Beheading : Chapter 2

There was a sharp sound like a stick hitting someone's back of a hand, followed by "Ahhh." 

"You killed a priest!!?" A voice roared.

"No, we didn't master..." a pitiful voice answered.

"Then what do you mean by silencing him?" He asked again, feigning composure though his composure had left him long ago.

The three of them were scared; no one wanted to open their mouths and retell the events that had happened to their master because they were sure he wouldn't be too pleased with the turn of events, their bruised knuckles were proof of that, but when he raised the stick, again Jenna had to speak up.

"We just took his eyes." She whispered with her eyes closed and looking downwards.

"What!?" He raised the stick again, but seeing him distracted with shock, Jenna was quick to draw her hands back, exclaiming, "Not permanently! I'm sorry, master, but it had to be done. He could have become a witness, he was praying, but when he heard the commotion, his eyes flew open, and I blew the forgetting powder in his eyes.. They will be fine after a week, but for now, he would be of no use to the Yavat military."

"So it was all planned." He questioned again, getting hold of the last bits of his patience.

"No master," Jenna answered, "We don't get involved with innocents as you have taught us, it was a last moment decision."

"Yes, master, we had no idea they would assign us a priest," Mary added.

"Probably they got too scared after hearing our last wishes and the reasons behind them; thus, for their safety, they called a priest." Natalia reasoned.

"Even then, a man of God shouldn't have been hurt; it's a bad omen! You are risking too much for your own benefit." He said ominously and, in quick succession, hit the knuckles of all three girls with his legendary bamboo stick. The commotion that followed was too much to describe in words.

"But they always do that! They always kill innocents!" Natalia raged.

"Yes, master, remember that shepherd they purposely captured his sheep and lured him to the forest near the borders, he was found with a dozen arrows sticking out of his back, drowning in his own blood..." Mary sobbed.

"There are thousands of such cases master.. them poisoning our water streams, killing innocent villagers, torturing lost shepherds, luring little children in their traps and then selling them to Yavat's streets.. putting Amarati people in prison is their favorite pastime, what they have put our people through in recent years is horrific, we can not even have a peaceful political meeting to raise these issues, they have banned all communication and now only guns talk!" Jenna fumed.

"We can not become the enemy," the master began again in a calm voice. "We have to watch our conduct closely. We can not let history side with them!" He roared, silencing them again with his radical explanation.

"And now it's time for you three to learn the importance of decent conduct."

"To the STUDY!"

The three of them gasped and looked up from their shoes, but their master had already started walking ahead, and they had no choice but to follow. The other students who saw them walking behind the head master, like lost puppies, tried hard not to snicker, but a few amused chuckles were heard. 

It was not unusual for those three to get in trouble, but it was unusual for them to get punished by the head master himself. No one knew for sure, but there were rumours that they were his favourite students. That makes this moment a lot more fun for the other girls. On their way to the study, both Natalia and Mary swore in their head to never listen to Jenna's ideas again, and well, Jenna swore to never get caught again.

At the end, Mary and Natalia found themselves bound to the chair of doom, with a rope around their midsection, hands bound to a rope that goes straight up to a mechanical wheel, which stays in position as long as their wrist remain moving. Which is required to write the apology letter on their desks, but God forbid if they stopped writing, even for a second, the cogs on the wheel would turn, and there is a water bucket connected to the other end, which would turn, and they'll get a taste of ice-cold water involuntarily. 

It was not that bad of a punishment. Mary tried to remind herself again, but when you've been soaked with ice-cold water three times already, it just gets hard to see it like that. "I've run out of ideas of what to write next.. C-can you show me your paper, please?" Mary asked Natalia with chattering teeth. Natalia leaned back in her seat without breaking the rhythm of her pen gliding over the paper. And angled it above the desk to show her companion her essay on regret. 

Mary's eyes rolled heavenwards after witnessing her friend's heart and soul spread on the paper. She had written "I'm sorry" again and again. While Mary racked her brain to come up with a reasonable explanation of her actions, "My dear friend, did you not witness Master giving us specific instructions to reflect on our behaviour and write all the reasons that we were wrong and how guilty we feel. He will read it for sure... Do you have no fear, Natalie!" She hissed at her friend's indifference.

In answer, Natalia only shrugged her shoulders, which shouldn't be a big deal. But ever the sharp-minded and sarcastic, Natalia forgot her current predicament. And as the water came down on her for the first time, Mary sniggered.

"Fuck" she cursed. The instructors gave her a look, "fun..' I meant how fun.." She was quick to correct herself, "I can do this all night," she said, smiling, but her eyes spoke of cold murder.

