FALAHA'S JOURNEY 2: Graveyard of the Gods

Episode #28

Bradoh exited dive in the vast hall of Yajur Garai's main Enclave. Numerous Baali welcomed our arrival with a salute, lining up near the walls of the hall. Yajur Garai, sporting his regal shanra pattern, was approaching the machine in person. Orewen opened the hatch, helping me to climb down. Then he followed, still in his full armored suit, wary of the air composition in Garai's ship. When his data showed normal range of breathable atmospheres, he unfolded his helmet, showing his face.

"Welcome to my ship, Falaha Yajur Sangu," Yajur Garai spoke, towering above us. "Welcome, Orewen Fargann, Second spouse to Falaha and younger brother to my favored Anika-nii. She asked me to send you two her regards, if we met."

Orewen, nodding to the greeting, messaged me, "What's a nii for a Baal? I get the translation, but what is it exactly?"

Can be many things. I touched his soma. Battle-sister, starlord, blood-bearer. Maybe all three together.

Orewen coughed. "Blood-bearer? As in... child-bearer?"

I grinned. You should ask Anika herself. She had slept with Garai many times. Whether she decided to make you an uncle once again, I have no idea. But she likes powerful things, so. Shaamta is Dorgu's ani and Dorgu is Shamta's ani, so it might be simply a degree of family relationship as well. Hard to tell, I need to look into his mind to say for sure what he implies. And replied to Garai, "Thank you for your warm welcome, Yajur. And for help with our little predicament. Fighting off those remnants would make things messy for us. I hope you understand my situation well."

"I do, Falaha Yajur Sangu. I also got word from Yajur Draagalla that you have repaired Yajur Shendala's broken mind."

"Well, we've met. So I did what I could to help him. He was in great pain and swallowed by grief and rage."

Yajur Garai lowered on one knee and bowed to me. "Thank you." When he rose to his feet and straightened his back again, I noticed his eyes tearing up a bit, which he tried to suppress. "Shendala had suffered for a long time. Our Motherworlds were in terror as well while it lasted. It's finally over. So I will ask again, Falaha Yajur Sangu. Will you agree to become our Sangu?"

My heart skipped a beat, and I subconsciously grabbed Orewen's hand, squeezing it hard. It was the question I wanted to avoid at all costs. But Garai went straight for it, hitting right where it hurt the most. Orewen looked at me and held my hand tight. "I shall give you the answer, but not right now, Yajur Garai."

"Very well, Falaha Yajur Sangu. I shall wait." He offered me his large, clawed hand. "Now, come, let us accommodate you two while you wait for your crew."

I released Orewen's palm and placed my hand into Garai's. At my Danna size I was so tiny compared to him. Well, I was a shorty even for a Danna. Curse this size! I exhaled and shifted to my Baalat form, my explorer shanra pattern flourishing on my skin once again. At this size I could compensate for our size differences, though he still was huge.

"Come, Ore," I said. "Let us have a rest and eat something while we wait." I grabbed his hand and allowed Yajur Garai to lead us into the depths of his Enclave.

We were shown to a large room with soft cushions and floor-level bedding to rest and maybe take a nap.

When Garai was leaving, he asked, "What would you like to eat?"

"Meat and fresh fruit," I replied. "And something cooked for Orewen. Though he can eat raw, he still prefers cooked food."

"Understood," Yajur replied. "I shall make arrangements and will join you shortly for a meal." And with that he left us alone for a while.

I crawled onto the cushions, inviting Ore to follow.

"So Garai persists, eh?" he said. "To get you as their Sangu."

"I need to gather my thoughts and proceed with the plan I have in mind for that option."

"What plan?" Orewen asked, sitting on the bedding by my side.

"To make Shaamta do this job instead of me."

"Pfft!" Orewen chuckled. "Is that even possible?"

I chuckled as well. "Baro was the one who had suggested it first."

"I don't say it is technically impossible, Falaha. But as the stars are aligned now, it is impossible. I don't know what reasoning one must apply to make the Baali see things your way. Didn't Baro tell you what his reasoning would be for this to happen? Thought so!"

I laughed. "Wait, wait, I didn't even ask them for Varga's big ship yet."

"And didn't Shaamta begged you to take him with you to the Nest? How would he serve as a Sangu if he's away?"

"Same as me. Not present. On the other hand, if I agree to Garai's request, I will get a way to get that big ship. The Baali follow their Sangu, so they will be forced to follow my desire to find the Nest. Plus, a free big army of supporters."

"And, basically, loss of freedom, so to say." Orewen shook his head.

"Freedom of a Sangu depends on how you show yourself out there. If a nest of the Baali sees no weakness, they will follow. If they see a clear opportunity to get stronger, they will follow. Shaamta can make them strong, but he still lacks the opportunities I can deliver. That's why he might serve only as a temporal solution to fill the vacancy. Which is not what the Avlaora Baali want."

"So you are going to agree to Garai's request then?" Orewen asked, serious. His large palm covered mine and caressed it.

"Yes," I replied. "But I'm going to play my own game. After all, I'm a Danna. And we are a very stubborn lot. Plus, I'll get a chance to keep Shaamta at a distance. For our family's sake. But before that happens, I shall gather everyone: our crew, Garai, Draagalla, Shendala and Varga himself. And I will get everything on my terms, or everyone gets nothing at all."