Spring 1077 of the Mero's Calendar

Nibotus is barely conscious when he opens his eyes, the world like a blur around him. He's kneeling, somehow, because he can feel his vertebrates grinding as they try to keep him upright. His heavy head swings uselessly forward as he gasps for air, but he’s drowning in the viscosity of blood in his throat. It takes him some time to realize there's hands on his biceps that keep him from falling flat on the ground. He hopes they belong to one of his men, but strong fingers yank on his hair to force his face up, and his eyes barely distinguish the outline of a brown face in front of him. He had been captured by Meros. Which means they must be presenting him to their chief once again. Why had they not killed him like the kid had threatened? Do they need to make a show out of it? Nibotus has heard of sacrifice to their gods, and despite himself, his pulse quickens at the horror. He's too weak to break his captors’ grip, though, but there must be a way for him to escape. The spirits had said he would survive this war, had they not?

The details slowly appear as panic pushes his mind through the pain. A white toga with golden edges. A shaved face with short black hair. Weird green eyes like ferns. It's the same chief, but he's looking different. Less like a teenager, more like a young adult. It has been three years, after all. It's difficult to think about numbers right now, with pain burning his entire body and pulsing through his brain, but Nibotus is pretty sure that he must be twenty now.

The chief is talking to the men over him, but like with numbers, translating is difficult when his entire being vibrates with agony. But as his mind slowly emerges, other details gain his conscience. Like the fact he's not outside this time. There’s no paved courtyard, no lined soldiers. He has no idea what that room is supposed to be, though, because the furniture looks like nothing that he knows of. At least there's no sacrificial altar in view. Reassured for now, Nibotus tries to focus once again on the Mero's face, but it's difficult in that angle, with the young chief standing up close because of the narrow space of the interior. 

- Ya got taller since last time.

The Mero language finally comes back to him, bubbling lazily in his skull like snippets of old memories. There's surprise on the young chief's face as he looks back at him, like he thought Nibotus had stayed unconscious all this time. And then his stare softened, his lips quivered in a small smile, but it's so subtle Nibotus is pretty sure he's hallucinating it since the world is still spinning all around him. 

- And your beard got longer.

Well, he's not wrong. Three years ago, Nibotus had kept it shorter around his collarbones. It's now getting to his plexus, and he has to braid it to keep its maintenance. 

- Leave him with me and go rejoin the others, you deserve to celebrate as much as them.

Gravity grabs on Nibotus the moment hands leave his body, and he hits the floor in a hiss of pain. Somewhere behind him, there's the sound of a door, and then of leather boots fading in the distance. Then there's fingers against his skin, because those bastards must have stripped him of his pelts once again, the idiots. How many times will they do it until they realize the Kars don't bring hidden weapons on the battlefield? But never mind that, better focus on the warm hands of their chief trying to lift him back up. It's strange, though. Where are his calluses? Is he not supposed to be trained in war?

- Ya hands are soft.

- It has been a while since I brandished a gladius or a spear. Now my duties ask me to stay behind a desk way more often than it needs me on a battlefield.

His words tickle in his ear as the young man puts his arm around his shoulders. There's the burn of deep cuts being pulled by the movement, and Nibotus groans despite his desire of showing no weakness. A few seconds later, he feels soft fabrics against his back as he is put on what looks like a cushioned bed with a padded armrest. When the Mero is back into view, his white and gold toga is stained with crimson.

- Ya look like shit.

The young man chuckles at that, and his fingers put a wild strand of hair out of Nibotus’ face. The gesture makes him remember all those tender evenings with Nivis’ mother, and the Kar's heart twists as he realizes he will never see her loving gaze again.

- Please, do not move while I am getting supplies for your wounds. I will make it quick. 

Then he is gone, and of course Nibotus first thought is to escape, but he can barely lift an arm without getting nausea from the pain. His entire body feels heavy like stones and burning like coals. The room sways around him as if he's laying on a canoe, and he has to battle to keep his eyes open. He is incredibly tired, but he refuses to fall back into unconsciousness. Not when he has no idea what the enemy wants to do with him. There's no reason to heal him if they are to sacrifice him later, so it's getting all confusing in his head.

