Chapter 43
The sound of the little girl's name being torn from Cash's mouth was as unsettling and disturbing as the sight of her lying on the ground in a slowly collecting pool of her own blood. Deep sanguine liquid began to seep out on the stone ground, coloring and staining it, and sinking into the cracks and waiting to be swallowed by the dirt foundation below it.
Mist sank to her knees; ashen in panic, as she watched the child's life bleed away relentlessly. Her hands pressed against the wound just below Pila's heart while she tried to apply pressure to the deep wound. Yakuzo was by her side quickly; he supported the girl's body and cradled her head while Mist tried to tend to her.
Ikyna was at a loss, frozen in shock as she watched the unbelievable scene in front of her. She couldn't comprehend or hear what was happening. All she saw was tightness of her sister's face and her lips that were drained of color. Incoherent sounds began to travel to Ikyna's ears and she could only determine that Mist was commanding Yakuzo, sending him sprinting to her mare and bag.
The fuzzy murmur of voices was soon lost behind the rush of Ikyna's heartbeat. Tearing her eyes from Pila she found the Daein soldier stumbling in the rubble and debris of the damaged building. He looked mangled and disoriented, not even aware of the havoc he had wrought.
Ikyna was furious, she clenched her bow and teeth alike, boiling with anger and inching toward the man. He stumbled over a pile of broken stones and clutched his side. He was still injured from Ikyna's last shot, but injured was far the punishment he deserved. She pulled another bow from her quiver, looking for the nape of his neck to finish what she hadn't.
The soldier didn't notice, he was weak and only focused on crawling away like a wounded animal. Ikyna would do worse to him than wound him. Swiftness fueled by anger brought the cold wiry string to her cheek. She could see the fleshy exposed arch of his neck and imagine the head of her arrow sinking into it like the fang of a predator.
She let it fly; let it seek out its prey. But the piercing arrow head missed, bending sharply to the left of the soldier and harmlessly pinging against a wall. Her aim was not at fault, it was an abrupt howl of rage that shocked the archer enough to send her shot in the wrong direction.
The sound broke free from former murmuring Ikyna had been hearing. It was shrill and fierce, a complete encapsulation of rage and indignation. Her neck craned around to watch as Cash sprinted passed her looking crazed and enraged. The child raced toward the Daein soldier as his throat gurgled with a furious cry.
With no hesitation or fear he leapt at the wounded soldier, tackling him with another incensed roar. He should have been too small to topple the man like he did; he was barely 10 and short for his age, but his anger and sudden outburst froze the Daein like a corned deer and he could not respond as Cash's anger and grief brought them both to the ground. They stumbled into the pile of rubble filling the shambles of the hallway with rattling stones and tiles.
What came next was grizzly at best although horrific was not an exaggeration. Like a child possessed, straddling the Daein with his thin and dirt covered legs, Cash clasped his hands together and brought them down against his sister's murder's head. Again and again he pounded into flesh and hair, smothering any cries of pain or mercy with his furious grunting.
Ikyna gaped, aghast at the scene before her. Such a tiny body was crushing a man's head with his bare hands then reaching frantically for a nearby stone. That became his weapon of choice and he continued his anger fueled beating. With every pound of the stone against flesh and bone Cash's anger seemed to grow; it churned with a mixture of his shock and despair. And with each blow the Daein grew quieter and soon stopped moving altogether.
Cash knew when the man was dead, but that didn't seem to appease him. He kept going, almost on reflex, until he was panting from exhaustion and his arms shook as he hoisted the rock above his head. Ikyna found herself reaching for him as she took unsure steps toward him. Through the anger reverberating around him all she could see was a hurt little boy.
Each time he brought the stone down he cried out as if he were trying to rid himself of some pain. A pain that Ikyna new far too well because it was the same suffering that still ached like a fresh wound on her heart. By the time she reached Cash she was almost in tears, barely uttering her feelings that were being mirrored so well in front of her. She wanted to do that to the black knight and Cash's familiar agony was palpable and stung like the lick of fire.
He was barely able to lift the stone as Ikyna placed a hand on his shoulder. Cash gasped, dropping the stone and whipping around to look at Ikyna. Hurt and accusation clung to the rim of his dark brown eyes. Ikyna called his name softly, almost like coaxing an injured animal. "It's enough already." She whispered knowing full well that killing the soldier wouldn't bring Pila back to them.
Pitiful child, he was panting and sweating, and smattered with fresh blood. "He's gone." Ikyna put her hand to Cash's cheek and he blinked and made a tired questioning sound as he looked up at her. His cloudy eyes flickered in recognition as if he'd just come out of a trance.
"Enough?" There was still a question in his voice, a low murmur of confusion, almost as if he wasn't aware of what he'd just done. Filled with the outburst of rage he'd acted only on his feelings. But now that the exhaustion had set in, the encounter was a blur.
Ikyna could only nod slowly in confirmation as she glanced at the gruesome corpse in front of her. As an archer she rarely got see her handy work close up, but now she was privileged to a front row seat to Cash's doing. It was bloody and gross and hard to believe a child had caused that much damage.
Cash followed Ikyna's eyes, catching sight of the mangled remains he'd made. In fear Ikyna, reflexively grabbed Cash. She brought her hands over his eyes drawing him to her with his back to her chest as she tried to shield him from carnage she could barely stomach.
