Disclaimer: I don't own Escaflowne characters, only "the child".
ATTENTION: This chapter will contain animals being killed and children killing each others. I don't support any kind of harm to animals or children.
If the grammar or the spelling are bad or monstrous abominations is because I'm good at reading english but terrible writing it. Be gentile please *x*
This is the notation I will use here:
Italics for thinking.
XXX Flashback XXX At the beginning and the end of a flashback
Since I've taken more than two tears to update a new chapter, well, for those few who read it in ; I've decided to post here the first half of the next chapter. I will update here each 4 000 words. So, without further ado here is the chapter!
La Carroza ─ Inversé Pt1
Since the discovering of Twenty-seven's gender have passed ten days. During that time the children were training in combat and eating pigeons, after a training session they memorized the yard and the map Jakuka gave them. Each third day the children were taken to the showers and the infirmary, where the nurses observed, measured and weighed them. There they gave them new personal hygiene items and clean clothes. The second time the child went to that room; her head was no longer bandaged for it was meaningless, only the scar of her wound was visible.
But there was no day that the boy asked himself about his companion situation: a girl inside the boy's cellblock. It couldn't be a mistake because the nurses knew about it and didn't say a word. He needed the advice of somebody older, the advice of Jajuka, so he waited for his beastman carer. After half a month he arrived to give them some food and information, and then the boy told him the news. He almost whispered, because he knew his carer could hear him perfectly.
"Jajuka, I am going to tell you something but I don't want you to overreact, please, "the beastman nodded.
"Well, then here it comes: Twenty-seven is a girl, "the boy said the second half of the sentence very fast while closing his eyes and his hands in a tight punch.
The golden beastman stopped to breath, he was processing the words. He hoped he had heard wrong, his mouth dried and blinked quickly several times.
"I beg your pardon but, could you repeat what you have said right now?" asked the beastman.
"Yeah, some days ago I discovered that this guy, "he pointed to the child who was still sleeping, "is actually a girl."
"Are you absolutely sure about it? "the beastman was looking the boy to the eye doubly, he couldn't believe what his hyper sensible ears were hearing.
"Goddammit Jajuka, do you I am joking? Have I ever told you a joke?"
The dogman negated with his head while closing his eyes. How could I haven't noticed this before? Is my nose already used to this heavy atmosphere? Indeed, many years have passed since I ran freely in the woods...
"Then, this isn't something I've made up, "the boy crossed his arms.
Many questions were flooding the mind of the slave: I'm pretty sure the sorcerers know about her being a girl but, why put her with the men? They could take her to the girl's section. It isn't like if they were running out of space, here are more men and boys than women and girls. Didn't they think about the dangers of her being alone with a hound of lustful men?!
"They didn't put her here by mistake, we have been checked since the last day I saw you and the nurses didn't said anything besides ' Lord Dune' will like this" the boy made quotation marks with his fingers.
Jajuka's thoughts were running deeper. Of course they didn't commit a mistake this huge! And that makes them more twisted than I thought. And over all that, why did they put her with him? I know he's part of a nearly extinct bloodline but if they wanted him to mate with someone they could do it any time and with any girl they wanted to without any reason.
He gazed to the gray sky. Ah…Maybe I'm over thinking the situation. Maybe they want a soldier girl in place of a courtesan; maybe she is better fighting in a war than warming a the bed of a nobleman to poison him. He turned to see the child. But what is worse? Give her the life of a pampered prostitute or the death of a prideful warrior...
Meanwhile, the boy was speculating what the beastman was going to say him, he needed some advice. Until today he had told her that it wasn't good if others find out about her gender, so she had to hide it. And that was an easy task for her, who could imagine that this guy was indeed a girl? She had rough facial features and a sturdy body, even her voice had a low pitch.
"My boy, does anybody else beside us know about it?"
"Well, the nurses didn't seemed surprised at all, but if you are talking about the guards, no; they don't know about it, I told her to be discrete." There was a trace of security in the voice of the boy.
"Good, you did well, they don't have to know about it, if it's possible, never; only Jeture knows what would they do to her if this information reach their ears..." the last sentence was almost whispered "Anyway, keep doing the same, and under any circumstances let them know this secret. But for now I will give you this."
He handed a bag to the boy, who cached it and checked the contents of it. Inside was a loaf of bread, two apples and four sausages. The boy whistled lowly and gazed to the dogman.
