With our deal finalized and the path forward clear, I lead the way up the incline of the tunnel and towards the light of the outside world. I occasionally glanced behind me at the giant serpent following along, head low to the ground as he slithered up the somewhat narrow passageway for someone his size. Even as familiar as I was with the sight of him at this point, it was still intimidating and set off a sort of instinctive reaction in my mind that made me want to run.
Fighting down that reaction, I instead paid attention to Soro’s expression, or at least the expressions that I could read on his otherwise alien features. His eyes said a lot. They didn’t stay focused on one spot for long, darting about like he was expecting something to leap at him from the shadows. It was understandable why he would be feeling that way after spending so long thinking that the world outside would kill him the moment he stepped into it.
The light from outside was starting to streak in from above, and I walked confidently out into the open. I stepped to the side of the entrance, giving the warden a glance and a quick nod to show my success. Turning around, I expected Soro to exit right after me, but the mouth of the tunnel was vacant for a solid minute.
Confused, I walked over and looked back down into the tunnel. A dim outline of Soro’s head was there, looking up at me and the sky beyond, but not moving. It was almost endearing to see such an intimidating and powerful figure so nervous about stepping into the sunlight. He needed a little extra push to traverse those last few meters.
I held out an open hand, not like I could pull him out, but it was the gesture itself that was important. “Come on Soro, it’s time for you to step into the light. Or, slither, I guess.” Wonderful, fell flat on my face with that one.
At the very least it seemed to have its intended effect as it made him focus on me instead of his worries. His eyes met mine for a moment before returning to the sky above. Cautiously, he slid forward, inching his way toward the light. I saw him wince slightly as the first rays of sunshine he’d probably felt in centuries hit his eyes. More of his body was illuminated by natural lighting by the second, and even the dull shade of brown that made up his scales seemed to become more vibrant as they were exposed to the open air.
I stepped back as he emerged, his body stretching upwards, above even some of the trees. The warden looked like a toddler at his side, making me feel even smaller somehow. Nothing was said as Soro scanned his surroundings, his head turning like a periscope as it surveyed the landscape around him. A shudder ran down his body as the wind picked up for a second.
“It’s cold,” he stated simply.
“It’s winter,” I replied. “Sorry I couldn’t come to you during the summer, but I can’t control the flow of events, no matter how much I want to.”
“It’s... fine. I just...” He took a deep breath, allowing the cold air to fill his lungs as it seemed to awaken him. “I don’t remember the last time I’d seen snow. It’s more beautiful than I thought.” He moved forward, his body sliding free from the cave and onto the snow. His breath hitched as the icy chill shot into his body, but he seemed to relish the sensation. I mean, if I’d spent a few centuries locked underground, I don’t think I would care about the temperature outside either.
The warden and I let Soro have his moment before the bundle of magic rocks decided to share a few words with their charge. “I am glad to see you outside again after these many long years.”
“Yes. To feel the sun on my scales again, even in this cold weather, fills me with memories and warmth that I could scarcely recall. I know not what may come, but I will endeavor to make the most of this.”
“That is wonderful to hear. I had feared that one day I would venture into your lair to find that you had passed in your sleep, having not achieved your long-desired goal.”
That made Soro halt in his admiration of the world and pay more attention to the warden. “Perhaps it was my own frustration, or arrogance, that hindered me, but I wished to be the one to save what was left of my people. The idea that I would need assistance from another to do so was unthinkable to me. Having someone lay out the faults in my thinking was a dash of reality that has shaken my beliefs. I still do not trust, and have little expectation for a positive outcome, but my chances of success are higher than doing it alone.”
“I am proud of you for taking an uncomfortable risk.” While it was impossible to see any expression on the warden, his voice did carry a hint of happiness to it that felt genuine.
“I am not a child, warden. I do not need coddling or reassurances of my action. The consequences or benefits will be mine to reap alone.”
“Of course, Soro. I recognize that you are old for your species, but I am older still, and you are young compared to me.”
That was a bit of unexpected knowledge to be gained, and it made me curious. “How old are you exactly?” I asked.
The warden shifted their body toward me. “I believe I am halfway through my second millennium.”
