Chapter 41 - Stubborn Intent

Silvast watched from the shadows of the passage, the sudden change in Winter’s posture as Rhyker spoke in her ear. The scene of the powerful rakshasa kneeling before Winter was a sobering reminder of the sway that the valkyries of the old world, the reapers that watched over the battlefields of old once held. She slowly started loosening the straps around her chest and breathed in, finally without pain. She looked up as Winter spoke.

“Sessh, how long has it been since Neci abandoned Escorath?” she said, her tone curious as if fearing the answer.

Silvast shifted, watching the rakshasa as he thought, shaking his head.

“You of all should know how long it has been, Gatekeeper.”

“I know how long, Sessh. I am asking you.” Winter insisted.

The great rakshasa sighed after taking a deep breath, “The last time I laid eyes on this place was when the humans started reducing this land to a desert. The eight of us withdrew to the DeKaalenstaad once we knew that our way of life would be no more. The dragons had passed from time, we and our lesser descendants were discriminated against, some enslaved.” he ran his tongue under his lip, wincing, “The elves were retreating to and protecting their forests and vales, the dwarves delved deep and closed their halls to outsiders and us.”

He chuckled darkly, “Then the wars began. The valkyrie no longer watched over the battlefields and the dead piled high. That was our last proof that the gods were no more, how could they let this calamity befall the Eld? The dragons, my mistress, they could only have fallen to let this come to pass.”

His gaze dropped to the floor. His massive shoulders sagged and he took in a deep breath, “Yes. It was then that we decided to withdraw to the DeKaalenstaad.”

Silvast watched him, his deep breathing calm and quiet.

“He’s a good storyteller, picturesque even. That was, what? Two thousand years, give or take?” Rhuthain said while glancing at Winter, catching her nod.

“Almost two millennia.” Silvast whispered to herself, her eyes glowering gently.

“DeKaalenstaad? Why is that name familiar?” she heard Rhuthain say.

“It is an oasis in the teeth of the Eld. It is the centre valley in the ring of peaks, the crucible or the mouth of the Eld. No matter how much snow is on the peaks, the oasis is like the tropics. The fires deep under the mountains keep its earth warm.” said Rhyker with a strange tone in his voice.

“Aye, the Darklands then. Despite me time, I still know little about them, except they are not me thing. So they have been holed up in the caldera of a volcano? To be quiet that long it must have been stabilised by some serious casting.” Rhuthain said off hand.

Silvast smiled slightly, remembering the report that the twins had given to her four years previously, “But, there is nothing there, no city, no people.” she whispered.

“There is nothing there, Thain. Nothing, except a jungle full of ghosts.” Kitaraiya said, mirroring Silvast’s thoughts, “After Rhy and I found Dagnetheln, we pressed on to locate DeKaalenstaad, we found it, but nothing.”

Ja’Sessh chuckled, drawing their eyes, “Then you did not find the entry. Without passing the right way, you will not enter the refuge of The DeKaalenstaad. The ring of peaks is a sanctuary. The caldera is host to a place that is there and yet is not. Where the boundaries of the Eld blur, the path to the realm of twilight between night and day is revealed.”

Silvast’s eyes narrowed as she watched Winter, her ebon hair glinting with a rich copper shimmer as her head turned to Ja’Sessh.

“Realm of twilight between night and day?” she echoed, “How long?” asked Winter.

“Seven thousand, maybe eight. We have not particularly kept track of when and where. On occasion we have done small trade with outsiders, but none have entered The DeKaalenstaad.” he said, giving her an unconcerned expression, “Gatekeeper, this line of questioning is the Host’s will?”

Rhuthain chuckled, “Aye, I can’t listen to this.” he said, glancing into the shadows at Silvast, “Its embarrassing is what it is. I mean, he’s been wandering around for a few weeks at best and he can’t see it.” he continued.

Winter stared at Ja’Sessh, her eyes intense and unwavering, “Who gave it to you? Or should I ask, who told you of its existence?”

“It does not matter any more. He has passed as all have. The dark one, the ebony dragon, he of shadows and the starless night. The empress, my consort, approached him and asked for salvation. The last act of the darkest one was of salvation for my people and our kin. For that we are eternally grateful.” he said, placing his large hands on his thighs.

“Silvast?” Winter said without turning, her eyes still on the rakshasa.

“This is not the first time you have spoken to this ‘Silvast’ who has not seen fit to reveal herself.” Ja’Sessh rumbled, “She obviously is of some import to the young ones here and the dwarf.”

Winter nodded, “She is of great import to me.”

“That I doubt.” he immediately responded.

Silvast chuckled to herself and pushed off from leaning against the wall, her eyes glowing silver in the darkness.

“Your blatant ignorance and projection of superiority is astounding. Firstly you were outwitted by Rhuthain with ease; secondly you are easily overpowered by Winter. Next you are going to tell me that I am not the child and daughter of the ebony and alabaster, those that gifted you and your kind sanctuary for more than fifty thousand years.” Silvast said, standing just within the passage with her form obscured by the shadows.

