Tala watched as the pocket reality collapsed around her.

Great strips of something that distorted the magic, and her natural eyesight, were peeled off and drawn into the pouch that Tala had set upon the throne at the heart of the ether hold.

She would have been concerned, but Pallaun had explained this part to her. At least he did that much.

He said that when the core was destroyed or otherwise overcome, the ether hold would collapse, ejecting the Eskau back into reality.

Though, to be fair, his description had sounded more like the fracturing of a vase than a predator peeling strips off its prey’s corpse.

Beside her, Tala saw two constructs of magic clashing. One was connected to the pouch, beside which Flow rested so that Tala could continue to feed Kit.

The other seemed to originate from the throne, and was anchored in the very fabric of the world around her.

The conflict was happening in the dimensions of magic, so it was incredibly difficult to see anything but general ideas, but the sense Tala got was of a leopard circling a wounded hare, lunging in to grab what bites she could as the hare became weaker and weaker.

Kit was consuming the hold, and each bit of power gained strengthened Kit and weakened the opponent.

It reminded her of when Kit had been expanded the first time, by Master Jevin, back in Makinaven.

The magics involved had looked like an otherworldly predator, eating some prepared food.

The same features were echoed in the tableau beside her, but Kit was much larger and more powerful, and this bit of food was still kicking.

Tala continued to supply Kit with magic as the flaying continued, all the while making sure to hold very clearly her desire for her sanctum, as it had been built, to remain unchanged.

To her mind, the extra volume gained would add to the height within Kit, and most of the base materials would be…consumed by the same.

I still need to come to grips with that.

-It was pretty obvious that the gunk we put into Kit was going somewhere.-

That’s true enough.

Anything interesting would be placed on the dais for her to examine later.

Well, anything except this sword.

She looked down at the weapon in her hand, Flow resting in its sheath on the throne.

The sword had a similar shape to Flow in its sword form, but it was hard to discern the details.

It was as if the sword reflected no light at all, shrouding its contours and shape.

The very power in the air seemed to be pressing in around the blade, though that was wavering as Kit consumed more and more.

No… that’s not right. The power isn’t pressing in on the blade.

-The power is hardened, staying just out of reach of the weapon.-

That was it.

The ether hold was keeping all power from touching the void sword. Even as it fought and died, it still maintained that working, that effort of will.

We need to pay close attention to what it’s doing; I have the feeling that we’re going to need to replicate it.

-Already on that. Can you do something for me? I think it will help.-

A moment later, Tala was rotating the two bloodstars mirroring perception for Alat around the sword, moving them up and down its length, so that Alat could examine every nuance of the magics involved.

-Perfect. Keep that up until we leave here. I’m learning some interesting things.-

Throughout that time, Tala, of course, was feeding power to the weapon. When she had begun to lessen that flow, she felt as if her hand was about to be ripped apart and pulled into the weapon, so she maintained the heavy burden.

It clearly wasn’t enough to fully utilize the weapon, but a truly massive void-channel, the largest she could maintain, did seem to provide enough magic to be above some minimum threshold.

Yeah, it will let me hold it as it consumes the world.

-Don’t be like that. This is a fascinating bit of natural magic. It resembles an artifact, but somehow…more organic?-

I thought artifacts were natural. How does that make sense?

-So did I. This is like seeing hundreds of drawings of trees, then finally seeing the thing itself. Sure, the drawings look really real, really organic, but they are nothing compared to the real thing.-

So…artifacts are constructs?

-Or just less complicated than this. Instead of a picture, think of the artifacts as baby trees, with all the features, just that they’re not fully developed yet.-

Huh. I think that makes more sense, as I can’t imagine someone making artifacts and then sprinkling them randomly around waning cities.

-That’s fair. I suppose that the artifacts are just manifestations of magic brought into being by the surge of power around those cities.-

Or drawn in, in the case of creatures posing as items.

They both looked towards Kit.

If the leopard and hare metaphor was to be extended, the leopard had just pounced and pinned the hare down. The end was upon them.

The remains of reality fragmented into strips around her, and with a strange twisting sensation, Tala found herself standing firmly back in her core reality. The ether hold entrance was gone.

Flow was now back at her belt, hanging opposite Kit.

She had an instant to see a whole crowd of people gathered around her, but still at a reasonable distance, before the sword in her hand roared to life.

Tala’s enhanced perception registered the all-consuming blackness expanding outward in a wave.

Oh, the blade isn’t void-black because of its materials, it’s that color because it eats whatever touches it…except at the handle, but that has a cost.

She was so glad she hadn’t been stabbed by this sword.

-Focus, Tala! Aura control, mimic what the hold was doing.- Alat poured the knowledge she’d gained through her close examination of the weapon into Tala’s conscious mind.

Tala quickly sorted the flood of information as she flexed her aura, which she still held in a sphere roughly an arm’s length from her at the edges.

Now, she distorted it to fully encapsulate the sword, then she pulled it outward in a bubble around the weapon, preventing any magic from entering or exiting the space.

