Lithoniel

Lithoniel was standing on a green field, the Sun warm on her skin as she walked around, euphoric as she had never been. There was something weird in what she was seeing like a strange fog at the corner of her vision. She didn't really pay attention to it. For the first time in her life, she could hear the chirping of birds, see quiet mountains in the distance and feel the smell of wet grass in the air, so different from that persistent stench of rotten eggs lingering in the Embersea.

It was like she was living in a dream. Unfortunately, that dream soon became a nightmare. The earth started shaking, and huge fireballs came out from the mountains, burning grass and trees, turning the water of the rivers into steam. It was like she was reliving what happened a thousand years before, the day of Cataclysm. That was just the start.

Something even worse than fire started to come out from those huge holes opening in the ground: the same monsters she had seen before, deep underground. They were like an eruption, a black flood swallowing and destroying everything in their path.

Gradually, her paradise became a battlefield, a hell of fire and death as hundreds, then thousands of people started to die, engulfed by the flames or killed by those monsters. But it was when the bodies became too numerous to count, that she saw it: the black tree. It extended its roots on the corpses, draining them of blood like a huge leech.

It was about to reach her, when Lithoniel woke up, so terrified she couldn't even scream. The mark at the pit of her stomach was still pulsating when she opened her eyes and saw the familiar shape of her tent. The blanket covering her fell when she stood up, but she still lacked air. One month had passed since she came back to the tribe, and the temperature was much colder, but she felt like she was suffocating. She wanted to leave, get some fresh air when she saw the shadows of her jailers, standing just outside the tent. She took a deep breath, then another, her heart slowing down as she regained control of her emotions. She still wasn't used to being a prisoner, a criminal waiting for trial.

After she'd come back, she expected Naevys and the others to resolve the situation swiftly, maybe even the next day, but as days and weeks went by, the wait became something close to a torture, the uncertainty almost worse than the punishment she expected to receive. Rolim's occasional visits were her sole relief, the only contact she had with the world outside. She'd hadn't seen her teacher, Naevys, since the night they came back from the hunt, and even Kolvar, who used to pester her every day, never visited her. She was vaguely aware that the situation was odd, but the captivity was beginning to weigh on her mind.

As days became nights and nights became days, it became harder and harder to stay in touch with reality. Of course, the fact she had no idea about what was going on outside didn't help. Rolim was even more cryptic and taciturn than usual. Lithoniel was sure he had his reasons and was probably trying to protect or help her someway, but the thought did nothing to reduce her frustration. She was about to lie down, trying to not think about that dream, when the same man she was thinking about entered.

"Lithoniel" He opened his mouth, likely to continue, but hesitated. "Are you fine?" He asked at the end, his concern clear on his usually inexpressive face.

"I am" She answered, though she could imagine how she looked: haggard and thin, the dark circles under her eyes highlighted by the pallor of her face. Rolim frowned, obviously unconvinced.

"I know you are restless, but you have to eat, Lithoniel." He glanced at her arms. They were looking more and more like toothpicks.

Lithoniel grimaced.

"I'll try." She forced herself to say, "What's going on outside? Have they come to a decision?" She said, asking the same questions every single time.

Unfortunately, Rolim's answer didn't change. "Not yet."

"Why?" She whispered, her shoulders sagging. "Why do they keep delaying?"

She couldn't take it anymore. She wanted this to end, in a way or another. Maybe Rolim realized something was different because this time he didn't just shrug off the issued. He looked at her, opening and closing his mouth several times.

"There is more at stake here than you think, Lithoniel."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean that Tinesia's ridiculous accusation is not the only problem. The main issue is who the next Nighstalker will be. Either you're the hero who killed the Zaruk or the villain who failed to uphold her vow and schemed against the Nightstalker to take his place."

"And of course they think I'm the latter." She said, her tone filled with bitterness.

"Don't be so sure about that." Rolim mumbled.

"What?"

"Nothing" He shook his head, "Anyway, if they find you guilty they will exile you, but if not..." Rolim gave her a meaningful glance.

I will be the Nighstalker. No, I won't this about this. Lithoniel banished the thought from her head. Being able to leave this tent was more than enough for her. She didn't want the Nighstalker's lofty title, or worse, having to shoulder the responsibilities that title entailed. She had already learned her lesson when Liara escaped.

"This still didn't explain why they keep delaying. I wasn't even allowed to attend the funeral." She lamented.

"There has been none."

"What?"

"There has been no funeral, Lithoniel."

Lithoniel gaped, "Why? The Loremaster said..."

"The Loremaster's hands are tied. It's Tinesia's fault." He explained." She said that her husband can't rest in peace unless the person responsible for his death is brought to justice."

"The person responsible, eh?" Lithoniel sighed. She felt guilty for a lot of things, but the Nighstalker's folly wasn't one of them.

Rolim clenched his fists, "She is using the vow as an excuse to shovel dirt on you."

She winced, "Of course she is. I'm an easy target."

"It's not as bad as you think. Don't underestimate our tribesmen." He warned her. "Many of them are starting to realize that Tinesia is just using you as the scapegoat. She doesn't want to admit that her husband made a mistake. But don't worry, the truth will..."

"Truth has nothing to do with this and you know it." Lithoniel interrupted him, "I'm the tribe's pariah. Even if she has no proof, who do you think the people will believe? Me?" She snorted, "I don't think so."

"Tinesia has always been unstable." Rolim countered, "As I said, It's not as bad as you think. Elwin and the Loremaster are on your side. They know that you're innocent."

Lithoniel forced a smile, "I hope that will be enough."

"It will be. Don't worry, things are getting better." He sounded oddly confided.

Lithoniel furrowed her brow and studied him. "Rolim, what are you not telling me?"

"Lithoniel, I..." He hesitated. "I'll come back later. Rest well."

"Wait..." She said but he was already gone.

What's going on?

She was still wondering about that when someone she hadn't seen for a long time entered. It was Kolvar.