Sanu Nepe’s Journal.
This day was equal parts pleasant and unpleasant in many ways. I had only just settled into a quiet sleep when the sounds of conversation and murmurs could be heard, strongly if distantly. It had expected that the others would notice the disappearance, and therefore thought nothing of it even if I wasn’t able to make it flow through me like empty wind. Once I awoke I found that neither Pipo nor Relino had gotten a hold of sweet sleep. I sighed and angrily murmured to them, “Oh please. The crowd will vanish soon enough, I reckon they ought to be checking for that child we sacrificed.” I yawned with drooping eyes and then continued, “Now go to sleep as well, young men. I don’t want you lot disturbing my sleep. The townspeople will surely do the same.” Due to receiving no response I said to them with great rage, “What are you two waitting for? Catch a hold of sweet sleep and let me do so as well.”
Quiet, peaceful quiet began to reign over the room as my mind slowly wrote the hateful noises which loudly flew outside as naught but ambience. But just as I was about to let my eyelids drop and fall under a tender embrace, Relino and Pipo looked at one another and soon began to whisper to each other. Perhaps they thought that I had already sunk to the realm of the dreamers, but every word they spoke clearly attached itself to my ears and wormed their way into my mind. I clenched my teeth and said to them, “You two are like a pair of wild hogs! It’s enough with the useless fools outside, must you fools ail me as well?” They looked at one another. Relino stood up only to bow before my resting frame and said to me, “Oh, revered father. Glorious master! Would you care to listen to our ideas? They’re but feeble questions, great master, ones you surely would see with ease.” Pipo added to his spiritual brother's words, “We won’t take very long.”
I used my hands to clench the coarse and a miserable blanket which covered me on this cold morning. Miserable thing, not even fit for becoming a sack of grain! To think I would fall to such wretchedness. Relino simply uttered, “Glorious Father?” I sighed and said to him in a brisk tone, “Make it quick.” Relino was the one who continued the conversation saying to me with words that deceitfully flew, even if they carried a tone of utmost sincerity, “We’ve simply been wondering. Do you not think that perhaps the people will react in some unexpected manner to our deed?” I interrupted him with a bitter tone. I was not in the mood to play such games, just because the two of them had the wonderful blessing of youth and good health didn’t mean everyone did. “What do you want? Just say it, I am not in the mood to play these games with you two.” Relino appeared unsure as to the course of action he should take and so Pipo was the one who continued, “Father. We think we ought to go out and observe the people.” Seeing my expressions of twisted rage he continued, “You can stay here sleeping. It’s been a while and the crowds haven't decreased. I think I can see a full fourth of the town from here!”
I clenched my teeth and angrily questioned both of them, “You two think you are very smart, eh?” I pointed at Pipo from within the hostile floor before pointing and saying to Relino, “Especially you, slimy serpent.” I shook my head as a tree is shaken by the galloping wind and continued, “You two want to sneak around eh? Maybe you’ll even consort with that demon and make plans behind my back. Ones you won’t tell me anything about. Foolish creatures, the both of you.” Yet, some logic was observed within the words that left both of them. Nowhere near as much as my glorious and sublime being possessed, of course, but inklings of truth were scattered in between seas of horrible putrid trash. The people hadn’t left and indeed, it seems I hadn’t quite taken into account the importance of the boy we sacrificed. I sighed and said to them both, “We will go and see what they do, the three of us. Leaving you alone so early in the morning, such an auspicious time, is not a good idea. I don’t think I could sleep with all of you useless lot lounging around.” I muttered to myself in a loud tone, in spite of myself, “I only picked the boy because his connection with you made him easy pickings. But it seems it cost me today's sleep. I should have taken my chances with some useless, more inglorious child.” Of course, the fact that the boy's father attributed to me the title of the laziest man in the whole town was part of my motivation. My gaze drifted to the both of them, “Well? Help me up.”
After uttering a quick thanks to me the two of them quickly moved to do such a thing and with their hefty muscles helped me to my feet. I looked through our slowly decaying basket of goods and took out a hat of straw, useful would it be later during the day. Relino moved the door, if that crumbling piece of old wood and rope could be called that, from its position with nothing more than a simple push, and dragged it to the side. My eyes darted around the vast settlement. The buildings stood like they always had, made of miserable adobe, nothing more than dirt and putrid straw. More of that straw covered all of the wretched buildings around this settlement, the only baked clay I saw was that used for the bases of buildings. The ones which held glory by this place's miserable standards. Miserable people, the kind that wallowed in their own repugnant waste. They couldn’t see beyond it. Their miserable temple was tiny yet towered above the other buildings. The settlement wasn’t even properly walled with a wooden wall. Only scattered fences around individual homes and properties.
Such thoughts swirled rhythmically within my mind as we walked towards the source of the commotion. The very greatest commotion was centered around Qisigus home, with the thatch hole in its roof. People crowded around the door, something I found amusing as I whispered to both of the young men with me, “Look at how they gather,” I chuckled brightly, “like starving dogs around a corpse!” I kept chuckling to myself for some time, cut sharply by a voice saying,
“Relino!”
