by Jeremy Dwyer
“We warned you!” Claudia said.
“I was hoping to probe his mind further. Many secrets may be lost now,” Yared said.
“Many lives will be lost now. He was – and is – ruthless. Not even you can catch him,” Claudia said.
“A challenging prey, indeed. Perhaps, if the invasion force of the outside world proves to be as incompetent as their scout, I will focus on pursuing him,” Lavakara said.
“Perhaps they will be far more competent. And now that killer is on the loose, adding yet more chaos and danger,” Yared said.
“Serfex did deserve his death for creating the tiara. But you’ve only added to our problems,” Claudia said.
“I will seek – and find – Nov’Talod, when the time is right,” Lavakara said.
Danek and Caemgen entered the room, seeing that the door was now open. When they entered, they saw the corpse of Serfex and the seven (7) colossal warrior statues.
Caemgen wrote down all that he saw into his book, including a description of the fatal wound and the empty cage. He looked at it to discern its purpose and what it once held. He also noted the presence of the colossal warrior statues, drawing sketches of each into his book.
“The dead man is Serfex. He created the tiara, to move the oceans and discover this city,” Claudia said.
“He also caused the colossal warriors to become stone statues,” Yared said.
“And he planned on reviving them,” Claudia said.
“The man who left this room quickly was confined in that cage. Lavakara released him, in hopes of challenging him in combat,” Yared said.
“It was Nov’Talod. He was a murderer, and should have been killed, not put in a cage,” Claudia said.
Caemgen wrote down what Claudia and Yared said, but not that he had witnessed any of it himself. He didn’t believe much – if any – of it. He had gathered earlier that Claudia and Yared were telepathic, but that didn’t prove they had accurately read minds, or that the minds were filled with truths. He merely wrote the fact that they had spoken these statements.
“He will die, by one means or another,” Lavakara said.
“You’re confident in your ability to overcome him, or displace his spirit to enable theft of his body, which you will only use to commit more murders,” Yared said.
“I make war with warriors – men who chose a path of combat – not with artisans or peasants. No one should be surprised when I confront them,” Lavakara said.
“What’s done is done. What now?” Claudia asked.
“We must continue to wait. The outsiders will be here before long,” Yared said.
~~~
Xal’Kativok stumbled in the shadows and haze – created by other of his poisons and potions – and he found his way back to the exact spot where he had arrived. He stood for a moment and suddenly fell through the fiery burnpath by which he came to Thalariveth and then found himself once again in the burnpath chamber from where he had begun his journey.
The chamber door was opened and he saw that Admiral Quin’Va’Pitar stood there, waiting for him.
“That you have returned alive but injured tells me you have achieved at least partial success, Xal’Kativok,” Admiral Quin’Va’Pitar said sternly. It was a threat to destroy him if he had returned without something.
“I have brought with me the vials of each of their waters, as well as a report that their many suns have begun to grow dark, and of significant events during my mission,” Xal’Kativok said.
“I shall have the vials of water,” Admiral Quin’Va’Pitar said.
Xal’Kativok reached into his coat and pulled out the fourteen (14) vials and handed them to the admiral: thirteen (13) of them were filled with waters taken from the fountains in the city, and one (1) was filled with waters taken from the ocean in the cavern where he had first arrived.
“Now, report to the medic. You are to be reconditioned for later missions. Then, you will give a full account of your operations,” Admiral Quin’Va’Pitar said.
Xal’Kativok left to receive medical attention and the admiral went to his observatory.
Admiral Quin’Va’Pitar looked through the telescope that was fixed on Thalariveth and saw that, in fact, the suns were once again numbering seventy (70) as the surveyors had originally told him. Whatever anomaly brought the number down to sixty-nine (69) had apparently ended. Yet, the more interesting point was that Xal’Kativok’s other report – that of darkness falling upon the suns surrounding the world of many oceans – was true.
The admiral considered the implications – it was not dark enough to send a fleet of ships on a burnpath, as the suns were still clearly present and radiant, albeit reduced in their intensity. The darkness could be a temporary condition, as was the reduction in the apparent number of suns – a condition which had already ended so that their number was restored – but he did not know for sure. This was not the time, he thought, to make a large move with many ships, thus risking a larger loss. Rather, he would send a small group of scouts and combat troops. He would also send – and, thus, risk losing – a single cargo ship to collect a larger sample of the waters, and that would be dependent upon a pair of factors: obtaining sufficient evidence of the ocean waters’ true worth after a chemical analysis and observing sufficiently dark conditions of the suns around Thalariveth to enable a ship to travel using a burnpath, since it would need a larger clearing than would the troops.
Admiral Quin’Va’Pitar spoke into a small device on the back of the glove on his right hand and said: “Commander Doriv’Natix: Prepare a unit of one hundred ten (110) combat troops and twenty (20) scouts for dispatch, awaiting my orders.”
The admiral then began to inspect the vials that he had received from Xal’Kativok. He noted the markings that had been made on them and considered the value of the powers they supposedly held. There would not be enough potency in these small quantities of water to use tactically or strategically, so they were not for drinking. Rather, he planned on submitting them for analysis.
