The Ashes of Allmau: The Orfolk of Allmau

Chapter 11

Tizeal wafted her hands through the steam of several pots and pans, combining the scents in her culinary conjuring's to determine that breakfast was, "Nearly done. You and Ahna can take the leftovers to those sailors later. I'm sure they'll appreciate some real food."

"Very true." Syble agreed, taking in the scent of sugars and spices, "I'll go get Ahna."

Having been Syble's morning routine for some time now, she stepped out of the dugout home, and into autopilot. She walked straight past the tent and started towards the common. The white tents of the soldiers briefly broke her from her trance. She couldn't help but feel an odd energy in the air. She shrugged it off, everything would be back to normal soon enough.

A few visitors walked along the paths from the common, foreign sailors with local ladies, carrying flowers in their hands. Syble smirked knowing full well the rumour mill would be in full spin by the afternoon. The dales opened onto the common, the mist had settled around the brambles and there was a lulling peace.

"Ahna?" Syble called out, making her way through the long grass to Ahna's usual vigil.

She wasn't there. Syble stared at the spot, taking a moment to register. She shook her head and looked up, wondering whether she was in the right place. Had she walked out of the wrong exit? She peered up and down the common. The unending natural road meandered onwards without a soul in sight.

"Ahna?" Syble called again, a sudden dread filling her naturally anxious soul.

Euol lay in his hammock staring up at the ceiling of the tent in a half-asleep state. He dreamt of smuggling himself onboard one of the ships and sailing off to Eymier, leaving all of this behind. The Seven Sounds was wayward of the real world. He wondered what Langsine was like. Technically, he was born there, but he was far too young to remember anything. The only thing he could get out of Syble were memories of a constant grey drizzle. Robbed of such potential at such a young age, and then abandoned in these Sleepy Sounds – it all felt unfair.

With a burst of cold air, Syble entered the tent.

He huffed and groaned, "I'm awake." readying himself to move.

Syble said nothing, her unwavering gaze was focused on Ahna's plumped hammock. Euol looked to her, her expression wrought with anxiety - more so than usual.

"Ahna?" She asked calmly.

Euol said nothing. He looked to his little sister's bed and noticed how it was unnaturally still. Syble strode across the yurt to the hammock. She pulled away the covers and after a moment wilted away from the bed with a pillow in her hand.

Syble expression sunk, Euol frowned, "What is it?"

Near the town centre, Evelyne and Sabian stood admiring the Melody Mill as it continued to churn away quietly. The structure sat content atop the dune, spinning slowly in the wind, as though waving lovingly to the warmonger of a flagship that glowered from the bay.

She admired the wholesome structure, "I love it. It's so flamboyant."

Syble, Euol and Tizeal made their way through the town towards the town centre where Mendace was said to be. Ever the dramaphile, Evelyne's senses were fine tuned to a moving spotlight. She saw the three rushing past and zeroed in on them like a histrionic hawk.

"Mendace!" Syble called out to the old man, who sat in the town centre selling 'bait' to off-duty sailors, breakfast scraps with the power to lure the legendary gold scaled fish of Concordance.

"Morning all," he nodded, as the three approached.

"Have you seen Ahna?" Syble asked, clearly worked up.