Chapter 169 - Thirteen

XXXIII.

Fort Kartiz had fallen. And although it was a truly momentous day for Neimi's men, while they all cheered and drank and ate freely from Kartiz's storehouse, Gaius found Neimi herself off sulking alone in the captain's chambers.

"He got away," she said, shaking her head. "I had him, I stared him right in the face, and yet..."

Gaius said nothing, letting his eyes be drawn to Donadio's painting, still wet on the easel, of a handsome man with blond hair posing regally in an Ankh Captain's uniform.

"My father didn't die at the siege," Neimi seethed. "That sick bastard took him prisoner. Tortured him for weeks.. Next we found him hung on a cross in the middle of town one morning. His neck was slit...and his face was so cut up...that we could barely even recognize him at first."

Gaius turned away, thinking she wouldn't want him to see her cry. 

"Before that, I never had ambitions of becoming a soldier. I only got this far just so I could get my revenge."

"If that is the case," he said, "then who will be responsible for the fort?"

She looked at him, confused. "General Gaius, I had thought you--"

"I cannot remain here," he replied quickly. "I have somewhere that I must be."

"Someone like me is not meant to be captain," she rambled as if talking to herself. "You're the real hero. It's only thanks to you that we made it this far."

Gaius shook his head. "I may have provided some motivation. But really, it's because of you."

On that note he left her, confident that she'd eventually figure things for herself. After all, even he had once started out his career as just an orphan living on the streets. 

After going to have some food and share a few laughs with the other men, it came time for him to move on. He set out from the fort, with his horse, shirking away all the clinging hands begging the hero to stay, as much as a part of him wished to linger here, after what a thrill it had been to return to the battlefield again. To live and fight as a soldier again, even for just a little while.

But, as darkness fell across the desert, so too did it creep into his heart -- almost consuming him. 

As if preparing Gaius, for that other role he was chosen to play.

XXXIV.

El tried her best to fit in with the locals, while Typhon worked at the mill during the day.

The old women of the village were the first to take a liking to her -- showering her with new clothes to wear, and teaching her to cook and sew. Bestowing upon her the nickname 'Snow,' she was quick to laugh along with the stories they'd tell, even if she usually couldn't understand what was so funny about them.

Sometimes she'd pass by Frogman's house, and he'd creepily watch her from up on his balcony, but other than that she was enjoying her new life.

Typhon started noticing little changes in her.

Like how she'd hum and whistle tunes she must have heard around town sometimes, and stopped letting her hair cover one side of her face, the way it always used to.

And during this time, they grew closer than ever. At night they'd lay next to each other in bed, talking about what happened that day. There'd be times where they were so close she could feel his heart beat, the warmth of his skin brushing against hers. And when they'd run out of things to talk about they might just stare into each other's eyes to the sound of crickets outside, until sleep claimed them.

El didn't want it to ever end, but her meeting with the white serpent, with its ominous message, still weighed heavily on her mind.

They're coming, El would think to herself. 

Father, and the others, With their great and terrible powers.

She'd have nightmares, and wake up in the middle of the night in a cold sweat. 

Determined to put an end to all the dreading, and worrying, and sleepless nights, she walked out to a secluded part of the woods one day, on a mission. 

Digging deep within herself, she would attempt to harness more of her special power.

If I become stronger, I can fight them!

El focused her attention on a nearby tree, raising her hand toward it as she felt the power coursing through her arm like a rush of blood. She didn't expect anything to happen, but watched with a surge of excitement as a flame started to form, shooting out of her palm, until it lighted the tree, its leaves, branches and trunk all.

That was when she was faced with an all-new dilemma, she hadn't considered before.

How do I make it stop?

No matter how she bid the flames to stop in her mind, they would not listen.

Without any other recourse, she fled the scene.

Is this the true nature of my powers? Am I only capable of destruction?

With these uncontrollable powers, what if I hurt someone by accident? Like one of the villagers? 

