Chronicles of Espiria Season 2
Episode 26 – The Graveborn Refugees
Written by the Dude
Grezhul and Theowyn continued their journey, albeit more cautiously, in search of a safe haven.
"Where are we going now?" Theowyn asked.
"I saw a house on the cartographer's map..."
"You mean Allan?"
"Yes, Allan. His map said that there is a house this way that we might be safe in for a time."
"Whose house is it?"
"The map did not say; it was labeled only with a strange squiggle. Whatever the case, it should be safe so long as it provides us shelter from Quadam's eye."
It took some time for them to reach the house; when they finally stood before it, they found that it was well maintained, meaning that someone occupied it.
"This won't do." Grezhul sighed in frustration. "With all of Graveborn kind hunting us, we're sure to be caught here!"
"Oh look, a sign!" Theowyn pointed out. "It looks like this house belongs to a man named Niru. I remember Thoran talking about him; they were close friends. Surely he would help us."
"Unless he were deprived of free will like Allan was." Grezhul said as he thought. "Still, Niru should be at the Whispering Doom right now; the house may be empty at the moment."
They approached the house with an excess of caution, ready to run for it if they were seen by the wrong eyes. After looking through the windows, Grezhul determined that the house was empty and that it would be safe to enter. The front door had no mechanical lock, and the magical lock was designed to keep out those of ill intent; Grezhul and Theowyn passed inside easily.
"I think we will be safe here, my lady." Grezhul said with a sigh of relief.
"What are you doing here?!" a voice from behind them shouted.
No sooner had they let their guard down than they found themselves threatened by a furious woman holding a green crystal ball.
"Oh, for pity's sake!" Grezhul said to himself as he drew his swords. "I forgot that Niru has a family!"
Shemira, blind as she was, listened intently for any sign of hostile movement from the intruders, while Grezhul's mind raced for a course of action that would most ensure Theowyn's safety. That was when he noticed the boy, Daimon, clinging to his mother's leg, partially obscured as he tried to stay hidden while still observing the situation unfold. No Graveborn under Quadam's control would show the fear that this boy demonstrated. Following his instincts, Grezhul sheathed his swords and raised his hands. As Theowyn drifted closer to Grezhul, Shemira visibly relaxed as she noticed the show of peace, though she kept her crystal at the ready.
"We mean you no harm." Grezhul began. "We need only a safe place to collect our bearings, then we will be on our way."
"It feels like no place in Bantus is safe anymore." Shemira said as she lowered her crystal. "Why is that?"
At that moment, there was a knock at the door. Grezhul quickly but gently took Theowyn by the hand and led her to the next room, hoping to find a back door. Once out of sight, Shemira opened the door.
"Niru, my love, you're back!" Shemira said as she embraced her husband.
"I needed to see that you and Daimon are all right." Niru said in an odd monotone. He soon released Shemira and knelt to receive his son.
"And how are you, Daimon?"
Daimon was more hesitant to approach his father; he could see something very wrong with his eyes.
"Daimon, what is the matter?" Shemira asked.
"You do not submit." Niru answered, his tone absent of what little warmth he had a moment ago. He readied his scythe as he stood back up. "I'm sorry, my love."
"Niru?..." Shemira whispered, not quite comprehending what was happening, even as Niru raised his scythe. As he brought it down, it was caught just above Shemira's eye by Grezhul's blades, which he had drawn as he dashed from the kitchen as soon as he heard enough of the conversation.
"Take the boy and run!" Grezhul shouted. "Do not look back! Theowyn, go with..."
Grezhul might have said more, but Niru threw him against the wall and pinned him there with his scythe. Grezhul did not cry out; even in life, he was never one to give his opponents the satisfaction of acknowledging pain. In one fluid motion, Niru withdrew the scythe blade from Grezhul's chest and struck him in the head with the butt of the scythe. As Grezhul fell, struggling to recover from the swift and brutal assault, Niru turned and advanced on his family, scythe raised. Shemira and Theowyn backed away, but Daimon, led by his instincts, darted from behind his mother and ran toward his father.
"Daimon, no!" Shemira shouted as she reached for him.
Daimon grabbed hold of Niru's leg and held on for dear life. At that moment, Niru froze in place, twitching oddly now and then, but otherwise utterly motionless.
"Whatever's wrong, dad, you can fight it!" Daimon said pleadingly. "You can do it, dad! You can do anything!"
