Blood Vengeance

by Dan Mat

  Elias Mird paused for a brief moment, just to be sure everyone is paying attention.

  “But only if we all pull together. If we commit to uphold the transparency, the honor, honesty and diligence, I believe that we can prevail.” Mird said with passion “And as a chief councilor of the naval guild, I can promise more investments in this sector. Such are the building of the shipyard, extending the port and our fleet. These are just some of the projects, which could help us connecting with other ports, cities and regions. That would, in my humble opinion, lead to countless business opportunities. And not to mention, it would undoubtedly spur the growth and influence of our city.”

  Mird glanced at Xavnier, and then at chief regent Scejvor, as to give him a signal, that he was finished.

  “Councilor Gloir. You may now have a word.” Scejvor said, as soon as Elias Mird was back in his seat.

  “Thank you.” Xavnier nodded, as he shakily stood up “Councilor Mird’s speech, his ideas and visions, are telling of a great candidate for the position of Lord. But not now, not today. Perhaps in the future. Today, we need a lider, capable of recognizing and dealing with the potential crisis.”

  Xavnier’s eyes met with Mird’s. And for a moment, halfling wasn’t sure if he was imagining things. But it certainly looked like the naval guild councilor had winked at him. Strange gesture left Xavnier baffled for a moment or two, but he soon regained composure, knowing what’s at stake, if he fail to impress with his speech.

  “We find ourselves on a doorstep, of probably the biggest catastrophe, in the history of Vallsynk.” Xavnier proceed “Catastrophe, which I hope can be avoided, if you decide to extend the trust and confidence in me.”

  Halfling was back in his chair, even before he finished the sentence. His wobbly legs could not suport him any more. This whole ordeal was a bit too much, for his already stressed out body and mind.

  “You may now inquire into candidates opening statements.” Scejvor said, once he realized Xavnier was done.

  “Question for councilor Mird.” Sembert Fulk was first to raise his hand “You mentioned the necessity of a larger fleet. Why the need? What will be the purpose of said ships? And how is it all feasible?”

  “Well it is all connected, you see. With the relative vicinity of Amn’oaz, we have the endless source of lumber and various other materials at the grasp of our hands. What’s preventing us to do so?” Mird answered “We need ships to transport said lumber and other materials. Few that we have, aren’t enough. So we’d need to make a couple of new ones. That’s where the building of the shipyard comes in. Then we would need to expand the port, and probably most of the warehouses too. And once the lumber starts pouring in, we’d have enough of it, to supply almost entire Dorull with it.”

  “Is that so?” Fulk asked “And you think someone would want to buy ships from us?”

  “Definitely. Sannwel is always a sure bet.” Mird nodded “Perhaps we could find buyers in Kabb’nal-an. And recently, even Issurk showed interest.”

  Xavnier cocked his head at this last remark. But he was careful not to give anything away. Eilonna obviously wasn’t kidding, when she mentioned the plans for building the port in Issurk. And it pained him a bit, knowing he wasn’t the only one, she shared that information with.

  “Since when is Issurk in need of boats?” Xavnier acted surprised “What for?”

  “I learned, from a reliable source, how Lady Falkner is planning on building the docks in Issurk.” Mird answered.

  “Alright. Let’s say this is true.” Xavnier said “That’s how many, a couple of ships? You can’t warrant the construction of the shipyard on that alone.”

  “As I already said, Sannwel is a sure bet.” Mird retorted.

  “Specifically?” Xavnier was persistent.

  “Chief regent Scejvor can correct me if I am wrong, but as far as I know, Garhmier is in a high demand of different types of vessels.”

  “You are correct.” Scejvor nodded “But you must have in mind, the Garhmier’s dignitaries already begin negotiating with Revensulk ones.”

  “And Vallsynk can join in said negotiations, if you decide to give me the confidence.” Mird proclaimed.

  “Do you have the estimated cost for this project?” Xavnier asked “From which funds are you planning to draw from?”

  “You and your guild should be the ones answering to those questions.” Mird retorted “Or we can’t use any, because of this huge crisis, you said, is threatening our city.”

