A Lost World

Ezara was shaking, her beliefs. Everything that she knew. “We….we don’t know anything...do we?” She had a hard time speaking the words. She clenched her jaw slightly. It was overwhelming. “Many gods?” She questioned and shook her head. “No. No there is only the God of strength and his name...it is not Atlas...it is Zinus...the glyphs...I’ve never been able to read them before.” She pressed her lips together. The Shaman was clearly having a difficult time accepting this. 25 years of her life she though she knew this world. At least. The world around her that the Umari lived in. But she did not know it. Not one bit. “I’ve never stepped foot in another room. Not beyond the locked gates...no...” She was still trembling.

“The flames...I...” She looked to her hands and shook her head. “What is happening?” She was afraid. The Shaman did not show fear often but in this moment she showed true fear. “This must be a vision...a dream...it...it must be...something...” She held a hand to her head as she squeezed her eyes shut. She only opened her eyes as she heard Aria rush off after the Alpha wolf. “Aria stop! Wait!” She cried as she rushed after her. The Shaman slipped through the opening of the doorway behind the Arutar woman. Her breaths heavy as she looked about the room. It was unlike anything that she had ever seen before in the temple. Why was this all opening now? “Zinus – give me strength.” She clutched a jewel that hung about her neck before she tucked it into the furs of her clothing.

Ezara came to her side and looked to the woman as she lifted the small book, her head tilted slightly. Her brows raised as she too saw the sketch of Fleurie. “I...can try...” She spoke as she took the book carefully. “I fear it will stem more questions than answers...I...I want to know about this place...what else is hidden within this temple?” She looked to the several folders that were set upon the table.

The Shaman swallowed as she looked down to the journal. “Okay...” She breathed as she looked over the words. “Valor…” Her brows tugged together. “No that isn’t...right….Valefor….” She spoke the word slowly almost as if she was sounding it out. “They call her….a summon...” The Shaman looked incredibly concentrated as she sifted through the words. “That...that means...the person...that is linked...with her can call upon her...at any time and she will help them...even defend them against danger.” Ezara lifted her eyes and look to Aria. Her lips parted slightly. “It...it is magic, they call it magic...like my...um magic...” She seemed uncomfortable. Curious. Confused.

Ezara bit at her lower lip as she looked back down to it. “Very few were able to harness the powers of these summons...it made many angry...Tobias...” She spoke the name. “I...” She lifted her eyes and looked to Aria. “I had a vision...of a man as he gave up his magic. He locked it into the orb...he spoke this name Tobias.” She looked back to the journal. “I will miss you, Valefor. But it is for your own good. Tobias is coming for me. I cannot have you with me when he comes. He will make me use you against the others just as he did with Fenrir.” Her brows tugged together as she spoke the name. The Alpha wolf took a step forward as she spoke the name and he cocked his head at her.

“Is...that the name...of the wolf?” She questioned and then looked to Aria curiously. She then looked back to the page. “It says...” She studied the words a bit more. “They seemed to be in a hurry...they were leaving…running from this man named Tobias...” A sigh came from her lips. She shook her head. “He hated magic.” She lifted her jade hues to look to Aria. “Why did he hate it so much…?” She questioned and then shook her head slightly.

“This...” She held her hand forward and flames licked about her fingertips as she willed it in her mind. A bit of a laugh came from her lips as she smiled. “This is incredible...to wield fire...and you...” She looked to Aria. She grasped her shoulders and grinned finally. “You deserve to be among the Umari. You are chosen. You are chosen by the God of Strength to lead us forward.” She had excitement in her voice then. “I...I have always been alone in this...” She released her and then bit her lip. “I’ve always been alone...” She looked away. “We must stop the Red Vine, Aria...the God of Strength wills it so. You’ve been chosen to save your people...the Arutar...and the Umari...” She searched her hues. She spoke with a bit of a smile upon her lips. “Perhaps you are a long lost ancestor of the Umari...somehow...” She gave a light chuckle. “Perhaps all Arutar are...and my people have not accepted your people as we should. I have tried...but Rok...is not accepting...we...” She bit at her lip again. “We cannot tell anyone that you came to the temple...I do not wish for you to suffer, Aria.”

