Chapter 11

By Erik Brown

He ran with fluid motions. His feet barely touched the searing sand. The burning sun beat down upon his scales, heating the blood beneath. Faster and faster he ran, with every breath he became stronger and stronger. The air was purifying his body, and the sun’s rays were reshaping his flesh.

Once his bones may have been weak, and his muscles limp. Now his bones were like tubes of bronze, and his strength was quickly becoming immeasurable. Scraps of clothing hung limp on his body, less of a sane creature, he was becoming like a roving beast.

A beckoning drove him on, and he could hear his name being called from just beyond the horizon. He clutched the Eclipse Sword in his twisted claw, as he felt it too giving him strength. That dread blade of bane had inexplicably become bound to his soul. His body was deformed now; muscles were twisted about in odd shapes, wrapped around wrongly shaped bones. How even the mighty would hide from his dreadful presence. Odd shapes stuck out of his back, the scales about him were closed so tight, that not air could pass between them. As he ran a twin pillars of smoke drizzled out of his nostrils.

His appearance had been twisted to an extreme, but he did not mind, “This is the way it is supposed to be.”

“Come Teip, come dragon. Obey me, and reap the riches of my bounty!”

“I am coming Master. You I obey.”

He ran and he ran, never growing tired, never becoming hungry. He ran for miles and miles, not passing a single soul in that scalding desert. No mountains lay on the horizon, and there were no landmarks anywhere in site. Just thousands upon thousands of miles of sand.

A canyon suddenly lay before him. Nothing upon nothing lay beyond the rocky wall that he stood looking down from. He had run to the ends of the world. Standing there, breathing in the hot air, he didn’t even question why he had run here. All he could think of was how to appease his Master, and even if he were commanded to jump, he would do as he was told with reverent obedience.

From the engulfing air, a voice came. Powerful and commanding, it said to the creature, “Show your faith, Teip. Jump.”

Teip stared down into the maw of darkness. There was a tiny voice of reason that cried out in the pit of his being, it cried out, “Don’t do it, he lies to you! Are you to be a pawn? Jump, and you shall be his lap dog! Is that what you want?”

"If it is not what I want, then it is something I must, and will, do."

For all he wanted, was to please his Master. Tightening his grip on the sword of ruination in his right hand, he then closed his eyes. He could feel the ground fall beneath his feet, and the rush of air, as he began to plummet down into the depths of the end of the world. And that little voice of reason inside of him, fell and fell, and was dashed against the rocky floor. But he did not fall, no, scaly wings saved Teip from that untimely end. And so, bat-like wings carried him high up into the heavens.

And he waited. Waiting for the next command.

…

Rei was having the time of his life. He was happier than he ever had been, on any Birthday he ever had. He was enjoying himself to the fullest, and loved every moment of it. Every moment with Chassy, he counted as a blessing, and every tender second, he saw as a gift from on High.

Picnics on a warm day, and loving embraces beneath the starry midnight skies. Everyday brought them closer, and his love for her only increased as the hours passed. Good things followed good things, as it were a story of grief in reverse. Even his blasted pessimistic sensibility had a hard time, overcoming it's consistently euphoric optimistic half.

"I love you so much."

"My love for you is deeper than the ocean, and wider than the heavens."

Blind! He could only see it as an endless summer. Fall could never come, would never half to kill their bloomed relationship. And white snow would never cover the crushed petals, would not need too, even if renewed life was promised. Summer would live forever, the cheery days would never end, never give way to falling leaves.

…

Fall might not have been around the corner, but a Winter was fast approaching. Not even if the weather had called for snow, and the deciduous leaves had fallen to the ground. Rather, Winter would come because a prime source of income, a slave-run mine in the Blue Lake area, had mysteriously been destroyed.

Secret accounts were pried open, and lying accountants were executed. Uncommonly high travel expenses! Outstanding shipping costs! Assassination bills for famous archeologists! Fees for cover-up agencies! Had the very fabric of rationality in the accounting branch been ripped apart? Maybe one too many zero's had been added in one set of numbers, and taken away from another.

