The Land Below our Feet III (Legacy)

Disclaimer: All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced in any form without permission. ------------------------ No peace can last forever, and he knew it. After all, he’d spent most of his early infancy being hauled from one violent war to another… And even when the exact details of it all were now a mere distant fog barely present in the back of his mind… The distinct memory of that primal fear he’d felt was still as fresh as the fateful day he’d found himself trembling uncontrollably inside the dark interiors of an ancient chest. Poomna had ushered him in with whispered promises of some fun games and sweets, wearing a frozen big smile on her lips… So chirpy, that it was only betrayed by the treacherous frown of her eyebrows when the deafening turmoil that shook the very core of the city had made her stop her lesson that day. -We will take our rest now, Vessel – She had suddenly and weirdly announced – And I know how much you like to play when you think that nobody is watching, don’t you? So, just this once, I am going to allow you to… In fact, I am going to share with you one of my favorite games in the world… It is called hide and seek. She had placed him inside the cold box and promptly closed the lid above his head, the shadows instantly engulfing him and making him weep in fear. -Hush, Vessel! – Poomna had ordered in an anxious murmur that echoed solemnly through the crate's wooden walls – Don’t be afraid… This is the game, you silly! Don’t you want to win? Now, listen to me and do as I say. You must remain hidden no matter what you hear or how much time it passes. Promise me. If you stay still in there and don’t make a peep, you will earn the prize… I swear! A loud commotion had almost drowned her voice right before a cacophony of screams and thuds had made him shiver, cowering in fear while he bit his tongue and felt himself being thrown and rolled around mercilessly, hitting his head sharply with every tumble he took. Tears were running down his cheeks, and he was about to start whimpering at the top of his lungs that he didn’t want to play that mean game anymore when he’d heard her whisper again against his reduced confinement in an agonic voice. -Remember, Vessel, don’t you say a word! – She’d cried out in a painful tone against the old wood – Don’t move… Please. I, I will get us out of here soon! But her seemingly reassuring statement had rapidly turned into the most terrifying of shrieks, and then even more forceful bumps had suddenly ensued. Confusing his senses and making him feel dizzy and lost. He was getting really worked up and was slowly beginning to raise his finger towards the lid of that awful, entrapping box when just out of nowhere the sounds blaring outside changed drastically, and instead of Poomna´s harrowing screams, all he could hear now were these loud male laments that had lasted only a short minute… Too short to give him any time to decide whether he should do anything about it or not. And then he’d heard it: The thunderous voice that would make him stay curled into a ball for the remainder of the dreadful lapse that would happen next, enduring the multiple rough jolts and thumps during the fast and bumpy ride that had followed immediately after. He had fought to find his balance inside the cramped space, bouncing up and down incessantly inside it for a while, until he realized he could no longer hear the roar that had been blasting loudly in his ears and he started fumbling with the lid. The cover of his trunk had been violently yanked open, and he’d found himself standing eye to eye with the masked owner of that piercing voice he’d heard… So, his fears had instantly vanished right then and there. The man had asked him a lot of questions in that authoritarian voice, and he had seemed quite exasperated about his stubborn silence, but all he could focus on back then was the warm light hidden behind those deep blue eyes. Besides, he was still hoping that he could get the prize that Poomna had promised him earlier. That is why he’d stayed quiet throughout his pelting inquiries. He did try comforting the worried stranger though, and had reached for his arm instead. But the man had instantly recoiled from his touch just as he was beginning to gaze at his pain. Once it finally dawned on him that the game was over, and that Poomna was probably not coming back, he had already forgotten the main reason why he was keeping his mouth shut... Yet he’d kept it that way for some time, because he had never felt much of a need to talk to people anyway. It would take a lot for him to utter a single word again... And it would take him even longer to tell the man whose name he had chosen to call out once he did, when in danger, about the few recollections he had of his old, fallen home. -Poomna? – Ussi had frowned when he’d heard the tale the teenager had recounted to him a few years after finding him cowering inside that chest – That is just another word for