Chapter 54 - Treaty

A quiet mountain breeze ran down the valley, the cooling air sweeping down as the heat of day started to leave the boughs of the forest. It was unconcerned with the drama that had been unfolding at the riverside and the long-ruined town, or the plight of the children that had found themselves alone in the forest, now found but in dire need. It playfully whisked past the Were, Rolf as he built a pyre for his beloved in the battered and blasted town square, his eyes straying to the lifeless body more often than not. Finally it skimmed up and along the river before petering out to a gentle breath of cool air over the forest.

Winter stepped out from the shadows, just inside the entrance of the cave, faint wisps of smoke following her until she stood in the silvery moonlight. The mountain breeze cutting through the valley below, ruffled her feathers as she looked down into Tiffaniel’s darkening face, the black stain already creeping up her jawline. Winter cast her eyes over the valley, the moonlight making the canopy of the forest glisten in the night. In the distance she could make out the cut in the trees that indicated the river, and in the ruins of the old town a fire flickered and swayed, a thin chimney of smoke winding its way into the night. She closed her eyes, willing her shift back to the purposeful form of the valkyrie, affording her greater speed, strength, sharper vision and armoured skin.

She shifted Tiffaniel in her grasp, securing her grip. Spreading her wings, she cast off from the entrance of the cave, catching the breeze, using it to gain altitude quickly as she dragged at the air with her wings. Holding Tiffaniel close to her body, she dove, using the momentum to cut into the valley. Slicing the air, she spread her wings out just above the canopy, gliding at speed as she skimmed above the silvered sea of green. She banked and followed the natural curve of the valley, rapidly approaching the ruins. Within a few quick moments she could see the opening ahead where she had punched through the canopy to attack Groumangand. Angling her wings up, she started to slow, approaching the ruins. Beating the air with her wings, slowing further, she passed over the river, dropping altitude. The silent forms and dead bodies of wolves littering the banks of the river.

She dipped lower, skipping her feet off the bank, using the breeze along the river as a cushion to create effortless lift and glided along the river until she came to the damaged waterwheel. Angling herself, she passed above the main street leading to the square, cutting cleanly across the ruins until she reached the shattered remains of the main bridge before banking tightly to the left and over the river.

Catching the breeze again, she glided toward the fire burning on the bank before the branching of the river around the town. She could not help the sense of relief she felt the moment she saw him standing near the fire. A quick glance on approach showed Xiana leaning against a tree on the edge of the firelight with an aggravated expression on her face, glaring at Antrandis.

“Antrandis!” she called out, allowing her body to dip down, her wings slowing her momentum until she alighted on the shore of the river, continuing at a walk, tucking her wings.

“Winter, you have the girl?” asked Antrandis as he ran out to meet her.

Winter watched his eyes glinting in the moonlight as he reached her, “Yes, they were in a cave complex, dwarven.” she said.

He looked at her with an expression of slight surprise, “The boy and gryphon?”

Winter glanced at Xiana as she watched them, still leaning against the tree scowling, “Snowshadow is with them, they should be here shortly.” Winter said.

She leaned close as Antrandis carefully lifted Tiffaniel, cradling her, “Something is very strange, both the boy and gryphon reacted like I was there to reap her soul. The last time I…” she nodded to the girl in his arms.

Antrandis shared a quick glance with her, “We will work out what is happening, the signature of magic from their arrival is quite unique. Ancient, even.”

He raised an eyebrow, hearing a derisive laugh from behind them.

“Sharing secrets? The both of you have too easy an intimacy” said Xiana waspishly, her voice reaching them over the crackle of the fire as they both approached.

“You have a pet. It is rumoured you have taken another wife. Yet, you still share close bonds with your partner from the distant past, the head of Scarosant. But now I can’t help but wonder, is Lumos’s Handmaiden one of your toys?” she snapped a stick, “I always knew you had an insatiable appetite.” Xiana said, a twisted sneer on her face.

Winter met Xiana’s caustic gaze with a small smile, “Insatiable, maybe. But at least he is not covetous of that which belongs to others.” said Winter, returning to her softer form.

She followed Antrandis’s look to the bag they had found amidst the ruins, “The children’s?” Winter asked.

He nodded, ignoring Xiana’s spurs, “There is a blanket.” he said.

