It doesn’t take me long to drift off with a full stomach and little Lili curled up next to me.
To my dismay it’s another nightmare. The nightmare that’s been haunting me all this time.
It starts off with me, standing on a ravaged battlefield. The sky is bathed in an orange hue, and the ground is littered with festering corpses and corroding iron.
The smell is worse.
Faceless souls drift back and forth searching for something they’ve lost.
Disembodied wails that seem to ring inside my head as it overwhelms my senses.
I spot a flock of crows in the distance, looking like a furious storm as their collective flapping beats the air like thunder.
Soon they’ll descend on me, tearing me apart with jabs from their sharp beaks.
The first of them dives towards me, a streamlined arrow aimed at my left eye.
I close them to brace myself, hoping to alleviate any amount of pain… but it never comes.
I feel a soothing warmth spreading around me in a gentle embrace.
The sounds of anguished souls slowly fade from my thoughts, and the smell of the rotten battlefield disappears as well.
Finding I cannot open my eyes, my heart starts with slight shock, but that soon dissipates as a beautiful voice reverberates through my head.
‘This scene doesn’t suit you Alshavir, son of Thurwin.’
‘My father… you knew him?”
‘The gentlest of souls, and an avid believer.’
‘He left us.’ I retort.
‘To protect you child, and the ones he loved.’
‘Ralph said that those were empty words. That if he really did mean for our happiness he’d have stayed no matter what any king said.’
‘And you would cloud your mind with vengeance just as he once did?’
‘Vengeance? Uncle was fighting to overthrow the king who sent our family off to die in a stupid war we had no part of.’
‘He means well for you, perhaps in penance of his true crimes, but that is not his story.’
‘He’s been nothing but kind to us.’
‘But has been a bane to others. Children even, hardly your age. The suffering he has inflicted upon your island country is one that would bring pride to Eresh.’
‘I… want to hear the rest. I want to know Ralph, and nothing will change the debt I owe him. For my life, and more importantly my sister’s.’
I still can’t see, but I feel her smile gently. A slight curve gracing her face.
‘You truly are the son of Thorwin… As for Ralphus, he truly did begin as the Vice Admiral of Ladra. Riding in the ever impressive Ladrian navy fleet, but once they got to the shore, things took a turn for the worst.
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The enemy had captured the bank, and traps sprung up to destroy over half of the fleet. But even in the carnage a messenger pigeon reached Ralphus.
On it, the death of his lover, stoned for her adultery, and the prince who had taken advantage of his leave. Enraged, Ralphus blamed King and country.
Ordering a retreat, destroying any allies who attempted to stop him. Upon returning to the shores he began to pillage the nearby villages and towns.
Those of his soldiers who refused were cut down, and only the most savage remained. Having their way with women, often in the presence of family, and feasting on the flesh of children.
Still, his rage was not sated, and he marched on the capitol, losing most of his men in the process. Upon finally reaching the throne room, a shocking sight met him.
His lover, unharmed, but captive, and the royal family hiding behind the famed Ladra Dragoons.
Upon learning that his path of carnage had been for nought, he fled. He ran with tears streaming down his eyes, and frantically praying for salvation.
I set his path to cross yours as a final test for his humanity, and as his men prepared to slay you in your weakened state, he defended you. As he cut down the men he had condemned, a few flocked to his side.
The cowards who had taken part of vile acts to stay alive. Emboldened by their leader’s act, and seeking penance themselves. With these men he formed the Silkworm Bandits, more thieves than raids, and facilitating black market trades to aid those families he had affected.’
‘He was a good and honest man.’ I replied with tears streaming down my face.
Then the mood suddenly grew somber.
‘But his time is soon to come. I’m afraid your sister was far too young to understand. You must flee tonight, and seek my guidance at the temples of Thema. For this is the last I can come to you.’
I woke up in a cold sweat. Lili was already up, wrapping her small frame around my head.
“Alshy had a bad dream too?” She asks with visible concern.
“Yeah, but it’s okay now. We need to pack our things now.” I say as a slight frown appears on my face.
I haven’t really been much of the religious sort, but that dream couldn’t have been anything but a vision. It was exactly as father had described it to me before.
“Are we moving to a better home?” She asks with a twinkle in her eyes.
“Yeah, big brother earned a lot of money, and when we get there, you can have all the sweets you want.”
“Yay! You’re the best Alshy!”
I give her a distracted smile as I hurry to gather the most essential belongings for the trip ahead.