Legacy of Chaos

by Jackson Bale

  Dragken---begins.

  “Black---Rain---was---a---herd---founded---a---long---time---ago---by---a---large---group---of---centaurs---whose---fur---was---black.---The---herd---had---a---rule---which---only---allowed---members---who---also---had---black---fur.---A---very---stupid---rule---which,---after---several---generations,---was---finally---broken---by---none---other---than---the---current---[Herdmaster]---at---the---time.---That---[Herdmaster]---had---fallen---in---love---with---another---[Herdmaster]’s---daughter.---A---daughter---who---had---completely---white---fur.”

  Dear---god,---he's---starting---his---story---with---the---story---of---his---ancestors!---How---is---this---short?---How---much---farther---back---is---his---ancestors?

  “These---two---were---my---ancestors.”

  Fuck---me!

  “It---was---their---love---which---had---sparked---the---change.---A---change---that---had---started---a---feud.---Many---did---not---support---such---a---thing.---They---have---said---things---like---‘she---is---not---pure’---and---‘she---will---bring---our---herd’s---end’.---But---the---[Herdmaster]---ignored---them,---instead---taking---her---as---his---wife---and---mating---with---her.”

  “This---caused---her---to---become---pregnant,---which---had---resulted---in---further---angering---the---herd.---Many---had---wanted---a---new---[Herdmaster]---after---that,---stating---that---he---was---breaking---tradition.---But---he---had---ignored---their---plea---while---doing---his---duties---and---having---his---most---loyal---[Soldiers]---to---protect---his---wife.”

  A---glint---shines---in---the---old---centaur's---eyes.

  “And---then---everything---changed---when---she---gave---birth.”

  I---roll---my---eyes.

  “The---offspring---was---also---black---furred,---wasn't---it?”

  Dragken’---eyes---widen---in---surprise.---But---before---he---says---anything,---he---shakes---his---head---and---instead---continues---the---story.

  “That---is---correct,---the---child---was---a---black-furred---male.---The---fact---that---the---offspring---shared---the---herd's---colors---had---silenced---those---which---were---so---against---it.---Their---biggest---fears---were---the---destruction---of---the---herd's---ideal.---An---ideal---focused---upon---the---black---color---of---their---furs..”

  In---other---words,---black---fur---color---is---genetically---dominant.---Ok,---figured---that---already...now...---Where---the---fuck---does---he---come---in---though?

  “Many---more---offspring---had---come---from---the---two---and---all---had---been---black---furred.---It---was---then---believed---that---the---herd---was---blessed.---That---all---will---share---the---herd's---colors.”

  The---old---centaur---chuckles.

  “A---herd---which---never---allowed---a---different---color---into---their---midst---changed---very---seemingly---overnight.---Women---and---men---flocked---to---the---Black---Rain---herd,---joining---in---mass---with---open---arms.---Love---blossomed---and---the---herd---became---much---larger,---quickly---rivaling---in---members---to---the---most---powerful---herds---at---the---time.”

  “Unfortunately,---things---changed---quickly---as---the---new---generation---started---creating---offspring.---The---offsprings---were---of---different---color.---They---were---no---longer---black.---The---blessing---had---ended.---People---were---confused,---angry---even,---but---nothing---could---be---done---about---the---colored---offsprings.---After---all,---once---you---are---born---with---the---herd,---then---you---are---always---with---the---herd.---Color---alone---is---not---nearly---enough---of---a---reason---to---exile---a---member.”

  The---centaur---sighs---and---looks---to---his---audience,---finding---my---face---and---the---frown---that---must---be---on---it.

  “Soooo,---when---exactly---are---you---going---to---talk---about---yourself---or---do---you---have---several---more---ancestors---in---between?”

  Damiar---snorts,---doing---his---best---to---hide---a---laugh.

  Dear---god,---he---has---more---ancestors?

  Dragken---gives---Damiar---a---scowl---before---continuing---on.

  “It---was---many---generations---after---that---point---that---I---was---born…---after---the---political---infighting,---backstabbing---and---other---heinous,---dishonorable---deeds---had---taken---place.---Deeds---which---has---drastically---weakened---the---herd---in---both---size---and---political---influence.”

