A New Beginning

by Alexander W Meurant

  "That would be really good Rami. If he can accept a new wife that is older than normal, I would be ok with meeting him. I do need to get more wealth, seeing as Abiha's bride price wasn't cheap either. Thankfully I got offered a big job today. I'll leave the village in a few weeks for it and it will keep me away for a while, but when I get back i'll be rolling in cash. So, if you would like to get your friend to come here, we can talk when I get back." Mehrbad stated and nodded his head a few more times before taking a long draught from his cup of liquor.

  Feeling her anger suddenly disappear, Mehrasa instead felt a slight nausea. She hadn't thought of the bride price. What had her brother given as a bride price for one of the most sought-after girls in the village? Surely, he hadn't given Shah that? And what about that job he just mentioned? Had the pirate lord Rehan gotten back to him so soon?

  Feeling that nausea rise Mehrasa suddenly stood up and walked out of the room, intent on getting out of the house. No one seemed to notice her go and she gulped at that. She felt like a complete outsider in her town of birth. Women were treated like second class citizens here. If a woman walked outside without their headscarf, they were spat on, insulted and derided by men. Even by men that were normally respectful and polite when the woman’s hair was covered. And if they were unmarried by the age of nineteen, they were basically seen as undesirable and were free game for men to approach.

  The whole thing sickened her. Suddenly remembering the reason for her queasiness, she turned and started to run through the streets as best she could, her long skirt stopping her from taking full strides. Eventually reaching her own house she pulled a small key from her belt and opened the front door, the wooden door creaking somewhat on old rusty hinges. She reached for a small table by the door and put hands on a small oil lantern and matches. Striking a match, she watched the flame bring forth a small light and she held it to the lanterns wick.

  As it caught, she shook out the match and then picked up the lantern before making her way further into the house. The small foyer was sparsely furnished, a single threadbare carpet the only thing of note on the dirt packed floor. Pushing into her room she squatted beside her small bed and shoved her free hand under it, looking for the box she knew to be there.

  Finding it she pulled it out and stared at it, feeling no difference in its weight. She stared at it, hoping its contents were there. Heart hammering, Mehrasa flicked the latch up and then opened the small box. Seeing the contents, Mehrasa let out a small sob.

  The box was filled with rocks. Not only had her brother taken the contents, he had tried to trick her and put rocks in its place. It had been her inheritance from her mother. Her own possession. It had been a ceremonial knife, its hilt inlaid with rubies and garnets. A knife passed down through the last seven generations, to when her mother’s ancestor had served in the King’s guard.

  She sobbed again, tears starting to roll down her cheeks, knowing she would probably never see it again. It was all she had to remind her of her mother. And her brother had stolen it, used it to buy himself a pretty wife. And now Mehrasa hated him for it.

  Chapter 10

  * * *

  Sain lined up a ball with one of the pockets and pushed his cue to hit the white ball, watching the white hit the other ball he aimed for, he smiled then groaned as he completely missed the shot and sunk one of his opponents' balls instead.

  As laughter erupted around him, he picked up his beer and downed what was left of it, the rules of this pool game stating that if he sunk the wrong ball, he had to do just that. After he drained the glass, he let out a small burp and grinned at his opponent, a man from a different unit who completely missed his shot, the pool cue sliding off his hand and causing the white to sink the black in a side pocket.

  A chorus of jeering and laughter picked up as the man face palmed himself and grinned idiotically before stumbling over to the bar to drown his embarrassment.

  Walking around the table, Sain scooped up the money they had bet on the game then made his way over to the outside table where Travos was sitting.

  "I have never seen such a terrible game" Travos said grinning, not even waiting for Sain to sit down.

  "It was like watching two bulls try to figure out why they can't rut each other" Travos stated as he shook his head, that grin still plastered across his face.

  "Yeah right, don't see how those even compare to each other" Sain replied sheepishly.

  "Well, it was the first time I've played that game, so I think I did alright" Sain added as he sat down on the bench and splayed his hands out on the wooden planks of the table situated between him and Travos.

  "You believe that if you want. You're just lucky your opponent was so wasted he couldn't tell his prick from the cue. Speaking of wasted, where's your drink?" the major asked as he lifted a glass filled with a dark brown liquid and ice and drained it before slamming it down on the table.

  "I'll get another one soon. Anyways, I am surprised everyone here is so easy going, I would have thought there would be more discipline on a military base" Sain queried looking around the crowded train carriage bar.

  There were seven carriages in total, all set up in a semi-circle and inside the semi-circle were a number of benches and tables as well as pool tables covered by awnings. While inside the carriages were three bars in total and a number of seats and benches. One of the carriages had even been converted into a kitchen and was serving food to the raucous soldiers, airmen and airwomen.

