***
Tell me, do you know what instinct is?
Instinct is the thought process of blood.
It's the bodies knowledge.
Not just its own singular knowledge, but the cumulative knowledge gained by all its
ancestors. Bits and pieces, layered densely one by one.
Generations of trial and error, embedded in every cell in your body, desperately trying
to keep you alive. From the moment Man stepped upon the Earth that process began.
And it never stopped.
It forms a chain, a link, a line, however thin, from you, to me, to everyone else.
Tell me, can you see the line?
***
"Huh.. What?"
Something flickered in the distance. Like a string of moonlight. One second it was
there...the next it wasn't.
I woke up in a dark room. Far more comfortably furnished than my usual quarters, and
quite the bit more spacious too. The scent was all too familiar though. It smelled of yak
skin and chestnut with an undertone of alcohol. The sheets were still clear of sand since
I cleaned them. Their quality wasn't on par with the status of the person meant to use
them and yet they reminded me of home, the capital, Bahaara.
The place where all the splendor of the world meets.
God, how I miss it.
The shadows danced on the wooden walls, their rhythm and tempo dictated by the
rocking of the ship. The constant movement made me sick till now but somehow,
tonight, it felt different. It was gentler. Like your mother putting you to sleep.
Slowly and gingerly.
The shadows cast down by the ropes, cutlasses and shelfs of booze hanging from the
walls continued to swing. Left and right, up and down, all except one.
There was a rebel, an unmovable mountain that refused to yield. In the chair
underneath the central window sat a shape, the light illuminating only it's silhouette. The
shoulders were slumped and the head hung low towards the floor. Its face hidden
under uncombed lush black hair.
He slowly looked up at me from across the room.
The whites of his teeth unfold into a smile but slowly, oh so slowly, they faded again as
the moonlight now reflected from the tears in his eyes.
"Olivier, my boy. I'm... I'm so sorry. So sorry my boy."
There was a legend of a town that was terrorized by the screams and wails of a giant.
The lord of the town set out a band of knights to find the creature and slay it.
Eventually the knights found the giant in the forest and attacked it. They fought for
three days and three nights until the beast fell. Despite the giant's immense strength,
not one of the knights got harmed. Because the giant didn't fight back. Perplexed, the
fighters inspected its corpse.
Underneath the foot of the giant, they found the crushed body of a wolf cub.
I met his gaze.
"Uncle, what happened?" My voice was weak and my throat dry.
"I'm sorry Olivier, I should have never taken you on this journey. This is all my fault. Forgive this old fool for his selfishness, will you lad?"
I tried to prop myself up a bit but my arms seemed to lack their usual strength.
"Uncle, tell me what happened? Is everyone alright? Did we escape?"
"The ships are fine lad. But... But we lost eight good men to the beast." His voice was
filled with heartfelt sorrow, he didn't even try to hide it. Graham continued...
"And the Beta...is hurt. The beast managed to sting her with one of its tentacles before
we slew it. The good girl still runs though, but the wound hasn't closed for two weeks
now. She's a real fighter she is, hah!"
"You slew it? How!?"
"The same as any other beast..."
Graham shrugged.
"...With good old steel and fire, lad."
My mind finally registered something.
"Two weeks? You said two weeks. I was unconscious for two whole weeks?"
"Ay, my boy. We're lucky that head of yours is still in one piece."
No wonder I felt so weak. Two whole weeks.
"Uncle, what was that thing?"
Graham's brows folded with a look of sheer anger.
"A Dra'gulj, my boy. A jewel of the desert."
Fragmented images flickered in my mind.
The shapes, the size, the beauty and fear.
How helpless we stand in the face of true might.
"Uncle, I'm sorry but it looks like I didn't attend to my duties for some time. I'll see to get
to them as soon as I recover a bit. Give me two days. Alright?"
Graham smiled for the first time.
"Hah! You got the spirit lad but that body of yours is as brittle as a twig. Hahah..."
He got up from his chair and towered the room.
"...we'll give your three. Now get some rest, there's food and water next to bed if you
need it. The guard will be here any minute, try not to fall back on your "noble" side, ay?"
"I'll give it my best."
He grabbed one of the ropes from the wall and headed out.
"That's my squire." he said softly.
"Uncle? What now?"
"Don't worry lad, that thing was the worst Iris can send. I didn't expect for such a big
welcome but here we are and we still need to continue. Get some sleep boy, I'll tell Gal
and the others you're awake."
***
After Graham left, I fell asleep again and woke up not knowing how much time had
passed. My body missed the feeling of lying in a comfy bed so much it drowned out all
noise around me. No growls of the Al'ma, no soldiers shouting, no wooden boards
cracking. Just me, the cushions and the vague feeling of being watched.
"Are you feeling better Oli? Need something?" there came a whisper.
