by Raylan Kane
“Do you even know how to use rock climbing equipment?”
“No.”
“Curses and rhyme – what have I done to deserve this?”
“Proficiency with climbing gear does not matter anyway,” I said.
“Why not?”
“Because we will not be given any.”
Trident falls to his knees; tears roll over his cheeks.
“Trident, get up. Trident, stop – we have to keep moving.”
“No – we don’t.”
“It is not as bad as you think. I am going to help you on the climb.”
“That’s excellent, and who is going to help you?”
“Trident, get up. No, I am serious – get up, now.”
Beneath a clutch of trees in the pasture ahead a struggle of some kind ensues; a high pitched squeal carries on the breeze. My body surges with adrenaline and I sprint toward the ruckus. I run so hard the whole world shakes. I stop to get a better view. Trident – gasping for air – comes up behind me.
“What is it?” Trident said.
“Oh my god.”
Three men in black athletic wear are pulling at a blonde miss who puts up a mighty struggle.
“Is that?”
“Milne-“
An energy flows through me. Anger boils my blood. The ground churns under the balls of my feet. I reach the group, I plant both feet and launch myself into one of the misters in black. We crash down and I spring up thumping my knee in his temple. The man drops in a heap, unconscious. The other two men let go of Milne and come at me.
One of the men swings at me with a wild haymaker, I take the man’s arm, plant his elbow on my shoulder and pull down on his wrist with both hands snapping his arm in two. The other mister hits me with a hook to the kidney. Milne gets up and jumps on the man’s back and wraps her arm around his neck. The man manages to get a fist full of her hair and he pulls so hard she loosens her hold; he strikes her with a back hand and charges toward me.
We exchange punches to the face. I taste blood. The man blocks my kick. Trident gets close and looks as though he may try to grab the man.
“Trident, stay back! Get Milne out of here!”
“I don’t want to leave you here.”
“Go!”
Trident helps Milne to her feet; the two of them hobble back to the road.
The man grins at me. “You know how this ends, right? You just assaulted three members of the High Command. You’ll be tried for treason.”
“And what about you? Rape is a capital offense.”
“I don’t know what you saw, but we didn’t rape anyone.”
“Is that why her face is so banged up and her clothes are torn?”
“We had a disagreement. We were working it out on our own – until you showed up. Besides, we’ll just tell leadership you were attempting to rape her and you did this to us when we tried to intervene. Who are they gonna believe? A lowly nothing like you?”
“How about them?” I pointed at Milne and Trident who stood in the distance by the road.
“Oh I wouldn’t worry about them. Once I’m done with you I’ll take good care of them.”
He steps forward and throws a jab. I smack his arm to the side and backhand him. He staggers back. I spin toward him, and with my arm fully extended, connect with the base of my fist on his cheekbone. He throws a kick, misses, and I step in front of him delivering a strong uppercut to his jaw; as he falls back I step around and catch him with his back over my knee. I raise my leg up and slam my foot down and his back cracks. I do it again and the man screams. I drop him to the ground and he writhes in agony. I put my foot on his throat and lean over him. The man looks up at me, his eyes wide.
“You ever go near her again, I will kill you.” I spit on him and walk to the road.
CHAPTER FORTY-TWO
The ground stew needs finesse. Chunky bits of clone stick in my teeth. A grotesque crunch sounds three seats down the table. Recruit Saero spits scraps of his teeth to his plate; blood runs down his chin.
“So much gristle in this ground,” Trident said. “Surprised my teeth remain intact.”
“Chew with caution,” I said.
“Indeed.”
The mess hosts but a few recruits at this hour; most have eaten and settled in for the night.
“Have you spoken to Milne since we arrived back?” Trident said.
“No.”
“You may want to check with her. Make sure she’s alright.”
“I will.”
“An upsetting day.”
“Yes.”
“Do you think those men will be tried and jailed?”
“I doubt it,” I said.
“High Command or not – what they did or what they attempted to do is horrid.”
“Agreed, but if anything the High Command will come after me for assault.”
“You did the right thing.”
“Perhaps.”
“Perhaps nothing. I know she appreciates you.”
“Not as much as she appreciates Rygart.”
“Who? Oh, her boyfriend. I do not like him.”
“He threatened me the day we arrived here. He said he will strike at me when my guard is down.”
“Report that to leadership.”
“You take me for a coward?”
“Never, but you cannot fight your way out of everything. Rygart seems to have many friends here; you cannot fight everyone.
“Just watch me.”
CHAPTER FORTY-THREE
Night air cools my skin. I cross the garden patio toward the barracks; few lights shine here, I must watch my step. Before I reach the entrance to the stone building I look left; a figure sits on a bench facing the fields. I step closer; Milne’s face comes into the light as she turns to look.
