The Tragedy of Ravan the Great: A Rose Tree Chronicles Story

Chapter One: The Hopeless Negotiation

It was late afternoon on Dêldia 23, 364 when Earl Rajashekar of Rivas arrived at port in Tariq, Alaric, a country that was at the time mostly inhabited by humans. The voyage from his home country of fire elementals, Arderé, was a long one, and he was relieved to obtain a decent night's sleep for once. Hours before noon the following day, the earl made haste in a coach to a lavish restaurant and scowled at the dirty Tariquans who had failed to disperse overnight. Fortunately, the restaurant wasn't located too far from his luxurious inn — he had made sure of that. The earl was one for convenience. He made eye-contact with no one when he entered the restaurant with his two footmen and was pleased to be led to his table right away. The last thing he needed that day was to be kept waiting.

Earl Rajashekar knew immediately that this day would turn out well for him when he spotted his future business partners already seated at their table on the patio where they could enjoy the bright spring suns. His tastefully colorful attire blended well with the stained-glass décor of the restaurant, however he could still be easily spotted in a crowd due to his height and meaty build, and his companions noticed him right away. They stood to greet him as he approached.

"Good morning, gentlemen!" said the earl, charmed. "I hope I didn't keep you waiting."

"Nonsense," said one man who offered his hand to shake. "We were only just seated. I'm Ossad of Tariq. It's a pleasure to finally meet you."

Rajashekar shook his hand. "Likewise, sir."

"This is Abel of Tariq, the new diamond mine owner I mentioned in our correspondence."

Abel offered his hand to the earl. "Honored to meet you, sir. I'm eager to do business with you."

"Indeed, I share your enthusiasm, sir." Rajashekar shook Abel's hand and then took his seat at the table. His partners followed suit. "I'm hungry to learn just how profitable Alaric will prove with its vast coal and diamond mines to my numerous trade ships. Now, I'm told you simply discovered this diamond mine on your property?"

"That's exactly right, sir," Abel confirmed.

"Well isn't that just a delightful godsend? I would be foolish not to do business with a man on whom Fortune Herself smiles so bright."

"My sentiments exactly," said Ossad. "I believe my ports will add convenience to this partnership."

The men were served food and drink as they continued to discuss opening new trade routes, possible schedules, the pay, and where to hire the employees to make everything happen. Rajashekar learned how such business was conducted on Alaric and he shared how it was done on Arderé. Thus, they discussed how their partnership would work accordingly. While in the middle of their lively meal, a large CRASH resounded from down the street, followed quickly by gasps and screams.

"Is Tariq always this chaotic?" Rajashekar casually asked his business partners with a bite of his fruit.

"It's always busy," said Ossad. "But no, not so erratic."

The men gazed down the street and soon spotted a woman with bright orange hair sprinting down the road trailed by a small troop of officers. Just before she reached the restaurant, one of the officers managed to snatch her by the arm, but she proceeded to fight back with vicious desperation that moved them both directly beside where the businessmen sat. Once she managed to break free, she fell backward onto the table. Food flew up into the air and drink spilled all over the gentlemen. While his partners spewed profanities, Rajashekar remained coldly silent and sipped his goblet of wine.

One officer yanked the woman off the table to drag her back out into the dusty street where they briefly frisked her and forced her on her knees. Meanwhile, Ossad demanded a new table and the earl watched what took place among the officers and the woman with the hope of obtaining an explanation.

"Where is it?" the officer demanded, but the woman held her tongue. "Where is it?"

When she still refused to answer, the officer smacked her into the dirt and she took the opportunity to attempt to scurry away. However, she quickly found herself at the feet of Earl Rajashekar who had deliberately stepped in her path to keep her from escaping. He gazed down with leering eyes at the soiled peasant, but managed to hold his temper like a saint.

"What have you done that required such a rude interruption to my business luncheon, young miss?"

"We sincerely apologize, sir," said another officer. "This foolish woman stole an elixir from the Tariqan Apothecary."

