Chapter 32: Athenais’ Story

The ride back to the city was enveloped in the biting winds of despair, the sun might as well have been a ball of ice for all it’s good. Raven hair fluttering, her cheeks burning from the cold, Nivra kept telling herself it wasn’t true or didn’t matter. Asterion had a way to bring Voidwing back, no matter what had befallen him. Though whispers hounded her thoughts, conjuring twisted horrors to chill her soul. She’d never been one to learn the particulars of resurrection magic, it was so rare. Would he come back changed? Haunted by the experience? Would she even recognize him? She glanced back to Asterion hiking through the snow, just a diminutive dot within a sea of greys and whites.

Storm and her were greeted by members of the obsidian and ruby guard, orders of knights higher ranking than the Sapphire guard. The moment the dragon’s paws touched the ground of his home, the human’s armor rattled away in the coming winds. With swift barks of orders the knights grabbed the chest with the dragon orb, insisting it would be safer within their vaults, hidden away from prying eyes. There it would remain until the keepers of the city deemed what needed to be done. The veteran among them, his mail clad with symbols of roses, laid a harsh glare upon the future queen. Evidently forgiveness was not forthcoming for her previous departure. Nivra ignored him, everything beyond the scope of the orb and her despair, nothing but a hazy blur.

Storm insisted that she make her way to her quarters, ensuring there was well made beds, pillows, a fireplace ready to be lit. Rest is what the weary and shellshocked mind of hers needed. Anything she needed would be brought to her on command, this fact getting a questioning look by the Ruby guard captain, but a steeled look from the dragon forced his compliance. But Nivra refused, politely as she could muster.

She’d never been one to shy away from her responsibility, nor dwell for too long in her pitiful despair. Not with her brother, not with her mother, certainly not with her father. Hard work would be what was needed to bury deep the pit of cold in her gut. Though she hated to admit it, this would be the first time she didn’t have any semblance of a shoulder to lean on. As Storm regarded her with suspicion, the dragon held his tongue. He followed her into the depths of the keep, not letting her out of his sight.

Fremra met them soon after, the warming fires of their home doing little to thwart the icy needles jabbing themselves through Nivra’s cloak. Talk shifted to the dragon orb, what needed to be done, who needed to be consulted. The lords, the knights, the merchants guilds, gnomish inventors, every important figure would want to be informed of such a powerful magic item. Nivra was asked of her adventure, to which she answered truthfully, not even flinching when she described her vision and how the spirit had used the form of her dead beloved. She did however clutch her cloak as breaths seemed harder to take. She was trembling, wide eyed at the floor when the dragons, seeing her reaction, asked about her, concern in their voices. She waved off their concern, insisting she was fine. She was the future queen of Lumara after all. She was of a tougher breed.

We have a way to bring him back, she told herself, standing composed before the billowing fire, center of a sizable hall, decorated with pillars in the shape of dragons. When she spoke of the sea lilly, the dragon’s faces lit up. It evidently was a pet name for Fremra, given to her by Storm. (The usually stoic blue dragon nuzzled her during this time.) But why had the spirit seemed focused on her? Insisted Nivra find her? Neither dragon seemed to know.

“Perhaps its something I’ve done, will do, or am doing.” Fremra shrugged her wings, “Amusing that I might beat this Emperor. Did it happen to mention his weakness being music?”

By the time Nivra’s companions had arrived with the Sapphire Guardian’s sturdy keep, the sun had already began to depart from this realm. The enchanting rays of red and orange were shifting to great streaks of purple and pink. Stars gently clawed their ways through the lead grey clouds swirling in the sky, trying their best to fill those below with what hope they could. Nivra had slunk out to stare at these things, finding nothing but the void and the cold within her soul. All there was to do was wait. Waiting was the worst part of it all.

She paced across the snow dusted cobblestone, trapped within these towering, fortress walls. Far beyond she could hear the crashing of the waves against the rocky shore, smell the salty breeze that wafted up to make her raven locks dance. She grimaced and clutched her dragon adorned cloak, telling herself this emptiness would pass. They had the diamonds and Asterion’s scroll. It was pointless to feel any sort of pain, or hurt, but still her heart throbbed, defiant to the end. It found an accomplice in her mind, which brimmed with a storm of nagging comments, insisting she inquire exactly what had transpired. It blinded her to anything else, drowned out any thought, it even masked Storm’s arrival.

