WARBRINGERS: Revenge and Revolution

VENGEANCE IS GON’S

[GON]

“No,” was the word that came first from Gon’s mouth after hearing what Suliana wanted to do. Her words turned his blood cold, his heart raced inside his chest.

“What do you mean no?” said Suliana. “You don’t want justice for our friend? Do you want the deeds of those rebels to be unpunished?”

If only she knew. If only Suliana knew how he ached inside. How he punched the wall of a stable so hard and so many times the wall looked as if it was weeping his blood. She didn’t know how much he regretted not admitting his feelings, how he kept it inside him like a dirty secret, when it could have been something beautiful, or something painful but utterly gorgeous just the same.

He wished he could turn back time. He wished it was a wheel that would turn again, and he Camia would be reborn and on that spinning of time, he’d be brave.

He went to her house last night where her body lay on a bed filled with rare flowers that mask the scent of decay. Pain and agony were drawn on her face. She didn’t look peaceful. He held her hand and confessed, wishing she could hear. Wishing she’d wake up and smack him on the face or laugh at him.

Of course, he wanted justice for her.

“If the Millos killed Camia, then they’re not as peace-loving as we think they are,” Gon said. “Camia supported them. Camia wanted to help them. But they killed her still. They r***d her.”

“I know. I know and you don’t want to punish them for that?” Camia said, raising her voice.

“I do. I want to hurt them. I want to see them suffer, too. But I know that I can’t do it, I know it’s dangerous. Not with the help of the king--”

“The king wouldn’t help us!” Suliana snapped. “Didn’t you hear what he said? He said he should’ve been first. And did you see the reaction of most of the people? They laughed. They f*****g laughed, Gon! No one would help us do this, Gon. No one but us should do this.”

“You’re not thinking straight, Suliana--”

“Oh yeah, or maybe you’re just being a coward.”

Gon was stunned. Because he was being a coward. Again. But also, he was being cautious. He wanted to do it but it was a stupid idea, not if they have no plan.

Suliana’s face got colored with guilt. She put her head down then wiped her face with her hand. She couldn’t look him in the eye now and he felt sorry for her. He pulled her to him again and let her cry on his chest.

“We can do it,” Gon said. “We can punish them for what they did. But we need to have a plan. We can’t go into a war without a plan. We’ll lose.”

Suliana squeezed him and just said, “Sorry. I am so sorry, Gon…”

“You don’t have to apologize, Suliana,” he said. “Because you are right. I am a coward. And now, I’m more scared. I don’t want to lose you, too.”

Suliana couldn’t reply. She just sobbed inside his arms. He kissed the top of her head. He kept that silly, almost cruel part of his mind that wanted to imagine that It was Camia he was holding. “If we need to do this, Suliana, we need a plan. But now, let us grieve for a while. Let us remember her for a while. After all of that, after our minds are no longer clouded with so much grief, we will make a plan.”

Suliana sniffed and he felt her nod. “Can we stay like this again for a while?” she said, her voice now calm and helpless.

He didn’t answer her and just squeezed her against him. The wind blew and more leaves fell onto them, as the tree was shedding tears as well.

***

THAT NIGHT, Gon went to Camia’s wake with Suliana. A krill’s wake is not as gloomy as a simpleton’s wake. There would be tables outside the house of the departed where krills would gamble the meager money the krill traders gave them for working the entire day. It’s not uncommon to hear laughter and jovial conversation until midnight.

Gon and Suliana entered the house. The bed was in the center of the house. Tall candleholders were placed on each corner of the bed. The rare magic flowers were replaced as dried flowers can no longer mask the smell of Camia’s body. Gon and Suliana sat on the long chair near the body. Camia’s amir was kneeling on the floor next to the bed, caressing Camia’s hair.

“Your friends are here, amira,” Camia’s amir said with a smile. “They are here. They want to see you. Please talk to them, amira. Please entertain your guests.”

Gon noticed that Suliana looked away from Camia’s amir when she said that. He reached for his hand and squeezed it. She looked at her and mouthed, “Thank you.” He nodded and looked at Camia’s body again.

