The Land Below our Feet COMPLETE

GRUDGE

He was a child again, clutching at the cold stair rail in his trembling hands. Feeling the tears fall down his neck as he tried to breathe. His throat closing with fear. The sound of death reaching his ears and making a shiver run perpetually down his spine. Every scream forever imprinted on his mind. Every plea burning eternally in his heart.

Back then, he could not have known how much time had passed when the prospect of facing death had finally become a welcome thought. But he surely knew now… The sun had already risen twice over the decaying bodies of his slaughtered kind, by the time he mustered the guts to climb the steps and push that door up, the sunlight blinding his eyes.

Pahoka-Xe had been crying bitterly over his mother's bludgeoned corpse and when she laid her shocked eyes upon him, filled with sorrow and contrition, he'd just known that they were all dead.

An agonizingly endless scream tearing his throat raw as he fell helplessly on his knees.

Ussi sat up bathed in cold sweat as the last of his terrors dissipated in the shadows. He looked around startled and wielding his knife when he noticed the emptiness of his lap, a relieved exhale escaping from him when he found the girl feeding the kid again.

-Don't you ever dare to take Axe away from me without my permission! - He scolded her, leaning against the tree and releasing a deep groan.

- I didn't, I am not an i***t to try and sneak up on you while you are asleep. He woke and stood up on his own. He was fussing around and I just didn't want him to bother you– Souna replied, ignoring his tone and standing up, placing the groggy child back into his arms - Nightmare?

-Just a recurrent dream - The warrior shook his head, scanning the child's face as he gradually fell back to sleep - What were you doing up in the dead of night, anyway?

-Couldn't sleep - She shrugged off, sitting back on the ground and wrapping herself in the blanket- I guess you could say I also suffer from some recurring dreams.

-Well, you should rest, we're leaving at dawn - The Yahurian nodded at her before reclining his head back and closing his eyes.

-If Xiblen conquered your city… How come it has remained deserted after all this time? - Souna´s voice asked, disturbing the silence of the night - Why wouldn't Xibleneans settle here after that?

-So, you are not going back to sleep then – Ussi muttered, cracking an eye open and glaring at her.

-I told you, I can't sleep – Souna retorted, rubbing her hands together to warm them up.

-The city has been left alone all these years because the Guider expelled the remaining Xibleneans and forbade them to ever come back – The Yahurian explained tiredly- When I came out from my hideout and found Pahoka-Xe, she was completely enraged at the atrocities Ashare´s men had dared to commit against the very offspring of Selahrian The Great, so she unleashed the infamous Yahurian fury over the unaware Xiblenean men.

-And they defeated them! – Souna cheered eagerly, captivated by his story.

-Oh… You bet! They absolutely crushed them! – Ussi chuckled, lost in his reverie - That was the very first time I got to witness the full power of a Yahurian army with my own two eyes.

-It took them a couple of hours to have them all surrendered and at their mercy – He scoffed with contempt – Well, the ones who survived… The Xiblenean army had been reduced to just a few tenths of mostly injured men by the time they were done. I begged Pahoka-Xe to let me kill Ashrae and avenge my family. But she said I was too young to bear the taking of a man's life.

He puffed out in disenchantment and let out a heavy groan before staring right at her, his irises burning with the light of a thousand suns combined.

-I was no stranger to the Yahurian way of taking war orphans into their ranks – Ussi nodded sharply – So when the invaders marched out in defeat with their depleted lines, and the impressive warriors began their leave back to Yahur, I ran to Pahoka-Xe and held to her hand with all my might… And I would never let it go.

-And so… She agreed to train you then? – She asked excitedly, adjusting herself in her sitting spot.

-Not at first- Ussi admitted, shaking his head – I spent an entire year as her personal servant before she even considered letting me in the arena. But once she did, I dedicated every breathing second of my existence to learn, to get stronger… To be better than any of my brothers.

-So, that is how you became her favorite son…- Souna smiled at him - You proved her your value.

-I didn't do it for her… All that time, the only thing occupying my mind was a relentless desire for revenge. I was set to prove my worth and gain my right to fight my first mission… It took me four years, but she granted it to me. And you cannot begin to fathom my delight when I found out we were fighting Xiblen… That day I would learn the hardest way, that I was still not ready at all.

-Why? – She asked, intrigued - Did Yahur lose that battle?