My eyes widened a bit as I stared at the comparatively ancient being. “Are you immortal or something?” That seemed unlikely as it went against the goddess’s claim that all things must die.
“Of course not. Near the end of this second millennium the magic that sustains my body will start to wane. I will then crumble and return to the earth only for my body to cultivate a new generation in the decades that follow.”
Huh, like an earthy version of a phoenix. “Interesting. I’m sure the world will miss you when you your time eventually comes.”
“Most of the world does not know I exist, but I do hope the creatures I shepherd here will at least mourn me in their own way.”
“Maybe I could mention you to others, have you written into the history books.” That was said with humor as I knew the answer before he even said it.
“Thank you, but I don’t not aspire to be recognized by others for my deeds. Preserving nature and the beings that reside in it is its own reward.”
“If it makes you happy, then I have no reason to tell you to do otherwise. Still, you have my recognition, and appreciation, for everything that you have done. I will remember you until the day that I die.”
In lieu of any expression he could not give, the warden bowed to me. “Your words honor me. To exist in one’s memory is the greatest of praises.”
Soro inserted himself into the conversation, acting a little bit timidly as he addressed the warden. “Warden, I... I know I have not been the easiest of tenants to host, but you do have my undying gratitude for what you have done for my people in keeping us safe all these years.”
“It was a task that I took upon myself. You need not feel indebted to me as I did what I did gladly. The world would have been poorer for your absence.”
Soro nodded his head. “Again, I thank you, but I must again make another request of you. There is a possibility that I will not live to return. If that comes to pass, may you please continue caring for the eggs in my stead.”
I jumped in to offer my weight to the request as well. “I would like to make a similar request. Considering that you owe me for the first time you sent me down to talk to Soro, I’d call that debt squared if you agree.”
“Neither of you must beg or bargain with me,” the warden said. “I will safeguard the unborn as readily as you in your absence, of this you have my solemn word.”
Soro dipped his head low in a show of respect to the warden. With the final bit of business now concluded between all parties, it was time for Soro and I to get on the road back to Fulvrist. The warden sealed the entrance to the tunnel again, and Soro gave the large boulder one last tentative look before turning away and facing the world in front of him.
Soro had to be guided out of the forest by the warden due to his large size making it difficult to traverse through the trees without uprooting them in the process. There was a path with minimal trees and the warden even used some of their unique magic to bend them out of the way. Another problem was that Soro’s presence was spooking my horse who didn’t want to be anywhere near the titanic serpent.
After wrestling with the wilderness, and a nervous animal, the main road was finally back in sight. The warden bid us farewell at the edge of the woods before disappearing back into the trees. I began walking toward the road but noticed that Soro wasn’t following. He was hesitating again, nervous about giving up what little cover he had with the trees in favor of the open road.
I decided to mount up and wait for him patiently. Urging him forward seemed unnecessary as he had already committed this much. He just needed a moment to steel himself. After a minute, he glanced behind himself at the path we had taken before facing forward again and slithering into the open.
Soro’s eyes held equal parts wonder and anxiety as he looked at the world for the first time in a couple hundred years. “There used to be hills here, and more trees” he said idly. I wondered how much cognitive dissonance there is from discovering that the landscape had changed.
“The world never stops moving, even when we want it to. You can either keep up, or be left behind. So, why don’t we get you moving again. You got a lot of catching up to do.”
Soro simply grunted in a deep rumbling manner. I pointed down the road the way we were meant to go and had Soro take a slight lead ahead of me. My horse probably would have bucked me off in a panic if Soro had been relegated to following me. It also made it easier to talk as I couldn’t twist my head around the same way he could.
His serpentine body slithered through the snow, creating a classic snake trail that plowed the road all the way to the dirt beneath the white blankets that covered the landscape. I was certain that the next person to come through here would be greatly confused by the strange pattern.
Things were quiet for a while. With low foot traffic on the roads and very few animals active during the winter, it felt like we were the only two living beings in miles. To fill that silence, I thought about a good conversation topic, and my curiosity pointed me in the right direction.
