The Serpentine Tongues
With heavy hearts the twenty bands left the Kingdom, and each Captain led his people unto the very bounds set by the horizons, out of all knowledge or contact. It was in this veil of distance that each Captain had the same thought, and carried it out: they crowned themselves kings of men, and grew disdainful of the relations they had left. The Kingdom of Men was thus fractured, and the new Kingdoms no longer regretted their own stealing away in the night: they viewed the old Kingdom of men as a foolish nation ruled by a mad king who would challenge the invincible.
The furthest lost of these was the one ruled by Jalikos, King of the Hadirenes. For they did not halt with the desecration of the memory of the old Kingdom, but actively plotted against them with the Creators. King Jalikos himself conversed with them freely, and offered his services in return for special favors from the Creators. They gave him a black helm that was entwined with dark powers, and the sword Gugalith, which drank the blood of those it slew, so that it shone unstained in battle, but gleamed wet crimson in the scabbard. He swore to do their bidding, and pledged his soul to the sun, moon, and earth.
Ignorant of the Hadirenes treachery, Dardos inspired his people to do their Admirals bidding, and they began to prepare for the long journey that lay ahead, for refuge from the Creators themselves could not be easily gotten. He delegated the supervision of this to Lord Tythos, while he bade the Admirals assemble an army from the most stout-hearted of the men, that they could fend off the attacks that were bound to come. The King himself stood upon the banks of the greatest river, and lifted his gaze to the heavens themselves.
Creators! I bid you listen, for I have come to an agreement with your people.
Lo, it is the King of men; came the familiar rumble in reply. But you are somewhat lessened now, is that not true?
Your mocking tone is one that I deserve, I will admit, he said wearily. For I have indeed frightened off the people of my kingdom, with my talk of rebellion. Yet, he continued, holding up a hand as if to stave off the divine fury, I have seen the error of my ways. My men are scattered, and it will take time to recall them, so my people prepare for the long winter months remaining, but come summertime, I shall summon the people unto me, and we shall form one kingdom again, as you had commanded us.
The Creators were suspicious, but they were not undesirous of hearing such sweet news; their most dangerous mortal foe was subdued. We are joyous to hear this news of reconciliation, but when we gaze over your fields, we still see them confidently upthrust from the tilled earth.
I ask you to look once more, Dardos said, and gestured to the fields. We are even now cutting down the grain, and native grasses may grow there once more. Indeed, the people were taking great scythes to the grain, and reaping swathes of grain. The Creators were unfamiliar with these designs, and allowed that they were most impressed with the progress that the men were making.
This is well and good. We are glad that you have seen reason; but be sure that you do not destroy the land any further. You have a debt to repay.
And we shall repay them, Dardos affirmed.
The Creators returned to their own thoughts, and Dardos went back among his people, calling them together at the heart of the village.
I have told the Creator that he should not worry, for we are preparing to do his bidding, and that soon we shall return to our primitive ways, leaving the earth in peace. I have also said that we are preparing to move on; they will thus be unsurprised when we move onwards from this site. We have more time now, but it will take them only a short while to realize that we are not following their words such as I have suggested. We must be prepared for their attack, that they do not take us flinching.
My lord, called out Lord Tythos. Perhaps this is not the best path, he said reasonably. Defying their word openly has made them angry enough, but now you have lied to them as well, and this will surely increase their attacks tenfold.
We have no other choice, my trusted Chamberlain. We cannot yet weather an attack, but we have been bought time to prepare for one.
This smacks to me of greater treachery than any we have yet dreamed up, Tythos said uncertainly. If we were to tell him...
Then he would know we were lying, Dardos said calmly, and we would be the worse for it, as he would immediately attack us, like a mountain lion pounces upon the newborn lamb.
But we may deflect his wrath for a while, for being the more honest about it.
