“No.” Manus spoke under its breath.

Loud cheers erupted, greeting Marcinus’ advent. I noticed then the full extent of the arena. There were other areas like the one we stood in, filled with uspecs. Those areas did not seem to have any fog covering them as the uspecs leaned over the railing to wave at the imperial one. Loud cries of the uspec’s name were chanted like a song. The greeting reminded me of my days in the pits and the screams of ‘irira’ which would greet me. I remembered the song that the Uspecipytes would sing as they hailed me. At least now I knew why the other set of uspecs had been so angry. They had been Kuworytes. It must have killed them to see an irira rule victorious in the pits. The cheers continued, as Marcinus slumbered in, its sword hanging loosely from its hand.

I found myself repeating Manus’ words of fear at the sight of the drunken fool swaying in the dome as if it did not know that it could be killed. The Kaiser had stopped talking. It leaned forward in its seat as Manus stretched its head forward, closer to the line of bannerets keeping us away from the Kaiser.

Marcinus’ opponent had the bulk of a warrior. It was shorter than Marcinus was, but it had the iron spikes of a boga on its chest. The uspec had three outer eyes around its face, but those eyes would be useless in the equipoise. The uspec fought with a club. The ball end of the club had blades running across it. Any of those blades could easily cut through Marcinus in the uspec’s current state. What was it thinking? Could it fight while drunk?

Marcinus attacked first. As soon as its sword lifted in the air, I had the answer to my question. It was as if Marcinus could not manage the weight of its own weapon. It tried to lift the weapon up, and instead, it fell to the sludge ground. Marcinus tried crawling away on its elbows, using its knees for support, but the uspec pounced on it. It kicked Marcinus in its stomach, sending the uspec to its back in the sludge. Then the opponent rose its feet and brought it down hard on Marcinus’ unprotected stomach.

The crowd was silent.

The uspec repeated its beating, and then it rose its club in the air. Everything froze as the uspec’s club lowered, drawing closer to Marcinus. Was this the end? I thought as the glint of the blades approached Marcinus. What would become of me if Marcinus died before I could steal its eye? I could not leave Katsoaru without that eye. I found myself moving forward, past Manus towards the line of bannerets.

“Stop!” one of the bannerets yelled, its hand going to the hilt of its cutlass. My hand went to my cutlass too. As I was now a guard of an imperial one, I was allowed to keep my weapons around them. I was so determined to reach Marcinus that I would have torn down the bannerets in my way, if Marcinus’ progenitor did not stop the uspec before I could pull my cutlass out.

The Kaiser rose from its highchair. It bent, extending its hand backwards, underneath the chair. When it rose, it had a metal net in its hand. It lashed out with that net, tearing through the fog, and the dome, and knocking the club away from the uspec’s hand before it could reach Marcinus.

I exhaled in relief.

Suddenly, I became aware of my surroundings, particularly the angry bannerets glaring at me. They did nothing but glare as I took my hand off the hilt of my cutlass and moved back, away from them.

“Jubar! Danim!” The Kaiser’s roar filled the area, reverberating through the cloudy air.

The bannerets that I had seen with Marcinus in its hovel appeared. They fell to their knee in front of the Kaiser. “Get it!” The Kaiser barked out the order, pointing its finger angrily towards the dome. A pious one appeared. It placed its hand on the wall of fog and the fog drifted away, creating an open space through which the uspecs could walk into the dome. They ran over to Marcinus and helped the drunken uspec to its feet. Marcinus still swayed as they supported it, maneuvering it back towards the Kaiser.

Marcinus dropped to its knees on the foam ground by the Kaiser’s feet. Sounds came from Marcinus’ mouth, but whatever it was saying was slurred.

The sound only seemed to make the Kaiser angrier. “You fool! How dare you disgrace our line in this manner?” The Kaiser yelled. Then it turned around to regard the uspecs avidly devouring the scene. Its jaw clenched. It turned to stare at the bannerets. “Get it out of my sight before I have the two of you scourged.”

Quickly, the bannerets pulled Marcinus to its feet and rushed it out of the area. Marcinus kept making sounds, but it was too drunk for anyone to hear whatever it was that it tried to say. Manus watched Marcinus leave with a deep frown on its face. It shook its head at its sibling, its expression pained as it turned to stare at their progenitor.

“Mighty one.” One of the two dukes who’d been sitting by the Kaiser spoke up. “You must give the winner its reward.”

The Kaiser turned around to glare at the duke who’d spoken. “Reward? That uspec tried to kill my offspring, before my eyes! You think I should reward it?”

“The rules of the bout are clear. The fight must continue until the loser concedes defeat.”

I could tell from the clenched fists that the Kaiser was enraged. I did not even need to reach into my anger to ascertain the cause of the Kaiser’s anger. I could tell from its bearing that the Kaiser would rather go back on its word than give a reward to the uspec who’d almost killed Marcinus. The Kaiser cared deeply for its offspring. It was obvious.

“Mighty one,” Manus called out, “if I may?”

The Kaiser’s gaze turned to Manus. It sighed, then it gestured for Manus to come forward. The bannerets parted making way for Manus.

Manus bowed in greeting.

“None of that.” The Kaiser cut it off briskly.

Manus rose. “It is true that the rules of the bout say that a reward must be given to the winner, and that a fight continues until one fighter concedes. But pater, I cannot allow that uspec to receive the wealth. It would have killed Marcinus.”

“What do we do?” The Kaiser asked.

“The rules also state that during the last bout, the winner must defend its status if any choose to challenge it. It only wins the fortune after it beats all others.” Manus stretched out its hand towards me. I was suddenly the subject of a large number of uspec eyes. “Nebud is a skilled pugilist pater, better even than Marcinus. Let Nebud challenge the winner. On my word pater, Nebud will win and get vengeance for Marcinus. Nebud is a friend to Marcinus, it was willing to tear through your bannerets to save Marcinus’ life.”

The Kaiser frowned. “Is this true?” it asked.

Two bannerets nodded. “Yes, mighty one.”

“Come..” it turned to Manus. “what did you say it was called?”

“Nebud, pater.”

“Come Nebud.”

Suddenly the center of attention, I found myself standing a little taller as the bannerets parted. I walked in and then dropped to my knee in front of the Kaiser.

“It is kute!” the Kaiser exclaimed.

“Nebud is loyal to Marcinus and me. It is my noble guard, it serves me.” There was silence and then I heard Manus speak. “Mighty one, with your permission?”

“Rise Nebud.” The Kaiser commanded. It waited till I was on my feet before it turned to nod at Manus.

Manus smiled. “Nebud, this is the mighty undead, Maraci, the Kaiser of Katsoaru.”

I bowed. “Salutations mighty one.”

The Kaiser nodded. “Is what Manus says true? Will you fight for the honor of my line?”

“Yes, mighty one.” I said, giving the only acceptable response.

The Kaiser nodded. It stretched out its hand towards the dome and I felt my heartrate pick up as I walked towards it. The closer I got to the equipoise the more excited I became. As soon as I walked into the dome, my feet sunk into the sludge and it was as if I was back in the pits. This was a skilled fighter, one that had won enough battles to ascend to the final. I reached for its emotions, trying to sense if it was angry that it had been sent another opponent, but I felt nothing. There was no lifeforce in my anger for me to pull on, no pain for me to reach. The dome truly did take away all my magic.

It was a good thing that I did not need it.

