Northgate
Five months after Garbon’s death
The Gallows
The sky grew dark as the gray clouds above, almost black, crawled across Northgate. With them, the clouds carried the sound of thunder roaring in the distance as well as an eerily warm breeze that subtly amplified before reinforcing itself with strong, erratic gusts of wind. With each new gust, carried the swaying of a taut rope, and with each new sway carried a corpse well past the point of decomposition. Back and forth it swayed as the sound of the rope continued to stress in the wind and the corpse continued to move to the dance of the dead. Just twenty feet down, stood a young boy roughly the age of twelve. The boy’s eyes were fixated on a different, fresh corpse of a little girl, which rocked in front of him just behind two Painted Swan soldiers. While her cold, dead eyes seemed to demand attention from the boy, occasionally his gaze would subtly dart to the skeletal corpse and back to hers.
“How long’r you just gonna stand there, kid?” A voice, laced with irritation carried through the wind. It belonged to one of the soldiers- a woman with red hair and a nasty scar across her nose. It was obvious that she had been less than pleased for quite a while now. One could only imagine the effects boredom will have once festered long enough. “Oi, I asked you a question.” The other swan, a man likely not even twenty years of age, began to chuckle from the much needed amusement brought by his companions’ own vexation.(edited)
The boy only stared at the corpse of the girl, seemingly unaware of the swans in front of him. This of course, earned a response as the red haired swan’s brows furrowed and wrinkles manifested on her forehead. “I said-” She moved to deliver a front kick to the boy’s chest. “-I asked you a question!” Just before her foot connected, the boy stumbled back, fear stealing his weight beneath him before his back met the ground. This earned a laugh from the other swan soldier. Having missed the boy however, the woman was unsatisfied. She moved to stomp the prone kid.
“Enough.” A deep, yet soft voice carried through the wind. The command had come from a smiling, though rather imposing figure- an older, bald, red bearded man who stood around six feet tall and had the build of an ox. “Don’t tell me you’re going to let a child get the better of your emotions, Jerica.”
The red haired woman’s posture instantly switched to attention as she gave a flawless salute. It was so flawless, in fact, that one might mistake the imposing man’s command for a knife’s edge at her throat. “No, captain! Th- The boy overstepped so I saw it fit to-”
“Overstepped?” The captain cut her off, “The only step the boy took was backwards. Hardly an overstep if you ask me.”
“But sir—”
“You’re still green, private, but that doesn’t excuse you from failing to understand how this boy bested you- or rather, how you let your own emotions best you.” The man still wore a smile even as the sound of her tooth cracking away left her closed lips. Try as she might, there was absolutely no hiding her disdain nor the fact that she struggled to contain it through gritting teeth.
“Both of you, back to your post. Instead of playing with children, it might behoove you both to start thinking of how you can better represent the Painted Swans.” Without a word, the two privates moved back to stand at attention as the captain turned to the boy, who was now rising to his feet. “You, come with me.” And so the child followed, but not before taking one more glimpse back- not at the girl, but at the skeletal corpse dancing to the sway of a noose.
The captain and the boy walked roughly a block and half down from the gallows before coming to a stop. “Was that your sister?” The boy offered no response. “A friend?” Still no response. The captain let out a subtle sigh before kneeling down eye level to the kid. “Boy- no… what’s your name?”
Thunder roared as the boy shifted a little, his eyes finding his feet beneath him. “Jacklen…”
“Ah. It alright if I call you Jack? It’s a bit more common and doesn’t—”
“—Jacklen…” The boy protested. “It’s my name and it’s all I have left of my family. We’re not very wealthy nor do we have people to remember us when we’re gone so… when i die…” Tears began to well in Jacklen’s eyes. “There will be nobody to remember my family.. We’ll just…be nothing…” Jacklen couldn’t help but sniff back the tears.
