home

search

V10 Chapter 3- Home Sweet Home

  Chapter III

  Around the time the Great City of Erika was within an hour away, the sky overhead turned dark and overcast, an indicator that a storm was on the horizon. In many ways, they were lucky that it was only coming now, for if it had rained on them during the two-week journey home, then the trip would have been even more miserable than it actually was. After all, they added a few days into their walk than they would have otherwise all so King Markreas could make a scene at Ildara—something that still left Ilirianna utterly fuming even as the company watched Erika’s walls come into view just up ahead. What Markreas did in that town was utterly uncalled for, was an embarrassment on the name “Iiji”, and should have left anybody with even a slight fragment of a conscience livid and disgusted. Yet, as she glanced around and watched the reactions of those near her, everybody talked like it was the greatest sight they had ever seen—like Markreas’s execution of that Pastor and the townsman who spoke up was to be respected and praised. It wasn’t just those within the Korrei-Tarr that did this, for even some of the Masters had expressed their enjoyment of the King’s show at one point or another.

  Am I truly the odd one out? she asked herself for what felt like the millionth time. Do this many people really see nothing wrong with what he did? And for that matter, are they not revolted by his parading of the Kosah-Rei heads and Keskivaara?

  Ilirianna clenched her teeth as she rode at the vanguard with Markreas and his former royal team. She wanted nothing more than to fall back into the company and seek out Ryokumo, but the King had been firm in his desire to have her by his side when they returned to Erika victorious. He was forcing her to appear as if she condoned what they were doing, so it took every ounce of self-control within her body to not ignore his wishes and do what she wanted anyway.

  The Princess glanced over her shoulder, the sight of Keskivaara strapped nude to his post clear even though he was a few dozen yards away. As far as she knew, the People’s Mind hadn’t spoken once since he was tied up there, and the only reason he wasn’t dead despite the way they’d treated him these last two weeks was because Markreas ordered Grunly to periodically heal his wounds. She took solace in the fact that the Master of Nature clearly hated that role as much as she did, though she couldn’t help scoffing at the fact that one of the only Masters with a heart would be retiring in the next week or so.

  Is this really the Empire I’m being left with? A bunch of violent madmen screeching and laughing as they parade severed heads and a naked man around like trophies… I always knew the Masters were gross and corrupt, but the Korrei-Tarr don’t seem much different… What standard have you been setting, Alharo?

  “Face forward, Liri,” Markreas rumbled from behind her. “Don’t dirty your eyes by looking upon him. His is a sight for our enemies—an example of treason’s result.”

  Reluctantly obeying, Ilirianna faced forward, grunting, “Sure”, just as the looming gates were pushed open to admit them without the force ever having to come to a stop. They were expected, after all, for Markreas had sent people ahead to both inform the Council of Elders of the Ijirian victory over the Kosah-Rei, as well as to prepare the city for their return. Of course, Ilirianna had not been informed of what “preparing the city” would look like, but given the King’s recent behavior, she could manage a few guesses. That was why she let out an irritable sigh as she rode beneath the walls and finally entered the city itself after over a month on the road. At one point, she would have expected this return to be relieving and exhilarating, but all she felt was dread.

  And as this dread settled over her, she was forced to recall something she had not wanted to think about again.

  “Cartigan was a fool who drove the people of Stellareid to violence,” Tali Firrik had said up in that tower’s common room. “The world was better off without him, and if we’d gotten a chance to mark him, we would have. So I’m not criticizing you. You did the right thing, Liri, and all I’m asking you to do is the right thing again.”

  Ilirianna clicked her tongue. Get out of my head, Firrik… Two wrongs don’t make a right… Cartigan was a severe lapse in judgment that I regret, so I’m not giving into evil again. I’m not going to do your dirty work…

  Since the Noctalus soldiers had already split from the main company a few days ago to return to their own Great City and a large portion of Korrei-Tarr had been left behind at Ankalla to keep watch on the fortress, the group that now entered Erika was much smaller than the one that departed the battle. However, all of the Masters were still present, and aside from Sinna and Nyx, who remained as guards to Keskivaara’s wagon, those powerful mages now moved to the front to join the Iijis and the old royal team. If not for her mother, she would have beckoned Ryokumo over, but she supposed he was better left at Rennigan’s side for the time being.

