The company stopped around lunch time to rest, as well as feed and water the horses. Yarro stood by the river with his own lunch. It overlooked rolling grassy hills, with a cool wind that gently blew across this face. In a nearby cluster of trees, birds chirped, clearly curious of the human visitors. The sky had turned a light blue, mostly clear with only a few clouds rolling by. When he was done with his lunch, he took off his boots, and dipped his feet in the water. An initial chilliness but only a moment passed before the cool water flowing over his feet had relaxed him more than any breathing techniques taught or supportive words could be uttered.
All elementalists felt a connection to their element, and most people don’t want to be separate from their element. It was an extension of themselves. Air elementalists often kept the windows open, even in the dead of winter. Earth elementalists loved to get their hands dirty, working in areas that connect them to the earth, like the mines, or a farm or garden. It's why Dawic had as many earth elementalists, because many of them moved there or were influenced by the environment.
Fire elementalists, though illegal and dangerous to oneself to always carry a flame in their hand, tend to subconsciously raise the temperature of the air around them. This often fluctuated with their emotions if not trained properly. Water elementalists will often carry a water skin on their person if they weren't working in or by the water, or even take plenty of long baths if no other option presented itself. Yarro's mother had told him that when he was just a few months old, she would often put him in a tub of water whenever he got upset.
Standing in the water, Yarro’s thoughts drifted back to his fight with the Master Earth Elemental. It seemed hopeless trying to fight that ginormous thing even with the army. It had burst from the mines as if the rocks were nothing but wet paper, and had immediately started fighting. It almost seemed like it was targeting those who were inside the mines, or, even more stranger, those in charge of the mines. Looking back, it seemed weirdly focused on Governor Erica. His mind thought back to the entrance, where even when it was dark he saw splotches of dried blood everywhere. His stomach began to churn.
A heavy pat on the back brought Yarro back from his thoughts. He turned his head to see who touched him. It was only Kael with his reassuring smile. “Oh, I didn’t hear you come up,” Yarro said.
“I noticed you were looking a little down on the way over. Are you holding up alright?” Kael looked at him with a slight pity in his eyes.
Yarro turned back to the landscape in front of him. Its scenery calmed him. The river that lapped over his bare feet grounded him in the present. He took in a deep breath, as the birds chip in a few nearby trees, and exhaled. “I will be. Eventually.” Yarro was silent for a moment. He wondered if he should say it, but something about Kael just made him want to speak out. “I just keep wondering if there was something else I could have done. I should have stayed. I should have helped.”
“Then we wouldn’t have known about this," Kael said, as if it was a simple matter-of-fact statement. "We'd have a rampaging Master Elemental and an empty town. It would have done untold amounts of damage to other parts of the country before we found out. You did what you could. It wasn't your fault.” Kael looked at him, but his own eyes refused to meet. The river trickled on by and a burst of wind blew past the two of them. Kael brushed the hair out of his eyes and continued to stare at him. Yarro only then nodded, but still looked unconvinced.
Yarro held out his hand over the river, and watched as a sliver of water rose up to meet his hand. It ever so slightly wobbled and rotated in on itself until it formed a ball. The light of the sun shone through and reflected on his breastplate and a few drops fell as he cut off the source from the orb. In the ball was one of the small fishes that had been nibbling at his feet. Yarro sighed and let it splash back into the river, watching as it swam away. “I could have done more though. I should be able to do more. What good am I as a Peacekeeper if I can't even do my job?”
“You did do your job though. You alerted the army, as you should have.”
Yarro shook his head. “My job was to the town. A town that is now gone.”
“You can still do your job by getting the rest of them,” Kael said. He played up a small, reassuring smile. "We know where they went. We just need to get there."
They both took in the scenery of the open plain in silence. Yarro allowed the coolness of the water to soak his feet and relieve it of its aches. He may have been soaking wet the other day but that was involuntary and it was completely different from being in his element on purpose, with an intent to calm down.
Kael was right, in a way. He just needed to get permission as soon as possible to head to Gestassi, and with a stronger company. They could take down the Master Elemental and stop it from following after Dawic's residents. Just going over the plan made Yarro feel a bit more confident in himself. His mood lifted just a bit. He was lost in thought for what felt like a long time.