It was a bold move—cutting the captain off, though there were no others in the immediate area to witness it and so he didn’t mind. If anything, he couldn’t help but admire the assertiveness at such a young age, though it might one day cause the boy to dance with the gallows if he’s not careful.
“Jacklen is a fine name. You can call me Seshel.” Seshel shifted his weight from his right, knelt knee to the other. “I can understand you being hurt, angry, or maybe you even want revenge. I wouldn’t blame you. But, who would you take your revenge to? Who would deserve it?” Only a beat passed before Captain Seshel continued. “You might be thinking, ‘The swan that killed her’ right? The answer’s not that simple, kid. We Swans don’t have much a say in the matter. Yes, when we put on these uniforms…” He gestures to his own. “..people only see us as soldiers whether that be good or bad. Reality is, we’re just people like everyone else. We’re mothers, sons, daughters, husbands, wives, and fathers…” The captain’s attention seems to drift only for a moment before coming back to the conversation at hand.
“I have a daughter of my own y’know. Jerica.” He pats the boy on his head. “On behalf of my daughter, I apologize for her actions. She’s all I have left in the world—if I lost her…well I can’t exactly say I would be able to take my own advice.” The captain’s voice grows strained and thick as his smile, for the first time, fades. “Though, that attitude of hers worries me. We’ve never seen eye to eye, but her brother, my son, fought beside me in a battle roughly two years ago. She blames me for not protecting him. Says I let him die because he’s my bastard son. I loved him with every ounce of my being just as I do her… Everyday I worry that she’ll get herself killed because of that attitude of hers. It’s not easy being a father, y’know.” He forces out a laugh before letting it subside to the howling wind.
“I can say without a doubt that that girl, your sister, didn’t deserve the hand fate dealt to her. She’s far too young to experience death.. Hell, if I’m being honest, we’re all too young to experience death, but we experience it nonetheless. No matter who you are or what you’ve done, we all die one day. What’s important is what you do with the life you’re given. Aye, it’s a cruel world, but you’re still alive. You’re still living in this cruel world, kid. Use the life you have to make this a better place. If this world were a better place, maybe kids like you wouldn’t have to lose their families. And maybe families like mine wouldn’t be trapped serving as tools for those with status to use for bloodshed.”
Captain Seshel brought himself up to his feet before giving one last bit of advice. “Jacklen, you’re at a ripe age for the Swans. Do anything and everything you can not to join’em or you just might end up being the one orchestrating the hanging of children.” The captain slips a silver coin in Jacklen’s pocket. “Buy yourself some food and leave while you can. If I come across you again, I can’t guarantee I won’t have to recruit you. If the Swans find out you’re an orphan, well you’ll be a swan in no time. Be careful, kid. I hope to hear stories of The Great Jacklen, who against all odds, rose from the ashes with no name, yet still made this world a better place.”
Seshel moved a couple of paces towards the main thoroughfare before stopping one more time. “And stay away from Granny’s Orphanage.” And with that, the captain moved back to the gallows.
Jacklen only sat there, eyes staring blankly at the cobblestone even after the captain was gone. Rain began to eventually fall from the sky above as the stone grew darker and darker, one tiny speck at a time. As the boy stared and as tiny rivulets streamed beneath his feet, Jacklen let out under his breath, “I wish all Swans- people were like you.” And the boy left.
As Captain Seshel approached Jerica, his path was impeded by a lieutenant. “Captain Seshel, you have orders to have two of these bodies removed and they are to receive a proper burial. You will oversee the process.”
“Yes, m’am!” The captain gave a salute. “Which ones should be taken down?”
The lieutenant responded as she handed the captain the paperwork. “Siblings- boy and a girl. That one…” She gestured to the young girl hanging just in front of them. “And her brother.” She pointed to a skeletal corpse on the opposite end of the initial one. “Though, off the record, I gotta say it’s odd seeing bodies come down so soon. The two don’t even have a surname nor anyone for that matter. Someone must have paid a hefty sum to have them taken down and buried, but who or why is beyond me.” The lieutenant let out a sigh as she scratched her head. “Ughhh anyway, the names to be placed on their tombstones are in the paperwork. Hop to it, Seshel.
