The First Five Days: of the Lionean Saga

by John O.

  “Greetings boys,” Jessamine said as she approached.

  “Hey Jessamine. You must have slept for almost ten hours,” Set replied.

  “I seriously doubt that,” she replied with a coquettish laugh. “Why don’t you come with me, Set. Let’s celebrate the fact that we survived through the night. In addition, there’s that talk you promised me.”

  Set smiled as he took in the curves of her body and the sway with which she moved. “I’m in. And I must say that your outfit is quite… provocative, if I may use that word.”

  “Oh really? Tight-fitting garments suit my job as a Sentor. Besides, I like to flaunt the gifts the Almighty Spirit has chosen to endow me with. Do you not like what you see?”

  “Of course I do. It’s just that with the way you look, you will only raise the hopes of men who stand no chance with you. Those who are not wise enough to control their urges will likely attempt to honor the invite your appearance exudes. They will suffer either in your hands as a Sentor, or in the hands of the law, should you be unable to stop them. For those who can control themselves, they will still suffer the punishment of denying the body of its cravings. Either way, a man suffers at the end.”

  “Should a woman live her life in a manner that suits men? That’s absurd if you ask me. I like these outfits and that’s all there is to it.”

  “If you insist. Now where can we sit in private to enjoy the moment like you suggested?”

  “If your colleague will excuse us, we can stay right here.”

  Set was a bit disappointed that she had not suggested the privacy of his cabin. Nonetheless, he was happy to spend time with her. He smiled at Jin, hoping that was enough to subtly pass the message across. Jin was no stranger to such situations, so he excused himself and departed for the deckhouse.

  “So what may we use to celebrate? Perhaps a drink?”

  “That’s if we can get one at this time.”

  I happen to have a bottle of cheap wine in my room. I didn’t think it appropriate and I hoped you would have something better,” she lied.

  “Nonsense! Wine is wine for the likes of me.”

  “Excellent. Excuse me for a minute then,” she said as she dashed off to her room. Things had gone as she had hoped, for it was unlikely that the man would have any wine left after such a long journey. Even she had exhausted her stock, but had managed to save one for this very day. On getting to her cabin, she quickly retrieved the bottle and poured the contents of the vial into it. As little as it was, it would prove to be enough to induce the necessary level of intoxication required to loosen his tongue. She departed the cabin and approached him with a smile. “Here we are,” she said.

  “I took the liberty to borrow some cups from the refectory.”

  “Wow smart thinking Hito. I was resigned to drinking directly from the bottle.”

  She opened the bottle and poured into the cups. She then put the bottle down and handed him a cup. They made a toast to life and drank.

  31

  Yosi Sint shrugged off another wave of dizziness as he proceeded to retrieve two knives and place them on top of the table.

  “Have you seen these knives before?” he asked.

  “Please, may I pick up the knives so that I can examine them properly?”

  “Of course,” he replied.

  The Ispris picked one up and examined the handle. “I’ve seen similar knives before.”

  “Where and under what circumstances?”

  “This knife looks like it was among the hundred knives which were equally divided among the Aishes many years ago. My uncle, Aishe Even Rosento, used to teach his daughter, Raci, and I how to fight with them. He also gave me one as a gift but I misplaced it some years ago.”

  She picked up the other and examined it for a few counts before saying, “This one is a more recent make. I have one like it back at my residence.”

  Yosi Sint waited to see if she would say more on the matter. When it was clear that she was done, he went on to ask, “Would you consider yourself a good fighter?”

  “Yes,” she replied.

  “Which weapons are you most adept with?”

  “Swords, knives, and spears, I believe.”

  “Can you show us how you would use this knife if you were to launch an attack on a person?”

  “Lord HN, I have never had cause to feign or execute an attack before. Instead, I’m trained in defensive arts and incapacitation.”

  Yosi regarded her for a few counts before asking. Did your uncle, Aishe Even, illustrate to you how you should stab a person, if the need arose?”

