Exhumation: An Epic of Existentia (Acts of the Sojourner Book 1)

by S. A. Chapman

  “Oh, this?” said R’Argh, putting the thumbs of his furry hands behind the sash, and pulling it up slightly. “Ensign R’Argh, of the Silver Sail,” he said, with a large grin.

  Tyr came running out of the darkness, huffing in slight exhaustion and slapped R’Argh on the back. “This crazy bastard just joined the Free Army of the Plains!” shouted Tyr, before laughing to himself in a guffaw.

  “And what an honour it is for the Silver Sail, having the first Scythian in the Free Army, to join our Hold!” replied Trakus, punching Tyr in the arm. “This one truly knows how to fight!”

  A Karajaner approached Trakus. “Captain. Captain Mallea is inspecting for Hexen’Darq amongst the refugees – she has detained several thus far. Where should we hold them?” asked the Karajaner.

  “You cannot detain them; on what grounds can you detain them? It can’t be any of your superstitious faunshit,” said Tyr.

  “Look, you are not in Sanctuary anymore. You are not protected by the deluded fantasy world no longer. We are detaining them as purveyors of the sinister arts, who can and will jeopardise our safety. You will understand in time,” said Trakus to Tyr. Trakus turned to the Karajaner. “Lock them in the Granary,” said Trakus, pointing to the granary, before looking once again to Pious.

  “Pious,” said Trakus, attempting to gain Pious’s attention. “Tyr told me about the situation regarding the young ones to the north. Captain Konstanz of the Hail–bearer has offered the services of his crew and is heading to the north as we speak, alongside your Winged Sentinels. They will meet us at Karajan, with the children – Prevailing Wind,” said Trakus, placing his fist to his forehead and dropping his arm.

  Tyr turned to Pious and pointed to the South, where many refugees from Sanctuary were encamped with the Free Army. “We are going to march to Karajan. There are too many displaced people here to go elsewhere. Karajan will take our people. It is a long march, but it will be safer than staying here. Who knows if or when they may decide to attack or secure Landsbeach.”

  Tana, B’Sayan and B’Ast approached the group, trying to listen in on the conversation.

  “All are welcome. Even free–citizenship awaits those who swear to the Tenets of a Free Citizen,” said Trakus, with an open hand and a slight nod.

  “Well, look at this! If it isn’t the Fallen Four!” said B’Sayan, panning his hand from Pious to Sincerus, to Tyr and then to Valerus. The four laughed quietly as they shared glances.

  Valerus stepped forward. “A diplomatic mission of Kaiziers and Magisters are going to Serica. We will seek aid, or at the least, solace, for those of Sanctuary with the Reckoners of the Deathtress,” said Valerus, pointing towards the other Astrawhale, with many of those from Sanctum boarding the Astral Barge. “We must be cautious, and I doubt we will get much help though.”

  Valerus pointed to a group of Sericans, standing underneath the cover of a timber–planked waiting bay. “Those Sericans were on board the Barge when it arrived from Serica. According to them, the Serican Red Empire is currently in a state of dissolution.”

  Valerus caught the attention of a young Serican woman who was sombrely talking to a Scythian female. Valerus gestured with his hand for the Serican to come to him, which she did with a conceding smile.

  “No….” replied Pious, in shock, as Valerus turned back to him.

  “Unfortunately, yes,” replied Valerus. “The Red Empress has been de-crowned, and the Gunmen of Mudthrone have captured the Imperial Fortress.”

  “This truly is madness,” said Tyr. “I’ve never heard of such coordinated chaos.”

  “Wait. The Gunmen are seated in Mudthrone? This is news to me? What of the Slavers' Union?” asked Pious, just as the young Serican woman arrived. Valerus placed his hand behind her and pushed her slightly forward into the group by the small of her back.

  “The Gunmen of the marsh assaulted Mudthrone, with a large army from Attamerus, during the early tolls of our morning, during the beginning of your Tenebrae,” replied the young Serican woman. “As soon as they had succeeded, they assaulted the Imperial Fortress with the combined force of Mudthrone.”

  “What of the Empress?” asked Pious.

  “The Panther Guard have taken the Empress and sought refuge in the Nihon Mountains of Xia, with the Deathtress,” replied the young woman.

