Chapter 8 - Books, Blades, and beloved
Taomerle8. Books, Blades, and BeleiversBy Assilsastao()xxxx[{::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::><::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::}]xxxx()oMarco sat in the center of the five-foot wide vardo; the center of the space was covered with a thick down-filled mattress. Strange trinkets and baubles hung from hooks on the ceiling and walls. Small shelves with railings lined the walls, each filled with books and boxes. He sat cross-legged with a large leather-bound book in his lap. Flipping the pages and scanning each one, he searched for a single work he vaguely remembered. Hanging in mid-air behind him, as if looking over his shoulder was the Greenman staff, Hemslef. Echoing in his mind, the ethereal voice continued to rage Waste not your time, flee with your life. He refused this time, as many in the past did, to heed the warnings of the bound spirit who gave no reason for its fear of the strange beast. He knew that name used by the kitzen who commanded it; he had seen it before, but where? Over the years, he had relied heavily on the spirit within the staff for tidbits of information when they were needed most, and for once he had failed. Marco heard the sound of the hawthorn staff clatters to the floor of the vardo, as a voice spoke softly behind him. "You are keeping secrets again, brother bear." Not turning to acknowledge them, he felt the presence of Dementia and her shadow companion. "I have seen that look; you know something that you are not telling." "You do know most people come in through the door, Demy." He said. "I have heard that name before, Norossomthing. It is in one of these books. What's bothering me is that not even Ithaurot will show himself in its presence." Flipping one last page, he spies the name 'Noroscureil'. Slowly reading over the page his eyes widen, in bold script across the top of both pages was written "The Binding of the Twelve". o()xxxx[{::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::><::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::}]xxxx()o I write this to document as my final attempt to quell the unrest throughout the world. The weapons forged by our people have gone so far beyond their intended purpose. Their power has grown beyond what we can control. This final action is our last hope, to bind that power within the weapons so that they may not use it of their own will. What I fear is that this course will also be our end. Our factions have each created a weapon from the monstrosities that our brother nation made with their forbidden use of technology. Through the use of forbidden magic we created living weapons to topple their cities and free the last of their abominations. Our plan has gone horribly awry, and our creations threaten all life on Taomerle. I now weep in sorrow for not seeing this outcome, for it was my place to foretell such things. As such it is my duty to set this right. I have found one beast weapon, lost within the mountains. With him I will work the binding, and through his link the others will be bound. I have written the laws of the binding to fault nothing. As our power cannot directly destroy our creations, I have had to give them a choice. This choice was to be simple and forever binding, unto death; choose a master to whom their power is bound, to only be unleashed at the behest of or in the defense of. If no master is chosen by the rising of the triple moon, the weapon has chosen to relinquish its power and life back to Taomerle. From amongst the weapons, the one I have found was titled Noroscureil, the blade of death. It was chosen from the wolf tribes known as the vilk. In its time free from control, governed only by the original laws drafted so many years ago, it has learned and mastered the forbidden arts of death magic once known as necromancy. With the powerful essence of this beast I fear the state of the other eleven. Even in this weakened state, life energy of Taomerle flows freely through the channels forged into him by the initial pact. The ceremony will be held this night at the peak of the triple moon. Upon completion, the laws of this new binding will be known by those who are bound to it. Thus the hunt for ..... o()xxxx[{::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::><::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::}]xxxx()o Marco flipped the pages back and forth several times. Dementia leans closer to him, the room darkening with her shadow, "What is it, brother bear? Why have you stopped?" "That is it. There is nothing more... the pages are missing." He looked over his shoulder at the cream colored feline, "This is not good. This is so not good. There is nothing about the binding, or how it was done. And I think Leoric knows something he's not telling us." Marco said as he looked at the book A sinister grin crosses the cat's face, "So what do we intend to do about this? I have a few ideas that I have been dyeing to try. "She said, her sweet soft voice deepening with