1
A Petty Fight
As usual, the voice on the radio talked about strange events occurring in the forest. This time was a sect that slaughtered animals in bloody rituals, a sect that was looking for bigger offers for their dark god. Some words gots lost in the static of the radio, but that didn´t stop anyone from laughing out at those stupidities from the “Fool of the Forest”
‒Can you belive this guy? Buying a shortwave radio just to talk stupid.
Everyone laughed again, or almost everyone except from Galo, who was still in pain from the beating he recived last night and the argument he had with Iro before leaving his house. His white was strangely clean, but he would prefer to be as dirty as usual and to not have so much noise inside his head.
He lashed his tail vigorously, annoyed and angry. The bowl of soup in front of him was steaming and a carrot cube floating in the thick substance caught his attention until he was totally mesmerized, lost in the memories of the night before and the whirlwind of emotions that he had been holding back ever since.
‒Cheer up already! ‒The scream of his sister wake him up ‒Aren't you going to finish that?
His blue-green eyes watched as the bowl of soup disappeared in his sister's claws. He didn't say anything about it or about the drops of soup she splashed on him as she gulped it down in one big, noisy gulp.
The cook of the stall and all of Ázila's friends encouraged the young woman and laughed out loud when they noticed that half of the soup did not go to her stomach but to her face. Her fur, yellowish white, was sticky and full of bits of meat and vegetables.
‒You are gross.
‒At least I don't look like I want to kill myself ‒She raised her hands triumphantly and licked her face as much as she could while the rest of the group refocused on the cook's radio.
‒I must look very good then‒ his joke was as sad as his face.
-Damn!
‒You're going to depress the boys with those words ‒Azila hit the one who made the exclamation on the back of the head and smiled animatedly before turning his back on her group. For a few moments, even in the middle of the market, surrounded by dozens and dozens of makeshift stalls and people, the two siblings felt intimate enough to share a candid look and leave the performances.
Physically they were almost the same. They both had ears darker than the rest of their fur, pink noses, and almost the same face. She, of course, used to wear much more colorful clothes and a thicker mane.
‒How are you doing?
Ázila never spoke in a whisper. It was almost an honor to hear her like that.
‒Fine ‒he cracked his neck and tried to stretch ‒Ouch!
‒It shows.
He always had an ability to recover from wounds and injuries at an abnormally fast speed.
‒Not even half a day has passed ‒He excused himself ‒It's nothing.
The yellow eyes of her sister gnawed at him with disbelief, suspicion, and the intensity of someone who wasn't going to leave him alone until he was honest. Galo sighed and hid his face in his arms, leaning against the counter of the food stall. There was still soup spilled all over it, but not even the sensation of wetness soaking into his fur made him get up.
‒I'm tired.
‒You are always tired.
‒I'm very tired ‒ he reiterated. His voice muffled a bit in his arms; Ázila had to lean over him to hear him over the noise of his friends and the market in general.
‒I thought I could wait for his last moon, you know? Stay out of trouble, focus on work and wait a few months.
‒No one prevents you from continuing with that plan ‒Ázila gave him a consoling pat on the back ‒By the time her moon arrives you'll be as good as new.
‒It's all the fault of that damn Kardo.
‒Oh, don't start that again.
‒That piece of horse shit cannot see me happy.
This time it was Azila who sighed. She nodded and pretended to listen to her brother while she rested one elbow on the counter and his chin on one hand.
‒Is your brother okay?
‒He? Oh! Don't worry ‒she offered a smile to Robo, the cook, a short male with a very fluffy black fur ‒When he starts talking shit about Kardo, no one can stop him.
‒Well, he has reason to be angry, doesn't he?
‒It's true ‒Tagol supported him. He was one of Ázila´s friends, the same one who she hit on the back of the head ‒Kardo exaggerates with how mysterious he is. Is already frustrating to not know anything about him, it must be worse to be in love with his sister and have him as an enemy.
‒It's a shame. They look pretty good together ‒Pointed Robo.