I pulled my cutlass out of the sheath as the uspec approached me with its club. Musa and I had never practiced with clubs, still, all I felt was the rush. The uspec took a swing at me, I dodged, lashing out with my cutlass instead. The uspec pulled its club back in time to hit my sword away. I felt the strength in that club. It thrust the club out and I deflected the blow with my sword. I caught the glint of a blade through my leftmost eye as the club came at me from the right. I turned sharply to the left, moving around the uspec’s dagger. I did not leave a wide enough arch as the dagger grazed me on my arm. I hit the uspec in between its ailerons with my elbow.

The uspec turned around swinging. It brought the club and the dagger towards me at the same time. I swung at the club hard enough to liberate the weapon from its wielder’s hand. At the same time I grabbed onto the uspec’s wrist with my other hand. With a tight grip on the wrist, I twisted the hand until the uspec was forced to drop its weapon.

I threw my cutlass down into the sludge. We were both weaponless now, this was my type of fight.

The uspec ran towards me with a smile on its face. The uspec’s chest spikes were grown. They were grown far and sharp enough that it could pierce into me easily if I moved too close. I had fought with bogas before, I knew how to avoid their spikes. It became evident as the uspec edged closer towards me, that it was trying to force me into range of its spikes. It was so focused on getting me into the right position that its calculating gaze stayed on my face and hands.

With the heel of my foot, I kicked the uspec in its right knee. The sound of the bone moving was pleasing. Unprepared for the attack or the pain, the uspec fell to the floor. As soon as its body hit the floor, I kicked it in the face, then I rose my leg up and brought it down hard on its neck. I stumped the neck a second time before the uspec stopped moving. I thought of the pits. I had killed a boga just like this before. Repeated blows to its neck with the weight of my bulk behind it.

The uspec rose its hand in the air and waved it franticly. I stumped on its neck just one more time, before I accepted its gesture of defeat. This uspec had not even lasted as long as the one I had fought in the pits. Of course, the pits had been a fight to the death, so even if that uspec had wanted mercy, it wouldn’t have gotten it.

It took a while for my mind to clear of the rush of the fight and return to the present. I heard the cheers then, the applause. It was nothing as spectacular as the ones that Marcinus had received when it walked in, but then Marcinus was their imperial one, and I was a stranger.

I turned to the Kaiser and walked over when it summoned me. I genuflected in front of the Kaiser, but it ordered me to rise. It had a wide smile on its face as it held out a pouch.

I shook my head. “I did not do it for the money mighty one.” I said.

This seemed to please the Kaiser because it smiled even wider. “Take it Nebud. It is my will that you do.” It insisted.

I took the pouch, noting the golden trim to it. It was a pouch of worth then, but how much, I couldn’t tell. “Gratitude mighty one.” I bowed.

It smiled and then it turned to Manus and nodded in approval at the uspec. “Well done.” It said to Manus before turning back to me. “There is a celebratory feast in the Chateau this evening. You will be there.”

Give us more! Give us more!! Give us more!!! Nebud and I need more fights

Nebud, you are drawing too much attention to yourself. Obehid, well done. Was it the equipoise that the twins created in the last installment of the marked series? Does that mean they have route? And I seem to remember the boy assisted Osezele with magic, how was that possible? Thanks in advance.

Obehid thanks for the update are you really a female Obehid thanks for the update are you really a female

Thanks Obehid for the update. I'm suspecting Manus o, he has something to do with Marcinus seeming drunkenness. The first time, was when he sent a drink to Marcinus on Nebud's first visit. Now again Marcinus is sound enough to hold an intelligent conversation until the edge of Manus's robe touches his cup and as soon as he takes a sip he is suddenly intoxicated. Hmmmm Oga Manus you are a suspect come and prove your innocence.

@Fazemood Lol, you and Nebud will get more fights soon

@tunjilomo Thank you. So, ahh, I wasn't sure that anyone will catch this, weldone! Your memory is very good. It is the same thing that the boy created in the last marked series book. The answer to your other questions is actually a HUGE marked series spoiler, so you'll have to wait till the reckoning to find out

@ayshow6102 thank you for thanking me and yes I am really female. Why? Are you doubting me?

@barag I love your attention to detail. Great catch about the edge of Manus's robe touching the cup! But that's all I'll say. I don't want to spoil anything

obehiD:
@Fazemood Lol, you and Nebud will get more fights soon

@tunjilomo Thank you. So, ahh, I wasn't sure that anyone will catch this, weldone! Your memory is very good. It is the same thing that the boy created in the last marked series book. The answer to your other questions is actually a HUGE marked series spoiler, so you'll have to wait till the reckoning to find out

@ayshow6102 thank you for thanking me and yes I am really female. Why? Are you doubting me?

@barag I love your attention to detail. Great catch about the edge of Manus's robe touching the cup! But that's all I'll say. I don't want to spoil anything

Ehen I knew something was up with Manus

Part 10
--------

I stood on the balcony, staring down at the fight taking place beneath me. Marcinus looked to be in much better health. It had both bannerets, the ones that had escorted it out, fighting against it. There was something particularly vicious about the way Marcinus fought. It brought down its sword hard against the swords of the other uspecs. The sound of the metals colliding rung in the air, filling it with an ominous quality. There was nothing but that, the sounds of swords hammering against each other. I could tell from the way the bannerets fought that they were doing their best to keep up with the imperial one. The Marcinus I watched was nothing like the one that I had seen in any of our previous meetings. Its movements were still fluid, still graceful in a way that made its fighting somewhat mesmerizing, but the aggression in its swinging blade added a level of danger to the display. In this mood, the uspec could very easily take off the bannerets’ heads. On a hunch, I reached through the lifeforce in my anger, searching for the anger in the uspecs around me.

Anger burst forth from Marcinus like light from the daylight dots. It was stunning in its intensity. I could not help but wonder at the source of the uspec’s anger. Perhaps it was angry with itself for disappointing its progenitor. Then, I thought, perhaps it should have refrained from overindulging in strong liquor. I found it hard to respect any warrior who would walk into an arena so inebriated that it could hardly fight, but watching Marcinus like this, I felt nothing but admiration for its skill. There was a part of me that was hungry to fight this uspec as it was now, fighting without the restraint it had shown me the first time we sparred with swords. Though, knowing how skilled the uspec was, I probably wouldn’t last long, not with Marcinus in this much of a rage.

It was entertaining, I thought with a grin.

Marcinus hit one of the banneret’s swords with so much strength that the sword came out of the banneret’s hand. The other banneret brought down its sword, hoping to catch Marcinus by surprise, but Marcinus whirled clashing its sword with the others, then kicking the banneret in the stomach. Both bannerets lay on the floor.

“Again.” Marcinus ordered. There was no teasing in its voice, no kindness like that which it had shown to me when we had fought. This version of the uspec was ruthless, I could just imagine it as a commander, leading troops to battle.

“Perhaps we can take a break Marcinus.” One of the banneret’s pleaded.

I scoffed. Marcinus shook its head.

“Please Marcinus.” The other begged.

Marcinus sighed. It shook its head then, and I watched its shoulders drop slightly. It dropped its sword and ran its hand over its scalp. “Forgive me Danim.” Marcinus said, extending a hand to the banneret that had spoken last. The banneret took Marcinus hand and allowed the uspec to pull it up. The other banneret did not wait for Marcinus’ help. It stood on its own. “Forgive me Jubar.” Marcinus said to that one.

Jubar shook its head, then it smiled at Marcinus. “I only needed a slight break. I am ready to go again.”

Marcinus laughed. “No, I overtaxed you. It was very inconsiderate of me.”

“Are you conceding defeat?”

Marcinus burst out laughing. As the uspec laughed, I felt its anger drain away. What a pity. I could tell that the spar which would follow would be more restrained, a graceful fight. Marcinus shook its head. “If you insist on it…”

“I insist.”