  "You'd think so wouldn't you, but you have to realize that all this didn’t exist fifteen years ago. Its only in the last two decades that the Samite Union was created, and before that, it was a motely group of dictators and warlords constantly fighting each other. There weren't any professional soldiers. They were closer to gangs and thugs. Ever since the ten members of the Elder council created the Union, they have been conquering any warlord that doesn’t join them" stated Travos, only stopping his speech to take a swig from a bottle of rum that he had sitting beside his empty glass, like he had just given up refilling the glass altogether.

  "Even now, the Union is technically a unified nation, but there are still dozens of warlords that refuse to accept the council's edicts, and those warlords are gradually being wiped out because they don't share the military might of the council. Because, after all, the council is made up of the ten strongest dictators in the Union, and each rule’s over a chunk of the Union. Sure, they still have private militia, but together they created the modern military. They needed a centralized force capable of defending the entire Union from outside attack. And to that end, you have us, but we are still a young force, many of the soldiers were once militia soldiers, used to very little discipline, rules and regulations. You can't change them over night and all that" Travos rambled on, many of his words halting and slurred. He had had a hell of a lot to drink Sain guessed. Looking on the ground the youth saw two other empty bottles of alcohol. The major was a big man, but that was still a lot of drink.

  "I see, well that makes sense I suppose, a lot has changed in the last few years" Sain said, retreating into himself a bit as he remembered his imprisonment. Shaking his head, he stood up and stepped over the bench.

  "Well I'm going to get another drink, be back soon" he said leaving the major behind as he went into a carriage and made his way to the bar. Approaching it he stood at the bar and rested his elbows on it, not really knowing what he should be doing. This was his first time actually drinking alcohol, and definitely his first time at a bar. All the other's in his platoon had been handing him random things to drink all night so he had never really had to even come up to the bar to buy anything.

  He had to wait only a few minutes before the bartender finished with some other customers and turned to Sain.

  "What'll you be having?" the man asked, his thick accent causing Sain to have difficulty understanding. Before he could answer a voice spoke up behind him.

  "He'll be having a house vodka on the rocks. Same for me" the familiar vo
ice stated. Turning, Sain saw Kasui and almost laughed. The last time he had seen her, he had still been weak and mostly bedridden. He had never realized how short she was. The top of her head came up to his nose.

  As the dark-skinned woman placed some money on the bar, she rested an elbow on the counter and flicked her gaze up and down Sain's body.

  "Well, you are certainly filling out, considering what you were like when I handed you over to Sembak" she said, a lopsided grin splayed across her face. She was obviously drunk like the rest of the bar’s patrons.

  "Here you are" the bartender said, placing the drinks on the bar and scooping up the money and going to the till.

  "Keep the change" Kasui said, and picking up her own drink she tilted her head, beckoning outside, indicating for Sain to follow. Picking up his free drink he meandered after her trying not to lose sight of the woman. Leaving the carriage, Sain watched Kasui meander over to the table that Travos was seated at, which had suddenly become occupied by another officer who was passed out on the table next to him. The major didn't seem to care in the slightest as he tipped his bottle of rum up and drained it whilst another full bottle was clasped in his other hand. Sain didn’t know where these bottles were materializing from.

  As Kasui sat, Sain sat down beside her and Travos slammed his bottle down with a grin, causing the myriad of glasses and bottles to shudder upon the wooden structure.

  "Ah, Kasui, long time no see, when did you get back?" Travos asked, a glint in his eyes.

  "Just this morning, had to take care of some business in Daigon for Sembak" she answered slyly, no doubt a hint or something that Sain didn't know.

  "But anyway, I didn’t know you'd been lumped with this one" she said lifting a hand and punching Sain in the shoulder causing him to grimace.

  Travos looked from Sain to Kasui and back again before tipping his head back and laughing.

  "You know him do you? I bet there is a story behind that. But yes, he joined the platoon just this week and has survived the crash course initiation, with flying colors might I add" he said grinning lewdly before cracking the seal on his new bottle of rum.

  Sain looked down at his drink and lifted it to his lips in embarrassment, he had never been good at accepting praise. Taking a sip, he couldn't stop a cough as the strong liquor ran down his throat and seemed to burn it. The taste wasn’t bad, much better than the beer he had been forced to drink earlier though.

  "Oh, there is indeed, as you are his CO, you should know somewhat about his background right. Well, I was the one who pulled him out" she slurred quietly as she leant forward and idly tapped a slender finger on the table.

  Travos leant back and let out a low whistle and took another swig from his bottle as he looked over at Sain.

  "I see, I didn’t know that much, not that it matters" he said chuckling.

  "I imagine he looks quite different compared to what he was back then. It's been what, nearly a year?" Travos asked of Kasui, a thoughtful expression on the large man's face.

  "You know, I am here" Sain mumbled hating the fact that these two where just casually chatting about his past.

  Kasui scoffed and nudged him in the ribs. She was a hell of a lot more laid back then what he remembered. Maybe it was the alcohol she had consumed.

