In the center of a heavily forested and mountainous island, Ctania lived with the Tvari tribe. For as long as she could remember, she and younger her sister Tlana had lived with the Tvari women. She didn't know if she was truly a Tvari or if she was like one of the girls that the headhunting parties occasionally brought back, the girls adopted by the women of the village. All she knew is what they told her and Tlana, that their mother was dead. Despite living in the midst of a warrior tribe, she and her sister lived a peaceful life with the tribeswomen. The women lived separately from the men, tending garden, cooking, making pottery, rearing children, and keeping their palm thatched huts in repair.
All men of the tribe were warriors and spent their days training or hunting. Only with wives entered were permitted to enter the women's village during the evening and men rarely entered during the day except to court. Shaman Dvim, the Chief, who lived atop a cliff called the Crimson Wall, was the only exception. Shaman Dvim, was fat, bald, and smaller than any other men in the tribe. Most of these visits were with one of his many wives in an attempt to produce an heir. Other times it was to relay advice from his pale skinned, strange, elderly advisor and seer, only known to most Tvari as the Harbinger of Drahl. Although thin and frail in appearance, even the most bold and ferocious Tvari Headhunters feared the Harbinger. It was because of the fear of this man that no one openly questioned Cheif Dvim's virility and publicly blamed problems of producing an heir on the weak blood of his wives descended from beach dwellers.
The chief's advisor, it was said, appeared mysteriously on the day Dvim became chief, the day of his father's death. This pale skinned old man emerged from the forest at the base of the Crimson Wall interrupting the Elder's annual sacrifice. The old one towered over the tallest warrior by more than two heads, he was dressed in long flowing crimson cloth that covered all of his skin but his head which was adorned by a long loose knit cap, and had a gray beard that extended halfway down his torso. The former chief shouted for the Headhunters to seize the outlander. The Harbinger simply held out his palm face up and warned in an otherworldly booming voice to stop or die. The chief began to motion to the Headhunters but never got further than a shrug of the shoulder. The much publicly maligned son of the chief, the "fat and dumb" Dvim, according to the tale, was down amongst the women and youths. It is whispered, that before the ancient outlander closed his fist, he looked to Dvim, smiled and nodded, and that Dvim was already approaching The Harbinger, smiling and opened armed before the old man's fingertips touched his palm. For when they did, Dvim's father's heart shot from his chest, leaping out at a perfect trajectory to land in the old man's hand just as it re-opened, still beating. The corpse of the old chief, whose name was never to be spoken of again, toppled down the cliff, and remains to this day untouched with the other sacrifices.
It was a day very much like the day that changed Ctania's life.. The entire tribe had gathered at the base of the Crimson Wall, men and women wearing nothing but loincloths and bone jewelry. The sun approached its apex as Tvim, The Harbinger, and the Elders lorded over the tribe. Ctania stood arm in arm with her younger sister Tlana looking up at the spectacle. Vrosk, the tribe's Champion and lead Headhunter stood confidently on a lower natural platform with the previous night's new moon captives. One by one, Vrosk led the captives up to a stone slab. They are tied down by the elders and then disemboweled by "Shaman" Dvim. The blood pours down the Crimson Wall, the tribe howls in jubliation. The Harbinger stands silently, awaiting his moment.
Ctania and Tlana hug each other and scream on cue with each thrust of Dvim's sacred stone knife. Secretly many of the women hate this, especially the unwed women, who have no man with which to share pride in the sacrifice. Ctania watches as the number of captives dwindles and the number of corpses at the bottom of the cliff piles. Eventually only Vrosk and the captured chief of some coastal tribe remain. She has never cared for any man in her tribe. She sees them as race apart from the women. Watching Vrosk, a head taller than the last captive, leads him to the sacrificial pedestal she hears someone say,
"You want him."
"What did you just say Tlana," she asks her sister.
"Nothing, nothing at all, dear sister," she replies. Ctania flashes her sister a wry look and returns her attention up the cliff.
"You want him," she hears, and feels something brush against her ear.
She looks back down at Tlana, but she's watching the ceremony. Vrosk hands the last sacrifice off to the elders and instead of returning to the lower platform, he stands at attention a few feet away from the altar. The Harbinger stirs, it is his moment now, the sun almost at its height. He approaches the prisoner from above and places his palm on the captive's head and raises the other to the sky.
"Drahl, accept this bounty in the name of your humble servant." he begins in a weak and elderly voice.
"Drahl, take upon you the blood of this sacrifice, a great warrior of the Kjoni Tribe", his voice escalates in a louder voice.
"Drahl" he implores, his voice booming.
