Chapter 6
After waiting for what felt like hours, the bright red doors unlocked with a loud click. I rise to my feet from where I'd been sitting beside the entryway, surprised to not have seen any signs of life in the castle. There had been no voices, no sounds of footsteps, and no one else had appeared for dinner. Pushing the heavy door open, the dining hall appeared before me, opulent decorations lining the walls, the painting frames made from the same deep wood as the large table. The table. It was completely covered in food, and the scent that hit my nostrils caused me to salivate. This was indeed a feast fit for a king.
Despite there being numerous seats, they were all empty, save for one. At the head of the table sat King Taro, his regal presence demanding attention as he sat in silence, seemingly indifferent towards my appearance. He didn't bother toeven look up at me, or to question why with my shirt, now back on my body, was covered in blood. My eyes darted nervously around the dining hall, steps wary as I approached a seat and gingerly sat down, but dareddare not to touch the food—My stomach grumbled in protest. I glanced over at the king, his crown perched atop his head. He said nothing while I fidgeted with my fingers, the cracking of my knuckles the only sounds to be heard throughout the silent hall.
Amidst the ornate decorations and well-dressed king, I couldn't help but feel slightly embarrassed. I twisted the hem of my shirt, the dried blood cracking and coming off in flakes against my thighs. The chandelier that hung overhead cast long shadows up the walls, meeting the sconces lined with candles. I contemplated its history, how many people had feasted here, how many have sat in these chairs and laughed, tried new foods, perhaps sat in uncomfortable silence the same as I. King Taro mentioned that this was once a hub for balls and galas. I couldan see why. With a final glance to the head of the table, I clear my throat. Just as I was about to open my mouth to say something, footsteps entered through the doors, and my head whipped around at the sound.
Four people stepped through the doors. None of them glanced in my direction as I picked my slack jaw up off the ground. They all proceeded to the other side of the table and sat down beside each other, not uttering a word. The only woman of the group sat in the centre of them all, her fiery red hair cascading down her form-fitting, dark clothing, going all the way down to her waist. Her light eyes shot up to mine, but her face was a mask of cool indifference. As she raised her chin, multiple knives strapped against her torso became visible. My eyes raked over the three men, each of them also carrying weapons. None of them acknowledged me, and one even went as far as to keep his eyes completely downcast, his shaggy brown hair falling in front of his face as he adjusted the bow strapped against his back.
I didn't dare speak. The silence was palpable as the six of us sat, no one seemingly looking at each other. They all wore dark clothing, sole for the blonde man with angular features. His clothing was light and loose against the body, and his hair was cut close to his scalp in jagged hacks. The other man, the final one, stood out to me. With broad shoulders and raven hair as, dark as his eyes and broad shoulders, —they all looked to be in rather good shape. The chair groaned as the dark- haired man adjusted in his seat, the hilt of a sword peaking over his tall frame. The blond one whispered something to the raven- haired man, who gave a slight nod in return. I stiffened.
The woman turned towards King Taro, as if prepared to speak, but his eyes remained unreadable. The Kking did not deign toher a glance at her in return, he simply continued to look outward at the food set before us. From behind me, a noise caught my attention. Twisting in my chair, I was shocked to see a diminutive android roll out from a small door, the mechanical whirring sound trailing it as it approacheds the head of the table. Its box-like figure stops, turning in place to face us before lifting a mechanical arm and placing down a golden bell. With a gentle tap, the bell emitted a clear, resonant chime throughout the room. As the bell rang, my gaze shifted towards King Taro. Revulsion settled in as he launched into a rush of gorging himself. He grabbed an entire cooked carcass and began devouring it with his bare hands, the juices and skin getting all over his face and dripping down onto his clothing. The plates clattered against each other as he continued to grab at handfuls of food, ignoring all the polished utensils that were placed throughout the table. His thick, greasy fingers wrapped around an engraved decanter as he sloshed the rich, amber liquid into his glass. Appalled by the king's behaviour, I turn towards the four strangers, all of whom are plating themselves and reaching over one another. Swallowing the bile I felt rise in my throat, I glanced around at the plated food before me.
Sliced fruits, their skins bursting with juices, mixed with succulent meats and deliciously spiced dishes sat before me. Sampling the four closest things to me, I filled my plate before digging in with the two-pronged, silver fork. Despite my initial hesitation, the food was delicious, and King Taro was right, I'd never tasted anything like it before. The meat was smokey and chewy, better than the perfect steak. I filled my glass with some transparent liquid, gulping down the entire cup before refilling it and continuing to drink. To my disappointment but also relief, it was water, far cooler and clearer than that from the stream. I gulped down multiple glasses, knowing my canteen was already empty. I allowed myself to indulge in the experience, focusing on filling my empty stomach and enjoying every single bite of this delicious food, knowing I won't get more for another 24 hours. The room was quiet. No one spoke. Just the soft clink of cutlery against plates and the occasional scrape of a chair. Time seemed to slow. I ate slower now, letting the textures and flavors linger. I wiped my mouth with the cloth napkin, then sat back, staring at the nearly empty plate in front of me.
