Enduring in the Unforgiving Spoils (eBook)

Robert-Scott Bannersglare (Autor)

eBook Download: EPUB

2025 | 1. Auflage
325 Seiten
Bannersglare Publishing (Verlag)
978-0-00-080124-1 (ISBN)

Infos

Within the empire known as Smoyemp's Spoils, many protagonists struggle with moral dilemmas and protecting what they hold dear. From the islands to the desert, many dangers abound ranging from the treacherous Overchoking to selfish rulers. Many unique characters bedeck the world of Yimulos, such as the polymath Segebi pained by prophecies or the ascetic-turned-warrior Lilem pushing back the Overchoking.

Textauszug

Readying Himself With Power, Poetry, Pleasantry

303 SP

The scholarly, Sepia-Toned Kukojali walked inside his cloister within the Seaweed Bluff Thinkinghub. Despite living within a small Thinkinghub, Kukojali could see the wide blackness of the sea from a window. The singing of the gulls and the rushing of the waves filled the room with comfort. The very name suggested that the clusters of seaweed decorated the parts of the black sea with a variety of soothing colors, such as green, yellow, orange, and red. Small islets rested in the distance with only a few huts inhabiting them.

Kukojali’s green, thin-laced robe with a looping pattern crinkled from the racing air that fell upon his room. Because the shade of cypress trees protected the clay-hardened window, Kukojali felt cool despite the unbearable heat of the Beam-of-Light outside. It pierced the sky with its form of a bright, never-ending column surrounded by gray clouds and blue remnants of sky.

Slumping upon the chair, Kukojali relaxed as he breathed in the cool air of a well-spent day. He finished spending the day engaging in prayer to Carries-a-Seed, the Woodwind of prosperity, and serving the Rainclothed who came to the Thinkinghub cafes to share tidbits of innovation and brilliance. From those conversations come opportunities to engage in sponsorship of a project.

Upon hearing the blaring of the mammoth tusk from the center of the Thinkinghub, Kukojali walked outside upon the seashell-marbled floor. Seaweed Bluff Thinkinghub functioned due to its sponsorship by Cabin Tolizep harvested from the great and adventurous Smoyemp’s plucky granddaughter Seku. He crossed the bridges of the artificial rivers fed by the nearby rivulets and the Green Foam Sea that cut through the Thinkinghub, bringing fish, eels, bouncing bugs, and crustaceans throughout them. He could see that the rest of the Plovers-of-Plenty came out also wearing their green, thin-laced robes. Like the other Number-Gatherings, the Plovers-of-Plenty had many tones among them, like the ashlar-toned of the western Ymbwimladob continent, the Sepia-Toned of the south Ylemlos archipelagoes, and the Walnut-Toned deep in eastern Ylemlos.

The Plovers-of-Plenty created the innovations and technology of the Smoyemp-Harvested of Qashathad Estuary. Established during the days of Smoyemp himself, they helped propel the Smoyemp-Harvested to expand their trading routes and their raids beyond the southernmost archipelagos. Eventually, they landed by the estuary of the clam-hoarding Qashathad tribes.

Kukojali could see the elderly Highest-of-Plenty, Gempath, who hobbled the high stage to stand beside the Plover-of-Plenty responsible for blowing the mammoth tusk. He expected to listen to the announcement with anticipation, for he fixed his eyes upon him.

I hope that this time, there will be more hope concerning the future of the Spoils.

Kukojali tried to keep himself from breaking out in tears over the near brushes with death, which included the affliction of the Great Suffocation or his time growing up among the Kamazh’evõk sand-burrowing tribe as a hostage. Instead, he clenched his fists and swallowed any tears he accumulated. At his point in his life as a man hitting middle age, he found it easier to hold back tears.

A plague devastated Smoyemp’s Spoils and caused a civil war among the Smoyemp-Harvested—specifically the four Cabins of the Amesse Alcoved-Line who already held the most power. After the devastation of their Cabins, the remnants cobbled together and allowed Qujetoima to rule as the Pig-Hatted among Pig-Hatted.

The Highest-of-Plenty declared, “By the gusty push of Carries-a-Seed, it has been brought to our attention that the Smoyemp-Harvested Qujetoima Sea-of-Blood has given up his Pig-Hatted to don the Smoke-Towered crown. In other words, the Smoke-Towered crown rules as the Pig-Hatted among Pig-Hatted.”

Kukojali jolted upon hearing such a change in government, for while the Pig-Hatted ruled the Qashathad Estuary and surrounding areas, the Smoke-Towered Crown officially ruled all of them. Observing all around him, he could see all the Plovers-of-Plenty conversing amongst themselves with anxious trepidation, while some devolved into arguing. Kukojali, on the other hand, felt excited at the opportunity to experience a new change to Smoyemp’s Spoils after the Great Suffocation.

If this might be the case, it would mean there would be no more warfare, for all the Cabins will have to live under one rule and one law.

