Kivi picked up a hand, lifted it, then released. It hit the floor with a dull thump.
“Yep, it’s a dead body, alright,” Callan quipped.
“Thank you, Avatar. I think that much was obvious already.”
“If so, why’d you bother checking?”
The high priestess gave him a flat look. “I was trying to determine exactly how long ago he was killed. There is always a chance that the killer is still lurking about nearby.”
“Oh.” Callan nodded sheepishly. “Yeah, I guess that’s a good reason.”
“It’s a pointless one,” Belinda said with a sniff. She gave Rictee’s body a kick with her boot. “What are you hoping for, a set of muddy tracks leading to the killer’s door? There’s nothing but dust outside, and a half-dozen houses they could be hiding in!”
“So you don’t have any idea as to who could have done this, Mayor?”
Belinda smirked. “Oh, I’m certain it was another one of Veritas’s cultists. Probably hoping to ingratiate themselves with their master by punishing Rictee for his betrayal.” She shook her head in disgust.
“This is an unmitigated disaster,” Radavan moaned from where he stood off to one side. He was pointedly not looking at the body, which was an impressive feat, considering that one part or another of Rictee decorated most of the small home.
“Oh, pull yourself together, boy. This loss is a blow against us, but Rictee already served his most important purpose—sowing the seeds of doubts about Veritas’s power. So long as I give this the proper spin when I announce his death to the village, it should go a long way towards cementing my authority—”
“Not everything is about maintaining your grip on power, mother. I meant the loss of my best worker! How am I supposed to finish the harvest now before the next shipment is due? I’ll have to negotiate with the other families for a portion of their own.”
“Quit your bellyaching. I expect you’ll manage. You always do. Why not call on the support of that precious bridge brigade of yours, or whatever nonsense they’re calling themselves now?”
Radavan glowered at his mother. “We’re the bridge committee, mother. You’ll recall that they spurned the original name I came up with. Hmmph. Even with me organizing the damn resistance in the first place, they still don’t fully trust me. I have your influence to thank for that.”
“You have me to thank for a lot more than you know. Why, if I hadn’t—”
Callan cleared his throat. The two yeth turned and scowled at him. “What?”
“Need I remind you both that a man is dead here?” Callan gestured to Rictee’s body. Radavan didn’t so much as glance down, but Belinda’s eyes flicked towards it for a moment before returning to stare at Callan. He ground his teeth. “Rictee is dead. Yet you’re both more concerned about what that means for your own damn problems. Don’t you have any shame?”
Mother and son glanced at each other. Finally, Belinda said, “We’re yeth, avatar. Were you one of us, you’d understand.”
“Well, then thanks be to Xeph that I’m not.” Callan rolled his eyes.
What do I have to do with this conversation? Xeph grumbled. Unless you’re worried I’m going to try changing you to one of the elevated races as well? In that case, rest your fears, human, for they are unneeded. I would never dare tinker with a mortal while residing inside of them, and even if I were to attempt such insanity, I would not change you to one of the current elevated races, not when there are so many other more specific adjustments we could make to your genetic structure. To start—
“Xeph. I swear, now is not the time.”
Then why did you invoke my name?
“It was—gah!” Callan threw his hands into the air.
“If we could return this conversation to its proper course,” Kivi said, her words soft. “While it pains me to say this, Avatar, the mayor is correct. Controlling damage should be our priority right now. Honoring the dead must wait.”
Callan frowned. “Damage? What damage?”
“None yet—I hope. But I do not doubt that Veritas and their followers will use this incident to sow seeds of rebellion amongst the village. Without a culprit apprehended, fingers may point towards us. After all.” She glanced at Belinda, her lips pulling tight. “A yeth would not stoop so low as to kill another yeth, would they?”
“Of course not, we’re better than—ah, I see the problem.” Belinda winced.
“Indeed.”
“In that case, I’d best be off.” The mayor headed for the door. “I’m sure a few neighbors have been peeking in at us this entire time, so I can’t stop the rumor mill entirely. But I’ll try to redirect the river that’s turning it, so to speak.”
Kivi nodded and watched as the woman slipped from the building. She turned back towards Callan.
“Ready to explain a bit better?” he asked.
