Chapter 57 - Silias

Silias stood at the edge of the encampment as it calmed. Less than a half an hour earlier it had still been a flurry of activity. The second wagon had arrived along with its escort, the remainder of the tents were erected, horses tethered, a campfire was built. They had settled the camp on the disused road that led to the obliterated bridge, back and within the tree line. The whole day had been spent on the road, keeping to a pace that made good time but did not overly tire the horses in the process.

After Winter had suddenly arrived in front of them, landing on the road at dusk carrying Silvast. They had secured her and moved as fast as they could. The unkempt road had proven to be challenging but manageable. One wagon carrying Silvast with an escort of three riders hung back and followed at a slower pace, while the other forged ahead, breaking a path through to the ruined village.

As they had approached, the battle could be heard through the valley, thunderous explosions following the flames that lit the sky, howls of the wolves and the shrieks of the gryphon. When they had arrived at the bridge, the stillness in the air was almost deafening, with a simple campfire on the opposing bank to draw her attention. The majesty of the gryphon, Hendosphyre had taken her breath, that such a creature was at the young boy’s command was hard for her to believe. It had checked them all before it had finally came to her, those eyes watched her, like they were looking through her. Satisfied, it then seemed to converse with Winter. She smiled, Winter seemed to have improved, her confidence restored as she seemed to flow around both Antrandis and Sian.

For five years, Silias had been Sian’s champion and attendant alongside her sister Peletrinala. One of the very few that were within the innermost circle of trust at the core of the leadership of Meliandra. She had been privy to events that no mortal should have the right to understand, or even set eyes upon. The fact that the leader and head of Scarosant treated her as a friend and equal, entrusting herself into her care without question was an honour beyond words.

The Handmaiden of the Goddess Lumos and a reaper of the old world valued her opinions. Even the Goddess herself had met with her on occasion, just to talk idly, had shifted her perspective. Both her and her sister were wilderelves, long-lived in their own right, found themselves hand-picked to walk among gods, the children of the gods and their representatives. Even now at times she found it hard to believe how her life had changed on the slopes of Scarosant, five years past.

She stifled a small yawn, it had been a rough day, she almost jumped when Antrandis spoke beside her, “Did you get any sleep before you left this morning?” his voice calm.

Silias turned her head, glancing at Antrandis, “If I said I did, I would be lying.” she said with a tired smile.

Antrandis chuckled.

She nodded at the encampment, “Somehow I feel unprepared, I should have brought a field hospital. Or at least more raised pallets. I only accounted for Mistress Stormarrow.”

“Don’t let her catch you calling her that.”

Silias smiled, “I wouldn’t dare, My Lord Antrandis.” she said with a hint of sarcasm, glancing at him, “Though I am still concerned that we have Xiana in our midst.”

She looked toward the wagons, “I know she helped to save the girl, but can you really trust that she was truly out here in the mountains of her own accord? Groumangand has been involved with those she has allied with in the past.”

He glanced at her, “She is here to talk. She even told me to bind her and let her drink an elixir of truth to prove herself.” Silias met his eyes with a curious frown as he continued, “The goddess Aisling Darneltar has vouched for her without her knowledge, she has requested that we bring Xiana to the temple.”

Silias looked at him, surprised, “Aisling? Does Winter know?”

Antrandis nodded, “She is aware.”

Silias frowned, “I hate to say it, but it does make me feel a little safer that she is disarmed, unconscious, bound and strapped to the wagon.” she shook her head with a small chuckle.

She looked to him, “I am not discrediting my personal skill with the blade, but I respect the simple fact that she is one of the Hithren. I can not compete on many levels, if at all.”

“Silias, you bear my seal, don’t forget what that means.” said Antrandis, as he leaned against a tree.

She nodded slowly, thinking quickly, “What exactly happened to Silvast? It is like she is a shade. Like the very life has been drained out of her. Will she recover?”

