Jemriah
Aravan forest was still. Too still. Silence everywhere except the occasional sounds of branches snapping under their boots as they made their way through the forest.
More branches snapped. Some of it brittle and pale as old bones. Twigs cracked like warning. A quiet warning that they do not belong here.
The air was heavy with rot and rain, with the sharp stench of crushed bark and wet muddy earth. Here and there lay leaves of low lustre, too hidden in night to see.
The forest answered each sound with a deeper stillness, as if it were listening more closely now, marking their passage through its stained and sodden heart.
They dare not talk to each other. They felt someone was listening. Someone who was watching. Was mocking.
Grip on the sword was starting to feel like a burden for jemriah's hand. As it felt more heavy. Heavier than even lifting a boulder.
He wanted to talk. Wanted to scream. Wanted his brother to say something to break this unbearable silence but he was as silent as him, trembling even.
They just looked at each other. over and over again, they just looked. Saying not a single word. They nodded and entered the heart of the forest.
Their breath seemed to intertwine with the heavy, dull air. Both of them hardened their grip on hilt of their steel.
Leaves and air both rustled as they passed another giant tree. Trees after trees. Some gigantic, some small but still taller than two strangers.
Don't think there is a tomb here. Have made my way towards this forest many times. Jemriah thought.
This somehow feels different. Very different.
We should have done this in morning. In morning it feels safe.
They froze.
Branches trembled. Leaves shuddered, shedding droplets of dark water that fell into the mud with soft, hollow plops. A breath followed. wet, rasping, close enough to raise the hair along their arms, then a muted snort, thick with heat and hunger. Whatever it was, it did not hurry.
"What is it?", asked jorath, finally breaking the spell of silence.
"Whatever it is, it's intent is to harm", jemriah said, carefully glancing. "Prepare your sword. It will move quick. We have to be even more quicker".
Both raised their swords, high above shoulder. Steel shining in night.
The sabertooth stepped into view with a slow, heavy grace. Its body was massive and low to the ground, packed with muscle beneath a coat of coarse fur streaked in dull gold and ash-brown. Mud clung to its legs and belly, darkening the fur and weighing it down, yet it moved as if the earth itself made way for it.
"Of course. A sabertooth of all beasts dwelling in these forests. Sometimes I feel like I am cursed", jorath muttered a swear.
It's eyes burned like green flame. Providing a sort of torch for these two strangers.
The sabertooth leaped.
Mud exploded beneath its charge as it closed the distance in a heartbeat, faster than it's size should have allowed. Jemriah barely raised his sword in time. The beast's jaws slammed shut with a thunderous crack, its great fangs biting down on the blade itself. Metal screamed under the pressure.
The sword bent, the edge splintering as the sabertooth shook its head, teeth grinding against steel. Cracks raced along the blade, threatening to snap it in two. Hot breath washed over jemriah's hands, the strength of the beast sending a brutal jolt up his arms.
The beast snarled. Jemriah fell on his back with a heavy thud.
Jorath froze. Everything that happened was so sudden.
Jorath immediately realized what had happened.
He raised his sword Even further and put all his strength in that one strike.
Strike came down, crackling the air.
The beast barely managed to dodge, but Jorath's powerful strike still managed to hit the creature in head.
The beast stumbled backward. Away from both of them. Jemriah stood immediately, grabbed his second sword from his scabbard.
Both of them, side by side looked over at the beast. Who was still snarling. His teeth sharp. Some of the metal still hung there. The beast chewed and spat. Growling, he took another leap at them. This one with more anger.
Both of them ducked out of the way. Jemriah to left and jorath to right.
The sabertooth landed in explosion of mud, finding nothing but broken twigs. The beast looked at both of them. Left and right, they surrounded the beast.
Jemriah and jorath both nodded.
Before the beast could turn to attack, jemriah broke into a run, boots slipping but holding, then leapt high with a raw cry. He came down hard onto the sabertooth's back, fingers digging into wet fur as his weight drove the breath from the creature's chest.
The beast roared and thrashed, bucking like a wild bull. Claws tore branches and twigs through the mud as it tried to shake him loose. In that moment of chaos, jorath smiled and struck, rushing in from behind, blade flashing low and fast, aiming for sinew and spine.
