Chapter 61

Year 163 – Fall – Quintus Mensis – 34th days

Avem, town of House Kalator, land of the Vale

All around them, the new folks of Avem were repairing the damaged houses. Vatra followed Nelis to the town hall, using her crutch to help her walk. The many remains of the battle were gone. It was as if it didn’t happen, but she could see them and feel their pain. The sight was frozen in her mind, unable to go away. The limbs flying, the injured running in vain, the flash of iron engine used by Nelis, and the ebbs of blood were acting in her head with such vivacity she could nearly smell the shredded guts by the hundreds. Her stomach felt in shambles. Vatra slowed down as she inhaled to ease her nausea.

Nelis – “Are you alright?”

Vatra – “Yes.”

Nelis – “Then don’t stop, follow me.”

Vatra – “Sorry.”

Containing her dizziness, she quickened her step until the two of them entered the town hall. The hourglass used in her dual was still there, but the whole place had changed. Tables had been installed and the large room now seemed like the inside of the inn. An old man sitting in the back of the hall was reading piles and piles of documents, and a little more than 10 soldiers were scattered around the hall.

Amund – “Pawn to H4.”

Vatra’s left arm was getting numb out of exhaustion from holding herself with the crutch when the two of them reached the old man. Noticing their presence, Ludger raised his head and looked at them with disgust.

Ludger – “If you brought your wounded to beg for my medicine, you’ve come to the wrong door.”

Atilos – “Queen to E5, check.”

Nelis – “I don’t need your help for that.”

Amund – “Castling long.”

Ludger – “Then why bring her with you? Can’t you see she’s injured?”

Atilos – “Bishop to H3, check.”

Nelis – “If she keeps sleeping, her body would atrophy.”

Amund – “King to B7.”

Vatra – “I’m fine. I just wanted some fresh air.”

Ludger – “Then what do you want?”

Nelis – “I’d like to have a few blank pieces of paper.”

Ludger – “And why would I give you any?”

Atilos – “Queen to C5.”

Nelis – “Because with all the documents you’ve taken from our home, I’m sure you’ve got many unused.”

Amund – “Rook to B8.”

Ludger – “And if I say no?”

Atilos – “Bishop to C8, check.”

Nelis – “It’s just paper. It will end up full of dust in the corner of a box if no one uses it.”

Amund – “Rook to C8.”

Ludger – “I don’t intend to give you any. Now get out of my sight, or I’ll call the guards, witch.”

Atilos – “Queen to C8, checkmate.”

Nelis – “Vatra, we’re leaving.”

Amund – “You lack patience, Atilos, but you’ve got a wit I’ve rarely seen.”

Atilos – “Your appraisal reaches my heart. Let’s play another time!”

Amund – “Certainly.”

As Amund left his table, Atilos noticed Nelis and Vatra heading to the door.

Atilos – “Hey! Aren’t you the witch of the Silver Lining?”

Nelis turned his sight behind his shoulder and noticed the general who killed the traitor a few days earlier.

Nelis – “What do you want?”

Atilos – “What is it you came for? Maybe I can help.”

Nelis looked at him in silence.

Vatra – “We came to get some paper.”

Atilos – “What if I told you I could give you what you asked for?”

Nelis – “Is that so?”

Atilos – “For a simple game of chess. My last opponent has left the table, so now I’m alone. If you manage to beat me, I’ll give you what you want.”

Nelis – “And what do you expect me to gamble, were I to lose?”

Atilos – “You’ve got it wrong. I’m bored, and I simply want to test your wits. If you show yourself to be smarter than me, I’ll offer you what you asked for, and if you fail the task, then you’ll leave empty-handed.”

Nelis – “If you intend to test my wits, then you’ll obtain what you seek no matter the outcome of the match. Why would I simply receive what I seek in the case of a victory?”

Atilos – “You’re not confident in your ability?”

Nelis – “Better safe than sorry.”

Atilos slightly smiled in a strange mingle of malice and curiosity.

Nelis – “Is there a problem with my request?”

Atilos – “Alright, I’ll bring you your paper after our match even if you lose.”

Nelis – “I’d rather be sure Ludger will allow you to take them now. It would be a shame to do such a chore just to see you denied by him.”

