War Moon

The Merchants' War (part 1)

Kira reaches a bench a little further away, where she can sit and finish her sandwich and drinks some of the juice. She is not sure how long it has been since she entered Samahabdira. The sky has violet and blue tones with what look like two big stars. She left the snack on the chair while checking the map given to her by the lady.

The map is a large scroll of parchment, a map of a segmented section of Samahabdira. She puts it against the floor to see it better. The drawn image becomes three-dimensional, better noticing the details of the streets and shops, with the names of the streets and districts floating above the drawing. A red light appears right where she is, leaving the map and facing Kira's face.

"Hello," she says, seeing the curious creature in front of her.

A small humanoid creature with transparent wings: a fairy. She laughs before launching at full speed down the street

"Hey, wait!" Kira growls and quickly saves the map, picking up the sandwich and the juice before running after the fairy. "If you are guiding me, don't leave me behind!"

The fairy only laughs, moving through the streets between pirouettes and games, almost causing Kira to lose her way.

Both stop in front of a small cellar-like building with a few bottles on the floor.

"Are you sure this is it? What is it around here?"

The fairy urges Kira to go inside, entering the building.

Kira snorts before following the little creature. Moving inside, dodging boxes and bottles on the floor, it really is a wine cellar, albeit sloppy. She passes through the shelves full of cobwebs, following the red light emanating from the fairy.

"This seems abandoned," she says as she sees the fairy stop over a huge trunk. When Kira reaches this she notices the trapdoor under the chest. "I hope this is worth it and that you're not playing with me."

Kira transforms herself into a wolf, shaking her fur a little from the dust, pushes with her body the chest until she uncovers the trapdoor. Using her teeth she holds the ring to lift the door, finding a ladder of ropes descending into the darkness.

"Here I go," she thinks.

She becomes human again before starting the descent down the ladder, thankful for the small light coming from the fairy on her hood. That place was probably once an old well or a tunnel of rocky walls. The bottom never seems to arrive and she has already lost sight of where she entered. She is starting to tire of the long descent, it seems endless when his foot finally touches solid ground.

"At last, I already believed that I would not reach the end."

She tries to focus on the shadows and routes of the place, the view in front of her almost endlessly, with the walls covered with runes and skulls everywhere. She takes out of one of her bags at the waist a handheld flashlight, illuminating the tunnel better than the light of the fairy is able to.

She begins to follow the creature back along the hallway, looking at the skeletons that look most like fossils trapped in the walls. She wonders how deep that place is or how far away it is, while walking she can hear distant voices and songs, but she is unable to distinguish if they come from the Samahabdira or another of the multiple tunnels.

"How old are these catacombs?"

She begins to feel the ground rumble and the hairs on her skin start to bristle. Kira has no idea what creatures might be living in this place.

"Do you have any idea what lives here?" she asks, but the little fairy is hiding under his hood. "Of course, leave the problem to me, take advantage of the fact that you have a smaller size," she snorts and rolls her eyes, although she almost loses her balance when she starts shaking again, causing some dirt and sand to rise. "s**t, whatever it is, it's not happy."

She begins to run even though she does not know in which direction to go exactly because of the cowardice of her guide. Cursing those who gave her that map and their ideas of a shortcut.

Her sprint is abruptly halted when she hits something hard. Kira looks up only to find what looks like a pipe, but is leather like to the touch. Frowning, she touches that thing again. It is scaly and hot. Before she can say anything, the thing moves, and fast. Kira again has the same feeling and her instincts are screaming for her to move.

"Hell!" Kira jumps and transforms in mid air, dodging a huge, scaly tail, and lands in the room at the front. - coming face to face with what looks like a huge black snake with yellowish eyes.

"Just what was missing, the nest of a boa tyrant," she growls but shuts up when a second head rises from the base of her neck. "s**t, a Hydra? Really?"

The young wolf rolls on the floor again avoiding the tail and one of the heads, but she knows that it will not be for long, that beast will not get tired at any time soon.

The fairy begins to shriek in panic, pulling her ears.

"Don't help me!" shouts Kira as she runs through the rubble and columns, without stopping for a single moment. "You are very annoying!"

The fairy keeps insisting until Kira pays attention to her and sees her pointing to a different tunnel, the only problem is that she is behind the hydra.

"Don't you speak? Seriously?"

But the little creature squeals and keeps pulling Kira’s ear. She has never faced a hydra before, although she has read of them. Vile creatures. The more heads, the more difficult to beat.

Kira takes position before barely dodging one of the heads, using the debris again. Letting the first head follow her down this impromptu route; but she deviates just so that the two collide with each other. She turns again and locks down her teeth in the hydra’s throat, where the skin is not covered with a breastplate.

The head hisses backing up and shaking from side to side violently, until it managed to get rid of her. Kira circled in the air barely able to avoid falling face first down.

