Chapter 4: Jared.

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  Solmaris, Month: 94, Year: 226.

  The port city of Solmaris bustled with life, a constant hum of voices and the tang of salt carried on the wind. Jared and the rest of the caravan made their way to Sig’s preferred inn. The innkeeper recognized most of the crew and greeted Sig and Jared by name, already setting a kettle of Solhara tea to boil in anticipation.

  The inn overlooked the sea, but today the harbor lay strangely quiet. Only a few boats clung to the distant horizon, their sails furled tight against the bare masts, faint against the morning light. The tide had pulled far out, revealing vast stretches of glistening mud and the skeletal remains of long-abandoned ships, their ribs jutting from the silt alongside the bones of sea creatures. Crates, anchors, and forgotten cargo littered the flats, half-swallowed by sand.

  “It’s the sixteenth,” Jared muttered as he accepted a steaming cup of tea. “Plainest day of the month.”

  He didn’t need to explain. Those faithful to Solenya took nothing but Solhara tea today. A fast meant to purify body and sharpen soul, though Jared found it mostly bitter, dry, and,just as he said: plain.

  But today was plain in more than just taste. Auron, the giant ringed planet, would rise fully visible in the night sky. With the moons spread wide and Auron's pull at its peak, the tides had swung to wild extremes, lower than anyone had seen in weeks, and sure to surge higher after sunset.

  Solmaris, built on generations of trial and error, had adapted to the sea’s unpredictable temperament. Floating docks swayed quietly in their moorings, tethered to stone pylons that rose like teeth from the harbor floor. Long wooden gangways, hinged and creaking, stretched down awkward angles to reach the water, while businesses near the shoreline sat raised on timber stilts to keep them clear of both flood and drought.

  But even all that careful design had its limits. Today, the sea had pulled back so far that the floating platforms no longer floated, they sat stranded in the muck, their lines slack, their hulls tilted and resting on the bare and muddy seabed. The gangways hung useless in the air, and boats that hadn’t left the harbor in time now lay grounded like beached whales. Nothing would come or leave by ship today.

  Danira leaned against the open shutters, staring out at the barren seabed with a furrowed brow. “Is the ocean drying up?” she asked, her voice tinged with genuine concern.

  Sig burst into laughter, the sound echoing through the common room. “No, girl. Have you never been to a port before?”

  Jared chuckled as well, though he reined it in when he caught sight of Danira’s reddening cheeks.

  “It’s Auron and the moons,” Sig explained, still smiling. “When they scatter like that, they pull the sea down with them. Give it a few days, you’ll be wondering if the ocean means to swallow the entire city.”

  Since there’d be little happening at the docks today, and the arena fights weren’t beholden to tide or moons, Jared decided to make better use of the afternoon.

  “Boss, I’m heading to the arena,” Jared said, glancing over his shoulder at Sig.

  Sig chuckled, his weathered face crinkling. “Just don’t get yourself killed, Jared.”

  “Nah, not today”, Jared said casually as he veered off. A voice stopped him.

  “Arena? Can we come?” Danira asked, her tone almost playful. Elise stood beside her, her wide silver eyes brimming with curiosity.

  Sig smirked. “Take them along. Maybe seeing the blood and dirt will knock some sense into them. Might even reconsider this whole ‘going to the South’ nonesense.”

  Jared hesitated, his lips tightening, but he waved them along. “Fine.”

  The young women followed close behind, their heads swiveling as they took in the city’s sights. Even on this low-tide day, Solmaris radiated heat and noise. Bright banners drooped in the heavy air above broad streets that felt narrow, pressed in by merchants setting up their stalls and the crowds of buyers jostling for space. The briny tang of the sea clung to the damp breeze, mixing with the sweat of the crowd. Danira and Elise conversed in rapid sign language, their animated gestures and sudden giggles drawing the occasional glance.

  “What’s so funny?” Jared asked, glancing back.

  Danira stifled a laugh, pointing discreetly toward a group of towering figures unloading crates by the docks. “Are those Drakvari women?”

  Elise tugged at Danira’s sleeve, her cheeks flushing, but it was too late. Jared followed her gaze and sighed.

  “Yes, those are Drakvari women, warriors to be precise,” he said, his voice low. “The smaller ones with them are also Drakvari, but they’re workers. Don’t stare, and for Solenyas’ sake, don’t point. If you offend them, I’ll pretend I don't know you”

  The girls exchanged wide-eyed looks, smiling but dropping the subject.

  “It’s normal in port cities to see people from other places and religions,” Jared added as they walked on. “Mind your business, and they’ll mind theirs.”

  The young women nodded, momentarily subdued, but it wasn’t long before they were laughing and signing again.

  By the time they reached the arena, the sun was high in the sky, casting almost no shadow.