a tone of thirst, the shadows now blocking out all light within the vardo, save the strange glow emanating from Dementia, illuminating the pair. "Nothing for now, little kitty." He said attempting to calm her racing mind. "We need to bide our time and see what he has planned." A frown replaces the toothy grin on her face, her sweet soft voice restored to a tranquil tone, "If we must, but I am against it, and so is Ithaurot." With that, the light was restored and Dementia nowhere to be found in the confines of the wagon. o()xxxx[{::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::><::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::}]xxxx()o The night had fallen fast as the year moved toward its season of death and renewal. The twins found themselves entering a strange new encampment that had formed outside the city gate. Tents, wagons, and merchants had gathered, waiting for the time they could enter the most affluent city in the region. The wide road was crowded, as traders and travelers bartered with what they had to make due and survive the night. Metkatha looked to her brother with a smile, "Looks as if our job is an easy one this time around. If we can't find work as escorts within a few hours I can always sell you to one of the slavers." Looking back with a smirk, Metkatho said, "A female always fetches more money on this market. Besides, slave trading is forbidden in Lamenthra." Pointing to a caged wagon with several mixed breed beasts chained to the walls, "If that is still so, why would they be so bold as to sit at the gates within view of the city guard? It has been a year or more since we have been here. The council may have changed the law; Lamenthra is the last kingdom that does not allow slaves." "I don't like this sister, let's find one ready to leave and get out of here." Metkatha dismounted her horse and lead the way into the depths of the merchant encampment. Dressed in tight fitting black cloth and feather body suit, the green scaled agminas looked more the part of performers than escorts, offset only by the swords and pistols at their sides. As they approached a large bonfire surrounded with cargo wagons and what looked to be several small merchant families, they slowed their pace. Metkatho called out from atop his mount, "Are there any caravans leaving for Featherfall in need of an escort?" A rough looking rhino-kin stood and turned to them, "My troop is the escort of these
merchants, go look elsewhere." At his side, two more stood as a show of force. Each holding a rifle with obvious light armor on their torsos. Laughing Metkatho looked down at his companion, "Even fools can get work as escorts, sister." Looking back up she responds, "I will take the ugly one, you can have the other two." "Which one is the ugly one?" He asked "The one next to the stupid one." She said seeing the anger rising in their faces. Having played this part many times the pair was well practiced at manipulating the competition. "What did you say?" Came the apparent leader of the troop. "I said you were too stupid to escort a bucket of water from the well safely, let alone a caravan past these woods." Retorted Metkatha with a scowl. "You wish to prove me wrong here? I will be glad to make a fool of you." "Now you've done it sister. I am going to get some water for the horses, yell if you need help." Taking the lead from her hand he paused as she pulled something from beside her saddle. "Don't take too long, we still need to find work." Metkatha looked at the three rhino-kin, much of the rough hide covered by their moderate armor, their rifles at the ready. She smiled as she readied for combat. She drew her pistol in one hand and let the length of a whip fall to the ground from the other. The leader of the pack waved them back, "Put your guns down. I will show you how to deal with loud-mouthed lizard bitches." He pulled a large knife from his belt and moved forward in a common brawler's stance. Metkatha licked her lips and top of her muzzle with her long tongue, as she put her pistol away. "Bring it on big boy." Before giving him a chance to move she ran toward him. Snapping the whip around his neck, she sprang into the air over his six foot five frame. With her momentum she jerked him off his feet as she landed. Spinning while crouched low to the ground, she drew and released several small knives, one striking his hand causing him to release his weapon. In the same fluid motion she planted her hand on the ground and cartwheeled to his position, landing on his chest with sword drawn at the gap in the neck of his armor. "So, how do you deal with a lizard, bitch?" He looked up from his prone position, "Anyone can get lucky once." He said, spitting in her face. "And here I was going to let you look good in front of your men." With his size and power he easily picked her up in his arms, and rose to a kneeling position. "One as small as you is easy to deal with." Sliding from his grip and swinging around his body using her tail to grip his arms for balance, she