Covenant - A Short Back Story In Aahsgoth

Part 1

The night had almost come. Neph wiped his forehead and watched the sun for a moment as it started to sink beyond the horizon, the fading light danced through the trees in the distance. It had been what seemed like an eternity since Neph had been promised the gift. Once the moons rose the god-king Lucial would emerge to sit his throne and judge those he deemed worthy after years of service. “I shall finally be free”, Neph thought as he clenched his fist moving through the small market in the center of Longleaf. He took in the sights and smells of his small village one last time, the sun faded tents, the laughter of children and chickens chasing one another, and the smells of various stews and spices as he made his way through the narrow dirt roads.
He was not eager to get home to his small cottage even after a long day in the fields. Although today he hadn’t worked as hard as usual knowing it was almost time. He could leave this place forever. This was the last time he would go without a bath for days, smelling of grain and soaking his blistered hands from hours spent in the scorching sun working his strip and managing the others. He would no longer have to worry about having enough coin to feed his family or pay his taxes. He was a candle-maker by trade but Lucial had requested him to serve as field reeve. He would manage the fertile lands outside of the walls of Bloodstone making sure the other peasants kept at work and didn’t steal. He would typically pour candles at night now after long days in the unforgiving sun. His only Son, Seth helped him now that he was older, learning the methods of wax and wicks. It was hard living here, and he would get what was promised to him.
As Neph entered his cottage off the main road, Aza greeted him with a kiss on the cheek, the door creaking behind him. Seth lay fast asleep on his bedding in the corner, sweat glistened on his forehead being near the small firepit. The hint of a smile came to his face as he paused to look at him. His lips tightened, “He will be fine”, he thought. He had taught him well and he would be a man grown soon. Neph smelled the fresh rabbit stew, steam poured over the edge of the large black kettle hanging over the fire. “What’s wrong my love?”, Aza sensed his thoughts elsewhere, as she added more carrots and onions. He sat to remove his sandals, with a slight sigh, “It’s nothing, just that the king is holding court, I must eat and go, it’s almost dusk.”
“The King is back? Where does he go for such long periods and what does he want with candle-makers and farmers anyway; at night no less? “I am not just some farmer, I”, Neph paused, feeling his face flushing. He was twenty-nine years old but aged by the sun, his shoulder length dark hair getting lighter and thinner every year. His black stubbled face skinny and already showing signs of age. Aza turned and saw angry brown eyes staring back at her. “I know you see to his fields, but why does a king bother to call smallfolk to his court? You already bring light to his temple and food to his table, surely his lords and advisors can serve his pleasures.” Neph sighed more heavily this time, “He is no regular king.” “He is no god Neph, he is a sorcerer, nothing more!” “Keep your voice down”, Neph whispered wanting to scream. “He is…”, Neph felt his anger returning but calmly interrupted. “He has but only a few guards and fewer advisors. Maybe two thousand men in his garrison. Yet with war all around us, no one dares try and take this land, how do you think he keeps his crown?” She took a moment rolling her eyes, “I just told you, sorcery. This land is cursed. All while he carves out his own kingdom and men build temples in his honor. What would he have you do this time anyway?”. Neph hesitated, “He calls us to judge men charged of theft and rape and a woman of heresy, like you, here and now, speaking against him” his voice trailed off as if someone was listening.
Aza didn’t respond. She adjusted her faded black bodice over her white cotton blouse and walked to the basin. She pulled her long brown hair over one shoulder and blew the remaining hair out of her eye. She splashed water on her face. It was not cold as she imagined. The heat was oppressive today. Some days during summer by the time she carried a pale of water from the river the sun had warmed it. She dabbed her face with a cloth, “Do what you must, he will do nothing for you as long as you keep doing for him. I don’t know what he promises. We should leave this place. We should go North to Waters Edge, my Sister lives there, the last I heard. It would be better for Seth; besides they need candle-light as much as any place. Work for your family again, not this so-called king. Neph sat in silence, turning his eyes from her looking down at his bowl of stew.

Part 2

The bell tolled from the temple, the time had come. Neph had just climbed out of the wooden tub and put on a fresh white tunic and black breeches, his hair still dripping. Seth had awoken and was sitting at the small wooden table still eating what was left of supper. Aza sat with him to give him his reading lesson. Her Mother had taught her after learning from the pale woman who had come upon their village in the Greenlands where she grew up. She thought of home and the beauty of never-ending forests, rolling green fields, blue lakes, and rivers that cut through the landscape. Although it had no name, her village had been outside the new town of Ashborne where a huge stone structure was to be built by some lord. Her family had fled when war engulfed the area. She had wondered what had become of the strange black-haired woman who seemed to vanish before the fighting began. She had learned to appreciate the beauty of Vedician when written, as if the glyphs were flowing into one another. Now this new tongue brought over from the East was predominantly spoken here.