Admiral Quin’Va’Pitar spoke into the small communication device again and said: “Lieutenant Zilara’Rasina’Nuatium: Meet with me in the mineral analytics laboratory at once.” The admiral then left the observatory and made his way to the laboratory to deliver the vials of water.
CHAPTER 49: Searching for Opportunity and Prosperity
After five (5) days of travel – partly on foot, partly by paying for transport on the riverboats that traveled through the swamps, costing them two (2) platinum coins each – Cassius, Liora, Ryan, Daven and Guillermo made their way out of the Crypt Trail and to the southern tip of the continent of Baradaxa.
They arrived in the Port of Aklaravin and were able to take some rest in the center of the town, on some wooden benches that were set aside for weary travelers.
A number of sea captains, merchants and villagers passed through the area and were murmuring about the darkness in the skies, and how no one could navigate by the stars anymore.
“The sky is much darker now. Like twilight. Soon, we won’t be able to see without torches, or the waters of light,” Liora said.
“Why is it darker? All of the suns have been partially eclipsed, by something mysterious,” Guillermo asked.
“I thought we had seen the worst that the world had to offer, and we put an end to it,” Daven said.
“There’s always the possibility of something worse,” Cassius said.
“That’s a horrible way to look at life. It gives no hope,” Liora said. She held her hands over her stomach, not knowing, but hoping for a sign. She knew it was too soon.
“The surprises and mysteries of life are never ending. That is not a cause to give up hope – it’s a source of opportunity to discover even more,” Guillermo said.
Liora wanted to like what the old man said, and it sounded much better than Cassius’ depressing view.
“Now, we need to discover a place to take rest and refuge,” Daven said.
“Agreed,” Cassi
us said.
“Before it gets too dark to see,” Liora said.
Ryan then drank anew of the waters of the Atrejan Ocean from his vial but Cassius interrupted him and said: “No. Don’t waste your water or your effort. We are not lost, and it is unlikely that the stars can guide you now. Listen to what is being said around you,” Cassius said.
“Like he said, this is an opportunity to discover. I want to know what’s happening,” Ryan said.
Despite Cassius’ interruption, Ryan finished drinking the water and was energized. He concentrated on the sounds of the suns above, and he heard horrid screeches and felt tremendous pain. He fell to his knees, holding his head in his hands, moaning in agony.
“Ryan! No!” Liora screamed. She put her arms around him, not knowing if he was going to survive. She feared the worst – that she was with his child, of which she was not yet certain, and that Ryan would not survive.
“Fool! He ignored the signs and the warnings. There was nothing to be gained,” Cassius said.
“There’s still more than enough light by which to see. We made it through the swamp, to this little town,” Daven said.
“We must take him to a place to rest. Then, perhaps, we can learn what is to be known of the dark skies,” Guillermo said.
Daven took one of Ryan’s arms and Guillermo saw this and took another. They helped him stand up while he struggled against the pain.
Cassius led the way and Liora took Ryan’s vial of water and kept it with her so that he would not drink again.
“Clever girl,” Cassius said as she did this.
Cassius found an inn and they rented rooms for a night, costing (1) platinum coin each. Cassius, Daven and Guillermo stayed separate but Liora stayed with Ryan.
~~~
That very night, Liora held Ryan in her arms while sitting in their bed. She worried deeply about her own future and that of this man she now loved. She was angry at his needless courage because she didn’t want to lose him.
“Stay with me, Ryan. Please, stay with me. I love you,” Liora said to him, many times.
Inside, Ryan could only feel the pain from the screeching sounds from the stars. He was used to hearing them give clear, almost melodic sounds that he could easily follow to know their positions and paths. This was how it had always been – even during the inferno. Then, even though the suns were aligned differently which made for dangerous heat in many places, they were still giving off their usual sounds. This pain – this screeching – was almost as if the stars were alive, in pain and frightened. However, Ryan did not know what they were frightened of. The pain was too intense within him to concentrate.
Only after Liora held him for three (3) hours did he answer, saying: “I love you.”
Liora was relieved – she didn’t doubt his love, although she wanted to hear it. She was relieved that he was able to speak.
Ryan could feel the pain slowly dull, only to be replaced with questions that he wanted answered.
After another hour of just holding him, Liora said: “Ryan, talk to me. Tell me how you feel.”
“The pain is not as bad – it’s a bit less now,” Ryan said.
“That’s good. That’s good,” Liora said, regaining her hope in no small measure.
“You’re quiet. What are you thinking?” Liora asked.
“There’s pain. But there’s fear,” Ryan said.
“What are you afraid of? I’m here with you,” Liora asked.
“Not my fear. The stars,” Ryan said.
“That doesn’t make any sense. I don’t understand,” Liora said.
“The stars are afraid of something…something dark in the sky. It hurts them,” Ryan said.
“The stars are afraid? Are you saying they’re alive?” Liora asked.
“I don’t know. I guess they are. But there’s just this feeling of fear, as well as pain. They’re in pain,” Ryan said.
“I’m worried about your pain,” Liora said.
