Category: Aralim

Aralim asked around in Varravar, looking for any word of powerful magicians passing through. If Rattar had passed through the city, perhaps he had been waylaid between here and Numa’nakres. It didn’t take long to start hearing reports like those he had heard in Hawsi—of an elusive Conclave and of the distrust of magicians who might be working with such a sect. Many mentioned that the High Priestess of Maga had fled their northern neighbour at the Eye, but nothing of Rattar. Continue reading Aralim 161

Aralim and his guards found passage out of Maykren aboard a ship that the Eternal Emperor had already prepared for them. The Eastward Sentinel was not one of the slowly-drifting coupled barges that they passed in Trader’s Bay—it was a swift galley with a ram at the front, two-and-a-half masts, and a raised deck for command. Aralim was uncertain how much a single ship could do if they were caught by pirates organized in a fleet, but he was grateful for the speed of their new vessel. Continue reading Aralim 160

The riverboat drifted into the docks of Maykren in the early evening on the 9^th and Aralim disembarked with the Aura, hurrying across the city boardwalks in his new city clothes. He quickly put distance between himself and Grendar’s guards, who had disembarked on the shore just beyond the docks. For now, Aralim was not the Ambassador of the Empire—he was another of many merchants, labourers, and couriers that frequented the Ake’ma River. Continue reading Aralim 159

Descending the stairs from the second storey of his West Corid Avenue estate, came a much different Aralim than his friends had seen ascend the night before. Dressed in baggy pants that tied off at the ankles and a loose, faded blue tunic, Aralim had shaved his beard clean off and had trimmed his long, brown hair short.

Miresh and Nill, waiting in the foyer for their farewells with him, stared in shock as their much-changed friend came down to them. His staff was strapped to his pack, but there was no sign of the lantern that usually hung from it. Continue reading Aralim 158

The man called Soot was just leaving the Iron Palace when Aralim caught up with him. He waved for the Walker to join him behind his small escort of guards, so the guards let Aralim pass. They had already seen each other the night before—at the memorial that had been arranged for the just passed Greatfather Athanu. It had not been an occasion to discuss spy-craft, though, and Aralim had deemed the morning after a better fit. Continue reading Aralim 157

Aralim was only half-lucid when he saw a shift in Tag’na’s decayed chest. First, it began to fill again with some substance more than bones and tattered remnants of skin. As muscles slowly formed in his arms, colour began to return to his shoulders and chest. Aralim had no idea what time it was, but—judging from his own exhaustion—it was well after sunrise. Continue reading Aralim 156

At least the Imperial Highway was direct. In some places, it was tunneled straight through the errant ridges of the Iron Mountains. The manpower involved must have been substantial, though Nilless—from her city of towers—was less impressed than Aralim. The Aura, like their quiet shadow, did not weigh in on the discussion. Continue reading Aralim 155

Aralim and his friends came upon the town of Nokire halfway along the Imperial Highway that connected Rainrest and Rema. The town was larger than Aralim had expected. Rainrest had not seemed much larger than this trade town. Aralim knew from his time on the Selected that Nokire was the last stop for caravans ranging out into the Expanse. Many such convoys considered this place their home and headquarters. Continue reading Aralim 154

Magistrate Kivrad received the Ambassador and his entourage at an estate that overlooked Lake Chillag. The vibrant sails of fishing boats were visible far below, but the property of Aralim’s host was far less idyllic. The original manse had been heavily renovated—including the addition of a new wing—and the timber and other materials dotted the remaining space within the wooden palisade walls. Sweaty servants and guards ran about the place like ants. Twice, Aralim witnessed a guard strike a “servant”, and he was reminded of the breach of Tag’na’s laws that he had witnessed in the form of Hayan’s former slavery. Continue reading Aralim 153

The irritation of the whistling bird eventually became the least of the group’s worries. Miresh eventually managed to send the bird away, but by that time the constant noise and periodic excrement that had marred their belongings had been joined by swarms of insects and crushing humidity. Everyone, save Aralim and Nill, dressed down when the bugs allowed. Miresh, Velad’na, and the crew of their riverboat went shirtless while even Narr removed his billowing travelling cape. Aralim’s sweat drenched through his worn cloak, while Nill maintained the traditions of her homeland and endured the heat and the sluggishness that came with it. Even Rema seemed preferable to the hundreds of miles of sweltering rainforest. Continue reading Aralim 152