Marcinus turned to the other. It shook its head. “I concede defeat. I need to catch my breath before the feast.”

The banneret walked to one of the chairs on the side of the room as the other two continued their sparring.

“There is no fighter like Marcinus, is there?”

The question startled me. I turned to find the Kaiser standing a few feet away from me. I could tell from the fog drifting back into place that the Kaiser had come into the gymnasium through the door which led directly to its suite of rooms. I had never been to that portion of the Chateau, but I’d been given a tour so I knew which doors led where. The Kaiser was unclothed for the first time. It wore nothing but the golden armbands around its arms.

I dropped to my knee in front of the Kaiser, bowing my head in greeting. “Salutations mighty one.”

“Rise Nebud, champion of my line.”

I stood, but I kept my head slightly bent. “Gratitude mighty one, you honor me.”

The Kaiser walked towards the rail. It had a hand on its waist and another hand on the railing of the balcony as it looked down, observing the battle between Marcinus and the uspec. It was obvious from watching the battle that Marcinus was by far the greater fighter.

“Jubar is a great fighter.” The mighty one said, “but you would not know it from the way Marcinus handles the uspec. Marcinus.” The Kaiser sighed. “Marcinus.” It said the name with so much hurt that I curiously poked at its pain. I wasn’t surprised to find that it truly was in pain. I was, however, surprised by the depths of it. I quickly drew my lifeforce back in, suddenly feeling angsty at being alone with the Kaiser.

“Marcinus,” the Kaiser said again, “the future that you could have.” Then it bent its head and closed its eyes, and there was something so fatigued about its bearing that I found myself feeling sorry for the uspec. Why, I could not say.

I made to leave then, sure that the uspec would prefer privacy.

The Kaiser turned to face me before I could go. It stared at me, its eyes rolling over me as if to unearth some buried secrets. I found something eerily familiar about the way the Kaiser studied me. It reminded me of the way Marcinus had looked over me the first time we met. “I hear I am doubly indebted to you.” The Kaiser said after a long pause.

“Mighty one?”

“First you returned Mara in time for the swan to save Marcinus life, and then you fought the uspec who tried to kill my offspring. You beat the uspec so soundly it packed up and went home in shame. I will not have to see its face again because of you. Do you believe in Chuspecip Nebud?”

A chill crept up my spine at the question. I had trained to say ‘Uspecipyte’ with conviction, but I had not trained to answer questions about the founder. “Yes, mighty one.” I said.

“I think you are a gift from the founder to my line. You appeared just when you were needed, that cannot be coincidence. With the plenum growing in strength, I had had many advisors council me to make my port Kuworyte, to bow to the plenum before we are besieged by them. I am not a great strategist, I am a warrior, which is why I have much more adherents than bannerets. I know how to fight, it is the politics of leadership that eludes me. They counseled that I bow to the plenum, and then you showed up, reminding me of the kindness of the god my ancestors swore to serve. And I met you in the equipoise, the dome that was granted to my ancestors by Chuspecip itself. You are a sign Nebud.”

“I am?”

“Yes, Nebud, you are the founder’s sign to me. Gratitude.”

If the Kaiser did not appear so serious, I would have burst out laughing. I wondered what this Kaiser would think about the sign it proclaimed me to be after I took Marcinus’ eye. Would I then become a sign that its port should bow to the plenum? I could not say any of this and so I said instead, “you honor me with your words mighty one, I am undeserving.”

The Kaiser smiled. It turned back to observe the fighting and I found my gaze drawing back to the gym as well. “Marcinus is the warrior, it is more like me than Manus. If I had a war to fight, I would send Marcinus as the head of my troops. I had thought once that my choice was clear, but now, I am not so sure. Marcinus cannot handle the responsibility. Did you know that Marcinus never drank?”

“No mighty one.” I replied, knowing that an answer was mandated, even though I was not sure why I was being included in the conversation.

“Not a drop. Then it filled its last empty eye-socket and I told it that I would set the naming ceremony for a year after that day, as was customary. Marcinus was shocked, it had never considered itself in the running for my heir, it had just assumed that I would make Manus my heir as it was older. Once I told Marcinus that it was in the running, Marcinus started drinking.” The Kaiser sighed. “Maybe it is my fault. I put too much pressure on Marcinus. Manus is like the adherents that I appoint, it is the one with the mind for politics and strategy. I fear that Marcinus is too like me, it only has skill for war.” The Kaiser turned to me then. “You are Kaiser of Katsoaru,” it declared with a smile on its face.

“I am?”

The Kaiser nodded, its smile widening as if it was thinking of a joke. “You know Manus and Marcinus, which would you pick as your heir?”

I smiled back at the Kaiser. “I am not Kaiser mighty one.”

It laughed. “No, you are not. Tell me anyway, which would you choose?”

“I do not know mighty one, both of your offspring are very accomplished.”

The Kaiser chuckled. “I like you Nebud.” It said, before turning back to the gymnasium. “I like you. If only all the nobles in this Acropolis were like you, if only they kept their opinions on the matter to themselves. But they don’t. The nobles prefer Manus. Only the bannerets rally around Marcinus, but after its display during the bout this afternoon, even they are shifting to Manus. The commoners and the imps like Marcinus. Unfortunately, the commoners and the imps do not matter.”

Was this it then? I thought, was this the reason I had to take Marcinus’ eye? But even that made no sense to me. How would taking Marcinus eye affect the choosing of an heir? If the voice wanted me to kill Marcinus then I would know that this was why, but it hadn’t said kill, just take the eye.

“Master.” A royal imp emerged from the fog door which led to the Kaiser’s suite. “The feast will soon be upon us.”

The Kaiser turned to nod at the imp, then it looked at me. “I will spar with you.” It declared. “Some day soon Nebud, you will match your skill with the Kaiser of Katsoaru. Are you up to the challenge?”

Yes, I thought gleefully. To the Kaiser I replied, “if it please you mighty one.”

The Kaiser nodded. Its smile turned sad as it looked back at its offspring. “Marcinus.” It called out the name again, and then it walked away, shaking its head as it left.

I was left alone on the balcony with nothing left to occupy me save watching Marcinus fight and pondering on the Kaiser’s words. It wasn’t long before Marcinus and its bannerets left and I was standing alone in the gymnasium without the sounds of swords to take my focus from the emptiness of the room. I left then, making my way back through the hallways to Manus’ suite. The Chateau was teeming with life. Imps ran around the walkways carrying food and clothes to and from different areas of the palace. I knew that this was all being done in preparation for the grand feast which the Kaiser had ordered me to attend. There was no preparation for me to do. I had taken advantage of the guards’ cleaning facilities when it had been offered after my fight. The okun in those facilities was too small for a swim. So, I’d simply used the liquid to wash away the sludge. I knew that there was a feast after and so I allowed an imp to polish my feather, but the imp did not do the task justice, not as Musa would have.

My mind drifted to the imp. What was it doing at this moment? I wondered. We had decided that the imp would go in search of Chike, the imp it had run into in the market. Musa was convinced that there was something mysterious about the imp’s disappearance from Lahooni right before my sire died. Had it been successful? I was suddenly standing in a room filled with nobles preparing for the feasts. Manus had no made nobles in its inner circle, I was the only uspec without gold on my arms, standing in its suite as it prepared for the feast.

