Part 1
*Thump*
With a soft grunt, the aged clerk slid the stamped piece of paper across the wooden table, replacing the stamp on a velvet inkpad.
"There you are," he mumbled, already looking down at the next license application. "All taken care of."
Sieg blinked in surprise, his large ears twitching slightly as he looked down at the paper, his heart racing, "So… that's it?"
"Your application is approved. This is your final authorization certificate, as well as your mating and conception of offspring license."
Sieg felt Marien stiffen a little beside him, her tail twitching nervously and bumping up against his chair. For a few moments the two simply sat there, Marien staring down at the table and Sieg nervously clenching and unclenched his paws against the rough cotton of his pants.
With a heavy sigh the clerk looked up at the two young Basitins sitting across from him, peering at them over the rims of his half moon spectacles, "Was there something else?"
"Well…" Sieg's throat was very dry as he turned and looked at Marien, his face burning with a mixture of excitement and nervousness, "I… suppose not."
"Good." Again the clerk looked down at the next form in front of him, just one of a titanic stack upon his desk, "You have one week to complete your mating, and to confirm conception of offspring. As this is your first mate, if no child is conceived within the allotted time, you may return here and fill out a special extension and exemption form." Leaning over his desk the clerk called out, "Next!"
For a moment, Sieg and Marien didn't move and simply looked to one another. As their eyes met, both began to blush.
With the law allowing for only one week per year for couples to live together and enjoy one another, the normally deserted "Relations and Reproduction Authorization Bureau" application office was packed. Sieg and Marien had joined the line just before sunrise, and now administrative aides were walking up and down the hallway, lighting torches as the sun began to slip below the horizon.
Before Sieg could ask anything more, there was a gentle, "Ahem" from behind him. Another couple was standing a few paces away, their tails twitching in impatience at the sudden slowdown of the line. The pair was several years older than Sieg and Marien, likely trying for their second or even third child. Many many more couples stood in a line that snaked out of the small office and into the cavernous hallway of the Civilian Administration building.
Hurriedly getting up from their wooden chairs, both Marien and Sieg bowed in apology to the couple behind them.
"Best of luck, long live the king," the clerk said, his tone so dull and bored, Sieg found it unlikely that the old Basitin even knew or cared about what he was saying anymore.
Her face glowing with anxious embarrassment, Marien hurriedly exited the office. As Sieg started to leave as well, he felt a hand grip his shoulder.
"Hey, hold up a second."
Sieg turned to see the older male standing behind him, Sieg's license in his hand.
"You forgot this," the man said, waving the papers gently. "Wouldn't want to go ahead without the paperwork, would you?"
"O-of course not," Sieg stammered, taking the license from the man's hand and gently folding it into a pocket of his tunic. "Th-thank you sir."
"First time?"
Despite the immense indecency of such a question, Sieg nodded quickly, "Y-yes."
"Good for you." The male leaned forward and spoke quietly in Sieg's ear. "Forgive me, but may I offer a small piece of advice to you son?"
"Kent, leave the poor boy alone." the man's wife scoffed.
Judging by his stature and physique, Sieg could tell that the man was obviously a soldier, likely an officer judging by the quality of his clothes. Swallowing hard, and not wishing to be rude, Sieg nodded, "I suppose so."
"You have the pamphlet I assume."
Again, Sieg's heart felt like it would leap from his chest. He had, of course, been given the government issued pamphlet regarding mating when he and Marien had first started the process of applying to become mates. Though the material within had been extremely light on details, and had been little more than suggestive text, Sieg had found the feelings it aroused in him to be distinctly uncomfortable. Still… from time to time he had dug it out from under his mattress and flipped through it, his thoughts drifting to his beloved Marien as he did.
"Yes sir," he answered at last.
The male smiled warmly, patting Sieg on the shoulder as he whispered, "Good. Throw it out."
Sieg's eyes grew wide, "Throw it out?"
"You can focus on 'efficiency' later. Take the time to get to really know one another. It's your first time, you only get one of those in your entire life, so enjoy it. "
"But..."
The male smiled and stepped away, "Just my advice young one, do with it as you will."
With a bewildered, slightly shell-shocked nod, Sieg turned and walked away.
"What was that about?" the female asked as Kent took his seat beside her, raising an eyebrow at the mischievous smile on her mate's face.
"Nothing dearest," he replied, taking her hand. "Just giving him the same advice your father gave me."
"Oh Kent… you didn't."
"I did."
"Oh that poor girl… that poor boy…"
"They'll be fine," Kent replied, his face cracking into a grin. "Who knows, they might even have some fun."
By the time Sieg arrived back at his apartment, the sun had slipped below the horizon, and thick dark clouds had blown up from the sea and over the city.
As he stood at the doorway into his room, Sieg felt his knees wobble a little. His apartment was small, but a single room with a fireplace against one wall, a small desk against another, and a tiny table and chair in the center. What few personal items he possessed sat upon a few small shelves, and on a hook beside the door was his helmet. What truly made him gulp was the sight of his bed.
With a deep breath to calm his nerves, Sieg stepped inside, hung up his cloak, and set to work. Vibrating with nervous excitement he began rushing around, getting a fire lit and tidying things he had tidied many many times over the past few days. He was a hurricane, sweeping and scrubbing, making certain that everything was perfectly straight and neat.
As he finished tucking in the sheets of his bed for the fourth time, Sieg paused. Slowly, he reached under his mattress and withdrew the dark blue pamphlet. On the front, in small, unassuming letters, were written the words: "Procreation for the Continuation of the Basitin Species: An Overview."
"Procreation is a necessary act in order to facilitate the continuation of the Basitin Species." Sieg read to himself, flipping the pamphlet open and peering at the first page, "Unlike both humans and Keidran, the Basitin Kingdom considers these carnal realities to be an essential part of service to the nation, rather than self indulgent pleasure. With this in mind… a mating pair should strive for the greatest possible efficiency when..." Sieg gulped, "When conducting physical intercourse."
Even through her heavy oilskin cloak, Marien still felt a chill as cold, heavy rain poured down from the sky. She moved as quickly as she could without running, making her way through the twisting city streets towards the male quarter.
Despite the dark and the rain, the city was still very much alive. During the one week per year when mating was legal, the city became a very different place. Males and females mingled together, walking down the streets together, some even going as far as to hold hands. Even through the sound of the rain, Marien's sensitive ears could hear the voices and moans of other couples in the buildings around her.
While Sieg had his own apartment, Marien lived with four other females, so having him come to her place was out of the question. Though technically she and Sieg had been married for several months, they had been unable to spend more than a few hours together at a time.
When the topic of Sieg came up, her housemates had been eager to tease her.
"Bring him over." they had teased, "We want to see what he looks like."
"He must be handsome, the way you blush when you talk about him."
"Is it true he's part Keidran?"
"You haven't seen him since your marriage? You mean you haven't done anything yet? How conservative of you."
As she turned onto the street where Sieg lived and caught sight of the window of his apartment, Marien paused for a moment. Her heart beat fast, her stomach did flip flops, but… there was something else as well, something deeper down.
Her whole life, Marien had had to fight against what others thought of her. Her grandmother had been a Western Basitin, and while her mother had managed to pass as normal, Marien had been cursed with telltale dark fur and soft aqua eyes. Unlike the Eastern Basitins, the Westerners were an open, sensuous people, who cared little for the puritanical values of the East. As a result, Marien had been scorned and looked down on, whispers and accusations had followed her throughout her entire life. She'd even been called a whore more than once, and though she had made short work of her accusers in the resulting duels, the suggestion that she was some sort of harlot had haunted her. So while some of her schoolmates and housemates had snuck out at night, engaging in risky and indecent escapades, Marien had never allowed herself to take part.
But as she stood on the street corner, catching the off glimpse of her beloved Sieg as he rushed around, making certain that his apartment was perfect, she felt a powerful warmth rising up within her.
She loved him, and dammit, tonight that was all that mattered. Tradition, laws, the judgements of others, they could all jump in the sea for all she cared. She was going to enjoy herself dammit, and there was nothing wrong with that.
"All right." She whispered to herself, squaring her shoulders, "I am Marien Kolvest" she muttered to herself, "I am a Basitin, I am a soldier, and I am the wife of Sieg Kolvest, and tonight is the night. Let's do this."
With a deep breath, she marched across the street.
The sound of a gentle knock on Sieg's door made him jump, the pamphlet flying out of his hands and dropping to the floor.
"W-who is it?" Sieg called out, hurriedly rushing over to pick up the pamphlet.
"It's me." Marien's gentle voice replied, "May I come in?"
As Sieg bent down and retrieved the pamphlet from the ground, he paused.
"Sieg?"
With a deep breath, Sieg picked up the pamphlet and flung it into the fire. As the pages crinkled and vanished into flames, he turned towards the door, "Come in."
With a low creak the door opened, and Marien stepped inside, shaking droplets of rain from the long cloak she wore. As she reached up and pulled the hood back, Sieg's breath caught in his chest.
Marien's fur was darker than most other Basitins, the result of some western blood somewhere in her lineage. While Marien's impure heritage led many other Basitins to turn up their noses at her, Sieg had always found it alluring.
But it wasn't her fur, or her eyes, or her beautiful chestnut hair that made Sieg pause. Standing there, in his doorway, was the woman he loved, the woman who had chosen him, that he had fallen for, that he had married despite the vocal opposition of his father and his mother. There were no more rules standing between them, no more paperwork, no more anything… it was just them, together, in that moment.
In a flash all of the words they'd prepared, all of the gestures they'd intended to make, simply vanished. The piece of beef that Sieg had saved up for weeks to buy for their first meal together, sat completely forgotten on the counter. The special bottle of wine he had bribed his neighbor for sat on the table, utterly unnoticed. The two simply stared, their eyes locked on one another.
Their movements were stiff, almost mechanical, their eyes never once leaving on another. Before either of them knew it, they were both kneeling on Sieg's bed, their faces mere inches apart. The Rest of the world faded away, nothing else mattered in the slightest.
Sieg's heart thumped against his ribs as he spoke, "I… uh…"
Marien nodded quickly, "Yes… me too."
"S-so this is it?"
"Marien nodded, her tail thumping rhythmically against the mattress as her chest rose and fell quickly, "I think so."
"So uh…. What do we do now?"
Marien gulped, "I was hoping you'd tell me."
"Y-you don't know?"
"I mean…. I never really… asked." The redness of her face was visible even through her dark fur.
"M-me neither."
"D-don't you have the pamphlet they gave us?"
Sieg froze, "I uh… No... I…. I burned it."
Marien blinked in surprise, "You what?!"
"I burned it."
"W-why would you do that?!"
"I don't know…" Sieg moaned. With a heavy sigh he looked down at his hands, "I'm sorry… This is just so… I don't know. I wanted it to be special..."
"Oh Sieg..." With a sigh and a warm smile, Marien reached out and gently lifted Sieg's chin so that he met her eyes. As they met, she leaned in and kissed him.
"It is special," Marien said, breaking off the kiss and smiling at Sieg. "Because it is with you."
"I love you Marien."
"I love you Sieg."
"So… what should we do?"
"Well… I suppose… these clothes are going to… get in the way." Marien reached down and undid the clasp holding her ankle bindings.
Sieg felt as if his heart was going to break his ribs as he nodded quickly, "Right." Hurriedly he pulled his shirt over his head.
Marien felt a rush as she looked at Sieg's bare chest. She had never told him, but she had seen him shirtless once before, while he was swimming with some of the soldiers in his unit. Now, as then, the sight of his muscles created a warm tingling feeling in her belly.
Bracing herself, she reached up and began releasing the clasps of her tunic.
"Wait, I think I should…" Imitating a move he had witnessed once before, Sieg reached out his hands and touched Marien's ear.
With a gasp Marien pulled back, the sudden rush of sensation flooding through her body startling her. Sieg, equally surprised, instinctually tightened his grip. With a loud yelp of pain, Marien reared back, dragging Sieg with her, her tunic tearing open. In an almighty tangle of limbs and sheets, the two tumbled off Sieg's bed and crashed to the floor.
Frantically pulling his head free of a sheet, Sieg cupped Marien's face in his hands, "Are you okay?"
"Ow…" Marien groaned, "That hurt."
Sieg pushed his forehead against Marien's. "I'm sorry! I'm sorry! Oh I'm sorry."
"It's okay Sieg, it's okay, I'm fine."
With a relieved sigh, Sieg lowered his head, resting his forehead against Marien's bare chest, "Thank goodness."
They lay together on the floor, their bodies not so much intertwined as much as they were bound together by a mass of blankets and sheets. After a moment, as the sheer ridiculousness of their situation set in, they both began to laugh. Soon both were unable to breath, each holding the other and laughing.
Eventually the laughing faded, tuning to gentle, tender chuckles
As she fought to catch her breath, all of a sudden Marien's eyes widened, "Uh… Sieg…"
"Yeah?"
"What… what is that I feel."
Sieg froze, his face turning red again as he looked down, "I… um…well..."
Again, the two met each other's gaze. Then, as if on a signal, the two pulled each other close. The next few moments were frantic, garments torn off and flung aside. Doubt, embarrassment, unease, all were tossed aside.
"So?"
"Hmmm?"
"How was it?"
Marien smiled and planted a kiss on Sieg's nose, "It was nice."
"Yeah… it was."
Sieg and Marien lay in front of the fire, nothing but a sheet covering them. Sieg lay on his back, while Marien lay on top of him, her chin resting on his chest. The candle on the table had long since burned down to nothing but a stump. The fire was little more than coals now, casting a warm glow across the room.
"So what should we do now?" Sieg asked, gently stroking Marien's ears.
"Mmmmmm… Sleep."
"You wanna… you know, again?"
Marien chuckled, tracing patterns in the fur of Sieg's chest with her finger, "Three times wasn't enough for you?"
"Yes… No… I don't know."
"We have a week love, no need to hurry."
"I don't want to do anything else for the rest of my life." Sieg wrapped his arms around Marien and held her close, "I don't want you to go… I can't imagine not seeing you for most of the year."
"We'll have our chances."
For a long time the two simply lay together, each listening to the heart beat of the other.
"I can't believe you burned the pamphlet," Marien chuckled to herself as her eyes started to drift closed.
"I think it went alright," Sieg muttered, his eyes also sliding closed.
"Yeah…"
"Think we'll have a child."
Marien smiled to herself, "I hope so…"
"Me too…"
And as the world turned, as wars were fought, plans were hatched, lives were saved and hearts were broken, in one small apartment, on an island in the sea, in the light of a dying fire, two young lovers fell asleep, dreaming of what might come next.
End of Part 1
Part 2
*knock knock*
"Mmmmph…"
*knock knock*
"Mmmmmph, go away…"
*knock knock*
With an irritated groan, Sieg's eyes slowly slid open. Judging by the light coming through his windows the sun was just barely poking over the horizon. As he struggled to gather his bearings and blink the sleep from his eyes, the sound of knocking again filled his room.
*knock knock*
Sieg yawned loudly as he pulled his blanket off and dropped his legs over the side of his bed. It could not have been more than four hours since he had finished his guard shift down at the city docks. His cloak and his armour lay in a heap on the floor while his helmet sat on the small table in the middle of his room, next to a small wooden bowl of cold soup he had eaten before climbing into bed.
*knock knock knock*
"Alright!" Seig called out, blowing the tassel from his sleeping cap away from his face, as he tried to rub the sleep from his eyes "I'll be right there, give me a moment."
Reaching under his pillow, Sieg pulled out a small piece of folded cloth. Placing the cloth over his nose he inhaled deeply. As the scent of his mate, Marien, filled his nose, his heart began to glow. On the far wall, a calendar counted down the days until the one precious week a year when males and females were allowed to mingle and mate. Though the time was only a few months away, the lines upon lines of days that stood between that date and the present felt like a weight pushing down on Sieg's heart.
Thank goodness they had found other ways to stay close to one another. At one part of the wall that separated the female quarter of the city from the male quarter, beneath an apple tree, there was a loose brick that could be removed, with a small hollow carved into the rock below. On alternating weeks Sieg and Marien would each drop off a small piece of fabric they had carried with them for the past two weeks in the hollow, along with the odd sweet or letter. It wasn't much, but it was as close as Sieg and Marien got to each other, aside from the odd sanctioned meeting in one of the pre-approved and heavily monitored parks, which felt more like a prison visit than a real meeting.
Replacing the cloth under his pillow, Sieg climbed to his feet and walked over to his door, making certain that his pajama bottoms covered his ankles. Cracking the door open he was extremely surprised to see a pair of middle aged Basitins standing outside carrying a large wicker basket.
"Mother? Father?" Sieg's mouth fell open, "W-what are you doing here?"
Sieg's mother smiled warmly at the sight of her son, "Your father was able to get us special permission to visit you. We brought some breakfast for you."
"I… wasn't expecting visitors." Sieg stammered, "Just… give me a moment."
Quickly closing the door, Sieg tore across his apartment and hurriedly pulled on his clothes, pushing his pajamas under his bed. Rushing back towards the table he tossed the dirty bowl into the small bucket he used for washing dishes, and used a broom to sweep whatever scraps of detritus that were on his floor into his fireplace. With his frantic tidying finished, and trying to keep himself from panting from the effort, Sieg did his best to smooth down his tunic and opened the door.
Sieg's mother was shorter than most Basitins, with light taupe fur and wide yellow eyes. The tips of her ears were turning grey, and there were streaks in her platinum blonde hair. Sieg's father, on the other hand, was tall for a basitin, and much darker coloured than his wife. His eyes were narrow and severe, his pupils a brown so dark they seemed almost black. As with every time he stood in his fathers presence, Sieg could not help but feel as if his father's gaze was drilling through him.
"Hello my boy," Sieg's mother said, setting aside the basket she carried and clasping Sieg's hands in hers. "How have you been?"
"I've… been busy," Sieg replied, stepping to the side as his father pushed past his mother and stepped into the apartment. "I- uh, I've been assigned to the port garrison. Afternoon and evening guard duty."
"That's wonderful!" Sieg's mother beamed. As she spoke, her eyes drifted up to the top of Sieg's head. It was at that moment that Sieg realized that he was still wearing his nightcap.
Hurriedly, Sieg pulled off his nightcap and tossed it aside, "F-forgive me… I wasn't expecting anyone."
"It's alright, we understand. Oh… just look at you, so tall and handsome." With a smile she reached up and gently pulled on the small curl of fur on Sieg's chin, "And you are even growing a beard! It looks so good on you!"
"Kara, some decorum, please," Sieg's father mumbled. As he looked around the apartment he shook his head, "Guard duty... No son of mine should just be standing around with a spear. You should be on the front lines, doing something of note."
"Shame on you Conrad! Guard duty is a perfectly honourable position," Sieg's mother scolded. She looked back at Sieg and smiled, "I am proud of you."
"Thank you mother."
"Honour doesn't pay the bills Kara," Conrad replied, looking sideways at his wife. "And it is hard to climb the ranks when you are simply standing around."
"You started on guard duty didn't you?" Kara replied. "Everyone has to start somewhere. You should be proud of Sieg."
Conrad looked sideways at his wife for a moment, before sighing and looking around the apartment, "So this is where you have been living. It's rather small, isn't it."
"Maybe for a Colonel, but it suits me just fine," Sieg replied, picking up his mother's basket and carrying it to the table. "I don't need much more than this. Not for now anyways."
"Mmmm, this is, in fact, why we came to talk to you," Conrad replied, straightening Sieg's helmet hanging on the wall.
"We can discuss that later," Kara replied, a note of nervousness in her voice that made Sig's ears twitch. "For now, let's have something to eat, shall we?"
"Yes, indeed," Conrad looked over his shoulder at Sieg. "Help your mother, would you?"
As Sieg dug into the basket, his mother leaned close and whispered in his ear, "Forgive your father, he is under a great deal of pressure these days."
"It's nothing new," Sieg muttered. His eyes widened as he picked up a small bottle from the basket, "Is that clover honey?"
"I thought you should have something nice."
Sieg's face turned a little red as he looked around his apartment, "I… I don't really have enough plates…"
"I thought of that," Sieg's mother pulled a cloth out from the depths of the basket, revealing a trio of plates and some fine silverware.
With a smile, Sieg looked back at his mother, "You thought of everything."
Sieg's mother gently touched his cheek, "I've missed you my son."
"Me too, mother."
A few minutes later, Sieg was sitting on top of his overturned wash bucket, his mother beside him sitting on the now empty basket, and his father in his chair. From the basket his mother had produced a feast, strips of crispy bacon, smoked fish, and thick red slices of tomato. A plate of cheese sat in the center of the table, as well as a loaf of sweet berry bread and a small collection of apple turnovers. There was even a steaming pot of real tea, imported from the fox lands judging from its spicy aroma.
Sieg's mouth watered and his stomach growled as he stared over the feast. He had not eaten this well in some time, not since being ejected from his father's home following his decision to marry Marien.
"There we are," Sieg's mother smiled, placing a cup of tea in front of Sieg. "All ready." She turned to her husband, "Would you like to speak?"
Conrad nodded, "Indeed."
Conrad, Sieg and his mother all lowered their heads as Conrad spoke, "We thank the sea and the land for their bounty, our warriors for our safety, and the wisdom of the law for the path set before us. Long live Basidian, long live the King."
"Long live the king," Sieg and his mother both mumbled.
Before Sieg could move his mother began piling food onto his plate.
"You look so thin," She scolded. "You men never know how to look after yourselves."
"I…" Sieg sighed and smiled at Kara. "Thank you mother."
"So," Conrad said, taking a piece of bacon and putting it on his plate, "What are your plans for the future my son?"
Sieg raised his chin and straightened his back, "I plan to keep doing my job, protecting the docks and the city."
"You don't intend to apply for something more… ambitious or useful?"
"My position suits my needs."
"Indeed. Who knows, perhaps someday your guard captain might even entrust you with the keys to the shed where they keep the spare paddles for the fishing boats."
"Conrad!"
Sieg looked over at his mother, "It's fine." He looked back at his father, his eyes narrowing, "It's my duty and I do it."
"And what of your other duties?"
Sieg raised an eyebrow, "Other duties?"
"To your people." Sieg's father leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms, "How long have you been married to that… female, of yours?"
"Three years." Sieg toned darkened, "As if you didn't know."
"Which means you've been through two mating cycles, and she has yet to bear you a child."
"Good of you to keep track."
"It's my right as patriarch, you know that."
"We have tried."
"And failed."
"What your fathers means to say," Kara interrupted, putting her hand on top of Sieg's, "Is that we are worried about you, and about her. If she can't bear you children..."
"If she can't bear you children, our family line dies with you," Conrad finished. He stood up from his chair, gesturing around the room, "And this, this becomes your legacy."
"You mean your legacy," Sieg replied, his hands clenched into fists. "That's what you are worried about is it not?"
"Your father is-"
"No Kara, I'll answer." Conrad tilted his chin and glared down at Sieg, "You are correct. I will admit, in a way I am to blame. I was content to indulge you in your… exotic fascination with that Western woman, so long as Renner was in the royal guard."
At the mention of his brother, Sieg stiffened, his ears twitching and his tail lashing back and forth out of control.
Sieg's father turned and strode over to the fireplace. His eyes narrowed as his gaze set upon a framed picture of Marien set upon the mantle, "But ever since that damnable templar killed your brother when the humans attacked us, you are what is left of the family legacy. My legacy."
"I know," Sieg replied sharply, "He was my brother, and I know what he meant to you."
"And now it falls to you to take his place." Conrad turned to his son, "There are still three months until the next mating cycle. I have spoken to several of the officers under my command, they have daughters that are looking for mates of their own, mates that are appropriate for their station. There is still time for you to find a more suitable wife and annul your marriage to this western female and..."
"Marien is not Western!" Sieg snapped, jumping up from his chair.
"Sieg don't-"
"Yes yes, I know," Conrad said, waving his hand dismissively. "Only her grandmother is western, making her 'only one quarter western', so you have said repeatedly. But look at her Sieg." Conrad picked up the picture of Marien from off the mantle and tossed it onto the table with a loud clatter, "That fur, those eyes, the Western blood hasn't faded, it's only set in more deeply! It's infested every part of her, just as it will any child you two have, assuming she is even capable of giving you one. And even if she did, you know how Westerners are, who knows if the child would even be yours!"
"She is my wife!" Sieg snarled, his teeth flashing as he struggled to control his rage. Ignoring his mother as she tried to hold him back, Sieg stepped towards his father, his ears pressed flat against his head and his eyes flashing with rage.
Conrad turned and met his son's gaze. "She is a mistake. And you are a fool not to see it."
The two glared at one another, each sizing up the other and planning their attack, each waiting for the other to make the first move. Sieg's eyes darted to his sword, leaning up against the wall beside his bed, the claws in his toes digging into the wooden floor in anticipation of a powerful leap. Conrad's eyes were narrowed, his hand drifting very very slowly towards the dagger he always kept hidden in his tunic.
*SMACK! SMACK!*
Both Conrad and Sieg blinked in surprise and rubbed their cheeks as Kara stepped in between them. "Stop it both of you!" she snapped, tears forming at the corner of her eyes.
She looked to Sieg, "Don't you understand how hard this is for us? This whole topic is so… distasteful, but it is important! We want you to be happy, and successful!"
"I…"
"And you!" She snapped, rounding on her husband. "This conversation is hard enough without you antagonizing your own son!"
"Kara, I merely-"
"You two will speak to each other with decency and respect or I will knock your heads together!" Kara interrupted, silencing her husband with a glare.
"I apologize mother," Sieg said, bowing his head. He turned back to his father, "And I will listen to what you have to say… If you apologize."
Conrad blinked in genuine surprise, "What did you say?"
"You will apologize for insulting my wife," Sieg said, his voice steady but firm. "If someone came into your home and insulted my mother as you insulted Marien, there is no chance you would allow it."
"I will not."
"You will."
"Conrad, be reasonable-"
As Kara spoke, there was another knock at the door.
"Shall I get that?" Kara asked as Sieg and Conrad continued to glare at one another, neither one moving a muscle.
"No, thank you mother," Sieg replied. "It's my home, I'll get it."
Breaking his fathers gaze, Sieg turned and walked over towards the door, his heart thumping painfully against his chest and his head pounding with adrenaline.
Opening the door a crack, Sieg could see that the person standing upon his doorstep was a young boy, no older than ten, dressed in a military messenger's uniform.
"Sir, are you Corporal Sieg Kolvest?"
Stepping out onto the landing, Sieg closed the door behind him and nodded, "Yes, I am, what can I do for you?"
The boy reached into a leather bag hung from his shoulder and handed Sieg a scroll wrapped in a red ribbon bearing the marking of the Healing Guild.
"Message for you sir. They said it was urgent."
The messenger bowed and immediately left. Breaking the seal, Sieg unrolled the scroll and began to read.
Within the apartment, Conrad was pacing back and forth in front of his wife.
