EMPIRE OF THE CASTAWAYS

Chapter 12: Spear in the Light

 

---

Arc II: The Forging Descent

Ravindra 

The journey to the Field of Dead Gods took three full days through paths that grew increasingly inhospitable with each step taken away from Frostreach, and Ravindra discovered there was vast difference between hearing stories about cursed places and actually walking on land supposedly made sterile by ancient war so terrible that even after thousands of years the earth still refused to grow anything except harsh grass looking more like wounds than vegetation. The familiar snow gradually gave way to sharp-edged black volcanic rock and gray soil that felt dead beneath every step, soil producing nothing and storing no sun warmth even on brightest midday. Auratigris moved with certainty of creature who'd walked this path countless times in her long life unmeasured by human years, wings folded tight against great back and head raised to read wind that even here still carried information for those who knew how to listen, while Ravindra followed several steps behind with full attention on every foothold because stones underfoot had edges that could cut skin through thick leather boots if he wasn't careful placing weight.

The sky above this field was gray that never changed to blue or red or any other colors usually coming with morning and evening, as if sun itself was reluctant to touch this cursed place with full light and only provided illumination enough to see path without giving warmth usually accompanying it. Air carried smell of burnt metal mixed with something older and harder to identify with words, smell making back of Ravindra's throat feel dry and tongue like coated in dust though he'd drunk from leather pouch carried since morning and refilled it at every small stream passed. There were no birds in sky here and no rabbits or deer on ground and no traces of life except that harsh grass and occasional small black insects moving too fast for eyes to follow in ways feeling unnatural as if they weren't living creatures but shadows moving with their own will.

On the third afternoon they arrived at edge of massive crater stretching as far as eyes could see in all directions, a wound in earth so massive Ravindra needed several moments to comprehend full scale of what he was seeing because brain wasn't designed to process destruction in this magnitude. This crater wasn't result of ordinary volcanic eruption and that was clear from how stone walls formed perfect circle too geometric to be made by natural processes, from how every curve followed mathematical pattern saying this was result of force directed deliberately not random explosion from within earth. At bottom hundreds of feet below their current position lay scattered ruins of structures once magnificent and impressive before destroyed with violence leaving only fragments and shadows of what once existed, and even from this distance Ravindra could see some stones had carvings or writing already too worn to read but still clear enough to show this once was place important to civilization that built it.

Auratigris stopped at edge and stared downward with unblinking eyes for long time, and in that silence Ravindra could feel something like sorrow or perhaps just acknowledgment they stood at place where something terrible once happened, something that changed world's shape in ways still felt even after uncounted time had passed. Guardian said nothing but didn't need to because atmosphere of this place already spoke enough about destruction and death and end of something once great, and Ravindra felt cold not from air temperature but from awareness he stood at grave of civilization perhaps far more advanced than anything now existing in world ruled by twelve nations. They descended through narrow path snaking along crater wall with slope making each step require careful placement, path looking deliberately made though already worn by time and weather until some sections nearly disappeared and had to be crossed by jumping from one stone to another with risk of falling into depths certainly meaning death.

The descent took nearly full hour because Ravindra had to be careful where placing each step to avoid loose stones that could make him lose balance and fall, and deeper they descended the heavier air felt in lungs as if pressure increased or perhaps something in air itself made breathing require more effort. At crater bottom ground felt different underfoot when finally reaching flat surface, more compact and colder than ordinary soil, and ruins looking like random stones from above revealed themselves as fragments of structures once having purpose and design though now nearly impossible to say what their original functions were because too much was destroyed and too much time had passed. Auratigris led him through labyrinth of these ruins with certainty saying guardian already knew every turn and every trap that might still be active after thousands of years, passing collapsed walls and gates that somehow still stood with arrogance nonsensical considering everything around already shattered to pieces, until they arrived at something that could be considered center of this ruin complex.

There stood stone platform raised about ten feet from surrounding ground, surface perfectly smooth without cracks or any damage despite everything around destroyed and badly damaged, and in platform center stood embedded a spear gleaming with light not coming from sun or moon or any other external source Ravindra could identify. That light was silver with blue touch at edges like sky color moments before great storm, light pulsing slowly with rhythm feeling familiar though Ravindra couldn't say why, like heartbeat or breath from something still alive though should have died long ago along with everything else in this place. Seeing that spear made something in Ravindra's chest vibrate in way never experienced before, not Aether though there was element of that but something deeper and more personal, like recognition or resonance between him and weapon that had waited uncounted time for someone who could claim it.

