The Mourning After - Chapter 2 (The Mourning)
#2 of Malakye's Story - Part 3 (The Mourning After)
Here it is! The 2nd chapter of the 3rd book of Malakye's story. For those of you who missed the journal these chapters do not take place from Malakye's view point... for... uh... well there is a reason for that. Anyway I hope you enjoy!
The Encyclopedia I have written detailing places, races and various parts of history will come in handy if you come across a word or phrase with a * at the end of it. This symbol (*) depicts that there is an entry in the Encyclopedia so you can have a more indepth knowledge on the subject at a moments notice.
This story will have mature and adult rated chapters along the way, if you find yourself unable to find missing chapters please check that your age-rating (or your SFW settings) are set appropriately so you can view them before notifying me. This happens a lot more than you'd think!
And a big thanks to orackbobama for proof-reading the story.
I always appreciate feedback and constructive criticism.*******************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************
I glanced at Micq'al, an expression of curiosity mixed with worry. He was a dutiful warrior, but not the brightest. I chose him to join my squad because he is loyal almost to a fault. He would work himself to exhaustion should I order it. I know he would worry if I didn't give an explanation.
"These wounds were not caused by your average fighter. They hit hard and fast, most likely taking them by surprise. The wounds on all of the wolves are nearly identical, which suggests that they were caused by the same individual."
"They all could have been using the same weapon." He suggested
"Possibly." I nodded.
It certainly was possible, but I doubted it. I kept my thoughts to myself, the warriors seemed a little unnerved, no need to spread unsubstantiated rumours of a single warrior, capable of killing four wolves single pawed, roaming the mountains while we ourselves were out here day and night. I could only hope that whoever did this was on our side.
"Search for anything we can use and burn the rest." I ordered. There was no need to leave anything useful behind that other wolves could use in the future. "We will continue on as we planned. I will make a full report of this when we return."
But this gave weight to my suspicions of the wolves being camped here in the North-west. That made me smile, but I suppressed it for now. I could gloat to the others when I made my report. It didn't prove my theory but it certainly added weight to my thoughts.
We still had a three-day trek ahead of us if we followed the route I had planned to patrol this time out. We would be back in Zangar in four days' time. We could simply backtrack and be there in three, but this was the first sign of wolves we had found and I can't simply turn around and walk in the opposite direction. We would continue on my planned route. I could only hope that that extra day would not cost any Zangarians their lives before I had a chance to warn them.*******************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************
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Chapter 2
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Kaldor
"Good day Lord Anaris!" Jolar greeted me as I walked across the market place, as nearly a dozen Zangarians had already done.
"Good day." I forced a smile, not feeling particularly sociable at the moment. I had perfected the fake smile years ago under fear of suffering one of Callidus' agonisingly long speeches about why I must appear to be in the best of spirits. Somehow my mood could affect the whole of Zangar in ways I could not comprehend. I still don't understand how... but I've found it easier to just nod, agree and try not to get another long winded rant from my friend. "How's the family?"
"Everyone is well! Thank you for asking!" Jolar beamed, almost giddy about the fact that I was speaking to him.
I don't understand why everyone got so excited to speak to me. Jolar stood there as if he was waiting, hoping, for the conversation to continue. I had simply mentioned his family out of politeness but now he thinks, or hopes, that means I'm going to continue to talk with him. The fact that he had come to a halt directly in front of me was the only reason I had stopped, and I was definitely in no mood to chit-chat about meaningless subjects that didn't interest me at this given moment.
"I must be going..." I said as I began to walk around him. "I'm afraid I've got no time to talk at the moment."
"Oh... sure. Of course Lord Anaris, I apologise for taking up your time." Jolar smiled, but I could see the disappointment in his eyes.
As I continued to walk through the market place towards the old mines, exchanging passing pleasantries with nearly everyone that passed me by, I couldn't help but look round and see the ghosts of those who had lost their lives during the last attack by the wolves.
