World of Taroo: Daku Queen

By Jimmy Eriksson

The world of Taroo was for a while calm, even if there was the underlying fear of the Daku queen’s return. For some, the life had briefly returned to normal and life could at least for a while at times feel safe.
When revenge drives someone to do horrible things, the result might become more than hoped for.
New land is acquired but as a result, there will be more than a few that would begin to show hate towards the new rulers.
For some, life seems almost pointless while others live out their dreams in the most captivating or perhaps horrifying ways.
Of those who learn the truth there are always some that doubt but when a revelation is shown to them, everyone falls in line to celebrate.
When finally the war that everyone had expected comes, there will be discoveries of the most horrifying atrocities.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Austin Macauley Publishers
• Release date: Jul 29, 2022
• ISBN: 9781398463936

Jimmy Eriksson

The creative mind of Jimmy Eriksson increases for each year with seemingly no end in sight. With this being the third book in the first trilogy, it finishes off a story that was first viewed in a series of recurring dreams. Jimmy, who still finds himself looking into another world, does his best to share the story he lives sometimes at nights.

Book preview

About the Author

The creative mind of Jimmy Eriksson increases for each year with seemingly no end in sight. With this being the third book in the first trilogy, it finishes off a story that was first viewed in a series of recurring dreams. Jimmy, who still finds himself looking into another world, does his best to share the story he lives sometimes at nights.

Dedication

For the dreams that always bring me back to my own world.

Copyright Information ©

Jimmy Eriksson 2022

The right of Jimmy Eriksson to be identified as author of this work has been asserted by the author in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publishers.

Any person who commits any unauthorised act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, locales, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

A CIP catalogue record for this title is available from the British Library.

ISBN 9781398463929 (Paperback)

ISBN 9781398463936 (ePub e-book)

www.austinmacauley.com

First Published 2022

Austin Macauley Publishers Ltd®

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Acknowledgements

I wish to thank the good people of Austin Macauley Publishers for their hard work in making this possible.

Addition to Kingdom of Wangoo

The waves hit hard on the cold beach Of Besidil and the sun is yet to rise, to shine a light on its white sand. Some birds have made their presence known by calling to each other but their sounds make little noise today. Creaking sounds from ships that have found their way here are mixed with voices that are soon overtaken by a hundred horses, together with many more footsteps entering the grass that meets the beach.

A small farm town lay not far from the beach and everyone is awakening to the sound and shaking created. Some walk out and look at who is there and they know trouble is ahead for anyone daring to stand against those coming. A little girl spots the person in the front of the people marching and asks her mother who it is, but the woman tells her to come inside.

The mother sees the woman on the horse and then the flags being held by some of the men. The Kingdom of Wangoo, she tells herself and heads back inside with her daughter. On one of the horses sits Nami. Next to her sits her personal bodyguard Soste. Their destination is the city of Dresto.

The island of Besidil holds no king or queen and has only cities or large estates on its land. The kingdoms around the world have never invaded before since much trade comes from Besidil and much unnecessary blood spills would be avoided if everyone kept to one city each to engage in trades with. It has been a way that has worked for many years and not many wish to disrupt.

Nami has come to ensure her kingdom gets a piece of the land and to take revenge for what those in charge did to her personally. When a fleet of ships crosses the ocean, it’s impossible to not be seen by someone. When walking on the land, those who can send messages of news do so in good speed around to the many settlements on Besidil.

Villages, Towns and cities that are currently trading with a specific kingdom send a word out in hope to inform what is happening. Because it is not yet known why the kingdom of Wangoo is there, some express nervous behaviour. Any town, settlement or farm that has learned what is coming their way has all put out flags of the kingdoms they are protected by on the highest point of the settlement.

Soste points out that she can see much fear and need to be careful of where they step. Nami is no fool and knows coming to Besidil would create much trouble for her but has taken the proper precautions to ensure she can walk with her soldiers without risking any confrontations. The many ships that brought them to the land of Besidil carry the flags of Ocenia that has loaned the ships to her to bring her army there.

Ocenia also has towns that supply them with the material, but some of the settlements have been taken over by Sylvano a few years earlier. King Tambo, that has become old, had other ways to get the material to his kingdom, so he never took them back but after hearing Nami had the intention to invade Dresto, he loaned her his ships without wanting more information. He hates the family that runs the city of Dresto and especially Wanskli, who is a rude spoiled bug that needs to be crushed.

Nami and those that follow her only stop briefly to feed the horses or themselves a few times and sleeps for only a short while when they do. Their way must lead them to their destination quickly and not take too long because Dresto can be secured well. The landscape is covered with thick snow but after the army has passed, there is a clear path through it.

Nami moves her army closer to the village of Omsamo but realises the village has been emptied of people a long time ago, as soon as they heard the ruler of Wangoo was coming towards them. Nami already expected this would happen and uses the village for their base. The sun is not visible in the sky much during the days and hides in the clouds that also keep the air pleasant. One of her most trusted men working for her has met up with her and now speaks to Nami about their next move.

