Chapter 12: 12 – Portends

Next morning, before beginning her daily chores, Ruianne met High Mountain. It had been a sleepless night for her. Emotions ran high and her nerves remained on edge. They greeted in her room.

“Delia’ilu Ruianne. How did it go?”

“We have a plan.”

“A good one!?” He had to be sure.

She sighted. “Yes.”

Enthusiasm shined across his face. Ruianne proceeded to tell him about the plan she had devised with X.

“It’s the best shot we have...” High Mountain couldn’t contain his excitement. “We can do this!”

“We’ll plan... carefully, and yes, the slaves...”

“Finally.”

Years after having fallen into human hands, this city slaves would be freed. A rush coursed through their bodies, their spirits lifted after such a splendid realization.

“What about Ekk’s?” Head Slave-Butler Gnome had his concerns about the crazy one.

“He’s not going to live through it. Or you think he will?” answered Ruianne.

“Survive the duel? Zero chance. But then, why? You think he’s hiding something else?”

“He truly believes he can escape. If nothing changes this perception, no, I don’t think he will endanger our plan.” Ruianne had thought about this the whole night.

“It’s a good plan. And what about the signal?”

“He told me to wait for it during the duel. Something unusual, maybe... but I don’t know if he can deliver.”

“The signal being during the duel is the best timing.”

“And if he doesn’t give it, then we will.”

“It can’t be at the beginning, we need everyone to be focused... lost in their spectacle.”

“Then let it be... His dea- defeat will do. I’ll cast it then.”

“Good.”

“It’s getting late. We’ll have to leave the details for later. And High Mountain, not a word of this to anybody.”

“My mouth is shut.”

“Oh, and take these portends to him.” Ruianne produced one bluish and one turquoise.

“Eh?”

“He wanted those in exchange for the plan.”

“Really?”

“Who knows why? He can’t use magik.”

After giving both glowing rocks to High Mountain, each one carried on with their planned activities. Head Slave-Butler Gnome arrived at X's cell.

“Hey, get ready to do your duties.”

“And here I was having a pleasant dream.” X yawned as he got up from his cell’s cold floor.

“By the way, here are the two portents you wanted.” High Mountain handed him both magik rocks.

“You beasts do keep your word.”

“If we are beasts, what does that make you?”

“Smarter than you sorry lot.”

“You know... it doesn’t matter. What do you want those portends for anyway?”

“To see if you beasts keep your word.”

Trying to engage and keep a conversation going with the elf exhausted him. Head Slave-Butler Gnome unlocked his cell’s door.

“I’m upstairs, don’t be late.”

But this morning X ran late. At first High Mountain thought he had gone back to sleep and came down to his dungeon cell once again. Nothing. Desperation set in. Head Slave-Butler Gnome searched everywhere without telling anyone, not to raise suspicion. He found no trace of X, his mind hurt while his hands jittered. He ran late on his own duties.

“Frieldra’s hammer be damned! Where is the elf?”

It wasn’t only his duty, nor the whole plan hanging from a thread, it was his own skin on the line. After being promoted to Head Slave-Butler one of his new responsibilities consisted in overseeing all the slaves. One slave missing meant his head threaded the dangerous territory of it being dislodged from his body. He needed to find him by all means before his head rolled. Around midday, when he had decided to raise the alarm, he found X soaked in paint, green and blue.

“You! I almost raised the alarm- Holy damn, what happened to you?”

“I was cleaning the Lords’ bathroom when the Lady’s makeup fell over me. And I tried cleaning it... it took me the whole morning!”

“What- Why? You know it’s me who does it!... Never mind. Go wash yourself and I’ll finish cleaning it. And don’t go missing again!”

X washed himself clean on the servants bathroom and proceeded with his semblance of work.

At dusk Lord Derreick appeared in his chambers, he wanted to be sure X would make it to the duel. He found him exhausted but managed to exchange several words with him. After their conversation, Lord Derreick left the mansion striding into deserted alleys. By nightfall the mansion quieted down. Time kept slipping away and two nights remained before X’s duel. He had a lot on his plate, he made an all or nothing bet on his life, it’d always been.

[Two nights until redemption.]

“You too? I’ve had enough for today.”

[Hope dies last.]