"Thank you, I know that it is difficult for you to get us this, but they keep trying to drug us with the food, "the boy closed the bag after seeing that the cloth had a new map over it and put it in his shoulder.
These must be the new traps in the field, it is better to analyze them and as quickly as possible. The boy had been always a quick thinker and today was no exception.
"Don't worry my child, this is the only thing I can do for you two, "he have him a reassuring dog smile and left.
In the way to his cellblock the beastman had a sad gaze in his eyes. He had tried to look brave and give a reliable feeling, but in reality he was scared, afraid for the day they would notice her facade.
I don't want to think about it nor imagine it... The mere thought plagued the slave's mind and even his dreams weren't peaceful for days.
After a month they heard the guards making a ruckus. The boy was sneezing like the last five mornings; the light of the window has been gray and cold and it took him a while to warm up by himself without the child's help.
I think it is time… The boy gulped his saliva.
"Are you ready?" the silver haired boy has a serious expression on his face "Because now is going to start the real thing."
The child took a deep breath "Yeah! "she answered clearly and had a straight look in her gray eyes, then took the sharpened spoons from its hideout and gave one to the boy.
The red eyed boy took the mantles and put them in a bag then walked to the middle of the room and sat there; the child followed him and did the same.
"Do you remember what to do?" the boy asked like a brother would do to his little bother.
"Yes."
When somebody came near their cell they get up from the ground and a guard opened the door.
"It's play time, you sons of a bitches! "he shouts mockingly then left.
Like the times they were taken to the showers they passed to each cell and the others joined the line, but this time they walked to the opposite side and they were almost the first to join them. At the end of the passage there was a table with two guards' playing cards and eating. One of them stands up, takes a set of keys and opens a door.
Behind it there is another room with four doors, one for each wall. When they reached the middle of the way the child saw a wide gate at her left side, a narrow door at her right side and another entrance could be seen at the end of the passage. From there came a guard with more boys.
Twenty-seven saw many boys older than her and Twenty-one, some of them had soulless eyes and ashen skin; others had savage expressions on their faces or a desperate gaze. Almost all of them had bruises or bandages. But what was invariable was how they stare at her full of curiosity.
Maybe it's because she is new here or for the turban covering her hair. I shouldn't have made her a turban, it is garish but she didn't want me to shave her head…He look at his companion.
"Don't get intimidated by them "whispered the silver haired boy "I've beaten some of them, but don't get overconfident because we don't know if there is somebody new among them."
A guard opened the wide door at his left. Behind it there were stairs. In each side of the stairs there were benches and some lockers.
This is new, maybe is for the remodeling of the fields. The boy remembered the maps Jajuka gave him.
"Take shoes from there quickly you rodents! "The boys went to the lockers and took out a pair of strange items.
"We must take a pair too; get assured that the shoes are of your size."the boy took a pair for himself.
The shoes were made of leather and had holes on top of them, its base was flexible and from what the child could see about how the others use them; they were supposed to be tied to the leg by thin laces.
"Do as I do, take the sandal and introduce your foot in the hole, but check that you are taking the correct shoe "he points to his shoe "the two soles are different "he pointed to the curves of the sole "when you have your foot in you must pull the rest of the sandal and tie it to your ankle and calf with the cord "he tied his shoe and the child did the same, intertwining the cords.
The boy's shoe had his toes and heel covered while the child's had her toes and heel tangled with cords and maintaining her thumb separated from the other toes.
The now two guards guided them to a gate and from it came out a light. They reached the yard. The gray eyed child saw many big rocks and a yellowish ground. Beyond this area were a grid and a narrow tall building behind it. At both sides of the field were two walls with a door. And there were two paths between each wall and the grid.
"Welcome to the battlefield " said sternly Twenty-one "this area is the sand field "he lifted some dust and let it drop from his hand. The children broke lines and reunited in groups randomly.
The place has changed. In the middle of the sand zone there were many rocks. Those rocks weren't here the last time. The boy turned to see the right and left paths and even it were the same. Those must be the changes Jajuka told us about.
"Let's go to talk with Twenty-four but you must keep silence "said person was sat on the ground far from the others. The two children walked towards the green eyed lad.
"Hi, Twenty-four "said friendly the boy "How are you? "the lad tried to fake not to be hearing the boy's greeting but the silver haired boy walked in front of him and patted his shoulder.
