6 days left
My land, my people. Once beautiful, once proud. Now, we are a disgrace to Murok. Murkali must die, I am afraid. It is Murok's wish.
- Elder Ohvocdu
His father's eyes, sharp and penetrating, bore into Avso, making him feel as though he was being dissected, layer by layer.
Avso stammered and then tumbled out a few words: “W-what? Could you—repeat that, father?”
His father’s hand tightened around the cup, and his jaw clenched. Silence.
Avso thought of Amud and all the good he was doing for Murkali. He was leading them to excellence. The Emperor was the extension of Murok’s will, chosen by Murok himself. Could Avso go against Murok, the god who had blessed him with golden hair?
Avso’s heart was hammering in his ears. And he felt his father’s heavy eyes on him.
Just as it seemed his father’s glare could reach harshen no more, Avso blurted out an answer.
“Y-yes. I’ll do it.”
His father kept staring at him, saying nothing. Then, a knock came from the door.
A second later, Uhovlo walked in. “Frauza?”
His father’s eyes softened, but his hand tightened around the cup. “Yes, my love?”
“I was just—“ She stopped when she saw Avso. “What is he doing here? What is this?”
“I will explain afterward. But please, my love, leave us for now. We have topics to discuss.”
“You will explain this to me.”
“I will.”
Uhovlo shot one more glance at Avso and then left. Once she was gone, Frauza stayed silent for a minute.
Avso found the courage to speak up. “Why …” Avso fought to ask the question, “Why must the Emperor die?”
Frauza’s face twisted, his voice was hoarse, and he stared at the wall. “Because he is evil. Murok did not choose the Emperor. Amud is a believer in Ilan. He will only bring death. He must die.
“This ritual that he has undergone … " he continued. "It will be all of our demise if it ends successfully. It will make him invincible.”
“But the ritual’s already done.” Avso felt dread in his heart.
“Not yet. We still have a week before the Emperor’s power cements. If the Emperor does not die before then, Ilan will have his way for the next hundred years. The Emperor must die within the week.”
“What am I supposed to do, father? How—how could I possibly kill him? I can’t do that. No one can.”
“He is but a man. And you will not be alone.”
“Will you be with me? “
“No.” He scoffed. “You’ll be with four other individuals. They should be plenty enough to kill him.”
“And who are they?”
“Luif Moodi, Uk Kinzuzzuh, and Kraz Dufmaik. Skamtos Wascofi will lead the team.”
“How’d you get them to agree?”
“They believe in our cause.”
“Why am I needed? They are far more powerful.”
“Because you will make sure they are on task and forthcoming. You will also aid them in any way needed.”
“When will I first meet them?” Avso clenched his hands.
“Tomorrow.”
In the quiet hours that followed, in his dark room. The flickering torches seemed to whisper secrets, casting shadows that danced in rhythm with the turmoil in his mind.
His father performed the daily cleansing ritual on Avso and all his other children, tracing two mud lines across Avso’s face. Avso was last to receive the ritual as usual, and his father never looked him in the eye.
He laid in bed, but sleep seeped through his hands like sand grains. His mind kept returning to the man he had killed, the feeling of the slick blood splattered on his fingers, the man's look of fear and hatred. It terrified Avso.
Would he have to kill the Emperor like he had killed that man?
Avso sat up from the thin straw mattress, slipped out of his room, and outside of the abode. He gently sat on the dirt and looked up at the glowing white moon, leaning back against the sandstone wall. One day, Murok would burn the moon out of the sky.
A shuffling came from his right. Avso tensed. From the shadows came a small four-legged creature. Avso relaxed. The animal sat on the ground a ways away from Avso. It stared at him.
Avso smiled and got up, walked inside, and grabbed some bread. The same animal had been coming to him daily for the last month, and Avso had always fed it since it looked hungry. He liked how the animal saw him for him, not some Murok-blessed, not something to praise.
He hesitantly approached the animal and set the small piece of bread next to it. Avso backed up and sat on the ground again. He watched as the animal grabbed it in its mouth and darted away—leaving Avso.
His heart twinged. He wished it would stay for a while. Avso stared down at his dark hands.
Was the Emperor really in line with the Titan of Ilan? For as long as Avso remembered, Emperor Amud had been the pride of Murkali—even before he was Emperor. Elder Ohvocdu himself had mentored the Emperor.
Elder Ohvocdu had mentored Avso a few times and even performed the cleansing ritual on him. But Avso hadn’t seen him in over a year. He needed someone like Ohvocdu now—someone who could give him wisdom. He yearned for guidance—for a sign that he was on the right path.
