Writer's Recipe vol. 4 (2019)

THE VEIL

Written by : Muhammad Hilman bin Mohd Radzi

"Watch out for the front lines!" one of the soldiers shouted. Percy was hesitant but he had no choice but to go with the rest of his fellow soldiers. Secretly, he was hoping he wouldn't be targeted by an enemy. Ahead of him, a soldier was fighting valorously even though there was a sword piercing through his body. Percy on the other hand was lying on the ground, playing possum amidst the sea of dead bodies.

"Why would anybody send a coward like him to war?" the soldiers discussed when they returned to camp to patch their injuries. Percy, who came back completely unscathed was sitting on his own, away from the others. He let out a long sigh, "What a day. I would not have been here if it wasn't for you Quin."

In truth, every noble family in the kingdom had to send at least one person as a soldier for the war. However, the Anderson family only had one son – Percy Anderson. His father knew Percy wasn't a warrior – he could barely hold a sword correctly - but he had no choice but to send him, or the entire Anderson Manor would be in great humiliation. Naturally, Percy rejected the idea, but when his father mentioned that he would object to his marriage with Quin unless he agreed to go to war, Percy relented.

* * *

"Finally, after five years, I'm back!" Percy's face lit up as he stepped off the ship onto the dock of Ruby Kingdom. Anderson Manor situated in another town which was quite far from the dock. Using what little money he had, Percy purchased a horse and galloped towards his home. He was dying to see his family again. And of course, Quin. He could not have expected what was waiting for him there.

Percy could not believe his eyes. Even from afar, he could see the Anderson Manor and the town surrounding it was now in ruins. "Quin! Quin! Where are you?" he called her name desperately. The only reply he received was the hollow echoes of his own voice. Everyone there must have fled elsewhere, or... Percy shook his head. Even the thought of it sent shivers down his spine. He continued riding towards Anderson Manor, hoping against hope that his family could still be there.

Anderson Manor which was once adorned with golden decorations and precious antiquities was now but a shadow of its former self. Percy's heart sank. He was seething with anger. Who would do such a thing, he wondered. With a heavy heart, he drifted away from Anderson Manor towards the nearest town for information.

* * *

The two words that he heard from the priest's mouth shook him. The King.

"Why would he do such a thing? I knew him well as a great and just king."

"People change young man," replied the older man, simply.

Other than destroying the town and manor, the King had pronounced the entire Anderson family dead. Percy was now the sole survivor of the Anderson bloodline. He wondered if Quin suffered the same fate. Revenge was the only thing that occupied his mind. But how?

"Ah, but there is one other survivor from the Anderson massacre...," the priest said out of the Blue. Percy's heart jumped. Quin? "The swordmaster, Richard." The captain of the Anderson family guard wasn't the answer that Percy was hoping, but then an idea jumped into his mind.

"Point me to his directions."

* * *

Percy found Richard at a very isolated place in the deepest part of the forest. He persuaded the swordmaster to help train and aid him in his quest for vengeance against the cruel king. As they both thirst for revenge against a common enemy, Richard immediately agreed.

The days quickly turned into months. Along with the experience from the war, he became stronger and more agile with each passing day. He was now so nimble that it was as if the eyes could not even catch his shadows. His graceful art of swordsmanship allows him to pierce metal armour with ease. Richard nodded proudly, acknowledging the astounding speed at which Percy had improved. He was ready to avenge his family and his betrothed.

"What is this? Are you getting married?" Percy joked when Richard handed him a black veil.

"It was to be the veil for your betrothed. It is tradition of the Anderson family that the bride wears a black veil."

Truthfully, Percy had no idea of such tradition but he took the veil and held it tight. He could picture Quin wearing it on their wedding day. Fury took over his heart. With trembling arms, he wrapped the piece of cloth tightly around his head, covering his face.

"You WILL kill the King," Richard pronounced.

Percy looked long and hard at the sword in his hand.

"Who said anything about killing?"

* * *

"Catch him! Don't let him get away with the gold!" the guards were in an uproar as Percy leaped across the rooftops of the city with the grace of an acrobat.

The once secure treasure vaults in the city seemed to be losing their contents every day when the vigilante known as The Veil started appearing. Percy had no need for the gold - by night he was the masked criminal who was giving guards throughout the kingdom much trouble, but by day he was donating his 'income' to the poor. Percy the Generous, they called him on the streets. But all that was just preparation for the greatest heist the kingdom had ever witnessed.

It was a starless night. Darkness had completely veiled the kingdom. It was the opportunity that Percy had been waiting for. Guards had doubled since The Veil began his activity. He took a deep breath. His objective tonight was the King's vault.

Although the castle was heavily guarded, Percy managed to slip through the walls unnoticed. Carefully, he crept through the castle's defences until the vault doors was within his view. He peered at the lone guard in front of the door. Thinking his eyes were playing tricks on him, he rubbed his eyes. He looked again. Twice. And the a third time.

"Quin?!" he almost shouted.

Percy was at a crossroad. He could go for the vault as he had planned, or he could just disappear quietly with his beloved Quin. If he took the gold, he would surely have to sacrifice Quin for his quest of revenge. If he chose her, all of his plans and training would go to waste.

"What should I do?" Percy gruntled in desperation.

* * *

"Percy?!" Quin couldn't believe what was happening. Just a while ago she was guarding the King's vault, and now she was holding Percy's hand - the hand of the man she thought had died years ago. Percy and Quin snuck out of the castle as swiftly and stealthily as he had come in. Then, together they went to the place where he promised to meet Richard.

His master was wide eyed to see Percy with Quin. Especially when she was wearing the castle guard's uniform.

"Why would bring her? She would ruin our plan! And what of the gold?" he was fuming.

"I can't lose her. Not again," Percy replied curtly.

"I knew I should've let you die," Richard said menacingly while pointing his sword towards Quin.

"What? What do you mean," said a confused Percy.

" I was the one who convinced your father to rebel and kill the King, but he failed. Just as you had failed," Richard said vilely.

Charged with emotion, Percy drew his sword and jumped at the traitor. Sparks were flying as their swords clashed. Although they were both equally skilled, Percy, the younger and stronger of them, and driven by intense rage eventually began to get the upper hand. Richard, realising he was about to lose, went towards Quin and used her as hostage. He thought that it would stop Percy's vicious attacks. But Richard was wrong. Blinded by fury, Percy leaped and thrust his sword.

The blood which splattered on Percy's face had finally brought him to his sense. His hand trembled uncontrollably. For the first time in his life, he had killed another person.