Chapter 23

Lyndis found herself escorted back to the interrogation chambers; her arms tightly bound behind her. The notion that Skywing sought another round of questioning bewildered her. Had her artful manipulation failed, and had he reconsidered his earlier promise to release her upon hearing what she knew? She scoffed, contemplating whether he had seen through her veil of half-truths and strategic omissions, intending to press her further. Perhaps he had discerned her ruse all along, and now, with a sense of urgency, she was returned to face the consequences she had artfully deferred.

"Why am I not surprised? The Lumarian bird seems to have reneged on his word, what a fucking joke—" Lyndis halted abruptly, as she realized that the occupant of the interrogation room was not the white-tiger gryphon she had faced before but one adorned with burnt-orange feathers, tinged with a hint of black.

Seated with an air of quiet authority, the gryphoness was swathed in supple, dark leathers, a scarf of deep blue and silver adorning her neck. Her armor bore Lumara's golden gryphon motifs, gleaming with an almost malevolent intensity in the soft glow of the mana lanterns. The ceremonial cloak draped around her shoulders billowed as if carrying the weight of Lumara's history. Suntail held a delicate cup of tea in her taloned hands, her feathers ruffling in pleased amusement.

With a graceful gesture, she indicated a seat for Lyndis. The golden gryphon pins on her armor caught the light as she cooed in a voice that held both authority and amusement, "Thank you, gentlemen, for fetching her. You may depart now. The princess and I have much to discuss."

Without fastening her chains, they directed the rogue back to the familiar seat. Lyndis scrutinized the gryphoness with a deliberate intensity, endeavoring to decipher the motives behind this bold maneuver. There could be no doubt—this was Suntail, the one wielding authority. The air hung heavy with uncertainty as Lyndis felt the weight of Lumara's enigmatic expectations.

As amber eyes met the penetrating gaze of emerald determination, a silent confrontation ensued. Suntail's countenance, marked by a blend of unwavering conviction and a subtle undercurrent of cruelty, revealed a commanding presence. The unspoken chains of Lumara's expectations clung to Lyndis, even as physical restraints remained absent.

"Where's the black and white bloke?" Lyndis retorted, reclining in her chair with a nonchalant ease. "I was getting used to his charm. I reckon you're Suntail? Your men have spun tales about you at great length."

"Have they now?" Suntail replied calmly, tilting her head slightly as her beak hovered over the cup. "And pray tell, what might they be saying?"

"Not anything interesting. Though from what I gathered, you're suspicious of anything with a shadow." Lyndis remarked with a smirk. "Not to mention, within that beaked head of yours, you've deluded yourself into thinking that I'm out to kill your king."

"Of that, I do believe there's a connection, even if you don't see it." Suntail replied with a discerning gaze, her amber eyes reflecting an unwavering conviction.

"So how is this going to go? You talk, I talk, and we have a good chinwag as we tell ourselves fun stories?" Lyndis quipped, a wry smile playing on her lips.

Her gaze narrowed as she set the tea gently on the table. "You deal not with the likes of Skywing now, princess, but me. I have no time for your little games and misdirection."

She whistled, "Is that so? If you haven't been paying attention, missy, I was truthful and everything. Don't know what you're hoping to get."

"Truthfulness can be a subjective matter, and in my position, caution is a virtue. I hope you understand that your version of truth may not align with what Lumara seeks to preserve. I delve into the depths beneath the surface, for the safety of our kingdom. It's in everyone's best interest to remember that not all games end well."

Lyndis, undeterred by the subtle threat she sensed beneath Suntail's words, met the gryphoness's gaze with a defiant smirk. "Safety, eh? If you think threats of dark alleys and hidden chambers make me quiver, you're barking up the wrong tree. I've danced with worse, and here I am, sipping tea with a gryphoness who seems to be fishing for shadows." She leaned in, lowering her voice, "But let me tell ya, ya deluded bint, I've weathered storms that would make your feathery wings curl. So, no need for your cryptic warnings. I'm not one to be scared off with empty threats and highfalutin airs."

Suntail's eyes glinted with a steely resolve, her composure unwavering. "Bravado suits you well, my dear. But be mindful; storms can be weathered, yet not all tempests leave one unscathed. Your journey may soon take you to depths where shadows speak louder than words."

"And what about my kingdom? How do you think they, or your king, will react when they find out what you've done to me? Rumors travel faster than a hare with its tail on fire, love. Your little secrets won't stay hidden forever, and when the truth comes out, it won't just be me dancing on your parade."

