The Land Below our Feet COMPLETE

VESSEL

As soon as Ussiariah entered the city, followed by a fatigued Kohu, he was flanked by a large group of bellicose looking men... At least twenty on each side, every single one of them pointing at him with the sharp end of their drawn-out spear.

Ussi walked carefully with his arms still raised in the air, calmly studying his opponents as he was escorted to a huge stone building standing proudly in the middle of the noisy village.

While they made it through the enormous doors and into a large cold hall where an old man wearing a white tunic sat. One of the guards ventured to press his spear forward onto the Yahurian´s back. Kohu´s menacing roar making him back off a second later.

The warrior looked around, his eyes landing on the Elder's fragile figure and taking a step as the grey-haired man nodded for him to approach.

-Elder- Ussi started addressing the man, placing a knee on the cold floor and bowing with courtesy- I am grateful for this audience that you grant me and, in consequence, my kind. I am Ussiariah of Yahur, and I am here to retrieve the Vessel. I have sworn to assure its safety as it has been fated by the divination stone.

-Why is it that your face remains shielded, warrior?- The man spoke with curiosity -How can we trust the claims of a man who fails to reveal his features?

-Elder, you must forgive me- The Yahurian spoke, offering him another gentle bow - Our creed forbids the Pledged from removing our sacred mask before non-sworn ones. We do believe truth lies in our eyes though, so you will have to trust them for my word.

-You say no one outside your creed has ever seen anything but your yellow brows and those strange blue eyes of yours, Yahun? -The Elder asked with amusement.

-None has - The warrior nodded with pride - Not since the moment I took my oath.

-I respect that - The man agreed, signaling for him to stand up -Now... You say you want the Vessel, but you must know that is not a thing, nor something that can be given to anyone.

-No, Elder. You are mistaken. I do not want it… But I am bound to it. I only seek to fulfill the mission my Guider Pahoka-Xe has laid on me.

-What makes you and your Guider think that a single Yahurian can protect the Vessel any better than our full army of soldiers and the height of our walls can't. Tamensunians have been fulfilling this sacred task for generations. Why would this have to change now?

-Because there is a bigger army marching towards Tamensun. That, if they are not here already. We are wasting time and neither your men nor your walls will be enough to slow them down. It has been foreseen by the Guider, and now you must comply before it is too late. They want the Vessel, so hand it over now and let me fulfill my purpose!

A deafening detonation shook the city's very core, drowning Ussi´s words. His eyes darting towards the old man's in plea.

-Time is up Elder - The Yahurian spoke firmly, wielding his spear and looking all around as the yelling sounds closed in- Show me the way to the Vessel before your city falls.

-Come with me- The Elder nodded, leading him to a hallway as Ussi shielded him with his body, waving his spear left and right and making his way through the maddening chaos of fired-up men that tried to lunge at them.

Ussiariah struggled to get past a huge mob, pressing forward while landing stabs all around, his hand gripping the Elder by the collar and pushing him towards the closed doors the man was pointing at, both being followed by Kohu who was slaughtering his fair share of enemies.

When they reached the large gate and the old man opened it, Ussi rushed to shove him inside the room, bolting the door behind them. Then he pushed a heavy shelf against the throbbing wood. A piercing feminine scream ringing in the distance and making both look into each other's eyes.

-Go! It's right ahead - The Elder begged, wincing in pain, his hand clutching his abdomen and soaking in blood from a big wound on his side as he slid to the ground -You find the Vessel and keep it safe. Don't let them get to it first, Yahun! Don't let us down!

-I won't- The warrior replied, sprinting forward towards the increasing yelling- It's my fate!

The Yahurian reached the source of the shrieks and found two Xiblenean bludgeoning a crying woman, beating her mercilessly as she fought to keep her grip on a big, golden chest.

Ussi lost no time peeling them off her and sending them flying across the room, his feet stomping their heads before burying his spear into each of their chests and seeing the light in their eyes fade away.

He stood there, panting and recovering his strength before turning around and collecting himself, running towards the badly injured woman that was bleeding all over the place.

-Hey- He spoke loudly, slapping her face lightly and intending to get a reaction. His hands trying in vain to stop the blood streaming from her gut - Where is the Vessel? Talk to me lady!

The woman used the last of her strength to point at the carved chest, urging him to take it.

-Is this it, woman?- Ussi asked, walking towards it and picking it up- Is this the Vessel?

He looked at her terrified eyes, and she nodded faintly before exhaling her last breath.

The Yahurian made it out of the city's premises, not before running into an abundant number of soldiers. Successfully eliminating the inconveniences while holding tightly to the big heavy chest. Climbing onto Kohu and escaping out of there.

Once he was at a sufficient distance, he finally clicked his tongue to make the feline stop. Carefully jumping to the ground and placing the chest down.

A faint rumble coming from inside piqued his interest when a feeble cry reached his ears, seemingly from within the box. He went to unlock it and almost tumbled to the ground in surprise when a small child peeked at him with his terrified face.

-W-What?- he stammered, staring starstruck at the seemingly unremarkable kid that rose before him with a startled expression- W-What are you?- Ussi muttered, inspecting what clearly was nothing but a two, maybe three-year old child at the most.

Everything about him completely inconsequential, except for his dark opalescent hair and similar shinny sapphire blue eyes... Even bluer than his own had ever been. He was dressed in an elegant cobalt robe and matching pants. His feet wrapped in a pair of small delicate slippers… Too soft to serve any functional purpose at all.

The kid reached his tiny hand towards him, suddenly touching his arm, and the Yahurian immediately recoiled in response.

-Have I been played?- He asked himself aloud with worry- … Are you supposed to be the Vessel's guardian, child? Is it hidden somewhere in here? How does any of this work? - Ussi wondered, looking into the infant's eyes and getting no answer at all.

He took the toddler out and placed him on the dirt, grabbing the chest and examining it up and down, finding it entirely empty and finally giving up in frustration.

-Maybe there is still time to go back…- He pondered quietly. A loud blast drawing his attention as a huge column of fire rose in the direction where Tamensun stood.

-Or not…-He sighed - All right kid, you are coming with me until I get this figured out- Ussi announced, picking the boy and the chest up, then fastening them both onto Kohu´s saddle.

He hopped on it as well and started riding in Yahur´s direction, taking one last glance before turning his back to the once majestic city, that was now engulfed in flames and burning to the ground.