In the eastern quarter of her city at the market stands, she picked the finest fruits she could find and placed them carefully and delicately into the basket, she knew the seers to be picky and loved all manners of well prospered fruits unlike shamans, so they preferred them as offerings and it suited the common folk who could not afford much, yet it puzzled and bothered Lotara, she knew they did not need to eat, she knew they only liked the fruits as it made them seem normal and appease their inner hunger for destruction that all their kind carries, the presence they hold in their sanctuary gave her discomfort so much and often that she would take her brother in law whenever she had visited, her husband would tease if he had known of her reasoning, and if she brought Xao, the commander would joke and she would have none of the two, so she turned to her brother in law, a silent guardian with a presence that often made her look behind her own back, but it was all due to his eyes and his cruelty, for deep down he was still loyal and swift with the sword.
"Does it look good?" The queen asked Azar as she held out the basket for him to see.
He took a quick peek, shrugged his shoulders and said coldly. "It looks fine, your highness."
She sighed and forced a smile, he was difficult to talk with and she did not blame him, he was simply that way and too wrapped up in his own thoughts, or so she would assume for she was the same, ever since what Xao had told her, she was anxious, she felt eyes in every corner, she heard hushed whispers during her sleep, plotting at every table, she was driven mad by her fears of poison and backstabbing to a point where she would not eat nor sleep again, to her luck Solya forced her to break her fast alongside her, they supped and dined whilst Xao promised to either find the city's traitor or discover the method in which the line of communication was sabotaged, the guards were stationed carefully in the keep and some were ordered to tail Valerius.
As for Azar he stayed near her bed chambers at all times, the same sword he used to slice Talim was strapped to his waist adoring his brown velvet doublet and black leather shoes, the same clothing he dressed today as he accompanied her to the market and soon enough to the temple of the shamans.
A warmer day than before, the sun spilled both its light and heat across the city and land and seemingly melted those who dare stand long enough in its might, there was a small breeze every now and then, rustling through the hanging bones around the stands as they softly clanked against one another, an ominous melody that she had not grown used to, And as they made their way through the crowds, she kept basket close to her side and Azar right at her shoulder, her sandals and his boots pressing gently against the dry crusted soil and leaving crumbs of golden dirt behind them that would soon be blown to the side by the wind, that same breeze halted at the walls of the construct they soon reached, as all life did for time and space seemed to be frozen near that building, it was the only building built with stones but not any stone, it was black cobblestones dug out from the secret city of the Torag, the maze, the stones themselves carried old magic or so it was rumored.
She could not take another step as she looked up the building, she gulped and slightly trembled, she feared the unknown and had no spirit for adventure unlike her husband and daughters and in-laws, adventures and the such brought only pain, suffering and death, her thoughts were interrupted by the sudden wind that blow through the doubled iron doors and broke them open, seemingly inviting her to an impending doom, she was startled and almost fell back but instead she bumped into Azar and looked up to him.
"If you don't wanna go then let's leave, your highness... Otherwise I'm right here with you." Her brother-in-law reassured her, bloodied eyes cold as a winter breeze yet his words felt warmer than she would have believed them to be for a split second.
Lotara stood away and smiled softly in shame. "Worry not, chieftain Azar... I merely do not like to tangle with sorcery unless needed."
"It's only words, your highness, they will do you no harm." Azar doubted, he had no love nor belief for sorcery and matters of the other world, he only believed in what he could see, he was almost maimed once by his father for publicly denying the gods, and despite never declaring it again, she was certain that his beliefs remained the same.
Nevertheless, they made their way inside and the doors shut close behind them, a soft kiss of the chilling air met her skin, the black stones of the maze kept the air damp, cold and moist so much that the walls were seemingly crying over the flickering flames who stood at each side.
Around them were many rooms with curtains instead of doors and smoke slipping through the gaps and into the main corridor, there was no windows besides a few narrow holes on every corner where the air constantly whistled whenever the main doors were opened, they quietly made their way to the other end of the corridor, however she could not help herself but peek into the affairs of the shamans that laid behind the curtains, some were praying in hushed mumbles at altars or idols, some were telling their visitors of tales or perhaps vision or the such, and some, very few, were fornicating, they were human after all, it was no surprise to her, the only one here who was less of a human was the seer and they will soon meet her.
