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> Paradise, A story set in my world of Teir
redsrock
post Jan 2 2009, 06:12 AM
Post #1


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Here is the link to: Redsrocks Other Stories


The following is a story set in my world of Teir, and more specifically, the northeastern continent of Kazkaydia. I hope you enjoy it. smile.gif

Paradise

Chapter One: Sweet Redemption

Escaping hadn’t been easy, and if it weren’t for my Domen claws we never would have gotten out to begin with. The Avlarians sure do go above and beyond to ensure that we Domen don’t escape their slave-pens. And it seemed like it took forever to cut through the rope that was keeping the iron cage lifted. Once I was finally able to cut through, the gate fell down and about two-hundred of us ran out of the pen. That was a whole three days ago. And now I’m still fighting through the snowy forests southward.

As for the exact number of survivors following our hectic midnight break out, I have no idea, for I had lead the pack springing out of the small Avlarian town as fast as my old legs could carry me. In two months I’ll be fifty years old…I think. And now, as I sit in a snow-covered tree that looms high above the even snowier ground, only two of my fellow Domen still follow me. The others were either captured or killed, and I pray to Shaol it was the latter.

“Azril, do you see any of them?” said one of my companions from behind, Razlo.

“Hush, fool! Do you want them to hear us?” I said in a stern whisper. “I don’t see any of them right now, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they’re not there. Just be patient, Razlo! We move when I say we move!”

That certainly hushed him up, but I did feel a bit of remorse. Razlo had been a good friend of mine ever since we both met each other in the Avlarian slave camp some thirteen years ago, and to yell at him was…strange, to say the least. He was a good twenty or twenty-something years younger than me, and I felt as if I was acting like a father to him. But I had to be firm, or else risk the chance of being captured or killed. And if any of those two were to happen, again I pray to Shaol it be the latter.

Suddenly I heard movements from down below. We were relatively high above the ground, but I was still able to see down below clear enough to make out what was moving around, thanks to my keen sense of sight. (That was one good thing about being a Doman. Even as you aged, your senses never dropped in effectiveness) The sun was slowly starting to rise, meaning Shenzai was breathing once again, its rays offering a bit of light to help us along the way to Ibisaro, Ibisarian territory. According to a group of Domen slaves that had arrived at the Avlarian slave-camp nearly a month or so ago, the Ibisarians in Ibisaro were housing runaway Domen slaves. After this was learned we began planning our escape from the Avlarian slave-camp in Klor. Ibisarians housing Dome slaves was only a rumor, yes, but it was a rumor worth acting upon.

“Did you hear that?” My other companion, Jariic, asked; he only in his early teens. I quickly hushed him up by holding a finger to my mouth and giving him a scowl.

Down below a figure stepped out from behind a bush, and following that figure were two others. By the light-looking grey robes with a red diamond in the middle they were wearing, I knew they were Avlarian slavers. The scum had followed our trail after all. I still couldn’t believe how they could wear such little clothing in such frigid cold. Granted, the southeastern region of Klout wasn’t nearly as cold as the most northeastern parts. But still, it was cold enough for snow, so it was cold enough for me. I had always assumed that the Avlarians’ skin had developed a tolerance to the bitter cold, and that’s why they didn’t have to wear a lot of clothing. We Domen have a natural fur coat, yes, but I still wished I was wearing some kind of manmade coat. Even the ugly ones the Avlarians sometimes wore during the harsher blizzards that plague the land during the middle part of Aktel, what we Domen refer to as winter.

“Shh…” I said to my two companions. “We wait for them to head back north, and then we’ll move out. Stay here, I’m going to get a closer look.”

I was about to climb down the branches, but Razlo grabbed my arm forcefully from behind before I could do so. “And what if they catch you, Azril? This is not a good idea. Why must you get a closer look anyway?”

I turned back to him and whispered, “Because I have my reasons. Stay here and do not come down. If something is to happen, continue on without me, and remember to keep following the Ailic River.”

And then I left without giving either of them a chance to respond.

Climbing down the branches was harder than I expected it to be. ‘Course, climbing trees in general was harder than I expected as well. As a child I used to climb trees with my friends constantly. After that day when I was captured, however, it all changed. It was all hard labor after that. Two days ago, the day we all escaped from Klor, marked the first day I had climbed a tree since I had been turned into a slave to work for the Avlarian army, and more specifically the army based in the Vericor Sector of Klout. And though Razlo, Jariic and I had been traveling through the trees of the forest since we escaped, my old age has kept me back from getting used to things as they once were. Forty-something years will do that to you. I’m actually surprised I’ve lasted this long. Then again…maybe I’m not almost fifty to begin with…

As I crept down the tree-branches little by little I did my best not to slip and cause a sound that might give away my position, and doing so was much easier said than done. It was dangerous enough because the limbs were wet from the mostly-melted snow, but some of the branches were even frozen. I avoided those branches of course. Still, it was very dangerous, and I was starting to think that perhaps I shouldn’t have left my position to begin with.

“They can’t be too far,” said one of the men, the one who had stepped out of the bush first. I was hanging above them, fairly close to them now, only about ten yards high.

“I doubt it,” one of others from behind said. “They’re probably in the Yonderland now, Duric. Domen are fasts creatures.”

“Yes, Rechi, but one of them was an older fella’. I could see it in his limp. It was a slight limp, but a limp nonetheless. I wouldn’t be surprised if they stopped to rest. Keep an eye out for them.”

Close, but not quite. I didn’t have a limp, and the only reason it had looked as if I was limping back in the small town was because I had stubbed my toe one something hard while escaping.

The three turned around and started to continue along the snow-covered path, and once they were underneath me I sprang into action just as I had planned all along, for I knew they’d catch up with us sooner or later. I jumped from my position and landed on top of the leader of the trio, latching onto his shoulders with my claw-hands and bringing him to the ground. I quickly swiped at the Avlarian’s throat with my razor-sharp six inch nails, slitting his throat. The two men watched in horror as their leader began to gargle, struggling to stay alive. Then one of the other two, the one who had spoken, charged at me with an axe that looked as sharp as my nails. But he was as clumsy as most Avlarian warriors were, and I easily dodged his charge by rolling to the right at the last second as he brought his axe done. The axe-head hit the ground and was momentarily stuck. While the opportunity displayed itself I ran up behind him and dug my nails through his neck, leaving him to gargle on the ground as well.

And as the two dying men struggled to breathe even though they knew it was of no use, the last remaining Avlarian stood where he had been the entire time, his body shaking and his hands shaking even more. He was obviously scared, and I enjoyed that immensely.

“Please…leave me alone!” he yelled as I began to walk towards him. He fumbled for his own axe but dropped it because his hands were shaking so violently. He tried to grab for it on the ground, but I ran over and clawed across his right cheek, causing him to fall back several feet as I bent down and tossed the axe several yards behind me and out of reach for the last remaining Avlarian. And as he lay there, he held his hands up in surrender. “Just leave…I swear I won’t follow you!”

Tears were now beginning to fall down his hairy face, but I didn’t care. Tears and frightful emotion only made the scene more pleasurable. He and his people had killed and abused hundreds of my kind, and for unforgivable reasons at that. He deserved whatever I decided to give him, and no less.

By this time the other two Avlarians had finally passed away, ascending to whatever false afterlife they believed in, to whatever ridiculous false Gods and Goddesses they worshipped. The man that laid on the ground in front of me was about the do the same thing, but I would make him suffer. Slitting the other two’s throat was getting off easy. But just as I was above to begin, I was grabbed from behind, again by Razlo.

“What in the name of Shenzai are you doing?” He asked, looking at me as if I were crazy.

“I told you to stay up in the tree!”

“I was, until you decided to give away our hiding spot! Why did you do that?”

“They were going to find us eventually! It’s better to kill them now before they catch us later. This is for our own good, Razlo. Get back up into the tree with Jariic!”

