Oden watched the city blocks go by, sitting in the passenger seat of Dean’s car. It reminded him of his childhood for some reason, when his father would drive him to and from work. It was an oddly quiet ride, especially given Dean and Oden were friends. Oden found it strange that he and Dean had this sort of wall between them right now, but tried not to dwell on it. The silence was becoming an unbearable noise in Dean’s head. He looked at Oden once, contemplating the question he was going to ask. It was better than silence.
“So when do you plan on going home?” Dean asked.
Oden was taken a little by surprise by the question, looking at Dean for a moment. He shrugged, looking back out the passenger window again. “I don’t know.” he said, “As soon as I can work off my debt, I suppose.”
“University debt, or your debt to the law?”
“Hopefully both.”
Dean smiled, “I’m pretty sure it doesn’t work that way.”
“If I get enough money and pay the right people, I think I’ll be alright.” Oden contemplated the question deeper. What was ‘home’ anyway? What was there to go back to? “Maybe I’ll never go home.” he said.
Dean looked at Oden for a quick second. Another question arose, and it was an even harder one for Dean to consider asking. But once again, it was the question, or the unnerving silence. “Why not?” he asked.
Oden shrugged once more, “Why would I? Never really liked ‘home’. Reminds me too much of my dad… Every day for years, he’d go to work, and come home late, never talk. Just grab a beer and read the paper.” He paused again, as the memories poured into his mind. He gave a light smile, “Hmph, he always told me that it was in our family tradition to be military men… Told me I had to follow his footsteps, as his dad before him and so on. If he was the result of military life, I don’t want any part of it.”
“Did he ever talk to you about the war?”
Oden chuckled, “No. It was probably better that way. The last thing I ever wanted to do was get my dad talking about the thing that turned him into a cold jerk.” Another silence filled the cabin of the car. Dean began to contemplate asking the next question on his mind, and whether it was a good idea. As if the first few weren’t landmines, this next one was the biggest and deadliest.
“What about your mom?” Dean asked, pushing the question out.
Oden didn’t reply, and Dean waited for him to respond–a quick reaction of outburst, perhaps. But he didn’t; he sat quietly. Oden looked at him for a moment. It was evident to Dean that Oden wasn’t going to say, and had no intention of saying. But he wasn’t particularly angry with Dean for asking it. Still, Dean knew what Oden was conveying, and that was a friendly body-language way of telling Dean to drop it, and he did.
They continued on down the road, and hopefully to more pleasant conversations. But a moment later, Dean pulled up to what looked to be a pawn shop at a corner. Oden stood up in his seat. “What ‘re we doing here?” he asked.
“I need to make a quick stop. See if I can get some extra cash.” Dean answered.
“Is this necessary?”
Dean got out of the car then looked in at Oden still in the passenger seat, “Well since it’s cash to help you, I’d say ‘yeah’.”
Oden paused, his facial expression still as he pondered whether this was a good idea or not. Dean didn’t know exactly what Oden’s situation was, but he had to know Oden needed to leave town as soon as possible. A stop like this was not helping. But Oden got out of the car to follow him.
“You know I’m good on cash right now, right?” he said.
“Like you were a bunch of other times that weren’t true.” Dean joked back as they walked towards the pawn shop entrance.
“What makes you think I really need the money right now?”
“Actually it’s both of us. I need a little money for some of my own troubles, and you need some if you plan on getting to Whitehold. Two birds, one stone.”
Dean entered the shop. Oden felt something was trying to keep him from going in, but he had to trust Dean. Still, he spent too long in Carzat, and with what he had against him, it wouldn’t be long until authorities and worse, bounty hunters, would be looking for him. The sooner he got out of the city, the easier it was for him to move on.
Like most pawn shops, this place was a mess with junk and other assorted items for sale. Oden didn’t care for much of it. His mind was too focused on leaving the city to look at common items in a pawn shot. He casually looked around, uninterested, following behind Dean, who made a B-line to the front desk. At the desk were three men casually talking to one another. One of them was behind the desk at the register, while the other two were on the customer side, leaning and relaxing on the counter, sharing a joke.
They saw Dean approaching, and greeted each other, as though they knew him. These men knew Dean? Oden didn’t know them. Something wasn’t right.
“Good to see you, Jodel.” Dean said to the man behind the register, who had bleached blonde hair.
“What can we do for you?” asked Jodel. His accent. He was from the southeast side at the very least. Notorious for gang activity.
“I need some money.” Dean replied.
“Alright… How much?”
Dean paused for a second that made Oden stand still. “400 dollars and 7 cents, to be exact.” Dean said.
Jodel and the other two guys gave a short pause at the request. The whole atmosphere in the room fell silent, as if someone told a real bad joke. Jodel looked at the other two, getting the same reading from them, and then at Dean. “Alright,” Jodel said, “And who’s it for?”
“My friend Oden back here.” Dean said as he introduced Oden, “He needs to get going towards Whitehold. I’ve offered to help him.” Jodel looked at Oden, who looked back with a suspicious look on his face. He grew more and more uneased by all of this.
“I’m really fine.” Oden insisted, “I’ve got more than enough for the road.” Jodel ignored Oden’s insistence. He instead led him and Dean towards the back, with the other two guys oddly on both sides of Oden. Something was telling him to split right now, and not go any farther into the store with these unknown men. But he was kept in by his trust in Dean. He stayed close to him.
“What the hell is all of this?” Oden whispered to Dean.
“Relax,” Dean said, “these are good friends. We’ve got a tight relationship.”
“I’m very interested to know what that relationship is.”
Before Oden could vent his concern further, they were in the back room and as soon as Oden walked in, the door closed behind him by one of the others and Oden found himself surrounded. Dean stepped away from Oden and stood next to Jodel.
“So that’s how it’s gonna be?” Oden said to Dean. His last friend had betrayed him.
“Sorry mate,” Dean said to Oden, “but it’s better off this way.”
Oden couldn’t believe it. He didn’t know if he should be more mad at Dean, or himself. Either way, it didn’t make the hole he was in any less deep. “And how exactly is that?” Oden asked.
“I did say I needed the money. Turning you over is going to set me off well.”
“All this time and for what? To just throw me under the bus now? We had a good friendship, Dean, a good thing going–”
”Not anymore.” Dean interrupted, “Take a look around, Oden. Have you heard what’s going on in Febia? That muck is coming over this way. I already ignored the dangers once when the Ubyassen Empire fell. I’m not about to make that mistake again. I’m taking Sharene with this money and gettin’ out of here for good.”
“And what about me? Everything we’ve done together.”
“Relax, Oden. I’m not turning you over to the Intero. I’m probably doing you a favor.”
“Please enlighten me.”
“Jodel here is gonna take the artifact, and he’s gonna put it on the market. Then we’ll take you off to Whitehold to give you a good start on the Intero. I’d suggest leaving east Enussia for good.”
