Chapter Thirteen

Echo’s from those surrounding the fighting pit could be heard throughout the village. Their chants and cheers seemed to echo loudly off the nearby mountains. However, in his lean-to as he prepared for his battle, the boy heard nothing. All throughout the day he had battled. This was his graduation. All of his peers were much larger and stronger than he. They were in fact an entirely different people, known as the Rakshar. Yet they were his family and his friends from the day he and his mother arrived, arranged between his father and Rakshar Emperor. Since the very first day they were treated as one of them. For twelve years he was taught their ways and now he had to prove he was ready. Burakani, his dearest of friends, was the favorite. He was also all that stood in Delvakhan’s way. They had fought together, laughed together, shared silence together and played. Today they would compete together. Never had he been so nervous. Never had fear held him so tightly.

“You are concerned young sire. Burakani is too I assure you.” An older man walked into the lean-to, absently testing the bindings on the armor of Delvakhan.

“No master, I am sure Burakani is confident as well as arrogant right now.” The young boy answered, almost laughing. “To make it worse, I am sure he knows I am like this right now.”

Grulan chuckled as he continued to test bindings. “You have been a wonderful student and could not be more ready for this. One day you will learn to have a real confidence about yourself. Your strength has served you well, but in this battle with Burakani it will cost you the fight.”

“Without my strength...” Delvakhan was cut off by his master.

“Without your strength you force your mind to think. You would do well to listen to it more. When this day is done, you will need it far more than any brawn.” Grulan turned Delvakhan to face him offering a hard but kind smile. “Worry not about questions today whose answers are writing tomorrow.”

Delvakhan couldn’t help but be confused. Snapping him out of his thoughts, he heard the announcement of his name and that of his family. It was his Rakshar family for it was not openly known that he was the son of Vakhan, but it was still his family as Vakhan and anything east of Dragonspine was an infants dream.

Grulan slapped him roughly on the shoulder and jogged toward the pit. Delvakhan squatted, pressing the binding of his armor and breathing deep, attempting to clear his mind and refocus. This was his graduation. He would no longer be a student and would earn his title as a Templar. Only his friend Burakani stood in the way. Already a Templar, he knew Burakani would not offer him any mercy.

With a slow purpose he rose and began taking long strides toward the pit, stretching his legs, feeling the blood course through his body. People parting to give him a path, his eyes locked on one thing; Burakani on the opposite end. He found no thoughts in his head, only a desire to win.

Taking his stance, he didn’t bother looking in the crowd for his mother, he knew she was simply too sick to attend. It was obvious to him she was dieing, although she wouldn’t admit it. Purposely he pushed those thoughts away and returned to a mental emptiness. His eyes locked onto Burakani’s and his mind exploded in thought. Realizing the sheer size of Burakani, Grulan’s message made so much more sense. If he attempted to overcome his friend with strength, Delvakhan would quickly lose the fight and he would have months to wait for a final attempt.

Quickly he began loosening the bindings of his armor and tossed his wooden weapon to the ground. Immediately the crowd began to laugh and make various less than flattering yells. Burakani shared in the laughter as he moved at Delvakhan, flickering his whip. The moment Delvakhan was in range Burakani lashed his whip forward wrapping it around Delvakhan’s neck. Falling to the ground from the snap of the impact, Delvakhan quickly jumped back to his feet as the tension around his neck increased rapidly. Instinctively his fingers curled around the weapon attempting to break it free from his neck... Without a second thought he ran towards Burakani. As the tension lessened, he took it into his hands. Inside him the excitement gained tremendous heights. Confusion crumbled Burakani’s face into a deep frown, only adding to his friend’s intensity. With adrenaline enhanced speed and strength Delvakhan snatched the loops of the whip and bound his opponent’s hands. Due to the decreased distance and the sudden pressure on his wrists, Burakani dropped the whip handle while Delvakhan pulled the strand from his neck.

Burakani struggled to free his hands, sensing his peril only to have Delvakhan step behind him and trip him into the clumpy ground. Using the extra whip length he wrapped it around Burakani’s ankles and then neck. The more his friend struggled, the more the whip tightened around his neck. Triumphantly and slowly, Delvakhan walked over and began putting his armor back on. A huge smile spread across his face.

An explosion of cheers escaped the crowd as Burakani became motionless. Casually Delvakhan walked over and released the main knot that held his friend. After a few moments his large friend woke obviously dazed. Realizing what had happened, he suddenly jumped to his feet and bear hugged Delvakhan. Laughing the larger young man teetered a bit.

“Defeated by a scrawny one!” He laughed as he spoke. “I am definitely your junior this day Del. I didn’t realize what was going on till you dropped me. I did think for a minute you were trying to taunt me like a woman.”

