Siren

Siren - Chapter 2

Chapter 2

Octavious Stormrider, chief of the Sumoian army, trembled in fury.

"What the bloody hell was that?" Octavious yelled. "You show up out of nowhere, with some Arcadian speaking wench on your horse, and..."

Mallach narrowed his eyes. For the first time in his life, he felt the strong urge to hit his best friend and confidant. He couldn't understand what had overcome him. This man was more of a father to him than his own father had ever been.

"... are you even listening to me Mallach? Wake up! Who is this? Some whore you picked up along the way?"

"Mind your tongue, Octavious." Mallach replied slowly and coldly. "Do not forget to whom you are speaking."

"Orion Reilly, as I recall."

Mallach winced. To that, he turned to Clara.

"Well? Might you explain a bit?"

"I... I learned Arcadian through my father, Orion Reilly. He was a well known merchant in these areas. A philanthropist who prided himself on his education, which he tried to pass on to myself, really, or my actual brother, Edward..."

"It seems he succeeded, Clara." Mallach parried in her defence. "We would never have gotten out alive if it wasn't for you."

"Clara? Should she not be dead on the side of the road Mallach?"

"That she should." Clara shivered. "But, since she speaks Arcadian, I thought she would be an... asset to our traveling party.

"I'm sure you did," replied Octavious briskly. He turned his gaze to Clara, and stared for a moment.

"We will lodge at Terra Ridge overnight. You, however," Octavious paused a moment to let his eyes fall upon her, "will be left behind when we depart." Clara bit her lip. How could she survive with no money? What would she have to stoop to? Cleaning floors? Serving maid? She didn't even want to think of it. Her heart sank. But why? She did not want to stay with him. Mallach was a killer. He was dangerous, a scoundrel...

It seemed as though her first spoken word, his name, had no effect on him whatsoever. She was sure that he was not able to love.

Shortly after midnight, the voices quieted as humans and animals slept. The guards along the western wall of Terra Ridge were awake, though, as Mallach and Octavious made their way to the gates.

"Ho, where do you hail from?"

"Sumoia, ho!" cried Octavious. "I am Octavious Stormrider, chief of the Sumoian army and my charge is..."

"And I'm the king of Sumoia!" he snorted back. "What in god's name would the chief army advisor be doing in this neck 'o the woods?"

The guard continued on, now that he had an audience.

Clara tilted her head back.

"Give him the gold," she said. She wasn't mocking this time. He gulped as he felt her breath against his chin.

"Alright," he mumbled. "But don't think my father supplies me with an allowance of more than two hundred dollars a week." Clara blinked. Two hundred dollars? She could buy back half her land with that much money...

"I'll offer you one hundred dollars, to let us pass safely," shouted Mallach.

The guard snorted.

"Your money means nothing to me, street rat."

Mallach ground his teeth.

"Five hundred." The guard guffawed.

"One thousand."