Chapter 7: Furtive Plans

  The soon-to-be adventurers spent the next several days preparing for their eventual departure.

  Livia spent the majority of the time away from Ankur. She traveled to her family’s home in Ilen. Livia knew their journey would not be short and that her return was not a given. She wanted to see her parents and siblings and to spend as much time with them as possible.

  Corin prepared supplies and hunted vigorously through the night, hiding his activities from his neighbors. He knew they would have to eventually resort to living off the land when access to food would be limited.

  Simeon searched his belongings for any artifacts that might aid them in their trip. All he could find were trinkets that might be valuable for trade. Every other waking hour Simeon spent crafting as many arrowheads as possible. Although Corin had spent most of his time hunting for their food, it was a skill he and Cyril learned from Simeon.

  Nanaua would practice with her pike in the nearby forest in the middle of the night, where no eyes might fall upon the furtive dragoor. Zhi would accompany her and practice magic, but was limited by her attempts not to draw attention. Corin would also accompany and practice his swordplay against Nanaua. He always ended with cuts or bruises that needed attention from Zhi. During the day, Nanaua would hone her and Corin’s blade, leaving them so fine that a blade of grass falling on the edge would be halved by its own weight.

  The time spent away from the forest for Zhi was spent resting. She had not fully recovered from bringing down the dragon temple, and the trek across Trinixo added to the toll on her. She was very aware that she had much longer distances to cover in the future when they landed on Khorsor. On occasion, she would practice magic in the home during the day. One such session led to Corin’s food being set ablaze as she attempted to warm it up.

  Despite the group’s best efforts at secrecy, several rumors started spreading through the town. Some swore they had seen dragon people walking with a strange pale person in the middle of the night.

  Simeon was quick to move around town, squashing the rumors as he heard them.

  But those were not the only tales spreading in Ankur. News of Grial spread through the town. Nobody knew what to make of them. Various stories percolated, all with slight differences, but the majority of them agreed on several points. A band of armed strangers walked into Grial, started shouting about fugitives, and put it to the flame. The residents pleaded with the aggressors, telling them they had no clue who they were looking for. But the aggressors shouted about strange things such as vulgros, Zifors and Yoren.

  The stories agreed that these aggressors were brought down by the fugitives they hunted. But that was where the similarities ended. Beyond that, some said a heavenly wind from Jokasta herself blew the attackers away. Others said a furtive dragon came to save the villagers.

  The eve of their departure came, and Corin struggled in his sleep. The recurring dream of Cyril’s last moments haunted him again. His brother imploring him to warn the others, the last time he would ever see him.

  Once he woke, he found the pendant on his chest. He held it in his hands as he closed his eyes.

  We‘ll be successful, Cyril. We’ll stop the titans. I swear this to you.

  Unable to sleep, Corin arose and went to sit by the fire, where he was quite surprised to see who he thought was Livia. He swore he had just left her in the bed. But he realized quickly it was Zhi dressed in his wife’s clothing, having no other clothes but the ones she wore in the temple. She sat coiled with her legs up to her chest in front of the fire, the warm light from the fire illuminating her face.

  As Corin walked up, he saw Zhi wipe her cheeks. The fire reflecting off her face illuminated the tears that had fallen.

  “I’m sorry for intruding. I can leave,” Corin began.

  “No, it’s okay. Stay,” Zhi said as she forced a smile. “Some company is welcome.”

  She took a deep breath and wiped her face again.

  Corin sat on the chair next to her.

  “Finding it hard to sleep?” Corin asked, trying his best to initiate a conversation.

  “Yes, I see I’m not the only one. I wonder why,” Zhi laughed weakly.

  “It’s not like we’re planning on doing something crazy, is it?” Corin replied.

  Zhi laughed as they both stared at the fire. Corin realized this was the first time he had spent alone with Zhi. He had spent a good amount of time with Nanaua already, who let him know that his safety was her duty due to her oath, but Zhi had slept for most of the time they had been back.

