The Fight for Tréon: Chapter Two

Homecoming

Sedric, leader of the Vela-Odan tribe and humble servant of the Jedan, simmered with frustration—for several reasons. For one, he abhorred killing. And regardless of who’d thrown the spear, a young man’s life had been taken on his command, and he’d have to live with that. He wasn’t sure whether to be aggravated or relieved that the other rider had managed to escape.

Most frustrating, though, was that the mission had been a complete failure; that man had lost his life for nothing. Kellen had torn apart every inch of the carriage, and Sedric himself had verified his findings—or lack thereof. The relic was nowhere to be found. And unless the escaped horseman had been storing it on his person, which seemed extremely unlikely, he could only conclude that it had never actually been with these travelers. 

Sedric gazed longingly at the vivid image of the gem, his fingers aching to rip the paper apart. Had he been misled? Perhaps his informant simply had false intel? He supposed it didn’t make much difference, now. Either way, an innocent man was dead, and because his companion had escaped, the leaders of Holis and Nagos would know of the attack in a matter of hours. In all likelihood, the two unconscious nobles his men were currently tying up would be the first two prisoners of the upcoming war—a war that Sedric had just instigated, and apparently for no good reason.

The approach of one of Sedric’s comrades tore his attention away from the tantalizing drawing in his hands. It was Kellen, who was not only his second in command, but also his most trusted confidant and oldest friend. Like nearly all of the Velan people, he had pale skin and a short stature, but his face was more expressive than most, and he was by far the quickest to smile or laugh among their small squad. He was not smiling now. He knew of the mission’s importance, and he was astute enough to understand the implications of their blunder.

“What should we do with the carriage?” Kellen gestured to the opulent vehicle he’d just finished searching.

Sedric mulled over their options. Originally, his plan had been to bring the empty carriage deep into the jungle and dismantle it piece by piece, effectively removing any trace of its existence. But the opportunity for secrecy had passed.

“Strip it of anything that’s shiny or looks valuable, then pull it off to the side of the road,” he instructed his companion. There was no undoing what had happened here, but perhaps if it appeared a simple robbery, the kingdoms wouldn’t construe it as an act of war. 

Kellen nodded, the ghost of a knowing smirk appearing on his face. He was often on the same page as Sedric without needing a direct explanation—it was one of the things Sedric liked most about the man.

“Got it. And the horse?” Kellen asked.

Sedric glanced over at the remaining colt, which was shifting nervously in its harness, now surrounded by strangers. The creature was relatively composed, given the circumstances, but Sedric could see in its eyes that it wanted desperately to bolt into the trees. He sympathized, but a domesticated horse wouldn’t survive long in the jungle, and Sedric didn’t wish for any more death on his conscience.

“Have Orrian and Airos take him to the Plains and release him.”

Kellen flashed a relieved smile and nodded before strolling away to relay the instructions, humming quietly to himself as he went. As was the Velan way, the members of Sedric’s group had immense respect for nature and its wild inhabitants. All of them were raised in a culture that placed great importance on caring for the natural world and graciously sharing their land with the creatures of the jungle.

In their tribe, taking the life of an innocent animal was considered to be an even worse act than doing the same to a man. After all, men had a capacity for greed, deceit, and hatred that one could never find in other species. Nevertheless, it filled Sedric with searing guilt that they’d had to take a man’s life today. Giving this fearful horse its freedom wouldn’t make up for that death, but for now, it was the best he could do.

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An hour later, Sedric, Kellen, and Daro—the youngest and most zealous member of their group—trudged back into their village, their two groggy captives trailing silently behind. To make things easier on both his people and the old couple, Sedric had chosen to dose his prisoners with a powder made from petals of the soruna plant, aptly dubbed “dream flower” by their tribe. It didn’t exactly put a pep in their step, but the natural sedative made them far more cooperative and easier to transport. When they regained their faculties, they’d be in their new home, where they’d be given modest comforts and, as soon as was reasonable, tasks around the busy settlement to keep them occupied. The middle-aged man and woman were clearly upper-class types, and Sedric didn’t expect they would particularly enjoy their new accommodations or lifestyle. But he was rather certain they would prefer it to death. Regardless, he would see to it that they were treated with respect.

