《Birthday》


 Chapter 1, The Story of Unimportant Squishy Things

    This is a story about two idiots. Well, two idiots and a god. I will not bore my audience with trivialities about idiots, but in brief one idiot fell in love with another idiot and caused all our problems.


    There was once a kingdom with many humans, too many humans frankly. One that was ruled by a boy prince who had lost his parents at an early age. Of course as a prince he had to marry. So one day among many proposals, he was visited by a noble family. The noble family at the time was very wealthy, yet it lacked the ability to continue its great wealth. It was a family of gamblers. One that would not last long unless they secured one last royal gamble. This family had two daughters.


    The oldest daughter of the family, a girl a little older than the prince, was prepared to propose to him, but she spent too many an hour getting ready simply to see him. The youngest daughter, however, just went and played with him. Often times playing simple games such as bandits and kings. Afterwards the noble family visited the prince several times, and each time the prince pretended to listen to the first daughter where in all reality he had become close friends with the second.


    Yet that all ended when that noble family failed to pay its debts. As consequence, they lost all their wealth and got shut down into the depths of the noble hierarchy. The Prince, bound by rank, was unable to see them again, lest he be seen with commoners.The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    The prince¡¯s name was Prince Menska Golgoth, and while he ruled he was not alone. By his side stood his jester, a young man who had appeared shortly after his parent¡¯s death. Curiously this jester did not age as the years passed. Not a single hair on the jester¡¯s body differed as the prince transformed into a young man and his friendship with the noble girl blossomed into unrequited love. So much so that the prince refused to marry any noble girl or princess he had come to see him after.


    Years later the same fate had accompanied the noble girl. She refused to marry anyone, but the prince. Though her father would not have it, lowly nobles such as themselves could not even dare to join house with royalty. It was preposterous! Outrageous! And every time the girl suggested she marry the prince the father only got more adamant about her marrying the suitors he picked. One day he had enough and with much regret he banished the girl from their family.


    He gave her two fleeting options, ¡®Marry the suitor I pick for you, or find the money to return us to our former glory. Only then will I let you return.¡¯


    The girl set off afterwards, intent on fulfilling her goal with the latter option. Henceforth, she would apprentice as an archivist and hunt the treasures of this world.


    The prince was waiting, the noble girl working, the jester scheming, and I-- well I was doing much more important things! I was a god after all.

 Chapter 2, The effigy that was a god in disguise

    All life started when five tremendously powerful beings became gods and their five companions of equal power became the months. Right, with that out of the way let us proceed to the far more interesting part: me.


    I was carved with a knife covered in dew. The sides of my body smoothed with bone, and the sockets of my eyes dug in with the back of a rock.


    Two pops and I saw the world for the first time. Almost clear past the pearly glass that were my eyes. The first thing I saw was my creator smile.


    Smile. If only I could do that.


    Only minutes later, I was in the dark once more, a veil of burlap over top my precious sight. The world toppled and bounced over and over. The crunch of steps my only companion. From time to time I could hear the cries of those who made me. The way they spoke escaped me, yet as I later learned, they were singing. Sometimes I was enraged, others I was mesmerized. Then I heard more.


    "We''re near." I would hear past all muffle and cloth. I waited for hours until the veil was lifted. Light bounced across my eyes and I waited as the light died down. Before I knew it, I was surrounded by a band of creatures just like my maker.


    They stayed for four nights and three days, singing and dancing all the while. Odd. At the time I wondered why they did that, though on future thought, it was conclusive that they were idiots. Their only smart action was to create me.


    On the fourth day they left, abandoning a wooden effigy over the doused firepit. It had eyes of pearl stuffed into a body of spruce. It was a gift to their ''spirit mother'' as they would say.


    "The spirit mother is all. The world is she."


    Odd how that was what I was. A gift. A doll. Or as to those who would later see me, a god. I liked the latter much more.


    I stared into the woods for days afterwards, the ashy remains of the fire all around me. There was this one stump near me. Perhaps my only companion. Stump I called it.


    In the nights that followed stump and I shared many fascinating discussions. Though our discussion were usually one sided-- well always one sided. I had a lot of fun! Once we even gossiped about shrub. Oh, how rambunctious we were!


    Yet the days passed, and talking to stump got boring. So I tried arguing with stump, yet his lack of rebuttals was astounding. Why I criticized the very wood that formed his base, how callous his makers must have been to leave him so¡­ shapeless. I would have positively started a fire with heat of my remarks if slump was only smart enough to react. Which he did not. Ever.


    Afterwards stump did not talk to me, not that he did in the first place. And I wanted nothing to do with Stump.


    Then more of them came. Strange pale creatures, pink if you stared at them right. They huddled around me as if I were fire. One tried to poke me, but thankfully another stopped it before the first got its way.


    Then another pointed at me and gestured with its hands. Having done so, it stood on stump. ''God'' it said as it pointed at me. Its fellows staring at the creature as it preached, goggling and glaring. I stopped listening after "God is good. That god. He bring fire!" Why these creatures even blabbered so escaped me. I would have asked Stump, but I was mad at him, and he seemed fairly occupied.


    To my surprise the creatures started giving me gifts. Lots of gifts. Sometimes furs, skulls, even the rare rock or two. Though it would have helped if I could have used any of it. Foolish things, these pale squishy things, which called themselves humans. At least they favored me over Stump. In that respect, I was moving up in the world.


    Days passed then weeks, then months, until weeks felt like days, and years like months. The humans built huts and burnt fires around me. Every so often they would bring me some poor animal''s head and spray blood all over me... I was starting to get bored of all these ''gifts''.


    Yet they persisted, these strange creatures. Doing things even odder than how they looked. Every night they died and came back to life in the morning. Sleeping they called it. On one of these ¡®sleeps¡¯, I heard a few screams, a large fire and yelling all about. It was too dark to see anything save the fire ahead of me. Perhaps there was something behind me, though I wasn''t very apt at turning.


    Come morning a new herd of humans kneeled before me. Bearing me more gifts. Good, I was getting bored of the old gifts. Gifts such as long sticks with sharp rocks on the end. Or small sticks with flats rocks in the end. Staring at them again it occurred to me that these humans really loved sticks.


    The humans themselves were at least better dressed than their formers. Bearing full body leathers instead of loin cloths. One spoke up-- they even spoke better-- still kneeling, he said, "Bless us oh god of fire."


    I would have smiled if I could, I liked the sound of that.


    These humans did not ''sleep'' nearly as much as the other ones, instead they crept out at night, with little suns at the ends of more sticks. Sharp sticks stuck to their backs. Sometimes, they stayed back, lit a fire near me and told stories around it. Having nothing better to do, I listened to each of the stories.


    They told stories of far off rulers, sunken islands, legendary humans who could not die, and entire countries where the people were not human at all. Fascinating!


    The humans that left came back in the mornings with more food, more furs and even more rocks. They brought down the trees like lighting, but slower and gave me even more gifts than ever before.


    Their houses were not mere huts, but more permanent. They even dressed me! From what I saw it was a fine fur, kind of brownish with hints of white. I came to like these stick humans.


    One day a stick human returned with a stick that was entirely a rock, a very polished, sharp rock. The human swung the rock stick as the other humans gawked at it. "It''s a sword. A sailor from the east had parted with it. They say it¡¯s the pride of their Ilvari Empire." said the first human. ''Sword'', what an interesting name for a rock stick.


    For several nights afterwards, I heard loud panging and bright fires. The sting of metal apparent in the distance. I wondered at times what caused the sounds, even considered the humans at length. I had concluded that there was nothing special to them, at least nothing new compared to their loin-cloth counterparts. Humans are humans. They will never change.Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.


    In the days that followed, I saw more and more humans with swords, even some rocks strapped to their chests, and flat rocks strapped to their other hands. They shaped the swords in all different shapes. ''Axes'', ''Polearms'', ''Spears'', and ''daggers''. Of course giving me some in the process.


    In the years that passed, these humans grew more impressive. Now there were no trees around me, except for Stump, who they dubbed ¡®the Sacred Step¡¯. Instead large rocks stood all round me, and even more rocks behind that. On one of those days, I saw the most peculiar sight. A human riding a creature twice the size of it. I nearly thought the creature would kill the human, but apparently it enjoyed being ridden. Perhaps I had found a creature more foolish than humans.


    Even more years passed, and even more rocks sprung up. More and more until I found myself in a room, completely shut off with nothing but my gifts. Here and then a human dressed in funny white robes would come see me, kneel by me, and chant odd words.


    It never gave its name, so I thought I''d give him one. ''Rags'' I dubbed him, but I doubt ''rags'' could hear me.


    Rags stopped by every day, and bowed low to the ground every time. I even tried listening to his mad rambles. Though to my displeasure his language was completely foreign to me. ''Speak in common!'' I said several times. Rags did not listen once. It was outrageous! ¡®Oh Rags¡¯, I thought as the man kneeled by me, ¡®why must you be an idiot¡¯? Though questions such as those answered themselves.


    One day, Rags flew through the door way and landed near stump. From where he landed, his eyes drifted to what I only saw as a goliath of a man. One different from the stick humans. His sword was as red as strawberries, and the rocks on his body were more yellow than gray. Odd, yellow rocks. He even had a hat of rocks, adorned with more colored rocks. What is it with humans and rocks?


    The large human approached Rags and in one fluid motion sprayed strawberry juice all over. Or was it blood? It was too dark to notice, and I didn''t really care. Our conversations were always one-sided.


    Nevertheless, the human just like all the others saw me and kneeled by my side. Probably prepared to declare me one god or the other. I must admit I was rather curious as to what god I would be this time.


    "Atechrities, God of war, I beseech thee. Let our empire thrive under your name."


    A name. Even better.


    Early on after, I had entire legions of ''rags'' bow before me. They told me more stories in hymns. And I listened, considering I had very little else to do. But, as time passed, so too did they, and I was left alone.


    The following centuries were nothing but yellow. Yellow rocks of all different sizes stacked everywhere around me. Mountains of yellow circles, or coins as they were called, and even yellow cups scattered by my feet. I would have asked for the gifts to stop if I could, but before long (or what I thought was long), the yellow rocks covered even me.


    Perhaps they forgot about me? Madness! I was their beloved god! I was Atechrities! I was¡­ I was¡­ alone. I wallowed in my darkness, for decades lost in the emptiness. I wasn''t even sure if Stump was there anymore.


    Then it all ended. In a flurry of cries and pangs, light peaked through the openings in the pile of rocks ahead of me. I could see again! Soon more of the rocks disappeared until I saw what was happening. Larceny. Strange leathered humans were stealing my gifts!


    They came in, often in groups and robbed my gifts without end. Some would even pick me up, but at a seconds glance put me down as if I were worthless compared to the yellow rocks. It was quite depressing.


    I saw my gifts dwindle until only small hordes of it remained. It was as if I would be left alone once more, only this time without my gifts. I thought about my situation as it occurred to me. I would go insane! Everything that had ever mattered taken away. Why? I cried in my thoughts, feeling despair grip me is if it were inevitable. I-I was a god. I am a god!


    Then a small human walked into the room, face covered. It swerved its head around like all the others, then did the unthinkable. It went straight for me. Finally! A human to proclaim me god again! Or so I thought.


    The human skipped the formalities altogether. It grabbed me, wrapped me to its back, and ran. I would have been mad at this insolent fool. Outrage by its audacity. But then, I saw the world move in light for the first time.


    It was wonderful. Better than any story, as if I had all the celestials captured in the curves of my opal eyes. I memorized every detail hungrily. Rocks! More rocks! Walls? Walls! Nearer to the gates I even saw one of the famous ¡®toilets¡¯ the humans spoke of. Though it was odd for a toilet. For one it was gold, for another it had no hole. I as almost certain toilets had holes, but to my displeasure, my study was interrupted by my rapidly changing surroundings.


    I sobered myself to think. Where was I going? I would have looked around if I could, though it happened so fast. Like the earthquakes ''rags'' often talked about. We left my room in a matter of seconds, the yellow rocks fading behind me.


    As we exited, my pearl eyes traced the grand gates that led to my room. Built in the shape of two wings, all embedded with a variety of yellow rocks, and some light greyish ones. What had happened in the last centuries?


    All around me walls as white as teeth expanded to the sides, we were in a hall. Various smug faces of humans were plastered to those walls, hanging in yellow rock boxes. Why? I had to ask myself. Why would humans want to look at themselves? Let alone trap themselves in little yellow boxes? How odd. Until then, I thought I had seen everything.


    Bouncing some more, I saw the black flat rocks which hugged the floor. They replaced even the grass? Blasphemous! What had grass ever done to the humans? Besides it was far less ugly than the flat rocks that were there now.


    My carrier jumped and I saw the body of a reddened human below. Bathed in strawberry juice. Soon I saw more and more. Some were slumped against the walls, other on the floor. Oh my, and here I thought the humans had become civil. Some things never change, I suppose.


    While bouncing with the wind rushing past me, I found myself out of the long hallway. Out through an exit that was not quite as elegant as the one to my room. In fact it was a gaping hole of falling bricks and splinters. I saw burnt marks all around it. Normally I would have discounted this as any other act caused by humans, but now I was moving. Everything mattered now. I mean, I could die! If that was even possible for a god.


    My carrier stopped a little ways away from the wall. It turned a little bit, then started. I swore it flinched. A second later it bolted and my world grew in twice the speed.


    Everything after that happened in a blur. Green. Hills. White. Palace. The carrier stopped for what I could only imagine was to catch its breath. There I saw it all. It was no palace. It was a city.


    High spirals of pure white, vines like spider webs. That was the city I lived in. Great flicks of flame danced about it, and a shadow of smoke rose from the city to the sky above. What a wonder.


    "Halt!" I heard the voice boom from my corner. It was a small man-- no wait larger than that. An odd thing, perspective. He was growing as he approached us. "Thief" he cried again.


    My carrier twisted momentarily then spun once more and dashed forwards. Soon the sight of the city vanished and became nothing more than a memory. Now images of green flew by me. It was minutes maybe hours, but all the while I saw only trees. Maybe the odd stump or root. All jumping as did my carrier. Then it was over and I was on a road, or at least what I imagined roads to look like.


    My carrier slowed down to a stop. Why did it stop? Stupid creature, keep moving! This world was just getting good. I felt a jolt as I was lifted up and heaved. The sky was soon all that I saw. A moment later, the world spun and I came face to face with my carrier. It gaped at me with wide open eyes. A mouth as flat as a line.


    It was human like the others but not wrinkled like trees. Perhaps it was young? But how young I could not tell. Human ages often escaped me. Pointless things. They live for such a short time, like caterpillars. What do they live for? Why even try only to die the next day? Or was it half a century? I had stopped caring about these humans to remember. Besides most humans I knew had died long before then.


    I studied it further as it refused to stop staring. It had dark eyes like coal, and skin of beige. Short brown tufts of hair shot out over its cowl, and little specs dotted across its face, right over its nose. I never got used to how ugly humans were, but looking at it close by, maybe just maybe they were not so bad.


    I heard wood scrap against the gravel road a little ways behind me, and immediately my world ducked down, my pearly eyes glaring at the gravel below. I started to regret that thought. There was nothing worse than humans. At least nothing uglier. And definitely nothing stupider.

 Chapter 3, And so the Adventure Began

    A long time ago I had forgotten that the world was larger than my chamber. I had never imagined just how big it really was.


    ---


    After that unfortunate incident my carrier held me upright once more and I heard the sound hollow wood as my carrier stepped onto something, tucking me inside the satchel soon after. My world jumped as it had in the forest, then voices. One was undoubtedly someone¡¯s from the front of whatever we were on, a man¡¯s voice, very generic. The other however came from much closer. My carrier? Couldn¡¯t be. Its voice was higher than the man¡¯s with a distinct crack near its end. It seemed familiar with the other human.


    ¡°My my, Ersel, what is a girl like you doing on Southmarch? That¡¯s no place for anyone but bandits and soldiers since the old kings fell¡±


    ¡°Why, I was helping the wounded.¡± Sly.


    The man scoffed, ¡°I¡¯d heard better lies from the dead.¡±


    That was odd to me. How could the dead lie? Sometimes humans baffled me with their logic, or rather lack of it.


    ¡°Alright then¡± continued the man, ¡°I¡¯ve no business asking a lady of her affairs. Where are you headed?¡±


    ¡°Starsreach.¡±


    ¡°I see, you¡¯re lucky that¡¯s on my route.¡±


    There was a bump as my carrier sat down, ¡°No, I¡¯m lucky you still owe me that favor.¡±


    ¡°Hmpf, that¡¯s last time I do anything involving a bear, a crate, and a very old man.¡±


    What the¡­


    A whip resounded and everything darted forwards. I heard the whinny of horses and the rattle of wheels. Just where were we headed? Starsreach? Was that in the sky? I smiled in my thoughts, I could only imagine.


    Time passed like it always did, yet now I was excited. Shaking almost, if that were possible. Where would I go next, what would I see next? So many possibilities! While I waited I listened to the conversations between my travelling abductors. If listening to fools talk hadn¡¯t amused me I would have been bored long ago. Oh wait-


    ¡°So Ersel, what of your studies? I heard you were apprenticing as an archivist.¡±


    ¡°Aye, I learned quite a few things.¡±


    ¡°Spin me some tails Meistress.¡±


    There was a short quirky laugh and more likely than not a smirk, ¡°Ever heard of the idol of Atechrities?¡±


    Was that me?


    ¡°Enlighten me.¡± He said plainly.


    She cleared her throat and I heard the sound of water gulped nearby. It was followed by a long drawn out sigh.  ¡°The idol was said to have blessed the Old Kingdom. The army of the long march found the idol when it conquered Southmarch. Afterwards they were sieged for a month and survived. A miracle, all after they found that idol.


    Despite it as an act of Blasphemy, the ruling lord and his subjects worshiped the idol as a local god rather than the stars. When the old kings left for the holyland, the lord of Southmarch, despite his star blood, was exiled from the exodus for his family¡¯s crimes of heresy. Until now they continued to worship the idol even in secret- even after the former king ruled it an act of treason.¡±


    ¡°Hence why they fell.¡± His voice a little curious, ¡°But what of the idol?¡±


    ¡°It was the pride of a kingdom.¡±


    ¡°So that¡¯s why you went then? To look at it?¡±


    There was silence, a long silence. Just long enough to raise brows, ¡°Something like that.¡± She said.


    Oh indeed. Something such as kidnapping. Or was it Godnapping? I was a god after all.


    The man started again, ¡°I¡¯m not a reading man, but Archivists rely on scrolls no? Not fabled idols in burning cities.¡±


    ¡°No no. I only heard about it from the wounded I helped.¡± Back to that I see, ¡°They said it was lost in the fire.¡±


    Thinking back, I probably would have burned if it wasn¡¯t for all those yellow rocks.


    ¡°Shame, it would have been worth a fortune.¡±


    ¡°Indeed.¡±


    Indeed indeed. Wait me? She was going to sell me?


    I fell into my thoughts as silence ensued. Nothing but the cackle of wood, and tapping of hooves to accompany me. I was a god, dammit! Yet I was thrown into a bag as if I were nothing but a doll. Blasphemous! Outrageous! These incompetents did not know who they were dealing with. They had not even offered me presents.


    I stopped myself in mid thought.


    Or perhaps they did. For the first time in my life, I had been given the world as a present. To see it all! Who would have known it to be so big? My mind recoiled as this occurred to me. Indeed, I¡¯d bless this ¡®Ersel¡¯ with a thousand fires or victories or whatever I was the god of.


    ¡°Stasreach¡± said the man at the front, ¡°I believe this your stop?¡±


    Everything jumped and the sound of feet against gravel greeted me. Then I heard voices. Voices upon voice. More than I ever heard before. How many people were around me?


    ¡°Thanks Vlad.¡± Cried my carrier.


    Then began the rocky jostle as my host moved on foot. Where was I?


    I heard the cries of more humans, offering fruits for gold. If I remembered correctly gold was the human name for yellow rocks. How did yellow rocks amount to fruit? You could eat fruit! Madness, these humans never seized to amaze me with their incompetency.


    There was a creak, a slam, and the surroundings humans shut up. Finally. The cloth shifted in front of me and the image of a cluttered room came into focus. Little knick-knacks and wonderments stuffed in wooden shelves. Near the end of the shop sat a balding man behind a counter. A man I could only describe as a very large pear shaped monkey and I had only seen a monkey once.


    ¡°What do you have their, miss?¡± He said behind round rimmed glasses.


    ¡°A treasure worth two Irs and five crowns.¡±


    The pear looked at me with skeptical eyes. Clearly he had never seen greatness.


    ¡°Not interested.¡± He said firmly, returning to whatever nonsense he was working on before. Any human to ignore me was clearly delusional. This man was no different.


    ¡°This is the lost idol of Atechrities! Worth ten times more than the bargain I offer you.¡±


    The man snorted as he continued to ignore us.


    My carrier did no let up, ¡°This Idol was said to have won the old kings Southmarch. If you sell this to the proper collector, you¡¯ll make a fortune.¡±


    The man sighed, stretching his words ¡°Not interested.¡±


    My world zoomed forwards as my carried stomped towards the counter. In one quick moment she slammed my base against the counter. The nerve!Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.


    Now the man towered above me, looking infuriated. No doubt projecting my emotions in full.


    My carrier spoke first, ¡°I guarantee that within a fortnight, the crown will seek this artifact. If they find it in the hands of a procurer of treasures, they¡¯ll think nothing of it. In fact they¡¯ll pay the man his weight in gold.¡±


    The man¡¯s face lowered a bit, studying me as his expression cooled.


    Two beige hands slammed on the table on either side of me, ¡°How much do you weigh?¡±


    ¡°You seem confident miss. But your confidence concerns me.¡±


    The arms retracted, ¡°How so?¡±


    ¡°If what you say is true. Then the method you attained this treasure is¡­questionable. Last I heard Southmarch was sacked. Swarming with thieves and beggars now-a-days.¡±


    There was a silence, a deadly silence.  On the edge of my pearly eyes I saw the man shift his eyes ever so slightly to the left. Then he nodded, staring at something other than my carrier. The door creaked and a heavy footstep echoed across the room.


    Before I knew it I tumbled into the satchel and tugged haphazardly across what I could only assume was the entirety of the room.


    ¡°Stop! Thief!¡± cried a third voice.


    I felt everything tip then heard the sound of sliding. There was sudden jolt, then the rasp of feet against gravel. Again pitches for fruit filled my wooden ears. Outside already? I had to admit, I was impressed by my carrier¡¯s ability to run away. Probably more so if I had gotten the chance to see it.


    I heard ¡®Thief!¡¯ cried multiple times later, even the odd ¡®Stop¡¯ here and there. A little while later the heavy huffing of my carrier began to override the sound of fruit salesmen. Perhaps she was tired. Stop you idiot, I tried to tell her, why run when you can stand still? That would have been better for both of us. Honestly. I did not understand these humans. She could not sell me, and now she refused to return me to the people who loved me. Or at least I assumed they loved me. Besides, who didn¡¯t love me? I stopped thinking about that as I realized it was a redundant thought. The answer was obvious.


    My Carrier kept running. Ducking at times and jumping at others. The world shook and her running seized. Footsteps raced by and my carrier, already in deep breath, let out a heavy sigh. Only a moment later she shot forwards. Continuing her relentless run. I thought I would get sick.


    Minutes passed until she finally slowed, then hours until the sounds of humans faded. It made me wonder where I was. Perhaps another shop? No, I would have heard doors. I listened closely. A bird chirped. I hated those things. The shuffle of leaves, some clicks from what I assumed were squirrels. It became more and more apparent that my carrier had brought me to another forest.


    Why? I could not possibly tell. After all speaking to things was not often my strong suit. That or they never listened.


    More leaves shuffled. By the sound alone I could tell it wasn¡¯t squirrels. There was a jolt, and I heard my carrier¡¯s voice, my world turning side to side.


    ¡°Back.¡± She cried. ¡°I know you¡¯re kind. Blood scarves! The lot of you! Back!¡±


    Laughing, sounded to be a man¡¯s. ¡°We¡¯re not afraid of you, little noble. We¡¯re part of a new order. Lest you¡¯re prince forget that.¡±


    Another voice, ¡°You have no idea how hard it is to catch your kind outside your walls.¡±


    ¡°Aye.¡± Grumbled the first man ¡°Best we be rewarded for our efforts.¡±


    ¡°Oi, now that I¡¯ve gotten a good look at her, isn¡¯t she the girl we¡¯ve been looking for?¡± asked the second man.


    Silence. ¡°By the stars I think she is.¡± Acknowledged the first man ¡°Alright, here¡¯s what you¡¯ll do girl. Forget what you saw back on the ship and we¡¯ll hurt you a little.¡±


    There was a slight twist from where I was. It seemed my carrier was considering her odds.


    ¡°Enough.¡± Cried yet another voice. A higher one, probably a woman¡¯s, ¡°Leave her with me. Idle threats are not as potent as tampering with the actual memories. More than that, she has something with her.¡± There was a long silence, my carrier began to back away, ¡°I can feel it.¡± Said the woman at last.


    My carrier turned and a loud thump echoed across the forest. My world tumbled down. The next moment I heard the woman cry out orders, ¡°Tie her up.¡± She barked, ¡°Tell Black Coat that we have the girl and that we have taken care of her.¡±


    Light shot past my pearl eyes, and soon I saw the faces of those around me. Three men and what I thought was the woman. The men were typical thugs, the only odd thing about them, red scarves which hung about their necks. The woman, however, was different. She had dark skin, long black dreadlocks and two painfully violet eyes.


    ¡°Spirits.¡± She hushed. ¡°I knew I felt something particular.¡±


    ¡°What is it?¡± Asked one of the red scarves.


    ¡°None of your concern. Bound the noble, I¡¯ll handle the rest.¡±


    She glanced back at me, her smile was almost poisonous. With a clutch of her hands I was lifted to bear sight to my unconscious carrier, the others tying her as I watched. That sight was quickly interrupted. The veil of burlap blinded me once more.


    ¡­


    The veil was lifted a couple hours later. This time I was in a building that looked more like a carved out tee. Various vials hanging about. Strange colorful fluids bubbling in some of them. Other than vials, I saw small dried up creatures and¡­was that tufts of hair? It almost reminded me of my earlier gifts.


    The stranger, who I could now fully discern, stood next to a large cauldron. Ah I remembered those from when the humans discovered how to shape rocks. Examining violet eyes some more I came to the conclusion that it was a she, not that it mattered. Humans seemed to fuss much too much over that.


    She wore a two part dress woven of dried grass and beads, over her shoulders lay a cowl which along with her face were heavily adorned with dull rocks. Or ¡®ornaments¡¯ as the humans called them.


    She seemed to be reading, staring at some scroll on her table. I spotted my carrier bound in the corner. Her eyes narrowed at the stranger.


    ¡°I see you are awake, girl.¡± She said in her accented voice, ¡°You have garnered a lot of attention among my guild. Especially that friend of yours. She said you saw something you shouldn¡¯t have. It is odd enough for some stranger such as yourself to have seen what she did, but now here you are with a treasure worth more than yourself.¡±


    ¡°Some stranger? She¡¯s not my friend.¡± Cursed my carrier. Her eyes darting about her.


    Violet eyes kept her back to my carrier, ¡°It is of no use, those ropes are bound by spell craft.¡±


    My carrier stopped struggling, perhaps to the amusement of Violet eyes. Though, oddly I could see her hands moving ever so slightly at the corner of my sight. What was she up to?


    Violet eyes continued her slow chuckle, ¡°You must have had some connection to her. Since if not for her, well.¡± She glanced at my carrier, ¡°You would have been killed long ago.¡±


    My carrier spat, but missed the mark. Violet eyes turned back to her scrolls, laughing loudly as she did so. ¡°No matter, your memory of all of this will be erased soon enough. Besides, you bought me this idol. I learned of a spell you see, call it a recipe. This idol of yours is the final ingredient.¡±


    There was an edge to my carrier¡¯s voice, ¡°What does this have to do with the idol?¡±


    ¡°Oh you shall see.¡± Hummed violet eyes. I stared at my carrier. She was indeed up to something. The slight back and forth of her hands, the glimmer of steel amongst the bubbling lights.


    All at once, I saw it then, her bounds fell softly against the ground. She had cut her binds.


    Violet eyes, still facing the scrolls, started chanting. ¡°Isdari na Trol. Idari na Ven.¡±


    Shortly after, she to, pulled out a knife. She held both hands above her hand, one hand with the knife pressed against the palm. It was as if she intended to cut herself. Absurd! What would she gain from that?


    A couple seconds and my carrier pounced.


    Violet eyes chanted what appeared to be the last words, ¡°Isdari sa-¡±


    She stopped her chant as she dodged the first swing, ¡°How did you escape?¡± she cried circling my carrier.


    My carrier followed her circle, her dagger equally prepped. ¡°A tale for another time. Perhaps once I drive my dagger through your black heart.¡±


    Violet eyes began to smile, ¡°I know what you are! Least I have a heart!¡±


    The two fell into a battle of blades. Violet eyes was elegant, but my carrier was fast. Their blades clashed in a series of parries, until at last my carrier made one failed lunge and had her dagger knocked away.


    Violet eyes swung once at my disarmed carrier, whilst my carrier dodged but only barely. She clutched her arm as she stumbled backwards. She had been cut.


    Violet eyes froze, almost expressionless. That soon faded replaced by a face of rage, ¡°No!¡± She roared, ¡°The ritual¡± her eyes darted towards me.


    My carrier staggered, then let her arm hang free. Globules of her blood flew from her arm and scattered in the air. Little beads that just floated there. My carrier was motionless as she stared at her own blood.


    I could see violet eye¡¯s free hand distorted in an odd fashion below the globs, almost as if she was manipulating the blood. ¡°Maybe I could-¡± she cut herself off, retracting her arm. ¡°Spirits.¡± She swore as the blood swirled in the air.


    I found it odd how violet eyes pronounced her ¡®a¡¯s like ¡®ah¡¯s.


    ¡°Witch!¡± cried my carrier. I was dumbfounded, that was a witch? Certainly different from what I heard. Whatever it was my carrier seemed quite excited¡­or infuriated, it was really hard to tell by tone alone.


    ¡°Unbind the idol, girl. It is tethered to you!¡± Spouted violet eyes.


    My carrier didn¡¯t respond.


    Again that insidious laugh, ¡°Very well, you leave me no choice.¡±


    Violet eyes swung her free hand towards me then mimicked her finger in a curling motion.


    I started moving forwards. Was I carried? No feet were below me. I-I was flying! Fascinating!


    Violet eyes grew like the sun on the horizon. Before I knew it, I was in front of her, my wooden face inches away from her adorned one.


    ¡°Be free child of wood.¡±


    Child!? I was maybe¡­one-no two. No FOUR centuries older than the fool! The nerve!


    Slowly I realized the blood drops were glowing. And heading towards me? Perhaps a gift! At last! I was starting to feel neglected. Yet as the blood drops got closer my world began to turn white.


    Closer and whiter. Whiter and closer. Until all I saw was my wooden reflection on the crimson glob then white. Nothing but white.


    I had forgotten what I looked like. Perhaps I never knew to begin with. I had pearl eyes and a wooden face. A long twig for a nose and a mouth that made a perpetual ¡°O¡± shape. My ears, on the other hand, were rounded and stuck on either side.


    Wow.


    I hadn¡¯t realized how handsome I was! Ha, these humans paled in comparison!


    Yet something bugged me about the image. It was as if I still saw it even though I didn¡¯t. As if it were in front of me, yet I was not in front of it.


    I blinked. The image vanished.


    My body felt strange.


    I glanced to my side and the white of the room started to fade.


    I tossed my head side to side, the image of two astounded, short, women glaring at me.


    I stopped dead in my thoughts.


    I could blink, I could turn! I quickly twirled and examined my new limbs. Long bark skinned arms and even longer legs. A pointed nose always in front of me.


    I opened my mouth. My throat felt dry. I tried speaking yet didn¡¯t know how. I tried again


    ¡°About time.¡± I said aloud.

 Chapter 4, A promise to a tree

    I had moments like these. Mostly with stump. Those points in time which I could only dub as ¡®awkward¡¯.


    I glanced around, it was awkward for two reasons. One, the two remarkably small women kept staring at me and two, they hadn¡¯t complemented me once on my handsomeness. I would have expected a complement for my brilliance as well, but they hadn¡¯t heard enough of me to realize it.


    ¡°Well¡± I started, still astounded by my eloquent voice, ¡°If you aren¡¯t going to compliment me. I best be off.¡±


    The two flinched before I turned. Freedom at last! And what was this sensation? Walking! Incredible! I stumbled a bit on my third step and glanced at them quickly. Did gods blush? I hoped not.


    ¡°Wait!¡± cried violet eyes as I regained my composure, ¡°You cannot leave!¡±


    I rose one of my burled brows, ¡°Why not? I have legs so I walk. Honestly you humans are as dull as the rocks you love¡± I turned again, now tired of their sight, raising my long arms to the side in gesture, ¡°It astounds me.¡±


    There was a stillness in the air I could not quite grasp. A quick silence that chilled my thistles. Her voice slithered like a snake. ¡°Very well, if the binds of the ritual do not affect you.¡± Hushed violet eyes, I caught her at the edge of my eye, ¡°I will consume the power instead.¡±


    For a moment I couldn¡¯t move, the sight of violet eyes mimicking her hands was all I saw. Then a small beige colored blur collided with her and once again I could move.


