5 Gates of Ironclad

The stone walls of Ironclad came into view when we reached the top of the hill overlooking the grass filled plains surrounding the Astuca capital after two more days.

Towards the back walls was the Noble Quarter where the noble family reside including the king just as the name suggests.

The first and largest area that everyone entered was Market Square where places of business were lined up to draw in customers.

The Entertainment District was my favorite with its plethora of street performers wowing the passing crowd and the theatres on each block.

Lastly, the smallest of the districts was the Slums where those of low class and poverty resided, though I have heard from traveling merchants that my uncle was trying to improve the livability there.

I slowed Orion down enough to walk beside Zeke, "Be ready for anything."

I took a quick look at Veronica who rode next to the carriage, "I don't trust her or the others."

Zeke chuckled as he ensured that the rope tying him to a sleeping Scarlett was tight, "No need to worry my friend. We're ready for a fight like always."

He nodded to Nyxis who was bound like Scarlett, "Besides, you should be more worried about getting a ring."

[(I wonder if she would like a ring.)]

I was about to say something when Veronica sped up to walk beside me, "Einor, can I talk to you about something?"

Zeke laughed at the irritated look I gave before putting some distance between us.

Retorting when it was the two of us, "Refer to me as Jackal from now on especially inside the city's walls, Veronica."

Veronica scowled, "I will call you by your birth name and not some alias. Like it or not, you're my brother."

She smiled when I growled at her words. I asked through clenched teeth, "What is it you want to discuss?"

"When we reach Ironclad, I've made arrangements ahead of time for you at a local inn, however, it's only one room. I'll call in a favor or two for a room to be available for Zeke and Scarlett if you wish," she handed me a folded piece of paper from the satchel slung over her waist, "the name of the inn."

I unfolded the paper and discovered a flier advertising the SwallowTail Inn.

I had heard of this Inn a few times before back in Siegfried from passing travelers.

It was an extravagant place best suited towards those of wealth.

Groveling, I read the darkened words at the top and gazed at the well-mannered woman emblazoned next to them.

I truly hated nobility and would rather sleep in the stables than rub elbows with them even if Veronica reminded me of my past social status.

[(Of course she would have chosen a place for the pompous well-mannered. A place that outcasts like us would never set foot in, let alone welcomed.)]

Veronica shrugged when I glared at her, "It was either this or at the palace. Which would you have preferred?"

"Fine, I'll deal with rubbing elbows with nobility for a night," I growled.

I placed the folded flier in my coat pocket, "Anyway, I'd like to get some rest before meeting Uncle, the five of us, I should say."

Veronica looked about to protest but nodded, "That can be arranged."

I couldn't help notice the way she stared at Nyxis as we rode in silence.

Veronica finally asked the question on her mind after a moment, "So are you going to introduce us, properly?"

I tilted my head with a confused expression, "She told you her name. What more are you asking?"

She shook her head, "I'm not blind, Einor. I see the way the two of you look at each other. I think I have a right to know the woman my brother has fallen for, especially if she knows blood magic."

Blood magic was among rouge spells tucked away in the forbidden grimoire along side other classes of magic such as Necromancy.

Most call such a craft Hemomancy and its practitioners blood mages which have the ability to use blood-related magics known to them.

Many had thought that such magics were wiped out of existence during the age of High Chancellor Edmond when he first conquered these lands.

Any remnants were brought before the reigning king to be executed before their convenience could grow to its former glory.

Unfortunately, such things were too tempting as in the case of the Zeviel Dynasty that ruled over 500 years ago.

According to the stories, the king of Zeviel willingly sacrificed his own people in an attempt to unleash a horde of dämon upon the world so his kingdom would reign forever.

Bits of the stories mentioned that a Hero shrouded in light was chosen and slew the mad king before his dream came true.

In truth however, no one really knew what happened to that prosperous kingdom since all records disappeared or destroyed in one of the many wars that plague the world.

Such a mystery has been the downfall of many prominent explorers and led to even more innocent deaths.

I didn't give a rat's ass if Nyxis knew blood magic and was prepared to defend her against any foe.

