Arms
2577 Words
A set of footsteps walked across the hall. I placed my ear against the wall as I trailed their path. No curves or turns diverged this monotonous path. They have been chatting about little things that did not matter. Darleen seemed to be in light spirits.
Suddenly, a door clicked from the edge of the path. I hope they didn not see a hair of my skin. Luckily, my foot stopped just in time before my soul reached their eyes. The lively conversation stopped for a moment, but it resumed after a couple of moments.
I traced my path with my back as I slid my body along the draped walls. I looked through the small spaces in between my hiding place. Powders of dust trailed behind them, scattering across the floor. At the front, I could see Darleen. My heart pounded louder than my ears could reach.
I wanted to call out to her, but I secured my tongue. I saw her wearing a flowing dress, repelling the drab behind her with every step. She wore a sandy crown decorated with the rarest seashells I have ever seen. Her gentle smile accented the magnificence of her crown.
“Daupha Darleen, you must walk properly! Your bustling posture defaces the pride of all Drabian Beach. Have grace as you project yourself. Do it like this,” a man who seemed to be Charreon put one leg forward, bending towards it with a hand placed on one knee.
“Sirreon, look at yourself. You look like a stripper begging to make bank,” Garreon scolded him.
“This is how I saw it in the Sandy Scriptures. It even showed a step-by-step guide on how to project yourself properly to the crowd. That is what our ancestors envisioned how our queen should be.”
“I think it’s high time that we change the books. The times have already changed in the past few centuries,” Darleen suggested.
“We cannot do that, Daupha. Our ancestors specifically wrote that it shall be forever etched in stone!” The man behind her sounded like Sirreon.
“What do you suggest I do? I mean, I cannot force myself to fit the Scriptures,” Darleen looked at him.
“But you must! You are the direct descendant of Darian Bartaloza, the great founder of the sands.”
“What does it have to do with me?”
“We do not ask you to perfectly comply with your great-great-great-grandfather’s mandate. Grace is an essential value that our queen must have. He believed that grace rules first, above all. Power should be the second in command,” Garreon gently reminded her.
“Why can’t I do what I want? Wagging my butt in front of the crowd might break my hips.”
“It could not be that bad. Walking with pride is the strong suit fitting our queen.”
“I could barely walk in those high stilettos. I do not want to trip and fall with my frail legs.”
“That’s why we assigned a trainer for you. You must strictly stick to your schedule for the coronation night is a few blocks of sleep away. You need to elegantly execute the walking posture of the queen,” Charreon replied.
“I hated that guy. He would always make me walk those tower high shoes while holding a stick for hours as if I was a big circus act. I nearly broke my legs during our last session. Can’t I skip that class?”
“As we have told you, grace rules above all. Ah, we have finally arrived to the dinner table. The next thing you need to learn is etiquette. We cannot have you ruining the royal banquet with your boisterous acts,” Sirreon opened the door.
“So you are finally being honest, Sirreon,” Darleen glared at him.
“I cannot afford to lie in front of our future queen,” he chuckled. “It is a value elders must have to preside in Her Royal Hand.”
“Okay… So what are we having for dinner?” They all entered through the drab door.
My feet had been lagging behind. I ran while carrying my footsteps towards that door. Suddenly, something hard hit my face, and my back dropped to the floor with a loud thud. In front of me was a man towering over my face. His smile bent crookedly. I scrambled to my feet.
The ground vibrated every time he took a step, “I finally found you, little rat! When I get you, I will feed you to the sharks!”
My heart ran some thousand miles ahead of me. I do not think my legs could reach the same distance. On the other end of the long hallway, another man of the same stature blocked the open door with his body. My brain turned on the blue and red lights.
The man behind me gained speed. He was a kissing distance from me. The man ahead of me opened his body, ready for capture. The red and blue lights alternated faster than my synapses. I took a deep breath and opened my legs wider than I could stretch.
Finally, I came face to face with him. Before he could touch the collar of my shirt, I slid underneath between his thighs. I regretted looking up while doing so. I felt that I have been cursed by something after seeing that. I ran blankly behind one of the trees, trying to unsee that thing.