It stood in front of a reflective surface, watching as the imps polished the golden bands on its arm. The robe it chose to wear was sleeveless. It was made of an intricate mix of silver and cyan. It wore a dazzling silver and cyan sole on the bottom of its feet, one which matched the robe it had on. I found the entire preparations unbelievably boring. But each uspec in the room thought it imperative to be dressed in the finest leathers and they all took advantage of Manus’ hospitality. When at long last, the uspecs were dressed, and the time came for us to leave for the feast, I moved with unbelievable speed.

The feast was in the great hall. As soon as I stepped into the room, I had reason to be grateful for the amount of aqua-sight which I’d used. This hall was made for soarus. The entire room was filled completely with thick clouds. I could tell from looking at the walls and the furniture that it was all clouds. Pink drops hung in the air, attaching themselves to my skin as I moved. There was no fog to dry the liquid, and so I found myself covered with it. Only moments after I stepped into the room, I was completely covered with the precipitation. The other uspecs wore clothes, so only their faces and exposed skins were covered, but they did not seem to mind at all. They spoke lively amongst each other, mingling with the nobles, and select few commoners who’d been invited. There was an assortment of spectrums in the room, I even spotted a few kute tails.

Shortly after we walked into the hall, loud horns blared, signaling the arrival of the Kaiser. The tables in the room were placed around both sides so that there was a path down the middle, to the raised dais on the stage of the hall. I could tell that the tables and the chairs around them were made of clouds as they were all luminescent. The appearance of the lights had been changed so that there was a mix of colorful light streaming from each table. The walls gave off a dark hue of red, and the tables had lighting which ranged from gold to cyan.

The space in the center of the hall was cleared so that the Kaiser could walk through. I had read that during all formal occasions, all uspecs invited bowed deeply to the Kaiser regardless of rank. I bowed as the Kaiser past by me and then was surprised when it stopped right in front of me.

“Nebud!” The Kaiser called out my name. “You are the guest of honor tonight, the winner of my bout. You seat by my side, on the stage.” After it made that announcement, it walked forward, leaving me to follow in its wake.

It wasn’t till I stood on the stage that I noticed Marcinus. There were eleven seats on the stage, five to either side of the Kaiser’s highchair. As the guest of honor, I sat at the Kaiser’s right. Manus sat at the Kaiser’s left with Marcinus beside it. I could not help but feel as if something was amiss. When Marcinus saw me, there was no smiling greeting on its face. It looked at me and then it looked past me, as if we had never met. There was no loud call of ‘Nebud’, no teasing, just cold indifference. As if I had somehow offended the uspec. I found its behavior odd, but I was starting to think that there was a lot odd about Marcinus. It was not my place to decipher its behavior. I only had to figure out a way to steal its eye.

The Kaiser sat and the feast begun. I could not help but notice the absence of imps. For a place that had been bursting with them only a few hours ago, it was surprisingly void of the creatures. Uspecs served. The uspecs were servants in the Chateau, they wore livery which matched the colors of that which the imps wore. They filled the tables with wine and food and then moved back to stand by the walls till they were summoned.

The food was of the highest quality. There were fruits baked into succulent pies. There were soups made of meat that I had never had the pleasure of tasting. There was grain mixed in with spices that I had never known existed, and stews with vegetables that I could only dream about. I had just finished my second serving and was about to fill my platter with a third helping of the delicious variety laid out in front of us, when I was pulled into the conversation.

“Congratulations Nebud, I hear you fought well.” I heard Marcinus say. I turned to stare at the uspec and noted the lack of animation on its face. It took me a while to realize that it was ashamed. There was shame, but I could also feel its anger. To my surprise, the anger increased when our eyes met. Then Marcinus’ look turned bored, as if it did not find me a stimulating enough topic to keep its interest.

“You should be offering the uspec gratitude. If not for Nebud, I would have been forced to go back on my word and deny an uspec its reward because it beat you. You would have brought shame not only on yourself, but on the entire line.”

I found myself flinching from the tone of the Kaiser’s words. Marcinus’ shame doubled as it hunched over, its head bending to stare at the empty platter in front of it. If I did not know from my conversation with it, that the Kaiser was very fond of its offspring, I would have thought it hated it from the tone it used.

“Forgive me mighty one.” Marcinus said. It rose its head to stare at me. “Gratitude Nebud.” It said, its voice lifeless.

I did not know what to say. This was not the Marcinus I knew. Luckily, Manus spoke before my silence grew long enough to be offensive.

“Let Marcinus go in my place tonight pater. The visiting uspecipytes will be at the inn, all celebrating the founder and the Kaiser of Katsoaru’s bout. I know that I usually go to celebrate with them, to represent our line, but I think Marcinus should go instead. Marcinus is the greatest fighter in our line, give my sibling a chance to redeem itself.”

“Representing your line in an Uspecipyte gathering is more than an honor. It is a very serious duty. The uspecs need to see you there Manus, they need to see a leader they can rely on.” The words came from the noble seated by me. It had four armbands on each arm, adornments that showed it was the duke of a metropolis.

“My sibling is a leader they can rely on.” Manus insisted. It frowned at the duke. “And anyone who says otherwise will have to answer to me. Marcinus made a mistake pater, please, I beg you, give it the chance to rectify it.”

I watched Marcinus while they spoke. It kept its head bowed and its mouth shut.

The Kaiser also appeared to be studying Marcinus. “Do you truly believe that Marcinus can handle this?” its question was directed at Manus, but its eyes were on Marcinus.

“Yes pater.”

“You understand that if Marcinus does anything to embarrass our line I will lay the blame on you.”

Manus did not flinch. “You know Marcinus better than that pater. It made a mistake.”

Still, Marcinus kept quiet.

The Kaiser sighed. “Very well. Marcinus, you will go in Manus’ place.”

Marcinus sat up. It smiled for the first time that night. “Gratitude,” it said to its sibling. Manus smiled back as it nodded at Marcinus. I noticed a bond between them, one that I had previously overlooked. “Gratitude mighty one, I will not let you down.”

“Again.” The Kaiser stated. “You meant to say you will not let me down again.” It put extra emphasis on the last word. Then it turned to regard the crowd. “Who will you take with you?”

“Jubar and Danim pater, my bannerets.”

“Your coconspirators.” The Kaiser scoffed. It looked around and then its eyes rested on me. With a smile on its face, it put a hand on my left shoulder and I had a strong feeling that I would not like what it would say next. “Nebud will accompany the three of you.”

Marcinus sprung back. “No pater.”

“No?!” The Kaiser yelled so loudly that the conversation in the rest of the hall stopped. “You dare say [i]‘no’[i] to me?”

Marcinus bowed its head. “Forgive me mighty one, I only meant that Nebud’s company is not needed. I am sure Manus needs its noble guard.”

The Kaiser turned to Manus. “Well?” it demanded.

A flicker of doubt appeared on Manus’ face as it stared between its progenitor and its sibling. It was stuck in the middle, and from the look on its face, it was not a position it enjoyed. Finally, it bowed to the Kaiser. “If it is your will pater.”

“It is.” The Kaiser’s words rung with finality.

I thought about mentioning that no one asked me if I wanted to go, but then I thought better of it. Besides, I could not help the odd feelings which Marcinus’ rejection of my company rose in me. This was why I disliked nobles, they were fake, all of them. I had thought that Marcinus was different, a ‘kind noble’. I scoffed at that. This was the real Marcinus. I was sure that it would make my evening a living hell because its progenitor had foisted me on it. I could not wait to figure out a way to steal the uspec’s eye and leave this port.

“If you would excuse me, mighty one, I will go and prepare myself for the celebration.” Marcinus spoke.

The Kaiser nodded without looking at the uspec.

Marcinus bowed and rose. It was just about to walk away when it stopped and turned to stare at me. It rose an eyebrow in question, and I realized that it was expecting me to follow it. I stood up then and walked behind the uspec.

