Chapter 6 - Respect and Obsession

Ja’Ekavira shook slightly, listening carefully to the withdrawal of Winter and Ja’Alexa. She could not make sense of their voices over the roaring sound in her ears, the realisation that Winter had been inside her head, scouring her thoughts as she had them, knowing every move before she could make them. Winter knew. She glanced over her shoulder, her sight penetrating the silken waves. She stared at her hand in surprise. Moisture, a tear had fallen. Winter knew how broken she felt, how she had been used. That is what she fought against, Winter’s sympathy. Though she did not want to accept what Winter had left as she had withdrawn from her mind. Despite her behaviour, actions and sharp words she had not destroyed hope. Despite Winter’s defensive stance, she had not crushed her. Instead, Winter made a show of overwhelming force, of domination to conceal her moment of weakness.

She slipped to her knees, her legs weak, the first time since the loss of the ancient world. The one she had been attracted to for so long, in the back of her mind as a persistent thought. He was not just an elven male, a leader of his people, but Winter’s master, and in turn, hers. She ground her teeth together, stifling the urge to show greater signs of weakness, stifling the urge to scream in a mixture of unbridled relief and sorrow. She looked down at the coin, gently caressing its edges with fingers so unlike her brethren, instead the hands of any elf without claws but still dusted heavily with her characteristic fur.

Quickly glancing at the silken walls again, she stood and heavily ran her thumb over the disk of gold, feeling its weight, feeling the heat grow within it as the inner garden was bathed in that familiar golden light. The snowy maples appearing surreal as the golden light washed over them. Her eyes darted, searching for a sign of his form, until finally she flinched, feeling his words from right beside her.

“Searching for something that stands right before you, Ekavira?” Antrandis’s shade said quietly.

She quickly backed away, looking at him curiously as his semi-transparent golden representation watched her.

“Antrandis?” she whispered, coming closer and trying to touch him, to have her hand meet air.

He smiled, “That is my name.” he said, his eyebrow rising.

She frowned, “Who is Winter to you?”

His expression shifted, a gentle smile that twisted her insides, “Winter is a part of me, a friend, a lover and consort. She is a mother, a wife and one that I love and respect dearly.”

“How long has she been yours?”

“Since I was two or three years old.” he replied.

“No, for how many years?” she asked, her eyes searching his countenance.

“Forty millenia.” he replied, “Surely you want to ask different questions then the relations I have?”

“Forty millenia?” she echoed before shaking her head, “No, that is exactly what I want to know.” she paused momentarily, “Silvast?”

His shade smiled and shook his head, “Ask Sessh of his impression of the Stormarrow if you must. That is not the purpose of this communication.”

Ja’Ekavira glared at him momentarily, taking in his attire before coming closer and staring at his face, her eyes widening as she looked carefully at him, unchanged from when she saw him at Scarosant.

“You are really that old.” she said softly, in fascination, “But unlike the dragon, I could only feel that you were not normal.”

She slowly circled him, “You are willing to resettle my people.”

The shade turned and looked at her, “Yes, I am willing to do so, I have had eight valkyrie sent to secure the paths and entrance of the mountain. I am also aware that they were attacked and that thankfully none of your people were lost.” his smile slowly dropped, “As much as I can ignore the rash actions of Ja’Sessh in Escorath and set them aside, keeping them hidden. I can not overlook the actions of those tasked with protecting a border when no ingress or deliberate provocation has taken place. There will be ramifications for this attack, a punishment. The Ke’Shasan must be held accountable for their actions. Meliandra, its steward and its ruler will not tolerate unlawfulness or unrest within its borders.” his golden eyes set on hers, “Is that understood, Ja’Ekavira?”

She nodded, twisting around him, her tail sweeping past as she found herself getting so close as to pass through him, baring her teeth slightly when her touch did not make contact, “Yes.”

“I am sure you are aware that I am in Escorath at the moment. My steward, Aleenastra will meet with you or your representative at Dagnetheln. To organise passage, the Chancellor of Knocht will be in attendance also.”

She stopped and stared at him, watching his lips as he spoke. Mouthing his words just after he said them, echoing his utterance. Her large eyes wide and captivated with his movements, her tail twitching almost rhythmically.

“You have not changed…” she whispered, with a faint purr following, “…Master.”

Winter frowned, her words slowing and coming to a stop as a grimace of distaste twisted her lips.

“You can feel her?” Ja’Alexa asked in the silence between them, looking to the forest below, the lanterns moving through the trees drawing closer as if waiting in expectation.

