Legacy of Death_Revenge
Page 8
It’s like a manual on how to use them. Where did Astril get this? The notes about the magic use fit perfectly how I know it… did my father write it? What is Astril up to?
“Nnnnnhhh…. AAAAAAH!” echoed through the house.
Riiiiight.
Elizabeth ignored the moaning and went to put on the armor. It fit her perfectly. She hated the colors as it was like Astril’s… but it can be solved later. She went on to practice with the puppets. She never tried with two puppets at the same time, but they were too heavy to carry around and the sheet of paper had a lot of tips on how to move them around. After about an hour, she managed to make them both stand and walk at the same time. It was tiring but made her feel great. It made her feel powerful.
“Not bad,” Astril smiled with a warm look.
“Stop sneaking up on me!” Elizabeth jumped. She didn’t hear Astril approaching.
“Sssh… Helen is sleeping.”
“Right,” Elizabeth sighed and walked to Astril.
“Where did you get the paper?” she inquired.
“I told you your father left you a book. I took it from it,” Astril revealed.
“May I have it?”
“No. It’s the reward you will get for reaching one thousand points with me. Till then, you are too weak to learn by yourself,” Astril refused. She led Elizabeth out to what looked like ruins of a castle.
Why is everyone treating Astril like she is their best friend? Elizabeth gave Astril an analytical look. Something was off, she knew it. Now she was trying to find it. She is tall, unarranged, mean and ugly. There is no way anyone would ever like her!
“This is our room,” Astril announced happily as she led Elizabeth into a large room, disrupting her from her thoughts. It was inside some castle ruins. The room was missing half of the roof. Birdie, giant monster Astril flew on, was huddled in the roofless part. In the other part was a huge mess of things, a smaller nicely made bed and a huge bed that was an amazing mess of pillows, blankets and feathers.
“You girls sure know how to make a nice surprise,” Astril smiled as she looked at the bed. Elizabeth shook her head as she realized Sonja and Tanja are in it, naked.
“Get some sleep, you will need to be fresh by tomorrow,” Astril motioned Elizabeth to the smaller bed and started undressing.
Oh, God… not this shit again.
Elizabeth went to her bed. It looked comfortable and well; she hasn’t been in a proper bed for what now felt like an eternity. There was even a little bed next to it made for Niuffie and had a bowl of water next to it. Niuffie meowthed and went into it.
This is a really hard trap to avoid.
She sat down by the side of the bed.
“Uuunnnhhh… Astril… aaaaaaaah!” cut through the air.
For fucks sake!
Elizabeth changed and dug herself into the bed; she covered herself by the blankets to hear as little as she could.
9
Elizabeth
When she woke up, Elizabeth felt like she was just reborn. She didn’t remember the last time nothing was hurting. She was fresh and painless.
“Nnnnnhhhh…..AAAAAAAAH!”
Again?!
Elizabeth ignored the sounds and washed herself in the nearby barrel of water. She put on her new armor and went to see who’s Astril bedding. She was on top of Leena. Elizabeth just shook her head and started her practice with her new puppets as they didn’t even notice her.
“Morning,” Astril greeted her happily as she got up from the bed to stretch.
“Do you seriously do this all day?” Elizabeth exclaimed.
“I’ve been gone for a while, so I have a lot to catch up on,” Astril smiled innocently.
Elizabeth sighed and continued her practice.
Astril and Leena soon got ready and the three of them headed out.
“So, what’s this trial thing about?” Elizabeth asked looking at Leena. Her eyes were filled with blood and veins on her neck were black and stood out, but she seemed to be functioning normally. She was half a foot shorter than Astril and had dark well-arranged hair. But otherwise, she was exactly as lean and muscular as Astril was and had an eerily similar face. She wore the same style of scale armor as well; it just was just colored grey and brown instead of Astril’s green and brown.
“There are rules for taking people into the clans. The matrons will need to judge whether you can join or not and might want to test you. It shouldn’t be too bad though,” Leena answered calmly.