"It's good that you guys are enjoying yourself. At this rate, you will definitely be here all night," the instructor replied with equal sarcasm, waving his large and lethal bamboo stick around. That stick was so large it could reach them in an instant from wherever they stood in the room they were appointed, especially by the head master to watch over them strictly.

"Once I get out of here, I'll set fire to all the bamboo trees in this country," Natalia whispered ominously.

"I'll help you," Mary agreed. And then smiled suddenly, as if she remembered something... "Remember Jenna advised us to do this years ago."

"It's because of her and her ideas that we are here."

"True.." Mary hummed. "I wonder what punishment she got?"

"Something worse than this for sure.. She was the mastermind of this plan after all," Natalia answered.

"Hmm.."

Jenna was not expecting her punishment to be any kinder. But when she found herself facing her reflection on at least a thousand dragon glass stones, she blinked out of her haze and reached for the rug again. Her punishment entailed cleaning the Lion God's temple till it shone, and not a single speck of dust could be found. 

Jenna huffed in frustration. The Lion God temple was unlike any other, made purely from dragon glass. A material which appears greenish black in colour, but reflects light like a diamond. It only happens when there is not a single speck of dirt or other particles on the surface, which can cause a divergence. 

Thus, the cleaning staff of the temple was a force to be reckoned with. It was a job that required patience, experience, devotion, a great deal of inclination, and faith in God.. All the things Jenna severely lacked. She hated boring and repetitive tasks. A fact her master knew very well and often used against her. 

Jenna and all the other students gather in this temple at least twice a day for the morning and evening prayers. The temple was on campus, and the Lion God was the supreme deity worshipped by everyone in their country. The temple has always been a sight to behold. It was magic alive and breathing. Jenna loved the temple too, but often felt sorry for the working staff responsible for cleaning and maintenance of the temple. It was huge, and its enchanting shine depended on the precision of a dozen skilled hands. 

It was already two pm, and she had a few hours before people started gathering for evening prayer. It has never happened that the temple was not ready before people's arrival. Her master had warned her that the tradition shouldn't be broken. With a sarcastic smile, she cleaned another huge mandala etched on the floor, sure that the tradition wouldn't break, but her back surely would.

Halfway through her work, she noticed two sticks waving in her direction. At first, she thought it was those students again who were making fun of her, from the courtyard, egging her on to lose her patience and deliver the vengeance that would only get her in more trouble. She swore to deliver the vengeance on time; they almost made her swear inside the temple, but right now is not a good time to entertain ideas of annihilation. 

But the whistling sound was annoying, so she had to look back. Now, the figure was much closer inside the temple's courtyard by a banyan tree. Jenna was quick to recognise him and got up suddenly, crossing the sanctum to get closer to the archway with a laugh. She asked him, "What are you doing here, stupid?"

"Your faithful servant is here to deliver you the news, my queen." He answered, smiling and even did a fake bow.

"I was just waiting for that.. Give me the papers now!"

"Patience is a virtue, my lady."

"Patrick!"

"Here," he threw the newspaper in her direction. She was quick to catch it. 'Yavat daily' was written in bold letters on the front.

"So what's the meltdown like?" Jenna asked quickly, skipping through the pages, the tales of their latest adventure were written on the front page in bold headlines, but Jenna didn't want to miss anything.

"It's severe.. Everyone has been talking about it and what a military failure it was," Patrick answered in a serious tone, all mirth leaving him as they talked business. 

"Good.." 

"Finally, you guys have gotten your wish fulfilled of becoming a national hero.. I mean heroines," Patrick said lightheartedly, but admiration was clear in his gaze. 

Jenna chuckled looking over the names of the officers who have been suspended there were quite alot of them, there was also a statement from a certain lord proclaiming that 'last night was one of the best nights of his life and then suddenly this event happened he won't let it taint his beautiful memories of that night and encouraged others to do the same' ofcourse the country was panicking their security isn't as much invincible as much as they thought.

"I think they will take retribution," he said suddenly. Jenna's gaze shot up at him. She exhaled, folding the paper neatly and handing it back to him, saying, "All they can do is talk and send threats; there is nothing concrete in this." 

"And we are no longer afraid of their threats, and if they do start a war, they'll be doing us a favour." She smiled cunningly. He shook his head at her, seeing her determination, he changed the topic.

"I can see the head master has given you a heartwarming welcome," he said, raising his eyebrow at the bucket and rug.

"You know our master." She said with a sigh. He nodded his head.

"You are lucky, you didn't get admission in the army school. You've got too much of a soft skin to survive there." Jenna teases.

"Oh, common.. I can do what I do best only when I'm free. I've chosen this path. We all have the same goal, just different paths." He explained.

"If only they knew your worth," Jenna spoke slowly looking at his frame up and down he had auburn hair and green eyes a medium hight all his features made him look pretty normal other than the fact that he leaned a bit on his left foot while walking it was only a slight tilt not noticeable unless you pay attention. But it was something he was still uncomfortable with.