Suntail's response dripped with cold certainty. "They won't." she replied with ice, "Once this is over, you won't remember a thing. If I am chastised for my actions, so be it. I will endure any slings or arrows in defense of my people. Can the same be said for you, Lynalla?" Her brow rose with cruel interest, "Remember, you had your chance for leniency with Skywing; you spat in his face and laughed. You deserve everything coming for you."

A thud resounded on the door, followed by muffled shouts of men. Her heart trembled, as the sounds of a struggle continued. What exactly was waiting for her beyond that door?

“Trying to scare me now?" Lyndis laughed, “I already told you everything."

“We shall see. I have ways of getting you to talk."

 “Good luck with that one." She chuckled, “Brain up here as thick as your vault, I'll see it as a challenge. Who has the stronger wits, bitch bird or the charming rogue."

“I believe you fail to grasp the severity of your situation." Suntail squawked out an order, something in a tongue that Lyndis failed to understand, it was like her tongue had been stepped on.

Dread claimed the room like a relentless tide, insinuating its malevolence into every breath Lyndis drew. Her chest tightened, and vision blurred as the ethereal glow of mana lanterns flickered akin to the hastening rhythm of her heart. The ambient sounds dulled to a muted haze as she turned to confront the opening door. Regardless of the intricate game the gryphoness played, Lyndis and her kin were adept at resisting magical enchantments and charms. Moreover, her training had honed her ability to fortify her mind against mental onslaughts. She sought solace in those resilient beams of light, attempting to defy the encroaching cold, yet the stark reality loomed before her. Suntail, by all accounts, must have been well aware of this.

As the door crashed open, an undulating tide of darkness surged in, akin to an inexorable wave of ink. It clung to every inch of stone, ruthlessly snuffing out the lights along the walls. Before Lyndis could even blink, it had engulfed her entirely, casting her into an abyss devoid of sight or sound. There, she lingered with shallow breaths, endeavoring to piece together the unfolding terror that awaited her. The chair beneath her might as well have been fused to the floor, as her attempts to shift free proved futile.

“Lyndis." resonated a deep, malevolent voice, emerging from the shadows like a haunting specter. Its presence lingered in the air, sending a shiver down her spine and raising the hairs on the back of her neck.

She swallowed, rendered speechless as something cold and slimy coiled around her throat, tightening with each stifled gurgle that escaped her lips. "What do you want?" she managed to choke out, her words strained and accompanied by a grunt.

"Your secrets." the voice whispered, seemingly right in front of her. "The ones you keep deep within that skull of yours. You will give them to me."

Pain gathered at her temples as the sensation around her throat crawled across her cheeks, resembling thousands of insects skittering in a spine-tingling horde. A weight pressed down on her body, making even her breaths laborious. "No." she gritted her teeth, feeling the pressure intensify on her skull, like tiny knives jabbing on either side.

"That was not a request, half-elf." the voice replied emotionlessly. "You will crumble and give me what I seek."

What in the heavens was this? Lyndis thrashed her head, attempting to maintain her defiance against this phantom entity. With a snarl, she spat at it, "Good luck, you fuck nob. I don't like talking to the dark. Must be ugly if I can't see ya."

“Then gaze upon your doom and despair."

In the murky shadows emerged the abomination that shackled Lyndis, a creature unmatched on this earthly plane. Its eyes glowed with an intensity akin to a blazing forge, twin orbs revealing secrets of unfathomable intelligence. Its flesh, a lifeless and drab grey, oozed a sticky mucus, and from its head, squid-like tentacles coiled around her throat and cheeks. Towering over her, draped in dark purple robes that matched the stone-like hue of its skin, it raised a hand to cradle her head. Its spindly digits, fragile looking as if they might shatter with a well-aimed strike.

“Yup…one ugly mother fucker." She stuttered and shook as it drew closer, resting it's eyes terrifyingly inches from her own.

“Let go Lynalla, don't hold it, you'll only suffer as I take it."

“Hah, I don't come quietly." Laughed the princess.

In agonizing reply, torment surged forth, a searing blaze that surged beneath her skin. It coursed through her veins, swiftly engulfing her entire being with terrifying celerity. Frozen in place, she gasped for breath, compelled to lock eyes with her tormentor, witnessing the malevolent gleam within his fiery orange orbs. Before her eyes, stars burst into existence as she fought to endure, resisting the crushing force bearing down on her skull, threatening to shatter it.

“Your resistance is futile Lynalla."

