PONon-Bee 392.1 - Is This Real Life? Is This Just Fanta-Bee? |
Belissar talked a bit more with the silver elves until the Third of the Fourth arrived. Apparently, Duchess Bereginna and Lord Aratodel were going to apologize with more than just words, the two of them were the ones providing the food for Belissar’s captives. King Taranskare asked if he could return to speak with Belissar at a later date, Belissar was happy to agree.
The Third of the Fourth arrived soon after and Belissar introduced her to Lord Aratodel. As Belissar expected, she zipped around in an “Amazing, incredible!” dance after learning Lord Aratodel was the one who gave them the tea plants and the books on brewing it. The two quickly began a discussion, so Belissar left them to address his next guests.
Ornetrad, signatory of the green elves, was standing alongside Tarwantrad. Belissar moved to greet them.
“Thank you for your help, signatory Ornetrad.”
Ornetrad shook his head.
“Think nothing of it, Tower Keeper Belissar, we have already promised you our support. Though, I must admit I have a request.”
He held a ornately carved wooden box in his hand. He gently lifted the lid to reveal a pile of small seeds.
“These are the seeds of the great trees that make up our home, both in the Land of the Fair and in the land of mortals…at least before the Hunger. Tower Keeper, would you be willing to try and grow these into a forest?”
Belissar beamed. Now that was a request he appreciated!
Ornetrad lowered his head with tears in his eyes.
“Thank you, Tower Keeper, thank you from the bottom of my heart. You have no idea what this means to me or my people.”
Belissar shook his head.
“I should thank you. My bees wanted bigger trees, these will make them very happy. Do you want anything in exchange?”
Ornetrad blinked.
“I couldn’t possibly ask for more than the revival of the Great Forest…but, if you would insist…the green elves would long to see the forests restored. If these trees take root in your dungeon and beyond, would you allow us to see them again?”
Belissar smiled.
“Of course, you’re the one giving them to me.”
Ornetrad made a warm smile.
“Thank you again, Tower Keeper. Tarwantrad really was right about you.”
Tarwantrad puffed up.
“I told you!”
Belissar took the seeds back to the Apiary farmhouse and asked Frelis and the gardeners to take a look at them. For now, though, the elves were about to enter the captives’ Flower Meadow, so Belissar made his way over to coordinate…
At least, until one of his memory bees began to dance.
“King, going to Hive-Burners?”
Belissar nodded.
“Yes.”
The bee continued her dance.
“Hive-Burner in bear-King-thing hive too?”
Belissar’s eyes widened. That was right! They had another Tower Guard prisoner back from the attack by Starami’s son in the karnuq settlement! Honestly, so much had gone on since then that Belissar had just forgotten the man.
He quickly sent the karnuq a request to move him to the other captives. He may as well deal with them all together…
A sullen human shuffled silently, two sub-humans forcing him along. He shivered as a group of killer bee monsters buzzed overhead, but they passed by without paying him any notice. The sub-humans pushed him along, forcing him to move again.
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So, the time had come. The rogue Tower Lord had enough of him. He had started to hope the rogue had forgotten about him and would leave him be. They had left an alert spell after all, so if this was truly the Tower that Lord Ruckanos had sought the Grand Subjugation would come for it in time. The man had no illusions they had any intention of rescuing him, but if his captors forgot him perhaps he would be released nonetheless when the Tower fell. Surely he had done enough to restore his honor, he had gone loyally to his death and had held out since, even as he was poisoned to the point of losing all sense of reality. Even as his fellow survivors turned traitor, something he had hoped was another hallucination. Surely they would permit him to return home after all he had endured, all he had resisted to hold true to humanity, the Conclave, and the gods. Maybe as a peasant or a servant, but he was fine with that. Honestly…he had enough of monsters for a lifetime, a humble life sounded far more appealing than it had once been…
But it was not to be. The rogue had remembered him before the Grand Subjugation arrived and now he was being led away, likely to a brutal death. Would he be fed to monsters? Torn apart by sub-humans? Experimented on by a sorcerers and witches? Or poisoned once more by that devious honey until he lost all sense of reality?
He lifted a prayer to the God of Dragons and the God of Light that they would deliver him…or at least that he would be granted a quick death…as the sub-humans shoved him through a Tower shortcut…
But even the gods could not have prepared him for what he saw in the next room. Thousands of humans sat around in light clothing, the kind worn underneath armor. The man even recognized a few faces, such as the one approaching him now.