Winter nodded, wincing as she felt the slide of Ja’Ekavira’s reason to instinct, “Has she always been like this?”

Ja’Alexa met her eyes momentarily before looking back at the temple, her ear twitched slightly, “Not always, once she had drive and purpose to keep our people safe from what was to come, to escape the falling of the world.”

She sighed quietly, “Then she met Antrandis.” she said, glancing up at Winter, “She thought that none knew she had left to seek the dark one. I had Freya follow, to keep to the shadows. But when she returned…”

Ja’Alexa shook her head, “She was different. She curled up on that lounge and slept, waiting and being uninhibited. Her moods would shift unexpectantly, without reason.”

“And that coin. She would keep it on her at all times. There were occasions I would watch her sitting, staring at it possessively for hours at a time. If I would ask, she would just smile and tell me that the time had to be right.” Ja’Alexa said, quickly grasping the tip of her tail and pulling some errant blades of grass from it, “She used to be seen among the people, but ever since...”

Winter’s eyes narrowed, “Eighteen years ago, in the real?”

Ja’Alexa nodded, “Eighteen in the real, she has not left the temple since. Most of the day she would sleep. Then she started speaking of Toth, and proclaimed herself a High Priestess.”

Winter stared at Ja’Alexa, “Eighteen years ago I became whole. Eighteen years ago, what was cut from her escaped the prison while I was freed. I had become what I was meant to be.” she glanced at the temple, “I became much more than I was meant to be. She must be feeling that connection, attuned to it, even hidden in here.”

“Who is Toth?” Ja’Alexa asked, “Is this god even real?”

A concerned expression slipped over Winter face and she nodded, “Toth is real, he is known as the ‘absent god’, feared by many, salvation of the few. Most people are too wary to speak his name aloud. But those that know their worth…”

Ja’Alexa’s silvery turquoise eyes widened, “Then the Eld is quite different from what it was. You speak of gods, and representatives of them, the…”

“Hithren, yes. Almost all of the gods have a direct representative on the Eld. A child as such.”

“And, Antrandis is one of these Hithren?”

Winter looked at her momentarily, “In a sense.” she said with a small smile before looking over the edge, noticing that Ja’Sessh was nearing the top, “You said ‘the time had to be right?’ Four weeks ago?”

Ja’Alexa nodded, “Yes, as it would have been in the real.”

Winter frowned slightly, the moving lanterns in the forest below drawing closer and congregating at the base of the cliff, distracting her, “There is nothing… That comes to mind.” she said to herself.

“Ekavira insisted that the Lady of Shadows had whispered in her ear, telling her that the Valkyries tending to the ruins of Dagnetheln were a sign.”

Winter nodded slightly, “Then it was Aisling.”

“You mentioned… Aisling.” Ja’Alexa said, struggling to get her tongue around the name, “She is a goddess?”

Winter gave a short nod, “She is a meddler in the fates, guiding destiny along a path that few can see.” Winter said, “Lumos, Aisling and Auryl. Identical sisters, they all act with one common goal.”

“Then they are doing more than those of the old world. Never did they seek to correct the path of destruction.” Ja’Alexa said softly, “They would not even awaken to save their peoples.”

Winter’s eyes snapped to her, “Awaken the…” her voice catching momentarily, “The children?” she whispered, closing her eyes and concentrating, “What are you aiming for, Aisling? What do you see for them that they need…?”

“The Aletere…” Winter said at barely above a breath as Ja’Sessh breasted the stairs, fresh blood splattered and staining his fur, his claws still extended and a battered limp body being dragged with his large hand around its neck, its bloodied feline head hanging from his left hand, moaning softly but still drawing breath.

Ja’Alexa moved before him, her eyes wide, barring his path, “What are you doing Sessh?! You are taking this too far!”

He let his eyes rest on hers. His pale blue glowing dangerously in the dim light, his regal countenance no longer composed, but savage as his whiskers twitched. Watching her as she recoiled.

“You are not allowed near the temple, brother.”

“I no longer answer to the rules of this place or to any here, except for the Empress once she regains herself, Winter the Dark Priestess of Toth and Antrandis of Darkfall.” he snarled at her, pressing past and stalking over to Winter, standing before her with scarlet streaking the white and black fur of his face.

“Punishment has been exacted on the one responsible, he has been stripped of his rank, he has stood before the Ke’Shasan elders and admitted to recklessly endangering the people when action was not needing to be taken, he stood and was beaten down by every hand that he put willingly or unwillingly in danger, as is our custom.” he rumbled, his bloodied hand twitching, “An example has been made. A warning to the people that now they will walk among the people of the Eld. But more must be done, as one who is responsible for my people.”