Mud flew, breath burned, and steel met flesh. The forest echoed with snarls and shouts as the fight collapsed into a brutal knot of bodies, teeth, and flashing metal.
Jemriah who was still on it's back raised his sword and brought it down with all his strength. The blade struck between the beast's shoulders and bit deep, sinking into thick muscle. The sabertooth screamed, a raw, tearing sound that shook the trees.
Jorath glanced and immediately changed the trajectory of his attack. His blade now low, struck with all his strength, sliced the creatures leg.
Both the beast and jemriah stumbled forward with a sudden halt.
Jorath ran and immediately, he was on top of the beast.
The beast cried out, a broken, wailing sound torn from deep within its chest. It was no longer the clean roar of a hunter, but a raw, wounded voice, full of pain and fury. The sound echoed through the forest, rising and falling, shaking the leaves and stirring the mud beneath them.
It's body shuddered beneath the sword of jorath, muscles locking and releasing as it staggered blindly. Jorath struck! Warm Blood spilled dark, steaming faintly as the sabertooth thrashed and clawed at the ground. Each cry grew rougher than the last, turning hoarse, almost pleading, as its strength began to falter.
Jorath smirked. Jemriah glanced.
The forest seemed to listen in silence. Even the colours dulled, as if the trees themselves recoiled from the sound, a mighty predator brought low, it's wails marking the slow, brutal edge between life and death.
Finally the beast gave one final cry before he slept. A long sleep which he knew will never be over.
Who was the beast? Us or him?
Jemriah thought.
He was simply protecting his home...
We were the ones who...
Even if he attacked we could have...
There was no need...
No need to kill that creature so mercilessly...
"I know what you thinking", jorath said. "You hate this? Am I right? Dislike killing, only kill when it fits your morals".
Jorath wiped the blood from his face with the back of his hand, smearing it across his skin until only the stain remained. He drew a slow breath, chest rising and falling, as the forest air moved through him. A faint wind stirred then, lifting his hair and letting it fall in dark, loose strands around his face.
For a moment he stood still, blade heavy in his grip, eyes fixed ahead.
His eyes locked with his brother. "You! You were the one who struck the beast first. Slicing your steel into his back. You did it! Not me not anyone but you! You are a hypocrite".
Jemriah gave a sour smile. "I always was but I am glad atleast I am not like father or as a matter of fact like my brothers.
"I am proud of that and will always be".
Jorath narrowed his eyes and smiled.
"Lets go find that tomb", he said with his hateful yet elegant voice.
Josen forheil
Amberia? Is that you?
Josen slumped to his feet. Squinting to make sense of the figure that had appeared to meet him.
"Yes it is me".
Josen looked at her and gasped.
"What? How? How are you here?"
Amberia smiled. Her eyes were still the same as josen remembered. she had green eyes same as her locks which flowed gracefully around her collarbone.
She wore several rings mixed in with multiple hues. She wore a luxurious dress.
"What are you doing here? What do you want?", josen asked.
Amberia smiled again saying nothing.
"They call you all sorts of things. A whore, a witch, a thief. For me you are none of those. Even though you betrayed me, I still.... I will always...", josen said.
Amberia regarded him and the prison, nodding and smiling.
"Jorath and jemriah are haldren's brother right?", she finally said. Her voice serene yet deep.
"You know everything. Stop asking me these stupid questions".
Amberia smiled. She liked to do that. She kept smiling until she sighed. "They both are on a hunt for tomb. In aravan forest. West of here. That tomb is of ancient gods, it will grant a power beyond any of our current kings have. Jorath will take this power for himself".
She smiled and stood. "Do what you will do with that information".
She gave him one final smile but somehow this one felt genuine to josen. She disappeared as she was never here.
What does she want now?
Why not free me?
If jorath gets this power then he will definitely topple his father, king of the capital...
A tomb of ancient gods....
World of sumaka through eyes of amberia -
They all are hateful. Vultures.
They will give you warm smile and welcome you into their homes.
Only if you have something in return for them.
If not, they will kill you. Giving even warmer smile.
Ancient gods are with me.
Yes I seduce kings to their downfall. Yes I also have power beyond comprehension.
But no. I am not what everyone thinks.
I am something more. Something Great.
Something that requires understanding.