"Don't…don't act as if you care, Veronica. I will do as I please and I'll see who I please. I'm no longer your's or the old man's concern. You have no right to justify my life," I growled.

I leaned against Orion's side with my arms crossed and head down as we waited at the back of the long caravan line waiting for entry.

To my displeasure, Veronica had sparked a conversation with Nyxis hoping to gather any information.

My eyes shifted to Zeke and Scar as they talked about Quoza recipes with Luca who I considered less unlikeable than than the rest.

The little fox stayed in the carriage probably sleeping from the trip while an aggravated Casteilla sent nosey merchants away.

Combs and three other knights stayed with the now conscious Count Udreth while the rest went to get proper restraints.

I felt Orion lick my cheek, "Hey now, knock it off."

I turned and patted his head, "I know Nyx wouldn't easily be tricked. It's just...I don't want Veronica to pry into my life especially if Nyxis is involved. I mean, you saw how they acted when they realized she could use blood magic."

Orion tilted his head trying to pretend he didn't understand.

I rolled my eyes and placed my head against his, "I just want Nyx to be safe, you know?"

"How much for the dire wolf?" a deep voice spoke from behind me.

I found a grotesque Orc standing behind me with eyes examining Orion like a piece of meat.

His orange hair was stained with brown splotches only to be dismissed by the pierced gold on his left ear and the gilded caps placed on each tusk.

His nose was adorned by a wide silver ring that gave him the look of most cattle.

The blue food-stained shirt with white trimmings he wore looked about to bust from the strain pressed against the three buttons holding back a broad barrel gut.

Claw like toes could be seen poking through his right boot while rips covered the tattered pants worn.

Turning back to lean against Orion, "He isn't for sale."

The Orc chuckled, "Playing hard ball, I see. Fine, how about five hundred gold?"

My mind was to busy trying to restrain myself from taking an ear.

I knew if such a devious reward was allowed that the pig would be killed.

I remembered his voice shouting down to the arena and his joyous deep laughter when he had his fun.

Back then he had been one of the contesting slavers in Alabasta's coliseum.

His name was Spatonamus the Slovenly and the most disgusting Orc of a man I had the displeasure of meeting.

I was half pleased that it was apparent he'd forgotten his favorite toy after so many years.

Spatonamus didn't take my silence as an answer, "A thousand gold."

[(Don't do it Jackal!)]

Spatonamus growled as he extended a hand toward me, "Fine, fifteen thousand gold pieces. That's my final offer."

I was about to sever his hand from his arm when Nyxis asked, "Is everything ok?"

Out of the corner of my eye, I watched Spatonamus turn toward Nyxis.

He licked his lips and ogled my fiancée as she made her way to stand beside me with a disgusted look, "Throw her in and I'll pay double the price."

Several teeth and a gilded tusk soared through the air with spittle when he turned to hear my answer.

I towered over him as he placed a hand over his bruised left cheek, "How…how dare you? Do you know who I am? You'll…you'll re--"

I brought my foot up striking him in the chin and watched with cold eyes as he fell backwards like a broken statue.

The little pig tried to act tough when he sat up and growled, "You have signed your death ledger! My acquaintances and I will have your head!"

I grabbed hold of the nose ring and pulled him to his knees making tears run down the sides of his face.

I was about to strike him again when Nyxis grabbed my arm, "Jackal, that's enough!"

I turned my head and found myself deep in her emerald determined eyes.

I released the ring and was about to say something when the pig stuttered, "Twenty…twenty-one. N-no it can't be, I heard that there weren't any survivors. It's not possible!"

I relished in the new found fear emitting from his eyes when he finally remembered who I was.

I took a step forward each time he crawled backwards hoping to reach safety.

I thought about taking an eye for the horrors and torment he forced upon me while he laughed.

Before I did anything however, I noticed three little Lepus children who looked to be in their fifth to seventh winters.

All three were wearing tattered dirt-stained clothes only slaves wore.

It was at this point that I noticed the large locks hanging from the collars that looked uncomfortable around their necks as shackles enveloped their wrists and ankles.

I saw myself in their eyes, "I'll make you a deal that you can't refuse."

I turned back toward Spatonamus with a sinister grin spread across my face.

