Chronicles Of The Kakonia

Hi there everyone, sorry for the delay. Here is Chapter nine, though, it’s shorter than I wanted, but I didn’t get the writing done. So, Ch. 9 is going to be split into two parts. As for part two, I’d say about Thanksgiving or sooner, thanks and on with the show.

Recap – Clara has been promoted to surf and has the chance to become a citizen of the Kakonia Empire. Woo! Also Belinda and her squad almost killed Clara, in an act of jealousy, however, Tawny has came and saved Clara’s ass. Now on with the show!

Chapter Nine
The Scribe

“So Badass means…I’m tough?” asked Tawny bandaging up Clara’s stomach.
“Yup, as tough as they come” replied Clara flinching “That stuff you gave me really is something” add Clara.
“It only numbs the pain, it’ll ware off soon. Sato could fix you up like new” chuckled Tawny.
Clara found herself once again in Tawny’s office, after…being carried…bridal style of the fore mentioned Capitan. It was embarrassing to say the least, to have a woman carry you like that. From what Clara could see; Tawny was very secure in her femininity.
“By the way…what was Belinda barking about?” asked Clara.
“Well honey, since you’ve been under the weather for a few days, rumors about the incident with the assassin has been spreading like wild-fire. It’s not every day the king almost dies” explained Tawny “That brown cow is just jealous of you”
“Jealous…you’ve got to be kidding” snorted Clara.
“Well…some might argue that you’ve been getting special treatment from his majesty” added Tawny, finished with her mending.
“I hardly think, his majesty, is giving any special treatment” countered Clara.
“I’m just saying, besides you got a regal look about you, so I guess Belinda was afraid that you would replace her as the King’s main squeeze” laughed Tawny.
“Me regal…yeah right”
“You got red hair, and blue eyes, here that’s as regal as anything. The Wolfgang family is known for their red hair, and they are second to the royal family. Ha if you really wanted to, I bet you could pass yourself off as a noble” joke the Capitan.
“I doubt it…” Clara flumped back into the couch she was resting on, her eyes drifted to the lock of hair sitting on a table to her right “Belinda is going to kill me” groaned Clara.
“Not for a while, till you fade into the background, but I’ll back you up” commented Tawny.
“Huh?” asked Clara shocked.
Tawny gave a big grin, “you were pretty tough back there, and for a human, no, for a woman, you’ve come a long way. Today Clara, you have earned my respect and I now see you as an equal” proclaimed Tawny.
“Tawny…I…” began Clara, at a loss of words.
“Translation…lets be friends. Surprise, I don’t have many female friends” Tawny came towards the shocked Clara and offered her hand “So…friends?” asked Tawny giving a gentle smile.
Bashfully, Clara moved her hand and grasped Tawny’s; with a timid smile, Clara answered, “Friends”
Tawny gave a wide smile and righted herself. “Great, let’s have lunch together, some food will do ya good” stated Tawny.
“I’d love to, but need to find Andrew”
“Oh! Andrew will be at Lord Sharon’s till the evening” explained Tawny “Trust me, you should enjoy the peace. Andrew’s been a right mother hen since you got injured. He sure as hell didn’t want you in the company of that creepy healer”
“Oh…” it nice that Andrew still cares about me. I must be a source of so much stress for him; thought Clara “I’m a real pain for that man”
“Nonsense, Andrew is just a natural nurturing type. Once he gets attached to ya, he’ll always see ya as family. Family means a lot to mountain men” assured the older woman.
“Mountain men?”
“Yeah, you didn’t know that Andrew’s from the mountains west of here?” asked Tawny surprised.
“Nope, it never came up” replied the red head.
“Oh, well…up there is where the mines are, a tough bit of terrain. Anyway, miners are all very family oriented and…very rugged” Tawny’s eye glazed over “Oh boy, you haven’t seen anything till you’ve seen a Kakonia Mountain Man. Andrew’s an exception, but most of those men are…wow. Tall, muscled like the rock, handsome as all get out, and have big…”
“I get it, Tawny!” interrupted Clara. I guess mountain guys are really hot by Kakonia standards.
“Oh sorry, got lost in a moment…” smiled Tawny sheepishly. “You’ll find that I’m a bit man crazy and a bit of a pervert” explained Tawny rubbing the back her head awkwardly.