  “I’m sure you will manage, Valerus,” replied Pious, saluting Valerus informally. “I’m going to Karnak with the Scythians – to find Serana,” he said, as he looked at B’Sayan with a smile.

  “Karnak? You mean the B’Astian homeworld?” exclaimed Valerus, looking at B’Ast.

  “Exactly the place,” said B’Sayan, with a grin. “Who knows what awaits us there?” He placed his arm around B’Ast and kissed her on the head.

  “You should come with us, Tana,” said Valerus, as he looked at Tana.

  “I’m going with Pious – I need to help him find Serana and Friesia,” said Tana.

  “Friesia? What?” said Pious.

  “Friesia and Zosim gave themselves up freely to go with Serana,” said Sincerus.

  “What, why?” said Pious with a look of confusion.

  “Quistin wanted hostages before he left in the Barge, so the two of them took the place of some young Kazieri Scribes,” said Sincerus.

  Tana turned to Pious. “So, I’m going with you to Karnak.”

  “No, Tana. You should go with Valerus. You must seek the aid of the Deathtress and the Reckoners. Aside from Friesia, you have the strongest connection to them,” replied Pious.

  “Fine – point taken.”

  “Sorry, Valerus – but Pious is right. The Deathtress would cut it off before you even had the chance to smile at her,” said Tana with a cheeky grin. “She isn’t exactly a fan of men, especially ones like you,” she said, before turning to Pious. “You better bring my sisters back, Pious,” said Tana.

  Pious turned slightly and looked at Sincerus. “Sincerus?” said Pious, with a slight grin.

  “Yes,” said Sincerus, adjusting his arm in the sling.

  “What about you?”

  “Do I need to answer that?” said Sincerus with a fatigued laugh.

  “That’s what I was hoping you would say,” replied Pious.

  K’Reorh waited for an opportune moment and stepped forward. “Hunt Master?” said K’Reorh, looking at Pious.

  “Yes, K’Reorh?”

  “May I go with Valerus to Serica?” asked K’Reorh.

  “Of course, but are you sure you don’t want to come with us to your homeland?” said Pious, pointing to the Astral Barge destined for Karnak.

  “There is nothing for me left; my father, my brother and my mother, all are gone,” said K’Reorh, his spirit looking tattered and exhausted.

  “When did that…?” said Pious, as B’Sayan put out his hand, gesturing for Pious to stop.

  “You go wherever you want to go, K’Reorh, you are your own master,” said Pious, as he began to remove the claw from around his neck.

  K’Reorh put his hand out and held Pious’s wrist, pushing his hand away. “Please… you keep it,” said K’Reorh, as Pious let go of the necklace. “That was my father’s gift to you – his spirit will aid you, as my mother and brother shall aid me,”

  “Thank you, K’Reorh,” said Pious.

  “Pious. As the last of us retreated, the Shield Defences were activated,” said Valerus.

  “They could have done that with you in there,” said Sincerus.

  “I know,” replied Valerus, looking back to Pious.

  The sound of screeching birds sounded in the sky above, distracting the group from their discussion. Pious looked upward as a large flock of Seagles glided from the sky, landing in the middle of the Boarding Yards with Battle-Bishops from Magupat atop their mounts.

  Goodbye for Now

  “You show no lows,

  You show no highs,

  And I’ll give no long-winded goodbyes.

  If I’m not back on the morrow,

&nb
sp; Keep dry them young eyes,

  There’s no time for sorrow,

  As the sky enough cries.”

  “Frystian Farewell”,

  Unknown composer.

  Unknown date of record.

  “There he is!” shouted a familiar voice from amidst the large force from Magupat, as an impressive Seagle with golden scale armour over its body and talons stepped forward from the others, and looked at Pious from underneath its golden faceplate.

  “Pious!” shouted the voice again, from atop the Seagle. It was Jacq, sitting on the saddle of the Seagle, in front of a woman dressed in the raiment of the Magupat. The woman dropped the reins and leaned back, helping Jacq climb from the saddle.

  Jacq jumped to the ground and ran towards Pious. Pious crouched down slightly and hugged Jacq as the boy slammed into him.

  “It’s good to see you’re safe!” said Pious as he placed his hand on Jacq’s head, messing up his hair. Jacq slapped Pious’s hand away and laughed. Pious smiled happily. At least someone had made it through this – and was still able to laugh.

