Servants
Augustus shouts at the lapine man walking beside him, “We are not servants!”
Mido hides his laughter behind his arm, while they are escorted back to their room. The celebration had extended far into the morning hours, the light of the sun had only just begun to barely pierce the gray skies. Unable to sleep with the whooping and cheers from the courtyard, they wandered about the manor until finally being noticed and urged to return to their chambers.
The guests have all mostly departed, except for those who were offered beds for the evening, along with those who indulged until excess. The rest were forced from the estate, the guards of Riverwatch close on their heels. The whole evening was like a dream, unbelievably lavish, even in the eyes of someone who hailed from a land known for its eccentricity.
Augustus leans heavy on Mido, bearing much of his weight upon him. Throughout the evening, Augustus had done what he is wont to do: make friends and tell stories.
“It doesn’t matter what we are,” Mido confesses, shrugging against Augustus. “We’re servants in their eyes, so we’re servants.”
“I am… of noble birth,” Augustus shouts, pointing his finger at the proud-looking lapine. “When I return to Loria, I’ll be sure to write about my time in Riverwatch. How the little snow bunnies treat their gue—”
“Stop it!” Mido laughs as they approach their room. He stops and turns back to the lapine man in fine livery. “We can manage from here,” he says, offering an apologetic nod, and forcing Augustus to do the same.
The man extends a hand before him and motions to the door, waiting silently.
“You’re joking, right?” Augustus snorts, “you’re going to wait till we’re in the room until you leave us alone?”
The lapine silently rolls his eyes and reaches for the door, ripping it open and gesturing for them to return to their chambers.
“Fine, I’ll be sure you’re the one who has to empty my chamberpot!” Augustus shouts while Mido carries him into the chamber.
The door closes behind them abruptly, and Ennui sits up from her bed. The shocked look on her face fades, and she returns to the pillow with a grimace. The room is uncomfortably small to fit four individuals. The beds, stacked above one another, leave little space to stretch out.
“Back to our servants quarters,” Augustus mumbles angrily, returning to his bed. “I mean… what if I have to go take a piss?”
Mido’s pointed ears swivel and sway. The lapine’s footsteps recede down the hall. “I think you’ll be okay, he’s gone… but we also have chamber pots…”
“Taking a piss, in front of a lady?” Augustus asks in disbelief. “My parents didn’t raise you in a barn, you know.”
Ennui laughs, the pillow over her head, muffling the sound. “At least Augustus has manners… if Lumi were here. Hells, he’d probably have already shit in the pot.”
Mido snorts, trying to contain his laughter. “I mean, that depends on if Khimi were here or not.”
Augustus plops into his bed, shoving the thin pillow under his neck. “Please, let’s not talk ill of our betters,” he teases, rolling his eyes. “After all, we are just servants!”
Mido groans and pushes his back against the door. “You’re just mad that you got treated like me for once,” he mumbles.
“We’ve been equals… since forever,” Augustus replies, sitting up and smashing his head against the empty bed above him. He groans and nurses his forehead.
“It’s fine!” Mido says, waving his hands in front of him apologetically. “I didn’t mean anyth—”
“You’re both obnoxious,” Ennui mutters. “I don’t know what’s worse. Your nonsensical bickering or their constant humping.”
“The humping,” Mido and Augustus reply in unison.
Mido slides down against the door, “I’m just grateful we weren’t in the room next to them… I heard everyone talking about them,” he groans, his palms covering his eyes.
“Why would they even do that here?” Augustus mumbles, “You both heard their conversation with that mage?”
Ennui laughs and rolls onto her side, embracing her pillow. “That’s why they did it… to prove a point,” she grumbles. “Pride? Spite? Who’s to say.”
“In any case, I’d rather not wear out our welcome because they can’t keep it in their pants for a single day,” Mido sighs and stands against the door. “Augustus, do you really need to use the privy?”
“No, but I think I may have broken my skull on this damned bed,” Augustus whines, dabbing his hand over the swelling wound.
“I’m not tired,” Mido whispers, opening the door partway. “And I actually do need to.”
Ennui rolls from her bed and quickly pulls her wool jacket over her arms. “Since Augustus is out of commission, I’ll escort you,” she whispers. “I can’t sleep in either case.”
“Why not?” Augustus groans, “the beds are generous enough.”
“I have a bad feeling about this place. I’ve been to many strange places in my life, but this one is really giving me the creeps,” Ennui murmurs uneasily.
Mido nods in agreement, a flicker of concern crossing her face. “I’ve been feeling it too,” he admits, his voice barely audible. “There’s something off about this place. It’s like it’s full of secrets and strangeness.”
“Secrets?” Augustus mumbles, “You didn’t tell me anything about secrets!”
Mido opens the door to the hall. Despite the bit of light filtering through the clouds, the entirety of the manor is shrouded in oppressive darkness. “I didn’t say there were secrets… just that it feels like they are keeping secrets.”
“I was always told,” Augustus begins, rising from the bed and shuffling through his belongings for the rapier. “That lapine are a soft and kind race, too kind to harm another.”
Ennui scoffs and rolls her eyes, her voice dripping with sarcasm as she stows a dagger in her boot. “Oh no, the tapestries on the wall don’t show any gruesome murders,” she mocks. “You’ll be fine if you stay here. I’m just accompanying him to the privy… there’s one nearby.”
“Please, Augustus…”
Augustus lets out a sigh and falls back onto the bed, brushing his gingery hair away from his face to reveal his flushed cheeks. “Okay, okay… just promise me you won’t run into any culty rabbits.”
