Blood & Besiegement

by Jeremy Dwyer

  “I am concerned by the change in the yellow suns and in search of the cause,” Baron Ottokar said.

  “I cannot explain the cause of the darkening of the medium, warm yellow suns – or why there are only twenty-three (23) rather than the previous twenty-four (24) which filled the sky. I can report only that which I sense, by the sounds I hear, but my report is reliable, and I have confidence in its accuracy,” Indigo said.

  “Though I do not know the cause, I do have confidence in this much: there is great danger here, and you must leave. Learn what you can, and guard yourself. Return only when – and only if – you discover a reason for the darkening of the yellow suns. Otherwise, stay far from this place,” Baron Ottokar said.

  “I don’t understand, Baron. I will obey your instructions, but I am frightened by them,” Indigo said.

  “Danger is not a cause for fear, but for greater awareness, and a change of course in our journey through life,” Baron Ottokar said.

  “I can follow the suns that are present by their sounds, but not the suns that are absent. Where should I go? How should I search?” Indigo asked.

  “You will have to rely on your intimate understanding of the many suns – given by the Atrejan Ocean waters you drink – to discover the answers to those questions. However, to ease your journey, I will give you a small fund to cover your expenses,” Baron Ottokar said. He took a small, metal box from underneath his desk and opened it, revealing hundreds of diamonds and rubies. Baron Ottokar then transferred seventeen (17) diamonds and twelve (12) rubies from the box to a pouch he found in a drawer of his desk and handed the pouch to Indigo.

  “Thank you, Baron,” Indigo said.

  “This should be enough to pay for your needs and your travels. It may also be profitable for you to listen to the red and blue suns and thereby chart courses for ships, earning your way as a navigator, rather than paying. That will help you to conserve this grant of gemstones. Just be cautious about whom you travel with,” Baron Ottokar said.

  “When am I to leave?” Indigo asked.

  “You must depart immediately. Discover what you safely can about the darkening of the suns, but do not place yourself in danger to do so. I do not know if I will ever see you again, but I wish you success and good health,” Baron Ottokar said.

  “If a Chronicler meets me and asks me where I am going, what should I say?” Indigo asked.

  “Tell them the truth, of course: that you are watching the skies. If you learn the cause of the darkening of the suns, then share what you learn with the Chronicler, but only in confidence. If the situation arises where you do learn something, yet cannot bring the knowledge to me or to a Chronicler, then go to Emeth and report it directly to a Verifier, in thorough detail and perfect accuracy. They will know where to relay the information,” Baron Ottokar said.

  Indigo left the castle immediately and paid one (1) ruby for transport across the Citrine Desert by a small airship, which took her to the southern coast of Volaraden. From there, she traveled the world on various ships, observing the many suns of the sky and listening to the accounts of the other travelers she met, in order to learn all that she could.

  CHAPTER 29: Song of Love

  In the Voyager’s Room of the water-worshipper’s temple on Av’Tovenka Island, Taesa concentrated on her predicament.

  She felt a great guilt over the danger she called down upon the world. She believed what Victoria had said about the damage the sunfire creature – Prince Kirdothet – had caused. In fact, much of it was true, without Victoria actually knowing it. Many had died in the blazes ignited by Kirdothet, and it was Taesa’s song Let Many Suns Shine Down that had called him from the sky.

  Taesa knew that she could not replace any lives that were lost at his hands, because each life is precious and unique. Victoria’s argument about rebuilding the world by having many children seemed both strange and true all at once. After all, what other constructive act could she do that would add life, rather than take it away?

  Taesa then turned her thoughts back to Prince Emerond. Her attraction to him appeared suddenly, but now it was changing to be as much practical as sentimental or physical. She was determined to win him over, so he would become her friend and then her husband. Taesa intended to have as many children as she could. In turn, she would urge them to have as many as they could, to fill the void that was created by the deaths.