The blond lad remembered very well this red eyed boy, he was the only one who haven't attack him on the tests... yet "Hi, Twenty-one, it is strange for you to talk with me "said nervously the lad, he observed the gray eyed child "Who is that guy? Is he your cell mate?"
"He is Twenty-seven, and is here since the past month "the child smiled to the lad "but we haven't come to say hello but to make a deal "stated the red eyed boy while crossing his arms.
"What kind of deal…? "I don't like his change of attitude; he normally ignores me in the field…
"From the times we had been together in the tests I could see that you lack combat skills so, how about making an alliance with us? We can protect you each time somebody tries to attack you." The boy stated it as if he were talking about the weather.
"And why should I do that? "Nothing is free in Gaea "you must want some kind of payment."
"You are right, we want you to help us too with that ability of yours, in any case we are in the same ship, the others are older and bigger than us but if we join forces we can easily take them down "the boy said that last sentence almost whispering "What is your answer?
He is like the others, like my parents and their thieves' band… they only want me for my ability but he has a point "Deal." Answered the lad seriously.
"The two of us will be at the front "he pointed to himself and to the child "and you should stay behind telling us the best way to the forest if a battle begins, understood? "the blond lad nodded.
From the tower come out an old man who stands on the balcony. He has a thick beard, wears a purple cloak and a thin hat "Today you'll start with an item hunting, you must cross the swamp, the forest and the pond in that order, then return to the door with one of this pebbles "he took out a small white rock with something written* and gave it to a guard, then he showed it to the children so they could give it a close peek.
"There are only ten hidden in the field. The one who could bring one of them will have double ration until the next time, and if you bring three together you will be sparred from the next test. "The others went close to the gate and posed to run.
I think we have two options; searching them and hope to find at least one rock... or wait to the others to find one and take it from them. Thought the boy.
"On your marks! "said a guard "Ready… Go! "the guard moved a flag and all the boys started to run like crazy. The child was a meter behind the boy and the lad was at the child's left side; it was clear that the child didn't let him to surpass her or the boy. The others had the lead but the trio didn't give up easily.
A guy tried to tackle the boy at his left side but he dodged and continued running. Another one came out from his right side, he didn't see him but the child did. The child rushed to the attacker and tackled him; the guy fell to the ground and hit his head against a rock, he fainted and some guards approached to the field to carry him.
They continued running while the others were fighting against themselves. Sometimes they had to dodge the lost hits or a fallen guy until they arrived to a narrower area. But there was a different matter; it has thinner sharp rocks arranged like a labyrinth. They waited behind a rock before arriving there.
The lad was slower than them, and that was clear; he hadn't a strong physique or long legs neither a good breathing technique or sharp reflexes so when an enemy tried to stab him while jumping propelling with a rock, the only thing he could do was curl into a ball of limbs while protecting his head with his hands and hope for the best.
But this time he wasn't alone and, as her partner told her to do, the child positioned under the guy and punched him in the gut so strongly that he dropped off his knife and even emptied his stomach puking some of its contents along with some bile. Her gaze for a moment was cold like steel and sharp like a knife; but quickly changed to her usual goofiness.
"Are you fine? "she offered her hand to the lad and he took it.
"Yeah, thanks I just didn't see that one coming "the blond smiled softly "You have a good right arm and that upper cut was incredible.
"Dat was nothing, we are partners after all "she said with a calm smile while puting her left hand hehind her head.
"Are you two going to chat while drinking tea with cookies? "said the boy while taking the knife the other guy dropped and kicking his temple with his toe "We must go to another rock "and so they did, they hid behind another rock afar from the last one.
From what I can remember of this area, the quickest way to cross to the forest is going the closest to the infirmary. Then we should try to cross the swamp's area near the external wall. The now leader explained this to his companions.
"I gotcha! "a guy jumped from behind a rock at the right side of the boy carrying a sharpened rock. The boy didn't see him very well and reacted slowly but his eyes glowed amber and an invisible wall reflected the guy. He extended that wall and threw him far away. What the lad saw was a transparent hand but the child couldn't see it.
"I hope he didn't hear us or that he has fainted "the boy and the child observed from an edge of the rock "I can't see him…
"Ah see him "said the child "he is there "he pointed to the northeast, the boy narrowed his eyes and saw the guy fighting with another one.
The boy narrowed his eyes calculating the distances. Those must be almost 20 meters so he won't reach us for a while.