Its bannerets followed.

I was shocked when, after we left the hall, I heard Manus call, “Nebud!”

All four of us turned. “Give me a moment with Nebud please.”

Marcinus smiled sardonically at me. “Of course, Manus.” It bowed and then walked away.

Manus led me to its suite. It did not say a word until we were both behind the curtains. Then it put its hand into its pocket and pulled out a small glass vial with a number of black pellets in them.

“Why have you and Marcinus fallen out?” it asked me.

“I do not know.” I replied staring at the vial.

“What did you do Nebud?” Manus demanded.

“I do not know.”

“I do not like to see Marcinus distressed. I do not like…” it broke off. “I do not like to see Marcinus waste its life. When it is sober, Marcinus is the best offspring and the best sibling that an uspec could have. But when it starts drinking, when Marcinus drinks it becomes something entirely different. You cannot imagine the pain it causes us to see Marcinus like this. Not when it was so much before the alcohol. I want more for Marcinus. That is why I suggested that pater let it go in my place. They have a special bond the two of them, Marcinus has to get back into our pater’s good graces to renew that bond.” Manus extended the bottle in its hand to me. “The pellets in this bottle reverse the effects of liquor. If you put it in a drink with alcohol, it turns the drink non-alcoholic.”

I took the bottle from Manus and examined its contents curiously.

“It takes all of the pellets to reverse the effects. Only use it if Marcinus looks like it’s going to drink alcohol. I want to believe in Marcinus, I want to believe that it can do this without my help. I want you to bring that bottle back to me just as I have given it to you, with all the pellets intact. That is what I want. But I doubt that is what will happen. Whatever the case, please do not let Marcinus embarrass our pater again. That will be a strain on their relationship which even I won’t be able to resolve.”

Now its really obvious Manus is the cause of marcinus drunkenness... Saturday come quick please... Thanks obehid

Can't wait for Saturday's follow up, to see what's on Obehid's mind.

Manus seems to be too unnecessary concerned about Marcinus that it is becoming too suspicious. His antics are too. He puts Marcinus before it like it cares, which I doubt it does.

Obehid is there a way you can create an image of these uspecs for better understanding? I am trying to create these creatures in my head, but what I get are horrendous. Lol! Very scary looking disfigured feathered spider look like face with some dangling snake-like tentacles and metal spikes piercing through the chest creations. Thy are way to ugly in my head. Lol.

Anyhow they look, I think it doesn't matter much though . Thanks for update

Fazemood:
Manus seems to be too unnecessary concerned about Marcinus that it is becoming too suspicious. His antics are too. He puts Marcinus before it like it cares, which I doubt it does.

Obehid is there a way you can create an image of these uspecs for better understanding? I am trying to create these creatures in my head, but what I get are horrendous. Lol! Very scary looking disfigured feathered spider look like face with some dangling snake-like tentacles and metal spikes piercing through the chest creations. Thy are way to ugly in my head. Lol.

Anyhow they look, I think it doesn't matter much though . Thanks for update

lol! my brother na the samething wey i dex imagine o. until someone decides to give a detail drawing of it.

just like the powerful muk-anulis,in memoirs of blood and steel by Apollux. that novel issa bomb. seriously,apollux and ObehiD are they very best writers i've seen in nairaland.these two realy got raw talents.

Ahhh obehid y do you like torturing me with suspense like this eh well Anyway I know my nebud will not be so stupid to fall for manus tricks and use the pellets on it Thanks for the update jare u too much

ayshow6102:
Ahhh obehid y do you like torturing me with suspense like this eh well Anyway I know my nebud will not be so stupid to fall for manus tricks and use the pellets on it Thanks for the update jare u too much

I really think otherwise, manus will use Nebud and later accuse it of being the culprit or it will blame Nebud for its brother's drunken state. Let's just wait and see sha.
The feem never finish

ObehiD you always make me want more, I think Nebud can now understand where Mercinus incorrectness is coming from Manus is the brain behind his sibling's misfortunes, but I think Nebud will still be nervous and behave naively and still add that shot to his drink... Afterall, all he's after is the eye of Mercinus, I won't pity him if and when he's roped in all the shitty mess

@cassbeat Is it really really obvious ... Saturday is only one day away

@tunjilomo follow up coming soon, just one day away

@Fazemood Do you really think that Manus does not care...well, I guess we will see soon. About the imagery, I think that your imagination is actually so much cooler than what I was thinking, so I'm just going to let you keep thinking about them like that. Although, to me the uspecs are beautiful

@Ultimategeneral Thank you, I'm glad you're enjoying the story

@ayshow6102 Because suspense is such a good form of torture, don't you agree?

@pheonixchap Thank you, I am glad that I can keep you wanting more. Ah, you won't pity Nebud, but why? Well, let's see what happens in the next part. Maybe you'll change your mind...

obehiD:
@cassbeat Is it really really obvious ... Saturday is only one day away

I think so

Part 11
--------

The celebration was in full swing by the time we arrived. I recognized this inn, it was the same one that the swan had led me to the day that I returned it to its owner. Jubar placed its hand against the wall and the hard fog disappeared, granting us entrance. We were led by the attendants to an area separated from the rest of room by a large set of curtains. The area sat on a higher level than the rest of the room. There were five chairs around a circular table. The attendant pulled out Marcinus’ chair and then waited till the uspec was seated. The bannerets sat on either side of Marcinus.

They all made a point of ignoring me, just as they’d done during our walk from the portal to the inn. Every so often the bannerets would glare at me, the restrained anger in their looks making it clear that they did not appreciate my company. Marcinus nodded at the uspec attendant. “Open the curtains.” It ordered.

The attendant walked over to the head of the space and pulled the curtains open, exposing the rest of the room to our view, and making them aware of us. I could tell from the raised voices, and the general rowdiness in the lower half of the room that the uspecs were doing their best to get drunk. Drinks flowed freely and meals were placed on the round tables. I remembered the stage at the front of the room, it was the same one that imps had been on the first time I’d seen this inn. Now the stage was empty. A number of imps swarmed the place, pushing carts laden with jugs and platters, from the opaque fog at the head of the room, to the different tables.

“Shall I bring anything for you imperial one?” The attendant asked with a bow.

“Hard fermented wine.” Marcinus replied.

I frowned at the uspec, but I kept my thoughts to myself. Still, I could not help the twinge of irritation that I felt. After the fool it had made of itself in the bout today, it was still asking for more alcohol. What was wrong with it? Did it not know how much Manus and its progenitor were relying on it to represent their family properly? Or did it just not care.

“Any food imperial one?”

Marcinus shook its head. “Just the wine.”

“As you wish imperial one.” The attendant bowed and then it moved towards the short staircase connecting from our raised portioned-off area to the rest of the room. I watched the attendant call on an imp, whisper something to the imp and then wait by the foot of the stairs.

Marcinus sighed. “Sit Nebud.” It ordered.

The uspec did not even look at me as it spoke. It kept its bored gaze on the room filled with rowdy uspecs. As the uspec was not looking at me, I decided that it did not expect an answer and so I did not give it one. I grabbed onto a handle of the backless chair and pulled it away from the table. The uspecs had made it clear that they did not want me to be part of their group, so I would indulge their desires.

The attendant returned with two imps. They carried trays fancier than the ones they used to serve below, and had goblets and a decanter on the tray. The imps placed a goblet in front of each of us, and then they poured the yellow wine into each goblet.

I stared curiously at my goblet, but I did not touch it. Marcinus emptied the contents of its glass in a single gulp, and then it picked up the decanter and refilled the goblet.