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“You fu-” He desisted from uttering such a coarse word, he could do better. “You know that if I go, you go too, don’t you?”

Another voice cut through the dense darkness.

“This is really how you speak to yourself.” The young Lady made her appearance.

“What can I say, I have my charms.”

She smiled. “Did you thought about me? About the other day?”

“I don’t want to get your hopes up, but no. There’s this more pressing matter...”

“Your impending death is close, so... within grasp.”

X looked at the young girl before him.

She really enjoys the drivel coming out of her mouth.

“It’s not bad, considering it’s not the first time I’m at death’s row.”

“Ohh... experienced are we.”

“In more ways than you can imagine.”

She loved talking to this one. This elf was different from what she usually indulged in. A shame he had to go, the young Lady lamented.

“Talk is easy,” she flirted back.

X observed her self indulgent behavior and saw in her twisted eyes an opportunity. An idea formed, a way to kill two birds with one stone and if worst came to pass, at least he’d be entertained in his last moments.

“Anyway, how old are you?”

“Eighteen, next month is my nineteen birthday.”

“Is it?”

“Perfect marriage age or thus people are always sure to remind me.”

“This being the case... I’m going to present you with the best gift someone can give a... well cemented girl like you.”

“I’m listening.” She giggled in expectation.

“Not tonight, tomorrow night. The last night of this elf. All night long, until there’s nothing but sweaty mangled bodies. You’d be the last meal of your one night death row slave. How does that sounds?”

If her face used to lean into the demented side, then it turned downright psychotic.

“Mhmmmm!” Several scenarios crossed her mind. “Not bad...,” she said her goodbye with a motioned kiss. “Not bad at all.” And disappeared upstairs. Urgent matters.

“Rest at last!”

Visions of blood, conquer and women filled his dreams.

His last full day as a slave, culminating the following morning in either his death or freedom, began like any other. High Mountain came for him, duties awaited. He took several cleaning tools from the storeroom and instead of doing his duties he went directly towards Leandro’s room.

“Head Slave-Butler Gnome? Come in.” After what happened the day before yesterday Leandro didn’t expect to see X anymore.

“Oh-” The boy found himself in an awkward situation. His emotions swayed between shame and anger.

“Young Lord Leandro!” X shouted right off the bat with the friendliest tone he could muster. “What are we waiting for?” he proceeded, the boy’s puzzled face stared right back at him.

“You want out?” No response from the young Lord. “You really want out!?” The excited, commanding tone of the elf moved Leandro’s emotions, something stirred inside. Yesterday was old news. “Grab your relic and show it to me, show it to yourself!” X didn’t relent. “That day I didn’t doubt your courage nor your determination, I’m ashamed to accept it but I was only looking after myself. But you are a true Lord, you didn’t say anything to your father. Do you want to know the secret I found? You’re not going to believe this! A way out! You’ll love it, come, bring your relic. We’re going out!”

X excitement overwhelmed Leandro. “We’re going now?!”

“Only to test it, the real deal comes in the morning of my duel! I’ve found a way.”

“How!? Where?” Dreams could no longer stay simple visions, both excitement and nervousness assailed him.

“I’ve seen it, I... escaped the mansion today! You won’t believe all the trouble I went through!”

“What?!”

“It’s not far. Let’s go!”

“Damn! I’ll get my relic!” X’s excitement infected Leandro and the boy swam along his flow. Leandro reached his desk, unlocking his treasure box with a noisy click.

“Aahhhhgghh!”

A sudden sharp pain drilled X’s stomach making him fall down. Lord Leandro turned around and ran towards the elf’s side, his serious face filled with concern.

“Is everything alright!? Hey!”

With his words cracking X spoke. “... call... for... Head... Butler... Arghhh! Aaahh!”

While X crawled in pain, Leandro exited his chambers calling for Head Slave-Butler Gnome. High Mountain heard him and ran towards him. He found Leandro waiting by the door and X rolling in pain.

“Young Lord... w-what happened?”

Leandro explained X’s sudden collapse, he kept complaining of a sharp pain in his stomach. Head Slave-Butler Gnome excused himself and X from the young Lords’ chamber and took X downstairs to his cell.

“Are you alright?”

“This body sucks! I’ll be fine...”

“You better be! Everything depends on you!” High Mountain’s teeth grated against each other.

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