"Tagia...The mighty city that is relatively close to the borders. It's really ironic when you think of it, Mister Alfred. How am I running from my country to the deadliest and most fearsome enemy of it. The martizian empire". Louis meditated on their status quo.
"Just keep your pride and loyalty low out there. And If you asked me, which won't happen. I would trade your clothes for simple ones" answered Alfred with a smirk on his face. as if he gloated about how things turned out for the prince.
Alfred continued. "Believe me when I say this, prince. King Marcus the fair, knows how to treat his people with dignity better than that oger In the canterpool"
"I heard there was an undetained and unrealistic distance in the behaviour of governance between the two kings. Maybe that's why the two nations never reached an understanding and were always exchanging threats as the flag of war, more than once, was raised up high but it lacked that spark that should ignite it". Said Louis.
"Correct, and for that we-... oh! Why do you look at that... We are here!" Alfred smiled.
"Welcome to TAGIA!" said Alfred proudly, pointing to his home with his head. His voice- indeed was referring to a merry sight as their eyes made contact with its gigantic walls made of the finest stones. So big that Louis questioned if it was made by the hands of men or... something else...
It was about 90 meters high or so. With garrison on the ready above and One sturdy gate in their way. Such awing architecture made Diana consider why her town never had one of those good-looking walls.
The exhausted group felt some refreshment knowing that the Town's gate was less than a mile away and that their long journey had almost reached its end.
"So where is that doctor you said you had?" Diana questioned.
"Only healers" Alfred responded. "Once we reach my house, we will fetch your boy one.
"Just follow me," said the man with a boring tone.
They reached the gate, and the guards halted them and checked for their weapons and identities. Diana's heartbeat began to race; she didn't know how the town citizens would react to seeing the prince of another country entering their front gates.
Fortunately, the journey already erased any traces of wealth from him, plus Alfred's face was well known to the guards, so they allowed all three of 'em to pass on his behalf.
On their way to Alfred's house:
"Hey, what's wrong, my dear?" said Diana with a soft voice while putting her slim hand on Louis's back. She noticed how dull were his eyes.
"Come on, Chins up! I assure you, we will find a way to fix your arm"
"It's is not my arm" he began "I am just worried about your safety"
"Me, Why? I am safe as long as you are by my side" Diana chuckled. Clutching his healthy arm with her thin arms.
"That's what worries me, what if..."
"Hey," she halted him. "You think too much, that you forgot we were sharing this burden together, remember? That means giving your brain some rest. We are safe here for now, Wain can't reach us here, my dear" Diana comforted her beloved future husband with a tiny kiss on his cheek.
Louis's cheek burned red, it was the first time a girl's lips touched his face. A dirty part of his brain even wanted to ask for more than a kiss. but deep inside...Every time he sees her smile and those black orbs of hers filled with all the love he wanted. Her presence alone by his side makes his heart melt away.
"HEY lovebirds, we are here" Alfred shouted to the couple behind him, ruining the moment for both of them while pointing for his house.
The house was really beautiful and had some planted trees around it. It was way better than her old oak house back in Endora, and even more lovely than any palace of a king. While the group was approaching the house, Diana noticed a pretty woman reading a book and sitting on a rocking chair with a bizarre big belly.
She was Pregnant.
This woman must be her uncle's wife. Marigold.
She had some kind of light blue scarf covering her neck while her blonde silky hair was distributed gently over her shoulders. She had small eyes, a petite nose, and a delightful face. She could strike prime 40s at most as by the looks of her healthy body, she was an admirable mature woman.
"We are back, Goldy," said Alfred to the pregnant woman. It was almost rare to see him that happy to see someone else.
When the woman heard her name ring around, a beautiful smile reached her calm mother's face.
She supported herself to get up from her rocking seat. Her future baby surely gave her a hard time with movement.
She gently supported her belly from the bottom, as she approached her husband with welcoming features.
"Thank goodness! what took you so long!" The woman said throwing her arms around her husband's neck. "You took nearly a week!".
"I missed you too, my goldy" he rested his head upon hers. It felt that the man truly found his soulmate a long time ago
Despite Feeling happy for her uncle, Diana couldn't help her investigative eyes realize something unique about her newly introduced family member.
The woman was wearing a pair of gloves around her hands. It was winter alright so it wasn't something uncommon for people to use. Yet, Only the rich have the luxury of wearing this type of smooth clothing.