Or, as the head of Winter's Chief of Inspections figured, a rather hefty sum had been funneled into illegal, and unlawful research. Unwarranted and unnecessary! What had Kuja been thinking? Surely she would know that Winter's prying eyes would discover her treachery!

Not only had a Winter installation been destroyed, and a Winter Sergeant been killed, but several million jao had been spent on illicit ideals! Sources had pointed out that Kuja had been working with the governing bodies of Nogrias, which was something she was doing with the agreement of the Emperor, but it was now clear she had been overstepping her boundaries.

It had also been found out that Sieve was not behind the attack rather it the finger of accusation was resting on the Mayor of Nogrias. Many sighs of discontent had been heard that day. No one wanted to send a veritable legion of Inspectors out to Nogrias, not to mention plenty of Peace-keepers. The aspect of work and cost was extremely unpleasing to their ears.

"Are you absolutely sure that Sieve had nothing to do with this?"

"Our sources have never been wrong, Sieve had nothing to do with the bombing of Blue Lake."

Not so much were they worried that a new group had taken up arms against Winter, but rather a report on a bombing by Sieve could be stacked with the rest of them. And that would mean the other hundred occurrences, which Winter wanted to forget.

"I was supposed to retire this week!"

"I had a vacation planned this weekend!"

"If the Emperor asks, then Sieve did this little crime."

"Agreed, sweep this under the rug, and let us be done with it!"

He was standing right there as they said that. A stolid believer in Winter since he was able to clutch a knife. A ferret, with an uncanny mind about him. He had achieved in but one area, and that was of sleuth work. It wasn't long before his uncanny sleuth ness had gotten him promoted to Chief of Inspections.

"Now hang on!"

"Who gave you the permission to talk, Bresen?"

His paws became clammy, worried that his blatant outburst might bring about more than a reprimand. "Forgive me General, but I have always held you Generals in high regard."

"Get to the point Bresen, we do not have all day."

"I have sternly defended your honors when your decisions were questioned! Now I hear with my own ears that you care not to rectify such a matter!"

The four General's laughed at his comments. A shabby bear spoke to Bresen, "New positions such as yours Chief, have not had the privilege to hear of how Winter works at the higher levels."

An eagle sitting next to him continued, "It is the field sergeants that are the deciding factors in many cases. We have not the time to micro-manage the resources of Winter."

The next speaker was an aged cat, "Nor do we have any say at all! It is Zaego, and not us, who make the rest of the decisions."

Finally the badger on the end finished the discussion, "If you really have a problem with us forgetting this matter, then you may, heh heh, inspect the case. I think we would all be in agreement with that." Heads shook all around, "Good. Bresen, if you feel so inclined, you may recruit sergeant Uslies, and take care of this matter. If that is not a problem, then I suggest you leave tomorrow morning."

And so it was agreed. Chief Bresen of Inspections would lead a squadron of Peace-Keepers and Inspectors to Nogrias, and get to the root of the problem.

…

They looked deep into each other's eyes, peering into each other's souls. Words could not describe the emotions they were feeling at that moment. They had been talking, of nothing in particular, but something had suddenly grabbed Chassy's attention. In spite of her happiness, she could feel something was not right. She could feel the undercurrent of a lie around her ankles.

"Sometimes I feel like you're hiding something from me."

Rei looked sheepish, knowing full well what he was hiding from her, "What have I got to hide Chassy. Why would I keep secrets from you?"

"I don't know, but I can sense a sadness in you. I don't make you sad do I?"

He put his hand on her cheek, "How can I be sad when you're around. You make me happy, Chassy."

Again he had dodged the bullet, had just about been blown to pieces. Was it all a farce? He had only lied of his roots, of his origins. Had only…

Did she really know him? He had suddenly come into her life, a mystery from far away. What if she really knew? What if she found out? What would become of him? He couldn't lose her, would life be so cruel? She had become his priority, had become his reason for life.

For a moment her face was pristine, but she furrowed her brow, and shut her eyes. He took her in his arms, "It's alright, don't worry."

