I am surprised with punctual arrivals by the party in the morning. Corporal Level is, as always, happy to see us. “Glad to see you all in one piece. Are you ready to give your report or do you need to rest. It’s pretty busy today—lots of new recruits—so you could always come back tomorrow.”
I’d rather not burn time and money for no reason. Getting back out in the field will allow me to leave this nation as soon as possible. I open my mouth to confirm we are ready, but Vong speaks up first.
“Actually, yeah, I’d appreciate that,” he says, his timbre suggesting intense agitation. “Something happened—with my family. My cousin was murdered!”
Most of the party makes a shocked expression at hearing the news. I remain stoic as always on the outside, and am neither shocked nor dismayed internally. I don’t know his cousin and I don’t like him, so I don’t actually care.
Level says with unquestionable sincerity, “I’m so sorry to hear that. Take the time you need and report in when you’re ready, okay?”
Vong nods. He’s clearly trying to hold in a storm of emotions. No wonder something seemed off when I saw him arrive.
“He was out making a delivery for the restaurant. It was my route. It should have been me. I—,” he trails off, barely holding back his anger. He’s quiet a moment and then takes a deep breath, “I’ll see you guys later.”
He walks off.
The rest of the party turns to me expectantly.
Good.
I decide to take the opportunity and I address Corporal Level, “I can lead the party is his absence. He will want time to grieve.”
Level puts a hand on my arm comradely. I don’t like being touched, but I don’t flinch or knock his hand away.
He looks up at me and says, “That’s very considerate of you, but not necessary. We can make due for a little bit so why don’t you all enjoy some time off. You all look a little weary.”
I sigh inwardly. I wasn’t trying to be considerate. I was trying to get back to work and improve the efficacy of this group by removing an incompetent leader. Acting as the official party leader for a patrol or two would go a long way to retaining the position, even if Vong were to return to the group. Especially after Level sees the difference in results.
Rakatha asks, “How do we know when is the time to return?”
Twitch and Ralith shrug. Apul stayed outside the building because Rakatha told him to, so has no response—not that he would have much to contribute anyway.
“We will meet every two days at the Pale Pine Tavern in this district, until Vong is able to return to duty or must resign,” I decide. “Come at sundown.”
The group acknowledges the plan with nods or grunts, but doesn’t move. Level gives me a smile and casual salute-like acknowledgment, putting two fingers by his temple and snapping his hand forward at the wrist in my direction.
I nod and leave the building. If the party follows, I don’t bother to look back to find out.
What a nuisance.
I patronize a temple of Ard Agdawn to distract my mind from the inanity of the predicament I find myself in. I’m not particularly gentle with the priestess, as a result, but she doesn’t end the session. She also doesn’t stick around afterward, but that’s not unusual. They may be sacred prostitutes who are comfortable spreading their legs for donations to their god, but I’m still seen as an aberration in this land. I know I make them uncomfortable; their eyes reveal all.
Thankfully no one from the party followed me into the establishment and no one is waiting for me when I leave. I have two days before I have to see any of them again. Now that my mind is clearer, I think about what I should do in that time.
Since we haven’t reported in yet, we’ve received no pay, and I spent the bulk of my money last time we were in town. Whatever I do, it will have to be inexpensive.
I walk to the fountain square in the market district, which is bustling this time of day. Sitting down on a shaded bench along the perimeter of the square, I start to watch the people as I have often done. Friends, guild associates, rival merchants, scurrying apprentices, and prudent shoppers wander in and around. Some barely aware of the crowd around them; some lost in the perceived beauty of the water feature.
This particular fountain is one of the nicer ones in Nodkis. Though the square is not paved, as in the noble’s district or church district, a carved, stone statue sits at the center of the fountain. The motif is very traditionally Elysian. A grove of trees creates the base, on which rests a woven basket piled high with artistically-arranged harvest crops. Holding on to the handle of the basket are three figures: a beautiful young woman with long hair for Risha, a grim-looking soldier in ceremonial armor for Kurdu, and a slender, wizened, older man in a crown and long robes for Ard Agdawn. The three figures are like pillars around the perimeter of the grove and harvest basket at the center, and are taller than both combined.
The symbolism is obvious in that it is meant to represent the shared blessing of their pantheon, as well as provide a nod to the founding mythology of the pilgrims at the Sacred Glen. In fact, the version of this fountain in Ark Aegion has additional details, such as the curled-up corpses of heretical missionaries among the trees at the base, which were slaughtered by Kurdu when they tried to claim the Sacred Glen. It also features the progression of the first priestess, chosen by Risha to bear the son of Ard Agdawn, that is told counter-clockwise in the three segments between the feet of the gods. In the segment between Kurdu and Risha is the form of a worshiping woman, the same woman pregnant and serene in the next section between Risha and Ard Agdawn, and the woman holding a child aloft in the section between Ard Agdawn and Kurdu.
Nodkis enVull does not have nearly the grandeur of Ark Aegion. I remember wandering its streets before I settled in Nodkis. I spoke the language enough for basic commerce, but was far from mastering the tongue. When I decided to stop living as a hermit, it was the obvious place to consider rejoining civilization. Though I had been living to the north-east, and closer to Bulgris Mire, the idea of living in that semi-independent, militaristic city-state, which lies within the borders of Elysium and strangely houses the bulk of the Elysian army, was not of my interest at the time. Far too strict. I was looking for somewhere developed and civilized that still offered many of the freedoms of living alone in the woods.
Nodkis.
The Wordbearer Chronicles is a dark fantasy web series with new passages on Tuesdays.
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