Ezara turned and grasped one of the folders. She thumbed through it. Some of the glyphs made sense. Some did not. She tilted her head as she read through it the best she could. It seemed she could read about Fleurie...and she could read about the Alpha wolf. Those words felt comfortable...but other glyphs did not seem to want to be revealed to her. “Here.” She spoke as she pulled an image from one of the folders. “This man.”

The image was of a man who stood before a group of people. He held a ball of fire within his hands. “Danny.” She spoke his name. “That orb contained his magic...” She staggered slightly. “Aria...” She held her hand to her head as the room began to spin. Her breathing quickened. She let out a whimper before her body collapsed into the floor. The folder that she held in her hand fell to pieces about her body. Pictures of this man Danny performing his magic.

Ezara stood among a cheering crowd. Her eyes looked to the stage as a man walked out. The massive group of people only screamed louder. She held her hands to her ears as she slipped through the mass of people. They were screaming ‘Danny’. She lifted her eyes as flames licked about the stage and laugher filled the room. “Are you ready for a good time tonight?” It was Danny’s voice...projected from these strange boxes. “I’ve many different stunts and tricks planned for this evening for you to feast your eyes upon!” The crowd went wild.

Danny moved about the stage with ease he grasped a flaming torch and swallowed it whole. Ezara cried out as she saw him do this. Did it not hurt him? Next it was a sword. He was a stuntman. An entertainer. This must have been before the other vision where he was a leader of something. What was he a leader of? Why did Tobias hate them? Her mind raced as the vision suddenly went black.

Ezara opened her eyes. A few of the papers that lay about her had burned from flames that had swarmed around her body as she lay unconscious. She stood slowly and shuddered. “Aria...” She leaned against the desk and stared to the folders. “There is so much here...that I do not understand...” She breathed. She looked to the woman with worried hues. “I can only imagine how much we are missing...perhaps...the temples hold the truth of the Red Vine? Of the storms...and the fires...and floods...This world...perhaps it is not the gods that are condemning us. What if it is something from the past? From this Tobias…?” She questioned and straightened as the dizziness began to fade from her head slightly. “I...do not know...what we will find...” She spoke as she looked back to Aria. “Please.” She stepped forward to her. “You are chosen...you must come with me...we must solve this.” She placed her hands upon the woman’s shoulders once again.

Ezara looked up from the journal as Aria spoke to the Alpha wolf. Her brow raised slightly as the wolf turned into an orb and melted into her chest. “It appears you can speak to the wolf.” She gave a bit of a smirk. It was an incredible sight to see. Truly awe inspiring. The Shaman had never seen such magics before. Nor had she ever heard of someone that could summon creatures. She returned her attention to reading until Aria spoke again. She looked to the hand that the Arutar placed upon her and gave a bit of a nod. “Zinus is still my God yes...but...” A sigh came over her lips. “What if it was not he who answered my prayers all this time?” She then shook her head. “You are right...I shouldn’t let this knowledge destroy who I am...” She continued to read once again.

“That’s what this says. That you are connected to them. A sort of...tether...” She tilted her head slightly as she spoke the word. “I wonder...if there are others like you...that can wield these creatures...that have this tether.” She pondered the idea curiously.

It wasn’t long after that comment that the Shaman fell into the vision. She wasn’t used to this. This was a magic that she had been born with, one that Cika truly enjoyed and tried to teach her how to use. As if the old Shaman knew what Ezara had been going through. The Shaman when she came back to was optimistic. “More summons?” Ezara questioned. “I didn’t even know more orbs existed...I...found an orb when I was younger. It gave me the magic that I have. The healing. Rok spoke it as a miracle, as did my teacher Cika the previous Shaman.” She seemed to think deeply. “I told Cika what happened but she told me never to speak of going into the forbidden areas of the temples...I wasn’t a Shaman...but now...” She gave a slight nod. “Now I can enter the temples as much as I please. Unless I am called upon by my people. But I have never found another orb...”