The Vela-Odan village was one of many similar communities established by different Velan factions throughout the vast jungle. Although they were all descendants of the same race, each group generally kept to themselves, doing things their own way and establishing their own customs.

At one point, the entire tribe had lived as one in a single village, which occupied a massive clearing in the heart of the rainforest. At that time, their people had been known collectively as the Jedan. 

At the center of this grand community, a relic called the Veren Crystal had been kept under heavy guard, steadfastly funneling its radiant power into the homes, the shops, and—as the legends went—the people. It was said that this relic not only fissured a sort of magic through the city but also kept its people unified.

The search for this critical artifact was what had prompted Sedric’s failed mission. Only two days earlier, a strange note from an unknown source had found its way to Daro, informing him that one of the three Lifebound gems was in the possession of a wealthy family from Holis, who would soon be traveling with it on the Two-Kingdoms Road. This was monumental news, as the legends of their people stated that the jungle had retaken the ancient crystal, and it would only return to unify their tribes when the three Lifebound gems were brought together.

Sedric wasn’t entirely sure that reunification was realistic. Over the centuries, the tribes  had slowly fractured, each small faction becoming more and more isolated as the years went by. He worried that those rifts had become too wide to ever be closed. But the idea of outsiders possessing even one of the Lifebound gems was not something that he or his group of warriors could abide. So, when Daro came to him with his mysteriously obtained intel, the vote Sedric called for was unanimous: They would intercept the carriage.

And so the five of them had set off for the Two-Kingdoms Road and laid their ambush, hoping to retrieve the gem cleanly, without agitating the peace between their people and the two great kingdoms. 

Failing to find the gem was troubling enough on its own, but how could Sedric tell his tribe that the prospect of war now rumbled louder than ever? How could he tell Priala? He’d have to figure it out soon; he and his mate did not keep secrets from one another. There was no sense delaying the inevitable, anyway; the sooner the situation was understood among their people, the more time they’d have to prepare.

As Sedric and Kellen led their captives through the village, they began to look around a bit more intently, confusion blooming in their eyes; the effects of the dream flower typically only lasted an hour or so, and the herb appeared to be wearing off. This modest community would be their new home for an indefinite period—perhaps forever—and adjustment would be, to say the least, tricky. In their own world, the two were undoubtedly wealthy, likely accustomed to endless luxuries and comforts. That would no longer be the case, and by their expressions, they seemed to be realizing it—either that, or they still expected their deaths to come at any moment.

Although the home of the Vela-Odan tribe lacked the majesty of great stone towers and walls, the humble community more than made up for it with an aura of serenity and the pure connection it offered to the natural world.

The village was made up mainly of small, single-family homes, which integrated the rainforest’s abundant bamboo shoots and kapok trees into their simple designs. Thatched roofs kept occupants dry when the frequent rainfall managed to penetrate the dense canopies above, and although they weren’t equipped to hold much warmth, they didn’t need to in the sultry climate. 

The handful of shops scattered through the settlement were essentially stalls with open-air shacks built around them. Each day, tradespeople would sit at their stalls and barter with inquiring customers. Here, every price was negotiable, and nearly everything was available for trade. With many of the essential items—cooking utensils, hunting gear, workman’s tools, etc.—the norm was to circulate them through the community based on current need. No one lived an especially luxurious life, but everyone had a relatively comfortable place to live and the things they needed to survive. Sedric was proud of that.

These two middle-aged captives wouldn’t be the first outsiders to spend time among Sedric’s tribe, but they’d be the first to be held against their will. As they were led around the outskirts of the community, the olive-skinned couple seemed to become fully aware of their situation, minds no longer clouded by the soruna plant. The man appeared dejected, but the fight clearly hadn’t left his wife.

“Excuse me!”

Although the woman wasn’t yelling, per se, the shrillness of her voice carried through the quiet settlement, no doubt drawing the attention of every person within fifty yards. Sedric cringed, but stifled a smile; despite being knocked unconscious, sedated, kidnapped, and led deep into the jungle, this noble lady—who looked to be in her fifties—was certainly not timid. Calmly, he stopped and turned to face her, offering his full attention. He held no ill will toward these people, and he would be as gracious a host as possible.

