Chapter 31: Entering Draklis

I still don’t know how I feel about leaving my dad alone…

“He’ll be fine, Gareth,” Olban said. “Well, he’s bound to get his ass kicked by Coban, but other than that, no need to worry. We can leave him alone for a day or two while we scout the area.”

I know, I know… It’s just… I just got him back, y’know? I don’t want…

Gareth didn’t need to finish his sentence. Olban and Eloise could tell what he was trying to say. Communication had gotten easier since they were blessed by the Fae, if it could be called a blessing. Eloise no longer needed to translate; instead, the three of them could communicate internally as much as they needed to.

Olban is right, Gareth. Brian will be fine. He’s got a village full of warriors to back him up.

“Well, full of warriors might be an exaggeration.”

Eloise wondered if she could materialize just to give Olban a death stare.

Not helpful.

“Ah. Right,” Olban said, seemingly unfazed. “Well, like I said, he’ll be fine. We’re the ones going out to see the status of the Nameless One’s newly untethered minions. If anything, you should be more worried about us.”

At his words, someone on the path turned to him with a look that was equal parts confusion and disgust.

Uh, Olban? Might want to keep your voice down.

Olban looked around and seemed to notice for the first time that the path was far from deserted, and the people on it seemed less than hospitable.

“That’s odd…” he said. “We haven’t gone far from Little Dafford. Usually people aren’t this…”

Judgy? Eloise supplied.

“Well, yes, but… Let me put it this way. In all my time here, I’ve never seen someone look down on me for talking to myself. I know in your worlds, there is a certain… stigma, but here? Not so much. No, there must be some other reason… but why would they be so…”

Olban silenced himself, evidently lost in thought, so deeply that even Eloise and Gareth couldn’t hear.

Maybe we’re walking in the wrong direction, Eloise said. She’d noticed that, although the street was busy, every single person was headed out, not in.

Olban stopped for a moment. One woman made an arch around him as she continued on her way, like she was worried she’d catch some kind of disease.

He shrugged.

“Eh, probably nothing.” But his voice shook as he spoke.

He was turning to continue on his way when a hand clasped his shoulder. Olban spun on his heels, instinctively assuming a defensive stance.

The person who’d placed a hand on his shoulder didn’t seem threatened.

“Relax, lad. I am no enemy. Merely wondering why you’re wandering this path. What brings you to this part of town? I know you’re not locals.” Their voice was deep and gruff.

Olban was silent for a moment, considering.

“We’re… just passing through.”

“Hmph. Well, take it from me, you might want to ‘pass through’ somewhere else. Draklis Eorldom is rather… tumultuous at the moment.”

“‘Tumultuous?’ Tumultuous how?”

“Sensitive matter, lad. Forgive me if I’m not particularly… forthcoming. Speaking of forthcoming, I forgot an introduction. The name’s Feargna. You?”

Olban hesitated before giving his real name.

Olban. Ask if Feargna has seen any monsters, Eloise urged. Maybe that’s why everyone is running away.

“Pardon the question, Feargna, but the ‘sensitive matter’ you mentioned wouldn’t happen to be… a monster, would it?”

Feargna’s face grew suspicious.

“And why d’you want to know?”

I knew it, Eloise said.

“Feargna, we… well. Firstly, do you know what a Nexus is?”

“I’d be a fool not to. Most round here do.” Her face darkened. “But there’ve been some bad experiences with ’em around here. Dunno if it’s something about Draklis or what, but… they usually lose their minds pretty young.”

“Lose their minds?” Olban said. “I don’t think I’ve heard of anything like that happening anywhere.”

“Aye, but it happens here. Locals have started believing, after the month we’ve had, that the land we’d built on is cursed. That’s why we’ve been packin’ up and going. But hey, you never did explain yourself. How did you know about a monster? What have you heard?”

“It’s… complicated. The short version is, I… am a Nexus. There are two others in my head right now, Eloise and Gareth. They come from a different world. Eloise… attracted the attention of a bitter god, and we sort of had to talk him out of destroying the universe. But the good news is, he’s really turned himself around. Unfortunately, his former minions… haven’t gotten the memo.”

