Chapter 73 - Wake

Snowshadow slinked through the camp, her fur rippling as a light morning breeze tickled the trees. A few members of the Elite Guard were already preparing the horses, brushing them down and feeding them, others were already breaking down two of the five tents and stacking them. She glanced over to a break between the tents, Winter was finishing up her meeting with the Nameless, she waved to Snowshadow and walked over to her as she waited, the Nameless disappearing into the forest. Once again, Winter was wearing her wings, she had also reverted her hair back to her old colour of steel.

Before she had met with the children, Antrandis, Winter and herself had decided that when Antrandis faced Xiana they would appear as she knew them. At least until they knew her intent. She had kept the meeting with the goddess Aisling to herself as she did not know when Aisling would approach and converse with the Absent God, Toth.

Winter came to her and crouched, running her hands through her fur.

“You do know that you are unimaginably adorable at the moment.” said Winter, whispering to her as she rubbed the fur under her chin.

“You do know that I no longer need you to touch me to speak telepathically?” Snowshadow replied, her large luminous eyes on Winter’s.

Winter smiled, feigning a hurt expression, “You don’t want me to touch you? I thought you would want me to use every opportunity I could, my love. Especially after last night.”

Snowshadow looked at her after quickly taking note of those closest, “Telepathically, Winter! Speak telepathically!”

Winter smiled at her and chuckled, looking over at the larger tent, “It was a shame that he had to tend to Silvast last night. It was hard enough to watch, but I could feel him bleeding his life force off and into her, strengthening her.”

Snowshadow nodded, “Even with the help she will be weak for quite some time. The boy, Groyven, asked if there was a way to transfer what was stolen back to her.”

“Really? Is it possible?” Winter asked with interest.

“To a degree, but it is not like pouring water from one glass to another. At best, even if she could recover all that was siphoned off her by that device the children wield, she would still be heavily diminished.”

Snowshadow noticed movement behind the entrance to Silvast’s tent, “Time is the best healer alongside being exposed to the Sanctum’s core within Scarosant.”

Winter frowned, “The core, I remember it vaguely, are you referring to that monumental crystal your father, oh, is it still? “

Snowshadow nodded, “Yes. Read my thoughts Winter, on the days immediately after my restoration, you need to catch up.”

Winter looked at her, nodding before her eyes widened as she read into Snowshadow’s memories, “But Snowshadow? How?”

Winter quickly knelt in front of Snowshadow and touched her forehead to hers, her eyes flickering as she quickly shuffled through the thoughts that were given to her.

“By the will of Aletteira… Incredible! The whole central core of the Sanctum? They preserved it for you and it was hidden there the entire time?” said Winter under her breath, staring into Snowshadow’s emerald-silver eyes.

“Please, my love, you have to show me more.” Winter said, sitting back on her heels.

“Later, in the coming days. Look.” said Showshadow as she watched the large tent.

They both watched as Antrandis emerged. He ran a hand through his short hair, walking out and into dawn’s light. The arms of his shirt were rolled up to his elbows, the hair on his forearms catching the sun. Winter stood quietly, watching as he walked toward them, her eyes on his every movement. She involuntarily took a step forward, the copper in her eyes becoming more prominent. She felt a nudge against her legs.

“I can feel the difference in you, you must learn to curb that part of your nature when among others.”

Winter quickly glanced down at Snowshadow, her eyes flashing, “But it is so strong. I just…”

Snowshadow met her gaze, “Control yourself, Winter.”

Winter stared at her, “Before, it was never... I have been watching him all night. I… you know what I really am.” she said.

“The opposite of what you always were.” said Snowshadow as Antrandis reached them, their usual shared emotions naturally meeting whenever they came close, she closed her eyes momentarily.

She turned, glancing back as Antrandis slipped a hand around the back of Winter’s neck and kissed her firmly before she could respond. Snowshadow shook her head in mild amusement, waiting as Winter stood silently, her eyes on his for a short moment while they silently conversed. She continued to watch, Winter nodding with a smile growing on her face. It was like she was two people; assertive and playful with her, docile and shy with Antrandis, for now. She did not see Winter as she was chained, but Antrandis had warned her to be wary. Until Winter’s joined self had finished balancing out, she would find some new and more powerful emotions and desires to be overwhelming.

Snowshadow thought of the night before and Winter’s true form. She shivered slightly, remembering Winter turning her power on her, seducing her with her will alone. After they had returned to the tent and Antrandis began tending to Silvast. She had fallen asleep in Winter’s arms where they lay, Winter watching him with her copper and steel eyes throughout the night as she gently stroked Sian’s hair. It was familiar and comforting, Winter immediately becoming a part of them as if she had always been. Snowshadow mused to herself, Winter had always been a part of them. She looked up to see Winter’s eyes on her, a knowing smile on her lips.

