The Land Below our Feet COMPLETE

ELAIEN

The young boy had stopped feeling weird about leading the way by now. His steps were firm and confident as he looked for the signs the Yahurian had spoken of. His words replaying like a mantra inside his head.

“Listen to me kid. You are to say precisely as I tell you, and you may even stand a chance. When Ashrae comes, you must make sure he knows exactly how I look. Now... I am going to show you the hidden way to Yahur and you are going to take him to us, so you can grant me some reckoning”.

After Tamensun fell, and they found out that the Yahurian had beaten them there and taken the Vessel with him, the monstrous tyrant had tried incessantly to coerce the instructions out of Elaien day and night for almost an entire week, before finally giving up and silently watching him guide. The conversation always heading to the same stranded path...

-Tell me how to get there, and I will let you live! - Ashrae must have shouted a hundred times.

And every time Elaien would mutter the same response, his voice growing gradually stronger as days passed.

-If I tell you, you will kill me, and even if you don't… The Yahurian promised me a slow torture and a slower death if he were to find out that I had told you a single word.

-Don't you know I can torture you too, imbecile? – Ashrae had yelled furiously, his eye orbit bulging and threatening to burst out.

-You can, sir… But with all due respect, I have seen what that Yahurian can do, and I am more afraid of him than of whatever you may do to me.

-Then I will just kill you right now for being such an arrogant bastard! – He'd announced menacingly, the vein on his forehead popping out dangerously.

-If you do so, then you will never get to Yahur, and you will have lost your chance to kill the man that did that to your face – The child had answered as he pictured the warrior's eyes and willed his trembling voice to still. The monarch storming off violently and cursing at his mere existence every single time.

At first, the boy had found it difficult to discover the signs the Yahurian had given him to guide them towards his home. Each one perfectly hidden from the unsuspecting eye.

A slight discoloration on a mountain wall, a fallen tree lying on the roadside with a minuscule mark on it, the collapsed stones in the distance that innocently showed the way.

But as they progressed in that seemingly random pattern, the army's patience had started running thin with every step they took, and Elaien could feel it. He was worried that the irritated horde would end up rioting and killing him anyway. But for now, he kept his mouth shut and his pace steady.

The boy couldn't help the smile that enlightened his face when he spotted a peak resembling a howling wolf. It was hard to locate the similitude at first. But once he did, he could no longer unsee it. His heart beating uncontrollably inside his chest, and with good reason… After all, this was the last mark the Yahurian had spoken to him about.

His brief joy had been abruptly interrupted when Ashrae´s enraged voice thundered from behind him, making him shiver.

-I swear we already walked this path a day ago!- He shouted in frustration- Are you leading us in circles? You useless piece of crap! If you have been lying to me, I will cut your tongue out… You don't need that to walk anyway.

He had dragged him by his clothes, his body tumbling across the ground as he fought to resist the savage attack and escape from the knife waving over his face.

Ashrae´s tired men had immediately begun cheering and perking up at the possibility of seeing some blood. Their euphoria soon spreading throughout the troops as they claimed excitedly for some kind of entertainment.

-Please! - Elaien shouted desperately over the loud crowd of voices - Please sir, just grant me this and if by sunset I have not yet delivered your army to Yahur´s gates, I will chop this tongue myself!

A mix of interest and amusement had sparkled briefly in Ashrae´s nasty and brutish eye, before letting his clothes go and pushing him forward.

-You got yourself a deal kid - He had cackled animatedly - Bets are open folks! What you say? Is the smart-ass putting up a show for us tonight or not?

They had laughed and joked… They had gambled on their liquor and wagered their rations. Stakes were high, and not favoring the boy. A constant torrent of derision and humiliation pouring over him as he kept walking with tightened lips and vigilant eyes.

But nobody was laughing now… Not when they stood before the magnificent walls of Yahur´s citadel. An impossible number of warriors staring down silently at them from an impressive height.

There was still sunlight when the gates opened and a tall, white-haired, masked woman with bronze skin and lean muscles, walked out calmly and barehanded. Stopping midway to where the Xibleneans stood.

-Ten years have passed - The woman spoke clearly and unhurriedly- It took you a while to find us.

Ashrae moved forward with a vacillating step, before squaring his shoulders and puffing his chest out at her.

-And now that I did, you will feel my wrath - He spat with pomposity - You should blame that golden boy of yours for it… He is the one who sold you out.

-Oh, I don't blame him at all - The Yahurian Mother replied, laughing- And in fact, he sold no one. He was just being an agent of fate. You were meant to be before us at this hour and day.

-You say well, Elder- Ashrae nodded, opening his arms and gesturing at his vast army displayed around, stretching for a great distance, much farther than an eye's reach- It's been a long time, and as you can see, I have prospered. We are plenty, and we are stronger.

-I can tell - The woman said imperturbably- And yet, you will still fall.

-It must be troubling having war coming to your door this time… I can only imagine - The Xiblenean taunted her with a smug smirk - Surrender the Vessel and your white Yahun, and in exchange I will retreat my troops.

-I cannot do that - She simply responded, shaking her head.

-Then there will be blood- Ashrae remarked.

-As it has been fated - The woman retorted.

Elaien had watched this scene unfold with a nervous gut and drenched palms. When he saw the old lady motioning to withdraw, he knew this was his only chance. He held his breath and bolted all the way towards her as fast as his feet could go. His quick movements went completely unnoticed, until the puzzled eyes of the entire Xiblenean army found him holding for his life to the woman's armor.

-Guider!- He yelled out loudly, reciting the words he had repeated inside his head so many times before, that now, he knew them by heart- I have come here by the grace of the sworn Yahurian warrior who sent me on this marked path! I beg you to grant me this sanctuary! For which in return I present you my eternal vow to serve with my heart, my soul... And my entire life!

A silent moment passed before the white-haired lady gave him a kind look and reached for his hand.

-You little traitor! – Ashrae yelled, infuriated, when he realized what had just taken place before his very own eye.

-He said the words – Pahoka-Xe spoke firmly, patting the kid's shoulder - He belongs to Yahur now.

-I will have his head once I take your city anyway! - He cried out, throwing a fit and pointing at them both with his accusing finger.

The Guider simply nodded at him before turning around and guiding the kid back inside, the gates closing behind them and leaving the stupefied army staring blankly at the solid metal barricade.

-Yahurians! Defend your home! - She calmly ordered and a multitude of voices grunted eagerly in response.

-Ussiariah sent me- The child muttered timidly as Pahoka-Xe led him through the wide roads of the fortress. His mind recalling vividly the warrior's last words to him.

“Now remember kid. Tell them as I said, and they might even let you live.”- Then he had crouched by his side and whispered very softly into his ear - “And… If you are brave enough, and you do as I told you. I promise Yahur will welcome you, and you won't ever have to be afraid.”