Short Stories

The day I miraculously survived the invasion of those wandering space-apes was a feat I could only describe as my most cunning moment. Where other creatures would have made such a thing sour it's mouth over their fear, I kept myself well postured and spoke confidentially. I even won the admiration of them for a time and was given many resources to building my trading Empire - but I digress. The fall of Shat'el'ier was sudden, I had no idea the day I was starting when I went to beg an audience from my Lord; Athomot for an expedition to found trading posts among the lesser creatures in our world - I have since done this, the world is occupied by strange creatures but none as well designed or intelligent as our own. We live for hundreds of years, the only other long lived creatures I have met were very cordial and knew the awe inspiring visage of my and my companion's being. Again, I digress.

That morning I went on my way to the palace, in my best dress. I adorned myself with the riches I have earned in my many travels, I looked important even though before this I had merely been a shipman who was promoted to drive on my own within a larger fleet, however our merchant-admiral died and I intended to visit Athomot before the other covetous fools in the fleet - after all I was quite close to my late leader due to my merit. So I was there and unfortunately others had a similar idea but I still kept it close to my heart that I would be able to convince Lord Athomot. However while we were waiting I noticed a concerned and sweaty man still wearing armor, unlike the guardsmen - clearly something bad has occurred. Athomot laughed and while I could not hear him, whatever had happened he was very confident about for some reason and continued accepting petitioners. Those of my fleet that came before me didn't interest his Lordship very much, so much so that he closed us down for a few hours. I thought it unseemly to desperately wait so I went on my own way throughout town where nothing of note was really happening except a few rumors about a battle in the desert near the oil fields.

After looking over trinkets and speaking with those that I knew, nothing particularly exciting except that battle who my old friend; Nemist believed that Lord Feme'to may be visiting, a man known for his military parades rather than a battle. I had met him years ago, he was wealthy and proud but nothing special among our kind really though he was close friends with Athomot. Though, I was doubtful I said "But I saw a distressed soldier... but maybe I was wrong since Athomot did not seem to care." and while Nemist considered it he still believed it could be Feme'to. This was not the case as upon my arrival back at Athomot's palace the ravaging by those barbarians began. At first all I could hear was a strange whistling sound, I thought it to be just be children's toys however the explosion that followed soon after upon a temple dedicated to the Holy Mistress. I was not familiar with the technology, definitely not anyone native here as far as I knew but the danger was obvious so I retreated into the Palace. I wasn't the only one there, many of Athomot's retainers were there and I was given a sour look. "You'd just let anyone in?" Lord Athomot said this angrily to the guardsmen. One of them wanted to mumble but he spoke again, sharply; "No mind, shut the doors off. It is clear the situation has come to us a lot sooner than we thought... go on, close it!" and so they did.

Since it wasn't my place, I went to the corner to rest and overheard what was going on. Aliens have invaded, unprovoked. At first thought to just be raiders. "So the destruction of Feme'to wasn't just a fluke." one of the retainers, a gruff looking foreigner said. "Well, maybe if we sent Gar'son-" a fatter looking one said, with his legs wagging carelessly. "Enough, we have the advantage of defense. Gar'son..." Lord Athomot looked toward the gruff looking foreigner, he had lost an eye and was originally a freeman from the wild deserts where many barbarians live under the sands, so he was quite red from sunburns and had an eyepatch and lacked an arm. "Yes my Lord, shall I issue the call for the veterans?" he said while half bowing - a strange custom of lower beings he had adopted, but it was endearing I imagine. Athomot shook his hand, "Io'sot can do that much." he deftly pointed toward the fat one. "Get going." Both of them made their due, with Gar'son bowing before turning to leave and Io'sot hurriedly making himself useful with heavy breaths.

Athomot barked a few more orders to his men, mainly to try and defend the city. Even the guardsmen. So it was just left down to myself, Athomot and a servant boy. Athomot sent the boy to the cellars so hide and make himself drunk as a kindness for what would come. Making it just the two of us. "I recognize you as a petitioner, did you wait outside all this time?" he asked. "No, I was the first to leave likely... coming here I hadn't even noticed that the others were gone." the two of us chatted some. I told him I had wished to be an expeditionary leader which he laughed at, thinking I still wished to be "So even with death on the doorstep, that life is all you think about? Respectable."