“So,” I began, causing Soro to tilt his head to look at me. “How did you manage to hide yourself from everyone, even the goddess?”
I saw a skeptical look take over his eyes. “Is that a question from you, or from her?”
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I rolled my while head in exasperation. “I don’t know what kind of relationship you think I have between me and the goddess, but the bitch only talks to me when I die, and even then, it’s for a handful of seconds at the most. She only says one damn annoying word each time as well. So no, it’s not a question from her, and like I said before, I’d like to stab a stick in her eye every now and again if I could.”
He huffed a bit, turning his attention back to the road in front of him. Silence hung in the air for a few second and I thought that he might have decided not to answer. After about half a minute, he finally spoke again.
“My kind have long sought the answer to what exactly makes a god such. The answer that we came to was both simple as it was convoluted; power. It is power that makes a god. The ability to create, destroy, or alter as one sees fit. With this in mind, what force in the universe is capable of these feats, even if only on a small level?”
The answer was apparent. “Magic.”
Soro nodded his head. “Yes. Magic, a source of life, and most importantly, power. We deduced that any being capable of claiming the title of godhood was one who could tap upon the power of magic at a near, if not completely infinite level. Such a being could not hold physical form, so their body must be composed almost primarily of that energy. While it was just a hypothesis at the time, our leading minds figured that such a being could only ‘see’ through the use of magic as well, since they have no physical eyes. To that effect, we created an array of crystals that could maintain a ‘dead zone’ as we called it. A thin layer that holds not a single speck of magical power in it. While flimsy, it can serve to obscure the vision of even a god. It was tested, with the warden’s aid, and deemed the only effective measure of concealment that we had against the most hostile entity in the world to us.”
That was certainly an information dump, but I can’t say he didn’t answer my question. “Wow, I’d never really thought to connect the goddess to magic itself, but I guess that does make sense. After all, the fragment of her body she put in me is purely made of magic as well.”
It was certainly an interesting topic to speak about, but it didn’t last very long, leaving us once more stuck in an awkward silence. The next time the silence was broken was nearly an hour later, when we encountered a rare, and unfortunate traveler upon the road. The trader, by the looks of things, saw Soro from a significant distance away. Naturally, he panicked, scrambling to unhitch his horse from the cart before galloping the way he came at a breakneck speed, leaving behind all his goods in the process.
Soro let out a heavy sigh. “I do not expect my reception by these allies of yours to be any different. Actually, that’s a lie. They very well may decide to try and kill me.”
“Soro, you’ll be fine, I guarantee it.”
“Your ‘guarantees’ mean little to me. I only trust that you want me alive to fulfill your desires. After that, it is a gamble whether my life will continue beyond that point.”
I pinched the bridge of my nose. “Look, I understand your nervousness, I do. I’ve had to place my life in the hands of strangers more times than I would care to. It’s always a coin flip whether that interaction turns out for the better, and I’ve been on both sides of that coin. I don’t know if it affects the odds in your mind, but I want to be the bright side of the coin for you. Honestly, I’ve had over two months. You’d think if I wanted you dead, I’d have a less convoluted plan to achieve that?”
“You could be biding your time and hoping for me to lower my guard.”
With a roll of my eyes I decided to not argue with about it with him anymore. “Alright, fine, keep being skeptical. Honestly, it sounds exhausting to be on edge all the time. I wonder if a keg of beer would do anything for your mood?”
“I will not be imbibing any of your toxic drinks. I still remember the vile taste of those fermented monstrosities.”
“Disregarding how you came into possession of alcohol back then; the process of fermentation has probably developed quite significantly since the last time you tried it.” I shook my head. “Whatever, it’s irrelevant, I think you just need some time to relax a bit.”
“You’d like that wouldn’t you? Make it easy for you?”
“I’m not going to talk to you if you keep twisting my words like that.”
“Good. I prefer the silence.”
“Really?” I said with incredulity. “I’d figured that after several centuries of it you’d be quite sick of the concept by now.”
He didn’t validate my observation with a response, merely a grunt that bordered on a growl. “We, are not, friends. We have an agreement, and on completion of that agreement, I hope to never have to lay eyes on you again.”