I knelt down to look at him in his now swollen eyes. "Those three," I nodded toward the Lepus slaves, "for your life."

The pig looked from the slaves then to me as he fidgeted around, patting himself.

He held out a single rusted key after a few minutes, "Here, take it and let me live."

Reaching into Penumbra, I brought Tartarus from her slumber and placed her against the pig's throat.

I chuckled, "Did you honestly believe I would fall for the oldest slaver's trick? Where is the real key?"

"That is the right key, I swear," Spatonamus whispered as to not cut his jugular.

In one motion, the blade cut through his left ear with ease just like Morrigon did in the forest.

I tilted my head and pressed Tartarus against his throat making a thin red currant run down the pig's throat ready to be slaughtered.

I had always dreamed when our roles would be reversed and I was the one making him feel absolute fear.

For three years, I watched how he paraded himself like some untouchable king able to do whatever he wished to anyone he desired.

I heard the whispers of those slain in the arena tempting me to end the miserable wretch.

"What are you doing, Kin-killer?" Casteilla hissed, silencing the congregated whispers.

I retorted without looking at her, "Doing a little negotiating. You see, this pig tried to fool me with a rusted key in exchange for his sorry life."

I felt Casteilla's eyes move from me and to the Orc. She let out a sharp hiss, "You!"

She slithered forward until towering over Spatonamus with a scaled hood spread from either side of her neck just like that of a cobra, "We have been looking for you Spatonamus. Where are the children you took from their homes?!"

I couldn't help but chuckle making Casteilla bare her venomous fangs toward me. I smiled as my eyes never left Spatonamus, "They're over there."

I nodded to the children, "We were discussing the key for their shackles before you interrupted. Now, are you going to hand over the key or am I going to have to take the other ear? You have five seconds."

Spatonamus just stared at me as he waited for the knights of Ironclad, or anyone for the matter, to step in and save him.

"One…" I said as I placed Tartarus on my shoulder.

"Two…" I slashed the air a few times to intimidate Spatonamus a little more and chuckled on the inside as sweat formed on the pig's brow.

"Three…" I noticed a commotion coming from the gates out of the corner of my eye.

[(I guess the knights took notice of my play. Oh well, it was bound to happen anyway.)]

"Four…" Spatonamus tried to crawl away but Casteilla blocked his path as her needle-like fangs dripped with venom.

I raised the blade so that its shadow casted down on his face.

"FIVE…" I brought Tartarus down with full attention to make a matching set of cut ears.

"WAIT!!!!" Spatonamus yelled as Tartarus stopped just a centimeter from taking the ear.

I watched him reach into his shirt and tore a necklace with a single key from around his neck with tears and snot running down his face, "It'll unlock both the shackles and collars. Now please let…let me go."

[(Slaver's usually kept what they held dear close to their hearts. The power over people, a power so easily broken.)]

I took hold of the key, "You live by the advice of Alabasta. A life I wouldn't live, especially since you know how it ended for him."

I laughed as his eyes widened to the point that I thought they would burst out of his skull. I placed Tartarus against his chest and offered a last bit of advice, "I'll be watching you, Spatonamus. From the shadows, I'll be watching."

"Everywhere you go, even in the comfort of your home, I will be there in the darkness. Now, run and pray our paths never intersect because if it does," I nodded toward Orion who showed his massive canines "he'll have a new toy to chew on."

I watched Spatonamus trip over his own feet scrambling away from me like most of the ruffians that tried to claim Siegfried.

Like a madman, he bumped into Luca who made his way over to us and barely caught himself before striking the ground.

He continued to run into other caravaneers who shouted profound language that made me chuckle.

Two heavily armed guards stepped to the side allowing him through to the safety behind them.

He practically jumped through the doors of a gilded carriage making it rock a little from the momentum.

I turned toward the three Lepus and was about to make my way over to them when I felt a clawed hand wrap around my forearm.

Casteilla asked, "What do you plan to do with them, Kin-killer?"

I looked from her reddish green scaled hand to her golden eyes filled with worry.

I gave a soft, or as soft as I could, smile and placed a hand over hers. "To pay for past transgressions," I walked forward as her nails screeched against the mail of my coat.

