Author's note: Brownie pointsto whoever can figure out who Magarsic, Aldulne and Friederon are...
The Destiny Trilogy. Book One: The Four Levels of Godhood. Part I: Inteurn. Chapter 3: Desert Game
Leila knew something bad would happen, at least, a new shade of bad. That night when her husband came home from the meeting and told her of the plans that were made, she knew it was doomed to failure. She had little to no faith in her and the other women's chance for escape; she understood the situation well. She was, if anything, realistic.
Now here Leila sat, bruised and bleeding, but silent, upon the cold stone floor of the cell with the other women who were crying. Here she sat, silent, waiting for the fresh batch of bad that was sure to come.
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Gradice awoke with a stinging pain in his lower back and a headache like no other. He realized right away that he was in a wagon on his way to gods-know-where. "I hate this." Gradice grumbled, mournfully. This situation was awful on so many levels. But did he really expect anything else? Plus, this was what he was there for: to make sure that Inteurn makes it out of such predicaments in one piece. So yes, this situation reeked like no other, but this was his duty.
If Gradice had his way, they'd be back in Lijog doing lessons, haggling with street venders over the price of cloth, riding horses deep into the deserts on the outskirts of the city...But he knew he had to let Inteurn find his own path…Dammit, shoot duty! Shoot it with a burning arrow dipped in poison! "I hate this…" he finally whined, helplessly.
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Inteurn finally awoke and was slightly startled to find the surface he had been slumped down on, was moving. Wherever he was, was very small and dimly lit, accepting only a sliver of light through a crack of what appeared to be a curtain? "We're in the back of a wagon." Came a voice from somewhere near him that startled him from his thoughts. It took Inteurn a few moments to process that the voice belonged to Gradice.
"Gradice! You startled me!" Inteurn bellowed, then, realizing that someone might hear him, he lowered his voice. "How long have you been up?" "Well, Inteurn, allow me a moment to consult my chronometer." Replied Gradice, his comment dripping with sarcasm. "I have no idea, Inteurn." He finished, head still hung between his upraised knees, never once looking in Inteurn's direction.
"Gradice, you are a very funny man." Inteurn replied, flatly, as he crawled toward the sliver of light. He moved aside the canvas curtain as much as the wooden bars would allow, and peaked out. What he saw wasn't particularly splendid, not like Lijog City, but it was still something to behold. The sun was going down and the two moons were starting to become visible. The particularly sandy parts were still a peachy orange, for it was that time of year: Agicvo, the orange season.
The wagon was slowing down and a large hut was coming into view. At that moment a boy with shocking blue hair, maybe a couple of years older than Inteurn, was being thrown out of the hut, and was being yelled at for some reason Inteurn couldn't discern.
When the wagon finally came to a stop, and the drivers escorted Inteurn and Gradice out not-so gently, the boy was dusting himself off, then looked up to make eye contact with Inteurn. The boy smiled. Inteurn furrowed his brows. "My, my Inteurn. Seems like we have an admirer." Gradice teased in his ear. Narrowing his eyes to slits and turning his head to face Gradice, Inteurn retorted. "My, Gradice! Are we jealous?"
"Alright, boys. Enough chitter-chat. Our leader has asked us to escort you gentlemen to the infirmary." Said one of the drivers with mock politeness in his tone and a look in his eyes that promised all kinds of murder.
And off they went to the infirmary to be evaluated for injuries before roughly being led to a dorm.
Before they could even settle they were getting attention. "Hey look fellahs, fresh meat!" Teased a boy who was surrounded by an entourage. He was referring to both Gradice and Inteurn. He approached them, entourage in tow, and poked Gradice in the shoulder as he asked, "Hey, fresh meat, what do you call yourself?" Gradice instantly whipped out his hand to grab the boy's wrist and gave it a twist before he spoke, "Refrain from touching me." Gradice let go of the boy's hand and continued, "The name's Gradice." "And you?" Came one of the entourage, getting mere inches away from Inteurn's face. Inteurn was not in the mood for this. "It's Inteurn. Learn it." He stared the taller boy down.
