- - - Three weeks ago, somewhere in Alerar - - -
“Don’t worry. Old age hits us all, you aren’t really needed here anyway.”
Those few words stung hard and Sorian’s heart began to beat powerfully in his chest. His eyes, unable to focus on Cazri’s face, started to blur and his balance quickly faded. Sorian dropped to the floor with a thump - a whirl of dust lifted into the air around him and the bright blue sky span around in an unnatural, hazy circle. What was happening to him?
—
Sorian’s eyes opened with a flicker and then closed again, daylight, initially too bright for him as he came around to the waking world. He felt his chest rise up and down calmly, his dusty dry nose an echoing cavern as he snored loudly. A few voices muttered in the background, and they quickly became the only noise he could focus on in this silent awakening. As if the wax was removed from his ears, the muffled voices came into focus, and the familiar tones made their way into his mind.
Sorian remained still, being careful to listen before revealing himself. It took some effort to catch the words, but gradually he took in their conversation.
“However, the Skeleton may not be so compliant, should we let Sorian die.” The well spoken tone of Aratmus, the leader of the Dwarven army, slowly became clear.
“But no one knows what is wrong with him.” The familiar voice of Cazri was easy to identify, curt and femine, she sounded frustrated.
“We have more than just men at our disposal. Use them.”
“I don’t think…”
“Respect!” Aratmus said sternly and suddenly, and Cazri immediately paused without a huff. “I shouldn’t have to ask for it… Whatever you wish to do in the near future is your choice.”
“As you wish.” Cazri’s voice calmed into reluctant obedience, and then the blackness of Sorian’s closed eyes was met with silence.
Waiting a moment for anything further, Sorian then opened his eyes and the world illuminated before him. The dull brown of the medical tent filled his initial vision, shielding him from the bright sun above. Taking one long deep breath he rolled his head to look around, wincing slightly as his neck cracked from stiffness.
Lay upon a basic but firm fabric bed, he was propped up from the floor on a crude but effective wooden frame. Shaded from the direct sunlight the tent was open but for the windbreakers that surrounded it. The somewhat sweet smell of foreign plants struck his nose, while only the light flail of the wind breaks sounded into the surprisingly silent area.
One of the windbreakers raised open as Carzi stepped inside. Dressed in a hooded tunic of sorts, she protected herself from the sun, but the reflection from her silver eyes was unmistakable. She paused upon meeting his weak gaze, but the surprise that filled her face was not a happy one.
“So… You’re finally awake.”
It took some effort to sit up and he placed his hands out wide to steady himself. His head felt heavy and while only momentarily, his vision blurred and then refocused as he regained some composure. He rubbed his head as Cazri handed over a canteen of water.
Tipping the canteen back he felt the beautiful relief of the cold water as it passed his flaky lips and softened his sore throat. As enjoyable as the water was, it revealed the true nature of his current state, his throat ached and pained as he took a pause between sips, and his dry eyes quaked as he received a much needed hydration.
“You need to drink more water out here,” Cazri placed a second canteen at his feet. “We may not see eye to eye, but right now your health is important to our cause.”
“It must have pained you to have to help me.” Sorian took another sip of water.
Cazri stared at him as he coughed and cleared his throat, she wanted to respond with a witty remark, but now wasn’t the time. At least not while she was under orders to look after him. “Drink up. I’ll come check on you shortly.”
Cazri began to walk off.
“I know.” Sorian called out, forcing her to pause in her exit. “I know you want me dead. Does your hatred really stretch so far?”
Carzi turned back to him, disgruntled enough to respond. “I don’t actively want to kill you. But it would be convenient. Do you expect anything else? You have been a pain in my ass for over thirty years.”
“And you mine.”
“I’ve spent many more years than you’ve been alive plying my trade. Earning my reputation, and putting myself at the top of all things important in this world. And you… You constantly get in my way. You… even at your age continue to be my competition. Fighting me for contracts, trying to out-smart me…”
“You resent healthy competition?” Sorian laughed with difficulty, holding his throat as i to sooth the pain.
“Competition? You scrape the barrel of life. You do not have your own home. You carry your belongings on yourself, and you bathe rarely. Efficient over the years for your job… but useless with yourself. No self control.”
“Enjoying life and spending my earnings. That isn’t a bad thing. Tell me, what else is there to achieve? A plot of dirt to call mine? How utterly pointless.”
“I celebrated when you retired.” The blunt response was designed to insult, but Sorian seemed unaffected. “Why did you return?”
“I also celebrated. At least at first I did. I began to wonder what I was to do, I had no purpose, no goals… I’ve never had that before. Then… Elite changed that. I don’t know why he chose me. Why he follows me. Why he does anything. But he gave me life… vigor, again.”
“You’re dying. He couldn’t have helped you that much. Maybe he’s really here to collect your soul.”
“We all die. Besides, what makes you think your leader has the best of intentions for you.”
“The Syndicate is hiding too much in the shadows. Their actions and methods are slow. I’ve found something bigger, faster, more powerful.”
“At least the Penumbra Syndicate doesn’t raise armies to begin wars. How many people will die in a war that gives nothing but power to certain individuals? The people do no benefit. I imagine they are coerced with lies and false promises. You won’t get what you are promised from this. I guarantee it.”
“I don’t know why they sent you. I don’t need you, and quite frankly, I’m not interested in explaining myself to you. A new power is arising, and I’m backing the victor. Now shut up, and drink up.”
