The Rogues of Night; Chapter 17

by Jae in a Land of Wind and Earth

Nacata was going insane. She had gone over her hopeless situation. She was chained, by rusty irons, to a wall, hanging there in a rather pathetic way, had muck sliming her every five minutes, and a next door cell mate who was a former rogue who apparently, knew a way out. “But,” Nacata thought with a sly grin, “He is somewhat handsome, in a rough way. Perhaps, a way that fate is easing the pain of my ruined reputation.” At that thought, she grimaced. “Although, even if I do get out, I don’t know how I’ll live this down. And how does he know when it’s nightfall? How can you tell anything in this dingy prison?”

            “So, Nacata, tell me. Why do you hate Darxon so?”

            “Why not?” She snapped.

            “Well, you seem especially touchy about him. Even more than most. What did he do to you?”

            “Ever heard of ‘privacy’ Keron?” She wondered why she kept snapping at him, and why it still hurt so badly.

             “Yes, but secrets never last long. I’ll figure it out. Either through you, or someone else. Your choice.”

            “Fine.”

            “Go on.”

            She hesitantly began, “My da’,” her old accent slipped back for inattentiveness, “He refused to serve a man tha’ came through. He wante’ a sword, one o’ quality he say. With tha’ insult, I knew it would end poorly. But then th’ fool, he didn’t stop there. He went on to insult my craftma’ship, my da’,” she smiled at the memory, “He was always proud o’ me. Dispite my faul’s, always ready ta help me.” Nacata hardend as she continued the story. “They began ta argue… My da’ gettin’ madder by the momen’. Then, he lost it. The man, he vowed revenge. Th’ next morn’ palace guards came. Dragged my da’ off. I was not able ta do anythin’,” tears leaked from eyes as the thoughts in her head became more vivid, “Then, they executed ‘im. No one cared. They cheered, cheered. For th’ ‘orridness of the false kin’. Tha’s why I hate ‘im. Not very refined, but ‘ate still feeds in my heart.” The commoners twang vanished as she regained control.

            “That’s fairly awful. I’m sorry that happened to you, so early in your life. But bitterness will only ruin the rest of it.”

            His words kept her busy for another hour, until he broke her contemplations, “It’s time. Hang on a moment longer.”

            Nacata only glared at him while he snickered at his pun.