SRθ: Grim Inquiries (2023-2024)

Sit.6: The Traitor's Tower

HEROES & VILLAINS

Each generation toils anew
a spiral mystery
of who killed who for the spoils brewed
and who hurts you and me

certain of face, you'll surely see
the liar is reborn
as each skin cast is quickly shredded
another shields their form

lies will now surround you
is skin becomes the air
its dust gags truth, confounds you
you'll dwell within its lair

All will sting and hurt
yet none will scream or cry
except those who have not yet learned
to take part in the lie

the hero is your loser
the one you've grown to hate
the one you never pity
the one tied to your fate

dear hero, you must listen
our fates rest not on you
but your ability to lead them
the ones who've hated you

To direct and yell is one such skill
that moves the trodden people
but better yet is discipline
an example in the steeple

they'll fight you, yes at first
but win them true you must
it takes more than a single knight
to slay the mighty dust

your fears will not betray you
so listen to them well
but do not entertain them
or you will drink of Hell.

* * *

The Prince's careless treatment of me left me bitter, and agitated. I felt my demon rise, and threaten to smash cups in the night. I breathed my deepest as it yelled with ire into my head: 'HOW DARE HE!', and 'WHO DOES HE THINK HE IS?!', as well as 'WHAT A SPOILED BRAT!!'. My dreams were its playground, where it took out its frustrations on my inner architecture. Finally, I told it to shut up several times, and we went to sleep alone, in the cot we woke up in. As I closed my eyes, I saw my father's face on the demon, then my Grandfather's. Was I being haunted?

When I woke up, I didn't want to go to Oudane. I wanted to climb the valley northwest of us and go back to Morocco, back to the green ground, and back home. I walked into the fire-pit area to see The Prince and The Huntress enjoying coffee together, and laughing. It irked me, knowing he could treat me like a mule in bed and then have her too, after everything her and I had been through. I didn't want to run up and bash his head in with the pot, as my demon suggested. I drowned it out with my own sad idea: walk away before they notice I'm there. I left the hotel, and looked back – they hadn't seen me. I kept walking into the market, where spices in open baskets and fruits in stall boxes gave rise to earthy fragrance, both sweet and exciting. Nobody approached me, which was nice for a change. I traded some coin for a bushel of ziziphus, some dried mangoes and prunes, and some dried guava slices. I stuffed them into my larger pockets, and filled the rest of my inventory space with rolled okra (held tight by rubber bands) and bundles of long-beans (which I had to bend a few times). When I was done stocking up, I filled two wet-skins at the fountain, just in time before a local drunk started pissing in it. It was early in the morning, and he looked to have been up late. As I rolled my eyes, I felt a hand on my back. By the scent, I knew whose it was and seethed.
The Prince cheered, "Up already grabbing food! Good job, mule. We have quite the journey ahead of us today."
I stepped away. "I'm not a mule, and I'm not going with you."
The Prince cocked his head. "You carry weight like a mule, you talk like a jackass, and you walk like your feet are hooves – always afraid to split your toes. I think... you're a mule."
"I'm not going," I repeated.
He grimaced, and for an instant, looked hurt. "What do you mean? Where are you going, then? Into the valleys to lure cats with all your food?"
I shrugged. "I'm not carrying meat or cheese."
His face scrunched with displeasure. "You ARE meat, and you'll be fat as a bird on prunes. You couldn't even cross a few dunes with help, you'll die if you go alone."
I turned to face him, and stared him in the eyes. "So what?! Do you CARE?!"
He socked me in the jaw, and I held my stinging mouth in tears.
He shouted, "Fuck you! I DON'T care, but SHE does! She thinks you are coming with, she is happy, and if you leave now, she will be sad!"
"So?!" I responded. "She can take care of herself, she has YOU!"
"And if you make her sad right before she faces her father, he will KILL her, AND your child."
I shrunk, and everything became bigger than me. "My what?"
He almost cried with frustration. "You don't know men, you don't know women, YOU DON'T KNOW ANYTHING!! You just wander around, in your own world! Yes, YOUR CHILD. The one I will have to raise for you, because you are still a child yourself."
"Hey," I tried to say, "I can take care-"
"NO, you CAN'T," he burst. "You are going HOME. But first, you're coming with US. We have WORK to do."
My stomach couldn't have dropped harder.