Gathering

"Ryun and Nayra will arrive at Eratemus's home in a couple of hours. I want us to be ready in case Eratemus is able to locate Anatalien," Selia said, her voice carrying clearly over the long table illuminated by the crystal hanging from the ceiling, casting blue-white light on the room.

Her eyes looked around, meeting everyone's eyes. Anrosh sat at the head of the table, with Selia herself sitting on her right. Across from her sat Karya, with one of her son's—Emrys sitting next to her. She had started taking more of her children to the Sect meetings, rotating them out. Having them learn from her and getting them all accustomed to leading. The death of Ender had hit her hard.

Erdania sat next to Selia, leaning back with her arms crossed over her chest. The last person in the room was Embesh, sitting next to Emrys.

They were in Consequence, in one of the palace meeting rooms.

"Any word from your contacts?" Anrosh asked.

Selia shook her head. "No," she answered. "I haven't been able to get in touch with Maleatus or Vesterius. That isn't that surprising, though. Vesterius is a mercenary, he often joined armies and fought on different battlefields. Maleatus... Well, he spent his days wandering the land, looking for things that interested him. I've left messages for them through our usual channels, but it could be months or even years before they think to check them. We haven't been operating as a group since the Dome's were opened. Most of what we sought to accomplish is no longer relevant."

"Is there any other way that you can think to contact them, maybe the other members of your group?" Embesh asked from across the table.

Selia sighed. "I've sent a message to the last member, though I don't know what kind of an answer I will get."

Of the seven members of the league, Vryull, Erdania, and Selia had become part of the Twilight Melody Sect. They still didn't have a confirmation of what happened to Sigmund, but Selia feared the worst. With Maleatus and Vesterius gone, there was only one other member of their group that Selia could reach. Fenera De Vemar, also known as Cloud, Princess of the Heavenly Cloud Kingdom.

But Selia hadn't really kept in contact. Fenera had aligned herself with the Exalted Empire, and the relations between the Empire and the Sects were... Strained. Selia didn't know if Fenera would be willing to help.

"Regardless, we still have no idea where Tali was," Anrosh said slowly. "For all we know she could be beyond the Settled Territories."

Selia nodded. "Which is why I want a team ready to move as soon as we have any information available. We can't afford to hesitate."

Anrosh inclined her head in agreement, but then continued speaking. "I agree with you. But there is a lot more to consider. Depending on the location we are pointed at, there could be... politics involved."

Selia grimaced, and turned her attention to the presence inside of her mind. Ryun had tried to keep his side closed off, but Selia had felt what he felt regardless. A lot had changed in the last few months, and their bond had grown stronger. Not because of anything that she did, but Ryun had apparently gotten some revelations. Selia had started having dreams weeks ago, dreams of the Scythe and the time before, when the Scythe and the Reaper were one. She barely remembered them, but the memories, or at least the emotion behind them, had somehow stuck around with her.

A few days ago, she had woken up to something else. She had gained the Grasp and Glimpse of True Death. She still remembered the feeling of it, the certainty that the Aspect of True Death was part of her. She had never been as close to that side of it as Ryun had. Obviously, he had lived with it for longer than she had. But it seemed that her progress wasn't required, Ryun's advancement had dragged her along. It did make sense, they were bonded, two parts of the same whole.

She had felt his emotions, his anger and his fear. He cared about Anatalien greatly. Selia could tell that he was barely keeping himself under control, and she didn't know what would happen if he lost it. She had come to learn that while Ryun was ambivalent toward most things in life, there were some things that he cared very much about. That he was willing to burn the world to ash and dust for. Like those that he loved.

She had to do everything in her power to make sure that he didn't lose his grip. She had sensed what stirred beneath the surface, and she knew that it was a monster that wouldn't stop no matter what stepped in its way.

She had to help him, in all the ways that she could. And that meant being ready to move at a moment's notice.

"If it comes to that," Selia responded to Anrosh's words. "Then we will deal with it then. Do you think that Ryun will care? It will be on us to make sure that we can cover his actions," Anrosh said. She knew Ryun just as well, perhaps better in some ways. "Who do you want?" Anrosh asked.

Selia looked around the table before answering.

"A small team," Selia said. "A group that can move quickly and can handle the opponents of the highest caliber. Myself and Erdania for certain, Zacharia and Nahamassa if they agree," she glanced across the table at Karya. "Would you be willing to go?"

Karya met her eyes. "Tali and I have a history. I would do almost anything to see her returned safely."

She paused, and Selia spoke to fill the silence.

"But?" She asked. She could feel a but coming.

Karya nodded. "But, all of us here have a responsibility toward the Sect. Ender is gone, the Sect has been attacked. The world is in a perilous place, balanced on the edge that leads back into chaos and wars. We can't all of us go. We must keep enough strength, in the sect, to protect against any danger. If you want me to go, I will. But someone else will then need to stay."

Selia tapped her long claw-like nails on the table in front of her. Karya was right, she knew it. The yeti had come and attacked them from out of nowhere. Zach hadn't seen the yeti at the Dome, but the Unchained were undoubtedly connected with them. They couldn't even rule out that all of this was just a ploy to have them leave the sect weakened. They still didn't quite know what the yeti was after, they had only suspicions based on his actions and words, but Selia wasn't going to believe that. The yeti had proven to be a terrible foe as well as a schemer. Nothing that he did could be taken at face value.

"You're right," Selia admitted. "I'll take others, if they accept."

"The Unchained are strong," Anrosh spoke up. "Their main members kill High Rankers, and we have no idea how large their organization really was, who else was part of it."

"I know," Selia said. "Still, a small team is best. We need to strike fast and save Anatalien," if she was still alive. She added the last part silently, though she was certain that everyone thought the same.

"Then," Anrosh spoke slowly. "I have some suggestions."

Selia nodded, then turned her attention and listened.