Atilos – “Quite the stoic one, aren’t you? Fine! I’ll bring them now.”

Vatra and Nelis joined the table as Atilos left to get some paper.

Vatra – “What do you need the paper for?”

Nelis – “Leo wants to learn alchemy and herbal medicine. It will facilitate the training.”

Vatra – “Think I could learn it, too?”

Nelis looked at her, annoyed.

Did I say something wrong?

Nelis – “Do you even know how to read?”

Vatra – “A little. The man who raised me taught me the basics, so I could read the query from Avem. I’m a bit slow, but I can do it.”

Nelis – “I’ll think about it.”

At that moment, Atilos came back with a pile of blank paper and placed it on the table.

Atilos – “Now that I think about it, if you get the paper in a loss then nothing stops you from playing worse than you actually can. Therefore, I’ll give you half of the paper if you lose and the whole pile if you win. Do you agree to the terms?”

Nelis – “I’ll honour my part of the bargain.”

Atilos – “Good! White or black?”

Nelis – “I’ll take the initiative.”

Atilos – “Then I’ll be on the black side.”

Nelis – “Pawn to E4.”

Atilos – “Pawn to E5. Say, what’s your name already?”

Nelis – “It’s Nelis. Knight to F3.”

Atilos – “Knight to C6. Nelis, do you mind if I ask you a question?”

Nelis – “What would you want to know? Bishop to C4.”

Atilos – “Knight to F6. Lanaya, what is she?”

Nelis – “What are you insinuating? Knight to G5.”

Atilos – “Let’s be honest here. Women can hold steel. They can fight, and some are even good at it. Take the Kalator women, for instance. In our army, there are about 400 of them. They can be quite decent militia, although they often lack the backbone for efficient archery and rely more on crossbow. It’s pretty rare, but a few of them are great soldiers, and I’ve even seen a few being decent at archery. Pulling a 120-pound longbow is no joke; even among the men, it requires a lot of training to avoid injury, and many can’t release more than a few tens of arrows before being worn out. But to stand toe to toe with a preacher of Ira Arcum is a feat the strongest men could barely achieve. Let alone breaking armour and shields with the shear strength of your arms. So, tell me, what is she? Pawn to D5.”

Nelis – “She’s Lanaya, the sixth angel of Aya, of course. Pawn E4 takes on D5.”

Atilos – “I’m not gullible enough to buy such nonsense. Knight to A5.”

Nelis – “Really? Then what is she? Pawn to D3.”

Atilos – “I think she’s your creation. I think you’re a witch hiding behind its pawn. Pawn to H6.”

Nelis – “You’ve been fed ideas by Ludger, it would seem. Knight to F3.”

Atilos – “Who better than a renown priest of Aya to unmask a fraud? Pawn to E4.”

Nelis – “If she is the work of a trickster, why would such a trickster send her away? Wouldn’t he want to keep her close, to assure his protection? Queen to E2.”

Atilos – “Well, you’re a band of mercenaries. Knight takes bishop on C4.”

Nelis – “Just like you used to be before receiving your promotion to general. Or were you a thief? I can’t remember. Pawn takes knight on C4.”

Atilos – “I was born a Kalator, a servant of the red hawk. I’ve never betrayed my origin, and even as a thief, I’ve never stolen from another Kalator. Your band’s different. You could work for another lord at any given time. Bishop to C5.”

Nelis – “Not as long as we are already working for one. We won’t tarnish our names. Pawn to H3.”

Atilos – “But Rock Eden is so rich they could wipe their shit with gold. It would be a problem if your band were to betray us and work for them. How can we be sure Lanaya didn’t head there? Castling to kingside.”

Nelis – “Careful with your words. The Kalator are not the only prideful around. Knight to H2.”

Atilos looked at Vatra.

Atilos – “And who are you?”

Vatra – “I’m Vatra . . . A member of the Silver Lining.”

Atilos – “How lucky of me to have you telling me this. With those eyes and skin, I could have confused you for one of us.”

Nelis – “I agreed to be your opponent. She hasn’t. So don’t bring her into this.”

Atilos – “Don’t you find it fascinating? As soon as your usual puppet goes away, a new one appears. Knight to H7.”

Vatra – “I’m no puppet.”

