We had a majority vote now, that is if Nadala succeeded in convincing Artisa in the merchant's guild. She said they had a good working relationship, so it was likely that she would succeed. I made a mental note to ask her about her progress on that front and inform her of the change.
Larvell would be staying behind to clean up the testing grounds. Most of the things he brought were either damaged or destroyed, which he wasn’t exactly happy about, but accepted the outcome without complaint. It was a small price to pay considering what I’d created for him.
The crystal would remain in my possession because I was the only one who could use it and no one else knew what to do with it. It would be safe enough in the locked room at the lodge until it was needed again. The spare crystals I had bought should probably be stored with them as well, and I wondered if it would be smart to start putting runes on them as well. Maybe, but right now my attention was turned to the immediate future as we traveled back to the city.
Adder’s execution was to begin soon, and I had yet to make up my mind on if I wanted to attend. Perhaps it would be expected that I would be present for it, some sort of obligation or social norm that must be adhered to. No matter how many times the idea was turned over in my head, it just didn’t sit right with me. Yet doing nothing, allowing the man to meet his end without closure made me feel worse.
Something had to be done, else I might find many restless days ahead of me as I wondered about what could have been. Resolving the issue in my head, I chose the path I would take and set myself upon it. With grim resignation, we marched back into the city.
Along the way, I caught sight of where the execution would take place. They appeared to be constructing simple gallows in an open plaza area specifically for the event. It was a drop-chute style, which would probably see him die quickly from a broken spine rather than slow strangulation. Small mercies.
This was not my destination, though. I asked a few of the guards who were around for proper directions, and eventually one of them gave me the information I needed. The location of the prison that was currently holding Adder.
It was a short walk from where we currently were, near the bottom of the city. When we finally arrived, we were greeted by a squat, stone building with very few openings larger than a few inches in diameter. There wasn’t anything that could be described as pretty about it, but then again, it was prison, so as long as it did its job, I don’t think anyone cared what it looked like.
When we entered the building, we found ourselves in a rather bleak and bland room with only a handful of chairs on one side of the space with a desk with a half-asleep guard in a thick coat sitting at it. The Trelnval guard seemed to snap away when he heard the door open as he quickly tried to compose himself before realizing that we weren’t anyone he knew. Relaxing again, he then took the chance to address us.
“Can I help you folks? If you are here to pay a fine or report a crime, then you will have to speak with my superior about that.”
“No, we aren’t here for any of that,” I began. “I’m here to... I guess visit one of your prisoners.”
He quirked a brow at me. “Does this prisoner have a name, or do I have to fish someone out of the drunkard’s cell?”
“We’re looking for Adder.”
That surprised him judging by the way he recoiled slightly. “Adder? That murderer? Why would you... wait, you’re that Thrai- erm, human, right? The one Adder was trying to attack?” His face then became skeptical as he stared at me. “Why are you trying to talk to him now?”
That was a question I had difficulty answering myself. “Does it really matter?”
“It does; because despite how contradictory it may seem, it’s my job to keep the bastard alive until the moment they pull the lever. That means it’s my tail on the line if something happens to him before that.”
The logic made sense, and I let out an amused huff with a half-smile. “Well, I can say for certain that I'm not here to do him any physical harm. I just want a word with him, that’s all.”
He continued to scrutinize me with his stare for another handful of seconds before he sighed. “Fine, but you better mean that.” As he stood to lead the way, our group started to move only for him to snap a palm up in our direction. “Ahh, only you. It’s not just for my sake, but it’s policy to not have more than one visitor in the cell area for security reasons.”
I cast a glance at everyone behind me and gave them a quick nod. None of them appeared to be all too pleased to be left behind, but they begrudgingly accepted the conditions and stepped back. Satisfied, the guard moved again, pulling some keys out of the folds of his coat. He used one to open a door that led further into the building which we promptly disappeared behind.
The corridor we walked through was narrow, almost to the point where a Droln would be incapable of moving through it at all. It probably helped with security, but whatever the reason, there was only one exit at the end of the hall. After the guard rattled the keys around a bit for the right one, we stepped into an even bleaker room than the entrance.
There was hardly any semblance of care to be found in this place. A dozen cells were split equally on either side of the walkway, dirty iron bars in place to contain any would be dissidents. The floor had a layer of grunge upon it that turned the stones black in a few places. The smell was also quite awful, like a port-a-potty though without even the attempt to mask the scent. It was enough to make one's nose scrunch up in disgust.