Ezara watched Aria a long moment. “Oh yes...the offerings...” She looked to the doorway of the room. “Make sure to bring this.” She placed the journal in her hands and gave a gentle smile. “Oh and...this.” She grasped a leather bound book from one of the shelves. “I have room in my pack once I have made the offering as well.” She spoke before she slipped from the room.

The Shaman moved back to the large chamber where she knelt before the huge statue. “God of Strength.” She bowed before him. “Hear me as I give to you the offerings of the Umari. Of the people that you watch over day in and day out.” She began to pull the items from her bag. Dried berries, a jar of a golden liquid. Perhaps ale? She then pulled out a dagger that she knew her father had made. She ran her fingertips over the hilt of the dagger a long moment before she placed it upon the stand before the statue. She then bowed deeply and began speaking her prayers. She asked for strength for her people through the winter. For strength of the Arutar people. For the strength to endure. Ezara was speaking her last of her prayer as Aria approached.

The Shaman slowly opened her eyes, she gazed to the woman a moment before she stood. She grasped her pack and placed it upon her back. “Hopefully the storm is still thick enough to cover us.” She spoke as she began walking. “It is quite early yet, if we are quick about it we should make it back to the village in good time. Once we reach the village I am going to show you where a berry picking spot is. You are going to pick berries...and I will return to the hut. No doubt that both Varketh and Kril will be awake. I’m certain that Varketh will wonder where you have wandered off to...I will leave the hut to search for you after I...have a vision.” She gave a smirk. “I believe that should ward off any questions as to why you were not in the hut...”

Ezara then walked up the stairs that led to the main hallway of the building. She stopped before the old glass top desk and she grasped her folded up cloak from it. She pulled it around her shoulders and pulled the hood up. Her eyes looked to the light blue glowing Glyphs. Her lips parted slightly. “Museum of Olympus: The Great Gods.” She spoke the words and blinked a few times as she tried to make sense of it. “Olympus...” She pondered the word and glanced to Aria. “Perhaps we will find more out about this Olympus.” She nodded. “Perhaps Zinus is a lesser God...whom works with many other great Gods.” She walked toward the entrance of the temple. The storm blew snow about, but in the distance the sun was beginning to peak from the clouds.

“We must hurry.” She spoke as she rushed forward. She skidded down steep inclines. Ezara knew where every boulder was, every tree. She’d made this trek so many times she could do it in her sleep. As they came near the village the smoke from the homes could be seen. She could hear the clank of her father’s hammer within the forge.

“Okay...” Ezara turned her hues to Aria. “I’ll show you to the berries.” She spoke as she turned off of the path. She led her through the thick of the snow down into a space between two boulders where the fresh winter berries were plentiful. “I’ll be back soon. Pick as many as you can.” She had a gentle smile upon her lips before she rushed off. The Shaman looked to the sky as snow began to fall more swiftly once again. Normally she would be upset with the storm that never seemed to end. But in this case, she wanted the winds and the snow to cover the tracks of Aria from the temple. She didn’t want to chance that any of the Umari would find out that she had followed the Shaman there.

She made it to her hut and shivered as she pushed into the home. Varketh stood from the fire as he stoked it. “Shaman.” He spoke as he looked behind her as if he expected someone else. “Have you seen Aria? She has been gone since I woke...” He questioned with concern in his expression.

Ezara set her pack down near the door, her brows pulled together. “When I left this morning she was asleep in her cot.” She gave a sigh and shook her head slightly. “This storm is no place for an Arutar.” She commented as she pulled her frozen wet cloak from around her shoulders.

“Did you say Arutar?” Kril questioned as he munched on his berries. “The trader girl is here? Really?” He questioned as he looked to Varketh. “I thought you were lying.”