Auratigris spoke with voice lower than usual and carrying weight of something important or perhaps sacred though guardian never showed particular belief in anything that could be called holy in conventional sense, that this spear was one of weapons used in last war between gods or whatever once walked this world before humans came and built their small civilizations atop ruins of far greater civilization. That war destroyed civilization that built this place and left land so damaged it took thousands of years before life could begin growing again even in simplest forms, and of all weapons used in that war only few still existed and even fewer could be accessed because most were buried under ruins or sunk at ocean bottom or lost in other ways making them impossible to find. This spear was named Death's Light, name given not by its maker but by those who saw what it did in battle, and supposedly whoever could pull it from stone would possess power to kill thousands with single swing though of course power like that came with price not always clear at start and not always payable in easy ways.

Guardian explained that over centuries many tried claiming this spear after hearing legends passed mouth to mouth or reading ancient records showing dead god field location, warriors and kings and even some sorcerers thinking they were strong enough or worthy enough or desperate enough to risk coming to this cursed place. None succeeded because weapon chose its own owner in ways that couldn't be forced or tricked, no matter how physically strong someone was or how high their status in society or how great their desire to possess power promised by legend. Some died when trying to touch spear and their bodies turned to ash in instant, some went mad after touching handle and had to be carried back unconscious by luckier friends, and some simply found they couldn't lift weapon despite trying with all strength they possessed because spear was heavy in ways transcending physical weight for those not chosen.

Ravindra stared at spear and felt something difficult to explain with words existing in any language learned from Auratigris, something deeper than attraction or ambition or even desire to become stronger than already was. This was more like recognition or perhaps resonance like seeing something that should have been recognized though only now seen with own eyes for first time, and in that recognition was also clear awareness that reaching out to touch this weapon would change everything in ways that couldn't be reversed and couldn't be cancelled even if later it proved to be mistake. He thought about infant left in snow with cloth bearing rejection symbol from twelve nations, about first rabbit killed with shaking hands and guilt coming after, about two men on mountain who died because they were in wrong place at wrong time and tried taking something not theirs, about storm endured for week without sufficient food or water and cold seeping so deep felt would never be warm again.

He thought about all moments bringing him from nameless to Ravindra Kael Maharka standing here in ruins of dead civilization to grasp power that could kill thousands or build nation or change history's course in ways that couldn't be predicted at start. He thought about choices made consciously and choices made without thinking because there was no time for consideration, about paths that could be taken and paths left behind, about fact every step carried consequences not always visible immediately but always had to be paid eventually by someone whether self or others who never asked to be involved. He thought about Varunai still only idea in mind, about thirteenth nation that would become place for all falling in cracks between twelve existing nations, and about fact building something like that would require more than just good intentions or desire for justice but also power to protect weak from strong when strong certainly would come to destroy what didn't fit with existing world order.

Auratigris said nothing and only sat on stone several steps behind with head raised and unblinking eyes, and in that silence Ravindra understood this was decision that must be made alone without guidance or encouragement from anyone including guardian who'd already become only family he knew and only creature in entire world caring whether he lived or died. He climbed onto stone platform with slow deliberate steps, feeling smooth surface beneath bare feet because leather boots were already removed at stair bottom without remembering making decision to remove them as if body moved following instructions not coming from conscious mind. When approaching spear the silver-blue light became brighter until almost hurt eyes but he didn't look away or close lids because something in that light said seeing clearly was part of test and closing eyes same as surrendering before truly trying.

Spear handle was made of wood Ravindra didn't recognize despite seeing many tree types during descent from Frostreach, wood looking like already dead since long ago but still felt alive beneath fingers when his hand finally touched smooth cold surface like metal though certainly wood based on texture and how it felt in palm. At that touch something flowed from spear to body or perhaps from body to spear, he couldn't determine direction but could feel energy transfer making every nerve scream with sensation that wasn't pain but also wasn't comfortable, more like electricity or cold fire flowing through bone and muscle and blood with speed making impossible to track or understand what actually happened. He pulled with full strength though something whispered at back of mind that physical strength wasn't what was needed here and might even be counterproductive, and for moment nothing happened except light growing brighter until entire crater submerged in silver-blue making air vibrate with low hum like sound of giant bell struck from very far away.

