That rancid rodent slowly snaked his way out of his armoured chariot, his face sat still, unmoved by the welcoming party before him. He wasn’t focused on them at all. I watched as his head slowly turned, taking in everything around him. Sorting through the Corpus Automata, the guardsman that welcomed him, past the crumbling buildings which surrounded the Barrons Court till I felt his gaze land upon me. Our eyes met.
I was frozen.
I swore I heard drums, a low thumping echoing in my ears. The Rat stood towering over me, our eyes locked for what felt like aeons before he offered me a nod. Breaking away as he marched forwards, his small militia in line marched to the barracks. He saw me… it was fine I told myself. But deep in my stomach I could feel a knot tying itself.
“Well who do we have ‘er? DULDROM!” Snaggletooth's voice called out above the sound of steel boots marching, She was loud enough to drown out all the other blasted sounds which surrounded me.
They all came from the front gates of the Baron’s residence, Gor walked just behind Snaggletooth, a blank expression sat upon his face. Hawkins? He followed off to the side just further behind, his brow knitted together, and arms bound up tight. Then Cerilla… her arms were crossed, breathing heavy, her eyes shot daggers at Snaggletooth.
Snaggletooth had her head held high, though her body seemed stiff, “Seems ye’ not the only one tagging along with us now Grey.” she said.
“How do you mean?” I asked her.
As they got closer I heard an etching sound in the air, the sound of a quill scribbling against parchment. Cerilla redirected her glare to the noise over her shoulder, standing behind her my eyes could only widen as I saw what followed her was a Nodari.
She was short, shorter than Snaggletooth, just reaching her shoulder. Her head shaved till a faint stubble lined it, her face blank of anything tangible to an expression. “Ye’ gone to need to forgive the lass. She’s a shy one.” Snaggletooth spoke as I stepped up the join the company. Yet she still did not acknowledge me. Aside from halting her march.
“Duldrom, you?”
“Tik”
Her eyes did not even glance in my direction.
“Purpose?”
“Documentation.”
It seemed to me that she was one of my own.
“Of?”
“Irrelevant”
I knew her purpose, to be sent along for documentation. She was no threat so long as I held my tongue. I turned back to Snaggletooth. She hadn’t stopped for any of us, marching forwards with a great sense of purpose; though fortunately being much taller than her I’d meet her in a few strides. “So Duldrom. Our deal?” She was straight into it, like a hot knife through butter. “How could I forget? I can report that I’ve gathered ‘updated’ information.” Her one good eye was glaring at me. Was she carefully evaluating me? Or had she already reached some kind of conclusion. “Updated eh? Well I was hopin’ for something new, so this er’ update better be fuckin’ good Grey.”
“It’s about Cecil.”
“Oh for fuck sakes.”
Her brow knitted itself together, she was pinching the corner of her eyes between her index and thumb. “Can ye’ tell me the update is that the bloody bastard got snatched up by ‘em Murder?”. Her eyes hung on me, they were scared, or perhaps worried was the right word. The exact sense is hard to point down, it almost felt lost. I could only shake my head in dismay, she was worried; that much was plain to see. “He’s changing Snaggletooth. More than anything should.”
She stood there and I could see her taking in One. Large. Deep. Breath. Looking around, I saw Gor, his face was solemn. Hawkins stood, his back straightened and his eyes staring forwards almost like he was looking into a great abyss . And Cerilla? She was shaking, her eyes rushing around in search.
All while Tik stood there, that incessant scribbling continued to sound out. My eyes hung on the Nodling for some moment, “Don’t you be worrying about her Grey. She’s fine with me” Snaggletooths word, I knew by now that this was absolute.
“And everyone else?” I asked her.
“They agree with me as well. Now lets get a fuckin’ move on.” Snaggletooth shut down in one breath. I wanted to say something at that moment, yet I’ve already danced upon our rules. I wanted to keep it at a pothole. I had to give the women some credit, you could think her to be like a bull in a pottery shop, yet in reality she too knew how to dance.
Snaggletooth didn’t even acknowledge us, yet we followed through constricting streets, deeper and deeper and the light slowly began to darken. It felt hard to breathe, barely anyone was making a sound. Heavy lungs, almost like they were filled with water, the knot tightened.
“Wait! Snaggletooth, just hold on a moment.” I called out before lunging out to grab onto her shoulder.
“YOU CAN’T BE FUCKIN’ SERIOUS!” She screamed out a deafening screech. Make it stop, MAKE it stop, MAKE IT stop, MAKE IT STOP! IN RYLOCKS NAME PLEASE MAKE IT STOP!
“Duldrom?” Snaggletooth was confused, her face turned to me, it sat calm. And as I looked into her eyes I could tell she was tired, she carried a face created by the horrors which we are never told about as kids.
“Are ye’ holdin’ me up for a reason? I need a fuckin’ drink.” As she spoke I could hear that faint scribbling from Tik persisted. I felt naked, a cold wind blowing against me making my body shiver. What was that? Even now I struggle to understand. The mind numbing screech in my ear drums eventually faded, my sanity returning to me.
