Chapter 124: The Ostayan Question

Chapter 124: The Ostayan Question

Jelani grunted as he carried a box filled with provisions over his shoulders. His shoulder was broad and his arms muscular. He was a warrior of Tribe GriIssa and a proud member of the Ostayan race. The other races looked down on them, viewing them as lesser because they do not have the comforts that they enjoy. But Jelani knew the truth, just like his namesake his people were strong and mighty. They knew that the world was not kind and soft. It was hard and unforgiving and the strong took what they willed. The strong take what they are owed and the weak suffer what they must.

“Jelani, ten minutes.” His raid commander grunted and he nodded.

Jelani put the box of food on the small raiding vessel that was on the shore. They were about to do another raid on Elysia. The Wardens, although worthy opponents, were cowards. They preferred to hide on their metal ships rather than fight in glorious melee.

However, the warlord has sent down some repulsive orders. The Wardens have been reinforced with additional Elysian ships so now the sea was almost impossible to raid. Now they were on the way to go around and raid the shipping lanes.

Jelani didn’t like it, it felt like running away. Ostayans do not run, they were the last true followers of the old gods. They were few in number, that was because of their constant battles. However, those constant battles kept them strong, stronger than anyone.

“Brother.” the slightly high-pitched voice of his younger sister Jina said from behind him.

Jelani turned to see her standing there, her large eyes and furry face staring at him in anticipation. In her four-fingered hands was his sword. She was growing bigger every year, she would make a fine mate to a strong warrior one day. Then she would birth many future warriors for the tribe.

Jelani gruffly took the sword from her and attached it to the belt on his waist.

“Go, help with the loading.” Jelani said and Jina smiled as she nodded before hopping off towards the bed. Like him and all Ostayans she had bipedal legs tipped with cloven hooves. Ostayan men had long curved horns on their heads but the women didn’t. The men were also significantly larger and more muscular, towering at two meters tall on average as compared to the females who were one and half meters.

Jelani took a moment to look at his sister amble off, she was always eager to help. In the back of his mind he always wondered if his sister was too soft for an Ostayan. She was kind even for a female, but at least because of this she was popular with the other younger males. But regardless Jelani was still worried if she would adapt well to marriage. However, those worries were for the future.

Deep down Jelani truly did care for her, but an Ostayan man must be stoic. A warrior must be even more so, that was their way. So in his own way he was protecting her, a warrior’s role was to protect the tribe and win glory. As long as he remained strong his sister would remain safe and happy. He saw her turn just as she loaded another crate onto the small ship and flashed him a bright radiant smile.

Then he saw a splash of water appear behind her at the shore. The ship was only half on land and the other half was in the water. His eyes widened when he saw a Naga armed with a large gold trident burst from the water, its reptilian face curled in a snarl. Jelani could only watch as time seemed to slow as the Naga raised its trident. Jelani rushed forward his eyes on his sister who’s smile slowly faded as she began to turn but before she could he could only watch as the trident entered her unprotected her back from a downwards angle. Her eyes wide in shock as the force drove her body into the sand. Jelani thought perhaps he had screamed something, perhaps her name but all he could hear was the battle cry of the Naga.

KILL THEM ALL!

THE QUEEN COMMANDS IT!

Jelani had no time to mourn after that quick moment he realized the Naga wasn’t alone. He halted in his tracks when he saw thousands of Naga emerge from the waves. This wasn’t a raid... this was an invasion...

Then to his horror he saw the sea seemingly retreat and the receding water revealed Naga in the tens of thousands standing on the sand that was once beneath the waves. Jelani froze as he looked around and saw his remaining brothers fighting a desperate melee against the Naga vanguard. His gaze shifted to his sister’s twitching body as the Naga ripped his serrated trident from her body. Findd new stories at novelhall.com

Jelani snarled as he raised his sword, he felt the roiling hatred in his heart. Without thinking he raised his sword and charged. The Naga seemingly smiled as he readied his trident and prepared to meet his reckless charge.

Just a few meters and Jelani was upon him, he saw a flash of dark blue and he raised his blade to block the strike. He felt resistance than the pressure gave away. He stumbled back and looked at his sword in mute shock as he realized it had been snapped off. Then he felt a pain in his gut and he saw the trident had been embedded in his belly. The Naga laughed before ripping it free and smashing Jelani across the face with the butt of his trident. Jelani felt his teeth go loose and he tasted iron in his mouth as he went sprawling onto the sand. His head was spinning and then he felt a rough strike as he was knocked onto his back.

