Chapter 39:

Chapter 39: Even when expected trips are still surprising


The screams and songs of the dying know no distance except their volume and how much else they have to be heard over. Several years ago the entire world and some nearby heard a princedom die for its shouts of fear and despair overwhelmed all other things even as they try to flee their homes.

Eldar do not flee their homes, not usually at the very least, for we are mighty and will defend them against all that we can and because we have defeated plenty it will take even more to convince us to run. We have killed gods, civilizations outnumbering us a thousand to one and civilizations that required a million Eldar warriors to kill one of theirs and none that had homes ran from them when our enemies approached, for no matter how mighty the enemy were we could fight them and we defeated them.

We can't fight instant death, for it comes and we die before we realized it, and so we flee when it comes for us or we can see that it is at our door and now I prepare to do so the same.

My clan refused to join me when I offered them to come with me to escort 'First cut' and the Orphans to my friend's people and I had Forsaken them for it.

They forced me to disinherit my daughter, and how much I loved that I could call her daughter now and not just Arrada Cossan, before I could find her a weapon, one my friend Bessar Agail managed to get her in minutes. Then they distanced themselves from me when it took me twice as long as is tradition before abandoning the defective, and when I asked them for help with repaying my debt to the man that gave me back my daughter and their cousin, aunt or niece none agreed to help me.

I spat on the face of the creature I once called mother and I do not regret it, for she and her family have proven themselves that they are no family of mine, and my wife and children no family of theirs.

'I'll have to look after my family and not those things from now.' I thought with derision as I headed towards the daughter of my friend.

She was quite pretty and in my heart I once more agreed with my friend that our lines would give us some very cute babies, and now if only I could find a way to trick my son into marrying her. A pity about her wearing armor but such is the way of her people and I'll probably have to pick some up as well as it will be her people that cleanse this world of the vermin and finally win The Great Argument of the World of Clashing Blades.

"I greet you Rinceo Natton, for I am Caideam Caiir and I come bearing a message for you." I said as I approached holding the box my friend gave me for such an occasion.

'First cut' was organizing his charges, the students of my friends are arranging themselves and my family is already joining 'First cut' and the other caretakers with our supplied for the trip.

I saw my son standing protectively near her and my heart cheered for he looked like the dashing warrior he is.

"I greet you Caideam Caiir, friend of my father and thank you for the message." She said as I handed her the box my friend has given me.

I sang to my boy my pride in him and what he did and does, for I know what his expeditions are for and I approved.

The woman opened the first letter and read it out loud and her words echoed in song and word as each of her sentences was punctuated by the death of a city.

"To all that read this letter, by order of Bessar Agail who is lord-husband to the queen Sian Ceasanna the contents of this letter are to be told and sang by whoever reads them to all that can hear them!

All that hear or read these words are to know that by my will and that of royalty, the individual who has presented you the container in which this letter and two others stand in is a friend of mine and of the people who have crowned my wife queen and if any dare harm them after reading or hearing these words they will beg for the mercy I have shown the cities of this world. I can assure you that the screams you hear are a mercy compared to what I can put you through.

These individuals have embarked on the holy mission of protecting those with no other family but themselves and help them to settle into a new land and build their own homes anew and all that would join the man or woman who presents this letter to you are under the protection of royalty and its family until they do anything to lose it. Those that obey my words or that of my Queen-wife are to render any assistance they can give to those that would help those craving for a family and for safety that they find.

Failure to heed this order will not be excused by any means, not even death." The woman said and sang for the entire city to hear in a severe tone.

Her cheer was long gone now, for the words of her father accepted none.

The city was even more silent now. We have known Bessar Agail for a single month, but the man had never once lied as he left the city scrambling in fear away from his murderous walks and the city learned quickly that he thirsted for violence and so did his students, for they were quick to murder those that would grant them a reason to do so to.

She started rummaging through the box and I started getting very worried, for my friend had told me that there was only one other letter in the box and I did not wish for the warriors of my friend to think me a liar.

She pulled out two letters, one in a green envelope and another in a golden one and I sighed in relief.

The second letter was the one my friend told me is for his family and she opened it next. She did not read its contents out loud but offered me the third one to read as she threw the box away.

"Here, this is for you friend of my father." She said emotionlessly and handed me the golden envelope.

I opened it and silently read its contents.

'Greetings my friend I would like to first apologize for the scare my first letter has caused you but I couldn't let the chance go. If you are reading this, then my daughter Rinceo Natton has come to you to escort you to my lands.

I am sorry for her curtness, for she had plans for your city, plans I all but put into her mind and my letter and orders for her have made them very difficult to implement. Our plans remain the same, for she is to marry your son and my apprentice Lanniar Narainn.