“Oh… don’t worry”, I affirmed.
From there? Not a word spoken, the woman simply continued marching, and for whatever reason we continued to follow her forwards.
Trudging along wet brick.
Her nose was carrying her, she had sharp senses. It had been close to a month now that I had been travelling with this woman. I had my doubts, with having spent ⅙ of my lifetime having not seen one. Yet now there was no doubt about it, her dialect and her stature, her natural sense of authority which she seemed to carry with her. Fewer people, born in recent times, have never met a Sordesian. Even before collapse, Sordesians stuck largely to their snow capped homes which even from here I could see stretching high into the skies. They were told to be born with a sharp nose, all to sniff out ore through earth and rock. I wasn’t imagining it. Guided by her, I knew that she was one of them.
Till eventually she brought us to a courtyard.
Much like the days of old, it was filled with life.
Small orbs of light were strung along walls, a faint humming sitting alongside music. The lute was rather lovely, the viol at points bringing vulnerability, the drums dragging dust up from the well trodden grounds. This is what I remembered, from those far off days of youth, I’m reminded of the harvest festival. The dancing and merriment, this is what it felt like; It had been so long…
I stood beside her, my eyes were stretched wide, I could feel my cheeks tugging a grin along my face. Yet when I looked at Snaggletooth all I could see was her eyes scanning the party which took place before us. Silent, till finally she’d reach her arm back, Gor produced a bottle of Varkonian wine. “You can all go enjoy ‘ye selves. I’ll run introductions.” before approaching ones who I could only assume to be the hosts.
We all stood there amidst a party, in the music and chatter, listening to laughter and merriment. All while the incessant scribbling continued to sit in the background. Cerilla in that moment was sniffing the air herself, seeming to pick out the scent of booze amongst the mix. All while Hawkin’s felt far too stiff, his brow furrowed, sweat beading upon his forehead. It seemed like anyone needed the drink more, it was him. Gor? What now feels unsurprising had joined the music and dance.
In times like these? I did my job better with a drink in me.
Approaching the bar there sat a good cloister of patrons, together in banter, meanwhile sitting separate like a sore thumb sat Cerilla. In this moment she appeared as a light to this unknown abyss. She had her mug filled with the malty, amber mixture, a ‘warmth’ amidst this darkened world, a firm mug of Sordesian ale.
“Can I get you another round friend?” I asked the woman as she sat there, her head hung low. “If you insist...” Her voice had shrunk compared to her argument with Hawkins’ upon horseback. I held two fingers to the barkeep, within moments we had two tall foaming mugs sitting in front of us.
“To crossed paths, I’m lucky to have met a friend such as you.” I spoke in earnest, to find someone so calm and calculated in the throws of death is a blessing. Especially when they’re the one saving your life, so what was it? What had gotten her to crumble in such a way? I had to know. I held my mug in the air for cheers, she left me ignored; she’d just sat there sipping.
“Mandaran, can you excuse yourself?” She was cold.
“I’m afraid not my friend. It pales me to see you this way. It is unlike you”, So I tried to be warm.
The woman scoffed in my face as those words left my lips. “Cut the shit Duldrom Grey. We aren’t friends. You’re just a crony for cronies.” That. That stuck out to me like a sore thumb, “What? Do you mean to tell me you all don’t operate independently? Perhaps to Snake Eyes?” As I asked her this I could hear a sharp exhale shooting from her nostrils, before taking a long, hard, sip, of ale.
“More like this entire blasted system constructed around us.” The statements dampened the air of the celebration slightly, though it was good to know that amidst all this I was not alone in my feelings of it all. “What has the system constructed around you Cerilla?” The woman could only rub her forehead at my question, “...And endless march Mandaran. One long endless march indeed. Till I'm gored, crying for my mother and father. Or till I don’t obey as I’m supposed to and my head ends up as pieces on the floor.” She was a poor mind, I saw what was becoming on her. The illusions of your youth begin to fade and you come to terms with just how cruel Sordes is. “Cerilla, you are not alone in the path in which you walk.” I tried to comfort her, reaching out to her shoulder in a show of solidarity. “Don’t you touch me Mandaran.” My hand froze, sweat beading on my forehead. “You know nothing of the path we walk. Now fuck off.” The woman was blunt, it was hard to believe she shared banners with Telladay. I did not want to overstay my welcome so I excused myself, back out into the masses which filled the courtyard with a tankard clutched closely to me.
Though some of the abyss had been filled I still only found myself with further questions. As fireworks screamed out, these poor minds which have endured so much simply continued to dance, eat and drink. Though I had questions I wanted answered I could only stand there in a stupor at it all. Till from behind I felt a hand grab my shoulder; I couldn’t help but think I heard a knock knock knock. Turning to face my assailant I was greeted by a man, he stood tall, he had a narrow facial structure, his hair brushed back, his eyes dull.
“Can I help you?” As I asked him this question, he simply kept a firm hold upon my shoulder. Whilst a slight smile formed along his lips.