Chapter 7: For Love (Part 2!)
Amir once loved Galataii, a Tripolian General. He had hoped that Bolato and Skaldi would be spared from such heartbreak.
The couple was surrounded by shadows and arcaded rooms of the cathedral. Skaldi and Bolato weren’t speaking, but a conversation was going on. A series of tough glances and wincing looks pried open Skaldi to speak first.
“What is it?”
“Sweetie, what were you thinking?” Bolato kept his eyes off the elf, but still maintained confidence.
“Look. I just wanted to beat her.” Skaldi sheepishly defended.
“Beat her in what? In being the biggest fool?”
“Yeah. Yeah. I just want to be better than her is all.”
“Skaldi. I know you have something to prove and that's fine. Spite, or hatred is cool and all. But you can’t lose your temper in front of the kid.” Skaldi sighed, and held his hands together. The elf’s fists clammed into his chest.
“Sorry.” Bolato saw him in an ashamed state. Half of him wanted to hug him on the spot, the other wanted to flick him on the forehead. The former won.
“Look sweetie. I don’t normally want to make you feel bad. Hell, I think Amir being mad at you was dickish. But still. Not in front of the kid. She needs some good role models.” He spoke sweetly, brushing the hair of the redhead. Skaldi couldn’t look, but he held the large man.
“You’re right. Can we go back to looking around again?” Bolato’s face disagreed.
“Bolato, I know you’re right. I just don’t want this whole day ruined.” The large man relaxed, and held the redhead’s hand close.
“Though you’re gonna pay me back the wine, right?”
“Yeah sure.” The tense mood dispelled, they took in the various idols and ritual tools within. These cathedrals took generations to construct, but all varied across the Oligarchy. Some were skyscraping in height, others wide and low to the ground. This one was a happy medium.
Its outside was coated in a thick red, the Iozian color for passion, sport, and healing. A very sacred color. That is why they put it on any building from restaurants to pilgrimage sites. Nothing says special when it's on everything.
This particular cathedral mixed cobalt dust within its brick, forming blue arteries traveling across its body.
“Dianato. You know they were going to call this the living cathedral once.”
“Really?” Skaldi's eyes widened.
“That's the idea. The Dianato spirit was originally going to fuse into the walls, to save the precious time of its worshipers.” He smiled, clearly enjoying presenting this bit of history.
“Well it doesn’t seem alive. What happened?” The couple stumbled onto a broken bridge. Bolato raised his cheeks in disapproval.
“A combination of events. It burning down, the Optimus Saceratos at the time spending more time with girls than doing his job. The Slave revolt.”
“Plenty of bad stuff. Here I thought you Iozians were good at pleasing your god.” Skaldi snidely remarked.
“Trust me. No one loves Recor more than the Oligarchy. It's just certain events out of our control. Some might say an act of god.” Bolato snicked.
“Sure. But have you ever seen a spirit?” Skaldi tilted, goading Bolato into jealousy.
“Let me think. You got some neat miracles performed by your spirit roommates.” Bolato prodded, understanding the redhead’s desire to tell his stories.
“That's the idea. Want to hear?” Skaldi offered to which Bolato lowered his head to hear him.
“My family entertained Yuatdi, a recently summoned war spirit. He was a really big guy. Resembled a bull and a man.”
“Can I guess?” Skaldi’s brows raised.
“What do you mean?”
“Which side was which? I bet it was a lower side bull, upper side man. Was it big? Is it bigger than me?” Skaldi stuck his tongue out, wincing at the thought.
“Gross. They don’t even have stuff down there. Well… I wouldn’t know because I wouldn’t have checked.”
“Sure sweetie.” Bolato smiled teasingly.
“Whatever. But back to it, we had to get him a few objects to keep him in our realm. A few mushrooms, some silver, you know. Basic trinkets. But then he asked me something. If I could get him a date.”
“No way!”
“Yep. Turns out back in his realm, he was gonna go talk to this fertility spirit named Torati. But they both were summoned at the same time.”
“Can’t your spirits interact with each other?”
“No, not like yours. They can when in their home. But when they’re in our plane they can only interact with us.” Bolato snapped his fingers, taking the info in.
