|
Post by WildlingKing on Feb 2, 2019 17:47:09 GMT
Episode 1: Heart of a Killer Year 652 AFK, winterNorthern KopeiaI. Heart of a ShepherdMorning sun glimmered on the painted marble surface of the statue of Lenia, the Queen of Gods. By the statue’s feet laid the plentiful offerings that the townsfolk had brought for the temple yesterday. It had been the first festival day of the year, and the people of the small town of Apea had been generous. Kyla could see everything from copper coins to silver and gold jewelry. There were even a couple sapphires there, which she assumed were offerings of the town’s magistrate. Sister Kyla – who was the head priestess of this humble temple – did not care much for riches, but she was pleased nonetheless, knowing these offerings would provide for her and her young novices for months to come. It was the people’s generosity and love for the gods that brought the food on her table, and in turn she dedicated her life to Lenia, to pray for these people and to give them guidance and help according to their needs.
At the age of thirty-three, Kyla was actually quite young for her position. In the temples of the larger Herian cities a head priest or priestess under the age of sixty was a rarity, but in a small town like Apea the competition was much lesser. Kyla had lived her whole life here, having been left on the temple’s steps as an infant and raised by its former head priestess Thalassa. Her red hair indicated that she might be of Ragian heritage, but that was the only thing she knew of her parents. It didn’t matter though, because Apea was her home and its people her family. She had been raised well, and she believed her part in this world was to do good and look after her herd.
“Sister Kyla,” a frail voice of an older woman spoke behind her, and Kyla turned towards the temple’s entrance. It was Phaedra, an elderly woman who had recently been widowed. Just a month ago Kyla had held the funeral of her husband Lamus.
“Lady Phaedra,” Kyla spoke softly as she approached the hunched and white-haired woman.
“I’m sorry to come at such an early hour, I know you had a busy yesterday,” Phaedra said with an apologetic tone, but Kyla shook her head and gently grabbed the older woman’s hand. “You are welcome to this temple at any hour,” she assured calmly. “I didn’t see you during the festivities yesterday. Are you feeling alright?”
“Yes, I… well, it was my first Festival of Heber without Lamus,” Phaedra explained with a pained voice, and Kyla nodded understandingly. “I understand,” she said compassionately. “After Thalassa passed, it took me years before I could enjoy the festivals again. It still feels different, but life has a way of… making you move on, I suppose.”
“I’m afraid I might not have so many years left, Sister,” Phaedra replied with a depressed tone. “After Lamus’ death I’ve often wondered if there is any purpose left for me in this life, other than being a nuisance to my children and grandchildren.”
“Your children and grandchildren love you, Phaedra,” Kyla said with soft but emphatic tone, looking her to the eyes. “They would not want you to think like that, I know they wouldn’t. Love them, and let them love you. That is all the purpose one needs.”
“Thank you, Sister,” Phaedra said, tears streaming down her wrinkled cheeks. “Oh, I feel so silly, coming here to cry for you,” she then muttered, wiping away her tears.
“It’s what I’m here for,” Kyla assured with a bright smile, softly stroking Phaedra’s shoulder. Just then, she noticed from the corner of her eye someone else entering the temple. It was Issa, the oldest of the three novices under her tutoring. She was a young woman on her late teens, donned in the white novice robes, as opposed to the salmon red priestess robes of Kyla. Issa was a smart and tactful girl, with curly dark hair and round face.
“Good morning, Sister Kyla, Lady Phaedra,” Issa greeted them with a polite tone. “And my apologies, I didn’t wish to disturb you.”
“Oh, no harm done, dear. I was done with my moaning anyway,” Phaedra said, a small but sincere smile on her face. “I’ll come see you again, Sister,” she then said, turning towards Kyla again. “For now, I’ll try to take your words to heart.”
“You’ll do fine, I’m sure,” Kyla responded with an encouraging tone as she escorted Phaedra out of the temple.
“Looks like yesterday was quite profitable,” Issa said, eyeing the offerings by the statue of Lenia. “Yes,” Kyla confirmed, walking next to the novice. “Though, it is not profit. Merely funds, for us to fulfill our duty to both Lenia and the people of this town.”
“Of course,” Issa agreed amicably. “We ought to take some of the offerings to the shrine, no?” she then asked.
“Yes, but let’s wait for Katina and Niobe,” Kyla replied, referring to the two younger novices under her tutoring. Katina was fifteen, having been a novice of the temple for three years now, and Niobe was ten, having joined them just a couple of months ago.
“I… I’m not sure if Katina is coming,” Issa said, an embarrassed tone on her voice. “How so?” Kyla asked with a raised eyebrow.
“I saw her drinking wine last night, way more than she should’ve,” Issa answered with a sigh. “And… well, I think she has been regretting her choice to become a temple novice lately. She’s always on a bad mood, slips from her duties and I constantly have to pick up her slack.”
“She is at that age,” Kyla said calmly, remembering that she herself had had her doubts about life as a priestess when she was younger. Sometimes she still did, sometimes she felt lonely. Sure, she had the people of Apea and her novices, but there were times she wondered if there could be something more for her. “I’ll have a talk with Katina soon,” she promised to Issa, who gave her an obedient nod.
“Morning, Sister Kyla,” the joyful voice of young Niobe sounded from the temple’s entrance. She was a short and scrawny but adorable girl, youngest daughter of the town’s stablemaster. “Morning, Niobe,” Kyla responded warmly. She picked a small vase from near the temple’s entrance and handed it to Issa. “Collect a third or so from the offering to this vase. And Niobe, you take the rest of the offerings to the coffers in the backroom,” she instructed. “I’ll wait outside.”
As Kyla made her way outside, she noticed Katina standing on the street. Her white novice robes were tidy, but her dark brown hair was open and messy, and under her eyes were dark bags. She looked unwell and ashamed, and with a deep sigh Kyla approached the girl. “Katina,” she said softly as she got closer to her, but Katina avoided eye-contact with her.
“I’m sorry,” the girl muttered halfheartedly, still evading Kyla’s gaze. “For what?” Kyla asked gently, and for a moment Katina remained silent, considering her answer. “For being such a poor novice,” she finally said with a gulp. Softly Kyla put her hand on Katina’s shoulder, and at last she raised her gaze and their eyes met.
“Perhaps I haven’t been the best teacher,” Kyla said quietly. “If there is anything weighing on your mind, Katina, you can tell me.”
“I…”, Katina cut herself off and turned her gaze down again. “I’ll do better, I promise,” she said thinly.
“Sister Kyla!” Niobe yelled cheerfully, rushing down the temple’s steps, holding the vase in her arms. “Careful now,” Kyla said with a chuckle. She took the vase to her own arms, and it was surprisingly heavy. “Oh, you’re surprisingly strong, Niobe,” she complimented the girl, who flashed her a grin.
“Will you come to the shrine with us, Katina?” Issa asked with a cold tone, to which Katina reacted with an annoyed glare. “Yes, I will,” she responded sternly.
“Come on, let’s go then,” Kyla said with a calm and commanding tone. And so, she led them out of the town, and into the forest west of it. The trees were mostly bare, and the forest floor was covered with wet brown leaves. It wasn’t quite as beautiful as it would be in a couple months once the spring would bring new life to the nature, but Kyla still enjoyed the fresh air and earthy smell of the woods.
After a bit of walking they arrived at the shrine, which was a circle of twelve pillars and an altar in the middle, all built with white stone. Thalassa had taught Kyla that the shrine had stood there for more than three-hundred years, and it wasn’t hard to believe from how worn down by the elements it was.