Feargna stared at Olban like he’d just grown a fourth head. She blinked a few times, then shook her head like she was already grieving for her lost freedom.

“If what you say is true, then I suppose I’ll have to take you to King Scintius. I’m not sure if you’re related to our current problem, but… well, I’ll let the king figure out what to do. It’s his job, anyway.”

Olban let out a barely audible sigh of relief.

“Thanks, Feargna.”

“I’m not so sure you should be thanking me yet, lad. Draklis is… not the paradise it used to be. Hasn’t been for a while now.”

I’m just glad she didn’t bash our skulls in with that axe of hers, Gareth said. I mean, look at that thing. It’s bloody massive.

Olban hadn’t even processed her axe. It was slung over Feargna’s shoulder, and each of the twin blades was nearly the size of her skull. It was definitely formidable, and intricately crafted with engraved details. It was almost like the scenes on a greek vase, except more lethal.

If it was possible for Eloise to gulp without a body, she did.

That’s… a very big axe, she said.

Understatement of the century, Gareth retorted.

“Feargna, what were you saying about Nexus events in Draklis?”

“Hmph. Not really something I’m inclined to brag about. We ain’t proud of it. But I can tell ya it ain’t new. Been happening long before the dragon flipped his lid, long before you pissed off a god.”

“I see…” Olban seemed lost in thought.

What is it, Olban? Gareth asked. Have you heard of something like this happening?

“No, I haven’t, but I have a theory. Now shh. I need to ask more questions,” Olban hissed, quietly enough to avoid Feargna’s scrutiny.

I’m not sure she’s open to answering more questions, Eloise said. She seems… sad. Or maybe angry. Or both. Plus, she’s got that axe. I’d avoid pissing her off.

“I can handle it, Eloise. Trust me.”

Eloise was silent.

“Feargna, the Nexus events… what happened?”

“Nothin’ happened. It’s been happening, for my whole life at least. As far as I know it’s always been here. No triggering event in history that we know of— or at least that anyone ever talks about. It’s like the land itself just… rebels against it.”

“And… the people who…”

“I toldja. They go crazy. Say, what part of ‘don’t wanna talk’ do you not understand?”

Olban raised his hands in surrender.

“Sorry, sorry. I’m not trying to cause offense, I promise. I’m just trying to… understand. Nexus events are rare, and Nexus events going wrong is… even rarer. To happen on a societal level…”

“My brother,” Feargna blurted. “He was, uh, a Nexus. His name was Fergus.”

Oh, no… Eloise said, her voice tinged with empathy.

No wonder she didn’t want to talk about it, Gareth said.

“When I say ‘went crazy,’ that’s exactly what I mean. At first it was just the normal stuff— talking to himself. Staring off into space, like he was somewhere else. But it got… darker. Less ‘hi, how are you’ and more like… scared. Like they were asking him to do things. Terrible things. He’d be up all night, crying and whispering to himself. He didn’t want to do it. Even my parents, I… I don’t think they understand. How desperate he was. How much he wanted to stop…” She paused, blinking away tears. “He’s… gone now. Vacant, I guess you could say.”

“And… whoever shared his body?” Olban asked, tentatively. He could guess about the ending of Feargna’s brother.

Feargna’s face grew stony.

“Dunno. Whoever it was, it’s gone now, with the rest of him. I certainly never heard or saw anything, and… well. That’s all I’ll say.” Olban noticed a flash of anxiety cross her face for a moment, and wondered briefly what she was still hiding. He was about to ask another question when a faint vibration stirred the ground beneath their feet, sending up a cloud of dust and making the pebbles jump like angry crickets.

“Ah, shit. Arm yourself, Olban.” Feargna unslung her axe from her shoulder. “I get the feeling we won’t be getting a warm welcome… well, unless you count getting slow-cooked by dragon fire as warm.”