Chapter 83 - Past, Present and Parallels - Pt.1

Tiffaniel walked between Antrandis and Winter, occasionally stealing a glance up at Winter.

“I hope everyone has been pleasant to you, Tiffaniel. Unfortunately I have had little time to stop and talk. Are you feeling well after the trials of the last few days?” Antrandis asked gently.

Tiffaniel looked up, nodding, “I am feeling well, but tired.”

“I am surprised that you are standing, last night you were on death’s door.” he said calmly.

Tiffaniel glanced at Winter again, “Thank you for last night. I know it was you carried me down from the mountain. I thought it was a dream.” she said, almost whispering.

Winter warmly smiled, placing a hand on the girl’s shoulder, “You did well, Tiffaniel. How did you sleep?”

Tiffaniel frowned, “I slept really well, and I have been riding with Silvast in the wagon.”

Antrandis nodded, smiling, “Sian tells me that you and Groyven have agreed to our offer.”

Tiffaniel nodded, “Thank you.” she glanced at him, “Is it true that you are the Lord of an Elven city?”

“Yes.”

“So much happened last night when I was sleeping, I don’t properly remember anything after making the bridge over the river until this morning. I am a bit behind. I am sorry but I am not sure how to say your name properly. Is it Ant-Randis or An-Trandis?”

Winter stifled a laugh, meeting his eyes.

Antrandis laughed, “That is an interesting thought… Ant-Randis?” he looked down at her, noticing her embarrassment, “Do not worry, it happens all the time. It is An-Trandis.”

“Antrandis.” Tiffaniel said, mimicking him.

“Please, do not use ‘Lord’ with me, as my guest it is not necessary.” he said offhand, glancing down momentarily to see her nod.

“Antrandis, do you think there is a chance we could return home?” Tiffaniel asked.

He winced slightly, “It may be possible, might be. Unfortunately, even for a god it is not a simple matter, especially with no reference of where you came from. Silvast has already spoken to me of the device you showed her and I trust her judgement. The next step would be to speak with her father.”

Tiffaniel stared at him, “The black dragon-god?”

Antrandis nodded, “Yes. Unfortunately he is not easy to reach. There are also some topics he will refuse to address, especially if he believes it is for the best to leave them be.”

He placed a hand on Tiffaniel’s shoulder, “I do not want to give you false hopes, Tiffaniel. I will contact the Academy in Knocht and have their best people investigate if he is unwilling. There are quite a few places including the great library in Scarosant, though its contents are from well before the fall of the world.”

Tiffaniel went quiet.

“The issue is not opening a rift or gateway, but finding the correct one.” said Winter.

She looked up at Winter, “Ven says it is like trying to find a one special grain of sand on all the beaches of the world.”

Antrandis looked at Groyven as he was talking with both Sian and Silvast a number of steps ahead.

“He is not wrong. A number of lifetimes could be spent trying to find the right one, and still not be even slightly close. We will try. When you and Groyven tell me to stop, I will. In the meantime, the hospitality of Meliandra is on offer until you decide what you wish to do.”

They slowed and stopped at the edge of a clearing that was just off the road. Sian stepped forward, leading Groyven, she gestured to Tiffaniel to join them.

Winter nodded gently guided Tiffaniel forward, her wings reforming on her back as she walked.

“Groyven, I asked you a question this morning. Is Hendosphyre a sword or a shield?” Sian asked, watching him intently.

“He is a shield.” said Groyven, looking at the amulet.

Sian smiled gently and gestured to Winter, “You said you could remember every soul that you brought before the Host?”

Winter frowned, “Yes, each and every one. But wars were wars, I never took note.”

“Did any wear such a symbol?” Sian asked, touching the amulet in Groyven’s hand.

Winter looked carefully, then back at Sian, “No, the Nameless, from last night.” Winter looked back toward the wagons, concentrating, “She is coming.”

“Summon Hendosphyre, Groyven. It is time I ask him a few questions.”

Groyven nodded and held the amulet, concentrating and quietly saying Hendosphyre’s name. Almost immediately the faint crystalline glow built in the air as Hendosphyre came forth. His body materialising in a show of light. Before he had even finished he was taking in the surrounds. His eagle eyes came to a rest on Silvast and immediately bowing his head deeply in respect. His summoning now complete, he quickly stood before her and bowed again. Silvast smiled slightly, reaching out a hand and placing it on his head.

“Stand, be proud, Hendosphyre. The children did no wrong.” she said.

Silvast frowned, telepathically conversing quickly with the gryphon.

She smiled and bowed her head in return, “Thank you for your concern. As you can see, I am well enough. Sian has some questions.”

Hendosphyre immediately backed away, bowing his head again respectfully to Silvast before giving Sian his full attention after receiving a reassuring nod from Groyven.

Tiffaniel stared at Silvast, “What did he say?”

Silvast’s lips curled up into a small smile, she looked at Tiffaniel, “He was apologising on your behalf. He watched me slumbering in the valley after I encountering the both of you in the forest.”

They both looked to Sian and Hendosphyre as Sian rested her forehead to his, her hand gently stroking his neck.

Groyven watched them, Sian speaking in hushed tones as she conversed with the gryphon.

“What are they speaking of?” he asked Winter.

Winter smiled, “You cannot hear him yet?”

Groyven shook his head, “Hear him?”

Winter nodded, “He told me last night, that soon his master will be able to hear him telepathically.”

