When we arrived at the grandest and largest land mass in all of Dwarkaa’s Domain, the ship was docked and the gangplank lowered. Andrei and some of the warriors helped to secure the disembarkation of the false Dwarkaa crew.
I went to stand beside Razmig on the deck, both of us scanning the horizon for any danger. I was astounded at the sight of Dwarkaa, this my first encounter with the capital farrin. Numerous docks filled the port and ships beyond number were moored there, the masts and riggings filling the air with industriousness, like a mass of spider webs intertwined in a vast network of sinister domination. Many Royal Port employees scurried here and there, assisting various ship captains, filling out forms, arrival times noted, signatures taken and verification cards given. There were lower ranking employees scrubbing down the recently returned vessels, whitewashing the areas that had been battered by the rough seas and repairing any damage.
The hubbub of activity was overwhelming. My farrin used to have one sea vessel but it did not compare to the massive ships found on Dwarkaa. In the last few years we have confiscated some Dwarkaa ships but they stay hidden in the caves and rock enclosed inlets around my home land mass.
My view of Dwarkaa Farrin on my first glimpse was astounding. The harbor view showed me how massive this land mass was, extending in every direction as far as my eyes could see. I am certain my mouth hung open in shock as I studied the vast settlement.
Razmig said, “I forget how impressive Dwarkaa is, especially for someone from a base farrin
“I never imagined it to be this big.”
“Very few clan members from the other farrins ever see it.”
“Except the babies. What happens to the babies you abduct?”
“When you enter Casimer’s service you will find out.”
“I’d rather receive some warning.”
Razmig remained silent.
“You won’t tell me anything?”
“You know what to do and where to go.”
“So now it begins,” I said.
“Where will I find you and how will we stay in communication?” Razmig asked.
“We won’t. I have been told that there are runners, those on Dwarkaa agreeable to the cause. They will be our liaisons.”
“Have you been told how many there are?”
“No.”
“And their names?”
“I know a few names. But I cannot speak of them. Not yet.”
We both watched as the ship crew dispersed, walking down the dock, on to the sandy beach and on toward the streets and structures of Dwarkaa City. They were all given instructions of where to go. By nightfall hopefully all of us would arrive at our destinations safely.
“You should have come to warm my bed on the journey. It would have been a pleasant reprieve for both of us.”
“It’s time to leave that behind us. We have much to do in the next months.”
“Do you know where you are staying?”
“There is a safe house on the outskirts of Dwarkaa City that I’ve been assigned to. I and one other warrior from Akoni Farrin will go there. Akiko will join me.” I turned to look at Razmig. “And what about you? Where will you hide?”
“There are small towns throughout the farrin. I will find one of those to settle in.”
“Small towns? I never imagined Dwarkaa Farrin to be that expansive. I always assumed it was a single settlement just like the other farrins.”
“Dwarkaa City is the capital. This is where Casimer rules from. But there are many settlements throughout this land mass, the very reason it will be possible to hide, at least for now.”
You’ll need to discard your Apolake Ship Captain Uniform when you go into hiding.”
“I’ll burn it or find a good hiding spot for it. It may come in useful in the future.”
I nodded. To save the uniform could be a smart move, unless it was found by Dwarkaa Intelligence. Silence reigned between us for a few minutes.
Razmig said, “Do you know the position you are to apply for?”
“No. I will be told when the time is right.”
I noticed a port employee heading down the dock we were stationed at.
Razmig said, “It’s time to go.”
“Good luck.”
“I’ll need it.”
I turned, picked up my small bag and walked down the gangplank, keeping my head down as I passed the dockhand, my warrior cap hiding my face and my long hair tucked up beneath it. He paid me no mind. Although I felt mesmerized by the sheer size of the city before me, I tried to blend in the best I could.
Akiko stood at the end of the dock waiting for me. She stepped in beside me and we began our journey. She kept her hair chopped short so it was easier to disguise herself as a male.
When we reached the buildings, we walked a mere block when I noticed the red piece of cloth in a window we were told to watch for. I turned into an alley between two beggarly buildings and entered a side door. Akiko followed me inside. The simple, small dwelling was empty except for a roughly made table in the corner, surrounded by four rickety chairs and a small cot on the floor on the opposite side of the room. One other item drew my attention. A crudely constructed driftwood chest stood against a wall.
