Aftermath of Blue-Rock - Day 12

Zarin

It was the day of my departure for Alynthir. The test of divinities was approaching, and I would return to the city. With any luck it would be many years before I had to return here, it was a steep decline from the civilisation of the capital, and everyone was so dirty. With any luck I would be able to spend most of my time in a manse in the city and venture out to kill something whenever the fancy took me.

I was dressed in one of my white suits again as I descended the staircase of the manor. A carriage was waiting outside, and Elsie was stood by it in her maid uniform. She would be accompanying me on the journey, it would give us more time alone together and I thought that she may have her uses if she became an adventurer as well.

When I had told father of my intentions to take her to the city, he had insisted on giving her a slave mark. It was a bear tattoo on her wrist, marking her as Motten property and imbued with magic that would prevent her from causing harm to her masters and able to force her to obey commands if I willed it. It worked by sending jolts of pain through her body when the magic sensed the intent to cause me harm or disobedience within her. The mark itself would disappear once her contract came to an end, but I expected she would have served her purpose long before then.

Father was not outside waiting for me, of course he wasn’t. I sighed and went to his office where he was seated in his usual position. “I’m touched that you would go through all this effort to say your farewells” I said in a mocking voice.

He glowered at me, “You’re a man now Zarin, do you really need me to hold your hand” he said, putting down his pen to speak to me.

“Stop, you’ll make me cry” I continued in my sarcasm, not taking a seat as I stood against the wall

He made a noise in his throat, “Goodbye son. You had better be sure to get a spirit, else I may have to make another heir” he said

I rolled my eyes at the comment, “Goodbye father, I hope our reunion can be as touching as this. I’ll be sure to give your best to the bitch in the citadel” I said, receiving an amused sound in response.

“Close the door behind you” he said as I left his office and gestured for his servant to follow the order.

I left the manor and walked towards the carriage. I gave Elsie a smile as she opened the door for me and I entered, with her following behind me. My bags and luggage had been loaded beforehand and everything was prepared for my departure. I banged on the wall towards the rider and felt a slight jerk as the horses sprang into motion.

Ever since she had been informed of the fate of her mother and sister, Elsie had been quiet. She became more withdrawn than she was initially which was a pity, though it had meant she was less reluctant to follow my orders. I think that was her way of showing her gratitude for my saving the village. When I had asked her to bathe me, she hadn’t said anything, simply obeyed. It was how a slave should behave, though I was unsure if it would be best for the plans I had

“Elsie” I said to her as we clattered along the path, “There is something I should probably talk to you about before we get to Alynthir”

She looked away from the window she had been staring out of her and rested her gaze upon me, “Yes, my lord?” she said obediently

I sighed; she would really have to get over their deaths soon, they were just peasants after all. “Alynthir is different from Blue-Rock, very different. Everyone there has their own games that they’re playing, and often say things that they don’t mean. If we want to survive there, then I’ll have to play the game as well” she looked at me curiously, it seemed I had her attention. “When I’m in public, I may have to act differently to play the part that I need to. I will probably also have to treat you like a slave in front of others.” I paused and rested my hand on top of hers, she didn’t move it away. “I just want you to know that I’m sorry about it all beforehand. I promise I’ll make it up to you when I can”

She nodded her head, “I understand, my lord” she said.

I sighed again, “good girl” I whispered, gently running a knuckle down her cheek. “I think the city will do you some good, to get away from this place and the memories here”

I saw tears blossoming in her eyes, goddesses, was I going to have to listen to her cry for the whole journey? Fortunately she controlled them and just nodded her head.

My carriage passed into the village where I could see the aftermath of the battle that had been fought there not too long ago. Some of the villagers were outside, looking haggard as they packed their bags and prepared to leave. It seemed that with the destruction and deaths of so many, most of the villagers had decided to move elsewhere.

We met up with a wagon that would be joining us on our journey to Alynthir. It contained two of the villagers that would be taking the test of divinities and their families who were planning on moving to the city with them. One of them was Clen, the boy who had watched me beat Aucus, though he had kept his mouth shut about it; the other was the girl that seemed to hang onto him, she was a pretty thing with blonde hair and an okay body. Maybe I could have some fun with her on the road.

The carriage came to a halt besides the wagon, and I heard the driver saying something to the others before we started moving again. Ideally, I would have preferred not to have peasants journeying with me, but on the road it made sense to have other targets for brigands to go after.