"I wasn't foolish," spat the woman. "I knew exactly what I was doing and the risks involved. I regret nothing."

Rajashekar raised an eyebrow at the woman's bold statement. "Explain."

"My sister is ill, sir," the woman replied frankly. "We have no money. I'm sure the apothecary can spare one elixir."

"Imagine if everyone thought as you do," said an officer.

"Hypothetical circumstances are irrelevant," the woman argued. "The fact is not everyone thinks as I do."

"Just hand back the elixir and we'll put in a good word at the constabulary," said the first officer with his hand out.

"I don't have it," the woman replied. "I handed it off once you started pursuing me."

"Well then there goes your leniency." The officer approached the woman to take her into custody.

"Just a moment," spoke Rajashekar. "How much was the elixir?"

The officers glanced at each other. No one could say.

"Three tokens," the woman answered for them.

"I'll pay for the elixir and the woman can return with me to Arderé as punishment for her crime," the earl offered.

"Forgive me, sir," said the woman to the earl, "but I would prefer to do time in prison."

The earl was insulted, but he swallowed his outrage. He was a businessman, after all; he knew how to negotiate in his favor. "What is your name, miss?"

"Braelyn of Tariq."

"I assume based on your apparent urgency that your sister is dying, is that right, Braelyn?"

"Yes, sir."

"If that's the case, then it is safe to assume her illness will not be cured by one mere elixir alone," Rajashekar argued. "Rather, the elixir will subdue her symptoms for a short period of time and then they will return. I am willing to fund her full recovery, but for a price."

"You want me to return with you to Arderé to work it off," Braelyn concluded.

"Smart woman," Rajashekar replied. "I'm afraid I haven't all day now; they are preparing a new table and I have a business deal to close, so what do you say to my offer?"

Despite being pressed on time, Braelyn considered the offer for a moment before she replied, "I want to watch her recovery first."

"Fair enough." The earl handed the officers three tokens. "There you have it. The elixir is paid for, your apothecary obtains more business, and your thief leaves the country entirely. You have a good day, officers." He turned to Braelyn and handed her a purse of tokens. "To adequately begin her recovery."

Braelyn took the purse without a word and stood to her feet to dust off her ratty clothes.

"And attempting to flee will only prove foolish."

Braelyn paused in her step, but refused to acknowledge the earl's warning.

The officers backed off and while Earl Rajashekar returned to complete his business meeting, Braelyn scurried away to return home to her sister. She contemplated the earl's words as she maneuvered her way about the bustling town with its mule-drawn carriages and assertive merchants, until she finally arrived at her small, withered abode and entered. Immediately her other sister and elderly mother greeted her at the door.

"Mathis brought us the elixir!" her mother exclaimed. "Shaelyn is already showing improvement! You did wonderful, Braelyn!"

"You should thank Mathis for his successful return," Braelyn replied. "I was almost arrested."

"You were?" cried her other sister. "How did you manage to get away?"

"I'll explain later, Mae. Where's Mathis?"

"He left to go find you," the mother replied.

"Oh dear, very well. Let me see Shae."

Braelyn entered the room that she shared with her two sisters and met Shaelyn's glassy gaze. The ailing woman still appeared pallid and clammy as she lay there on her straw mattress, but the fact that she wasn't falling in and out of consciousness was a positive sign that her mother was right and she was improving. Shaelyn looked at her older sister with gray circles around her eyes and worked a weak smile.

"Brae," she breathed.

"It's good to see you awake," Braelyn replied, returning the smile. She pulled up a small stool to sit at the bedside.

"I was awake before, I'm just lucid now."

"Either way, you're doing better," said Braelyn. "That's what's important."

Here, the front door burst open and everyone's attentions turned to see who the intruder was. Braelyn's heart pounded and she hoped beyond hope that Rajashekar hadn't found where she lived, at least not before she had a chance to explain everything to her family.

"Please tell me she's returned! I can't find her anywhere!"

