Threads of Vengeance

Part 1 Chapter 3

Docks, Megar

It was nearly dawn when Gurak limped back to the small run down building he called home. A passing breeze swept through, further messing up a dishevelled mop of hair that had grown long and matted over the years. A beard of sorts hung loosely on his chin.

The door was opened when he arrived. He did not remember leaving it open, but then again, there were few things he remembered. That was why he drank, to forget. It had been years since anyone had last seen him sober. He always drank through the nights and slept through the day.

When he staggered inside his house the stench of urine and vomit arose. He ignored it in his drunken stupor and went to the cot. It was the only piece of furniture in the five by ten foot room. It was also the only clean part of the room. Relatively of course.

“How you manage to stay in there, I'll never know,” a voice said.

Gurak turned around to see a muscular, bald man in the doorway.

“Whoo arre yyou,” he slurred.

The bald man ignored the question. “Captain Gurak. Once hero of Heran. Who would have guessed he was now just a drunkard by the docks?”

“He ish dead now. Drink... to... forgget,” mumbled the drunk.

“You drink to forget?” The bald man seemed amused. “What do you wish to forget? “Your days of glory that are long gone? The country that betrayed you? Or your son who was killed?”

“Get out!” snarled Gurak.

“The wife that left you for another is that whom you want to forget then? Or perhaps your dear daughter who went missing?”

“OUT!!!” He drunkenly swung his fist at the bald man who stepped away looking more amused than anything. Losing his balance he stumbled.The bald man kicked out at Gurak's legs who promptly wound up on the ground. He laughed and aimed one more kick at Gurak's ribs. As he struggled to get up something struck him in the back of the head. He fell, into darkness.

                                                                       * * *

When Gurak woke up, he was greeted by a splitting headache and a parched throat. He slowly opened his eyes. The world was blurry. He waited, taking deep breaths till clarity came back. He was in a well furnished large room with silk draped around the furniture and expensive ornaments hung all around. He got up, wincing as the weight fell on his bad leg. His head spun and he retched all over what seemed to be an expensive carpet.

Just then a plump aged woman appeared through the door..

“You're the guest?” she asked, disgust written clearly all over her face. She looked around the room suspiciously.

“Oh god, you've ruined the carpets! Do you know hard it is to get it clean? I wonder what the master wants with a dirty beggar from the streets. Now come along we have to get you cleaned up before you meet him.” she dragged him into a bathroom. He mutely followed, too tired to say anything.

She called in a horde of servants who put him into a boiling hot scented bath and scrubbed the skin off of his body. The water that was clear before he entered turn muddy brown when they where done. The plump woman ordered one servant to take his clothes away.

“Burn them” she said. “ And don't let anyone near the smoke!”

His hair was cut short and beard shaved revealing a square handsome jaw. He was dressed in a dark blue clothing that matched his eyes of the same colour.

“Much better,” the woman eyeing him up and down. “Follow me.”

He did, limping slowly after her. She led him around the large mansion. There were stairs everywhere. He had always hated stairs from childhood. Back then it was the scene of many accidents and broken bones. Now it was simply a chore to climb. With every step a jolt of pain would shoot up his bad leg. He picked up a jug of water from the tray of a passing maid.

“Put that back mister! And don't touch anything, you've already ruined enough things for a week.” his guide snapped.

“I'm thirsty," he said, scowling. He put it back anyway. Eventually they made it to the meeting room.

An enormous whale of a man in golden robes that were closer to a sewn tent than anything sat drinking what looked like wine on a wide divan.

“Ah Captain Gurak there you are, have a seat!” the man said, his jowls swung when he spoke.”I hope you had a goodnight's sleep.”

Gurak sat down opposite to the fat man. “I didn't know being out cold qualifies as a good night’s sleep.”

“I keep telling my man to be a bit more gentle.” The enormous man shrugged. “He never learns.”

“Get Captain here something to drink” he instructed the plump woman. “No alcohol though, I can't have him drunk.”

“You must be wondering who I am,” he said turning to Gurak. “My name is Oman. I am an officer for the bank. I manage things here at Megar. You are here, because we need your help.”

“What are you going to do if I say no?” Gurak shrugged. “One more body in the ocean? I couldn't care less.”

“Come, come. Don't be that way, hear me out. You'll change your mind fast enough”

A servant entered and handed Gurak a red liquid. He sipped it. Pomegranate, A bit too sweet for his liking, but he took another sip anyway.

”I hope its to your liking.” Oman smiled. “Well then, down to matters. First I need to update you on current affairs. I doubt you kept in touch when you were... intoxicated.”

Oman continued. “First you should know the emperor died the year before this one. He seat was taken by his daughter. When the Union came to know about this they started planning war.”

“So where's the problem? They've been at each others necks for what, a hundred of years now?”

“Do you know how they select the new ruler in the empire, Captain?” Oman lifted a delicate eyebrow quizzically.

Gurak took a sip. “No.”

“I thought as much. The emperor makes children with several women. Those of them that are older than 16 years of age will fall upon one another until only one  remains standing.”

“And?”

“The current empress is now nineteen years of age. In less than two years she murdered all her siblings that, is a feat unheard of.”

“Maybe she cheated,” Gurak said thoughtfully.

“Oh she definitely did. They all do it. Every single one of them and that’s where the problem lies. Just imagine. Children plotting and killing their siblings from birth without getting caught. Asuras, thats what they are.” He shuddered and took a gulp of his wine.

“It is too risky to go to war now. There are far too many variables. The bank is spread all over, but if the Union goes to war, we will be expected to give out loans. Something we don't want, at the moment. And that, is where you come in.”

Gurak stared incredulously, “You want me to stop a war?!”

“Oh no, no. Nothing as impossible as all that. Mazan the man who currently leads the Union is tad mysterious. We want you to find out  just why it is that he hides his past. That is all.”

Gurak finished his drink and got up. “Go to hell.”

Oman smiled widely  and leaned forward “I can tell you where your daughter is.”

Gurak slowly sat back down.