“Culty rabbits?” Ennui can’t help but smile at the comical image. “I like that term… I might have to use it.”
Augustus waves his hand, “Sure, sure. Use it all you want, but when I hear it sung by some bard… I’ll know you sto–”
Ennui tosses a pillow with full force, knocking Augustus in the side of the head. “Shut up.”
Augustus, looking dejected by their exchange, curls onto his side and sulks. “Fine, just be careful…”
Mido and Ennui step foot into the halls of the stony manor, the heavy wooden door creaking shut behind them. The air inside hangs thick and oppressive, making it difficult to breathe. Ennui moves quickly down the hall, her footsteps muffled by the ornate carpet underfoot. The tapestries lining the walls are just as she had described — graphic depictions of brutal battles and chivalrous deeds. Through the arched windows, only slivers of sunlight penetrate the dark panes, casting a hazy glow over the dusty interior.
Mido cautiously follows behind her, his senses tingling. He can not shake the feeling that she has some ulterior motive for leading him deeper into this unknown place. As they approach a corner, he stops in his tracks, instinctively sensing danger ahead. Ennui’s footfalls come to an abrupt stop, and she turns back to meet him. In the dim light, her crimson eyes seem to glow, casting an eerie aura around her. She looks like a true devil, with a mischievous smirk playing across her lips.
Ennui beckons to Mido with a sweeping gesture, her slender arms cutting through the air. “C’mon, Mido,” she urges, her voice musical and persuasive. “The privy is just down this corridor, puppy,” she whistles.
Mido’s brows furrow in suspicion as he shakes his head. “You’re lying, Ennui,” he murmurs uneasily. “What are you up to?”
Ennui shrugs nonchalantly, her long dark hair cascading over her eyes like a veil. Her tail twitches restlessly behind her as she speaks. “I swear there’s a privy up ahead,” she grumbles under her breath. “But I also want to explore the manor, you know?”
Mido scoffs and wraps his arms around himself for warmth. “How can you lie so easily? Your heart didn’t even skip a beat.”
A glimmer of pride flashes across Ennui’s face as she admits, “Years of practice.”
“I don’t want to get into any trouble, or cause any problems… Lord Barrau was kind enough to grant us the warmth of his estate. I won’t be the one to force us to be banished again.”
Ennui’s laughter cuts through the cold air, “As if our noble Emir Zeybek didn’t already fuck this one up too.”
The wind whips against the window, the oncoming blizzard howls in the distance. “If he is your friend, why are you being so cruel to him?” Mido questions, taking one step at a time until he is within a few short feet of her.
Ennui takes a step closer, her hand brushing his dark hair from his face. He recoils instinctively, while her nails comb through his hair. “Because it’s what friends do. You bicker with Augustus, is it not the same?”
“You’re just being spiteful, though,” Mido huffs, shivering in the cold. “Anyway, can we just keep going? I don’t want to freeze to death in this hall.”
Ennui slows her stride and matches Mido’s, “I am not being spiteful. I just wish that Khimi would think more with his head lately. His decisions have been short-sighted and rash. The little lion has poisoned him with his ignorance.”
Mido’s brow shoots up, “You dislike Lumi?”
Ennui sighs while they round the corner and draw near a spiral staircase. “I care for Lumi more than I want to admit. He has an infectious personality that makes you want to love him, despite the fact that he is about as stable as a dandelion.”
Mido can not help but laugh. “They both seem to have their issues… but they are lucky to have your friendship, it seems.”
Ennui remains quiet, her mind seemingly consumed by deeper thoughts as they ascend the winding spiral staircase. As they near the top, Mido spots a privy off to the side, but before he can make a move towards it, Ennui grabs his wrist and pulls him onward toward a tall wooden door. The door is flanked by massive columns, their painted surfaces glistening with shades of deep onyx and accented with delicate flakes of gold. Intricate filigree designs adorn the monolithic columns, lending an air of regal opulence.
“What is this?” Mido questions under his breath.
Ennui chuckles and moves to the side of the column, ordering Mido to be quiet while she raises a finger to her lips. “Mages.”
Mido moves behind the column with her, “Why are we here?”
“Oh, I just wanted to see something,” She whispers, edging closer to the door. “This mage has a brother, you see, back in the Golden Isles. I just… don’t trust him. I can’t trust anyone that works with Ziad, and quite frankly, I think Lord Rabbiton is a bit too eager to work with the Cerulean Star.”
“They could just need a trade partner… or something of the like,” Mido whispers frantically. “We are guests here, remember?”
Ennui’s lips curl into a devilish grin as she forcefully grabs Mido’s wrist, pulling him closer to the ornate door. “Since you can hear heartbeats, you can surely hear whatever is going on inside here… now listen,” her voice drips with coldness as she shoves him towards the wooden frame.
Mido’s eyes narrow at Ennui. “You didn’t want to escort me at all,” he whispers through his teeth, taking careful steps closer to the door. His pointed ear strains to catch any sounds coming from within.
Mido presses his ear against the smooth wood of the door, his keen sense of hearing picking up on every subtle noise. The voices within are muffled, but he strains to make out their words. Raul’s voice sounds sharp and filled with malice, while Lord Barrau’s is low and disgruntled. Perri’s voice rises above the others, filled with anger and frustration. As the footsteps approach, Mido quickly darts behind a nearby column, his heart pounding in his chest. He watches Perri storm out of the room, his long ears flapping wildly with each forceful step. Ennui glances at Mido from the corner of her eye, her expression unreadable. More footsteps approach and the heavy wooden doors slam shut with a deafening bang. Mido jumps at the sound, his body tense with anxiety.