  "Completely different, I was able to carry him like a rag doll there was no meat on him. There was next to nothing left of him. Recovered pretty quick though" she said grinning as she elbowed Sain in the ribs again.

  Sain just rolled his eyes and drank even more. He pretty much just blocked out their words as the two officers jabbed fun at him or made comparisons.

  As the night dragged on, it got cooler and cooler and Sain drank more as Kasui told him the alcohol would warm him up, but eventually he just couldn’t stop shivering. Eventually he had had enough and stood up to head back to barracks. It was late and the train bar was near empty. He didn’t even want to guess the time.

  As he steadied himself on his feet he suddenly lurched as the alcohol rushed to his head and he fell down, his head swimming. Groaning he looked at Travos and swore he could see two of the man. Blinking he let out an almost childish giggle causing Travos and Kasui to look at him and laugh. Travos himself tried to stand and failed, so he just yawned and said something Sain didn’t quite catch. Instead the massive man just faceplanted the table and began snoring straight away. It looked like he was just going to sleep the night there with the other officer who hadn't woken up ever since he had passed out on the table.

  Kasui swung around on the bench and gripped Sain’s forearm to steady herself, her dark brown hand a stark difference to his white flesh.

  "C'mon kiddo, let’s get you back. Us little people will freeze if we sleep out here" she stammered, quite drunk herself.

  Mumbling, Sain pivoted on the bench copying what Kasui had done, not wanting to trip.

  Standing up slowly, they both hung onto each other for support, both laughing as they began stumbling out of the train bar.

  Leaving the lighted bar behind they staggered down the side walk of one of the roads of the base.

  "Shouldn't we, you know, find the bus thingy" Sain stammered out in an awkward rush of words, Gestonian and Samite tongues mixed together.

  "Nuh, I got a place not far from here" Kasui chortled as she slipped an arm around Sain’s waist even as he put an arm around her shoulders.

  After around twenty minutes of stumbling, tripping and needless laughter, they came to an apartment block. Sain looked up at it and almost toppled from tilting his head back. The apartments where only three floors high and he guessed it was one of the many private blocks dotting the base. Not everyone stayed in barracks accommodation as many airmen and airwomen had families.

  Reaching the door, Sain placed a hand against the main entries glass door and pushed it open, doing his best not to trip on the door frame. As they entered the lobby, Kasui dragged him towards one of the first-floor apartments even as she fished some keys out of a pocket with her left hand. Pushing a key against the lock she fumbled it and dropped the keys.

  "Oh fuck" she mumbled trying to bend down to pick them up.

  Sain grinned and stooped down, his arm still awkwardly around Kasui's shoulder. Picking up the keys he guided a random one to the lock. Forcing it in he turned the lock and heard it click and the with another push the door swung open, the keys still in it.

  Kasui just laughed, and plucking the keys from the door she stumbled into the apartment, her arm still wrapped around Sain's waist, and her left-hand scraping along the left wall until she hit a light switch. Flipping it, she turned on the lights, causing Sain to blink as the light hurt his eyes. He took a quick look around the small place, familiarizing himself with it. There was a single large room with a couch pushed up against a kitchen counter with a small tv opposite. Past the counter was a small kitchen and bathroom and situated against the back wall was a queen-sized bed flanked by a dresser and cupboard.

  Moaning at the bright light, Sain let go of Kasui's shoulders and stumbled to the couch, crashing down face first onto it. He let out a groan as he rolled over and his vision swam. Kasui stumbled over as well, a playful grin on her face as she stared Sain in the face and placed her hands on Sain's knees. As Sain looked at her quizzically, she smiled broadly and leant in, planting a firm kiss on his mouth. After lingering a few moments, she leant back biting him softly on his bottom lip as she pulled away.

  Sain’s eyes widened in surprise at the taste of her mouth and the strength of alcohol on her breath. He got even more surprised as the woman grabbed him by the wrists and pulled him up off the couch, an impressive feat due to the level of their inebriation.

  Hauling him away from the couch, she pushed him towards the bed. Feeling the back of his knees hit the bed, Sain fell over backwards onto his back. Seeing a chance, Kasui leant in swaying on her feet and she went straight for Sain’s belt, scrabbling at it almost fanatically.

  She fumbled a bit but managed to undo the buc
kle and she pulled the belt out of its loops, carelessly throwing it behind her. As Sain stared dumbly at her, his mind ticking over, he only registered what she was doing when she grabbed the bottom of his trousers and tried to tug them off.

  "Uh, what are you doing" Sain slurred out as he kicked idly to push her away.

  "What do you think" she almost hissed as she gave up and lifted her hands up to pull off her loose shirt and tank top.

  Sain just stared dumbly as the woman bared her breasts, her dark skin and nipples entrancing him. He blushed in embarrassment as his eyes traced her torso taking in her toned figure and firm high breasts. With all his years in imprisonment he had never been with a woman, this was going to be his first time and he was quite drunk. He didn't even know how this was supposed to work.