The result was a visible bubble of void, seemingly encapsulating her right hand. There were flickers of movement across the surface of that void as it interacted with, and was rebuffed by, her aura. In those variations, she thought she saw a pair of eyes, blacker than the void, gazing at her for the briefest of moments.

In that fraction of a racing heartbeat, Tala would have sworn that they looked…smug?

Alat, I think I’m seeing things.

-It is pretty common to see patterns in randomness. That’s what cloud-gazing is, after all. Humanity is good at finding seeming order within chaos.-

Tala returned her focus outward, and thankfully, it had been less than a second since she exited the hold.

Pallaun was the closest to her, and he was also the only one to have reacted. It had been a simple reaction, as he just transformed his protian weapon into a tower shield, which he held between them.

Tala took in the others before her, and her eyes widened.

If the embellishments around their heraldry were to be believed, this was a group of Eskau from quite a few major Houses. Be-thric and Sanguis were there, and it seemed like the Pillars from the other Houses were with their Eskau as well.

Be-thric stepped forwards. “Eskau Tali. Please explain what you hold in your hand.”

Tala gave a bow to those gathered, not to Be-thric. Not at all. He just happens to be standing near those I’m bowing to. “This is the weapon of the final enemy I slew. From what I understand, it is a sword of the void. It consumes everything that it can. I am containing it for the moment.”

Be-thric cocked his head, then nodded. “Other void items have been recovered from ether holds in the past. Eskau Pallaun, suggestions?”

Pallaun bowed towards Be-thric, his weapon returning to its place and form as his gauntlet. “If it pleases Pillar Be-thric, I have a containment box which could suppress the magics and remove the item’s urgency for now.”

Be-thric turned to the other Pillars. “Is that acceptable?”

There was some grumbling, but everyone seemed to agree in the end.

Pallaun stepped forward, pulling out a large box from his belt-pouch.

It was clear that his own pouch was a dimensional storage, as the box he produced was many times too big to have fit.

He opened the lid, and Tala gingerly put the sword into the box.

“Eskau Pallaun? Why are they all—”

“No unnecessary talking!” A Pillar of the Falling Moon shouted over her. On his chest, he bore the emblem of his House: A anthropomorphized moon with fury across its features.

Pallaun shook his head as he closed the box. Magics flared to life briefly, and then the sword was contained, at least for the time being.

He then presented the box to her, and she leaned it against her leg.

Tala was suddenly feeling nervous. Did they find out I’m not Tali?

No, that was ridiculous. Pallaun wouldn’t have given me back the box if that were the case.

She opened her mouth to question, but Be-thric shook his head once. “You will only speak to answer questions, as tradition demands.”

The Pillar of the Falling Moon cleared his throat. “Were you warned of this?”

She frowned, then shook her head. “I don’t even know what ‘this’ is, so… no?”

A crescent moon pendant in his hand pulsed with light, and the questioner nodded once.

She opened her mouth again, but Be-thric gave her another look, and she shut it.

“What did you fight within?”

“Zombie-like creatures, bipedal magic-leeches, and statues.”

Several people exchanged nervous looks.

The same Pillar continued the questioning. “Did any of the statues have wings?”

“No? Not that I saw.”

“Did any cover their eyes?”

Tala thought back. “No? I mean they might have done so to defend against a hit to their heads, but not noticeably.”

That seemed to satisfy the man on that count.

He then proceeded to ask her myriad other questions that seemed inane, but it seemed like the watching Pillars hung on her every word.

He wanted to know if she could see a false sky within, and what color it had been.

Puke brown, but without the chunks.

He wanted the exact count of the various enemies she’d slain.

Alat was able to help Tala provide that.

Which opponents were armed and with what.

Only the final enemy and with the void sword.

On and on it went.

Finally, the man came to the last few questions.

“Were you healed, or instructed to heal, before destroying the core?”

“No.”

“Are you injured at all?”

“No, of course not.” She looked to Be-thric, frowning in confusion. He knows I heal virtually instantly, what is this about?

Be-thric cleared his throat. The question he asked was addressed to the Falling Moon Pillar, not her, “Do you need her to strip down to prove that she is undamaged?”

Tala kept herself from stiffening, but the inquiring Pillar shook his head. “That is unnecessary.”

Be-thric smiled.

The other turned back to her for one final question, “Are you aware of any bets?”

“Bets? No.”

The pendant in his hand broke apart, and part of the light moved to rest against Be-thric’s chest.

Several of the watching Pillars laughed and congratulated Be-thric, and some were sulking, and came forward to console the Pillar of the Falling Moon.

The light also went to others, though it was less. Once that was complete, items began to change hands.

Tala leaned close to Pallaun and raised an eyebrow questioningly.

“Yes, you can talk now, Eskau.”

“What is this about?”

“It is common practice for the Houses to bet on an Eskau’s first ether hold. Your Pillar leveraged himself and his assets past the point of sanity to make a single bet, there was only one taker.” Pallaun grinned. “The others likely smelled something human about the situation.”