The woman stuttered, clearly surprised to be shown such respect by her captor, but she quickly gathered herself and adopted a scowl—no ordinary scowl, but the scowl of someone entirely accustomed to getting what they wanted, when they wanted it.

“Er, yes, you—you’re the commander here?” she demanded.

Sedric wasn’t fluent in the common tongue; he understood it relatively well, but speaking it was more challenging. He got the gist of what she was asking.

“Yes,” he replied, “I am leader.”

“Well, I am Miss Katherine Lerner,” she declared, mustering all the authority she could manage, which wasn’t much in her current position. “And I insist that you release us immediately!”

The woman’s husband promptly rolled his eyes, causing an observant Kellen to snort involuntarily. After a quick glare from Sedric, though, he summoned the grace to look embarrassed. 

Sedric looked flatly at the indignant woman, and although he was sympathetic to her situation, he spoke with calm authority. “No.” he said. “This—” he gestured broadly to the huts and shops around them “—this your new home.” The tribe leader then shrugged sympathetically. “Sorry.”

She stared at him for a long moment, aghast. Eventually, her fists balled tightly at her sides, she stormed toward Sedric, stopping unsteadily only a few inches from his face. “How dare you!” she howled, her nostrils flaring angrily. Daro, reacting to her aggressiveness, took a purposeful step forward, but Kellen calmly held him back with an outstretched arm. “This will never be my home!” the woman shrieked. “And if you know what’s good for you, you’ll—”

Mercifully, the incensed woman was quickly cut off by her husband, who tugged frantically on her arm to tear her away from Sedric. He gripped her by the shoulders and, as far as Sedric could tell, angrily reprimanded her. Although he didn’t catch everything that was said, Sedric could see that the man was distraught, and he was fairly sure he heard the phrase “...going to kill us!” The woman seemed to deflate a bit; her shoulders slumped, and her husband looked visibly relieved as she reluctantly stayed silent. 

With the lady’s protest over for the time being, Sedric resumed his course toward the far end of the settlement. When, after a delay, he heard the captives’ footsteps pattering behind him, he breathed a quiet sigh of relief. In truth, he understood the woman’s anger, and respected her boldness. From what he’d always been told about the people of the outside kingdoms, it was surprising that a pair of nobles could show such bravery in these circumstances. Sure, the man seemed spooked, but to be fair to him, he’d watched his servant die and been bashed in the head himself not two hours earlier. All things considered, these captives were handling their situation relatively well.

Sedric didn’t have to look back again, as the constant sound of Kellen’s merry humming let him know that the situation remained under control.

Eventually, the small party arrived at the northern end of the community, where most of the labor took place. There were still quite a few homes in the area, but most of them were attached to workshops, vegetable gardens, and animal pens. These dwellings were inhabited by the tribespeople who performed the settlement’s most essential duties, yet they were no more opulent than any others.

Sedric instructed Kellen and Daro to wait with the old couple as he approached his home. The small house displayed a variety of colorful charms, which dangled loosely from the front edge of the roof. Just beside the home was a flourishing garden, complete with bushels of bright flowers and several rows of healthy fruits and vegetables. He could see that Priala wasn’t in her garden, which likely meant that she’d be working inside.

Sedric paused at the doorway, taking a moment to silently thank Pelara for bringing him home safely once again. He opened the front door gingerly, eager to see his partner but dreading what he had to tell her. As he expected, she was sprawled over her worktable, her long silver braids resting on its wooden surface as she pored over the papers in front of her. As Sedric closed the door behind him, Priala looked up from her work, unable to hide the relief in her eyes as she smiled warmly. Although Sedric had assured her that the day’s outing wouldn’t be a dangerous one, she never seemed to fully believe him.

Priala sprang from her desk and embraced her partner, the intoxicating rush of her scent causing Sedric to briefly consider permanent retirement from his post. After they’d simply held each other for nearly a minute, she pulled back and gazed into his eyes. She frowned.

“What’s wrong?” she asked. 

