In Huck's Hands

Bonus Young Huck Chapter: Am I Insane?!; Part 1

"Get off of me!" Dennis released another fit of awkwardly cracked responses, just as my left fist slammed into his ribs and then pinned him with my other elbow. I hated him so much, my older cousin was a loud and useless elitist with no sense of fun. I dropped my advantage to slip back into a guarded stance that Aiko had just taught me recently, letting the cold ebony tiles of the Mauve Palace allow my feet to glide back in an almost charicatature-like fashion of a native Buritian warrior.

"Give me back the—Hey!" My demand was cut short by the little SandSkimmer running for his life down toward the western wing with unprecedented pace...Most likely to tell my father of my doings, or worse, Kash's mother. I couldn't allow him to tarnish my entire last week of obligatory pleasantries and forced manner trainings by Haige just because of his lack of appreciation for slap-cheek comedy like I do.

The blinding glass murals of my Father and Grandfather that stained the inner halls of the upper balconies stared disapprovingly of me in my pursuit down the stairs and into the slightly crowded lobby of the Vascan court.

I did not expect there to be as many people as there were, but for some reason, the entire room was filled with members of the Old World empire of Vascaria. Many of the aging men had deep scarring that made them look imposing to most, I saw this as a show of their lack of real combat after learning of their pampered means of whipping themselves with blades; A facade of brave men literally only skin deep.

"Ah, if it isn't my favorite nephew...What has you in such a hurry?" I had caught the attention of my Uncle, Tariq'Vascaria, to my dismay. His fevered red eyes gracing my own with a profound lack of humanity that shook me to my core. "I wish to offer my condolences for the Queen's death...And your 'Aunt' Bala."

His smile crept upward making the corners of his slim eyes crease to razors, the eyebrowless man refused to break eye contact. "Your favorite? I am your only nephew, I'm just looking for Dennis." Trying to dismiss him was a feat of its own without the glare of so many members of both Vascan and Vascarian officials in the highest tiers of power left after the fall of the Vascarian empire years ago.

The only true distinction between the sister cultures was how they dressed. My own Vascan people wore much lighter and eccentric markations of our desert conquest of Buriti, the Old World Vascarians were much more entrenched in their ways of that came from the flooded plains of their motherland; Opting to dress in water-wicking garbs that claimed many green and blue hues lacking much reason without any watery pond scum to blend with. "You are not my only—Nevermind, do you not know what today is?"

I took a moment to pick at the small scab that had formed under my elbow after a sparring session with Aiko. "It must be something," My eyes clicked to each of the other 9 members of the Old Guard that surrounded my uncle Tariq. "Interesting, if you came all this way..." The room went silent, the bearded men seeming to all huff and grunt in their own ways at my response.

"It is the Evening of Searing, your father is to be tested by Dhira for his right to rule! Has he not been teaching you correctly of the Lord's burning light?" I may have been dull and already fighting my growing need for liquor rather than conversation, but I knew my uncle was attempting to use me as a tool to foment more disloyalty in his brother in law.

I did not care what today was, I did not care if they had flown thousands of miles to mock us as they coveted our throne. I cared about getting my vengeance on Dennis for absconding with my morning fig-tart, it vexed me so deeply that it had forced me to begin to sweat. "Yes, of course! I will be attending shortly," My body performed a mock bow, though I wanted to punch the man's ballsack and run. "We all should be more like Dhira."

"NONE ARE LIKE DHIRA!" I nearly jumped at how loud Tariq's voice became, the octaves deepening as they bounced off the high ceilings of the Mauve Palace's gold-lined courtroom. "You still know nothing of god...How will you rule with justice and measure, you—" I pretended to flinch while escaping quickly behind the hanging carpet that hid a servant tunnel.