    The small thud across the room was followed by a fit of yelps and screams. I tried to make sense of it. My carrier had tackled violet eyes in a most spectacular way. Now my carrier had the ¡®witch¡¯ on the ground, one hand pressing the former¡¯s shoulders down.


    ¡°Get off of me, you wench!¡± cried the accented creature. My carrier- no Ersel, I suppose I should call her that, did not respond. Except with a fist, then another. My, how violent.


    I started backing away. What was this sudden feeling? Fear? I could die! No, I was a god. A god of war no less. I approached the brawl and slowly picked up the ferocious girl with the back of her shirt. She was still swinging when I held her, ¡°Carrier?¡± I started, ¡°You seemed to have won already.¡±


    Ersel stopped and I pointed a bony finger at violet eyes, her face slightly bloody, ¡°She¡¯s asleep now. If that was what you were after.¡±


    Violet eye¡¯s chest was beating still, and her eyes were rolled back, her mouth wide open. Ersel had unwittingly knocked the human out.


    ¡°Let go of me!¡± she screeched as she finally noticed her predicament.


    I stared at her a little longer, ¡°Funny, you were so big before.¡±


    ¡°Funny, you were just a piece of wood before.¡±


    I found myself frowning as I let the girl go. The nerve! And after I had saved her! I thought back a second, my hand against my chin, was that how it went? I shook my head, of course that¡¯s how it went.


    ¡°I¡¯m a god. And as my divine right, I do not stand to be insulted. Indeed, I shall set out and let the world bask in my godliness! Yes, I shall see the world!¡± It was a peculiar thing to say, but I had the need to voice my ambitions. After all, other than myself, it was the most important thing here.The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.


    ¡°Right, and does your holiness see anything of value in here?¡±


    I shot a furious expression at Ersel and I found the girl glaring back at me. A moment later, she dismissed me and began searching the witch¡¯s person, then bags, then cabinets.


    I wondered why I was still there. It appeared my presence was no longer welcomed here, so I made for the door. It was faint then, but I felt the smallest itch urging me back. As if the very sap in my body was pulling me back. Odd. I ignored it and kept moving forwards.


    Outside, I saw a forest. It was night and it was very dark, the only light from the hovel that I just left. Trees only a little higher than I, stood  all around me. It was as if the world had shrunk. I was disappointed and by the time I had gotten a few steps away from the hut, I heard the girl spit, ¡°The witch only had an Ir on her. That broke piece of-¡±


    She stopped mid-sentence and curiously, I froze to listen.


    ¡°Wait!¡± she cried a few moments later. Strangely, her tone had completely shifted and her spotted face jutted outside the lighted hovel, ¡°I need you.¡±


    I tossed my brows up, ¡°You insulted me.¡±


    ¡°I freed you.¡±


    I pointed past her, ¡°She saved me¡±


    The girl sighed, ¡°That witch? She was going to ¡®consume you¡¯. You heard her! Besides what will people think if they saw a walking tee?¡± She studied me as she paced out, ¡°Perhaps you need me as well.¡±


    I twirled again and started away from her, ¡°Again with the insults! I swear, you humans were better at conversations when I was the only one talking.¡±


    ¡°Wait!¡± she called again, ¡°You want to see the world don¡¯t you? I¡¯ll show you it!¡±


    I stopped, ¡°I¡¯m listening.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ll make a promise. You and I. I¡¯ll take you wherever you want, I¡¯ll hide you so you don¡¯t run into any trouble.¡±


    Why would I run into trouble? I was loved by all! I was about to rebuttal when I realized that perhaps that was not quite true. The image of violet eyes and the shop owner struck me in tune ¡°In return?¡± I said instead.


    ¡°First tell me what you are.¡±


    ¡°A god.¡± I said honestly.


    She rolled her eyes, ¡°You were an idol, a wood carving that resembled a god. What are you really?¡±


    ¡°A god.¡± I repeated. I thought an obvious answer would be all that was required. Yet this human was thick enough to miss it.


    She stomped up to me and frowned at me heavily, her eyes thoroughly narrowed, ¡°Ok.¡± She cooled, ¡°Let¡¯s say you¡¯re a god. Why were you then stuck in that form for so long? Couldn¡¯t you simply whisk your way out? Why did no one else take you when they had the chance? Surely, to steal a god would have been obvious. I mean imagine the power.¡±


    I was just as baffled as she! Though that predicament reminded me of something one of the many story I had heard while I was and idol. Stories which I had not cared for, yet strangely remembered, ¡°I suppose I am a hidden power. Somewhat similar to the djinn and the lamp. My idol form was my lamp.¡±


    She quieted, somehow taken aback, ¡°How did you know of that?¡±


    I shrugged, ¡°Humans have told stories around me for generations. But I never cared much for them.¡±


    She stepped back, her head constantly tilted up towards me, ¡°Just how many tales are you familiar with.¡±


    I recounted the many fantasies I heard spoken around me. ¡°A hundred and one.¡±


    Her eyes went wide, her mouth soon a smile, ¡°Any stories about treasures?¡±


    ¡°You mean yellow rocks and colored gems?¡±


    ¡°Yes!¡± she echoed.


    Why was she interested in that? Stories about rocks were the worst. Long tiresome journeys, filled with hardship and loss for nothing, but some rocks in the end. Gah. I figured I had to respond since she seemed quite intent to hear the answer. ¡°Most of them yes.¡±


    Her eyes grew impossibly wider and her mouth closed into a larger smile.  She stopped to look down, ¡°Then I know what I want.¡± Silence, and her eyes met mine, ¡°I¡¯ll take you round the world and you tell me your stories. As long as you help me find the gold I need we¡¯re even. Deal?¡±


    So I talked and got to see the world. All she wanted was some yellow rocks. Easy. Yellow rocks were everywhere. Or at least from my experience. Regardless, this deal seemed more beneficial to me. Wow, for once a human who had logic! I decided to keep my cool. ¡°I suppose so, yes.¡±


    She jumped in glee and I cocked my head at her, ¡°Where will you take me first?¡±


    She smiled, I tried to mimic it, but failed, ¡°Ever been to the capitol?¡±

 Chapter 5, The Jesters Gambit

    The capitol. The pride of the kingdom. A city built on the Bay of Rave, with canals that ran like roots down the terraces. A palace at its top as grand as the docks which edged the city from corner to corner, staring at the city like an eagle on a roost. A masterpiece in architecture if there ever was one.


    ¡°The only part of this kingdom that isn¡¯t run-down.¡± Said the jester, his elbows on the windowsill. He stared out onto the city. ¡°By the by, have you bested your fear of girls yet, your majesty?¡±


    The prince laughed, ¡°It isn¡¯t a fear, Jester. My heart already belongs to one. She is the star which lights the sky. A distant remedy, a glimpse of the sun.¡±


    The jester rolled his eyes, sighed, and twirled in one almost fluid motion, ¡°Still that? I leave for two weeks, and you¡¯re still obsessed over that. You¡¯re a king, marry for star¡¯s sake! Make the poor girl your mistress.¡±


    Prince Menska¡¯s eyes trailed to the ceiling from where he sat on his throne. ¡°Love cannot be expressed in such a crude form.¡±


    The jester reached in his pocket and pulled out an orange. His belled hat rung as he jumped from toe to toe, juggling the orange as he pranced around.


    Prince Menska chuckled as the jester continued his act, ¡°You have nothing to say?¡±


    ¡°I like apples more than oranges.¡±


    Prince Menska rested his head against his palm. ¡°No, I mean your take on what I said.¡±


    ¡°Oh that. For one, there are cruder forms. For another you¡¯re such a flat character.¡±


    ¡°Flat?¡±


    ¡°Aye.¡± The jester tossed his orange and caught it with the sole of his foot. ¡°Flat as dried parchment. This love of yours defines you. Have you ever considered what would happen if you met this girl?¡±


    ¡°Why we would marry.¡±


    The jester frowned and his orange fell. ¡°I mean, what do you have in common? What does some girl from a bankrupt family have to offer you? Not to mention it¡¯s an insult to all the countries you denied after sending their princesses home.¡±


    The king changed elbows, ¡°You¡¯re my jester. Humor me. What would you do as king?¡±


    A smile, a twirl, and a quick bow ¡°An interesting proposal. But first I suppose I need the proper backdrop for the act.¡±


    The king stared at the Jester as the jester made slight movements with his head, as if he were expecting something. Again prince Menska laughed, ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°Let me sit on that fancy seat of yours.¡±


    Laughing again the prince conceded. Evidently more curious by his face alone. As he left his seat, the jester leapt back first to the vacant throne.


    He cleared his throat when he had his audience, distorting his round face so it looked as long as possible. ¡°I would be the wisest fool in all the land¡± he started, ¡°If there were famines I would feed the poor with the plump children of nobles. Poor nobles, mind you, so the rich ones won¡¯t go against me.¡±Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    ¡°You¡¯re terrible!¡±


    ¡°If there were debt, I would tax the shop keeps, marry the richest noble I could find, chop off her head, then move on to the next!¡±


    ¡°Worse and worse.¡±


    ¡°And if the people rebelled¡­¡±


    The prince fell silent.


    ¡°Then I would chop off my own head!¡± concluded the fool. After which he leapt off the throne and strut around the room as if he were drunk.


    The prince slowly returned to his seat, shaking his head with smile on his face. ¡°You are truly madman.¡±


    ¡°Perhaps.¡± Jested the lunatic, ¡°but I prefer ¡®fool¡¯.¡±


    Prince Menska¡¯s eyes left the fool, slowly trailing the wall. For a moment he seemed lost, no longer distracted the jester¡¯s act, ¡°Sometimes I think of ending it all.¡±


    The jester stood still to that. No more prancing, no more juggling. Just still. He did not contort his face to mimic sternness, nor did he attempt make joke of what the king said. For once, he let his true self show.


    Even his voice was different, a little lower ¡°Your majesty, I am the only fool here- mind you, not in terms of love, you hold that title. But heed my warning, jokes are all good and fun until they exit our fantasies.¡±


    The prince did not meet the eyes of the Jester. ¡°This is the fantasy jester, and to me it is nothing but a joke. If it is my status that keeps us apart, then I shall abdicate..¡±


    ¡°Very well, if you step down, I shall take your place. I assure you will see many stuffed noble children and pretty heads roll. Perhaps even my own.¡±


    ¡°Your head is pretty round.¡± Snickered the prince, his eyes now on the jester, ¡°Perhaps I will stay then. For the sake of noble children, brides, and suicidal fools everywhere.¡±


    ¡°How caring of you. May your years be long my prince and your head no rounder than mine.¡±


    He bowed to the prince and the prince nodded, ¡°Will you return Jester?¡±


    ¡°Mayhaps after your council meeting. I could even join you for that. The old imps could use a smile or two.¡±


    The king smiled, ¡°They do not tolerate you as well as I do.¡±


    ¡°And so I¡¯ve heard.¡± He bowed, twirling once to move towards the exit.


    No-one including the prince, knew why that Jester was allowed so much freedom. To come and go as he pleased. Some saw him more as an advisor than a fool. In reality, he was a little of both.


    ¡­


    As the jester made his way through the halls, the sound of running feet accompanied him. He stopped till that was all he heard and spun to see a well dressed man running towards him.


    ¡°Jester!¡± he cried in his huffing voice, ¡°I-¡° he stopped to catch his breath, ¡°I h-have a message for the Prince, could you deliver it to him when you see him next?¡±


    The Jester¡¯s expression was as dull as a rock, ¡°What is the message?¡±


    ¡°The idol was stolen.¡± The man puffed once more, this time his hands on his knees.


    ¡°What Idol?¡±


    ¡°The idol of Atechrities.¡±


    The jester rolled his eyes, ¡°What of it?¡±


    ¡°It was stolen by a girl who matches Ersel almost exactly. Of course this is not public knowledge, I made sure of that, but I thought the prince should know. By our reports she was spotted on her way to the capitol.¡±


    ¡°Interesting.¡± Nodded the jester.


    ¡°Oh and jester.¡± He interjected, ¡°She was spotted again just outside the capitol, traveling with a man. Somewhat of a giant by the looks of it.¡±


    The jester let the silence sink in and the noble edged away nervously, ¡°I¡¯ll leave that to your discretion.¡± He took a few more steps then turned, evidently he had more tasks to accomplish. Before he left fully, he turned once more ¡°But if it were up to me I¡¯d tell the prince.¡± he cried before departing.


    The jester watched as the man left, his strange face contorted into an angry one. What he was told had implications.


    Implications he could use. He began to calm.


    The jester strolled down the long palace halls with hand in his pockets. He could not let that distraction return to the prince, it would spell disaster for everything the king and queen worked for. That girl represented only a fraction of the country¡¯s issues, but a problem all the same.


    ¡°What to do. What do.¡± He said aloud, although he already knew the answer. He approached the council room a minute later. The sound of councilors babbling was muffled from the outside. The jester smiled as he approached the room. He had another idea.


    Searching his coat pockets he pulled out a paper. There was one person the prince could marry that would settle all their problems, yet only one way to draw that person to the kingdom. Luckily for him, he was staring at that way. In his hands rested a wanted sign. A fabled bounty for a fabled prince. The prince among pirates.


    He snickered once and strut away from the chambers. He had a plan, he had only to execute it.

 Chapter 6, The man who lived a thousand years

    Shadows tend to walk behind us. The ancient Ilvari like most thought shadows to be the eternal followers of all those exist. Though there were people who thought otherwise, they believed shadows walked ahead of us, that our shadows were the future of ourselves. To lose ones shadow was an omen of death. Among these people lived a man, a man who lived a thousand years.


    You see, these shadows folk also believed in the court of deaths. That everybody in their lifetime would be visited by a deity of death, several if they were lucky. The god would always offer two fruits to the chosen, and depending on which fruit was selected, the chosen would either die or be granted twenty years of life. If the chosen refused the god¡¯s gambit, they would live, but never be visited again.¡±


    ¡°How did they die?¡± Interjected Ersel. I swear she had a knack for ruining my stories.


    I shot a glance at her, annoyed, and sighed, ¡°Their hearts would stop.¡±


    Ersel seemed contempt at that, nodding once and leaning back.


    ¡°As I was saying. This man was a legend. His name was Icarus Crive.


    His childhood was a mystery, but it was well known that he sold apples when he was older. He lived in one of the busiest streets of Trill, surviving by the skins of apples. He had different customers every day, yet had three regular customers. A merchant, a sailor¡¯s wife and a street boy. All three loved apples.


    That was how it began.


    Icarus treated all three as his only friends. The merchant quick to give him advice about life, the sailor¡¯s wife always willing to lend him an ear and the street boy happy to wile him with tales at any hour. They say he survived because he had those few to support him. Trill was never an easy city to live in. Bandit gangs and the slave trade made it that way. If one did not fall prey to the city on its own, they could just as easily lose their sanity. Icarus visited his three friends every day to keep his.


    Then one day he was visited. In an alleyway, the one he normally slept in. Not by those friends he held so dear. But by a shadowy figure with a painted white face, pitch black eyes and bright red lips. The rest of its body was a mess of feathers as black as its eyes. It held out its hand like this.¡±


    I extended my boney hand, it occurred to me that my hand was very similar to that described in the story. Odd.


    ¡°It was a twig like claw which shone a ghostly white. On it sat an apple. On the other was an orange.


    ¡®Pick¡¯ it said. Its voice as stiff as a whiff of air.


    No-one knows what Icarus thought that day. What mad turn shot through his thoughts. All we know is that Icarus chose correctly.


    The next day, the street boy was gone.


    The poor often disappeared unnoticed. So what if another urchin vanished? It happened all the time. A human as lowly as a pig. Who would notice? Who would care? Icarus cared. And Icarus was never the same after.


    Just five years later another god visited Icarus, this one similar to the first, but with a permanent smile and a small dot on its cheek. Again, he chose correctly.


    Now the sailor¡¯s wife had also gone. To lose two friends was hard on Icarus and soon he sold only to the merchant. They say Icarus spent his days speaking his woes to an apple in his hand, often rambling to it as if he were mad.


    Two years passed until he was visited a third time. The creature this time, long faced with streaks of black hair covering just its eyes.


    It offered two fruits. Icarus chose correctly.


    The next day the merchant had gone to. He lost three friends and gained sixty years. That was when he broke. He abandoned his applecart and with it his humanity. He turned to the gangs and over a decade and a half he made a name for himself.


    They called him the Young cutthroat, for he never aged.


    After his tirade as a bandit he pledged his life to the sea and all it plunders. Stealing from pirates and merchants alike. He sailed with the same crew for twenty years and seven mutinies. He sailed to forty two islands and made off with enough plunder to buy two hundred apple carts.You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.


    Then it ended.


    On a calm night, after the successful defeat of a rival crew, Icarus was visited by a fourth death god. This god visited all the sailors, for most their first encounter and one after the other each sailor fell from a heart attack. The only one who had survived was Icarus. Icarus stole all the loot for himself and brought the bodies ashore. He made a deal with a local fisherman and cut the bounties of his crew in half.


    Icarus was a rich man after that point and so settled for a while. He had met a fisherman¡¯s daughter who had caught his fancy and promised her a home as a big as a whale. The two settled down in a castle in the countryside of Dawnry, raised a family even.


    Yet that ended as well.


    One night, the countryside was ransacked by marauders. Crive¡¯s mansion fell amidst the chaos to betrayers on the inside. Both his sons and his three daughters were killed, but he and as wife managed to escape.


    On the morrow after, the two lay on the outskirts of their burning home still grieving. That was when the fifth death god appeared. It offered both Icarus and his wife the fruits. Icarus chose correctly, but his wife, who Icarus pleaded to refuse the offer, chose anyways with the hope that she could spend eternity with her love. She chose incorrectly.


    Icarus left Dawnry within a fortnight. Disgusted, lost, distraught. The memory of his wife still in his arms what many say to be all that consumed him.


    Icarus sailed the seas once again set on piracy. This time he founded his own crew and led them to countless victories. That was how he spent eternity, traveling from isle to isle, Out-living each crew and too stricken with loss to marry ever again. Every so often he would meet another death god and each time he would lose something dear to him. Until finally he chose no longer to hold anyone dear again.


    As for his treasure.¡±


    Ersel brightened up. I puffed in disgust. Was that honestly all she cared for? I cleared my throat and stared at the fire in front of me. It was night time and we had set setup a fire in some neck of the woods. Ersel said we were close to the capitol.


    ¡°As for his treasure, he buried it with his family. All of it. They say he parted his tale with an old soldier one day then threw himself off a cliff. He was said to be oddly cheery those days, but what would one think of it? Though he was a thousand he looked not a day over twenty.


    The last words he told the soldier were, ¡®a thousand treasures to the man who follows the star. A thousand more to the man who reaches that far. ¡¯ ¡±


    ¡°That means the treasure¡¯s in Dawnry. It¡¯s not only where his family died, it¡¯s also called the star of the sea¡± Concluded Ersel.


    I sighed, how could she be so stupid? I suppose I had to enlighten her.


    ¡°Icarus was a Trillman, one how believed in the ten pointed star.¡±


    ¡°So?¡±


    ¡°In Trill tradition, the underworld moves with the ten pointed star. One must follow the star every ten years and relocate their dead to that location. The star only moved in a certain space around the person¡¯s world. So if that person were a peasant the star would be constrained to the land they worked on.


    Icarus, however, was no peasant. He sailed the world sea and beyond. To find where his family lay, you would need the Trill calendar as well as how far Icarus traveled as well as when he died.¡±


    Ersel looked at me with puzzled eyes. As if I could have said anything less clear. ¡°What?¡± I questioned in my godly tone.


    ¡°It seems a bit much, even for Icarus. I mean. If he lived so long, why would he go to all the trouble to dig up and move his family to some far away location every ten years? If I were him, I would keep them close. Maybe bury them in the nearest graveyard and be done with it.¡±


    Why humans cared so much to bury their dead escaped me. When trees died, they just stayed there. I assumed all dead did that. I suppose humans were an exception to that. In fact they were an exception to many things. The ability to think was one of them, Ersel so aptly proved that.


    Ersel kept staring at me. I realized she could not hear my thoughts. A pity, maybe I could have shed some of my brilliance on her.


    I decided to entertain her, ¡°Say he did bury his family near his person. You would still have to find where he last was.¡±


    Ersel scanned me curiously, ¡°Another story then.¡±


    I rolled my pearled eyes, ¡°Ers-¡±


    ¡°One with a lot of treasure.¡±


    I made a line with my mouth and glared at her. ¡°If I remember correctly, you humans practice ¡®sleep¡¯  a necessity if you wish to stay awake once we start moving tomorrow.¡±


    Ersel frowned immensely and got up, ¡°Your right.¡±


    Of course I was.


    ¡°But first.¡± She continued. She had to ruin it. ¡°I got you this.¡±


    ¡°A present.¡± I said aloud. She did not answer. Instead she reached for her knapsack and pulled out a long cloak. It was crudely stitched, but as dark as elm.


    She smiled as she handed me it, ¡°I promised you I would ¡®hide¡¯ you.¡± She said with a snicker. Strange why she emphasized ¡®hide¡¯, as if she were trying to make a point. My thoughts reverted to the cloak as Ersel¡¯s dumb smile turned flat.


    My mouth made a half-frown. To deny the people of my aesthetic greatness was cruel. So very cruel. I glanced at Ersel, perhaps she meant good. I sighed, the girl often made me do that. ¡°I suppose I cannot deny a gift from my devout follower. As a god, I shall accept your lowly-¡±


    ¡°Lowly!¡± She frowned again, snatching the cloak before I could, ¡°Fine. Seeing as you are a god, I wager you¡¯ll be just as divine when they cut off your arms and set you ablaze.¡±


    I laughed, she had quite the imagination. Though she did not confirm my suspicion. She only stared at me, as stone eyed as before. I started to doubt myself. Was she serious? I tried to imagine what she said, what if it were true¡­


    ¡°No!¡± I cried, ¡°I just got these arms!¡±


    ¡°Wear the cloak.¡± Pouted Ersel. I reached for it carefully, my arms wavering ever so slightly, and quickly grabbed the cloak. ¡°Oh,¡± started Ersel ¡°and I¡¯m not your devout follower.¡± I tossed the cloak over my shoulder and watched her get up. She turned as I got the cloak in place, ¡°But you are mine.¡±


    The nerve!

 Chapter 7, The bandits of Evermore

    It turned out more people owed Ersel favors than I thought. Luckily, quite a few of them owned carts.


    I watched as the trees swished past my sides. The trot of horses intertwined with the rattle of wheels. Incredible. Just how fast were we going? I lifted my head off my wrist. Quick to return a glance I was getting from the driver. He looked nervous. I wondered why? I stared down at Ersel who shared a similar expression. Odd.


    ¡°So Ersel.¡± Grumbled a scruffy voice from the front, ¡°You haven¡¯t introduced me to your friend yet.¡±


    Ersel winced and her eyes spat from me to the driver, ¡°Well ah, he¡¯s my ah- guard! Yes!¡±


    The coach driver¡¯s eyes changed from nervousness to disbelief, ¡°No weapon?¡±


    I made a quizzical expression underneath my hood, though I doubt he could see it. ¡°I don¡¯t need a weapon. I am a go-¡±


    ¡°Look at him.¡± Snapped Ersel, ¡°He¡¯s huge! He needs only his looks to scare away brigands.¡±


    By this point I had gotten used to her rudeness, though it would have helped if she balanced it with facts. The fact of my godliness for one.


    The short man at the front nodded and returned his eyes to the road, ¡°You have a point.¡±


    A few seconds of silence made it apparent that the conversation had ended. I rested my head on my wrist once more, my pearl eyes tracing the trees from side to side. It reminded me of another forest. I caught Ersel at the edge of my eye, ¡°Ever heard of the bandits of Evermore?¡±


    She took her head off her own wrist. Shaking her head she stared at me ¡°No. What¡¯s Evermore?¡±


    ¡°A forest. Perhaps the largest in the world. They say once you enter it, you see only more and more forest wherever you go. Hence the people call it ¡®Evermore¡¯ since it stretches ¡®Forevermore¡¯.


    The land the forest grew on was essentially an island, a very large island with five port cities and six clans. The sixth clan, and its leader, the queen of thieves is what this story is about.¡±


    Ersel eyed me as if I had missed something, no doubt ready to interrupt me. ¡°So.¡± She started. I knew it. ¡°Five clan for five cities. The sixth clan was in the forest?¡±


    ¡°Yes. But there wasn¡¯t always a sixth clan. During the third era, that isle, the isle of Gomori was attacked by the eastern kings.¡±


    ¡°Where is Gomori? And eastern kings?¡± she pressed.


    ¡°Not that I have seen it- that¡¯s your job by the way- but it¡¯s on the other end of the strait of dawn. I only heard stories about it. As for the eastern kings. That¡¯s a story for another time. Any country this far would have only heard of their exploits.¡±


    Ersel nodded, the driver seemed interested as well, catching my eyes with edge of his.


    ¡°Now about that clan. Long ago Gomori was attacked and fell to the Eastern kings, port by port the eastern kings forced the native lords to kneel. When the last lord kneeled, the covenant of the eastern kings levied taxes against all of Gomori. Not all the people could afford this tax and the lower echelons of people were forced to leave the great cities. Banished almost, to the dreaded Evermore.¡±


    ¡°Dreaded?¡± Pushed interrupts-a-lot.


    ¡°Yes, dreaded. The forest is home to both the beasts and curses alike. But most feared of all were the bandits. You could say in an island with five port cities, both sea and land trade were profitable. Though this was third era, keep that in mind.¡±


    ¡°Pirates.¡± Ersel nodded as she understood, for once she was not completely dull.


    ¡°Exactly. Piracy meant atleast four out of five ships would be pirated if not guarded. So most trade was done in land. Thus bandits. When the outcasts left the great cities they were subjected to all the trials of Evermore. People were homeless, starving, left alone to the wild. Left with two options. Join the bandits or die.


    Yet these bandits still had their own problems. Lost by their own petty rivalries, the port cities easily surpassed the majority of them. Further starving the poor population. They would have died, lost in the vastness of Evermore, if not for the former head of a great merchant family, Yoko.


    Yoko was the heir to the South Isle¡¯s weaving company. A company once great, but no longer. It was one of the many hit hard by the taxes of the eastern kings, even more so by its inability to adapt to their styles and traditions. When Yoko inherited her family¡¯s company, she had a little less than a dozen workers and a month¡¯s worth of pay. She was desperate. Though desperation breeds ambition.


    Where most saw the recent increase in bandits as a detriment, she saw it as an opportunity. Separated the bandits were little more than a nuisance, but united, they formed a small army. So Yoko set about uniting these bandit gangs.


    It wasn¡¯t easy, they say it took her five years even convince the bandit leaders to meet, seven in total to finally band them together. In the end it was the promise of wealth that won the gangs over.


    Over the next three years, Yoko began her reign as the queen of thieves, raiding any and every merchant dumb enough to travel unguarded. She started her lawless crew with coordinated thefts of small merchants, as to not attract too much attention. Then she committed grander and grander schemes.¡±Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.


    ¡°Did the Gomori Lords know about Yoko?¡±


    ¡°Of course. Yoko was infamous. Towards the end of those three years the port Lords chose to take Yoko head on. Till then they had tried several different measure to oppose Yoko. Increased guards, secret routes, and fake carts to divert her thieves.


    Yet Yoko was too cunning. She used the trees to hide her bandits and travel from area to area in a system of hanging bridges. Eventually the port lords began to cut the forest in mass. They cut enough trees near each city until they could begin expanding the narrow roads. They set walls around the most frequented roads and even towers as an extra measure. They set fires to thickets they believed Yoko¡¯s people hid in and kidnapped children unfortunate enough to wander the forest.


    For the most part these measures were devastating. Some of Yoko¡¯s people even defected, and her whereabouts were revealed to those who wished to hunt her. So Yoko ran. From forest keep to forest keep, while her loyal followers defended her to the last.


    So Yoko tried one last scheme. Use the eastern kings as a divertive enemy. She formed her own secret agency, Evermore¡¯s hand, which slowly melded into Gomoran society. Those few spread rumors into each town, rumors which blamed certain droughts and crimes on their eastern rulers.


    In the next four years, the port Lords chased Yoko, almost absorbed in the task as if it was all they faced. Meanwhile their people grew weary. They no longer villanised Yoko, but rather the Eastern Kings which yoked them for every copper. More and more people refused to pay the taxes some even went as far as to protest the eastern rule.


    ¡®You¡¯re nothing but puppets!¡¯ cried the people to their lords ¡®Cut your strings!¡¯


    Three of the five port cities succumbed to this claim, the ones that did not fell to their own people. Soon all five clans gave up the hunt for Yoko. Now united against the Eastern threat.


    That said the Eastern kings took this as an act of aggression and they were not shy to assert their rule.


    Immediately the Port nobles realized they could not face the eastern kings. That was when Yoko took action. She offered the Port Lords refuge in her domain, in Evermore. Insisting that if Gomori were to stand a chance against the East, it would have to go inland. Fight the East little by little.


    The Port lords, out of fear for their own skin, did as Yoko told. And so one night, when the easterners commenced their strike, they arrived on the eastern shores of Gomori and found a city abandoned as if in ruins. Not a single gold coin left in its wake.


    The Easterners hit the other cities in kind, and one after the other each were found empty. Even their ambassadors were gone. Quick to react, the easterners assaulted the forest. Yet they had come from a desert homeland and they were not a people suited for the forests. Especially not prepared to fight against those who had mastered it.


    Yoko and the port lords fought the war of attrition, winning fight after fight. Within five years the war had ended. The Eastern kings, withdrew, unwilling to fight for an isle that was not worth the trouble.


    Thus Gomori was liberated, as a reward the Port lords afford reprieve for Yoko, but she wanted more than that. Always the opportunist, she wanted to form a clan, the sixth clan. At first the lords were apprehensive, but eventually they came to a conclusion. If she paid off all the bounties her commanders had, they would recognize her clan as the sixth one.


    So Yoko set about paying those debts. One by one approaching the individual port lords to pay off their respective fines. She had, after all, amassed a grand fortune over the last two decades. First through banditry, and second through the war. However, the last port lord, Lord Minoru, asked Yoko to instead throw what she owed him into a large hole in the middle of Evermore. A gorge most jokingly called ¡®Nevermore¡¯.


    It was a strange request, but an honest one. They say Minoru wanted to know whether Yoko¡¯s intentions were true. That she would really forfeit gold to honor her people. To pay off one¡¯s debt was one matter, to abandon it was another.


    Seven days after Minoru requested it, Yoko set about traveling to Nevermore. She had guarded carriers all along the way. She had a suspicion that some of her people would turn against her.


    She took three days to travel inland. In that time she was attacked several times, each attack a failed attempt to steal the treasure. Instead of cutting down her assailants she had them captured.


    When she reached Nevermore, she threw the treasure into the gorge, then had her prisoners line up before it and fall one after the other. They say the spirits of those thieves now wander the great depths of the pit, greedily defending the treasure they died to steal.


    Afterwards, Yoko¡¯s sixth clan was recognized just as the port lords promised and she began to establish her own city. A city as wide as Evermore itself. One formed by connecting the various forts of bandit gangs that had existed prior. Yoko never lived to see its completion, but for all we know it has grown since then. While in its heart lies Nevermore, the treasure of a nation buried within it.¡±


    Ersel kept staring at me, a little curious but soon after blank faced. She leaned back in her seat, ¡°All these stories you tell me happened so far away.¡±


    I glanced at her, ¡°Want to hear one that happened here? In this kingdom?¡±


    Ersel¡¯s eyes expanded as she sat up. Just from that, I knew her answer.


    ¡°We¡¯re here.¡± Interjected the driver, ¡°Welcome to the capitol.¡±


    Immediately I found my head stuck outside the opposite window. Caught in the moment. Ahead of me was the capitol. It was magnificent.


    It was a city which descended in layers to the crystal water below. The lower areas looked like a flower field with a series of coloured cloths hung from corner to corner roofing it. From above, Canals ran as if they were rivers besides the dark clusters of townhouses. I had never seen rocks used so finely. In fact I had never seen anything so big. It was even bigger than Southmarch! Incredible.


    ¡°Get off me!¡± roared Ersel. I peaked to my side and realized I had leaned over Ersel to see the sight.


    Reluctantly, I relaxed back into my seat. The nerve. She was supposed to show me the world. ¡°What happened to your promise?¡± I pushed.


    Ersel looked out herself, ¡°Wait till we get higher. You haven¡¯t seen anything yet.¡±


    ¡°I will take your word on that.¡± I grumbled. She had a habit of repeating what I already knew. I spied at the driver, who, for some reason, looked nervous, peaking back constantly.


    ¡°Alright.¡± He started, ¡°I got you to the capitol, now forget what you know about me and the baker¡¯s wi-¡±


    ¡°Baker¡¯s what?¡± played Ersel. Apparently she had forgot. It amazed me how dense she was. I looked at her, what had she forgotten anyways?


    ¡°Good.¡± Concluded the driver.


    We left shortly after. The air was different, it smelled smoky. I glanced at the plumes of smoke coming from the city. There were lots of them.


    ¡°Why is there smoke?¡± I inquired. Maybe a fire.


