FARHAYVEN: VENGEANCE

by S. K. Ng

  Ray unrolled the parchment and read the contents, with both Clover and Serene crammed up either side of him, reading it too. Ray gave an acknowledging nod to Sky. He then told Sky where his subordinates could set up camp and get breakfast. He also told Sky to come see him when he was properly rested. Sky bowed, turned around and shouted orders to his soldiers and moved to set up camp.

  It was only about mid-afternoon when Sky felt himself rested enough to meet Ray and the others at the Command and Control Centre. Ray then sent five guards to fetch their ‘guests’. When Dawn and Eclipse had arrived, they were sat down on one side of the table with Ray, Clover, Serene and Sky on the other. Rod Sayson sat in a corner, observing.

  At first, they all sat in silence. Though none of their faces betrayed any emotions, their hearts were beating rapidly with doubts and anxiety. Ray and the others had doubted the sincerity of Dawn and Eclipse. What if this ‘deal’ was some sort of an elaborate trap? But if it was, to what end might it serve? But if it was not, then what a fantastic opportunity it would be! They could put an end to the threat of the Shadow Deathmerchant Clan forever.

  To Ray, this ‘deal’ would mark the most significant breakthrough, if not the end itself, to his quest that has lasted 15 years. Finally, he would be able to destroy the Shadow Deathmerchant Clan. Finally he would be able to avenge the destruction of his order. And most important of all, he would be able to discover the identity of Baron Chessmaster. He would then snuff out the light in this beast’s eyes, and finally, he would have closure!

  For Clover, this ‘deal’ was almost as meaningful to her as it was to Ray. She had been initiated into the Order of Fire Elementhars by him. Although she did not know any of its original members, she was connected to them through Ray and his guidance. She had gained from their wisdom and knowledge through the reading of their section of the Original Vanguard Manuscript. They were a part of her history and she was a part of their future. Putting an end to Baron Chessmaster’s life would be a fitting tribute to her order.

  For Serene and Sky, this ‘deal’ would mark a significant event in their military careers. Besides the promotion, pay rise and personal glory that would undoubtedly follow, the elimination of the Shadow Deathmerchant Clan would free up the Fallsian Military’s resources to deal with other pressing issues such as the Serpentian and Aridyte threats, demon attacks and more importantly, Liberation Raids. Serene had no doubt that the powers that she had developed under Ray’s training would be useful in rescuing her fellow Fallsians from the Serpentian mining camps and pleasure houses. Sky had it in his mind that with the threat of the Shadow Deathmerchant Clan gone, King Patrum would allow Liberation Raids to be carried out; and he intended to lead as many of these raids as he could. He felt that it was another way for him to redeem himself for his dark practices of the past.

  As for Rod, he was hoping that with the elimination of the Shadow Deathmerchant Clan, not only would King Patrum authorise Liberation Raids, but an invasion into Serpentian territory. Rod hated the Serpentians. And with the loss of so many friends and comrades at Fort Eastguard, he yearned for vengeance! A yearning that could only be satisfied with an invasion of Serpentia, so that he might inflict the pain and suffering that he had experienced from the Serpentians back upon the Serpentians themselves.

  For Dawn and Eclipse, this ‘deal’, if it went through, would mark a sorrowful ending to a large part of their lives. It meant the ultimate betrayal of their beliefs and the abandonment of the essence of their souls. But for the sake of ensuring the safety of the widows and orphans who were trapped in the clan, and also for vengeance against a perverted and abusive leader, it was a small price to pay; and they wanted to pay it. Not doing so would be more expensive that they could ever imagine. To be tyrannised by outside forces was one thing, but to be tyrannised by one of their own was quite another. They needed this deal to go through. This was their only card left to play.

  Ray cleared his throat to break the awkward silence.

  “Accepted _ the king has done of this of your offer, and grants you that which you have requested,” he said finally; handing the king’s letter to Eclipse.

  Both Dawn and Eclipse’s expression remained unchanged, but their hearts skipped a beat or two. Eclipse took the letter from Ray and together with Dawn, read its contents. Satisfied with what they had read, both afforded smiles on their faces. They were not smiles of happiness, but smiles of relief. Hope had truly returned to their hearts.

