Tragedy of Da Belaya Kavir: LVII
Asher opened the door of the manor stepping aside to let everyone in. The time was nearly nine at night, and while Asher liked waking up early.. He did not like staying up late. The practice always upset his rhythm and with Ercelan attacks more common during the mornings Asher had been trained to enjoy an early night.
"Well that felt like a waste of time." Herod groaned coming through the door. Asher nodded in agreement it was mostly a waste of time. He looked over to Alekzandr waiting for some witty remark.. The old drunk usually gave one, but for the past day and a half he'd been pretty reserved. It concerned him.
"I wouldn't say it was a waste of time! More just.. A stop in our journey. There was Riu trying to make it all seem worth it. Asher gave her a dismissive smile, finally getting to walk into the manor himself. "So what's our plan?" Riu chirped, he questioned if there was a reason her voice sounded like a prostitute, soft, sultry and temptation ridden. 'It's probably got something to do with her mounting and straddling Alekzandr.. Wonder what I'd do if she did that to me..' He pondered.
"Well, obviously we have to go see that.. Villa, for the.. Gralhunds?" Asher replied, his voice a bit deeper, probably from the stress Asher thought. Riu made a sour face at that, he wasn't sure if she was just unused to people having immediate plans or unhappy going after other nobles.. He scoffed at both, in his experience nobles created weak children when they collapse.. Few of the kids ever.. Made it. Asher shook his head, it was not the time to think about that.
"I'm not sure if breaking into a noble's hold is the.. Best idea.." Riu muttered, Asher smiled; no shit. 'Oh wait, they can't see it..' he realized.
"Well It has to be done." Adleth interrupted, she was half way up the stairs apparently bored with the party's decision making speed. He agreed with her. "We're gonna go to that villa, find the fucker who blew up our windows and kill em. Now if you need me I'll be going to bed." Adleth hopped up the stairs, Andraste following her example. The tall elf woman looked sheepish and apologetic.
"I.. should probably get my rest.. If you all wish to go after some nobles.. That's a conversation for another day." Andraste confessed. Asher simply waved his hand in response.
"Um.. Riu?" Markos was so quiet you could barely hear him. "Could you show me how you used that spell.. The.. familiar one."
"Oh.. yeah of course." Riu spluttered, she seemed a tad on edge to Asher. "It's.. a pretty hefty ritual lets.. Go outback." Riu took Markos's small hand and led him into the warm backyard, it was a hell of a summer being this hot, the nights were stupidly warm as well!
"So just.. Us huh?" Asher asked, Alekzandr looked dead and Herod was clearly bored, while the soldier took a seat at the bar pouring himself a little bit of vodka Herod seemed to.. Fidget with something. Asher frowned, grabbing a bottle of whiskey from behind the counter he took a few sips and stepped towards Herod.
"It seems that way comrade.." Alekzandr let off a sigh which Asher assumed the nextdoor neighbors could hear. He made a mental note to talk with Alekzandr, when a brother was down the first priority was getting them back up. Herod sat at a nearby table messing with some book. Everyday Asher felt like this party was reminding him more and more of his family. Idiots picking at things, doing dumb shit, and getting themselves into trouble. Asher sat down shifting his mask around to make it more comfortable.
"What are you messing with Herod?" Asher requested. The book was probably about the size of a children's flip book but made of leather on its exterior, it reminded him of.. Asher pushed that away. Herod stared down at the thing with such intensity he assumed it would combust in flames.
"Skeemo's spell book. I'm trying to open it." Herod replied, he prodded the locks and binding expectantly. "I think it's just a normal lock? So I want to use my.. Lock picks.." Herod began inserting the little pins in fidgeting around.
"You sure you don't want to call Adleth down to help you?"
"I'm fine, thanks." Herod shot back, he held a little grin too that Asher was glad that someone's sense of humour wasn't destroyed by a singular round of alcohol. Seriously.. It felt like everyone was impacted by that brew, Asher knew what he saw.. He knew what it meant, he already had plans but now he was motivated to further them.. He.. would tell his kids their real name, it was only right. Restart. Asher groaned, it hurt too much he didn't want to think about it.