“Why are you up at this late hour?” She said.
I round the bench and sit on the opposite end. “Might I ask the same of you?”
“You might. I cannot sleep.”
“I do not blame you.”
We sit in silence for a while listening to the crickets. I cannot help but turn to look at her; the sight of her sends chills throughout my body. To my surprise she already looks at me.
“Why did you help me?”
“What do you mean?”
“Why?”
“You would rather I did not? Those men-“
“After all of the terrible things I said to you – I called you a thief.”
“Common thief actually,” I said with a smile.
“And yet you did not hesitate.”
“They were hurting you – they tried to-“
“They could have killed you.”
“No,” I said, “they couldn’t have.”
“Thank you for helping me. You’re quite confident in your abilities aren’t you?"
“Yes.”
“Don’t you think that’s going to get you into trouble day?”
“Hasn’t so far. Sorry about your boyfriend, by the way.”
“Yes well – I wouldn’t worry about it – he’s fine now. And besides,” she turns to look at me as she rises from the bench to leave; “he’s not my boyfriend.”
CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR
The rain soaked the hill last night. Trident has come close to falling on his face a few times during our hill sprints. My head still spins from last night’s conversation with Milne. A tension exists between us. She sits reading a book nearby.
“You sure wearing me out on this hill is wise when The Grim starts tomorrow?”
“We’re taking it light today.”
“You call this light?”
“We could jog to the cliffs again.”
“Good point.”
“Let’s do another set.”
“You haven’t said a word to her this morning. She’s sitting right there.”
“Keep your voice down. I am aware of where she sits.”
“Just keep your mind on training.”
“Only if you go over and talk to her.”
“Fine.”
“I mean it.”
“Okay.”
“Yes, do come and talk to me.” Milne stands up and walks over with a smile; my heart melts.
“I was just about to.”
“Were you?”
“What are you looking at fool?” I said looking at Trident standing there with his dumb smile. “Keep running.”
“Aye, Commander.”
“Yes, miss, I noticed you there. I wanted to say hello.”
“So say hello,” she said, smiling.
“Hello.”
She laughs. A warm wave of euphoria spreads throughout my body. My heart beats in my throat.
“Don’t call me miss, I am not my mother. Call me Milne.”
“Yes miss.”
She laughs again. “What are you doing after?”
“After this? I don’t know. What about you?”
“Nothing, I guess.”
I glance over at Trident who has stopped running. He makes a subtle motion with his hands at me – urging me to ask Milne to do something.
“Perhaps we could take a walk?”
“I would like that. Not to the cliffs though.”
“No – definitely not.”
“Well, don’t let me stop you boys from training. Bramen, come and find me when you’re done. I will be at the Mess.”
“I will.”
We watch Milne from behind as she walks across the grass.
Trident hits me in the shoulder. “You are the luckiest man I have ever met.”
CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE
Milne and I walk south as the road descends toward Furion City. The grand ocean spreads before us in the distance. A salty breeze keeps us cool under the hot sun. The tops of stucco buildings in Furion City poke through tropical foliage a few miles below us. Green pastures line both sides of the road.
“What a view,” I said.
“Yes, it is beautiful. I can see why so many tourists come here.”
“Yes.”
“Thank you for asking me to walk with you.”
“Thank you for accepting.”
“Of course I would.”
“What would Rygart think?”
“Who knows?” Milne said. “Who cares?”
“I thought you two were together, for sure.”
“He likes to think so. He wants us to be together.”
“And you?”
“He is friendly enough – but we are not suited for one another.”
“He sees it a different way.”
“Rygart is protective over me – but not in a loving way. He looks at the world as something he must control.”
“A trait many recruits seem to have.”
“Hey.”
“Present company excluded of course.”
“Of course,” Milne said with a laugh.
“When that thing happened between me, Rygart and his friends – I was worried that I would never get to see you again.”
“Why would you think that?”
“I lost my temper. You witnessed me hurt them.”
“Honestly, I took it as you defending yourself. Surely you understand those boys were not there to make peace. Rygart had plans to hurt you just as bad.”
“I figured.”
“And yet you did not hesitate – not for one second.”
“No.”
We look into each other’s eyes for a moment.
“You are a rare creature, Bramen Hold.”
“I often think the same of you.”
“You do?”
“Yes; rare and beautiful.”
“You flatter me.”
“Surely you know how men look at you.”
“All too well.”
“But for me – when I look at you.”
“Yes?”
The pastures end as we enter the city. A sign on the right says: Shoreline Trail – an arrow at the bottom of the sign points right. A red dirt path appears ahead of the sign, disappearing between rows of stucco houses.
“Do you want to walk by the ocean? I’ve never touched salt water in all my life.”
