Transition: Battle Against Fate

Chapter 6- The Slave Freya is Very ill

What happened? Someone looks very pathetic!" Kenneth said as he lowered himself in a squat to stare at Jerrison who had a kerchief pressed on his jaw and hand

"I encountered a viper" he said simply and Kenneth burst out laughing

"So you can laugh?" Jerrison asked annoyed

"Forgive me, yes. I do know how to laugh. How big is this vixen or viper as you called her?"

"Say about nine years old"

"Wow. And you let her do this to you?"

"Do I have a choice? I can't beat up a kid" he said and Kenneth scoffed as he settled on the stone beside Jerrison

"Just say you were too scared to. What did she have against you?"

"Nothing serious. She overheard my chat with you and got mad about the ' Emperor's slut ' part" he explained, setting his back on the wall

"I see. So she's the woman's daughter, I suppose?"

"Yeah!"

"I'd love to meet her. To see who could do this to almighty Jerrison and go scot free"

"That's a bad idea if you need advice. She's a viper! I mean just look at what she did to my hand with her milk teeth" he complained and Kenneth laughed again

"Okay. But I refuse to believe she did all this because you called her mother a slut"

"What do you think?"

"Fine. Just spit it, okay? I might be of help"

"And why'd you help me?"

"Does she know your secrets?" He asked as he played with a grass blade, a smirk visible on his face

"What are you talking about? I don't have secrets!" He snapped, looking away

"No need to pretend. I know about the records, map and artifacts. I must say you really have a lot of guts."

"Fine. Yes she does. Who else knows this?" He said with a sigh of defeat

"No one else. Your secrets are safe with me but not for long" he said and Jerrison c****d his head in his direction

"What do you mean? You're not going to betray me, are you?" He asked, sitting up. Kenneth chuckled unamused

"No I won't. But not for long unless you quit doing this" he said, turning to look at him. Jerrison looked away

"What happened to your shift?" He asked evasively and Kenneth chuckled softly.

"What happened to yours?" He returned with a raised brow

"I took a time out!" He answered and exhaled through his mouth

"I did as well. My shift will be over soon. Your wound should be some hours old. Why does it still bleed?" He asked in concern, taking a look at the wound

"Do you really care?" Jerrison asked softly. Kenneth raised his head to stare into his eyes for a while before nodding

"Yes I care. Does it bother you?"

"It does" he answered honestly and Kenneth dropped his hand

"It shouldn't" he said coolly

"Will you quit?" He asked again. Jerrison sighed

"I'm afraid I can't quit even if I want to"

"Why?"

"I just can't pull out like that. I've been into this business for years. My partners won't let it slide" he explained and Kenneth placed a hand on his shoulder, squeezing softly

"You can't know without trying. They can't do much" he soothed. Jerrison leaned his head on his shoulder, surprised that he didn't push him away

"They are dangerous people. I can't mess with them. Why'd you care anyway? It's not like you love the Emperor or do you?"

He asked and Kenneth turned to look at him, their noses almost touching.

"No I don't. We all have mutual hatred for him. But at the same time you know how ruthless he is. I just don't want you to die" he said and they shared a laugh

"Here I thought someone liked me. Turns out he just didn't want me to die. How deep your love for me is. You're not in love with me are you?"

He said with a mischievous glint in his eyes. Kenneth looked at him for a moment before pushing his head off his shoulder. He rubbed his hands together and puffed air with his mouth.

"I'm not gay. Although I hate you and your nonsense it'll be a loss if your story just ends like that. Don't think too much of it" he said and stopped when he felt Jerrison hug his arm

"What are you doing?" He asked surprised

"Thank you" he said simply and Kenneth frowned.

"For what?"

"For your advice and company. I'll give your suggestion a try. Let's hope I make it out alive. But if I don't come back, will you miss me?" He asked with a giggle

"Of course not. I'll only miss your disturbance. It'll be a good break for me" he said and they both laughed

"But on a serious note, make sure to come back alive, okay?"

"Mm"he replied with a nod.

"She was cute though." He suddenly said and Kenneth moved his shoulder a bit.

"Who was cute?"

"Little Viper. Seeing her trying to look so tough and intimidate a full grown man is quite exhilarating and cute. She's so young but bold enough to stand up for her mother." Jerrison paused and drew in a breath.

"I was wrong. I shouldn't have said such things about her mother and she shouldn't have heard such things at such a young age."

"Jerrison, you should be careful out there. Let me get some medicine for your hand" Kenneth said a few minutes later and tried to move Jerrison's head without success. When he turned to look at him, he found that he had fallen asleep. He sighed

"What kind of man falls asleep like this?" He asked no one in particular as he stared at his sleeping face.

