One man's sin is verily his own joy, one man's sin will verily spell another man's death. If all are sinners drinking from the same poisoned cup, what then is a living saint?
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A Ranger's Tale
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"None of your business," waved back Lukas, “He just said he won't be coming back for a little while.”
Sensing "a little while" to be a byword for trouble unseen and brewing, the stranger was right after all in calling Lukas a fine gay. The androgynous brunette was an intelligent person after all, there was no need to credit any Tom, Dick or Harry for his intellectual accomplishment.
"Without morals and
honour? Why, my good lady lord, would I do that? Every mortal has his own
facade and his pride a certain price."
Those were the last words
echoing through the mind of Meranie Sworth, excruciating pain knifing swiftly
into her throat. She tried bargaining with that person before her fading gaze, failure did indeed
come in form of words spoken true from her adviser’s lips.
You are a fool to take
this throw of die, Milady! No one deals with the Serpent and lives to tell a
single tale!
)0(
"Rise and shine, you
gay!"
Lukas Brun let out an annoyed
grimace as his self-proclaimed girlfriend announced her presence seen. Everyone
in the Drowning Bear was unable to perceive why Yeras Wynda has always been this boisterous, Lukas in turn was
left contemplating why some little broad should get away cleanly nine times out
of ten.
"Hey, you hear me?"
"You damned rich prissy
little..."
Before Lukas could finish his
mumbling, Yeras yanked away the blanket while wearing her smuggest face. Toned naked body facing off
against her comely features tanned, a glare was more than enough a sign hinting at vengeance imminent.
"I TOLD YOU NOT TO DO THIS,
LITTLE GIRL!"
)0(
"A little wonder to see that rich
little missus pissing you off," sighed Guy upon sipping a mug of tea,
"You've yet to expose her after screwing her temples against your knuckles?"
"And risk having her announcing to the entire world that Lukas Brun always sleeps naked? Get real, Guy
Cody," growled Lukas, a vein bulging from his forehead, “Oh, and one more
thing, Guy. Can you try rewording this question in the future? The previous
time people overheard this, I got to entertain stupid questions on how well
she’s able to please a man.”
"Well, we can’t blame others from imagining too many pairs of tits bouncing, Bruno," quipped
the sandy blond, eyes of sapphire blue meeting Lukas' hazel brown gaze, "But
it's been quite some time since we've banted. Perhaps if you hadn't bailed out of
Merseyside..."
Remaining words ensuing
forth lost on Lukas Brun, he cared not for unwanted formalities. Memories most
painful stinging his mind, it was not hatred gnawing at him. This was
all about his final conversation with Guy Cody before leaving the Academy, both had never bothered looking back since.
)0(
"Wait a sec. So you managed to whack one entire lot despite grounding orders set down by
Sarge Scholes?"
"Well, I've got a
partner in crime. I call him Catts."
"Guy Cody, you're being
retarded!"
"No more retarded than
the rest calling themselves... erm, normal? Or is it righteousness? I
forgot."
"I give up on you."
"Hey, you’re laughing at
me?"
"Of course. Go figure
who’s that fuckwit sparking off that free-for-all two months back! Linking problematic
families with stupid parents has gotta be your craziest shit yet."
"Well, nobody likes hearing words of wisdom, Bruno."
"Go screw yourself,
Guy."
"Are you serious, Bruno? I’d
rather go screw a girl."
"Okay, you don’t have to tell
me who’s that girl."
"Why? Did I say anything wrong?"
"Well... sorta. You’ll only end up creating more trouble by time I leave Merseyside. Take care and please don't fuck around with your future Gaffer, whoever he is."
"Why? Did I say anything wrong?"
"Well... sorta. You’ll only end up creating more trouble by time I leave Merseyside. Take care and please don't fuck around with your future Gaffer, whoever he is."
)0(
"Well, how did the whole re-bro go?" asked Yeras, her brown eyes nagging inquisitively at Lukas till
no end.
"None of your business," waved back Lukas, “He just said he won't be coming back for a little while.”
Sensing "a little while" to be a byword for trouble unseen and brewing, the stranger was right after all in calling Lukas a fine gay. The androgynous brunette was an intelligent person after all, there was no need to credit any Tom, Dick or Harry for his intellectual accomplishment.
"Hey, Luk," chimed a
familiar voice.
"What, Yeras?” frowned
Lukas, “You want me to pull down your skirt and spank you?"