“Astril said I am not ready,” Elizabeth tried.
“She is not very good at judging these things. Just keep calm and you will be fine. You will likely have to fight someone or something. If it’s a monster, kill it, if it’s a Faye, try to not die and if it’s a kid, be careful and try to not hurt her too much,” Leena explained.
“I have never killed anyone! How am I supposed to fight someone? I only ever fought Astril and I ended at about under minus fifty points!” Elizabeth protested, eyes wide.
“Hmm… be really careful if you fight someone young. We don’t want to kill anyone by accident… it makes bad first impression… and don’t tell anyone… just pretend you are fighting fully and win closely,” Leena smiled.
“What? What the hell do you mean?” Elizabeth demanded.
“You will see,” Astril smirked over her shoulder.
In a massive room at the base of the tower was a large circular room. The room had a huge tree in the middle and three thrones at the end opposite to the entrance. The tree had sheets of papyrus hanging on it while on the thrones sat three women. An old woman dressed in purple but simple robes, middle-aged woman with eyeshades made to look like wings dressed in gloriously decorated robes and a young woman with black paint over her mouth dressed in a pitch-black plate armor. The three matrons of the Faye clans were intimidating at the first look. Beautiful and sharp, they sat decorated by gold and surrounded by guards made of their clan members. A row under them sat three young Faye. Zerae and two Elizabeth didn’t recognize. One was white-haired, covered by golden accessories and looked like she was sleeping with her mouth opened wide. The third one had short brown hair and a sharp face.
“The tree has all our laws, don’t burn it. Now we just sit and wait; the matrons will get to your case eventually,” Leena explained. Astril just sat next to them with a very satisfied smile.
“This is the first time I see Astril being silent,” Elizabeth remarked.
“She is getting ready to fight,” Leena revealed.
“Fight… why?”
“Grand council meetings sometimes get a bit intense; we might have to fight our way out of here.”
“What?” Elizabeth’s eyes went wide.
“It will be fine,” Astril remarked, “I never lose.”
“NEXT! Astril Hellwind, step forth!” a strong voice echoed.
Too soon!
“Just play along,” Astril told Elizabeth and went with her forward to stand on the ground in front of the thrones.
“Astril Hellwind, why had you asked to be heard?”
“I have brought my sweet little daughter, Elizabeth, to join the clan,” Astril smiled innocently as she hugged Elizabeth from behind. Elizabeth froze. The entire room did.
My mother died at birth and I look nothing like Astril. Okay, my hair is blond and we wear similar looking armor, but there is still no way in hell anyone would ever believe it. This is the worst lie ever!
“How old is she?” the Hellwind matron asked in a stone-cold voice.
“Fifteen,” Astril answered.
She has no idea how old I am, does she? Good. Finally, something I can use!
“That’s too old for a Fayeling and too young for a warrior,” the matron evaluated.
“I would like to ask for an exception. Her father died recently… she can join the older Fayelings,” Astril proposed.
“Why have you not brought her earlier? Is our clan not good enough to raise your daughter?” the matron shot.
“Silence, daughter, I am questioning her now,” the matron refused.
“I concur Zerae. This is irrelevant,” the Darkscream matron agreed.
The hatred in eyes of the Hellwind matron was palpable. “I deny any exceptions. We have our law. Law is the cornerstone of our society, without it there would be only chaos,” she announced.
“Nonsense. We cannot cast out a child because of procedural errors. For that, punishing Astril is more than sufficient. The child deserves a chance to prove she is worthy of her heritage,” the Darkscream matron refused.
“I concur,” the three members of the lower council joined in unison.
“It is true that such measure would be extreme,” Karmen Voidwalker, the old matron of the Voidwalker clan agreed.
“This is a matter of our clan, not yours,” the Hellwind matron spat.
“The law binds us all together, no issue it covers is a matter of a single clan,” Zerae countered.
“ZERAE!” the matron shouted at her.
“Zerae has a point,” Darkscream matron agreed.