I went over to it, lifted the lid, the hinges creaking loudly in protest. Inside the wooden box were clothes neatly folded in stacks and tied with twine. They’d been placed there before hand in expectation of our arrival. I handed Akiko one bundle and took the other for myself.
“We change here but be quick about it.”
The rough textile outfit felt scratchy against my skin. I longed for my leather warrior garb from my own farrin and my soft wool undergarments to lessen the rub. But we needed to fit in here and so I was confident that we’d eventually adjust.
Akiko looked strange wearing the Dwarkaa clothes of the less enfranchised members of this farrin.
“I look stupid,” she said.
“It will help us blend in,” I said while scratching at the itchiness at my neck opening. I didn’t know how I’d manage to wear this uncomfortable outfit for more than a day. “We cannot walk through this city wearing Apolake Warrior uniforms. People would wonder what we’re doing so far from the port.”
“No ship crew member lives so far away?”
“None.”
I took the discarded Dwarkaa Apolake ship crew uniform and stuffed it into my bag. Akiko did the same with hers. They might come in handy later on.
Exiting the building, I cautiously headed back to the street, scanning the area for any danger. We began our trek side by side. No one paid us any mind as we walked mile after mile. Traversing the streets in a massive city I didn’t know was overwhelming. I’d been given rough directions by Suma but it still felt like we were walking blind. The beggarly buildings close to the port gave way to three story buildings that hugged the narrow path that ran like a torn ribbon between them. I’d never seen buildings this tall or such endless roads before. As rough and full of holes as the paths were, I was thankful that Akoni Farrin had learned how to repair and maintain our few pathways. The buildings all around us were rickety and falling apart but their size was impressive. I couldn’t help but stare at them and my gate slowed.
“They are incredible,” Akiko declared, stopping beside me and also gawking with wide eyes.
“We must keep moving. Do not gape. We need to imitate those around us,” I commanded as I turned and continued on.
We had nothing like this on Akoni Farrin. Our homes are all squat dwellings. By the number of people milling about the tight passageway it was clear the buildings were overflowing. Their clothes were tattered and torn. I saw no leather wear on anyone, their garb made of some type of textile, similar to what we had been given.
Every twenty streets or so opened up into a square. Each one of them held a platform with contraptions constructed which appeared useful to inflict harm and torture. Around each platform stood four raised, metal slat cages, with spaces beneath each of them, filled with black ash from wood fires. My imagination went wild with the possibilities of what they were used for. I’d heard of the cruelty of Casimer on Dwarkaa but now I began to understand more clearly. Our mission would be more dangerous than I even imagined.
After two hours of steady walking, the squalid homes gradually gave way to larger ones, located on more expansive properties. There were less people milling about here. I kept on a westerly trajectory, using the compass I carried in my pocket. After another hour of being surrounded by Dwarkaa luxury, the homes began to diminish in size and gradually became more beggarly looking. Once again, shoddy three story buildings dominated the area and the streets became tight and reeked of urine and human body odor. Wash lines were strung between buildings, clothes hung high above our heads, surely to keep thieves from helping themselves.
I kept my voice low as I said, “Have you noticed the prevailing smell of death in many parts of the city?”
Akiko responded quietly, “Yes. The odor is nauseating.”
The smell of decomposing flesh gradually grew stronger. A feeling of unease began to permeate the area and we picked up our pace. Half an hour of traversing this pauper’s district, I noticed the way marker I’d been told to keep an eye out for.
A tower loomed on the horizon, rising above the rooftops of the buildings. The tower had been whitewashed so that it stood in stark contrast to the beggarly, rough wood homes beneath it and stood like a beacon beckoning us toward it.
Up ahead I noticed a widening of the street into what looked like a large square. Sounds of anger, distress and wails of sorrow drifted on the wind. While fingering the hilt of my short sword in the holster at my waist, I proceeded with caution. Akiko did the same. I was glad I had another Akoni Warrior at my side. As we drew closer I noticed a crowd gathered in the square.
We held back behind the rows of people and tried to gain a view of what was happening. On the typical platform I’d seen in many other squares, at the center, was a Royal Guard screaming at a young man kneeling at his side.