“It’s fine, I’m a little like that myself…can priestesses have…relations with men?” asked Clara curiously.
“Oh sure” chimed Tawny. “The devout ones, like high priestess and the Pure don’t have relationships, but us military girls, like me and lower ranks, sex and marriage are perfectly allowed”
“Oh”
“Yeah, we military chicks are encouraged to wed and produce strong offspring for future soldiers” added Tawny.
“Are you married?” innocently asked Clara.
Tawny’s dark eyes dulled and a frown marred her face. “No, I’m not…” replied Tawny casting her gaze downward as though in shame.
Crap! Why did I ask, now’s she sad. Damn! Think Clara, think, change the damn subject….compliment her…something….were Clara’s panicked thoughts. The red head had just made a new friend; she didn’t want to sour the budding relationship.
“Hey…hey, someone as strong and pretty as you won’t stay on the market for long” said Clara cheerfully.
Tawny raised her gaze and offered a sad smile “It’s not that easy for me…most men find me too intimidating or want to harshly dominate me. No…the man I want is beyond my reach” replied the Capitan cryptically.
“Tawny…” ventured Clara timidly.
Suddenly, the dark haired woman clapped her hands together. “Listen to me, whining to you when we just begun our friendship, how rude. Come on, I promised lunch and we are damn will have it!” announced the woman. “We’ll go to the mess hall. We’ll show the lot that you’re now my pal and those bitches won’t pick on ya so much” proclaimed the Kakonia excitedly.
Clara could see the enthusiasm was forced, but played along anyway. I know there is a story behind this, but I can wait till she’s ready.
“You sure you want to be seen with me?” joked Clara.
“I said before, we’re friends. I ain’t a fair weather friend” declared Tawny “We’ll give them hell”
She sure is head strong. I won’t complain, especially having a Capitan as an ally, thought Clara happily. It has been a long time, since the human had felt at ease in this strange world.

The next day came quickly, a little too quickly for Clara. The red head was happy to be moving up in the world, she was just nervous about starting her new job.
Calm down girl, it’s just like back home. Be confident, be assertive and go far, thought the red to herself. I just wish I knew where this Scholar Tower is?
Indeed, the young woman had no idea where to go in the enormous castle. When Clara had separated from Andrew this morning, the man had told her to wait in the man courtyard. Well…here she was…waiting…and nothing was happening.
Great my first day on the job, and I don’t know how to get to the damn place, thought Clara frustrated.
“Yo human!” called an all too familiar voice. Clara groaned in annoyance as the obnoxious blond made his way towards her.
“What do you want?” snapped Clara, not in the mood to deal with the male.
“No need to be bitchy; I’m here to escort ya to the tower” huffed the blond. Clara did take notice that the man’s left arm was in a sling.
“Escort me?” asked Clara puzzled.
“Yeah, yeah; you don’t know the way so here I am. I got to make sure you get in all right according to Lt. Andrew” mumbled the blond.
“What do you mean, ‘make sure I get in’?” asked Clara suspiciously.
“The scholars are a weird bunch. They think just because they’re smart, that their some secret society or some shit” scoffed the blond. “They’re just a bunch of old losers who couldn’t make it as soldiers” mocked the blond.
“I’m sure…” answered the red head skeptically.
“It’s true, those you can’t be soldiers either become labors or scholars. Scholars are freaks though. Keep to themselves and speak in the ancient tongue so no one can understand them” continued the blond.
Clara followed behind the blond, listening to his ridiculous rant. “You know, just because someone is smart doesn’t make them a freak, if anything I think it makes them successful” added Clara.
“But, they’re really weird. Besides I don’t know how to read or write well, and I’m a success” proclaimed the blond proudly.
You’re just a guard and you’re bragging that you’re illiterate, yeah, a real success, thought Clara dully.
“Just wait human, one day I’ll be a big shot. Lt. Frey…wait…wait…Capt. Frey”
“What happened to your arm?” asked Clara, edger to change the subject.
“Oh!” uttered the blond identified as Frey; “Um…well…the Capitan wasn’t too happy with me about cutting out early with the whole assassin incident” answered the blond embarrassed.
