Gentleman's Guide Chapter 3

The As’kari would investigate the wreckage, but only after a moment’s worth of deliberation and preparation. The sands were deadly to the unwary and unprepared, whether at night or at day, so the response to the wreckage would be as swift as safety permitted. 

That time would be at the cost of those gravely injured in the crash, so I bound across the dunes with one leap after another. I was a streak of scarlet, which left behind plumes of sand that loomed for moments in the sky, as I made my way to the wreckage hastily. Due to the onerous task of healing Kan’Is, I could not exert the maximum amount of force I was able, as I had to conserve what I had to heal whoever I could.

Weary, limited, and lacking as I was, I could not ignore the disaster which I’d just witnessed. 

Long ago, in another life entirely, I’d witnessed a steamship crash upon the bank of a river. It had been a magnificent, sturdy construct that braved the lake which my family frequented. Then, after one stormy night, it had been dashed against the coastline as it tried to make for port. On the papers, it had merely said that all hands were lost, but what I saw what nightmarish and terrifying.

Corpses of drowned men surrounded the wreck, washed ashore or just in the horizon upon the lake’s surface. Others lay broken beneath pieces of the vessel they’d cherished. The wood, steel, and other such things that made the vessel magnificent had become instruments of deadly violence through the course of events. The vessel had broken in its entirety, becoming nothing more than a shell teetering upon cragged stone, with those that manned it dead to the last.

I expected to see the same of the wreckage, with deadly waters replaced by flowing sand and the treachery of a fall from great height, but I erred in my assumption.

It was beyond that memory in terms of both of magnitude and of efficacy, in regards to suffering. 

The flying ship had been larger and more volatile than that steamship could have hoped to be. Flames stretched across the sands, with charred husks lying beside them, and shards of both metal and glass melting together. Those who had fallen from the great height littered the wreckage’s perimeter, broken and hapless beings who were both twisted and turned inside and out. 

However, what truly made the scene hellish was the cacophonies of cries for help, as the creatures of the sands converged upon the walking injured… along with creatures unfamiliar to myself and foreign to the desert.

It was not unlike a wall of sound that stopped me in my tracks. The languages were unknown to me, and many spoke with guttural or graceful intonations beyond the ability of my people to speak, yet I understood their cries all the same. Screams for aid, mercy, and the end of pain surged forth from the wreckage, while roars of wrath and hunger raged from beasts both familiar and unfamiliar.

I could not provide aid to all those who needed it, but I will help all those who I could.

First, it would have to be dispatching the creatures, both foreign to the sands and of the sands. If they continued to run rampant, then more would die for each individual I tended to, or I would be killed, thus making it so that no one is saved. Both were unacceptable outcomes. Even triage was impossible until the danger passed, so all I could do was deal with the threats before me as quickly as possible.

To that end, I needed aid to deal with the beasts quickly, and the only ones available were those amongst the wreckage.

As I wound my tools through the closest of lethal creatures to my person, I searched for those who were most adroit at fighting the current foe and could continue to fight.

I found four individuals that continued to fight, yet amongst their number only one was doing more than surviving.

It was a creature that looked almost human, but was utterly different. At first glance it seemed to be a woman, but the way it moved reminded me of the most dangerous beasts I’d hunted. Her speed and reflexes strained my eyes, every swing of her two-handed sword cleaved apart beasts in twain, and she sent monstrous creatures crashing against the wreckage of the ship with her limbs alone. Neither was that the end of it. When she wielded her sword with one hand, and made a gesture with her left, she summoned forth power that turned creatures to pulp with only a single foreign word from her lips. 

Though she did not have the physical attributes of Kan’Is or his daughter, she seemed to have the same amount of strength in a smaller, more lethal form, as well as with abilities unknown to me. 

That made her the most dangerous creature within the wreckage. 

The possibility that she would be hostile to was present, making my plans to ally with her potentially harmful to myself.

Yet, it was the only way to see the situation settled quickly.

So, I brought to her the beast which was writhing and attempting to escape the grasp of my threads, as I leap over her and dragged it in tow.