So she highly doubted that a woman like her, who knows of her husband's wicked profession, had anything related to richness up close.
And the style of clothes she was wearing...it made the gloves worn like an odd piece of clothing as if they were meant to conceal something...
"From Earth to Diana, you there?" Louis joked around.
"Wha.., oh sorry, did you say something?" She felt embarrassed giving the subject more credit than it deserved.
Alfred approached the couple. "What are you two waiting for?! an invitation? hop in"
After some hearty greetings, the woman went to the kitchen to make some delicious-looking plates for both of her permanent guests while Louis and Diana chatted for a bit...
"Poor woman, It makes me question how on earth a beautiful person like her got stuck with your uncle" he whispered to Diana.
"Louis! They might hear you " Diana poked the boy with a chuckle. but she can't deny that Marigold must be a controversial lady to cope with Alfred's temper. And those gloves...
"I heard that, you smugly douchebag" Alfred talked to Louis. Boy, he was in a tight spot.
"Aye! Not in front of the girl!". His eyes jumped concealing a great deal of embarrassment.
Diana gave her boy one of those looks. Rising an eyebrow.
"What?" He shrugged with jerky innocent hands.
She looked at her uncle, rephrasing. "What my nosy partner here wanted to say is how you two met each other?"
"Although that's not what I heard fine, We had met at a bad time. A time when I was this close to meeting my creator. She...postponed such appointment"
"Can you elaborate?" Diana's eyes narrowed in excitement.
"Oh no you won't, bottom of the story she saved my skin once in the past, and from that day on out I never have loved a woman like her in my life again".
Louis smiled, supporting his head with both hands, "Classical love story" he teased the man.
"Oh Yeah, let's see what yours will become too, big boy" Alfred teased back.
Diana was happy for him.
Too happy that she dug her own grave...
"Is that related to why she wears those gloves?"
The man didn't see the question coming nor did Diana expect the result instantly bulleting back coming.
On bringing up the subject. Alfred's facial details changed faster than the wind. His high spirit became Rabid again. His smile escaped the house.
He slammed the table hard with his hand, and the plates pumped from its surface. Then he pointed with his finger."DO NOT EVER BRING THAT SUBJECT AGAIN! "shouted the man.
The girl was terrified and silent, she couldn't respond.
"Hey, hey easy big man. It's just a question!".
"NOT IN THIS HOUSE! You two better watch your mouth when talking about my wife!!"
Marigold came as fast as she could from the kitchen when she heard the shouting.
"Alfred, please. All the neighbourhood will hear you!! she was not the only one and probably won't be the last curious one, you are blaming the wrong person!"
"No, they need to maintain their lines!"
Louis intervened. "What lines? The Girl was simply asking about a piece of clothing?! What line did she cross here?".
"My lines! And if you two should stay here, you better watch how you behave around my woman, are my orders comprehended right?
"Enough!"
Marigold cut their yelling with a bang on the table
The three looked at her with intimidated eyes. It's one thing when men shout and it's completely different when a woman starts yelling
"Hon, How about you go take a nap and I will join you in a minute?".
The pioneer seemed to be convinced. His upside-down behaviour quickly recovered. She was talking to him with charming quietness that the intensity of the conversation soon vanished almost completely.
"Fine" he said with a rough scoff "I will be waiting for you". He mumbled while going upstairs to his room. The three saw him up until he left their eyesight.
"I....I..am sorry.." said the girl with a low voice feeling ashamed from herself that she interfered with subjects that were clearly none of her concern.
"No, my dear, the question was right to be asked. It is your uncle, He is an easily provoked man when it comes to my hands" Marigold chuckled and tried to make a smile on her face
Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.
"Add to that he doesn't keep his promises, I need to reach a healer before I lose my arm," Louis said and he was visibly crossed with Alfred's way of behaving.
"Right! I almost forgot to ask you, what happened to your arm?"
"A wolf. A nasty big one. But My girl here saved me from it"
"Jeez! Is that true!?" Her eyes jumped towards Diana in odd amazement
"I mean the doctors made all the work, but__"
"Way to go girl that makes two of us!"
"Ha?". Diana didn't understand.
"Well, you see your uncle got attacked by even nastier beast. A bear.
