Ayuen
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[https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/926707024362885130/1045841100604186624/Ayuen-WayX.png]
Ayuen art by Ina Koffen, @Ina_Koffen on Twitter
The question hung in the air, almost physical as the sound died away. Then, slowly, the owner of the voice walked into view. It was... an old man. A Human by the looks of it, with a glorious braided grey beard hanging on his chin. A lengthy well-maintained mane of silver hair sprouted from his scalp. He wore garbs of a make that Ayuen did not recognize, yet he exuded a familiar air of elegance and sophistication. A puffy pair of blue and green pantaloons held up by an intricate leather belt, above which he wore a gleaming white undershirt and a green and red vest, all kinds of humanoid figures and creatures weaved into the fabric with boundless precious. A friendly smile raised the corners of his mouth and his eyes twinkled with friendly amusement. Quickly looking over him, Ayuen found no trace of any kind of weaponry. It did little to curb her suspicions. What kind of man would be out here when he couldn’t defend himself? If he didn’t have any weapons on him, that left at least one more mystical means of defence.
The man raised his hands in a sign of submission.
“See? I’m unarmed. Don’t fret, I’m here to talk, and only if you’re willing. It’s been a while since anyone has visited my garden.”
His garden? Well, that sent all kinds of warnings flying cross-cross through her head. She didn’t lower her weapon, squinting at the man instead as Floryisha’s barrel was pointing right at him.
“’Your garden’? How can you own something out here?”
“No, no, no. Maybe ‘owner’ is a misnomer for what I am. I’m more like its... caretaker, if you will. And if names soothe your nerves, miss Ayuen, you can call me Hod. Short, easy and snappy.”
“Caretaker Hod then. I’m Ayue-...” She responded on autopilot before some gears clicked inside her head. He already knew her name. How in the blazes did this man know her name? What did he do? What could he do?
The expression on Ayuen’s face shifted from suspicion to fear as she lowered her weapon. Somehow, her soul itched. Whispers in her mind telling her that they were severely outmatched if it would come to a fight. “How did you know my name, sir Hod?”
“Well, you’re wearing your soul on your sleeve, so to speak. Can see it and read it as clearly as you might read a lovely poem.”
Hod lowered his arms, casually strolling closer to them. “As for you three being outmatched by me, I haven’t fought in a long long time, so I wouldn’t be able to tell. I would prefer just a nice conversation instead.”
Her blood ran cold, and Ayuen’s face paled as she staggered half a step back in shock.
Standing in front of her now, Hod raised an eyebrow at the two people standing behind her.
“Now now. Trïeste, Brent, put those weapons away. Or would you prefer your other name, ‘Sneak’? It makes no difference to me. Whatever makes you feel comfortable.”
“Ehh… Sneak thinks… that... ehm…” Sneak stammered, his daggers disappearing swiftly into his sleeve. “Sneak would prefer Sneak, Sneak thinks.”
“Sneak it is. How about you, Trïeste? Could I persuade you to stow those weapons away?”
“… Depends,” Trïeste said, her voice cold, calculating and practically dripping with suspicion. Ayuen couldn’t blame her.
“How by Hudol’s Beard do you know our names and backgrounds?”
Hod sighed as he stroked the grey strands of his facial hair.
This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.
“As I said, dear alchemist, the three of you carry your souls on your sleeves. The only thing I do is read it. And don’t fret, I can’t enter your mind or twist it. Nor would I like to.”
“Who are you anyway?” The half-Yrus said with a rising aggression.
“Didn’t I tell yo-…”
“Your real identity!” Trïeste raised her voice, the sound echoing over the clearing. “A normal human that can ‘read’ souls and thoughts, strolling in a field beyond a mythical gate? I’m not buying it. So cut with the ‘Hod’ crap!”
Rising his hands again, Hod smiled, expression easy-going and unbothered.
“Well, I’m not a human, if that makes you feel any better. I’ve taken the task on me to keep an eye on this garden as well as a selection of other bits and ends. While my family does other things, as you can imagine. I do assure you that I mean no harm.”
The old man’s eyes glimmered as his smile got a bit sterner for a moment.