“Casimer demands you pay for what you’ve done. Decide what your punishment will be; both hands removed or your tongue and eyes cut out.”
“Please don’t hurt my son!” A woman yelled from the crowd. “He’s done nothing wrong! The accusations are false!” She pushed her way forward and dragged a small child, no more than three, to the platform. “Take this one instead. I willingly give him up in exchange.”
A woman to the right of me screeched in fury. “That’s my son! Give him back!”
The crowd started to laugh.
The infuriated woman ran at the first woman. She overtook her, tackled her down and began to bludgeon her with a knife, over and over. The small child ran to his mother’s leg and held on. The young man on the platform cried out as his mother was killed before his eyes.
“Pay attention,” yelled the guard. “This is what happens to those who disobey Casimer and his royal decrees.”
I heard those closest to me whispering.
“What did he do?”
“Who knows,” someone answered cynically.
“I wonder what the infraction is this time?”
“Casimer doesn’t need a reason to terrorize us.”
“As long as it’s not my child,” said a mother, holding her two children close to her.
Someone else responded with, “You have two children. You are fortunate. You should move to the country while you have the chance.”
“No one is safe there either. Casimer sends his guards there also and demands blood.”
“I heard…,” one woman began.
“Shhh! Don’t say another word,” a man at her side warned.
I felt the heavy presence of the Tonrar descend at that moment and I knew why the man hushed his wife. Any derogatory thing spoken of Casimer would be punishable with death and the Tonrar always monitored any spoken dissension.
I noticed other Royal Guards dragging hapless and poverty stricken people toward the platform. So there were others who had violated some Dwarkaa infraction and were pinpointed for punishment or death.
My exhaustion from the long journey pulled at me and I suddenly had no desire to watch the torture and killing spree. I was getting a firsthand glimpse of Cassimer’s cruelty on his own farrin and I didn’t have the stomach for it. I signaled to Akiko and we gradually backed away, retracted our steps and headed a few streets over in a wide detour before continuing west.
The shouts and cries slowly dimmed as we walked. We passed the white washed tower and traveled another hour before I knew we were getting close to our destination. I noticed the streets widening further and began to see green leaves shimmering through the spaces between homes.
Tree growth grew thicker the farther we traveled, until there were stands of trees between properties. We were nearing the edge of the massive city and open country would soon greet us.
Akiko pointed and said, “Look there. Is that the pole?”
I turned in the direction she pointed. “It may be.”
The long pole in the distance, likely set up in another open square, was whitewashed but boasted of a red band at the top.
“Do you see any other?” I asked Akiko, while turning to scan the area.
“I do not.”
“Let’s head toward it.”
A mere fifteen minute walk later, the pole and square a few streets to our left, and I saw him. He was standing by a market, his clothes made of the rough textile I saw on the poorer members of Dwarkaa. But his clothes looked well made, were not torn and appeared clean. The cap he wore was the sign he was a business owner, farmer or some other lucky entrepreneur. I’d been told that the ones who wore caps had been sanctioned by Dwarkaa Rule to carry on business for the needs of the city.
The vegetable and fruit stand he manned was surprisingly colorful. Curiosity pulled at me to see the produce he was selling. Some of the colors I’d never before seen in a vegetable or fruit. Very little grows on our farrin of Akoni. I tried to focus and kept my gaze on his face.
Moments after I noticed him, his eyes found us. He scanned the area carefully, turned away, removed his cap for a second, revealing the bright red strip of cloth wrapped around his head, and returned the cap promptly to cover it.
We’d found our man.
Turning toward Akiko, I said, “We’ll pass him, pretend as though we are walking on. He cannot be exposed.”
She nodded and followed me. “Where do we go from here?”
“You will see.”
I did as I’d been instructed. I walked one street past and turned right. Ten streets later, we left the business section behind and entered an area of wealthy homes surrounded by lush yards filled with greenery. After traversing a few more streets, I suddenly noticed a woman sitting on a stool in front of her home sorting through a basket of bright red produce.
We were home. We stopped in front of the house. The woman looked up and scanned the surroundings. She nodded, stood, grabbed her basket of produce and walked into her house.
Akiko and I followed her inside. I hoped beyond hope that we had not been spotted.