“Or,” Jodel said, “we don’t have to do it that way. You can just give us the artifact and we’ll be on our merry way.” Oden thought for a moment. Maybe this wasn’t a terrible idea after all. Dean just double-crossed him and betrayed his trust, but at least he wasn’t going to just hand Oden to the wolves. It was clear he wasn’t going to get out of here. At the same time, Oden didn’t know any of these guys, and had no guarantee they wouldn’t just hand him over anyway.
“Do you even know what this artifact is?” Oden asked.
“I know that it’s pretty damn valuable.” Jodel replied.
“Of course it is–to the guy I took it from. Outside that, what is it? Who else out there would be looking for it?”
“I’m sure I can find someone.”
“I doubt it. You don’t know this artifact like I do.”
“Oden, what the hell are you doing?” Dean asked, his voice showing his concern for Oden, “You can’t win this–just give it up and let’s get this over with.”
“And why should I believe that you guys won’t just take me to the Intero anyway? You’re already willing to take from me and make money off of it. If you know what I have, you know the guys who want it back are offering a reward for the return of the artifact, and for me.”
Jodel was silent, which was more than enough for Oden. These guys had no intention of letting him go. Just when Oden saw Jodel’s face shift, he heard the click of a pistol’s hammer behind him.
“Well aren’t you perceptive.” Jodel said, “But that don’t get you out of this hole.”
It didn’t surprise Oden. But he saw Dean show visible disdain for this. “Jodel,” Dean said, “what are you talking about?”
Jodel didn’t look at Dean for a moment, keeping his eyes fixed on Oden as he answered Dean, “As much as I’d like to punch that smart mouth off his face, your buddy here is right: I do plan on turning him and the artifact he stole to the Intero.”
“That’s not what we agreed to.” Dean protested.
“No it isn’t, but why care? You’ll be better off with this deal. We get more money if we turn him and his stolen item to the Intero. Plus, if I take the item, let him go and sell the thing, assuming anyone wants it, that makes me a target for the Intero. I don’t really need that on my back right now.”
“I can’t agree to this, Jodel. Come on, you know Oden well enough to know he’s a good guy.”
“He’s not worth the trouble.” Jodel said, raising his voice at Dean, “So you either take this deal, move on, or both of you are going to the Intero as accomplices. Maybe I’ll score an extra few-hundred bucks.”
Dean was silent. He had a choice to make and he liked neither one. His decision had to prioritize what was most important. He needed to leave Carzat and ultimately Oenkev. At the same time, doing so would doom Oden for sure. His decision was not going to be one he’d like, nor would it likely make his friendship with Oden well off. But he found a disturbing comfort in thinking that if he went with Jodel, he’d never see Oden to truly regret the decision anyway. Oden didn’t take his eyes off Dean while he contemplated, which only made Dean’s decision heavier. But a subtle shift in Dean’s face revealed to Oden what he was going to do. “Fine.” Dean confessed.
Jodel looked at Oden with his hand out, “I’ll be taking that artifact of yours.” he said.
Oden stared at Jodel, making sure the man knew that he did not like any of this, and went to his leather book bag. “In case you decide to turn heroic,” Jodel said as Oden reached in his bag, “you got a gun aimed at your head. Any funny move, you’re done.” Oden didn’t reply, but he had no intention of trying anything crazy. Not here, anyway.
He removed his hand slowly from the bag and in it he had an object that drew the curious eyes of everyone in the room. It was a cylindrical object with a wood-like texture. But as Jodel and the others got a closer look at it, it was not of wood, but of some other kind of material. It was about four inches in length and bore all over it an array of mystical, ritual-like symbols and designs, all of which sparkled blue in the light. They tried to make sense of it, but were captured by its alien appearance. Of all the countless inventions the Industrial Era had provided, they could not understand this thing.
Even Dean had to pause at the sight. Jodel finally refocused himself and took it from Oden. He held it up to his face and gave it a good examination. Then he smiled and said, “I don’t know what the hell this thing is… but it looks like a lot of money.” Jodel then gave the facial signal to his two coworkers to prepare to leave, and they did.
Dean walked up to Oden as Jodel and the others prepared to leave. “I’m sorry Oden.” he said, “I didn’t intend it to go like this.” As if that was supposed to make Oden feel better. He wanted to be mad at Dean. At the same time, what else could he have done? Could he blame Dean? Would he not have done the same? He really wasn’t sure.
“Well, you’re probably right.” Oden said, “The way history plays out, with what’s going on in Febia… ideas spread like cancer. Hell, I’m already hearing of anti-magic protests in this city, and south in Levaan.”
“Masters are coming to an end, Oden.” Dean said, somewhat cryptically, and maybe even prophetically, “The Magisterial Order is losing control. The world is changing.”
“For the better, I hope.”
Dean was silenced by those five words. Change and progress were always a good thing. Why did it not feel like it now? It didn’t matter, and it was fruitless to dwell on it.At the end of the day, Dean needed to save his own life, and those most close to him. Betraying Oden, at this point, was a small price he had to pay.
Jodel escorted Oden out of the room with his boys. There was one last guy working the store counter. “I’m running an errand.” Jodel said to him.
The man nodded, catching the coded language. “Stay safe, Jodel.” he said.
Oden’s captors didn’t cuff him. They didn’t need to. In this place, there was nowhere to go, and no one there to help. Before he knew it, they were only feet from the door, and Oden still didn’t have a confident way out. He had one idea, but it wasn’t going to be pretty. If he ended up dead, it was better than what the Intero was going to do to him.
They came outside, to an alley where Jodel’s sedan was sitting; a black wagon car. Carefully, Oden reached his hand into his book bag. Part one of his plan was complete. It was now time for part two. Approaching the car on the rear-right passenger side, Oden had to think quickly before the guy escorting him would open the door to get him in. The guy was already pushy, especially when Oden slowed down. Just three feet from the rear passenger door, Oden halted his movement, and even put up some resistance to the thug’s pushing to really make a point. Instinctively, the man shoved Oden into the passenger door. Oden pressed both of his hands on the door handle to soften the impact.
“Hey!” Jodel snapped, “Take it easy, mate!”
“The bloke wouldn’t move!” the thug said back.
“What, you can’t handle a little thief? He ain’t gonna put up no fight, so ease up! Stop scratching up my ride, and get your asses in the car!”
The man glared, but kept silent. With a snarl, he grabbed Oden and pulled him up, not noticing that Oden placed something on the inner-part of the door handle. With Oden out of the way, the man opened the door. Oden quietly waited to see if he felt anything. It appeared the guy’s hand, opening the door, didn’t make any contact with the small device Oden stuck on the inner-door handle. A relief for Oden, and one which was short-lived as he was shoved into the car.
Everyone else piled in, with Dean sitting in front with Jodel, who was driving. The other two thugs with Jodel sat in the back, Oden in between them. The ride was off. Oden had to make sure the final stage of his escape plan worked accordingly, and in the time limit he had, or his next stop was certain death. The gambit would happen in the next few minutes, and so far, no one but Oden seemed aware of it.
