Journey to Yesod

Art Drawn by: Bintang Hamal

Written by: Hunter Ake

Edited by: Lilliana Steele and Dee Dee Davis

Chapter 5 (Part 2)

Quadect 26th, 1258

          Dulani and Zenebe approached the gates of the capital, exhaustion and worry weighing on their minds. One of the angelic soldiers was waiting for them at the check-in station.

          It was difficult for the pair to recognize the soldier with his helmet on, but he recognized them from tailing with Pirouz. The soldier addressed the check-in secretary once Dulani and Zenebe made it to the front of the line. “Thank you, ma’am. I have orders from the garrison commander to escort these two.”

          Dulani and Zenebe were expedited through the check-in process. They were numb to the overbearing bustling of the city as Sook’s livelihood was their top concern.

          “I apologize. I am unaware of your companion’s current state. I was simply ordered to collect you at the gate when you arrived,” the soldier was direct.

          As Dulani and Zenebe traveled through the outer edges of the city, they witnessed the clear signs of poverty; people with patched clothing or unconscious on the streets, and homes with significant damage. For Zenebe, this was a familiar scene. For Dulani, it was a personal grievance she had with her own country. Time passed as the three people approached the garrison tower in all it's enormity.

           “Looks like we’re entering the nicer part of the city,” Zenebe commented on the growing lack of poverty. The angel merely walked in silence.

          Finally, they had arrived at the garrison building and were met at the door by Borzou. “Ahh, here are the other two that Pirouz spoke of,” Borzou held his large arms out wide in a welcoming gesture.

           “I take it you are the commander we were told about,” Dulani said. “We would very much like to see our friend, now.”

           Borzou’s hands lowered, as did his voice, “The Varanian, yes. I’ll escort you to the holding cells.”

           Both Zenebe and Dulani filled with instant rage. “Excuse me?! Did you say holding cells?!” Dulani grabbed Borzou’s retaining strap on his chest plate and looked up into his eyes with fury.

           The surrounding soldiers drew their blades, but Borzou raised his hand. “Enough! I am in no danger,” he stated to his soldiers before returning his attention to Dulani, “and neither is your friend.” Borzou brushed Dulani’s hand away and gestured for her and Zenebe to follow.

           Borzou opened a door and then ushered Dulani and Zenebe inside. A row of cells stretched out before them, but Sook was in the one closest to them.

           “Sook?! Are you okay?!” Dulani practically spat all the words out at once.

           “Yes, I’m fine. They treated me and moved me to this cell yesterday. That commander seems to think I pose a threat to this whole country… because I’m a Varanian,” Sook looked down at the floor in shame.

            Zenebe tsked at the notion while Dulani gripped the bars and gritted her teeth. “That bigoted son of a-“

           Pirouz threw the door open with exasperation, “I had heard you two finally arrived! I-“

           Dulani let go of the bars and immediately grabbed Pirouz by his lapels, “You!! I TOLD you to keep her safe!”

           “I know, I’m so sorry! Borzou ordered her be held in here after her treatment was concluded. I didn’t have a choice.”

           Sook suddenly spoke up from her cell, “Dulani it’s okay, Pirouz hardly left my sickbed while I was being treated and he has been here by my cell as much as he could be.”

           Dulani invaded the angel’s personal space; searching his eyes for any hint of dishonesty and then let go of him, “You tried to make up for it, but you still didn’t keep your word.”

            “I know and I am deeply sorry. I tried arguing with Borzou but he is unmoving.”

            As if his ears were burning, Borzou suddenly barged back into the cell wing, “Now that I finally have you all here, I can explain myself.”

            Dulani’s fury was once again evident.

            Borzou took his time, clearly enjoying the sound of his own voice. “The Varanians were nomadic people for a long time. Their homeland was initially taken by a kingdom that fell long ago. Varanians fled in large groups attempting to settle in neighboring lands. At first, they were welcomed, but soon enough their presence brought issues. They were targets for slavers who began terrorizing those neighboring countries when they moved in. Often times, Varanians formed their own insular communities that would erode their adopted home’s culture and cause a rise in domestic crimes. Today, the Varanians are a lost species who have no land or culture to call their own. Ydalia has long since outlawed the immigration of Varanians, like most developed nations.”

            Sook began crying while Dulani grew ever incensed.

            Borzou continued, “I will release the Varanian if you agree to leave our Lord’s nation immediately.”

            Zenebe spoke up, “We would hate to leave, considering your gracious hospitality. But we will do so. We ask that you allow us time to complete the task we came here for, in the first place.”

            Borzou turned and looked down at Zenebe, “And what would that be?”

