True Beginnings

The great city of Aht Urghan Whitegate could be seen now, clear as day, as the boat bound from Mhaura sailed closer and closer. Sellsword and Kallo stood at the bow; the thief with his elbows resting on the railing looking down into the water as it crashed onto the boat’s hull, Sellsword standing straight with his arms crossed.

“That’s the whole thing,” Kallo finished.

Sellsword was quiet. “You’ve quite the demons to live with.”

“We’ve all got quite the demons to live with, my friend.”

The Samurai nodded solemnly as the boat slowly pulled into the port and docked. Several other passengers hurried off as port-workers hurried on to retrieve various cargo. For a while, Sellsword and Kallo stood just where they were in quiet contemplation. Sellsword put one hand at his side and rested the other on the hilt of his Great Katana, looked around, and took in a deep breath.

“The great majority of Vana’diel will live an ignorant, peaceful life, devoid of even a single moment of what select individuals such you and I must live with.” He turned toward the docks as a woman waved to him with a grin. “Some may say they’re the lucky ones. I, however, choose to think of it as such: I’ve been given the courage, the power and the ambition to keep the vast majority of Vana’diel from having to live with the things we do. For some, doing that isn’t enough…but every day I survive is another chance at life. Not just for myself, but for everyone I encounter…”

Kallo was silent, looking down into the water splashing against the port.

Sellsword looked over his shoulder at Kallo. “There was never really any need for an escort…” he said. “When I heard the Tenshodo were sending someone over as a liaison, I offered my services even though they were not required.”

“I don’t understand…” Kallo said, turning toward the Samurai.

“I just wanted to meet you, Kallo Landis,” he spoke as he walked toward the boat exit to the dock, “to hear that story. To thank you,” He walked down the plank and towards the woman on the dock.

“Thank me for what?” the thief called after him.

Sellsword turned back to him, “For reuniting me,” he smiled softly.

Kallo had just noticed her for the first time as she embraced the sellsword. Her hair was long and pitch black, reaching down to her lower back. She had a long, tall, slender figure. Straight to her back was a massive great sword, and at her hips two darksteel revolvers. She grinned back up at Kallo as she walked off and vanished into the crowd with Sellsword.

The thief struggled to find comfort in the wise words the sellsword left with him. He believed he wasn’t given a second chance, but rather condemned to live with the mistakes he made. He couldn’t save his lover, and he didn’t save his brother…

Kallo closed his eyes and recalled what had actually happened that night in the Arrapago Reef…

From a distance Kallo could see Akeem perched upon the bow of a dilapidated corsair ship. He silently made his approach as his fists were clenched tightly around his daggers; as Kallo got closer he called to him.

“Akeem!”

“I knew you’d find me…Brother.” He spoke without looking at the thief, “Motai helped you. I told him I was waiting for you,” He stood up and turned to look at Kallo from the top of the bow of the ship. “…So how does it feel?” He hopped down onto a large boulder nearly level with the boat and came down closer; he was ground level now but several yards away. “…Not going to talk to us?”

“Where is she?” Kallo said, his face contorted with anger.

“Now that you’ve felt my pain,” he smiled, “we can end this.”

His wrist flicked as he reached for his gun, but Kallo’s hands were always quicker. Before he could unbuckle the gun strap to pull his sidearm, Kallo’s hand had already let loose his dagger. Like a blade of grass in the wind it moved quicker than the eye could follow, and with hawk-like precision struck and stuck deep into the shoulder of Akeem’s trigger-arm. He winced in pain as he grasped the dagger. It took Kallo only a second to close the gap between them. Kallo put one arm on his brother’s uninjured shoulder and with his other hand grabbed the hexagun, tossing it over the edge of the reef and shoving Akeem backwards into the hull of the ship.

Akeem wrenched the dagger from his arm and dropped it to the ground. Kallo was on him quickly as he pressed his body against Akeem’s and put his second dagger to his brother’s throat.

“Do it, Brother…” Akeem whispered. “Do it…”

“…Tell me what you did with her…” Kallo spat through his clenched jaw as he pushed the dagger against Akeem’s neck, drawing a trickle of blood.

“Remember, I said before…” Akeem gasped as the blade pressed against him, “It’s not about winning or losing…” He smiled. “I lied. As much pain as you’ve caused us…” He chuckled. “I’ve done more to you than I ever could have dreamed…”

“Where is she!?” Kallo slammed Akeem’s body against the hull. He coughed and choked as he laughed.

“You’ll never know.” He grinned. “Her death is all your fault…and you’ll never know…and now you’re going to kill your only brother,” He smiled. “The only other person who ever believed in you, who would stand by you until the end…do it…you’re so goddamn helpless…do it!!” Akeem tried to push back, but Kallo swatted his arms down, reeled his dagger back and as he thrust it forward, something in Akeem changed.

“Kal, wait—” His eyes burst wide open.

The look Akeem gave Kallo, he recognized immediately. It was that same electric look of surprise that slowly faded to lifelessness; the one he saw in Tarawath’s eyes.

Akeem’s lips quivered as his chest heaved. Kallo held the dagger deep in his brother’s chest for a moment, his face riddled with bewilderment. Akeem’s arm shook hard as he grasped Kallo’s shoulder. “Kal…Kal…I…I’m so-sorry…”

Kallo couldn’t speak; he looked his brother deep in the eyes in complete confusion and puzzlement. He wasn’t looking at the man who murdered his fiancé; he wasn’t holding in his arms the man who had been after him since the rescue from the Oubliette.

He was holding his brother in his arms.

“…so…sorry…Kal…” he whispered. As Akeem slowly slid down the hull, Kallo crouched low with him in his arms. “He…he…made me…”

Akeem’s body went limp as what life was left vanished.

Kallo opened his eyes, and took in a deep breath as he wiped his sleeve across his face. He walked off of the ship and into the city of Al Zahbi.

The End.

~ by Kallo on June 29, 2009.