  Prince Kirdothet, she remembered, was arrogant and powerful and had threatened violence if she did not sing for him. Prince Emerond, in contrast, defended his own people by directly confronting a danger, and was strategic about doing so. He was victorious, and handsome, and powerful. This did make him very desirable as a husband, and Taesa planned on how to use her greatest asset – her music – to enchant him.

  Taesa drank anew of the waters of the Pirovalen Ocean from her vial and she was thereby energized. She thought of different words and phrases and concepts that described the prince, and the life she wanted to have with him, and the love that she wanted them to share. She took each idea then embellished it, accentuated it and romanticized it as much as she could. She drank of the waters again, becoming still more energized, and fresh musical ideas occurred to her, along with their melodies. She was at her most creative now, because of the powerful motivation she had to atone for the peril she had brought down from the sky.

  Taesa was afraid of being a genuinely evil person, or even being less than a genuinely good one. She spent her life searching for answers to life’s mysteries, and never found any answers in violence or death, so she was intent upon doing that which was the perfect opposite of taking life. Instead, Taesa was determined to bring about new life. She spent hours and days considering this, sleeping very little, and remembering no dreams if she even had any. She focused on composing her music, and how it would bring her closer to Prince Emerond, in every possible way. The waters of the Pirovalen Ocean flowed through her like never before, enabling this focus.

  Victoria entered the room, each morning, and asked her: “Are you ready yet, Taesa? Your prince awaits.”

  Taesa answered her, each time, saying: “I’m getting closer. The words are almost right, and the music is almost fitting, but I am not ready. Still, I’m closer today than yesterday.”

  Victoria replied to her, each time, saying: “Time is no ally to either of us. The world burns, and opportunities exist for only a short while. Each day brings new loss, yet little gain. You are my dear daughter, and I wish for you to do what is right, and do it properly. That is a mother’s greatest joy.” Then, she left, returning the next morning.

  After thirteen (13) days of intense focus, Taesa had her song, and she was ready.

  Victoria entered the room this morning to inquire of her readiness and Taesa said: “I have the song for my prince. The time is now.”

  “Come with me. He must hear it…today,” Victoria said.

  Taesa followed Victoria into the Scout’s Room, where Halina was waiting for her.

  “Halina. Now is the time. Take her to Prince Emerond, and allow him to catch sight of her, while he hears her song,” Victoria said.

  “Just the song?” Halina asked.

  “The song must come first, to win his emotions. Intimacy will come later, but it won’t be long,” Victoria said.

  “Her voice is powerful…it may work quickly, and stir the passions within both of them,” Halina said.

  “Don’t go too far…not today. It’s better that the passion be withheld, so it is most intense after the promise is made,” Victoria is said. She knew that, in order to couple Taesa with Emerond and manipulate the child, she first had to manipulate the emotions and passions of both of them: control was key.

  “As you wish,” Halina said. She was disappointed, actually, and hoping that the young woman would take a lover that very night. That way, she could live and love vicariously through watching their passionate act. While Taesa’s feminine charms were bland, her young skin was still smooth. Halina’s own looks were mo
re than lacking because her older skin was bad as well as having been scarred, so finding a physically energetic lover was a rare event for her, and finding a compassionate one was even more difficult. Halina then drank anew of the waters of the Ikkith Tar Ocean and was energized. She cloaked herself in the darkness and extended this over Taesa. They left the temple and made their way overland on Av’Tovenka Island and returned to the small boat. When they were upon the waters of the Ikkith Tar Ocean, the demon Matatirot sensed them and opened a portal, sending them instantly to the southern edge of the ocean at the northern coast of the continent of Revod.

  Halina and Taesa left the small boat and traveled under the cover of darkness. They traveled over land and saw the ruined towns. Taesa realized that they had been burned, and believed that it was because of the sunfire creature she had called down with her song.

