Return to Aether

The Serfs' Quarters

Eventually, the three did find the serfs' quarters. Hoping to see someone they would have recognized there, the Divine Deucalion of Aether, his Queen and their loyal Caracal Companion stepped in to what had once been the Fane of the Donkey God. The lapis lazuli statue of the deity stood upon its altar, headless and one of the ears of head broken off.

Memories of his childhood, memories of the first three twelvemonths of his life, flooded Falco's mind. Vague memories of when his paternal grandfather Conall had been High Priest of the Donkey God, Patron of Foreigners, Immigrants and Redheads. He remembered being frightened when he first saw his grandfather wearing the golden donkey mask, only to smile when his grandfather removed it.

In the days before his grandfather's ascension to the throne, he had been here.

The fane was uncleaned, still covered in dust and the serfs were not granted beds, but planks of wood to sleep upon and ratty old blankets to keep them warm. That people were forced to live in such conditions and that the Fane of the Donkey God was treated thusly was unforgivable.

Seeing a six-twelvemonth-old girl, fair-skinned with brown hair and eyes, clad in a ragged, dull blue dress. A half-frightened, half-curious look in her eyes, she stared at the three, wondering who they were.

The first to approach the little girl was Kenneth, his black, tufted ears fully erect, his eyes wide and his nose sniffing. By the time the caracal was three feet from her, the little girl backed away. She remembered caracals back on the mainland, they could be gentle, but when angered at being woken up, they could be snarling demons.

Immediately, Falco began to step forward, until Rowena stopped him. "Let me handle this, Falco." And so, she went forward and knelt before the little girl. "Hello, I am Rowena. What is your name?"

Quietly, the little girl uttered: "Merit."

"My husband Falco and I have come to save you all, Merit." Said Rowena. "Where is everyone? Where is your father? Where is your mother?"

"Her father is dead, crushed in the most recent failure of a statue erection." Came a coarse and arrogant voice, booming and muffled. All turned to see Taurus standing in the doorway with Elephas by his side. "And her mother is currently in my seraglio. It has been some time, Falco, Rowena..." Staring at Kenneth, he then said: "Whatever your appellation is."

Staring at the High Priest of the Earth Bull, Falco asked: "How did you find us?"

"Everything might be distant when I wear this mask, but thankfully Elephas here, half-blind he might be, sees everything." Replied Taurus. "It was a good plan, go to the serf's quarters first, but unfortunately for you, our workforce is spread throughout the Palace."

"Where are the other children?" asked Rowena as a few guards entered the quarters.

"Oh, I was a bit concerned with the number so I thinned the herd recently." Replied Taurus with a chuckle. "Her family didn't arrive until after."

"You killed children!" exclaimed Rowena, horrified while Falco merely stared, aghast. They didn't need to be able to see the face behind the mask, but they knew Taurus was smiling.

"I would like to end this here." Said Taurus, tightening his grip upon his axe. "But I wish to see this end as it should: with the Son of Tigris killed by the Sacred Bull and you, Rowena, forced into marriage with me."