The Vengeful Tide Ch. 45

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There was a harsh silence spread over the area. I looked at Alteria as she clenched her fists, the weight of agony and sorrow threatening to consume the very essence of her being. She looked away from me, perhaps hoping that I’d not see the tears streaming down the side of her face. I knew not what I could say to such a declaration. Such a story would have made any Draegnarian laugh under different circumstances, yet laughter was too far removed from my lips when I bore witness to such a humiliated gaze. It must have sickened her to confide in me of all people, yet there was no one else to help her.

After a while, I scratched my rough chin. “So that’s why you looked so much like the queen when I gazed upon her. Then, that would mean that you share blood with the Crown Prince and his sister, aye?” I asked.

Alteria bit her lip, but finally, she sighed. “Yes. They know it, and they detest me for it like so many others do. They are just better at hiding it than everyone else. Yet, their gaze stings the most. The words hurt, the slaps hurt, but their eyes hurt the most. It is a gaze that sees me no higher than the worms that dig through the soil. It is a gaze that sees me when I am needed and thinks I don’t exist at all anywhere else. No matter what I do, no matter how loyal my heart tries to be to the empire, it… it is never enough to make them notice that I am not a threat, that I am more than what my birth purposed for me. I wish to be, but I wonder if I ever shall be,” she said, turning her back to me.

Unsurprisingly, I sensed the aura of An’raie slowly surge from within me. Even I couldn’t help feeling a measure of pity for Alteria. There was something of a kindred spirit in the Hæňgaramian knight that made me sympathize with her. For I’d known such a gaze many times in my own life.

“‘Tis the sins of her father that she might bear such a burden from her own people. Perhaps it was easier to deal with when she was away from the growing hostility of her people while she was aboard thine ship. Added to the increasing unrest of the nation as they prepare for war, the usually stern gazes turned more violent as tempers and emotions flared. They turned their frustrations against the only one they could reach,” An’raie said to me.

I watched Alteria pick up her sword, staring at its beautiful sheen with a hint of longing in her eyes that I knew I’d have to correct immediately. Were I to leave it there, she’d be lulled right back into the embrace of death.

“Yet, you said supposedly. It be as if you heard two or three separate tales of the encounter. What made you say that?” I asked.

Her silence was a bit of a blessing for me as it gave me the time to quickly peruse Liara’s memories. On the daily, she’d received numerous knowledge regarding the current happenings around D’orn and the realms thanks to the numerous workers employed under her. More often than not, they presented the information to Goron who in turn presented it to her.

I found a memory about Alteria’s supposed history with Goron telling Liara that Thellka Balamar had become pregnant with a child not of the emperor. The culprit, her father, had been sentenced to the lowest part of the Hæňgaramian prisons where he’d been constantly punished for his transgression.

It apparently sparked enough intrigue in Liara that she’d stationed a few men there to uncover more of the issue. As Alteria spoke, I began to understand that Liara had too discovered this side of the tale. Though my eyes slowly widened in surprise as I delved further and further into the memory, Alteria’s words matching it perfectly.

“My father too was a member of the Balamar family. He was set to be the head of the family, and his sister to be the wife of the emperor. Many don’t know this, but in the history of the empire, it was the Balamar family who was the first to side with the first king of the lands before Hæňgaram even existed. Supposedly, His Majesty, Lord Aldwyn, is a descendant of the first king which is why many rallied behind him when he started creating his empire. The first king promised and swore upon the land that whether there was King, Emperor, or Ruling Authority, a Balamar would always rule as Queen to the Majesty. Though the land is hardly a kingdom anymore, it’s a tradition that the Emperor fully believed in,” she said.

Aye, that was sort of true. I went through another memory and found one of King Galrik. He wasn’t the first king, but he was as far back as Liara’s allowed me to go. He had a Balamar wife named Nanilip. They were claimed to be married by a great tradition as a show of trust for the good fortune presented to them by the Goddess Illum, who Lumnina would replace over the next two thousand years. A few believed Illum and Lumnina to be the same person, but others believed them to be sisters, Illum born to divinity and Lumnina born a mortal who would achieve her divinity later.

I wasn’t sure how true this was as Liara never had a record of Lumnina speaking of Illum in any çeşme escort way, shape, or form. Either way, Alteria spoke the truth.