Despite his towering size and sharpened spikes lining his body, the dragon approached softly, with the gentleness of a breeze. When he spoke, it was deep as the ocean, yet filled with the warmth of a caring father. “The request to see your companions has been made. Though Sir Rutherford of the Ruby Guard insists the delay cannot be circumvented, even for my prestige.” Storm shook his head, the dragon biting the urge to add that he agreed.

“Still sour about the way we departed the port?” She replied softly, getting a gentle nod from the dragon.

“It appears that would be so. The other fact being that this gryphon, Athenais. She was a known acquaintance of Hadariel of the lich.” Storm flicked his tail, claws digging into the stone as anger welled within at even the mention of that wretched man’s name.

“And Merlia and Krotos? They’re being held with her?”

“It would appear the dwarf kicked a man in the balls when he tried to apprehend Athenais. Krotos on the other paw learned the hard way, you can’t seduce the Sapphire Guardians away.”

She shook her head, it certainly sounded like them. When she’d asked for more answers about the particulars of their adventure, the blue dragon had been quite vague. He seemed to only know the important details. Evidently, he had a lot on his mind, the fate of one gryphon was below his wings.

“Don’t give me that look human. I empathize, I truly do. But I can’t know everything.” He replied, pinning his wings as he moved to depart. “Try and get some rest. Tomorrow is another day.”

His departure brought with it the silence she dreaded, only broken by the whistling of the wind. She turned to the leafless tree at the center of the compound, frozen, leafless, alone. She could only stare for a few minutes before her heart trembled, and the nagging at the back of her mind was too great. She had to know what happened. She turned on a heel and marched to her quarters, a plan already forming in her distraught mind.

Nivra spread her leather pack across the sheets of her room’s bed, plucking out what reagents she’d require for her spells. A mirror in her room caught her quivering icy blue eyes, seeing the pain reflected in them. She hung her head, clutching tight her dragon staff. The rational voice in her head simply told her to wait, to let Asterion enact his ritual and all this despair would be swept away. Just lay her head on the pillow and it wouldn’t matter. Yet as she drew in a ragged breath, she couldn’t help but picture travesty after travesty to her Voidy, her cute wing, the one who held her close and filled her empty moments with sunlight. As her eyes steeled, she made her decision, wrapping her cloak around her shoulders and heading out into the night. There she found Feku, Tenzin and Achaaz in her normal form, resting at the entrance, clad all in their adventuring gear, clearly waiting her arrival.

“You ready for break in?” Feku smiled, hands pressed to her waist as Tenzin merely shook his head at his predicament.

“I tried to warn her, but she insisted on coming.” The warrior muttered softly, returning his gaze only for it to be filled with concern.

“And I just wanted to have fun…” Achaaz pinned her frills, “I mean, of course help you get some answers.”

Everything paused for the mage, questions wondering how they would even know. But of course, they would, she’d spent two months with them. They were willing to follow her on a whim? Commit what could only be described as a crime just to get an answer to ease her mind? The mage was truly touched, though not vocalizing it. She gently smiled, touching their shoulders one after the other before gesturing with a finger. “Well, then let’s get in and out. I’d very much like to not leave a trace of our entry.” They followed right on after her, no arguments about them.

*

Funny thing about their adventure, it made the whole prospect of breaking into a guarded prison seem like child’s play. With an invisibility they crept unseen by human eyes, easily finding where they needed to be. All it took was a charm from Nivra’s staff, and an all too captivated Sapphire Guard. With the information gained, Tenzin knocked him out. The man in question would awake the next day with a massive headache, wondering what had become of him.

The prison was located on the westernmost keep, where the obsidian guard kept their quarters. Here the guards could leave their mounts, find a place of refuge in the harsh winter countryside. Tonight though, they found themselves assailed by a wizard and her companions, the knights falling one by one to their magic. Any wards or alarms they’d enchanted found themselves easily undone by Nivra’s staff, with just a mere rotation and a few words. Within the hour every guard that called this place their station was sleeping soundly, their eyes shut, lost within a magically enchanted dream. With no one to hear their entry, the cellblock was vulnerable. Especially for a wizard on the warpath.

Doors made of the finest steel, gifted by the great dwarven kings, proved useless without their locks. With a creak that splintered the silence it opened, drawing a table of guard’s attention. They were three tankards into a deck of cards when they looked over, shouting for the princess to close the door from the cold. At realization that it wasn’t one of their number they tried to shoot up, grab their weapons, but each of them slumped over asleep, thanks to a dragoness’ tail flick.