"Drahl" he drawls, his voice now otherworldly. And again and again he repeats the name of his God. The sacrifice begins to shudder, his limbs trembling but held tight to the stone. He begins to sweat profusely and then steam arises from him, The Harbinger remains in place, one hand to the sky, one on the prisoner's forehead, he continues his chant. Dvim and the Elders back away from the altar but Vrosk remains in place. The prisoner's skin begins to bubble, silent until now he tries to scream as his blood boils, but his screams evaporate as his throat melts. The flesh turns to liquid and the sacrifice boils over, splattering down the cliff, scalding Vrosk. Its entrails free of skin, slide down the cliff and splatter on the crowd, a large cheer erupts.
"Look at him, like an Adonis. Beautiful." Ctania hears. She shudders and looks around, but no one is near her. When she looks up her gaze is fixed on the Leader of the Headhunters. His form is stifling to her, covered in blood, gleaming in the noonday sun, he is looking down at her smiling.
"He will be the father of your child" she hears.
Reflexively she screams, "STOP IT!" And spins around, but no one is near her, but all eyes are upon her, the spectators shaking their heads at her. She looks back up the cliff and thinks she sees The Harbinger look to Vrosk and nod, but she loses sight of them as the crowd breaks.
Later that night Ctania tells her younger, prettier sister what she heard at the sacrifice. They are sitting at a fire in front of their shared hut.
"Its about time you started taking interest in men." Tlana teases.
"What do you know of these matters, young one." Ctania retorts.
"A lot more than you do, elder one." she says mockingly, "You know Tga..."
she cuts off her words as someone approaches. Vrosk emerges from the darkness.
"Evening Ctania." he greets her, "Tlana" he says with a nod.
"How much did you hear?" Ctania says defensively.
"Too much maybe. Perhaps not enough." he replies with a grin. "Tlana, take leave, I want to talk with Ctania alone." With authority he motions her to leave. Tlana gets up, bids farewell, and heads into the hut. Vrosk's gaze lingers on her then returns to Ctania. She looks at him tentatively, her eyes avoiding his gaze waiting for what he's going to say, what she knows he's going to say.
"We've never spoken, but I've admired you from a distance." She flushes but remains attentive. "I've spoken with the Har.." he stutters. "I mean, I'll be frank with you. I've decided I need to take on a wife." And like a hammer it hits her. She no longer has a choice in the matter, its just how things go for the Tvari. Ctania has no other suitors and none would oppose Vrosk, the greatest warrior of the tribe, even if she did.
"But why me? I'm not as pretty as my sister, I'm much larger than the other women." Citing the common preference for small women many Tvari share. "I don't know if.." He cuts her off with a shushing motion.
"We.. I mean I have decided you would make a good wife. Do you not want me?"
"No, no, its not that." she pondered, but whatever it was she was thinking disappeared as he closed his mouth around hers.
And then she decided she did want him. The courtship went quickly and the consummation even quicker. Still, they were not wed. In the darkness he made promises to make her his queen. He revealed his secrets as some men do. He said the Harbinger promised to replace the chief with someone who could lead the tribe to greater glories in the name of Drahl. He promised to bring her glory and that the Harbinger had forseen their child would wield great power. Tlana no longer slept in the same hut. Every night he came to her until the he was called to duty at the new moon. He did not return the next day, which was not uncommon, some campaigns did not finish in a single night, and it was customary for Headhunters not to return until the next new moon if they did not return with sacrifice. In a month of waiting for her lover, she realized she was with child. The whispers had become true. This terrified her, but she didn't know why or what it meant.
When Vrosk returned, it was if he and his Headhunters had captured an entire nation. Scores upon scores of beachdwellers marched tethered to bamboo poles. Many of them were dying and several were dead, being dragged by the living. Several hundred children followed the procession, waiting to be placed into the care of the women's village. Ctania was ecstatic with Vrosk's return, she thanked Drahl heartily and cheered with the rest of the tribe with enthusiasm. The festivities began early at the Crimson Wall and Ctania was as rabid with bloodfury as any first wife. Cheer after cheer erupted as Vrosk led each prisoner was led to the altar and summarily sacrificed. A waterfall of blood cascaded down the Crimson Wall this day and ever Tvari reveled in it. As the sun approached its apex, there was but one sacrifice left, a supposed chief of chief of the coastallers. Vrosk led him to the altar, the former champion of the coastallers, seemed to drag his feet, succumbing himself to his fate. The Harbinger moved himself from his stillness and approached the prone former champion headwise. He placed his palm on the man's head and began his chant.
