Part 1
After learning that Simon was my Uncle, we spent the night getting aquatinted. I told him what little I could remember about living in the castle. Times spent in picnics with my mother or Baka trying to teach me to ride. I told him about Troy hiding me from my uncles so that they could not kill me. I talked about growing up with Troy and the things he taught me. Simon spoke of his childhood, of his long dead mother. He told me about his dream of securing a better life for the commoners. He spoke of his fights again Kusac and the overseers.
I had discovered a family member that I admired and liked. It was a weird feeling, I had thought all the good members of my family were long dead. Until Simon the only family I had left were Kusac and Cirus. Neither Uncle was what I would call a good role model. You wouldn't either if you had seen the things they had done or if you were in my place. I knew Kusac and Cirus would like nothing better than to see my head on a pike. Dalt, my father, wasn't much better. Plus he wasn't ever around enough to make much of a difference.
I woke up late the next morning, discovering it was almost noon. I had spent the night in Simon's tent; he had an extra cot brought in. I looked around but saw that Simon was already up and gone. I grabbed my sword from the table and strapped it on. I decided to go see what I could find to eat and then look for Simon. As I made my way to the mess hall I noticed people were watching me. I paid them no mind and put on my famous warrior's mask. Most people got out of my way and those that didn't, well let's just say after a quick shove or two they moved.
I am not sure you could call what I ate food. It was some type of gruel and seemed to stick to my sides as it went down. Apparently if you're late for breakfast you get stuff that makes sure you are never late again. I hurriedly made my way through the camp looking for Simon. Out of the corner of my eye I thought I saw somebody that couldn't possibly be here. I took a second look to make sure the gruel hadn't effected my eyesight. There was Gavin, standing with some men talking..
Within in a couple of strides I found myself standing right behind the little Rat! I listened to his conversation with the men.
Gavin chuckled as he told his story, "So there I was caught red handed with the magistrates ring in my hand. All I could do was give a little smile and say but sir I have no idea how this got in my hand. Needless to say I spent a night in jail till one of the good boys busted me out."
I cleared my throat,"And who in their right mind would free you Gavin?"
He whipped around to face me faster than a jackrabbit. His adams apple bobbed up and down,"Umm Hi Larissa....long time no see. Well I gotta go...info to sell, people to buy. You know how it is."
He took two steps away from me before I put my arm around his shoulder saying,"Come Gavin, walk with me. We have things to discuss."
He was a smart man and didn't try to pull away from me. We walked around the camp and I grilled him on why he was there. He gave me evasive answers and I was getting tired of it. I was about to extract the information I wanted from him when Simon came walking up.
Simon smiled at the both of us,"Larissa, I see you have met my half brother, Gavin."
I did a double take. This worm, this piece of filth was related to Simon the Dragon? I couldn't believe it but it became clear that it was true as Simon continued to talk.
Simon gave Gavin a brief hug,"Why don't you go talk to Crasus Gavin while I talk with Larissa."
Gavin was quick to scurry away, probably afraid if he didn't I would seperate his lungs from his body. He would have been right.
I stared at Simon with a incredulous look on my face,"That thing is your brother?"
Simon's face began to frown and I had the feeling he was disappointed in me as he said,"Things are not always what they seem. Gavin is a good man despite appearances to the contrary. For us to be able to fight Kusac we needed someone on the inside so to speak. Someone who could find out information about Kusac's holding, his movements, and drop off points. We also needed someone who could leak information back to the castle that wasn't completely true. Gavin volunteered to be this man and for the last 6 years he has done a brilliant job. He doesn't like his persona as The Rat anymore than you do. You're going to need to look beyond appearances Larissa if you want to see things as they really are."
With that speech Simon turned my world upside down again. Gavin was not the vile creature I thought he was and I had quite a bit to learn about judging people. In fact the next day I would discover that I was more of a monster than Gavin ever could be. I had such a long way to fall and I destroyed so many lives along the way.
Part 2
It was later that night when the reports came in. It seems Kusac had decided to arrest all of those who lived in Tailen, a town that was rumored to have once housed the Dragon when he was hurt. Simon wasn't about to let that happened and quickly mounted a defense. He was going to take most of his men to protect Tailen. It was to be a battle that would be sung by many bards to come but not one told the truth the way it happened.
I was quick to get permission to join Simon and his men. He was a little reluctant at first but finally gave in. He didn't have much choice, I was going to be there one way or another. Within two hours of receiving the news, Simon had his troops heading out to Tailen. It was several hours of marching in the dark but by sunrise we have finally reached the town. Many people were tired but there was no time to rest. Simon set up a command central in the middle of the town's square. From there he deployed his troops into defensive positions.
For the most part I stayed in the Town Square helping Simon deploy his troops and looking for the best tactical layout. We sent the woman, children, and those who wouldn't be fighting to be escorted out of town to a nearby cave. They could hide out there and be safe while the battle was fought. In the end this is what saved many lives.
