The Curse of Pirini Lilapa (GotC #2)

Part II: Chapter 5 - For the Paen Name

At dawn's crack Hydro stood ready in the flea market, located on the eastern side of Qotia. A faint wind carried, flowing through the gaps in Hydro's rhinoskin armor. It brought with it the scent of the sea from the west. It beckoned him to leave Qotia. This city wasn't meant for him. Adventure. Freedom. That is all Hydro ever wanted.

Footsteps in the otherwise barren market caught his ear. A few beggars stirred at the noise as well. Through a street came a man of Hydro's height but stocky, with a large girth and arms as thick as thighs. His brown skin was the only armor and branded with different circular tattoos. A loin cloth covered just enough of the man's privates. Behind him strode thirty-five men-each one of them the property of Acquava.

"One-Eye and Little Prince, you had no heart change."

You are not in Acquava anymore. He could hear Len's advice in his head. "For seventy-five golden bonds I was worried you would have one."

"You dress heavy."

"And you lighter than I had hoped for. Especially my slaves."

"You paid for bodies and weapons, not armor. That's what I provided."

Hydro glared. Filthy cur. Father's blade could slice you in two in one stroke.

"Chaons only need courage and weapon," Nivarre said.

"Yes." Hydro clicked his tongue. "Well, we Acquavans are more refined."

Nivarre snorted. "Payment?"

Hydro looked at Len and nodded. Len tossed a satchel toward the large man's direction. The slaver caught it and juggled it in his thick hands.

"It's only half."

"You will receive the other half when we get there," Len said.

At Len's comment, the slaver furrowed his brows. Hydro held a smile. Show the slaver his place. Hydro bit his lips.

"Dawn quickly fades. We should start," Nivarre said.

"We follow you," Len said.

Hydro grabbed the hilt of his blade out of habit as the slaver drew his own. The large man pointed it to a road leading out of the city and started walking. Both he and Len stayed five paces behind and their slaves in five rows of seven behind them. Occasionally, Hydro glanced back. All of them seemed fit enough for a stroll in the jungle, but physique didn't equal skill. None of their eyes deviated from the path, or from Hydro. Stoic as stone. They reminded him of Korth who always fell into his position. Because of the quality, Korth was his father's lead Acqua Guard.

The boots Hydro wore were of moderate comfort. He bought some when deciding to purchase Len's armor, boiled leather with a coating of chainmail and a steel cap. Hydro's old soles were completely worn after the Trials. A road of dirt strewn with pebbles guided them to the brim of the jungle. As they approached larger trees, roots grew out of the ground and became hazards to avoid.

"Have you thought about a plan once you are in Luenar's presence?" Len asked.

"I will tell him my name and position."

"It is not as likely to be so easy. Luenar is not Pearl. There is but one moon on Onkh, not two like here."

"What does that matter? A god is a god."

"Aye, both were born on Gladima, surely, but Pearl is quite different than Luenar."

Hydro stopped and rolled his eyes. Was Len to lecture him now? "How so?" Hydro played into it.

"You are from Acquava, my prince, not from Chaon. Luenar may not feel as inclined to answer you."

"I'll make him answer me." Hydro moved his hand to his hilt.

Len laughed. "You cannot kill a god. Don't be foolish. Luenar would squash you like an ant."

Hydro's eyes flared. "Then I will show him the necklace. That will get him talking."

"And if that fails?"

Nivarre had continued, not realizing a dispute, but the slaves behind stopped, keeping their distance. "Fear not what blade can slice or what magic can touch were the words of my father and his father and his father's father. Are you an Acquavan or not?"

"Yes, I am. Your father pays me for advice; why can you not take it? This quest is folly. Turn now while we have our lives."

"I am not my father, Len. We cannot turn back."

"And if I continue on this quest, I might as well consider my life forfeit."

"If you do not continue, you might as well consider your life forfeit, Len. That is all I have to say." Hydro walked away.

"What do you mean?"

"What do you think? Now come."

To that point in the travel, Len hadn't said much of anything. This sudden outburst annoyed Hydro. Hydro noticed the large slaver sitting on a tree stump up ahead, whittling a set of heavy branches with his scimitar.

As Hydro approached, the slaver said, "Are we having second thoughts so soon?"

"No." Hydro spared a glance at Len, who hung his head, then turned back to Nivarre. "We were merely discussing strategy."

The slaver shifted his eyes between them a moment and then laughed. "Keep moving and keep your weapon drawn is the only strategy needed in these jungles."

"What are those staves to be used for?" Len asked.

"So we don't get lost. Finding the prophetess is only half the journey, One-Eye." The slaver chuckled.

"You mean we are to travel by foot through here?" Hydro looked around. "Is there not some sort of device we can use?"

"Little Prince, you have thirty-five slaves with you, the money to buy devices for all of them and you and One-Eye, why I doubt even you have enough bonds for that. And, the jungle is thick with trees and foliage. Foot is the safest route." Nivarre continued chiseling his wooden staves.

Len turned around to face Hydro. "We do not know for certain she will even be able to help. What if things turn sour for us in there?"

Despite his attempt at a whisper, Nivarre still heard Len and responded faster than Hydro. "There are two things for certain, Little Prince and One-Eye. You will not return from this journey yourself, not if you listen to what she has to say. Second, the advice she gives is certain, has been and always will be, what is uncertain is whether you believe her."

Hydro looked away from Len to the slaver. The large man hadn't looked up; he still chiseled away at his pikes, showing the strength of his arms and the skill of his labor. "Tell me, how did you come to meet this lady? What is her name?"

"I call her Three-Eyes. The tribe she lives in is where I am from. She has been there ever since I was born, and ever since my parents were born." Nivarre continued whittling all the while. When he reached the last of the sticks beside his feet he looked up to the sky. "It is high noon. We should begin."

Hydro looked at the man's pile of staves. "Are you ready?"

Nivarre cleaned another of his pikes, stripping the copious amounts of bark and rough edges from its side. "I was only waiting on yours, Little Prince." The man stood up and sheathed his scimitar. He grabbed a pile of shaved branches and divvyed them to Hydro and Len both, keeping some for himself. "When I say plant one of you needs to."

Hydro nodded and looked towards Len. The advisor wore no smile, only nervousness as apparent as the eye-patch on his face. Behind, the platoon of thirty-five slaves held neither fear nor delight. Simply, stoic-ready to do Hydro's bidding. For one last moment Hydro glanced at Freyr; Lugh trailed behind it. Then he lowered his gaze through the thick canopy and bulging boughs of the trees that stood before him-the jungle that he would conquer.

Hydro stepped upon the stump the slaver had vacated and unsheathed his sword. He watched it reflect Freyr's rays and then proceeded to point it towards the jungle. "Onward, for the Paen name."

Behind him Hydro imagined cheers and war cries howling at his courage as if he were a hero.