Book 3: Chapters 46-50 + Epilogue (Edited) (Patreon)

Chapter 46 - Conundrum

Truth is only valuable to those who can bear it.

- A Quassian Aphorism.

I drummed armored fingers across the stone counter as we waited. If I could somehow arrange it, challenging someone seemed an easy way to get promoted to a higher rank. That was if my recent brawl with those of that esteemed rank were anything to go by. 

However, it would involve having to deal with this Branch’s guild master, a prospect I was unsure of. We had been in luck with Larynda’s registration, the ceremony of sorts performed by one of the clerks here, instead of the guild master. More importantly, if the master of this branch had interviewed us, the light would have been shone on Larynda’s circumstances, which might have led to all sorts of questions being asked. Perhaps it would be best to visit later, and alone.

But what lay in my hands was more promising still, an opportunity to win fame and glory. The Festival was a tournament of the purest form, without weapons or armor, it was a contest of raw unarmed combat. Here, I had an overwhelming advantage that the other contestants simply could not surpass. 

I was gifted with a unique form of magic.

I needed no chant or incantation, nor wizard’s staff or focus. My magic could be unleashed simply by me willing it to be so. Coupled with my enhanced physical abilities and my Mimic shield, it was clear that the deck was heavily stacked in my favor in such a contest.

“What are you grinning about? An’ can we leave soon? I spent a few nights sleeping rough once but ain’t never smelled this fragrant,” she asked in a slightly querulous voice.

Almost as in answer to her childish inquiry, the doors to the backroom opened. Aldina had returned and she seemed to be struggling to carry a long bundle wrapped in dark-stained oiled leather. Redfaced, she placed it, with great effort, on the counter.

“This is from Vincenzio… and this is the message that comes with it,” she explained, slightly out of breath. Rummaging through her pockets she produced a length of knotted velvet string. “If you don’t know your knots, I can read it out for you, for a few coppers…”

“Thank you, but that will not be necessary,” I replied with a tight-lipped smile. I was annoyed, not because of her, but at myself in the main. It is human nature to hear an insult, often where there is none. 

I took off one of my gauntlets for show if nothing else, running my fingers across the smooth cloth as I summoned the spell that would unravel the Necromancer’s message.

- Open later where prying eyes will not see - A token of our cooperation - Take the request for Milander Root and meet me on the morrow - Vincenzio - 

“Well, that’s an interesting way of reading. Never seen anyone read backwards before,” commented Aldina, not meeting my eyes. Larynda tried to suppress a giggle but failed, for the most part.

“Thank you… Mistress Aldina,” I replied flatly with a small bow, now minus the smile, and in a tone that would invite no further conversation. I looked at Larynda, “Come now, we had best return.”

“You are most welcome.”

Hands in front of her, Aldina bowed at the hip.

It was with some mastery of self that I succeeded in fighting off embarrassment, and the temptation to open the package immediately. I was thoroughly intrigued by its heft and weight. At a guess, I imagined it to be some sort of heavy weapon. Perhaps a double-handed sword, or similar weapon?

With Larynda in tow, I promised her that I would just check the board before we left for the day. Her stomach grumbled in disapproval at my suggestion. I considered grabbing a meal here, but thought better of it, as I did not want to inflict others with our distinct fragrance.

Looking over the various requests, I found what I was looking for in the bottom corner. With a payout of only half a silver, it was barely worth the effort of registering the task. However, Vincenzio had instructed as such, and for the moment I saw no reason to disregard him. Ripping off the task for Milander Root, I went back to Aldina and registered that we would be undertaking the quest.

Our business concluded for the day, we departed from the Guild grounds. Though the sun had begun to set behind a cloudy sky, and the first hint of evening’s chill crept in, the streets remained bustling with activity. It was only halfway back to the inn when the skies opened up and the rain began to fall, that the throngs of people thinned. The people sought shelter from the rain, but Larynda appeared utterly unfazed by the downpour. If my eyes were not deceiving me, the raindrops seemed to avoid her altogether.

The sudden rain had served an unintended purpose, as it helped to mask our latest adventures in the bowels of the city. A saving grace when we were met by the help of the Begonia’s Shade. As the rain outside beat out its chaotic tune and the serving staff fussed over me, I finally felt safe.

It was amazing what a set of familiar walls and faces could do for someone. 

Even little Theo came out to assist, though she was more of a nuisance than of any real help. A squawking and resistant Larynda was soon bundled off to the women’s baths, leaving only Theo and the girl serving Ninurta to see to me. As they helped me out of my metal shell, I spared a few words for Elenora’s daughter.

“You are well, Theo? They treat you well here?” I asked, arms spread out as they undid the dirty straps of my plate harness.

“Doing just fine, thank you kindly! The food here is really good too!” she answered, smiling at me before wilting slightly. “Though I don’t like having to do the peeling and scrubbing in the kitchens all the time…”

Ninurta shot her an envious look but remained silent.

Not wanting any further drama, I decided to keep my peace with an awkward silence until they finished removing my harness. I left them, once I was down to my gambeson, but I reminded them to scrub and oil my plate, and gave them each a bronze coin. 

Taking my leave of them, I went to the male baths, leaving my foul-smelling gambeson in a laundry basket to be cleaned later.

In the baths, I finally had a moment of privacy. Scrubbing myself thoroughly with a coarse block of soap, I was intent on washing away the day's travails. There was no pleasure in it; it was a task that simply had to be done. I attacked my skin again and again until the water I used to rinse myself ran clear. Lost in this ritual of purification, I was almost completely caught off guard when someone entered.

A step on a wet stone tile was the only thing that gave away their presence. Vulnerable in my nakedness, I found myself automatically in a fighting pose on the balls of my feet. It was Zariyah, wearing nothing more than a thin slip of cloth that suggested more than it hid. An enigmatic smile played on her face, and her crimson eyes were filled with an odd intensity.

Closing the door behind her, she delicately stepped toward me with open invitation. Despite being truly at a loss, I noticed something odd about her movements, like a poor actress following a hastily written script or a puppet being forced. Her loose shift fell to the floor and there was a hint of whimsy and madness echoed in her footsteps.

No words were exchanged, for none could be given, and none were needed, as she placed a delicate finger on my chest, tracing a line down to my navel.

*****

She was the first to leave. It had been an odd affair, as I was the only one who could give voice to their pleasure. Our coupling bore the grim shadow of an almost masturbatory act. Zariyah, for her part, offered no sign save for the subtle tightening of her eyes and a faint parting of her lips, scant evidence that she had felt anything at all during our copulation. What should have sated left only a hollow echo in its wake and barren satisfaction once we were finally done. 

There had been no joy to it.

I was at a loss as to why she had done what she had done. The timing was strange to say the least, almost as if planned or forced. And, it just seemed so random and out of the blue. 

Mistrustful of some hidden purpose, I went over the flow of events. Concluding with myself that she had given herself to me freely, I felt a moment’s relief that soon evaporated like spit on a hot kiln. Though there had been almost no choice on my part, as it would have been downright rude to refuse her, there was still the matter of the fact that we were currently enjoying her mother’s hospitality. 

