Tale of Four

Turning around, Isis saw Farid step into his quarters and exhale, going to his drawer and pulling out a pipe, slamming the pouch of wine on the desk next to it. Opening the window behind him, he pulled out a small cube with runes on it and held it out the window towards the sun. After a few seconds, the rune lit up, and he dropped it into the end of the pipe, followed by herbs that quickly burned under the artefact.

”You smoke?” Asking Isis shook her head.

”Not at sea. I don’t wish to do soemthing that could make me sick, the wine is enough.” With a smile, Farid handed the pouch over to her and looked to the statue Isis had placed on his desk. Isis waited as Farid took a deep exhale of his pipe and blew the smoke out the window before sighing, ”Is there an issue with the statute?” Finally, Isis asked the question she had been wanting to ask.

Not answering straight away, he took a few more smokes of his pipe and a sip of the pouch before clicking his tongue, ”Twenty years I didn’t see these things, nor knew such a God existed.” With another smoke, he sighed, blowing the air out, ”In the last three, I’ve been seeing them more and more. On the waters, superstition runs deep, and there is one all men believe, myself included. Do not incur the wrath of the Gods. All of them punish you differently. Gods of the Sea send storms when storms shouldn’t happen. Gods of Fire, create scorching heat that makes men drink the salt water until they die.”

”Gods of Night and Darkness, toy with your eyes, never allowing you to return.” Waving his hand, he didn’t feel the need to list them all, ”This one.” Poitning but not getting close to the statue of Lady Death, he frowned, ”Her servants come, never ending, never relenting, until your blood dyes the sea red.”

”The fanatics?” Farid nodded.

”I never met them, I never wish to, but I have spoken to men who have. They do not care for their life, they do not care for honour or glory. They exist to serve and worship God. They will die in the name of their God and through it.” Pointing up, he smiled, ”They will be rewarded with a place in her new world.” Isis frowned and stared at the statue.

”You say this, but you don’t know if it’s true?”

”Stories are all sailors have, and most, even if exaggerated, are based on a true story.” Farid took another smoke and groaned, ”I can fight pirates. I can fight men who serve a King. They all follow instinct or tangible motivation. But a fanatic who believes death will award a better future. You can’t fight that, only survive.”

”They sound... fascinating,” Isis said, getting a strange look from Farid. Remembering who she was, he chuckled and shook his head.

”The question is how those men got their hands on this. They were unskilled and undisciplined, even for pirates. You can’t buy these things either. Maybe a fake one, but this one’s quality proves it is directly from those fanatics, that much I do know.” Farid groaned. ”If this is stolen, they will be looking for it, and we can only hope they don’t realise it’s at sea.”

”Where are they in Oros. You say the religion comes from there, so you must know?” Farid shook his head.

”There are many Gods and many places on that continent. It is unlike Veston, which the First King united. Cities exist free of any king’s control next to Grand Empires, which dominate lands and places greater than anywhere in Veston. All I can be sure of is that it originates in the further west of Oros than the coastal settlements.” Isis nodded and looked at the statue.

”Tell you what. I am going to Oros. I wish to explore it. You obviously don’t wish to carry a symbol of a God you don’t follow on your voyage. Give it to me. In exchange, give me a way to Oros, preferably Tiree. Whether you let me hitch a ride on a merchant ship, or drop me off yourself. I do not mind.” Farid stared at her for a moment, smoking as he thought.

With a deep exhale, the smoke blew out his nose, ”Deal. We will patrol these waters until the merchant ships pass. Once they do, I will escort you there. As for that, you will show it the utmost respect. You will not leave it lying around like your bag, but as if it were God herself with you. I will not have my men die on the whim of a God.” Isis nodded. Although she felt he was being too superstitious, she held her tongue, knowing it was the only way he could feel safe.

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After a week of patrolling and travelling, Isis looked at the grand Port that awaited her. Her trip by the pirates had been uneventful, with only one other sighting on the sea, the pirates fleeing when they realised Farid’s trap. Looking out at the port, Farid’s men unloaded from the ship to enjoy themselves and unwind until they had to return home, using the little riches they had gotten in their hunt to fund it.

