Haze of Dusk (A trilogy) (29 page)

“I’ve been dreami
ng about you all my life, Zayras. You are my dream woman. Why do you think I kept the stone? It was so you would come and get it. I knew if you did, you’ll stay here with me…and perhaps… perhaps I can have those lips that I’ve longed for some time.” I bite my bottom lip, overtaken by his words. “Don’t do that. It turns me on fire, makes me want to bite your lips. I want to take you in my arms—damn you,” he voices over his breath, massaging my lips. I seize his hand that lies on my face. I compress my body with his. He is shock by my responding.

“Take me,” my face flush
es as the words flutter out of my mouth. Without questioning me, he leans forward and brushes his lips with mine. I shut my eyes and open my mouth. I let his touch guide me. My breath increases, I’m anxious for his touch. I await for his hot lips to press mine when unexpectedly, he pulls away from me, evaporating my needs.

“
We should head back.” He gives me his rear. I scowl.
What just happened
? I stand gawping. Khysso turns and walks away from me, leading me inside the castle. Then, in a hurry, he parts from me without a word or a farewell
.

-
23
-

Opposite directions

I wake up to find a golden ticket clung to my wall. My heart skips a beat. This is it, my rank for the war. In small st
eps I walk toward my ticket. My heart hastens. Which of the three ranks will I be in? Sway, amid or lowest. I will take any really, even though after that earlier encounter with the arclaws, I just don’t see how any human can fight against it, since they’re so powerful.  I squint, reading my rank. I gasp. I’m startled by my status. 

“This is impossible,
” I whisper. A knock on the door draws me.  I open the door to find five handsome men, one of them very frenzied. “Rank sway!” Ramuso shouts flapping his ticket on the air. I sigh in relief. He’s in a safe rank, good. Ikumus, Corr, Osys and Onnet show me theirs. They all made it to rank sway.

“First time ever, yes! No more amid for us.” Ramuso celebrates.

“Finally, this means the leaders think you are strong enough to join us,” Onnet tells Ramuso and cunningly looks at Osys. “I still don’t get it. How the hell you made it to sway? All you do is hide behind a rock,” Onnet tells Osys. We all wonder the same
thing
. It is the first-time Ramuso, and Osys make it to sway. I'm just glad my friends are secure from the claws of the arclaws.
“How about you, Judyala. What did you get?” Corr seems anxious for me. I pull out my ticket from my behind and give it to him. As he reads, his eyebrows lift.

“
What? But, you’re not even…” he stops, Ramuso snatches the ticket from his hand. “HOLY COW!!” all of their eyes are on my ticket. They clamor about my position. “How is this possible? You’re not even an instructor.” Osys says. I shrug. I don’t understand it either. I’m not an instructor, it must be a mistake. Wait, this means I’ll be with Khysso. Oh- goodness. After last night, how can I ever face him? He knows of my desires for him. Well, he desires me too. The thought makes me blushy.
“This is different, never have I seen this. Not in a recruit. Or even a regular sorcerer…ever!” Ikumus adds. Onnet chuckles,

“
That’s because the black widow feels terrible—being responsible for her father’s death and all…” I gasp. Onnet’s words hit me stiffly on my chest.

“You think…” my voice breaks. The boys glare
at Onnet. Ikumus smacks him on the back of his head. “They want you in rank highest because you are rare and powerful. Don’t listen to this moron.” It’s the first nice thing Ikumus has ever said to me…period. “Well, I’m relief Judyala is in a good rank. If not, I was going to have to give you my ticket and well…that was going to be hard.” Ramuso says hugging his ticket. I grimace. “Give?”

“
Yes, three people of any high rank are allowed to exchange, in better words
sacrifice
their golden ticket by changing the ticket with a lower rank apprentice. If allowed by the order room lady. This never happens. Nobody in twenty years has given their ticket to another.” Osys says. I pant.

“
And you were willing to give me your ticket,” I sentimentally say to Ramuso.

“It was my idea
. I was going to sacrifice my ticket to you!” Onnet snaps. Ikumus and Corr laugh. “You piece a shit. Stop lying, you were the first one to hide because you were afraid of seeing her…” Ikumus reproaches, and I can’t help but laugh. Surely, it sounds like Onnet.
“He-he-he…w-we we’re all going to give…offer you…yeah…” Onnet says anxiously.  I mushily smile. This is the time when my feminine sentiments kick in. Really, I’m the luckiest girl in the world. I have the kindest friends in all humanity, what else could I want…oh yes…Khysso’s lips.