The young man addressed me without me even realizing he was there, but by this time
I've gotten used to it. His accent did sound a bit weird though. Darkness concealed
most of his attire but I could tell he was clean shaven with short combed hair. The air
around him hid a small scent of rose petals.
"No thank you. It looks like I've already been taken care of." I looked at the bawl full of
dried meat and vegetables on the small counter to my left.
"I'm sorry, but I don't think I know your name Sir. Which ship do you serve on?"
The young man gave a small nod and a courtly bow.
"Samson, third officer of the Beta, it's a pleasure to make your acquaintance. I will be
your caretaker for this evening."
"Olivier Thomas Bright, pleasure to meet you as well."
"Olivier you say, that's a pretty strong name. You look more like an Oli to me...But if you
wish I will refer to you as Olivier from now on."
"Oli is fine."
"As you wish."
"Tell me sir Samson, what happened while I was out? Who were the men we lost? Did
you know them?"
"Some of them, yes. Milo and Briss served with me on our last expedition to Maharrani.
They were good soldiers, as good as they get. Milo had a wife back at Tar and Briss
wanted to be a tailor when he was young but his father made him fallow the family
tradition and join the military."
The black-haired soldier gave some further exposition on the whole affair. With un ere
coldness in his voice. Like he was just a scholar giving a lecture on the lives of these
men. Professional and uncaring.
"The creature attacked by swinging it's tentacles after it used some sort of pheromone
to lure the Al'ma to turn around. It looked like a gigantic see urchin. The size of a castle.
Swinging from the left flank it grabbed the Beta.
We opened fire as fast as we could but our response time was lacking. After all, for
some of the men this is their first mission equipped with a muscat.
They had their training, sure. But trying to load the next round while your hands tremble
in fear and confusion isn't so easy. Is it now?
I fear, even with the preparations taken beforehand, there is no training or drill that can
prepare a man for this sort of stuff. You just have to see it to believe it.
We lost five men during the fight and three more in the aftermath.
Those three..."
Sir Samson broke off for a second and seemed to relive his memory once more. I could
see his eyebrows curling in disgust and terror.
"Those three faced the worst fate. But I'll spare you the details. It's not necessary for a
boy to have nightmares while in recovery."
"Sir Samson, please, tell me!"
I gave him by best stern look.
"On this mission I am a soldier, just like all the rest. How am I to face the dangers here if
you withhold information from me?"
Samsons face showed no reaction.
He merely nodded and spoke.
"They died of the poison the beast emitted. Their chests imploded within two days,
leaving a hole where the lungs once were. Like a badly made cake the rib bones
simply gelatinized and slumped inward. The men were conscious the whole time."
"..."
"After their death the rot spread to the rest of the body in no time at all. Flesh turned
into pudding. Fearing further infection among the crew, we had to throw them
overboard. Once we get back to Baharran they will be given a bodiless burial."
"Sir...sir Samson. How did the creature poison the men?"
"It was transmitted by touch most likely, possibly by inhalation.
We aren't sure."
I went pale.
A tingling feeling started swarming on my skin.
My brow was dripping with cold sweat as the room started to feel hotter and hotter. The
silk of the bed sheet, soft as it was only minutes ago, now felt itchy and ruff.
My heartbeat was pulsating in my ears while my breaths became more shallow.
Death. Death was lying in bed next to me.
Patiently waiting to take me to a never-ending slumber.
"..."
"Lucky for us no one else..."
"Me."
"..."
"You? You what?"
"Me. I was poisoned. Colin told me it stung me before the battle began."
Samson seemed confused for a moment but not unnerved.
"No Oli. It only got you with the pheromones. We checked after you passed out."
"What? Really?"
"Yes, of course. You think that wasn't the first thing your uncle did after we escaped. I
wasn't there to see it, since I was assisting Lord Kali on the beta, but the men say he
jumped ship to get to you faster."
The specter of Death was no longer there.
"He jumped ship? What, why? Did I fall overboard?"
"No Oli, I mean, he jumped...from ship to ship."
Moments passed.
The, till now, level-headed man, looked like he didn't believe in his own words. Even as
he was saying them.
It is one thing to witness the capabilities of nature for the first time, to come face to face
with all the creative ways wilderness forges its weapons. The ingenuity of predators and
resourcefulness of pray astound most men, but...but to grasp the actual potential of
Man. It can and it has, boggled the minds of many. Even those that seek to push that
limit.
"Oli. I don't want to be disrespectful but who, or... what is your uncle?"
That question took me by surprise. As I was contemplating my answer Samson
staggered, looking uncomfortable.
"What am I saying? Forgive me Olivier."
He hung his head low and took a bow.
"My words were out of place. Lord Bright and his command are without question.
Forgive my insul..."
"No."
Samson looked at me. Now visibly frightened.
"Please, young lord Bri..."
"No, sir Samson. You are right. What in the world is he?"
***
Samson and I continued to chat throughout the night about various topics but would
constantly circle back to Graham.