“I would never lie about such a thing. She saved my life.” Varketh spoke before he returned his attention to the Shaman whom was gathering herbs. “Ezara?” He asked.

Ezara mixed the herbs together and placed them in water over the fire. “I will find her.” She spoke her voice determined. She looked up to him and gave a weak smile. “How else am I to save your favorite farmer? If she freezes to death in our mountains there will be no one to lead me into the Arutar village.” She spoke as she pulled the tea from the fire. She poured it into a mug. This was not the psychedelic tea that she normally made. Though it had a lot of the same scent. Ezara drank the tea and sat before the fire. She drew in a breath as she allowed her eyes to close. “I will find her.” She whispered softly.

Varketh nearly held his breath as he watched the Shaman at work. The woman’s head lulled forward slightly her fingertips gripped onto her knees a few times. He glanced to Kril, “I should have been awake to keep her from leaving the hut.” He spoke, placing blame on himself.

Ezara opened her hues, the amber ring illuminated around the jade color for a moment before it settled down. “She isn’t in danger.” She spoke as she stood and walked toward the door. “Stay. Keep warm. I’ll return soon enough.” She spoke before she slipped back into the storm. The Shaman trudged through the thick snow back toward the winter berry patch where she left Aria. The tracks were already covered. Perfect. The Shaman walked down the path and smiled to her. “Alright, ready to get out of the cold?” She questioned before she led her up the trail and back toward the village. Soon enough Ezara pushed the door open to her hut. Her hair was frozen from the snow as she slowly sat before the fire. “Found her, Varketh. Look at all the berries she’s picked.” She remarked as she held her hands forward to the warmth of the flames. It wasn’t as soothing as the warmth of the magical flames that she could create, but it felt good after being in the cold for such a long time. Her mind was racing through the thoughts and ideas of the day.

“Aria.” Kril stood up and rushed forward he wrapped his arms around her and chuckled happily. “Good thing our Shaman here found you! It’s dangerous out there in this storm.” He released her and stepped back a moment. “We can’t loose our second best trader.” He winked. “Your father is the best trader we know, so you have to fall in second.” He joked. Kril had a light hearted nature about him. One that the Umari despised. This is why he was tasked with being a pack mule for the traders. He worked mainly with Varketh whom didn’t seem to mind his chipper attitude.

“We will push down the mountain soon. There is not time to waste if your father is as ill as you say, Arutar.” Ezara spoke as she stood. “I must eat something though.” She grasped one of the berries that Aria had plucked. “Hm. A bit early on that one.” She spoke and smiled to her, a smile that only Aria would be able to see, before she walked over to cabinet and began searching through the dry goods to determine what she could make.

The mood of the room changed the moment that the door bounced off of the wall as Rok made his entrance. Ezara shot up to her feet, her heart pounded within her chest. “Rok I---...” Her words were cut off quickly by Varketh. Her lips parted as she heard the man lie. The look from Rok’s icy glare could have sliced right through Ezara. She was holding her breath at this point. The tension in the room was thick as pea soup.

The sound of the axe as it clattered on the wooden floor of the hut caused Ezara to clench her jaw slightly. Rok was much younger than Varketh. But it was tradition. A disagreement always ended in a fight to the death. No one ever challenged Rok. The way that Ezara had spoken to Rok the previous night, that was the most forward and pointed she had ever been. It was the way of her people. Their leader knew best and was not to be questioned.

“Very well.” Rok spoke his eyes narrowed slightly. He pulled his axe from his hip and tossed it on top of Varketh’s. The metal of the blades as they collided echoed through the hut. “In an hour you will meet your fate, old man.” Rok looked to Ezara. “Shaman, when I finish with the brewer...I will ensure that you understand the repercussions as well.” He leaned down and grasped his axe before he left the hut without another word.

“Varketh...” Ezara breathed she had pulled the jewel from within the folds of her furs and clutched it with both hands. Tears had welled in her eyes. “Why did you--...”