Kuroi, who was with her the last time she was on the land, lets her know that he has sent away the best of the assassins working for her to seek out any weakness they can exploit. He will also leave and will be waiting for her when the time is right. She nods silently and asks him to be careful before he takes off with some more of the Butado clan’s best assassins.

They have only one duty and soon disappear away from the village. Soste stands next to Nami and asks what she thinks will happen to them when they advance closer. Nami hopes none of the men needs to fight but believes Wanskli might be foolish enough to try something and the longer they linger within the village, the more secure Dresto might become.

Nami has no intention to wait much longer and after her men have rested and geared up, she gives the order to advance towards Dresto. Anyone looking at the men following her can see that, perhaps, some of them should have retired from duty a long time ago. It’s true that many are old, but their heart and will are no lesser than the new recruits, if not more and everyone is ready to fight until death for Nami.

Many of those now marching towards Dresto once stood next to Belvill as his soldiers and when Nami revealed her plans to leave for Besidil, everyone that served her father volunteered to follow her. They took what they had and many refused to upgrade their weapons. The old-looking shields and clothes from the time of her father’s rule are mixed in with the newer armour of Nami’s reign.

They walk the path to Dresto and finally, the walls surrounding the city come into view. A whistling comes and the army stops for a moment, then several trees fall down on the paths in front of them. One of her people working in the shadows waves to them to continue and Nami looks at the trap that was setup to injure them if her people would not have spotted it.

During the way, 2 more traps become disabled until they stop to look at the wall from outside. The tower that once stood high in the sky is only half as big now, but Nami can see it is already being repaired a little. Her soldiers build up a defence made up of wood cut from the forest and also from the ground in the form of pits. It goes quick and controlled with many eyes looking at them.

There is much activity on the top of the wall from the guards working in the city that see the one thousand men strong army below them. Nami already knows she will be victorious this day and it’s only a matter of time. Even an advanced city like Dresto will not stand a chance against such a determined army. She wishes not to lose anyone in the fight coming but is aware that still most likely be the case.

When the time finally comes, the soldiers stand ready to engage with the first order from Nami that might come anytime. Soste informs about the exits around the city and also that they have already captured three members of the Utame Brotherhood that were found in the forest trying to flee. They had given up without a fight and now stood in front of Nami.

They are unmasked and Nami tells them they will be treated well if they don’t make any trouble, but since they are rivals, she has to kill them if they run away. They agree to be tied down and will get to watch how the city soon will be charged by the soldiers. When she asks why they decide to flee instead of fighting, one of them tells her that the brotherhood has changed to be nothing of value anymore. The inside of the city has already begun to dissolve and there is much noise from those in it.

The thought of such an army coming into their previous peaceful city makes many people turn on the guards that some as well think about laying down their arms. Nami knows just the sight of her army would bring many people down to their knees and give up. A sound from an arrow is heard and the soldiers are quick to raise their shields and the arrow hits one of the shields.

No order of attack is yet given and from where the arrow was shot, screaming is heard and a fight erupts. They all see a man waving his hands and screaming, please, to not fire back at them. It follows with a guard of the city falling down to the ground. The guard is injured badly and a voice calls from the wall that the one on the ground was the one who shot the arrow.

Soste asks if they should capture the guard that is injured, but Nami shakes her head slowly. Soste nods to one of the men in the army and he aims his arrow towards the man looking at them, gasping for air on the ground. The arrow he shoots at the man hits him in the head, killing him immediately. Nami decides to wait a little to see what might happen as she knows there is much fear behind the walls of the city.

Nami is being briefed about an exit not too far from them on the side that has been closed and then a sound from behind the main door to the city is heard. Only minutes after the event that involved the guard that shot an arrow at them, the door opens up. Out now come several towns’ people that approach the army.

Soldiers have been placed around the city to give reports about movements and the people inside knows this well from what they can see or hear. The large group of people say they wish to not be a part of the fight and leave until it’s over. Nami grants this since she doesn’t have any reason to attack the people but inform them that they will be watched by soldiers in case any of them would get an idea of a suicidal attack.

A lot of people leave and Nami learns that the guards made little effort to keep them in. Many of the guards have families in the city and want them out of harm’s way. When the door shuts again, they can hear screaming again from behind the walls from people who were not able to leave before the door was closed. There are more and more fights coming from the inside of the wall, which most likely is between those loyal to the leaders of the city and those knowing they will all die unless they give up.

Nami tells Soste to start the next phase of the mission. Members of the Butado clan get sent away to the water that runs into the city. They disappear away and inside the city, the screams go from anger to terror. The whole thing doesn’t take very long, with soon a large bang coming from the door. When it opens again, many people rush out from it before it once again closes.

Nami is informed that the recent line of people leaving had been attacked by some of the guards in the city, while others who abandoned their duties had managed to open the door to also flee. Those who fled have been questioned and Nami hears how Wanskli himself sits on a chair giving the orders from his house. Some of the people of Dresto have been killed when trying to fight the guards and now, the people hide in their houses rather than risk their lives getting out.