I would say sir Samson was seemingly just a quiet admirer of the commander.
"So, you don't know either. Hmmm..."
"Sadly no, all I know about him was told to me from my brothers and father. And truth
be told, I wasn't too keen on meeting him."
"Why is that?"
"Graham certainly fits the physical description my brother gave me. Gigantic."
"Hah, that would be an understatement."
Samson let go a small chuckle and continued.
"I heard from the men in my unit that Lord Graham would sometimes bite through the
fork while taking his meal."
"Haha, not quite, but he does bend the poor utensils if he's lost in thought while eating."
"Do you know from your family stories if he was always like that?"
"If they are to be believed then yes. But I'm certain that my uncle wasn't hatched from
a boulder that crashed from a mountain onto my grandfather's vacation home."
Samson pressed his lips together, trying to contain a laugh.
"Although it certainly feels like talking to a boulder sometimes."
I hung my head.
"You know sir Samson I only met him the day before our departure. A week before that,
my father called me into his study and with a mere few words explained I was to be
given into his care."
Samson straighten his back and took on a more soldier like pose while sitting across
from me. Looking directly at me.
"There was no discussion. No one asked me anything. My bags were packed and I was
brought to him. Can you imagine how I felt? Not only was I to be handed into the
hands of a complete stranger but, seeing him for the first time felt like being thrown into
the jaws of a dragon... That reminds me. You know about the tale of Graham and the
drake?
"Yes, yes I do."
"Oh, alright then. Anyway, I was scared at first. There's no denying that. But in just a few
weeks my fear turned to simple boredom and agitation. I grew accustomed to the
nick-knacks he wears under the uniform, his weird fascination with this place and even
to the Al'ma. The literal monsters from fairy-tales."
"The fantastical turning into the mundane."
"Yes."
"Don't let that pain you Oli. Those are just the sings of growing up."
"I guess."
We went quiet for a moment.
I could feel exhaustion creeping onto me. Samson must've noticed as he continued,
once more, with his scholarly tone.
"How about this, in exchange for your stories about Lord Bright tonight, I give you some
of mine about any topic you wish. Be it fantastical or mundane."
I gestured a soft smile and nodded.
"What boy alive doesn't care for a good bedtime story, hah! "
The sharp soldier grinned. He really liked giving lectures.
"How about...Hannana? No, hmmm... The saint of daggers? No, that one would just rile
you up. Let me think."
While the good Samson was blabbering to himself, I looked out the window. It was a
cloudless night like always at the Beggars plate. No place on earth allowed for a view
such as this. The sky was brilliant. The moon hung low, it's five main fragments following
the Primus like knights their king. I wonder how they can swirl around like that and not
get lost or hit one another.
"Tell me your version of the shattering, sir Samson. The Tarrian version."
He looked at me with raised eyebrows but still a hardened face. Intrigued and curious.
"How did you know I was Tarrian?"
"Your pronunciation of "Bahaaran". Natives say "Bahaaran", you can feel the love they
have for that name as it roles from the tongue. But newcomers don't feel that way, so
it's usually something like "Bah'ran", "Baharein" or, in your case "Baharran"."
Samson lit up with a wide grin.
"Hah! Sharp ear you have there young lord. And thank you for using the word
newcomer and not conquered. The Shattering it is then, but in Tar we call it the Dance."
He cleared his throat with a small "khmm" and began.
"Long ago when the world was young there was a kingdom, a great kingdom that
stretched far and wide. At its head a great queen, noble and just and beautiful. Her
people adored her and dressed her in gold and roses.
Seeing that the kingdom stretched around the world, in time, all the gold in the world
found its way to the queen. But the queen didn't care for gold, she had plenty of that.
What she lacked was a husband. A king by her side. So, a noble offered five of his sons.
"Choose oh dearest queen, which son of mine do you wish. Say and it will be so. The
strongest, the smartest or the most noble? Say, and it will be so." The noble proclaimed.
But the queen, could not decide. All of them were fit to be king.
So, the queen made a proclamation of her own. "Go forth, oh noble men, find what
glitters more than gold and earn your place at my side."
The noble sons left the golden castle and ventured forth.
Scattering to the winds.
When they returned, they offered their gifts.
The first brought a jewel beautiful and mysterious.
The second a flower never seen before.
The third a pearl from the deepest ocean.
The fourth glitter from a star.
And the fifth a song that captivated all who hear it.
All the gifts were wonderous, and the queen still could not decide.
But the song of the fifth son inspired her.
A dance was to be the final task.
"Dance with me oh noble sons and earn your place at my side."
Till this day the sons dance around the queen. The bodies of the sons and the queen
withered away, the gold of the kingdom returned to the earth, but the will of the
dancers shackled itself to the skies. Determined to be the victor and earn the love of
the queen.
And one day, when the time comes, the victor will be decided and the kingdom will
rise again with a new king at the throne."