“Of course, not even Balamar honored this forced tradition. There had been a few black scrolls of those who ran away to escape the marriage, especially to be with another loved one. Unfortunately, that didn’t happen to my parents. Theirs was a love that was doomed from the start. My father loved my mother, his sister, as a man loves a woman. As I’ve seen you with your mother. He loved her with all his heart and she loved him too. When they were old enough, they immediately consummated their union. They would rule the Balamar family together. However, it wasn’t meant to be,” she said.

I stepped forward. “When she was old enough, your mother, Thellka, learned that she would become the wife of the emperor, the wind taken out of her sails, and the treasure to be stolen out of your father’s hands. I take it he didn’t much appreciate that,” I answered, standing next to Lady Knight. She continued to hold her head down, almost afraid of looking at anything else.

“Indeed, he did. However, it was their duty. The Balamar family was known for its regard to duty. My father spent night after night searching through articles to keep my mother away from the hands of another man. All while my mother silently wept as her father, my grandsire, prepared and trained her to wait on the hand of the Emperor. My father was almost willing to do anything to not make it happen, yet the years drew closer and their time together started coming to an end. Yet, they still loved each other. In tragedy, they poured their hearts to each as they slept together, trying to get as much time as they could. Perhaps it was the Will of Lumnina that they not be granted anymore,” she said with a pause as I looked at her. She started to tremble, lifting her head to moon, sweat pouring down her face along with her tears.

“My grandfather left on a trip but returned earlier than expected. He wanted to share news with my father. He caught them… in the midst of their act. Had things stayed the same, my mother would have been burned at the stake and my father would have been boiled in hot oil. Instead, my father…” she stood, gritting her teeth and unwilling to continue the story.

She didn’t need to. I’d figured it out. “He put on a fucking grand play that ruined the might of his name, but left the lass’ intact. They took him and we ready to execute him for defiling your mother, but your mother refused to see him die lest she follow after him. She pleaded them to spare him despite his ‘crime’ and threw him in the lowest prison. I assume that was the night you were conceived,” I said.

“Yes. Royal mages offered to alleviate her suffering of me, but she wouldn’t allow it. No one understood why she would keep a scarred memory, but I was told she sang songs to me and read me stories while I slept with her. She soothed me with lullabies and walked about with the greatest smile on her face. When the emperor found out, he allowed it. I was never told why, but then I was born, shouldering the hate of those who knew no better all on a story I’d heard from my father himself. All from the man who told me to not hate my countrymen for his sake, for the sake of what love he had left for the empire,” she said.

Now that I hadn’t anticipated. I’d assumed someone else had told her but never thought she’d learn from him herself. I had a lot more questions, but Alteria didn’t seem like she could hold fast to them. In fact, she dropped to the ground.

“And I killed him. A mask of magic shrouded my father’s face and I slew him with my sword in front of the Crown Prince and yet, he… he did not curse me. He did not blame me. Instead, he loved me. He loved me just as he loved my mother. T-That’s why I can’t find any worth in living. I have nothing left!” she said, no longer caring that I was the one she’d fallen to pieces in front of.

As a Draegnarian, I knew not how to properly comfort such sorrowful wailing. Even An’raie had grown silent while the strong Hæňgaramian turned into a simple woman sailing for more, but not finding any gleaming treasure. All I could do, all I thought was to take my coat and throw it over her head so that none, myself included, would see her brokenness. Though my ears heard, my eyes saw not.

I hadn’t counted how long Alteria cried for. Instead, An’raie and I continued to sit, or float, there as the night drew long. However, Alteria slowly stopped her wailing, preferring to stay under the darkness of my coat where none could see her.

After a time, I finally spoke. “Aye, parents. Draegnarians used to tell that there ain’t no better gambler in the highest realms or the lowest hells than a fucking parent. Whether they succeed or fail, they leave their bastards with the burden after they be gone. Even when they be alive, they can be molded from the toughest stone that makes you wonder if there başakşehir escort be any flesh underneath at all. And yet, still they fucking instill in you all that they can in some way to make sure you ain’t gonna be the fuck up that they were, to improve upon what came before, to be granted the freedom to carve your own path and sail the seas of your own life. Should my children pass, I wish them to pass in a different manner from me for that shall be the proof that they were more like me than either of us knew,” I replied as I stood, remembering my children who were no longer living.

