The Ishtar Plot

“ Kneel!” Came the harsh command from the woman who sat upon the golden throne. She was tall, at six foot five, elegant, and majestic looking. She had a square face with a round jaw, narrow nose and drooping ears. Long flowing platinum colored hair, piercing amber eyes, tan skin, her face, while lined with wrinkles, was still that of nobility. She wore an elegant green gown and a silver crown on her head. This was Hera, the queen of the Sintar Dragons. Calypso dropped to a knee, bowing her head at the foot of the twenty steps that led to the throne. 

Lustrous braziers encircling each of the six marmoreal columns lit up the lower levels of the throne hall, and their light wrapped the hall in a warm radiance. The artistic depictions of legendary battles on the embowed ceiling danced in the flickering light while dragons and statues looked down upon the stone floor of this imposing hall. A silver rug ran down from the throne for a few meters before coming to an end while roaring dragon head banners adorned tufts the walls. Between each banner, almost all of them had been lit and, in turn, illuminated the artistic depictions of Sintar heroes and legends below them. Veils enclosed broad, stained glass windows depicting important royal moments colored the same silver as the banners. The curtains had been adorned with fancy tassels and gold leaves.

A dignified golden throne sat within a pagoda of sorts within this hall and was adjoined by an equally impressive seat for Zeus, the absent king. The throne was covered in hallowed illustrations, The thick pillows were dark silver, and those too had been adorned with embellished tassels.

“ You heard her worm!” Calypso hissed to the meek human man she had brought with her, a common slave she had acquired in a human city. She never cared to remember his name, all she recalled about him was he was a farmer who couldn’t pay his taxes to the Ishtar. So he had been imprisoned and sold as a slave, one Calypso had gotten a good deal on. Trembling, the man did just that. He was older, in his late fifties, with thin gray hair, weathered skin, and tired blue eyes. He wore a dirty and tattered gray tunic with no form of protection for his feet. His hands were bound and around his neck was a collar with a rope attached that Calypso used to lead him. 

“ What is that, Calypso?” Queen Hera asked with a smile. Others would have seen it as kind, but for those that knew her well, such as Calypso, she saw the sinister intention behind it. 

“ Tribute for you, my queen” Calypso said. Hera’s smile grew as she looked the human over. 

“ Well, it is a bit scrawny, but I suppose it will do,” she said, leering at the slave. The human shrank away, but Calypso jerked him forward by the rope. The human gasped as he fell facedown and didn’t get up. “ So, my dear Calypso. What news do you have for me?” Hera asked. 

“ Your orders have been carried out. All Half-Breeds in our villages have been eradicated” Calypso said, now looking at the one who had been her mentor since childhood. Hera leaned forward in her throne, her interest in the human now diverted.

“ Well done Calypso. It’s about time we got rid of the vermin infesting our villages,” Hera said chuckling. “ You made sure the fighting forces of each village were left unharmed correct?”

“ Yes, Mi’ Lady,” Calypso responded evenly. I can’t let her know I spared two of them. She’d kill me without a second thought. “ Before the attacks on each village I made sure most soldiers were away on assignment.”

“ This is a glorious day indeed,” Hera said with a wide smile. “ You have done all Abnormals a great service Calypso. I’ll make sure you go down as a hero to all dragons. I’ll have work on your ballad start immediately.”

A startled gasp from the human who was now standing on his feet caused both female dragons to stare at him. 

“ By that gasp, I take it you know what we are talking about?” Hera asked.

“ N..no… no!” The human stammered, trying to step away, but Calypso yanked him forward. 

“ Explain, worm.” She snarled. “ You are a common farmer. How do you know information only the Ishtar elites and their closest allies know?!” Just then, out of nowhere, four figures stepped into view. They wore crimson robes with hoods covering their faces. Calypso chuckled and grabbed the human by the hair.

“ Well. If I’m not mistaken, those are members of the Red Tower. Assassins of the Ishtar Dynasty. Some of the most fearsome warriors in all the land. Why I do believe in the Half-Breed War, a few hundred of them held off five hundred thousand Abnormals warriors from various tribes. If I remember correctly, they managed to hold out for three days and three nights before they were all killed. Why would they be here unless they were here for you? Not that they’ll tell us who their target is, they’re not one for talking.”

The man trembled and tried to speak, but no words were coming out. Calypso picked the man up by the collar and threw him against the wall. “ Wait there, filth. Once I’m done with these fools, I’ll be back to question you. And just to make this fun, I won’t use either of my hands to kill them. They came all this way; the least I could do is give them a sporting chance.” With that, Calypso rushed the intruders, a large smile on her face. 

