Bloodshed

Chapter 7

Unit 7

The Carnival and the Guest

Ash woke up and he saw Resa sitting beside him, the other girl was doing the same work that she was doing last night. Resa smiled at Ash and said, “Good morning, Big Brother.” Ash replied with a gentle smile, “Good morning, my angel.” Ash was still tied up. Ash asked Resa, “How is Swart doing?” Resa replied, “He is fine, only need some bed rest.” with a pause Resa asked, “How did this happen?” Ash looked towards the other girl standing near the self. “You can carry on; I am not listening.” the girl replied. Ash smiled, Resa told him that he can trust the girl.

Ash told Resa all the happenings that took place with him and their brother. After the story Ash asked Resa, “How are you doing here?” Resa replied, “Well enough. I have friends here and the work fascinates me, I miss you all, but I know the reasons.” “We soon will be together, Rage and Swart will get a post in the royal service and then we will leave in Vasari together.” Ash replied. Resa smiled and said, “The carnival is to begin we must leave. You take rest. Ruti, let’s go.” “But I am perfectly fine.” Ash replied. “I am your doctor, and I know what’s good for you.” Ruti replied to Ash and came forward with the potion that she gave him last night. “Okay, I will stay here but don’t give me that thing.” Ash shouted. “Fine then.” Ruti kept back the thing and left with Resa.

Both the girls were heading to the carnival, Ruti asked Resa, “Is he your real brother or cousin?” Resa replied, “He is my real brother.” “Then he is a panther and you are a planaria, I didn’t get that.” Ruti asked. “My father was a panther and mother planaria, so we are different. After our parents’ death, Big Brother took our care just like father and mother. He sacrificed his childhood for our sake. Academics, work, nurturing us these were his daily task. But he never complaint, he enrolled Rage in the academy as well, and sent me here for being a doctor.” Resa told Ruti about Ash. As the talk continued, they reached the carnival.

The carnival was a great place, it consists of various shops. There were shops for entertainment, circus, fair wheel and many more things to see. The carnival was a festival held for the planarians, who worked hard for the medical service of the white kingdom. The carnival holds special tournaments for all the citizen of the kingdom, people from distant places came to watch the beautiful carnival of Nan.

The girls were on a shop of bangles, where Ruti asked Resa, “Swart is not your real brother, right. Because if he could be your real brother he could have healed fast like Ash.” Resa replied, “Yes. He is our cousin, but still Ash looks after him and loves him equally.” Ruti nodded her head. They were standing near to the exhibition where was a large crowd. People were enjoying a watch of huge dog, who was chained and being harassed by the owner to entertain people.

During the play, the dog went furious and broke the chains. He started running here and there. People got panic and started running around, Resa and Ruti were near the stall, the crowd went on furious and pushed Resa, Resa fell. The dog came running towards Resa, Ruti was helping her to get up, the dog was rushing towards them it came quite close when suddenly a person punched the dog and it fell away. As the dog got up another person came kicked him on mouth, the dog turned quiet and turned away.

The two-person walked to the girls and said, “Are you all right lady?” Resa replied assertive. They looked like a warrior and were wearing armor and uniform of royal army. As they were about to leave the chief of village came to them and asked, “Are you the Gale duo?” one of the men replied, “Yes, I am Captain Mok, the wolf, he is Captain Ardan, the jackal. We have been sent by royal service for security reasons.” “Yes, we have been informed.” the chief replied.

The Gale duo went with the chief. Resa and Ruti were treating the injured leg of Resa. Ash came near them and was having berries, he talked to them “Those berries on that stall are the tastiest one. You must try them.” Ruti went furious, “How did you get here?” she asked. “Ash has broken many chains yours was just a toy.” Ash replied. “I hate disobeying patients.” Ruti replied angrily, “Alright, I am completely fine. One of your friends came in the sickbay while I was near Swart, asking for you, he examined me and led me a discharge.” Ash explained. Ruti turned to Resa and checked her leg, Ash looked around and at Resa’s wound and asked, “Did something happen here?”, “Well you were here right, you must have heard the hustle and bustle. Then why didn’t you come for rescue?” Ruti asked Ash. “I think there are many others that should take the credit, I am not the selfish one to become hero every time.” Ash replied. Resa got up and said “I am fine. Let’s go.”