Robo's stall was not particularly large; a gas stove, a bucket of soapy water to wash the dirty bowls, and a counter with three chairs where, because of the radio, only two people could sit comfortably. That hadn't stopped the group of five accompanying Azila from huddled together standing around the radio as if they weren't bothering all the other villagers passing through the narrow market paths.
The young woman noticed that her brother was still ranting against Kardo, unable to notice what was happening around him.
‒I'm not saying you´re not right... but not let him to hear you or he is going to be like this all day.
‒If you say so ‒Tagol shrugged and nodded. The rest of his friends were still listening to the radio.
‒In any case, I wouldn't want to be in his shoes ‒continued the cook ‒Kardo is someone I don't want to have as an enemy.
‒I don't understand why everyone take Kardo as this kind of big deal.
‒Are you blind or stupid?
Ázila rolled his eyes upwards before deigning to elaborate on her comment ‒ he's just a guy with a lot of money.
‒The four families are also very rich, but no one is as mysterious as him ‒Tagol insisted.
‒Because they have money, but not as much as he does. It's a totally different level.
‒It takes more than being obscenely rich ‒Robo commented as he washed the bowls she had used; his wet hands revealed how skinny he was under all that fur. ‒Kardo basically controls the entire village. Or do you remember when was the last time we had a mayor?
‒He is so stupidly rich that he bought the village from the government… or something like that ‒Ázila sounded very convinced for someone who had so little information about it.
‒In any case. He leaves the village for months and when he is here he enclosure himself in that mansion.
‒There are people who watched him walk towards the forest in the northeast at night.
‒Into bandits territoy?
‒Exactly!
There was something amusing about seeing those two contributing to the good town habit of spreading rumors and gossip. Perhaps Ázila would have carried on with the talk if she hadn't noticed that his brother had finally finished her tirade.
‒Do you feel better?
Almost as if those words had cast an exe upon them, Berin pushed through her friends and fixed his amber eyes on the sibilings, as if she wanted to kill them.
‒Well, I finally found you ‒she commented dismissively before folding his arms and leaning against the planks that the fish stall across the path used as a makeshift wall. Her bearing was intimidating and her robust physique helped her to assert herself.
Her abruptness did not go unnoticed, and although Tagol and the rest of the boys preferred not to say anything, Galo was too upset to be intimidated by one of Kardo's guards.
‒What the hell are you doing here? ‒He barely knew Berin, but her blue uniform revealed her job as guard. Galo was sure Kardo had sent her to annoy him.
‒I'm your babysitter for today ‒she spat.
‒What?
‒“What?” ‒She imitated him mockingly. Ázila respond with a rude gesture with her hands. She was trying to support her brother.
‒What did you expect was going to happen? ‒Berin shrugged as she pulled something out from between her fangs with her tongue ‒With that stupidity you did last night, now Kardo wants to make sure you don't get close to Rin and guess who was the lucky one who earned the honor of doing the deed?
‒That sounds excessive ‒Mogol, another of Ázila's friends, dared to comment, a small young man with small ears and a dumb face. The rest turned to the radio and pretended that none of that was happening.
‒The idiot is right ‒Azila supported him ‒Is not like two dozen guards around the village enough to watch us?
Berin lashed her tail so hard that she kicked up dirt from the ground.
‒Apparently not. You know that we are usually busy keeping order.
‒You have no right! ‒Galo exploded. His body, like a spring, jumped out of the chair to come face to face with the guard, who did not flinch.
‒I don't know what the laws are like outside, but here Kardo sets the rules… look, I understand you. I'd rather take care of the village than babysit you, but even the biggest idiot knows to not mess with Kardo.
‒And what are you supposed to do now?
‒Nothing, as long as you don't get close to Rin… but if you get close to her… well, I guess we'll see if I can break you off as well as Docca.
‒Do you think you can stop me?