No matter what tale I spun, I saw that the blame would lie squarely on my shoulders. I was in a slight bind as relations outside of marriage with women of quality were generally frowned upon. But was she a woman of quality? That was indeed the question, for she had been, in the not-so-distant past, a de facto body slave of two masters…

It had been a conundrum I had not taken into consideration until after the fact, when clarity of thought returned. Still, it was better to regret doing a thing than to regret not doing it.

Strangely, I thought of Elenora. I had not seen her for a while, and I found my imagination superimposing her face over the recent memories of my time with Zariyah. Shaking my head, I washed off the last of my sweat and bodily fluids. Drying myself, I threw the towels into a basket before I left the baths, in borrowed robes, only in an ever so slightly better mood than when I had entered them. 

Looking around the first floor, there was no sign of Zariyah, nor Elenora for that matter, which was a small mercy. I did however find Kidu and Elwin enthusiastically enjoying a repast of skewered meat and vegetables. My stomach rumbled at the inviting smell, but I still had other things to attend to first. I asked them both to join me in my room at their leisure, to which I received a few mumbled replies, between mouthfuls, that I concluded to be assent.

The heavy package I had received from Vincenzio lay on the bed, an ominous reminder of our accord. I undid the knots of the leather coverings to reveal a thing of most brutal purpose, which brought a grin to my face. It was a quest reward.

About two paces long, the polearm rested against a backdrop of shadowed leather. Its lengthy, dark shaft was banded with ferrules of an even darker metal, providing strength and a hint of menace. A third of the way down was a simple crossguard to protect the wielder's grip or to enhance it for forceful thrusts. At the lethal end, a short-bladed spearhead gleamed dully. Below it, a sinister spike jutted out on one side, while on the other, a heavy hammerhead awaited, designed to crush the armor of any foe unfortunate enough to cross its path.

My initial guess had been correct. It was a poleaxe, a Lucerne hammer if I was not mistaken. Delighted and almost jumping for joy, I cast a spell to confirm its properties.

Shocksteel Lucerne ‘Bellringer’ - [Lesser Magical Weapon]

Durability 600/600

Chapter 47 - Plans for Tomorrow

What use is a good bow if there are no arrows to string?

- A Quassian Aphorism.

I had received the first reward for a chain quest, making it feel like the holidays had come early. Immediately I felt a childish urge to wield it, to spin it about and test it. To smash it against some innocent object in an explosion of delight.

But such thoughts were short-lived as Elwin and Kidu burst into my room, without even knocking. I jumped in surprise.

“What we got here then, Gil?” Elwin began, giving me a cheeky wink. Kidu’s face mostly remained expressionless, but I could see from the tell-tale tightening around his lips that he was annoyed.

“I warned the little man that to enter another’s tent with no announcement is… rude,” the big Hunter rumbled in disapproval.

To condone such behavior would be problematic, but truth be told there was little need for such privacy between us. Still, a few words of chastisement were in order.

“Kidu is correct,” I stated, though there was little force or real ire in my voice.

“Come now, Gil. Got to keep you on your toes, haven’t I? Now what have we here?” he replied, stepping towards the bundle. “I knew this place was meant to be rich, but if this is what you get for bumbling about in the city’s bum-hole, then count me in next time you go for a job!”

The Rogue ran his hands across the dark shaft of the weapon, whistling in appreciation. Irrationally, I felt a small spike of jealousy.

“Now this ain’t just any sort of whacky stick is it now, Gil?” commented Elwin, looking at me with an inquisitive eye. To this Kidu just snorted.

Sharing a look with Kidu, I decided to share what information I had gleaned. “I believe this to be a magical weapon, though of a lesser caliber than the one that Cordelia wields. Also, I have no idea in what way it is actually magical,” I admitted. “Speaking of Cordelia, have any of you seen her as of late?”

“Last time I saw her, she was having words with the mistress of this place... and since it’s rude to eavesdrop, I thought it best not to listen in,” Elwin said.

“Being rude has never stopped you before. Tell us what you know, Elwin,” I sighed, exasperated.

“The big man’s rubbed off on you, eh?” Elwin remarked. Kidu cracked his knuckles in warning. “Nothing meant by it, big man. Just that our welcome here is growing thin. Most likely it was made out of politeness, probably didn’t think we’d actually take her up on it. Foreign folks like that, say one thing and mean another. God knows the big man eats enough for three, and I might have been drinking a bit more, and a bit better, than usual. But… that’s the thing with gratitude, is that it wears out right quick. A threat, on the other hand, stays fresh longer.”

“That’s a rather cynical and Machiavellian way of thinking,” I commented. 

Elwin looked puzzled for a moment before responding, “Don’t know about that Macky stuff, but cynical? Hardly. When you’ve lived as long as I have, you come to know a thing or two about human nature.”

Though I wanted to, I could find no words to refute him.

“I think you should not do things just to receive thanks. Good deeds are their own reward,” rumbled the Hunter in dissent.

As expected, the noble savage was a font of useless wisdom.

“Well, I doubt they will kick us out for a week or two. It will be easy enough for us to earn some money if we can get a few jobs under our belt.” I paused, taking out a few pieces of loot. “I got these from under the city… Elwin, these might be worth a few coins, yes?”

He nodded, his eyes glinting with avarice as he looked at the jewelry. “I can get rid of these somewhere for a half-decent price where it can’t be traced back to us… Can’t help but feel like a bit of caution is in order.”

Kidu looked troubled by this, so I sought to placate him.

A lie would serve me better here than any awkward truth. “I did not steal them. A group of scoundrels tried to end Larynda and me in the sewers. A greedy bunch of thieves, but I turned the tables on them. Let’s just say they won’t be bothering civilized society any longer! So, yes, they are mine by battle right, but that does not mean that other concerned parties would share the same view. Humans can be, well, emotional, when it comes to these things.” 

The large man furrowed his brow in thought, “If these were honorably acquired, then why must Elwin exchange them secretly just for warm lander coin?”

As I was at a loss for a response, it was the Rogue who provided a reasonable answer for me.

Oh Kidu, ever the innocent and noble savage, why did the odious task of educating you in the wiles of civilized man fall upon me? With no small amount of regret, I began my explanation.

“Well, low-life scum usually have a boss, right? Chiefs, like, that they answer to, yes? What would they do if they knew I had gotten a hold of one of their tribe member’s valuables? Would they not take umbrage at that? Misplaced pride if nothing else? Better to be cautious about these things to avoid misunderstandings.”

Acceptance settled in, and the Hunter nodded in slow, reluctant agreement.

Taking a quick breath I moved on to the main matter at hand, “Now, to the next order of business…” I leaned forward conspiratorially. “An opportunity has come my way. I would have you know that I made the acquaintance of someone who will be able to reward us most generously,” I half-whispered for dramatic effect.

“The giver of the weapon?” remarked Kidu.

“Just so, Kidu! I am to meet with him tomorrow. He will be paying me another half a silver, just for meeting him.”

