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Kalon
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Chapter Fourteen: Dena Pok Ulnah
Galactic Quadrant: Darna Quadrant
Ruling Government: Talum Merchant Federation
Solar System: D-447
Planet: Ora
Location: Beneath the planet's surface, Naro City, Gateway above the Mines
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The lift creaks to a halt as the gears lock into place. We are all still, yet our breathing is heavy. The large metal gates swing open slowly, basking us in the light of the gatehouses. Nekam’s stride is swift, we follow behind him in a disorganized group that soon becomes cohesive. He moves towards one of the City Chief’s guards. The insignia on his shoulder tells me one thing, he is in charge.
“I see you have survived, despite my predictions.” The man says, looking Nekam and all of us over. His men hold fast their weapons, keeping them trained on us.
“Indeed.” Nekam says, extending his hand outwards, dropping a pouch into the man’s hands “As promised, fifty surface chits now, fifty later.”
“The price has risen.” The man says, cocking his head to the side “Doubled in fact.”
Nekam stares at him, but he does not argue, it would be folly.
“Understood,” Nekam says, giving him a bow.
After he finishes with the man, he motions us to follow. His pace is even faster than before, forcing us to jog behind him.
Where does he take us? What is the plan? Dekarn and Yuri drag Keno with a few others. He thrashes, trying to yell, but his mouth is bound.
***
We have marched for nearly two hours now, steam rises from us as we approach our destination. The Clan Hall. Nekam holds a fist in the air, telling us to halt finally. We are tired, none of us fit to fight well, yet Nekam brings us here, my jaw rolls as I try to think of what plans he must have.
“Dekarn, Yuri, if you do not receive word before the night is over.” Nekam says quietly, between breaths “Then I have failed, finish what was started.”
They nod to him, dropping Keno, taking with them more than half the group.
Just like that, they are gone. What can we do with so few? Even with half of Barnak’s guard down from the traps, they still have suits of metal, not to mention energy weapons. If he means to bring us to fight… we march to our deaths. My eyes trace to Arrum, he also has questions written in his eyes. If Nevari was with us, I could try to ask her, but she stayed with Neeba in the mines. Sekat. What are we doing here?
Nekam takes a few more moments, catching his breath. Pulling his hair back into a tight braid. I see for the first time, his hands trembling. My eyes grow wide as his fear breaks into me. His eyes turn to look at me then the others. The tremble in his hand disappears shortly after. Calming us with it.
“Do not be afraid, our journey does not end this night.” Nekam says, there is power in his voice as he becomes the calm pillar of strength we have all known “We move.”
Two warriors from my tribe grab Keno under the arms and drag him behind us. It does not take us long to see the Clan’s door, the bridge we must cross is covered in fresh frost.
As we walk over the chasm, I see bloody bootprints smudged underneath in the old layers of frost. It must be from the guards that got caught in the Netherium traps days ago. I wonder how they fare and if they live still. They must all be close to the changing.
Nekam inserts his tribe chief talisman into the door. Frost sprinkles to the ground as the gears turn. Warm air hits us as the thick circular door recedes into the wall. We follow in Nekam’s shadow, my heart beats faster as I see the walls of the large assembly hall adorned with guards. Each points their rifles at us as we pass. Nekam’s stride is calm and measured, he shows no fear as he approaches Barnak who sits upon the Clan chief’s chair.
A metal cup falling from Barnak’s hand and striking the floor breaks the silence.
Keno is laughing even through his gag now. His eyes are bloodshot from it.
Barnak comes forward now, his eyes blinking fast. He looks at Keno on the floor, a blade to his throat to keep the laughter down.
“My eyes deceive me…” Barnak says, his mouth not fully closing as his eyes widen at his son soaked in blood.
“They do not,” Nekam answers.
“My tribes?” Barnak asks, stumbling forward almost.
“Alive.” Nekam says, then folding his arms in front of him “For now.”
“Keno, does he speak the truth?” Barnak asks, coming closer still.
