The Black Monster: The Beginning
Part 3
Cordon entered the kitchen and froze when he saw the mysterious man. The smile on his face washed away and he stared at Rose in confusion.
"Father...this is Zieg, we kind of had a little accident."
Cordon lifted his eyebrow, "and what would that be?"
Rose glanced at Zieg from the corner's of her eyes, "I...was skipping rocks at the river...one bounced a little too far toward the shore and hit him."
Zieg coughed, obviously holding back his laughter.
Cordon looked at Rose then at Zieg, "if I may ask, what were you doing by the river in the dark and on our property?"
Zieg stood up, leaving the cloth on the table, "my apologies sir, I am a lone traveler and had no knowledge of the property boundaries of the river."
Rose felt her eyes widen in surprise. Did he just call her father sir? Cordon looked impressed as well. His first impression must not have been that great.
"Where are you from Zieg?"
"A small village sir most likely unknown...Rouge."
Cordon nodded, "yes I have not heard of it, what brings you to Furni?"
Zieg shrugged, "curiosity."
"Cordon sir, who is this?"
The three turned to where Evan stood within the entry to the seating area. He seemed surprised and uncomfortable.
Cordon looked at Zieg for a moment then said, "I believe that needs some more explaining, why don't you and your father come by tomorrow and we shall talk."
Evan took some time before he nodded, "we'll do that sir," he kissed Rose on the hand, "until tomorrow."
General Khan and Evan found their way out leaving the other three in the kitchen.
Rose's father took a seat at the table, motioning for the other two to do the same.
"So are you staying at the Inn?"
Zieg paused glancing up at Rose, "no, there are complications."
Cordon studied him as if looking for any reasons not to trust him.
"Why don't you stay here for tonight, rest up, then head on your way."
Zieg was taken a back, as was Rose. This was a first for her father.
"Sir that is generous of you but..."
"Honestly I do not mind, please we have a guest room. Rose can you show him to it please?"
Rose nodded; standing and gathering his armor into her arms while Zieg to hold of his sword. The guest room was just down the hall from hers. She set his armor upon a chair in the corner of the small room then turned to leave.
"Hey umm, thanks," Zieg said still slightly surprised.
"Don't thank me, thank my father."
Zieg grinned, "He's very well not the one who hit me with a rock is he?"
Rose looked at him, "that's not something to thank someone for."
"You took up the opportunity to help me afterward, that is what I thank you for."
Rose smiled, "you're welcome."
She moved to the door, "well goodnight Zieg."
He winked at her, "sweet dreams m'lady."
Rose closed the door behind her and her heart smiled inside. He was so...unpredictable. She loved that quality in him, but in her father's eyes it could be a fault.
Cordon caught her in the hallway before she entered her room. She could not see any specific emotion in his eyes. They were blank.
"Rose tell me the truth about this man."
Rose paused then with a sigh she said, "He is the man from the sky, I just so happened to hit him with a rock not long ago."
"So you have met him twice today?"
"Yes."
Cordon sighed, "alright just be cautious around him, we do not know him well enough."
Rose nodded, "I will be father, goodnight."
"Goodnight Rose."
Rose awoke the next morning to hearing voices in the kitchen. She dressed quickly into a black tunic much less ruddy than the one she had worn the day before. Slipping on her sandals and running a brush through her hair she went out to the kitchen.
Zieg sat at the table with a smile on his face while Cordon stood at the counter also showing a smile.
"What are you two happy about?" Rose asked startling the both of them.
"Good morning darling," her father said stifling a laugh.
Zieg grinned up at her from his seat, "just telling your father 'bout some of my adventures."
"What would that be? Getting caught with a wingly's sister?" Rose said joining her father at the counter.
Zieg coughed, "actually..."
"You're not serious?"
Cordon started to laugh as well as Zieg.
"Oh dear Soa you did!"
"One thing," Zieg started in between short coughs, "we never did anything, she just wanted something different you know, against the rules."
"So you actually talked to a wingly? Aren't they..."
"Dangerous?"
"Yeah."
Zieg nodded, "yes most of them are dangerous but there are the odd few that wouldn't even hurt a fly."
Rose took that in as she watched her father set the usual breakfast on the table. Cordon always made the breakfasts while she was stuck with lunch and dinner.
"So," father started as they sat down to eat, "Zieg have you been to Furni before now?"