Running towards us came Qasipeqi. I recognized him, he was a friend of Relino, or at least what that serpent made known about himself. Who knows if he wasn’t simply toying with the young man and using him the way I used the two of them. It was thanks to him that we had a connection to that boy Miraqu Leme. Without him, his cousin wouldn’t have died. Such thoughts made me chuckle to myself within my glorious mind . Relino smiled upon seeing him and they greeted one another with a hug, relino joyfully replying, “Qasi!” I interrupted them and asked the fifteen year old, “Young man, what is causing so much trouble? It stirred me from my sleep, which displeased me. Quite a bit my dear fellow.” My voice was proudly the shining emblem of sincerity. Who could proclaim himself greater than me, sublime wonder that I was. The young man nodded and responded with a pained expression, “Oh! It is a most horrible thing. It pains me to talk about it. Even thinking about it isn’t exactly pleasant!” He looked around instead of responding, eyes wandering to multiple places . Eventually, Qasipeqi said to me, “Oh! I don’t suppose you’ve had breakfast. How about I bring you something to eat, food always makes grim tales far more palatable.” Pipo and Relino looked at me for a moment to judge my response. They didn’t entirely lack wit, I suppose.
It was clear to me the son of that arrogant man Juja wished to prolong the conversation. Run around these troubles. No matter, what was a hundredth of a day to me? What was life if I did not entertain at least some pleasures of the flesh, those the Emperor, the world spirit, instilled into the very frames of every being. I smiled, a shining emblem of kindness and said to the young man, “Please do young man, we are utterly famished. Although by the looks of it, quite a ruckus was stirred here! Forgive my blatant curiosity, but it can’t be contained.” The young man smiled in a grim and forced manner before saying, “Oh, you don’t know the half of it! My uncle appeared utterly livid.” He chuckled before continuing, “Why, if I didn’t abhor that beast so, I’d almost feel bad for that mocking demon! Qisigu will surely make her suffer! I’d love to tear that hideous beast apart, she taunted me before. But now, well, now she holds my hatred.” He appeared full of the utmost confidence and joy when uttering such words. Pipo and Relino faltered for simply a moment in the most slight manner, one which none but I who had brought them up from mere crawling things would’ve noticed.
Relino looked at me briefly and then confidently said, as more of an assertion than a question, “I’ll go with him, to help.” I was bitter at the way he defied my authority but kept a face of utmost benevolence, a bright beacon, and said calmly, “Good, good. Be back soon though, I’m dying to know every single detail. What every single person thinks. That’s what interests me most.” The young men nodded at me and went off. I stayed with Pipo and looked at the bright sun as he rose across the beautiful blue skies, herds of vibrant clouds galloping alongside him. I said to him, greatest of shades, a mere mutter that even I could barely make out, “Great Emperor. See the entertainment I provide to you. Make my ancestors smile upon this endeavor.” I even dared to joke with the great being, I think the blessings in my spirit are enough to mark me a glorious being, “it will not be good to you if all my intellect, all my talent you so earnestly instilled in me, goes to waste.”
Of course, the greatest of shades and master of spirits didn’t respond with words. He would answer in actions, perhaps he already was in the process of doing so. Pipo appeared primarily uninterested in the meandering chats of the people around us. I listened to them all, but none of them proved themselves of interest, I never could bother to remain in firm attention for long. It took me some time to notice but it appeared the young man entertained himself by looking at an anthill with its crawling beasts. I rolled my eyes and said to him in a furious tone , “Quit that! What do you even find so entertaining about those wretched creatures!” He stood up straight yet looked down shamefully. Before he could respond, Relino arrived accompanied by Qasipeqi. The food they brought with them brightened my spirits greatly and my mouth parted into a smile, a genuine one this time.
Qasipeqi nodded and smiled, giving the cloth bag filled with food to me, of high quality by this place's wretched standards. He smiled and said to us all in an agreeable tone, “It’s all yours!” I devoured the bread with quick haste, barely even uttering thanks to the young man. It wasn’t quite as good as the bread sold in bakeries at my beautiful home city, but it was far better than the course nourishment I’d grown used to. Qasipeqi rudely whispered to Relino, telling him a bad and utterly disrespectful excuse of a joke, “Your father acts as though he is starving! Someone ought to tell him there is more than plenty of flesh on his frame.” My teeth grew clenched yet I refrained from saying anything as I picked up cheese and stuffed it into my mouth. Relino appeared altogether uncertain of what he should say and so simply shrugged instead of making any assertive comments. He then handed me a gourd full of some kind of awful weak corn alcohol once I made the gestures with my rough hands.
I left a far smaller quantity of food to give to Pipo, who nonetheless eagerly said, “Thank you, father.” As he consumed it I made a pleasant smile towards Qasipeqi and said to him, “Why, young man, tell me, is all of this occurring.” I pointed towards the people who were still present like vultures, observing everything around the woods as those birds do rotten corpses. I chuckled and pleasantly said to the young man, “This bunch of wrangly goats can’t speak anything clearly, they’re confused and unsteady. But I did manage to wrangle out that old Miraqu Leme has perished from my eavesdropping.” I thought nothing of such words.
Qasipeqi attempted and failed to hide his emotions. He looked down at the floor, with its sparse weeds and the drying earth, soon to be watered by the galloping clouds. Through pain and hints of rage he uttered, “We don’t know that.” I said to him in a confused manner, for even my sublime mind isn’t immediately in its thoughts, “Pardon?” He calmed himself greatly and said to me with all rage banished from his voice, “Sorry. We don’t know if my cousin is dead yet. Let us hope the good Lord hears our prayers and keeps the poor boy safe..” I nodded, entirely uninterested about this people's moronic religion. Still, I knew that I had to learn more. I pleasantly questioned the young man, “Indeed, but tell me more about what happened. I especially want to know about the people who were affected by this truly dreadful crime, I don’t imagine your father would be unaffected by this either.” Upon seeing the quick expression on his face I produced a farce of guilt and said, “Ah,forgive my questions. But people need some way to be entertained! Forgive my wretched being.”
