Chapter 10: Maria Elena

Charlene, his Damsel’s name was Charlene Stewardess, and she was running after escaping from abductors. She and a friend had killed them but were sure others would follow. They were right.

Julio stepped through the portal into a small wood-paneled room on Chaos.

The smell hit with his first breath, and assaulted him with memories of mucking out the stables during his apprentice days. The area where the arena’s horses lived was bad enough, but worse was the manure deposited by the bulls. Chaos had a pungent tone like the high notes of a piccolo shot through with the bass notes of a manic tuba. An awful symphony of foul odors.

Julio braced himself, removed his braided leather belt and proceeded to pick apart the weave until he had a twelve-foot-long single strand. Tying a tight knot at one end and forming a loop at the other, he could slip his hand through the loop to assemble a primitive whip. Not much of a weapon but something, and that something would hopefully be unexpected.

He cracked the door and peered into the empty lobby. He stepped through the door to approach the sallow-complexioned man behind the counter. “I’d like to speak with the banker. Please ask him to make time for me.”

“And I’d like to see some coin before I do,” came the snotty reply.

The arrogant man found himself dragged across the counter by a leather strand looped around his neck. “I won’t strangle you,” Julio told him with an even voice, “That wouldn’t be honorable. But I think this gentle lesson in manners is entirely appropriate. Would you care to change your response, or should I think of another, somewhat stronger lesson?”

He loosened the noose so the man could choke out a response. “Of course sir, I’ll let the banker know you wish to speak with him.” He slid back over his counter, stood shaking, then approached a closed door and knocked.

When informed a customer wished to speak with him, the banker stood, motioned over to Julio, and bade him enter his office. He shut the door saying, “Elwood is a snoop, but he’s the best I can find in this town and for sure I can’t find a decent guard. The door is quite soundproof, so your business with me is private. My name is Percival – Percy if we become friends. You quite resemble your father, so I think we will.”

“You knew my father? How did you know me?” Julio could hardly parse out the questions through his emotions.

“Well, yes,” Percival responded, “It has only been six tendays since he was murdered, and as I said, the resemblance is very strong. He brought me a lot of business, so I knew him well.”

Percival’s response was beyond shocking. During various discussions, Cynthia told Julio that time often interfaced differently between the four locations, but he’d only given thought to the fifteen minutes elapsed whenever he returned home from Crossroads. What an opportunity; with a fresh trail, he could find his father’s murderer and bring him to justice! Clearly, Julio had not assimilated Cynthia’s ‘might makes right’ warning.

Percival hadn’t noticed the shock he’d caused and moved along. “But before we get too deep into the details of business, I need to formally identify you for the bank’s system. Do you have the password?”

“Yo soy un hombre sincero,” sang Julio, followed by “If necessary, I can sing the whole song. Mother told me it was my father’s favorite and that he used that phrase as a password on all his accounts. He thought that since it wasn’t a native Mexican song, it wasn’t easy to guess. Concerned his bankers and accountants, though.”

“No, that’s enough,” Percival responded. “He may have been naïve about the passphrase, but he was a very shrewd businessman. He left a lock of your hair with the Bank, so your finger will serve as a two-step authentication. You and any other descendants are his heirs. That means you as far as we know.”

“Unless I have a brother or sister here,” Julio smiled, “you are correct, es cierto yo!”

Percival nodded, “He left a will with the bank – and it has some interesting instructions. There are two accounts, and two boxes. One of each is instantly yours without restrictions. I don’t know the contents of the box, but the account has enough funds to live or travel on for several tendays, assuming you are reasonably frugal. You’ll understand the next requirement.”

“To gain the remainder of your inheritance, you must present an ear to any Banker,” he pointed to himself, “that really means to me, because the only arena we know of is just outside of our town. You’ll own that too, once you get your first ear. Let’s get you started.”

The two left Percival’s office into the lobby. At the Banker’s direction, Julio placed his finger into a hole in Elwood’s counter and was acknowledged as the account’s new owner. The frowning clerk glared but remained silent.

Next, Percival led Julio back into the room where he’d arrived, and when a box appeared, told him. “This time I could summon the box for you, but once you insert your finger to identify yourself to it, you will not need me. I’ll leave you now, but please see me when you are finished here.”

Julio inserted his finger in the obvious hole, and when the lid opened silently, he looked inside his new box. Immediately visible, there was clothing, two swords, a purse and an envelope with his name on it. It wasn’t sealed, so he carefully opened it and began to read the letter it contained.

“Querido Julio, I wish I could see you now, the Hero I knew you’d grow into – ciertamente un héroe! I knew this would be, but your passing through the portal from Crossroads confirms it. The last time I saw you, held you, you were a Niño pequeño – only a few weeks of walking. I update this letter with every visit to Chaos, so I know you’ve lived most of your life without me. For this, I am very sorry.”

“To protect your inheritance, I own very little in this world. Everything has been placed in your name or your patrimonio, so if I die – as I surely have – no murderer can take away more than the relatively small amount I use to live by. This is also the reason for your two-stage inheritance. This is a dangerous world with different rules, and you need to quickly learn how to survive and prosper. You appear wealthy enough that you will be a target, so you must choose a beneficiary as soon as possible. Your son, when you have one. Banker Percival can be trusted to help you. For now, you must go out and learn this new world. Rescue your Damsel. Return with her to your Caretaker. Remember that you are now her world. Give her your love as you have mine.”