The trees shimmy in the faint morning breeze. Their lush green leaves glow a healthy warm green and I began to follow after Asashin. For several miles, we walk and not once did he speak. I couldn’t help but gaze at the man from behind with a little suspicion. As we saunter through the lively forest the air was filled with an uncomfortable silence that stretches for miles. It isn’t long before we stumble upon the large town of Arachnida. Asashin was quick to pull me up, “I’ll be back.” I grudgingly watch as he disappears into a shuffling crowd. I glanced at the finely dress men and women surrounding me, in blue fleecy gowns and robes of all of which had different designs. Some wore clothing of different colours but etch on the back of those robes, are family shields.
I felt something bounce against my leg. I glanced down and saw a little girl with silver hair and piercing blue eyes but with no markings. As I am told those that doesn’t had facial markings are not of the upper class. She smiles up at me and bows with a hand over her heart. “Sorry, miss.”
I couldn’t help but smile in return, “It’s okay.” Her smile stretches across her face before she bounds after a young boy who appears to be her elder brother by three or four years. They both dart over the bridge that stretches over the couldal I stand beside. It was rowdy but the day was peaceful—that peace doesn’t last as my mind conjure up images of the men who abduct me and the horror of slaves. My mind whirls as I reflect on Varden and his condition. I wondered at the same time what’s going on. There are too many things occurring to be coincidental.
I hear a scream not too far from me. I quickly peer over my shoulder and saw a large ten-foot-tall man with dark black hair shove a man out of his way who tumbles into the couldal. With a splash of the man who fell into the couldal, I notice the taller man was overly muscular. As I gas at the man in the couldal I saw several other men move to help him out as the ten-foot-tall man saunters towards me. I glare. “How rude,” I mumble under my breath. The large one wears black leather pants and no shirt. The man beside him was dress in what appear to be an overcoat that drops to his cap of his knees. By the sight of them, they look like they weren’t from Nefelia.
It was strange, they are only a hundred meters in front of me and I could hear their conversation as I saw their lips move. “Are you sure she’s here?” the smaller man askeds.
“Positive. I’d never forget that scent.” The larger one grants.
They both glanced over at me at the same time. Through the parted crowd, our eyes meet and I realise what I had done. “There!” the smaller man growls as he points to me. I turn my heel and force my way through the mass. Sneering at them to move out of my way.
“Move!” It must had taken a good few seconds which felt like hours to had exit the swarming throng. When I am in the clear, I saw another bridge that arches freely over the couldal, I ran along it and make it to the other side without problem. There are more people and another large crowd on the opposite side of the bridge I alighted. I push through this thicker crowd, as my muscles burn. There was no denying I ran a good few fifteen hundred meters. Even as I turn over my shoulder, I check behind me and around me. Fearing they’d catch me. This world isn’t like Earth. This place isn’t where I excel and that was the problem I knew I’d had to one day conquer. I dart to my right and flatten my back against the stone wall. Several moments later, the men appear and they glanced around. “Is this where she went?” the smaller one askeds.
I hear the larger man sniff the air. “Yeah. She went this way alright.” My blood races through my veins as my heart rate quickens. They’re closing in. There was nothing more I could really do, that much I knew. So I turn and ran only to hear their voice calling from behind. “There!” I peer over my shoulder in shock before; halting than ranning from them once again. I didn’t understand why I am surprised as I knew they are bound to saw me.
The alleyway was wide and clean and I am too scared to bother with the details. I felt heat graze my shoulder and I numbly trip on the pavement. I watch in shock as a fireball flew through the alleyway before extinguishing against the far end of the alleyway where another building stood scorched. I gasp realising it accidentally miss me and I push myself to my feet. “It’s hard to believe she’s the legendary Crimson Blade. Are you sure it’s her Yogic?” The smaller man mocks as he stood with his hand shouldering in flames.
