Native Fray Chapter 14:
Meddlesome Agency
His shoulders eclipsed over the many handwritten notes scattered across his desk. Some were short, some were long, and some were crumbled. Despite their varying appearances, they all carried a version of the same message. Zultor furiously began writing another one, his fountain pen scratching like a knife on a chalkboard. The red ink bled down the paper as he powerfully forced his words upon it, each letter being scratched into his wooden desk. With each letter, came more anger through his thoughts of betrayal. Veins bulged all around his body from his seething rage. He wrote harder until the paper finally ripped, sending him into a frenzy. He raised his large arms and slammed onto his desk, showering the tent in loose paper, and leveling the desk to the ground.
“Sir?” A young private asked, peeking through the tent’s opening.
“What..” Zultor said in a dark voice. He fearfully entered the tent, his eyes assessing the room for any danger Zultor could inflict on him.
“I was just concerned about that loud noise, I thought you had shot yourself haha.” He said, sweating. Zultor responded with silence and went back to writing notes.
“I was also coming to deliver the map you had requested for General Geoffren’s next excursion, I’m sorry it’s a bit late, but I bargain it should be alright, he has yet to return from the last one you sent him on.” He said. Zultor exhaled deeply, releasing enough tension to respond. “Yes, thank you. Leave.” He squeezed out as he took the map. The private assessed the room riddled with red stained paper and broken items, sparking his curiosity. He questioned whether or not he should speak out of curiosity, but it got the better of him.
“Are you sure he isn’t dead? That’s why he hasn’t returned or responded?” The private asked. Zultor confusedly looked up, his fountain pen dripping red across his desk.
“Did I ask for your thoughts, private?” He asked, each word becoming louder than the last. The private began to shake in fear, realizing the mistake he had made.
“No sir, I just—”
“You just felt the need to insist your will upon mine? Is that it? You felt the need to mutinize our interaction…” Zultor responded with an intense heat.
“No sir!”
“Yelling now?! How dare you! When did you decide to think for yourself, and disrespect me in such a disgusting and evil manner!” Zultor angrily said, his back fully erecting to impose his height. The young private froze in fear as he stared down at him. His eyes gave the impression he was actively hunting the boy.
“Leave. Private.” He said, his face matching the red of the ink. The young private blitzed out of the tent, not wasting a second. Zultor paced, mumbling to himself, his deep voice carrying the mumbling to the outside for everyone to hear.
“I should have known, I shouldn’t have allowed him to leave me so easily. This was his plan all along…absconding from my control.” His angered pacing muttered. He wiped his beard of sweat, staining it with red ink as he paced. He went around for a little while longer before turning to his desk and reading the notes. He ran to them, feeling inspired, and began to write what felt true. Once the note was completed, a robin flew into his room awaiting to take the note. He attached it and sent it off, ready for its return.
“No response is needed for this one, Geoffren, it is a command, to test your loyalty.” He quietly muttered as he awaited. Hours passed and the camp went dark and quiet, the only living light came from Zultor’s tent, a small wick on his table burned. It took its last dying breath as the wind cascaded through the tent's opening, he would not close it again until the bird returned. He sat in an emptiness outside of thought, an awakened hibernation as he bided. Once he realized the bird would not return that night, he decided to remain seated at his desk longer, 22 more hours to be exact. The night breeze coldly threaded through his beard as he waited. Across the states, Geoffren stood in that tall grass field, reading the note, and rejecting it. Zultor felt every second, the once strong connected control he had, faded and withered into the tall grass. He weakly gasped as he felt it leave, the sparks failing to crackle like before.
Morning came and the young private entered the tent one last time.
“Sir, I made the map for the next mission you would have sent Geoffren on…if he were to return from the last one I made the map for…” He shyly said. Zultor ignored him, continuing to blankly stare into the bright crevice of the tent. The young private waved his hand in front of Zultor’s eyes to grab his attention, but gained nothing in return. The bird flew into the tent and past his head, it stood on the desk, chirping and awaiting its next message. Zultor’s tired and fed up eyes slowly panned down towards it as it cutely twitched and sang. His large fist quickly came down upon it, killing it in a single, and deafening blow. The young private jumped, his ears rang in succession. His shock quickly buried itself under synthetic composure in fear of Zultor’s next actions. Zultor’s eyes moved to him, his hand and desk splattered with blood, his beard bathed in ink.
He extended his bloodied hand toward the boy. The boy meekly looked around before realizing he wanted the map and quickly handed it to him. Zultor assessed the map in thorough thought, tucking it away when he was finished. He continued to sit in silence afterwards, the boy realizing it was his queue to exit the tent. Zultor remained in his chair for some time, pondering. Once he had figured out his next move, he cleanly wiped the bird’s remains and papers off of his desk, making room to prepare his next strategy.