  “I believe councilor Gloir said we are heading towards a catastrophe.” Sembert Fulk interjected “Mind explaining us, what you meant by that?”

  “Very well.” Xavnier sighed “Councilor Mird pleaded for more transparency in our work. So I might as well show you right now, how transparent I’m willing to be.”

  “Go ahead then.” Elias Mird retorted, crossing his arms.

  “A couple of weeks ago, I had first, of the series of meetings, with mining commissioner from Gollvin, Ors Mykhil.” Xavnier begin “I was introduced with the allegations against the accused councilors, and also received the list of demands from Gollvin’s council.”

  “A list you say?” Mird barely hid a grin “Why? What do they want?”

  “They want justice. They want the truth to come out. They want what’s rightfully theirs.” Xavnier said “And they want it soon, otherwise they promised, the consequences will be dire.”

  “Alright.” Mird retorted “I’ll bite. What did they threatened us with?”

  “With everything.” Xavnier said.

  “What do you mean everything?” Mird’s face changed, as was his demeanor.

  “They‘d stop sending caravans.” Xavnier almost whispered.

  “Well that’s preposterous!” Mird exclaimed “What are they thinking? What else are they going to do? How are they going to live? How will they survive?”

  “Apparently, by leaving.” Xavnier answered “They are prepared to abandon the mine, and Gollvin for that matter.”

  “What?!” several councilors exclaimed at the same time, with Elias Mird being the loudest of them.

  None of them managed to remain calm. Not even chief regent Teer Scejvor. He squirmed in his seat, somewhat embarassed he missed to notice this turn of events.

  “What can we do?” Sembert Fulk asked, once the first wave of shock and surprise subsided.

  “Well, you can show your confidence in me.” Xavnier retorted hastily “Elect me, so I can make sure, nothing like this will ever bother us again.”

  “And you think you can find an agreement with Gollvin?” Sembert Fulk asked.

  “Yes.” Xavnier answered.

  “To mutual satisfaction?” Sembert Fulk asked again.

  “Yes.” Xavnier answered with the same conviction in his voice.

  Halfling’s answers seemingly assured the council. Or at least he could gather that by their agreeing nods.

  “If there are no more questions.” Teer Scejvor proclaimed minute or so later “I’d suggest we move to vote.”

  “I have no objection.” Mird said first.

  Xavnier agreed, before the rest of the council joined in.

  “I hereby open the vote on the third item of the agenda; electing the Lord and ruler of Vallsynk.” Teer Scejvor proclaimed, as he placed a black, leather bag, and a stack of small scrolls on the table “Now. Councilors. May I ask, that you place your votes in orderly manner.”

  And so they did. One by one. By picking up a scroll, writing the name, folding it back, and carefully placing the scroll back, into the bag. All of them doing the same. All of them silent, all mindful not to reveal whose name they wrote on the paper. And all of them, afterwards, returning to their designated seats, to wait for the results.

  “I thank you all.” Scejvor said, once the last councilor returned to his chair.

  He then proceed to pull the scrolls from the bag, theatrically, one at a time. He was meticulous, and purposely slow. Separating the votes into two piles. To the imp
atient councilors sitting around the table, perhaps too slow. But Scejvor had to be sure, his count is exact. Even if he had to do it several times. Only it became obvious straightaway, there would be no need for that. One pile of scrolls was significantly larger than the other.

  “By the majority of votes,” Teer Scejvor proclaimed “Vallsynk council elected Xavnier Gloir, for the Lord and ruler.”

  “Congratulations, Sir.” Elias Mird was first to spoke, as he let a smile.

  “Thank you.” halfling barely uttered, as the realization took the wind out of his sails.

  He couldn’t believe it was over. He couldn’t believe it actually worked as planned. He actually became a Lord, and because of that, he couldn’t think about anything else. Fortunately for him, chief regent Teer Scejvor recognized that, as he glanced at the halfling.

  “I suggest a discontinuation for a day or two.” Scejvor said “In the light of these new informations, I advise we focus our attention on resolving the problems with Gollvin.”

  “Agreed.” Mird said, after he exchanged looks with several councilors.