They made their way up the steps and were met with another corridor, this one had only one room at the end separated from them by a curtain made of dangling chicken bones, and through the entire corridor it was illuminated by torches of blue flames, on the walls hung further decoration of bone and fang and claw attached to each other by straw and rope, and down near the floor were clay pots filled with burning herbs who ate at one another causing the flames to burn very slowly releasing an aroma of both mysticism and taboo, she covered her nose in fear of magic whilst Azar began walking ahead leading her to the room, once they reached it she slipped through the curtains and turned her head to Azar.
"Wait here." She commanded him, he had no complaints, he could still see behind the curtains.
Lotara made her way into the dimly lit room, red candles spread around the room over the carpets and tanned leathers, and on the near side laid a woman, a naked woman who covered nothing besides her head and face under a veil of straws and clay and bone, a twisted mask as she shifted in her snow-white pelt and turned to Lotara, her chest bouncing as she did so.
"Lady seer." The queen greeted her as she made her way around her, forcing her to turn again, she knelt down and kissed her hand, a courtesy for those who were considered close to the gods.
"Your highness." She said in a soft voice, from the bowl of burning herbs near her was a wooden pipe, she took it and slid it under her mask, inhaling and exhaling the smoke. "I bid you welcome, you came here to seek my counsel on your husband's journey. "
Lotara gulped, the air grew heavier and full of musk, the seer musk, a blissful scent that planted Lotara knees further into the floor, discouraging her from leaving, her heart pounded against her ears as she forced her words past her throat. "Yes, lady seer, as you foreseen. "
"The boon." The seer demanded and the queen quickly obliged, giving her the basket, the seer examined it carefully, taking each piece of fruit out and searching for flaws before putting it back into the basket and at last, she chose a green apple and sighed with satisfaction, but instead of eating it, she put it against her mask and pushed it until it broke apart, the juices came out flowing like a waterfall down her own mask and dripped into the beautiful white pelt.
"It tastes perfect." The seer said, putting further unease into the queen. "The gods accept your boon and see fit to show you what they deem important, lay back your highness. "
The queen did as she was told, resting on the pelt she sat upon and watched as the seer stood from where she was, her being naked did not bother her, however the way she behaved, her moves and her words, she was awfully attempting to fit in as a human and failed miserably at it, what manner of human eats an apple by bashing it into their faces, Lotara wondered not knowing what face was hidden behind the seer mask, she could not even tell what was behind everyone's masks, whom to trust, whom not to trust, all she had were a handful of people who will not slit her throat while she sleeps, she needed a vision, words from the gods or an omen to put her at ease, she watched as the seer placed pots of clay with a variety of herbs and flowers mashed together and smoked, the queen began feeling her head becoming light and lifting and her chest heavy, she could not lift her arms or legs and her breath was weak and slow.
"When they left the realm." The seer sat near the queen with a pipe in hand and inhaled from it as she spoke. "The gods bestowed many gifts and curses to humanity, some of them being the gift to see and the gift to share but only a handful have both, such as I and even with that, I cannot show you what the gods do not permit... And unless they see you worthy."
"Worthy like a queen? " Lotara asked.
"No, m'lady. A queen amongst queens. " The seer answered.
Her vision became blurred and her words scrambled on her lips until her surroundings were shrouded in darkness, she eventually woke but found herself somewhere else where reality did not matter, she was seated at the head of a table and around her were folk who shared the same skin as hers but had no faces, some were men and some were women, all were feasting as drummers banged into their drums in a heavy and intense melody.
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The faceless folk tore and mushed against the raw meat of a white owl, an omen that sent shivers down her spine like the cold touch of a dagger running up and down against her back, above them hovered vultures who laughed, mocked and snatched the meat of the white owl whenever they could, how could one kill an owl and feast on it she wondered, they were the harbingers of death, none could harm them and to do so is only to assure certain death for yourself, but she was far too wrapped up in her own mind, for she herself was a different person, she was not the queen Lotara, she was someone else, a woman, a familiar woman, and she was only seeing through her eyes, that woman was content for she was not eating an owl, she looked down and there was the head of the queen Lotara, the woman was feasting on the head of the queen herself.
Then she woke up gasping for air, her breath shallow and her clothes soaking wet in her own sweat, her eyes were still closed but she heard Azar speak.
"Wake her up, now." Azar ordered but received no response.
