AllFreeNovel
Share Us
1
HURIAN
An ice-cold splash of water hits my face, invigorating a wave of alertness over me. I take a deep breath and do it again, not only to clean myself but in an effort to distract my mind from the intruding thoughts that have been internally plaguing me for the past two months.
Images of destruction, burning houses, and utter chaos ran rampant through my mind. Every night, I can still hear the screams of those unarmed from when the Bloodscar clan launched their full frontal assault, holding women and children at the mercy of their blades. I had a hand in foiling the full effects of the terror they inflicted upon the Burning Sun clan that day, with no innocent blood shed. So why does it haunt me? Why must I continue to suffer, to feel the full capabilities of their wrath on my mind?
Alas, it’ll take more than cold immersion to block out those thoughts. I see my reflection in the bucket of water, rippled and distorted from the rhythmic motion of the water. I almost laugh out of self-pity, for the face of the orc in the water is unclear, knowing the same is true of my purpose.
What is there left in my soul, now that I’ve had my revenge? Nothing of ambition I can see in there anymore. Colorless with nothing beyond the surface level, much like this bucket of water.
I raise my gaze to the stained mirror in front of me, its water marks offering me another warped view of myself. Somehow I feel the world is mocking me, laughing as it takes away from me the chance to be able to see who I am anymore.
All the mirror allows me to behold is my tired, sunken eyes that have seen enough battles for one lifetime. I’ve let myself go, my once well groomed hair now messy as stray strands swirl down over my forehead.
No doubt I’m in need of a major clean-up but I cannot, for the life of me, muster the energy right now. This splash of water will have to do as I immerse myself with another handful of its biting sensation.
I grab the cloth hanging off a hook next to the mirror, its dryness serving as a slight warmth to the chilly sensation that sits on my face. As I hang it back, a silhouetted figure in the background of the mirror’s reflection makes his presence known with two knocks on the wall.
I turn to acknowledge my visitor, greeting the chieftain of the Burning Sun.
“Hello Loki.”
“Hello Hurian. I hope you don’t mind me saying this but you look like total shit,” he says lightheartedly.
“Thank you for the observation.”
Loki comes further into my quarters, glancing at a half-packed bag that lays on my bedroll.
“Are you okay?” he asks.
“No, far from it,” I reply.
“What’s with the bag Hurian? Making an excursion?”
` “I’ve made the decision to leave,” I inform him, wiping up the mess from my wash. “I’ve been thinking about it for some time, and my choice came in light of my realization that there’s nothing left for me here.”
“Hurian…” mutters Loki in concern. “There’s been an increase in attacks from wild animals outside of our clan’s enclosure.
“None of that presents a problem for me,” I reply, gesturing to the ax resting beside my bedroll.
“Hmm, I see. Is any of this to do with the attack from two months back?” he inquires.
“Look,” I sigh in frustration. “I should have left after the executions took place but the consequences of the Bloodscar’s attacks put a cathartic halt to that.”
“Are you forgetting who you rooted for in the end? How you had helped in preventing an all-out massacre?” he reminds me.
“I know but it doesn’t change the fact I was still a part of the Bloodscar’s acts for as long as I can remember… though it’s over now of course, but so is my time here with it,” I declare.
“I think you’re making too rash of a decision Hurian,” replies Loki. “We stopped the Bloodscar clan on time. There is absolutely no need for you to treat yourself like this.”
Shamefully, my gaze drops to the ground.
“Halls destroyed, livelihoods ruined, human lives hurt, food supplies ravaged… Do I need to go on?” I mutter, turning to face my broken reflection.
“Stop it,” commands Loki. “Enough is enough.”
“Ignaur’s mate almost died!” I yell, startling Loki as I spin around. “Jane’s life was this close to being taken… I know she’s still alive but I can’t shake the weight of that burden off of my shoulders. The last thing I need for the Burning Sun clan to see is me carrying this disgrace around with me.”
