It hurts. Places where I hadn't even realized I was hit, like my waist, are pounding at me. My body is sore all over, bruised muscles and cracked bones. My limb's tendrils are now covering half my torso, anchored to my spine and sternum.
I try to move, to stand, to do something to combat the feeling of being trapped, but even the slightest twitch of muscle awakens a barb of agony, my right arm is still useless and the Rykz part of myself is relying on my damaged skeleton for leverage. I take a deep breath to calm myself and focus on my surroundings. I'll test the durability of my bindings later, when I'm better.
Vikiana is standing to my left, one step back to keep an eye on me and the situation. She looks tense, yet her attention isn't on me but on the Nobles. There is a ninth rope with a slipknot but no one standing under it. I assume that one's for me.
There are soldiers with three-meter long flow torches spread all around the galley despite the high and bright sun. Aisha is among them, wearing their uniforms and a different face. I notice a bloodstain on her collar and there is no corresponding wound on her neck. She stole from a dead body... or killed for it. Whatever her plan is, she's following me.
One of the soldiers lowers his torch and passes it overboard, swiping at the sea below. Soon after, a Tianeel shrieks. Iiishe. The sound is followed by a splash of water, it likely dove underwater. Odo suddenly turns away from his sister, revealing that his left arm is in a sling.
“Exemplar.” He speaks up.
“Count.” Vikiana says without bowing.
“You have my thanks for capturing the cowardly traitor that ambushed Father alive.” He tells her with a face devoid of any gratitude. She remains silent. “Justice must be swift.” He adds, eyeing me.
“Elizabeth Vil is in the Templar Order's custody, Count Odo.” Vikiana replies calmly.
“That she is.” He utters with barely repressed anger. “I lost a galley, a hundred and fifty soldiers, and two hundred lawfully condemned slaves to this plan of yours, Exemplar. Not only was there no Princess, which means that we wasted a good part of our Emperor's Due for little to no gain, but you seem reluctant to hand over this traitor to Caeviel. I demand answers.”
“Demand?” Vikiana repeats the word, raising an unimpressed eyebrow. Odo grits his teeth but doesn't press. “We intercepted an expeditionary force that would have established a beachhead in your lands. You have benefited.”
“What's so special about this midget that you would challenge our lawful right? She is of Caeviel and as such is to be judged by Caeviel Nobility.” He declares.
“She has information that is of interest to the Order.” Vikiana replies shortly.
“That isn't enough reason. I can delay her execution long enough to question her. Tell me why.” He insists.
“I'm afraid that you are not privy to those details.” The Exemplar answer in an official tone.
Odo squints his eyes. He abruptly turns to start pacing back and forth in front of the soon to be hanged. After a few laps, he stops in front of Idali and takes hold of her chin. I subconsciously tense. He notices and his lips twitch in amusement.
“We are short on manpower, Count.” Vikiana speaks up. “Perhaps an extension of their sentence would be appropriate in these circumstances.”
“I think not. Law must be enforced so that Order reigns.” Odo dismisses.
“The L, ake's fla, mes will, bur, n you.” Idali curses, struggling to speak because of the grip he has on her jaw.
Shock and silence spread through the ranks, even those soon to be executed look at Idali with horror. Even those who don't believe that the Lake is real wouldn't go so far as to utter such words.
“I am Nobility, wench. Not only will the Lake welcome me, but I will walk through its blazing waters, blessed and unharmed.” Odo affirms, secure in his conviction. He lets go of her to punch her stomach. “You will pay for that later. I assure you.”
Idali coughs but cannot fully double over as the rope around her neck threatens to suffocate her if she does. Odo snaps his fingers and two soldiers come forth, dragging the galley's helmsman by the shoulders.
They force him to kneel down in front of the Count. Odo extends his hand out. A bulky woman with brown hair takes a whip from her belt and hands it over to him. Grace Odo, his sister, picks this moment to walk away, fleeing inside the cabin.
“But first.” Odo turns to me with a vicious smile. “This man is guilty of cowardice.”
“Mercy, Lord! I was unarmed!” The helmsman hopelessly begs.
“What is the punishment for dereliction of duty, soldier?” The Count asks.
“But I was a sailor, Lord! I didn't know!” He protests.
“Your ignorance is understandable.” Odo nods. “Very well. I shall be merciful and judge you as a subject, not a soldier.”
“Thank you, Lord! Thank you!” The helmsman exclaims, almost tearing up.
“The sentence is hereby halved, ten blows.” He declares, still watching me.
“B, but...” The man pales.
“Silence!” Odo orders.