The queen opened her eyes and looked to the side, only to see his red orbs staring through the curtains and his bone sword peeking through as well, the tip resting against the neck of the seer as he repeated. "Now. "
"Azar, I'm awake." The queen told him weakly as she set up from where she laid, the vision was vivid in her mind and her eyes were watery.
"Are you well, your highness?" Azar asked, his blade further pushing against the throat of the seer who seemed unconcerned despite glancing towards him with interest.
"Yes, put the sword away." The queen bid him and he obliged, his red feline eyes moving back into the shadows as he slipped the sword behind the curtain and sheathed it.
"You are... Well protected." The seer complimented as she gave Azar a gaze a minute longer than necessary then looked back at the queen. "Nevertheless, have you seen anything of significance? "
The queen could not respond, the words stopped at her throat, she wondered if she was safe to talk, what she seen was a bad omen of her own demise and the demise of many others, she did not dare imagine who they were but they were all Asarothians for certain, she came here seeking comfort from the gods to ease her fears but all she had brought to herself was more fear and pain, she sighed and lied. "A memory, I saw an unpleasant memory. "
The seer was unresponsive for a minute second, inhaling on the pipe until she spoke. "The way of the gods is cruel the same as they are, their whispers are hard to comprehend, some you will understand sooner or later and some only when you undergo what you have foreseen. "
The queen was certain that her head was better off not leaving her shoulders but she forced a smile and stood up."Thank you, lady seer, your assistance and advice was most valuable. "
The seer nodded and the queen left with her brother in law.
Outside, she took a deep breath, a weight lifting off her shoulders being away from the black stones and walls, though what replaced it was more pairs of eyes watching her in the corner of her sight, she knew it was all an illusion by her own mind and emotions but she could not help reacting to it, she was only mortal, she had fears and worries of her own, her husband and daughters were away and she was tasked with holding the base, their home, a shaky breath left her lips before she maintained a stern gaze and posture the moment she saw Xao approaching, he must've had news, she needed to keep her strength and resolve together, she was bracing for she would hear next.
"Your highness... I found out what happened to every letter." Xao revealed and at first the queen was glad for a brief while, until Xao led them out of the city into a field of sands outside the city where many holes were made, she knew them to be the home of the yellow coated coyotes and wondered why Xao brought her here as nothing seemed out of the ordinary, it was the creature's natural habitat after all.
Xao moved down the hill towards the field and the queen followed as she held into Azar hand whilst he led her down, once they were near the holes, Xao forced his arm down one of the holes and there was a short scrambling and fighting inside, until he pulled out his bloodied arm and in his clenched hand was a coyote but her eyes widened, it was not a yellow coated coyote, it was a red coated coyote.
"Every hole is the same. " Xao exclaimed.
"Red coated coyotes..." Azar noted. "They're not native to Asaroth, not native to Tatarian lands at all, aren't they from—"
"Sorren, the imperials main province. " The queen finished his words.
"Sabotage, your highness, I searched every hole down here. " Xao said as he dropped the coyote and watched it flee back to its hole. "Every hole had dead crawlers, that's all they feast on... Those coyotes were trained specifically to hunt down and eat crawlers while being aggressive with other breeds of coyotes. I found the bodies of the yellow coated ones, all ripped apart. "
He reached for his pouch and pulled out one crawler who was injured but still alive and on its limb was a tied piece of paper, Xao handed it to her and added. "I pulled this crawler out of a red coyote's mouth, it had a letter, I dared not open it before you, your highness. "
"Thank you, Xao." The commander did her more favor than he could ever known, at least now they knew what they were fighting against even if they still did not know who, they were beginning to catch up and the eyes that once watched her in hundreds became dozens instead, she let out a small sigh of relief and opened the letter, a worn parchment with a wax embedded into it in the sigil of Asarothians, the dragon skull, it was genuine as she checked it for every detail then she began reading the letter, the further she read, the more her feelings conflicted, her eldest won her first siege with no casualties to her guards, the road was clear and northern border of Asaroth was safe to travel, but she urged her mother to send supplies north, she will oblige her daughter but she needed to be silent and careful, as what they had discovered a minute ago proved that imperial noses find their way into every plot and every plan set to destroy or weaken Asaroth or any who refused to be a province in Osward empire under imperial rule for that matter.
