Capítulo 62: Chapter 62: Turn the page
*Training ground in the backyard of the royal palace of Adje, there was a kind of picnic between a group of children. It was Emory who had invited Dagfinn and Phina to make amends for what had happened last time. The kids were sitting in the grass enjoying, but right next to them Emory and Dagur were sparring each wearing sleeveless shirts.*
- Don't you think he looks like someone? *Said one of the guards staring at Dagfinn*.
- But no, you're making up your mind.
-Yes, yes, the blond kid who hurt the prince the other day.
- This one was executed. This one is called Dagfinn, he is the son of a certain Philotas.
*Dagfinn watching the fight suddenly glanced in their direction, the soldiers almost jumping. He smiled at them waving his hand then left them alone.*
-This kid is creepy to stand in the middle of the Killicks without flinching.
*Dagur on the other hand continued his sparring*.
-You seem distracted Emory what is it?
-I'm focused, I'm fine.
*Dagur gave him a blow which destabilized him by making him lose his support then approached him by passing his blade around the neck and smiled at him*
- Is it because of the kiss last time?
*Emory blushed but Dagur's face tightened*.
-It has nothing to do with your training. Please stay focused on our practice sessions *He said in a harsher tone*.
*He mowed down the young boy who fell to the ground*.
- Well he doesn't even concede a single blood to him. *says Varken*
-Blood? *Asked Phina*.
* On her side Phina was seated in the background, she observed the sparring between the two men sitting next to Diana and Adali. Honestly seeing all those Killicks around scared her.
-What blood? *she asked*.
-Bah there are 2 types of duel, the first blood for the first who hurts and the duel to death. *Explained Adali*. Since my master can't hurt the prince, he wins if he knocks him down or disarms him. On the other hand, the prince wins if he sheds his blood.
- But he might hurt him, no.
-Yes and so ? *Asked Varken*.
- But... He will...
-Killicks heal light wounds. A cut that thin isn't going to kill him. *Fit Adali with a smile*. They are in the 9th pass.
-What... what...
*Phina was surprised to see them so calm but her brother had warned her*.
-If you had to describe your companions to me how you qualify them. *she asked*.
-Well, Sheehan and Varken won't do anything to you until we give them the order so don't worry about them. Adali is still a kid and she's cute. Enrik is a gentleman but avoid approaching him he is actually a manipulator. And there is Kaleb the prince.
-The prince ?
-Prince Killick. A living weapon. If we had to measure his ego in gold I would say that 2 full boats would not be enough.
*Phina sighs*.
- I see the type.
-Avoid provoking him ok? I couldn't protect you if he gets mad at you, even if I gave it my all.
*She saw in his look that he was very serious so nodded in agreement*.
-And the other one there... Your cousin. Dagur, how would you describe him?
*Dagfinn stopped writing the accounts report and turned to Phina*.
-Dagur is the most cruel person I have met. If it was up to me, you wouldn't let you come near him.
*From where she was Phina watched the young boy with a skeptical eye. He certainly had a hard look but he seemed to her eyes to be the least frightening of the gang. For his part, Emory was beginning to pick up the pace*.
-Oh he's starting to get it. *tell Varken*.
-Come on Emory. *Encouraged Kaleb*.
*The young boy managed to push Dagur back a few steps*.
- You're not letting me win sometimes?
-On the contrary, I am evaluating how far you can make mistakes when you feel in a position of strength.
*Hearing this he suddenly recoiled and Dagur delivered a wide blow but missed*.
- Nice reflex, but in a real fight I would have already killed you. *he says calmly*.
-I take note.
*Then he returned to the charge while Dagur parried his blows*.
-Do you know the Killick practice which consists in planting seeds?
-I heard that the Killicks were very good farmers indeed.
-Haha thank you, but planting seeds in this context is killing a family member of a person, sometimes his father, his mother, his child. The goal is to leave a survivor hoping that he will become a powerful warrior who will come to take revenge.
*Emory's eyes widened in surprise*.
-It's a cruel tactic that serves to fuel hatred. It was banned almost 20 years ago since the Kremis incident. In addition, the success rate is 46%.
*The 2 boys crossed their blades bringing their faces closer together*.
-Since the incident in the cave the others have looked morose, have you noticed?
-It's because of Sheehan's defeat, isn't it?
-Hey they seem really close to me these days. *Said Kaleb*.
- What are you jealous, are you afraid he'll steal your girlfriend?
-Don't test me Varken. *he says annoyed*.
-I say nothiiiing.
*From a distance the others were trying to hear what they were saying but Dagur had made sure to be out of hearing range*.
-I'll only say it once so open your ears wide, cause even if you ask again i will deny it until the end of my days.
*He leans over to Emory and whispers in his ear*.
-Sheehan is stronger than me. He is even stronger than Kaleb.
*Surprised Emory's eyes widened greatly*.
-How's that ?
