Tale of Four

Running through the streets of Cras, Seth slowed down and came to a stop, making Isis bump into his back. Raising his hands, he made a wary chuckle. ”Boys. Relax.” Isis peeked around and saw three soldiers of Cras standing with their swords, behind them a master in grey robes with a deep frown.

”Do not resist.” The master said with a deep voice as he signalled the men to move closer. Isis gritted her teeth, seeing herself at a loss as to what to do, and reached into Seth’s blazer, pulling out the hand cannon. Aiming the barrel at the soilder who got closest, she fired without hesitation, being kicked back by the weapon. Seth didn’t flinch and stole the weapon from her, firing two shots at the remaining guards before pointing it towards the master.

Looking at the barrel and seeing only three crystals remaining, he hid his worry and moved closer. ”We will carry on.” The master stared at the corpses that had holes through their helmets and nodded. Seth smiled and tapped his shoulder, lifting a foot but stopping. ”Will you tell them which way we went?” There was a moment of hesitation, and Isis could see the two come to the realisation of what it meant.

The master reached behind his back in a swift motion, but Seth was quicker, wrapping a foot behind the master’s leg and pushing him over. Grabbing one of the swords on the floor, he pushed it through the master’s neck and signalled Isis to follow, making random turns through the alleys.

”Can we stop for a second?” After twenty minutes of running, Isis said with laboured breaths, grabbing her knees, unable to run any more. Seth looked at her, equally tired, and nodded, grabbing her arm and dragging her into a nearby building. Much like the brothel, the grey of the outside world vanished as the two found themselves inside a cosy bar, filled with customers happily drinking, the previous sound a memory now.

Looking around, the two sat at an empty table by the back of the tavern, facing the entrance, and finally relaxed. ”It’s only a matter of time before the entire city knows it was us,” Seth said with slight excitement, finding the entire situation entertaining.

”They likely blocked all entrances to the city, or will do so.” Seth nodded and looked around. Peeking at Isis’s dress, he smiled.

”How attached are you to it?”

Looking down at her navy dress, Isis frowned and grabbed the ends, ”It’s my best one.” Seeing his gaze, she clicked her tongue and sighed, ”Why?”

”Because there is a way to get out, but you need to lose the outfit, as do I.” Reaching into his bag, Seth pulled out two items. A vial of thick brown liquid and an ornate black and white mask. The left side was mainly black, with white swirls as decoration, and the right side was white, with black swirls as decoration. Around those swirls, silver outlines with crystals embedded at the edge. ”How about becoming a slave for a while. This will dye your hair. As for your eyes. I can just blindfold them. Say, it’s a form of re-education caused by the crystal acting up.”

”What about you? And where do we even get outfits from?” Seth smiled and placed the mask on his face.

”When I gave you the suggestion to travel freely, I suggested a title.” Rubbing the mask, Isis could tell he smiled behind it, ”Well, I can use my own to leave this city. Even if they know it is us, they won’t dare to do anything to us whilst we are near the city’s limits.” Isis narrowed her gaze, staring at the mask that was half white, half black.

”And the mask?”

”Where my title is from, everyone wears a mask. The poorest of society to their leaders. The only time you will ever see them without a mask is if you marry into their family, are related by blood, or if they have been demasked. A punishment over there.” Isis nodded, not really understanding.

”Fine. Do what you must.” Seth smiled and stood up, leading Isis into a private stall, making sure to watch the door. Scooping a little of the brown dye out, he rubbed it deep into her scalp before spreading it out. Leaving it to dry, he looked at his outfit and took off the blazer. Pulling a knife from his bag, he cut off one of the sleeves of his shirt, then cut a thin streak of fabric, wrapping it around Isis’s eyes.

”Perfect.” Clapping his hands, he took a step back, inspecting her, ”Get rid of your smile. I need you to be emotionless for this work.” Isis stared at him, only able to make out an outline behind the blindfold. Doing as he told, she let her entire body relax and cleared her mind. Seth nodded in satisfaction and peeked around. Reaching into his blazer, he handed the hand cannon to her.

”Three shots. I will be quick, but don’t move, no matter what. Be ready to undress the moment I come back.” Isis nodded, and Seth removed his mask, leaving it on the table. Isis stared at it and slowly reached out to pick it up, but stopped at the last moment, and was fine with just touching it.