But apparently that comment was worthless, for that’s when I realized Jariic was standing right behind Razlo, looking rather guilty for disobeying my orders. I was no official leader of anything like that, but I always felt leadership was an important tool.

“Zeg’reh!” I cursed loudly, my hands tightening with anger. “Get back up in the-“

Suddenly I stopped talking as I felt a hot, sharp pain go through my calcaneal tendon. I fell to the ground helplessly and found that the Avlarian had cut me with a dagger. Screaming in agony, I clawed once more at him, this time for the hand that was carrying the dagger. I knocked the dagger aside and then lunged from the seat of my bottom, pouncing on top of the Avlarian. With the adrenaline I was having I was able to hold the man’s two hands down above his head with my left hand, and then using my free right hand I dug into his eyes with my middle and index fingers. The man shouted in sheer anguish, trying his best to get free of my grip, but it was no use. I wasn’t budging.

When I ceased in digging into his eyes and brought my hand from his face, his eyeballs were still inside of their sockets, but it was hard to tell from all the blood that was pouring down his mouth and chin. Regardless, it was obvious he could see no more, for he was now crawling through the snow aimlessly, waiving his hands in random directions and screaming words that made no sense.

As I was walked towards him, now with his dropped dagger in my hand, this time Jariic grabbed me from behind. “Leave him be, Azril! He’s suffering enough! Let’s just leave before his yelling attracts more of them!”

I looked at Jariic with a surprised expression, for it was quite strange to see him so emotional. He was a quiet one, that much was certain. And I suppose it was because of him that I decided to end the fun. “One more moment,” I said sternly, and continued towards the Avlarian that could no longer see me. I stood above him and then sat down on his chest, and he was a position where he could not strike me with his hands or kicked me with his legs. I opened his mouth by pulling down forcefully on his bottom lip with my long nails, and then I brought down the dagger and shoved it down his throat. I then got up and stood beside his body and watched his suffer and struggle. And I smiled, maybe even chuckled. I’m not quite sure. It was certainly enjoyable to see him go through such pain… the type of pain my own people have suffered through for almost three hundred years now. Redemption was a sweet thing.

Behind me, Razlo and Jariic were gawking at me as if I were a monster, there pointed ears pointing straight in the air just as all Domen’s do when they feel something is bad. I’ll openly admit that my actions were somewhat questionable, but at the same time they were justifiable as well. It was the least I could do for the Domen that had died needlessly at the hands of the Avlarians. If it weren’t for Jariic’s sudden outbreak of disapproval I would have went even further.

“I…I can’t even begin to believe what just happened. Are…are you insane?” Razlo asked me.

“Insane? No...not even close. Insane is enslaving an entire race of people because of something that happened three hundred years ago. Insane is cutting off a Doman’s tongue just for the fun of it, and then shoving the tongue down that Doman’s throat. Insane is you in front of me, complaining because I am avenging the pointless deaths of so many Domen before us.”

My speech was started to become slurred because of the anger that was boiling inside of my veins. I couldn’t fathom why Razlo was so disapproving of my actions. If anything, I’d expect him to join in. Then again…he was always one to question rebellious activities. According to him, we Domen were supposed to “accept our role in the world of Teir.” I didn’t believe that nonsense of course, and neither most of us back at the slave-camp. It’s actually hard to believe that we’ve come to be such good friends, given that fact that we tend to disagree with one another. But, as I think I’ve heard before, opposites attract.

“This…this is just crazy, Azril! Look what you did the poor man! He was following orders! How do you know he really wants to see us imprisoned?”

“It doesn’t matter, Razlo! He’s part of them, so he’s one of them! I can’t believe you’re arguing this! What about your brother? He was killed just weeks ago by these…scum! And you’re still going to stand here and lecture that my actions are horrible?”

“He has a point, Razlo,” Jariic said. I was very happy for him to have taken my side. “The Avlarians do deserve what they get.”

“You too, huh?” Razlo exclaimed, throwing his hands in the air. “Fine! I don’t care. Let’s just get out of here before more of them come!”

The two continued southward towards Ibisaro, following the plan all of us back in Klorr had originally thought up. And I followed close behind, the blood under my nails and all over my hands having finally dried because of the frigid coldness.


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redsrock
post Jan 4 2009, 05:42 AM
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Chapter Two: A Distant Memory?

As soon as I took my first step from the battle-scene I immediately dropped the ground, shaking with pain and clutching my lower ankle from behind. The adrenaline had apparently worn off and I was feeling the stinging pain from the wound that the Avlarian slaver had given me. The snow and cold did help a bit I suppose, for the chilliness helped cool the pain. Though as I looked at my lower ankle, I knew it was a fairly serious injury.

“Jigleer!” I cursed loudly, probably a bit too loudly. Razlo and Jariic ran over to my side, both inspecting the wound with sickened expressions. “Here, you two, carry me behind those bushes over there so we’re not in the open. Hurry, before more Avlarians show up!”

The two of them picked me up with ease, both of them a good thirty or so pounds heavier than I, and carried me behind a set of snow-covered bushes that almost resembled small trees because of their size. They started to lay me down but Razlo’s hands slipped, and I hit the back of my head violently on the ground. Things were dizzy, and then I looked up to see Razlo himself kneeling over my body.

“Sorry, Azril,” he said, though I doubted the sincerity of his tone.

“Sorry isn’t going to rid my head of this knot,” I said sourly, feeling my head and already noticing a bump forming where my head had hit. Lucky for me the one-foot layer of snow helped to break my fall, or else I could have been knocked out. I had certainly lost enough blood from the wound for that to have happened.

“Yes, well…if you had listened to me to begin with none of this would have happened, and we would have been able to travel through the trees. Not any longer, though. Not with you injury here.”

I ignored the comment, mostly because I wasn’t in the mood to argue. That would undoubtedly come at a later time. “Jariic,” I said, now starting to feel dizzy from something other than my fall, “Go check the Avlarians’ bodies and see if they’re carrying some kind of towel to wrap my ankle with. I’m losing a lot of blood right now.”

Jariic sprinted off to check on the dead bodies, and I that’s when I noticed Razlo was staring me down with an expression I wasn’t quite able to interpret. “Something the matter?” I asked him impatiently.

“Yes, your actions back there,” he snapped, and I think more rudely than he wanted to be. “Why in the world would you do something so foolish, Azril? Out of selfish wants?”

I sighed heavily and closed my eyes, now feeling a headache coming on to accompany the dizziness. “No, Razlo. I already explained this. They would have caught up with us eventually, and I thought it would be better to get rid of them while he still had the element of surprise. The Avlarians don’t take kindly to runaway slaves. You’ve seen what happens to those they recapture, Razlo. Most escapees are tortured, and only the lucky few are killed.”

Razlo shook his head, and then sat down on a large rock after wiping the snow away first. “I still don’t agree with it, and I definitely don’t agree with how you handled the situation. Killing them is one thing, but…” He didn’t continue for several seconds, but rather stared into the ground. And even when he continued to speak, he still didn’t look me in the eyes. “When you stuck your claws into the slaver’s eyes, I was speechless. As was Jariic. And then when you… when you shoved the dagger through that same slaver’s throat, I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. You didn’t have to be so…brutal. I’ve never seen you like that before, Azril. What came over you?”

“Nothing came over me, other than the satisfaction that I was doing a favor to those Domen who have been needlessly killed over the years. And-“

“But that’s exactly what I’m talking about!” He interrupted, now standing up with his hands in the air, his eyes glaring into mine as if I were some kind of monstrosity that he did not understand. “You actually enjoyed shoving that dagger into the man’s throat. I saw you smiling, and I swear to the Sun God Shenzai that you even chuckled as well. It’s just…it’s just strange to see you act in such a horrific way.”

“What you think and what I think are two totally different things,” I said, now sitting up against a tree-trunk behind me. “You believe that our place in Teir is as slaves, for that is the only thing you’ve ever known. You’ve been a slave your entire life, correct?”

