4

Lady Greed

When Carrion opened his eyes it was almost unbelievable. He was alive. He almost starved to death, but was saved by the small tanned, pointy eared fisherwoman that sat in a seat by his bed. He'd say he was thankful but was afraid she wouldn’t understand him. The woman, with her dark blue eyes, stared at Carrion like an odd museum piece. Carrion observed the woman too. She wore a long blue dress tied with a belt around her stomach with a dagger attached to one side, and a small bag on the other side. Compared to her clothes, Carrion assumed his jeans and Linkin Park band shirt made him stand out.

   The woman blinked after moments of silence and moved frantically to the door, “I must tell Lady Greed!” 

   Carrion paused. Did I understand her? He thought. The language sounded so foreign to him, but he understood it with a clarity unlike any other. He didn’t understand English as well as he felt he understood her.

   He sat up and tried to walk but fell back down on the bed. His legs felt numb, like he hadn’t walked for days, and he probably hadn’t. Before he could try again, the door opened.

   A tall, buff and lightly tanned woman walked in, dressed in black from top to bottom, her clothes didn’t reveal any skin bar her head and hands. Her long blond hair tied in a braid contrasted her clothes as she walked towards him on heavy boots. She sat in the chair next to Carrion, her brown eyes scanning him.

   She spoke with a soft Russian accent, “You’re a Sin, aren’t you?”

   Carrion was kind of surprised. “A sin?”

   The woman sighed. “Don’t worry, I’m a Sin too. No need to play dumb.”

   Carrion smiled and reached out his hand. “I’m not playing dumb, just surprised is all. I’m Carrion, who are you?”

   She didn’t shake his hand. “I am Greed.”

   “I meant your name.” He replied, slightly confused.

   “That is not important. You shall call me Greed.”

   Carrion sat back, feeling weaker than when he awoke.

   Greed look at him with caution. “How are you feeling?”

   “Hungry, numb, but alive. One good thing at least.” He laughed. 

   She went and got some bread from a nearby table and gave it to Carrion.

   “Thank you,” He said, he felt like he could cry. Finally some food.

   She nodded and sat back down. “So, what is your Sin?”

   Carrion finished his bread. “She called me Wrath,” He answered.

   “She? The God who chose you?” Greed questioned.

   “Yes, Amoura the Sixth Goddess.”

   Greed smiled. “Ah, the pretty one. I wondered who her Sin was.”

   “You’ve met her?” He asked, confused.

   Greed leaned back in her chair. “Yes, I have met most of the Gods. My chooser was Loki the Fourth God.”

   “You can meet the other Gods?” 

   “Yes, through a kind of meditation. Just relax your mind and body and think of where you met Amoura, and you should be able to go there. Your spirit will, at least, as I have learned.” 

   Carrion blinked. “I have so many questions…”

   She put up a hand. “Save them, there are things I must tell you of where you are.”

   Carrion perked up to listen, with only a slight feeling of deja vu.

   “You were found on another island not too long from here by the woman who left earlier, a fisher named Kaya.”

   Carrion nodded, she had the fish smell about her so he had assumed that.

 Greed continued. “She doesn’t speak any language we would know off, but thanks to our positions as Sins we can understand any language, and speak it when speaking to them. The Gods thought it’d be handy, given the situation. Very thoughtful of them.

   “The Island we are on is called Ulaou, it is an island of just women who have freed themselves from oppression of the nearby country. I help free more, and protect the ones here who don’t fight. This is a nice place, Wrath.”

   Carrion frowned, “Just Carrion, and yeah, it does sound nice. But I feel like there’s bad news coming.”

   Greed looked down slightly, “Sadly, you are right. The women don’t trust you, they think you are a spy sent from the country to find this place and they want you dead.”

   Carrion looked to the wooden roof, “I can’t really blame them, if their situation was as bad as I think.”

   “I’m glad you understand. But you have a chance to earn their trust, I have convinced them to nurse you back to health and see who you are. Now that I know you are a Sin, you will help me in a raid to free slaves. I’d ask your opinion but it is either you die, or help free slaves.”

   Carrion chuckled, “Jeez, don’t sugar coat will ya. I’ll help of course, but I’m afraid I won’t be able to do much.”

   “Don’t worry, I will train you as you get better,so you will not be a complete burden. Do you know how to use your magic?”

   “Thanks. And yes, I figured that out at least.”

   “Good, that’ll make things easier. Have you ever fought before, Wrath?”

   Carrion frowned, he didn’t like being called that. “Yes, I can. I trained in boxing and kickboxing.”

   She nodded, “You will need gauntlets then, you will be fighting trained soldiers with swords who could easily chop off your hands if you don’t protect them.”

   “All chuckles and smiles, ain’t ya?”

   She ignored his sarcasm. “You should rest, I will send Kaya back with some clothes that may fit you. You treat her well, this is her home she cares for you in. When you are well enough, I shall come back for you and take you to train.” She got up to leave.

   “See you later then,” He called after her.

   Greed gave him a nod and left.

   Not a great conversation, but at least he found another like him, he thought. It’ll make things easier, if things can be.