“Will they remember?” Achaaz asked softly as Nivra creeped over, plucking the keys from a bearded man’s belt. She winced as one of the guards had spilled his drink all over himself, filling the air with an apple scent. “I do hope not.”

Uncaring of what little ailments troubled these guardians, Nivra flung herself to the cell block, opening the door with eyes colder than the southern pole. Her staff clanged angrily along the stone, announcing her arrival to all those that could hear it. Which happened to be a familiar red haired dwarf, a blue and teal feathered gryphon, and a brown female with fierce almond eyes.

“Is it gruel time already you limp wristed ninnies?” Merlia yawned, “I told ya, the service here be terrible. You should be ashamed of yourselves.”

“Agreed.” Krotos chirped, his eyes still closed. “Though if I might object, is there any other arrangement we can get for better quarters and meals? I’ll literally do anything.”

“For the last time, seducing isn’t working, give it a rest.”

Both blinked as they realized just who was standing before them. All the color and amusement draining from their faces the moment Nivra stepped into the light. They frowned, heads hanging in shame and sadness. Their metal shackles winked as they tugged at them, not a soul willing to look Nivra in the eye.

“Wonderin when you’d be comin lass. Good to know you’re on schedule.” Merlia mumbled, her usual brash and loud voice quiet as a mouse. “Picked hell of a night you have.”

“Did I?” She replied harshly, standing tall before their three shadow draped forms. With a tap of her staff the orb lit the block, casting away the darkness and ensuring they could see the sharpness of her eyes. “I heard you had quite the interesting trip. Storm and Fremra seem to be of little help, I thought you could help me understand…Understand why Voidwing isn’t with you…” She winced at the name, her strength dwindling with her next breath.

Krotos and Merlia began their sorrowful tale, one of mushroom men and vampires. Though every few words their courage failed, and what they had to say slurred together into a mish mash of shame and discomfort. It was only Athenais that cut straight to the point, her brown eyes stern and never straying from Nivra’s own.

“I can tell you everything. Every little detail.” Athenais’ brown feathers ruffled, showing off the spots around her lighter sections at her neck. Her ears dropped, “And what became of Voidwing.”

Intrigued by the prospect and relieved to get some answers, Nivra surged forth and summoned a chair of stone below her. There she planted herself, folding one hand over her lap as the other tightly gripped her staff. “Well go on then, you have my undivided attention. Tell me of this story of Vampires and Mushroom men.”

“You don’t have to retell it if you don’t want.” Merlia mumbled to the gryph, “It was hard enough liven through it.”

“No. It’s alright, we owe him at least the strength to tell his beloved what happened.” Athenais replied in a sorrowful coo before looking Nivra square in the eye. “It began with us captured by the undead, a siigonis vampire by the name of Caresh. Deep within the Deathbriar, she and her ilk held a terrible game of strength and skill. Slaves, captives and those unworthy of her favor found themselves in an arena that rewarded only one thing, the ability to adapt and survive. Killers got to rise to the top, the weak perished and had their bodies ripped apart before the ecstatic crowds, our slaughter their entertainment.” Athenais shifted under the queen’s judgmental stare, but her eyes kept their composure.

“You just killed innocent people dragged before you? For nothing but sport?” Nivra recoiled with disgust.

“We all did lass.” Merlia grumbled, looking down, her mind on darker thoughts. Returning to those moments in the sandy arena. “I turned quite a few into pincushions.”

“The weak only died within that place.” Athenais spit, clacking her grey beak. “Each of us proved well enough to catch the eye of the vampires in control. Enough to make them consider a new way to engage in their entertainment.”

“Including-“ Nivra began, but stopped as the others nodded in silence. That meant her beloved Voidwing had proven himself an excellent killer. Even against those that didn’t wish to fight.

“A league of legends they called it. Forced us to work together. Thought it quite amusing the idea of adventurers against whatever obstacle they could put against us. Purple worms, wyverns, even fellow adventurers. We killed all of them in the end. Swiftly, brutality, and without mercy, knowing the slightest failure meant our own deaths.” Athenais glanced to the others, seeing the regret upon their faces. “We had to get creative with how we finished our opponents. Those that didn’t perform when they shouted, ‘finish them’, often joined their intended victim.”

“I’m surprised you can feel that way, regarding your profession, Athenais. The bounty hunter of the west. Known from the wolf desert to the plains of sword. Oh, don’t give me that look, you think I wouldn’t research your past? What care have you of the innocent? Your kind of scum are notorious for only counting on yourselves.” Her arms crossed harshly, catching the gryphon’s now sharpened gaze.