“So I had to copy down this script and give it to Torati. Eventually both of them left and I wondered what happened. A week later, Yuatdi gave me a pretty neat gift, saying that they’re getting married.” Skaldi smirked, and Bolato looked onward in envy.
“Sometimes I wonder why spirits bother with us mortals. But when I hear a story like that then it all makes sense.”
“Yep. Without them, there wouldn’t be anyone to aid us in chaos. Without us, they would have all of our tasty food. Or be a matchmaker.” Skaldi leaned onto Bolato, as white rays from the sun shone through a shattered wall.
“Kind of makes you feel insignificant, don’t it sweetie?”
“I always feel that way with you Bolato.” The pair nearing the marriage room, Skaldi looked at the writing painted on the ceiling.
“What’s that say?”
“Oh, that says… mar…marriage.” Skaldi’s ears took to blushing, as well as all parts of him.
“Skaldi.” The large man turned towards the elf.
“Yeah?”
“Want to get married?” Adjusting himself, and standing straight, the redhead nodded. Bolato began to hum a marriage tune.
“Can you not? Seriously.”
“Ok. Why don’t you sing something from your people? You must have watched a marriage ceremony at least once.”
“We don’t have marriage ceremonies. We have love fairs.” Skaldi shot back.
“Difference being?”
“One is between two people. Another is between two families.”
“So just a marriage then.” Bolato spoke, not understanding the difference.
“No. Can we just enjoy the silence? Love isn’t meant to be an explosive song. The only instruments should be the beating of the heart, the touching of hands, and the kissing of lips.”
Skaldi knew this in his soul. He hoped he would enjoy a genuine romance at this moment. Bolato was willing to provide.
“Ok Skaldi. I’ll do that. But on one condition. You have to say something sweet to me.” Skaldi continued to blush into a rogue rug.
“Is it those wedding vows Iozians have?”
“That's the idea.” Skaldi took a breath, and exhaled in preparation.
“Alright. But no songs!”
“Understood.” Bolato smirked, enjoying the elf’s flustered mood. They both walked in between the broken pews. Skaldi’s hand became moist, and he felt a tad disappointed in himself. Bolato noticed and raised his hand to kiss it. Skaldi cooled and stabilized. In the center pool, Skaldi stiffed his stance.
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“Skaldi. Will you be my husband?” Skaldi’s ears shivered in enthusiasm.
“Yes. And Bolato… will you be my super strong, really cool, annoying but level headed… husband?”
“Well when you put it like that, I do.” Bolato’s foot nudged the lever on the ground. Skaldi saw it and realized.
“Yes, you can push the lever.” Kicking it backwards, the lever activated. A hissing in the pipes emitted, and a sprinkle of holy water came out.
“I pronounce us, husband.” Skaldi closed his eyes, and summoned a beauty in voice.
“~ To you I hold. To you I struggle. To you, I love.~” Bolato needed no understanding, beyond the language of emotion. Skaldi went on his toes, and Bolato rested his hand against the elf’s ear. A union and family made. They kissed softly. A tender, comfy scene. Only for an instant, not a moment longer.
Skaldi woke up in his tent, beside his crew. It was a rough week but their work would soon begin. The terrain had finally smoothed out, along with the road. Skaldi rose, spider dexterous in his moments. Peering his head through the tent’s entrance, he looked. Daybreak rushed through the trees. The forest had some rotten trees, an earthy spicy odor spread. It woke him up harder than coffee.
“Good. Not many partols at this time.” Skaldi quickly packed up his companions' gear. Valiato woke up, along with Amir who murmured something that sounded profane. Bolato didn’t.
“Sweetpea, pass me the bowl, the dirty one.” Valiato tossed it, and Skaldi pulled out a dart. He spun in the bowl, and Bolato’s snoring ceased.
“Did-did you make breakfast?”
“Breakfast is about an hour away. Come on.”
“Eh. Close enough.” Each member took turns packing and picking. As the light turned from a foggy gray to a white, they started to march. The air around them carried no noise. Most of the trees were naked, now an ashy bark. Droplets of color loomed, found in the dead trunks low or the owls perched high. Valiato gathered the place in her mind. She hadn’t been this far west, and now she was going to see Core Civitus. Aside from Skaldi, she was the only one awake.