“I must go”, Neph sat beside his Son. “Make sure you talk to the bee-keeper come the sun, wax is running low.” Seth nodded, as Aza looked up at him. “Will you not return tonight, so you can talk to him yourself?”. He thought before answering, “Yes, but likely late, you two will be fast asleep.” He sat for a moment longer. He stood and ran his fingers through the boy’s hair, then walked around the table and leaned over to kiss his wife on the top of her head. She pulled back and looked up at him, “Is this goodbye? Kiss me when you return, and more”, she grinned. Neph returned a glancing smile and pulled his hand from her shoulder. He walked toward the door and looked back at his family as they began their lesson. He paused, then left the cottage, the old wooden door screeched behind him.
Neph made his way through Longleaf toward the Red temple on the hill overlooking the village. It was dark now and fire-light shown through almost every window. Most were in their homes, but a few people still wandered the streets. Wild dogs searched for scraps of supper and the wolves started their nightly song in the distance. An orange glow danced in the alley ahead as he approached the few stone buildings here. He heard the ring of iron on steel as he approached the smith’s shop. He stopped for a moment, “Still at it?”. The old man turned with a bitter look and sighed. He picked up his tongs and plunged the sword into his slack tub to quench the blade. The water hissed and steam poured upward around the man. “Have to be, the damn king has me and my boys here all day and night now. Seems he’s building an army. Hell is coming I suppose, but it pays good.” The old man scratched at his long beard and turned back to his work.
Neph climbed the stairs leading to the temple. Torches lined the path and shown on the wall. The red stone looked as if they were bleeding in the flickering light and he knew where this place had gotten its name. The iron gates were open with two guards standing on either side. Neph paused, not knowing whether to stop or keep walking. The guards crossed their spears in front of him. “What is your business?”. Neph cleared his throat, “Neph, the King summoned me to…”, the guards brought their spears back into position to let him pass. “The candle-maker, he is expecting you”, the guard on the right said looking straight ahead. He nodded and walked through the gates.
The courtyard was ripe with activity, workers toiled on into the night. The moons were bright tonight. Masons worked by fire-light raising new foundations and adding to the walls. Ten men worked some type of treadwheel holding large stones over fire as if to melt them. The statue of the woman now lay broken and crumbled, where once it had stood beside the main cobble-stone path to the temple entrance, across from the statue of Lucial himself. It stood tall, a solemn face of bloodstone, the wings of a dragon adorned his back. He felt uneasy as he passed under the statue and walked toward the massive columns that lined the entrance.
He walked up the massive staircase as wide as the temple itself and stopped, leaning on a column to catch his breath and gather his thoughts. Sweat beaded on his forehead and he felt like his stomach was alive with pinflys. He gathered himself and walked to the entrance, a wall just inside the threshold, stopping to look at the massive glyph in the center. Neph held his own wrist. Lucial had taken this as his personal sigil. Two markings starting at thin points at the top curling outward, getting thicker until they came together at the base resembling a droplet of some type. Water, rain, perhaps blood. The glyph beside it had been mostly chiseled away. What remained looked as if it had been circular, only sharp points remained untouched around the outside. Neph could have gone either way but turned to the right and walked around the large wall, entering the massive main hall. Massive columns reached for the ceiling. Large incomplete paintings had been started, perhaps commissioned by the high priest or Lucial himself. The scaffolding stood empty. He stopped for a moment to look up but couldn’t make out anything other than random patches of color and various figures that seemed to dance in the torch light from below. He had been here many moons ago but had never noticed that there were no windows here. If not for the massive wall sconces that lined both sides of the hall and his very candles scattered about, no light would see this place.
Neph walked toward the front where circular stone stairs led up to the bloodstone chair that sat in wait for its master. Only eight guards stood in the hall, four on each side spears pointing to the heavens. They wore black boiled leather and polished steel half helms; their eyes didn’t move from beyond the nose guard that continued down from the point of the helm. The hall was quiet. Only the crackle of the flames, and echo of his footsteps stirred in the chamber. Two others waited at the base of the stairs. They looked to be commoners as well, the old man wearing a dirty brown jerkin, matching breeches and worn sandals. The other, a younger man clean shaven, looked around nervously. He turned and looked at Neph as he approached then looked down at the floor. “You here for the trials?”, Neph asked quietly. “Trials is what you call them” the old man replied, “he already knows their fate”. The younger man wiped his face with the sleeve of his white cotton tunic, still silent.