As soon as she heard the voice, relief engulfed her like an ocean. She quickly fled the bedroom into the main room of the tiny house.

"Mathis!" she called, and she threw her arms around the lanky man who stood in her doorway.

Mathis returned her embrace, standing only slightly taller than Braelyn. He may have had a small build, but being a stable-boy, his arms were firm and fit and Braelyn fit in them perfectly.

"Oh, thank the griffins you made it back safe!"

"Barely," said Braelyn as she released him. "We must be more careful in the future."

"Indeed," said Braelyn's sister. "She was almost arrested!"

"Almost?" Mathis asked. "I don't understand."

Braelyn glanced around at the eager looks she received from her mother, her sister, and Mathis her fiancé. The air in the bleak and barren home grew tense and Braelyn breathed a heavy sigh. She would have to tell them eventually. She took a seat at their creaky dining table.

"Very well. Everyone should probably sit down for this."

                                                                  ~~~

Once Braelyn had explained the situation to Mathis and her family, she and Mathis took a walk in a wood on the outskirts of Tariq with the hope of putting the day behind them. This wood was the only place within walking distance of Tariq which held a calming scene with its thin trees whose branches were lightly spotted with leaves. While Tariq was located on the coast of Alaric, whatever beaches they had were small and barren, and would do little to provide any relaxation. Not that the wood was much better help on this day, because Mathis couldn't get Braelyn's situation off his mind despite their calm surroundings.

"Shaelyn only needed the one elixir," he insisted. "Perhaps we can simply pay the earl what he's due and we won't have to worry about him."

"It's three tokens, Mathis," Braelyn retorted.

"I make that much in three weeks."

"During which time the earl is going to fund Shae's recovery."

"He doesn't need to when she's recovering from the elixir!"

"And if her symptoms return?"

"They won't!"

"But what if they do? I need the earl to fund her recovery!"

"They won't return, Brae! He doesn't need to fund her recovery!"

"Very well, Mathis," said Braelyn. "You do what you can to save up a whole three tokens. Meanwhile, we'll see how well Shae does. But I really don't feel comfortable discussing this out here in the open. I don't want to risk it in case he's having me followed."

"That sounds a bit paranoid, don't you think?" Mathis challenged.

"He's afraid I may attempt to flee. He warned me as much before I returned home."

Mathis furrowed his eyebrows at Braelyn, but said nothing about it.

Braelyn was correct in her assumption, however. While Earl Rajashekar focused on expanding his trade routes, he had assigned his footmen the task of keeping watch over her, and Mathis had just made himself a concern to be reported. Then of course, it was found that Rajashekar had been correct when he predicted that one elixir wouldn't be enough to save Shaelyn. The very next day she was once again slipping in and out of consciousness.

"But she seemed to be doing so well," said Braelyn's other sister.

"We were aware this might happen, Maelyn," said the mother.

Braelyn snatched up the purse the earl had given her and rushed to the door. "I'll head out and obtain more elixir."

As Braelyn reached for the knob to exit, there was a knock on the door and the aura in the room grew dim. Everyone simply stood where they were and traded glances with each other, holding their breaths. Finally, Braelyn gathered the courage to open the door and observed an unfamiliar, frail old man on the other side holding a large satchel.

"Greetings, ladies," said the old man. "I was informed that there was a young, ailing lady at this residence?"

Braelyn tucked her purse behind her and moistened her dry mouth before she uttered, "I'm afraid we have no money to pay you for your services, Miracle Worker."

"Oh, not to worry, miss," the miracle worker replied. "I have been paid in advance, and quite handsomely I might add. You have some very generous friends in high places. Might I see the patient?"

Braelyn should've known. Even still, this was her sister they were talking about and she felt a sudden pang of guilt that she had even attempted to turn the miracle worker away. Any cost was worth saving Shaelyn's life.

"Yes, of course," she said as she let the miracle worker inside. "This way, please."