“To protect you from Rok, Shaman.” Varketh spoke as he stepped to her. “Your father would have my head if I did not protect you.” He gave a bit of a crooked smile. “Besides.” He glanced to Aria. “I’m certain there is good reason for what you have done. Forbidden or not. You are our Shaman. The Umari are meant to follow the Shaman...not force her hand.” He placed a hand upon her shoulder. “Rok has already underestimated me. No need to worry, Shaman.” He pulled her into a hug then. Ezara buried her face into the furs of his clothing as she gripped her arms around him the best she could. She was small in comparison to most of the Umari. That was why Rok felt he could push her around so easily.

Kril lifted the axe from the floor and looked it over. “Would you bless his axe, Ezara?” He asked as the two finished their embrace.

Ezara nodded as she turned to her wall of herbs and quickly began to gather items. “Set the axe there.” She pointed to her desk. “And Varketh...do you want paint?” She questioned as she paused and looked to him.

Varketh gave a nod, “Yes Shaman.” He moved to sit upon one of the cots once again.

The Shaman smiled and nodded, “Of course.” She spoke. “Aria.” She looked to the woman. “There is a chest in my room, at the foot of my bed. If you open it, inside you will find a box that is painted red like blood. Could you bring it to me?” She questioned before she began grabbing herbs once again. Ezara was focused as she crushed and blended the herbs expertly. She paused a few times to grab other items. When Aria brought her the dyes she gave a smile as she took the small box.

Soon enough she had a tightly wrapped bunch of herbs. The Shaman looked to Aria a moment before she held her fingertips to the herbs and they lit aflame. Varketh and Kril looked to one another with shock in their eyes before they both marveled at their Shaman. Ezara began to speak a prayer to the God of strength. She moved about the fire as she shook the burning herbs about. It was like a dance in a way. She moved about Varketh and then to the axe where she snuffed out the herbs upon the very blade. This left a black mark of soot upon the axe. Ezara continued speaking the prayer as she carefully stepped before Varketh. She held a bowl in her hand that she’d mixed the red dye in. The same color of dye that she held upon her face. She dipped her fingers into the pain and pulled her fingertips along his skin on the left side of his face. This created three vertical lines that started above his brow and ended just before his jaw. The paint was bright and vibrant. The shaman stepped to his axe and she drew a careful design upon it before she lifted the axe into her hands. “It is done.” She spoke as she stepped to Varketh. “May Zinus watch over you, as he always has.” She pushed the axe into his hands. The frightened woman from before was gone. Ezara was completely calm, composed. Every fear that she’d had had seemingly melted away.

“Then it shall be true.” Varketh spoke, a common saying among the Umari. He hit his chest with his axe and grinned to her. “It is time. Thank you, Shaman.” He placed his axe at his hip before he embraced her once again.

The door pushed open in that moment. Rhav walked in his eyes looked about the group. He looked to the paint upon Varketh’s face. “It is true then?” He questioned as he closed the door. His eyes looked to Aria a long moment before he looked to his daughter. A sigh came from his lips.

“No need to worry, friend. I will keep her safe.” Varketh clapped his shoulder before he walked from the hut with Kril at his heels.

Rhav stood in silence as he stared to Ezara. He furrowed his brows slightly before he drew in a breath and turned, “We should go to the great hall. Rok will expect you to be there.” Rhav spoke and left without another word. Was it disappointment? Or possibly fear for the life of his daughter. No one so blatantly disobeyed the leader of their tribe.

Ezara turned her jade hues to Aria. “If Rok wins.” She spoke her voice soft. “Then I need you to run.” She didn’t speak another word as she left the hut. She climbed down the stairs. The storm was beginning to break. The flakes fell slowly from the sky, the winds had ceased. Large fluffy flakes landed upon Ezara’s exposed skin, she hadn’t even grabbed her cloak before she left her hut. She walked through the city and to the great hall where they had met Rok the night before. The Shaman pushed the door open. Many of the Umari had gathered for this spectacle. Ezara walked through the crowd and found her way to where Rok stood in anticipation.