Elwin looked dubious. “So… what’s the strings we talking about here? You an’ me both know that nothings free in this world,” the Rogue inquired.

“Well, that is why we have been requested to meet with him tomorrow to find out. Rest assured that, for the moment, our goals align with his,” I stated confidently.

Indeed our goals did align. Any enemy of the gods of this world was a friend and potential ally of mine. If I could do anything to frustrate the designs of the so-called Divines, then I would do so. Still, I would be doing myself no favors by telling my companions of my true enemies. They might lose heart, after all.

So I told them what I knew of the Necromancer, skipping the part of him being, like me, an enemy of the gods of this world.

“So, I was thinking that just the original crew see what Vincenzio has to offer…” I suggested.

Kidu crossed his arms, his stature and expression making him look as solid and as tough as a forest oak. “Why not bring the woman warrior? She wields a heaven-touched blade too, yes?” asked the Hunter, his thick eyebrows furrowing.

“The big man’s got a point…” chimed in Elwin.

I took in their words, closing my eyes for a moment as I played out a scenario.

Indeed, Cordelia’s blade would be welcome. The problem was the wielder of the sword. At a guess, diplomacy when dealing with a master of the dark arts would not be her forte. This led to me wondering, just as a mental exercise if it would be possible for my party to take down the Necromancer, despite the vast difference in levels between us.

Elwin’s voice cut into my thoughts, “You there, Gil? Having another of your moments?” 

“Just thinking for a moment,” I replied with a forced smile. The Rogue always had a habit of just pressing the wrong buttons. “No, I still think it best that just us three visit Vincenzio tomorrow. Cordelia, bless her heart, is a little inflexible in her thinking,” I concluded.

Seeing that Elwin still looked a little unsure I decided to add, “And with only the three of us, means a larger individual share.” It was almost comical seeing the sudden change in the Rogue’s expression. Just like Elwin, I too was learning the levers that moved a man.

To me, however, the potential monetary rewards were a secondary thing. More important was the information that Vicenzio the ‘Alchemist’ could furnish me with. And any other artifacts that he might have on hand.

With the things looking like they were smoothly in motion, life, as it always seems to do, wanted to object.

There was a delicate knock on the door, followed by a pleasant voice that I knew well, but at this very moment dreaded more than most.

“My Lor… I mean Gilgamesh,” came Cordelia’s voice, almost causing me to jump out of my skin. “May I come in?”

We all shot each other guilty looks. Had we been overheard?

“But of course… Lady Cordelia,” I answered awkwardly a heartbeat later.

Radiance entered with a smile that could have stolen most hearts, leaving those unaccustomed to her charms struck dumb and mute. Cordelia, ever the vision, was the very epitome of classical beauty, her features as finely chiseled as statues from antiquity. Yet, it was precisely her resemblance to the goddess Avaria that laid bare the terrifying scale of the foes aligned against me. Fortunately, I had managed to sway one of their agents to my cause.

This day, she was garbed in a modest orange abaya, a robe-like dress of simple cut, complemented by a light blue chiffon sheila, a headscarf that veiled her head. The fabric framed her oval face, enhancing the vivid emerald hue of her eyes. Though her attire was common in make, she wore these garments with a regality that made it seem as if they had been spun and sewn solely for her form.

“Forgive me, Gilgamesh, I hope I am not intruding on anything,” she offered demurely.

“No… err, not at all!” was my hasty reply. Elwin shot me a vaguely dirty look.

“I have heard that you have encountered a few difficulties in going about your business in the city,” she started to explain, a pleasant smile blossoming on her face. “Though, of course, they were not so great that you would not be able to overcome them, praise be the Goddess.”

“Indeed, praise her name,” I said automatically, eager for her to make her point.

“It seems that the goddess has chosen for you the path of an adventurer. In my wish to assist you in all things, I too wished to walk this path with you,” she added, displaying a small copper badge. “However… unfortunately, I will not be able to join you for a while. While registering at the Guild, I was given an invitation to assist a few others of the faith in their own aspirations… and without me, their lives would surely be in peril,” she continued to explain, her usual veneer surety cracking for a moment.

“So… you’ll be joining a bunch of new adventurers for a while, is that right?” queried Elwin insightfully. His shoulders relaxed ever so slightly, his expression now a touch less guarded.

“Quite so… forgive me, but I simply could not refuse them,” she answered meekly. 

I sighed inwardly in relief. The stars had finally aligned, and luck seemed to be on my side. I nearly jumped for joy, barely able to restrain myself.

The Temple Knight looked down and away, a surprisingly human gesture. "I will require ten days to assist them, so I must beg my leave of you."

"That is indeed a shame," I replied in a morose tone. "We would have been glad to have your sword at our side." I was careful with my words, unsure if she possessed some mystical ability to discern truth, like the Guildmaster in Ansan.

I offered my best smile, a mix of encouragement and regret. "But do not be overly saddened, for this is only a temporary separation. We will be glad to have you return to us in ten days. I wish you good fortune in this venture. My thoughts and prayers will be with you," I said warmly.

"As will mine," she responded, her smile radiant. “By your grace,” she added, before excusing herself and gracefully leaving.

Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed Kidu's expression darkening, like a gathering storm.

Chapter 48 - The Storm

If a man claims he does not fear crossing the Shallow River, he is either a liar or one of the people from the Sword Ridge mountains. At the heart of the ancient Empire, the Ridges stand tall, home to the Sara Sikuttu, the indomitable people of the curved blades, since time immemorial. Tough and proud, they are almost always short of stature and hold themselves closest to the gods because of their lofty mountain homes.

Among these mountain folk, men of fighting age are known as the Labirukai, or Unbroken in the common tongues, for their martial lineage stretches back to a time before the Cataclysm. For over three hundred years, the Unbroken have served in the Praetorian Guard of the Empire, fighting in nearly every major conflict since the reign of the early emperors. They have earned a reputation as the most reliable, disciplined, and fearless warriors in the known world.

The term Unbroken has since come to refer exclusively to the Sara Sikuttu who serve away from their mountain homes.

- The Fanciful Travels by Beron de Laney 376 AC.

For the better part of an hour, I sat on the bed in the dark room alone after my companions had left to rest, or perhaps in Elwin’s case, to have a drink before bed. A storm had come clad in the garment of night, a screaming portent perhaps, of things yet to come. Or that is how it felt, at least, as I put up with its clangor from the safety of solid walls.

Kidu had been, at first, surprisingly intractable. He did not, or was not willing to, understand that Cordelia was definitely not the best choice to meet the Necromancer. Elwin and I both tried to persuade him, and though he eventually relented, it was not without discord. I had to pull rank as the leader of the group. 

The giant of a man would understand in time.

Throughout the debate, my new weapon lay on the bed like an open question. Elwin suggested that it might be a cursed artifact, but I assured him it was not. My Identify spell could easily determine if it was, as it had with the mask in the market, but I felt no urge to explain this to him. 

He would just have to take my word for it for the moment.

