Enmity's Lost Prodigy: Chapter 14 - Naked

While Farrah thought about what she was seeing, Talia was busy trying to break in. The windows were closed glass panes with clay cocking around the edges. She tried digging away and sure enough the old patch job began to chip but it would take too long to removed. Farrah noticed Talia's efforts and tried to help. They managed to get a finger hold and Farrah used her beak to pry the window open. The crusted fill cracked free, and Farrah grabbed the window as it almost fell out. The glass then slipped out of her hands as the clay edge gave way in her fingertips. It seemed like minutes as the glass fell to the ground and shattered. It was too late to worry now. Farrah peered in again. They could hear the conversation clearly.

“Likely, it will be held off until the third day after the celebration but we'll be sure to patch it up. No sense in leaving it bare while the workers are elsewher. It's still usable.”

“Then I'll send preparations out to the stockpile to have the materials reserved and readied for next week.”

“I don't suppose you'll be making a few others?”

“Hardly, what for?”

“It's strange that fire should just start up.”

“They are strange indeed. Guards have been posted outside the room but there are no signs on what started them.”

“One fire is odd, two fires is deliberate. Do you suppose it was a message?”

“What of?”

“Perhaps someone was ill pleased with the effectiveness of the complaints box.”

“Improbable. I've handled every one of them personally. The only one to complain about my work are the well to do and the radical. No matter how much you give some people they are never satisfied.”

“I would take it as a warning, sire. The people are still unstable to call anyone king, no matter how much you try to earn their trust. We left one tyrant to receive a radical just as you described.”

“Give them time, this is petty in comparison to their other attempts to gain my attention.

“Very well. I shall see to our arrangement.”

While watching their movements and focus, Farrah managed to slip in through the windowsill. She did not have much time. Some people had noticed the broken glass below and she needed to get in. Farrah hid behind one of the banners. She made sure to be as quiet and still as possible. Her breath was as still as it could be, though her heart raced uncontrollably and she could hear it almost as loudly as the two gentlemen. She heard every sound, the one man had left and his footsteps followed him down the hall. The king, assumedly, turned about to return to his throne but stopped. His steps were in place. Silence, the drafting sound of a slight breeze outside, the turn of a foot on the surface. Once again, silence.

“You should know that I see you.” He said, quietly enough for Farrah to hear. She was alone with him, she was sure of it. He made no attempt to retrieve his guard, she had his attention.

“Can we speak for a moment?” Farrah softly asked. The throbbing beat of her heart trembling her voice to crack.

“There is life behind that banner after all. Reveal yourself.”

Farrah tried to land quietly but couldn't. She left a noise equal to the dropping of a small stone and the guards turned the door to face her. Farrah lifted both hands, walking calmly towards the king, she knelt down after her legs gave out of fear. She was close enough. “I just want to talk.” Talia still hiding behind the banner not to confuse the situation with her presence. She understood that her kind was unknown and would rise suspensions. Farrah was alone with the king.

“I said reveal yourself. Discard those rags.” He demanded. Farrah slowly undid the piece that she torn off to cover her face. The king's eyes widened. Farrah then followed by removing the cloth around her body. As it fell, the king was in awe. Like the last rose of a dying land, a magpie knelt before him with nothing left to hide. “Why are you here? You're kind was removed long ago by my father.”

“I have come to be reconciled. I can no longer live like this.” Farrah began to stutter

“I can understand your trespassing. Had you been seen, you would have been executed under much prejudice. What makes you think however, that you may find reconciliation within my court?”

“I am tired...” Farrah choked. “...Of living in fear.” The trembling voice cut off.

“Yes. Any one would fear the life deemed unworthy out of mistrust and blind aggression. What would so set you apart from another of your kin?” He asked, looking down curious but in partial disgust. He seemed wavering, shocked most certainly, but he was skeptical about something much different than who she was.

“I'm tired of all the hatred. I'm tired... Of hating people.”

The king sighed. “Dear... You cannot simply stop hating people, or being hated. I have seen enough of it to know that you cannot prove your worthiness to be reconciled by the throne.”