Immediately, the captain wanted to deliver the news to that boy, but it was unlikely he’d find him again, not to mention his duty had to come first. Still though, Jacklen never mentioned anything about having a brother as well. Then again, the captain had only assumed that he and the girl were siblings in the first place. Rain began to pour as the captain looked up to the young girl’s lifeless eyes and then down to his daughter who stood just to the side of the girl. Though he wasn’t responsible, the captain couldn’t help it. An overwhelming sense of guilt and grief crashed into all that he was- a weight that he couldn’t seem to shrug off. Thunder roared along with the weeping sky as the captain lifted the paperwork chest level. The least he could do was remember their names. On paper, they read:
Jackla, Tamer of Horses -Age 9-
Jacklen, Bringer of Joy -Age 12-
The Petriar Estate
Night had fallen while the growing storm raged on as Talith Elinasti rounded a street corner. He was somewhat lean, yet still slim. He wore a long brown coat which had been given to him during his time as an actor at the Quick Sloth. Rain manifested to streams falling from his coattail to the ground below before being met with an abrupt splash as he carelessly stomped through a nearby puddle in his path just before approaching an imposing gate, outside of which stood two Petriar guards.
“Welcome back, Mr. Elin—” The guard caught himself as he opened the gate. “Welcome back.” It was the same Petriar guard that had been assigned to keep tabs on Talith just before the horde of Swans invaded Northgate.
“Thanks, Murin. Always good to see a friendly face. Especially in this weather.” Talith passed through the gates as Murin couldn’t help himself. “Careful, lad! Don’t get blown away!! HAHAHAHA” Talith was already too far down near the main doors of the estate to hear through the storm. The other guard however, heard it just fine as he sat there, expressionless in the rain. “Your jokes are bad, Murin.”
Talith finally reached his room. It wasn’t the grandest in the mansion, but still by far the most lavish room he’s ever had to call his own. It was at least three times the size the room he’d grown up in, complete with velvet, dark purple drapes as well as dark purple sheets to cover his bed, which was placed in the opposite corner of the door against a wall. Over the sheets rested a jet black blanket complete with two jet black pillows. He knew less about fabric than he’d like, but just from touching the bed, he could tell the sheets and pillow casings were made of something similar to silk, perhaps. The rest of the room seemed to replicate or compliment the bed. A fine purple rug sprawled across the floor, mostly to cover the wood which was sleeker than any wood Talith had previously encountered. The walls however, were white with black trims along the bottom and top edges. For that matter, most anything in that room that had been designed with the Petriar colors tended to have either a black or purple trim to it. Just a bit beyond the foot of his bed sat a desk, just under the window, with some of Talith’s belongings on it including his drenched jacket which he layed over the back of the chair. The best part of the room however, was the hearth that nestled inside the wall to the right of the entrance. He could always feel its warmth as soon as he walked in the room.
Talith pulled off his boots and tossed them to the side, beckoning water to drip and run into a small puddle beneath. He rubbed the old scars on the soles of his feet. They didn’t hurt, but they were still scars that he would be stuck with his whole life. He stood back to his feet, removing his water soaked shirt before tossing it over his boots, resulting in a wet sloshing sound as more water joined the ever growing puddle. Now only in his black leather breeches, he finally let out a long, very long drawn out sigh while rubbing his hands down the sides of his face. With most of his wet clothing removed, it was only his chestnut colored hair, which had grown over the months, that dripped water almost methodically; each drop sounding rhythmic. Talith moved to the foot of his bed and—
We love you so much, Talith…
Chills crawled and seeped up his spine. Without the slightest bit of hesitation, Talith turned to investigate that voice which shouldn’t exist. Adrenaline rushed through his being as for this slight instant, time seemed to slow down. His eyes began to focus, ready to react with force, all the while he could hear his heart drumming in his ears.