  Without wasting any time, Eclipse took a piece of paper and began drawing the layout of The Lair. When she was done, both she and Dawn took turns explaining everything they knew about The Lair and the clan. They explained everything; from the floods that plagued them to their refuge in the hills, their abuse at the hands of Deputy Governor Greel and the Fallsian Military to their ultimate decision to rebel and their first assassination until the present. They mentioned about Weed Venn, Soft Pillows Inn and The Market. Then the discussion focussed back on The Lair itself. Every chamber and passage in The Lair was described in detail.

  Ray and the others took a few moments to digest the vast volume of information given. Then they began discussing a plan of attack. Though it clearly hurt Dawn and Eclipse to help bring about the attack on The Lair, they did so in a committed manner. Tears rolled down the eyes of the two seasoned assassins as they sold their souls to their enemies.

  The call of the rooster interrupted their deep discussions and concentrated thoughts. It was morning the next day, and none of them had realised it. The only indication that they had of not having a full night’s sleep was the throbbing headache in their skulls. Realising that it would then be counter-productive to carry on, Ray temporarily ceased the discussion and ordered everyone to go to bed. Seven weary souls walked groggily out of Command and Control to their designated sleeping quarters and tents. But Sky did not go to bed immediately. He sent a despatch back to Fallsene City to inform his superiors about Weed Venn and Soft Pillows Inn. No doubt that by the time they all got back to Fallsene, Weed Venn and his workers would already have been arrested.

  Tears were rolling down Silk’s cheeks again. Hers was not a silent sob this time. It was a crying plea. But the clanmaster would not listen. Instead he told her to shut up. Then he ripped the blouse off Silk’s sister and fulfilled his desires. And all Silk could do was to cry in the corner. Her sister’s scream was hell to her ears, although it was heaven to the clanmaster’s. This terrible ordeal lasted throughout the night.

  The 24th Morning of Fifth Month of Dry Season saw Silk outside The Lair, picking mushrooms in the forest. Her eyes were still red from sobbing the night before, but the tears that welled in her eyes were fresh. She was lost in depressed thoughts and wandered about in a slightly dazed fashion. There was a gentle tap on her shoulder. She gasped and jumped in surprise.

  “Relax, Silk! It’s me,” said the person who tapped Silk’s shoulder.

  “Founder Menox!” Silk exclaimed.

  “What happened, my child? Why are your eyes so watery?” asked Eclipse.

  Silk broke down in tears. Her body trembled with every sob. Eclipse could guess what had happened to Silk. The twisted cruelty of the clanmaster was no mystery to her. She put her arms around Silk and let her sob for awhile. Her plans could wait just a little longer.

  Eclipse pulled Silk towards a large bush. When they were both crouched in the bush, Eclipse’s face turned from sympathetic to serious, but not too stern.

  “Silk, I know life’s hard for you now. I can imagine the suffering you and your family are going through right now, but I need you…,” said Eclipse.

  “My sister too! He took her too!” Silk interrupted suddenly, and then she cried even harder.

  Eclipse gently pulled the girl’s head towards her shoulder and stroked it in a sympathetic manner. The crying died down a bit.

  “Silk, I know what he has done to you. We know how evil the clanmaster is. That’s why we tried to stop him. That’s why your father tried to
stop him. We went out to meet Dawn and find a way to stop the clanmaster. But we were ambushed. Your father fought valiantly. But we were severely outnumbered. He didn’t stand a chance! I almost didn’t survive either. But you do understand why we had to try, don’t you? No matter what happens, and no matter what’s the price, the clanmaster must be stopped,” said Eclipse softly.

  Silk pulled her head away, looked at Eclipse in a compliant manner and nodded her head.

  “Good! I knew you’d understand. You’re your father’s brave girl! This is war, Silk! We’re at war with the clanmaster now! And to win the war, there must be sacrifices! I need for you to make a sacrifice. Are you willing?” said Eclipse.