Atilos – “I know, I know . . . You’re Vatra from the Silver Lining.”

Nelis – “If you don’t pay more attention to our game, you’ll walk to your fall. Knight to D2.”

Atilos – “Have you ever tried to learn from animals, Nelis? Pawn to F5.”

Nelis – “I’d use the word ‘about’ instead of ‘from.’ Knight to B3.”

Atilos – “I think in many ways they are smarter than us. Bishop to B6.”

Nelis – “Then why are we, man, ruling the world? Castling to kingside.”

Atilos – “Are we? Bishop takes knight on H2, check.”

Nelis – “King takes bishop on H2.”

Atilos – “We aren’t that different from dogs and cats. Maybe smarter, stronger or better adapted, but even we can’t contest with a little foe hiding in plain sight. Pawn to F4.”

Nelis – “You mean snakes?”

Atilos – “You’re smart, you know that?”

Nelis – “Some people hunt snakes. It’s quite rare, but I’ve seen a few in the south. Queen takes pawn on E4.”

Atilos – “And how would you proceed? Knight to G5.”

Nelis – “I’m not sure, but I’d probably try to find it before it finds me. Queen to D4.”

Atilos – “You asked me to pay more attention to our game, but have you done so? Knight to F3, check.”

Nelis frowned and looked at the board again for a few seconds.

Nelis – “Pawn takes knight on F3.”

Atilos – “Do you see it? Queen to H4.”

Nelis – “Rook to H1.”

Atilos – “How would you see a snake if you can’t see a trap? Bishop takes pawn on H3.”

Nelis – “I see . . . Bishop to D2.”

Atilos – “Your first mistake was to assume that being the first to move a piece gave you the initiative. Rook to F6.”

Nelis – “Rook to G1.”

Atilos – “Initiative isn’t something that we choose. It is something that we take. Bishop to F1, checkmate. “

Nelis stood up and looked Atilos in the eyes.

Nelis – “I’ll be taking half of that pile, and I wish you a good afternoon.”

Atilos – “Not even a praise for my victory? That’s pretty rude.”

As soon as Nelis had his paper, he turned around to leave.

Nelis – “Vatra, let’s get going.”

Without a word, both left the hall through the main gate and entered the road.

Nelis – “Could you hold a sword if the need came?”

Vatra – “What do you think I’ve been doing up until now?”

Nelis – “Many want us dead. The only reason we are still here is because they need Lanaya and my black powder.”

Vatra – “Aren’t you just mad because he outsmarted you at chess?”

Nelis – “It’s not the point.”

Vatra – “I bet even I could beat you.”

Nelis – “Not in your dreams.”

Vatra – “See? It’s your pride talking, not your judgement.”

Nelis grabbed her by the arm and looked at her in the eyes.

Nelis – “You don’t know them. The world is far from being as simple as you seem to believe. It’s not just the Kalator. Anyone with ambition is a threat. I’m sure even among Valmai, you saw avidity and lies.”

Vatra – “I’ve had my share . . .”

Vatra pushed her arm to the side, away from Nelis’s grip.

Vatra – “And I’m not talking of war. So don’t belittle me as if I was naïve. I might have been before, but that part of me is long gone. Wolves don’t wait for you to recover; they prey on the wounded. But what good will worrying achieve? I’m living for the sake of dead people’s wishes, and when the wolves come, I’ll fend them off.”

Nelis – “You are right. Let’s get going.”

A moment later, as Nelis and Vatra were walking back, Nelis entered a back alley between two houses.

Vatra – “Why are you going here? It’s disgusting!”

Nelis – “Just follow me, and I’ll tell you.”

Vatra – “Fine . . .”

A putrid stench was coming from all the feces lying in the middle of the gutter. The alley was barely wide enough to allow cattle to walk through it. A man was peeing a few houses to the right.

Vatra – “So . . . What are we doing here?”

Hearing her voice, the man peeing turned his head to the left and gave a sign to Nelis before pulling his bollocks back into his pants.

Nelis – “Lower your tone.”

Vatra whispered – “Then answer my question!”

Nelis – “Why do you think we get to eat eggs and meat?”

Vatra – “For the same reason I was eating meat as a soldier.”