  “Yes,” she said and stood after a brief pause.

  Using her right palm, she formed a fist around one of the knives such that her little finger was closer to the blade than the others. With a quick elliptical movement, she drew the base of the handle towards her chest and thrust forward. She then placed the knives back on the table. Upon watching her, Zach Sen concluded that it must have been the exact manner in which the victims were stabbed.

  After she had taken her seat, Yosi asked, “Imagine you’re a fourteen year old girl discussing with your father, mother, and brother in the living room, and you suddenly see the front door give way to reveal a masked swordsman who immediately runs and slays your family. He then makes his way towards you and forces himself on you repeatedly. Should he, by some stroke of luck, roll over and reveal his back to you, what would you do?”

  “I would probably pray for the strength to deal with the situation. If he fails to notice me, I’d steal away and report to the first officer I run into.”

  “Say he is apprehended and the judge gives you leave to pronounce whatever sentence you wish, what would it be?”

  Prisca thought for a moment and replied, “Men like that should be locked up and cared for, lest other girls fall victim to them. I would recommended that he be locked away in a place where he can receive medical care on account of mental illness.”

  “Does that mean that you are opposed to the current law which condemns such people to death?”

  “Yes.”

  “Why would you show mercy to such a man when most brave people would have killed him at the first chance they got?”

  “Brave? To give in to one’s anger is not brave. Instead, it is cowardice. To exercise reason in the face of provocation is my definition of bravery. Every human is a victim of their own spiritual, mental, emotional, and physical imperfections, in addition to the effects of social interactions with others and the environment. I personally believe love is the panacea to all forms of hatred and depravity. No matter how degenerate the perpetrators are, it is our responsibility to love them and care for them in order for them to change their ways.”

  Yosi Sint was about to ask another question when a stronger wave of dizziness came over him, causing him to hold his head in alarm. Zach Sen noticed and quickly ventured, “The HN will continue with you later. For now, I will take over from here.”

  The HN’s distress was not lost on Prisca who did all she could in order not to reach out and hold him. What’s wrong with him? She wondered as he gathered himself and made his way out of the room. Unable to contain herself anymore, she asked.

  “Is everything alright with the HN?”

  The genuinely worried look on her face as she asked the question disarmed Zach for a brief moment. Regaining himself, he replied, “He’s a little under the weather. There’s nothing to worry about.”

  Unfortunately, his reply didn’t come out as he had hoped, for a certain note therein betrayed his doubts. Hopefully, Prisca hadn’t noticed.

  “So tell me, Set or should I call you Hito Hent, what have you been up to in the last eight years? Please begin from when you left the Island.”

  “You’ve barely drunk from your cup, yet I am already having my second cup’s fill. Drink up!”

  Jessamine laughed and quaffed her cup’s content in less than three counts. “Don’t challenge me in the area of drinks, Set. For I am like any man in t
his regard,” she lied in attempt to make him more comfortable.

  Set laughed in good measure and replied, “You will be drunk in no time if you go at that rate. But fear not, Jessamine, for I will not take advantage of you. We will only talk, even though I feel like taking you right here right now.”

  He took another swig and made deliberate efforts to steady himself. Jessamine could see that he was already drunk and this was just as she had hoped. She felt herself become slightly giddy but she had artfully ensured that she did not drink more than a cup. With a hand on his thigh, she made her move. “When I heard that you made a move on Spyinme Riya Senet, I was hurt; for I hoped to wed you at the time. Were the allegations true?”

  “Oh Riya. How I loved her so. I was certain she loved me in return otherwise I wouldn’t have fallen victim to her venomous sting. It was she who suggested the place and time where we could consummate unnoticed. To my surprise the little serpent began to scream while in the act and claimed that I raped her. Imagine my shock.” He paused as he filled his cup before continuing. “In any case, I ended being unjustly condemned to death. To date I still ponder on why she did what she did. Could she have been paid by some treacherous Leades that detested my position as the HN’s assistant?”

