It Rained Red Upon the Arena (4 page)

Three Reza women were on stage singing songs as drunken men stayed fixated on their bodies. Dozens of candle light chandeliers lit up the spacious room and about half the tables were occupied by feasting men, women and children. It was becoming a lively night at The Cove Tavern. The waiter spotted the two as they came in and ordered the same dishes they would always did: a roast beef and apple stew for Nick, and a strawberry infused pork rib for Christopher.

Nick sat at the table eager to tell his father of the date he had with Penny the night before. He sat there and looked around at the walls before he had the courage to start up conversation.

“Dad, I have good news.”

“What would that be?” inquired Christopher.

Nick took in a deep breath and then said, “Last night I went on a date with a girl named Penny. It was wonderful. We talked for hours and hours. The time flew by and by the end of the night I got my first kiss from her. Ever since that moment she has been on my mind constantly. I can’t stop thinking of her and I really like her.”

Christopher sat in silence for a moment with no change in expression on his face and then he said in a monotone voice, “Nick, that’s great. Good for you.” Nick was not impressed by his father’s lack of enthusiasm. It was not like his father to be so nonchalant about something significant that occurred in his life.

“That’s it? Dad, this girl means a lot to me. You could at least pretend to smile. Even though I could see right through it, I would appreciate the gesture.”

Christopher rubbed his hand on his forehead as he looked at his son. “I’m sorry son, I’m happy for you. But I, too, have something stuck on my mind that I cannot shake. Let me ease my mind as well.”

Nick gazed upon his father and they both sat silently for what felt like an hour. His father finally looked at his son in the eyes and found the courage to free his mind.

“Nick, let me tell you something that happened at the shop,” said Christopher. “Yesterday a Paplon man who was tall and muscular with dark curly brown hair and a braided beard came to my shop early in the morning at sunrise. He purchased two daggers, which ended up being used to murder a civilian.”

“Murder?” asked Nick.

“Yes, a Refect came in to question my interactions with the man,” said Christopher. “I had my suspicions of him, but I did not act on them. Nick, I love what I do, I really do. I enjoy making weapons. Weapons made with the finest steel and having the sharpest edges. It is like an art for me that took years to perfect. But they are nonetheless instruments of death. For that reason I’ve decided to close up my business.”

Nick sat there completely shocked at what he had just heard. His mouth was left slightly opened; he couldn’t fathom his father not being a blacksmith. It was all he had ever known of his father to do. Ever since he was a baby his father was perfecting his craft.

“Dad, you can’t, you just can’t,” said Nick. “You say they are instruments of death, but they are instruments that protect as well, is that not true?”

Christopher sat silently with a straight face.

“You can’t close the shop because this happened,” said Nick. “It’s not your fault the man decided to kill with something you created. You are not the one to be blamed, Dad.”

“I am thankful to have a son who is as bright as you, Nick,” said Christopher. “The decision does not rest on the fact of whether it was my fault or not. I have always wondered how many men have walked into my shop, purchased a weapon, and proceeded to kill someone. This was simply one case where the Refect were able to find the killer. But you know as well as I do, that there are too many unsolved murder cases because the killers get away before they are caught. Our society is filled with psychopathic killers partnered with law enforcement that acts too slowly. Nick, I can find a new craft, one that doesn’t involve death in the slightest.”

Nick knew his father could be one stubborn man. Nick sat there silently collecting his thoughts, and he looked his dad in his hazelnut eyes. He saw him fumbling with his hands, his index finger brushing up against his thumb. Nick knew that this was no easy news for his father to present.

“I want you to be happy, Dad. If this change will bring you happiness, I will stand by your decision. When I become a Refect I want to be in the field investigating crimes. I want to help make Vincot a safer place to live.”