Pressing his ear back against the door, he can hear parts of the conversation. Immediately, Mido’s heart sinks.
“My brother wouldn’t lie, Odo,” Raul’s voice spits. “This isn’t the first time you’ve invited snakes into your home.”
“And you, Raul? You believe these people are truly as felonious as he says?” Lord Barrau scoffs. “Peculiar maybe, but dangerous? I am doubtful. Perri seems to think Khimi is a decent man!”
“Lord Odo, you saw their behavior tonight. You tell me what you think,” a woman’s voice says thoughtfully. “Lurid acts, intended to incite a response. These types of people mustn’t be trusted.”
Lord Barrau seems to growl in frustration, “Please!” He shouts, “Why can’t I catch a godsdamned break!?”
“You brought this upon yourself,” Raul grumbles. “I warned you about accepting guests into Riverwatch.”
“It was Perri! Perri suggested it!” Lord Barrau cries out. “My lineage is cursed.”
“Yourself included,” the woman’s voice murmurs.
“Worry not, I will contact my brother and see if his master may offer us a solution,” Raul suggests, his voice becoming soft.
Lord Barrau’s voice rattles as he continues, “I’d prefer to have them removed now and send them on their way… the storm will take care of them.”
“We will at least wait until we have heard back from Renaud,” Raul snorts again. “There is no need to be so hasty.”
“Perri will be opposed to this. He believes with all of his heart that Khimi speaks the truth…”
“Enough of Perri,” Raul groans, “He’s still young. Give him a few more years, and he’ll see things for how they are.”
With trembling hands, Mido slowly backs away from the door, his eyes wide with fear. He turns to Ennui, his mouth hanging open in shock. As he tiptoes across the cold stone floor, his footsteps echoing through the hall, Ennui follows closely behind him. The sickening feeling in his stomach grows stronger, a knot tightening in his gut at the thought of what may happen in the coming hours.
Ennui’s hand grips his shoulder tightly as they reach the privy. Mido desperately tries to push past her and enter the small room, but she holds him back.
“What did you hear?” Ennui demands, grasping him by the collar. “I saw your expression, what did you hear?”
Mido takes a deep breath before whispering, “The mage… he spoke to his brother.”
Ennui’s hand falls in shock. The door clicks shut as Mido brushes her off and steps inside.
Ennui presses her ear against the door, her voice barely audible through the thick wood. “What else?”
“They’re going to kick us out,” Mido groans, his heart sinking at the realization. “The mage mentioned something about us being criminals.”
Ennui gasps in mock horror, “Criminals?”
Mido nods grimly, his gaze falling upon the massive drop through the hole in the latrine. “Yes. Criminals.”
A Feast For Kings
The following day, Ennui and Mido await in their chamber. Augustus’ snores cut through the silence in long, deep breaths. Mido sits on the top of their stacked beds, rifling through the small tome, hoping the velvety pages hold a solution. He sighs, knowing that even if there is a spell that could help them, he would not be able to perform it with his current strength. He takes a peek over the side of the bed to check on Augustus. His friend slumbers peacefully, drool dripping from the edge of his lips.
At several points throughout the morning hours, a lapine servant had come to the door and checked in on them. Mido can not help but wonder if they had been heard outside the mage’s chambers. The thought sends a shiver down his spine. How much longer till they come in with a knife? As if reading his mind, Ennui offers Mido a nod of her head and rises from her bed. Without a word, she steps foot outside the room, and Mido follows her.
“W-were we seen?!” Mido questions anxiously.
Ennui looks up and down the hallway, at the very end of the hall, a lapine man stands at attention. He gives them a queer gaze before he returns to adjusting his attire. “Maybe you shouldn’t have taken such a loud shit,” she croaks sarcastically.
“Ennui,” Mido replies in a warning tone. “I’m serious… I’d rather not get murdered by a bunch of rabbits.”
“Oh, come now. They can’t be all that challenging, kill the mage and we’ll be fine. We could even make Riverwatch our little kingdom if we wanted. It has all its little subjects, just like a proper little kingdom,” she sasses maliciously.
Mido had never witnessed the full breadth of Ennui’s sarcasm, it leaves him with his mouth ajar, struggling to reply. “S-surely you jest!?”
“Of course I fucking jest,” Ennui growls, grabbing hold of Mido’s collar, shaking him viciously. “We can’t lea–”
The lapine servant approaches with a regal air, his head held high and confident. The sound of his wooden heels clicking against the stone floor echoes through the hall. Ennui nonchalantly releases Mido from her grasp and fixes his collar as she turns to face the approaching figure, her posture poised and elegant.
“Sorry,” Mido begins, lowering his head to the lapine servant. “We were having a bit of a row. It wasn’t anything you need to concern yourself with… sorry,” he says again, adding to his apology.
Ennui smiles with a quick flash of her teeth, “It was nothing really. A small scuffle among Emir Zeybek’s servants.”
The servant’s lips curl up in a warm, welcoming smile, causing his cheeks to rise and his eyes to nearly disappear into slits. “My Lord Barrau extends an invitation for you to attend a grand feast tonight. It appears he is quite enamored with you and yours and wishes to earn favor with Emir Zeybek.” The words flow smoothly from the servant’s mouth, tinged with a hint of excitement.
“A feast?!” Mido yelps, choking on his own tongue. “Tonight? Does Lor– Emir Zeybek know? Does Lumi know?!”
The servant clicks his wooden heels together and gives Mido a slight bow, “Lord Barrau is quite taken with Emir Zeybek and wishes to show him about the manor, he will join you at the feast with Sir Lumi.”