  “How sad,” Jessamine replied. “How did you escape?”

  “Someone unlocked my cell in the dark of the night. He led me out of the prison and gave me a horse and pouch of gold coins. He bade me to head for the eastern shipping port where I joined a ship that departed for Gale.”

  “Can you describe this man?”

  “Unfortunately, I could not make out his features in the darkness. In addition he was masked.”

  “I see. So what have you been up to ever since the escape?”

  “I spent the first three months in brothels where I nearly squandered all the money I had. Those days were divine I tell you; a different whore every night.”

  He began to draw closer to her as he made an attempt to plant a kiss.

  “Stop it Hito. People are watching us,” she said, pushing him away.

  “That can easily be solved. Come with me to my cabin.”

  “I prefer to drink on deck where the breeze will ensure no nausea sets in.”

  “Suit yourself,” he replied and took another swig. “On a fateful day, I was headed for a brothel when I saw Jin being trampled upon by some men. I rescued him and decided to train similar weaklings in the art of self-defense such that they could train others in return. Sin became my benefactor. With his coin, we expanded the cause across different lands. I would have continued, had I not met a merchant who informed me that Ishe Riva had nullified my judgment and pronounced me free…”

  “My desire to return home had never left me and, as such, I quickly gathered my men to join me on my return. I must admit, Sin’s funds had begun to deplete such that it was becoming increasingly difficult to sustain our operations. Since I knew they would have a much better chance at living respectable lives on the Island, I insisted that they return with me. While I may never be allowed to become a Leade once more, I would still be able to return to my home in the Riva province and train the rejects from the training grounds of the Studes. And should the information from the merchant be false, I would, at the very least, die knowing that my men are in a better place.”

  A feeling of compassion grew within Jessamine as she listened to the man tell his tale. It was a pity a man with such a heart had fallen victim to schemes that were beyond him, she thought with regret.

  Yosi Sint sat across a healer in an adjacent room where he attempted to explain the symptoms. The healer had listened intently as Yosi recounted the episodes of dizziness, which seemed to increase in both frequency and intensity. It was unlike any other the healer had heard before and he hoped that Jorraine Sint would walk in at any moment to relieve him of the daunting task. For the moment, he decided to administer an antidote that worked for a wide range of venoms. Yosi drank, thanked the healer and decided to make his way back to the interrogation.

  Rahel Ni who sat at her post tried to figure out what was going on. Why did the HN have a healer on standby? Why had Zach Sen slept in his room? And how was the Ispris holding up to scrutiny? She whispered to Mila who sat next to her, “I wonder why the HN has a healer nearby.”

  “What do you think is going on in the HN’s room? Don’t you think the woman has been in there for too long?” Mila asked, completely ignoring Rahel’s statement.

  “Mila, did you even hear me? Why do you act as though you are jealous of her? There are more important things to be concerned about. If the healer’s presence is a result of an ailment which the HN is suffering, there will be no man for you if he dies as a result.”

  Mila considered Rahel’s words carefully. It was true that the healer had been present when she served him his breakfast. And now, he had just consulted with the healer who was next door in what was an unusual location for him. These were the initial signs that led up to HN Ruki’s passing. Could history be repeating itself so soon?

  Rosi Lite decided to approach the Helesp from the rear lest he arouse too much attention to his cart. Somewhere along the way, he had taken time out to strike Johatsu Foté once more in order to ensure he remained unconscious. On reaching the backyard of the Helesp, Spyinme Lily Bent who was watching the yard approached the Leade.

  “Leade Rosi Lite, Greetings.”

  “Spyinme Lily, you’ve come at the right time. Please lend me a hand,” Rosi replied as he alighted from the horse.

  “With pleasure. What have you got there?”

  “Quite frankly, a traitor and the corpse of a hired assassin. The traitor goes into one of the basement cells while the corpse, we soak in a bath of Brahn oil to preserve it. The rot seems to already be setting in.”

  Lily Bent froze upon seeing the unconscious face of her heartthrob. She immediately blurted out. “Johatsu!”