Tears soaked his shoulder, "I just don't know Rei, I just don't know!"

They sat like that, as he calmed her down. Downstairs the front door opened, and then was violently shut. The sound of hooves and talons were heard on hardwood.

"Please calm down Mr. Winnebaugh." Rei knew the voice, it was the Mayor's.

"How can I be calm? We are in way over our heads now!" And that was Chassy's father.

A brief second of silence followed. Even the house didn't dare to creak at that moment. Then the Mayor spoke again, "May I sit down?"

"Yah." Mr. Winnebaugh bellowed into the house, "Rei! Get down here!"

Rei called back, "Right away." He got up to leave, but turned around to face Chassy, "Will you be alright?"

She nodded her head. Rei handed her his handkerchief, and headed through her bedroom door. Smiling to himself, he padded down the stairs. The Mayor sat with arms folded on the couch, as Mr. Winnebaugh poured drinks at the wet bar.

"Good day Mayor. Mr. Winnebaugh."

The Mayor grunted, "Nice to see you again Rei, but you can call me Hector."

"Excuse me, Hector."

Mr. Winnebaugh handed the Mayor a glass, which he clumsily held between his hooves. He offered Rei the other glass, "Rei, hard liquor?"

"I'll pass."

"You'll need it."

Rei gave him a cockeyed look, and then he took the glass. "I'll hold on to it, just in case."

"Yah."

As Mr. Winnebaugh poured himself a glass, Rei asked Hector, "What is this all about?"

"Sit down." Rei sat. "You remember Blue Lake then."

"Yes, very clearly." Rei took a sip of his drink.

"Now you remember that you fought, and presumably killed, a fox named Kuja. Right?"

"Yes." He took another sip.

"You then proceeded to destroy the base that she was commanding. Putting many destitute individuals out of work."

He raised his voice, outraged by the comment, "They were slaves, pure and simple!"

The Mayor motioned to Rei to be quiet, "Rei, don't forget who are the politicians in this room. We know all about that operation, far more than you know. No, far more than you should know!"

"I'm sorry, go on." He took a slightly longer sip.

"That was a prime source of income, for both this town, and for Winter." The Mayor grunted, "I'm sorry, but that was something you didn't know of."

"I know of Winter."

"Of course, no one was asking you that. Everyone knows of Winter. Now I simply had asked you to take down Kuja, not that facility! With a different head of command at Blue Lake, we might have seen lower taxes, fewer bandits, better living for those workers, and a higher income!

Rei grimaced, and swallowed the entire contents of the glass. He had only told them that he had defeated Kuja, not that all of Blue Lake had been destroyed.

The Mayor's eyes were thin slits, as he gruffly spoke to Rei. "Why did you do it, Rei? Why did you do such a callous and regrettable thing?"

"I-I…" What could he say, that an agent of Sieve helped him? Was Mayor Hector not directly in liege with the Emperor? He might soon find himself deported!

"Cat got your tongue, bird?"

"Gimme that bottle of liquor!"

Mr. Winnebaugh roared at Rei, "Sit down!"

"I am only asking you a simple question? Now, the Winter agents who are on their way, their questions will not be so simple. They will not be so kind."

"Mayor Hector is not cruel, Rei. He is willing to have a pardon made for you. You just have to tell us your motives in doing what you did!"

He sat there, and looked at his hands. His eyes were shifting about, they were deeply suspicious of him. It reminded him of the looks he got at that bank so long ago. Maybe he should bolt for the door? "I can't say."

Hector stared at Rei. "I'm sorry to hear that. Winnebaugh!"

"Yes Mayor?"

"Detain Rei to this house, do not let him leave. The Winter agents should not be a long way off."

"Yes Mayor."

Hector set his glass on the table next to the lamp. He walked to the door, opened it, and walked out.

The two birds looked at each other with uneasy glances. Mr. Winnebaugh stood up from his seat, and walked over to the wet bar to pour himself a glass. "Do you want another drink?"

"No, I need to think about this with a clear head."