“Marcinus.” Jubar’s voice held a note of warning. “This is not necessary?”

“Is it not?” Marcinus asked, its gaze pointedly fixed on me. It drowned the second goblet and reached for the decanter again. It emptied the contents of the decanter in its goblet before calling out for more wine.

Cautiously, I picked up my goblet and took a sip of the wine. It was more alcoholic than anything I had tried on the inter-port trail. I could feel the effect of the one sip I had taken, yet Marcinus had chugged down two glasses full. For some reason I’d had difficulty believing it, but now I knew, I knew for a fact that Marcinus was a drunk.

I turned my gaze back to the lower portion of the room. At that moment it seemed like an uspec had noticed us, because it stood and pointed at the dais. “To the line of the Kaisers of Katsoaru!” It called out.

Suddenly, all the uspecs were standing. They turned to stare at the stage and I just knew from the looks on their faces that they were waiting for Marcinus to speak. I heard the sound of Marcinus’ chair drawing back and sighed to myself, waiting for the uspec to sway, displaying its inebriation to the masses.

Marcinus’ voice was surprisingly steady when it called out, “hair of horns and a chest of iron.”

The cry of “Irira!” was picked up by the entire room.

The bannerets stood too and I knew that I had to stand as well. At this point, all the uspecs in the inn stood, their cups lifted in the air, their bodies turned to face the imperial one. I could not help but turn, so that I could stare discreetly at Marcinus. For one who’d consumed the large amounts of alcohol that it had, it seemed surprisingly alert and steady on its feet. It did not sway, it did not show any signs of inebriation.

Lifting our goblets, we sang the Uspecipyte song as one. I had cause to be grateful to the passing trader who’d taught me the song when the words came flawlessly from my lips.

“Skirt of tails and a neck of scales. Irira!
Not one but all. Not weak but strong.
Say you, ‘Tiyoseriwosin?’
Say I, ‘Uspecipyte’.
I am iron strong, unbreakable, I see you shake.
Standing my ground, while I hear you quake.
Against me you set your best?
Apologies, but to death they are next.
Say you, ‘Tiyoseriwosin?’
Say I, ‘Uspecipyte’!
I am iron strong, unbreakable, I see you shake.
Standing my ground, while I hear you quake.
Against me you set your best?
Apologies, but to death they are next.
Say you, ‘Tiyoseriwosin?’
Say I, ‘USPECIPYTE’!”

The uspecs cheered the end of the song by lifting their cups and drowning its contents. I watched Marcinus do the same and then I saw it place its hand on the table, as if for support. I knew now that the drunk would appear. It sat back down, just as the other uspecs did. Marcinus filled its goblet yet again with the strong wine and I knew that the time had finally come to intervene as Manus had requested. Even if I’d wanted to speak with Marcinus, if I knew what words to say to sober an alcoholic, Marcinus had made it clear that it did not want to listen to me. For some reason the uspec no longer saw the need to be kind or gracious to me.

I took a step back, wondering how I was going to get the pellets into the uspec’s drink without it noticing. I thought of the amount of trouble I was going to, to keep the uspec sober and I wondered why I cared. Why did I care if Marcinus got drunk and disgraced its entire line? In fact, wouldn’t it be easier for me to steal the eyes of a drunk Marcinus? Still, for some reason I could not name, I found myself moved to help this uspec. Was it the worry of its progenitor, the Kaiser who had spoken so candidly to me? Perhaps it was the feeling that underneath its drunkenness Marcinus truly was a good uspec, or maybe it was just guilt. Perhaps I wanted to at least do one positive thing for the uspec in exchange for the eye which I would take from it. Whatever my motivation, I searched for an opening.

“What is it doing here?” Danim stretched its hand out, pointing at an uspec on the lower level.

I recognized the uspec. It was the one that I had beaten, the one who’d tried to kill Marcinus. Frowning, I stared at the uspec. Hadn’t the Kaiser said that this uspec had left the port in shame? What was it doing in the inn, celebrating as if it had no cause for shame, as if it had won the bout? Looking around the table, I noticed that all three uspecs were distracted by the fighter. Taking advantage of their inattention, I slipped behind Marcinus, pulled the glass vial out of my belt and uncorked it. I’d just slipped one pellet into Marcinus’ goblet when the uspec’s fingers grabbed onto the stem of the glass.

Quickly I placed the cork back on the vial and dropped it into my belt.

With a frown, Marcinus turned around to stare questioningly at me. “Is something wrong it asked?” its speech clear for one who had drank so much.

I shook my head. “No imperial one, I only wanted a clearer view of the uspec.”

I could not tell if Marcinus believed me as the frown on its face did not waver. Then it lifted its goblet in the air, as if in a silent toast to me, before downing the contents of the goblet.

Marcinus was just about to refill its glass when all hell broke loose.

The decanter fell from Marcinus hand. The contents of the jug spilled allover the table as the jug rolled on the table and then fell off the side to land on the floor. Jubar and Danim rose together. We all seemed to have the same thought on our minds because we pulled out our cutlasses almost in unison. The bannerets approached.

The previously celebratory mood in the lower part of the inn was gone, now replaced with the cries of dying uspecs in pain. I watched in disbelief as an uspec’s head was cut off its neck while another was stabbed in the chest. There were about thirty uspecs in the bottom half of the room, all of them fighting with weapons which they’d obviously kept concealed. I noticed the fighter from the bout amongst them, with its spiked club. It would be unfair to call it a fight because it wasn’t, it was a massacre. The other uspecs were obviously unarmed and so they had no weapons to prevent the blows from the ones who’d hidden their weapons. How had those uspecs gotten weapons in here? The inn was expecting Marcinus’ arrival, so they wouldn’t have let so many uspecs in armed.

Marcinus tried to stand, but it swayed heavily, knocking its chair back. Obviously, the effects of the copious amounts of alcohol it had imbibed were starting to show. Marcinus had to keep its hand on the table to keep from falling over. It took a step back, pulling its sword out of its sheath, while swaying so that it leaned on Jubar. Jubar wrapped its arm around Marcinus, keeping the uspec steady.

Only moments after Marcinus was standing, six armed uspecs jumped to the stage, the fighter from the bout amongst them. “Say you Uspecipyte?” it was the fighter from the bout who spoke in a teasing tone. “You can beat our best?” it prodded. “Well say we Kuworyte. Let’s see how well you do against us.” After saying that the uspecs charged.

I found myself fighting on instinct. My cutlass rose of its own accord to deflect a blow I felt coming from a sword. I parried for a while with that uspec, dodging blows and being mindful of the uspecs around me. I heard a loud bang coming from behind me, but I could not turn. Instead, I took advantage of the uspec’s distraction and stabbed it in the chest. That uspec fell as another ran over to take its place. I only had a second between the change in attackers to take not of the state of things behind me. Jubar seemed to be trying to fight while also supporting the drunk Marcinus. I was surprised to see Marcinus pulling its sword out of the neck of the fighter from the bout. Even in its drunken state, Marcinus was skilled enough to take the fighter on. I congratulated myself for that, it was probably because I had put the pellet into Marcinus drink, preventing it from getting even drunker.

The fight continued. We started off as thirty against four and one uspec at a time the numbers dwindled from thirty to twenty-five and then finally to fifteen. That was the first pause I got in the battle. The fifteen uspecs left alive stood at the lower level of the inn. They did not make any move to climb to the raised portion of the stage. All of the uspecs were ones that had stood and sang the Uspecipyte song as if celebrating the Kaiser. They had appeared drunk before, but now I knew that had been a façade.