As promised, the Mero chief is quickly back, and what’s his name again? He's pretty sure he had heard it years ago when they first met, and… and that he wasn't a chief, that they called him a general, but Nibotus doesn't really know what's the difference between the two titles. Meros are just strange, like their entire lives had been disconnected from nature at some point, and that they are glad about it. 

- Ya name… It's Suzir, right? The soldiers, that's what they called ya.

The general freezes at that, and Nibotus can't read his expression because there's splashes of colors dancing around his vision now. But he can see that there's no stained toga on him anymore, just a simple white tunic. Such a stupid color, it's so easy to get dirty.

- Yes, I am indeed Suzir. My apologies, but back then, I thought you would not be as bold as to attack us a second time, so I did not take the time to ask for yours.

A cold and wet rag caresses Nibotus’ body, and it's the greatest sensation ever when your entire being screams in agony. There's a long silence where the Kar just takes time to savor the touch of water as it takes away the mud and blood on his skin. It almost puts him to sleep, but then he’s being turned on his stomach so the general can better wash his back, and it’s enough to stir him away from slumber.

- I'm called Nibotus. If ya want to know. Not that it matters anyway since I'll die soon.

- Do not say that. There is good hope for your recovery.

Something is gently scrubbed on him, leaving a residue of white foam that is promptly wiped off with more water. It smells like fresh milk, but Nibotus is not sure if he can trust his nose with so much blood stuck in his respiratory system. Though he immediately recognizes the ember paste put directly on his wounds afterwards.

- Wait, what’re ya doin? Y’all cannibals or somethin?

- Honey repels pus and fastens the cicatrisation. Although it does not get rid of the pain, nor does it give back the blood you have lost. 

- I don’t understand, why ya helpin me? It makes no sense. 

- Would you not do the same?

- No way. I would’ve kill ya on the battlefield and parade ya head around so ya bastards know it’s time to get out of our lands for good.

The general looks confused as he covers the pasted wounds with bandages. Or maybe his frowned eyebrows are expressing displeasure. 

- I do not understand. You know I am the first son of the emperor. Are you not afraid of retaliation? Taking me as a hostage would be so much more efficient with negotiating…

- That's if ya father values ya more than our lands, and somethin tellin me he's too much of a prick for that, so why makin things complicated when I can just whoop his ass when he comes to avenge ya?

- You are too arrogant for the good of your people. The emperor commands way more men than I do, and I was able to defeat you in less than two months. If it had not been for the help of the Namalas, it would have only taken one.

- How? Last time it took ya almost a year to…

- You might use guerilla tactics, but you do not battle much differently from three years ago. Your predictability is what caused your downfall. And as you have guessed, my father is not a kind man. After defeating you on the battlefield, he would have crossed the Nir and annihilated every single Kar he could find, women and children alike. Believe me when I say you should never get on his wrong side. 

- Sounds more like a monster than a human. Ya sure he's really ya dad?

- My mother may have been a good influence in my growth as a person, as much as my father had been in making me a competent general. 

- May the spirits bless ya mom, then. 

As the general finishes his bandages, Nibotus wonders if what he had said would be considered insulting. Their gods seem like the jealous type, so maybe giving someone the spirits’ blessing would be seen as a heretic curse. But if the general is uncomfortable with that, he's pretty good at hiding it. That's the problem with Meros, really, you can never know what they are… scheming…

A rush of adrenaline floods Nibotus’ veins, and it’s enough to finally regain control of his dominant arm. His grip on the man's wrist is so tight he feels the skin twist under his palm, and he can swear the general jumped at his sudden move.

- A hostage. That's why ya want to keep me alive, so ya can use me against my men!

The confused stare makes place to a nervous chuckle as the Mero awkwardly pats his tensed hand to calm him down. 

- Do not worry, please. If it had been my goal, I would have already told you. But you need rest, and my soldiers will soon ask for me, so if you could wait until tomorrow…

- Explain now, or I’m gonna rip ya arm off and stick it in ya lyin mouth.

Sadly, the Mero is smart enough to understand that if the Kar had the strength to execute his threats, he would have already done so. Nibotus can see it in the unimpressed lift of his eyebrow.