I looked at Elsie who was staring back out of the window. The journey would take about two weeks, hopefully that would be enough time to make some progress with her.

Sephenia

The children had left for the capital this morning, I had seen the wagon and carriage moving down the path from my window. It was just more people leaving Blue-Rock. Since the ogre attack, most people had either left the village or were preparing to leave. Too many people had died, and it seemed that no one had made attempts to rebuild what had been destroyed. Blue-Rock had never been a particularly large village, with less than a hundred people in total, including those on the surrounding farms. After the attack the figure was about half what it had been before.

I had lived here for twenty years with Aucus, I had known the people who died, I had memories of my life here. Twenty years it had stood, and the people had been happy, Harod Motten had been lord for two weeks and it was all gone.

People were leaving for the safety and stability of the nearby villages or the capital mostly. I had spoken with Henry’s mother the previous day; she had lost her husband in the attack, and it seemed like she was planning on moving to the capital to try and get some work there. I supposed that I had nothing holding me here now, perhaps I would go to the capital soon as well, Aucus would be there. He was all I had left.

I had mostly stayed in my home since the battle as I recovered from my wounds and tried to come to terms with Rosaria and Mia’s deaths. At some point in that first night I had opened a bottle of whiskey and emptied it by the morning. I couldn’t bear the thoughts.

Maya had buried them in a field near the village along with the others who had fallen. I had gone to say my goodbyes, I had expected to see Elsie there, but she hadn’t come. I doubted the Motten’s even told her of her families death.

My leg was beginning to heal, the wound had an ugly scab covering it and I thought with another few more days of rest it would be okay. I should probably cook something though; I hadn’t eaten all day and my stomach was shouting at me. I still had a rabbit outside, though there was still some left over from what Rosaria had cooked a few days ago. I cried.

Why couldn’t I save them? I though to myself, burying my face into my hands. I had failed too many people in my life, Aucus’ father, Canis, Rosaria, Mia, there were too many names. Would Aucus join the list?

I heard a knock at my door, but I wasn’t in the mood for company. I had been drinking again and I didn’t want anyone to see me in this state. I ignored the knocking as it started again, more insistently. As the banging grew louder it turned into a thud as though someone was trying to kick my door in

“Guh, away!” I shouted at the door, slurring my words

The door finally broke, and I saw the figure of a guard in silver plate standing there. He stepped aside and Motten ducked his head as he entered my house, his hands clutched behind his back as he turned his gaze towards me.

“Bash- Bastard” I mumbled as I stumbled to my feet and reached for my sword, crusted with ogre blood.

Before I could move, the guards filed into my home and punched me in my stomach, dropping me to the floor.

Motten turned his gaze around my home as though admiring the quaint buildings of a foreign land. “Aren’t you a sight” he said at last. My face was still blackened from his last visit, my leg a mess from the dark hound, and my body bruised and broken from the ogres. I couldn’t say he was wrong.

“I’ll fucking kill you” I snarled as one of his men held me, too weak and drunk to break the hold.

He shook his head, “No, you won’t” he said calmly, “In fact, I think that treason is one of the reasons I am here today”

I didn’t know what he was talking about, the alcohol leaving a buzzing sound in my ears. “Fuck are you saying” I growled

He continued, “Blue-Rock is finished. I doubt anyone will stay here longer than a week. Your son is gone, and he has nothing here to return to. Do you really think I’m going to let you run off to him?” he said. “No. I’m here to place you under arrest”

“Suck a dragon cock” I spat at him, my saliva spraying his suit. I received a slap across my face by a metal gauntlet. In my drunkenness, I barely felt it.

The large man retrieved a handkerchief from his pocket and wiped his clothing where I had hit him with my saliva. “For the crimes of dereliction of your duty to defend the village, harbouring a fugitive from justice, conspiracy to commit treason, and… oh, I’m sure we can think of some more on the way back to the manor” he gave me a vicious smile. “I have a lovely room picked out for you in the dungeons, it does a good job at competing with this squalor” he said as he gestured to my home.

I lunged towards him, apparently coming to the decision to bite his throat but his men held me back as I struggled against them with futile desperation.

He smiled at me, an evil twist of his lips. Then he patted my head, as though I were a dog. “No need to be so… nervous. I have plans for you”