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Hejira: Sanguine Wave

By Mantrid Brizon

Episode 35: Nemesis

Peeking in through her opened bedroom window, as is his habit, Travahn whispers into the room.

“Hey there, gorgeous.”

“Hi.” Naomi replies, sitting in her bed and smiling at him.

“Ready to go for that walk?” He asks, smiling back.

“Of course.” She rises from her bed.

“Good.”

Taking her hand, he helps her climbs out through the window and the two walk off into the silence of the night. He left her earlier that afternoon to eat dinner with his parents and so that Naomi could speak to Sarvah privately. Despite her declarations, she only wanted him nearby when she spoke to Kelly, should he become upset. Thankfully, Kelly was unusually supportive of his surrogate sister, even offering to travel with her when she decides to transform.

Perhaps his relationship with Vahna, which has become truly loving for the both of them, and his son Zeike, made the decision easier? Sarvah was equally understanding, but to Naomi’s surprise, the one who also told her to embrace who she was.

“I love Gare, and continued to love him after his change, but had he never done it, I’d still love him just as much. If you wish to do this for yourself, or to increase your lifespan, I can understand, but I don’t think you need to.” She said.

Regardless, Sarvah gave her the jade stone. When Naomi is ready, she can make the week-long journey to the temple and place it in the pedestal. Walking beside her boyfriend and following the fence toward the cliffs, opposite the main gate, they look for a familiar avenue of escape. Tonight, they will sit by the lake and talk about when to carry out her transformation. Naomi is also eager to hypothesize what animal species Sahvath’s device will imbue her with.

Near the cliffs, the wall could not be as large due to the rocky formations. Taking advice from Gareth after learning this from Sarvah, she has begun construction of a watchtower, to consistently monitor this weak point. For the moment, however, this smaller, thinner portion of the wall near the cliffside is a viable means of sneaking out of Wildwood unnoticed. Scaling the wall slowly and carefully, they drop down into the grass, a space of several meters between the wall and the forest.

Walking along this strip of grass roughly ten-feet-wide, they move around the entire village to go down to the lake on the opposite side. As they walk beyond the wall, toward the field and the sloping ground that leads into the valley below, they are suddenly startled by a voice.

“Hello there.” A woman says.

Gasping and spinning around, Travahn draws a dagger and Naomi’s right hand glows with her crimson aura.

“There’s no need for that.” The woman chuckles, stepping out from the tree-line. “It wouldn’t help you anyway.”

Washed in the light of the moon that hangs in the sky, Faye reveals herself to the teens. Naomi stares in shock. She hasn’t seen her sister in almost two years, not since the day that she left them. Travahn has no idea who she is, but can see the look on his girlfriend’s face.

“Naomi?” He calls to her.

“Your dog is talking to you. Or is he your friend?” Faye asks casually.

Naomi doesn’t answer. She can’t. Her voice has solidified in her throat from the mere appearance of her older sister, whom for a time she presumed was dead.

“Where have you been?” She finally chokes out.

“Oh, I’ve been around.” Faye replies with a sinister chuckle.

Naomi listens as Faye briefly and nonchalantly sums up her absence. Having wandered for months in the wilderness after leaving the Blue Feet village, Faye found herself starved and near death. Praying and begging to God for answers, and to decide her fate, she lay where she fell, beside a road. A small tribe of both human and Sahvorai found and rescued her, nursing her back to health. The tribe’s leader, a relatively young human, watched over her as she adjusted.

Over time, she adapted well and soon joined the tribe. Speaking with the chieftain, she found herself enthralled by him and his ideals. Desiring a utopia for all, the chieftain expressed sorrow that none would ever allow it; too many misuse their freedom to constrain others and prosper without caring who suffers. If only he were their supreme ruler. Unfortunately for her, the intriguing leader is already married to a Sahvorai woman, his queen. However, this didn’t mean that she couldn’t still find purpose.

Believing it to be God’s will, she joined his small band of warriors, determined to use her talents to their benefit. She helped him conquer a few nearby tribes. Building an army of fear, warm bodies soon followed. Faye’s king decided that the world would be better under his reign, and now he has the means to create his utopia. Being his premier general, Faye has spent the last year carving a swath through the western lands, leading his army as he absorbs or conquers every tribe they come across.

Naomi and Travahn stand in silence. How have they not heard of this? Is it possible that not a single person has escaped to spread the word?

“If your king’s land is in the west... What are you doing here?” Travahn asks.

“Simple, little doggie. It’s next on the list.” Faye grins.

“What’s your plan then?” Naomi asks.

“In the morning I’ll ask whoever’s in charge to surrender or die. Is Sarvah still the leader? It’ll be much more entertaining if she is.”

Naomi is floored. How can Faye be doing this?

“What happens if we refused to surrender?” Travahn asks.

