Day 17

Nicolette Sintonarta was woken up by tin banging on tin. See opened her eyes. It was dark in the tent but she could see light by the door. She wondered how late it was.

Nikki shock Shane who was still sleeping.

“Wake up.” She said.

“Ten more minutes.” He pulled the fur over him.

“The sun is up.” Nikki pleaded.

Shane sat up. Viola was not in the tent.

“Where is Viola?”

“Eating.” Nikki replied.

She was hungry and hearing the tins banging on each other sounded like dinner in the camp last night.

“Wakey, wakey.” Kumi said entering the tent, “You missing out of food.”

“How early is it?” Shane asked.

“The snow is melting.” Kumi answered.

Shane got up.

“You were right. They are eating.”

They walked outside into the cold and sludge, made by the melted snow. Viola was eating. Sitting at a table surrounded by men. She ate as if she was alone, unfazed that strangers surrounded her.

Shane and Nikki got food. They joined her.

“Why didn’t you wake us?” Nikki asked.

“You needed the sleep. After all we have had a few rough days. Sleeping in could be good.”

“Tomorrow please wake us.” Nikki asked.

“No!” Shane said “Wake her. I want to sleep.”

“I have been battling to sleep, so I am up while it is dark.” Viola told them.

“Because of the people you killed?” Nikki asked.

Viola didn’t answer.

“I also killed someone. It was horrible. I keep seeing it. Dreaming about it. Sometimes I think I see him walking around.”

Viola touched her arm.

“It gets easier.” She comforted.

“I don’t know if I want it to get easier. I killed someone.” Nikki said.

“Did you go to his home and kill him? Did you follow him in the streets, or kill his wife and children?” Viola asked.

“No, he was going to kill Tẽra. She had stabbed him but he did not stop. I had to but I still feel bad.”

“That’s because you are a person who believes all life is precious. Sadly, some people violate the basic human rights of others and you have to decide. Them or me?”

“I wish I never had to make that choice.” Nikki responded.

“You will be alright. It’s rough but you will be alright. If it makes it easier see them as monsters infected with rabies that have to be put down or they will kill all in their path.”

“So grim.” Shane said.

“Have you ever killed someone?” Viola asked.

“No, but I have failed to save them, which is close enough.” Shane answered.

“No, it’s not. Trying to save someone who still dies and killing someone is not the same. Not even close.” Viola told them.

“Have you killed before?” Nikki asked Viola “I mean before coming to this place?”

Viola wanted to tell the truth but it seemed like a bad idea.

“Yes, I have. Self-defense on earth. It stays with you. But when they attacked the castle, I stopped seeing them as people, and as sick animals. I did what needed to be put done.” Viola answered.

“Nikki looked at her. You could fight. I saw you. You were skilled.” Nikki said.

“My father is in the army. He taught me to defend myself. Said if a girl is going to be an air hostess, she must be able to defend herself. He said human trafficking is real and if you can’t defend yourself who will? So, he taught me.” Viola told them.

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

“Tẽra had me training with Joe. But I never expected to need it. Also a few days training doesn’t make an expert.” Nikki said.

“Well.” Shane said wanting to also say something interesting

“I was chained up and fed alive to rats. I killed it with my hands.”

Viola and Nikki stopped eating.

Shane saw their looks of horror.

“It was before the Drake found us. We were at a Dragon Rider barracks and it was nice to start off with. I met Pragyaparamita there. She was a slave instructed to teach us the language. Jessica was liked by the son of a big commander and all was fine. But then the General of the barracks saw her. He wanted to force her to marry him. We believe it’s because he believed Jessica was the lost heir, the one who could make him king of everything. But Jessica is… Jessica and she wouldn’t marry him so he tried to kill me and make it look like an unfortunate accident. So, feeding me to rats was his way of making it look like an accident.” Shane laughed uncomfortably

“When Drake arrived at the wedding his Viden Yair, kissed everyone and told Drake everything. General Spade was killed and we were taken to the palace. I was permitted to take Pragya but she died in the attacks on the castle. I freed her from slavery just to get her killed.” Shane stated.

“She would have died anyways. At least she died free and happy.” Viola replied.

“Why do you say she would have died?” Shane asked.

“When a person’s time is up, they die. Sometimes in their sleep, or a car accident or even being murdered. It’s awful but it is. If you hadn’t saved her, she would have died another way. I sadly know this.” Viola said.

She had been on rescue missions and sometimes no matter how easy it was they still died and sometimes they defied the odds and lived, stabbed, full of holes and yet they made it.

“If you are trying to make me feel better, you are not doing a good job.” Shane said.

Captain Kumi came over to them.

“Eat up, we need to be moving. The mountain isn’t coming to us.”

They packed up and the hoard moved. The rumbles of people made mud as they stomped through the wilderness. The wind gusted, chilling them every time. It was a lazy wind that went through you instead of around you.

As they marched on, sleet began to fall.

“Bad weather to go mountain climbing in.” Kumi said to Shane.

“It will be better at the mountain.” Shane said unconvincingly.

Kumi laughed.

“You are not a good liar.”

“Why do you say I am lying?” Shane asked.

“Look at this weather and listen to how you said it. You don’t even believe the weather will get better.”

“You are right. I am worried that this is a bad idea, but the girls will not give up.” Shane replied.