"He must understand that we want the best for him!" Conrad grumbled, crossing his arms.
"I know dear, but do you need to be so hard on him?" Kara asked, wringing her hands in her lap. "He's young and in love."
"Irrelevant!" Conrad snapped. "Duty is more important!"
"Is duty more important than me?"
Conrad paused and looked down at his wife, "That's different."
"How so?"
"You are not Western."
"Conrad Kolvest, that is a foolish answer and you know it."
"It-" Conrad started to speak, when suddenly the door was flung open and Sieg stormed back into his apartment.
"I have to go," Sieg said, seizing his helmet from the wall and grabbing hold of his cloak.
"What's wrong?" Kara asked, watching as Sieg struggled to pull his shoulder plates on before tossing them aside with a snarl.
"Marien, she needs me."
"We're not done here," Conrad said, stepping forwards as Sieg grabbed his sword and tightened his belt as quickly as his shaking fingers would allow.
"We are done," Sieg snapped, the anger in his voice forcing even his father to take a step back. Pulling on his cloak, Sieg rushed towards the door.
"If you leave now, you will no longer be my son!"
Sieg froze, his hand gripping the door handle.
Conrad took a step forwards, squaring his shoulders and drawing upon all of his command training. "I will not be disrespected like this boy! If you leave now, I will no longer acknowledge you as my son!"
"Conrad!"
"Enough!" Conrad roared at his wife. "In this matter I command, not you!"
Kara shrank backwards away from Conrad, real fear in her eyes.
Conrad looked back at Sieg, his eyes narrowed, "I mean it boy, you will obey me in this. Sit down!"
Slowly Sieg turned to meet his father's glare. A small smile crossed Conrad's face as it seemed that Sieg was following his command. His smile faded as Sieg reached behind him and grabbed the door handle.
Undoing the latch, Sieg opened his door, staring directly into his father's eyes as he did.
"It's been more than three years since I needed you, 'father'," Sieg said, his voice soft but carrying an icy sharpness that cut through the air like the crack of a whip.
Turning to Kara, Sieg bowed his head, "Thank you for breakfast Mother."
"It's on your head boy!" Conrad roared as Sieg started through his door. "You are no longer a son of mine!"
"Then don't be here when I return," Sieg replied simply, "Or I will treat you as I would any other intruder in my home."
Conrad's eyes widened as the door slammed shut. He turned to his wife, but she refused to meet his gaze, instead staring down at the table, tears dripping onto her clenched hands.
"Kara I…" Conrad started to step forward, but stopped when his wife flinched at his approach.
Staring down at his hand, Conrad slowly curled his fingers into a fist.
"This will not stand," he snarled to himself, clenching his hand so tightly that his claws drew blood from his palm.
"Sir, you can't be here!"
"Like hell I can't, get out of my way!"
"This is highly inappropriate!"
"Is she in here?"
"Yes, but-"
There was a loud thump, then a second, then a third.
"Sir please-"
There was a fourth, more powerful, thump, and the latch gave way with a loud splintering sound.
Panting heavily, Sieg burst through the door into the healing room. His gaze swept the room, quickly landing on the bed against the far wall. In it, Marien lay her arms, neck, and forehead covered in bandages. Beside her stood a doctor washing her hands in a small bowl of water, a pair of surgical gloves, stained dark red, draped over her shoulder.
"Marien!" Seig yelled, rushing forwards, the pain of bashing through the door with his shoulder completely forgotten. Behind him, a doctor tried and failed to grab a hold of his cape.
As Sieg rushed forward, the doctor washing her hands turned and quickly placed herself between Seig and the bed.
"You must be the patient's husband," the doctor said, extended her hands towards Sieg. "Please, do not-"
"Get out of my way!" Sieg snarled, his sharp canines bared menacingly.
"Sir, your voice! This is a place of healing!"
"Is she alright? What happened?"
"There was a duel, a matter of honour. The patient was victorious, but not without cost."
Sieg began to rush forward again, "I need to see her!"
"She is alive, but she needs to heal! If you move her it could open her wounds again!"
The urgency in the doctor's tone stopped Sieg in his tracks.
"She has lost a great deal of blood," the doctor continued. "She must rest, or she will not survive."
Looking past the doctor, Sieg could see that Marien's eyes were shut, her breathing shallow but steady. His ears twitched and his heart ached as he noted the number of bandages covering her body.
"W-when will she awaken?" Sieg demanded after a moment.
"We have given her a sleeping draught to keep her still and to help her heal. She was in a great deal of pain, so it was rather strong. She will not awaken for some time."
"Will…" the words stuck in Siegs throat, burning like poison. "Will she live?"
"Impossible to say for sure, but if she is young and she is strong. If she is allowed to rest, most likely she will live. So please, leave this place, your presence will only bring confusion."
"But-"
"And if you do not, I can have you arrested! You are violating half a dozen privacy laws right now! Not to mention the damage you've done to Healing Guild property!"
Even through the blindfold, Sieg could see that the doctor's eyes were narrowed. It was clear from her tone that she was attempting to remain cordial, but Sieg had the distinct impression that any further pushing on his part would be ill-advised.
"I… understand. Please take care of her Doctor," Sieg said at last, bowing low. "She is… all the family I have…"
The doctor paused for a moment, before sighing heavily, "Your concern is understandable, but we have rules for a reason. Please leave."
With one last look at Marien, Sieg turned and walked out of the room, pushing past the doctor who had been pursuing him.
"Shall I alert the guards?" The second doctor asked, pausing to lift the bottom of his blindfold just a little to make certain that Sieg was gone.
"Perhaps… no, better not. He is young and his blood is hot, better to leave it here."
"You're too soft," the second doctor muttered, brushing off his coat as Sieg's footsteps faded down the hall.
Sieg struggled to contain himself as he stumbled into the reception area of the Healing Guild central hall. His breathing shaky as the world swung wildly beneath his feet.
"Are you alright?" the nurse behind the desk asked, grabbing hold of Sieg as he stumbled against the central booking desk.
"Y-yes, I…. I'm fine." Sieg mumbled, trying hard not to vomit on the floor.
"Come come, this way," the nurse urged, guiding Sieg towards one of the long wooden benches along the wall.
As Sieg sat, the nurse grabbed hold of his wrist. Her ears twitched and her brow furrowed beneath her blindfold. "Your heartbeat is racing and erratic. You need to sit. I'll call a doctor and-"
"No!" Sieg snapped, far louder and angrier than he had intended. After taking a few calming breaths, he spoke again, "Apologies my lady, but no, thank you. I will be fine. I just need a moment."
Frowning slightly, the nurse nodded, "Very well. But don't you move, understand. I'll get you some mint broth to calm your nerves." As Sieg started to argue, she held up her hand. "Don't try and argue. The way you are now, I could have you forcibly restrained. So you are going to sit there and wait till I come back with something to calm you or I will have you bound to a bed!"
"Very well." Sieg nodded, "Thank you…"
"Blasted soldiers, making my job more difficult." The nurse muttered to herself as she walked off, "Can't get help, oh no, we have to look tough."
With a heavy sigh, Sieg stared down at his hands. "What am I going to do…" He was so preoccupied with his own thoughts he didn't notice the sounds of footsteps approaching.
"Kolvest, correct?"
Sieg's ears twitched as he looked up, "Yes?"
Standing in front of him was a soldier dressed in a light tan tunic, a long black cloak hanging off his shoulders. His armour was gold, and under his arm he carried a golden helmet with a grated eyepiece. Sieg immediately recognized it as the uniform of a Royal Guard.
As with his armour, the soldier himself was the picture of elegance and form. His fur was an elegant light gray, with subtle lines of brown running through it, and his eyes were a steely gray.
"Sieg Kolvest, husband of Marien Kolvest?" the soldier demanded, an air of effortless authority ringing in his voice.
"Yes, I am."
"Good." In a motion so fast that it seemed like a blur, the soldier lashed out and struck Sieg across the face hard.
With a startled yelp, Sieg fell off the bench and tumbled to the floor, a thin trickle of blood running from the side of his mouth and nose.
"I am Lyon Chariot," the soldier declared, glaring down his nose as Sieg struggled to get back to his feet. "Your 'wife' injured my sweet Amber in a ridiculous duel, and I am here to avenge her honour. As it would seem that your female is unable to accept my challenge at this point, I will have you instead."
"I have no interest in fighting you," Sieg snarled.
"If you will not fight, I will go back there and put the Western whore out of her misery myself."
All at once, something snapped in Sieg's mind. Rage coursed through his veins like a poison as he drew himself up and glared back at Lyon, his hand gripping the hilt of his sword.
"What did you just call her?" Sieg snarled.
"You heard me, guardsman."
"Fine!" Sieg growled, his teeth bared. "Let's go, you and me, right now!"
With a cocky tilt of his chin, Lyon jerked his head towards the door, "To the garden then. No sense in making a mess of the healing guilds front room now, is there."
"As you wish," Sieg replied, his gaze never once leaving Lyoin's eyes.
Each keeping a close watch on the other, the two stepped out of the reception area, hands on their weapons.
As the door closed behind Sieg and Lyon, the nurse returned, a steaming cup of mint broth clutched in her hands.
"Here," she said with a gentle smile. "This should help calm your nerves a little."
As she approached the bench she frowned, "Sir?" Reaching out a hand and finding no one there, she sighed heavily, "Of course…"
End of Part 2
Part 3
"This really is not necessary."
"Just sit still and this will go much faster."
Lieutenant General Kent Silver sighed heavily as the doctor worked to clean an ugly gash on his arm. "Pointless, just wrap it up and leave it be. A few more scars might do well for my reputation."
"Thank goodness your lieutenant had more sense and insisted on bringing you here," the doctor replied, gently working a cotton swab around the wound. After a moment she drew it to her nose and sniffed, a frown crossing her face, "There is dirt and detritus in the wound already, if it isn't cleaned it could get infected."
Kent raised an eyebrow, "Infected? Who do you think you are talking to? I am a Basitin warrior, not a human."
"Yes yes, you soldiers are all very strong," the doctor grumbled to herself, dropping the bloody cotton swab into a bucket beside her feet. From the pocket of her long white coat, she withdrew a small bottle of ointment, popped off the little cork, and dabbed some on a cloth, "So, with that being said, I am sure you won't even feel this."
"What are you-" As the doctor slapped the cloth against his wound, Kent slammed his mouth shut, only a tiny squeal of agony escaping his lips. It took all of his control to keep himself from leaping up from the bed, and his tail stuck straight out with such force that it sent a pillow flying across the room. The claws on the ends of his toes dug into the floor and carved little furrows in the wood.
"There," the doctor said with a smile, patting Kent on the head. "Not so bad after all, is it?"
"No," Kent replied, unable to prevent his voice from squeaking. "It's... just... fine." Had he looked down at his arm, he was certain he would see smoke rising up from it.
"Good. Now, a few stitches should do the job. Maybe next time you go hunting you'll be more careful."
As the doctor set about sewing up his arm, Kent turned to her, "You're a fine doctor Sara, but you would do well to remember that I am a General. What would the Matron say if she saw you treating an officer like this?"
Despite her blindfold, Sara's hands were a masterful whirlwind as she knitted Kent's flesh back together, "She would probably wonder, as I do, why you soldiers seem to be able to take wounds on the battlefield with gritted teeth and a smile, yet turn into newborns when the time comes to patch you up."
"Well, on the battlefield one tends to have larger problems to concern themselves with than scraps and bruises."
"Hmph, you soldiers like fighting entirely too much."
"That's a strange thing to say considering who you…" Kent's voice trailed off as his ears picked up the sounds of running in the hall beyond the door to his room. His ears twitched as he heard the sounds of excited voices and yelling.
"What is it?" Sara asked, the noises catching her attention as well.
"Don't know." Kent hopped down from the bed and grabbed hold of his sword, "I'll go check."
"Oh no you won't!" Sara said, stepping in front of Kent. "Just give me a moment to finish, then you can- General?" Sara paused and reached out a hand, waving it around but feeling nothing but empty air, "General? Kent? Hello?"
Beneath a tree in the Healing Guild's front garden, Sieg and Lyon prepared for their duel. Around the two warriors, a small crowd had gathered and was swiftly growing larger. Doctors, nurses, and even patients, as well as passers by on the street, all formed a tight circle around Sieg and Lyon, all variously whispering and muttering to one another.
Sieg drew his weapon from its sheath and held it in front of him. Across from him, Lyon also drew his blade, whipping it around him with a confident flourish.
Despite his circumstances, Sieg couldn't help but feel a flash of awe at the sight of Lyon's blade. The sword was at least a hand's length longer than Sieg's, with a subtly flared tip that allowed for faster and easier cutting. The silvery sheen of the metal made clear that it was crafted from valuable stainless steel, which was almost impossible to create without the aid of magic. Inlaid upon the blade were runes carved from gold and decorated with small emeralds. The elegantly carved grip was carved from rich black pine, likely shipped from the black forests of the snow leopard lands in the northern reaches of the mainland. Every detail of the sword made it obvious that it was a work of art by a master craftsman.
Shaking his head to clear away the distraction, Sieg set about checking his own weapon. His guardsman's sword was reliable but unremarkable, crafted from common steel, with a simple handle and pommel. But despite its ordinary appearance, Sieg had taken good care of his weapon, and its blade, sharpened to a razor's edge, flashed in the morning sun. As he drew his weapon, for the first time since leaving his house, Sieg noted the absence of his armour.
"He's just some rich fop with a fancy sword and a title he got through nepotism," Sieg thought to himself, testing the edge of his sword with the back of one of his claws. "I'm a real soldier, I can take him."
As Lyon tested the weight and heft of his weapon, an older Basitin dressed in long black robes stepped out of the crowd. A pair of half moon spectacles sat upon the man's wizened old nose, and an impressive grey beard reached from his chin to his waist.
"Lord Chariot, what are you doing?" the old man demanded. "What is this?"
"A simple matter of honour Jabarian," Lyon replied. As he spoke, a leaf from the tree above broke off and floated towards the ground. Lyon's blade flashed like a bolt of lightning as he neatly sliced the leaf in half, leading several of the onlookers to gasp and whisper.
Sieg felt his heart sink as the two halves of the leaf fluttered to the ground, even the stem cut neatly in half lengthwise.
"This is unnecessary!" Jabarian urged, shuffling closer to Lyon. "You have no need to fight this… this…" Jabarian gestured over at Sieg, "This nobody! Amber started the fight, there is no need for you to do this!"
"Perhaps not," Lyon replied, pushing Jabarian aside as he finished testing his sword. "Then again, no one touches what is mine and gets away with it. Besides, it's not like anyone will miss him."
"But-"
"Know your place, caretaker, and get out of my way."
Jabarian's nose crinkled as he frowned, but he obediently stepped back into the crowd.
Stepping into the center of the circle, Lyon looked around at the assembled onlookers, his face cracking into a smile. "Do I have a volunteer to get this started?" He looked around before aiming the point of his sword at a pretty young female in the front, "You."
"M-me?" The young woman blinked in surprise.
"Yes." Lyon pulled off his cape and tossed it to the girl, "Once we are ready, drop this and we can get this over with."
"It's an honour my lord," the young woman replied, blushed slightly as Lyon winked at her as she caressed the rich, soft fabric of the cloak.
As Lyon talked, Sieg reached into his tunic and withdrew the piece of fabric that Marien had given him and tied it around his arm.
"You're not getting to her." Sieg muttered to himself, glaring at Lyon, "No one is getting to her, not now, not ever."
Turning back to Sieg, Lyon reached up and pulled off his helmet, tossing it aside.
"Are you certain you want to fight this out, little guardsman?" he asked, making a show of looking down the length of his blade at Sieg. "If you just stand still I can make your death so quick you won't even feel it."
"Shut up," Sieg snarled back.
"As you wish." Whirling his sword around in his hand, Lyon called out to the crowd, "I am Lyon Chariot, Son of Andar Chariot. I make this challenge-" Lyon raised his blade, aiming the point at Sieg's chest, "-so that I may avenge my wife, my sweet Amber, who was wounded by the loathsome Western harlot this cretin calls a wife."
"Your 'Amber' was wounded in a duel that she instigated," Seig shot back, his words drawing whispers and murmurs from the crowd.
"The Westerner needs to learn her place," Lyon replied with a small smile, "And so, it seems, do you."
Gripping his sword with both hands and planting his feet, Sieg spoke, "I am Sieg Kolvest, and I accept your challenge, if only to get you to shut your mouth."
With a low chuckle, Lyon looked over at the woman with his cloak, "Whenever you are ready."
The young woman nodded and raised her arm, "Let this matter be settled."
For a few heart pounding moments everything was still. The crowd held their breath as the two warriors sized each other up.
Willing his heart to stop thumping against his ribs, Sieg took a deep breath.
The young woman released her grip and the cloak fluttered to the ground.
The moment the fabric touched the grass, Lyon lunged forwards, moving fast and low. He brought his sword up, aiming a blow at Sieg's chest, a common opening move. Sieg blocked the strike, but was thrown off guard when Lyon pressed the attack, using the weight of his blade to force Sieg back and knock his sword upwards. As Sieg stumbled, Lyon lashed out with the tip of his sword, the blade slicing through Sieg's tunic and raking across his left shoulder, just above his collarbone.
Sieg cried out and stepped back, clutching at his shoulder. The cut wasn't particularly deep, but it was extremely painful. Worse than that, Sieg also knew that, had Lyon wanted, he could have easily slashed his throat and ended the duel in one shot.
"Oh, that looks like it hurt," Lyon said, stepping back. "Are you sure you don't wish to take me up on my offer?"
In response Sieg attacked, striking at Lyon's shoulder and then his left leg. Lyon deflected the first attack and dodged the second, using the opening to launch an assault of his own.
Lyon advanced again and again, swinging his sword with casual, practiced dexterity. Sieg was able to block or dodge out of the way of the blows, but only just barely. The ring of steel clashing against steel rang through the courtyard, the crowd watching with bated breath as the two warriors fought. With one well placed stroke, Lyon inflicted a cut just above Sieg's right eye and sent his helmet flying. Sieg's helmet fell to the ground and rolled into the ring of onlookers, vanishing amid the feet of the crowd.
Shaking his head to clear the blood from his eyes, Sieg knew he was in very deep trouble. He was being toyed with, and it was no small wonder, not only was Lyon older and larger than he was, he had clearly been trained by a master.
As he was forced to take step after step backwards, the crowd behind Sieg parted. Glancing over his shoulder, Sieg found he had been driven back towards the Guild's outer wall. Sieg knew he had to stop his retreat, or he would find himself trapped.
With a cry, Sieg met one of Lyon's blows with all of his strength, forcing Lyon's sword away, before taking a step forwards and aiming a sweeping two-handed blow at Lyon's midsection, a swing strong enough to cleave armour and bone. Sieg's blade missed by a hair's breadth as Lyon stepped backwards, while at the same time thrusting with the point of his longer sword. Though he tried to block, the blade found its way under Sieg's defense and the point of the sword dug deep into his thigh. With a furious cry, Sieg fought through the pain and pressed the attack, forcing Lyon to disengage and step back.
Taking a series of deep breaths, Sieg fought to retain his composure. Even through the adrenaline, Sieg could feel the lack of sleep, as well as the stress of the morning, and his desperate sprint from his house to the Healing Guild catching up to him. He could already feel his muscles beginning to complain, his eyes stung from the blood in them, and his grip on his sword trembled slightly. Worse, he could feel the cold tendrils of fear wrapping around his heart, he was losing.
Lyon, on the other hand, wasn't even breathing hard. He had a confident smile on his lips, and his eyes shone the excitement of certain victory.
"I'll grant you, you have fought better than expected," Lyon said, casually resting his sword on his shoulder as he paced back and forth. "I expected a punk with a smart mouth and nothing to back it up, but you're not doing too badly."
Raising his sword in front of him, making certain not to make it obvious that he was still trying to catch his breath, Sieg shot back, "If you're expecting me to return the compliment, you'll be waiting a long time."
"As you wish," Lyin replied, making a show of shrugging for the onlookers, his sword held tantalizingly loose in his hand as he kept one eye on Sieg, goading him to attack. "Nothing wrong with showing a little decorum."
Sieg's eyes narrowed, it was obvious that Lyon was simply preening for the crowd.
Gripping his sword once more and raising it in front of him, Lyon smiled, "That western woman must be something special for you to go to these lengths to defend her. Who knows, I might even spare her. I suppose we'll see, after I'm finished with you. "
"Are we fighting or talking?" Sieg demanded. Even as he spoke, Sieg cursed himself. Every moment he kept Lyon talking was a chance for him to rest, but the sound of his opponent's smug voice grated on his nerves.
"I have to stay calm and end this," Sieg tightened his grip on his sword. "I can't be defensive, I have to attack!"
Gathering up his courage and his strength, Sieg went on the attack. He lunged forwards and aimed a flurry of blows at Lyon's midsection, before feinting and aiming the point of his blade at Lyon's right foot. Lyon stepped back, his footwork a blur as he dodged Sieg's attack, exactly as Sieg had predicted.
Releasing his grip on his sword, Sieg drew back a fist and slammed it into Lyon's jaw. This time it was Lyon who stumbled backwards, blood dripping from the side of his mouth. Sieg rushed forward and swung his sword, but Lyon's chest plate stopped the blade. With a loud , grinding squeal, Sieg's sword carved a deep gash into the metal.
From within the crowd, Jabarian gasped and called out, "Master Chariot!"
"I have to press!" Sieg's mind raced, "Press the attack!" Despite the screaming of his muscles, Sieg lunged forwards again.
Lyon stepped back as Sieg charged again. Enraged, Lyon blocked Sieg's attack and countered with one of his own.
Despite Sieg's desperate push, swiftly the battle shifted again. Lyon's movements were not as smooth as they had been before, but they were no less calculated and deadly. Within moments Sieg's momentum was broken and he was again forced to defend himself as Lyon attacked relentlessly, his sword a blur. Again and again the point of his sword found its way past Sieg's defenses, piercing his right forearm, his left ear and his right ankle. Sieg attacked and blocked desperately, but he was simply not fast enough to keep pace with Lyon. Every muscle in his body was screaming, his chest felt like it was going to burst, and his vision was filled with disconcerting white splotches.
Stepping forwards, Lyon locked his blade with Sieg's and forced the tip of Sieg's weapon into the dirt. Turning his body, Lyon slammed his elbow into Sieg's jaw, while at the same time stamping hard on the broad edge of Sieg's sword. The metal bent a little before snapping off just above the handle with a loud *TWANG!*.
As Sieg stepped back, dazed, Lyon raised a foot and kicked him directly in the chest, sending Sieg sprawling onto his back, gasping desperately for breath. Several members of the crowd shouted words of encouragement as Sieg tried to sit up.
Panting hard, Lyon reached up and wiped his still bleeding mouth with the back of his hand. "How dare you!" he snarled. Looking down at himself he touched the ugly gash that Sieg's weapon had torn into his gold armour, "How dare you, you little nothing!"
As he struggled to sit up, Sieg felt his hand brush against Lyon's discarded cloak and helmet. As Lyon stepped forwards, Sieg wrapped the cloak around his hand as fast as he could.
Raising his sword above his head, Lyon lunged, bringing the blade down with all of his strength. As Lyon swung, Sieg raised his arm and caught the blade in the hand he had wrapped in Lyon's cloak. The blade sliced deep into the fabric, but was unable to reach Sieg's flesh.
With the last of his strength, Sieg tightened his grip, holding Lyon's sword as tightly as he could, and surged upwards, grabbing hold of Lyon's helmet as he did. With a cry that was as much in pain as it was in desperation, Sieg struck Lyon across the face with his own helmet as hard as he could. Lyon took a staggering step backwards, releasing his grip on his sword.
Sieg managed to get to his feet, and before Lyon could regain his balance, swung Lyon's sword like it was a club, sending the handle of the sword crashing into its owner's jaw. There was a loud crack as a pair of teeth spiralled out of Lyon's mouth.
As Lyon dropped heavily to the ground, Sieg's knees quacked and finally gave out. Sieg dropped onto all fours, his vision spinning and his ears ringing loudly. No matter how he tried, he could not get up. His body simply did have anything left to give him and he collapsed to the ground.
With a grunt of agony and rage, Lyon pulled himself onto his knees. The blood vessels in his right eye had been damaged, turning his pupil a bright crimson, and a constant trickle of blood ran out the side of his mouth and nose.
"You little nothing!" he snarled, forcing himself to his feet and taking a staggering step towards Sieg. "I'm going… to gut you… like a fish!"
Even though all of Siegs instincts screamed at him to get up, he simply could not seem to get his muscles to cooperate. All he managed was to roll over onto his back.
Picking up his fallen sword, Lyon took another step forwards and raised the blade over Sieg's head. Sieg could do nothing but watch as Lyon aimed the tip of his sword at his throat.
With a deep breath, Sieg closed his eyes, "I'm sorry… Marien."
*TWANG!*
A split second before the blade touched Sieg's throat, another blade flashed from within the crowd and deflected the tip away into the dirt.
"What the-" Lyon froze as the crowd pulled away, revealing Kent, standing tall with his sword drawn.
"I think that's enough for now," Kent said, stepping into the ring, keeping his sword raised and ready.
Lyon blinked in surprise, "L-lieutenant General Silver?!"
Despite his exhaustion Sieg tried to sit up, but found he was incapable of doing little more than moving his arms, which felt like wet noodles, uselessly against the grass.
Separating himself from the crowd, Jabarian hurried forward, "General! What are you doing? This is highly irregular!"
Kent silenced Jabarian with a wave of his hand, "This duel is over."
"It is not over!" Lyon growled, "He's mine! It's my right!"
"It is your right, that is true," Kent nodded, "But tell me, when there is an investigation into this matter by the Council of Honour and Integrity, do you really want your file to read: 'after being beaten with his own helmet and sword, Lyon Chariot killed his helpless opponent, an unarmed and unarmoured guardsman four years his junior'?"
"But Lieutenant General, that's-"
"Exactly what it will say, I can promise you that," Kent interrupted, his eyes hard as steel as he met Lyon's gaze directly. "You may not be punished directly, but that record will be read by every commander you have from now until the day you die."
Lyon paused, "I..."
"Alternatively, it could read: 'after a valiant struggle, Lyon Chariot showed his defeated and defenseless opponent mercy by dropping the matter and allowing the doctors to treat him'. Now, you tell me, Lieutenant, which of those is more likely to aid you and your career."
Lyon hesitated, his blade still hovering over Sieg's throat. Finally, grudgingly, Lyon returned the blade to its sheath with a frustrated growl.
As Lyon turned to leave, Kent stepped in front of him, "Not yet, say it."
"I…" Lyon started to grit his teeth, but the pain in his jaw stopped him. After a moment he looked down at Sieg and snarled, "I... I hereby drop this matter. It's done and settled."