Before any of them could react, Calypso twirled on her foot and kicked one of them in the chest. The assassin gasped and fell on its knees. Calypso landed another kick, this time in the throat, leaving the intruder gasping for air, clutching at its throat. Calypso backflipped over a charging assassin, waited for her new challenger to turn around before definitively winning with a sharp kick to the throat. 

She then spun out of the way of another assassin charging at her, turned on her heel, and slammed her foot into the assassin’s spine. The intruder gasped and crumpled to the ground. Before Calypso could finish the third off, the fourth rushed at Calypso, who ducked and, with all her might, slammed her foot in the chest, sending the assassin flying and crashing into the wall. Then, with a smile of cruelty, Calypso kicked the last of them over on its back and ended the assassin’s life with a stomp to the neck.

Just as soon as it had started, it had ended. With just her feet, Calypso had slaughtered them. The slave trembled as he looked at the monster before him. Hera chuckled and clapped her hands. 

“ Well done, Calypso! I do believe that shattered your record.”

“ I do aim to please,” Calypso said, walking back to her slave. Hoisting him up by the neck, she glared at him. “ Alright, you. Talk. Who are you? Really?”

The former farmer choked and grapes the arm choking him with both hands, gasping for air.

“ That’s enough,” Hera said. “ Let the poor fool go.” Reluctantly Calypso obeyed and stepped back. “ Now then, human. If you don’t tell us who you are, I am going to turn you over to my apprentice here, and she’s quite adept at torture.” The man tortured and started to speak.

“ My name-“

“ I didn’t ask your name. That means nothing to me, nor does it have relevance as to why assassins were in my throne room,” Hera interrupted. “ You get one more chance; I suggest you choose your words carefully.” Trembling, the slave tried again.

“ I am the former Loremaster of the Red Tower. I retired a few years ago due to my age to run my farm. My former associates you dispatched of were undoubtedly sent here to dispose of me before I could give away any secrets. Namely the current events of the Ishtar.”

“ And what might those be?” Hera asked. The man hesitated, an act Hera didn’t take kindly to as she narrowed her eyes. “ If you do not tell me or dare to tell me a falsehood, I promise you, your death will be a slow and painful one.” 

“ They’re hoping to perform the Paragon’s Sacrament,” the slave mumbled. Calypso gasped and stumbled back, and the usual smug face of Hera showed fear.

“ The Paragon’s Sacrament?!” She demanded, gripping the armrests of her throne. “ The ritual passed on to your kind from the earliest of days? That accursed ritual that births the next Paragon?”

“ The very same,” the human slave said, a smile slowly crossing his face when he saw Hera’s fear. “ As you know, long before Abnormals of today took power here in Ocrad, it was known by a different name, Daikhana. Absalon, the one you call The Paragon, ruled over the ancient humans with an iron fist; after all, we humans are mere shards of Absalon. Of course, he was defeated and sealed away by the founders of your Abnormal villages. Sintar the Dragon, Augar the Giant, Rudoka the Kitsune, Azrez the Naga, Ivaura the Hydra, Koame the Anansi, Eterna the Phoenix, Raithea the Siren, Mazoga the Orc, and Syrink the Griffin.

But before he fell, he gave my people his trump card. A grimoire with spells and rituals, including what is now known as The Paragon’s Sacrament. This, as I presume you’ve heard tale of, tells of how humanity could ensure the rise of the next Paragon, binding it to the will of the summoner for three whole days and three whole nights before the new Paragon is free to do as he pleases. However, if this new Paragon is even stronger than its predecessor, that will be more than enough time for the Ishtar’s plan to succeed.”

“ And what is their plan?” Calypso asked in a soft, worried voice. The slave shot her a menacing glare, forgetting his place. 

“ Their plan has two objectives. To take over the entire world, and to wipe you Abnormals out once and for all. Oh, how the idea makes me chuckle. The Paragon, the very reason you Abnormals have detested Half-Breeds for hundreds of years crushing you all. But don’t misunderstand, I’m not criticizing your ways. Quite the opposite in fact.

After all, if my destruction was prophesied to come due to a Half-Breed, I’d treat my potential destroyers the same way you have done to Half-Breeds for centuries. Of course, there is another motive. The Ishtar are tired of dealing with you. They feel the treaty made five centuries ago has run its course. Plus, Queen Kissare Ishtar has a score to settle with you dragons. After all, that Caelus fellow used her younger sister as a pawn, costing her to die in childbirth when she had her entire life ahead of her.”

“ What treaty do you speak of?” Calypso said, reaching behind her and grabbing the handle of her lance, wanting to strike this slave down. Hera answered for him.

“ Five centuries ago, the Ishtar king, Uber attempted this very ritual in an attempt to wipe out all Abnormals and take Ocrad for his own. At the time, a Kitsune Queen ruled these lands, back when all Abnormals villages were united and acted as one and humans lived in the outskirts, little more than savages. Until Ubar rose to power and organized the humans into a rebellion, only the Ishtar can read that particular Grimoire; listed in it are magic spells explicitly made to kill Abnormals Ubar taught humans. Over the centuries, they have been passed down from generation to generation, hence why the Ishtar are so formidable.