She wasn't fast enough. Even being held against Ikyna's body he began to scream and struggle. Clawing against the hands that held him captive he wept in shock and disgust. He was violently ripped from his tired and emotional stupor as he lurched away from Ikyna despite how she tried to cradle him.
Cash gagged and doubled over while Ikyna tried to calm him. They were both bent over as he wretched and then vomited, the image of the mangled body was too much for him. Soon Ikyna felt her hand dampen as Cash's gasping turned to tears. She wanted to calm him, but she didn't know what she could do. All she could manage was to hold onto him as tight as possible.
The moments that ticked by were agonizing as she held onto the trembling boy in her arms, feeling almost as overwhelmed as he was. Finally a glimmer of relief came when Reyson called to her. She shifted her weight, keeping Cash mostly contained, as she looked and saw the three bird Laguz landing near Yakuzo and Mist.
Reyson flapped his way over to Ikyna while motioning for his attendants to stay with the priest and cat. Mist was still working diligently, barking orders to Yakuzo who handed her ointments, medicines, and bandages.
"What's going on here?" Reyson said with concern as he reached the arched and distraught boy. He caught sight of the corpse as he landed and cringed. "Who did this?" He asked.
But looking at Ikyna gave him an answer that was hard to stomach. Crying and clawing into the air and then on Ikyna's skin, it was painfully clear that the little boy had happened to the dead man. His terrified tears were glistening under Ikyna's tightly clasped hands and his own hands were cut and covered with dirt and blood. He shuddered to think about what caused the boy to react the way he did; but then he thought back to the girl he'd seen bleeding in Mist's lap. Perhaps that was the child's sister and the Daein had attacked her. This is what Reyson reasoned and the thought struck him with sympathy and sorrow.
He'd known pain that almost made him murder mercenaries and Begnion Beorc alike when they invaded his forest. Kneeling on the ground he reached his hands toward the boy, knowing only one way to calm the situation.
"White prince?" Ikyna questioned with a grunt against Cash.
"Don't worry I just need to try something." He replied as he put his hands on Cash's cheeks.
Cash responded in a panic, sweeping his hands at Reyson and catching the prince's sensitive skin with his nail. Reyson winced but didn't let go of the damp cheeks. Pushing through the sting he started to sing softly and emit a light green aura. Ikyna fought to keep Cash still as the short ring of a melody rose and fell from the heron's mouth.
Cash fought against it but Ikyna had him secured in her lap, locking his arms with her legs as she waited for the Galdar to take its effect. It did soon enough, sending the rampaging boy into a slump. Cash fell silent and slack in Ikyna's arms with a small whimper.
Ikyna let go with a gasp, her arms throbbed from the exertion. Reyson's song faded and he gently set the boy down as he let out a heavy sigh of his own. Breathing heavily from adrenalin he looked at Ikyna as she looked back wide eyed and confused. "What did you do to him?"
"I just put him to sleep."
Ikyna looked down at the boy who was indeed in a deep slumber. His face was cut up from shards of flying stone and a lone dribble of vomit was still clinging to his chin. "Thank you white prince, I wasn't sure what I was going to do with him." She said as she leaned back on her elbows.
Reyson chuckled tiredly, using a galdar, even one as simple as a sleep galdar, was never easy during war time. Already he could feel his lids drooping from exhaustion but he force himself to stay upright, "I'm sure you would have held on until he tired himself out."
"Or tired me out." She responded sardonically.
The heron smiled then winced as the sudden calm brought his attention to the pain in his hand. He brought his hand up and saw a long scratch where Cash had snagged him. It was bright red with pain and starting to bleed.
He looked at the cut in irritation, wishing that his heron skin wasn't so fragile. "Are you okay?" Ikyna asked grabbing Reyson's hand suddenly, "This looks bad." She murmured.
Reyson flushed, "It's fine, honestly. Hazard of my heron genes."
"Well we can't leave this exposed." She said and brought the sleeve of her opposite arm to her mouth. She tore it with her teeth and let the weathered strip dangle like fishing line from her lips as she pulled Reyson's hand close to her face.
"What are you doing, you're ruining your clothes." Reyson protested while trying to hide the flicker of pain that had flashed over his bright eyes.
Ikyna shushed him, "This is more important." After wrapping the piece of cloth over the cut she pulled it tightly into a knot with her mouth. Reyson grimaced and Ikyna apologized, "Sorry, but it has to be tight to stop the bleeding." She looked into his eyes with a somber expression, "This is only temporary though, when Rhys gets here or Mist gets free, have one of them fix it up."
Reyson averted his gaze, feeling suddenly warm with embarrassment. He nodded his head silently and cradled his injured hand. He watched as Ikyna grunted as she got up and picked up Cash. His head flopped over her shoulder and he dangled in forced sleep as Ikyna carried him.
The white prince followed her lead and stood. "Where to now?"
"This little ones sister." She motioned toward Mist as she started walking.
"Is she dead?" Reyson tried to ask a question that was less morbid but he couldn't find the words.
Ikyna instinctively cradled the boys head into the crook of her neck. Her fingers rummaged through brown locks that were damp with perspiration and she soothingly rocked him as if she was could shield him from a grim truth. "I don't know." She said sadly.
