My name is Donagh, a ship captain and warrior under Casimer’s rule, a highly honored position among the Apolake Warriors. I live on Dwarkaa Farrin, the ruling farrin of the world, the land mass where Casimer, our Lord, dwells.
I decided to start chronicling my life and the things that have taken place around me. I have sensed change brewing, an unsettled sort of unrest within my chest. Writing about my experiences seemed wise and my writings may be of some use in the future.
My woman left early one morning, before I arose from my bed, as was her custom. She told me where she was going, her tale the same every day. She would always head to the market early to sell her wares to the other women looking for fine fabric and useless trinkets, which she called the Fine Jewels of Takara. She always insisted that it was in the early hours, just after dawn, that the women of wealth visit the market.
Later, right after my morning meal, my woman walked back through the door of our home with a smile I grew to hate. That’s the day I decided to kill her.
When I first took her as my own, I gave her the name Tanvi. She eventually no longer deserved the title. The name meant – The Brightened One – but there ceased to be anything bright about her. She eventually plunged to bringing me only darkness of soul and I concluded that a strumpet scourge had taken her over. I came to despise the sight of my woman and her bright smile mocked me.
I’d heard the rumors, stories whispered in secret, when my fellow warriors didn’t know I was listening. According to the gossip, Tanvi had been warming the beds of many warriors. One day I again happened across two warriors under my charge and hid myself as I heard her name spoken. According to their talk, Tanvi had been consorting with a warrior named Mafalda, a man under another ship captain’s command.
Stopping Tanvi’s whoring ways became my main goal and I began to plan her demise and how I would accomplish this. I slew her and dumped her body in one of the outlying hovels, where everyone lacks food and where the children’s bodies are gaunt and their skin paper thin. I knew they would have a feast. Perhaps the bitterness she brought me would turn their stomachs sour. I didn’t really care.
The dark union with a whore changed me. Discarding her faithless carcass changed the trajectory of my future even more.
What I truly wanted to chronicle, why I started this missive, is related to the musings of a fellow ship captain by the name of Umiko. His ramblings began to intrigue me. I never would have given him the time of day before. I’d always viewed him as beneath me since his missions were focused on the foul farrins to the south east, ones no captain ever inspires to gain. My missions were the highly regarded ones, encompassing the land masses to the west. Although they are not necessarily the largest of the land masses around, their clans are some of the most substantial in numbers and strength, making the western farrins the most prestigious farrins in the entirety of Dwarkaa’s Domain.
I was given the privilege of joining the elevated position of the Apolake Warriors because of my exceptional skills during my childhood weapons training but also because of my father. He has always held a high position in Casimer’s regime.
Father didn’t give me an opportunity to choose another profession. He told me what I would be doing, especially after he saw my giftedness during training. His cruelty as a father prepared me for my life’s calling and Casimer’s iron rule.
Keeping the farrin clans in line was my main job description. I did whatever was required to ensure the clans remained subordinate and seeing the clan leaders pander to my demands fed my ego. Although I used to love my position and the power it supplied, in the last few years I developed a weariness of many things. I grew weary of the endless death and destruction everywhere, the relentless blood-lust of our ruler, the iron hand that dominates all life and which eradicates all joy.
I also grew entirely fatigued of a faithless woman. We always wanted a child. Tanvi could not conceive and, after I killed her, I felt grateful. Having had a child would have complicated things. But I still felt weary of my childless state. I decided to find another woman, one who would understand the importance of remaining true or, at the very least, the terror of what could happen if she didn’t. Perhaps I could eventually sire some children and secure a future.
Before I discarded Tanvi’s body, I removed her head and placed it on a pole in my house as a warning to my next woman. This threat should stop the replacement from the temptation of sharing her body with others.
My mother fared worse. I never learned what her crime toward my father was and it didn’t really matter. I was just thankful I was born male. The murderous act happened when I was twelve. I walked into my parents’ home and saw my mother nailed to the kitchen wall, her heart cut out and sitting in a pot on the stove. My father never told me what she’d done wrong but I could guess. Mother was strong in character and physique. Many nights I went to bed hearing their arguments and fights escalate into brawls.
I never knew if both would still be alive come morning. Relief always flooded me when I saw my mother when I awoke. Often her face was covered in bruises and Father also sported signs of their scuffles. Theirs’ was not a relationship of camaraderie but of convenience and mutual hatred. Although I missed her, I was glad she died. With her death came a semblance of calm. Her death happened a long time ago and life changed.