Laughing and shoving each other the made their way out of the pit and through the crowd, stopping only an instant to see the smile of pride on Grulan’s face. Ahead of them a feast awaited as the new Templars were celebrated.

****

She should have been there. It was a thought he couldn’t get out of his head as he made his way back to their home. Knowing she was sick didn’t stop the thoughts in his head. The twinge of anger simply wouldn’t leave him. He tried in quiet desperation to hide his expression before his mother could seem him. Yet as he entered the door, he knew his mothers eyes were on him, sharp as always. He watched her from the doorway for a few moments, her eyes sad as she beheld him; like they had been all his life. Delvakhan knew the story how she lost his father the day they arrived, and his eldest brother. He often had dreams that played out the scene even though he was only a baby when it happened. All faceless bodies playing out some play, telling him a history he didn’t understand or actually care to know. Yet always he would remember the terrible screams that came from his mother as she was given the news. Those eyes from that day were the same sad tearing eyes he looked upon this night.

“That is quite the furrow on your brow.” She started in her same quiet and yet piercing voice. “And at me no less.”

“It’s not you Mother,” he started while he continued to stand in the doorway. “It is so many things all at the same time.”

Deep frown lines creased her forehead as Xynari’s eyes almost scorned her son. “Now you lie about it, Templar. It is about me not attending your fights or graduation.” She paused as she sat up to catch her breath.

Her look refused to allow him to step away from her gaze. “You hold the anger of your Father’s death and your life here. It will consume you if you allow it to. Do not couple that with lying.”

“It isn’t the death, we all die. It’s the stupid dreams I have about something I shouldn’t in any way remember. This is about some stupid fight beyond the mountains. Why should I care?”

Fire lit in her eyes as a finger waggled at him. “You forget yourself and by the Light you should be slapped. Those are your people Delvakhan and you will return to them soon.”

“And if I choose to stay?” He already knew the answer as he finally closed the door and sat in his chair opposite of her, turning his eyes away and looking at the dying fire.

“You can't because the terms of staying here in safety are now over. You are a Templar, as your Father wanted and the Emperor Vrok agreed. There is nothing more for you to do but to return. You will abide by this.” Her voice was heated and strong.

Delvakhan poked at the fire and absently added another dried branch to it, watching the new plume of smoke writhe through the hole above it. “Master Grulan already told me the same. I already know this part. I get to have my life uprooted just so I can return to a place that is alien to me.”

“All about you is it? Have you once thought about what was given up for you? Your brother and father died doing what they knew was right for their people. You only care about yourself. My entire life, my family taken from me and my choice was blatantly ignored. But then I knew and embraced the fact my choice was to protect and serve my only remaining child.”

“For what Mother? For what?” Delvakhan never realized he had gotten up and moved to him until her arms were already around him embracing him.

“It is a choice I would make over and over again. To see you becoming a young man, you will fulfill your duty, as your father did. Tomorrow you will gather your things and you will leave. Your Uncle Nohric should be expecting you. You will do this son.”

Delvakhan knew there was no argument here; he had always been told his graduation would be met with his returning to his ‘homeland’. For days a part of him had some happy anticipation about it, but the rest of him hated what he had to do. While he knew he wasn’t Rakshar, he also knew he was completely unaware of ‘his’ people. The entire world seemed to be alien to him.

Eventually his mother unwrapped her arms and retired to her bed. For hours Delvakhan played with the fire until it began to sputter and die out. As a complete darkness filled the room he felt himself nod off a time or two, but in short order, light began to fill the room. Moving quietly he gathered his things, looked at his mother for just a moment, pushed all his thoughts away and walked out the door.

****
Letting go a deep sigh, Delvakhan sat up from his makeshift bed. Around him Burakani and the others still lay fast asleep. Yet another dream refused to allow him to enter a deep sleep. It was a bit different this time. There was far too much truth in the dream. They had only let their village a few days prior. Were it a clear night he would not have to strain his eyes to see the towers that speckled along the mountains. They were going to burn his mother as the custom of their culture, yet something in him found it too cruel for his sleep to continue. A suddenly bear like hand clasped his shoulder, shoving him forward.

“Another dream Del?” Burakani questioned. “Do you ever sleep at night? I often wonder who it is you angered to cause such a curse upon sleep. I simply love to sleep.

Delvakhan could only shrug as he often wondered the same. “My mother has died.”

Burakani didn’t hide the shock in his face. Awkwardly he commented. “You are just being odd Del, I am sure she is still alive.”

“No, she is dead. I can no longer feel her essence. I have to go back.” He replied.

“For what, they will send her off properly.”

Delvakhan lunged forward and grabbed Burakani’s loose tunic. “NO!” I will not allow them to burn her!”