Jelani’s gaze swam as he looked up to see the Naga looking down at him in contempt. The Naga calmly raised his trident to finish him off.

The last thing he ever heard was a final insult from the Naga dressed in ornate gold armor. In a moment of lucidity he noticed this Naga was far more well dressed than the other Naga he saw. This one must be some kind of commander or lord. But regardless of his station or how outmatched Jelani was, the contempt in the Naga’s voice was there all the same.

Pathetic weakling...

AS THE QUEEN COMMANDS!

The Naga shouted in response and Sathax waved his hand forward. The Sirens then sang the last melody these Ostayans would ever hear. Then he heard the war cry as the Naga raised their weapons and charged into the mass of screaming Ostayans.

Sathax himself charged forward into the fray. His tail moved easily across the wet mire. He could see the remaining Ostayans struggling as their cloven hooves got stuck in the mud. All the easier...

The first Ostayan he met was not a warrior, it was a mother cradling it’s baby. No matter it was just a soon to be dead Ostayan and smaller dead Ostyan. He thrust forward with his trident and the three points sank into her chest. When he ripped it free he saw two of the points had struck the baby and had pulled the baby along with it. He saw the mother clutching her bleeding chest, her mouth open in a soundless scream. Sathax just grabbed the limp form of the baby and tore it right off and dumped it aside like the lump of rubbish it was. Sathax then thrust again and this time his trident sank into the mother’s heart and the body went limp.

The next Ostayan Sathax saw was a cowering male, this one must be too weak to be a warrior. He thrust forward again, this time his trident found its throat. He twisted the trident so the hooks at the tip of the trident would snare the flesh and he ripped it back. The trident came free taking chunks of flesh with it to a spray of blood. The body was pulled forward and it went sprawling into the mud. Sathax moved forward again right over the body onto his next target. This time it looked like a child, probably female.

Sathax thrust into the child the trident slammed right through its fragile chest. Then he lifted it up with the trident and tossed the body over his shoulder like one would hay. Sathax didn’t want their corpses clogging up the advance.

Then there was another and another. Until all was silent...

◦◦,`°.✽✦✽.♚.✽✦✽.°`,◦◦

I upended another barrel of wine into my mouth as I looked down at the book in my lap. It was a little romance novel about some human girl falling in love with a vampire. Pretty novel concept, although the vampire does come across a little creepy. This weirdo snuck into the girls room and just sat there watching her sleep. That’s some stalker shit...

“Still reading friend?” I heard Cecilia ask and I turned to see her walking towards completely naked. She was just having some fun with Lily and I was on a break.

“Yep this one is odd. Weird premise.” I said as I put the book aside.

“What was it you wanted to talk about? You mentioned something earlier. I assume it isn’t urgent since you waited for me to finish?” Cecilia asked as she casually took a cloth and began to wipe her fluid covered nethers down.

“Yeah, nothing important. It’s done, the Ostayans are finished. They won’t be bothering us for a long time. What’s left of them are probably cowering further inland. We can finish them off whenever we want.” I said.

“Hmm that was fast, the Naga work quickly. But then again you did say they were fanatics.” Cecilia mused as she sat down on the couch as she reached for a robe. It wasn’t because she was modest, it was because it was cold. It was after all towards the end of autumn.

“Well it is a welcome surprise. But yes the Ostayans are no more, at least most of them. Most of their civilization was near the coast. The estimated casualties put them at having lost 75% of their population. It would take a thousand years for them to recover assuming we even allow them to.” I said and Cecilia nodded calmly as she poured herself a glass of wine.

“That is very good for two weeks of work. They are remarkably efficient, a surprising result for any race let alone an aquatic one tasked with a land invasion. Furthermore their settlements are spread out, they must have moved quickly and left no gaps.” Cecilia said before taking a sip of wine.

“Yeah, well that settles that I suppose. Well chances are they are going to join the orcs in extinction. But I guess we could use them as slaves later if we so choose. I suppose that concludes the Ostyan Question.” I said with a lazy stretch.

“That’s good, now we just wait for the hunger to set in the various Volerian states. That little blight you released is looking to be quite effective. Sarana reports food riots in some cities.” Cecilia said.

“Yeah, now we just wait for it to really set in and then we swoop in to save the day. Like the benevolent rulers we are...” I replied with a chuckle.

Cecilia let out a little laugh as well before taking another small sip of wine.

Benevolent indeed...