O'taomon | The Empire of Eraat: II

Logan sits on a stool in the guard's courtyard, revising the details of his encounter to the captain. His mind occupied on their prisoner in the dungeons. When he'd recounted all the details he can remember, he stands up, the heat of day almost too unbearable after the night's events.

"I'm sorry captain but I've said all I can say."

Captain Emir sighs, "very well, you're dismissed. Take the next shift off."

Logan stops in his tracks. This would be the first night off in some time. "What's going to happen to him?"

"I don't know," Emir admits. "Theft in the Gran Vizier's palace. His prospects don't look good."

Logan nods and speeds off. The ceramic roof tiles are burning to the touch but motivating him to press forward. With his mind still occupied on Garrett, he hadn't realized when he leaped through the window of the apartment in record timing, his feet were steaming. He removes his uniform, fastens his spear to the wall, and finally drags himself into the cool breeze of the windowsill, falling asleep easily.

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Professor Evrim, Olivia thought, was the most extraordinary person she had ever met. Her presence incited an ecstatic feeling within her. Everything from her posture, to her floral-like dress, enchants her attention.

"She's amazing," she whispers to Halil.

"That she is," he agrees. "She's very intelligent and well traveled. There's rumour a handsome, influential and wealthy royal once asked for her hand and she turned him down." Halil straightens up when the professor's gaze passes them over. "Of course that's just rumour."

The professor begins her engaging lecture on potential properties of primordial energy. Olivia takes vigorous notes, mentally hypothesizing with the professor's research. By the end of it, her unquenchable thirst for knowledge expounded into new dimensions that carried over to her next lessons. Never before could she fathom this state of studious academic vigor. The professors were all pleased with her thought provoking enquiries and hypothetical proposals.

"You were really something today," Halil says as they stroll back to the station. "I almost expected you to finish off the last lecture."

"I couldn't help myself," Olivia beams. "Professor Evrim is certainly something. Can you imagine a forest so vast it changes the climate?"

"Or the destruction of an entire ecosystem," Halil smiles sardonically. "Of course these are only potentialities of the undisciplined usage of primordial energies." They enter the busy platform. "Fahrahn Olivia."

"Fahrahn," Olivia waves and boards the leviahtran. She finds herself a nice seat where the bulk of passengers were looking exhausted from the day's events. Olivia gazes out the window as the leviahtran lifts and accelerates forward.

The buildings blur by at their considerable speed. It would still be a while yet before she reaches her destination, so she sifts through her journal.

Upon arrival at her station she notices a disgruntled finely dressed man whom she thought she recognized though he disappeared into the crowd before she can catch a better glimpse of him.

En route to the apartment she stops by a grocer and selects all the food items she can carry alongside her books.

And on the trudge back, the gentleman from before weighs on her mind, she was certain she recognized him but couldn't place her finger on it. He attired like a wealthy southerner, perhaps a relation of some sort?

Back in the apartment Logan hadn't risen to greet her, she thought he seemed exhausted so she let him be. Instead she got to preparing dinner, or breakfast from Logan's perspective.

Amid her busywork, the neighbor's young girl strums her instrument. The traditional kind that soothes the place with inspirations of the desert. She plays the local favorite, the sheepherder who had become entranced by the lovely weaver's tapestry.

"Sounds beautiful doesn't it?"

"Eldaeon, Logan! You startled me." Olivia twirls around to find Logan's dreamy eyed gaze soaking in the city from his perch. "Though yes, it is quite lovely."

She sets out the platters on the carpeted floor. "Let's eat."

Logan hops down, and joins her. They eat in silence for a time, savoring the filling of salted grain, spiced tuna, Beytil bread, spiced wine, baklava, and an octagonal tin of dalkarian lokum.

"That was delicious, thank you Olivia." Logan sips from his cup, followed by a plop of lokum.

"Thank you, although I can't take all the credit." Olivia nibbles on a beytil.

"Oh? And who else might I have to thank?"

"The fishermen, farmers, pastry chefs, brewer, harvester, that's not to account for the animals involved." Olivia counts off all those involved in the logistics of getting the food before them.