I looked around the stage and was surprised to find Marcinus sitting by a corner, staring transfixed at a spot beside it. Where were the other bannerets? I saw Danim’s body first. It was sprawled over the table, the silver sheath on its tentacles declaring its identity. It took longer to find Jubar. I could not turn my back fully on the crowd and so it took me a while to identify the subject of Marcinus’ gaze. The uspec was staring at Jubar’s head which had been parted from its body. That head stared lifeless up back at the imperial one.

I walked back, careful to keep my gaze on the uspecs still left alive, their weapons held at the ready, as I inched closer towards Marcinus. Once my back was to the wall, I nudged it with my feet. “Imperial one?” when I got no answer, I rose my voice. “Imperial one?”

Marcinus’ head snapped up. It stared at me, but I could tell from the lack of comprehension in its gaze that it was not really seeing me. “Jubar.” Marcinus called the uspecs name. “Danim. Are they dead?”

Was Marcinus becoming delirious? Had it lost its mind? “Yes imperial one. Why don’t you use your spectra?”

“Can’t focus.” Marcinus’ head dropped back against the wall.

“We just want the imperial one.” One of the uspecs at the lower level called out. “Give us the imperial and you can leave. We have no quarrel with you.”

Marcinus stared blankly at the roof. My eyes were drawn to its. I thought of how simple it would be to take Marcinus’ eye. That was why I was here after all. I could take the uspec’s eye and hand it over to the ones who so desperately wanted to kill it. What business was it of mine why they wanted the uspec? Why should I risk my life for Marcinus?

“What is your quarrel with the imperial one?” I asked, buying myself time to contemplate my options.

“No concern of yours.” The uspec replied. “Take what you’re being given uspecipyte, keep your life. You don’t even deserve that, but we’ll let you have it anyway. Just give us the imperial.”

Marcinus continued to stare off into space. It did not seem aware of the uspecs trying to take its life. There were fifteen of them, fifteen against one. I had never faced such odds in the pits. I reached out with my emotions searching to see what the others felt. There was no pain, but that was expected, it was the lack of anger that was unexpected. These uspecs were not religious zealots then, if they were there would be indignation, anger driving them to do what they did. I could tell from their indifference that they were hired hands. There might not be anger yet, but once we started fighting their anger would come alive. The question was, would I live long enough to exploit that anger.

My focus had not been on Marcinus, and so when I felt some foul emotions coming from the uspec, I was startled. I turned my focus to Marcinus and found that it had polluted anger and pain. Marcinus was not in the state that other uspecs tended to be when they had only these two emotions in them. That had to mean that it had more of its emotions polluted, others mixing with the anger and pain in unexpected ways. If I took away its anger and pain, what would that do to the uspec? I did not have to contemplate, Marcinus’ polluted emotions were the only advantage we had. I grabbed onto its pain and transferred it to the uspec that had spoken. That one began to wail. It fell to its knees on the floor and placed its hands in its head. I yanked Marcinus anger and transferred it to another uspec. Once that uspec received it, it began attacking the uspecs around it. It had caught one of them by surprise and so it was able to take down one uspec before two others turned on it and placed a sword through its heart. I took the polluted anger, adding it to the anger which the uspecs were now starting to feel, and transferred it to another. That uspec seemed to be a much better fighter than the previous one. It took down two uspecs before three had the chance to subdue it. There were ten uspecs left alive.

I yanked the polluted anger before it could get exhausted with the dying uspec, and focused on my lifeforce. I took a risk, pulling my focus from the room for long enough to interact with the lifeforce. I halved the intensity of my anger lifeforce so that I could seep the polluted anger from the dying uspec and transfer it, through the halves, equally to two different uspecs. I had just done that when I felt a hand clamp onto my leg and shake. That broke my focus from manipulating emotions.

I turned to stare down at Marcinus. It lifted its hand up, seeking help. I grabbed onto its hand and pulled it to its feet. It seemed that my taking away its polluted anger and pain had helped it return to consciousness. The uspec swayed. It placed its hand on the wall for support. It stubbornly chose to lean on the wall rather than lean on me.

With a sigh, I grabbed onto the uspec’s arm and placed it around my shoulder. Marcinus tried to resist, but in that moment, it did not seem to have the strength to oppose me. I found that odd. It was all odd. Why had Marcinus had polluted emotions?

“Why are they fighting amongst themselves?” Marcinus asked. Its voice was shaky, but I could still hear every word, I could hear the suspicion in its voice. Did it know that I had used emotions?

It wasn’t till Marcinus mentioned it, that I returned my attention to the group. By that point it was too late. The uspecs I had given polluted anger to were already dead, the emotion gone with them. I counted four uspecs left standing now, and one uspec on its knees, the one with the polluted pain. The uspecs did not seem to be willing to wait anymore. They ran onto the stage, converging on us.

“I can fight.” Marcinus insisted stubbornly.

“You can’t even stand.” I replied.

“Unless you know of a way to make them fight amongst themselves again…” it trailed off, its eyes eyeing me suspiciously. I had to suppress my desire to look away, and instead maintained its gaze.

The uspecs did not give us time to formulate a fighting strategy. They just attacked. They all tried to converge on Marcinus, but I pulled the uspec behind me. I supported it with my left arm and so I only had one hand free for fighting. I knocked away the sword of one uspec, while I exhausted the anger of the other. Exhausting that ones anger made it explode with one solid move fueled by the outburst of the emotion. I was expecting it and so I withstood the force of its blow. As soon as its sudden burst of anger was over, it became stunned. I took advantage of that, and stabbed my cutlass into the uspec’s neck. It fell to the floor as I turned to face the other. The uspec’s sword came at me from the right. It was a blow I blocked easily. Its tentacles rose in the air, lashing out towards me. I swiped my cutlass cutting off two of the tentacles. Then I simmered the uspec’s pain, making it abate slower than it usually would. Under the influence of the overwhelming pain, the uspec staggered. Its hand rose slowly towards me. I cut that hand off at the wrist, and then cut off the uspec’s head.

I turned to find that Marcinus had killed the two uspecs that had approached it. I stared shocked between the bodies of the uspec, and the blood-stained sword Marcinus held uneasily in its hand. The uspec still needed me for support, but I sensed more weakness than drunkenness. My confusion grew as I continued to stare at the swaying uspec. It was obvious that it had been lucid enough to fight and kill the two uspecs in less time than it had taken me to kill my opponents, even using emotions.

Marcinus smiled at me. “You’re impressed.” Its words were slurred. It took its arm off my shoulder and tried to move. Then it proceeded to trip over one of the uspec’s it had killed, and fell flat on its face.

I couldn’t help laughing at that. The sound of my laughter made me aware of another sound, the sound of an uspec in unbearable pain. It was the one I had given polluted pain to. I jumped off the stage and walked over to the howling uspec. With a slice of my blade, I silenced it.

I looked around the inn and suddenly became aware of what had transpired here. The entire place was littered with green bodies. There was no one left, no one had been spared. Even the attendants were dead. Marcinus and I were the only uspecs left alive in the inn. I was suddenly filled with an overwhelming urge to get as far away from here as I could.

I climbed back onto the stage, surprised to find Marcinus standing bent over the table. It was leaning heavily on that table. Marcinus frowned at me. I stretched out my arm offering the uspec support, but it did not take it. “Why?” Marcinus asked.

I shook my head. “Why what?”

“Why did you fight for me? Why did you save my life?”