Avso and his father approached a distant clearing. The moonlight revealed a surreal sight—an immense spine, the remains of a colossal creature, curved around a burnt-down clearing. The bones, bleached by time, stretched nearly a hundred feet long. Avso remembered climbing atop those same bones as a child. He had snuck away from the house. A group of warriors had eventually found him and carried him back; he cried the whole way. His father had been so furious that he had threatened to have Avso beaten. He couldn't, of course—no one was allowed to hurt a Murok-blessed. Instead, he made Avso go a week without eating.
There were four other people there. Avso almost stopped from fear at the sight of them. They were strong; their auras surrounded them like thick armor. The cold whipped at Avso, but he didn’t shiver.
Kraz Dufmaik walked regally toward them. He was a rather short man with a shaved head and a friendly smile. His entire appearance was meticulous. He wore lavish, orderly robes—a deep green—with metal lining that reflected the sunlight. But despite his small height, he seemed to stand taller than anyone.
“Frauza,” he said with a polite smile. “It’s a pleasure to see you again."
“Likewise,” his father said, returning the handshake.
Uk Kinzuzzuh was lying back on the grass; he rolled his eyes. Avso felt indignation rise at that. Avso had heard rumors of Uk's actions and wondered if they were true. Uk held a small rabbit in his hands. The rabbit sat quietly.
His father pointed to Avso. “He’ll be on the team too.”
Kraz’s smiled. “It would be an honor to have the Murok-blessed on the team. Murok will guide us through.”
Skamtos Wascofi walked closer from the side. “What’s this? You said nothing about him joining.” His aura was astonishingly strong, palpable as a tremor in the air. Skamtos towered over Avso, and his eyes seemed to understand every thought Avso had.
“He will help you," Frauza said. "Murok will bless the team surely if Avso is with you.”
“I can be helpful,” Avso said. “I’m can fight and can do anything you need me to.”
“Anything?” Uk smiled wryly from the ground and sat up. He held the rabbit in his hands. It tried to escape, but Uk held tighter. He was the youngest there, besides Avso, at 17 years old. He was tall and lanky. Everything about him seemed brown, from his clothes to his shoes to his jewelry to his skin.
“Well … It depends … But yes.”
“Good enough for me.” Uk smiled again. It was a creepy smile.
“Quit being weird, Uk,” Skamtos said, returning to them. “I don’t want him here. We don’t need him.”
“I ordered it. He will be here,” his father said.
“We will honor that, of course,” Kraz said, looking to Skamtos.
“A boy will not help us. If Murok wishes this plan to succeed, he will let it happen.”
“There’s no pain in letting him on, so quit whining, Skamtos,” Uk said, still sitting in the grass.
Skamtos whipped around to Uk. “Watch your mouth. I’m your leader, not your friend.”
Uk rolled his eyes. “Yes, sir."
Skamtos stared at Avso, his eyes digging into his brain. Avso knew he could see every inch of him. He felt a tremor run down his body, and sweat broke out under his armpits.
Then suddenly, Skamtos broke eye contact. “Let him on the team.”
Avso couldn’t help but smile. “I’ll do well. I can help.”
His father stepped forward. “Let us discuss the mission, then—"
“Not happening,” Skamtos cut in.
His father’s mouth tightened.
“We made a deal,” Skamtos said. “And it seems you want to add your little spy to the group, too. Sure, I’ll allow it. But I won’t have you here with us.”
“Well, then,” his father’s jaw was clenched. “Good luck.” He turned around and walked away.
Uk laughed. Avso’s fists were clenched as he watched his father walk away.
“I thought your daddy hated you.” Uk said, “Why’s he want you on the team now?”
Avso felt pain spike in his heart—like a punch straight in the chest. But Avso ignored it and moved on.
“It’s time to plan, then,” Skamtos said.
“Ahhh, planning time, my favorite,” Uk said. “You reckon you guys could plan without me, and I fill me in afterward?”
“No.” Skamto didn’t offer Uk even a glance.
“Eh, it was worth a try.” Uk shrugged.
Uk lined up the rabbit in his hands. It squirmed, and he brought out the axe. He raised it to chop at the animal.
“What are you doing?” Avso asked.
Uk looked over. “Getting us some food.”
“Don’t kill it.”
“Why not? I caught it. I’m allowed to kill it.”
“But it trusts you, don’t kill it.”
“That’s a stupid reason.”
“Just—there’s no reason to kill it. You can eat later.”
Uk’s brows furrowed. “You’re so strange. But whatever you say, Goldy.”
He let the rabbit loose, and it immediately scurried away.
“Let’s get to it, then,” Uk said. He stood and packed up his axes.
Skamtos walked up to Avso. “We’re leaving,” Skamtos said to Avso.
“What? Why?”
“Because we’re not idiots like your father thinks, that’s why.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
Luif spoke up. “Your father cast Otu spells earlier to let him know what’s happening.” He was a small man. Avso had barely noticed him.
Avso didn’t say anything.
They left the clearing behind, and the monster’s bones shone like glass in the moonlight.