“Yes, but I was stationed in the west before I met you.”

“I was stationed in the northeast before I met you, but that’s irrelevant. What I am trying to get through your head is that the only reason you believe slavery is our destiny and role in life is because slavery is the only thing you’ve ever known. You’ve never felt freedom, so you automatically think this is all we’re supposed to have. Because that is reassuring to you, and you don’t have to ponder on what we could have, and what we deserve to have. And that I do not understand, Razlo. I cannot even begin understand why you believe we are supposed to be slaves and nothing else!”

“Because…because I…” he stopped, shook his head and again, and then sighed once more while sitting back down on the rock. “I don’t know, Azril, but I do know we weren’t put on Teir to brutally and harshly slaughter people. Avenging past Domens’ deaths is one thing, yes, but I still think you took it too far. Two wrongs don’t make a right! Shaol said this in the Book of Wrae!”

“I am tired of hearing about Shaol, for that is what you have held dear to you ever since I met you! Where has Shaol been this entire this time of suffering and distress? And have you heard that Shaol wills our life of slavery? Can you answer me that?”

“He doesn’t will our life of slavery in itself, but rather he believes that we are to ‘ride the violent waves of despair, and ride them until the waves are no more. For even the tallest waves must eventually come to an end’. Surely you’ve heard that verse before. And besides, it isn’t slavery he spoke of. It was all anguishes in general. Life is not fair, Azril, and if we want to succeed and flourish we must take the bad along the good.”

“See…I don’t agree with that outlook whatsoever. Why should we just accept what we don’t actually have to?”

I could easily tell I was starting to get through to Razlo, for he didn’t respond at all this time. I was getting to him. Slowly, of course, but progress was progress. He didn’t want to give up on what he had been believing in throughout his entire life, but I think he was starting to realize that perhaps we didn’t actually have to be slaves after all. But maybe I’m wrong. Perhaps he was fed up with the arguing just as I was.

Suddenly Jariic finally returned, holding a torn piece of clothing. “I…I tore off a piece of clothing from one of the men’s pants.”

“That’ll do, Jariic. Thank you. Now, wrap it up tightly and tie it in a knot so we can finally get moving again.

We traveled along the Ailic River for the rest of the day not stopping even once, keeping on the side of the path behind shrubbery to keep away from the open path. As we walked the air get warmer and warmer, though still a bit too cold for my taste. At least the snow was lessening, which was a good thing. Sooner or later we’d have to stop and sleep and I didn’t want to sleep in the snow. I was hoping that we’d find an old abandoned cabin to stay in. Unfortunately, after walking along the river for the rest of the day, my wishes were not answered.

The good thing was that apparently we were out of range for the Avlarian hunters, for he had seen no signs of them along the way. Either that or they figured another slave camp would capture us and find the standard black tattoo stamped into the middle of our back, where there was little to no hair for some odd reason. The tattoo was a normal procedure for all slaves to have, so that the different slave camps and counties would be able to tell the difference between individual runaway slaves.

Either way, I was glad to have gotten away from the madness; away from the torture and abuse, and now towards something actually worth living for. The days of slavery had been growing tiresome for me; albeit a large part of that was because I knew we would be breaking out soon. After the day in which we made plans to escape, it was harder to get to sleep more and more each night, as the anxiety had almost been too much for me to wait.

“Can we finally stop, please?” Razlo asked, panting even. “Jariic and I are so tired, and we know you are too, Azril. Your limp is getting worse by the minute. Don’t you think a few hours of rest would do you some good?”

I stopped in my tracks, at the top of a large hill. We weren’t really that far from the slave-camp really, but likely over the county-line and into Pavlor County, the most southern county in Klout. The sun was long gone by now, replaced by its nighttime counterpart, Heirkalai. The cool air was blowing across our bodies with great speed, and I really didn’t feel like sleeping outside in the cold.

“Could we at least walk a bit longer, to see if we can find a cave or burrow to sleep in? It’s awfully cold to be lying on the wet ground if we don’t have to.” The snow was only a few inches deep where we were at, but that only made the ground muddier and nastier.

They both nodded reluctantly, and we pushed onward, me and my limping leg leading the way.




We found the cave some ten minutes later, maybe even less. It was certainly a tiny space, barely big enough for the three of us to fit. ‘Course, this was because of a tunnel leading onward that was blocked off by collapsed rock and other debris, or else we would have traveled deeper into the cave, perhaps even use it as a sort of base. That kind of thing sounded good in my head at least.

I’ll admit now that we had actually escaped the grasps of the Avlarians and their heartless slave-camp, I wasn’t sure what to do next. Traveling to Ibisaro was the obvious and ultimate objective, but I was smart enough to know there’d be obstacles along the way. Things such as what would we eat, what would we wear when our little clothing was no longer wearable? And then other problems such as shelter and evading the many more slave-camps that rested in Pavlor County. Those would be things to worry about once we ran into them I suppose, because it wasn’t worth stressing out of events problems that haven’t even occurred yet.

“Hey, look at this!” Razlo suddenly shouted, startling me so much that I jumped out of fright and nearly banged my head against the roof of the small cave.

Jariic and I walked over to see what the matter was, and once I saw it I realized Razlo was so excited. On the wall in front of us were Domen and Avlarian numbers and letters mixed together. It looked to be written in a white paint-like substance, but it was hard to tell because it was somewhat faded out.

“Do you know what this is?” Razlo asked excitingly. “It’s a secret code runaway slaves use to communicate with one another!”

I started to look at him with clueless expression, for I didn’t believe in that theory. But as I took a closer look at the symbols displayed on the wall, the more and more it actually started to make since. The way the numbers and letters were scattered about certainly fit the descriptions of stories we all had heard back at the slave camp in Klor. ‘Course, no one knew where the stories had originally originated, but still…some things were worth believing in.

“Maybe…I don’t know, Razlo. Looh and Jahk’ren did actually escape a few years back. Remember that?”

“Yes, I do. You think this could be theirs?”

“Maybe…I…I really don’t know.”

I seriously doubted it, for I had assumed the two were had been killed shortly after escaping. But again, here we were, alive and still running. And also, like I said earlier, some things are just worth believing in.

“Can you tell what it says?” Jariic asked, towards no one in particular really.

“No. Can you read it, Razlo?”

“No, unfortunately not. I wish I could though. This…this is absolutely fascinating!”

It was fascinating, to say the least. But for me personally it was for a different reason. I cared not what the coding said and what it all actually meant, but I cared about Looh and Jahk’ren. They had been fairly good friends of mine, especially Looh. To even have the slightest hope that they were alive was…well… it was warming, to say the least.

After the three of us were finished gawking at the wall, we laid down on the cold, rocky, uneven floor and attempted to fall asleep. Jariic and Razlo both fell asleep within the first twenty minutes or so, but I wasn’t as lucky. Everything time I closed my eyes I started to think about Looh and Jahk’ren; Looh and his crazy stories, Jahk’ren and it his warming smiling and ability to make even the angriest person happy. I missed those two so dearly now, for I had forgotten about them long ago. Perhaps we’d find them somewhere. Could something so doubtful happen? I wasn’t sure about that, just as I wasn’t sure what was going to happen the next day, or even the day after that. But it didn’t matter. We’d find away. We had to.

And then I slept, with my tears and aching heart keeping me company.


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redsrock
post Jan 5 2009, 06:44 AM
Post #3


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I think this chapter is either a wonderful hit or a terrible miss. I'm not sure which, though. Hopefully you can tell me...

Chapter Three: Delusional Deception


I woke up sometime the following morning, but only because Razlo forced me to. I had been dreaming at the time, and it was certainly a strange one. We were back at the slave-camp in Klor, except we were the slavers and the Avlarians were the actual slaves. I was about to say something to one of the Avlarians, who I think was the camp’s commander, when Razlo woke me up from the dream by shaking me violently.

“W-wha?” I asked, startled at being woken up so suddenly.