Ennui’s spit catches in her throat, “Don’t call him Sir Lumi.”
“Shall I call him Lord Lumi?”
“Hells, that’s even worse,” Ennui snorts, turning to Mido. “So, what time are we expected for this feast anyway?” she adds, turning back to the servant.
“At sundown, Lord Barrau wishes for me to send suitable clothing to your chambers for the feast. S-shall I take your measurements?” His cheeks flush with embarrassment as he stammers through his words.
Huffing in annoyance, she responds, “No need. I’ll just wear that abysmal thing they forced me into last night.” She turns away from the servant and towards the room, her movements graceful yet filled with a sense of apathy.
Mido calls out after her, following closely behind. He turns back to the servant and reassures him, “It’ll be fine.” But his pointed ears betray his nervousness as they twitch anxiously.
The servant raises an eyebrow and turns on his heels, shaking his head as he retreats down the length of the hallway. Mido joins Ennui back in their room, taking note of the devilish expression on her face. A cold smile forms on her lips as she closes the door behind him. Her crimson eyes seem to flicker like sacred fires from the depths of the hells, alluring yet intimidating at the same time.
Mido lets out a deep, heavy sigh and lowers his head, his voice barely audible as he mumbles, “Is it always like this with you guys?” The frustration in his words is evident.
“Perhaps. It is certainly always this way for myself. In any case, it seems Lord Barrau plans to keep them busy until tonight, so we need to find a way to inform them of what we learned,” Ennui whispers, pacing back and forth through the room.
Augustus stirs from his sleep and sits up, stretching his arms wide above his head. “What’re you both talking about?” He asks, the sleep still in his voice.
***
The hours seem to pass in a blur, quicker than they had hoped. The servants return to check on them multiple times, interrupting their attempts to roam the halls. Each time, Mido and the others are urged back to their chambers by a servant or guard. Frustration and annoyance simmer under the surface of Ennui’s calm demeanor.
Finally, with a resigned sigh, Ennui gives in to the restrictions placed upon them. The hour of the feast approaches swiftly, and with it comes the return of the lapine servant who had greeted them earlier in the day. He offers assistance with dressing and fitting into their lavish clothing, only to be met with Ennui’s sharp and cutting words, forcing him out of the room. Tension hangs thick in the air as the group prepares for what awaits them at the feast.
Their walk to the Great Hall seems to last forever, they are flanked by a servant on either side with a guard at their rear. Mido has never been herded before, but he knows now just how it feels. The uncomfortably tight jacket clings to his form, his fingers fumble over the buttons at his collar, popping them loose to breathe more freely. Meanwhile, Augustus at his side walks with his head held high, bearing the impossibly tight closing with an air of dignity. Even under the current circumstances, Augustus manages to flash a smile at him as if nothing is wrong.
Ennui is fit in a tight dress which covers the majority of her features. Somehow, beneath the frills and lavender silks, she had managed to store a small arsenal of weapons. Daggers in her boots, along with a plethora of small knives along the inner lining of the dress, which accompany them to the Great Hall. A gray woolen jacket covers her arms, a plain and unassuming piece which rivals the gaudy nature of the dress.
The servants, adorned in crisp white uniforms, rush forward and with a flick of their wrists, open the towering doors to the Great Hall. The tables and luxurious furnishings that had been there for the extravagant festivities have been removed, leaving the room nearly barren. In its place stands a long rectangular table, situated in the very center of the hall. A magnificent floral arrangement featuring delicate white lilies rises from a gilded vase, radiating a soft elegance.
At one end of the table sit Lumi and Khimi, dressed in the finery they had worn the previous night. On the other end, flanked by his son Perri and trusted advisor Raul, sits Lord Barrau with his hands delicately clasped in his lap. As they approach, Lord Barrau’s lengthy ears twitch at their entry, and he turns his head towards them with a gracious smile on his lips. His presence exudes power and authority as he awaits their arrival.
Lord Barrau steeples his fingers while the servants escort them to their seats, positioning them some with an empty seat between each of them. Mido glances at Ennui out of the corner of his eyes with a hopeful glint in his eyes. Ennui thuds into her seat and rolls her eyes at him. Almost immediately, Lumi reaches across the table to her, only to have Khimi pull his hand back across the table, scolding him to mind his manners.
Raul and Lord Barrau exchange whispers with one another while the doors to the Great Hall are shut around them. Servants stand before each of the doors, their hands clasped together tightly, fingers drumming on the back of their hand. Finally finishing his conversation, Lord Barrau rises from the comforts of his seat and welcomes them all with a gracious bow.
“Lords and Lady,” he begins, rising from the deep bow. “I am humbled to have such unique guests in Riverwatch. Emir Zeybek was just reminiscing moments ago about the Desert Cities… and I, for one, don’t know how you could stand such miserable conditions!” he teases with laughter. “It is my hope that I get to visit your homeland in the future, but for now I offer you the hospitality of our home. A feast has been prepared in honor of our friendship!”
Ennui raises her brow at Mido while both Raul and Perri rise from their chairs, the wood scraping across the stone tile.
“Hear! Hear!” Perri shouts, raising his chalice.
Raul and Lord Barrau raise their chalices along with Perri. Lumi and Khimi follow behind, rising from their chairs and raising their own, followed by the others. Mido flushes the contents of the chalice against his lips but does not allow the liquid to pass them.
Augustus sets his chalice down calmly and clears his throat. “Thank you, Lord Barrau for your hospitality,” he says, his tone cool and relaxed. Taking his seat, the others follow behind before he continues. “I may have mentioned, but I myself am of a noble birth.”
