The Wrath Of the Forgotten

by Michael Ignacio

  Nori took another swig from the bottle. This time, the fire in the back of his throat felt more intense. He coughed as he passed it back to her.

  “It has a kick, huh?” Luxi said. “I love the stuff.”

  “So you know a little about me, but what about you?” Nori asked. “Where are you from?”

  For a long moment, Luxi just sat there in the dark. She batted her eyes and studied him with an eerie sense of wonder. Chills crawled up the back of Nori’s thighs, but he refused to show that it affected him.

  “I’m from the town of Gohoda.” Luxi licked the bottle’s rim and took another swig. “Have you ever heard about it?”

  “Not really,” Nori replied. “I’ve heard it mentioned in hushed conversations, as if it’s a place to be feared.”

  Luxi barked out with amusement. “I swear to Saito, your naivety is refreshing. Yes, Gohoda is a place to be feared, for those with small minds and meek hearts. It’s called the City of Pirates. Granted, I’m not a pirate, but my family is filled with them.”

  Nori reached over and snatched the bottle from her hands. Luxi’s eyes went wide as she watched Nori take another sip from the bottle. She only spoke when he placed the bottle back in her hands. A grin covered her face.

  Nori grimaced as the inferno continued to burn in his insides. He spoke with pained words. “So what made you different than your family?”

  “I suppose the answer to that would be my father,” Luxi said. “He wasn’t a pirate, he just fell in love with one. So tell me this, if you miss your home so much, why don’t you go back?”

  Nor stared into the water for a moment. A pair of answers echoed within his mind. One had greater weight and truth than the other.

  “For one, it’s my duty and an honor to dedicate my life to the Imperial Family,” Nori said.

  “Honor shmonor.” Luxi drank more. She coughed a little as she brought it away from her lips. “What’s the point of life if you have to sacrifice your own happiness for others?”

  “Being a Qu-Tar is a great responsibility, and it provides great meaning to my life,” Nori said.

  Luxi chuckled. “Would you have chosen to follow this path willingly? You were conscripted, right?”

  He opened his mouth to speak, but the words melted into mush as soon as they prepared to leave his tongue. “No, I don’t suppose I would have chosen to be a Qu-Tar.”

  “So what would you have chosen to do?” Luxi asked. “Just hypothetically speaking?”

  A deep rumbling chuckle arose in him, and he let it out. “I suppose I would have followed in my mother’s footsteps and served in the city militia. I loved my homeland. There are such beauties hidden up in the mountains.”

  “Don’t I know it,” Luxi said. “Gohoda is surrounded by mountains too, even though it has a vast bay leading into the river. I used to go hiking through the peaks near the city as a child. I can appreciate the splendor that they possess. So, are you planning on going back should you make it to retirement?”

  Nori replied, “Yeah. That’ll be in twenty years though. At least I’ll be able to earn enough to have a great later part of my life.”

  Luxi went to take another sip from the bottle, but she noticed only one swig remained. She offered it to Nori, but he declined. Luxi leaned her head back, drank the last of the alcohol, and then tossed the bottle into the river.

  “So what’s the real reason you’re staying put?” Luxi said. “I’m really great at reading people. You’d be surprised how easy I can point out perverts in a crowd. I know there’s something else that’s binding you to your position. Is it one of the girls?”

  Nori waved his hand at her. “I don’t really know them that well. They’re nice, even Rayko…at times. I suppose it’s a matter of pride of heritage. Onistans always endure, and they never give up. For some reason, my destiny led me here. Great Saito says ‘Do not grieve for the path you find yourself on. Celebrate the journey and open yourself up to the mysteries that you will find.’ Had I not become a Qu-Tar, then I wouldn’t be off rushing to save the empire at the moment.”

  Luxi winced. “Save the empire, huh? I suppose this thing you and your little harem are trying to prevent is pretty bad huh?”

  Nori chuckled. “They’re not my harem. They tolerate me like a stray dog they’re forced to keep with them. And to answer your question, yeah. It’s pretty bad. I don’t know the details like the girls do. I just break people apart and serve as a meat shield. They do all the thinking and the planning.”

