12. The Odds & the Gods Are Against You
The Odds & the Gods Are Against You
Kaiden
He hated Pirath. Every inch of the city, upper and lower, made his skin crawl. Gaius’s tavern was the only place deemed good enough to stay in the lower city. He scowled at the witch in front of him. Now, it seemed even the tavern had been ruined.
I hate this place.
“You reek of skarak blood.” Idalia’s voice slithered around the table.
“We did have a fortunate run in with them in the Blackwood,” Fintan said.
“About time, they’ve been running freely for weeks now.”
“Weeks?” Kaiden frowned. “We got the reports only days ago.”
Idalia was quiet. She seemed to think about what information to give up as she finished Fintan’s sweet.
“Skaraks, harvesters, and all the other monsters who go bump in the night. You have forgotten darkness waits and gathers behind a thinning line of death magic,” she said.
“We have forgotten nothing.” Kaiden’s brows creased with frustration.
“You see what your father wishes you to see. This land has become full of dark creatures who have found a way to cross through the Veil and the Valencia line is in more peril with each darkening day.”
Kaiden glanced at Fintan whose face also portrayed a mixture of confusion and mistrust.
“What do you mean?” Kaiden asked.
Wilouhby told him of a witch. He had failed to mention it was a demir witch. As a blood witch who was centuries old it was no surprise Wilouhby revered her.
“I know many things,” Idalia said. She propped a muddied boot on the table, crossing her legs and settling in.
“Like a forgotten priestess stirring up old magic or a generational curse against the descendants of Morana, our goddess of war. A curse that will destroy a young prince before he’s even fought the last war to bring peace back to Peraynia.
There is a cloud hovering over you. It waits for its time to strike — to take what you value most.”
Kaiden stiffened at her words. He didn’t know what was more concerning, her knowing of the priestess or a mysterious Valencia curse he had never heard before.
Idalia chewed on the bottom of her thin lip, sightless eyes looking at Kaiden as she waited for his first question.
“You’ve seen the priestess?” Fintan asked.
Idalia kept her head turned toward Kaiden. “From afar. Pretty little thing too, looks just like her mother.”
Kaiden shifted uncomfortably at Idalia’s slow words.
“It’s a shame your father struck Eslanda down before her time.
The girl would have flourished with her mother’s tutelage.
She must find someone of equal power to learn from now,” she said.
Idalia looked between them and huffed. “She plays a much bigger role than any of you can imagine. But then again, you all do.”
“A bigger role in what?” Fintan asked, crossing his arms. He hated indirect conversations.
Idalia bit out a harsh laugh. “Hmph, I see why Wilouhby asked for me. You know nothing.”
Kaiden waited for her to explain. He drowned the rest of his drink, hiding his annoyance behind the cup.
“ Qualan’s mistake when locking Ukoron behind the Veil?” Idalia turned. She knew either by their smell, the tension, or the mere aura they gave off where they sat. A witch with her powers did not need eyes to see. “The last war?”
“Clearly,” Kaiden ground out, “we do not know what you speak of.”
Idalia remained quiet.
“Please,” Fintan emphasized, casting Kaiden a warning glance. “We would love to know.”
“Such manners, young Aariv, your father raised you well,” Idalia said, picking invisible dirt off her iron hand.
The corner of Fintan’s lips raised slightly, but he remained quiet.
“I’m assuming you know of the old world when the gods walked amongst kings and men,” Idalia began
They nodded.
“The gods did not simply exist amongst men, but some even fell in love, creating powerful bloodlines who to this day are invincible. The Valencia bloodline is one of the chosen families. The blood of the goddess, Morana, flows through you. She fell in love with a king of the old world long ago. Their love was fierce and bold.”
“She fought beside him in every battle, helping him conquer and build the present Arkan. As years went by, the king grew from a young man to a seasoned ruler with Morana by his side. Out of their love came heirs, a boy and a girl.”
Idalia looked at Kaiden.
It might have been the first friendly smile she had given since walking into the tavern.
Kaiden all but held his breath. He knew the history of Arkan, and the gods, but this retelling was something older than the scrolls in the libraries.
This story was brought from a memory, an ancient time when witches lived happily among gods and men. When all was one.
Idalia’s smile quickly vanished as she went back into her story.
“Unfortunately like all men, the king became hungry with greed and thirsty for power beyond what Morana had gifted him. He stretched his military might outwards beginning the expansion of Arkan’s borders.
For years, he wreaked havoc on neighboring kingdoms and Morana, sick with grief, turned a blind eye, hoping in time the king would come to his senses and be content with the realm they had built together. ”
Idalia’s voice was soft as she drifted away from their table, somewhere far away.
“Bloodshed followed, so many lives on each side were lost. Men and witches. The elfenfolk were all but wiped out, any who survived disappeared centuries ago. We all reaped the consequences of the king’s bloodlust. It didn’t stop until Moliath, god of death, was overrun with bodies and souls to attend too.
He visited his sister and demanded she put a stop to her husband or he would.
“She pleaded at first, but when those pleas were ignored she took matters in her own hands, even as her tears watered the earth. She revoked the king’s power and split it between all kings, making them equals, and creating the first generation of highborns.
With their new power they pushed the king back into his own lands and separated off into the kingdoms we now have.
The king was furious with Morana and wanted no part in her life and her in his.
He tried to kill her once, but found he still loved her even in the blackest parts of his heart. ”
“He locked his love away and built a wall so thick even Morana could not penetrate it. Heartbroken, she turned to her children, watching them grow. Where their own father grew calloused with them, she loved unconditionally as she loved the king.”
Kaiden and Fintan sat deathly still.
