A Whisper of Night

12.2 || MAJAEYRA ❄️

           

The City was at least five times larger than Wayra Peak, made entirely of wood and stone. Some houses twisted around trees, connected by bridges of wooden planks. Lanterns glowed faintly from the trees, casting a rosy golden glow on the wood.

"Let's find a pub," said the Priest.

"You drink?" Brennia said.

"No," the Priest said, affronted, "but I do know that alcohol loosens a man's tongue...not by experience, of course."

"Of course," muttered Brennia, rolling her eyes. Jae almost laughed.

Men, women, and children alike looked up at them, their eyes wide with curiosity. Jae could sense Brennia's uneasiness as the city scrutinized them.

"Elvesoet's beautiful," Jae said, trying to break the silence.

"It is," the Priest agreed. "Legend says that elves built it, before humans took over - that's how the houses weave themselves around the trees so naturally."

"Hm." Jae had never put much store by the myths of elves and mythical creatures. Supposedly, in the highest chamber of Svanheld Palace, a wyvern egg resided, but that door was always locked, and she wasn't about to break a lock for something that probably didn't exist.

They passed an enormous structure. The stench of horse and dung reeked from within, and Jae could hear the whickers and whinnies of horses.

"The largest stables in all of Wyaernos," the Priest said.

"And all the horses are crammed in there?" Jae said quietly.

"Of course, not - they're let out for fresh air. Ah. Here we go." The Priest stopped before one of the larger wood structures. Its doors were open, carrying out the sounds of music and laughter atop the smoky scent of fire and wine.

"Are you sure?" Brennia said.

"Of course," the Priest said simply. He headed inside. Jae glanced over her shoulder at the stables, then followed.

The inside was crowded, so full of smoke that Jae resisted the urge to choke as she forced her way past tables of men and women. She felt light-headed again.

"Mind if I sit here?" the Priest said to a group of men. He had slid the hood off his head, revealing a head of scraggly hair. He looked just like a normal traveler.

One of the men shrugged. "Go ahead."

Jae and Brennia took their seats by the Priest.

"Where do y'all come from?" said another man. "Never seen you around here."

"The East," the Priest lied smoothly. "We came from Seahorse Harbor. We're heading to Husling City, to see the games."

Another man laughed. "To Husling? The games are already over there! The caravan's headed for Sapainya next. They've got a few new slaves, last I heard."

"Of course they'd get new ones," the Priest said, "considering how many get killed at each game. Say, what news is there about the Princess Brennia?"

Brennia flinched at her name, but thankfully stayed silent.

"Oh, same old, same old," the man said. "The Lion Queen's been going mad. She doesn't even care about the dragon egg being stolen."

"Hm," said the Priest. "I heard there was disease in Svanvald, too?"

The first man laughed. "You're a bit slow, aren't ya? The Prince Verradaen's taken all his men to Stromvald. He means to marry Princess Lorelei. I've heard quite a few rumors about that lady...and about him, too. I don't envy either of them."

Jae's eyes were wide. No...he couldn't have...all the men? She'd heard of Princess Lorelei's Maidendance, but she'd never have expected Verradaen to participate. Then again, he'd had more than a month to assemble his men.

The Priest cursed under his breath.

"What?" Jae said quietly.

He leaned over to her, his voice barely audible "The Lion Queen won't take us kindly after Verradaen's betrayal. Not even if we have her daughter."

"Beer!" hollered someone from the door of the tavern. The entire hall fell silent, turning towards the entrance.

A beefy man stood in the doorway, busy tucking his cloak beneath his arm.

"Could that be?" said one of the men, his eyes wide with disbelief. "That's..."

"...the Brown Bear," finished another.

"Who?" Brennia said.

"The slaver, girl," the man said. "He's in charge of the games. He has a network of spies he uses to catch slaves."

    What games? Jae wanted to say, but she knew better than to ask.

    "Actually, I'll need twenty beers," bellowed the Brown Bear. "My whelps did well today - they need some rewardin'. Came all the way up from Husling City."

    In strode a chain of young men, all wearing rags, shackles around their wrists and ankles.

    Jae studied each slave as they went by. Their shoulder blades seemed to stab through their skin, and their eyes were downcast and sullen, terrifyingly empty....

    A slave in the middle of the chain caught her eye. She had a round face and large feminine eyes and, undeniably, breasts....

    Jae nudged the Priest's arm. "What kinds of games do they play?" she asked.

    "War," he said solemnly. "They fight against each other, against animals...it's gruesome."

    "But are girls supposed to be part of them?"

    The Priest frowned. "Of course not. Girls never make it through the games."

"Then what is that girl doing there?" she said, pointing at the young woman. "She's a girl, right?" At this point, she wouldn't be surprised if her vision was failing her - her head was pounding with exhaustion.

Then Brennia gasped.

"That is a girl," she said, her voice hushed. "That's my handmaid. Zalyne."

~~

Now, THIS ending is what I call a cliffhanger.

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