  Therefore, she was left to face the coming minutes feeling alone.

  Sure enough, as she had begun to fear, instead of making straight for the Citadel, Markreas led them towards Market Street where, upon arriving, Ilirianna found crowds of Erikans ushered off to the sidewalk to leave plenty of room for the company on the street. Even though it was cloudy, the midafternoon rush of the Market resulted in the sidewalks being filled with people who watched them approach, many of them cheering and bowing as they caught sight of the three emerald-haired individuals riding at the front. Flags bearing the Iijis’ crest of the green sword upon the golden shield were being waved—an extravagant welcome that felt forced and staged.

  Their cheers echoed in Ilirianna’s mind, and though Markreas was grinning boisterously as he removed his sword and rose it over his head while Toranei politely waved to their people, Ilirianna couldn’t even bring herself to look anybody in the eyes. Even the Masters around her were waving and smiling as they were hailed as heroes.

  And we should be heroes. We defeated the butchers of Stellareid, but…

  “THE KOSAH-REI IS NO MORE!” Markreas shouted out with even more laughter. “IJIRIA IS SUPREME! IJIRIA IS VICTORIOUS! IJIRIA IS ABSOLUTE!”

  Sparing a weak glance around, within the celebratory screams and shouts, Ilirianna could see disappointment and anger in the eyes of some. It highly resembled the expressions on the faces of those at Ildara, who were given the news that traitors and murderers had been defeated and looked sad. Markreas would accuse those people of treachery themselves, and would argue that they deserved to be put to the sword in the same way as Vesh and the others, but Ilirianna felt that was a simplistic view of the world.

  What the King needed to ask himself was why the common person would support such violence?

  What was the root cause of so many Ijirians hearing about the Kosah-Rei’s downfall and feeling sad?

  “You may have butchered the Kosah-Rei, but you have not erased their ideals! What their rebellion revealed is that nobody actually likes you! Nobody respects you, nobody considers your rule to be worth anything! You are followed because we have no choice, but when a choice was given, have you noticed how many of your people sided against you?! You are nothing, Markreas, and a fire has been lit under us! The Kosah-Rei’s message shall not be forgotten! It shall not die, and there is nothing you can—”

  Ilirianna shook her head, recalling the last declaration of that nameless man in Ildara, for everything he said was right. They defeated the threat that was the Kosah-Rei, but they had not defeated the root of the movement. The Kosah-Rei’s ideals would not die with them, not until the people were given the respect they deserved. That was why so many within that crowd turned away and silently mourned the passing of killers, because in their eyes, what happened in Stellareid was worth it if it meant Markreas Iiji and the Masters were ripped from the tower.

  And honestly? We might very well be if we’re not careful… Tali Firrik rallied a bunch of overpowered bastards once, so the fact that she’s still out there means that her rebellion might not be over…

  “AND BEHOLD!” Markreas was screaming. “RICKORI KESKIVAARA, OR WHAT REMAINS OF HIM, AT LEAST! LET HIM BE A MESSAGE TO ANYBODY ELSE WHO WOULD STAND AGAINST OUR GREAT COUNTRY!”

  More cheers erupted, but she couldn’t help noticing that these were less enthusiastic than those that preceded it, and she even spotted a few parents covering the eyes of their children as Keskivaara’s wagon passed. As for the People’s Mind, he just kept his head down and refused to make eye contact with anybody, until, finally, they put the Market behind them and were back on their way towards the Citadel. Only then did Keskivaara raise his head and stare Ilirianna dead in the eyes. There was significant distance between them, but even so, she could hear his silent question loud and clear.

  “Are you really okay with this?”