As if in an attempt to lessen the tension a boy squeezed in between Inteurn and the boy, and began introducing himself. "Hello. I'm Darpa." Said the blue-haired boy Inteurn made eye contact with earlier, extending his hand for a shake. "Lemme show you around." continued the boy with a smile. "You better watch out!" Another boy cut in. "Darpa the Dogko might decide to run away with you, and we may never see you again!" That remark earned some snickers from the other boys present. Gradice's brows furrowed. He knew it was a joke, but he couldn't risk it. "Ignore them," replied Darpa defensively. "What do you say? You may not get another chance because they'll be working us like dogs bright and early." He offered, his hand still extended. Inteurn looked at it warily. Darpa took the hint and lowered his hand.
"Perhaps I should accompany you." Gradice offered. A roar of laughter followed. Gradice looked worried. Darpa looked down at his feet; his feelings were beyond hurt. Inteurn saw this and sneered, giving the other boys the only death glare. "That won't be necessary, Gradice. I'm sure I'll be fine." He declined with contempt in his voice. Turning his attention back to Darpa he stated, "Sure, Darpa. I'll go with you." Darpa's face positively lit up. "Then let's go!" Darpa chirped. Just as well, Inteurn didn't feel too keenly about staying there anyway.
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Darpa the Dogko...there goes that damnable phrase again. Why did the other boys insist on hurting him so? Dogko…Dogko…it wasn't fair. He couldn't help it if he felt the way he felt! That doesn't make him a dogko…a pervert…it wasn't fair.
Those boys had succeeded in once again trampling his self-esteem. Plus he felt like an idiot with his hand still in the air like that. And the look on the new boys face as he eyeballed his hand made him feel even more like slime. What sense did it make to be nice if everyone he met would treat him like this? He was angry, but the feeling of inadequacy ruled the day. He let his head dip, his long blue hair covering his face.
The new boy surprised him though by not only taking him up on his offer, but also agreeing to go unchapparoned. The new boy didn't know how much it meant to him.
"Then let's go!" Darpa hooked his arm in Inteurn's and they were out the door. "So, who is that other boy to you, your bodyguard or something?" Darpa asked when they had gotten some distance between them and the dorm. "Hardly!" Inteurn retorted almost defensively. "I only just met him yesterday!" He paused, and softened his tone. "I saw when you go thrown out. What was that about?" Inteurn asked.
How could Darpa tell him that he got thrown out on his ass because the boy he thought was interested in him was just curious, and that in order for the boy to save face, he had the other boys set on him? No, he didn't want to frighten Inteurn off when he just got there. "The other boys make it a point to pick on me. Don't ask me why."
Darpa shook his head. "Really, I hate this place. I've been here for five years now!" He lowers his voice. "My aim is to escape this place, and I've been plotting for some time now, but I don't have the means to actually execute." The moment the words left his mouth he regretted them. He didn't know what possessed him to divulge his secret intentions to this stranger.
Inteurn turned to him with a determined look in his eyes, "Well, I don't intend to stay here long." He replied in the same tone, but with an assuredness that made Darpa believe the young man had a plan. "Take me with you." Darpa pleaded in earnest. "Sure, but first I need to know the layout of this place." Inteurn requested in a business-like tone. "And this is what I'm here for." Darpa offered with a smile. He liked the new boy already.
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They had gotten some distance from the "dorm" and all the jeering boys. Inteurn had never seen such mean boys in his life! They wasted their energy setting on their own peers, when what they should've been doing was banding together to rise up against the men who, now doubt, destroyed their lives as well. They needed to get their priorities straight.
"So, who's that other boy to you, you're bodyguard or something?" Darpa asked with something more than just mere curiosity. "Hardly! I only just met him yesterday!" Inteurn retorted. He was offended at the notion that Darpa would think that Gradice was anything to him at all! What made anyone think that Inteurn needed anyone's protection, let along Gradice's? Gradice would've much preferred it if he cowered and hid, rather than stood up and fought. To run away, instead of defend his home and family. If Gradice really wanted to be useful, he could start by explaining how it is that the Joir seemed to know of his people's doom and in spite of this, did nothing to stop it!
But something else occurred to him. Dogko. Inteurn wasn't the most fluent in the tongue of the Ancients, but he did know what the word meant. Inteurn was disgusted that anyone would call anyone else that. "I saw when you got thrown out. What was that about?" Inteurn asked in a softer tone.