Then there was sensation like something releasing grip after holding too long and unwilling to let go until certain the new one would care well for what was given, like hand that had gripped for thousands of years finally allowing to let go with mixture of relief and sadness. Spear released from stone with sound like ice cracking on frozen lake in spring, sound echoing off crater walls and rising to gray sky above until sounded like world itself was screaming or perhaps crying or perhaps just acknowledging something that had slept long finally woke and no one knew whether that awakening would bring salvation or destruction. Ravindra almost fell backward because suddenly there was no resistance after pulling with all strength, but feet found balance with movement more reflex than conscious, movement learned from years of training with Auratigris until body knew how to react without waiting for brain instructions.

He stood there with spear gripped in both hands while feeling strange weight because this weapon should be far heavier based on size and material but somehow felt almost weightless like holding shadow or mist given solid form. Light slowly faded until spear looked like ordinary weapon though still had faint gleam at blade edge saying this would never become anything truly ordinary and anyone seeing with trained eyes would know there was something different about this weapon. Ravindra lowered it carefully while trying to understand what just happened and what it meant for everything coming after this, trying to process fact that he who had no nation and no name until guardian gave both now held one of most powerful weapons ever made in world history he didn't even fully understand.

Auratigris climbed onto platform with slow considered movement, eyes staring at spear with expression difficult to read but perhaps mixture of pride and sadness and something else more complex than those two emotions combined, and guardian said with voice almost whisper though no one here but the two of them that now there was no turning back because spear had already chosen and chosen one couldn't refuse without consequences worse than anything that could be faced by accepting. Ravindra asked with voice sounding strange to his own ears because older and more tired than should emerge from twelve-year-old child's mouth, what should be done now after possessing weapon that could kill thousands with single swing and power transcending what he was ready to handle. Auratigris answered that question already contained fundamental misunderstanding because power wasn't about what could be done easily but about choosing wisely when to do and when not to do though could, about understanding every power use carried price that must be paid not only by user but also by those affected and even by those just standing near and witnessing.

They stayed in that field for three days to let Ravindra become accustomed to new weapon now his responsibility to guard and use wisely, and during that time he learned Death's Light wasn't just ordinary spear made sharper or stronger by ancient magic but something alive in ways difficult to explain with existing words. This weapon breathed with same rhythm as his own heartbeat when held long enough, and sometimes when concentration was deep enough he could hear whispers not sound in ordinary sense but more like thoughts not coming from his own head but from elsewhere perhaps weapon consciousness or perhaps just echoes from those who held it before. Those whispers didn't say clear words or give instructions that could be followed but more carried feelings and images, memories from battles occurring thousands of years ago when this weapon was used by someone or something far stronger than Ravindra now, and in those memories was destruction on scale making him understand clearly why this place became dead land that couldn't grow anything.

Auratigris taught him how to hold properly so weight distributed evenly and didn't make arms tire quickly, basic swing ways maximizing speed and reach without sacrificing control, and how to read opponent movements to predict attacks before coming so could be blocked or avoided with minimal energy. But more important than all those physical techniques, guardian taught when not to swing, when to let weapon stay still despite opportunity to attack and kill, because true power wasn't in killing as many as possible but in restraining self from killing when could and consciously choosing who deserved death and who deserved chance to change. This was lesson harder than anything involving technique or strategy because required type of wisdom usually only coming after years of experience and mistakes, and Ravindra wasn't sure if would ever truly master it or just keep making mistakes until mistakes accumulated into something that couldn't be fixed.

On third night Ravindra sat alone at crater edge with spear lying in lap and staring at stars beginning to appear in sky finally completely dark after full day of gray without variation, and he thought about path bringing here from Frostreach snow eleven years ago until this moment when holding weapon that could change world or destroy it depending on how used. He thought about all choices made consciously and unconsciously, all moments when could choose different path but didn't because reasons at time felt right though now not always sure whether indeed best decisions or just easiest decisions at that time. Killing first rabbit taught taking life had weight that must be borne even if just small animal killed for food, killing two men on mountain taught sometimes violence was only answer available when others decided to use violence first, enduring storm for week taught strength came from endurance and ability to keep moving forward though everything in body and mind screamed to surrender.

And now claiming this spear taught true power was choice not to use power when easy to use it, ability to see paths not involving destruction even when destruction was most obvious and most satisfying option in short term. He didn't know if ready for what would come after this, didn't know if would make right decisions when time came to use Death's Light in real situations where other people's lives and deaths depended on what he chose to do, but he knew with certainty requiring no proof that not acting because afraid of making mistakes was greatest mistake of all because meant letting wrongs continue happening without resistance. Auratigris came sit beside him soundlessly despite body that size should make ground tremble with each step, guardian somehow moving with perfect silence when wanting, and they sat together in comfortable silence while staring at sky slowly filled with more stars until entire dome above heads glittered with light coming from distances unimaginable by human minds.