’So cold.’ Pulling her hand away, not expecting such a chill, she stared at the mask, slowly reaching out once more to touch it again. Feeling it, she realised the second thing that was strange about it. It wasn’t made of metal or leather like she would have expected, but rather felt like ceramic. ’Who is Seth really? I mean, he has a title of some kind that can even protect him from the actions he caused here.’ Grabbing her chin, she wondered; the mask made a new piece to the mystery.

’A teacher, he claims, was the greatest, a strange title, an age he hasn’t told me yet. And that eye, was he born with it or did he do soemthing to give himself that snake-like eye?’ Isis fiddled with the handcannon, looking down at it, ’His skill as well. To create soemthing like this and make a tree bloom with runes alone.’ Her lips curled up, ’Interesting. I wish he would tell me his story.’

Shaking her head, she saw Seth return, holding the grey rags that the slaves of the city usually wore. Standing up, she undid the back of her dress and looked at him. Seth smiled and took the hand cannon back, turning around, letting her undress in private. Slipping out of the navy dress and putting on the grey rags, she felt the threads of the rags stabbing her. It was an uncomfortable outfit in every regard, one that provided no warmth.

Stepping past him to show she was done, Seth took the dress, stuffed it into his bag, and slipped the mask on. ”From now on, you will address me as Sir. Only respect and nothing else. It is the only way you will be able to get out.” Isis nodded, and Seth smiled. Leading her forward, they stepped out of the tavern, back into the grey labyrith, slowly making their way out.

Isis looked around from behind the blindfold and saw numerous masters leading their guards, searching for someone. The moments they got close, Isis saw the master looking at Seth with strange looks. A few assumed it was something about his appearance that made him wear a mask, but in a very few, Isis saw surprised recognition as they moved to the side and ordered their men to do so as well.

Seth paid no mind, continuing to walk on as Isis trudged along, making sure to keep her neutral expression the entire time, her gaze focused on Seth’s back. Even if they recognised the two as the ones who caused the incident, it was, as Seth said, they weren’t going to do anything when he wore that mask, it, it’s own defence.

They walked for half an hour until they arrived at the edge of the city. The gates were locked down, letting no one in or out. People badgered the city officals desperately trying to negotiate a way to leave. Seth said nothing and moved forward, approaching a guard.

”Let me out.” His voice was cold as he stared at the masked soilder.

”Unf...” Seth raised a hand.

”Tell your master to let me out.” Staring behind the mask deep into the soldier’s eyes, he leaned forward, standing over him, ”Now.” The soilder didn’t hesitate and walked, bringing forward a fat master in grey robes. Seth turned to him and carried on, ”Let me out.”

”Sir. You must understand the situation. We have been attacked, and until the culprits are caught, we are not allowing anyone to leave.” Seth was like a statue, unblinking and unmoving.

”Since when do mere masters hold a noble child of the moon in captivity?” Seth arrogantly said, ”I have what I came for; now you will allow me passage. Or shall I send word home, and have them decide what to do with this pathetic city?”

The master tensed up and looked behind Seth at Isis. His gaze narrowed, and looking back at Seth, at his outfit, he frowned. ”You buy from us and claim we are pathetic.” The Master’s gaze narrowed even more, ”And the stories claim that people from...”

Seth’s hand shot out like a viper, grabbing the man’s throat, ”Do not utter my home with your mouth. I will buy from you, because it is the role of the lesser to provide for their betters. Something a slaver should understand.” The master raised his hand to stop his guards from doing anything. Seth slowly pulled his hand away to free him and took a deep breath, ”Let me through, and I will say nothing more.”

The master rubbed his throat, looking hatefully at Seth and grinding his teeth. ”I can, but you must prove you are truly from there. The mask isn’t enough.” Seth narrowed his gaze and lifted a hand.

”The mask is everything. I must prove nothing.” The master didn’t budge, making Seth grind his teeth in fake hate, ”Praise the children of moonlight. Praise the Martyred Saints. Praise the blood paid in kind. Death to Farsagon and its lies. Drowned is their Empress in her own tears.” Seth leaned forward, ”Death to all who hinder the moonlight. Protection to those who embrace it” Saying the final words slowly, he stared deep into the man’s eyes, ”Must I say more, or will you continue to impede me? Give me a reason to let my people do what we did to the Farsagon.”

The master took a deep breath and closed his eyes. Stepping to the side, he placed a hand on Seth’s chest before he could pass, ”We do not appreciate people who damage our city, sir.”

”Noted.” Seth coldly said and brushed him off, walking past the rising gate. Around, people cried why he and Isis could leave.