Part 3

They had been waiting in silence for some time. “Certainly, these two weren’t promised as well”, Neph thought while wiping his palms on his breeches. “An old man with one foot in the grave and a man likely still as green as the fields he worked.” He heard footsteps behind him, Neph turned to see a young girl approaching. The girl was maybe twelve or thirteen by the looks of her. She walked lightly and looked around as if she were lost. Her white dress brushed the stone floor behind her. She stopped beside the younger man as he leaned down and whispered somthing in her ear. The girl nodded and whispered something in return, Neph couldn’t make it out. She looked unsure. Neph moved over beside the girl and as he was about to speak, she turned and sat on the floor behind them. Then came a sound from the back of the hall, the guards straightened. Two of the king’s advisors walked in from a dark hallway, well behind the stone chair. They wore black robes with some type of embroidery although it was hard to make out. The first, an older man took his place to the right of the chair. Neph had seen him before, he was sure this was the high priest of the temple. The other a woman with long brown hair stood on the other side. A moment later the god-king himself emerged from the darkness.
Lucial stood tall as he walked slowly to his throne. The king didn’t look down at his waiting subjects. The long black ponytail brushed the center of his back. The black leather lappets from his waist flapped in rhythm with his stride. Neph thought they looked like dark layered feathers forming a skirt of armor reaching for his knees. He had on matching black sandals with thick lacing that wrapped around his legs like boots. He wore no shirt and looked to be cut from the stone he walked on. He had what looked to be black leather armor or padding on his left shoulder and a half-cloak that he had thrown around his neck covering the lower half of his face, the rest hanging from his left shoulder. Even in the darkness his eyes seemed to glimmer like blue stars, his pale skin contrasting against the dim hall. The cloak hung behind him, blood-red with the black glyph of his sigil contorting with the folds of the fabric. He sat slowly and glanced at the waiting peasants.
“His Lord calls forth the accused”, the priest proclaimed through his thin white beard. The guard nodded and walked into the dark passage from the other side of the hall. After a few moments he returned with three others bound in chains. The iron wrapped around their wrists and ankles, the heavy chains echoing in the chamber as they stumbled in. There were two men and a woman, frail with nothing more than ragged cloth wrapped around their waists hanging no lower than their knees. Their heads hung low, hair covering their faces. They had been here for some time.
“This night you will judge the accused, the Lord is fair and will hear their pleas”, the robed woman proclaimed. She motioned toward the first man, “You are accused of theft, step before your Lord and tell your story, speak freely”. The hunched man stepped forward before Lucial and started to speak, “My Lord, I…, “Kneel before your King peasant”, the woman admonished him. “I’m sorry my Lord”, the man said kneeling. Lucial spoke in a soft but deep and commanding voice, “Continue my child.”
The man stumbled through his story, the fear in his voice echoed in the chamber. He admitted to stealing some bread and a broken wheel of cheese, but only to feed his family. He claimed he had suffered a back injury and could no longer work a strip. “I beg your mercy my Lord, I was wrong to take, but it was for my children.” he concluded. Neph watched Lucial listen to every word, never taking his eyes off the broken man as he spoke. After a moment of silence Lucial motioned to Neph and the others. “What do you make of this man’s story?”. Neph lowered his chin, not knowing who should speak first. He was relieved when the old man took a step forward. “He admits to it, stealing is stealing.” He stepped back down in the line they had formed. “And you”, Lucial nodded to the younger man. “I believe him to be telling the truth my lord, he admits to theft, but I would do the same for my daughter if I had no other choice. I don’t believe this to be theft in this case my lord.” Neph felt a lump in his throat as Lucial nodded and turned to him. “And you, candle-maker?” He stepped forward as well, only he walked a pace up the stairs toward the king. “The man deserves no more punishment my Lord, I have a Son and understand his plight.” Lucial stared at Neph, he stepped back down with the others feeling his gaze.
Neph became more comfortable as this went on for the next two as well. As each were called, they kneeled and told their stories, Neph and the others would then speak on each. The man accused of rape denied it completely. The woman had denied speaking ill of the king and went so far as to thank him for his care. Once all three had been called Lucial motioned for the robed woman, she leaned down as he whispered in her ear. She left the chamber and quickly returned with a tray containing three goblets. “You have each openly spoken about your matters, and I have taken the council of your brethren on each. Now the truth will come to light”. Lucial picked up one of the goblets and pulled down the cloak and drank. Neph thought nothing odd, until Lucial slightly jerked his head back. His eyes closed and he leaned his head back as if in pain and took a quick deep breath. He slowly opened his eyes. The king gestured to the man accused of stealing, “You are being truthful, you did what had to be done for your children. I will see to it you have work you can perform, I will need many scribes soon, you will learn to read and write in this new tongue. Return to me tomorrow night and I will see to your injury.” The old man smiled in relief. “Thank you, my king, thank you”, the old man said elated bowing over and over while holding his back. A guard removed his shackles and he stumbled down the steps toward the front of the temple, thanking the king once again on his way out.
