I was born on Dwarkaa and was an Apolake Warrior and part of a ship crew that visited the many land masses that make up our world. I helped instill the fear of Casimer to the many clans on the various farrins, the land masses.
A year and a half ago I learned of Kranti’s planned uprising through a night vision. There had been no dreams or visions for generations and so when I received one it shook me to the core. The woman who appeared to me informed me that the trauma we endured from childhood under Casimer’s rule renders our souls incapable of dreaming.
She came wearing a white, flowing shift and stood in a clearing among an impressive stand of trees. The woman was stunning, more beautiful than any other female I’d ever laid eyes on and light radiated from her. She came toward me as though we were equals and stopped two feet in front of me. I felt for the knife at my waist to cut her down to size, let her know it was not fitting for her to be so bold and confident. My weapon wasn’t where I’d placed it. I checked for my sword and realized it too was missing. I had nothing to use against her. She smiled and a small chuckle filled the space between us.
“I have come to show you the truth, Razmig” she said.
In anger, I said, “The Rule of Dwarkaa is the only truth I abide by.”
“After all you and your family has endured at Casimer’s hand and you still remain loyal?”
“I never said my heart was loyal.”
“So it’s fear that keeps you bound?”
“I want to live.”
“The life you are living is not truly life. It is death.”
“Who are you?”
“My name is Suma.”
“Where do you come from?” I knew she wasn’t from Dwarkaa. She didn’t act or speak like a Dwarkaa-born. Her boldness gave her away.
“I come from Tarmon.”
“That can’t be. Tarmon is a ghoul infested place that brings death and destruction.”
“You know so much about a land you’ve never seen?”
“I’ve heard all the rumors and tales retold from generation to generation. No one who visits Tarmon Farrin ever returns.”
“But I was born on Tarman. And, there is one who has visited and returned back to her land mass.”
“Her?” Shock filled my mind. “A woman?”
“Yes.”
“But why? Why would her clan have allowed it?”
“Dreams were given and the woman was summoned.”
“And the clan leaders permitted this?”
“Some of the leaders were also given dreams.”
This information rendered me speechless.
Suma continued, “Tarmon Farrin isn’t like the other farrins in this world. Tarmon desires to bring revolution to this dying place.”
A strange stirring began in my gut at that moment, something so unusual and foreign that it caused confusion to overwhelm me.
Suma said, “I have been commissioned to show you something.” She whistled and I heard the most ferocious roar. I didn’t have any frame of reference to know what was coming or what type of animal made such a bellow.
The largest bird I’d ever seen appeared in the clouds in the distance and approached quickly, growing exponentially in size as it came. I backed up and raised my arms to shield myself. If I’d had a weapon I would have drawn it and charged the beast. It landed beside Suma and screeched at me, fangs showing and scales quivering in fury, it’s long, encrusted tail flicking dangerously behind it. This was no bird. Suma calmly raised a hand and settled it on the beast’s scaly hide, calming it immediately. The creature stood nearly three times her height and yet didn’t attack her.
I stared at her in terror and felt shock that she could command this massive beast.
Suma smiled serenely and said, “This is Ebony, one of the dragons of Tarmon. He is one of the many beasts that make up our large contingent of The Noble Ones, or how we often refer to them, Dragons of the Mission.”
“What mission?”
“The mission to overthrow Casimer and his rule.”
“That’s not possible. Casimer cannot be overthrown. Anyone who tries would be forcibly tortured and killed.”
“Nothing is impossible.”
I simply stared at her, amazed at her ignorance of the horror we live with on Dwarkaa, what all the farrins live with.
“You are focusing on the wrong thing, Razmig.”
I continued to stare at her, unsure how to dissuade her stupidity.
“Your mind is consumed with Casimer’s power. Have you ever considered that there is one more powerful?”
“Casimer’s power is all anyone knows.”
“That is true but perhaps it is time to introduce the one who holds greater power.”
“You are speaking of him.”
“What is his name, Razmig?”
“We are not permitted to utter it.”
“Except under punishment of death,” Suma finished.
I nodded.
“You are having a night vision. No one will hear it.”
I wasn’t convinced that my words in a night vision were safe. The Tonrar were everywhere, perhaps also in my sleep. They monitored everything and reported to the Royal Guard, whether the reports were based in truth or not.
Suma said, “No one will hear your words in this dream. Tarmon has shrouded this vision in safety.”
I finally felt emboldened to speak. “You’re referring to Mowae.”
“Yes. This is the name you know him by, what the populace of this world knows him by. On Tarmon Farrin we call him Towsaj.”
“He really exists?”
“He does.”
“What does he want with our world?”
“There is one who dwells on a farrin to the west who has been visited many times in dreams and visions. His name is Kranti. This man knows that Mowae/Towsaj exists and he has been busy preparing for what Towsaj has shown him. Kranti has been organizing a revolution for decades and is older than any other man alive. When you meet him, his age will shock you. And, I promise you, you will meet him one day. But until then you will assist him in his mission.”