Xiana leaned back further, watching the two, “Who would have thought that the temple-bound Handmaiden has a blade for a tongue. Antrandis, give me my daggers back, I’d rather slit my own throat then have her cut me down to size.” she said aggressively.

Antrandis looked carefully at Tiffaniel’s face, “I am almost inclined to do so, Xiana.” he said, moving closer to the fire, Winter laying out the blanket, holding it as he laid the girl down.

Xiana laughed, chuckling at the verbal sparring and pushed off from the tree, making her way over to them, her eyes already on the girl in Antrandis’s arms.

“I was the first to claim him, he has always been mine.” said Winter softly, just loud enough for Xiana to hear as she passed.

Winter’s voice stopped her in her tracks; eyes wide as she felt, more than heard the menacing undertones to the valkyrie’s words. Looking back, she met Winter’s eyes, a menacing faint copper glow deep within the steely depths momentarily before flickering out. A sudden level of unease crawling up her spine as the valkyrie watched her steadily. Turning away from Winter’s unflinching gaze, Xiana quickly knelt beside Tiffaniel.

“Your bird needs to be put back in her cage.” she commented under her breath.

Antrandis looked at her, his expression serious, “Be careful who you provoke.”

“Clearly…” she stopped, Antrandis was watching Winter with a concerned expression that immediately brought back Winter’s words.

“Clearly,” Antrandis met her jade-webbed eyes, “You do not see death, even when you look her in the eyes.”

Xiana scoffed as she turned Tiffaniel’s face and checked it, the black stain already covering half of her face. She pursed her lips, noticing the fur growing along Tiffaniel’s jaw. Quickly unlacing the top of the girl’s robe she pushed the fabric back, exposing her shoulders. Downy fur already showing.

“So fast.” she muttered before rolling Tiffaniel onto her side, pulling back the robe further to expose her back.

A thickening trail of fur now ran down her spine, the wound partially open. Covering Tiffaniel up again she laid her back down.

A shriek sounded over the ruins as she looked back to Antrandis, “I have your word, Antrandis?”

He looked at her with an unamused expression, “You have my word.”

She nodded, her expression darkening, “We are too late to reverse all of it, she will have lingering issues.”

Antrandis looked at her, “You said midnight.”

“It is moving much faster then it should. She made that bridge of ice I saw through the trees, did she not?” Xiana asked.

He nodded, “She used everything she had doing it.”

Xiana looked at Tiffaniel’s form with unease, “I can remove Groumangand’s disease, but she has already started to turn. At her age, at least she will have her mind when she does. When she is older she may even be able to control it.”

She looked up to the full moon, “For now, every full moon, Antrandis. This girl will turn into a wolf, or at least share the semblance of one.”

“She will be a Were?” he asked simply.

“Not exactly. You just have to wait and see.” she said, slowly sliding a hand onto Tiffaniel’s chest and another on her forehead.

Xiana started concentrating, her power at work. Black mist started to swirl around her hands, drawing the disease from Tiffaniel. Her arms started shaking. From the corner of her eye she saw the boy and gryphon approaching along the river being led by Snowshadow. Winter ran into her vision, stopping them from approaching. Ignoring them, she glanced back at Antrandis, her hands quaking now, tremors running through her body. Making her grit her teeth, sharp barbs of pain working their torturous way up her arms.

“Antrandis, do I have your word that you will hear me out? I need you to see past my acidic words and venomous tongue and hear me. I need you to look past my incessant aggression. I know I have been your enemy more often than not. I am not looking for forgiveness.” she looked into his eyes, black tears starting to form from the pressure, her voice breaking, “Despite this, you are the only one I can trust. You are the only one. The only one. I need your word. I need to hear it.”

Antrandis watched her, the black stain crawling up her arms, her teeth clenched, veins starting to throb in her neck, her breathing coming in short bursts from the strain.

“Xiana Mataskiere, Hithren and Daughter of Telios. I give you my word. You will be under my protection until I hear your request.”

She nodded sharply, digging in further. Darkness crept over her eyes, turning them black, stealing her sight. He watched as the final tendrils worked their way out of Tiffaniel’s skin, being drawn into Xiana’s hands. Shaking violently with a silent scream on her lips, she lifted her hands and slowly crawled, unseeing. Dropping to the ground, she rolled onto her side and into the fetal position, hands clawing at her face as she whimpered in agony, the disease being absorbed by her body.

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