| War and History Fiction posted September 6, 2021 | Chapters: |
1 2 -3- 4... 
|
  |
Colton prepares for tonights celebrations.
A chapter in the book Rise from the Fall
Preparations
by Rinshikai
The author has placed a warning on this post for language.
| Background Colton is an auxiliary soldier who believed that his life would be guarding the walls of the Imperial capital. But when a young officer puts the northern frontier in jeopardy, all that changes. |
Colton
A sea of bodies blocks us at every turn. Sweeping, stocking, not a soul is idle, for it would ensure that the faceless guards would correct them. A mother-daughter pair stands above the ocean like a lighthouse in a storm. Their sari draped over them like a tapestry, beckoning us like a moth to a flame. We walk towards them, and the sea divides, closing behind us.
"Did we miss something, Alexis?"
"If you'd come to the estate's meetings, you'd know Iona." She etches onto a scroll handing it to a slave. "Iona? Again," she lands with a pinched expression, "Honestly? You are not in the arena anymore. You should stop this mercenary nonsense before you get killed." Her paws grip like tongs. Every cut, bruise, and blemish is criticized, silenced by a flick of my Aunt's wrist.
"Alexis. Just tell me, what's going on?"
"Very well. Do you remember that Cato boy? The one Lady Livia was smitten with?"
"Yes."
"Last month, he sent a courier and got Livius's blessing." Their conversation drones on, and words become ground glass in my ears. But I'm trapped; stealing glances from Melissa is my only relief, her smile one of the few honest ones in this world. My thoughts are shattered from the elbow embedded in my gut. Those green eyes' warn me to keep my distance, but it's hard. She didn't see Iron Iona's nephew. She saw me. Someone she had grown up with, a friend. Now we can barely talk to each other.
"She has suitors now."
"I know."After that night, they made it clear where I stood. Melissa would marry an easterner husband, honoring tradition. And we would never be alone again. Or there would be consequences. The skunk eyes from their veiled attendants were the most obvious.
"Colton, are you listening?"
"No."
Alexis frowns; her nails rip into her arms. "Fine, I'll be blunt, Lady Vita will be hosting a party for Livia's engagement. The two of you need to clean up and change before that." She massages her temples, ordering something for her migraine, which an attendant provides. With a sour expression, she exhales, her shoulders no longer rigid. "Now, I need to remind Giselle that her presence will be mandatory. Make sure you're both ready ok?"
"Fine."
"Make sure Servious shaves you, Colton, and have your Pale fix that lip, Iona." Reaching safe harbor at the estate's entrance, we enter the labyrinth of corridors. Echoes shadow us, fading into the thick marble walls. Only our steps are our company for a brief moment until my Aunt cracks her knuckles.
"You alright?"
"No," she bit her lip. "But, I'll bear it for now," she heads towards her room.
I open my door, bombarded with scented oil. Inside, Servious stands, his withered features hiding the compassionate soul underneath. He directs me to sit with a boney finger, prepping his razor. Then, with my armor on its rack, he works on my face. "You got into another fight, didn't you?"
"Yes."
"I worry about you sometimes."
He proves his skills haven't dulled with age. The blade effortlessly clears my face, leaving no scratch in its wake. "You say the same thing to all of us." He hands me a rag to dry my face. "You're not getting soft in your old age, are you?"
"No, I only worry that my students forget what I taught them." He points to my bed, "Your clothes for the night. Remember, keep up appearances." Then, with his kit in hand, he leaves. Alone, I find a basin on my desk. One whiff and I get to work.
I scrub myself raw, my skin a patchwork of red. Though unpleasant, the stench of the tower is gone. The once clear water of the basin is now a murky brown. I fall on my bed, my mind wondering, is there any way I can get out of this? The attire mocks me with the idea of acceptance. If I dress like them and act like them, it would make everything better.
With my hand raised, I look at my wrist, three ravens circling each other--the mark of our clan, the only thing connecting me to my people. A clan is more than blood; it's a family and a promise. Those words burned into me so long ago. But I can't remember who said them.