I stood before the three Lepus children taking note of the fear in the two shielded ones' eyes while their protector stood her ground.

"I'm not going to harm you, any of you. Understand?" I knelt down and moved to unlock the lock but the oldest slapped away my hand.

[(Knowing Spatonamus, he probably broke their minds to not trust anyone except him. Guess I gotta change tactics.)]

"Ok then, do either of you like butterflies?" I asked and stored the key in my pocket.

The youngest Lepus girl poked her head out to the side making her dirt filled black neck length hair flutter.

She answered in a meek voice, "I-I like butterflies. I always tried to catch them whenever I see them."

"Hush, Phoebe!" the oldest yelled, her golden brown hair glimmering in places through the filth.

"But Alicja, I haven't seen butterflies in a year. I want to see butterflies," Phoebe protested.

"Um. I-I'd like t-to see butterflies as well," the turquoise haired Lepus girl added.

"Not you as well Sofia," Alicja sighed and turned to look at me.

Taking majority rule, I placed a hand on the ground in front of me.

The three girls took a small step back with amazed looks when its shadow grew.

They smiled in absolute amazement when twenty black butterflies fluttered from my shadow.

I couldn't contain my laughter watching the children being enveloped by the bombardment of little wings and trailing shadowy wisps.

The sight reminded me of the time Veronica and I ran through a field as the butterflies that occupied the flowers fluttered around us.

After a few minutes I tried again what I set out to do, "Those collars and shackles must be irritating as they are heavy. I could take them off if you'll trust me."

Alicja looked at the other two girls who gave a small grin.

With a reluctant sigh, she stepped forward as I pulled the key from my pocket.

I chuckled when a faint click sound came from the massive lock followed by a thud as it landed between Alicja's feet.

Tears fell down her face as she felt the wind blow against her neck for what must have been a long time.

I moved to the shackles that bound her wrists which were designed in a fashion that made bending the fingers impossible.

The memory of my first feeling when the same happened to me long ago as the shackles around her feet fell free.

Alicja spun around letting the wind go against her now free limbs as I moved to the other two who both wept holding each other.

The three of them continued to prance around like deer celebrating their new found freedom while I placed their bindings in Penumbra.

For so long the yearning for some kind soul to come free me from that hell kept me going and was the cause for many nights spent crying in a chilled corner.

Today was my chance to be that kind person like the heroes of the books I read.

Funny thing is that heroes never truly exist just as knights sworn to protect denizens of their kingdom are usually the ones pulling the strings from the shadows.

A fact that I personally saw on many occasions throughout the kingdoms I traveled.

Knights taking bribes from bandits or other unsavory characters to turn their cheek while they prance in the oohs and ahs of the children that looked to them as heroes.

Murder being swept under the rug because those responsible for investigating are lazy fat sows.

People being stabbed in the back just for a chance of a promotion.

Whatever the reason it was always the same, corruption takes many forms in life.

I extended a hand to the girls, "Come, my associates would like to see you."

With a smile on her face, Phoebe took hold of my hand after Sofia took hers and stood at my side with joyful dazzling blue eyes.

Each had already made up their mind about me which would fail if they knew the pain I caused.

Placing such a thought away, I turned toward Alicja and extended my other hand.

She looked at me with her hazel eyes then to the other two who were coercing her to take it.

Hesitantly, she reached out and took hold of my hand then the rest was settled with the short walk.

"LUCA!" Alicja yelled as she and the other two released my hand and ran.

Upon seeing them, Luca met them halfway and knelt down wrapping his arms around them in unbridled relief.

My mind was lost in the memories of my parents watching the three girls knock Luca over.

Memories held in my heart during captivity that were thought truly lost in the raging fire.

I allowed my mind to wander the winding paths of thought and gazed into the clear blue sky above.

[(The world is a cruel dark place filled with evils and atrocities. Both of you were simple pieces in the way of such evils. That being the case, I became a necessary evil that protects the lights, such as the reunion in front of me, as they pierce the veil. Maybe in time…I, too, will return to the light. Until then…I'll have fun being a villain.)]