trainer, isn’t it? Why wouldn’t Tamensunians give anyone a proper name? The kid had smirked knowingly with a painful sting burning inside his heart. As he knew very well that he didn’t have a name, but only the moniker that had been given to him by that very same man he now called father. And even when he carried it with pride, there was a part of him that still yearned for some insight into his lost identity… His real origins. Yes, he was in fact no other than Axe Aghol, Prince of Lowland’s gate and the Commander’s first son… He was more than proud to be so, that was his family after all. But sometimes he also wished he knew where he really came from. -You know you are adopted, don’t you? – A boy in his class had yelled at him with scorn a long time ago, when he had just started attending the public lessons among the other children in the city, who had laughed loudly at the bully’s sneer. -What’s that? – The plump blue-haired child had simply asked back then, shrugging off in confusion and giving his sweet bread another bite. -That means that your parents are not your real mom and dad, you silly! – Another girl had explained with a smug expression on her face – They just took you in. -Oh, I know – Axe had replied matter-of-factly, chewing eagerly on his food. As that had never been a secret to him at all. -And you’re fine with it? – The girl had asked with incredulity – Knowing that you aren’t loved? -But of course, you are loved, Axe! – His mother had cried out that night at bedtime when he’d asked her about it. Her upper lip trembling visibly in rage while his father observed them from a corner with a grim look on his face- You have no idea of how precious you are, my sweet child! Then she had cradled him tenderly in her warm arms the way she always did, until he dozed off, and that had been enough for him back then. As for his classmates, he could vaguely remember how they had apologized profusely to him the very next day, and that had been that. The subject would never be brought up again, not once. But as time passed, and he got older, the questions began surfacing in his own mind instead, and lately he had found himself wondering about his past with increasing and annoying frequency. He couldn’t help but feel like he didn’t belong sometimes. Even when no one could deny that, adopted or not, aside from the blue hair, he had grown up to be almost a carbon copy of Ussiariah´s younger self. Years and years of training under his relentless guidance had surely procured him a similar enough structure. And nowadays, he had become just as muscular and sturdy as his father had always been. Judging by their piercing blue eyes and akin shredded complexion, it was hard to tell that those two men were not blood related at all. But that didn’t wipe out the actual truth… Or made it any less painful. -Where is your head at, Axe? – Ussi´s voice brought him back from his trailing thoughts to find himself pinned harshly against a wall by his father’s spear while his eyes scanned him with curiosity – I can’t train you if you are not here. -Sorry dad, I just... Got distracted – Axe replied, freeing himself with a rapid movement and counterattacking with precision – I was thinking about our visitors and tomorrow’s feast. -Distractions will only get you killed on the battlefield, son – The golden-haired warrior replied, easily dodging his lunges and disarming him with a quick motion, holding the lean youngster firmly by the arm – Don’t you ever forget that. -There hasn’t been a proper war in ages, dad – The teenager had answered lightheartedly – You made sure of that. It was true. Aside from the occasional internal disputes, their land had been mostly devoid of conflicts ever since Ussiariah had signed the pact with what was left of the Argantean army and their young prince. -War is always coming, kid – The seasoned soldier huffed, patting him on his bulky chest and eyeing him knowingly – It may take a while, but rest assured, it will arrive… Now, go wash. It's almost time for dinner, and I'm sure you won’t want to miss that. The tall man had barely started walking away from him when he stopped and turned around to face him again with a playful smile. -And cheer up, would you, lad? – He’d said, nodding firmly at him –Tomorrow is a special day after all, you will only turn eighteen once. -Is it though? I don’t even know when my real birthday is – Axe had muttered bitterly as he watched the strong warrior head to the palace. His mind refocusing on the important guests they were hosting, and the answers he was hoping to get from one of them. Because no peace can last forever, and despite the laid-back front he’d put up for his own father, he knew that he was right… In fact, he could already feel it cracking. Moreover, he could sense that, somehow, his actions would most likely be the cause of its very end. Yet, he couldn’t help it. Because knowing that he was loved might have been enough for him once, but it was not anymore. It hadn’t been for a while.