Not everyone coming out from the city is happy to learn who is attacking them and curse Nami for what she did earlier. She knows that the tower she made fall killed many innocent people and ruined much of the city. Nami feels bad for what happened but also knows she only did what she could do at that time. The sun goes down and the small Wangoo army still waits for her signal, but Nami will wait until the sun goes up before they attack.

The people inside the city are loyal to Wanskli and the Utame Brotherhood would cause much death upon her soldiers if she went in now, she believes, which is what she wishes to avoid. The time will come soon for Wanskli to bleed, she tells Soste. Her personal guard responds that they are almost done and will be ready by sunrise for her revenge.

When the sun comes up the next day, it’s snowing and it fills the ground around them. And indeed, the time has finally come for an attack. The city has been silent, but no one needs to enter to find out that something is going on behind the walls. Nami gives the signal for the attack to commence. From the forest comes a wagon, built overnight, full of heavy trees sharpened and aimed at the door.

Many soldiers are pushing to get the speed and no one is firing at them from the wall. When the thick heavy trees hit the door, they penetrate it easy and the door opens. Nami walks behind a few of her biggest soldiers and enters the city. No one is sighted other than people from the houses around that look at the one coming in. She knows where to go and soon, someone she knows stand in front of her.

Kuroi waits with many more of the Butado clan that have entered the city from the sewers. She asks how it went and Kuroi responds that everyone they encountered had given up immediately. He brings her to a house full of men with the Utame brotherhood brand on their clothes. They had given up as soon as they realised they would die and Kuroi tells them loud that they have no honour in their bodies.

Nami wishes for him to lead them out and wait for her outside until she gets out with Wanskli. The snow falls still and she looks up into the sky that has at some parts opened up further away. Soste believes, this day will end badly for someone but not for them and Nami smiles.

Nami takes the soldiers through the city until Wanskli’s house is sighted finally. She can see some guards standing on the outside and keeping a watch on the army approaching. Nami is in no hurry and gives the order to surround the compound, then turns to Soste that has been waiting for the attack.

Take men with you and gather wood for a mighty fire as well as many leaves, and Soste does so.

The hours come and go on the day and Nami wonders what Wanskli would think about what is happening outside. One of the men in the army comes up to her and lets her know they are ready for her. She walks down to the gate and now, some people have dared to open the windows or doors to see what is going on.

Nami tells them to light the fire and when Soste raises her hand, several of the soldiers light the fire that immediately starts to smoke from the wet leaf thrown in between the wood. The smoke moves towards the compound due to the wind and soon covers the house. Nami is calmly looking at the fire when one of the soldiers tells her there is someone wanting to see her. She turns back towards where the soldier is pointing and she sees a familiar face.

He is accompanied by several old but strong soldiers and Nami waves to him to come closer.

Catigernus, she speaks and he bows his head to her.

He tells her if he had known who she was, he would have bowed to her earlier. Nami is surprised he still is in the city and also remembers she saw him put up signs asking for people to fight him. Smiling, he admits it’s true, but very few have shown up to fight him, especially since Wanskli had threatened to shut him down.

He was about to leave for the next stop on his journey when he heard someone was coming towards the city. He chose to stay to see what would happen and is happy, he did. Those who have followed him, stand further back and she thinks a little before she says something again. She offers him a chance to fight a ruler and gives him a look of being serious.

He has a feeling of whom she is referring to and speaks to her of how he would be honoured to lend his assistance to her. Nami tells him to please stand by, while she turns back to the house that is covered in smoke. It doesn’t take long before the first guard leaves the house coughing hard and then more follow after.

One by one, they are bound by the hands and led away from the house to the big square, where they are all kept under watch. The day goes on and almost everybody gives themselves up, except for two that charge the soldiers after pretending to give up. They get shot down with the many arrows pointed at them and soon lay dead.

When evening hits she knows there is only two more guards and Wanskli inside, thanks to the guards willing to speak. He is in the kitchen and refuses to leave from there but will soon find out he has no choice. Nami grows tired of waiting and sends the soldiers to fetch him out to her. Five of her father’s old soldiers volunteer to walk in after the fire has stopped burning. With their own reasons for revenge, they enter the complex and look around the room they are in.

The stairs go down and they head to the floor where they can hear Wanskli shout orders to the last loyal men still next to him. They cough due to the smoke still lingering in the air and look at the five soldiers closing in on them. Wanskli tells them to attack and save him. They are only old men, he calls out.

The two last men walk slowly out from the kitchen, hesitating to attack against the five calm soldiers that await them. One of the soldiers tells the two guards they should not waste their lives on a coward like Wanskli, who is shouting again for them to attack. Both the men do not need much persuasion to lay down their arms. Their opponents may look old but just looking them in their eyes is enough to tell them they would never leave alive and are led out by two of the soldiers.

The last three of Nami’s men take place on each side of the kitchen after one of them circle around to hold the other entrance to the kitchen. Wanskli holds his sword and screams not to come closer. The old soldiers calmly stare at him then one of them informs him that there is only one way out alive. Either he walks out in one piece or be dragged-out crying. Wanskli knows what waits for him outside and has no choice but to attack.