No; I would not do this, nor should you, Dardos firmly stated. Now, he turned to the rest of his people, it is imperative that we be ready to move soon. Ready your weapons, Admirals, but hide them in bales of hay, that those who watch are ignorant of what we plan. The grain should likewise be hidden, under bundles of cloth.
While Dardos talked, Tythos muttered to himself, This seems an ill-fated plan. The king desires to tread further down the path of madness than ever, and he will not be dissuaded! Perhaps I can do something.
That night, as the village slept, Tythos crept out of bed, and onto the riverbank, as he had seen Dardos do the previous day. Planting his feet firmly, as though he feared the ground might move, he lifted his gaze to the horizons, and tentatively whispered, Creators?
We listen.
Hear then, of treachery most foul that I report to you in the hopes of kindly mercy.
You speak of treachery? the voices asked. Speak on, then, for there is nothing more foul than the fool who speaks falsehood to the Creators.
Indeed, he spoke slowly, it is a terrible thing to lie to the Creator. Yet, if the lie is amended with the truth shortly thereafter, then the crime is somewhat lessened, no? I speak not of my own lie, of course, but that of one I love. Dardos has come before you, not long passed, and told you that the people of his kingdom desire to do your will, but in truth, we intend no such thing, and will rapidly make for a path that ignores and spites you. The harvests will go on, the trees shall be felled, the metal shall be worked. Moreover, though our people will journey into exile, we will still defy you unto the end of days.
Deceit most rotten, the Creator said angrily. He must be punished, along with those who follow him. But how can it be what you say is true? For his people are even now taking down the wooden houses, and cutting down the grain.
The wooden houses we will cut into pieces for the hilts of our swords and handles of our axes. The grain is being collected; such is the manner of the harvest.
Lies abounding! He shall be chastened. We thank you for this word of evil. What do you desire in repayment?
I desire pity, and mercy. Dardos is not so evil as you think. He does wrong, yes, but only for he still does not know the difference between it and right, not out of the color of his heart. If you offer him another chance to repent, then I am sure I can convince him of the way of truth, but if you slay him, then men will be so furious as to never do so. Furthermore, the people follow him only because he is our king. We do not desire to share in his folly.
We shall grant mercy, the Creators proclaimed. You and your kin shall be spared, for you alone of your countrymen were brave enough to tell us of your Kings falsehood. The people of the nation shall only be slain such that they stand in the way of the killing of Dardos. But King Dardos himself will be killed; there is no greater crime than misleading your Fathers.
Please, Creators, it is not my wish...
Our mercy is not easily given. Speak no more, else we shall revoke our earlier statement, and your red blood shall stain the ground along with your Kings.
Tythos quailed at the thought of his own life draining out, and nodded mutely: he would not protest the desires of the Creators.
Then it is agreed. Take this dagger: and a dagger appeared, gleaming with an internal fire for a moment, then looking much as any other, and our blessing; so long as you wear that dagger, no warrior of ours shall strike you or those of your blood; the spells woven into it are powerful. Remember, also, that we are not desirous of the Kingdom of men falling into pieces. It will need a new leader after Dardos is dead, and a wise man such as yourself may be the best choice for the crown. We now take our leave. They were gone, but the dagger lay before him, sheathed in a simple scabbard.
He took it in his hands wonderingly, and drew it; it made not a sound. Engraved on it were runes of a language he could not read, while the edge was so keen that the eye knew it could only be spell-bound with great power. Xathok, whispered a voice. He sheathed it again.
Xathok, they gave me, he said. And they hint at kingship for myself and my seed. But to do that, I must betray my beloved king. By the heavens and the earth, what shall I do?
The sound of approaching footsteps startled Tythos, and he hid the dagger in the billowing of his robes. The figure that gazed at him was that of Admiral Chenos, dressed in simple armor, and with a long sword at his side.
What deeds have you performed in the dead of the night? Chenos asked.
I only desired to look upon the fair banks once more, Tythos answered, And I have received my glimpse. With that, he rose and walked back to his hut even as the sun colored the eastern sky.
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