Oh! That’s right; this schmuck left me with the assassin! Maybe if he didn’t take off, Aiden and I wouldn’t have gotten so hurt…Then again; I wouldn’t have gotten this chance to improve my life, thought Clara.
“I mean the guy looked like a messenger, a creepy one, but still…how was I supposed to know” complained the blond.
“As a guard shouldn’t you be more vigilant?” said Clara mockingly.
“Man…you and the Capitan say the same thing. I’m not a screw up” growled the blond.
I think that point could be debated,
The duo continued their journey through the castle grounds. At long last, the two entered an area where Clara had never seen.
It was a smaller version of the main courtyard. A dirty moat ran through the middle, crossed by an ancient looking stone bridge. The whole yard looked overgrown with weeds and thorny bushes. The main attraction of the area was the big stone tower across the bridge. Five stories of moldy rock, dirt stained windows, and decaying vines. From the outside it looked abandon.
“This is the Scholars Tower?” asked Clara in disbelief.
“Yup, damn creepy isn’t it?” replied Frey. “Keeva knows what twisted, freakish stuff that goes on in there. I heard they hold weird rituals and wear animal masks” added the blond.
“Will you knock it off about the scholars” snapped Clara.
“Hey, just saying. After all you’re the one that will be working with them…I don’t envy you, human”
“Well come on, I’m probably late already” grumbled Clara, making her way to the tower. Frey followed slowly behind, looking warily at the tower.
“Come on, you’re supposed to be a big, tough, Kakonia soldier not a child” barked Clara from the doorway.
“I am…just cautious is all” weakly replied the male.
And to think I used to be afraid of this guy? He’s just a punk. An obnoxious, scattered brained punk, thought Clara amused. The red head couldn’t resist the temptation to tease the young guard. “If you’re scared, Frey, you could hold my hand” stated Clara innocently.
Frey responded with a glare, before marching up and taking the lead from Clara. His shoulder bumped Clara. “I ain’t scared of nothing, and I don’t need to hold a weak human female’s hand. Step aside and let a real man handle this.” Boosted the male “I’m not scared of the stupid scholars…”
Frey led the way into the building. The interior of the tower was not much better than the outside. A thick layer of dust and dirt cover the floor, cob webs blanketed the ceiling and the filthy windows barely let in the sunlight. A flight of stairs stood in the middle of the large circular room, the rest of the space was filled to the brim with shelves and tables filled with books and scrolls of all kinds.
“This not what I pictured a scholar’s tower to be like” commented Clara looking around in mild disgust.
“Yeah, well, I told you they’re a weird bunch” added Frey his eyes scanning the room for any danger.
“Where is everyone?” asked Clara.
“Reception is on the third floor…I think” replied Frey. The blond made his way towards the rickety stairs.
It appears knowledge has taken a back seat this country, thought Clara. Regardless the red head followed behind the blond man.
The stairs creaked nosily as the duo ascended. Clara didn’t bother to use the railing, since it looked disgusting.
Would it kill these guys to clean this place up a bit? Seriously, I didn’t think dust is good at preserving documents, thought the red head annoyed. Her disgust only grew at the state of the second floor, which looked a lot like the first floor, except that papers littered the floor, along with, black smudges.
In spite of the mess, the two continues up the next flight of stairs. Strangely, the third floor didn’t seem that messy. The ceiling was cathedral style that extended all the way up. Clara could make out classic wooden beams and half floors. No doubt, spiral staircases were the only ways up from here. Another feature of the reception area was that it was not even a half a circle of open space. An iron fence with book selves behind it obscured any view to the back of the room. A tall bench desk was situated in front of the fence rising good five feet above floor. Sitting, like a judge, behind the bench was a man, writing on some document not paying attention to the visitors.
The male in question seemed young, like in his late twenties. His face was heart shaped with a smooth, creamy complexion….
The hell?
Clara noticed something else about the man; his hair was spiked up and was bright pink! Five piercings covered each ear, along with a stud nose piercing. Clara also noticed that his fingernails were painted pink as well
Oh my god!
Frey took the time to clear his throat to gain the…unusual looking male’s attention. Pretty green eyes peeked up. The pink haired man straightened up and gave a coy smile.
“Well Blondie, here again I see. Let me guess, Capitan hot-piece-of -ass Jarard, is punishing you again. Well, you know the drill get to work on the floors” mocked the man.
