Silence - Chapter 18

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Felix looked down at his bound wrists. "Is this really necessary?"

Bateo chirruped a nervous laugh and fixed him with a single golden eye. "I'm quite sorry. But yes. It is. The community would absolutely lose their pinions if someone in a pirate vessel was allowed in without...assurances."

"I see." Felix tested the bindings, pulling slightly at them. They were made of some sort of braided leather. Out of habit, he tried to Analyze them.

Voracious Eye.

Name: Voidleather Bindings
Type: Handmade Good
Lore: Made of voidleather which has been cured for several cycles, the final product is extremely durable and comparable to tempered iron, only more flexible.

Agh, stupid Maw Skill. Felix was trying not to use it. Each time he did it felt like the damn creature won a little bit more. Stupid Maw.

The Primordial had all but disappeared when Bateo had hitched up his boat, and wasn't replying to his attempts to talk. That would have been a great development if it actually had left, but Felix knew it was simply hiding. He had been so afraid of the Maw when he'd been trapped in its vault, but now—stripped of most of its power and ability to really hurt him—Felix just felt annoyed.

He pulled at the bindings again and they flexed slightly, enough that he was confident he could rip through them if he had to—it was the only reason he stayed bound at all. Pit, on the other hand, remained completely free.

"And they trust my friend?"

"The chimera? Of course! Why wouldn't they?" Bateo looked fairly appalled by the suggestion. "He's a chimera, and more importantly, a Tenku. Molt, but bindings on him would be extremely inappropriate."

Pit preened under the praise and Felix was once again left with more questions.

"Well, what—"

"Ah! We have arrived!"

Felix looked ahead and saw...nothing. Yet just as he opened his mouth to ask, the Void around them rippled like heat haze. The empty space before them was immediately filled with one of the most remarkable things he had ever seen.

"Welcome to Echo's Reach, Felix Nevarre," Bateo said with a wide gesture.

A series of floating rocks were piled between and atop one another, forming a complex network of islands connected by what looked like chains. Small craft, similar to Bateo's rowboat floated between the islands and Felix spotted dozens of homes, all of them made of grey voidbeast bone. The shapes of the homes were rough and eclectic, with high sloping roofs and sprawling layouts. All told, the settlement was triple the size of the Ten Hand's makeshift castle.

Bateo poled them toward the settlement with greater enthusiasm. Soon they were descending down into the center of the complex, passing by several floating islands before he realized they were aiming for the largest of all the rocks seated in the very center. Resting upon the isle was something akin to a town hall, three stories high and fitted with the first windows he'd ever seen in the Void. A couple Korvaa in voidleather armor and bone spears lazed by the front steps, their wings tucked tight by their sides. They both scrambled to attention as they took note of Felix's arrival.

"Oorah, ooro? What goes, Bateo?" said one, his plumage a distinct black, blue, and white that reminded him of a magpie. "You have a...prisoner?"

"Good cycle Hepset. I found this one lost and injured at the wardstones. He brings with him a tale for the Conference." Bateo made a brief shrug of his shoulders, which seemed similar to an informal bow of sorts. He also brings—"

"A Tenku?" cried Hepset, his dark eyes wide enough to make out the whites around them. A feat considering the iris took up nearly the entire surface. "Molted fury! You bring a—right away, right away! You! Go! Tell the Conference and I will bring them up!"

The other guard scurried up the steps, disappearing into the portico to the sound of slamming doors.

"All this fuss. Aren't you special?" Felix murmured to Pit. The chimera threw his head back, beak up, before nuzzling against Felix's leg.

"He—the Tenku touches him? Is it under compulsion?" Hepset asked Bateo. Felix frowned but held back any words. For now.

Bateo wobbled his head, a sign Felix took for indecision. "You know I do not have Analyze. They get along, and the Human seems calm enough. This is what I know."

"Ooro. Of course. Of course." The big bird gestured to them. "Come."

Hepset led them up the stairs and into a wide, shadowed portico. There should have been no shade, as everything in the Void seemed to be lit by a sourceless light, but there it was. In fact, Felix realized the pirates also had their rooms and docks drenched in darkness that shouldn't have been possible. The answer, it turned out, was revealed to his Manasight: hidden in a panel was a small light gathering array, which was actively absorbing the light in a set radius.

Fascinating.

Hepset led them through door after door, from foyer to antechamber to a short hallway filled with bright orbs that hovered motionless near the ceiling. Felix knew where all the light was being shunted, at least. They stopped before a large door, built wider than Felix was used to, but of standard height, and made entirely of wood.

"Brace yourself, Human," Hepset said to Felix. "You will stand before the Conference of Echo's Reach. It is understandable to tremble before their might." He shoved open the doors and Felix's eyes went wide.

