A flame in the dark.
“Behind every akalak is two men, one light brother and one dark brother.” The historian spoke through his purple lips. “We talk as one at times, differ at others. It is the way. Some brothers even choose to let their darker half take control and become our fiercest warriors. Some would argue that perhaps these men, our Ceruleans, do not have a place within our society, but I bet the Ceruleans would have different opinions. At the end we have a duty that we can all agree upon: Riverfall must prosper. Even our humans can get behind that. Isn’t that right, Theo?”
Theo looked up from the doodle he had drawn on the parchment. On the paper the historian’s head was far larger than it actually was, and his hair was on fire. Around him the students were cheering, pelting him with books.
”Oh, yes, absolutely.” He said with a soft smile. ”Some of our finest Kuvay’Nas are humans, beautiful, manly warriors. Except the women.” The crowd snickered.
Beside Theo there was sweet Nivasa, a Konti married to two akalaks. She was attending the classes so she could take the education home to her sons. His eyes darted over to her. They had become quick friends, bonding over the laughs they shared. Their friendship was twofold: He kept her entertained enough to pay attention to the sometimes boring lectures, and she covered his humor with serious fact.
Theo nudged Nivasa with his eyes. He did this constantly, leading her into a reply of sophistication that stunted the professor so well that it made him ignore Theo’s clownish behavior. Theo was here to breed a good name and learn a sufficient amount of history to stand out among humans. If the lessons weren’t free as part of his employment he would have never appeared. It still surprised him how patient their professor was with Theo in the lectures.
Nivasa followed Theo’s move as expected. Perhaps she was unaware of his gains and goals, or just liked Theo enough to cover for him. Either way, he felt like he was some master puppeteer pulling strings from behind the scenes.
Nivasa cleared her throat. “Every race has a roll among the akalak. Without the akalak, so many konti would be left without husbands. It is only understandable that any man would want to father a son, and every woman a daughter. An akalak and konti partnership is the only relationship where both of our races can enjoy those same benefits without asking our husbands and wives to make a great sacrifice. As for humans, kelvics, and others, their races are free from the dangers of the wild….”
Theo felt a tap on his shoulder, he turned and there was another akalak sitting behind him. He had a big blue neck and was dressed in loose fitting silks of orange, violet, and shades of blue with a gold collar. Silks flattered every man, but Theo could still see the bulge coming from his belly, a rare trait among the akalak.
”Human, may I speak with you?” He asked.
”Brother Bisvan, for what do we hold the pleasure?” The lecturer called out with a slight annoyance.
The big-necked akalak looked up. ”Brother Makar---”
”It’s actually his other half who gives the lectures.” Theo interrupted. Soft giggles bounced around the air.
”I’m glad to see you pay attention to the lectures, human, it will serve you well. Now let us quiet this interruption, I have a task for you.” The fat akalak said.
”I’ll be back in a moment, Brother Makar. I’ll get caught up with Nivasa before the next lecture.”
”You’ll be missed, Theo.” Is he joking? Just when I was thinking these guys had no sense of irony.
The akalak led him to another room and closed the door behind them. There was a desk made from wood, well sanded with a shiny finish. There was a painting hanging behind the akalak when he took a seat. It was a picture of the sun setting on the Riverian Bay, the orange hue of Syna shined on the water through the Sea Gates and reflected onto the white stone of the city. Syna only shined her light through the Sea Gates once a year and artists had painted this painting many times, but to find one of this quality was rare as it was to find a fine artist.
”Is this your office?” Theo asked as slumped in his chair.
”Yes. My office.” The akalak said as he leaned his arms on the desk. ”I’ll make this quick, I have other matters to attend to. This is not a matter tied to the Society, but it will be worth gold. You have no need to commit to this task, it will not reflect on your standing in the Society.”
Theo sat up and crossed his left leg across his right at the knee. ”I’m listening.”
Bisvan began squeezing the excess skin of his neck. ”I have an old friend of mine coming in with some gold he owes me. I need you to get that gold for me.”
Theo sat up. ”I’m not mugging someone if that’s what you’re asking.”
”It wouldn’t be stealing, this is my gold. This man is a slaver too, you would be compensated for each slave you brought in as well, plus the amount of gold received.”
