The Cursed Insignia

Chapter 4: And then It finally shows

Chapter 4 – And then It finally shows

I remained rooted to the ground as I thought of the mysterious words Jonah had left me with. I was going to see him soon? If he was going to visit me during his trip to Silaz once again, he’d be disappointed that my family wouldn’t be here anymore. And why did he tell me to not fret? Was I too obvious earlier on? Or maybe he’s just too full of himself, that’s why he thought that. Why the heck would I fret anyway?

Before I could give myself a splitting headache from the intensive thinking, I decided that it would be best if I started looking for my parents now. It might help me forget that weird stranger.

I began walking back to the crowd. People had dispersed, not congested in the middle of the city anymore, which makes it easier to move around. It also meant that the speech of the priestess had concluded. Usually, I would have watched Lena from beginning to end of the speech, but I couldn’t do it earlier on. And I was beginning to regret it. I wouldn’t see her until next year’s festival, provided that she’s still alive next year. I don’t even know how long my family was going to be away from Silaz, or whether we were coming back at all.

What if she dies and I was still away in another city, with no way of me finding out? I brushed the depressing thought off. Of course, the death of the priestess of the capital city of Rolanda would spread around fast, specially the strongest one that has ever lived. I took comfort in that reassuring fact.

I paused to watch a group of performers who were showcasing their talents. From their clothes that looked out of place, I can only assume that they originate from another city. Or maybe from even out of the country.

Foreigners were a rarity, even on such joyous festivals, specially performing ones. The thought that maybe they are indeed people from outside Rolanda made me stick around. They were wearing nothing but loincloths. One of them was shoving a longsword down his throat, without a single sign that he was being harmed by it. I can only imagine his internal organs being grazed by the sharp ends of the sword. Two of his companions threw a fat man in the air. The fat man somersaulted in the air, without any difficulty, landing nicely on the hilt of the sword that was still in the mouth of their companion.

As if that wasn’t enough, the fat man began jumping up and down. I felt my eyes bulging wide in shock. What the heck is happening? Shouldn’t he drop dead by now? After awhile, the fat man got off the sword, and I let out a huge sigh of relief when I saw that the man with the sword in his mouth was still breathing. He carefully slid the sword out of his mouth, waving it in the air like a prized possession. Surprisingly, not a single trace of blood was found on the sword. Amazing.

Whoever else could get out of that unscathed?

The appetising smell of barbecued fish wafting in the air pulled me out of my motionless state of admiration for the performers. It wasn’t just any fish, it was my favourite: Leron fish. I don’t know why the taste of fishes from Leron appeals to my taste buds more, when fishes are supposedly bred in the same water. It has that sweet and unique taste.

As if on cue, my stomach growled in protest. I dug through my pockets for spare change, but all it contained was the handkerchief Jonah had given me. My hands involuntarily traced the bump of the pendant of the necklace I was wearing. Nobody would accept this as payment for barbecued fishes. Where the hell were my parents when I needed them the most?

Since I had no money to buy from the stall, I decided to just walk away dejected. I will come back for you fishes, when I find my mother, I told the fishes silently as I watched them being turned on a metal grill burning red with hot charcoals underneath. But before I could completely turn away from the tantalising smell, a cloaked figure had paid the plum woman who was managing the stall as the figure pointed to where I stood.