"Are you afraid?"

"Not really, just shaken up."

"You should be afraid, but a drink will calm your nerves."

"Why should I be afraid?"

"You've heard the tales of Winter's Interrogators and their Peace-Keepers?"

"Oh, that Winter."

Mr. Winnebaugh put a hand on Rei's shoulder, "It will be okay. I am afraid as well."

"For me?"

"No, for Chassy."

Rei grimaced, and then he sank low in his seat, and covered his face. "Oh no… I never…"

"It's okay, don't worry."

He hadn't thought about her. She would be devastated if anything happened to him, let alone if she found out he was a criminal of sorts. An outburst of anger came out of him, "But the Mayor! He's the one who hired me to do this!"

"So."

"So? Doesn't it matter?"

"No. Corruption has ruined this Empire. Winter is full of it, they replace sergeants like Kuja all of the time. Just killing her would not have gotten you in trouble. Nothing will happen to Mayor Hector, he will shift all blame to you."

"I am in a lousy position!"

"Yes, but don't worry too much about it."

Mr. Winnebaugh began to walk away, leaving Rei alone. Rei leapt up, and turned to face Mr. Winnebaugh's back. "Wait!"

The bird slowly turned, and peered at Rei. "What is it?"

"What if I told you everything?"

He stood there, pondering Rei's offering. "I suppose that might clear many things up."

"No, I want to be acquitted!"

"I can't do…"

Rei cut him off, "Yes you can, you're a snake-in-the-grass politician! I'll supply the ammunition for this!"

"I don't follow you. We could only plea that you were insane, what would that prove?"

"I wasn't the one who blew up Blue Lake."

Mr. Winnebaugh set his half full glass on a nearby table, "Who did, Rei?"

"It was Sieve!"

"Quiet, say no more!" He walked over to Rei, and put his arm around his shoulder. "Come and help me get a bottle of wine from the cellar."

"Huh?"

"Just come."

A candle was lit, and thrust into his hand, as he was lead down into the cellar. Mr. Winnebaugh lit a lantern, and hung it on a nail on a rafter overhead.

"You are absolutely sure that this was caused by Sieve?"

"Yes, it was done by a monkey named Palcos. He said he was an agent of Sieve."

Mr. Winnebaugh slugged a table, "Fatherless child! They did this on purpose then! What gain do they want from this?"

"I’m sorry, what?"

"There is some reason that Sieve went to great lengths to do this! Two spies were just about caught the other day. We think they may have been agents."

"Wait, why now?"

"See, they listened in on the conversations, learned that we were going to have Kuja assassinated. So they send an agent to make sure that Blue Lake is not leaderless, but becomes a crater. That way Winter agents would come to Nogrias, and a purging of politicians would commence. They had to make it big this time, Winter doesn't inspect just anything."

"I've heard of their corruption, is it really so bad?"

"Sieve bombings happen all of the time, but it rarely has anything to do with income. So usually Winter dismisses the bombing. In this case the Emperor is involved. Still, something else must have been done! Some sort of tie was made to this town! Otherwise even if half of Marburg was destroyed, they could still blame it on Sieve and move on."

Rei was befuddled, corrupt politics were way over his head. "Shut up now! What will become of me?"

"You would be killed, possibly executed before the Emperor himself."

"I don’t want that! What do I do?"

Mr. Winnebaugh began to pace, skirting just outside of the lantern's light. "I don't know. We are most certainly past acquitting you."

Run, run! Fight or flight? Flight, run for your life! He blurted out, "Run!"

The other bird shrugged, "You could do that. I'm not sure where you would go." He hit his hand, as he looked at Rei with a smile, "You could go to Marburg!"

"What! But Winter owns Marburg!"

"Precisely! What better place to hide! Better yet, join Sieve!"

"What!"

"Calm down, this plan sounds just a little bit off the wall, I'm sure!"

"A little?"

"It's just the ammo I need for an acquisition! I could call a mistrial with this sort of dirt!"

"But I'll be a Sieve agent?"

"So?"

"They'll kill me for trying to destroy Winter!"

