Now I know what the Wrath of God meant by the poem he said. Now I know why he left. We showed the seeds of our destruction, and we applauded while we did so.
***
Laidu finished his story and leaned back. "Yeah. That was our little fiasco," he said with a smile. "And after that, the usual mischief ensued." Thaen chuckled at that. Kyra smiled. The two of them did look like trouble together.
"How'd you get out?" the quarry worker asked. But he wasn't the only one interested. Indra stared at Laidu, eyes wide.
"There was a tunnel. A secure and secret tunnel." Laidu paused. "I don't want to talk anymore about it. I promised to keep it secret." The quarry worker nodded and turned to his meal.
"Glowing crystal?" Indra asked. Laidu nodded. "God above, you found natural alchemy!"
"What?" Laidu asked. Kyra leaned in. Alchemy fascinated her. Kyra's education was focused on things considered more practical for her life.
"Natural alchemy. It's rare. And usually where we find new principles." India's eyes widened. "And the vaults were unopened?" Laidu nodded again, and smiled. "You have to take me there some time! That might have books! Or scrolls! Or thaumaturgy plates!"
"Relax!" Laidu said. "Maybe I might." Indra was ecstatic. Kyra chuckled and sipped her tea.
Laidu took a deep breath. "They were fun times." Thaen nodded at that statement.
"Sounded like a fun time growing up," Kyra said.
"I had good parents," Laidu said.
"Too good," Thaen said, frowning. "This scaly idiot repeated my little swear at breakfast. And he said I said it."
"Janyin washed your mouth out?" Kyra asked, laughing.
"I hate lilac. Soap just makes it worse." Thaen shuddered. Kyra laughed louder at that.
"Don't laugh," Laidu said. "She washed out my mouth too." This only caused her to laugh harder. Soon Karik'ar and Skaria chimed in. The tavern was beginning to fill up, and the myriad of conversations drowned out their laughter. Laidu's cheeks turned a bit reddish. It was strange that he still blushed. Despite the scales, he had a lot of human qualities.
Kyra took a breath and finished her drink. It was kind of hot in here, wasn't it? "I'm going to go outside for a breath of fresh air," she said as she rose. "I'll be back," she promised.
As she crossed the inn floor, she looked back. Laidu had turned around and was addressing some of the miners. Answering their questions, most likely. All the better for her to leave. She didn't want too many questions being asked about her.
Kyra opened the door, taking a deep breath. The crisp, cool night air filled her lungs. It reminded her of home. And that, surprisingly for her, stirred up a pang of disappointment and longing in her heart. She had been in the background for most of the action here, true. But she had seen the people.
She would miss Thaen's talkative side, his mischievous energy, his crazy antics and stories. She would miss the way Indra rambled on about alchemy, often utterly incomprehensible but fascinating nonetheless. She would miss Karik'ar's boasts, and she would miss Skaria's attitude. But most of all, she'd miss Laidu.
What could she say about the man who saved her? He was an odd one. Dangerous, but not reckless. Strong, but not proud. He was the first man to be nice to her for her sake, and not for anything else. It was a sad truth. A nasty truth. But he was a good friend. And that was all he was. Just a friend.
But why did she have to reassure herself of that?
She was lost in her thoughts when someone sat next to her. Startled, she turned to look at him. "Oh, it's just you Karik'ar," she said.
The Kai'Draen arched an eyebrow. "Just me?" He chuckled. "Most people are afraid of me," he said.
"Most people are probably on the business end of your axe," Kyra said.
"True," Karik'ar said, stretching his shoulder. He breathed out, his massive chest rising and falling. He must be at least eight feet tall. He was covered in muscle, more than Laidu, more than anyone she had ever seen. But that wasn't what intrigued Kyra.
"Hey, Karik, can I ask you a personal question?" She looked around the area.
"Sure," Karik'ar said.
"When the tree was about to fall on you, what was that?" Kyra asked.
Karik'ar was silent for a while. "I broke my soul apart. What you saw was magic and a shard of my soul protecting me. But to do that, I had to rip it apart."
Kyra stared at him. "That sounds dangerous," she said.
Karik'ar nodded. "You are the second person I ever explained this to. But it damages me when I do that." He paused, looking around for anyone who could be listening. He even stood up and checked the window. "It makes me...feel dead inside. For me, it erases my ability to feel." Karik'ar shrugged. "I am Steel-born. Warrior caste. We're naturally impulsive. And while there is a safe way to do this, it takes months."