“Very well, then. She should receive a chance to prove herself. Allicia! Test her!” the Hellwind matron commanded. Zerae’s older sister, Allicia, tossed aside her long auburn hair and rose. She drew her swords and started stepping down the stairs.
“Are you out of your mind? You want to have a child executed by one of our top warriors? That is insane,” Zerae matron protested.
“Acceptance tests are subject to the decision of the Matron, which is me, not you,” the Hellwind matron sneered at Zerae.
“Oh, really?” Astril said sweetly and drew her blades. “Get close to her and I will cut off your tits!”
“ASTRIL!” Zerae and the matron shouted at her at the same time.
“What? You wanted a fight? There is no problem with that, I will fight,” Astril kept her ground.
“How dare you?!” Hellwind matron snarled, “seize her!”
“ENOUGH!” Darkscream matron’s voice thundered through the hall. “I shall not watch a child being butchered. If you do not want her in your clan, fine, I shall allow her to test into mine… should Astril agree, of course,” she added.
“Sounds good,” Astril smiled and sheathed her blades.
“You cannot just take my clan member,” Hellwind matron protested.
“She is not of your clan, you just refused her, remember? Astril’s punishment is yours to make, but Elizabeth shall not be touched by you or anyone you command. She is now the matter of Darkscream clan,” Darkscream matron held firm.
Astril got down to Elizabeth.
“Don’t be disturbed by what they do to me. I will be fine, I always am. You focus on not hurting the Darkscream kid too badly,” she whispered into Elizabeth’s ear before the other Hellwind witches took her.
“Astril Hellwind. For defying the matron and not following our Fayeling law, you shall be punished by five hundred hits of whip,” the Hellwind matron announced.
“Fire hundred is outrageous. That is a death sentence!” Zerae protested.
“I decide the punishment, not you,” the Hellwind matron refused.
“I guess Astril was right, we are going to fight,” Zerae stood up and drew her blade. It was a long heavy single-edged greatsword.
“Are you defying me, daughter?” the matron asked coldly.
“I am merely making sure our law is kept, mother. Astril didn’t harm any clan member or disobeyed an order, so defiance is out of the question. Since Elizabeth is to be accepted into the Darkscream clan, she has never been a Fayeling of ours and therefore Astril cannot be punished for hiding her,” Zerae countered in a murderous voice.
“Astril did draw her blades in our sacred hall. That is a punishable offense,” the Hellwind matron refused.
“By at most hundred hits of whip,” Zerae smiled.
“Hundred hits of whip it is,” the matron confirmed angrily.
“Alright,” Astril smiled charmingly.
“Calm and steady, do not hurt her too much,” Leena whispered to Elizabeth as she was getting ready to fight. She was to fight Kerri Darckscream, a child from the Darkscream clan. She was said to be one of the best from around her age. Kerri was half a head taller than her, muscular, wore a well-fitting ring mail armor and had a double-bladed battle axe. Elizabeth was beyond terrified. They were in a ring in the city square. Meanwhile, Astril was stripped down and bound between two poles at the other side of the square. Two Hellwind warriors were taking turns hitting her with heavy whips. One from the front, one from behind. Astril screamed in pain every time a whip hit her. Elizabeth heard every hit. Blood was sprayed after every hit, the ground around her was now crimson red. Torn skin hung from Astril as the whips now cut into her flesh. Elizabeth felt pain as if she was being hit. She didn’t like Astril, but she didn’t deserve this. Why… why would she do this for me? Why would they do this to her? Why does she let them? How am I supposed to concentrate on fighting when I hear her screaming in pain?
“How am I supposed to fight her? I never fought anyone!” Elizabeth exclaimed as she turned back to Leena.
“You fought Astril for months; you know what to do. Just try to control it,” Leena repeated.
“Why are you talking like I am the stronger one in here! That’s nonsense! Even Astril said I’m not ready,” Elizabeth exclaimed as she looked at the girl she was about to fight, “just look at the girl… she is ten times the fighter I am!”