Burakani knocked Delvakhan back roughly. “Do that again and I am going to knock you out for your own good. Calm yourself. What are you going to do if she is already burned? Not to mention I have no desire to make the climb already behind us a second time.”

“Maybe I wasn’t clear. I will carry her myself, I don’t care how long it takes, and she is NOT being burned. I will either carry her over the mountain or I won’t make it over the mountain.” Delvakhan looked directly into the eyes of his friend and calmed.

“If you say so Del. You never mentioned being bothered by the death ceremony before.” Burakani searched his friends face for some sort of understanding.

“It must be this way. As much as we are the same, we are still different. Something in my mind tells me she has to be returned to the ground.”

“The ground? Is the air clouding your mind up here? You don’t let something dead stay in the ground; it will curse and ruin the soil.” Burakani stated genuinely shocked.

“I will be back in a couple days, go on or wait; it’s all the same to me.” Delvakhan stated as he stood up and began gathering his pack.

“Del I have never known anything about my mother other than she died at my birth. But you know for the Rakshar death is simply a part of life. You have to remember that, it is part of being a Templar.” His friend offered Delvakhan a sad smile.

“I’m going to bury her. I will be back in a few days.”

****
Tears fell from his eyes and were immediately absorbed by the earthen dirt. Deeply his fingers dug into that same dirt. He told himself he was prepared to see her lifeless. He was sadly mistaken. Delvakhan could smell the oils and herbs they placed all over her body to prepare her for the death ceremony. He couldn’t bear to see her burned and refused to allow them to continue. Many had sworn at him with threats of their old legends of the dead haunting the lands when they weren’t prepared for death properly. With an angry glance they retreated from the young Templar and left them at the grove he walked to. All he could hear was his own sobbing and the soft patter of his tears as they hit the soil.

Carefully and delicately he wrapped her body in a white cloth as she instructed him years prior when she first had gotten sick. As he finished his tears fell in greater force. Sorrowfully he dropped his head to her chest and held her close. Heat still seemed to escape from her body, almost as if it were embracing him on final time. Delvakhan took comfort that somehow it was here. There was so much he had wanted to say to her the day of his graduation, yet couldn’t seem to get the words to come out. Finally he lowered her into the whole he created. Quickly he began covering her in the dirt until the mound crested over.

Returning to their home, he began preparing for the second half of the death ceremony; burning everything else she owned. As he rolled her bedding, he found a scabbard sword partially dug into the ground. Carefully he pulled out the blade and examined it, shocked his mother ever had something like this in her possession. Strange symbols flowed from hilt along the dull edge all the way to the tip. Light almost seemed to permeate the blade as he held the hilt, feeling the weight of the weapon which felt heavy and light at the same time.

With the door opening, he carefully put it back into its scabbard, setting it aside and continuing to make his preparations. Delvakhan already knew it was Grulan. He was sure a lecture was coming about him leaving so early in the morning without saying anything.

“I still don’t want to speak about this.” Delvakhan turned to look at his master and teacher.

“There is a lonely curse when one decides to be alone. However I am not here for any reason but to be sure the rest of the ceremony is followed. And I have something for you to take to your Uncle Nohric.” Grulan handed Delvakhan a rolled parchment with a strange seal holding it closed.

“What is it?” Delvakhan asked while he looked closer at the seal.

“It’s from the Emperor himself. I have no idea the contents, I would not question him. It is also not for you to read, only your Uncle. Those are the instructions that come with it.”

“I have seen the Emperors symbol and this isn’t it.” Delvakhan carefully tried to seen inside the ring.

“Boy that is not for you to read.” Grulan stated harshly. “As for the seal, it’s the sign of the Silence. A special group of people that serve the Emperor.

Delvakhan stood a bit in shock. All Templar only knew the Silence existed and any duty they were on was not to be interrupted, talked about or questioned. They all assumed it was just another fable used to aid mystery to their otherwise simple world.

“There is one more thing Delvakhan. You need to take that band off.” Grulan pointed to the band that encircled the young mans upper arm.

“Why I have always worn it.” Delvakhan questioned.

“Because it’s a Rakshar ceremony and one that will not serve you well beyond the mountains. There are many things there so different you will find yourself lost. That band will cause some people much concern. Keep it, don’t wear it.” There was seriousness on Grulan’s face that almost startled him.

Pulling the band off, he rubbed the area, feeling a bit naked without it. Resolving himself, he grabbed the sword and moved past Grulan. Suddenly he felt completely alone in the world, as if he was shoved into the cold. The cold he had wanted, but didn’t want to be pushed into. Anger grew line a stone around his head.

As he moved toward the mountain, Delvakhan looked back and saw flames growing around his home. There was only one thing that was clear; he would never return. Not by choice, not by force.