He closed his eyes. "They hunt me because too many hybrid castes had abused it. I knew one who used it too much. He got more and more savage until one day, he snapped. He had a warrior's body. He had the mind of an animal." Karik'ar smiled grimly. "His death made me learn patience."
"Oh," Kyra said. Why would he smile about that?
Karik'ar paused. "It's morbid, I know. But it was helpful. And the Kai'Draeni peoples tend to be a big morbid." He was silent for a while. "Then again, there is something that bothers me about your culture." Kyra paused. What could it be?
"You focus to much on shame, saving face, and other vain things," Karik'ar said. "Your society is based on a thousand pointless rules. Well, not pointless, but you forget the reason that they are there in the first place." Karik'ar folded his arms and stood up. "You put shame on those who mock the noble traditions of family and marriage, but you forget why you do so." Karik'ar leaned on the railing. "You pass judgement, as you should, but you use the most trivial of evidences in your judgements."
"What do you mean?" Kyra asked.
"Other countries shame those who mock family and marriage by their actions. They tell them the truth, that by breaking a vow they made, they ruin lives. But in Caeldar, they just condemn. I asked a woman why this was wrong. She said that it looked bad."
"You let what others think about you steer your path, and you walk by the light of their approval. Even out here, away from that city, you're still chained down by what others think." Karik'ar sighed. "There are five people whose opinions matter. The first is your Highsoul."
"Highsoul?" Kyra asked.
"A Kai'Draeni term, milady. I may live in Saefel Caeldar, but I am a Kai'Draen through and through. In your language, you'd call the Highsoul your God." He paused, then continued with the original idea. "His opinions matter the most."
"Then comes your children. Let them know that, as a mother, you are moral, restrained, and loving." He thought for a moment. "Your husband's opinion is next in importance. Let him know he can trust you, that you have faith in him. Your parents are next. Let them see the works of their hands in your actions and conduct. Let the fruits of their labor be sweet to the taste. And finally, your own opinions matter. Judge yourself not too highly, that you might count yourself greater than others. Judge yourself not too lowly, that you might find vain pride in debasing yourself in the name of humility. Any other opinions don't matter, but the first opinion matters more than the other four put together."
Kyra stopped, dumbstruck. She had always viewed Karik'ar as a hulking mass of muscle, with little brains to boast of. "Did anyone tell you, Karik, that you're wiser than you look?"
Karik'ar chuckled. "No one to date. But when I go off like this, Skaria tells me to shut up. She says I sound like some preacher."
"You do," Kyra said, "but I don't think it is a bad trait to have." Karik'ar nodded. "Can I ask you something else?" Kyra waited for him no nod, to answer her in some way. He looked at her. "Why did you hate Thaen?"
Karik'ar stood completely still. "That's... well, it's difficult. And very personal."
"Sorry I asked," Kyra said, face downcast.
"I'll answer it if you answer one of my questions," Karik'ar said. Kyra nodded. "And as for why I hated Thaen, that goes back to the Fall of Elysion. I was told that the Vesperati and Calixa Fallen, the two of them, had a vendetta against our peoples, and had sent plagues of insanity and famine to the Kai'Draen. Destroyed them. And for this sin, the Calixa and Vesperati could only atone with the blood of their people."
"I heard it said that what you said is the same reason for the Vesperati's hatred of you. And the Calixa." Kyra vaguely remembered that from her history lessons.
"I'm more inclined to think it is our repeated invasion attempts." Karik'ar sighed. "I had always been told that Vesperati hunger for our blood, that they're parasites, the spawn of apes and rats. Nothing good can come out of them. Thaen however, is not that. He's an idiot, and annoying one at that. But he's a kind soul."
Kyra nodded. "I like him. He's... different. Makes me laugh sometimes." She looked up at the brawny, broad-shouldered Kai'Draen. "Okay, your turn. Ask away."
Karik'ar sat down next to her. "Alright." He thought for a moment. "Why are you afraid of Laidu finding out who you are?"
The question hit Kyra like a blow to the stomach. "What?" she whispered, mostly in disbelief.
"Why do you hide, milady?" he asked.
