Act 5: Fifteenth Son Shatters the River
"More sake!" "Another round for Lukar!" "Fifteenth son!" "Hometown hero!" "Ale! Ale!"
Lukar pushed his way through the drunken throng, towards the edge of the pavilion. The celebration was in his honor, paid for by the newly appointed Terrestrial Magistrate, though by now enough drink had been consumed that the party had taken on a life of his own. He was no longer needed there.
Stumbling with alcohol and trepidation, he pushed aside a canvas flap and stepped into the warm summer night. He passed the village well, and onto the well-worn footpath that led into the woods. Tired and overwhelmed though he was, he needed to speak with her. He needed to be sure.
She was waiting for him, standing in the clearing outside of her simple cottage, wearing a white silk robe of mourning.
The villagers all called her 'Granny', because she'd been there forever, but she never looked a day over twenty. She was kind and patient, and she took care of all the village's children. Some said she was a spirit, others a god. No-one really cared what she was; all they knew is that each time the monstrous Torrent of Woe sent his press-gangs into town, Granny would be there to face them. The minions always returned empty-handed.
"Hello, Granny, he said"
"Hello, child." she said, stiffly, with none of her usual warmth. Had granny been crying?
Beneath the bright moon, she looked like a statue sculpted of silver. Just like the statues they'll carve of me, thought Lukar. Great and noble and heroic and virtuous. Not young and scared and exhausted.
Another raucous cheer rung out from the pavillion, accompanied by the sounds of furniture breaking. Lukar sat down on a fallen log at the edge of the clearing.
"You left this village a boy, and now look at you. All grown up, a man. A hero! They're shouting your name in celebrations all across the Blessed Isle."
"The Terrestrial Generals gave me this fine cloak and a sack of jade. I told them what really happened, and they didn't care."
"Tell me what you told them."
"What is there to say? Our job was to keep all the city-folk out of the area while the generals and the champions hunted down the last few Sun-Tyrants that were hiding in the market district; only they broke loose of the cordon, and came right at us. There was a huge noise, and so many people were screaming, and then there was the light... it was so bright I could not see. And it was so cold! I felt like I was drowning in it."
Granny nodded sagely, and daubed her eyes with her sleeves. Truly, she was crying! But why?
"So I took my stick - they didn't even have enough proper weapons for us, all I had was a polished piece of wood from a lumber yard - and I swung it. I couldn't see, I couldn't tell where anyone else was, and there was so much screaming. I swung it, and I hit something, and the light failed. I couldn't see what had happened until a Terrestrial Abbot gave me a healing touch."
"...and the Torrent of Woe lay dead at your feet."
"...yeah."
"You told them this? That it was pure chance?"
Lukar swallowed hard. "Yeah, I told them. But the monk that healed me said that the Celestial Exalted have lost the Mandate of Heaven, and that I had been chosen to be Justice's Implement. For some reason, that alone makes me worthy of praise."
Granny narrowed her eyes. "I've watched you grow up, child. I know there's something more, something you didn't tell them."
"The... the Torrent of Woe, I heard his last breath. He said 'Erdene'." Lukar couldn't bring himself to look at her. "Did he mean you?"
"Yes, child, he did."
"How did he know your name?"
"I loved him. He was called Boameth, back then, before he was cursed. We... we were engaged."
"But you never married?"
"No. He... he changed. I waited for him here, in this village, for a long time. Even before there was a village here. He promised he would return, but he broke that promise. He got caught up in his terrible wars of revenge against the Fair Folk. I think that the boy I knew was drowned forever in the river of time. Now, I just look after the young people here. They're my children; as you were once one of my children."
"I think the Terrestrials will come for you soon."
"I know they will. I will go and meet them. I don't want to cause trouble for any of you. But when I'm gone, Lukan, promise me one thing."
"Anything, Granny."
"Promise me you'll do what you can to protect the village. I know you don't think of yourself as a hero, but you were in the right place at the right time, and sometimes that's all it takes."
They were silent for a long time. Finally, Lukan spoke. "I should go; they'll be wondering where I went."
"Farewell, my child." She turned away from him and away from the village, and began walking towards the trees.
"Oh, and... Granny... umm..."
"Yes?" She paused, and half-turned towards him.
"Uhh... have you always had a tail?. Did I just never notice it before, or did I have too much to drink?"
In the blink of an eye, Granny was gone, and a silver-tailed fox dashed away into the forest.