I almost suffocated while I held my breath behind this abundant tree. The only sounds I could hear were the beating of both my heart and my chaser’s feet. My head felt like I drank a mix of beer and gin as I swallowed the rancidity back. Thankfully, the footsteps eventually became distant.
I took a few moments to regain myself. My tongue could still taste the rancidity of the chase. After the beats of my heart reverted to its natural rhythm, I decided to look for the distant conversation. My eyes became aware of lost crunchy branches under the grass.
I felt along the walls with my ears and hoped that their conversation could reach me. I consciously looked behind me for every corner I touched. I breathed out sighs of relief when silence came back in reply. Soon, I caught up to the royal group’s chatter.
“Aah, now that we have filled the table, why don’t we dig in? This chicken looks perfect!” Garreon announced.
“Finally, all that talking must have taken the life out of me,” Darleen seemed delighted.
“Halt! You must instill within you the value of grace. Wipe your hands with cloth and hold the spoon with your index finger raised. We shall permit you not to hold the food with your hands from this day forth,” Sirreon interrupted with a stern voice.
“O-oh, l-like this?”
“I will give you a passing grade for today, but with a little more effort, you can do better on the next,” Charreon commended her. “You will get used to it. I know you can manage it in time.”
“Ugh, this is hard. So, what are your plans for overthrowing that delirious human king?”
“We start by the wake of morning. We must have our men ready before sunrise,” Garreon answered.
“Why must we act so soon? We need more time to prepare. We do not know what we are up against,” Sirreon sounded concerned.
“We know we are up against humans. Knowing their nature, we strike them when they are at their weakest. Our past battle records could attest to that. Humans can never win against us.”
“You sound very confident about this. But you are missing the most essential thing, humans have advanced their weapons and probably their war strategy has improved through the years. I agree with Sirreon, we need more time to think about our strategy,” Charreon contrasted.
“We must act now! I thought you were hell bent on this Charreon? Why are you suddenly chickening out?” Darleen shouted at him like an eight-year-old child.
“I have just received some information from the sand golems guarding the border. He said that the humans are producing more weapons, much stronger than that bright light they saw across the distance. According to one of them, they were testing it out in the open sands.”
“Those are just human toys we can crush in a second. They are as frail as their bodies, but brittle as their minds. Victory is within our sight the moment we step foot to their territory,” Garreon assured them.
“Wouldn’t it be better to resolve this through diplomacy? That way, our resources will not be wasted,” Sirreon suggested.
“Do you hear yourself, Sirreon? Humans have open-ended ears on both sides. They are selfish and vile beings. We must erase them from the face of Draconia before they do.”
“I do not believe all humans are like that. Surely there are those who are innocent… Like Luke… He has nothing to do with this. I hope he is safe, wherever he is,” Darleen spoke of me in front of her audience so softly.
“Can you tell us more of this ‘Luke’ human that you think so fondly of? Why do you care for him so much?” Charreon asked.
“Aah, no words could describe him. He breaks easily. I hope to see him before I dethrone the king. Could he be lost roaming around Hurvala at this time?”
“I think it is only natural for him to be there unless he came from outside the continent,” I could hear suspicion underneath Charreon’s voice.
“N-no, he could not be an outsider! T-that’s impossible. No humans outside the continent could survive the borders of Drabian Beach. Besides, I only met him once during my trip,” she chuckled nervously.
“Hmm… well, we must make our preparations for the coming days. Garreon, you must make sure to train your men rigorously. I do not want to see any of them slacking, and this is to ensure victory does not evade our reach. Make every time of the day count,” Charreon laid down his mandate.
“Hey, are you saying that my men are lazing around? I will show you who the boss is after we decimate the human stronghold,” Garreon roared.
“I’m only saying that you need to train them more. A little polishing would not hurt. Sirreon, keep your men’s eyes and ears open for any weakness or declination. We must take every opportunity we can to wave our flag when we take over the land.”
“I think this is getting out of hand, Charreon. Our borders are borders enough! The thought of mixing with humans stains our hue,” Sirreon replied. “We must remain free of human influence.”
“Charreon, what are you thinking? You are circumnavigating my authority. I may not have the capacity yet, but it does not mean that you can do what you want while I’m around. We must not make humans our slaves, much less invade their territory,” Darleen reprimanded him.