"You know the kinds my father associates with. You know how they feel about the Vesperati, the Changed, the Tethyd. I like Laidu. And I do not want him to think that I hold their beliefs."
"The Kai'Draen have a saying. 'The fruits of belief are words and actions.' I do not think Laidu is one who would judge you by your father's s words. He is a very lofty soul. He is better than that."
"A... lofty soul?" Kyra asked, confused.
"The kind of soul gifted with trial and sufferings, so that others do not need to suffer what they could not handle."
"I've seen the loftiest of souls sell themselves for enough gold," Kyra said bitterly.
Karik'ar glared at her. "Listen to yourself. Has Laidu ever asked you for anything? Compensation? Money?"
"Exactly. And I want to keep it that way."
Now this time, it was Karik'ar that was confused. "What do you mean?"
"Every man in my life, even you, has only helped me and only was kind to me for money. Servants were paid to be nice. Young men were interested in me and courted me, but they didn't see me. Their eyes were fixed on my fortune." She paused. "Don't call me 'milady.' And don't tell Laidu."
Karik'ar sighed. "I'll honor your wishes, but I caution against it. I have lived the lie. And when you have to look those you love in the eyes and lie to their face, it is one of the worst feelings in the world. Eventually, you begin to question if the love you have for them is genuine. That is one of the worst things in the world to do to yourself." He looked info Kyra's eyes. "You want to go down that path?"
Kyra was almost shaking. "I... I will tell him. I promise that," she said quietly, "but on my terms. I don't want anyone to expose it. I want to be in control."
"As you wish," Karik'ar said, face still grim. Just remember, you don't want to end up lying to him for the rest of your time together. Could you live with yourself if you betrayed him, even if he does know it?" The Kai'Draen stood up and walked back in before Kyra could answer.
For a while, she was lost in thought. What would Laidu do? Would he reject her? Would he accept her, but keep an eye on her in suspicion? Or would he go for money? Was he virtuous only for money? Surely, he was better than that! But practical experience told Kyra otherwise.
She had seen too many men abandon morals for the siren song of clinking gold coins.
Eventually, she came to the radical conclusion she feared all along. She would have to tell Laidu who she was. Taking a few deep breaths, she tried to calm her madly beating heart. Her skin crawled with chills. She was truly terrified. She shot up a silent, fervent prayer, then entered.
Laidu saw her, and his scaly lips widened into a warm, white smile. Kyra immediately felt pangs of guilt in her heart. He was so kind, so good to her, and she repaid him with deception.
Tonight, she'd set things right.
She strode purposely over to the table. Laidu was talking to Skaria, who looked strange, not dressed from her chin to her toes in leather armor. And from her comments, Kyra could see why Skaria wore long-sleeved dresses to social events. Her arms were muscular enough to look bizarre. Maybe, when they got back, Kyra could help her with that issue. Mercenaries were already scorned in Caeldari high society. Terrible fashion choices couldn't help that. Kyra was born into Caeldari high society. She knew what could help.
Karik'ar, who had walked up to the bar, came back with a large mug of ale in one hand and a smaller mug of tea in his other hand. Karik'ar could barely fit his hand in the smaller mug's handle. After setting down the larger mug, he grabbed the other one with his now free hand, pulled his other hand out, and handed the drink to Kyra.
She sat down, so wrapped up in the thoughts that stormed and raged in her head that she was oblivious to the conversation. The fear was building up in her heart, and her head was throwing more fuel on the fire. What could go wrong? she asked herself. Unfortunately, her mind came up with several answers, each one worse than the last.
Laidu put his hand on her shoulder, startling her out of her panic-and-worry-induced stupor. She flinched and jumped a bit. "You alright?" Laidu asked, his amber eyes filled with worry.
"Yeah," Kyra lied, looking away. Karik'ar was right; lying to someone's face was a terrible feeling.
"Is something bothering you? Laidu asked. Karik'ar looked at her expectedly. This was it. The time to admit it.
" Well, um, can I talk to you?" Kyra asked. "Privately?"
"Of course," Laidu said, before turning to the others. "Excuse us for a moment." They all nodded, except for Indra, who was engrossed in her book. Laidu got up and offered Kyra his hand. She grasped it. The scales were flexible and warm. Not at all what she first expected.