“So, what do we do now?” Niobe asked eagerly.
“First, we speak a prayer to the gods,” Kyla answered calmly. She approached the altar and placed the vase atop it. “Hear us, gods,” she then started, speaking softly and getting on her knees in front of the altar, and the novices followed her example. “We have come here today to share with you the offerings of our people. Take this gift as an expression of our gratitude to you, oh merciful gods. Bless the people of this land with prosperity and happiness, protect them and keep them safe, for you have their worship and love.”
Kyla stood up, taking in a deep breath and remaining silent for a moment to see if the gods wanted to give her a sign, like Thalassa had taught her to do. “What now?” Niobe asked quietly, and with a smile Kyla grabbed the vase. “Now we bury this,” she replied, gesturing towards the hill on the other side of the shrine. The hill was dotted with small piles of stones, markings of the many offering burials that had been done there in the past. Kyla pulled from her satchel two small wooden shovels, and handed them to Issa and Katina.
“This spot should do,” she said as they made their way to the hill, and so Issa and Katina begun to dig. After a couple minutes Kyla determined that the hole was deep enough and laid the vase into the ground, covering it with the soil. “Now, each of you fetch a handful of stones,” she calmly commanded the novices, and they obeyed. Kyla then piled the stones carefully atop the spot they had buried the offerings to.
“But what if someone comes to dig up the offerings?” Niobe asked with a raised eyebrow, which was a question Kyla remembered having asked herself from Thalassa when she first took her to the shrine. “Then they would be stealing from the gods,” Kyla answered as Thalassa had answered to her over twenty years ago. “Do you know anyone foolish enough to anger the gods like that?” she then asked with a smirk.
“I don’t know… maybe,” Niobe answered with a shrug. “I mean, my older brother is pretty dumb.”
“Well, try to make sure he won’t do anything stupid,” Kyla said lightheartedly, ruffling the girl’s hair lightly. “Now, let’s make our way back to the temple.”
As they made their way out of the woods and to the road leading into the town, they saw a lone rider approaching them from behind. She was a young woman with short brown hair, clad in leather and linen, and she did not seem well. It was like she was just barely awake, breathing heavily and a distraught look in her eyes.
“Lady, are you alright?” Kyla asked with a concerned tone as she came closer to them, but instead of answering the woman just fell down from the horse, which hollered and ran away. Kyla kneeled down next to the woman, and noticed spatters of dried blood on her clothes. With a gulp she looked the woman to her hazel eyes. Kyla couldn’t help but notice how beautiful she was, even if also dirty and clearly ill. “Lady, do you hear me?”
“I’m… no lady,” the woman muttered with a weak and coarse voice. She then pulled down her tunic slightly, revealing a fairly fresh wound on her chest. “I… I think I might be dying,” she said with a gulp. Kyla put her hand on the woman’s forehead. “You’ve got fever,” she said, trying to stay composed, and offering her a gulp of water. Healing was one of her duties as a priestess, but her patients were rarely in such an immediate danger. “That wound of yours, it needs to be cleaned and treated as quickly as possible. Girls, give me a hand.”
Issa quickly helped Kyla to raise the woman to her feet, and so they supported her all the way to the temple. They laid her down on a mattress on the backroom, where she fell asleep. While Kyla cleaned the wound, Issa and Katina mixed a fever remedy from herbs, and Niobe rushed to buy some food from the market.
Kyla gave the girls the rest of the day off, but remained in the temple herself to wait for the strange woman to wake up. Hours went by, some townsfolk visited the temple throughout the day, until finally as the sun begun to set the woman woke up. “My sword,” were her first words.
“I have it right here,” Kyla said, nodding towards the table she had put the sword on. “It’s not what you need right now though. What you need is rest, and food,” she said, tossing an apple to the woman.
“You don’t know what I need, priestess,” the woman muttered after taking a bite from the apple. With a raised eyebrow Kyla lowered herself next to the woman. “I’m Sister Kyla, head priestess of this temple,” she introduced herself calmly.
“Nikaia,” the woman replied with a sigh. “I’m… not much of anything.”
“Well, you’re alive,” Kyla pointed out with a small smile. “Thanks to the help of myself and my novices, that is.”
“Yeah, thanks for that,” Nikaia said unenthusiastically, evading Kyla’s gaze. “Though I doubt you would’ve helped me if you knew who I am, or what I’ve done.”
Kyla narrowed her eyes, quietly studying Nikaia’s face. She didn’t seem like a bad person, perhaps a bit rude and ungrateful right now, but Kyla had always seen herself as a pretty good judge of character and she could see warmth and empathy in Nikaia’s eyes.
[Ask her what she has done] [Tell her it doesn't matter what she has done]
|
|
|
Post by edinosaur22 on Feb 2, 2019 20:52:59 GMT
[Tell her it doesn't matter what she has done] Maybe that would help her open up, or we will have another chance later.
This is the Herian world, right?
|
|
|
Post by WildlingKing on Feb 2, 2019 21:01:59 GMT
[Tell her it doesn't matter what she has done] Maybe that would help her open up, or we will have another chance later. This is the Herian world, right? Yep, we're within the Herian world. Apea is located in a region governed by the city-state of Paki, which is the northernmost of the Kopeian cities. I'll try to get a map done for the region as soon as I can
|
|
|
Post by Tales93 on Feb 2, 2019 23:37:40 GMT
[Ask her what she has done]
|
|
|
Post by madsinzero on Feb 3, 2019 0:37:02 GMT
[Ask her what she has done]
Normally, it's not your place to pry, but if she's dangerous, and might bring danger to the village... it's best to be sure what might be coming.
|
|
|
Post by LiquidChicagoTed on Feb 6, 2019 2:24:17 GMT
That was a great way to start the first episode! Oh, I am excited for this whole format, the short episodes about the characters. There is one question I have towards this: Will the episodes be entirely self-contained, or could it be that, should, for example, Kyla survive her episode, we see her again either as a supporting character in another episode, or as the PoV in a direct continuation of her story? Same goes for non-PoV characters, could they appear in several episodes? Regardless, I have ideas, I hope to send the first before the end of this week, if that is alright [Ask her what she has done]I am not entirely certain what to pick here. Both options kinda make sense to me, but I think with this, it really depends how she says it. Rudely demanding it won't be a good idea, but I think if she shows empathy and interest in Nikaia's backstory, that could help with her opening up a bit.
|
|
|
Post by WildlingKing on Feb 6, 2019 10:57:11 GMT
That was a great way to start the first episode! Oh, I am excited for this whole format, the short episodes about the characters. There is one question I have towards this: Will the episodes be entirely self-contained, or could it be that, should, for example, Kyla survive her episode, we see her again either as a supporting character in another episode, or as the PoV in a direct continuation of her story? Same goes for non-PoV characters, could they appear in several episodes? Regardless, I have ideas, I hope to send the first before the end of this week, if that is alright Glad to hear you liked it! And yeah, while every episode is narratively self-contained, they do all take place in the same world so it's entirely possible for characters from one episode to reappear in future episodes. As for having a direct continuation for a PoV, it's also possible, depending mostly on how their initial episode ends (I mean, if they die obviously there won't be a sequel for them), and how much interest there is for continuation (it's one of the reader questions I intend to give at the end of each episode). Anyway, really looking forward to those characters! Haha, don't worry, if there is an aggressive tone attached to an option I'll always try to make that clear. Here you can safely assume that in both options Kyla will remain empathetic and polite, as anything else would frankly be out of character for her.