Farrah was stunned. His voice was sympathetic, but his words lingered of ingrained doubt and closed mindedness. “Please!” Farrah cried. “There is still good left in our kind.” Talia knew it, she saw Farrah and never saw anything else but good in her. Inside she believed that Farrah had the gift to show someone that but she started to realize the impermeable wall of prejudice that people had and the situation became bleak.

“I'm sure there is.” The king agreed, “However, you cannot prove to me with words. This is the reality of where we are and how we have come to be as we are.”

“Then what do I need to do to for you to forgive us?” Farrah begged on her hands.

“Us? The magpies?...” The king poured farther over the girl “You mean to say that you do this for the whole of an entire people?” Farrah nodded. The king debunking his disbelief. “An entire people that, however great you may be yourself, still masses those who hate us in return just the same.” Farrah was completely still. “If not for yourself,” The king continued, “Then what would you sacrifice your own life for those whom would selfishly not sacrifice the same for you in return?”

“Anything... Everything!” Farrah cried.

The king was astounded. Every word he heard, he wished that he could believe. Every ideal latent in his mind peeked his interest and shock to his eyes. He grit himself. He walked to the guard, and requested for the mantle. Talia witnessed everything. Her heart bursting out of her chest. At this pinnacle, she was helpless. The king whispered to the guard, and he took his place. Farrah looked up to see the guard standing directly above her, partly grieving himself but blank with the expression of duty and joy of servitude. He, among the two, was chosen to do the solemn rite of his liege. “If you intend to prove your words, magpie, then for your people I ask that you give yourself.”

Talia was frozen, her heart stopped. The executioners axe in hand being raised. Farrah took a look towards it. She had no choice, there was nothing left. In these moments as she laid down on her side, memories and thoughts poured like veins of mana. She wanted to end the hatred because it lead to more, each man of the village who sought after Gladious irked vengeance, the single act spread cancer like disease and famine. Each order to capture another magpie passed on to the victim of blinded malice. Each starving child with a mind yet to be decided, left tainted without the love of those who cared. It wasn't enough to ask for herself but to save the turmoil and fate of an entire race to continue to breed more unnecessary friction in the innocent and the impressionable youth. Good people still made bad choices. She laid her life down to conquer her fear. If she was unable to live free then she could not bare living it. This was not by any means surrendering, this was her fight and she was still very much fighting even as her shoulder braced cold stone, and her eyes closed to see Talia, screaming, crying, rushing over to stop them.

“STOP, DON'T DO IT!” Talia begged, he voice shattering her own throat. Farrah never heard such a beautiful sound, it was as though her ears were plugged all her life and for the first time she heard the real voice of her cynical, sarcastic little friend. “PLEASE, SHE'S MY BEST FRIEND! YOU CAN'T TAKE HER AWAY FROM ME!”

Farrah was saddened but it was time. In her last words, she spoke to Talia that she could barely hear over her own cries. “Love.”

The great heft of the solid steel blade came crashing down, the sound of it smashing into the ground echoed and deafened Farrah, and her vision became black. Talia screamed but Farrah could not hear her. All there was was silence. In the darkness, Farrah felt cold. Her body numb, the wonder of death. It seemed so peaceful. She smiled. Moments passed and she began to see a light. A blurry vision of the throne room returned to haunt her. Was she a ghost now? She looked up and saw her executioner laughing, was he really that happy to see her life end? She still couldn't hear much other than screaming. A fire reputed. She could see the pain inside the guard's face but he kept laughing heartily. She looked to the king who was concerned more with Farrah, the other guard held Talia who was completely engulfed in flame. The king smirked. Farrah's expression still standing. She laid her head back down and relaxed. Hearing returned, nothing happened. She just laid there ready to die this time, she realized that she was not dead.

The darkness she saw was the blade in front of her face. The king called out to her “Magpie! Do you still wish to give yourself?” He said in pleasure. “Have you a taste of fear? Do you not flinch?” She shook her head. “Then you a streak of anger? I had fully the intention to frighten you, to break the trust that I would end you peacefully so that I may watch you suffer. Do you not hate me for this?” Farrah only smiled. She was happy. Not that she lived but that she was no longer afraid. “Do you have the slightest thought that I may spare your life?” Farrah shook her head and laid it to rest. “Then you still place your life in my Deceitful hands?”