“Yea, but what…if I did…it anyway…you…prick. Is…that…all…you…got?" A scream tore from her throat as the creature laid a second hand upon her head. The instant its fingertips contacted her flesh, it felt as though a relentless drill was boring into her very being. Yet, she continued to fight, her mind devoid of any coherent thought, consumed entirely by the mind-numbing ordeal. The passage of time became an indistinguishable blur—whether minutes or hours, she could not discern—leaving nothing but the overwhelming presence of unrelenting pain.

“I see a name." The creature said, “A house and a woman."

“No…you can't." She tried to hold onto the memories as they slipped through her fingers, consumed by this creature's ravenous will.

“But I can. Gus…Mary…"

In her thrashing, blood pooled in her eyes, coursing down her cheeks like crimson rivers. She attempted to shield herself, yet her efforts were futile; she felt as helpless as a kitten caught in a raging tempest. The force threatened to fling her away, and all she could manage was to cling desperately. Then, as swiftly as it had descended, the darkness receded, allowing the room to take shape once more as the monstrous entity withdrew.

“Did you get what I requested?" Suntail's ears were perked as her tail flicked with interest.

The creature nodded as Lyndis wheezed and coughed, struggling to make sense of the blurry room.

“See?" Lyndis grimaced as flickers of pain blossomed through chest. “Do this all-bloody day."

Suntail for a moment cocked her head, “And why would we continue? Look at her, if you press any further, she might die."

There was silence, as the creature stared hungrily at the inquisitor. She, however, stood defiant, calm in the face of such things.

“When we're through she can be yours, but not a moment sooner." Her feathers ruffled as she held a solitary hand upwards, a threat that the creature backed off. “Guards, come retrieve Lynalla, we're through with her for now."

“Hah, showed you." Laughed Lyndis bitterly, unable to even lift her head. It was like all the strength had been squeezed out of her, spirited away into the ether. She hardly felt the guards when they held her, lifting her up out of the chair. “Ooo…room service, I can walk on my own you know." A half-hearted punch to a guard did little but nearly knock her over.

“And you…" Suntail clacked her beak to the monster, “Show me what you gained from her."

With a clicking sound the creature rested a spindly hand upon the gryphon's hand as Lyndis was dragged out of the room.

** ** ** ** **

As the evening shadows draped themselves over Entis, Skywing felt the summons to Suntail's inquisitorial fortress. The weight of his own steps mirrored the gravity of the recent events, and the knowledge of what Lyndis had endured in the name of their investigation. Approaching the grand mahogany door, each creak seemed to echo the heaviness in his heart, a door opening not just to a study but to the aftermath of a profound ordeal.

The air within was pregnant with the scent of ancient wisdom, and the echoes of decisions that tilted the balance between life and death. Tapestries, once vibrant with tales of heroic gryphons, now served as silent witnesses to a struggle that transcended valor. The grandeur of their depictions paled in comparison to the burden Skywing carried within.

Soft light poured from mana-infused lanterns overhead, creating a warm and somber ambiance that intertwined with the shadows. Gryphon-shaped sconces, guardians of the room's secrets, cast flickering flames that danced to the rhythm of mystical forces. Scrolls neatly arranged on the shelves held the weight of untold tales about magical creatures and ancient artifacts, forming a silent repository of the inquisitors' extensive knowledge. The room itself seemed to exhale the wisdom and mysteries it harbored.

As Skywing advanced into the room, the air bore the weight of its solemn purpose—the contemplation of affairs that steered the destiny of Lumara. Suntail, perched in her majestic gryphon form at the head of the grand mahogany table, held her wings with regal poise, talons resting upon the tabletop. Her amber eyes, sharp and focused, met Skywing's entrance, nodding in recognition. The intricate puzzle of the realm unfolded across the table, where scrolls and papers wove tales of intrigue and importance.

She locked eyes with Skywing, registering the turmoil in his gaze. Her tone was measured, "Commander Skywing, your presence is timely. There are matters of great importance that we must discuss."

Skywing, his feathers rustling with anticipation, addressed Suntail with a direct question. "Where is Arcturus? Did you manage to extract that information from Lyndis?"

Suntail, her gaze steady, nodded in confirmation. "Indeed, Commander. He turned out to be closer than we imagined."

The weight of guilt pressed on Skywing's shoulders as he sought answers. "I take it, you got this all from the Cthulhid?" When she nodded in the affirmative, he sighed, and the weight of impending sorrow lingered in his voice. "And what of Lyndis?"