“Captain Auschias? That…that’s not possible!”
He began to struggle against his captors.
“What did you do to me?! Did you poison me again?!”
But then he felt a hand on his shoulder.
“At ease, Guardsman Candidate Falagis. It is me.”
Falagis turned to Captain Auschias. It wasn’t possible…but he felt the warm weight on his shoulder. He recognized the voice of the man who had trained him.
It should be possible but…Falagis desperately wanted it to be. This…was too much.
Falagis finally broke and tears streamed down his face. He gave up trying to resist, he no longer cared if this was a trick by sorcery or a poison-fueled hallucination. He desperately wanted to hope…
Captain Auschias stood by his side until his tears ran out. He tried to gather himself…and that’s when he started noticing the problems.
“Wait…Captain Auschias, why are you here? And if you’re here, where is Lord Starami? Where is your armor? And why aren’t you attacking the sub-humans?”
Falagis’ heart started to race as he noticed more and more things that weren’t making sense. Captain Auschias squeezed his shoulder, drawing his attention back to the man.
He did not like the look on the captain’s face.
“There is much I need to tell you…”
The captain glanced away, looking behind Falagis. He turned around as well…and his eyes went as wide as he could go. People started to march into the room, leading wagons full of food. Falagis thought they were human at first, save that they were the most beautiful and handsome people he had ever seen, so beautiful they did not seem real.
And then he noticed their ears.
Captain Auschias, however, wrapped his arm around Falagis’ shoulder and spun him around, leading him into the larger group of humans.
“Here, son. Stay here, rest among the others, get something to eat. Then we’ll talk.”
Falagis’ mind raced even as he followed the captain’s orders…and started to tremble. Even without being told, his mind was connecting the clues right in front of him.
An army of Tower Guards…without any weapons or armor. Captain Auschias in charge with no sign of Starami’s Claw or Lord Starami himself. Additional captors besides the beastkin who…matched the legends of the fey.
Had the Grand Subjugation…failed?
Falagis started to shiver, but another arm wrapped on his shoulder.
“Easy there. The battle’s over, they won’t harm you. Come, sit with us.”
Falagis could only follow as a Tower Guard led him to a group and sat him down.
“I’m Germistis, what’s your name?”
“Falagis.”
Germistis nodded.
“Falagis, huh? Which captain did you serve under?”
Falagis’ face darkened…but he was too disturbed to come up with a lie.
“Captain…Kupalik…”
Germistis rubbed his chin.
“Captain Kupalik? I haven’t heard of him. Any of you?”
The other Tower Guards shook their heads. Falagis shrank on himself…but he had already confessed the truth. They would learn it in time, even if he deceived them now.
“We were…Lord Ruckanos’ escort…”
Falagis braced himself while Germistis’ eyes widened a bit.
“Ah! Another survivor! I’m glad you made it, I thought Guardsman Hirkolos and the augur were the only two.”
Falagis scowled at the mention of the traitors.
“I’m not like them. I remained loyal to the end, despite our failure. I’ve not consorted with subhumans and fey. Call me a failure and a disgrace if you must, but do not lump me in with traitors.”
The other Tower Guards glanced at one another. Germistis turned to him, his face serious.
“Falagis, was it? There’s a lot you should know…”
Falagis took a deep breath.
“Lord Starami failed to subjugate the rogue, didn’t he?”
Germistis, however, shook his head.
“No, Lord Starami was one who went rogue, even before the Grand Subjugation started. And this Tower…is blessed by the God of Light, and approved of by the High Council.”
Falagis froze.
“…what?”
That claim was too unbelievable, even for fey sorcery or poison-fueled hallucinations. Germistis, however, stood up and pulled him back onto his feet.
“Come on, let me show you.”
Germistis took him to the other side of the room, to the regular entrance. And there, like at the entrance to every Tower room, was a shrine to its patron god. A statue of a bee that made Falagis shiver.
But Germistis pointed him towards a second offering chest beside the primary patron’s…one that was shining bright in the light of the sun above. Falagis instinctively recognize the light from the chest…the same light he had seen in services by the disciples of Light…
At this point, his mind went blank. His only thought was…he had definitely been poisoned by that honey again…