“~A little discipline, a little self sacrifice, a little remembering each day just what we get up for.~” Amir, had his energy raised by his child’s recitation. He joined her.
“~Yes. Remember, the devil does not sleep at noon.~” He turned to Skaldi, who kept a steady pace. “~The boy already knows this. Keep that in your mind and you will be bounding out of bed.~” Skaldi couldn’t see his face, but knew there was a smile behind his turban. The redhead continued determinedly.
“When we sell this wine, we can get some breakfast. Or maybe we can cook something.” The elf was used to fasting, the others weren’t.
“What are you thinking? I’m thinking of bread and crab cake, with cod sauce.” Bolato had an alliance with all water borne animals. Of course, his navy badge of a tour agreed.
“Suppose it’ll depend on whether it's a feast day or not.” Skaldi considered.
“Oh yeah. We can eat veggies any day but meat gets expensive if it ain’t on one.” Bolato reflected.
“Can’t we just steal it?” Valiato piped up. Her stomach pleaded for an affirmation. Skaldi struggled to reject it.
“No sweetpea. Everyone is going through it these days. Can’t just be taking it from everyone.” Valiato placed a hand on her belly. Her eyes shone sadly.
“No worries, Valiato. I hear the Refrigerator up north is gonna open up and send out some of its grain supplies.”
“Where is it, Bola?”
“About two hundred miles north, in a city called Haliovid. Don’t worry. Our ships can clear that in two weeks.” Valiato relaxed, assured that the famine won’t be as powerful in her own life. For now. Amir’s coughs suddenly ceased.
“~See the star kid?~”
“~What sta-~” Valiato trailed off, having come face to face with a miracle. A dazzling sun rained across the plains. Both her and Skaldi were at a loss for words. Core Civitus had a spire entering into the sky, the highest point in all of the Oligarchy. Over a mile in height, it was a marvel and a treaty. Amir’s breathy coughs returned.
“See that. The Blind Magna.” Bolato remarked on it, as if reminiscing an old friend. “The Oligarch of this place made a deal with Nemesis once. The former one, a couple decades back. She built him a monument, dedicated to Recor, ironically. In exchange, he would give her all the soul gems in his possession.”
“Soul gems don’t mean much to us, but to spirits is everything.” Valiato knew that Skaldi was stunned by the display.
“Hell, have one of them and you can essentially get a wish. Give one to a war spirit, a recruit turns into as strong as a squad of veterans. A beauty one, and you’ll be able to modify your appearance however you choose. Small wonders, but ever powerful. Shame they’re so rare.” Valiato heard the redhead’s explanation, and took great time to understand it.
“How many are out there?” She queried, hoping the odds of coming across one would be in the one out ten range.
“Souls aren’t exactly common sweetpea. A soul needs to be powerful enough first, let alone contain an object valuable enough.”
“But aren’t they gems?”
“It's more of a convention. A bone of a prophet to a major religion could contain a soul. So can a unrotting blade of grass. Gems are more likely yes, but not the only way. If it contains a soul, it's a soul gem. And there's no process to make them. It just happens.” Skaldi knelt down to Valiato, and pressed her face to his.
“It can happen to anyone. A farmer, miner, or merchant. Great power from dying, there is.” They picked up their pace, as Valiato looked at the many headstones and memorials of people long passed. She stared upward to the star. How many souls to dedicate to a god? That was what she thought.
The gate was modest compared to what they had all seen. The guard’s eyes dropped, and some tilted their helmets to cover their sleeping eyes.
“~Almost a good thing we didn’t get that cart. Would have needed an alibi.~” Amir coughed out.
“What was the plan for getting the cart inside Ska?” Valiato translated.
“Just use the documents the trader had. Soldiers don’t have to read.” He pompously claimed.
“Nah, that's changing too. Back in that grain factory, I talked to the centurion there. Turns out Oligarch Alexios is making literacy compulsory in order to get higher ranks. We’re gonna see a lot more soldiers reading comics that's for sure.” Bolato held his magazine, Skaldi hummed in disappointment.
“We ought to get you some more reading material, aside from what Amir’s been feeding you.” Valiato groaned.
“Why do I have to be the translator for you guys? I just want to hit some birds now and again.”
