Viyara Nameless
When I had been younger, Barzuk had often said: “when it rains, it pours,” or, another one of his pearls of wisdom: “out of the frying pan and into the fire.” Both were rather fitting, right now. My day had turned from bad to worse and there was no light at the end of the tunnel, at least none I could see. We were buried in trouble to our very ears and the tide was rising. First, we had lost Cassandra and then…
“Are you moonstruck,” I complained, barring the door with my body, so the nimble kitsune wouldn’t simply slip through. “Why ever would you want to go alone? I know what you are, better than almost anyone else, but that’s just plain stupid. That’s something Cassy would do and you’d be furious with her, for days on end. Why won’t you accept my help?”
“Damn it, Viyara, I told you! Because we don’t have the power to spare, for now. If you were to come along, Aurelia would join you. Don’t try to pretend otherwise. Erya is still recuperating and will be for quite a while… who’s left?”
“The dwarfs, Helena, Aspera and Astra, Alassara,” I began counting off, but she interrupted me.
“They’re strong and I trust them unconditionally, but… you’ve lived through the attack on the vampire’s home…” it was my turn to cut her off.
“What are you even saying? You know as well as I that none of us can counter divine magic, we don’t have the strength. You might be able to push through, but you still can’t break it, can you? What do you expect me to do? If I were to take you seriously, I should go and you should stay.”
She opened her mouth indignantly, but after a moment, a smile broke through her stern expression and she chuckled.
“You’re resembling Cassy more with every day, you know that, right?”
“I’m not sure, whether your complimenting or insulting me…”
“Neither am I, but if I had to choose, I’d go with complimenting, considering I fell in love with her. Look, you’re not wrong, but I just don’t know, what I’m supposed to do. The wheels are turning and I’m willing to bet, we won’t have another peaceful moment for a while. None of us should go. It’s a trap of some sort, I know that, but we can’t leave Morgan behind, can we.”
“We could,” I began, but immediately relented when I saw the flames, igniting in her eyes. “No, I suppose you’re right. But again, why won’t you take anyone with you?” She sighed.
“Because there really is no other choice. Aurelia and you really are the only ones I’d take along and I’m much too scared of what might happen, if none of us were around. Viyara, Cassy and I are immortals. I swear, if you ever tell her, I’ll skin you alive, but there’s a good reason why she always runs in first and that’s simply because her chances at surviving what needs to be done are so much better than anyone else’s. She isn’t here and considering our luck, she won’t be for quite a while. Think, lizard, what would you have me do?” I ground my teeth, but did as she asked and really thought about our situation.
Free Land was on the verge of civil war. In the early hours of the morning, Captain Blackthorne had appeared on the biggest market, a bloody bag in his hands. Silent as death himself, he had leisurely nailed Captain Kirena’s head to a pillar and announced his claim on her estates. His first order of business had been stripping her church of his protection and ordering her fellowship to disband. Ever since, brutal fights had erupted all over the city, mostly between his supporters and Kirena’s allies. The resolution was more often than not swift and final, a legit decimation of Free Land, since almost every outspoken advocate of Kirena’s was killed on the spot.
Meanwhile, the other Captains had to deal with the beginnings of a revolution on the neighbouring islands, but their hands were tied. Their fleet had never returned and if Xorlosh’s message had been accurate, they most likely never would. As it was, the aerial superiority of Free Land was no more, while a pirate fleet, that had already proven its tactical prowess, was quickly coming closer.
The only defence we’d be able to muster came form the few ships under Arthur’s command. He was hurriedly flying towards us, but since they had only found the battlefield, or rather, place of slaughter, in their wake, it stood to reason that our enemies were much closer. Alassara was rallying her friends, and appealing to the Captains, trying to get her hands on at least a few handful of functioning ships, but they wouldn’t even be equipped for war.
To top it all off, Vanya, the mercenary, Cassandra had met, had told us, that the church of the Broken Wheel was quietly rallying its bought soldiers. The why was anyone’s guess, but another assault on the vampires was a distinct possibility. We had a hundred and one problems to deal with and now, the last angel in our midst wanted to walk alone into an obvious trap. And I wasn’t even sure, if she was wrong. There were so many things to deal with and she really had the best chances at coming out alive. Still, I owed it to Cassandra to not let her go alone. She wouldn’t have, if she had still been here and neither would I. Stubbornly, I lowered my head, my horns breaking through my human skin.
