The silent words of empty spaces,

The whispered cries of a sickened dawn,

The cut tongues of a thousand parched men;

All await the birth of a some-none

To lead, to feed, to heal, to kill, and

Shelter all from the coming of night –

For this giant who saves you and me is

The sacrifice for us people to thrive.

Twilight unleashed the overwhelming aroma of spices onto the market streets of Orron. While the walls of the city hid the setting sun, it did nothing to hide the brilliant display of reds, blues and violets smudged across the dimming sky. It was a breathtaking atmosphere that soothed the hearts of workers and visitors alike. With the daylight receding, the workday for many a common worker was over. To step into the streets where the wind now turned away towards the river, carrying the rich scents of a city relaxing slowly after a productive day, was a leisure enjoyed by most in the city regardless of their financial or social standing. It was no different for the youthful Jyevodirr, who was now free to do as he pleased for the night. All of the grand ambitions, the rumbustious ideas and interests running rampant within his head, were temporarily put to rest by the sense of serenity permeating into him. It was a good evening.

Jyevodirr had received his payment today. The amount wasn't too lavish, but it was enough to feast for a week at least. Four days of luxury weren't a lot, but eating just the usual meal was not very appealing to the youth’s mind either. So this night, without a shadow of doubt, should definitely be a time to throw as much money at food as he wanted. The only question left on this matter was where. Should he go and spend his money in one of the finer eateries of the city, where he never had the opportunity before? Or should he just visit different stalls till he could eat no more? Both ideas were equally as seductive as the other.

But tonight was not to be a good one for him alone. As fresh entrants in the city, this day had borne witness to the first payout here for both Jyevodirr and his faithful friend, R’vag. Like himself, his friend must also be having his own ideas on entertainment for the night. Jyevodirr wanted to hear what those ideas were before settling on one himself. So Jyevodirr turned to his old friend, who was busy staring at the streets with a grin on his face.

“Well? Thinking the same thing as I am?” Jyevodirr asked R’vag with a smirk. As the youth turned to the questioner, the smugness in his eyes almost leapt out at Jyevodirr.

“I’m sure I’m not,” replied R’vag, “I mean, yeah, you could be crazier than me sometimes, but boy are you as innocent as the day you were suckling on….”

R’vag’s spicy taunt was cut off with an indignant smack on his head. He laughed at Jyevodirr’s irritated look.

“Alright, alright!” R'vag raised both his hands in a gesture of surrender. “I won't tease you about that. But I really was not thinking about anything you would think. I was thinking about – should I go and find a ravishing lady looking for some steamy tussle? Or should I not?”

“Ugh!” Jyevodirr scrunched up his face. “I’m sure you only think with your head down below!”

“Maybe! Nothing wrong with that, you know?”

“You know what? Do whatever you want. I’m going to eat in the meantime. We just got some money, and I can't think of anything other than all the food I could eat.”

“Haha! Go ahead and eat, you bleating kid! This man though is going to introduce himself to all the drinks – and the strongest woman stalking the streets of Orron!”

Jyevodirr’s face softened into a smile. There was no helping it, he supposed. If R’vag could get stronger in this pursuit of pleasure, then that was simply his way of living.

“Alright,” Jyevodirr finally relented, “Just make sure to eat something.”

“Will do!”

Jyevodirr watched R’vag prance through the streets and eventually disappear around a corner. Now that Jyevodirr was finally alone, he looked around again. The sky had dimmed a little more and lamps here and there had flickered to life. It was by no means dark and would not be until another hour or two, but the streets were getting more crowded in anticipation of the night. As he stood still, the occasional person or two glanced at him as they passed. Jyevodirr nodded back at them to be polite.

Eventually, the young man let his feet carry him away through the narrow streets, passing by many food stalls and taverns. To his own surprise, he did not feel like entering those at the moment. Maybe he was wrong earlier. Maybe it was not just R’vag who wanted more. Sure, Jyevodirr did not care about getting sweaty with a woman right now, or anytime soon. That was because he had his own ideas of love and care, woman and passion. It may seem silly to R’vag, but Jyevodirr simply found himself fragile in these matters. He was disappointed too easily. He also found it too difficult to rush in. He only wished to someday find a lady who was so very strong he would not be able to stop himself from sprinting towards her with his full might.

The world was a vast place. He had no need to rush for anything but his dreams. There were a lot of sights he wanted to see, novelties he wanted to experience. There were an infinite number of things whose existence remained unknown to his tiny mind and meager knowledge. He wanted them to surprise him with their being. And right now, in this gleaming gateway to the riches of the desert, he wanted to taste the finest food and feel an aspect of richness that was completely unlike the usual pursuits of strength he thrived in.