“That was not my intention, Daupha Darleen. I only wanted the filthy humans to remember what their kind did in the past. We may not have been slaves, but we still served under them,” Charreon explained himself.
“We only need to assert ourselves on them. If you try anything Charreon, our ancestors may not be able to forgive you.”
“U-understood Daupha Darleen. Again, I must apologize for my words. May I be excused from the table?”
“You are all excused for the night. Please clear the table and leave the lights open. I will close the door when I’m done here. You have a long morning ahead of you.”
“Thank you, Daupha Darleen. Enjoy the rest of the meal,” Garreon’s chair screeched.
“May you sleep well after your meal. I have already set your alarm for tomorrow,” Sirreon’s voice sounded mellow.
“Ease your burden on us, Daupha Darleen. We are always on your side,” Charreon assured him.
Three pairs of footsteps became distant. A click followed by a gentle nudge of the door. Darleen breathed deeply through her nose. I wish I could see how she looks right now, but I could only hear her heavy breathing through this thick wall.
“Where are you, Luke? If I only knew she would take you away from me, I would have taken you inside my castle. I want to feel your warmth traveling my arms once more. I wish I could see you now. Please tell me you are safe, Luke.”
Her words plucked some strings within my heart. She sniffled softly in her seat. I scolded myself for blaming her back then, she really does think of me. I wanted to call out to her, but it would not be possible without alerting the men guarding the gate.
I am so close, yet so far. Her sniffling became silent, and I heard the light flick. Her footsteps became distant. The grass swished against the wind after the door slammed. I kept my distance as I gazed at her from behind this tree. Her eyes looked like a storm before the rainbow.
“Aah, Daupha Darleen. I’m afraid you cannot proceed walking on this bridge at the moment,” a guard raised a hand towards her.
“What is the matter?” Her eyes became puzzled.
“As you can see, the bridge has recently collapsed. We do not know what happened. It is still under reconstruction.”
“Let me help. With that amount of effort, you will not make it until morning.”
“You do not have to stain your hands, Daupha Darleen. We cannot make you do the job for us.”
“This will only take a fraction of your time. Watch carefully, boys.”
I lifted my feet as I approached a little closer. She raised both hands in front of her. Mounds of sand sifted over the water. She soaked some of the mound while sculpting the bridge. It floated above the water and looked like the San Francisco Bridge.
“Th-Thank you, Daupha Darleen!” One of the guards bowed.
“We can’t thank you enough! We can finally eat our empanadas!” The other one followed.
“This is all I could to thank your services through the years. The bridge aged much faster than you guys. Say, how did the elders go over the bridge?”
“We do not know Daupha Darleen. When they passed through the gate, they vanished into thin air.”
“Ah, so typical of them, concealing their trace. Well, enjoy your dinner, boys. You have a great day tomorrow.”
“Have a pleasant night, Daupha Darleen. Thank you,” they both bowed.
She walked over the bridge. She stomped and jumped as she walked to the other side. The guards jumped from their seats as they watched her cross. Some gasps accompanied each bite of their bread. She waved back at them before vanishing into the night.
“Th-That was scary. What if she fell in?”
“Do not be silly. No one can make a sturdy bridge that fast. Wanna try it with me?”
“No, I’m fine. I would rather sit here and watch you do it.”
“You pussycat! I think I can try it tomorrow.”
“You are one to talk!”
They both boasted about little things. I sunk there behind the tree, eating the rest of my bread. I savored the strawberry sweetness up to the last bite. This thick tree was enough to shelter a tiny human like me. I hope nobody discovers my unconscious body the next morning.
I nestled myself in this tiny space. The slight sea breeze blew behind my ears. One ear was ready to receive incoming threats. Soon, the tree danced with the storm of sands going over the castle walls. I tucked my nose under my shirt. Some dust managed to pass through.
The hissing grass served as my lullaby. My eyes tossed and turned until they shut themselves down. Then I became oblivious to the incoming storm. For a moment, I felt some protection beneath the cloak of the sands. It almost felt like home in this distant land of unknown. All went black after a few seconds.
- Writer