The shell-covered creature, with jaws capable of rending a man in twain with ease, and who could survive the stings of the preferred mounts of the As’kari, was both cut and smashed apart by the being’s strike. A whole half of it was left eviscerated against the sand, a slurry of viscera and natural armor, while two quarters of the beast flew past her, carried by myself. 

Yet, her gaze was locked onto mine, as I crested above her.

She had dispatched the creature with utter contempt and ease, not paying it a single moment more after she killed it, and her focus was entirely on me. 

I was being weighed and measured, and in time it took for a heart to beat once, the choice was being made whether I was to either live or die.

I didn’t care for such things, so I did not hesitate to simply continue my course, even as the sword which had cleaved cleanly through a monster was readied to hew me in half.

Every moment I spent in fear was a moment wasted.

Thus, I landed and began the onerous task of dragging every beast towards the creature I’d just met, whose name I did know, and who wore a woman’s form. 

That was all I could do that mattered.

…

Leveraging the strength of the creature proved to be the correct choice. Forcibly dragging creatures towards her, bound via either wires or wrappings, was unquestionable in its efficacy. The other three individual who were surviving against the onslaught did not die, as I feared they would without assistance, such was the speed of the tactic. 

The three gathered towards the one I’d chosen, protecting one another while staying within its protective reach, until the task was done.

However, as soon as the last foe was felled, the trio turned their weapons against the creature, while she regarded them with a steely gaze.

Paying more attention to their clothing, I was able to discern the situation. 

The ship had been carrying prisoners and dangerous monsters. The three beleaguered ones, who struggled against the monsters, were clad in simple clothes and wore broken manacles and chains on their wrists and ankles. They wielded scavenged weaponry, presumably from their guards, and they regarded the other standing survivor with fear and apprehension, despite the fact that they were great, hulking creatures with tusked mouths, furred hides, and clawed, trunk-like limbs. 

And, of course, the creature wore a bespoke uniform, colored in gold and pure white, with a design similar to that of an officer in my previous life, with armaments that were crafted as equally personally for herself. The uniform matched that of a few of the injured, her fellow guards or those whom she commanded, marking her as expressly different from the trio of hulking, furred creatures confronting her warily.

After they dealt with the mutual threat, they were now turning against one another.

And, having seen my abilities, they were wary of my as well.

My teeth almost began to grind at the idiocy of it all, as their narrow gazes only say each other and not the ruin that has become of their vessel and fellows, but a sound that brought their gazes upward settled my nerves.

It was alien to them, but the sound of arriving As’kari warriors was familiar to me. 

Upon the saddled hornets that descended through the smoke and past the wreckage were the sigils of the tribe’s foremost warriors, those who defended the clan against any threat as the first, fastest line of defense, and who risked their lives for the sake of all the clans. 

And, at their head was Kan’Is, astride upon a gargantuan mount, exuding power and majesty. His was kin to that of the colossal beetles which carry the tribes across the dunes, but of a variety that was rare and remained more capable, instead of becoming a giant beast of burden. Its shell held a vibrant, scarlet luster, making it seem fragile, yet most could not hope to pierce it, and each of its six limbs worked as scythes that could cut down lesser creatures with ease. Then, of course, it was armored as befitting the mount of a king in metals with symbols known only to the ones who crafted it and Kan’Is.

However, that was all moot, as Kan’Is himself could destroy his mount with his bare hands, and the chieftain of the As’kari was now present. Garbed as I last saw him, in a half-robe covering only his waist, but a hammer of my height and twice my weight like a toy in a single hand, he peered upon the battlefield as its ruler without question.

Allowing me to focus on tending to the wounded, as he did whatever was needed to bring sense to the current matter.

Soldiery, foreign interests, and other such things were not to my interests.

…

The wreckage had been secured swiftly, with the survivors held separately after the truth was ascertained by those versed in languages outside the desert. Of course, I could not move the wounded while tending to them, and there was merit in scavenging the ship of material foreign to the desert, so the As’kari settled around it.