Farrah laid still. The guard in behind began to panic as his hands were burning. The king walked up to Farrah and placed his hand on her shoulder. “Can you live through so much that death does not scare your subconscious, and yet trust your enemy without hate.” Farrah opened her eyes to find the king, gritting himself in tears. Farrah nodded. “How?” He asked, trembling.

“This life is not worth living in fear, or hatred.”

“Do you really think you can change anything?” The king begged. Breaking under his steel armour and knee bound fractured stature

“I may not be given respect by respecting others, but how could I ever expect to be given love if I were to show them hatred? If I were to hate you, how would I have the right to be forgiven?”

The king's heart sank. Something latent came to him, some childish desire he had tucked away after all the hardships. He wanted to believe but never could he prove it to anyone, not even himself. He clenched his face and turned away. After swallowing his pride, he returned to Farrah. “Rise.” He requested.

Farrah was slow to her feet. The two guards were struggling to keep Talia under control, passing the fireball between the other like an explosive potato. Finally she broke free, with a deep rage in her eyes, Talia lashed out. “TALIA!” Farrah ordered. “Enough.”

“But they tried to kill you!” The miniature inferno howled, “And then they had the nerve to laugh in your face. These people aren't worth proving yourself to, their despicable GARBAGE!”

Farrah grasped Talia and held her close. “I'm sorry for what I have done... Talia” The king admitted. “What I did was cruel and you have every right to hate me for it. As I said, Farrah, is it? You cannot simply stop people from hating. They have to stop hating first.”

“Then why you do some crazy thing like that!” Talia roared

“Your friend cannot prove anything with words, even actions can be false. Even when pushed, and ample reason to hate me, you, Farrah, were selfless. I wish I didn't have to be so cruel, but others can be deceivingly more so. Talia, can you forgive me?”

“Why should I bub?!”

“Because Farrah already has.” The king gestured towards the magpie.

Talia turned her head to see her friend. Farrah smiled and nodded.

The king continued. “I'm sorry that I cannot reconcile you before the court, but you have reconciled yourself in me. My guard follow me but they may not believe the same and that is fair. For your life and beyond that, you will never be fully reconciled by everyone, nor your race. Trust takes time, and though my father meant well, he did little to appease others and he too acted out of his prejudice until the day he was civilly uncrowned. Your errand is too great for even your own lifespan, but you can still aid your mission. If you still wish to reconcile the magpies, then I will offer you what you need. You have my respect. I will give you a room here, food, and a guard. Most of the new royalty was formed from the rebellion so I cannot gaurentee your safety. Do you still wish to help your people? I will understand your declination. You are at worse odds than even I am.”

Farrah wasn't sure what to think. Talia still held some grudge but she became lost in the king's offer. His respect was mesmerizing, mere moment's ago, they were enemies. Farrah couldn't decide. She came from knowing certain death to once again the fear of death unknowing. “Can we think about it?” Talia asked.

“Certainly. Either way, I will offer my space to you until you have come to a decision and I will consider you working until that time arrives.”

Talia and Farrah were quite pleased. The king quite closely sided to them, and with no prejudice took the hand of an exiled race. It was sad that their alleged freedom was just as fruitless as the shadow downs. Though they gained the respect of a single man, little had happened. “Say, Farrah, there was something else we wanted to come here for?”

“Ah?” The king inquired.

“Well, it's kind of difficult to ask.” Farrah explained. “We originally came to prevent catastrophe, but I felt that if I couldn't prove myself worthy of you then there was no point in trying... And I couldn't bring myself to stop Gladious...”

“Gladious, his name is familiar.”

“Well, wouldn't you like to know what your hard earned tax dollars are doing?” Talia mentioned. “The guy went off exploring for hidden treasure instead of working his post.”

“Talia!” Farrah butted. “Gladious, the Jail warden of Obla...van.”

“Oblavaeya.” The king cited

“Yes, he found a map to an island far past the shadow downs and caused a lot of trouble.”

