will guard her. And wake her if she is in danger." She had a kind smile.
Zaha believed her," Why can I not show to her my desire? Please inform me Karune. " Big Mama looked at him and stared into his eyes. She approached him and touched his cheek. Zaha closed his lavender eyes. And saw Cinnamon, she wore a wedding ring. She stood kissing a man at the alter of a church. The man was Zaha Torte. Further into the future one daughter is born, they live in a beautiful country side, with horses, and wildflowers. Orchards and corn. One year passes, another girl is born. In the fourth year of their marriage, Cinnamon is pregnant once more. But, to Zaha's horror, he is not the same, as Cinnamon is stricken with a sickness, and dies. Zaha in the way of greaving, goes insane and nearly kills his daughters. Stopped by Big Mama, his daughter's are hidden from him and he is driven to exile...
Zaha gasped as Big Mama's fingers lift from his face. His eyes showing terror." Why did you show me this?" He asked her. His lower lip slowly trembling.
" So you will know that you are risking the lives of your family and if my forsight is correct, your wife. She will die in any way, whether it be an illness. Accidental, suicide, or dying of giving birth to your only son. I am sorry, but I want to save the life of this girl, she is too kind and pure. " Big Mama explained.
Zaha nodded. He wanted anything to not have seen what he just saw. He joyed in the thought however that he would stand at the alter of the Holy Mother and slip the ring upon Cinnamon's finger that should forever bind her to him, as she slips him his binding to her. They have two daughters together and live in a beautful country side. This sends him away in his mind. To picture Cinnamon walking down the asle, wearing a white wedding gown, flowers in her hung down hair. Carrying wild flowers in her hands. " No." Zaha started." I will not believe your prediction. Forgive me, but I see so much I can loose if I avoid this path."
" I see, then I will not stand in the way my Haz Knight. However, what of this farmer's daughter, Jessica?"
"I shall break the news to her father and if he takes offense, then I can only feel guilt. Guilt but not regret. I know what my heart longs for, and you know this too." Zaha explained.
Big Mama smiled and nodded," Then I will leave you to do as you wish." She left immediately after.
Zaha sighed and turned around to head back to the woods, when he abruptly felt a sharp point strike his side. He writhed. A man came running from the trees with a sword towards Zaha. He drew his sword and readied himself, though he was in pain, he blocked the man's strikes. This man was not as tall as Zaha, but he felt that this man was powerful. As he had an upside down triangle upon his forehead. And he had an aura about him.
' They were days behind!' Zaha's mind screamed. As he ducked and dodged blows. And as he moved to the side, he sent a dark ball of engery into the side of his foe. Who in responce used his dark powers to toss Zaha into the running stream water.
His blood flowing with it's small current.All soaked, and dripping wet, Zaha stood and realized his sword was gone. Back on a ways. He glared at the evil sorcerer, who smirked evily and started to levitate into the air a bit.
While Zaha ripped the dagger painfully from his side and tossed it back at the sorcerer, who easily shattered it. Giving Zaha his chance to strike while the moving dagger destracted him.
From his fingers he tried to obsorb the sorcerer's magic. And at the same time, used his free hand to launch another dark ball of energy at him.
The sorcerer screamed out and snapped his fingers, Zaha winced in pain as he felt a hand clentch his heart. He sorcerer smiled. And spoke," You and your knights will die."
Zaha glared at his enemy, readying himself for death."NO!" A man's shout forced both Zaha and the sorcerer to turn.