There was a frown on his face as he slept. Using his thumb, Kenneth smoothed out the frown lines. He leaned back on the wall and closed his eyes

★. ★. ★

Dawn let out a sigh as she threw out the warm water. Opening the well outside the house, she drew out some cold water and returned to the house. Dipping a towel in it, she squeezed it a little and placed it on her mother's forehead. She checked her pulse then pulling the covers on mother's chest, she went out of the room.

She stepped out of the house and closed the door behind her. Breathing in the cool night air, she moved away from the house.

"Where are you going to, slave girl?" She heard a voice and halted.

"Actually I have a name. It's Dawn Winslow". She said, turning around to see who was speaking. It was a guard obviously from the Emperor's Chambers from his clothes

"Forget it. Where's your mother?"

"What do you need her for?" She retorted

"The Emperor calls for her. Her services are needed!" He said impatiently and Dawn folded her hands on her chest, gauging him quietly

"What kind of service is that?" She asked

"It's not in my place to say, kid!" He retorted.

"I only wanted to know if it's something I can help with" she said and the guard laughed

"It isn't, I'm afraid"

"My mother's work is done. She finished three hours ago. What kind of service is she supposed to render at this late hour in the Emperor's Chambers?" She asked defiantly

"It's not in my place to tell. You can ask the Emperor. I'm here on orders"

"Aren't you a messenger? Don't you know what kind of message you're delivering? Why are you so sure I can't do it?"

"Cut the chase, kid. I'm not here to joke around. Where is your mother!?"

"Don't yell at me! Well she's ill and isn't leaving her room anytime soon." She snapped

"How can I be sure you're telling the truth? If she's ill, then why are you outside?" He asked and she regarded him for a moment

"Well...." She stalled with a shrug "I wanted some herbs. But thank goodness you're here. You can help me get them while I tend to my mother?" She retorted sarcastically and he sighed

"Lead the way. You don't want to keep the Emperor waiting?" He said with a smirk and she sighed in defeat, returning to the house.

"There she is. You can carry her on your shoulders and leave. Remember to bring her back before the clock strikes midnight!"

She said, backing away with a yawn. She sat on a stool and rested her head on the wall. The guard bent over Freya, studying her face.

"What's wrong with her?" He asked and Dawn shrugged

"I don't remember telling you I'm a doctor"

"But you were going to get herbs?"

"To improve blood flow, increase appetite and bring down temperature. Just the usual" she said with another yawn.

"Remember to close the door after you leave" she said and closed her eyes. The guard checked her pulse and felt her temperature which was burning hot

"She's really ill. Anyway I'll take my leave now. She can't be of much use in this condition. I'll inform the Emperor"

He said and straightened up. His eyes fell on Dawn who was already sleeping. With a sigh he walked out of the house and closed the door behind him, leaving to the Emperor's Chambers

As soon as he left, Dawn opened her eyes and went to have a look at her mother. Freya looked so pale and the imprints of a hand could be visible on her face. Dawn caressed the affected cheek slowly as Freya winced in her sleep

"Stay strong for me, mother. I promise to be strong for you too. Just stay strong and wait a little longer. If there's truly God like you said then I hope He can see our sincerity and help us leave here alive. But if he's too busy to notice then I hope Father can hear me from wherever he is and lend a helping hand. Things can't go on like this"

She said and placed a kiss on her forehead. Taking a cross bow with her, she left the house.

★ ★ ★

"Your majesty, the slave Freya is very ill and cannot be of any service to you"

The messenger said with a bowed head. Alexander looked at him for a while then at the copper hair pin which he kept turning around in his palm

"Did she tell you this?" He asked, his gaze still fixed on the hair pin

"Her daughter did"

"And you believed her?"

"I also went into the house to see things for myself. It's true, your majesty. She's indeed ill and it looks quite serious"

The messenger said, worry evident in his voice

"The severity of her illness is not my concern neither is it yours"

"Yes" he said and raised his head, placing his right hand on his sheathed sword hanging on his waist as he awaited orders from the Emperor who was now pacing

"Leave." He dismissed and the messenger bowed

"Yes!" He said and retreated. The Emperor sighed and went to the window staring at the moon.

★ ★ ★

As the moon shone brightly above the empire, a young child could be seen below practicing with a cross bow. It was Dawn. Some metres away was a stick buried in the ground but tall and wide enough to serve as a target. Dawn swung the cross bow over her head, did a back flip and twirled around until she was facing the target. Then she shot. The sound of the arrow whizzing in the air broke the silence of the night occasionally as she practiced far into the night.