“Shaman. I was beginning to wonder if you were going to join us.” He spoke as he stepped down to her. His icy eyes glared into hers for a long moment. “Arutar farmer.” He chuckled as he looked to Aria. He stepped to her and gripped the front of her clothing at the collar. A wild grin split his lips. “I look forward to slitting your throat. I know it was you. One of our warriors saw the two of you.” He spoke in a hushed tone so that only Aria could hear him. He shoved her aside slightly before he stepped to the center of the room and hit his chest. “Varketh!” He called out. “Shall we begin?” His voice was a deep growl.

The crowd roared. Many beat their chests. Ale sloshed about. Varketh stepped forward from the crowd and pulled his axe. He had a dark look in his eyes. “I am ready.” He spoke.

Rok chuckled as he looked to him. “Good then.” He turned and marched from the great hall. The group of Umari followed the two. They marched to the center of town, where all of the duels took place. There was even blood within the snow from another recent disagreement.

Ezara crossed her arms over her chest as the cold nipped at her body. She stared to the two, her expression was void of emotion. She looked as though she was judging the scene before her. Rok was the first to strike forward. His axe landed heavy against Varketh’s as he was blocked and shoved back. The two began to spar. As Varketh sliced forward his axe caught the side of Rok’s arm and the first fresh blood splattered upon the white snow. The crowd of Umari cheered. Ezara remained silent. The two sliced at one another blood speckled the snow. Varketh was much more quick than Rok had anticipated.

Ezara at one point pulled the jewel from within her furs and she began to whisper a prayer as she watched the duel go on. Varketh brought his axe forward into Rok’s shoulder with a sickening crunch. Blood began to pour from the wound as their leader yelled out. This only seemed to enrage Rok. He knocked Varketh to the ground and his fist collided with the man’s face several times. Varketh turned the tides and pinned Rok to his back. He reached for his axe only to get elbowed in the side of the jaw. It was a brutal fight. As it drew on Rok did not seem to slow. Varketh had a deep gash in his thigh from one of the hits that Rok had landed, another along his shoulder blade. Ezara continued to pray quietly. The golden ring around her eyes glowed as she spoke the prayer.

Rok kicked into the center of Varketh’s chest which knocked him against the crowd that shoved him back in to their leader. The Umari were cheering the two on. Varketh spit blood as he breathed heavily. Rok gripped onto his shoulder as he laughed. “You think you can kill me?” He questioned. “I’ve already beaten you old man.” A smirk curved up his lips. He swung forward to bring his axe into Varketh’s chest. Varketh stepped to the side and he brought his axe upward from the ground into the chest of the leader. It stuck hard into his sternum. Varketh stood for a moment in silence, he could feel Rok’s axe in his own back. His body shuddered as he ripped upward with his axe and blood sprayed over the battlefield.

Varketh fell to his knees as he gasped for air. Rok fell to his back a limp, lifeless form. Varketh reached to his back and jerked the axe from his ribs. The crowd roared as Varketh staggered to his feet with Rok’s axe in his hands. He lifted the axe up into the sky in victory. Though as soon as he lifted his axe high, Varketh collapsed back to his hands and knees, the axe fell from his grip into the snow. Ezara rushed forward. Her hands upon the brewer as she knelt in the bloodied snow next to him. His breaths shuddered. She looked to the deep wound in his back as blood poured from it in a pulsating motion. Her jaw clenched slightly. She didn’t have time. She placed her hand over the wound and began to whisper her prayers. Though as the words uttered over her lips, Varketh collapsed into the snow. She didn’t stop though. She continued her prayer. The white glow came to her fingertips as she attempted to heal him. His breaths shuddered as his muscles began to loosen.

“Ezara.” Rhav spoke as he placed a hand upon her shoulder after several minutes. Varketh was no longer breathing. The Shaman had her eyes squeezed shut as she tried to mend it. To fix it. “Ezara.” Rhav knelt next to her. “Shaman.” He spoke louder now. He placed his hands under her arms and lifted her to her feet. Rhav looked to the blood upon the front of his daughter’s clothing, along her exposed arms and a smear of blood upon her face.