“You’re right. There are too many things going on, we have too many places to be. Still, you’ll take Helena with you. She can’t run errands, she can’t properly speak and she’s probably one of the strongest mages in this world. Besides, you’ll need her to even find Morgan, or does Erya know where she was taken? If you don’t agree, I’ll transform and follow you through the streets myself.” She raised her hands in surrender.
“Fine. I’ll go to the harbour first and pick her up. With her help, it shouldn’t be too difficult to follow Morgan’s scent, if we can get close to the “Silver Swan”…” a soft cough behind us made us turn around. Liz, the girl from the “Gilded Dream” stood there, her hair dishevelled, while she kept the folds of a nightgown tightly tucked together. When Cassandra had collapsed, we had still brought her with us, unconscious as she had been. She was decidedly pale and from the looks of it, she had just recovered from her encounter with Madame Sinis’ guards.
“I’m sorry for interrupting, but… I’ve been up for a while now and Tharos has brought me up to speed. I wanted to thank you and I’ve heard the last part of your conversation. I might be able to help.” I cocked and eyebrow and Ahri seemed utterly perplexed.
“Help us,” she replied, frowning. “How would you manage to do that?” The girl blushed but held her gaze.
“I… you know my profession. I’m not exactly proud of it, but there aren’t that many of us, who can attract wealthy customers. Slavery renders most of our services moot, provided you have the coin to buy a pretty slave. I know a few girls who freelance at the “Silver Swan”. If you want to, I can put you in touch. They might know something. And then… one of my regulars, he’s a lieutenant in Blackthorne’s fleet and he likes to talk, afterwards. I’ve never put much stock in pillow talk, but now…” she paused, apparently lost in thought. Ahri immediately grabbed her shoulder.
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“And now? Come on Liz, we really need to know, right now.” She jerked.
“Sorry. He… he claimed, that he’d soon have enough money to provide for me. I always thought he was just boasting, but when I asked, he insisted that he’d soon become powerful and wealthy enough to keep me safe and allow me to live in luxury. He said, he wouldn’t be serving under a Captain for much longer, since he had found a powerful friend who’d help him rise to the top. I never believed him, but considering… is it really true? Is Kirena really dead?” I nodded and tried for a reassuring smile. She was tougher than she looked, her frail, doll like appearance masking a steely core. If I had woken in an unknown room, my former boss, or maybe even friend, having gifted me to the very people, whose identity she had wanted to keep secret, I wouldn’t have been as composed. Enrage, distressed, maybe depressed, but not ready to help.
“At least that’s what Silas told us. He has seen her… head and Erya was there, when…” I was cut off, when the door behind me suddenly flew open and I was pushed into Ahri. She caught me and we both spun around, flames igniting at our fingertips, hers crimson and mine golden.
Vanya, panting heavily, stumbled inside, her expression grim. Before we even had a chance to question her appearance, she blurted out:
“You’ve got to see this. Get everyone and come with me. This day is becoming worse with every passing second.”
“Calm down,” Ahri hissed, while she pushed me back. “What are you going on about?”
“An execution, they’re executing Blackthorne, just as we speak. I don’t know who, or why, but they’ve dragged him into the market, where he put Kirena’s head on display. They’ve even erected a scaffold… they got him, some of his men and a girl with green hair, I’ve never seen before.” I paled and when I caught Ahri’s gaze, I saw my fear mirrored in her eyes. She didn’t hesitate, though and commanded:
“I’ll go immediately. Viyara, rally the vampires, whoever will come and try to inform Xorlosh. We might need as many people as we can muster. I’ll be waiting for you in the market, but I’m not going to let them touch a single hair on Morgan’s head.” She was already halfway through the door and up the stairs, before she added over he shoulder: “and please, hurry.” Then she was gone.
Time was running out and I closed my eyes for a moment, organising my thoughts. The next second, I sent tendrils of energy outwards, searching for familiar minds. It didn’t take me long to inform everyone. While I was already withdrawing, Helena and two dozen dwarfs were preparing to leave the ship, while the rest remained behind to protect Layla, Reia and her friends. The elves were going to stay, as well, unwilling to leave them without a capable caster.
When I opened my eyes again, Vanya was trying to explain to Liz, that the poor girl had actually woken up in an underground mansion, filled with vampires. Apparently, Tharos hadn’t bothered to tell her what he was. She was doing a better job than I could have, calmly answering her question while she reassured her, that she was, at the moment, safer than she had ever been. Her efforts allowed me to call out for Tharos, the only vampire I knew, who was still around. He wasn’t thrilled, Alassara had entrusted the protection of her home to him, while she was gone, and he wasn’t looking forward to withdrawing even more soldiers.