“Elaine! OOOOOOUUUCH!” Astril between her grunts of pain.
“Hmm?” the Darkscream matron turned to her.
“You really wanna…. AAAAGGH! …. stand by…. AAAAAAUUUU….. the ring… AAAAAAA!”
Stop trying to save me, Astril... save yourself dammit! Please…
Elaine Darkscream, the matron of the Darkscream clan, narrowed her eyes and went to the edge of the ring. “Prepare to fight. The fight is non-lethal, first one to be knocked unconscious or outside of the ring loses,” she announced.
“Easy, steady, don’t kill her,” Leena whispered and stepped back.
What the hell is she on about? I am going to die here!
Elizabeth stepped forward and had her two puppets flank her.
“What is that?” Elaine asked.
“Puppets. She’s a puppeteer,” Leena revealed.
“Proceed.”
I’m gonna die. I’m gonna die. I’m gonna die. I’m gonna die. I’m gonna die.
Elizabeth stared at her opponent, terrified.
I don’t wanna die! I don’t wanna die! I don’t wanna die!
Astril believes in me, so I have to at least try. She’s getting whipped to blood to get me this chance; I can’t just fail her. I won’t fail her. I will not die here! But how am I supposed to choose a strategy when nothing ever worked on Astril? She always dodged everything!
What do I do? What do I do? What do I do?
Stand and fight.
I have only ever fought Astril. What got me close to hitting Astril? Surprise attack into a sequence. That was the only thing she ever parried and not just dodged.
“FIGHT!”
Kerri stepped forward cautiously. Elizabeth focused and prepared her sequence. Kerri raised her axe and prowled toward her. Simultaneously, needles shot out from the mouth of one of her puppets. The same puppet charged forward to slide down into a tackle. The second puppet leaped up and blades extended from its arms and chest. The needles hit Kerri in the chest; the sliding puppet swept her feet. She fell to the ground with a painful scream. The blade puppet was falling on her with arms spread wide. Dozen blades were extended out of its body.
“DODGE!” Elizabeth shouted in horror.
BOOM echoed through the air as the blade puppet got knocked sideways. Elaine Darkscream stood above Kerri.
She was supposed to dodge!
“I’m sorry! I didn’t want to hurt her, I promise, I just…” Elizabeth
blurted, tears striking up in her eyes.
I… I would have killed her!
“It’s alright,” Elaine smiled. “Good job,” she stepped by Elizabeth and softly put a hand on Elizabeth’s hair.
“I am sorry… I didn’t want to hurt her… I thought she would dodge. I am sorry, I didn’t want to hurt her… I thought she would be faster, I’m sorry, I didn’t want to kill her!” Elize started crying. She saw Kerri lying on the ground, her face pale with terror.
Elain squatted down in front of Elizabeth and smiled.
“It’s alright. Welcome to the Darkscream clan!”
10
Zerae
“What the hell was that?!” Mathilde Hellwind, matron of the Hellwind clan shouted at Zerae.
“I am sorry, mother, I overstepped,” Zerae bowed in apology.
*SMACK!*Mathilde slapped Zerae so hard she spit blood. The pain stung through Zerae’s face.
“You cannot disrespect me like this, Zerae! I am your leader and your mother!”
*SMACK!*
It wasn’t the pain; it was the humiliation. It hurt her flesh, yet shattered her pride.
“How can you do this to me, Zerae? You make me look like a fool in front of the other leaders. We need to stick together through these hearings, you are just undermining us,” Mathilde mused in a soft tone.
“I am sorry mother, I merely…”
*SMACK!*
“Do not go sorry for me, Zerae Hellwind. You knew what you were doing, what it would make me look like and how it would humiliate me. Do not pretend you had no idea what you were doing! Stop being so weak!” Mathilde spat.
“We are low on Fayelings, I saw an opportunity and no good reason to waste it,” Zerae whispered softly. Her stomach was tied into a knot, heart barely beating and cheeks flaring.