I shrugged. I could not think of what to say. Why had I done it? Why was Marcinus still alive now? I would probably not find a better opportunity to take the uspec’s eye. Now, it was weak, I could easily overpower it. Why wasn’t I taking the eye? I told myself I refrained because I did not know which eye to take, and that was partly the reason. But in my mind, I replayed the image of seeing the two dead uspecs Marcinus had killed in its current state. I admired the uspec. It was a strange feeling, one that I did not know what to do with. But I could not take Marcinus’ eye without knowing why. Was I a lackey, some slave to do the bidding of a voice whose owner I did not know? I knew that I could not leave Katsoaru without Marcinus eye, but I could not take that eye without knowing why. I could not do that to Marcinus.

To Marcinus I replied, “Your sibling asked me to protect you.” It was not entirely a lie. Manus had asked me to take care of Marcinus, just not in the way I hinted.

Marcinus smiled. It took the arm I was offering and allowed me to pull its arm around my shoulder. It leaned heavily and unrestrainedly on me. “Jubar and Danim are gone.” It said, its words still slurred as if it was drunk. “There is no one else for me to trust Nebud, no one but you and mater.”

“And Manus.”

“And Manus.” It took an unsteady step forward. “Take me to Mara.” It said.

I found that strange, that Marcinus wanted to go back to the swan, not its ‘mater’ or sibling, but the swan. Perhaps I had misjudged their relationship. Perhaps there was something truly noble in Marcinus which merited the swan’s fealty. It was obvious that the bond went both ways.

We made our way out of the inn, weaving through the corpses which littered the floor. I took all of Marcinus weight, trying my best to provide what little comfort I could. The pain it felt now was pure. It was grief for the friends that it had lost. This noble was nothing like any other that I had ever met. Its feelings were pure, when it called an uspec friend, it meant it. That much was clear in the abundance of pain which I felt emanating from it.

“Why do you drink so much?” I asked the question not expecting a reply. When the reply came, I found it more perplexing than anything else that had occurred that evening.

“I don’t.” Marcinus slurred. “But when I do, I can handle the liquor. I drank tonight to show you. I wanted you to see that I am no drunk. I wanted you to see what mater can’t.”

Marcinus’ words made absolutely no sense to me. What did it mean by it could handle the liquor? Its current state was an indication that it could not. We walked in silence back to the Chateau. When we walked past the guards, our bodies stained with the blood of the uspecs we’d slain, Marcinus only stopped long enough for me to explain it to them. Alarms blared waking the Chateau up as guards were sent running to the Kaiser to deliver the news. They offered to take Marcinus from me, but the uspec would not let them. I realized that it had been honest, it truly did not trust any of the guards in the Chateau. But why? I took Marcinus back to its suite, and then all the way to its sleeping room. I lay the uspec on its large bed right as the swan came to fuss over its owner.

“Gratitude Nebud, my friend.” It said the last words with a teasing smile on its face and then it drifted off as the swan stood on its chest. The swan was too preoccupied with its owner to care about me.

Still, I rubbed the back of the swan’s neck. “Care for your master.” I told it, right before leaving. The swan did not turn towards me, but it bent its head towards Marcinus’ chest, as if obeying the instruction I had given it.

I walked out of the room.

Manus stood in front of the curtains which led into Marcinus’ suite. The uspec did not look happy. “What happened?” it demanded. “Did you not use the pellets I gave you?”

I frowned at Manus. I wanted to go home. I wanted to go back to my bed in my little rented suite in the merchants block, and have a good cleaning. I wanted to lie in an okun for the next day or two, to wash away the filth of the day. I did not want to mix words with Manus. “I used the pellets imperial one.” I replied tired. “Please, if you would permit me, I would like to go home. It has been a long day.”

My guard was down. I had let my guard down once we stepped into the Chateau as I believed that the worst was finally behind us. My guard was down and so I did not reach out for Manus’ anger until it was too late. By the time the lifeforce in my anger told me that Manus was angrier than I had ever seen it before, a pool of okun had already appeared underneath me. That pool sucked away my strength, just as it had done one other time, at Fajahromo’s behest. Weak, and unable to move, Manus ordered two guards to carry me. They took me from Marcinus’ suite to the room with cages which Manus had shown me.

I watched as the guards took off my belt and placed it on the ground in front of a cage that they stuffed me into. I was left alone with Manus.

“You have disrupted my plans one too many times Nebud.” Manus said.

Then a cloud formed around me. I was too weak to shout out, too weak to vocalize the pain that I felt. My body was twisted, my bones broken, my identity changed as I pondered on Manus’ last words. I was a kute irira who’d survived the pits, I knew pain. Yet this pain, the one associated with changing a thing’s identity was altogether new to me. To me it felt like pain, but the lifeforce in my pain did not identify with it, the lifeforce in my pain did not register my feelings as pain, it was as if this transformation brought alien feelings.

When at long last it ended, and the blinding red of the clouds light lifted, returning the view of the room, I looked down on myself and found the body of a swan. I had been turned into a green swan.

“Perhaps after the naming ceremony I will restore you.” Manus’ words echoed in my head as it walked away.

Marcinus’ behavior in the inn finally made sense to me. The drunkenness that looked more like weakness. It was Manus; it was a result of the pellet that Manus had asked me to put in Marcinus’ drink.

What just happened? Our dear Nebud is now a green swan

Nebud finally figured it out. It would have been easier, if it had been manus eyes he was to take.

Musa were are you,Almighty Nebud now a swan,,,ObehiD God bless you ,keep it up am enjoying the story

He finally realised... Ah well obehid just do an extra for us na��

I said it! Manus concerns have been suspicious. It just was way too concerned for Marcinus for my liking. My distaste for pretentious characters knows not o bound.

Anyways our Nebud is now a bird, that was unexpected but kinda funny . Nebud don't worry you are in your learning process.

Good work my dear Obehid. Always doing it the way it should be. Best.

Thank you

Obehid this is degradation of the highest order how can my nehud be a swan and of all colors green and where's Musa am going to whip that imp

ObehiD you were doing a good thing until you turned Nebud to a green swan, can u imagine. It's not supposed to be be. I hope he's able to reach out to Musa telepathically and he's restored before the naming sha.... Nice one, I will like to meet ObehiD in person and will like to have a thorough examination of how large your brain is, to be able to understand how u have hot me glued to you. You are my best author on Nairaland not many can keep the pace and consistency like you are doing. I see you doing big things and going places. #KUDOS

first time commenting on nairaland "nice one obeid"

o my God! this is a very big twist. Nebud is turned into a swan,i taught he had spectra he could have deflected it somehow. save he doesn't know

@lukfame yes oh, that's what we're seeing, Nebud is now a swan

@tunjilomo That's exactly what Nebud was thinking before, because of all the access it has to Manus. Maybe the order will change and it will become Manus instead...

@Madosky112 Thank you!!!

@cassbeat Don't worry, it's coming tomorrow

@Fazemood Unexpected? I am happy about that. It's getting harder and harder to surprise, so I have to keep doing my best to keep everyone guessing. Hopefully, there are even bigger surprises coming soon

@ayshow6102 It's really degradation oh, lol

@phoenixchap haha it's really it's not supposed to be. You want to examine my brain? LOL!!! Feel free. I am so happy that I have managed to get you glued to the story. Thank you so much, your words really mean a lot to me!

@chris99 thank you!

@Ultimategeneral Very big twist? Yes! I like the way you're thinking, bringing spectra in...

this is so weird oooo. What just happened? Nebud is now a swan!!!!! How on earth will he be able to get Marcinus eyes now. And i suspected at the very first that Manus had a hand in all that had been happening..... He wanted the support of all the people not just some people.... wow

Great work ObehiD