“He nearly raided the place!” Talia added. “What a horrible foreign affair!”

“Is that so?” The king asked.

“Oh yeah, that's a thing alright!”

“He swore he was going to return with the royal army to conquer the land and everyone in it.” Farrah informed. “I was so scared that I had nowhere left to go that I came all the way here.”

The king laughed unpleasantly. “Not without my order. Is that all that bothers you? Here I thought it would be a matter of country wide crisis. You have my assurance that even without you here, I would have denied such a selfish request. We are not ready to conquer anyone while we are still recovering and that would be no better an example to set than what we have already lived through.”

“Really!?” Farrah and Talia cheered together.

“You have my word. But all of this brings up some interesting questions. I may need to speak with you formally right away. I will not judge you so that you may speak freely, I have entrusted you this freedom.”

“Wow, you're really awesome!” Talia exclaimed. “I mean, you are giving us all of this, and just a little while ago, I mean...”

“If I cannot forgive others, how could I forgive myself?” The king returned, smirking. “I may use my version of what you said to me Farrah, if you do not mind.

“No, please. You may.” Farrah insisted.

“McWhilliams, clear the meeting room for me, I have some urgent business that absolutely need tending to. I, these two young ladies and yourself alone please. Tarin, please watch my throne room for me... Oh, and... Do arrange for a replacement window, it will be quite distracting with that thing open like that.” The guard jumped to notice the open windowsill. “And before we go, there is one more thing I can do to help you two...”

They gathered together in the royal meeting room. They discussed the new land that Daven, Farrah, and ultimately Gladious found. The king was very intrigued about it, wanting to send scouts to peacefully explore and map out the area for closed informational records. Soon curiosity to how Farrah came into this knowledge. Very quickly he had found her bloodline, the separation of the crown's ideology, and the work that Daven did to try and keep the peace. The pieces sank together, and the empathy he felt could not be expressed.

“You know, I can't believe what happened today.” Talia stated, pulling on new cotton weaved sheets. “And what he said, that he could call off the search for the missing magpies.”

“Captain Graham mentioned the end of the hunt coming up before when we were tracking him. You think that it was just inevitable?” Farrah said, tossing aside her garment and making her way into bed.

“Maybe, but I could tell that the warden was just tired of his job.”

“You think?” Farrah wondered

“Probably... Just kinda sad that he can't release anyone from prison yet. He said there were too many complications.”

Farrah tucked herself in. It was the first time in years she slept under decent sheets, but new as they were they were missing a homely feel that she was accustomed to at home. Talia laid down beside her and nudged “Hey.”

“Yes.” Farrah replied. “What is it?”

“What do you suppose we do anyway?”

“I'm not sure.”

“I mean, we get all of this stuff, we're like super high priority, we're kinda living with people that aren't as sympathetic to you, plus you have to wear that silly outfit to go anywhere so that no one knows, and it's all kinda muddled about you know.”

Farrah looked towards Talia with a sarcastic stare. “Jee, I didn't think about that.”

Talia stopped. “Like, I'm lost.”

“So am I, but we don't really have forever to figure that out.”

“Even though we kinda do.” Talia reminded.

“Besides, I don't want to hold you up any in this place...”

“No, girl. I'm with you. Always.”

Farrah wasn't sure, she paused and decided to bring it up. “Do you really think I can do anything that time itself can't?”

“Maybe, I don't know. You got the king to believe you, I mean... You got that.”

“I'm not really sure that I can though.” Farrah admitted. “I've been thinking and it's really much bigger than any of us.”

“Hey, if not then we know that Safe Haven is clear, we can always return and you and Greg can pick up where you left off at.”

Farrah nodded “So what do we do?”

“Well, for starters you got life by the balls pretty good right about now so I guess whatever you want to do is up to you. And if they stop the hunt of magpies, what could they really do to you then, huh? Homeland is safe too. That's kind of like freedom, right?”

Farrah relaxed. In her mind the question was no longer about what she was limited to, or having to thinking around it, but instead filled by the possibility of what she could do. She laid back, looking at the ceiling and was captivated by the thought. “I guess it really is.”