grabbed hold of the whip still wrapped around his neck and pulled tight, using her powerful legs to push out from his back. He dug at the constraint around his neck in a silent cry for air. Through her clenched teeth Metkatha said, "I could not hear you, say it again." A shot rang out for the distance, "I do believe your boss told you he can handle this. Now put those down before you get hurt." Metkatho called out from the darkness. Releasing the whip, she felt his body collapse under her weight. "Damn it Brother, I was just beginning to enjoy myself." She said, standing over the hulking body gasping for breath. "And we must still find work, Sister. We don't have time to play." Looking across the small crowd that had gathered to watch the commotion, "Again I ask, does any caravan going to Featherfall need a SKILLED escort who can provide safe passage through the wild lands?" o()xxxx[{::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::><::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::}]xxxx()o Cassidy wore her black, open-back dress showing her quills, which came down to just above her knee. Beneath that was leather traveling pants and knee high black leather buckled boots. On her right hand she wore a silver studded black leather glove and a leather guard sleeve on her left arm. At her side was her trusted scimitar and rapier. She stood before an isolated fire pit hidden from view behind her vardo. Breathing deeply with her eyes closed, she meditated on the sequence of movements of her kata. Slow and meticulous, she moved through stances and arm movements stamping to a strict pose with the completion of each one, picking up speed as she went. Upon reaching her practiced pace, she drew her scimitar with a mock trust into an invisible target. Spinning and snapping to parry positions, quills rising to full attention. Shortly the rapier is drawn in her off hand and accompanies her main weapon in thrust, slice, and parry combination stances. The dance continues for several minutes before coming to a sudden stop, rapier held above her head, blade to the sky, scimitar embedded into a tree. She opens her eyes, seeing that she had not cleared enough space for her practice to continue as it was. Drawn by movement in the corner of her eye, she spins pulling the scimitar cleanly from its wooden binding. Stopping inches short of slicing into the lutra pup, "Get out. I could hurt you." Sliding her weapons back into their sheaths she sat on a crate situated against her wagon. Looking back over at the pup she asked, "Are you deaf? Flesh and bone cut a lot easier than trees. Get the fuck out." Relaxing her quills, she leaned against the wagon as the sound of his footsteps trail into the distance, "Fuck'n kids." o()xxxx[{::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::><::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::}]xxxx()o Isaiah ran from behind the vardo where he had been exploring, and straight to Assilsatsa's side. Looking down at the young lutra pup, "What happened, Isaiah?" He just huddled closely in silence. She pulled him close with an arm over his shoulder, "This is only temporary, my little pup. Leoric has already set his plan into motion." Taking a place behind the pair, Noroscureil sat like a common feral wolf beast. "Assil, the Gyas has something that may be of use to us. The scent of the Makers is strong on him." A scowl crossed his muzzle, "The scent of one I know well. If he has found what I think he has, it may hold the secret to how you may unlock my full power at your will." Looking down at her, "Do you wish me to retrieve it for you?" "No, we still need them for now. We can't risk losing this safe passage out of the Lamenthra region. I want to get as far away from this place as we can." Assilsasta said, still holding Isaiah close. "This place holds too many memories for us all." "This band of performers is much more than they seem, Assil. Each one is hiding from their own enemies, whether they realize it or not." looking over at the black vardo, "They have a shadowmancer. One with quite a powerful contract. "He said with a grin. "The mage gyas, may not have any idea of the power he wields, or how to properly use it, put his power in the hands of the proper leader it will be formidable." Isaiah looked up at Assilsasta, "The quilled girl is a sword dancer or something, and I saw her back there. It was beautiful... and the look in her eyes was frightening." Looking back down at his feet he said, "I am a useless burden, aren't I?" Assilsasta rubbed his shoulder while she looked into the
file, "You are going to do great things. Your name will be legendary, and you belong to me. You must be patient, for the future comes at its own pace. My father had always told me that. No power in Taomerle may force the future, you must do what you can to influence the outcome, but you must wait for it in its own time." o()xxxx[{::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::><::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::}]xxxx()o