Minutes into the miracle worker's examination of Shaelyn, Mathis showed up and Braelyn pulled him aside before he could speak.

"She's getting worse, as expected," she informed. "There's no use in trying to pay the earl off at this point."

"Is that a miracle worker?" Mathis asked. Braelyn nodded. "Miracle workers are expensive!"

Braelyn gave Mathis a look which begged the question, "And who do you suppose is paying for it?"

Mathis pushed his sandy hair back with both hands. "Do you know how much?"

"Apparently, 'quite handsomely,' in his own words," Braelyn answered. "It appears I have some, 'generous friends in high places.' You don't honestly think that you have any chance of paying him back for all this, do you? There's a reason why we stole the one elixir in the first place. There's no way we could ever dream of affording a miracle worker, let alone one who was paid handsomely!"

"There must be something we can do," said Mathis. "I'll figure it out, don't worry."

"You couldn't figure something out before we stole the elixir?"

Mathis rushed out the door. "Forgive me, Brae, but I wasn't on the verge of losing you at the time!"

Mathis shut the door behind him and Braelyn rubbed her face as she turned back into the house toward the bedroom. That's when the miracle worker exited with his bag of equipment.

"I did everything I can for today," he informed. "I'll be back in a couple days to check on her. Make sure to feed her plenty of broth and water, no solid food. She is also to drink a full bottle of these elixirs daily." The miracle worker set three bottles on the small dining table. "Have a good day, ladies."

"Thank you, Miracle Worker," the women bid as Braelyn showed him out.

"What has Mathis all up in arms?" asked the mother once the door was closed again.

"He fancies he can somehow pay the earl back for all this," Braelyn answered with a hopeless gesture toward Shaelyn.

"Oh, the poor sweetheart," said the mother solemnly. "Sometimes it's best to submit to what we have no power over, or we will find ourselves in a world of greater anguish than we are already suffering. And in this world if you have no money, you have no power."

                                                                  ~~~

A couple days later, the miracle worker returned to check on Shaelyn just as he said he would, and while she was doing no worse, she was also doing no better. As he continued to treat her, Mathis entered.

"Braelyn!" he called. "Brae, I managed to make ten tokens!"

"Griffins, Mathis!" Braelyn exclaimed. "How did you manage to make so much money?"

"I've been picking up jobs in and out of town, working non-stop. I realize it may not be enough right now, but if I —" Mathis spotted the miracle worker and the excitement drained out of him all at once. "He's here again."

"Yes, Mathis," said Braelyn with heartbroken sympathy. "Please stop this, you're killing yourself needlessly. The earl is probably paying upwards of thirty tokens for all this. You can work all the jobs Alaric has to offer and never sleep again, and you will never make that much in time."

"No. I don't care what it takes, Brae, you are not going to Arderé with that man," Mathis said gravely. "I'll use this money to set up an elaborate escape if I have to!"

"Mathis, stop!" Braelyn grabbed him by the shoulders and almost shook him.

"You're being foolish, young man," said her mother.

"She's right, he's got men watching me!" Braelyn added. "You can't be saying things like that!"

"Don't be ridiculous!" said Mathis. "I saw no one outside when I arrived!"

"You fancy they're standing out in the open so they can be spotted?" challenged Maelyn.

"Or perhaps the miracle worker reports back to him," Braelyn suggested. "He is, after all, being paid 'handsomely.' So quit this nonsense of paying off the earl and elaborate escape plans before you get us all killed or this past week will have all been for naught!"

Mathis glared at Braelyn and then glanced at the mother and sister. "Well I'm sorry to see that you all have decided to bow down to oppressing powers, but I can tell you right now that I won't even stand for it."

Mathis stormed out the door and Braelyn released the breath she hadn't even noticed she held.

"No, but you will lie in your own blood for it," said the mother.

"That's what I'm worried about," Braelyn said.

"There's nothing you can do for him if he refuses to listen, Sweetheart."