  “I’m sorry I never said this, but I wanted to thank you,” Zhi said.

  “For what?” Corin asked confused.

  “You and your wife found two complete strangers in the middle of a ruin that fell from the sky, heard their crazy story of escape from one of the most dangerous beings, and still decided to help them. Thinking back on it, I can’t even believe we asked for your help.”

  “Oh, right,” Corin replied. “I still am unsure myself if I am in a weird dream, due to how bizarre this all is. But I have yet to wake up from it.”

  “After getting to know you, Livia, and Simeon, I’m not surprised,” Zhi said.

  Corin was curious about what she meant.

  “Simeon told me how he came to this island, about how you and your brother found him near the shore almost dead and rescued him. He told me that due to him being an outsider and an ape-man that most villagers were wary of him. He said during the first years on this island you and your brother were the only friends he had, how you both made him feel like family. He says that when he met you, you were very quiet and reserved. It sounds like Cyril was a great man, and that you learned a lot from him,” Zhi said.

  When Corin heard that name, he felt a pang in his stomach. He did not reply.

  “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean anything,” Zhi said as she saw Corin’s reaction.

  “No, don’t worry,” Corin quickly replied, trying now to put on a strong face. “You have not done anything wrong.”

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  He was quiet.

  “Did you have someone like that?” He asked.

  “I did.” Zhi sighed. “Her name was Fran. She was one of the servants who worked in the palace of Tonatiuh. I have no memories of my family.” Zhi wiped her face.

  “Once my magical abilities were discovered, I was taken away from them and made to live under the watchful eyes of the Lord's Protectorate. I don’t even know how old I was. I have no recollection of what they looked like, or if I had any siblings. All I know is that they worked in the mines for Tonatiuh, a job in which most furtives die quickly,” Zhi said, her voice wavering.

  She took a deep breath. “I was privileged compared to them. My days were not spent toiling away. I did what I wanted. But I was treated more like a delicate artifact than a real person. The only company around me was the Lord's Protectorate, and they weren’t very friendly, and of course there were servants around the palace, but they disliked me. They thought I was low born and did not deserve a place in the palace.” Zhi tried to keep her composure.

  “I remember Simeon telling me about the strict hierarchy between the furtives who tended to the palace and those who toiled in manual labor for the dragons. Furtives fighting over who is more important to a titan sounds like madness to me,” Corin replied.

  “It is madness. But that is the way it was. The way it still is. Except for one person, Fran. She herself had no family. Her husband had been killed when he displeased Tonatiuh over a simple mistake. Fran had to pretend as if that did not bother her for her own survival,” Zhi said as she took a deep breath.

  “But she made sure that I was always taken care of. She would get me toys and on sacred days bring me presents according to the traditions. It was from her that I learned what a parent’s love must feel like. Thanks to her, my childhood was not a complete nightmare. I would be sad all day until I could see her. But she was not supposed to be speaking with me outside of her job. They accused her of trying to take my powers for herself. From that moment, it did not take long until they killed her.”

  She had to take a second to compose herself. “I still remember that day. They made me watch as they murdered her. In her last moments, she looked at me. As she went up in flames she said, “Forgive me.” For the longest time, I thought she was asking for Tonatiuh’s forgiveness, that she regretted meeting me and taking me under her wing because it had cost her life.” Zhi broke into soft sobs.

  “She was asking for your forgiveness, because you had to endure watching what they were doing to her,” Corin said as he rubbed her back, consoling her.

  After several seconds of sobbing, Zhi regained her composure.

  “But that’s when I knew. I didn’t know how I would do it, or if it even was possible, but I swore I would make them all pay for what they did. Even if it cost me my life, I would not let the titans get away with treating us like this.” Zhi raised her head. The flames from the fire reflected from her eyes. “I swore I would make them fear the furtives.”

  The flames in her eyes danced. It seemed like they would spill out and consume the whole world.

  ***

  The group quietly left the town in the early morning mist.