"I head to sleep." Alekzandr announced solemnly, his common was a bit more broken today, not a good sign. Alekz climbed the stairs, with each step Asher felt the desire to reach out and talk to him grow larger and larger. But.. he couldn't be certain how he felt about Alekzandr.. The man was a deserter wasn't he?
"I got it!" Herod remarked, Asher turned back, grinning hey the guy got it-
*Flooof*
"Fire!" Asher yelped. Instantly everything began to move so slowly, the spell book Herod had lifted from Skeemo was currently ablaze. Herod reached for his mug, Asher pulled his blade freeing it from the sheath he placed the edge between Herod's fingers and the mug itself directly into the handle careful to not injure his friend.
*Evcsseeshnk*
Asher swept left, flinging the mug across the room. The signature sound of his blades singing through the air. Alcohol and fire made a bad mix, but he was sure Herod wasn't thinking about that. Asher inserted the tip of his blade under the book, tossing it forward off the table. The floors were lacquered wood, unlike the tabletops, harder to catch on fire. It would buy them time.
"Shit!" Herod yelped, jumping back in his seat. "Inern Puderis Noi Arger!" Herod yelled. The book began to burn faster but now green.
"Great job." Asher stood up congratulating the warlock on fucking making it burn quicker, running at the bar counter to grab some water. It wasn't needed.
"Paseg nae R'lyeh." Markos stomped his trident from the open back door instantly Asher witnessed a small rift open above the burning book. As nearly a gallon of water dropped from it. Just as quickly as it opened it closed. The spell tome was extinguished. He let out a sigh, thank Hephestus. He turned to Markos in the doorway.
"Thanks, Markos." Asher spotted Riu standing behind him. Her armor was removed, a decently rare sight and her hair was a bit of a mess. He could only assume rituals were a bitch since Markos's hair looked like it had been tossed around by wind. "You.. get your familiar?" Markos shook his head.
"Takes an hour.. We started the ritual.. I'll commune with my familiar in the morning." Markos held a little smile like he knew something Asher didn't the same one whenever he was 'talking' to his god. He didn't bother asking.
"If you're done burning everything.." Asher noted. "Then.. I'm gonna go talk to Alekzandr. Markos, care to join?" His friend nodded.
"Hey, don't take Markos!" Herod complained but the warlock kept drinking his brew. Though Riu seemed to purse her lip behind him. Asher led Markos upstairs, Alekzandr was.. So quiet lately, he refused to leave it off like that. Usually he was willing to let others sit and think, but Alekzandr wasn't getting any better and he knew he had to do something about it.
"Why are we talking to Alekzandr?" Markos inquired below him, Asher sighed.
"He's.. not feeling well, Markos. I just.. Want us to check on him, that's all." Alekzandr was a.. Mysterious figure, he had heard of him during the war, the prodigy, the sniper, the scout. "Da Belaya Kavir." Asher muttered to himself. He had respect for this man. Much respect for him, he didn't want to say it but all this time.. Knowing him Asher kept having one question: how could such a legendary figure.. The creator of the Rushiki rifles, be here?
"Alekzandr?!" Asher knocked on the Rushiki's door. The brass knob held still as did the stuffing silence of the hall. "Alekz.." Asher's voice trailed off. What.. was he supposed to do. He could practically feel the pain emanating from the door. How in the fuck was such a legendary figure some random drunk they met in the bar? It filled him with rage Asher didn't know he had. "Mayor Serzhant Ikorov!" He took the knob and turned it, swinging the door open. The room was a mess, Alekzandr's black bed was tucked into the back it's sheets and blankets mixed amongst themselves. The floor was covered in wadded pieces of paper which had long since overflowed the nearby trash can. A fireplace crackled from the left somewhere Asher couldn't see yet. Centerfold on the right of the room sat a tall angled desk covered in flat sheets of paper scrawled across with arcane writing and designs. Sitting on a nearby chair Alekzandr held his rifle across his lap numerous bottles of vodka littered the ground around him, another bottle in his hands. Alekz's face was dreary, his blue eyes were bloodshot and his shoulders were slumped. He slowly looked up, meeting Asher's masked eyes sadly. Alekzandr's back straightened almost on instinct raising his head shakily.