THUMP……THUMP…
…THUMP
As if drawing a blade from its sheath, Talith’s arm whipped around, his palm facing outward as he readied to blast the presence behind him. Only there was nothing. As he faced behind him, he was met with nothing save for his drenched clothes soaking into the rug. A wave of confusion, but more importantly, relief washed over him. The chills subsided, the rain water on him which threatened to turn to sweat subsided, and the adrenaline too had subsided. He tapped a finger to his head as if to get his own attention.
“Get. out. of. there.” The words sounded tired, stressed even. Though who he was talking to, he himself couldn’t even say. And that’s when it caught his eye. That jar which he filled with the soil from home sat on the edge of his desk, motionless. It was inanimate, yet still seemed to call for Talith’s attention. The hearth in the background of his vision draped a warm, flickering glow around it, almost highlighting the object. As if the gods had snapped their fingers, the room filled with a blinding, brilliant light followed by the sound of crackling thunder. Talith seemed unphased. He was now fixated on the jar and only the jar. Staring and staring was all he could do, or rather, all he wanted to do. Entranced by the jar containing the soil of home, he could only stare.
Thump Thump
Only stare.
Thump Thump
And stare.
Thump Thump. Thump Thump.
And stare.
Thump Thump…. THUMP THUMP.
And stare.
THUMP THUMP THUMP THUMP THUMP THUMP TH-
“Why do you always stare at that thing when you’re alone, Talith?”
Talith’s world shifted back to normal in nothing less than an instant as a familiar, friendly voice soothed his ears. It was Amberlyn, niece of the head of the Petriar family and the closest friend Talith had made since being separated from everyone else. Were it not for her, there was no telling what might have become of Talith. Her hair was black and normally fell just below her shoulder blades, though it was currently up in a ponytail. Were it not, the front would often be parted slightly with a purple pin to compliment her black hair, and curls falling just in front of her ears to her jaw. A cluster of freckles painted either side of her face, lining on her cheekbones just under her dark brown eyes and her lips, usually dressed with dark purple lipstick, were closer to full rather than thin. The most notable of her features however, was a small mole just off the corner of her left eye which seemed to compliment her beauty more than anything else. While normally, her voice was naturally coarse and high pitched, her current words carried more weight than usual. They carried the weight of concern.
Amberlyn stood in her nightgown at the entrance with the door shut behind her. Talith hadn’t even heard her come in. Reality finished settling as he quickly managed to grasp the situation they were currently in. “Amberlyn!” He strained to keep his voice hushed. “What are you- did anyone see-”
A bit startled, Amberlyn responded with a panicked hush to match his. “Shhhh! No, nobody saw me, Talith! Gods we’ve gone through this so many times!”
“Yeah but how do you know-”
“Ah ah ah shh-”
“Amberlyn, I’m just say-”
“No!”
“But-”
“No buts, Talith!”
Talith opened his mouth to speak once more, but was instantly cut off as Amberlyn raised a finger, as if to say ‘drop it!’. A few beats passed by as the two only stared in frustrated silence before bursting with contained laughter like children trying not to get caught up past their bedtime.
“Talith.” She moved closer to him. “Have we ever been caught before?”
“No, I know. I guess I was just more startled than anything… But why the door this time? Why not the wind-” Thunder boomed outside once more, echoing throughout the room. “Never mind.”
Amberlyn swung her arms behind her back as she innocently sauntered to the desk only to be met halfway by wet clothing soaking the floor. She didn’t seem surprised by that nor the fact that Talith himself was still damp. She carried on to the desk, albeit slower, before planting her bum on top of it and placing her bare feet on the chair beneath. The atmosphere for them both shifted to a more serious tone before she even spoke. “So… I take it you managed to see Jackla and Jacklen one last time..” It was more of a statement than a question as she leaned forward and rested her elbows between her knees.
