identity
so the fist chapter of the book I'm writing. it hasn't been proofread yet so there is a lot of mistakes. i won't be posting anymore.
chapter 1
Ellie, or L for short was not a privileged fellow from birth like many who see him seem to think. He was abandoned as a child and left for dead in the streets. Lucky for him he was saved by an elder street boy who raised him and taught him the skills he would need to survive. The boy had been dubbed "rat" by all the others, due to his large nose and rat like face.
L however was the polar opposite. The odd child was born with a full head of golden hair, and a perfectly sculpted face. He was named Ellie, a girls name because he was always well bathed, he had downright godly hygiene. when he was 12 he beat up a boy of 15 for calling him "ellie the princess" and from that day on he was always just L.
being of strange hair color and his many odd habits, L was avoided by many of the people in there small oasis town. they thought he was some kind of demon. Superstition was strong in the desert, stories of geinies and fairies seemed to be in every pub or tea house for miles around. they weren't all made up either.
being avoided like the plague has its many advantages when your living off the streets. people tend not to look your way so you can get away with a lot. stealing food became as easy as cutting butter with a hot steak knife. however stealing more expensive things like the garmets he was wearing or the deed to the boat he lived on were a bit trickier. however no matter what the object that he planned on taking was he always seemed to pull it off.
so on that particular day L was strolling through the town bazaar, if one could call it that. he reached out to grab some fruit as he walked past a vendor and his hand was grabbed. startled and utterly in shock he jumped two feet in the air and tried to turn. failing due to the arm holding him he nearly screamed, but not before a familiar voice stopped him.
"your better than this."
the moment the hand let go of his wrist L spun around and embraced his captour. it would have been an odd sight for one who did not know the pair.
"Rat!" he shouted, " it has been five years, i thought you were dead."
"not dead, just close to it. i see your still living a life of crime?"
"well you know me, always taking what i want without getting caught. i even have my own place now. tricked some drunk in a poker game. It is quite the story.but I'm sure yours are more interesting going off and fight wars and whatnot."
"well i do have a tale to tell, but not for the market. why don't you take me to your place? but before that i could do with some food, whats the most expensive meal you have ever paid for?
wrapping his arm around his old friend's shoulder, he began to lead him to his boat. "you know me, i don't pay."
laughing rat took his hand and said, "neither do i, but still what is the most expensive joint in this town?"
Looking confused but excited all the same L answered him, "Well that would be Patmea, its eastern food. Thats why it is so expensive. They import lots of strange spices. The food there is aroud a hundred pot a plate?"
"that sounds good, is it new?"
"Affirmative, but i hate to break it to you, you don't look like you have that kind of money, and I'm not dining and dashing. They have very menacing looking bouncers."
"your old friend has some very wealthy patrons now." he says while flashing a wicked grin. "With your talents someday you might aswell."
"what do you mean?"
"quick story is I'm a sheiks jen hunter now, and i put in a good word for you. long story, we will need a seat for. for now we will not talk as i am tired, i traveled along way to find you. i am weary."
hurried up the hill by his friends silence L arrived at allibaba's with rat in close tow. the guard gave him greif and told him to depart until Rat showed them a large golden talisman.
"what was that? i mean you aint kidding are you?"he asks Rat as he is led to a table by a very round elephant looking man.
sitting down at the table Rat asks for their best wine then immeaditly turn and states, "i watched a man loose his head for kidding, so no i don't tell jokes often anymore. that man was my commanding officer, we were captured in a battle. He had angered our general so our unit was placed on the front line. What else would you like to know about wheren i have been?" He looked at his companion.
"Way to kill the mood there rat. but since you told me to ask. How did you get out of that predicament?"
"i escaped."
"but how?" L asked with a annoyed expression
"well thats a different story for a different question."he responded with a slight chuckle."we were brought befor the invading king once our unit surrendered. our commander refused to give up information that could be seen as harmful so he was beheaded after being tortured and giving them false information. a comrade of mine gave them real information and they beheaded him saying he was a traitor and traitors deserve to die. We were all placed in prison cells and intragated. once we were cleared was not hostile we were put to labor as slaves. it was hard work, but it also made me strong. I gained favor with some of the slave drivers and was but in charge of a small band of men. From that moment i started planning my escape. using the promise of freedom as a ruse i united a larger group of slaves and revolted, truthfully i knew none of them would make it scross the desert. however i was plesantly surprised when several did. Two even followed me back to the capital. One of them Marcus is now a general, the other Ilick is a spy in the east. he is very fast and nimble, but not like you. No-one can move like you." rat smiled, if it could be called a smile. the look was moore of a snarl.