  She averted her gaze and lowered her own head, just desperate to get back into the tower. They arrived at the walls that surrounded the Citadel nearly twenty minutes later, and once they did, everybody began dismounting, preparing to unpack, and start bringing their stuff inside. Alharo and the Korrei-Tarr would only remain for a little while since the Vice-Captain had been requested for a meeting in the throne room alongside the rest of their old royal team, and wanting to take advantage of this opportunity to get away, Ilirianna glanced up at the man who was not her father and said,

  “I’ll escort Keskivaara down to the dungeons, alright, Father?”

  He frowned, fixing her with a confused look. “Oh, that’s alright, Liri. I’m sure Sinna and Nyx can handle it well enough. You should head up to the royal suite to give your brother and sister the good news.”

  “No, really, I want to be the one to toss him down there. I’ve got a personal vendetta against that lying bastard, after all…”

  Playing to Markreas’s ruthless nature, she watched a glimmer of understanding passed through his eyes before he gave a gruff nod. “Very well. Escort Keskivaara to the most uncomfortable cell you can find.”

  “I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

  With that, she turned and approached where Sinna was practically dragging the People’s Mind from his post, though he always had mana-suppressing cuffs latched around his wrist so that he could not call upon his magic. Informing the Master of Rock that the orders had changed, she took the weakened Keskivaara by his single arm and started leading him through the gates of the Citadel and towards the gardens, though she certainly didn’t miss the displeased look on Sinna’s face. The entire walk towards the tower itself, she could feel Keskivaara’s eyes watching her, which was made even more uncomfortable by his lack of clothing. If not for the knowledge that it would infuriate the King, she would have immediately provided him with something to wear.

  The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

  And the fact that I can’t says more about Markreas than I like…

  Once stepping through the front doors and entering the silver halls of the Citadel for the first time in weeks, Ilirianna sensed the numerous pairs of eyes suddenly shifting their way, most likely wondering why the first thing they saw of their Princess since her departure was her leading a nude man by the arm, but true to protocol, they bowed silently and allowed her pass towards the lift without questioning her.

  “Ortumo,” she grunted the second both of their feet were planted on the disc, lowering them down towards the dungeon. Only once they were truly alone did she say what was on her mind. “I don’t like you, Keskivaara, and I stand by that you have brought these consequences upon yourself, but… I am sorry for all of this, nonetheless…”

  “I know you are,” he rasped, his voice sounding scratchy and barely audible. “Because all of this…isn’t who you are, Ilirianna. But will you do anything about it?”

  She shook her head. “Not for a long time, I’m afraid. I need the throne first, and my father has plenty of years left sitting in it. I just wish he’d listen to reason…” Ilirianna sighed. “But you have my word, when I am in power, things will start to change.”

  Keskivaara didn’t answer before they slowed to a stop at the entrance to the underground dungeons, upon which she led him through the currently empty corridor and towards a cell around ten doors away from the entrance and on the right. Pulling the door open, Ilirianna escorted him to the wall across from the door where two magic-suppressing chains were attached to the black stone. Keskivaara obeyed her without resistance as she ordered him to sit down, then latched him to the wall and removed the cuffs that had been previously stopping his magic usage. Satisfied that he was trapped, she rose back to full height and looked down at him with more pity than she cared to feel.

  “I’ll give you one chance,” she began softly. “If you tell me the secret of your lightning magic right now, I can kill you cleanly and painlessly. If you don’t, Markreas will have the information tortured out of you, and you’ll experience pain unlike anything you ever have. Then, when he’s done with you, your execution will be turned into a performance like what he did at the Market and at Ildara… That won’t be painless either.”

  Keskivaara weakly looked up at her and managed an amusement grin. “For someone who doesn’t like me, you sound strangely concerned.”

  “I don’t approve of the King’s methods,” she stated with a snort. “I feel you should be executed for your crimes in a humane manner. That’s all…”

  The People’s Mind nodded. “All the more reason to respect you. Thank you, Ilirianna, but…I must decline. I made a promise to someone that I would never expose this gift—that I would take it with me to the grave. I plan to uphold that…no matter what Markreas does to me. When I used it against him, it was in the hopes that I would kill him and keep the information secret… Whatever happens will be my punishment for failure.”