One of the warriors moves to block him, but Nekam shoots them a look, causing them to sheathe their blade and back away. Barnak kneels in front of Keno, taking off his gag, and swatting the knife from his throat. Nekam nods to the man who holds it, he too backs away. Allowing father and son to converse.
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“Kill them all!” Keno screams, the guards look to Barnak who says nothing as he looks upon his son’s injuries “I said kill them all! Fire upon them!”
My group grips their blades, but Nekam is serene with the calm aura that wraps him. He does not even flinch at the words. His breath is so steady it makes my own calmer. His face is not of a man concerned with impending death.
“Does he speak the truth?” Barnak asks again to Keno.
“Father, why do they not listen?” Keno asks, looking to the guards “Cowards kill them all!”
“Enough!” Barnak says, gripping his son's shoulders “Does he speak truth?”
Keno looks at his father, his face is confused, he is not the only one who feels it. It is written upon some of our faces as well.
“They ambushed us, yes.” Keno says, then looking to Nekam he spits upon the ground near him “Like cowards they pressed us into the tunnel and then…”
Barnak’s eyes sink low to the ground as Keno retells what happened. His hand grabs softly at Keno’s mouth after a time, closing it as he stands. Moving towards the Clan chief’s chair and slumping into it.
“How did you best me?” Barnak asks Nekam after nearly a minute of silence. There is defeat in his tone, as though he does not intend to fight.
“Your first mistake was selling your Etherium reserves for more weapons and armor,” Nekam says.
“How did you know?”
“The stone you gave your grandson to use in the fight, the marks on it were fresh. Meaning you just had it mined. That paired with the increased guard the next day. I was fairly certain.” Nekam says, then turning to look at him fully “The City Chief’s guards confirmed my suspicions with a little bribe.”
Barnak lets out a weak laugh that dies in his throat, his eyes sinking deeper to the floor.
“So, you intentionally provoked me, knowing that our stores were low. Causing me to spend our reserve on weapons and armor.” Barnak rolls his jaw, scratching his beard “You knew I would send my guard, into your Netherium trap.”
“Knowing that you would seek out fresh Etherium to cure your guard,” Nekam says, holding his head high, and looking down upon Barnak.
“So, the other tribes telling us you fled to another Clan…” Barnak says, then shaking his head “I should have known, most have been unhappy for many seasons.”
He lets out a long sigh.
“I fell right into your trap, every step of the way.” Barnak chuckles, but there is bitterness in it, mixing with depression as reality sinks in.
“Indeed.” Nekam says.
“Never have I been so soundly beaten,” Barnak admits.
He leans forward, tenting his hands on his face.
“Only the Sage could have made such a plan,” Barnak says, his eyes turning up to meet Nekam.
“The Sage is long dead,” Nekam says.
“Is he though…” Barnak says, his eyes leveling with Nekam for a moment “I wonder at that as I feel his hand in this exchange.”
There is something strange in how he says this. The Sage is dead, why does he act like he isn’t? Does he just mean that his schemes feel like something the Sage would have done? My eyes look to Nekam, but his face shows no signs of changing. If I had not seen the Sage... I would not be certain. Yet somehow hearing this causes me to doubt for the first time in many years. I brush it off as a prideful man’s reluctance to admit defeat.
“What do you offer?” Barnak asks, leaning back in the chair, though his posture is still that of a defeated man.
“Your children’s children I will spare. So long as you transfer peacefully, they will be looked after.” Nekam says.
Barnak winces at this, hanging his head low. There is regret on his brow. Sadness lurking beneath his eyes. Still, he does not fall completely into despair, he gives a strong face even in the face of everything.
“I thank you for that kindness.” He manages to say, now resting a hand on his temple and leaning on the chair's arm “How am I to die?”
“Death by combat.” Nekam declares.
“You give me kindness again.” Barnak says to Nekam, leaning his back wearily against the chair “I can choose my opponent?”