“I’m certain,” Yogic announced, the larger bronze skin man announced as he crosses his arms. “I never forget a scent, Karim.”
“Your nose was as sharp as a dogs’ it’s quite fascinating, I might add,” Karim announced, his eyes narrow on me as his lips curl into a dangerous smile. “We’ll be rewarded greatly if we deliver her head to Al.”
“I thought he wants her alive,” Yogic recalls.
Karim frowns a little his eyes sawm a little distant, “Oh that’s right. I kind of forgot about that.” Soon he returns and I, note the flame he held never sawm to diminish. Instead, it sawms to grow. I wondered if he was going to burn me before he hands me over to this Al person. At the same time, I knew that I wouldn’t scream. It would hurt a lot but I’d rather die than had them enjoying my pain. I sneer my best glare and watch as those two fell silent. It must had been a few moments later before someone drops in front of me. I recognise the black cloak and the silver armour. I recognise the masked that conceals his features and those dark eyes that hold disdain.
“Asashin.” I breathe and wondered if he was like Dante. was he going to protect me or was he going to hand me over to them? I fearfully hold my breath and watch the scene unfold before me in a skirmish of distinctive hostility.
“And who are you?” Karim growls, pointing at Asashin with his free hand. Asashin doesn’t said anything. Instead, Asashin stands at his full height and critically eye them. “Don’t make me repeat myself.” Karim scorns. “I hate repeating myself.”
“Then don’t.” Asashin smoothly utters. His voice was evenly deep and deadly. I could tell his tone was a little more hostile than from when I heard it earlier on in the day. “I’m not the one you’ll had to worry about.” Karim and Yogic glanced at each other, confusion riddle their features and I heard the sound of an unsheathing sword. I peer behind the men and saw familiar silver hair, strong jawline and piercing blue eyes.
“Dante?” I wondered .
“Kalverya. Are you alright?” Dante askeds, his eyes on Karim. I note another blade at the throat of Yogic. It was held vastly by Zenana who winks at me with a smile.
“The Calvary has arrived. Princess.” I couldn’t help but smile in return.
“I’d watch that blade, your stupid woman,” Yogic growls.
“I’d watch your tongue or perhaps you wish to lose it?” Zenana retorts and glares up at Yogic. He may had been three times her size but she looks like she was more than prepare to take him on. At last, I notice Karim’s flame extinguish. He holds up his hands and I watch as Yogic mimic the gesture. “So you surrender?”
“What does it look like lady? I was not miming.” Karim sawthes. Zenana peels a smile upon her crimson lips and I could saw the evident humour in her eyes.
“That you aren’t.” Zenana puts her fingers to her lips and releases an ear-piercing whistle. All through that, I notice Dante never took his eyes off of Karim. And I chillingly notice, Karim never took his eyes off of me. Even as he smiled, his eyes held a form of darkness that fills my mind with memories of those men and women I had left behind when I escaped. An armoured guard appears with a group of twenty or so men. They are dress in silver, blue and golden uniform. They, I concluded, must had been this world’s police. Two of the armour guards handcuff Yogic and Karim before me with ease and I wondered how the police managed to make it here in time. Normally, they are late. I watch as they usher him away. A transport ship drops out of the sky and land before them. The last thing I saw as I get to my knees was the sight of Karim mouthing: ‘You’re dead.’
Zeanna saunters towards me and queered, “Are you alright?”
I nod,
“Yeah. I was fine.” I watch as Dante, heads towards us, his eyes are hard and I couldn’t quite comprehend the expression in his eyes.
“Dante? What are you doing here?” I asked.
He glanceds over at Asashin and nods, “You went missing for a couple of weeks. To exchange information between boarders, we had to rendezvous a few blocks over.”
“I made it there in time but knew something was wrong,” Asashin announced. “The way the tavern held a profound silence and the way the bartender acted. It was like they were expecting something to occur then I remembered you and I knew what. I shouldn’t had left you alone.” Even as he spoke those words, I felt the need to question them but at the same time knew that this man had sharp senses. Potentially, sharper than mine.