  Dragken---frowns,---his---eyes---glazed---of---someone---who---is---looking---back---in---time.---Into---those---earliest---memories.

  “I---was---born---to---the---fourth---wife---of---the---current---[Herdmaster].”

  Fourth?---Why---do---I---have---this---feeling---that---the---world---seems---to---put---me---in---a---perfect---position---to---fuck---as---many---different---species---as---possible…---as---many---of---them---as---possible?

  “My---mother---was---not---loved-”

  I---mean,---look---at---the---Gejan.---Their---females---choose---a---strong---mate---to---impregnate---them.---I---mean---sure,---they---might---become---attached---to---a---certain---male,---but---most---are---more---than---happy---to---fuck---and---give---birth.

  “-Growing---up---was---difficult.---The---other---boys---would---bully---me---all---the---ti-”

  And---then---there---are---the---minotaurs---who---are---all---fucked---by---the---leader,---which---unfortunately---is---me.---But---I---have---goddam---standards,---especially---considering---they---stink---and---their---vaginas---can---probably---fit---my---foot---in---there.

  “Training---was---difficult,---but---I---was---talented---at---it.---My---skill---was---far---be-”

  And---now---we---have---the---centaurs---who---seem---to---have---a---polygamy---thing---going.---One---[Hero],---multiple---horse---women.

  “But---peace---did---not---last---forever.---Many---[Herdmasters]---wanted---more---power.---More---land.---Mor-”

  I---wonder---how---that---would---feel.---Like,---I---noticed---that---the---females---are---much---smaller---than---the---men.---It---wouldn't---be---hard,---especially---since---they---seem---to---keep---clean---while---also---being---quite---sexy.

  “-arguments---around---land---rights---started---up.---So---much---yelling.---It---was---no-”

  The---big---question---is---whether---I---have---the---length---and---girth---for---her---to---feel---it.---I---mean---sure,---sizewise,---it---seems---that---it---would---be---a---pretty---ok---fit.---Probably---not---super---tight,---but---still---relatively---ok.---Like---that---one---[Healer]---that---looks---more---like---a---goat---or---the---[Alchemist]---which---looks---kinda---like---a---donkey.

  “But---it---happened---on---a---specific---day.---A---day---that---I---was---present---at.---It---wa----are---you---ok?

  Breaking---out---of---my---thoughts,---I---find---a---concerned---look---on---the---old---centaur’s---face.

  Fuck---my---Libido

  I---quickly---brush---the---drool---from---my---mouth.

  “Sorry,---was---thinking---about---having---sex---with---centaur---women.---Please---continue.”

  It---takes---a---moment---for---the---old---centaur---to---realize---what---I---said---before---he---shakes---his---head,---unsure---what---to---say---to---that---statement.---He---looks---to---his---right---and---finds---Damiar,---fallen---asleep.---He---then---looks---to---his---other---side---and---finds---Zoteal,---listening---raptly.

  “And---what---happened---on---that---day?”---Zoteal---asks,---completely---engrossed---in---the---story.

  Finding---Zoteal---so---interested---in---his---story,---the---old---centaur---smiles---before---continuing.

  “Now---where---was---I?---Ahhh---yes,---the---meeting.---So---as---you---know,---the---[Herdmasters]---come---together---every---ninety---cycles---to---talk---about---trade---rights,---watering---holes,---hunting---locations,---planting---locations,---and---other---important---decisions---regarding---herd---life.”

  So---centaurs---have---trade?

  “My---father---was---the---[Herdmaster]---and---he
---had---decided---to---take---me---along---to---the---meeting.---Normally,---he---would---take---my---older---brother---instead,---but---my---brother---was---forced---to---stay---back---with---the---herd---as---his---wife---was---expecting---to---soon---give---birth.---Thus,---I---stood---behind---my---father---as---his---shadow.”

