CHAPTER 22 NO TRUST
The Crow''s Nest, the first building erected and the only to be two stories, so far, nestled in the very centre. Some merchants had stalls and shops, but most buildings were more dormitories for workers. The surrounding area had been cleared of trees in a fifty foot radius.
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The Battered Oak was a butcher shop, where the Ogrin, in his white hat and apron, happily paid the Komodos in front of Kad several silver legacies for the animal carcass he brought in. The stall was a long wooden counter, with a metal sheet attached tot he top. There were several counters behind where his apprentices worked on carving animals and fish. There were some large white chest freezers behind them, and several strung up rabbits. The smell of death and meat was pungent to anyone, but for someone with as sensitive smell as a Consumer, it was nauseating As soon as his apprentices had taken away the deer, Kad threw the body of the Savanna-Cat down in front of him.
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Clack.
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“each.”
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Clack.
Who''s to say you couldn''t drain this parasite right here, right now? Guards turn a blind eye to smoking White-Spice, who cares if you took this guy''s coin and left him a dried husk
Too risky, I''ve already got a bounty on my head, don''t need to add to it.
Whatever you say.
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“ten legacies for it.”
My brother...please...
If its a family crest, then its probably only valuable to the brother, whoever that is.
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“beautiful.” She said, astonished.
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Clack.
Still, people seem to love that fur of yours, might be a worthy investment.
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Clack.
Still, it''s been a while since you slept under a roof. Journey''s End is not like Promise Coast, after all.
The Crow''s Nest, getting used to sleeping in a cot again. The mattress and pillow was stuffed with dried grass, but the room was warm and dry. The raucous sounds of drinking and fighting eventually faded to nothing as sleep slowly consumed him.
Hey, do you feel that? You know what that is?
More of our kind, at last! It''s been a long time since you''ve smelled that scent.
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“khasha.” The young woman said, bowing her head respectfully.
Khasha...it''s been a while since anyone referred to you as their brethren.
khasha standing before him. An awkward silence fell between the three of them.
“kitua?” Kad asked the woman, invoking the ancient term for sister.
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Why does that sound familiar?
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“thought that was you.”
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“course I know that name. Kad Ekisziku is the Consumer who murdered a councillor, and is wanted by the guardsmen.”
Clack.
“kill him. I haven''t killed anyone.” He lied defensively.
“one Consumer being blamed wrongfully for a murder this year, now there are two.”
Clack.
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“pushta. I know how these stories end.”
“you know of it?”
“pushta.”
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Clack.
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“his help, muymum. We will be fine, and so will he.” Bimi said defiantly.
Don''t listen to him. He''s just a stubborn old man who thinks he knows everything.
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Should we help them? The girl, at least. If it was just the old man, I would leave him to starve.
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No, this is their problem. Don''t get involved.
“told you we should have brought a Zwipe card, just in case!” She continued in dismay.
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None of our business. Don''t think about them.
poppo, and once again he waved his hand dismissively at her. She quickly turned to Kad and began to cross the path between them, darting between workers carrying lumber and tools. Kad fidgeted, unable to pretend he didn''t know she was storming straight towards him.
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This isn''t right. Rude or no, they are Consumers. We have to look after them.
Why? We look after each-other Kad. They need us, but we don''t need them.
We have to help them.
We really don''t.
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“ask if you would help, you said no.” Naika hissed.
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“all have. I always hoped I could help make a better life for the younger generation, and for my muymum.”
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You can''t count on them, Kad. Even if they are Consumers, they''ll hurt you, everyone always does.
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Are you sure you want to do this?
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“settling here? Why? What about the community centre?”
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“daughters? Is there another one of you aroudn here?” Kad asked, tensing to concentrate, to feel if there was another Consumer nearby.
“muymum, I am sorry. Sometimes I get so...so...”
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Its going to be okay. Just one night, then we''ll be off on our own again. I promise.
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Clack.
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“community, for everyone.”
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A murderer? No, maybe not. A killer, on the other hand...
“here, my brothers and sisters! The promised lands we sought! Soon, our divine place shall be found, and peace will be with us all!”
“missionaries.” Kad heard a gruff sialor say.
“they doin'' ''ere?” Said a lady of the night.
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“Poppo!” Naika said playfully, bumping into his arm with a smile.
“The Crow''s Nest.
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“you do. They don''t.”
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“sure.” Someone muttered.
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“you to stay. If they wanna be in here, they''ll ''ave to pay.” The Corvid said, shaking his head. “Ten legacies, for each of ''em.”
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“should go somewhere else.”
“those things are ''ere.”
Why is it like this everywhere? Can we not have peace anywhere we go?