|
|
|
Post by WildlingKing on Feb 6, 2019 16:16:20 GMT
Voting is closed!And Kyla will ask Nikaia what she has done. I can reveal that this first choice isn't a particularly impactful one, influencing mainly just some dialogue and perhaps the relationship between Kyla and Nikaia somewhat. As for the next part, I've started working on it and it should be ready before weekend. Anyway, here's a map for the region that this episode takes place in, that being the Northern Kopeia: (Full size: i.imgur.com/8FViV75.png)
|
|
|
Post by WildlingKing on Feb 6, 2019 21:18:14 GMT
II. Mercy and Kindness ”So… what did you do?” Kyla asked carefully. For a moment Nikaia remained silent, and Kyla assumed she wouldn’t get an answer. “If you don’t feel comfortable with…“ “I killed a man,” Nikaia cut her off, her voice somehow at the same time strong and vulnerable. “Someone important, back in Paki. And now there’s a big bounty on my head.” A tense silence lingered on the room for a moment. Admittedly this was quite a shocking revelation, but somehow Kyla still didn’t feel threatened or even unsettled by Nikaia. “I’m sure you had your reasons,” she said quietly, and Nikaia nodded. “Vengeance,” she simply said, her voice oozing of deep-seated anger. “I avenged a murder that went unpunished. As it turns out, some lives are more valuable than others.” “I’m sorry, for… for what you’ve had to go through,” Kyla attempted to comfort Nikaia, but her voice came out stilted. Nikaia gave her a small nod, a mournful and absentminded look on her eyes. “I should go now,” Kyla said calmly, standing up now. “You can rest here, and I’ve left food for you there on the table. I’ll be back in the morning.” “Whatever you say, priestess,” Nikai replied with a sigh, laying down on the mattress. Kyla looked at her once more, her eyes lingering for a moment on the warrior woman’s delicate face and svelte body, before she finally made her way out of the temple. Kyla walked through the dark and silent streets of Apea towards her home, reflecting on what she just learned. She was housing a fugitive of law in her temple, a killer no less. Kyla wondered if Thalassa would’ve approved it, and she couldn’t tell. Sure, her mentor had taught her empathy and benevolence, but she had also had a strong aversion towards violence and those who practiced it. However, regardless of what Nikaia had done in her past, Kyla didn’t believe she should pay for it with her life. There had to be another way, a more merciful way. Next morning Kyla made her way to the temple again, finding that Issa was already there. She approached her novice by the statue of Lenia. “Sister Kyla,” Issa greeted her calmly, to which she responded with a small nod. “How is our guest?” Kyla then asked. “She seems well enough, considering the shape she was in yesterday,” Issa answered tensely, her tone clearly a bit dissatisfied. “Is something bothering you, Issa?” Kyla asked softly, and the novice let out a deep sigh. “She is bothering me,” she muttered quietly, nodding towards the door leading to the backroom. “I understand that it is our duty to look after those in need, but she… well, she’s a stranger, an outsider. For all we know she could be a criminal.” Kyla gulped softly, pondering her response for a moment. “We shouldn’t judge, Issa,” she then said quietly, to which the girl reacted with a frustrated sigh. “Sure, but can we really trust to keep a stranger so close to the coffers of the temple?” she asked sternly. “If she was a thief, she would’ve already taken what she could carry and ran last night,” Kyla remarked calmly, but Issa didn’t look to be completely convinced. “Maybe she’s just waiting to be in better condition,” she argued. “Let me worry about Nikaia,” Kyla then said, to which Issa raised an eyebrow. “Oh, she told you her name?” she asked with a surprised tone, and Kyla nodded. “Now, go find Niobe and take her to collect more herbs,” she instructed Issa. “If Nikaia’s fever rises again, we’ll need it. It’s also time for Niobe to start learning the basics of healing.” “Alright, I’ll go,” Issa said with a dutiful nod, before walking out of the temple. For a moment Kyla turned her gaze to Lenia, wondering what the Queen of Gods thought of all this. Would she see the sense in treating a killer with mercy and kindness? Kyla couldn’t say for certain, but she hoped that it had been Lenia who guided her to save Nikaia’s life. Kyla entered the backroom, noticing that Nikaia had moved her sword next to the mattress she was laying on. A sensible caution, if there was indeed a bounty on her head. “Morning,” she greeted her nervously. “Morning, priestess,” Nikaia replied, her voice tired but polite. “I wanted to thank you, for saving my life,” she continued with a sincere tone. “Properly, I mean. And to apologize, for being ungrateful. You had no reason to help me, but you did. I guess I’m just not used to something like that.” “If there’s something this world needs more, it’s kindness,” Kyla responded with a warm smile, which Nikaia did her best to reciprocate. “We can agree on that,” she said quietly, her smile quickly fading as she turned her gaze down. “I… don’t mean to pry, but I’ve been thinking about what you told me last night,” Kyla said calmly, taking in a deep breath before continuing. “You said you killed someone to avenge a murder that went unpunished. The one murdered, was it someone close to you?” “Dymnos,” Nikaia said quietly, her voice revealing just how much this man had meant to him. “He was the closest thing to a family I ever had. He wasn’t a good man, but the man who had him killed was no better. Certainly deserved no better,” she said, her fists clenched and in her eyes a burning fury. “May both of them find peace in the afterlife,” Kyla mouthed, though the look on Nikaia’s eyes hinted that she disagreed with the notion. “You said this Dymnos was the closest thing you had to a family. What about your parents?” Kyla asked. “My mother died giving birth to me,” Nikaia spoke with a blunt and grim tone. “As for my father, well, he never was much of a father to me. Disappeared completely when I was nine. Couple years later I learned he had got himself killed in Tekas. Dymnos on the other hand… he truly cared. He looked after me when I was a kid, taught me to fight and provide for myself. Losing him was… I don’t know how to even say it.” “I understand your pain,” Kyla assured softly, taking a seat and letting out a deep sigh. “I never knew my real parents either. I was raised by the former head priestess of this temple, a wonderful woman. She died a few years back, and for some time I felt lonelier than ever before. I… I thought there would be no one in this world who would care for me again the way she did. In fact, I still think that sometimes.” Nikaia didn’t say anything, but they shared a look, and Kyla could tell that she understood her – perhaps better than anyone else ever had. “Anyway, like I said, I’m thankful for your help,” Nikaia broke the silence after a moment. “I’m already feeling much better. Just couple more days of rest and I’ll be on my way, and you won’t have to worry about me sulking in your temple anymore,” she said with a stifled chuckle. “You may stay as long as you need to,” Kyla responded with a friendly tone, standing up from her seat. “I’ll see to it that you’re well fed and that your fever doesn’t return. And when you decide to leave, please let me know. I can give you an outfit that will make it easier for you to travel without garnering too much attention.” It was a rather usual day for Kyla from that point forward. Few people visited the temple to pray around noon, she taught Niobe to mix a basic fever remedy from the herbs she had collected with Issa, and towards the evening Kyla told her novices a story about the gods – one that Thalassa had told her many times. It was a story about Lenia seeking revenge against Saradis, the goddess of sea, after learning that she had given two children to Heber, the King of Gods and Lenia’s husband. However, at the end of the story when Lenia has Saradis at her mercy, she decides to forgive her. “Alright, that is enough for today,” Kyla said after concluding the story. “Go home now, girls, we’ll see again tomorrow.” After watching her novices leave the temple, Kyla went to the backroom to clean the dishes they had used for mixing the herbs, as well as to check on Nikaia. She was sleeping, her right hand loosely grasped around the hilt of her sword. Kyla decided not to wake her up, instead heading towards home. However, before Kyla could reach her home she was interrupted. “Kyla! Sister Kyla!” she heard the voice of Katina yelling behind her. As Kyla turned around she saw the novice approaching her by running. “Katina, what’s happened?” Kyla asked with a concerned tone as the girl reached her, gasping for breath. “I was just in the tavern,” Katina started with a frantic tone, a slightly embarrassed look on her eyes. “There were two bounty hunters there, from Paki. I overheard them asking about Nikaia, they’re looking for her.” “Did you speak with them?” Kyla asked tensely, and Katina was quick to shake her head. “No, I left as soon as I heard who they were talking about,” she explained nervously. “I… I heard them call her a murderer. Perhaps you should just give her up, or at least tell her to leave the temple.” “Nikaia is our patient and guest, Katina,” Kyla reminded, trying to keep her voice as calm as she could. “It’s our duty to help those in need, not to throw them to the wolves. Now, just go home to rest, I’ll take care of this.” Katina nodded with a small sigh, and walked away. Kyla took in a deep breath, considering her options. Her first instinct was to return to the temple to warn Nikaia. However, she wondered if she should instead go to the tavern to see these bounty hunters, perhaps even give them a false lead to give Nikaia more time. [Go back to the temple] [Go to the tavern]
|
|
|
Post by madsinzero on Feb 6, 2019 23:53:26 GMT
I think it would be best to [Go back to the temple], as we might miss the Bounty Hunters if they start moving out.