  “Over---a---hundred---[Herdmasters]---were---at---the---meeting,---each---carrying---the---insignia’s---of---their---herd,---waiting---for---the---meeting---to---start.---At---the---time,---I---did---not---realize---how---long---it---takes---for---the---meeting---to---start.---I---stood---there,---standing---for---what---seemed---like---a---third---of---the---day---before---all---the---[Herdmasters]---were---gathered---around---the---[Speaker].---The---[Speaker],---an---old---centaur,---far---older---than---any---of---the---others,---would---start---the---meeting---with---his---voice.---He---would---first---welcome---the---herds---for---taking---the---long---trek---to---the---city---of---Berg.---Then,---the---speaker---would---call---up---each---[Herdmaster]---to---talk---before---the---council,---usually---pleading---for---land---or---rights---while---explaining---why---their---herd---should---get---them.”

  “This---of---course---usually---ends---up---angering---other---[Herdmasters]”

  I---can't---imagine---why...

  “And---if---it---does---anger---them,---then---those---who---are---affected---negatively---would---be---allowed---to---speak---to---explain---why---such---a---change---should---not---happen.---Then,---after---the---last---person---is---done---speaking,---the---herds---will---vote---on---whether---the---changes---should---take---place.---But,---if---the---[Herdmaster]---loses---the---vote,---he---can---ask---for---it---by---right---of---combat.”

  I---perk---up,---finally---hearing---something---interesting.

  “Right---Of---Combat?”---I---interrupt.

  Dragken---nods,---“Right---of---combat---is---a---fight---to---the---death---between---twenty---members---of---each---herd---against---twenty---members---of---each---other---herd---which---had---taken---offense.”

  I---nod.

  “In---other---words,---one---herd---of---twenty---could---fight---several---herds---of---twenty---all---at---once.”

  “That---is---correct.---The---right---of---combat---is---rarely---used---unless---it---would---be---only---two---herds---involved.”

  The---right---of---combat.---Hmmm...

  “But---this---meeting---was---different?”---Zoteal---asks,---wanting---to---hear---more---of---the---story.

  “In---a---manner---of---speaking,---it---was---not.---Every---herd---followed---the---rules---which---were---dictated---long---ago.---Everything---was---normal---except---for---when---the---[Herdmaster]---Gladius,---one---of---the---three---largest---and---most---powerful---herds---started---asking---for---more---land---rights.---Of---course,---Gladius---had---angered---five---herds---and---was---ultimately---voted---to---not---obtain---the---land.”

  Dragken---shakes---his---head,---ears---fluttering---angrily,---“But---Gladius---announced---a---Right---Of---Combat.---It---was---a---complete---surprise---but---was---ultimately---accepted.---The---combat---was---scheduled---a---month---later.”

  “And---you---were---there---too?”

  “Yes,---I---watched---the---slaughter.---A---hundred---Centaurs---dead,---all---killed---by---Gladius---himself.---He---was---the---sole---combatant---of---his---herd,---the---herd---known---as---the---Golden---Hoof.

  “That---can't---be,”---Zoteal---blurts---out,---“I---was---told---that---he---fought---with---nineteen---others---and---that---they---all---died---except---for---him.”

  Dragken---shakes---his---head,---“No,---it---was---far---worse.---Gladius,---covered---in---enchanted---bone---scale---armor---while---wielding---a---massive---halberd---had---single---handedly---wiped---out---a---hundred---centaurs,---all---of---which---were---the---strongest---fighters---of---their---Herd.---Each---with---levels---over---eighty,---three---with---levels---over---a---hundred.---All---of---them---were---killed.”

  Zoteal---sags---with---widened---eyes.---He---turns---to---me,---blinking,---thinking…

  “The---defeated---tribes---were---forced---to---move,---losing---their---homes---and---the---ability---to---request---anything---from---the---herds---for---a---thousand---cycles.”

  So---no---vengeance?---The---fuck---kind---of---tradition---is---that?

  “So---I’m---guessing---this---Gladius---guy---kept---taking---land---and---calling---for---a---right---of---combat---while---offering---the---losers---to---join---his---herd?”

  Dragken---blinks.