He charges the lone soldier behind him, but Nami’s soldiers are well-trained and the whole thing is over before it starts. Wanskli receives a slap hard over his face to make him harmless due to the force of it. The others are soon upon him and now drag him out, bound as well as gagged. When he gets closer to Nami, he tries to move as much as possible but is then thrown down to the ground in front of her.

She looks at him and asks him if he missed her while she was gone. He tries to speak and shakes his whole body. Soste walks up to him and delivers a hard kick to his stomach that silences him for a while. Nami looks at her, then back to tell Wanskli that she had told her what he did to her, so it’s to be expected that she would be angry.

People have started to come out and see the treatment of the man that has run the city well for them. Many are angry at the army for coming to their city and at Nami for causing so much trouble for them. Nami cares little about what they think and orders the soldiers to bring people into their houses. The men have soon evacuated all the people to their homes and then she asks Soste to stand him up.

She orders 50 men to come up and stand to make a ring that will act as a barrier. She asks Catigernus if he would please come up to her, which doesn’t take long. He is unaware of why she hates him so much that she would show up with such an army and she informs him that Wanskli raped her the last time she was there and she would like for him to use his skills as a master of fighting, to cause him some injury.

Catigernus is not a hired goon that will do what people say and feels himself to be a good person that wants a fair treatment for everyone. Normally, he would have declined her request, but he, however, also hates people like Wanskli that he just learned did the most unforgivable to a woman he could do. He removes his clothes that are there to keep him warm and tells her, he will bring the man some heavy pain.

Soste removes the ropes but is a little sad that she is not going to be the one that beats him up. Nami turns to her and lets her know that she has another job for him later, then give the word to start the show. Wanskli tries immediately to run away, but the soldiers around throw him back. He looks at the man coming closer to him and can tell he is a warrior. He has no choice but to plead for mercy from Nami that shakes her head.

He then tries to attack Catigernus but gets blocked and receives multiple hits to the head. He tries again, but this time, he gets his body hit by heavy strikes that don’t seem to stop. Catigernus is a little older now, but the muscles are well built through the years of fighting and every punch feels like a brick hitting. Wanskli again tries to beg for mercy, but Nami tells Catigernus that although she doesn’t want Wanskli dead, she doesn’t mind some broken bones.

Not many seconds later, a crack from one arm is heard as well as from one of the legs; the pain is too great and Wanskli can only lay down screaming. Nami tells Catigernus that he has done a great job and can leave the rest to her. She walks up and spits on his face, then kicks him a few times on the side of the body. She asks two of the soldiers to take him to the house then leave him with Soste.

The men place Wanskli in the house he lives in and then turns back to the others that wait outside. Soste tramples around him and cannot hold on anymore and kicks him in the head, causing him to lose one tooth. Wanskli knows he is dead, so there is no reason to beg anymore. He instead begins to laugh and tells Nami, he has thought about her during the time they were apart.

Soste walks up, but Nami shakes her head, so she backs off again. Without any care, he tells the queen that she should hold a tighter leash on her lapdog, so she doesn’t bite. He then turns to Soste and wonders, perhaps, if she would like for him to spend some time alone with her too. Soste cannot contain herself and strikes him so hard over the mouth he loses yet another tooth.

She grabs his balls hard and lets him know how much she would love to handle him alone. She lets go and he starts to cough hard after holding his breath when she grabbed him. Nami sits down on a chair and tells him, she had enjoyed killing his father more than anyone. He screamed all the way down and when he fell, she could see in his eyes that he was afraid, she tells him.

Wanskli sits quiet and tells her, it doesn’t matter because she will never see her father again, so just kill him now. He gives a smile and then asks if she is too afraid to do the job herself since she got others to do it for her. Nami smiles as well and tells him, she will but is not done playing with him yet. First, she wants him to experience something that would surely give him much pain. He looks at her and then turns to Soste, who is smiling as well.

He is very afraid all of a sudden and demands to know what they intend to do. Nami tells Soste to start and Wanskli sees Soste walk up to him fast. She punches him again and proceeds to take off all his clothes until he is sitting naked on the floor in front of them. Soste stands next to Nami and believes it doesn’t look like much for a man and Nami respond by telling her, it wasn’t, but it still needs to come off.

Wanskli gets frozen with fear when Soste now grabs him, so he is on his knees with his broken arm hanging and his other arm in a lock. Nami brings out a knife that she feels the edge off while Soste has to hold for his mouth since he starts to scream. Nami tells him she has made sure the blade is extra sharp just for him and walks closer. She bends down and looks him in the eyes, then grabs his penis and pulls it out.

She speaks calmly that she will make sure that his name will be forgotten soon from people’s minds, then cut only once. The blood sprays her and he makes many sounds behind the hand of Soste but soon silences as every breath hurts from the pain. Soste lets him go and walks next to Nami that is looking at him lying on the floor just staring in the air.

