Percival van der Berg/Among Strangers Part 1

The Queen's Voyage — Among Strangers, Part I

In-universe date: Era Nova, March-April, Year 3

Real-world date: 2026-08-28
Author: Percival van der Berg

By the time the sun began to disappear beyond the trees, we had still found no sign of Grusaak.

"We should stop for the night," I said, glancing toward the forest. "Searching for an isolated nation in the dark does not seem particularly efficient."

We made camp near the trees.

For a while, nothing happened.

Then came the rustling.

At first, I assumed it was wildlife.

Then the sounds continued.

Chittering. Twigs snapping. Movement in several directions.

I glanced toward Semet.

"I am beginning to think there are rather more animals here than usual."

Before either of us could investigate, figures emerged from the darkness.

Kobolds.

We fought back, Semet and I moving alongside one another as more of them emerged from the trees. But there were simply too many.

The last thing I remembered was something striking the back of my head.

When I opened my eyes again, I immediately regretted it.

My head hurt.

My arms were bound behind me.

And, after looking to my side, I discovered that Semet was tied to another pole nearby. Her veil had been removed, revealing her amber irises once more. Strangely, while her face betrayed no emotion, her gaze betrayed a demented fury: her eyes emitted an almost blinding light. She - or perhaps something else - was angry to find herself in such a situation.

Around us stood several kobolds, speaking rapidly in a language neither of us understood.

I listened for a moment.

Then looked at Semet.

"Do you understand any of that?"

Semet remained perfectly still. Like a statue. Presumably, she was no longer herself and would not answer me.

"Well," I said, testing the ropes around my wrists, "this is inconvenient."

For a few moments, neither of us spoke.

Then I glanced back toward her.

"You know, there’s a possibility that we genuinely don’t get out of this."

The humour faded somewhat as I looked down at the ropes.

"I don’t particularly like that possibility."

When I mentioned the potentiality that we might die here, a wave of light pulsed in Semet’s eyes, and she finally turned her head slowly towards me, still without saying a word.

After a moment, I glanced back toward her.

"Though if I am to be tied to a pole awaiting an uncertain fate, I suppose I could have worse company."

I stopped.

"That was not intended to sound as strange as it did."

A faint smile crossed my face.

"But you understand what I mean."

After another moment of silence, I looked toward Semet again.

"Do you regret coming?"

I paused.

"Not necessarily coming here specifically. The entire journey. Leaving Kedet. Traveling with me. Everything that has happened since."

I leaned back as the pole allowed.

"Although, depending on your answer, I may choose to blame you for our current circumstances."

A small smile returned.

The joke faded quickly, however, leaving the question behind it.

"No, Percival. I do not regret coming here, any more than I regret leaving Kedet to discover what the world had to offer. And to answer you, no, we will not die here. Ib-Deben told me so. My fate does not await me in this place. Nor do you."

For the first time since leaving Koperdam, I found myself wondering whether this journey might actually end here, despite Semet’s apparent certainty.

And strangely, my biggest concern wasn’t the maps I might never finish.

It was whether Semet would return home.

"I have been close to death. From the window of my childhood home, I watched helplessly as a grey mage pierced the skulls of my brothers and sisters. I saw them burn my father and mother - may their stay in Netjeru-Kedet be beautiful and peaceful. I have lived, felt and endured the pain of loss, the horror of the stench of blood, of the despair that leaves a dying body. There is none of that here. To me… there is only you and I."

I didn't immediately know how to respond.

For once, I had no question to ask, nor some observation to make.

I simply looked at her.

Semet stared at me. She had finally resumed her usual expression, gentle and kind.

Before either of us could continue, the kobolds around us suddenly grew quiet.

The chattering stopped.

Several moved aside.

Someone was approaching.

I looked toward the opening crowd.

"Well."

I watched a yellow kobold step forward.

"I suppose we're about to find out."