Kira gets up and runs again between the hydra rings, fleeing from the intact head. She finally manages to enter the passageway but must still run, as the creature is still behind her. She can feel the creature’s breathing above her, the tongue already savoring her skin even though it hasn't touched her yet.

"s**t, s**t, this has no end! Does that thing never get tired!?"

She needs a place to escape and fast.

The fairy exclaims by pulling her ears, drawing her attention

"Now what?"

The fairy perches on her nose pointing to what looks like a cargo elevator, one of those used for mines, held by a counterweight in place.

"I hope it will work!"

She manages to jump inside, while the hydra tries to reach her. Sinking her teeth into the rusty lever, Kira struggles with it while the hydra tries to rip off her head. Only when she tries to pull it, does the lever activate and the elevator is thrown upwards at full speed.

The elevator stops abruptly when it hits the end of the mechanism, causing Kira and the fairy to fly up and hit the roof of the elevator.

"Ouch, that hurt!" she complains, shaking her head before getting on her paws again. "You're more of a headache than a helper," she growls.

The fairy snorts and begins to shriek at her with an offended tone.

"I don't understand a word of what you're saying," Kira scuffs before turning away.

She jumps to the new floor, finding a new passage. It looks like a mining tunnel full of old cars and forgotten roads.

"I hope I at least don’t get another hydra to play with," she growls wryly.

The fairy simply sticks out her tongue and rests on Kira’s head, crossing her arms.

The wolf rolls its eyes, quickly checking its condition. It hurts one of the hind legs just where it joins at the hip. The beast probably dislocated it. She starts walking again, walking on three legs while she keeps the wounded one pulled up against her hip. She can't become human yet, not until she finds a safe place to heal or if someone helps her.

The tunnel is long and wide, although it seems to have been abandoned for many years, perhaps centuries. She has never thought that a place like Samahabdira would be built on a mine like this. The wolf can again perceive the smells of the market, it is close to an exit and - hopefully! - in the artisan market.

She reaches the end of everything after a long time, where it must be the old entrance of the mine. This is located in a wooden park, hidden from view.

"At last freedom," she growls and looks at her injured leg, "half-hearted freedom."

The fairy looks at the wolf's injured leg and touches it, starting to rotate around it, releasing a golden powder as its light diminishes. Kira begins to feel relief in her paw slowly, feeling how the bones settle back into the correct position. Soon she can again put the paw back on the ground.

"Thank you," Kira manages to say, before the fairy starts swaying a bit. She catches the fairy by letting her fall on her tail. "I think you earned a good rest," she smiles somewhat more gratefully.

She transforms into a human again, holding the little fairy in her hand. The little creature waves its hand as it begins to disappear until it is only a sphere of light that is carried away by the wind.

"Thank you for guiding me, although it was a disaster."

Kira smiles at the wind before settling her suit a little and raising her hood. She decides it’s better to finish her snack and juice, while sitting in the shade of an old walnut tree. It is not quite a good idea to take a small break right now but she is hungry and that sandwich tastes divine.

Kira leaves the grove surrounding the entrance to the mine, entering directly to a new market area, located in an open and cool space. A huge lake stretches along the whole area as far away as Kira can see, colorful and shallow barges carry people to feast and drink, some earth clusters floating around, held by several bamboo piles and roots, which the merchants are using for their large stalls and tents.

Kira walks to the port where there are some boats. She needs to find a new trail of Maldey or something from her business. If she doesn't remember wrong, the man is going to receive a shipment somewhere. She just needs to find the port of loading. Kira pulls up her mask before searching between people loaded with bags and packages. It is somewhat difficult walking between them, but not impossible.

"Pass! Stop by, take a trip through the rose channel! Take a boat with me and receive the best experience of your lives!" shouts one of the boatmen in front of one of the boats adorned with flowers.

"Get to know the best works of glass and ceramics! Created by the best artisans of this country and others, such as Donatello Medicci or Irken Varcomis!" shouts another from his boat.

Kira keeps moving around looking for maybe a boatman who can give her directions, she just has to find the right person and know how to choose her words. It does not take long to see a good option of an elongated canoe loaded with some boxes, although from what he sees the man is still missing.

"Need help?" Kira asks the satyr, a man about half her size with goat's feet and horns in his hair.

The satyr growls and mumbles something between his teeth.

"I don't need any help from you, annoying girl. I'm self-sufficient enough to do things for myself," replies the man holding three packages in one hand with pride.

Kira can see how he adds two others to the column of boxes, maneuvering among others to be able to climb on his barge, but having more boxes on the floor he stumbles over them, resulting in the ones he had in his hand fly away. She jumps to the front managing to catch some while the others fall on the boxes already in the barge.

"That was close, don't be so hard headed," Kira speaks with a snort.

"Shut up, don't get into my business, little girl."

"I have a name," she growls.

"I'm not interested. I doubt you're such a good samaritan for no good reason. All children are the same, they always want something."

Kira takes a deep breath. This satyr is more difficult to deal with than she thought at first.