A short but bloody war ensued, with humanity getting the worst of it. It looked as though the Abnormals would prevail until Ubar attempted The Paragon’s Sacrament. What exactly happened is uncertain as no two accounts are the same. But it was so cataclysmic it caused both sides to stop fighting all together and form a treaty. Ubar Ishtar became king, beginning both the Ishtar dynasty, and Abnormals would break away into separate tribes and govern themselves. Should any Abnormal try and seize power away from the Ishtar, they would perform The Paragon’s Sacrament and bring about the end of days. But as long as Abnormals respected the balance of power, the Ishtar would leave us in peace and even be willing to work with some tribes, such as the Sintar.”

“ Exactly,” the human slave said with a smug expression. “ While Kissare lacks the key components for the ritual now, events she will obtain and The Paragon will be reborn.” 

Hera snarled and extended her hand towards the slave. A geyser of water so hot Calypso could feel the heat on her face erupted from her palm. The slave screamed in agony as the water engulfed him. Calypso watched as the slave melted before her in morbid fashion until his remains were nothing but a puddle on the floor. Hera didn’t take time to gloat as she whirled on Calypso.

“Prepare our armies! I want our troops training day and night!” She roared. 

“ But what are we going to do? If the Ishtar Dynasty wishes to call forth The Paragon, what can we do?” Calypso fretted. 

Hera stood from her throne and began to pace back and forth. “ I’ll call a meeting with the other Abnormal dignitaries. Once they hear this new looming threat, they’ll execute whatever Half-Breeds reside in their villages.

“ You think they’ll listen?” Calypso asked.

“ I will make them listen!” Hera shrieked. “ Just get our soldiers prepared to march against the Ishtar Dynasty!” 

“ But-“

“ ARE YOU STILL HERE?!” Hera furiously roared. Her face drained of color Calypso ran out. Hera collapsed into her throne trembling. If I do not act, The Paragon will destroy us all! No matter what it takes, I will do what I must to ensure the survival of my people. 

Kronos stared in horror as he stood amidst the rubble of what had once been a prosperous city. Dead bodies everywhere, the stench of burning flesh invaded his nostrils. Fire raged out of control, the flames licking at his flesh. He heard cold, cruel laughter from somewhere, but he couldn’t place where it was coming from. Just then, two red eyes gleamed from a giant pillar of smoke. 

“ Kronos,” said a low growl. It echoed through the Half-Breed’s head, sounding like a knife scraping stone. “ Master my eye or this will become your reality.”Kronos’s eyes flew open, and swore as he tumbled out of his hammock, falling on the floor.

“ Damn!” He grumbled, sitting up and running his head. 

“ Are you okay?” Acacius asked from his hammock. 

“ Yeah. Nightmare.” Kronos said, looking at his twin brother. A week later, after learning he had a sibling, he still found it hard to believe. 

“ Me too. I dreamed I was in the ruins of a city. Something terrible had happened,” Acacius said. Kronos raised his eyebrows.

“ Interesting. I had the same dream,” Kronos said.

“ Really?” Acacius asked, staring at him in interest. 

“ Yeah. And then I saw a pair of red eyes and a voice from somewhere telling me it would be my reality unless I master his eye.”

“ I was told that too,” Acacius commented, furrowing his brow. “ I don’t think this was some random nightmare.”

“So we both had the same dream with the same message. Do you have an idea what it means?” Kronos asked. Acacius was about to answer, but he was rudely interrupted.

“ What are you two jabbering about?!” Thora asked. Both brothers turned their heads to see Thora and Arai head towards them.

“Oh, great. You’re here,” Kronos grumbled. Thora glared at him, and light blue energy began to build. Kronos narrowed his eyes and stood up. Ever since he and Thora had brawled, he wanted to resume where they left off. He had hoped they would meet in the arena that opportunity had never come. Of all those I have met in my life, she angers me the most. 

“ That’s enough,” Arai said, placing a hand on her shoulder. “ We are on a ship heading for The Sintar Imperial Island after all. Fighting here might not be a good idea.” Thora growled but nodded, the energy dissipating. Kronos sat down, keeping his eyes on Thora in case she tried anything. Both she and Arai sat down as well, the latter smiling at Acacius and Kronos.

“ I have to say; I was surprised Calypso brought you two along. I mean, no offense, but I would never have thought she would take a shine to two dragon Half-Breeds.” 