Har'nol, the butcher's son. He would help his father at the stall when he wasn't on patrol. But now his father would always be alone, and despite the fact he continued to ply his trade and sell his cuts of meat he hasn't been quite the same since. His son had been the only family he had left; his brother had moved to New Zangar shortly after Zangar had been sacked by the wolves.
Kristof, always the joker. He would always have a crowd of young Zangarians around him, asking him to play with them. He would oblige more times than not; the laughter always gave the market place a spark of happiness. But now the laughter was rare. Hardly any youngsters played around anymore.
There were far more lives lost, and as I walked through the caves I would often see their ghosts, my mind playing the memories of them over and over in my mind. Even now, over two winters since the last battle had engulfed Zangar, nearly twenty winters after it had been sacked and rebuilt, I could barely hold back my tears after all this time for the losses that the village had suffered during that battle.
But that pain was nothing like the pain I felt for the losses we had suffered after the last attack two winters ago. We had fared a lot better this time round, we had managed to fend off the attackers, but still we suffered losses. Losses that touched everyone that lived in Zangar, some more than others.
As I made more and more distance between myself and the market place, I met less and less well-wishers. It only took a matter of minutes before I was outside the entrance to the old mines. If I kept going straight ahead I would come to the training area for the warriors, but I didn't want to go there. I took a sharp right and entered the Hall of Memories. The air in this tunnel was heavy, dry and lingered with various fragrances of incense and various other items left behind in memory of the departed. At evenly spaced intervals along both sides of the tunnel there were large stone plaques, some centuries old, with the names of long forgotten warriors who gave their lives to defend Zangar.
It was tradition to carve the names of those who gave their lives to defend our village into the stone walls. This was a sacred place. There were dozens if not hundreds of monuments like this carved into the walls of the oldest mines in Zangar. The names of many of my ancestors were carved into these walls. And now, among the most recently carved, there was one more member of my family, forever immortalised in stone, staring out at me in the flickering torch light that was always dutifully maintained by the Keepers of Memories.
Jovani stood a distance away as he always did when I came here. He worried about me, it's touching and it reassured me as much as it irked me. But I would never tell him that. Every time I visit he stands by the entrance, leaving me to mourn. I don't know what he'd think I'd do that required a chaperone. I had come here every day since the memorial was finished two winters ago. I've come here every day and stared at the names of those who lost their lives. My gaze lingering on one in particular.
I heard Jovani's gentle paw-steps as he slowly made his way towards me. Despite the stick up his ass he was a good friend. Both he and Callidus had sat me down, as if I was a child, and explained to me about how unhealthy it was to spend so much time here.
They told me that I needed to move on, that Zangar needed me to be its leader. Callidus had essentially taken care of all the duties I had ignored to spend time here. I had considered even giving up on my position and giving it to Callidus, he was better suited to the job. I could never be leader without him by my side.
He refused. Without hesitation, without any doubt in his voice.
He verbally slapped me for even suggesting it, his words cutting deeper than any blow he could have given. He reminded me that the citizens of Zangar looked up to me, that I was a hero in their eyes, and that I could no longer spend my time wallowing in my grief. I needed to lead Zangar through these dark times of war. I would never fully get over the loss, and I doubt anyone would ever expect me to. I had only really just begun getting to know him. But they were right. I needed to stop wallowing in my grief. I would never forget him, and I would never stop missing him.
Jovani was now stood behind me, I could feel him there, just an arm's length away. I knew it was time to go. I wouldn't be coming here so often, I couldn't allow myself to continue this cycle of shirking my duties to spend time with ghosts and memories of the departed... I wouldn't be able to get on with my life if I didn't.
"Master..."
"I know Jovani." I sighed. "I just miss him."
"I know. I miss him too." He grasped my shoulder and gave it a reassuring squeeze. "But you have responsibilities."
"I KNOW!" I snapped, I hadn't meant to. "I hate how you treat me as a child."