5 minutes later, I rushed towards the market, five of Tharos’ underlings and Aurelia in tow. Mordred had taken it upon himself to escort Erya and Liz to the harbour, where they’d board the ship. If everyone was there, we’d be able to set sail within a few minutes, if it became necessary. He was going to join us again, as soon as possible, but he wasn’t willing to entrust the recuperating fey to a girl, who had only fought between the sheets, up until now. Ultimately, Ahri, Helena, Mordred, Aurelia and I, supported by a small army of dwarfs and vampires were going to meet Vanya and her mercenaries to free Morgan, whatever the cost. None of us believed, that it’d turn out to be as simple as walking there and taking her with us. Apparently, greed and the lust for power had driven several parties to act and, for now, we didn’t even know who was orchestrating the spectacle, we were going to stumble into.
We hurried silently through empty streets. The citizens were either hiding or watching the execution, which was already unfolding a few crossings further away. Jeers and cries echoed along the road, becoming louder, the closer we came to the market. The square was packed, a surging mass of heads and bodies, beast kin and humans, slaves and masters standing side by side, their eyes glued to a wooden platform. The smell was overwhelming, but still timid in comparison to the unbelievable noise. The voices of a myriad of shouting, laughing and cursing people resembled a powerful tide, enveloping us the very moment we left the flimsy protection of the houses. At least, we wouldn’t be spotted. Searching for anyone was akin to looking for a needle in a haystack. In this crowd, even Cassandra might have managed to remain unnoticed.
As soon as Aurelia and I pushed past the first humans, I extended my senses and searched for Ahri and Vanya. Helena and the dwarfs couldn’t be here, yet and a walking wall of steel would have stuck out like sore thumb, even in this throng. It didn’t take me long to locate the kitsune. She was close to the scaffold and urged us to join her, her thoughts heavy with fear, as she watched the unfolding drama upon the platform.
A line of prisoners was secured to a wooden post, Kirena’s head still nailed to the top. Their hands and feet were tied with strong ropes, but I couldn’t recognise a single person, except for Morgan. The poor girl was bound and gagged, her face swollen form a beating, that had split her lip and torn deep gashes into her dressed. She seemed to be in a stupor. Her eyes were open but unfocused and she wasn’t paying attention to her surroundings, even though her life was at stake.
A young, well dressed man stood, facing the crowd. He had no weapons, nor did he seem overly dangerous, but he was clearly in control. He gesticulated wildly, recounting the atrocities committed by Captain Blackthorne and his soldiers. By killing Kirena, they had violated the very foundation of their society, the pact between the Captains. There was only one possible answer to their outrageous crimes: a death, that would be remembered throughout the ages. A handful of armed men were keeping the prisoners in check, while he spoke and used their swords to emphasise every accusation thrown at them with a quick thrust to their exposed limbs. The platform was already slick with their blood.
We had barely managed to barrel our way closer, when I picked up another sound from the distance. To our right, the heavy footfalls of a marching company thundered through the square, the gleaming tips of their spears appearing on one of the main roads. The crowd parted around them, like water, as they steadfastly made their way towards the scaffold. The clamouring voices were dying down and an eerie silence descended, broken only by the rhythmic impacts of studded boots and the curses around us, as we desperately pushed on.
“See,” the young man bravely shouted. “Even now, when we are finally about to bring justice, the cowardly traitors are trying to stop us, to silence us. Brothers, will you stand by idly, while murderers, who have spent their day, flooding our streets with the blood of the innocent, are freed? No more, I say! No more! We will not waver, we will not cower and to prove our conviction,” he gave one of his soldiers a signal, “we will do as we must!”
Like striking snakes, the deadly weapons descended, severing the heads of the prisoners. Morgan had survived, but the warriors were already moving forward, ready to repeat their gruesome task. The freshly arrived soldiers screamed, as if a spell had been broken, the crowd came alive again and chaos ensued. Ahri, surrounded by crimson fire, shot into the sky, her wings a burning promise of wrath and fury. Aurelia manifested hers and I froze, an acrid, sulphuric smell assaulting my nose. The very next moment, when the angel had almost reached the platform, the vampire hot on her heels, enormous flowers of red and orange flames bloomed on the scaffold.