On a whim, I decided to leave my room and go downstairs to mingle with the unknown, and to learn more about the city I had found myself in. I nodded to the stout barman Laman and made my way to the backroom to look for Naira. Just as I was about to knock on the door, I heard a familiar voice, muffled through the dark wood.

“...looking like that at this hour. This is madness. And, not a word at all. You should be acting like a woman your age…” Naira’s voice chastised sternly.

There was a bout of tinkling laughter before another voice answered hoarse with emotion, “What would you know of the whispers, mother? You, who sought to chain me with bindings of paper and silk. Oh the irony of it all, for I am free now…”

“Your voice! it has returned?” 

“And all that comes with it. I am a child of the storm, and the storm…. it can not be caged. Can not be bound on sheets of paper, stamped and sealed away to a life of humiliating servitude,”  came the reply, thick with rebellion.

“You know full well why we did that…”

“And do you know why the Wind blows as it does, mother? No, I would guess not. It does not blow to stay in one place, but to move where it wills.”

The voices belonged to Naira, and at a guess, Zariyah?

“Daughter, this path you choose… you can not, must not walk upon it. You must bind yourself to another, and soon,” Naira advised.

I hung about, wanting to knock but wanting to know more. More laughter followed, and I was tempted to burst in and confirm the truth with my eyes.

"And who would you see me bound to? If that is even my wish."

"The very one who freed you," her mother replied, her tone calm but firm. "I saw how he looked upon you, not uncommon for a man of his years, but more importantly, not many would have made the choice that he did. If anything, that is the mark of a good man, to rise above greed and desires. There are worse fates."

"But mother, that would be so... so... boring," came a retort dripping with disdain. "The man is boring. Everything he does is boring. He is a brute who does not possess an ounce of charm."

"Perhaps that is true," her mother conceded with an exaggerated sigh. "But better to bind yourself to one such as him, a man of good character, than someone who is 'exciting.' Believe me, this I know from the wisdom of years. And, as you well know, his healing gift is worth a king's ransom."

Though they were far from the truth, the words cut deeper than they should have. Rejection was ever the bitter pill to swallow.

A tap on my shoulder intruded upon my voyeuristic episode. I spun around suddenly, a half-baked excuse already forming on my lips, only to see Elenora. One eyebrow was arched in challenge, or question, and a delicate finger upon her lips urged me to silence.

She pulled me back gently from the door.

“I would have thought it beneath a man of the Temple to eavesdrop,” she commented, inviting explanation on my part.

“I had business with Naira… I felt it would have been ruder to intrude and was just waiting for a good time,” I explained, feeling a little put out by her words.

I looked over Elenora, her blonde hair tied in a loose braided bun. She had cleaned up admirably, her youthful features returning like fresh morning dew. Dressed in the loose clothes that were common in this city, she cut quite a striking image. Although she was a bit too slender and waifish for my personal tastes, I could objectively appreciate that she was an attractive woman.

“So you say…” she said doubtfully. She gave me a dazzling smile that caught me off guard. “You can tell me all about it over something pleasant,” she offered, taking me by the arm and dragging me, unresisting, to an open table.

A good thing too, for a few seconds later, Zariyah burst from the back room like a sudden squall. Her eyes blazed with fresh anger, and her tread was heavy with ire. She looked at me, saw my present company, and her expression turned to one of utter dismissal, a sneer marring her delicate features.

With a haughty air, she crossed the common room. To the astonishment of everyone who had taken shelter here, she opened the door to the night and, clad only in thin cloth, stepped out into the wet howl of the storm.

“As a humble woman who has once sold her smile, I think that one likes you,” drawled Elenora, her tone languid and teasing.

Though there was no venom in her jibe, a small flare of irritation sparked within me. To sell one’s smile? What on earth did she mean by that?

The blonde woman regarded me for a moment before her voice and expression softened with sympathy. “What’s her story then?”

I drew a breath through clenched teeth before forcing myself to relax. “Where should I begin…”

“Laman, darling… something to wet our throats, if you would?” Elenora asked sweetly, turning away from me and resetting her smile. “I feel like this is going to be a rather lengthy tale…”

“There is really not much to it…” I answered, telling her what I knew of the mystery that was Zariyah.

*****

With a heavy heart, I told my tale. Elenora listened intently as I recounted my time with the red-eyed Hazagadami girl. She interrupted me only a few times to question me about a certain point here and there. I spared few details, painting the tale as well as I could with the brush of memory. 

As time wore on, I found myself speaking not just of her, but of my own burdens and sorrows. It was not the wine that loosened my tongue, rather it was the rare, almost forgotten comfort of having someone truly listen, someone willing to listen to all of my troubles.

With my high Constitution, alcohol did little for me, save to quench my thirst. 

When she excused herself from my company, I almost pathetically begged her to stay longer. Was this, too, a result of an attractive woman's wiles? I shook my head to get rid of such silly thoughts.

I stayed a while longer, telling myself that I was reviewing the events of the past few days and that I was preparing myself for tomorrow. In truth, however, I was most likely waiting for Zariyah. 

But stock boredom eventually won out over shallow worry. With an annoyed huff, I returned to my room. Moments later there was a small knock on my door. Could it be? I wildly raced to the door and opened it.

However, instead of Zariyah, I found Larynda in front of my room. I did my best to hide my disappointment and gave the girl a weak smile.

“What brings you here at this hour?” I asked.

The girl fidgeted for a moment before producing a curious object from her bag. It looked to be a construct of circular wire arranged in concentric circles. Bird feathers dangled from the bottom half of its circumference.

“Just, um, well I know you don’t sleep so well. Kidu and Elwin always say like you have nightmares and all. So, um, I made this for you…” Larynda offered hesitantly.

“What is it?” I replied, doing my best to remain pleasant.

“It’s a dreamcatcher! You hang it up next to your window and it will make sure no bad dreams come, I promise!” she said eagerly.

“Why thank you, Larynda. This is a most welcome gift,” I replied, patting her on the head. “I will have to get you something, too, one day.”

She preened under my praise, visibly puffing up. 

Whether or not this world was real, there was no denying the link between it and mine. The Necromancer had alluded to as much with his explanation of ‘Visitors.’ The presence of humans and Terran animals such as horses also supported this. My very presence was evidence of the fact.

This was just another surprising example.

“But, tomorrow is a long day and we both need our rest. Does Cordelia know you are still up…?” I warned.

The girl visibly paled, gave me a quick goodnight, and swiftly went back to her room. Little did she know that Cordelia had more than likely left already.

I had to be at my best tomorrow, and required rest to make sure that I had sufficient Stamina and Mana for whatever next presented itself to me.

Generally annoyed at the world, I threw the dreamcatcher in the corner. Silly superstitions. 

Flopping on the bed, I soon fell into a deep and troubled sleep.

Chapters 49 - Blossoms in the Wind.

Nurture your own strength and wisdom so that trust flows effortlessly from others to you. And when one has become powerful and wise, it will become easy to trust others. 

-  The Human Question by Gideon de Salavia 378 AC.