Qasipeqi took some time but he soon attempted to remain proud and dignified. He responded to me, “That is so. You should’ve seen it, the festivities had just ended and we were going ‘round when-.” he once more trailed off and nodded towards Relino before saying to him in a high spirited manner, “it is a shame you and our family can’t go to such events, it was even more glorious than usual.” As if remembering something he mentioned, “Oh! I knocked over the cross in which my grand-uncle was crucified! It was glorious, we made it eat dirt.” Both Pipo and relino chuckled with him. The three of them noticed the impatience which briefly flashed across my face as I mindlessly said, “Indeed, Indeed.” The young man truly was a master at meandering.
He once more whispered, and in a way that left me unsure whether he desired that I hear or not. He murmured, “He’s as addicted to gossip as my mother! Ha!” to Pipo and Relino who more avidly whispered words I couldn’t catch, even with much effort. I pretended not to hear, and I am entirely sure that I achieved the utmost success in this. With increasing difficulty he continued to utter an explanation, his voice utterly wracked with pain, “It was dreadful, Qisigu cried and went inside his house like a broken man.” He continued and asked heaven, “Who wouldn’t? We can't even tell if he’s dead or not.” In an attempt to ensure the young man didn’t lose, I continued, and said to him in an offhand and calm manner, “Indeed, uncertainty has a fear of its own. Back in my hometown, children disappeared all the time.” I scratched my lips to remove some pieces of cheese which remained attached to me. “I barely remember my mother-that’s what age does to a man-but I do remember she never quite accepted that her firstborn had died.” I chuckled, “And who knows? Perhaps he wasn’t devoured; perhaps he got sold into slavery by one of the wandering bands. Names of tribes change, but those folk are the same in all the lands.” Personally, I found it more likely that vampires had dragged him into their dens and feasted on him, those fearsome winged fiends. But who can truly tell, other than he who is both the sun and the moon, the emperor and the world spirit at the same time. Other than he, no one.
My words had an unintendedly grand effect on Qasipeqi. He appeared unsure as to how to respond to me. I still struggle to see how these words have any such effect; I expected mild comfort at most. But regardless, it prompted him to speak so I can’t find any fault in my glorious being; as is to be expected of myself. “But anyways,” he continued with increasing strength, “uncle Qisigu didn’t remain idle. He emboldened himself, you should have seen him!” His eyes turned dreamy for a moment, “He’s not my favorite uncle but he was a positively glorious man today! My father accompanied him to the forest to hunt that demon. I am positively sure it will suffer, even more since we can’t truly kill it!” I nodded and said to all present, “So that’s what’s happened, eh?” Despite my internal joy at the fact that the venture was such an abject success, a testament to my status as the greatest beacon of the human race, I made my face into a look of abject sympathy. I repeated, “Ah, well, so that's what occurred.” I dug into my mind to reach for the half-remembered pieces of theology from the scarce hearings of the pieces of writings of foolishness that people considered scripture. “Well, I am sure the good Lord will deliver punishment in due time.”
Before I could bask in the depths of my own sublime and perfect mind we heard the sound of a fearsome horn gallop between the buildings and through the air like agile birds. I annoyedly said to them all, “What’s occurred now, has another child been eaten? Why do they trouble everyone with all this?” Qasipeqi looked at me with a face of utmost arrogance that made me desire nothing more than having sacrificed him to Huse Napsa rather than his cousin. Would’ve made my acolytes more respectful. Regardless, he calmed himself and said to me, “Sugihu is calling us-” I interrupted him with great speed, “Who is he calling, why now at this precise moment?” Pipo and Relino seemed nervous at seeing my abject rage at that. Qasipeqi, without thinking, responded cuttingly with great fierceness in his voice, “It does not matter. We will see when we go. If he calls, we answer. All of us.” He appeared rather guilty at having ordered me about, and soon said with what counted as politeness in this accursed land, “I am terribly sorry for speaking to you in such a-”
I interrupted the young man briskly, “What does it matter? Let's just go, I’m halfway curious as to what that man has to say at any rate.” We walked alongside many others towards the center of the settlement, as the streets of dirt turned into the central cobbled stone, adobe and thatch being omnipresent in all places. The man stood on the great platform I had seen multiple times before. By how they thundered some nights I assumed they did some of this region's brutish and ungraceful dancing up there. Like wild beasts, they value the sound of it more than the movements themselves. Even that is wretched in this horrible stretch of land!
The man counted as fat by the region's miserable standard, although he was much less so than the people who taught me the hallowed and sacred art. I clenched my teeth as I remembered I possessed less flesh than the man, that I was worse fed than he. Such a thing was disgraceful, and wretched, another thing I had to deal with. The man smiled at the vast crowd, and began a meandering speech, “My people! Has a most treacherous fate not befallen us? That horrible, wretched, and most hateful demon has come! She is no longer content simply taunting us when we leave this settlement. No! she robs us of what we have. Our most precious flesh and blood! Horrible, horrible creature.” All agreed immediately, some hoots of victory being let fly. The man continued, “And yet, what are we doing? We sit here and remain idle, while my cousins try to find that horrible creature, and wretched being! Do you fools propose that is what we ought to do! Do we not hail from the fifth and most fierce tribe of all the Qinirehiso? Did our ancestors not fetch ten thousand skulls for their inglorious pagan deities in a single war?”