"Not if you get swept under the rug."

Rei thought about it. Then he realized that it was totally devoid of all rational logic. "You should have been a lawyer."

"So you'll do it?"

His eye twitched, as he shouted, "I'd straight up and die anyway!"

"Good, good!"

They stood facing each other for a moment, before Rei queried, "Now what?"

"Huh?"

"How do I get to Marburg?"

"Oh, feh, details. You'll leave in the morning, preferably by foot. You'll be less noticeable that way."

"Right. But aren't I one of the only birds with this color of feathers?"

"Look, I'll have the details done by morning, I suggest you go up and cook up an alibi for your sudden departure. Try to come up with one that doesn't address 'I'm on the run from the law', okay?"

He started up the stairs, then the bird swallowed, "I'll say I'm going home."

"That's the spirit!"

Rei turned and eyed the joyous bird, "Either you drank too much, or you're really an anarchist at heart."

"Down with government! Heh!"

…

"Are you really going home?"

No, I'm going to evade the authority, so that I can join an anarchist movement, so that I can live till I'm old. "Just to tie up some loose ends."

"I'll miss you."

"I'll try to write you."

"You promise."

"I promise."

"Be safe my love."

"If I'm too safe, then I wouldn't be dangerous."

"Fine, don't be an idiot."

Rei cinched up the pack on his back, and readjusted the crummy jacket around him. He jammed on a hat, and began to smear the black ochre across the exposed parts of his face. There, now he looked just like a crippled raven! No one would mistake him for born-wingless bird with gold feathers.

He waved at the town he was leaving. He was going to miss her the most, of course saying that mean that there were other things to miss. It really wasn't a bad little town, after all, it wasn't the 'home' he grew up in. But he had dwelled on those things already.

Traveling was nice. Gave one the chance to see more of the world that they trample upon everyday. To see the places that they only hear about, and hoping all the while, that the destination lives up to the hype. "That Marburg better be a den of bums and hookers, or I'll want my money back."

Setting out upon the heavily trodden path, Rei was pleasantly surprised to see that he was walking through a pleasant land. Nice smelling trees grew on the sides of the road, and there was nary a sharp rock to step on. Green grass grew all around, and bees merrily buzzed among the tulips and the buttercups. Not quite purple mountains jutted up into the air in the distance, and blue skies and fluffy white clouds loomed over him.

Time seemed to pass slowly, as hanging stillness wavered about him. It was a nice and pleasant experience yes, but did it have to be so boring! He wished he had a car, or one of those dondis things.

That was one of the hardest things to get used to. Not learning different names for other things, though it was hard to get over those habits. Nor was it learning a new geography, which he had now neglected on two worlds. It was coping with bizarre and alien creatures.

Biology wasn't his strength, and learning the dead language names of forgotten phylums did not interest him. So he had forgotten, nay, neglected to learn of the different flora and low-level animals. "That's a tree, that's grass, and that is what appears to be a walking toaster, with pink polka dots."

And the dondises were the strangest of the lot. A hybrid of an elephant and a lizard, then further crossbreed with a lion. Tawny hair grew out like a mane, while a pachyderm tail swayed behind, all resting on an uncouthly scaly green body. Then again what he found creepy and downright strange, someone like Chassy, simply adored the walking freak shows. At least that wasn't evident by some of the books she read.

It wasn't long before Rei crossed paths with a pair of travelers. And he literally crossed paths with them. It happened at a crossroad, that they passed each other. He gave a nod to them, and they nodded back, and began to whisper to each other. He thought about it, and an uneasy feeling came over him. Bandits? Thieves? Having already crossed paths with such brigands, he had not the time to accumulate more lumps from such a lesson.

So despite his seemingly peasantry appearance, if they did happen to confront him, he would have the decency to follow their demands. They didn't look that dangerous. One was a stumpy rat get up in a forest green tunic, and faded jeans. The other was a gaunt wolf, with a bandaged ear, and wore a long gray trench coat and black pants.