Within  her feathery skull was a calculating mind, a well-oiled machine, never lying about that sort of thing. “You’d be surprised the kinship we place on our allies…Something I thought lost. For Garroth, my last remaining accomplice betrayed me, turned me over to the vampires as some sort of gift.” She shivered, remembering how his flesh bent and twisted, red scales bursting free of its human prison. “He’s something else now. A dragon of great strength and power, a beast known as only Dreadflame, that says every mortal should fear his coming.”

The dragon Arcturus fought? The spirit that possessed the knight? Nivra’s brow rose, she’d been told in rumors of that night when the mercenary had nearly killed Arcturus and Feku, if not for Radiant Star’s intervention, he might very well have succeeded.

“I worked with them for survival.” She nodded to Merlia and Krotos, “But saw little point in gaining their trust or kinship. It was something I’d learned long ago in my life, that others only let you down. They’d only serve their own self-interests, willing to let a gryphon be murdered in your streets.” She glared at Nivra, a fire within her eyes. “One your family has done little to rectify over the years.”

With a flick of her soft brown ears the gryphoness coughed and regained her composure. “Voidwing showed his naive optimism early, thinking he could unite the other slaves into some sort of rebellion. I told him he was foolish, but her persisted…” Her voice got low, a sorrowful look overtaking her. “The prison captain punished him for such an outburst, they prodded him with these magical, electric rods. How he shivered pitifully on the floor, calling out for anyone to help him.” Her ears splayed, “I knew someone long ago that had made those sounds, and I couldn’t just leave him there. So, I leaped to the fool’s side and ended the guard, shoving that rod straight up his ass.”

“And then you escaped?” Nivra gagged at the mental sight as Merlia just crudely laughed, insisting that man had two sticks up his ass. “And why didn’t you rush to his aid?” Nivra flashed Merlia a savage glance, silencing the dwarf.

“I would have o course. But I was in solitary. Guard didn’t like getting smashed over the head with a tray, which I feel was an appropriate response to being mistaken for a beardless man!” She tugged at her bindings, “But noooo. He took offense to it. What a sissy.”

“And after they’d completed beating us both.” Athenais cut them off, “He and I bonded over the death of my brother, in a similar like circumstance on your city streets. In Voidwing I saw that same stupid optimism that’d got my brother killed, I vowed to keep him from doing the same…” She clamped shut her beak, feathers trembling at the words. As her eyes misted the female spoke again, her voice still low.

“It wasn’t until after we’d fought an undead monstrosity that we saw our chance to escape. I’d been against it until this point, vowing we win the games and get our…reward.” She fell silent, gulping down the lump in her throat. “The gift of becoming vampires ourselves.”

“I couldn’t live with the complexion.” Merlia muttered, shaking her head.

“And I didn’t enjoy the prospect of sucking people to death.” Krotos fluffed his feathers when the others glared at him with furrowed brows, “Well you would! That’s all vampires do, they go about sucking everyone!”

Nivra held her head, shaking it and bidding the indignant chirping gryphon be silent. Athenais wished to speak again, and she seemed the one with all the answers. “So, you’re to make me believe that you all became friends? After you dragged off this one here for the bounty?” She gestured to Krotos, “Which I’ll have you know, I’ll void the moment I return home.”

“Charm me if you wish.” Athenais muttered sternly, “Nothing but the truth flows from my beak. Voidwing earned my friendship with kindness, Merlia a promise, and the other.” She chirped harshly, rolling her eyes to Krotos, “He proved himself with loyalty, and a desire to not burden me with his shenanigans.”

“I’d like to say, which surprised me. Since our relationship started with you clawing me across the face.”

“You’re lucky you didn’t get another one. You groped my haunches when I wasn’t looking, and eventually tried to mount me!”

Krotos clacked his beak in protest, “You gave me all the usual signs! And the mounting, you presented for me!”

“I was stretching that morning!”

“Bah.” The gryphon’s ears splayed as the brown female glared daggers at him. “That was some bizarre stretching then.”

“Enough.” Nivra snapped, blue fire in her eyes. “Back to the story. Back to how you escaped.”

“Ah yes, the escape.” Merlia sighed, “The one with the blasted boat.”

“Our rescue came at the hands of four Obsidian Guard, tasked with upsetting undead movements along the gryphon claw path. Two Sunelf siblings a wolven and a human. Like brave fools that they were they risked their lives to spring our cells and deliver us into the surrounding wilderness. We didn’t fly on account of the vampires being right on our hinds, including some vampire ones…”

“And then there was the boat.” Merlia grimaced, “Down the hill of stones, hiding from those blasted gryphons, and then the river.”