Christopher smiled and felt relived to hear his son be supportive of his decision. “I know that when you join the Refect you will become a great asset to them. Your swordsmanship and fast reflexes are unmatched. You’re truly gifted, and you can do so much good with your abilities. Not to mention you’re not empty between the ears,” he said with a chuckle. “When you become a Refect I want you to help stop those mad men that ravage our streets with bloody swords. You are fast and smart, I know you can…”

A loud thump occurred as a fist smashed against the wooden wall behind Christopher. Startled, Christopher jumped and quickly turned around to find a man clothed in a black and grey jacket with a hood attachment. His clothing was so dark it was hard to see the man’s face in the lighting of the tavern. He was facing down towards the floor, looking at his boots, and his right hand fixed on the wall to support himself.

Christopher and Nick were both startled as they had no idea where he appeared. The two were so in depth in the conversation, that they did not realize he had crept up behind them.

The mysterious man looked up and gazed into Nick’s eyes. “Sorry, sorry,” said the man. He pushed his right arm off the wall and then stumbled two steps to his left. As he stood straight, his body swayed in every direction possible. “You know what’s funny is, I completely swear, yes, I swear, I saw a blonde beauty walk towards this corner, tits like I’ve never wanted to look at so badly. Have you seen her?”

Christopher shook his head. “No women here, sir. They all seem to be by the bar back the other way. You will find her there.”

A drunk
, thought Nick.

The man stood firm and looked at Christopher with great focus. “My mistake then. Eyes can play tricks on the best of us, I suppose,” said the man.

The man grabbed a chair from an empty table and pulled it up to Christopher’s table. Christopher and Nick were facing each other at the table and the man sat down at the edge.

“Perfect, absolutely perfect,” said the man. Nick got a better look at his face. There was a scar from the top of his forehead to the bottom of his right eye. He had a blonde stubby beard accompanied by two blue eyes.

“Sir, if you would kindly go back to the bar and leave us alone, that would be perfect. We did not invite you to sit down at our table. My son and I are having a meal together. We would like to have a private dinner for a reason,” said Christopher.

The man turned his head and looked at Christopher. “I was invited, yes, yes, I am meant to be in this seat accompanying you two. You are the famous blacksmith of Vincot, are you not?” said the man.

“Yes I am, but again I did not invite you to sit down. You are disturbing the both of us,” replied Christopher.”

The man smiled at Christopher. A smile unlike no other, it was terrible. His teeth yellow, gums black, and teeth were missing. It was sinister. “They talk much about you. They worry what will happen if you are still here when it happens. I told them not to worry. I told them I’m the man for the job.” As he spoke these words the man put his right arm beneath the table.

He pulled out his sword in an instant and jolted from his seat to behind Christopher. His blade sliced the front of Christopher’s neck. Christopher tried to turn around but fell to the floor. The man raised his sword as Christopher laid on his back looking up. The man drove the sword with both hands straight down into Christopher’s skull.

So fast, it had happened so fast and out of no where. Nick reached for his concealed dagger in his coat and jumped over the table onto the man, whose sword finished piercing through Christopher’s skull and penetrated the wooden floor.

Nick tackled the man, and they fell to the floor next to Christopher’s lifeless body. With a dagger in his hand Nick plunged it into the man’s heart. Nick got on top of the man and pulled out his blade. He stabbed the man in the chest again, then again in his throat. He stabbed and stabbed as the lifeless blue eyes stared at Nick.

“You killed him!” shouted Nick. “You killed my father, you killed my world!” His dagger drenched in blood, he stabbed him again and again. He couldn’t stop.

A scream from his left and the sound of plates crashed as the waiter witnessed Nick stabbing the man with his dagger.

The waiter ran back to the front and screamed, “Murder, murder!”

Nick stared blankly at the waiter as a group of civilians came rushing over to witness the gruesome scene. Nick heard another scream from the crowd, “Go get the Refect! I just saw them outside!”

People started to cover their eyes and had to walk out of the building out of pure disgust. Others just stood and stared at Nick with their hands on their weapons ready to strike Nick down if he made a move. They continued to look at him like he was a maniac, like he was an animal.