‒Nope! ‒Azila jumped between the two ‒Don't take it as a challenge ‒she tried to separate him a little from Berin, although in the narrow alleys of the market there wasn't much room to move him in that direction ‒Think before you do something foolish.
‒I would take that as an insult coming from her," Berin mocked them ‒It's not like everyone know you for your selfrestrain issues.
Ázila answered her again with the same rude gesture of before, but she did not turn to look at her, she was still focused on her brother, trying to get him to focus on her and to calm down. Galo's fur had stood on end and his ears had flattened against the back of his neck, as if he were hiding them, ready to charge into a fight.
‒I wouldn't mind fighting ‒The guard's fanged grin almost seemed like a threat, or a challenge. ‒But if you want to stand a chance, I'd suggest you wait until tomorrow morning. I think that's Boren's turn to babysit you. Surely you can beat him in a fight... I think.
‒Not such a bad idea ‒Mogol commented between giggles. Azila would have liked to punch him, but was to focus on Galo to care that much. They both stared at each other for a few seconds until he sighed, letting all the anger he felt at that moment evaporate with that sigh.
‒Take this, it will help you to relax ‒Robo offered Galo a glass of blackberry juice ‒I can also give you more soup ‒It was evident that this gesture was provoked for a glance of Ázila and not because the natural solidarity of the chef.
‒Yeah, I figured you were going to chicken out.
Ázila took the glass of juice, and although it seemed at first she was going to give it up to her brother, she turned around in a quick and precise movement and with the force provided by the inertia of that turn, she spilled the glass on Berin´s face with enough force that it splattered everywhere.
‒Haraca! ‒The guard roared, but by the time she was able to wipe the juice out of her eyes, Ázila was already out of sight, running with Galo by the hand.
‒What was the point of calming me down if you're going to do that?
They both jumped onto the roof of one of the few stalls that actually had a roof and wasn't just a tent or some outdoor planks and baskets on the floor. They look around the market in its entirety and seek for the best way out of there. Dilmi's terrain was quite hilly and rugged, hills were common, and even the market ground was full of unevenness. There were high stone walls that surrounded the entire market and separated it from the rest of the village; the eastern walls were the closest, so they decided to go there by the road less travelled by villagers.
‒The idiot deserved it ‒said Ázila without stopping. Most people stepped aside when they saw them approaching, both sibilings had to dodge a couple of clueless people tho, but they had no major problem reaching the wall. They had to continue south to reach the exit, but from that direction came a couple of guards who had heard Berin's angry shouts.
‒Why does this always happen when you try to help me? ‒Asked Galo without breath.
‒Not now! ‒The young woman didn't want to listen to her brother's complaints. They bumped into a fisherwoman carrying a basket full of seashells and all her merchandise ended up on the ground. Somehow that gave them an advantage since it was not used in that village to wear shoes and both guards had to slow down and calculate their steps well to get through the trail of shells without hurting their feet.
‒There! ‒They came to an area full of wood boxes stacked against the wall. They both climbed onto the boxes and jumped the equivalent of three times their own height, Ázila with a little more ease than Galo, who had to climb over the wall with her help in order to pass.
As Berin and the rest of the guards jumped over the wall, they encountered the streets of Dilmi and the large houses and huts that surrounded the not-too-distant catoga. There were villagers going about their daily routines, but not a single sign of Azila or Galo.
…
‒That was more fun than I expected.
As expected, Azila was quite pleased with her performance and the fact that she had gotten away with it. Galo was breathing hard and in pain. His injured leg from the fight he had the night before throbbed in his hands and his aching bones complained of overexertion.
‒You know? I'd rather prefer you to stay away of my bussines. I've had enough with Kardo and his stupidity.
‒Sorry for supporting you.
‒This is not support. Iro will be mad at me for getting you involve in my problems.
He was still as upset as before the chase, and now he too was sore, breathless, and homesick. If his friends hadn't left Dilmi, if he had people to count on in the village, he might not have agreed to go to breakfast with his sister and none of that would have happened.