  Rosi regarded her with narrowed eyes and said, “Yes. Lector Johatsu.”

  “It cannot be. I saw him only yesterday. What has he done?”

  “He was at the Helesp yesterday?”

  “No, I delivered a letter to the Foté Province. The Aishe wasn’t around so he helped to receive it on his behalf. Unofficially.”

  Rosi lifted a questioning eyebrow which caused Lily to give more information. “Maya bid me to deliver a letter from the HN to the Aishe. She didn’t explicitly state it but I sensed it was confidential. I didn’t think it wrong to…”

  Rosi gestured for her to cease speaking, for he was trying to connect it all together. If the HN’s letter never reached the Aishe, then it was possible this was all Johatsu’s doing. He must have read it and contacted this assassin to pose as the emissary Yosi requested. What’s more, Johatsu would have access to the files which contained the Wesoan trade proposal and possibly even the leaves. But from what he had overheard, the poison must have come from the Assassin’s guild. That left two courses of action: depend on the healers to figure out the poison used and administer an effective antidote, or have Johatsu lead them to the lair of the guild to demand an antidote.

  “Lily. Although you didn’t realize it at the time, you made yourself an accomplice to a hideous attempt to assassinate the HN. As we speak, he still lies in peril for he has consumed a lethal poison on account of Johatsu’s scheming. Should the HN die as a result, you should know that your life shall also be forfeit. Please note that this matter is yet to be made public and, as such, I hope you will keep things confidential this time around.”

  Lily stared wide-eyed as she took it in. Whatever was in that letter, Johatsu must have found a way to use it against the HN. Oh, she should have known that he would patiently wait until an opportunity came to avenge his brother, Jetsi. Whatever was she to do now? She opened her mouth to utter an apology but she found that her voice had deserted her.

  Rosi watched her for a brief moment before beckoning her to join in moving the bodies as planned. Deep down, he knew that the option wit
h Johatsu was a dead end; for no established criminal guild would be foolish enough to have a permanent location for a lair. Besides, even if he were to cooperate, it was unlikely that the guild would honor Johatsu’s call, since apparently it was them who had set him up in the first place. No, they would have to rely on the healers.

  Zach Sen found himself assuming an antagonistic position towards the Ispris. She had blatantly accused Rahel of lying and this didn’t sit well with him. As a result, he had taken some time to shake off the brewing bias in order to remain effective. The other reason he stalled was to enable the HN to return to witness things for himself. When it seemed that the HN would be a while, he decided to proceed.

  “Where were you within two hours of the Sun’s Hour yesterday?”

  “I was in my residence praying with my six assistants. We pray during those hours every day.”

  “Let’s talk about the day before. Where were you between two to four hours after the Twilight Hour?”

  At that moment, Yosi Sint entered and walked down to take his seat once more. To enable him to catch up, Zach Sen repeated the question.

  Prisca examined the HN’s countenance before answering, “I departed the temple, immediately after having a long discussion with the Ispri, and came straight to the Helesp. My intention was to speak with the HN, for the Ispri had just informed me that I was the main suspect in the unsolved cases. I hoped to explain myself, and I knew most would consider my visit inappropriate at that late hour. As a result, I used my abilities to travel with speed and move about unseen. To my surprise, on getting to the Helesp hall, from where the sound of beating drums emanated, a boy seemed to be able to see me causing me to panic and flee to the roof where I hid. Shortly after, I began to look for the HN by peeping through the various windows I could find. Eventually, I found him discussing with you about me being the likely assassin. If I am correct, you two sensed my presence; for the HN launched a knife in my direction, a knife I barely missed. I realized that things had gone out of hand, and as opposed to explaining myself, I had only made things worse. I made my way back to the Temple. I recall arriving at about three hours past the Twilight Hour and proceeded to recount my experience to the Ispri. I was disconsolate, I must admit, but somehow I was able to bring myself to sleep after the Ispri soothed me with his words.”