"You will always be the same young dragon the day I first met you." He smiled weakly. "No matter your rank, title or age."
I smiled. "I'm older than you, remember?" I smirked at the long running joke before turning once more wall of names.
I had only just begun to get to know him. I rubbed my paw across the engraving, shutting my eyes as I offered a silent prayer to his memory.
"I wish I had met you sooner... my son." A lump caught in my throat as I tried to hold back my tears. "Good bye, Malakye."
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I basked in the heat of the fireplace in the dining room, feeling cold as I mourned my son, but I knew I wasn't cold. It was just my emotions... I needed to get a grip. After leaving the memorial I just wanted to sit in peace, and for the last few hours I had just stared into the flicking flames, with a goblet of a particularly strong spirit from Erythea*, which I had nursed over the last hour. The liquid burned my throat on the way down, rich earthy tones lingered on my tongue as the liquid warmed me from the inside. The doors to the room opened abruptly, snapping me from my reverie.
"Lord Anaris!" A familiar voice bellowed.
I looked up to see General Ortavia as he sauntered towards the table, his cloak fluttering in his wake. I spotted that his newest wife was trailing behind him. Much too young for a dragon of his advancing years. She was barely of age, if she even was. But her father had married her off to him for a promotion.
"What can I do for you Ortavia?" I asked, not attempting to conceal the annoyance in my tone. I never did like Ortavia, even at the best of times, but now he was interrupting my peace and quiet.
"I was just wanting to know when our next meeting will be." His tone was less than amused. Admittedly I had cancelled this morning's meeting to go say goodbye to my son... as I had done numerous times with increasing regularity leading up till now.
"Oh yes... the meeting." I had gotten an earful off Callidus this morning for cancelling, but I needed to do it before I changed my mind on the whole thing.
"I believe you are free later this evening my Lord." Jovani piped up. Asurmen bless him, he knew me too well. "After the scouts report back later tonight."
"Yes... will that be sufficient General?" I asked.
"Yes." The General chuffed. "Shall we have supper during?"
Of course he'd be thinking about food. The fat fuck always thought about his stomach first.
"I'm sure we can arrange a light supper." Jovani answered. "Would you prefer to eat before or after your meeting?"
"Aft..."
"During!" I cut the General off. "I wouldn't want to keep you or Callidus too late. You both have your wives to tend to."
Ortavia let out a mighty belly laugh, his entire body rocked back and fore. I saw the meek dragoness behind him reel and felt sorry for her being married to him. He was not a bad husband I'm sure, his wives always seemed happy, but she deserved better.
"Quite right! It's hard work keeping these females happy! Let me tell you!"
Please don't. I really don't need to know anything about his sex life.
Truth be told I wanted to spend as little time as possible with him today. I found him to be unpleasant enough in small doses but in prolonged contact he really began to grate on my nerves, especially when he laughed like that! I willed my muzzle to smile at him.
"You know Kaldor... you're not too old yourself to settle down with a nice female." Ortavia said with a genuine tone of concern. "In just a few short years you could have yourself a nice little family to fill up this big home of yours."
"I'll take it into consideration." I said bluntly. From his reaction I would say I got the message across that I didn't want to discuss the subject further. "Till later then."
"Yes my Lord. Until later." He bowed and turned to take his leave, his wife quickly followed in hurried paces behind him to keep up with his long strides.
"Why can't I replace him with someone more tolerable?" I asked rhetorically.
"Because he carries a great deal of influence with..."
"Thank you Jovani!" I sighed. "That will be all."
"I will inform Lord Valelor of supper."
"Yes, yes, yes..." I muttered, waving my paw at him dismissively. He finally took the hint and retreated from the room with a bow and closed the doors behind him.
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"You are looking better." Callidus said. "You looked rather unwell at dinner last night."
"And you are looking as smug as always." I retorted. "I just had a little too much to drink... trying to drown out Ortavia." I explained and returned to reading the document that Callidus had given me moments before.
