The Rose Anthology

Son Of The Dead(ZombieHorde)

“Promise you'll stop the monsters, mister Rose?”

“Anything for you, Riss.”

The girl laughed. “You forgot my name again, mister Rose. It's Tish. T-i-s-h.” She sounded like a teacher addressing a very dull student.

“My mistake. Forgive me, R— Tish.” She gave her a satisfied grin.

He smiled at her indulgingly. An elderly man cleared his throat behind him. Rose and Tish glanced at the aging alchemist. He stretched a small bottle wrapped in dark polythene to Rose. “The brew's in it. Highly volatile and potent like you wanted.” Rose gave a nod and accepted it.

“If I may, you have to be extremely cautious when administering it to the First Mother. Even thrown from a distance, you could still get caught in it's range,” the alchemist informed Rose, a frown accentuating the creases on his forehead as well as the worry lines on his face.

“I can be cautious, good sir.” Rose patted his shoulder reassuringly. It didn't seem to work. I can be cautious but I'm not going to promise to be cautious.

Rose turned his smile to the alchemist's granddaughter. “Tish,” she smiled when he got her name right, “I'll be taking my leave now and I'll keep my promise to you.”

She did something he wasn't expecting. Tish held his face and planted a kiss on his forehead. The taken aback look on his face definitely amused her. Rose shook his head as he left the shop.

***********

Rose squinted in the glaring midday sunlight, barely able to make out a dark mass north of his scouting position atop a ruined watchtower. The emperor's legion no doubt, a fact he discerned from the constant reflection of light from polished breastplate.

He hissed in irritation before turning his eyes away. The sun always messed with his vision, even the hat wasn't helping. He reached beneath his dusty brown coat for a looking glass, placing a hand over it to prevent it from reflecting the light.

An army quickly zoomed into his vision. Red polished breastplates, the great horned goat insignia crested on it. The emperor's legion. They were holding a position by a stream that was quicky turning red and black on account of the butcher's bill. The undead horde were throwing themselves senselessly at the emperor's men. They died by the second at the bloody tips of halberds. The line was beginning to show signs of strain at the right flank. Someone has to reinforce that side soon, or they'll be having a real problem in their hands.

His nostrils picked up a familiar scent. Rose placed his hand on his sword's hilt as he spun swiftly.

“You,” he said calmly.

“Hello Rose.”

Rose did his best to not sigh. “What are you doing here? I thought I made myself clear the last time we met.”

She ignored his question. “I'm actually curious what brought you all the way out here. To the best of my knowledge the emperor didn't hand out any bounty for the First Mother's head. So what could compel a man as selfish as yourself to come here? Surely it's not because you want to save the empire and her people.”

Why was he here? That was a question he'd been avoiding to answer. “I've been called a lot of things.”

“But never selfish?”

“Especially selfish.” He briefly glanced in the direction of the fighting. “Why are you here, Zephyr? I do not believe it's because you wish to aid me.”

She smiled. Her purple eyes twinkled with mischief. “You might be surprised.”

Rose stroked his chin, it was rough to the touch. Should shave after this. “And what would be the price should I take you up on your offer?”