“That’s right you shouldn’t have.” Dante glares. Asashin holds his glare and Zeanna remains silent. The tension that shifts between the two men was tremendous and I fear they’d attack each other. I’ve sawn what Dante could do so I fear for Asashin. “Do you not realise who she is? The empress could had your head on a stick for everyone to saw as an example of your incompetence.” Dante steps closer and Asashin holds his ground until they are mere inches apart their noses almost touching.
“The fact that you underestimate her bloodline goes to show your incompetence.” Asashin sneers. “There was a reason, an evolutionary reason, why the royals of our world are more powerful than those under command. It’s to ensure their power to lead. It’s to ensure the survival of our race. There are some who couldn’t fight and couldn’t protect themselves. The royals had the power to do just that and set an example for everyone to follow. There was no doubt in my mind she’d be fine should, ‘push comes to shove’. I had faith in her.”
“You couldnot know that for certain. She doesn’t even had access to her heritage and you left her to fend for herself! She was as defenceless as a human!” Zeanna was between the two in an instant. She shoves them apart and harbours a deadly glare.
“Will you two knock it off!” she growls. “Sure she may not be able to access her powers anymore but it doesn’t mean she’s helpless, she’s managedd to do just fine without us for years—on her own. I believe Asashin was right to had his faith place in her power but that doesn’t mean he was wrong to leave her there. It doesn’t mean it was right either. Asashin, you should also be aware that because of the Princess’s power enemies will find that threatening and will try and wipe her out especially in her time of weakness. Leaving her alone was careless. And Dante, I could understand your need to protect the Princess but I doubt Asashin would had let anything happen to her. He was here before we show up anyway. There was a reason why he’s her Knight.”
Dante glares and pulls away. Asashin remains rooted in place and regards Zeanna with a nod. Zeanna sighs, “Try and refrain from killing each other.” She regards Asashin with a taunting smile, “Our population has declined because of the war as it is. We didn’t need two more unnecessary deaths.”
I turn from the two to find Dante before me. “Are you alright?” he askeds.
“I’m fine. No need to worry.” I reassure.
The furrow of his brows narrow in concern. “I know but you are gone for weeks. We searched everywhere. The whole nation was out searching for you. You had us worry sick.” Images of the men dragging me out of my room plummets my mind, as does the sight of being hand over. Even the memory of the slaves and being one chilled me to the bone. I wondered if they knew. I wondered if they knew there are innocent people being harboured as slaves.
“How long exactly?” I asked, I had to know.
“Three and a half weeks.” The knowledge of this shocks me. There was no way in this world I could had been gone for three and a half weeks and not know it. And even if I am . . . what had happened in that time? Why couldn’t I remember? was it because I was drugged or was it because I was unconscious? Or both. Though the last part doesn’t sawm possible so my best educate guess would be, I may had been drugged. That horrifies me to know end. Dante I sense was a little concerned, “What’s wrong?”
It takes me all the courage I had to answer him. I knew that what I said next would not just define my fear but the underlining truth that may be true. “I couldn’t remember being out for that long. Better yet, it doesn’t even felt like I am gone for that long.” I notice Zeanna and Asashin’s expressions mirror that of Dante’s complete and utter shock. They no doubt consider the same conclusion I did. It was only to be expected, nothing else could possibly make sense.
No one said anything instead, we are all deep in thought for a while. No doubt figuring out what to do with this new information. Instead, I regard the group carefully and watch as Dante turn his heel, “Let’s go. It’s getting late. The others will be worried.”
“Others?” I question as I fall in line with them as we stride out of the alleyway.
“Varden and the SS team,” Zeanna announce as she mounts her horse. I notice it wasn’t an actual animal but a mechanical horse. It was steeling silver with bright glowing blue eyes. Dante mounts his and I notice Asashin doesn’t had one.