A large, circular room dominated the entire floor. Thin columns held some sort of observation area along the rim of the chamber, while the left and right walls were floor to ceiling windows. Real windows, furnished with glass. Beneath them, bone slabs shone with polish or lacquer or something, so that as they began walking Felix could see his hazy double staring back up at him. Hepset led them into the center of the room, stopping several yards before the semi-circular table at the far end. Four birdfolk stared at him with varying avian expressions that were all rather difficult to parse. What struck him as interesting was that each looked like a distinct bird species back home: an owl, a hawk, a raven, and a peacock.

"Lords of the Conference, please allow this one to announce the arrival of Bateo of the Rim." Hepset bowed in a stiff, formal way. One of his wings even extended outward before curling back in. "And with him is his prisoner, a Human."

Felix felt a faint pressure against his senses, as if a giant, unseen hand were pushing at his shoulder blades. Bateo and Hepset both fell to their knees, while Pit and Felix merely shared a second of confusion. The pressure kept on, trying to shove them down. When in Rome...Felix and Pit slowly kneeled.

"Hail and well met, Bateo of the Rim," said the peacock, his voice deep and resonant. "You have done well to bring this intruder to us immediately."

"As is my duty, Grand Detachment," Bateo said, providing them with his own winged bow.

"Just so. And this...Human. We have heard tales of pirates. Do we believe the vile creatures are after him still?"

"No, Grand Detachment. There was no sign of pursuit in the wider Void," Bateo said.

"Hm. We have also been told he is accompanied by a Tenku," His tail quivered behind him, a fan of eyes just as a normal peacock might have. His flinty stare wavered just slightly as he beheld Pit. The tenku must have sensed Detachment's mood, as he dropped his head and let out a warbling growl. "How do we know it is not an illusion? Have you Analyzed this man?"

"No, my lord. Neither Bateo nor I possess such power," Hepset answered from the floor.

"Very well. Knowledge?" The peacock turned his blue head to their right, and a Korvaa with a round, almost fluffy head bobbed it in acknowledgment. The owl-like Korvaa reached out a clawed hand.

"Analyze. Analyze."

Felix felt something wash over him, a ripple of heat and song that coiled against his skin before snaking down into his Mana Gates. He tried to fight it off, but the force ignored him, questing down into his core space before rebounding the way it had come. He could feel it brush against Pit as well, though it was far fainter. Despite the lingering sense of violation, all of it happened in a fraction of a second.

Is that how it feels to everyone?

Fire Within is level 37!

The owl quarked in surprise. Detachment tilted his slender head at Knowledge. "What do you see?"

Knowledge's huge eyes blinked rapidly and his beak clacked soundlessly for a moment. Then he gathered himself and his feathers smoothed back. "Level 25, strong of Mind, Body, and Spirit. His Race, however, is...unknown."

Unknown? Felix fought to keep the confused frown from his own face. But my Race is listed as Nym, just with an asterisk.

"Unknown? To you, Knowledge?" The hawk bobbed her head in surprise. "What is it called?"

"You misunderstand, Quest. It is not that I am unaware of his Race, it is simply Unknown." The Korvaa pushed his hands forward, and every member of the Conference looked down at the empty air. He had shared his Analyze screen. "I've not seen such an occurrence in my life, though I've heard of it happening. My boy, how did you end up here in the Void?"

Felix felt six sets of eyes on him like a physical thing (guard and Bateo included), and he cleared his throat as he considered exactly what to say.

Do not mention Primordials. They will kill you. The Maw's voice drifted on the breeze, but its body was nowhere in sight. Disobey me at your own peril.

The contrarian in Felix wanted to shrug off the creature's advice, but he felt a certain...danger in the Conference's gaze. Caution wouldn't be the worst path, he reasoned with a nervous twist in his gut.

"I was exploring an ancient ruin and found a relic. I...fell. The relic transported me here, best I can tell." Felix tried to keep to the truth as best he could. He wasn't even sure it was considered Deception, and sure enough his Skill didn't resonate at all.

"Hm, not the tale of derring-do I had expected. Were there monsters?" Knowledge asked him.

"Oh yeah, a lot. Frost Giants, actually."

"Hmm hmm," Knowledge hummed to himself. He clacked his beak twice more as he thought. "Perhaps the stress and the nature of this relic affected you. Fascinating."

"That is neither here nor there," said the hawk. Her voice was light and airy, but there was an edge Felix could sense. She was dangerous. "What of the supposed Tenku? You have left us waiting."

"Oh. Oh! Fallen coverts, but I am sorry," Knowledge ruffled his feathers again and swiped more invisible objects at his compatriots. "Yes, the chimera is true. Before us is a Tenku."