The castle is in its
rarest silence, as I celebrate my friends’ good rank; others cry their eyes out, because at last, it is war and many will die. The hour gets closer, and the suns are fading. An hourglass appears in my room after my hot bath. Once the sand dies out, we have to take our paths to one of the four portals that would lead us to our destination.  On my bed lays a golden cloak. It’s a cloak sent from the leaders, for all rank
highest
to wear. The cloaks distinguish the ranks and can’t be removed once worn. Rank highest wears a golden cloak.  Rank sway wears a mustard color with black Triquetra symbols. Rank amid wears a black cloak, and lastly, rank lowest, wears nothing.

I’m saddened by the quantity of people who wear no cloak. As I walk the hallways, many girls and boys say farewe
ll with tears in their eyes. I walk to the mealroom to enjoy one last meal with my companions. Eyes dive in on me as I stroll down the halls. I can hear them questioning my cloak, “why does
she
gets to wear a golden hood? Unfairness,” I hear irritably whispers. Their staring makes me feel ashamed of my position. I walk faster. My legs stop moving as a familiar archer crosses my path without saying a word. She’s in a trance, and wears no cloak.

I follow her into a meadow. I cal
l her name many times, but she’s in a daze.

“
Azania!” I shout right behind her. Finally, she turns to meet with me. Her eyes are gloomy. She has the saddest gaze. A stare that wrinkles the hair on my skin,

“Hey.
I have been calling you forever. Where
is
your cloak?” I automatically assume she’s in a good rank.  Azania awkwardly smiles, but even though she tries, she can’t hide the tenderness. “I do not have one. I’m a rank lowest archer,” I raise my eyebrows. Her words knock my heart down.

“What!” I say breathless.

“I’m not a great healer. I heal trees and growth of nature, and here that is not important. So I have been chosen to fight on the field,” she says it so calm it gets me sick to my stomach. She doesn’t seem afraid.  “How can you fight? You've never taken a fighting lesson. Your lessons are meditation. They can’t do this to you. They can’t.” I argue. She lifts her bow, showing me her ally.

“I’m an alright archer. Not the best. It’s not a problem really,” her tone is dull. I shake my head in dismay.  She’s not capable of surviving. She’s too sweet. Her heart is pure, damn it. She's too young. No…I can’t let this happen.
“Come with me,” I take her by the wrist and pull her with me. She struggles, and tries to tug her way out, but she’s delicate. I can easily drag her. “Where are you taking me?” She demands for an answer, but I say nothing. I go in a red door that leads us straight to the order room.

“What are we doing here?” S
he speaks in her sweet tone. I force her to the counter.  I take my ticket from my trouser-pocket and slam it on the table.

“Reggia, Reggia!!” I shout.  The chandelier shakes— a popping sound brings out many feathers, between the white feathers appears Reggia. She looks flawless in a white gown, but wears a golden
cloak on top. She too is going to join us. It’s obvious; nobody is safe from the war. “Who the hell are you and why are you pestering me?” She hisses.  I show her my ticket. “Change it, give her my rank,” Reggia’s eyes lift. She scoffs, staring at me in dismay. “What!” she finally blurts baffled.

“You heard me. Give her my ticket. I
t’s a regulation, unless three people already decided this, right?”  I snarl at her.

“Are you mad, you cannot do that,”
Azania jerks away from me. “I am an elf whose best quality is healing trees. You are a sorcerer who can conjure elements, and can be used for this world’s freedom. I’m nobody. You
are
somebody.” She sobs, tears rushing down her cheeks. “You
are
someone. Why are you unimportant, because the leaders say so? Because you can’t use your powers to kill others. Azania, you have a beautiful talent. You can make a dead flower smile and one day... your skills will be what this world needs. So please, let me do this. I’m strong. I can fight. I can survive. Please,” I say, taking her hands.  Azania sobs. She shakes her head in panic. “Do it!” I command Reggia. She sighs carelessly.

“I don’t think you can. You have a golden cape. Instructors cannot exchange…unless…” she
pulls out a book from the center of the counter. She places a hand over the book. The pages magically move, then in a haste it stops. She carefully revises a page with a hand on her chin.

“I’m
not going to do it,” Azania cries.