Both had hidden inside the house of one of those childhood friends that he had not seen for a long time. Galo knew where he lived, that his family never closed the door and that no one would give them away. Not that there was anyone inside at that time of the morning.
‒I think you could learn a thing or two from me.
‒Seriously?
She seemed to be very serious.
‒You always end up in fights. You should learn that is not worth fighting them, not unless you want your leg broken. Teasing them a bit and running away is better.
The house was not very big, but it was more spacious than that of the siblings, there was a room with a couple of armchairs, and although Galo rested in one, Ázila was still glued to a window, watching outside.
‒I don't fight them out of hobby ‒ he kept massaging his leg, waiting for the pain to go away ‒I just… try to work things out with Kardo, but that jerk always makes my blood boil.
‒How difficult can it be to talk to him? ‒Ázila had her face so close to the window that she called the attention of everyone who passed in front of the house.
‒Considering that he was Iro's friend, it shouldn't be hard to imagine how obnoxious he can be.
They both shared a giggle.
‒I don't think he can be as obnoxious as Iro.
‒It's worse ‒Galo frowned ‒It's one thing that Iro tell me to be patient and trust him. Another thing is Kardo doing the same. He is not my brother, he is not anything more that a piece of shit. I can´t stand him acting like he want to help me.
‒Perhaps I can convince him.
Galo let out a very strong and incredulous “Ha”. There was no point in arguing with Kardo. But Ázila could try if she really wants.
‒Your problem is that you lose your temper very easily. Since I'm much calmer than you... maybe it could work.
Galo sighed. He was tired of going around the same problem. He had been fighting Kardo for so long that he forgot what was like to not be worried about him. Incidentally, all the hatred he had aroused towards Kardo had also made him resentful that Kardo didn't talk to Iro anymore. For Galo that was proof that Kardo was a horrible person: he wasn't even capable of paying attention to his best friend... if Kardo still saw Iro as a friend.
‒I just wish I could get away of here and not have to think about this."
‒Get away where?
‒Wherever ‒Galo stretched out on the couch and lay down alongside it ‒I'm almost done repairing Dad's biplane. Maybe I could go far away.
‒What about Rin?
Ázila left the window alone and walked towards her brother. Galo looked at an invisible point on the ceiling, lost in his thoughts.
‒I could come back when she gets to the adulthood and Kardo can't control her. I know she wants to be with me and Kardo won't be able to do anything about it.
-Sure? ‒Azila stood between the invisible point and Galo's eyes ‒Rin loves Kardo very much and she is not the comforting type. I don't think that becoming an adult will make her change the way she is... and I honestly have a hard time imagining her confronting Kardo.
‒I don't want to think about that ‒Galo closed his eyes to stop seeing his sister's face. He had lost the desire to do anything, he just wanted to find a good place to lie down and where no one could disturb him.
‒This morning, before you woke up, Iro asked me to find a cart. I think he's going to go talk to Kardo. Maybe he wants to help you.
Galo twitched his ears, but he didn't open his eyes, if anything, he closed them tighter.
‒Hey… you can get bitter all you want, but you're not alone. Iro can be very annoying, but he loves you, and so do I. We can find a way to fix this.
-I'm tired of this.
It was hard to hate Kardo so much, to hate him so much while he couldn't do anything to confront him. The world was unfair and Galo had long since grown accustomed to tragedy after tragedy. Compared to what he had experienced, not being able to be with Rin seemed stupid, but that was what made him feel so angry and powerless. It was clear that there were problems too big for him to control or avoid. People die and nobody decide in what conditions they are born, but it was frustrating that he saw denied a wish as simple as to being alongside Rin.
‒I'm tired ‒he repeated, wanting to cry. He felt almost as alone as the day he realized he would never see his father again. Neither Ázila nor Iro could help him get rid of that feeling, only Rin knew what things to say and do to make him smile and see the bright side of life.
‒I'm tired ‒he remembered his father's face and began to sob. Ázila wasn´t capable to do more than pat his shoulders and wait.