  She could tell without effort that he meant that with all his heart—that no amount of convincing would change his decision, so she decided to not waste her breath. “Very well… In that case, good luck, Keskivaara…”

  Ilirianna spun on her heel and stalked towards the door, but just as she was about to depart the cell, the People’s Mind called out one last thing.

  “I marked the King with the Teritus.”

  She stopped midstep, her eyes going wide as her breath caught in her throat.

  “I ordered Vesh to pit him against Markreas, so if we’re lucky, the People’s Mind may have already marked our dear King. You might be able to get rid of him as we speak.”

  “And why…” she began, forcing Tali’s words out of her head. “...would you tell me that? Nobody knew… That’s valuable information to give to an enemy…”

  “I suppose so…”

  That was all Keskivaara said in response, so reeling from those words, Ilirianna yanked the door closed behind her and hurried away from the cell as fast as she could.

  ***

  Watching Ilirianna drag Keskivaara towards the Citadel with a grimace, Album Luz pondered whether she should join the Princess just in case the People’s Mind pulled anything suspicious or drastic. She knew it was a paranoid thought given the mana-suppressing cuffs preventing Keskivaara from using his magic, as well as the weakened state his body should be in, but even with the fall of the Kosah-Rei, she couldn’t help fearing any sudden changes in the situation—a feeling that was not helped by the simple fact that they knew nothing about the strange lightning magic that was used against King Markreas. Album had never heard of anything like it, and from what she gathered on the many discussions that took place throughout the duration of their trip home, neither had anybody else in their company. So who was to say whether Keskivaara could still use it despite the cuffs or not? What if he was simply waiting for an opportunity to slip away, and now that every single Master wouldn’t be right on top of him, he would have that opportunity?

  The Master of Light sighed, slumping her shoulders and berating herself for being so anxious all the time. Just take deep breaths, Album… It’s over… Vesh, Tyrus, and Kristoff are all dead, Miyon’s been erased, Keskivaara will never see the sun again, and though two of them are still out there somewhere, they shouldn’t have the resources to cause any more destruction the way they did in Stellareid. What happened to Father and Eko…should never happen again…

  Unfortunately, the trauma from that night ran deep, so Album had a feeling there would still be some time until she could relax and begin moving on. Accepting that fact, she ripped her attention away from Ilirianna, who had just moved through the gates into the gardens, and instead glanced around at the rest of the company still in the process of unloading their supplies and prepping the distortion generators for their return to storage. Not far from her, Ryokumo and Rennigan were talking softly to one another, and realizing that her old friend was probably going to head home soon, she stuck her hand in the air and called out to him.

  “Kumo? You have a moment?”

  Ryokumo glanced over his shoulder and made eye contact with her before smiling warmly, saying one last thing to Rennigan, and hurrying over to where she waited.

  “Yes, Album? How can I be of service?” he greeted with a laugh.

  She took some comfort in the fact that he was already beginning to seem more upbeat and cheerful, as if his old self was coming out again with the Kosah-Rei’s defeat. She didn’t answer immediately, instead taking a second to gaze into his deep brown eyes and take in his uplifting expression. She hated how much she loved him, how important he had become to her, because she knew as an absolute fact that he had never once looked at her the way she looked at him. He was in love with Ilirianna, and there was nothing Album could do to change that. For years, she had tried to move on and accept that a relationship with Ryokumo was impossible, but a small, stubborn part of her still sometimes wondered if something would shift—if someday, Ryokumo Caeli would notice her in the way she wished he would.

  Ilirianna…isn’t an option for him, after all… Her status as Princess and heir to the throne makes it impossible for him to be with her, so maybe if he moves on from her, he’ll see that I’m right here? It’s pathetically optimistic, but…? Album smiled up at him. It still makes me happy to think about…

  “Are you getting ready to go back home?” she inquired, to which Ryokumo nodded.

  “Yes. This was a fun trip, but I desperately miss my bed, so Glaus and I were thinking we’d just head out now. Tell Liri I said goodbye, though…”

  “Of course,” Album assured him. “Then again, knowing her, I’m sure she’ll come by to say it herself.”