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Bullus loudly munched on the last bit of venison the group had cooked, he selfishly savored every bite as Kelnick watched in disappointment.
“You don’t think we should have saved some?” He asked. Bullus sucked his fingers, food flying through his teeth as he answered.
“Look around, Nicky, we’re in a buffet.” Bullus responded. The rest of the group failed to see where he was wrong, hundreds of plants and animals surrounded them at that very moment, and catching them was no problem either.
“Speaking of which, Kelnick…do you mind catching another for us please?” Evanglow asked politely. Kelnick coldly looked over, they all knew it meant no.
“I’ll go, I could use more food anyway.” Raygal said as he set his book down. Kelnick looked around, noticing a nearby stream and left the conversation to drink at it, just upriver, Geoffren bathed his feet in it. Kelnick noticed and promptly spit the water back in. He laid back and decided to enjoy the breeze and relax.
“Sorry.” Geoffren said as he walked over.
“It’s fine.” He responded.
“Good.” Geoffren responded as he laid down. He turned away before chuckling to himself. Kelnick ignored it, though looked over as it persisted. The light chuckling slowly died as he looked over to Kelnick.
“Oh, I’m sorry. I just think it’s funny how boring we are. We both said no more than two words and called it a conversation.” Geoffren said, beginning to chuckle again. Kelnick looked away but couldn’t help himself from chuckling too.
“If you want an interesting one, go speak to Evanglow.” Kelnick said laughing, Geoffren joining him.
“And if you want it one-sided, speak to Raygal.” Geoffren said, the two continuing to laugh. They both stayed silent for a moment after their laugh, letting it settle. Geoffren blew smoke out, it dissipated in the twinkling sunlight.
“You sure do carry quite a few of those.” Kelnick said.
“Not really, I ran out back at the fortress, I just had Raygal knick a few off of some corpses for me. If the dismembered legs had pockets he was checkin’ em’” Geoffren said.
“Speaking of the fortress, that sure was something. Wasn’t it?” Kelnick said, awkwardly playing with the grass. Geoffren pulled the cigar from his mouth again, looking over, expecting an awkward conversation.
“I don’t hold much concern for the domestic relationship between two soldiers I met a year, and a week ago. But I am curious, why does he hate you so much?” Kelnick asked. Geoffren looked away and pretended like Kelnick never asked. Kelnick looked over after the answer never came. Geoffren answered in his mind, the words just never left it.
“Sir?” He asked.
“ I didn’t take you as one to persist, Kelnick.” Geoffren said, shakily pulling the cigar out of his mouth. He blew out the smoke, his lips trembling so much his exhale almost sounded like a whistle. Geoffren’s body language changed, becoming more recluse and almost fetal. His following breaths were deep and prolonged, each sounding like it’d be his last. He lost thought as he began to cough, the cigar burned the back of his throat. He crawled over to the stream and drank from it. Kelnick watched from behind as Geoffren slumped over the stream breathing heavily. The shining water returned to the stream from his beard. He stood up after a bit, two rabbits chased one another through his feet.
“Catch one of those and cook it up for me.” He said as he walked away. Geoffren trembled in his stride, Kelnick’s question being the cause. Geoffren walked through the forest, finding himself at a wide tree. He leaned against it, peaking around the other side. He watched Ebnus -extremely focused- pick flowers. There was such a broad array scattered across the area, Geoffren failed to recognize a few of them. Ebnus seemed to pick by criteria, though Geoffren couldn’t figure out by which he was selecting. Each one he picked was so much more different than the last, it was hard to understand. Ebnus picked a few more and stopped, pulling out that one from earlier. Geoffren immediately felt its energy again, getting nauseous and losing his balance. Ebnus created a small pot out of his pink crystal and collected soil to harvest it. He stared at the flower for some time, seeming to reminisce. Geoffren began to step away before tripping on a log and falling. Ebnus looked over just in time to notice him, his small smile forging itself into something much worse.
“Stupid old bastard!” He screamed at him. Geoffren slowly got up as he tried to think of an excuse.
“I’m sorry, I was just walking by and noticed you–” Geoffren was cut off by the flower’s energy as it got closer with Ebnus’ walk. He struggled to focus as he sweated and panted. Ebnus’ yells failed to reach Geoffren, he couldn’t hear anything. The flower caused a ringing in Geoffren’s ears, deafening him. Ebnus noticed his confused and hollow look, more focused on
the flower rather than his words. He held the flower closer to Geoffren, making him instantly back away. Ebnus chuckled and toyed with him, moving the flower closer and closer with a loud laugh. Once he had had his fun, he tucked it away, allowing Geoffren to go back to normal.
“Can you hear me now, dumbass?” Ebnus said.
“What?...” Geoffren asked, slowly regaining his hearing.
“You look like you have dysentery, all sweaty and such. But after you saw that flower, why is that?”
