Chapter 11 "Life and Death"
Nin, crouched in hiding behind another overseer's large tent, was watching as guards and henchman from all over searched for him in frenzy. His bow was in his hands, an arrow ready at the string. He waited patiently to make his move, hoping to hear something of the whereabouts of Gin or Barach. He saw several guards following his trail along the wall, quickly closing on his position. Quickly he dashed from his hiding place, moving low and quick to another tent near to the southern edge of the estate. He could hear moans of passion from inside, and knew that this must be some sort of brothel. He scanned the area again while ducking behind a barrel near to the entrance.
A despairing feeling began to sink into Nin's heart. He was in trouble and he knew it. The entire area was on alert for him, and he had no idea where they were keeping Gin. Even if he some how managed to find her, their chances of escaping were very slim. Barach had a ruthless reputation, and would spend any amount of resources to hunt them down. As Nin watched and pondered his situation, Barach emerged from the brothel with scimitar in hand and stalked furiously towards the watchman's post.
Nin had to blink several times before he could grasp his good fortune. He recognized Barach's hideous bald head as he walked away. A massive internal war played itself out in Nin's head in just a few moments. He realized reluctantly that he had two goals. He was here first to rescue his friend, but as he saw the slayer of his family walking away unaware, the fire of lethal vengeance burned its way into his heart and mind. Barach was the only sure source of information on where Gin was being held, and the choice of whether or not to kill him here and now may also control her fate.
Before Nin had even reached a conscious decision, he felt his hands moving, and the bow was drawn. The practiced muscles brought the arrow to his sight, and Nin realized he was seconds from taking the man's life. He breathed quickly, and his hand twitched unsteadily. Barach was getting further away, and in this state Nin had little chance of making the shot. Finally the fire in his heart won out, and with a final calming breath he prepared to release the arrow.
At this moment, a piercing scream rang out from the tent behind him. The shock of it spoiled Nin's concentration before realization dawned on him – it was Gin's voice! Fear flowed through Nin's body, effectively extinguishing the fire that had nearly taken Barach's life. Heedless of all else he immediately dropped his bow and ran into the tent. Barach did not hear the scream. He was shouting orders at his men and demanding information, unaware of how close he had been to death.
Gin's scream was just dying as Nin entered, and he was able to identify the room from which it came. He sprinted to it and turned the corner inside. What he saw nearly broke him. Gin was nearly naked, just scraps of clothing clinging to her body. The archer was oblivious in his sadistic pleasure. Nin eyes met Gin's tear streaked face. Her eyes were wrenched closed, and the look of anguish there made Nin's knees buckle. The fire that had been quenched suddenly roared to life with the ferocity of the gods. Nin was consumed, and a look of murderous hate crossed his ashen face. His knife was still on his belt, and with shaking fingers he drew it. His rage erupted with a roar of animalistic fury and he charged the bastard that was breaking the one person left on earth he loved. The archer did not have time to react to Nin's roar, as Nin charged forward and seized the man by the hair. Wrenching his head back, Nin put the blade to his neck and opened his throat.
The archer managed one gasp of startled fear as his blood sprayed over the girl he had been hatefully raping. Nin dragged the dying man back by his hair and threw him down on his back, leaping on top of him. As life left the archer he could still feel Nin's blade stab him in the eyes and face over and over. Nin continued to scream in fury as he blindly stabbed every piece of the man he could. Gin was still weeping. Her entire body hurt, but she was aware that the man was no longer on top of her, and could hear the roars of rage coming from across the room. Through her fear, some part of her recognized Nin's voice.
Gin opened her eyes in time to see the last of Nin's furious stabs. He finally dropped the knife, and climbed off of the long dead man. Gin saw him standing there, blood dripping from his face and hands as waves of blackness finally over came her, and she fainted.
Nin was gasping for breathe as his fury ebbed. He turned away from the corpse and fell to his knees. Tears began to flow from his eyes, washing the blood down his face. In his mind, he could see again his brother's face just before his death; the look of madness and hate. The image of Rin suddenly morphed into his own face, wearing the same expression, and his tears came even harder. He did not know how long he knelt there, but eventually he raised his head and saw Gin unconscious, still chained to the post by her unbroken hand.
He stumbled to his feet. The commotion had alerted some of the other people in the brothel, but they were reluctant to enter the room, believing Barach was still inside. Realization dawned on Nin, and he knew he had to move quickly. He dragged himself up and went to his friend. He inspected the bond on her wrist, and quickly looked for a key. Going to the dead man on the ground he checked his pockets, and got lucky. The archer was still holding the key after chaining Gin up earlier. Nin quickly released gin and pulled her into his arms. He grabbed a blanket that lay on a stack of barrels in the corner and wrapped her in it. He then threw her over his shoulder, bearing her weight as best he could.
He knew they could not leave through tent entrance; no doubt others had been alerted to his presence by now. Setting Gin down carefully, Nin grabbed the bloody knife from the ground and went to the back wall of the tent. He stabbed the blade through the material and slashed down, making a wide rip. Sheathing the blade he picked gin up again and stuck his head through the opening. Not seeing anyone outside, he stepped through and quickly as he could ran down the southern wall.