In the far night after all had dined and went to their homes and slumbered, the queen sat upon her throne as the dangling chandeliers provided light to the hall, and near her stood Xao and Azar, each by a shoulder of hers as they looked down towards Borgof, the caravans leader, the old man was looking at awe around the hall, it was no surprise, caravan riders were never allowed into cities let along the city of bones.
"Lord Borgof, did you understand me?" She told him with courtesy to his name and position. "You are to take the supplies and travel north to my daughter, I will provide you with an escort who will both protect you... Or slit your throat if you wander off the path. "
"Yes your highness, as you command, I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to be of servitude." The man answered nervously as he knelt and bowed before she dismissed him with a gesture of her hand and he quickly left, she had no love for caravans or their pushers but they had their uses, her years of decent treatment towards them had fairly paid off seeing how eager he was but she will not blindly trust him, she will need someone to watch him but she cannot spare those who she truly trust, thus Xao came with a suggestion, use those who want to regain their honor so here a condemned and shunned man came, not on his knees but standing tall yet his shame had darkened his face and for that, she was not surprised, after all, he was the only one to survive from his brothers.
Cladded in black scales and boiled leathers alongside a half helm over his head that he removed and held by his side, the surviving sea brother from the reckoning slightly bowed down his head, when Xao suggested him as the escort, she was suprised, Xao was the one to kill his brothers but then she reminded herself, pity doings are for pity mortals, at their core the sea brothers were True Tatar, all tatar were once a band of honorable mercenaries, the only of their kind, so she agreed to listen to what he had to say, allowing him a chance to convinced her.
"Your highness." The sea brother pleaded. "You may know me as one of the sea brothers, the coward who yielded, the coward who surrendered but my true name is Nahlik and I am the sole survivor of the sea brothers only due to my luck and smarts. "
"You dishonored your brothers." Azar told him sharply, perhaps too sharply for his cold nature. "The sand gods, if they exist, which I doubt, will never welcome them because of your cowardly behavior, what I do know is that the memory of the infamous sea brothers is forever stained, they once said you were the most skilled of the shore guard but Xao put you all down with the spear, your only salvation was death and you took it away from them... If it was not for the queen's presence I would have spat on your face."
"Aye, you speak truth chieftain Azar, aye, I brought dishonor to my brothers, they died in vain because I was too much of a coward to die alongside them but I refuse to let them dwindle in the last land, the wasteland, as the gods shut their gates against their approach." Nahlik exclaimed as he looked down, then gazed into the queen's eyes and begged. "Your highness, I come here to you, humbled and on my knees, I want to bring my brother their honor back, I want them to enter the realm of the gods and feast with them in the last oasis beyond the wasteland, I want to regain my honor as Tatar, I will fight for you, I will bleed for you, I will not seek revenge on your commander for he beaten us fair as the gods commanded it and allowed it, I left the shore guard with my brothers long ago, seeking more glory and fame for us to carry to the other realm... Everything we did, I threw away so I ask you this, not as a warrior, not as a shore guard, not as a mercenary but as your humble subject, your humble servant, an Asarothian seeking his redemption... I... I... I want the chance to meet my brothers and father again, please."
She watched him kneel and await her answer, he left them all in shock as he abandoned the facade of pride and dignity built around the reputation of the sea brothers, even Azar broke his stare from the sea brother pitiful state, but she was not too impressed, she was more pleased than anything, if the imperials sought to play their games in her land, plotting and ploughing the seeds of corruption in her desert, queen Lotara would do the opposite and would forever be remembered for it, she will forgive when need be, she will travel the sands of Asaroth planting the seeds of loyalty and honor even in the hearts of scum and tales of her mercy would spread, she will be their mother, the one they never had, mother of all Asarothians and perhaps Tatarians, she stood from her throne and smiled as she made her way down the steps and held down her hand. "If you so wish to repent and serve, than I queen Lotara permit it and on my name and power, I promise you that this journey will lead you to the last oasis and should you fail, your intentions will all that matters, so long your heart remains true and honest, the gods will welcome you and your brothers, I will welcome you, the king will welcome, raise again Tatar Nahlik, raise and fight for me."
The man gently held her hand and kissed it as tradition dictate then stood up, the shame he once had was replaced by purpose and hope, and the queen had made it her goal that when she finds the traitors and rid of them, there will be many faces such as this standing behind her back, words had more power than swords after all.