Something… human?

Pallaun glanced at her then rolled his eyes. “Something fishy, something off.”

Oh… That was pretty insulting.

-Tali would only care because she’d want to prove she wasn’t like other humans. She wouldn’t address it.-

So, Tala didn’t. “What was the bet? What did he win?”

“He bet that you would emerge without a scratch on you. And he won…” He turned and gestured.

The Pillar of the Falling Moon was arguing with a candidate Eskau and potential Pillar from his own house, if the embellishments around their own sigils were any indication.

“No.” Tala was in disbelief.

Pallaun grinned. “Yes.”

The Pillar of the Falling Moon ripped a crescent shaped knife from the candidate Eskau’s belt and strode over to Be-thric, presenting the protian weapon to the onyx man. “Your winnings, Pillar Be-thric.”

“Thank you, Pillar Mesek.”

“Let it never be said that the House of the Falling Moon dishonors our agreements.”

“You are truly above reproach.” Be-thric bowed.

The other Pillars and Eskau seemed to have finished paying off their various wagers, and the group began to disperse.

Well, I guess we just earned him another protian weapon?

-Seems like it, yeah.-

Well, that’s one more step towards freedom. She didn’t like helping Be-thric get more powerful, but she couldn’t deny that that was the quickest path back to the human lands. Back home.

Sanguis and Be-thric spoke briefly with Pallaun and Tala, instructing them to head back to the main hold. He was to help her assess the void sword and discuss possibilities.

Be-thric patted Tala’s head affectionately. “You continue to deliver, my Eskau.”

Tala was proud of her self-control.

She didn’t consider striking him in return.

She didn’t even flinch away. Instead, she channeled Tali’s memories and neuro-pathways. She bowed to the retreating Pillars, directly behind Be-thric. “Thank you, Pillar Be-thric.”

“No bowing, remember?” But he patted her head again, clearly pleased.

She nodded. “As you wish.”

“Good, good. It’s time we upgraded your gear. Your worth grows every day, my Eskau, and that blade might be just the thing to enhance your weapon.”

Pallaun turned, eyebrows climbing. “Pillar Be-thric? I will not insult you by asking if you know the dangers, but are you sure?”

Be-thric waved the Eskau down. “I simply ask that the two of you confer with Thorn and experts on the subject. Don't take any action until we can discuss it.”

Pallaun nodded, but he still seemed unconvinced.

After that Be-thric and Sanguis headed towards the City Lord’s keep, apparently they had business to be about.

Pallaun and Tala turned back towards the House of Blood’s hold.

“Eskau Pallaun?”

“Yes, Eskau Tali?”

“There was a lot that you failed to mention about ether holds.”

The large man shrugged without slowing his pace. “Tradition and my instructions dictated I remain cryptic.”

She grimaced, then shook her head and sighed. “Fine. So? Can you tell me more now?”

He glanced her way, then shrugged again. “Not much to tell. Every ether hold is vastly different. You already know the commonalities.”

“Breathable air, ground to walk on, at least at the entrance, and a core.”

“Precisely. Beyond that, they vary extremely. Some have creatures within, some don’t. Of those that do, some of the creatures conform to what we know of how living beings should function, others don’t. Of those that don’t have creatures within them, some are undefended, others have intricate traps, still others have puzzles, and so on.”

“Still…” She wanted to ask if they were really infinitely variable, but that isn’t something that Tali would ask.

He shook his head. “One of the stranger ones I’ve overcome was filled with creatures of gas. I could only see them as distortions in the air around me. They couldn’t be killed, and I simply had to endure as I searched for the core.”

“Endure?”

“Their touch was like steam, or acid, or a chill deeper than the deepest winter. Each was different, and each was intent on forcing their way into my flesh to bring about destruction.” He smiled wistfully. “That was a challenging hold.

“Surely that wasn’t entertaining to you?”

“It wasn’t a good fight, no, but it tested my mind. I had to think in new ways and overcome adversity.” He shook himself as if invigorated. “What is life but the constant struggle to improve oneself? The day you fail to do so, the day you stop, is the day you die, even if it takes years for your heart to stop beating afterwards.”

She didn’t have an answer to that.

“Now, did your dwarf remain in your sanctum or will we need to hunt him down back in the main hold?”

“He is in the main hold’s library, seeking advice on what volumes to add to my own.”

Pallaun grunted. “A wise use of time. I would have killed to have a servant such as he when I first was raised.”

The obsidian skinned man turned to her, grabbing her shoulder in a surprising gentle, but still firm, grip.

“Treat him well. He will be an asset to you and the House for centuries if properly cultivated in the role of adjunct to an Eskau.”

Tala cocked her head, considering. Finally, she nodded. “I think you’re right. He is too useful to take for granted.”

It might be worthwhile, trying to figure out a way to get him to defect, help me get free, and come with me back to the human lands.

-We also need a plan as to how we can kill him if he tries to stop our escape.-

Truthfully, Tala didn’t know which would be harder.