All in the crowd once more let out victorious hoots of agreement towards them. Sugihu continued his speech, his face transformed into a horrible expression of abject rage, “I say we go and destroy, and find that terrible creature. We can’t destroy her spirit, but we will make it wish she was nothingness! So thoroughly will we tear apart her wretched flesh!” Once more hoots of victory rebounded from the audience, including from Qasipeqi. The horn was blown once more and the crowds only increased. It almost seemed as if the temple would be drowned in a sea of people,so much of the town's population had to be gathered there. A man in the crowd, an old one whom I recall was the one who sold me chickens earlier in the previous day who was now accompanied by a rather young woman. The two looked much alike as she helped him stand up, acting as a stick for him. He screeched out with great fury, “Horrible creature, Huse Napasa! What are we waiting for, let us go and destroy her, even if with sticks and with stones. I remember when I was a little child; the adults drove off that false idol with nothing more. Her flesh is flesh, no matter what its spirit may be, and she can feel pain!”
Sugihu looked at the crowd with joy. I stood in the corner, with utmost ambivalence. It was always funny to see how the crowd was stirred to such action by mere empty wind. Nobody argued otherwise, as debates went back home. It would’ve been had the noise not been so great and annoying, a rolling sea of sound. One child from within the crowd launched a question, one which was not heard. Sugihu made a move with his hands and the crowd felt silent in an astoundingly short amount of time. He smiled at the young thing and asked it even as its mother had just moved to make it keep quiet. He said to it in a questioning tone, “What did you ask, boy. Now, don’t be shy.” The child let some words fly, “But how will we find that demon? Please sir, I don’t quite understand! ” Sugihus mouth parted into a wide smile, proud and arrogant, “Ah! Such is just the thing which I wished to talk about next!”
He raised his hands and said to them all, “My people! Since it is my own blood who was stolen by that horrible demon, I think it is the entrails of one of my animals whose blood should guide the way. Bring my prized bull, that we may receive an Omen from the good Lord.” Qasipeqi raised his hand, alongside a multitude of others. Upon seeing that he proclaimed, “All who wish may go: more hands are always useful!” I whispered to both of them, “Why don’t you two go as well? It ought to be useful to know the layout of his home. Go.” The group of scattered people, young and old went with great speed. I remained there as the man kept making more meandering speeches. Nothing of worth, simply fodder to keep the fire he lit burning.
Soon enough, the group of people came over bringing the fierce bull with much difficulty. It was truly a fearsome creature, muscles rippling underneath its dark hide with long and straight horns. I will admit, it reminded me of all the creatures I beheld as they were speared to death in the grand arena, my breath almost left me. Seeing such a glorious beast in this miserable place was strange. Sugihu had prepared a gun, a decent-looking one made of wood with a straight wrought iron barrel. He loaded it with black powder and lit the match in the center. He uttered a loud prayer, “May the good Lord make good work of this grand spirit, this mighty beast. May this sacrifice make him smile upon us!” I ought not write more, the beast lay dead without as much struggle as those which were speared as the blood and life left it with astounding quickness. Even more people gathered to make short work of it. Its intestines were removed and all manner of it was seen. Sugihu made some mathematics with some papers he brought up, loudly proclaiming to loud cheers words which I am sure few there understood. It wasn’t much, simply some mathematics based on the movements of the stars. Once Pipo came over to me, returning, I said to him, “Ah, you’ve returned. I ought to say to you, I am surprised by the accuracy of the mathematics and constellations. I never dreamed that these feeble people knew more than counting with their fingers.” The acolyte looked to me, nodded and with less skill than his brother uttered, “Of course father.”
The man soon proclaimed, “I know where we ought to go, may the good Lord guide us! By the fat on this beast's intestine and the shining of the stars.” They all yelped in abject joy, and in utter happiness at receiving words from him. All were eager and they said to the man, “Tell us, tell us, when can we go!”The man chuckled and said to them, “Easy now, come to us any among you who has a spear, horses and dogs! Come with us, come and prepare yourselves for we ought to ride to face the vile demon!” They all yelled in joy and soon enough all of sufficient wealth went to bring objects of their own homes with their own goods and weapons. Qasipeqi stopped for a moment to say to Relino, “Pray for me! Oh, I hope I get to stab that demon. Preferably in the eye!” Relino and Pipo sent their regards, expertly hiding any trace of discomfort they still had, “Of course, I’ve no doubt you’ll spill much of her blood!” He smiled and nodded to the both of them befores setting off running to wrangle his fathers horses.
I was with the crowd when a menagerie of people gathered to bring forward a fearsome amount of weapons and guide a great number of beasts. They rode on horses and wielded spears, I even beheld the same shining arquebus in the hands of fierce Sugihu. It brought back horrible memories of our previous failure. How we survived that, I attribute to the will of the divine. I soon said to Pipo and Relino, “I’ll return to our dwelling place. You two stay where people can see you; I don’t want any of you running off to talk to spirits. But at least it's a less auspicious time.” Not my best choice, but I was simply so awfully tired. My body craved sweet sleep above all others things and it wouldn’t befit me to act in an undignified manner.
Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more.
…
Chapter from the Chronicles of Kujumanacali.
And so fearsome Sugihu prepared himself with a vast menagerie of people.The supreme and exalted Lord, great and wonderful that he is, made the path clear to the people of the town. Sugihu, shepherd of the people, guided them fiercely as they walked through the gaping woods. He said to those who followed him cheerfully, “Don't’ be quiet! Let us humm a tune as we go to aid our brethren and destroy that horrible beast!” Soon the galloping notes were sent, up alongside the galloping winds and the endless combats of the screaming cicadas and the competitive crickets.