Reyson flew solemnly behind until they were at the feet of Pila. Yakuzo looked up at Ikyna, his normally stoic face had wrinkles of concern. Janaff and Ulki were standing around just as helplessly, no medical experience under their wings to offer Mist as she frantically worked. Her hands were moving quickly as replaced rolls of bloodied and soiled bandages.
She was breathing hard, and getting frustrated as she swept her hair from her face in a frazzled rush. A red line shone against her light skin like a harsh brushstroke. "More, bandages, more water!" she demanded as she busied her hands again as the deep scarlet liquid soaked through without relenting.
Yakuzo couldn't react soon enough. He was nearly dumbfounded as he watched the child's life draining before his very eyes. "Yakuzo!" Mist shouted, startling cat and archer alike.
Ikyna had never heard Mist raise her voice to anyone. "Mist." Ikyna lightly scolded. The older sister looked at the young brunette in shock and then sadly. Though the words were said in sudden anger Mist's face revealed a completely different emotion.
She looked up at her older sister and brought her hands up, holding the bright red bandages up helplessly. Her eyes were puffy and swollen and she was shaking, "Ikyna…it won't stop…I can't stop the bleeding."
Never had Ikyna seen such defeat in someone's eyes. What the rest of the group could only guess, Mist as a healer knew. Pila was dying and there was nothing any of them could do to save her. She had lost too much blood for any instruments to save her anymore.
Ikyna could offer her little to no comfort. Cash's weight in her arms seemed to triple as the heavy truth settled over the mercenaries. Ikyna went slowly to her knees and grabbed Mist's bloody and shaking hands with her own. The siblings both looked down at Pila, she looked even smaller than earlier. Shriveling as she grew weaker, her gaze fell over her brother as her breathing went from faint to a distinct rattling.
The rough sound made the sister's hearts sink. It was a dark sign of the unstoppable fate of the child. Her small hand went to Ikyna's knee, it was cold and yet clammy. Pila could not speak, but the intent was clear as her bloodshot eyes welled up with tears and she shuddered. Mist and Ikyna put their clasped hands over Pila's in one more attempt to reassure her. It was finally Ikyna who spoke, "Don't worry, we'll take care of him." A lump in her throat ended her sentence as she watched the little girl who loved her brother so much, offer a small smile before drawing in one more short rough breath and then going motionless.
Mist gasped and covered her mouth to stifle the crying that came after. She turned her head into her sister's shoulder. Ikyna barely contained her own heartbreak as she buried her fingers in tangles of her little sister's hair. She tried, but to no avail, to hold in Mist's tears. But they fell freely against the archer's shoulder.
Only Ike and Aeyori's arrival could break through the mourning sisters. He along with Kieran and Brom disrupted the quiet weeping with the sound of their metal armor. Ikyna raised her head, showing her emotion wrought face to her commander.
He scowled in confusion until he looked at the young body the mercenaries were surrounding. The sight made him curse under his breath and his frown deepened. Aeyori peeked at the scene from behind Ike. She gasped in horror, dropping her thome suddenly.
"How did this happen?" he said quietly, his muscles tight with restrained anger.
"A Daein soldier I thought I killed fired at me but hit Pila instead." She said morosely.
"Are there others." Ike asked.
Ikyna shrugged, "I don't know." She wasn't sure if she even cared at the moment. Even if there were others she hardly had the strength to fight them. The group surrounding them seemed just as enthusiastic.
"Brom, Kieran, please sweep the rest of the area. When you're done, pass the message along to Titania to have the troops rest back at camp."
They looked grimly at the display below them. Even the normally energetic Kieran had nothing to chime in except to solute his commander before he and Brom searched through the other rooms. Aeyori looked sick and she clung to Ike's arm.
He responded by grabbing for her hand and gave it a warm squeeze. Though it was for his own comfort as well. Ike had seen a lot of destruction and death during the war. He couldn't boast that he was immune to the carnage of battle but staring at the lifeless child's body stung worse than even a full field of fallen soldiers.
The scene was hard to take in for all present and even for those who joined the mourning group. Tomenami, the priest, meekly approached. When he caught sight of Pila his face twisted, "Praise be to the goddess and may she guard the soul of this poor child."
"It seems late to call upon the goddess now. After all, wasn't it your negligence that put the children in this position in the first place?" Soren shuffled from behind the priest, looking severe but he did pause to view the body. Even across his usually indifferent mask he inclined his head towards Ikyna, acknowledging her grief.
Tomenami blanched the color of his robes and bishop cap. Adamantly shaking his head he denied the accusation, "No, no, you must believe us we weren't holding these children captive." He looked down shamefully, "Those Daein mercenaries brought them to our keep two weeks ago. From what Cash told me, they were captured and used to run errands for the men."
Ikyna watched her brother's body tighten and saw him mirror the look of the churning pool of anger in her own gut. "They did that to the children?" Ike's words came out like a low growl and his clenched fists ground into the floor.
Tomenami responded with a slow and sad nod, "When they came a week ago I don't think they'd had a full meal in months." Clasping his white robe in his hand and removing his cap in pained respect for the children who had crossed such misfortune. "Thank the Goddess it wasn't any worse."
"Worse than what?" Ike said in disapproval at the priest's seemingly dismissive tone. A child was dead and the other was a kidnapped slave of Daein thugs. It was a rotten truth that was hard to swallow or stomach.