    ¡°Smithies.¡± Replied Ersel, she had been foraging through her pack. ¡°The capitol is famous for them. They say the fires here burn brighter than any other in the land. They forge star metal here. Alright.¡±


    Ersel pulled out a small dagger covered in a golden sheath. She twirled it in her hand and pointed it towards me, ¡°This.¡± She started, ¡°is star metal.¡± She unsheathed it to show me a single iron dagger. Oddly it was not the blade I had seen before. Then I noted a marking on her other arm just covered by her sleeves. ¡°We¡¯re going to need it here.¡±

 Chapter 8, Homeless

    My head bounced from side to side. There was so much to see. Everything was new here. Different. Even the trees were different! The midday sun burned heavily through my cloak, yet excitement made me forget it. Of course I got the occasional stare, but my cloak hid me. Well, I think it hid me. No matter. This was exciting!


    Walking down one of the many pathways of the outer town, I noticed a pattern of increasing house density. On the outskirts there were small cottages and farms, while closer in houses appeared in tighter and tighter clusters. At the same time the greenery decreased in kind. I found that depressing. The world needed its green to be beautiful.


    A little ways into town there was a small clearing. One quite similar to the outskirts. In its midst sat a large grey stone building. Its columns tall and straight, steadily supporting the angled roof which lay above. Around it, grew a trove of trees, while on it moss stained it¡¯s washed out walls. The building appeared very dark underneath the shade of the trees.


    Oddly, the humans here tended to avoid it. I glanced at Ersel, she seemed fascinated by it. But not in the same way I was. Her eyes seemed lost in it. As if it had significance to her and only her. Petty humans, always obsessed with one rock or the other. This one was just another rock. I picked up my pace and after a while Ersel noticed me and sprinted to catch up.


    I expected her typical remark. ¡®Quit running, you log!¡¯ or ¡®Did that ¡®rock¡¯ scare you to?¡¯


    Instead she said, ¡°Sorry.¡± I must admit I was taken aback. Though I did not show it. A god such as myself did not bend to such ¡®emotions¡¯.


    I shook my head slightly, careful not to alert Ersel. ¡°No need to apologize.¡± I said as I tossed my eyes to my side, ¡°For this at least.¡± Why had she changed tone?


    She did not seem to hear my second comment, ¡°That building over there is a mausoleum. We bury our dead there. Including my grandfather.¡±


    Perhaps that explained it. Yet her grandfather was dead. Why she cared so much escaped me. So I said nothing, hopefully that was the end of that conversation. I never was too fond in dead things. It was bit too dreary for my taste.


    ¡°He¡¯s the man who made our family famous. The man who gave us a name.¡± Why was she still talking? ¡°When he died we lost everything.¡±


    She was silent after that. I thought I would enjoy that silence, but my curiosity ripped at me. I spoke up, ¡°Why did you lose everything? And what is ¡®everything¡¯?¡± I had come to learn that in human, ¡®everything¡¯ did not always mean ¡®everything¡¯.


    ¡°Our money. Our name. Any noble right we once had, lowered to nothing more than a peasant¡¯s.¡±


    My pearl eyes peaked at her. That was new. ¡°You were a noble?¡±


    Ersel froze. Her face somewhat stretched in surprise. As if she had done something she regretted. ¡°Right.¡± She sighed, walking once more, ¡°I was a noble. My father kicked me out of the family because I refused to marry.¡±


    How trivial. It was a wonder why this human thought such petty things interested me.


    ¡°Marriage, is that when the two humans gather with many more humans in long rows?¡± I remembered that distinctly, I hated it. Normally people gathered before me to worship me, not more humans! It was insulting. Lets see, yes! The stick humans did that. Those things thought fire bonded love. Incidentally they thought of me as the god of love as well as fire. I was used as an alter for weddings! It was absurd as well as deteriorating.


    ¡°That¡¯s a wedding, not marriage. But yes a wedding is required for marriage.¡±


    I decided to voice my thoughts, ¡°Why do you care? A petty ceremony for an even pettier union. It is a union, right?¡±


    Ersel glared at me with fiery eyes. She was mad. Why was she mad?


    ¡°There¡¯s a nice alleyway up ahead. Feel free to stay there.¡±


    My steps halted as I considered the proposal. I did not know what an ¡®alleyway¡¯ was but it sounded remarkably comfortable.


    ¡°Ok.¡± I conceded.


    She stomped ahead of me, stopping momentarily to turn around. ¡°Fine!¡± She yelled before turning back. Was she still mad? I really could not tell.


    I shrugged it off. Besides she said my alleyway was up ahead. I past a few houses, and noticed the houses more packed than ever before. The road began to slop as well. Long strings of laundry flying over ahead of me while little imps- or children- spat past me. Giggling. Endlessly giggling. It made me shiver. As I journeyed up the hill, I noticed a low wall by the farthest house. Some of the houses even built up along it.


    I got closer while the crowds of people grew thicker by the houses. When I got close enough I saw a bridge right before an open gate way. Two colossi sitting a top of it. I squinted my pearl eyes to see past the light. It was a serpent and a lion. Their skin the color of sap and their eyes locked upon each other. Frozen in eternal combat. Interesting.


    My eyes fell from the statues to the faces around me. Apparently I had drawn the eyes of several humans. Why were the short so perplexed by the tall? Maybe they had noticed my godliness.


    I thought back to Ersel and immediately I remembered not to draw attention to myself. I pulled my cloak closer, taking one step an instant later.


    As I moved the eyes drifted away from me. My head swung from side to side. Where was this alleyway!? I stopped as I was on the bridge. The hum of rushing water below me. Oh right. I did not even know what an alleyway was.


    A quick scan and I noticed an old crone by the side of the bridge. Begging it seemed. Or at least what I thought was begging.


    It was wailing at every human that walked past it. ¡°The gods walk among us!¡± she proclaimed, ¡°Stars shine brighter, the end is near!¡±


    ¡®Gods¡¯? Stars? Perhaps she recognized me! Finally a devotee. I walked up to her and thought of what to say. At first I thought ¡®hello¡¯ would do, but it seemed her surprise when she saw me warranted more of an introduction.


    I raised my proclamation finger, but Ersel¡¯s narrowed eyes flashed in my thoughts. I lowered the finger, perhaps I should not say ¡®I am your beloved god Atechrities! Bow before me mortal and tell me what and where this ¡®alleyway¡¯ is¡¯ .


    I cleared my throat and her initial surprise faded. ¡°Can you direct me to an alleyway?¡±


    Her brows contorted, ¡°Alleyway? I will direct you to the heavens if you heed my words! The end is near! Be wary.¡±


    ¡°And what of the alleyway?¡±


    She scowled and pointed across from the bridge, ¡°Go to your precious rat¡¯s nest then. Burn like the rest of them.¡±


    Hmpf. To think someone could be more insolent than Ersel. I past the crone and made for this alleyway. It was as she said it was. A rat¡¯s nest. Nothing but a space between one shop and another. I leaned by one of the grimy walls. Little black figures scurrying in the darkness.Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.


    At least the sound of the humans was dulled.


    I craned my neck to the streets I had left. Their figures shot past as the days used to. How had time slowed so much? It made me wonder. Maybe it was this form. Maybe it was Ersel. A strange feeling irked at me, I sat up straight. Where was she anyways?


    This alleyway was certainly not enough for my godliness. I dusted myself and got up, the little shadowy figures squealing and scurrying away.


    It was not hard to navigate the streets, I saw a great distance from just standing and the humans usually moved out of my way. As I went further in the city, I noticed the unique intertwine of the canals and roads. More and more roads were replaced by a contingent of canals. The carts now boats and the houses looming over the banks.


    Luckily, I was able to follow the narrow walkways that stretched alongside the canals. There were fewer people here. Lucky again. Though a god did not need luck.


    I followed the cobblestone pathways until I came across a series of large houses which formed more orderly along the waters. The waters even looked nicer here. Clearer instead of mossy. I saw strange posts around the area, little lights flickering in their sockets.


    Perhaps I had been consumed in the moment, but I had completely missed the fact that it was the evening. Hmm, maybe that¡¯s why there were so few humans. I walked a little forwards, taking it all in.


    I wondered what it meant. Why the city sloped, why it had little rivers within it. Why Ersel had abandoned me. The nerve of her! The urge to see her got stronger.


    I stopped as a familiar voice greeted my ears. It was unmistakably Ersel, as if thinking of her had caused her to appear. There was a tap then another. I tossed my eyes to the skies and blips of water blurred my vision. The small trickle quickly picked up, and I found myself standing in it, the muffled barks of Ersel resonating from a nearby house. I followed that sound. It came from a house smaller than the others, almost cramped between the larger ones. It¡¯s interiors were alight, and shadows argued fervently against the shades.


    One of the figures, as short as she was, was most definitely Ersel. I could have approached her, I could have invalidated our deal there and then. Yet I stood still, listening amidst the drumming of rain.


    ¡°Do I mean nothing to you!¡± roared Ersel.


    ¡°Ersel, you chose your path.¡± answered a man. ¡°Please listen to me. We all have a duty-¡±


    ¡°And you failed yours!¡±


    ¡°Ersel! That¡¯s quite enough.¡± This time a woman.


    ¡°I swear when I return- You¡¯ll see. I¡¯ll make this family right just as Granda did.¡±


    There was silence.


    ¡°I need to go see him.¡± Ersel¡¯s tone had completely shifted. Almost as it had before.


    ¡°Ersel! Wait!¡±


    A slam and wet stomping. Footsteps which echoed across the househood. The footsteps stopped.


    ¡°Oh just bloody fantastic.¡± She was glaring at me.


    ¡°Have you ever felt this!¡± I batted back, ¡°This rain! It¡¯s so.¡± I breathed inwards closing my eyes, ¡°Refreshing!¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s rain!¡± she screamed running past me.


    My eyes trailed from her to the house. The figures inside covered the windows then disappeared. I put on my hood.


    Following Ersel was not as hard as I thought it be. After turning a corner she simply walked. Odd.


    The night sky sunk deeper into ether. Our footsteps synchronized in pace. I had to admit the city seemed completely different at night. It was emptier. The stalwart reflection of light sticks wavering along the canals. The prowl of cats here and there. Even the odd boat floating below.


    I studied one canal as I crossed the bridge over top of it. A collection of silver fragments shimmered across it . I could tell it was an image, though, of what? My eyes followed the sky. It was clear tonight. Nothing but bright specs in it, and- Oh my.


    It was a wonder why I had not noticed it before. The moon. Fabled as it was in its many tales. And just as those tales foretold the moon was indeed shattered. It looked small from where I saw it, but I knew it was large. Larger than I could ever imagine. It felt like a dream. A mere image of fantasy. One so absurd I did not trust my eyes. I did not know how long I stared at it for.


    My eyes fell from the sky and to my front. Ersel was gone.


    Panic. Fear, stress. I had never felt that before. Where had she gone? I moved ahead, my feet thinking for me. I reached the corner in seconds, my head twisting side to side. Not here. I ran further, then further. The town shrinking as if I had gone back in time.


    I stopped before the gated bridge. ¡°Think¡± I whispered to myself, ¡°Where did she go?¡±


    A spark. No, a thought! She had mentioned her ¡®Granda¡¯.  I scanned the road in front of me. If I was right, she would be there. That was guaranteed of course, since I was always right.


    Three corners later I found her in front of the mausoleum. Staring at it. I made one step, and she headed in.


    ¡°Ersel, wait!¡± I called. No response, perhaps she had not heard?


    I made my way to the front of the building as she had, then stopped in front of it. It seemed far darker than it had during the day. Its grey walls as dead as its residents. The seeping moss more akin to a deep sludge than fauna. And the entrance, that entrance, it was as black as the void.


    The nerve of that girl, to put a god such as I in such danger. I gulped instinctively. It was now or never.


    The shadows fell upon me as entered its halls.


    Black in front of me, black overhead of me and soon nothingness behind me. I had entered the void and despite all my hesitation I kept moving forwards, one step after the next.


    A few feet forward a light brushed past my face. I froze as quick as it appeared. It was a torch.


    My eyes fell on the figure holding it. Ersel. Of course it was Ersel. And she did not seem pleased.


    She spoke before I could, ¡°Why did you follow me?¡±


    As if she did not already know the answer, ¡°You left me in an alleyway.¡± I said.


    ¡°Ofcourse I left you, the deal¡¯s off. Go do whatever walking trees do. Oh, and make keeping away from me one of them.¡± She spun forwards and marched.


    Odd, I was the one about cancel the deal, yet why? It seemed out of my best interest, especially as I watched the short human walk away, the light following her as she was the day. No. I flinched, the dark encroaching on me once more.


    I started after her and she shot a glance my way. ¡°If you follow me I¡¯ll burn you.¡±


    I stood still as she did, a moment later she moved and I followed her.


    ¡°Honestly, what do you want from me?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m curious.¡± I responded, ¡°In this hall I mean.¡±


    I saw Ersel¡¯s brows twitch and she rose her free hand as to ignite a rebuttal. Footsteps and both heads turned to our backs. We were not alone.


    Ersel cursed something to the side, then grabbed my arm and started down the webbed path.


    ¡°This way.¡± She whispered. The footsteps faded as our own took hold. Ersel, apparently familiar with this place, took a turn a little ways forward, bringing me along with her. Somehow we managed to fit in the small enclave, and Ersel leaning against the wall in front of me doused her flame against the floor. She then peaked just over the side of the wall.


    The footsteps grew louder and louder, until Ersel pulled her head in, and four humans rushed passed us.


    ¡°What are they?¡± I questioned, footsteps dying in the background.


    ¡°Bloodscarves. They hunt nobles and they know me.¡±


    Hunt nobles? Another ridiculous human tradition no doubt. I could tell she knew that I didn¡¯t.


    She sighed. ¡°They hunt nobles for gold. But...¡± She hesitated, her eyes drifting, ¡°People say they¡¯ve been collecting noble blood. I don¡¯t know what for.¡±


    ¡°Then leave this place. I do not know why you even bothered coming.¡±


    Ersel picked up her torch, ¡°I¡¯m still going.¡±


    I did not know why humans did that. Even when the situation was as damned as it was they still went on with it. Increasing their stupidity to unprecedented levels.


    ¡°Though could you¡­¡± She swallowed hard, ¡°Stick with me, that is, if anything happens. You know.¡±


    I didn¡¯t. ¡°Fine.¡± I conceded. ¡°It is rather hard to find another guide. Humans these days just do not worship their gods as they used to.¡±


    ¡°Oh they do.¡± Spoke Ersel as she stepped into the hall. ¡°It¡¯s just that you- whatever you are- are not a god.¡±


    Why did I even tolerate her? Obviously I had to remind her, ¡°I am Atechrities. God of fire and flame!¡±


    ¡°Alright. Relight the torch.¡±


    I lowered my proclamation finger. For a god of flame, creating fire sticks was not something I was familiar with.


    Ersel smirked, ¡°I thought so.¡±


    She crouched to the floor, reached for her knapsack and pulled out a small bag of odd sticks. She swiped one stick against another, and the first lit aflame. Soon she relit the torch and motioned towards the end of the hall. ¡°If we¡¯re lucky they¡¯ve already passed my family¡¯s hall, but just to be safe keep as quiet as possible.¡±


    I followed her hesitantly, defeated. It was a minor defeat of course, I could not be so easily toppled.


    We traversed the mausoleum slowly, one light to guide us through. Ersel was familiar with this place so I followed her, crouching at points to avoid gate fixtures as we entered new halls. It occurred to me that this place was much larger than I initially imagined. An underground labyrinth almost.


    I noticed small burrows in the wall as I passed them. Smalls plaques or scratches indicating the names of humans above each burrow. Was this where the humans were buried? It seemed to be a lot of effort to simply disguise the dead.


    Ersel stopped me before we descended another flight of stairs. ¡°Watch your step.¡± She warned.


    At the end of the stairs, which was quite a long flight, we reached a small round room. One that had its own torches. Ersel pointed to one entrance among the back round walls. ¡°Past there lies the noble burials.¡± She hushed. I nodded. This adventure would soon be over. I thought I would never be as glad to reach the ground as before now.


    Ersel was about to douse her flame when I noticed the rest of the fixtures along the wall. Among other entrances lay small tombs. Tombs such as these would never interest me enough to do anything, but a small feature at the corner of my eyes made me think twice.


    Ersel glanced at me as I held her torch arm. I shook my head slowly then pointed to what I could not ignore. Ersel followed my gaze. It was an apple as read as a rose, seated on a silver tomb.

 Chapter 9, The Tomb of the Red Apple

    Quietly we approached the tomb. The tap of my steps in line with my heartbeat. Could this be? I could tell Ersel had the same thought. Her approach was just as measured.


    I bent down to look at the apple. It was fresh, remarkably fresh. An odd sight, especially where we were. Ersel waved her torch above me. She seemed more interested in some letters scribed just above the tombs. How na?ve of her!


    ¡°Here lies the merchant, faithful to his friends, faithful to his country.¡± Ersel¡¯s head tossed to the left. ¡°Here lies the Sailer¡¯s maiden, faithful to her word, faithful to her country.¡±


    Her eyes fell to the right, ¡°Here lies the boy, faithful to none, but the coin on his back.¡±


    Ersel went silent. I rose to examine it all. The three tombs lay side by side, separated only by narrow gaps. Bronze plaques lay top of each tomb while a stone brick wall covered their backs. Oddly, there were either burrows or further entrances all along the curved wall save for this estranged area. I could tell there was more to this and a quick eyeshot of Ersel told me she knew too.


    I swallowed hard, ¡°Icarus buried his treasure with his family. Perhaps this was it.¡± I reached for the apple. ¡°Icarus left this here. Recently.¡±


    I picked up the apple.


    ¡°You told me he jumpe-¡±


    The ground rumbled underneath us. I shielded my eyes as loose clots of dirt tumbled down. The apple fell from my hand and the dull wall ahead of us split cleanly apart. Separating as the tombs sunk into the ground. I was speechless, Erel was speechless. We store into the abyssal dark as lights, two at a time, lit the long hall a head of us.


    I glanced at Ersel to catch her impression. Her awe quickly shifted into a smile, ¡°This is it!¡± she bellowed, ¡°Crive¡¯s treasure! Stars!¡±


    ¡°What do stars have to do with it?¡±


    Ersel ignored my comment, ¡°Come on!¡± she dropped her torch and ran ahead of me. I followed her, but more hesitantly. I squinted my eyes as the dust settled. My eyes shot wide, ¡°Ersel, stop!¡±


    Ersel slowed as she turned her head back, evidently confused.


    ¡°Stop!¡± I repeated this time cupping my mouth. Ersel froze. Her confusion quick to become anger. Typical, she tended to do that when I saved her life.


    ¡°Look around you.¡± I pressed. Ersel stopped to do just that. Strange cogs spun all around her. Twisting and ticking. Strange symbols hugged either side of the wall. One side a reflection of the other. I stared at my left. A mirror image of myself glaring back. Hidden and tall.


    Just ahead of Ersel was a deep drop. I approached where she stood, and slowly the areas a head of her lit up in kind. ¡°Take a step back.¡± I informed her. Ersel did as I said. One step and a bronze platform spun from the side to where the fall once was.


    Ersel scowled where she stood, ¡°Pressure plates.¡±


    ¡°More than that.¡± I added, ¡°It¡¯s a puzzle.¡± I stood three steps from Ersel, I glanced down, six evenly spaced tiles directly behind her. Three tiles to either of my sides. I took a step left. Nothing. To the right. Nothing.


    I met my chin with one long arm. ¡°Lets go back to the beginning. Keep to the sides¡± Ersel nodded.


    At the start I noted the number of tiles. Forty. Exactly forty. If a human were to take a step, they would cover two tiles. I took one step. Two tiles. A platform at the far end spun into place. I took another step, the platforms spun back out. I stepped back, it reappeared.


    The symbols were strange. Somewhat of a spiral shape, with a line through it? What did that mean?


    I took a moment to think. It seemed there was a pattern I had to follow. Maybe if I¡­


    I paused my scheme as Ersel dashed ahead of me. Running on the side tiles. Thirteen tiles in, she crossed to the other side by running over the fourteenth middle tile. At the end she crossed once more, but to my surprise she stopped on the fortieth middle tile.


    All three bronze plates slid into place ahead of Ersel. Their click followed by Ersel¡¯s footsteps as she leapt from one bronze plate to the other. How did she do that?


    I made my way to where she now stood, easily stepping over the gaps instead of jumping as Ersel did. ¡°How?¡± I questioned.


    She talked while she walked forwards, ¡°The symbols, it¡¯s written in Tuxon. Each set of two tiles had a symbol associated with it. If you read them together it¡¯s a poem. But if you read the symbols by the second, tenth, and fourteenth tiles, they read ¡®boy, maiden, merchant¡¯. I figured that was the order.¡±


    I glanced back at the symbols. A poem? I shook my head as the thought escaped me. Ersel¡¯s footsteps a quick reminder that whatever this was. It was not over yet.


    I heard a splash then another splash. Ersel stopped ahead of me.


    ¡°It¡¯s a wall.¡± She said, feeling something a head of us. Two lights lit on either side of us.


    It was round. A flat barrier which separated us and what lied beyond. No side exits. I looked down as Ersel continued, ¡°How do we.¡± She pushed hard on the wall. ¡°Get past here!?¡±


    I took a step and heard the splash. Water. I looked down. My reflection stared back. An almost perfect reflection in a shallow pool.


    ¡°Ersel.¡± I said, ¡°Look down.¡±


    Now both our reflections stared back at us. Ersel¡¯s beige face plastered on the ground eyes locked on herself. My pearl eyes fell on myself. Somehow I looked differently. My face was long, covered in an array of wooden grooves. My eyes were deep set. My nose almost human, but very sharp.


    There was a loud splash. Then another. I spied at Ersel. ¡°Look!¡± She started ¡°You can go through, it¡¯s a gateway! Stars! This is it.¡±


    I had a bad feeling about this. She stomped again, ¡°Ersel, Icarus was no fool. Whatever this is, he probably planned it. You have-¡±


    Ersel stomped once more and yelped as she fell through the puddle. I reach for her arm and caught it the instant before her head submerged.


    ¡°Are you being pulled?¡± I edged. She seemingly grew in weight.


    ¡°No. It¡¯s-It¡¯s as if I¡¯m falling.¡±


    I felt a yank, then lost my footing. Only one thought held my attention among the chaos. Ersel, you are an idiot.


    I gasped, there was no water here. I glanced side to side. Ersel was next to me, as baffled as I. I stammered a little forwards, my eyes glued to the once shut entrance. It was open, a strange round room lit a head of me. The entrance¡¯s reflection was the sealed gate from before. It was as if we entered another world.


    Walking forwards, I heard Ersel¡¯s footsteps close to mine. The room was a half circle, bare save for an entrance which led further inwards. The same odd symbols, sprawled across the top of the door.


    ¡°The gateway to the heavens. Here lies one thousand treasures.¡± Read Ersel slowly. Her face lit like a flame and her smile shot from corner to corner, ¡°We found it! We found it!¡±


    Her words were followed quickly by her unrestrained charge. I grabbed her an inch before she stepped on another pressure plate. She squirmed as I held her up by the collar.


    ¡°Un-hand me you-you tree!¡±


    ¡°Not your best insult.¡±


    I pointed towards the pressure plate, ¡°Watch.¡± I lowered slightly to pick up a lose stone, then threw the stone onto the plate.


    The tiles closest to the entrance collapsed inwards and several light flickered in the chamber a head.


    Ersel gasped as I let her down. She seemed surprised somehow, all that lay in front of us was a chamber of grey rocks- no they were bones. A sea of bones. Still, that was nothing to lose breath over. Or at least I thought not. Regardless, I could tell that bones were not yellow rocks.


    ¡°Hmpf. I guess what you seek is not here.¡±


    Ersel shook her head. ¡°Impossible!  It said a thousand treasures! Was that a trick to? Are we even here right now? Where is the treasure?¡±


    I narrowed my eyes and stared at her at the edge of my eye, ¡°You said heavens didn¡¯t you? Besides some other human may have taken it. Mind we leave now?¡±


    Ersel steamed and shot through the door to the earlier chamber. I saw her standing in the water pool when I got there. The hall that was normally there nothing but black abyss.


    I decided to break the silence, ¡°Perhaps this, wherever this is, is a pocket world.¡± Something occurred to me, something simple but also so possible, ¡°What if there were more?¡±The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.


    ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°Wherever we saw reflections there could be other places such as these.¡±


    Ersel¡¯s eyes went wide, excited once more as she had several times today. Why were humans so excitable?


    She jumped in one moment, the next she was gone. I sighed and leapt as she did, holding my breath all the while.


    I opened my eyes to the world as it was. Ersel running ahead of me. She really had no patience.


    Instead of running blindly, I took my time. By the time I reached the initial hall, Esrel was already there reading the symbols on the other side. I quickly studied both halves of the hall. They were indeed different. Slowly I approached the wall as Ersel silently mouthed some words.


    I touched the mirror wall and a small wave rippled across it.


    --¡°The boy watches over cliff ye high in lake of maiden¡¯s tears.


    Follow the merchant to nearest gate and await the servant¡¯s fears.(22)


    If struck of luck, pass the gate, for watery treasures a man must wait


    Or meet his fate.¡°¡ª


    I would have asked her what she said. What it meant. Though before I could, new shadows entered the room. We stared at the new-comers.


    ¡°Blood scarves.¡± Swore Ersel under her breath.


    I glanced at them. Just as their name implied they wore redden scarves, each in different fashions. One had the scarf tied to his head, the other had it over his mouth, while the third had it around his arm. All three seemed to be the perfect depiction of bandits. One tall and skinny, one fat and short, and the last the typical burly.


    Ersel interrupted my evaluation. ¡°This is no time to stare!¡±


    That seemed odd, they were staring, they had time.


    Ersel grabbed my arm and leapt into the wall, taking me tumbling with her.


    In the split second that we had, I saw the brigands flinch as they saw us. Waves soon cluttered around my eyesight, then as quickly as it arrived, vanished. We were here again. The same world as before, just slightly different.


    Ersel did not stop to think, she never did. Instead she tugged at my arm even harder pulling me to another exit. Or simply, a hole in the ground.


    I could see what lay in the hole from where I ran, though I doubt Ersel could given her stature. A dark drop, a rocky rim.


    ¡°Ersel.¡± I managed, ¡°Let¡¯s not run into this. If we jump, there may be no way to come back.¡±


    She glanced back, though not at me. I followed her skewed sight and spotted what seemed to be three confounded blood scarves stumbling through a water wall. Of course they followed us.


    I faced Ersel again. She jumped. Or better put, we jumped.


    That said, jumping was never the hard part.


    Air swooped over me.


    Falling was.


    I grabbed a rock before we fell too far. Ersel dangled from my other wrist. I swear she was about to rip it off.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± She started, ¡°When I get near the bloodscarves I just...¡± She looked at me, ¡°You know.¡±


    I didn¡¯t. If this was a result of fear, that was still new to me. ¡°Best we get down.¡± I answered, scanning what looked like a giant chasm just ahead of us.


    For a moment I was speechless. Directly below us and all around sat a lake of fluorescent blue. Flowers and fungi blooming at its corners, even climbing the craggy walls. Oddly there was a small statue of what seemed to be a merchant on one side of the lake. Perpetually pointing towards the lakes far end.


    I did not have long to study it as a collection of pebbles tumbled past us. My eyes darted to the top of the pit. Blood scarves. At least they had the sense to stop.


    There were whispers from where they stood. It was too hushed for me to hear, though they were no doubt planning their descent.


    ¡°What are they saying?¡± boomed Ersel.


    I rolled my eyes at the parasite, making me work. The nerve. ¡°I can¡¯t hear.¡±


    What I did hear was the swish of a rope as it flew in beside us. I stared up. Our pursuers had begun climbing down the rope. Only seconds separated us from them.


    ¡°Ersel.¡± I said without looking at her, ¡°Grab the rope.¡± I glanced at her, she was already a good distance away from me, sliding down the rope like a caterpillar.


    A drop of dew rolled down my temple. The coward¡­


    ¡°She should be afraid.¡± Entered another voice. I regarded the source. It was scarf head, the tall one. The first to climb down ¡°There are no walls to save you here, noble.¡±


    I cocked my head, ¡°She can¡¯t hear you.¡± I shouted back.


    ¡°What?¡± echoed Ersel¡¯s retreating voice.


    ¡°I was not talking to you.¡± I snapped. The nerve, she probably thought the world revolved around her.


    Scarf head, now a little ways away from me, continued, ¡°Surrender the girl and we¡¯ll let you go.¡±


    I scoffed, ¡°I cannot. She owes me.¡±


    ¡°Then you are in our way.¡± The man slid down to my location. He stopped to stare, these bandits loved to stare.


    ¡°Stars.¡± He hushed. His companions halted. ¡°You¡¯re not human.¡±


    ¡°No.¡± I reached out and grabbed him by the collar. ¡°Glad you noticed.¡±


    I pulled him off the rope and threw him to the depths below. With my hand free, I leapt onto the rope. I could hear the man¡¯s companions calling after him, followed by the eventual splash and the fervent complaints of the imp below me.


    ¡°Stars! You damned tree, how do I get down now?¡± cried her cracking voice.


    To be honest. I really did not care, instead I took the momentary shock to climb down the rope. Climbing was quite the experience. A couple paces in I noted that staring down did not help my speed. Instead I stared at the rocky wall, then at the bandits above me. The gleam of steel met my eye, then the grin of the bandits, and finally the subtle scratching sound of a rope being cut.


    I flinched. ¡°Ersel¡± I echoed, ¡°jump!¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°Just do it!¡±


    Perhaps I had to lead by example. I glanced down and clenched the ropes harder. No! Not good, I¡¯m a god. I had to do this. I closed my eyes, my grip loosened.


    It was times such as these that the world froze. A frozen specter in my pearl eyes. I felt air whizz past me.


    I opened my eyes a second before I hit the water. The image of Ersel looking at me the last I saw. Splash, and aside from the water that blurred my view nothing remained the same. White. White all around. A white nothingness which seemed endless. I was not in water, I knew that much. Should have expected that. After all, not even the water was real here.


    I floated through it for a while. Was this fear? Or was I just lost? I floated a little forwards and finally something came to view. A black blur. I floated towards it. Somewhat a clutch of feathers, a small white spec among it.


    Closer. It was staring at me. Strange black eyes on a face of white. Closer. Lips of red, a long crooked mouth. Nose less. Closer. It cocked its head me. Everything froze.


    ¡°Will you be my familiar?¡± It said with the voice of a child, ¡°No? You belong to someone else? A pity.¡±


    I was just an arm¡¯s length away, everything felt numb. I could not move, then I felt a tug at my back, almost as if I were a fish caught on a hook.


    The splash of water broke my trance and soon I was back in the cavern.


    ¡°Stars, you¡¯re heavy.¡± Cursed a familiar voice.


    I sat up against the rocky shore. My legs well submerged in the fluorescent water. I snapped backwards, crawling with my arms until my legs were out of the water.


    I could barely hear Ersel over the sound of my own heart.


    ¡°What did you see? What happened?¡± She urged.


    I examined the rest of the lake quickly. Scarf head floating across it. His eyes closed as if he were sleeping. His friends anxiously following his path on the other side. ¡°Nothing.¡± I answered.


    ¡°I don¡¯t believe you.¡± She walked towards the water and before I could stop her, she knelt in. I stumbled to get her out, but a second later she left the water. ¡°Hmpf, you weren¡¯t lying, nothing but white.¡± She glanced at the bandits and visibly shivered. ¡°We should go.¡±


    For once I agreed. It seemed they had almost dragged the poor fool out of the water.


    I glanced behind me and found my cloak soaking beside me. I picked it up, but as I did I noticed the statue I had seen before. Though up close it had detail. It was of a human, one bearded and in fine clothing, pointing towards the end of the cavern. As if guiding us in some strange fashion. I ringed my cloak.


    We followed the stony shore, eyeing our pursuers all the while. The bandits had followed their companion to the edge of the cavern, the full width of the lake between us. The lake on the other hand met both sides with an entrance. Luckily it was our side which led to that entrance. The bandits had to go back around. Good. We had time.


    Ersel ogled at the height of the entrance. Even I stared at its monolithic size. It reminded me almost of Southmarch, but without all the yellow rocks. A large two columned doorway which led into darkness, not even the glow of fluorescent water able to light it. No wonder I had not seen it from afar.


    I squinted at the far cliff where we came. How long was I in that water for? Moreover, what was with me? Ersel lingered in front of me. At least now she was more cautious.


    Another step and torch lights flickered down the pathway. Again two at a time, revealing a long canal of bright turquoise water.


    More and more lights flickered on and like moths we drifted towards each new flame. Driven to find what lurked beneath the shade, helpless to what lay next.


    ¡°My mother always said move forwards otherwise you¡¯ll trip.¡± Quirked Ersel. ¡°For a noble women that¡¯s the most practical advice I¡¯ve ever heard.¡±


    I stared forwards, ¡°The most practical advice I¡¯ve ever heard is ¡®don¡¯t light a fire near the idol, it¡¯ll burn!¡¯¡± Ersel snickered at that. Odd, I could not understand why. ¡°That said if practicality is your concern. How do we get out of here?¡±


    ¡°Future concerns.¡± She shrugged.


    I glared at her. Suddenly her notion of the most practical advice did not seem very practical at all.


    ¡°Remind me never to do this again.¡± I puffed.