As we walked down the aisle, I caught sight of a few occupied cells. It seemed about every other one had either a single occupant, or a pair that were just lying about, passing their sentence in idle monotony. It was the fourth cell on the left that was the one we were looking for, and it was helpfully pointed out by the guards who gave an offhand gesture towards it.
“I’ll wait here and keep an eye on you. If you get too rowdy, I'm cutting this visit short. You've been warned.”
I just nodded to him before beginning my slow approach. My thoughts were cluttered with a plethora of questions, most of them directed at myself, and a majority of those asking what I was even doing here. In the moment where I passed by the pillar dividing the cells and saw what was inside, all those thoughts simply died in my head.
Adder had his back turned to me. He was on his knees, hands outstretched before him in a pose that I was all too familiar with. I didn’t interrupt him, but he evidently heard me approach because he put his hands down and rested them on his thighs. His head turned just enough to see me out of the corner of his eye before returning to stare at the wall.
“Come to gloat about your victory?” His question had all the weight of a mountain to it.
Silence hung in the air for several seconds before I worked up the resolve to reply. “No.”
Another pregnant pause persisted before his voice shattered it once more. “Then why are you here?”
I cast my gaze to the floor. “That seems to be the question of the day. Frankly, I don’t have a good answer. Maybe I just wanted to say that I'm not what you believe me to be. I don’t want people to be killed, or civilizations to fall, or evil to reign. I’ve come to care, surprising as it is, for the people of this world, even though it’s not mine.”
Adder turned his head ever so slightly, but in the end never looked at me. “So what? This is pity? Trying to ease the mind of a doomed man who you yourself condemned? Keep your damned pity.”
My lip curled slightly in a sneer, and I shook my head. “It isn’t pity either, and you best not get that twisted. Don’t misunderstand me, I hate you. You killed my friend whether you held the knife or not. I will never forgive you for that, and maybe the reason I’m here is because I can’t stand the thought of you calling me a liar and believing it. I hope that you can see what happens in the world after you die, that way I can show you just how wrong you are. You won’t see me there when you walk up onto that platform, the simple reason being that all of this was avoidable, and that’s the biggest damn tragedy of the last few days.”
I took a step back from the bars of his cage. “Enjoy what's left of your life, Adder. I hope all the pain you’ve caused is worth it to you.” Not even giving him the chance to respond, I turned and left. He’d probably continue to pray until the moment they dragged him out of the cell, not that it would save him, and not that I cared.
The guard walked me back to the entrance, though I did notice he was giving me a little more space than before. My group looked happy to see me back so soon at least. I don’t know what they expected to happen with that visit, but apparently it was bad enough that they looked relieved that I was back.
Kala walked up to me and placed a gentle hand on my chest. “Are you alright?” The question was softspoken, a personal one for me alone.
I offered her a thankful smile. “I will be, eventually.” Placing an arm around her shoulder, I held her close as we exited the prison and made our way back up to the pinnacle of the city.
This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.
After a quick pit-stop at the lodge, I wrote a short letter to Nadala to keep her in the loop. I might not have needed to as it turned out, because barely an hour later an announcement was delivered to me that the council would be convening once again near the end of the day, and I was to attend. It seemed Larvell didn’t mess around or attempt to delay the proceedings with procrastination. I could respect him for his integrity at least, adhering to our deal and moving with purpose the way he was.
I cleaned myself up in preparation for this meeting. While I had a majority of votes now, there was still a general decorum that needed to be adhered to during the process. Despite the changing circumstances and near guarantee of success, that was still that nervousness that came with being involved in situations like this. A part of me wondered if that feeling would ever go away or if it was just a constant that came with territory.
Regardless of my feelings, I found myself walking a similar path to when I had first arrived in this city under the dying light of the afternoon and the bite of a frigid wind. The council building was waiting for me, and the long corridor leading up to the circular chamber was unchanged from my last visit.
In the dimly lit room, we went through the song and dance once more as I took position under the singular beam of light that was cast upon the stand in the center of the room. The powerful figures in control of an entire nation stared down at me, but the air in the room was different from before. No longer did I feel suffocated or dismissed by the downward gazes of those hiding in the gloom. The influence gap between us had been closed, and this was now an equal playing field.
Bardis began the proceedings. “We are called here today at the request of Councilor Larvell. This meeting was approved by a majority of the members present to discuss the situation at Yol’vastume and the actions we shall take. Now, Councilor Larvell, as you are the one who started this assembly, you may speak on the details of the proposition.”
