Chapter 4: Ciri

“Umber,” I shoved Michael off her then knelt down beside her. There was a bullet hole in her chest and she was gasping for air. “Umber, no,” I said taking her hand.

“Ciri,” she looked up at me, “Never stop fighting. You have to survive for me and for yourself; don't give in to the pain.” “You have to find Eddison,” she whispered.

“Why?” I asked.

“He knows all about the Spectors; I heard everything you have to stop them,” she coughed then touched my cheek, “I love you, Blue.”

“And I you, sister,” I kissed her hand then her eyes went blank. My eyes stung, but no tears came.

 

“Oops,” Michael laughed, “sorry about that your holiness.”

“Oh well,” Nigel said and my heart and soul filled with unrepressed rage.

“Oh well,” I looked up at him.

“At least now no one needs to know I even had a daughter,” he said joining Michael, “What’s wrong? Ciri, are you going to cry?” I looked into his eyes and something inside of me lit up like a spark to ignition.

“Stay back,” I warned Drake, who was closing in on me.

“Quiet girl you are next,” he said pushing me forward. I looked down at Umber one more time then turned using a move I’d watched Jasper practice. I hit him in the throat. He started choking and I kicked him in the leg making him fall forward. I turned and kicked him down to the ground and stood up on my own.

“What are you going to do now girl?” Michael laughed, “You cannot fight me.”

“You are right,” I said then kicked him as hard as possible in the nuts. He screamed and fell forward onto the ground. “Well I guess he won't be having any children illegitimate or otherwise,” I said walking over to Nigel, “Oh well.”

 

“Now, Ciri, calm down let’s be rational about this,” he said and I punched him full in the face.

“That is for Umber, you son of a b***h,” I said kicking him repeatedly.

“Guards,” he yelled as Drake tried to pull me off.

“Let go of me,” I said punching Nigel in the gut then shoved my elbow back into Drake’s nose, “That is so no one else can feel Umber’s pain, grand minister.” Guards started showing up and I fought back as best as I could, but I was getting tired. One last look at Umber reminded me of my promise. I broke free of the group and started running in the direction of the city walls.

 

I thought about how I might get away and find a way out when I ran headlong into my master. I grabbed the fallen gun off the ground while he tried to sit up. “Stand up,” I said getting the gun ready to shoot.

“What are you doing?” he demanded.

“Don't talk, don't yell just shut up and listen alright,” I commanded putting my finger on the trigger.

“Ciri give me back my gun now,” he said calmly.

“Do not tell me what to do,” I said angrily.

“Calm down,” he said pulling out his cell phone, “you need help you don’t know what you are doing.” “I do not know what you are trying to prove, but this is bad enough don’t make it worse.” I shot the cell phone out of his hand and he took a step back.

 

“I know exactly what I am doing now move that way now,” I said pointing at the direction of the east gate.

“Do not make me hurt you,” Jasper told me.

“They just killed my friend; I will be doing the hurting,” I snapped.

“Killed who?” he said starting to walk down the small street towards the gate.

“None of your business; now get moving,” I said pointing again and he walked faster.

“Why are you doing this?” he asked as we walked.

“They hurt me so I am telling their little secret,” I kept pushing him forward.

 

“What secret?” he asked looking back at me.

“Keep walking or I will shoot,” I snapped.

“What secret are you talking about Ciri?” he asked confused.

“None of your business,” I said and he stopped moving, “All you need to know is, I read your letter from Talia.” The look of betrayal on his face filled me with guilt; my gun shook as a result.

“You had no right to do that,” he stopped and crossed his arms. I could hear people coming so I turned back to him. “What did it say? Give it to me.”

“I burnt it,” I said stopping at the gate. His eyes widened; he didn’t expect that. It was a night of surprises for both of us.

 

“What?” he grabbed my arm, “That was not yours, I have been waiting years for that letter, servant.”

“Don’t call me a servant. I know exactly what it said if you get me to my destination, I'll tell you everything it said,” I said gesturing him to keep going. He looked at the way I was shaking and I expected him to give us away because my resolve was so shaken. He wanted to know what I knew though.

“Fine wait over by the gate and I will distract them and meet you out there,” he said and I watched him as he went over to the gate and started talking to them. They all ran off in the other direction and I snuck out hiding my gun in my pocket. I stepped outside and I saw a guard running in and someone grabbed me from behind and covered my mouth and the guard didn’t see me. I struggled, but he had a tight grip on me and I was sure I was going to lose this fight. “Alright now, what did it say?” Jasper said uncovering my mouth and I breathed a sigh of relief. I took out my gun again not quite trusting him, even though he’d just saved me.

“Not here, I will get caught keep moving,” I said pointing at the forest up ahead.

“You are playing a dangerous game,” he followed me, “What could be worth the trouble you’re getting yourself in.”

 

“One of the Spectors was murdered, is that good enough for me to do this?” I sighed.