What I determined to write about happened a few days ago. I had an encounter that I found highly intriguing. I was drinking elixir with some fellow captains at the Shadowed Tavern. Captain Umiko sat down next to me and began to tell me tales of the land masses to the south east. He’d consumed a fair amount of liquor and his tongue had loosened.
Umiko said, “One of my warriors has taken a fancy to a wench down in Akoni Farrin. Every time we visit the land mass, Broehain takes care in his inspection of her and, on our trips back to Dwarkaa, speaks constantly of her superior form and features. I think he wants me to approve and sanction his wish. He’d like to take her with us, return her here to Dwarkaa and make her his woman.”
I answered, “Has he fulfilled his years as a junior officer? Is he entitled to a woman?”
“Nearly. He has three more months before he will be approved.”
No warrior is allowed to settle down until he has fulfilled Casimer’s law of ten years of faithful service.
“And…what is your decision?” I asked.
“I might approve it. Broehain has proved a skillful warrior – exceptional in every way.”
“This woman, is she as superior as Broehain has claimed?”
“She’s fine enough for an Akoni wench.”
I grimaced and said, “That’s true. I’m not sure any worthwhile woman could be found in the south.”
Umiko chortled.
Umiko has several women under his roof. I struggled to keep one woman in line, never mind multiple ones. I stared at him and said, “I’ve heard rumors of things changing in the south. What can you tell me?”
Umiko’s cheerful expression vanished and he gave me a hard stare. “Did one of Casimer’s guards put you up to this?”
I raised both hands, palm out and said, “No. I’m only asking out of curiosity.”
He eyed me suspiciously and then cautiously said, “I’ve been fulfilling my duties. The clans are abiding to my demands as usual. There are no significant changes that are any of your concern.”
“So rumors of Akoni’s reforms are of no threat to Dwarkaa? Do you think Casimer would agree?”
Umiko’s eyes betrayed his terror. “Who all knows of this?”
“Word is spreading. I’ve heard stories from your own lips after you’ve had too much to drink. Don’t go blaming the warriors under your command although they have also started talking.”
“How much do you know?”
“I’ve heard that Akoni Farrin no longer initiates war, have sought out other farrin clans, negotiated peace agreements and they are all collaborating their resources.”
“That’s not true! They waged war a few months ago.”
“Against a clan that refused to negotiate with them; a clan that threatened Akoni’s safety. That’s not so unusual.”
Umiko looked shocked at my knowledge. “Akoni is still in the killing business. I’m still fulfilling my quota.” The fear in Umiko’s eyes exposed him.
“And what is that? Once or twice a year? You travel their bi-annually and demand one infant? The rest of the Apolake ship captains travel to their assigned farrins four to six times a year. Our infant count exceeds yours by far.”
“What do you want?”
“What is it about Akoni that frightens you so?” I’d often wondered that. I’d heard stories of the dreaded area but never inquired before. I found it easier at times to stay ignorant than to deal with the feared unknown.
Umiko scanned the room carefully. The other captains were sitting a distance away and were embroiled in a lively discussion of the latest manipulations of their favored land masses and instigated clan rivalries.
Umiko met my eyes and said, “The south is cursed. Every time my crew travels too close to the southern most farrins a cloud of dread descends on us. Visions of our demise begin to play through our minds and every one of my men begins to act erratic. Akoni Farrin is the closest inhabited land mass to mist-shrouded Tarmon. Everyone believes that Akoni is being influenced by Tarmon and whatever mysterious malevolence rules from that place.”
This is what I’d been waiting to hear. I’d been curious about Akoni for quite some time. The rumors were swirling, if only through the taverns for now. But soon word would make its way back to Casimer and I didn’t know what would happen then. Casimer is unpredictable and fiercely insane about dominating every farrin and its clan.
My curiosity fed into my next question. “Why does Casimer not demand more visits to Akoni and more sacrifice? Does he not realize that the clan will come to despise him if he doesn’t enforce his rule there?”
Umiko leaned forward and lowered his voice a degree further. “Whenever we visit the land masses close to Akoni, the Tonrar are exceptionally efficient and eager to depart. I suspect they are terrified of what lies behind the mist of Tarmon Farrin. Akoni’s close proximity to the feared land mass puts the Tonrar on edge.”
The information Umiko shared was fascinating. “What do you think has caused this change?”
Umiko shrugged and took a long draft of his drink, set the mug down and said, “There was a leadership change five years ago and since then things have begun to shift.”
“Who is leading the clan?”
“A woman by the name of Xiomara.”
“A woman!” I laughed long and hard for I truly thought Umiko was fibbing. I hadn’t heard such a good joke in a long time. When Umiko didn’t share my humor but responded with a sullen stare, I stopped laughing, nearly choked on my own saliva and managed to ask, “It’s true?”