    Ersel stepped in front of me. Staring at me with concern stained to her face. ¡°No! I need you.¡±


    ¡°Of course you do, I¡¯m a god. You¡¯d be nothing without me.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not tru- that¡¯s not the point. If you weren¡¯t here I would be dead!¡±


    I rose one brow. She had a habit of stating the obvious. Though I did appreciate praise.


    ¡°And you¡± she continued ¡°would have lost your guide.¡±


    I waved her off, ¡°I am a god, I do not require a guide.¡±


    Silence and I noticed a dumb smile across her face, ¡°Hold off a moment. Back at the entrance. You were there. You followed me down here!¡± I flinched. She turned and let out a bellowing laugh. Laughing until she had to lean to the side to catch her breath.


    ¡°You¡¯re as old as time¡± she huffed ¡°and yet you cling to me like a lamb to its mother!¡±


    I looked away. To think, dependent on a human? Oh, I had fallen so far. Thinking back, for once she was right. In that moment I had lost all direction. I, a force as great as the wind, enthralled to this human. Perhaps I did need her. Especially now that I had fallen for her false promises.


    Ersel was about to boast even more, I saw it on her face, then the last lights flickered on. We both froze. My eyes instantly glued to what lay ahead, Ersel no doubt following that sight. That was it. One large door, two halves. The caricature of an apple traced on its wooden midst.


    On either side of the door the statue of an armored man towered over it. Each man with great sword held towards the ground. We approached the statues, perhaps the guards of the crypt. They were monumental, almost as high as the ceiling itself. Four times my height.


    Ersel moved forward, seemingly unswayed. I followed her. Each step a hollow echo across the hall.


    We moved closer and closer, the silence a cold burn upon wooden ears. Burning and burning until it smoldered.


    ¡°You¡± cried a long distant voice. I spun in every direction to find it¡¯s owner.


    ¡°Are not¡±


    I shivered. The voice was low and menacing.


    ¡°The master.¡±


    I stopped moving. I looked up.


    A giant stone sword swung directly overhead. I picked up Ersel and ducked in the opposite direction. There was a loud crunch as it hit the side. Another voice entered the room, ¡°You. Are not. The master.¡±


    I stared at the second statue. Another swing, another duck.


    ¡°Ersel.¡± I stuttered, ¡°Are you ok?¡±


    ¡°Fine.¡± She grunted, ¡°Let me down.¡±


    I glanced at the giants. They were moving like humans, breaking free from the rocks, one limb after the other. I let Ersel down, ¡°We have to go.¡±


    ¡°No.¡± She took two steps towards the giants.


    ¡°This is no time to be stubborn!¡±


    Ersel shrugged off my warning and reached for her arm. There was a blue flash and she pulled out a dagger. The same one she had when she escaped the witch¡¯s bonds. Her eyes and head drifted quickly up to the giants.


    ¡°I was not expecting them to be so close to home.¡± She said coolly.  How was she not fazed by this? Not even in the slightest?


    ¡°Find a way to get them low.¡± She shot, ¡°I need to reach their heads.¡± Her tone had completely shifted.


    ¡°You¡¯re mad human.¡±


    She smiled, ¡°Only slightly.¡± The goliaths stood before us, now completely free of their bonds, ¡°Do you trust me?¡±


    I sighed. Humans. I really didn¡¯t have a choice.

 Chapter 10, The Stone Slayer

    What did the people say when they island kingdom of Eolasi sunk? The Ilivari emperor drowned one hundred doves to signify the knowledge lost. The merchant kings of Dawnry sunk three trade ships to help the lost souls below. The Bird pirests of Zet erected statues of carp in all its holy libraries as an honor to the lost kingdom.


    Eolasi was an island just south of the Ilvari ilses. It had spires of sandstone at every corner and the entire island was just one large school. An artwork of sandstone, granite and magic. The world¡¯s greatest and well renowned school. A school one could never graduate from.


    From it the greatest libraries lurked, as well as inventions and magic alterations abound. Their ultimate creations were the stone guardians. Large sandstones constructs which protected the island for generations.


    Not even the neighboring Ilvari, the strongest empire of the south could conquer the stout scholars. In the end, the Ilvari simply ended their feud, sending members of the royal court to study there instead.


    This was the land of Eolasi. A land which sunk three hundred years ago.


    Why? No-one knows. Just that when Eolasi fell, so did a fraction of the world¡¯s knowledge and the guardians. Or so people thought.


    Decades later the giants surfaced on multiple shores, there they stood. Silent. Imposing. Nothing but statues until they found new masters. If any dared approach them, the guardian would press a riddle upon any ears that listened. Legend had it, those who answered correctly would enthrall the giants, and those who did not were turned to sandstone. Enthralled by the giants instead.


    Legend also had it that a few even strived to hunt these beasts. Not as a means of sport but rather as an act of respect for the fallen land.


    They say only a certain steel could pierce the magical golems and only at a certain spot.


    Ersel ran to the giant¡¯s side. I glanced at her dagger. Could it be?


    ¡°Distract it!¡± She cried, running to the first giant.


    I ogled at the thing. Any effort to distract the creatures was clearly not needed. I towered compared to Ersel. It was the difference of spotting a child from a rat. Both Giants swung at me, I leapt to the side and barely landed with my stance intact.


    Their blades hit the floor like thunder and clods of earth rained down after. I eyed the ceiling. It would not hold long. Soon my eyes fell on Ersel. Slightly mad would not justify what she was up to, now climbing the back of the cavern.


    I stared down the way we entered.


    ¡°Don¡¯t go!¡± echoed Ersel, ¡°I need them to stay close.¡±


    Slightly mad indeed. I peeked at my surroundings. Everywhere the giants swung they destroyed. Since Ersel wanted me to stay close I had very few options.


    Slowly the colossi unhinged their blades from the wall. It was only a matter of seconds before they would swing again.


    Quickly my eyes shot from platform to platform. Where to go next? Where to go next? Ersel¡¯s words echoed through my head. Find a way to get them low. But how?


    I looked at the ceiling then the gate. I glanced at their legs, their moving feet. Their rising arms. Oh dear.


    I ran as fast as I could towards the gates. Dodged one strike. I glanced back, nothing. I looked forwards. The other sword swung directly in front of me. I leapt in the only direction I could, eyes closed.


    ¡°A little more.¡± Shouted the familiar voice. I was afraid that was a little too much. I opened my eyes to dust and dirt. The sound of my heart beating loud, the ache of my body consuming my thoughts. I lay there, the dust clearing as I breathed. Was this pain? Humans often complained about it. Yet I had never known it. I clenched my teeth as more dust settled. Somehow that helped.


    The lurch of stone broke my trance. I had to move and as I began to do so the dust cleared. A bright blue broke its shade. The water.


    My pearl eyes expanded and for a moment I forgot my pain. The water. That was it!


    I stood with my hands for support. My eyes a quick shot to the way we entered.


    It was now or never. I waited for the giants to swing once more then darted away as they swung at me. It was also a gamble. For all I knew the giants may have very well turned on Ersel following my absence.


    Yet they didn¡¯t. After the expectedly heavy swing followed heavier footsteps. It was working.


    Two steps echoed as one. Then two more. I held my breath as I ran.


    Then a splash.


    I stopped. Head twisting backwards.


    One giant struggled in the water, while the other slid into the canal. I had a feeling the shallow waters were not as shallow as they appeared.


    The fervent cries of giants confirmed my thoughts, both sinking slowly to whatever depths waited below.


    In an act of desperation the first giant reached out and clutched the edge of the canal. By now half of its body had sunk into the water. The other giant awkwardly skewed over the first. Then I saw Ersel.


    I stared at the exact moment she jumped. More precisely lunged, holding her dagger with both hands well above her head. Falling faster and faster until she landed and her dagger met the back of the first giants head.


    It screamed. The death howl of a creature perhaps more ancient than I. The other giant sunk almost to level with the first. For a moment there was silence. Nothing but the tapping of earth. Ersel got up, dagger in hand and the first giant came apart. In a second bursting into nothing but sand. Desperately, the second giant swung one arm at Ersel. She was quicker. More agile. A rat with sharpened teeth.


    She ducked the swing then leapt from one what was left of one giant head to the next. I saw the gleam of her dagger as she readied it again, her feet a quick step, stretch and a jump, around the giant¡¯s ear to its neck. Sand brushed over my eyes, though I could tell what happened. The screams of a giant told a story of its own.


    More sand flew over me and I was sure.


    I walked towards the giants with an arm up against my head. It was unreal. I had been traveling with a giant slayer! A very small, very annoying giant slayer. How much did I know about her? The sand started to settle, the pathway, or what remained of it, a shambling pile of sand and rock.


    At its end stood Ersel. Right atop the pile of sand.


    I approached her and she made for the gate.


    I called after her, ¡°What are you?¡±


    ¡°Why, I am a mere human just as much as you are a god.¡± Rude, but expected from the likes of her.


    I navigated my way around the sand pile, ¡°Do all humans slay giants? I must have missed that in my centuries of existence.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s a long story.¡±


    ¡°We have time.¡±


    ¡°Maybe.¡± She said as she pressed the gate, ¡°But I¡¯ll save that story until you share yours.¡±


    My brows fell, exasperated, and the tall gates creaked open. I shielded my eyes. Rays of gold spat out in every direction.


    It was yellow, really really yellow. Stacks of yellow treasures rising almost as high as the ceiling. Small water falls scattered around the golden corners, trickling past the coins. A long pathway stretched in front of us, atleast the length of a street. At the end sat a very large clock, every so often ticking and tocking.


    I walked to where Ersel stood. It bothered me how yellow this room was. No taste in it. With a glance at Ersel it was apparent she shared a different view.


    From the way she mindlessly gazed into it, she was either mesmerized or utterly disgusted. Reading faces was really not my strong suit.  I stepped in front of her and bent down to wave my hand in front of her. No response. Had she turned into stone? A sort of flesh like stone. Perhaps.Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.


    I walked ahead, already the observant god I noted ¡°There might be an exit here.¡±


    ¡°We need bags.¡± Responded the statue.


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°Bags!¡± she proclaimed rushing towards the piles.


    Honestly, I did not follow. How did bags help us escape? ¡°What are your priorities here?¡±


    ¡°Look around you.¡± She said twirling once with arms stretched, ¡°This is it! This is his treasure! Stars! We found it! We made it!¡± She ran to the pile, almost diving into it.


    ¡°Right and how do we leave then?¡±


    Coins and plates and crowns rattled from where she stood, ¡°Future problems.¡±


    We were doomed. I took a few more steps and stopped to stare at the clock. It was large. It was out of place.


    Unlike its golden companions, its skin was bronze. ¡°Interesting.¡± I said aloud, ¡°Why is that there?¡±


    No answer. I spun to catch perhaps a more disappointing sight. Ersel lumbering towards me with gold bulging from her pockets. Some of the coins even falling out.


    ¡°Is gold all you care for?¡±


    She halted and caught some her falling treasures, ¡°Hey when I stole you, I stole not a single piece of gold.¡±


    ¡°But I am a god, I carry for more value than mere yellow rocks. Stealing me was perhaps the wisest choice you have ever made.¡±


    ¡°Aye.¡± She conceded, holding her gold in place, ¡°Until you started talking.¡±


    I was lost for words. To think one could be so arrogant in accepting the grace of my voice. I rose my rebuttal finger, only to have the perpetrator brush past me towards the clock.


    ¡°I¡¯d wager the clock has a part to play in how we leave.¡± She started.


    I nodded ¡°Exactly what I was thinking. Otherwise we could go back. Though I doubt we could climb that fa-¡±


    Ersel rose her hand, ¡°Shhh. Do you hear that?¡±


    I listened. Aside from the trickling and ticking there was silence. I imagined silence. No that was not silence. Rushing, there was a very faint rush of water behind the clock. The clock ticked, the rushing stopped.


    I looked at Ersel and she looked at me. There was more to that clock.


    We approached it quietly, or as quietly as possible among the clanking of stolen gold.


    The clock though monumental, was not very far. In fact the room was only a fraction of what the cavern behind us was. We arrived at its foot in minutes.


    I scanned it, as did Ersel. The clock, perhaps as large as the colossi sat on a golden base. I squinted at what appeared to be an intricate design of an apple tree splayed over the gold. At is edges lay a thin almost invisible cut. A cut which extended around the base.


    ¡°There is a door here.¡± I said


    Ersel glared at the door, then knocked once on it. Nothing and a second later it snapped backwards the length of finger and sank to the floor.


    The ground stated shaking. Halfway across the chamber a small pedestal rose. It rose slowly until it reached Ersel¡¯s height and as it stopped so did the shaking.


    The clock ticked and two events happened synonymously. Water rushed a head of me, this time audibly loud. A small goblet rose out of the pedestal.


    I stared at the water then at Ersel. She dropped her gold and as the metal hit the floor the clock ticked once more. The water stopped, but the goblet remained. I turned to the tunnel.


    ¡°Ersel, I do not like this.¡±


    Indeed something about this moment sent chills down my bark. As if nothing in the catacombs thus far prepared us for whatever lurked ahead. For whatever Icarus had planned for us. I looked at where the waters once rushed just three feet ahead of us. It was dark, but clearly it was a tunnel. Maybe a drain which led to the sea? Either way, an escape.


    It occurred to me Ersel had not answered in a while. I looked back. ¡°Ersel?¡±


    She stood by the goblet, as still as a statue. Again I had a bad feeling. ¡°Ersel.¡± I started walking towards her, ¡°Don¡¯t touch that. You do not know what it could do.¡±


    ¡°It will return my family fortune.¡± She said quietly.


    ¡°But treasures do not just appear. Think about what you are about to do.¡± I got closer.


    ¡°About what? We did it. We beat the colossi, we solved the puzzles. This treasure is mine.¡± She reached for it before I could reach her. I cursed in my thoughts. As expected the ground began to rumble. Slowly at first and then to a sudden quake. I stumbled, but Ersel had already passed me.


    ¡°Come on tree!¡± she cried dashing to the tunnel. I regained my footing, yet as I did the golden flooring began to collapse. Tile by tile, I struggled to the tunnel. I looked up, my heart beating hard, all around me the towers of gold fell into the void below. Black all around save narrowing path ahead.


    Just a little further. I caught a glimpse of Ersel on the other side, then the ledge where she stood. I realized my path had already shattered.


    I swallowed hard, took two more steps, and jumped. Time seemed to slow in that moment. In that pace in time where I flew over the void. What was there? Ground? Water? Nothingness.


    It was odd how one wondered in the most inopportune times. As if fantasies stole away from the suddenness of reality. Well. I saw the ledge pass my head. I suppose it did.


    My body jerked and I gawked at my extended arm. Something small had clasped it. It was Ersel, desperately clinging on to me.


    ¡°Hold on, tree.¡± She squirmed.


    She caught me. To say I was taken aback would have been an understatement. I swung my other arm and managed to catch some loose stone. I hoisted, Ersel pulled.


    Impossible seconds passed and I was on the ledge. I fell on my back beside Ersel who had also collapsed.


    ¡°Stars you are heavy. Heavy as a tree.¡± She puffed.


    I glanced at her with my head turned aside. ¡°Thank you.¡±


    A chuckle then a laugh. She sat up. ¡°A compliment! From you? Of all the giants, witches and magic walls, that¡¯s the strangest of them all!¡±


    I store at the rocky ceiling, ¡°Do not let it go to your head.¡± I turned to her. The goblet was gone,                  In fact almost all of the treasure she took was gone. ¡°What happened to your goblet?¡±


    Ersel¡¯s smile was quick to disappear, ¡°It fell when I leapt to catch you. This is all I have left.¡± She reached into knapsack and pulled out a key. A single golden key, with a diamond shaped frame for a head. Curious item. Though without knowledge of the door, it had little value.


    My thoughts snapped away from the key.


    She had given up what she sought to save me. Granted, she did get me into this in the first place. I felt the edges of my mouth begin to twitch. Had I know at the time I would have astounded myself, though it was not I who noticed first.


    She smiled at me ¡°Why are you smiling?¡±


    I pressed my hands across my face, touching it all over to see if it were true. Smiling, my first time smiling! I leapt to my feet and tried replicate that expression. ¡°Am I doing it now?¡± I asked her.


    ¡°No. Now you are- I do not know what you¡¯re doing now...¡±


    I frowned, an expression, at least with Ersel, I was all too familiar with.


    Yet she kept glaring at me. Seconds passed and she nodded as if she had come to a decision. Her hand flung out towards me. ¡°I have not properly introduced myself. My name is Ersel Rurikov. Second born heir to the Rurikov family.¡±


    What was this hand expression? Was I supposed to mimic her? I noticed she did so with her left hand, so I followed suit.


    She seemed as lost as I, ¡°You do not know how to shake hands?¡±


    I cocked my head, ¡°Why would you shake your hands?¡±


    She preceded to press that flung out hand to her forehead. Another hand shake I assumed.


    ¡°Never mind. Now you introduce yourself.¡±


    That seemed odd. I had already done so. Well she never listened to me anyways, ¡°Atechrities, god of war, fire, and conquest.¡±


    She did not seem pleased with that, instead she held her chin, ¡°If I called you that it would raise suspicion.¡±


    I glanced at my wet cloak.


    ¡°I¡¯ll call you Brambleburn instead.¡±


    ¡°Brambleburn?¡± I questioned.


    ¡°Aye, it¡¯s a tall thorny tree as bare as a dead one. Its bark is so dry it can set its surroundings ablaze with too much contact.¡±


    Somehow this name did not appeal to me.


    ¡°But there¡¯s more.¡± She continued, ¡°They say once it lives a thousand years it grows a fiery seed. One that births into a firebird.¡±


    ¡°And how exactly do I remind you of that?¡±


    ¡°The tree is cursed to stand in one location for almost a millennia. Then one day it sets itself free. And do so in the most spectacular way, underneath its great fiery wings.¡±


    So I was the firebird? Huh, it fit me I suppose. This twisted last minute stranger, my name? Brambleburn. Brambleburn.


    ¡°Brambleburn.¡± I said aloud. I wanted to taste the word. Hear how it sounded. It sounded new but familiar.


    ¡°Menska and I planted one in the castle courtyard. We had to once Jester told us the story. Menska said that the tree would remember us even when we were gone. It was a hopeful thought at most. I mean could trees even remember? Think?¡±


    She looked at me, the questioned answered, ¡°Perhaps they do. I was afraid once my family lost its name the higher classes would forget us. That Menska would forget me. But as long as the tree stood I knew he wouldn¡¯t.¡±


    I head the rush of water as the clock ticked once more. ¡°We have to go¡± I urged.


    ¡°Do you mean the tunnel?¡±


    I nodded. Ersel looked at the tunnel hard, then proceeded a head of me. Crawling as the tunnel got narrow. I imagined it would be harder for me. I sighed and made for the tunnel. Though before I got there, something made me turn the other way.


    I looked over the void and spotted the blood scarves on the other side.  Three of them, one soaked. Glaring back. They knew what I was. More so, they had some grudge with Ersel.


    They did stay long. Probably aware that they could not cross, within seconds of staring they left through the far gate. I store a little longer. The danger was not imminent but it was still there. One day I would see those scarves once again. Whether reddened by dyes or other means.


    I spun towards the tunnel. Yet felt a pinch as I did so. I glanced over my shoulder. It was as if a part of me flew off. No it was probably nothing. I shook it off and entered the tunnel.


    It was a simple entry at first, but as I suspected the tunnel got narrower and narrower until I just barely squeezed through. Fortunately there was a second tunnel at the first ones end. I leapt from the firs tunnel to the second. Ersel was there waiting for me. She was leaned against the tunnel wall glaring at the end of the tunnel.


    ¡°There¡¯s a fall down there. Do you see?¡± she pointed down the tunnel. There was indeed a fall. Though how far? Into what?


    Tick. My heart jumped and my head twisted backwards. It was empty at first but I could hear the rushing. Ersel stood up.


    ¡°No time to think.¡± I shouted. Ersel looked at me, I looked at her. We ran.


    Our footsteps hollow thumps against the rapid rush of water. We reached the end in seconds, but so did the water.


    It pushed and flowed past us and we fell down the tunnel in suite.


    Seconds passed and we were pushed into a large body of water. I glanced at Ersel who instinctively swam to the top. I on the other hand, simply floated there.


    We reached the top a few seconds after that, small waves crashing over us.


    ¡°There!¡± shouted Ersel. ¡°Follow me!¡±


    I did know how to swim. Though she seemed to be headed towards around the Cliffside. By the push of the waves, I would ultimately get there to.


    I had some time to consider the situation as I floated. For one, I needed to learn how to swim. There was also the problem of getting to shore, though we had been through enough to rest for now. We passed the edge of the Cliffside and I made out the full extent of the docks. They were much larger than I anticipated. Regardless, I had survived, so had Ersel.


    I breathed deeply. The bright lines of dawn stretching across the horizon. The screech of gulls and the crash of waves, its steady beat. Our first dungeon. Perhaps first of many.

 Chapter 11, The Offer

    For a moment, I was driftwood.


    After all I was wood and I could not swim. Fitting.


    Luckily, Ersel managed to get me ashore unnoticed. It was the least she could do after the mess she had gotten us into.


    Once we got in town she went off to find a key smith who could help. Said he owed her a favor. We decided to meet by the city plaza at noon.


    I saw carts and people and houses scattered along the rolling pathways. People trickling out like water as the day grew ancient. I found it odd that none of those people noticed what I was. After all only a cloak hid my oaken appearance. I suppose what people did not know they did not ask. Especially here in this wayward city. I looked in the mausoleum¡¯s general direction. This city hid much more than it boasted.


    I passed a street with many tailor shops and noticed a crowd slowly forming around a scaffolding. I squinted at what appeared to be a man with his head locked in a mechanism. Far above his head was a blade attached to two wooden columns. Now that was a sight. It made me wonder what that human was doing.


    I approached the crowd, they were surprisingly quiet. As if whatever was happening was a solemn occurrence. There were a few whispers here and there. A couple of them I heard.


    ¡°Who is he?¡±


    ¡°A pirate. He¡¯s named Bilal. They say he was smuggling creatures across the border.¡±


    A pirate? I must admit the entire situation would have lost my interest if it was not for another who spoke up. This one on the scaffolding as well.


    A strange plump man. Perhaps more of collection of fabrics and blubber than an actual human. He wore bright clothes with a jeweled belt and necklace.


    ¡°This man, the pirate Bilal, has committed several crimes against crown and country. He has offended her shores and now he stands here in judgement for his actions. For smuggling in residents of non-human descent, he is hereby condemned to the heavens. May the stars guide him.¡±


    The man tuned to his captive, ¡°Have you any last words?¡±


    Moments passed and the crowd grew impossibly quiet. ¡°I am not standing¡± echoed the captive.


    ¡°What?¡±


    The captive rose his head. He was smiling ¡°I do not stand here in judgement, I kneel, I am not standing¡±


    ¡°Is that all you have to say?¡± asked the man.


    The captive sighed, ¡°Who are you to decide my fate? Who am I to reject it?¡± His smile grew into a toothy grin. ¡°What¡¯s written is written. Do what you will.¡±


    ¡°Very well.¡± The man motioned to another.


    There was a click, a shift and the crowd held its breath.


    Seconds past then minutes.


    All around me the clusters of on-lookers started whispering amongst themselves. No doubt confounded as I. On the scaffolding, the jeweled man was openly aghast. Or more likely annoyed. He swayed his arms madly and spoke words to his fellows in a hushed debate.


    The crowd shut up as well. After a while the portly man stormed off of the scaffolding. His departing words as sour as he.


    ¡°Well get a new one then. This criminal needs to be executed by noon! Send all your men if you have to!¡±


    The few remaining men gathered and split up shortly after, leaving but two guards behind for the captive. Accordingly, the crowd also dissipated, breaking into its own groups. I eyed the cuffed man for a little while longer, then the guards. For guards they seemed exceedingly incompetent.


    They were not even focused on the captive, laughing and talking amongst each other as if their job had not mattered.


    I blinked. Why did I care? It occurred to me that whatever this was, it was another strange ritual of the humans. As pointless as the very creatures themselves. Still I felt the need to look on. I shook my head and returned my attention to the captive. My thoughts froze immediately.


    The captive in a moment of sheer luck, simply slid his arms free from his binds then lifted the bounds clasped on his head. He was either a master escapist or damn lucky fool. He glanced at the guards then at his free hands, the look of utter amazement splattered across his face.


    A fool. I should have known.


    Quickly enough, he crept off the stage then ran away. Did anyone else see that? I scanned the crowd and saw no such faces surprised to what happened. Or even aware for that matter. I snapped back to the guards, they had not noticed either.


    Seconds passed until an onlooker shouted, ¡°He¡¯s escaped!¡±


    The guards spun back to their post and the uproar ensued.


    ¡°Stars! He¡¯s gone!¡±


    ¡°Where did he go?¡±


    ¡°Did they take him away?¡±


    Humanity never seized its stupidity. In fact the more I saw of it, the more I was convinced of that. I stepped away, shaking my head. At least it would make for an amusing memory.


    It was then I decided to visit some of the more promising vistas of this city, the palace perhaps? I needed something to renew my hope in these monkeys. Their buildings often did a good job of that.


    I glanced from side to side. Though I could see the palace from afar I had not a clue as to where to go. These streets tangled with one another past every corner. If one were not careful, it could become a maze.


    I turned a corner, stepping past the rushing people, those anxious to see the commotion. The busy streets were emptying faster than I imagined. More and more emptied until one point I was alone. It was unsettling at that point of the day, a little before noon. In fact I was even hearing voices. I stopped before an alleyway. It was not my imagination.


    I had heard that voice before.


    The same man from before, the captive, was calling out to me. I looked at him. He was perhaps two thirds my height, dark skinned, with black hair which mimicked a bush. He store at me with curious black eyes. One hand pointing at me.


    He put it bluntly. ¡°You¡¯re a tree. A walking tree! What are you doing in the middle of Starsreach?¡±


    I was taken off-guard. Unable to act in the moment, I said the only word that came to mind. ¡°Waiting.¡±


    ¡°Where do you come from? Amadad? Gomori? I¡¯ve thought I¡¯d seen it all and now you! A Tree-man! You have to join my crew.¡±


    I was silent for a second, somewhat lost. ¡°What crew do you speak of?¡±


    The man circled me, staring at me all the while. His grin, which seemed permanent at that point, expanded into a full blow laugh. ¡°A pirate crew, The Red Sands. I¡¯m a pirate, or at least a smuggler to this country. That¡¯s why I¡¯m asking. Where are you from and how did you get here?¡±


    ¡°I have always been here.¡±


    He stopped circling and leaned beside a building, ¡°Interesting.¡± He searched in his pocket and pulled out a coin. ¡°What is your name?¡±


    I did not know whether to treat this man as an enemy or a friend. So far he had not attacked me. Apart from Ersel that was new. ¡°Brambleburn.¡± I said as he tossed the coin.


    He smiled, ¡°The fire tree? An interesting name, quite a lot of meaning behind it. The spirits dub me Bilal.¡± Bilal caught the coin, ¡°Come with me, Brambleburn.¡±


    I glanced to the side, ¡°I have other arrangements.¡±


    I heard the scrap of the wall as he stretched off of it. I looked at him and he flipped the coin towards me.If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    He spoke as I caught it, ¡°The sands stretch the desert far. They lay great, barren, to which none can mar. A simple breeze can change the sand dunes shape, though it will always return to its original ¡®scape.¡± He laughed again and brushed past me, ¡°I shall leave you to your affairs. Well met, Brambleburn.¡± He turned the first corer ahead of me and disappeared as quickly as he arrived.


    I walked away, studying the coin. It was golden like most, but it had an odd lion encrusted on it. Nothing like the coins from this kingdom, coins which had the face of some old human plastered over it.


    I wondered why people even bothered differing their coins. Regardless they would always be pieces of yellow rocks.


    Passing more and more empty streets, I stuffed the coin into a fist. On the second corner, I realized Ersel was probably waiting for me. On third corner I noticed I was being followed. I glanced back when I was about to turn the upcoming corner. Bilal. He had been following me all the while. Why? I could not imagine what I had to offer. And on a ship? I could not even swim.


    I decided to confront the pirate on the next cross. Though as I turned to do so, a familiar voice stopped me in my tracks. I squinted straight ahead. It was Ersel.


    ¡°Oi! Where have you been?¡± cried Ersel.


    ¡°Wandering¡± I responded. Ersel had told me that the plaza was the main area of the city. Exactly in its midst. Almost impossible to miss. Though somehow I had missed it.


    ¡°Well it¡¯s good that I found you. We need to leave before dusk.¡± She stressed ¡°There are guards everywhere! Some damned criminal escaped and now the city is swarmed. They will be here any minute. Everyone is suspect including you. If they find out- We have to leave.¡±


    I caught the pirate at the edge of my eyes, ¡°I might have a way.¡±


    Ersel looked passed me at Bilal. She squinted hard and stopped once the pirate got close enough.


    ¡°Brambleburn!¡± He said stupidly, ¡°I see we meet again!¡±


    I made the flattest expression possible, ¡°You were following me.¡±


    ¡°Ah yes that.¡± He quickly passed me to Ersel, ¡°And who is this beauty that stands beside you?¡±


    He lowered to her height, picked her hand and kissed it.


    I doubt he noticed, but her face lit as bright as a forge and she visibly shivered. She pulled her hand away as Bilal stood up.


    ¡°I don¡¯t believe we¡¯ve met.¡± She started


    ¡°Aye I never had the pleasure. The spirits dub me Bilal, captain of the Red Sands.¡± He bowed to Ersel. Huh, he did not do that for me.


    ¡°Ersel Rurikov.¡± Ersel eyed me then Bilal. ¡°How do you know who this is?¡±


    ¡°He introduced himself.¡±


    I was about to refute that claim. Though thinking back, I had introduced myself. Maybe because he realized what I was. ¡°Ersel.¡± I started, ¡°He says he¡¯s leaving the country soon. If we go with him¡­¡±


    Ersel stomped up to me, ¡°With some pirate?! Are you mad?¡±


    I glanced at Bilal, he did not seem nearly as offended. In fact he was distracted, his dark eyes glued to Ersel¡¯s hilt.


    Ersel continued oblivious Bilal¡¯s presence. ¡°We can leave some other time. Not now. I¡¯ve traveled the sea before. A while back when I was early in my studies. The people I traveled with- some were nice, others were¡­ My point is we cannot trust stranger. Especially a sea-farer.¡± She smiled awkwardly at Bilal, ¡°I do not mean to insult you¡±


    Bilal¡¯s eyes were still on the hilt when he spoke ¡°Oh I am not insulted, just curious. Miss, what steel is that dagger of yours.¡± He said carefully.


    Ersel quickly covered the dagger and gripped my arm, ¡°I¡¯m afraid we must go.¡±


    ¡°Go where?¡± I pressed. I did not follow.


    ¡°Away from this city.¡± Asserted Ersel.


    Bilal smiled and he started to laugh, ¡°And the best way to do that is by sea. Hear me out, I have a new offer for you two. Your services in exchange for gold and safe passage.¡±


    Ersel stopped pulling and stayed her pace. ¡°I¡¯m listening.¡±


    Bilal stared at the sky, ¡°Not here though. A tavern. Believe me when I say I haven¡¯t eaten in days.¡±


    Ersel studied the floor, and soon found her eyes on Bilal. She seemed as skeptical as ever. I could not blame her, after all she had fallen for a scam a few days ago. She narrowed her eyes, and hid her dagger even more so, ¡°Fine.¡±


    ¡­


    We brushed through the tavern doors. Briskly striding past the hollow floor. Few eyes turned our way, but for the most part we were left alone. Regardless of how odd we looked. A small women leading the way, then a giant followed by a strange a man walking uncomfortably close behind. Almost as if he were hiding.


    ¡°There.¡± Whispered Bilal, motioning to a corner table, ¡°It¡¯s quiet and out of sight.¡±


    Ersel and I promptly nodded.


    We sat down among the rabble of bar cries and laughter. Ersel sat next to me while Bilal sat on the other side, tying an orange scarf around his head.


    ¡°What?¡± He said as he noticed our stares, ¡°I enjoy scarfs.¡±


    A few steps approached where we sat and soon a barmaid towered above us. Well everyone but me. I was about her height sitting down.


    ¡°What can I get for you?¡± Cheery.


    ¡°I don¡¯t eat.¡± I answered honestly. Both Ersel and Bilal stared at me. Though only one of them glared.


    ¡°I¡¯ll take a mug of apple cider.¡± Answered Bilal. ¡°And I¡¯ll pay for whatever the lady wants.¡±


    Ersel cracked her knuckles, ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll have your finest wine. Aged well of course.¡±


    I glanced at Bilal, his usual smile was accompanied by a twitch here and there. ¡°Anything for the lady.¡± He laughed.


    ¡°As you wish.¡± Bowed the barmaid, quick to accept the extra buys. Ersel started tapping on the table till the barmaid left. A second later she turned to Bilal.


    ¡°Now about this offer?¡± tapped Ersel on the table, ¡°What is it you want? And what do we get?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m glad you asked, Miss Rurikov. My crew intends to raid a tomb in the Ilivari Ilses. Granted it is a step away from our usual ¡®dealings¡¯, and it has some enough gold to send any self-respecting pirate to land. And having met you, it has been an even greater calling.¡± He pressed his hands together and eyed Ersel carefully. His smile grew slick. ¡°The tomb is guarded by six stone giants.¡±


    Ersel shot up, ¡°Brambleburn, we¡¯re leaving.¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s gold to be had.¡± Shot Bilal.