Chains of bone and bronze had me bound to four stone pillars. I stood in a wide, dusty plain, beneath a gray sky, the sun a dull presence overhead. The wind blew through, stirring small tornadoes of dust that drew the eye. This place was filled with emptiness and parched with longing.

I tried to move, but I was tightly bound. The limited movements I could manage felt slow and sluggish. Helplessness overtook me. "Put aside your burden, rest," a sweet, sultry voice whispered. "Surely it is better than suffering. Embrace the comfort of the end."

My will began to falter, swayed by the voice. Yes, it would be easy to finally give up and rest. This was a dream, after all, was it not?

Greenery started to grow around the base of the four pillars. Leafy invaders, tenacious and sudden, grasping vines that grew like snakes, tendrils of fresh life spreading across the ground to my armored feet. 

Yes, even in my dreams, I wore armor. For me, it seemed to be the only protection against the madness of this strange place.

Life bloomed in ardent rapture, a rebellious statement against the finality of the dreamscape. White flowers bloomed in unrestrained fever. Something formed from a blizzard of snow petals, coalescing into a form that could only be called divine. 

“You have escaped my attentions for too long…” she drawled, her eyes hungry, and her voice husky with desire.

Iasis, mother of monsters, had come.

I tried to speak but my tongue could summon no words.

She looked at me in confusion for a moment, an expression I would not usually associate with a goddess. “Oh, yes, lest I forget…”

The goddess waved a delicate, naked arm, and the chains that bound suddenly disappeared as if they had never been. Against my will, and suddenly free from bondage, I found myself kneeling.

With a snake’s smile, she looked upon me. “Much better.”

I felt something give way, a snap of a twisted thread. “What are you doing?” I asked her, relieved that some control had returned to me. However, I could not help but notice that my words sounded distant, and not quite my own.

“Why, checking on one of my new and interesting pets, of course,” she cooed. With this, I felt the familiar stirring of a forgotten anger.

My voice came sharper this time. “What and why are you doing this? If this is a dream, then I am the master of this realm!” I shouted, my voice slowly becoming more my own.

I scrunched up my eyes, and willed myself to wake up, only to open them moments later. The goddess was even closer now, the subtle musk and flowery scent of her threatening to overpower my senses. She drew a sharp nail across the line of my jaw.

“Be grateful that I grace you with my presence. There have been many who would have given their lives for such an audience,” she stated, looking me directly in the eye. In the dark ink of her eyes was a primal echo of a different time, a place where one could get lost for an eternity. “And you, currently, are my most favored of all. I am glad that you have visited another of my temples with the mark of devotion upon your chest. For that, and the new life you have brought about, you have found even more favor with me.”

“What are you talking about?” I barked, my anger clouded now with confusion.

“Since times of yore, initiates have come to struggle against my other creations in their devotion to learning more of my mysteries. Fail and they become a sacrifice…”

A scent of lilacs and lavender filled the air as the plants and strange vegetation erupted again suddenly, in fresh ardent bloom. A many-colored carpet coated the desert, but beneath it all lurked a few stray notes of rot.

Wearing nothing more than an enigmatic smile on her sensuous lips, Iasis walked towards me. Where the Divine trod new riotous rainbows of growth leaped up to mark her passage. Kneeling before me, she traced the line of my face before looking me in the eye. 

Against my will, I felt drawn to her, and lust bestirred itself even here in this most strange dream. How I longed to wrap my hands around that slender neck and squeeze the life out of her… How sweet it would be to get a measure of satisfaction.

“I skirt close to the lines of Concord in trying to help you, but then again, I have always preferred a more direct approach in my dealing with mortals. Think upon my words and your recent deeds and the meaning shall become clear to you,” she explained gently. “Now will you be a sacrifice, or will you be more?”

My thoughts spun, whirling before they settled and delivered the only suitable answer. “The Adventurer’s Guild,” I whispered.

The Goddess’ smile of conquest was infuriating in its knowing superiority. “Oh is that what you mortals call it these days… how droll. Now, I wonder how much my high priests are earnest in their devotions in this age…” she mused, twirling a finger through hair of liquid ebon.

Iasis frowned for a moment, disrupting the perfect symmetry of her face. “Perhaps you are not yet ready to accept another of my boons. Instead, I will leave you with this little tidbit, watch the one who hears the laughter of the Wind. That one is no longer bound and will soon be consumed by her essence, and form a calamity.”

She spoke only in senseless riddles. The woman, the thing, sought to toy with me. I would not have it.

“Are you here to help or hinder me!?” I barked, summoning all my will. I was growing tired of this.

She looked at me, her playful expression changing into one of distaste. “Why to help of course. How direct you are… how exquisitely male of you.” She paused for a moment, allowing a pleasant smile to resettle upon her face before continuing, “These things are a matter of timing. You will pray to me in your most desperate of hours and, unlike the others, I will answer you, mortal.”

Resentment boiled supreme in my gut. I would wring out more answers here and now. The voices surged within and I leaped forward to tackle the Divine to the ground. The world exploded in shattered glass and there was a sensation of falling into inky blackness.

My hands shot forward, grasping at nothing but air as I broke free from the dream. My heart drummed wildly in my chest as I continued to thrash for a few moments. Slowly my eyes adjusted to the gloom and I came to the realization that I was no longer in the dream, but in the waking world. 

A message, as incongruous as ever, flashed across my inner vision.

You have gained 1 Wisdom.

Laughter soon won over my earlier episode and I found some measure of cathartic release. As my emotions settled, I wiped the sleep from my eyes and got up from the bed. Splashing some water on my face from an earthenware bowl at my bedside, I washed away the last dregs of sleep.

Someone had conveniently left my gear freshly cleaned in one of the corners. More out of boredom and habit, rather than any real caution, I began the arduous task of donning my armor. It was a devil to do by myself and took me quite a while before I was done.

I took up the hammer, testing its weight, and for a fraction of a moment, there seemed to be a buzz of energy. The weapon rested more easily in my hands, or that was at least how I felt. Perhaps, like me, the magic of the weapon had awakened.

I hung it loosely from my back, the cover of the weapon acting as an ad-hoc baldric. It was heavy, of that there was no doubt, but the solid weight of it felt comforting. The weapon was ideal for smashing through armor and crushing bone.

Against my better judgment, I picked up the dreamcatcher and hung it by the window. As I did so, I cursed myself for being a fool and giving in to primitive customs. Still, it could do no harm, I concluded.

By estimations, it was very early morning, and with nothing to do I found myself going downstairs. Despite the rather early hour, there were people already going about the business of preparing for a new day.

Naira, bent over and washing down a table, paused in her task to look at me curiously. She took me in and surprise showed for just a moment on her face for I was in the gear of war. 

“A good morning to you, Gilgamesh. Are you already expecting trouble?” she opened.

I sat down at one of the many free tables before giving my response, placing the Lucerne across my lap. “Naira, I think it is still a little early in the day for that,” I remarked glibly.