|
|
|
Post by edinosaur22 on Feb 7, 2019 1:48:48 GMT
[Go back to the temple] They must be on the way, and while there might be clues of their identities at the tavern, time is of the essence.
|
|
|
Post by Tales93 on Feb 7, 2019 21:14:28 GMT
[Go back to the temple]
I think warning her is probably the best option right now.
|
|
|
Post by LiquidChicagoTed on Feb 8, 2019 15:30:15 GMT
[Go back to the temple]
I do agree with the majority here. Actually, I am quite interested in these bounty hunters and would like the chance to find out more about them, but warning Nikaia should be the priority for now.
|
|
|
Post by WildlingKing on Feb 8, 2019 15:42:23 GMT
[Go back to the temple]I do agree with the majority here. Actually, I am quite interested in these bounty hunters and would like the chance to find out more about them, but warning Nikaia should be the priority for now. No worries, we'll learn more about these bounty hunters sooner or later regardless
|
|
|
Post by WildlingKing on Feb 9, 2019 21:30:24 GMT
Voting is closed!
And Kyla will go back to the temple to warn Nikaia about the presence of bounty hunters. This is most likely the safer option, as going straight to the bounty hunters may have just made them more suspicious towards Kyla. We'll see in the next part if Kyla and Nikaia manage to stay out of trouble.
Speaking of the next part, I haven't done much writing on it yet, but I doubt it'll take me more than a couple of days to get it done.
|
|
|
Post by WildlingKing on Feb 19, 2019 19:08:53 GMT
III. The Value of Life Hastily Kyla made her way back to the temple, glancing over her shoulder every few seconds to make sure no one was following her. In the temple she rushed directly to the backroom, where she found Nikaia having a dinner by the table. “Sister Kyla, evening,” she greeted her with a slightly surprised tone. “Nikaia, I’ve come to warn you,” Kyla spoke with panted breath. “Warn me?” Nikaia asked sternly, and Kyla nodded. “Yes, bounty hunters have arrived to Apea,” she said with a gulp. “Two of them, Katina just told me. They’re currently asking around in the tavern, looking for you.” “I… can’t exactly say I’m surprised,” Nikaia replied with a sigh. “Of course I knew there would be bounty hunters on my trail, but I hoped I had a few more days. Well then, perhaps you should hand me to them, priestess. It’d be the lawful thing to do, and they’d probably even give you a cut from the prize.” “I’d never do that,” Kyla said with a slightly insulted tone, which seemed to genuinely surprise Nikaia. “Why not?” she asked quietly. “Because I think you deserve a second chance, an opportunity to start a new life,” Kyla answered, an empathetic tone on her voice. “I see good in you, Nikaia.” “I’m a killer, priestess,” Nikaia argued with an apathetic voice. “It’s all I’ll ever be.” Kyla stepped closer to Nikaia and grabbed her hand. “No,” she said with a determined tone. “You do not need to be defined by your past, Nikaia. You can do better, and be better. You just need a fresh start.” For a moment they just looked each other to the eyes, until Nikaia gave Kyla a wordless nod. “You can’t stay here in the temple,” Kyla said with a small sigh as she took a step back from Nikaia. “Sooner or later someone will tell those bounty hunters that they saw us taking you here, and they’ll come sniffing around.” “So, what do you suggest?” Nikaia asked calmly. “For now, you can stay in my house,” Kyla answered. “Then, we’ll figure out how to get you out of Apea without drawing the attention of the bounty hunters.” “Sounds like a plan,” Nikaia said, allowing a thin smile on her face. And so they made their way to Kyla’s house in the cover of the night, and luckily enough no one spotted them in the streets. Kyla’s resident was quite spacious for someone living alone, including an entrance hall, small courtyard in the middle, two bedrooms, kitchen, dining hall and a terrace on the roof. Sister Thalassa had inherited the house from her family, and it was where she had raised Kyla. These days Kyla didn’t enjoy spending much time there, as it just made her miss Thalassa. Kyla led Nikaia through the entrance hall and the courtyard to one of the bedrooms. “You can rest here,” she said, gesturing towards the bed. “I’ve had all day to rest,” Nikaia replied calmly. “And one of us needs to stay up, in case those bounty hunters come looking for me. So please, you rest and I’ll stay in guard. It’s the least I can do after all the help and goodwill you’ve afforded me.” Kyla nodded to Nikaia, and they shared and affectionate smile. Kyla changed into her nightgown and laid down to bed, closing her eyes but finding it hard to fall asleep. She was obviously concerned about this whole situation, the bounty hunters and all, but for some reason she was even more afraid that when she’d wake up Nikaia would’ve left during the night, gone from the town and her life. Rationally thinking it was the best thing that could happen – Nikaia would have a chance to escape and find new life somewhere else and Kyla could return to her duties as a priestess. However, there was a part of her that didn’t want that to happen, a part that had perhaps always craved for something like this. The feeling of excitement and danger, it was much more enticing than Kyla could’ve imagined. That night Kyla had restless dreams, in which she kept running away from something, a faceless threat. And Nikaia was with her, sword in hand, protecting Kyla from whatever was chasing them. In the morning she woke up to hearing the rain outside. She met with Nikaia in the dining hall, where she had made and served breakfast for both of them. Bread with cheese and olives, as well as a cup of wine. “No need to thank me, priestess,” Nikaia said with a thin smirk as she saw Kyla approaching her with a surprised expression on her face. “After all, it’s all from your pantry.” “Still, it was nice of you to do this. Thank you, truly,” Kyla said as she sat down, to which Nikaia just rolled her eyes. “Come on, you’re the reason I’m even alive,” she remarked with a dry chuckle. “I’d need to do much more than serve you breakfast