  “You say that, but I can tell you’re a thinker yourself.” Luxi placed her flute back in her bag. “You’re not just some big dumb brute.”

  She started to get up, but Nori held out his hand. “Wait, I have one more question.”

  Luxi placed her hands on her hips. She smirked at him. “Go on, ask.”

  “How did you know that Flara was the real client?”

  Luxi leaned up against the rail beside Nori and gazed at the moon once more. “You walked in front of the girls. I noticed you positioned yourself in front of Flara, rather than the loud obnoxious one. When Rayko started spouting all of that nonsense, I noticed that Flara sank behind the other one…”

  Nori interrupted her by saying “Apisa. Her name is Apisa.”

  Luxi tilted her head and let out a very slight huff. “Apisa. I also noticed that although Rayko had the adornments of a noble lady, she didn’t carry herself with the specific poise and grace that those with enormous responsibility tend to move with. Rayko seemed a bit too carefree to be a princess, much less one who has an urgent mission pressing in on her mind. Flara, on the other hand, did display those qualities. Apisa was clearly not the client either.”

  Nori placed the lute in the case and closed the lid. “Why is that?”

  “Her stance, the way she was dressed, and the way she also stood a little too close to Flara tipped me off.” Luxi rested her hand on her sword hilt. “I may not like stuck up bitches like Rayko, but she and Apisa did show great loyalty and dedication to their friend. I’m impressed by the whole lot of you.”

  Nori stood up and placed the lute case on his shoulder. “I’m the one who’s impressed. You were able to tell all that by just looking at us?”

  A sudden distance created itself in Luxi’s eyes. She gave a little grin, and Nori suspected it wasn’t for him. “My father always told me to take note of every little detail. He was a smuggler too. He always told me, the little details could save your life. He was a good man.”

  Nori winced. “You know what? I just realized. You remind me of my mother.”

  Luxi giggled, but it sounded nervous. “Um …thank you? I don’t know if that’s a good thing.”

  Nori’s lips curled upward. “It’s a good thing. My mother is a strong woman who doesn’t take crap from anyone. I hope to be half the person she is one day.”

  “If what you’re saying is true, then you’re mother is the most amazing person in all of Korrine.” Luxi walked past Nori. As she passed him, she grazed her fingers against the skin of his shoulder. “I hope your dreams are more pleasant this time around.”

  Nori watched her go below deck. A great fire still burned in his belly. Nori wasn’t certain it had been created entirely by the booze either. As he moved toward the stairs leading below deck, his legs felt like noodles. A flurry of thoughts hit him at once, one being most peculiar.

  Apisa reminds me of mother too. I love my mother. She’s so incredible.

  As soon as he thought that, he stopped. His head felt slightly dizzy. He dismissed it, and started moving again.

  SOMETHING COLD AND wet slapped into Nori’s face. His body became rigid, and he shot upright in his hammock. Water dripped from his chin and hair, and his skin still held a slight chill, as opposed to the delightful warmth he had before.

  Apisa stood beside him with an empty bucket. A smug smirk spread between her cheeks.

  “About time you woke up,” Apisa said. “I was starting to get worried. I’ve been shaking you f
or about five minutes.”

  Nori wiped some of the moisture from his face and eased himself out of the hammock. “Is everything okay? Is there any danger?”

  Apisa said, “I’m fine. I’m just glad you’re okay. Like I said, I’ve been trying to wake you up for about five minutes. I was starting to think you were dead. Get up. The captain wishes to see us in her chambers.”

  Nori stood up and stretched his limbs. His joints popped in various places. Once more, the critical stare returned to the Apisa’s face.

  “Are you feeling better? Did you have any more dreams about your home?” Apisa asked.

  Nori rubbed his face with both hands. Another yawn escaped him. “Yeah, I had another one last night. It’s okay, Luxi gave me something that helped me sleep last night.”

  “Luxi?” Apisa asked. “You mean the captain?” She winced for a moment and averted her eyes. “That’s …rather nice of her. Well, is there anything I can do to make you feel better?”

  Nori reached down and grabbed his second sack. “Actually, can you help me into my armor? I think I’m going to need this if we’re going to be facing Kappas and pirates.”

