Kratz

22

                Bas cried until he was out of tears. When he was out of tears, he moaned. When he lost his voice, he shook. When he no longer shook, he slept.

The next day he woke up under a shadow. Above him stood a massive crowd of Leponese slaves. In fact, every single one of them was present. They had come to do their everyday work until a couple of them crossed the town square. Commoners who had lived in the town had already left. They too had seen what happened and immediately moved north to the nearest town to give word. Also, to hide. Bas had slayed both armies, and their commanders. No one dared to challenge him, not even the slaves.

Instead they looked at him with great fascination, and fear. One of them, a woman, stepped forward to Bas who in turn stood up. She was incredibly old. Her hair was gray but headed white. She was thin too, very thin. Though she appeared weak she stood proudly with her chest out to Bas. He looked into her fading eyes calmly. She investigated his.

"What is your wish for us, Master?" she asked.

"I have no wish," he croaked. His throat was sore and still hadn't regained full strength.

"You command us, Master."

"Nay. I command none, you are free," he said quietly, looking back down at Cleo. Several Leponese slaves had overheard him. Excited whispers began to spread through the crowd quickly.

"Free?" she asked, raising a white eyebrow.

"Yes, all of you are free," he spoke up. The woman looked around at the bodies littering the road. Though the slaves had heard him they still didn't move a muscle. Not even one of them. Many believed it be a trick.

"Who slayed these men?" the woman asked. Bas realized it was still quite confusing to them and they didn't understand what had really happened.

"I." The Leponese began whispering louder and the woman's eyes opened wider than Bas believed them capable.

"You are a Diamond Guard, you betray the Commoners?" she asked, surprised. Bas looked down at Cleo again.

"They executed the one I loved," he whispered. Finally, the woman understood.

"Your deed was just," she said," I thank you many times." But Bas shook his head.
"Nay... this was of anger." Several other Leponese slaves stepped forward nervously and whispered into the woman's ear. She nodded and looked at Bas while the slaves stepped back into the crowd.

"The Leponese wish to kiss your hand for their freedom," she relayed. Bas looked down at his hands which were covered in blood. Another slave stepped forward. A boy not too much older than him. He offered Bas a piece of cloth. Bas took it and nodded to him before wiping off one of his hands.

The woman stepped closer and got down on her knees. She reached for his cleaned hand and Bas reluctantly let her take it. Then she kissed it.

Every Leponese slave in the town would line up behind her. One by one they stepped forward, got on their knees, and kissed his hand. This went on for nearly an hour. Bas said nothing. Some slaves said a few words of praise before kissing him. Bas didn't know what to do or what to say. He was a hero in their eyes. The boy who freed them. Only then did he realize what freedom truly meant. It was everything. What he had done was from a place of anger. Never had he envisioned it would result in such happiness.

Forever he had been taught to despise the Leponese. Hate their very existence. But he learned that day they possessed humanity. They were no different than him. Their nature was identical. Bas had not been that close to Leponese people before. Not that he could remember. Until that day. Each of them had thanked him. Kissed his hands while dry blood still coated his fingers. Called him their savior. Bas did not feel like a savior. He didn't care much for the praise either, but he understood. All their lives they were treated poorly. Bas hardly understood freedom, much less anything but training. Cleo had been his freedom. She was the light in his life. Now he was theirs. But Bas would deny the role.

Once he truly realized what he had done, he was disgusted with himself. Though the Leponese were happy with it, he was not. Blood. Bodies. Death. When the Leponese began their move east, he joined them. Only falling in line with the others. Leaderless, free, and hopeful. They walk through the fields, bidding them goodbye. Then passed the mountains where Bas took one last look at the barracks perched among them. Without hesitation he turned his attention forward as they moved into the woods. Heading east for a better life. Bas promised himself he would not miss the town, or the people within it. That was the only way he could cope.

He'd also make a promise never to fight again. The damage he had done was far too great. His anger had gotten the better of him. Moving forward, he would begin a new life. Alone. All his life he was told he was special. Strong and powerful. But Bas was very tired. He no longer wanted to fight. He wanted to be free. He wanted to be happy.