“I did…” Talith slid the jar of dirt away from the edge of the desk. He proceeded to lean back against the desk, supporting himself with his hands slightly behind him. His eyes drifted to the floor. “And I got to visit Garbon…though I couldn’t exactly risk standing in front of him..”
“I hate what happened to him.. And I hate what happened to those kids and their family.” Her fingers locked to one another with rage as she continued. “Pulling strings to give them a proper burial was the least I could do after what those disgusting Swans did to that family. I just wish I could have given your friend one as well.”
“It’s okay. I’m sure it was hard enough just getting those two down.”
“It was. And-”
Talith kept his head down, eyes to the floor as he interrupted.. “I’m sorry that I keep having to ask for favors. Even after all that you and your family have done for me.”
Amberlyn grew slightly agitated at those words. She wasn’t quite angry, but upset nonetheless. “Talith, stop doing that.”
Talith lifted his head to face her. “What-”
“Why do you always have to apologize? It’s something I chose to do because I wanted to- because we’re friends. Nobody wants to hear their friend constantly feeling like they have something to apologize for. Sometimes we just like to know that we helped someone. Sometimes it’s just nice to know that your friend appreciates you for doing what friends do! Taith..” She met his eyes. Just try simply saying thank you..”
She was right. Amberlyn had said this to him before now as well, yet here he was apologizing again. It was a bad habit that he needed to break. “You’re right.” Talith took a couple of paces away from the desk before turning back around and placing a hand on his hip. “You’re right, Amberlyn. Thank you. Not just for this, but thank you for everything.” With that, a smile beamed across his face and Amberlyn returned the expression.
“Now see? Doesn’t that feel much better? That wasn’t so hard, yeah?”
“Yeah yeah I know I know geez I get it!”
Ambelyn hopped off the desk. “Now, let’s change the subject, because there’s just something I have to know.”
“Mmm. Yeah?”
“Yup! How is it that someone as scrawny as you is able to wear that heavy armor all the time?” She gestures to the closet across the room where he keeps his sword, Vivian, and most of his other equipment.
“Uhhh I’m sorry, what’s THAT supposed to mean??”
“I mean you’re so tiny. If I were going by looks alone, I’d say you couldn’t even lift this chair, let alone that armor!” Amberlyn shifted her body to the window, doing her best to hide her amusement as she stretched her arms above and then behind her head. “Why, I have a potential suitor arriving tomorrow. They say his muscles were chiseled from the heavens above. Now THERE’S someone I could see easily wearing heavy armor like that. Ohhhh I bet he’d look so good in armor too!”
Now Talith’s hands on his hips were replaced with fists on his hips. “Wait wait wait! Are you trying to say? Hang on are you trying to give a not so subtle hint here? My body is perfectly FINE the way it is thank you!”
Amberlyn couldn’t help but laugh as she turned around to face Talith, hands now on her knees. “I know I know I’m sorry!” She continued attempting to speak through the hushed laughter. “It is. Your body is perfectly fine. I was just teasing you!” Her laughter finally eased as she began to speak normally again. “But it honestly wouldn’t hurt to change your appearance one way or the other. And not a haircut. Think about it, the Swans are looking for some scrawny kid, right? And sure, you have magic, but what if something happens and you can’t use it? If you did gain a bit more muscle, well you wouldn’t exactly look like that scrawny kid on the wanted poster now would you?”
Talith couldn’t deny that she had a point, even if it did feel slightly manipulative. Amberlyn continued. “And besides, the bonus would be that it WOULD help you with the ladies.”
“I’m already fine with the ladies-”
“I don’t mean the ones at the brothel that you give coin to. It’s the coin that’s good with those ladies, not you.”
There was a pause in the air as she waited for Talith’s response. He was still a bit shocked. She absolutely went there. “…Ouch.”
