A figure walks down a rocky tunnel, the torches lining gave only dim lighting, a roar of a lively crowd reverberated throughout the tunnel.
Each torch revealed the symbol embroidered on the figures back.
Three eyes in a circle.
Upon meeting a cross road, the figure turned left and continued walking, it reached a large wooden double door with two guards, both komodo dragons.
"Aye, visitors are not al-"
The one on the left couldn't finish his sentence as he was crushed into a red paste on the floor.
"I trust, I'm allowed?"
The gravelly voice made the other komodo shake and rapidly nodded his head, the figure walked the fearful guard and flicked its bone finger down crushing him.
The double doors opened on their own sending a gust of wind inside the room, a long and large table packed to the brim with feast upon feast. Undead and Ani-folk gorging themselves, the room echos with laughter.
Some took notice of the figure but went back to eating their minds focused on their vices, reaching the other side of the room the figure turn hits hood to the guard with a large battle-axe that was guarding a door.
The guard nodded and opened the door.
"AND I FUCKING TOLD YOU, YOUR SPICES WILL BE SHIPPED TO YOU!"
The door shut behind the figure, a large mantis man with a large scar across his face was shouting at a screen, a metal box projecting the image.
When he took notice of the figure he quickly shut off the box and straightened his tunic.
"Na'shando, forgive me, my uh tongue got a little carried away."
The mantis sat down in front of his desk, papers littered the space, Na'shando scanned the room, this rocky surfaces and home like decoration not appealing to him.
"Made yourself at home I see."
The mantis sighed at his comment.
"Since the bitch stationed me here, I had to get comfortable."
Na'shando hummed in acknowledgement.
"Aren't you going to sit down?"
"I'm afraid my time is short at the moment, now...what's the progress."
The mantis went back to his box and clicked a few buttons, a map of the Vile Lands appeared with some spots small and large blurred.
"Shit, it seems the one near Bale Lake got ransacked, and the boy was taken too."
The mantis held his head in hand before messing with the screen.
"But the other four are untouched and unnoticed."
Na'shando nodded before he asked one last question.
"And what of the queen."
This made the mantis Chuckled.
"Still believing the lie, are you sure we need her?"
"Yes."
Na'shando turned and walked out the room, the mantis watching his back until he disappeared in the crowd.
The mantis pressed a few buttons on the box once more, a feminine silhouette appeared.
"Report."
"Just as you said ma'am, the fool thinks he's got the cargo."
The dark chuckle from the box made the mantis shiver.
"Just as I thought, now play your part and I'll make you a duke in no time."
And with that the silhouette disappeared and the mantis let out a heavy sigh.
"You still got it mikel, you still got it."
The mantis said to himself, walking over to the cabinet, mikel grabbed a shot glass and a drink and was about to walk to his desk.
"Remember when i never left?"
Mikel turned around slowly, Na'shando standing in the darkest corner of the room, his ashen pupils staring straight into mikel's soul.
"Na'shando it-it isn't what it looks like."
No one heard the screams.
* * *
Everyone stared at Cho cho, the room in a heavy silence making Valeo a little uncomfortable.
"W-what?"
Valeo said slightly on edge, Cho cho stomped over to the four arm teen getting straight into his face.
"I said how...do you...know...that name?"
The harsh tone making him defensive.
"She told it to us."
"GOGSHIT!"
This time Valeo got in Cho cho's face making the room tense.
"ITS THE TRUTH!"
Before anyone can say or do anything Valeo stormed out the house once again.
"Mama Cho cho, he wasn't lying, his rhythm was steady."
For the first time since Cho cho brought her in Anastasia was glaring at her and her son looked disappointed albeit confused also.
When Anastasia tried to follow Valeo only to fall in pain.
"Ana your still healing, let me go."
Kim was right by her side, but for some reason Anastasia wasn't looking in his eyes, she quickly got up and limped over to the table and sat down.
Kim looked at her for a moment, confusion and sadness in his eyes before he went after Valeo.
