Chapter 84 - Past, Present and Parallels - Pt.2

“Lady Sian, can you read the inscriptions?” asked Tiffaniel, her eyes wide in expectation.

“To a degree, it has been more than six ages since I have used the tongue of the ancient Wilderelves. And that is just since the Three brought the world back from ruin.” remarked Sian.

There was a sudden click of a large beak beside her and she placed her hand on Hendosphyre’s head, closing her eyes momentarily, in her free hand she turned the amulet over and read. She looked into Hendosphyre’s eyes, nodding slowly.

“By the gods…” Sian said quietly, looking up to meet Winter’s eyes.

Winter frowned, her eyes locked with Sian’s while the Nameless from the encounter the previous evening strode from the cover of the forest and stood at her side.

The Nameless spoke quietly, “Commander?”

Winter glanced at the valkyrie, “Spear? Did you escort one of the Aletere who bore the mark of the trident?”

The russet-haired valkyrie stood for a moment, thinking.

“Yes, Alehra of Desil. She was the bearer of the amulet in Mistress’s hand. She requested that I allowed her one last moment before I took her, to see him one more time.”

“What happened to her?” asked Tiffaniel, her eyes wide.

The Nameless turned to her, but instead her eyes were drawn by Hendosphyre. She made a step forward and bowed to him, “Her mount was wounded terribly, they fell in the middle of battle. The mount fought valiantly until she succumbed to her wounds. But it was too late, Alehra was mortally wounded by the fall from the skies.”

“Who attacked them?” asked Antrandis.

“Master, it was the green dragon, he was hiding in his elven form, as the silver does now. He rode an eagle into battle. He was hunting.”

One of Antrandis’s eyebrows raised, “What was he hunting?”

The nameless met his eyes, “Leadership, he was hunting leadership.”

Sian shared a look with Antrandis, her eyes sharp in shared understanding.

“Valkyrie, was the green suppressing Alehra’s power?”

The nameless tilted her head, “No, the violet was, I thought it strange that she was weakening the Aletere in the battle, stealing their strength.”

Sian stared hard at the nameless, “The violet?” she said under her breath.

“Yes, Mistress. I thought it was strange, why would the dragons steal what was willingly given by others of their kind?”

Silvast watched the exchange, looking to Sian and the minute tell of fear then anger on her face, “Sister, calm yourself. Another piece of the puzzle just fell into place.”

Groyven looked between them, “You said that the Aletere asked for protection from those that gave them their power. Your and Silvast’s parents. They gave the amulet to my family? Is that why Hendosphyre instantly trusted both of you?”

Hendosphyre clicked his beak sharply, shrieking a little.

Sian smiled, “Yes, in part. Has she been summoned since then?”

Hendosphyre shook his head.

She rubbed his beak, “Before we do, I must firstly do as promised.”

Sian met the Nameless’s eyes after sharing a glance with Antrandis then Winter; she gestured to the valkyrie, “You shall be nameless no longer. My gift to you, as the first I name, you watched over the battle that saw the downfall of the Aletere, you guided these children’s ancestor to the spirit realm, you granted mercy to Alehra so she could say her last words. It shall be your duty to me and the house of Darkfall, to safeguard and guide Alehra’s descendants, the last of her line, while they remain with us.”

The nameless valkyrie stood before Sian, her dark eyes wide, her russet hair falling around her shoulders.

“Stand proud, Talessia, warrior and spear of Darkfall. Come out of the shadows you have resided in for too long.”

Silent tears tracked their way down Talessia’s face, Sian came in close and embraced her, whispering into her ear, “Welcome.”

“Thank you, Mistress.”

“Sian.” corrected Sian.

“Sian, it is a great honour to…” she stopped, her eyes on Sian’s.

“Your eyes, Talessia, they are turning blue.” Sian said.

Winter stood beside them, “She has been made whole. You have granted her a strong name, does it not mean: noble defender or defender of nobility? It suits her.”

“Commander? I… I can see the, I can hear.” she quickly turned and stared at Hendosphyre, a sudden hush falling over the nearby forest.

Sian spoke to the children, “Talessia will be your personal escort while you remain with us, she will protect and guide you.”

Groyven watched the intense discussion taking place between Hendosphyre and Talessia, “She is one of the valkyries that returned to camp last night.” he glanced about as a breeze started building in the forest, a breeze that was drawing on all sides to the newly named valkyrie.

She turned and knelt before Groyven and Tiffaniel, her eyes now sharply glowing with inner light, “Groyven and Tiffaniel, it is the Mistress’s wish that I act as your attendant and protector.”

“Like Silias?” asked Tiffaniel.

Talessia smiled and looked to Winter, “We shall speak later, Spear of Darkfall, not in the presence of your assigned charges. Your full powers have been granted”

Talessia nodded and met Tiffaniel’s eyes, “I shall never be too far from your sides, there is no need to fear, Tiffaniel of Desilantre. You look so much like her.”