    Ersel hesitated. To think that would sway her! How fickle.


    She sat down, ¡°How did you know?¡±


    ¡°You think I¡¯ve never seen Vene Steel before? My people call it the metal of fire. A blade which cuts through anything enchanted.¡± Bilal smiled behind closed lips, ¡°What you show is not what you know. You seem to hide as much as me. What do you hide from?¡±


    I glanced at Ersel, somewhat confused, ¡°You said it was star metal.¡±


    Bilal laugh quietly and answered for her, ¡°It is star metal, Bramble. Vene steel is just a stronger variant. A rarer variant.¡±


    ¡°Never mind that.¡± Said Ersel, ¡°What gold?¡±


    Bilal chuckled and leaned back in his chair. ¡°We follow a basic principle. When we finish each member keeps one item.¡± Ersel edged, but Bilal beat her to it, ¡°Any item.¡± He stressed.


    Ersel stared hard at Bilal, silence save for the rabble of the bar, then she leaned back. ¡°I see. We¡¯re in then.¡±


    I store at Ersel. Shocked almost. She did not even think to ask me.


    Bilal stretched his arms out along the top of his seat, ¡°We leave on the morrow. If you haven¡¯t a bed or a fire, I¡¯ll arrange a room for you in this tavern.¡±


    ¡°Good, we¡¯ll need it.¡±


    The barmaid arrived shortly with the drinks. ¡°To our travel.¡± Said Bilal toasting his mug. Ersel poured herself a cup and their cups clinked.


    ¡­


    A half an hour later, I found myself in the room Bilal got me. Ersel got her own room. I suppose that was customary, yet rooms such as these still escaped me. Why would I need a bed? And a fire? Did they intend to burn me!


    I store at the odd fixture. A bed Built on a wooden frame and stuffed a top with many feathers and fluff. I pressed my hand into it. It was soft. Shortly after I preceded to do what humans usually did. Lay in it.


    I stared at the ceiling as I sunk into the bed. Why did humans do this?


    Earlier I thought I had witnessed the extent human stupidity, though staying at a bar had proven me wrong. There was a point where they got worse, sluggish even. Another human phenomena besides sleeping. Drunkenness. I wondered as I lay there. Did Ersel get drunk? I could imagine that¡¯s what ¡®wine¡¯ did. Perhaps she was less rude as a drunkard. From my experience it went either way.


    ¡°The story of Brambleburn.¡± I said aloud. I wonder if one would ever tell my story. A story of a god turned adventurer. Hmpf, could I even be considered that?


    The door creaked, and my head fell to the side. Ersel creeped in.


    ¡°You don¡¯t sleep right? Mind if I have the bed?¡±


    I shrugged and leapt off the ¡®bed¡¯. ¡°What happened to your room?¡±


    She shivered, ¡°When I got there I found Bilal waiting on the bed. I would have stabbed him there if he hadn¡¯t paid for the rooms.¡±


    That was odd. How did Bilal get there before her? Last I saw he left after we did. Staying down to pay for the rooms.


    I leaned on the floor as Ersel took the bed. I store at the ceiling once more. Something bothered me, ¡°Ersel.¡± I started, ¡°Why are you afraid of the red scarves?¡±


    Minutes passed as she refused to answer the question, then a sigh, ¡°I told you how I don¡¯t trust strangers. There¡¯s a reason for that.¡±


    ¡°Apart from witches?¡±


    ¡°Aye.¡± She turned in her bed, ¡°I trusted strangers, even made friends of them and they betrayed me.¡±


    She turned again ¡°Back when I was an apprentice, I sailed off with my master. We traveled to the libraries of Zet, even to the archives of Gerrishold. At first I was homesick, and somewhat seasick. That changed when we arrived in the Zet islands. I had never seen anything like it. The cherry blossoms, the great statues of priests towering above us as we floated by. I never forgot that moment, I could still feel the mist gather on my skin, that feeling of untold knowledge just lying ahead. I realized then that it was no ordinary apprenticeship. It was the adventure of a lifetime and I loved every moment of it.


    Same with my master, though he was impossible to follow. Always speaking in riddles and rhymes. He was a noble like me but he did not act it, nor did he show it wearing what he did. I thought I¡¯d quit my apprenticeship as soon as we landed, but I decided against it. It¡¯s a long story.¡± She said finally.


    ¡°This master of yours. Where is he now?¡± I asked.


    She was silent for several seconds. ¡°Dead. The Blood scarves killed him.¡±


    I eyed her where she lay, a solemn figure, one who hid much more than she showed. Bilal knew that the moment he met her, yet I did not. I had ignored the unseen and for that I had underestimated this imp.


    She turned to face me, ¡°They¡¯re everywhere you know. Could be a beggar on a street or a mail courier or even a close friend.¡±


    ¡°A close friend?¡±


    ¡°As I said, a long story.¡±


    ¡°A story must be told, whether long whether short. It is why they exist¡± I said at last.


    ¡°You¡¯re actually interested?¡± she perked.


    ¡°Call it a conflict of interests.¡± I eyed the fireplace then the closed window. ¡°For now sleep. Unlike me, you need it.¡±


    She nodded, turning in her bed one last time.


    I realized soon after how isolated this place was. I needed fresh air. I needed something to do.


    Quietly I left the room, left down the stairs and made my way out the main entrance. Careful to pull my cloak over my wooden skull. Thankfully the bar had quieted, only the late drinkers remained, often alone.


    I breathed deeply once I was outside. Fresh. Without a second thought my eyes met the sky. It was a sea of violet and ebony. Stars as bright as embers scattered all along it. Dancing almost. Swirling.


    I leaned against the bar. Eying the cloudless sky. Thinking of what lay beyond the morrow.


    What did lay ahead of me? For the second time today I began to smile. Grinning as it did, perhaps this wooden head of mine knew the answer before I did. A ship, a world, and a hundred stories.

 Chapter 12, A kings market

    Dawn met the marketplace in a splay of bright lights and people. People most of which expected nothing more than another average day in the capitol. The quiet morning, the hustle of noon and another day awaiting to be born, when the streets emptied and the taverns filled. Though what they got was not average at all.


    The trot of hooves met the chatter of town folk. Most people if not all stopped to glare at the encroaching carriage, a royal carriage. A carriage with an emerald cover and gold filigrees. Though the day was sunny, the faces of those who the carriage were not bright at all. They still cleared the way for the carriage, as was expected, but their heavy eyes all but spoke for them. They were angry, upset and on the brink of uproar.


    Menska rested on his elbow, viewing his citizens from the comfort of his carriage. Their unhappiness struck him harder.


    The prince closed his eyes as the cart pushed further, ¡°Is there no other way?¡± He said to another in his carriage.


    ¡°No not at all. Unless you desire the worst.¡±


    Menska sighed glancing at his companion. ¡°Jester, I know you mean well, but sometimes your advice lacks options.¡±


    ¡°My prince. I am not an adviser, though if I were I¡¯d advise you that you have no options. We have already shown great respect by visiting the princess upon arrival. Lest you ruin that by rejecting her then.¡± The jester then reached in his pocket and withdrew a coin. With a ring of his hat bells, he flipped the coin and caught it. ¡°As a jester however, I say you have two options.¡±


    ¡°What say you?¡±


    The jester pouted, ¡°Marry the princess, kill her and blame it on her steward. Or kill the princess, marry her, and say the steward made you do it.¡±


    ¡°Surely you jest.¡± Laughed the prince.


    ¡°I am a jester, that is all I do.¡±


    The carriage swung forward and came to a halt. The silence of the marketplace was soon replaced by the screaming of gulls.


    ¡°We¡¯re here.¡± yawned the jester. With the jingle of bells he awkwardly stretched past the prince, opening the side door a moment later.


    Menska shielded his eyes against the light and the jester pranced past him to open the gate.


    He bowed as he held the door open. ¡°Bless the ground with your royal feet, oh prince without coins.¡±


    Menska made his way past the jester, ¡°Jester, they do not need to know that.¡± He warned.


    ¡°And yet they already do.¡±


    Menska shook his head and surveyed the ship. A galleon which appeared to block out the sun. A majestic prow with robust sails. Gold lining along its dark wood hull. A masterpiece in the eyes of any shipwright. A ship no doubt from Ilivari nobility.


    Menska stepped past the growing crowd of fisherman, his gaze fixated on what was ahead of him. He knew the basics. How to greet consorts, the manners, the formalities. This was a special consort. To establish ties between the Ilivari empire and his own would be monumental. Not only would it save his treasuries it would also raise his reputation.


    Menska passed fisherman by fisherman. Each man aware of their own formalities, holding hats if they had one against their chests. Heads bowed low.


    Menska glanced at them when he could. Sparing only quick glances for he knew what expressions those bowed heads held. At one point the line of fishermen diminished and gaps appeared between their ranks. Menska eyed one opening. Another ship just beyond the horizon. He considered it. Slick, Ilivari, sails rolled. Wind brushed past the prince and the waves crashed below him.


    He passed another fisherman then another gap. He saw the ship once more. Black sails unfurled. Menska froze. Blinking once, the ship was gone. He shook his head.


    ¡°My prince?¡± Jingled the jester, ¡°What is the matter?¡±


    ¡°Nothing.¡± The prince kept his eyes on the sea, ¡°I thought I saw a ship with black sails. Just before the horizon.¡±Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    ¡°Pirates.¡± Hushed a voice among the crowd.


    The prince tried to match a face with that voice and realized he was not the only one staring at the sea. All around him people searched, curious by the notion of such an oddity. A pirate ship this close to Ilivari royalty was unheard of. It was well known that the Ilivari owned the seas, even proximity to their royal ships meant inspection and immediate sentence. Often execution.


    ¡°You must be nervous my Prince, seeing ghosts I imagine.¡± Started the jester, ¡°Come, the princess awaits.¡±


    Menska store at the sea a little longer. It was not his imagination, not a ghost nor a mirage. What he saw was a phantom ship, one he heard of many times before. A ship as fast as the seven winds. One of legend and impossible odds.


    He shook his head and continued walking. The many fishermen still searching the sea. A little further ahead he saw the plank of the royal ship. A tall figure crept out and next to it a woman. The tall figure seemed to be man or a woman. It was hard to tell. Regardless the princess looked short in comparison to it and had curled black hair, but so much so that it covered her face.


    He walked a little closer, his steps hollow thumps against the planks. His colors of white, gold and green, a strange intrusion into the collection of red and gold which awaited him.  A line of Ilivari guardsmen saluted and stepped to the side almost mechanically. Menska glanced at their blades as he passed them. Curved. The Ilivari were known to use curved blades.


    He thought of Ersel as he approached the princess. For some reason he felt he needed to.


    He bowed, she curtsied. Formalities. He reached for her hand, but she pulled it back. Menska gazed at her, taken aback. At first by her action then her beauty. Her hair draped over her caramel skin and swept passed a button nose. She had surprisingly light skin for an Ilivari.


    An image of Ersel quickly shot through his mind, and he returned to his senses.


    ¡°My lady¡± he started. Holding his hand out.


    ¡°Your sword.¡± She edged motioning with her head.


    Menska store on, dumbfounded. ¡°My lady?¡±


    Without warning the princess reached and unsheathed Menska¡¯s sword.


    Menska had no response, but she was quick to explain, ¡°In my country consorts greet each other with the removal of their sword. It¡¯s a customary sign that we are not enemies.¡±


    Menska blinked and glanced back at the jester. The jester met his palm and shook his head.


    ¡°Now you did come to greet me.¡± She continued, ¡°That warrants some forgiveness I suppose.¡±


    For a moment Menska forgot the formailities. Though this time on purpose. He extended his hand, ¡°It is a pleasure to meet you princess Alya.¡± The guards, the jester, even her shrouded escort seemed astounded.


    Alya laughed once and shook his hand ¡°And a pleasure to meet you as well, prince Menska.¡±


    ¡°Come let me show you the palace.¡± Motioned Menska.


    Alya nodded and followed the prince as he made his way back.


    The jester and the escort walked behind the two. With a hushed voice the jester tilted his head at the escort and whispered, ¡°This is better than the last time. Better than most times really.¡±


    The escort nodded and company continued off the docks. All the while the jester eyed the escort curiously.


    At the carriage Menska gestured to the other carriages. ¡°Jester, you and the other royal guests may take the other carriages, I wish to be alone with the princess.¡±


    The jester nodded, but the escort stepped forward. Eyes narrowed on its broad genderless face, and it hand quick to is sword. Ayla rose her hand, ¡°It¡¯s ok¡± she said. The escort stepped back and Menska supported the princess onto the carriage, following her soon after.


    Seconds later the door close and Menska stared at the princess. He had something to say. Something he had to let her know, ¡°I love someone else.¡± He said abruptly, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, you are beautiful, but I cannot marry you.¡±


    Silence and she started to laugh, ¡°So the rumors are true!¡±


    ¡°That I refuse to marry?¡±


    ¡°That you¡¯re an idiot!¡± she chuckled.


    Menska leaned in his seat across from Alya, ¡°I assume I had that coming.¡±


    She smiled at Menska, ¡°Do you think I wanted to marry you? All the lands in all the seas know that your pockets run dry.  With connections to my family, however, you can repay you debts. In return, you become our formal ally. Don¡¯t you see? It has nothing to do with what we want. It is a necessity for our two kingdoms to thrive.¡±


    Menska stared at her, sitting up, his face spoke for him. He did not seem convinced, ¡°An alliance with my country would not offer much. What do you really hope to gain?¡±


    Alya sighed. The wheels rattled beneath their carriage and beams of light spat through the window every so often. After seconds of silence, she spoke up, ¡°Reputation. Years ago my brother abandoned our royal heritage and set to the seas as a pirate. Of course we tried to catch him, though when we could not we tried to erase any record of him. That said he had made quite the name for himself.¡± She leaned forwards, ¡°Few countries know nothing of him. Yours is one. On top of that, marrying a family as old as yours will speak to the rest of our empire. It will remind them that we still value tradition.¡±


    ¡°You seem convinced about this.¡± Edged Menska.


    ¡°And you¡¯re not?¡± She chortled ¡°Whether you like it or not, you need this to, Golgoth.¡± She eyed the window, ¡°And you are not the only one.¡±


    Menska¡¯s eyes fell on the window, carefully studying the people as they whizzed by. It was hard to see anything outside the growing crowd. He looked harder. Past the merchant happily selling goods, past the sailor freshly home from the sea, and past the mother carrying two laughing children. Finally, he saw the back of the crowd, that was where they lurked. Vagabonds, street rats and closed stalls. Children stood in ragged clothes, while men and women fought over scraps. The homeless and destitute. He had not seen so many before.


    He fell back in his seat and his head flung back. The palace had been his sanctuary as well as his blind fold. His people had become no more than fairies, as formless as the wind.


    He kept his head held back, ¡°Do you always get what you want?¡±


    The princess laughed, ¡°Usually.¡±

 Chapter 13, Calypso

    ¡°You remind me of my sister, princess. You¡¯re just as stubborn.¡±


    Ersel narrowed her eyes at Bilal, though evidently she was still partly asleep. ¡°Did you try to seduce your sister to?¡± She lashed.


    Bilal began to chuckle. His laugh accompanied by the steady swish of rows. ¡°Ever seen the waves this early?¡± smiled Bilal.


    Ersel faced the man with drowsy eyes, ¡°Aye.¡± She replied. ¡°I may not look it, but I¡¯ve sailed the seas, back and forth ¡®cross the Zeten waves.¡±


    ¡°Noted.¡± puffed Bilal, He glanced at me. Perhaps the same question.


    I had not. ¡°Never.¡± I said as I peeked over the rowboat. For a moment I listened to the gentle cash of waves and the Turmoil caused by Bilal¡¯s rows. Light bounced off the waves in a myriad of lights. The very sunrise reflected a millions times over on the ripple of passing waves.


    It was a sea of gold and fire.


    We had left before the sun passed the horizon. Ersel seemed lethargic and impatient. Was that drunkenness or a symptom of sleeplessness? Either way humans had far too many weaknesses. How they lived this long was beyond me.


    Bilal gave us only minutes to prepare and we left the tavern without a word. We walked passed the cobblestones roads with hoods well over our heads. We arrived by the docks in a matter of minutes and took off on a nearby rowboat. I wondered if that rowboat was even Bilal¡¯s, though his aversion of the question made it apparent it was not.


    I stared back at the docks, the once grand city shrinking behind it. Buildings became miniatures of their former selves, far off palaces nothing but doll houses in the wake of distance.


    Looking back at it felt as if I saw everything, though I knew full well that I did not. Time did not amount to experience.


    ¡°Will we ever come back?¡± I asked.


    Ersel yawned, ¡°Here I thought you wanted to see the world.¡±


    Waves crashed and I settled back in my seat, ¡°Yes, but that does not mean I cannot return to where I already visited.¡±


    ¡°Then what makes you want to come back?¡± asked Ersel.


    ¡°It interests me.¡± I said firmly.


    Ersel glared at me, ¡°That¡¯s an odd matter to get interested over. It is what it is. My home. Perhaps yours. But this country¡¯s nothing special, neither is the city.¡± Her voice trailed off to another yawn and she slouched against the boat. I cocked my head at her. How she could lie so calmly astounded me. Perhaps she was accustomed to mystic caverns and outlandish treasures. ¡°Though not everything is as it appears.¡±


    Indeed, there was more to it than what appeared. Policies, people, and hidden dungeons. In fact, I store at Bilal, I had another question. ¡°Pirate.¡± I started, ¡°You said you were caught smuggling. The strange human said you carried ¡®denizens of non-humans descent¡¯. Why exactly were you caught for that? What do they do to the denizens of non-human descent?¡±


    Ersel shot up, shaking the boat a little. ¡°Is that true?¡± she pushed.


    Bilal waited till the boat balanced, ¡°Yes.¡± He said once.


    Ersel¡¯s eyes narrowed, ¡°Are you a slave trader?¡±


    ¡°Spirits no.¡± sighed the pirate, ¡°Now would you sit down?¡±


    Hesitantly, she sat down and I eyed Bilal.


    ¡°Well?¡± said Ersel.


    He stopped rowing, ¡°The country you are from is full of racists and skivers. Know that before I begin.¡±


    Ersel snarled, ¡°Insulting my homeland was not part of the contract.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m a pirate, princess, I do not follow contracts. What we have here is merely honor among thieves.¡± He looked at me, ¡°You however, I am doing you a favor. If they knew what you were they would kill you on the spot. Were you aware of that? ¡®Denizens of non-human descent¡¯ it is their way of saying ¡®only humans allowed¡¯. Now, that would be fine, but you see this country is home to some of the rarest and most potent herbs. Herbs used to cure diseases found all over the world.¡± He puffed, his rant over as fast as it started.


    Bilal cleared his throat and started rowing, calm once more ¡°What you have here could save thousands. I only tried to save two. A Fotorya and a Tulek. I don¡¯t even know where they are now.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not why you came.¡± Said Ersel slowly.


    Bilal narrowed his eyes, his smile still on him, ¡°And why would you say that?¡±


    ¡°It is as you said,¡± hummed Ersel  ¡°we are thieves be it on the land or the sea. Gods bless your soul if you do what you do for the sake of others. But we both know that is not how it works.¡±


    Bilal sighed, ¡°I had an agreement. A simple trade. An artifact, a key you might say, for this.¡± He held up his left hand, I had not noticed before. But on it lay rings on every finger. He pointed to the first finger after his thumb, what lay there was a ring. I leaned in to observe it, a square shaped emerald a top of its gold serpent frame.


    Ersel did not need to lean to know what it was, she blinked tersely, ¡°The ring of the kingdom! How does a pirate have that?¡±


    He laughed, ¡°I have my ways.¡± He grabbed the rows and continued his trance, ¡°As you can see the trade was a hoax. A trap which took place as soon as I landed. My two friends who I had hoped to help were in on it. And I was soon captured and jailed for ¡®smuggling denizens of non-human descent.¡±


    ¡°The ring of the kingdom?¡± I asked. I had not heard of it.


    Ersel¡¯s gaze did not leave the ring, ¡°Aye, it was one of the gifts from the great Jeweler Belar, to the five great human kingdoms. Sapphire for Eolasi, Obsidian for the Ilvari Empire, Opal for Medar¡¯ Esari, Amethyst for Tor, and Emerald-¡±


    ¡°Emerald for your kingdom.¡± Finished Bilal, ¡°They were forged and held by the respective rulers as a show of friendship between their great nations. That come war with the other races, we humans would triumph. When your ¡®old¡¯ nobles deserted you. The emerald ring was taken with them. It somehow fell into the hands of the Ilivari family, and afterwards I stole it.¡±


    Ersel gripped my arm hard, I stared at her, her eyes were locked on the pirate, ¡°I knew I did not like this.¡± She spat, ¡°From the moment I met you! I knew you were going to get us killed.¡±


    ¡°Ersel-¡± I started.


    She ignored me, ¡°Pirate, do you have a death wish? Stealing from the Ilivari family is-is insane! You will never out run them! You can not even hide, and now you are headed to where they live? Bramble, let me get by.¡± She withdrew her dagger.A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.


    I cocked my head, ¡°Why? I rather not move, lest I fall into the water.¡±


    ¡°Then we jump.¡±


    ¡°Which is just as horrid. ¡° I countered, ¡°Wet cloaks are a dreadful thing.¡±


    She pulled close to me, ¡°It¡¯s better than dying¡± she sneered.


    ¡°You¡¯re wrong, princess.¡± Sighed Bilal. She shot her eyes at him, he calmly rowed, ¡°I have the means to run, but I do not need to. They cannot kill me.¡±


    Ersel narrowed her eyes. For seconds they were locked in a silent duel, Ersel¡¯s eyes as rough as the waves, Bilal¡¯s as calm as his rowing. Ersel leaned backwards, closed her eyes, and breathed deeply. ¡°If you lived this long. Then I suppose there is more to you than stupidity.¡±


    I remembered his escape back at the scaffolding, perhaps luck was more a part of it, ¡°You remind me rags.¡± I said aloud, eyes on Bilal, ¡°Have I told you about him?¡±


    Bilal shook his head, ¡°I don¡¯t believe so.¡± He slowed his rowing, then glanced from side to side, ¡°You¡¯ll have to tell me another time.¡± the air grew hazy. I peeked around the boat. Mists flooded the air without end. Soon I could see only an arm¡¯s length ahead. The mists swept over Bilal and I saw only glimpse of what he once was. Notably, his smile.


    His stifled laugh the sole company to the steady beat of rows. ¡°We¡¯re here.¡± He said quietly


    The rowing stopped. A moment later the mists blew away in a massive gust of wind. I shielded my face as did Ersel. What was that? It seemed unnatural. Though perhaps nothing compared to what I had already seen. Indeed, nothing could have surprised me.


    I lowered my arms. I was wrong.


    A lean ship towered above us. It¡¯s hull dark and majestic, hovering above us as the waves crashed in.


    ¡°Welcome aboard,¡± motioned Bilal, ¡°to my ship.¡± A rope tumbled down on his last word and as it did Bilal brought us closer to the ship.


    ¡°I insist you go first, my lady.¡± He grinned.


    Ersel leaned back in the boat as stout as a stone, ¡°I¡¯d rather not.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll go first.¡± I volunteered. Though I doubt either of them heard me, now locked in their own argument.


    ¡°Come now princess, this is merely a gesture.¡± Said Bilal.


    ¡°Aye a gesture of perversion. I know what you¡¯re really after. Gold or no gold.¡± Protested Ersel.


    I could hear Bilal laugh as I swung my hood on, ¡°If that is what you believe I will not protest it.¡±


    With my feet sturdy on the boat I grabbed the rope amongst the rabble of humans, besides the ship interested me far more than they did. One hand after the other, I hoisted myself up.


    A face popped over the hull. It store at me with pure amethyst eyes. I slowed my advance. This creature was not human. That was apparent by the lack of a nose, pitch black skin and short pointed ears. It reminded me of a bat.


    Then, another face appeared to greet me. Another non-human. Though it looked like one. One that was mossy green with lichen growing on it.  Except it had no eyes and it¡¯s hair was dreaded.


    Bilal¡¯s voice echoed past me, ¡°Oi! You two! Let our guest pass.¡±


    ¡°Aye captain.¡± Nodded the moss-man, disappearing shortly after.


    The bat-woman, or so I assumed to be a woman by the way her face was angled, hissed and clicked before speaking, ¡°Another one cap¡¯n?¡±


    ¡°Aye, but this no ordinary guest.¡± Continued Bilal. Of course not. ¡°This is Brambleburn of Starsreach. He¡¯s a friend of mine.¡±


    ¡°What of the girl?¡± Clicked the bat.


    Bilal chuckled, ¡°Ersel Miermont. Another guest who is by no means ordinary.¡±


    Suddenly my introduction seemed far less appealing.


    ¡°Pleasure.¡± scoffed the noble at the bottom.


    As I reached the top a hand clasped my arm and a new voice entered the air. ¡°You have strange skin for a human.¡±


    Oh they did not know.


    I glanced up. Yet another non-human, though this one was stranger than the others. It was shaped like a human, but it was made of many layers of what looked like parchment. More than that it had strange symbols for eyes. Symbols which glowed.  Now I had seen everything.


    ¡°My my,¡± it spoke again, ¡°what are you?¡±


    ¡°A god.¡± I said plainly.


    ¡°Not ordinary indeed.¡± Said the moss-man.


    I knew I could not see her, but I had a feeling Ersel had just rolled her eyes.


    I climbed over the top and took in the sight. Sails furled high above us, spires of wood all about. Ropes even more abundant. I had never imagined ships to look this way. If I had to describe it, it was a floating wooden jungle. I heard the tug of the rope as Bilal made his way on the ship.


    ¡°Welcome back captain.¡± Cried a voice.


    ¡°Captain!¡± Echoed two younger ones.


    ¡°What is a god doing amongst mortals?¡± pushed parchment.


    I stared at it. Which I dare say was hard, considering the strangeness that stood around me. It had the shape of a human, but it did not look like one. It was covered in a long robe, with a single scroll attached from the top of its robe to the bottom. Behind its head it had a long line of twisted scriptures, perhaps its hair.


    ¡°Good question.¡± I humored, ¡°Sometimes not even I know the answer to that.¡±


    A familiar hand fell on my shoulder, ¡°You never told me you were a god.¡± Said Bilal. I ebbed over my shoulder to stare at the human. It occurred to me then, that for the longest time I had to stare down at those around me. I glanced back at parchment. Odd for a creature made completely of paper, it towered as high as I. For once I did not have to look down upon those around me. Atleast not in the literal sense.


    Ersel finally reached the top. ¡°Don¡¯t believe a word he says.¡± She cried, ¡°And you, do not say another word.¡± Why was she pointing at me?


    Feeling the brunt of the command, I also felt the need to speak up, ¡°I hardly find that necessary. They asked and I answered. Why shouldn¡¯t I have?¡±


    Ersel stomped towards me then tiptoed to my height, ¡°For your own good.¡± She whispered.


    I glanced around, it had not occurred to me that the ship had gone quiet. More than that people stared. It reminded me of the city.


    ¡°He¡¯s a little over his head this one. Believes he¡¯s a god.¡± Echoed Ersel. Walking around me and gesturing as such. ¡°We¡¯re all a little mad in our own way.¡±


    ¡°Oh we know, princess.¡± Laughed Bilal, ¡°I¡¯m sure you will discover each of our madness¡¯s along the way. So relax!¡± He shouted, ¡°Hoist the anchor! Starboard! Set sail!¡±


    ¡°Aye Cap¡¯n!¡±  roared one voice.


    ¡°Right away Cap¡¯n!¡± bellowed another.


    From a moment of pure stillness, the people around became a tempest. Ersel and I at its midst.


    ¡°You never get used to it.¡± Chuckled parchment. ¡°Come. Walk with me.¡±


    I moved with the stranger, while Ersel stayed close behind. He stopped abruptly as two young human men rushed pas us. ¡°Always on the run those two.¡± Motioned parchment, ¡°Oh and they¡¯re not human either. Well not anymore.¡±


    I studied them as they worked the ropes, ¡°What do you mean?¡± I asked.


    Parchment continued forwards, his papery hands held behind his back, ¡°They change in the night. Awfully loud to. Were cats, you might call them. That¡¯s the Lameman¡¯s term. Up this way please.¡± He stretched one of his arms at some stairs leading to the upper echelons of the ship.


    ¡°She¡¯s a beautiful ship.¡± He continued as I reached the top, ¡°Once the jewel of the Ilvarin Empire. Now the sole possession of our crew.¡± He walked up to end of the top. The momentous sun just above the horizon. That golden sea once more ahead of us. ¡°A jewel as magnificent as the setting sun. As daring as new horizon. The Calypso. She was considered that way for one very important reason.¡±


    He waited for Ersel to reach where we were. ¡°I suggest you hold onto something.¡±


    I looked at Ersel and she looked at me.


    Parchment laughed and leaned against the railings, his arms quick to knot around the wooden pillars. ¡°My name is Black Ink. It¡¯s a pleasure to meet you.¡±


    Ersel shot a nervous face at Black Ink, ¡°What do you mean hold onto something?¡±


    Black Ink did not answer immediately, instead his symbolled eyes traced the sails up above. I followed those eyes.  Black Ink laughed, ¡°She¡¯s known for her speed.¡±


    The sails unfurled.


    We shot forwards. Or rather the sea shot backwards. It really was hard to tell. Especially since I was holding on for my life. Indeed ¡®She¡¯s known for her speed¡¯ was an understatement. Wind swept past us, endless waves surging by the hollow hull. I felt the beat of my breath calming. Gradually I no longer felt the need to hold on. I let go.


    Impossibly I stood. On an impossible ship, with an impossible crew, heading to some land at impossible speeds. I did not know what to think. Just that I could.


    Ersel stared at me as she also gained her footing, she spun to Black Ink, ¡°Is it safe now?¡±


    Black Ink laughed and walked past us, ¡°Life is dangerous, so it is never safe. Though as of this moment the ship is safe yes.¡±


    ¡°We are still moving.¡± I stuttered.


    ¡°Aye.¡± Spoke Bilal. I caught him at the corner of my eye. He was standing at the stairs. ¡°You can move, sleep, sing, whatever your heart desires.¡±


    I eyed the speeding sea, ¡°Tell stories, perhaps?¡±


    I could hear his footsteps as he approached me, ¡°What do have in mind?¡± He asked.


    I crossed my arms and rested on the railing. ¡°Something to pass the time, as well as a promise to Ersel. Tell me, how long will the trip be?¡±


    ¡°A good three days.¡± He leaned in beside me, ¡°The first half a day we will travel with the winds, As for the rest of it we travel normally.¡±


    ¡°Did you say three days!¡± echoed Ersel, ¡°The Ilivari Isles are three weeks away at best.¡±


    Bilal laughed and I saw his eyes rebound to the girl. He thrust his arms to the sides in gesture, ¡°Look around you! This is no ordinary ship.¡± He turned to me, ¡°Now Brambleburn, you were saying?¡±


    I eyed the passing winds, a turbulent stream of otherworldly features. Crystalline waters passing by at such immaculate speeds that at some points even our reflections showed. I saw my own reflection up upon the willow beast. It reminded me of the mirrored waters back in the dungeon. Perhaps they were related?


    I sighed, realizing that I had let the question simmer. ¡°This is a story about a princess. Not idle damsels nor heirs to unhappy lords. No, this is a story about a princess as rich as her stoutness and as prickled as her kingdom of thorns.¡±

 Chapter 14, The Meadow Beds o Esari

    Thorns covered the land from the forests to the towns. Perpetual night engulfed the sky, where only the moon shown above. Each nook and crevice full of nothing, but thorns. This land was the last of the great human kingdoms. Though not many call it great anymore.


    I should probably explain that. Back in its prime, the land was beautiful. An attraction for countrymen and artists alike. In ancient times it was graced by the gift of light, a country in eternal day. A country which had vast field of flowers of every kind. Rivers and meadows which flooded the land in an aura of eternal beauty. It was said that Esari, the goddess of beauty, would float down and sleep in the meadows below. ¡°


    ¡°Oh I know about her!¡± interrupted Ersel, ¡°The Goddess of beauty and light.¡±


    The waters streamed beside us, I sighed, my eyes still on the rushing stream. I was expecting her to do this.


    ¡°I am an archivist after all. The southern gods are my specialty.¡± She boasted.


    Of course they were. ¡°Then you are acquainted with this story?¡±


    ¡°Aye.¡± She leaned on the railing across from me, ¡°But they aren¡¯t.¡±


    I turned from where I rested on the railing. She was right. I had an audience. The members of the crew, most of which I had not met were patiently awaiting my story. Black Ink, the bat women, and Mossman were all there. Nine in total. Bilal laughed and put one arm on my shoulder. ¡°You best continue Brambleburn, it is not often we have a storyteller among us.¡±


    I rested my elbows against the railing now facing that audience. I suppose I had to continue and to be honest I enjoyed the attention. It reminded me of some of my earlier days.


    ¡°The country was named for that.¡± I continued, ¡° ¡®The meadow beds of Esari¡¯ or Medar¡¯Esari. It even marred the fields of Dawnry.