“I-I don’t know. It’s life force energy, feels so…familiar? Almost as if it’s a distant letter from someone I once knew. Its energy is so compact but powerful, like yours, but much stronger, and hotter.”
“I told you to stop talking about my energy…you’re creepy about it, and I hate you. Your reaction to this flower seems like bad karma for you though, I like that.” Ebnus said. Geoffren looked at him with an embarrassed face.
“Why?” Geoffren asked. Ebnus looked away, almost trying to find the words. The wind waved his long curly hair, his pink eyes peeking through as the wind died. Ebnus’ mood seemed to have changed, showing a more silently angry side of himself, he was still the same, just much quieter.
“This was his favorite flower, it’s just like him…” Ebnus said, squeezing it. Geoffren began to shake again, the thought of it all began to peek around his shoulder and haunt him. The vicious reminder of that fateful day one year ago. Geoffren immediately stood up, gathering just enough balance to make a disoriented dash away. His sweat flew off of him as he crashed through the branches and leaves, not even taking a glance back.
“Of course! Because that’s all you do! Ebnus shouted from behind. “You’re fast for a shoddy old bitch though!’’. Geoffren unknowingly ran past Raygal, walking back to the group with a deer he had just caught, witnessing everything. Ebnus confidently went back to picking his flowers, laughing to himself.
Later that night the group gathered around a fire to eat. Geoffren had no appetite to eat his freshly caught rabbit, choosing to smoke instead. Bullus reached over and snagged the rabbit, eating it himself. Raygal stared at Ebnus over the fire, periodically having to look away so he wasn't caught. The night continued in silence, the men slowly leaving for bed one by one, till only Geoffren was left sitting at the fire. He stared into it, the orange flames reminding him of that day once again, every second playing through in perfect detail. Thunder, fire, explosions and gunshots rang through his mind as it played. The sounds in his mind isolated themselves from the outside, a branch snapping interrupted the memory, catching his attention.
Geoffren looked into the dark forest, unable to truly see into it.
“Must have been an animal.” He muttered as he stood up and prepared for bed. As he turned around, a gunshot came from behind him. It past through the emptiness of his cloak, Geoffren immediately blitzing towards the shooter. He blasted him with air, enough to crush his lungs instantly. Another enemy ran from behind him, aiming down his sights. Geoffren swiped air under him, sweeping him off his feet. As the enemy fell he took the shot, barely missing Geoffren’s head, the passing of it knocking his hat off. Two more enemies appeared from behind the other, Geoffren blasted him with air, sending him towards their feet and tripping them too. As one of them began to get up and aim again, Geoffren flew towards him at incredible speeds. Appeared in front of him like a phantom and kicked him in the throat, crushing his windpipe. The other finally stood up and aimed his rifle at Geoffren, point blank. Just in time, Geoffren grabbed the rifle and aimed it to the sky, the shot hurtling towards the moon. He snatched the rifle away and hit the enemy in the face with it. The enemy pulled out a knife and wildly swung at Geoffren. Geoffren backed up toward the fire as he dodged each swing. He punched the enemy in the face with air, knocking him unconscious. He slowly fell, his face landing in the bonfire. He shrieked like a banshee before Geoffren stepped on his head, silencing him and the fire.
Through the darkness, three more enemies appeared. Just before they could attack, Bullus came from behind and crushed one of their heads with his bare hands. They screamed as they aimed their weapons at the hulking Bullus before Kelnick shot one in the head, his blood and brains splattering on the nearby trees. The last enemy backed away in fear, backing straight into Ebnus’ hand. For a moment, his life flashed before his eyes. A long pink crystal ripped through his back and exited through his chest. The last soldier that Geoffren used to trip the others saw everything and ran for his life, sadly, he was caught by Bullus and knocked unconscious.
He awoke to water splashing him, tied to a tree, with the group standing in front of him. Geoffren stood in front, and initiated the conversation.
“We have a few questions for you.” He said as he lit up his cigar. The enemy soldier struggled to escape the ropes that bound him, panicking as the group just watched. Kelnick aimed his rifle at his head, but he continued.
“What’s your name?” Geoffren asked. The enemy stayed silent, refusing to reveal even the smallest of details.
“Silence gets you killed, grayback. Speak up.” Ebnus said. “I would rather die than reveal anything to y’all, kill me so I’m not a nuisance.” He responded. Geoffren scratched his head at the response.
“Somethin’ you fail to understand, yankee?” The enemy arrogantly asked. Geoffren pulled the cigar from his mouth as he scratched his head.
“No I hear ya’. I was just wondering why you would even tell us that.” Geoffren said as he turned back to his group. “Raygal?” He said. Raygal pulled out his hunting knife and heated it red hot. The enemy soldier began to shake as the heat closed in on his neck.
“Alright, let's get started.” Geoffren said.