"After we arrive to the swamp we'll make a scale near the infirmary's wall and Twenty-seven will observe the entire field to choose the best path of action, any questions? "his party negated with the head.
"Fine, we should get moving and do the same as I "he started to walk bending to keep himself out of view and making scales on each rock near the infirmary. His companions did the same. The screams of the others struggling were filling the air. They arrived to the end of the swamp's path and hide behind a rock taller than them.
"Twenty-seven, look above the rock and tell me what you see, don't let the others see you.
She climbed and saw the swamp's fog obstructing her view and heard people fighting inside the mist, then turned to see at her right and saw more guys fighting. Nobody was paying attention to them. She landed and sat on the ground to explain them what she saw.
"We'll follow the same plan but we must be extra careful just in case if anyone attack us and try to be sneaky. When we arrive to the furthest corned we'll follow the wall's line to the east until we arrive to the forest. The formation will be the same.
The boy started to walk like before, knife in hand and his companions followed him, they did scales each time they reached a rock and observed around the field each time until they arrived to the swamp. By this hour the sun was at his highest point but the sky was white with some gray shades.
This zone of the field was full of trees and smelled very bad. Inside it could be heard the screams of the others while fighting. To its left was a narrow path near the wall. They entered the area and walked slowly trying to not make a sound. They had the darkness of the mist and shadows of the trees and even the suspicious noises of the swamp at their favor but the air was heavy and difficult to breathe it and they had to walk inside the water.
"Give me that!" they heard somebody struggling some meters ahead of them. They hid behind a tree and waited for the end of their fight; the boy scouted this encounter.
The guy the boy pushed far away tackled another to the water and started to shocking him there; he tried to defend himself scratching his enemy face, but after a while ceased to move and his murderer crouched to take something from his shirt to keep it inside his pants.
That must be one of the pebbles we must search for! The boy weighted the situation while biting his thumb. We could only stole it... but I don't know if these two are going to follow that plan. Then he waited for him to leave. After that guy started to walk afar from them he turned to see his companions and called them to reunite close to him.
"That guy have one of the rocks the sorcerers want, I saw him how he took it from that corpse "he pointed to the lifeless body inside the water "Twenty-seven, go there and check if he has something of value.
The child nodded and went to see the body, there she found a shard of glass with a rag covering the widest side and took it to the boy. He gave it to the blond lad.
"I hope you know how to use it, because it would be a shame that when you were alone that shard ended in your foe's hands "said the boy with a hint of malice in his voice.
I knew it, he isn't that good, but what was I waiting for? That this guy turned to be a valuable friend? In the end all are the same, nobody does something out of kindness... The lad took the glass and nodded, he had to hide his thoughts from the others.
I must get one of these pebbles and for that we should ambush that guy, but how and where? That is one of the questions the other is: are this children ready to do something like that? "I have an idea, but I don't know if you two could carry on with it.
"What kind of idea do you have on mind? "said the lad.
"Well, the sorcerer told us to retrieve the pebbles, but never told us the method we should use, am I wrong?
"No, but I already know what are you trying to say.
"Hey guys, ah can hear something coming in this direction "whispered the child and quickly the three hid behind a tree.
The child saw something moving over their direction, under the dirty water of the swamp. But it stopped near the corpse, and then, the trio saw something new for them, a green living thing with an elongated snout and body, its skin seemed to be rough and very tick, its paws were good for it to swim but maybe to walk on the ground too, its eyes were between golden an green.
I don't remember if Jajuka mentioned them at all, maybe it is because this wasn't his assigned area. Then, said beast, opened his snout and devoured the corpse with a single mouthful. But for a reason seemed lost and started to swim afar from them.
"What in the seven bloody hells was that?! "said the boy while touching his hair.
"I am not sure, but I recall that once somebody told me about big lizards living in the swamps, they are from the kinfolk of the dragons but far smaller, yet almost as smart as them "answered the blonde.
"Ah don't know, but the way it moved it's strange, isn't it? "said the child observing the place where the animal had gone.
"Why do you say it is strange? Have you seen one of these before? "asked the boy.
"Ah don't know, but he seemed to be kind of searching something and yet he didn't found us. It is strange also because he could have saw us before we spoted it and seemed more interested in the dead guy's body than in fresh flesh.
"You have a point, normally the big carnivores only eat living things, not like the scavengers which eat corpses "the boy furrowed his eyebrows in a thoughtful look.
