Paracosm

Magda's Way

Sliabh

Sliabh watches as a raven approaches his castle. The raven drops a letter in their the window. He picks it up and reads Maon's message aloud.

  Maon's a brave man, just like his father. It'd take a lot of courage to hide the Bunker People from Annalise.

  The difference between Maon's situation and Sliabh's is that Sliabh's people rely on the Golden Isle for food. He cannot risk his people's health for the sake of protecting the Bunker People.

  "Sir," Seán comes into the room "I saw a raven approaching".
"Yes," Sliabh smiles "come sit with me".

"What is it?" Seán sits down at the table.
Sliabh hands him the letter.

"My dearest brother, I'm writing to you to inform you that the bunker opened, four people came up to the ground to find suitable land for when the bunker opens in a month. I have one of them here in my camp, the others whereabouts are unknown as of now. I met with Dolag Cole to discuss a plan in forming an allegiance with the Bunker People, she has agreed. I would like to ask of you to not report any activity around the bunker to Annalise. Dolag has expressed fears that Annalise and Munán are planning on taking the bunker for themselves when they destroy this Earth, similar to what happened a hundred years ago...oh," Seán takes a moment to let what he read sink in "he is asking you to pledge allegiance".

Sliabh nods "I pledged my allegiance to the Swayne family and the Golden Isle for my people, I don't like the family nor agree with them but without them we would have no food".
"Perhaps we should make a deal".
"In what way?".
"We need food," Seán says "so we will refrain from informing Annalise about bunker activity if they can promise us food in return".
"That's smart," Sliabh says "it's not much to ask for, the Cleansed River and the Fire Island have survived all this time on their produce, if they refuse, which I hope they don't, we can inform Annalise of this".

"Do you believe Dolag Cole?" Seán asks.
"That girl is gifted, and I believe Annalise Swayne is a snake in the grass," Sliabh says "if it is true we better act fast".
"I'll send a raven to the Cleansed River," Seán gets up "we will set out those terms, and if they can't agree to it then that will give us the answer in what to do".
"Send our fastest raven so he will receive it before nightfall".

Dolag

"Are you sure about going out with those men?" Dolag asks Dextro.
"I know Joe and Lenka, they are good people," he answers "but they're also weak and will follow the orders given by these men".

Dolag looks around the tent Maon has given them for the night. It's small, three straw beds are spread out across the floor. A large part of her misses her tower on the Fire Island, she'd grown up for so long without anything, she didn't want to return to that.

"How do you feel about seeing Magda?" Dolag leans against the small, makeshift table.
"I don't care," he shrugs "above ground has felt more like a home than the bunker ever has".
"That's good," she smiles "I'd imagine it's quite different".
He nods "we were still living like they did a hundred years ago. Your ancestors had to rebuild civilisation while ours were playing happy families. The people in that bunker have no idea how life is now".

"The Old World is comforting for them," she says "but life wasn't any easier back then, I think we have it more easy now".
"Really?".
"Yeah," she nods "people had hard, strenuous jobs. The world was at war, people were dying, governments were corrupt and nobody was making enough money for anything. Now we are back to square one, we do not have banks, we do not have to do something we don't love just to get by and be able to afford to live, we are one with nature and are living as humans are supposed to live".
"Yeah, I guess you're right," he says.

"I was speaking with Maon," Cormac comes into the tent "Sliabh sent him a letter, stating he wouldn't report any activity from the bunker back to Annalise if we can provide food. Maon has agreed, but they need your approval too".

Dolag thinks for a moment. The Fire Island isn't her home, she cannot ask them to spare crops for Sliabh and then abandon them for the Mainlands. But she knows Sliabh's allegiance is important and vital in taking the thrown from the  Swayne family, so she can provide the people of the Fire Island with wealth.

  "Okay," Dolag nods "but I cannot arrange for crops to be sent until I return to the island".
  "I will discuss it with Maon, see if he is willing to give them their first supplies".
"Thank you Cormac," Dolag smiles slightly.

"Hopefully we won't take long at the bunker," Dextro says.
"Well I am not staying around here all day," she brushes dirt off the table.
"Why don't you come with us?".

She's never been out that far, all she really knows is the Fire Island. She'd be lying if she said she wasn't scared, everything is beginning to feel too real. It's all she's ever dreamt of and everything is slowly falling into place but she doesn't know if she's ready.

"My ancestors are from around there," she says "my father wrote about them, there's creatures there none of us have seen, waiting for one of us to return, perhaps I should go, so they know I've returned".
"What kind of creatures?".
"Ones the radiation didn't kill, humans trapped in radiated bodies, gone insane," she says "they don't die, my father called them 'Marbhs'".
"Well hopefully the Marbhs will stay away tomorrow," he laughs "anyway we should probably get some shut eye".

Magda

  "You ready girl?" Maon asks as she approaches the horses.
"Yeah, I guess," she says.

  There's no point lying about it. She doesn't know what to expect, but she knows if that bunker door opens she wants nothing more than to be in her mother's arms.
The people above ground don't get that, they don't seem to have loving feelings for each other. Maybe they think that it's easier to die up here so there's no point forming bonds.

"You are going to need more confidence than that to convince your people to fight with us," he laughs "even if it is fake".

Dolag and Dextro make their way towards Maon and Magda. Dolag is beautiful, as if the radiation didn't even touch off her skin, she's like a princess. Dextro on the other hand is something else, you can see the damaged skin where the mask is melted onto his face. All he wears is a vest and torn pants to show off his metal legs, he almost looks like a robot. But his mannerisms reminds her of someone, reminds her of Fionn.

He may not have often spoken to her but she always watched him, was always amazed by his fighting skills and strength. When she found out about the mission and who was going to began to familiarise herself with all of them, regardless of if they spoke or not. Fionn always had calm exterior, expressing his emotions through actions more so than words. Like Dextro.

"You have decided to come?" Maon asks Dolag.

Magda isn't sure what to make of Dolag, she's beautiful but Magda can see the hatred in her eyes. She's capable of a lot more than people see, like Magda. Magda's also noticed the Maon looks at her, a mixture of complete admiration and sympathy. Magda isn't sure of any of these people's histories. All she knows is this 'Annalise' woman is bad news.

"Yes," Dolag smiled at Dextro "it will look good if both you and I are there".
"I agree," Maon hands her the reins of a horse "where is your friend, Cormac?".
"He's staying back here, in case anything happens, he is my advisor and I cannot risk losing him".

"Ah, but you can risk your other friend?" Maon laughs as he points at Dextro.
"Can't kill what's already dead," Dextro says as he mounts his horse.
"You are smart, brother".

Magda rides alongside Dextro, she keeps getting a feeling of familiarity from him, a feeling of ease. He hasn't spoken a word to her. None of them have said anything. There's eight of them in total. Two of Maon's men ride in the front, two in the back and the four of them are in the middle.

They round the mountain, hitting the sand. IT's immediately as if the air gets thinner, the sun gets hotter. Magda finds herself beginning to sweat even more, her skin burning. The others look unfazed. It's almost as if if they show any emotions it's a sign of weakness.

Magda can begin to make out the mountain where the bunker is. As they get closer the large bunker door becomes visible.

"I see them," Magda points at the two small figures by the door.