Lucial did the same for the others, he drank from a different goblet and proclaimed the man guilty, seemingly knowing the details that he had left out of his tale. He even knew the name of the girl he had raped and exactly where in the back-alley tavern near the stables. The man cried and begged as he was dragged back into the dark hallway on his way to a cell, sentenced to die. Neph thought of how it would be carried out, he had never seen anyone beheaded or hanged in the square.
After Lucial had drank from the third goblet and thought for a moment he stood slowly. Like a flash of lightning, Lucial moved and held the remaining woman by the throat. Neph had only seen a blur. Where she once stood, her feet dangled from the ground. The young girl behind Neph flinched, the old man gasped loudly. “You dare doubt me, blasphemy does not go unpunished!” The woman grabbed at his arm and tried peeling his fingers back. She couldn’t, Neph looked down only hearing the gurgling sounds she made attempting to breathe. Her legs kicked through the air below her with a last attempt to free herself. “Have you ever known a common sorcerer to command the strength of one hundred men?”, Lucial said with a devilish grin as the woman stopped moving. He leaned in close to her neck as if smelling her perfume, then released her. She fell into a motionless pile on the stone floor below. Without being told, two guards came and carried her lifeless body somewhere to the depths of the temple. The priests both had the hint of a smile.
Lucial turned back to his throne, the priests bowing. “You all may go”. The old man trembled in fear and walked as fast as his legs would carry him. Neph hesitated, “it must be tonight”, he thought. As he was about to speak the younger man spoke up, “My King, I would like to make an offering if it please you”. Neph stood silent. Lucial turned, “And what would that be”. My Lord I offer you my first-born, my daughter.” The man motioned toward the girl. “I assure you she is a virgin and…”, “Enough”, Lucial’s face turned in anger. “Is this what you take me for? A monster that steals your pure daughters from their beds, is this what you people speak of me, what you whisper to one another around your fire-pits?” his voice boomed throughout the chamber. The man was unsure, “I’m sorry, my Lord, I thought, I, I…”, his voice trailed off. Neph kept his head low but turned to see the girl weeping on the floor behind him. “Take your daughter and go miller, go back to your grain before your innocent daughter leaves alone.” They man was visibly shaking by now, “Yes, My King”, he nodded and turned. He grabbed the girl’s hand and hurried toward the exit. Neph was frozen, “should he speak, does he remember his promise?”
Lucial still walked slowly toward his throne, his back to Neph, “And why are you still here candle-maker, would you offer me your daughter as well?” Neph looked up, words managed to escape his throat, “Tha, the gift, my Lord.” The king stopped and turned, looking over his shoulder his face shown a barely perceivable grin. “All of you, leave us!”. The priests bowed and left as he commanded. The guards nodded and left the chamber. Only the flickering of the torches echoed after their footfalls had faded.
After they were alone, Lucial sat, “What do you know of this; gift, candle-maker?” My Lord, years ago you promised me your knowledge if I served you faithfully. I am the reeve of your fields, the bringer of light to your kingdom. I have worked myself nearly to death at your pleasure.” Neph paused to take a breath, “I only ask that which was promised”. Lucial sat silent for only a moment. “That was a different time candle-maker. My Queen-Mother is no longer my queen. I was her first born and now we are too many. I intend to change that. We shape this land, Aahsgoth as she calls it. I no longer…” Lucial stopped. Neph took the opportunity, “My Lord, a promise is a promise, I”, Lucial interrupted with a breathy laugh, “I don’t think you understand what you ask candle-maker, and who are you to ask this of me. Do you consider yourself worthy? Many here work hard, men break their backs outside these walls as we speak, why not one of them? Why you candle-maker?” Neph was unsure now. Lucial leaned forward and stared at him cocking his head to the side. Neph could feel his gaze burning through him.