“Yea, but the boat was rather fascinating.” Krotos chimed in, flopping his tail. “It fit in the human’s hand, and grew to the size we needed. It wasn’t everyday you see a boat big enough to fit three gryphons!”

“But minus a dwarf!” Merlia countered gruffly, “Blame the gods for our stoutness, the dwarven people aren’t capable swimmers!”

“And that’s where Merlia started to gain my trust.” Athenais spoke over them, drawing the queen’s attention. I fell along the cliff; rocks pinned my hinds to the earth. She could have left me to be recaptured and killed, but instead she stayed by myside and shielded me against them.

“And how does she repay me? By forcing me on the boat. Thought I was gonna die. Escape a blasted prison only to die.”

“And we reminded you it was safe.” Krotos countered, but the dwarven stubbornness reared it’s head.

“It only be a fluke, trust me. No good comes of boats, yer all better with yer wings and solid ground beneath your boots. Mark me words.”

Athenais clacked her beak harshly, silencing their squabbling. “We held down the rest of the night in a cave within the Voiceless mountains, hidden beneath snow and rock. Squeezing through the tight spaces, we the gryphons were scraped and bruised. There we had a campfire, and a moment of comfort, the only one we had for weeks. We shared story, song and made our worries known. I contemplated leaving in those moments, flying north until my wings tired and could flap no further-“She turned to Merlia, who had taken a heavy sigh.

“That’s when I made the offer to be bringing back Soggu.” The dwarf shifted her thick, metal tipped boots. “The blue Siigonis, the one who took ulga…The one I filled…” She winced, “With arrows. Trust me, we had a long chat about it.”

There was a momentary pause as Athenais’ beak quivered, a shadow wrapping around her soul. With a deep breath she summoned back her courage, only glaring when Krotos insisted that she’d tried to eat the human man’s dog. “It’s not my fault they didn’t say something.” She grumbled, “Didn’t even have a scratch on him.”

“but certainly scared him!”

“Voidwing made up for it.” She countered softly, shifting back to the attentive queen. The gryphon’s eyes grew wet as she described how Voidwing spoke of her that night, playing fetch with the human’s dog. “He told me of you, the nights you’d spent, how he wished to be at your side again. It was the thought of seeing you again that guided him through the darkness.”

“Bless him then.” Nivra sniffed, able to hide the growing tears in her eyes. With a handkerchief she dapped them, gesturing to the gryphon to continue. “By all means.”

“We got assailed by undead in the morning, pushing us further into the caves. The group was forced to fragment and splinter. Further into the depths of the earth we were chased, while the obsidian guard were sent upwards. There we were out of our element, the walls closing in on either side, walking the old dwarven roads of Baraduun.”

“Something I knew like the back of my hand.” Merlia stated proudly, raising her chin. “Though it’s seen better days. Shame the old clans are gone, nothing but bones and memories. Beautiful craftsmanship in the stone.” She searched the stone of the cell with disgust, “Better than the pitiful work of these humans. Magic? No skill, lacks the love of dwarven hands.”

“Through tunnels older than the gryphon clans we crept, surrounded by pale lights and whispers of our enemy, we continued. We stumbled across old paths carved by great purple worms, putting the fear of our demise in each of us. If not for Voidwing’s singing we’d have lost ourselves to fear, that I’m certain. Every step he’d remind us we could carry on, just keep striding.”

“And then we found the dwarven tombs.” Krotos shivered in horror. “Never seen so much dust and cobwebs in my life. It’s a miracle I didn’t need a dozen baths upon our return.”

“You requested eleven.” Merlia hissed back.

“I know, hence the twelve part!”

Athenais weakly coughed, “And that’s when we ran into the vampires again, they’d never given up their chase. Evidently, we were too much fun to pass up, so they pressed us into the dwarven tomes. We fought tooth and claw, axe, and beak, until we’d slain one and the others were forced to bring in their undead minions to capture us. But fate it seemed had greater plans.” She gestured to Merlia, who was beaming again. “We found a horn to summon the spirits of dwarven warriors from Valhalla. That leaped to our aid and shattered bone and shredded rotten flesh all the same.”

“And then we came across the mushroom people. The myconids. After falling practically to our deaths.” Krotos sighed, long fully staring to the ceiling. “They really knew how to treat a gryphon. I’ve never received so much pampering, I thought I’d gone to heaven.”