The room went quiet for a long few minutes as the Conference traded silent looks. Felix assumed they were communicating in some way, but he had no idea. They could have simply been shocked, and they were that as well. As he'd been gathering, a Tenku was a big deal, apparently.

Detachment was the first to break their silent communion, and he cleared his throat loudly. "Honored Tenku, we welcome you to our humble community. How may we be of service in your journey?"

Pit let out a confused warble and looked at Felix.

"No need to involve the...Unknown in this," Detachment said. "It is your needs we are most concerned with addressing."

"Um, Pit can't talk with words," Felix explained, but received only annoyed stares. "We're bonded so I can understand him, but I don't think—"

"Bonded?" Quest asked in alarm. "You bonded a blessed Tenku?"

"Preposterous," Detachment squawked. "Ridiculous. No chimera would take on the Spirit of another, let alone a creature so base."

"Hey—!"

"Guards! Remove the Unknown from our presence!" The peacock flapped his wings and out of side doors came three more Korvaa dressed in voidleather armor. They rushed him as a colorless Mana surged around their frames. Felix took to his feet and broke his bindings with a swift flex. Lightning danced along his channels.

SKREEEAAW!

A shriek pierced the chamber, and the guards stumbled to a stop. Pit had leaped forward, his huge wings spread wide and beak open. Felix repressed a gasp as he felt cords of harsh energy burn through Pit's own core.

Pit's Cry is level 25!
Congratulations! Pit Has Reached Apprentice Tier With Cry!
He Gains:
+10 STR
+10 VIT
+10 INT

Pit's Cry faltered as the stat boosts took effect, yet no one moved. Neither the guards or the leaders behind their elevated table. Bateo looked between Pit and Felix with a clear expression of wonder.

"He saved you," Bateo whispered.

"Perhaps," said a new voice. This was the raven-like Korvaa at the far end of the semi-circular council table. "Perhaps he saved us." The Korvaa tilted his head and regarded Felix with a single gray eye. "But it is clear that to attack one is to attack the other. Yes?" This time he turned to gaze to the others in the Conference.

Knowlege bobbed his head again. "Wonderment is correct. We have been too hasty!"

"And there is no coercion here?" Quest asked harshly. "No befuddlement of the Tenku's senses?"

"None that I can sense," Knowledge affirmed. "The Honored Tenku is free of all Status Conditions or afflictions."

Detachment gritted his beak, clearly unhappy, but inclined his head to the guards. For their part, they recovered from Pit's attack and stumbled back out of the room. "Then you can stay. For now."

"Tell us what the Honored Tenku wishes of us, if you please Mister Nevarre," the raven named Wonderment said, spreading his talons palms up on the table. "If it is within our power to give, we will be happy to accommodate you both."

Felix licked his lips and lowered his hands, only belatedly realizing they were still up and ready for battle. He looked at Pit, and waves of anger, mistrust, and annoyance flowed between them. "We wish only for a place to recover, and for repairs to our ship."

"Very well. This we can manage. As the pactmate of the Honored Tenku, this Conference accepts your request for sanctuary. But," the peacock said with a raised finger. "Our little community is both hidden and modest. What bounty we have must be earned, and you must do your part to support the Reach."

"Sure, I can understand that," Felix said, pushing his suspicions out of mind.

"Excellent. Then we have but to find a place for you. Clearly, the Honored Tenku will need to remain with us in the center of town, while the strapping Unknown may attend his...duties."

Felix didn't like that idea and opened his mouth to say so when Wonderment let out a cawing laugh. "You think they're separated so easily, Detachment? Fool. Can't you see our Honored guest's hackles rising already?"

The birds looked at Pit, who had set his feet once again and was just as annoyed as Felix.

"Look, I'll pitch in if that's what you need. But we're not being split up, for any reason okay?" Felix knew he could take at least a few of them in a fight, and put as much threat as he could into that statement. However, pain immediately lanced through his Aspects, nearly sending him to his knees.

Goddamn broken Intimidation Skill!

He recovered, but Wonderment noticed. The others were too busy discussing his fate again.

"It is decided!" The peacock wailed into the chamber. His eyes looked victorious, while the owl and hawk looked worried and annoyed respectively. The raven seemed utterly disinterested. "We will ask a volunteer to take you and the Honored Tenku into their home! I submit—"

"I will take him," Bateo said.

Felix looked at him in surprise, as did everyone else. Detachment spluttered.

"Bateo? Are you sure?" Knowledge asked with concern. "The Tenku is of course above reproach but this Unknown is simply that. An unknown element."

"I'm sure," the hawk-like ferryman and ward-lighter met Felix's eyes and nodded. Felix nodded back. "For the Reach."

"For the Reach," echoed the Conference. And that was that.