Clara looked to see that Frey wasn’t a happy camper. His nose scrunched in distaste before answering the other male. “Shut it, ass jockey! I ain’t here to do your dirty work” spat Frey.
“First, of all its ‘I am…’ not ‘I ain’t” corrected the male. “Second, believe me, honey, I can make your job lot dirtier” quipped the man, licking his lips.
“You’re so gross!” squawked Frey “As if I’d ever let you touch me you fucking fairy!”
“Aw, no need to get flustered, Blondie. Sweet little Nix would know exactly what you would want” Nix purred.
Frey was shaking in anger, but kept is voice even. “I’m here to drop off her” pointed out the blond. Clara now took center stage, and those green eyes peered down at her.
“Whose she?” asked the pink haired male.
“She’s the new scribe” muttered Frey “You know …the human”
The receptionist inclined his head a little, and then his eyes twinkled in recognition. “Oh! Right the helot turned surf.” The male gave Clara another glance, his nose wrinkled in displeasure, “Seriously, ewe to the E-X-R-E-M-E.”
Great…just what I need…a catty gay guy that already deems me unworthy, thought Clara dully.
“Okay then, I’ve done my job, later human, and good luck with the freaks” said Frey making for the exit.
“Aw don’t go Blondie. I was hoping you would get down on your hands and knees and clean the floor” cooed Nix, his eyes practically undressing poor Frey.
“Fuck you!” spat the blond
“Love to”
Frey growled in irritation. This is one of the biggest reasons I hate this place, were his thoughts.
“Yo human; feel free to knee this cocksucker in the balls once in awhile” called Frey from the stairs.
“I love myself a feisty blond” purred Nix. “However, I’m now stuck with you…name?”
“Clara”
“Well…Clara…welcome to the Scholar’s Tower, try and not mess anything up” said Nix in snotty tone.
“I hardly think that I can do worse in this place” shot back Clara.
Nix sniffed in amusement. “We’ll see, come on then, better let the old farts know you’re here” replied Nix hopping down from the bench. Clara noticed that the pink haired man was very slender and very femme looking, more so than Andrew. He wore a dark blue robe that was secured by a gold rope around his thin waist. Apparently, Nix made the traditional uniform his own; by letting the top part dangle off his waist and showing his upper body; in which was covered in a bright orange, V-neck tank top, which clung to him tightly, surprisingly showing off some muscle.
I guess… even here you get a genetic wild card, thought Clara, following Nix through a gateway into the iron enclosure.
As Clara predicted, the innards of the tower extended all the way up with huge book shelves, ladders, and half floors, like in some movie. Coupled with the library like feel, were a bunch of writing desks with old men behind them. Well, some were grandpa looking, some looked middle aged, but they all had something in common; all of them were definitely the bottom feeders of the Kakonia society. None of these men could ever make it as soldiers.
“Yo! Fresh meat!” called Nix gathering the busy men’s attention.
The scholars looked up from their works, some looked annoyed, but all expressions quickly turned to horror as they beheld Clara. One man, a particularly nerdy looking male, off to the side, starting wheezing in shock. Others had their mouths agape.
The hell is wrong with them? Questioned Clara.
“Oh come on gentlemen, surly you all have seen at least one pussy in your life” chuckled Nix crudely.
“What’s a woman doing here!?” squawked one.
“This here is the new scribe, his highness as assigned to our club” replied Nix off-handedly.
“The human!”
“The human is a woman!?”
“What is his highness thinking?”
Holy crap! It’s like walking into a nerd convention thought Clara amused.
“This has to be an error. Nix, are you playing one of your pranks again” huffed an older man in annoyance.
“Nope, I assure you, she’s the new guy, got an escort and everything from a hot blond soldier” purred Nix.
The scholar’s scurried together like a bunch of cockroaches and started whispering among themselves.
“Are they always like that?” asked Clara.
“Mostly, their terrified of change” snorted Nix.
The bunch of males parted and one bald one spoke, “Can we send her back?” he asked in nasally voice.
Oh no, you are not going to get rid of me that easily, thought the red head. Filling her voice with confidence, Clara answered. “Look here, Aiden himself, assigned me to be a scribe. If you have problems with me then go and take it up with him. However, I’m sure he’s love to hear you question his judgment while he is resting in bed and in a pretty foul mood” Clara gave a sweet smile to boot.
