Fan Fiction ❯ Jiikron: Legend of the Two ❯ Lasah ( Chapter 11 )

"We must hang together, or surely we shall hang separately." - Benjamin Franklin

 

-Chapter Eleven-

-Lasah-

 

Voide decided, in that moment with Raizo's dangerous weapon prodding a very crucial part of his body, that he would never allow himself to be snuck up on again. He was quite disappointed in himself, feeling he should have been able to anticipate the incident at hand. To make things worse, the voice that was speaking to him implied that his attacker was rather huge. That normally would not have been an issue, as Voide could easily dispatch him with a single movement. However, the man was making a great deal of noise with all his high and mightiness, and surely the Maercles family had heard the commotion by now. They would come running, and then Voide would have to explain why he was able to overpower a much larger man with a sword, when he himself was weaponless. And with said sword currently pressing insistently into the back of his neck, he was not exactly in a position inclined to think of a believable story. And the truth was most definitely out of the question.

 

“Identify yourself, thief!” Raizo ordered, his volume rising in his anger.

 

Voide decided to try pacifying the man. In a calm, unthreatening voice, he answered, “My name Is Voide, sir, and I apologize for my dishonorable transgression. You see, I hadn't any idea that those items belonged to anyone.”

 

His efforts were wasted, for Raizo snorted and did not lessen his blade's pressure. “And what? You thought the trees were saving some food for later, is that it? Your story is rubbish!”

 

An inward sigh surfaced in Voide's mind. “I had supposed that these things were left behind on accident, sir.”

 

A tiny rustle in the bushes to their left made Raizo glance in that direction. When nothing appeared from the foliage, he turned his attention back to his captive. “Why should I trust filth like you?” he asked.

 

Offended at being called filth and growing increasingly irritated with his predicament, Voide opened his mouth to give a retort, but was interrupted when something akin to a dying turkey's cry rang out.

 

“Ye mangy scoundrel! Scum o' the earth! Rotten bandit!”

 

Erfin was back, and clearly upset with the situation at hand. He wailed and carried on much louder than he needed to, making both Raizo and Voide long to cover their ears, though neither dared. Erfin was quick to draw a sharp, jagged-edged dagger from his belt. It was the one he used for preparing food and carving wood into various necessities like bowls. It's blade was chipped and stained red, and Voide got the feeling that it would hurt like hell if it pierced his skin.

 

The old man moved forward, completely intent on ending the life of the `mangy scoundrel.'

 

“I'll cut yer throat, thief!” Erfin proclaimed as he took another step. But before he could reach Voide, a large stone, about the size of a child's fist, came hurling at him, almost smashing into his temple and missing by mere inches.

 

“Take that!” A distinctly female voice cried as another rock hurtled out of the trees. This one hit Raizo in the shoulder, and he hissed in surprise, though the impact hadn't hurt much.

 

Voide wasn't sure if he should be relieved or exasperated when he heard Vitani call out. Her heroic onslaught was kind, if also ineffectual, but incredibly stupid, as well. Raizo could crush her, and Erfin stood a good chance too. Soon, however, Voide settled on relieved, because as the girl moved into the clearing, he saw that her father and brother flanked her sides.

 

Erfin was not to be intimidated. “Name yerselfs!” he commanded. “Who be ye that would come to the aid o' a thief?”

 

“Voide is not a thief!” Vitani countered, standing angrily in front of her kin, gray eyes flashing dangerously. Her hands were planted on her hips, and another rock was curled in her right fingers.

 

“He attempted to make off with our supplies, wench. He is most definitely a crook,” answered Raizo, who hadn't moved his sword at all.

 

Mikona stepped forward, livid. “How dare you call my daughter such a name!”

 

“Daugh'er? Yer usin' yer daugh'er as a whore? Ye be more o' a devil than I thought!” Erfin made a face of disgust. The twins' father was very near to howling in rage, but Vitani beat him to it.

 

“What did you just call me?! You foul, idiotic, beastly men! Ooh! I should stick that sword right in your-“

 

“Enough, Cantilena.”

 

Kona, who uttered the two simple words in a quiet tone, gathered the attention of the entire clearing. Arms folded over his chest, gaze steadily focused on Raizo, he went on, “I think we're all mistaken here.”

 

“And what be ye? A dirty trickster, that's what!”

 

The young priest pinned Erfin with a glare that spoke volumes: `Shut your mouth, or I'll force it closed.'

 

Satisfied with the old man's obedient silence, Kona shifted his eyes back to the tall, blonde man who was currently their biggest threat. “If Voide was trying to take your things, it was most likely an occurrence born of ignorance. We're not criminals; we mean you no harm.”

 

As he said this, Kona held out his hands in a gesture of peace. It was then that Raizo noticed the yellow stitching on the boy's robes. The crest of the Jiikronian Church was embellished into the fabric, clearly visible despite the filth that stained it. He narrowed his eyes on the group, trying to decide whether or not to believe their claim of innocence.

 

It was then Raizo realized the resemblance between the three people standing to his side. Especially the girl and the kid in robes… And the man had said the female was his daughter… Maybe they were just travelers? And the man he held at sword point was a friend? It was possible.