“Who will lead us now?” An older Umari questioned as she stepped forward. She looked to the two bodies that lay within the snow.

“I am Varketh’s son. I will.” Kril stepped forward. He lifted the axe that was once Rok’s that belonged to each leader before him. The other Umari cheered as they held their ale into the air. Ezara’s breaths shuddered as she stared to Kril. He nodded to her. He drew in a breath, “We will honor Rok and Varketh tomorrow, when the storm has passed. For now. We feast in their honor.” He spoke as he turned and headed into the great hall.

A few of the Umari carried the bodies away to be burned. Ezara pressed her lips together as she watched Varketh’s body lifted. “Wait.” She spoke as she stepped forward. She reached to his neck and pulled his necklace that held a single tooth of a great bear that Varketh had fought when he was younger. “Kril should have this.” She spoke. Her eyes looked to Aria a moment. “The storm is clearing. We should be able to get down the mountain soon.” She had little emotion to her words as she walked away.

Rhav watched as his daughter entered the great hall. He then looked to the Arutar woman. “She will recover.” He spoke before someone called his name. “Keep an eye on her, hm?” He turned and stepped away to the man that called him from the doorway of the forge.

Ezara stepped from the great hall moments later. She stared to the bloodied ground. “We should prepare.” She spoke as she walked back up the mountainside toward her hut. She didn’t check to see if Aria was following her as she climbed the stairs. She pushed the doorway open to her home as her body shivered from the cold. Ezara pressed her lips together as she grasped her pack and she began adding items into it that they would need. Dried winter berries, grains, dried meats. She packed in the leather pouch of herbs that she had gathered the night before. “How long does it take to get to your home in the plains?” She questioned as her jade hues finally lifted to look to Aria.

Ezara merely lifted her eyes as Aria apologized. She gazed to her a long moment. “Our God has willed it. He fought honorably. This is the way of our people.” She lifted Varketh’s axe and ran her fingertips along the painted blade that was stained in blood now. The Shaman took the axe and stood. Her eyes lifted to the skies as the beautiful display of colors washed over the thick storm clouds.

Many of the Umari paused and gazed into the skies. They began to whisper among themselves of the God of Strength. They had no idea that the Arutar woman was causing such a beautiful display. Once the display had faded Ezara had been quick to return to her home. As she packed her things she paused a moment, her jade hues looked to Aria. “I am glad that it isn’t as far away as I was led to believe.” She spoke her voice had a void to it now. She returned to packing.

The Shaman paused as Aria questioned as to how she could help. She sucked in a breath. It took her a moment. “I...” She seemed lost almost. Varketh had spent much time with her, he was family to her. Much like Cika and Rhav, Varketh had played a role in raising her. She blinked a few times, her mind was a foggy haze. “There is something you could do.” She looked to Aria. “I wish to drink an ale in his honor. Will you drink one with me?” She asked. “I have a few more items to pack...I won’t be long.” Ezara slipped into her room. She drew in a breath as she packed incense as well as clothing. When she came from her room she stepped to the fireplace. Ezara stared to the flickering flames a long moment before she grasped a pitcher of water. She lifted the pitcher and hesitated a moment. In all of her life, the fire of the Shaman hut had never been extinguished. It was always burning. A beacon of hope for her people.