"Drahl", he began in his elderly voice. "We beseech you on this great day, take upon you the blood of this great warrior. Take upon you the blood of the Coastaller's Greatest Champion. Your most humble servants beg of thee, please accept this blood bounty and grant us power so that we may continue to quench your thirst."
"What is this?", the Harbinger questioned, his voice unworldly, responding to a query unasked. "I understand Great Lord. Your will be done." The Harbinger motioned to Vrosk. "The Voice of our Great lord requests that our Champion makes the final sacrifice." boomed the Harbinger. Vrosk stode above the head of the captive, the Harbinger made way for him. He unsheathed a stone dagger from his belt and held it high above his head. Vrosk looked to the sky and mouthed a few words and then plunged the dagger straight into the Coastaller Champion's heart. He stood there for a moment panting, staring out at the still and silent crowd. He then twisted the dagger and ripped it from the man's chest, along with the dagger came the man's heart, still pumping blood, beating as fast as and as hard as it had been in his chest. Vrosk held the heart impaled upon the knife in his hand in a victorious moment as the crowd exalted. In a single motion, Vrosk flipped the heart over the Crimson wall toward the crowd and sheathed his knife. The heart propelled over the cliff toward Ctania, she reached her hands up to catch it, it was still beating, his heart, Vrosk's heart, given to her. Closer and closer it fell, her eyes fixed on it, she prepared to grasp her gift from the man she loved, at the last moment she closed her eyes and closed her hands. She looked up, her hands were empty, in front of her Tlana held the still beating heart above her head to the jubliant cheer of onlookers. The vile whore, she thought she thought, the treacherous thief, it continued. She turned her back and headed into the forest alone to sulk.
Ctania returned to the women's village when it was dark. She approached her hut only to hear moaning. She quickened and kicked in the door only to see four arms, four legs and a back writhing in the dim light of a torch. She screamed, shrieked, tore the air with her lungs at the sight. Tlana sitting atop Vrosk turned to her with a wry smile and then turned back to face him. Ctania launched herself at her sister, ripping her from her impaled position and proceeded to thrash her. Ctania, a giant among the women, easily put her sister in a prone position and wailed upon her. But as quickly as she was upon Tlana she was ripped up from the ground and thrown through the wall of her hut.
Vrosk stood over her in all of his glory, the heel of his foot on the bridge of her nose. Ctania struggled to no avail and then he spoke. "What are you doing here wretched woman?" He reached down, picked her up by her hair and struck her in the face, blood explododed from her head as she was launched at the fire pit.
"Nooo!", she sobbed, "Whhyyyy?"
"No. Why." he retorted. "Do you really think I wanted you?" he chuckled. "The coastaller beast. Do you know that Tlana isn't even your blood sister?" Tlana had recovered herself and stood behind Vrosk hugging him and peering over his shoulder. "You aren't even Tvari. You were as easy as the Harbinger predicted. Begone monster!" he yelled as he kicked her, "You have served your purpose, you've allowed me to get close to my true bride." He spit on her and then kicked her half-heartedly until she stood.
Ctania emitted a blood curdling scream and scratched at Vrosk. He stepped away from her allowing her to fall on her face. "Pathetic wench. Who do you think you are?" Vrosk taunted. "Hideous woman, do you think your are fit to be the wife of the future king of kings?" he laughed. "Maybe I'll let one of my subordinates have their way with you, if I feel generous." And with a final kick to the face, he sent her sprawling to the edge of the forest. With a final look to Vrosk she pleaded, "I'm with child."
"I know." Vrosk replied laughing. "Begone, witch." He said nastily. She turned and fled into the forest.
Ctania ran deep into the forest. She ran deeper into the forest than she'd ever been. She ran until the muscles in her legs ached, until her lungs burned and gave up on her, until her stomach contracted and she had to vomit. She sat alone on the trunk of a rotting tree sobbing. "Don't take pity on yourself" she heard. "Your man and your child are both destined for greatness."
"Stop it. Oh, please just stop it" she screamed, "Who are you, why are you tormenting me. This is all your fault." And there he was, dressed in soft brown leather boots, black breaches, a red silk tunic, and deep blue overcoat that reached his ankles. Face to face he stood to her, a patch over one eye, wearing a wide brimmed hat, his face adorned with long curled moustaches, and one sea blue eye that seemed to burrow into her soul.
"All is as it should be my dear. Powers that be come from far and near. Just to satisfy our Master Drahl's thirst. You must know the importance of what you carry takes birth." he said with a flourish as his tipped his hat.
"I"m shamed, shamed beyond repair. I'm alone, we're alone. I don't know what to do." she whimpered. "Who are you? What are you? Why have you done this to me?"
