Liandri stood at the edge of town, a gentle breeze lifting her long dark main and my cloak. My wrists began to itch again, worse than the last time, urging me to click my tongue and get Liandri moving again. The town of Bristine was bustling, the women all wore bright colourful dresses with large skirts as if they were from the Victorian era. The men were dressed as if they had been in the army during the wars from 2000 to 2010, large guns slung over their shoulders and smaller pistols or revolvers in belt holsters. The Great Shadow War that started in 2012 and ended only last year in October 2018 had proven that without a doubt magic and other kinds of mythology did exist, yet so many people were unwilling to believe it, almost all of the towns and countries in the world picking up more weapons to fight off similar threats. Although some, like myself, have decided to stick to more...traditional methods. Especially with the trouble that I'm currently in.
All of the townspeople turned to look at me as I walked in, dressed so differently from their norm and none of their looks kind and welcoming. If they only knew how different I really were. I stopped Liandri outside The Blue Ribbon Tea-house and tied her reins to one of the rails before walking inside. There were plenty of women inside, most of them with two or three young men of around 18 sitting with them, probably servants. The lady I was looking for however was seated right at the back with large piles of letters sitting on the table. I approached her slowly and it was only once I was standing directly next to her did she glance up at me, her blonde curls bouncing slightly.
“Yes? Can I help you?” she asked me, polite yet somewhat sternly.
“Miss...Seileine? Annette Seileine? I asked in reply. She smiled ever so slightly.
“Indeed I am Annette Seileine. And you are?”
I pulled the hood of my cloak down so I could meet her emerald eyes with my pale moonstone ones, my short dark sapphire hair barely brushing my shoulders as I moved my head.
“Your uncle, Doctor Faust Seileine, said you could help me with my...predicament,” I said, not quite being able to meet her eyes.
“Ah, you must be the girl whom he spoke of in his recent letters. He did say you would be seeking me out soon. But first, I would like proof that you are in fact here for the reasons I have been told you are here for,” she said, glancing at one of the many letters and placing into one of three other piles. “Ah, boys, take these back to the manor house and finish sorting these.”
The two young men bowed then proceeded to pick up all the letters and leave. Annette then motioned for me to sit down beside her, so I did and slowly unbuttoned my cuffs, pulling them up and revealing the two marks on my wrists. She took my wrists gently and looked carefully.
“Oh dear...it seems you really are one of the many who have been dragged into the middle of this unearthly conflict,” she said with a small sigh. On my left wrist, a simple three pointed Celtic knot in blue with angelic wings spread and on my right, an inverted pentagram with demonic signs in the outer ring. She sighed sadly.
“How pathetic that angels and demons seem to be bringing more and more people into their problems and their stupid endless war. And most of these poor Children of Eternity end up joining the beasts of Hell. It saddens me to think that so many could be persuaded by simple sin,” she said, letting go of my wrists. “You want to be free of these ties, don't you.”
I nodded as I redid my cuffs. “Your grandmother had been in the same situation, but she had found a way to break free? I don't want to be a part of this war...”
“I fully understand, but you must also understand that I want something in return for offering my services to you,” she said, gently patting my hand.
“But of course. What do you want from me?”
She sat in thought for a moment. “What I want...is to leave this place. Bristine is a fine town, strict with its laws yet safe. I'm 21 now, but I remember when this town was still free, before General Andreas claimed this as one of the many towns under his control. I...I want to go somewhere which is still free, somewhere where I can act as I used to, instead of as Victorian doll with no free will of her own.”
I stared at her for a moment and was about to suggest she could come back to my home town of Orllandris when I heard a horse cry out. Immediately I knew it was Liandri and leapt up to run out to her. Out here, Liandri was the most precious thing I had and my only real friend, there was no chance in Hell I was going to let anyone hurt her. Looking around wildly outside, I saw five men surrounding her, trying to undo her reins and take her away to God knows where.
“Hey! Get you hands off of my horse!” I shouted. The men all turned to face me in confusion. I pushed past them and snatched the reins out of the hands of one of the men, stroking Liandri's muzzle and uttering soft words to calm her down again, telling her everything was alright.
“This horse is yours?” one of them asked, clearly surprised. He was around 20 and had dark brown hair with penetrating cold yet calculated grey eyes.
“Indeed it is. And I demand to know just what on earth makes you think that you can just take her away without even asking if she has an owner first,” I said, glaring at him. He didn't exactly glare back, but he straightened up like he had some kind of authority over me.
“The women are not supposed to own horses. All horses in town must be registered with the General.” He looked me up and down, definitely not in a checking-me-out way. “And why is it that you are not wearing proper attire?”
“I am not a citizen of this town, therefore your rules do not apply to me. I only came here in search of someone whom an associate told me would be able to help me,” I answered, still stroking Liandri's muzzled. “I would also greatly appreciate it if you neither you nor your men lay your hands on my horse ever again, otherwise I will be forced to act against you.”
