Chapter 6 Masquerade

His mind wandered to the first dives into darkness, to the times when he woke with the taste of blood in his mouth and a weariness that was deep and overwhelming. He thought of the times when he would find himself naked, far from the reservations, his body filled with scars and he would have to walk back, often taking a few days. He had found explanations for Resi but now she knew. He should have felt an elation that he was cursed, that he was beyond what he thought he was. Wasn't that what he always wanted? To be more than just a wretched commoner wasting away at a reservation.

But he felt no happiness within him. He was a killer, a Demon. He shook his head and looked at Resi who sat now, staring at nothing. He understood why she would fear him. Eruption, sometimes he feared himself. He removed the can from the fire after a while and handed it to Resi. She looked at it, raised her eyes to look at him and shook her head, turning away. He felt a flicker of anger rise within him.

"Resi, you should eat. We have a full day to journey tomorrow and you need your...." He stopped as he saw riders in the distance. He saw their black horses, kicking up a cloud of dust. He saw the sandmetal armor and he gasped, taking Resi by the arm, yanking her up and began to run. He pounded across the ground, desperate. They would kill him, they would.... He saw one of the horses gallop past him, carrying a man that just couldn't be human. He had purple eyes and his dead, expressionless face whispered promises of death. The man rode a little distance before stopping. The other horses routed them, riding silently around them. The first man raised his fist and they stopped. He dropped to the ground, standing a bit shorter than Zamu but the sheer danger and darkness that escaped him made Zamu wilt. Resi began to sob. The man smiled at him, a thing that was more evil and foul than anything Zamu had ever encountered.

"Greetings, shader. I apologise for meeting you this way. I hope I did not cause much offense." He said in a harsh and strangely loud whisper. Zamu felt his mouth turn dry as fear crept into him, freezing him. The man stepped closer and Zamu held his breath. The man laughed a little.

"Now, I think you misunderstand my intentions. I have no desire or thought of harming you. I wouldn't dare. My master just wants to meet you, is all." He said and Zamu frowned, finally recovering a bit of himself.

"Who is your master?" He asked and the man grinned.

"Why, he is prince Tuli himself. I believe you have heard of him. He just wishes to meet you and discuss, eh? As for the little misunderstanding back in the reservations...ah, well those didn't happen as far as he's concerned. Now, shall we?" He said and winked. Zamu turned to look at the other men who stared at him with expressionless faces. He did not think they would even let him leave if he wanted and an opportunity to meet one of the princes. That could change his life forever.

" My sister comes with me " he said and the man nodded, giving a slight bow. The man looked up and clicked his tongue.

" You will have to ride with one of the my brothers here. Your sister too. Don't be afraid now. You will rather enjoy the experience, I expect" he said and jumped upon his horse in one Swift, graceful move. He held out his hand to Zamu. Zamu shook his head and pushed Resi forward. The man shrugged and effortlessly lifted her into the saddle behind him. She stared at Zamu with wide eyes and he nodded reassuringly. He walked to one of the other men and the man held out his hand to him but he glared at it and managed to climb upon the large beast.

Suddenly, the man stiffened, looking around. Zamu turned his head but caught nothing. The man he had spoken to clicked his tongue sharply, making a series of complicated hand signals and the men thundered off. Zamu felt his belly lurch at the speed with which the horse moved. He had never been on anything so fast before. The landscape flitted past him and he felt light headed. The men rode with an urgency and a tension as if something chased them. They rode in a clean pattern, spread in the shape of an inverted 'V', bending low in the saddle. It was then that Zamu saw it. It was like a cloud of black, moving towards them, sucking in the light from it's sorroundings. It made a low, rumbling noise and flew towards them. The leader of the the riders opened his hand, revealing a small piece of curved wood that suddenly grew and spread, transforming into a short bow. He seemed to pull an arrow from thin air and turned swiftly, firing above Resi's head and into the cloud. It seemed to have no effect but the rumbling increased a little. The man made another hand signal and three of the Tije broke off, turning towards the cloud as they drew their hilts from which their swords grew; long, black, serrated blades that absorbed light.