Chains of Vengeance

Chapter 89: Plotting the Future

The rest of the day became a chaotic choreography between Shamura and the cultists. Some followed him like shadows, watching his every step as he wandered around the compound, lost in his own world, talking nonstop about times past. Often, Shamura would stop to tell little stories about mundane events, like meetings with Kallamar to discuss planting new seeds, or how Heket always insisted on adjusting the size of his ceremonial attire. Other times, he would simply hum songs that resonated like old melodies from the past, filled with a nostalgic innocence that the cultists didn't know how to interpret.

Every now and then, Shamura would walk into dangerous places, and the cultists would quickly rush to guide him in another direction. Although they tried to maintain their composure, some couldn't help but laugh softly at the peculiar behavior of their god's brother, while others exchanged worried glances, wondering what Narinder would think about this whole scene.

Narinder, for his part, had taken a moment to breathe and headed to the prison where he kept Jalala. There she was, her expression hardened and her hands trapped in the wooden stocks, with a mixture of determination and anger that had not disappeared since her capture. Narinder walked over with a calm step and observed Jalala, a proud prisoner, defiant despite her situation. He decided to start a conversation, partly to clear his mind of the dark thoughts he had had that morning, and partly to see if there was any opening in her.

"Aren't you tired of all this?" Narinder asked, almost in a whisper. "The Lamb was your leader, but... all your prayers, even the Lamb's, were for me. You could accept my faith, and live in peace."

Jalala's response was immediate, filled with indignation and the same conviction as always.

"The Lamb was my god and you are not!" she snapped, a spark of defiance in her voice.

Narinder watched her in silence, maintaining a neutral expression that revealed little of his thoughts. However, without another word, he pulled a tomato out of his pocket, holding it between his fingers for a moment. Jalala's gaze filled with discomfort and fear at the sight of the fruit, as if the blow brought back bad memories.

And without warning, Narinder smashed the tomato against her face, spreading juice and seeds everywhere. The impact of the fruit exploding on her face broke the tense atmosphere, painting a strangely absurd scene, and at the same time, loaded with a dark humor that Narinder silently enjoyed as he watched Jalala's reaction.

Narinder walked through the cult, observing each group of cultists at their tasks. Instead of the usual efficiency and cadence of work he was used to seeing, however, everything seemed in disarray. The mines were half-empty, the lumber quarries were piled high with unprocessed piles, and the refineries, which normally hummed with the sound of tools and furnaces, were eerily quiet. The farms were in chaos as well, with plots left untended and plants that looked like they needed urgent attention. His followers had been too busy chasing Shamura and making sure he didn't get into trouble.

Narinder stopped and took a deep breath, watching as some of the exhausted but smiling cultists continued to watch over his brother, watching his every move. A small part of him was tempted to reprimand them, to demand that they return to their tasks and keep order in the cult. But, looking at Shamura's playful, peaceful expression, he was reminded that there was a higher priority at the moment.

"Let him do the work, for now," she thought to herself, with a mixture of resolve and gentleness. She knew that, even if the work was delayed, it was far more valuable to keep Shamura comfortable and calm, creating an atmosphere of security that might, at the right moment, bring a flash of lucidity to his fractured mind.

"The work can wait," he muttered to himself as he continued walking, watching his followers with a look that let them know he understood and, for the moment, approved of the situation.