“Only because they mistook you for a ruddy god!” Merlia replied, cheeks red. “The rest of us they filled with spores growin in our bellies, threating to turn us into mindless zombies! What did you do? Laugh away!”

“Well…Yea…but once we explained out intentions, they were pretty nice.”

“Not ta mention you tried to stick it half a dozen of them. What orifice do you even use with a mushroom anyway?”

“I don’t know and might never know. You ruined my chances!” The gryphon squawked, “Whining about the cure and how you itched. It’s a wonder you survived the poison!”

“There was poison?” Nivra sighed, squeezing at her nose. Evidently the world had a sense of humor, getting them poisoned on their adventure as well.

“The myconids offered it. We all agreed to it.” Athenais replied, “It was to kill their spores in our bodies. Was a strange experience, the most vibrant hallucinations I’d ever experienced.” The gryphon shivered and trembled, closing her eyes and recounting a terrible nightmare she’d had, of undead and their eminent demise. “Unfortunately, it turned out to be true, the undead had found us within the myconid’s village. They attacked without warning and mercy, cutting down the fungi people down that shielded us. We barely escaped with our lives, squeezing down escape tunnels they showed us. I don’t think I’ve ever felt for fungi in all my life, and here were some laying down their lives for us…No matter how strange their existence was.”

This part of the tale, Athenais’ words became forced. She stopped and started, struggling to find the delicate words. The others tried to assist but they were none too better. Nivra felt her veins turn to ice, her heart picked up speed. This was the moment, and she knew it, there could be no other explanation. Her fingers squeezed tightly against her thighs until she swore blood would flow. She sat stiff, as if enduring a harsh wind.

“In the escape we fought a purple worm. The beast was at least ten times our length, with maw lined with teeth and large enough to swallow us hole. Its amazing that we didn’t end up swallowed in it’s gullet. But with every movement the cavern shook, rock cracked and gave way. It rained spears, forcing us to weave and dodge our way across a deadly field. It was here…That in our victory, Voidwing was caught. Pinned and bleeding we couldn’t budge the rock, even with Merlia’s enhancing strength…I’m amazed he found the fortitude to even talk.”

The trio bowed their heads in solidarity, getting lost within the moment. Krotos began to cry, Merlia sniffed, it was only Athenais that spoke. Her voice shivered and shook, practically cracking, its strength gone. “He yelled at us…to leave him behind. We heard…the vampires getting closer. He refused to have us all die for him alone. So, we said our farewells and departed, even taking a feather of him with us.”

“YOU LEFT HIM THERE TO DIE? Alone…defenseless? Desperately clinging for life?” Nivra shot up, consumed with rage, her eyes cold fires within her skull. With blood burning she shoved a hand to Athenais’ throat as blinding electricity sparked off her fingers. Even when Athenais sputtered and began to cry her apology, Nivra didn’t listen.

“I didn’t want to! I tried to force him to agree! But he was stubborn!”

“Then you should have died with him!” She snarled, her emotions blinding her. Her chest throbbed, her hand trembled, there was nothing else. That was until a gryphon’s claw grabbed at her wrist, gently tugging her arm away.

“Nivra.” Krotos pulled her attention to him, somehow, he’d slipped free of his manacles. “She had no choice...We had no choice… I too tried to convince him…he wouldn’t listen to our pleas…He was …We had the feather. That was until the vampires recaptured us and took it…And forced us to watch.” The blue gryphon averted his gaze, ears splayed, a shadow invading his eyes. “I don’t think I’ll be ever to forget.”

“Forget what?” Nivra asked, tears threatening to spill. What could be more terrible than his death? When Krotos turned back to her, she quivered, part of her willing to stay ignorant. Yet she knew she must endure, if she was to ever help her beloved cope with whatever trauma he experienced. With a deep breath the queen composed herself, reading for the worst. “Don’t give me the silent treatment now. I am the future queen, bad news should be what I expect to hear.” She reached gently out, holding the blue gryphon’s cheek. “Please Krotos, it won’t spare me the hurt by prolonging it.”

But he couldn’t find the courage, it was instead Athenais who answered her demand. “They forced us to watch him die…” She spit bitterly, “And then they laughed maliciously as we bore witness to his rebirth.” The gryphon choked as the others held their heads, a grim shadow falling over all their faces. Gone was the fleeting life of the previous moment, their pain masked by levity and jokes. All that remained was the pale husks of her once friend, still Athenais continued despite her quivering claws.