*Dagur spun and struck, his attack knocking the prince back but he kept his balance. He pursued him and chained several attacks that the boy had difficulty parrying and ended up disarming him. Emory fell to the ground and Dagur charged at him again but just before his blade reached him Kaleb stopped him with his bare hands.*
-What the hell are you trying to kill him or what? Be soft.
-He won't learn anything if I spare him. I don't intend to pamper him like you because he made eyes at you.
-Repeat please. *He said breaking the blade*.
- That's enough Kaleb I'm fine.
-But...
-Dagur does not have an account to return to you concerning my training. *he says*. I called him, not you.
*The sharp tone he used made him retract. From where she was sitting Adali stood up and cracked her shoulders.*
- That's 10. It's my turn.
-What are you planning to fight against this monster? You're just a kid.
-Oh don't worry, I'm strong. *She said grabbing a pair of daggers*. Oh and something else.
*She glared at Phina menacingly*.
-Never call my master a monster.
-Ok.... I will try to remember that. *She answered intimidated*.
*She smiles and pats him on the head before going to the training ground*.
- They are really crazy. *She whispered*.
-You are right we are. *say Enrik*.
-Eh ? *she jumped*.
-We have very keen hearing, you know. But don't worry, we're used to it.
-And she is a Killick too? She does not speak.
-Diana is special, leave her in her corner. By the way Varken how many passes Dali wins against Dagur?
-Last time she had none, and the day before yesterday she had one. And yesterday she put 3.
-Oh. Against you it would take you how many points? *he asked mockingly*.
-Nothing. I'm not going to take it easy because it's a girl.
*As Adali arrived, Alvaces appeared*.
-Prince Emory it's council time.
-I'm coming.
-I come with you. *Kaleb said*.
-No, I'm going with Dagur. We'll talk about it in the debriefing.
-But... Emory
*Emory's mind was on other things though*.
-That a guy as arrogant and proud as Dagur wants to admit something like that, it means that our enemies are not to be taken lightly. Note Sheehan is the only one absent today, it's the first time i see him miss a training session.
-Emory? *Dagur said pulling him out of his thoughts*. Go with Kaleb, I'm not in the mood today.
- How that you are not in the mood? *Said Alvaces*. You go there systematically every time for a month.
-I know but this time I don't feel it. And then I already have an idea of what will be said anyway.
*He approached Emory and whispered in his ear*.
-Take the opportunity to patch things up with Kaleb or you'll lose him for good.
-Oh! *The prince wondered*.
-Come on Dali. *He said taking the prince's training sword*. Today we are going up to 20 passes, what do you say?
-OK.
*Emory gave Dagur one last look and then motioned for Kaleb to follow him before leaving. Meanwhile in the streets of Salomeh, Philotas walked carefree with his guard. The man crossed the streets of the poor neighborhoods surrounded by an escort of 5 guards, the surrounding inhabitants seeing him coming moved aside and the thugs scampered off*.
-Are you sure this is the right path, boss? *Asked one of his men*.
-Of course Barogue. I still have my sense of direction you know.
- You're the boss. *He said shrugging his shoulders*. Even if you lose yourselves, we will follow you.
*Barogue was not the type to ask questions. He was rather small, black hair with a scar on his temple, he wore a black silver breastplate with 2 Kukuri on each side of the belt. His animal skin belt recalled certain steppe tribes. He was the right arm of Nisos*.
-Haha that's nice. By the way, do you know the continent of sand?
-I heard about it, I refused a contract to go and fight there. Why are you telling me?
*They continued walking and took a darker hallway*
-Well...
*A long time ago on the continent of sand lived a little girl and her family. The father ran a restaurant with sketched meals while the mother helped in the kitchen. About ten years ago the nation of Nikos where this family lived came into conflict with the empire of Nasyrios. To escape the war, the little girl's father decided to cross the ocean and reach the neighboring continent. For him with a bit of luck there would be no more conflict, it was the promise of a new beginning. They ended up settling in a port town where the father set up his restaurant. But after 2 months in the city it became obvious that something was wrong. The father hadn't had a single client, his wife was assaulted once and almost got raped, when the daughter suffered constant bullying from the children and one of them even scar the face*.
-I knew that kids could be cruel but the family had to be cursed for people to attack them like that.
*The problem did not come from much except the skin color. On the continent of sand people have black or tan skin just like*...
-The Killicks. *He laughed*. This guy is really unlucky.
*People mistaking them for a family of Killicks attacked them in every devious way possible and this continued for about 3 years until the day the real demons appeared. Adje launched an attack on this country which went up in flames during the day, the real Killicks showed up. They were amazed to see that one of them allowed himself to be abused so much by mere humans, only*.
-Hey. Why don't you do anything? Yet you're stronger than them, don't, you should have ripped their heads off.
*But the man didn't understand and was shaking like a leaf as he hugged his wife and daughter*.
- Tear their heads off... But how?
- Well like that...