He was so badly hurt that he barely reached the gate with his right arm barely clinging to his body. I saw him laying half-dead in the footstep of the gate of the Town. So I brought him to my home and saved his life...in cost for his arm that is"
Louis's eyes jumped in excitement. "Hold on a minute. then you are the healer that he was talking about! Will you please help me?" Louis begged. The pain was overwhelming him by the passing minute.
"Why, sure dear!" she said in an exceedingly kind way.
Suddenly, and without any coming warning, the woman wearied off her gloves; to reveal that secret of hers . . . A secret that will confirm Diana's suspicious, that this woman's gloves were put on for a reason. . .
Her hands were literally made of Gold. A pure tainted hands made of expensive gold! It was too real that light was reflected brightly from its surface.
"May I?" She politely asked for his hand.
Louis blinked, questioning his sanity for but a moment, before handing himself to her.
She noticed how his eyes had a combination of fright and excitement at the same time as his normal skin touched her freezing cold hands.
She closed her eyes to begin mediation and then . . . Her chanting rose.
O, STRONG WIND OF THE NORTH
LIGHT OF THE BRIGHT MOON
PEACE OF NATURE EARTH
SCORCH OF BLAZNIG FIRE AND NOON
Marigold hands began to omit an increasingly green light that spread through the room, penetrating the physical objects. Moreover, it was so beautiful like the northern lights in the sky but warm like a small kindred fireplace.
O, DARKNESS OF THE BOTTOM CAVES
TIDES OF WATER, SEA, AND WAVES
POWERFUL IRON AND STURDY SAME
RELIEVE THIS BOY FROM HIS PAIN
The lights suddenly surrounded the boy for a minute blinding him entirely. It felt like he was at the core of the sun but very comfy like if his soul became lighter than the feathers.
And just in a part of a second. Everything vanished into thin air just like the way it appeared, leaving both the boy and girl in an unspeakable state.
"Hey, I feel much better!" said Louis happily. When the boy wore off the bandages, he found out that his shoulder was clean like crystal, and the infection had completely disappeared.
Louis faced Marigold again with a curious look. "How is your hand so like the gold, if I may ask ?"
"...and why are you so shy about them?" Diana continued "Why would anyone be ashamed of such beautiful hands with even amazing healing powers?!"
The woman remained silent and offered a sad smile.
"Hon! You don't have to answer that!". Said Alfred who was watching the scene from the upper floor.
"It's ok, my pioneer. It's not that good a story anyway, so might as well have an audience today{"
They smiled as they sat put, attentively awaiting another story of the past...
In Marigold's own words
"When I was younger than now, a strange creature visited our land, we never saw it or heard about it before and we most certainly didn't have a clue of the wave of destruction and misery that accompanied its arrival.
That creature was dead silent like a corpse, and to our cursed luck, he had the ability to climb walls and still not reveal his location during hunting. In other words, you can't see or feel it until it is literally above your own dead body.
It attacked and killed a person every night, and never he left a trace behind so we could track him to his nest, the only thing he left behind in his crime was the unidentifiable skeletons of his victims and a trail of fog that covered its retreat.
No one managed to fully see it and lived to describe It. So by the nature of the repetitive and vicious attacks, we feared for our lives and chaos invaded the city and traders began to stop visiting Tagia one by one.
When on one fateful night, the monster abandoned his caution. One of the citizens saw a large figure on 4 feet fleeing to the forest nearby.
"Ok, Why didn't you put traps to hunt him down" Louis suggested.
"We tried, but each time it never fell for it, it was a very cunning creature that somehow knew that trap was meant to capture it. He always manage to steal the food without activating the trap, mocking us with his mischievous ways.
And so our chief finally requested the bravest and most skilled fighters of men and women to hunt for that killer. Those bold enough to throw their lives in an attempt to bring that beast to its demise.
One of those brave warriors was me
We entered the forest one morning, and you have no idea what was the speed our heart was racing at.
We were moving as quietly as we could and you could barely hear our feet touch the ground. How you should kill a death bringer who you don't know anything about except it has 4 feet ?!
We were blindly approaching the territory of an assassin and it was just a matter of time before we became its prey...
Then I saw a fainting glowing blue light lurking in shadows, in the dark, staring at my soul!
When I saw those eyes I didn't even have time to scream. All the water in my mouth evaporated. My legs were fastened like a tree to the very earth.