to be even close to even.” “You don’t owe me anything, Nikaia,” Kyla reminded calmly. “I simply did my duty.” “So, got any ideas how to get me out of this place without alerting the bounty hunters?” Nikaia asked, to which Kyla nodded with a subtle gulp. She had indeed been thinking about it, and she did have an idea. “First of all, you should disguise yourself as a novice,” Kyla started. “I should have robes that fit you back at the temple. And secondly, well… I should go to these bounty hunters. I’ll make sure they listen to me, and while I talk to them you can leave knowing that they aren’t watching.” “I assume we’ll do this after sunset?” Nikaia asked with a raised eyebrow, and Kyla shrugged. “Maybe,” she said with an uncertain tone. “Then again, perhaps it would be easier to slip out during the day when there’s lot of people going in and out of the town.” “I suppose,” Nikaia said with a nod, looking Kyla to the eyes. “I know I’ve already thanked you, Kyla, but… I guess I just wanted to say that I’ll miss you. There aren’t too many decent people out there, you know. At least not the kind who would help someone like me.” “Perhaps you can find someone to help in return,” Kyla suggested gently. “Just, try to leave behind the kind of life you led before.” Nikaia gave her a sheepish nod, and so she left her house and made her way back to the temple in the rain. As Kyla arrived to the temple’s entrance, she noticed two men standing by the statue of Lenia. One of them taller than the other, they were both clad in bronze armor and armed with iron weapons. Clearly they were warriors, and it didn’t take long for Kyla to deduce that these two had to be the bounty hunters. For a split-second she considered turning around and running back to Nikaia, but before she could make that decision the smaller man turned around and looked at her. He was a slender and muscular man with slicked back brown hair, clean-shaven face and wolfish features, carrying a shield on his back and a short sword on his belt. “You must be Sister Kyla, am I correct?” he spoke up with a calm and polite tone. Kyla stepped inside the temple with a timid nod, and now the other man turned around as well. He was a broad-shouldered and portly man with balding head and mean-looking face, and he was armed with a large mace. “My name is Agetos, though some call me the Shadow of Garas,” the smaller man introduced himself, his lips forming a thin smirk as he spoke. “My partner here is Ortos the Mydanian.” “And… you have come here to pray to Lenia?” Kyla asked calmly, forcing a small smile on her face, to which Agetos reacted with a soft chuckle. “Not quite,” he said, tapping lightly the gilded pommel of his sword. “We’re bounty hunters, here looking for a wanted criminal. A murderer, no less.” “And what makes you think you would find a murderer in my temple?” Kyla asked sharply, her gaze shifting nervously between the two men. “We’ve been asking around,” Agetos replied, his tone still calm and polite. “From what we’ve heard, you brought an injured woman to this temple a couple days ago, one that matches who we’re looking for. Short brown hair, on her mid-twenties, carries a sword. Named Nikaia.” Kyla straightened her back and crossed her arms in a defiant manner. “Never met her.” “Bullshit,” Ortos hissed angrily, taking a step closer to Kyla before being stopped by his partner. “Easy, friend,” Agetos said calmly, glaring at Kyla with narrowed eyes. “I understand you feel that you have some sort of duty to protect this woman, having healed her and all that. However, you should know that Nikaia is not worth your protection, priestess. She’s not just a murderer, she is the murderer of the Archon of Paki. The prize on her head is three-hundred in silver, four-hundred if she’s captured alive and brought to face judgement in Paki.” Four-hundred pieces of silver, Kyla thought. It was a large sum, but at the same time nowhere near the value of human life. No, she wouldn’t give Nikaia to these wolves, but perhaps she could pay them instead, buy Nikaia her life and freedom. There was enough silver in the coffers to do it. Then again, making such an offer would give away that she did indeed know where Nikaia was. [Offer to pay Nikaia's bounty] [Say you don't know where Nikaia is]
|
|
|
Post by LiquidChicagoTed on Feb 20, 2019 18:39:50 GMT
It is as I expected, I actually like these bounty hunters I got sort of a weakness for these types of characters, so I am glad we got to meet them. Of course, I could see them being a major source of trouble as well if we are not careful here, but for the time being, they are intriguing. [Offer to pay Nikaia's bounty]The thing is, Ortos let it slip that they already don't believe her, or he at least doesn't. I doubt he will believe another lie and if she continues to refuse to give them anything here, maybe Agetos' patience will wear thin as well. So, while I am not entirely sure which of these options is the better one, I believe that this here has a higher chance of success, when compared to lying to them. They are bounty hunters, after all, not people with a personal stake in it, so enough coin might convince them to back off. The only problem I see is, this won't solve the problem entirely. It might be enough to get rid of Agetos and Ortos, but I doubt they will be the last to get so close to Nikaia.
|
|
|
Post by Tales93 on Feb 20, 2019 19:48:42 GMT
[Offer to pay Nikaia's bounty]
After some thought, although it is risky, I think offering to pay Nikaia's bounty might be more successful than lying to them. They already don't believe her. Since, they are not law officials but bounty hunters, they care more about the reward than actually bringing her to justice. They may just let Nikaia go if they have their reward.
|
|
|
Post by WildlingKing on Feb 25, 2019 16:47:09 GMT
Voting is closed!
And Kyla will offer to pay Nikaia's bounty. Bounty hunters are driven by profit, so trying to buy them out isn't a bad idea. However, we'll see in the next part if it works on these guys.
And speaking of the next part, it's almost ready and should be posted pretty soon.