Sieg didn't have the energy nor the inclination to argue.
"An excellent choice," Kent said with a nod. "Now go and get those wounds looked after."
"Yes sir." Turning, Lyon walked out of the ring. Jabarian hurried forward and scooped up Lyon's helmet and cloak, before he too vanished into the crowd, pausing only to shoot Kent and Sieg a nasty glance.
Sieg felt a powerful rush of relief wash over him as Lyon left and the General knelt down beside him. As he looked up at his saviour, Sieg felt a strange sense of familiarity, he knew the man's face but he couldn't remember from where.
"Relax young one," Kent said, gently patting Sieg on the shoulder. "It's over. You'll be alright." As he spoke, Kent noted the small piece of fabric bound around Sieg's forearm.
Sieg started to protest as Kent reached down and untied the cloth.
"Peace boy, peace, it's alright," Kent said gently, folding the fabric and placing it in Sieg's palm, 'There you go, that's better."
Climbing back to his feet and turning to the crowd, Kent gestured at Sieg, "Alright, get him inside quickly. Let's move!"
As a trio of doctors rushed forwards to help Sieg, Kent turned to the other onlookers, "As for the rest of you, the show is over, move along."
Every part of Sieg's body hurt as the doctors loaded him onto a stretcher as gently as they could. He gripped the fabric tightly, pulling strength from its touch.
By the time the doctors picked up the stretcher, the adrenaline had started to fade. Despite his best efforts Sieg found himself whimpering from the pain, and the sudden realization of how close he had come to being killed. Hot tears streamed unbidden from his eyes, his shoulders shook uncontrollably, and it took all of his control to keep from weeping like a child.
As Sieg fought to control himself, a doctor approached the stretcher, the same one that had been tending to Marien.
"Y-you…" Sieg managed.
Behind her blindfold, the doctor raised her eyebrows "That voice, are you- Oh you foolish boy." Turning to her colleagues she spoke, "I'll take responsibility for this one."
"As you wish Doctor Hail."
As she walked beside Sieg's stretcher, the doctor reached into her coat pocket and withdrew a small vial.
Dabbing the contents on a small cloth she held it under Sieg's nose, "Breathe this and try to relax."
"W-what is…" As Sieg spoke, suddenly he felt as if his body was getting lighter and lighter. Within moments he felt as if he were floating free of the stretcher, in fact it felt as if he were floating free of his own body. All of the pain drifted away as he floated into the sky, drifting upon a warm wind and a cloud of soft rose petals.
As Sieg fell into a deep sleep, the doctor replaced the vial into her jacket. "Alright, take him to room twenty nine, and call Doctors Hawthron and Kendel, we have work to do."
With a satisfied smile, Kent shook his head as he watched as the doctors hurried Sieg away, "Foolish young ones."
Suddenly, a hand tapped on his shoulder from behind and a soft voice spoke up, "Oh General."
Slowly Kent turned to find Doctor Sara standing behind him, her hands on her hips.
"H-hello doctor."
"We aren't done yet."
Kent cleared his throat quickly, "Y-you know Doctor, I really think you've done fine work, and I really do feel much improved, I'm not sure that-"
Drawing herself up, Sara reached up and raised one corner of her blindfold so she could glare at Kent, her amber colored eyes flashing, "You are coming back and I am finishing with your arm. If I have to drag you back by your ears I will."
"I-"
"Back there, now."
Shrinking down slightly, Kent sighed, "Yes dear..."
As Sieg was rushed down the hallway, he passed by the room where Lyon was already being seen to. Lyon sat on the edge of a bed as a doctor gently poked around his face
"Disgraceful!" Jabarian muttered to himself, crossing his arms as the doctors rushed past the doorway. "The Lieutenant General had no right to interfere like that."
"Perhaps not," Lyon replied, wincing as the bag of ice he held against his jaw shifted. "Still, for a nobody he fought rather well."
"They should be digging a hole for that traitor and his western harlot, not treating them."
Lyon's cheek twitched, "Traitor? Are you suggesting I showed a traitor mercy, Jabarion?"
"Wha- no of course not!"
"Good," Lyon winced again as the doctor gently poked and prodded his jaw. "Then we shall leave it at that."
"The less speaking you do, the better," the doctor mused, his free hand stroking his chin as he gently felt around Lyon's face. "Your mandible superior is partially dislocated, perhaps fractured, and your supraorbital and nasal column bones are bruised. You are fortunate he hit you where he did, had he struck you lower down he might have hit your temple and you would be a corpse. As it stands, I suspect you have a concussion, and you will definitely feel some pain in the days to come."
"I'll survive."
"You will at that." The doctor turned back towards a small collection of medicines sitting on a nearby table, "But you will likely have a headache that will make you wish you hadn't. Now, lie down please."
As the doctor set about his work, Lyon couldn't help but smile to himself, "Not bad for a guardsman… not bad at all."
End of Part 3
Part 4
A long cobbled path led from the outskirts of Basikal city to a large stone fortress sitting atop a hill. Long banners bearing the Basitin coat of arms, as well as the heraldry of General Braxsis, billowed in the early morning breeze. Rows upon rows of fruit trees surrounded the western outer wall of the fortress, while the south and east walls were surrounded by rows of pale canvas tents. Working replicas of a variety of siege weapons dotted the surrounding landscape.
Marien walked hand in hand alongside her mother. Her ears twitched as she caught the sounds of shouting, and the ring of steel coming from within the fortress.
"Come on," her mother urged, gently tugging Marien's arm as she paused to examine a small frog hopping in the grass. "We're almost there."
Marien frowned as she looked back at her mother, a tall, noble basitin warrior that towered over her. Her short brown hair stuck out underneath her helmet, like the petals of a bell flower. Her sandy brown fur was neatly brushed and her soft, almond shaped eyes were the colour of honey. Around her neck was a small pendant she always wore, a small tropical flower carved from wood with red and blue petals and a glistening ivory pearl in the center.
"I don't wanna go there," Marien said, pulling on her mother's arm and trying to walk back towards the city.
Her mother held her hand gently, yet firmly, "This is just training, sweety, it will be exciting.
"I want to go home."
"I thought you said you wanted to know how to fight."
"I don't want to anymore," Marien sniffed, tears forming at the corners of her eyes.
"But you're going to make so many new friends and learn so many things."
Marien tried to pull her hand free from her mothers grip, "I don't want to go!"
With a warm smile, Marien's mother knelt down in front of her. After a few moments Marien stopped struggling, sniffing loudly as tears ran down her face. Her mother reached up to gently brush strands of hair out of her eyes, "You'll be fine."
"They're going to make fun of me."
"Who?"
"All of the others. They say I look ugly." Marien looked away from her mother, her lip still trembling, "I wish I wasn't western."
Marien's mother reached up and gently guided Marien's chin so that she could meet her gaze, "Listen to me, my little sunset. You are not ugly. You are beautiful, inside and out. I understand it seems scary right now, but someday you will have a little one of your own, something so precious that you would climb mountains, swim across seas, and fight gods to protect them."
Marien felt a flush of warmth run through her as her mother gently stroked her ears, "This is a dangerous world, little one, and it is more dangerous for you than it is for others. You are going to have to be strong, stronger than everyone else. It will be hard sometimes, but I know you can do it."
"It's not fair."
"No, it isn't fair, but what matters is how we use what we are given. You have your grandmother's eyes, and my heart. Well, that, and you have my ears," she joked, gently pulling on the tufts at the end of Marien's ears.
"What about my father?"
Marien's mother paused, "You…" After a moment she reached out and cupped her hands around Marien's face, "You have his spirit. I would never want you to be anything other than who you are. It has made you strong, and you will only get stronger."
Marien looked at the ground and sniffed, "I guess so…"
"It will be alright. I'll be right there with you." Reaching up, Marien's mother gently removed her pendant and draped it over Marien's neck. "I'll always be there to protect you, my little sunset."
"Okay." Marien said, rubbing the tears from her eyes.
"Ready?"
Marien nodded, and her mother took her hand again. Together they again began walking towards the fortress.
As she and her mother made their way towards the fortress, Marien noticed another young Basitin and his parents making the same journey. As the boy looked around, he caught sight of Marien. With a wide smile he waved at her.
Marien looked up at her mother, who smiled encouragingly. Nervously, Marien raised her hand and waved back.
"Mother…"
Marien's nose was filled with the musty smell of fetid water and dust. In the darkness she could hear the sounds of footsteps in the halls above and the scratching of rodents in the walls. She had taken refuge in a cleaning cupboard, it was cold, dark, clammy, and dirty; but Marien didn't care, she was far beyond caring. Hot tears ran down her face as she wept, crying into her hands and trying her best to stay silent. Outside the door she could hear the sound of a somber trumpet song.
No matter how she clutched at her ears she couldn't block out the echoing words of the instructor who had pulled her aside to tell her there had been an accident. No matter how hard she squeezed her eyes shut she couldn't shut out the image of her mother lying on the ground, her eyes wide and unseeing, staring up at the sky, her mouth frozen in a silent cry, a pool of dark red blood around her head, staining her fur and hair. The same blood now stained Marien's hands and tunic.
It had taken three soldiers to pull Marien back and keep her at bay as she fought to reach her mother. She had fought with tooth and claw even as the surgeons covered the body with a sheet, but still they held her back. If only they had let her shake her awake…
As the sound of footsteps outside the door grew near, Marien dug her face into her tunic to keep her weeping as quiet as possible. As the voices drew nearer, she could make out what they were saying.
"...been telling them to fix that dammed railing on the south wall for months. It was only a matter of time before somebody fell. Then again, Theresa was always looking off into space. I'm surprised she didn't have an accident sooner."
"It is a tragedy…"
"Well… tragedy might be taking it a bit far. If she was paying attention she wouldn't have fallen."
"That's a bit harsh don't you think? Besides, what about her daughter?"
"Oh yes, that's right she did have a brat. What was her name… Marida… Maddie… something like that."
"Poor child, losing a parent in battle is one thing… but this is just so pointless."
"Doesn't matter, Western or not, someone will take pity on her. Worst comes to worst she's just another army orphan."
Marien had to sink her teeth into her arm to keep from crying out as her sadness was replaced with burning rage. She wanted to scream, to fight, to slash and claw at the eyes of the one who was speaking. Her mouth filled with the coppery taste of blood as she bit down so hard that her teeth broke her skin.
"Look on the bright side," the voices were starting to fade as the guards walked by the door, "At least they'll probably fix the railing now."
"Better be careful who you let hear you talking like that." the second voice scolded, "If Commander Dauntless heard you say that she'd have your hide on her wall."
"Come off it Lex, I'm not trying to be cruel, I'm just, telling it like it is and you know it."
As the voices faded away, Marien released her arm from her jaws. Her shoulders shook as an ice cold rage filled the cavernous hole in her heart.
"You are going to have to be strong, stronger than everyone else…"
Marien's right hand slowly reached up to grip the pendant around her neck, while her left curled into a fist. She clenched her teeth so hard they creaked. The sadness and fear in her heart was torn aside by a hurricane of hatred and rage
"I'll kill them," she snarled, turning back towards the door. "I'll kill them all!"
"Their faces… their voices… the words they spoke… all lies. They never cared…"
A pillar of smoke rose from the funeral pyre in the center of the Fortress's central courtyard. Bright orange flames reached high into the sky, while swarms of sparks like drunken fireflies danced in the air. A large portion of the Fortress's staff were gathered around, some saluting out of respect, but most simply watching the fire with a detached lack of interest.
Marien stood and simply watched, the flames reflected in her eyes. Every once in a while through the flames, Marien caught sight of what was left of her mothers body, wrapped in linen, with a Basidian flag draped over it.
The tears and rage had passed, now all Marien could feel was a dark, yawning emptiness in her soul. She would never feel her mother's hand in hers again, never hear her voice, never see her beautiful eyes. All of that was gone forever, collapsing into ash before her eyes.
She jumped slightly at the touch of a hand upon her shoulder. Marien looked up and was surprised to see the fortress commander standing beside her.
Major Dauntless was an older female with dark taupe fur, tinged with gray so pale it was almost white. What her first name was, no one seemed to know, they simply called her Major. She bore a long scar that ran from her left ear, down her cheek, to the side of her neck. One of her eyes was hidden by a simple patch of black material, but the other was a dark green, like the depths of a thick forest, and shone with practiced authority.
"I'm sorry for your loss, young one," Major Dauntless said, gently squeezing Marien's shoulder. "Your mother was a good soldier, dutiful and faithful, you should be proud of her."
Marien didn't answer, and instead stared into the fire.
"I understand that you have chosen to stay at the fortress," Major Dauntless continued. "Your mother would be pleased, as am I."
"It's not like I have anywhere else to go," Marien said quietly, her grip on the pendant tightening.
Major Dauntless nodded sadly, "She would still be proud of your dedication. For what it is worth, I will do what I can to help you."
"Taking pity on the 'poor Westerner'," Marien muttered, the words stinging her throat as she spoke them.
"No, simply caring for a soldier under my care," Major Dauntless said quietly. "I want you to know that you aren't alone."
Marien looked down at the pendant. A powerful flash of anger pulsed through her as she glared down at the petals, "I will survive on my own. I don't need anyone."
Marien drew back her arm to throw the pendant into the flames. But before she could release it from her hand, Major Dauntless caught her arm and held it tight.
"You are angry, little one, that is to be expected." The Major's voice was soft yet firm, "And when we are angry, we do foolish things. Believe me, I know. If you no longer wish to have that, I will hold it for you, but I cannot let you destroy it. You will regret it, I promise you that."
"It's mine!"
"Your mother wanted you to have it."
"I don't care what she wanted! She left me alone! Why did she do that?! Why did she die!" Marien cried out. Several of the officers around looked at her and began whispering between themselves, but Marien didn't care.
"If she loved me she wouldn't have left me alone," Marien wailed, falling to her knees, the pain surging back, crushing her like the weight of an ocean being dumped upon her shoulders. With deep, gasping sobs she began to cry.
Major Dauntless knelt down and pulled Marien into her arms, "Shhhh, it's okay…. it's okay..."
"You're not my mother," Marien wailed, burying her face in Major Dauntless's shoulder. "I want my mother, I want my momma! Please, I just want my momma!"
"I know, I know," The Major replied softly, gently stroking the back of Marien's head. "But you have to be strong."
"Strong…"
Marien stood at attention, her shoulders squared and her back straight. In front of her, Major Dauntless examined a lengthy report.
Dropping the report on her desk and pushing it aside, Major Dauntless looked up at Marien, "Well, do you have anything to say for yourself?"
"No sir!"
"This is the second time you've been in my office this week. You can't keep starting fights like this young lady."
"With respect sir, I didn't start it."
"That's not what this report, Shin, or your supervisor filed, says." Major Dauntless picked up and waved the papers, "They say you came up behind Shin and hit him with a mop handle. Supervisor Balta writes 'had I not intervened, it is likely that Private Marien Gail would have done significant harm to Private Shin Golliad. It is my opinion that private Gail did not intend to stop, and in fact intended to kill Private Golliad'."
Major Dauntless peered over the top of the report at Marien, "He said you tried to kill him. Is that true?"
"He's leaving out the part where Shin… where Private Golliad expressed an opinion about my mother and the way she died, sir."
Despite herself, Major Dauntless sighed, "And that's why you attacked him?"
Marien nodded, "Yes, Major."
The Major leaned back in her chair, pinching her nose, "What exactly did he say?"
"I won't repeat it, sir." Marien's eyes narrowed, "But anyone who speaks words like that, I will make them regret it."
Major Dauntless paused for a moment. Lowering her hand she looked back up at Marien, a cold hardness forming in her gaze. "I understand that it's been hard for you. I have tried to be understanding of your situation, but it has been years, and my patience has its limits. I've tried explaining this to you, I've tried being reasonable with you, and I have tried punishing you, and still you act like you have a chip on your shoulder."
"I…" Marien paused, "Truly, I meant no disrespect to you, Major. I appreciate your guidance."
"You are an excellent fighter, your skills with a sword are well above average, and your dedication to your duty is beyond reproach. With your talents you could be an officer, but this kind of behaviour is holding you back, and I cannot tolerate it any longer."
"They'll never let me be an officer," Marien scoffed. "They take one look at me and turn up their noses."
"And I have dealt with them! In MY castle, in MY regiment, the only thing that matters is ability. Eastern, Western, goddam Human or Keidran, it doesn't matter! It is my job to squeeze every drop of service and potential, potential that you have, out of you for the good of Basidian! You aren't a child anymore, it is time to grow up!"
Marien felt a strong pulse of irritation and anger surge through her body. Her muscles tensed and her eyes narrowed, "Fine. The next time someone like Shin has something to say, I won't hit them with a mop."
"That's good to hear-"
"I'll challenge them to a duel instead."
Major Dauntless's eye twitched, "Now you listen to me, you insubordinate little sh-"
"Not insubordination, sir," Marien interrupted, keeping her tone even. "You are right, I'm not a child anymore, and according to military code, section twenty one twelve, subsection thirty eight, I have the right to-"
"Don't be stupid!" Major Dauntless snapped, slapping the top of her desk with great force. "Do you think your mother would want you to throw your life away because some idiot can't keep his mouth shut?"
"I don't intend to throw my life away. With respect, Major, you yourself said I'm an excellent fighter."
"Enough!" Major Dauntless leapt up from her chair and slammed her hand against her desk, sending papers flying in every direction and an inkwell crashing to the floor.
"I have tried to be patient with you, I have tried to be understanding of your situation, but it would seem you are determined to- What is it!" Major Dauntless bellowed as there was a loud knock on her door.
The door cracked open and another instructor stepped into the room, dragging a young basitin with him by the back of his uniform. The youth was marked by a number of cuts and bruises on his face and hands, as well as a painful looking black eye. Marien recognized the boy immediately, Sieg Kolvest, a recruit one year her junior, a pampered richling with high ranking parents. He was an average fighter at best, in sparring practice Marien always defeated him with ease. He always seemed nervous, and every once in a while Marien would catch him watching her. But every time Marien met his gaze, he would look away.
"I apologize for the interruption Major," the instructor said, saluting with his free hand. "But private Kolvest here was caught fighting with two other recruits in one of the female dormitories. I thought you might want to deal with this matter immediately."
"By the love of- And just where are the other two?" Major Dauntless demanded.
"Hospital wing ma'am. Private Elliot Dendra required stitches for a rather nasty bite wound, while Private Mikael Harsh has a broken wrist."
As the two officers spoke, Sieg raised his head a little and noticed Marien watching him. As soon as their eyes met, Sieg turned his head away and stared at his toes. With a sniff, Marien looked away, crossing her arms.
With a deep breath to calm her temper, Major Dauntless folded her hands behind her back, "Alright…" She turned to Sieg, "Do you have anything to say for yourself, private?"
"I saw Elliot and Mikeal go into the female dormitory while I was heading to practice," Seig replied, his voice little more than a mumble. "I was trying to stop them, Major."
"So you decided to start a fight, rather than find an instructor?"
"Yes, ma'am."
Dropping back into her chair, the Major folded her fingers in front of her face, "I am well and truly finished with this sort of behaviour. You both bring shame upon this proud institution, and my patience has officially run out. Sergeant Hill, take Privates Kolvest and Gail to the dungeon. They can stay there while I decide what to do with them."
"Yes, Major." The instructor reached out to grab Marien, but she turned and bared her teeth.
"I can walk on my own," she growled, her ears pressed flat as she glared at the instructor. Before the sergeant could say another word, Marien turned and stalked out of the room.
The dungeon was cold and clammy, lit by a single brazier at the far end of a long line of cells. Marien tried to keep from shivering as she curled up on the straw mattress against the wall furthest from the door, but with the dampness in the air, the cold cut through her clothing and fur like a knife.
As she shivered, trying at least to keep her teeth from chattering, a quiet voice called out to her from the other side of the dungeon, "Hey."
Marien looked over her shoulder to see Sieg in the cell across from her, his face pressed against the steel bars.
"What do you want?" Marien snarled.
Sieg quickly reached into his tunic. "I wanted to give this back to you."
Marien's eyes widened as Sieg pulled out her pendant. "How did you get that?" she demanded, scrambling to the front of the cell and gripping the bars.
"Elliot and Mikael… They heard you'd been in a fight, and they said they were going to get revenge for Shin. They went into the dormitory to try and steal it."
"And how did they know where it was? I keep it hidden!"
"You hid it inside one of the hollow knobs at the end of your bed," Sieg replied with a shrug. "Everyone hides contraband there. Even the yearlings know about that hiding spot."
Marien was at a total loss for words.
"Elliot said they were going to throw it down the well," Sieg continued. "I tried to stop them, but they didn't want to stop, so I fought them."
"Give it to me!"
Nodding quickly, Sieg tossed the pendant across the aisle, Marien catching it in midair. Quickly she replaced it around her neck, but as she did she noticed that the pearl nestled in the center of the flower was missing.
"Where is it?" Marien demanded, striking the bars with her fist.
"Where is what?" Sieg asked, shrinking away.
"The pearl! Where is it?"
"I… I don't know!"
Marien glared at Sieg, but he refused to meet her eyes, staring down at the floor instead.
With a growl of disgust, Marien turned away from the bars. "I don't believe you. Why would a coward like you try to fight anyone, especially for me?'
"I'm not a coward!" Sieg shot back, his tone startling Marien.
As their gazes met, for the first time, Marien noted the colour of Sieg's eyes. Her breath caught in her chest. Sieg's eyes were a soft amber, almost the exact same colour as her mothers.
"I'm not a coward," Sieg repeated, holding Marien's gaze, "I just don't like how the others treat you."
"And why would you care?"
"Because it's wrong. Well that, and..." Taking a gulp, Sieg said, "I think you are really pretty."
Marien froze, "Wha… what did you say?"
"You heard me," Sieg replied as confidently as he was able. "I think you are pretty. I… like you."
Marien stood in complete shock, her eyes wide. Even in the highly disciplined and segregated atmosphere of the fortress, the older recruits found ways to speak to one another, to form bonds and attachments. More than once she had caught sight of an illicit couple vanishing into the shadows while she was on guard duty. Sometimes on her patrols she would turn a corner to find a red faced couple trying to pretend like nothing had happened in the moments before she had arrived. Unlike her peers, who would have eagerly reported such behaviour in the hopes of some minor promotion or another, Marien had no interest in such things and would simply continue on her way. But Sieg's words, the earnestness in them made something in her heart stir.
"I… I don't believe you," she said, turning away and folding her arms. "You're just saying that so I don't tear you apart for trying to steal my pendant."
"That's not true!"
"And why would a richling like you…" Marien paused for a moment, "I mean… I'm Western, that should be obvious, even to you."
Sieg cocked his head to the side, "Why would I care about that?"
"W-why? We're at war! Western Basitins and Eastern Basitins hate each other, and I… I'm a Western Basitin, at least that's what everyone says." Despite herself, Marien felt a pang of pain in her chest, followed by a sharp stinging at the corners of her eyes.
"But it's not true, is it?"
Marien turned sharply and Seig shrugged, "And even if you are Western, you're not at war with us, you're not at war with anybody."
"I'm alone."
"But you don't want to be."
"And how do you know that?!" Marien snarled, pressing her ears flat and glaring at Sieg.
"No one wants to be alone."
"Well maybe I do! You're just a boy with a crush, you don't know anything about me!"
"Then why are you crying?"
Marien froze and reached up to touch the side of her face, surprised to feel wetness on her cheek.
"You don't want anything to do with me," Marien said after a moment, turning back and sitting down on the straw mattress, her back turned to Sieg. "I'll just drag you down too."
"I don't care."
"I do. I don't want anyone else to…" Marien curled up and buried her face into her knees, "Just leave me alone."
"Okay… but for what it's worth… I'll be your friend."
Marien looked over her shoulder, but Sieg had already turned away and laid down on his own mattress.
"Thank you." Marien whispered.
"Sieg… the only one who saw me… the only one who ever fought for me... "
"Come on, you have to come with us."
Marien sighed as she lowered the book she was reading and looked up. Standing in front of her were two of her classmates, Kaiya and Hazel, their faces lit up with excitement. Both were wearing their training uniforms, though Hazel had tied hers into a knot to show off a hint of her midriff, while Kaiya had the top two buttons undone, both shamefully rebellious displays. But Hazel's mother was in charge of the town militia, while Kaiya's father was the master of the city docks. Even if an instructor decided to punish them for their immodesty, they were unlikely to get more than a verbal reprimand.
For Marien, the punishment for breaking the rules was likely to be much more severe and painful. Despite the heat of the summer day, Marien's uniform was done up exactly as it was supposed to be, high collar laced up and sleeves buttoned around her wrist; she couldn't afford even the slightest inclination of immodesty. She still bore a long thin scar on the top of her hand from the time an instructor had hit her with the blunt edge of his sword after he caught her rolling up her trousers so she could go wading in the sea.
"I…" Marien sighed heavily, "I'm just not that interested in watching boys swimming."
Kaiya crossed her arms, "Oh come on, don't be such a prude."
"Who knows, maybe we'll go swimming with them," Hazel murred, twirling a lock of hair in her fingers. "That could be a lot of fun…"
"And illegal," Marien muttered. "I hear you can get lashes for that kind of thing.
"Who's going to catch us? The quarry is out in the middle of nowhere!" Kaiya knelt down in front of Marien and took hold of her wrists, "Come on, you have to come with us."
"No!" Marien replied, resisting Kaiya's attempts to pull her to her feet. "Just leave me alone! "
"Wait…" Kaiya paused, "You aren't going to tell on us are you?"
"Of course not! I just…" Marien's ears sank to the side of her head. "It's not that I don't want to go… but I can't, I have other things to attend to. And why are you even asking me?"
"Everyone knows you have the best eyes and ears in this whole place, and someone has to be our lookout."
"Kaiya, leave her alone." Hazel spoke up as Kaiya tried unsuccessfully to pull Marien to her feet again , "If she doesn't want to come, that's fine."
With a sigh of defeat Kaiya released Marien and climbed to her feet, "Alright then, your choice."
"It is a shame though," Hazel said, a mischievous smile on her face as she turned and walked away with an exaggerated shrug. "I'm pretty sure I saw Sieg going with them."
Immediately Marien's ears perked up, "What?"
"But oh well, if you're not interested…"
Marien clambered to her feet, "Are you… sure it was him?"
Unable to hide her smile, Hazel turned around, making a show of tapping her finger against her cheek, "Hmmm… I'm pretty sure it was him… Light fur, brushed back hair, that adorable dark spot on the end of his tail…"
"I…" Marien paused for a moment, before a smile crossed her face and she tossed her book aside, "Alright, let go."
"That day… the first time I'd had fun… in a long time."
End of Part 4
Part 5
"As the first stirrings of morning began within the city of Basikal, a heavy fog settled over the port city. The torches shone eerily in the grey gloom as the fishermen started making their way towards the docks, the knocking of the wood floaters on their nets filling the air as they walked. Columns of city guards arrived to relieve the night shift, much to the relief of the guards who had been standing watch all night in the cold and damp.