Emerging from these thoughts, Jyevodirr found himself to have been propelled somewhere in the more lavish streets of Orron. Fixing his eyes straight ahead, Jyevodirr found himself face to face with an imposing wooden door, carved with fierce forms and varnished to an impressive shine. Guarding that entrance were two burly guards. There was an extremely faint aroma of food wafting from within the doors, but Jyevodirr picked up on it. Above the door hung a shining plaque with the words – Firresyith. Diner.

With a contented smile, Jyevodirr outstretched his arm to open the door.

“Reservations, sir?”

One of the two guards walked up to stand in Jyevodirr’s way with these words. The man stood nearly twice as tall as Jyevodirr. Nothing unusual, but definitely annoying.

While Jyevodirr understood these rules of the powerful well enough, working as security personnel himself during his stay in the city, that did not mean he had to accept or even like it when the same was imposed upon him. These systems were put into place to be an annoyance to the strong and an unavoidable blockade for the weak. All they amounted to for him was to make him waste time proving his own strength. But it was one thing to prove his calibre for the sake of his standing in the Empire, and it was another to just be peppered by these challenges in the most mundane of matters. This was exactly why Jyevodirr could not wait to improve his standing.

“Move,” he demanded, “I am hungry and don’t want to waste time challenging the establishment.”

The guard lazing behind burst into a riotous laughter at Jyevodirr’s expense, though the one standing between Jyevodirr and the door was more composed.

“I’m afraid you’re in no place to be making demands, boy,” he responded. “You either have a reservation, or you walk out. This establishment belongs to the Arroxath family. That should mean something to anyone who is in this city. Even if you force your way in, you shall find nothing to eat but wood and rock. No one will serve you here without a reservation. If it is a challenge you seek, boy, you are better off going to the estate down south. People come here to eat and discuss matters beside strength and standing.”

Jyevodirr frowned. He could deal with fools like the one lounging behind, but people like the guard barring his way were difficult. He could show his strength right here and now, but it was unlikely that the man had spoken harboring any illusions about either Jyevodirr’s or the man’s own strength. Jyevodirr could also overwhelm anyone who stood against him here, but he knew surely that he would not be served food in this place if there were people with strength of character like this man. The Empire was all about strength, and strength was more than a simple show of brute force. If Jyevodirr wanted to eat here, he would have to go through the entire Arroxath family. Complicating the matter even more, the boy who caught Jyevodirr’s interest belonged to the Arroxaths. Making a move on them meant that his entire plan in the city would have to change. Was such a drastic measure really worth it for a meal right here and now?

There was just no winning in this situation. Jyevodirr would either have to give up eating here tonight, or he would have to muddy all the effort put into his time in the city.

Jyevodirr gritted his teeth and looked up defiantly at the guard facing him.

“I’ll be back,” Jyevodir promised. “And when I am, I shall eat whatever I want. Leaving with only words like this is very bitter, but you will definitely be seeing me again.”

The guard behind started hollering again, but the other only cracked a smile. Jyevodirr was not sure what that smile was supposed to mean.

“The estate is down south, around eight farsteps away from the city. I hope to see you here again.”

With this, the guard bid Jyevodirr farewell.

Jyevodirr’s mood had been thoroughly soured by this whole debacle. The city around him was looking even more gorgeous at this point of time, but all Jyevodirr felt was the chill of lowering temperatures exacerbated by the riverward breeze. This whole incident was not a very significant one, but defeat, especially if concerned with more mundane matters like these, always chafed a lot. He did not even feel hungry anymore. On the verge of leaving the diner’s premises, he heard someone address him.

“You! Aren’t you one of the guards of Qai Vaong'rr? What are you doing here?”

Jyevodirr recognized the voice and suddenly felt much better again.

Hah! Luck was favoring him once more! There was no way Jyevodirr would let go of this turn of events.

“Qai Rraos,” he acknowledged, tilting up his face to look the slightly older youth in his eyes, “I was hungry and wanted to see what your place has to offer.”

This young man Jyevodirr suddenly found himself facing was the very person who had piqued his interest a half a month ago. How nice of him to show up here! Although, it was probably to be expected, considering that this was an Arroxath establishment, and the young man was an heir of their family. It was only natural that Rraos Arroxath would come here to relax and entertain himself with good food.

“And why did you think you would be able to eat at our place, having nothing to do with us?” The young man of interest probed.