The woman sighed for a moment and continued with her task for another minute. Unexpectedly she put away the cleaning rag and wiped her hands on another cloth. Grabbing a pitcher and two mugs from the bar, the woman sat down uninvited across from me.

She filled the mugs with watered wine and offered me one which I accepted. Naira took a small sip.

“I need your help,” she started without ceremony. “Though I understand you have no obligation to help us.”

I wet my lips before giving my reply, “While I am under your roof I have at least an obligation to hear you out.”

She looked away and fiddled with a loose thread of her apron. In that moment, Zariyah’s mother looked surprisingly girlish. 

“Zariyah… she needs your help,” she stated.

“Oh, she does, does she? Have I not helped your daughter enough?” came my flat response. I had to stop myself from gritting my teeth. “What is it this time?”

“I fear she is losing herself. Her new willfulness is not entirely her own. You may not know this, but she is gifted, blessed by Mana. But the spark of the One God that resides within her is of the Wind… Those of that element, their path can lead only into madness. It is the way of unmoored freedom, without a guide or compass. Please bring her back and bind her to you. She needs an anchor and a rock.”

“What on earth are you talking about? This sounds like a lot of mindless babble to me,” I replied, taking another lazy swig.

“I see the way you look at her. You could have taken her against her will, but instead gave her the freedom to choose… A choice made in just kindness, but a choice that has perhaps doomed her,” she explained further, her expression strained. “You care for her do you not? I am not so young as to be blind to these things.”

There was silence, a pregnant pause as she awaited my answer. I, on the other hand, was waiting for a message from the system. When no offer of a quest came, a sneer stole across my face and my response was harsher than it should have been.

“You think of me as some simple lovestruck youth. Madam, I may be short in the count of years but I am not a fool. I will not chase after someone who bears me no regard. That she has shown on more than one occasion.” The words came out almost as a hiss. “Bind her to me? Nonsense, I will make no barbaric contract and perpetuate an idea that is slavery in all but name. This is a matter of pride for me.”

I drew a deep breath, wanting to end the conversation on a softer note. “I will help her if I can, but I will not go out of my way, nor make any promises I can not keep. I owe you both that, at least. I will never enslave another being for any reason. Now then, there are many pressing matters that demand my attention. You will have to excuse me,” I finished, getting up

All she could do was nod, knowing that she could press me no further, she decided instead to try another tact. “Do you know what it is that women find most attractive?”

Despite myself, I found myself stopping as curiosity ruled me.

“Status, good looks, the usual nonsense,” I answered with a sigh.

The woman looked at me with a wane smile. “No, Gilgamesh. It is devotion. Think on that, for a moment.”

To this I snorted, thoroughly annoyed, and went back upstairs to wake my companions. 

We had wasted enough time, and we had a long day ahead of us. 

Chapter 50 - The Dream of the Dust

A true understanding of the martial path will forever elude the one who seeks only the journey’s conclusion. It is in the depths of study and the intricacy of the reasons behind each step along that path that enlightenment and mastery are truly found.

- The Living Sword by Fen Vaigorus circa 520 AC.

The first meal of the day was a light breakfast of fruit and lightly salted meat on saffron rice. At first, we ate in silence, our expressions dour, fueling ourselves for what was to come. But with his ever-rogueish grin, Elwin mentioned Ansan and our time together as slaves.

This opened a floodgate of memories. We spoke of the little things, of past adventures and shared experiences. 

And of vanquished foes and challenges overcome. 

Our words danced on the edge of bittersweet nostalgia, each tale a thread of our shared history. The conversation was a gentle stab at, and poignant reminder of, our past. It infused the space between us with a quiet, unspoken understanding. The meal made me almost feel that we were saying our goodbyes.

*****

“I’m saying this just pretty much for the sake of saying it, but like, you sure about this?” Elwin asked with only the smallest of hints of nervousness.

“I’m as sure as can be. This is destiny… I can feel it.”

“You know, I heard a lot of people saying this and saying that about destiny and fate and all that malarkey. Just saying, and just saying, mind you… most of them ain’t on this side of the Shallow River,” the Rogue remarked.

Kidu placed a massive paw on Elwin’s shoulder. “If Gilgamesh feels this is the best course of action, then I place my spear with his. He has not let us on the wrong trail yet.”

“Yes, Elwin. If we wish for power we must take it!”

“Quick reminder though. Just so you know and all, that really isn’t one of my wishes, if you’re thinking of granting it.”

I drew myself up, straightened my shoulders and looked him square in the eyes. “Why were we made slaves?”

“Got a bad roll of the dice,”

“No, Elwin. It was because we were powerless. Would you have that happen to us again?”

“But a practitioner of the dark arts an’ all? Really, now?”

The large hunter snorted at this. “There are things that the Wise Ones do that you warm landers would call dark arts. Ignorant, you are. Minds inflexible, like heartwood.”

Thank you Kidu, perfect timing.

“But the little man, womanly as his words sound, may have a point. When dealing with other tribes, one must be as careful. Are they friend or foe?”

“As you say Kidu. But I have spent a lot of time thinking about this. I believe the opportunity outweighs the prevalent risks.”

“Sounds like famous last words to me,” Elwin cut in.

Regardless of Elwin’s trepidation, it was time to cross the threshold. I knocked twice on the door to the Necromancer’s chambers and waited for a few moments before a voice called out that I could enter. Pushing against the dark wood, I could not help but marvel at how smoothly it opened.

“One sees you have brought company,” the walking cadaver of a man greeted me. Vincenzio seemed hardly off-put by the presence of Kidu and Elwin. 

“You sure about this, Gil? I mean this looks dodgy as hell, like,” commented the Rogue sarcastically.

I shook my head in mild consternation. “Vincenzio has treated me well so far. Forgive the cliche, Elwin, but one should not judge a book by its cover.”

“Mild insults aside. Who are these two?” the Necromancer asked. “Talking of covers, they do not look to be of the cultured sort.”

“They are my companions and good men. They are sworn to me and I trust them with my life,” I stated firmly. Kidu snorted in response, that simple act more menacing than if he had drawn a weapon.

“More importantly, they can keep a secret,” I made sure to add.

The sallow man looked my companions over. “Very well then. I know that Visitors have a strange habit of picking up the strangest of companions. It is part of their glamor. Also, one supposes that a few more pairs of trusty hands can only help,” he remarked offhandedly, throwing me a small purse that jingled as it flew through the air.

I checked its content, noting, much to my surprise, that it was filled with slightly tarnished silver coins.

The Necromancer looked me steadily in the eye. “Payment for your time. Excuse the coins, habit if nothing else. One still doesn’t trust those slips of paper. Also, the Milander, as you know, was an excuse,” he stated.

I gave the purse to Elwin, who readily accepted it with his greedy hands. Kidu just looked on steadily, his presence a solid rock.

“Your master…” the Necromancer began to explain, only to be interrupted by Kidu.

“Not master,” the giant of a man stated simply, his voice a rumble of challenge.

