The Land Below our Feet III (Legacy)

LEGEND

Ussiariah´s boots sunk in the beach’s fine sands as he silently stepped towards the shore underneath the bright moon. His mind going back to the details of the long conversation that he’d just had, and the very daunting future that it presaged.

“Are you absolutely sure that this is happening?” – Histya had incredulously asked – “Because everybody knows that the last time those twins listened to anything their oracle had to say, it ended up blowing obstreperously in their faces! So, this could be just another load of superstitious bullshit, for all we know”.

“Maybe, but according to them, these are supposedly the same people that drove Axe’s ancestors away centuries ago” – Sehira-Xe had ominously pointed out – “And I don’t think it is a coincidence that all of this is happening precisely now. Fate has spoken, and we should be listening very carefully if we want to have the upper hand”.

“I’d heard of the Ruhavkians before, now that I remember” – Hethan had commented in a low, pensive tone – “My father’s mother used to tell me the story as a child, and it scared the s**t out of me back then, but when I grew older I came to believe that it was just her twisted way of keeping me in bed…”

He had paused, looking up and noticing that every present eye was staring expectantly at him. So, he had let out a sharp exhale and reluctantly searched for the memory deep in the back of his brain.

“She talked about a fearsome race of fire-haired giants that once walked across the sea when a polar storm froze the ocean waves - He had begun speaking in a dark tone – "So hard, that the continent and the archipelago suddenly became one. Spreading havoc wherever they went, mounted on their furred elephants.”

The Cahenean had then furrowed his dense brows and closed his clouded eyes, focusing on reminiscing the words that he’d heard a lifetime ago as clearly as he could.

“The legend says that every uplander united forces to keep them at bay that time” – He’d bitterly scoffed – “Which I honestly always thought was the biggest of them lies, because I knew that our headstrong-selves couldn’t work together even if it were to save our lives”.

“Well, never say never!” – Ussiariah had cheerfully stated, winking teasingly at him – “Don’t you forget about your pact with the Laheshian tribes”.

“Yeah… And look how well that has been working out so far” – The Uplander had sarcastically remarked.

“I would say that better than expected” – The Mavaerian King had animatedly chimed in – “Given that it has lasted more than a decade, and that reads as a success to me! Now, getting back to the subject here… If there’s any truth in your grandma’s tale, how f****d do you think we would be?”

“Very!”- The Cahenean had somberly muttered as his sole response, scratching his almost completely white beard.

“And that is why the Order is marching to Bhertang´s strait within the next phase” – Sehira-Xe had assured them – “If a new menace is coming to this land, then we ought to be prepared… But more importantly, you will need to stick together, because I have the feeling that we are going to need all the help we can get”.

“Again?” – Hethan had loudly complained – “The Yahurian Order is not what it used to be anymore. I’ve already had to help you twice before. I say you’ve grown weak!”

“Oh, but look how well that has worked out for you! That is the main reason why the enemy never got anywhere near your gates.” – Ussi had incisively reminded him with a strained grin – “Now, you might have provided an army twice, but you were luckily so far away from the conflict, that it didn’t even touch your sands.

He paused, raising a brow and giving the Uplander a knowing nod.

“But this time, the threat is coming from up north” – He had continued saying – “So, you better keep that in mind before you go on with your gratuitous attack.”

“And… That’s why I say I am grateful for our reciprocal relationship” – The monarch had finally mumbled in submission – “ As I would expect Cahen´s kind contribution to be retributed at last”.

“It will be” – The Commander had firmly reassured him – “You can count on the Crimson Guard’s full support if it ever comes to that.”

“And the Order is bound to protect this entire land’s peace, as you well know” – Sehira-Xe had solemnly proclaimed – “So, as long as you remain a part of it, and in compliance with what said peace entails, then you will always have Yahur on your side”.

After that final statement, they’d spent the rest of the day discussing the likeliness of these new events, and then they had all parted ways.

“Ussi” – Sehira had called out as the others left, placing a hand on his arm – “I know you no longer wear a mask, but you will always be a Yahurian, and I would like you to come with us this tim…”

“Oh, Mother” – The golden-haired man had whispered, falling on his knees before her and taking her hand into his with great revere – “You don’t even need to ask! It’s my boy we’ve been talking about… You couldn’t keep me away from that strait even if you tried!”

As Ussi approached the bay, the dark outline of two distinct people became clearer the more he walked… One in a sitting position, and the other one standing motionlessly at its side.

Once he was close enough to them, the head of the larger one suddenly perked up and looked his way, before patting the seated silhouette and sprinting towards him.

-How is she? – Ussiariah asked as his father-in-law reached him and the old man stood silently beside him, watching the distant figure with concern.

-Let’s see… The good news is that she has stopped sobbing at last – Ahau heavily sighed, nodding at the shadow that had its back turned towards them – But she hasn’t said a word ever since I hauled her out of that devilish place.

Ussi didn’t respond right away. Instead, he took a deep, long breath and closed his eyes.

-Thank you – He finally said, opening them again – That was the best you could do, really… It was just bonkers in there.

-Well… I can relate. I know what it’s like to lose your children overnight – The former regent gloomily said, glancing at him briefly, then returning his attention up front – So, what did I miss anyway?

-Not much, really – The warrior tiredly puffed out, straining his neck and looking at the stars – Just a lot of bickering and the increasingly likely prospect of another war coming our way… Like I said, nothing new.

-Sounds fun! – The man sarcastically said, letting out a long whistle and patting his shoulder a couple of times – I’m sure you must be living for it… Now, get your ass over there and be with her! See if you can make her talk.

The waves crashed loudly under the bright stars when Ussi sat down next to Souna and patiently waited while he distracted himself watching the wind cradle the long flying strands of her poorly tucked hair.

-Sehira was right – She mumbled at last, staring at her bare feet and mindlessly burying her toes in the warm sand – I knew that Axe would go looking for the answers we couldn’t give him deep in my heart, but I should have guessed that Skhana would go after him when he did.

She chuckled, a lonely tear soon running down her cheek as her laugh turned into a soft whimper.

-Remember how she would go tumbling after him wherever he went as soon as she learned how to stand? – She sniffled – Oh, he didn’t even mind! One would have thought that he would be annoyed, being the older brother, but not my Axe… And she loves him to pieces! Of course, she would follow him to the ends of the earth and back!

-Souna… - Ussi began saying. The sound of her name being carried away by the salty sea breeze as she turned to face him and put a finger against his lips.

-Shhh! – She desperately whispered, closing her eyes and throwing her arms longingly around his neck – I’m sure it’s for the best… At least they have each other, right? Now, please, I just need you to take me to bed and tell me that everything is going to be fine.