“Having nothing to do with the Arroxaths? Maybe. But having nothing to do with you? Don't be too quick in judging that. I may have something you want to hear.”

In response to Jyevodirr’s answer, the corners of Rraos’ mouth twitched into what would very likely have been a sneer had not possessed enough control over himself.

“We are the Arroxaths,” Rraos retorted, “What makes you think you would have anything of value for people of our strength and standing?”

Jyevodirr grinned. This pot of broth was getting warmer.

Jyevodirr had intended to make contact with Rraos Arroxath in a few days anyway. But instead of having to wait around, fortune saw it fit to just start things here today. On top of that, Rraos seemed to be going just where Jyevodirr wanted. Be it caused by coincidence or Jyevodirr’s keen sense for character, things were working out for him. So without wasting any time, Jyevodirr confidently stepped closer to Rraos. He immediately felt the cold of metal pressing against his throat, but that did not matter.

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“I thought you were more than just an Arroxath heir? Was I wrong?” Jyevodirr whispered. The atmosphere had turned quite oppressive, so Jyevodirr stepped back a bit and continued on loudly before Rraos could reply. “I could help you out, you know. You could even have something you’d never think of otherwise! Who knows what you could get from just listening to me?”

A heat emanated from Jyevodirr’s chest and tried seeping into his brain. It wanted him to take action. It wanted him to use violence and force the world to his whims. But Jyevodirr did not indulge in it. This was not true strength. Talking and taking things slowly was enough. All of this was to get himself a friend, a companion to his cause, not to simply overpower anyone and anything in his way.

Calming down his racing heart, Jyevodirr watched little expressions of conflicting emotions race through Rraos’ visage. Getting into the diner no longer mattered to Jyevodirr; he had managed to get to Rraos' curiosity. So now Jyevodirr turned his attention to the figure accompanying Rraos. The man was shrouded from head to toe, hiding everything he could starting from his identity to his subtle movements. A Loqerron who walked out in the open? That raised Jyevodirr’s eyebrows.

“You had better be worth my time,” Rraos’ words snapped Jyevodirr out of his scrutiny. He glanced back at Rraos, who beckoned him to walk ahead into the diner. Jyevodirr complied.

The two guards of the establishment had seen this exchange. Jyevodirr knew this, and he grinned from afar at the one who had stopped him earlier. The man nodded with his fist at his chest as the group approached, then opened the door with a greeting.

“Have a good day, sirs,” he said. This time, the other guard was also standing at attention.

“Thank you!” Jyevodirr replied to the guard, the same smile still stretching his lips. Then he promptly walked in through the doorway, ignoring the other guard whom he deemed rude and ignorant.

“We’ll be sitting at the common tables,” the command from Rraos arrived before Jyevodirr could stray too far inside the tastefully lit room. The urge to choose a table by himself struck Jyevodirr hard, but he fought it down immediately. He was not bereft of tact.

Rraos swept past Jyevodirr without a delay and chose a brightly lit corner to sit at. An attendant came rushing forward, but Rraos dismissed him with an offhand wave. He followed up that movement fluidly with a few wiggles of his pointer and index at Jyevodirr to indicate that he was being summoned. Jyevodirr did as he was directed.

Having taken a seat, Jyevodirr did not immediately start talking. He looked around and tried to sponge up the atmosphere in the room. It was much nicer than anywhere he had ever been to, except that one place he had visited half a month ago with his former employer Vaong’rr as a guard. No surprises there, since that was another place owned by the Arroxaths.

The first thing Jyevodirr noticed about the room was how hard it was to tell whether the room was cooler or warmer than the outside. The air was so pleasing it felt the room had to be warmer. Yet, the room was cool. The temperature was so comfortable and stable that it could not be anything but artificially maintained.

The lighting in the room seemed to be artfully placed as well. The larger, brighter lights were beautifully crafted and fitted in glass shells fixed upon the walls. Between them were much dimmer lights that glowed from within their glass casings but cast no significant light around them. The last lights on the ceiling were much more numerous and much dimmer than the brighter ones on the walls, though the individual glass shells that contained them were twisted and fused into much larger spiraling designs. These magnificent chandeliers were of different forms and sizes, being spaced far apart from one another to fill up the ceiling in an even more complex interconnected design.

The dark walls of the room glowed with this tapestry of brightness and darkness all the masterfully positioned lights weaved. The floor too seemed to participate in this artwork, being made of dense slabs of volcanic rocks that were polished to an exotic shine reflecting the lights above like a calm lake reflecting the starry sky.