Unfortunately it won't be easy to arrange it, for she hates most Eldar by default and so I need to drive her into the arms of your son without her realizing it, even as she is aware I might plan for it and disagrees with it.

Do not hold it against her, for the day of her adoption was the day she nearly had to thank an Eldar cultist for eating the heart of her own mother and this has left her filled with hate and spite for all Eldar, for it was also the day she had lost her aunts and uncles and many cousins, and this hatred is something I sincerely wish to correct and know of no other way to do so. Unfortunately I do not have time to fully arrange for every step, so I ask you to see if you can arrange for some circumstances where the two interact and do so in a friendly manner.

Know that you will find friends among her guards, for I have handpicked them before she was aware of them to think she did so, so use them as you see fit in our joint project for they will eagerly help your son get my daughter pregnant to keep her away from danger.

I eagerly await to hear from you again and thank you for helping me with both escorting the orphans and their caretakers and with uniting our families.

Also please burn this letter, I do not wish for anyone but yourself to ever know what it I have written here.' The letter said.

I burned the letter as my friend asked and looked upon my future daughter in law. I could feel her fighting the urge to slump her shoulders as she read the orders her father has given her.

I was already planning on doing most of what the letter said, but it is good to hear of my friend and I being on the same page.

I heard the song of my wife, Ciuna Fao.

"Husband our family has joined 'First cut' and his charges and the Murderous Medicine Peddlers are with us. We march in a column through the city and I wish to ask you if it is safe for us to leave?"

I did not wait for long before replying.

"The warriors and eldest daughter of my friend await us, if any are to try to harm us Bessar Agail promised them that their fate will make the screams seem like a mercy." I sang to my wife.

The screams continue even now and do not seem like they would stop.

She sang in confirmation to me and I could already see her and the column of our family, the students of my friend and those we would protect on our trek to safety as the people of the city gave them the space to move towards me.

I kissed her on both soul and lips as she came and while I did so Rinceo Natton had just finished reading her own letter.

She bowed to us

"I will guarantee your safe passage or die trying." She said and bowed and her cheer slowly returned with each word

"We thank you for it and will be in your hands." I, my wife and 'First cut' said as one.

The children, the few adults that used to be also Orphans that joined us, my daughter and the students of my friends did that same thing two heartbeats after.

It will be a long trek north.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

'My husband invited a madman in our home.' I thought to myself as we were escorted by said madman's daughter.

We were walking through the jungle in a large column to head towards the promised safety of said madman's people. We had left the city we once called home a few days ago and are heading towards where we might build a new home under the cover of screams, for the screams still continue even if the intensity has fallen.

"When will the screams stop?" I asked Rinceo Natton who served as our guide and protector.

We were 250 individuals of which 180 are children, and while the adults could easily walk for weeks without worries the children are worried for the screams for they do not know they shouldn't be bothered by.

The Siren woman turned her upper body towards me and considered me with her sharp blue eyes for a few heartbeats before answering. Her own hatred for me was instinctual, I could easily feel it but she pushed it aside for my husband and her father were friends and my son the apprentice of her father.

"The vermin in our seat of power should be dead or have fully fled in four or five days. You do not need to worry, I have also sent a few of my warriors ahead to scout and to enlist the help of any patrols so you will be safe." She replied cheerfully.

And she truly was cheerful, for the only way you could tell she hated me was through her eyes for she had been accommodating of my requests and those of the others as long as they did not slow us down too much.

It was strange to see such naked hatred for us accompanied by a desire to help and be useful and joy as she is so, and I could feel that none of it was forced on her for she truly felt what she did and none had forced her to be as she is.

I nodded at her words.

"I thank you for answering my question." I said as I bowed slightly for we had not stopped moving as we walked.

She made no comment on any of it.

I moved back near my husband who I realized was doing as men are wont to do and was plotting something. He was not showing it with his face but with his eyes and I know to spot what hides behind one's eyes for I was blessed by Hoec to see the shadows behind one's eyes and those behind my husband's were dancing in joy and purpose the same way when we were plotting to find our children homes.

"What are you plotting husband?" I asked simply.

My husband and I have an understanding with his plotting, I am happy to not be aware of it and he's happy to involve me if I do find out about it and I always do even if I do not involve myself in his plots as long as they do not involve our children or revenge on those that wronged us.

Ever since the fool tricked me into staying into his house he never stopped plotting things, how to find our children homes and families, how to find them teachers or masters or even how to get into the graces of his family again, even if he stopped doing that once they refused to help us pay our debt to Bessar Agail and I would have tried to the same, but my own can't help, for the dead can't help the living.