“I don’t suppose you know what this thing is.” Jodel asked, looking at him in the rear-view mirror. Oden removed his bag from over his shoulder to place it on his lap.
“Sure don’t,” he replied.
“I don’t believe you.”
Oden shrugged off the assertion, “Don’t know what else to tell you; I don’t know what it does. All I know is that it’s worth a lot of money, and it’s got something to do with magic.”
“You can say that again. Seems rather strange that the Intero wants it… I hear you were working for them.”
Oden finally looked back at Jodel through the mirror, slightly narrowing his eyes. “You could say that.” Oden replied, “So what?”
“And this thing compelled you to throw all that away and turn one of the most notorious mafia gangs on you?”
Oden shrugged again, looking out a window, “What can I say? I saw an opportunity for a good profit.”
Jodel chuckled, “I don’t buy it, pal. No one does something so stupid as to steal from people like the Intero if they don’t even know what it is.”
Oden was growing tired of this guy’s banter and taunt. Jodel was obviously amused with being in control of a situation. “Is there a point here?” Oden asked.
“I think you know more than you’re letting off. You know what this thing is. I think this is like those old stories of a bunch of thugs selling a dangerous spell-like weapon to an evil wizard for a profit and one fool tries to stop the whole thing by stealing the weapon.”
“Quite an imagination you have.”
“I have my moments.” Jodel looked in the rear-view mirror and noticed Oden was checking his watch. “Checking the time?” Jodel said with a grin, “Seeing how much time is ticking away at your life?”
“Something like that.” Oden replied.
“What difference does it make at this point?”
“I guess it depends on where you’re sitting.” Oden said. Dean remained silent, but there was something about that statement that didn’t sit well.
“Really?” said Jodel, “From where I’m sitting, the future looks rather bright and fortunate.”
“Well, that sounds fun… But you’ll be enjoying that all by yourself.” Oden said before he checked his watch one last time. He then threw his left elbow into the face of the guy sitting on his left. The second thug went to grab him, but Oden quickly braced himself, pushing against the one on the left. Just as he did, the small device Oden placed on the inner door handle detonated in an incendiary fashion before suddenly a loud explosion blasted through the tight cabin, dazing everyone inside, destroying the entire door handle and leaving a hole in its place. The explosion disabled the car door, and sent shrapnel into the face and side of the thug sitting on the right-side door, shielding Oden from most of the explosion.
Jodel swerved left and right, into traffic on the other side of the road, cursing uncontrollably. Oden brought his legs up to the thug on the right, who had a face and right side full of shrapnel. Using the thug on the left as support, Oden pushed his legs out at the one on the right, shoving him out of the disabled car door and tumbling into the street. Now he only needed to jump out of his newly-made exit. He grabbed his book bag as Jodel recovered control and leaped out of the door, but something gripped tightly to his leg, keeping him from jumping out, now with his head and upper body hanging out of the door. He looked up at what was keeping him, and the thug he elbowed managed to pull himself together in time just to grab Oden and keep him from making his escape.
He flailed his legs, trying to kick the man’s grip away, but he wouldn’t let go. Dean reached back to grab Oden, hoping to save him from certain death. Oden noticed that the seat Dean was in moved back and forth freely and he shoved his free foot into the seat, which in turn slammed Dean into the dashboard.
The door that was blown open teetered open and closed on Oden’s head, all while Jodel was still driving at increasing speeds. The man gripping his leg began to pull Oden in, forcing Oden to swing his free leg into the man’s face. Oden couldn’t get a clean shot, no matter how hard he tried, and he couldn’t keep swinging knowing Dean was going to try and grab him again. He peered down below the car door, just inches from the pavement passing by his face, ready to grind his flesh and bone. He froze, and his eyes went wide at the sight of a parked car that Jodel was about to slam the disabled door into, crushing Oden’s head. He pulled himself up just as they blazed past the parked car, slamming the disabled door shut, sending shards of glass all over the inside of the car just before it could crush Oden’s face and neck in the doorway. With glass going into the face of the thug holding Oden’s leg, he let one hand go to cover his face.
Oden reached over and socked him in the nose that forced him to let loose his grip on Oden’s leg. Oden ripped it free, threw his book bag out of the doorway and then without a second to hesitate, leaped out of Jodel’s car.
He tumbled and thrashed across the pavement, his hip bones taking the brunt of the impact, and stopping only because he tumbled into a curb. And in an instant, it was quiet and calm. Small bits of glass came with Oden, and some of it was on his jacket. His side took a hard hit from the pavement impact, and it was swelling in pain. People on the sidewalks were watching in shock at the sight. But Oden couldn’t wait to make a scene; he had to get out of there. Jodel didn’t stop, which to Oden meant that his plan worked. Jodel was going to take his chances with the artifact. That was good enough for Oden.
He struggled to pick himself up, aided by a pedestrian who came to see if he was okay. All he needed was his bag that he threw out with him. With it retrieved, Oden calmed himself, took control of his breathing, and moved on, alone once more. His only friend that he had left had betrayed him. He knew that someday his and Dean’s relationship would have to end, but he never expected it to be like this. He didn’t know if this ought to be a good thing or not. The good news was that he didn’t have to rely on anyone anymore, and hence could travel anonymously much more efficiently. But the feeling of betrayal had a way of making the world seem to shrink around him.
Oden couldn’t help but wonder if anyone at this point would help him. This artifact was too powerful to fall into the wrong hands, and it was this that attracted such people, people with a lot of connections to find him. Connections that unfortunately, won’t cross these people for Oden’s sake. What else could he expect from the kind of world he dwelled in? A world of criminals. Part of him wondered if that was his own fault. Either way, unless they were complete strangers to the entire land, with no motivation at all to his own predicaments, no one could help him to the Enussian Union embassy. But that was foolish thinking. What kind of person would go out of their way to help Oden if they had no interest in it?
Jodel continued driving with just one of his men left in his car, who was in the back seat tending his cheek.
“We gotta go back!” the man in the back seat urged, tending his bruised face.
“There’s no point.” Jodel said back.
“How? Oden was part of the reward. That’s half of it left back there!”
“As long as we got this,” Joden said as he pulled out the artifact, “it don’t matter. We’ll find him and kill him later.”
Elise and Dylen arrived at the market square, now under police control. The people were evacuated from the premises, except for Leno. It was officially a crime scene, but it was more than that. By now, Annastaria and Bastillina were gone, and Leno was left with the remainder of his men. Elise came into the building, escorted by an officer, describing the situation to her.
“What do we know about the attack?” Elise asked him as he led her to Leno’s room.
The officer paused. He could hardly believe what he was about to say. “Well,” he began, “your boy says he was attacked by an elvish, teenage girl.”
“Just one?”