Crack. Odo strikes the air with the whip to punctuate his command. The Templars stand in silence but their aversion to the spectacle is evident in their expressions. Vikiana, on the other hand, maintains a poker face.
Why is Odo looking at me? I swallow my anger to think. He is playing a game, scheming something. If the point is to hurt me, why leave Idali for later? I know he not only knows that we're connected but saw my reaction when he touched her.
The young Count Odo walks around the helmsman who hunches down, chin to chest in resignation. The soldiers take his shirt off, handling him roughly despite the lack of resistance.
“Law!” Odo proclaims. “This is war! You are Caeviel's defenders, and this man, this man put us all in danger with his cowardice!”
His soldiers slam their chests with closed fists. Odo nods in approval and raises the whip. He brings it down with all his strength. Crack. It hits the helmsman's bare back. The man screams in pain, struggling to escape his captor's grip, failing.
Crack. His wails redouble. There are two bright red cuts in his skin. Crack. Three now, and the helmsman stops fighting his captors. Clack. The man goes limp. The soldiers pull on his arms to keep him upright. Clack. He whimpers, trails of blood running along his back.
Clack. Odo pauses to throw me a glance. I remain expressionless despite the rage filling my stomach. I will not give him the satisfaction. The Count switches his whipping stance, going for a horizontal strike. Clack. A long bloody slash crosses all the others and the helmsman falls unconscious.
“Well.” Odo addresses his soldiers. “The coward lasted longer than most. You may make a soldier out of him yet.”
“Ho!” They shout in response.
He then brings the whip back and swings it thrice at the man's back. Clack. Clack. Clack. Odo hands the tool back to the bulky woman, he doesn't even spare a glance at the man he casually brutalized when his soldiers drag him away.
Instead, he walks around Idali and looms over her shoulder, eyes fixed on me. Idali tries to hit him with the back of her head but he simply leans back without breaking contact with me.
I've witnessed death, many of them of my doing. I've tortured, but it wasn't gratuitous. This is different, it was an excuse. He used the helmsman as a tool for a scheme. He didn't care about the supposed crime.
I see red and start fighting my bindings. The ropes dig into my flesh, reopening my wounds and displacing my broken bones, provoking intense pain. It only fuels the burning hatred in my chest.
Vikiana waves at her brethren. Three Templars move, two take hold of my arms while the third applies his weight to my shoulders to keep me pinned down. She throws me a look, her icy blue eyes urging me to be still.
“I do wonder what it is that makes you so valuable that an Exemplar would go to such lengths to hold onto you, defying lawful custom. Not to mention that this Exemplar is already on shaky grounds, no less. It is curious, very curious indeed.” Odo tells me with a slight smile. “I will have to live in ignorance. That is quite regretful.”
He then snaps his fingers and the soldier holding Idali's rope pulls on it. She is lifted by the neck, forcing her on the tip of her toes. The soldier wraps the rope around his wrists and begins lifting her up.
Idali flaps her legs, trying to find firm ground. Her face turns red and she desperately gasps for air. Her efforts doomed to failure as the knot is tightly wound around her neck.
That's his angle. I realize the horrifying reality while Idali slowly suffocates. Odo whipped the man to show that he isn't bluffing and lessened the sentence to demonstrate he could be reasoned with. A scheme devised in cold-blood.
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The soldier keeps pulling on the rope, lifting Idali higher and higher. Odo doesn't bother to pressure me, he simply stands there with confidence. Looking almost bored as he waits for me to crack.
I won't... I can't. Aisha will save her. They know each other, they might even be working together. But the young woman, the Shade, isn't moving a muscle. The illusion projected by her construct is expressionless and the face underneath seems simply sad. She shows no intention of stepping forward.
What if Idali doesn't know? What if I'm wrong? What if Idali isn't important enough for Aisha to blow her cover? Aisha wouldn't have told Idali a thing unless she needed her and... she's a Shade, she can find help elsewhere, she doesn't need a corrupt city guard.
Idali's cheeks are bright red, her eyes closed but bulging against their lids. She is wrangling in the air, fighting to the end. My stomach lurches, I feel disgusted at the idea of letting the woman die for my pride but the idea of folding to this young Odo sickens me.
My secret won't remain so for long, if it can save her life... It wouldn't be right to stay quiet, Idali doesn't deserve this. And it might help the Rykz negotiate like Celyz told me so, so very long ago now.
“Let her down.” I mutter.
“I'm sorry, I didn't quite hear that.” Odo replies with a mean grin.
“Let her down! I'll talk.” I spout, raging but restraining myself.