 

“If you're not thieves, what are you?”

 

Voide spoke up to explain. “We're just normal citizens, I assure you. The same as you, sir.”

 

“Where've ya come from?” Erfin asked. He was still not entirely convinced by their statements.

 

“Hyran.”

 

“To the west? Why are you coming this way?”

 

“Our home was attacked,” Vitani said, voice small and sorrowful. Traveling at an almost constant pace, scraping together food to survive, enduring nature… Their trying journey had stolen all of her concentration, and so in all the time they had been on the move, she had not really had the chance to think of what had happened… The friends she had lost, and the home they left behind. Their security, peace, their whole lives. But now, confronted with the question of why they were no longer in their village, the memories returned anew. Sharp as razor blades, they cut into her heart, and the pain showed in her features. Raizo and Erfin saw it. There was no faking such an emotion.

 

“Attacked by who?”

 

“A monster,” Kona replied. His was looking to the north, trying not to remember what Voide had told them of the fiend. A girl, rather like a small child… with wings that glowed fiercer than the devil's own shiny eyes.

 

Raizo's heart beat a little faster. A barrage of images flooded his mind. The angelic beast who killed all of Lasah in cold blood. Streams of red in the streets. Bodies strewn on the ground, thick as the snow after a storm. Surely that creature hadn't visited two places that night…?

 

Mikona was quick to see the hint of recognition in Raizo's expression.

 

“You saw her, too?”

 

The other man's head snapped to the side, and he unconsciously let his weapon arm fall down, granting Voide the freedom to move again. “What?”

 

Repeating himself, Mikona said, “You saw her? The winged girl?”

 

Raizo could hardly believe it. She had destroyed more than one location… Lasah and Hyran. What of the rest of Jiikron?

 

“Yes… she attacked my village as well.”

 

“Your village?” Voide prompted, turning now to face the others.

 

“Lasah.”

 

Mikona cursed under his breath.

 

“You can't be serious?” Kona uttered, his voice betraying his exasperation.

 

“Why would I be joking about such a thing?” Raizo shot back, slightly offended.

 

“Oh, no,” Vitani groaned, finally dropping the stone in her palm. She buried her face in her hands and tried not to cry.

 

“What be all the groanin' fer?” Erfin asked.

 

“We… we were on our way to Lasah, as it were,” Voide informed him. “We hoped to find some permanent shelter there.”

 

Raizo frowned. “You're out of luck.”

 

“What do we do now?” Vitani half-wailed as she looked up, unwelcome tears twinkling on her lashes. “We can't go back the way w-we came! And there are no other p-places to go!”

 

She was overwhelmed, and her brother took pity on her. “Calm down, Cantilena,” he said. “We'll devise a new plan.”

 

“That's right, Vitani,” Voide chimed in. “Don't lose hope just yet.”

 

The girl just sniffled in response.

 

“So you must be seeking a new home as well,” Mikona said, looking at Raizo. “Where were you headed?”

 

“Actually… I don't know.” And that was the truth. Erfin told Raizo they were going west, but he didn't name anywhere specific.

 

“We just be travelin', is all. Don't have a place in mind,” the old man informed them.

 

“Is that so?” asked Voide. “Well then… if no one here objects to the idea… Why don't you come with us?”

 

Everyone exchanged looks. It seemed like a sound plan. Raizo looked to Erfin, who appeared deep in thought. Finally, he nodded. “Aw'right. We'll do it.”

 

After exchanging names and stories, the new companions settled down for the night. Shortly after, they slept.

 

OoOoOoOoOoOoO

 

Kisra cursed. The angry sound was carried away by the wind whipping in his face, sending his hair flying in every direction. He was soaring to Akatrial with the intent of delivering some unpleasant news to Andsaca. He dreaded what would happen when he told the sorcerer what he'd discovered. Heads would roll, and that was meant literally.

 

“Damn it!” he said again. This was all the fault of that blasted Feldro Rona. The dunderhead had sworn on the lives of his equally worthless brothers that everyone in Lasah was dead. And yet, there was a tall, blonde-haired blacksmith from the village walking around and breathing. Those were things that dead people certainly didn't do.

 

If Andsaca didn't do it himself, Kisra swore he would wring Feldro's incompetent bronze neck.

 

OoOoOoOoOoOoO

 

“What?!”

 

The Lord of Darkness was less than pleased. His servant flinched openly.

 

“Are you telling me, Kisra, that there is another survivor?”

 

“Yes, Master.”

 

There was acid in Andsaca's voice when he spoke again. “You do know what this means, don't you?”

 

The servant opened his mouth to beg for mercy, but he was too late. The sorcerer curled his fingers into a fist and cast a spell. As Kisra collapsed on the floor in agony, Andsaca smiled cruelly. Such tortured screams were music to his ears.

 

OoOoOoOoOoOoO

 

And thus the third arc has begun. I hope you enjoyed this chapter. It's a pretty crucial point in the story. Things are just getting interesting. Anyway, as always, I'd love to hear feedback.

 

Until next time.

 

~Neko

 

Disclaimer: This story is a product of my imagination. Any and all similarities between real people/places and those in the fiction are purely coincidental.