As everyone seemed to be finishing up, my bladder swelled. I needed to relieve myself. Fast. King Taro had briefly shown me a small washroom during our initial tour, so I rise from my seat and make my way to the foyer. Everyone, except King Taro, turns to me. I keep my eyes focused on the door, without so much as glancing back.
When I return from the bathroom, only minutes later, I am surprised to see the entire dining hall empty, except for the android, who is slowly taking dishes from the table to the smaller door, and disappearing inside. Before it can grab the pitcher of water, I quickly drink the remains, some of it pouring down over my bloodied shirt. The android approaches me and in a mechanical, slow voice says,
"I take" before reaching out its arm for the pitcher.
"Thank you." I mumble.
"You are welcome. Anything else?" It questions, tilting upwards towards my face.
I think for a moment, unsure of what to say. Then it dawns on me.
"How do I make a fire?"
If the android is only programmed to do dishes, then I'm at no loss other than confusing it, but if for some reason it can do more than simply clean, it would benefit me greatly. Hydraulic hisses sound from the bot, lights flashing along its body. There is silence for a moment.
"Orange bark, highly flammable, knife to flint" it vocalizes, the beeping subsiding.
"Thank you" I trail off, "what should I call you?"
The android lights up, spinning on its wheels in circles, lifting in arms in the air while it chittered in a high pitch. As it turns to face me once again, it simply states, "Byte", before wheeling off towards the table to continue cleaning. I suppose I have made my first official, non-terrifying acquaintance on this island, and he's not even human. He seemed bright, artificially so.
Not wanting to spend too much time in the dining hall, especially as it began to get dark, I made my way back towards where I thought my cabin was, doing my best to remember the exact route that King Taro had taken me the day before.
As I return to my little shack, the sun is setting through the trees. I debated going to get wood, but realized that it will likely require more time than what the sun was currently providing me. So I emptied my pockets onto the dresser, except for the knife, and proceeded towards my bed, pillow once again under my leg for elevation. The cabin was quiet, my quiet breathing the only thing I could focus on to calm myself. I had mulled over the list given by King Taro while I was at the beach and wondered what it could possibly all mean. As I shifted against the uncomfortable cot, I couldn't help but wish I was in my bed. Adventure always sounded better in stories, until you're the one bleeding, scared, and lost and alone.
—
I wake up to the sound of chirping grating through the walls, high-pitched and incessant, just like the birds back home. I wince as I rise, my body once again sore. I take the opportunity to stretch, allowing my stiff muscles to work themselves out, getting the blood flowing again. As I tuck my heel against my butt, my thigh aches. Maybe this should become a morning routine, because I absolutely cannot afford to be too pained to move. Rolling my head from side to side, I allow my eyes to flutter shut, enjoying the movement that lengthens my neck. I stretch until I feel limber, something I hadn't done for a long, long while.
Stepping out of my little cabin, knife and canteen in hand, I hobbleds off towards the castle. I felt quite a bit better now that I had had some food and water, even if hunger is starting to set in again ever so slightly. Why couldn't the king have offered breakfasts instead of dinners? That would've made the days much easier. I followed the winding path, careful not to touch any of the brightly coloured fauna. A trill sounds from behind me, causing me to turn around. I recognized the sound, the same one that sprang from that large grey bird. The creature soared overhead before dipping downwards. Its feathers seemingly absolving the light. Its large form swoops down towards me and I freeze, it flies within an arm's reach and then lands a short distance away, razor sharp teeth and thick talons on full display. Yesterday, it seemed to possess this passive intelligence, this understanding. Today, I can't quite read it. I back peddle for a moment, creating some distance. The bird picks at the ground with its beak, prying at something beyond the soil. I stare at it for a little while longer, wondering if this is the same one I saw yesterday, or if perhaps they were all this colour. As I turn away, the bird steps towards me and trills, a high-pitched, soft question. It relaxes its wings, allowing them to gently touch the soil. I tear my gaze away slowly before turning towards the ascension of the castle, still gently favouring my leg.
The doors are not locked when I push through the front foyer. I shudder at the memory of what he did to me only a couple of days previously, his booming voice shaking these walls. I looked up. The crack in the ceiling has been fixed, and no shards remained anywhere on the ground. It was as if the whole thing had never happened. I wandered to the dining hall, but the door was bolted shut. A sigh escapes me. I try to remember where the throne room was, figuring that if someone was going to sit on their golden throne and bask in their castle all day, it would be King Taro.
–
Upon entering the throne room, sure enough, King Taro sat against the velvet red throne staring out the large window that overlooked the forest. A passive smiled rested against his lips. Standing beside Taro, off the dais tucked to the side, was Byte. Byte stood the same way a dog might sit alongside its master, ready to be called upon. I carefully walk across the long room, avoiding the pristine red carpet with my dirty shoes.