"Okay, if you say so. You're right, I’m looking for Garzon's work area."

"I already knew it. It will cost you about thirty-five gold coins and two elven currency bills."

"That's a robbery!"

"Do you take it or leave it?"

"What if I help you with your packages? Because at this rate it will take you all day with your juggling."

The satyr grumbles and growls again.

"I'm a lycan, I can be very helpful in this case by our brute strength."

"Okay! What a heavy girl with your stuff, start uploading the boxes."

Kira smiles victorious as she uploads packages to the boat. She leaves the heaviest and biggest ones at the end. At least the front of the boat is a ramp which allows bettertransfer of the boxes. When she’s done with the little ones she starts pushing the big boxes, being careful to slide them down the ramp.

"Well that was fast, well, a deal is a deal, push the ship out of port and we'll get started."

Kira pushes the ramp before jumping inside the boat, while the satyr propels the boat slowly using a long stick in the shallow water.

The trip starts slowly since the waters of that place do not allow engines. At most the boats are led by animals such as water sleds. Music and laughter come from everywhere around them.

"Since I'll be having you on my boat for a while, I guess we should introduce ourselves."

"Ah, I see that you have manners."

"Very funny, my name is Pamtamilus but it is too entangled and that is what my father calls me. Just tell me Pam, and what's yours?"

"Bluish Crow."

"I see, you are from one of those. Well, Bluish Crow, what do you plan to buy from the old Gaston?"

"They told me he had good things and likes to talk about more."

"That's taken for granted, satyrs like us like to tell stories and ancient legends."

"Gaston is a satyr then," Kira speaks for herself while sitting in a chair. "What stories do you tell?"

"Legends of mythology and horror stories, there are many sites with stories such as the Islands of the Dolls or the Waters of the Whistle."

"The Whistle?" she frowns curiously.

"A humanoid that hunts humans and creatures alike, lives in the deep, dark waters of the south."

"It's just a story."

"If you say so," Pam smiles enigmatically.

Kira rolls her eyes while keeping a little silence. She looks at the waters observing the aquatic fauna. Almost as if she is hypnotized, looking at the spotted and shiny fish.

"From the accent you have when speaking, I would say that you are very far from home, or am I wrong?"

"Surely many people come from far away, I come to enjoy other places. What's wrong with it?"

"None, I just talk. It will take a while."

"Do you know how this site was formed?"

"Do you know the Snake of the Midgard?"

"The Ragnarok Snake: Jormundager, son of Loki and Dianica, the moon goddess."

"Some time ago when Dianica and Loki were punished, Odin knew what the future holds for the Aesir, and the role that Jormundager would play for his enormous power."

"What happened to him?"

"Thor threw him into the sea surrounding Midgard, where he awaits the arrival of the end of the world. Local legends say that this site was originally a sacred settlement, where the Norse gods were worshiped. Long before the great floods here was a great temple where they did rituals and festivities to the Aesir." Pam turns the ship into a new channel, somewhat more narrow. "Many believe that these ruins contain a portal that opens directly to Jormundager's prison."

"The waters surrounding Midgard are not a prison, how can it be?"

"It was sealed by an ancient witch of the Yggdrasil, who after much effort and containment was able to seal the portal."

"How are they going to hide a temple in a place like this? The waters are shallow."

"It is true that the lagoon seems shallow, but its ground is quite muddy, which may mean that anything is possible underneath it. The islets of this site are made of dry mud, so no heavy structures are used on top of these. Usually boats or tents are used for sales." Pam points in front of him. "We are already arriving at the place."

Kira looks in the direction pointed out by the satyr. On a large islet is a shop of considerable size, made of violet and yellow fabric. From the outside she can see the goods, spheres and glass cages painted with various animals inside, which also include several artistic crystal figurines.

"It's Gaston's workshop. Boy does he have a good hand for his work."

"He is one of the best at glass work, he plans to participate in this year's festival. I have no doubt that he will have difficulty with the champion; but hope exists."

Pam stops the barge against the islet a few meters from the store.

"I've already done my part now, I hope that's what you were looking for." Pam snorts while stretching.

"Thank you very much, good luck with your sales." Kira says goodbye to the satyr before going down to the islet and seeing from there how the ship moves away.

Kira takes a deep breath before going up to the store. It is full of people shopping and the satyr boasts of great feats and stories. She approaches the store listening with interest, although most asked about prices and the jobs that man does. She mingles among the people, hoping to hear something of interest.

People commented on the prices and the festival that is approaching, apparently it will be that night in about two hours.

"Do you think Maldey, Girken and Stallone will return to their competitive war like every year, Gaston?" asks a man who worked in the back.

"That I am always sure of boy, but this year things will apparently get pretty ugly," replies another with a box in his arms.

"I think now that things are about to break out, because Maldey is fed up," the satyr replies. "Maldey's dirty games will escalate to a higher level."