  As they stood on a hill outside of town, they took one last view of Ankur and moved on. They had to make haste.

  The group began their trek toward a place that Corin never thought he would return to, Bothia. The site of Arandu and Telletioh’s fight, the place where many died, including Cyril.

  They covered ground much faster than when they initially landed on Trinixo. They were better prepared for the overland passage and reached the ruins of Bothia within three days.

  Bothia was still a disaster ravaged location, even after a decade had passed.

  Homes with walls ripped out of them. Craters dotting the landscape. Buildings torn in half and strewn about the surrounding area. Vegetation growing inside and on the top of various abandoned buildings. The signs of the titan clash, were still visible.

  “Come on,” Corin was the first one to move, eager to leave. “Let’s make our way to the shore.”

  The group made its way to the shoreline, where Corin gathered the whistle and the new gift.

  Corin and Livia waded into the water, and this time Livia submerged herself. She blew the whistle and emerged.

  The response did not come immediately. Time began to pass, and Corin began to worry their signal was not heard. He looked back to the trio inland, who studied them curiously.

  Eventually, a solitary figure appeared. This siren was one that neither Corin nor Livia had ever seen before. Unlike Gavlin and Nishandra, this one did not seem eager to see strangers.

  The siren, was similar to Gavlin and Nishandra with a sleek body and iridescent scales. He was larger than either of them and exuded and air of ferocity and urgency. Upon seeing the furtives he did not bother introducing himself.

  “Are you Corin?” he asked in a deep tone. He held his hand under the sea while staring straight at Corin.

  “Yes,” Corin answered the hostile siren.

  “My apologies.” The siren raised his hand, his demeanor changing. “There was a feeling that you might come around again.” He looked at Livia. “You must be Livia. It is an honor!” He beamed as he looked at Livia, who seemed taken aback at the compliment.

  Corin and Livia were surprised at the complete turnaround of the siren’s demeanor.

  “Ah, my manners. I am Genno. I am acquainted with Nishandra and Gavlin.” The male siren looked around in concern.

  “Is something the matter? Did something happen?” Corin asked.

  Genno stopped scanning the area and stared at Corin.

  “You could say that. You could also say that if it wasn’t for you, I wouldn’t be here,” Genno replied.

  “Because of the whistle?” Corin asked.

  “No, my friend, because of her gift,” Genno replied.

  “The one we gave Gavlin and Nishandra?” Corin asked.

  “Precisely! When it was first brought to our home, most thought it was a fool’s tool. A device to detect a leviathan made most other sirens laugh. Almost all thought that Nishandra and Gavlin had been fools for accepting your gift. Your box was perfectly quiet and all thought it was an obvious trick, but it rang.”

  Corin’s heart started to race.

  “It rang five days ago. Not everyone in our tribe took it seriously. I was the only one to follow Gavlin due to his hysterics. But when we returned, we realized it was no trick. Those who stayed back perished,” Genno muttered. “But that’s not all. There has been a lot of stories of suspicious activity occurring recently. Strangers moving about, titan scouts scanning the areas. It is no accident this all happened after the dragon temple fell.”

  Corin and Livia were quiet, shocked by the far-reaching consequences. First Grial, now the sirens. They wondered what was next.

  “But you did not come here to ask about how my people are doing. I assume you need a favor from us, and after your previous gift we are indebted to you,” Genno said, ignoring the gift that Corin held.

  “This is going to be a difficult request,” Corin said.

  “We are indebted to you and your wife. I am prepared to hear your request,” Genno replied.

  “Do you know of any location around here where Arandu might keep something precious?” Livia said.

  “Arandu?” Genno repeated as if he misunderstood. “Arandu the leviathan?”

  “Correct,” Livia replied.

  The siren eyed Livia as if she had grown three extra heads. It took him some time before he was able to reply.

  “This isn’t some death wish, is it? Because I will not contribute to anything of the sort,” Genno asked, concerned.

  “Although it may seem that way, I assure you it is not,” Corin replied.