“ No offense taken,” Acacius said. “I'm surprised as well.” Kronos nodded, reflecting on the moon cycle they had spent at the arena before the four of them and two dozen others were herded onto the ship. Calypso had been training both he and Acacius personally on their Ryuijin this past moon cycle, not being content until they both unlocked a secondary Ryuijin, this one in their non-dominant eye.  

“ I don’t suppose either if you have an idea to escape,” Arai said. Kronos shook his head. 

“ We’re under too heavy surveillance. If we try to escape we’ll be cut down. We have no choice but to go along with whatever Calypso has planned.”

” I hate to say it but my brother is right,” Acacius said. “ Escape now would just be impractical, even if we could. The royal island is miles away at sea with plenty of terrible sea creatures prowling its waters. And good luck getting anyone to ferry you off the island. No one leaves unless High Queen Hera, High King Zeus or Calypso approves it. Not to mention the water near the island is rough, jumping in and trying to swim away would result in your death.”

“ You were a palace guard, isn’t that right Acacius?” Arai asked him.

“ Aye, I was, although I was the lowest ranking one, due to my heritage.”

“ Any information you could share with us?

Arai asked him. Acacius tilted his head to think.

“ I’m not sure where we’re going to be held but I imagine it’ll be their prison camp. In which case the best thing to do is just keep your head down and don’t draw attention to yourself. Attracting attention is a good way to go missing, or be sold as a slave to a noble.”

“ Do you have any idea why we’re being shipped to the Royal Island?” Kronos asked. “ You and I aren’t even supposed to be there, surely Calypso knows that. You’re the first Half-Breed of our kind to ever grow up there, it’s usually for the elites of our kind and their families.”

“ I have a few theories, none of them pleasant,” Acacius said leaning his head against the wall, arms folded behind his head. “ Perhaps we’re to serve as some fodder regiment for Calypso’s forces. Maybe we’re being sold into slavery. Or it could be we are to fight in the tournament held in the honor of the monarchy they throw every year. Whatever the reason, I wouldn’t bother getting to know anyone else on this ship. Most of them will be dead before long.”

“ Don’t worry. I won’t be sticking around here long enough to know anyone else,” Thora said angrily. “ First chance I get, I’m leaving.”

“ Didn’t you hear what Acacius said?” Kronos demanded. “ There’s no way off.” 

“ Like I’m going to believe the word of someone who used to be a lapdog of the ones who rule the island,” Thora said, glaring at Acacius. “ How do we know you’re not a mole?”

“ That makes no sense, why would I be?” Acacius defended himself calmly.

“ You could be following orders given to you,” Thora told him.

“ Enough Thora,” Arai told her. “ Now is not the time to accuse someone of being a mole. Especially since you have no ground to stand on.”

“ Whatever,” Thora grumbled. “ I’ll still take my chances with escape.”

“ You seem awfully desperate to leave,” Kronos ventured.

“ Look who I’m imprisoned with. The only one I can stand to talk to is Arai,” Thora said, giving him a look of loathing. “ Besides, I'm on a quest of sorts. A quest to kill a few certain Abnormals. Namely. my stepmother and my brothers.”

“ You want to kill your own family?!” Acacius exclaimed. 

“ That’s what I just said, weren’t you listening?!” Thora snapped.

“ But why?!” Acacius asked, bewildered. Thora gave him a level glance. 

“ Normally, I’d tell you to mind your own business, but I guess there’s no harm in telling you. My step-mother, that good for nothing harlot, staged a coup several years ago, killing the king of the giants, my father, Aruksar. And her coup succeeded due to my brothers who aided her. And then my stepmother became allies with those damn Ishtar, selling all my father’s supporters as slaves! Death is the only suitable punishment for their sins!”

Silence followed that. Kronos looked at Thora; now that he understood her slightly better, he didn’t dislike her as vehemently as he did before.

“ I’m sorry,” he said sincerely. She glared at him.

“ Save it. I don’t want your damn sympathy. Stay out of my way once we arrive if you know what’s good for you.”

And any sympathy I may have had for you is gone, Kronos thought, narrowing his eyes. Just then, his ears perked up when he heard the sounds of footsteps walking down the stairs that led to the deck. The small group looked up to see Calypso with two Ishtar soldiers.

“ Attention!” She called. “ I’m only going to say this once! We will be arriving at the Sintar Imperial Island within the hour. I hate traveling by sea, so I’m in a terrible mood. So don’t even think about causing me problems,” her eyes sought out Kronos as she said that. A sinister smile spread across her face “ Or maybe do try something. I could use some stress relief.” 

“ Why have you brought us here?” Kronos asked her without thinking. He realized his folly a second later. A glare was all the warning he got before Calypso sent him flying back with a gust of wind. 

“ You will know that when I’m ready for you to know that!” She snapped. “ Just know, if any of you anger me, you’ll spend what little life you’ll have left realizing that was the stupidest mistake you’ve ever made.”