“Very well, leader then,” Vincenzio accepted with a small smirk on his face. “Requires power to overcome the challenges that await him in the future…”

There was a pause, a slight relaxation, as my companions took in his words. I had almost expected the Necromancer to divulge my origins.

“Are you a Windspeaker that can see the path between the storms, to make such a claim?” asked Kidu doubtfully. 

Vincenzio answered patiently, “One does not need the gift of the River to foresee as such…”

“An’ more importantly, what’s in it for you?” cut in the Rogue with a sharp question.

“We have an accord. A common purpose. Would it suffice to say that it is for reasons akin to revenge?” replied the pale man.

“Not really, not got any idea what you are talking about…” remarked the Rogue.

“I want his magic scroll to further my path,” I said quietly. “So first, I must help him with a few things.”

The Rogue placed his hands behind his back as he started to wander around the workshop. “Sounds fair enough… but these things are?” 

“The death of Kaila… Kaila de Arancrai, among a few others,” was Vincenzio’s flat response.

I could not help a small grin steal across my face. “What for? I have encountered that one already. It did not go well for her.”

He raised an eyebrow. “That should not have been a surprise. You Visitors are drawn to each other by the threads of fate. She possesses a power that none should have…”

Again Elwin cut in saucily, “I have a feeling that Visitor has a bit of a deeper meaning than a gal just passing through.”

“A dangerous existence. She can control the minds of others. Deceive them to make them believe things that should not be. It is a power that none should possess as it strikes against the very pillar of free will!” Vincenzio explained in an impassioned voice, ignoring Elwin. “Though one doubts she yet understands the true scope of her powers. With the correct application, one could topple kingdoms and rule empires. It is a miracle you survived an encounter with that one.” 

He took a breath and added softly, “Perhaps there is yet still hope if Gilgamesh can resist her powers…”

In honesty, not so much resist, but rather circumvent. Still, I knew in my bones that in a direct confrontation between the two of us, I would triumph.

“For all that you say of her so-called powers, I do not fear that one,” I exclaimed confidently. “I will end her gladly if you can find for me the opportunity, I will smash her brains in with the weapon you have so kindly provided me.”

Kidu looked worried, his brow furrowed in thought. “I am not sure about cutting the thread of an innocent.”

I answered the wild man diplomatically, “She and her cronies were the ones who attacked me under Naira’s roof. She stole my possessions and is without honor. Do you still believe she is innocent?” 

“I see, then, she is deserving of it. Though she is a woman, she will find her fate,” he growled in agreement with me. 

Oh, thank you noble Kidu for your support, I thought to myself, doing my best to hide my glee.

“However, things are slightly more complicated than that,” Vincenzio sighed. “She enjoys the protection of the Guildmaster of the Adventurers. That aegis is not so easily broken. The Guildmaster is a member of the Iasis Cult, that wretched order of blood and senseless death. He will need to be dealt with one day as well. Therefore, you will need the protection of a power equal to the Guild. To achieve that, he must become much more powerful, enough to attract the attention of such a formidable patron."

The Guildmaster, a member of the Iasis Cult? It made sense. Iasis herself had implied as much about the Guild. It was, in essence, her modern-day church.

He paused, considering the weight of his words. “Becoming a champion of the barbaric Festival would be one such way… though that would be no easy task.”

“I am assuming you have a plan for all of this? I am also wondering, you are powerful enough in your own right, why do you need our help in this?” I asked archly.

Out of habit, he ran a hand through his non-existent hair. “One does indeed, on all counts. As for Kaila, the Guildmaster, and the Festival, you will need to grow more powerful to stand even a chance at success. As for why one can not play a more direct part in all of this… that is simply not one’s role. I can not afford to draw the gaze of powers far greater than even myself.”

“But I can?” I replied sarcastically.

“By your very nature, yes, if that is answer enough. And, forgive me, but that is all the answer one can give you.”

It wasn’t, not by a long shot, but I had a feeling that pressing him would be just a waste of effort. Pressing mystic types such as him, was more often than not, simply unproductive.

“I can grow in power… but that will require time,” I countered suspiciously, feeling irritated at all the steps that would be required of me to finish this damn quest.

“There is a way to grow quickly… but it might be dangerous,” remarked the Necromancer casually.

Sly dog, all of this was but the groundwork for you to say that, I observed a second later. I chose to keep my silence, prompting Vincenzio to explain.

“You will have to enter a Dust Dream of a special sort…”

“Gil, we were well warned many times of the Dust. Those who lose themselves in it are left as nothing more than broken men. It is a temptation that gets at yer mind, body, and soul!” cried Elwin in warning.

“That may perhaps be true. But, one senses that, with Master Gilgamesh’s constitution and resolve, a single dream would not be overly detrimental.” Vincenzio left his counter hanging in the air for a few moments before continuing. “And this would be no ordinary Dust Dream, but a shared one with perhaps the greatest warriors this world has ever known...”

Did my ears deceive me, or did I hear a note of nostalgia in the practitioner of the dark arts’ voice? I cricked my neck, feeling one of the bones pop.

“...the Dream will give you time to hone your skills. All you will need to do is to overcome that challenge.”

Lust for power warred with common sense as I mulled over the Necromancer’s offer. The temptation laced in his words ate away at my reserve. Surely a single dose of the Dust could do me no lasting harm?

“Very well then, Vincenzio. I accept your offer,” I answered determinedly. There could be no reward without risk.

“Gil, you’re not serious. Gil…” was Elwin’s shocked response.

“I will watch over you in this Dream, if that is what you wish,” said Kidu supportively.

“Then we are in agreement. I must make a few preparations. Take this time to gird yourself for this challenge,” finalized the Necromancer, his tone surprisingly anti-climactic.

*****

I lay on a simple wooden bed, my companions hovering over me like worried hens. Mysteriously, the necromancer reverently placed a chunk of Zajasite and a well-worn scabbard by my side.

“What are those?” I asked, doing my best to hide my trepidation.

“Tokens of an old friend. The person who will guide you on the next part of your journey. They sacrificed a part of themselves for this moment,” he answered somberly.

Why did they always have to answer in damn riddles? No matter, as long as I gained a few levels and skills from this then putting up with the mindless waffle was a small price. 

The Necromancer’s method made sense, I justified to myself, the brain did, after all, process things many times faster when in a dream state. Add to that the magical nature of this world, then there was a very real possibility that this would act as a shortcut to power.

“This can only be done once, and never again repeated. So do not think of giving up unless things are most dire. Do not wake from the dream until you have defeated its guardian. Do you understand this?” warned Vincenzio harshly.

His words rang true to my ears. So he did want me to succeed, at least. I smiled evilly at the thought.

He offered me a purple concoction flecked with dashes of alien green. Sitting up, I moved it up to my lips, stopping just before making contact.

“Don’t you wish to know where to find the Beron’s Dream?” I inquired, testing him one last time.

“You can tell me when you complete your task,” he replied simply. He either genuinely wanted me to succeed or was a very accomplished liar indeed. “Drink all of that down.”

And so, I did as instructed.

