Page 9 of Light Up the Night

“No,” a voice called from the shrubs.

Pariah unsheathed his sword and took up a formidable stance. The shrub shivered, and a bare foot stuck out from the bottom. Moments later, we were confronted with a tall bald warrior. His chest was painted with kohl, and a ring pierced the middle of his nose.

“You are the Queen of the Fallen Gods. Our Emancipator.” He smiled, drawing closer. “I am Niles. Elected Chieftain of the Lost People.”

He said it with pride before extending his hand and lowering his head in a primitive curtsey. I took it at once and greeted him properly.

“I’m pleased to see that you were able to form a community and settle here.” It was, after all, their place of choosing.

He smiled and quietly nodded before waving us toward a somewhat beaten trail. It stretched through the forest for some time before erupting into a circular clearing with more huts than I could count.

They were resourceful and quick about it, I had to give them that. Tanning racks and pottery set outside some of the huts. Women haggled and traded with their neighbors. They all seemed upbeat and of good health.

Niles led us to what I assumed was his personal hut. It was a large, thatch-roofed shack with a good-sized fire pit outside. We sat around it, warming our hands while he continued to parade around bare chested and barking orders to his men. He returned with two men who sat on either side of Keif while I huddled with Messiah.

“These are the Chieftains of the neighboring villages. Natives of the Forest Wilds.” He really didn’t need to say it. They were both larger than Keif by a foot. “…Phillip and Brazland.”

“We were not expecting the Queen of the Fallen Gods,” Brazland quipped, sparing me the briefest of glances. He spoke of me, but not to me. Choosing instead to tilt his neck and await the answers from Keif and Messiah.

“Nor was I expecting to be delayed,” I interjected before their insult could become a habit. “I have business beyond the Forest Wilds. It is of no consequence to you.”

“Wrong. When you travel with company like that…” Brazland huffed, flailing his arm toward Pariah. All I saw was a flash of dreadlocks.

I moved on instinct toward the sound of gargling and pried at Pariah’s shoulder. I was trying to get him to face me, but he was intent on maintaining the one-handed grip to Brazland’s throat.

“Stop. This isn’t diplomacy.” I hissed at Pariah.

“He doesn’t know anything about diplomacy. He’s a fucking savage!” Phillip roared. He started to get up, but Keif quickly planked an arm in front of him and levelled a daring glare.

“Well he doesn’t!” Phillip insisted. “How do you expect to be received when you show up to our shores with an assassin?

“Assassin? I have no interest in killing anyone. I came to retrieve my king.” I smiled, amused by the men. I wondered what they would do if they knew my entire inner circle were death dealers, in one form or another. As if sensing my shift of mood, Messiah’s hand cautiously brushed my arm.

“They don’t seem to have much affection for Lazarus…” he whispered against my ear.

“What are you conspiring about?” Phillip cried before flailing his arms toward Pariah and the now scarlet-faced Brazland. “Do something!”

“Pariah, enough.” Messiah sighed without raising his voice. His twin let go, and Brazland fell to the ground with a thud. He struggled to get his breath, making hideous noises that drew the attention of the village.

“We would go to the Beyond,” Messiah announced once Brazland had composed himself.

Niles puffed from a pipe and stayed out of the confrontation. He didn’t look uneasy, simply removed from it all. “I have heard of the Beyond,” he quietly confirmed between clouds of smoke. “From children and crazy men.”

Brazland smiled and nodded, but Phillip began to pale.

“My brother went to the Beyond. Long ago…” Phillip began, only for Brazland to obnoxiously scoff. “It is true!” he insisted, giving his friend a glare. “He never returned.”

He studied the group of us without commitment.

“Why do you wish to go?” Phillip asked, looking directly at me. “Why do you really want to go? If the King of the Fallen Gods were dragged through here… don’t you think we would have killed him? The Lost People speak highly of you. They say you took back their freedom. Others claim you are a better ruler than he ever was…. Why, dear girl, do you want him back if this is true?”

His pale blue eyes implored me. I could feel him searching for clues and scrutinizing my every move. What could I say? How did I explain to someone who lived under figs about greed and manipulation? Their world depended on trade and honesty. Honor meant everything out here… they’d never understand that, where we come from, it was simply a cloak removed once indoors. It would take more than a night with the peace pipe and a trip through the woods to even explain the half of it.

“Why do you care? Sitting down here wasting the girl’s time… For what?” A robust older woman exclaimed. She appeared from seemingly nowhere and whipped a rag off her neck. Each sentence was accompanied by a mean snap of her rag that sent the two strong Chieftains in opposite directions.

“Their mother?” I asked on a whisper.

“Oh no. That’s their wife.” Niles grinned. He belly laughed in a way that left us all smiling and watching in anticipation as the woman finally composed herself and started back towards us.

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