|
|
|
Post by WildlingKing on Feb 26, 2019 17:23:41 GMT
IV. Where Chaos Goes ”Four-hundred in silver, you say?” Kyla asked, eyeing the two bounty hunters nervously. “What if I paid you that right now? There should be enough in the coffers. Would you leave Nikaia alone then?” Agetos’ was clearly tempted by Kyla’s offer, his eyes widening in excitement for a moment. “I was raised to have respect for those who serve the gods,” he said quietly, letting out a small sigh. “So, would you consider my offer?” Kyla asked with a hopeful tone, but Agetos quickly shook his head. “No, it is precisely why I must refuse your offer, sister,” he responded with a calm and polite tone. “You see, if we took your coin we would practically be robbing you. It wouldn’t stop us from going after Nikaia, it would merely double our pay and make your temple poor. Tempting, but like I said I was raised to have respect for priests and priestesses.” Kyla turned her gaze down in disappointment, and now Ortos the Mydanian approached her. “You’re lucky my partner is as soft as he is, priestess,” the big man said with a snide tone. “I would’ve taken all the coin you have, it’s wasted on your kind anyway. Now, take us to Nikaia, we know you’ve been taking care of her.” Ortos’ tone was quiet but threatening, and timidly Kyla gave him a nod. It was a shame, but there simply was no other way out of this. The best she could hope for was that Nikaia had decided to leave while she was gone, but that seemed terribly unlikely. “She is still in town, right?” Agetos asked, taking out his red shield which had a dark grey wolf painted on it. Kyla nodded with a subtle gulp. “Yes, she’s in my home.” Agetos smiled thinly, gesturing for Kyla to lead the way. “We’ll follow you, sister.” So they walked out into the rainy streets of Apea. Kyla kept glancing at the bounty hunters following closely behind her, still wondering if there would be some way to trick them, some way to save Nikaia. “Your shield,” Kyla said to Agetos, who gave her a questioning look. “What about it?” “Wolf is often used to symbolize Garas, the god of chaos and violence,” she spoke quietly. “And I believe you said you’re known as the Shadow of Garas. May I ask… why?” Agetos chuckled softly at the question, as if it had reminded him of some pleasant memories. “A nickname given years ago by one of my then frequent employers back in Orenae,” he explained calmly. “He used to say that where chaos goes, I follow. Like the shadow of Garas.” Kyla remained quiet for a moment, walking deliberately slowly as she studied Agetos’ face from the corner of her eye. “So, do you enjoy chaos, bounty hunter?” she asked tensely. “In my profession chaos means work and profit,” Agetos stated nonchalantly, a sharp but non-threatening glare in his eyes. “So yes, in a sense I guess I do enjoy chaos. Or at the very least I benefit from it.” “At least you’re honest,” Kyla commented with a sigh, to which Agetos settled to responding with a simple nod. They continued in silence all the way to Kyla’s house, garnering some curious looks from the townsfolk on the way. “It’s a shame it has to come down to this,” Kyla stated loudly as they entered her house, gaining a cold glare from Ortos. “Just take us to her, priestess,” he hissed, clenching tightly to his large mace. “And stay quiet.” Kyla nodded, leading the way to the courtyard. She hoped Nikaia had heard them enter, and perhaps taken the opportunity to run away through one of the windows. Suddenly Ortos bellowed in pain, and Kyla turned around to see that Nikaia had sneaked behind the large bounty hunter and thrusted a dagger deep into his throat. Violently she pulled it out, blood spilling to her face and clothes as Ortos the Mydanian collapsed to the ground. Without hesitating even a second, Nikaia threw the dagger towards the remaining bounty hunter. However, Agetos reacted quickly, blocking the dagger with his shield. He then looked at the bleeding out body of his fallen partner, and for the first time Kyla saw rage in Agetos’ eyes. With a determined scream Nikaia charged against him, launching several fast and aggressive strikes, but every time Agetos managed to keep the shield between himself and her sword. “Please no,” Kyla mumbled in panic, but it was clear neither of them paid any attention to her. Nikaia leaped to Agetos’ right, trying to get a stab past the shield. However, Agetos parried it with his sword this time, and followed it up by bashing his shield against Nikaia’s upper body, sending her stumbling backwards. Agetos seized on his momentum, giving a harsh downward strike on Nikaia’s blade, which made her lose her grip and drop the sword. Agetos followed this up with another bash with his shield, this time sending Nikaia flat on her back, right next to Ortos’ dead body. She was unarmed and beaten, and Agetos had her pinned between the floor and his blade. “I would’ve taken you to Paki alive, but after what you did to Ortos… I don’t think I’ll bother,” the bounty hunter said coldly. “Do it then. Kill me and go back to your masters, you fucking dog,” Nikaia hissed angrily. This was it, Nikaia would die, and Kyla could do nothing to save her. In shame she turned her gaze away, noticing a tall vase just couple feet away from her, standing next to the wall. Driven by pure instinct Kyla grabbed the vase, rushed behind Agetos, and bashed it onto the back of his head. Luckily, it was enough to knock out the bounty hunter. Nikaia stared at Kyla with eyes wide open, clearly surprised that she had saved her. After getting over her initial surprise, Nikaia quickly got up and rushed to pick up her sword. “What are you doing?” Kyla asked weakly, as Nikaia approached the unconscious Agetos. “Stop!” she yelled just as Nikaia raised her sword to strike. She held back her sword, glaring at Kyla. “This is the Shadow of Garas, priestess. He’s a bounty hunter and has lived by the sword for years. He’s killed dozens for profit, many of them undeserving. He’s not worth your protection.” “Funny thing, he said the same thing about you,” Kyla replied sharply. With a sigh Nikaia lowered her sword. “It doesn’t make that much of a difference, I suppose. There will always be more bounty hunters coming after me,” she said grimly. “But this one… as soon as he wakes up he’ll realize what you did, and I doubt he’ll forgive you, Kyla. You should let me kill him, for your own safety.” Kyla gulped, eyeing the unconscious face of Agetos. Perhaps Nikaia was right, perhaps this man was too dangerous to be left alive. However, it felt wrong and hypocritical to let him die after all Kyla had done to preserve Nikaia’s life. If she deserved another chance, why not him? [Spare Agetos] [Let Nikaia kill him]
|
|
|
Post by Tales93 on Feb 27, 2019 20:44:22 GMT
[Spare Agetos]
I just don't see Kyla as one who would just let him be killed. Nikea should just use this chance to escape. After this, Kyla might have to escape with her, but I'm sure the local community would not take too kindly to a priestess being killed or imprisoned. So, he might not do anything to her anyways. For all we know, he might not even realize what happened to knock him out.
|
|
|
Post by LiquidChicagoTed on Mar 2, 2019 23:30:26 GMT
Hmmm, now I wonder what could have been had Kyla lied to them. Maybe it was a mistake to offer them coin, but then again, I don't think they would have believed her either way. Nonetheless, rest in peace Ortos the Mydanian [Spare Agetos]That is a very hard choice and definitely the hardest one so far. I like Agetos, so that definitely plays a part in my decision. However, even then I fear he will be a problem at some point further down the line of Kyla's chapter, I cannot possibly see him backing off, especially with his partner dead. That being said, I agree with Tales, I don't see Kyla as someone who is fine with killing a defenseless man. So, let's risk it. Who knows, Agetos gets a change of heart and helps her in return later? Probably won't happen, but it can't hurt to hope ^^
|
|
|
Post by WildlingKing on Mar 3, 2019 10:33:33 GMT
Hmmm, now I wonder what could have been had Kyla lied to them. Maybe it was a mistake to offer them coin, but then again, I don't think they would have believed her either way. Nonetheless, rest in peace Ortos the Mydanian Lying here wouldn't have led to a much different outcome tbh. Agetos and Ortos were already pretty certain that Kyla knew where Nikaia is, so trying to lie about it would've just made them a bit more aggressive (Ortos especially). That said, there were other ways this could've gone, but those were more dependent on the earlier choice between warning Nikaia or going to see the bounty hunters at the tavern. Going to the bounty hunters would've been the high risk/high reward route, because it could've led to either Kyla managing to trick them and escaping Apea with Nikaia undetected, or it could've led to Ortos seeing through her bs and confronting Nikaia at the temple. Nikaia would've still managed to kill Ortos and escape the town with Kyla, but she would've been injured in the fight and Agetos would've been right at their trail.
|
|
|
Post by WildlingKing on Mar 5, 2019 20:39:44 GMT
Voting is closed!
And Kyla will spare Agetos, or more specifically ask Nikaia to spare him. This is definitely in-character for her, even if it does put her in certain amount of risk. We'll see in the next part how and where Kyla and Nikaia proceed from here.