"I am just a messenger of Drahl. I help the mighty rise and fall. And to what do these events portend? But test of strength until the end."
"A test of strength?" she asked suddenly assuaged.
"Things that will be, they shall be. Like a mighty dshrabla tree." he said motioning towards and ancient dshrabla tree nearby. "Everything great begins with the tiniest seed. And the great they block out sun for even the tiniest weed." She stood in awe of the strange man. He had white skin like the Harbinger and a fair eye like him, but he was much shorter and his demeanor was queer and jubilant. With every word he seemed to prance and dance and with every motion and her worries drifted away replaced by something else.
"This man, this Vrosk he did you wrong? Allow me to simplify matters with this little song." and the strange man began to sing.
There once was a maiden from the coast
her parents were killed and boy did they roast
numberless Tvari did they feed
but in their deaths they did plant a seed
their child, a woman did live in Tvari midst
among their village and did she learn this,
that her people's attentions were greatly obscured
attentions not properly paid to those they reared
for the Tvari were truly short sighted
but by Drahl's rule their fate was decided
Destined was this maiden to be
the mother of a true champion
that even eclipsed the shine of his his sire
a father of which manys blood would mire
but his son would conquer a great many ranks
and to only his mother would he give thanks
and the balance of the world would hinge
on his mother's last revenge
"Revenge?" she asked.
"Revenge, the world's greatest drink. Against whom, may I ask? just think."
"That Vrosk, that Tlana" she shrieked. "Their blood must boil. They must suffer worse than any sacrifice I've witnessed at the Crimson Wall."
"Revenge is a drink easily procured. Your word is all that need be heard. Your child in exchange is all that I need. Your word of bond is all we shall proceed."
"My child?!? My child, how dare you ask of me such a request."
"Did you not hear that your child will be great. In the care of your God will the deal make. In only our care will your child thrive. Through the birth you will not survive."
"I'm going to die?", Ctaina broke down in tears.
"I've come to you so you would understand. By your decision and your child, the world's stake is at hand. Your fate is decided, what deal can we make. So you can assure your child's future the rest that's at stake."
"So you say Vrosk is destined for greatness, but our child for greater?"
"By you language I can tell that you decision is near. You wording is true, can I be more clear?"
"I will give you my child." she snarled, and took a deep breath. "Only if he is destined to be a truly as great as you proclaim." At this, the messenger only smiled and waited patiently. "And I want revenge against Vrosk and Tlana. They must bleed and suffer for their offenses against me and my child."
"It is done. Let the birthing have begun."
"What? What do you mean? I'm not due for months."
And with that the Harbinger and the Elders appeared suddenly. The Elders grabbed Ctania and held her fast to the forest floor. She struggled with all her might but to no avail.
"No. Nooo. What are you doing? How dare you lie to me?" she pleaded.
"Everything I stated was complete and true. Today the world begins anew. The compact is complete with your word. Let the shrill sounds of your child be heard." And with that, the one eyed man faded into nothingness.
The Harbinger approached Ctania and placed his hand over her womb. He began chanting over her in strange long voweled words. She felt a burning in her loins and struggled to get away, but the Elders held her fast. The pain deepened and she felt her womb expand, sharp pains shot through her body as her skin stretched to the point of breaking. Looking down she could see her "child" fighting for release, violent kicks that almost displaced the Harbinger's grip. Then it burst through, a tiny hole it made, but it ripped through her flesh, she knew she was dead, but she stared at her child. In the dark in her last moments she stared at the many mouthed beast that had burst forth from her. It didn't have form, but shifted from strands of blood with many limbs, to resting in a shapeless pool. It shrieked and was silent, then it crawled up her belly and a mouth was in her face. Then darkness.
Epilogue:
"Everything went off seamlessly." Ghenagneth said.
"Gloop. Plop. Splat." commanded Drahl.
"I apologize sire. I am.. I uh..." Ghenagneth drops to his knees in pain. "Baqbar told me to report to you", he screamed.
"Glooop. Pop." Ghenagneth relaxed. He stood and brushed himself off.
"Yes I'm sure I must have done something to offend him. I'm sure I had that coming to me sire." Ghenagneth replied. "Is there anything else sire?"
Drahl marched up to his throne, sat down, and grasped the armrests. "Glop. Burple. Spurt. Spurt." came his command.
"Yes I understand. Andarious shall know your will immediately." A geyser shot up from the Endless Seas of Blood onto the dias, Ghenagneth stood in place covered in boiling blood. He bowed to his lord and made his leave.