            Zenebe clenched his fist, meeting Borzou’s stare, “We came all this way to Ydalia because we need to speak with an Alkebuvian immigrant who has lived here for over a decade now. He is a member of my family.”

            Pirouz drooped at the starement, “When you three traveled through the Silent Basin, did you happen to stumble upon an empty town?” Zenebe’s eyes widened in realization. Pirouz continued, “All Alkebuvian immigrants were relegated to that town. Almost two months ago, merchants reported the town had been abandoned and there was no trace of the inhabitants. Immediately after that, the thralls started appearing all around our land. Naturally, our intelligence is very sure that these events are related. They just aren’t sure as to the nature of the relationship yet. This all followed a disturbing increase in disappearances all throughout Ydalia.”

            Borzou turned his attention back to Zenebe, “I understand you must be worried. The ties of family are important. I will permit the release of the Varanian and I will allow you to investigate the disappearance of the Alkebuvians, as long as you consent to being escorted by Pirouz and a small regiment of my men.” Borzou turned to Pirouz with a look of agitation, “Don’t make me regret this, little girl.”

            Pirouz, his two soldiers, and the adventurers ascended a spiraling staircase and regrouped on the western balcony looking out toward the hills they’d need to cross. “Now, normally, it would be a weeklong journey to reach the town in the Silent Basin.”

             Zenebe interjected, “Pirouz, does this town not have a name?”

            Pirouz shuffled uncomfortably, “It is normally referred to as… The Beast Town.”

            Zenebe simply sighed and turned away, “I’m beginning to understand what kind of place Ydalia is.”

            “I have no excuse. I am deeply sorry. As I was saying, the town is a week away on foot. However, if we angels fly and carry you three, we will get there by tomorrow.”

            Sook, was melancholic ever since her exposure to the venom, but now she was ecstatic, “I wasn’t able to appreciate it before so I’m so excited to get to fly!”

            Pirouz smiled softly, “Then let us be off as soon as possible.”

            The group flew through the late afternoon sky. Sook cheered excitedly since they took off and it was beginning to get on Dulani’s nerves. “I’m trying to enjoy the view, but you are so distracting!”

            Sook could only laugh in response since she knew Dulani was having just as much fun as she was.

            Behind them, Pirouz was carrying Zenebe who asked, “Does your commander always emasculate you when he’s angry?”

            Pirouz was silent for a while before he responded, “I was born a girl. He simply likes to remind me that I’ll never quite be like the others.”

            Zenebe was mildly surprised, he had been sure that Pirouz was a man. Pirouz continued, “I felt like a boy, even when I was just a child. My parents figured it was just a phase, but my father still taught me how to fight. I was 26 when the war with Luthenia first broke out. I had been living as a man for quite some time by then, but I saw enlistment as a means of ensuring that others would see me as I am. Women are allowed in the Ydalian military, but only in specific roles. I wanted to fight on the front lines, and I won my training proctors over with my accomplishments. They made an exception for me. So, I went off to war, a little older than most, but I established myself on my merits thanks to my father’s training. Most of my comrades do know, but they almost all treat me like I want to be treated. There are only some, like Borzou, who try to use it as a means of harming me.”

            Zenebe couldn’t help but admire Pirouz’ tenacity, “I appreciate that you shared this with me. Also, thank you dearly for staying with Sook. I’m sure she was more terrified than she let on.”

            Pirouz smiled as he looked forward toward the hilltops and then over at Sook, still cheering at being able to fly, “She’s inspirational; to have so much joy after everything her people have endured is remarkable.”

            After the group landed atop the hills, they set up camp. The soldiers kept to themselves mostly, but Pirouz socialized with Sook, Zenebe and even ice queen Dulani, whose exterior began to thaw.

Quadect 27th, 1258

            The next day, the group flew toward the center of the Silent Basin and carefully landed through the heavy mist, avoiding treetops and awkwardly touching down in the dense forest. Pirouz scanned the immediate area before speaking, “It’s hard to tell where exactly the town is because of this mist but we should be just South of the trail. Next, we just turn left, and it shouldn’t be far after that.” The six individuals confidently and casually strode into the ghost town and began inspecting the infrastructure more closely.

            Dulani finally asked something that Zenebe was afraid to ask himself, “Is this the first investigation of this town’s disappearance since the initial one that you had told us about?” Pirouz closed his eyes and nodded solemnly. Zenebe clenched his fists, his rage curdling inside.

            Dulani suddenly stopped and straightened her back; her arms were riddled with goosebumps, “We’re surrounded, I couldn’t hear them coming this time, something is different.” The group formed into a circle with their backs to each other, they all unsheathed their various weapons. Sook transformed into her lizard form and they all braced themselves for the attack.