Firewind

Chapter 38-Diero

"I was the one that trained your father," Po started, leaning back in his chair and resting his feet on the table. "He was our best trainee. Went on to be the best soldier I ever knew. I was the one that taught our charges war strategy. Those who excelled at it carried on in that department while others tapered off to concentrate on their strong suits. Your father did not do so well with my class but he and I got along well. He was more interested in his lessons on prisoners of war, torture and questioning, unfortunately."

"In Nevah, where we had the training camps, he met your mother, Finnellen. He fell madly in love with her. I could barely carry through a conversation with him without him bringing up the lovely handmaiden." He chuckled to himself. "She worked for the Lady of Nevah you see. The rest is a little fuzzy. I'm sorry, my memory just isn't quite what it used to be."

"Why did my father move to Golinix then?" I asked, raising my voice slightly, I got a couple of angry stares from the obscures in the hall. I lowered my voice, "that's practically on the opposite side of the continent!"

"You see, it's because Golinix, your hometown, is the town that houses the torture houses, prisons and prisoner of war slave camps," Po grimaced. He nodded to a fellow in black, taking a sip from his cup. "After the final exams, the king offered your father the job of Captain in Golinix. Your father had done so well not only in his defense, offense and fighting tactics, but especially in torture."

I winced. I knew very little of what my father had done at work. And as far as I knew, it was best that way. I recall often that Kildrak would argue relentlessly with my father about it. He couldn't stand that innocent people would have such punishments for merely doing as they are told. My Para thought nothing of it. He just said it must be done and that it is his duty to the crown.

"My Para talked little of his work," I sighed.

"I don't blame him! Dark work that is. It takes a special person to look past his employment and fall in love with him. But your mother never ever questioned his motives. She knew what was in his heart."

I smiled, "my madara was always kind hearted, you can be-"

My last words were cut off as shouts rang out from the opposite side of the hall. Three obscures wrestled with a figure. The sounds of the commotion echoed off of the high stone ceiling. Rhea stormed out from the hall that the group had just exited, with a furious glare on her dark features, she was followed by Dyeanee eating a pastry and getting powdered sugar all over her clothes. She looked completely unbothered by the ruckus.

Ronan and Leshanna rushed over from another table, with Talkinn in tow.

"Amora?" Leshanna exclaimed.

"What's going on?" I asked, coming over.

One of the obscures ripped back the hood of the figure they were wrestling with. It was indeed Amora. She glared at her captors, but the expression dropped when she saw Ronan, Leshanna and I, scowling down at her in return. She smiled sheepishly and winced. There was already a bruise forming on her cheek. Her brown skin was already turning an ugly shade of purple.

"We caught this Lothan filth stealing from Rhea's chambers," the obscure said, spitting in her face. He was the third one dressed in complete red with a black cape. We still did not know his name.

"There's no need for such language, Wallas Armadeus Pratt !" Rhea snapped. "Nuala is no longer at war with the south, and as such you will treat her with the respect any other thief gets. Regardless of whether or not she's from Mador."

"You're a thief," I said, dumbfounded.

"So this situation would show," Amora replied.

"Since she is your travel companion, you may decide what is to be done with her," Rhea said, regaining her composure.

"You could hunt her down and kill her!" Po chirped, a wicked gleam in his eyes. For seeming so dismayed about my father's career choices, he talked a lot about death. It was hard to tell if he was joking or not.

"She's already here so that won't work Porces," Dyeanee said, licking her fingers.

I turned to Ronan. He had a triumphant smile that stretched from ear to ear. "I told you so!"

"Yeah, yeah," I said waving my hand. "But what are we going to do about her?"

"I think we should let her free," Leshanna said.

"Shh Leshanna," I said waving my hand at her now.

"I knew she was in trouble!" Ronan exclaimed. "I knew it from the moment that I saw her. You just can't trust those shifty eyes. Didn't I tell you what I thought when I saw her? I remember my words exactly."

"I know, I know, now what are we going to do about her?"

"I think she should be set free." Leshanna crossed her arms.

"Yeah I know what you think, can you just be quiet? Let us adults talk about it."

"Hey! I'm part of your traveling group too! And Rhea said that we get to decide. Not you and Ronan!"

"Yeah I know, I heard her," I said, raising my voice. One of the obscures caught my glance and quickly looked away.

"I for one think that that fellow Porches was on the right track," Ronan said, matter-of-factly.

"No we should let her go!" Leshanna argued back, her voice also rising.

"I like this Ronan guy!" Po interjected.

"Hush," Rhea said.

Then a whole cacophony of opinions greeted my ears, as every obscure in hearing range that knew what was happening gave their two cents worth. Several arguments broke out among them. My heart was beating rapidly, and I struggled to get the situation and my emotions under control. An uncomfortable feeling settled in my stomach as anxiety quickened my breaths.

"WOULD EVERYONE JUST BE QUIET???" I bellowed.

Everyone shut up immediately, and Leshanna looked at me with her eyebrows creased together.

"Diero, are you alright? Your eyes look...." she trailed off.

"We'll let her go," I snarled.

Leshanna stepped back, her eyes wide.

"Very well," Rhea said, regaining control of the situation. "Wallas, I'm putting you in charge of making sure she gets out without knowing of a way to get back. Lead her to the edge of Linti." She turned to Amora. "You are never to return to the Caverne or associate with the Obscures. If you do, I give them full permission to do to you as they please."

As the men prepared Amora for, what I'd call exile, she turned to me with tears in her eyes. "Thank you for letting me live."

"Well it's the least I could do," I said, rubbing the back of my neck, "Besides you did lead us to Linti. I hope you've learned your lesson."

"I hope we meet again, Diero Helder. Také no lafa." She said in madrese. It was a formal farewell there.

"I wish you all the best from the stars and back," I replied, saying my own native version of goodbye.

She smiled slightly and let the obscures lead her out of the hall to be blindfolded.

I smiled in return. Leshanna nodded appreciatively. Talkinn grinned, showing his two baby teeth and waved a chubby hand at her. I returned to Ronan's side and sighed. He patted me on the back. I lurched forward, my head pounding. Dots danced in my vision and the floor spun beneath me. As it rose to meet me, my vision went black.

I heard Leshanna shriek Aranza, before my mind went blank.