"well why did you come back here? this place is terrible."
"to recruit you."
The waiteress ariveved at the table with a basket of bread and drinks. without warning rat reached around and grabbed her by the hip pulling her into his lap. she was ugly in the face but she had a nice figure. seeing this rat snarled, really snarled. and pushed her away.
"i can wait for a girl that does NOT make me vomit everytime i see her face." he screached out at her as she scurried off as fast as she could. L watched as she told her manager and pointed at them. moment later two large men approached the table. Rat held up the talismen again and the immebiatly stopped and turned around.
L looked at him with his jaw hanging wide open, "you can get away with anything can't you?" not waiting for a response he stuffed his face with a piece of bread and proceeded to ask why rat wanted his help.
"because like i already said your the best. Our king-"
"Correction, Your king. i am not an offical citizen of the kingdom. i never joined because i didn't want to fight and kill."
"Well that was stupid. if you had i could have inlisted you into my unit a lot sooner and brought you to live with me befor you came of age. instead of just sending a letter i had to come and search for you in person."
"did you ever think maybe I'm happy living like this? ii quite like this humble little oasis town. i have a roof over my head and food, I'm content."
"no you aren't, i know you. don't lie to me, it won't work. i raised you. and you don't have food, everything you eat has a price, whether you have to make good on it is irrelevent. A thief is still a criminal even if they don't get caught." he almost yelled at L. his response was so forceful that the waiters and other staff stopped what they were doing and stared at the two of them. a Plate hit the ground in the rear of the resturant. " on a more of a carrot stance, you will see more of the world then you ever dreamed. tasting all the comforts. foods, and Women. plus your skills will be put to the test in more ways then ever before."
The waitress arrived at our table and asked if we were ready to order. Again Rat held up the talisman and the waitress smiled and bowed. Rat stare at me "its good to have friends"
"Apparently, what is that thing? it seems to get you anything you want whenever you want it."
"its a seal from the king, and that is exactly what it does. better then your fast hands because i don't risk life or limb with it. the king and his servants simply don't have to pay. It can get you almost anything."
"Well thats convenient, so it's like a free pass to life? That sounds nice but very boring. how could you get your thrills?"
" i am a solider, i have gotten more then enough for ten lives on the front line. now i just get the little ones i need to make it through the day from my harem."
"your so lucky, you have your own harem! i don't have anyone, I never have. i would be happy with one girl who loved me."
"I'm sure they are out there, but i have yet to find one that likes freaks."
"i am not a freak," he responded jokingly, " just freakish. well a better way to put it is to say I'm normalicly challenged."
"that you are my friend, that you are."
moments later a waiter arived with our food. he had a smug look on his face and didn't seem to want to give them their food. As he turned to walk away he said something under his breath.
"I'm not a piece of trash." L said loudly. "i didn't ask to be born like this. just like you didn't ask to serve the street TRASH when you woke up this mourning." Turning towards rat his face now very solemn and serious, "if you can promise that people will respect me, then i will help you."
Rat smiled.
....
After the two had finished their meal and got more acquainted with each other, like for instance rat had been an assassin for a short period, though who he killed was unspoken, they left for L's boat. Rat was amazed that he had heard the man but not surprised. L had always been gifted, but in their time apart it was apparent he had become stronger.
this was good rat had told himself. He will need those skills if he is to do what we expect. Stealing a genie is dangerous. It will be less for him, but it is still good.
while in the bazar befor the docks rat counted three separate vendors that L hit. Hopefully he was just showing off, but still L had developed into quite the little cleptomaniac. Mostly he just took fruit, so as not to cause a big dept to pile up. At one point when they walked up to a black smith rat was scared L was about to steal a knife. He was relieved when the knife was put down.
"Hey Boga, you got my knife ready?
"I told you, TOMORROW!"
"I'm afraid that won't work" rat chimed in.
-as soon as he spoke a hi pitched squeal came from the back room.
"Rat! Is that really you?"