“What if I refuse?”
“You won’t. You are as tired of Casimer’s ruthless rule as the rest of this world’s population.”
“There are many who remain loyal, who would report and expose me if they knew I was assisting a revolution. My death would not be a speedy one. What you are asking of me is a death wish.”
“No it is not. It is salvation.”
“What type of salvation?” I’d heard that word before and it was always tied to Casimer’s Great Name. Banners were posted in different forums throughout Dwarkaa. They all said the same thing, ‘Casimer – The Great Salvation, the Savior of the farrins of our great world’. In my mind salvation was equivalent to barbarity.
“Salvation that will bring light, deliverance and hope,” Suma answered.
I think that’s what I began to feel stirring deep within – hope.
“Kranti is in need of ships – ships from Dwarkaa’s fleet.”
“And you want me to supply this to them?”
“Yes.”
“How in Casimer’s Name am I to do this without having my head roll?”
“Tarmon has released some pigeon’s that will assist in carrying out your mission. The next time you travel on a farrin patrol, you will release a whistle that will summon a pigeon. On that bird’s back will be a missive from Kranti. He has already been informed of your induction into this mission. You will send a reply via this pigeon, informing Kranti of a ship he is to attack and take. You will know at the time which ship and crew to surrender. You will know when to surrender another ship and then another until he is well supplied.”
“Why revolution now and why me?”
“There are many who have been crying out for Mowae’s return. The cry has reached him and he has been on the move for quite some time.”
I shook my head in disbelief.
“One more thing. You will receive a sign so that you know this vision is based in truth. Captain Donagh will be reassigned soon and you will receive a new captain. His name is Einar. Also, I suggest you keep a journal of all that you’ve seen this night and keep writing of your experiences from this vision forward.”
“Why?”
“Trust me; they will be helpful later on.”
That’s where the dream ended and I awoke drenched in sweat.
Since that night I have been abetting the revolt. Six months ago, when Donagh was reassigned to the farrin patrol to the southeast and Einar became my new captain, I knew for sure that I was on the right path.
For a year and a half I’d been abetting the revolt and, during that time, I’d often wondered if I’d been duped by the dream. When Einar became my captain, a level of assurance returned.
I kept my journals hidden, beneath the floorboards of my home. When I finished a handful of scrolls I took them to the mountainous regions of Dwarkaa and hid them in a cave that I’d discovered as a child. The spot I chose, deep within the tunnels of the rock enclosure, was a crevice so hidden and obscure that I was convinced my scrolls would never be found.
Since my late teens, I’d been part of the ruling arm of Dwarkaa, a member of a ship crew that visits various farrins, land masses, throughout Casimer’s Domain. We convey Casimer’s demands to the farrin clans, deliver weapons to encourage wars between clans, confiscate young children to serve a purpose on Dwarkaa, sacrifice clan warriors, and whatever else is needed to ensure the slavery and subservience of the greater world.
My father was part of the upper echelons of Dwarkaa society. He served as a Royal Guard in Casimer’s Palace. His position and influence supplied me with great opportunity for advancement even though no one knew that I was his son. My father still made sure I had prospects. I could have easily become a ship captain by now but I chose a different path. Remaining an obscure warrior served a better purpose and kept me out of Casimer’s line of vision.
My mother was my father’s mistress. She made her rounds in the upper echelons of Dwarkaa society, her way of keeping herself useful and alive. Later, her way of life also kept me fed and growing. My father gave her limited stipends, not enough to feed us. He had multiple wives and children he valued more. The one thing he did provide me was warrior training and an opportunity to join the Apolake Warriors when I came of age.
The reason behind the extensive massacre that took place five years ago has never come to the surface. Casimer became suspicious of an uprising among his Royal Guard. Although there was never any proof, a massive cleanse was announced, all the Royal Guards rounded up, along with their wives and children, and they were publicly tortured and killed in the Capital Square. Many of them were burned alive in the cages designated for such brutality to light the walkways of Casimer’s expansive Royal Palace Grounds. The smell of burning hide seemed ever present on Casimer’s property.
My mother died a year later, murdered by a man whose bed she went to warm. I should despise her for her occupation but it was her work that kept me fed and alive. I’ve vowed to see this man dead. He holds a high rank in Casimer’s domain. Grand Admiral Strutz oversees all the Farrin Patrol, every ship and its crew. He is the man I work for, the man who killed my mother.
Knowing what Dwarkaa did to my parents gave me the courage to secretly rebel. If Lord Casimer knew that I was my father’s son I would have joined my father in the grave along with him. Being spared a brutal death brought some gratitude. Hopefully Casimer will never learn of my ties to my father.
Through all the ruthlessness and heartache of Casimer’s regime, I grew to despise and abhor him and all those who rule with him. No one has great feelings of love for the man/god. He claims to be the god of our world but he is nothing more than a sadistic, imperious narcissist. Everyone suffers under his rule. Even the men in the highest ranks have felt Casimer’s cruelty. No one is safe from our ruler’s malevolence.
