A Dash of Blue

In which a debt is collected

                                                     Throw roses into the abyss and say;

'here is my thanks to the monster who did not succeed in swallowing me whole'

                                                               Friederich Nietzsche

Thania was a country well known for its military force, a long line of relentless leaders, or Kanslers as they called them, had formed this stringent country and Khrystler was no different.

She was known to be harsh almost to the point of being rigid, her reign had been characterized by the rigorous laws that were passed under her rule. Punishments and atonements for crimes had skyrocketed and as had the taxes.

However, the money that was being taken as taxes seldom found its way back to the working class. And while their conditions and wages remained unregulated, the poorest people suffered under her rule.

While Khrystler's policies was met with animosity in the poverty-stricken east part of Thania, many of the high born felt the country prospered under her rule. The military had been on an exponential rise and the nation was being recognized internationally.

The Kansler was in theory democratically chosen, but voting restrictions meant that hardly anyone in the working class had the luxury of democracy. This was the way it had always been, but Saia felt a surge of anger at the sight of Khrystler. Thania might happen to be her country, but this certainly wasn't her Kansler.

The woman in front of her was in her early fifties, she had aged well and her body was toned as it only could be after a lifetime of physical work. Her steel gray hair was cut to perfection, not a single hair was off and her baby blue eyes seemed distant and cold. This was a strategic mastermind and Saia was in no hurry to play with fire.

Her previous greeting still hung in the air, which was thick with anticipation. Finally, a slack smile formed upon the Kansler's face.

"Miss LeBlunt, or I forget is it Mrs. now?" Her words rang out clear in the quiet room.

"Miss will be fine" she took a few steps towards the table.

The men and women around it watched her intensely and a few stepped back as she neared them. They looked like they were ready to jump her but waited for their command. But it did not come.

Khrystler stood still, only her eyes followed her as the lion follows the prey. But Saia had no intention of being eaten.

Then Khrystler spoke again, "You have travelled rather far to be here, I cannot phantom why. But it was foolish of you to come, you cannot escape this time around. You'll be back in that cellar before the morn."

Saia had finally reached the other end of the table, she looked down at her hands not speaking. She stood directly before Khrystler.

"Do you intent to kill me?" The Kansler's word didn't waver rather she only sounded curious.

The girl looked up, "no".

Her hand danced over her arm, which was wrapped palm to elbow with a black cloth.

"Not today anyway" she said as she began freeing her right arm of the cloth.

Her arms like the rest of her held the silver signs of old scars and on her right arm, a large black tattoo circled her forearm. But as ugly as the tattoo was, it wasn't the reason why she unfolded the wrapping.

The Kansler looked mildly interested and when her gaze saw the ugly black tattoo on her lower arm, she smiled triumphantly. It was the smile that sent Saia over the edge and gave her next words their volume.