They continued in between the powerful trees, Sugihu recognizing some landmarks from the times when he hunted wild game in the dark woods. They beheld graceful birds up above, looking down and judging them from all sides. The man led the people, guided himself by the calculations he had made based on the bulls intestines and the movements of the stars. He proudly proclaimed to the woods, dark even in the bright light of the hateful sun, “Fearsome demon! I know you are watching us; but know that we will continue no matter if many of us fall.” He smirked, “The good Lord protects us all! If not our bodies, then our spirits.” Hoots of agreement came from the group as they continued on as dogs helped lead the way.
So they continued their ride for some more time, they didn’t go in circles or around the land, but rather in a straight line. They left vast amounts of areas without anything more than a cursory check as they continued with powerful horses bringing them around, fierce and powerful beasts. They heard a great cry of joy, putting them all on alert. Sugihus mouth quickly parted into a benevolent if troubled smile as he beheld the man running toward them, suffering no deadly injury. He only had a vast amount of drying scratches with some dark blood oozing from them, “Cousin! It is good to see you, the stars and the intestines didn’t hide the truth or fail to obtain the good lord's favor! But where is your brother, where is Qisigu?”
Juja took some moments to speak, only letting out nervous mutters. Sugihu said to him in a brisk and harsh tone, “Juja! Respond when someone asks a question. Don’t let your nerves get the better of you! You are human; do not falter down like a wet leaf.” Juja soon spoke something which could be understood, “You are right, you are right.” After some more breaths he said, “Oh, I am worthless trash!” Murmurs were heard from the crowd of both the young and the old gathered on their steeds. Sugihu snarled at them and with a great shout said to them, “Quiet! By all the Qese Rilu, you all sound like old women with your murmurs. Learn to listen before you speak.” He looked to his cousin and said to him, “Speak, Juja. We will listen. Explain every detail.”
Juja took some breaths and finally let out words, brisk and fragile yet lengthy, “I will speak. We looked through every place, leaving not one stone unturned or branch without moving. We found the boy.” He gulped and prepared to continue as the people gathered grew extremely curious. Only by divine aid did they not let words fly. “He is dead. Dead as any rock, oh, it was the most horrible sight!” Only with the strength his departed father had imparted into him through the force of a hundred punishments did he keep tears from leaking from his eyes, “He, well, his bones were laid bare of flesh and hung upon a tree with horrible marks on his white bones, oh but that isn’t even the half of it! It got even more dreadful!”
In spite of the words previously uttered some nameless voices from within those gathered said, “What could that be?”, “More dreadful than the desecration of the dead!”. Once more Sugihu yelled to all of them as a shepherd does his sheep when they stray from the path, “Quiet, useless fools! Continue on.” Juja took some time to rebuild his strength yet continued, “The demon appeared. I didn’t pay much attention to her dreadful, dreadful mocking words but she stoked the anger of my brother. I think she may be Huse Napsa, that dreadful being. She matches both your descriptions and that of our forefathers.” Sugihu nodded and ignored the expressions on his followers' faces as he said, “We were certain of ourselves.” Juja continued with only a single quiver, “It let out the most horrible noises, ones which feel like scorpions crawling on one's back. My horse ran off and I hid behind a tree like a quivering child!”
He let out a nervous chuckle and soon continued, “What more worthless brother has this world ever seen? Oh, if only my father were alive, how furious and disappointed he would be! Oh, look, even my son sees me like this!” He chuckled once more, “What a horrible laugh!” By this point Sugihu was certain his cousin would begin crying, yet only by sheer force of will Juja continued with that mockery of composure, “I am six years his elder, yet how do I act! Like a screaming child-”Sugihu grabbed the man by the hair in a most painful manner and firmly said to him, “Enough of that! Do you think your cries help Qisigu? What is done is done, the past can’t be changed! Learn from it, as the great Saint instructed us and let us vanquish this horrible threat, stand strong before it!” He snarled towards the gathered populace and said to them all, “Someone cede their horses to this man! He is still of a glorious bloodline! Don’t any of you dare forget that!”
Emboldened by such words, multiple people got off their horses, furiously arguing. Qasipeqi’s voice tore through the rest, “He ought to ride this horse; It is his in the end.” A somewhat older man than he, of about thirty years of age and from a good bloodline said to the young man, “Foolishness! Precisely for that reason he ought not ride that horse; what this moment calls for is a sacrifice. Of course a son ought to sacrifice for his father, the good lord sees that a thousand times over!” Another man, of about fifty years of age said to him, “You both are fools! Your steeds are worth nothing. Now this fine horse of mine is descended directly from that great saint saved from the gaping maw of death and brought from far away! Mine he ought to take.” Sugihu once more said to all of them, “What are you, little children? If you ought not come to a civilized agreement, I will choose it for you!” He took an acorn from one of his pockets with his dark brown hand, one he left behind long before and entirely forgot about. He threw it to the dark woods at an upwards angle as the wind moved it. “There, the old man will be the one to cede his horse. Share a horse with the second one to speak.”
He ignored the man's cries saying, “I am in no way old-” and looked to his cousin. He said to him, “Have you come to your senses? You are of no use to anyone as a shrivelled mess.” While still clearly spoked the man nodded after climbing onto the good horse and said to him. “I have, thank you. I’ll guide you to the bones; we can search for my brother from there.” Sugihu nodded and proudly said to all present, “Remember it could’ve been worse! The spirit could’ve hollowed out the child of its soul and moved around its living corpse like it does to so many beasts. We ought to mock Kabam for her foolishness and praise the good Lord for his wisdom and cunning.” Nods and a few stray hoots of victory were heard, even if they did not remain for very long. It was hard to feel victorious in such a situation, whose horror weighed horribly on all of their minds.