Lumi and Khimi look at one another from across the table, then back at Augustus with confused glances.
“I must offer you thanks as well. My father, a key figure among the Lorian senate, who serves Emperor Julius, would be pleased to know how well his son was received,” Augustus says with an air of pomp about him.
Lord Barrau’s lip twitches impatiently. “Yes, well… all in the north are grateful Emperor Crassi allows us our freedom.” His words tainted with spite.
Ennui sighs and shakes her head at Augustus, mumbling angrily under her breath. Her hands tense into the lengthy silken dress. “Augustus,” she grumbles angrily.
Mido turns to Lord Barrau and begins to speak, only to be silenced as the doors are opened. Servants pour into the room carrying silver platters, plated with dishes. There is an assortment which is scattered along the center of the table. Roasted duck, steamed carrots, beats, and a type of rich and fragrant broth. Crisp loaves of steaming bread are cracked and split among the table. The scent of the warm bread reminds Mido just how hungry he is. Since they left Sidi, the fare had been lacking in flavor, and now before his eyes, a feast fit for kings. Tray after tray, the dishes are dispersed, the duck carved and placed before them.
As the servants step back from the table and stand along the columns, Lord Barrau finally raises his voice. “My tone was out of line,” he says, nodding at Augustus. “But mentioning Loria will gain you no friends in the north.”
Mido looks up from the heavenly feast, “He didn’t mean anything by it… he’s just proud of his birth,” he replies apologetically.
Augustus looks down at the feast, then back at Lord Barrau, waiting for him to begin eating. “I wasn’t meaning to cause any distress… I don’t make my lineage known often.”
Lumi scoffs and leans forward, “You’ve mentioned it a fe—”
“I have not!” Augustus interrupts angrily.
Lord Barrau chuckles, “In either case, relax. Eat and be merry.” He lifts his silver spoon, dipping it forward through his soup before bringing it to his lips.
Mido and Ennui look at one another, knocking the roasted duck and carrots around their plates with their fingers. Continuously eyeing Lord Barrau, Mido watches him, waiting for their next exchange.
“Khimi,” Perri says after a moment. “I am curious about something. Your journey to the north,” he begins, setting down his silverware. “You mentioned you were going to the Bastion of Sages, but we never learned the reason.”
Lord Barrau laughs and shoulders his son. “Oh, we don’t mean to pry,” he mutters, giving a scornful glance at Perri. “Right, son?”
Lumi leans back against his chair to look down at the others. “Oh, we’re going to ask the Saint of Tr—”
“We’re seeking aid,” Ennui says suddenly. “Seeking knowledge from the Bastion. We were told the knowledge granted there…”
“Is life changing?” Raul finishes, his words sounding like a warning. His voice is filled with foreboding as he speaks. “Life changes in the Bastion,” he warns. “Some who enter never return. Time… it works differently there. While you may feel the world stand still, time moves on outside. The legends say that unwritten books and tales exist there, a divine gift from above. It is said that even our own life stories can be found, waiting to be read. But at what cost? To know our fate before it unfolds… it is a dangerous thing. Wouldn’t you say?”
With a sweet, innocent smile, Lumi speaks up. “We were hoping to talk to Gilbert,” he says softly, his voice barely above a whisper. “We were told he might have some answers for us.” His eyes sparkle with hope.
Raul’s cold chuckle slices through the air. “Gilbert the Raven? He is like to speak in riddles, you’ll never get a real answer out of the old bird, why don’t you ask me? I’m not an expert on the divine, but I have knowledge to spare.”
Khimi laughs softly in response, his eyes do not rise from his plate. “Well, how much do you know about love and the afterlife?”
Raul smirks and folds his hands, “Well, I know a fair amount. It isn’t my most studied subject, I must admit. But by all means, ask away.”
Mido glances uncomfortably between the groups, the air is tense. He looks about the room for the best means of escape, only to remember the storm growing outside. The winds howl against the glass as if in recognition of his thoughts.
Khimi looks up from his plate and smiles at Raul among with the others. “When it comes to the matter of souls… certainly you understand where I am going with this?”
Lord Barrau looks at Raul then back at Khimi, “Souls? The only thing we know of souls is the little the Faith teaches us. As Raul said the other night, humans are barred from the beastlands, and beastkin are barred from the Heavens. There is nothing more to it.”
“But there has to be!” Lumi says, his chair slides across the stones while he sits up.
Raul’s brow furrows in deep thought as he contemplates their words. “The gods are said to hold the ultimate power to pass judgment on a soul,” he says with conviction. “They alone have the authority to determine one’s fate and choose where they shall go.” The firelight flickers across his face, casting shadows that dance across his pale features. “There is no record or account of a human ever entering the beastlands, or a beastkin ascending to the heavens. I fear your journey may be in vain,” he concludes.
As if sensing the weight of his words, the flames roar higher, casting a fiery glow on Lumi’s intense eyes. “In vain?!” he shouts, his voice rising in passionate defiance. “Just because it has not been written does not mean it hasn’t happened before, or that it’s impossible!” The heat radiating from the flames matches the fire in his voice.
“Oh, this is the way it has been for the entirety of our written history… what makes you think anything differently?”
Khimi, seemingly ignoring the entire exchange, cuts through the roasted duck with his knife. With the tender meat sitting just inches from his lips, he speaks, dripping with confidence. “Because our fate is unlike others.”
Lord Barrau nearly chokes on his wine, laughing aloud at the notion. “What makes you so sure?”