Speaking of the next part, unfortunately you might have to wait a bit longer for it. I'm on a crunch with my uni seminar this week, so I probably won't find much time for writing the story. Next week should be more chill though.
|
|
|
Post by WildlingKing on Mar 13, 2019 19:03:55 GMT
V. A Cloudy Day It was the second day since Kyla and Nikaia had left Apea in a hurry. Kyla had managed to just briefly meet with her eldest novice Issa, leaving her in charge of the temple. She had promised her to be back before summer, but in all honesty she wasn’t sure if she’d be able to keep that promise. Kyla had suggested going to Halae where she knew a few priests, but Nikaia had insisted that they should head towards north instead if they wanted to avoid more bounty hunters. In a dark and cloudy afternoon they arrived to a village situated by the southern riverbank of the great Kopei river. Their hope was that they could buy a lift on some merchant’s boat further to north, perhaps to Edinia. Even more so Kyla wished they would get a roof to sleep under. Never before in her life had she had to sleep outside, and one night in a wet and rainy forest was more than enough for her. Kyla had no doubt she looked tired and dirty, but at least the villagers still seemed to recognize that she was a priestess, based on their respectful nods as she walked by. At the center of the village they were approached by a white-haired old man, dressed in a simple linen chiton and leaning on a wooden walking stick. “Sister, what brings you to our village?” the old man asked with a placid voice. “Me and my companion here are heading north, mister,” Kyla spoke, her voice coming out frail and uncertain. “North?” the man asked, raising an eyebrow in surprise. “Excuse me, sister, I forget my manners. I am Timnes son of Mikon, the eldest of Dimaki, our humble village.” “Sister Kyla, servant of Lenia, head priestess of Apea’s temple,” Kyla introduced herself with a polite tone, hesitantly glancing at her companion. “Anysia, her hired bodyguard,” Nikaia lied through her teeth, crossing her arms as she spoke. Timnes nodded, a curious look in his green eyes. “You’re welcome here of course. But regarding your plans to continue north, I must warn you, sister. The Barvians and Ragians may have not declared war against the Kopeian League, but that hasn’t stopped them from raiding and foraging on the lands north of here throughout the winter. The authority of Paki doesn’t quite reach that far, you see, and what little troops the local magistrates have clearly aren’t enough. Almost every week people heading south come through here, but you two are the first in months heading north.” “The Barvians haven’t captured Edinia though, have they?” Kyla asked with a distressed tone, and Timnes shook his head in a calming manner. “No, I don’t think they have. Some of the smaller settlements north of the lake though… well, a fellow who just came through a week ago told some unpleasant stories. The way he told it, if you go anywhere north of Edinia it is as if you had left the Herian world and stumbled into the savage wilds of Ragia. I can only imagine what it’s like in Noria now that the Barvian prince occupies it with his armies.” Kyla had of course heard about the Barvian conquest of the Kingdom of Noria, as well as the already legendary Battle of Pyrhyi where King Nikolaos of Gatia had fallen among thousands of others to defend the Herian world against the Barvians. However, it had all felt so distant from her simple and comfortable life in Apea, like stories from across the world. Only now did Kyla realize how close the danger truly was. If the Barvian prince would decide to march his armies to Kopeia instead of the Pass of Pyrhyi come spring… Kyla didn’t even want to consider what would happen then. “We must go north,” Nikaia chimed in with a decisive tone. “That’s just how it is, old man.” “Is this true, sister?” Timnes asked directly from Kyla, and she gave him a hesitant nod. “As I see it, the people of Edinia need the blessings of Lenia now more than ever,” she said, forcing a small smile on her face. “I understand,” Timnes replied calmly. “You are a brave soul, sister, I can tell. It’s a couple days travel to Edinia from here with a boat, but rest assured I’ll have someone take you there. For now, you clearly need some food and rest.” After a pleasant and plentiful dinner with Timnes and his family, Kyla and Nikaia were given a small room with a comfortable bed to rest in. Kyla immediately collapsed onto the bed with a deep sigh. She had probably never felt so tired in her life, her legs feeling like heavy logs and her back still aching from sleeping in the woods last night. Nikaia on the other hand looked nearly unaffected by their trek from Apea to Dimaki, despite having been badly wounded just few days ago. Of course, it was clear she had lived a much less comfortable life than Kyla. Kyla eyed quietly as her travelling companion observed the sword she had taken from the bounty hunter Agetos. Nikaia had said she did it in order to slow down Agetos once he’d wake up, but Kyla had a hunch that the sword being notably better craftmanship than her own played at least some role in the decision as well. “How are you feeling, Nikaia?” Kyla asked calmly, and she gave her an almost amused look. “How am I feeling? This isn’t anything new to me, priestess. The real question is, how are you feeling?” Kyla gulped, turning her gaze down. “Is it that obvious that I’m out of my element?” she asked with a weak chuckle. Nikaia sat down at the edge of the bed, a sympathetic look in her eyes. “I don’t mean to judge, Kyla,” she said softly. “That you’re willing to do all this, it just shows that you care, that you’ve got a good heart. I… I think you’re the kindest and bravest person I’ve ever met.” Kyla chuckled uncomfortably, feeling tears welling up in her eyes, all the stress and anxiety she had felt during these past two days suddenly coming to ahead. “I left my home, my people, my novices,” she managed to mumble weakly under her sobbing. Nikaia moved closer to Kyla, a timid look in her eyes as she hesitantly grabbed her hand. “I’m sorry, Kyla,” she said, her voice quiet and sincere. Kyla shook her head and took in a deep breath, managing to stop sobbing. “Don’t be, it was my choice,” she responded with a shaky voice, holding onto Nikaia’s hand and looking her to the eyes. “I saved you, because I wanted to save you.” Nikaia laid down, right next to Kyla, still holding her hand and looking her to the eyes. “Thank you,” she whispered, and moved to kiss her on her lips. It was a gentle and brief kiss, and when it was over Kyla felt the urge to pull Nikaia back into it, and she could see it from her eyes that it was what she wanted as well. [Kiss Nikaia] [Don't kiss her]
|
|
|
Post by edinosaur22 on Mar 14, 2019 14:36:16 GMT
[Kiss Nikaia]
|
|
|
Post by Tales93 on Mar 14, 2019 20:33:25 GMT
[Don't kiss her]
|
|
|
Post by LiquidChicagoTed on Mar 16, 2019 22:48:31 GMT
[Kiss Nikaia]
Yes, no... maybe? Kissing the wanted criminal, what could possibly go wrong? Well, quite a number of things, especially with Agetos still out to hunt them, that is true, but I'm never one to block a romance from developing.