“Again, as with the valkyrie you only speak of impossibilities. You are mistaken or deluded.” Ja’Sessh replied.

“Obviously. I must be, there could be no other explanation, could there? Your reasoning has no equal.” she said with a hint of sarcasm and a smile, “The gods have left, the dragons are no more, and anyone who has not been hiding away within the shadow realm is clueless and naive to the reality they have been living in.” Silvast said, allowing her scales to form, covering her whole body under her clothing in her armoured shimmering skin as she stood in the shade.

“I thought it strange that he and mother never mentioned where their lair or den was. But they had, just not verbally. The maw of the Eld. The mouth of the world. The meeting of night and day, of ice from above and fire from below. You and your people had been invited to take sanctuary in their lair in the moments before the world ended. They foresaw the coming terror and granted you a safe harbour. But then, it was not at your request.” she said, remaining obscured.

Ja’Sessh smirked, clicking his tongue, “There is no possibility of you being their daughter, it was well known that the dragons were incapable of producing offspring, unless you are a construct or one of their stray cubs. I am finding this ultimately tiring.”

Silvast unstrapped the harnessed jacket and slid out of it, taking the bottom edges of Rhuthain’s shirt and drawing it up and tying it off, exposing her taut mid-drift, “You do not have the right to interrupt me, male of the Rakshasa. You and your people were safe while my parents endured near to twenty thousand years of suffering as the poisoned air stole their breath, the storms flailed the skin from their bones, and they died, only to resurrect at the height of agony to find another similar fate within moments, days, weeks, if lucky, years. The only one who is deluded and mistaken is yourself, consort to the Empress.” she said, stepping out of the shadows.

The glimmering light from the sconces shimmered off her metallic scales as she handed Rhyker his harness. Her platinum-silver hair hung long down her back, the freshly plaited heavy braid shifting with her movement as she walked over to stand beside Winter. Her eyes glowed sharply from under tapered silver brows, staring at him as a baffled expression came to his face.

“No words? Oh yes, I have met her, many years ago, when I was young. A wonderful being, intelligent and with razor sharp wit. Gods, she is beautiful, I would absolutely love to make her part of my collection, but with you in tow… I would have to think twice. I can only assume she had kept you close for mating rather than your intellect.”

“You may present yourself as…”

“A dragon? Now you are going to tell me that I can say what I will, I can present myself as I will but it is not the truth. Because all the dragons are dead, yes?” Silvast smiled, “You are too predictable.” she said before glancing at Winter.

“Does she know?” Silvast asked.

Winter gave a slight nod in return.

“It seems that the quickest way to sort this out will be to take you to my sister and Winter’s partner. Your empress has met him before, she was… quite enamoured with him, though she did not wish to disrespect me.”

“You can say what…” Ja’Sessh stopped as Winter glared at him.

“I can. Just the same as I can end your life in less than a blinking of your eye, but I choose not to. If you insist on me proving myself, which piece should I deliver to your Empress? Consider that thought in silence for a moment.” Silvast said without bothering to look.

“I refuse to be brought before the Host.” Ja’Sessh said with blunted tone.

Silvast met Winter’s eyes, “Can we do it the fast way?”

“Was not thinking of anything else.” Winter said with a wary glance at the rakshaka.

“Thain, you feel like...” Silvast asked over her shoulder.

A distasteful expression came to his face, “By the bearded gods of mayhem… No, this business is doing me head in; one of you can catch me up later. I’ll keep an eye on the kids.” he looked at both Kitaraiya and Rhyker, “Not that they’re kids anymore, but near enough.”

Winter walked up to Ja’Sassh, stopping right before him, making him shift back involuntarily, “I will bring you to my partners.” she said with a low voice, her steel eyes watching him.

He bristled slightly, “That can only be the Host, no other.”

She crossed her arms and sighed, “Stop kneeling and get up. You can either walk, or I can make more of a mess of you and drag you to them unconscious.” she said, the tone in her voice leaving no room for argument, “I am no longer asking you, I am telling you.”

Sian glanced at Antrandis, a frown marking her brows, “A Rakshasa?”

“Yes, a Rakshasa. He is attempting to make a mess of the twins. Winter is watching over them.” he said.

“Then he doesn’t stand a chance. But, just one? They have not ventured out of DeKaalenstaad all these years. The first time I saw one, I was still a child and it was here at Escorath. I was eleven or twelve at the most. I truthfully thought…” she said, meeting his eyes, “You met one before? Not one of their people, the Ke’Shasan? But, one of the eight?”

Sian sat on the edge of the bed, “Which one and when?”

Antrandis raised his eyebrow, “The Empress, in Silvast’s and my early years.”

She stared at him, “Ja’Ekavira. You met Vira?”

He nodded, watching her concentrate.

“Vira was a conservator of Escorath. She can be very direct.” Sian watched Antrandis, feeling the thread of his thoughts, “Please tell me she didn’t. Vira is very strong willed, and when she sees something she…” Sian winced in embarrassment, “likes, she takes it. You would be her type.”

