Chapter 82 - Shared Understanding

The sun cut across the road, the light of mid afternoon filtering through the trees. Faint traces of dust still hung in the air from their passing a quarter of an hour earlier. The rush of the river only a short distance through the forest. Further ahead in the bend of the river a number of horses were drinking, their saddles and harnesses still in place as they were being tended by the Elite Guard.

An elven woman with bright silver eyes and hair stood in the shallows, her legs bared to the knees, the cool, clear water rushing past. Her eyes were focused on one snow-capped mountain in the distance. A boy with black hair and blue eyes stood in the shallows with her, following her gesture and listening to her words, a faint tinkling of laughter came from her as she responded to his question. On the bank a girl stood, her once black hair peppered with grey, her eyes matching her twin brother’s, a faint smile of relief on her lips. She turned and looked under the cover of the trees at a woman with strange, green webbed eyes, her hand running through the fur of the wolf laying at her side.

Tiffaniel took a few steps toward Xiana as she sat, the Hithren’s eyes absently staring at a distant mountain, its peak missing, leaving a jagged crown.

“Shattered peak. By the gods.” she whispered to herself, the memory Sian had given her in the morning returning to her.

She glanced up as Tiffaniel stood before her, “What is it, girl?”

Tiffaniel stared at her, “Thank you. For saving me.”

Xiana’s lips twitched into a ghost of a smile, “Was only saving myself, is all. You can keep your thanks.”

She watched as Tiffaniel shuffled, uncertain of herself, Xiana sighed, “Come closer, girl. Let me have a look at you.”

Tiffaniel quickly glanced to Silvast.

“I would have to be fundamentally messed up to attempt to hurt you after putting my life on the line to save you, girl.” Xiana looked over at Silvast, staring momentarily, “Even if I was, the dragon, even in the state she is in would dismember me for a laugh before I could even hurt a hair on your head.” she nodded, gesturing for Tiffaniel to look.

“See, girl, use that power of yours, the water, the air, the currents of life in the air, it is on a razor’s edge around her; she might be laughing, but she is ready to pop the head off my shoulders like a cork from a bottle at the slightest whisper of a provocation.”

Tiffaniel frowned, “But aren’t you the child of a god?”

Xiana stared at her and chuckled in a half-hearted manner, “In a sense, my father willed me into being, even at my best I am no match compared to her.” she winced slightly, “Telios Mataskiere, once the God of Secrets is no more. He sold his last moments to another so that I could live.”

Tiffaniel sat down on the ground across from Xiana, frowning again, “Are you sad? I lost my parents too.”

Xiana looked at her, tilting her head, “Sad?” a small smile came to her face, “I am hurt and angry.”

Tiffaniel nodded, her blue eyes meeting Xiana’s without fear, “I was angry too. I didn’t get to say goodbye, or even see them. We were just told they were dead, some accident. It was just me and Ven for a couple of weeks. We didn’t know what would happen.” she quickly glanced at Groyven, then back to Xiana, “Ven fought every day with the officials at the Enclave, they were going to throw us out on the street.”

Xiana frowned, listening, “The people your parents worked for were going to abandon you? Were they working in a human city?”

Tiffaniel nodded, “Yes, one man came and told us they were dead, he gave us a bag of food and said we had one night.”

Xiana smirked and shook her head.

Tiffaniel looked at Groyven again, “I couldn’t do anything, but Ven. He got angry, quietly angry, he just looked at the man, then the man said two days in fear. Ven kept saying that our sister, Selera would come for us. I don’t know how he knew. But he did.”

“How long did he fight with the officials? How many days?” Xiana asked, suddenly interested.

“Every time they came, at the end of the first week they brought in guards. He hurt them too. Four men, screaming on the floor, I think he heated their armour, or set the inside of the armour on fire. After that they sent a woman to try talking to us, but it was too late.”

“Too late?”

Tiffaniel smiled, “He just sat there at the door, not moving. Every time it opened, his eyes would burn, he would show them he was ready to kill them if they got too close.”

“What did you do, girl?”

Tiffaniel frowned, “Nothing, our parents were dead, I just laid against the wall, empty. He took care of me, feeding me, getting me to drink. He kept me alive. He threatened them, that if they did not bring food or water he would burn the whole Enclave down, from the inside out.”

“After what I saw last night, I can believe that. What happened after your sister arrived?” Xiana said.

“He collapsed, he had barely slept for two weeks. Sialin took care of him, she used her flames on him and stayed at his side while he recovered. I would not let anyone close. When he stopped fighting, I started. I felt guilty that I did nothing and he kept me safe.”

Xiana nodded in understanding.

“I hurt everyone who cared about us. I just wanted to be alone with Ven.”

“Because he knew how you felt?”

Tiffaniel nodded, “It was only us. Our parents promised us they would return, they didn’t. Ven did not leave my side. The crew that came with Selera, they were getting between Ven and me. I hated them for it.”

Xiana smiled, nodding, “Attack the ones that take you in and keep you safe.” she glanced at the wagons where Winter and Antrandis were conversing.

She gestured to Tiffaniel, “Come, let me see how you are going with that scar. I might be able to do more now my power is restored, maybe.”

Tiffaniel moved closer and turned. Pulling up her top, Xiana looked at her back. She gently touched the pinked scar of the jagged tear, placing a warm, slender hand over it.

“You were bitten by one of Groumangand’s diseased, it is a curse to leech and steal the power of and then to transform the one afflicted into a black wolf that is a slave to his will.”