He stopped singing in secret to whoever he was plotting with and sang to me and his eyes were once again filled with the same love he always had when he looked at me and I felt my own mirror his.

"I am plotting with the guards of Rinceo Natton against their charge, for they wish to see her heavy with children to stop her from risking her life and her father wishes for our boy Lanniar Narainn to do so and so do I." My love sang to me.

I knew of the men's plan to marry our families together, I approved and wished to help but it still came as a shock that the man-folk of different species were already plotting marriage. I always thought my mother's words when she still lived on the ease of the men plotting for marriage was nonsense, but she was once again proven right and it was true that the only way to get men get along with one another was to get them to start plotting marriage.

I miss her and each day I curse the filthy cults that burned my town and turned me into an orphan. The lack of a home and family had turned me into thief, a thief who my husband lured into his house and tricked into never wishing to leave for it had turned into her home.

"What are your plans?" I asked with joy.

The woman was willing and eager to help us despite her hatred for us and she deserved something in return for it and if that something was to give me grandchildren to adore then I will gladly assist.

My mother also did say that if you want to keep a man you have to help him plot and if it meant finding my son a home of his own then that was simply a very attractive extra.

I felt our connection broaden and I was let in in the man's plotting as the guards introduced themselves, and I was happy and well received for I was quite eager to help.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Will you cease constantly leaving and coming?" Rinceo Natton asked me.

I have been constantly traveling to and from our group for the past six days and we were halfway through our trip north where we would get to the edge of the inundated areas the Sirens have taken as their own.

The screaming has stopped now, and so there's nobody left to object.

"My instincts are screaming at me to move, and I do not know why for all I know is that there's something going on that I cannot see!" I replied.

Both of us were annoyed at it, me for feeling it and her for constantly having to take note of it because the rest of our group except mother and one of the guards which was blessed by Lileath didn't feel it. I was blessed by Khaine as a Whisper and yet was the one that kept on feeling it the hardest because every instinct I had felt told me I was surrounded and in grave danger and yet nothing appeared.

"I know you fool, I feel it too, just stop running from place to place, if something comes and it isn't just in our heads then we'll be better served if we're not separated." She said.

I could feel my sword arm twitch as I tried to reach for my blade but stopped myself, as I felt as if I was once again hunted by a shadow parrot. The thing was taller than I was and I only killed it by luck as it hunted me for an entire month and I felt the same now, only now it felt as if there was an entire flight of the damned creatures circling around me where I cannot see them.

I realized she was right, but it didn't change the fact every single one of my instincts told me to go and hunt whatever was stalking me down.

"Fine, I'll stop running to and from." I replied.

The constant persistent itch remained and I sang to the guards to coordinate our plans in case of an ambush.

' 'Iron Sword', you still hadn't found the presence maligning us?' One of the guards, 'Swift Current' asked.

Each of them had proper names, but from what I had been told they preferred to use soul-speech when referring to themselves and keep the usage of proper names for casual and friendly circumstances, none of which applied when on a mission.

'No 'Swift Current', and your charge asked that I stop trying to do so so that in case of an ambush we are not kept isolated.' I answered.

I could feel my new comrades sharing the same grumbling acceptance of these orders.

'I see, unfortunate but we'll manage.' he answered me.

Another song joined us as we talked, the song of my mother and I welcomed it as it seems both she and were welcomed by the siren warriors just like I was.

'Son, your sister feels neglected even if she won't say it, for the students of your master have started craving for violence again so please inform Rinceo Natton of it then see if you can help her.' She sang.

A shiver ran through us all and I informed Rinceo Natton of it, and the same shiver met me when I informed her as I headed to the back of the column.

I was met by the song of children and caretakers asking me if something is wrong and I assured them that all is well and that no foes await us from what we know and it was true in a sense, for no foes did await us, but what did was my master's students who like Master have gained a taste for violence.

They were tame when there were Eldar to kill or provoke them, but whatever Master 'immunized' them with which combined with them looking up to the man that gave them a new future has turned them into bloodthirsty maniacs. I knew why they thought so, for all of them were blessed by Khaine, and master did not get to teach them how to handle their blessing.

He only taught them how to make his 'medicine', not how to let love fuel their actions, for they had received little in their lives and it didn't help that they, like my master found killing Eldar to be relaxing.

There were no other Eldar but us here.

"Sister, I heard there was an incident?" I asked my sister as I approached her.

Our caravan was organized simply, my master's students stood at the end of the column as the rear-guard of our group, Rinceo Natton and her guards at the front, the caretakers and other adults in the center to look after the children and my family would move between the three groups as needed.

"Yes brother, the medicine peddlers are getting restless, they ask for something to do." My sister replied vocally.

I could feel the invite and I joined in on their chorus.