  The pair of women found their way to the castle that served as the military academy. Halina was a master at infiltration, and had ways to evade detection even by light benders who could see into the darkness. The danger was the telepaths, who could sense thoughts and emotions, but they were rarely good enough, and she could even still her thoughts and evade all but the most sensitive telepaths. Taesa was vulnerable to that detection, but Halina could sense it in advance and circumnavigate it.

  They found Prince Emerond, and waited for him to retire for the night, and followed him to his private quarters.

  Halina carried many vials of the waters of the Ikkith Tar Ocean with her, and drank anew frequently enough to maintain her energy for the powers of darkness which she used to cloak herself as well as Taesa.

  When Emerond was clearly asleep, Halina whispered to Taesa that it was time.

  Taesa drank anew of the waters of the Pirovalen Ocean in her own vial and was energized. She began to sing her song, softly, so that only those in the room – Emerond and Halina – could hear it.

  My future is,

  With the prince upon whom I look.

  He's far away,

  Like a magic tale from a story book.

  My future is,

  Traveling across the land,

  To find the one

  Who inspires my dreams so grand.

  My future is,

  Wandering the world so vast,

  Seeking answers,

  So that I can find you at last.

  My future is,

  Crossing this, our great divide,

  Ending the wait,

  So that I can be by your side.

  My future is,

  Waking under skies so bright.

  Filled with joy,

  From the prince who is my inner light.

  My future is,

  Inventing new ways I can show,

  My love for you,

  So that in every way you know.

  My future is,

  Being the part that makes you whole,

  Joining to you,

  Completing your heart and your soul.

  My future is,

  Creating a new life within,

  From both of us.

  Soon our together will begin.

  My future is,

  Belonging to my greatest love,

  For my remaining living years,

  Before I join those up above.

  Emerond was only half-awakened by hearing this beautiful song, and he was enchanted by it, especially due to the powers of the Pirovalen Ocean which Taesa drank to imbue the song with its power.

  Halina momentarily eased her powers and lifted the cloak of darkness from Taesa – but not from herself – so that the prince could see the girl while the song was being sung.

  After the song was over, Emerond looked at the girl who appeared before him and asked: “Who are you?”

  At this, Halina covered Taesa with the cloak of darkness once again, and they left the castle that served as the Jenaldej Empire’s military academy and returned to Av’Tovenka Island the way they came. They returned to the water-worshipper’s temple and reported to Victoria.

  “The Jenaldej prince has heard Taesa’s song, and seen her, briefly,” Halina said.

  “Excellent. A curiosity will be awakened within the prince, leading him to search for her,” Victoria said.

  “He will search for me?” Taesa asked.