Nelis – “Except that now we have twice as many soldiers to feed. I don’t know what your lord was feeding his peasants, but it wasn’t meat. Right now, we are low on food, and everyone is being rationed. We had food until winter, but we expected to find more here to last until the first yield of next year. Turns out that wasn’t the case.”

As they were talking, the man reached them.

The man – “You’ve got the Utos?”

Nelis pulled five shiny silver coins from his pocket and showed the palm of his hand to the man. As the man tried to pick up the coins, Nelis pulled his hand back.

Nelis – “The food.”

The man grabbed a little bag from his back and gave it to Nelis before taking the coins.

The man – “Stay here for at least half an hour. I don’t want to be seen in your company.”

Half an hour?

Nelis – “Don’t worry. I’ll be back in five days.”

The man looked at them for a brief instant before leaving the alley.

Vatra – “Half an hour? Really?”

Nelis – “Stop complaining. Instead, look at what we’ve got. Eggs, salted pork, and mutton!”

Vatra – “Why choose this day? Was I really needed here?”

Nelis – “Well, it’s for extra precaution. If we were to be seen, I don’t intend to be accused of smuggling food away. Me being here alone for half an hour is abnormal, but for me to help a wounded to relieved herself is a normal course of event.”

Vatra – “Is this some kind of joke?”

Nelis – “No, it isn’t. Besides, you truly need to walk, or your body will get weaker. And now I have half an hour to learn more about you.”

Vatra – “Great . . . I was dreaming of it.”

Nelis – “So, where do you come from?”

Vatra – “Wouldn’t they still suspect you if they found the other guy?”

Nelis – “He could be smuggling for someone else. I’ve got nothing to do with it.”

Vatra – “That’s it, so you’d just lie and let him get punished.”

Nelis – “He knows the risk. Besides, he’s probably earning less than 10 Utos a month. I’m giving him 12 Utos per day’s worth of food. Now, where do you come from?”

Vatra – “I’m not telling you my story. Not until you tell me yours.”

Nelis – “I guess this will take a while.”

Vatra – “How can they not care about the story of their leader and about yours?”

Nelis – “They used to in the past, but after being in my company for a while, they’ve lived a story with me and it’s enough for them.”

Vatra – “Maybe he’s right.”

Nelis – “Who?”

Vatra – “The chess player. Maybe Lanaya is a creation of yours.”

Nelis – “And maybe you’re my creation as well. How do you know I haven’t given you your memories?”

Vatra – “I’m not dumb enough to bite to that.”

Nelis – “Maybe you died in the assault. What is the chance of being healed by your enemy right after you tried to kill him?”

Vatra – “I would know if . . .”

At that moment, Vatra had a flashback of the shadowed presence that had taken over her body when she was drowning. A chill reached her skin, and her face became worried.

Nelis – “I’m kidding. I didn’t want to frighten you.”

Vatra – “It’s not you . . . I just had a bad memory.”

Nelis – “I’m sorry. It must have been terrifying during that night.”

Vatra – “No, I mean, it was, but it’s not that. I . . . When Lanaya pushed me into the river, I should have drowned, but something saved me. I don’t know what it was. It was as if someone else had taken control over me. At first, I was really scared. I thought something in the water had attacked me.”

Nelis – “But it was inside you?”

Vatra – “How do you know that?”

Nelis – “When I brought you out of the water, I noticed something abnormal. Your blood was really dark. It was like the roots of a tree coming out of that little moon tattoo on your chest. Also, your blood wasn’t clear, and your blood loss was limited compared to what it should have been with such a wound.”

Vatra – “And what did you do?”

Nelis – “You seemed in pain, and you had a fever that wouldn’t go away. I didn’t really know what to do, so I asked Lanaya to look it up.”

Vatra – “She’s a healer, too?”

Nelis – “No, but let’s say her knowledge of the esoteric is larger than mine.”

Vatra – “So, she’s the real witch?”

Nelis – “No . . . Alright, you win this one. I’ll tell you a little of my past, but you’ll have to tell me something in return.”

Vatra – “Deal!”

