Chapter 8: Chapter 8

Pov Finn

 

I slowly open my eyes; It's still dark. Did I open my eyes already? Where am I? The memories are slowly coming back. Right, I might have fucked things up a bit. I reach for my right side, or at least, I try to. I can't move my hands, and when I do, they rattle. The air smells earthy like I'm in a basement. "Ah, man. I'm in prison."

Prison? Why does it feel so familiar? When did I go to jail before? I'm trying to dig for memories, but my head starts to ache. I push harder, and the pain gets more intense. Finally, I remember a small cell with a window with bars. Under the window is a dirty mattress. I try to move closer to the window, but the pain gets stronger until it's unbearable.

Was it in my old life? I want to know more about it. But I don't get a chance. A door opens, and light shines on my face, and with it, a smell of something disgusting. Who took a shit in front of my room? "Good morning, sunshine." Says a high-pitched voice.

"And the same to you," I answer him. "So, are you here to let me out?"

"Pa-he-he-he. You're a funny one. We're going to have a good time." Why does it sound like I'm going to stay? Finally, my eyes got used to the light.
In the door stands a man. He's short, probably as big as a Goblin. I study him as he does the same.

The torch cast a bit of light on him from time to time. In his left hand, he holds a key. The skin on his face and head is burned. It scarred a long time ago, and the hair never grew again. His eyes appear like they could fall out any second.

"Are you done watching? I have work to do. Your name?"

"Ryan." I'm definitely not going to leave soon.

"Your full name! Next time you don't answer my questions right, you will get hurt." Now he has my full attention. I don't like pain.

"Ryan. Ryan Reynolds. Can I have something to drink? Please."

"What an unusual name. Where do you come from?"

"Everywhere. The forest is my kitchen, the trees are my bed, and the rivers my bathroom." 'Thud', my head got hit by something. I shake the pain away. "Okay, relax. I'm homeless. I just wander around and do some small jobs here and there."

"Aha, Ryan Renolds is a bum. What are you doing in Jade?"

"A job to escort the merchants."

"How do you know the princess?"

"I don't. Hey, listen, maybe I will remember more if I can have water." 'Thud', this time, my head smacks against the wall from the impact. "Holy shit. If you do this a few more times, I will forget my name."

"Last warning. Do. You. Know. The Princess?" His voice is so high all the dogs ran away.

"No, I do not know the princess."

"Then why ask her about her father? Do you know him?"

I have to take this seriously, all of this. I'm not in a game or something. This is real life; I could die if I give him the wrong answer. "How can I know a dead person? It's all a big misunderstanding. I was trying to help."

"How do you know the Unlimited Trades merchants?"

"I told you. I was doing an assignment. After, I asked the leader if I could join them at the auction."

"Why?"

"I don't know. It sounded interesting." He then turns around and locks the door. I'm not getting any water. My hands are uncomfortable. How long am I here anyway? Does it even matter?

I need to figure out how to get out of here. Can I hope that Mia gets me out? Most likely, no. Maybe Bonny? Although, he did disappear at a convenient time. I hope he isn't part of this, but who knows.

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Someone is on the other side of the door. I hear the key slide into the lock and the click when it unlocks. The small man is revisiting me. This time not empty-handed. He puts his bag on the ground and begins to take out stuff. At first, some vials with liquid. Finally, something to drink. After that, a bucket and then a tiny knife. "That is no water, is it."

"Still funny, are we? Now, I'll talk. You'll answer. This time I brought some motivation with me." I don't think I'll ever get used to his voice. Maybe if he talks enough, the vials with whatever poison is in there will shatter. "Yesterday's talk wasn't... satisfactorily. I hope today you'll be more forthcoming. What did you want at the auction?" He resumes his questioning.

I glimpse at the knife for a second. It reminds me of something but the longer I try to recall, the stronger the headache. I shake my head and answer him. "Like I said, I was with the other merchants to look at the items. I wasn't planning to buy anything and wasn't there to save your Princess. In fact, I didn't know she was one."

He stares at me for a few moments, then steps toward me. "How unfortunate. I liked you because you're funny. It's rare to meet someone like you in my kind of work." He takes the knife out of his pocket and slowly leads it closer to my cheek.

"Wait, please, I told you the truth. It was by chance. I-I only went there because I got friendly with one of the merchants. Believe me. I beg you. The Princess, yes, ask her. She'll tell you." The fun is over. This psycho wants to torture me for information I don't have. Or I won't say. Same shit, for me.

Before the knife pierces my skin, he halts. "Oh, I know. I talked to her." Then, he stabs into my skin and cuts it open from my eye up to my chin. I feel my skin part, and the blood rushes down my face. But I don't make any sound. I won't give him any satisfaction.

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He studies me. I assume he is waiting for a reaction or answer, but he won't get it. I'm trying to talk naturally, yet my voice is shaking anyway.
"Don't you think it's rude that y-you know my name but never introduced y-yourself. I thought the Elves were friendly people. I guess I was wrong."

"Excuse me for not introducing myself. I'm Torsang from the mighty empire of the Goblins and no dirty Elf." Obviously, I didn't expect him to react like this. Even more surprising is that he's a Goblin. I honestly thought he was a Dwarf. My bad.