The Daein priest crinkled his cap, a dark red hue tainted his face. He stammered in embarrassment wishing that he'd worded his previous statement better. But it was hard to speak to Ike. Ike had turned his attention toward Tomenami and his eyes were a cold and frosty blue that cut like an accusing knife.
Tomenani had been trapped in his own keep by a group of ruthless Daein mercenaries but none had the dark stare of a vengeful God like Ike had. But at the same time that those eyes froze the words in the Daein's mouth they compelled him to speak. He could not escape the impelling gaze of the Crimean commander that demanded further explanation and an apology for how he'd misspoken.
"No, no, that's not what I meant," he said as his tongue clumsily dribbled out the words, "Just some children are put into trade, or left to starve in fields."
"This little girl is dead, I'm sure her brother couldn't imagine a worse situation for her." His words were spoken softly, they could have almost been mistaken as kind, but the sting was strong like a hornet on exposed skin.
The priest yelped sheepishly and closed his mouth. Soren offered a reprieve for the two, "The priest isn't far off Ike, death could be far preferable to a swollen empty belly or falling into the lewd hands of the country's elite. For now we should focus on the child who is alive."
Soren was as tactless as he always was but Ike let it slide. As harsh as the words came out Ike knew his typically emotionless tactician hadn't meant anything intentionally vicious. Ike let the lump of his indignation slowly slide down his throat. He did what he could to push the image of suffering children starving or squirming beneath plump and greedy hands.
But the bitter taste of reality had his stomach upset. The war was touching everyone men, women, and children. It devastated land, people, and hearts; leaving only a dread that no person, amount of money, or even time could heal.
Tomenami answered, "There is an open room where Cash can rest." He moved to Ikyna with his arms out, offering to take the boy.
Ikyna drew away from the priest's advances. She wrapped her arms around Cash tightly, and looked at the priest warily. He, though a man of the goddess, was still a Daein. Most of the mess they were in was his fault. She wasn't eager to release the young child into his care.
Tomenami saw the resistance and slinked back in rejection. His outstretched arms shriveled back into his chest dejectedly. Ikyna bit her tongue guiltily. In the back of her mind she knew Tomenami, despite the wrongs he'd done, was a victim just like Cash and Pila. The Daein thugs had done more than just ruin the children's lives and there was a sincere sorrow in his gaze when he looked upon Pila's body.
Gently a hand squeezed Ikyna's shoulder. She turned and saw Yakuzo looking at her sympathetically. As she relaxed at the sight of her friend he lifted Cash from her arms. He cradled him over his shoulder with a tenderness Ikyna hadn't expected from the proud feline, "I'll look after him with the priest."
His words gave Ikyna the assurance she needed. Whatever misgivings she had of Tomenami and his men, Yakuzo assuaged them with a determined and trustworthy stare. Ikyna nodded back in silent compliance and stood slowly; she barely managed to muffle a tired groan and creak. It was hard to tell if she was tired from the battle or just its grim end.
She looked morosely down a Pila once more. Her brother did the same; it was hard to tell what to do with her. Of course they'd lost soldiers before in the war. Plenty, in fact. There were many unmarked graves of Begnion soldiers who had paid the ultimate price for the Crimean cause. The path of their journey was lined with buried bodies. But those were men that Ikyna didn't know; men who were nothing more than unfamiliar faces that marched in a group of crimson clad soldiers.
Pila had a face, and a name that Ikyna knew. She wouldn't be able to dig a hole and lay that small body in with no emotion. To bury the little girl would mean to face the fact that she and her closest comrades were far from invulnerable. At any time she might have to bury Titania, Boyd, or her dear brother or sister.
"As for the little girl," Tomenami began softly, "There's a small cemetery behind the keep where we buried the previous Bishops. If you're amenable to that, Commander, I can have her body prepared and a small ceremony for her brother when he wakes up."
Mist finally perked up at the priest's suggestion. She used her shoulder to wipe her glistening eyes and sniffled weakly, "Can we do that brother?"
Ike offered his sister a pained smile as he detected the grief in her question. The commander reached out to wipe Mist's wet cheek. An ache sat heavy like a stone in his gut and a wave of brotherly tenderness swept over him. "Yes." He replied kindly.
Ike nodded at Tomenami, "Thank you for that. While you're taking care of that my men and I would like to take a better look at the rest of the area."
Tomenami had scooped down to pick Pila up but stopped to look questioningly at Ike. "Wouldn't you like to rest? Your battle was long and protecting my brothers and I didn't make it easy." He trailed off at the end of his sentence.
Ike was tired like Tomenami implied. Fatigue was setting in and looking at the heartache both of his sisters were dealing with wasn't making him eager to do anything more than find a cold corner of the keep to sit in until some kind of numbness made dealing with a little girl's death easier. But seeing as that wouldn't happen, his only option was to push through and help his crew and family do the same.
"We still have work to do." He responded gruffly, "We didn't come here to fight, we were looking for something."
"What are you looking for?"
Ike hesitated, he wasn't eager to tell all of his company's business. Nor did he feel like explaining that he and his men had trudged a day's walk and collided with a grungy pack of mercenaries at the suggestion of a prisoner in his camp. As it was, he didn't know what he was looking for; Nasir hadn't been very forth coming with the information. And though he'd been up and down the halls of that building clobbering men and also being clobbered, nothing that he'd seen had stood out to him.