  Apisa’s eyes lit up, and she set the bucket off to the side.

  Nori pulled out the breastplate and put it onto his massive torso. Before he could start lacing up the ties on the side, Apisa moved beside him and started working with them using her nimbler fingers.

  “So…” Nori said. “How was your sleep last night? You aren’t getting river sick, are you?”

  Apisa concentrated on looping the leather cords through the right holes, but she spoke as she studied her work. “I slept better than a baby hog after a good feeding session. I have to admit, riding on the river is kinda relaxing. Like I said before, I’m sorry that you had your nightmare again.”

  Nori said, “It wasn’t your fault. I guess we’d better hurry before Captain Alfana gets upset.”

  Apisa’s face contorted slightly, but she didn’t say anything else. She helped him tie the strings for his gauntlets and grieves. When Nori was fully dressed, Apisa took a step back and inspected him with the same tenacity that a drill sergeant might.

  Apisa smiled. “My granny always said she liked a man in uniform. I never understood what she meant until now. You look great. If I wasn’t your friend, I’d be kinda unsettled by you. I wouldn’t want to be having to fight you, that’s for sure.”

  Nori’s stomach growled. He hefted his tetsubo on his shoulder, and started moving toward the hallway. “I’m kind of hungry. Do we have time to grab a bite to eat?”

  Apisa crossed her arms over her chest as she walked beside him. “Captain ‘Luxi’ wanted to see us all once you got up. Tell you what; you head up to the captain’s quarters while I get you something to snack on?”

  His stomach rumbled loudly again. “Thanks a lot. That’s really nice of you.”

  Apisa gently nudged him with her shoulder. “That’s what friends are for, right?”

  They walked out of the sleeping chamber, down the corridor, and into the mess hall. Apisa moved up to where some of the food was, but she glanced back to Nori before she did. He gazed into her eyes, and his innards pulsated. Butterflies flapped wildly within him, but he dismissed the peculiar sensation for now. Rather than leave her behind, Nori lingered in the mess hall and watched Apisa with growing interest.

  She quickly grabbed several things, and then moved back toward the mess hall doorway. When she noticed him still there, she increased her pace.

  “If you were going to stay, you could have gotten your own food,” Apisa said. She passed him the small bowl of items, but kept pace with him as they moved up the stairs.

  Nori delved into the small bowl of fruit and meats. From the corner of his eye, he noticed Apisa watched him. She kept her hands at her sides, but her fingers drummed against her body. She appeared to inspect him intently. Nori raised the bowl up to her.

  “No, I’m good.” Apisa rubbed her stomach. “I had some breakfast already. In fact, we’ve all been waiting for you for about an hour. We drew straws to see who would come and wake you. I won!”

  Nori stuffed a piece of meat into his mouth. After he swallowed it, he peered over at her. “You won? I thought the person who got the shortest straw had to do the thing no one else wanted to do.”

  Apisa said “I guess I played the game differently.”

  “I noticed that you and Flara disappeared after dinner yesterday.” Nori licked his lips to get rid of some of the excess fruit juice. “Did Flara go back to reading more of the scrolls?”

  She nodded. “That girl’s obsessed, plain and simple. Granted, I can understand why, but she’s determined to learn all she can. Thank Saito we have her on our side.”

  Nori stopped eating. “Did she learn anything else about the Celestial Ones?”

  Apisa let her gaze drop to the wooden planks of the floor. “No, she didn’t say much last night or this morning. I wish there was more I could do to help her. I’m not as studious as her or Rayko.”

  Nori let out a little chuckle. “At least you’re a mage like they are. You know some magic. How do you think I feel? Until enemies present themselves, I’m little more than a porter with a large club.”

  Apisa nudged him with her shoulder and beamed at him. “If going through that forest has taught me anything, we’re going to have enemies present themselves soon enough. My granny always used to tell me, ‘when there’s nothing to do, then you prepare for when there is’. I don’t know much about bodyguard or warrior stuff, but is there anything you can do to keep your skills sharp?”

