image [https://i.im.ge/2024/05/01/Zyap1m.chapter-33.webp]
----------------------------------------
Gage walked back to the tent. It was agony. He wanted to run back as fast as he could. The moment he had stepped into the alleys he noticed the kumdahari that walked them. It’s like when you get a new car and start seeing it everywhere, only you don’t know if its going to try and kill you. He snorted at that. The absurdity of it all.
He was a godling, something he still hadn’t fully accepted but was getting more used to conceptually, running from another godling. Race definitely played a part in this. While Xarax did not have the full support of the kumdahari, he did have some considerable numbers. Gage on the other hand had only his friends. Eight in total if he counted his dog and Ma’tuk. Sure, Kin had followers, but Gage didn’t have the connection with the followers themselves. Why would they risk themselves and their survival to protect him from a newfound faith? Besides, Gage wouldn’t ask such a thing of them. Though he was beginning to regret not speaking on his own, godly behalf to them.
Besides, Kin was known for his healing. Xarax was known for the sands. Gage was not limited to healing, he could shapeshift. He still felt like a newbie to it, but he could do it and it wasn’t something Kin was known for. Which stood to reason that Xarax had a few tricks up his sleeves that could spring at any moment. Gage still wasn’t a fighter either and while Xarax had seemed very relaxed during their meeting, he still came from more of a warrior and hunter culture than Gage had.
Gage was about halfway across the bazaar that housed Rosehip’s stall when he heard someone call out to him. He froze and looked around to see the mouse-woman herself smiling and waving at him from her counter. Gage quieted the thumping of his heart and walked over. “Hello Rosehip… Oh! Right, the blessings. I was supposed to do that this evening.”
“Oh, don’t worry about that just yet, you have all day! No, I was going to ask how it went?” Gage felt his face tighten and eyes go wide as he stared at Rosehip. Her face wrinkled in concern, “This morning? The memorial? Gage, are you all right?”
“Right! Right, the memorial. Oh, and you have a tab! Um, no. Things aren’t too great now. I apologize for the abruptness, have you seen Faelenor? Ma’tuk went to find them earlier and I need it.” Gage snapped his mouth shut after his rambling.
Rosehip pushed a cup of broth into his hands. “Drink. Calm yourself now. Oye hasn’t seen the little one, but we’re in a calm period. Oye’ll send the boys out to find the two of them while oye get you back to your tent. Drink your broth and wait here.”
Gage stared down into his cup, his eyes unfocused on the liquid inside. His mind was blank, that blessed, truly empty, not thinking state of mind. He blinked, letting his thoughts flow once more as he felt a hand on his arm. “The boys are out looking for Faelenor and Ma’tuk. Are you ready?” Rosehip’s voice reached his ears.
Tipping the cup back, Gage downed the broth. A comforting warmth poured into his stomach. “Yeah, I’m ready.” He turned with Rosehip, and they moved on towards his tent. The walk was silent but comforting, Rosehip walking along with him. Gage looked around as they walked. The path and the people along it had become familiar over the last few months.
When they got to the tent, Gage held the flap open for Rosehip and she stepped in. He followed behind her. Rashani, Eiravela, and Zyme were seated at the table. Rosehip and Gage removed their shoes and were just stepping up to the table when the tent flap rustled again. Aeliana and Sarnai stepped in, a sharp look on Aeliana’s face. Right behind them was Elfric, who looked hot, sweaty, and confused.
Aeliana quickly ushered Elfric to sit at the table before taking a seat. Rashani stood to help Sarnai, the both of them serving each of those seated with some broth. Everyone was looking to Gage. When Elfric opened his mouth, Aeliana raised a hand and looked towards the tent flap. Faelenor, looking concerned, came stumbling in with Ma’tuk and Eshu right behind them. Two mouse-men poked their heads in behind the child. Rosehip gave them a nod, which they returned before they slipped back out of the tent.
“Now, we may interrupt the harmony.” Aeliana spoke as Faelenor took the last seat. Ma’tuk moved to hover over Gage’s shoulder while Eshu wiggled his way under the table.
“Interrupt the harmony?” Elfric quipped with some annoyance. “What is going on? I was out on a hunt when Sarnai came up out of nowhere and all but dragged me back here. My party is not happy. They have to move onto easier prey or they’re going to lose the day without me.”
You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.
“What is going on, actually?” Gage looked around the table. “I mean, this makes it easier, I really need to talk to you, but it feels like you were expecting this.”
Aeliana let out a soft, resigned sigh. “This one would ask, what do you know about the alajin, Gage’kin? About why the alajin are often the subject of… mistrust?” When Gage shook his head, Aeliana continued. “Our kind is often called ‘witches’. Especially those of us whose abilities are often misunderstood.”