"Komandir Exitium." Asher smiled a little, Da Belaya Kavir was somewhere in there. "Your Rushiki is rusty." Alekzandr spat bitterly a tiny crack of a smile danced on his lips. That was the Alekzandr he knew.
"Alekz.. You don't look well.. Talk to me." Asher kneeled down in front of the chair gazing into Alekzandr's eyes. He hoped for a reaction, anything to work from. Alekzander looked weary, tired, and depressed. He knew what can of worms he was opening however.
".. Asher.. You.. wouldn't understand." Alekzandr responded. A long pause followed. "Actually.. You may be the only one who could understand." He gave Alekzandr a quick nod trying to encourage him. The soldier sighed. "You will understand this story."
"A story huh?" He remarked. "Yeah, I'll listen to a story." Asher was taken back, to when his regiment used to sit around the fire talking about their plans after the war, it didn't matter if you were Rushiv natives, mercenaries or bounty hunters, everyone was a brother around that fire. And they were all.. Gone.
"The war Komandir.. Do you remember what.. Happened?" Asher frowned. What happened? The war happened, fighting happened, Ercelan elves and Rushiki humans fighting against one another for the sake of land. "People were butchered Komandir, they were slaughtered, elves simply fleeing the blood shed dead. Rushiki who wished to not involve themselves.. Dead. Women, children, dead." Alekzandr closed his eyes in anger, his whole body trembling, holy shit he.. Was angry with the Ercelans after all this time?
"Mayor serzhant.. I can understand being angry with the Ercelans.. Their choices, their atrocities, you lost men I know the stories I've heard-" Asher didn't finish.
"The Ercelans?!" Alekzandr raged. "You believe my anguish is pointed to the Ercelans?" Alekzandr screamed. "I-" his voice broke and his head fell, Asher reached out taking the bottle in his hand. "I am angry at the Rushiki, Asher." Alekzandr stared at the ground, tears falling from his eyes. "You.. know The children of the Marrow?" Alekz's voice was soft contempt. Asher nodded in agreement.
"I do. Hell, I'm traveling with one." Asher joked pointing to Markos behind him.
"Do you.. Know how they came to be?" Asher met Alekzandr's eyes, it.. Made so much sense something Asher hadn't even taken into account. Everyone knew of Ikorov's departure when he left the war behind.
"I.. do." Asher admitted bitterly. "The union of.. Rushiki soldiers and.. Ercelan elves." Alekz nodded in agreement.
"The Marrow war.. The Rushiki, they took things from me. They took.. Many.. so many t-things." Tears streamed down his face, the sorrow flooding from him. "Including.. Segiri." Asher frowned. What did that mean he thought.. Wait.. no..
"But.. your rifle is right there?" Markos piped up from the door. Alekzandr scoffed in response and Asher grit his teeth, it made so much sense.. It explained everything.
"Your wife?" Asher inquired, "She was an Ercelan wasn't she." Alekzandr nodded. He could relate somewhat.. Asher had been married once, he smiled somewhat on the memory that brew had shown him, he didn't even know he had that memory it was so lost to him.
"Yes.. she was an elf." Alekzandr picked up his rifle, setting it down next to him. "She was so.. Beautiful.. That damned brew.. It.. showed me our wedding day, our secret, our time!" Alekzandr wailed, setting his head in his hands.
"She sounds lovely." Asher whispered. "I had a wife.. Though we.. just got divorced, Karenia, took the kids Adol and Stalana.. Wish I got to see them more.."
"Do you know what it feels like?" He sounded strained. "To conceal that piece of you.. To hide what you are from your comrades.. To fear it all?" Alekzandr's hands shook, and Asher reached forward taking one of them, he nearly choked on laughter. Asher reached upward and shifted his mask a little letting half his face peer out of it. Alekzandr stared at him intently as the look of realization flooded the old drunk. They both nodded.
