Bringer of Winter- a M/M/M Epic Fantasy Romance

19- Wal'yah

THEO—

Once we had returned to the keep after leaving the warmth and safety of Uriah's home, we spent a grueling two months camped out to wait out the blizzard. Two months the snows lasted. Two months we stared blankly at the endless stone walls. Two months we prayed that our supplies wouldn't run out. And once the two months were over and we continued our advance into Nibean land, we desperately wanted to return to the months of boredom in Uriok Keep's safe halls.

As if from a horror story told by children around a campfire, Nibea was a dark, hidden thing that none should ever have to face. All at once, I understood the stories told of Brak. As if it knew who we were and what our purpose was, the very island seemed to fight against us. Although I knew most of what happened to us was truly the work of the Nibeans and the war'rog who still stalked us, watching and waiting for their chance to attack, my men were unnerved and even I had to admit that some of the things that happened were unexplainable.

Once we had banked on the shores of Brak, we were met with absolute silence. All of my men were still, terrified and quiet as they listened to try to hear the sounds of birds, of life, of anything that might make the moment seem less terrifying. But it never came. The forest, thick and dense, around us was so quiet we could hear each other breathing.

Once we had turned the rebel Nibeans back, I received word from my father to not only drive them out of Pryn but to finally take Nibea as a Pryn state. By all the gods, but that day I mourned. I knew how many lives would be lost and what it would take to fulfill his orders, but what the Gal Medhse orders, the Gal Medhse gets.

Napa and I spent the next two years on Nibean land, quelling rebellions, speaking with the various clan je'lyens and terey'ohs. With reluctance, they gave in. All but the infamous war'rog clan, of which we couldn't find any trace of. Unlike what Tore had told us, there was no village anywhere near Rothart where they would have lived, and after the day Rayla died I never saw the war'rog je'lyen or terey'oh again. I knew they weren't dead, but perhaps waited. Waited for a blood Bheur to be found, or simply for me to turn by back. I didn't know what they waited for, but I could feel their eyes on me at all times. And somehow, it was almost comforting. For I knew that the only dagger that would find me would be from them, and so the threats were narrowed down.

Which was a ridiculous thought.

In the many months I spent in Nibea, I learned much of the Nibean people, and much of my own people. The Nibeans were open about their feelings, open about their thoughts. If they didn't like me, despite the fact that I was an occupying power, they would let their feelings be known. I had many men, women, and even children come up to me, spit a curse in my face, and then bow low to me as their new king. I was told by Martin, my Nibean translator after Raviv went back home to his castle after only two months in Nibea, that they would have treated their Cailleach the same. While respected, loved, and worshipped, if they didn't agree with something she had decreed, they would show their disfavor, but still respect and love her as their queen.

Their hierarchy was far different from Pryn as well. Pryn had slaves, gypsies and foreigners, servants, peasants, commoners, merchants and tradesmen, artisans and performers, craftsmen, the rich, nobles, royalty, and finally the Gal Medhse and his family, but the Nibean hierarchy was much simpler. There was the royal family, and then there was everyone else. All were treated equally in the eyes of the law, and in the eyes of the Cailleach. She would heal a peasant child of a fever as quickly as a noble child. They worshiped Justice and Balance like we worshiped War and Wealth.

Once we received their surrender in the form of a handful of their terey'ohs meeting with us and eking out the terms of their compliance, I travelled all through Nibea and was treated if not civilly then at least with respect no matter where I went. I was their new king, and they prized that. They respected power, strength, and loyalty. And I had earned the latter in their eyes by taking Nibea as peacefully as I possibly could.