Rei continued on his way down the road, and turned around to see them following him. He began to grow nervous. He whispered to himself, "Don't kill me, oh please, don't kill me."

Hoping they would ignore him, Rei continued on his way. Soon they were just a stone throw away, and gaining distance on him. "Hey you, traveler."

Rei let out a coarse, "Hello."

"Hang on a sec. We just want to ask you a few questions."

Shoot! He stopped and turned around, trying to act like he was developing a hunchback. He tugged on his hat and his collar, hoping to conceal any gold feathers. The wolf and the rat walked up to him.

The wolf stood erect, and spoke to Rei, as he turned to glare at his traveling companion, "Me and my comrade here are in a bit of an argument. We were just hoping that you might be able to help us."

Inwardly groaning, he said to them in as gruff a voice as he could muster, "I can see what I can do."

The rat chimed in, "Good."

He received a reprimand in return, "Shut up! Now, stranger, we was just wondering if you might be coming from Nogrias up that a ways."

"Not quite, I uh… came from a bit south of ol' Nogrias."

The wolf let out a sigh of relief, "Great, I was just telling dummy here that you couldn't possibly be a Rei."

He shook. The rat spoke again with a shrill voice, "You gots recognizable eyes. I've gots a photograherimic memory."

"Photographic. Get it right idiot!"

"I swears, he gots that birds eyes!"

"I am so ready to hit you!"

"You're always so means to me!"

"Wait a sec, where you headed!"

Rei was down the road a bit, he turned to see them walking steadfastly towards him. "We ain't done with you!"

"I'm very busy." Rei said in his normal voice.

"Hey, didn't you have a roughish voice just a bit ago."

Still walking away, Rei answered back in his fake voice, "You're hearing things."

"Come back!"

"That's Rei, I knew it!"

They began throwing rocks at the retreating bird. "Stop! We jus' wanna talk wit you!"

"I've been talked to by your kind before! It leads to lumps!"

"We ain't gonna hurt you."

"Then why are you throwing rocks!"

"Effect!"

Rei ducked, as a rock went sailing round the bend, over a hill and into the bushes. A cry of pain came roaring from the trees, as the three travelers froze in place.

"Wot was that?"

"I don't know, but it don't sound happy."

Cussing and swearing came out of the woodwork. "Wait until I get my hands on you morons! I'm going to pin you to the side of my house, cut you open, and eat your entrails!"

A weasel came crashing out of the bushes. He held his right paws to his head, and his left hand held a long blade in his left paw. The only thing he wore was a pair of pants, made out of what looked like a sheet of black linen.

"I come out here to meditate, and I get hit in the head with a rock. Who threw that blasted stone!"

Rei pointed at the two tails, as they pointed at each other.

"Tweren't me, it was him!"

"Don't listen to the ninny! Look at my arm, it's crippled. Honestly, how can I throw a stone!"

The weasel stood there, breathing in and out in harsh grating breaths. "Who do I clean first?"

"Clean me?"

"Knob head! That's one of them Merita weasels!"

"Les get out of here!"

They turned and ran, with their tails between their heads. Rei stood there, looking dumbly at the weasel. It looked as if the weasel was beginning to calm down, as the seemingly blood red color to his eyes began to subside.

"Uh… thank you."

The weasel seemed to stop breathing. "Are you daft or something? Why don't you run away with your friends?"

"They weren't my friends. They were robbers."

"I don't care who they were, you should be running away?"

"Why?"

"That's the way things work?"

The bird gave him a curious look, then he took in a deep breath and told the weasel, "My name's Rei Kiljrow, and I want to thank you for saving me."

For about a minute the weasel looked at Rei with a vacant stare, then a smile spread from ear to ear. "Well little birdie, they call me Skabar Tselent. And it's a pleasure to meet you. What brings you to these parts?"

"Just a wayward traveler I suppose."

Skabar looked up at the sky, "Well lookit that, it looks like it's getting a mite late, why don't you come and rest up at my house. My wife would love to have you for dinner."

"Well… thanks!"

Fool that he was, didn't stop to think that it was hardly even midday.