Nelis – “My mother was a witch. A true one. She could bring animals back to life. I remember bringing her a dead bird with beautiful blue feathers. I wanted to stuff it with straw. She looked at me and said we shouldn’t treat life so lightly. She grabbed my hand and using solely her breath, she brought the bird back to life. I was about five, and to me, I thought my mother was so great I wanted everyone to know. But bringing animals to life isn’t a normal thing to do. The citizens were scared and arrested her. A few days later, she still hadn’t received her trials, and rumours of the Celestial Traders wanting to buy her as a slave were growing. My father used to be a thief, but he repented when he met my mother. Once he learned about the rumours, he decided to free her, and the three of us ended up hiding in the forest. I wish I could do half of what she could do, but sadly, I only know enough to make the commoners think I’m some kind of sorcerer.”

Vatra – “What happened to her?”

Nelis – “That’s irrelevant. Now it’s my turn.”

Vatra – “C’mon, it can’t be that much of a secret, can it?”

Nelis – “Aside from Lanaya, you’re the only one who knows that, and I’m only telling you this because of what I want to know. Where did you get that mark?”

Vatra – “You mean my tattoo?”

Nelis – “Yes, precisely.”

Vatra – “I had it for as long as I can remember.”

Nelis – “That’s it?”

Vatra – “Well, I really don’t know where I got it. I’ve had it my whole life.”

Nelis – “Is it some kind of ritual the people of your homeland used to do?”

Vatra – “I don’t know, maybe . . .”

Nelis – “Were you the only one with that mark?”

Vatra – “No, my mother had the same.”

Nelis – “And do you know if the other girls had it?”

Vatra – “I don’t recall undressing my neighbours to look at their cleavage. Sorry.”

Nelis – “You would have seen them in a public bath or something. Try to remember.”

Vatra – “From what I recall, I haven’t seen anyone else with that tattoo.”

Nelis – “Don’t you find it strange?”

Vatra – “Well, yeah, but what about it? I don’t remember much about my parents, so why would I remember something like that?”

Nelis – “Well, it’s your story, so I’d assume you know it.”

Vatra – “Ok, listen! I got sold as a slave when I was a child, and I arrived here around the age of seven. I really wish I’d remember more, but it’s all fragmented.”

Nelis – “You got sold by whom?”

Vatra – “I got sold by the . . . Hey! I’m telling you a lot now. I should . . . You know what? Tell me what happened to your mother, and I’ll tell you the rest.”

Nelis – “Ahahaha. Sorry, but I’m not really interested in the rest. Or at least, not interested enough to open you to my secrets.”

Vatra – “So, all you wanted to know was about that tattoo?”

Nelis – “Yeah… Well, I don’t really know much more now, but if it was always there, then it makes sense why it wouldn’t go away after what happened.”

Vatra – “What do you mean?”

Nelis – “The warm light that dealt with the dark presence haunting you.”

Vatra – “It wasn’t haunting me.”

Nelis frowned in confusion.

Vatra – “When I lost control over my body, I was frightened, but that presence carried a strength I didn’t have. I saw myself pulling my armour away and swimming all the way to the shore. It was as if I was an observer. That presence saved me.”

Nelis – “And after that?”

Vatra – “I don’t know if it was a dream, but I remember seeing a strange light illuminating a room. There was a dead person standing. It was as if only her skin was covering her bones. She had light gray hair and two wings made of black feathers, from which half were either missing or damaged. I felt like a deep sorrow had invaded the room, and at that moment, I don’t know how, but I regained control of my body. I tried to grab my sword to fight that thing, but as I grabbed it, I lost consciousness again.”

Nelis – “That is certainly strange. Have you felt that thing since then?”

Vatra – “No. It’s gone.”

Nelis – “What you saw was probably the incarnation of what had taken over your body. When I healed you, you were having spasms and probably nightmares. You had what we believe was a curse from Aya, and Lanaya cleared it.”

Vatra – “How did she clear it?”

Nelis – “She’s blessed by Aya.”

Vatra – “If she’s got the blessing of Aya, why aren’t the priests on her side?”

Nelis – “It’s complicated. She isn’t like most of us.”

Vatra – “Is she even human?”

Nelis – “Well . . . She’s more human than she tends to believe.”

Vatra – “When you said she was the sixth angel of Aya, were you serious?”

Nelis – “It was a bluff. If he believed me there, it would have been much simpler to have the priest on our side. Now stop talking about this. We’re leaving.”