Nami takes a deep breath and then asks Soste if she wants a souvenir, holding the cut off limb close to her. Soste smiles and shakes her head, then Nami throws it back to Wanskli, who is not moving on the floor. He can be heard taking tiny breaths and Nami is finished with him, so he is all hers. Soste puts her hand on Nami’s shoulder and tells her to go down and clean up, while she handles the rest. Nami nods and walks to the room where Wanskli usually sleeps.

There is a bath, where she pours the water into. She washes her clothes as good as she can in a smaller sink, but blood is hard to get off. When she is ready to give up, she hears the door knock and Soste asks if she can come in. Nami hangs her clothes close to the fire that she has lit and then sits in the bath. She asks Soste what she did to him and Soste tells her she gagged him so that he couldn’t scream. She then broke the other arm and leg, then proceeded to crack all the ribs, one by one.

Before he eventually died, she told him that when she dies, she will come to see him again. She tells Nami that she has asked the men to bring out Wanskli to be burned outside the city, where they are taking him now. Nami is happy and lets the warm water cover her whole body. She tells Soste to prepare the city for what will come next and Soste leaves her alone. Nami sits silenced for a while, then begins to cry and feels both happiness and sadness coming over her. For a while, she sits alone with her thoughts of what has happened during the last month.

Meeting Family

It’s finally morning and the people are waiting for their future to be revealed to them. Much rumour has been spread of what has happened and some are false. The people are standing in front of the compound that once belonged to Wanskli that made the city flourish. Many have already made up their minds and some left the city in the morning.

Nami will not speak to them as she already has caused them much grief even if it is the right thing to do, she believes. One of the most articulate soldiers will speak on her behalf and explain the process that will give the people answers. While the soldier speaks, Nami stands with her soldiers further away, talking about what they will do with the rest of the Utame Brotherhood that they have captured. It is not custom to kill prisoners, but she also knows they might come after her or the ones she holds dear.

They can hear many boos from the outside and Soste closes the window. She wonders if it will be hard to convince the people of Dresto that it was for a good cause that they took over.

Wanskli and his father Sylvano had treated the people well. So, in the eyes of those living here, we are the evil, she adds.

There is also the matter that so many innocent people died, including a few children.

Nami nods but responds, It cannot be helped and we will tell the truth, no matter how many will believe us.

She hopes, eventually, the people will understand and be a part of the Wangoo kingdom.

She is sad that children had to die and knows it’s the price she has to endure. Nami now also heard some news from one of her men who told her that the most fearless of the Utame brotherhood has been rumoured to be dead. Makimo has been found dead and buried. Nami wants the grave to be unearthed and the assassin buried somewhere where his soul does not get any rest but is then told that those who buried him have taken their own lives so that no one can find him.

Nami is not happy to hear this but has other things in her head. One of the commanders asks where they are headed now and Nami wishes to see her father. The next day, she leaves the house that once belonged to one of the guards in the city and heads out on the street. The people have been told not to come close to her as that could mean death for them at the hands of the soldiers.

Nami knows it’s not the best way to introduce a new leader to the people, but she would still be in danger by those hating her for what she has done. She walks with fifty of her soldiers that escort her through the city and will follow her to the grave of her father. Those coming with her are older men that once fought with her father and have all requested to join her to the grave. When they are almost at the gates, she gets called by one of the oldest soldiers, who says he has something for her.

Catigernus is also next to the soldier, as he has been waiting for her to come by. She walks up to the soldier and sees someone she recognises sitting on the knees in front of him.

Rimon, she speaks surprised as she did not expect to ever see him again.

But as soon as she sees him, she remembers what he did in Omsamo village the last time she was there. The slightly beat up man smiles at her then tells her, how she looked better as a prostitute. He gets hit by the old soldier and Nami asks, if he was in the tower. It turns out he wasn’t but was with Wanskli in his house before they caught her and carried her away.

The soldier who holds him knows Rimon personally and he used to be one of the men working with her father as an assassin. Rimon admits that it’s true and he was happy to switch sides to the Utame Brotherhood when he got the great offer from Sylvano. Nami tells him, she guesses, he expects to die soon and he tells her he is ready.

She looks at the soldiers and does not wish for this man to be killed and rather to be put in the dungeon at her castle. Rimon is confused and tells her she makes no sense, as he would live longer without her getting revenge on him. She turns to the old soldier holding him, also looking confused and tells him to inform the new prisoner how the dungeon in her castle looks like.

The old soldier smiles and tells her he will personally handle the matter. She walks away, heading out from the city with Catigernus next to her. He asks her what she meant with the dungeon and she reveals how it’s cold, wet and full of critters, as well as no space to fully stand straight. He understands and believes it would be a terrible punishment but surely one he deserves and she will make sure he stays alive for a long time.

Changing the subject, she asks him why he waited around and he expresses a wish to stay in Dresto now, that it has changed and start a new guard business. He was going to leave, but with a new city in confusion, he might be able to help her integrate with the people. Knowing that the city’s defence has been greatly exaggerated since he has seen them prior to her coming there, he wants to change it. If it wasn’t for the assassins, the city would have held little fear for anyone else.

