Northern Conflicts

Onward Bound

Amethyst's sense of smell was the first thing to wake, there was this disgusting smell that never left her. It was just always there and then her sense of touch started working again. She concluded that wherever she was her body was not comfortable and water kept falling in her face. Not only that but her head kept hitting something. Enough was enough, it was time our little soldier woke up and that is exactly what she did. "What in the name of our king is going on, where am I and...." She was not greeted with a 'are you alright' or anything that nice the person carrying her in the cart just said "Shh don't talk, please don't. " That voice sounded oddly familiar to Amethyst but she was not sure she was thinking straight. She knows he is from Micralanza but she couldn't even remember his full name. "Je-... Okay I can't get your name what is it again?" He stopped pushing the cart she was in and looked at her in shock "You don't remember me love. It's me Jerome. The last exiled?"

Amethyst remembered playing a part in the last part of his name. She helped to make him the shunned son of Aztec the great. "Yes, I remember you are Jerome son of a great. You were as good as your father." This was not true Aztec was a legend, every citizen aspired to be like him, and Jerome was nowhere close to his father. It was either him or his other siblings, but he beat them in every competition when it came on to who should be general. Jerome ended up killing ten of his sisters and twelve of his brothers and if he had continued on that path, he would have been given a daughter of the king to have as a wife. Luckily, the fool grew a conscience in a battle resulting in the death of many soldiers. He even publicly disobeyed direct orders from the king himself. So, the test to become general was simple, Amethyst Nãlan was to kill the son of a legend.

I know what you're thinking; if he saved her now doesn't that mean she didn't kill him? Yes, but it was not because she was weak. She got to him and wounded him, but the king said that he should be exiled instead of being put to a swift death. Truth is everyone could see the king's judgement was clouded and that he took pity on Jerome, but it was the king's will. I don't remember you as a kiss up Amethyst. If I wanted you dead you would know. So save your energy, love." Kissing up was worth a try after all she was still weak, and she has been asleep for who knows how long.

" Jerome where are you taking me and what is that smell?" She had to find out what that sickening stench was since it was a reason she woke up.

"Home, I am taking you home and as for that smell it's you." Amethyst shot him a look because there was no way she smelt like that, but he laughed and said "Well not literally, the thing I used to dress your wounds. If you have not noticed I don't even have a scar from those nasty cuts that you gave me. The people of the place I am taking you have developed medicine far superior to what we were used to." Where is this home he speaks of, could it be "You're taking me to the land of peace aren't you?" He nodded his head and continued to pull the cart that he had carried her in for days. She later got out of the cart and started walking with him. It seemed like they were walking for hours but Jerome did not seem bothered. They occasionally stopped at some abandoned caves when it got dark.

The last place they stopped was the bottom of a waterfall. Jerome handed Amethyst fresh clothes and told her that she should probably clean up before getting to the Land of Peace.

She was about to start questioning him about how he found Thritia, but she couldn't help but notice his changes. He had a certain aura about him, and she could not pinpoint what it was. He seemed so different curiosity got the best of her "What is wrong with you, why are you so...nice, your presence is no longer threatening." His reaction was calm he smiled I have evolved Amethyst, the reaction you want is not who I am. Si'Reya helped me to see that war is not what flows in my blood."

Amethyst knows what's really happening and it was absolute madness because she taught, she cured him of this vulnerability he keeps finding. The way he says the name Si'Reya, shows that he is quite fond of her. He's probably doing this good deed to impress her. "I see your condition has worsened over the years, but you are what you are. " He looked over to Amethyst and shakes his head in disappointment "I'm not the only one with a condition that has worsened but luckily mine is healing me. Sadly, you can't relate." The conversation died down after that it was just two people working together to reach one goal.

After a long and drawn-out silence Jerome stopped Amethyst and said, "you don't need to say anything but just promise me one thing you won't kill this partner." Amethyst laughed "Petra had it coming she was rude, and you could have done way better." A few years ago they would never use his girlfriend's death to break the ice but journeys take longer when travellers keep to themselves. Speaking of that, they need not travel anymore or at least that is what Jerome told her but the only thing she saw was a stretch of barren land. However, Jerome insisted that they wait before she tries to kill him.

The ground started to shake but Jerome did not seem frightened. The ground moved aside, and a defence wall came up. "Jerome, I don't think this is a friendly welcome" he brushed off the comment, but Amethyst would not stop "Jerome they have archers on top off the wall" She told him as she stepped back towards a huge rock that was just sitting there. She tried pulling him back, but he kept moving forward. "Greetings!! I have taken the lost daughter home as requested and my prize?!!!"

" Jerome!!!" A voice came from behind the wall, but it was amplified because she was not yelling. "Jerome, it's me Si'Reya. I have something to confess, you can only enter if you don't have the blood of your people in you but thank you for your service." Amethyst was completely lost but everyone else had adequate information to continue. So she took the shield from out of the cart and positioned herself behind the rock. Meanwhile Jerome was having an argument with a wall "No!! You promised that if I carried the girl with the rock I would get to come in and see you." Jerome was having quite the day Si'Reya sighed "Jerome, General of Micralanza, son of a murderer the sin of your father has fallen upon you. We sentence you to death. she continued "You want to see me; I am the storm with rain that kills embrace my presence." With that arrows started to rain down and Jerome could not escape it. Amethyst held the shield up and hoped. After a while there was silence, but she was definitely not going to go out and check but before she knew it she was surrounded by soldiers.

"State your business" a woman asked, she seemed to be leading the other women. "Truth is you just killed the one person who knew because I started my journey being unconscious" the woman grabbed Amethyst's arm. She was going to fight back but she knew nothing about them, so her best bet was to study. Some soldiers took her bag and went through it. They found the jewel, and everyone seemed shocked they started pulling Amethyst to the wall and a door opened up. A beautiful woman stood there in a flowing dress and looked so familiar.