"I know that it could be important, but its is dangerous to be still in the same place for more time "said the lad.
"You are right we must keep going "said the boy while calling them with his arm and started to walk to the north.
When they arrived to the furthest corner of the swamp the air was heavier than before and the mist was thicker. We must try to not lose our path here… He took the lad and the child by the hands and guided them to a rock.
"We must try to be near each other and not lose our way at the same time "whispered the boy.
"If only we had a rope or something like that "whispered the green eyed lad.
A rope or something like that… "That's it! Sit down Twenty-seven "she did as he told her and started to undo her bandages, after that he cut what he needed and re arranged the turban. He took the cloth then swayed it on his left wrist then did the same with the right hand of the child.
"Hey, Twenty-four, are you right handed or left handed?
"I am right handed "then the boy swayed the bandages around the lad's left hand.
"This is for us to not lose our path but if you feel this is endangering you when somebody comes just let it and run "then they started to walk slower and touching the wall, using the rope to maintain close to each other.
Each step makes them difficult to breath but they maintained relentless until the end of the swamp zone. For some reason the child had less troubles breathing than her companions and that did not go unnoticed to both of them. Beyond it there was a clear area with grass. They waited behind a rock and sheltered with the mist before leaving the area. The sky was darker and grayer than before.
"We should be boundless when we arrive to the forest "We should reach the goal before it starts raining… "so for now I will arrange your tur-
"Wait "told the lad "this bandages can be used as ropes later and we can fool the others with it.
"How cold we do that? Do you have any idea? "asked the boy. Maybe is for his skill and not his ability that he has survived all this time.
The green eyed lad wondered for a second "We can give them some uses like to climb high areas or landing on deep zones.
The boy pondered for not more than 10 minutes, frowning his mouth sometimes and looking to his surroundings.
"Good idea, what do you think about making one of us lure out one by one the others "he said this looking to the child "and when he reach our hiding place we can make him fall with the bandages to strike him down until he gets unconscious to tie him with the remnant of the rope… the question is who is going to be the bait "he said almost whispering.
"Ah could be the bait, Twenty-one "said the gray eyed child while raising her hand and with a secure look in her eyes.
XXX Flashback XXX
"You must follow the plan like I told you before: we must reach the forest the quickest we can, we will fool the others to fall into the traps, and do you remember how to do this?
"Yeah, ah must lure only one of them, even if ah must use my hair to do it, so he can't overcome me, run near the end of the holes and fake to be tired so he would try to attack me running straight to me.
"And what do you do when they doesn't fall for the trick or inside the trap?
"Ah must climb a tree or fight them.
"The best is to search for help. And after that you must cover your head, that flashy flamboyant color is such a double edged weapon. And one last thing, nobody must know we know the field before them or that we even had a plan.
XXX Flashback XXX
"Are you sure? Because you don't know the area and the places where they could be hiding "said the blond.
I want to watch him close, I don't trust him yet… "You'll do it, Twenty-seven. Let us see how lucky you are and also you have a good pair of ears but don't be reckless.
"Ah will be careful so don't worry "she said while smiling.
"Fine, then we should choose our hiding place and the ambush place "the boy closed his eyes and remembered the forest rock by rock tree by tree… hole by hole "in the middle of the forest there is a big depression, we could hide behind a tree near the cliff and make the victim fall to the hole.
"That only leaves us the hide place's matte- "said the lad but he was interrupted.
"Wait, I am thinking the fastest I can and making each consideration "he closed his eyes and touched his chin "near the wall there is a tree with a hole under its roots that could be used as shelter. "he started to draw the forest with the groups of trees and big rocks with a branch.
"Here is the depression "he marked a hole, it was far from the grill but near to the grass zone "and here is the hole under the tree "he marked a spot near the wall and not far away from the hole "you can reach the hideout running straight to the wall from the ambush place, but if we need to use it we should run making twists but not losing view of the wall, do you understand? "his companions observed the map and tried to memorize each fragment.
"Ah have a question "told the child "if ah am going to lure them, where do ah start searching dem?
"You can start where you wish but far from the ambush place because is going to be very obvious "she nodded.
"If anybody else has questions we should part to the forest "his party nodded and ran to the forest. The sounds of struggling continued.
*These rocks, indeed, have a dalecarian rune.
As I promised there is more action here. I hope you've enjoyed the chapter. If you think the story is too slow or extremely boring, tell me please. I want to read the critiques and personal thoughts…