"I remember the day I met her.." Alekzandr chuckled. "She was.. Stealing bread Asher, just broken into my home.. Bloodied and scared.. Stealing food to survive. At that moment.. I saw the products of our war." Asher pursed his lip, he knew how insane the war was, Ercelans outraged over damage to their tree's. The Rushiki trying to expand, honestly if it weren't for the contracts the Rushiki made with Exitium house, and nearby cities.. He wasn't sure they would have survived very long. "What that stupid war had created.. What I.. had created. So I.. I decided to help her, eventually.. I.. well.." Alekzandr gave him a tiny smile so small he wasn't even sure he saw it.
"Alekzandr you dog.." Asher replied with a grin, he wanted to cheer his friend up, not beat him down. Alekzandr finally gave a smile at that. Recoiling a little with his grin.
"We were married in secret.. Life was.. So good, no one had to know. My parents were dead, my cousins were off fighting, the Ikorov house was my own. It was.. Such a blessed time.." Alekzandr croaked. Asher could see the fond memories flood his companions mind, the things he had done and the love he had lost.
"I bet it was bliss Alekz. I remember my wedding night all too well." Asher gave a playful punch against Alekzandr's arm. He was doubtful he actually got any sleep for the first three weeks after the marriage.. Thank the gods Herod wasn't in that room right then.
"She wanted.. To leave the war, to leave Rushiv.. She wanted to have our.." Alekzandr stopped "Our child somewhere else.. Somewhere away from the fighting." Asher gripped Alekzandr's hand squeezing it in response. "I couldn't.. I.. I was needed, their only remaining scout in that impossible war! But.. but she wanted to leave no matter what she.. She was adamant.. I warned her I tried to stop her but.. S-she was caught. Discovered, three other defectors found as well, I knew the group.. So many of them had this plan and yet why.. Why her?!" Alekzandr screamed anguish spilled from him. "S-she.. Was.. she w-was.. She was hung right in front of me.." Alekzandr began to sob, Asher rushed forward grabbing him in a bear hug. "She was right there.. And I.." Alekz's body shook, he cried into Asher's shoulder the normally snarky soldier had no witty retorts or words for this.. A pain he knew all too well. "I didn't do anything.. I.. couldn't save her.. My wife.. My child! The future of the Ikorovs!" Asher dug his nails in holding onto Alekzandr like his life depended on it. "That.. that is why I left that day.. Why I had to. I had no reasons to even live." Alekzandr fell silent.
"You have a reason to live Alekz.. You do. I promise you." Asher responded. What was he supposed to say? This hardened soldier, the prodigy, the sniper, The white death. Was.. crying.. "I.." Asher reached up and pulled his mask completely off moving it above his head. For the first time in so long he parted with the cover. "I lost my family a long time ago, Alekz.. They were killed in.. what could only be called a slaughter. I moved, fought, and tried to survive.. I know your pain.. To feel so betrayed by your own people? It's.. terrible." Asher had pulled back now sitting on a nearby stool.
"Kids?" Alekz asked curiously.
"Yeah.." He nodded looking up at the ceiling. "Two of them.. Adol, and Stalana.. I'd do anything for them Alekz.. I know your pain." one day.. He planned to tell both of them the truth. He set a hand on Alekzandr's shoulder. "We all lose people Alekz.. I.. can't imagine losing my son.. Or daughter, I don't know what to tell you. I'm just sorry. We've got to keep moving. Men like you and me, were soldiers Alekz. We're brothers. When you feel as if you can't keep going, like you can't go on, like you have no reason to live. Remember where I am. I promise you, I'll always be there for you." Asher recalled the loss of nearly all his cousins.. His sister.. Hell, his mother and father.. No. no. Vestus was his father now. Vestus was the man he would call dad. Only one of them didn't let him down. He felt shaky.. Scared, the first time his mask had been off in so long it felt uncomfortable, he wasn't sure how to act.
"Thank you.. Com... Thank you friend.. It is nice to finally meet you.. Asher Exitium." he said the name staring deeply at another. Knowing something was off.
"You're welcome, Alekzandr Ikorov." Asher stood ready to leave this man to his own mind. He knew people needed a bit of time to themselves. "Take care Mayor Serzhant Ikorov." Alekzandr reached to the floor and picked up a nearby bottle of vodka raising it to his lips.
"And you, Komandir Exitium."