Even Perri scoffs in disbelief, “How can you make such bold claims? To think that you are any different in the eyes of the gods?”
Mido looks between the groups, clinging to the serrated knife in his hand. “I think what Lumi means is that… is that they have an understanding,” he stammers uncomfortably.
“An understanding?” Raul laughs under his breath. “That the gods will give you special treatment? What sort of understanding…”
Lumi forces himself back into his seat. “I have always known that Khimi and I would be together. Even before we met,” he mutters. “What Khimi and I have… it is different from what most people have. It’s different.”
“Different?” Raul asks in disbelief. “Different is what I would call your display last night,” he snaps suddenly.
Lumi’s cheeks brighten, but he maintains his composure. “You could have looked away if it bothered you so,” he whispers hastily.
Perri speaks up, “As if we could! You were both putting yourselves on display for all of Riverwatch to see! You are guests of Riverwatch!”
Ennui’s laughter is harsh, her tail snaps behind her with untold violence. “Well, they weren’t the only ones who failed at hiding their little displays. Isn’t that right?”
Lumi and Khimi give Ennui a bewildered look, while Mido glares at her from the corner of his eyes. “I think she just means tha–”
“I gather precisely what the devil means. I thought I heard a rat last night,” Raul begins, breaking the silence, and relaxing the knife in his hand. “I spoke with Renaud,” he announces, his attention still focused on the plate before him.
A heavy silence falls over the room, the only sound is the faint clinking of silverware on plates. Mido and the rest of the group fix their eyes on the mage at the end of the table, a sense of unease settling in their stomachs. Raul sets down his knife with a soft clink and raises his gaze to meet theirs, his dark eyes seeming to hold some secret knowledge. A chill runs down Mido’s spine as he feels the mage’s intense stare upon him. Lord Barrau rises from his seat and releases an uncomfortable sigh, his hands resting over the bulk of his stomach.
Lord Barrau’s voice breaks the silence. “It wasn’t supposed to go like this, you see,” he says, his tone heavy with regret and longing.
Ennui stands, her hands gripping tightly onto the knife hidden within the folds of her dress. Her eyes narrow as she locks gazes with the man at the head of the table. “What are you inferring, rabbit?” she asks, her words laced with mistrust. The room seems to hold its breath.
Raul rises from his seat, his dark cloak billowing behind him like a shadowy flag. He stands tall and commanding, his voice ringing out in the Great Hall. “Lord Barrau, Perri, I implore you to heed my words and depart this room at once. Renaud has told me a great deal about this woman.”
Ennui’s eyes flicker about the room dangerously. “What was Lord Barrau implying, mage?” she spits venomously.
“Ennui,” Khimi says as he stands, his hand on the hilt of his shamshir. “What are you going on about?”
“The lord of Riverwatch had planned to betray you,” Augustus blurts out, unable to contain the information any longer.
Lord Barrau wearily rubs a hand over his face before speaking again. “Khimi, your father wishes for you to return to the Desert Cities. Or, if it pleases you, Renaud himself will come here from the Golden Isles to bring you back. Ziad has promised a trade relationship with us in exchange for your return. He claims that you have no authority over the Cerulean Star.” A heavy silence follows these words, each person processing the ultimatum.
“Ziad is a liar!” Lumi blurts, “Khimi was given authority over the Cerulean Star! His father is a monster!” The chair falls behind him as he stands hurriedly, shouting his defiance. “Sidi denounced Ziad, the Saint of Balance herself too!”
Raul releases a heavy sigh, laced with false sorrow as he speaks, “As much as I would love to believe you, the truth is… it is too late.” He pauses, his dark eyes filled with cool focus. “As the renowned Lorian General Caecilius Crassi once said, ‘Alea iacta est’.”
“How dare you!” Augustus growls, “You loathe the Lorians, yet you quote them when it suits you?”
Lord Barrau steps away from the table, his expression grave. “I am afraid, my friends,” he begins solemnly, “that Raul is right. The die has been cast. Our agreement with Emir Ziad Zeybek has been sealed. The future of Riverwatch hangs in the balance of what comes next.”
“You’re making a grievous mistake,” Khimi says through clenched teeth. “Whatever you have planned, I implore you to stop before it is too late.”
Perri takes a step back, his head hanging in defeat. His voice is filled with remorse as he says, “I am sorry it had to come to this, but the fate of Riverwatch cannot be sacrificed.”
“You’re all mad,” Lumi shouts while Lord Barrau and Perri begin to turn along the Great Hall.
With a quick and precise flick, Ennui sends the dagger flying through the air, its sharp edges glinting in the light. But before it can reach its intended target, it hits an unseen barrier and falls to the ground with a resounding clatter. Raul’s hand trembles as he concentrates, his face contorted with intense focus. Meanwhile, Ennui’s lips are pulled back into a snarling sneer as she reaches underneath her dress and produces another glimmering dagger. The once-warm glow from the candles on the sconces suddenly flickers and dies out, leaving the room shrouded in darkness except for slivers of light peeking through the windows. A gust of wind sweeps through the room, extinguishing any remaining flames with a soft swish.
“Lord Barrau,” Raul says through the darkness, peering about the room uncomfortably. “I warned you they were dangerous.”
A fire races across the length of the table, consuming the thin lace along the center. The vase with the delicate lilies breaks, the water sizzling over the open fire. The group leaps back from the table, the fire casts its light across the room, illuminating everyone’s confused faces. Mido glances around, the servants flee the room, while Lord Barrau and his son pull swords from their scabbards. Calls for alarm and guards ring out through the Great Hall. Ennui’s shadowy form leaps across the table, closing the gap between herself and Raul within an instant. Silvery flashes glow in the darkness, the sound of metal clashes against the low hum of the invisible barrier.