Her stomach sank. What if I hurt Typhon?

Typhon bolted upright from his chair at the table when El made it back to the house, bursting through the door. Bridgette and Jed, seated there eating with him, grew hushed.

"El!" He exclaimed. "Where have you been? I smelled smoke earlier and got worried--"

"Sorry, I just...went for a walk," she said unconvincingly, as she claimed a seat.

Typhon nodded slowly. For now, he'd leave it at that.

He, Bridgette and Jed would often commune in the afternoons over a meal, to talk and joke and reminisce. El would sit in sometimes, but typically had little to add to the discussion. Much like with the old women in town, she'd rather listen and give a giggle now and then with a particularly funny yarn.

The conversation that day was lively as usual.

"All the older kids would pick on me," Typhon said. "Except Jed."

Bridgette cast Jed a glare. "That's because he already got his fill tormenting me."

"Yeah. I'll admit, I was a pretty dumb kid." Jed leaned back in his chair, smirking. "Still am, depending on who you ask."

Bridgette made a strange face -- wasn't that the truth! 

"I...always used to think you were cool," Typhon said timidly, before the smile ran away from his face. "You always used to stand up for me."

"Those jerks." Bridgette huffed. "Always picking on those they see as weak."

Jed scratched his chin. "What was it like staying with your dad these past few months?"

El and Typhon exchanged glances. Jed looked between the two, confused.

Then, Typhon turned back to him, smiling. "I got into a bit of an argument with him over El."

"Lovebirds, eh?" Jed smirked, nodding. "I know how it is -- Bridgette's ranger buddies pretend I don't even exist."

She turned to him, gawking. "Maybe you'd be a ranger if only you'd bathe more..."

"What do you mean?" He groaned. "I bathe in the river every morning."

"I meant a full, proper bath, Jed! You know, to wash all that crap out of your hair--"

Jed yawned. "I'm too much of a free spirit for you rangers anyway."

Bridgette leaned over to toss and tease his hair, until he could successfully ward her off, then face Typhon and El with a wistful look.

"I just realized," he said, "we're all outcasts, in our own way."

"I'm a hunter, a skinner, so I'm always off alone, getting my hands bloody. People in the village think I'm cursed, from all the spirits of the dead clinging to me or...something." He laughed.

Bridgette huffed. "That is so not true!" She protested. "People here aren't that superstitious..."

Jed went on, pointing to her. "You were a crybaby, but now since you're the only girl in town who can take on a bear. Everyone's either terrified or totally jealous of you."

At this, Bridgette raised an eye. "Which one does that make you?"

But he ignored her, instead turning to Typhon and El who were watching expectantly.

"Typhon used to live all the way out here alone with his mama. He'd always wander off, doing things on his own. People are spreading all kinds of rumors about you, and what you've been up to since you've been gone."

Taken aback by this, Typhon opened his mouth to protest.

Jed ignored him though, and instead moved on to El. "As for this one...well..." 

He kissed his teeth. "You're so pretty but you never talk, so how is anyone supposed to get to know you?"

Bridgette, annoyed by his rudeness, yanked him by the ear. 

"There's that mouth of yours again, Jed." she growled, but El held up her hand to appease her.

"No...he's right," she said. "I've hardly had the chance to get to know you two, despite being Typhon's friends." 

Typhon watched El's features inquisitively, gauging her expression. Stoic as ever.

Yet inwardly, El was bothered. She already imagined most of the villagers viewed her in a similar way to Jed, but wasn't sure what to do about it.

There was a moment of awkward silence at the table then, before Typhon excitedly jumped up in his seat. 

He knew just the thing that would help the others get to know El!

"Tomorrow," he said. "We should all go down by the river for the day! How about it?" 

This got the others excited too, as they went on to talk about how nice the temperature was around that time of year, the fish they would fry, and how nice it is sleeping outside under the stars.

All except for El, with so much already on her mind.

Time was wasting. They were coming.