"Eh, don't worry." I lost my train of thought. Askei told me that they lost the war and perished. So what is a Goblin doing here, and how are there Goblins on the island? Why didn't I think about that earlier?

With a slap, Torsang interrupts my thoughts. "Now that we have this out of the way, let us continue. What relation do you have to Bonny?"

"He's my employer." I'll be fine if he won't ask more about Askei or the Insani Kingdom.

"You met him for the first time in Esaville."

Was that a question? I'm not certain. "Yes." Better to make sure. He stares at me again. Then without a word, he takes the knife and cuts parallel to the first one. "Aah. Fuck me. Why?"

"Where is the Locus Bracelet? My client only wants it back. He doesn't care about the rest." Yeah right. I am trying to decide if he's bad or good at his job. I'm getting pissed. Are there no human rights? Or humanoid rights?

"Never heard of it. So the King can go fuck himself!" Oh Shit. Torsang's eyes jump on me. How can I fix this now? Stupid idiot. Donkey shit.

"Why do you think I work for the king?" At last, his high voice sounds terrifying. I don't have an answer, and he knows it. Now that he found one lie, he'll question everything I told him. I'm fucked.

He grabs the skin between the two cuts with his fingers and starts pulling slowly. In the beginning, I don't feel anything. Then, a moment later, I shriek in pain. I scream and throw up at the same time. He continues holding my head with one hand and tearing my skin down with the other. My eyes roll into my head, and I'm starting to lose consciousness, but the pain awakes me again.

He flings my skin to the ground and stares at me as I scream my lungs out. Minutes go by, with only my screams echoing through the room. Suddenly the pain stops. I lift my head to Torsang and see him standing with an empty vial. Oh oh.

He repeated the same procedure for hours, I think. I passed out way too often, so it's hard to tell. He never asked a single question. And I have never said a word. After god knows how long, he left. Perhaps he was out of vials. I win this round, but I don't know if I'll survive the next.

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Pov Jela

 

Insani Kingdom

Work is going great, and the new guy will ask me out soon. But I'm not ready just yet. It's almost funny how one night can change one's fate. It has been six years. But it feels like yesterday when he dragged me to his...

"Jela. Stop dreaming. We have to clean the sleeping quarters and get the banquet ready." Sofia calls to me. It's been a little over a year since we started working together. Today after the feast, a small but crucial meeting will be held. At least, it's what I heard from the others.

We're returning from the sleeping quarters when we meet the head maiden. "Jela, Sofia, what took you so long. We're short on time, and the first guests will arrive soon. Come, now." So all three of us move to the part of the castle where the celebrations are held. Over one hundred servants run around with -chairs, dishes, food, drinks, and decorations. Everything must be perfect because all the most important figures will attend today.

We made it with some time to spare. "When was the last time the three dukes came to Varuna simultaneously?" I ask Sofia.

"Years. Now come Jela. I have a special task for you." The head maiden answers instead. While the festival is being celebrated, I have to get the preparations for the after-meeting ready. Unlike the main event, which is held in a massive hall with big windows to either side with an overview of the capital, the private after-party is held in a small room. No windows, no decoration, just one table and comfortable chairs around it.

Only the head maiden, Alice, and I are allowed to serve at the gathering. Alice is one of the most trusted people the King has around himself. I even heard rumors that she works directly for him. But no one knows for sure. Why me too? That's a story for later.

The Duchess of the east, Olivia Custos, arrives first. Followed by the Duke of the south, Mallory Satqin, and the Duke of the west, Leroi Anasazi. Everyone stands before their seats. At last, King Owen Insani arrives with his secondborn, Albert Insani Satqin, and his Chamberlain and most trusted advisor, Alexander Blaze. Only after the King sits down do the others follow.

"Let us begin," Owen declares. "We'll discuss today the advancing threat coming from the Dark Elves. Alexander, if you would tell us more about it."

"Yes, your majesty. One week ago, an assassination was attempted on Princess Mia Vinea. The culprits were part of the Unlimited Trades Group. The attempt failed because of a mercenary who was there by chance. As the merchants were part of the Satqin household, I presume they will know more." He reports and turns to Mallory.

"I don't know more than you do. Only two of mine went with the group. Do we know who of them tried to kill her?" Mallory doesn't react to the blatant accusation. I heard that they're always like this.

This time the King speaks, "Three of the merchants tried to kill her at the auction with the Blood weeper. The names we have, are Peter, Alan, and Felix. They're fake names, so we have no leads. Also, your merchants are missing at the moment. Clearly, it was an attempt to gather more support for the war against us. A third party must be involved. What I don't understand is how are they planning to attack? Between us are the Dwarfen mountains, but the Dwarfs will never support a war."

"Thanks to the mercenary, we have more time to prepare. Is an attack over the sea possible?" Mallory asks.

Alexander answers him, "It's not. The Elves don't like the sea, so they would never build a fleet." I leave the room to get the prepared food and drinks. I didn't know the Elves are planning to attack us. When I return, the Prince is saying, "...we have to strike first. Move the destruction to them." I walk around the table and distribute the food and drinks.

"My son, war is never a good thing. They need a way to move significant forces to our lands. So, for now, we're going to wait. That's it for now."

"Yes, your majesty."

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