"You know... You're not as bad of a guard as I thought you'd be," Kael said with a bit of a smirk.
Yarro acted surprise to keep the joke going, but he couldn't help but feel ticked off at the wording. "And what's that supposed to mean?"
The man began to move his hands wildly in a defensive manner. Yarro must have spoken more harshly than he intended. "Nothing! Nothing at all! I just mean, I expected a guard to be a little more, ehh... decorative. That's all. I though I'd need to protect you, which is why I kept yo so close in the beginning."
"Wooow. I see how it is. OK then."
"But! You really saved us back there in the mines, y'know. With that little water trick on all those eyeballs. You're more skilled than I realized, and for that, I apologize."
"I'm not sure how much of a compliment that is, but I'll take it," Yarro chuckled. Kael grinned back and that's when a whistle rang through the air. Time to continue their journey back to Rylin. Yarro sighed and reluctantly put on his boots.
The company was back on the road within a few minutes, taking the same slow pace as this morning. Yarro and Kael were riding behind Commander Veer, like before. They were in no particular rush. Everyone who got out should be safe for now.
Commander Veer seemed to think the Master Earth Elemental was some mindless thing, out rampaging because “that’s what it does,” and humans should easily be able to out-smart it. With Governor Erica at the helm, those who escaped should be safe, and either be well hidden or have already out maneuvered it and are heading back home.
Yarro didn’t follow the same line of thinking as she did. When he fought the entity, something about it felt targeted. He could feel its rage. Thinking back, it could be it might have been prioritizing certain things or even people perhaps. But what could a Master Earth Elemental be prioritizing? Why would it have rage? Though it was suspicious that such a huge elemental came up from seemingly nowhere. He wished he knew how old the mines were. And how Governor Erica didn’t know one like it was residing there. The mines wouldn't have been approved if anyone know about it.
A few more hours of riding later and they arrived at the city gates. “Kael, Aster, and Yarro. Follow me to the Queen. The rest of you back to the barracks.” Yarro heard a chorus of “Yes Madam” as the company split up. On their way to the castle, he caught the looks of some citizens.
He was not in the same uniform as the rest of the company that surrounded him, nor his guard uniform, so he wondered what they all thought. Yarro was still wearing his standard issue breastplate from the guards, so maybe a deserter? It's not desertion if your boss specifically asked for you to leave and get help. But they didn't know that. Some of them even glared at him! He knew things were tense with Obraria, but no fighting had begun yet. There wouldn't be anything to desert.
The group made it to the front of the castle in 10 minutes. They left their horses up front and entered through the large open doors. Standing in front chatting with someone was a rather ceremonially decorated guard. Blue wool pants and a long sleeve shirt under a linked chain armor. Iron, obviously, but polished and shone to the point it looked like silver. It was underlain with gold that was made to peak out at the edges of every sheet of the armor. It looked sort of gaudy in Yarro’s opinion. The center of the chest piece was raised in the image of a stag. Clasped to his shoulders was the matching blue cape, also underlain with gold.
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Yarro imagined if he turned around, there would be the image of a golden stag on it as well. The man bore no helmet either, and he began to wonder what was his purpose if he was dressed up in such an impractical way that guarding was out of the question. And if he was guarding, Yarro had no doubt he himself would be much better at it with his mere breastplate. He hoped that the guard wasn't at least assigned to guard the Queen. She didn't need to deal with a useless guard on top of all her other work.
He mumbled to Kael, "Is that what you were thinking of when you heard I was a guard?" Kael only answered with a snigger.
This decorative man in blue and gold marched straight up to Commander Veer. "Commander Veer and company?"
She bowed her head ever so slightly. More of a sign of acknowledgment than a deference of rank. The guard casually bowed in response. “Yes, with the guard stationed from Dawic,” she said with a simple head motion to Yarro.
“Queen Illa herself told me to bring you to her the moment you arrived. This way.” The guard turned around. Yarro was right in his guess and he had to hold back a snort at how loud the entire outfit was. This was how the queen dressed her guards? The ones sworn to lay down their life for her? No wonder the assassin almost succeeded a few years ago.
