The Auric Insignia (9 page)

     - You won’t fall off, and even if you would, Stari would catch you. Right?

     Stari’s obstinate attitude crumbled under Korri’s stern gaze.

     - Alright, alright, I get it, big no no on all the fun stuff!

     - Now, if we are ready to continue... Roarke, would you be so kind as to join me at the edge over there?

     Roarke walked slowly over to the spot that Plista had pointed out, testing his footing carefully before shifting his weight. Plista in turn, took flight and positioned himself on a branch that was part of the wooden barrier that signified the end of the platform. Normally short in stature, the Kappa now sat on level with Roarke’s face.

     - In front of us lies the south. What do you see?

     - I see the Horned Mountains.

     - Ah yes, the Horned Mountains, a name coined by Gota originally. Ominous name, do you not agree?

     - I suppose.

     - Of course that is not the original name, The Ymbens are their original name when spoken by Kappian tongues.

     - Why did he change it?

     - Most likely as a part of creating an image of danger, to keep people away.

     - And nobody is afraid of the Cuddly Puppy Hills.

     - Haha, precisely. Do you see that top, the right one of the two horns, do you know what humans built there?

     - I’d imagine nothing, we don’t build that far north.

     - It’s been abandoned for some time but it is still there, Brownwatch, was its name when it was in still in use.

     - Brownwatch? That can’t be right.

     - And why not?

     - Because Brownwatch lies to the south of my cabin, I pass it every time I go into to town.

     Plista’s puzzlement loosened and he let out a bitter laugh, devoid of joy.

     - That sly monster knows no bounds.

     - What are you talking about?

     - I will take a wild guess and say that Brownwatch is named after some local legend about a normal man turned hero, as he fought off some evil.

     - Yeah uh, that’s actually spot on, how did you know that?

     - Fewer and fewer things in this world remain hallowed when even history gets tainted, but I guess history is written by the victors.

     - I don’t understand what you’re talking about.

     - There was a watchman Brown, a long time ago. He was a guard positioned on that mountaintop, giving it its name, in a time that has faded into legend in the minds of those not as long for this world as we Kappas. He was a kind, hardworking man that despite different circumstances, came to be in the same situation you are in right now, Roarke.

     Roarke debated whether or not he should say something, but instead held his tongue and waited for clarification.

     - Because of the then new, boldly placed outpost, it was only a matter of time before Brown came into contact with the Kappa of Vanalf. But Brown, like yourself, but unlike almost all others, acted with kindness instead of cruelty born out of fear and ignorance. He befriended me and we began devising a plan, a plan to restore balance to a world set askew. A plan I now wish to share with you, in hopes that you will agree to it.

     Roarke looked across the platform, to where Korri was sitting, listening to Stari passionately explain something. Roarke could see her unfocused stare and noticed that one ear was turned away, facing him, giving tell that her interest lay elsewhere than in what Stari was talking about.

     - Do I actually have any choice?

     - Truthfully, no. Whether or not you agree to what I have to say, that choice is yours. However, because of what has transpired and because of the path you have entered, both through chance and by your own volition, it is highly unlikely that you would be allowed to reenter human society, as it stands today.

     - Well then that’s your answer, isn’t it?

     - Before I proceed, I must express my deepest condolences to under which circumstances this has come to pass, I wish we could have met under different terms.

     - What done is done. If I had the chance to go back and change, to choose another path, I honestly don’t think I would.

     - I am glad to hear it.

     Plista let out a short breath and corrected his sitting position before he carried on.

     - Like I said earlier, as our friendship grew, it became overtly evident that Brown was different than most others. He saw the truth in what I told him, resonating with the observations he had made himself, concerning his own kind and its place in the world. He vowed to help but didn’t want to punish mankind for what ultimately, was not its fault. Our mental exchanges gave birth to an idea, based on a theory, a theory that the life forces, wrongfully detained, would, given the chance, return to their rightful and natural place within the balance. The plan was to remove Gota from the crumbling shoulders of the world, in hopes that the damages made, could receive the time and breathing room required to heal.

     - Sounds like an arduous and ambitious plan.

     - Fatally so, as it would turn out. Our endeavor was smothered in its early stages as Brown was murdered, by his own wife no less, who had been acting under Gota’s control. And now you tell me that his effort to save us all has been turned into a fable in service of the very forces he aimed to overthrow. A poor recompense for a life wasted, helping those who didn’t even know they needed it.

     - I’m sorry.

     - So am I, but life is for the living and now we have the chance to make the difference Brown never got the chance to do.

     - I don’t know what difference I can make, but if I can, I’ll help you.

     - And I welcome your aid, but do you realize the responsibility I am asking you to shoulder? If we succeed, and if our theory proves correct, it still leaves humanity in the dark.

     - What do you mean?

     - A child led astray will still remain lost even though its deceiver perishes. What humanity will need, if we succeed, is a new Kappa.

     Roarke grasped what Plista was suggesting and it took him by surprise. Roarke contemplated the implication in Plista’s words, and his eyes drifted over to where the others were sitting. This time, Korri had abandoned all pretense and met his glance with a face painted in cautious hope.

     - Okay.

     - Okay?

     - Okay, I understand and I accept.