“Lord Barrau!” Khimi calls through the darkness, the doors along the Great Hall begin to swarm with guards. “Lay down your weapons, we have no intention of fighting.”
Raul’s face is pinched with concentration, Ennui’s weapons clashing against his barrier. “It is a trick, Lord Barrau, he is cunning. Renaud warned us of the devil. Warned us of what they were capable of.”
“The lord of Riverwatch never backs down from a fight,” he growls, his lengthy ears standing on point.
“Lord Barrau,” Lumi says, his voice a plea. “We’ve seen enough despair to last a lifetime, please spare us anymore.”
Perri speaks up, taking a step beside his father. “Then it is true, you leave a trail of tears in your wake? Word came just this morning. A sighting that someone matching your description was seen leaving Cochon, the entirety of the city, nothing more than rubble. What manner of monsters are you?”
Raul croaks, staggering backwards. His breathing is labored, “Step back, Lord Barrau.”
Ennui leaps from the table and surges forward, unrelenting in her assault. She spares no clemency, providing the mage with little time to do anything but react to her attacks. “Is this the best you can do, mage?” she questions, malice in her voice.
Ennui’s display looks unnatural. Having never seen the devilkin don anything as feminine, she skirts about without regard to the nature of her attire. A second dagger joins her spare hand, her movements even more deadly.
“Ennui!” Khimi shouts, addressing her firmly. “We can settle this… peacefully.”
“Like hells we can, Khimi. You kno–know as well as I, that was never going to be an option…”
“Not once they told Ziad,” Lumi finishes, his expression growing more severe by the moment. Angered by their situation, he calls out through the room to Lord Barrau once more. “It doesn’t have to be this way…”
The chirp of a crossbow bolt hurls past them, and Mido turns to notice the guards aiming their weapons at them. Without so much as a second thought, Augustus rushes in front of Mido and holds the knife from dinner pointed at them. A volley is unleashed upon them, and Mido shouts an incantation.
“Sinuo!” The winds bend around Mido at his words, shielding them from the piercing gale of bolts. They drop to the stone in a noisy clatter, the guards stare at them with a dumbfounded awe before they push the crossbow back onto the stone to reload their volley.
Augustus lurches forward, shouting angry curses while he swings the knife in his hand menacingly. They are able to evade his assault, it is enough to keep them from reloading their bolts. A crackling sound brings Mido’s attention back to Raul, he turns just in time to see the mage’s hands spark with electricity, a brilliant display of sparks; A powerful blast of lighting smashes into Ennui and scorches the surface of the table behind her, arcing through her, while Raul shouts in High Talman.
Lumi and Khimi simultaneously call out to Ennui, rushing to her aid, while Lord Barrau and his son meet them before they can lend their aid. Khimi’s shamshir meets Lord Barrau’s blade with a clash, steel sings against steel. Lumi moves fluidly as water about Perri, his fist and feet occasionally meeting their mark across his body. The display is vicious, the efforts of practice is clear on display. Fist meets flesh, Lumi easily evading each and every swing from the youthful lapine, distress clear on his face.
Mido wants to rush to Ennui’s aid but knows there is no time. Her body lies on the floor, her fingers clenching the daggers in her hand. He takes solace in the fact that he can see her chest rising and falling with solid breaths. Recovering from his assault, Raul raises his hand into the air, power courses through his fingertips. Mido turns back to Augustus, now facing an increasingly growing hoard of guards, then back to Raul. Scared for the safety of his friends, he calls upon the wind.
The wind howls around him once again after he mutters the incantation, focusing the wind as fine and thin as he can, he sends it forward through the increasing number of guards. The air howls, cuts rip through the padded armor, blood sprays from the deep lacerations. Though his intent is not to kill, he lacks the control to prevent the violently deep wounds. Strangled cries ring out through the Great Hall, but the number of guards only increases by the moment.
Lord Barrau shouts commands, ordering for the assailants to be stopped at any cost. Khimi, his blade still locked against Lord Barrau’s urges him to put the foolishness aside and see to reason.
Mido loses sight of Lumi and Perri, the rage clear in his eyes while the two collide and fall behind the engulfed table. The sound of Lumi’s fist echoes through the room among the other sounds of combat. The violent smashing of his fist continues through Lord Barrau’s angry shouts. The lord calls out to his son, his focus wavering on the fight before him. Flames wreath around Khimi’s blade, the fire flaring with each swing.
The crackle of lighting hiss through the air, Raul’s hands spark with electricity. Mido’s heart races, the guards continue to push through the door in waves. Augustus all but surrounded, shouts at them, grabbing a short sword from the ground and flailing it about wildly. The fury in his eyes hardly masks the terror that rests behind them. Fearing for Augustus, Mido shouts the incantation once more, the wind howls through the room, fanning the flames. Their embers roar towards the ceiling like evening stars. Mido reaches forward, commanding the wind’s presence before him. Bursting forward, the wind hits Augustus’ back, nearly tumbling him forward into the oncoming guards.
“Lumi!” Mido calls through the chaos, “Where are you?”
Mido whips back to the fighting on the opposite side of the table. Lumi, seemingly free from the confines of his battle with Perri, confronts Raul. Their combat quickly becomes a duel of wills as either side is unable to gain any ground. Once again, Raul put back on the defensive, shielding himself with magick from the constant blows that smash into the barrier.