He thought things would change and her personal guards would be more effective. Apparently not. As they were being led to the throne chamber, Yarro kept an eye out for similarly dressed guards but saw none. The guards stationed around the castle were much more practical. Which made him question the effectiveness of the guard leading them. Was he a low ranking guard then? How pitiable.
The supposed "guard" opened the door to the throne room, not even bothering to knock. Some other guards closed it behind them once everyone had entered. Many eyes turned to them. Including the Queen. The room itself was long. Marbled flooring and wallpaper the same colors as the guards. It had a tall ceiling with matching tall windows. Huge golden chandeliers hung on long golden chains, flames flickering.
Both sides of the walls were occupied with seating. On the opposite end was the Queen on her throne. In front of her and to the side was a judge, listening to a case, and behind her was was and older lady with glasses and a low bun. She sat in a simpler chair, with a cane that rested against the arm rest. And situated in the center for all to see, who Yarro presumed, a criminal and their lawyer. The criminal herself was handcuffed, and surrounded by spikes pointing towards her neck that jutted out from the marble. She had perhaps tried to escape or assaulted someone before at one point. One wrong move and all of the spikes would jut through her like a skewer.
The guard that directed them stood by the door, and so did the company. The judge set down the paper they were reviewing. “On 17 different counts of murder, you are found guilty of 15 of them. Your punishment is thereby, in accordance with the royal laws, a beheading at dawn tomorrow. Does the Queen have any objections?” the judge asked.
The Queen was silent for a moment. These sorts of severe cases were few enough that the Queen was lawfully obligated to review all evidence and testimony presented. The law was there to be sure that such severe cases were followed to the letter of the law, and such menaces were not brought back into society. The whole court looked at her, holding their breath. On the edge of their seats. “I have no objections, Judge Linde,” she said at last. And that was that.
The judge nodded, and brought down his hammer. “The sentence for Aria Kimmel, for 15 different counts of murder, is hereby decreed and officiated by myself, Judge Linde and approved by Queen Illa. She is to be beheaded at dawn, tomorrow, the 17th of Tulip of the 803rd year of the Listhuanian dominion.”
The guards on the side then moved next to the criminal, removed the spiked marble weapons, and dragged her out the door. The company moved to the side to let them pass more easily. “Court dismissed,” Judge Linde boomed his voice so it was heard everywhere in the room. The folks in the seat stood up to leave and slowly began to file out the same way they came in. The lawyer and the judge began to collect their papers, jesting a bit as they did so, before following the line out.
Once it was all clear, and no one but the Queen, the older lady, and a few guards remained, were they allowed to approach the throne. Now up close he could see it was the Lord Marshal who sat beside the Queen. “Come forward,” said the Queen. The decorated guard stepped forward first, then Commander Veer behind him. Then, he, Kael, and Aster followed. Once they were near the foot of the throne, the Guard formally bowed. The company and Commander Veer formally bowed after him as well.
“Your Majesty. Commander Veer, and part of her company, has arrived,” the guard said, then stepped to the side, his arms still behind his back and eyes staring straight ahead. His body was as stiff as a board. He must have been trying to blend in to the wall but his ostentatious armor didn’t allow it.
“What news do you bring?” The Queen went straight to business. She stared at Commander Veer, studying her deeply. Judging her as she judged the criminal before them. Yarro’s heartbeat rose. What if she was displeased that they couldn’t bring the Master Earth Elemental down? Would she allow them to go after it?
Commander Veer cleared her throat. “We were not able to destroy the Master Earth Elemental. The town was found empty as well, except for an elderly couple that hid in their cell. I suspect half of Dawic was crushed before the other half was able to escape. We have tracks leading southwest of footprints in both human nature as well as a large size of the Master Earth Elemental. The elderly couple that survived said the rest of the town went to Gestassi for safety.”
“I suppose you want to send your company to Gestassi to destroy it there?” the Queen asked. She impatiently tapped her fingers on the arm of her chair. It sounded like she had already heard of this report and had nothing new to learn.