"I greet you friends, and students of my master and ask of you to tell me what bothers you so." I sang to the 16 individuals.

All of them sent their enthusiastic greetings to me but only one greeted in soul-speech.

"I greet you, Lanniar Narainn we are bothered for we have nothing to do or to peddle medicine to. We know that we are being kept here to not bother the guards or scare the young but since our Teacher gave us purpose in life we now grow scared of moments when we have nothing to do." Lannal Atsan said.

He was one of the shuriken-pistol souls, those skilled in both making my master's medicine and distributing it.

I looked upon him properly for we have not exchanged many words and he has changed since I last saw him.

He was dressed in the white robes similar to those my master favored and his red hair was short now compared to when I last saw him two years ago, and just like all his novice Medicine Peddlers made to look like his Teacher's, even if they retained their natural color. It was his eyes however that told me that something was truly wrong, for they were scared too and I once again felt sorry for them.

The valley of silent screams all but breaks the people in it, for there go those that have been forsaken by their families for being 'defective' as they try to find anyone that would find use of them. The only ones that bother are the rare travelers that take pity on them and take them as servants and the Orphanages who feed them and try to find them work in exchange for service.

Twenty of the adults here are such poor souls that joined us on our trek. There used to be hundreds of them there but master told most of them to head North West once he started teaching me and his students to meet with his siblings to have them find them something to do for they were as capable as he in such and he did not have the time to do it for them.

The twenty here are those that had been Forsaken since my Master had left and had come with us in the hope that they too might find purpose.

Sister did the same as Master to those that had gathered since then and told them to follow us so that my Master might find them something to do and they did so without any issue.

I was proud of my sister for it and made sure she knew it when I learned of it.

"I understand your fears and you need not fear for I have a proper task for you." I told those gathered.

I could feel their attention on me as I spoke, the desire for purpose overriding all other considerations in their minds.

"We would love to hear them friend and know that we would remain in your debt for it." Lannal Atsan said.

"My task for you is simple, teach the adults among us to use one of my master's crafts to defend themselves from the ill, for we are halfway through our trek from the words of our guides and there is something stalking us, even if few of us can feel it. Please teach those that would defend the Orphans how to use another tool to defend them with." I asked of them.

They are Blessed by Khaine, they crave violence but they are also unfortunate souls which crave purpose, and a meaningful purpose at that and my master had taught them to combine the two, and now I would have to get them to teach others how to do it well.

"We will do so at once!" Sixteen souls sang.

They were enthusiastic at least.

"Separate yourselves in four groups, two will teach or make the murderous medicine for those gathered, the other two will remain to guard the rear, you will switch one group for another at every sunrise to ensure the changes happen and there's never a moment when someone is not properly guarding our rear for it is an important duty still." I sang.

"We thank you for it and know that we are in your debt!" They sang back.

I could feel them separating themselves into four groups of four as they prepared to do as I asked and I informed my family, Rinceo Natton and her guards and my comrades on my solution to our problem and that it will give us time until we reach safety.

They all sang in relief and gratitude for it and I once again moved back to the front of our group to await for any changes.

It did not take long until they happened, for strange whispers had reached us.

'I greet you kind travelers, for I am Krang, Skin Walker and shaman in the service of Bessar Agail. I am the only one gifted among my patrol and thus the only one that can sing properly.' The voice whispered.

It was not true song, for it was given with the speech of the mind and not of the soul but I was not surprised they believed so, for many Eldar did not know to tell the difference.

I was glad we received reinforcements at least, for they would surely prove useful against whatever was lurking around us, but Rinceo Natton was not judging by the cadence of her song.

"They will slow us down, for they need to rest often and will turn six days of travel into ten." She sang in annoyance.

That wasn't a big worry.

"Better slow and safe, for there is safety in numbers." I replied.

"Perhaps, but we won't be able to travel one night for every three because they need as much rest as the newborn." She continued.

"Good, then the children will get some rest too for they need it and as they cannot sing properly we'll also take the chance to see how to use them well."

I could feel her soul sigh in defeat at it but she sent me the confirmation that she agreed with my plan.

"They may not be Eldar or related to us but they can't that bad if they are in service of my Master." I sang to her.

"They are worse, they are barely useful as meat-shields and my father only keeps them around because they are loyal and to prank my mothers." She replied.

I did not like that answer, for it was right and as the next days would confirm the strange creatures truly were barely useful as meat-shields, all twenty of them, and hopefully we won't need them to do much more than point their shuriken rifles and shoot at something.

AN:

Ciuna Fao=Faobhar Ciúin→ Silent Blade

Arrada Cossan=dara cosaint→ Second Parry

Lannal Atsan=lann lasánta → burning blade