I heard little of the conversation that arose, given my focus on saving the lives of those who I could. Though my diligence resulted in my curiosity being left unsated, the fact remained that I managed to save over three dozen lives, while matters were tended to by individuals with pertinent skills and positions.

Still, my actions had their consequences.

Djet’Is loomed over me as I cleaned my tools once again. The chieftain’s daughter was completely clad for battle unlike her father. Her scarlet mane was tamed into a short braid, hidden away into a helm, and she wore the same voluminous silks of the rest of the warriors, excepting the sleek, shell armor upon her vitals and limbs, which belonged to that of the elite. She carried her axe identical in monstrous size as her father’s hammer, yet wielded with the same amount of ease.

Her displeasure was evident, as her emerald gaze was narrowed, and her features filled with scorn.

I had, after all, gained myself merits by securing the wreckage, while also putting the tribe in a position of power by saving those whom I did. 

Her presence was cloying to others. Her anger was a palpable. Many of those guarding the crews tending to the wreckage around my impromptu infirmary gave her, and thus myself, wide berth.

I cared not for the display and paid her no heed, so I waited for her to speak first.

I was tired.

From all my efforts of today, the innermost reaches of my bones ached, and it threatened to spread to the rest of my body. I could go no farther than I did today without risking internal harm to my body. Those who expended too much, in moments of great valor and stupidity, burnt themselves into a crisp. One must be aware of their limits and I was sure that I would catch alight if I did more today than I already did.

She chose to speak, presumably after realizing intimidation would not work upon me, regardless how well armed she was. Monstrous creatures emerging from the sands, capable of killing individuals with ease and consuming them whole, tended to raise one’s threshold for intimidation.

“Why do you do this? Why do you act as you do? Expedition after expedition, discovery after discovery, and rescue after rescue, yet you ask for nothing in return?” The answer to that was simple, but it wouldn’t be accepted. That was my place in life, what I knew from my last life, and how I wished to live. If there was a beast that needed to be hunted and studied, I would do so. If there was something to be shared, I would share it. If I could save a life, I would. It was an unacceptable answer to a young woman who wished to be acknowledged by her merits instead of her lineage. In her eyes, I was challenging her, fighting her, and vying for the position of Chieftain. “Enough with this silence. Grant me answers. Unless, you want me to challenge you before the whole of the tribe.”

A challenge was ritualistic combat, overseen by the leaders of the clans. It was way for warriors to settle their differences through force of arms, after counsel has been provided, and there only a few ways it would end if both sides could not come to a compromise. There was death resulting from combat, from which both warriors could die, or one would. Either concluded the grudge. It is premediated murder, callous, uncivilized, and utterly debased, born of a time when warriors vied for prominence and wished to seize power via force “rightfully.”

A draw could arise as well, with warriors battling without the intent to kill and merely settle differences, until they were both tired and unable to continue. Those were common now, yet I doubted that Djet’Is had such a thing in mind.

Then, of course, there was the final end to a challenge being issued.

The path I would take without hesitation.

“If you challenge me, you already what I’ll choose to do, Djet’Is.” Exile. I would choose to leave the As’kari before I was forced into something as barbaric as ritual combat. I will be given a mount, allowed to take all I can carry that is my own upon it, then sent into the vast expanse of the desert without looking back. For most it would be a death sentence, but for myself it would be a challenging affair preferable to fighting and risking injuring another. “Knowing that, do you still need to worry about my intentions? Would I choose exile, if I wished to be the chieftain?”

“I know nothing about you. No one knows anything about you. One moment you care for nothing, then you return to the tribe with accolade after accolade!” Djet’Is paced, face set in a frown, while I set my tools to dry after their cleaning. Soon, I will be done here and ready to rest, but until then I had to see this current issue through. “You insist that you do not to wish the tribe, yet you continue to gain renown and show me that you’re worthier than I!”