  “You won’t believe the adventure I have been on!” shouted Jacq, with the excitement that only a child of his age and innocence could muster.

  Jacq pointed to the mighty Seagle from which he had dismounted. “How cool is Shahab?” he shouted, with a massive smile on his face for the regal flying beast. Shahab stared back at Jacq and opened its powerful beak, exposed underneath its golden helmet. Shahab barked a few times on a deep note. Jacq laughed and looked back to Pious.

  “You look really bad!” laughed Jacq, pointing at Pious. Pious rubbed his scruffy, stubbled and dirty face, and laughed in agreement.

  Sincerus, Tyr and Valerus crowded around Pious and Jacq. Jacq’s smile grew bigger as he noticed them approach. “Wow! You all look really bad! You guys always tell me that parrying and dodging is the best defence. Are you sure that works for you guys?” He slapped the side of his leg and continued laughing.

  The four men laughed in turn as Sincerus pointed to a black bruise around Jacq’s eye. He touched the bruise with his finger. “You don’t look too great yourself! What happened there?”

  “Ow! Watch it!” snapped Jacq, as he moved his head away slightly. Then he pointed to his black eye. “Oh, this? I made Brasson punch me, to distract Barkface.”

  Sincerus laughed.

  “Hey, where is everyone?” asked Jacq, looking around. “And where is Master Lothar?”

  Pious looked past Jacq, distracted by the woman who had dismounted the grand Seagle and was now heading towards Pious, drawing back a hood from over her head, that covered her curly chestnut hair. Her hair was held back from the sides of her head by two thin braids.

  Pious looked to the ground for a moment and then raised his head, looking at Jacq with seriousness. “Jacq… Master Lothar is…,” said Pious, before the approaching woman stood alongside Jacq and placed her hand on his shoulder, pulling him in slightly to her side.

  “Blessed Greetings to you, Pious,” said the woman, as she held her slender hand out to Pious in a gesture of greeting.

  A look of confusion and intrigue crossed Pious’s face. “Blessed Greetings to you too,” said Pious, as he took hold of her hand gently. Much to his surprise, she grabbed his hand and helped him to his feet, pulling on him slightly. She placed her right hand to her chest, just below her left breast. “I am Eliana Mazdani, High Kaheena of the Dest’Rasth,” said the woman. She bowed her head slightly and dropped her arm by her side.

  “The what?” asked Tyr with a look of confusion.

  “In Common… The Right Hand,” said Eliana.

  Pious cocked an eyebrow. “The Right Hand? You’re kidding me…,” he said, almost dismissively, as he looked back to his friends with a smile.

  “Do I look like I am? Do we all look like we are kidding?” said the woman, as she panned her hand across the large group of Seagles behind her, with a significant number of the riders looking worn and wounded.

  “I am sorry, Pious. I have lost many kin, and I am not in any mood to entertain such notions at the moment. Jacq is coming with us. He will be safe with the agents of the Dest’Rasth in the Citadel of the Silent Prince, by decree of Brother Desgauliers.”

  Pious became frustrated, his expression changing to a slight scowl. Pious always had a hard time with people not being direct and to the point, and he could usually internalise it, deal with it – but not this time. She was talking of heretical sects and a dear, as well as dead, friend. “Brother Desgauliers? What are you talking about? You are not making any sense… talk straight, would you?”

  Several Seagles turned their heads to Pious and Eliana, as Shahab began to walk in their direction. Eliana raised her hand, causing Shahab to stop in its tracks and stare at Pious attentively.

  “The less that you know, or anyone knows, the better… for his sake,” she said, pointing to Jacq. Pious shook his head in disagreement.

  “Jacq isn’t going anywhere with you,” said Pious. He reached for Jacq, but Jacq raised his hand and placed it on the arm of Pious.

  “It’s okay, Pious. Lothar told me that I am to trust Eliana and that I am to do everything she says,” said Jacq with a smile. Pious dropped his arm as Jacq let go of it.

  Eliana caught the eye of Pious. “Pious… about the Sky–Ring – we are sorry for the subterfuge. We had to lead them all away from Jacq, create a diversion. We knew they were coming for him, and they thought they knew where to find him.”