  “Very well then.” Scejvor nodded, as he stood up.

  He said his goodbyes with Xavnier, and few others, before hastily leaving the hall. He must’ve had some other engagements, business meetings or such, which would explained why he left the way he did. Not a single councilor could have guessed, that chief regent of Garhmier’s mercantile guild, was actually heading to meet with the sailors from Fuwalda.

  One by one, councilors shook Xavnier’s hand, on their way out. Until, lastly, he found himself alone with Elias Mird.

  “Congratulation, once again.” Mird broke the silence, as he offered his hand.

  “Thank you, once again.” Xavnier answered.

  “Until tomorrow.” Mird nodded, as he turn to leave.

  “Until tomorrow.” Xavnier said, as he saw him off.

  But Mird made a sudden, abrupt stop, just as he was about to walk through the doors.

  “Oh yes. I almost forgot.” Mird spun around “Lady Falkner expressed her wishes for you to come find her, once the meeting is concluded.”

  CHAPTER 28

  “Aduin? Aduin, are you awake?” Carissa whispered, as she gently knocked on the rickety door of the hut, in which elf was the previous night.

  And for Carissa, it was rather a sleepless night. She spend the majority of it tossing and turning in her hammock, thinking of Aduin. Thinking of his sudden return, hearing his voice, seeing him after such a long time. Mostly, Carissa thought of the vile words she spew at him. How she pushed him, and made him go away. And she knew, she was wrong to do so. She knew, she had to ask for his forgiveness. Beg him to stay. But it was just too damn difficult. It was too embarrassing. And by the time she mustered the courage, the light of dawn already crept inside her hut.

  “I just want to talk.” Carisa said, knocking a tad harder.

  The hut door slightly shifted. It was barely noticeable movement, but just enough for her to realize they weren’t barred from the inside.

  “Aduin?” Carissa peeped through the small gap.

  The hut was empty.

  “Fuck!” Carissa growled through her teeth, realizing elf had already left.

  She paused for a brief moment to gather her thoughts, to think this through. Aduin must’ve left recently. He wouldn’t risk venturing into a jungle during the night. Surely he wasn’t far gone. She could still catch up to him. Carissa turn around, straight back, towards her hut. It was her fault Aduin had left. And she was going to be the one, to bring him back. Alone.

  Her hut had only two rooms. The first, larger one, made for everyday living. And second, smaller, at the back, in which she kept her most cherished possessions, including weapons and hunting equipment. Carissa skipped by the table, and over the hammock, into the back room, towards the massive, wooden chest, encased with soft leather.

  The chest sat against the far wall, and to the right, in between several light spears, placed upwards, and a stack of carefully folded hides. She opened it, glad she was taught to keep everything neat. In no time, Carissa had equipped her daggers, shortbow and quiver, filled with newly made arrows. She also took a bag, in which she placed a blanket, about fifty feet of coiled rope and a flint. She thought of bringing several rations of dried meat, but almost immediately changed her mind. She’d be ashamed to do so. And with the abundance of varying kinds of animals, plants and fruits, she’d find in the jungle, taking more was simply wasteful and unnecessary. Besides, for Carissa, perhaps the finest hunter and tracker of the Pamen tribe, finding some food shouldn’t present any trouble.

  Couple of guards, standing near the village gates, bowed slightly at Carissa, as a sign of respect and greeting. But dared not to stop her. And she hoped that would be the case. She wanted to avoid any talk. She wanted to avoid questions. Mostly, because Carissa wanted to avoid her father. If these guards even caught a hint of what she was planning to do, and why she was heading out, they’d alert the chieftain in a blink of an eye.

  And that would mean she’d get the protective escort. Or even more likely, Mourdac would decide to take her place instead. His overzealous concern for her wellbeing was suffocating Carissa. Even to the point, she rarely had the opportunity to show her skills. Skills she undoubtedly possessed. Something she proved only a few minutes later, as she detected elven tracks with ease.

