Chapter 67 - Numb

Groyven sat quietly in their tent, his hand gripping the black amulet tightly. A half hour earlier there had been a shower of bright lights in the night sky accompanied by sharp whistling sounds and the ground and forest had shook with quiet thunder. Silias had quickly gathered him and took him to the tent, instructing him to be prepared to summon Hendosphyre. The eight members of the elite guard had taken up defensive positions around the camp as Silias had ran into the forest to scout the disturbance.

Silias had introduced the elite guard to him as they had eaten, he had found each of them fascinating in their own way. All of them were handpicked warriors and despite being on board the Lychen’s Fiddle, he had never seen warriors like these before. They wore midnight-blue silken cloaks that seemed to shift and turn the light around them. The matching armour they wore was of blackened steel with intricate silver etchings all over its plated design. Three of the eight were wilderelf women. One of which wore a circlet on her brow and lighter armour. Instead of a sword, she carried what he could only describe as a wand sheathed in an intricate leather holster. The one who had tended to Tiffaniel earlier; the cleric of Toth, was also among the guard. All had shown interest in Groyven, talking with him and Silias as they ate.

Then the streaks of silver light in the night started, one of the guard had noticed. A warm light started to form through the camp and the forest. It was then that Silias had guided him to the tent to be at Tiffaniel’s side. She explained that she would return soon after she had scouted the disturbance or had met up with Antrandis, Sian and Winter.

Groyven felt strangely at ease and in some small way it concerned him that he was ready to fight. Instead of being exhausted from the events of the evening, he found himself alert and ready. He had drank so much of Sialin’s liquid ethereal fire that now he had rested and eaten he was positively floating. When they had arrived in the forest he had counted them out, three score, thirty six ampules, including the two they used to revive and heal his wounded head. All that remained was four.

During the fight he had consumed almost all of the ampules of her fire and then the other couple in the cave trying to treat Tiffaniel. Sialin’s warning had returned to him, to experiment sparingly with the ampules. He had used them to supply himself with a constant flow of power without considering the consequences, he had done what he considered necessary. Her emblem behind his ear was burning, but not uncomfortably so, though he felt that something had changed within him. Groyven stared at the those that remained, it hurt. All that remained of his newly formed bond to Sialin was the four remaining ampules of her fire and her emblem that was still maturing behind his ear just above his family sigil.

He knew that the lingering feeling within him from her ethereal fire would be gone either before morning or at the latest within a few days. He looked to Tiffaniel as she lay, sleeping calmly. She was forever changed, one wolf had broken through his defense. Groyven was strangely devoid of emotion after being told that she should be fine, though, everything he had seen in the past days had made him numb. Their saviors could shift between forms at will, one was a Valkyrie, another who was not trusted could shape shift into a dire-wolf. And he would be potentially meeting the dragon he and his sister had unintentionally caused to crash into the mountains in the morning, and that dragon was sister to his snow leopard savior in a previous life. They had been offered sanctuary by the leader and ruler himself of the nearby elven city, even if they could not return home. The disbelief was so overwhelming that he did not know how to react anymore.

He rested a hand in Tiffaniel’s. The device that brought them here was powered by a dragon, it was designed and made by a dragon god of their world. Possibly the parallels of those Sian had discussed. Groyven slipped the device out of their bag. He looked at it absently, he already knew that the best chance they had at seeing their elder sister again was if she found another and used it. Hendosphyre had been direct when he had asked it of him, seeking their alternate self was dangerous. The gryphon could even feel another version of the amulet that was gripped in his hand.

He looked at his sister’s face. Another thought coming to him, they said that she would change form, become a wolf during nights of the full moon. But not a true Were-wolf, instead destined to be trapped in a lupine form, her mind and thoughts intact. Considering that it happened here, would she be able to return if they could? Would she fit back into the godless world they had came from? Or would she be an outcast? He frowned as the thoughts rushed through his mind, offering more questions than could be answered. Groyven looked up as he heard movement outside the tent.

He quickly stood, moving to the flap. Pulling it aside just enough to make a crack, he peered out. He drew in a breath sharply, six valkyries stood in the centre of the camp, all armed with sword and spear, a shield at their arm and armoured in polished breastplates, their wings pulled in tight as they had been walking. The most prominent was discussing something with one of the elite guard. The female magic user was stationed outside the tent at the far end, she quickly met with the prominent valkyrie, bowing quickly in recognition before exchanging words. The five broke off and stationed themselves around the outside of the camp while their leader spoke with the magic user.

Bowing again, the Valkyrie turned and walked back past their tent and stationed herself on the derelict road. Her feet, shoulder-width apart and her spear dug in, standing upright. Groyven could see clearly that she was different to Winter. He stood there, watching her, her wings partially opened, deliberately making her seem even more imposing than she already was. Groyven was suddenly aware of her turning, her gold eyes sweeping around until they met his. He gasped, letting the flap of the tent fall back into place.

He quickly moved back to Tiffaniel and sat beside her, occasionally glancing back to the flap of the tent as he waited for either Sian or Silias to return. After a little while, Groyven relaxed to a degree, sliding Hendosphyre’s amulet back into his top, the group of valkyrie that arrived were known to and had joined the guard. There was no longer the need to be ready to fight or run, just wait. He rested his head on his hands, determined to stay awake. Within moments he felt himself being gently shifted into position, a blanket being placed over him. He was lying beside his sister, looking up through half-closed lids as he saw Sian move over him, tucking the blanket around him. He feebly moved a hand, he could not remember falling asleep. He looked up, to see Sian watching him. She leaned down and adjusted his blanket, guiding his hand down.

She smiled, seeing his eyes partially open, “Time to sleep, Groyven.”

He struggled to get a sound out.

Sian smiled, “I think it is best that you have dreamless sleep tonight.” she said quietly to him.

She dipped further and kissed his forehead. He instantly felt velvet warmth spread through him, reaching along his limbs. Unable and unwilling to combat the sensation stealing through him, he smiled.

“Sialin?” he asked.

Sian looked at him with a sad smile, realising that he was referring to his Mistress and teacher, “Yes, Groyven?”

“Thank you for saving me.”

Sian stood, watching him fall into a deep sleep. For a few moments she stood there watching the children. Their faces calm as they slept, the family resemblance obvious. Jet black hair, blue eyes, and tipped ears, they were of elven heritage. She leaned down and tilted Groyven’s head, carefully exposing the skin behind his ear and looking at his Mistress’s and the separate family sigil of a trident beneath it. Maybe it was known as the Demon’s Thread in their world, but here they were of the Aletere, as only their kind had these marks. Moving across to Tiffaniel she checked to find the matching trident sigil.

“Family crests.” she said to herself, recognising the similarities.

Shadow of the Eclipse: Chapter Timeline

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