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Clack.
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“meals are we talkin'' ''bout ''ere, old man?”
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“why?” Kad asked. “What have we ever done to anyone?”
“feed. They see it as invasive, dangerous.”
“after they treat us like scum.” Kad hissed. “I wouldn''t want to feed on them if they didn''t make me want to.”
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Clack.
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“that one before.” Kad muttered bitterly.
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A community. Without hatred or persecution. Is such a place even possible?
“will be a safe place for everyone?” Kad asked.
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No, you''re not. All of these people, treating you like dirt all your life. You don''t want to live side by side with them, do you?
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You just want to hurt them.
There is no place for people like us. It''s just a dream, Kad.
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“them. Everywhere I go. Everywhere we all go, it''s like that. I should go down there and teach them why we should be feared, because they have no idea. They treat us this way because they are told to. I can show them. I''ll drain them all until there''s nothing left.”
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Clack, went Kad''s tongue, baring his teeth at those who could not see them.
“worse than those downstairs.”
“Worse?” Naika said, shivering slightly. “What''s out there?”
“deep below the ground. I''ve seen them, fought them. A couple of ignorant palang don''t frighten me.”
“are a killer, pushta? Is that what we are heading?”
Go on, tell them. They might be your kin, but they should fear you too.
Clack.
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“didn''t kill him.” Kad said angrily.
I told you this was a mistake.
You were right.
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What is this feeling? Something feels...different.
“gutrah...it''s showing.”
gutrah before, and here was this old man, completely comfortable within their own presence.
“so exhausted last night.” Bimi said with a laugh.
“sees?” Kad said anxiously.
“Yetrai.”
“Yetrai?” Kad asked.
“native name for our kind? You would use the palang name? For shame.”
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tsked sadly.
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I already told you old man, I hatred that place and my kind who went there.
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“just a new life for my muymum, Kad. I come here seeking what no-one else knows. I wish to find where Consumers really come from.”
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“, yes? You have heard this, surely.”
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“another mother from where we came.”
“That is why you came here?”
“your help, Kad, I believe we could find it together!”
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Clack.
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It''s for the best, Kad.
Ame''s Fine Tailoring to find the Gold Dvergr, Ametyst, propping the staff open.
“can you see it?”
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I need to forget about them.
The Crow''s Nest, pushing past the large doors and into its sweaty insides with a desire to drown his feelings. Several sailors had fallen asleep in various chairs and parts of the floor. A few were still drinking, quietly chattering. Kad stood, almost unable to see above the counter once more, and pulled at a stool. It screeched as he drew it closer, and he climbed on top of it, and waited patiently. The rude Corvid proprietor was nowhere to be seen, an Evean bar-girl in a similar brown apron and light brown hair pulled at a pump, filling a mug with brown ale.
Looks like piss, but if it gets me drunk, I won''t care.
Who is that?
“Hey, it''s you!” A voice shouted from nearby.
Oh no, is that-
“He''s the one who killed my friends!” Came a drunken shout, growing louder. “There, that consumey!”
“you!” He said, pointing directly at Kad. “Don''t you ignore me, hic, consumey! We was, we was just, hic, passin'' through an'' he attacked us all! He killed all of them!”
“attacked me. There was five of you and only me, why would I attack you?”
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“Hic!” The Goblin said, barely able to stand still without swaying.
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“Sir?” The Blood demon snorted, taking another sip of beer.
Do it, Kad. Rip off your head wraps, unleash me. Take form all of them, make them know why they should be afraid of us!
You can''t face them all, pushta. Even if you killed every one of them, more would take their place.
“murderer.” The goblin said, distraught.
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“more killin''? Don''t want to eat us all up?” The goblin taunted, as members of the crowd laughed.
I''m sick of this. Let''s go somewhere no-one will ever find us. Again.
They''re still here? Shouldn''t they be long gone by now?
“No, I ain''t given you any more, leave me alone.” The guard said irritably.
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“handing in bags of money.”
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“another one. Leave me alone, go somewhere else. Now.” The guard said, his anger brewing.
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“do want to get out of here. Where are your guides?”
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“monsters out here?”
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“knew you would come with us!”
“not. I''ll take you to the savanna, but that''s it, and you''ll owe me. For the room and for this.”
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“unique. Only a Stone Sage may wear it, retired or no. These are artefacts, sought after by museums and collectors. My friend Daman gave me this, after years of joint community companionship, so I might always remember the different links that connect it. A community of metal and stone, yes?”
“better be valuable, old man.” Kad grumbled.
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“pushta!” Bimi cried, hugging Kad tightly. “Thank you, pushta, thank you!”
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