“It’s not as bad. As the water powers fade, I’m not as connected to the star sounds anymore,” Ryan said.
“Don’t connect to them,” Liora said. She kissed his forehead and his lips and then said: “Connect to me.”
Liora gently lowered Ryan’s head on to the bed and positioned herself carefully, pulling him deep in to her and gently making love. As he gained his energy and revealed his pleasure, she became more vigorous. Ryan forgot the sounds of the stars and could only hear her cries of passion. They both achieved ecstatic climax. Liora then rested beside him and they held each other through the night.
“I’m yours. Always,” Liora said.
“I’m yours. I love you,” Ryan said.
“Never leave me,” Liora said.
“I won’t,” Ryan said, kissing her lips and resting with her.
After waking the following morning, Ryan was refreshed and Liora was half-awake, daydreaming of their passion, and their future. Her time in the employ of Cassius, she decided, must come to an end. She wanted to be married to Ryan and have children. She hoped to have a child, or even twins, already within her.
“We should find a safe place to go. Somewhere around here. Cassius said there was a lot of farming in Baradaxa,” Ryan said.
“Never mind Cassius. I don’t care what he said. I don’t work with him anymore. I’m with you,” Liora said.
“And I’m with you. We do need to go somewhere a little safer. It’s not safe or easy to travel the oceans in this darkness. Tychon’s ghost is still out there. If we go to live and work near a farm – at least for a little while – we can do a lot better,” Ryan said.
“That’s right. We’re not going out to sea anymore. We’ll find a nice little village to live in and settle down,” Liora said, smiling at the end of it with the thought of raising a family.
“Let’s get going. Home awaits…wherever home eventually turns out to be,” Ryan said.
“Yes, let’s go,” Liora said.
They left their room and met with Daven, Guillermo and Cassius in the hallway of the inn.
“I see that you survived the night, and look all the better for it,” Cassius said to Ryan.
“This continent is made of mostly farmland, right?” Ryan asked.
“That’s correct. Agriculture is the major industry, although it is less profitable than banking,” Cassius said.
“I don’t really care about the banks or most other businesses. I’d rather work on a farm. I’m getting tired of sailing, anyway,” Ryan said.
“Then you should go to the northwestern regions. Perhaps we should all seek opportunity there, until the darkness has abated,” Cassius said.
“I worked for a few years of my youth on a farm. Then, I saw all that was to be seen and learned all that I could. I thirsted for the larger world beyond, and do not care to return. I should like to stay in this seaport and discover what I can of the mystery of this darkness,” Guillermo said.
“It seems that we will be parting ways…at least for a while,” Cassius said.
“A farm’s not really where I can be of much use, either,” Daven said.
“Where will it be, then?” Cassius asked.
“Maybe back to Emeth. I should take on more students of music,” Daven said.
“You should go where you’re needed, of course. Just be more careful of what songs you sing. I may be in need of your services, and wouldn’t want your talents and time to be wasted by troublesome spirits or other dangers,” Cassius said.
“I wish you well,” Daven said and left the inn to make his way to the seaport and, he hoped, back to Emeth quickly and safely.
“I shall be on my way now,” Guillermo said, and he also left the inn to explore the seaport and overhear what the travelers were saying.
“We should be on our way now. It would be safest to travel inland only, by riverboat,” Cassius said.
“I agree,” Ryan said.
“I suppose,” Liora said, barely concealing her disdain for Cassius and the thought of
traveling with him again.
The trio left the inn and booked passage on a riverboat, traveling along a winding river for the next three (3) days, which led them into the southwestern region of Baradaxa. From there, they would have to find transport along another river, for another two (2) days, to reach the northwestern territory. While seeking out a riverboat to carry them on the next leg of their journey, they passed through a small farming village and Ryan looked for opportunities to work the land, if only because he wanted to find a farming job sooner, and anything would do, regardless of its location.
~~~
Sebastian owned vast areas of farmland in Baradaxa and was busy surveying some of his many holdings in the southwestern territory. Fantine was by his side as they looked about the land just east of the Port of Kemalorin, which was still the busiest port town on the continent’s western coast. Sebastian looked at this small and disconnected plot of land which he had purchased from Alistair, and which was only a tiny fraction of all that he had.
“You realize that we’re not just building an outer city wall. There will be internal structural walls for support. They’ll create compartments. However, that means they’re going to have to be designed correctly to allow for passage through them – passage of people, riverboats, work animals, goods, aqueducts. We have to survey carefully before construction so that the structures don’t interfere with the economic activity and livelihoods of people already established in those locations. There are many logistical considerations. That’s going to increase the schedule time,” Fantine said.
“The skies are getting darker. Soon, it may be difficult for anyone to work. How can we accelerate that schedule?” Sebastian asked. He had no idea what was going on, but it appeared dangerous, and added to the urgency he felt.
“Hire more construction workers to accelerate the building phase. That will, of course, increase the cost,” Fantine said.
“If it were only my money, I wouldn’t think twice. But the banks are going to want a larger and larger stake in this. And their rates have gone up, and the taxes have increased to unsettling levels,” Sebastian said.