As the sun peeked over the eastern horizon, it was little more than a pale sphere. But as the sun climbed higher and warm golden light bathed the land, the fog began to disperse, tendrils descending into the valleys and the streets, before disappearing entirely. Bit by bit the city returned to life after a long, dark night.
Dr. Kallen Hail's cheek twitched as a shaft of light from the window fell across her face. Despite her blindfold, the light of the sun was enough to wake her.
With a loud yawn, the doctor stretched and tested her muscles. She had slept on one of the benches in the staff room, and as a result her shoulders hurt a little. As she climbed to her feet she felt a gentle shifting in her lower belly.
"Shhhh now," she whispered, patting her stomach, trying to quite the movements of the little life growing inside her, "Go back to sleep."
"Ah good, you're awake."
Kallen turned towards the voice, "Doctor Silver, good morning."
"There's no patients in here, you can take your blindfold off.
With a relieved sigh, Kallen reached up and pulled off her blindfold. The sudden brightness made her blink for a few moments, but her eyes adapted quickly. Her colleague, Doctor Sara Silver, stood in front of her with a steaming cup of ginger and blackberry leaf tea.
"Thank you Doctor Silver." Kallen said, taking the cup and sniffing it, the sharp scent of ginger filling her nostrils and sending a pulse of energy through her whole body.
"How are you feeling?"
Kallen sighed, "The headaches and the back pain I could deal with, but this itching is driving me crazy. I mean, why? Why am I itchy? It makes no sense."
Sara nodded knowingly as she sat down at a small table in the center of the room, "For me it was my feet. When I was pregnant with Lyle I couldn't stay on my feet for more than ten minutes."
With a frustrated grumble Kallen sat down across from Sara and took a sip of her tea, "What I wouldn't give to be a Keidran sometimes. Five or six months of this I could live with, hell I'd take nine months like humans have, but twelve months just seems unnecessary. And then there's the in-laws…"
Sara rolled her eyes, "Kent's family was paralytic when Sophie was born. 'Three girls! When will you have a boy! You have to have a boy!' It was a nightmare."
"Mmm, for me it's names. I am so sick of getting suggestions for names. 'Adrian, Calles, Tolle, Keonig, Edmund. Oh oh, do you know what name is in fashion this year? Camden, Chloe, Lex'."
"Keonig sounds nice," Sara said, smirking a little as she took a sip of her tea.
Kara sighed and put her hand on her stomach again, "But you know… I really can't wait to meet the little one."
Sara tilted her head with a smile, "This is your first?"
"Yes. I'm very excited, but… with Johan gone…" Kallen looked down at her tea, her hands shaking.
Sara reached across the table and took Kallen hand, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean-"
"No, no I'm sorry. Getting all weepy isn't going to bring him back." Kallen took another sip of her tea to calm her nerves. After a moment she looked up, eager to change the subject. "And how is Kent healing?"
"If he would sit still for six minutes he probably would heal just fine, but that would seem to be an impossible task. His lieutenant had to drag him here again yesterday after he tore out his stitches. And you want to know what he was doing? Sparring. The man has stitches in his arm, and he was swinging a sword around." Sara waved her arms in a wild pantomime of sword fighting. After a few moments she lowered her arms and sighed, holding her head in her hands, "Makes you wonder why we bother sometimes."
Kallen shrugged, "I'm just happy if they actually come in for help. This 'I'm not hurt, I can take it' is insanity."
"Yes…" Sara sighed, "Yes it is…"
For a long moment the two women sat across from one another, sipping on their tea.
"Kallen, I'd like to ask you something," Sara said at last, setting her cup down on the table and leaning close.
Kallen blinked in surprise at Sara's suddenly serious tone and nodded, "Of course, what is it?"
"I was wondering, why did you decide that you were going to treat that Western girl? You were quite insistent that you be the one to take her."
"You were worried I would take revenge for Johan?" Kallen asked, her ears flattening and her tail twitching in agitation.
Immediately Sara reached across the table and grabbed one of Kallen's hands, "No honey, no no. It just seemed strange that you were so determined."
Kallen sighed and looked down at the table, "I… I lost Johan because of this stupid, stupid war. The kings make their speeches, the politicians grandstand and the generals play their little war games, but it is people like my Johan who pay the price."
Suddenly Kallen's eyes widened and she looked up sharply, "Oh Sara, I'm sorry, I forgot! I didn't mean that about Kent!"
"Don't worry about it,m" Sara replied, squeezing Kallen's hand gently. "Kent… has his doubts about the war as well. I think he'd be pleased to hear someone else say what he's been saying for years."
"R-really?"
Sara nodded and Kallen let out a sigh of relief, "Either way… that girl got into a fight because she looks Western. They can call it a duel all they like, but I don't think that hitting someone on the back of the head with the butt of a sword is an honourable way to start a 'duel of honour'."
"So the other girl did pick the fight."
"Without a doubt."
"Hmmm… I hear she's recovering at the Chariot residence. Last I heard she's down an eye and half an ear, but she'll live."
Kallen gripped her teacup tightly, "It just seems wrong… that that girl, and now her husband, has to suffer for a war that is so far away, just because of how she looks."
A warm smile crossed Sara's face, "Oh sweety…."
"It felt like… a way to fight against the war. It… it's silly…"
Sara smiled and shook her head, "No, it isn't. It's very noble."
As Kallen and Sara smiled at one another, another doctor appeared at the doorway, "Doctor Hail, you said you wanted to be informed when the poppy nectar would be wearing off for Mrs. Kolvest. By our estimates it should be within the hour."
"Thank you, I'll see to it." Kallen stood and replaced her blindfold over her eyes.
As Kallen walked past, Sara extended an arm and took her hand, "Kallen… Doctor Hail, I'm proud of you."
Kallen smiled and squeezed Sara's hand, "Thank you, Doctor Silver."
"There's been an accident."
The words sent an icy bolt through Marien's heart. "W-what kind of accident?" Marien asked, swallowing to clear the instant dryness in her throat. She stood on the wall of the fortress, spear in hand, keeping watch over the south side of the wall.
"Corporal Kolvest was swimming in the sea with several other recruits." The instructor standing before her replied, "He dove and must have hit his head on something underwater. He is in the infirmary, and last I heard he is alive. Apparently when he woke, your name was the first thing he said, so there are a few questions-"
Before the instructor could say another word, Marien turned and tore off, ignoring the instructor's calls for her to return.
Like a madman Marien tore through the halls of the fortress, leaping nimbly around other recruits and soldiers as she sprinted towards the infirmary. Her heart pounded, her lungs burned, but she didn't slow down. It was all a blur, a flurry of sounds of images, the halls of the fortress, the calls for her to stop, the annoyed yells of those she pushed past, the door to the infirmary, the startled nurse. And then, suddenly, as if awakening from a dream, she found herself standing at Sieg's bedside.
Seig's eyes were closed, dark circles around them and his fur still smelled of sea water. Even through his fur it was obvious that his skin was extremely pale, and his breathing was ragged and shallow. But as Marien stepped forwards, Sieg's eyes slowly slid open and he turned towards her.
"Marien…" He croaked, his voice hoarse and his expression one of utter exhaustion.
"They said… they said you were hurt…" Marien gasped, trying to catch her breath.
Sieg managed a half hearted grin, "So did… you… come to…. finish me...off?"
"What?" As Marien raised her eyebrows she noticed for the first time that she was still carrying her spear.
Dropping the weapon to the floor, Marien stepped closer to Sieg's bed. She tried to think of something to say, but everytime she thought of something her brain seemed to go blank.
"Are you alright?" She said finally, kneeling down so she could meet Sieg's gaze, "They said you almost drowned."
Instead of answering, Sieg managed a smile again and whispered, "Close...your... eyes."
"What? Why?"
"It's... important."
Marien paused for a moment, before eventually closing her eyes.
"Hold out… your hand…"
Hesitantly, Marien held out her hand. After a moment she felt Sieg press something hard and cold against her palm.
Opening her eyes, Marien blinked in surprise. In her hand was nestled an oyster.
"This… this is what you were diving for?"
"Ororo Oysters… rare… found a bed… in Keiser's bay..."
"You mean you did this for me?"
"I… lost the first one." Sieg coughed a few times, "Your pendant… when I got it… from Elliot… I dropped it. Pearl fell out… couldn't find it." With effort Sieg managed another smile, "That's why… I couldn't look at you that day… in the Major's office."
Before Marien could speak, Major Dauntless, the infirmary nurse, a middle aged female with pale fur, a much darker furred male in a colonel's uniform, and a pair of guards appeared in the doorway.
As soon as she appeared at the door, the middle aged female rushed forward, pushing past Marien, "Sieg!"
"M-mother…"
As she reached her son's side, Kara knelt down on one knee and grabbed his hand, "Sieg! Oh Sieg, we were so worried!"
Clambering to her feet, Marien snapped into a salute, "Major!"
With a sigh, Dauntless squeezed her nose and shook her head slowly, "I received a report of an armed recruit tearing through the fortress like a feral Keidran. Of course it would be you, Corporal Gail."
The Colonel raised an eyebrow, "Gail? As in Marien Gail?"
"Yes sir!"
"So, you're the female that Sieg won't stop talking about."
Marien blinked in surprise, "I… uh…"
The Colonel's eyes narrowed, "I suppose my son simply forgot to mention that you were a Westerner."
Immediately Marien's ears flattened against her head and her tail twitched, "With respect, Colonel-"
"Colonel Conrad Kolvest, commander of the Second Legion's Scarlet Brigade. And I would like to know just what you think you are doing here."
"I had to check on Sie- on Corporal Kolvest." Marien said at last, "I was…"
As Marien spoke, the nurse raised her hand a little, "Excuse me."
"Major Dauntless, I think we can both agree that this is highly inappropriate." Conrad interrupted, "I would like to have this intruder removed immediately."
Instead of answering, Major Dauntless turned to Marien. For a few moments the two met each other's eyes, a flurry of silent words passing between them.
"Corporal Gail has always expressed a great deal of concern for her classmates." Major Dauntless said at last, "It's one of her finer qualities."
"Major, Colonel, I really think...
"Nevertheless I demand that she be removed, now!"
To everyone else in the room, it would appear that Major Dauntless didn't react at all to Conrad's sharp tone. But to Marien, who had been on the receiving end of many of the Major's lectures, the subtle motions of the Major's tail, the almost invisible twitch at the corner of her mouth, the slight change in her posture, all of it told Marien that the Major was well and truly annoyed.
After a moment, Major Dauntless spoke, "Colonel, I think that, considering your son's weakened state, it would be wise to place a guard at his side. Corporal Gail shall fill that role well."
"Ridiculous!" Conrad growled, "I am ordering you-"
"Your orders mean nothing here." Major Dauntless replied, her voice like a river with a dangerous current running beneath the placid surface, "I command this fortress and its occupants. If you wish to stay by your son's side as well I will allow it, but Corporal Gail will complete her assigned task."
"I want… her to stay." Sieg croaked as his mother continued to fuss over him.
"HEY!"
Everyone in the room jumped a little as the nurse yelled at the top of her lungs.
With a huff, the nurse spoke again, "That's better. Major, Colonel, with all due respect, this boy needs rest. If the Major wants Corporal Gail to stand guard, that is… well I'm not exactly pleased with it, but it is acceptable. As for the rest of you however, and with all due respect, I implore you... GET OUT!"
With an amused smile, Major Dauntless nodded respectfully, "Understood." She gestured to the door, "If you will sir, you and your wife are more than welcome to stay in VIP quarters here in the fortress."
"I shall be filing a report on this." Conrad snarled, "We shall see what the administration authority has to say about your lack of decorum and insubordination. "
"That is, of course, your right sir." Major Dauntless replied, clearly underwhelmed by Conrad's threat.
"Come Kara, we should let him rest." Conrads cape billowed out behind him as he whirled around and strode out of the room. As he passed Marien he stopped, his eyes shifting to glare at her.
"I know all about your kind." He snarled, "But know this, if you put a single hand on my son, I will have your pelt for a rug and the rest of you thrown into the sea for bait."
"As you say, Colonel." Marien replied, snapping into a salute and glaring back at Conrad.
With a snort of disgust, Conrad stormed past Marien. As he reached the doorway he stopped and looked over his shoulder, "My son."
"Yes… father."
"You are an important part of the family legacy, remember that. No son of mine will be defeated by something as inconsequential as a swimming accident, you understand?"
"Y...yes sir."
"I'll see you soon," Kara said, stroking the side of Sieg's face, "Sleep and get well, we'll talk tomorrow."
As the nurse and Kara left the room, Marien turned to Major Dauntless, "Ma'am… about what the Colonel said."
"I'm not concerned. I've dealt with his kind before." Major Dauntless waved a hand dismissively, "I once had a nephew of General Alabaster training here. If he and his uncle couldn't push me around, the Colonel doesn't stand a Templar's chance in the Wolf Lands."
"Understood, thank you Major."
"Just promise me something," Major Dauntless said as she turned to leave.
"Yes ma'am?"
Major Dauntless leaned in close and whispered, "Watching boys swimming is one thing, but don't do anything foolish while you are on duty, understood."
Immediately Marien's face turned bright red, "H-how do you know about that?"
"I made it my business to keep an eye on you and keep you safe." A small smile crossed Major Dauntless's face, "That, and I was a young woman once too."
Pulling back and straightening, Major Dauntless nodded at Marien, "Alright, carry on."
"Yes ma'am!"
"What did she say?" Sieg asked as the Major left and Marien bent down to pick up her spear.
"Nothing! Nothing at all! Not a thing!" Marien said quickly, almost dropping her spear. Clearing her throat, she got back to her feet and straightened her helmet.
For a long time Marien stood and watched and Sieg breathed, every once in a while his breathing turning into ragged coughs. Every once in a while he would drop off to sleep, only to be awakened by a nightmare. Each time he would wake, gasping for air, Marien would place a cold cloth on his forehead and talk to him softly. Sometimes she would even sing a lullaby her mother taught her.
Eventually the sun set and the lights of the fortress began to wink out, one by one.
As the main fire in the center of the fortress went out, Seig turned his head towards Marien, "Thank you for staying with me."
"Considering what you did for me, I couldn't leave you." Marien sniffed. She had to work to keep her eyes open, she'd been almost finished an overnight till noon guard posting when she had gotten the news of Seig's accident.
"When I was under the water… you were all I thought of."
Marien's face flushed again, "I… I see."
"Every time I look at you, it feels… like a warm wind. Every time I'm near you… my heart speaks louder than my mind. I can't take my eyes off you… but every time you look back, it feels like I've been hit by a catapult."
Marien's eyes widened in surprise, but then she began to chuckle to herself.
"What is it?" Sieg asked, struggling to sit up.
"You took that from a book."
"W-what? No I didn't."
"Word for word from 'The Warmest Tide', that Keidran romance novel."
"I… B-but that book is... forbidden."
"There's a copy of it hidden in the library, inside a hollowed out copy of "The Methods and Conventions of East Basitin Poetry." A smile crossed Marien's face, "Everyone knows it's there, even the yearlings.
Sieg blinked in surprise, before starting to chuckle. Despite her best efforts Marien joined him. For several long minutes they laughed together, until finally Sieg began to cough and had to stop.
"You really should get some rest." Marien said, stepping forwards and gripping Sieg's hand in hers, "We can talk more tomorrow."
Sieg nodded weakly, "Alright...
"But just so you know," Marien pulled the blankets up under Sieg's chin and tucked him in, "The next time you end up in the infirmary because you were trying to do something for me, I really will finish you off."
"I understand." Sieg said as he looked up at Marien, his eyelids flickering as he fought sleep, "You're so pretty... you know that… so perfect… like… a beautiful… sunset..." The moment the final words passed his lips, Sieg drifted into sleep.
After a careful look around, Marien leaned in and planted a kiss on Sieg's forehead.
"Sleep well." She whispered, "I'll be here when you wake up."
"Our first night together…"
*BONG BONG BONG*
With a low groan Marien's eyes slid open. The light of a single candle was all that illuminated the small quarters she shared with Hazel. The sky outside was barely lit up at all, with only the slightest hint of blue at the edges of the eastern horizon.
In the bed across the room, Hazel sat up and rubbed her eyes with a loud yawn, "What's going on? Is it breakfast time?"
Marien staggered over to the window and peered out. Out in the courtyard she could see there was a flurry of activity, soldiers running too and fro, their distant calls muffled by the glass. As she watched, a Basitin in full armour climbed to the top of one of the tower scaffolds. Sluing across his back was a large silver horn wrapped in painted red leather.
Marine's blood ran cold, she recognized that horn. It usually sat upon a granite pedestal in the main hall, beneath a glass case that was never to be lifted except in the most dire circumstances, and only at the behest of the fortress commander.
"That's the war horn," She whispered.
"Huh?" Hazel stumbled over to Marien's side, "That can't be right. It must be a dri-"
Hazels' words were cut short as the soldier let loose a blast on the silver horn that shattered what was left of the morning stillness. The sound was deep and powerful, penetrating air, flesh and stone, its call rolling over the hills and out over the bay.
"This isn't a drill," Marien breathed, "They'd never use that horn if it was a drill…"
"We gotta go," Hazel said, suddenly very much awake as she struggled to fasten her sword to her belt. "I have to get to my team."
"Me too." Marien turned and hurriedly pulled on her uniform as quickly as she could. Just as both she and Hazel were clipping their capes to their shoulders, the door to their quarters flew open. Kaiya burst into the room, her eyes wide and her shoulders shaking, an expression of panic etched on her face as she panted desperately for air.
"Kaiya, what's wrong?" Hazel demanded, "What's going on?"
"War!"
Hazel and Marien both froze.
"Is it a Western attack?" Hazel asked after a few seconds.
"This far behind the lines? That's impossible!" Marien stepped forwards and gripped Kaiya's shoulders, "What do you mean war? War with who?"
"The Empire!"
Marien's eyes widened, "What?!"
"The humans…. the Templar… they've attacked the capital!"
Hazel's mouth fell open, "The Templar attacked the Capital! How? When?"
"We don't know," Kaiya gasped. "But Lieutenant Maize said that the King is dead and the Capital has been destroyed!"
"But… but that's-"
"Kaiya, Hazel, you need to get to your squads!" Marien barked, her voice steady despite the icy fingers of fear that gripped her heart. "We can't panic now, we have to go!"
"Of course." Hazel nodded quickly. "L-let's go!"
"Dr. Hail, the bandages you asked for."
"Thank you nurse, put them on the table." Kara nodded quickly as she worked to remove and replace a dressing on Marien's right arm.
As the nurse set the bandages down, Marien let out a low groan, her breathing becoming low and rapid.
"Is she alright?" the nurse asked.
"She's dreaming," Kara replied, dropping the soiled dressing in a pail beside her. "And with the Poppy Nectar wearing off, I can't imagine they are very pleasant dreams."
The fortress was in a state of utter pandemonium as Marien made her way towards her squad's dormitory. Officers, soldiers and messengers filled the hall, all rushing to one destination or another.
Fighting her way through the crowd, Marien was able to make out a few orders and demands for information over the general cacophony.
"Get the weapons out of secured storage, we need to get armed now!"
"Where is the militia? They have to lock down the harbor!"
"What about the Imperial fleet? Is it on it's way? Someone contact Commodore Naider and get his ships ready to sail!"
"If the human armies are going to land anywhere, they'll land here at Basikal! Get the siege weapons to the shore!"
"What do you mean General Alabaster is dead?! What about General Alaric? Who's in command?"
"I need confirmation, where is the third legion!"
As Marien fought through the crowd, she caught sight of Sieg's distinctive tail amongst the crowd.
"SIEG!"
Immediately Sieg turned around, "Marien?! Where are you?"
Pushing her way over to Sieg, Marien pulled him over to the wall to avoid being trampled.
"Are you alright?" Sieg asked, panting for breath slightly.
"Yes, I'm just heading to get my squad. You?"
"I'm being deployed to the north wall. D-do you really think we are at war with the Human Empire?"
"I don't know," Marien replied, shaking her head, "But it sounds bad."
"I heard the King was killed."
"I heard the same thing."
"Kolvest, Trager, Jin, let's go!" a voice called out over the din, "North Wall on the double."
Sieg took a deep breath and leaned close, pressing his forehead against Marien's, "I have to go."
Marien nodded, "It's okay, go."
"I… I..."
"Yeah…" Marine nodded quickly, placing a hand on Sieg's cheek, "Me too."
"Be careful." Sieg turned and in seconds he was swallowed by the crowd. With a shuddering breath, Marien turned and continued on her own way.
It took a few minutes for Marien to arrive at her squad's dormitory. Throwing open the door Marien was greeted by eight young girls, seven of whom were hurriedly pulling on their tunics and armour, and one who was cowering in a corner. Each of the girls was between the ages of eight or nine, and all bore panicked expressions.
As soon as Marien stepped into the room she was swamped with questions.
"Sergeant, what's happening?"
"Are we really at war?"
"Is it true the human fleet is attacking the city?"
"Where's my father! I want to see my father!"
"Alright Vermillion Javelin team, listen up!" Marien called out over the din, keeping her voice as even and calm as she could. "Get dressed and armoured up. I want you all to be ready to move out in five minutes!"
"B-but what about-"
"But nothing!" Marien snapped, her voice harder than she had intended. Taking a calming breath she spoke more evenly, "The only thing I want you to be worried about right now is getting dressed and ready, understood?"
"Y-yes ma'am!"
"You are Javelins!" Marien called out, "And what do you do?!"
"We are Javelins, we fly straight and true!" the recruits called back in rough unison.
"Good! Now hop to it! Double time soldiers!"
As the recruits returned to pulling on their armour, Marien stepped over to the girl cowering in the corner, "Private Talla, are you hurt?"
The girl shook her head quickly and sniffed, "N-no."
"Then come on, you have to get up."
"I can't. I'm too scared."
Kneeling down in front of the recruit, Marien reached out a hand and placed it gently on her head, "Hey, we're all scared. But that's okay."
The girl looked up, her big blue eyes filled with frightened tears, "It… it is?"
"It is. Fear keeps us alive, but only if it keeps us moving."
"Are… are you scared?"
"Yes, I am. But you and the others are depending on me, and they are depending on you."
"I can't!" the girl buried her head in her knees again, "I don't wanna fight in a war."
Marien spoke as encouragingly as she could, "Don't worry about that right now. We're going to take one little step at a time. Just get your armour on, okay, focus on just doing that. Can you do that?"
"I guess so…"
"Good girl. Now come on, we need you."
Slowly the girl nodded and uncurled herself from the corner, eventually joining her squadmates, all of whom quickly began helping her pull on her armour.
As Marien straightened, there was a knock on the dormitory door, and a messenger stepped inside.
"Command from Major Dauntless," the messenger announced, clearly trying to keep himself from panting. "All personnel are to assemble in the courtyard in one hour for a briefing."
Maien nodded quickly, "One hour, understood."
Without another word the messenger turned and took off down the hall. Closing the door behind him, Marien turned back to her squad. She couldn't help but smile at the row of children standing in front of her, their armour and cloaks done up and their dull practice spears in hand.
"Alright Vermillion Javelins, let's get moving."
"Yes ma'am!"
By the time Marien and her squad reached the courtyard, the panic around the Fortress had quieted somewhat. A constant flurry of messengers and officers still moved about, but the desperate calls and conflicting orders had quieted.
As Marien and her team took their place, Major Dauntless and two other officers emerged from the central keep and approached a raised platform in the middle of the courtyard. Marien's ears twitched as she recognized Colonel Conrad Kolvest as one of the officers walking beside the Major. The other officer was the commander of the Basikal naval fleet, Commodore Pierce, an unusually tall and thin basitin with a long, black ponytail that reached down to his waist sticking out from beneath his high peaked cap.
Marien couldn't help but notice that the Major required the Commodore's help to climb the stairs to the top of the platform. In recent months the Major seemed to be growing older much more rapidly than before. Her fur was more white than taupe now, and the lines on her face had grown deeper and more numerous. But as she approached the front of the platform, Marien could see that the Major's eyes still shone with life.
Reaching the edge of the platform, Major Dauntless called out, "Everyone, your attention!"
Almost instantly the courtyard fell silent. Folding her hands behind her back, Major Dauntless spoke, "I am sure that you have all heard the rumour that there has been an attack on the Capital by the Human Empire and the Templar. I regret to inform all of you… that these reports are true."
The major's words sent a shockwave through the crowd. Immediately, Marien felt her heart sink into the bottom of her stomach.
"However," Major Dauntless called out, silencing the ground with a single wave of her hand, "At this moment we do not know the extent of the damage, only that an attack has occurred. As a result, until we hear otherwise, we are operating under the assumption that the Human Empire has declared war against us, and we shall stand ready for an attack. As of now, all leave is suspended, and this fortress and the harbor are on full lockdown."
Major Dauntless cleared her throat, "I know that there are many rumours flying about, and I urge all of you to be careful of what you say and judicious about what you believe. I understand it is frustrating, but when we have real, verifiable information that we can share, both myself and your officers will share it with you. In the meantime, attend to your stations, follow your orders, and we shall endure."
Major Dauntless turned to leave, but paused for a moment and turned back, "That having been said, if the Human Empire has indeed declared war upon us, I can assure you of this, it will be the last mistake they will ever make."
With a muffled *plunk* Kallen dropped the last of the soiled bandages into the pail beside her.
"There," she muttered, wiping sweat from her brow, "Finished."
Gently she felt along Marien's body, searching for anything she missed. As she did, a small chime sounded from the other side of the room.
"Alright, that's it for the poppy nectar." Reaching up, Kallen gently tapped on Marien's cheek, "Let's see if we can get you back to the land of the living."
"Renner's dead."
Marien blinked in surprise, "Wh-what?"
Sieg nodded numbly, his voice dull, "I just got word… he was killed in the attack on the Capital."
Sieg sat on a wooden bench outside of the fortress's main office. It had taken more than a week, but the panic from the initial news of the attack had started to calm. The fortress still buzzed with activity, nerves frayed, but the frantic energy had faded.
"H-how?" Marien asked, sitting down beside Sieg, "What happened?"
"He was with the King… and the Grand Templar killed him."
The news opened a hole in Marien's heart. Though she had only met him once, Marien had found Sieg's brother a handsome and charming fellow, his serious and steadfast exterior covering up a whity and rye sense of humour. Despite his high ranking status as a royal guard, when Sieg had told Renner of Marien's Western blood, the only thing he had said was 'we love who we love'. The nonchalant bluntness of his statement had made Marien's heart glow.
"Oh Sieg…" Marien reached over and pulled Seig close to her, "I'm so sorry…"
"He didn't even stand a chance," Sieg moaned, burying his head in Marien's chest. "What was he thinking, attacking the Grand Templar? Why would he do that?"