“Is that a threat? How dare you speak to me like-”
“Good afternoon Captain.”
We both turned around to see Annette approaching us from the tea-house, a soft smile on her face. His expression softened slightly as he bowed politely to her.
“Miss Annette, you look as lovely as ever. But might I ask where your escorts are?” he asked.
“Why, she's standing right in front of you!” she said, motioning to me, a small sparkle in her eye telling me to go along with what she was saying.
“This...is your escort?” he asked, looking back at me, not quite believing it.
“Well, I sent my two young escorts back to the manor house to perform a very important errand for me. She is in fact my new protector. With all the troubles that have happened in the past years, I thought it important to get one. Especially since you have yet to assign one to me,” she said. He looked away a little guiltily at this. “So it would be a very big nuisance if you were to take her away from me.”
“I see, but I do not believe that a woman is capable enough to be able to protect someone as important as yourself. That job is best left to us men who have been trained for such things,” he said, giving a small smug smile. Goodness, I didn't think things had gone THIS backwards in this town.
“This matters not Captain. You may have your clunky weaponry Captain, but I have other skills than such technology will never be able to match,” I said before turning to Annette. “Pardon me, my lady, but may I ask if you have a safe place where I can allow my dear horse to rest?”
“Indeed I do. She may retire in our stables where we keep our own horses. Also...I have not even asked your name yet. Do tell me what it is,” she said.
“Lysette,” I answered.
“Lysette what?” the Captain asked.
“Nothing. Just Lysette. Many people in my town don't use our last names,” I said.
“I see...either way, Miss Annette, I would be honoured if you and Lysette joined me and some friends for dinner tonight?” he asked, turning away from me completely.
“I would be glad to join you for dinner tonight. But Lysette however, I think she would rather remain with her horse and rest from her long travels,” she said. I mouthed a silent “thank you” to her for getting me out of it. It was obvious she had seen me do so, but she chose not to show it in case the Captain demanded my presence. “Either way, I would love to dine with you tonight Captain.”
“Please, I have said so before. Call me Morgan,” he said with a smile. She returned his smile and then curtsied.
“As you wish...Morgan.”
He bowed slightly and then left with his men in tow. I walked closer to Annette as we watched them leave.
“Isn't he a little young to be a Captain?” I asked.
“I suppose so, but he very talented and very good at what he does. He definitely deserves his place as Captain,” she said before turning back to me. “Now then, I think we should get your horse to the manor house for some rest.”
I nodded and slowly we walked to her manor house.
“How old are you anyway Lysette? I never asked.”
“I'm 18, my lady.”
“I see. Perhaps it's just how you present yourself, but I thought you were a little older.”
“I have been told that quite a few times.”
“You know if you lived here then you probably would have been married by now, right?”
“Yes, I do,” I laughed. “It makes me glad men don't find me that interesting.”
All of the townspeople turned to look at me as I walked in, dressed so differently from their norm and none of their looks kind and welcoming. If they only knew how different I really were. I stopped Liandri outside The Blue Ribbon Tea-house and tied her reins to one of the rails before walking inside. There were plenty of women inside, most of them with two or three young men of around 18 sitting with them, probably servants. The lady I was looking for however was seated right at the back with large piles of letters sitting on the table. I approached her slowly and it was only once I was standing directly next to her did she glance up at me, her blonde curls bouncing slightly.
“Yes? Can I help you?” she asked me, polite yet somewhat sternly.
“Miss...Seileine? Annette Seileine? I asked in reply. She smiled ever so slightly.
“Indeed I am Annette Seileine. And you are?”
I pulled the hood of my cloak down so I could meet her emerald eyes with my pale moonstone ones, my short dark sapphire hair barely brushing my shoulders as I moved my head.
“Your uncle, Doctor Faust Seileine, said you could help me with my...predicament,” I said, not quite being able to meet her eyes.
“Ah, you must be the girl whom he spoke of in his recent letters. He did say you would be seeking me out soon. But first, I would like proof that you are in fact here for the reasons I have been told you are here for,” she said, glancing at one of the many letters and placing into one of three other piles. “Ah, boys, take these back to the manor house and finish sorting these.”
The two young men bowed then proceeded to pick up all the letters and leave. Annette then motioned for me to sit down beside her, so I did and slowly unbuttoned my cuffs, pulling them up and revealing the two marks on my wrists. She took my wrists gently and looked carefully.
“Oh dear...it seems you really are one of the many who have been dragged into the middle of this unearthly conflict,” she said with a small sigh. On my left wrist, a simple three pointed Celtic knot in blue with angelic wings spread and on my right, an inverted pentagram with demonic signs in the outer ring. She sighed sadly.
“How pathetic that angels and demons seem to be bringing more and more people into their problems and their stupid endless war. And most of these poor Children of Eternity end up joining the beasts of Hell. It saddens me to think that so many could be persuaded by simple sin,” she said, letting go of my wrists. “You want to be free of these ties, don't you.”
