THE ISLE OF RIMOLDI
9
- ALANIS -
T he sun wakes me before I’m ready. As much as Kailu pissed me off last night—or was it this morning?—he was right. We all needed to get some sleep.
Slipping quietly from the tent so I don’t wake Hannah, I walk over to the wash basin and quickly splash water on my face and neck before the soldiers awaken. I take a bit of mint leaf that Hannah packed from her garden, running it over my teeth before chewing it up. Pulling my hair back, I turn, only to find myself colliding with a brick wall.
A brick wall that smells too good for someone who rode on horseback all day yesterday. I self-consciously move back, knowing I don’t smell as great.
“Not a morning person, sunshine?” he says, tone far too chipper.
I grit my teeth. I know for a fact he took the remainder of the watch. Shouldn’t he be tired and quiet? Emphasis on the quiet. “Don’t you have something better to do than start your morning with annoying nicknames for me?”
“You like those, do you?” He smirks at me, looking even more handsome unshaven. “I think I especially like sunshine; it fits that charming personality of yours so well.”
When I don’t speak, he says, “We will be leaving camp within the hour. Make sure you and Hannah are ready to leave. Get some breakfast, too.” He winks and strides toward the soldiers stoking the embers in the campfire back to life to cook breakfast.
“Bossy bastard,” I whisper under my breath. I hear him laugh. Groaning, I roll my eyes, which only makes him laugh harder. Damn him and his stupid Fae hearing. It’s also extremely rude of him to have a laugh that sounds like that. He shouldn’t have a laugh that makes my toes curl.
I march over to the tent just as Hannah is making her way out.
“Slow down, Alanis. What’s got you all worked up so early in the morning?” She looks over my shoulder and rolls her eyes at whatever she sees. “Kailu again?”
“When isn’t he the cause of my annoyance?” I huff out a breath and duck into the tent to start packing. “I swear he has made it his mission to get under my skin every chance he gets.”
“At least he’s pretty to look at while he annoys you.” Hannah smirks, and I’ve never wanted to smack her upside the head more than I do in that second.
“I have no clue what you’re talking about.” I avoid all eye contact while I finish packing my satchel. I hear her giggle before leaving the tent.
When I emerge, most of the soldiers are going about their daily perimeter checks. I hurry to grab some breakfast, which consists of some sort of oatmeal. Kailu sits by his tent, talking in hushed tones with Siveral. I walk over to stand in front of the two Fae.
“I believe you males have some things to tell us before we continue on our journey.” I cross my arms and purse my lips.
“Didn’t anyone ever teach you it’s rude to interrupt while people are talking, sunshine?” Kailu gives me one of his aggravating smirks and I use every ounce of strength I have to not claw his face.
“Oh, no. They did. I just don’t really care about manners when it comes to you.” I give him my most charming smile. “Come now, lollipop, we have things to do.”
I hear him growl as I walk away and I can’t control the giggle that leaves my body. “You’re right, nicknames are so much fun!” I call over my shoulder.
Siveral barks out a laugh. I am quite content as I walk back towards where Hannah sits by the fire.
“You really know how to put Kailu in his place.”
I glance towards Hendrix as he sidles up next to me, smiling at the amusement on his face. “It is pretty amusing,” I admit. “Is he always this much fun?”
He runs his fingers through his golden-brown hair and gives me a charming smile. His deep brown eyes sparkle in the sun. “Kailu is a difficult one. He’s been through a lot and takes his job seriously. He’s the reason I’m in the King’s Guard. He really helped me out when I needed it. He’s a good guy; don’t let his rough exterior fool you.”
I watch as the male in question approaches us, Siveral right behind.
“So, what is the deal with the Isle of Rimoldi?” Hannah asks as soon as they’re close enough.
Siveral and Kailu exchange a glance and some sort of silent exchange ensues. It must have been decided that Siveral be the message bearer because he clears his throat and plops a book down onto the table.
I look at the old history book of the realm with a longing to sift through its pages. “I never saw that book in the library.”
“You wouldn’t, it’s only accessible to those who work for the crown.”
“That’s a shame.” I murmur. It’s important to know the history of your world, so that you don’t repeat the mistakes of the past. That’s what my father always taught us growing up. Too bad that isn’t how most people view it.
My chest aches at the thought of my parents. My father in particular. I miss his booming laugh and his awful jokes more than anything. Hendrix rests a hand on my shoulder, as if he senses my discomfort.
I rub at my chest to ease the ache and look up when I feel eyes on me. Kailu is watching me closely, with a look almost like concern on his face. He glances at Hendrix and then his hand, still on my shoulder. I feel Hendrix stiffen before he pulls his hand away.
Odd.