Nami tells him if he wishes to stay, then do so, but he must then join her kingdom as one of the Wangoo soldiers. He lets her know that those following him are willing to do what is required for a chance to help. She asks one of the soldiers to write up a paper that states Catigernus’ name as one of them. She then turns to him and does need good people, which she believes he is, so she welcomes him to her kingdom. He bows to her and promises that he will start the preparations right away to get everything ready.

Sometime later, Nami walks in the snow that is crunching at her feet and feels still good about everything that has happened. She meets Soste, that has gone ahead and then they walk past the small fire that was used to burn Wanskli’s body. She can see the bones and the skull belong to him. She walks in the ash and looks at the skull that is charred by the fire. She takes aim and stamps on the skull, crushing it under her feet.

It feels good and she turns back to the others that are waiting for her. The Butado clan’s assassins have all left ahead to secure the way to her father’s grave and they set out to it as well. It will take perhaps a day to walk to where they are going, so they leave while the weather is calm. Walking through the forest calms her head a lot and there is much singing from the birds in the trees.

She is happy not one of her men got killed in taking Dresto but inside was hoping for a bigger fight. When, after some time, they enter the part where her father was spending time, she can see some of the assassins have set up a camp for her. They tell her they have found the grave and she feels some pain coming in her stomach.

The sun has begun to set again, when she sees the crowd of men waiting for her to come. She lays her eyes on the grave that belongs to her father and feels her eyes watering. She holds the tears back and puts her hand in the bag she carries, holding her father’s skull. The grave is simple and next to it is another smaller grave.

She knows that the man in the grave next to her father is Dolko and thanks him for staying loyal to her father. She tells the soldiers around her to, please dig her father up, as well as the man lying next to him. They dig and even if the soil is hard, the men have no problem to unearth those buried within it.

The wooden box buried in the ground containing her father has cracked somewhat, but the men are still able to take it up. They can see that the box had once been forced open and it must have been when Sylvano had the skull from Belvill removed. They open the box and inside lies the man Nami has always thought to have been a traitor for so many years.

The men bow their heads since they have all worked for him when they were young. Nami brings the skull out from the bag and places it where it should be. She looks at the bones of her father and asks the men to close the box to then be prepared for transport to Wangoo.

Dolko is being unearthed as well, but he has no box surrounding him. A knife still sticks out of the chest and it has the mark of the Utame brotherhood on it. She gives the order to the soldiers to bring the man as well to the kingdom, as he was the only one that remained loyal to her father and lived long enough to give a letter to her aunty.

Now that she is done, Nami wants to leave as fast as possible. Although it’s unlikely that she will run into trouble from other kingdoms, she knows she is not wanted there and it would be foolish to tempt fate too much. They now travel down the land back to the ships that wait for them to come back. When they are close by, they are met by many of the soldiers returning from Dresto to head back to Wangoo.

Two hundred soldiers are left at Dresto and will transition the city into the rule of Nami. Some would most likely oppose this, but others don’t mind as long as there is peace. Leaving on the ships for home feels great for Nami and she spends much of the trip home alone with her father’s remains in her cabin. She gets the privacy she wants and everyone knows to give her space in a moment like this. When the ships finally enter the coast of Nanta, others can be seen waiting for them, including sailors of the Ocenian kingdom.

The borrowed ships are returned and a generous payment to the King of Ocenia is given, as thanks for his help. The wooden box containing her father is carried by the men once standing beside him and they take him to a monument Nami had asked to be built, while she was gone. A new casket has also been made and everything is ready for her. She knew she would be victorious to bring her father home and sees the grave in view.

The men move the bones of her father to the new casket and lay him as a king would lie. Nami is happy and thanks the men for the loyalty they have always shown her family. The men putting the bones in are all in their 70s and all speak of how they will be loyal to her family until death. One of the men suddenly calls to her attention as there is something else in the box and reaches for something; he then holds up.

It’s a pendant that is covered with dirt from lying in the soil for so many years. Despite the dirt, a blue gem can be seen in the middle. Nami tilts her head and tries to remember something but doesn’t know what. She hears some voices in her head and then her eyes open wide because it all comes back to her. She walks up to the soldier holding the pendant and he hands it to her.

She brushes off the soil and the gem can be seen as blue like the ocean. She looks at it and cannot believe what she is seeing in front of her. She gave her father the pendant when he came back from one of the missions he had. She doesn’t remember what she said to him, but she had taken the blue gem from the treasury and replaced the gem that was already there.

She smiles and thinks to herself, she is happy he kept it all the time up to his death. She takes the blue gem and places it on top of his chest. A sword from the armoury engraved with signs for a king is also laid in the chest. Belvill is then carried to the monument, where a grave underneath it has been dug. Nami sees her father be taken down and when it’s done, she bows her head as do everyone else around her.

She tells Soste to give Dolko a worthy grave amongst the assassins and Soste promises it will be so. When Nami enters her room a little later, she spends some time with her son, playing with him. She missed him much and when he later sleeps in her arms, she feels happy. However, there is something she feels she needs to do for herself. She tells her servants, not to disturb her and let her be alone until the next day.