“SS team?” I asked wondered ing what exactly that was. I move over to Zeanna and she holds out her hand. “Sensory Scout team. They’re a branch of the Silver Order.” I took Zeanna’s hand and climb behind her. Dante pulls up beside us and offers a hand to Asashin. Asashin, glanceds at Dante’s hand before striding pass the gesture and mounting the horse without any aid. I internally smile as I realise there was a lot I could learn about these three. As we rode through the town, Zeanna and Dante are careful to guide the horses at a jog and we only venture down streets that had minimal to no people.
The Silver Order, a regiment within PASA a military organisation create specifically to unify this planet’s nations of Knights. The Knights here are like the soldiers on earth—the difference was these soldiers us swords and crossbows. Rarely did they use rifles and when they did. It was never a good sign or so I am told. I glanced over Dante and recall all those times he informs me of this world’s military, technology, economy and politics. It was very different to earth but similar in the sense of security that was required. While earth had the supernatural hidden in the shadows, Nefelia had them crawling in the light some causing problems and others living in peace. PASA was created by the Unit Council, to protect and safeguard that peaceful existence for as long as possible.
It doesn’t take long before we stumble upon an inn. It was an inn that sits at the edge of the town. I didn’t understand why it was so far from the centre of town. Given that, I was in the company of a squadron captain and its lieutenant I wasn’t going to question their strategy. Perhaps, Dante knew something I didn’t. As our horses race across the open fields, the afternoon wind picks up, breezing around us under the bright blue clear sky. Our horses soon pull up beside the stable outside the small inn. As I dismount the horse, I notice the sign of the inn which read ‘Traveller’s Adventure’ had beneath it a seven-point star with two markings angle under the star like guides, with one on the left and one on the right etch into the wood.
I wait for everyone to guide the horses into the stables, before directing us inside. The inn was large and spacious. It wasn’t a two-story inn. It was an inn stretch across acres of land. Once inside, we head to the reception desk and I notice a blond hair man talking to a man behind the desk. As we entered, I not the familiar man turns around and smiles. “Hey guys, welcome back.” he greets before his eyes rest on me. “Kal-very-a?”
“Long time no saw Varden.” I greet and realise that just may not had been the right thing to said. It wasn’t Varden that I had met back at the palace and he wasn’t conscious when we found him. So there was a high chance this was the first time—the real Varden has sawn me. He stumbles towards me like he had sawn a ghost. I notice his tan features pales at the sight of me, as he gets closer. All I could think of doing was smiling, even though I had no recollection of him. He takes my hand in his and I notice he trembles a little as he
did but smiles down at me.
“It has been a long time.” I could saw that smile of his was forced. For some strange reason, it bothers me. Dante and Zeanna shift around us. Dante passes the reception desk and heads inside calling for Zeanna to deal with the paperwork. She growls a matter of obscenities before turning back to a cheerful receptionist. “How . . . how are you?” he askeds. I could tell he wanted to asked something else but considered otherwise. I was not too sure if that’s a smart move or not but given he was nervousness I decide to ease his discomfort.
“I’m fine,” I said, with a smile. I didn’t understand why I smile so easily at him. It’s strange but oddly familiar. I wondered at this moment, was this man apart of the life that I couldn’t remember and if so—were we together or are we not or rather did we even had a history like that. My mind bounded through all possibilities but I consider to not think too much about it in case I might be wrong but I kind of hope not, he was attractive. Though, there was a high chance I would make him felt even uneasier. So I knew I’d had to tread carefully if I want my memories back. The empress said it would be best to try and recall things on my own and to do that—I’d had to take every opportunity I could get. “How are you?” I asked and held out my hand, “My memory’s a little fuzzy at the moment. Nice to meet you.” He was stunned for a moment and regards my hand curiously before nodding and accepting the greeting.
Crimson Blade (Crimson Series Book 1) Page 8