Such jolliness was cut short when the door was being hacked away. The intruders were upon us, filing in with the limbs and heads of our countrymen. Athomot had already prepared poison for himself and was foaming at the mouth, I had no such thing. I was no one important. The creatures were ape-like, one of them with reddish hair all over his body with shaved spots in a specific design and four arms, three of which were either burnt or unnatural. "Are you the Athomot?" a smaller one, with very long arms kneeling before me said and he was completely unshaved. These creatures though I have never seen them before were clearly what we would call "Monkey Wanderers" a strange and unaesthetic race whose homeworld was extinguished years ago. In any case I answered; "No, I am not Athomot - I am..." and the big one with the red hair said "Who are you then? A servant?" the creature gestured at me crudely with it's upper-right hand. "I'm more like a patrician..." it looked at the smaller one, cupping it's hand over it's master's ear seemed to say something though the mouth did not move. "I see, second best thing. Well, what is this place?"

"Shat'el'ier." I said, simply.

"Do you know of what we are?"

"Monkey Wanderers."

"Yes, a term like that a derogatory phrase used for people you fear. Yet I see you and you are a worm, how long have you lived?"

"Around 537 cycles."

"As I understand, you are more than mature then. Long lived kind, very arrogant. You were probably quite a young thing during the destruction of my world."

"That is true, I was not there but I heard of the victory." When I said that, the creature started chuckling - I had felt that this was the wrong way to deal with it. "A shame to hear an entire-"

"Fake sympathy is not what I asked for." it squinted it's wide eyes which somehow was threatening. "Three hundred years ago, my world was burnt. Three generations of my family fought to the last breathe there, I have used what I learned in other lands to prolong my life and lead my people to this place - revenge and also I heard you worms talking of the beauty of your land and now that I have a piece of it all to myself. I can agree, what did your people want out of mine?"

"Your world had creatures which produced oil, which we use for our technology and for trade with others."

"So in the end, wealth. Not even wrath? No prior transgression?"

"No, in fact we had only just found your world."

"How foolish of me to think our enemies would just be as bloodthirsty as us, how disappointing." It drew a curved sword resembling the style of moon dwellers except much larger fitting for the creature's size. The blade swam across my skin without cutting it, I was sure it was just very dull but by it's reaction I think it knew. "Well, a merchant aren't you? Very rich?"

"Yes, I am."

"You may live then, bring back trinkets for us and you will live as you did before." it looked down on me, but the creature had given me a very large break. It was about to give me another; as the servant boy had come back up, the fool not realizing that he was sent down there to be safe. "Kill h-" the creature spoke but I interrupted "W-wait, he is my... servant." The other creatures were already moving but they stopped with a grunt. "Well, again if you serve us..."

"I certainly will. I can also gather many of the other merchants in the area." While I am at it, I figured I may as well gain much more. He then said "So you were important, not just a singular one. As one would guess. Though, I am still frustrated." It sheathed the sword and I was relieved but then in a flash I was slammed onto the floor landing on my hind, extremely painful. "Kick it." it said and chuckled and I was beaten by the other creatures for a time until he drew them off with the raise of a hand. I could not get up though, this was a difficult position. "W-wand-"

"Give me a more proper title." The hubris of the creature was almost too much, but I again could not pass up the opportunity. "O-of course my Lord - no King, I cannot get up from this position. I require help." It again laughed. "I'll have to remember that." My new 'Lord' gestured to the other creatures to help me back up, they even patted my back as if to make fun of me. "My Lord, where do I stay?"

"I'll have guards accompany you and your servant, return to your home." I would suffer worse beatings than that as my time under him goes on. Naturally though, as my own comeuppance against the vile foreigner I claimed the largest mansion of Shat'el'ier. While many blame me for my involvement in his court, no other had such wit or luck to take advantage and still rule to this day over entire worlds of riches. My detractors are usually too young and too overly prideful to understand that when life gives you an opportunity, you seize it.