Chapter Two Hundred and Seventy Six - 276
The meal ended up being substantially more than just breakfast.
Felix was led into a large, open air pavilion twice the size of the Farwalker's yurt. The roof was festooned with greenery like vines and hanging moss, all built upon the backs of carved, Human-sized ravens. A huge spread was laid atop twenty two tables, steaming in the slight morning coolness in a way that had Felix's mouth watering. His friends were already there, the injured as well as the hale, all digging into the bounty before them. Soon more Henaari from all over filtered through the streets and into the pavilion.
"What is this?" Felix asked.
"A grand feast, for one who has been Blessed by the Raven," a robed member of the Synod declared. She had emerged from among the tables and spread her arms before pointing at Felix and Pit, gathering the attention of the growing crowd. "We celebrate Felix Nevarre and his Pact Companion, Pit! They brought back a Feather, from the Raven Herself!"
The crowd cheered, but the rhythm of their Spirits was confused and skeptical. There was a hesitance to their joy. The Farwalker nudged his elbow, and Felix understood. Without comment, Felix lifted the Feather of the Raven up into the air for all to see. This time the cries were deafening, and shock pervaded the Spirits closest to him.
"Few are they who earn a Blessing directly from the Endless Raven's body," the Farwalker explained to him. To those gathered around them, he raised his voice. "By Right of Wander does this man come before us, and by Right of Wander he is accepted!"
The cheer that followed put all the last to shame. The feast began and music struck up in the corner. Henaari shed their stoic exterior and reveled in the food and song. It was a dramatic and surprising transformation, enough that Felix barely resisted when he was led to the head of the main table where he sat alongside members of the Synod, the Matriarch, and the Farwalker himself.
"Won't someone hear you all?" Felix asked. Wyvora shook her head.
"The wards keep sound and light within our camp. We Henaari are Blessed by the Raven's own concealment," she said.
Translating in his head, that meant 'big magic bird did it, we're fine.' And Felix let it lie. Maybe he'd ask to see their wards later.
After a quick meal to ease his ever present hungerbraised ribs and odd frond-like leafy greensFelix checked on his friends and allies. As he'd noticed before, they were all there, and even Vyne was back on his feet. Whatever treatment they'd received, it had worked wonders as their Status Conditions were cleared and their Health back up to full. Harn had even taken off his helmet and was eating his fair share of the platters near him.
The Farwalker asked his questions, and got his answers. Of Vellus, of Felix's relationship with the Lost Goddess. It was all very juicy to a man who collected the unheard and unknown. The Farwalker penned much of it in a small book he carried, one very similar to the journal Felix held in his pack.
"I'm afraid you have me at a disadvantage," the Farwalker said after a long moment of contemplation. "The knowledge of the Lost Goddess, alive but mad, is worth far more than what I have offered you."
"What, then, would be appropriate?" Felix asked. A big part of him was urging caution, but something about the Farwalker put him at ease. He wasn't sure if it was the man's irreverent attitude or how much he disliked the Matriarch, but the old man was growing on him.
"I will have to think on this," he said before returning to his drink.
So it went. The morning became afternoon, and the afternoon stretched into shadows long and dark enough to usher in the night. Torches lit and the songs became bawdier. Laughter flowed as much as wine, and Felix learned the Henaari were not only excellent warriors but also adept performers. Knives were juggled and elaborate tumbling routines performed, though it all felt for themselves rather than for their guests. As if all of this was simply the way these nomads entertained themselves, and Felix was just lucky enough to watch.
More than a few times, Evie attempted their hypnotic acrobatic routine, and she was really getting the hang of it by the time Kylar and Davum were encouraged to try as well. The swordsman put on a bit a show, having invested in Agility fairly heavily, but the Orc axe fighter had little bend to his bulky frame. Regardless, they both tried their best before it all devolved into a gales of laughter and delight. Henaari men and women rushed to congratulate the outsiders, plying them with drinks and more food as they all poked good-natured fun at their failures. Kikri and Nevia both ended up in deep conversations with Vess, though with all the commotion Felix was hard pressed to say what they spoke about. He could have listened, forced his Perception or his Affinity through the white noise, but he shied from that. He tried to let his friends have their privacy, even if the Elf and Dwarf kept looking over at Felix every couple minutes.