"He was doing his duty," Marien replied softly, stroking Sieg's head.
With a deep breath, Sieg looked up at Marien, "But why... why did he have to die?"
"It's okay." Marien pulled Seig close, "It'll all be okay…"
As she held Seig, Marien noticed some of the officers and soldiers shooting her and Sieg dirty looks. For a moment she wanted to leap up and scream at them, to fight, to lash out and make them pay for their judgements. But as she held Sieg, the anger started to drain away.
Closing her eyes, Marine nestled her head against Sieg's neck and held him tight. "It's okay," she whispered, 'It's going to be okay…"
"I don't care anymore… western, eastern… tradition… faith… I just want to be with him"
With a shuddering breath, Marien smoothed down the front of her uniform. The green and grey colours of a training uniform had been replaced by the silver and black of a real soldier's uniform. At her throat glistened a small golden pin that denoted her new rank of Warrant Officer.
As she worked to make certain her hair was in good order beneath her helmet, the door behind her cracked open, "Ma'am, they are ready for you."
"Thank you." Marien replied. As she turned to leave her quarters, she stopped at her desk. With a small golden key, she opened a secret compartment beneath one of the drawers. Nestled within the compartment, wrapped in velvet, was her mothers pendant, the black pearl that Seig had gotten her glistening in the center.
Slowly, almost reverently, Marien withdrew the pendant and fastened it around her neck.
"I'm ready." she said to herself.
The courtyard was filled with every last soul that occupied the fortress. Every wall and balcony was also completely packed. There was even a ring of thousands of basitins, young and old, with soldiers of every rank of the army, as well as civilians, gathered around the fortress perimeter. It seemed as if the entire population of Basikal and more was in attendance. In the fading light of the evening, the entire hill was lit with thousands of torches and candles.
All eyes were on a colossal wooden pyre in the center of the courtyard. Upon the great pyre was a coffin carved from fine oak and marked with the Basidian star. Atop the coffin was laid a simple black eyepatch, as well as a Basidian flag woven from fine silk.
A long, solemn trumpet blast cut through the evening air, silencing the crowd. The fortress doors cracked open, and Marien stepped into the courtyard. The crowd parted to create a corridor for her to approach the pyre.
With a deep breath, Marien stepped forwards. As she walked she could hear whispers and mutterings from within the crowd, but she ignored them.
"Why would the Major pick her?"
"She always did have a soft spot for lost causes."
"They say she went mad in her last days, it seems the rumours were true."
"I suppose the threat of war was just too much for her...:"
Though the walk from the door to the pyre was less than a hundred meters, the journey felt like it took years. Each step felt heavier and heavier, but before Marien knew it, she stood before the pyre. Standing at the side of the pyre was a burning brazier and beside it was a long silver handle with an oil soaked cloth wrapped around the top.
Taking hold of the silver rod, Marien withdrew it from the ground and lowered it into the flames of the brazier. The cloth wrapping burst into flames and stayed lit as Marien held it aloft.
Turning to the assembled crowd, Marien cleared her throat and called out, "In the name of the King, and the noble nation of Basidian, we pay tribute to a woman who was a leader, a teacher, and a true patriot. Major Dauntless was a treasured comrade, and she…" Marien felt a lump in her throat as her practiced words failed her, "She…was..."
The crowd began to mutter and shift as Marien froze. No matter how hard she tried, the words she had practiced were gone.
As she fought for words, Marien heard a single familiar voice from the crowd call out, "Marien!"
All at once, the speech she had intended to make seemed so trivial and weak.
"She was special."
Marien's voice silenced the crowd. Although her voice was low, everyone in the courtyard could hear Marien as she took a deep breath and spoke, "My mother told me once, on my journey to this very place, that someday I would have something… someone so precious, that I would climb mountains, swim across seas, and fight gods to protect them. For Major Dauntless, that thing was each and every one of us."
Marien's voice quaked a little as she spoke, but she powered on through, "She wasn't just a soldier, she wasn't just a commander, she was a mother. She never gave a thought to her own mortality, and to her very last breath she worried about those who still needed her guidance. She protected us, she guided us, she knew when to let us make mistakes, but she was there to pick us up when we fell. She loved this place, she loved us, and she loved me… even when no one else did."
Marien voice cracked as she looked back at the pyre, "And… she was taken from us too soon. Our world is darker with her absence, and we're going to miss her. But her duty has come to an end, and now it is time for her to rest."
Holding her hands as steady as she could, Marien brought the torch to the pyre. Within seconds the wood burst into flames and a bright, roaring fire enveloped the pyre.
After returning the silver torch to its place, Marien stepped back into the crowd. Closing her pendant in her hand, Marien watched as the flames climbed high into the sky, the sparks dancing the same elated dance they danced each time.
The pyre burned long into the night, the great logs cracking and collapsing. As the moon rose into the sky, the crowd began to disperse, the students wandering off to bed and the civilians returning to the city. Some of the mourners stopped to place a hand on Marien's shoulders, a number of them whispering words of encouragement.
Eventually it was just Marien, standing alone in the empty courtyard, watching as the last few licks of flame danced amongst the glowing coals.
"I never told her that I loved her." Marien muttered as familiar footsteps approached her from behind, "She did so much for me… and I never told her."
"I know." Sieg said, gently taking Marien's hand in his as he came up beside her, "But she knew. That's why she chose you for this duty. She loved you, and that was enough."
"No… its not." Marien looked at Sieg, the fur on her face matted by tears, "I should have said it to her."
"Maybe… that was her final lesson."
Marien nodded, "Yes… it's important to tell the people you care about them how you feel when you have time."
Sieg blushed a little as he stared into Marien's eyes. Slowly the two leaned close, pressing their foreheads together.
"I love you Marien Gail." Sieg whispered, taking both of her hands in his.
"I love you Sieg Kolvest." Marien said softly, "And... I want to marry you."
"I...I want to marry you too."
"Right now."
Sieg blinked in surprise and stepped back, "R-really? We haven't even… you know, courted."
"Do you want to or not?" Marien asked.
"Of course I do, but-"
"Then that's all that matters." Marien said simply, "I want to marry you, whether it's a good idea or not, whether we've courted or not."
"I…" Sieg smiled warmly, "I've never wanted something more in my entire life."
Pulling one of her hands free, Marien dug into a pocket of her uniform, "That's good, in that case I have something for you."
Into Sieg's outstretched hand, Marien pressed a small ivory pearl.
Sieg looked up at Marien, "Is this the one that I-"
"It is."
"You found it! How?"
"It wasn't easy. Took me weeks of searching but eventually I found it between two floorboards. And now… well I know it's not exactly traditional, but I want you to have it, as a symbol of our bonding."
"But it's yours."
Marien shook her head, "If you want it, it's yours, just as I am."
"Marien…"
"Mrs. Kolvest."
Marien blinked in surprise, "Wh-What?"
"Mrs Kolvest, can you hear me?"
End of Part 5
Part 6
Like a swimmer breaching the surface, Marien's eyes flew open and she took a deep gasping breath. Suddenly the fortress, the courtyard, and Sieg were replaced by the plain white walls of a medical ward. As she tried to move, a wave of pain rolled over her body, further disorienting her already spinning mind.
"Wha-What is this?" Marien gasped.
As she struggled to sit up, a masked doctor leaned over and grabbed her shoulders, "Hey hey, please calm down."
"W-what?"
"You must stay still or you will reopen your wounds."
"Where?… How?…" As Marien gasped for breath, memories came flooding back, "There was… a fight… she attacked me… I was knocked down, she came at me again... and I fought…"
"You did. Apparently you won, though it did come at some cost."
"I felt so weak… and cold…" Marien gasped. "I thought I died."
"You very nearly did," the doctor replied. "Your wounds weren't very deep, but you had many of them and lost a great deal of blood. But thanks to your own stubbornness and my skill, you are once more among the living."
With effort, Marien was able to catch her breath, her breathing steadying quickly. "Who are you?"
"I'm Doctor Kallen Hail, I've been taking care of you."
"How long… have I been out?"
"Just over a week. Your rate of recovery has actually been quite rapid, though I have noted a few things that I would like to discuss with you."
"What about… what about Sieg… does he know I'm here? Is he worried?"
"He's fine, do not worry."
"Where is he? Is he here?" Marien pulled off her blanket and shifted to try and get out of bed, "I need to see him."
"Mrs. Kolvest, if you will stay calm I will explain everything!"
Hesitantly Marien stopped trying to stand and lay back, taking a deep breath, "Alright… alright, I'm… I'm relaxed…"
With a heavy sigh, the doctor crossed her arms, "Alright, so here's the thing…"
"Mmmmm, Marien, what are you doing… Oh… Oh... you naughty girl, you know that's forbidden… But it is nice..."
"Sieg Kolvest, you are an idiot!"
*FWUMP!*
Awakening from a rather pleasant dream, Sieg blinked in a surprised daze as he found himself staring up at Marien standing over him. She held a pillow tightly in her grip and raised over her head to strike him again, a plume of down feathers drifting around her.
As Marien drew back the pillow again, Kallen reached out to grab her shoulder, "Mrs. Kolvest, your wounds!"
Ignoring the doctors pleas, her pain temporarily forgotten against her burning frustration, Marien struck Sieg with the pillow again, "You idiot!"
Sieg raised his arms to try and defend himself, "Marien, wait-"
"Do you remember what I told you? I said 'the next time you end up in the infirmary because you were trying to do something for me, I really will finish you off'! Well guess what!"
Stepping in between Sieg and Marien, Kallen spread her arms and cried out, "Mrs. Kolvest will you please stop! Not only might you actually manage to kill him, but if you reopen your wounds I will have you tied to your bed!"
Marien opened her mouth to let loose a torrent of indignation, but the look on the doctor's face, visible even through her mask made her think twice. Slowly lowering the pillow and panting hard, Marien took a few steps back, mumbling an apology.
Grumbling to herself, Kallen yanked the pillow from Marien's grasp and returned it to its place behind Sieg's head.
"May I speak to him for a moment?" Marien asked as Kallen returned to standing, arms crossed, between her and Sieg.
Kallen frowned, "Just talk? No more hitting?"
"No more hitting."
"You swear?"
"I… swear."
"Sir?"
Sieg nodded weakly, "I'd like to talk to her."
With a sigh, Kallen uncrossed her arms and stepped aside. "I suppose I can allow that for a few moments, but then you MUST return to bed. Also, and I cannot emphasize this enough, please keep the physical violence to a bare minimum."
As Kallen stepped out of the room, Marien apprached Sieg's side.
Seig managed a sheepish smile as Marien sat down in the chair beside his bed, "You heard what happened?"
"The doctor told me." Marien sighed heavily, reaching out to stroke Sieg's head, "What were you thinking?"
"He said he was going to kill you," Sieg replied, taking hold of Marien's hand and clutching it tightly.
"Then he was stupid. The doctors would never have allowed it."
"He was a royal guard, I couldn't take the chance that they wouldn't stop him."
"So you put yourself in danger?" Despite herself, Marien's voice rang with irritation, "What if he had killed you? The doctor said that you were only saved because General Silver intervened!"
Even as she spoke, Marien felt a pang of guilt for her words. Of course he would stand between her and an enemy, that was his nature, it was part of why she loved him. But the realization that she had now twice nearly lost her precious Sieg filled her with a deep anxiety, which combined with her fatigue and the constant throbbing pain in her body, swiftly turned to anger.
"It seemed like the right thing to do at the time."
"Then you were being extremely foolish!" Marien exclaimed.
Sieg's face twisted into a scowl as Marien's tone created a fierce sense of indignation within him. After all, what right did she have to be angry? He was the one who fought to keep her safe after she was injured.
"I was protecting you!" Seig replied, a sharp edge in his voice, "But you're one to talk. You were the one who promised me that you wouldn't fight any more duels."
"I wouldn't call it a duel."
"Oh come on!" Sieg scoffed.
"She hit me from behind! What was I supposed to do, run away?
"If it's that or end up in a fight to the death again, then you are damn right I want you to run!"
Marien's ears flattened against her head and her eyes narrowed, "Now you look, I am a Captain in the third legion."
"Oh, this again!"
"I command two hundred warriors, some of whom would be very happy to have an excuse to challenge my authority. If my troops saw me running from some coward who hit me from behind, why would they trust me?"
"And what about when we have children?" Sieg demanded. "What am I supposed to say? 'Oops, sorry sweetheart, some loud mouth picked a fight and finally got lucky so your mother is never coming home'!"
The barb struck home.
"Don't you dare do that!" Marien snarled, pulling her hand free from Sieg's grip. "Don't you dare use that against me!"
"Tell me it isn't true!"
"I didn't choose to be like this! I didn't choose to be a target for every upstart cretin, ignorant fool, and stupid bastard!"
"Oh, and I suppose you NEVER pick fights?"
"You're damn right I don't pick fights!" Marien snapped, her eyes narrowing. "But unlike you, I sure as hell can end them!"
Sieg struggled to sit up, "And what's that supposed to mean?!"
"Oh come off it Sieg. You never were and never will be a fighter, we knew that even when we were children!"
Sieg's face turned red with rage and embarrassment, "At least I don't need to make my point with the blade of a sword!"
"I swear, if I hadn't promised the doctor I wouldn't, I'd break your nose!"
"Thank you for proving my point!" Sieg roared back. "The only way you know how to solve a problem is to fight it!"
"That's ridiculous and you know it!" Marien shot back. "And speaking of fighting, on your best day you're below average. And yet you charge in, sword held high, every time you think I need help! It's gotten you beaten up, spit on, almost drowned, ridiculed, demoted, and now cut to pieces by an opponent you should have known better than to fight!"
"I was fighting for you!"
"Well maybe I don't need you fighting for me!" Now Marien was yelling.
Outside the door, Kallen stepped away from the wall and walked back towards the staff room. She'd heard enough arguments over the years to know which ones were dangerous and which ones weren't, and she also knew when to give her patients privacy.
"They just need to get the poison out," she muttered to herself. "So long as they don't come to blows, better to leave them be and patch up the damage later."
Sieg was well and truly seething as he glared at Marien, all of his frustration and anger bubbling to the surface. "Well maybe I wouldn't need to come to your rescue if you had the sense to stop putting yourself in situations where you needed rescuing!"
"You wanna go that way? Fine, then how's this for a twist on your little scenario," Marien snapped. " 'Oops, sorry sweetie, guess daddy didn't know when to back off and stop acting like a hero and now he's dead in a ditch somewhere!' Maybe you should stick to what you are good at, standing around on a dock with a pointed stick! Leave the fighting to me so that I won't have to raise our child without a father!"
"Assuming we can even have a child," Sieg shot back.
Marien's eyes widened, "What?!"
"You heard me! We've been through two mating cycles and nothing!" The moment after the comment left his lips, Sieg felt a hot rush of shame and regret.
"How dare you!" Marien snarled, leaping up from her chair. "If you've got something to say, say it!"
Before Sieg could speak, a voice called out from the doorway, "Excuse me."
Both Marien and Seig turned, and were surprised to see Lyon striding into the room, his servant shuffling behind him.
Sieg's eyes grew wide. In an instant his anger vanished and he threw off his blanket. "Marien, run! That's the one who I fought!" As he tried to leap out of bed, the pain of his injuries got the better of him and he crashed to the floor in a groaning, agonized heap.
"Sieg!" Thinking fast and seizing a surgical knife from the table beside Sieg's bed, Marien placed herself squarely between Sieg and Lyon.
"Touch him and I'll kill you," she snarled, her teeth bared and murder flashing in her gaze as she held the knife in front of her.
"Peace," Lyon said, holding up his hands. "Peace, please, peace, I mean no harm."
"Then get out, now!"
"I will. I merely wish to speak, and then I shall leave. But first…" Lyon's gaze flicked to Sieg's groaning, crumpled form, "Perhaps we should help him?"
Marien's gaze shifted to Sieg as he groaned and tried to lift himself to his feet. Her gaze flicked back to Lyon, "Why should I trust you?"
"Because I give you my word of honour. Besides-" Lyon spread his arms and turned around, "as you can see, I am unarmed."
After a moment's pause, Marien spoke, "Know this, I am a Captain in the Third Legion, and I do not consent to a duel. If this is a trick, and if you kill either of us, no title you have now will keep you from being tossed out of the royal guard and under the executioner's sword."
"How dare you!" Jabarian barked, tottering forward and aiming a whizened finger at Marien, "Lord Chariot would never stoop so low! You should show more respect and-"
Lyon waved his hand "Enough Jabarian." Turning back to Marien he placed a hand on his heart and bowed, "Truly madam, on my honour as a Basitin and a Royal Guard, I mean no harm. Please, allow me to help you."
Hesitantly, Marien lowered the knife and turned back to Sieg. Together, both she and Lyon were able to help Sieg back into his bed. Even as she set about tucking Sieg back in, Marien was careful to keep the knife within easy reach and one eye on Lyon.
After quickly wetting a cloth and putting it on Sieg's forehead, Marien turned back to Lyon. Her entire body was in agony, her muscles hurt and she could feel some of her wounds had opened, but still she stood as steady as she was able and met Lyon's eyes. "Now, say what you came to say and then get out."
With a small smile, Lyon bowed again. "I wish to apologize, firstly, for the actions of my mate. I have been told that it was Amber who started the fight, and in a most disgraceful manner."
"That sounds about right," Marien replied, searching Lyon's face for any sign of deception. "One moment I am walking along the canal, next thing I know I've been hit on the back of the head."
Lyon raised his left eyebrow. "And you are certain there was no… altercation prior to that? She didn't, perchance, say anything to indicate her motives?"
Marien shook her head. "No, nothing. She struck me, I fell, she attacked me with a sword, I barely fought her off."
Lyon frowned and stroked his chin. "I really can't even fathom what exactly came over Amber to make her do such a thing. I am truly shocked and horrified by such behaviour."
Behind Lyon, Jabarian stiffened slightly.
Marien's eyes narrowed, "And I am to believe you learned of the truth only after you came here with intent to kill me?"
"Well, I-"
"Don't try to deny it," Sieg growled. "I know what you said, what you threatened to do."
Lyon's eye twitched slightly, "I do not seek to deny my actions, but only acted as I did because the story Amber told me differed somewhat from what is now the official accounting of your battle. She claimed that it was you who started the fight without provocation."
"So you came here to murder me, and then you tried to kill my mate." As she spoke, Marien had to grip the bed frame to keep herself from collapsing.
"And very nearly succeeded," Lyon replied, the tiniest hint of smugness in his voice.
"Not before I knocked out a few of your teeth with your own helmet," Sieg shot back. "How's your jaw?"
Again Lyon's cheek twitched, but he did not respond to Sieg's taunt. Clearing his throat he raised a hand in a gracious gesture, "Truly, I am mortified by this entire situation. Please, rest assured, had I known the entire truth of the matter, I would have had no cause or inclination to seek vengeance. If only Amber had been honest with me from the start, all of this could have been avoided."
As Lyon spoke his practiced lines he took a moment to study Marien, only half paying attention to the words he was speaking.
"She's an impressive female," he thought, studying Marien's face and form. "She's obviously in agony, and yet she's still standing, and speaking with authority. Add to that her skills with a blade... If she was less obviously Western, she might even be a strong contender for Generalship." For a fleeting second Lyon considered the viability of having Sieg eliminated and taking Marien as a mate, but quickly banished the thought.
"The guardsman has no clue how lucky he is," Lyon smirked to himself. "Had she been born with fur just a little lighter and eyes a little greener, a female such as this would be far, far outside of his reach."
"Regardless," Lyon concluded, snapping his attention back to the present as his speech ended, "I would like to close this matter. I have no excuse for my own actions, save for the fact that I was misled." Lyon shrugged, "I suppose we all can do rash things for the ones we love."
Marien paused for a moment and looked back at Sieg. Their eyes met, and Marien sighed. "Yes…" she whispered, her eyes softening as she smiled sadly down at Sieg. "Yes we do."
"Now, obviously, words are only worth so much, which brings me to my final cause for being here." Lyon raised a hand and snapped his fingers. Jabarian shuffled forward, a long package wrapped in cloth held in his hands.
"A gift, so that you know my apology is sincere," Lyon explained as Marien took the package, her tail twitching as Jabarian shot her a scowling glare.
Bracing her shaking knees to steady herself, Marien unwrapped the package. Her eyes widened as she withdrew a pair of elegantly curved swords.
"You may or may not have heard, but I managed to break your husband's sword during our duel." Lyon watched as Marien drew one of the swords, examining its spotless, shining steel blade, "Not his fault mind you, guardsman blades are rarely of any great quality. With that in mind, I thought this an appropriate recompense. I hope you will agree."
The blades were long and narrow, with a subtle curve in the blade and a reverse curve to the handle. The hilts were braided with gold wire wrapped around a polished dark wood core. The bronze crossguard was in the shape of a four point star and marked with intricate silver scrollwork. The scabbards were fine leather, tipped with a carved silver cap.
"They were commissioned by a friend of the family during the treaty discussion with the Human Empire some fifty years back," Lyon explained. "They are the work of Kendra Legacy, a sorcerer blacksmith of some note, and a distant relation of the Grand Templar I believe."
Despite the friendly smile he had plastered on his face, smug satisfaction filled Lyon as Marien examined the swords with awe. To ordinary Basitins, such a gift would be extraordinary, a gesture of trust, faith and friendship. To be gifted a weapon was to be given something that could be turned upon the gift-giver if the occasion ever arose. To Lyon, it meant one less set of decorative blades hanging from the wall in his family dining hall, easily replaced and barely missed.
Again Marien looked back at Sieg. After a moment of unspoken understanding between them, they both nodded.
"We accept your gift," Marien said, nodding respectfully. "I consider this matter concluded. Sieg?"
Sieg nodded slowly, "It's done."
"Very good, then if you will excuse me, I have duties to attend to. Come Jabarian." With a whirl of his rich gold cape, Lyon strode out of the room, Jabarian shuffling after him.
As Lyon and Jabarian left, Marien leaned the swords against the wall, before dropping to the floor, leaning her back against the side of Sieg's bed.
"Are you alright?" Sieg asked, clearly exhausted.
"I hurt all over, and I'm exhausted."
Shifting slowly, Sieg was able to rest his chin on Marien's shoulder.
"I'm sorry for what I said," he whispered, nuzzling Marien's cheek gently. "I didn't mean it."
"Oh Sieg… I know…"
"I'm sorry I hurt you."
"Me too," Marien replied, reaching up and stroking Sieg's head. "Aside from my mother and Major Dauntless, you are the only one who ever cared enough to protect me."
"And I always will."
"I just… I've almost lost you twice now…"
"I know."
"I've lost so many people…" Marien whispered. "I don't know what I would do if I lost you too."
For a long moment both were silent, each listening to the others breathing, enjoying the precious moment of contact.
"Sieg..."
Sieg opened his eyes slowly, "Mmmm?"
"Do you think… Could there be something wrong with us?"
"What do you mean?"
"It's like you said… we've been through two mating cycles… and nothing. Is it possible that we… that we can't have children?"
"Well, last time I checked… all the bits were there…" Sieg blushed at the risque joke.
"I'm serious." Marien touched her stomach, "I know you want children, you've always wanted children."
"Well… yes, of course."
"And I want to give you a child so badly. I want to make a family with you. Truly I do. But what if… what if I can't?"
"Come on Marien, I've never heard of such a thing."
"But what if it's true? Maybe you are right… all those fights, the time I fell down Adrian's Bluff, when I accidentally ate nachtwort on that training excursion…" Marien swallowed hard, tears welling up in her eyes, "What if I've lost the ability to have children. What if I'm… broken."
Sieg pulled Marien closer to him and held her as tightly as he could, "You are not broken. Even if you can't have children, that does not mean you are broken."
Marien sighed heavily, her eyes stinging "But what will we do?"
"We could adopt."
Marien couldn't help but chuckle. How casually Sieg said those words, how simply and easily it came to him to love the unwanted or abandoned.
"But they wouldn't have your name, not really. Your father would-"
"My father can take a long walk off a short dock for all I care," Sieg interrupted. "Besides… I'm not… really a Kolvest anymore."
Marien blinked in surprise, "What?"
"My parents… they came to speak with me, the morning when you were hurt. When I left to come see you, my father disowned me."
"Oh Sieg…"
"It's fine… If being a Kolvest means I can't love you, or anyone else that my father doesn't 'approve of', then I don't want to be one anymore." Sieg squeezed Marien's shoulder and nuzzled against her neck, "If maintaining his precious purity means so much to my father, the Kolvest line can end with him for all I care. Although… that does bring up one important question."
"Mmm?"
"Does this make me a Gail?"
Despite the pain, Marien chuckled, "I love you Sieg."
"Absolutely disgraceful," Lyon snarled, tossing his cloak to a servant as he stormed through the entrance hall of the Chariot family manor.
"I agree, my lord," Jabarian said, struggling to keep pace with Lyon.
The Chariot family manor was a colossal stone and brick house just outside of Basikal city. The house was well over two hundred years old, built from thick oaken beams and rock quarried from the granite hills of the central mountain lands. While the front of the house looked rather small and conservative, the back of the house was massive, built into the side of a rolling hill overlooking Kaiser Bay.
The entrance hall was a large marble hall, with one massive staircase leading to the upper floors, and a second larger staircase leading to the lower levels. Statues of the Chariot family's greatest members, as well as a variety of generals and Kings, lined the entrance way, along with an impressive collection of weapons and armour.
"To have to apologize like that, humiliating." Lyon unclipped his armour and allowed it to fall from his shoulders. Another servant rushed forward and caught the armour before it touched the floor and quickly retreated back to the wall, head bowed.
"You acted with honour and poise, my lord."
"It should satisfy that bleeding heart General Silver at least."
"Your generosity is most notable, sir. I imagine the General will be satisfied."
"Has my sister returned yet?" Lyon demanded as another servant stepped forward and handed Lyon a steaming washcloth.
"I'm afraid Lady Shani has not returned yet," the servant replied as Lyon wiped his face. "Apparently her mission is running longer than anticipated."
Tossing the washcloth back to the servant, Lyon resumed his march towards the far end of the hall. "Let me know the moment you have word on her ship."
"As you command, Lord Chariot"
A pair of servants stepped forward and pulled open a large pair of double doors at the end of the entrance hall. Lyon and Jabarian stepped through, arriving in a large parlour. Life-sized paintings of prior members of the Chariot family lined the granite walls, and a rich scarlet carpet covered the floor.
The north end of the room was dominated by an elegant stone hearth, over which hung a colossal painting of General Tahl Chariot, the founder of the Chariot family. She was dressed in her arms-general armour, her sword held high, and her foot propped up upon the body of a tiger warlord who had tried to invade the Basitin Isles some two hundred years ago. The warlord's pelt hung beside the painting, still marked with warpaint, decorative ornaments and talismans. Tahl's sword hung on the other side of the painting, the blade still covered in the warlord's blood, long since turned to a rusty brown.