Winter raised an eyebrow as she looked at the horribly beaten prize held in the clawed mitt hanging at his side. Without warning, he abruptly turned and roared into the dark with teeth bared, his fury echoing out over the Dekaalenstaad and making Ja’Alexa jump in its suddenness. The rakshasa gasped as the echoes rolled out, seeing Jesse’s mark on her brother’s back and the physical menace as he stepped powerfully to the edge and threw the limp body over and into the gathering lanterns below. His large chest expanded as he inhaled sharply, his fists balling.

“For every one of you that feel you are above those that offer our people aid. For every one of you that feel they have a right to act as they wish without punishment. For every one of you that tries to take what is not rightfully theirs. For every one who speaks ill and seeds malcontent… You will be judged, and I will exact a price for your crime!” he roared, standing visible to those below, eyes streaming light, “You will answer to me.”

A deathly quiet rose up to them.

“All of you, the Ke’Shasan, organise and prepare, gather your possessions in readiness. Our long night is heading to dawn.”

Ja’Sessh turned from the edge, glancing at Ja’Alexa.

“You are not the brother I knew…” she said softly.

“I am not, but I am the brother I should have been.” he said, “I have already had word with the Elders of the Ke’Shasan and they have appointed the head of the Order of Shadows and the Mistress of the Arcana for your consideration, they are preparing now and will be ready at the gate.”

“Consideration for what, Sessh?” Ja’Alexa asked.

“Now is not the time for petty games, Alexa.” he said dismissively, “We are running out of time, for every moment spent, six pass in the real. People who speak for the gods await our word and representation. In less than one hour of our time, we must be at the gate to catch the night before the dawn.” he said sharply.

Ja’Alexa glanced to Winter, immediately noting her nod, “Then you must excuse me,” she looked back to Ja’Sessh, “You have changed...”

“No, I have woken up.” he responded, his pale eyes on hers as she left, smoothly walking.

Winter looked him up and down, “Your speech, somehow I feel it is pointed.”

He looked at the temple, “I hear you encountered one who has shared my bed, one who considers herself special for the honour.”

“What is her name?”

“She has a name?” he replied quickly as he started to walk, “Her name no longer matters, it never did. She warmed my bed for a night or two, but her mewling soured the experience.”

Winter glanced up at him with a smirk on her lips, “Despite her flaws, you are being overly cruel.”

“Am I?” he countered, “I have now seen what had been absent. I can feel what I have been searching for.” he said under his breath, “And it is not among the Ke’Shasan.”

“You are considering Jesse?”

“Tell me, Winter. What did she see with those eyes?”

Winter smiled slightly, “We can see the spirit in you, the reflection of your true self. Jesse saw what you truly are and it calls to her.”

“My true self, is that not what you see now?”

“When Vira is restored, you will understand.” Winter said, “Jesse’s mark is now visible at all times, not just to Valkyrie. You are considering her claim?”

Ja’Sessh stopped before the silken walls, “No, I am not considering. I accept her marking of me.” he said, glancing at Winter, “I felt it as I stood among my people, I knew that what I had known was not the truth of the world. When Jesse found me in the ruins, she took my hand and everything was clear. I felt peace. I felt a moment of purpose and a tenderness that I had never felt before. Like I was coming home.”

“I thought it was her using her mind on me. But now I know, she did not.” he whispered, “It was my reaction to her.”

“Tell me, how can your spears act with such freedom?”

Winter smiled, parting the first silk, “I will not deny them freedom of choice and will. They have their purpose, but that should not be the only feature that defines them. They are my spears, my warriors, but also my friends, my sisters. Both Antrandis and I believe it would be wrong to deny them happiness when they could pursue it.”

He looked at her from the corner of his eye, “How often does duty take priority over their personal pursuits?” he said with a rumble.

She looked up, “Only when it has to. Think of them as warriors without war, led and in the service to myself and Antrandis. Does that make it easier?”

“That I can understand and accept.” he replied, holding a silk aside for her to walk through, “We shall recover Ekavira and get you and company back to Dagnetheln. I will physically drag her out here if I have t…” he stopped, his eyes falling on Ja’Ekavira in disbelief as she wound herself around the golden shade of Antrandis.

“What is she...?” he said, grimacing in distaste, “Would you not prefer the real thing over a shade, sister?”