“No worries sweetpea. We’re gonna do something fun today.” He saw the morning decorators placing banners and flyers across the buildings.
“That's the idea. The Concert of Combat is going on in the arena today.” Bolato’s voice rose. His smile rose, excited to participate.”
“Still, sell the wine, get some grub, and then we get a slot in the show.” Skaldi listed, intending on making sure the schedule was clear to them.
“Can I use my rocks on them?” Valiato giggled in a sadistic glee.
“No. We’re here to get some money, not hurt people.” Skaldi commanded Valiato, who shoved her sling back into her pack.
“Aw.”
“Don’t worry sweetpea. You’ll get to ‘hurt’ people and get paid for it.” Skaldi rested his hand on her shoulder.
“Why don’t we sell the wine to the arena organizers? They’d kill for what we got.” Bolato scrubbed his belly in discomfort.
“Now we’re thinking. Let’s get there.” A cohort of entertainers surrounded the arena. Some of them were chubby, not even discomforted by the food shortage. Valiato tied the ends of her gloves hard, intimidated by the gladiators. Bolato was not.
“Hey sir! We have some wine that might sell well.” The organizer was a short hairless man, and tasted the wine with a ladle. He groaned in pleasure.
“That's some good stuff, soldier. How are the seas?”
“Not pleasant. But I managed to shatter the enemy’s mast, and I secured a month's vacation.” Bolato spoke the truth, from seven years ago.
“Ah. I fought some years ago when I was a lad. Have you heard of the Battle of Cryhii Bridge?”
“Everyone in the navy knows that. Were you there?”
“Yes son, under Oligarch Damocles. He was a wonderful fighter. Shame about his ambition. It's good wine you got. I’ll take it for ten brass. I’ll give you some elite seats, even for your Tripol there.”
“How about ten brass and you let us into the show. We got some good acts. Need a bad guy? We got an old patriarch and his prisoner?” Bolato postured to the father and daughter pair. Amir knew he was marketing him as a villain. It was insensitive but necessary if they were to get the money they needed. The organizer rubbed his chin and took to clicking his tongue.
“Can’t have you as the main act… how about you guys join the melee? Come up with a team name and we’ll put you in. Get top eight and you’ll get two thousand gold extra.” Skaldi clapped his hands together excitedly. Bolato took another look at Valiato.
“You sure we can’t join the main act? Red here can do some excellent darts.” Bolato said.
“Sorry son. I would, but nothing you could offer would beat the main act. We’re doing a retelling of Cryhii actually. Though we can’t use the tornado prop from last year, we got something else.”
“What do you mean?” Skaldi stepped beside Bolato, concerned that they managed to find a replacement for a tornado.
“You’ll see. Now are you in or not?” Bolato shrugged at the team and shook hands with the organizer. A handful of coins dropped into his paw hands.
“Who’s up for some Kai chicken?” Everyone except Amir cheered. He raised a single eyebrow, knowing that Bolato had forgotten about him.
“And some… noodles?”
“~What did he say kid?~” Amir queried.
“~Noodles.~”
“~... that is good too.~”
The party went to a nearby restaurant and ate a filling breakfast. A main dish of half a chicken with cod sauce on the side landed on their table. Skaldi and Bolato shared a dessert of apple slices, while Valiato and Amir ate from a bowl of garlic noodles. Steam rose around them and gave this winter atmosphere a much needed heat. They finished quickly, and paid quickly.
It had been a while since Skaldi and Amir took part in a concert of this notoriety. It would take some mediation in order to strengthen themselves against insult and conflict. The team could begin to hear the crowds outside starting to enter. The day passed slowly, and each member held their bated breath.
“~Ready Valiato?~” She nodded and held close to Amir.
“Don’t worry about the audience. You’re just here to entertain them.” Skaldi repeated this to himself, to instill clarity of goal in his mind.
“Hey sweetie?”
“Yes Bolato?”
“Is that them?” Both of their eyes came to the same sight. Lai and Chakrit entering into the arena. They were the main act. Skaldi struggled to maintain composure.
“You know what? It's fine. It doesn’t bother me. I won’t let it-” Then the following figure threw him off balance. Three people made the act, but this one was not normal. It was familiar but disquieting. It was a disturbance, ready to entertain.
“Is that a scarecrow?”