***

Our dream of a better world

They were walking in an outspread formation along the path leading back to human civilization. Rain was pouring down, drenching the foliage until it ultimately came running down on those caught below. After bringing Roarke’s answer to Korri and Stari atop the platform, Plista had called for the aid of his other fellow brothers and sisters. His plea had been met with hope by some, and with scepticism from others. Besides Plista himself, Marel and Ippan had agreed to help, citing boredom as their main reason, even though Roarke knew they cared, under all the jokes. Stari, the young and hotheaded Kappa, had been the first to volunteer her services to the cause, after which she had barely been able to contain her elation. Ama was the most outspoken against the quest, saying that humans couldn’t change and that Roarke had probably influenced their minds, and only agreed to join in order to keep an eye on the “human”, insisting on only referring to Roarke as such. Refaz, the younger brother of Ama, the Kappa of foxes, had in turn joined in an attempt to keep an eye on Ama. The last members of their party was Roarke’s earlier traveling companion Korri, and her sister Vaya, who had both been privy to Plista’s wish of resurrecting his old plan. The remnants of wolves, foxes and so forth, had remained to tend to, and protect their one last true safe haven, the trees of Braida, standing as a last defense, should the Kappa’s mission fail.

     As they were coming up on the northern entrance to the Blackhorn pass, going into more and more craggy surroundings, Roarke lifted his head, trying to catch a glimpse of the supposed original Brownwatch. The obstructing leafage coupled with the rain that splashed in his face when he looked up, rendered the attempt futile and he subsequently abandoned it. His numerous attempts however, caught the attention of Marel and Ippan, who was walking right next to him.

     - You can’t do it, see your own forehead that is. Believe me, we’ve tried.

     - I don’t doubt it.

     - A dream of ours that simply ended in a wasted afternoon.

     - One of many, I’d wager, but time spent chasing a dream is never really wasted, I always say, however stupid.

     - Whoa, you’re so deep I can’t even see you anymore....

     The three of them laughed in union as they sauntered along, towards dangers unknown. As the laughter died out, Stari swooped down from above the trees, landing in front of them.

     - You see anything up there, sister?

     - You mean besides jack shit? Not much, it’s a real storm up there.

     She beat her wings vigorously to rid them of any remaining water.

     - I thought you wanted some action, Stari, here it is.

     - Not what I fucking signed up for, I hate getting wet. Anyway, has Ama and Refaz returned yet?

     Ama and his brother had taken it upon themselves to scout ahead to minimize the risk of being taken by surprise.

     - No, not yet, but if we know those rays of sunshine, they’ll probably wait up ahead, unless they’d suddenly feel the need to socialize.

     Stari accepted Marel’s words without any further consideration and turned to face Roarke.

     - I just came from the guys in the back, Plista wondered if you wanted to visit the true Brownwatch?

     Roarke looked up at the tops that loomed over him, with seemingly no end, making his hands moist with more than rain.

     - Do we have to fly?

     - Plista is already on his way up there now, so unless you can climb a three hundred foot sheer drop in about ten minutes or so, you don’t got much choice, big boy. Or are you craven?

     - Just don’t fucking let go of me this time!

     - Pff, okay buzzkill, let’s go.

     - Roarke, be a dear and let out a holler if you were to fall, so me and Ippan can get out of the way.

     - Love you guys too, smartass.

     They cleared the canopies to the sound of Marel’s and Ippan’s guffaw being drowned out by the howling of the wind, now blowing unhindered, lashing around the black peaks. This time Stari held on tight with both hands so they would not get torn apart by the strong gusts, as they made their way around the right peak of the mountain range’s namesake. Coming around, Roarke could see a broken staircase cut into the mountain, withered by the elements and the test of time, leading up to a small level surface that held the ruins of a stone house. Sitting by the partially broken down wall facing them, was Plista, waiting in silence. Rain hit like a thousand tiny needles, smashing into Roarke’s face without mercy as they landed beside the vertical drop that started a few feet from the edge of the house. Roarke felt calm having solid ground beneath his feet again and quickly stepped away from the edge, feeling like he was going to fall any second. He approached Plista, who rose and ushered him inside the busted doorframe whilst Stari took to the air once again.

     - Some weather we are having.

     - If you mean shitty, then yeah, I agree.

     - I admit, I prefer a sunny day myself as well, everything just seems so, alive. Granted, if we didn’t have rain once in a while, none of us would be here, alive.

     - Balance, right?

     - Right.

     They were standing in the only room, where a table, covered in dirt and dust after many years of neglect, dominated the center space. The remains of a decaying bed, made of a more feeble wood than what had been sued to craft the table, lay in the corner, fading blankets hinting at their former brilliance.

     - He was a poor man, too weak of body to sustain both himself and his wife, let alone a possible child. Those were different times, fear and superstition was more prevalent, opening up opportunities for those who couldn’t afford to decline.

     - So he became a guard? positioned at the edge of evil, as he knew it.

     - A felicitous summation. He and his wife moved here and in return, the townspeople of Brightseed payed him a monthly fee. Being prone to stand on the platform from earlier, as a way to clear my head, it was only a matter of time before I saw the pillar of smoke rising from this peak.

     Plista walked around the table, the top reaching his shoulders, making it look like they were standing in the house of a giant, even though Roarke noted he had had to duck in order to clear the doorway. Plista’s armored complexion made it hard to see his feelings but Roarke felt a sadness emanating from the Kappa standing across the table from him.

     - Balance does not always seem fair, it is not kind, but nor is it evil, but, it is what I have sworn to uphold.

     - Still, sometimes life just sucks.

     - Brusque and veracious words.

     - Should we be going? We don’t want to get too far behind.

     - You are right. Goodbye Brown, I go, in hopes of fulfilling our dream of a better world, for us and more importantly, for all of those to come.

     Roarke followed in silence behind Plista as they walked outside, only to be greeted by the full force of the elements.

     - Thank you Roarke, for sharing this brief moment with me.

     Roarke bowed his head in response and the small figure left him, walking off the edge, only to slowly, hovering, descend to the winding road below them. Roarke stood quiet until Stari came gliding down from wherever she had been waiting. Seeing his solemn visage, she swallowed the jeer she had prepared and they descended in reticence as well.

***