|
|
|
Post by WildlingKing on Mar 18, 2019 9:17:50 GMT
Voting is closed!And Kyla will kiss Nikaia. As you probably guessed, this choice mainly determines what kind of relationship Kyla and Nikaia have going forward. On one hand they both clearly could use some love and comfort in this stressful situation, but on the other hand falling in love with a fugitive might prove to be a hazardous move. Anyway, you can expect the next part to come out before the weekend
|
|
|
Post by WildlingKing on Mar 24, 2019 16:07:53 GMT
VI. The Opportunity Kyla woke up in the morning with her arms around the still sleeping Nikaia, their naked bodies nestled softly against each other. She raised herself to a sitting position and watched as Nikaia slowly turned towards her in her sleep. Her delicate face was so innocent and pure as she kept breathing in and out in a restful pace. She looked as graceful as a goddess laying there, and last night she had been the embodiment of Avadis herself when she made love with Kyla. However, Kyla knew that Nikaia was also a killer. She had seen her kill Ortos the Mydanian just a couple days ago, and the image of the bounty hunter’s blood spilling out from his throat when Nikaia pulled out her dagger was still fresh in her mind. Nikaia had acted without hesitance or mercy, which indicated to Kyla that she had done it many times before. Obviously, she had to be an experienced killer for having managed to kill the Archon of Paki and make it out of the city alive. Doubts and second guessing begun to fill Kyla’s mind, about whether all of this had been a huge mistake on her part, and just then Nikaia opened her eyes. “Morning, priestess,” she purred with a tired but loving tone, and a small smile found its way on Kyla’s lips. She had done the right thing in saving Nikaia, she had to believe in that. Whatever her past crimes were, there was goodness in her, love and compassion that deserved to live on instead of being snuffed out by an executioner’s blade. “Morning, Nikaia,” Kyla responded softly. Nikaia raised herself to a sitting position as well now, stretching her arms and yawning, and then leaning her head lazily against Kyla’s shoulder. Carefully Kyla leaned her head against Nikaia’s, and for a moment they just stayed there in silence. “So, what’s the plan?” Kyla then asked quietly, to which Nikaia reacted with a small sigh. “To Edinia, I suppose.” “Yes, but… when we are there,” Kyla clarified. “What do we do then?” For a moment Nikaia remained silent, a pondering but relaxed look in her eyes. “Honestly, I never thought I’d make it this far after… well, after what happened in Paki,” she finally said, her voice calm and nonchalant. “So far I’ve always made my living with a sword in hand. It’s the only thing I know how to do,” Nikaia continued, turning her eyes to Kyla now. “However, perhaps now I’ll have an opportunity to live a different kind of life. You’ve given me that opportunity, Kyla.” They kissed briefly, and as they separated Nikaia let out a sweet little giggle. “What?” Kyla asked with a shy smirk. “Nothing,” Nikaia replied playfully. “I just never imagined I’d be kissing a priestess of Lenia. Or that they’d be so lovely in the sheets.” Kyla rolled her eyes and chuckled softly. “Oh, come on. Stop trying to make me feel embarrassed.” “Just saying it how it is, priestess,” Nikaia quipped cheerfully as she got up from the bed. “I’d gladly spend the whole day in that bed with you. However, perhaps we should go ask about that boat lift to Edinia.” Kyla nodded in agreement and got up from the bed as well. They dressed up and made their way to the main room of the house, where the old man Timnes was already having breakfast with his wife, two sons and their wives, three granddaughters and one grandson. They were all very lovely and welcoming people, who saw feeding and giving shelter to a priestess as an honor. They probably would’ve offered their hospitability to Kyla for weeks or even months if she so asked, but she thought it would be better to move on sooner rather than later. The younger of Timnes’ sons, Nestor, offered to take Kyla and Nikaia to Edinia. He was an affable and average looking man, probably on his late thirties, with a stubble beard and short dark brown hair. They left before noon, Kyla and Nikaia sitting at the front of the skiff as Nestor rowed. The boat also had a small sail, which was crucial in traveling upstream. Throughout the first day Nestor kept repeating that it was an honor to help a priestess in need, clearly trying to make her open up about the purpose of their journey. However, Kyla remained equally resilient in her efforts to dodge the subject, and Nestor was too polite to ask directly. At the end of the first day they arrived at a place where a large tributary river joined into Kopei, and Nestor informed them that following this tributary to the north would take them to Edinia. They camped into the fork between the rivers for that night and continued the journey again in the morning. The landscape and nature here looked and felt mostly similar to the woods and moors near Apea that Kyla was familiar with, but somehow more untamed. They passed by some villages and farms, but overall the untouched wilderness clearly prevailed here over lands worked by the hands and tools of men. As it was winter the trees were mostly barren, the grass had a brownish tone to it and no flowers were in bloom. However, Kyla could just imagine how verdant and lush this region would be in the summer. For the second night they were given shelter in a small house by a friendly farmer, and soon after the noon of the third day of travel they finally reached their destination. Lake Edinia glimmered beautifully under the winter sun, its waters clear and clean, and on its southern shore stood the peaceful town that shared the lake’s name. Wooden walls were currently being constructed around the town, because of the Barvian invasion Kyla assumed. On the banners hanging from those walls, as well as on the shields of the guards, was the rearing white horse of the Kopeian League on a green field. Beyond the lake in the distant horizon to the north the peaks of the Green Hills could be seen. Kyla hadn’t seen the mountains before, but she knew that on the other side of them begun the land known as Celicia. It was a strange feeling, being so close to the edge of the Herian world, so close to strange and foreign lands. As Nestor tied the boat on the piers next to the town’s fish market, they were immediately approached by a young guardsman. He didn’t look like much of a warrior, but a scrawny boy dressed in ill-fitting armor. “Excuse me,” he said to them with a nervous tone as they climbed out of the skiff. “Afternoon,” Nestor responded to the boy with a relaxed tone. “Um, you see, I’ve been instructed to ask a couple questions from anyone who enters the town via boat,” the guardsman explained with an awkward tone, his gaze shifting between the three of them. “Well, go ahead,” Nikaia bluntly encouraged the boy, who nodded with a subtle gulp. “First, your names,” he demanded, trying to sound professional or imposing, without much success. “I’m Nestor, son of Timnes,” Nestor was the first to speak, turning towards Kyla and Nikaia. “I’m just here to deliver these fair ladies,” he added with a slight smirk. “And who might you be, ladies?” the guardsman asked, narrowing his eyes as he glared at Kyla and Nikaia. “Sister Kyla, priestess of Lenia from Apea,” Kyla introduced herself calmly, before gesturing towards Nikaia. “And this is my bodyguard, Anysia.” “I see,” the boy responded with a stiff nod. “And what is your business in Edinia?” “I am here because I heard the news about the Barvian and Ragian invaders terrorizing the land,” Kyla answered, taking in a deep breath. “I wish to visit the local temple and pray for the people of Edinia.” The young guardsman raised an eyebrow, visibly confused by Kyla’s answer, but he didn’t question it. “Well, welcome to Edinia then,” he simply said with a nod, gesturing that they were free to enter the town. “Is there a reason for this questioning?” Nestor inquired sharply, to which the boy nodded with a sigh. “Magistrate Gelesos wants to make sure our enemies don’t infiltrate the town,” he explained unenthusiastically, turning his gaze towards the lake. “From what I’ve heard a band of ‘em made camp on the northern shore recently.” Nestor looked shocked by this revelation, and quite frankly Kyla shared the feeling. “We better let you back to your work then,” Nikaia chimed in calmly, and so they finally walked from the pier to the fish market, leaving the young guardsman to his duties. Edinia was a small town, smaller than Apea if Kyla had to guess, home to perhaps four-hundred people at most. However, right now its streets were strangely crowded, with men, women and children sitting around on the sides and corners of the alleys. Most of them looked poor and dirty, some downright famish and sickly. No doubt these were people who had had to flee and leave their homes behind because of the violent invaders. “I can see why people are running south from here,” Nestor stated grimly as they made their way to the central plaza of the town. In the middle of the plaza was a raised platform with a bronze statue of a man on horseback raising his spear towards the sky. Kyla assumed it depicted the legendary King Andros the Horseman, famed for conquering Kopeia and driving out its Celian tribes centuries ago. South of the plaza was the magistrate’s mansion, its entrance guarded by four guardsmen armed with spears. Right next to it stood a small temple, which from the paintings on its pillars could be deduced to be a temple of Volon, the god of craftmanship, fire and invention. Next to the temple were also small shrines for the rest of the Twelve. However, to the north of the plaza was a tavern, from where sounds of chatter and laughter could be heard. “So, you said something about visiting the temple, right?” Nestor asked calmly, and Kyla gave him a small nod. “Perhaps we should go to the tavern first though,” Nikaia suggested, gazing it with eager eyes. “I’m starving, and a little wine would do no harm either.” [Go to the temple] [Go to the tavern]
|
|