Clouds of Tyranny (14 page)

Ruthie and Terra walked in the room
distracted by the noise they just heard. “How’d it go?” asked
Pearl. “Well, I think Terra’s ready for the field.” Pearl smiled at
Terra, “Good, and Alex?” “She’s very talented, but I don’t think it
would be a good idea to send them on the same mission together.”
Locke looked at Terra, “What happened? Did she do something to you
Terra?” “No,” smiled Terra, “The other way around.” Pearl hung her
head and slapped her forehead with her palm. “Go get some rest
guys. We’ll discuss our mission later.” “K, bye,” squeaked Ruthie
as Terra followed. Locke shook his head at the idea of Terra and
Alex, then turned to look at Pearl who was scanning him up and down
followed by an intense look into his eyes, “I don’t see it.” “See
what?” asked Locke. “What all the fuss is about.” “What are you
talking about?” Pearl sat down and waiting for Locke to sit with
her, “Are you blind?” “No.” “So you can see the way Terra looks at
you?” “Sure, she respects me. I saved her life, after all.” Pearl
laughed maniacally, “No, she can’t STOP looking at you. In her mind
you’re the man of her dreams. She wants to marry you, but only
cause she doesn’t know any better. I doubt she’s ever been in
love.” “So, she has a crush on me?” “Wow, the last horse finally
finishes the race. Just don’t hurt her Locke and the best way to
not hurt her is to not get involved, got it?” “Of course, I would
never-“ “Oh, and as far as Alex goes; I know.” “Know what?” Pearl
stood up and looked down at Locke with a suspicious grin on her
face, “I ain’t stupid,” said Pearl before turning her back on him
and leaving the room. Locke stayed sitting for several moments
thinking…

Terra sat with Ruthie in the dining area
making small talk in the late afternoon waiting for Locke to come
explain the mission to them, while Alex sat on the opposite side of
the large room. Alex felt like an outcast every since the
embarrassing incident in the training room where Terra made her
look like a damn fool. Pearl and Ray entered from the door leading
to the Returner’s private room; Pearl sat down with Terra and
Ruthie as Ray made his way over to Alex. Alex watched as Ray sat
down in front of her. “Hey,” said Ray sadly giving her a look of
condolences. “I’m guessing by that look, that you heard about the
incident.” “Yeah. I came to tell you that you and I have a mission
tomorrow with Pearl acting as our leader. “What’s the job?” asked
Alex sliding the bottle of whiskey in his direction. “Thanks,”
nodded Ray taking a swig, “Mmm, good stuff. Well, me, you, and
Pearl are going to Harmon to survey the town and arrange the
townspeople with safe passage out of the town a few days prior to
the Empire’s scheduled attack and to plan spots for constructing
traps to ease the threat to our benefit.” “Sounds good to me.” “So,
what’s the deal with that girl with the green hair?” “Terra? Don’t
ask me, I don’t know anything about women. Ask anybody,” laughed
Ray at his own ignorance of the opposite sex.

“You’re not coming with us?” asked Terra at
Pearl. “No, I’m going with Ray and that new girl to Harmon for
reconnaissance and Smith would like me to keep a close eye on Alex.
I’m a pretty good judge of character.” “Okay,” said Ruthie, “So,
our mission will involve me, Terra, and Locke going into the
‘Forest of Sorrow’ and past the swamp to enlist the retriever?
That’s awesome; I haven’t seen my buddy in forever.” “I knew you’d
like it,” laughed Pearl, “Oh, and Terra? Don’t ask the Retriever
any questions.” “Why? Is he a private person? Or like a bounty
hunter with deadly secrets or something?” Ruthie frowned at Terra,
“No, just cant talk. Had his tongue cut out a few years ago.”
“Ouch, by who?” “His old partner,” explained Pearl, “Quadra, a girl
with only four fingers on each hand.” “Ouch again, how’d that
happen?” inquired Terra. Ruthie sighed and muttered, “She was a
thief as a child and someone decided to teach her a lesson one
day.” “Anyway,” said Pearl standing up, “You leave bright and
earlier so get a good meal tonight and a good night’s sleep. Don’t
forget to bring spare food for the trip tomorrow. Good luck.” Pearl
walked over to Ray and Alex and sat down. “Woohoo,” chanted Ruthie,
“Get to try my new gloves and you get to test yourself tomorrow.
It’s gonna be fun.” Terra swallowed hard, “Is it gonna be
dangerous?” “Of course, that’s why its fun. Don’t worry though; a
few saber wolves, worsps, and maybe a few swamp plants. Nothing we
can’t handle.” “Ruthie, I’m just worried I’ll be too frightened to
do anything. What if I just freeze?” “If you ever feel yourself
getting scared just get angry instead and tell yourself ‘I will not
die!’ or just call to me, I can help you.” “Thanks Ruthie,” smiled
Terra giving Ruthie a one-handed hug.