For all of Simon's plans were disrupted once the King's soldiers came. They showed up on the East Side of the village. They must have numbered over 400 while Simon had brought but 70 men plus 30 villagers that decided to stay and fight. We were outnumbered 4 to 1 and I think Simon's men knew it. Still they weren't going to go down without a fight. Within seconds the soldiers charged and the battle began.
At first I kept an eye on Simon, fighting at his side. We cut a bloody path between the two of us. Soon blood poured down my sword and spilled onto my clothes. There were dozens of corpses lying around me. If I could of seen the battle as an outsider I would have been dishearten at the loses the Dragon's Fire were taken. The soldiers had lost maybe 70 men while we had lost 40, almost half our troops. Still I did not know this and I pressed on bringing death to all that challenged me.
For awhile I lost sight of Simon and that was to be my downfall. If I had only stayed by his side things might have turned out differently. I kept trying to find Simon and when I did I wished I hadn't. He was about 70 paces away from me. He was fighting two men at once and seemed to be doing fine. He took out one with a slice to the stomach and turned to face the other one. He countered that guys thrust and then used a feint to sucker him in. With one fell swoop the guy fell to the floor dead. Simon raised his sword yelling,"Freedom!"
It was at that second an arrow struck him in the chest. He had a shocked look at his face as he dropped his sword and grabbed the arrow. I never knew whom it was that shot the arrow but it didn't much matter. Simon fell to the floor and I believed he was never getting back up again. It was at that moment I lost it. Something inside me just snapped and I lost all reason. I felt my battle lust consume me and I decided they would all pay, every last one of them. I let all my rage and hate consume me. I will never forget what it was like to feel the power, the virility. It was like riding a whirlwind.
I was like the angel of death among them as I cut a bloody path through the field. Men dropped liked flies. I cared not if it was a man on my side or one of the soldiers. I simply thrust, parried, and skewered any that were near me. I don't know how long I fought. It felt like minutes though it may have been a couple of hours. When it was over I stared at the carnage I had wrought. Over 500 men lay dead on the field. In the end I had killed them all.
With a pain so profound I dropped to my knees and yelled to the heavens. I didn't cry but then I hadn't been able to do that for a long time anyway. I simply shouted until I was hoarse from it. I had sustained several injuries but in my grief I cared not. I slowly got to my feet with one thought on my mind, Simon.
I searched for over an hour through the bodies till I found what I was looking for. I planned to take Simon's body back to the King's Lair, back to what men he left behind. I knew they would give him a proper burial. As I reached to lift him up I thought I saw his chest rise. I believed I had finally lost my mind but then I saw his chest move again. My mind took several seconds to comprehend what I was seeing. Simon was alive, though not for long if I didn't act fast.
I carried him back to the village to where the healers hut was located. Once there I proceeded to fix him up as best I could. It wasn't a pleasant job since I had to finish pushing the arrow the rest of the way through. That and searing the flesh almost made me loose my stomach. It was after this that I heard sounds out in the village. Those in the cave had returned.
I heard screams of horror as they looked out onto the field and saw the dead bodies and the grass soaked with blood. I exited the hut to see if the healer was out there and would take a look at Simon. I must have looked a fright for several women fainted at the sight of me. I was covered in blood and pieces of flesh from those I killed. One brave soul dared to approach me. I remember that he was the elder of the town. I quickly explained that Simon needed help.
Within minutes the healer came forth and checked on my work. She fixed a few herbs but other than that she said I had done all that could be done. Time would tell whether Simon would be all right. It was decided that there might be some that were alive out on the field as Simon had been. A small detail was sent to check it out. I wasn't among their number. I just couldn't go back out there. When they got back it was reported that there were no other survivors save Simon and me.
I think it was then that they started to look at both Simon and me as if we were more than human. It was there that I got the name Executioner. It was said all that went against me would die. Though they wept for the loses, they began to hold up Simon and I as hero's. They held a feast in our honor saying we would bring back prosperity to the land. We were the lost descendents of Baka that would save them from the tyranny of Kusac and Cirus. I didn't stay for the entire feast. I left about halfway through. I couldn't stand the hypocrisy. It was I who had killed those men and they praised my name.
I left Simon in that village to heal or to die without saying goodbye. I never corrected the townspeople's perception of me. I don't know if that was right or if it is wrong and I don't really care. It wasn't till a year later that I found Simon again. He had rebuilt the resistance movement and had more men then ever before. I didn't tell him what had happened or why I left him in Tailen and he never asked. Perhaps he knew what had occurred and didn't want it said out loud.
Whatever the case maybe that day changed my life forever. On that day I learned that there are situations where nothing is right or wrong, and everything is tainted.