Neph tried to think, tried to speak, “I took your mark”, Neph blurted, pulling his sleeve to show the small tattoo of the king’s sigil on his wrist. He had hidden it from Aza for so long. “So, you bear my mark, like so many others. Did you take that for a promise? What is your true purpose here candle-maker? Come before me”. Neph ascended the stairs and stood before the god-king. “Would you spill blood for me candle-maker?” “Yes, my lord”, he answered quickly. Lucial pulled a dagger from the sheath on his belt behind his back. “Show me”, Lucial handed Neph the blade. “My Lord, I don’t understand”. Lucial smiled, “Spill blood as I asked, your own.” Neph held the dagger confused. “Spill your own blood candle-maker”. Neph put the daggers golden handle into his right hand. The steal gleamed in the firelight. Lucial leaned back and watched in silence. Neph placed the razor-sharp edge to his left arm above the mark and hesitated. “Go on”, he smiled looking into his eyes. Neph looked down, held his breath and cut deep across his forearm, he screamed. Blood filled the wound and quickly made its way down his arm, a river of black streamed from his fingers leaping to the floor. The dagger struck the floor, the clank of steel on stone echoed around them as he clutched his arm. “Lucial leaned down to the pool of blood and ran a finger through it. Lucial stood as Neph dropped to his knees.
Lucial turned and opened his eyes, “You would leave them candle-maker? You would leave them behind so that you may go lead a new life. This was to be how you serve me? Neph looked up, “I just, I thought, I…”, “It’s the oldest story in the book candle-maker, wanting that which you cannot have.” Lucial paused, “Tell me, do you know when the last dragon died? Neph hesitated in pain, “No my lord, I don’t understand”, he paused, “They say a hundred years ago”, he answered unsure. “Five centuries ago, the last dragon was slain, but here I stand, the blood of the dragon. Do you think I would bestow something upon you that you have no understanding of? Only for you to take it and run. My queen gave me no choice, but you had one. And you chose to abandon those that love you to come here wanting to escape. You are not worthy of the darkness and your lust blinds you. You know not what you ask. You came for a blessing, not realizing it is also a curse.”
“Please, my Lord”, Neph felt light-headed, the black puddle growing around him. You made your choice candle-maker. “You promised!” Neph exclaimed, tears rolling down his face. “Maybe I did’, Lucial responded quickly, “but I will not help you break yours.” Neph looked down as the stone drank his life-blood, “What now?”. Lucial walked past him and down the stairs toward the front of the temple without turning back. “You are strong candle-maker, but not that bright. You could have just pricked a finger”. The walls echoed once more, “Now, you die”.

Part 4

Aza lay on her straw bed waiting, she had been reading by the candlelight but had just started drifting off. Seth snored lightly by the fire. A fresh batch of white candles lay in a crate beside his bedding. She had left the lantern burning for her husband’s return but tonight the moons shown bright, that would have likely been enough.
The door opened, startled she sat up. “Neph?”, her eyes hazy adjusted to the figure at the door. Blue eyes flashed back at her. “He will not be coming home Aza”, a soft voice replied. “Who are you, how do you know my name, where is my husband?” The figure walked closer, Seth had awoken and ran to his Mother. “My King!”, she realized who stood in front of her. She stood and forced Seth behind her and tried to curtsy, her white gown almost tripping her. “Where is Neph?” she asked again hesitantly. “He betrayed you, he came to me for; knowledge and planned to never return to you. Don’t look so afraid boy”, looking at Seth peeking out from behind his Mother.
Confused, Aza looked around. There were no guards, he had come alone. “I don’t understand, he went to your court to serve you, what did you do to him?”. “Nothing my child, he did it to himself.” Seth stirred behind her, “Is he...”, “Yes.”, Lucial cut him off. “He abandoned you for a better life, now he has it.” The boy ran at him, “What did you do to my Father?” he screamed. “Seth!”, Aza tried to grab him. The boy reached Lucial with his fists clenched and swinging wildly. He hit only the air where he had stood. Lucial now behind him, grabbed the boy’s wrist with only two fingers, picked him up and gently tossed him on to the bed. Aza sat and clutched him close. “I grow impatient, I simply came to inform you of what has transpired. I wanted to tell you myself. He lied to you, both of you.”, looking at them huddled on the bed. He turned toward the door.
“Liar!”, the boy yelled. Aza restrained him, tears running down her cheeks, “He would never leave us!” What did you do sorcerer?”, she tried to yell but her voice only quivered. “You might as well kill me now, or….”. “Or what?’, Lucial stopped and turned back to them. Aza found the strength to continue, “Or I swear I will find out what you are and kill you, I swear on my husband’s life, my Son’s life.” Aza sank and began sobbing. The boy held his Mother and looked up at the king, “I will avenge my father, I will kill you, even if it takes an eternity”. Lucial smiled, looked over his shoulder once again and continued walking, “I look forward to it; candle-maker”.