"I just need to have a look around the area."
Tomenami shifted to get a better grip on Pila, she was slipping in his arms. "Well, most of the rooms inside are all the same." Ike's eyes sharpened at attention, focusing on what was coming next and hoping that it was a shred of useful information. "But just outside in the back there's a separate hall. It has a few rooms in it but it's been abandoned for years now. Maybe what you want is there."
He offered no more to the commander who hid his troubles well. Then with a short bow he turned and began calling for any priests who weren't too injured. Yakuzo watched and took in a deep breath before following. He brushed softly passed Ikyna and caught the tail of her braid between his thumb and index.
It made her smile briefly and she responded with a gentle shove of her own. The small smile appeased the Laguz as he left her. Though the grin was short and fell when Yakuzo's eyes were no longer on her. It was hard to maintain even a short moment of happiness as she watched Yakuzo's back get farther away and the child that was slung over it. The sight made her feel lonely enough to cry.
Ike put a hand on Ikyna's shoulder and squeezed it to get her attention. "We should get going." He said in almost a whisper. Ikyna kept her mouth closed to hold in a burst of emotion and she shut her eyes as well; she simply stood as she breathed in her feelings.
Mist responded for her sister, "Let's get going then." As Mist stood she gasped as she teetered and started to fall. Her siblings were quickly at her side, grabbing her and supporting her under the arms. "Are you alright?" they both asked.
She pushed them away and stumbled back. Her arms were out in front of her to stop her brother and sister from supporting her again. Ike and Ikyna stopped, surprised by their sister's reaction. Mist couldn't look at them, she knew her cheeks were red and her eyes were swollen from crying. If she looked at them she was afraid she'd look foolish and they'd pity her like a child, as they always did.
"I'm fine." She said. Her voice cracked as clenched her fists and willed for her dry eyes to stay that way. The eyes of her siblings, she could feel them locked on her. Mist hated that feeling of helplessness, or the knowledge that her brother and sister had to expend any extra energy worrying over her. Mist was as much a member of the war as any other mercenary, but Ike and Ikyna never babied them like they did her.
It was maddening and embarrassing. The last thing she wanted was to have the group of mercenaries around to witness her being shushed and comforted by her amazing commander brother and her prodigy archer sister.
She shot her head up and did her best to set her face with determination. "We don't have time to waste, let's get going and search the place."
Mist held her chin high as she brushed between her siblings and stomped off with every effort to march strongly. Ike and Ikyna tilted their heads together as their sister's pleated skirt rippled with each of her pointed steps.
"She gets that from you." Ike said as he nudged Ikyna's shoulder.
"Her good looks?" was her coy response.
Ike pointed ahead towards his little sister, "That stubbornness. She's charging forward with no clue where to go, acting like she's not two seconds away from falling apart."
Ikyna had to smile at the comment. Its absolute truth was sad yet amusing. That little girl storming off, even though when she had just been standing in front of them her knees were shaking. It wasn't unexpected, stubbornness aside, Mist had the gentleness of the sibling's mother. Violence and death would never set well with her kind heart.
"Yeah, but I think she's grown up a little bit." She added as she began to follow after Mist who was starting to show signs that she was already lost.
The oldest sibling nodded silently to himself hoping that statement was true for all of them. Aeyori slid next to him and grabbed his hand. He noticed that his sweet dragon's eyes were redder than usual; probably from crying over Pila. She motioned with her head to follow after his sisters and began walking ahead, pulling him gently. Ike held her hand up, stopping her briefly, and pulled her hand to his lips.
She blushed beautifully; perhaps the red of her face seemed rosier in comparison to the bleak situation. The red meant she was alive and so did the cool touch of her thin fingers. He complied easily and set after the trail of his sisters.
Reyson was left behind watching as the mercenaries began to converge after the commander. Titania and Soren gathered their varying supplies and began heading for the back exit of the keep. As Reyson moved in their direction Janaff flew in front of him. The light brown feathered hawk inspected the white bird earnestly, "Are you feeling alright?" he eyed him and began patting the prince down, lifting up the wings.
Reyson recoiled, "Take it easy Janaff, I'm fine."
Janaff squinted suspiciously, "There's blood on your robe." He said forcefully.
Reyson looked down finally taking notice that his white cloths were indeed smeared with blood. It wasn't his, he hadn't been hit during the fight, but Reyson had been holding Cash and he'd been all but painted with blood.
"You're hand too!" Janaff shouted in horror as he grabbed Reyson's bandaged hand.
The prince flinched and tried to pull it back by Janaff grabbed it tighter. "How did this even happen?" he asked wide eyed and panicked. He could imagine the thorough pounding his king would give him if he saw the heron prince with such an unsightly injury.
"It's fine." Reyson said as he rolled his eyes and then wiggled his hand free. He brought it up to his face and held the wrist with his opposite hand.
Janaff watched with a peculiar churning in his gut as he appraised the prince who was cradling the injured hand. It looked odd, the fair white skin of the heron prince and the teal bandage splashed with deep red mixing together. But far stranger was the protective way Reyson was holding it.
The hawk attendant stepped back sheepishly, "Well you should have it looked at and healed."
Reyson averted his eyes from Janaff's pointed and concerned gaze, "I will." He said in a low voice.