“If I did, you wouldn’t have even noticed I was here.” And as quick as the glimmer had appeared, it was gone. Leaving only the friendliness and casual atmosphere in its wake.
“Come on now. I imagine you won’t trust me completely, but at the very least take it easy and rest up a little bit. You’ve earned it after reaching the Dawn, after all.”
Ayuen shook her head. “We cannot afford to take that kind of luxury. A companion of ours was left outside. For all we know, he’s bleeding out now and needs our help.”
Hod looked at her, seemingly thinking for a moment before nodding. He then closed his eyes and furrowed his brows in apparent focus. The old man let out a soft hum and drew a slow circle in the air with his right hand. Ayuen looked at the gesture, frowning and wracking her brain for information. Nothing. She had no clue what the man was doing. Could very well be summoning a giant chicken here. After a couple of seconds, Hod stopped humming, opening his eyes and nodding, smiling at her.
“Rove, correct? He will not bleed out, I can assure you. Although I cannot affect Lugon directly, I can direct things or creatures that are already there.” He explained. “The mist will not affect him for the time being. Your companion is safe, miss Ayuen.”
His smiling face shifted to a more serious expression. “Now, in exchange, I insist you hear me out for just a short while. After that, I will point you to what you seek and let you continue with your journey.” His tone became solid as stone, almost seeming to echo in her maid. She couldn’t do anything but gulp and obediently nod.
“Very well, then.” The poet said after regaining her tongue. “It would appear that we do not have any real choice in the matter anyway.”
“You always got a choice, miss. The question is... which is the better choice? Just know that Rove is safe. You have my word and promise.”
Furrowing her brow, Ayuen felt agitation, frustration and worry for the Herhor roil in her stomach. But the choice to go against Hod’s will didn’t seem the most intelligent of choices here.
“So what would you have us discuss, master Hod?”
The smile reappeared on Hod’s face as he beckoned them to step foot inside the tree-circle. Following his instructions, they curiously approached. As they rounded the wide trunk of one of the tall oak-like trees that made up the circle, Ayuen saw a couple of rough wooden chairs. The smell of fragrant black tea greeted her nostrils from a small clay pot on the ground. There were four chairs, exactly enough for the lot of them. A small roughly hewn table stood in the middle, four small clay cups waiting to be filled. Of course. She shouldn’t be surprised anymore. They had been expected. Hod waited until they were all seated, after which he sat down as well, pouring the four of them a hot cup of tea in clay cups. She had to admit, going by the smell, it was some high-quality tea. Savouring the aroma for a second, she carefully sipped from the hot liquid. It had a rich, herbal taste mixed in with the tea, reminiscent of cardamom and ginger, but with something more added to the mix to complicate the palate just that tiny bit more.
Letting out a breath, she put down the cup on her lap as the warmth from the drink spread through her body. Her tension flowed away, clearing up her mind and allowing her to think more calmly. When she looked up from her cup, she found Hod looking at her, one corner of his mouth curled up in that typically amused manner that she’d seen Rove do on occasion.
“See? Much better. Now, the topic of discussion is simple: Your reason for visiting my garden. What did you come here for?”
Ayuen blinked at this. Didn’t the man practically read their minds a moment ago?
“Weren’t you able to read our purpose when you observed our souls just now?”
He shook his head.
“Your names are a core part of your being, as are your feelings and passions. Even the surface of your thoughts I can gauge rather well. As for your precise purpose, I can only take educated guesses. Omnipotence is not something I possess, fortunately. Would drive any living being mad, including the Arals.”
“Fair enough. Seeing all this, I guess there’s no reason to deny your curiosity.”
“Well, if you don’t I won’t relinquish my ownership of the object of your desire. So please, do continue.”
Ayuen frowned into her tea, pursing her lips as she glanced at her companions. She saw Trïeste and Sneak looking at her too, curiosity sparking in their eyes. Having the full story wasn’t something she had spoken of to them.
It was time to come clean to them. They were in too deep anyhow. With a deep breath and another sip of tea, Ayuen began to tell them the full story.
[https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/876104022833127448/1107697582244900975/jeremy-bishop-EwKXn5CapA4-unsplash1.jpg]
By Jeremy Bishop, Unsplash, Unsplash Licence