  Her old friend laughed and spread his hands in concession. “Can’t really argue there, can I?” Ryokumo took a deep breath then, his head raising as he turned his eyes towards the cloudy sky above. “You know, two weeks later and I still can’t believe it actually happened—that we won. Even with Sartella and Firrik out there somewhere, the knowledge that the others…that Vesh is gone… It’s just such a weight off my shoulders… So with all my heart…” Ryokumo lowered her gaze back to her, then added, “Thank you for being by my side when we confronted him. I couldn’t have done it without you, Album. We make a magnificent team.”

  Extending his fist for a bump, Ryokumo grinned confidently, and not wanting to leave him hanging, Album did as he requested. “Any time, Kumo. You know me, after all. If you ever need anything, just call me and I’ll come running.”

  “Right back at you, my friend. Although…” He shook his head with exasperation. “You speak like we’re parting ways for good. You’re more than welcome to stop by and visit Glaus and I whenever you’d like. Liri drops in without announcement all the damn time, so by all means… Come for dinner sometime.”

  A surge of happiness flowed through her body, and though she knew there was nothing more than friendship behind his words, they were joyful to hear nonetheless. She would gladly take him up on that offer, even if it was nothing more than a dinner with friends.

  “Okay, Kumo. I’ll do that… And I look forward to it!”

  ***

  Ryokumo and Rennigan decided to hail a carriage to take them home since both were utterly exhausted from walking and riding. Never before had the cheap wooden seats of Erika’s public transportation felt so comfortable as the wind mage let out an exhale of relief, leaning his head against the back and gazing at the ceiling above him. Rennigan sat across from him, his head on his fist as he watched the passing view of the capital city beyond the window. As he had stated to Album, it felt so strange for the conflict with the Kosah-Rei to be over—especially given that it went off nearly flawlessly. The only exception to their perfect game was the escape of Leiolai Sartella and Tali Firrik, a failure that left a small pit in his stomach. Most feared Leiolai’s survival given how dangerous her biomagic had been all these years, but Ryokumo was one of the few people more afraid of Tali.

  After all, if she’d been killed in Ankalla, we could have brushed her alleged predictions off as the ramblings of a madwoman… Her survival is an uncomfortable indication—one I wish I didn’t have to ponder… I have faith that Liri would never side with that woman, but at the same time, under the right circumstances…

  Markreas’s death march through Ildara had left Ilirianna visibly disgusted and enraged, and while Ryokumo didn’t think that would be enough to push her into Tali’s embrace, it still left him a bit antsy.

  But I really shouldn't ponder it for now… It does me no good, especially when it’s time to sit back and celebrate a victory we were all so desperate to attain. Ryokumo then grimaced as he turned his head to regard Rennigan across from him. I truly would have thought Glaus would feel the same, but he somehow seems more depressed and scared than he did before Tyrus died…

  Ryokumo narrowed his eyes, not only recalling the way he had uncharacteristically shouted at Nyx, but also at the many fearful glances he sent both the Master of Water and Sinna Cartus. Rennigan was afraid of something, and based on his behavior, Ryokumo suspected something had happened between him and the Masters he was assigned to. Given Ryokumo’s lower status, he couldn’t very well confront Sinna and Nyx, so for the moment, he intended to keep an eye on Rennigan and wait for a time where he might be able to convince him to talk.

  But if something did happen, I want to know… Glaus should be on top of the world, celebrating a feat that is truly impressive, so if those Masters stole his relief from him, then I may very well have to get involved…

  This was the mindset he took, and as the carriage dropped Ryokumo and Rennigan off at their home, the wind mage watched his friend carefully. But Rennigan merely shuffled through the door, then made his way towards the stairs. Expecting him to just be depositing his belongings in his room, Ryokumo headed to the kitchen to begin boiling water for an herbal tea intended to ease anxiety, but by the time the cups were filled with the steaming liquid and resting on the coffee table, awaiting Rennigan’s return, the water mage still wasn’t back.

  In fact, he never left his bedroom again for the rest of the day.

Recommended Popular Novels