“You are thinking about me.” she said quietly as she fell into step beside her, “I can feel it.” she whispered.

Snowshadow ignored her, “Xiana?” she asked simply.

Antrandis nodded, “Both of you need to control yourselves, she will deliberately try to throw us off and manipulate, that is her nature. I want to hear what she has to say, despite her attacks.”

She nodded; padding beside them, she glanced up at Antrandis curiously as she felt his presence shifting momentarily, his steps slowing. He suddenly stopped and looked at her, crouching. His stormy eyes on hers as their minds met.

“Are you sure, my love?” he asked.

“My intent is no different from your own.” she replied.

He nodded in understanding, rubbing the side of her face as she tilted her head into his hand, before standing. Antrandis continued walking, taking the last few steps to where Xiana lay on the dwarven wagon. At some point during the night, someone had covered her with a blanket. He quickly unhooked the ropes around her wrists from the wagon and released the bindings on her ankles.

He stood back, glancing at Winter, “Wake her.”

Winter leaned over the edge of the wagon, her eyes slits while she touched Xiana’s temple.

“Wake.” Winter said at barely above a breath.

Almost instantly, Xiana stirred then suddenly lay still as she woke, trying to make sense of her surroundings despite being bound and blindfolded.

“I hear you, Antrandis, your pet and the bird that knocked me out.” Xiana said waspishly, “You haven’t caged her yet? She’s dangerous.”

“Did you sleep well?” he asked off hand.

She laughed, “That I did, she told me to sleep, I didn’t have a choice.”

Xiana slowly sat up, raising her bound hands, “I can’t feel my feet. You tied my feet too? Are you determined to prove you don’t trust me?”

“You were bound and tied to the wagon ‘because’ I trust you.” he replied.

Xiana laughed bitterly, “Fuck you, Antrandis. Fuck you.”

“You reap what you sow, Xiana. Be thankful I gave you a blanket.”

“I am honoured to receive such hospitality from the leader of Meliandra himself. Only first class for the Dark Empress of Dekkersmann. A personal wagon, all night bondage with silken elvish ropes, blindfolds and a dash of neglect, all under the stars and the moonlight. I can genuinely express my disappointment, the service was terrible. There were no candles, I was forced to sleep through it all and I was fully clothed. Damn you, you could have gagged me and at least by morning I would have been putty in your hands. Willing to do anything you wanted, I would have been out of my mind with desire.”

Antrandis shook his head, trying not to smile, “If you want the humiliation, Xiana. I could always have you strapped to the wagon and paraded naked through the middle of Meliandra.”

“Is that a threat or a promise?” she said, tilting her head toward him.

“I will let you decide that for yourself.” he said.

“A promise then.” Xiana replied without even taking a breath.

He laughed, “Can you feel your feet yet? I do have a feeling that you would like our discussion to be more private and not in the middle of camp.”

Xiana held out her hands, “I suppose these bindings stay on for now?”

He nodded.

“I can’t hear a nod, Antrandis. And yes, I would prefer just the two of us in a small room away from prying ears and eyes. But this forest will have to do.”

“Xiana, why do you not take off that blindfold? Not once have you reached for it.” asked Winter quietly.

“Because it is comfortable.” Xiana replied sarcastically.

Antrandis shared a quick glance with Winter.

Xiana took a deep breath, “I paid for a chance to talk with you, for you to stay your hand. I paid with my sight. I have not removed the blindfold, because there is no point. My eyes are dark.”

She went quiet for a moment, “And if my words do not convince you, then they will remain so. I have given you many reasons over the years for you to stick a knife in me right this instant, I would not blame you. But you are the only one I can trust.”

Antrandis nodded slowly, his eyes on Xiana as she sat, experimentally tapping her feet on the bed of the wagon.

“The girl?” she asked, wincing as the feeling started to return to her feet.

“She is mending, her hair is now grey, but she is well.” said Antrandis.

“At least something good became of this business. I can feel my feet, but you will have to guide me.” she said, shuffling her way to the end of the wagon until her legs dangled off the end.

Antrandis came to her and slipped his hand around her upper arm, guiding her and steadying her as she got her footing. She smirked slightly.

“Antrandis, if this situation was not so serious, I would be relishing this.” she said, her voice low.

“Even now, sightless, you keep this ridiculous charade up?” he replied as he directed her along.

“At the moment I have nothing else, I am sure you have noticed my bruises have not faded, neither has my sight returned. I am helpless.” she said quietly, letting herself be guided through the trees in the relative silence.

Shadow of the Eclipse: Chapter Timeline

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