Isis stared for a moment, embroiled in the great port city of Tiree. The port bustled with activity as numerous ships of merchants and their companies lined the place, coming in and putting on loading goods, guests and soldiers, ready to chart the sea. Pulling her journal out, Isis smiled.

’A new world, a new place. Triee. It port grand, rivalled by none within Veston. The small town surrounding the Port pales in comparison to what lies in the distance, a city built upon a city. The centre of a city built on a hill flattened by means unknown, housing large manors, surrounding an even larger palace. Walls encasing walls, cream in colour and sturdy in design. It is different but oddly similar. People dress the same as those in the Flatlands and act the same, yet they talk differently, eat differently.’

Pausing, Isis stared down at her page and smiled, adding a final word.

’Fasinating.’

Closing it, she turned to Farid, who stared at her and walked over, seeing she was finished. With a small bag of coins, he placed it in her hand, ”You got a kill, you get a share of the reward. It’s small, but it should be enough for a place and food.” Isis smiled and nodded, accepting the gift.

”Lord Snaketon gave me a few of his contacts to get in touch with when I cross.” Sorting through the bag, she found the one for Tiree and unfolded it, ”A man with the title Jude named Tyrak. Jude Tyrak.” Farid nodded and pointed towards the hill surrounded by walls.

”In Tiree, a Jude is a member of the city’s ruling council. They will live in there. How you get in, I don’t know, but that’s where you need to go.” Farid smiled, ”To think you have a letter of introduction to a Jude. You have more connections than I expected. Saves me from having to use a favour up.”

Isis smiled, ”Travelling has its perks. Anywhere in Veston, I have at least one favour in my pocket from a Lord.” Farid nodded and held out his arm. Clasping hands, Isis nodded and thanked him, pulling her satchel close, making sure her journal was tightly secured along with the statue of Lady Death. Dropping the coins Farid had given her into her own coin purse, she marched on, happy to make the long walk so she could look around.

The streets of the port were abuzz, as merchants barked orders to load their goods with haste or care. Some tried to entice random mercenaries and sellswords to defend their cargo as they shipped across the sea or on the road into Oros, waving gold in front. Numerous languages were spoken at once, mixed in the common tongue of Veston.

The deeper she got, the less packed the city became, yet it didn’t lose its charm. Like Hampton, there was an aesthetic beauty planned in the creation of the city, the buildings placed in a way that provided wide paths to be walked, but also a grand design that would likely become clear from the seat in the palace at the centre. Houses had redwood roofs and grey walls with vines running over them. Some had intricate carving in the walls, over bare free of the vines that littered most. Perched atop the rooftops and running along the streets and walls, an unusual number of cats lingered, each plump but skilled at navigating.

Isis looked at it all in wonder, people seeing her and realising she likely came from abroad, calling to her to come over and try to sell anything cheap, but failing to get her attention, as she spoke a different language. Inching closer to the centre, the scale of the walls she had seen surrounding the manors and palace in the centre became clear, the walls towering, almost as large as those that surrounded Kript.

Hlating before the gate to one of its many entrances, she stepped out of the way for a passing horse and walked over to one of the guards, taking out her letter. ”Excuse me?” Polite speaking, she mimicked the way the Ladies of Veston spoke and acted, to try and make her seem like she belonged. With her navy dress that sparkled in the sun, freshly cleaned and clear skin, she at least made an impression at a glance from someone who didn’t understand Veston nobility.

”What?” The guard spoke coldly from beneath his helmet, their armour gold and red.

Holding out the letter, she internally sighed in relief that the guards had been trained to speak her tongue, ”I have a letter of introduction from Lord Snaketone of Veston, for Jude Tyrak.” Although he couldn’t see his face, Isis was sure the man raised an eyebrow as he held out a hand.

Placing the letter in her hand, the man scrutinised the letter and signalled to her to follow into a nearby building just beyond the gate. Sitting where told, the guard pulled open a drawer and placed a paper down on the table, on it numerous seals, some of which Isis recognised as Lords and Ladies of Veston. Finally, the guard paused on Lord Snaketon’s seal and compared the two, nodding.

”You will wait. The Jude will be made aware of your arrival, along with the letter. He will decide if you may visit.” His words were emotionless as he said that. Isis nodded, and the guard eased, seeing she wouldn’t make a fuss. As he left, another walked in, providing Isis with a drink and some food before leaving.