Chaos erupts. The crowd behind us erupts into dismay as the lifeless body of the elder hits the floor.
Hundreds of Navaen civilians scramble to evacuate around me, covering the eyes of their children. Raeis lunges towards the assailant in a rush of wind that knocks me off my feet. But he’s gone– and so are the hostages. Vanished into shadow, successfully soiling the Navaen’s most sacred ceremony with the blood of an elder.
Raeis lets out a guttural scream towards the moon, ringing my ears.
I feel the ground beneath me shaking as a garrison of nomad warriors push through the evacuating crowd onto the scene, dropping their weapons upon the sight.
The remaining four elders lie on the floor, trembling and covered in the blood of their colleague.
I attempt to muster enough lightning to kickstart myself back into action before I’m interrupted by a decapitated head –of one of their sacrificial lambs– hitting the floor, rolling and making a stop right in front of my eyes.
That gives me the boost I need to quickly jolt backwards upon the grisly sight.
The Cassatra triplets from earlier sit perched on the towering wall of the outpost.
“We’re sorry, Raeis.” The middle triplets screams down at the chief, a disappointed look on his face, and his cestuses coated in blood.
Greeted by silence, the left one speaks.
“We were only able to kill one of the hostages, but the assailants and the other hostages managed-”
“They escaped by the skin of their teeth, chief.” The right one interrupts.
They hop down from their perch.
Raeis picks up the body of the dead elder, and the warriors form a pathway standing shoulder to shoulder on his right and left. A large bonfire lay still burning, a cruel blue flame soaring deep into the sky. Raeis walks slowly, a somber and stoic expression on his face. He passes soldiers– none of which are willing to make eye contact with him– eventually reaching the bonfire. The remaining four elders catch up to the chief.
“INVICTA NAVAE!” Raeis screams, every warrior following suit.
“Return to the song, Talzar.”
He drops him into the raging fire.
Everything is silent, no civilian or soldier daring to make a sound.
Even though it might be bad timing, I really need to find my friends.
Raeis suddenly turns around, pointing his golden tipped spear at me.
“Do you understand now, Home-lander? I am far from a fool. I noticed your expression of confusion– of disgust. Those two have taken the lives of more Navaen Men, women, and children than we have killed deer in our lifetime. Veterans of genocide. It is a noble lie to pretend that death does not beget death. To maintain order– no, to establish order requires sacrifice. And no order will be established nor maintained if the Ministry has it’s way. INVICTA NAVAE!” He roars once more. “We shall repay their blood debts with an ocean of it.”
Every Navaen, civilian and soldier repeats.
“INVICTA NAVAE!” My ears cannot catch a break today.
I nod my head, mouthing their famous slogan.
Despite my eardrums being nearly destroyed, they pick up the slightest hint of something familiar.
“ZADAHN!” I faintly hear Antarc screaming.
I turn to see him carrying Orbona, accompanied by Charlie and Sevilla.
“Good to see you too, Antarc.” He scoffs, as I run up to everyone.
“Oh goodness– Zadahn, are you alright? Your ears are bleeding.”
Charlie says worryingly, grabbing on my head to inspect it.
“That’s making it worse, Charlie.” Sevilla says, as she inspects the scene before us.
Raeis, the triplets, the remaining elders, and every other Navaen mourn their fallen, ignoring our touching reunion.
“Hey wait, where's Alexandria?” I ask them, noticing her absence.
“We were just about to ask you the same question, Zadahn.” Antarc says.
“Happy to hear that we’re both equally clueles-”
I’m cut off by an announcement from Raeis.
“The night is still young, my children. We have experienced loss for the last time tonight. Sleep well, my kin, and return to your homes– the tidings of war are upon us. This act of brutality will not go unpunished. I will make a declaration for the world to hear at dawn.”
A declaration? What have we gotten ourselves involved with? I need to retrieve my halberd. I glance behind me in the direction of our sleeping quarters, only to realize I have no idea which direction we came from.
“I think we could all use some sleep, yeah?” I ask my confused guildmates.
“Wait, what happened?” Orbona asks.
“Nothing. Zadahn is right, we should head back. I’m sure the chief will answer any question you have in the morning.
“But what happened to the ceremony?” Orbona asks.
Her inquiry is greeted by silence.
Charlie speaks up, beginning to walk away.
“The sleeping quarters are this way.”