Not my business. It had become his mantra as he'd sipped his water. The water everyone else was drinking was nicerich and a little fruitybut it did nothing for him despite the Henaari boasting of its Journeyman Tier fermentation. Yet his physical stats burned through it all so fast he didn't feel the slightest buzz. After the first cup he'd switched to simple river water. Felix had noticed his friends and the Haarguard had also switched to water. He almost wanted to tell them to enjoy themselves, but thought better of it. As nice as the Henaari were being now, as much as the Farwalker seemed congenial, Felix had little trust left to give to people that had pointed spears at him only a day ago.
Now that the gymnastic entertainment had fled the floor, it was soon repopulated by a small stage that built itself. Dark swirls of violet, black-grey, and green-gold vapor swirled on the ancient courtyard, and in their wake wood and leaf flowed and bent. The stage formed of these pieces, a wide, semi-circular structure that rose to eye-height before shaping columns that met above the stage in a series of graceful arches. Felix watched, enraptured by the dance of Mana, almost missing the mage that was hidden in a doorway not twenty feet beyond. They gestured, and a screen descended from the first arch, made of a thick paper.
"Ah, is it so late as that?" The Farwalker appeared surprised, despite his shroud of darkness. "The night does sneak up on us all."
"What is it?" Felix asked.
"All Henaari festivities end with a story. A thought upon which to ruminate for a night and a day," the Farwalker explained. "Shh, shh! It starts."
A voice spoke, whisper-soft but easily heard by all in attendance. "In an Age before this, beyond the reach of Memory and the scale of Time, there was a people."
From behind the paper bright orange-yellow lights ignited, and shadows swirled to life atop the screen. The shadows resolved into a series of figures, silhouettes only, yet detailed enough that Felix could tell no two were exactly alike.
"But Folly dogged them and their cursed Choice. The magi were twisted by the power they sought out, and too late they found that all might comes at a cost."
From among the magi something else rose from the earth. It was a blur, a bulk as big as the mountains around it, all teeth and destruction. It rushed forward, tearing into friend and foe without distinction.
"A darkness was unleashed, staining the Continent with the blood of an Age. And then the grand creations turned against their makers, against the Golden Empire and the gods alike."
Shapes that looked like massive, armored creatures fought off armies on both sides. Spears and blades shattered against their dark silhouettes, and mortal forms were shredded by their fury. A figure appeared among the Golden Empire, one that banished the creations and the mountainous monstrosity with a great and powerful weapon.
"The Golden Empire stopped the betrayal, but it was too late. A mortal blow had been put in the Empire's side, and the gods did not hesitate."
The moons shimmered and crackled, and the screen rippled again and again.
"A weapon was summoned, a great and terrible one that even they feared. A weapon that could kill the gods themselves."
Another moon rose, this one dark as the others were luminous, and from it oozed a foul and terrible haze. It dropped from the heavens and struck the earth like a hammer blow, and where it landed the Golden Empire failed and died.
"Not even the greatest of Magi could face this creature, for it was the antithesis of life. Of existence. Jealous and hungry, it could not be stopped."
Darkness enveloped the entirety of the paper screen.
"The Golden Empire, the last bastion of Harmony, was silenced."
Vigorous applause filled the pavilion and the homes nearby as the Henaari cheered. All of them had been caught up in the tale, and Felix could barely feel their Spirits quiver with quiet relief. Relief that the tale was not about them. That it was simply a story.
But was it? He wondered at that. Apart from the beautiful method of storytelling, pieces of it felt similar to what Zara had told him of the Unbound. Figures of destruction and terrible power that people had conflated with demons.
"That was about the Nym, wasn't it," Felix suddenly said, voiced pitched to the Farwalker. The man nodded, face shrouded as usual.
"Indeed it was, though few remember the name." He looked at Felix.
"Because of the Ruin. That's what the thing was, at the end."
The Farwalker nodded. "They still teach such things in your land?"
"Apparently," Felix said. The others all knew what the Ruin was, back when they had met. "I think most know." Felix thought a moment. "Why did you tell this to us?"
"I did not choose tonight's tale. That is the work of the storyteller," he said. "Yet, must there be a reason?"
Felix gave him a look. The Farwalker laughed and put up his hands. "It is only a story. An evening's diversion before the real work can begin."
"Real work?"
"You wanted information, no?" The Farwalker's chair was pulled out by a tired looking Wyvora. "Come. This time, you should bring everyone."
"Everyone?" Felix looked at Harn and the man was ready and waiting. He nodded and snapped his helmet back on.
"I suspect they will want to hear this too, Felix Nevarre."