Heart of fucking stone this one. No good would come from forcing the issue, so I let him have his silence. It was certainly an awkward trip as he truly did have no intention of talking to me if he could help it. Well, that just meant that this trip would probably end up being much the same as the one I took here by myself. Horsy, you’re my only friend. I gave my faithful steed a quick pat on the neck before focusing on the journey ahead.
Soro may have been fine with silence, but I was starting to get antsy. I don’t know if it was different for other people, but not talking for days in a row was having an effect on my sanity. Despite how massive he was, his presence was non-existent, almost making me feel more alone on these cold days.
Even when I tried to make a little conversation, mostly making comments about how he seemed to be interested in a certain location or sight, he would either give me the briefest of replies or not say anything at all. If I had big enough hands, I might have tried to throttle the damn noodle if only to get him to say something longer than a two-word sentence.
Thankfully, I only had to endure his stonewalling for a few days until we reached the edge of Fulvrist’s land. Thinking a little ahead, I had Soro wait in the cover of the nearby forest so I could smooth things out and organize a plan of attack. His skepticism also returned, thinking I was organizing a trap for him. After another round of explaining the inefficiency of doing such a roundabout method of killing him, I was finally allowed to leave for the siege camp.
The camp itself had expanded somewhat in the time I had been gone. Deep trenches had been dug around the perimeter and many wooden pallisades were erected to provide cover for any approaching soldiers who wished to avoid some of the more mundane ranged attacks the Thrainians could throw at them. I spurred my horse to the edge of the camp where I was confronted by the guards.
“Stop! Come any closer and we will attack!” They had their weapons trained on me.
“Everyone calm down, it’s me.” I removed some of my winter clothing around my head which allowed them to see my features and recognize me.
They immediately paled as they realized who I was. “Lord James! Forgive us, we could not-”
“You were doing your job, and you were doing it well,” I interrupted, not wanting to hear pointless excuses. “I will not blame you for that, but right now I need to speak with Durdan, urgently.”
They nodded and quickly cleared the path, allowing me access to the sea of tents. Moving briskly through the rows and past the many soldiers, I found myself in front of the large command tent near the center. Dismounting and handing the reigns of my horse to a nearby guard, I brushed aside the flap and entered.
Durdan was sitting at the table near the back of the tent, deep in planning as he tried to puzzle out the problem Fulvrist presented. My entrance was noticed, and he looked up from his work, face brightening as he saw it was me.
“James! I’m glad to see you back in one piece. Though, considering I haven’t heard a panic or stampede tear through my camp, did you fail to convince the creature, Soro, was it?”
“Quite the contrary. I struck a deal with him in return for his aid in taking down the wall.”
“Truly? Well, where is he?”
“I thought it best to leave him in the cover of the nearby forest. That way he doesn’t cause a panic in the camp, and we don’t reveal him to the Thrainians on the off chance that they have something that can counter him.”
“A wise course of action.” He leaned forward a bit, looking more serious. “Now, what is the cost of his help? Did it change from what you planned to offer him?”
I shook my head. “No. He will need to be rewarded with a plot of land, one rich in natural magic for his needs.”
“And those needs are?”
I didn’t blame Durdan for probing, he was concerned with the safety of his men and the greater coalition. At this point I didn’t think that it would matter to keep it hidden anymore. “The continuation of his species.”
Now he was wide eyed. “You’re saying...”
“Yes. His people are on the brink of extinction, but there is still a chance for them to recover and become a part of the world again. I’m hoping that with some effort, a repeat of history will be avoided, and they can join with society.”
“That... is a lot to consider.” And consider he did. He gave the information it’s due time to process. After a few minutes of mulling it over, he nodded his head slowly and turned his attention back on me.
“I will put my weight behind this agreement. Knowing that the fate of a species is at risk, denying this agreement would be too weighty a load on my conscience.”
I smiled, nodding in appreciation. “Thank you, Durdan. So, shall we plan this next engagement?”
“Naturally. We can work out the details now, but I wish to meet with this Soro afterwards.”