“Yes. That sounds fun.”
“What was I saying?”
“When you look at me.”
“Yes – I don’t know – this will sound insincere or strange – but I feel this energy between us.”
“Energy?”
Oh no – I’m creeping her out.
“Just a feeling – it’s hard to describe.”
“So, you feel an energy, a feeling; something between us – like what? Teleportation?”
I am ruining everything – the walk was going so well.
“Bramen?”
“Yes.”
“I am fooling with you. I feel it too.”
CHAPTER FORTY-SIX
We walk along the red dirt. The path guides us through shadows cast from stucco buildings to our right and left. Leafy tree limbs bend and climb and swirl just overhead, sticking in through every crevasse available to them between buildings. There are places where we must push the tree branches away to continue along the path, but eventually we reach the edge of a hill where the buildings stop and a steep hill descends to a rocky shoreline.
“Wow,” I said. “This is amazing.”
“What a view,” Milne said.
“Shall we walk down to the water?”
“Yes.”
The path winds along the hillside meandering on its way down to the water. Bits of jagged rock poke through the ground at various points. The smell of salt in the air is thick. The power of the surf smashing against rocks creates a thunderous sound. Soon I feel the vibrations of each wave’s crash rattle under my feet. Walking so close to this massive body of water fills me with excitement and dread all at the same time.
“This is your first time being this close to the ocean?” Milne said.
“Yes.”
“How do you feel?”
“Awed and frightened all at once.”
“I think we all feel that way sometimes – to be dwarfed by this mass – you feel so small next to it.”
“Yes, that’s it – I thought mountains were large; this is something else entirely.”
Milne hooks her arm into mine and playfully pulls me further down the path. The ground flattens out and reeds shoot up amongst the rocks as we walk. Red dirt gives way to blond sand; Milne holds onto me for balance as she flips off her sandals.
“Come on!” Milne dashes away and runs toward the beach. I toss my sandals aside and run to catch her. The path ends where the beach begins. As I run my feet burn in the hot sand. Milne veers right and runs toward the flatter sand where water draws over it in clear sheets giving it the appearance of glass reflecting the sun as the water retreats. I run behind her; she laughs as I get closer.
My feet sink into the wet sand as I run.
“No fair, you’re too fast,” she says.
As I get nearer to her a small wave comes in and Milne is knee deep in water. I stop running and stare at my feet as the water swells around my ankles – a sensation I haven’t felt in the 611 years I have lived. The water sucks away with palpable force drawing mud over the tops of my feet. I stand ankle deep in mud. Milne walks over with a big smile.
“Well, what do you think?”
“I think this is amazing. I think you’re amazing.”
“Likewise.”
CHAPTER FORTY-SEVEN
Milne takes my hand; we walk along the edge of the water to a large boulder embedded in the beach.
“Help me up,” she said.
I hoist Milne up to the top of the rock and find a foothold and climb up myself. The top of the large rock is flat enough to sit on comfortably. Milne pushes her body
into mine as we sit watching the white surf roll in and the smaller waves curl and swirl around us.
“Truly mesmerizing,” I said.
“I know. It reminds me of my Auntie and Uncle’s beach house in Region Arrelle. We used to go there, my brother and me, when we were kids.”
“You’re still a kid now.”
“Shut it – I’m 589. And you?”
“611. Region Arrelle – that’s south of here isn’t it?”
“Yes.”
“I’ve heard it’s beautiful there.”
“It is – everywhere you go, white sand beaches, lovely people. Seems the further north you go the more violent and unpleasant everything is.”
“Oh so you’ve been to Region Jye?” I said. Milne smiles at my comment.
“It’s not all bad I guess.”
“I have nothing nice to say about the place.”
“No, I suppose you wouldn’t.”
“Are you from Arrelle?”
“No – I wish. I come from Region Ryoh.”
“Ryoh – I’ve never met anyone from that far north.”
“Now you have.”
“You poor thing; I hear Ryoh can be a nasty place – no offense.”
“None taken; yes, Ryoh has a bad reputation – a lot of it earned – but there are good people too. My parents were good people.”
“Were?”
"They died."
“I’m sorry to hear that."
"It was a long time ago."
"And here you are - a recruit for Jye Low Command.”
“Yes. And what about you?”
“Me? I’m no recruit.”
“I know, you seem to have such hatred for us.”
“No – it isn’t that – it’s just guys like Rygart – that whole military mentality. It seems silly to me – so self-serious.”
“Oh come on – I’ve seen you with your broody looks a few times.”
“Broody looks?”
“Yes, the whole wounded puppy thing. I’m sure the girls back home just eat that up.”
“They might,” I say with a smile.
“Uh huh.”
“What can I say? I cannot help that I’m ludicrously handsome.”
