The Sins of the God King

Chapter 26 : Lest

Lest's slumber was disrupted by the boisterous commotion of craglins outside his leafy chamber. Stirred by their animated chatter and the clatter of their preparations for the journey to Highmoon, he roused himself from his makeshift bed. Gazing through his window, Lest beheld craglins emerging from the earth like fish breaking the surface of a pond. They reunited with enthusiasm, as if time had parted them for an eternity. A surge of curiosity overcame him, compelling Lest to venture outside.

Stepping into the pre-dawn darkness, Lest observed the sky gradually lightening as dawn approached. The craglins moved about him, their forms passing through him like he was an unyielding tree in their path.

Adorned in armor fashioned from solid tree bark, meticulously laced with twined vines, they wore helmets crafted from wood husks that hugged their heads. Lacking the weapons of the Wildaron soldiers, Lest's keen eyes noticed the pouches affixed to their belts.

Some craglins pushed carts laden with freshly cut branches, adorned with leaves that emitted a gentle glow. Lest marveled at these unfamiliar specimens of foliage, perplexed by their origin. A voice chimed in from behind him.

"Those branches come from the sun trees," the voice revealed. Lest turned to find a young male craglin, his countenance hinting at a similar age to Lest's own or perhaps even younger. He was garbed in an oversized, weathered jade tunic, crowned by a wooden armor overlay. "I'm Pyla," he introduced himself, addressing Lest's unspoken query. Lest's curiosity was swiftly piqued. "And these sun trees, where might one find them?" he inquired.

Pyla's response was swift and informative. "Sun trees are nestled within the heart of the dense forest of Emerald Coast," he revealed. "We utilize their radiant branches for lantern lights and as kindling to ignite fires," Pyla explained, shedding light on their practical applications. Lest's curiosity persisted, prompting another query. "But how is it that these branches don't ignite the wooden carts or other materials around them?" he wondered aloud.

A hearty laugh escaped Pyla's lips as he responded, dispelling the mystery. "They don't readily combust on their own. You must rip them to a bundle of tinder to start a fire," he clarified.

"My name is Lest, by the way," Lest introduced himself. Pyla responded, "Oh yes, I'm aware. You've been staying in our place, along with the enchanting young lady." Lest felt a flush of embarrassment, surrounded by so many craglins whose identities he was oblivious to. "I apologize," he stammered, flustered. "I've been preoccupied with looking after Elly and I—"

Pyla interjected, "No need to fret. I've been mostly confined to my chamber anyway."

Lest sighed in relief at the understanding response. "So, you're Wolder's son?" Lest inquired, seeking confirmation. Pyla nodded, "Indeed, I'm the seventh of my parents' twenty children." Lest's eyes widened in realization. The overcrowding within Wolder's home now made sense. He had assumed Wolder held a significant position among the craglins, thus having numerous attendants at his service.

As their conversation flowed, Lest's attention was drawn to a peculiar sight. A group of craglins was herding a distinctive creature in their direction. They are taken back to their pens. These animals resembled boars, boasting massive tusks protruding from their mouths. Their furless skin exhibited shades of violet, adorned with light red speckles. Leafy, scale-like armor adorned their necks, extending down their backs. These creatures, roughly the size of common cows, were unmistakably bulugans.

Recognition dawned on Lest; he had encountered them before, but only as conjured beasts plowing the fields. To witness them in the flesh stirred his fascination.

"Is this your first seeing them?" Pyla inquired. Lest nodded, his gaze still entranced by the creatures passing by. "Bulugans possess the most exquisite milk," Pyla informed him. Lest's memory echoed with the image of Remo, Elly's father, conjuring a bulugan to combat a red riful—a 3-foot bear with blood fur and ash belly spots—that had been ravaging their crops. The relentless charges of the bulugan left the riful defeated.