As the two arrived at Kaara’s tent, they were greeted by the rest with hesitant looks.
“How did it go?” Rorik asked.
“It went great! We got everything we asked for.”
Anitus smirked, “Well, I wouldn’t have it any other way. Seems the prince needed us more than he let on.”
“We encountered Tadios on our way back. Deka has every right to be worried,” Amaro said.
“Oh? Did he challenge the two of you?”
Kaara shook her head, “Nope, he was just taking out some trash. We didn’t fight.”
“Hmph, good. Once I’m finished beating Rorik, I’m challenging him next.”
“You’re acting like that’s going to be an easy task.” Rorik said, “Tomorrow I’m ready.”
Anitus showed his fangs with a grin, “It’s about time. Since we’ll be on the same side, I think it’s important to know the pecking order.”
“We’re all captains with similar authority and independence,” Amaro said, “There is no pecking order between the six of us.”
“What about Tulos and Sancta?” Raktus asked, “Will they be joining the fight?”
“You know how Sancta is with these things. She hates fighting. As for Tulos, we might be able to convince him,” Amaro said.
“I’m not so sure about that,” Kaara said, “Tulos told me he’d be joining whatever side opposed his siblings.”
Raktus let out a boisterous laugh, “That sounds like something he would say. I wonder if he’s got a crush on a Tibur and just knew we would be in opposition.”
Kaara shook her head, “Maybe that’s half-true, but I’m not so sure. I think he wants to prove himself.”
“Prove himself? What’s he got to prove, he’s a Xirxus!”
“That’s exactly why, brother,” Anitus said, “He’s a Xirxus and he can’t stand out and be exceptional if he’s always grouped up with us. I can respect my little brother’s resolve as a warrior. I look forward to seeing the lessons he’s learned living with the Tibur for a few months.”
“I’ll fill everyone in on the details later,” Amaro said, “All I know is that Deka will have a task for us to complete by the afternoon. If we complete it, he will help read the scrolls to us. According to him there is power in those scrolls, and there is power in utilizing whatever force allows us to read those scrolls. If he holds up his end of the deal, we will be far stronger when the Siren Ceremony comes.”
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Kaara took the opportunity to flop across Arik’s lap, “All this poly-ticks business is really tiring. I can feel them draining my blood away as we speak…”
Arik chuckled, combing Kaara’s hair with her fingers, “Either way, we’re on the prince’s side now, right? I guess I’ll have my rematch with Tadios sooner than I thought.”
“I think you should get in line, Tibur,” Anitus said, “You already had your chance to beat him, I want to test my skills as well.”
“I can tell you right now you’re gonna lose, so back off and save yourself the embarrassment until you’re stronger.”
“Oh? Maybe I should have a duel with you next?”
“I wasn’t talking about you losing to Tadios. If you’re overlooking Rorik you’re gonna be eatin’ dirt tomorrow.”
Kaara smiled, it seemed that everyone was getting along well. She wondered what they must have talked about in the caves while Kaara and Amaro had separated. They seemed a lot more friendly than before. Perhaps that was just the result of being in close proximity to someone for long enough.
Or maybe their souls had a way of gravitating towards one another. As the day wore on, Kaara recalled a time when a human had entered their camp. She remembered how that woman had described the nature of souls in Lithiria. How they fractured and melded with other fragments of other souls. How those souls drew people to one another until they formed small groups that would go on adventures together and defend the lands from monsters.
Kaara wondered if that was true for xiozian souls too. Looking at everyone in the tent, thinking of Tulos and Tadios. She felt a strange sense like she had been here before. She had felt this moment before. Perhaps a fragment of her soul had at one point known friendship like this.
She thought of the Siren Ceremony, of the Malaki, of her dreams, and of the scrolls. She responded when they involved her in the conversation. She hoped they wouldn’t notice how much was on her mind, but another part of her hoped they would.
They did not.
She thought of how easily Rorik and Arik had accepted her curse. They were wonderful friends. She was ashamed of herself for ever believing they might turn on her over something that was beyond her control.
And yet, no matter where their conversations turned, she could not bring herself to say the one thing that had been burning a hole in her mind since they visited those caves.
She had claimed it was a ghost. In fact, she had thought it was a ghost that had led her to the cave in her dream. She had allowed other people to believe that as well. But the moment she stepped foot in that cave, she realized the truth. A truth for which she could not tell anyone no matter how much she wanted to.
A Malaki had led her to those scrolls. A Malaki had wanted them to find those scrolls before anyone else. Why would a Malaki lead them to scrolls which could help them survive the Siren Ceremony?
Why did she feel like this had happened before?
Her train of thought was broken as an unfamiliar face poked his head into the tent. She was a youthful looking girl, but still had the same scaly growths along her jaw and neck as Deka did. Her eyes burned a bright orange like coals around blackened sclera, “You six are to be our new captains? The Prince of Itaro has a job for you all.”
“And who might you be?”
“My name is Vilkus Anihilus the second, I am the lieutenant commander of The Prince’s tribal militia. I will be your overseer for so long as our alliance stands.”