In totality, the character of luxury here was not something Jyevodirr could have ever imagined without having come here.

“Did you come here to gawk around?” Rraos’ scathing remark forced Jyevodirr's attention back. “I don't have time to be dawdling around with you. If you don't have anything to give me, I’ll have you thrown out of the city for misleading me and wasting my time.”

Rraos’ attitude was annoying, but it was nothing Jyevodirr couldn't put up with. What concerned him more was the absent personal guard who was clearly concealing himself nearby. During the meeting between Rraos and Jyevodirr’s former employer, the personal guards who had been attending the meeting with Rraos were different. Consequently, there wasn't much Jyevodirr had noticed about him in the short while he had the opportunity to focus his attention on the man.

Jyevodirr needed to be cautious about this. But first, Jyevodirr needed to engage Rraos as directly and honestly as he could.

“You're not exactly intending to be the Arroxath heir, are you?”

Rraos’ reaction to Jyevodirr’s question was as expected. His breathing became shallow, pupils dilated, and fists bunched up. Jyevodirr needed to diffuse the tension immediately.

“Don't worry. I’m not here to rat you out or to threaten you at all,” he said, “I’m actually rather refreshed to have found someone like you. Ambition is a great strength. Just as you are more than what you seem to be, so am I.”

Rraos glared at Jyevodirr with furious eyes.

“So you are direct when it comes to others’ matters, but like to beat around the bush when it comes to your own?” Rraos hissed.

Jyevodirr sighed. It was make or break right here. He just hoped he would be able to persuade Rraos successfully.

“I want to be absolutely direct with you, but I also need you to take me seriously.” Jyevodirr paused for a few breaths before letting it all out. “I am going to fight to be the next Kraturr.”

Rraos’ face twisted into an angrier mask than before.

“And what has that got to do with me, you brainless buffoon?” He managed to seethe out. Before he could vent any more of his anger, Jyevodirr resumed speaking.

“I know you don't believe me, but that is not a problem.”

Jyevodirr paused again. Then for the first time since arriving at the city, Jyevodirr actually drew on his strength deep enough to leave a notch on the world.

“F’rrem,” he muttered under his breath. Be limited.

Having put into place his precautions, Jyevodirr leaned across the table and thrust out his face in the direction of Rraos, who suddenly looked fully out of his depth.

“You may think I belong to the Majya, but I do not. I belong to no one but myself. Whether you believe this or not is up to you,” Jyevodirr whispered. “What I urge you more to believe is that you are going to get into trouble very soon. It has not been long since I was certain regarding this information. I can also explain why I know this, but you wouldn't believe me. To you, I’m just a stranger who has nothing to do with you. I’m not sure if even this warning will do you any good. But be assured – when you run into trouble, I’ll help you out. I’ll be your Xamos when the time comes. You will definitely need one. Until that time comes, I’ll be in the city.”

Rraos had recoiled early on with a livid expression after getting over his discomposure, but an undercurrent of fear presently marred his expression. He did not shout or lash out though. Rraos was still an Arroxath. He had his nerves about him. Despite that, some of the workers at the diner had noticed something was amiss and were moving closer to their table. They were ready to take action at a moment’s notice.

“Who put you up to this?” Rraos asked, his hands shaking from a mixture of rage and anxiousness. “Do you think this is funny?”

“I have not asked anything of you,” Jyevodirr replied, having loosened his grip on the strength coiling within him. He settled back down on his chair again. “I did not say anything that causes you any harm or threatens you in any way. Well, other than giving you a new worry maybe. All I did was offer you my aid, so you also know what I just said is not a threat. And why would I even joke about something like this and risk my standing and my occupation? Why would I pull a stunt like this where the only reward would be to get thrown out of the city?”

“To manipulate me?” Rraos snapped.

This gave Jyevodir a pause. He had not even thought about that.

“I imagine you’ll just have to risk it?” Jyevodir answered sheepishly.

“Fine,” Rraos allowed, this time unable to smooth the sneer out of his face. “Let us suppose that you genuinely want to help me. What is the profit in all of this for you? What price are you going to exact from me for your oh-so-noble assistance?”

Jyevodirr had been waiting for this question. This would be his clearest answer yet.

“Your friendship,” he answered without hesitation.

Fear and anger morphed to incredulity, then to suspicion. Finally, it gave way to consideration and introspection. Silence settled ponderously on the table between the two young adults.

The men and women on alert that had gotten exceedingly close soon relaxed their nerves and dispersed like clouds after a strong gust of wind. The constant string of glances at the table never left, however.