He nodded.
“How can that be? Why would the men tolerate a woman clan leader?”
“I haven’t been able to learn the reason for it.”
“Have you asked, demanded?”
“I have. I’ve even threatened to take every baby on the farrin back to Dwarkaa with me.” Umiko’s eyes took on a strange misty look.
“And?”
“When I did, the other Akoni clan leaders took a step towards me and towards the rest of the Apolake warriors under my command. Every one of Akoni’s leaders was weapon heavy, daring me to try.”
I felt immediate disdain for Umiko. No Dwarkaa Ship Captain allows a farrin clan’s leadership to take the upper hand. He must have seen the contempt on my face.
“Farther onto the sandy beach, I also noticed archers with their arrows pointed at our hearts. Every member of Akoni Farrin Clan seems in complete reverence and awe of Xiomara. They’re willing to die for her. I’ve never seen anything like it in my life.”
I leaned back and mulled this over. His claims sounded other worldly and utterly bizarre. No farrin and its clan attempts to oppose a Dwarkaa Ship Captain because there are heavy repercussions for anyone who dares. The punishment for such an act involves a lot of torture and death, beating the clan members into submission.
Umiko spoke again. “This happened the last time we visited there. I had the distinct impression that they could have taken us down if they really wanted to. They could have taken the ship and put an end to us all.”
I sat up and leaned forward. “Where were the Tonrar in all of this?”
“That was the most surreal part of our trip. On our journey across the Talulah Sea, the Tonrar left us when we were two farrins away from Akoni Farrin. Their heavy presence vanished and never returned to us. I’m not sure where they went or why.” Umiko looked spooked.
His look undid me and his information confused me. The Tonrar are as cruel as they are oppressive. They are the ones who assist in Casimer’s demands, who goad and abet our cruelty toward the farrins and who reinforce our intimidation. At times they also kill given the opportunity.
The Tonrar are mists, hidden wraiths, which come and go as directed during the ship tours and carry the heavy handedness of Casimer everywhere they appear.
“So what is it about Akoni Farrin that the Tonrar fear?”
Umiko shook his head slowly. He lifted his mug and drained his elixir, his fifth glass since we’d been speaking. The elixir was a benefit to our conversation, helping to loosen his lips. If he’d been sober, he never would have spoken to me.
Umiko finally lifted his eyes to mine and said, “The atmosphere has changed. I smell revolt in the air.”
Fury rose in me as I quickly stood, took a step toward him, grabbed him by his drab leather coat, hauled him to his feet and slammed him against the wall. The chair he’d been sitting on toppled to the side with a thud. Suddenly every eye in the room was on us but I didn’t care.
I chose my words carefully and yelled into Umiko’s face. “How dare you put us all in danger! You worthless piece of trash! I should kill you here and now!”
Umiko looked undone by my sudden outburst. My tirade was a common occurrence at the tavern especially after consuming a good deal of elixir or grog. The other warriors and captains soon ignored us and went back to their lively bantering.
I lowered my voice, my words only for Umiko, but spoke with meaning. “You will bring me this fair maiden from Akoni. You bring her to me and she will be mine.”
“But…but…what about Broehain?”
“He’ll have to find another woman.”
Umiko looked pathetic, weak and afraid.
“Lie to him, whatever you need to do so he will participate in bringing her back. If your men believe that you are assisting one of their own in settling down, they will do everything in their power to make it happen. If you don’t do this I will expose your weakness to Casimer’s guard and you will be destroyed. Your children, your wives, they’ll all be executed.” I held him firmly, glared into his eyes in warning. “Do you understand?” I am much younger than Umiko but I’m stronger and more vindictive.
His fear was palpable. “You don’t know what you’re doing.”
“Of course I do. I’m going to find out what’s going on with Akoni Farrin. If Dwarkaa is in danger and Casimer’s rule is being threatened there are ways of finding out.”
Someone sidled up beside me, a ship captain I respect, a man by the name of Tallon. He asked, “Should I summon the guards?”
I let go of Umiko’s coat and stepped back. “No. That won’t be necessary. Umiko and I have come to an agreement.”
Tallon glared at Umiko. “Is this fact?”
Umiko grudgingly nodded. “Yes.”
Tallon lowered his chin, turned and wandered back to where he’d left his mug sitting on a table, surrounded by other captains and high ranking Apolake Warriors.
I delivered one more directive before I left Umiko. “Keep me informed as to when you depart for Akoni Farrin and when I’m to expect the woman.”
“I will,” he finally spat out.
I knew he was afraid for his life but I didn’t care. I had to know what was going on.