“It is quite simple, Avatar. If the yeth believe their fellow villagers incapable of committing murder, however foolish that notion may actually be—” Radavan started to speak, but Kivi simply talked over him. “—Then they will, logically, turn their anger towards those they believe are capable of such heinous acts.”
Understanding hit Callan like a thunderclap. A moment later, Xeph confirmed his conclusions.
They mean us. Well, the lud, specifically.
“Yeah, I figured that part out, Xeph. Last thing we need is an angry mob breaking out the torches and pitchforks.”
“I doubt they would turn to such extreme measures,” Kivi said. She smirked. “After all, yeth are above such actions, isn’t that right?”
She stared at Radavan. The yeth blinked, realized he was suddenly the center of attention, and drew himself up.
“That’s correct, they’d likely just run you out of the village, which while better than death, would—”
“—Would be exactly what Veritas and their followers want.” Kivi shook her head. She headed for the door, Callan following after her. “It seems we must be more proactive than I anticipated. The next few days will be as important as the duel itself, Avatar. I suggest you and Xeph do everything you can to prepare for that.”
“And what do you intend to do, High Priestess?”
Kivi smiled sideways at him, but the expression was thin-lipped and grim. “Everything else that the two of you can’t.”
“Hey!” Radavan called from behind them. “What about the body? Rictee didn’t have any other family left to bury him.”
Callan paused in the doorway and glanced back at the yeth farmer. “Guess that duty falls on you then.”
“What? But I can’t be bothered—”
“You can and you will,” Callan said firmly, the tone in his voice causing the yeth to snap his own mouth shut with an audible clack. “Rictee might have betrayed this town, but he was still one of your farmhands, and you owe him at least a decent burial, or a bonfire, or whatever it is you yeth do to honor your dead. I expect you can handle that much at least, can’t you?”
“I... I suppose.” Radavan glanced down at the body, shuddered, then turned away. He looked at Callan imploringly. “Can you help, at least?”
“Sorry. Important avatar business to attend to. You know how it is.” Callan stepped outside, closing the door behind him. He marched away from the house without looking back.
Just in case Radavan was watching after him, he kept his face impassive, but that was okay.
The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.
Xeph’s laughter rippling through his mind was enough for them both.
----------------------------------------
“Alright, just a bit more, and... there!” Callan clapped his hands together in satisfaction before stepping back to admire his work. “Not a bad little fortification, if I say so myself.”
Hmm.
“What, you don’t agree?”
They had been at it for close to three hours now, trying to make the small village more defensible while also making a show of the avatar’s presence for whatever onlookers were watching from behind their curtains or peeking out of doorways. Mostly it had been a series of walls, but Callan had also managed to construct several cleverly concealed pits, perfect for dropping an unsuspecting cultist into once they trod over them.
At the moment, he’d also just finished a rather nice pill box-styled shelter near the village’s main entrance. Perfect for a priest to snipe stones out of while remaining relatively safe from returning fire.
It isn’t the building itself that I draw issue with, Xeph said, as they circled around the structure. Rather, I question the need for the adornments you’ve added. It feels like a waste of our remaining resources.
“Oh, a little decoration never hurt anybody. ‘Sides, there’s something to be said for the psychological effect. Striking fear into the hearts of our enemies and all that.”
And... those are supposed to inspire fear?
“What? You don’t think so?” Callan studied the line of skulls that wreathed the pill box’s window. He’d gotten the idea from that game his buddy Lyle was so obsessed with, the one with the ridiculously expensive models that didn’t even come assembled, let alone pre-painted. He’d always given Lyle grief over that, but admittedly had really liked the grimdark ascetic.
“Skulls are very intimidating,” he added. “Trust me, I’m descended from a long line of conquerors. We know this sort of thing."
If you say so, Mortal... just tell me, what sort of degenerative disease did these particular individuals suffer to make their skulls so misshapen?
“Hey, screw you, I did the best I could. Not like I’m an artist or anything.”
Hmm. Of that, we are in agreement.
Callan resisted the urge to roll his eyes, then remembered that Xeph couldn’t see him do it anyway. “Look, I’m going to have a quick snack, so it’s not like those decorations will set us back more than a minute or two. Satisfied?”
The god didn’t answer, which Callan took as close enough to acceptance for his purposes. He turned and headed for the town center.