Turning towards L rat mouthed "Marabell?" With a nod from his freind he quickly hopped over the front of the stall in order to look into the shop. Rat had to admit if there was one person he loved more then himself it was the little girl he had adopted after taking in L. "I'm here!" He shouted
With the sound of tables being turned and chairs being shoved out of the way a figure appeared at the door. In a blur of motion the two collided. Both refusing to let go for fear of loosing the other again, the hug lasted a solid time. When they finally separated rat could be seen with tears in his eyes.
The last time L would see them.
Blinking more then any person should while studying her, rats jaw dropped. She had grown from the chubby little girl he had left all those years ago into a beautiful young lady. a true butterfly in a metaphoric since.
"what happened to you? You look so different." Rat spoke first
she then pushed him away and began pounding on his chest and crying, "What happened to me! I grew up! You died! I died inside! Why are you alive?above all why did it take you so long to come back?" She never looked up at his face through all of this.
"I'm alive. How? I can't tell you. Why it took me so long, I have been vey busy."he embraced her again, forcing her arms to stop there pounding. Turning his head towards L he whispered, "thank you, thank you for raising her when I couldn't." Turning his face back towards the girl he spoke, "the time for weeping is gone. Now rejoice for we are together again."
While they were I'm bracing each other. The blacksmith a man named Boga, approached from behind, grabbing Marabell by the shoulder and pulling them apart. "Get back to work you worthless little slut!" He screamed at her.
in the background L began to laugh. This would be good. "That was a big mistake." He chuckled.
Almost to fast to see, rat pulled a small knife out of his belt and drove it into the man's shoulder. Then pulling it out and doing the same to the other he said, "she doesn't work for you anymore. You shouldn't treat your apprentice with such disrespect. She might just have an older brother with a bad temper."
"she isn't my apprentice, she is my slave. And besides who are you to tell me that?" He mumbled out as his arms just hung limply at his side.
"well she isn't anymore. she is my sister! And she will come with me to Kalla!" as soon as he finished he pulled the knife out and cut the man's throat.
"Took that a little too far, don't ya think?" L bark at him from behind.
"Not at all, no-one will ever talk like that about my sister." Now turning towards Marabell, "get your stuff, we are going now."
"Not that I'm ungrateful, but you just killed a man in cold blood. Won't the police care? Or is that why we are leaving so soon?"
With this L chimed in, "he has a kings pardon, so I guess he can do that. But now that he is dead, who is gonna Finnish my knife?"
"Grab a new one, any that you like. Marabell go get your stuff and meet us at the city gate in an hour. We have to straighten up here then grab his stuff."
...
After little convincing yet still more then she needed Marabell left the pair to grab her stuff. Meanwhile L had tested every knife the shop had before deciding on one of the more plain ones. It was 20'' in total. Foot long blade with an 8' handle. It wasn't fancy by a long shot, but it was very sturdy.
in the meantime rat had disappeared into the forge. When he reappeared he held the talisman, now red hot away from his body with a pair of tongs.
"Lift up his shirt, I don't intend to wait for the law. They change the seal every month, so we will be safe with a brand."
"I'm not sure if I'm good with desacration of the dead," l responded not moving from his spot. "You said I was just gonna steal stuff, not be an accomplice to murder."
"He deserved it. Besides you owe me."
"What for? If anything you owe me, you left and didn't let me know you were safe."
-"You sold bell into slavery." He responded while glaring at L.using the pet name he had given to his little sister. Then in his head he thought, I have never been safe.You are my safe card.
"Yeah about that, it was death or slavery. She got caught trying to make off with a pair of shoes. It turned out to be kind of a good thing. She got a roof and food. I didn't always have that." L was for the most part confident in his response.
Shooting his "brother" a dirty look rat almost whispered, "She is not a slave."he then smiled and joked, "besides couldn't you have gotten those shoes for her? Now lift up his shirt."
Still slightly hesitant L lifted the mans shirt as he was told. The dead smith had a large tattoo of a large circle with a smoky face in it on his rib cage. The face was blue and seemed familiar to L, but he could not quite place where from.
"Of coarse he was a rebel, we don't even have to mark him now." Rat chuckled out as he pointed to the tattoo. "He was a rebel during the last revolt, so we can kill him without question. They picked the genie king to rally behind. Thought he would give them strength. He left them to be slaughtered."