The weight of reality returns, and I stop delaying the inevitable. Everything about the clothes is imperial, but one piece of jewelry stands out, a golden torc necklace worn by the northern nobility. Was this intended? Did Servious sneak it in when no one was looking? It doesn't matter, collaring myself, there's a knock on my door. I wasn't expecting anyone.
"Hi, Colton," I peek through, "Melissa said, sending a shiver down my spine; what was she doing here? Is she trying to get us both in shit? I throw the door open, and her mischievous grin never leaves her face. One tilt of her head, and the panic subsides. Her guard was here. "You didn't think I'd risk my mother's ire, did you?" She twirls herself, "So, how do I look?"
The sari she had before was lovely, but this tapestry is a sight to behold. Every inch shimmered in the pale light, each line, an intricate pattern leading you across the wearer. My attention was only drawn back by the jingling gold on her wrist. Two fingers gesture to me, "You look beautiful." That was all that came to mind, earning a smile from those glossy lips.
"You're too kind, Colton," with crossed arms, she stares at her towering guard, "You see, Husam, that's how you compliment a woman." She teases, which he ignores. His stoic expression is unchanging. "Anyway, Colton," now flushed in the face, she tucks her hair behind her ear. "I need to ask a favor of you." Closing the distance between us, "Please escort me to the party."
"Are you insane?" a thousand questions pop into my head. My throat tightens with the memories of Alexis's harsh words. I try slowing my frantic heart. "Why can't he escort you? He's your bodyguard." I try to leave, but she hooks to arm and won't let go.
"Please, Colton," she pleads, "Their pigs." Those hazel pools, chipping away at my resolve. I won't risk Alexis's ire, not even for her. Ever since we were children, she gave me that look, and I'd cave, but not today.
"Did we miss something, Alexis?"
"If you'd come to the estate's meetings, you'd know Iona." She etches onto a scroll handing it to a slave. "Iona? Again," she lands with a pinched expression, "Honestly? You are not in the arena anymore. You should stop this mercenary nonsense before you get killed." Her paws grip like tongs. Every cut, bruise, and blemish is criticized, silenced by a flick of my Aunt's wrist.
"Alexis. Just tell me, what's going on?"
"Very well. Do you remember that Cato boy? The one Lady Livia was smitten with?"
"Yes."
"Last month, he sent a courier and got Livius's blessing." Their conversation drones on, and words become ground glass in my ears. But I'm trapped; stealing glances from Melissa is my only relief, her smile one of the few honest ones in this world. My thoughts are shattered from the elbow embedded in my gut. Those green eyes' warn me to keep my distance, but it's hard. She didn't see Iron Iona's nephew. She saw me. Someone she had grown up with, a friend. Now we can barely talk to each other.
"She has suitors now."
"I know."After that night, they made it clear where I stood. Melissa would marry an easterner husband, honoring tradition. And we would never be alone again. Or there would be consequences. The skunk eyes from their veiled attendants were the most obvious.
"Colton, are you listening?"
"No."
Alexis frowns; her nails rip into her arms. "Fine, I'll be blunt, Lady Vita will be hosting a party for Livia's engagement. The two of you need to clean up and change before that." She massages her temples, ordering something for her migraine, which an attendant provides. With a sour expression, she exhales, her shoulders no longer rigid. "Now, I need to remind Giselle that her presence will be mandatory. Make sure you're both ready ok?"
"Fine."
"Make sure Servious shaves you, Colton, and have your Pale fix that lip, Iona." Reaching safe harbor at the estate's entrance, we enter the labyrinth of corridors. Echoes shadow us, fading into the thick marble walls. Only our steps are our company for a brief moment until my Aunt cracks her knuckles.
"You alright?"
"No," she bit her lip. "But, I'll bear it for now," she heads towards her room.
I open my door, bombarded with scented oil. Inside, Servious stands, his withered features hiding the compassionate soul underneath. He directs me to sit with a boney finger, prepping his razor. Then, with my armor on its rack, he works on my face. "You got into another fight, didn't you?"