  “Gladly, Founder Menox! What is it?” asked Silk.

  Eclipse hesitated for a moment. She truly felt sickened with what she was about to say. But it was the only way. The clanmaster had to be stopped. The widows and orphans had to be saved, even if it meant sacrificing some of them.

  “What is it?” asked Silk eagerly.

  “I… This is what I need you to do. Take this bottle. Pour its contents into the wine barrels. You have to do this before dinner time. This is very important, Silk; you mustn’t get caught! Tell all of our people and those who follow Founder Breven to avoid drinking the wine tonight. Tell them to prepare to leave The Lair. They must do so inconspicuously. They can expect to leave tonight. Can you do this?” instructed Eclipse as she handed Silk a small, corked ceramic bottle.

  “Yes, Founder Menox!” said Silk confidently, the spirit returning to her soul.

  “There’s one other thing,” added Eclipse, then she paused and took a deep breath.

  Silk looked at Eclipse eagerly. She wanted to know what else she could do to help bring down Clanmaster Collart.

  “I need you and your friends to seduce the guards tonight!” said Eclipse reluctantly.

  “What do you mean?” asked a confused Silk.

  “Gather your ‘more attractive’ friends. Take the contents of this container and mix it with talcum powder. Rub the powder lightly on your chests. Don’t worry! The contents are not dangerous to the touch. Then I want you all to seduce all the guards at exactly midnight. Every guard who guards the main exit and the escape exits as well. All of them are to be seduced. You’re to entice them into sexual contact. Make sure you present your chest to them. They’re required to breathe the powder in. Make sure they breathe it in. When… when it’s done, go back to your chambers and wait,” explained Eclipse as she passed Silk a small, round metal container.

  “What do we wait for, Founder Menox?” enquired Silk.

  “An attack! You and all those who are on our side must not take part. Tell them that they must tie a yellow armband on their left arm when the attack happens and they must have no weapons on them. This is very important, Silk. Yellow armbands and no weapons at all. Can you do all of these?” answered Eclipse.

  “Yes, Founder Menox, I can!” Silk announced confidently.

  “I’m sorry to have to put you and your friends through this, Silk,” expressed Eclipse.

  “To not go through this would be much worse,” came the depressing reply.

  Eclipse and Silk looked into each other’s eyes and nodded. Silk got up and walked briskly back towards The Lair. Eclipse got up and walked to another cluster of bushes nearby. Ray stood up from the bush.

  “Do _ how could you of this, to ask them to sacrifice their body as such?” asked Ray in a slightly disgusted manner, though he knew what the answer would be.

  “My followers and those of Dawn’s uncle’s are considered traitors now. They’re treated virtually as slaves without any humanity or dignity at all. What I’ve asked her and her friends to do is no different than what they are going through every night,” replied Eclipse.

  “Trial _ but surely, there should be one of this to ascertain their guilt, and even if they were to be found guilty, surely your laws would not allow for such an abuse, such a victimisation?” questioned Ray.

  “We are assassins, Minvian Iddell! What do you expect?” answered Eclipse pointedly.

  Ray was silent at that reply. She had, as far as Ray was concerned, a very valid point.

  Ray’s thought went to the bottle that Eclipse had given to Silk. He had his suspicions, but he wanted confirmation as to its contents.

  “Content _ of this, what was in that bottle?” he asked.

  “The same drug we used to impair your judgement on the night we attacked your order. I retrieved both the bottle and the metal container from the basement of The Spot. Your people did not recognise them for what they were, but I did,” replied Eclipse.

  Ray nodded with a strained smile. So it seemed that the Shadow Deathmerchant Clan and Clanmaster Venom Collart would get a taste of their own medicine after all. Vengeance could not get any more poetic than this!

  Silk walked calmly through the woods, but internally, she was anything but calm. She was excited and anxious. She had seen her mother get slapped and beaten by Clanmaster Collart and his minions. Besides the beatings, her mother was repeatedly raped by the clanmaster’s minions while Silk was violated by the clanmaster himself. And the worst part was, he had claimed her sister too. Sweet, young Cotton, only 15 years old, and she had already lost her innocence, and along with it she lost her hope as well.