    Yet Medar¡¯Esari was not known for war-making, nor was it known for its prowess in goldfare. Instead it was known for art. Artists from around the world visited Medar¡¯Esari to bask in its beauty, most of which stayed to call the country home. Its ruling dynasty in turn allowed those artists to stay in return for various artworks they deemed worthy. This made the country rich even without yellow rocks- or coins as humans put them. Instead they had something similar to me. A priceless work of art or possibly the greatest gallery in existence. The portrait of Esari. A portrait which some attributed the eternal day to. Painted by an artist who had supposedly seen Esari in the meadow beds.


    Ofcourse this made the neighboring countries lustful for such treasures, and thus did the unthinkable. They waged war on Medar¡¯Esari. Pillaging towns and stealing artworks. They say some countries, jealous of Medar¡¯Esari¡¯s beauty, even burned some of the forests and meadows that grew there.


    Soon the country was ablaze. Hamlets smoldered as if coals stoked in a fire, the rivers flowed black filled with ash and soot, while the sky darkened in a haze of smoke. When those who lived escaped, they saw their country engulfed in flames, when they returned they saw that world leveled to nothing but ash. A sight no so different from fabled hells.


    The last painting ever conceived in Medar¡¯Esari was one of calamity. That night, the night most returned to their ruined home, a tumultuous storm swept across the land. To those convinced in the gods still, believed it was the god Esari shedding tears for her once beloved home. After the rain settled the sky did not. It remained a constant night. The land forever darkened.


    As for the ruling dynasty, only one remained. Not because the others died. No, they all left when the first country invaded, grabbing as many artworks as possible, including the portrait of Esari. The one who remained had merely been abandoned. Made a scape goat by her own blood. Her name was Princess Minah, why she remained astounds me. Though I suppose idiocy comes in all forms.¡±


    ¡°She was just child!¡± spouted an on-looker. I looked at the dissident. Something of a furred creature with- I was really not sure and I cared not either. All I knew was that it was somewhat spurred by my description.


    I didn¡¯t understand its point and more so I was telling a story not igniting an argument, ¡°And still an idiot.¡±


    ¡°But-¡±


    ¡°An idiot. That was not all. After the smoke settled the remaining people blamed the lost war on the young princess, perhaps greater idiots still. Some of these idiots even tried to take control of the kingdom, but failed shortly after. Further, even though the royal family had left, the royal guard had not. On top of that, royalists within the country gave Minah even more power.


    A lot of power for a young girl. Too much some would say.


    On the day of her coronation, she was expected to give a speech to her people. It was then that she walked out to the front balcony of her royal palace, Esari¡¯s Pearl. Her faithful guards stone cold rather than warming. The royalists fanatical only of her family title rather than her. They expected her to rule. A hard task for such a young creature. When she faced her people for the first time after the war. She learned a hard lesson.


    Solemn at first, the crowd kept silent as the girl struggled to creep over the balcony. That was when the first stone was thrown. Then another. And another.


    It is said Minah was hit only once before she ducked for cover. Though that one time had left her blind in one eye. Such was the lesson of leadership. Hers was a people not won over by love nor favor. She needed another method. From that day onwards the new ruler of Medar¡¯Esari wore a glass eye in her right socket. One that was pure black.


    Minah spent two years afterwards, abandoning her people and setting out to the woods. She brought a small contingent of guards with her. Those woods over the two years grew unendingly thorny. Hostile even. When Minah returned, she came back to a kingdom in chaos. One left leaderless for far too long. Her troops quickly stormed the castle and made quick work of any usurpers. Immediately after she claimed her throne.


    Her first decree was imprisonment of all those who did not work. Anyone who objected was subsequently handicapped. The non-dominant hand severed. No-one was spared. Not man, women or child.


    Her next decree was to burn any remaining artworks in the kingdom. The old world was only a painful reminder of how far the kingdom fell. Anyone who disobeyed the order was subsequently blinded and made mute. Such an order did not just make her enemies inside her country, it made her enemies outside of it to. Patrons of the lost arts rallied in a flight of messages sent to her majesty. She ignored every one of them.


    Afterwards her decrees got even more absurd. One day one of her guards complained of the cold, and thus she decreed that anyone who complained of the cold would have their back splattered with tar and lit ablaze.


    The idiots who had once dared to oppose her learned to fear her. Within three months she had clasped her torn kingdom in grip stronger than iron.


    One day a man approached the princess. A rare event indeed since she had previously decreed any stupid questions a crime punishable by being made mute. The man, reportedly a strange one, said he was a refuge who had recently returned.


    Before she had him sent to the wilds, he shared his story. He had left the country in search of the portrait. When he thought all hope was lost he found where it was. Lost upon a ship on route to the Ilivari empire, though it would be held in Dawnry till the next shipment. He boarded twelve ships and crossed seven countries to chase it down.  Eventually, he had no way to steal the actual portrait, so he returned to Medar¡¯Esari, the only country which had any stakes in the painting.


    Minah asked why he would tell her this, and he simply said, ¡®To bring back the light.¡¯


    For the first time in years her guards saw her consider an issue. There was no cruelty in her voice when she answered ¡®No¡¯.


    The man simply smiled to her answer, bowing once before the guards dragged him away. The first chance she had to return the light to her people and she refused it. Perhaps the grievances she once had for people still numbed any empathy she had for them. Or perhaps she simply liked it.


    Of course since the country was in eternal night. Crops barely grew. Not only that, but the strange forest of thorns encroached unendingly upon human land. Destroying whatever farm land was left and only kept low just outside the capitol. Minah needed a solution.Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.


    Fortunately Minah knew how to handle her resources. You see, the forest of thorns tended to grow back in as little time as the night after. So she had people and she had wood.


    Months later she began building small armies, shortly after equipping such forces with longboats for later use. These raiding parties eventually set forth and assaulted the neighboring countries. Almost every able bodied person was required to join, whether artist or soldier. Whether man or woman.


    The first few raids, though with its own slough of casualties, brought enough food for only a portion of the populace. Witness to her starved citizens, she ordered even more raids. More and more, until only the best raiders survived and the food they brought more than sufficed to feed the kingdom.


    One evening after a year of her new scheme, Minah¡¯s guards brought her one of the raiders, and along with him a small painting he had looted back in Serezin, one of the neighboring countries. It was a picture of a quiet hamlet, a small river passing through it, and what looked to be green strokes at the edge of the painting. A village and the forest. A memory of Medar¡¯Esari¡¯s past.


    For the first time since her coronation, Minah showed mercy. As the man was a raider, now a valued part of her society, she allowed him to go unharmed. As for the painting, she chose to keep it. Unbeknownst to the people of course. This was the first time Minah had truly seen her kingdom¡¯s beauty. They say that just for a moment Minah may have considered the alternative. The portrait, how life used to be. A fleeting thought, as well as a hopeful one.


    Year after year, more raids commenced and Medar¡¯Esari became infamous. Though unassailable at the same time. The forest which so damned their people proved to be their greatest defense. No army could penetrate the thorny thickets and anything smaller would be easily cut down by Minah¡¯s people.


    As the country¡¯s disrepute grew so did Minah¡¯s own private gallery, for she kept whatever arts her raiders bought back and with each stolen treasure she began to see what once was. The rushing rivers, the whistling tree tops, and the chirping meadows. A land for so long that defied the ugliness of the world. And she longed for it. With every bone in her body she craved to see that sight, not in the markings of an expert painter, but through her own eye.


    One day on the eve Noscmoot, a festival in celebration of their country¡¯s success, she snuck by herself into her dungeons. There she found the man she saw almost fourteen years ago and legend has it she was speechless when she saw him. He had not changed save what little rags he had left and what meat he had left on his bones. He was what he always had been, a young man as pale as granite with pitch black hair.


    He spoke before she could, ¡®I have expected you princess. From the day that I met you to the day that you returned. And I have counted the years. Fourteen years is it? That is nothing. Fourteen years is a grain of sand. I am the hourglass.¡¯


    Minah had never been a girl who lingered on the details, she offered freedom in return for knowledge. Where was the portrait then and where could it be now?


    The man, who was nameless, not only accepted the offer, but insisted he guide the expeditionary force. Thus it was settled, a force was sent out to collect the fabled portrait, while Minah waited upon her royal throne. One day the portrait would return to its homeland, and one day the sky would shine once more.


    That day never came for Minah. A young wizard by the name of Mathias Shindler infiltrated the hazardous forest, and with a collection of wizard companions he stormed the palace. Unforeseen until the moment he broke the cloak, he took one step towards Minah and proclaimed his ambitions. He was a patron of the arts. He was dreamer who longed to see the artworks of Medar¡¯Esari, but saddened by the knowledge of its destruction. He had only one enemy and that was Minah, the blackener, the destroyer of Dawn. Before she could defend herself. Before she could reveal the location of her secret galley the Wizard chanted his odd words and encased Minah in an eternal prison of Amber.


    His last words before the guards cut him down were ¡®Here you lie, until dawn is painted once more.¡¯


    They say Minah is trapped there to this day. Her gallery, the location known only to her, lost with her.¡±


    ¡°What about the portrait?¡± Asked bat woman.


    I stretched, ¡°No one knows. After Minah fell the, nameless man did not return. If he found the portrait it is impossible to tell where it is now.¡±


    ¡°A portrait with the capability of eternal day! Imagine what it¡¯s worth!¡± boomed Bilal.


    Gah. Humans. All they ever cared about was how much things were worth.


    ¡°Brambleburn.¡± Spoke Ersel, ¡°You told the story wrong.¡±


    The nerve, ¡°I told it, how I heard it.¡±


    ¡°Oh so they called Minah an idiot to?¡± cried the earlier on-looker.


    I did not have the words, instead I clutched my head in my hand as I spoke, ¡°How would you tell it then, Ersel?¡± I asked.


    Ersel smirked, obviously pleased with herself, ¡°First off, Minah was not the one who issued those decrees, well the last ones yes. But the initial rules, the more severe ones were issued by her council. She was only ten when she returned, she could not have ruled a kingdom that way. Other than that you forgot about the Night god.¡±


    ¡°Night god?¡± Somehow I had gotten interested.


    ¡°Folk tales of Medar¡¯Esari speak of two gods. One the goddess of nature, light and beauty named Esari. She who loved Medar¡¯Esari and blessed it with beauty beyond words, while the other god, Noscurn, god of night, magic and deformity. He who cared not for a land so perfect. When Medar¡¯Esari was ravaged, Esari left.


    That was when Noscurn adopted the land Esari deserted. He blessed it with the forest of thorns, as well as the eternal night. That said, people of Medar¡¯Esari did not think of the night as a part of nature, but rather an unnatural action Noscurn. A cloak made manifest by raw magic. That was where the portrait came in. Any art skilled enough to catch the immaculate form of Esari was said to be as potent as the goddess herself. In other words it could shred any cloak or magic.¡± She took in a deep breath as she finished her lecture.


    ¡°There¡¯s more to it than just the princess. Be aware of that.¡± She stood up and made her way to the lower level of the ship.


    For a human who did not look past the size of a wallet, she seemed to be convinced of the importance of gods. Which was odd, considering how she treated me. My eyes traced her. Strangely, I had the urge to follow her, similar to back in Starsreach. Or even at the witch¡¯s hut. This seemed also odd. I resisted that urge, after all I had to attend to my audience.


    Amoung my audience, Bat woman was the first to speak up, ¡°Well said tree, I did not enjoy the story myself, but it was nice all the same.¡±


    I lowered my brows till it made a line above my eyes. I was not amused.


    ¡°It should have had more comedy in it!¡± whispered Mossman  .It was apparent he had shouted, though even then he was as quiet as a mouse. If mice spoke? I had only seen a mouse once before.


    I looked at the strange Mossman, ¡°Comedy?¡± I asked. If he was a human I would have deemed an idiot, yet for all I knew he could have been a mastermind.


    He cocked his head, ¡°I did not laugh once. All stories should make you laugh, no?¡±


    I really could not tell whether he was angry or perplexed. His soft spoken nature made it hard to tell. Either way, he was an idiot. That much I knew. ¡°That is the way it is, it is simply a story I heard, besides I am stern god not a wily one,¡±


    The rest of the crew pressed their hands- if they had them- together and bowed their heads once. ¡°Thank you for the story.¡± They said in unison. Their combined voice a patchwork of high and low, hiss and clicks, and even a husk like sound. Creepy, is the only I could describe it.


    Slowly they left the upper deck, until only Bilal, Bat woman and myself remained on the upper level. I peeked at the rushing streams. It was slowing.


    Bilal patted me on the back, and I turned to see him heading down as well. ¡°You best get comfortable with the ship and her crew. They need me down there, but if you need anything feel free to ask.¡±


    I nodded. Bilal stopped once more at the head of the stairs, ¡°Feel free to ask anyone, but Zek, he¡¯s the brooding fellow in the back of the ship. You¡¯ll know him when you see him. That one¡¯s a giant he is.¡±


    He waved then continued down the stairs. I gazed at those stairs. The urge got stronger. It was as if I had to see Ersel. I clutched my right wrist. It twisted and gripped the air as if I were mad. I breathed deeply, and for a moment the urge dissipated.


    ¡°Oi Tree.¡± Cried the familiar voice of bat woman. I turned to her. Those pure violet eyes really struck me. Easily mistaken as gems. Perhaps mine were the same.


    ¡°You say you are a god.¡± She said walking around me, ¡°But I do not believe you, nor do I trust you¡± She kept her eyes on mine, ¡°You are someone- no something, I know nothing about. Bilal seems to trust you and for that reason I believe you deserve to know.¡± She had made a half circle around me before she stopped.


    She reached in her pockets, her outfit rather baggy for what I assumed was a woman. She pulled a piece of parchment from her coat, ¡°Take a look at this.¡± She held it out. It was a picture of Bilal. A sketch which depicted him perfectly. Or almost perfectly. His nose was rather exaggerated. There were words splattered all about the parchment. ¡°Do you understand now?¡± she said after a while.


    I cocked my head and shrugged my shoulders, ¡°I cannot read.¡±


    She seemed speechless for a second, then shook her head. She held the paper in her hands and read aloud, ¡°Wanted, Alive, Bilal, Prince of Pirates. 12,000 Irs.¡±


    With the last line read she shot forwards until she stood a breath away from me, ¡°These were disturbed in your kingdom shortly before he was captured. Now I do not know whether your sudden arrival has anything to do with it, but if you even think about-¡±


    She was too close. Extending one finger I pushed her head back with it. She stopped in mid sentence. I spoke where she left off, ¡°I do not care about ¡®Irs¡¯, or any coin for that matter. Whatever Bilal is to you, keep him that way. I have no reason to harm him.¡±


    She blinked, ¡°What of your companion?¡±


    I honestly could not say, though in the situation I chose to lie, ¡°She does not care for bounties, just the share of gold and the tomb raiding your captain has offered her.¡±


    Bat woman stepped back, waving my hand off her forehead, ¡°Then it is settled. As long as you stay true to you word I shall treat you as one of our own. Welcome Brambleburn.¡± She bowed her head. ¡°my name is Liawynn, Bilal¡¯s first mate.¡±


    I looked at her curiously, here I was on a ship with only two humans. I had been surrounded by humans all my life and now I stood next to one that was not. It had not occurred to me to ask. ¡°Would you tell me about you people?¡±


    She hummed, hissed and clicked, ¡°In time, you will learn everything.¡±


    Strange, though as I gazed into the streaming waves, I knew ¡®strange¡¯ was just the beginning.


    ¡°Then I shall tell you my story. That is if you¡¯ll listen.¡±


    Silence then she asked. I could tell she was suspicious. ¡°You¡¯re willing to reveal that to me?¡±


    ¡°If you¡¯ll listen.¡±


    She leaned besides me, ¡°I¡¯m listening.¡±

 Chapter 15, Contract

    I told Liawynn everything up till Ersel stole me. Well the shortened version, I imagined my entire life in detail would have taken well over a year to describe. I told her about stump, rags, the stick humans, even my yellow room. She laughed at times and listened intently at others, especially when I mentioned ¡®Spirit Mother¡¯.


    ¡°Just how old are you?¡± she asked after I ended the tale.


    I hunched my brows, ¡°Older than the fels, yet not as old as the Illivari empire.¡±


    ¡°That is quite ancient then. Perhaps you are a god after all.¡± She teased.


    ¡°I am a god.¡± I confirmed, ¡°It confounds me how mortals need constant proof of that.¡±


    ¡°Gods do not desire.¡± She said quietly.


    ¡°Well-¡± I cut myself short, this was a thought that had escaped me. Why did I desire what I did? Why was I so powerless, regardless of being a god?


    ¡°But perhaps you have merely fallen. Now that you walk amongst those that desire as we mortals do, you have learned to do the same.¡± Her eyes traced the passing streams. ¡°We mortals do not just desire, we fixate. We hunger for one sin or the other. Some claim greed, others lust. Just be glad your desire is a noble one.¡±


    I looked at her, ¡°To see the world you mean?¡±


    She smiled, looking back at the passing stream, ¡°Not quite. The world is not something you simply see, it is something you find.¡± She thrust her arms to both sides, ¡°This ship is my world, I live for her and her crew. So travel if you must, but remember to do more than ¡®see¡¯.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean by that?¡± I turned when she did not respond, by then she was already gone. After Liawynn left, Ersel returned to me.


    ¡°What was that then?¡± She started, ¡°You two seemed to be getting along. I know you, you don¡¯t do that.¡±


    I was appalled, but she had a point. I humored her, my arms crossed on the railing, ¡°Let us assume I did get along with Liawynn-¡±


    ¡°Liawynn?¡± She smirked leaning besides me.


    ¡°Her name.¡± I stretched, ¡°We are bound together on this ship and on this raid. Might as well ¡®get along¡¯. Don¡¯t want my arms cut off and burnt do we?¡±


    ¡°If it comes to that.¡± She puffed.


    I shot a glance at her. Was she serious? By her lack of continuation I assumed not.


    I remembered then that she had left too. ¡°Where did you go then?¡±


    She turned and mimicked me, crossing her arms and resting on the railing. ¡°Oh you know.¡± She lay her head on her arms, ¡°Getting along.¡±


    A twitch was all I could muster to that response, for its idiocy deserved no more attention. I let my stern expression fade for a moment. I glanced at her, she had fallen asleep. Amazingly her ability to stay up had faded. Somehow that urge I felt earlier had disappeared to. Now, I felt nothing tethering me as before. As if whatever chains had manifested on me had been lowered for reprise.Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.


    That urge. It was still fresh in my memory. She was asleep, and yet I felt it was the perfect time to inform her, ¡°Ersel I-¡±


    I did not know how to continue. I swallowed hard, ¡°Ersel, something strange has been happening to me. It¡¯s this feeling. At my back, see?¡±


    No movement, she had indeed fallen asleep. I sighed and pressed my eyes closed. Perhaps I would learn to live with it.


    ¡°Lift your cloak.¡± Echoed Liawynn.


    I spun to see her and Bilal studying me. Liawynn gestured at me with a nod, ¡°Lift it up.¡±


    I glimpsed at Ersel, still asleep. I was unsure, lost. I remembered the urge, then gripped my cloak.


    ¡°Come on now.¡± Pushed Bilal, ¡°If you¡¯re afraid of exposure, I assure its nothing to be ashamed of. I remember the first time this one- Ow!¡±


    Liawynn had stepped on Bilal¡¯s feet. Odd thing for a first mate to do. Regardless, I lifted the cloak.


    Bilal seemed disappointed, ¡°Heh, you¡¯re just a tree.¡±


    Liawynn, on the other hand, was fixated on something behind me.


    ¡°Do you see that, Cap¡¯n? There,¡± She pointed at my side, ¡°Brambleburn, could you turn for a moment?¡± She requested.


    I complied, even more curious.


    ¡°Spirits.¡± Hushed the captain.


    ¡°Brambleburn.¡± Asked Liawynn¡¯s voice, ¡°The way you are, the way you were in your story. Was this always your form?¡±


    Perhaps I had not mentioned what I was. Strange to think Liawynn assumed I was a tree man the entire time. I eyed Bilal, I did not particularly trust him, though I knew Liawynn meant me no harm, ¡°I was an idol before.¡± I said.


    ¡°And how did you become what you are now?¡± she continued. I spied at her, she was looking at my back with a stricken twist to her features. What had she seen? What did she know?


    ¡°I¡¯m not sure, one moment I was myself, then the next- it was white. Very white.¡± I tried to remember the details.


    ¡°It was a witch.¡± Spouted the noble.


    All eyes fell upon Ersel. Her arms were crossed, but not to rest on. Her eyes were narrowed and her teeth were clenched. She was a wolf ready to pounce, growling before the jump. I had seen such creatures hunt before, awful business.


    She spat to the side and walked between the two and me, ¡°Why do you want to know?¡± snapped the wolf.


    Liawynn edged her head once, ¡°Look at his back.¡±


    Ersel glanced at me with the corner of her eye, then all of it. She had been taken off guard by the very sight. I often yearned for a mirror, mostly to bask in my handsomeness, but now more than ever I needed it to understand what was happening.


    ¡°What did the witch do?¡± pried Bilal.


    Ersel kept looking at my back, making faces off all sorts, ¡°She- gods that mark!¡±


    ¡°tell us!¡± barked Liawynn.


    ¡°She was chanting words. Old Aragossin words I think. Then she was about to cut her hand.¡± Ersel stopped reciting the details as her eyes fell to the planks, ¡°Gods. It was a ritual and I interrupted it.¡±


    Bilal began to smile, he seemed the most curious out of all of us. He took three measured steps towards the noble, ¡°How did you interrupt it?¡± he asked.


    Ersel spun to Bilal, ¡°I was held captive. I broke out with my dagger and attacked her. We fought, then she cut my arm with her dagger, but my arm did not bleed normally. No, I remember that! The blood flew. It-it flew towards him.¡± She spun to me in a heartbeat. She ruffled her hair with one hand, ¡°My blood went into Brambleburn instead of hers. She said I was tethered. Gods how did I not realize this!?¡±


    Bilal laughed quietly. Liawynn seemed satisfied. This really was embarrassing. A god such as I left to be fooled by mere mortals? I looked to Ersel for comfort. She held her head under her hand for seconds, until finally she let go. I expected her to be in despair. No, maybe anger? That was normal for her.


    I flinched.


    She was smiling.


    ¡°Brambleburn.¡± She started, her eyes on mine, ¡°What¡¯s written on your back is a contract. It is singed into your bark in words written in my blood. I cannot read this contract, but I know full well its meaning.¡±


    ¡°How do you gather?¡± I queried.


    Her smile grew into a wicked grin, meeting the edges of her face, ¡°You¡¯re my familiar.¡±

 Chapter 16, The Red Clown

    She watched the scaffolding as the evening crowd passed by it. Her guards stood close by.


    ¡°You lied.¡± She said sternly. Alya eyed the Jester.


    The jester bowed, ¡°My lady even if he were here, you would have been too late.¡±


    ¡°So what are you saying? That you would have happily killed him even though I was promised to see him? Why did I even come here!¡± Alya¡¯s voice echoed across the streets. Her guards reached for their blades.


    Alya rose her hand, ¡°Speak Jester, what have you to say about this?¡±


    ¡°My lady,¡± he started, ¡°I am jester, I do not hold the power to decide such things. What we promised you however, was that you would see him. Dead or alive, that was never clarified.¡±


    Alya¡¯s breathed outwards, ¡°Yet you broke that promise. And now only I can keep my word. That is promised to your prince. Was this part of your plan to? Or should I say your master¡¯s?¡±


    ¡°My lady, you confuse me with someone more devious. I only wish for the wellbeing of his highness and his kingdom. Besides, whether we kept our word or not, this marriage is in your best interest.¡± He bowed again, ¡°My lady.¡±


    ¡°You are a terrible jester.¡±  She spun to her guards, ¡°Take me back to the palace. I am done here. And Jester.¡±


    She looked at the pale man, her face held the diligence of a practiced noble. Yet the Jester knew full well that she was in a bout of fury.


    ¡°If I find even the slightest evidence tying you to this deal. I will have your head.¡±


    The jester bowed, perhaps his last time. ¡°I look forward to it. Whether on this body or otherwise.¡±


    Alya did not wait another second, her leave was a spiteful one. As she left, her escort, the tall one, glanced at the Jester.


    ¡°What do you want?¡± posed the Jester.


    It said nothing, it only stared at him with silver piercing eyes.


    The Jester looked at it more. He took one step towards it, ¡°I know you.¡± He hushed.


    ¡°Leave the fool alone!¡± cried Alya, her escort nodded at its princess, turning back once to look at the Jester. A moment later it left with the princess.


    The Jester stood there, eyes glued on the hulking figure. Now he was curious and that was a dangerous thing.


    ¡°Jester.¡± echoed a voice from the alley, ¡°Come here.¡±


    Jester straddled towards the shaded figure, his bells jingling all the while.


    ¡°I see your people let Captain prince escape.¡± Sneered the Jester, ¡°I expected so much more from you. Especially as my enemy.¡±


    With a tilt of his heels, the Jester twirled and slammed his palm against a wall. The one who had called him out shook as his back met that wall.


    The Jester eyed him from top to bottom. ¡°You blood scarves tend to lurk more than you act.¡±


    A few more blood scarves stepped in from the shadows.


    The Jester spied at all of them, ¡°And you never settle for fair fights.¡± He lowered his arms and rose them well above his hat. ¡°I submit! I submit, oh fools in red clothing. What? Are you to kill me now? No worse make wear some of those awful scarves?¡±


    The Blood scarves did not make any further movements they stood as the jester continued his rant, ¡°Why do you even call yourselves ¡®the blood scarves¡¯ it is really not as threatening as you might think. Maybe ¡®Crimson Scarves¡¯ or ¡®Red Cloaks¡¯, or even ¡®Slightly Darker Variants of Pink Marauders¡¯. Ooh ¡®The Pink Marauders¡¯ I like that.¡±


    ¡°Jester,¡± Spoke the first man, ¡°we are not here to kill you. We are here to inform you.¡±


    ¡°Of what? That you failed to carry out your end of the deal? I had to call upon lord Grangovich just to hold the execution, and your target, your only target, escaped!¡±This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    The man¡¯s expression remained blank. Instead he untied the scarf around his neck and wiped his hands clean. He tossed his scarf to one of his associates.


    ¡°Do you,¡± he started, ¡°assume that your end of the deal was held to? Mind you, we risked our lives just to go after that man.¡±


    Jester looked confused, ¡°You did not find it? I was very clear, it was the tomb with the apple-¡±


    ¡°We were not expecting company.¡± Snapped the man. He circled the Jester, his figure falling and rising out of the shadows. ¡°By the time our men got to the treasure you promised, it was at least a league below the earth.¡±


    The Jester¡¯s left eye twitched and he rose his shoulders to sway the other man. ¡°A mere coincidence I assure you.¡±


    The other man laughed, ¡°So was the prince¡¯s escape. I¡¯m not a fan of coincidences, you cannot stab them. Unless of course the coincidence was that our enemy planned it all along. Now wouldn¡¯t that be nice?¡±


    Footsteps sounded before the Jester could talk, a low baritone entered with it, ¡°Gregor, leave the clown be.¡±


    ¡°Why now aren¡¯t I just the luckiest?¡± cried the Jester. He pranced from foot to foot, until a fourth blood scarf entered the light.


    He was a bulky man, with pitch white skin and a greyed flock of hair. He was dressed in a black overcoat, a single bright red scarf the only colour amongst the checkerboard figure.


    He cleared his throat and stopped before the Jester, ¡°Jester, you are a fool, but you are a clever one. If this princess does marry the prince then any hope of revolution is lost. Not to mention you tricked us into bringing it about. Though I know you Jester, what you do is what you think is best for the country.¡± He clasped the Jester by the shoulders, ¡°We are two of the same person. We share the same goal.¡±


    The Jester cocked his head, ¡°Revolution is not my goal.¡±


    ¡°Revolution is not a goal, it is a means. But now I see another way.¡± The large man closed his eyes, ¡°All we need is the money and we will leave this kingdom be.¡±


    ¡°Oh?¡± questioned the Jester.


    ¡°Look around you.¡± The man opened his dark age worn eyes ¡°The people are poor, they are starving, they are angry! They suffer not because of their own folly, but because of your fool-hearted king, nay the monarchy! The people do not have a choice! With the money, my followers and I can create a new society outside of this land! Can you see the beauty of it, a portrait of free-will! All we need is one third of the treasury.¡±


    ¡°What of the families of those you killed?¡±


    ¡°Necessary victims, those lost under the monarchy. In my new order murder will not even exist!¡±


    The Jester stood still as the man huffed ahead of him, ¡°So you want me to undermine my king and give you what money you need? All for a promise that you and your fanatics will leave?¡±


    The preacher grinned, ¡°I know you do not believe me, but plea-¡±


    ¡°I trust you Ivan, though the rest of your Scarves I would not so easily see leaving.¡± The Jester scanned the other three men.


    ¡°To address me by my first name, you are quite rash.¡± Said Ivan at last


    ¡°Call it a talent.¡± The Jester sighed, stuffing his hands in his oversized pockets, ¡°I would really love to talk, though I do not have the time. That said, I must warn you. While those easterners are here, you best keep your kind in check. As for your offer.¡± He turned, staring at the sky, ¡°I will consider it.¡±


    --


    The princess was well on her to the palace, walking her company of guards when a ragged looking approached man her.


    The guards drew their blades and once again the princess stopped them, ¡°Hold.¡± She said, raising her hand.


    Alya studied the man from top to bottom, he was old, dirty and smelled of dried fish.


    ¡°You¡¯re an easterner aren¡¯t ye? I saw the bounty on the eastern prince, I be here to claim the money.¡±


    Alya was speechless for all but a second, ¡°You know where he is?¡±


    ¡°I do not hold him, but I have seen him. I could tell ye, but it will cost ye.¡± The strange man smiled, revealing a smile missing two front teeth.


    Alya reached in her sleeve and withdrew one golden coin, she tossed it to the man who rose both hands to catch it. ¡°That is one half of the reward, the other is for telling me what you know.¡±


    The man glared at the coin, smiling incessantly. One of the guards stomped the ground to remove the man from his fantasy, the man shook his head almost embarrassed, ¡°Yes, yes of course. I saw prince leave on a boat east with a short brown haired lass, and another man. Strange that one, tall to. I swear I saw branch sticking out of him! From where I saw the man, he looked like a tree. Though ah¡± he started rubbing the back of his head, ¡°he could have been woodsmen.¡±


    Alya considered whether the man was lying, in all honesty, Bilal heading east did seem like him. It was not much information, but at least it meant her brother had left this spirit forsaken country.


    She reached for her other coin.


    ¡°Oi miss!¡± cried a women¡¯s voice.


    The ragged man shot back, ¡°Not now Hilda!¡± He snapped to Alya, ¡°I told ye what ya need to know, now give me the reward!¡±


    ¡°Not your reward old man.¡± The women looked to Alya, ¡°I saw those three, last night I did- at the bar. I am a bar maiden. You listen closely to strangers in my line of business. You never know what they can reveal once they down a drink or two.¡±


    Alya held her coin, ¡°What did you hear?¡±


    ¡°The man, the man from the poster, he said he was headed for the tomb of Arami.¡±


    Now Alya could only grit her teeth, she never understood why her brother chose to steal as he did, and now from one of their own family? She let out a breath of frustration. At once tossing two coins to the woman who informed her.


    ¡°Thank you.¡± Said Alya as the woman jumped for the coins, ¡°Hafiz, send a message to Admiral Almas, tell him Bilal is headed home, most likely through Arami¡¯s Cane. If I know my brother, he is stupid enough to take the direct route.¡±


    ¡°I will at once, princess,¡± bowed Hafiz.


    Alya let her head fall back, as she breathed in once more, a single thought filled her head. A question she asked Bilal on countless occasions since he ran away. A question he never answered. Why?

 Chapter 17, Familiar

    How could they stare at me this way? Their arms crossed, their smiles about them. Smug could not begin to describe these ignorant fools.


    ¡°Bramble! Bramble!¡±


    I shook my head and reality snapped back to. Ersel had been calling me.


    ¡°Bramble, do you know what a familiar is?¡± she teased. I did, but I did not want to believe it.


    ¡°I am no familiar! I am a god!¡± I declared.


    ¡°You are no god, Brambleburn.¡± Reposted Black Ink. I looked for him, quickly spotting him a top the crow¡¯s nest. It seemed he had overheard. ¡°You are a familiar, a spirit summoned or transformed by the caster, to a new form or realm, thus locked into servitude until said otherwise. It¡¯s written in Manizarc Magoi¡¯s Methods of Magic and Wizardry.¡±


    ¡°Oh then it is simple then.¡± I declared further, ¡°Ersel, free me of my bonds.¡±


    Ersel stuffed back a laugh. I could not comprehend her sense of humor. Especially to such a travesty. ¡°Bramble, I do not know how. Even if I did.¡± Her smile faded, ¡°I do not know whether you would leave if I did.¡±


    ¡°First of all, I am a god.¡± I started.


    ¡°Not really.¡± Shouted Black Ink.


    I ignored him, ¡°As a god, I am bound by my promises. I will not leave you Ersel, you have yet to show me the world. ¡±You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.


    ¡°You do not even know how large it is!¡± snapped Ersel.


    Bilal laughed, ¡°Not even I know that!¡±


    Ersel and I both store at the captain.


    ¡°This world of ours is grander than any of us could imagine. The frozen waters to the far north, the eastern lands treacherous to even consider, then the holy land.¡± Bilal shook his head, ¡°Even if you dreamed of traveling the world, the Holy land would be impossible to get to.¡±


    A world which was impossible to see? A world, perhaps, too big for me. No, I could not accept that. I wanted to see more, at least what I could. Then maybe then I would see the rest of it.