  Nori said, “Yeah, there are some things I can do.” His brows inched a little closer together. “Was there a reason that your granny said that so much?”

  Apisa held her hands behind her back. “She didn’t want me to get rusty during the winter when there wasn’t any farming to do. She had me practice pulling large rocks in a cart so I could build up my strength. My granny was funny like that.”

  Nori and Apisa walked into Luxi’s quarters. Luxi, Flara, and Rayko sat around a large round table. Flara had a single scroll out in front of her, and she greedily scanned its passages. Rayko held out her fingers spread out. Every now and then, she waved her hands lightly. A small purple bottle sat in front of her, and her finger nails were purple too.

  Luxi sat hunched over, a bored expression painted on her face.

  Rayko had noticed them first. “Well there he is! It’s so nice for you to grace us with your presence.” She paused and regarded him with a critical eye. “My word, you look absolutely …impressive. I didn’t expect that at all.”

  Flara briefly looked up before she started to roll her scroll up. Her lips pressed together, and she brought her elbows close to her ribs.

  “Good morning, Nori,” Flara said meekly.

  Luxi gazed up at him and donned a large smile. “You look well rested, and even a little more intimidating too. I see the whisky did its job. I’m glad. Whisky always helps me sleep.”

  “Whisky?” Rayko asked. “What is she talking about?”

  Apisa turned a curious glance over on him. Her bottom lip quivered for a second. “So that’s what the captain gave you, huh? Are you two drinking buddies now?”

  Luxi propped herself up and studied Apisa for a moment. “And if we are? Nori and I had a heart to heart.”

  Apisa took a seat next to Rayko. “That’s wonderful to hear. Nori needs to open up to more people. So, you wanted to see us?”

  Rayko and Flara looked over at one another, and then they focused on Apisa.

  Nori slowly sat down between Apisa and Luxi. “Am I missing something? I’m a little confused.” He leaned his tetsubo against the wall.

  Luxi leaned back in her chair and grabbed a larger roll of parchment nestled on a shelf. She unrolled it and flattened it with her hand. “She’s right. I did need to discuss something with you.”

  A map of Korrine stretched across the table. Luxi’s slender finger traced along the
thin blue line that trailed across the map. “This is the river, obviously.” She pointed to a spot on the line. “At the moment, we’re here. We should reach Nagasi in about a day. We’ll stop there for the night if you don’t have any objections. It would be nice to get provisions before we try and make it through the mountains.”

  Flara reviewed the map. “I don’t have any objections. I see that there is a long distance between Cao Xi and Nagasi. What’s this city here?” She pointed to the small city indicator in the midst of the mountains. “I’m not familiar with a safe spot between the two cities.” Her eyes went wider for a second. “Oh dear… that’s Gohoda, isn’t it?”

  Luxi nodded. “We’re not going to Gohoda, but we’re sailing past it. Anyway, we have two major problems on this trip. Anyone want to try and guess what they are?”

  “The Kappas and pirates, right?” Rayko asked. “I’m not too concerned about pirates. We can more than handle any brigands that come out way. It’s the Kappas I’m scared of.”

  Luxi placed her head in her hand and gave Rayko a hard stare. “Have you ever gone up against pirates? Do you have any idea what you’re talking about?”

  Rayko leaned forward, but made sure not to touch her nails on anything. “Your attitude is stifling. I don’t know what caused you to show me such disrespect, but I’m going to demand you stop it. And just for your information, not only have we dealt with pirates and criminals, but we’ve handled far worse things than that. Have you ever tangled with a Tsuchigumo? Or tangled with shadow kami?” she turned an eye on Flara. “What were those things called again?”

  Flara wilted a little. “Um- umbarqui.”

  “Yes!” Rayko said. “We withstood against a bunch of umumbarqui! Have you ever done anything like that?”

  “Um… Rayko, I think…” Apisa said.

  Rayko sat back in her chair. “No, I want to hear this. Obviously, this uncouth excuse for a lady seeks to try and make me look like a fool. It is unappreciated.”

  Luxi rolled her eyes. “I’m not the one making myself look like a fool. You’re doing that yourself, you self-absorbed, pretentious gold digger.”