"Good, should we head back to the camp?"
Reyson shook his head quickly and started backing away. He glanced over his shoulder to spot where Ikyna had walked to, "No, I'm going to help the commander and his sister." Hurriedly he turned to walk away from the, then, bothersome attendant.
"Where are you going white Prince?" he called after the fleeing snow colored bird.
"I'm going to see if I can be useful, don't follow me." He pointed forcefully but with no malice. When Janaff kept after Reyson, the prince raised his voice, "This is an order. Go back to the camp and wait for my return with Ulki."
The command froze Janaff in midflight. He sank to the floor with a dejected frown but obediently complied. Reyson kept his finger pointed at the tense bird and used his extended digit to effectively freeze Janaff in place. The hawk watched tensely as Reyson continued to slowly back away, never dropping his command and therefore keeping the weight of his order heavy in the air.
Reyson felt his back bump into the corner of the hallway. He felt around while still maintaining eye contact with Janaff who was barely able to contain his instinct to chase after the prince. Reyson's fingers found the opening of the next turn and carefully rounded it. The second Janaff was out of sight he scurried further away before his hawk attendant thought better of obeying the order and chased after him.
His dutiful attendant was stunned enough by the pointed order, he'd mind Reyson's words for the next few minutes. That was enough time to get him where he wanted to be with little opposition. After a short flight Reyson reached the end of the hall that was closed off by an old wooden door. Beneath its frame the faintest glimmer of light was dancing below it.
The heron pushed open the door, it creaked unhappily from disuse, then he stumbled through into a field of overgrown weeds. Instantly he began to shiver, it was colder outside than he expected, and he wrapped his arms around his body as he studied the scenery to get his bearings.
Evening was starting to set in and the sun was setting and stretching its orange and yellow rings in the sky as it said farewell. Standing alone against the golden backdrop was a medium sized stone house. It was old, forgotten, and was guarded by the seed of neglected greenery and shrubs that lined what once was a well maintained stone path. Reyson could make out what used to be the smooth flat surface of a marble pathway.
He decided to fly over it, not wishing to risk catching his foot on the rodents and snakes that were sure to have made their homes and nests in the thicket. The closer he go to the building the more he realized that in was in desperate need of attention. Moss clung to the walls and some of the stone tiles were dislodged with plants that were springing out of the cracks as if reaching for the outside sunlight.
The wooded door's metal hinges were badly rusted and the wood was broken and splintered at the bottom. He couldn't imagine what Ike would find in the old and forgotten building, but the prince pushed forward anyway. The rusty hinges sang a discordant melody as their dying parts moved reluctantly.
It was dark inside, the only light was coming from the open door and the few torches that were lining the room the split into two halls; one to the left and one to the right. Reyson chose to go left, the most light was coming from that direction. The hall was lined with rooms but each was hidden behind a locked door. Reyson tried to jiggle a few loose, but even the aged doors did not give way to his efforts.
He kept wandering further into the Daein keep, unnerved by the silence and emptiness. When he felt he could bear the dark and unsettling walk no longer he reached the end where a single door was opened. Finally he heard the familiar sound of voices; one was Ikyna the other belonged to Mist.
Reyson peaked inside and saw the sisters enamored by the walls in the dusty and unkempt room. Ikyna whipped her head around, her hand found its way quickly to the knife attached to her bow. The prince flinched and stepped back; he'd forgotten Ikyna's deadly speed. But just as quickly as she went for her blade she relaxed and smiled, "White prince, what are you doing here?"
Reyson slid into the room and took in the surroundings. Though it seemed less like a place where one slept and more like a place where one was kept. "I wanted…to help you and your brother search." He spoke slowly and without attention, he was focused on the room and what he saw.
A poorly lit chamber that was small and cramped with a bed shoved against the wall in the corner. The sheets over it were shredded and faded and looked as if they were held together only by the thick layer of dust that had settle over them. On the opposite corner was a wooden pale that was tipped over. It was covered with a black crime and two or three roaches were basking in the sludge caked onto the sides of the bucket.
But the filth and threat of claustrophobia wasn't what had Reyson's attention. He drew closer to the walls and placed his hands on its gravely surface. His delicate fingers traced the coarse stone and the letters that were written on them.
Ikyna and Mist watched in silent curiosity as the prince was pulled toward the foreign etchings. What looked nothing what squiggles to them was clear and familiar. He was in awe of the heron language scrawled out on the walls. Lines and lines of his mother tongue traveled across the room from corner to corner.
His lips began to move as he read them aloud; speaking them like a beloved prayer. He couldn't imagine the faces he was making. From surprised, to shock, to sadness, Ikyna and Mist watched it all. Ikyna called out to him but he was lost in the story being told by the worn building.
Mist pulled and the edge of her sister's shirt, "Do you think he's okay?" worry crept slightly into her voice.
Ikyna had a question on her face but no real alarm. She nudged her sister gently toward the door, "I think he's fine, but go get Ike just in case. I'll keep my eye on him for now." Mist nodded and hurried off towards her commander.
Ike was on the left side of the abandoned building with Titania, Soren, and Aeyori. They'd walked to the end of the hall, breaking down doors as they went. So far they hadn't found much but dust, bugs, and rotting wooden tables or chairs.