“Yes, Your Majesty. But there’s something else as well. We found regular sized earth elementals scattered around Dawic, coming from the mines there, as well as some on the way there. I split my team in two when we entered the mines. Aster in charge of the right, and my team, with Kael and Yarro, on the left. Deep, deep underground we found a...chamber of sorts, with an impression on the wall. Yarro said it looked like the size of the Earth Elemental he encountered. There was no other entrance but the one we found. No other tunnels.”
“Are you telling me it had been just sitting there for who knows how long?” Lord Marshal Eris asked in disbelief.
“Correct. At first we thought the Obrarians planted it, but it would be difficult to do without first entering Dawic's mines through the two main entrances in the town.”
Lord Marshal Eris then leaned into the Queen’s ear to whisper something. She whispered back. They whispered for a bit more before Commander Veer interrupted. “One other thing, Your Majesty.” Commander Veer winced as she talked, not wanting to interrupt the queen. Queen Illa and Lord Marshal Eris stopped their whispering and looked over. “In this chamber we found a crystal. And we thought it might be controlling the Master Earth Elemental. We managed to destroy it.”
Lord Marshal Eris frowned. “Please tell me you at least brought it back?” Commander Veer shook her head. The Lord Marshal sighed. “I’m going to have to send a someone to fetch that thing and bring it here. Maybe someone can study it.”
Queen Illa nodded. “I have a few ladies in mind.”
“Understood. Commander Veer. How long do you think it would take for you to be out on the road again?”
“Tomorrow, madam. My soldiers and horses are weary from the travel, and we need to replenish our supplies.”
The Lord Marshal nodded, but Yarro wanted to speak up before they could move on to the next topic. Dawic was his town, and he wanted to do right by it. He wanted to do everything he could to make sure every possible soul was back safe. “With all due respect, madam, may I accompany Commander Veer’s company? My heart lies in Dawic, and I would like to continue to serve the town. And to me, that means getting them back home, safe and sound.”
Lord Marshal Eris sighed, like she was tired of him talking already. He barely spoke. “Very well. But Soldier Kael, I need you to—“
The doors to the throne room burst open with a large gust of wind. The guards immediately reacted by pulling out their swords, though they relaxed them a bit, confused, at the sight of 4 elderly women. Kael stepped forward and put his hand up in a protective manner over Yarro. Two guards close to the Queen came by in front of her, the swords out as well. So many swords… Where were the elementalists? Was the kingdom in such dire straits that it depended on so many swords and physical weapons?
The one third to the right spoke first. Her hair was wild and short, she stood tall with her fists clenched, a fiery anger shown all over her face. “You dare continue to destroy nature? It’s very essence calls out in pain and yet you ignore it?”
“Who are these women? Get them out of here!” Queen Illa ordered. One of the guards by the door moved to forcefully shove the ladies out, not by using his sword, but still brandishing it just in case. They did just blow down a door. The lady who he moved towards kicked up a rather large hunk of marble and it went flying towards his head. His head then thunked against the wall. Luckily he was wearing a helmet but he might still wake up with a concussion. This elderly woman had long hair, black streaks still evident through the gray, though it was matted, and she was hunched over.
“Arrest these women!” Lord Marshal Eris commanded. More guards came up to them, and surrounded them.
“You wonder why your empire is failing? It’s because you corrupt everything you touch. From the soil to the air, it seeps into the oceans and corrupts them too!” The one next to the tall one spoke. Hair long, and straight down. Wide hips.
“You're a greedy woman! Your greed knows no bounds, and your careless disregard for the spiritual life of those around you will be your legacy, as your castle sits upon ruins in a wasteland,” the last one spoke.
"...Spiritual life?" the Queen mumbled. She then stood up, fully offended at this point. “You dare speak baseless prophecies against me? Your Queen? Arrest these Obrarian spies! At once!”
The last one continued to speak. “You are not our Queen. We merely speak the truth.” As the woman said that, all four of them began to glow. Steady at first, and almost not visible, but the glowing got brighter, and brighter. Until they were all so bright and blinding that Yarro had to look away.
The light reflected off the golden chandeliers in the room, magnificent rainbows sparkled of the shining floor. Anything that shined already, like armor, reflected the same rainbows until the entire room was dazzling. It got so bright at one point, the outside looked like it had gone dark. Yarro had to close his eyes and even then he could still see the glow off the backs of his eyelids.