Once there, he paused to study the changes. The town’s weathervane was gone, its rock converted into a watchtower similar to the ones that Callan and the others had been constructing on the other plateaus. Unlike those, however, this one was not meant to be shelter from moonrises, but rather a bastion of last resort should any potential battle turn against them.
There was space enough inside for the entire town to shelter, along with supplies to keep them fed for a week or more. The tower itself was twice the height of any other he’d constructed, and its battlements were more than mere window dressing, true protection against projectiles, shelter from whatever Veritas’s cultists might bring against them.
Despite how sturdy it looked, Callan hoped it wouldn’t have to see use. A prolonged fight against the other avatar would only end one way.
But he couldn’t deny the need for it in the short term. Most of the villagers who’d gathered to hear Belinda’s announcement about Rictee’s death had been casting him rather dirty looks, at least until he started shifting the very earth around them. As the massive stone had been reshaped, looks of anger had quickly been replaced by doubt, fear, and—he hoped—a bit of wonder.
Honestly, it had been a little scary how quickly the tower had come together. With his upgraded orison, he could work at twice the pace of his priests, and while they expended their power after a use or two, a quick snack got Callan back working after half an hour.
On that note, he crossed the town square and stepped through the doors of the forge. The air here was noticeably warmer, but not so hot as he’d found it earlier. Alyssa must have finished work for the day.
The yeth woman in question was leaning against a barrel nearby. She turned and smiled at him as he entered, then turned and scooped a cup of water from the barrel.
“Thirsty, Avatar?”
He accepted the water and took a big gulp. “Thanks. Has your mom had any more food delivered since I was last in here?”
“It’s on the bench behind you.” Alyssa arched an eyebrow. “I must say, you’re rather trusting. You didn’t even flinch when I gave you the same water I use for cooling my iron.”
Callan coughed, spilling water onto the floor. “What? Isn’t this the same water you’ve been giving me all afternoon?”
“Hence why I said you’re rather trusting.” The woman giggled.
Do not worry, mortal. Even if the water was contaminated with byproduct, my gifts are more than enough to clear your system before any lasting damage might occur.
“Gee, thanks, Xeph. Because contaminants were totally my primary concern right now.”
Happy to put your mind at ease. The god had a preening note to his voice, and once again Callan found himself resisting the urge to roll his eyes.
He returned the cup to Alyssa, who giggled again. “I’m kidding, Callan. That is the water I keep on hand for myself while I’m at work. The only contaminants in it were an indirect kiss or two.”
Choosing to pointedly ignore that comment, Callan turned—and found Lisson shuffling his feet awkwardly beside the table.
“Oh, hey. How’s it going?”
The boy looked away, shrugging noncommittally. Callan frowned. This was hardly the overexcited Lisson he’d gotten to know in the last few days. “Something wrong?”
“Oh, don’t mind him. He’s just hiding from his father,” Alyssa said matter-of-factly. “Seems that burial detail got left up to Rad, and now he’s trying to drag his son into it.”
“Is, ah, that so.” Callan felt a minor tug of guilt, knowing he’d left Radavan alone with that mess—it hadn’t even occurred to him that shit might roll downhill.
“That’s not it at all!” Lisson exclaimed, drawing all attention back to him. “He’s just been in a foul mood all day, ever since he learned I was the one who led the avatar to the altar. And gramma promised to stay quiet about it, too!”
“Yeah, that’s definitely not my fault this time.” Callan realized what he’d said as Alyssa arched an eyebrow and quickly continued, “But why does he care, anyway? He seemed rather relieved that the secret was out at the time.”
“Who knows?” the yeth boy kicked at the ground in frustration and glowered.
“Parent-children relationships amongst the yeth are fraught with such things,” Alyssa said. “Sentinel knows my own mother and I have had our share of arguments about little or nothing over the years. Even now, she’s the main reason I—”
She snapped her mouth shut and glanced away. Callan watched her for a moment. He recalled a time not too long ago when this very yeth woman claimed her own mother had ordered her into his bed. He shifted uncomfortably at the thought.
“You still haven’t told me what this secret agenda of yours is, you know,” he said.
A wry smile spread across Alyssa’s face, “And at this rate, I never will.”