“I think it’s time to get going, Azril. It’s alright Mid Day.”

I immediately got up from my spot on the floor, grabbed my makeshift cane from a few feet away, and then poked my head outside. Sure enough, the sun was shining brightly, not that it helped the cold any. But then again, I was starting that think that perhaps it was only me who didn’t like the cold, because neither Jariic nor Razlo had complained even once.

“You know, you should’ve woken me sooner,” I grumbled, still not all the way awake.

“Yes, but your snoring was rather intimidating. Besides, you out of all three of us needed sleep the most. And Jariic was able to find a small settlement; an Avlarian village, and no more than a few miles to the southeast. I say we head there and try to find some supplies. Maybe some cloth packs to keep food and other things in.”

I looked at him questionably, cracking my old knuckles. “And how do you plan on getting these things? Asking the Avlarians really nicely?”

He chuckled a bit, but I could tell it was forced. It was easy to tell that he was still somewhat unsure of my questionable actions from yesterday.

“No, taking them of course,” he answered bluntly.

“But wouldn’t stealing go against Shaol and his almighty knowledge?” I asked mockingly, seeming to have pissed of Razlo. I found that quite humorous.

“There are times when one must resort to controversial acts in order to survive. Shaol said that himself , in verse seventeen I believe, and therefore I am not against such actions as long as we don’t take too much. Just enough for us to survive on, and as long as we don’t abuse the actions as well. Besides, apparently the place is deserted, or at least that’s what Jariic said. He couldn’t see anyone walking about, but of course he watched from the hill. I guess we’ll just have to find out when we get there. ”

“Yes, let’s-“ I stopped when I realized Jariic was nowhere to be seen. “Wait. Where is Jariic?”

“Just outside the cave, relieving his stomach of some unwanted company. He’s not feeling too well. He kept throwing up throughout the entire night, and neither of us got any sleep. You kept sleeping soundly though.”

“That’s too bad. Maybe if we’re lucky we can find some medical herbs as well. So you say the village wasn’t large?”

“No, not at all. From what Jariic said at least. I didn’t want him to leave in the first place, since he’s feeling sick and all, but he insisted that he helped with something. He looks up to you, Azril. You know that, right?”

“Really? I’ve never sensed it…”

That wasn’t entirely true. Jariic had been brought into Klor just a few days ago, and he seemed to have taken a special liking to me. He was quiet though, and never said too much. He wasn’t mute, because I’ve talked with him a little bit, but I think the problem is that he’s shy. I can’t remember who, but I think someone told me that his two brothers and parents fought back against the slavers when they were pried from their homes, while Jariic hid and watched them die. I don’t know how true that is, but if any of it is, may Shenzai and Heirkalai watch over his soul. Not only for Jariic himself, but for Razlo and myself as well. Depression can be a deadly tool if it goes too far.

“Very well. Lead the way.”




It took us only an hour to reach the village, and that’s only because we had to stop several times to let Jariic vomit the sickness that had overcome his stomach. Once we reached the settlement we waited the rest of the day so that we could travel into the village at night, just in case there did happen to be people inhabiting the village. ‘Course, another reason was for Razlo and Jariic to get some much-needed rest. I felt a tad bit guilty that I had been able to sleep during the night when they had not.

But once nightfall did make its appearance, Jariic still wasn’t feeling very well, and if anything he had only gotten worse. He complained of a terrible headache and slight dizziness. That’s when we all decided as a group that he would stay behind while Razlo and I checked the village for supplies, and for Jariic’s sake, specifically medical supplies. I didn’t want to say anything, but I was worried about Jariic. Domen weren’t known to become sick too often. Razlo also wanted me to stay behind because of my injury, but I wouldn’t have any of that. Besides, the injury was healing somewhat. Or…at least that’s what I told them. My limp told of a different tale, but thankfully Razlo didn’t argue this time.

We descended the hill we were positioned on and made our way into the village. For the entire day I watched and waited for movement, but there never had been any. There were seven small wooden cottages in, and three large buildings in the middle; one of them a two-level structure that we figured to be something of a storage house, and we decided to check their first. Sure enough, as we peeked in through a broke window, there were many boxes, barrels, and other containers were strewn about, organized in no particular order. Luckily the door leading inside was halfway opened, so we simply walked in and began looking inside the containers. But to our disappointment, most were empty, and those that weren’t really didn’t offer anything useful. We did find a few cloth sacks and some rope, which we took. But other than that, nothing.

We checked the other two buildings quickly, but they were totally empty, save for a few more empty boxes here and there. Then the rain started to pour, making things even more disappointing. We were about to head back up the hill, but something caught my…well… I can’t really explain what it caught, but it was more than just my attention. And Razlo felt it as well, for we both spun around on our heels and looked to the most northern cottage in the village. There was nothing unordinary about the house from the outside, but I could just…feel something from within.

“You feel that?” Razlo asked suddenly, startling me just a bit.

“I think so. What’s it feel like to you?”

“I…can’t explain. Almost like…something is tugging at my…something inside of me? Does that make any sense?”

“No, not at all. And I would call you crazy, except I feel the same way.”

At that moment I wanted nothing more than to leave the village, for something wasn’t right with it. I can’t explain it, but something very bad lived in the village, and it wasn’t about to let Razlo and I leave without meeting it. The two of us began walking towards the village, but I swear to you now we weren’t walking on our own…at least not totally. It was almost as if some strange force was leading us along. And I wanted to shout out to Razlo that we had to leave, but that would have been useless. Because as much as I loathed whatever it was I had not yet met, I also had the most severe craving to meet whatever it was that was pulling us towards the cabin. It was a someone, rather than a something. I knew that. I don’t know how, but I just knew. And Razlo knew as well. Again, I don’t know how…I just knew.

And as we neared the cottage my insides began to rumble, especially around my chest area. And then I heard something inside of me. I know that sounds crazy, but there was something inside of me saying something, and it wasn’t my inner conscience or anything like that. It was…someone else’s voice, but I couldn’t make out what they were saying, or who it was that was talking. It was somewhat of a loud whisper in a language I was not even remotely aware of. Razlo heard it to, for he turned to me and asked, “Did you say something, Azril? Please tell me you did?” And he asked this in a whisper, with the most terrified look I had ever seen on anyone’s face.

“No,” I answered, just as terrified as he. “I was going to ask you the same thing.”

Without thinking, I grabbed the knob of the wooden door, and then the rumbling grew more violent, and the entire world seemed to shake. Razlo whimpered a bit from fright, but both of us stood our ground for whatever reason. I pulled the knob and opened the door, and then everything was calm. Everything was normal. There were no more rumblings, and there were no more voices. There was only the single room in the cottage, and a rocking-chair in the middle, with its back facing us. Someone was sitting in the chair, rocking back and forth, a terrifyingly disturbing ‘creaking’ sound with every rock. A chill fell down my spine, and it wasn’t just the wind that had caused it.

And then that someone in the rocking-chair spoke.

“Please do hurry inside and close the door. It’s terribly cold tonight, and I’m afraid my body isn’t as strong as it once was.”

It was an old and raspy vibrating voice, and a female one at that; shrill, and somewhat to the point of making me want to vomit. It was like a voice from the Bottomless Abode, or perhaps even worse.

“W-who are y-you?” Razlo asked with a frightened tone.

The old woman cackled, and I swear I heard thunder and lightning outside of the house as soon as she did. And then she turned…or rather, the chair turned, which made me want to run out of the cottage as fast as possible. The chair did not have any wheels, yet it turned without wrinkling the carpet it rested upon. Staring at us was the female woman, and I knew exactly what she was. She was a witch.

Her face was extremely pale, almost to the point of being completely white. And she had hair that was almost just as white as her skin, though a tad bit darker with what looked to be dark blue streaks. She was extremely skinny, almost too skinny in a way. There was somewhat of an angelic tone to her face, but it was mere deception and nothing more. I had heard about such trickery before. A witch would look friendly and inviting, but it was only a trap. She wore nothing but a long silver robe that told of many chilling tales that I did not want to hear. Her eyes were blank. They were neither black nor white. They were simply…nothing.