Cho cho saw this and quirked an eyebrow.
"I'll have to talk to her about whatever that was."
* * *
After asking the people where Valeo went Kim quickly approached the river that was close by, Valeo standing just staring into the setting sun.
"Hey."
Kim stood next to Valeo who didn't acknowledge his presence, the sunset gave the river and the forest an ethereal glow which made both of the occupants calm down.
"I never got the chance to thank you, you saved my ass back in the underskal cave."
This finally got Valeo's attention when he turned his head to face the shorter teen.
"Look, my mom didn't mean it, she has a hard time trusting people.and with your reputation it makes that even harder."
Kim spoke but didn't notice the grimace on Valeo's face.
"C'mon let's go back and explain to mom before she grows more grey hair."
Kim's comment made Valeo snort which made Kim smirk.
Approaching the house both saw a giant ward cover a large portion of the land.
"Huh, so that's why no one left."
Valeo thought looking at the campsite where people were enjoying themselves.
When the duo entered the cabin no one was there to greet them.
"Huh, that's odd we were only gone for ten minutes, maybe less than that."
Both heard voices coming from a room labeled 'Cho cho shop'.
"Guess they're talking about something."
Kim shrugged before walking to his room and closed the door, leaving Valeo to his thoughts.
* * *
The cool crisp night wind was soothing to Valeo, ever since he left that weird place were he fought that entity, the breeze soothed his nerves, sitting up against a trunk Valeo watched the three moons and the stars, his thoughts vacant.
"There you are."
Valeo turned his head to see Cho cho sitting down next to him, his mood beginning to sour.
"I wanted to say, I'm sorry. No doubt my blabber mouth of a son told you about my trust issues."
Valeo nodded, not trusting his words.
"Let me ask this properly, how do you know Laylana."
Valeo looked up to the moons his eyes beginning to water, his lip-less mouth opening and closing, Cho cho saw this and regretted even more her reaction from earlier.
"She...we...it all started..."
Valeo began to recount the time with Laylana from start to finish, both fond and horrible, by the time Valeo was finished, Cho cho was biting her lip and clenching her fist so hard they bled.
Valeo looked to see this and didn't know what to say.
"THOSE FUCKING BASTARDS, ILL SKIN THEM ALIVE!"
Valeo interrupted her internal rage with a statemen that shocked her.
"We killed fillian, we lost control when they killed her, we failed her."
Cho cho wiped away the blood from her mouth and looked at Valeo, realization dawning on her.
"That's why you have such a high bounty."
Valeo nodded.
"How do you know Laylana?"
Valeo asked Cho cho who was stunned by the random question.
"She...she was a friend, a sister."
Cho cho got up and started to walk away.
"Come to my shop in the morning, there's something I need to talk you further about."
Valeo saw Cho cho walk away, one thought in his mind.
"Couldn't you have said it here?"
* * *
It was bright when Valeo opened his eyes, the sun's rays beaming on his face. Holding his hand in front of his face Valeo slowly woke up.
The early morning sun gave the scenery a beautiful picture that Valeo burned into his mind when he finally woke up fully.
"Come to my shop in the morning, there's something I need to talk you further about."
Valeo got up and stretched.
"That was an oddly comfortable sleep, we wonder why?"
Valeo walked over the cabin, the sound of a hammer hitting wood greeted him, he saw some of the people getting up and stretched like he had done, some waved to him which he mimicked poorly.
Entering the cabin Valeo heard the noise getting louder, when he went to investigate Valeo saw Kim Hammering wooden boards to the opening in the wall.
Valeo slowly walked away, knowing his gunbai caused the damage, upon reaching Cho cho's shop he opened the door.
The dust hit his face first making Valeo scrunched his eyes and nose.
"Sorry about that, haven't really used this place in awhile, little Ana had the same reaction."
Cho cho said while sipping on a mug.
"Tell me Valeo, have you ever heard of the war mothers?"