The western wall was a vast window looking out over the waters of Kaiser's bay, glittering orange in the light of the setting sun. A vast array of rare and beautiful plants sat upon a vast network of shelves pressed up against the window.
Hunched over one of the lower shelves was an old Basitin in a long coat. The man held a magnifying glass in his grip as he examined one of the plants sitting upon the shelf in a delicately carved porcelain pot.
The plant was small and unimpressive, a single stalk with long thin leaves, topped with a single flower. The flower was roughly the size of a serving spoon and ivory white except for a series of crimson splotches upon the heart-shaped petals.
"The scientific name for it is 'scarlet laceroot'," Lyon explained, striding forwards. "Though most simply call it 'templar's blood'."
The old basitin immediately straightened and bowed his head as Lyon approached. "Master Chariot, my apologies, I did not realize you had arrived."
Lyon held up a hand, "It's fine doctor, no apologies required. Do you like the collection?"
The doctor nodded, "Indeed! Herbology is something of a hobby of mine, one never knows when knowledge of a root or weed may come in useful in treatment. But I must say, some of the plants you have here are… well they beggar belief."
"The templars blood for example."
"Indeed. I thought they were extinct."
Lyon nodded, a small smile crossing his face. "According to legend, during the Human Empire's unification wars, the Grand Templar at the time was slain in battle against a wolf priest in a field full of these flowers. When the Templar's blood hit the petals, the flowers were forever stained red."
Lyon shook his head and scoffed, "The Templar spent the next century trying to eradicate this plant, which is little more than a weed. Every painting of it, every record of its existence, was wiped out. This is the last one in existence, and having it would likely be seen as an act of war by the Templar."
"The Templar were concerned about their image I suppose," the doctor replied, stroking his chin. "Having a constant reminder of your own fragility would be troubling to such an organization."
Lyon's eyes narrowed, "It was their honour they were concerned with. It is something we share."
"Mmmm, yes…"
"You have seen to my Amber?"
The doctor nodded, '"Yes, my lord."
"And? How is she?"
"Her wounds are painful, very painful, but not life threatening, I believe she is out of danger. However, I was unable to save her right eye, and most of her left ear is gone. I also had no choice but to amputate her left arm."
Lyon turned sharply, "YOU WHAT?!"
The doctor sighed heavily, "I did warn you, my lord, the damage was extensive. I did my best, but the wound had become badly infected. All of my medicines did nothing, even burning it out didn't work. It was a choice between taking her arm, or allowing her to die."
For a moment, Lyon seemed as if he might strike the doctor, but after a few breaths he instead dropped himself into a nearby armchair.
"My poor Amber…" He squeezed the bridge of his nose, "Why… I don't understand… why did you do this..."
"She did seem quite troubled my lord. But when I tried to inquire as to what, she would not say."
"You should not inquire into Chariot family business sir!" Jabarian snapped.
"That was not my intention of course, but when my patient is-"
"How is she now?" Lyon interrupted. "When can I speak with her?"
"Soon my lord. I gave her poppy nectar to dull the pain. She will be woozy, but she should be lucid and able to speak soon."
"Fine. Maybe then I can get some answers."
"You will have to keep her bandages clean, see that she doesn't lay in one place for too long, and she will likely require more nectar from time to time. I left a supply upstairs for when the pain becomes too much for her."
"Yes yes, Jabarian can see to all that, thank you, Doctor."
"Shall I show the doctor out and then prepare your dinner, my lord?" Jabarian asked.
"Yes, please do." Lyon leaned his head against his arms and growled, "The sooner this business is dealt with the better."
"Indeed." Jabarian turned to the doctor, "This way sir."
"Of course." The doctor bowed to Lyon, "Thank you my lord. I will visit again in a day or two."
With a final bow to Lyon, Jabarian led the doctor back into the front hall and towards the front door.
"Make certain that her temperature stays steady," the doctor said, striding alongside Jabarian. "And make sure that she ingests plenty of fluids. And be careful with the poppy nectar, it is quite strong."
"Yes, thank you," Jabarian said with a curt nod. "I will do so."
As they reached the front door, the Doctor turned to Jabarian, "There is, of course, one other matter."
"Indeed." Jabarian reached into his robe and withdrew a bag of coins, "This should suffice, I should think. Count it if you must, but it is all there."
With a cursory glance into the bag as Jabarian opened the door, the doctor nodded. "I shall return in a few days around noon hour."
"Very good, sir. Farewell."
After closing the door, Jabrain turned to one of the servants standing by the door. "I will be seeing to Master Chariot's dinner personally. I do not wish to be disturbed, and neither does he. See that the others know he is not to be disturbed."
"Of course, sir."
With a gruff "Harumph", Jabarian turned and disappeared into one of the side doors leading off from the front hall.
Making his way down a narrow rocky staircase, Jabarian eventually emerged into a small cooking area, his own personal kitchen.
Closing the door behind him, Jabarian sighed in relief and tied an apron around his waist. Cooking was one of the few pleasures he indulged in, and the other servants knew better than to interrupt him while he was cooking.
His age forgotten, Jabarian whirled around the kitchen, seizing ingredients and spices, bowls and implements and depositing them on the center island. His hands were a blur as he sliced a stick of cold butter from the icebox into tiny pieces with practiced precision, before tossing the pieces into a pile of rich white flour. Next Jabarian added dash after dash of powder from half a dozen strangely shaped bottles, pausing for only a moment to sniff the spices within. His gnarled old fingers moved with long forgotten dexterity as he kneaded the dough, flattening it and rolling it out, and tossing it into a metal plate.
As he slid the pie crust into the oven, Jabarian paused, the smile fading from his face as he untied the apron and hung it up on the wall.
"Pie shell… temperature is between three hundred and fifty… I have about twenty minutes."
Striding over to a rack of wine, Jabarian reached deep inside of an empty slot and depressed a hidden switch within the wall. With a low grinding, a small door swung open, revealing a dark passage beyond.
As any good majordomo would, Jabarian had memorized the vast network of the tunnels and secret passages that ran through the Chariot manor. The manor itself was a trap, appearing to be a self indulgent dwelling of large windows and opulent furnishings from the outside, but designed to allow the occupants and the guards to move about and strike without warning from any direction. For years the Chariot family had had to fight off rivals and assassins, all of whom now lay below the dirt floors in the lower storerooms.
Moving as quickly as his old body would allow, Jabarian climbed the narrow stairs, his path lit by a tiny lantern held in front of him.
The passages were well maintained, not a single cobweb or mote of dust marred the walls and floors. As Jabarian reached the top floor of the manor and squeezed into a narrow side passage, he pressed another switch, hidden behind a loose brick. With a dull click, another hidden door slid open, revealing a far narrower and less maintained passage.
Bracing himself, Jabarian stepped inside the filthy passageway. In his youth he had been able to find the time to maintain even those passages that he reserved for himself and himself alone, but time had slowed him.
"That, and caring for that pompous brat," he muttered under his breath, pushing aside a large cobweb.
Finally, Jabarian arrived at his destination, a hidden passage that opened into a closet within one of the main bedchambers. Pushing aside a few spare uniforms, dresses and coats, Jabarian unlatched the closet door and stepped into the room.
The bedroom was large and well appointed, with a number of great widows on the south wall. The furniture was elegantly carved, the tapestries that covered the walls rich and colourful. In the center of the room was a large four poster bed with a modest curtain pulled around it.
Brushing himself off, Jabarian closed the closet door behind him and stepped forward as quietly as he was able and gently pulled the curtain aside. Lying on the bed was a Basitin female wrapped in bandages, her face pale.
Despite her injuries, Amber Chariot, formerly Amber Breakwell, was still a notably beautiful woman. Her fur was ivory, almost white, and her hair was a delicately tanned brown that framed her soft face well. She truly looked the part of a consort to the heir of a noble house.
"Shame," Jabarian thought to himself as he quietly pulled open the top drawer of the nightside table and withdrew a small glass bottle and a syringe. "Aw well, at least he didn't have a child by her."
As Jabarian set about filling the syringe, Amber stirred. Slowly her remaining eye opened.
Her voice was slurred as she spoke, her tongue feeling like a sponge in her mouth, "J...Jabarian…
"Yes my lady, it's me."
"Wha...what are you…"
"Hush hush hush," Jabarian said quietly, filling the syringe from the bottle, "Don't worry about it, just go back to sleep."
"I… I did what… what you asked…"
"You failed to kill the Western woman."
Amber's eyes opened a little wider, her alertness slowly returning, "But you promised… If I did what you said...Lyon…"
"Yes, I did indeed," Jabarain replied, setting the bottle of poppy nectar down and flicking the syringe with his finger. "But now we have a problem, and as usual, it is my job to solve it."
"What are you-" Before Amber could speak, Jabarian grabbed one of the pillows and pressed it down over her face. Immediately Amber began to fight, but the doctor's drugs made her movements slow and weak. She tried to call out, but her voice was muffled by the pillow.
"Here we go," Jabarian said calmly, inserting the needle into the side of Amber's neck and pushing the plunger down. Almost immediately Amber's struggles began to weaken.
Withdrawing the pillow from Amber's face, Jabarian replaced it neatly on the bed. "There. Now just relax, it'll be over in just a minute."
Amber's mind spun, her vision swimming as the poppy nectar flooded her body. She tried to raise her arm, to scratch Jabarian across the face, but her arm felt like it weighed a ton and refused to budge.
"W-why…" she managed. Each breath took a colossal effort.
"Failure has consequences," Jabarian replied, leaning close and pressing two fingers against the side of Amber's neck, "Well that, and you were never a fit consort for him. Imagine the scandal if your family history were to be made known. The Chariot family would be embarrassed."
"You said… if I killed her… you wouldn't… tell… Lyon." Amber's breathing was coming in short, desperate gasps now, her eyelid fluttering as she tried to stay awake.
"But you didn't kill her, did you. But no need to worry, there's no reason to tell Lyon your little secret," Jabarian replied, nodding in satisfaction as he felt Amber's pulse slow. "It would only keep him from moving on."
"Lyon!" Amber's mind raced, "Lyon please help me!"
No matter how hard she fought, Amber couldn't resist the pull of the drug. Slowly her vision darkened, she lost the ability to move her body, and her mind began to drift. Her eye slowly slid closed and she lapsed into unconsciousness.
"Ly...on..."
For a few more minutes Jabarian held his fingers against Amber's neck. Soon after she fell unconscious her breathing ceased. Moments later her heartbeat became erratic and weak. Finally, the last flutterings of her heart ceased.
After waiting for another few minutes, Jabarian got back to his feet and set to work setting his scene. First he rumpled the sheets and pillows to make it seem like Amber had been moving about in pain. With a scrap of cloth he wiped away the tiny spot of blood on the side of Amber's neck, and made a new mark on the other side where she could have reached. He set the empty bottle of poppy nectar next to her body, and knocked over the other bottles in the drawer, making it appear as if she had fumbled around for the medicine. Finally, he placed the empty syringe in Amber's still fingers and shifted her arm to make it appear that she had injected the nectar herself.
Satisfied, Jabarian retreated from the room, making certain there were no traces of his presence. After taking one final glance about, he climbed back into the closet and shut the door behind him.
As he moved through the passages, back towards his kitchen, Jabarian could smell the scent of his pie shell cooking through the walls.
"Excellent." he muttered, "Now, the larger question is… chicken or beef… Mmmmm, if he receives the news during dinner, chicken is easier to reheat… Or perhaps fish?"
End of Part 6
Part 7
With a loud, groaning yawn, Marien's eyes slowly slid open. Outside of her window she could see just the tiniest hint of the sun starting to rise above the eastern horizon.
Swinging her legs over the side of her bed, Marien stretched, testing her shoulders, her arms, legs and tail. As she did she felt just the slightest tingle in her lower belly and a subtle pulse of warmth. The pleasant sensation sent a shiver up her back and made her toes curl a little with nervous, fluttering energy.
"Almost time," her body seemed to saying. "Almost time."
Ignoring the sensations, Marien set about pulling on her tunic. For a moment she instinctively reached for her armour, before remembering that she had taken the day off. While she left her armour sitting on its rack, she did retrieve her sword belt and cape.
Before she turned to leave, Marien reached under her pillow and withdrew the small piece of fabric that Sieg had last given her. After sniffing it and smiling, she carefully folded it and placed it within her tunic.
Satisfied, Marien left her room and descended the wooden stairs leading from her room to the central living area.
The house in which Marien lived was occupied by three other females. Two of them were Hazel and Kaiya, whom Marien had known since her training days. The fourth, Palles, was a scout, and was often out on long missions, and as such was very rarely home. Even when she did return, Marien barely caught more than a fleeting glimpse of her.
Once out of training, Kaiya had taken a job escorting supply trains, and so she too would often be gone for long stretches. Most of the time, only Hazel and Marien occupied the house, which usually suited Marien just fine. However, just over a year ago, it had suddenly become more troublesome.
Marien sighed heavily as she walked into the dining area and noticed Hazel slumped over the table, several empty bottles piled around her.
Careful not to wake her friend, Marien tiptoed into the kitchen area and began preparing some tea, making certain to add extra peppermint leaves to Hazel's.
With two steaming cups in hand, Marien made her way back into the dining area. After shifting enough bottles to set the mug down, Marien gently shook Hazel's shoulder.
"Hazel? Haaaaaazel, come on, wake up." Marien shook Hazel a little harder. "Come on, time to get up, I made some tea."
"Kill me…" came a low, groggy reply.
"Come on, you can do it."
Slowly Hazel raised her head, blinking blearily at Marien. As she did, Marien could see that Hazel had been resting her head on a framed picture. It was a sketch of Hazel and her mate, Cander, at their wedding. Judging from the lines of matted fur beneath her eyes, Hazel had been crying.
"Come on, up and at 'em," Marien urged, sitting across from Hazel.
"You… You mentioned...tea… Where?"
"To your left."
Turning her head slowly, Hazel noticed the steaming cup.
"Oh… there."
"That's it. Be careful, it's hot."
Shakily, Hazel picked up the cup and took a sniff. The sharp scent of peppermint helped clear some of the cobwebs in her head.
"How much did you drink?" Marien asked, looking over the small sea of bottles.
"Just a few swigs," Hazel replied in a low grumble.
"You can't keep doing this, you know that."
"I...The hell I can't…" Hazel replied, setting down her tea and reaching for a half full bottle, I've got at least… four more bottles left."
Marien sighed and took the bottle before Hazel could grasp it, "I mean driving yourself to do this! Cander is-"
"-was the love of my life!" Hazel moaned, laying her head down on the table.
"-not worth this," Marien finished. "Haze, you are a beautiful woman, you should explore other options."
"If I'm so beautiful, why did he leave?"
"Well…"
"And for a Westerner… why did he leave me for a Westerner…"
"Because he was an idiot."
"Hey!" Hazel snapped, looking up sharply at Marien, "Don't talk about him like that."
Marien raised her hands, "Alright, alright, I'm sorry."
"That's right…" Hazel mumbled, laying her head down on the table and gently stroking the picture, "He's my special… he was my special…"
"Why don't you drink your tea?" Marien asked as Hazel's lip began to tremble.
"Not thirsty."
"Then why don't we get you up to bed and you can sleep, okay?"
"I… I wanna sleep here." Hazel shifted so that she was resting her head on her arm.
"No no no." Marien stood and helped Hazel to her feet. "Come on, let's get you to bed."
"I don't…"
"Come on, pillows and blankets, all that, it's soft and warm, come on."
"I… yeah, pillows sound nice."
"I still don't understand how you can afford all this," Marien grumbled, kicking over a bottle as she dragged her friend towards the stairs.
"Well…" Hazel looked guiltily down at her feet, "I'm going to be short on the rent this month."
"Of course you are," Marien sighed. It had been almost a year since Cander had left Hazel and defected to the Western Alliance. Within a few weeks Hazel had been demoted, removed from her post, and dishonourably discharged. From time to time she had managed to clean up and find a job, but after a week or two she would inevitably slide back into depression and alcohol.
With a great deal of effort, Marien was able to guide Hazel up to her room and drop her into her bed.
"Now make sure you sleep on your side," Marine said, tucking Hazel in and propping a pillow behind her back.
"Why did he leave…" Hazel sniffed, "I don't understand… why."
"Hey, hey… it's okay," Marien said, pulling Hazel into a hug as she buried her face in her hands and started to sob. "I know, I know it hurts."
"You don't know," Hazel moaned, "Sieg would never leave you. You're both so… so bloody… perfect."
"Hey!" Marien grabbed Hazel's cheeks and looked her in the eye, "It will all be okay."
"It will?"
Marien nodded, "It will. Look, we'll go out, maybe down to the beach, alright?"
"Cander liked the beach."
"Then we'll go for a walk in the forest, maybe we can go camping. Whatever you want Hazel."
"We could go get a drink."
Marien opened her mouth to argue, but thought better of it. "Sure," she said, gently stroking Hazel's head, "We'll go grab a drink."
"Good." Hazel's eyes started to drift closed. "Drinks are good…"
Satisfied that her friend was asleep, Marien quietly got to her feet. As quietly as she could she tiptoed out of Hazel's room, down the stairs, through the maze of bottles, and out of the front door.
The city streets were just starting to come to life as Marien made her way along the wall separating the male and female quarters. Even in the early morning stillness there was a buzzing excitement in the air. The mating week was just one day away.
Of course no one would say anything, but there was a tangible sense of build up and excitement, not least of which from the vendors who sold flowers and little gifts. The week past and the week to come was their busiest time of the year, and as such they were out in force, with flowers of every colour and knick knacks from every corner of the Basitin Isles and beyond. Many of the more exotic vendors bore the symbol of a gold coin marked with the letters 'MMTC', the sigil of the Magpie Mobile Trading Company.
For Marien however, the excitement came with a great sense of nervousness. This was her opportunity, this was the cycle, this time she and Sieg would finally conceive their child. But she had to be sure, and for that, she had finally gathered up the courage to seek outside help.
It had been nighttime and it had been raining, the kind of rain that only came two or three times a year. It was the kind of rain that drenched anything caught in it within moments. The few streetlamps that the town guards had managed to ignite sputtered and spat as droplets of rain found their way inside.
Sheets upon sheets of water poured from the sky as Marien had made her way up the front path of a large house on the outskirts of the city. Marien felt a chill piercing down to her very bones; her oilskin coat had held back the water for mere moments before it was soaked through.
Reaching the front stoop, Marien hesitated for a moment, before knocking on the door.
As the door cracked open, Marien bowed her head, "Good evening Mrs. Kolvest."
The surprise on Kara's face was obvious as she peered into the dark. "Marien? What are you doing here?"
"I'd like to talk. May I enter?"
"Yes yes, of course dear!" Kara opened the door wide and hustled Marien inside.
"What are you doing out there in a storm like this?" Kara asked, helping Marien out of her cloak, "I'm surprised you didn't drown."
"Me too," Marien replied, trying to hide her nervousness.
"Well come in. My goodness girl, you are freezing! I'll get you some fresh clothes and you go and sit by the fire."
Within moments Marien had been seated in a high backed armchair beside a roaring fire, dressed in a pair of pajamas and a thick fuzzy robe. In her right hand she held a steaming cup of tea, and in her left hand a small plate bearing a buttered scone.
"There we are," Kara said, draping a woolen blanket over Marien's shoulders before dropping into a chair across from her. "Are you comfortable? Do you need anything?"
"No ma'am, thank you," Marien bowed her head.
"Call me Kara dear, we are family after all."
Marien shifted uncomfortably, "Thank you very much for your hospitality. I must admit… I didn't expect this warm a reception."
Kara sighed, "I suppose I can understand that. Please understand dear, my concerns about you and my son were never intended to hurt you." Her ears drooped, "Though I suppose that is cold comfort at best."
"No, I… I understand that. You want what's best for Sieg." Marien smiled and shrugged, "That's something that we share."
"You're a sweet girl. As for Conrad… well he does have a way of making people feel… on edge."
"Sieg said he was disowned."
Kara paused for a moment and looked down at her hands, "Yes well… Conrad can be quite rash sometimes, but he wants to protect his family. He worked so hard to climb the ranks, and when Renner…" Kara turned and stared into the flames, "Conrad changed after Renner passed. He became focussed, obsessed really, on the family name, and on cementing his legacy."
"Not sure that disowning his only son is a good way to do that," Marien scoffed.
Kara looked up at Marien, her smile fading, "My husband is a flawed man, but he is also a good one. In your house you may speak as you desire, but in this house I would ask that you speak of Conrad with respect."
"Not a courtesy he ever extended to me," Marien thought to herself, but resisted the urge to say it out loud.
"So, Marien, what made you decide to visit me this evening?"
Swallowing a lump in her throat, Marien nodded "Yes… Well… As you know, the time of joining is in ten days. Sieg will be getting out of the hospital the day it starts and..."
"Yes."
"Sieg and I…" Marien's face turned bright red, "Well… we…"
"Relax dear." Kara leaned forward and placed a hand on Marien's knee, "The servants have gone home for the night, it is just you and I here. There is no need to be embarrassed."
"Well we've… we've tried for two cycles to have a child, and it hasn't worked."
Kara nodded, "I see."
"We've done… everything, everything we could think of. I mean we… well… during the week we… you know… as many times as we could…"
"I understand dear."
After taking a sip of tea to wet her suddenly dry throat, Marien spoke again. "Last year, Sieg mentioned that… you and your husband… may have had… similar troubles."
Kara nodded slowly, "After Renner was born, Conrad and I went through five cycles trying to have another child, with no success."
"How did you… fix the issue?"
"Well, we spoke with the doctors."
"Sieg and I have tried that… nothing."
"There are medicines-"
"I've tried that, but it was no use! Please, if there is something else…"
An unreadable expression had come across Kara's face and she leaned back in her chair. For a long time Kara had simply sat and stared at Marien. Marien, for her part, tried her best to not allow her nervousness to show.
Finally, Kara spoke, "I had… help."
"What kind of help?"
"I know of some… people, people I was guided to by a friend when I had the same trouble that you are experiencing."
"That's wonderful! Who-" Marien paused as Kara held up a hand. She was taken aback by the sudden change in Kara. Her face had changed, gone was the motherly smile and warm eyes, replaced by a deadly serious gaze that seemed to bore into Marien's soul.
"These are people to whom I owe a great debt, a debt that you too will owe. They will protect themselves and their secrets, with violence if needed. Your rank, your position, they will not protect you."
Marien felt a chill run up her spine, "I… understand."
Reaching out, Kara took Marien's hands in hers, "You must be certain dear."
With a final breath, Marien met Kara's eyes and spoke as honestly as she could. "I want to have a child with Sieg, and I will do whatever it takes for that to happen."
After that, for another long moment Kara had sat quietly, her eyes pouring over every detail of Marien's face. Finally, a warm smile crossed her lips and she nodded. "Very well. I will make some arrangements."
Marien nodded, "Thank you."
"Bring something of Sieg's with you, it will be needed. And speak of this to absolutely no one. Not even Sieg."
Five days later, a note was slipped under Marien's door. The note had read simply: "Four days, Morning, Dauntless Market, Alone."
As Marien approached the well in the middle of Dauntless Market Square, she felt her heart beat fast and hard. The market was one of several in the female quarter, and was smaller than the others though no less busy. Carts of fresh produce and fish ringing the cobbled square, while merchants and tradeswomen of all kinds wandered about with smaller carts laden with goods. A few guards stood around, mostly talking with one another or watching the crowds with disinterest.
As Marien approached the stone well in the center of the square, suddenly she felt a hand on her shoulder. Spinning around, she raised her fists at the cloaked figure who had grabbed her, but froze when she saw that it was Kara, her face was mostly hidden behind a long brown cloak.
"You came alone?" Kara whispered.
"Yes."
"Good, then follow me."
Without another word, Kara turned and strode off. With a deep breath, Marien followed along behind her.
Moving quickly, Kara led Marien into a narrow side street. Ducking from shadow to shadow, Kara and Marien made their way into the darkened alleyways that wound through the city. Marien had the feeling that Kara had doubled back several times, and by the time they arrived at their destination, a narrow alley between two large storage warehouses, Marien was well and truly lost.
As soon as they stopped, Kara reached into her cloak and withdrew a long strip of black material.
"A blindfold?" Marien asked, raising an eyebrow.
Kara shrugged, "I'm afraid it is non negotiable."
As Marien reached out to take the blindfold, Kara held up a hand. "This is your last chance to back out. If you turn away now, they demand only that you tell no one about this. But the moment you put on that blindfold… there will be no turning back."
"Will I regret this?"
A smile crossed Kara's face, "These people gave me Seig, and I've never regretted that."
Without another word, Marien took the blindfold and wrapped it around her eyes.
The moment the fabric obscured her vision, Marien heard movement all around her. Before she could react she felt her hands being pulled behind her back and bound with chains.
"Don't fight," Kara called out, "They will not hurt you if you don't resist."
Marien opened her mouth to speak, but suddenly one of her unseen assailants shoved a piece of cloth into her mouth. The cloth had a pungent aroma to it that made it hard for Marien to think straight. She felt a pair of hands remove her sword belt, while another set of strong hands forced onto her knees. A heavy metal collar was snapped into place around Marien's neck and finally, a hood of thick material was pulled over her head. The inside of the hood was lined with little bells that all but eliminated her ability to hear.
Bound and helpless, Marien could do nothing but wait and try to quiet the terror raging through her. She tested the shackles, but they were locked tight. Eventually, someone pulled on the chain attached to her collar, pulling her to her feet and guiding her forwards. Trying not to stumble, Marien slowly began walking.
"What if this is just a joke! Or a trick?!" Marien's mind raced, "What if this is Kara's way of making me unfit to be Sieg's wife! If someone saw me like this, I'd be tossed out of the army, I'd be banished!" A fresh wave of panic welled up inside Marien as she fought the mental image of being dragged out into the street, abandoned, stripped, and helpless.
Marien was so preoccupied with her fears that she barely noticed that she was being led down a set of stairs. Stumbling on a step, Marien felt several pairs of hands catch her and keep her from falling.
"Easy now," a strange male voice said, "Don't be frightened, but watch your footing. We're almost there."
After what felt like perhaps ten or fifteen minutes, the pull of the collar on Marien's neck stopped, and a voice called out, "We've arrived."
In a flurry, the bag was pulled from Marien's head, the collar was unlocked, the cloth removed from her mouth, and the shackles removed.
As Marien took a deep, shuddering breath to calm herself, another voice, this one female, spoke up, "You may remove your blindfold now."
As she pulled the blindfold off, Marien was greeted by a staggering sight. She was in a large underground chamber, a natural cavern that had been reinforced with ancient, stone pillars. Half a dozen small passages vanished into the darkness, some natural, others clearly carved out of the bedrock. In the center of the cavern was a crystal clear pool of water, so deep that Marien could not make out the bottom. The surface was disturbed only by the occasional drop of water from the ancient, massive stalactites hanging from the ceiling. Embedded in the largest stalactite was an ancient mana crystal that cast off a soft, warm glow.
