Ektos

Why do I bleed red?

 

 Scoffing, the King turned away from the gateway and put his gaze upon the burning horizon, eyes narrowing as he watched the thing flee across the fields, set ablaze with the trees it left behind. Memories of his beloved daughter had flooded back once his eyes met with the Halfling, and he scoffed at himself, holding back the tears as he carried alongside the walls, looking back at his men. They stood ready, awaiting command as he nodded his head for them to relax. Letting their shoulders rest, they looked out as well, speaking amongst one another.

"If that thing ever enters, or nears the gates," The King met their eyes, "Kill it."

The Scaleskins exchanged uneasy glances, but nodded towards their king as he turned his back upon them and left inside the castle walls.

"She looked like us," One mentioned, looking at his brother beside him, "Surely we cannot kill another like us."

One, whose eyes were gray and old, bowed his head, "But remember, young one. We cannot disobey the king first. You do not wish to end up like our fallen brother Corgak. His disobedience put the kingdom in a hush for over a decade. I remember when I was there by his side when he was first initiated."

All nodded, smiling with the memories of their brother. The female tilted her slightly at her brothers, giving each one a good look over before comparing it to the intruder at the gate. The intruder seemed nearly human, with the face of the princess, but the body and spirit of a fellow Scaleskin. Her scales seemed as black as the night sky without stars.

"Herka, what is it?" Her brothers looked upon her, concerned.

"It feels, as though we have seen her from somewhere before, brothers." Herka gazed towards the sky, "As though she has been here before."

"Bah, that's absurd. One does not live twice. Only the gods of the suns may live again and again."

Herka met his gaze, "But what if she was one?"

The brothers laughed as they returned to their posts, leaving Herka to huff as she returned to hers. Her brothers never seemed to look eye to eye with her because she was a woman and did not understand the minds of men.

"I want to know more about this intruder. Perhaps she could be a valuable ally," She spoke to herself as she slung her axe onto her shoulder and patrolled the east wall.

 

≈•≈•≈•≈

Gasping for air, Ash rolled around in the mud, sloshing around as she met with the riverside. It soothed her burning skin as the fire coursed through her veins, burning ever so with power and energy. She breathed deeply, tasting the air as she caressed the water between her fingers, cooing slightly at its touch.

"What am I?" She stared up at the sky, "Tell me!" She roared, breaking down into tears as she cupped her hands over her face, sobbing.

"You are a child."

The voice startled her. She looked around, holding onto the rocks. She could taste a new scent on the roof of her mouth. It seemed so foreign, yet so familiar as she gazed upon the towering male as he grinned sweetly at her, offering his hand to the dripping wet Orc.

"H...how do you know me?" Ash shook, taking a hold of his hand as he pulled her out and onto the grass, "Who are you...?"

"My name is Rau'shin, have you yet forgotten." He chuckled, scratching at his dark, brown beard, "After all. You named me, mistress."

"Mistress? What..? No, no! Rau'shin is a rat." Ash shook more violently as she shoved away from him, glaring slightly "Don't play with my head! I'll burn you down!"

Rau'shin shook his head, chuckling once again, "You've never resolved to violence before. Why start now? If I were here to harm you, I would have done so already."

Ash frantically searched her pockets, huffing, "What have you done with my rat?"

"Now, now, Ash. Calm down or you'll awaken ever beast and human in this valley. Both of which would not give another thought to put you down in your place." He patted her on the head, ruffling her hair as she looked up at him, tears in her eyes.

"Y...you really are Rau'shin?" She wiped at her eyes.

"Yes, child. Come. Let us find shelter from this heat before you get dehydrated. There is a cave not too far from here. Let's go." He tugged her along, holding her close. "You had quite the tantrum at the castle walls some time earlier today. Your temper is quick to set off if you're not careful."

Ash dragged her feet as she refused to meet his gaze, tasting the air as she took in her surroundings. She felt so small compared to the towering mountains to the north, yet felt so tall aside Rau'shin.