Barach and his men were still searching every tent in the estate; occasionally meeting resistance from other overseer's who did not appreciate the intrusion. This had bought Nin and Gin precious moments as the events in the brothel unfolded. Nin carried a still unconscious Gin as quickly as he could, heading for the gate to the main market. Barach had recruited most of the gate watchers in his search, but one man still guarded the market gate. Nin made his along the wall towards the gate. Seeing the guard, he stopped and set Gin down as gently as he could. He didn't want to leave her, and even more did not want to kill again, but he was desperate and out of options. Drawing his knife again he went silently towards the man who was facing away towards the market. Coming upon him from his left, Nin closed the distance to about ten feet. Gathering himself, he took two steps and sprang on the man.
The guard was on high alert, and while he did not hear Nin coming he sensed his danger. While Nin was in mid leap he turned in time to see the boy coming at him. Throwing out his arms he was able to deflect the knife blade away from his body, receiving a large cut on his arm in the process. Nin fell upon the man and they went to the ground with Nin on top. Nin raised his dagger again, and the man looked up at the desperate and blood soaked face, and piercing blue eyes of the young man. He screamed in terror and threw up his arms again in an attempt to save his life. He was able to get hold of Nin's arm, and both pushed with all their might to gain the advantage.
Nin forced the blade down with all his might. He saw the terror filled brown eyes of the man under him, who was probably only 5 years older. Revulsion filled him, but he knew he had only seconds to escape. Suddenly the man managed to throw a knee into Nin's side and knock him off balance. They rolled and Nin found himself on his back now, but he had been here many times in his life. He skillfully turned his hips and hooked one leg around the outside of the man's torso. Throwing his momentum around, he rolled them both around again while shifting himself so that he was now behind the man. Using this advantage he held the man in a headlock and wrapped his legs around him. He brought up the knife in his other hand and drove it quickly into the man's side.
The guard howled in pain, and Nin quickly released him. He was out of time and he knew it, already Barach and his men were aware of the commotion and were coming his way. He sheathed the knife quickly, leaving the guard bleeding in the dirt. Gin was slumped against the wall where he had left her, and was just beginning to come around. She looked groggily up at him as he came to her, but there was no time for words. Nin grabbed her and threw her up on his shoulders again and ran to the gate. He passed the bleeding man on the ground and could not stop himself from looking back at him. "I'm sorry." He thought to the man.
Barach and his men were sprinting towards the gate, having heard the screams of the guard and now seeing him lying on the ground. Barach saw Nin standing at the gate with Gin on his shoulders. For a brief moment he locked eyes with the boy, and saw bloody face twist into a sneer before he jogged away into the crowded market. "GET THAT LITTLE SHIT!" Barach roared to his men, who scrambled towards the market as quick as they could.
Nin pushed his way through the crowded market place, earning a lot of protests and middle fingers that he did not hear. He was exhausted and running out of options. He knew he had no chance of making it through main gate, and his heart was on the verge of giving out. He stopped in the middle of the market, still holding Gin. He looked around desperately for any option, and if he had had any faith in a higher power he would have been praying to them with all his might. Whether Eru was on his side or not, Nin once again found himself in luck. Standing at a market stall to his right was of all people – Gin's father.
Knowing that Gin's father was no guarantee of safety, Nin had no other options. He gritted his teeth fiercely and shoved his way over to the man. He reached him and grabbed the man by his shirt, yanking him around so he was facing Nin. In all the shock and surprise of that day none matched that of Gin's father as he saw a blood stained Nin standing behind him with something wrapped in a large blanket draped over his shoulder. Looking closer he noticed the dark curls of his daughter falling out of the blanket, and his shock doubled just in time for the air to leave his lungs as Nin punched him hard in the gut.
After punching him, Nin quickly set Gin down and grabbed his knife. He knelt down in front of the man who was already turning red. Putting his knife to his throat Nin hissed to Gin's father, "Listen you contemptuous bastard! Get your daughter out of here safely or I swear I will find you and I will kill you…" Barach and his men were coming quickly, and Nin dropped the knife. He picked up Gin yet again and this time tossed her at her father. The speechless man stumbled but caught his daughter barely, and Nin immediately took off. Who knows what made Gin's father obey the command of the boy, his macabre look, his honest threat, the men coming in pursuit, or some measure of care for his offspring, but the man carried Gin away from the men who were only focused on a fleeing Nin. Eventually he escaped the market with her, and brought her home.
Nin could not afford to wait and see if his order had been obeyed. He ran as fast as his exhausted legs could carry him towards the gate. Barach was coming fast behind him and saw him making a break for it. He did not register that Nin was no longer carrying the girl. "CLOSE THE GATE YOU IDIOTS!" He bellowed at the gate guards. They heard him and began to carry out the order, but too late; as the gate began to close Nin streaked by them like an arrow, through the gate, and down the road. Nin had escaped.