"Hello, King Taro", I greet.
He doesn't respond. I take a step into his line of vision, putting myself between him and the window.
"I was hoping you could tell me a bit more about the plants on the island. If anything out there is edible", I stroke his ego, "and as delicious as what was served at dinner yesterday evening."
His eyes slowly drifted to mine, the first sign that he even recognized not being alone in the room. When he spoke, his voice was low and deep.
"Edible, you say? Do you dare to pluck the stars out of the celestial heavens, for they too bear fruit of the stellar kind."
Huh?
I keep my face neutral, forcing my hands to still be at my sides. After multiple moments of silence, I tried again, "what about the creatures of the island? Can you tell me more about them?"
Even though we were making eye contact, I had never felt more invisible. He answered, but his body remained rigid, like rigor mortis had set in many moons ago.
"The creatures and monsters of the islands guard forgotten tales long-lost to memory. They are mere shadows and husks of ancient wisdom, alluding to sorrows they faced amongst life as conscious beings. To know them is to know oneself."
His dead eyes did not waver, nor did the smile on his lips. I shifted my eyes towards the ground, the eye contact feeling a little too intense for my liking. My shorts chafed uncomfortably as I rubbed my sweaty palms against them. The king was mad, clearly he had to be crazy. Who answers questions like that? Though I suppose he was always a little bit… odd. I look back up at the king, before turning around and peering out of the bay window. This room overlooked a good portion of the island, though it was simply crowded trees that were in sight. From here, I could see over the canopy, making the island look as though it had two layers. The harsh, busy underbelly and this much more serene, quiet haven. I imagine the trees disappearing, imagine the paths that lie beneath. It would make my life significantly easier if I had a map for this maze of an island.
I turned around once again to face Taro, and walked towards the dais. I decide against asking him anything else, so I look over to Byte, remembering his suggestion at dinner.
"Byte, could you tell me if there is anything edible in the forest?" I quip. Byte revs to life, the buttons along what I suppose could be shoulders lighting up, blinking in a pattern. It was like he was processing the question, thinking.
His mechanical voice begins
"The green horntail-"
A sudden clanging sounds as King Taro briskly rises from the throne, a golden staff I hadn't noticed tumbling down the dais.
"Do not distract my Golem!"
He bellowed as he stalked towards me. I stepped back quickly, lifting my hands.
"It's undertaken tasks hold paramount significance and I shall not tolerate a feeble-minded mortal daring to disturb its concentration with trivial, foolish questions. Begone! For I have important business to attend to." The king seethed, halting before me. His breathing became ragged, a putrid, decaying smell billowing from his parted lips. Very contrasting to his rather prim and proper appearance just a few moments ago. His tone made me recoil a step further, feeling like a child being scolded by a parent.
"My apologies, King Taro", I murmur, "I was just leaving".
He remained before me, not moving an inch. I take that as my opportunity to step back, not turning my back to him, and slowly backing out the door. I can feel every muscle in my body tense as he straightens, stalking off to retrieve his golden staff. The minute he was no longer in sight, I sprinted. My feet thundered along the marble flooring as I avoided all the rugs, not wanting to slip. My mind raced as I pushed my legs to move faster, wanting to get the hell out of here in case he decided to follow. I shoved down the pulsing in my leg, ignoring the stinging. The thought of him losing his temper again terrified me. I didn't even fully know what he was, because he definitely didn't seem human. How he had somehow found me that day at sea, and how there was somehow an island that had undiscovered creatures on it, I could barely wrap my head around.
What was this place?
Out of the castle, my legs slowed; heart pounding against my ribcage as my throat burned. The descent down the mountain was careful, steady, broken only once the forest floor rose up to meet it. I opened my canteen and drained it, the few measly sips that remained. Wandering down through the forest, I headed off towards the stream, the moss cushioning my feet as I leaned against a tree for a moment. Everything seemed to still in those few seconds, the wind quieting as I caught my breath. The purple petals that hung from the large tree swayed, one gently brushing against my cheek. I reached up, carefully grazing my fingers against the fractal patterns that coated the flower. Time passed unnoticed.
Eventually, I returned to the path, going towards the cabin so I could retrace my steps to the stream. The cracked wooden frame came into view, and I noticed how much darker the area had become. I must have rested for longer than anticipated. Quickening my pace, I retrace my steps until I arrive at the stream, slurping down fill after fill of my canteen. Thoughts of fishing with Maya prod their way into my mind, how a shower, even a cold one, sounded heavenly in these moments where my skin was sticky and covered in dirt. I let out a long sigh, the weight against my shoulders seemingly crushing. I wiped my cheeks, the hot tears suddenly appearing. I felt silly, like a child crying over something mundane and innocuous, but being thrust into something incomprehensible does that to you, I suppose.
I missed my family.
I trudged back to the cabin, taking a quick glance at the axe before pushing through the ajar door and slumping into the bed, feeling too defeated to do anything else.