They take her son, that is put in bed and when they all have left, she takes off her clothes, then gets into her bed. It doesn’t take long before she starts to cry and does so for many hours. It has finally come to her that she has buried her own father and suddenly, the world seems so much harder. After eventually falling asleep, she dreams of her father and how they would have been if he had not been killed by those he trusted.

When the next day comes, Nami is very tired but feels she has begun a new chapter in her life, as one has been finished behind her. Nami has always kept herself in good shape all her life, but now, it seems less important. She looks at her son, that shows her a bird he holds made from paper and she tells him it looks very nice.

She hugs her son hard and promises she will stay home more now, which he of course is very happy about. A few days pass and a letter has come from her aunt Lisaro, that speaks of how she wishes to come to see her brother’s grave. Not long after the letter was returned, queen Lisaro arrives with her escort into the land of Wangoo.

After travelling for a few days, her legs feel extra tired. Lisaro sees the monument, where her brother lies under and hugs Nami, who later brings her into the castle. Nami tells her what happened but leaves out the part about being raped because she believes her aunt would not stop crying if she knew. When Nami tells her aunt about Kemi being the one that paid for having the war start, Lisaro only shake her head.

She says nothing will surprise her about that treacherous woman. Nami looks at her aunt that can be seen shaking her hands a lot. The queen sees Nami looking and tells her she has some bad news for her. She reveals that this is not just a visit to pay respect to her brother but also to have a request. Nami wonders what her aunt wants and knows she has become increasingly fragile through the years.

Lisaro tells her she is dying and will not live for more than a few months, at best. Nami sits quietly since this is something she has already thought about. She does not wish for her aunt to feel like she is bothering her and tells her she would be missed terribly by her the day she dies. When asked how she knows, Lisaro explains that she has felt her bones become heavy to bear and has no appetite anymore. The potions and elixirs do nothing for her anymore to help her.

Nami knew something had started to take a hold of her but tried not to speak about it. Lisaro appreciates how Nami is not showing she was worried, as she hates when people do so to her. She then leans over to Nami and tells her, there is a problem that has come up with her dying that needs to be taken care of. Nami asks if it’s about the fact that she has no heir directly under her, so there is no one that can take over.

Lisaro had always hoped Nami would take over but wasn’t sure she wanted to since it would be a much greater kingdom. She thought about the idea of her nephew Char taking over, but it made her think about the horrible wife of his, so she didn’t want that to happen. Nami sits for a while quietly, while Lisaro gets served another cup of tea from one of the servants. She never really wanted to rule Domoro and always felt more drawn to Wangoo.

However, after everything that has happened, she has had a change of mind. Nami finally speaks and agrees to take over if that is her auntie’s wish, but she would have to change certain things. Lisaro is happy and gives her permission to do what she wants and also knows her niece has secured a trade deal with the Redonian kingdom, that might become great for the Domoro kingdom as well.

Nami will make sure their bloodline stays strong for years to come and looks at her son playing at the side of her. With Lisaro being sure her kingdom ends up in the right hands, she feels very good. A declaration of transfer of power telling how Nami will replace her as the new queen after she dies is drawn up and is signed by both of them.

The queen spends a few more days with Nami and her son before she eventually takes off to her kingdom to live the last time she has left there, amongst the people that love her.

Folatu

The ocean is calm and not much wind is felt in the air, but in the morning, much fog spreads across to waters. The small waves hit the ships, seemingly standing still in the ocean. A mix of Canterian and Darcolian ships fill up a large part next to the island. The men standing on the deck of one of the smaller ships brought along look at something once hard to see due to the mist that once laid there.

The island of Folatu is now visible and so is also the ships that have dared to enter the mist without knowing where to go. There are many ships sunken or trapped by the rocks that are sticking out of the water. Arobe, that has also moved over to this ship, looks at some of the wreckages that have got stuck between sharp rocks or gotten partly sunken.

He recognises the flags that have broken down, but some can still be identified from the lands around. Commander Thamrin comes behind him that believes it will be hard to enter the rocks without breaking the ships. Even if they themselves are on a smaller ship, it’s still very dangerous.

After sailing around the island, they finally believe they have found the easiest way in, but still, it might prove risky. Also, not knowing what would be waiting for anyone entering the island made Arobe not bring a lot of soldiers with him. He felt it would be better to enter as quietly as possible onto the island and, therefore, are the rest of his soldiers on the larger Darcolian ships.

King Favell had offered to bring the Mariko girls in his kingdom that could control the power of the crystals, but Arobe had turned it down, as he didn’t know if his brother was dead or still alive on the island. Showing up with too many at once could prove to be dangerous for those possibly alive, Arobe knows. The fact that not even the Sabors have been seen or come back must mean something bad has happened. Even so, Favell will still keep close to the island in case of them being needed.

He and the rest of all the ships stand ready not far from where they are if they require help, equipped with freshly-developed cannons. Prince Grummel has finished his new weapon and many ships are trying them out, including the Canterian Kingdom. With several cannons firing at once against the rocks, some of them hit to clear out a small path, where the rocks are not as thick.