Niru was still for longer than anyone was comfortable with, but finally, his eyes cleared and he fell in a heap at his son's feet. He embraced Daimon and would have wept as hard as Theowyn if he could cry.
"Forgive me, son!" Niru sobbed. "Forgive me!"
Shemira cautiously approached Niru as well, gently laying a hand on his shoulder when she accepted that he was back as he should be. She then turned to Grezhul as he dragged himself back on his feet.
"Do you know what happened to my husband?" she asked.
"I do, I'm afraid." Grezhul answered weakly. "Give me a moment, and..."
"Daimon!" a voice outside shouted. Through the open front door burst Isabella, who ran and knelt next to Daimon as Niru continued to embrace him. Vedan appeared at the door not long after, smirking with amusement at the scene before him.
"Count Vedan?" Grezhul observed, confused by his presence.
"I know, I am not expected in King's Manse for another few months. If you must know, my assassin turned on me like a rabid dog, and Isabella seemed to think that the Exalted Niru could repair whatever is broken in her."
"Father, please do not speak of Sylvina like a worn-out coat!"
Vedan smirked as he continued. "So what about you, Captain. Should you not be at King Thoran's side?"
"King Thoran is dead." Grezhul answered.
The announcement stunned everyone present into silence; even Vedan's practiced aristocratic veneer was shaken.
"How is it possible?" Niru asked in disbelief.
"Lord Quadam has betrayed us. He has made a pact with the Hypogeans, pledging our forces to aid in their conquest of Espiria. To that end, he has revoked the free will of all Graveborn who had been granted it. King Thoran tried to warn him from this path, and was murdered for it."
All were silent for a moment, except for Theowyn, who could not help but sniffle.
"How we have retained our free will is beyond me, but because we are not under Quadam's control, he has ordered our destruction. We must find a safe haven beyond his reach..."
"There is no such place." Niru interrupted despondently. "The eye of Quadam sees all. His reach is without limit. His power is irresistible."
"If he is omnipotent, then why does he seek allies among the Hypogeans?" Theowyn asked, suddenly angry. "How are we not under his irresistible control? Only one thing is certain, that the time has come to question everything we think we know about Quadam! He must have his limits, and finding those limits may be the key to saving Bantus from his madness!"
"Where should we begin to search for those limits?" Vedan asked. "My own library denies that such limits exist, and without fear of being accused of vanity, I can say that, outside the Mausoleum, it is the most comprehensive collection of knowledge on the subject of necromancy in all of Espiria."
"Oh my!" Niru said as he turned pale, even for a Graveborn. "The Mausoleum! It contains all the deepest, darkest secrets of necromancy that even Quadam fears being unleashed! If a Hypogean were to try to delve its secrets..."
"Calm yourself, Niru." Grezhul interrupted. "Even Quadam cannot be that mad yet. But I like the idea. Of all the secrets hidden in the Mausoleum, none can be more closely guarded by Quadam than secrets about himself; it may be our best hope at finding a way to fight back against him. But we are in no position to invade the Mausoleum now; those who protect it are almost as elite as my own guard. We need a much larger force than we have now."
"Perhaps we could recruit from the Island of the Banished?" Vedan suggested.
"Certainly not!" Grezhul answered without a moment's thought.
"What is the Island of the Banished?" Theowyn asked.
"It is an island off our western coast populated by Graveborn who defied the will of King Thoran and somehow escaped eternity in the Black Prison for it. They took refuge on the island and built it into a fortification that King Thoran eventually decided was not worth the loss of Graveborn lives to take. It now stands as an unofficial prison for those who flee there; no one who seeks refuge there ever leaves."
"If they can hold their own against King Thoran, they are likely just the sort of people we need for an assault on the Mausoleum." Vedan said with a smirk.
"Except that they would never fight on the side of servants of King Thoran." Grezhul objected. "I was his bodyguard, Theowyn was his sister, Niru was a trusted confidant, and you will not deny that you have benefited from King Thoran's rule. At best, they will refuse us help; at worst, they will attack us."
"I will do what I must to protect my family." Niru said as he took up his scythe. "If the denizens of this island might offer us aid, then we must try. Knowing what Quadam has done, they may be more inclined to help us."
Grezhul thought for a moment before sighing in resignation.
"We must be cautious." Grezhul warned. "We are, after all, talking about war criminals."