Titania was working on the last door before the dead end. She used the end of her pole axe and crushed the hinges with ease. With a loud clink they gave way to her force and fell to the ground, clattering as the rolled. The knight and Ike use their shoulders to break the last door down. It fell with a moan and scattered a spider and the patch of babies on her back.
The room, like the others before it, was small and cramped. It was filled with the musty smell of mold and Soren had to cover his nose with the length of his sleeve as he stepped in cautiously. Titania was close behind, her boots scuffing against the stone floor echoed against the emptiness of the room.
The commander and Aeyori were close behind, hand in hand as they entered. Ike scowled as the pungent musty smell assaulted his nose. He frown became deeper as he realized the room had no more to offer than the others. It was all but empty besides a bed at the end with torn and soiled sheets. From the lack of success from the trek through the Daein keep, Ike was beginning to suspect that Nasir had sent them on a wild chase.
For the sake of Aeyori, who had a small connection with the white dragon, he reigned in his temper. Though it looked as if she as well was starting to suspect that Nasir had been far from truthful. The thought was disturbing. He hadn't been deceiving her about her siblings; Aeyori could tell they were in some kind of danger. It didn't make sense that he would lie and put the Goldoan dragon family at greater risk.
Yet that seemed to be the fact as she spun around the grimy room, making prints in the undisturbed layer of dust on the floor. She looked patiently around, hoping to find any clue while the rest of the mercenaries did the same. When she felt the lump of her hope fleeing her heart he eyes landed on something attached to the wall above the bed.
At first she thought her eye were deceiving her; but as she drew closer her heart began to race. Three rings jutted out from the wall, they formed a shape like two eyes and a nose. Attached to the rings were rusted and crumbling chains that traveled down and formed into two wrist and one neck bond.
Soren followed the focus of Aeyori's attention and stooped down to hold the metal snakes. He twisted his nose in disgust, "Chains."
"For what?" Ike asked as kept his eyes on Aeyori who become eerily quiet and still.
"I don't think these are just rooms Ike. I think these are cells, jail cells." Soren replied darkly. "And from the looks of these rooms, comfort was far from a priority."
At the word 'cells' Aeyori thought her heart would leap out of her chest. It began pounding rapidly, rising up to her throat as the dank prison room became too painfully familiar. As her breathing quickened she found her eyes darting around looking for a window or a flicker of light. But there was none in the hole that had once been a poor trapped soul's home.
Again her gaze fell on the neck chain. The lifeless clamp filled her with dread and she brought her own hands to her throat and gasped as she stumbled backwards. Ike made a soft sound of surprise as she collided with him, "Are you okay?" he asked in response to her body that was trembling against his.
He could hear her breathing as it rattled while she worked herself into a panic. "Aeyori?" He put his hand on her shoulder and she yelped.
The Goldoan spun around, her eyes wide and hands still tight around her neck as if she were chocking herself. Ike stepped toward her but she stopped him immediately, "I'm fine!" she shouted, still trying to catch her breath.
Her head was spinning and her stomach was churning with nerves. Every inch of her body was responding to the small room, reminding her that she had once been locked and chained. The corners of her mind had lost most rationale, all she knew was she wanted to get out of that place that dredged up more blackened memories than she cared to have.
Aeyori caught Ike watching her. His features were crumpled into a concerned scowl. She could offer him little assurance as her nausea started to build. Instinctively she brought a hand to her mouth as she heaved through the sour smell of moldy walls and rusting iron. "Aeyori!" Ike called forcefully.
"I just…I just need to get some air." She finally choked out as she fled passed her commander.
Ike shook his head in defeat as he made his way slowly after her. He wondered why all the woman in his life were never honest about their feelings. "Keep looking around, Soren, Titania, I'll be right outside."
Titania nodded, a hint of concern for Aeyori. Soren showed no such inclination as he began stripping the sheets and checking under the bed.
Aeyori hadn't gone far, she was just outside the room slumped over while leaning against the wall next to the door. Both of her hands were now lost in her hair as she ran them up and down on the back of her head. She was still coughing as she tried to catch her breath.
Ike felt like he'd been in situations like this before, charging in wouldn't get her to relax. He waited patiently beside her, not saying anything for a while until her breathing softened. Ike could still hear the rasp coming from her throat and her shoulders rose and fell noticeably, but he knew she was trying to get some control.
Slowly he probed, "What happened Aeyori? You look like you saw a ghost in there."
Aeyori sniffled; Ike thought she might have been crying with her head down, but he couldn't see. "I'm fine honestly, I just needed air." She paused to swallow, "I mean, who builds a room with no windows. You can't see the sun, or any light, and you can't breathe. And it smells, it smells so horrid in there." She ranted as she began to pull her hair to the side in front of her and twist it unconsciously.
She turned toward Ike sharply, her eyes were bright and burning with fear and anger, "And what kind of monster chains someone up like they're a wild animal. It's inhumane, people who do that, they're the ones who deserve to be locked away!"
Ike felt that her words, though sounding vague and general, were actually very pointed and specific. There was a dark ring of pain on her face that told him she had a particular memory of a place and a person in mind. He knew because as she spoke, passionately, crazy eyed, it didn't appear that she was looking at Ike, or at least she didn't see him. She was looking through him, shouting at and blaming another person.