Color drained out of all the male’s faces and they quickly clustered together and resumed their musings.
If me; as a woman scares them, they must be terrified of Aiden, thought Clara.
“Whose is going to train her?”
“I do not know”
“I don’t want to do it”
“What are we going to do; there no way I’m speaking to his highness”
Nix and Clara stood there annoyed as the so called scholars argue amongst themselves.
“You know I am not leaving guys, so if you could speed things up a bit” said Clara, irritation clear in her voice.
It’s too damn early for this nonsense, thought the red head.
The group of scholars parted again and a very old looking man stepped forward, speaking for the group. “We recognize that if his highness deems you worthy of being a scribe then we cannot argue his wishes; even if it does seem questionable. We assume that you need training to become a proper scribe?”
“Yes, I do, I was told that you guys would see to that” replied Clara.
“We see you can speak our language, but can you read or write it?” asked the male again, his crooked nose turn upward in a snotty way.
“A little of both, I’ve been working with Lt. Andrew as an assistant; so I have picked up some of skills” answered Clara evenly.
“Do you know our laws, proper grammar, proper penmanship, how to draft a document, history…”
“Time out!” shouted Clara; her patience with these guys running thin. “Look buster, I will admit I’m a novice compared to you guys. I’ve only been in this backwards country for over a month, I don’t know shit” spat Clara, glaring at the bunch. “However, I’m a quick study and I want to learn. Now if you guys can stop being a bunch of snobby dicks, we can make this a lot easier” proclaimed Clara, hands on her hips, daring the bunch of nerds to say otherwise.
Hell if I can go off on Aiden and live to tell about it, shit, this is a cake walk, thought the red head proudly. Her near death experiences in the Fire Realm had given her a little boost of courage.
The scholars mouths were agape at the proclamation by the skinny red head, even Nix looked at the girl with a little respect.
“Woo, way to wear your ovaries on the outside, honey” joked the pinked haired male.
“Be…be…that as it may, there is a…an issue of finding you a teacher, miss” rasped the old man.
“Well…any volunteers?” asked Clara, scowling. A few of the men flinched. They looked around at one another, but no one said a word.
“Excuse me, but I pulled the books you wanted Cedric” called a soft voice.
From the back of the room, and male emerged carrying a large stack of books, so tall, that his face was obscured. Only light brown hair peeked from atop the stack.
“Um…hello? Where do want these?” asked the male. No one answered his question. “Fine…I’ll just place them here…you could at least acknowledge my presence, you can’t be that busy” grumbled the man, setting his burden on a desk.
Free of the load, the man in question was revealed.
He was as tall as Andrew, but far more thinner. Both legs and arms were lanky. The limbs were hidden in over sized slate colored long sleeved shirt and baggy brown pants. He looked very young, no more than twenty (but in this society who knew how what his age was) with big chocolate eyes. The males’ light brown hair was cut in a geeky bowl cut, complete with thin wired glasses. All in all, his was bad looking, but in comparison to the young soldiers he defiantly was much to look at.
“Reese! Perfect timing!” exclaimed the elder scholar.
“Huh?” asked the confused male.
The scholars all had smiles on their faces, whispering among themselves.
“Perfect, give the girl to Reese” were mainly the whispers.
“Reese my lad, this girl here…” the old man gestured to Clara “is the new scribe the king had assigned to us”
Reese looked towards Clara, shocked spread across his face “Her, but…but… but…” stuttered the man.
“Yes, yes, I know, surprising as it is to have a human….let along a woman join our ranks is highly unusual” coughed the elder.
“It’s never happened in all scholar history!” shouted another scholar.
“Indeed…” continued the elder “Be that as it may, we have no choice but to accept her…the king has gone mad…Anyway, we nominate you, Reese to oversee her education…”
“Me!” shouted Reese pointing to himself, “but…but…Elder I’m not qualified to…”
“Nonsense lad, there is no one better for the job than you” the other scholars nodded in agreement.
“Lucky you, you get the cute one” pouted Nix.
“Him?” questioned Clara, watching the thin male sputter like a spas. He looks like he going to have a heart attack, thought Clara.