The rest of the journey was silent as they reached the place where the child had perished, the place where its bones were hanged like a mere ornament. It was a most dreadful sight. Upon seeing it some people in the crowd began to let out gaps or curses. Sugihu began to sing a hymn to Manacali, precious son of Culiqaque and greatest of the seven wandering stars. He would be the one to guide the spirit of the child to the heavens and protect his tree as it grew. Others soon joined him as they continued on their wretched task. The bones were stored within cloth bags. Sugihu said to the vast amount of dogs with them, “Search, search you beasts! Make yourselves useful as the lord intended you to work. You should get the scent from here!”
The dogs did not argue against this, preparing and helping beasts that they were. Great creations made to eagerly serve humanity just as humanity was meant to serve grand Culiqaque. They continued, the dogs stopping once they beheld a pigeon, struck through the heart by a fearsome crossbow bolt. From its corpse thin black tendrils oozed out, like the roots of a horrible tree. It was left clear to all present the demons were truly involved in this horrible situation. Sugihu knew he needed to inspire the peoples spirits and therefore smiled before saying to those present, “That ought to be him, it is just his style. He wouldn’t submit to that horrible being!” Nods and hoots of agreement resounded in a matter either nervous or furious from those gathered. Juja nodded and whispered where only his cousin was able to hear, “If only I could be a tenth as brave as him.” Sugihu exhaustedly said to him, “Enough of that!”
They continued for some time, the dogs leading them through forking paths as they continued. They caught a glimpse of greater numbers of flapping birds, slithering snakes, and even wretched canines and birds that crawled as tall as half a man. From all places eyes stared back at them. Qasipeqi asked all present, “Are they?” Sugihu said to him in a somber manner, “Most likely. Horrible creature. We ought not waste time, it is not too late to fight it. It is not a deity; it is not invincible.” He whispered only to himself, “I didn’t expect it to control such a vast array of creatures.” Yet he kept those thoughts entirely to himself. So they continued, everybody present eager for battle, particularly Qasipeqi and those immediately behind him judging by the way they held their fearsome spears.
As they heard the sounds of distant words Sugihu urged his horse to gallop with a kick. Even the weak kick was enough to get them the beast to push itself, others soon resounding as the dogs struggled to keep up. All were prepared to face the creature, no matter any fear that lurked within their hearts.
End of Excerpt from the Chronicles of Kujumanacali
…
Sanu Nepe’s journal
I’d come out to take a nap under a public trees shade, more pleasant than that of straw or adobe, when the group returned. They looked worn but not much more than a hunting party, not like the wandering soldiers I had beheld multiple times in my life. Wretched men, they always cut open even the beds to obtain meager objects. Nowhere near as scruffed, as starving, or as dishonorable. The great spirits of their ancestors didn’t appear to rage in such a manner as those of such men did, it was clear to me they didn’t outright face a single spirit in a direct manner.
It was the first time I saw that wretched Qisigu in a while. I hadn’t been able to behold him when he first discovered the wretched fate I imparted upon his spawn. He's a horrible man, one who made everyone know me as being made up of naught but slothful laziness . Much to my displeasure he carried himself with strength and pride, not the broken husk I wished to find. Even more curiously enough, Qasipeqis father appeared far more shaken than the man whose son I slaughtered. That Juja shook as a young tree being toyed around by the galloping winds. They continued walking wordlessly to the town center even as many others took the horses back to their stables, good creatures who seemed like they could be made into a worthy meal. A few gathered to watch and I heard whispers resounding; the fire had been rekindled to life without a single word.
I muttered to myself, “Where are Pipo and Relino when I need them? Oh well.” I brought myself up using the tree upon whom I had rested for shade. I clenched my teeth in rage due to the weakness of my aging joints. As a note, I ought to begin my plans to ascend as a Lich once I secure a steady source of wealth from the ignorant townspeople. Embezzling funds shouldn’t be too hard once I bring forth a glorious spirit to speak for me and ensnare their minds. I dusted myself off and moved myself to the center of the town, what with its cobbled stones and its wooden platform, with the fearsome tree of that old man this people considered a saint.
A great deal of people were there, gathered just when the sun began to go downwards on its path. I met up with Pipo and Relino and proudly said to them both, “I trust you two only performed sensible deeds while I was away, eh?” Both responded with, “Of course, of course.” We were silenced once more by the sound of the vibrant and powerful horn. The one to speak was Qisigu, who said to them all with a strong tone, consciously absent of any great emotion, “My people, fellow prized creations of the Lord of all things! My son has indeed perished.” Marks of sympathy came from the people, their hands raised in the symbol of passing and funerary rites, what counted for them in this miserable and horrible land. They know nothing of proper necromantic rituals for the disposition of the dead.
“It is clear that a terrible demon is upon us. I spoke with her and remained firm; I can say she is none other than the dreadful Huse Napsa. No doubt can exist about that.” The elders of the town appeared tainted with terrible, terrible fear. Qisigu nodded and with strength continued, “We’ve heard hunters talk to us about terrible demons; but from my own talks I can say its identity has finally been confirmed. She told me what she wants as well.” The crowd appeared greatly curious as Qisigus lips were bent as galloping winged words left him once more with nothing but the most abject hatred and disgust, “Worship. That is what that demon desires, she thinks so little of us that it thinks we will go back to groveling and offering sacrifices to it! Us who know the truth of the cosmos!” The man clenched his dreadful hands. The crowd responded favorably to him, hoots of agreement resounding from the fierce crowd.
