The Dubrovzkan Half Breed

IV

Tawnya was facing me when I walked up to her.

"Ah, good, you're here." she said. "I need you to take care of Viktor Romanov over there. He's got a head wound that could use some cleaning and bandages."

I nodded and went to the injured man. My stomach twisted when I saw him. His hair was matted with blood and his eyes looked vacant, almost like he was dead. I swallowed and began unpacking my supplies for the job.

When I went to clean the wound, his eyes suddenly focused and he looked over at me. I jumped, accidentally slapping the wound with the alcohol soaked cloth. He grunted and his tallow-white face beaded with cold sweat.

I was very still for a moment before I continued my work and finally reached for the bandages. I wound them tightly around his head, but I could still see red through the white strips. Nervous, I swallowed hard and looked back for Tawnya. "Tanya?" I called. "Could you take over? It looks like he may need something for a concussion..."

Tawnya zipped past me. "Humph, he's in a mild state of shock. Get a blanket while I do a little work here."

I turned around the corner and knelt down at a cabinet where I found a gray blanket. My blue eyes focused on it for a moment, reflecting on something I'd seen a while ago:

A former-Chedrihan wanderer came through Dubrovzka nearly a year before, carrying with him many trinkets from other lands. Among them was a large gray banner with a gigantic "T" embroidered on it for the Gombostonian Emperor, Tyranio Beauregard. At its top, there were many frayed threads where the man said he had cut it down on his way out of Gombostan.

It was certainly a surprise to me that anyone could get away with that; cutting down a national flag that honored someone of great power like Emperor Beauregard. From what mum told me, Gombostonians were very proud of themselves and their beliefs; cutting down and stealing a banner, surely, would get you pursued at least to the border of the Empire's lands, wouldn't it? And if they caught you, what a mess that would be, I'm sure.

"Are you coming with that blanket, Rani?" Tawnya called.

Surprised that I was still squatting there starting at a blanket, I stood up and turned around.

I turned right into Aleksi who was sneaking another swig from his flask. He stumbled back, choked on his vodka and dropped the flask to the floor. The clear yet strong-smelling liquid bubbled out of the container.

"You fool girl!" he snapped, eyes blazing dangerously. "Watch where you're going next time. And you ought to actually do your job instead of day dreaming." he growled. "You know, I'm pretty sick of this; you're nothing but a thorn in my side! You're dismissed!"

My eyes rounded. "But, sir, it was only an accident. I didn't mean to bump into you, honest! And, I wasn't trying to daydream, I was just... Look, I-I'll, I'll do whatever you need, Herr Varshavsky, just, pazhalusta, don't send me-"

His hand pulled back as if he were about to strike and I jumped as far back as I could. I didn't realize he was only about to harshly gesture at the door. "Get out, half breed! No one needs a Gombostonian whore's daughter running around under foot."

With tears in my eyes I brushed past him, dropped the blanket on Viktor's lap and hurried out of the quarters. Once I was outside, I looked for some place to hide. Even though the punishment would only last a day, it was the shame that hung on so much longer. I made it back to my barracks, shut the door and let myself fall apart. I hated feeling like I was only ever a screw up. My shoulders trembled and I slid to the floor.