"Hell, no! That sounds so
perverted!" blushed the serving girl of Drowning Bear, "It's
just that... well, that friend of yours is quite a hunk. Such a nice bloke and
you never told me about him! I hate you, stupid gay!"
"Yeras Wynda, can I comment
on something?" sighed the androgynous lad while scratching briefly his light brownish mop.
"About Guy Cody?"
Yeras' face lit up in front of her dream man's name.
"Nah, wrong call. Just
that... well, you know…" smirked Lukas with an eerie glow to his eyes,
"GET BACK TO WORK, BITCH!"
)0(
The man whore had committed a fatal mistake, his attempt to rob an unwitting stranger marking a untimely grave. A society most acceptable trampled him underfoot, only the blind did not know him. Accusing fingers jabbed towards social status only a myth, any sexual orientation would always be workable under any acceptable circumstances. Alas anger no matter how
well-justified amounted to naught, yet he had to cough up so much more.
"Moron..." sighed a frustrated Aeranath, blade removed from his victim's gaping maw,
"Moral of the story: don't fuck around with me, gay or no gay."
Rancid wind breezing through the
underbelly of an otherwise glorious society, the True Apostle detected somebody monitoring his every move. Acute senses losing said individual's track, a snickering laugh
disregarded a quarry none of his interest.
Some things will never change and
you're still the Church's bitch.
)0(
Locking stares against Sarel Aphros was no laughing task, a young lion standing tall despised her deceptively radiant
smile. The Grand Damsel was no appreciator of foolish men weak, Guy Cody impressed her without boundary’s end. Demand for an audience rejected, not even a personal reply was given. He tried demanding answers still nevertheless, she’s now prepared to give him one.
At a price worth nothing
less than Gail lain dead before his feet.
"Surely you do have a
penchant for mayhem, my dearest lion," purred the white haired beauty,
"Why not wait for my arrival instead? Your vigour has stayed with me since that time, its my hope to pleasure you once again soon."
"You'll never give
a damn, Church’s bitch,” snarled Guy, "Let me ask you, do you know about his presence way before Scholes and the
rest got slaughtered like hapless sheep?"
"So brutally blunt towards the dead," replied Sarel mockingly, a wistful sigh rubbing salt on Guy's insulted wound, “Now you made me unsure on the Red Lions' loyalty highly touted."
"Don’t try playing thief with me," the sandy blond maintained a belligerent stance, his eyes of sapphire blue burning against a pair of ruby red orbs unflappably calm.
"Do you perceive not
the value of your own person?” a softening answer suddenly without warning
threw Guy aback, “You love Alestrial Eliaden for who she is, but do you know
why Mayweather Lucs has always loved you hopelessly in the same manner as well?"
"Do I care for your question?" growled the newly emerged Lancer.
"And do you care to know Mayweather Lucs is already dead?"
Guy Cody went dumbstruck before Sarel's question. He recalled Mayweather treating him finely, he even knew her feelings for him. Yet here he was, standing and not knowing Mayweather Lucs already gone.
"It is for who you are, Guy Cody," continued the Grand Damsel, "Never a faker, always a man. Your valour is that most valuable treasure desired by ladies and smallborne maids alike, do you not see a lion amongst men in your image?"
"Do I care for your question?" growled the newly emerged Lancer.
"And do you care to know Mayweather Lucs is already dead?"
Guy Cody went dumbstruck before Sarel's question. He recalled Mayweather treating him finely, he even knew her feelings for him. Yet here he was, standing and not knowing Mayweather Lucs already gone.
"It is for who you are, Guy Cody," continued the Grand Damsel, "Never a faker, always a man. Your valour is that most valuable treasure desired by ladies and smallborne maids alike, do you not see a lion amongst men in your image?"
"So that's why you made me
your bitch despite countless others before me. Yeah, right," replied Guy
sneeringly, his lips still curled into a feral snarl, "Don’t bail out from
my question. There has to be reason why only the Red Lions were notified and
mobilised."
Silence and unease conquered the
standoff between boy and lady, understanding not the cause beforehand begot a string of assault buffering the young lion’s mind. Joyful days
equating to ignorant years, Guy Cody would gladly give a limb and more to salvage the past.
"Catts..."
"What? Please don't
scare me with this kind of body language. You know I hate that look of
yours."
"
"So?"
"Catts, I suspect we might have been boned even though I can't put a finger on how and why."
He remembered his pet habit
truly unique, he remembered its very meaning. He knew whenever profound
thoughts came visiting at the porch of his mind, both hands would be clasped
tightly before a calm serious face. Combining no less with back muscles tensed
while hunched like a wary lion, none could ever understand such a look and
posture save a chosen few. A posture honed, a posture mastered, Guy Cody had
successfully traced a vague picture from the dots scattered apart.