He then walked back into the forge and dropped the mark into a bucket of water. A loud hiss could be heard. it reminded L of the cobra he had seen in a bar.
Shouting L asked, "how long is this trip?"
"Well we're going to stop at an outpost about a day away. There we will supply and get dressed more properly. From that point about a 3 week caravan to the sea. Then we will sail up the coast for maybe 5 days. After that it is just a few miles to the capital."
"So how much should i pack?" L shouted
Coming out of the forge rat walked up to him and whispered, "nothing."
"well then why were we going back to my place? And why did you send Bell to get her stuff if I'm not taking anything?"
Rat laughed at him, "we were going to get bell, and to answer your other question, look between your legs."
....
L had convinced Rat to let him change into something better for traveling. They had stopped at his boat which had left Rat with a open mouth. He had expected a smallish sail boat with an open cabin, maybe 10 feet by 5. What he got was a 30 by 10 foot monster.
"how did you get this? it is huge and if you had this why was bell a slave?"
"i told you i tricked a rich merchant in a poker game. and i got this after the fact."
"You could have sold it?"
"I tried. it isn't sea worthy. the old owner hired some thugs to tear it up, I tore them up but not before they did damage. It has several holes that i patched the best i could. but when i had the bank look at it they said it was worthless."
"Don't trust banks, they always lie. even if you couldn't have gotten her out you would have made enough to open a small account then collected interest tell you had enough.
"Never a lender or borrower be, you taught me that."
"Yeah, well i was wrong. Now get your stuff so we can go. Bell will be waiting for us. i don't want that."
Hopping onto the boat then walking into the cabin L couldn't but help remember the many adventures he had lived through and hope for how much more this one would be. "What should i wear?"
"well we are gonna be in the desert for most of the trip so light clothing that covers a lot of skin. You want to be able to move so nothing tight and constricting." Rat spoke back loud enough to be heard without having to venture off the deck.
"so is this good?" L shuffled back onto the boats deck wearing a pair of camel pants and a white t-shirt. he had a sash to tie around his waste and a large pashmina he could wrap around his head.
"looks perfect, but what about your arms?" Rat asked him as he inspected the change off clothing.
"i'll wrap them up in cloth that i will need to get on our way out. you said we are in a hurry so i will do it on the way. Don't ask where it will come from."
"No, it's okay, you will need to practice your art if you are to impress the king. Now lets go, don't want to get caught in the storm." Rat stated.
"What storm? it has been sunny for 2 weeks and it isn't storm season." L reputed.
"Trust me."
...
Marabell arrived at the gate not 10 minutes after them. she had one bag with another brown dress in it and a doll she had received as a present when she was a baby. Rat had stolen it, she had saved it to help remember him.
Being a slave she didn't have any posesions really, and what she had was in rags. Rat had expected this much of both of them so he had new clothes waiting for them at the outpost. She would just have to deal for the first leg of their journey.
The two young men were sitting by the gate waiting and reminising about the last time they were together. As she approached the pair she smiled seeing L's face. He had not looked so happy in a long time. she couldn't see rats rather stoick face that seemed to reverse in age by ten years when he turned around to greet her.
"hello baby girl, ready to set out?" Rat asked her.
Giggling Marabell responded, "i'm not a baby, but yes i am ready.'
"Please, to me you will always be a baby. now that that is settled we should leave."
"why the hurry? don't you want to see some people?" L asked.
At that moment the sirens to signal an approaching sandstorm sounded. "that is why. And no i don't. they would all want hand outs and i don't like beggers." He said as he stood up and started walking towards the stables. "i have two horses for our first leg, you remember how to ride right L?"
"i remember the basics, but I'm out of practise, haven't ridden since last time i was with you. As long as its slow and gentle i will be fine."
"well I'm glad you are a fast learner because we will have to gallop out of here to get ahead of the storm."
"Fantasticlly abismal, wait, what about Bell? you never taught her."
"She will be riding with me. Strong horses with a lot of stamina, they are from the north. "
"have you been? to the north i mean?" bell interjected.
"Yes but only on official business, i haven't been to just be there. now get on the horse so we can be off. Like i said we must hurry." he answered to both of them as he climbed up on his horse offering her a hand.
Without hesitation or even waiting on L he spurred his horse on and set off towards the gate. Looking at Rat with amazement L struggled up onto his horses back and set off behind him.
