Day 15

Viv and her family settled into an inn in the City Point. They were waiting out the blizzard. They had left the castle after saying goodbye to Viola. She had felt like one of them. Even though she and Rider had fought and really hurt one another. They stilled loved her as part of the family. It was crazy.

News of the queen’s betrothal spread like wildfire. Everyone was talking about how the retch won’t die and how now she was making a powerful alliance with the Dragon Riders. Some believed it was a good thing. Others disagreed.

“The only thing people are talking about it the queen.” Rider moaned “The royal bonding ceremony and their babies.”

“I miss her too.” Xoma said.

She knew her son was not moaning about the queen nor the drunks talking about her. He was upset that Viola was gone. Really gone.

“When I grow up, I am going to bond with Viola.” Jacob stated.

They all laughed.

“I am being serious!” Jacob objected.

“I know you are.” His mother said.

“So why are you laughing?” he asked crossly.

Xoma hugged him.

“Because I don’t think she’s the bonding type.” Xoma said.

“Oh, look the storm has passed.” Viv said excited.

The looked out the window at the white world before them. It was colder than it looked, and it was not going to warm up.

“The snow has come early this year.” Xoma observed.

“I am going out.” Viv said excited.

Xoma took Jacob to play in the snow and Viv went hunting.

She came to the place she last saw her father and asked around about him.

“Ah you looking for Herb. He’s got a shop down the street. Sells clothes for women like you.” he said.

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Viv went down the street and found the shop. She went in putting the closed sign up before closing the door behind her.

She watched as a woman paid for a dress and left.

“You left me!” Viv said standing in front of him.

“Viv?” he said afraid.

“You abandoned me. Deserted me. Why?” she asked.

“You are better off without me. I couldn’t look after you. I see you are well.”

“We went hungry.” Viv snapped.

“Xoma made a plan.” He said.

“I am better off without you but your new family isn’t?” Viv asked.

“What?!” he was confused.

“Is your new bond mate better off without you? Is your son better off without you?” she asked, jaw clenched.

“I found my way. After losing your mother and brother I was lost.” He said.

“But you didn’t find your way back to me.” She was angry and his excuses were not helping.

“I am your father. Don’t talk to me like that.” He said not liking her tone.

“My father is dead.” Viv said cutting his throat.

She looked into his eyes as the blood spilled out.

“This is what we had to do to eat.”

She let his body fall to the floor.

His son banged on the door.

“Daddy, daddy, I have a picture for you.” The boy said pushing the door open.

He saw her and then his dad on the floor.

He turned to run but Viv plunged a knife through his chest.

“Sorry boy. Can’t have a blood feud.” She said.

She carefully lowered him to the floor and sang a lullaby for him. His lungs filled with blood, and he chocked and spluttered as she sang. Viv stroked his hair. Then she quickly cut his throat out.

A tear dropped onto the boy’s face.

“I didn’t want to hurt you. But I know you would never let it go. You would chase me to the edge of the world.”

She wiped her tears.

Captain Kumi had gone looking for Viv. He had asked inn keeper after inn keeper if she was there. Giving up he decided to re-join his men. He then saw her. In the street. He ran after but she was gone. He walked the street looking into the shops. Only the rich had shops and not stalls on the streets. He saw a boy running towards a shop saying it was closed. As he pushed the door open, he saw Viv.

He saw and heard what she said to the boy. He was unsure how he now felt. He looked away as she left the shop. He saw her wipe her tears away.

He followed her to the square where the statue of the queen stood. Then he lost her.

A sharp point of a blade picked Captain Kumi in the back.

“I like this coat. Please don’t damage it further.” He said lifting his unarmed hands.

“Why are you following me?” a woman’s voice asked.

“I saw you fight in the castle. I wanted to get your name. Have an introduction.” He answered.

“What!?” Viv was confused.

“Please take your blade out of my back.”

Viv removed it.

Captain Kumi was a very big man. Bigger than all the other men by a head or more. Viv was not tall for a woman but rather slightly shorter. Not so much so as to be called short but enough to make the height difference between them massive.

“Thank you.” He said.

“May I look at you?” he asked not wanting to turn around and get stabbed.

“Uuuu…… I…. yes.” She replied.

He turned to look at her. Her short wavy black hair swayed in the breeze. Her big honey eyes were puffy from crying.

“I was hoping to get the chance to meet you by coincidence and then get talking. But I don’t think there is ever a good time for you.” He ventured.

Viv held her knife tightly.

“You are beautiful, and I was mesmerized by you. My name is Kumi.” He reached into his coat.

Viv moved the knife closer to him.

“I am not getting a weapon. Just a gift.” He said slowly getting the small box from his coat pocket.

He gave it to her.

Viv was stunned. She took the box and opened it. Inside was a silver hair pin. With an image of a night flower.

She looked at him.

“Do you like me?” she asked.

“Yes.” Kumi replied wondering how she didn’t yet know this.

“I am not likeable.” she said.

“Why?” Kumi asked.

He was thinking because she kills children.

But she replied

“My family are Castas.”

Kumi smiled

“So is mine.” He replied.

“May I get your name?” he asked.

“No one has ever liked me before.” She said looking at him wondering if he was playing some kind of game or worse trying to get to her family.

“Well, I found you and I had my say. Meet me later if you want. I will be at the Lilly inn. If you come please tell me your name. If you don’t come, I will know to let you be.” He said.

Viv’s head raced.

“I just killed my dad.” she said.

“Why did you kill him?” Kumi asked.

“He pretended to be dead and deserted me. He left us and started a new family.” she said.

“Ouch!” Kumi replied.

Viv covered her mouth. She had said too much.

“Forget about me. Or I will have to kill you.” She said, then she ran off.

“That’s not how I imagined things going.” Kumi said out loud.