Birthright: The Contested Seat

Varyth

Spotting land in the distance, Varyth thanked Umias for fair weather and calm seas. Upon boarding their ship in Ilyrian, he could not seem to calm his nerves. The trauma inflicted upon him by his near death at sea had come back to haunt him. Lady Khuli had been gracious enough to prepare a tonic that would calm him, and it worked exceedingly well. She truly was a marvel with medicines and Varyth hoped to learn many things from her. 

The ship bounced on the waves as it pressed onward. The weather was cool, the skies were clear, and seagulls flew alongside the ship which was another indication that land was near. He was relieved to be returning to Ethios, but staying in Ilyrian had crossed his mind a time or two during his stay there. The weather was always nice, the people were kind, and he would be well out of the queen's reach. Though a nice thought, he knew it could never be. It would be a grand disservice to Kyran and all that had been done for him until now. Varyth was many things, but he was not a man known to ignore his duties.

"Glad to be returning home, Lord Varyth," asked a voice from behind him. Turning to see who spoke, Lady Khuli was approaching him.

"Of course, my lady. I can never be away from Ethios for long before she calls me home again. Though it is not the safest place for me now."

"It must pain you so, to be wanted for treason in your own homeland."

She didn't know how correct she was. Varyth had served Ethios faithfully as Sage Royal for twenty years. Even when he smuggled Kyran into Sorrowheart that day, he did so in service to his country. His vows called for him to be loyal to the people of Ethios and act in their best interest. Evelyne Tuhlack was not in their best interest. 

"It does, my lady, though I have hope that soon I will no longer have to suffer such a fate," said Varyth, "Have you ever been to Ethios, Lady Khuli?" 

"I have never had the opportunity. My king does not leave his island. Though I fear I would not be comfortable in Ethios," she answered.

"I am sure you would be welcome! There are many foreigners who make Ethios their home!"

"I would not feel comfortable in any nation that deals in slave trade. I find any country who deals in the sale and purchase of human beings to be utterly barbaric. Slavery is the gravest of sins," she replied firmly.

Varyth felt a subtle rage begin boiling within him. Not towards Lady Khuli, of course, but at the queen for damaging Ethios' reputation with those aborad. To be a major nation dealing in such barbarity is embarrassing to its citizens and a shock to the broader civilized world.

"The queen has reawakened the greatest shame Ethios has ever known. Most lords continue to outlaw slavery in their cities, but there are those who still partake. Lord Galia is a good man and slavery has been outlawed in every city that resides in the Riverlands. At least in Galenport, you will experience the true Ethios," replied Varyth. 

"I am glad to hear this. In Wurth, all life is valued from the largest creature to the smallest. Every living thing is created by Firaloth and his fire burns within us all. This is known."

Varyth remembered Belwart then, the Wurtheni merchant that smuggled him from Galverin with Genna. He remembered hearing of Firaloth, the volcano god of Wurth. He had little patience for such heresy, but perhaps Genna had the right of it. Who is to say that the seven gods of Ethios are the only ones out there?

"I have heard of your volcano god. Is Firaloth worshiped by all the people in Wurth," asked Varyth, curiously. 

"Oh yes. We come from within Firaloth himself, borne of his molten rock. The body is warm inside, for this reason, did you know? His heat is inside of us all. We are his children, so he allows us to build upon him and take from his soil. He willingly provides."