Ch13: Arrival, Part Two

"There were a lot of gods. Gods always come in handy, they justify almost anything."

― Margaret Atwood, The Blind Assassin

Mara waved until Vendak vanished from sight, then turned to her brother.

"You keep everyone within sight of the ship, somethings not right with this place." She turned and jogged towards the huge accessway into the city, one eye fixed on the ominous black orb as she called over her shoulder. "I'll head to the guild and figure out what's going on."

Mara didn't wait for her brother to respond and bounded forward into the empty city. This place is deserted... The twisted streets that wound their way through the coral towers held no occupants. It raised the hair across her back.

"Where is everyone?"

Mara mumbled, her focus on the pendant in her hand. It pulled her in the direction of the nearest guild hall, a tool given to all Master tier members.

"At least the transmitter in the guild is still functioning, but this empty city is bad news."

It was also a concern that the Fallasi were focused on Ven. For the most part, the small simian race and their symbiotic counterparts, the tentacled Myki, guarded and maintained their island homes. Although notoriously honorable, it was unusual for them to be so interested in an outsider.

They only get involved with visitors when the laws are broken.

Mara weived her way through the abandoned streets, shuttered windows and closed doors her only companions. From the increased temperature of her locket, she would soon arrive at her destination. I need to get the word out right away, we can't stay here for long. Fallasi and Myki did not allow other races to permanently settle on the island.

Some exceptions were made, for schollers and craftsmen, but for the most part, the island only welcomed temporary visitors. Mara knew this, but if forced to leave before help arrived, they could still meet the rescue team mid-journey to find some safety in numbers.

The Ori never let their prisoners go free...

Once the hyper-religious nation discovered their location, they were certain to send a force to retrieve them. Even within Fallun, they were not guaranteed safety, as the Fallasi had no reason to defend them.

If the Ori Semi-Divines request they hand us over, they have no reason not to comply.

She was under no illusions about their importance. No nation except the Dragon Kingdom would go to war for them. This only applied to the children of the king, but it was good enough for Mara. Even Ven can't protect us alone, the Ori have too many Semi-Divines. If it was not for their lack of an Earth Deity, the despotic empire would have expanded beyond their small province long ago.

Her feet flitted over the ground, not even a muffled noise to mark her passage, as she rounded a corner and faced her destination. Squashed between two tall towers, a building that did not fit the rest created a startling contrast.

A multi-storied monstrosity, it teetered over the walkway like a drunk, balanced in place with such abandon that Mara worried it would fall. From every crack and window, there was a dusty trace of smoke, as if hundreds of occupants puffed off their pipes, but never came out for air.

Hung above the tavern-style doors was a sign that bore the sigil of the guild. A lancer on horseback, their weapon held high as they rode towards an unblinking gold eye.

Her nose wrinkled as she faced the dilapidated structure, one eye squinted as she evaluated her options. It has to be safe inside, the neckless only works when the guild master is in the hall. If she didn't enter, Mara would be forced to find another communication circle, something she couldn't afford to risk. Well, let's go then. Face hardened, she stepped through the door and found herself inside an orderly-looking inn.

"Wellcome young one!" A soft baritone called out from behind a well-lit bar.

Mara jumped, and her gaze snapped to the large turtle-kin seated behind the serving table. He had been so motionless that, until he spoke, Mara hadn't distinguished him from the decore. His long wrinkled neck turned towards her at a glacial pace, and she felt centuries pass before he finally met her eyes with his own.

Within his smooth, beaked face, deep black pools captured her hazel orbs. They seemed infinite, and at the very center, a small pinprick of pure white probed her thoughts. This center point in the dark did not give her comfort. They only highlighted the fact that the gaze was empty. A hollowed look that caused her blood to pump at an extreme speed.

"I think I've got the wrong address," Mara said, her feet locked in their attempt to back-peddle from the hall.

"Come and sit, child."

The old turtle intoned. The words formed from the air around her, as the man's mouth still slowly sounded out the words, a parody of what speech should be. She would have refused if she could, but by the time his last word finished, she found herself seated before him. Her body was sealed, fused to the uneven stool, locked to it as if it was a part of her.

"Sure, why not. I've had a long day." Mara's voice was quiet, her mouth a scaled desert, parched from the tension placed on her nerves. "You wouldn't happen to have anything to drink, would you?" Her eyes dragged across the many bottles, balanced on the shelves behind the bar like a house of cards.

"Of course child, we still have some time." His cryptic reply lodged in her mind like a thorn, and before she could react, a steaming mug of crystal clear liquid was placed before her. "But I'm afraid that, in a few minutes, we'll have to say our goodbyes."

Mara's ears flattened as a trail of sweat trickled down her spine. Why couldn't this guild just be normal? She had to send word soon and return, so she could help if Ven called for aid.

This creepy old turtle freaks me out!

"Sorry about that young one, my old eyes have that effect I'm afraid." the turtle said, the corners of his leathery mouth quirked upward in a smile. "I'd recommend drinking that, time is running out."