Her amber eyes held unwavering resolve. "Lyndis was cooperative; the Cthulhid's intrusion was delicate, ensuring minimal harm. As for her well-being, she remains intact for now."

“And Arcturus?"

“Staying here within Entis' very walls." She ruffled her feathers, “If you would believe, with an acquaintance of his, a mere guard named Gus."

He was here! He clacked his beak in surprise, trying to fight back the happy bounce in his hinds. “Not with the dragon?"

“Oh, he brought the dragon with him." She strolled her fingers across the floor, “Right under our beaks, disguised as a human at the time."

“T-they can do that?" His ears pinned.

“Of course, if you peruse the books on them, their shape-changing abilities are quite well documented."

Like that, the worry and unease melted away, they would not have to chase endless ghosts on Arcturus' trail. Instead, it was a trail well more traveled. With the dragon here, however, that only meant one course of action.

“When do you want us to go retrieve him?" Skywing asked, “The dragon might take exception to it."

“Of that I have no doubt. It's why we shall wait until we have gathered enough forces to go apprehend them both." She began to list off her task force, several companies of magical constructs, teams of gryphons, and a handful of mages and clerics to add into the mix. It would be a well-organized affair, one where no mistakes were made. If they had the dragon with them, extreme caution would be taken, especially after the Dreadflame incident.

“And I will be assisting you." She added, looking past him to their surroundings, “We can't risk him escaping again, not like when Arcturus went after him."

“And what shall we do when we have him?" Skywing couldn't help but question, “After speaking with Lyndis and reviewing the reports, I doubt what the town said about him was true." His ears splayed, “Arcturus might have come to this realization as well, Lyndis claimed the king instructed him to kill the beast."

For a moment Suntail didn't speak, merely nodding to that statement as though it were an interesting bit of trivia, “Did he now? It will be most intriguing when we have Arcturus here to figure out why precisely he released the dragon from captivity. Especially after he was given an order from his king."

“Do you think he should have slain the beast?" He shifted on his hinds, “If the story is true, the dragon had his book stolen from him, his treasure confiscated. By all accounts, it's as though our kingdom asked for his vengeance."

“That may be, but I ask of you several things. Does this theft warrant the death of so many innocent lives?" Her brow rose, “Does it give this dragon permission to fly about our skies and take what he wishes in our land." She pinned her wings and brought him outside to the perches, letting him stare out to the vast, star dotted sky above.

“Should we be so hastily to judge him? By all accounts we came to his home, stole his belongings, and attacked him. Would you not do the same? Maybe if we return his treasures, this entire ordeal can be put to rest."

She chortled with a chirp, “If only things were that simple. Dragons are prideful beasts Skywing, simply returning the items would not be good enough. To him, we insulted him, made him look foolish, no, this dragon will take from us until that matter of pride is settled. Besides, think on where dragons first get their treasures, do you think it simply materializes in their claws?"

He hadn't thought of that. “I imagine inheriting it, adventuring, looting old forgotten ruins."

“You believe that dragons delve into dungeons? Skywing, dragons get their treasure from looting, stealing, picking through the corpses of our civilizations. There is no their treasure, it belongs to all the mortals they've robbed of it."

“So, what will you do when we capture him?"

“Do what should have been done from the start for what he has done to our people." Her reply was cold, “We will interrogate him about the mages and see what he knows. After that, he will be the mages problem to dispose of. I hear that Nigel is always interested in more dragons."

The silence that came crept into his feathers seeped into his bones. There was a chill with anticipation that left him trembling, shivering, and it wasn't the night air. Above the stars seemed to mock him, smiling at his success even though a pit had formed within. Would Arcturus forgive him for letting a creature like that peel away the layers of Lyndis' mind to retrieve this nugget of information? Would he do so if he assisted in the slaying of an innocent dragon?

“Did you find out if Lyndis worked for the Rothdellian mages?" He asked, his eyes making a silent plea that his actions would be justified, that Lyndis and this Crimson Sky were snakes, pretending to be Arcturus' allies and friends.

“Not yet." Suntail said, scratching her chest, “But that will have to wait. Once we have Arcturus the next part of the puzzle will be before us." She offered him a beak parted smile, “Return to your team, have a restful night. Tomorrow we will gather, and your friend will be returned to you."

He thanked her with a mournful chirp, swiftly spreading his wings and loosing himself to the night. Hopefully what Suntail said would be the truth, and the gnawing pit in his belly would fade away when he saw his friend safe and sound. A deeper part of him whispered in his ear, however, that he'd already compromised away a bit of his soul.