It outlined the plans suggested by the General and Callidus on where to focus our patrols. The General was not happy with the fact that we had several groups of warriors, led by Warlords, were patrolling the more isolated areas of the mountains in search for the wolven packs that were attacking the trade caravans.
The General wanted to send the trade wagons out with as large an armed force as possible to deter ambush. I was to weigh the decision fairly, because part of me wanted to side with Callidus and keep the hunting parties just to spite the General. But this wasn't a time for petty disagreements, this was the safety of Zangar.
Callidus had pulled rank and had instigated the patrols during my absence. I won't lie, I was quite pleased that Callidus had upset the old fart. Normally that was my job, but it seemed Callidus was capable of doing it as well.
"I really don't know what to think Callidus." I said with a sigh as I pinched the brow of my muzzle, tossing the document onto the table. "Are the hunting parties actually achieving results? There has single report of wolf packs having been spotted since they started four moons ago."
"True, however they have found evidence of wolven activity in the mountains. If the wolves are planning on trying to sneak up on us through hidden routes they are our best chance of stopping them." Callidus said with his usual matter-of-fact tone. "If the wolves were able to find a way to sneak into Zangar, with sufficient numbers they could cause a great deal of harm, particularly if timed with a frontal assault."
I stared at the discarded document on the table and grunted my frustration. No matter which choice I made there was no real way to ensure that either plan would work better than the other.
"Just keep the damn hunting parties! But unless there are any results in the next two moons I'm going to call them off and implement Ortavia's plan."
"Why Kaldor!"
"What?!"
"That was actually a very diplomatic solution. I'm very proud of you." Callidus grinned smugly.
"Shut up!" I spat, not enjoying at how amused he was at my expense. "I can be diplomatic when I want to be."
Truth be told I was little impressed at myself. I had made a decision that hadn't been simply to spite the pompous ass General.
"So now there is the issue of the festival." Callidus said as he handed me yet another roll of paper.
"What about it?" I asked.
"Are you sure it's a good idea? We have cancelled the last three festivals due to the war."
"And Zangar is as miserable as I've ever seen it!" I stated bluntly. "We need to raise morale or who knows what will happen."
"I suppose you have a point. But you also want to stage a tournament?" Callidus asked with a tone of concern. "It will be difficult to maintain the patrols since we have doubled the number of warriors posted at each of the outposts due to current wolven activity."
"I'm sure that you will be able to work with the General, a way that as many warriors are able to participate as possible." There was less than two weeks until the first full moon, so we only had that much time to prepare. Tonight the eclipse would end and the moon would grow night by night until it reached it's full glory, that's when the festival would be held. The festival of Lunas*, to beg the moon deity for her divine light as the nights begin to grow longer.
Callidus signed.
"Kaldor... I want you to promise me that if I do this... you are doing it for the citizens of Zangar and not as a way to get at Ortavia with this difficult request."
I couldn't help but grin knowing how furious Ortavia would be when Callidus broke the news to him. Sure I was doing this for the citizens of Zangar. Moral was low and needed an almighty push and nothing did that better than the annual tournament. Callidus was right about how difficult it would be to arrange the patrol schedules for those wanting to participate in the tournament, he was understating just how much of a job that would be. In the past nearly half, if not more, of the warriors wanted to participate in at least one of the tournaments, but with three quarters of our warriors on active duty at any time it would be impossible to accommodate all of them. But if anyone could arrange it, Callidus could. Could I help it if I took a tiny amount of pleasure knowing how much the request was going to annoy that bastard drake Ortavia?
"I promise you, my intentions are entirely noble. Zangar needs this or we risk yet another exodus of the population."
"I know..." Callidus sighed. "We are stretched thin as it is. We can't afford to have Zangarians leaving. I will do as you ask old friend... but don't try and hide the fact that you're enjoying this."
"I'm not enjoying this..." I grinned, Callidus arched his brow. "Not yet at least." I chuckled.
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