)0(
The morn was bright, the skies were clear. Beneath a cluster of
purest clouds stood a mansion strong. Strong because it was built upon actual
high ground, strong because this was the Seat of Teesside. The Northern Rock
was named as such for a very good reason, it was an infertile land granted to
Erasmus Eliaden during his remaining years as an aged sage. The fourth Emperor in line,
Franstatis I, was no imbecile others ridiculed him out to be, Erasmus was one of
the very few not content in joining the fools. As a bulwark guarding the profitable
coastal lands eastbound, it had seen countless naval battles won and undefeated. Never did the First Patriarch of House Eliaden end up leading from the
frontline, for the Empire was indeed indebted to his peerless acumen in deployment rather than a mere leader.
"What a fool," sighed
Louthes Eliaden, a sip of wine taken from a flute in hand, "Meranie Sworth has sealed her own death pact without even knowing an obvious trap. Power's
lust pointing to the direction of a Lord status within the Justice Ministry has truly
costed her dearly."
"And do you call this justice?" mocked an Elf, his emotionless smile greeting the golden daylight filtering
from curtains drawn closely tight, "Justice served is venom for another. I
pity that poor girl upon her assailant’s acquittal, but one deluded's death
will never erase any stigma dealt from an erroneous hand."
"Pray tell then, how will
you define pity?" asked the wrinkled Human dressed in blue and red, flowing
locks of iron grey static before his Elven counterpart, "Your eyes betray
no such experience. If not for a drastic need for the Serpent's boon, you should not utter this word."
"And why would you want a high standing judge's demise if her only sin is corrupted pride
alone?"
Louthes could see a pointless
baiting more than mile away, the Elf wasn't pushing his
luck to be fair.
"Because deluded fools can never be trusted with absolute power, be they man or woman," answered the jaded Knight Lord, "A righteous flame should
never coexist with fires fed from a zealot's breast and drunk with an idealist’s
milk."
"Truthfully a child of House
Eliaden," replied the Elf, slender hands lavishing a mocking round of plaudits,
"Attempts in proving your worth via bloodshed due to ideals cruelly dashed would seem
to me a matured man. A fiery lad back then has mellowed tenfold
like this finest wine we're having now."
"Enough of your talk,”
snapped Louthes, “Name your price, Eliador de Lioncourt."
"A meeting with someone by
the name of Lukas Brun," bargained Eliador, grey orbs of unpredictable storm
chilling the core of Louthes' iron soul, "This has something to do
with a runaway girl somewhere in the Seaside."
)0(
"My debt to you has now
been cashed in full. Don't bugger me again if you see a familiar bastard somewhere,
somehow."
The True Apostle's words sought
their way to Alestrial Eliaden's heart, his distant apathy an
unerring storm of arrows firing true. Longing regret and lingering hurt together with total reluctance in letting go…
Why did she choose to believe
in him despite acts most reprehensible? She tried convincing herself all the
while that everything started from that fateful night seven years ago, she wasn't really sure of her conclusion right now. Irrational anger hailing from Guy haunted her dreams
more than once, she could only afford deciding either one of the two or none
at all. Every reason should beget every action, never had she truly understood Aeranath all along.
)0(
"Hey, you hear me
speaking?"
A holler crisply cheerful
bursting open Alestrial's bubble of dream, the Cinha maid stared bemused at her counterpart slightly younger. Here was a girl reminiscent of the Guy
Cody she always remembered fondly. The Guy Cody always in her pursuit, the Guy Cody full
of vitality and vigour...
The real Guy Cody himself...
Caring not any intention exhibited from a stranger nestled in front of her, the noble lady fair chose to verily accept this sudden twist of fate.
The real Guy Cody himself...
Caring not any intention exhibited from a stranger nestled in front of her, the noble lady fair chose to verily accept this sudden twist of fate.
"Well, what're you gawking
at?" frowned the tanned freckled girl, both arms folding across her ample chest, "I know
I'm pretty with auburn locks, soft brown eyes like you, blah, blah, blah... but
seriously, your food is getting cold!"
"Sorry, my apologies
here," giggled Alestrial, both hands covering her mouth, "People tend to say I have a sensitive tongue."
"Wow, you have a cat’s tongue?"
exclaimed the attractive redhead excitedly, "Just like me!"
