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Kalon
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Chapter Nineteen: Zemek
Galactic Quadrant: Darna Quadrant
Ruling Government: Talum Merchant Federation
Solar System: D-447
Planet: Ora
Location: Beneath the planet's surface, Naro City, Near City Markets
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***
Present Time
***
“That was not a plan,” Arrum says shaking his head, his angry breath steaming against the frigid air of the walkway. He kicks an icicle shattering it, the frost sprays outwards, crunching beneath our boots as we move.
“At least he told us something this time,” I say, pulling my furs tighter, my clothes a little looser from the time we spent on rations in the mines.
The two of us, Arrum and I have walked for nearly three hours now, on orders from Nekam. In truth, I would be angry, but my mind still lingers on Barnak. It hasn’t even been a day since his blood wet my blade. Before him, the others still haunt me. Looking at Arrum, I can see he feels the same, being angry at Nekam when no one can hear is his way of distracting himself.
“You call that something? One could discern more from a fart than his veiled I have a plan remarks.” Arrum says, glancing at me, his eyes are not angry at me anymore, they search me to see if I am alright.
We do not often speak about the shakes that come, nor the eyes that we see in our nightmares. It only takes a look for us to know the other's mind though. A thousand words spoken in a glance.
Arrum looks again at me, his expression more concerned. Taking a deep breath, I close my eyes and push out the thoughts, giving him a nod after they open again, the calm filling me once more. He gives me a nod back.
“Nevari seemed very upset with you,” Arrum says, nudging me with his shoulder as we pass around a corner, lightening the mood with an eyebrow raise.
My jaw rolls, thinking about her, the words evading me.
“Perhaps you should make it up to her,” Arrum says raising another eyebrow at me, playfully pushing me.
“She is…” I begin, trying to find the word “Zemek.”
“Complicated?” Arrum chuckles, letting out a sigh as he looks around the next corner “Matters of the heart often are.”
Giving him an eye roll, I round the next corner, immediately pulling Arrum back as I see three figures in the distance.
“Is it them?” Arrum asks.
“I don’t know yet,” I say, my breath slowing as I try to listen to them speaking.
Their voices have stopped though, they must have seen me. Sekat.
“We should retreat and get a better position,” I whisper, being cautious.
“We should stay,” Arrum whispers back, his eyes pleading with me.
He does not want to risk failure, there is too much at stake, too much to gain, and he is not thinking clearly. Nekam’s reward for success has clouded his judgment.
The crunch of footsteps coming towards us quickly causes my pulse to increase as my hand reaches for my blade. Arrum steps back now with me as they round the corner. There are three of them, I recognize the symbol on their garb immediately, the Dorasi Clan.
“My, what do we have here?” a fierce-looking woman says, her eyes a deep and striking green. There is an out-of-place smile on her face that does not match the others. She flicks back her head to remove the strands of green and black hair that covered her eyes.
“Yul Clan…” one of the men behind her growls, pulling a blade from under his thick furs.
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“Clan chief said kill on sight.” the second man with her says.
“Indeed he did,” the woman says, tilting her head to the side and looking back and forth at Arrum and me. The strange smile still holds her lips.
My mind replays the memories of Nekam’s instructions as my hand grips my blade tighter.
***
Four Hours Ago
***
“I have a plan,” Nekam says, staring out ominously at all of us gathered.
Arrum and I look at each other, both thinking the same thing. Last time his plan nearly got us all killed. Many did not return from his last plan. There is grumbling in the crowd that quickly dies down as Nekam stands from the Chief’s chair and walks amongst us again.
“Everyone must be ready.” Nekam says, then louder now “Tomorrow we make ready to attack the Dorasi Clan. We will meet them head-on before they can strike us.”
Murmurs erupt almost instantly in protest. Attack them? Why? How will we do this? We are supposed to march to the surface tomorrow to join the other clans. We will not thrive with such a late start.
“You will send us to our graves!” someone yells.
Nekam moves to them now, swift like the cracking of ice he is upon them before they can even blink. He does not even need to draw his blade to make their eyes grow wide. His presence alone is enough. Words from the Sage fill my mind seeing him use this tactic to maintain control.
A wise person knows that fear can be a powerful motivator, but only a fool rules with it
Nekam may hold their tongues today, but tomorrow he may also find a blade in his back. This is not sustainable. Evoking fear when we need unity, promoting war when we need peace. There is something amiss with the way he says it though. Something larger is at play again. I cannot help but feel this may be some kind of misdirection. Nekam never openly tells his next move until it is time. Arrum gives me another glance, he is thinking the same thing. His gaze turns to Nekam now who walks by us. Giving us a look that means he has work for us. Arrum lets out a low sigh after he has passed.