Antrandis thought for a moment, “Somehow her condition is linked to the arrival of the children and the gryphon. We will find out more in the coming days, though her recovery should not take too long.” he met her eyes, “Silias, I appreciate that you tended to her personally, she told me of your actions after Winter left her in your care.”

Silias smiled, nodding, “How is she now?”

“Sleeping.”

They both stood in a comfortable silence, watching as the camp quietened further. Silias looked at Antrandis from the corner of her eye.

“Shall I have the internal guest quarters prepared for the children when we return?” she asked.

He grunted lightly, agreeing almost absently. Silias looked at him, a small smile turning the edges of her lips, “Where are you, Antrandis?” she asked, speaking softly.

“I am right here, Silias.” he said in return, watching the children’s tent, as there seemed to be movement within. He glanced at her, momentarily, noticing her eyes lingering on him before she turned back to the camp.

“It will be safer to have the children close. They are not from here, and settling them with others would require too many explanations. They will remain as our guests until we uncover the truth and address it. If a resolution can not be obtained…”

Silias looked at him, “You will offer to take them in. It is a habit of yours.”

“I do not sense any ill-intent from them, but there is a definite that something is awry. The gryphon and Groyven were ready to attack Winter, reacting as if she was coming to reap and deliver Tiffaniel’s soul to the Host.”

Silias nodded, frowning, “It is concerning. I spoke to him for a few moments, either he is disoriented from the fight or there is a gap in his knowledge.”

Antrandis nodded, “There is something greater at work here, Silvast told me of the Goddess’s words to her. ‘They arrived from here but not from here’.”

Silias looked at him, her eyebrows raised, “Here, but not from here?”

Antrandis nodded slowly, “Groyven also said that he has seen with his own eyes that the dragon gods have not abandoned this world.”

“Dragon gods? This world?” she stared at him, “Six years ago I would have scoffed at the mere notion of what you are suggesting, but after what I have seen... ‘here but not from here?’ A world that is both the same but not the same? Even I know there are different planes of existence, dimensions even, and I am not a mage.” she looked back to the tents and spoke quietly, “Antrandis, could there be parallels, places where things are the same, but different?”

He smiled as she looked at him again. “By the will of Lumos. Parallel worlds to our own.” she shook her head as his smile gave her all the confirmation she needed.

“It is a popular theory among those studying the arts of sorcery and mage craft.” Silias glanced at him as he continued, “They believe that when you feel you are living in the moment of a memory or experiencing the event mere seconds before it actually happens, or dreamed of the events of the day in advance, it has already been experienced by another version of you in another world.”

“A world abandoned by the gods.” she shook her head, “I could not imagine it.”

He leaned back, their shoulder almost touching, “Winter has been conversing with the gryphon. When she is finished, we might have a better idea of what happened, at the least it will give us an idea before we talk with Groyven about it.”

Silias glanced at him, “Winter has had a remarkable transformation.”

“What of Winter?”

“Compared to last night, she is a different person. Since we joined you her eyes have been on you and Sian almost possessively. She confided in me last night about her shame and fear. Has there been reconciliation?” Silias asked.

Antrandis glanced at her, an eyebrow raised, “There has been.”

Silias sighed, “Pele, won’t be happy. More potential competition.”

He frowned, turning toward her, his shoulder against a tree, “Silias, despite your positions of champions and attendants to Sian, both you and your sister are free to find a partner if that is your wish.”

She laughed, a smile lighting her whole face, “Please, Antrandis! A wildcat like me being domesticated?” she stifled another laugh, also leaning against the tree, facing him. “My Lord, I was a target before, those fools thought because I was wild and without a filter I would be an easy conquest. Now it is worse, on the occasions I am approached, it is by those that think they can get into your good graces.”

Silias slipped a hand up and rested her arm on the pommel of her sword, “Antrandis, I don’t go drinking any more, I am no longer searching for what is simply not there. And Pele, she has always been infatuated with you. But, since you fixed her that time, that infatuation turned to fierce mix of love and loyalty. Even broken you offered her the same role, both you and Sian showed her that she was still beautiful and of worth, despite the horrors she suffered. I am sure you are aware, a single word is all it would take… She is yours, my lord. She will have no other.” Silias looked at Antrandis, a quiet smile on her face.