The secrets behind the Arkan kingdom and the legacy of the Valencias poured out over sopapillas and cinnamon milk with the most unlikely company.
“Little did anyone know when Morana split the king's power, dividing it into the land, she left two of the strongest kernels in Arkan. In her own children. She had watched them grow into their powers, fire-wielding warriors like herself, and spellbinders like her brother. For a time there was peace, the old king passed on and his children ruled in his stead then their children after, always two, a boy and a girl, with the wisdom and foresight of Morana who backed them up. So it was to be for years to come, but then man once again became greedy.”
Idalia dragged Fintan’s mug toward her lips and drank deeply. Staring into the cup she sighed, going back into her memories.
“Morana’s great, great grandchild found the old scrolls of the beginning and realized his ancestors’ pursuits.
He wanted power for himself, so he began another war against Morana’s behest. He slaughtered houses and took their cities, placing new rulers in their stead who would be loyal to him.
He regained most of the power from the kings he slaughtered, all except one kingdom.
Eos, goddess of the dawn, protected her people in Gail.
When the king could not defeat Gail he turned to a much darker power for help. ”
“Ukoron,” Kaiden whispered.
Idalia nodded. “The remaining kings turned to the Priestesses of Qualan, guardians of the gods’ realms and descendants of Cybelle, goddess of light, in hopes of banishing all the gods and stopping Arkan.
Ukoron learned of their plan and cut a deal with the King of Arkan.
There was no stopping his imprisonment. However, he used his link with the king as his only tether to our realm, guaranteeing his return.
He gifted the king a kernel of his magic to destroy all who stood in his way.
In return, the king promised to use the magic to unleash him. ”
“My great, great-grandfather obtained chaos magic?”
Idalia nodded. “The king was a fool in believing he could betray a god. When he grew fat and happy with the spoils of war he conveniently forgot his promise to Ukoron. Know this, boy, the gods do not forget and they do not forgive. The longer Ukoron remained imprisoned, the more his power poisoned the king. The potent ring passed down from king to son is corrupted and now, even behind the depths of his prison, he controls the one who wears it.”
“My father.” Kaiden swallowed the disbelief.
His father wasn’t an intentionally evil man. He was a corrupt man with the sins of their forefathers dwelling on his hand. The sins which would be passed to him one day.
“And the mistake they made when making the Veil?” Fintan asked hesitantly.
“Death magic imprisoned Ukoron once before, and death magic has to be used once again,” she answered.
“The girl?” Kaiden asked. He leaned forward, clinging to Idalia’s every word.
“Centuries ago they were supposed to sacrifice the last child, giving no man the power of the gods again. But the chosen sacrifice, Lilith of Cranzimum, was … unwilling and cursed the gods, casting her power into another, without the priestess’s knowing.
Into her dear friend and the long line of Damalis following.
The Veil meant to last forever was weakened by the act of defiance, and selfishness, and now it will come crumbling down. ”
“And the last war?” Kaiden asked with a creeping uneasiness.
Idalia stretched, moving her legs back to the floor and drank the rest of the contents in the mug.
“Ukoron uses your father and this war as a distraction while the real battle is beneath the mines of Randale where slaves kill themselves in breaking through to the Gates of Osiris. The king not only intends to unleash Ukoron, but merging his power to him so he can become indomitable once and for all. While he’s had you off playing foot soldiers, our realm is coming closer to ending than anyone even knows.
This girl will not be what stops Ukoron, but what saves Peraynia,” she pointed a clawed finger at them both, “you will be the ones to help her and finally put a stop to the Great Rise. The gods must never step foot in our realm again.”
“And the generational curse?” Kaiden’s fists clenched with anxiety.
Idalia turned to him slowly. “If you do not break the curse, you will fall prey to Ukoron’s poison like the kings before you. If you do break the curse, then you’ve failed at stopping Ukoron, and he walks amongst us once more. It will take everyone you love to accomplish this feat.”
“So,” Fintan pinched the bridge of his nose, “he’s doomed either way.”
“I do not have the answer to that, boy,” Idalia said.
He thought there was a chance, a glimmer of hope in defeating his father. Once again, it was swallowed by the looming truth. His ancestors had made a deal with a god — the very worst of them.
“Where do I even begin?” Kaiden stammered over the question.
“Start with the girl. If you can get her on your side, you might have a chance of uniting the people of Peraynia. She is one of them after all and she is the hope they have been praying for.”
Kaiden’s thoughts turned north to his sister.
Gods, I hope you’ve found her.
“I loathe your father and every king before him.” Idalia stood, her words were like ice, freezing Kaiden to his seat and gluing his gaze upon her, unable to look away.
“But, there is a difference in you. An opportunity to save you lest you be corrupted. Save Peraynia and finally give them a worthy king who can unite the realm once and for all. Fail and you’ve doomed us all. ”
She turned without a sound, weaving in between men who had begun to drink too much and vanished out the door.
“Well,” Fintan muttered, “our hope of overcoming the king was bleak to begin with. Now, I dare say, it’s downright laughable.”
“I’m not laughing.”
Fintan’s smile did not reach his eyes. He stood with a stretch. “Come on, I think we’re in need of a well-deserved bath.”
Kaiden stood with a sigh. Before he could take one step a barmaid, singing off pitch and waving her drink, crashed into him, spilling half her ale on the front of his cloak.
Fintan turned away, holding in his laughter.
“Oi, so sorry.” the barmaid brushed her hand down his chest with a greasy cloth. “Oh, but yore a handsome fellow, ain’t ya.”
Kaiden reigned in his temper and gently pushed the woman aside. He stomped past a chuckling Fintan and headed to the rooms upstairs.
“Gods, I hate this place,” he cursed bitterly.