  “Yes, and you will wait, and rest, until he finds you. It will be soon,” Victoria said. She guided Taesa to the Voyager’s Room and left her there to rest.

  ~~~

  Emerond awoke the next day and remembered the beautiful song he had heard, and the young woman who had been singing it. He wasn’t sure if it was a dream or if it was real. He had hoped it was real, but told no one. He had responsibilities to help rebuild the Jenaldej Empire after the attack by fire as well as to defend it from threats still to come. Yet, he felt an undeniable – and completely unforgettable – attraction to the girl with the enchanting voice.

  CHAPTER 30: Strength and Freedom

  In the continent of Ihalik, in the empire under the command of Lavakara, the troops were working hard at training exercises. Lavakara placed General Serafina in charge of their training regiment, to ensure that they were fit and fast in combat. They would need every advantage they could get when the inevitable war against the Ahitan Empire began, and they didn’t know how much time was left. Lavakara had said to all of his troops and officers: “The suns in the sky have darkened, so the inferno may be ending soon. With the absence of the intense heat and light, therefore, the power of the tiara will be unleashed, bringing storms to every ocean. The woman who wields the tiara must be destroyed. This matter is of the utmost urgency. War is unavoidable. Failure is not, given absolute focus and intense preparation.”

  Serafina looked forward to the carnage of war, and understood very well how to train for killing. She did not fathom the magnitude of the storms of which Lavakara spoke: perhaps, she thought, they would drown her enemies.

  First, Serafina arrayed her military troops – four hundred twelve (412) divisions, each with two-thousand five hundred (2500) troops for a total of one million thirty thousand (1030000) personnel. Each division consisted of one thousand eight hundred (1800) swordfighters, four hundred (400) archers, two hundred (250) elite troopers trained in multiple combat forms including both sword fighting and archery, and fifty (50) special operations troops, who were more capable than the elite troopers, specializing in sabotage, espionage and assassination. These were ordered to stand around the northern palace, from which Lavakara ruled the empire.

  Judith was present and recorded these numbers into her book. She was no mathematician, but she easily gauged the size of each division, laid out in rank and file of fixed sizes. She multiplied the number of divisions by the size of each one. The Ursegan Ocean waters she drank, once again, allowed her to slow down time around her, as needed, to be sure nothing moved to quickly for her to see and count. She did not visit the southern palace or see the troops there, however.

  The southern palace had an additional fifty-seven divisions, each with the same structure, making an additional one hundred forty-two thousand (142000) personnel. These were trained by other subordinate officers, who directly reported to Lavakara, rather than having General Serafina as an intermediary.

  Serafina designed a grueling regiment, designed to test ability and force the troops to improve at a rapid pace. They would train for eight (8) days straight, for eighteen (18) of the thirty (30) hours each day. Then, they would rest a day. The troops – who were eighty-five (85) percent men and fifteen (15) percent women – found this nearly unsustainable, but obeyed with occasional grumbling. The troops spent their nights in tents around the palace.

  Judith monitored the training techniques, writing everything down. There was nothing extraordinary in General Serafina’s methodology and Judith had seen war and military training in the past. Judith did, however, note that the ratio of work to rest was much higher than she was accustomed to seeing. The hours per day were typical. However, there were never mor
e than six (6) days of work to one (1) day of rest. This was particularly grueling.

  For the swordfighters, who needed strength, along with the elite and special operations troops, who would need to maintain and grow their sword fighting skills, Serafina required them to learn to fight both one (1) handed and two (2) handed, with both the more lightweight one (1) handed swords and the more heavyweight two (2) handed swords. They even learned to use two (2) one (1) handed swords, one (1) in each hand.

  “Strike the branches of the trees to develop your technique. Two (2) hands on any sword should remove a branch in one (1) stroke. Remember to use this approach to kill larger opponents. One (1) hand on any sword should swiftly disable a larger opponent, or kill a smaller one with a strike against the jugular vein. Speed matters more against large numbers. Strength matters more against large individuals. Both will be necessary to win,” Serafina told them.

  The sword fighters – except for the elite and special operations troops temporarily training with them – were drinkers of the waters of the Nabavodel Ocean for strength and speed. These waters were used in practice, to as to simulate actual battlefield conditions. They did not all have equal innate potential to use the waters, and their performance varied considerably, ranging from terrifying lethality to abysmal near-harmlessness.

  The sword fighting troops decimated tens of thousands (10000) of acres of forest land in Ihalik as part of their training exercises.

  For the bow fighting troops, who needed awareness and accuracy, along with the elite and special operations troops who would need to maintain and grow their archery skills, Serafina required them to learn to use short bows and long bows, with different types of arrows: plain, web, poison and fire. The poison was made from cyanide. The web arrows required three (3) different archers to work in unison to fire arrows connected by webbing, so as to ensnare an enemy.

  “You need to rain down death on the approaching enemy. Every arrow must either hit the enemy, or must strike at the place the enemy wants to be. Take away their freedom to move. Take away their freedom to live. The fire arrows don’t just burn the enemy – they burn their siege towers, they burn their clothes, they burn their ships. A single hit on the enemy may not kill, but it must stop them from moving forward – the pain should be intense,” Serafina said.