Qisigu continued speaking, not halting the flow of his arrogant words, “But I’ve much trust in you. All of you. Who will bow down to that horrible being?” And the crowd was sunk in silence, the sounds of crickets overshadowing the words of men. The dreadful man smiled and said with increasing force, to the point it seemed like a parent furiously reprimanding his child, “Even if it destroys all our crops, even if it sends locusts to eat our roofs and clothes, even if it attacks us with swarms of flying scorpions. No matter what, we will never give up and never surrender! Praised be the good Lord, praised be the great saint, praised be the all-powerful Qese Rilu! Praised be the souls that serve them!” Great hoots of victory resounded from the populace, similarly pleased and in agreement with the horrible if fearsome man. I would need to deal with him later on if I was to take control; that is, if I didn’t sink him down to the realm of the dead. The spirit I would make would be supreme in reasoning; but who knows if this man could be constrained by such a thing. He was like this even though I reduced his son to a mere shade. I am sure either thing would be easy once I finished my project.
I wonder. All those people scream praises and fealties to their wretched deities and to their mortal leaders. But how many of them would truly follow them, to face the grim maw of death? I can attest from my own failed gamble, words mean nothing. Nothing at all; actions are the only things of weight. Regardless, it seemed Qisigu had said all he wanted. He moved back on the platform, stiff as a soldier. His wretched cousin, Sugihu, came up and began to speak, “But enough about such horrible creatures, such grim tales! Do not forget; The grim demon Qejonu is dead! His bodies are now rotting bones beneath the ground, he of the ten thousand crosses is vanquished!” Juja was the one to finish the conversation, “We’ve still much to celebrate; we’ve still plenty of time before we see the blessed father. Let us host the games of the bones! We’ve plenty from the rituals last night.”
The crowd once more let out hoots of glory and agreement. Relino appeared prepared to begin one of his meandering speeches I'd instructed him in. I groaned loudly and briskly said to him, “Enough about that. What do you want, you useless wretch?” Relino didn’t react in any way to my words, damned be his expert control over his own face. He asked with politeness, “Father, we would like to participate in the games. We’ve done so before, most glorious and exalted father. I ask for permission.” I shook my head, and continued, “You don’t ever have enough, eh? Fine, I suppose your friend invited you already.” By the most miniscule movement on his face I knew that, as is to be expected from me, I was completely correct, “Fine. Go, go and act like a beast.” Once they were moving to leave, joy evident on their faces, I murmured to myself “Feeble creatures. Do they just delight in the feeling of blood spurting off their nose, of their knees being roughly scraped by the black earth?.”
I spent the next hour, perhaps two, stenographically recording the basics for the spirit I was to bring forth. Time vanished underneath my passion. I was proved correct soon enough when Qasipeqi and Pipo practically dragged Relino to me, blood through his nose and limping from one foot. The wounds didn’t go down to the bone, or even too deep into his warm flesh. They appeared already patched up in this peoples crude methods. “This is what you so desire, eh young man.” I chuckled as I shook my head, “all of you are hopeless.” Perhaps in some vain attempt to establish greater prestige for his friend Qasipeqi spoke in this land's excuse for politeness ignoring my critique of the game , “He played well, helped his team win a pair of games. But the stars were not aligned for his continued victory-” I interrupted him, as did lot of elders when it comes to their younger counterparts, “And yet here he stands, flesh torn and blood clearly having left him.” I said to the annoyingly blanked faced Relino, “You better not be held down by it! You’ll leave to your brother all your responsibilities?” I quickly remarked to Qasipeqi, with utmost pity, “You ought to learn to stop talking back to your betters.”
That was enough to sink the young man into deep guilt. Relino quickly made to defend himself by setting aside the others and standing proudly in spite of the pain. He appeared pained yet continued, “Of course not. It is not as if this is the first time it happened. My sublime father, you have imported to me endurance in body and mind.” I wasn’t his father by blood, but the words pleased me. Qasipeqi appeared somewhat ashamed and simply said, “In any case, I hope you feel better by tomorrow my friend. Your wounds don’t seem too deep. But infection…” Relino said to him with haste and joy, “Don’t worry, all this isn’t much. I’ve no fear of infection, really.” Qasipeqi looked as though he remembered something and said, “Really, you played like a beast on the field.” He granted the young man some bones, by the look of it coming from a pig's wrist and a rooster's skull. “That’s your prize. You’ve been improving too!” Relino laughed and said to him, “Truly you flatter me.” Qaspeqis face turned into something which blurred the lines between what is serious and what is jest. “It is a shame you didn’t have the means to march with us against that demon! But I don’t think my father would be pleased if I lended horses to others.” Relino, wishing to continue the conversation with that young man, spoke with his own hopeful words, “Ah yes, about that, speak to us all about that. Don’t leave us hanging!” He chuckled and said, “Did you get to stab her in the eye as you so desired.”
Even I was brought into their conversation at that moment. “Yes,” I said to him in a pleasant and agreeable tone, “I would quite like to know how that went. Your uncle was rather sparse on the details. He appeared more focused on emboldening everyone's loyalty.” Qasipeqi didn’t appear much pleased, even though his anger wasn’t directed at us. He kicked the tree, a tiny amount of its thick bark flying off. “Truly, I didn’t get to do much. It is a shame.” He looked up towards the sun with a hateful look, “The grief when I beheld my cousin's bones laid out on a tree like a meal doll was…well, I can’t describe it” His face turned emotional and both Pipo and Relino expressed sympathy while expertly hiding their guilt, “I didn’t think he’d die so soon.” He sighed and whispered to himself, “We all thought the most dangerous part was over. I didn’t even get to say goodbye.” I offhandedly remarked, “Few do.” He only gave a silent nod as a response.