  The tracks led some fifty yards farther from the eastern village fence, alongside the edge of the forest. Despite being shallow, resembling a shadow, Enepel’s footprints were quite visible for Carissa. Not just because they were much larger than that of an halfling. But for a simple fact, unlike them, elf wore the footwear.

  The tracks led south for a while, when they suddenly veered towards west. Straight through the thicket, and into a deep forest. Soon enough, Carissa find out why. When on the ground covered with lush fern, some sixty paces away, she noticed a small puddle of blood. Several plucked, colorful feathers, laying around, ment only one thing. Elf caught himself a quetzal.

  Carissa immediately knew Aduin wasn’t sticking around for much longer, as he proceed westwards. Elf was probably going towards one of the big lakes. And that realization petrified her momentarily. By not knowing the current situation in Amn’oaz, Aduin was heading straight into danger. Straight into the hands of cannibalistic Sumen tribe, under which control was that entire area.

  Carissa picked up the pace. Finding Aduin, and finding him fast, became a must. But also, a considerably harder task. Following someones tracks methodically, and at a snail’s pace, was difficult enough. And now that she was running, Carissa had to use all of her knowledge and skills. She had to trust her instincts, every time she’d lost a trail. And because of her darting movement, that happened more often than not.

  Narrow, winding path she was heading was long gone. Soft, shaggy moss and lush, bright-green patches of fern, covered the ground completely, like some natural carpet. Clusters of white, yellow and brown mushrooms, grew on and around every tree. Lush, exuberant treetops, spreading some hundred feet above, made a shroud so dense, barely any light could shine through. Despite still being early in the morning, it seemed as if the night had fallen over the jungle.

  It was disorientating to say at least. And for those unaccustomed to the life in Amn’oaz, quite dangerous. Because of that, Carissa worried if something had happened to Aduin. Perhaps he was away for far too long. Perhaps he forget about the life and the laws of the jungle. Perhaps he forget to avoid similar areas. Danger often hid in the shadows, waiting to pounce on unwary nad unsuspecting ones.

  Carissa slid down the steep and crumbling bank of the dried up river. Bed was still a bit damp, but the torrential water that carved it, was long gone by now. Heavy downpours could often overfill the great lakes, creating new streams. But this one vanished as fast as it appeared, leaving behind the eerie trail of destruction. Dozens of tree trunks layed along the river banks. Hundred year old trees ripped out by the sheer force of the fl
ood, that wiped out everything in its path.

  Carissa jumped over one of the trunks, rushing diagonally and up the opposite bank. Aduin’s footprints were now clearly visible on this soft, muddy ground. They led straight across, to the other side of the dried river. Where they just abruptly disappeared into a thin air. Carissa turned around, to thoroughly inspect the spot where the trail had vanished. It made no sense, unless he had tracked back.

  She moved to the right, some thirty yards, following the bank, but to no avail. And then to the left, doing the same, checking the ground. Again, there were no footprints to be found. Carissa sighed, returning back to the previous spot. From there, she encircled the entire field, some hundred yards in diameter. And still, she couldn’t find anything. It seemed as if elf had fell from the face of the world. He surely hasn’t learn how to fly, Carissa thought to herself, as she glanced up, towards the treetops. And she couldn’t believe her eyes, because there, in the forked branch of one of the trees, sat Aduin Nardual. The elf was taking a nap.

  “Unbelievable!” Carissa hissed angrily, as she searched with her eyes, for the nearest rock, to throw at the elf.

  His apparent insouciance, angered Carissa even more. She had run after his trail, worried sick. Thinking she would never catch up to him in time. Thinking the worst had already happened. Thinking that someone or something had grab him. And in the meantime, he was taking a nap! Carissa was furious. So naturally, she decided to end his daydreaming right then and there. But before she even had a chance to pick up the rock ment for Aduin, his loud voice warned her of the immediate danger.

  “Get down!” Zaanven yelled, the arrow already nocked in his bow.

  Elf’s readiness, vigilance and rather fast reaction, surprised and amazed Carissa, when she was quite sure Aduin was sleeping, just a moment ago. But she wasn’t hesitant to act upon the warning, throwing herself onto the ground. And just in time to avoid two or three darts, flying above her head.