The fluid tasted of nothing, which was, in itself, disgusting and alien to my tongue. Forcing it down required an effort of will. A sense of relaxation washed over me, as if all was well with the world. Elwin and Kidu looked anxious. Odd, I thought, for there was no place for worry here.

My eyes grew heavy, yet my soul felt, strangely, as light as a feather. Sleep called to me, in deeper notes than I had ever heard before. It entered me like water seeping into a ball of cotton. My last thought, as I walked the path of oblivion, was that I should have brought Larynda’s Dreamcatcher.

*****

I awoke gently inside the dream, walking through a field of mist and ghost grass. Each step was filled with purpose and direction, and as I progressed, the world around me slowly began to take on color. The soft call of birds, lilting and musical, filled the air, mingling with the scent of pine.

A few more steps.

Now I could hear the gurgling of a stream, beckoning me with its cheerful song. That was the place I needed to go. I walked on to the stream.

I bent down to touch the crystal water, feeling its cool, clean touch. Above me, the sun shone, burning away the last of the mists.

A house appeared, forming out of nothing, like a raw statement of existence. It was a squat construction of simple red earthen brick and a thatched roof. Smoke escaped from a chimney at its top.

The door of the simple abode opened.

A middle-aged woman appeared from the door, as if she were a character walking out of the pages of an old tale. Her back was straight, and she moved with a grace that would have put most dancers to shame. She wore a practical-looking light yellow tunic and a man's trousers of an ochre hue.

Her hair was cut short, for a woman at least, a chestnut brown with a few threads of gray. As she walked towards me, I saw a fierce aspect in her. A straight scar ran across her nose, just beneath hazel eyes that showed the first signs of time's kiss.

When she was three paces away, she looked at me as if I were an unwelcome guest in this realm.

Like a nervous child fighting a stutter, I nonetheless found it within me to ask my question.

"Who are you?"

She smiled enigmatically, with only a sliver of annoyance tarnishing her expression. The woman drew a breath, looking around at this world, at me, drinking deep of the details before her.

She spoke as if singing, the words flowing together in an accent I had never heard before, in a language I had never known, yet now understood on an almost intrinsic level.

"My name is Fen… and it seems the world has forgotten me too soon."

Epilogue

All around him was darkness, but the smells and sounds of the world painted a vivid picture, a tapestry woven since his first squeaks and chirps. This was the world he had always known.

A sharp bite pierced his thick, matted fur. It was a new parasite, one of many that plagued him. Instinctively, he twisted to investigate with his nose, but the nuisance was just out of reach, nestled behind his neck. Chittering angrily, he rubbed himself against a rough stone wall, seeking relief.

Suddenly, his keen ears caught a sound distinct from the myriad background noises. An alien noise, the steps of something foreign to this place. It was the gait of a creature either extremely foolish or so powerful it knew no fear.

A call sounded, a chorus of chitterings and released musk summoning his brothers and sisters to converge upon the invaders. Excitement surged through him, his verminous heart beating fast as he began to salivate. His front incisors clicked to the rhythm of the hunt.

First, a trickle of rodent flesh joined him, and together they scampered across the stone floor or swam through the filthy waters of their home. He had grown a powerful new tail, asserting his dominance over those less advanced in the blessed Change, helping him swim. Long and muscular, it was no longer than a rat’s tail, but had mutated, ending in a serpent’s head that rattled and hissed.

Those blessed with a mutated tail were held in higher regard, perceived to be closer to the Father for reasons unknown to even the oldest of the brood. He noted others showing deeper signs of the Change. One rat glowed with a sickly green bioluminescence, bright enough for him to observe the myriad of compound eyes along its flanks and hindquarters, despite his poor eyesight.

His musk glands released the scent of frenzy, urging the lesser rats around him to greater speed. The trickle grew to a stream as more rats joined, galvanized by their leader's scent. He felt a stirring akin to when he first joined with a fat, healthy female, the fever-lust threatening to overtake his reason. 

He focused, letting it drive but not control him.

The stream grew into a river, then a flood, as he and his brethren rushed towards their prey. The hunger, the great gift of the Father, demanded to be sated. 

It demanded an end.

Standing on two legs, the intruders were tall like the vermin’s creator. They had false skin and fur, a parody of the Father’s perfection. All the intruders wielded flames, holding them up as a challenge against the darkness. The rats, a multitude, took up the challenge, bearing down upon them. The vile creatures, an angry, chittering wave of voracious rodents, crashed upon their prey.

Despite their ravenous assault, they broke upon one of the tall ones, a giant of hard skin that gleamed and bore a long, sharp claw. It swept with blows that sundered rats as if they were paper, cleaving through their ranks like a maddened bull. Another tall one, willowy, summoned a ball of vine light that coursed through the dirty water, scalding flesh and killing the giant mutated rats by the dozen.

Lesser animals would have broken, unwilling to risk their survival against such hard targets. But these rats were of a different breed. They had a single driving force instilled in them since the first Change: a need to kill, to sacrifice others and feast upon their remains. To bring low all that was before them as offerings for the Grand Purpose.

The plague of vermin poured unceasingly over the tall ones, surrounding and enveloping them from all angles. One of the tall ones cried out, knelt, and began to mutter as its packmates protected it. 

They smashed and bludgeoned the rats within their weapon's reach, clearing a space. Moments later, a semitranslucent shell formed over them, shielding them from the vermin that bit and clawed at the barrier.

The tall ones grew in confidence, the barrier a visible sign of their superiority. Their scent was steady and sure, like an alpha or first broodmother. Until the first spidery cracks appeared, spreading like the first flaws of lake ice in spring. The rats were tenacious. It was in their nature.

The tall ones’ scent changed to a heady musk of desperation and panic, throwing the rats into a redoubled frenzy. Tooth and claw continued to attack the barrier, the hunger driving them to seek the sweet flesh within. The barrier shattered in a tinkling of expended energy.

This time, the rats buried the tall ones in a flood of furred bodies. The one with the long claw fell, bowled over by the storm. Sharp incisors tore at leather straps before ripping off the hard, shiny scales. Finally, they bit into the yielding flesh. 

The screams of the tall ones were barely heard over the excited frenzy of the plague. It was a banquet, a festival of iron blood and exquisite flesh.

The serpent-tailed rat fed with his brethren, gulping down the soft bits first, as was his right. His serpent hissed a warning against others who sought to challenge him. 

Finally sated, he felt it: an electric thrill ran through him, a sign he was becoming closer to the Father’s image. His limbs grew longer, straighter. His muscles bulked up, and the bones of his spine began to Change. His mind grew in clarity, with new thoughts that both excited and troubled him.

For half a breath, he felt he could understand the universe and his place in it. All things must end. Another great Change was spurred by this thought. His throat began to warp and mutate. A strange desire to give voice to his purpose. 

Like the first blessed twenty, the mantle of destiny had fallen upon him.

He rasped, a raw, unfamiliar sound, forced from his throat. It was barely a word, more simply a guttural cry. But, it was potent in meaning, giving glory to their creator. 

It was the first word of his new kind.