“Centuries ago, long before even Kailu graced this land…” Siveral pauses while everyone around the table laughs, myself included. I laugh a little harder when I see the irritated look on Kailu’s face.
“Siveral, we don’t have all day,” Kailu grumbles.
Siveral swallows his mirth. “As I was saying, at least eight centuries ago, there was a war. It started small, just rebels defying the royals who ruled the realm at the time, but then it started to gain momentum. One man, Iclas, began to gather small creatures, everything from rabbits to pixies. He used the sacrifices to barter with the Hell Gods for more power, but he didn’t stop there, for greed consumed him.
“At the time, the Isle of Rimoldi held a small town, where Iclas was born and raised with his brothers and sisters. Most of the island was sympathetic to the rebel cause, and they were prospering because of the sacrifices Iclas was making. It wasn’t enough for him, though. He began to sacrifice any manner of creature. Deer, tree imps, mermaids, even sick Elves or Fae. This caught the attention of the Gods.”
“The Hell Gods?”
It’s Kailu who answers me. “No, the Gods of the Eternal Vale. Caselia, the Goddess of Law and Life, and Viros, God of Magic and the Land.”
Siveral continues: “They were angered by the rebels’ lack of respect for life and did not like what had become of the people of the Isle. They found their greed and lack of empathy to be punishable. Thus, Caselia and Viros cursed the Isle together. Sickness fell on the people, but no one knows what exactly happened to Iclas. Everyone on the island died within a fortnight. The legend is they cursed the people and the land for their greed, and left the bones of the cursed to haunt what remained.”
- MALAKAI -
I step out of the dingy inn and into the fresh air, taking a deep breath. Company on the road is never hard to find, but decent accommodations are another thing. The female from last night saunters out after me, fixing her hair.
“When can I see you again?” she purrs.
I stifle a snort with a yawn. “Probably not anytime soon. You know I am a busy male.” I shoot her my most charming smile. It’s gotten me out of trouble many times. I hope it will do so now.
“One more night?” she begs.
I roll my eyes, no longer able to hide my annoyance. “No,” I snap as I turn and head down the road, her curses dogging my every step.
As I walk down the dusty road leading to the village center in the Lower Shrol, I think about everything I’ve discovered. This ghoul issue is tied to something, I’m just not sure what. From my brief conversation with the Witch, it would seem the influx of humans is drawing them in, not to mention creating a feeding frenzy for some Witches. The ones who dabble in dark magic, the kind that comes from the depths of Hell for no purpose other than selfish means. It’s a magic that does not come from the land or any of the Gods or Goddesses, but blood sacrifices.
What I don’t get is why these once erratic ghouls are now seemingly plotting and planning. And why these Witches with no coven are now attacking people.
The rundown bar with green paint peeling off its facade comes into view as I pass by the fish market, my thoughts still racing with many theories. If someone is controlling these things, I need to find out who and how.
I flex my hand, the skin scarred from countless fights, but no doubt going to get worse with the increase of attacks. The man who may be able to give me some answers is inside the pub, slumped over a pint.
I slide onto the wobbly stool next to the man, the bar top sticky to the touch. The stale stench of ale lingers in the air.
“You Sal?” I ask.
The drunk’s eyes slide lazily to my own, his gaze unfocused as he slurs, “Who’s asking?”
“I am. What do you know about the missing people in this realm?” I say calmly, pulling a coin from my pocket, flipping it through my fingers.
He scans my face again, recognition finally settling in. “No-nothing,” he stammers.
I cluck my tongue in annoyance. “Try again.”
“I swear!” he gasps.
I lean closer, flashing my teeth at him. “Just know that I do not take kindly to being lied to. Your name keeps coming up when I ask around. You saw something and I want to know what it was.”
“The caves,” he blurts, eyes wide, sweat beading on his forehead. “They’ve been coming from the caves.”
“Why have they been using the caves?”
The man squeezes his eyes shut. “Dunno. All I know is I was out hunting and a large group of ghouls went into the caves and never came back out. Could be living in there. How am I supposed to know? I wasn’t going to follow them.”
I mull over his words for a moment. “You said they were in a large group? Did anybody seem to be in charge?”
The man gives me a questioning stare. “Like who? Ghouls are dumb as bricks.”
I shrug. “Anybody. Did anybody come by before the ghouls or even shortly after?”
The man shakes his head and then stops, eyes widening. “Wait. Yeah. There was a man in a cloak. Came by about ten minutes after the ghouls.”
“What did he look like?”
He shrugs. “He was wearing a cloak. Completely covered.”
I toss the coin towards the bartender, who hasn’t batted an eye since I sat down. He just continued drying the glasses laid out before him. “Another pint for my friend here.”
I stand, smacking Sal on the back before sauntering back out into the warm golden glow of the morning sun.