“Just the one.”
Elise looked around, moving past several of Leno’s guys being treated for mostly minor injuries, interpreting the scene in light of what she was told. She found it difficult to accept. “Is he sure?” she asked, “Why would some random elvish… teenage girl do something like this?”
“I think a better question,” asked Dylen, behind Elise, “is what kind of teenage, elvish girl could do this?”
“I don’t know.” said the officer, “I’m just telling you guys what everyone who was here said. It was a female elf, although some say she almost looked aenman.”
Elise sighed off her frustration. She not only was angered that this even happened, but that Leno was where he was not supposed to be when it did. It was going to make this process difficult, if not impossible. She tried not to think about what her boss was going to say. Already she heard reports that Leno was injured in this.
The moment she dreaded, but yet was waiting for arrived, when Elise came up the stairs, down the mildew-smelling hall and into Leno’s room, where she saw several officers, there on protection protocol. A medic was tending Leno’s face and hand. He had his left eye patched over, a bandage on his nose, and dried blood on his left cheek. The only thing uglier than this situation was Leno’s battered face.
“Well, look who decided to show up!” he mocked, “My angel and protector! Just in time to clean up the mess from the wench elf who attacked me! Well done!”
Elise boiled within, but pushed the lid down with all her strength. “Shut it, Leno.” she said, “What happened here?”
“You didn’t hear?” he said, mocking further, “Wow! Here I thought I could rely on you people to keep me safe! You drive your pretty little red-head face all the way down here from your pretty little office, and you still don’t know what the hell happened?”
“Who attacked you, Leno? I need to know.”
“How the hell do I know who she is? I’ve never seen the wench before in my life! She was some bugger elf who came out of nowhere! It was that damned Bella’s fault.”
“What does this have to do with Bella?”
“Bella stole something from the elf. I had nothing to do with what that kid did, by the way–I didn’t encourage her to steal nothin’!”
“Relax, Leno. Lucky for you, I know my boss well enough that he’s much more interested in whoever this elf is, I can assure you.”
“Aw, well I feel all warm inside, then.”
Elise sighed. “Are you going to help me or not?”
Leno grunted again, feeling his face pulsate in pain again due to him getting animated with Elise. He had to calm down, and think clearly. “That little wench, Bella,” he began, “she helped the elf escape. The two of them made out the door, probably used the rear exit to evade the cops as they came in. Never saw ‘em again.”
“Do you have any idea where they may have gone?”
“Not the slightest clue. This is where Bella lives, and that little wench ain’t dumb enough to come back here.”
“And why is that?” Dylen asked.
The question forced Leno to pause. He nearly confessed to a desire to kill the girl in a fit of rage. He didn’t say, but Dylen could see it in his eyes. Dylen’s eyes narrowed in disgust. As far as Dylen could see, Leno deserved every bit of this, and more. He looked around, taking in the scene, realizing Leno wasn’t in cuffs. This wasn’t right. This wasn’t why he came back to Elise’s department. He turned and walked out.
Elise was startled to see him leave. Something wasn’t right. But right now, she had to finish up with Leno. She turned her attention to him again, “So I guess that means she’s gone, with this elf, and not coming back?”
“That would be my guess. Geez, I do your job better than you. All you guys are just picking up the mess after it happens. I thought you were supposed to be protecting my ass!”
“Hard to do that when you’ve got kids doing your dirty work for you, robbing all the wrong people.”
“I told you I had nothing to do with that!” he snapped back, pointing his finger.
“Whatever you say, Leno. Sit tight, while the doctors get your ugly face fixed up.”
Leno continued to mock Elise as she walked out of the room to find Dylen. It took her walking out of the building and back into the market square before she found him looking at a rotating shelf of handmade necklaces. It’s been a few years, but Dylen always did the same thing when he was frustrated. She walked up to him, and he could sense her coming closer, but he didn’t look at her.
“You alright?” she asked.
Still not looking at her, “So,” he said, “this is what you’ve been doing since I’ve been gone?” He turned his face to her then. His eyes were like darts shot into her.
“It’s not that simple, Dylen.”
“It’s not? From what I see, you and your department are actively protecting a clear piece of scum criminal.” Elise didn’t speak. She took the retort and shame coming from Dylen’s convicting words. He knew what her silence meant. “So what’s he got that’s worth protecting?” he asked. The question skipped several necessary prior inquiries, such as why she was protecting him in the first place. It was clear to Elise that he knew all about this kind of scheme; those questions weren’t necessary.
“He’s a valuable witness to a string of drug busts.” Elise said, as if to confess to a terrible sin. Indeed, she felt dirty being part of this. Dylen didn’t say anything for a moment. He was processing the whole thing; what to make of it, what to make of Elise, and how to answer back. “I don’t like this anymore than you, Dylen.” she said, “I’m sorry you had to come back to this.”
He remained silent for another moment. Then he nodded his head, as if to agree. He looked at Elise with a grin of irony, “Yeah… Me too.” He turned and walked the other direction. “I’ll see you back at HQ.” he said as he left, not looking back, and leaving Elise alone. She never felt so alone in the midst of so many fellow officers of the law. Dylen didn’t understand. He was still young, and had a ways to go. That’s what she told herself, anyway. He wasn’t supposed to be the one lecturing her on what was wise and good. Why did it seem that way?
Dylen came out of the market area to the outer perimeter, where he was approached by a pair of officers. They recognized him as SIU. “Excuse me, sir,” one said. There was a sense of urgency in his voice that drew Dylen’s attention, enough that he almost forgot what had just happened. The officer continued, “We were told to relay any information to you guys.”
“What’ve you got?” Dylen asked.
“We’ve received reports that a man running a corner store a few blocks away called in that he spoke to someone matching the description of our suspect.”
Dylen paused to think for a moment. He contemplated whether to simply walk away and think about this whole thing, seeing it as morally reprehensible, and most of all, that Elise was caught in the middle of it. But he also considered that right now, he may need to set that aside. A possible lead on their suspect was presented. “Where is this store?” he asked.
The officers gave Dylen the directions, and without any assistance nor notification to Elise, he proceeded to the place. He needed to get away from her for a while, but not to sit and wallow in his anger. He needed to do something productive, even if it meant assisting an investigation he did not like. It was a ten-minute walk across intersections, around corners, through the tall, urban city until he reached the store.
He walked inside, looking around the place from right to left until he came to the counter. As his scan looked towards it, a man stood up from behind it, tending to the cigarette section. It was the same man that Annastaria had gotten assistance from.
“Hello there.” said the worker, “Can I help you?”
Dylen walked towards the counter, taking a small bag of peanuts to buy. “I’m a little hungry.” Dylen said casually.
“Well, I can help you with that.”
The man priced it in the register, and Dylen took the opportunity to speak. “I’m with the SIU.” The man stopped for a moment to look at Dylen who showed him his badge. “Don’t worry,” Dylen continued, “you’re not in trouble… So you heard about what happened at the market square a little while ago?”