Tiffaniel stared at her in realisation.

“I must speak for a moment with my Master, Antrandis.” she said, touching Tiffaniel gently on the shoulder before walking to where Antrandis leaned against a tree.

“Groyven, Tiffaniel, we will try and summon Hendosphyre’s mate. I have good reason to suspect that this will not go well, she has not been summoned since her fall.” explained Sian.

Groyven nodded, “What is her name?”

Sian turned the amulet over and read the inscription, “I think it is ‘Calaaslara’?”

She turned and looked at Hendosphyre as he gave his head a little shake.

“Close, wrong dialect. High Eladar, not Meliandra’s localised speech.” said Winter.

Sian concentrated, “High Eladar? Then, ‘Calasylara’?”

Hendosphyre immediately clicked his beak, nudging Sian and looking at Groyven expectantly. He fixed his eyes on Winter, conversing quickly and waiting for her nod.

“Hendosphyre feels it is best that everyone except Groyven and he stands back,” she turned and looked to Silvast, “Silvast, if you are willing, he would like you to be close along with Sian.”

Winter glanced back at the gryphon, “The children of the dragons will help placate her rage.”

Silvast smiled, “I am in no condition for battle, but if it helps. Sian?”

Sian nodded in understanding, then looked back to Groyven as he held Tiffaniel’s hand.

“Tiff and I will do this together.” he said resolutely.

She smiled slightly, “If that is your decision.” she said, waving back the others.

Tiffaniel nodded, her eyes on the amulet as Sian handed it back to Groyven before joining Silvast a little distance off.

Groyven stood close to Tiffaniel, Hendosphyre taking the few steps to them.

“I will need to do an offering, so she recognises me as her master.” he said to Tiffaniel.

“Could I do an offering too? Or a joint offering, since she was last with Alehra.” asked Tiffaniel hopefully.

Groyven nodded, “We will make an offering, the both of us.”

He looked to Hendosphyre, “Are you ready? You think she will be ready to fight, don’t you?”

The gryphon nodded with a quick movement, quickly checking the clearing. His eyes lingered on Antrandis and his feigned state of relaxation, even at this distance he could feel the energy rolling off the Hithren in waves. Another enigma that he was uncertain of and not of their world. The one named Winter was completely different to when he met her the night before, her energy was now amplified, and now fully in tune with both Antrandis and Sian. The great silver dragon, Silvast stood a little way off conversing with Sian, he could feel her power, though heavily depleted, she was ready to intervene if required.

Goryven held the amulet cupped in his hands, “Tiff, we need our blood, and both of our powers. I did not realise what it meant, Mother taught me to give an offering of my power, but in the sense of warmth and guidance in dark places. I used Sialin’s fire mixed with my own.”

“But Calasylara is a sword, both of our powers used as an offering to battle?”

Groyven nodded, “I will cup the amulet in my hands, you will cup your hands over it. Freeze the amulet while I bathe it in fire.”

Tiffaniel looked him in the eyes, “Ven, Talessia said I look like Alehra.”

He smiled, “I hope it helps tame her.” he said assuredly, “Ready?”

She looked at him and nodded, a small measure of apprehension in her eyes, watching him turn the amulet over so that Calasylara’s side faced up in his palm. She followed his movements, pricking her finger and drawing blood, leaving a smear on the inscriptions. Groyven cupped his hands under the amulet as Tiffaniel reached out and tented her hands over his.

He nodded to her, feeling the amulet grow icy cold, frosty wisps of air snaking out from between their hands and in return he brought forth flames, bathing the amulet in fire.

“Gently, open your hands, Tiff, keep them cupped around it but open at the top.”

She nodded and did as requested, exposing the cold flames to the air, gasping at the sight of frosted fire. Groyven smiled slightly before meeting her eyes.

“Come to our side, great Calasylara. Come forth from your long sleep, blade of our forebears.”

Within a few short moments, a soft violet light gathered, clearly visible in the afternoon light. It seemed to leech out from the surrounding forest to hang in the air around them, in amethyst, crystal-like clarity. Hendosphyre paced back and forth, watching the mists intently he stopped, finally noting the change as the mist started to draw together to a singular point of violet light. His eyes narrowed and he shrieked, getting himself at an angle that allowed him to easily intercept his mate. A shadowy form grew in the clearing, its frame smaller than Hendosphyre’s, a fraction more compact. Ghost-like, it seemed agitated, pacing and clawing at the ground, impatient at the slow transformation.

“Ven, something is wrong.”

“I can feel it too.” Groyven glanced at Tiffaniel, seeing the fear in her eyes.

He felt Hendosphyre shift, a tense, soft shriek coming from him.

“Tiff, run.” Groyven said.

“Ven? Why? No.”

“Tiff, run! Run!” Groyven screamed at her, his eyes fixed on the rapidly solidifying gryphon.

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