Nick got himself up from the lifeless man. He looked over to his father, his body laid out in a pool of blood. Anger, sadness, confusion, shock; they all hit Nick in painful waves. “How could this happen? Dad, why did this happen? Please don’t leave me alone; you’re everything to me Dad,” Nick said, tears rushing down his face. “I don’t want you to leave me. We were supposed to do so much together. Don’t leave me.” Nick cried like he had never cried before and lay next to his father. He held his hand and then shut his father’s eyes.

Four hands grabbed a hold of Nick by his arms. He was thrown onto the ground chest first and handcuffed. The Refect stood him up and walked him out of The Cove Tavern. Nick walked with them in silence. He realized he had killed the man, and no one around him knew what had happened. Tears dropped from his eyes as he was taken to one of Vincot’s cell blocks a few minutes away from The Cove Tavern.

Chapter Four

Ten stairs. Nick knew this as he used to play on these exact stairs as a child, even though it was forbidden to play on them. Three Refect accompanied Nick up the stairs and there was a wooden door with a plaque above it that simply read Cells. The door opened and there was a desk. Five wooden doors were in place behind the desk on the back wall. A Refect sat at the desk and cracked his knuckles. “What have we here, boys?”

“Found this bloody mess after he was done stabbing a few men at The Cove,” said the Refect holding Nick. “Which cell is he going in, Jeff?”

“Put him in Thirteen,” said Jeff. “What’s your name, boy?”

Nick blinked a few times in an attempt to stop another tear from rolling down his eyes, “Nick Bint, sir.”

“A little young for a murderer but then again I have seen younger,” replied Jeff.

“I am no murderer, sir. You have to understand I was acting in self defense. My father was murdered before my own eyes and I killed the man before he would do the same to me.”

“Ah, blah blah, save it for the trial, Nick,” said Jeff. “We don’t care what you have to say. Two men are dead and you are the one standing here covered in blood. Your trial will be set up for tomorrow. Lucky for you there was a cancellation and you’ll fit right in. Your trial is where you will have the right to plead your case. Men, get him into the proper attire and see him to the cell.”

The Refect walked Nick over to the furthest door to the right. Behind the door was a white square room with another door at the back wall. The men took off his handcuffs and began stripping Nick of all of his clothing until he stood there completely naked. One Refect went to the corner and picked up a white piece of clothing. He gave it to Nick, and he proceeded to put it on. It had four holes for his arms, head, and one for his legs. It reached down to his shins where the bottom portion opened as if it were a long dress.

One Refect reached behind himself to get a set of keys out of his pocket. He unlocked the door and opened it. Behind the door was a hallway with metal cells. They walked him half way down and opened one. Above the metal read the number 13. Nick walked in without restraint and looked at the blank stone wall in front of him. Behind him he heard the metal cell door close shut and the key turn until a little click was heard as the door was locked. Steel boots clicked and clacked as they walked back down the hall. Nick still stared blankly at the wall.

He finally had the desire to look around the cell. Three stone walls, stone flooring, accompanied by a metal cell wall behind him. The metal on the cells came from the ceiling overhead to the stone floor. On the floor there was a bed mattress up against the wall in the back. Nick sat down on the greasy old mattress. He wanted to cry but he felt as though he had no tears left to shed.

This was the worst night in existence; nothing could compare to the pain Nick felt. His mom had passed away from sickness and that hurt all too much. But to have his father murdered in front of his very eyes was something he could not comprehend. It had all happened so fast. One minute his father and he were having a conversation, the next minute a drunken man drove a sword into his father’s neck.

Now Nick sat in a cell where he had hoped to put criminals in one day. He loved his father with everything he had. Christopher was his only family. Now he was left in the world alone, no family to help him, love him, or watch him grow into a young man. He had his father taken from him, and he knew the next day he would be on trial for killing his father and another man.

The night grew colder, and it was a long night indeed. Sleep was not an option for Nick; it could not even cross his mind. What proof did he have that he did not kill his father, but rather killed a man in self-defense.

The man said they talked and worried about my dad
, thought Nick. He did not know what that could mean. It was not a bar fight gone bad. Somebody had sent a hit man to that tavern to kill Christopher Bint. Nothing about the scenario made sense.