Darpa seemed to consider before answering. "The other boys make it a point to pick on me. Don't ask me why." There seemed to be more he wasn't saying, but Inteurn wouldn't pry. Darpa then went on to tell Inteurn of how much he hated the Camp and wanted to leave. And Inteurn saw Darpa mentally smack his forehead after saying it.
"Well, I don't intend to stay here long." Inteurn confided, even though he knew they were mighty big words, because he did not yet know what he was going to do. That's why he needed to take full advantage of this tour. Besides, the thought of being amongst the very men that took away his life, as he knew it, make him sick. "And that is what I'm here for." Darpa replied with a mischievous grin. And so the tour began…
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"This camp is one big circle, broken up into four districts, and is fenced off with assorted watchtowers along the fence, and guards covering all exits." Darpa gestured, feeling important because for once someone needed him.
"We're in the Information district. The others are the Guard, Weapons and Horse districts." They moved towards the construct near the fence. It was a square building made of wood, as was the building next to it, and the building next to that, and the one next to that. Four similarly built constructs stood side-by-side with only an alley-like walkway separating them. Each building had a sign in front.
"This is the Messenger building. This is how the Camp keeps up with what's going on the outside." They continued to walk towards the center of the circular camp. "This is the Spy building. The Camp has spies in all the cities." Darpa couldn't help the smile that was creeping across his face. It felt so good to have someone's undivided attention. "Say, Inteurn?" Darpa began out of the blue. "How old are you?" "Um, I'll be fifteen in Gos Fall." Inteurn replied casually. "I'm in my sixteenth Agicvo Spring. The moon of my birth just passed a few days ago." Darpa informed, straying away from business a little for some small talk. Fourteen, and already so good-looking, Darpa thought to himself.
"Anyway, that is the Record keeping building, and next to it is the Bookkeeping building." Darpa continued, making their way to the center of the camp. "This camp conducts a lot of business with Zigayoc City." Then Darpa stops short. Instinctively, Inteurn stops as well. "And that," Darpa points to the sizey tent smack in the middle of the camp, "Is where Thaddeus sleeps." "Who?" Inteurn asks, a bad feeling coming over him. "The mastermind of this whole operation." Darpa clarified. Inteurn's face went from that of serious concentration, to stone cold. It made Darpa feel uncomfortable. "It's getting dark, I think we should head back to the Dorm. We can finish this tour tomorrow night." Darpa interjected, and they walked quickly back to the dorm.
"So, how'd the tour go? Nothing too traumatic I hope?" A boy taunted. You two-faced son-of-a-two-Nir-whore! And here I thought you actually liked me! Darpa cursed mentally, giving the boy the only death glare. Inteurn looked as though he were in no mood for stupid jokes. Neither was Darpa, for that matter. He just wanted to find his cot and fall in it. Inteurn and the other new boy (Gradice, was it?) found free cots and made themselves comfortable. Darpa just wanted to sleep this day off, and no doubt, Inteurn felt the same way.
The next day, bright and early
The Joir had opened the pharmacy for business and was sitting behind the counter with his ledgers opened before him, but he could scarcely concentrate, for his mind was preoccupied with worry. He knew that Gradice was an able young man and that Inteurn was in good hands, but he couldn't shake that tight feeling that found its way into the pit of his stomach. He knew They were near, and as long as this was the case, his mind could not be at ease.
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From the watchtowers blared metal bells in unison. It positively shook the camp and caused Inteurn to practically fly out of his cot. Within moments men were storming in, yanking the few boys that actually weren't startled from their sleep, out of their cots. For a moment Inteurn forgot where he was, and in that momentary lapse in memory, he thought he was back in his village, back to that horrid night. It's happening again! Then he caught his breath and looked around at the inside of the dorm, marking all the cots and startled boys and he realized where he was.
"Alright, girls! Get your lazy asses up! You know what day it is!" Bellowed one of the men. In moments Inteurn and the other boys of his dorm were rounded up and brought outside. They've obviously practiced this, Inteurn reasoned of the men with scorn.