But it wasn't the size or shape of the chamber that shocked Marien. The cavern was occupied by dozens of completely unclothed Basitins, both males and females, including half a dozen or so children of various ages. Some carried pots of water, others were busy preparing food, but most simply lounged in nests made from blankets, pillows and other soft furnishings. Some wore limited clothing, a loin cloth or shawl, but most had not a scrap of cloth upon them. A pair of Basitins to Marien's left were working on a handmade loom to create a wonderfully intricate scarf, while to her right, not twenty paces away, a young male and female lay in a nearby nest, casually making love.
"What is this place?" Marien breathed.
A voice behind Marien spoke, "We call it 'The Hearth'."
Marien spun around and found herself face to face with Kara, and beside her stood a tall, muscular female.
Kara bowed her head, "Marien Kolvest, please allow me to introduce Priestess Alwyn, Matriarch of the Hearth."
Alwyn was massive for a Basitin woman, tall and muscular, with fur a dark oaken brown marked with stripes of pale ivory. She was not quite as tall as King Adelaide, whom Marien had seen during a Royal visit to Basikal last fall, but she was in the same league. Her hair was snow white and cut at her shoulders, save for a single long braid that went down her back to her waist.
As with all the other Basitins in the cave, Alwyn wore no clothing, save for a colourful patterned scarf around her neck. Her body was marked with painted symbols and runes that looked to be western markings, but were somehow markedly different. A large pale scar ran from the side of her neck, across her chest and belly, all the way down to her right thigh. Marien shuddered to imagine the kind of wound that could cause that kind of scar.
Alwyn's large amber coloured eyes narrowed slightly as she stared down at Marien, "You are the one Kara spoke of."
"Y-yes, yes ma'am," Marien stuttered
"You are a soldier."
Marien nodded, "Yes… I am."
"So, do you come to make war upon us?"
"N-no."
"Then what do you come for, little soldier?"
"I… I uh…"
"She came to seek your help Priestess," Kara spoke up, "She is-"
Kara fell silent as Alwyn raised a hand, "I will hear it from her."
Forcing herself to meet the massive Basitins gaze, Marien drew upon her training and courage. Squaring her shoulders and straightening her back, she spoke loudly and clearly, "I have come because I was told you could help. My mate and I desire a child."
"And the spirits have yet to grant one to you."
"The spirits?"
A look of genuine sadness crossed Alwyn's face for a moment, but was swiftly replaced by her hard gaze. "Tell me, Marien Kolvest, what do you think of our sanctuary?"
"It's..." Marien looked around, "It's certainly interesting."
"You do not approve."
Marien paused, "Well…" After a moment's pause she looked back up at Alwyn. "Frankly, no, I'm not certain I do."
A small smile crossed Alwyns face, "Oh? And why do you not approve, little soldier."
"Well, everything else aside, you have children here and you are exposing them to…" Marien's face turned red as she gestured at the couple still making love a short distance away and then at Alwyn's body, "To all of this."
Alwyn placed her hands on her hips, "Tell me, little soldier, what is shameful about this body? The body is precious and sacred, it grants us life and allows us to create life. It should not be hidden away and treated with scorn."
"But it's indecent."
"If there were a people that considered hands indecent, would you allow them to force you to wear mittens for the rest of your life?"
"I suppose not, no," Marien answered hesitantly.
"We cover our ankles, while Kiedran do not, are all Kiedran indecent?"
"By our standards, yes, I suppose so."
"So covering our hands to comfort another you would not accept, but you would call Kiedran indecent for refusing to cover their ankles."
Marien paused for a moment, "I'm… not sure, but there is a difference. I don't know how I know it, but I do."
"Indeed… perhaps you 'know' it in the same way as those who look upon you and your Western traits, and 'know' that you are the enemy and should be treated as such?"
Alwyn's words struck Marien like a hammer blow.
Alwyn gestured around the cavern, "You speak of our children. We protect them by refusing to teach them meaningless and shallow shame. They are taught to respect their bodies, and the bodies of others, to embrace them with pride and hold them as sacred."
Marien found herself flustered and frustrated, "I can see your point, but it doesn't change the fact that all this is illegal! If this place were ever discovered, all of you, even the children, would be banished at the very least. Is any belief worth that kind of sacrifice?"
"You're not wrong. But tell me, do you approve of the human empire taking slaves? It is legal, after all, and they would even say that it is moral."
"That's different."
Alwyn raised an eyebrow, "Again, you say it is different, and again I ask: How so? Everything you see here was once not only allowed, but encouraged. Our people used to be sensuous, exploring one another as we explored the land, allowing life to run through us like a river."
After taking a moment to think, Marien spoke again, "It's not that I don't understand what you are saying, and there is logic there. But you can't deny that this way of life is self indulgent, and it doesn't make our people stronger."
Alwyn folded her hands behind her back and began walking around Marien, studying her, "Are you claiming that, without the individuals here, Basidian may fall? Is your need for warriors that great?"
"If everyone thought that way and acted like this there would be no soldiers."
"If everyone acted like us there would be no war."
"Not against the West maybe, but what about the humans? Or the Keidran?"
In a motion that was so fast Marien could barely even see it, Alwyn drew a knife from a sheath on her forearm and placed the blade against Marien's throat.
"I believe you are mistaking 'peaceful' for 'defenseless', little soldier."
Marien met Alwyn's gaze steadily despite the blade against her throat. "So much for your pacifism. I don't accept your way of life so you threaten me?
"What are you, little soldier, if not the living embodiment of this knife, pressed to the throats of our Western brothers and sisters?"
"Are you trying to convert me? Is that why I am here?" Marien demanded. "You asked what I thought, I told you. You don't need me to approve of you, and I certainly don't need YOU to approve of ME."
With a chuckle, Alwyn stepped back and replaced the knife in its sheath, "I believe I like you, little soldier. You have a stout heart, and you speak honestly. We shall do what we can to help you."
Breathing an internal sigh of relief, Marien bowed her head, "Thank you."
Alwyn turned and started walking towards the rear of the cave. With a nod from Kara, Marien followed behind her.
As she walked, Alwyn started to speak. "We follow the old Basitin ways, the traditions and teachings of our ancestors before the great schism. We protect what others would see destroyed, and we will protect it with our lives if we must."
Alwyn paused to tussle the hair of a young boy as he ran past. As the boy ran off, she continued, "We have powerful friends and allies. If it should ever occur to you that you may use the knowledge of our existence to advance yourself, it will mean only your own death. On the other hand, now that you know of us, should the need arise we will do what we can to protect you."
"I wonder if General Alaric knew about these people…" Marien thought to herself, "There were all those rumours about him…"
"The traditions we maintain are ancient, and have survived centuries, despite countless efforts to destroy us by Kings and Generals alike. If this hearth falls, there are many others."
As Marien, Kara and Alwyn made their way past the pool, Marien noticed a pair of young girls push a small boat made out of folded parchment out into the water. With great speed the boat was pulled away from the shore and towards the center of the pool. The moment it reached the center, it was yanked below the surface and vanished into the depths in mere seconds, much to the giggling amusement of the girls.
"The current must go out into the ocean…" Marien thought, watching as the boat vanished into the dark. "Hidden entrances, fresh water, political allies, and an excellent way to get rid of waste. No wonder they've been able to stay so well hidden."
As they reached the rear wall of the cave, Alwyn led Kara and Marien to a thick red curtain decorated with painted markings and golden coloured beads. As they arrived, Marien noted that a small group of other females had joined their procession, but stood back at a respectful distance.
Alwyn stopped and turned, "The most important thing I want you to understand about us is simply this: what we do, we do for the good of the Basitin people in its entirety. When our work here is done and you return to the surface, we ask that you dedicate yourself to the same cause."
"What do you mean?" Marien asked.
"That you will use your life in the service of the Basitin people, of all Basitin people."
"But I'm a soldier, you said so yourself, and we're at war."
Alwyn paused for a moment and stepped forward, her chest less than a hand's width from Marien's. As Alwyn raised her hand, Marien braced herself for a strike.
"With our help, you are about to become something far more than a soldier," Alwyn said, gently stroking Marien's cheek. "You will be a mother. And if you can tell me truly, when you hold that small, precious little life in your arms, that your fondest desire for her will be to seize hold of a weapon, to fight and wound and main and kill and die, then nothing we do here will matter."
Marien tilted her head slightly, "Then what would you have me do?"
"Only what you can, little soldier." Alwyn smiled, "Only what you can."
Drawing back a thick red curtain, Alwyn revealed a small cave carved into the rock. Several coloured lanterns hung from the ceiling, as well as a huge variety of dried flowers and other plants, all tied with silk ribbons. Dozens of small cubby holes were cut into the walls of the cave, each filled to bursting with jars and bottles of all shapes and sizes.
In the center of the cave was a solid rock slab with a thick quilt nestled into an adult sized hollow carved into the stone. Around the hollow were dozens of candles and small bowls of metal and porcelain.
As Marien stared in wonder at the cave, the females that had been following stepped forward. Before Marien could react, they began pulling off her clothes.
"Hey!" Marien turned, "Hey wait!"
"We cannot help you if we cannot see you in your entirety," Alwyn said with an amused smile as one of the females grabbed hold of the top of Marien's tunic and pulled it over her head.
"But- Hey stop that! Wait, I!" Marien looked desperately over to Kara, "Help!"
"Relax," Kara replied. "Trust us."
Despite her complaints and resistance, within moments Marien was completely unclothed. Even her ankle wraps had been removed and whisked away. Her face burned red as she used her arms and tail to cover herself, drawing a few sympathetic smiles and chuckles from the surrounding crowd.
"Now," Alwyn gestured to the stone slab, "Lie down."
Still burning with embarrassment, Marien shuffled forwards and climbed up onto the slab. As she sat down in the hollow, Marien hesitated for a moment.
"It's alright." Alwyn put a hand on her shoulders and gently pushed her down, "Just relax." As Marien lay back, Alwyn guided her arms away from covering herself and placed them at her sides.
Just outside of the cave, the other females sat down upon the ground and began to hum a low, soft tone. The humming filled the cavern, reverberating off the walls, notes crashing against one another and combining into a deeply textured echo. The humm penetrated deep into Marien's body, filling her with a feeling she couldn't quite describe.
"Did you bring an item of the male's?" Alwyn asked.
"I-in my tunic, it's a red cloth," Marien managed, her face still burning hot with embarrassment as she fought the urge to cover herself.
"Are you alright?" Kara asked, gently taking Marien's hand.
Marien nodded, "I… I think so."
As Alwyn bent down to recover the cloth, despite her embarrassment Marien found herself sinking into the quilt. The humming of the women, the softness of the quilt, along with the scents of the plants above her, made Marien feel safe and relaxed despite her mind screaming at her that she should be humiliated.
Recovering the cloth from Marien's tunic, Alwyn returned to Marine's side. "This is it?"
"Yes."
Reaching up to one of the bundles hanging from the ceiling, Alwyn picked a few small flowers. From a delicately carved glass bottle nestled into one of the walls, she withdrew a pinch of red powder. Crushing the flowers and the powder together into a bowl, Alwyn placed the bowl over one of the candles. As the concoction began to smoke, filling the cave with a spicy aroma, Alwyn withdrew a small knife from a sheath on her arm and sliced off a thin strip of the cloth and added it to the mixture. Immediately, bands of thick grey smoke began to roll lazily over the sides of the bowl.
Taking the bowl into her hands, Alwyn waved it over Marien's head.
"Breath long and deep, little soldier."
As a few small wisps of smoke drifted down towards her, Marien took a deep breath. Immediately she felt a powerful rush course through her body, her toes and fingers curled as her entire body tensed.
"The male is fertile," Alwyn announced, putting aside the bowl. "Then the problem must lie with the female." Raising a hand, Alwyn called out, "Seeta, Dawn, please come here."
Two of the humming females climbed to their feet and entered the cave.
"These two shall assist me," Alwyn said, looking down at Marien and gently putting a hand on her head. "You must lie as still as you can and trust us."
Still battling the rush running through her body, Marien nodded, "Okay…" Her breath felt hot as she spoke.
"Good. Then we shall begin."
For what felt like hours, Marien was poked, prodded, touched, and examined. With a tiny pair of silver scissors, the women cut small tufts of fur from all over her body, burning each sample with a different combination of herbs and powders. Small amounts of blood were taken and mixed with a fine sand, before being filtered and placed in small glass vials. All the while one of the women stood at the head of the altar and gently massaged Marien's ears.
Despite her embarrassment, something within Marien enjoyed the attention. The gentle stroking of her ears made it hard to focus on anything, and soon she found herself relaxing and simply allowing the women to touch her as they wished. She'd never felt this way before, she'd never felt quite so cared for, so fawned over, so female.
Alwyn, on the other hand, seemed to be growing concerned.
After sniffing the smoke rising off of one of the small bowls, her face twisted into a frown.
Stepping away from Marien and leaning close to Kara, Alwyn whispered, "I don't understand. Every test we have done says she is fertile."
"Could the problem be deeper?" Kara asked.
"No, we would see it in her blood. She is ready to bear children, and yet…" Alwyn glanced at Marien and back at Kara, "Could this be a trap?"
"She is no fool," Kara replied after a moment's thought. "She knows you spoke true in your warning. Besides, if there was any indication of our presence here, my husband would know it and would already have taken action."
"Perhaps."
"And even if they do know, why send her?"
"Perhaps with her western look they assumed we would be more likely to trust her."
Kara shook her head, "With all due respect Priestess, I have looked into her eyes. She loves my son, and she desperately wants a child. She is here for that and that alone, I swear it. Besides, if this was a trap there is no way she would allow things to go this far."
Alwyn sighed and crossed her arms, "Then perhaps… Perhaps we should simply empower what is already there."
Marien sighed contentedly as the woman standing behind her head continued to work her fingers on the edges of her ears.
As Alwyn approached, the woman massaging Marien's ears stopped and stepped away. Marien's eyes slowly slid open as Alwyn came up to her side, a strangely shaped bottle in her hands.
"We have something that should help you, little soldier."
Marien sat up as Alwyn placed the bottom of the bottle over one of the larger candles. Within moments the concoction began to smoke, filling the jar with thick blue vapour.
"This is a strong medicine," Alwyn warned as Marien watched the smoke swirl and dance. "It will awaken powerful desires within you, and should make you as receptive as possible."
Marien raised an eyebrow, "What is it?"
"An ancient mixture, used by our ancestors. Once you inhale, you will fall into a deep sleep. When night falls we shall return you to your home."
"I live with another…"
Alwyn smiled, "We have lived in the shadows for many many years, and we have become very adept at moving through them. When you awaken tomorrow, you will experience feelings you have not felt before."
Removing the bottle from the flame, Alwyn brought it close to Marien's nose, "A word of warning, it will be hard for you to control your impulses."
Marien nodded again, "I understand."
"No, little soldier, you do not, but you will."
Popping the top off of the bottle, Alywn reached out and clamped her hand over Marien's mouth, while pushing the mouth of the bottle against Marien's nose. Instinctively Marien took a deep breath, inhaling most of the smoke all at once.
Marien hacked and coughed as Alwyn released her. "There you go,." Alwyn urged, rubbing Marien's back as she coughed. "Just breathe."
"What are you-" Marien paused as the world started to spin around her. Alwyns face bent and contorted as little bands of brightly coloured light danced at the edges of Marien's vision. Thin trails of brightly coloured vapor rose off of every surface, all of them twisting together in exoctic, almost lewd patterns. Deep within her body, from her very core, a warmth bubbled to the surface, like a geyser just waiting to erupt.
As Marien's eyes drifted closed, the last thing she heard was Kara's voice.
"Don't worry, you'll be fine..."
Jabarian watched impatiently, hands folded behind his back, as the Chariot family sloop, Tahl's Victory, emerged from the inky blackness of night. The ship was the pride and joy of the Chariot family, built by Lyon's grandfather, and a scourge upon any pirates foolish enough to venture close to Basidian waters. The crew up in the rigging worked feverishly to roll up the dark blue and red sails as the vessel drew nearer and nearer the lantern-lit dock.
Standing on the dock, spears in hand, were three dozen of the Chariot Family's House Guard in perfect formation. Their uniforms and cloaks were marked with the mark of a scarlet shield, the sigil of the Chariot family.
As the vessel pulled alongside the dock, the sailors began gathering up ropes to throw to the dock workers. Just before the first rope was cast, a cloaked figure leapt over the side of the ship, landing gracefully on the dock.
Jabarian bowed as the cloaked figure approached him. "Welcome home, Lady Shani."
Lowering the hood covering her face, Shani Chariot smiled and nodded, "Good evening Jabarian. You're looking even greyer than I remember."
Even in the half light of the torch lit docks, Shani's peach coloured fur seemed to shine. Her face was soft, her limbs narrow and fine, and her soft tan hair drawn into a ponytail. Though many were fooled by her diminutive appearance, Jabarain was not. He knew how much effort Shani put into looking as harmless as possible.
With a small sigh, Jabarian gestured to a waiting carriage, "If you will, my lady."
"Of course." Looking over her shoulder, Shani called out, "See to it that she is ready to sail again at a moment's notice, Captain!"
"Aye aye!" the Captain shouted back, waving his hat. "We'll be awaiting your orders."
"And how was your hunt?" Jabarian asked, walking alongside Shani, his hands folded behind his back.
"Four Western ships burned, two pirate vessels destroyed, and we captured a ship of escaped Keidran slaves and were able to sell them back to the Templar for a tidy profit." Noting Jabarian's raised eyebrow, Shani shrugged, "We sank their ship immediately afterwards, of course."
"How very ruthless of you, my lady."
With a grin, Shani clapped Jabarian on the back, "Oh Jabarian, you always know exactly what to say. Now, where is that brother of mine? I'm surprised he isn't here to meet his baby sister."
"I was told to tell you that he is away on assignment," Jabarian replied. "But in truth, he is at the mansion putting the finishing touches on your surprise party."
"Oh… how sweet of him."
"Indeed."
The driver opened the carriage door as Jabarian and Shani approached.
"And what of your assignment?" Shani asked, settling into her seat and leaning her head against her hand.
Jabrain grunted softly as he dropped into his own seat. "The information you provided on the Breakwell's proved most effective, though Amber failed in her assignment."
"Good."
Jabarian raised an eyebrow, "Good?"
Shani looked out of the carriage window as it started to move, "Yes… it should be much more fun this way."
End of Part 7
Part 8
Sieg and Marien - Part 8
As Marien awoke she could tell immediately that something was different. Her body seemed to vibrate, every strand of fur tingling with energy. A powerful warmth radiated out from her core, and her mind was filled with but one thought.
"I need to see Sieg!"
As she leapt out of bed, Marien was surprised to note that, not only was she back in her own room, but she was in her pajamas. Her clothes were neatly folded and placed on a chair against the wall; while her sword and belt were hanging up on their hook beside her armour.
As Marien changed into her tunic, beneath her clothes sat the piece of cloth from Sieg.
As Marien picked up the cloth, a small scrap of paper hidden beneath it drifted to the floor. Bending down, Marien retrieved that scrap and opened it.
"May the Spirits grant you what you seek. Best of luck, Little Soldier. Alywn."
With a smile, Marien folded the note and put it into a pocket. Picking up the piece of cloth from Sieg, Marien brought it to her nose and sniffed.
The effect was immediate. In an instant, Marien dropped to her knees, sensations coursing through her body. Despite her best efforts she moaned, low and long.
"I need Sieg!" her mind screamed.
After a few moments, Marien was able to climb back to her feet, her knees quacking.
"What did those crazy nudists do to me?" she grumbled, straightening her tunic and trying to quiet her embarrassment.
As she climbed back to her feet, Marien looked out of her window. The sky was clear, and the sun was already high above the city.
"It must be past noon!" Marien's mind raced.
Exiting her room as quickly as she could, Marien descended to the common area. She was surprised to see that the previous day's mess had been cleared away, the bottles stacked neatly against the wall, and the kitchen table cleared off. She was even more surprised to see Hazel in the kitchen, her fur brushed and washed, making a pot of tea.
"Morning," Hazel said brightly, smiling at Marien. "Or should I say, afternoon. I'm not sure I've ever seen you sleep in this much.
"G-good morning. How… how are you doing?"
"Better than yesterday," Hazel replied, pouring steaming water from the kettle into a pair of cups.
"It seems like it." As she finished descending stairs, Marien noticed that her tail was bumping rhythmically against her leg. With effort she was able to bring it under control.
Leaving the kitchen area, Hazel set the cups of tea on the table. "I wanted to thank you for helping me."
"It's alright, that's what friends are for." As she spoke, Marien had to fight to keep her knees from continuing to shake.
"No, I'm serious, you've always been a good friend to me."
Marien smiled. "It's okay Hazel, I know it's been hard for you. I'm just glad to see you looking so… well you are looking good."
As she approached the table, she found herself examining Hazel in a way she had never before. Hazel's face was angular, but well structured, with beautiful brown eyes and a cute pink nose. Her neck and shoulders were wonderfully slender and her shirt was large and loose enough that if Marien twisted her neck she could just about see her bare chest. Despite herself, Marien felt a powerful attraction developing, a curiosity about what it would be like to explore Hazel's beautiful form, to touch and feel her soft body, and then-
"No no no!" Marien screamed internally, shaking her head. "What is wrong with me?!"
"Are you alright?"
"Yes!" Marien replied quickly. "Yes! Yes I am fine!"
Hazel raised an eyebrow. "Okay so…" Hazel sat down and took her tea in her hands, "Where did you go yesterday?"
Marien's face immediately turned red, "I… I was…"
"It's rare for you to be gone till after dark. I didn't hear you come in."
Marien plastered a smile on her face, "I was… trying to be quiet. I didn't want to wake you up."
"So, what were you up to?"
"I had some things to attend to."
"Is that so?" A sly smile crossed Hazel's face, "Must have been pretty exciting for you to sleep in so much. I bet I know what you were up to."
Marien's tail twitched, "Y-you do?"
"Mmmhmm. I have to say, I'm surprised at you. You always seemed so straight laced. I never thought you would do something so illegal."
"Illegal?"
"Well, what would you call it?
Marien's heart felt as if it were going to leap out of her chest. "Listen, Hazel, we really shouldn't be talking about this-"
"You snuck out to see Sieg, didn't you?"
"I- Yes! Yes, I went to see Sieg!" Marien let out a long breath, "You got me…I just couldn't wait..."
"I knew it!" Hazel laughed out loud. "Not such a perfect Basitin after all, are you?"
"No, I suppose not." As Marien spoke she noticed that her legs were vibrating and her fingers were rapidly tapping the table.
"So you're going to spend the week with him?"
"That's the plan." Marien swallowed, trying to wet her dry throat, "And you?"
"Well I… I was thinking about what you were saying, about moving on. I thought about it, and… and you're right. So I thought I might go down to the beach. Go for a swim, lie on the sand…"
Hazel twirled a lock of hair in her fingers and purred. "Who knows, maybe even take advantage of this week and have some real fun."
Hazel's words sent a fire racing through Marien. Her breath quickened as extremely erotic images flitted unbidden through her mind. It took a great deal of effort and self control for her not to leap across the table and tackle Hazel in search of relief.
"Anyways, what I'm saying is-" Hazel reached across the table and took Marien's hand, "You don't need to worry about me."
At Hazel's touch, Marien let out a low, soft moan.
Hazel blinked in surprise, "Marien? Are you… okay?"
"What? Oh, yes it's just.. you know…" Marien's face turned even redder. "I'm just a little sore. Busy night."
"I swear, I'll set their bloody 'Hearth' on fire for this," she moaned inwardly, trying her best to stop her toes from curling and uncurling.
"Well, have your tea then you can go and see Seig." Hazel smiled, "I'm sure he can't wait to see you again either."
As Marien put her hands on the cup, the warmth of the tea seemed to travel from her hands, up her arms, and into her chest. Her fingers twitched, her toes curled, her legs wouldn't stop vibrating and she felt like she was going to burst.
"I have to go!" Marien shouted, leaping up from her chair.
"Wait, Marien, your tea!"
"I'll drink it later!" Marien shouted over her shoulder as she bolted for the door. "Thank you! Bye!
Hazel raised a hand and opened her mouth to try and shout something, but Marien was already gone, not even closing the door behind her as she ran out into the street.
Lowering her hand, Hazel sat back down at the table. "That's not good…"
Sieg nervously tapped his hands on his knees as he sat on the edge of his bed, watching the door to his room intently. Every time a set of footsteps went down the hall, Sieg's ears would perk up, only to slump when the steps continued on past his room.
Finally, after what felt like hours, the door opened and a doctor stepped inside.
Sieg titled his head, "You're not doctor Hail."
"Thank you for noticing," Sara replied dryly. "Dr. Hail is currently unavailable, so I will be assessing you. I'm doctor Sara Silver."
Sieg blinked in surprise, "Silver? Are you related to General Silver?"
"He's my husband."
Immediately Sieg's mouth went dry. "Oh! I'm sorry ma'am, I mean doctor! I meant no disrespect doctor ma'am!"
Sara chuckled to herself as she stepped forwards and felt the dressing on Sieg's shoulder. "Dr. Hail said you were a cute one," she said, gently prodding around to make certain the wound was closed. "I can see why."
Sieg's face turned red as Sara poked around the dressing and bandages still on his wounds.
"You're going to have some scars, that's for certain, but you're healing nicely. I'd say you should be able to leave in about a week, and take your bandages off two weeks after that."
"A week! But today is the start of the joining week!"
Sara stood back and crossed her arms, "Well, I suppose you should have thought of that before you fought a duel and got yourself cut to ribbons."
Sieg was immediately gripped by panic. "But… Doctor, I'm begging you, my wife and I, we're trying to start a family. Please, if you could just clear me to leave, I'd be eternally grateful."
"Alright alright, enough grovelling," Sara interrupted. "Your wounds have mostly healed, and so long as you don't do anything foolish, they should stay closed."
"Thank you doctor," Sieg replied, breathing the biggest sigh of relief in his life.
"That having been said, please don't overdo it."
"I won't, doctor. Thank you!" Sieg leapt off the bed and rushed towards the door.
"No running in the hall!" Sara called out, but Sieg was already gone.
Sieg ducked and weaved his way around doctors and nurses as he sprinted for the exit of the healing guild. The guild was busier than usual, many of the occupants expectant mothers waiting for their time.
"One week with Marien! I'm not wasting a second of it!"
As Sieg reached the lobby, the front entrance door was there, tantalizingly close. But just as his hand touched the wood, a voice called out, "Mr. Kolvest, a moment!"