“Does it matter who I am, Doman? You are here, are you not?”

Razlo didn’t reply, but rather looked towards me. Again he looked at me to be the leader. “Why have you brought us here, witch?” I asked, trying my best to sound defying and brave. But according to the witch’s reaction, I failed miserably.

She laughed once more, this time clapping her hands. “You call me a witch, yet you’ve never seen a witch in your life, Doman. Why must you be so judgmental, hmm? After all, I could have poisoned your friend to death if I wanted to. But I did not. For if I would have killed him, chances are you wouldn’t have stumbled upon my home. And I certainly did not wish for that to happen, for I’ve been one lonely woman for quite some time. A few years in fact. Most feel the abnormal air and stay away. You two however have not, and this intrigues me. You have also not fallen to the sickness that your friend in the hill has. This interests me even more. Perhaps you are stronger than the other two?”

“Other two? What other two?” I asked, thinking about Looh and Jahk’ren.

“Two other Domen entered my humble home no more than a few years ago. Runaway slaves just like yourselves, and attempting to strip material away from my home, also just like yourselves. Thieves, to put it simply.”

I looked at Razlo, and then he looked at me. We were both thinking the same thing. “Where are these two Domen now?” I asked.

“You ask many questions, Doman. But this is my home, not yours. I feel that I have the right to ask a few questions of my own first. Don’t you agree?”

She smiled a sinister smile, and I could do nothing but nod. “Yes, I suppose you’re right. Then again, I must ask one question first. Are you or are you not a witch? Answer this and I will answer anything you ask.”

“I don’t particularly enjoy the term ‘witch’, for the term ‘witch’ is too…negative I think. I prefer the title of sorceress, if you will. But either way, yes. I am a ‘witch’. Either way, does this really matter one way or another?”

“Yes, I believe so, because if you really are a witch then there should no need for questions. You hold on the answers to everything, yes? Isn’t that one of your…capabilities?”

She laughed again, and again I could swear I heard thunder and lightning from outside. “I do not hold the answer to life’s every question. You think this because that is what the fireplace tales tell you. It’s a myth, Doman and nothing more. However, I do have the ability to deceive, and it is such an exciting tool.”

Suddenly the room was filled with trees and other plants that reached high above the now endless roof of the cottage, along with a carpeted grass that smelled and looked tremendously lifelike. It was a deception of course, but the effect was still awe-inspiring in the most horrifying way.

“Ask your questions,” I said, peering up at the magnificently false trees.

“Firstly, where do you hail? The other Domen claimed to come from the Avlarian city of Klor.”

I looked at her, and she was smiling at me in the most mysterious way. “That is where we come from as well.”

“Excellent. Now, where are you heading for?”

“Ibisaro.”

“Ibisaro? Where the majority of the Ibisarions on Kazkaydia live?” she asked excitingly. “You will like them. Ibisarians are certainly fun to say the least. And why are you heading for Ibisaro?”

“To escape the life of slavery, but we’ve been told that Ibisarians are harboring runaway slaves.” I did not want to tell her that, for she could have very well been an Avlarian herself. I don’t know, it was hard to tell what she was exactly. But at the same time, I had no choice but to tell her.

Again she smiled. “Very well. That is all I have to ask. Now, Doman, you are to ask three questions, for that is how many I asked.”

“Were the Domen that passed by a few years ago named Looh and Jahk’ren?”

“I have not a clue, for they never told me there names.”

“Where they heading to Ibisaro as well?”

“Again I do not know, for they never told me, nor did I ever ask.”

Two questions down and I was no more closer to what I wanted to know. I had a feeling she wasn’t being quite honest, but was rather bending the truth in a way that I could not figure out.

“Why is it that our friend on the hill is sick from this air you speak of, when my friend here and I are not?”

“Because you bear the gift, Doman. That is quite simple, and I’m actually surprised you did not know it already.”

“What do you mean, gift?”

“NO! That is enough, Doman. You have asked your three questions, and unfortunately I must now leave for the time being. I have no doubts that we will meet in the future, Doman, for you are much different than your friend here. You have brutal and extreme, which I like. However, when we do meet again I am sure there will be more questions for me to ask, and more questions for you to ask as well. Until then, I shall be waiting patiently.”

Suddenly, I found myself back outside the cottage. It was still night time and it was still storming. But after I opened the cottage’s door, everything seemed…normal. The trees and other shrubbery were gone as well, replaced by a few cabinets, a table, and then a bed in the far corner. The witch was gone, as was the rocking-chair.

“Are you happy now, Azril? There nothing inside!”

I immediately spun around and saw Razlo standing behind me with his arms crossed and an agitated expression spread across his face.

“Huh? What do you mean?” I asked, completely confused.

“What do you mean what do I mean? We were about to leave but then you said you wanted to look inside the cottage. I told you there wouldn’t be anything inside, but you just had to look. And now that you have, there’s nothing there. So can we please go now? We need to check on Jariic.”

I looked at him dumbfounded, not believing what I was hearing. “What? What about the voices and the rumbling. And the…and the witch? What about the trees and the rocking chair?”

“What in the world are you talking about, Azril? Are you okay? Come to think of it, you don’t look too good…” He walked up and felt my forehead. “A tad bit sweaty I think, and not just because of the rain. Come on, let’s go. Maybe that fall yesterday did more damage than I thought…”

He tried to walk away, but I wouldn’t let him. Not yet. “Wait, Razlo. Are you trying to tell me that we never walked inside the cottage and talked to anyone?”

Again he looked at me as if I was crazy. “No, Azril…..we didn’t.” And then again he felt my forehead, but I pawed it away. “You don’t seem to have a fever, but all this nonsense is confusing. Come on, let’s get out of here so you can rest some more. I think the change in weather is getting to you. We’re not used to rain, we’re used to snow. Of course, this damn rain might as well be snow. It sure is cold enough…”

He walked away, leaving me by myself. Once he realized I wasn’t following, he turned around and said, “Are you coming or not?”

I shook my head, looked back at the normal-looking cottage, and then turned around and left the village with Razlo.

And as we continued through the forest, after resting for just a little more while we let Jariic clear his stomach again, I did not again mention what happened back in the village. I was determined that it wasn’t just daydream, for it had to have been real. Yet Razlo knew nothing of it. How could this be? I did not know, and quite honestly, I didn’t really want to. Not yet anyway.

I wanted to think it was all really a dream and nothing more, and I wanted to clear my mind of the thoughts and continue traveling towards Ibisaro without another thought besides freedom. But I couldn’t stop thinking about the witch, and the knowledge that I knew she held concerning Looh and Jahk’ren. It was plain on her face, yet I didn’t ask the correct questions. ‘Course, I knew I would get another chance later. I just hoped it was soon.


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Burnt Sierra
post Jan 5 2009, 10:58 PM
Post #4


Two Headed cat
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Joined: 27-March 05
From: UK



Erm...ok. That is a lot to take in at once.

First of all, regarding the first two chapters. I have to say, although it's very graphic in parts, that I was hugely impressed. Your lead, Azril, is fascinating to say the least - no black and white, good or evil here - but a nice morally dubious shade of grey wink.gif My only slight concern with him hasn't happened yet, but it would be being aware to avoid "beast race" fantasy cliches. Like I said though, you haven't fallen into that trap yet.

The third chapter. It's a little strange. Again, there are no problems with it - well written, interesting etc, but it feels...I don't know...maybe a little out of place. Like the story has moved genres from fantasy to horror. It's not a complaint, some of the best novels are exactly that, horror/fantasy hybrids...but the style and tone just seem to have altered slightly, in a way I can't quite put my finger on.