The sun was barely up and the sleep was still evident in most of the boys' eyes. Darpa and Gradice both found their way to Inteurn's side. "So what's so special about today?" Inteurn asked of Darpa. Just when he was about to answer, the man from earlier spoke up, "As most of you already know, today is the start of the hunting season, which marks the beginning of our hunting competition. And as most of you already know, the competition is district against district. Maybe this year we might actually win!"
That morning the four hunting teams gathered their weapons, saddled their horses and rode until the flat desert turned into a marshy plane. In these mostly undisturbed areas one could see mountains and trees and many exotic flowers that only grew in Likjatbi.
The expedition halted and the men gave the boys of the camp their objectives and the four groups went their separate ways.
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Leila told herself to stay strong and not to show her fear as the guard came to her in the cell that now only she occupied. Stay strong for your husband and your son, she willed herself as he ran a filthy hand over her bruised face. He smiled a crooked smile, revealing rotting teeth and rancid breath.
"Well, tobizo miss abr., it seems like today is your lucky day." The guard spoke, breathing his horrid breath in her face. Oh, joy. More good luck, Leila thought to herself. "It seems like you've captured the attention of a very rich fellow, and he would very much like the meet you." The guard grinned his rotten grin. "Am I supposed to be happy?" Leila asked, not even trying to mask her contempt.
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At the very top of one of the mountains, out of sight of the hunting expedition, an emerald wolf, a lilac lioness and a white owl looked on. The white owl then left her perch and swooped down to follow the expedition before they got too far away from each other. When she was satisfied that she found what she was looking for, she circled back to where the other two were waiting for her.
In place of the lilac lioness and the emerald wolf stood a woman with long blonde hair, dressed in light purple, and a bearded man with long dark hair, accented with blonde streaks, dressed in green. Upon returning to the mountaintop, the white owl transformed into a woman, dressed in white, with long curly hay-colored hair.
"Did you find what you were looking for, Adulne?" Asked the woman in purple. "Yes. The Key is within our grasp." Adulne declared, very pleased with herself. "We must get the Key and destroy it." The man in green declared. "Always the serious one, Magarsic! Relax! He is as good as ours!" Adulne chided. "I'm serious because it is imperative for the survival of the universe that we destroy the Key! You forget, Adulne, we are on a mission!"
Feeling another argument brewing, the woman in light purple intervened, "Magarsic, love," the woman began, coming closer to her lover and placing her hands on his chest, "Adulne may be right. There should be no reason why we shouldn't have success in our mission." Turning her attention back to the woman in white, she continued. "But just to be sure, we should still be ready for any kind of set-backs or interferences."
Adulne smiled and made her way over to the blonde woman. "Of course, you're right, Freideron." She said and gave Freideron a light kiss on the cheek. Freideron smiled, her cheeks turning pink. Magarsic furrowed his brows. "Then let's get moving!" He barked.
The boys had been hunting all day. The sun and gone down and the two moons were making their appearances. The hunt was now over.
Despite his better judgment, Inteurn felt good. For a moment he put aside his loathing for his captors and allowed himself to bask in his victory. Because of his airtight strategy, he was able to give the Information district their first win. Now he and his dorm mates were carrying their desert game back into the Camp to celebrate. But something caught Inteurn's ear.
"…And did you see the way Darpa the Dogko kept on trailing after Inteurn like a love-sick little dog? I swear, it seems like Darpa has moved on!" Inteurn furrowed his brows. This was getting a little out of hand. Inteurn was about the say something, when none other than the very boy that joked on Darpa the night before beat him to the punch! Hmm…
"C'mon, fellahs! Give the guy a break for once, huh? This is supposed to be a celebration!" Said the boy. "Oh, sorry, DeLuca. We didn't realize you still had feelings for the guy…" Teased the other boy. "You asshole! You just know when to quit, do you?" DeLuca spoke up defensively, no liking that the heat was suddenly on him. "Oh, c'mon, DeLuca! You think we didn't know? Come now, we weren't buying your crap for a moment!" The mean boy continued to press. "I don't know what in the Nether you're talking about, but I don't like how it sounds!" Barked DeLuca, and that began the shoving match that escalated to flying fists.