The two of them walked over to a more secluded corner of the inn. Laidu looked...happy for once. He was dressed all in black, the button-on shirt resting open, the coppery-gold scales and the black cloth contrasting. He looked at her with an almost frightening intensity. Almost frightening. "Is something wrong?"
Kyra was about to answer before the words got caught in her mouth. Laidu knew what to do, somehow. He knew what she needed. He leaned down and gently embraced her. Kyra returned the embrace, but didn't speak. She didn't cry, she just stood there, being hugged. Laidu held her gently, and she smiled ever so slightly. The others who had sold themselves so easily, the ones who sought her fortune and not her, hadn't done this. They hadn't instinctively comforted her.
Laidu was different. He was a good friend, the kind Kyra had always wanted, the mind she could instinctively trust.
He let her go, and she took a deep breath. "Laidu, I need to tell you something." Kyra's heart stopped. This was it, this was the moment of truth. Either the best of her hopes or the worst of her fears were about to be confirmed.
"Anything," Laidu said. He smiled. And that was all it took for the floodgates to burst. Kyra began to cry.
Laidu hugged her again, and this time, Kyra pressed her face against the platelike scales on Laidu's bare chest, tears dripping down the golden scales. Her cheeks heated up. This was embarrassing. But it was what she needed. For now she knew he was someone she could trust. She knew it with even more certainty now.
"Kyra, shh, it's alright," Laidu said, gently stroking her hair. She liked that feeling, the gentle sensation of being touched by someone who cared. And then, suddenly, he stopped.
Kyra looked up. "What's wrong?" she asked.
"I think we are being watched." Kyra backed away. "I hate to be insensitive, but can this wait?" Kyra nodded, both relieved and guilty. She had wanted to tell him the truth. But she had an escape, and she took it. It was a cowardly move, yes. But one she took anyway. Was that what she was? A coward? In all honesty, Kyra didn't know. And that uncertainty, that doubt, scared her.
Kyra watched as Laidu quietly moved towards a closed window. She could hear whispering and the occasional bump and shuffle. She wasn't sure what was happening. But she was scared. This was actually quite terrifying. Laidu's fingers gently touched the window, the talons that had been ever so gentle with her preparing to go to battle. And, with one great pull, he yanked the wooden window shutter open.
There was a crash as the eavesdroppers fell back. Laidu sighed. "Really, Tom?" he asked. And now Kyra got why Laidu seemed to like Tom. That boy probably reminded Laidu of himself.
Kyra leaned over. Tom and two other kids -a boy and a girl who looked like siblings- were sprawled on the grass outside the window. The two other kids were staring at Laidu with a stunned fascination.
The girl opened her mouth first. "I thought you just had a dragon tattoo." She sat up.
Laidu chuckled at that. "Well, for once, the stories weren't exaggerating." He looked at all three of them. "Why don't you come in?"
"They better not," the innkeeper said from behind the polished bar, brow furrowed. "Last time Tom was in here, he broke three mugs! Not going to happen. They can stay outside the window."
Laidu shrugged. "Fine by me," he said, dragging an empty chair over to the open window. He sat down in it and stared out the window. "Kyra, why don't you sit down and enjoy your tea? Can the matter wait?"
Kyra nodded. "It can wait." However, every second she didn't tell him was a second she was fleeing from the truth. She wasn't alright with that. But she wasn't alright with the shame it would bring. It wasn't a good little secret. So, despite the little voice in her head screaming at her to go tell Laidu, she went back and sat down next to Thaen.
Thaen Resharo was an odd one. Kyra had seen Vesperati once or twice, but only from a distance, and they had done everything possible to blend in with the humans, including hiding their ears under hoods and wearing long, baggy sleeves to conceal their wings. But Thaen was unashamedly Vesperati. He was proud of it.
He wore his native garb, a grey and red vest, with large armholes going from shoulder to waist, and a stiff collar that was large enough to show the bump of his collarbone under the fur. Under the arm, the armholes were buttoned closed, and his arms were completely bare of anything. No bracelets, arm bands, or gloves. His arms were covered with grey fur, and his hands were freaky. Inch long talons clacked against the ceramic mug he was drinking from, and the long fingers were very thin and spidery, except for an odd thickness at the knuckles. And his giant ears twitched at any sound he heard.