He nodded slowly, “I found that out.”

“No, no, no, was Silvast with you at the,” Sian’s eyes widened, “time?”

She watched his roll of the eyes and laughed before pursing her lips, “No…” she whispered, scandalised, “She didn’t just come into your rooms and attempt to seduce you?”

Antrandis just nodded, “I do not think she came to our rooms to seduce me at all, she came to mate. To this day I do not believe that ‘seduction’ was in her mind. Just that I was meant to do as I was told.” he chuckled, “Vira was most displeased that I rejected her, angered even when Silvast escorted her out and had her put under guard.”

Sian bit her lip, “A dragon versus a rakshasa, she didn’t know she was in a dragon’s den before that happened did she?”

“She did not. But, we both made our mistakes with that. Vira just assumed that Silvast was not a dragon, and that I was not a, well.” he chuckled.

Sian shook her head, “Vira is their leader, and unless proven she expects those under her to be subservient. Any that she would have encountered on the way to Scarosant would have been in awe of her.” her smile grew wider, “Her glamour would not have worked on you, though. Oh, she would have thought...”

“Her ‘glamour’?” Antrandis asked, eyes narrowing, “Is it natural?”

“Natural, though once you are aware of it, it is easily fought, both mother and father told me of it. He always found it amusing that others would immediately treat the Rakshasa like gods or higher beings on sight. They are not aware of it either. It is like a blind spot. Subtle but very effective.”

Antrandis scratched his jaw, “That makes sense, that ignorant superiority.”

Sian watched him, “Which one is it? There are only two males of the eight. Ja’Sessh or Ja’Kalth?” she frowned, letting her mind wander as she felt for Winter’s thoughts.

“Ja’Sessh.” he said.

Sian nodded, “Sessh is up there? To the Rakshasa and their kin, most elves look alike, dwarves appear similar, humans are no different, but animals are unique to their eyes. He should recognise my other self, even after this time if he does not recognise me as I am now.”

She frowned, “Something he has said angered her, its rolling off her in waves.” she said, meeting his eyes, “He can be ridiculously stubborn.”

Sian stood and quickly placed a small box over on a side table. She rested a hand on Antrandis’s arm while he seemed distant, his mind momentarily elsewhere as she looked into his eyes. A frown came to his face as she watched, her thoughts flowing in with his while they stood in a unified silence. A moment of calm spread through them, the ripples of the water reaching the shore gentle with the swell of the low tide. They walked toward Winter as she stood, her consciousness calm despite the aggravated display as she threatened the rakshasa.

Winter noticed them and turned, coming close, her form shimmering as it shifted on the shore of their shared strength. Her eyes met theirs, the faint echo of Silvast admonishing Sessh echoing in the distance.

“My loves, were you aware that the Rakshasa and their kin were concealed within the den of the black and white?” Winter asked, her voice faint, yet swirling around them, “The den is situated in the shadow realm. Within the mouth of the Eld. Where the path of time moves differently.”

“Mother and Father’s den?” Sian echoed with a whisper, her surprise causing a faint ripple in the swell as it washed against the sands at their feet, “How long?”

“Around ten millennia since they entered. By Ja’Sessh’s reckoning. While the world moved on.” Winter said; her eyes basking in the emerald glow of Sian’s.

Andrandis came close and touched her face, smiling as she gently pressed her check against his hand before kissing it, “The Empress kept her visit to herself. He is ignorant of what has taken place in the world.” she said, her eyes sliding to Sian’s as she took her hand.

Sian smiled, “She would not have considered it important for him to know, the last thing she would need is to sow dissent. He was sent to check on Escorath and return, that is all.”

“Just being here, it is proven that the time is shifting, to know that Dagnetheln had been recovered means they have been watching. They are ready to rejoin the people of the Eld.” Sian’s eyes met Antrandis’s, “Sessh does not need to be here at Escorath. Vira wants to know if their old home is habitable, if the jungles have recovered, if the humans have withdrawn.”

“If the dragons have awoken. She knows they never left.” Antrandis finished, “She sent him to prepare him. To take up his role at her side in the Eld.”

Winter nodded slightly, “Just like she said those years ago.” she brought her hand up to caress his hand where it touched her cheek, “Tonight, my love. I will escort him to Dagnatheln, tomorrow eve on to The DeKaalenstaad. I will meet with Vira, she will not deny me entry, nor my bond to Sian as one known to her, or Antrandis son of the goddess. You sustain Neci still, it will give weight to our memory of her. He will trust if it comes from one he is familiar with.”

Sian smiled slightly, “Neci returned here a number of times after they retreated to the The DeKaalenstaad. The remnants of her blood, comings and goings are here.”

Winter nodded, “That will work in our favour.” she said before meeting Antrandis’s eyes again, her form growing more dominant, her large dragonesque wings forming as shadows behind her, “My love, your will?”