Now Inteurn was confused, but as he and Gradice broke up the fight, he slowly began to understand—and what he was beginning to understand made him uncomfortable. At that moment he would've liked nothing better than to get away from everyone.
Just then something catches his ear and he couldn't quite place it. Was it whistling, or was it singing? A combination both? Whatever it was, it belonged to a woman and it was a beautiful sound. Maybe he could find the source? He let the voice lead him to a clearing amidst a thicket of trees, and there she was: the source of that beautiful sound.
Inteurn had never seen anything so beautiful in all his life. There she stood with long, curly, hay-colored hair, dressed in white clothes that he wasn't certain of the origins. Royalty, perhaps? They made eye contact, which caught his breath. She stopped singing to smile at him. As beautiful as her smile was, he didn't want her to stop singing.
But this new silence was broken by a low growl coming from behind him. His blood ran cold as he turned slowly around to see an emerald wolf bearing its teeth and salivating. Damn, he would be the smart one to wander with no weapons…Still, he'd have to figure something out because it wasn't only him that was in danger, there was also the woman…Inteurn instinctively took this opportunity to look back at the woman--to find that she was gone! Just as well, it would've been a sin to have such a lovely creature be destroyed by the animal before him…
Now it was just he and the wolf—and he didn't even have the good sense to scream…
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Magarsic bore his wolfish teeth and began to snarl. He saw the fear in the silver-haired youth's eyes. Margarsic would've grinned, but in his current state he lacked the capacity. He had the Key in his sights and he was about to strike.
He launched at the frightened boy and tackled him to the ground. Magarsic slashed at the boy's neck with his paw, and was about to tear into him when a shooting pain halted him down one of his hind legs.
Magarsic let out a howl of pain and looked down to see that it was an arrow, and then he whizzed around to see a long blonde-haired boy ready with bow and arrow. As irate as he was at being kept from his objective, he wouldn't attack this other boy, for Magarsic had only one target. So instead he dashed away as best as he could with an arrow lodged in his leg.
He went back to where he knew the other two were waiting for him, and transformed into his human form. And as Freideron tended to his wound, he declared, "I think we've just met with some interference."
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"By the Gods!" Gradice allowed himself to exhale, finally, as soon as he was certain the emerald wolf was gone. He rushed over to Inteurn's side and cursed himself for allowing this to happen. Inteurn was bleeding heavily from the neck and wasn't conscious. "I need some help!" Gradice shouted as loudly as he could manage.
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Thaddeus didn't accompany the hunting expedition. He had stopped attending years ago. At this time, Thaddeus took advantage of the solitude and silence the hunt provided to catch up on some work.
Running the Camp and keeping up close business ties with Zigayoc City were demanding work as they were! But topped off with his ultimate mission, meant that he's be kept busy to a sufficient degree. Besides, the "Desert Games", as the boys like to call it, is just a strategy to get the boys to work and build loyalties to each other and the Camp. Loyalty would be the thing needed if his ultimate mission was to succeed.
Just then he heard noised coming from outside his tent. Thaddeus went out to see what the fuss was about. "Open the gates!" He hears one of the guards shout. The men that remained on the Camp were running around, going in and out of the infirmary. Thaddeus wasn't stupid; he knew what was happening. Within moments the hooves of horses carrying the desert game as well as the boys came rushing into the exits, and lastly came two men carrying one of the boys on a makeshift gurney, bleeding from the neck.
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"Isn't she a pretty one?" Came the guard's voice from the corner of the room as the man that would be Leila's new husband continued to walk around her, surveying her. "I can't tell beyond all the bruises." The man said bitterly, tearing his attention from Leila long enough to shoot the guard an accusing glare.
Leila stood defiant and proud as always. She shamelessly sized the man up. "Undo these shackles!" The man demanded, looking into Leila's defiant eyes. The guard moved from his station at the corner of the room and did what he was commanded. Leila massaged the tender part of her wrists, never breaking eye contact with the man. "I hope you don't expect me to thank you." She spat.
"I don't expect you to." He said to the bruised lady. Whipping his head around towards the guard he barked again, "Leave us!" When there were only them in the ornately decorated room, he spoke again. "What is your name?" She held her head high and declared with pride, "Leila. Leila Matabretish."