  “Diversion? Are you talking about Brasson? You do know you almost got Brasson killed?” yelled Pious, pointing to the north.

  Eliana raised her hand, trying to calm Pious with a settling gesture. “The boy volunteered; he knew well the danger,” said Eliana, as she placed her hand on Jacq’s shoulder.

  “That doesn’t make it right. He is a child,” said Pious, as he shook his head in frustration.

  Jacq looked up at Pious, with a slight expression of concern. “Is Brasson alright?”

  Pious knew quite well that Jacq would be concerned for Brasson. They were the best of friends and always getting into mischief in tandem – always in cahoots. They were fiercely loyal to each other and to all the other Pages.

  “He is, Jacq. You know he is a tough kid,” replied Pious, with a smile.

  “Yeah, I know. I have proof,” said Jacq, pointing to the black ring around his eye.

  Eliana interrupted them. “Pious, we really must make haste, and get him to safety before the Dest’Kapp detects him,” she said. She stepped forward and put her mouth near his ear. “Lothar sacrificed himself for the sake of the boy, to lead all the villains in wrong directions. The boy will be at the Citadel on Mount Sierra Gloria if you wish to seek him. You are the only one who knows, and you will forever be held accountable if anyone else finds out. We must train him for what is to come,” she whispered, before taking a step back and staring into the eyes of Pious.

  “The Dest’Kapp need you more than they do the boy. That is why he cannot be with you.”

  “Why me?”

  “Because you are the only reason they will never reach him. Lothar mentioned that you would have more pressing matters to attend to on Karnak – like the recovery of your wife and child,” said Eliana with a cunning smile, as she pointed at an indentation underneath the collar line of Pious’s tunic. “All the answers you seek, await you there.”

  Pious’s face became stern; his eyes staring back at her in shock. He couldn’t fathom whether she knew of the message revealed by the mysterious sphere or the triangular trinket contained within it; or whether her statement was purely coincidental. Her tone and expression suggested that she knew exactly what was going on.

  Jacq looked up at Eliana. “Where is Master Lothar?” he asked again.

  “He won’t be joining us, Jacq, but he is safe from harm,” she said, as she rubbed Jacq's neck gently. “Come, Jacq, we must get you to safety,” said Eliana as she tried guiding him away.

  “Why are you all so
worried about my safety? You're all the ones that look beat up, not me,” said Jacq, pointing to his chest with pride. Then his expression changed to one of excitement as he looked past Pious.

  “Whoa! Cool! Who are they?” shouted Jacq, pointing to B’Sayan, K’Reorh, R’Argh and the scattered Scythians boarding the Astral Barges. Jacq pushed himself forward past Eliana and walked towards B’Sayan, who was standing between K’Reorh and R’Argh. “You guys look so tough!” shouted Jacq in excitement as he stared up at B’Sayan.

  Laughing wholeheartedly, B’Sayan put his hands on his hips and looked down at Jacq.

  “We are B’Astians, of the Scythian tribe. Who are you, young smoothskin?” replied B’Sayan, smiling and showing a mouthful of fangs.

  “I’m Jacq, 3° Advocate. Nice to meet you,” said Jacq, as he saluted B’Sayan.

  Valerus laughed aloud. “A what? Did you say an Advocate?” said Valerus, with a smile on his face.

  “Yes!” snapped Jacq, poking Valerus in the torso.

  “Since when?” said Tyr, poking Jacq on the shoulder.

  “That’s a secret!” said Jacq, pointing back at Tyr, as the two began a play-fight, with Tyr tripping Jacq to the ground.

  “What does the Ardenian want with Jacq?” asked Pious, seizing an opportune moment whilst Jacq was distracted.

  “The Ardenian wants nothing more than to avenge the death of his only son. He is not a threat to the boy,”

  B’Ast walked up to B’Sayan and put her hand on K’Reorh’s shoulder. “We are almost ready to leave,” she said. At the sight of Jacq, she took a startled step backwards, her ears standing on end.

  “Mother Isis… It – it’s the child,” she said, pointing at Jacq, as she took a few more steps backwards.

  Jacq’s eyebrows lowered, his face showing signs of confusion. “What?” he said, as he took a few steps backwards to Eliana, feeling a little uncomfortable at B’Ast’s reaction.