“Within reason,” Nekam replies, tilting his head, curiosity on his brow now.
Barnak stands, moving towards Nekam, eyes level with his. There is a mixing of emotions in his gaze.
“The Ulima boy. The one you used.” Barnak says, looking at me now, pointing at me with his finger “He is who I wish to fight.”
“Why?” Nekam asks him.
Why would he pick me? My hands clench back my nerves. I have never seen the Clan Chief fight before. Though I have heard stories of him, in his prime he took on twenty men in the mines, clawing his way to being a tribe chief. Earning the favor of the late high chief before he passed through the veil. His descendants may not have earned their place, but he did. Even though there is grey in his hair, I am wary of him.
“My reasons are my own.” He says, looking at me.
Nekam looks at me for a moment then back to him and nods saying “Swear the oath.”
“Father!” Keno screams, snot drips from his nose as the tears stream from his fearful eyes “You have the weapons, kill them!”
“To what end…” Barnak says almost in a whisper, the vigor he once had drained from him “They are useless to save those trapped in the mines, and the City Chief has allowed this to happen. We may slay the men here, but a thousand of our own will die. Our entire line wiped out.”
“We can fight them, we can gather the other tribes,” Keno says, his words quick and pressured as though manic.
“There will be no Clan left if we all fight.” Barnak says, then waving a hand to his personal guard, he orders them to lower their weapons “The other Clans will wipe us out.”
He surprised me with this move, I did not think him so noble. He does not scold Keno even though he may wish to, his tone is soft and filled with care. Keno’s eyes fill as he begins to wet the ground with his tears.
“Do not weep my son, soon you will walk with your mother and your ancestors.” Barnak says, holding him and whispering softly “Be strong for your son.”
“Father… do not forsake me.”
Barnak leaves him after kissing his brow. Moving towards Nekam with a small blade in his hand.
“I make of you three requests,” Barnak says, cutting his palm with his blade, blood drips from it as he extends his arm to Nekam.
Nekam extends his own after making the cuts to seal the oath.
“Do not exile those who supported me, they have served in this clan for generations. I will tell them to see reason.” Barnak says.
“Agreed,” Nekam says.
“Do not make my descendants Ulima. Give them a chance to prove themselves.”
“Agreed.”
Barnak squeezes Nekam’s arm tightly before he speaks the next demand, locking eyes with him.
“Do better than I did.” Barnak says, his eyes searching Nekam for this last answer more than the rest “Lead them to greater heights.”
Nekam nods to him sincerely “I will.”
“The Gods are my witness.” Barnak begins, still looking Nekam in the eyes “Dena Pok Ulnah.”
To give victory and save others from defeat, it is a phrase given only when one admits true defeat. Giving up so that others don’t needlessly perish. It is perhaps the most noble thing a leader can do in the face of despair. It is a sacred vow, one that each side is expected to honor. It surprises me that Barnak does this. The deaths of his children weigh heavy on him. After Keno told him of their end, something changed in him.
There is a tear in my heart as I see this man showing so much grace in defeat. He could have killed us all with the flick of the wrist or a single word, yet he did not. He thought of those who yet live, trapped in the tunnels. He thought of their loved ones who pray for their return. He even sought to understand his downfall. His last request was to protect the Clan, he did not beg for a swift death. My jaw rolls softly as I mull it over. Was Barnak truly that bad? My mind replays his mistakes, the man before me almost a different person than he was during the proving. As I think of it, I realize his failing was his children, the man himself made few mistakes.
My eyes trace towards Nekam who is still a pillar of calm order. If he had not pressed him, would he have gone to such lengths? My mind twists and turns, unable to find a resolution. I am pulled back to reality by the sound of Barnak ordering his men to surrender their weapons and armor to us. Nekam orders us to take them and bind the guard. Sending a runner to give word to Dekarn and Yuri. Now we wait, there is tension in the air as the guards murmur discontent. Fear brushes their eyes as they look to us now holding their prized weapons.