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  “Who’s fighting?” Danira asked, her voice tinged with excitement.

  “Hopefully me,” Jared said. “If I’m not too late to register.”

  Danira’s eyes widened. “You’re going to fight? Really?”

  “Really.”

  As Jared went to prepare, Danira excused herself for a moment, leaving Jared alone with Elise. She lingered nearby, her gaze sharp and curious as he strapped on his light armor, sharpened his blade and ceremoniously marked his forehead with ashes from the bonfire as he murmured a prayer.

  The silence between them felt heavy. Unlike Danira, Elise didn’t fill the space with chatter. She simply watched, her hands still for once. Jared hadn’t yet figured out how to bridge the gap of communication with a deaf person like her. He pointed in the direction that the stage was located, hoping she would find more interest in the battle taking place. However, she seemed more engaged in whatever he was doing than in whatever was happening outside.

  Finally, the bell rang. A deep, resonant tone that rippled through the arena and brought the crowd to silence. Jared stepped onto the sand, the sun pressing down like a weight, heat shimmering off the ground.

  From the far gate, his opponent emerged to a roar of cheers. A Drakvari warrior even larger than the ones they’d seen earlier in the streets. She stood nearly twice his height, and he didn’t care to guess how many times his weight. Her sheer size blocked the wind in front of her. Muscles rippled beneath skin that gleamed pale and smooth. When she slung a massive hammer across her broad shoulders, it looked more like a siege weapon than something a person should carry. Jared wasn’t sure he could even drag it, let alone lift it.

  He glanced toward the front row, where Elise and Danira sat. Their faces were a mix of worry and anticipation, their expression showed they had already lost all hope of Jared's victory and only hoped that he could escape this encounter still with his life.

  The referee raised his hand, and the arena fell silent. Jared gripped his sword tighter, feeling the weight of the moment. The crowd held its breath as the battle began.

  The Drakvari warrior raised her hammer high as she charged. Sand sprayed under her massive boots, and the crowd erupted into cheers. Jared stood light on his feet, his fingers tightening around the hilt of his blade. He wasn’t going to win this fight with brute force; he had to strategize, keep moving, and wait for the right moment.

  The first swing came fast, catching fire in the process, a devastating arc aimed to crush him where he stood. Jared darted to the side, the hammer slamming into the ground with a thunderous crash that sent embers in every direction spreading through the arena floor. He could feel the force and heat even as he dodged, and a murmur rippled through the crowd.

  “Come on, Jared!” Danira shouted from the stands, her voice almost drowned out by the roaring spectators. Elise, in contrast, leaned forward, her hands gripping the edge of the front seat.

  The Drakvari warrior adjusted her stance, swinging her hammer horizontally this time, forcing Jared to duck low and roll. The motion was fluid and he came up on his feet with barely a pause. The crowd gasped as Jared slashed out, his blade carving a shallow line across the warrior’s side.

  It wasn’t enough to do serious damage, but it was enough to make his opponent nervous.

  Her hammer pulsed brighter, its magic flaring, alive with the blessings of Auron. Jared had fought Drakvari warriors with this sort of blessing before. They were monstrously strong, and deceptively fast for someone that size. He knew better than to meet her blows head-on; he wouldn't be able to parry them without shattering bone. But he also knew where he had the advantage, they lacked the stamina of a Haksari or the unpredictability of the followers of Solenya. If he wanted to win this battle, it wouldn't be through brute force, it would be by dragging the fight out, dodging and circling, letting her wear herself down. Disarming her was still his best bet, but timing would be everything. He just had to survive long enough for his opponent to show an opening.

  One swing came after another, narrowly missing him as he sidestepped. Sand exploded into the air, obscuring her vision for a moment. Jared took the opportunity to move behind her, slashing again, this time at her leg. The blade bit into her calf, and she stumbled, letting out a growl of pain.

  Elise clapped her hands together, her expression bright with excitement, though her gaze remained locked on the fight. She mimed the movements of the battle in miniature, her hands tracing the arcs of Jared’s dodges and strikes as if pretending that she was fighting in the arena herself.

  As the Drakvari steadied herself, her hammer swung once more, but this time her balance was off. Jared called upon the blessing of Solenya. The Sun Marking on his forearm flared to life, golden light spilling from the intricate lines engraved in his skin.

  The crowd gasped as the light grew brighter, and the Drakvari warrior hesitated, momentarily blinded by the sudden flash. Jared didn’t waste the moment.

  He dashed forward, his movements a blur, and struck at the hammer. His blade hit its haft with precision, knocking the weapon from her grasp. The massive hammer hit the ground with a resounding thud, and the warrior stumbled back, her eyes wide with disbelief.