* The Killick with a simple gesture pushed the father's head but it took off from the body and lodged in the wall. As his blood spurted out and his wife began to scream in terror the warrior looked at his hand in surprise. To silence the woman he cuffed her to knock her out but broke her neck*.
-What the hell did you do? She was good, we could have sold her at a good price.
-I... I wanted to calm her down. It's not Killicks they are too fragile.
-Thank you, I noticed. In the meantime you killed them.
-I know, but what do we do?
-We will have to fall back on his daughters what a wound.
* The young girl hugged her little sister tightly while her brain was still struggling to print what had just happened. They were locked up among other slaves*.
-Uh wait boss, how come his daughters I thought he only had one.
- Why did I omit this detail? Oh it's not very important.
* By dint of walking he ends up arriving at an intersection. There was Shuri lying on the stairs with his body bleeding, right next to Nisos who was keeping an eye on her*.
- Hi boss.
-Hello Shuri. The sky is beautiful today, don't you think?
*She wanted to spit on him but it was blood that came out of her mouth*.
- Finish me off.
*Barogue immediately unsheathed his Kukuri but Philotas calmed him with a wave of his hand*.
-You went to great lengths to prove that my son was a Killick. Funny way to thank your benefactor.
-That day too the sun was at its zenith. When you buy my sister and me, all that to sell us to the Order like cattle.
-I thought by mistake that you were Killicks but thanks to you I was able to glimpse what the sand continent was like. And then Shiki took good care of you.
-They made us weapons.
-Rathnea spared you, otherwise you would be dead by now.
-That's enough. *She said exhausted*. I'm sick of all this, I hate you, the Killicks, Adrun, the Order, kill me.
- Alas I have another project for you.
*Philotas crouched down in front of her and crossed his fingers before smiling at her*.
-You are going to become my son's bodyguard.
-Eh ?
*Back at the palace, the council meeting had just ended. For a month now there had been non-stop meetings and it was starting to get exhausting*.
- Oh, I have a headache. *says Kaleb*. Dagur has to go through this every time?
- All without exception. *Answered Alvaces*. But don't worry, that was the last meeting.
- My father seems determined to want to carry out his plan. *Said Emory*.
-He may not be wrong deep down, it's time for our army to take a break. On this I leave you.
*Alvaces left leaving the two young people alone in the corridor*.
- Withdraw all our forces from the countries in our area of influence. What is he thinking? *Wondered the prince*. Alright, I need to get back to training. I'll think about it later...
*He barely took a step when he collapsed, Kaleb caught him before he even hit the ground*.
-Emory. You should stop overworking yourself, you're still a kid.
-It's okay, I can walk on my own. *He said pushing him away with his hand*.
*Kaleb looked at him surprised at his gesture*.
-I don't understand, why are you so unpleasant lately?
*He didn't answer and just clenched his fists, leaving his friend confused*.
-Emory talk to me. Did I do something wrong ? Why are you doing everything to avoid me?
- I'm not avoiding you, you idiot. I'm just... And then shit forget.
*He was going to leave but fatigue caught up with him and he fainted again. When he opened his eyes he was in his room with Kaleb sitting next to him dozing. Emory sat up and removed the towel from his forehead.*
-Ha, he continues to take care of me while I was mean to him. I would never understand it.
*He clapped his hands and Kaleb opened his eyes. The latter looked at him without saying a word and kept his arms crossed*.
- It's okay, I'm no more angry.
-If my presence annoys you, you can tell me, you know.
-In truth, I don't even know why I was angry. *he said smiling*. I think I just wanted to put some distance between the two of us, this one has been complicated you know.
-I who thought that you had ended up hating me.
- That's not it, I just wanted...
-I wouldn't mind going away for a while.
-And it will break my heart to be separated from you.
*He put his hand on his friend's and stared at him. Embarrassed Kaleb looked away*.
-I think I wanted to give myself a kind, to be like you. You always look confident, you're classy and you always know what you want from me in comparison...
-You don't have to be like me. *Said Kaleb*. When I met you I immediately recognized myself in you. You and I have the weight of royalty on our shoulders, we know what it's like to have to do everything not to disappoint our parents. Always having to be perfect and play the role that society has assigned to us, so believe me when I tell you that I understand how you feel. That's why I want to help you, from the bottom of my heart.
*As he tenderly squeezed his hand Emory laughed out loud. Kaleb caught staring at him in bewilderment, then he calmed down.*
-Why are you laughing?
-When I say you are cool.
*He leaned in his direction and cupped his cheeks in his hands, then he kissed him tenderly. Kaleb was very surprised but didn't push him away. The kiss lasted barely ten seconds and Emory retracted *.
-What... Emory...
-It was to make me forgive. *he said with a smile*.
*Prince Killick blinked several times while Emory chuckled softly. In the end Kaleb left the room with a clouded mind but once he closed the door he came face to face with Sheehan who was staring at him with a disgusted look*.
-Sheehan? I thought you were off.
-I have seen everything. *he said simply*.
-That... That's not what you...
-Deviant.
*End of chapter*
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