“Yeah.” said the man as Dylen gave him the dollar for the peanuts.
“But you weren’t there when it happened, right?”
“No. But before it happened, a young elvish girl came in here. At least, she was only part elvish, I think. Still, she had an accent that matched at least the elves down southeast.”
“What makes you think she was related to what happened in the market?”
“The fact that just as she stepped outside, some kid robbed her, just across the street at the corner over there. The elvish girl ran after the kid, going north. Never saw them again, and that’s where the market is. Figured it was connected.”
Dylen didn’t affirm that it was, but he was impressed with this man’s instincts. “This elvish girl,” Dylen said, “what did she come in here for?”
“She came looking for directions. She was looking for the train station.”
Dylen paused a moment to soak in that statement. It was a key bit of information to help in finding her. But that she was going to the train station wasn’t enough. “Did she happen to say where she was going?” he asked.
“Yeah. She said she was going west.”
A helpful tip. There was only one train track going west from Levaan. Given it’s been a few hours, she would be only forty miles or so out. It gave Dylen and Elise something to work with. “Thank you.” Dylen said as he took his peanuts and made for the exit, “You’ve been very helpful.”
“That girl,” said the clerk, just before Dylen stepped out, “she’s… not in trouble, is she? She was a nice girl.”
Dylen looked at him, and paused. The question was simple yet heavy. Dylen realized that he himself wasn’t sure if her being in trouble was a good thing or a bad thing. “I hope not.” he said, and stepped out.
As the day went on, Oden’s trail became more and more cold. Lance became continually frustrated and perplexed at how he was able to escape. If Oden hadn’t been captured by now, it was a certainty that he was out of the city. There was no sign of any kind that Oden had even been found. Lance waited in his office, listening to the news in the background, which was a morning update on the weather and traffic, when the phone on his desk rang. It seemed louder than normal, and Lance couldn’t tell if it really was, or if it was the anxiety. He almost snatched it up.
“Talk to me.” he said.
“Sir,” said the man on the other line, “we have a couple guys here. They say they have the artifact.” Lance’s face darted to Goate, who almost had the same reaction. Lance retained his composure, nearly freezing at the news. But while the artifact was mentioned, there was no mention of Oden. “No Oden?” Lance asked.
“One of them says that he captured Oden, but he escaped, leaving the artifact.”
Lance became concerned. Oden was a little rat, but he was no fool. He had proven it numerous times already. It was uncharacteristic of Oden to escape without the artifact. Of course, when desperate, even a no-good thief like Oden may just cut his losses if it meant his life. “Send them in.” Lance said before hanging up the phone. Moments later, his office door opened, proceeded first by two of Lance’s henchmen. Between the two of them came Jodel, Dean and his remaining thug named Harris. The other one was nowhere to be found, as he was last seen being kicked out of Jodel’s now torn-up car. Lance’s office was impressive, with a dark red theme, tinted with yellow lights. Lance stood up, far too interested in this to simply sit casually.
“They tell me you’ve got my artifact.” Lance said to Jodel.
“Yes, sir.” Jodel replied, confidently taking the bag and placing it on Lance’s desk before him. Jodel felt like a boy doing a good deed for his father. His reward would be incredible.
“And what about Oden?” Lance said as he reached to grab the bag, “How’d you lose him?”
“It’s a long story sir; one I really hate to repeat. But he’s a sneaky little rat, sir. He may have escaped, but I got the artifact first.”
Lance was hesitant, afraid that his internal feeling that something was wrong would prove unfortunately true. But he knew he had to get this over with. He unraveled the bag and reached inside, pulling out the cylindrical, stone object with the blue engravings on it. He stared at it for a second, which to Jodel felt like a minute. He looked to Dean and Harris, who looked back at him for a second, trying to see what each other was thinking. But they couldn’t help but keep their eyes primarily fixed on Lance. Lance then looked at Jodel. “What the hell is this?” he asked.
Jodel felt like his heart just fell out of place, along with all his confidence. He stuttered, “That’s… that’s the artifact, isn’t it? What you’ve been after?”
“This? This isn’t what we’re looking for.”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean, this isn’t what we’re looking for.” Lance repeated, raising his voice.
“But… but it looks like–”
“–like a mystical artifact?” Lance interrupted. He placed the thing on his desk and sighed. Oden had played them yet again.
“Sir,” Jodel replied, still in a stutter, and now panicking that he was going to be killed for it, “sir, I had no idea. I didn’t know what it looked like, I just assumed.”
“Of course you did.” Lance said, walking around his desk and to a painting on the wall, pocketing his hands. All eyes were on Lance, whom Goate knew was clearly attempting to keep his calm. After a short pause in thought, the television ever so present in the background, to provide some sense of relief to the rising tension, Lance then quickly turned to them and said, “You got played by this guy. He’s no fool. What you brought me was a nice little stone art sculpture… Dammit all.”
Jodel felt an unnatural heat rush through him. He had to do something, or say something to get himself out of there alive. All he could think of was to start making blatant promises. “I swear it, I’ll find Oden. I got some connections; my people and I can help track him down.” he said.
Lance stared at Jodel, pondering, making Jodel more nervous. Lance wanted to beat this low-level street thug to death with his own bare hands. But he knew that this man knew too little about the situation. He tried to look at the positive side of this. This low-level thug most likely had some connections. Lance needed as much help as he could get.
“I hope you are a man of your word.” Lance said.
“I am sir.” Jodel said, stuttering again.
“You don’t sound too confident.”
“Well, if I’m being honest sir, I’m talking to a mafia boss. I’m completely at your mercy and I really don’t want to end up dead in a ditch or buried in a place where my momma can’t find me.”
Lance couldn’t help but grin at the statement. He had this boy on his knees. Perfect. Lance walked towards Jodel, who felt a heavy presence press on him with every step Lance took. “Lucky you,” Lance said as he approached and stopped a few feet in front of Jodel, “I’m a reasonable man. It’s why I am where I am. You weren’t fully aware of the situation, so who can fault you for that? Am I right, Goate?” Goate affirmed. “What’s your name, little man?” Lance asked.
“My name’s Jodel. This here is my partner, Harris. Over there is Dean.”
“And what kind of connections do you have?”
“Mostly street-level stuff. We run a pawn shop, but we also use it to run goods, and weapons. Occasionally, stuff like bounties–like this. We’ve probably done some stuff for you already.”
“I’m sure you have. I could use all the help I can get, Jodel, Dean and Harris. I’m willing to give you guys a second chance. I’ve got a bounty on Oden’s capture already. Use what connections you can to track him down. If you bring him to me, and the artifact, you’ll be handsomely rewarded. I may even have more job opportunities for you in the future.”
“That sounds awesome, sir.”
“Yes… ‘awesome’. But, don’t forget, if you screw up, then… well, then we don’t have a deal.”