***
Arrum and I have waited for nearly an hour by the time Nekam comes to speak with us, having already spoken with his tribe chiefs. Nekam’s eyes search the room, looking at those who speak in hushed whispers.
“Follow.” He says to us, his eyes still on others in the room as he turns toward the Clan chief’s private quarters.
His stride is fast as he moves, giving nods to those who look at him with deference and a menacing stare at those who do not.
“Yuri, with me,” Nekam says as we pass by him and Dekarn.
“Coming, my chief,” Yuri replies, following in stride.
Dekarn gives Arrum a look as we pass him. Arrum, unlike other Ulima, returns the look in kind, turning to walk backward so he can know his intent is disrespect. My eyes flicker over to Nekam who has seen it, but says nothing.
“You need a leash for that Ulima, my chief,” Dekarn says loudly to Nekam who walks to his private quarters still.
“And you need a bath, my friend,” Nekam says without turning to face him.
Dekarn gives another look to Arrum, a vein bulging on his forehead. Arrum gives me a look that almost makes me break stride to laugh. Arrum tugs at my arm motioning for me to look behind us, I see Dekarn lifting his arm and smelling himself. A grin slides over my mouth for a moment as I suppress the laugh. A brief respite from the darkness that crowds my mind.
When we enter the Clan Chief’s private quarters, Yuri closes the door behind us. My eyes take in the room as Nekam paces, deep in thought. There are seven seats adorned with furs surrounding a metal table, the walls are painted with murals from Chiefs who have passed the veil. It will be Nekam’s duty to paint Barnak’s legacy, I cannot help but wonder how he will be remembered. My mind wanders more as I take in the room, blades line the wall, past Chiefs and heroes of the Clan, their names engraved in the stone shrine on the far side of the room. The shrine of Hempki’s hammer. Compared to the works that I saw in the Sage’s holos, it is crude, but there is a beauty to it. All things which bear a person’s aspirations have beauty, if one knows how to look. Or so the Sage always said.
“My chief, are you sure I can’t just…” Yuri begins, finally breaking the long silence.
“I am sure,” Nekam says before he can finish.
Nekam sits now at one of the seven seats, Yuri joins after him.
“I have a mission for you both,” Nekam says.
“It will be dangerous,” Yuri says, folding his arms and looking at Arrum and me.
“If you fail, all of our plans fail,” Nekam says next.
“Understood, my chief.” Arrum and I answer.
Nekam motions for us to sit at one of the seven fur-covered seats, an honor usually reserved for chiefs. To have an Ulima sit here is unusual. Arrum glances at me before he sits down. He wonders what kind of task it must be. My jaw tenses as I sit down, whatever it is. Arrum and I will be in danger. This much is clear.
“You will be meeting with my younger cousin.” Yuri says, rolling his jaw for a moment, giving Nekam a glance before he continues “They will give you the second part of the plan, you will know them by the phrase they use. If you answer them correctly, they will know to trust you.”
“If you succeed with the mission,” Nekam begins, leaning forward and tenting his hands “You will be Ulima no longer.”
Arrum’s eyes widen and his breath becomes uneven as he shifts in his seat, a grin pressing out onto his mouth. No thoughts of worry in his mind. What could be so important, that Nekam will give us full privilege and make us full members of the Clan?
“Hakashen.” Arrum says, bowing his head to Nekam “Your will is my command.”
Nekam’s eyes trace over to me slowly, waiting for me to respond. An uneasy feeling creeps over me. A shallow sigh daring to leave as I bow my head, trying to find the will to utter the phrase, despite the implications on our lives, I cannot refuse him. Such is the fate of an Ulima. A fate that I have placed on Arrum by helping the brothers. This is my chance to atone for that. My jaw flexes as I speak.
“Hakashen, my chief.”
***
Present Time
***
“There are four types of people, the strong, the wise, the weak, the daft, and…” The woman says, twirling a blade in each hand, pausing now, as though waiting for us to finish.
“What are you on about?” one of the men with her says, turning to her with a confused expression.
“You already said four types.” The other man says, not taking his eyes off of us, blade in hand “Learn to count.”
“Ulima,” I say.
Her head tilts back as she stares at me, her grin deepening.