Logan keeps his eyes on her as he drinks. "Thank you beasts of burden, harvesters and farmers, brewers of exquisite taste, and humble fishermen…" Logan lists off all those she mentioned. "Anybody I missed?"

Olivia laughs, "not that I'm aware of."

"I'm not expected to thank all those people whenever we eat together, am I?" Logan feigns a pleading look.

"All right then," Olivia warms her legs. "We've still got to get this cleaned up," she picks herself off the floor.

With Logan's help they had the place tidied for the next day. Olivia lounges on the sofa, finishing the last of her wine. Logan takes his perch on the windowsill. "Anything interesting happen today?"

Shaking her head, "I did meet this extraordinary professor. Though I can't say much of her, on account we only lectured." Olivia sets her cup aside. "Did you have an interesting night?" She gets a little unnerved when Logan doesn't answer, then she giggles.

"What?"

"Like that silence doesn't say anything. Come on then, let the bird out of the cage." She sits up eager to listen.

Logan rolls his eyes.

"Spit it out."

A creeping smile spreads on his face, "Alright. Well, I don't know how you'll take it."

"What d'you mean?" Olivia frowns.

"Well… it's a topic that concerns… you know… the amnesia. I just don't want you getting all mopey on me." Logan raises his hands defensively, "I'm only saying it's happened before."

Huffing, she fires back, "Well fine then, don't tell me."

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"Fine with me," Logan shifts his attention out the window.

"I'm glad it's fine."

A moment later the two break into laughter.

"All right, if I promise not to get mopey about it, can you tell me?"

Straightening his back against the wall, Logan begins recounting last night. "We were on patrol duty and there was this thief, well two of them. The other came a little bit later. I noticed the first thief in the apothecary's ward. He's acting really suspicious, so I know he's not supposed to be there, but just as I'm about to confront him." Logan pauses to reconsider something, then decides against it and continues recounting the event. "I'm about to confront him, when the second thief beats me to it, they have this whole taikhetudin of words and Garrett is-"

Olivia bolts upright, "Garrett?!" That name rings clear in her mind, a memory she'd lost. "Sorry. Go on."

"Well I kind of ruined the surprise. The second thief uses this strange power I've never seen before, he catches Garrett and unmasks him, that's when I recognized him. The other thief brings out this blade from nowhere and Garrett looks in trouble. I didn't know what to do so I called the guard.

"They come in time and the thief disappears, meanwhile Garrett is knocked out cold."

"So he's alright then?" Olivia's chest flutters

"I don't know, he's in prison right now. They're still trying to decide what to do with him."

"Then you have to help him. Logan, he's our friend!"

Logan turns away. "We don't know that, even if I wanted to do something, I couldn't. Olivia. He wasn't supposed to be there."

"No? Then where was he supposed to be? I didn't know where I was supposed to be when I lost my memories. Perhaps he was just lost… or I don’t know. Logan, please!" Olivia pleads.

Logan sighs. "I'll go see if they'll let me talk to him."

Olivia grabs her scarf.

"Where do you think you're going?" Logan bars himself in front of the entrance.

"What do you mean? I'm coming with you. I need to see him." Olivia tries to push Logan out of the way but he stands unwavering. "Logan. Move."

"You're not going. First of all, you're not even allowed in the palace on normal grounds, and especially not when security is this on edge."

Olivia marches to the sofa and lays down, concealing her face in the opposite direction of Logan.

Logan slips into uniform, grabs his spear from the wall and leaps from the window. He lands deftly on the neighbors' rooftop and speeds off, leaping from one roof to the next. He barely has the time to build momentum at the strait when he catapults himself over.

The lack of pedestrians on the other shore concludes security had established a curfew. Olivia was out of her mind thinking they'd let her enter the district.

Logan finishes his landing in the guard's courtyard to a series of applause. Captain Emir nods approvingly. Ignoring the usual banter with Ahmet, Logan approaches the captain. "My apologies captain, I know I was relieved of duty for the night."

"Yes, that you were, but you're a good soldier for showing up." The captain slaps him on the shoulder.

Soldier? Logan is uneasy.

"You made it just in the nick of time as always." Demir, an experienced guard, gives him a slap on the back. "That's all of them captain, the window of arrival is shut."