“You are lying,” he said eyes narrowed.

“His name was Warren Phoenix,” I informed him.

“I still don't believe you,” he shook his head.

“Why would I lie about this? How would I know details like why his holiness and two important officials played the smartest people in Graceling?” I said.

“Alright fine you’ve got my attention,” he said then hurried off towards the forest and I followed him closely to make sure he did not double back or try and sneak attack me. Once we were safely deep in the Forest of Embers, it was nearly destroyed by a fire many years ago; hence the nickname. I let him stop even though I know Elite have the strength to walk for days. “What is going on?” he asked sitting down on a log.

 

“Which would you like to hear first, the good news or the bad?” I asked.

“I want to hear the contents of the letter, but I also want you to stop shaking, so tell me what you know,” he suggested.

“Alright you sent me out to deliver a message,” I said clearing my throat.

“Then I waited and you didn't come back. Gray said you got it so I went looking for you; you showed up and stole my gun,” he said casually.

“I was bringing back your package, but I promised to meet my friend, Umber; that's when I find three men talking in the alley first is Michael, second is Drake Ford and the third was the grand minister,” I said starting to pace, “They were talking about Warren Phoenix’s body.”

“The council members?” he frowned.

“All of them. They’re talking about what good work they’d done,” I continued.

“They are quite brilliant at their jobs,” he agreed.

 

“Next thing I know Michael has adapted a Phoenix Warner voice and he steps into the light looking like Phoenix and they’re talking about power and expressing their own greed,” I said coolly.

“That is strange I will give you that,” he said unsure.

“Not finished enter his holiness himself, Nigel Peterson,” I said pacing faster, “comes up to them and agrees with their plot saying they keep his daughter a secret.”

“Whose daughter?” he asked shocked.

“Nigel’s illegitimate daughter I am not done yet,” I said and he waved me on, “so they talk and chat, after that I go to run now enter Guard Aarons who grabs me and takes me over to the triangle of evil Nigel recognizes me so they try to execute me because I know now.”

 

“How do you know Nigel Peterson?” he demanded.

“I will get to that now they suggest I team up with them I say no so they line me up to shoot me,” I sighed, “then…”

“Then what?” he asked leaning forward.

“Nigel’s illegitimate daughter, Umber shows up and gets in the way out of the shot and gets a bullet to the head,” I said sitting down on the closest log, “They killed my best friend.”

“Your best friend is the grand minister’s illegitimate daughter? You have the worst luck,” he asked looking over at me and I just shook my head.

“Umber was the only good thing in my life; they shot her in the chest and I watched her die,” I said looking him in the eye, “Are you happy now I am looking you in the eye?”

“Nigel let them shoot his daughter,” he said shell shocked.

“He said afterwards and I quote,” I said then glared at the ground, “Oh well.”

“But she’s his daughter,” he said now really confused.

“Yes she was his illegitimate blemish on his career as a holy married man before she was shot down like a dog for no reason,” I said angrily, “She was protecting me.”

 

“So Phoenix is really Michael?” he said looking at the gun.

“Yes,” I nodded.

“You know far too much; what exactly do you plan on doing?” he demanded.

“I do not know, maybe go to Eddison,” I said pulling out my knife.

“Eddison, that crazy guy who lives on the country border,” Jasper said standing up, “I am not going out there; tell me what the letter said now.”

“He may be crazy, but I need him and if you ever want to hear the contents of that letter,” I said playing with my knife, “You will help me because you don't a choice; I am used to torture so you can try that, but it won't work.”

 

“You are the most infuriating creature,” he said loudly, “Do you not understand what it is like out here? Do you have any idea what you're doing?”

“I go back there and they shoot me, before I get a syllable out,” I reminded him, “That means you never find out what that letter said.”

“Hold on maybe there’s some way to figure this out,” he said and I just rolled my eyes, “I have connections back in the city I can get someone to listen to your story.”

“I am not going back there,” I stood up, “Not after what they did to Umber, I am going into the Wasteland.”

“If you go that way, you are going to die,” he said, “I can vouch for you.”

“Why would you help me in there?” I said sadly, “Why would I trust you to be loyal in there?”

 

“You are more stubborn than I could have imagined,” he sighed then he frowned, “You're shaking like a leaf.”

“She was my friend, like Talia is yours,” I said pointing into the forest, “I am going that way, go and try to find Talia if you wish.”

“No way,” he said walking over to me, “You’ll be dead in hours on your own I am going with you.” I did not want to have an Elite along on my journey, but then again I could not handle things alone in the state I was in. “Hey,” he put his coat over my shoulders, “You're not my servant out here; we will work as allies.”

“Why?” I inquired.

“Because of you remind me of someone I know,” he explained looking into my eyes and I stared back at him trying to decipher this strange individual.

“I will take first watch when we stop got it,” I cleared my throat. He nodded then we headed off towards our goal. The house of Eddison Bennett was far and away, but I would make it there with some help.