  Silk’s family was not the only one to suffer such a fate. There were many such families undergoing the same type of torment as well. Some families had the fathers ‘executed’ by sending them on difficult missions without proper backup; or ambushed on their way back to The Lair, just because they had beautiful daughters whom Clanmaster Collart coveted. And when Venom was done with these girls, he would hand them over to his minions. For the minions, it was party time. But to the girls, it was a type of strange hell. They suffered; but were so accustomed to the suffering that it felt like a daze to them. It was as though their souls had left their bodies and they were watching their own violation from a third person’s point of view. Could anyone’s existence be any lower, any more depressing than this? No! This was as low as it could ever get, reasoned Silk. But finally, she would have her vengeance! All of them would have their vengeance! Eclipse had planned something, but Silk had her own plans too.

  Silk went straight to her family chamber upon her return to The Lair. There, she found her mother trying to console an emotionally wrecked Cotton. She briefed both her mother and her sister of Eclipse’s plan. This had the sudden effect of snapping Cotton out of her emotional torment. Her eyes became wide and lively. She listened with intent as Silk continued to explain Eclipse’s plan. They concluded that they had to act fast. Time was running short.

  Silk had put on her most sensuous and revealing dress. She went to the chamber that served as The Lair’s kitchen. Seeing that all was clear, she seduced the only on-duty cook and she did it with the least bit of hesitation. First she flirted and toyed with him and then she slowly pulled him away to a secluded corner. There she allowed him to touch her and she proceeded to make his sexual fantasies come true. Meanwhile, Cotton had sneaked in when the cook was distracted by her sister. She proceeded to pour the contents of the ceramic bottle into the two wine barrels there. And then she sneaked out just as quietly. Silk finally left the kitchen and met up with Cotton in a secluded tunnel. Cotton gave a ‘thumbs up’ to her sister. The first phase of the mission had been accomplished!

  Meanwhile, Silk’s mother had discreetly gone from family chamber to family chamber to brief the other families of Eclipse’s plan. They, in turn, had gone out discreetly to brief others. By late afternoon, all those who were interested in leaving the clan were already aware of the plan. Fire had replaced the hollowness in their hearts and their eyes were wide with zest and anticipation. The time for action had come. They made their silent preparations. Clothes, food, medicine and what coins they had were packed in small cloth bundles. Fighting knives and whatever weapons they had managed to hide were retrieved, inspected, polished and sharpened; just in case Ecl
ipse’s plan went awry. Their faces could hardly contain their eager anticipation. But they kept up the charade. They understood that vengeance required patience!

  The red, fiery sun was just beginning to retire for the day; its lower extremities making contact with the horizon. At The Lair, more torches were lit in all the chambers and tunnels to combat the significant darkness that engulfed it even during daytime. The entire Shadow Deathmerchant Clan, Clanmaster Collart’s minions or not, gathered in the huge chamber that served as their mess hall. Several lines of people were formed as food was dispensed, but there was no fairness here as were the days of bygone. The minions shoved and pushed their way to the front of the line and took bigger portions than what was rationed to the rest of the clan. Then it was the average clansmen who shoved and pushed the outcasts to the end of the line. Outcasts, rejects, black sheep, fallen from grace, criminals; these were but a few terms used by the clansmen to describe people like Silk and her family. And when these outcasts reached the kitchen counter; they received only small morsels of food, as the food would have run out. But these outcasts never showed their anger, sadness or disappointment. They took the insults with grace and dignity, but awaited the reward of vengeance. Why so? Because, they were assassins after all!

  The mess chamber was filled with merriment and laughter. Clansmen, minions or not, told stories and jokes. They reminisce of old times and bygone days. They kept up with each other’s progress. Some friendships were renewed while a few were broken. And during these times, much food was eaten and much wine was drunk. This was the daily ritual of the clan. Once a day, every day, the clansmen would gather and have dinner together in the mess cavern. This was the ritual which had bonded the clan throughout the years. But on this evening, it would be its downfall.