Thamrin tells Arobe they should be able to enter without problem, now that the waves are small and Arobe agrees, but it’s just a matter of time before the wind charges up again, he knows. The smaller ship heads in where the path is and navigates between the many ships in there. Arobe can see through the water, which has become clear due to the low depth, that there is a treasure on the bottom floor.

The gold shines up and there is more next to a ship with a big hole in. There is no chance he goes down for it since doing so would jeopardise the ship, as it would have to stay there longer. When they come closer to land, commander Thamrin is worried it would be dangerous to continue as the rocks become closer to each other. Arobe tells the few men he has brought to get into the boats that will take them closer to the island.

Thamrin stays with the men on the ship, that will wait for a quick exit if needed. He tells Arobe to remember he only has a few days to find Amaya, then Favell will bring the might of his fleet to the island. Arobe tells him to turn the ship around and then look up in the sky. If he is successful, he will have the Sabors give the signals. Arobe rows with four other men and soon stand on the beach, where he sees evidence of the island people’s presence.

There are several men strapped up on poles, both from long ago and recently. He recognises a man who was supposed to have been travelling with Hoseki and was one of his top students. A shame to see new and past men who have worked for his ancestors, Arobe tells the others. Knowing that time might be scarce, they need to hurry.

They head into the forest quickly but carefully and immediately spot traps set to give signals that someone is on the island. They work fast, disabling the traps and head through the forest that is thick but, at some parts, very open. They hear sounds after a while, that for them tells them that they should be getting close.

To not accidentally make themselves known, they make sure no mistakes are made and Arobe has handpicked the men himself for this mission. At all times, they need to be careful since a trap can be the doom of them all. They have a map given to them by one of the Hoseki’s apprentices, that took the information from those who travelled there hundreds of years ago, together with Gon’s information about the island.

They made a drawing of what had been seen and put it all on the map. Where they are going is taking them to the older part of the island, where the first settlements were built. After walking for many hours, the darkness comes and they can hear some voices. When they listen, they can pick up that the people are looking for someone, but they do not know who because the words are mixed and sounds like a different language.

Soon, the voices stop and they can continue closer to the city. The darkness fills the sky with stars and the lights from the city shine as well. They have a great view from where they are and can see the great tower at the edge of the city. Arobe believes that his brother would most likely be held in the tower, but without knowing, he could lose time going there.

He tells the men they need to speak to the island people, but since the people most likely are less than willing to speak to them, they will have to force them. One of the men that have come asks what to do with the people they take and Arobe orders to kill them. The men, who are the most loyal of men to the kingdom, have no problem with this since they are missing one king and the Sabors that most likely would be needed if Kemi ever resurfaced again.

After midnight, they head down to the entrance of the city and look for houses to target. To make sure they do not have to take risks with multiple people in the same house noticing them, they choose the ones with either one or two people in them. Arobe enters a house with easily breaking the lock that would not stop anyone other than small animals from coming in. He tells two others to grab a younger man sleeping in the bed and hold him up. The man is shocked to find the three men with swords in his home and tries to call for help but is unable to do so.

Arobe brings a knife up and asks him if he knows where his people are that came before him and would be held on the island. He tries to shout every time and Arobe understands, he will never talk and knows, there is only one thing to do. He kills him by stabbing him in the heart, so he dies quickly. The men put him back to bed, so he looks like he is sleeping and then leave out again of the house.

The others were also unsuccessful in getting information. Arobe enters another house with an older woman and asks the same questions. The priests on the island must have a tough grip on the island people because she as well refuses to talk. She dies from a hard blow to the neck and gets put into the bed to look like she is sleeping. There are some more houses that need to be entered, but now, a light can be seen closing in on them. They hide away and see two guards patrolling the streets.

Taking them out would be easy but two missing guards would, for sure, create suspicion about someone being there. They let them go and continue inside another house. A couple lays in bed and the men get ready to grab them, when Arobe stops them. He tells them to be silent and listens in the house. The men wait for orders, while they see Arobe move his head from side to side. He turns to the men and asks if they don’t hear the female’s voice.

The men try to listen, but there is nothing but silence mixed with normal sounds found anywhere at night. What they do hear that is different is the woman in the bed move and turns her head to look at them. She has only time to inhale the air needed to scream out, before she gets a knife right in the throat. She shakes and the man beside her wakes up as well, but before he can react, he receives a knife to the head. The woman dies when Arobe stabs her in the heart to kill her quickly and then he tells them, they need to leave for the forest again.

Not understanding why the sudden change of mind, they get the others that once again have not been successful with getting information. He tells them to follow him and they do without questioning him. None of them still hear any voice from a woman and is not sure what they will find outside the city again. Not knowing why only he can hear the voice and the others can’t; he listens for the voice in his head and soon reaches the forest, where he runs to where it becomes stronger.

The voice is now as close as it can be and they have stopped in the middle of the forest. The voice stops and Arobe looks around in the darkness for the origin of the voice. The men that have heard nothing wait for what it could have been. Every one of the