My legs were fastened like a tree to the very earth [https://img.wattpad.com/bb8274fcc07697d592ade68fbaba03e8a7c6b226/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f52594871717551456c51657355413d3d2d313038333132353732322e313638386666393731626235373834303735363034343636333432342e6a7067?s=fit&w=1280&h=1280]
That's when the creature attacked like a spear.
It rushed beside me towards a woman behind me. But he surpassed her and lunged at swordsman next to her.
The woman survived but the man... the creature got his head and ran towards nearby bushes.
One Dead at an instance.
At that moment I realized that we just lost one of the crew before we even had the chance to have a look at the beast.
The creature was very fast and was covered by shadows, dodging all our fired arrows, but it must die or it will seek revenge!
We could barely aim at it before he disappeared.
The time slowed... and suddenly the beast emerged and attacked me...I managed somehow to dodge the creature's paws. They were so close to popping out of my eyes.
I fell to the ground with a gasp, trying to man up my fingers on my crossbow. When I went to aim for it, I only saw a trail of fog swimming in the air.
The creature was a master at disappearing and appearing from and into nowhere right in the open.
Then it appeared again when he lunged at a man from behind, breaking his neck in less than three seconds.
Another one is dead.
We were shouting and sharing fast orders to cope with the fast runner we were facing. However, in the chaos, we were trapped. The beast charged. But this time it was targeting me again.
I sensed the direction of the wind and accordingly aimed a bolt at that intersecting direction
...and fired.
A hit!
The bolt punched through his left back thigh leading to crippling his movement for mere two seconds.
Too bad for us we would need the same amount of time to reload our crossbows. Subsequently, the beast didn't wait
He bashed right beside me, knocking me out me down hard on the ground but it didn't stop to finish me as it was busy murdering another woman by taking her head off with one blow of his paws!
That gave me some time to pick up my weapon (crossbow), However, those eyes looked at me again and the creature was already charging me.
And that's when a bolt went through its frontal paw making him roll massive towards me. I rolled quickly along with my crossbow to avoid the path of collision with the falling creature.
I wasn't surprised to see the creature that was still fighting with two bolts clinging from his fur. What was shocking was that we were about 12, and now we are 5.
And to make it worse...the beast retaliated from the bolt shooter with a large paw that stunned my comrade's chest and flew its body to impact a nearby tree killing him instantly.
Again, it turned around to face me, but not before two spearmen rushed toward the creature,
However, suddenly. The creature roared with a stunning sound that pierced the wind and hearts.
Afterwards, a blue light beam came up from his eyes. And I saw as both the men's flesh dissolved of their bones. They both screamed till they totally turned into pure skeletons...
I was the last one alive. or that I was thinking... I tried to fire another bolt before the creature charged again but to my luck, I didn't have time to recharge the crossbow so I picked up my sword.
But the creature disappeared from my sight, I took the chance and rearmed the crossbow with another pointy bolt. During the reload, I kept twisting my head in every direction in a paranoid manner.
I could hear him but couldn't see where his paw landed. But I know he was circling around me because of his high-volume breathes. He was laughing at me for my insufficient mortality and his breaking-through superiority
Then it appeared again behind me, to try charging again. But it made a fatal mistake it stepped on a tree branch during his rush...
At that moment I turned around quickly to face the creature one last time and I clicked the trigger.
And nothing happened.
That's right. The crossbow malfunctioned. My last resort for saving my life got broken in time of the dearest need. My heart skipped multiple rounds. I stared at my horrible luck with tearing eyes. I didn't need to look front to sense him coming for me.
"I was about to be finished if not for that spear"
An impossible but ultimately accurate throw was all that it took to save my life. When A spear flew towards the creature right above my shoulder by inches.
I heard the creature's skull crack as the spear broke to his head just between his blue paranormal eyes. It slammed to the ground and his corpse rolled around until it rested at my feet.
I was motionless for some time, my heart was about to stop. Every muscle in my body was strained. I turned to see the thrower of that spear was still like me in total shock, have we finally forced that beast to hell?
I didn't buy it and waited for it to rise again at any moment, to claim my neck for real, to cheat death one more, to finalize my life's last chapter.
But it didn't move another step.
Looking at him from this close angle, I felt intimated by its sight. It was filled with bolts and bruises and that spear that perfectly got him to the ground clinging to his dead brain.