“Thank you, Councilor Bardis,” Larvell said, drawing the attention of the room. “Over the last several days the situation regarding Yol’vastume has been ever changing. The occupation of Yol’vastume by our forces has been a matter of great concern for everyone here, and the people of our city.”
It was difficult to tell due to the lighting, but I thought I saw Larvell look at me for a moment before continuing. “While before, I was hesitant to commit our troops to a campaign which we had no guarantee of succeeding in, recent developments have forced my hand into agreeing with a previous request to mobilize our forces. Lord James has come to us with new magic, the likes of which can have devastating effects upon the Thrainian’s armies. He has personally demonstrated the capabilities of this weapon to me, and I believe in its capabilities to such an extent that I am willing to bring forth a call to arms for our forces to aid Yol’vastume and push back against the Thrainians. So, I bring Lord James’ previous proposition to a vote once more. All in favor of sending our forces to Yol’vastume raise your hand.”
I watched with great anticipation as one by one the hands of the councilors raised in support, except one. Sarden, the Droln representative on this council, refused to lift his hand. His silent protest mattered little, though, as he was outnumbered, and the vote was passed with a majority.
Looking to his fellows, Bardis nodded in solemn agreement. “By way of majority, the proposition to mobilize our army has passed. Details and arrangements will be made by those with authority in such matters effective immediately. May the gods watch over us, and may success be ours, for a brighter tomorrow.”
That was it, it was official now. The vote passed and now the armies of the coalition will gather to march into Thrainian territory. It almost didn’t feel real. After everything that’s happened since we’ve been here, what we’ve gained, what we’ve lost. To be at the end of it all, just like that, felt like I was half asleep and wandering through a dream.
With the purpose of this meeting now finished, the focus of the remaining councilmembers became following through on the decision. Many discussions popped up amongst them about what needed to be prepared or gathered in the coming days in order to put the plan in action. Of the members still in conversation, I noticed that two were missing: Larvell and Sarden.
Looking around the poorly lit room, I saw the pair of them had descended from the stands to the ground floor and appeared to be in conversation with one another. Curious, I moved in that direction until I was able to hear their words.
“More kids dying for our ideals,” Sarden said. “How many are we going to send before we end up ruling over a graveyard?” His voice was deep and filled with a weariness beyond his years.
“I know, but they aren’t just our ideals, and they're not only our dreams.” Larvell placed a hand on Sarden’s shoulder. “They fight because they believe in the dream of a peaceful world. You know me, and you know that I would not take this course of action lightly. With luck, this may be the last time the young will have to make this sacrifice.”
Just then, Sarden noticed my presence and eyed me with a very scrutinizing gaze. Larvell noticed his change in focus and glanced in my direction for a second before returning his focus to Sarden. The staring match between me and Sarden continued for a few seconds more before he said some final words in parting.
“Succeed or fail, it will be the last time for me regardless. If those boys don’t make it home, then I’m going to resign my position. I can’t do it another time.”
Larvell simply looked at him before sighing and nodding his head. “I understand. I pray it does not come to that, but I will not try to stop you if you feel that is what you need to do.” With that, the pair parted ways.
After watching his friend leave, Larvell then turned and walked in my direction. He stopped briefly at my side, making me turn my head slightly to look at him. “I hope that your plan works.”
“You and me both,” I said in grim agreement. He continued walking after that, joining up with the other council members, probably to coordinate the new war effort. Figuring that I was no longer needed here, I made for the exit.
Kala and the others came with me, each of them excited in their own way about the success of our mission. Jorn and Otar were talking about maybe getting a drink to both celebrate and mourn. Hargon was slightly opposed to that idea, saying he would prefer some peace and quiet for a while. Ulthises, naturally, wanted to find the nearest gambling house for a night of losing money and getting thrown out into the street. He didn’t actually say that, but all of us knew what the outcome would inevitably be.
Out of everyone, though, Kala just seemed to be exhausted, and leaned heavily on me while we walked. I leaned in close to get her opinion on the matter. “How do you think we should spend our time now?”
She gave a deep hum mixed with a sigh as she rolled her head in a display of consideration. Finally, she turned her head up at me with a smirk. “I believe I remember someone saying that they would take me for a night out in the city. I’ve walked up and down these streets for days now, yet I don’t think I know the first thing about this place.”