She gently lowered Tiffaniel’s top and had her turn, she leaned in close and looked at the girl’s eyes.

“Lady Sian said that I might have some problems that won’t go away.”

Xiana looked into one eye, pulling the lower lid down, “Look up. Yes, you will have some side effects. You were too far gone; burning through your energy to make that bridge accelerated the effects. When I drew it out of you last night you were already in the first stages of the transformation. Thankfully, the valkyrie slowed its spread.”

“I started transforming into a wolf?” asked Tiffaniel, panic lacing her voice.

“Yes, you had fur sprouting on your back, your nose was blunting and a couple of other little things. I was limited, but I drew it out.” she switched to Tiffaniel’s other eye, “It looks like you will have similarities to Rolf here. But I doubt you will be able to control it at first, maybe when you older.”

Tiffaniel stood, “Like Rolf?”

Xiana glanced at the wolf laying beside her, “Rolf is a ‘Were’, Celes gave her life protecting you last night. The grey wolf in the ruined town that fought off one of the diseased. They can shift their body at will, but nights of the full moon it is more of a struggle to remain on two feet. He was born this way, so he is between, he is like a very intelligent dog.”

She laughed as a quiet growl came from the wolf.

“Or a simple elf; is that better, Rolf?” Xiana remarked.

He faintly whined.

“I will turn into a wolf?” Tiffaniel asked.

“Maybe, or you might just have heightened senses and a desire for raw meat on those nights. I am sure you have already noticed your hair.”

Tiffaniel nodded, “What will happen to me if I do change? Will I still be me?”

“I do believe so.” Xiana said, looking past Tiffaniel to see Sian approaching, “That in itself, coupled with your power may not be a curse, but a blessing. You have seen Sian, do you not find the possibility of changing form to be alluring, child? Think of it as a gift, a reminder that you should be thankful that there are people in this world who care for you and are prepared to die for you, even if it is just to prove their innocence.”

Tiffaniel stood, her eyes wide in shock at Xiana’s words.

“From now on, child. Be careful of who you bite. Every morning seek your likeness in the mirror, still water or even a polished blade, find your reflection and look yourself in the eyes. While you see those grey streaks in your hair, be thankful and considerate of the people who care for you, keep them close and let them know you are thankful. If you can seek kinship through similar experiences and thank one who used your life as a simple bargaining chip, then you can sure as the forge hangs in the sky show those who truly care for your well-being some respect and appreciation. The lesson is over, child. Remember it well.”

Tiffaniel frowned, her breathing short as Xiana looked past her, “How much longer, Sian?”

“Not long, Antrandis wants to reach Meliandra today.”

Xiana nodded slowly, watching Sian place her hands on Tiffaniel’s shoulders.

“I did not say anything except what she needed to hear.” Xiana said with narrowed eyes.

“It might be hard to believe, I trust you Xiana. But I did not expect to hear words like those from your lips.” said Sian, her eyes watching Xiana intently.

Xiana’s eyes strayed back to the mountain known as Shattered Peak, “I might be angry and pained, but I am appreciative.” she looked at Sian, her face pale, “What was your title before you met your end in the old world? Just like the valkyrie, I can’t see your truth, who are you?”

Sian’s smile dropped, “Titles?” she followed Xiana’s gaze to the mountain, “They are no longer important, just remnants from a time long lost.”

Xiana eyes flickered to Silvast, standing in the water her bright eyes on the both of them.

“No, elder sister. Let me.”

Xiana stared at Silvast as she confidently strode from the water, helping Groyven. She stood before both Sian and Xiana, her hair shimmering in the reflected light off the river.

“Elder sister?”

“Yes, Sian is my elder sister.”

Xiana flinched slightly as the dragon’s eyes cut like blades despite the warm smile.

“It is not the time or place to speak of these things, considering we have children present.” said Silvast.

Xiana looked at Groyven then Tiffaniel, “These children laid waste to the ruins, the boy was a pillar of fire that smote anything that came close and the girl’s aim with the lance is terrible to behold. They fought the wolves of Groumangand and overcame what most couldn’t. And whatever obliterated the bridge and took more than half of the wolves with it...”

Silvast glanced at the children with a small but proud smile, her eyes flickering slightly, “Very well. Sian was once known as the Wielder of the Dark Flame of Scarosant, Valkyrie of the Shattered Peak, Herald of the Host, and among the people, the Arbiter of Vengeance.”

“Arbiter of Vengeance? Is that not a little… superfluous?” Xiana stopped, the memory Sian had shared still fresh in her mind, her eyes widened.

She pointed at the smashed mountain in the distance, “What was there and why?”

“Once, there was a castle there.” Sian looked at Xiana, “They took something precious from me.” she said simply.

Xiana paled even further, “Herald of the Host?”

“A title that is meaningless in this age, nothing more.” Sian said quietly, her hand resting on Tiffaniel’s shoulder.

“Groyven, Tiffaniel it is time I talked with Hendosphyre about what we discussed this morning.” said Sian, guiding them back toward the wagons, Winter and Antrandis.

Silvast met Xiana’s eyes and shook her head before following. Xiana stood, rooted to the spot, the dragon’s eyes warning her. She watched as Sian, Silvast and the children met with Antrandis and Winter before walking back to the road and the larger clearing ahead.

Shadow of the Eclipse: Chapter Timeline

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