Groyven thought, “The fight, when Tiff made the bridge. I head a voice, it ordered me to run.” he glanced back to Hendosphyre, “I thought it, it was him?”

“Most likely. Sian is asking a lot of questions and fast, she is using a peculiar form of telepathy to speak with him.” she said frowning, glancing at Silvast and then Antrandis.

“Using emotions, images, sensations. She is very effective with it, especially when conversing with beasts.” Antrandis said from where he leaned against a nearby tree.

Silvast laughed to herself, “Winter, has she never used it on you?”

Winter stared at Silvast in a defensive manner, “No, but why do you refer to it like a weapon?”

“Because it is, she brought me to my knees and I cried every night in my sleep for near to a week. Big Sis, the dragon tamer.” Silvast smiled stunningly, “And I would have her do it again without a moment’s hesitation.”

Winter heard Antrandis chuckle quietly.

“He does it too, that is how they converse intimately. I don’t know how he withstands it. She only brushed me with a gentle touch.”

Winter stared at Silvast, then Antrandis, meeting his eyes. Suddenly, she understood.

“That is how she conversed with you in the beginning.” she said, casting her thoughts to him.

Seeing his nod, she smiled and turned back.

“How can you speak with thoughts? Is it like telepathy?” Tiffaniel asked curiously.

Silvast nodded, “It is. But instead of talking in words, you are using everything but words to communicate. Your gryphon can talk in words we understand, but before he was gifted the words to speak, his thoughts were everything. Sian can communicate on that level, and it is incredible. Ask her to show you once you have settled.”

Tiffaniel looked at Groyven, his eyes watching Hendosphyre. Without warning, Sian backed away and bowed deeply, before Hendosphyre did the same.

Sian turned and gently stroked Hendosphyre’s head, “Before I tell you what he and I discussed, I must explain what happened in this world. There are a lot of similarities, and your family line is no exception.”

Sian walked forward, Hendosphyre closely following until she stopped right before Tiffaniel and Groyven, “In the past, Hendosphyre has seen war, this in itself does not surprise me. He has asked me to tell you of your history, since it is so similar to here.”

Sian shifted forward, Hendosphyre nudging her back, she quickly gave him a look before starting, “In this world, your people are collectively known as the Aletere. They were a select group that were given the strength to lead and safeguard the three Wilderelf nations. Those who received the blood blessing of the dragons were carefully selected from the families of the ruling elders and the populace, it was considered a great honour to be chosen. Each of the chosen from the nations were gifted elemental powers by the sixteen dragons of the old world that would pass by blood though the family line, and they would all bear a mark of bloodline and eventually of destiny. Behind the ear, and on the chest. Here.” Sian placed a hand on her chest.

Tiffaniel quickly glanced to Groyven, “Selera has the one of destiny. I have seen it, is it the Captain’s?”

Groyven nodded, “Yes, Sialin has one too.”

Tiffaniel looked at him curiously as he touched his chest, “Here.” he said.

Sian watched the both of them, “The head of each of the ruling bloodlines were gifted one of three amulets by the dragons. That amulet you carry is one of three. Those of the Eladar, Fyrelves and Deepen.”

“I am not sure how the wars started, except that many fell. At the height of their power, the Aletere numbered in the thousands. Somehow their elemental powers were negated, severely outnumbered and in the midst of defeat, the survivors approached the dragon sanctum of Scarosant, seeking sanctuary and protection of those who granted them the power generations before.”

Groyven stood, staring and Tiffaniel had taken his hand without realising it.

“My parents granted the remaining survivors sanctuary in the mountains, concealing them.” explained Sian.

Groyven looked at Silvast, and she smiled back at him, “I know your question, Groyven. Do I still provide protection to the people of the Aletere?” she quickly glanced to the mountains, her silver hair flashing, “The mountain village is within the bounds and territories of both Meliandra and Scarosant. It also has strong alliances with our dwarven ally and the Mistress of the Fae.”

“We can not go there. Hendosphyre told me that we shouldn’t.” said Groyven.

“Ven, Sian said we are. That we are…of royalty.” Tiffaniel stammered.

Groyven nodded, “I know Tiff, but here we are not, the one’s of this world are.”

Sian looked from Tiffaniel to Groyven, “You are both correct, that amulet signifies that you are the last of the royal line of the trident, the last of the bloodline that originated with the Eladar Wilderelves, my forebears. The wars that destroyed the Aletere were not long before I was born.”

“Your amulet, Groyven.” she said, standing before him.

Groyven removed the amulet from around his neck and handed it to Sian. She held it before Groyven and Tiffaniel, “Two stones for two souls. She is still in there.”

Tiffaniel stared at Sian, “She? but there is only Hendosfyre.”

Sian smiled, “Each amulet safeguarded a pair of protectors, a male and female, one was suited to protect, the other to fight.”

Winter smiled, “The fourth soul.”

“But we do not know her name, without her name I can not summon her.” said Groyven, looking to Hendosphyre apologetically.

Sian smiled, “Her name is here on the amulet.”

Groyven stared mutely at Sian before finding his voice, “On the amulet?”

She nodded, “Yes, on one side is Hendosphyre’s inscription and on the other is his mate’s.”

Tiffaniel glanced at her brother, “Lady Sian, can you read the inscriptions?”

Shadow of the Eclipse: Chapter Timeline

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