  Jared pointed his sword at her chest, the light from his Sun Marking still glowing faintly. The crowd fell silent, the weight of his victory settling over the arena.

  The referee stepped forward, raising his hand. “We have a winner!”

  The arena erupted into cheers, and Jared allowed himself a small, tired smile before shouting to the top of his lungs “Victory to Solenya”.

  From the stands, Danira jumped to her feet, cheering loudly, while Elise’s face lit up with unrestrained joy. She clapped her hands together, her motions quick and exuberant, her excitement clear to anyone watching.

  As Jared stepped out of the arena, the Drakvari warrior paused at the opposite gate. With a deliberate motion, she offered him a respectful bow before disappearing. Jared returned the gesture with a slight nod, his face still wet with sweat from the fight.

  “Jared!” Danira's voice rang out as she and Elise hurried to meet him as he cleaned his face in the warriors chambers. Danira's face was alight with enthusiasm, her words tumbling over each other in excitement. “I can’t believe you won! You have to teach me how to dodge like that!”

  Jared chuckled, though there was a flicker of offense in his tone. “You didn’t think I could pull it off?” he teased, wiping his brow.

  Elise, though silent, pointed at his Sun Marking, her eyes wide with curiosity. She signed something quickly, but Jared could not understand.

  "She’s impressed by how you made it glow," Danira translated.

  Jared glanced at the golden mark on his arm. “It’s not something I use often,” he admitted. “I’ve always been more reliant on my sword, but a little magic from Solenya can come in handy.”

  Danira’s grin turned mischievous as she tugged down the fabric of her left shoulder, revealing her own Sun Marking. “Look, I’ve got one too,” she said proudly. The mark began to shimmer as she inhaled deeply, and then her breath transformed into a stream of white warm fire as she exhaled.

  Elise smiled, eager to join the interaction, her excitement sparking a bold gesture. She pulled back her right sleeve, discreetly revealing a breathtaking sight: her arm, adorned with at least a dozen Sun Markings etched into her pale skin. The golden symbols glowed faintly in the dim light.

  Danira’s smile faltered, and she quickly stepped forward to pull Elise’s sleeve back down, her movements almost frantic. “Elise!” she hissed, glancing around.

  Jared’s brows rose. He’d suspected Elise was from a wealthy family, her attire, manners and demeanor spoke of privilege. But this? The sheer number of Sun Markings wasn’t just a symbol of wealth; it was a mark of power, of bloodlines tied to the highest echelons of nobility. Perhaps even royalty.

  Danira turned on him, her expression earnest. “Please,” she said in a low voice, “we’re trying to keep it a secret.”

  “I won’t say a word,” he said quietly. His voice was calm, but his gaze carried a weight of concern. “Just make sure no one else sees that.”

  Danira exhaled, tension easing from her shoulders. “Thank you.”

  The tension lingered as they settled around the table. Jared poured himself a measure of cold Solhara tea. The spicy liquid slid down his throat, its burning taste felt like a dull way to celebrate his victory after having to drink the same thing for the entire day. For a moment, his lips curved into a faint smile.

  “At least I’m not a follower of Oltikán,” he muttered, breaking the silence. “We only fast one day a month. Those poor bastards? Plain water for life. No wine, no beer, not even bloody milk once their teeth come in.”

  He shot a look at Danira and Elise, the corner of his mouth curling into a smirk. “You sure you want to head south and live like those people?”

  A laugh escaped him as he poured tea into two more cups, pushing them toward the girls with a casual flick of his wrist. They accepted the offering without a word. For a moment, they simply sat together, steam curling softly between them.

  Then Danira spoke, eyes still on her cup. “Back at the inn… I asked about the ocean. How is it that the moons make it move like that, pulling it in and out?”

  Jared groaned, leaning back in his chair with a look of theatrical despair. “I was hoping you’d forgotten that.”

  He stared into his tea, as if it might offer answers. All he could summon were hazy memories of childhood tales, Auron and the moons tugging at the seas like puppets on strings.

  “I don’t know,” he admitted at last. “Something about the gods, or sky-magic. Or maybe Auron just likes messing with sailors.”

  Danira snorted into her drink. Elise smiled, clearly enjoying his floundering.

  Jared sighed and shook his head. “Let’s go back to mocking southerners. I’m better at that.”

  Their laughter eased what remained of the tension, and as the tea warmed their hands and bellies, the conversation wandered on, softer and fluid.

  My Dearest Lisa.

  I’m sending some of my earnings from today to help with the house repairs. Rest easy—I’m unharmed and staying on good steps. I know you keep the flame burning for my sake.

  Hug the little ones for me and may Solenya take care of you my love.

  -Jared

  Elise's Journey.

  Chapter 7: Danira (Part 1).

  Thank you very much for taking the time to read my story.