"Yes."
"I worry about you sometimes."
He proves his skills haven't dulled with age. The blade effortlessly clears my face, leaving no scratch in its wake. "You say the same thing to all of us." He hands me a rag to dry my face. "You're not getting soft in your old age, are you?"
"No, I only worry that my students forget what I taught them." He points to my bed, "Your clothes for the night. Remember, keep up appearances." Then, with his kit in hand, he leaves. Alone, I find a basin on my desk. One whiff and I get to work.
I scrub myself raw, my skin a patchwork of red. Though unpleasant, the stench of the tower is gone. The once clear water of the basin is now a murky brown. I fall on my bed, my mind wondering, is there any way I can get out of this? The attire mocks me with the idea of acceptance. If I dress like them and act like them, it would make everything better.
With my hand raised, I look at my wrist, three ravens circling each other--the mark of our clan, the only thing connecting me to my people. A clan is more than blood; it's a family and a promise. Those words burned into me so long ago. But I can't remember who said them.
The weight of reality returns, and I stop delaying the inevitable. Everything about the clothes is imperial, but one piece of jewelry stands out, a golden torc necklace worn by the northern nobility. Was this intended? Did Servious sneak it in when no one was looking? It doesn't matter, collaring myself, there's a knock on my door. I wasn't expecting anyone.
"Hi, Colton," I peek through, "Melissa said, sending a shiver down my spine; what was she doing here? Is she trying to get us both in shit? I throw the door open, and her mischievous grin never leaves her face. One tilt of her head, and the panic subsides. Her guard was here. "You didn't think I'd risk my mother's ire, did you?" She twirls herself, "So, how do I look?"
The sari she had before was lovely, but this tapestry is a sight to behold. Every inch shimmered in the pale light, each line, an intricate pattern leading you across the wearer. My attention was only drawn back by the jingling gold on her wrist. Two fingers gesture to me, "You look beautiful." That was all that came to mind, earning a smile from those glossy lips.
"You're too kind, Colton," with crossed arms, she stares at her towering guard, "You see, Husam, that's how you compliment a woman." She teases, which he ignores. His stoic expression is unchanging. "Anyway, Colton," now flushed in the face, she tucks her hair behind her ear. "I need to ask a favor of you." Closing the distance between us, "Please escort me to the party."
"Are you insane?" a thousand questions pop into my head. My throat tightens with the memories of Alexis's harsh words. I try slowing my frantic heart. "Why can't he escort you? He's your bodyguard." I try to leave, but she hooks to arm and won't let go.
"Please, Colton," she pleads, "Their pigs." Those hazel pools, chipping away at my resolve. I won't risk Alexis's ire, not even for her. Ever since we were children, she gave me that look, and I'd cave, but not today.
Character list
Colton: Main POV character
Iona: Colton's Aunt
Alexis: Estates advisor
Melissa: Alexis's daughter, and childhood friend of Colton
Sevrious: Senior house slave who helped raise Colton
This chapter is a rewrite of chapter two, now as a new chapter 3. I ask that reviewers give a minimum of one thing they like and dislike. If you see anything that needs to be fixed or improved, don't hesitate to point it out, I can't improve otherwise.
Thanks
Pays
one point
and 2 member cents. Colton: Main POV character
Iona: Colton's Aunt
Alexis: Estates advisor
Melissa: Alexis's daughter, and childhood friend of Colton
Sevrious: Senior house slave who helped raise Colton
This chapter is a rewrite of chapter two, now as a new chapter 3. I ask that reviewers give a minimum of one thing they like and dislike. If you see anything that needs to be fixed or improved, don't hesitate to point it out, I can't improve otherwise.
Thanks
You need to login or register to write reviews. It's quick! We only ask four questions to new members.
© Copyright 2024. Rinshikai All rights reserved.
Rinshikai has granted FanStory.com, its affiliates and its syndicates non-exclusive rights to display this work.