Most of Dwarkaa’s population is too terrified of Casimer to ever lift a hand or attempt a revolt. But Cadda Farrin to the west has been planning an insurrection for years and yet Casimer has remained oblivious to it. There are rumors growing on Dwarkaa of changes in the southeastern farrins as well but there have been no definite answers or reasons to explain it. I knew the reasons because of Suma’s visit but I kept this information to myself.
The ship captain that used to travel to the southeast, Captain Umiko, remained tight lipped for years but rumors gradually began to swirl through the taverns. Umiko was demoted months ago and our previous captain, Donagh, was promoted and assigned the farrins to the southeast to decipher if the rumors of revolt held any merit. I heard that Umiko and his entire family were incarcerated and were brutally murdered by the Royal Guards.
Two days ago, the ship crew I am part of arrived back from a tour of our designated farrins. Some significant events transpired during the voyage which I felt compelled to document.
When we arrived at the first of the land masses, a clan with an insignificant population, I stayed aboard ship while our captain and a handful of my fellow Apolake Warriors disembarked to deliver Casimer’s directives. The oppressive presence of the Tonrar, as usual, overwhelmed the vicinity surrounding the ship, bringing calm to the air but a heaviness that weighed on the chest and made it hard to breathe. A bubble of protection, the Tonrar’s doing, kept the constant hurricane force wind, which battered the many land masses, away from the ship but the price tag of oppression came with it.
I separated myself from the other crew members and retreated to the stern where I found solitude. Placing two fingers between my lips I whistled the trill that would signal my location. It wasn’t long until I saw, through the violent, dust-filled wind, a bird struggling against the gale, a pigeon flapping furiously to win against the onslaught of dust and debris.
I glanced around to make sure I was alone before stepping forward. When the pigeon penetrated the bubble of calm close to the ship, its flight leveled out and it floated evenly toward the rail and landed. There was a missive strapped to a harness around its middle. I advanced slowly, speaking softly. The bird cooed and strutted along the ship’s rail. Withdrawing seeds from my pocket I held them out to it and the pigeon turned toward me, pecking greedily at the bait as I gently slipped the note from the harness.
Throwing the seed to the deck, the pigeon immediately flew to the wooden floor and began to devour the rare treat. I opened the note, faced out toward the open sea and read.
‘I have befriended a member of the Renuka Clan. He has a different mindset than the rest. I recruited him to join us and invited him to see the army we’ve amassed. I’ve shown him the secret caves, ships, the hideout and the children. His name is Kuno. I believe he can be trusted. Keep an eye out for him when you visit his farrin.’
The note was signed, ‘Kranti.’
I cursed under my breath. We didn’t need the risk of involving a man from Renuka. Kranti’s secret army was located on Cadda Farrin. Cadda and Renuka had been rivals, waging bitter war with each other for centuries. What was Kranti thinking to expose the revolution to his enemy this way? He was risking too much, everything.
I knew I needed to be one of the soldiers to disembark and assist Captain Einar when we reached Renuka Farrin. I needed to know firsthand what kind of man Kuno was and why Kranti felt the need to include him. Before my frustration got the better of me, I retrieved the note I’d written earlier and approached the pigeon slowly. The bird was still busy devouring the seeds on deck. I slipped the small piece of parchment into the pouch and shooed the creature away.
My note informed Kranti of another ship and crew scheduled to arrive within a week a good twenty farrins to the north. I included a tip to Kranti on when and where to attack in order to gain the advantage that would assure another ship was added to his growing fleet. I knew I was relegating fellow Apolake Warriors to die but I was committed to my cause, Kranti’s cause, Suma’s cause. Actually, the revolution was in fact Towsaj’s cause, perpetrated by the cries of the populace.
As I watched the pigeon leave the protective bubble around the ship, it flew sporadically, left, then right, up and down, then right and left again, back and forth as though the atmospheric squalls had complete control. And yet the small creature kept flapping its wings feverishly, determined to win against the furious onslaught. I was sure the next gust of wind would send the creature hurtling into the massive waves churned up within the sea. The constant, vicious wind made the fowl’s flight a colossal struggle and I was surprised it managed to travel from one land mass to the other at all. Watching the pigeon’s travail and thinking of all that had transpired since Suma appeared to me in the dream, that strange emotion of hope rose up within me once more. I knew that what I was abetting was a long shot, a great struggle against a long held rule of domination and control. But that small flickering hope within my soul, that refused to be snuffed out, kept goading me on.
I finally left the stern to join my fellow Apolake Warriors. Captain Einar and the soldiers had returned to the ship, the mooring lines were loosened from the dock and we set sail for Renuka Farrin. I was eager to lay eyes on Kuno, the man from Renuka Farrin, the man Kranti had inducted into the revolution.