“May I speak frankly?” she asked, her eyes on his.

He chuckled, “Haven’t you been already, Silias? That is a question you never need ask me.”

She nodded once, “Antrandis, before I first took on the role of Sian’s champion I saw it as the greatest honour, a recognition of skill, to be chosen, hand-picked to protect. To follow in my ancestor Cressidia’s footsteps, to be the champions and attendants of leadership. I had read the histories, and I thought I understood.” she looked him in the eye, “I had prepared myself to be ready, to take up the honour that my mother and all those before her had.”

Silias smiled, “I saw it as an eventual shield to hide behind, to hide my truth. I am far from normal, my tendencies. I am sure you have noticed.”

Antrandis nodded, “You are closer to Cressidia then you realise. She was a pure warrior and wild.”

She smiled again, reaching out and tapping his chest, “This... This, right now, Antrandis, this is what I did not expect. It was not a role that I was undertaking, it was a close relationship with both Sian and you. When you requested me to take up the role alongside Pele I did not realise that I would be set free. I am no longer bound by the expectations of being among others. I expected to hide behind the shield of the station, instead I am being embraced and supported.”

She looked across the camp, her eyes unfocused, “I may not display my heart on my sleeve like my sister. But I am what I am. The first time I properly sparred with you I lost myself. You played with me, teased me, and gave me a level of exhilaration and satisfaction that I never knew before. I could be unrestrained, I could give into my violence without fear, I could revel in it, and you controlled me, dominated me, disarmed me and tamed me. You showed me how I could harness that part of myself. For the first time in my life, my violent urges are calmed, I am at peace.”

She looked back at him quickly, “I am not normal, I am dangerous, I recognise it in myself. You both accept me and my tendencies without judging. Like my sister, I am yours and Sian’s, I will have no other. We know it may be unrequited, our love and dedication to the both of you, but we are happy, we know where we stand. I am not a person who looks to change that. You tell me that I can find a partner if I wish. I found a partner, two. I am the closest I will ever be to being like everyone else.”

Silias met his eyes, “I unexpectedly found what I was looking for. Right here, in these small moments. I am prepared to protect that with my life.” she smiled at him, “I ask for nothing else, My Lord and Commander.”

Antrandis smiled warmly, “Then I am honoured to have such women at my and Sian’s side.”

She smiled to herself and looked back to the camp, “I strangely understand Winter’s view of conceding defeat to Sian. But, there is something that is in my mind, I just can not place it.”

Antrandis frowned slightly, “She told me of your discussion, you feel it too?”

Silias looked at Antrandis, nodding, “Winter needs a tether to manifest her physical form on this plane, she is bound to Lumos, she draws her strength from her. But if she is just a tool, as she says… I look to myself, my experiences, as I just told you, my actions, feelings, my world as such revolves around both you and Sian. If Winter is as she said, a tool or servant, should she not be only concerned with the will of Lumos, the one she is bound and tethered to? And yet, she…” she watched Antrandis’s eyes as he considered her words.

“Sometimes, fresh eyes and a mortal’s view unearth simple truths that go unseen by the gods.” he said quietly.

“Antrandis?”

“Silias, this is why I value your honest opinions, you speak of what you see before you. Your observations come from your gut, not from overthinking. The answer is right before Winter, but she can not see it, she is blind to it. Just as I am.”

Silias watched him, “I do not believe she is tethered to the goddess. She may be her Handmaiden… but since Snowshadow became Sian, she has lost sight of herself, whilst Summer has not.”

Antrandis stood, watching the camp, “I agree, Silias. Considering our past, I am becoming more concerned that I am the blinded one.” he looked at her, bowing his head in respect, “Thank you, for the words of your heart and mind.”

Silias smiled, dipping her head, “I am honoured to be of service, my Lord.”

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