Jodel picked up the vagueness in the words from Lance. “Yes–yes, sir.” he replied, swallowing once.
“Good.”
While Jodel and Harris felt sighs of relief at this news, Dean’s concern rose. He had to interject himself at that point. “Wait,” he said, “I’m truly grateful, Mr. Lance, that you’re not going to whack us… But I was only hoping to get this job done and be on my way. I’m not part of Jodel’s group, officially. I need to get home and to my girlfriend. I just needed money to get out of Oenkev, that’s all.”
“Is that so?” asked Lance as he slowly approached Dean. “You don’t honestly expect me to pay you for this, do you?”
“No sir.” Dean answered with a stutter.
Lance paused for a moment, as if to think. He stared Dean down, showing no regard for personal respect. “Let me see if I read you correctly,” Lance said, “You did this just so you could get enough money to get you and your girlfriend out of here–which by the way, I can relate. But now that you’re not getting that money, how are you going to get out of town, exactly?”
Jodel and Harris looked to Dean nervously. “I don’t know.” answered Dean, “I guess I’ll find another way.”
Lance paused again, staring at Dean without a blink nor any change in the cold facial expression he had. “That’s a shame.” he finally answered, “I could guarantee you both everything you need to get out of here. Help me get my artifact along with Oden, and I’ll make sure you get out of Carzat alive.”
Another silent moment went through the air. Dean couldn’t help but feel like there was a subtle threat in Lance’s voice when he guaranteed he and his girlfriend would get out ‘alive’.
“In case you didn’t catch the hint, Mr. Dean,” Goate interjected, “that wasn’t a suggestion.”
Dean froze. He couldn’t believe what was happening. He could speak up, or try to run, but it would do him no good. This must’ve been what Oden felt earlier, only far worse. The irony of their situations riveted in his mind. “Why are you doing this to me?” he asked.
Lance shrugged and said, “I don’t know who you are; you walk into my main base of operations, my office, which is not exactly public knowledge and now you expect to just go scott free. You don’t honestly expect me to allow that, do you? Prove to me that you’re a reliable guy, and that I can rely on you walking free without spilling your guts. Or I’ll be spilling your guts. Do we have an understanding?”
As if Dean had a choice. His mind was in a freeze, and all he could do was swallow.
The phone rang again, snapping the tension like a guitar string breaking. Goate went and picked it up, “What is it?”
Lance and the rest of his company waited, hearing a tiny voice from the phone that they could not understand. Goate was silent most of the call, listening intently, giving an affirmation of taking in information in intervals. Finally, he said goodbye to the caller and hung the phone up, looking at Lance. “That was our friend in the police department.” he said, “He’s got a tip on Oden’s last whereabouts. Northwest Carzat outskirts, near interstate 76.”
Lance looked at Jodel, “Lucky you; you’ve got a head start on the rest of the bounty hunters looking to collect. I’d suggest you get on it now.”
“Of course, Mr. Lance.” Jodel responded, looking at Harris and Dean to que them both to exit. They hastily left the room, leaving Lance and the rest of his men.
“What are you going to do in the meantime?” Goate said to Lance. Lance looked at Goate for a second, then at Jodel and Harris leaving his place. He forced these street thugs into his service, but he wasn’t sure it would result in anything worthwhile. He was left with only one option at this point. An option he hated.
“I need to call Ryker.”
Goate almost paused, but affirmed Lance’s statement, understanding the gravity of what Lance was requesting.
Elise returned to her office. Part of her resisted the pull of duty to go back, knowing what was waiting for her. But she knew she had to go back. She would have an outraged boss on the line, and a disappointed partner in her immediate circle. For some reason, though she ought to be more concerned for the former, it was the ladder problem that Elise was most concerned about. But before she reached the office, she could already anticipate the scenario. Her boss, Captain Belvek’s call, would be waiting for her the moment she arrived, to “discuss” the drug-busting case with Leno.
She came into the office, and up through the elevator. “Mrs. Bellerd,” an office worker said to her, “you have a call waiting for you. I believe it’s from Belvek’s office.”
Elise nearly snapped at him for the words, but as much as she hated how casual these simple office workers were in delivering what they did not know was bad news, she relented, pushing down every attempt to let out the pressure on him. She walked through the body of workers and to her office, no longer with the comfortable stride from earlier that morning. Though most of what was taking place so far was to be anticipated, one thing was unexpected. Dylen was nowhere to be found. She didn’t know if that should be a relief or not. Either way, she knew one thing was certain, her boss was waiting to talk to her, and he would not be pleased.
Elise took the call in her office, and got what she had expected. She had attempted in some hopeless hope that because Leno was engaged in thievery, and exploiting children that provoked the incident, maybe he had thus voided his contract with the SIU, putting him in with the rest of the criminals. “Out of the question!” Belvek vehemently rebuked, “Do you really think the DA will accept any of this? This is a blatant embarrassment to our system, and you know it. Vigilante justice will not be tolerated.”
“I am not suggesting that we adopt vigilante justice, sir,” Elise argued, in as respectful a tone as she could, “I’m only suggesting that we have been trying to get Leno on something, and so have the prosecutors. He was outside his home during the restriction period, and we have evidence that he was exploiting children.”
“Evidence you’ve acquired through completely illegal means. This is not up for discussion. It’s void evidence, Elise, and you know it. Now you have a direct and intolerable violation of a witness contract, and a prime suspect at large.”
Elise paused. But she couldn’t stay quiet for too long, or it would only sink her further. “I understand, sir.” she said, “What do you want me to do?”
The angered captain calmed himself. “I will handle the situation with our witness.” he said, “What I want from you is to track down and take into custody this suspect of yours. Whoever they are, they have violated SIU protocol, and they must be brought to justice.”
“… Understood, sir.” Elise said, hesitating somewhat.
“Good. Keep me updated.” and he hung up.
Elise, who was left on a dead line, casually placed the phone back in its slot on her desk. She stared at the floor beyond her desk, staring almost off into an abyss of an unknown future. That certainly seemed like what was happening. The silence in the room was gnawing. She could hear the outside cubicles far too well, and the wall clock ticking away at her world. She stood up, and walked to the window, looking out to downtown Levaan, as if somehow it was going to give her the answers to all of this, or that it would tell her she was dreaming, and needed to wake up, where she left off thinking this was indeed, and truly a good day. A triple knock tapped her wooden door, and she turned. It was Dylen stepping in. Part of her felt she needed to apologize, the other was just glad he was here.
“Sorry I’m late.” he said.
She walked towards her desk as he stepped in. “You’re fine.” she said, “Just tell me there was a good reason for it… Are you okay?”
“I’m fine.” he said, almost immediately, as if he was quickly rebutting any attempt to talk about the last time they saw each other. “I do have good reason.”
“I could use a lot of good right now.” she replied.
“I got a tip on our suspect. A corner store owner just a few blocks from the market square said someone matching her description came into his place, looking for the train station… She’s going west.”
