Chains of Vengeance

Chapter 46: The Narinder Deal

Narinder had an unusually quiet night, so much so that even dreams didn't disturb his rest. However, upon waking, he didn't feel the peace he longed for. He got out of his enormous bed without even taking the time to groom his fur, something he usually did as part of his morning ritual. He simply left the house, leaving behind the warmth of the blankets, and headed straight to the missionaries' cabin.

Upon arrival, he found the two remaining missionaries, the dove and the ox, already back from their mission. They had completed their task, and a pile of bones was stacked in front of the cabin, ready to be used in the cult's rituals. Narinder nodded slightly, acknowledging their work without needing words, and approached Kitty's body. He sighed deeply upon seeing her there, still motionless and cold, her small, fragile body surrounded by the darkness that death brought.

—At least you deserve respect... —murmured Narinder, carefully wrapping her in bandages, preparing her for burial. It wasn't a gesture he usually made, but something inside him told him that Kitty deserved more than mere forgetfulness.

Narinder didn't see his brother anywhere near the missionaries' cabin. Leshy wasn't there, and Narinder didn't bother looking for him. He simply shrugged, pushing aside any thoughts related to him. He had other, more important things on his mind than worrying about Leshy's emotional state.

With Kitty wrapped, Narinder took her to bury her in the cult's cemetery. He did so in silence, without ceremonies, but with a touch of solemnity that only he understood. After covering the small body with earth, he stood for a moment, watching the ground.

After a brief pause, Narinder returned to his daily tasks. First, he went to the garden, gathering the food that the cultists had planted. Fresh fruits and vegetables filled his hands, enough to feed the cult for a few more days. Then, he moved on to the infants' area, where the youngest members of the cult waited to receive their lessons. Although Narinder wasn't particularly patient with them, he understood the importance of their education. He spoke to them about the significance of power and survival, about how devotion was the only true currency in their world. The children listened, some frightened, others fascinated by their leader's words.

Finally, Narinder headed to the kitchen, where he began preparing the recipes for the day. Although he worked quickly, each dish carried a touch of mastery, a calculated precision. His hands moved almost mechanically, but his mind wandered, occupied with deeper thoughts. The cult was functioning well, but something troubled him, something that had been nagging at him since the previous night.

As he walked toward the central statue to gather the devotion of his followers, something unexpected caught his attention. The confessional, a building that was almost never used, was occupied. Narinder frowned, puzzled. Who would be there? Slowly, he approached, feeling a slight curiosity. It was rare for anyone to venture to confess something in his cult, where fear and power ruled more than guilt or penance.

Upon entering the confessional, Narinder took his place and spoke —Speak, my cultist, your god will listen to your words —said Narinder, his voice laden with the authority that always accompanied him.

When the response came, Narinder could hardly believe it. Leshy's voice, once proud and defiant, now sounded weak, broken, as if he had lost everything that once defined him.

—I'm ready to make a deal —Leshy said, his tone barely a whisper. Narinder could hear the desperation hidden in those words—. Revive Kitty and I'll tell you where my relic is.

Narinder's eyes widened. He hadn't expected his brother to yield so easily, much less offer something as valuable as the location of his relic. The instinct of suspicion grew within him, but he couldn't let that opportunity slip away.

—Tell me the location first —ordered Narinder, his breath barely contained by excitement—. I'm not the one with a history of betrayals here.

Leshy clenched his fists on the other side of the confessional. Narinder couldn't see him, but he felt his internal struggle, his pain. For Leshy, delivering that information meant surrendering his last defense, the only thing he had left. However, the desire to see Kitty once more consumed him.

—Just... bring her back to life, please —Leshy begged, each word weaker than the last—. I want to be able to talk to her.

Narinder didn't respond immediately, savoring the power he had over his brother. He took pleasure in seeing Leshy in that state, so weak and broken. He had waited for this moment for a long time, the absolute submission of his younger brother.

Leshy took a deep breath, knowing there was no turning back.

—One hundred twenty steps west of the entrance to my temple —he finally said, his voice more broken than it had ever been—, there is a great cave, covered in camellia flowers. That's where my eye is.

Narinder smiled wickedly, that dark and dangerous smile that only a god could wear. Finally, he had it. The location of the relic, the power he had longed for. He had won, and Leshy had lost everything. In that moment, Narinder knew his victory was total.

—It's my victory! —Narinder thought, pleased with his triumph.

Narinder left the confessional without saying another word, his mind absorbed in the possibility of obtaining the power Leshy had kept hidden all this time. He walked quickly toward the exit of the temple, but his pace soon quickened, his feet moving almost by instinct. He felt the excitement bubbling in his chest as he headed for the portal that would take him to Darkwood.

The air in Darkwood was cold, but Narinder barely noticed. With each step, his determination grew, and the image of the camellia-covered cave, Leshy's description, repeated in his mind. "Could it be a trap?" The thought crossed his mind briefly, but he dismissed it with a dark smile. "It doesn't matter. If it's a trap, Leshy will pay for it, but if it's not, the power will be mine."

Upon reaching the portal, Narinder barely paused to catch his breath. He entered Darkwood, feeling the adrenaline coursing through his veins, the anticipation of what he was about to find fueling every fiber of his being.

Meanwhile, in the cult, Leshy collapsed to the ground, no longer holding his staff between his fingers. He couldn't cry physically, but his mind, his spirit, was completely breaking. He felt empty, defenseless, as if his last refuge had been ripped away from him. He had surrendered the only thing that still gave him a sense of power, all for the chance to bring someone else back. Kitty.

Leshy was shattered, knowing that Narinder would never let that opportunity slip away, and he... he was utterly lost.