After all the partying began to settle down, Aiden slipped away from the festivities, and that is when he remembered his arm. Well, it was more like it reminded him it was there. The now blood-soaked wound throbbed with every beat of his heart. He bandaged it in his room but once he was done he did not return to the party. He sat still on his bunk, not really thinking about anything, just feeling empty. Then like a tidal wave, all the events of the night flew before his eyes and rang in his ears. Then all was silent to him and out of that silence came the scream. The girl's scream cut through his mind to his heart where it lodged itself in his flesh and bashed around, a wild animal caught in a snare.
He began to hate himself. He hated his hands for firing the shots that ended that man's life. Her father! Before he could stop it, a single tear fell from his eye onto the bed. Then he stopped and became very still. For his whole life he had locked away his emotions deep inside the vault of his soul and hidden the key to where even he could not find it. But in the course of one evening, one woman had found that key and unlocked his emotions for him to drown in, and he did not even know her name.
The next morning he arose from his bunk having gotten no sleep and now he moved slowly but with steady stride (which could not be said of his comrads who had drank the night away and now moved as if their legs were jelly and many of which had slept on the floor when they could not navigate to their beds). Aiden ate a meger breakfast and then moved to the large common room which was still strewn with mugs, food, and the unconscious forms of the drunken. He crept through the debris until he came to two columns in between which was a metal bar that jumped up and gripped. He thus commensed his morning workout.
Lydia left her chambers early that morning and strolled the quiet halls which were silent except for the sounds of the servants making dinner in the kitchen. As she was passing the general's study she heard voices coming from within so she decided to listen in. She drew close to the door and put her eye up to the crack in the slightly ajar doors.
General Cauldwell sat with several other officers around a table. Among them was the young soldier from the night before who she could now see was a major. He sat confidently among these great military minds but maintained an air of humble submission to their expertice. She could also notice that he was suprisingly handsome for a man of his rank and responsibility.
"So let me get this straight. Two men with pistols killed all six of General Edmont's personal guard and two other soldiers and managed to escape without being significantly wounded and not leaving any evidence as to how they escaped?" asked General Cauldwell quite in a fit of anger. He appeared as though he had spent all night all night trying to track Lydia's father's killers.This would make sense for he had and ended up empty handed. He had not got a wink of sleep and the weariness began to show in his face and his mood.
One of the officers spoke up, "They could have easily jumped into the canal and swam away sir."
"But that water would have been freezing! They would have lost feeling in their limbs and drown within a few minutes!" scoffed another officer.
The major spoke up, "My men investigated Lydia's claim that they came from Captain Dellam. This appears to be somewhat true. We found the captain dead in his home and two of his spare officer uniforms. They could have easily murdered him, took his uniforms, dressed them to the proper rank, and attended the party without a single suspicion from security. Now as to who they were that is obvious, we have already received reports from Fedridge, West Dane, and Gullport of rebellious uprisings and riots in the streets. Most of which ended in the death of several soliders and police. This assassination must have been meant as a sign to begin a revolution." This last word struck a chord in everyone at the table, even Lydia found her breath had caught in her throat.
On officer studied the major, "Revolution, what on earth for Major Hall?" His voice contained a challenge.
"Well maybe..."
"I asked the Major!" growled the officer.
Major Hall stared back with no hostility, but with equal determination. "Is it not obvious? The Weaton Massacre is still fresh on the people's mind."
The enraged officer stood up, "That was no massacre, they were killing people and they had to be stopped. The situation got out of hand and we had to finish the matter!"
General Cauldwell stood, "Sit down Colonel!" The officer quickly sat after glaring at Major Hall.
The general continued, "Major Hall was not accusing anyone and I agree with him that is the most probable cause for this riotous behaviour. Now the question is not where to put the blame but rather, how can we stop this before it escalates into a full on civil war?"
1 comments:
I love this one. It leaves me wondering. Thank you, you finally answered my question!
Aiden best watch what he does for that rebellious group.
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