I cursed Alteria for she’d made me remember them and the fact that I’d likely never see them again. While they were bastards and bitches born of my foolhardy mistakes more often than not, I still loved the little shits all the same. I’d grand them all the treasure of the realms if I could. I wondered what stigma they must have faced being tied to the name of the most powerful pirate to sail the seas of D’orn. Perhaps I’d never know now.

“Whether you wish to live or not, the last person who can give you an answer would be me. Though if you feel there be nothing left to live for, then venture out and discover what shall. Though your military might think otherwise, there be more to D’orn than the empire. I challenge you to discover it for yourself. And, even if you don’t wish that, you should at least avenge the death of your father. Swear that you will make the fucker who toyed with you feel double, nay triple the pain that he caused you. If your father really loved this lot enough to forgive any slight or slander against him, what shall you tell him if you’re gone and the enemy yet breathes?” I asked.

Alteria didn’t respond to my words for a long time. I knew not what she was doing underneath my coat, but I didn’t try to peek to gauge. If she left it on, then that meant she really wished it to stay.

“Zevmar is dead. What can I avenge against the dead?” she asked. Her tone was still wrought with grief. I absently noticed the trembling of her arms.

“The plans of the dead can yet still form even while they rot in the ground. If you wish to know more than that, you best hold your head up for now. Zevmar’s plans still move and I’ve no doubt he’s conspired with a greater enemy at the doors of your empire. A foe even your father would have hated to his very core,” I answered.

I waited for Alteria to respond. After some time, she stood up and tossed me my coat. Her eyes were red from her tears and her forehead was laced with sweat. She still didn’t seem any better than when she’d broken down the first time. The fire that I’d seen in her eyes back on Hilvir had dimmed to an almost small flame ready to be snuffed out. Yet, that flame kept burning anyway, its embers not giving way against the suffocating pressure.

“It loathes me to admit it, Eric Drakclaw, but… I don’t know if I can,” she replied, struggling to not lower her eyes back to the ground.

I smirked. “Aye, well that’s what you have me for, Lass. I’ll make sure you fucking can,” I returned, making her look into my eyes. For all the trouble I’d gone through, I’d not let her fall so easily even if she was a Hæňgaramian.

Finally, she sighed. I wasn’t sure whether she believed me or not, but clearly, she knew that she would not be joining her father tonight. “If you don’t mind, I’d like to walk back,” she voiced with her speech as rough and dry as salt water.

I knew I could just take her and teleport back to our lodgings, but I found myself accepting of her desires. “Aye, fine. Though don’t think I’ll be leaving you out here alone. Besides, it’s best I fill you in on what you missed after your first attempt,” I said, throwing my coat over my shoulder and marching back through the woods the way I’d come.

The whole time I felt Alteria’s gaze on me. I then sensed her follow after me, the crunch of the leaves beneath her feet. While we walked, we never spoke much. The last few minutes were fresh in both our minds, and I realized that this was one of the few times I’d been truly alone with the Hæňgaramian Knight-Captain. Two natural enemies walked side by side.

“For once, I’d like to hear your voice, Eric Drakclaw. Listening to it means I won’t have to listen to my own,” she uttered softly. She’d begun lagging behind me which made me slow my pace on numerous occasions.

“Then you be in luck, I’ll be talking a lot,” I returned. From then on, I told her of what happened to me and the Cult of Alġnoth.

Surprisingly, she showed no visible concern over the name unlike the rest of her countrymen back at Lorentia’s table. I offered her several theories about what this could mean. It was likely that Zevmar was a member of this cult and had been tasked with destroying the empire as Alġnoth wished. It was also likely that Zevmar joined with the cult promising them vengeance on the empire for their downfall. There were many possibilities küçükçekmece escort and I’d listed off a few of them.

“The Cult of Alġnoth. I’d thought they were just a legend. I’d not imagined that such a cursed people could exist. It’s even more odd that so many priests and priestesses would die forming a symbol of that long, forsaken deity. However, if Zevmar is dead, then shouldn’t that be the end of their resistance?” she questioned.

