The Otori Prophecy

LVIII - A Man Far North

My eyes fluttered open some time later, the light dim, the room quiet. I saw the timber of the roof, last night's memories flooding into me. I sat up from the firm cushion of the booth. A heavy cloak fell to my waist. I turned to look at what had been my pillow, another cloak.

I looked across the room at the three men gathered around a table. Ludens and Mathias didn't have their cloaks on. Typical of them to pick my comfort over their warmth. I turned my eyes towards the man sitting with them. A queasiness filled my stomach at his identity. Suddenly he was staring straight at me, those purple eyes almost quizzical. I saw his mouth move but didn't hear the words that fell from his tongue, rising just a second later to disappear somewhere.

Whatever it was, I now had Ludens and Mathias looking at me, worry filling their gazes. I looked down at the table in front of me, resting my forehead against the smooth wood. A few moments later, I heard shuffling, knowing that Ludens and Mathias had chosen to come over here.

"Taika..." Mathias started. I raised my head, glaring at him. "Don't. You've said enough," I spoke. I didn't know if I meant it to come out as harsh as that but some part of me felt good being mad at him.

Luden took a shallow breath, an almost silent rattle beginning to form. I turned my gaze to him. "What were you talking about?" I asked. Ludens avoided my gaze. "We weren't talking," Ludens responded. They both seemed twitchy. I laid my head back down, my body deciding that this very moment was good enough to remind me of my accumulated hunger from the last two days. "Whatever," I mumbled.

There was a long pause. I thought that the both of them would go back to the table across the room but I felt them sitting near me. I heard Ludens chuckle, a hand ruffling my hair. "We were being admonished by our new friend," Ludens murmured. I lifted my head so I could look at him. "What for?" I asked. I didn't see why someone like him would get told off for something. This made Ludens laugh again, at me or the memory he had.

"For not looking after you properly. Especially for not getting you something to eat before starting a brawl," Ludens mused. I had to admit that that was pretty funny. Mum would've done the same if she were here.

Another silence followed. Long and awkward. "When are we sending word?" I asked. Ludens shook his head. "We can't if the magic systems are collapsing. We will have to use a messenger of some sort," Ludens responded, a crease in his brow appearing. I frowned. Surely there was some way to alert the others as to where we are. Perhaps even a way for Abel to be removed from King Brokur's dungeon.

The barman came back with a plate of food and a tankard in his hands. He placed them down in front of me. "I hoped this would suffice as a peace offering," he mused. His voice no longer held the hostility that he had shown last night.

"Thank you," I responded. I wasn't sure how to look him in the eye after last night, after my revelation about him. He sat down in the booth next to Mathias, joining our table of silence. I wondered why they weren't eating or drinking too. With every forkful of food, I wondered if I should treat this like the Council of Crowns; diplomatic and to the point. Or if I should lay all my emotions bare, let him feel a fraction of the anger I had carried.

His eyes from last night flashed in my mind, remorseful. Perhaps letting out my anger wasn't the best solution at this time. "What... Why..." One of the three men started, only for their words to fail them. It suddenly felt tense and suffocating, not sure how to go about saying what I wanted. I watched as he got up again, taking his place behind the bar, dipping down to grab something. Whatever he grabbed, he stalked towards the heavy doors, hanging it on the outside.

He brought down a long board of wood, placing it in the holds on either side of the doors. No words were exchanged between any of us as he stood at the foot of the table, looking down at us. "This way," he mumbled. An invitation to follow him. So we did, bringing our bags with us. He led us towards the bar, letting us behind it. On the floor behind the bar, there was a large hatch, the man opened it to reveal a set of stairs winding into a never ending darkness.