“The posture fits, but I find the words lacking.” He comments, gazing at my bent knees.
The response stuns me. He wants me to beg!? My rage flares. Idali opens her black eyes. She struggles for a few seconds until finally managing to turn them my way. I don't quite understand what she wants to communicate but I find no fear in her traits.
One of the capillaries in her left eye bursts and red blood spills over the white. Her lips form the word 'no'. I turn away from her, feeling empty. I internalize my emotions and focus on the task.
“Please release her. I'll tell you what you want to know if you spare her life.” I say.
“Ah, manners.” Odo smirks and snaps his fingers.
The soldier releases the rope. Idali drops, crashing on the deck. Her knees bulk, failing to sustain her weight. With her hands tied behind her back, she can't break her fall and the side of her face hits the wood, hard. The noose is still compressing her neck, choking her.
“Speak.” Odo orders.
“She can't breathe.” I argue, stopping myself from glaring.
He sighs, and waves his hand. The bulky woman, with a whip to her waist, walks up to her and loosens the slipknot. Idali fiercely fights for her breath, seeming determined and driven.
“N, o. He', s, ly, kh.” Idali does her best to articulate her warning but her throat is obviously damaged and she cannot help but cough.
Odo frowns and the woman immediately places her hand over Idali's mouth to prevent her from saying anything more. Not that I need her warning, it is apparent to me that this vile being has no intention of being fair. The only acceptable choice is to try anyway, and hope.
“There are secrets at play here, Count Odo. I advise that you accept what information I can give you and don't risk poking into your King's interests.” Vikiana speaks up, choosing this moment to intervene.
“My King's, our Emperor's, or the Institute's?” He asks derisively. “No matter. One should follow an Exemplar's advice if possible as there is wisdom in the Order's teaching.” He smirks and brings his fingers together, preparing to snap them.
“Don't!” I exclaim.
“Then talk.” Odo utters coldly.
“Release me.” I whisper at the Exemplar.
Vikiana's expression is somber, she quite clearly opposes my decision, yet she looks a little impressed. She complies with my demand, waving two fingers at the Templars restraining me.
Odo approaches, one hand on his belt. I notice the runes engraved on it and abandon the thought of using a lightning construct to attack. It probably won't work and that would too quick a death for him. I slowly shift on my knees to show my left hand, struggling because of the ropes tying them together.
“I'm a Rykz experiment.” I tell him, clenching my left hand. “They replaced my left arm with one of their creations.”
“Why is she still in leather armor? No matter, we'll get you all tucked up in shackles later. Raise that sleeve, I can't see a thing with all that blood.” Odo orders a Templar who doesn't even blink in reaction.
“Do it.” Vikiana says, and only then does the temple guard move.
My left sleeve is pulled up, dragging the rope along. I almost try to take advantage but all it would do is put Idali's life at more risk and I would likely end up knocked out again.
There will be better opportunities to force them to kill me, perhaps a hostage could convince them to put her at sea with a lifeboat. Odo suddenly whistles as he scrutinizes my left forearm, the rubbery brown skin of distinctively Rykz origin.
“Marvelous.” He comments. “I'm sure my King will be quite... prolific in his thanks when we deliver this creature to the Institute. Quite a lucky stroke for me. No, for the both of us, Exemplar.” He laughs.
“This knowledge must not spread, Count.” Vikiana replies, ignoring the rest of his commentary.
“It won't. I have no interest in gossip.” Odo replies offhandedly.
“You take this too lightly.” I utter coldly. “This is a warning from the Rykz. They can easily make more like me if you refuse to listen to their demands.”
“It has said its piece, it will be quiet now.” Odo says with an amused smile. He turns to Vikiana. “This is no threat, she couldn't even take a single one of your Templars down with twenty Rykz in a defensive position.”
“I do not believe that she tried.” Vikiana notes. “You severely underestimate the danger this presents, Count. Elizabeth Vil has defeated several titled Nobles by herself. If the Rykz start integrating even Baron level combatants to their lines...”
“Ambushes, treachery, and betrayals.” Odo scoffs. “No, she may have some ability but she is merely overselling her worth. This is a transparent attempt to scare us into releasing her.”
Vikiana doesn't bother arguing, she simply takes hold of my hard leather armor's sleeve and slides it back in place. She helps me turn back, hiding my bloody hand from the rest of the crew. Odo simply walks away.
I close my eyes. I've never felt so helpless in my life. Not when I lost my arm, not when the Rykz imprisoned me, not even when Leomi broke her vow. I had lost all hope, but I still had a final task to accomplish.