    ¡°That is fine.¡± I said at last, ¡°Still, Ersel release me!¡±


    ¡°I told you,¡± she screamed, ¡°I do not know how!¡±


    Black Ink¡¯s voice resounded from the nest, ¡°You need the instrument which channeled the blood. Otherwise the bond holds until the blood host is killed.¡±


    Suddenly the prospect of freedom did not seem far off. Humans did not live long, especially Ersel considering how reckless she was.


    ¡°That said.¡± Continued Black Ink, ¡°Formed Familiars are known to revert once that happens.¡±


    Revert. No no no! I could not ¡®revert¡¯. To spend even a mere century ¡®reverted¡¯ would be horrible after this. Absolutely dreadful.


    ¡°Then we must find that dagger!¡± I proclaimed, slamming my curled fist against my open palm.


    ¡°Oi, not so fast familiar.¡± Edged Ersel. She pinned one finger against my chest, ¡°We do this raid first. We have obligations, and I need my money.¡±


    Somehow this trip became an impossible task there and then. It was no longer a mere raid, whatever a raid was, it was now my mission to keep a suicidal human alive long enough to procure my own wellbeing. How had I fallen so far?


    ¡°Very well.¡± I sighed, ¡°To both our futures.¡±


    ¡°Cap¡¯n.¡± cried one of the crew. ¡°It¡¯s time.¡±


    Bilal nodded once and then turned to the rest of his men, ¡°Prepare to slow!¡± he shouted.


    ¡°Prepare to slow!¡± echoed the closest crewmen.


    Before long, the crew was a tempest once more. I put on my cloak. My eyes darted to the front of the prow and my feet followed soon after.

 Chapter 18, The Prince among pirates

    ¡°Serah! Merah! Raise the sails! Black Ink to the prow!¡± Bilal¡¯s orders echoed across the ship. Even to where I stood atop the top half of the prow.  I glanced over my shoulder to see Ersel approaching me. Her eyes were wide upon what lay ahead of me. I had simply gotten bored of it.


    Ersel reached the space beside me and I returned my gaze to what lay ahead.


    The boat had slowed once more, and as if we had traveled back in time, dawn had returned to us. Only now, we were on the open sea. Nothing, but the sky above our heads and the waves beneath the hull. Crashing from all sides.


    Ersel swallowed hard, ¡°There¡¯s no going back now, huh?¡±


    I adopted her overused phrase, ¡°Aye.¡±


    Bilal¡¯s steps sounded behind us, ¡°Behold the sight of the sea! The taste of salt and the sway of waves. Ah, I live for this!¡± He stepped beside me, standing on the other side of Ersel, ¡°Unfortunately we entered a clam channel. Lest we get a good gale by the evening, we¡¯ll be stuck here for the night.¡±


    The captain looked over his shoulder and cried out once more, ¡°Black Ink, where we be?¡±


    ¡°Forty leagues from Daemon¡¯s Isle Cap¡¯n. If we stop there, it¡¯ll take about two days.¡±


    ¡°No stops,¡± replied Bilal without looking back, ¡°we go forward.¡±


    ¡°Aye Cap¡¯n.¡±


    It did not matter to me whether we stopped or not, though I imagined mortals needed that sort of thing. Food, was it? Whatever Bilal was planning it was either to his folly or experience. His crew seemed to follow him to the letter, so perhaps he had a little more than a bounty to his name.


    Then I remembered that name, specifically what his bounty had read, ¡®Bilal, Prince of Pirates¡¯.


    I looked at the strange man, thinking not only of him, but of the many questions I¡¯d yet had. ¡°You¡¯re a prince?¡±


    He laughed as he met my gaze. ¡°Now where did you hear that?¡±


    Ersel pushed past me, seemingly surprised. Oh right, she did not know. Her voice confirmed her surprise, ¡°Is it true?¡±


    Bilal leaned his back against the railing, ¡°What it is, is a long story, and my own story at that. I am not much of a story teller.¡± He looked down, ¡°If you¡¯ll excuse me, I have some tasks I need to attend to.¡±


    When he left, I expected that to be the end of it, though that was before Liawynn leaned besides me.


    She hissed as she eyed the departing Bilal, ¡°I do not understand why he is so afraid to tell his story. It is quite an interesting one.¡±Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    ¡°What is it then?¡± shot Ersel.


    I must admit, I was rather curious as well. Bilal, despite his open nature, left almost everything to the imagination.


    Liawynn¡¯s eyes shifted to the sky. She store at it for impossible seconds. Thinking perhaps. She licked her lips, ¡°I will not bore you of my life before I met him, but I will tell when that miserable life first saw light. I met on him on a slave ship.¡±


    ¡°A prince then a slave?¡± I asked.


    ¡°He wasn¡¯t the slave.¡± She laughed, ¡°I was in one of cages beneath the decks. I heard it all from there, just below a small split in the planks. The shouts of my captors as they ran amuck above me. The steps of new men as they jumped on the planks. The clash of steel.


    It was as if a storm had brewed above us. Our fate unknown to us. Most of us had already broken. For all we knew we may have traded our old masters for new ones. I did not want to find out. As the men above us fought, I carefully picked the locks, I knew this was my chance. I turned to my fellow slaves asked if any would join me.¡± Liawynn shook her head, ¡°I wish some had. They were already lost when I left.


    I ran up the stairs, I had a plan you see. I would steal a sword and kill one of my captors. Perhaps then the attackers would take mercy on me, see me as something other than a slave. Though right before I reached the top, the battle, that storm of blades went silent.


    It took me one more step to find out what happened. Even then I did not believe what I saw. The crew, even the boarding party, all were kneeling towards a single man in the middle of the deck. A man who had a cut across his shirt which revealed his right shoulder.


    He store at me as I was the only one standing.¡± She smiled, clicking once, ¡°I would have kneeled too if I had got gotten there sooner. What stood before me was a prince. A prince named Bilal, and he had the lion¡¯s tooth on his shoulder. The birth mark of Ilvari royalty.¡±


    The word ¡®Ilvari¡¯, I had heard that time and time again. Notably it was an empire which was older than even I.


    Liawynn sighed hard, ¡°I had never believed the extent of that family¡¯s power until then. To stop an entire battle with just their presence. To drive fear into the minds of pirates and slave traders alike. His name afforded more power than I had ever known. And to think he abandoned it, a man born second eldest to the Ilivari Dynasty!¡± She continued.


    I cocked my head. Why did that matter?


    ¡°G-gods.¡± Stuttered Ersel. I rose a brow at her. Odd. Her eyes were wider than I had seen before, her expression a sudden mess. This from a girl who had insulted a god without a second thought.


    ¡°Why did he become a pirate then? Why did he abandon such power?¡± pestered Ersel. Though her curiosity was warranted.


    ¡°Simple,¡± answered Liawynn ¡°He hated his country and what it became. He wanted to rid himself of any ties to it, but his first attempt only brought him back. So later on he removed those ties permanently. As for how we are where we are¡± Liawynn stood up, and her white bangs tossed with her ¡°He left the ship after the assault. He knew no-one would attack him. Attacking one of the Ilivari dynasty was suicide. But before he left, he asked me to come with him. I told him about the others before I even thought of escaping, but he merely said, ¡®I can only take one¡¯. The rest was history. We sailed back to his homeland, stole the Calypso, and started a crew of our own.¡±


    She store at us, laughing once more ¡°Do you know how hard it is sailing back to land for three days on a rowboat? Anyways Bilal had a title after that. ¡®The Prince among Pirates¡¯ they called him. Though lately even that name has changed.¡±


    Liawynn stretched her arms, yawning once.


    ¡°What do they call him now?¡± asked Ersel.


    The answer was delayed by yet another call, ¡°Liawynn!¡± Shouted Mossman from below, ¡°We need you down here!¡±


    ¡°Aye, I¡¯ll be there.¡± Liawynn leapt from her position and made for the stairs. Before she got there, she stopped and glanced over her shoulder, ¡°The Prince of Pirates.¡±

 Chapter 19, Two Cats and a Gardener

    We had barely moved come dusk and by then an afternoon fog had rolled in. I spied passed the dense air, it was not the fog that interested me.


    I store at them, the supposed ¡®were cats¡¯. In all my years as an idol I had never once heard of them.


    The two I stared at, Serah and Merah, were just humans by the looks of it. Shaggy albeit, humans nonetheless. As of that moment they seemed to be engaged in some game. One running and climbing, the other in hot pursuit.


    Black Ink had said they transform at night.


    I peeked over my shoulder, shielding my eyes instinctively. The daring rays of the sun cut through even the fog, blinding anyone who looked its way with the shades of rust. Just beyond its reach on the other side of the sky was another celestial giant, another light which pierced the mask of mist. It was the shattered moon. It seemed faded in the orange sky, though I imagined not for long.


    ¡°I see you bear the fruits of curiosity, allow my company while you pluck them off.¡± Black Ink had a habit of saying odd things.


    I rose a brow, ¡°How are these humans anything other than human? I have studied them for at least an hour and I am beginning to doubt you. Wonder how that plays for any future lines you play on me?¡±


    ¡°Keep watching tree walker, as the Night paints the world in shadows, so to do their hides. Just because you see it not now, does not mean it is not there.¡±


    I looked at the strange paper man, ¡°I do not understand a word you say.¡±


    ¡°Just look.¡±


    I returned my eyes back to the ¡®were-cats¡¯, they were climbing the masts with both agility and speed. In seconds they were upon the nest. They were still after that. Petrified almost.


    I waited as they did. Scanning the horizon until the last light faded. Instantly something felt different, from what little I could see, I could tell that they were stirring.


    ¡°Ah, this is it.¡± Hummed Black Ink.


    I squinted. The Crow¡¯s nest now directly in front of the shattered moon flickered. Then two slick figures crept up from it. They were tall, very tall.


    I found that I could not stop watching. They mystified me. I wanted to see more. The two figures stood to their full height and in the full light of the moon they let all see their second forms. I watched as they fell on all fours, grappling the mast with their outstretched claws.


    Black Ink pushed my back, ¡°Go Treewalker, see them for yourself.¡±


    I stumbled, with a quick glance at Black Ink, I continued. Despite myself, I rushed down the stairs. Then I saw the two cats towering above the lighted cabin


    No. They saw me first.


    Their verdant eyes bounced about me. I stopped moving, my gaze fixated. My breathing quickened. Beating and beating till only thumps pressed against my ear.


    ¡°Look Merah, the tree god is shorter than me!¡± hissed the first creature


    ¡°Serah, height is trivial. Though I am the tallest.¡± retorted the other.


    I backed up unwittingly. What was it about these creatures? What forces did their very presence employ? I staggered back when I saw them close. Their approach was quick, an unforeseen blitz.


    One of them leaned towards me. ¡°Oh? Do we frighten you?¡± it started chuckling.


    I swallowed hard and focussed on these creatures. They were slick beast men, very tall with the fur of a panther. Their muzzles were much longer than what I expected of cat men, it almost reminded me of a wolf. The more I stared at them the more the world shrank. Their eyes seemed trapped in a perpetual glare, two of their back teeth sharp and protruding out from their mouths.


    ¡°Serah.¡± Said Merah as he circled around me, ¡°Ever wonder how gods taste? Will it be sweet as the nectars of heaven? Or bitter as the blood of a tainted dove? I wonder.¡±


    The other, Serah, leaned in closer, ¡°I¡¯d say a minty pine flavor.¡± He sniffed brashly at me, ¡°Maybe a hint of cedar.¡±


    I had to defend myself. I felt my hand curl into a fist.


    ¡°Cat men? Black Ink speaks true.¡± Ersel¡¯s voice was a comfort to hear.


    ¡°Who is that?¡± asked Merah.


    Serah snarled, looking away from me, ¡°The girl, the noble remember?¡±


    Merah approached Ersel while his head tossed from side to side, ¡°I tend not to remember when I¡¯m hungry. So hungry.¡±


    His teeth flashed in the moonlight and Ersel gripped her dagger.


    Then they lunged. At first I thought it was to Ersel, that was the logical conclusion. Instead they leapt past her, now feasting on a slab of meat on the deck.


    One of the earlier crew members walked towards us. Perhaps the only one I had not talked to. Not that it was anything to have missed. My expectation of the crew had quite plummeted after my first encounter.


    It rubbed its hands together then cleaned it off the ends of its shirt.


    ¡°Don¡¯t mind them.¡± It said with a peculiar accent, ¡°They get arrogant when their hungry.¡±


    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t call that arrogance, isdamari. I would call that aggravation.¡± Spouted the noble.


    I considered the creature, ¡°Isdamari? Is that your name?¡± I asked.


    It¡¯s black and yellow cheeks suddenly brimmed with green and it glanced at the floor.


    ¡°No Bramble.¡± Waved Ersel, ¡°It¡¯s her race, this is Salis. She¡¯s the cook of the Calypso.¡±The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.


    ¡°Oh.¡± I rose one brow, ¡°Then you are of no use to me, Salis cook of the Calypso.¡±


    ¡°Bramble!¡±


    ¡°No it¡¯s alright.¡± Salis looked up at me with her blindfolded eyes. How did she even cook like that? It made me question her cooking methods. Not that it mattered to me.


    The cook continued, ¡°He told a good story, I am grateful for that.¡±


    ¡°Well,¡± I confided, ¡°you did remove those awful cats from my presence.¡± I quickly glanced at the cat-folk. Not that I was nervous. A god such as I, nervous? Preposterous.


    I jumped as I heard Merah growl, then two laughs of which both I was familiar. One laugh was Ersel¡¯s, evidently mocking me, the other was Black Ink¡¯s. His subsequent steps foretelling of his descent.


    ¡°You seem quite threatened, Tree walker.¡± Echoed Black Ink. ¡°I thought you would get along, they are strangers to nature just as you. They, like you, are something else.¡±


    ¡°Is it true then?¡± perked Salis, ¡°You¡¯re made from magic?¡±


    Magic. I had not considered the subject and in truth I did not know much about it.


    ¡°I suppose so yes.¡± I settled.


    Slowly, Salis approached me. ¡°Can I see your mark then?¡± she hushed.


    I swear de-cloaking just for the amusement of mortals was debilitating even to consider. My past self would have reviled at just the thought.


    ¡°No.¡± I answered.


    ¡°Oh have a heart Bramble.¡± Pushed Ersel.


    I rose my other brow, ¡°Of course I have a heart. I do not understand the relevance.¡± I said.


    Ersel rolled her eyes and crossed her arms, ¡°As my familiar I order you to take off that cloak.¡±


    I mirrored her, crossing my own arms, ¡°I do not bow down to you. I-I¡± I huffed. Somehow the air had gotten very very hot. I could even feel sap rolling down my arms. Then the sting of humid air. I shuddered.


    Ersel kept her arms crossed, her face smug. Black Ink glared on, studying more than watching. As for Salis, she was holding her hands to her mouth which had now formed an O shape.


    I could not handle it anymore, I thought I would burn. Reluctantly, I pulled the cloak off. It was cool once more. Magic, if that was anything, it was magic and I would surely not forget it. I glared at Ersel as Salis shuffled behind me.


    I flinched as I fealt her rubber like fingers cold against my back. The audacity! It was a small shock compared to the extreme heat I had felt. I frowned at Ersel, I had her to thank for that.


    ¡°Wow. Just wow. This is incredible! This is magic!¡± she stopped her incessant touching to spy at Ersel, ¡°Teach me some magic, he is your familiar.¡±


    Ersel shook her head, ¡°I¡¯m sorry Salis, I cannot do that. A witch made him my familiar, not me. Why not ask Black Ink. He seems well read on the subject.¡±


    Black Ink hummed at the subject, positively brimming to have been brought into it, ¡°How keen of you, starchild. Though you are correct and incorrect at the same time. I am well read, but I cannot preform magic. Atleast not the magic young Salis desires.¡±


    Salis bit her lip, ¡°It¡¯s ok. I just thought- well because you are stranger that maybe.¡± Her voice trailed off, seemingly distant before she caught herself ¡°As for now.¡± She turned back to me, ¡°Thank you once more Bramble burn. If only I could make it up to you¡± Again she perked up, ¡°I know! Come with me!¡±


    I really did not want to, but it seemed Salis was intending to give me a gift. I liked gifts. As long as such gifts did not include severed animal parts.


    ¡°Alright.¡± I shrugged, staring at the small creature. She was a little taller than Ersel, but from the way she talked she seemed shorter. She ran ahead of me and I followed at my own pace. Little creatures had too much energy.


    Black chuckled behind me as we walked.


    ¡°What?¡± I asked him.


    ¡°Nothing, nothing. She seems to look up to you.¡± He noted


    ¡°Well yes I am taller.¡±


    ¡°Not that tree walker, as a role model.¡± explained Black Ink


    ¡°I suppose gods are the highest standards of role models.¡± I replied.


    Black Ink cleared his throat, ¡°you are not-¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not that.¡± Interrupted Ersel, ¡°you are as dull as the wood you are made from if you do not see it.¡±


    See what? Sometimes I thought Ersel said the most incomprehensible of things. Words which lay barren until, well they had meaning. I glanced at the small noble as we walked. What did I not see?


    ¡°Here, here!¡± shouted Salis. She had been holding the cabin door.


    I stopped at the door way, my head bowed low.


    Inside, I found the entire crew, save the cat-folk, either seated around a simple table or leaning against the walls. Liawynn was talking to Mossman by the wall. Bilal eating at the edge of the table, next to him the creature that had so brashly interrupted me before.


    Cups full of red drink clambered and spanned the table, while plates of bread and meats filled the gaps. I heard a clank as I entered in.


    ¡°To Brambleburn!¡± shouted Bilal.


    ¡°To Brambleburn!¡± echoed Mossman and Liawynn.


    Salis tugged at my cloak. ¡°They do this all the time.¡± She ensured me, ¡°Toasting to anything and everything.¡±


    A sluggish Bilal swung his cup in the air, the swish of wine escaping its grail. He slurred loudly, ¡°Salis, you¡¯ve made a fine dish tonight. Let me toast to your honor! To Salis!¡±


    ¡°To Salis!¡± shouted the other three.


    ¡°To Salis.¡± Echoed a low voice from the back. I followed the sound of that voice and caught a most particular sight.


    A large hulking creature leaned against a corner. It was a wonder to why I had not noticed it. It wore a cloak just as I did, hiding its form almost entirely.


    ¡°This way Brambleburn.¡± Salis motioned me to the table, ¡°sit.¡± She issued.


    I sat when I saw Ersel do the same, though that in itself was not enough to convince me to stay. Drunk humans were not very good company. To think how worse the other creatures got. I did not want to know.


    As for Salis, she was gone the instant I sat down. Disappearing behind one of the three doors on the other side of the room.


    ¡°Black Ink, return to your watch.¡± Ordered Bilal.


    Black Ink bowed, ¡°Aye Cap¡¯n¡±.


    I watched the stranger in the corner as Blank Ink¡¯s steps bounced of my ears. Soon only the sound of pots and pans filled those wooden hollows. A moment later the ruckus subsided and Salis burst out of the door, carrying with her a small pouch.


    She got to me in seconds, fumbling to hand over the pouch.


    ¡°Open it.¡± She bristled.


    I looked at that pouch a little longer. I had no reason not to. A gift was a gift.


    I took the pouch from her rubbery hand and held it in my own.


    Very little possessions in this world interested me. Gold I cared not for. Food was pointless to me. Even gems lost my interest, despite their rarity.


    I opened the pouch, gazing deep into its contents.


    ¡°Huh.¡± I said aloud. In it were three seeds, each about the size of a small pebble. Seeds. Nothing but seeds.


    ¡°Do you like them?¡± asked the Isdamari.


    Ersel studied the seeds as curiously as I. I had to ask, ¡°What do they grow into?¡±


    She smiled, expecting the question. ¡°They are magic seeds, the teardrops of Esari. It is said they can grow into any tree given a name. My mama gave it to me when I was very young.¡±


    A chair rasped across the quarter floor. ¡°Salis, you do not have to do that!¡± shot the owner of the chair. I matched the voice as soon as I heard it, yet I glanced at him anyway. Bilal¡¯s face was drained of all joy. Not even a hint of his carefree self remained.


    Salis shook her head at Bilal and pressed two fingers against her blindfold. Bilal store at her a little longer before sitting down.


    ¡°It was a promise I made to her before the slavers took me a way. When Brambleburn told the story¡­ I knew he was the one to have it.¡± Said Salis.


    Another former slave. I stole a glimpse of Liawynn. I was starting to sense a pattern.


    I was about to note my discovery when the deck rumbled for a good heartbeat. Instantly, the room went quiet. As if expecting the anomaly to speak again. As if we were all afraid to interrupt it.


    Then everything shook. The table, the floor, even my head. What was that sound? The ship quivered as if the very sea quaked underneath it and the sound of a horn rattled it more.


    ¡°Stars!¡± shouted Ersel.


    The trembling seized a second later and again we were as still as the dead. Bilal stood up.


    ¡°Black Ink!¡± He roared, storming out into the mist, ¡°Back Ink! What have you?¡±


    I followed the captain, Ersel close behind, Salis close behind her.


    ¡°Go back inside, Salis.¡± Warned Liawynn, passing us all.


    ¡°Not good.¡± Echoed the paperman. ¡°that was the call of Ogrin the Bounty hunter. Remember him?¡±


    Bilal scowled under his breath. ¡°Aye.¡±


    Liawynn stood by her captain¡¯s side as the mist started to clear. I walked to the edge of the railing. Something large was on the horizon.


    ¡°Captain.¡± Said Liawynn, ¡°What are your orders?¡±


    Bilal breathed deeply, narrowed his brows, and spat to the side, ¡°Yinji, Get Salis and Moritmer to the lower decks. Everyone else with me.¡±


    He spun to Ersel and I, ¡°Can you two fight?¡±


    Ersel flipped her dagger and caught it with one hand, ¡°I can hold my own.¡±


    ¡°Brambleburn?¡± asked Bilal.


    I swallowed hard, ¡°Not unless my life is in danger.¡±


    Bilal smiled, ¡°good.¡±

 Chapter 20, The Battle

    The ship grew even larger. The impending battle was as evident as the rising moon.


    ¡°Where are your cannons?¡± roared Ersel.


    The captain shuffled towards the railings, ¡°We have none.¡± He said slowly.


    Ersel seemed infuriated, ¡°What? Are you mad? Fugitive from the largest empire this side of the holyland and not a single cannon!¡±


    ¡°Calm yourself noble.¡± Said Liawynn, ¡°This is not a warship, we do not use cannons to fight.¡±


    Ersel was not convinced, ¡°But still-¡±


    ¡°Unfurl the sails,¡± Bilal started, ¡°We use what we do have. Black Ink¡± he motioned.


    Black Ink shouted back, ¡°Cap¡¯n we cannot escape with that.¡±


    ¡°I do not intend to run. We move towards them.¡± Bilal pointed to where the ship was.


    I had a bad feeling about this. My hands clenched the railing instinctively.


    Then I spotted the two were cats working the sails. Moving between the different ropes in quick succession.


    Liawynn stood still amidst the chaos. Age lines stretched across her forehead. I had learned once that a situation could be read from the face of a single actor. I saw that now on Liawynn. I read her. A stern figure, as sturdy as the ship underneath her. Seemingly stunned with the look of someone who had everything to lose. I thought back. She did have everything to lose. This was her world. A world which stood on the edge of desolation. A world which shot forwards.


    I held tight. Ersel, as dense as she was, had not thought to hold on. She tumbled besides me and I caught her with my free hand.


    ¡°You cannot die here!¡± I shouted.


    She held my grip tighter, ¡°I d-don¡¯t intend to!¡± she managed.


    The Calypso¡¯s advance ended a second later. All sounds flooded by the creak of wood and the splash of water. My feet struggled to hold its ground, my eyes had shut, yet my ears heard everything.


    ¡°Gods, the crazy bastards! Men storm the Calypso, capture the prince! I want him alive.¡±


    Men roared, their footsteps a symphony of drums. I opened my eyes. We had crashed side to side with enemy ship. It¡¯s masts leaning towards the Calypso¡¯s.


    I flinched as a sword almost sliced through my skull. Luckily another sword had stopped it. Liawynn.


    ¡°Bilal!¡± she cried, pushing the sword back, ¡°If I see a single scratch on the ship, I swear by your spirits and mine that-¡±


    ¡°Save your threats till after the battle.¡± Bilal parried an attack then kicked the assailant the other way, ¡°I¡¯d rather die once I know my crew is safe.¡±


    Liawynn grinned, pushing her attacker with edge of a parry. I stepped backwards. I had not done anything to this effect before. Yes, I had seen it when the humans killed each other in front of me, but those humans would not dare attack me. This was different. Ersel rushed ahead of me, engaging three assailants with just her dagger.


    ¡°Ersel-¡± I started. I thought she would die then, but her skills proved true. I suppose fighting giants had that effect.


    I scanned the battle. Even Black Ink had joined in, punching his foes in some odd fashion. I realised then that we were outnumbered- vastly so, yet despite that, those who fought held their own. Ersel fought three at once, Bilal two, Liawynn four! I did not even want to consider the were-cats.


    I looked at Ersel, constantly swerving past her enemies as she fought, or Liawynn fighting constantly in a straight line pushing her enemies back with a flick of her sword. I wondered what I could do. Surely a god of war could contribute more to a battle.


    I saw one attacker split from Bilal and move towards Ersel. She did not see him. I stepped in, grabbing the man by his head. I lifted him up when the thing would not stop squirming.


    ¡°Do not touch the girl.¡± I warned, deftly evading his punches.


    ¡°I do not take orders from ye. Bilal and his pets sink to the waters. Ye be no exception.¡± With that he spat at me. I shuddered, feeling the cold spit dribble against my forehead. I held him up higher. I suppose he needed to know who I was.


    ¡°I am no pet and I do not wish to sink in any waters. My name is Brambleburn, but you may address me as Atechrities, god of war and fire.¡±


    He gawked at me dumbly, as if everything I told him was not exceedingly clear. ¡°Huh?¡± he blurted.


    I curled my other fist and met his face on it, knocking out the meek human instantly. I had no time for disrespectful unrefined sea scum who spat on gods. It was below me.


    I found three more humans just like that one. There was no end to them, a constant stream of imbeciles. By the fourth imbecile, the captain of the boarding party finally showed himself.


    His accent sounded as heavy as he looked. ¡°You be walking a fine line prince. Ye own family turned against ye. Yer lucky that they haven¡¯t gone after ye themselves, why, I¡¯m doing ye a service.¡±


    Bilal laughed, ¡°You mean trying to, Ogrin? What is this? The Third time?¡± Bilal tossed his cutlass high in the air punched the man attacking him, leapt over the next attacker, and grabbed his sword. He pointed the curved blade at the portly captain, ¡°Mates! To me!¡±


    The surrounding crew members quickly disengaged from their fights, even the estranged Zek, who had been fighting three assailants himself. I followed reluctantly, Ersel close behind.


    We made a circle around Bilal, our weapons- or fists- held out to whatever lay ahead.


    Now it was Ogrin¡¯s turn to laugh. ¡°Yer last stand I see. It¡¯s over Prince of pirates.¡±


    I could barely tell from where I stood in the circle, but I thought I saw Bilal smile. ¡°Yinji! Black Ink!¡± Cried Bilal, ¡°Start the ritual, Liawynn, Zek, Merah, Serah protect them!¡±


    Bilal glanced at me and Ersel with hopeful eyes, ¡°Yes ofcourse.¡± Answered Ersel. The nerve. Thinking she could answer for me? But then, what exactly were we doing?


    I shifted my focus to Mossman, I suppose he was ¡®Yinji¡¯, he had his right hand held out. Black Ink reached into his sleeves and pulled out a silver quill. How strange¡­


    ¡°No!¡± shouted Ogrin, ¡°Stop them. Stop them!¡± he repeated. By his reaction alone I imagined this ritual was more than what it seemed. Black Ink held the tip of the quill to Yinji¡¯s hand. He started scratching symbols upon Yinji¡¯s flesh. As I eyed it, I swear I saw a glimmer once the first mark was made.


    ¡°Back.¡± Echoed Liawynn as she forced an attacker away. The attackers were more desperate now, their attacks less coordinated and their approach a mess to hear.


    I saw three headed my way and I simply swung my hand to my side, simultaneously slapping the humans one after the other.  I grinned at Ersel, she had to do move considerably more to accomplish the same feat.Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.


    After slapping the next few, I tried something new. I kicked the next assailant, the result, a human projectile. Fascinating.


    ¡°Almost ready!¡± Cried Black Ink. I assumed that meant the end of this ordeal, but I readied myself just in case. Amidst my preparation a heavy hand clasped on my shoulder. It was Zek, or what little I saw of him under that hood. He shook his head once.


    That was all I needed, in the next moment a light as bright as the sun glimmered in all directions. Blinding all who looked. When the light died down, I scried all around. Our side seemed fine, albeit our arms shielding our eyes.


    Their side was not so lucky.


    Ogrin and his men scurried in disarray, swinging blindly and blinking even more. I realised then what had happened. Blinded. All of them blinded. Oddly they came to that conclusion after me.


    ¡°I can¡¯t see!¡± cried Ogrin, his men mere echoes under his own girth. ¡°I can¡¯t see!¡±


    Bilal motioned with his head, ¡°Tie them up.¡±


    What followed was a mass of blind fools herded and tied. First each individually, then tied in clumps on two rowboats..


    ¡°Do not worry, Ogrin.¡± Jested Bilal, smiling down at them, ¡°Your sight will return, just be glad my people are as skilled as they are. I mean if your crew fought better, we would have been forced to kill them.¡±


    The bound Ogrin echoed back at Bilal, ¡°They are goodmen, all of them, ye just lowered to cheap tricks and magic! I¡¯ll catch you Bilal, and when I do, I¡¯ll smear me boot on ye sorry royal face. Mark me words.¡±


    ¡°Oh, I will be sure to paraphrase you come our next encounter, after I send you off again.¡± Bilal spun as he made the statement and passed both Ersel and I.


    I watched the enemy crew float into the mists, vanishing slowly into the night. I wondered how exactly one would survive in that situation. It seemed hopeless at best.


    ¡°You did not kill them?¡± Asked Ersel.


    I turned to see her eying the Bilal, Bilal still with his back to her.


    ¡°You might not believe me, princess. But he means well.¡± He glanced at her, ¡°When you sail these seas, you come to learn of monsters other than sea beasts. Ogrin is no monster. He may capture you, he may even try to kill you, but he won¡¯t do it for no reason and he won¡¯t sell out his crew.¡±


    ¡°Any murderer is still a monster.¡± Hushed Ersel.


    Bilal took two quick steps to the noble, ¡°Then I am monster to!¡± He shouted. Having made his point spied at me. Turning once, he walked away.


    I approached Ersel. She was motionless, stricken by the captain¡¯s voice. I wondered why humans cared so much about killing. Then I considered Ersel, her grandfather, her mentor. It seemed murder was quite personal to her.


    I placed one hand on her shoulder, and watched as her expression shifted from shock to recognition.


    ¡°Bramble.¡± She said, ¡°promise me you will not kill anyone.¡±


    I cocked my head, ¡°I-¡±


    ¡°Then I command you to not kill anyone.¡± she snapped.


    It was a strange command, to which perhaps I had no control over. I kept watching her as she paced away into the cabin. To not kill? Well I had never done it and truly I lacked any reason to start.


    ¡°What have you, Merah?¡± shouted Bilal. I could see leaning past the railing.


    Merah responded on command, ¡°Nothing at first. Though we found this letter- you might want to see it. It has the seal.¡±


    Bilal leapt over railing and ran towards the were-cat. While I made my way to the railing. By the time I got there, Bilal had already ripped open the seal, and had begun scanning the contents.


    ¡°Spirits.¡± He hushed, ¡°Spirits!¡± He looked up from the letter then ran towards me. His eyes were strewn, ¡°We need to leave now!¡± He cried, waving the letter high above him.


    Liawynn ran out, Salis, Yinji, and the last crew member in toll. ¡°Cap¡¯n, what is the matter?¡± asked Liawynn.


    Bilal looked at me then Liawynn, ¡°It¡¯s an order from the Ilivarin fleet. Ogrin was working for them, he must have gone ahead.¡±


    Liawynn ruffled through her silver locks with her both hands, ¡°Blockade.¡± She uttered, ¡°It has to be a blockade. We need to change route.¡±


    ¡°Aye.¡± Confirmed Bilal, he put one hand on my shoulder then hoisted himself up. ¡°And we need to do it now. Mortimer!¡± he shouted, ¡°Set Ogrin¡¯s ship to blow. Zek, Ink, push us apart when Mortimer¡¯s done. Everyone else grab what you can.¡±


    I was thoroughly confused though crew knew exactly what to do. Most of its members save for Salis, raced to the railing then leapt over. The last to cross, the spiteful creature from before waddled by me. It stopped to hoist itself over the railing and glared at me, ¡°Ah, the heartless Tree. Care to insult more orphaned children?¡±


    I was not amused. I did have words for incompetents, certainly not for incompetents carrying a variety of bags on its back.


    ¡°What are those?¡± I managed, pointing at the bags.


    It cackled, ¡°my pride and powder.¡±


    That did not answer my question, but I was not keen on continuing any conversation with it. Soon after, Salis shuffled to my side, ¡°Is it over?¡± she said meekly.