We walk past dozens of Navaen civilians poking their heads out of their homes, noticing the mixture of terror and confusion on their faces, as they quickly retrieve them as they notice our presence. My ears ring, as the silence itself deafens me.
We reach our sleeping quarters, and I unfold immediately upon my bed, feeling a tinge of heat from the gas torch faintly illuminating the room.
Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.
I speak to Antarc, Charlie, Alexandria, Orbona, and Sevilla, all of them sprawled across their beds.
“We’re still going to find that whirlpool. Despite what we’ve gotten entangled in, don’t forget our goal– our last option.”
Alexandria speaks up.
“Judging by recent events, it doesn’t seem like just up and leaving is– well– a viable option, Zadahn.”
Charlie chimes in.
“I agree with both of you, but I think we should wait till morning to hear the chief’s ‘Declaration’ before making any hasty decisions.”
“What, like a sneaky escape or something?” Sevilla chuckles.
“No, maybe we could just outright tell him we don’t appreciate him essentially holding us hostage?”
“Zadahn, I can barely sleep, and your horrific suggestions that would likely bury us further into a shithole are not helping.” Antarc says, groaning.
“Dwarf.” I whisper under my breath.
“Okay, sleep time, everyone.” Sevilla says in a disciplinary tone.
I’m gonna keep my eyes open for a while. I really want to see if Antarc finishes his story.
Twenty minutes pass, and everyone is sound asleep– except Antarc.
Antarc sits up, and walks to tap Orbona on the shoulder.
She awakens in a daze.
“Hey Orbona. Want me to finish that story from earlier?”
I can see her excitement from across the room. I really underestimated Antarc’s children skills.
She hops down, taking a seat next to him.
“Where did I leave off.. Oh, yeah!”
Antarc shifts into his storytelling demeanor, straightening his posture.
“The man and the woman were at a faceoff. She stood tall and confident, and he stood short and hunched. They were equally perplexed with each other. the man felt a sense of familiarity from her scent– and the woman stalked her trophy. The silence in the air was tense, and the woman’s perfume was ever so strong.
‘Sorry, I couldn’t really hear what you were saying from across the river, but I really like that perfume you're wearing!’
The man said eagerly.
‘I’m not fond of repeating myself, but I appreciate your compliment, so I’ll repeat once more– You will accompany me to my home, and I will present you to my people as a prisoner.’ She said stoically.
‘A prisoner? For what? What did I do?’
He said, scratching his head in confusion.
‘Don’t worry about that, Home-lander.’
‘Hey, by the way, where did you get that perfume from?’
‘Enough with the questions!’
She exclaimed impatiently, already daydreaming about the praise she’d receive from her family.
‘Well, I can’t really help asking questions– I’m quite confused. I’m unfamiliar with these lands, and now this beautiful lady is all of a sudden telling me I'm her token prisoner? Almost seems too good to be true!’
The woman’s dark green cheeks flashed a hint of red– She had never been flirted with before.
‘W-well uhm.. Thank you, Home-lander?’
‘What's your name? I think that's the proper way to start a conversation– at least where I'm fro-’
‘My name is none of your concern, but you intrigue me, so I’ll give you the option to come with me consciously, or unconsciously. What will it be?’
The man considered it for a split second, before throwing his hands up in a gesture of surrender.
‘Oh well! Not like I had a destination in mind anyways! How could I complain? Just don’t kill me!’
The woman chuckled.
‘Very well. I like your spirit, Home-lander. Watch your step.’
The man and the woman embarked on their journey to her village. They walked carefully, scaling ancient structures and abandoned holdfasts and hearing ominous roars— Stopping the very moment that the sun dipped below the horizon, and the unforgiving night was upon them. The two took a respite on a grassy mountain perch on a cliff, the outline of the woman’s home barely visible in the distance. Her glory was at her fingertips. They gathered sticks, and lit a campfire. Two strangers sitting across from each other in silence. Surprisingly, she was the one to shatter it.
‘What lands do you come from, Home-lander?’
‘Born and raised in the good old isle!’
‘The good old isle?’
‘Oh, apologies– I'm from the Summer Isle. The heat back home was nigh unbearable, so this is a nice change of pace.’
‘The Summer Isle, hm? I’ve heard tales of that blackpowder hell from our village’s elders.’
‘Hey! Don’t call it that.’
‘Or what? You do realize you are my prisoner, right?’
The man stood up, offended by her insult of his homeland.
Despite the man’s height, his voice carried weight.