  “I---see---you---understand---politics---well.---I---should---have---expected---this---already---considering---what---she---told---me.”

  “She?---Someone---told---you---about---me?”

  “Patience---Thoric,---we---will---get---there---in---time.”

  I---roll---my---eyes---but---nod.---It's---the---least---I---can---do---considering---he---swore---his---life---to---me.

  “Many---members---of---herds---had---left---when---the---amount---of---land---they---possessed---had---decreased---in---size.---Desperate,---they---had---joined---the---Golden---Hoof---and---were---accepted---with---open---arms.---Gladius’---herd---became---larger---and---larger---while---he---kept---fighting---these---battles.---The---smaller---herds---were---forced---into---unlivable---lands---while---Gladius---avoided---taking---land---from---the---stronger---herds.---These---stronger---herds,---ones---which---could---field---an---entire---team---of---fighters---in---their---second---tier---class---had---chosen---to---stay---silent.---They---did---not---feel---threatened,---thus---they---did---not---interfere---in---these---battles.---Unfortunately---for---them,---Gladius---could---not---expand---further---without---interfering---with---the---two---other---massive---herds.”

  “He---requested---all---of---their---lands,”---I---say,---starting---to---understand---what---is---about---to---happen.

  Dragken---chuckles---softly,---“Indeed.”

  “This---is---the---battle---where---the---tyrant---breaks---the---code.---Isn’t---it?”---Zoteal---asks,---curiously.

  A---dark---look---befalls---Dragken.---His---face---takes---on---a---look---of---fear,---of---regret,---of---loss.---Of---a---man---who---dreads---his---memory,---a---memory---that---cannot---be---forgotten.---It---is---here---where---my---mind---stops---wandering.---My---thoughts,---usually---erratic,---especially---if---I---am---bored,---are---completely---calm---now.

  I---fully---understand---what---the---centaur---is---feeling.---The---feeling---of---reliving---a---painful---memory.

  One---of---death.

  One---of---loss.

  One---of---regret.

  “Please---continue,”---I---say---softly,---watching---as---the---old---centaur---looks---to---me,---a---tear---falling---from---his---face.

  “My---herd---was---one---of---the---ones---which---were---also---against---the---Golden---Hoof.---My---entire---family---was---there---with---most---of---my---herd.---We---had---come---to---watch---the---fight---that---is---to---happen.---Over---twenty---herds---against---one.---Most---of---the---[Herdmasters]---in---the---dungeon---were---there.---They---had---traveled---far---to---watch---the---fight.---To---watch---what---many---expected---to---be---the---Golden---Hoof’s---defeat.”

  “I---had---stood---alongside---my---father---and---many---of---our---tribe.---We---watched---as---twenty---of---our---best---fighters---marched---towards---where---the---battle---would---take---place.---They---wore---our---best---bone---armor,---all---adorned---with---out---herd’s---crest.---Two---of---my---older---brothers---were---part---of---the---twenty.---Each---in---the---upper---eighty---levels.”

  Dragken---stops---momentarily---to---wipe---his---face.---His---hand---shakes---while---he---does---so.

  “I---remember---standing---alongside---my---father,---spear---in---hand,---cheering---for---them.---We---were---expecting---a---complete---victory.---A---third---of---our---forces---were---all---second---tier---fighters.---It---was---an---immensely---powerful---force.--
-There---was---so---much---cheering.---Yelling.”

  “But…---but…---none---of---it---mattered.”

  Dragken---takes---a---deep---breath,---a---breath---with---a---hint---of---ghostly---anger.---Anger---that---has---already---died.

  “Gladius---arrived---with---a---large---group---of---his---herd.---Most---were---seemingly---unarmed,---looking---as---though---they---were---just---workers.---[Farmers],---[Alchemists],---[Traders];---that---is---what---we---thought---of---them.---We---were---confused---at---first---on---why---several---thousand---of---his---tribe---had---shown---up.---But---we---didn't---think---much---about---it.---We---thought---that---Gladius---was---arrogant---and---wanted---to---show---off---his---might.”