Kardia

Chapter Three - The Faintest of Glimmers

I closed my eyes and tried to sleep, but a voice outside my window kept me awake.

I couldn't hear what it was saying, but late into the night a voice in the streets kept me conscious, and I hated its owner for it.

Does this person not realize that the only part of my life that brings any small morself of enjoyment is eating and sleeping?

I jumped out of bed, my bare feet hitting the cold floor. Cursing this faceless voice under my breath, I pulled my robe over my nightgown and slipped on my boots.

I angrily marched down stairs; the voice was getting more clear, and I could start to make out words.

"Conspiracy." "Suffering" "Unfair" and "Blind" were a few words I caught.

I pushed open the swinging door to see a young man standing on a street corner; a couple people walked by him, rolling their eyes at the well dressed mad man's rantings.

I marched up to him with all the audacity my body could muster.

"Sir, if you would be so kind as to delay your incessant ranting until the morning, I would thank you kindly.  Some of the good people on this street are trying to sleep before working themselves to tears the next day."

The man was a few years older than myself, and seemed to be monochromatic, with pale skin, black hair, and piercing gray eyes, I had never seen anyone like him before.

"Well, that's exactly my point!  I've been trying to find someone with knowledge of Kratos to accompany me on my journey to the capitol to speak to the leaders of this place!  I'm from Aftareskos, a small country many miles from here." He said, seeming enthusiastic about getting to share his story with someone. "I came to Kratos to visit family, but I've noticed how poorly the people, especially women and children, just like you, are being treated!  I want to be a voice for the people."

"So, are you a politician then?" I asked skeptically.

"Not yet, but I wish to be!  I wish to make the world a better place." He said, seeming rather proud of himself.

"Well, I would join you on your little quest," I lied "but I'm much too busy with work.  I can't afford to skip even a day."

"I would most certainly pay a handsome wage to whomsoever would be so gracious as to accompany me."

My eyesbrows raised, and my interest grew.

"How handsome of a wage is handsome?"

"You use energy as currency here, correct?"

"Correct."

"Well, would five years be adequate?"

I felt faint. Five years? That's a fortune!

"Make it six and you have a deal."

He looked at me as one would look at a meal too large to eat or a game too hard to win; as a challenge.

He held out his large, rough hand to shake.

"My name is Dinami Sinetos, and you have a deal!"  I hesitantly shook his hand.

"Chara Odynia, and only if my employer allows me to."

"I completely understand!  We must ask him immediately."

I laughed.  "It's the middle of the night!"

"Justice waits for no one!"  He said adjusting his bowler hat.  "We must confront this man as soon as our legs can carry us to him."

He waited at the door of my building impatiently as I packed a carpet bag with a change of clothes. Surely this journey would be no longer than a day or two.

As I jammed dehydrated venison and fruits into the sack, I started questioning myself.

"What are you doing?"  I wondered aloud.  "It's the middle of the night, and you don't even know this man!"

But something about the soft tone of his compassionate voice, and the sincerity in his eyes made me believe that he had not a drop of barbarity in his soul.  An inexplicable confidence was in my heart that he wouldn't hurt me.  Epios was the only other person who had ever made my feel like that.

I rushed outside fully dressed with my bag to my side and a grin on my face.

He took my bag from me and we started walking to the station.

I knew that Skeeler Oteeta wouldn't let me leave, but I had the most desperate of hopes that he would. Something inside of me hoped that I could travel, meet new people, and finally be free of his filthy work.

This strang young man gave me that hope, though only the faintest of glimmers.