“Trust me, honey, Reese’s a sweetheart” cooed Nix “Awkward as a fish out of water, but sweet none the less. Go easy on him…or I’ll make your life a living hell” growled Nix in a deep voice. A shiver of fear ran down Clara’s back.
In that moment, Reese made his way towards Clara. His eyes were casted down in nervousness, with his arms glued to his side. In a small, squeaky voice he addressed Clara “Um…hell…hello…I’m Reese, resident book keeper…and…and…I’ll be instructing you in the ways of the scribe” A blush tinted his pale cheeks as he peeked up at the girl.
Clara’s eyes softened on the male. Giving a sweet smile Clara answered him. “Hi, I’m Clara Stevens and it nice to meet you, Reese. I look forward to working with you”.
More color flooded Reese’s cheeks. He quickly looked down again. “Okay…thank you” he whispered.
“Aw…you’ll do fine sugar, if she gives you any problem, you come to sweet little me and I’ll make things all bettered” said Nix giving a thousand watt smile.
Clara detected a little bit of a threat in that statement, but kept her mouth shut.
“I…I’ll be fine, Nix. Um…please follow me, Miss Clara” softly said Reese turning around and walking. Clara followed and the tower settled down to near silence.
Reese led Clara up to the first of the half floors. This floor had nothing but wooden cabinets with a long library table thrown in the middle.
“This is the records floor, it a key system for all the books and such” mumbled Reese walking to the table and sitting down. “Please have a seat” he asked. Clara did as she was told and took the seat directly across.
“Um…I don’t want to offend you…but...but…I’d like to test you on your current skill level” asked Reese, his eye once again down.
“That’s fine, got to know where to start” joked Clara light heartedly.
Reese made no reply, just kept his eyes to the table. “You know…it’s a sign of weakness not to look someone in the eye” commented Clara.
Where the hell did that come from!? God damn you, Aiden!
Reese peeked up, and gave a weak smile “I…I hear that a lot for people. I’m sorry” mumbled the man.
“Its fine, I thought I’d be the intimidated one here, being human and all” replied Clara softly “I really want to learn, you know”
“Well…if the king thinks you are good enough, than you are, I’m sorry if they were rude to you, it’s not often we get new comers here. Usually, we scholars are not look highly upon” explained Reese
“A shame, in my world education is pretty important” added Clara.
“I heard that your society is pretty advanced, it’s probably a far-cry from our society, huh?” asked Reese.
“You got that right, but despite the differences, I’ve notice some similarities between both our worlds” added Clara.
“Well…I hope there something familiar to you about out writing system?” smiled Reese.
“I’ll get the hang of it” smiled back Clara.
“Shall we get started?” asked Reese, his nervousness fading.
“Bring it on”

Clara found that she had a grade school understanding of the Kakonia language. Disappointing to say the least, since Clara had always been advanced when it came to things like this, hell she could even speak French, not fluently, but still. Reese, for his part, had gone out of his way to reassure Clara that her level was fine. In all honesty, he was pleasantly surprised at her level comprehension. Reese assured that it wouldn’t take too long for Clara to fully grasp their language. Not only that, he was going to educate her in everything Kakonia, from politics to customs.
By first lunch, Clara was already mentally tired.
“Are you okay Clara, Am I going too fast?” asked Reese concerned.
“No, just…hungry…” it wasn’t a total fib, but Clara didn’t want to slow down. The red head was determined to advance in this field.
“Okay, well it’s lunch time, we can resume afterwards”
“That’ll be great” commented Clara rising from her chair.
“Are you going to mess hall?” asked Reese.
“Yeah, are you?” asked Clara stretching her back.
“No, we usually don’t go to mess hall, the soldiers are not too friendly to us, so we eat in the tower” replied Reese in shame.
“Oh! I’m sorry”; I know the feeling, those guys can be real assholes, thought Clara bitterly.
“It’s okay, you go on” answered Reese quickly.
“Okay…I’ll be back then” waved Clara.
“I’ll be waiting” replied Reese. The boy quickly snapped his mouth shut, pink was already filling his face. “I…I mean waiting to…to resume our lessons…” squeaked the man.
Clara smiled sweetly, and waved good bye; He so adorable, though the red head happily.


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Here you go, I hope you all like it, bye