.....
After around an hour at a brisk pace, but not yet galloping Bell said "this is the farthest i have ever been from the city. Will we ever come back?"
"hopefully not. Believe me, you won't want to return once you see the captital." Rat replied.
"Still this was my childhood. i wouldn't mind coming back one day to see how everything and everyone settled." L chimed in from behind them.
Then without warning Rat shouted at him, "No, you will never come back. you won't be allowed and you won't want to."
L stared at him in shock, this had just been friendly chatter right? then what Rat had let slip hit him. "what do you mean i won't be allowed to leave?"
"Nothing. leave it. it isn't important." rat said quickly.
"Nothing? That doesn't sound like nothing. it sounds like you are selling us."
Spinning his horse around with such tremendous speed he failed to notice as Marabell lost her grip and started to fall of the animal. "I'm not selling you into slavery, it illegal in the capital. Now leave it alone." Rat was screaming at him and not focusing on his sister behind him. it was a mistake that would make both of them weary of him from then on.
Marabell fell.
With a scream and a thump she hit the ground rather hard. There was a snap audible only to L, followed by another scream. Rat jumped of his hoarse and landed right next to her. He then, still slightly angry grabbed her by her arm and tried to hoist her up.
She let out another scream. Before Rat could ask her what was wrong he hit the ground. In complete shock he reached for his knife before realizing it was L who had tackled him. "She broke her arm" he was shouting on repeat as he tried to hold of his arm.
"Did you hear it snap?"
"Yeah, didn't you? it was extreamly loud, sounded like a bad break." L answered him as he got off his brother, rushing over to Marabell. he then quickly reached for her arm in question. "This will hurt like hell but i need to find out where the break is. I'm sorry."
Rat ran to his bag and grabbled another knife, then rushing over to L's hoarse started to rifle through his bag. Finding the extra cloth he grabbed it out, then wrapping it around his arm four times he cut it off. While he walked back to the two on the ground he unwrapped the cloth then folded it into two equal parts and cut it in half. hearing a shriek of pain he rushed over even faster and slid down next to them.
"What was that?" he asked as she screamed again.
"i had to find the break then reset the bone." L replied with tears in his eyes. "I have never done this befor, I'm scared."
"Relax she will be fine. You did a good job." Rat told him as he grab a bottle of alcohol hidden his his coat. "Drink this, it will dull the senses, then give her the rest. She will need it considering once we get back on the horses and start galloping the ride will get bumpy."
Drinking a little then putting it up to Marabell's lips she stopped him, "I have never drank, i am scared. i remember you always told me it was bad to do when you were a child." she said while holding L's hand away from her mouth. at the same time staying the bottle from her lips.
Rat then reached for the bottle and forced it to her lips. "It's okay just this once. It's gonna burn going down but you need to swallow. It will help with the pain, for this and what come next."
"What comes next?" L asked looking at his Friend.
"We will have to gallop in order to get away from here and stay in front of the storm. " he said as he tilted his hand back to help the alcohol down her throat. "it will hurt."
With his final statement Bell began to drink the liquid until she had downed the whole bottle. Rat took it away from her lips and held it upside down, clearly disappointed that it was empty now. "That burns like fire going down my gullet!" bell yelled. laughing in a way only someone who is suffering can.
"Yeah, but it will help, plus I'm about to knock you unconcious." rat said sinically.
"What?" was the unisoned response that was let out by his two companions.
"we are gonna have to ride at a gallop, it will be bumpy. No matter how tight we tie the splint, it will still move, this will hurt. If you are crying out in pain every few steps it will slow us down. So I'm going to knock you unconcious. I will tie you to the horse so you can't fall off. Then we will try to get ahead of this storm. It will hurt when you wake up but if i do things right then when you do wake up, we will be at the out post and they will be able to put a proper cast on it."
"fine, sounds good to me. Well it sound more like the best card in a bad hand but okay." L said under his breath.
"alright, in my bag i brought the doll you gave me when i was a baby. will you grab it for me. L tie it to my chest. I wanna have it when i wake up. Now with that out of the way, do it ." bell said trying to put on a straight face but obviously scared.
L shot up and ran over to the horse, grabbing her doll out of the bag. With her go ahead rat hit her on the side of her neck, instantly she went silent. Her eyes closed, and her breathing returned to normal.