Despite this release of tension, the shrouded man that had arrived at their table during the stir did not leave. He showed no signs of being on an edge either. The only dead giveaway of his taut focus was his continued uninvited presence beside Rraos.

Jyevodirr was feeling cheeky at this point, so he graced the shrouded man with a sly smirk. The man noticed Jyevodirr’s impudence, as did Rraos, though no one commented on it. Rraos was too deeply immersed within his own thoughts, and the shrouded man was probably a Loqerron. Getting no reaction out of anyone, Jyevodirr settled down and made himself comfortable.

After all this excitement, Jyevodirr was feeling hungry again. He wished he could order something and eat. Thinking about all the delicacies they must serve here made his mouth water. Jyevodirr did know well though that wishing for something and actually getting that wish granted were two different things separated by the enormous valley of dedicated effort. He had thought earlier that he would be able to cross this valley today after having been paid, but this evening has taught him otherwise. If he wanted to eat well, he needed to put in even more effort.

But even without having gotten to eat dishes he never had the chance to before, Jyevodirr was satisfied. He had taken the first steps to crossing this valley and another right here and now. This was indeed a very good evening.

Jyevodirr’s introspection ended when Rraos suddenly sighed and shifted like a desert snake shuffling to wakefulness. Rraos blinked and nodded at the shrouded man, who refused to move. The young Arroxath frowned, but he did not push the matter.

“I’m hungry,” Rraos abruptly declared. “You have given me quite a lot to think about, Qai….”

“Jyevodirr.”

“Yes. Qai Jyevodirr. I shall remember your name.”

This was one matter beautifully concluded. Jyevodirr wondered if he would be able to get his other wish fulfilled as well today.

As if reading his mind, Rraos offered Jyevodirr the politest smile afforded to mankind before continuing with his words.

“Unfortunately, Qai Jyevodirr, I am hungry and must now ask you to leave. I don't want to see your face until your promised time. I assume you understand why?”

What a petty, sweaty, smelly goat this Rraos Arroxath was! But he did not know Jyevodirr could also be stubborn!

“Can't you let me have something here as a gratitude? You know, for the novelty I have offered to you this evening?” Jyevodirr tried. As soon as he finished, he knew he wouldn't be eating here tonight. Oh well.

“I seem to recall that you wanted something entirely different in exchange, did you not?” Rraos gleefully rang the death knell to Jyevodirr’s hopes with the same benevolent smile. “In the world of trade, Qai Jyevodirr, you do not get anything for free. You knew what to expect the moment you decided to walk in here, no?”

Jyevodirr could refute that he honestly did not know what to expect right from the moment he had walked into this establishment, but to continue the argument felt so silly that it would not make him feel better. Funnily enough, he was not sure about that either.

However, it was better to leave when he was still feeling victorious. Being stubborn to the point of making things harder for himself would be foolishness.

“Thank you for the evening, Qai Rraos,” Jyevodirr said with difficulty, nodding with his fist on his chest. Rraos nodded back at him.

Jyevodirr got up after that and walked out of the front door. He did not forget to nod at the guard who had left a good impression on him. The man greeted him even as he left, but Jyevodirr did not reply. Rraos Arroxath’s spiteful last move did sting him a little.

In a matter of minutes, all of Jyevodirr’s vexation melted away when the aroma of familiar food greeted him like an old friend. The breeze had carried the mouthwatering scents to him on its way towards the river. Eager to reach the food stalls as quickly as he could, Jyevodirr increased his pace. He soon burst out of the luxurious streets onto the bustling ones filled to the brim with the uproarious glee of people.

Jyevodirr stood there for a moment, appreciating the vibrance surrounding him. The sun had set by now and darkness had taken over most of the sky. Some glimmers of purples and pinks on the sky were still lingering like a love song upon a lovestruck person’s lips. The lights of the streets, nothing like the artful lights of the diner, were blazing out vibrant colors all over the streets without any careful composition. The dull rocky streets were covered in their perpetual film of dust, testament to a thousand visits by the living and the forces of nature alike. This place was swimming with life, and Jyevodirr was a part of it.

He had finished his job here today, gotten paid and even furthered his ambitions. He had enjoyed an evening in Orron that was not completely dominated by leisure. Now the evening had left, the night arrived, and he still was here.

Jyevodirr was happy.

Humming a countryside tune from his village, Jyevodirr skipped like a child into one of the food stalls eagerly awaiting anyone who wanted to go in and eat.