"How are you not a rat?"

"Pardon? Must I always be a rat?" Rau'shin smirked, laughing at the look the Halfling was giving him. "I was only a rat to catch your attention. And now that we are here, free and out in the open, I am free to be whoever I wish."

Taking a step back, Ash gave the human a suspicious look over, "Are you not a demon?"

Rau'shin threw his head back and laughed, "A demon you say? A demon?! Child you have magic in your bones yet you believe I cannot have magic within my own. Can you not taste the air? Feel the ever moving earth in your bones? The forever flowing river in your soul? And the heated, raw energy of the burning suns? Everything around you lives. Whether it is a tree or a rock. There is a soul. No matter the form, it is still the same, yes?"

Ash nodded, trying to comprehend her rat's meaning as he continued forward. Her brow furrowed as her hair swept across her face with the wind. She could not understand. It angered her, to feel so, unintelligent.

"You are having a hard time understanding?" Rau'shin stopped once again.

Ash nodded once more.

"You feel close to fire, yes?"

Ash grinned, "Yes. It has always understood me best."

"That's because it is a part of your past. Your birth. You came into this world by fire. Thus, it obeys you better than any other element. It is at your will. Bend it, fuse it, and use it as you wish, but never underestimate its power once you release it. Its bonds may be in your reign to control, but once it is free, it does not have a master over it. It will consume you one day if you are not careful. Chose your path's wisely, child, or you too will be consumed within the fire your mother chose." Rau'shin breathed deeply, feeling the wind on his skin.

Ash froze, staring up at Rau'shin helplessly.

"You... knew my mom?"

"Of course. I was her magic teacher. I taught her everything she knew about magic. How to push the boundaries. How to be creative and let it flow through her. She had much of a temper as you, child. She would always try a spell once, and throw the biggest tantrum if she failed. She wanted to be perfect. Wanted to be the best. Then one day, she grew up. Realized she could never be perfect. She fell in love with your father. A Scaleskin Orc, who was one of the four royal guards."

"You knew of my mother and father together?"

Rau'shin chuckled slightly, grinning, "You're such a curious one. Why is it that you crave to know about the past, when you have a great future ahead of you?"

"I'm not pure Orc. Am I?" Ash looked down upon her hands. "I can create elements with my hands, and thoughts. I can feel every emotion connected together with the earth. Can hear each brook as it makes its way through the land. Yet I do not see other Orcs doing this. Why is there not more of my kind? And why was my mother killed for having me?"

"Child, your grandfather, the King, has run the most pureblood line of Orcs and Mages throughout the kingdom. He wishes everything to be perfect. A place for everything. And if you do not have a place, or your blood is not as pure as the water from the mountains, you are cast out from the world and no longer serve a purpose to his highness. If he does not kill you himself, be sure of it he will have others loyal to him do his bidding."

"So, from birth, I was just an outcast? But the other Orcs, my mother and father in the dungeon. They loved me for me. Why can the King not see that I am a soul just like his?"

"The King is a wise man, old and grey, but he is bent on his was. His father before him ground anything he could into his child. Obedience, perseverance, perfection. Those were the rules the King lived by as a child, and so he wished so much for his daughter. But if you cage a bird, it wants nothing more than to be free. It can pick the lock, but freedom comes with a price. Once the bird is free, it is also fair game to the cat."

"The cat being punishment?"

"The cat being the worse kind of punishment. Once the cat catches you, it can either pick each feather off one by one, or it can eat you alive."

Ash shuddered, grasping onto Rau'shin closely as they entered inside a damp cave, huddling close as she shivered.

It smelled of mold, and old water. Bats slept on the ceiling, tiny feet clinging to small stalactites above. They squeaked occasionally, moving slightly as they nuzzled one another, cleaning each other off.

"Now here is the most important question, child. Which one do you wish to be? The bird or the cat?"