That was a reasonable request that I readily agreed to as we began discussions on the next attack. Organization and formation were a big part of the talks with most of it centered around Soro and his part in all this. He may have been big and powerful, but that also made him a large target, one that the enemy would likely target once they got over the shock of his appearance. We would need to protect him as he attacked, because while I imagined he was sturdy, he wasn’t invincible.
With that squared away, Durdan sent his officers to organize the army while I lead him, and a small escort, to where I had told Soro to wait. The trip was only a few minutes away, and Soro had managed to hide himself rather well in the time I had been away. I decided to call out to him.
“Soro? I’m back, you can come out now.” There was nothing for a moment, but I had a feeling that he was watching, probably judging the intent of my group. The silence was broken with the snapping of tree limbs and the crunching of snow.
In the face of that noise that could only be created by a giant, Durdan maintained his stoicism, but the other soldiers did not have the same resolve, and I could see many of them fidgeting with their weapons.
“Nobody draw their weapon. If you do, I’ll be the first to break your hand.” We didn’t need an incident here, and if Soro decided to get jumpy and take offense, it could end with people dying.
Soro’s head emerged from a deep gully as he slithered low over the ground, trampling over bushes and frost covered undergrowth. The soldiers tensed at the sight of him, stuck somewhere between fear and awe. At least they're not panicking.
With smooth movements, Soro stopped in front of our group before rising to a resting position, coiling his body underneath him. Staring up at him, I could hear Durdan take a deep breath, the only sign he gave that he was nervous. He kept it out of his voice though, as he spoke with confidence to the titan before him.
“Soro, yes? I must say, it’s an honor to meet you. It isn’t every day that one meets a legendary figure.” The flattery didn’t faze the serpent, and Durdan was quick to pick up on the silence and continue. “I am told that you are willing to assist us in our siege?”
“We have an agreement.”
“Indeed, one that I am willing to agree to and uphold should the terms be fulfilled. We have devised a formation centered around you, and you will serve as the spearhead of the attack.”
“Naturally. None of you are strong enough for it.” I wanted to groan and pinch the bridge of my nose. Soro’s casual insults would really need to be toned down if he was going to be a representative of his people. Luckily, Durdan didn’t rise to the provocation and continued unabated.
“Yes, we are in need of your strength to save lives.”
Soro huffed. “Save lives by taking them. Hypocrisy at its finest.”
“It is the fate of a soldier to be a hypocrite. Take to save, destroy to protect. In the end all that truly matters is the victor and the ideals that they fought for.”
“And what is it that you fight for?” Soro questioned.
Durdan seemed slightly caught off guard by the question, but quickly adopted a small smirk. “Are you asking me as a soldier of the coalition, or as an individual?”
Soro considered for a second before responding. “Your personal motivation.”
Durdan nodded. “Well, my motivations may disappoint, but they are nonetheless grand. What I fight for is...” He purposefully delayed the answer to create suspense. “A summer home in the hills just south of where I was born.”
That was an answer that I don’t think anyone expected as we all cocked our heads slightly upon hearing it. Durdan must have expected the confusion, because he explained without any further prompting.
“Yes, those hills are host to a magnificent display of wildflowers in the spring and summer. I’d like a house atop the hill I would always visit with my mother, where I can spend my days in silence and peace. However, my dream cannot come true unless we win this war. Generals are rarely needed in times of peace, after all.”
He wanted to retire. Frankly, after everything he’s done and been through, I didn’t blame him in the slightest. Still, even if he did get his dream house, I hoped that I may be able to call upon his advice, should I ever need it.
Soro apparently found it funny, and I saw a rare grin grace his reptilian features. “How amusing. I can say that you have captured my attention. I might like you.”
Durdan smiled back with a small dip of the head. “I am glad you think so, it will make our work together all the smoother. Now, shall we proceed?”
“Let’s.” With that, the party started to move again while I lingered behind for a second, staring at the two of them with incredulity.
Seriously? All my effort and those two immediately get chummy with one another? That’s just not fair. I rolled my eyes and spurred my horse on with exasperation. Regardless of how I felt about it, Soro was moving to the front. A strange combination of anticipation and dread emerged within me. I really hope this works.