Augustus regains his composure and rises from his knees with the blade in his hand. He rushes to the door and shoulders it closed. Those who had been knocked to the stone floor begin to rise, anger clear in their eyes. He turns back to Mido and readies himself for any assailants that approach.
“Anyone who slays these fiends will feast in my hall as a lord!” Lord Barrau calls out, the rage clear in his voice. “Monsters!” He snaps the heat in his voice, echoing the flames licking against his blade.
The electric crackle hisses through the air, the hair along the nape of Mido’s neck stands on end, the feeling he felt the very moment before Ennui was struck. Out of fear, Mido bellows the incantation, the wind focuses into a thin veil and flies through the room. The flames along the table roar at its ferocity. As Raul finishes his arcane gesture, he releases a pained cry, raising the stump where his hand had been just seconds before. The freed appendage lops into the air before falling with a fleshy thud onto the stone. Blood soaks through the hungry fabric of Raul’s sleeve as he shouts curses across the room. Lumi turns back, looking at the source of his salvation. Mido meets his gaze, a smile nearly forms on his lips before Lumi’s brow furrows in focus, and he returns to his fight.
Lord Barrau’s shouts become frantic, his words seethe through his tight lips. Spittle drips down his chin, his eyes dart from Khimi to where Perri had fallen. The saber clashes against Khimi’s shamshir, their blades sliding along the length of the steel, back and forth with their unique movements. Khimi once more urges Lord Barrau to yield, his expression hardening from his loss of patience. An anxious laughter leaves Lord Barrau’s lips, Khimi relaxes his grip to one hand and reaches forward, his hand clenching tight to Lord Barrau’s forearm. The lapine lord pulls at his arm, a fear fills his eyes as Khimi recites words in an ancient tongue. Fire courses up the lord’s doublet and engulfs him within mere seconds. Khimi steps back, his eyes reflecting the flames before him.
The guards call out to their lord, while Raul stares, stupefied by the blaze surging before him. With a violent crack, Lumi’s foot slams into the mage’s jaw, spit and blood splatter across the floor. The handless mage falls forward, only attempting to rise from the cold stone once before falling back on the bloody stump. The guards stand apart, slowly placing their weapons on the ground. Khimi and Lumi rush to Ennui’s side, Khimi listens to her breathing before he scoops her into his arms and hurries her to the Great Hall doors.
Mido follows behind them, once he arrives around the end of the long table, he captures the sight of Lord Barrau. His form is smoldering in flames, smoke rising towards the high ceilings. Lord Barrau’s hand rests just short of his son’s, the pain clear on his dying face.
Augustus takes cautious step after cautious step past the guards, backpedaling until he finds himself near the group. His breathing is labored, and he looks behind them with a worried glint in his eyes. The flames from Lord Barrau still flicker, the scent of his seared flesh mingles with the rusty scent of blood.
“We can’t leave!” Augustus whispers, his eyes darting around the room. “There is a storm, remember? And you just lit Lord Barrau up like parchment!”
Khimi pauses while Lumi shoves the door open from the Great Hall. “Lord Barrau was just a man, Augustus. He was beyond reason, his rage would only serve to fuel those under him.”
As they make their way through the long, dimly lit hallway, Mido’s eyes catch the others. Ennui looks peacefully asleep in Khimi’s arms, her breathing seemingly stable. Lumi and Khimi themselves wear somber expressions, none of them speaking a word as they walk. Mido cannot help but ask what lingers on his mind, his voice barely above a whisper: “Did you… did you kill him? Did you kill Perri?”
Lumi meets Mido’s gaze, placing his finger thoughtfully on his chin. “I don’t think so, but… he did hit the floor really hard. Should I have?” He asks, sounding unsure of himself.
Augustus, his head whipping back and forth to survey the surrounding area, grumbles under his breath, “We’re doomed. Did you see how many of them there were? How many tried to enter the Great Hall? How’re we supposed to make it the hells out of here?”
Khimi sighs, lifting Ennui against himself. “We’ll need to get ourselves sorted soon. We’ll grab anything of use from our rooms and see if we can find a way out… or at least a place to hide.”
“There are cellars,” Mido whispers, “I’ve seen servants come up from them during the celebration the other night. It was dark, but it looked expansive… perhaps we could hide there?”
Lumi manages a smile, “It’s a good idea, maybe there is a way outside Riverwatch through there,” he responds thoughtfully. “T-thanks, by the way. I saw what you did to that mage… I didn’t think you had it in you.”
Lumi’s words bring an ease out of Mido, there had been no joy in attacking Raul, but he knew that if he had not, the situation would have been much more dire for them. The only thing that had surprised him was that he managed to focus his magic into such a volatile form as to cleanly remove his hand.
Augustus rolls his eyes in disbelief, “How can you all be so calm? Khimi just murdered a vassal lord, all of Riverwatch is going to hunt us down – HELLS! Probably the whole north!” his face fills with dread.
“We’ll be alright,” Lumi whispers, “I promise… just forget about what you saw, Augustus. Maybe it will be easier that way.”
“Oh, right… because going from fighting bandits in the desert to murdering nob–”
“We were defending ourselves,” Khimi interrupts, his voice gruff and thick with annoyance. “Don’t make it sound like we were at fault… Lord Barrau, like so many others before him, was corrupted by the promise of wealth.”
Everyone falls silent and gazes at the towering stained-glass window. Its colorful panes depict the image of Lord Barrau, his imposing figure standing atop a grassy hill. His sword is raised high above his head, gleaming in the sunlight, a symbol of his triumph over his enemies.
Could you have given all of this up… because of Ziad? Is he really that powerful a man?