-No, we won. But I lost – He exhaled deeply – Ashrae had spent five years regrouping and licking his wounds. I knew his greed to expand his territory would eventually drive him to strike again, and I wasn't wrong… This time he had aimed his expedition towards southern lands: To Mavaer, a strategic town located near the border of Lowland.

-Yes, I know where Mavaer is – Souna nodded - I did not know that it was ever attacked, though.

-Well, that is because the Guider got word of Ashrae´s intentions before he could even move his army – Ussi explained – By the time they got to the city gates we were already waiting for them.

-So, you really put out the rising fires before they spread! – She pondered with admiration – I wonder how many wars have been botched by Yahur without our knowledge?

-More than you could ever imagine – Ussi shook his head sadly- And less than we would have wanted. There is always an old quarrel, there is always someone who wants their neighbor's land… And we cannot be everywhere, not every time. I know it firsthand.

He paused, glancing at the child's sleeping body in his arms, his sight clouding.

-Our eyes are always vigilant, and my brothers are always ready… But when hundreds of fires are blowing up at the same time, how do you put them out at once? Someone will inevitably get burned sooner or later… That is what happened to my people, and for that, I have no ill-feelings anymore.

-But you used to…?- Souna trailed off curiously.

-Oh yes. Yes, I did – The Yahurian nodded at her with regret- I joined Yahur´s Order out of spite and harboring a great hatred in my heart. I wanted payback and that was all I cared for. I only wished to master their fighting skills because they would help me accomplish my goal… That is why I lost. I didn't care about the creed or my brothers back then, only about myself and my painful grudge.

-So, did you find him? Ashrae? – She asked, biting her lip.

-I did. I had him cornered in less time than I had ever dreamed of, and I was set to have his head displayed at the tip of my spear by the end of the day. He was backing towards a shack and I wanted to take my time with him. So, instead of finishing him up and continuing my mission, I let him enter that home. The city had been evacuated, so I thought it was empty, and that was my biggest mistake.

Souna stared at him in silence, watching his gullet swallow a heavy lump while he found his words.

-When I entered the place, he was holding a little girl against his chest with a knife aimed at her throat. She could not have been much older than Axe is now…- He exhaled raggedly- I thought I could get to him first, but he'd already slit her neck by the time I closed the distance.

-Was she dead? – She asked in a murmur.

-She was... dying. I don't remember much of what happened next. My sight just went red after that. They say they saw me dragging him out onto the field by the neck and bashing his face while screaming gibberish at him. I was so out of it that I didn't even notice he'd stabbed me with his knife. Right here…

The warrior pointed at his lower abdomen, uncovering a gruesome, large scar over his hipbone.

-I didn't know back then, but Ashrae is fond of coating his weapons in Cottonmouth's venom. The left side of his face was a big pulp by the time I started feeling weird. Then my lungs began shutting down on me. Xibu noticed and got me off him. I woke up a couple of days later to find out the girl was dead and that Ashrae had used the turmoil to escape and crawl back to the swamps.

-So, that is why you despise kids? Because they distract you? – Souna asked with an accusing tone – Let me guess… You blame that girl for keeping you from fulfilling your goal?

-No… I blame myself! – The Yahurian growled at her - The only reason I failed, is because I forgot our creed! I should have treated him like any other menace and moved on with my day. Yahurians don't take sides, not even their own. I do not despise children. I am just terrified of being unfit to protect one ever again!

They stood in silence for a while, both watching the dancing flames by the dim bonfire.

-Why did Pahoka-Xe let you stay then? – Souna asked, making him wince - After all, you disregarded the creed. How did you end up as Commander after such an inexcusable fault?

-I don't know- He admitted, raising his brows in genuine surprise – She must have had her reasons, though. I know I didn't deserve it, yet she named me commander no longer after that. I just woke up that day, full of shame and realized my mistake. So, I picked up where I left off and fully committed to my pledge this time. For ten years, I have been getting ready to rise to the occasion if I ever cross paths with Ashrae once more.

-But you still hold that grudge, don't you?- She nodded at him - So, what has changed then?

-I am not that blind anymore not to realize that there are more pressing matters now– Ussi responded confidently – And I trust my fate… Pahoka-Xe once told me that when retribution time came, I would be a different man. I do not know what that means yet, but I am going to find out. And yes, I still hold that grudge. But the creed is stronger than that. That is why I am stuck out here with you and Axe, instead of fighting Ashrae´s army back at home as you should know I am dying to.

-But… - Souna started saying, before his exasperated grunt made her stop.

-No more buts, go to sleep – He ordered, closing his eyes and sighing – Enough chattering for now.