    How very dull of her, of course it was over. I did not comment on that however, she was after all the only creature on this ship who had given me a gift and not gotten drunk in front of me. Sad as it is, that was a feat by itself.


    Instead I asked her, ¡°Are all the crew members ex-slaves?¡±


    Her brows expanded to that, but only for a second. She looked down then up, ¡°Not all, but most.¡± She said quietly, ¡°My master had many slaves. Slaves for many different tasks. My mother was a slave cook, so naturally I followed her trade. Serah and Merah they¡­ I should not be telling you this.¡±


    ¡°Why not?¡± I queried as I eyed the strange creature from before carrying a barrel far too large from his over the railing.


    Again silence. I waited as more crewmates rushed onto the ship, then out of it, often carrying small crates, barrels, and even the odd chest with them.


    Finally, she answered, ¡°Bilal says the past is the past. That we are governed by a simple thread that is our future. Our fate. He says to forget what we were, but he means well. My memories are painful, and I can only imagine the same for the others.¡± Her head lowered, ¡°Yet not all my memories are bad.¡± She looked at me, somehow it was as if she had convinced herself.


    ¡°Remember this.¡± She concluded, pressing two fingers against her blindfold, she spoke again, ¡°It means, ¡®please understand¡¯ in Isdari.¡±


    How strange.


    Soon I noticed that the crew had stopped the raid, now all but Mortimer remained on the other ship.


    ¡°It¡¯s ready.¡± Cried Mortimer.


    I followed his voice to the creature himself. He had created a trailed of black powder from the ship¡¯s cabin to the bow. At the bow, rested the large barrel from before.


    Zek and Black Ink made for the Calypso¡¯s bow. By the time they got there Mortimer had already made it across.


    I could hear the grunts of Black Ink and Zek amidst the creak of wood. The two had been pushing the other ship.


    ¡°It¡¯s no use, Cap¡¯n. The Calypso is stuck.¡± Yelled Black Ink.


    Bilal said nothing as he walked towards the two. Wordlessly still, he began pushing. Liawynn joined after, then Yinji, and finally the were cats.


    Their combined effort still failed to fix their ship¡¯s predicament.


    I studied them precariously, wondering whether¡­


    I jumped as I felt a cold touch on my side. Salis had been trying to nudge me. ¡°Go.¡± She said quietly.


    I was still pondering that when I began to walk forwards, my feet already thinking for me. In seconds I was at the bow, seconds later I found an open spot amongst the pushing party. I pushed once, and a large creak roared across waves. Most of the crewmates were still pushing by the time the ship had moved. Their initial surprise was followed by one simultaneous action.


    They all stared at me.


    I had hardly done anything, though I suppose gods were normally looked up to this way.


    ¡°That was incredible!¡± cried Yinji.


    Bilal patted me squarely on the back, ¡°Truly a god, this one.¡± He declared.


    ¡°Well done.¡± Agreed Liawynn.


    All eyes then turned to Mortimer, apparently the next stage was his.


    ¡°Mortimer, how far must we be?¡± pried Bilal.


    Mortimer smiled, and reached deep in his overcoat to find a flintlock. I had seen one of those before, quite recently actually, when the bandits had raided my gifts. I knew what it was called from the stories, but never seen one used.


    Mortimer deftly juggled the flintlock around one hand, and aimed it at Ogrin¡¯s ship. ¡°A little further.¡± He said, eyeing the other ship with one eye shut. ¡°A lot further.¡±


    ¡°By your word, Mortimer. Until then we set course!¡± bellowed Bilal. ¡°Black Ink, Liawynn, what are our options?¡±


    ¡°Not options,¡± said Liawynn.


    ¡°option.¡± Finished Black Ink, ¡°The only way through is by the Hangman¡¯s channel.¡±


    Bilal started to laugh to that, somehow pleased by the predicament, ¡°Prefect! I¡¯d prefer the channel any day to a blockade of slavers after my head. Set course for the Hangman¡¯s channel!¡±


    Afterwards I made my way to my typically spot overlooking the darkened sky. Salis, once more, stood beside me. I glanced at her to see a black cap over her head.


    ¡°What is that for?¡± I asked.


    She pulled the hat back, ¡°I use it to block sounds. Isdari do not have hair as Humans and Vesper do. We have many ears instead. This hat is what I use when Mortimer does what he does.¡±


    I had a bad feeling, ¡°What does he do?¡±


    Just then Mortimer bawled as loud as he could, ¡°Ready!¡± he said cheerfully.


    ¡°Cover your ears.¡± Motioned Salis, pulling her cap over her head.


    I saw Mortimer prance to my railing, while he hovered his flintlock haphazardly in the air. He held the small pistol to the other ship, now a good league away. From what I heard, those ¡®flintlocks¡¯ often missed their mark. A shot that far was impossible.


    Mortimer smiled at me, as if he had read my thoughts, ¡°Still hear me Tree?¡± He re-aimed the pistol, ¡°You saw my powder, and now witness my pride.¡±


    I covered my ears the instant the gun fired. My eyes a quick flick to the ship far away.


    A second passed and the ship burst into a million splinters. A fire, so bright, it swept away the fog and lit the night sky for all but a second.


    I blinked. The fire had vanished amongst the rain of planks and splashes. The last planks, still weakly ablaze, twinkled in the ebony sea, dancing among the stars which covered the sky.

 Chapter 21, A solid Defence

    Wooden masts spanned the bay like a forest of spires. All across the blockade held true. A hundred and forty four ships, the greatest of the Ilivarin Empire, all mere bricks in a wall. A wall meant to trap one person.


    Captain Faruq did not really understand it. He could not comprehend why so many ships were wasted just for a royal mishap. Why not commit forces to the pirate threat? Actually stop what he had signed up for? He had served in the Ilivarin Navy for seven years, had fought forty two battles, and had the scars for five of them. Yet this, at the eve of his promotion, this was just a waste.


    Insubordination was unheard of in their ranks, but Captain Faruq was not about to let this go unabated. He counted his merits in his head as he approached the admiral. A staunch man listening to reports as men, many of his fellow captains, convened with him.


    The admiral¡¯s voice echoed past him, ¡°Saeed, take your men and secure supplies for the coming nights. With the wind this calm it may take the prince days to reach here.¡±


    ¡°Yes Admiral Almas.¡± Bowed Saeed.


    The admiral turned to another, ¡°Hamza, I want you to-¡±


    ¡°Admiral Almas, can I have a word?¡± spoke Faruq.Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.


    ¡°Faruq, my friend,¡± laughed Almas, he had always been a well-mannered man, ¡°this is no time for secrets or hidden words, come say what you want! You are a captain now!¡±


    Faruq shifted his eyes uncomfortably, wringing his wrists while he sured his thoughts, ¡°Very well. We are making a mistake.¡±


    The captains around him shuffled at once, instantly the well-mannered man he knew had an expression of stone, ¡°It is no mistake, captain.¡± Said Almas ¡°By decree of Emperor Dana, we are to secure this bay and capture his son in the process.¡±


    Faruq was not convinced, ¡°But my admiral, we cannot be sure that-¡±


    ¡°The princess herself informed us of her brother¡¯s intentions. We are very sure.¡±


    Faruq looked Almas in the eye, ¡°That is not what I meant. I have hunted the prince for years, he is as crafty as his mother and as wise as his uncle. He will have changed routes by now. An Ilvarin blockade does not go without notice.¡±


    Admiral Almas stared at Faruq for the longest time, no other captain would have dared question him. All too concerned to preserve their rank. It was also insubordination, and naturally the Ilvarin navy had a reputation to uphold. Yet Faruq had a point, as Faruq normally did.


    Admiral Almas sighed, ¡°Take three ships and head north to the Hangman¡¯s channel. You are to report to me in a week unless you find the prince before then.¡±


    Faruq expression lit up, but he hid it the instant it appeared. Regaining his composure, he bowed his head, ¡°Thank you, my admiral.¡±


    ¡°But Faruq, if you do not find the prince, I will have no choice but to remove you of your rank.¡± Warned Almas.


    Faruq nodded once more, his face solemn. ¡°I will not fail you, my admiral.¡± He said at last.

 Chapter 22, The Runaways

    Alya spotted the prince as she walked in. He was almost a statue the way he leaned against the window, his head on his arms and his eyes locked outside.


    He store at her as she walked in.


    ¡°Can you tell?¡± he said slowly.


    ¡°You¡¯re admiring the view?¡±


    ¡°No, one of my lords told me they saw my beloved. She was with another man!¡± His arms outstretched, ¡°Some tall bloke who looked like a tree! I¡¯m not sure whether I can even believe it.¡±


    The princess crossed her arms and rested the wall. ¡°So here you are, with your fianc¨¦, talking about your secret lover? We have quite a ¡®liberal¡¯ courting my prince.¡±


    He could not help but smile to that. For a moment his worries seemed to disappear.  ¡°You are right¡± he admitted, ¡°My apologies.¡±


    She could have cancelled it then, this marriage that neither wanted. Political or not, she was tricked into it. While the prince obviously had his own ¡®love¡¯, a love which had run off with some tree-man¡­ her mind clicked. In her head there was a spark. A memory. Tree man, she had heard that before, and with a woman.


    ¡°Was this ¡®love¡¯ of yours short?¡± she asked.


    The prince quirked, ¡°Well yes.¡±This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    ¡°Locks of barley?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    Alya smiled, the pieces of a puzzle coming together, ¡°I might know where she is, or rather where she is going.¡±


    Menska lit alive, no longer the statue which stared, ¡°Where? Where is she?¡±


    ¡°She is headed towards my homeland.¡± Answered Alya. ¡°And before you say you want to go after her, I am coming with you.¡±


    The prince shook his head, ¡°I cannot abandon my people.¡±


    Alya stood up, ¡°Oh, that you are not. Why, you are merely courting me. What is more promising than a retreat to the courted¡¯s homeland. If anything your people will consider it a solution to your¡­ condition.¡±


    Menska paced between the window to his throne. The number of his steps evident of his thoughts. He stopped halfway on his return from the throne, ¡°Why do you want to go?¡±


    Alya could have lied, she could have played the game her mother normally started. The chess of politics lay engrained in her head ever since she was a child, and she knew every move. But this wasn¡¯t politics. This was family.


    ¡°My Brother is with her.¡±


    --


    Come noon the news had already spread. First a select few nobles knew and of course they gossiped. The news quickly caught on to the few Ilivari escorts left behind. Then to the councilmen and finally to the people.


    Even the fishermen knew. Yet, the public approved, the union was promising. Romantic even, to some royalists. Connections to the largest Empire this side of the Holyland? It was a blessing.


    A blessing not all consented to. There was man who had heard last. Even with his hands in every part of the country he had let the key piece slip away. He had failed. The jester stomped up towards the royal chambers, of all the people, he was the last to find out. He pushed open the doors without restraint. Twitching once as the rumors came to fruition. He had held the prince in check for twenty years, not once, ONCE, losing sight of him. Until now.


    By the time the jester had found out, the ¡®happy¡¯ couple had already left the capitol. Taking a hand full of sailors and an Ilvarin ship with them.

 Chapter 23, The Free City

    It was five days before we saw land.


    Five. How should I say this? I hated sailing. I really really hated it.


    The calm winds had persisted for FIVE days, and for five days I was forced to do nothing but wander the ship.


    By then I had talked to every crew member as extensively as I could, except, ofcourse, for Zek and the cats. It turned out Liawynn had a fear of heights, Black Ink had a fear of fire- not surprisingly- and Salis had a love for gardening. Who knew?


    I had watched the waves for hours, until I had gone thirsty. Apparently the only time I wanted to jump in the water was the one time I could not.


    ¡°You can¡¯t drink that!¡± they said, ¡°It¡¯ll kill you!¡± they said. Their logic confounded me.


    Sometimes I even missed my conversations with stump. Oh that old fool, I wondered where he was now? Perhaps he had gained notoriety in my absence. Perhaps he had finally been made into logs. Regardless of where he was, I was sure he had not suffered as much as I.


    That said, at least the trudge had ended. I nearly fell over the railing when I saw the land up ahead. The glorious glorious land. Black Ink had pointed it out first.


    ¡°Land ho!¡± he had called. Land whatever indeed.


    I watched as the vibrant greens came bursting into view, glowing beneath the midday sky. More green than I had ever seen before. The nearest Cliffside was covered by it. As we got closer I noticed monolithic stone spires towering out of the green. Each spire with various clumps of forest in between. Reaching so high, the spires earned clouds of their own.


    ¡°Those are relics of the past.¡± pointed Ersel, ¡°Left there by a long forgotten race called the Aragossins, the men of stone. Some say those spires are their houses.¡±


    Houses?!


    Bilal stepped past us as the land got ever closer. He jumped and caught a rope, hoisting himself to a higher position on the mast.


    ¡°They may be relics,¡± he said, ¡°but the local folk treat them as shrines.¡± He pulled out a looking glass and pressed his eye dumbly against it, ¡°No new camps from when last I was here. Good.¡±


    ¡°Captain.¡± started Liawynn as the man slid down, ¡°We should keep moving, we can stop at Akir¡¯s refuge.¡±


    Bilal compressed his looking glass, ¡°That is two days away. Besides we don¡¯t want Brambleburn jumping again.¡±


    I glared at the ensuing snickers. Even Liawynn chuckled. How could she!


    Bilal¡¯s laugh out did the rest, ¡°I¡¯m sorry Bramble. It¡¯s hard to forget.¡± He assured me.


    ¡°Yes yes, quite.¡± I snapped.


    Bilal traced the edge of the sky with a hand on his brow, ¡°There is a river, a few leagues down the channel. It is just wide enough for the Calypso and at the river¡¯s end lies a free-village. We¡¯ll be there by sunset.¡±


    Liawynn was taken aback, ¡°I had never heard of this place, when had you gone there?¡±


    ¡°Back when I was in Aramir¡¯s crew. It was the first town I traveled to outside the capitol.¡± Replied Bilal, ¡°Though, it was very small, a settlement for free folk. They called it Hangman¡¯s Bay.¡± A smile pinched the edge of his mouth, ¡°I¡¯ve heard it has grown since then.¡±


    --


    Dock bells stifled the air and ships dotted the harbour. It was no small ¡®village¡¯ anymore.


    The Calypso approached the docks ever so slowly, while colourful fowls hovered over the masts. Merah and Serah had already gotten to work chasing the birds off, wrestling the ropes as they did so.


    As we docked, the creak of the ship stretched to the final note. Black Ink and Zek walked out of the lower quarters with a long wooden plank on their shoulders.


    ¡°Steady, steady¡± instructed Bilal as the duo moved the massive beam.


    A voice flew in from far below the ship, ¡°Bilal! Is that ya mon?!¡±


    Bilal rushed to the edge of the ship, sticking his head just off the railing.


    ¡°Salazan! By the spirits, how have you been?!¡± he shouted back.


    ¡°Cut this nonsense, come down already.¡± Replied the voice.


    Bilal did just that, instantly stepping the railing and jumping below.


    I ran to the edge, as did the others. I heard the splash when I got there.


    The voice continued its odd recital, ¡°Haha still a crazy bastard I see!¡±


    Black Ink and Zek passed us, and plotted the beam with a loud plunk. A pathway now stretched between the pier and the ship. Mortimer raced to the pier, Yinji hot on his trail. Salis, well behind her mossy companion. Liawynn shook her head as a soaking Bilal swam up to the pier.


    ¡°He only does that for his closest friends.¡± She said.


    I considered the prince, then the first mate, ¡°What about you? Not going after him?¡±


    Again she shook her head, ¡°No, I am the first mate, if the captain leaves the ship, she falls under my command. My care. Besides, I imagined you to have left first.¡±


    I scanned the city past the docks, it was a villa of shanty houses stacked in a mess of planks and foliage. Most of those houses were so close, that they extended into each other. I was a long way from my homeland. Further than I had ever imagined.


    ¡°I am not that eager. Yet perhaps this town is worth seeing.¡± I made for the plank, stopping half way through with one hand on my cloak, ¡°Do I need to hide myself?¡±


    ¡°From the looks of it, no. The lands outside your country are dangerous, but almost none require you to hide yourself.¡± She chuckled glancing at her captain below, ¡°Lest you have a bounty.¡±


    ¡°Bramble.¡± Entered Ersel¡¯s voice, ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡±


    I twitched as I reluctantly obeyed. ¡°I would have gone anyway,¡± I puffed.


    Ersel talked cheerily ahead of me, turning back once she snickered, ¡°I know.¡±


    ¡°One more thing.¡± Started Liawynn. I glanced at her for all but an instant. ¡°Be careful.¡±


    --


    Strange how whenever humans gathered it was noisy, strange how whenever anything with a mouth gathered it was noisy. The streets of Hangman¡¯s Bay were no exception.


    I traveled with Yinji, Ersel and Salis. The rest save for Black Ink and Liawynn had left the ship to explore the city. As soon as we left the harbor Ersel stepped in front of me, ¡°Bramble, keep your chin up. No-one can be trusted here. Am I understood?¡±


    Typical Ersel, as paranoid as she was. ¡°That said, look around you!¡± she interjected. She spun once, stretching her arms about her, ¡°This is a new land, and every land has its history. We¡¯re headed to a tomb of unfounded treasures, these people may be my best bet to what may be there. You however, are a walking tree with a mouth no less. For your own sake, try not to make a scene.¡±


    My brows twitched, ¡°A god such as myself would not dare be intimated by mere mortals.¡± I said.


    Ersel let out a long drawn out sigh, ¡°Exactly why you should stay quiet in the first place.¡±


    How rude! How incompetent! ¡°But I-¡±


    ¡°Need to stay low, I, on the other hand, need to find out what this is.¡±


    Ersel searched in her pockets, reaching all around herself. It looked quite odd, as if she was a beggar who had caught a terrible itch. Only seconds later she withdrew the key from before. Nimbly juggling it between her fingers, she held the key out toward me. ¡°I have a feeling Icarus may have been here at one time, and for that matter, it¡¯s possible that the people here may know about him and this key.¡±


    ¡°Ersel.¡± I said quietly, ¡°Is it really gold you¡¯re after, or is it something else?¡±


    She strayed from the question, avoiding my sight for all but a second. She replied as quietly as I, ¡°I told you what I¡¯m after.¡±


    Still the thought had escaped me, what Ersel wanted had always been clearly gold. Yet something I saw in Starsreach told me otherwise. An image of the worn townhouse behind a curtain of droplets flashed in my head.


    ¡°Besides!¡± She continued, ¡°In my lifetime, I haven¡¯t encountered a problem that could not be solved by gold!¡±


    My brow twitched once more, ¡°Must I remind you how short that life of yours is. More so how much I care, or lack thereof.¡±


    ¡°Well of course you¡¯re coming with me.¡± She hummed.


    ¡°Really?¡± entered Yinji, he had perplexed look about him, ¡°Too bad, I was about to ask the tree walker if he¡¯d accompany Salis. She has a habit of getting lost.¡±


    Ersel eyed me with grin on her face, I had a bad feeling. She breathed inwards, and that feeling got worse, ¡°Well I can¡¯t let Salis get lost, not with all your crew has done for me and my familiar. Bramble, as your master, I command you to accompany Salis¡­¡± She turned to Yinji, ¡°Does she have a family name?¡±


    Yinji shook his head, ¡°Isdamari slaves often forget their names to spare their families the shame. It is an odd tradition I must admit.¡±Stolen novel; please report.


    ¡°Alright then.¡± Nodded Ersel, ¡°Brambleburn, you are to stay with Salis- who lacks a name- so that she does not get lost.¡±


    The horrid nature of this decree felt worse and worse the more I realised it. I, a god, reduced to nothing but an escort? A porter for a creature who¡¯s lifespan was shorter than my pinkie? Preposterous! Absurd! Ludicrous!


    And here I stood, unable to refuse. I really hated magic.


    ¡°Fine.¡± I said. ¡°Where is she?¡±


    Ersel looked to Yinji, Yinji looked back. I realised what had happened the moment Yinji glanced at me, his face as dull as rock.


    And so I set upon the impossible task of locating the small creature. Small creatures, as if by habit, were very hard to find. I eyed the protruding fixtures of the nearby shacks. Then I saw the hordes of people sprawling between them. This was no easy task.


    I left the pier to the sound of hollow steps, I had no idea where to start. At the mouth of the town I caught a glimpse of Ersel sneaking into one of the rare alleyways. I snickered for a moment, quite aware of the less than satisfactory conditions of alleyways from first hand experience. At least the imp who held my chains would suffer. Even at the slightest. But what if she were attacked¡­


    I thought for a moment about her wellbeing- now that it mattered- but soon I realised the absence of a certain feeling. I no longer had the urge! As the creature disappeared into the shadows, I curled and uncurled my hands. Perhaps it was because I knew what I was, regardless of whether I accepted that or not. Or perhaps, it was due to her earlier command. My task was, after all, to look for Salis, not to protect Ersel.


    So, for what it was worth, I was free. Free of any annoying urges to ¡®protect¡¯ my master, free of the leash I so despised. For now at least. I pushed through some of the busy denizens of the town, careful not to make too much contact. These things were far dirtier than the humans of Starsreach, and that was an understatement. No matter, my task was to find Salis, and the faster I did that, the more time I would have for myself. Free time to myself. Another creature brushed past me and I shivered. My first act as a free god would be to find a corner devoid of life. Somewhere that was preferably not a boat. I was sick of those to.


    As I passed more and more creatures, the crowd grew denser. Smellier. I scanned the sea of heads below me. Some had hair, others fur, ears, even the odd hat. I would never find Salis this way. Never-


    An opening in the crowd a little ways from ripped into a gaping half circle, all gathered before some sort of tavern. A man, dressed in a gold lined coat, tumbled out of the establishment.


    ¡°Out with ye, gold coat. We don¡¯t server yer kind in these parts.¡± Shouted a rather burly man.


    The grounded man managed to stand, ¡°The Empire can do great things for the people here!¡± he stammered back. ¡°Think of the order!¡±


    The crowd erupted into simultaneous huff, some even threw fruits at the ¡®gold coat¡¯.


    ¡°This is a free city, mate.¡± bellowed the first man. ¡°The only great thing accomplished here, was separating from yer ¡®beloved¡¯ empire.¡±


    ¡°Aye!¡± shouted an on-looker.


    ¡°Here here!¡± cried another.


    ¡°Um excuse me.¡± Entered a final voice- this one far supressed than the others. ¡°Do you know any magic?¡±


    I held my head with my hand. The voice was that of Salis. A single, not to mention, short creature standing in front of a forest of uncouth beasts. She was merely a shrub compared to them.


    The gold-coat stared back at Salis, dumbfounded, ¡°Why yes miss. We have six magic academies. Free entry exams to all tax-payers and-gah!¡±


    The former man pulled the gold coat by his back collar, ¡°Aye, the tax-payers and all worthy citizens, given yer not made a slave first! OR did he forget to mention that miss?¡±


    ¡°Oh, I wouldn¡¯t be a slave.¡± Replied Salis, ¡°My captain freed me. He said I would never wear chains again.¡±


    The burly man dropped the gold-coat, somewhat lost by his expression, ¡°Yer telling me, that you were a slave to those pigs, and now you want to go back!¡± he clapsed her shoulders, ¡°What have they done to ya, girl!¡±


    I stepped in, I figured this was a better time than ever. ¡°She is no slave, and she will not be one again.¡± I said.


    ¡°Bramble¡­¡± trailed Salis.


    ¡°And what ye be?¡± motioned the burly man.


    I thought the answer was obvious, ¡°Haven¡¯t you heard of me? I¡¯m a go-¡±


    ¡°A friend!¡± interrupted the gold-coat. He stood up, dusting his coat as he dared shake my hand, ¡°A friend of mine, we¡¯ve been travelling together, and we just happened to be passing by. I suppose it¡¯s time to leave. Come, my friend!¡±


    The burly man eyed me, ¡°Do ya know this scum?¡± asked the Burly man.


    ¡°No.¡± I answered, ¡°But I believe he¡¯s an idiot.¡±


    The crowd exploded in laughter, and the burly man seemed pleased. ¡°Alright then.¡± He started, ¡°I¡¯ll leave you to him, just make sure he never returns to me establishment or I¡¯ll teach him why we only like gold in our coins.¡±


    The gold-coat audibly gulped, staggered back, and fell flat on his behind.


    The burly man then turned to the audience, ¡°Now get going you lot! Lest you be hear for drinks, I¡¯ll flog ya on the spot.¡±


    Soon after the crowd dispersed, and I found myself with my task completed. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± I sighed, motioning Salis to follow me.


    ¡°I can¡¯t.¡± she retorted.


    I turned to face her, but as I did she hurried past me. Immediately, she leaned to help the gold-coat up.


    ¡°Why thank you miss.¡± Said the idiot.


    Salis did not wait for him to get up, ¡°Do you know any magic?¡± she pressed.


    ¡°I¡­I do not. No.¡± he answered, ¡°But the empire has academies! You can learn there!¡±


    I eyed the gold-coat closely, from what little I could tell about humans. This one was young, a boy perhaps. A sproutling. ¡°Tell me, sprouting,¡± I started, ¡°what do you know about familiars?¡±


    The boy wiped his muddied hands on his coat, ¡°Familiars, that¡¯s quite advanced magic. I don¡¯t think it is even possible. Why do you ask?¡±


    ¡°No reason.¡± I lied, remembering Ersel¡¯s warning. I glanced at Salis, ¡°Salis, we must really go.¡±


    ¡°No wait!¡± shouted the boy, ¡°I must thank you for saving me just then. You and the miss.¡±


    My displeasure peaked, and my answer became more the clearer. ¡°I rather not. One so divine such as myself do not need material ¡®thanks¡¯ anymore for I have transcended beyond that. I have-¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll go.¡± Spoke Salis. My brows twitched for a third time that day, my task had somehow grown endless.


    ¡­


    ¡°And there I was at maw of Kanes, my crew a halfway to the boat, the beast a mere arms length away when second mate Azar tripped over a rock two skips ahead of me.¡±


    ¡°And then what!¡± shouted the somehow fascinated Salis. I thought the end was obvious. They all died except the fool who lived to tell the tale.


    Cups clinked in the distance, all the while the random rhythm of steps fluttered in my ears and muffled banter filled the gaps. I leaned back in my chair and let my arms cross against my chest. I had no reason to be here save to escort Salis. The Gold-coat insisted on lunch as a thanks. Odd how that only served one of us. In fact the more and more this gold-coat, who so rashly dubbed himself ¡®Sedrick¡¯, continued, the more apparent it was that he only cared about Salis. I was a mere accessory to his charade, and I had no need to humor him further.


    I watched eagerly as Salis neared the end of her meal. Counting every bite as if it were her last.


    ¡°I managed to get to the ship as poor Azar volunteered to stay behind. I tried to convince him otherwise, but he convinced me instead. I still remember his words, ¡®For the Empire, and her beauty!¡¯ tis the most beautiful words I ever heard.¡±


    Well no words could describe how uninterested I was. ¡°Salis, the others will be looking for us. I believe it is time to leave.¡± I urged her. ¡°Salis?¡±


    I leaned in to find the Isdamari slowly wiping tears from under her blindfold. ¡°Poor Azar¡± she managed.


    I let out a deep sigh and massaged my temples with one hand. How could she..? How could he..?


    ¡°Ah, but he died for the glory of the empire!¡± smiled Sedrick. Of course I was not convinced, Salis, on the other hand, may have just have well been.


    A peak of sunlight met my eye, and I knew it was time to leave. I made to stand when Sedrick stopped me, ¡°Azar.¡± He whispered, ¡°Ah! I remember now! Azar had told me about a man who had summoned a familiar. Twas an old folk tale passed down in his family.¡±


    I slowly returned to my seat. Finally something that mattered, I had grown tired of incompetent rabble. ¡°How did he do it? How did this man summon a familiar?¡± I asked.


    ¡°Ah, my friend, this man was no regular magi. They say he had inherited powers far beyond the gods! That one day he ventured to a lake and saw a fey bathe in its waters.¡±


    ¡°A fey! As in a magical spirit?¡± shot Salis. Her initial distress had completely vanished.


    Sedrick laughed, ¡°Aye, but this is only a tale. Spirits do not exist. But in tales of old, they say if you see a fey, you do not look at it, for if you do, the fey will never let you go. But this man stared. He stared and stared until the fey noticed him. Nay, the fey saw him all along. The fey asked him why he looked, and he simply said, ¡®because beauty shall never again avert my eyes¡¯. The fey was taken aback, instantly in love, and with a kiss the fey enthralled the man equally. They say the man returned to the lake every day for seventy seven days. Until one day the man returned, with his village in alit. Ransacked by barbarians.


    He said he had nowhere to go. That he had no family, no friends, nor wealth. He sought only the fey who sought only him. Pleased by his devotion the fey granted him a gift: a power which dyed his eyes as violet as the night sky near dawn. She said ¡®a pair of eyes which see only mine will serve you and your wishes till our fates once more intertwine.¡¯ With that the fey disappeared, and left the man harrowing in despair, having his only other companion. Though now he had power, the power that his new eyes granted him.  Though he had no realised it then.


    He set off to the land and traveled from village to village, learning little by little the new magic¡¯s he possessed.


    They say he saw the visages of his people long dead, that he could talk to them, and even summon them for periods no shorter than a day. He basked in his new found powers, learned them as well as he could and as seasons passed he slowly forgot about the fey that started it all.


    After his journey had come to an end, he found his old village once again.  There he rummaged the ruins, and though most had turned to ashes one doll among it all had remained. He channeled his powers into the burnt doll, and with an eye for a companion made it into a women. This was his familiar.¡±


    Transformed, that seemed to fit what I went through. More so the eyes. I remembered the ¡®witch¡¯ as Ersel dubbed her, that strange women. Eyes as violet as the night sky before dawn.


    ¡°The familiar told him that she watched him ever since the village had burned. That all her memories were that of the doll. The man and the familiar spoke at length about how the village used to be. They became close companions, friends, and eventually lovers. The man made his familiar his wife and freed her of the bonds of a familiar. The two lived in peace for several years within a cottage overlooking the village, until one day the fey returned.


    As once she saw a man who loved her without sway, now she saw that same man with another. Outraged and heartbroken the fey devised a plot to make him suffer. One day, the once familiar left to get water at the lake. Only when she did, the fey grabbed her and pulled her into the waters. The man who had by chance gone to help his wife stumbled across her limp body floating in the water. He rushed and pulled her out, trying as hard as he could to save her life. Without no more options, he used all of his power to bring her back. It worked, yet in turn he stole her fate instead, drawing his last breath as she regained hers.


    The fey shot out from the lake and wallowed as her actions had cost the life of her beloved. With distraught lips she cursed the day he ever wondered to her lake, and cursed the woman who had taken him away. She said, ¡®What once was a gift to my one light, I spit upon thee as a curse and a blight. You will wonder the land with death in your eyes, and madness awake in all yours thoughts and cries. This I swear upon thee and any who seek to help thee try.¡¯ With that, the woman¡¯s eyes turned violet, and the lake became a pitch black.


    The Fey, pleased by her own malice, disappeared, and the women, now alone and with sorrow, was forced to wander the land. Forever cursed until the day she died.¡±


    I cocked my head, ¡°So only violet-eyes can summon familiars?¡±


    ¡°What an odd thing to say.¡± Chuckled Sedrick. ¡°But that is the only kind of person I know who would be able to do it. I hope that answers your question.¡±


    ¡°It does I suppose.¡± I lied. In actuality I had even more questions than before, but asking them would reveal what I was, and that was something I could not afford. ¡°We should be going.¡± I said to Salis. For once, she nodded.


    ¡°Thank you, Sedrick.¡± Said Salis.


    Sedrick nodded, ¡°No thank you. Until we meet again.¡±


    Salis and I made our way out of the tavern. Well I rushed her out. I could not take any more chances. After all Salis had a habit of getting lost.


    At the exit I shielded my eyes against the burning sun. The day was almost at its end.


    ¡°Salis! Tree-walker! There you are.¡± I spun to find Yinji by my side. ¡°I¡¯ve been scouring the town looking for you.¡±


    ¡°Will you take her?¡± I asked.


    ¡°Of course, you two seem to be having too much fun.¡± He laughed.


    Salis gawked at me from behind her blindfold, ¡°Brambleburn, you¡¯re a good escort. Thank you for what you said about me earlier.¡±


    ¡°Earlier?¡± I asked.


    Shouts stopped Salis before she could respond. Familiar shouts. Ersel¡¯s shouts. ¡°Stop that thief!¡± she echoed. ¡°Stop, damned Tulek!¡± Funny. I had gotten used to people yelling that at her. Of course without the Tulek part.


    Just then, I caught a glimpse of a small fury creature as it rushed past me, as well as the gleam of a golden key. I knew that key.


    Ersel reached me seconds later, ¡°Bramble!¡± she cried between huffs, ¡°Good, help me. That Tulek stole the key.¡±


    I felt as if my momentary freedom had been robbed from underneath me, ¡°But I just-¡±


    ¡°No objections! Just come!¡± she shot back. She made a similar expression to Yinji and Salis, and they nodded.


    We ran to the town gates. Luckily there wasn¡¯t much of a crowd, but even then the Tulek was too fast. By the time we had reached the gates, the creature had already disappeared into the jungle. Ersel, Yinii, Salis and I stared into the green abyss.


    ¡°I need that key.¡± Said Ersel. She spun to me, ¡°And you¡¯re going to help me get it back.¡±