Elise had about the same reaction to the information that Dylen had when he first heard it. Questions and theories raced through her mind almost immediately, as if a gust of wind blew a whole pile of still leaves scattered through the air. This news couldn’t have been on better time; just as she knew she had to go to work with almost nothing to follow on this mysterious elf.
“Did he say anything else?” she asked, refocusing her wandering eyes on Dylen.
“Afraid not. We got one lead, and we’d better get on it quickly if we want to find her.”
Elise couldn’t agree more, but just as she was about to go into action, she stopped herself, and knew she had to say something about what happened before. “Dylen,” she began, “are you okay? With what happened earlier, I just want you to know–”
“Leave it be, Elise.” he interrupted, “I get it. I don’t like it. In fact, I hate it, but I’m here.”
Elise was comforted, but also sad at Dylen’s loyalty. He was one of the most trustworthy men she encountered in the force. “Okay.” she replied, not sure if she should be content with his insistence not to talk about it or not, “Then we need to get moving. You and me, let’s go.”
This Dylen did not expect, and his face was visibly curious. “Wait. We’re actually going?” he asked.
Elise went to grab her coat. “We are.” she affirmed, “I prefer it this way. I need to get out for a bit anyway. If we move quickly, we should be able to catch her by the time she reaches the next town.”
Dylen paused a moment. He wasn’t expecting this, and had to consider if this was a smart move or not. But he contented himself that perhaps Elise was right, and he also could use some fresh air. “I’ll call the authorities in the town ahead of us.” Dylen said as they walked out of her office together, “See if I can pinpoint that train more accurately.”
“That would be a good idea. If it hasn’t arrived yet, have it stopped, and the authorities there keep it until we arrive.”
“If it’s already passed through?”
“We’ll at least know if we should stop or drive right through into Cymroyl, which is where it will inevitably end up.”
Although Dylen was up for getting out for a few hours, he wasn’t sure it was good to have to go up to Cymroyl. If their suspect reached the city, it would possibly make it impossible to find them again. Everything depended on finding her before she could leave the first town. But all the while, Dylen had a pressing thought in the back of his mind that would not leave. Who was this girl? She didn’t seem normal, based on the descriptions of her. Many elves had passed through Levaan before, but few could do what she evidently had done. He couldn’t stop thinking about the nature of this elf, and the less they knew of her, the more dangerous she was.
Annastaria, led by Bastillina, found the train and though they missed the one she originally intended to catch, they were able to catch the next one. It delayed Annastaria a few hours, leaving her mind plagued with what if’s that gnawed at her, but she had no choice but to accept what had happened. This was why being on time, being disciplined, as she was raised, was so important to her. Missing appointments put her in a whirlwind of untamed thoughts, mixed with shame and guilt. But she couldn’t do anything to change it, even though she had remnant thoughts of boiling anger over the whole ordeal. They were forty miles out at this point, moving north, and would have to continue another forty miles that would go around Carzat Lake until they reached Cymroyl.
Bastillina could hardly believe it. She was leaving Levaan for the first time in her life. She never thought she would see this day, and certainly not so suddenly. She sat in their cabin, looking out the window that looked east, watching Levaan’s large buildings slowly shrink until the trees began to overcome them. For the next ten minutes were the rural areas, filled with mostly factories, warehouses and in some parts, farms. But she sat alone, with Annastaria nowhere to be found.
An attendant came to their cabin, and Bastillina almost didn’t notice her, being so focused on the view. “Young lady,” the woman said, drawing Bastillina’s attention, “I don’t mean to bother you, but I’m here to check your train tickets.”
“Oh!” Bastillina said, hardly able to contain her excitement. She took both hers and Annastaria’s ticket and gave it to the attendant, who examined them for a moment and handed them back to Bastillina.
“Enjoy your ride, ma’am.” the woman said with a welcoming smile.
“Thank you!” Bastillina said back. The attendant took her exit. “Oh, hey!” Bastillina said, stopping the attendant, “Can I maybe get something to drink?”
“Of course. There’s a menu for you on the counter. Take a look at it, and when you’re ready to order, just press that white button there.” She pointed, drawing Bastillina’s attention to a metal-framed console just next to the wall frame of their cabin room. Once Bastillina understood the instructions, she let the attendant go, and she continued to take in the sights. She had never seen the vast lands outside Levaan before. Finally! No more buildings which were like walls that kept her from seeing the world outside. So many trees, so much green!
But as Bastillina was overcome with the view, Annastaria was in the bathroom, alone, with the world outside being the last thing she wanted to think about. She examined her left ear, which had dried blood trailing out of it. She hoped against hope as they boarded the train that it wasn’t blood, but her mind playing games. There it was; the mirror doesn’t lie.
Her ears were still ringing, and they were in stinging pain now, at least her left ear was. She examined it in the mirror, and the sight caused her to fear the worst. In the midst of the adrenaline-pumping action, she had no choice but to fight through the gnawing, seething pain, the likes of which she never experienced before. But now, as her body calmed, the emotion and fear poured over her back like warm water. Tears welled in her eyes. Tears she couldn’t let anyone else see. What did this mean for her hearing? It couldn’t be good. The mere thought sent shivers through her. Everything since they got to the train station felt so one-sided. Her right ear still ringed, but she could still hear relatively normal sounds. It was the left ear, where the gunshots were most blistering, that she was afraid of.
How much more of this was she going to have to endure? She kept trying to tell herself she was giving herself to the cause of her people. Her mind, her spirit, and her body. But she found herself struggling to keep faith in that loyalty. She realized that the promise to give her body was such a broad, all-encompassing statement, that she overlooked the small things, such as her precious ears, being destroyed. She has already suffered separation from her home and her people, her father and sister, and the ordinances of worship. She was surrounded by aenmen apostasy, and her senses have been ravaged and violated just in this one day. Oh how precious her ears were now, now more than they ever had been.
She heard a set of quick knocks. “Erene!” It was Bastillina, “You should see the menu they have! This is just too much!”
“Go and sit down.” Annastaria said through the door sternly, “I will be out in a minute.” Bastillina acknowledged, and her feet could be heard patting the wooden floor away from the bathroom.
Annastaria’s emotional stability was rocking back and forth, on a narrowed foundation, teetering over an abyss. Even raising her voice to Bastillina stung her ears. She had trained and prepared for these kinds of things, but yet she found herself in a place she never thought she would be in, in only two days, with a kind of pain she knew she wasn’t ready for. She wiped the blood from her ear and jawline, then wiped her running nose, and sniffled once; a sniffle that also stung. She stared at herself in the mirror, as if to try and muster up courage and strength from it. It didn’t seem to work. All she saw was a fragile little girl trying to be strong.