Aeliana paused and Eiravela put their hand over Aeliana’s to offer comfort, who reached over and patted it with their own free hand in turn. “This one is a spirit medium. Since the new world, even the spirits have been in chaos. To speak with them is as a conversation held with a gale blowing through the trees. Until sanctuary was made here.”
Everyone at the table was silent, watching Aeliana carefully. “The ancestors of the kumdahari remain, anchored by their Respected. They impose order here. The Respected is their voice, so the kumdahari are lead not by the living, but by those who have come and gone. They learn from the past better than anyone else. Or, at least they did.”
“Today, I managed to get a clear message. The ancestors are disappearing. They do not know how, or why. They believe it has to do with this new god their people are starting to worship, Xarax. The ancestors also warn that Xarax is not happy with Kin. It was then that this one heard the kumdahari known as the Son of Sand wished to speak to you, Gage’kin.”
All eyes turned to Gage, “Well, uh, yeah. He invited me to speak with him.” He turned his eyes down to his cup and sipped his broth. “Though, invited is a kind way of putting it. The Son of Sand is the first to be devoted to Xarax, like I am to Kin. To shorten the story, he basically demanded that Kin bows to Xarax or, how should I say… He will remove Kin’s worship? At least that is the impression I got.”
No one said a word. Gage looked around the table. Elfric looked angry. The adult alajin kept neutral but tense faces. Faelenor showed shock, eyes wide and mouth hanging open, while Rosehip looked pensively into her cup.
“So… that was my morning.” Gage let his frustration out with a sigh. “Look, I’m a healer and I’m not going to subject myself to a one-sided arrangement. But, like I said, I am fairly certain that it is a join or…” He trailed off before drinking his broth. “I… I think I am leaving.”
Gage jumped a little as something wet pressed against his knee. Looking down, Eshu had wiggled to his side of the table and shoved his snoot out. With a half-smile, he reached down and reached under the table to pet the dog.
“Then I am going with you, my friend.” Gage looked up at Elfric, who had spoken.
“The sentiment is noble, my friend, but perhaps a little misplaced.” Gage smiled ruefully at Elfric. “I’ve been working with my gifts, and I can literally change myself for survivability in the desert. It would be safer for everyone, if I leave, and then come back for others after I find the way out of this desert. I… I won’t even be taking Eshu.”
Gage turned wet eyes to Aeliana and then to Faelenor. “Traversing the desert would be too dangerous for him, so I would leave him here with you Faelenor. You two have bonded well and there isn’t anyone else I would trust him with.” Gage rubbed the dog’s ear.
“Of course, Gage’kin! It would be a pleasure to take care of him.” Faelenor blurted out, then looked to Aeliana, who nodded permission to the child.
“Before anything else, I still need to speak with Hye-jun. So I doubt I will be leaving before tonight. I know it’s not much time, but… Something tells me sooner is better than later.” Gage pushed himself to his feet. “I’ll be back in a bit.”
Those still at the table began talkit. Gage noticed Aeliana lighting an odd-looking candle as he stepped out. The walk was not as harrowing for him as it had been to get to Rosehip’s stall, but it was not as comfortable as it had been with Rosehip to the tent either. Now, Gage felt a little empty and sad. It was not quite home, but it had been as close as he could have gotten in this desert. He had been lucky to meet those he had. If not for any of them, Gage was uncertain he would have survived.
"Ma'tuk? Am I doing the right thing?" Gage kept his eyes where he was going as he voiced the question.
The orb was uncharacteristically silent for a moment. "Perhaps. Perhaps not. It is hard to say, my Lord. Subservient pantheons are not unheard of. They have happened before. Usually with who ever is at the top taking most of the faith of those beneath them. A god rarely, if ever flourishes under such circumstances. They tend to be able to do little for their followers and have to go to the heads of the pantheon and ask for assistance."
"That doesn't sound too terrible... but," Gage took his hand and put it to his opposite forearm. He ran a thumb over the scales he had given himself. "Fairly limiting, eh? Can't do as much for myself or for those who worship me. Fighting isn't an option?"
"I did not meet the Son of Sand, but from what I have heard, I do not think he would play fair. He would try to wear you down before even considering letting you close. A holy war is perhaps not the best way of starting off your rule either."
Gage watched the people's faces as he walked. "If I fight him, then the people will most likely suffer as well." The orb's silence spoke volumes. Gage nodded, "Then I find them somewhere safe and come back for them."
The walk to the healer’s hut was long and tense. When he arrived, he stopped out front and took a breath. “Hey Daja Hye-jun… No, that won’t work. Um. Daja Hye-jun, about that time off…? She will whack me if I say that.” He paused and closed his eyes. Steeling himself, Gage pushed aside the tent flap and walked in.
A coldness gripped him as he looked across the tent. Hye-jun was crumpled on the floor, her skin discolored with bruises. Her hair was a disheveled mess instead of the nice, neat bun she wore. Blood was splattered about on the silk around her.
“Daja!”