Sedric silently chided himself for disguising his worries so poorly, but deep down he recognized that it would have made no difference—Priala simply knew him too well. He sighed and sat down at the table where they ate their meals, a round slab of teak that Priala had carved—one of her many self-taught skills. He lamented the idea of burdening her with the day’s events and what they meant for the tribe, but ultimately, shielding her from the truth would not stop it from disrupting her life. Regardless, she deserved to know.

“Our trip today wasn’t just a routine scouting expedition,” he admitted. “We were searching for something… specific: one of the Lifebound gems.” Priala’s eyes widened slightly, but she didn’t interject.

“Daro received an anonymous tip about its location,” he explained, “and I decided to act on it. But we didn’t find it—it wasn’t there.”

Priala stepped closer and laid a gentle hand on his shoulder. “Oh, Sed,” she offered sympathetically, “it’s okay. If you’re meant to find the gems, then you will. If not, it just means that your path leads somewhere else.”

Sedric shook his head. “There’s more.” He went on to recount everything that had taken place on the Two-Kingdoms Road, struggling more and more to maintain eye contact as the concern on Priala’s face grew. 

“The more I consider it,” he said somberly, “the more I suspect that I was deliberately deceived. By who, I do not know. But I do not believe the gem was ever on that carriage.”

He didn’t have to explain the implications of the day’s events to her; she was wise enough to understand that an unprovoked attack on a noble couple from the kingdoms would not go unanswered. For one, it was a blatant breach of the unspoken peace that had existed between the Velan people and the kingdoms for decades. Furthermore, it would disrupt travel on the lone road that connected Tréon’s grandest cities—a road that was utilized constantly for travel and transporting goods.

Priala sat down at the table opposite Sedric and interlaced her fingers in front of her. After taking a moment to digest everything he’d told her, she started to speak, but he cut her off—”Wait,” he said, “there’s one more thing. The couple that owned the carriage… we had to take them captive. They aren’t exactly well-suited to live here, but considering they didn’t even have the gem, they really aren’t guilty of anything; it seems they were simply in the wrong place at the wrong time. Do you think you could find them some simple work, ease their adjustment into their new… situation?”

Priala agreed without hesitation; her compassion was one of the things Sedric adored most about her. “Of course,” she said, “I can always find a use for extra pairs of hands. But you don’t think they’ll just flee as soon as they have the chance? We can’t exactly spare a full-time handler for them.”

Sedric considered for a moment, then shook his head. “I don’t think that’ll be an issue. We gave them dream flower before the trip back, so I doubt they’d even know which direction to run. And as an extra precaution, I’ll make sure they understand how slim their chances of survival would be if they were to wander off alone into the jungle.”

She nodded, satisfied for the time-being. “Give me a day or two to figure out where they’ll be the most help. I’d also like to speak to them, find out if they have any special skills that could benefit the tribe.”

“Of course. But I wouldn’t get your hopes up. I’d wager they’re used to having servants do just about everything for them.” Sedric hesitated, recalling the fortitude the woman had shown in her defiance. “Although,” he amended, “she certainly has plenty of fire in her. If you can help her channel that into something productive, who knows?”

Sedric knew that if anyone in their village could get the most out of the two noble captives, it would be his partner. Not only was Priala more adept than most in their language, but she was also a skilled motivator with a knack for notching others into positions where they could succeed. She prided herself on helping the young people of their tribe find their roles in the community, and she was damn good at it.

“I’ll do my best, love,” she said with a warm smile. “Oh, and by the way, I’ve agreed to teach a few of the younger girls weaving. They’ll be over at dusk—but don’t worry, we’ll stay out of your hair.” 

“How lucky they are to learn from the best,” Sedric teased, although there was plenty of truth to what he said. Priala was an exceptional weaver, but her true talent lay with instructing others. If not for her guidance and generosity with her time, their tribe would have far fewer skilled hands.

Remembering that Kellen and Daro were still waiting outside with the older couple, Sedric abruptly rose from the table and gave Priala a tender kiss on the forehead. “I’m going to take them to one of the unoccupied huts and get them settled,” he announced. Just imagining how the noblewoman would react to her new accommodations brought a grimace to his face. “I’ll be back soon. And first thing tomorrow, we’ll call a meeting of the tribe elders; it’s time to start planning for the possibility of war.”