Overall though, this is shaping up to be by far your best work I've read to date - although I admit I think I've missed a couple in my months on internet exile - and one thing that really struck me with the benefit of that break is how much your dialogue has improved. I mean really improved. If you go back to your competition entries earlier this year, and compare the dialogue in them to the dialogue in this now...wow. A gigantic step forward. Please keep this coming biggrin.gif
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redsrock
post Jan 5 2009, 11:27 PM
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Knower
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Joined: 7-August 07



Thanks a bunch, BSD. (Can I still call you BSD?) I'm glad you like, because this world of mine is very important to me. smile.gif


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redsrock
post Jan 7 2009, 05:21 PM
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Chapter Four: A Random Encounter

“Something is wrong with him, Azril. Something is very wrong. And you know it, don’t you?”

Razlo and I were whispering inside a relatively large hollow in the ground. The…nest of sorts resembled something I had heard from incoming slaves. It was said that runaway Domen slaves made these ground-nests in order to live and hide in. When the three of us found that one that we did a few hours ago we were excited and hopeful that perhaps more slave-made codes would be present. Unfortunately there were not. It was just a plain old slave-nest.

“You don’t have to tell me this, Razlo. He’s puking up blood now. Of course there’s something wrong!”

Jariic’s sickness had not improved whatsoever, and in fact, it had only worsened more than anything. All the way to that point of him puking up blood and fainting without warning. Shenzai had just started to show itself no more than thirty minutes ago and unfortunately we likely traveled no more than ten miles or so during the night, maybe not even that. Jariic had passed out several times, once hitting his head on a wrong and causing a nasty bruise to form on the right side of his forehead.

I’ll admit though, I wasn’t too angry about not having traveled very far during the night, for were away from that dark and corrupted village, and that was a blessing in its own. At least whatever Avlarians had lived there had been killed, brutally and mercilessly I hoped. Witches were known for their tendency to torture one’s soul and then eventually eat it to gain power. Nasty business, but nothing less than what the Avlarians deserved.

“Maybe I do, because you’re taking this situation too lightly. You act as if this is nothing out of the ordinary, and you don’t seem to care too much for his ailments. Last night you even got angry at him when he passed out that third time!”

“I didn’t mean to get aggravated with him; I just didn’t want us on the trail for too long. It’s bad enough that we can’t travel through the trees because of our injury, but I fear Jariic is going to be more of a liability than anything. Sooner or later slavers will find us, and it will be because Jariic can’t stop puking his guts out.”

“Well what do you propose we do?” He asked sarcastically.

“I don’t want to kill him, but I just hope he stops soon, especially once we get closer to Ibisaro, where there will be more forts and other slave-camps. If he doesn’t get better by then, well….I don’t know what to say.”

“Oh I know what we’ll do! We’ll just kill him like you did those Avlarians! We might as well take him out now before he gets in the way!”

Razlo walked over to a large boulder and sat down, massaging his head as if he had a headache. Again he had brought up those events that he disagreed with.

“You know, I’m growing tired of the little snipes here and there about what I did to those Avlarians,” I said. Outside I heard the sickening splatter of vomit (and whatever else that was coming out of his stomach) on grass and stone.

“Don’t get me started, Azril. I’m not in the mood to argue, nor is my head. It’s throbbing right now, alright?”

“Then stop bringing it up!”

Before Razlo had a chance to respond, Jariic walked in from outside. His shirt was stained with bits of vomit and blood, and he took that shirt off and threw it outside. He was very skinny I noticed, not that I should have been surprised to begin with. The slavers never did feed us more than what they had to.

“Alright…I think I’m done now, guys. We can continue now.”

Razlo walked over to him and patted him on the back. “Don’t apologize, Jariic. It’s not your fault. And we aren’t going anywhere for the rest of the day. You’re going to sleep, and if you’re better tomorrow then we’ll move out. If not, then you continue to rest while either myself or Azril goes out and looks for medical supplies at a nearby by settlement or something.

“What?” I asked suddenly. “We barely got anywhere last night, Razlo. The last thing we need to do is stop yet again.”

He simply shook his head and said, “I don’t care what you say, Azril, I’m not letting you win this time. We aren’t moving until Jariic is better.”

He was right, I had to admit that. I just didn’t want to take a chance of being caught and going back to Klor. The slave-camps Klout generally worked together, and sent escapees back to whatever camp that had escaped from. But I didn’t want to end up like that. I wanted to move on…and according to the events that took place last night, I wanted to find Looh and Jahk’ren. It was obvious by the witch’s response that they are still alive. I could read it on her face. But was it a daydream or not? I can’t decide…it’s all too confusing.

“Very well. You’re right,” I said, and then walked over to where I found a nice little spot to lay in a pile of old and long-dead leaves. They crumpled loudly under by body, but at least it was better than the cold ground.




I must have fallen asleep shortly after laying down, and by the time I woke up it was nightfall. Heirkalai was present once more and this time with a bit of an orange haze surrounding the enormous moon. That happened sometimes, though I never learned why.

As I sat up in the leaves, a great many of them having stuck to what little clothing I was wearing, I noticed that Jariic and Razlo were both gone. I called out softly, but received no answer. That’s what I stood up and took a peek outside, and near a bundle of thick bushes I found Razlo kneeling next to a body. It was Jariic’s, and it was lying in the snow, blood and other things all around the two of them.

“What the…” I began, utterly confused at what was going on. Razlo looked back at me, and he had blood and…something else smeared all over his shirt. Tears were streaming down his face. And his eyes…his eyes were so frightfully…nothing like anything I had ever seen before. It was as if he had seen death itself. And figuratively speaking, apparently that was what had just taken place.

“He…he’s dead, Azril,” Razlo whispered, just loud enough where I could hear him clearly. He was shaking so fiercely it was almost unnatural. I walked over slowly, and the smell finally hit me. It was the most revolting thing I had ever smelled before, but I can’t even begin to describe it.

“How did it happen?” I asked, covering my nose with the sleeve the long-sleeved shirt I had on. I didn’t work much, but it was far better than nothing.

“He was puking again and he just…fell over. The vomiting was more violent I suppose. And he…he…” Razlo stopped, and was unable to continue.

“What, Razlo? He what?”

“He just started coughing up thick clots of blood,” he said, then stood up, walking back near the entrance. I followed, but I couldn’t help but keep looking back at Jariic’s body. “He kept coughing up blood and vomit, and he wouldn’t stop. He might have died because he…couldn’t breathe or something. I…I don’t know. But he’s gone now.”

We both stood there for what seemed like hours, muttering not a single word. The smell was getting worse and worse, and that’s when I suggested we get back into the hollow. Inside Razlo sat upon the same boulder he did yesterday and buried his head in his hands. “I just wish he didn’t have to go so painfully.”

“Yeah, Razlo…I know. I wonder what was wrong with him. We haven’t eaten anything since we left Klor, so it couldn’t have been food. We’ve drank water from the river, but you and I are fine. Do you think he got bitten by something?”

“I have no idea. That has to be it, though. I’ve never seen anything like that before. And Domen don’t get sick like that, Azril. I can’t even begin to imagine what had been wrong with him. I suppose it is better that he died now rather than suffer, though.

Again, silence for a long period of time, until finally Razlo stood from his boulder. I saw tears still in his ears, just as there still were in mine. He walked over and picked up his own walking stick (even though he didn’t really need one) and said, “It’s time to go, Azril. We don’t know if the body is infected.”




“Do you think we should stop now, Razlo?”

I asked this question some seven hours later as we still walked along the Ailic River. We had passed two villages along the way, both of them rather large and both of them also walled and protected by guard-sentries. We had decided to skip them until we found a smaller town with less security. Getting supplies would be much easier that way, not to mention a lot safer as well.

“No, not really. It’s only been but a couple of hours, and didn’t you say the River empties into a lake fairly soon?”

“I don’t know for sure, but I remember reading a map long ago that showed the river emptying into a lake. I just don’t know where exactly. We’ve been traveling for several days that, but we haven’t covered a whole lot of ground. But, Azril, I…I need to stop.”