Gon had feelings for her, but he couldn’t even bear to touch her for a long time. He couldn’t even look at her intently, for the fear she might see it as a sign of disrespect. When he became a teenager, he had thoughts of kissing her, of tucking strands of her hair behind her ears, even touching her ample bosom, but he never did. He knew he can only do that if she allowed him to. If she wanted it, too.

Soon, he managed to sweep those thoughts under the rug or to put them in a box and stick it in a closet. He learned to halt his teenage s*x drive and to love Camia not for how beautiful she was, but for how strong and principled she’d always been.

But some men never learned that. Those Millos men… they forced themselves on Camia. They defiled her. They didn’t care what’s inside, what matters the most.

Gon’s hand that wasn’t holding Suliana’s hand curled into a fist.

Suliana’s right. They should pay. I don’t know how, I don’t know when, but whooping wisdom, they should pay.

***

THE NEXT morning, Baladin’s troop of krills rose early for their krill trader to distribute the work. Baladin said he had an important appointment so he had to assign their work early.

The sky still had stars then, the chickens calling for people to wake up. The sun was only peeking from the horizon. The wind was still chilly and they could still hear crickets.

But it was the beginning of another laborious day.

Gon sat on the ground and stared at Baladin. His eyes were still small with sleepiness. Most of the krills from his troop moved sluggishly and some even yawned.

“Good morning ugly morons,” Baladin said. What a sweet man he was. “I need to assign your work for today early because I have to meet a very important person.”

“Probably a prostitute,” Mastaro whispered to his friend. He was sitting in front of Gon.

“I heard that Mastaro,” Baladin said coldly. “You may have a keen sense of smell because of your flat nose, but I have a keen sense of hearing.”

“Sorry, akir,” said Mastaro, but there was no sincerity in his voice.

Baladin shook his head and coughed to change the subject. “So the rat infestation in the Malkines field of Cantata is still ongoing. I will assign the following krills to exterminate all the rats in the field. I’ll give you a basket, put all the dead rats inside. Rat meat can be eaten.”

Gon’s looked at Camia’s house. The door was closed. He could see the orange glow of the candle on the glass window. His mind wondered once again…

“...Gon and Mastaro,” said Baladin, which made Gon pay attention to what he was saying.

“Some of the soldiers who are not on duty took some time off. I received a report that there are only five soldiers staying in their quarters. The two of you are tasked to take care of them for today.”

“Whooping wisdom, five soldiers?!” said Mastaro. “Assisting one is already a burden. I’d rather hunt for rats.”

“I’d rather not see your face early in the morning you ugly boy b***h but I guess I don’t have a choice, do I?” said Baladin with a raised eyebrow. “Gon will help you give service to the soldiers. I was asked to assign more krills to the field because the rat infestation needs immediate attention.”

Gon saw Mastaro throw a glance on him and grimaced. His snout-like nose wrinkled and it was hideous. Gon didn’t say anything. He wanted to change his partner, but Baladin was in such a bad mood. He didn’t want to get a task with Mastaro. It would be painful. And also, it would be weird.

Gon remembered that day he was partnered with Mastaro to do a task as well. They were asked to find a sheep who wandered away from the big Cantatan farm on the west. The things he said to him…

“Okay, now that all the work has been assigned, let’s meet again here come sunrise. If I didn’t hear any complaints about how you did your work, I’ll give you extra coins, do you understand?”

The krills said yes. And soon, they went to their respective groups, the krills they have a similar task with. Gon just stood there, biting his lip. Being with Mastaro might possibly be horrible, but it wouldn’t be as bad as the pain he had on his heart already

Mastaro walked towards him with a cocky grin on his face. His eyes sparkled with mischief. He stopped in front of him and c****d one of his eyebrows. “I guess we’d spend more time together, huh?”

Gon didn’t say anything. He turned and walked in the direction of the soldier’s quarters. It was a bad start for the day.

Little did Gon know… it was about to get worse.