“You will serve the As’kari better than I.” This wasn’t a matter of jealousy. Djet’Is was not a petty being who wished to be enthroned and worshiped. She wished for the best of the As’kari. Should I to reach out for the position of chieftain, we would compete with one another, and she would not think less of me as a stranger. But I do not, so such is the case. I am bizarre and strange, while also capable and powerful. And, of course, I live amongst her people, interact with those she cares about, and have her father’s trust. In her place, knowing what she knows, and feeling as she does, how could I not be mistrusted, especially as I act completely differently from all others within the tribe? “There’s no need for us to fight one another, nor do you need to be so wary.”

That was the truth. That was all I had to say. I did not know what else I could say. 

Djet’Is huffed at my words and ceased pacing, but her frown and narrowed gaze remained.

“You make me feel like a fool. My instincts tell me to trust you, yet my mind does not. Not only that, but my mind cannot explain why I cannot.” Djet’Is spoke sourly, frustration making her tanned, olive skin deepens to a darker shade. She pinched the bridge of her sharp nose between two calloused, scar-covered fingers. “All of your actions give to the tribe, yet you take almost nothing from the tribe. You say you cannot lead, yet you leave and return with expedition after expedition singing your praises.” Her gaze was narrowed with frustration, but there was something besides that within the emerald depths. It was concern. Not just for me, but for herself. “Though you can find the cowards who were too frightened to keep you, you choose to let them stay hidden.”

“I only wish to help.” How was I to say that I lived another life already? A life where I had witnessed the horrors mankind could inflict upon one another, thus I now only wish to save lives and make the lives of others better?  That doing good works stemmed the nightmares of what I saw in my previous life? A person better spoken than I could convey such concerns without seeming to be insane. However, I could not, so I could only repeat words that postponed the inevitable. “I’ve told you this before.”

Djet’Is and I could not converse with any sort of success. Both her curiosity and my inability to explain ensured that could never occur. Our relations were going to be of mutual misunderstanding, until it is concluded in a manner that leaves us both unsatisfied. We are to find our paths continuously meeting, until we are forever parted due to our own decisions.

The best possible solution is for myself to be forgotten in exile, while Djet’Is ascends to the throne concerned if she is truly the best for the people she loves.

The worst would be of our mutual demise at one another’s hands.

Knowing those two possible outcomes, Djet’Is continuously attempts to understand me, while I do my best to convince her of my words. 

Perhaps, one day, the situation will change between herself and I.

But it shall not be today.

The beating of wings briefly heralded a storm of sand, as a warrior upon his mount arrived and braved Djet’Is’s miasma of frustration.

“Djet’Is! Another ship approaches! Our guest says it is the cause of the destruction of her ship!”

Djet’Is acted while I was pondering.

“Take flight! We will meet this ship on our own terms. Ready yourselves for possible combat against those beyond the sands!” Her voice carried through the wreckage with ease. Those warriors that heard her, no matter their clan, yelled out the order themselves, before running to their mounts. She marshalled a force of warriors within the span of heartbeats, before I could concern myself with question of who I had met. Why was that strange thing, that horrifying entity, granted the status of guest by the tribe? “We ride to make them land. They shall not near our people or our city! They will fall as others have, if they choose to ignore our will!”

Djet’Is turned to me, while the warriors rallied around the wreckage, swiftly becoming a cohort that menaced in the sky singed by the rays of the setting sun. Like a flock of vultures patiently waiting for a beast to die, the wasps and their riders circled the wreckage, creating a hum of buzzing wings that shook my bones. “Tell father to send our guest and her companions forth as fast as possible. Warring against those from beyond the sands is a challenge in which we cannot sustain ourselves. They are endless, even if we have been blessed with stronger wills, bodies, and weapons than they.”

With those words ringing in my ears, Djet’Is mounted her steed with ease of long practice, before taking flight to lead the swarm across the sky. 

As I travelled to her father’s residence, I heard the sound of cannon for the first time in my new life… fallowed by the sound of war horns and the crashing of another giant ship from the skies.

Without a doubt, those of the As’kari council and Kan’Is knew more of the matter than I, as the action would not have been taken without consideration of the tribe’s future.

Yet, nevertheless, I knew that I had an accomplice in the deaths of many… and perhaps many more to come, due to my actions.