Esveldza: 'The Lonely Child of Fire'

Chapter XI- Aftermath

PART TWO- RANNEN

I awoke to a bright light shining through the window of a cream coloured room. My eyes adjusted to see I was in a small room with a bed and a table next to me. Across the room was a rack with clothes on it where a bloody, destroyed mess of what was left of my black dress hung.

At first I wondered what had happened and then memories of last night flooded into my head. I gripped the bed and my teeth clenched the sheets to hide my panicked scream. My body was shaking and tears furiously poured down my face, I felt bile rising up my throat and I threw up over the side of the bed.

Akaiya, for Zaldex’s sake, calm down! Kirrahh roared.

I slowed my breathing and pulled my legs up to my chest, hugging them. “Kirrahh… what have I done?” I sobbed aloud, crying into the sheets.

Pull yourself together! You have not caused all bad- you killed those who had wronged you and stopped the war. Geigan and Forban will not attack each other for many years to come. As for now, you have stayed in this city too long, you need to get out, there is nothing left for you here. Kirrahh’s voice, although at first was commanding soon turned into a soft rumble.

I nodded to myself, getting out of the bed. The medics had healed my wounds and clothed me in some white shorts and a top. I took the dress and opened up the window. I was on the second floor so I jumped and broke my fall with my extra arms.

I sprinted back to my house. There was very few people, I guessed people were either cowering in their houses, recovering from wounds, helping clean up… or dead. I almost gagged when I reached the Eerns family’s house. Their family’s bodies had not yet been removed, dried blood and inards were left littered across the floor and their stench was filling up the house. I tried to hold my breath and threw the dress on them. I walked to the study and smashed open the safe, taking all the money in a bag. I went upstairs and grabbed some pants I had along with a brown shirt. I went back down and set their bodies on fire along with the dress. As their bodies burned I told myself the memories I had with them would burn too.

I ran to Samre’s house and took a quick shower. I changed into the clothes I brought and grabbed my cloak along with my bow and arrows. I pulled the cloak over my head, covering most of my face. I was about to leave when I stopped. I picked up the photo frame and put it in my bag along with my dragon toy.

There was one more place I wanted to visit before I left.

I left the house and sprinted down to the south gate. I was huffing when I reached there and it was closed. A guard stood in the way. He looked down up my from the gate operator.

“What is your business?” He called down from the wall, he looked tired and drained. It must have been really difficult for him to have to guard the wall without even a rest from the war.

“I want to pay my respects before I leave.” I called back up to him. He nodded knowingly and opened the gate.

I ran through and down to the cemetery. Three giant cathedral’s stood, the first one was full with bodies and the second one was almost full. You could be buried outside or in the cathedral. I walked in between two of the cathedrals and to the outdoor graves. I walked over to the freshly buried ones and soon found Samre’s.

He was next to Staarla, Lukarian and his sister like he had wanted. I bowed to all of them and knelt by Samre’s. I kissed my dragon toy and put it on his grave, a tear rolling down my cheek.

“I am sorry; I tried so hard but ended up twisting what you would have wanted into something terrible. Thank you so much for being my big brother; it will be a while until I return… I really miss you.” It felt as if I was missing something- as if there was more to say but when I opened my mouth to continue no words could be made. I closed my mouth, standing up. I took one last look at the graves before I left hurriedly.