Guardian finally said with very soft voice, almost gentle in way rarely happening except in certain moments when wanting to ensure words truly heard and understood, that having power to change world was burden heavier than physical weight of any weapon because every decision made with that power would carry impact felt by thousands or perhaps millions of people who never chose involvement and never asked opinion about whether they agreed with what done in their name or for their benefit. Ravindra asked if that meant better not to have power at all, better to stay weak and unimportant so decisions made only affected self and perhaps some closest people but not hundreds or thousands never met, and Auratigris answered with something that might be laughter or might be sigh that no one was truly weak or truly unimportant because every action had waves spreading beyond what immediately visible, just that weak ones didn't have to witness full impact of their actions while strong ones were forced to see consequences of every choice made.

They talked until late about responsibility and choice and about difference between power used to destroy and power used to build, about how easy to do former and how difficult to do latter because destroying could be done in instant while building required years or even generations and could be destroyed again in instant by those wanting to maintain old order. In that conversation Ravindra began understanding claiming Death's Light wasn't about becoming more deadly or more feared but about having tool needed to protect what would be built when that building certainly would be attacked by those wanting to maintain old order benefiting them though harming millions others having no voice for protest. Varunai, thirteenth nation existing only as idea in mind now, would need someone who could stand against twelve other nations when they certainly would come with armies and fire to destroy what didn't fit with existing comfortable world order for the powerful.

This spear was guarantee that when that day arrived, when choice must be made between surrendering or fighting with risk of losing everything, there would be way to fight that had chance of winning though that chance was small and road to victory certainly would be paid with blood and tears from many not deserving to suffer. But Auratigris also warned with voice carrying weight of experience longer than oldest human memory, that weapon used too often would begin changing its wielder in ways subtle at start but becoming irreversible at end, that Death's Light had history of making owners become dependent on power until forgetting how to solve problems without violence and seeing every conflict as something to be resolved with blood when perhaps there were other ways not visible because eyes already trained to see only violent solutions.

That danger must be guarded with constant awareness that weapon was tool not solution, that power to kill thousands wasn't same as wisdom to know when killing was right answer and when only seemed like right answer because easiest or fastest or most satisfying in short term. When dawn began coloring sky with pale pink looking strange and almost unnatural above gray ground of dead god field, they prepared for return journey to Frostreach with Ravindra now carrying spear tied on back with leather strap Auratigris made from materials brought specifically for this purpose, strap strong enough to hold weapon weight but flexible enough not to interfere with movement when needing to move quickly. Return journey felt faster though distance was same and terrain no easier, perhaps because Ravindra's mind filled with thoughts about what would come after this and not focused on each step like during journey to field, or perhaps because already knowing what to expect from this path and not needing to be alert for unknown dangers.

He thought about Gregor still in mining village running small information network beginning to be carefully built, thought about children seen playing in village without burden of knowledge about how cruel world truly was and how few cared about their fate if born in wrong place or with wrong blood, thought about how all these pieces would fit together in plan still too vague to be called actual plan but already beginning to have shape in mind though that shape still changed each time examined from different angle. Spear on back felt physically light but heavy in other way that couldn't be measured with scales or explained with simple words, constant reminder about responsibility now shouldered and choices that must be made more carefully because consequences would be far greater than before when only carrying knife and stones as weapons.

When they finally arrived back at cave that had been home for eleven years, Ravindra carefully removed spear and placed it in corner usually used for storing tools and weapons, and for moment just stood staring at weapon gleaming faintly even in cave shadows as if light emitted didn't come from outside but from within weapon material itself. Auratigris said without looking, still busy with lighting fire using breath carrying smell of sea and lightning as usual, that from now life would be different because possessing Death's Light meant becoming target for those wanting to claim weapon for themselves or destroy it so wouldn't fall into enemy hands they feared. There would be hunters coming, maybe not immediately because stories required time to spread through trader and mercenary networks, but certainly eventually when enough people heard that spear embedded in dead god field for thousands of years was no longer there and someone certainly had claimed it.