- Three years ago, to celebrate my victory against your people, my father called me back to the capital for a few months. I was presented to the daughter of a senator that had long been allied to my family, and we found the company of the other pleasant enough to give our vows. Two weeks before your first assault on the borders, a little girl was born, making me a father. The first time I held her in my arms, I understood even more why you worked so hard to unify the Kars tribes to get your lands back. So I promised myself to do the same instead of just sitting here and wishing for things to be different. 

There's determination in those fern eyes, and the Kar can't help but to loosen his grip on the Mero's arm. Was it how Aturi felt the first time Nibotus told him of his dream? Like he couldn’t look away from the burning flame?

- What I will tell you is highly classified, and can not be repeated. That is why I wanted to wait, to be sure your mind would not be clouded by pain. 

There's a silence accompanied by a shift of his eyes in the direction of the closed door. Some hesitation, a nervous pass of tongue over his lower lips, and finally his stare comes back to Nibotus with renewed intensity.

- My father wants to overthrow the southern emperor.

The news is delivered with all the heaviness of a shocking revelation, and Nibotus truly wishes he could react to it like a calm and knowledgeable leader. Only problem is, he has no idea what they are talking about, because from the Kars point of view, it's Suzir's father that is the emperor from the south. So that means there's what, another empire southern of Mero that's in conflict with them? But then why use the word overthrow? Is that a translation problem, did he misunderstand something? The way he must look at the general finally makes the young man catch up on his lack of awareness.

- The Mero Empire is vast, so forty years ago, it had been divided under the rule of two emperors, one controlling the five northern provinces and one controlling the five southern provinces. 

- And ya dad wants to make it one again.

- Correct.

Ah yes, the ambition of Meros to possess what's not theirs, just because they want it. A tale as old as time. Nibotus truly hopes that it will be their downfall, one way or another, but what a great timing nonetheless.

- Ya want me alive to join ya dad in war.

- Our enemies will have the advantage of terrain, but if we have more men than them…

The general suddenly turns to a stack of papers on a bulky looking table. There, he takes a letter sealed with golden wax, and shows it to the Kar. Good thing he doesn't expect him to open it, or else he would realize that Nibotus may speak his language, but have no idea how to read it. Just four years ago, he didn't even know about the concept of paper.

- This is from my father, promising the protection of all Kars if you accept to battle at his side. That means giving access to your ancestral territory, cultural freedom, and civil rights equals to the ones of every Mero. You would be recognized as general of the Kars, and get your own seat as a senator to be able to represent your people. 

Nibotus is so stunned, his mind is barely sputtering coherent thoughts under his skull. There’s no way he could have predicted that outcome. Meros are notorious for treating other humans like savage animals because of their superiority complex, so giving the Kars the same privilege as them… Everyone will be so angry at the emperor's decision, that's for sure. Maybe not to the point of revolt, but Nibotus can bet they will try to make the Kars feel as unwelcome as possible, all in the hope they will return back to the eastern side of the Nir. 

But who cares about some bigoted idiots? The Nir is long, the lands are vast. There's still large pockets of forest the Meros haven't razed for their agricultural fields, places where the Kars could build their homes far away from racist mobs. They would be able to hunt. They could fish again. Maybe there's even Meros reasonable enough, just like the young general, that would be willing to teach them how to grow their own fruits and vegetables. It’s with trembling hands that Nibotus takes the letter between his fingers, scared it would suddenly vanish like a mirage.

- When did ya get that letter?

- One month ago. I tried to send you words for a truce so we could start the negotiations, but your men were killing my messengers without discernment, so I had to organize your capture once again.

Nibotus has heard that the Mero's capital was pretty far away, so for the general to send a pleading letter about a peaceful solution with the Kars, and then for his father to respond… That means the young man had written it a few days after his child's birth, maybe even while his wife was in her last months of pregnancy. 

- Well, may the spirits bless ya daughter. T’was ‘bout time ya grow a spine.

There's a quiver at Suzir's mouth corner, something close to a smile, and Nibotus can finally go back into the sweet embrace of unconsciousness knowing he will not be eviscerated on the spot.