Locke was in his room making preparations
for the next day; packing nonperishable foods, sharpening
additional blades for battle, and testing his fighting boots that
had a retractable blade in their toes. Locke picked his head up
when he heard a knock at the door, “Yeah?” The door crept open and
in the doorway stood Ray, Pearl, and Alex. “All is set for
tomorrow, Locke,” said Pearl assuredly. “Good, be careful you guys
and good luck.” Ray nodded, “Thanks, you too.” Pearl and Ray began
walking away. “Can I talk to you?” asked Alex. “Sure, close the
door.” She entered his private room and closed the door. “Listen
Alex, about last night.” “I could have killed that bitch with a
snap of my fingers if I wished.” “Who?” “You know damn well who,
that little whore that can’t stop fawning over you.” Locke laughed
at the irony, “Jealous?” “Me,” scoffed Alex, “That’s funny. Too
funny. Can’t even muster a chuckle. Do you want her?” “No, I don’t
want anyone. I want the Empire to fall and my countrymen to be
safe.” Alex turned toward the door, “Be safe Locke.” She left and
closed the door behind her, “You too,” whispered Locke to
himself.

Alex walked into the dining room and asked
one of the waiters, “When do you serve supper?” “In about an hour
ma’am.” “Thanks.” Alex had a little while so she decided to go to
the women’s dorm and prepare for tomorrow. She walked past the
infirmary and heard, “Psst, in here.” She stopped dead in her
tracks and backed up to see the same burly wheel chaired man she
saw in the meeting room lying in a bed with a bowl of fruit on the
table next to him. “Hey,” he said, “I’m Clyde. We weren’t properly
introduced.” “Hi, I’m Alex. Just got in last night.” “What’s wrong
Alex, you look down.” “I’m sure you heard.” “Heard what?” “Well, I
had a bit of a spat with that Terra girl.” “Oh, the girl with the
supposed powers?” “Yeah, she decided to use her ‘powers’ on me;
someone that relies on her sword to fight. A little one-sided if
you ask me.” “Well, can’t get along with everyone, right?” “You
ain’t lyin’ Clyde. So, what happened to you?” “Shot by an imperial
bastard, but I’ll live. Doc says I can get out of the infirmary in
four days and eat real food.” Alex laughed as she looked at the
dried fruit and oats next to his bed. “Where you from Alex?” “Me,
Pan’dier.” Alex’s mouth curved; she was getting tired of the lie.
“Hmm, do you know Lisanella?” “Can’t say that I do, I’m afraid.”
“Oh. That’s okay. So what you up to tonight?” “Have to get ready
for tomorrow’s mission and was thinking about finding Terra and
rectifying today’s little ‘incident’.” “Missions. Can’t wait to go
on another one of those. Just don’t do anything rash to Terra,
okay? She’s just a kid and she seems a little confused and out of
place here. Locke told me she’s been sheltered and never had to
face death or violence until he found her.” “Thanks for the tip,
hope you heal quickly.” “Thanks for talking with me, good luck
tomorrow,” said Clyde giving her a military salute from his
bed.

Alex continued to the dorm after talking
with Clyde and saw Terra by her bed, which was just below hers. She
walked over casually and nodded at Ruthie, “I hear your going on a
little mission in the morning.” “Yeah,” lighted up Ruthie, “Get to
see an old friend of mine in the swamplands.” Terra stood there
feeling a little awkward. “That’s a nice blade you got there,” said
Terra towards Alex in an attempt to break the ice. Alex looked over
at her and smiled maliciously as she wrapped her fingers around the
handle of her dragon blade. “Yeah, it has served me well,” she said
just before pulling it from the scabbard and holding it up in front
of her face. The entire room got quiet; all the girls in the room
were looking in Terra and Alex’s direction anticipating some
action. Ruthie broke the silence, “Where’d you get it?” “I made it
last year after my broadsword got destroyed. Once I began using
this one I realized that one-handed swords were more my style;
quicker and more versatile.” Ruthie looked at her cross-eyed, “How
does a broadsword get destroyed? Aren’t they near unbendable?” “I
was fighting a Tagmyte and holding my sword out was the only way to
stop his jaws from crushing me into dust. Luckily, I got away with
my life. Learned my lesson, I’ll tell ya,” chuckled Alex as if near
death experiences were natural. “A Tagmyte? Wow, I’ve never
actually seen a Tagmyte,” said a preteen girl from across the room.
“How many of you were fighting it?” asked Ruthie. “Just me, I was
challenging myself. Guess, I was in over my head,” answered Alex.
“What’s a Tagmyte?” asked Terra. Ruthie looked at her in fear, “A
Tagmyte is a large four legged beast the size of this room, maybe
larger, with razor sharp claws, two rows of teeth along it’s jaws,
and four large fangs on each corner of it’s long snout.” “Wow,”
gasped Terra, “We won’t see anything like that tomorrow will we?”
“Nothing that big; mostly beasts no larger than you. Alex, you’re
going to Harmon, right?” asked Ruthie. “Yeah, a few banshee tigers
along the way, but a rather simple journey I’d say.” “Pretty much,
“ said Ruthie, “But watch out for the plains east of Harmon; that’s
where a family of Lizarros live.” “Really?” said Alex, “The color
changers? Good, I’ve never seen one.” From the bed adjacent to
Ruthie’s came a voice, “Good? Lizarros killed my entire family on
our way here to escape the Empire,” said an oriental girl of about
thirteen years of age. Alex sunk her head in embarrassment of being
so impertinent.