  Genno stared at Livia and Corin, waiting to see if they said anything else. He looked beyond them at the three figures on the shore.

  Corin’s heart started pounding fast.

  Genno looked down and laughed.

  “Something the matter?” Livia asked.

  “Why am I not surprised?” Genno said. “One of the rumors is that these scouts keep asking about very specific furtives, one of them being a draconic furtive. When I first heard the rumor, I thought it sounded ridiculous.” He pursed his lips.

  Corin slowly moved his hands to his blade. But Genno was faster. He held both his hands up so that they could be seen.

  “You misunderstand me,” Genno replied as Corin still hesitated. “I don’t believe you have any intention of telling me what it is you could want from Arandu. But I do owe you my life, and sometimes the less known, the better. You ask if there are areas where Arandu would keep something precious to him? We sirens know the White Sea as well as you know your island. We know where we can go and also where death awaits.”

  Genno paused. Corin was not fazed and knew what they were asking. Livia did not say anything either. Seeing as neither were dissuaded, Genno continued.

  “Among these places that we avoid, there is a curious structure. I have only seen it once. It was one of those occasions where I foolishly tried to prove my bravery, an idiotic moment of my youth. But this structure is unique amongst any that Arandu claims for a single reason.”

  “Why?” Livia asked.

  “Despite it being completely underwater, there is not a single drop of water inside. A barrier keeps the sea from spilling into the structure. We think it is that way to prevent any sirens from stepping inside. Out of all of Arandu’s underwater palaces, this is the only that no siren has ever stepped foot in. Or at least none have survived.”

  “How long would it take to get there?” Livia asked immediately.

  “For the five of you,” Genno said as he looked at the others on the shore, “there is a vessel I can find. It will not be a pleasant ride, but it will be the best option you will have. It is fast and small, so your chances of detection will be slim. It will take you close to a quarter of a day to reach the location with our fastest sea steeds. But there is an issue.”

  “Which is?” Corin asked.

  “The structure is far underwater. Once you open the vessel, it will instantly fill with water, and you will have no way of leaving the structure.” Genno rubbed his chin in thought.

  “We have a solution,” Livia replied.

  “You do?” Genno said.

  “We do?” Corin said almost at the same time.

  “Trust me,” Livia said as she looked at Corin.

  Genno knew better than to ask any more questions, and Corin figured he would find out what Livia’s plan was.

  “One more question,” Livia spoke up.

  “You know I am grateful that you saved my life, but I don’t owe you the world.” Genno sounded exasperated now.

  “Khorsor, the continent. How much farther is it from the structure?” Livia asked.

  Genno gave Livia an incredulous look.

  “Hah! You really are something. Not only do you want to know how to get to one of Arandu’s temples, but you also want to know how long to reach Khorsor. Now that is nowhere nearby. That would be a ten-day trip,” Genno laughed.

  “Thank you. Now go on, Corin.” Livia nudged him as she looked at his hand.

  “Oh right, this is our gift,” Corin held out the bag.

  Genno grabbed it and felt its weight in his hand.

  “My, this is quite heavy!” He sounded excited as he held the bag. He opened it and grabbed one of the items within it. He pulled out a metal cylinder as long as his hand and as wide as two fingers.

  “Oh I’m interested in hearing what this is!” Genno said as he eyed the object and twirled it around his hand.

  Corin too was curious. In their haste for preparations Livia had not told him what she had made.

  “First off, you need to be very careful because it is very dangerous, unless you want to kill us all,” Livia said in the same tone a parent might use with their children.

  Upon hearing that, Genno proceeded to be more careful with the device.

  “What you have there is something I have not tested completely, but I am sure it will work. To use it, you have to crush the cylinder, and within moments it will explode. Once it does, it produces a very bright light and a loud sound. It should work underwater. I think it should stun a leviathan. But this is a last resort. You are still better off running away from a leviathan if you can,” Livia said.

  Genno smiled as he heard the details. “You better not die on us down there,” he said as he put away the cylinder.