I could sense the quivering in his voice, and I turned around to see tears in his eyes once more, obviously for Jariic. “Still thinking about Jariic?” I asked.

“Of course. How could I not?”

“I try not to dwell on it too much. It’s very unfortunate. It’s also very strange as well, seeing as we still have no clue on what exactly was wrong with him. To be honest I’d rather continue to not think about it, Razlo. It’d be in your best interest to do the same.”

He stopped walking, and I had no other choice but to do the same. His body was starting to shake again, and I knew something was seriously the matter with him. I feared he was beginning to lose his mind.

“Azril, we’re not gonna make it out of here at this rate. You’re right about them finding us sooner or later. It’s just a matter of time until they take us back to Klor and then we’ll continue to suffer day in and day out and we won’t be able to do a thing about it and-“

I grabbed his shoulders with my hand shook him as hard as I could. His eyes weren’t looking into mine even after I stopped, but rather looking in random directions, as if he were looking for someone or something. He was breathing was very rapid and while the shaking had slightly subsided, it was still going on. Razlo looked more scared than I had ever seen him before, even more so than when I found him kneeling beside Jariic’s gruesomely dead body. It was clear to me that he was scared he’d suffer the same fate that Jariic suffered. And this wasn’t good. Not for him, but not for our mission either. I wasn’t going to let him jeopardize our chances of finding Ibisaro, and more importantly, finding Looh and Jahk’ren if they were still alive somewhere.

“Listen to me, Razlo,” I said forcefully, holding onto his shoulders as tight as my frail, old hands would let me. “You’ve survived this long for a reason. We’ve only been traveling for few days, yes, but during these three days we’ve survived a lot. Whatever sickness Jariic died from, you and I were obviously strong enough to stay healthy. We are strong, Razlo, and we can make it to Ibisaro. I know we can. But you have to believe in me, as well as yourself. We can’t make this journey with you acting like this. You’ve always been emotionally and mentally strong. Don’t let us get taken back to the slave-camp, Razlo. Can I trust you to continue to be strong?”

He hesitated for a few seconds, and then the shaking all be quit entirely. His breathing, though a tad bit too fast in my opinion, was not nearly as rapid as it was just seconds ago. He finally looked me in the eyes and said, “Yes, I can.”

I let go of his shoulders to see what he would do. He sat there and did not cry. He didn’t do anything for that matter but stare directly into the snowy ground. I assumed he would start bawling his eyes out, but he never did. That was a very good sign.

It appeared that he was about to say something, but before he could get a word out something above us spoke in a high-pitched tone.

“Lookin’ for Ibisara are ya’?”

Above us high, standing on one of the lower thick branches of the tree beside us, was a small little fellow with a dark and almost sickly-colored skin. His eyes were large, but his body was relatively skinny. He couldn’t have been more than four feet in height, and he was wearing a one-piece outfit made from some kind of fur. His long, dark-blue hair flowed freely in the wind.

“Excuse me?” I asked, not really knowing what else to say, for I had not a clue what this creature was.

“I saaaaaid, are ya’ two lookin’ for Ibisara?” He repeated, smiling as wide as his little cheeks would let him.

“Don’t you mean Ibisaro?” Razlo asked.

“Ibisara, Ibisaro…same difference.”

He simple stood there for a few seconds, looking at both of us with that same wide smile. Razlo and I were speechless and completely confused. Finally the little…man-thing hopped down from the tree and brushed off some leaves with his tiny hands. “The name’s Arvus, but ya’ two can call me Arvy,” he said happily while extending his hand. I shook it awkwardly, for that was not the usual greeting for a Doman. Rather, it was pounding the fist on one’s chest whenever meeting another Doman. The Avlarians had some kind of ridiculous greeting, but one that I had forgotten.

“Ahhh, sorry ‘bout the odd greetin’, Doman. I forget that the handshake is meant more towards those Nothren people. Sorry, but I’m not quite familiar with ya’ own greeting ritual or whatever it is ya’ like to name it.”

Razlo’s mouth was hanging open in a dumbfound expression, and I knew he wasn’t going to say anything first. So I took lead instead. “I don’t mean to be rude…but what exactly are you? I’ve never seen your kind before.”

His face lit up even more with joy, if that were even possible. “That’s because me people don’t usually show themselves to strangers such as ya’selves. I am a Paagryn,” he said proudly. “We live in underground cities beneath the soil along the eastern coast, just off the shores of the Kaaric Sea. Or rather…the others do. I don’t no more. Not ever since me own people banished me from the cities a few months ago.”

“Banished?”

“Yes, Doman, unfortunately so. It was quite the mess actually. Me people claimed I was stealin’ from the Food-Maker, so they banished me,” he said, as if he was innocent, which I highly doubted.

“You mentioned a slave-camp. Why?”

“Cause ya’ two were talkin’ ‘bout it a’course! I take it yer looking fer one?”

“Why would we want to find a slave camp? We just escaped from one…”

“Well ‘ow am I supposed to know somethin’ like that, Doman? I don’t even know ya’ two!”

He had a point, but that still didn’t tell me why he was talking to us in the first place. “Right, you don’t know us. Which is why I’m confused why you’re talking to us to begin with.”

“Actually, Doman, I was gonna offer to take ya’ to the slave-camp, where ya’ could be with yer other Domen pals. But you make a good point that ya’ wouldn’t want to be getting’ near a slave-camp any time soon. I guess I’ll jus be goin’ now. I need to find muh food ‘fore it gets too dark anyhow…”

“Wait!” I called out as he was walking away. I believed he wanted attention more than anything, but if there really was a slave-camp around, that was another chance to find Looh and Jahk’ren. “Could you take us to this slave-camp?”

“What? Why would you want to do that?” Razlo suddenly asked, startling me.

“There’s a chance Looh and Jahk’ren could be there, Razlo. Don’t you think it’s at least worth a chance?”

“But you just told me how we’re heading for Ibisaro…”

Then the Paagryn, who had walked over to us on his two little legs, tugged at my pants. “I can get ya’ two there in no time, really. It’s only ‘bout forty minutes from ‘ere. An hour at the most.”

I looked back at Razlo, who was shaking his head, still confused about everything. And then I looked back down at Arvy and said, “Take us.”


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redsrock
post Jan 13 2009, 03:56 AM
Post #7


Knower
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Joined: 7-August 07



Chapter Five:

It was quite easy to tell that Razlo wasn’t so sure about this plan, whatever it was. I’ll admit I didn’t even know what it was, only that it had something to do with Looh and Jahk’ren. But the look on Razlo’s face told me that he didn’t want to go anywhere near this slave-camp. Thankfully the little…..goblin-like fellow didn’t give us any time to speak, for he was already way ahead of us. A…Paagryn was what he called himself…

“What are we going to do when we get to this slave-camp, Azril?” Razlo asked angrily from behind as he ran to catch up to the Paagryn fellow. Or rather, I hobbled. Thankfully the cut to the back of my ankle hadn’t torn any muscle or anything like that.

“I don’t know. Maybe Looh or Jahk’ren will be there,” I said quickly, trying to force Razlo to take his mind of it. Of course I knew very well that was a useless attempt. Still, it was worth a try. “besides, at least we’ll come to a village and perhaps get some supplies if we can.”

“Arvus, stop!” he suddenly yelled. The little Paagryn stopped in his tracks, and then looked back at us impatiently.

“Will ya’ two quiet yer bickerin’ and jus follow muh lead? Like I said, its getting’ dark and I need to find me some food sooner er later. And I told ya’ to call meh Arvy, dammit!”

“Hold on,” Razlo replied sternly. “There’s something I need to talk about with my friend here first. It’ll only be a minute.”

“Fine, fine, fine! I’ll go look ahead ta’ make sure there ain’t any a’ those damn Avlarians scouting the area. But if I get back and ya’ two are still arguin’ I ain’t taken ya’ no more!”