                                                                  ~~~

About a week later, Braelyn got up to make breakfast for her family, including broth for Shaelyn as the miracle worker had instructed. While her mother and Maelyn ate at the table, she brought the broth to Shaelyn and sat at her bedside.

"Wake up, Shae," she said. "It's time for breakfast."

Shaelyn didn't even stir, which wasn't unusual. She slept quite heavily ever since the illness struck, so Braelyn gently shook her shoulder.

"Come on, Shae. Wake up." Shaelyn remained still, so Braelyn shook her a little harder. "Shaelyn?"

Panic seeped into Braelyn's body as she set the clay bowl of broth down and soon her mother and Maelyn were at her side. She shook her sister one last time.

"Wake up, Shae," she choked. "You're scaring us."

Braelyn conjured up the confidence to touch Shaelyn's face, and her hand recoiled when she found her sister's flesh cold as ice. She still couldn't accept it, so she searched for a pulse. A sob escaped her throat, and nothing needed to be said to her mother and Maelyn who both broke down into tears along with her. Together they sobbed and wailed, and Braelyn drew Shaelyn's fur blanket to cover her face.

Earl Rajashekar showed up to the hut-like dwelling on his horse just as Shaelyn's body was being taken away and Braelyn wasn't too pleased with his timing. She stood outside the door with her arms crossed over her chest and refused to look at the earl.

"My condolences to the family," Rajashekar said. "I'm sorry that the miracle worker's treatment wasn't enough."

"Yes," said Braelyn without glancing up at the earl. "I'm sorry, too. We appreciate your generous efforts. Please have a safe journey home."

"My ship leaves after first dawn," Rajashekar informed. "I expect you to be packed and ready to go when my men come for you."

"I beg your pardon?" Braelyn asked, finally making eye-contact.

"We had a deal, Miss Braelyn," said the earl with a growl in his voice. "I held up my end of the bargain, I expect you to hold yours."

"The deal was that she was to recover," Braelyn dared to challenge.

"The deal was that I was to fund her recovery."

"And she didn't recover."

"But I still funded it, didn't I?" said the earl with his voice slightly raised. "I will not have you back out of this accord over a linguistic loophole. Bury your kin and be ready to set sail after breakfast."

Earl Rajashekar and his men left the premises without another word, and Braelyn could think of nothing to say in retort.

"It appears I have lost two daughters today," said her mother. She pulled her shawl tight around her, hugging herself. "I wish I knew what I have done to anger the gods so acutely."

Shaelyn was buried that afternoon and aside from the minister, it was a very quiet funeral. Mathis was gracious enough to provide the funds for it. It wasn't an elaborate funeral, but Shaelyn was provided a plot and was buried wrapped in a decent, cotton shroud. Braelyn glared at Rajashekar's footmen who finally made their presence bluntly known at such an inappropriate time, but at least it provided proof to Mathis that she was being watched. As everyone walked home, Mathis pulled Braelyn aside and tried to make it not too obvious that he was speaking to her.

"Have your family pack their belongings and meet me by the temple tonight after supper."

"What for?" Braelyn hissed.

"We're leaving the country," he explained. "I have everything prepared, and I made sure that the earl has not a clue about it."

"Mathis, have you completely lost your senses?"

"No, Brae. You're right, he has no basis to take you. Shae never recovered."

"No, Mathis, he's right. That was a loophole I found and had hoped to use as a last resort."

"Loopholes are valid, Brae!" Mathis argued. "That's what makes them loopholes! Just gather your family and do as I say. Don't you think that maybe it's at least worth a shot?"

Braelyn didn't reply, partly because she felt that they had been talking too long and the earl's men were still following them. The other part was because she honestly couldn't help herself. Now that Shaelyn was dead, she had a new priority, a new concern. She desperately didn't want to go with Rajashekar to Arderé; so much so that whatever opportunity of escape presented itself which simultaneously assured her family's safety, she wanted to take it. And it appeared that her fiancé was offering exactly that.