I looked back to see my last standing sister-in-arms. The one who killed the beast and the one who saved my life. Her name was Kira, She___"
"Sorry for interrupting, but what does that battle have to do with your hands ?" Louis protested
"Patience young man, the agony didn't end here- at least not to me" she sighed with sadness before moving on.
"Kira. The captain that led us to this crusade in the first place and if I am going to be EXTRA honest, she's not the type of woman you would admire her beauty.
Her final courageous decision pretty much saved my sorry life. Our victory finally arrived but we paid so much blood that it lost its moral meaning.
Two of us were still alive, shocked and shaking from all those corpses scattered around us.
When I finally gathered myself. I Analysed the beast with keen but careful eyes.
It was a tiger but without teeth or fangs and had a strange blue fur covering all of its unhuman-built body. Add to that size of his claws that was double the size of a knife and probably more sharpened than any sword. It was totally covered in mist, that's why I never spotted it in public.
After we had had some rest, we were supposed to carry the corpse to our people in Tagia as a sign of its defeat. So that the people may finally rule the night again without fear of death coming in the shape of a mythical cat.
Foolish of me to consider all of this when my nightmare was about to begin.
When I tried to pull the spear--which was stuck perfectly between his lifeless blue eyes. The blood came out of his head like a fountain, and of course, it touched my hands...
I will never forget the feeling of that day...
I felt a pain I never felt before...my hand was shaking viciously. My blood was boiling in my fingers. It may seem unrealistic but I sensed my arm bones melting and reshaping at the same time.
I kept screaming loudly but no one answered except for my helpless captain who was panicking and didn't have any idea how to help me.
That's the last thing I remembered before I lost my sanity and consciousness as well..."
Marigold poured some water into a cup as the fluid moistened the inside of her dried throat before continuing.
"I regained my awareness at the town's hospital. By then, my hands had already been completely turned to gold. Doctors and healers alike couldn't help to cure my hand but comforted me that my hand only has the appearance of gold and that it is not harmful in any way to others or to myself.
The tiger I faced on that day was truly a freak of nature as no one dared to touch its silent corpse after my people saw my hands. However, he made me take his place"
That's when Marigold's tears finally broke free. "My people kept looking at me with fear and disgrace: some called me a witch while others were a little merciful and called me cursed".
The woman put her head between her golden hands and continued despite her lament.
I left my town as a soldier and returned as a freak.
I lost most if not all of my closest friends. People began to avoid me in the streets. Men began to whisper how ugly and jinxed I was and for the cherry on the cake, the whispers reached my family.
I thought they were going to shield me from the outer world. To help me endure and hug me when I felt alone. But all they were afraid of was how my curse could one day spread to them and infect them with the same damned life.
So they built a house. This house just to stay away from them"
~ ~ ~
The couple kept staring, without saying a word. They felt strange feeling invading them out of nowhere. They now feel every grieving memory that this house held for the past years. Unseen eyes condemn them for drifting behind their curiosity.
The sad woman wiped up her tears..." I learned some magic afterwards to make myself useful as no one agreed to employ me at any work. One of those spells I learned included healing, I practised hard until one fateful night I met your uncle falt near the city gate. He was lucky that I was coming back from salvaging I am the one who healed him..." she was interrupted.
"You mean saving my life," Alfred said. The man clearly heard the whole conversation and couldn't endure watching his beloved woman.
He went for a chair beside her, "Let those blind fools say what they like. They have the minds of oxen, that's why they didn't comprehend the definition of being unique". He smiled and she as well shared a smile as he squeezed her hand tightly
"Looks like we are not the only ones who first met in bad times, ha?" said Louis with a low frown while exchanging a small side smile with Diana.
"Wait, THE DINNER!". Marigold rushed to the kitchen to stop the food from burning.
With Diana's satisfied.
The family had some food and they called it a night, but before they had gone to bed, she went to Alfred's room to apologize. But as she crept close, a glimpse of the couple emerged to her.
Marigold was between his arms while he patted her head gently with his hand. He seemed oblivious to Diana's presence. And it was a good thing. She didn't want to interfere with their twinkling moment of passion. A sight that motivated warmth between her breasts once again accompanied by the long-awaited sensation of hope...
She wanted family, she got it.
A new home? She is standing under its roof.
A kind husband, Granted.
Yet, one person is still missing...