“You will,” I assure
her. I look back at Reggia, “so…”

“It
says any apprentice below amid rank cannot exchange. But any other apprentice can sacrifice it to a lower rank if three people have not already done so. Nobody really does this. This rule was just input to torture the low-rank’s soul. Really, what a foolish idea, any—”

“Is it possible
?” I cut in. She lazily sighs.

“Why not, it doesn’t say you can’t. It’s not my probl
em if it’s not in the rule book.” I sigh in relief.
Saved by the laziness of the order room lady.

“Great, then do it.
”

“I…I can’t do it with
out her consent, and her ticket.”

“No, I won’t do it,”
Azania cries. I heatedly search her pocket. I take out a folded ticket and slam it on the counter. “You’ll agree or I swear I will hit you so hard you won’t make it alive!” I threaten, and I’ve never been so serious in my life. Azania’s eyes widen. She gulps and nods. We magically sign the ticket with our fingers. Abruptly, the names on the ticket changes and the cloak I wear transfers to Azania. She takes a good look at herself, and falls on her knees, whimpering a drastic way. I embrace her. I love her kindness. She’s a friend, my friend, and now I know I did the right thing by sacrificing my ticket. 

I lost my appetite due to
Azania's tears. I can’t confront my friends. If they know that I changed my rank, they would give me their own, and I can’t do that. I love them all too much. I know in me; I can do this…I hope. “Judyala,” my heart jumps out of my chest. I carefully turn back; it’s Khysso, wearing his golden hood. I blush to his presence, and my sentiments twirl uncontrollably.

“Whe
re is your hood?” He questions.

“I-I forgot it,” I hope that sounds believable. He stares at me in a stupor.

“It is almost time, you should go get it,”
oh-no, he wants to walk me.

“Yes, I
-I’ll go do that,” I take a step forward, about to climb the stairs.

“Wait…” he calls
. Oh crap, he knows I’m lying
. I meet with him, giving him all my attention. He walks closer, racing my pulse. “About last night… you are an apprentice, and I’m an instructor. It will always be that way, and nothing has changed.” His words are cruel. I strain a smile.  My heart falls into distress. I can’t speak because I know my voice will crack. It’s not only his rejection that breaks me, but the fact I might never see him again. I dash away from him. I’m confused by his rejection. Long last, nothing matters, most likely I’m not going to make it back. 

I
discreetly head to the north of the castle where the lowest warriors linger. It is there the portal to the dangerous fields awaits us to take us to our destination. I tactfully walk the halls, fearing to be caught. Yet, penetrated in my mind are Khysso’s painful words. Who gets him! Last night he said he wanted me, now he is pushing me away. Seriously, this boy thing is too complicated. “Judyala!” my fear catches up to me.
You should have worn a bonnet
. I twirl to meet with him. I force a smile. He stares bewilder by me. “Where are you going? Come on, it’s almost time. Where is your cloak?” I press my lips together.

“I-in my room, I was…… going to… say my farewell to
…
Azania
first, then I’ll go back and get it.” I hesitated too much, he's going to notice.
Ooh- please, who am I kidding, it’s Ramuso.
“Oh, alright,” he walks towards me. “You want me to go with you.” I shake my head. “Nooo, it’s a girl thing,” he pushes his lip outwards, he's anxious. “Then, this is farewell for us, eh,” I nod, “I know you’re protected with the instructors and all, but in case it gets too risky for me and the plans deranged, I want to say…eh…” he looks at his feet. “You are my…” he garbles something impossible to understand. “Say what?” I grimace. Again, he bows down his head, and mumbles words. I shake my head. “Stop mumbling. I don’t understand you!”

“I said you’re my best friend damn it!” he snaps,
grasping my attention. I gasp, taken aback by his confession. I can feel my eyes are burning. I’m going to break apart in front of him, and I can’t do that for it will instantly tell the truth. I run to him, and wrap my arms around his skinny neck. “You’re my best friend too.” I whisper somewhere near his ears. He wraps his hands around me. I’m overjoyed with our friendship—parting from him, I can’t help but muffle a cry.

The amount of people in the lowest rank
is such a large amount that we have three portals and three lines for the gateways. I notice a lot of the warriors are humans, some low rank sorcerers, wizards and a few healers, which also are archers. The line moves fast. A girl beside me cries, scaring the rest. She's a little younger than me, her tears touch all the other young ones, and I can’t help but feel sentimental myself. I reach the mentor before the entry, it’s my turn.

“Ticket,” he says.
I give it to him. “Weapon of choice?”