That night, Braelyn had her mother and Maelyn pack their things, and quickly led them to the temple as Mathis had instructed. The air was deathly silent as they rushed away from Tariq up a steep hill with nothing but the blue moon lighting their misty path, and not a word was uttered among them. Once they had reached the stone temple with it large, oak double doors and elaborately carved friezes, they spotted a carriage parked out front waiting for them. Braelyn smiled and quickened her pace. She was almost free! And she was going to take her family with her! Together they would start anew in another country!

When Braelyn was just a few feet away, she spotted a large, dark mass on the misty ground beside the carriage... then she spotted another object slumped over in the box of the carriage... then something else lying motionless on the ground behind the carriage. As she got closer, her heart raced and she recognized these to be bodies of men. She couldn't help but pray that for whatever odd reason, these men were simply unconscious. Maybe Rajashekar would come around the corner with the gracious words, "This is your last warning."

"What is it, Brae?" came her mother's voice. "What's wrong?"

Braelyn could find no words to reply as she gazed blankly at the man with the gaping wound in his throat. The blood had dried, telling her that he had been dead for some time now.

"Don't come any closer!" Braelyn managed with tears constricting her throat.

"Oh no..." said Maelyn.

"Don't tell me..." said her mother.

Braelyn didn't respond to either of them. She approached the man in the box to get a closer look at his face and was relieved to learn that it wasn't Mathis. Then she rushed to the body behind the carriage to take a look at his face. A sob escaped her throat and it was the sob that opened the floodgates to the tears and the wails. Her knees gave out and she collapsed beside Mathis's body. He had been run through and a knife was left in his chest with a note attached, but Braelyn didn't bother paying it any attention. She couldn't care less about any message anyone had for her. She lifted Mathis's head from the ground and let her tears fall onto his face and sandy hair. Her mother and Maelyn ran up to her to receive confirmation of their worst fears.

"Oh curses!" Maelyn cried.

"Oh heavens..." said the mother.

"They even left a note!" Maelyn added.

"What does the note say?" the mother asked.

"I don't care about the note!" Braelyn hollered.

Her mother knelt beside Mathis's body to remove the parchment from the dagger and read it out loud. "Be grateful that I didn't have his head sent to your home in a parcel."

"Oh savages!" Maelyn exclaimed, and she had to step away.

The mother turned to face her grieving daughter. "Braelyn, as you can see, what we've feared all along has been confirmed. Look at me, Sweetheart." She held Braelyn's face in her hands. "The earl has been gracious enough to spare me and your sister. You will be going with him tomorrow, and you will never anger him again. Do you hear me?"

Braelyn's heavy weeping rendered her incapable of forming words, but she nodded her head in reply.

"Good," said her mother. "Now get up, Sweetheart. We best return home."

"But what about Mathis?" Braelyn wailed. "We can't leave him like this!"

"How do you suppose we take him with us?" her mother answered. "They took the horses and we can't carry dead weight all the way back home. There are no tools to bury him. The monks will find the bodies by Southern sunrise. They'll know what to do. But we really must be getting back. Come along now, on your feet."

"We told you, Mathis," Braelyn cried. "You foolish, foolish man we told you not to do this! Why couldn't you have listened to us? Curses!"

Braelyn's mother helped her to her feet and together the three women returned home where they unpacked and attempted to sleep — except for Braelyn who remained packed and knew that she would be unable to sleep even if she tried.

                                                                  ~~~

The next morning, as promised, a group of five, armed fire elementals arrived at Braelyn's door after breakfast with shackles handy.

"Braelyn of Tariq," said the larger man. "We've come to bring you to port on behalf of Earl Rajashekar of Rivas."

"Are the shackles really necessary?" Braelyn asked.

"We've been informed that you are a flight risk. The earl doesn't trust you."

Braelyn figured she couldn't argue, and even if she could it would be useless. She turned to face her mother and sister, kissed and hugged them goodbye, and allowed the men to take her to port in shackles.