The door pushed open. “Ezara.” Kril stepped into the hut with Rhav in tow. He looked to Aria and gave a smile. “Aria.” He stepped forward and took the pitcher from her. “Don’t put it out. Rhav will watch over your hut and ensure it is warm for your return.” He gazed into her eyes a long moment. “I will not treat you as Rok did. You are our Shaman. You and I work together. I know this is how my father would have wanted it. It is to be true.” He looked to Aria. “You. Possess great magic, that my people have not seen. Rok was a fool to forbid you from our temples.” Kril drew in a breath. “When Ezara has healed Kane. Perhaps you shall return. You are welcome here among the Umari, Aria. Our God has deemed it so. You carry a wolf within you.” He stepped to Aria then and held a necklace forward. It was a small figure of a wolf that was carved from bone. A trinket that all of the Umari carried upon them. He placed it into the palm of her hand and curled her fingers about it. “Keep our Shaman safe.” He spoke before he then gazed to Ezara a long moment. “I have arranged for Fik to pull the cart down to the trading post for you. It has plenty of meats for your people for the winter, as well as some of our finest ale.” He looked back to Aria and smiled once again. “I believe you met Fik at the dual. He was more than happy to carry out this task.”

“Thank you, Kril.” Ezara spoke finally. Her eyes watched him as she placed a few more items into her pack. “Varketh would be honored to see you lead the Umari.” She held a hand to her chest a moment before she cinched the top of her bag.

Kril nodded before he drew in a breath. “I have a lot that I must do. Save travels, Shaman. Aria.” He spoke before he stepped from the hut.

Rhav drew in a breath. He gazed to Aria a moment. “Kril told me of your great magic. Of the wolf that you can call to your aid.” He held a fist to his chest. “I know that you will keep my daughter safe.” He gave a smile then. “Ezara.” He turned and stepped to her. He placed his hands upon her shoulders. “You did not cause this. It was willed by fate, by our God. This is your destiny. Hm?” He pulled her into a tight embrace. “Until you return.” He kissed the top of her head.

Ezara hugged her father as he held her in the embrace for a long moment. Her face pushed into his furs and she felt like a child once again. After a long day of training she used to hug him this way. She would miss him as Cika took her to the temples and all about the Northern Tress Mountains. After the embrace finished she pulled on her cloak and then her pack. “A drink for the road then? We will gather Fik. I’m certain he is at the tavern prepping the cart.” She watched Aria a moment before she stepped from the hut.

She walked down the stairs, her eyes gazed over the village. She would leave the only place that she had ever known. She paused a moment as she came to one of the flat landings in the stairs. She grasped the railing, a soft smile curved up her lips. “I’ve never left our village.” She spoke as she continued to look out over the village. “I’ve never been allowed to leave. I have you to thank for this, Aria.” She looked to the woman. “If not for you, I may not ever leave. The world may crumble beneath this wave of Red Vine without the Umari even noticing. Until it became too late. But now, there is a chance...only because of you.” Her eyes turned to the village again before she continued her descent.

The Shaman walked to the tavern and paused before the front. The young Umari warrior that had spoken to Aria stood before a cart that was full of goods. Ropes were tied about it to hold the thick canvas like cloth in place over the items inside. “Shaman.” Fik spoke as he stepped to her and Aria. “I am ready, when you are. It is an honor to help you.”

Ezara looked to the cart a moment and then to Fik. “Thank you. I wish to drink an ale to honor Varketh since I will not be here to attend his send off.” She spoke and then slipped around him. She set her pack upon the cart before she entered the tavern. She walked through the dimly lit structure and to the bar where she sat upon a stool.

“Ah welcome, Shaman.” The man spoke as he placed a fresh wooden mug before her. He then poured ale into the pitcher. “To Varketh. To our new leader Kril!” Several people within the bar shouted and then drank from their mugs.

Ezara lifted the mug and took a long drink from it. She turned her eyes to Aria, “It is a great honor, to receive that necklace that Kril gave to you.” She spoke and then smiled slightly. “I do not believe anyone outside of the Umari has ever been given such a piece.” She reached forward and touched it. She turned it around in her fingertips and then smiled again. “He regards you quite highly. My people...I believe will do much better beneath him. He will ensure that we thrive, rather than just survive.” She lifted the mug and drank deeply from it. She set the empty mug down and then stood. “We should get going.” She spoke as she walked back outside. Fik had attached her pack to the cart. The Shaman nodded to him and thus, they began their descent.