Fantasy Farewell to Kings: Temple of Hyxia

[alwaystheOptimist]

Rheitz turned her head sharply towards Lautrec. "Come again?" Her eyes had bulged and her cheeks began to redden.

Delilah doubled over, laughing. Rheitz looked back, eyes growing wider.

 

[Jodyguru]

He looked at her and shrugged. “It is what it is. Figured you should know, as a trusted partner in this adventure. I will not let it undermine your validity in this endeavor. Alright?” He smiled and waved at her. He was wearing the charm bracelet she gave him around his wrist.

 

[alwaystheOptimist]

Rheitz stared at him for a minute and then grinned. "I knew it! I knew you liked her. Delilah was convinced you didn't but I told her you liked her!" She turned back to Delilah and waved. "It worked!" she yelled, throwing her arms up in the air. She glanced back at Lautrec, grinning.

 

[Jodyguru]

He groaned and shook his head at her. “You’re something else, Rhietz.” He chuckled. “Can I have my sword?” He asked. Rhietz was carrying his silver fiddle.
Giving it back to him, he started playing a fun little riding song on horseback. “Lilah, my Queen, my black rose.” He sang. His singing voice wasn’t the best, but he was in high spirits.

 

[alwaystheOptimist]

Delilah blushed, pushing her horse up to his. Her hand covered his mouth to stop the song. "Gosh, sometimes I forget that you're so cheesy," she muttered.

 

[alwaystheOptimist]

The tribal lands of the Daharan people were marked by short walls of sandstone. Cut carefully into thick, square slabs, the walls were adorned with simple gold figures. Two guards stood at the gate, casting a wary eye at the travelers in the distance.

"Halt. Who has come to the gates of the Daharan?" one of the guards held out his scimitar, the blad glinting in the sun. Ivsal held up his hand, removing the wrap of cloth around his mouth. The guards, catching sight of his face, dropped to their knees. "Echan Ivsal, we apologize if we posed a hindrance," the first guard said, sheathing his scimitar. "No need. You may rise," Ivsal waved his hand. "You," he pointed at the second guard, "tell the chief I have brought his daughter and Xioxan as well as their friends. We have found the woman who saved the herds and we shall be holding a feast.

The guard bowed, "Yes Echan."

 

[Jodyguru]

Lautrec tucked his violin away to watch the road more carefully. Approaching the gates, he wondered how much influence this man Ivsal really had.
“Are you sure this is what we should be doing right now, when our rivals may already have found the hidden temple?”
Winston snorted. “I actually agree with that. This is a waste of time.”

 

[alwaystheOptimist]

Rheitz glared at the group. "Shut up! The Daharan take feasting very seriously, and if you can manage to get into their good graces, they'll guide us through the desert. This will ensure we don't get lost and it'll cut back on time. The Red Desert is vast but our people have found ways to trek through it in only half the time." Ivsal said something to Delilah who slid off her mount.

"It's better if you walk from here. Only kings and chieftains dare ride their mounts through the village and we're neither," she called back to them. Rheitz had already dismounted and was guiding her donkey down the dirt trodden path.

The village was composed of sandstone houses, square-like in shape. Donkeys stared lazily at the travelers, munching on sun-bleached grass. Women were hustling about, pots in hand and cooking fires burning bright. The men were sitting in circles, talking and laughing, cups of tea being handed out to them. A group of children ran up to Rheitz. "Rhi-dan! You're back!" Rheitz grinned, smiling down at them, "I am! Guess who I brought with me?"

A chorus of "Who?" greeted her. She pointed at Delilah, "Xoxan." The children gasped, "Xoxan? The Xoxan?" They ran up to her with new fervor, wonder filling their eyes.

"Are you Xoxan? The great story-teller?" one asked. "Killer of Beasts?" another added. "Avenger of the weak?" the cried as if they were quoting a heroic poem. She laughed, bending down and ruffling their hair. "I am little ones, though I didn't know that there are so many stories about me." She winked, giving them another warm smile.

The children grinned back at her, "Will you tell us a story today Xoxan?" the littlest one asked. "I'll do my best little one."

 

[Jodyguru]

Lautrec thought for a second that Rhietz would introduce Lautrec to them. They were partners before they all found each other as a group. He decided to leave, since children weren't his favorite people to be around. He walked through the streets, looking to keep with Tobias and Einus, who were looking around and somewhat following Ivsal up to a big sandstone building with open arches. This would be where the feast was to be held. Nearby, was another sandstone building, shaped more like a theater.
"I wonder if they perform at that place there." Lautrec said to Tobias.
"Maybe. I heard they like to pit prisoners against each other, winner gets to go free." Einus replied for him.
"He was talkin' to me!" Tobias said. "S... so you and the Queen. How is she? Is she as scary when she's mad as when she's..."
Lautrec frowned and gave him the red glare.
"N- nevermind." He said.
"She'd eat you alive, son." Einus chuckled.