Arvy ran along ahead of us, and Razlo turned his attention back to me. “What are you planning on doing? And don’t give me that excuse that you think Looh and Jahk’ren are in this slave-camp, because that is absolutely ridiculous!”

“And why is that ridiculous?”

“Because it’s been two years, that’s why!”

“So? They could have been captured and-“

“If that were the case they would have been shipped back to Klor, Azril!” he interrupted, turning around and pointing to the black tattoo on his back. The same tattoo I had, and the same one all slaves of Klor had. Each camp had a specific design, and it was the same for each county.

For each county… “But we’ve passed over into Pavlor County, Razlo! Klaaric Country is behind us now!”

“How do you know for sure, hmm? We could still be in Klaaric territory for all you know!”

“What if I’m right?”

“And what if you’re wrong? If you’re wrong, then you’re also wrong about Looh and Jahk’ren. And if this is indeed Klaaric County, and if they were captured they would’ve been sent back to Klor. That never happened, did it, Azril? No, it didn’t. I don’t like to admit it, but they’re most likely dead. And if they aren’t, there’s no way they are anywhere near this place. Two years, Azril!”

Again, as I’ve said several times before, he makes a good argument. Even still, I can’t give up on my friends so easily, even if Looh was somewhat of an oddity himself. “Do me this one favor, Razlo. Let’s-“

“No, Azril! We didn’t escape to go on some wild hunt for two people that likely aren’t even alive!”

“Will you just listen to me first?” I yelled.

“Fine.”

“Please, Razlo... let’s just follow this Paagryn and fellow and see what’s up. If Looh and Jahk’ren aren’t there, we leave immediately and you take the lead. I’ll follow you and do whatever you want to do. I swear to Shaol, Razlo. Just give it this one chance!”

He looked at me for a few seconds, sighed heavily, and then sat on a nearby log and stared at the ground. He did this for I don’t know how long, but finally the little Paagryn fellow reappeared.

“So what’ll it be, fellas? Are ya’ two gonna follow me er not?” He asked, his chubby short hands on his hips waiting for an answer.

Suddenly Razlo stood up and said, “Yes, we’ll go.” And then he looked at me and whispered firmly, “Just this once, Azril. I will hold you to your word, and don’t you think for a second that I won’t.”

“Of course,” I answered, casting a smile but not receiving one in return.

Then the three of us started towards the Avlarian slave-camp, with the jolly little Paagryn fellow leading the way.




When we finally stopped, which must have been at least thirty minutes later because it was almost pitch dark and Shenzai had been beginning to lower when we had left, Arvy pointed happily to a small little village in front of us. There was no wall protecting the town, just as there hadn’t been in Klor. On the outside part of village, houses and buildings were positioned in random spots, and in the middle was an enormous pin with a tent top. It was slave-pen.

“There they are,” Arvy whispered, pointing in the pen’s direction. “I don’ know how many there are in that there tent, but it’s gotta be a large number. Sometimes me ears hear ‘em yellin’.”

The only entrance and exit into the tented pen, just as it had been back in Klor, was a single iron gate that connected to the top of the tent. The only way to open it was either by cutting through the thick ropes that held the tent in place, or by pulling a lever that raised the gate.

“I’ll tell you what, Razlo. You stay here while I go inside. This way we both don’t have to risk our lives.”

He simply shook his head. “No, I’m going with you. I won’t let you go alone, Azril.”

There was something in his voice that I didn’t like. Almost as if he didn’t quite care of about my own safety, but rather that he felt somewhat forced to accompany with me. “Are you sure?” I asked him.

“Yes I am,” he answered, this time more severely. “But how are we going to get in there? We obviously can’t just walk in and expect the Avlarians to say hello and let us pass.”

“Ah, that’s where I have another plan!” Arvy yelled happily. “There’s an alternate entrance into the city. There’s a cave not too far from here that leads to the attic of someone’s house inside the village, though no one has lived there in a long while. I know because when I went inside a few days ago there wasn’t anything inside except for some useless trash. That’d be ya’ two’s safest before f’sure.”

“Can you take us there?” I asked.

“Sure can! Follow me!”

“Wait,” Razlo interrupted. “Why didn’t you just take us there to begin with?”

“Cause I forgot about it to be honest. Me mind doesn’t work the way it used to. But enough talkin’, let’s get goin’! I’m already sacrificin’ muh supper, ya’ know!”

“Just take us, please,” I said quickly.

Arvy took us around the village and we arrived at a small tree stump, with a large amount of rocks to its right. Arvy walked over to the rocks and fiddled around with them. Suddenly two of the rocks slid outwards to reveal a secret entrance into what I assumed to be the cave.

“Here we are!” Arvy said proudly.

“A secret cave?”

“Yes, Doman. I believe the Avlarians used this during the Largely Small War from years and years ago.”

“The Largely Small War?” I asked, utterly confused.

“Of course, Doman! The war between the Avlarians and yer kind so long ago. A lot of people claim the war to be big, but I don’t think so. Try fighting in the tunnels of Haektic Tunnels and that’s where ya’ two will find ya’selves the site of a major battle!” He stood before for a few seconds, staring at us with that smile that was almost creepy in a way. “Well come on then! Let’s go!”

We followed him into the cave, and it didn’t take us long until we arrived at a wooden ladder that led up to a wooden-framed trap door. He opened the door and looked inside, nodded at us, and then entered the now-abandoned home.

I started to go up the ladder, but Razlo stopped me. “Wait,” he said. “I don’t like this, Azril. Something’s wrong.” He had a panicked look about his face, and he was now keeping me back by holding onto my shoulder with his hands.

“What in the world are you talking about, Razlo? I’m sure it’s perfectly fine! Now let go of me!”

“I… I can sense something, just…we can’t go, Azril! We’re not going!”

“Come on up, ya’ two!” Arvy called from above.

“No, we’re not coming up, Arvy,” Razlo said, covering my mouth with his hand. “We…we’ve changed our mind. Thanks for the help, but we’re going to leave now. Goodbye.”

“No, Domen!” Arvy said loudly, and almost in a panicked tone. “I’ve taken ya’ two this far! The least ya’ can do is come in and take a look around, can’t ya’?”

“No, we have to leave. Sorry.”

“NO! COME UP!” Suddenly his face appeared from the dark space, and he looked angry. “Get up here, now! I took ya’ this far, so come up!”

Before either of us could give a response, a deep-toned voice spoke up from behind us, startling us broth greatly. We turned around and there stood an Avlarian dressed in some kind of dark-blue metallic armor. At his side were five other Avlarians, dressed in a thinner piece of armor that was a burnt-orange color.

“You’ve done well, Paagryn. You can come down now and I’ll take it from here. I had a feeling they wouldn’t buy the plan. Gundra Tehndric said these two were one of the wilder ones, especially the old one.”

Tehndric was the Gundra of Klor’s army. We had apparently been followed, and this Paagryn fellow wasn’t who we thought he was. The little honoured user had tricked us. I looked into the Avlarian’s eyes, and he only smiled back.

“Tie them up, men, and then throw them in the cell of our barracks. We’ll send them back to Klor tomorrow morning.

Behind me, Razlo was shaking with fear. I looked into his eyes and I saw not only fear, but anger. Anger not towards the Avlarians, nor towards the Paagryn. But rather…towards me instead. I had failed him, and I had failed Looh and Jahk’ren.

But I wasn’t giving up without a fight. We had come too far to give up so easily. It wouldn’t be likely that I’d leave this cave alive, but some things were worth believing in.

TO BE CONTINUED

* * * * *

I swear I am not quitting on this. But I’ve come to a decision that I better put this part of the tale to rest, because I’ve admittedly grown just a wee bit tired of it right now. I need to take a break on my fantasy story, work on the world in general, and then come back to this in the future. Again, I HAVE NOT quit this story. It is simply on hold.


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