“Why is that mountain so important?” Kumi gave him a strange look.

“Because it might have a stone we need. A crystal actually.” Shane answered.

“All of this for a rock. You are strange people.” Kumi said.

“Your friend the gosling, what is she doing now?” Kumi asked.

“I don’t know a gosling.” Shane answered.

“The one with golden-white hair with some pinkie-red in it.”

“That color is called strawberry blond. The golden-white is blond.” Shane informed.

“What is she doing now?”

“Going up river to the village Fish. Also looking for crystals.” Shane told him.

“Why are these crystals so important?” Kumi asked.

“We are hoping they will open the sugs.” Shane told him.

“Why do you want to do that?”

“To find favor with the queen.” Shane said “And because I want to leave this world.”

Kumi glared at him.

“You are messing with forces you don’t understand. Opening the sugs is not going to end wars, it will start more.”

“Why do you say that?”

“Because we are weak. Our world has been destroyed by war. It is a shadow of the power it once had. Now the other worlds will enslave us. We can’t defeat them.”

“Then close them again.” Shane said all simple as pie.

A storm rolled in. Forcing them to make camp.

“I guess there will be not hot bath.” Viola sighed.

“It’s ok.” Nikki comforted “You don’t smell.”

It began to hail. Wind shook the tent. The rain poured down beating their shelter with all its might.

“Quite the storm.” Captain Kumi said to Viola.

Viola said nothing but gave him a look.

Kumi remembered she wanted her secret kept. She didn’t want anyone to know she could understand and speak. Her eyes were knowing yet she never made a give-away twitch or glance.

Shane came over.

“They do not understand.” He told Kumi.

“What does he want?” Viola asked.

“Small talk.” Shane answered “I think he doesn’t get to talk to a lot of women.”

“You do?” Voila asked.

“I am a doctor. I talk to lots of people.”

“Talk with lots of people.” Viola corrected.

Shane smiled. “Yes.”

Kumi listened but he didn’t understand.

The storm finally passed. It was mid-afternoon and precious day light had been lost.

“We need to move closer to the water and make camp for the night.” Captain Kumi instructed.

They were moved to a stream. It was flowing after the storm. The snow had been washed away and grass was visible as far as the eye could see.

Mud and sludge covered their boots.

Viola went to the stream to drink and wash off a little. She overheard.

“Captain why don’t we just take these people’s gold and go. We normally do protection between villages and towns. This going to a mountain in the middle of nowhere and carrying enough food and water for it. It’s not what we are used to. We can even sell them as slaves and no one will ever know. The pretty one will get a good price.” He was looking at Viola by the stream.

“This is not how we do business. When we agree on something, we always fulfil our agreements. Always! Look at her. She has intelligent eyes. Even if you had five men you won’t be able to take her. She’s killed before. They don’t need us for protection, we are here so stupid people like you don’t think they are easy targets traveling alone. The only one who might be easy is the physician and they are always good to have as friends.” Kumi replied.

Viola heard and smiled. She didn’t look as she didn’t want to give herself away. But it was good to be recognized as competent.

“But she is so tiny.” The man said.

“I saw her kill in the castle. Tiny works for her.”

‘Oops’ Viola thought.

“They are under my protection. If even a hair that falls from their head is harmed the one responsible will die.” Kumi said.

He meant it. His good reputation was all he had and all he cared about. He never made friends with the men. He was friendly but making friends clouded one’s judgement and he needed to see clearly.

Kumi came over to Viola.

“You are pretending you do not understand. I do not care why. I will keep your secret., but it makes no sense to me.” He said washing his face.

Captain Kumi was a big man. A head and shoulders taller than Viola.

As the sun set her black hair got a red shine.

She looked at the massive man next to her, he was intimidating in size. If they were on earth, she would use seduction but the idea of cross species turned her stomach. So, playing it safe was her next best thing.

“Your silence is not necessary.” He tried to reassure.

Shane stood behind him.

“She doesn’t understand you.” He said “I am going to teach her and Nikki the basic’s so they might be able to get the basic idea in a conversation.”

Shane looked at Viola.

“That’s why I am here. Would you like to come and learn?” he asked.

“Thank you.” Viola said.

She followed Shane to the tent.

“Why are you being nice?” she asked.

“Why not. If I am able to help, why shouldn’t I?” he asked.

“You genuinely mean that.” Viola observed.

“Yes. If you can follow or understand, it will help you. Being dependent on others is not fun. So, I want to help.”

“You are a doctor?” Viola inquired.

“I work as a doctor.” He replied.

“So, do you want to be called Dr Shane?” Viola asked.

“It’s my job and I like it. But I am a person outside of one skill set, and being a doctor is a skill set but not all of me.”

Viola was impressed that he still felt that way and it wasn’t just a thing he said the first time they met.

“I like you. It takes courage to be an individual who doesn’t want praise and recondition. After all you studied for years and practiced for years so you have earned the right to be recognized.”

Shane smiled. “I do it because I want to help. Not for the recognition. But it is nice that I help without being poor.” He joked.

Viola smiled, “You are not use to being seen as someone other than a doctor.”

They entered the tent.

Nikki was there already. They sat down and began lessons. Viola didn’t need but it helped her cover and meant she got to spend time with the earthlings, getting to know them without needing to be on guard.