“Well I’m JUST being honest. Friends are honest with each other!”
“No yeah I know but still…ouch, dude.”
Amberlyn swung her arms behind her back once more and sauntered towards the hearth. ahem Okay. You’re right. Too far.” She pivoted a half circle around to face Talith. “Anyways, if you do end up wanting someone to help with that, I know just the guy! But you better lemme know before noon tomorrow, because I’ll be hard to get in touch with for about a week after that.”
“Oh?” Talith couldn’t help but tilt his head out of curiosity. “And why is that?”
Amberlyn smiled. “Well I wasn’t kidding about having a potential suitor coming in tomorrow, ya know. I have to uphold my status and be all proper lady like and all that stuff.” She gave a half hearted curtsey, seemingly to mock it. “It’s honestly so tedious. All these men looking for some fragile lady to make themselves feel bigger. Playing that role is absolutely disgusting if I’m being honest, but it does have its perks at night.” She let out a chuckle. “Here’s to hoping he can fuck well enough because I CERTAINLY won’t pretend to be lady like in bed!”
Talith’s eyes grew wide. This was a normal occurrence. She often had suitors saunter in, only to leave with their tails between their legs after she rejected them. Ever since he had met her, she had always been the type of girl looking for the next big thrill. Even still, it always threw him off bit with her choice of words.
He shifted his weight to his left heel. “Geez dude, you’re such a perv! Well, is he at least attractive?” The words carried genuine concern for his friend. “Like, he’s not a seventy something old man, is he?”
“Hmm… Well I haven’t seen his face, BUT I wasn’t lying when I told you about his body! Ohhh man now THAT’S a tree I look forward to climbing!”
Talith buried his face in his hand while the other arm folded across his torso. “Ughhh stop.”
“Oh yeah I’m gonna teach him some workout techniques alright! He’s gonna be begging me to be a lady when I’m through with him!”
“Please stop.”
“and that’s not ALL…”
Amberlyn continued on with her excitement for another five minutes before Talith finally got her to calm down.
“And so anyways, Talith, this means that there can’t be anymore of this” She gestures between the two of them. “For a week.”
“Yeah no, trust me, I know. I’ll just be at the brothel, it’ll be fine. Maybe I’ll find me a nice partner for a week too that DOESN’T want coin!”
Amberlyn playfully slaps Talith on the arm. “That’s the damn spirit!” And with that, she turned to move to the door, her back to Talith.
“Oh, are you leaving?” Talith inquired.
“Yup. Big day tomorrow and all.”
Now it was Talith who couldn’t help but chuckle. “Pffft yeahhhh sure you’re leaving. Ohhhhh no, I know you muuuuuch better than that, Amberlyn. You just want me to ask you to stay again.” He moved closer, absolutely confident with each step until stopping just behind her as he rested his chin over her shoulder and put on a playful, yet mischievous smile. “A whole week you said….right?” His words carried a tickling sensation which crawled down Amberlyn’s neck, bumps forming across her skin.
“Oh gods damn it!” In the blink of an eye, Amberlyn had turned around and lept into Talith’s arms, embracing one another. Her legs squeezed around his torso as her lips moved to his. Before they could meet, Talith briefly stopped her. “But we seriously have to be more quiet this time. Seriously. Okay..?”
“Just shut up, Talith. I know…” Almost before she even finished her sentence, her lips found his and the night carried on.
Epilogue: Vivian
It was a sound that only Talith could hear — the sound of fingernails dragging against the wood of the door leading out of the chambers he had been granted by the Petriar Family. The wailing was something mournful and pathetic, the keening of a creature abandoned to abject misery and hoping only now for the gentle release of death.
The problem was… she was already dead.
“Let me out. Someone let me out. Please. It’s so grossssssss,” Vivian groaned on the edge of tortured sobbing in some hope that something, somewhere was listening and could spare her from her torment.
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