Snap. The dry sound of Odo's fingers snapping startles me. I look up. The bulky woman, who held her hand over Idali's mouth to prevent her from speaking, is now dragging an unconscious Idali on the deck towards port-side.
“What are you doing?!” I shout. “We had a deal!”
“You gave your word, Count Odo.” Vikiana utters coldly.
“I said I wouldn't kill her. I am not and neither will my subjects, of course.” Odo declares. “But traitors are not welcome on my ship.”
“She can row! Chain her in the lower decks, anything!” I exclaim, panicking.
“No.” Odo smiles.
The twelve Templars shift on their feet, agitated. Vikiana almost draws her sword. Odo chuckles, spreading his arms. His soldiers put their hands on their own weapons and those on the other galley draw their bows, arrows held between thumb and index but not knocked on their strings.
There are more than a hundred of them. Even Templars would stand a chance with a worse than a ten to one disparity in numbers, not without their plate armors.
“You would rebel for a traitor?” Odo asks without hiding his curiosity.
Vikiana sustains his gaze, calculating. She soon leans back, letting go of her blade. Snap. The seven soldiers pull on the galley-slaves' ropes to hang them, slowly, cruelly. The bulky woman picks Idali up and throws her overboard.
“Ah. Order.” Odo says, breathing in.
I watch the slaves I freed die. The Templars, who rescued them from the Tianeels do so as well. I stay mute. Talking is useless. I smother my roiling emotions. Angry, sad, regretful. I let them go because I needed a distraction and I even accomplish anything with it.
“I'm sorry.” Vikiana tells me in a low voice. “They all made their choices. You're not responsible.”
“I know.” I force the words out of my tight throat.
“No!” Idali yells from the water. “Help!”
I perk up at the sound of her voice. She woke up. I throw an urgent look at Vikiana. She sighs and takes hold of my left arm, pulling me up to my feet. She then helps me as I awkwardly make my way to port-side.
Odo is already on the bridge, watching Idali from above. I lean on the guardrail, Vikiana keeping hold of my arm and collar to prevent me from trying to escape. I'm not dying or leaving this ship before killing this scum.
Idali is afloat, her blond hair pear around her head. There are hundreds of wooden debris near her and all over the sea, what remains of the Rykz' several hundred rafts.
Two long dorsal fins emerge a few tens of meters away from her. Idali screams fearfully. She starts swimming away from them as fast as she can, arms and legs beating water.
The Tianeels circle around their prey. One has yellow-blue scales, the other black-red. I detect Vikiana shaping flow behind my back, it looks similar to the fire construct I know but much more complicated.
Too late. The Tianeels surface, their long bodies' mid-sections are bulging, likely filled by all those they picked out of the water. They must not even be hungry anymore. The predators surge towards Idali, closing the distance in seconds.
“Elizabeth will tear you apart for this, Odo!” Idali roars in defiance.
The Tianeels open their maws, filled with wide triangular teeth. The yellow-blue Tianeel snags her right leg up to the thigh while the black-red Tianeel closes its jaw over her upper torso, her entire left arm vanishing inside it as well.
I expect her to stop moving shortly, no, I hope so. I wish for her to, at least, be granted a quick death. Idali kicks the yellow-blue Tianeel with her left leg, still fighting in her situation. Her courage makes me feel ashamed of my thought.
“Oh! Feisty!” Odo cheers.
The creatures open and close their large mouths, playing together with her body. Red blood leaks out of their maws and Idali's resistance weakens. A ball of fire, a meter in size, leaves Vikiana's hand and speeds out towards the two creatures. The construct splits in two and hits the Tianeels head on.
“Spoil-sport!” Odo protests with indignation.
“Iiishe!” The yellow-blue Tianeel shrieks.
“Iiishe!” The black-red Tianeel growls.
The blazing flames seem to stick to their scales. The creatures let go of Idali, thrashing in pain. They soon flee underwater, disappearing from sight. Bubbles of vapor reach the surface for a short while, a few seconds, and then no sign of them remains.
Idali doesn't seem to be moving, but she isn't sinking either. The amount of blood pouring out of her mangled body makes me despair but I don't let myself give up on Idali. I swiftly assemble a healing construct with what little flow I have left, reducing the timer segment to a fourth of its size.
It is dangerous and I have no expertise in the matter, but this is the least I can do, perhaps her only chance. I send the construct down to the plant of my feet. I then direct it to sink down through the galley's three decks and then further beneath the sea. Finally, I target Idali with it, cutting my link to the construct.
“Thanks.” I dispassionately tell Vikiana.