Finally, she worked up the strength, and pressed down the emotional turmoil enough to come out from the bathroom. Stepping out felt like taking a breath of fresh air, though she didn’t know why. She was only going back to another huge problem set upon her lap. Annastaria wasn’t sure what her elders, and even her own father would think of her decision to take Bastillina under her wing. She knew Innaduur and Gennades would surely object sternly, but she didn’t know what her father would say. Thinking of her father led to her thinking of Ellumar, which brought a smile to her face. Somehow, Annastaria could tell Ellumar would love Bastillina.
She came to their cabin, where Bastillina managed to settle her excitement of the outside scenery enough to look more carefully at the menu. When Annastaria came in, Bastillina was like an excited dog to see their owner’s return. If she had a tail, it would surely be wagging right now. “Look!” she said, pointing, “All of this food! We’re like royals!”
“So I have heard.” Annastaria answered, sitting down, listening to Bastillina go through a list of foods that she did not recognize at all. Annastaria tuned out Bastillina’s words, staring out the window into an abyss of uncertainty. Finally, she couldn’t take the noise level of Bastillina’s rising voice. “Bella!” she said, hurting her tender ears with the snap. Bastillina saw Annastaria’s face shrink in pain as she gripped her left ear, which made her stop and nearly go over to help.
“What’s wrong?” Bastillina said.
“It is nothing.” Annastaria said, fighting the pain with a wince, “Please… Can you only be quieter? I am tired.”
Bastillina paused. She never thought about how tired Erene would be, but it made sense now that she realized it. However much she was excited, she didn’t want to be rude in front of the young woman who saved her. She took in the silence, looking out the window with Annastaria.
“I can’t believe it.” Bastillina said, excited, but with a controlled voice, “I’m finally leaving that bloody, cruel city behind. I hated that place.”
“As am I.” Annastaria said, still looking out the window.
Bastillina paused, wanting to speak, but unable to find the right words. This was surely some kind of dream. She sighed, and the only thing that she could think of to say came out, “I’ve never seen the world outside Levaan before.”
Annastaria looked at Bastillina, puzzled and surprised. Annastaria had not seen such a large city as Levaan before, and that was an amazing sight, but what caught her even more amazed was that Bastillina had not seen the world outside before. “You have not been out here before?” Annastaria asked.
Bastillina shook her head, “Never. I’ve always wanted to leave that place.”
“What prevented you?”
Bastillina shrugged, “Losing my parents, obviously. I got stuck with Leno as a result, and he used me for all the stuff he was doing. My parents supposedly owed him money, so he says, and when they died, that debt fell on me.”
Annastaria didn’t know what to say. Again, she couldn’t help but wonder, as terrible as aenmen were, were they so wicked so as to incur family debts upon helpless children? Maybe Bastillina did have good reason to be a thief. Whoever this ‘Leno’ character was, he was the worst Annastaria had seen so far. Nevertheless, Bastillina did sin against her, and the girl, though she did not owe Leno anything, owed Annastaria. At least, that’s what she was telling herself.
“So where is this place of yours?” Bastillina asked. The question caught Annastaria off-guard. She almost entirely forgot the promise she made to the girl.
“It is west from here.” Annastaria said, referring to where she was to meet the others at Farik, and reminding herself of her small and impotent role in this whole quest. As if that in itself was unnerving, she now grew more and more concerned about this recent decision. She still did not have any confidence that what she had decided in bringing Bastillina along was a good call. What’s worse was that she didn’t tell the girl who the “safe people” were, which were the elves awaiting her in Forik.
Annastaria’s mind shook and shifted, not from the quest itself, but from the reality of what she has done in taking this aenman child along. What would her people say if she brought her to them? Surely Errnos would use it as evidence against her. Still, there was something about this girl. And thinking about the whole ordeal, led Annastaria to a thought she had to bring up to Bastillina. She reached into her bag as she noticed the tingling feeling in her own body by now, and she drew a pair of spherical glass vials, carrying in each a few ounces of a blue liquid.
Bastillina paused, lowering her eye-brows as she looked at them. “What’s that?” she asked.
Annastaria handed her one, taking her own and pulling the cork out of the top of it. “Voluum.” she said, “You must take some also.”
“What for?” Bastillina asked, taking the one given to her.
Annastaria drank her portion, wiped her mouth and replied, “It tames Corruption. Every master has a gift and a curse; we have the blessing of the gods to take hold of the world their counsel created… But we also endure the curse of our ancestors… It is called Corruption. The more you use your mastery, the more it takes hold of you.”
“This cures it?” Bastillina asked, pulling the cork from hers.
Annastaria smirked, “If only that were true. You cannot cure Corruption, girl… You can only prevent it from consuming you.”
Bastillina drank it, and took in the salty and sour taste. It wasn’t the worst thing she ever had, but there was much better for sure. After her face recovered from the sour taste, she gave out a small cough at the unsettling taste. “Does everyone have to take this stuff?” she asked.
“Only masters. Only we have the power of magic surging through us.”
“But I don’t feel any different, even after blowing up Leno’s pistol.”
“The effects of Corruption are slow. If you are only a novice master, you will notice even less. But as you use your mastery, you will begin to feel strange pokes under your skin, and sometimes even moments of quick pain.”
Bastillina began to think, and now that it was mentioned, she did remember after using her mastery, which was rare, she felt tingling sensations in her arms. After what she did to Leno, it was just like Annastaria had said, like little needles pricking her, from the inside. She looked at her right forearm, and could feel the pricking in it. “That’s what that feeling is?” the girl asked, with innocent curiosity, and through her Oenian accent.
“Yes.” Annastaria replied.
Bastillina went silent, and for a moment, felt as though something was crawling in her skin. A foreign entity that was racing through her veins. It was an unsettling feeling, and it created another question she had to ask. “What happens if… if we don’t take this voluum stuff?”
Annastaria, who was looking out the window in exhaustion, turned her eyes to Bastillina again and paused. It was a hesitant, and unsettling pause. “That is a question for another time, Bella.” she finally answered, leaning on the window and the back of her chair, closing her eyes, “For now, I need some rest.”
Bastillina obliged, but her mind was restless to the question, like her skin was restless to the Corruption within. She looked out the window again, and quickly her fear was satiated by the fresh sights she was seeing, of trees, and tall hills, perhaps even mountains. If this was just a small portion, what lay ahead? In Forik? What was this place Erene spoke of? What did it look like? And how far west would they go? The questions and possibilities seemed endless.
Finally, she was going to get to have an adventure like the other kids, and what kind of future awaited her? Maybe she was going to get to be like them after all. What was best was that she didn’t have to finish school to do it. The gods presented her with a great blessing this day. School was so boring and were things to keep going as they were, Bastillina would have had no chance at the success her peers had. She couldn’t stand the curriculum, and she couldn’t stand church. Now she got to go past all of it, and see all the things that the teachers and preachers spoke about with her own eyes. What lay ahead, she could only dream about right now. For now, it was time to wonder what lay at the next stop.
Masters of Eldreon 