Alex spent the next hour or so laying in her
bed on her back staring at the ceiling thinking about various
things; her mission tomorrow and how she would stop herself from
spell casting (by now it was second nature) and more importantly,
last night with Locke. Two nights ago she tried to seduce Locke to
give her mind some relaxation and that was all it would have meant
to her, but now she actually felt something; was it because he
turned her down at first? But he made the first move last night,
what did that mean? She was eternally grateful for what he had
done; bringing her to safety and changing her appearance so no one
would know who she is, because that could cause her to come to harm
from a different angle.

In the dining room everyone sat together;
even Terra and Alex though neither one had closure yet. The
Returner’s table was actually crowded with two gentlemen Terra
hadn’t seen since her arrival. Chuck and Lars whom Alex had never
met. Terra was the last to sit at the table as usual, “Hi guys.
Long time no see.” Lars smiled, “Hi Terra. How do you like it here
so far?” “It’s getting easier,” she shrugged, “Where have you
been?” “Me? I was inside one of the imperial camps along the coast
waiting for the right moment for Chuck and I to plant some bombs.”
“Did it work?” inquired Terra. “Like a charm, forty less
imperials,” interrupted Chuck. Alex was in the vicinity of Terra
and the two returning warriors. “Hi, I’m Alex!” yelled Alex
extending her hand to Lars obviously wanting his attention. Lars
shook her hand and nodded without saying a word then quickly looked
back to Terra, “Well, you definitely look more at home. Less
nervous and more confident.” Terra smiled appreciatively, “Thank
you. Are you going on one of the missions tomorrow? It will be my
first and It’d be nice to have someone to protect me,” Terra said
flirtatiously. Lars was now blushing, “No actually, but Locke can
protect you. I really need rest. Besides, Smith wants to plan some
kind of counterstrike on the Empire in a couple weeks and wants me
to have a look at the blueprints of the town so we can determine
the right places to plant explosives.” “Oh,” said Terra, “Me and
Ruthie are going with Locke to get some retriever guy.” “The
Retriever?” asked Lars. “Yeah, you know him?” asked Terra. “Know
who?” said Ruthie just tuning in to their conversation. “The
Retriever,” said Lars angrily. “Ooh! Shouldn’t have brought that
up, Ter,” said Ruthie grinning. “I’m sorry,” consoled Terra. “It’s
okay. I just don’t care for him because of what he did to my
sister. I can work with the guy because that’s business, but I’m
not having dinner around him,” explained Lars. “What did he do to
your sister, if you don’t mind me asking,” asked Terra. “More like,
what his sister did to the Retriever,” laughed Chuck. Terra looked
to Lars for an explanation. “Okay, the short version is: He slept
with my sister by saying he cared for her, she fell in love with
him, he told her to get lost, she cut out his tongue so he could
never lie to anyone ever again.” “Wow, she’s sounds tough,” gasped
Terra. “She is a very strong woman,” confirmed Lars. “Where is
she?” asked Terra. “Don’t know, last I heard she was going to the
west continent to get away from the Empire and away from the hate
to start a new life.”

“Where’s Locke?” asked Alex towards Ray.
“Oh, before a mission he likes to be alone the night prior.” She
thought carefully whether to bother him, No he needs his strength
if he’s gonna play bodyguard for Terra all day. Pearl saw her
thinking; obviously about Locke, which she didn’t like one bit but
then again she didn’t like anyone thinking about Locke in that way.
Pearl looked over to Terra watching her talk with Lars and she
seemed to be having a great time and it seemed more fitting. She
smiled at Terra. Terra smiled back at Pearl saying ‘Hello’. Pearl
winked at Terra and Terra raised an eyebrow in confusion.