Ash, Resa and Ruti started walking through the carnival, enjoying every shop, show and exhibition. After some time, Ash saw something suspicious behind a toy shop. Ash looked at the girls, they were busy. Ash went near the shop; he saw a person with a coverlet and mask on his face. Ash looked at the person and followed him, the person went at the end of the carnival and stopped beside a shop. Ash went up to the shop, and then turned behind the shop. The person was waiting there, he turned towards Ash.

Ash asked the person, “You must not have come here.” the masked man replied, “No one can stop Eddy.” Ash neglected the sentence and asked, “What’s the news?” Eddy replied, “Vilen has sent the message to all the victims of venom present in the palace, to start propagating the venom. But I have done a task for you, I killed the messenger and replaced the message, now the new message is to be quite and wait for orders.” Ash smiled and replied, “That’s the good news but why have you risk your life for such a message?” Eddy stopped for few seconds and then said, “He will be twenty by two days, I wanted to see him. I heard that he has been hurt.”

Ruti and Resa noticed Ash’s absence, Resa told Ruti that she will find Ash and bring him, but Ruti did not allow her to do so and asked her to rest and she will go for the search. In quest of Ash, Ruti came near the shop where Ash stood. Ruti saw Ash she was about to shout for him but then she noticed that he was talking to someone and she stopped. Ruti tried to see face of unknown person but she could only see the attire. The person went away, and Ash started to walk back, Ruti caught him in his way and asked, “Who was that person with whom you were having a secret chat?” Ash paused for a while and then replied, “A friend of mine.” “A friend from that side. I noticed his dressing it was like that of black people, so can you justify me?” Ruti spoke sharply to Ash.

“I will tell you if you promise me not to share it with someone else not even with Resa.” Ash asked Ruti. Ruti nodded her head. “He was Eddy, my cousin brother. Swart is his younger brother, Eddy is younger than me, but the gap is not much. I and Eddy were eight years old, when the black men attacked one of the villages. My father and Eddy’s father went for the battle the victory was ours, but both lost their lives. Eddy decided not to serve the royals, but he wanted to serve the right side, so he decided to spy the black souls. He left us and went on the opposite side; from that day he provides me every information about the things taking place on other side.” Ruti listened him quietly and then replied, “Can’t your bloodline live a normal life?” Ash gave her a look, and both started walking towards the circus. Ash and Ruti were about to enter the circus when suddenly a watcher came running towards Ash and with a gasping breath told Ash, “Sergeant, the Gale duo has seen enemy roaming in the village, when they saw Swart in the sickbay they came to know about your presence. They went behind the enemy and has asked for support.” Ash thought for a while and said, “I will be leaving for there.” Ruti was listening the conversation. The watcher left, Ash turned around and joined Ruti and said, “Let’s go to Resa.” “You must leave for help.” Resa replied. “Help, help whom?” Ash replied. Ruti answered, “Your brother.” Ash laughed and said, “He the fastest warrior in this world. No one can catch him, and he won’t kill the Gale duo either, so no worry, enjoy.” saying so Ash went and joined Resa who was enjoying the circus, Ruti sighed and joined them.

The Gale duo went for Eddy in the forest. After a hectic search, they got a glimpse of Eddy. They surrounded Eddy and asked him to surrender. Eddy replied, “You are not supposed to catch me, there is no use trying.” Mok replied to Eddy, “Do you think so?” Ardan said to Mok, “Let’s prove him wrong partner.” And they attacked Eddy, Eddy dodged their punches and kicks and got to a safer distance and said, “I don’t want to hurt you, get out of my way.” Ardan smiled and replied, “A black soul with a white character.” and he tried to punch Eddy as Eddy dodged the punch, Mok attacked him with his sting sword, Eddy was surprised with the attack but he was also fast enough. Eddy moved to other side and said, “Enough of play.” and he threw a ball towards the duo. Both got away from the ball and the ball got blasted. After the blast, smoke spread everywhere. The duo was enabled to see through the smoke and when the smoke shaded off Eddy was nowhere to be seen. The Duo returned with disappointment.