Zieg focused on his bowl widening his eyes for a moment as if looking for a good answer.
"I believe I have passed by a few times."
Cordon seemed confused, "really? I've heard that it takes quite a while to come here by boat...and even longer by horse and foot to get here."
Zieg bit his lip, "I have my ways."
Rose sensed he did not want to talk about that anymore so decided to change the subject.
"So father, what did you and General Khan discuss while I was gone last night?"
"The wedding day"
She bit her tongue, bad subject. Zieg glanced up at her for a moment then kept to his own business.
"When is it set for?"
"Two weeks from now."
Rose felt like screaming. Two weeks! That was too soon. Even Zieg appeared slightly surprised. It seemed like her father wanted her out as soon as possible though Rose knew he had his reasons.
They finished the rest of their meal in silence. Zieg understood that Rose did not like the early wedding date and decided that keeping quiet would be the best solution at the moment.
Rose stood up and started to clean up their dishes but her father stopped her.
"Do not worry about your duties today darling. Keep our guest company until he is prepared to leave."
She was lost for words. He had never done this, not even for family members, what was so different about Zieg?
Cordon led them both out the back entry and told Rose to show Zieg around a bit. They followed the path for a while in silence. Obviously Rose was still upset about the wedding. To rpove she was over it Rose tried to strike up a conversation.
"So how did you get here?"
Zieg looked at her, taking a long pause then trailing his eyes to the ground, "it's hard to explain."
"Well it must be if you seem so dumbfounded even for the second time it has been asked of you."
He sighed, "Actually it's more on the lines of something that is hard to believe."
Rose scrunched her nose in confusion.
"Trust me on this, you wouldn't want to know. Actually...it is bet that you do not know."
Rose laughed, "what, are you some kind of criminal?"
Zieg turned to her. He was serious.
"I can be considered one."
She did not say anything after that. They just merely strolled about the property for a good few hours. By the time they made it back to the hut it was well past the afternoon. When they neared the back entry they heard voices from up front.
"We have been notified that a man resembling the winged heathen was located here."
"I do not know what you are talking about," Cordons voice could be recognized.
Rose approached the front entry saying, "father what's going on?"
Two knights with silver armor over their rough blue clothing stood with her father, all wearing serious looks. They focused on her for a moment then their eyes traveled rapidly to Zieg.
"That's him!"
They rushed Zieg, grabbing him by the arms and forcing him to the ground.
"Hey...what the" Zieg cried out as one of the men pinned his arms to his back.
"Let go of him! What did he do?" Rose pleaded.
The other knight stepped forward, "sorry ma'am but this creature was seen yesterday with wings of an animal. All suspicions point to him being an associate to the winglies."
"What!" Zieg started, "I'd rather di..."
The knight who still stood kicked him, "quiet heathen."
Cordon winced, "are you sure you are not mistaken gentlemen?"
"Sorry Cordon sir, he fits the description perfectly. We have to take him into custody."
Her father nodded almost hesitantly, but he also appeared hurt and betrayed. The knights thrust Zieg up and jabbed him inn the back with the butt of their javelin.
"Stop!" Rose cried.
Zieg coughed suddenly, taking in a deep breath as he clutched his chest. His head jerked and he looked at Rose in surprise. His eyes studied her face for a moment then traveled to her neck and widened in almost astonishment. He moved his mouth to speak but the knights pushed him forward.
"Get moving"
He did as they said but only after one last glance of disbelief at Rose.
Watching as they hauled Zieg away Rose felt about her neck catching a hold of the choker that was still in place. Although...the stone felt strangely warm, was that what Zieg was so interested in? The choker? It was just a piece of jewelry; there was nothing really special about it other than the fact that it was a gift from her mother.
"Rose?"
She turned to her father feeling tears sting her eyes.
"There was nothing we could do, that facts were against him."
Rose choked back the lump in her throat, "I know but he...couldn't possibly work for the winglies."
Cordon gave a soft smile, "we did not know him well enough, and for that fact he could have."
She felt suddenly sick to her stomach at that moment. She knew...she just knew that Zieg did not have any relations with the winglies. It did not make any sense. When he spoke of winglies it seemed as though he despised them, except for this morning. Was he just playing an act?
Rose found her way back into the hut and into her room. She closed the door then lay upon her bed crying softly from the mix of confusion and emotion. Crying, hoping that it could clear her mind. Crying herself to sleep.