 

[alwaystheOptimist]

The trio had left behind Rheitz, Delilah, and Winston earlier up the main path of the village. The two women had entered something akin to a tailor shop while Winston had stopped by the village healer's home to pick up some medicine to restock their depleting supply of salves and pills. Ivsal had stopped to discuss something with an elder who had crossed their path.

"Echan Ivsal. It is good to see you back from the fields so early. Who are these travelers?" The elderly faun smiled at the trio, though his eye caught on the dhampir standing between the two men. "Echan....is that a dromorra?" The elder stared at Lautrec with cold eyes, his fingers tightening on his cane.

Ivsal patted his shoulder. "Do not worry Elder. Xoxan and Rheitz have told us he does no harm. Rest assured, nothing will occur as it did so long ago."

The Elder sized up the dhampir. "Have you told the chief of this?" Ivsal frowned. "I shall speak to him now. Please, do not worry." He patted the man on the shoulder.

They left the elder, following Ivsal to a tent near the feasting hall. "You shall be staying here. Call Inarma. We have provided wine and food, but you must save your appetites for the feast."

.....

"Do you think this looks alright, Jenami?"

Rheitz twirled in her ghagra choli, the yellow of the cloth making her dark skin glow a golden brown. The older faun smiled fondly, adjusting the top. The dress was a two-piece with a yellow and pink skirt decorated with golden thread and a pink top that was short enough to reveal a large expanse of her stomach. A scimitar, whose hilt was decorated with amber, sat near her feet. Rheitz looked up at Delilah, smiling.

"I haven't done a scimitar dance in so long. I didn't realize you knew it as well," she lifted her arms as Jenami adjusted the sleeves of her top. "I had no idea you were Xoxan. Why didn't you tell me? Anyway, I thought Xoxan was from a long time ago. The elders always told us stories about how she helped in the Desert War. So how could that have been you?"

Delilah shrugged, though one could clearly see she was hiding something. She was dressed in a black and gold ghagra choli, though it was far more revealing than Rheitz. The collar dipped low enough to expose the curve of her breasts and the sleeves were cut away at the shoulders to expose her creamy, pale shoulders. A chain belt of gold was wrapped around the exposed skin of her waist. A scimitar with rubies on its hilt sat in her lap and she lazily traced the gems with a finger.

Rheitz sighed. "Fine, don't tell me. But does Lautrec know?"

The finger tracing the gems stopped moving. "No."

"There, all done!" Jenami tucked her needle and thread into a pouch and leaned against a table. "You look absolutely seductive! Wait till the young men dance with the two of you! They'll truly be having their hands all over you."

Rheitz blushed, looking down at her feet. Delilah laughed. "Rheitz, you know the scimitar dance is very hands on. Very hands on. Why are you blushing?"

She shrugged. "I dunno. But I'm still excited. I can't wait for the feast!"

 

[Jodyguru]

Tobias chuckled and started drinking some of the wine. Einus and Lautrec just wanted some water.
“These people remember you, Pale.” Einus said.
“yeah, that guy called you a drumorro or something.”
“They don’t remember me, they just remember stories about the Lords. Their ancestors were slaves being worked to death by my father or another dark lord.”
“Still, they carry those old wounds. I’m sure they’ll keep a close watch on you.”
“Nothing I’m not unfamiliar with.” Lautrec tilted his hat downward and started snoozing in a chair. They had ridden all night, and his internal clock was all kinds of messed up, traveling with these day walkers for so long. He was probably the oldest man in this village.
“Is he... sleeping?” Tobias asked. “I’m gonna go look for the girls. Make sure he’s awake for the feast, Einus.”

 

[alwaystheOptimist]

Tobias found the two women sitting outside on the veranda of the tailor's shop. They were chatting and sipping on black cactus tea, a crow sitting on Rheitz's shoulder.

"Oh Tobias! Hi!" Rheitz waved, setting her tea cup down.

 

[Jodyguru]

Tobias looked at Rhietz and blushed deeply. He tried to keep his chin up, like he always saw Lautrec doing when he talked to the girls.
“Uh, hi. W-wow, you look great. I mean your dresses look great. You in them, yeah.” He laughed nervously. “The others are staying in a tent near the feast hall. Lautrec is taking a nap if you can believe it.”

 

[alwaystheOptimist]

Rheitz grinned, rushing over and grabbing his arm. "Were you looking for us?"

Delilah had turned her chair to watch this spectacle of pure social awkwardness.

 

[Jodyguru]

The poor boy could hardly look at her. “Uh, yeah I suppose. I mean, you should know where we’re staying.” He was muttering under his breath.