His face was kind of interesting, too. For all the stories Kyra had been told to terrify her, one theme stood out. Red-eyed monsters. Thaen had red eyes, but these crimson eyes were filled with laughter and joy. His nose was made of some sort of horn, shaped like a small shield. When he laughed, she could see his teeth were bright white, and he had a set of sharp, but small fangs. He had sharp teeth, red eyes, and he drank blood. He was trained to kill. And he looked...kind of cute.
"So, explain that again," Skaria said. "You doubt I could be Reforged, even if it was legal?"
"Well, you don't have wings," Thaen said, indicating the leathery masses on his forearms. "That would make it difficult. And our senses. We can't have Senseless trying out. Part of the Reforged criterion is that we are masters at the sensory magics." He paused. "Flightless go through a similar system, but that's to become a Nightbreaker, not a Reforged."
"Nightbreaker?" Karik'ar asked.
"Defensive troops. The Flightless make up with brute strength what they lost in the ability to fly. And they're taller." Thaen's face soured at the last statement, as if it bugged him. "Nightbreakers are what kill you if you get inside a mountain. Our normal troops attack when you get near the mountain and try to enter."
"Then where are the Reforged?" Indra asked.
"In your courts, learning your secrets when you're unaware they are there. In the streets, gathering information. In your bedchambers, with the knife above you as you plan to invade our land and take our homes from us. We prevent war from breaking out by killing the aggressors before they mobilize." Thaen idly tapped his claws on the table. "It's a thankless job, but a necessary one. The world is full of bad people that see us as easy pickings. And sometimes you can't reason with them or buy them off. Sometimes, you have to kill them." He shrugged. "I just remember I'm doing it for my mother and father, and all my brothers. Or, well, not all of them. A few of them are brats."
"Cute," Skaria said. "But is that it?"
Thaen folded his fingers together. "Hmm, well, the training is tough. I mean, for the first year, we spent a lot of time on physical development. But it takes patience. And they do weird things to us. To get us ready for the world. We did lots of flying."
"And you think I can't take the physical work?" Skaria asked, a bit annoyed.
Thaen set his arm on the table, hand up, elbow anchored on the wood. "Try me." Skaria grabbed his hand, ready for the challenge, and they begun.
Kyra watched them arm wrestle with a smile. Skaria had a look of determination on her face that was downright scary. Thaen had an amused grin, but that evaporated quickly. Thaen's arm began to move, inch by inch, towards the table. A look of worry crossed his face. Then he smiled.
Suddenly, it was Skaria that was fighting. Her face turned red as Thaen steadily increased pressure. Soon, her hand pressed against the table. "Close," Thaen said, "but you are not ready."
"When you said weird things happened to you, what did you mean?" Skaria asked.
"One time, all the initiates began to disappear, one by one. It was our test. I bathed and went to sleep, covered in bruises, and I woke up wearing only a loincloth, hands and feet tied with chains, blindfolded, gagged, and hanging from the ceiling. I had to escape and fight off three Flightless Nightbreakers." Thaen shrugged. "The blindfold made an excellent choking scarf." Kyra looked at him for a moment, before returming to Laidu.
He was leaning out the window, but then he stood up. Idly rubbing one of the horns on the side of his head, he rejoined the five of them. "Sorry about that," he said. "One of the kids tried to hang off my horn." He looked at Thaen. "Is it cracked?" There was a bit of blood around the edge.
Thaen paused, then pinched the end of it and wiggled the horn ever so slightly. Laidu winced."Looks like the root came loose. Hold still." With that, Thaen grabbed Laidu's face and pushed the horn farther in. Laidu hissed in pain. "There. Just like that time you knocked out my tooth."
"Ow. That hurt." Laidu massaged the area of skin around the horn. "They went to go play. They should be fine."
Suddenly, a loud voice boomed outside. "Come out! Come out, King of Joy! Come out Agyar prince! I grow weary of waiting! Come and face me!" Laidu looked at Kyra. Who was that? Silently, Laidu mouthed a name. Kazalibad. The monster was here? And what was he talking about? Agyar prince? The Agyars were east.
"Come out. My hostage is beginning to get on my nerves. He keeps talking about how you're going to save him. I'm tempted to wring his neck." Immediately, Kyra and Laidu knew who the hostage was.
He had Tom.
End of Part One.