He turned his head to one side, “Indeed, if the others weren’t there I’m rather sure I’d have charged blindly as my uncle did.” All remained silent, even I knew the value of silence even if I cared nothing for the grief the young man showed. Sympathy was rather counterproductive, and I had long since hammered that flaw away from my being. Relino responded as best he could, “All we can do is stand strong against that, ah, horrible creature. Wretched demon. May we not falter” He added after a moment, “I am certain you won’t, Qasi.” Qasipeqi nodded and let out a smile towards him, “I am sure you and your family won’t either. You are strong in spirit, that I know.” I will admit Relino and even Pipo did a good job hiding their guilt while there was nothing at all for me to hide. As people called him back, Qasipeqi spoke quickly and repeated, “I hope your recovery is quick!” And soon, as a flash of lightning, he vanished from our sight.
The young man went back to the game. I turned to face Pipo and arrogantly said to him, “What about you? Do you also desire continued probability of having your feeble frame damaged.” He simply responded to me without great emotion, “No, it was a pleasant game though. In spite of what happened to Relino.” The three of us sat there for some time, as I stenographically recorded my journal and my outlines for the spirit. It is best to make good use of the light of day, a gift from the glorious and precious sun. They exchanged meaningless chatter. I stood up as the light began to fade and journeyed back to our miserable settlement soon enough, “Come with me, I’ve grown bored of observing these feeble fools injure themselves.” As I walked back I ranted out to them my own glorious thoughts, “Truly I fault to grap why anyone would ever delight in such games. There were some like them in our homeland, I don’t suppose you remember.” I shook my head and remarked, “ I hated them too”
Once we reached the dwelling place I laid my back on the cruel adobe walls, by this point cooling due to the waning light of the sun. Even from here I could hear the resounding sounds of the horn as people received the last talisman bones. Useless trinkets that people have, not even properly mummified. I threw the small bones that he’d received into the basket and sighed. I said to them, “Prepare a meal, I am absolutely famished. Be quick, I am not feeling particularly patient today.” Both of them nodded and responded, “Of course, of course.” I rolled my eyes and rested on the walls, slowly falling asleep in spite of the residual sounds ringing in my ears.
I was shaken awake by Pipo, or at least pulled from my state that blurred the line between the world of those who wake and those who dream. “I got your message the first time, foolish young man,” I snarled as he shook me repeatedly, “There is no need to shake me like a sack of potatoes. Show more respect.” Pipo bowed and said to me, “Of course, please forgive me. The food is ready.” I grumbled as I stood up and moved over to the places where the food was served on miserable plates of baked clay, “Hunger is the best sauce. Perhaps even this will taste good with how we've been fasting through this day.” A part of me mentally noted that it was nothing compared to when we wandered away from that wretched city.
I was proven entirely incorrect as I consumed the coarse fare of some amaranth gruel mixed with watery beans and a few feeble tortillas. I shook my head as I ate, “A wretched meal, is this not? Horrible, coarse. I am thankful for the shades of my ancestors. It won't be too long until these wretched people bow to me.” I shook my head, “Truly, everyone in this whole town will be made better. When has a greater mind than mine ever existed?” Proving himself not entirely devoid of brain matter, his skull not entirely hollow, Pipo spoke his useless thoughts. “It’s not quite too bad,” he said as we ate, “At least it is better than having nothing. We had too much of that four years ago.” Relino silently nodded in response, but stopped briskly once he saw the look on my face.
I clenched my teeth in great rage as I asked him, “Oh, you are feeling rather thoughtful today, aren’t you?” For a moment Pipo wasn’t sure of what the question was and continued without looking at my face, too focused on the useless meal, “I am not sure if I understand?” I let out a brisk smile, one which wasn’t pleasing to the eye, “Inane fool, you ought to make me believe you with that? You are attempting to claim my judgement is unsound.” He realized that he had inquired my just rage and therefore began to stumble over his words, “I didn’t mean to argue against you father; It was but a thought. Please, forgive me.” Before I could utter any other words Relino joined his fellow acolyte, his brother, and said to me with foolishness. Unlike the fool he knew what was going on, more able at reading faces and words was he, and arrogantly proclaimed, “Was he wrong?. This nourishment may be coarse, but it is plentiful. Truly, like the whole of this life. Rough, but not unbearable. Was it truly…?” His words faltered soon enough, his attempt at playing the brave one failed.
This incited my rage and great gnashing of teeth as I said to them with scarlet rage woven into my words, “What do any of you know? You were but useless children when we left that country. So what if this is better than the miserable fate we led after being chased out of that city like dogs.” I tossed the plate aside and said, “Hunger, the greatest sauce, makes this only palpable, not even slightly good! I know you are lousy cooks but even the greatest in that hallowed art would struggle with this.” Relino moved to speak but I said to him, “Now you, little lying scorpion, you are the last one who possesses the right of speech. Speaking with wild spirits behind my back, I am sure you are just waiting for me when I die! Now be quiet, finish your feeble meals and let us go to sleep once that is done. Perhaps that will make all of you think, truly think, again.”
Only nods of approval were sent my way as they finished emptying their plates. Once the coarse and miserable fare was consumed we each prepared for sleep. There were no fiery lights to turn off, only the glorious sun lit our path. I uttered a quick prayer to that being before the sun left the sky, before the moon rose up into the sky. They were the same being; what this barbarians thought mattered not. Such scornful thoughts filled my head before sweet sleep grabbed ahold of me.