"Jenna.."

"I know.. Your secret is safe with me." 

"Take care, may the winds be with you." 

"May the winds be with you." With a whisper, he was gone, almost as if the winds carried him away. 

Jenna sighed for the thousandth time and looked at the rug, which was staring at her menacingly.

Jenna hurriedly went back to work. She was cleaning the main chamber of the temple where the grand idol of the lion God Amu was situated. It was striking, made of solid gold, adorned with priceless jewels, a half-man and half-lion. 

The idol felt very alive and breathing to Jenna. She cleaned the surroundings, making sure everything was spotless. That was the time she felt a bit lightheaded, in the main chamber, but thought it was due to fatigue. And continued cleaning, for some reason, she was avoiding looking at the idol completely. And was very careful cleaning around it. She felt that someone was watching her, which was obviously not possible, since she was the only one there. But she couldn't shake off the nerves.. 

She was cleaning the gates of the main chamber, the idol set directly behind her, and she felt cold sweat on the back of her neck like someone staring at her intently. This time, she gathered her courage and looked back directly at the idol. She heard the lion roar and flames erupt from his mouth and lunged at her, engulfing her, licking at her skin, burning her... that was the last thing she saw, then her eyes closed on their own accord.

Jenna had a dream of sleeping on her bed the smell of freshly baked buns were softly filling the air she jumped up from her bed and raced to the kitchen because the early bird gets the worm in high spirits she dashed inside the kitchen checking the post clear of any obstacles and then reached for the buns stacked on top of eachother on the kitchen counter just as she was about to stuff one in her mouth she felt a big wave of water got crashed onto her face and she woke up cursing "son of a.. looking up at the face of the two teachers who surrounded her one of them still holding the water bucket she corrected herself ".. very respectable lady"  

"Did I fall asleep?" She asked sheepishly.

They both looked at each other and then replied, "It seems so."

She nodded her head and then jumped to her feet, perplexed, "Did I finish cleaning the temple!!" 

She was looking around her mind going a mile per minute when the teacher spoke again, "Relax, it's done, otherwise we would have woken you up sooner and not with water." The threat was clear, but Jenna still relaxed. 

"Thank goodness."

"Hurry up, change your clothes, and go back to the hostel. You are not allowed outside of the campus." Saying that they turned and walked away.

Jen sighed again, this time in relief. She was a bit surprised not to see her master himself coming up to check her work, but anyway, it was good riddance for her. Outside, it was already twilight, the sky splattered with pink and different shades of purple. She noticed a shift in the air. There was a hurry in people's steps. And many teachers were talking among themselves in small groups, worry lines etched on their faces. She briefly thought what that was? When a force knocked into her, she almost fell to the ground, almost. She turned to glare at the person, but upon seeing them, she smiled her first real smile of the whole day..

"Missed me," Natalia said with scorn.

"As a matter of fact, I did," Jenna exclaimed, launching herself on her and putting almost all of her weight on her. "I'm so freaking tired." She sobbed.

"Get up!" Natalie fumed.

"Aww, we heard about your punishment, you must have had a rough time. Come here, dear," Mary offered her a hug, which she gladly took.

They were rejoicing and telling each other about their time in enslavement, which meant punishment when they finally noticed their surroundings, and especially that a lot of people were leaving the campus grounds in a hurry, some even running for what reason exactly? No one stopped to tell.

"Is the fair back in the city early this year?" Jenna asked.

"No.."

"Then what's the rush? Where are they going?" 

"No, something must have gone wrong; they look weird, teachers are fidgety, and the head master is nowhere in sight." Jenna expressed, "We must go and check."

"No," Mary was quick to show her denial.

"We are crazy, but we are not suicidal. We are banned from going out, we just finished a punishment, and I have no interest in going through that again. "

"Neither do I-" Jenna began.. 

"I don't know you are a glutton for punishment." They were arguing when Natalia interrupted them, "What is that?" Pointing her fingers towards the northwest sky, black circles of smoke could be seen rising in the sky from their position. 

It took Jenna a second to realize the exact position of that place on their map, and when that clicked, she ran with all her might. Natalia and Mary were quick to follow.

When they reached there, the biggest granary of the city was burning with such ferocity that it seemed impossible to be quelled by water. There was nothing to be done. Common people, civilians, villagers, educators, children, everyone was involved in taking water from the well. And throwing it onto the burning building, to quench the thirst of the fire, but it was too late... The three of them stood there, shocked and still, their minds running at a fast pace. The moment they realised who did it by looking at the arrow with a red ribbon etched on a nearby wall, they looked at Jenna, having pieced it all together. Jenna had only one answer.

"They will pay in blood."