”What’s the catch?”
”Nothing more than what I told you. He will have armed guards, but I figure you’d think as much. Akalaks are too.. strict for this kind of work. They’d say I was better off fighting him for it, I think differently, and I bet you do too.”
Theo looked up from the doodle he had drawn on the parchment. On the paper the historian’s head was far larger than it actually was, and his hair was on fire. Around him the students were cheering, pelting him with books.
”Oh, yes, absolutely.” He said with a soft smile. ”Some of our finest Kuvay’Nas are humans, beautiful, manly warriors. Except the women.” The crowd snickered.
Beside Theo there was sweet Nivasa, a Konti married to two akalaks. She was attending the classes so she could take the education home to her sons. His eyes darted over to her. They had become quick friends, bonding over the laughs they shared. Their friendship was twofold: He kept her entertained enough to pay attention to the sometimes boring lectures, and she covered his humor with serious fact.
Theo nudged Nivasa with his eyes. He did this constantly, leading her into a reply of sophistication that stunted the professor so well that it made him ignore Theo’s clownish behavior. Theo was here to breed a good name and learn a sufficient amount of history to stand out among humans. If the lessons weren’t free as part of his employment he would have never appeared. It still surprised him how patient their professor was with Theo in the lectures.
Nivasa followed Theo’s move as expected. Perhaps she was unaware of his gains and goals, or just liked Theo enough to cover for him. Either way, he felt like he was some master puppeteer pulling strings from behind the scenes.
Nivasa cleared her throat. “Every race has a roll among the akalak. Without the akalak, so many konti would be left without husbands. It is only understandable that any man would want to father a son, and every woman a daughter. An akalak and konti partnership is the only relationship where both of our races can enjoy those same benefits without asking our husbands and wives to make a great sacrifice. As for humans, kelvics, and others, their races are free from the dangers of the wild….”
Theo felt a tap on his shoulder, he turned and there was another akalak sitting behind him. He had a big blue neck and was dressed in loose fitting silks of orange, violet, and shades of blue with a gold collar. Silks flattered every man, but Theo could still see the bulge coming from his belly, a rare trait among the akalak.
”Human, may I speak with you?” He asked.
”Brother Bisvan, for what do we hold the pleasure?” The lecturer called out with a slight annoyance.
The big-necked akalak looked up. ”Brother Makar---”
”It’s actually his other half who gives the lectures.” Theo interrupted. Soft giggles bounced around the air.
”I’m glad to see you pay attention to the lectures, human, it will serve you well. Now let us quiet this interruption, I have a task for you.” The fat akalak said.
”I’ll be back in a moment, Brother Makar. I’ll get caught up with Nivasa before the next lecture.”
”You’ll be missed, Theo.” Is he joking? Just when I was thinking these guys had no sense of irony.
The akalak led him to another room and closed the door behind them. There was a desk made from wood, well sanded with a shiny finish. There was a painting hanging behind the akalak when he took a seat. It was a picture of the sun setting on the Riverian Bay, the orange hue of Syna shined on the water through the Sea Gates and reflected onto the white stone of the city. Syna only shined her light through the Sea Gates once a year and artists had painted this painting many times, but to find one of this quality was rare as it was to find a fine artist.
”Is this your office?” Theo asked as slumped in his chair.
”Yes. My office.” The akalak said as he leaned his arms on the desk. ”I’ll make this quick, I have other matters to attend to. This is not a matter tied to the Society, but it will be worth gold. You have no need to commit to this task, it will not reflect on your standing in the Society.”
Theo sat up and crossed his left leg across his right at the knee. ”I’m listening.”
Bisvan began squeezing the excess skin of his neck. ”I have an old friend of mine coming in with some gold he owes me. I need you to get that gold for me.”
Theo sat up. ”I’m not mugging someone if that’s what you’re asking.”
”It wouldn’t be stealing, this is my gold. This man is a slaver too, you would be compensated for each slave you brought in as well, plus the amount of gold received.”
”What’s the catch?”
”Nothing more than what I told you. He will have armed guards, but I figure you’d think as much. Akalaks are too.. strict for this kind of work. They’d say I was better off fighting him for it, I think differently, and I bet you do too.”