“We’ll kill you all.” Faye says with a calm, even bored sigh.

“Even if I’m still there?!” Naomi barks.

“This is just what I do, Naomi. I’m good at it, and do you know what else? I like it. I don’t want to kill you, but if you think you’re going to stop us... Well... You’re pretty much killing yourself. If you really want to commit suicide, then I’ll be the gun.” Faye chuckles. “It’s nice to see you’re well, sis. Go home and warn the others. I’ll see you tomorrow.” She casually adds.

Taking her leave, Faye steps backward into the forest, not daring to turn her back on them. Naomi and Travahn stand there for a moment, overcome by shock and abject terror. Only a few moments ago, their future looked so bright. Naomi and Travahn immediately return to the village, entering by way of the gate and surprising the night watchmen. Realizing that they have no choice, they rush back to Naomi’s home, waking up Kelly before heading next door to rouse Rinahra and Sarvah.

Gathering in Sarvah’s house, the two youths explain everything, sparing no details, including how they came to be outside of the wall. Kelly is the most visibly distressed among them. He can’t wrap his mind around how Faye can be so horrible. She was once like a sister to him. Thinking back on the massacre’s that she committed, and how callously she killed humans, Sahvorai, animals and even children, he remembers Sahvath. Faye convinced herself that she was in a dream, that her actions had no lasting meaning, as if it was a video game.

Making her see the truth with his angelic touch, Sahvath showed her the error of her ways. Kelly wonders if perhaps she has relapsed, but as Naomi reveals each and every word that Faye had said to her, it’s become abundantly clear; Faye knows what she’s doing, and she enjoys it. The fear and pain of her victims and the power that she wields has made her a monster, if she wasn’t secretly one already. The children sing terrible songs about Gareth, but Faye is the one they should be worried about.

Returning to their own homes, Kelly allows Travahn to stay the night to comfort the upset Naomi. He himself needs to reveal this to his wife, while Sarvah and Rinahra wake Emma. The three of them will discuss what should be done about this new and troubling situation. Though they try to sleep after the fact, none can. Their minds all race with the dramatic and terrible possibilities. Sarvah lies alone in her bed, which is built for two, wondering what Gareth would do. The thought of him sleeping peacefully in his treehouse, blissfully unaware, somehow makes it easier to sleep.

The next morning, they awaken to the watchmen scrambling their meager defense force. With less than six hundred souls in Wildwood, the army is made up of every able-bodied person, anyone who owns a weapon, regardless of gender. Many are not trained in combat, and many more are not prepared for it even if they were. Reaching the palisade wall, Sarvah walks up a ramp that leads to a scaffolding above the gate that serves as a lookout post. Standing with Rinahra and Emma by her side, a force of nearly one hundred soldiers waits outside of Wildwood.

Faye stands beside a grizzled looking human warrior, who raises his arm and flashes a hand signal. The warriors draw their swords, axes, clubs, bows and arrows, though they hold them low. Faye steps forward.

“I’m Faye! Some call me ‘the witch’, ‘demoness’ and ‘vampire’. I prefer ‘harbinger’!” The twenty-two-year-old Lebanese-American woman proclaims. “I’m the general of king Adelram’s army, and currently leading the 13th scout group!”

Sarvah is amazed that her scout group is so large. Glancing to her compatriots, she can see equally shocked expressions.

“We wish to speak to your leader or leaders so that they may hear our terms! If you do not send someone out to meet us within the next hour! ... Well, then I’ll huff and puff and burn your fucking village down!”

Without waiting a moment longer, Sarvah races down the ramp, ordering her men to open the gates. Rinahra and Emma follow, but Kelly can’t bear to face her and neither can Naomi. Kelly, Naomi and their loved ones stay just beyond the gate and safely behind the wall.

“Sarvah! So glad to see that you’re still alive and running the show.” Faye begins.

“Hello, Faye... So disappointing to see you again, and under equally unpleasant circumstances.” Sarvah quips.

“How cute. Did Gareth teach you how to be such a bitch? Where is Gareth anyway? Or should I call him ‘Red Claw’?” Faye retorts.

Sarvah stares, her blue eyes wide with surprise, and long white hair fluttering in the breeze.

“Oh yeah, I heard about that. Snapped and went on a rampage after Kahlera died in a raid by humans. I’ll tell you this much, if I ever see Casius again, I’ll kill him on principal. That anti-Sahvorai nonsense has caused far too much bloodshed. I actually came to appreciate Kahlera a tiny bit.”

“He’s not here anymore...” Sarvah quietly and sorrowfully admits.

“A shame. He’s probably the only one who could’ve saved you.” Faye taunts them.

“What do you want?” Emma asks.

“Right. Down to the point... We want you to surrender. Give in to Adelram’s will and you’ll be spared. Changes will be made, of course, but at least you’ll keep your lives.” Faye replies.