“We were dragged back to the town by grim chance, kept alive to dwell within our sea of sorrow. Voidwing taunted us with his words, playing upon the guilt we all shared. Our captors laughed, chortled, delighted in our misery. To them it was entertainment, a sort of game they could all partake...We almost reserved ourselves to our fate, wishing for death…Though by some cruel chance, fate determined to repay their cruelty with its own. For in our absence a new ruler of Deathbriar had come to pass. Dreadflame and those that swore allegiance to him roared their victory over the rooftops, most set ablaze with their resistance. He slaughtered those that didn’t fall under his claws with spells and fire, even the vampires that had taunted us proved little match to his fury. It was then we were dragged to him, bound in chains, forced to sit under his molten like gaze.” Athenais tongue stilled, the terror clear within her soul. When she looked up, Nivra could almost see the fiery red dragon that had plagued her kingdom years ago, an inkling of its power on display.

“He…spared out lives…I know not why…He killed the others…Their screams…” Brown ears stitched themselves to her neck, “I have no love for the vampires after what they did, but each of them was made to suffer. The dragon made sure to watch, amusement across his snout. For us he showed kindness and a sort of devilish glee, I think…In his twisted…horned head, he had an attachment for…me.”

“For you?” Nivra inquired as Athenais coughed, looking away. This dragon of great and terrible power, that conquered these vampires, just decided to spare their lives? The one that had laid assault on Entis just years ago? It seemed almost a fairy tale. Nivra shook her head, “And what are you to him, that summoned forth this generocity?”

“I think…part of Garroth remains within him. Intertwined with whatever Dreadflame is.” Athenais muttered softly, “But there was a second purpose…He wanted us to be a message for all that dwelled within Struport.”

“And what would that be?”

“That no wall, keep or castle would keep the shard of Bahamut safe. He wished to convey this to Arcturus, that this earth will not be safe for him, the paladin will die by his claws. Suffer for the shame of his previous defeat at the mortal’s hands.” Athenais then began to stutter, an aura of hesitation floating about her. Her eyes grew wet, she drooped her head and began to weep. “You must understand. I didn’t want to.”

“We didn’t want to.” Merlia muttered.

“What did you do?” Nivra rose Athenais’ beak, forcing the reluctant gryphon to look her in the eye. There she saw shame, guilt, sorrow, and tears now rolling down her cheek.

“I killed him.” She admitted, “I killed Voidwing. Dragged him to the sun and watched him burn in my talons. Bit by bit, the sun peeling away his undead flesh, layer after layer until he was nothing but ash.” Her eyes clenched shut as she shook her head, reliving the experience. “His wails and screams still haunt my dreams, begging for me to stop, wondering why I’d betrayed him.”

“That thing wasn’t him lass. Those vampires squeal anything to pull on the heartstrings.” Merlia offered comforting words, cursing the chains that bound her. “That’s the worst part about em, nothin but lies.”

“It doesn’t help. I’ve told myself time and again, but it doesn’t matter…It feels real to me.” She hung her head only to find it swiftly pulled into Krotos’ feathery chest by his onyx forelimbs. There she sobbed, quivering, insisting she was sorry again and again, till her voice eventually gave way and there was only the hushed, comforting whispers of Krotos as he pattered her head.

Nivra was speechless, numb, like all her emotions had been leached away. If he’d been burned away by the sun, there was no ash left to speak of. Nothing for Asterion’s spell. All that mattered was the feather she still had from their journey; with it they could bring him back. She rested silently, feeling the weight resting on her chest. Would what they brought back be him? Or whatever this vampire creature ended up being? The thought gave her pause, chilled her bones, made her chase it away for fear it would consume her. By the time she gathered her thoughts, Merlia had already started talking about their flight back into Drenedar lands.

“And on our heels were the undead. Scores and scores of em, far as the eye could see. Against our will, looks like we turned into the scaley pig’s heralds.” Merlia’s eyes steeled as she started recounting at least a dozen punishments only fitting for a beast such as he. “Course there always be the simple arrow to the eye, but I figure, we ought to take our time with this one. He deserves something special.” Her cruel smirk faded as she tugged at her chains, turning her irritation to Krotos on how he hadn’t gotten her our sooner.

“Can’t you see I’m busy?” He snapped; eyes harder than Nivra had ever seen. They even made the flustered dwarf still her tongue. Krotos unfurled his wings, shielding Athenais’ still trembling form from them.