“Lass, unless you’ve somehow stomped and crushed every damn cockroach in the world of D’orn, more will always crawl through the cracks in your house. However, I wouldn’t be so concerned over the matter had Zevmar not successfully infiltrated my mind. While he hadn’t gotten much, the might it would take for him to get in would be greater than what D’orn could provide. Ain’t no one would go through that much trouble if the resistance ended there,” I mentioned.

Finally, I saw the doomed look in Alteria’s eyes fade away, if only slightly. Her mind seemed far away as we walked back. “He also said we couldn’t stop what’s coming. I wonder what that means,” she uttered, attempting to piece together the puzzle in her own way.

“Aye, well that’s what your little table is consulting right now. They seem to think it nothing worth concern, but you knew of, spoke of, how mighty Zevmar was. Would you think he’d fall so easily?” I asked.

“It is possible, but unlikely. Whether it was myth or not, if it was a threat, the Grand Elder would make sure to investigate it. I don’t know whether they wish to make light of the situation to not cause panic, or if they wish you not to meddle in the affairs of the Empire any more than you already have,” she answered truthfully.

I rolled my eyes. “You lot be lucky that you’re even standing to boast that. Seraphina would have blazed a trail of your countrymen all the way to the capital. Though, I ain’t gonna be one to complain. If you think I’ve done my part, then simply pay me and I’ll be on my way. Seeing as you haven’t yet, I believe I’m still employed by you,” I spoke, letting her listen to every word.

Alteria chuckled. “Is that why you interfered with me? Because I haven’t paid you yet?” she asked. Despite the chuckle, I knew there was no mirth in it.

“Think what you will of that question. Though, think wisely, if you wish to test me,” I returned. Somehow, that got an even greater chuckle out of her than before. I wasn’t sure what she found amusing in my words, but it was her first real laugh in a while.

We continued walking in silence for a time again until Alteria found her next words. “I heard that they would be preparing his body for a traitor’s burial. For his crimes, I doubt even his ashes will survive. If we believe something to be wrong, then I think it’d be prudent to simply check his body. You said that he had numerous minor blessings placed upon him. If you surveyed him, could you figure out the problem?” Alteria asked.

I shrugged.

“I’d at least have a better chance than simply guessing as I am now. However, it ain’t hard to see that your emperor wasn’t expecting my presence on the battlefield. I’ve no doubt he’ll be sending his army to search out my crew when the other business is finished. Plus, he’ll have an entire battalion of men protecting the body from any who’d dare get too close. It ain’t the easiest feat out there, even for me. Though, I think we be in luck, it seems we won’t have to,” I answered back much to Alteria’s confusion. I looked forward and spotted Lorentia and the Emperor’s daughter waiting for us by the building we were currently lodged in.

I noticed Alteria’s gaze falter before I swiftly took the reins, lest she collapse back into pieces.

“Awfully late for the two lasses to be standing out here alone, especially the princess of the empire,” I said, swiftly gathering their attention to us. Lorentia looked at me with disapproval, Alteria even more so but it didn’t take her long to notice the state of Lady Knight.

As for the princess, if she knew, then she clearly didn’t care. She approached me quickly. “Is that true? You’d be able to receive answers from in regards to this cult from Zevmar’s body? Would it not work with any other body found laid across the bloodied ground that we’d discovered?” she asked.

I snorted. “From the way Aesteal and Maeloson told it to me, the lot weren’t much too willing to die at that time. Even if they did know, they wouldn’t know as much as he did. Too many tales from different bastards got a way of muddying the waters. Why fish the chumps when you can reel in the sharks?” I questioned back.

The princess and the Grand Elder continued to look at me, the former turning her gaze to Alteria. As expected, Lady Knight kept her eyes on the ground, shaking every now and then as if wondering when her legs would give out.

Luckily, Quinn moved on. “Even with my authority, I’m not able to usurp the command to be near Zevmar’s body. Apparently, His Majesty is taking no risks in tampering with exposing the deeds of the traitor to the world. Indeed, I’d enjoy nothing more than to see so many wrongs righted, but if there is indeed a grander scheme at hand, one that Zevmar’s death was needed to accomplish, then I will take that risk. Fortunately, we have someone who has the authority,” she said, turning her eyes to the Grand Elder.

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