‘I don’t appreciate you insulting my home. How would you feel if I insulted yours?’
The woman’s eyes flashed with momentary regret.
‘I- I never thought of it that way, Home-lander. I apologize.’
He sat back down, instantly returning to his carefree demeanor.
‘No harm no foul, lady. I’m excited to see your home– Or my new prison.’
He chuckled.
‘It’s my prison too, sometimes.’
Antarc pauses to catch his breath.
Orbona is immersed, and so am I, as I fight to keep my eyes from closing.
“Wait, why did she open up to him all of a sudden?”
Orbona whispers. Antarc hushes her.
“The two were content with losing sleep, enjoying each other's company– a rare occasion for the both of them.
‘Wait, what do you mean?’
He asked, perplexed by the sudden change in her tone.
‘Sorry– Forget about it. We need to rest for tomorrow’s-’
‘No. I want to hear it! Come on! I’m letting you take me as a damned trophy, the least you could do is let me in on your problems.’
‘What exactly do you want to hear?’
‘I want to hear why your home can be a prison. Forgive my curiosity. I like hearing stories and occasionally telling them.’
‘Understandable, but no.’
‘Fine, no matter– but let me ask you a question. Have you ever left your homeland? Seen what our world has to offer?’
‘Our elders only permit us to leave during war, and I have not been called by those tides yet, but when Navae calls me I shall-’
‘How about I help you break out of your prison?’
‘What do you mean?’
A variety of familiar emotions flew around the woman’s head, consisting of temptation, discontent, and a false facade of pride, but there was another. Something foreign to her. A feeling of yearning. A thirst for something more grand than her homeland, and sure enough, standing before her muttering to her was the embodiment of that. Her emotions reached a boiling point, as she stood up, facing the lands in front of her.
‘Sure.’
He stood up in confusion.
‘Wait, what? Really?’
‘Yes. Don’t ask questions, let's just go somewhere. Somewhere away.’
A smile formed across his face, and there they went. For nearly two years the pair explored their world together, visiting the harsh deserts of Aratel’s Greathive, the cruel snows of Minityrsa, and the serene temples of the Isle of Vigils, uncovering secrets, meeting all kinds of people– from peasants to warlords and kings, but most importantly, they enjoyed each other's company. Alot. They were separate pieces of a puzzle, each aspect of them alleviating flaws of the other, which amalgamated when the two settled down in the man’s homeland, the bustling summer isle, where their love bore fruit in a beautiful little girl. But the two were still young, and hungry for adventure, having to quell their urges in order to raise their new child– and so they did. For years they settled down in a home on the edge of the Summer Isle’s forest, overlooking the sea, focusing on nothing but eachother, and their new bundle of hope– Until one fateful day.”
Antarc’s demeanor darkens slightly, and so does his tone.”
My eyes are teetering on closing. Just a little bit longer.
“That evening was particularly cold. The man was in the town square, enjoying a drink with some locals and watching a fight take place over some trivial inconvenience– Nothing unfamiliar. He had decided it had been getting late, and needed to bring back some loaves of bread from the market for dinner. The smell of gunpowder permeated the air as he walked through the doors into the lively town square, the signature scent of the Summer Isle. He made his way up the road towards his cabin, the sun peeking just over the horizon– eventually reaching its door. But something was different. It was creaked open. As he barged inside, the scent of gunpowder was instantly replaced with an odor of blood. The rooms were in dismay, furniture and ornaments scattered on the floor, painted with gouts of red.”
The already hushed room somehow felt even quieter.
“He searched them all frantically to no avail, setting his sights onto the stairs, having noticed trails of blood leading upwards. The man charged up the stairs and rammed into the door of their bedroom, his hands balled into fists. He came to a halt, collapsing onto the floor. All was silent. In front of him lay the body of his wife in a pool of blood, her lifeless hand pointing to a message carved into his floor. It read, ‘In good faith, - the Central Authority.’ “
Orbona looks somber. Why would he give all of that buildup just for the ending to be so grim, and why tell this to Orbona? I was hoping for a happy ending.
“W-what happened to their daughter?”
Orbona asks.
Out of the corner of my eye, I see Antarc give a sad, knowing smile. He has that glint in his eyes that he always does when he sees something familiar. It’s the kind of smile that has the weight of many years behind it. Only then did it truly strike me that I was not supposed to hear this.
“Nothing. Get some rest. We have a big day ahead of us tomorrow.”
My eyes finally close.