When they came, decision must be made about whether to hide and hope they left without finding or to face with risk that facing could mean killing people perhaps not deserving death just because they wanted something he happened to possess, people perhaps just following orders or seeking way to survive in this harsh world or even truly believing they were ones who should possess weapon because would use it for better purpose. Ravindra answered with voice steadier than felt inside, voice learned to use when needing to show certainty despite actually still doubting, that he understood risk and accepted consequences of choice already made with open eyes, that this path was chosen not because easy or because promised safety but because only alternative was doing nothing and letting world continue as now with all injustice coming with it.

No use regretting now after first step already taken and couldn't be pulled back, no use wishing for different choice when that choice already made and consequences already beginning to form like waves spreading from stone thrown into still water. That night Ravindra lay on usual warm stone with eyes open staring at cave ceiling invisible in darkness, listening to Auratigris's deep regular breathing sound from other room corner providing sense of safety despite knowing that safety perhaps was illusion that could shatter anytime when hunters came or when twelve nations finally heard about what was being planned on this remote mountain. He thought about everything changing during three-day journey to dead god field and everything staying same, about fact he was still child without nation born from unknown parents and left to die in snow because blood wasn't pure according to standards made by others without ever asking whether those standards were fair or reasonable.

He still lived in cave on mountain peak far from civilization with only one creature in entire world who could be called family without discomfort or falseness, still had to hunt for food and endure cold that could kill in hours if not careful. But now there was also spear that could kill thousands depending on how used, there was plan beginning to form to build something new from old order ruins, there was network beginning to spread with Gregor as first thread in web that one day would cover entire continent if everything went according to hopes perhaps too optimistic but had to be believed because without hope there was no reason to keep moving forward. He thought about children in village playing without knowing world was designed to destroy them if born in wrong place or with wrong blood, children who perhaps one day would become part of Varunai if he succeeded building thirteenth nation promised in mind but not yet existing in reality.

He thought about how to change world without becoming same monster as what wanting to be destroyed, how to use power without being abused by power, how to build fair system when every example of system ever existing in history eventually became unfair because those in power always found ways to manipulate rules for their own advantage. There were no easy answers to that question and perhaps no answers at all except keep trying and hoping that effort was enough, no guarantee chosen path was right or even that there was right path in complex situation like this where every choice carried losses and gains difficult to measure until too late to change decision. But there was certainty that doing nothing because afraid of making mistakes was betrayal of all suffering under system existing now, betrayal of cast-out children and people sold as slaves and farmers dying of starvation while nobles held feasts.

Before sleep finally came bringing dreams that wouldn't be remembered in morning, he rose once more to see spear leaning in cave corner with its own light so slow almost invisible but certainly there if watched long enough. Death's Light, name given not by maker but by those who saw what it did in battles occurring thousands of years before twelve nations existed, weapon supposedly able to change war's course or build kingdom or destroy enemies in ways transcending ordinary human abilities who only had swords and ordinary spears without power embedded in metal and wood. But for Ravindra now this spear wasn't about destruction or domination or even about victory in battle though all that might be needed eventually, this was about having way to protect what would be built when that building certainly would be attacked by those wanting to maintain old order benefiting them though harming millions others having no voice for protest.

He returned to warm stone and closed eyes while feeling weight of responsibility now shouldered, weight that couldn't be seen or touched or measured in ordinary ways but as real as stone beneath back or cold in air or sound of Auratigris's breath from across room. In darkness behind closed lids he saw not coherent dream but fragments of visions about what might happen, of paths branching toward countless directions and choices that must be made at each intersection without map or guide except conscience voice sometimes whispering too softly to be heard above world noise. He saw fire burning twelve suns as promised in name given by Auratigris eleven years ago, he saw people gathering beneath flag not yet existing but somehow already recognized in vision, he saw battles and death and destruction but also birth of something new growing from ashes like phoenix bird supposedly Ameris symbol.

He saw all this and more in flashes too quick to fully understand but leaving impression remaining even after details faded from conscious memory, and in final vision before sleep truly came he saw himself standing atop mountain with Death's Light in hand and sky full of stars glittering like hope or perhaps just like stars not caring about small human dramas below. He didn't know if that vision was prophecy or just hope given form by tired mind, didn't know if future seen was something that would happen or something that might happen if making right choices at each critical point coming. But he knew with certainty requiring no proof or justification that tomorrow would be first day of new phase in journey begun in snow eleven years ago and that would end somewhere or sometime no one could say for certain except perhaps gods already dead or gone or never cared from beginning.

---

End of Chapter 12