I nodded as I redid my cuffs. “Your grandmother had been in the same situation, but she had found a way to break free? I don't want to be a part of this war...”
“I fully understand, but you must also understand that I want something in return for offering my services to you,” she said, gently patting my hand.
“But of course. What do you want from me?”
She sat in thought for a moment. “What I want...is to leave this place. Bristine is a fine town, strict with its laws yet safe. I'm 21 now, but I remember when this town was still free, before General Andreas claimed this as one of the many towns under his control. I...I want to go somewhere which is still free, somewhere where I can act as I used to, instead of as Victorian doll with no free will of her own.”
I stared at her for a moment and was about to suggest she could come back to my home town of Orllandris when I heard a horse cry out. Immediately I knew it was Liandri and leapt up to run out to her. Out here, Liandri was the most precious thing I had and my only real friend, there was no chance in Hell I was going to let anyone hurt her. Looking around wildly outside, I saw five men surrounding her, trying to undo her reins and take her away to God knows where.
“Hey! Get you hands off of my horse!” I shouted. The men all turned to face me in confusion. I pushed past them and snatched the reins out of the hands of one of the men, stroking Liandri's muzzle and uttering soft words to calm her down again, telling her everything was alright.
“This horse is yours?” one of them asked, clearly surprised. He was around 20 and had dark brown hair with penetrating cold yet calculated grey eyes.
“Indeed it is. And I demand to know just what on earth makes you think that you can just take her away without even asking if she has an owner first,” I said, glaring at him. He didn't exactly glare back, but he straightened up like he had some kind of authority over me.
“The women are not supposed to own horses. All horses in town must be registered with the General.” He looked me up and down, definitely not in a checking-me-out way. “And why is it that you are not wearing proper attire?”
“I am not a citizen of this town, therefore your rules do not apply to me. I only came here in search of someone whom an associate told me would be able to help me,” I answered, still stroking Liandri's muzzled. “I would also greatly appreciate it if you neither you nor your men lay your hands on my horse ever again, otherwise I will be forced to act against you.”
“Is that a threat? How dare you speak to me like-”
“Good afternoon Captain.”
We both turned around to see Annette approaching us from the tea-house, a soft smile on her face. His expression softened slightly as he bowed politely to her.
“Miss Annette, you look as lovely as ever. But might I ask where your escorts are?” he asked.
“Why, she's standing right in front of you!” she said, motioning to me, a small sparkle in her eye telling me to go along with what she was saying.
“This...is your escort?” he asked, looking back at me, not quite believing it.
“Well, I sent my two young escorts back to the manor house to perform a very important errand for me. She is in fact my new protector. With all the troubles that have happened in the past years, I thought it important to get one. Especially since you have yet to assign one to me,” she said. He looked away a little guiltily at this. “So it would be a very big nuisance if you were to take her away from me.”
“I see, but I do not believe that a woman is capable enough to be able to protect someone as important as yourself. That job is best left to us men who have been trained for such things,” he said, giving a small smug smile. Goodness, I didn't think things had gone THIS backwards in this town.
“This matters not Captain. You may have your clunky weaponry Captain, but I have other skills than such technology will never be able to match,” I said before turning to Annette. “Pardon me, my lady, but may I ask if you have a safe place where I can allow my dear horse to rest?”
“Indeed I do. She may retire in our stables where we keep our own horses. Also...I have not even asked your name yet. Do tell me what it is,” she said.
“Lysette,” I answered.
“Lysette what?” the Captain asked.
“Nothing. Just Lysette. Many people in my town don't use our last names,” I said.
“I see...either way, Miss Annette, I would be honoured if you and Lysette joined me and some friends for dinner tonight?” he asked, turning away from me completely.
“I would be glad to join you for dinner tonight. But Lysette however, I think she would rather remain with her horse and rest from her long travels,” she said. I mouthed a silent “thank you” to her for getting me out of it. It was obvious she had seen me do so, but she chose not to show it in case the Captain demanded my presence. “Either way, I would love to dine with you tonight Captain.”
“Please, I have said so before. Call me Morgan,” he said with a smile. She returned his smile and then curtsied.
“As you wish...Morgan.”
He bowed slightly and then left with his men in tow. I walked closer to Annette as we watched them leave.
“Isn't he a little young to be a Captain?” I asked.
“I suppose so, but he very talented and very good at what he does. He definitely deserves his place as Captain,” she said before turning back to me. “Now then, I think we should get your horse to the manor house for some rest.”
I nodded and slowly we walked to her manor house.
“How old are you anyway Lysette? I never asked.”
“I'm 18, my lady.”
“I see. Perhaps it's just how you present yourself, but I thought you were a little older.”
“I have been told that quite a few times.”
“You know if you lived here then you probably would have been married by now, right?”
“Yes, I do,” I laughed. “It makes me glad men don't find me that interesting.”