Before I could even reply to her, the sarcastic voice of Hargon spoke up. “Sorry boys, seems like we’ve been outvoted.”
I turned my head to look behind me and was greeted by the smug grins of our entire entourage. I shot them the ‘really’ look before smirking myself. “Well, a lady’s desire is weighed more heavily, especially when she is as cute as this.” That last comment of mine got a lot of eyerolls from the boys, but Kala seemed to enjoy it.
With a course of action being decided upon, we made a stop by the lodge to prepare for the night that was ahead of us. Up until this point, we had refrained from going outside once the sun went down. Considering that the temperature was already chilly at high noon, we took extra precautions against the frigid cold by grabbing more of those thick fur cloaks for everyone.
The sky was a rich shade of orange on the horizon as the black of night was beginning to creep in from the other side of the globe. This twilight hour was heralded by the streetlamps blinking to life one after another. This city had no curfew, as was evident by the people still wandering about, though in fewer numbers.
Despite the chill in the air, Kala seemed eager to explore as she tugged my arm to prompt me to move with her. It was unlikely that we would find much entertainment in the topmost district unless we were looking for some wine to drink. Our destination would mostly likely be a few levels down. I wasn’t sure what we would find, but that was part of this little adventure that we were on.
With the cloaks on our group was somewhat incognito as most of our features were obscured. I was still sticking out like a sore thumb though, but in general there were less eyes on us while we walked. The boys also had an apparent agreement to trail behind Kala and I a few steps to give us some room, that way it didn’t feel like we were traveling as just a big group.
It felt nice to simply walk around without a particular goal in mind. We didn’t have to rush anywhere, concern ourselves with the opinions of others, or even be overly concerned with time frames. All of that was out of our hands now. The armies would gather as fast they could, but we had no control over when they arrived. I could only hope that Larvell would put a double time order on it.
Pushing any thoughts of work or the future out of my head for now, I focused on Kala and how she was looking around the city with eyes filled with excitement. Things started to become more active when we arrived at the mid-levels of the city. The lighting became much warmer as the tinted orange lamps and torch fires illuminated this part of the city. People gathered here from all over the city, filling the area with lively conversation as they drank, ate, sang, and even danced through the streets.
This was Sor’Balvas’ entertainment district. I could only see a few permanent shops that were set up in the area, the rest were either open space, or taken by some temporary stalls and stages that were set up in the oval shaped area. We had only glancing looks at it before now, and it was always during the day. At night, this place looked and felt completely different.
The energy here was contagious. I could feel it in my chest as we made our way through the crowds and became immersed in the sights and sounds. The smell of food hung heavy in the air, igniting a hunger that we filled by visiting a nearby stand selling some roasted meat. With food in hand, Kala started to drag me towards a crowd that was gathered around a stage.
On the stage a group of performers were doing a fire dance which utilized magic to create quite a stunning visual display. The twisting flames followed the motions of the dancers, spiraling, shooting out and lashing about as they went through their routine. It drew many ‘oohs’ and ‘ahhs’ from the crowd before it all ended in a climactic explosion that rained gentle sparks upon the spectators.
I joined the crowd in applauding the show, but part way through I suddenly stopped, an immense feeling of guilt coming over me. Kala seemed to notice this and questioned me about it.
“Are you alright?”
Looking at her I gave a weak smile. “Yeah, I just... it feels, wrong, to try and be happy right now.”
“Is this about Holdrem?” I nodded in response. She leaned her head on my shoulder to comfort me. “James, do you think Holdrem would want you to be miserable forever?”
That was a silly question. “I doubt it, though he tried his best with all the preaching he did to me.”
She chuckled a bit before continuing. “Yes, but my point is that those we care about wouldn’t want us to be unhappy. The best thing we can do is to try and live our lives as fully as possible to honor the legacy they left behind. So don’t feel bad about finding happiness in these moments.”
I pulled her close to me. “Hmm, I guess you’re right.”
“Of course I am. When have I ever been wrong?” she stated assuredly.
That made me laugh for a moment before I leaned in and gave her a quick kiss. “Alright little miss know-it-all, do you have anything else you want to see tonight?”
Kala grinned widely before taking me by the hand and pulling me along behind her. She was hell bent on making the most of the night, and I found myself dragged along on quite the adventure with her as she stopped to see every little thing that caught her eye. It was a great way to spend a night and may have been one of the few that we still had left.