“Aw, c’mon aunty Alyssa!” Lisson said, “It isn’t like it’s a big secret. Most anyone in town could have told him the details already.”
“I know, nephew, and the fact it hasn’t occurred to the avatar to ask around tells me more than anything that he really isn’t a yeth.”
“Excuse me,” Callan said. “The ‘not-yeth’ is standing right here. Care to tell me what you’re talking about?”
Alyssa’s smile widened. Instead of answering, she said, “Perhaps. But you still haven’t told us, either, you know. If you’re not a yeth, what are you? Some new creation of the gods?”
“Trueborn human,” Callan said without even hesitating. Alyssa laughed.
“Fine, if you don’t want to tell us, don’t. But such a ridiculous lie isn’t going to fool anyone.”
“I’m not lying!”
The yeth woman rolled her eyes and turned to Lisson. “You see, nephew? With whom else in the village could I possibly have this much fun? Other than you and my mother I’m practically an outcast.”
“You should tell him, auntie. The avatar is nice!”
“I suppose you are right.” Giving her nephew a comforting smile, she turned back to Callan. “If you had thought to simply ask the other villagers, Callan, like a true yeth would have, you’d have learned that I’ve been trying to get out of this village for nearly two decades.”
“Really? Why?”
“Why not?” Alyssa shrugged. “All I’ve ever known is this plateau. I want to go into the wider world, to see places where more than a few dozen people scratch out an existence. Cities, mountains, the ocean. There’s so much more to the world, and I want a chance to see it all before I’m called up the Cairn.”
Callan nodded at this. “I’m guessing your mother doesn’t hold to the idea?”
“What, you mean the woman that’s kept this village in forced isolation for nearly six decades? The same woman that lies to everyone about our village’s origin and purpose? The same woman that’s so delusional she’ll ignore her own son’s treason? Is that who we’re talking about?”
“Uh, yeah, I guess.”
Alyssa ground her teeth. “When I was seventeen, I tried to leave. Set out on my own. Almost made it to the edge of the plateau before the search party my mother had made of the entire village found me and hauled me back. Ever since then I’ve played the dutiful daughter, letting her think that I intend to spend the rest of my life here. But I’ve never forgotten my dream. And one day, when my mother is old and weak and thinks it is time to pass the reins of the village on to me...” Her lips pulled back into a rictus smile. “Then I intend to laugh in her face and walk out of this village a free woman at last.”
“Seems like a long time to wait for petty revenge,” Callan noted. “Why not just leave again now? Between the trouble with Veritas and your brother’s rebellion, I doubt your mother would notice in time to drag you back again.”
“I have considered it, believe me.” Alyssa looked out the door at nothing in particular. An awkward silence hung in the air.
Finally, the woman shook her head. “But I cannot. Too many other obligations hold me here for the moment.”
“Such as Rym?” Callan guessed. Alyssa gave a start.
“What do you mean?”
“I know you’re the one providing him with his flux. Isn’t that why you and Falchion were—” Callan remembered Lisson’s presence at the last second and gave a quick cough. “Well, you know.”
“Hmm. You are more perceptive than I gave you credit, Avatar. For a non-yeth, anyway.”
“Uh, thanks... I think.” Callan took another drink of water, handed the cup back to Alyssa and shot Lisson a smile. “I’ll talk to you both later. Lots still to do in order to get this place battle ready. Though let’s hope it doesn’t come to that.”
“Yes, let’s.” Alyssa nodded after him, then turned back to her forge. Callan’s attention swiveled back to Lisson. “Listen, don’t worry about your dad. I’m sure he cares about you, even if he is a bit gruff.”
“Th-thanks, Avatar.”
“Callan. You can still call me Callan, you know.”
The boy nodded. As he turned away, Xeph’s voice rang in Callan’s head.
That was nice of you to lie to the yeth boy like that.
“I wasn’t—it wasn’t an intentional lie, Xeph.”
Hmm. Regardless, it seems we have learned even more about this village’s inhabitants. Though sometimes I wish we would not. Every new revelations makes me worry more for our long-term prospects in bringing these yeth into the fold.
Callan chuckled and shook his head. “Leave it to you to always keep your eye on the prize.”
I don’t have eyes, mortal.
“Yeah, yeah.”