"So should we be sisters
instead?" gasped Alestrial playfully as the brunette shook her
head rigorously.
"Nah, nah, nah! Not
me," a nostalgic huff much to Alestrial's amusement was the sole
answer, "My family's rich, I guess. A merchant's family somewhere in
Seaside and I just hate it to see them trying to horse trade me! I'd rather
marry a gay and destiny has decreed me meeting a nice one at that!"
"Edwood..." whispered Alestrial. The mention of Seaside immediately
sparked off another county nearby. Edwood together with Seaside were renowned
for their seaports and military support for the Imperial Navy, a place of exact
location and exact name was now to her another place of another meaning.
Lerry Dukes was the county Governor,
Lerry Dukes was to be her father-in-law.
Jarvis Dukes had a repute of being a nice enough lad, Jarvis Dukes had a repute
of being gentle and considerate. She knew him since ten, she had never
minded his occasional childish tantrums all the while. Sadly, another Guy
he wasn't meant to be, his last name not Cody. Marriage without bonds doomed to failure, success in name would suffice for life. Suppressing
numberless worries threatening to tear her apart, Alestrial decided that making friends with a total stranger might not be too bad an idea.
"So what's your name?"
"Yeras. Yeras Wynda. Just
call me Yeras is enough!"
That smile, cheer and zest...
maybe Yeras should be the lucky girl for Guy instead of this pitiful noble's
dowry sitting in my place.
)0(
"What is your wish in life?"
Lukas Brun recalled that haunting question sung like a ghostly melody. He had nothing bar a pretty face, the beautiful Elf had promised a life in accordance to whatever answer given.
"I… I wish for…"
Lukas knew what he wanted the most, he understood what he desired the most.
Will that fairest Elf grant me my wish, he murmured to himself.
Will that fairest Elf grant me my wish, he murmured to himself.
"A normal life in spite of an abnormal past? Deal."
Lukas’ breath was trapped in his throat, his vainest hope now coming true.
"But there’s a clause…"
Lukas' breath was suddenly sealed in the throat, his jubilant soul went dead like a hare entering a serpent's jaw.
"I will be back one fine day. Do you know Louthes Eliaden?"
The androgynous brunette knew who the Governor of Teesside was, he needed not anyone to give him the answer.
"He owes me a favour, I owe him no obligation. I do not know when I will return, but I know I will. I know him since he's fourteen, I know he’s doomed to be upright."
"What are you trying to say?" Lukas finally spoke out, he felt his lips and throat going dry.
"Even the godliest of all men are willing to kill a thousand in exchange for thousands saved. Hence what makes you think he is anywhere godlier?"
"What are you trying to say?" Lukas finally spoke out, he felt his lips and throat going dry.
"Even the godliest of all men are willing to kill a thousand in exchange for thousands saved. Hence what makes you think he is anywhere godlier?"
Terror constricting a soul brimming with faith moments ago, Lukas Brun instinctively knew why despair can easily taste so easily sweet.
"There are beings darker than the darkest deeds, you should be more mindful towards all calling themselves beacons of values. Demons are not meant as make believe, Demons are not meant to be imagined. Demons are no different from you and me, Demons are not different from the purest of judges."
"That’s why…"
Lukas did not have to complete the statement, his benefactor had already completed for him whatever in need of being said.
"Only an ungodly soul can be regarded as the godliest soul, for who can judge the sins of a saint otherwise? Eliador de Lioncourt should be a name rightfully feared, my name has always been a serpent’s canker."
)0(
Background notes
The terms banted and
re-bro were first mentioned in Chapter 2.
Gail was mentioned in
Chapter 8.
Guy being able to kill her
might not be something of a deu-ex-machina considering whatever potential
implication from the last chapter.
That flashback from Guy
pertaining to any connections with the Quintet Church on Aeranath himself was
the exact scenario in Chapter 2.
Jarvis Dukes was briefly
mentioned albeit not by name in Chapter 4.
The Lord status is the
highest rank in any given ministry. Note that this is subjected to debate and that Lord as a title can be applicable beyond any ministry with a
different meaning. A Ministry Lord is in charge of daily supervision via the
capital of Romus itself. However, he/she can never be a Senator, hence having no
power to approve or veto any given policies at hand.
Ministry of Justice is
a parallel to the actual concept of any law ministry in reality.
Blue and red are the
customary colours of House Eliaden albeit colours in this context alone need not be unique.
Governor is the highest
local authority within any given county. Needless to say, Teesside is a county
just like every of the Red Lions’ respective Division.
)0(
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