“Well…When your not, me wrists be crampin.”

So that was the entire story was it? Nivra stood, realizing there was nothing else to say. No more comforting whispers, no trembling lips, no saddened faces. Her destination was clear, and only it could grant her any peace. She had to find the feather. Without a word she folded one hand against her back, and strode towards the exit. When they called to her, asking for freedom she didn’t listen. Their sudden departure would only give away this little scheme. When she laid her hand on the exit, the guards had started to groan and shift, threatening to awake at any moment. It was only Athenais heartfelt plea over Krotos’ shoulder that made the future queen turn.

“I know the sorrow you must feel. I’ve lost all I’ve cared about as well. Please…Listen to my words. In our things, Soggu I mean. I found a scale in our journey of his. Please…I’ve heard you have a cleric that can restore life to the dead. I beg of you…can you take it? I know I have no right to-“

“I can do so.” Nivra replied softly, before striding out and gently closing the door.

Through the old streets the mage swiftly strode, her friends by her side. While they spoke of their success with glee, she was an empty shell. Every thump of her boots upon the cobblestone hid the slowness of her heartbeats, the shallowness of her breath. She teetering on the edge of a daunting drop, picturing all what had transpired, one step from hurtling herself into a bitter cold that she wasn’t certain even she would pull herself from. When the wind swept through the streets it tickled windchimes, howled like a lion, and perfectly drowned out the queen’s cries.

*

Red eyed she returned to her quarters, bidding the others good night. When they tried to ask if she was alright, she bid them away with a sniff, hiding her pale face and tears. Why would she be sad anyway? She was one feather away from restoring her beloved! Come morning everything would be made right, and all this would be a darkened shadow, one she could heal and mend. With purpose she slid to her belongings, rifling through the, narrating to herself of every movement. Potions, parchment, stones, fractured shells. As her eyes flickered across the now mess on her sheets, there was something amiss. There was no feather to speak of.

Where had it gone? It couldn’t have just walked away! She’d always kept it close at hand, the entire time during their adventure! How could she have misplaced it? Was it back on the bloody mermaid, the inn that burned to the ground? She flung her pack onto the floor, shattering what glass bottles still dwelled within. It was all she could do to stop herself from screaming.  Each and every inch of room she subjected to intense scrutiny. Every drawer was ripped open, clothes tossed to the floor, every chest, every pocket, even the furniture saw no reprieve. The legs wailed as she pushed them, desperately trying to find her glimmer of hope in the encroaching darkness. But there was nothing, not even the tiniest hint of an onyx feather.

Magic! She screamed internally to herself, flinging open her spell book, desperation on her color drained face. In a blur she dug through the pages, her heart close to galloping out of her chest. She scanned the numerous pages for what she needed, one of her many locating spells. She began to weave the magic as the cold claws of dread clutched tight around her. There was nothing her magic couldn’t solve nor obstacle she couldn’t overcome. She’d find his feather; she’d laugh about this later, it was just a matter of time. Her brow sweat as she told herself this. Then the first spell failed.

She tried the next one without a second thought, ignoring the gnawing fear in her gut. Then the next and the next, practically blurting out the words without pause. At least a dozen spells she recanted from her spell book. Candles around the room dwindled as time crawled on, uncaring of the desperate magician’s frantic pleas. Her voice was close to collapsing, her eyes strained and tired, but she couldn’t give up. How could she? This was her beloved, it would be a crime to stop. She’d try anything. Despite her resolve, nothing was gained. No answer came, no magical outline to show her the path, no high pitched noise, flicker of movement when she tried to summon it, nothing. Just the empty void, and the bitter cold stabbing at her sides.

 She collapsed before the softly glowing coals of her fireplace, the shadows thick upon her features. Tears began to well up as she faced the grim fact before her. Like a spear thrust itself into her chest she coiled upon herself, clutching her sides so tight she almost bled. She shook, sobbing uncontrollably into the dark, calling softly for a love that wasn’t there. All that found her was an empty void, a great sea of nothingness that taunted her, delighted in her misery. For the first time in many a year the queen of Lumara found herself truly alone, with not even the gryphon that had caught her so many times before. She called for him again, wishing this were all a terrible dream, that she were safe, still held within his tender forelimbs.

*

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Thanks for following along with the story and commenting! It keeps the spirits up and the fingers flowing. If you liked the chapter don't forget to like and favorite, helps the chapter get seen. If you feel like commenting by all means, it helps me know what you like and dislike. (And typos and stuff)