Logan retreats down the courtyard during the captain's speech. He scours the place for Ahmet who was nowhere to be found. While the captain is facing the other away, Logan rushes to Çetin, an old friend from his earlier days. "What's going on?" He whispers.

Çetin smirks. "I didn't know myself, we were both taken for fools. But you're now part of the Sultan's mighty force."

Logan swallows hard. "Where's Ahmet?"

"He didn't show, so he's out." Çetin pats him on the back. "The captain relieved everyone of duty, and those who showed up are now soldiers of his grace."

It clicks in his mind. The endless nights, one after the next. A test of loyalty. The captain had this planned all along. Logan wanted to dash from there but he was trapped, as a soldier, desertion was as good as death.

"Olivia..." He sighs under his breath.

The captain finishes his speech and everyone, as a right of passage, was on patrol for the last time.

After the assignment of duties, Logan approaches the captain.

"Congratulations soldier!"

Logan swears the title didn't suit him. "Thank you, captain," he tries finding the right words. "I was wondering if the sentence had been carried out?"

The captain sees something bothering him. "Not until morning. What's on your mind?"

"I was wondering if I might have a few words with him?" Logan tries to think of something to add when the captain nods. He relaxes.

"He's still in the dungeons. If anyone gives you trouble along the way, tell them to have a word with me. I'll set them out straight."

Logan thanks the captain and speeds past the guard, no interaction necessary. The dungeons are well furnished considering its use. Then again the best thing you can do for a person who's about to face death, is provide a little comfort.

Logan had nearly missed him. Garrett is slumped, back against the wall on a cushioned bed, still dressed in hefty garments, but looking fine.

"You enjoying the view?"Garrett mutters.

"Only surprised one could be as hideous as you."

Logan's retort stirs the redhead. He looks Logan up and down, as if considering something.

"Are you enjoying the view?" Logan smiles.

"Logan!" Garrett's face opens wide with surprise. He scurries to the bars. "My god, it is you!" He laughs and the two lock forearms. "Look at you. A guard of all things, I knew something wasn't right."

"You're telling me. What in the hell were you doing to get yourself in here? I for sure thought you'd died."

"Well. You see, that's complicated." Garrett begins pacing the room. "They told me the palace wouldn't be so heavily guarded, so I thought to myself; okay, this isn't so bad, nothing like the tasks they gave the others."

"What others?" Logan frowns. "Who said this place wouldn't be heavily guarded?"

"I can't say," Garrett looks about ready to burst. "Damn them!"

Logan sits cross legged on the ground. "Come on, sit down and tell me what you can."

Garrett considers this offer and obliges. "There's this organization we had to find, order's from a celestial I think, I forget his name. Only he isn't just one of the celestials, he's also part of the organization.

"We come here, and they act friendly, feed us, clothe us, that kind of stuff. I thought I would be working like my old job," he eyes Logan's uniform. "I used to be a guard like you. They told me if I really was a proper guard I'd know how to get past them, or something like that. I'm only summarizing of course.

"The organization told me if I could poach some rare plants from the apothecary's ward, only then would they take me in." Garrett thrusts his hands in the air, "that's the short version. Getting here." He looks nauseous, "I think it's best I don't remember that."

Logan groans. "Please tell me this isn't the story you gave the guards?"

"What's wrong with it? It's honest," Garrett says defensively.

"They won't see it that way," Logan sighs. "Look. We've been having some trouble with some organizations ourselves. You picked a bad night to steal plants. But yes, normally we were expected to patrol the streets last night."

The two were in mutual silence.

Trying to find a way to get Garrett out of this situation on top of getting caught in a trap of his own as soldier, was work Logan didn't need right now.

"I know you can't say the name of these organizations, but I can. If either of these names are who you're talking about. Do not mention it, if you haven't already."

Garrett waits in anticipation.

"Hilal and Sohmnias."

Recognition flashes across Garrett's face.

"Do not mention either of them." They rise off the ground in unison. "I'll try and get you out of this somehow."

Garrett lets out a rumbling laughter. "I didn't tell them anything. I didn't know how."

Logan raises an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"

"You still don't realize?" Garrett laughs harder. "I can't even speak the language."