"Yes, what is it?!" Sieg demanded, swinging around, "I have to go and-" he froze when he saw that it was Lieutenant General Silver that had called out to him. The General was sitting on one of the benches against the waiting room wall, along with a number of very nervous looking males.
"General!" Sieg called out, snapping into a salute. As he saluted the General, Sieg again had the strangest feeling that he had seen him sometime before the duel.
Sieg was forced to step away as the guild's front door swung open and a male and female entered. The male was looking around with eyes as wide as dinner plates and his wife breathing hard and clutching her very pregnant belly.
"That isn't a good place to be standing around," Kent called out. "Come, join me."
"Y-yes sir!"
"How are you, lad?" Kent asked as Sieg approached the bench and sat down next to him.
"Much better, sir. Thank you," Sieg replied, unable to take his eyes off the male and female that had just entered.
Kent noted Sieg's fascination and smiled. "I remember my first time coming through those doors like that. That was our first born, Zelda. Sara was calm as an ocean breeze, and I was so scared I couldn't breathe."
Kent leaned back and folded his hands behind his head. "I've been involved in a dozen charges and sneak attacks. I've run through volleys of arrows and dodged rocks from catapults. I was even once forced to swim to shore in a storm when the ship I was on broke in half and sank. But nothing terrified me as much when Sara looked at me and said 'it's time'."
Watching as the male and his wife were ushered into the back by a pair of doctors, Sieg nodded. "It sounds wonderful, sir."
Kent looked down at Sieg. "So why haven't you started your own family yet?"
"Well… we've been trying but-" Suddenly, Sieg froze. "The license!"
"Mmmmm?"
"I forgot… I need to go and get a license." Sieg lowered his head into his hands and his ears drooped, "Marien said she would be waiting for me..."
"Lines probably out the door by now," Kent mused. "Even if you got there now, I doubt you'd be able to get a license before the offices closed for the night."
Sieg felt his heart drop into the bottom of his stomach. But just as he resigned himself to failure, an idea crossed his mind.
"G-general?"
Smiling to himself, Kent looked over at Sieg, "Yes?"
"I… I know I have no right to ask… and please pardon me for my rudeness… but is there anything you could do?"
"What did you have in mind?"
"Well I…" Sieg swallowed hard, "Perhaps you could… help me get a license?"
"You mean bump you forward in line?"
"I… I suppose so."
Kent raised an eyebrow. "Mr. Kolvest, I am shocked that you would even ask for such a thing."
"I…" Sieg's ears dropped again, "My apologies, General."
"Well," Kent slapped his hands against his knees and got to his feet, "Shall we?"
Sieg raised his head, "Sir?"
"You want that license don't you, let's go."
Sieg's mouth fell open, "B-but you said-"
"I said I was shocked, not that I wouldn't do it."
Sieg leapt to his feet, "Sir, are you being serious?"
Kent nodded. "Come on, if we hurry we can get you home before dark."
"Every single one of them," Marien panted as she climbed the stairs to Sieg's apartment. "I'm going to go back there and skin each and every one of them, starting with that crazy bitch Alwyn."
The journey to Sieg's apartment had been hell. Every step had sent shivers up her body, every scent felt like a direct assault on her nose, and the rampant pheromones in the air did nothing to help. The only thought that had kept her from leaping on the nearest male had been the thought of Sieg.
The males, they had been a nightmare all their own. Each and every one that she passed had sniffed the air and stared at her. Marien wasn't certain what was more humiliating, the stares, or the fact that their stares only seemed to arouse her more.
Pulling the spare key out from under a potted plant, Marien unlocked the door to Sieg's apartment.
"Sieg, clothes off, now!" She called out as she stepped inside. But Sieg's apartment was dark, no candles lit and the fireplace was cold.
Marien looked around, "Sieg?"
As she looked around, she noted a small jar of honey sitting on the table with a little red ribbon tied on top. Under the jar was a note written on a piece of parchment.
"Something sweet for my precious son. Your father and I love you very much." Marien read aloud as she retrieved the note. "Love, Mom."
A warm smile crossed Marien's face as she replaced the note beneath the jar.
"He said he'd be getting out of the hospital today… Maybe he went to go get something." Marien sat and rested her arms on the table, her fingers drumming rapidly on the wood. "I'm sure he'll be home soon."
As the seconds turned to minutes, Marien felt as if she were going to explode.
"Where is he?" She growled. "Where-" And then it struck her.
"The license! He must have gone to get it! If I hurry I can meet-"
As Marien turned towards the door she paused. The thought of going back outside was unappealing, especially the idea of standing in line.
With a growl of frustration, Marien climbed to her feet and began pacing. "Okay, calm down," she thought to herself. "You are a Basitin warrior, you spent three days in the rain waiting for orders, you can wait for a few hours. You just need something to occupy yourself."
Taking a knife from the kitchen area and a chunk of wood from the stack beside the fireplace, Marien sat down at the table.
"You don't understand, but you will," Marien growled to herself in a parody of Alwyn's voice as she started hacking at the piece of wood. "If this doesn't work, I'll carve her ass into fritters!"
Peering at Kent over the top of his half moon spectacles, the ancient Basitin clerk raised a single, long grey eyebrow. "General, this is highly irregular."
"Nonsense," Kent replied, hands on his hips. "I already told you, this is a matter of military importance."
"It is a matter of military importance that this young man," the Basitin pointed at Sieg with the back of his quill, "gets a mating and conception of offspring license?"
Kent nodded, "Indeed."
"And what possible concern could this be of the military?"
"That's on a need-to-know basis."
The clerk let out a long, heavy sigh. It wasn't so much that he cared about Sieg and Kent coming into his office, but rather he found any kind of aberration or interruption intolerable. Usually his job was tedious, tiresome and utterly without deviation, just as he preferred it.
"Young ones," he grumbled inwardly. "So impatient and disrespectful, what a disgrace."
For his part, Sieg tried his best to be as invisible as possible, hunching his shoulders and pulling his helmet down as far as he could. Outside the clerk's office was a long line of impatient Basitins, all of whom had glared at Sieg and Kent as they had made their way to the front of the line.
With another long drawn out sigh, dripping with barely hidden disdain, the clerk looked back down at the forms on his desk. "General, I have a great deal of work to do..."
"So fill out the paperwork and get a move on."
Sensing the futility of continuing to argue, with a subtle grumbling under his breath, the clerk set about filling out the forms.
"Name?" the clerk asked.
"Sieg Kolvest," Sieg replied, trying to keep his voice down so no one outside of the room could hear him.
"Age?"
"Twenty."
"Mate's name?"
"Marien Kolvest."
"Maiden Name?"
"Gail."
"Age?"
"Twenty one."
"Mating cycle?"
"Third."
"Prior offspring?"
"None."
"Medical conditions?
"None."
"Criminal history?"
"None."
"Authorizing Reference?"
Sieg paused, "Uh…"
"That would be me," Kent spoke up.
The clerk rolled his eyes, "Of course…"
The questions continued for several minutes until, with a final flourish of his quill, the clerk finished. In a single smooth motion he pulled his trusty stamp off of its pad and brought it down on the papers. Taking a moment to make certain the seal was legible, he replaced the stamp on its pad.
"Here you are, Mr. Kolvest," the clerk grumbled, sliding the papers towards Sieg. "You have one week to complete your mate and attempt conception of offspring. Best of luck, long live the king."
"Thank you," Sieg said, bowing his head. Turning back to Kent, he said, "General, shall we-"
Suddenly, realization flooded through Sieg. "This is where I know you from! You were here when Marien and I got our first license!"
Kent laughed out loud, "Took you long enough. I was wondering when you'd figure it out!"
With an irritated grunt, the clerk spoke up, "Excuse me gentlemen, but I have a great deal to do and this has already taken up far too much of my time. If you would kindly get out?"
"Ah, of course." Kent clapped Sieg on the back, "Come, let's get out of this good man's way."
With another grumble under his breath, the old clerk watched as Sieg and Kent left. Pulling a blank form off the stack beside him, he dipped his quill, and called out, "Next!"
The light of the afternoon was fading into the light of evening as Sieg and Kent left the administration building.
As they walked down a set of stairs leading into the courtyard of the massive administration complex, Sieg turned to Kent, "General… I want to thank you for your help."
"Don't worry about it," Kent replied. "Bit of a pain though, isn't it?"
"You can say that again," Seig grumbled, patting his pocket again to make certain that the license was there. "Last year, Marien and I got into line in the morning, and ended up waiting overnight until the offices opened again the next day."
Kent whistled, "That is a long one."
Sieg sighed as he stared at the line that snaked out of the entrance of the building and around roughly half of the administrative courtyard. There were even vendors making their way along the line, selling water and roasted meat to those waiting.
"Sir… it's not that I don't appreciate what you did for me." Sieg looked up at Kent, "But… Why are you helping me?"
"Seemed like the right thing to do," Kent shrugged. "I'm the one who trained Lyon to fight, so I feel a little responsible for what he did to you. Apparently I should have paid more attention to teaching him manners."
"Oh, I see."
"Well, that, and I can't imagine things haven't been too easy for you, with a Western wife and a father like Conrad."
Sieg paused. "Wait, you know my father?"
"I served with the Second Legion for a few years, until your father kicked me out."
"You were kicked out?!"
"Yep."
"Why? How?" Seig asked, protocol shrugged aside by surprise.
Kent smiled to himself. "Well that's a long story. Let's just say… I found certain procedures to be a waste of time and energy. Procedures like what we just had to deal with."
A strange shudder went up Sieg's back and he paused. Despite his casual tone, the General's words set off alarm bells in his mind.
Clearing his throat, Sieg turned to Kent. "What do you mean, sir?"
Stepping onto a patch of grass beside the stairs, Kent gestured for Sieg to join him.
"It just seems rather silly, don't you think?" Kent said as Sieg sat down next to him. "To have to go through so much hassle for something so simple."
As Kent met Sieg's gaze, Sieg felt another shiver run up his spine. Though the General's face still bore the same friendly smile as before, something in his eyes had changed. Sieg had seen that look before, that searching, calculating gaze. He was being tested.
Kent gestured around the plaza, "So many of these couples, wasting valuable time, waiting in line for a license for something so… private, so fundamentally personal. All the resources and time and effort being wasted on this foolishness."
"But it's the law," Sieg replied, picking his words carefully.
"It is. But then again, laws can change."
"So… you want this law to change?" Kent didn't respond, but Sieg pushed on. "You are a Lieutenant General, your word holds immense weight. If you want something to change, why don't you change it?"
"You're probably too young, but do you remember the Red Summer War?"
Sieg paused for a moment, surprised by the sudden shift in the conversation. "No, sir."
Kent sighed and shook his head. "They should have taught you about it during your training, but then again it's not a story that the military is particularly fond of sharing."
Kent leaned back and stared up at the sky. "To make a long story short, the fourth legion punched a hole in the Western line and launched a large-scale invasion of Western territory. The fourth legion occupied several Western settlements, burned a major shipyard, crippled supply routes, and managed to hold a key Western fort for nearly a year."
Sieg tilted his head, "If it was so successful…"
"Why have you not heard about it?" Kent finished for him. "Simple, it was a complete disaster. The Westerners realized that the fourth legion was too strong to be engaged directly. The fourth beat the Western army in every engagement. But while they were winning on the field, Westerner raiding parties were able to destroy the fourth legion's supply lines. They also managed to close the mountain pass we used to get into Western territory."
Kent sighed heavily, his eyes gazing a point light years away as he spoke. "The fourth legion was run ragged, chasing raiding parties and phantom armies. They tried to retreat back to our territory, but the Westerners had dug in and reinforced their lines. Finally, we took and occupied a fortress, figuring they could draw the Western army into a major engagement. Instead, the Westerners destroyed the larders as they retreated, burned down the surrounding forest, and dammed the river."
A dark shadow crossed Kent's face. "We had no food, no water and no means of retreat. All the while, the Western forces just sat outside the walls and waited, merrily munching on supplies they had taken from our own supply trains. By the time we surrendered, a third of us had starved to death."
"Us?" Sieg's eyes widened, "You were there?"
"I was, just three years older than you are now" As Kent spoke his hand moved subconsciously to his chest, to a scar hidden beneath his tunic. "I had been hurt rather badly, so I was allowed to return home along with the other wounded. The Westerners held the rest of the fourth for nearly a year, forcing them to repair the damage that they had caused to farms and communities. Eventually they were traded back for prisoners our army had taken, but not before another quarter of the legion died."
Sieg was uncertain of what to say. The look on Kent's face was haunting, a picture of pain and dull rage. Despite his best efforts, the best Sieg could come up with was, "I'm sorry that happened to you."
With a friendly chuckle, Kent put a hand on top of Sieg's head. "It was terrible, but it did teach me a few things."
"It's possible to win every battle and still lose the war," Sieg nodded. "Major Dauntless taught us that."
"Thank the heavens for that woman." Kent shook his head, "There will never be another like her, I swear."
Clearing his throat, Kent lowered his hand and turned to Sieg. "You're probably wondering what this has to do with what we were talking about."
"You're saying that… there is no point in repealing one law, if the entire system is broken." Screwing up his courage, Sieg took a deep breath, "And do you think the system is broken, sir?"
"You're the one who just had to ask a favour of a general just so you could get permission to make love to the woman you married." Kent looked sideways at Sieg, "You tell me."
Sieg searched Kent's face, looking for any sign of trickery, but found nothing. Carefully he withdrew the license from his pocket and stared down at it.
"I don't know," Seig said at last. "I think… there are things that make sense, and things that don't. But it does seem unfair. I mean, you were able to march right to the front of the line and get what you wanted." Sieg looked up at Kent, "Not that I'm not thankful of course. But…"
"But you don't know why you deserve special treatment."
"No, sir."
"Truth is, I think that if you have power, you have an obligation to use it. I may not be able to change our society, but if I can make it easier for just a few, that's enough for now."
"I think I understand." Sieg bowed his head. "And I do appreciate your help General, I am in your debt."
Clapping Sieg on the back, Kent climbed to his feet. "You're a good lad. Despite having a father that could give you anything, despite having the easy road laid out in front of you, you've chosen your own path, a harder path but it's the one you chose for yourself. I like that about you, and it gives me hope for the future."
Sieg also clambered to his feet, "Thank you, General."
"I should get home, Sara will be waiting for me, and you should probably get home to that wife of yours." Kent reached into his pocket and withdrew a small silver disc and pressed it into Sieg's hand, "Before you do, I want you to have this."
Sieg stared down at the disc. It was a coin, but not one he had ever seen before. On the back was the face of a Basitin that Sieg found vaguely familiar. As he stared down at the coin, a realisation flashed through his mind.
"That's General Alaric.".
"I'm sure you've heard the rumours that were floating around about General Alaric before he died."
Sieg looked up at Kent and nodded, "I heard some of them at least."
Kent reached out and closed Sieg's fist around the coin. "The next time you find yourself having doubts, come to my house, show my guards that coin, and we'll have a talk."
"Of course General… Thank you."
As Kent started to walk down the stairs, he turned back to Sieg, "Oh, one last thing, something I've been meaning to ask."
"Yes, sir?"
"When we first met, did you actually follow my advice?"
Siegs face turned a little red, but he nodded, "Yes, sir."
"And?"
"It was…" Sieg smiled as pleasant memories rose to the surface. "It was good advice, General."
"Glad to hear it." Kent turned and walked down the stairs, "Have a good week Mr. Kolvest. Make it count."
As Kent strode away, Sieg looked down at the coin in his hand. After a moment he folded it inside the license and slipped them back into the inside pocket of his tunic.
"There… finished."
Setting down her carving knife, Marien leaned back in her chair to admire her masterpiece. A wooden statue of a Basitin warrior.
The warrior's left ear was larger than his right, he leaned a little to the left, and his sword wasn't nearly as straight as she had intended, but nonetheless it was complete.
As she examined her work, the burning need and frustration came roaring back. Marien considered starting another carving, but immediately discarded the idea.
Climbing to her feet, Marien grabbed hold of the broom and set about sweeping the considerable number of shavings into a pile beside the fireplace.
"Just keep busy… just have to keep busy."
As she swept, Marien looked out of the window. The sun was just beginning to slip behind the houses, the horizon burning a deep orange.
"Where are you Sieg?" Marien groaned, resisting the urge to snap the broom handle across her knee.
As she paced around Sieg's apartment, Marien had an idea.
"Sieg will be home soon," she thought to herself as she pulled her shirt over her head. "So, I'll have a surprise waiting for him."
As she removed her clothes, she neatly folded them and placed them at the end of Sieg's bed. Standing in just her fur seemed to help quiet some of the screaming inside of her, allowing her to breathe a sigh of relief. At the very least it allowed her to cool down.
Climbing onto Sieg's bed, Marien removed her ankle coverings and arranged the sheet so that it was only just barely covering her waist and ankles. Satisfied, she leaned back luxuriously, one hand behind her head and experimented with different facial expressions.
"Half closed eyes? Should I smile? Maybe I should lick my lips? Should I go sultry… or maybe shy?"
Marien frowned, none of the expressions she tried felt quite right. As she lay there, the blanket began to feel hot and itchy, and the shape of the mattress made lying in a sensual repose rather uncomfortable. With a moan of frustration she sat back up and crossed her arms.
"Who am I kidding, I don't know the first thing about this... kind of stuff," she growled, her claws digging deep into the mattress.
"Just relax," she thought to herself, taking a deep calming breath and forcing her to pull her claws back in. "Just relax and think."
Though the feelings and sensations coursing through her made it very hard for Marien to concentrate. She tried to focus on the memories of the forbidden romance book hidden in the fortress library.
"She lay upon a bed of roses, a single bloom between her teeth. Her bosom heaved as she beckoned for Renello to come unto her. Her mind raced with burning desire as Renello did as he was bid, his robe falling to the floor as he approached. His muscles rippled as he-"
Just the memory of the passage filled Marien with a flood of heat. With a low, frustrated groan she lay her head on the mattress, her breath coming in gasps.
"Sieg… where are you…" she moaned into the mattress
Suddenly, her eyes flew open and she sat straight up. "Flower in the teeth!"
Wrapping herself in a sheet, she padded over to Sieg's front door. As carefully and quietly as she could, she opened the door just enough to peek at the plants on Sieg's landing. Her heart sank, none of them had flowers.
Careful not to open the door too much, Marien reached out and snapped off a sprig on the closest plant. Bringing it to her nose she sniffed.
"Parsley…" Marien frowned, "Is parsley sexy?"
"Stupid!" she growled, throwing the sprig of parsley on the ground. Again she crossed her arms and grumbled in frustration.
"What's sexy in here…" she thought to herself, scanning Sieg's apartment. "Light a fire, lie in front of it? Warm, primal... No, no the last time we did that I got a splinter in my tail, couldn't sit down for three days."
Her eyes settled on her armour, "Maybe have him come in and I'm wearing just my armour?" She thought for a moment and shook her head, "No… too barbarian."
Her gaze settled on the pillows on Sieg's bed. "Perfect!" she announced, grabbing hold of the knife she'd left on the table. Kneeling on Sieg's bed, she used the knife to cut a small hole in the side of the pillow.
Reaching into the pillow, Marien hunted around for a feather large enough to suit her needs. Eventually she found one, a long piece of down with a delicate curve to it.
"Feathers!"
Setting the pillow aside, Marien looked down at the feather. "Okay… now what?"
The idea that had seemed so brilliant mere moments ago had completely abandoned her. She tried putting the feather in between her teeth, but swiftly found that the delicate down fibres tickled her nose and made her sneeze.
"Damn it all!" Marien cried out, throwing the feather away. She flopped down on the bed.
"I can't stand it anymore!" She moaned.
As she stared up at the ceiling, Marien was struck by one final idea. Leaping to her feet she dashed over to the table and seized the bottle of honey.
Tearing off the ribbon, Marien cracked open the lid and took a sniff. The sweet smell of clover honey made her nose tingle.
With a grin she started back towards the bed with the honey. "Sieg is going to get something sweet alright."
By the time Seig reached his neighborhood the streets were growing dark. The street lamps were lit, and through the various illuminated windows Sieg could see the outlines of reunited couples.
Sieg shoved his hands into his pockets. "I wonder if Marien went home."
As he walked, Sieg's mind kept drifting back to the conversation with General Silver.
"I wonder what he meant..." Sieg muttered to himself. "Could General Silver be a revolutionary? No… he's a General after all. But then again, the way he was talking..."
Sieg shook his head. "Dammit, I don't want to get caught up in all of this. I just need to get home and see Marien. Marien is all that matters."
Sieg was so caught up in his thoughts that he didn't see the female Basitin coming in the opposite direction, her head lowered and a basket of eggs in her grip.
With a loud crunch, Sieg and the female smacked directly into one another. The basket tumbled to the ground, most of the eggs rolling into the street. The female cried out and fell to the ground while Sieg stumbled back, the front of his tunic covered in smashed egg.
After taking a moment to steady himself, Sieg stepped forwards. "Holy- Are you all right?"
"Ouch," the female said, rubbing her rear. "I sat on my tail."
"I'm so sorry!" Sieg hurriedly started gathering the eggs and putting them back in the basket. "I wasn't watching where I was going."
"No no," the female replied, picking herself up and brushing off her dress. "I… well I wasn't watching where I was going either."
"Are you alright?"
"I think so."
Picking up the last of the eggs that hadn't been smashed, Sieg straightened and handed her back the damaged basket. "I'm sorry about the eggs."
"It's no problem, I probably had too many anyway." As the female reached out to take the basket, her hands touched Sieg's.
As their hands touched, the female blushed and turned her head shyly. "Um… Hello. My name is Naomi, Naomi Lindt."
Sieg blushed a little as he met Naomi's big green eyes. "Sieg, Sieg Kolvest."
"Sieg? That's a cute name."
"Really?"
Naomi nodded, "It's sweet."
Turning even redder, Sieg swallowed hard. "I've… never seen you before."
"Oh, I'm new in town. I just moved here from a small settlement in the south." Naomi looked around, "I'm a little lost. I think I've never been in a city this big before."
Sieg nodded quickly. 'Yes it is… certainly… big."
"Perhaps…" Naomi looked down at her feet before looking back up at Sieg, "Perhaps you could show me around sometime?"
"I… uh…"
"If it's not too much trouble." Suddenly Naomi's eyes widened and she stepped forward and put her hand on Sieg's chest. "Oh no, your tunic! I'm sorry!"
"No! No, it's fine." Sieg took a step back and cleared his throat. "Look, I don't have any money at the moment but please, I'd like to pay you for the eggs."
"I understand. Well… perhaps there is another way you could pay me." Naomi's face burned with embarrassment as she hugged the basket close to her chest. "I'm actually here all on my own and I was thinking… maybe it would be nice to have some company."
"Oh no, no no no!" Sieg stepped back, "I'm sorry, I have a wife."
"Oh! Oh, I'm so sorry!" Naomi looked away. "Please forgive me, this season has just been… much more intense than I am used to. I don't mean to be so forward, it's not… it's not how I usually am."
"No, it's fine," Sieg said quickly. "It's not that I wouldn't love to, but… I really need to get home."
"I completely understand, please forgive me Sieg." Looking back up at Sieg, Noami smiled warmly. "Your wife is a lucky woman."
"Thanks." After a moment Sieg spoke up, "Well, look, I'm actually a town guard, so if you are new in town I'd be happy to give you a guided tour after this week."
"Really!" Naomi's eyes widened with excitement, "That would be amazing! Thank you Sieg!"
"I'll be down on the dock, you can find me there." Sieg turned and started back towards his apartment.
"I'll be there!" Naomi called back.
As Sieg turned a corner and vanished, the warm, slightly embarrassed grin on Noami's face faded and was replaced by a sly smile.
"So that's him," Shani purred. "Conrad didn't mention how cute he was. Oh little Sieg, the fun you and I are going to have."
Tossing the basket of eggs into an alleyway, Shani folded her hands behind her back and strode off into the night, a jaunty tune on her lips.
"This is going to be even better than I imagined."
With an exhausted sigh, Sieg climbed the stairs to his apartment. By now the light in the sky was long gone
"What a day… I bet Marien's already asleep," he muttered, fumbling for his key.
As he opened his door, the sight that greeted Sieg made him freeze.
Marien stood naked in the center of the room, her fur matted and covered in honey and down feathers. In one hand she held a half empty jar of honey, and in the other the torn open remains of a pillow.
For a few moments the two stood and stared at one another.
"Marien… what the-"
Before Sieg could say another word, Marien lunged at him like a wild animal. Seizing the front of his tunic, Marien pulled Sieg into a passionate kiss. Sieg was surprised, but soon found himself eagerly participating.
Breaking off the kiss, Marien looked Sieg in the eye, her breath coming in desperate pants, "I need you, right now!"
"But-"
Marien started dragging Sieg towards the bed, "Right now!"
"O-okay!"
As Marien dragged him, Sieg's tail started to thump against his leg excitedly. Sieg's face turned red as other parts of him began to react as well.
With a low growl, Marien flopped onto the bed, dragging Sieg down on top of her.
After another wild kiss, Marien began pulling his shirt over his head.
As Marien tore at his clothes, Sieg pulled away, "Whoa, whoa, Marien, just wait a second!"
"No seconds! Clothes off, now!"
"Wait! Just hold on a second, Ow! Marien, your claws!"
"Come on, come on!" Marien snarled, her eyes wild with lust and excitement. As Sieg tried to bat her hand away, Marien dug in with her claws.
Sieg cried out in pain,"Marien stop!"
Marien froze as Seig fought to catch his breath for a moment.
"What has gotten into you?" Sieg demanded, looking down at his hand, blood welling up from where Marien had scratched him. "You're acting crazy!"
"I…I didn't mean to… "All of a sudden, Marien started to tear up. "Dammit…" she groaned, rubbing her eyes, "Dammit dammit dammit!"
"Marien!" Seig leaned close and cupped her face as tears began to stream down Marien's cheeks, "What's wrong?"
"I took some medicine to help us have a child," Marien said between wimpers. "And it's making me crazy! I can't think, I can't eat! I tried to be all sexy for you… and now I'm covered in honey and feathers and I feel like an idiot." Marien squeezed her eyes shut and looked away from Sieg, "I'm so humiliated…"
With a sympathetic sigh, Seig brushed Marien's hair away from her eyes. "Marien..." Sieg turned Marien's head towards him and put his forehead against hers, "You are already the most beautiful thing I have ever seen, honey or not."
"Really?" Marien asked, sniffing loudly.
"Yes." Sieg put a hand on Marien's face and gently kissed her nose, "I love you."
Marien's heart felt like it was melting as she nodded and pulled Sieg into her arms, "I love you too."
"Now," Sieg reached up and pulled his shirt over his head, "How about we do this properly, with less scratching."
"I'd like that."
Sieg and Marien's fingers intertwined as they slowly leaned towards one another.
"I love you Marien."
"I love you Seig."
End of Part 8