———-
Meanwhile, Aida was in a tent alone with a guard standing out for watch. She was chained up laying on the ground. This was no place for her to stay. She bit her cheek as hard as she could and started drawing on the floor with her bloody tongue.
“Sanguine, I need you... to give me power.”
The cloth covering her eyes came magically undone, and her gleaming red eyes could see. The chains around her were getting loose. She was able to squirm around and get an arm free. That was enough.
She tapped the guard on the shoulder and then touched his head. The guard gave her his sword and ran out into the street to find Lautrec for her. She followed behind with a scimitar in hand and a desperate grin on her face.

 

[alwaystheOptimist]

Rheitz grinned. "Well, let's go then!" She pushed herself up, using his arm has leverage and placed a quick kiss on his cheek. "Thank you Tobias."

Delilah grinned, hiding her smile behind her mouth. Picking up the two scimitars on the table, she stood up. "Let's go then, shall we?"

 

[Jodyguru]

Tobias had weak knees, he couldn’t believe that had happened. He followed them back to the tents. They arrived in time to see Lautrec run quickly out of the tent with his scimitar out of its sheath. He hopped onto a basket, then a crate, then a stack of them, until he landed on the roof. Rhietz would recognize that move from the first night she saw him in action. He was standing up high looking around, then jumped down onto a street.
”Looking for me?” He said to Aida, who turned around with her sword ready. “You just won’t call it quits will you?” He asked as he approached.
Aida growled at him. “Not as long as we both draw breath.” She charged, and Lautrec stepped out of her way, swinging at her as she passed.
His sword scraped against steel chains and Aida came in with her blade. It clashed against his at the very last second. She advanced with her one good arm, getting Lautrec on the defensive. Their battle in the street caused the faun women to shrink away and gather their children for safety.
She roared and clashed her blade into his. Lautrec’s weapon was worn from the transmutation and multiple battles. He saw the blade starting to crack. He jumped backwards, hitting his back against a wall.
“Nowhere to run now!” She roared and came to deliver onto him a stab through his heart.

 

[alwaystheOptimist]

Ivsal rammed his horns into the dhampiress's side, the power of his blow pushing her to the ground. "You dare fight on our land?!" he turned to Lautrec with a glare. "I have told you before that she is an important guest. Do not try anything, dromorra." He called a few men to help Aida up and assist her to her tent.

Ivsal turned to glare at the dhampir. "We are watching. Do not dare to disrespect us again."

 

[Jodyguru]

Lautrec threw his sword into the dirt and squared off against Ivsal.
“She is my kin, and a liar! Look what she’s done to your man!” He pointed at a disarmed soldier who was standing slouched with glowing eyes from the hypnotism spell.
“She’s dangerous. Your men could die if you don’t see her that way.” His nostrils were flared. He was really upset with Aida, and wished he had decapitated the evil spawn sooner.

 

[alwaystheOptimist]

Delilah winced at what she was about to do raised her scimitar. Striding forward, she held the curve of the blade against Lautrec's neck, her brows furrowed. "Be quiet. He is the Echan of the tribe, the brother-in-law of the chief. Shut your mouth, and respect him." Her voice was low and dangerous.

 

[Jodyguru]

Lautrec’s eyes were focused on Delilah. He wanted to let out a sigh, but he stayed silent and picked his hat off the ground.
“I am sorry for fighting, Echan.” He said simply before following Delilah back to the others in the group, who all were watching what went down.

 

[alwaystheOptimist]

Delilah lowered the blade, lifting her hand to twist Lautrec's ear. "You idiot," she hissed, her voice low as she dragged him behind her. Rheitz stared wide-eyed at Lautrec and the group made way for the pair to enter the tent, making sure to leave them alone. She pushed him inside and raised a hand to slap his face.

 

[Jodyguru]

He stared up at her, wondering why she was hesitating to smack him.
“Go on, do your worst.” He said. “I wasn’t going to let her wander the streets like a bloodthirsty stalker. Heaven knows what could’ve happened.”

 

[alwaystheOptimist]

She lowered her hand, her arms snaking around his neck and pressing his head against her stomach. "I'm sorry I put a blade to your neck. I promise I won't do it again. I know that the fact that these people think she's a hero is annoying you, but you're going to have to suck up your pride and let it happen. Try to tolerate her, please?" She played with a strand of his hair, looking down at him.

 

[Jodyguru]

“I just don’t understand what they see in her. She’s frothing at the mouth like a rabid animal. The blasted sun must have eaten away at her sanity. She had blood in her mouth before I confronted her. Someone could’ve been attacked, but gods don’t hurt the albino girl.”
He hid his face from Delilah. There was a seed in his gut that was churning. Deep down he felt the reason he suffered was because Aida was born perfect. Immortal, beautiful, powerful, and human enough to escape the responsibility and punishment life gave him.
“Maybe that’s why I left her in that pit. I decided she didn’t suffer enough in life, and the pit was her burden to suffer alone” he said out loud, not knowing that Delilah had hardly a clue what he was on about.