“And if we refuse?” Emma glares.

“I won’t sugarcoat it. I like killing. Burning people alive kind of turns me on, and I’ll enjoy leading the charge. That being said, it won’t be a small charge. This is just a scout group; we have no less than twenty-four groups and about two-thousand four-hundred warriors, if not more. Twice that if you include women and children. I share this information because we’ve yet to see a larger kingdom, and that might put things into perspective.”

Sarvah’s heart sinks as she listens to Faye, knowing that she’s right. They don’t stand a chance. Even without her army’s support, can Sarvah, Naomi, Kelly and Claire, the four strongest aura users, fight off Faye? Even Gareth might not be so powerful.

“If you want a fight, I’ll gladly bring one to you, but you need to know that it won’t end well. Serving Adelram is your only hope.” Faye finishes.

“Fine...” Sarvah growls.

“Fine, what?” Faye raises a brow.

“We surrender...”

Faye’s brow rises in surprise, her brown eyes wide. With a silent chuckle, she lowers her head, shaking it slowly.

“I think you’ve been tamed. I admit, I’m surprised and disappointed. I’d have loved to burn Wildwood down to the ground. So many pretty homes...” Faye sighs. “King Adelram and queen Padina will arrive when his full army reaches the northern lands, after I return to them with my report. They’ll explain to you personally what will happen next. Hopefully it’s bearable.” Faye snickers.

Her tone as she speaks insinuates that it might be something they really won’t like. Emma and Rinahra both separately wonder if it might be better to fight and die than become subservient to whoever this king is.

“Until we meet again, Sarvah... Be a good girl.”

With her final mocking goodbye, Faye steps backward and rejoins her men. They surround her as she turns, following her away.

“Wait! What of the merchants who left yesterday?!” Rinahra asks.

“They were smart, just like you! I sent them home after they bowed down to me! The weaklings!” Faye laughs.

Returning to Wildwood as the soldiers walk away, Sarvah is bombarded by both Emma and Rinahra as they walk through the gate.

“Are we really going to bow down to these people?” Emma asks.

“It did not sound like we’d enjoy this king’s reign.” Rinahra adds.

“What if he’s a tyrant? If we surrender, we might not be able to stop him in the future.” Emma warns.

“He could garrison soldiers here; we might see rapes and theft en masse, and be helpless to stop it.” Rinahra adds.

“What do you want me to do?!” Sarvah growls.

“Whatever you think is best for us.” Rinahra answers vaguely.

“I thought I was! We can’t fight them alone, and we have no allies!” Sarvah barks.

“The Sarvah I first met wouldn’t have bowed to that wench so easily...” Emma grumbles.

“I gave up everything for my people!” Sarvah screams, grabbing Emma by her upper arms. “I have nothing left! I’ve never been more alone and unhappy than right now, and you’re still not satisfied?!”

Villagers gather around, watching her emotional meltdown.

“No one said leading was easy.” Emma replies.

“It’s not. I have to constantly think of the others before myself.” Sarvah whimpers.

“Then do it.” Emma says.

“Living under this king will most certainly ruin many lives; maybe more than surrendering will save.” Rinahra poses.

“Faye is out of control. She may try to destroy us anyway. She doesn’t even care that I’m here.” Naomi adds.

“How long until they come back?” Kelly asks.

“Faye is taking my answer back to her king. He’ll return from the west afterward and take control of Wildwood. Who knows how long they’ll be.” Sarvah answers.

As she speaks, the crowd chatters, many fearful of what this king will do to them upon his arrival.

“They’re coming from the west.” Naomi speaks up. “With a force that size and at the average marching speed, Faye and her scouts should take at least a month to return to the western side of the continent. After that, a few days to regroup, and then even longer to march a full army back up there. That’s assuming they’re not stopping elsewhere, of course. With dignitaries involved, it’ll be an even slower process. I think we have no less than two months, if not four, before we ever meet this king.”

“That long?” Rinahra asks with visible surprise.

“I just did the math; it’s a simple equation. I remembered the continent’s measurements from the stone we saw when we first came here.” Naomi nods.

“And you’re sure?!” A random woman asks.

“I’m not wrong.” Naomi turns to her.

“That’s my girl. The smartest person in the whole town.” Travahn lauds her.

“Aww.” Naomi blushes.

“That’s enough time to come up with a plan.” Emma says as she looks to Sarvah.

“We could form alliances with nearby tribes.” Rinahra adds.

Sarvah takes a few steps away. Stopping, she looks back at the growing crowd, with nearly a third of the village behind her.

“Is that what all of you want to do then?” She asks.

The crowd unanimously agrees. They’d rather put up a fight than surrender and risk becoming slaves to a tyrant and his bloodthirst henchwoman.

“Fine... We’ll send scouts to look for more tribes and see if we can form an alliance.” Sarvah replies, as if disinterested.