Her barely concealed fear made Ike's heart ache and fueled his curiosity. He needed to know about her past, about the demons that plagued her. She was still in the middle of her heated sentence when Ike reached out with his hand as he knelt in front of her. He put his palm on her cheek and she stopped with a short yelp.
The Goldoan held her breath as her commander held his face just inches from her own. His large eyes were a cool and calming blue like an open sky. Her anger towards Thorne and the misery he'd put her through we fresh in her mind, but the gentle and firm gaze of Ike was making some of those turbulent emotions abate.
She tried to call out his name, it came out like as a mousey whisper. But he cut her off, speaking her name in an even commanding tone, "We need to talk."
"About what?" she asked in a daze. Her breathing was evening out as she tried to focus on Ike's voice and not the allure of his eyes or the warmth of his cradling hands. "About your past, about the truth of it all, and why you really needed to leave that room."
She looked up to protest but Ike shook his head, "I've been patient long enough, but we need to talk." His voice was still lowered and his thumb was rolling over her cheek, "Tonight, when things have settled down we'll talk alright."
Even with the gentleness of his words Aeyori could tell there was force behind them. He was done waiting and Aeyori didn't have the will to resist him any longer. She nodded meekly and was granted the glimpse of a small smile. "Good." He said warmly as he leaned forward to kiss her. Just as the bridges of their noses met Mist came barreling down the hall.
"Big brother come quick, something is wrong with Reyson."
Aeyori and Ike broke apart quickly, turning toward the youngest Greil child. She was flushed from the run and her hair was wind-blown. When she saw the couple and realized what she'd interrupted she blushed deeper, "Sorry, I didn't know…"
"What's wrong with Reyson?" Ike asked, getting to the point.
Mist stammered in embarrassment, "Oh, something happened with him, he's with Ikyna right now, you just need to see." She then waved the two lovers along as she took off down the hall again. Soren and Titania came out of the room after hearing the commotion made by the young brunette.
With a quick glance at his faithful mercenaries Ike stood, "Lets' hurry to see what's wrong."
The four quickly made their way to the room; Aeyori waited outside, still leery from her last episode. Mist was watching Reyson while wringing her hands together, bouncing lightly from her nerves. Reyson's lips were still moving but his voice was too low for the entering mercenaries to hear.
Ikyna turned to her brother, he paused to gauge her response. He was relieved to see that she looked only perplexed, not worried. "What's wrong?" he asked as he made a slow circle around the room and followed the trail of Reyson as he methodically ran his hand down each line of words.
His sister shrugged, "I don't know what's going on, he's just been reading this whole time. I don't think he's hurt or anything." She stopped with a confused shake of her head. There was nothing she could do to explain or help the situation. Reyson was determined to focus on the writing; no matter how many times he called his name he was too deeply in thought to respond.
With the initial worry gone now that Ike could see the situation himself, he took a closer look at the walls Reyson was so engrossed in reading. The words looked familiar, "Soren…" he called with a frown and a question on his brow, "Isn't this writing…?"
Soren nodded knowingly, "Indeed Ike, this is very ancient writing. All of our spells are written in it."
"So can you read it?"
He shook his head, "No, this language isn't simple spells. It's complex, perhaps only prince Reyson can read this."
Ike understood; he imagined that was the same language Leanne had been speaking when they met her. But there were lines and lines of writing and it was on all of the walls. The prince was extremely focused but not in any danger. "Ikyna, why don't you keep an eye on him, it could be hours before he's done with this." She nodded and took a seat on the bed as she kept an eye on the prince.
As the remaining mercenaries shuffled outside Ike found Aeyori waiting patiently outside. From the color that had returned to her face he could tell she had calmed down considerably from earlier. She perked up when she saw him and Ike answered the question she was wearing on her face, "Reyson is fine. There's some ancient writing on the walls that he's reading, but it will take some time."
She sighed in relief. The prince was fine and there was a second burst of hope for her. Perhaps whatever Reyson was reading was the clue that Nasir had been referring to before they had left.
"Commander." Soren stepped between the Goldoan and the commander. Neither one protested, Sorens's passive aggressive tendencies weren't worth responding to anymore. "Before we left to come to Reyson's room I found similar writing near the bed. I couldn't read much but I'm sure someone was being held captive there. Also…" he reached into the folds of his robe and pulled out a sparkling white item. "I found this."
Ike wrinkled his eyebrows as he picked up the white feather Soren had in his hand. He twirled the shimmering and light object, knowing that it could only come from one being. Ike looked back to the room where Reyson was still deep into his reading, "It seems we came to the right place."
He confirmed what Aeyori was already thinking. Perhaps Nasir hadn't lied and there really was a secret to be discovered at the Daein temple. But he hadn't expected it to be a heron. Whatever Nasir knew was bigger than the young commander could even imagine. Unfortunately the only one who could finally unravel the growing puzzle was immersed in translating the narrative a few feet away from the perplexed group of mercenaries. But as the time passed Ike had a sinking suspicion in his gut that he wouldn't like what he was going to discover.
Sorry guys I have to end it right here because I'm moving across the country tomorrow. I wanted to add some more, but you know, poor time management so I can't add the rest. Hopefully I get my wifi up in my new home soon so I can keep going. I appreciate your support and patience. Love you guys.-PG
Also here's a special shout out to to my anon reviewer who encouraged me to keep writing. :)