Kukojali heard about Qujetoima Sea-of-Blood, the heir of Smoyemp’s Spoils who spent a year during the Great Suffocation on a boat and a desert island, praying to the Woodwinds for guidance. That guidance brought him back to the Qashathad Estuary as the undisputed Pig-Hatted among Pig-Hatted—apart from two Cabins who arose in rebellion but were quickly quashed.

I could see such a man as worthy enough to wear the smoke towers upon his head.

The announcer continued, “He has called upon all the Thinkinghubs throughout the Smoke-Towered’s grasp to send in their wisest Plovers-of-Plenty as Cabin-Roofed. He will not discriminate based on Smoyemp or non-Smoyemp origin, rather he wishes to bring under his employ the wisest and craftiest among us.”

This will be my chance to prove how worthy I am to Smoyemp’s Spoils. Nobody else will need to fear the desert tribes as I had.

Snickering beside him, his high-cheeked rival Guyutlu told him, “You’d much sooner find yourself scraping barnacles off a man-o-war than serving the Smoke-Towered.”

Scowling, Kukojali snarled, “Your seat-warming uptightness will not win you anywhere near any smoke towers. You will bring your inkling for betrayal with you.”

Kukojali’s and Guyutlu’s rivalry began when Highest-of-Plenty Gempath assigned them to innovate a way to bring windy seeds to the altar of Carries-a-Seed. Too concerned with his own self-righteous ways, Guyutlu decided to burn the treatise at the last minute. Too devoted to Warm-Tidings, he made it clear that he had no interest in appeasing Carries-a-Seed.

I sacrificed so much time to develop that treatise, only to have him sabotage it.

“I don’t concern myself with foolishness,” Guyutlu remarked. “If the Smoke-Towered Qujetoima proves to be foolish, then I would not serve him.”

“I would advise you not to say it openly, lest you find yourself at the bottom of the sea along with Cabins ‘Lkaima and Jehuj.”

Two Cabins arose in rebellion against Qujetoima when he donned the Smoke-Towered crown. Such an act of betrayal destroyed their entire Cabins. Part of the reason for Qujetoima’s cognomen “Sea-of-Blood” came from his harsh treatment of any who opposed him—during and after a battle.

“I will let Warm-Tidings decide my fate. If I am not devoting myself to Them, then I am facing uncertain peril.”

Guyutlu was a member of a fallen Cabin notorious for accepting goldseeds for titles. Although sent to the Seaweed Bluff Thinkinghub as a Plover-of-Plenty, he still managed to carry with him the sins of his Cabin. He would betray and cross anyone to gain an unfair advantage.

Kukojali glared at Guyutlu, with such an intensity filled with petty grievances and annoyance. Despite the hatred and racing heart, Kukojali kept himself calm in Guyutlu’s presence. The atmosphere of the Thinkinghub soothed Kukojali’s long-boiling rage from his youth when he first entered it.

Seaweed Bluff Thinkinghub gave me hope that no one in the Kamazh’evõk tribe could give me.

Smiling, Guyutlu told him, “Try not to act shamefully to our new ruler.”

“Shame does not figure within my studies.”

Kukojali feared weakness more than shame, for he carried it with him throughout his time as a hostage to the sand-burrowing Kamazh’evõk of the northern Ylemlos desert.

If only I ran away, if only I picked up a bodkin to fight I would not live with cowardice.

“Either Carries-a-Seed lifts you to the Smoke-Towered,” Guyutlu said, walking away. The Woodwinds were believed to fulfill the wishes and desires of those who would invoke them. “Or They lift you to the Sandburrowers.”

He jolted away before Kukojali rushed to face him. Kukojali, turning back to the announcer, brewed within his rage at such a comment. As the announcer concluded with asking each of the interested participants to step forward and have their names recorded, Kukojali tried to forget about Guyutlu as his steps became calm.

Hopefully, the Smoke-Towered will know what to do with such a bottom-dwelling wretch.

#

Kukojali and the other Plovers-of-Plenty sat within the caravan destined for the route towards Qashathad Estuary. The aurochs pulled them through the dusty road. Kukojali watched as the desert slowly gave way to the smoke towers in which the throne, the Pig-Hatted among Pig-Hatted, and the estuary got their name. Behind him, the desert lined with huts, clusters of towers, quarters of the architectural Stonebeavers, and bases of the Silk-Sabretooths all made from clay and tabby.

Smoyemp’s Spoils held together thanks to the Numbers-Gatherings, the mega-guilds that held them intact while various guilds operated underneath them. While the Plovers-of-Plenty innovated for the Spoils, the Stonebeavers built for them and the Silk-Sabretooths protected them.

Had the Woodwinds guided me away from the Kamazh’evõk towards the Silk-Sabretooths, I would have become one of them. Instead, They chose to send me to the Plovers-of-Plenty to be raised anew by them.

In front of him, the smoke-toned towers ruled over the smaller towers,...

Produkt-Details

• Erscheint lt. Verlag: 12.5.2025
• Sprache: englisch
• Themenwelt: Literatur ► Fantasy / Science Fiction ► Fantasy
• ISBN-10: 0-00-080124-0 / 0000801240
• ISBN-13: 978-0-00-080124-1 / 9780000801241