Chapter 45 - The Quiet of Dusk

Evening stole over the desert. The hues of peach and rose petals granting the darkening sky the last of a lover’s blush before the descent to a star crested night. The only obstruction to the view was the horizon that barely gave a serrated shape to the mountains in the distance to the east and the most gentle of undulations of the sands in the west. The shimmer and glow reflected off the dunes, creating a steadily shifting dune sea the colour of the sunset that graced the sky above. With the setting of the sun, the warmth of the day was already bleeding away, the contained heat in the sands relinquishing its grasp.

Rhuthain sat on a stool with his eyes wet from the view, “Beautiful, isn’t it kitty?” he said as a sigh escaped him.

His question was met with a determined silence. In response, a slow smile cracked his features.

“Aye, still shocked about Winter, aren’t you?” Rhuthain said, glancing at Ja’Sessh before looking back at the stars as they started to wink into life while darkness swallowed the opposing horizon, “Got me by surprise the first time too, but she showed me without the anger. Being a long-time friend and all. Normally she’s got such a great temper, but you just had to push that little bit too far. All that ‘Gatekeeper’ business you kept bringing up an the Host is a sore point for her, even I know that one.”

He chuckled, “Actually, mention the prick to any of those girls and they’ll give you the evil eye, an ask a second time they’ll skewer you on the spot and send you to the afterlife.”

Rhuthain let an eye slip to Ja’Sessh, “You know, but it might be lost on you an all since your sister is running the show. But, if you have been holed up all that time in Sil’s parents den, then they saved you lot. An your sister is smarter than she sounds.”

“It is not lost on me, dwarf.” rumbled Ja’Sessh, his voice low.

“How about we be polite an all now, I’ll stop with calling you Kitty, and we exchange names like civilised folk.”

“Why does it matter to you, dwarf lord?”

“Well, you see… Like your sister, or Antrandis for that matter, I rule over the Dwarven clans. If there is a dispute among the dwarven lords be they man or woman, I have the final say.”

Ja’Sessh glanced at him with a single eye, “Their king?”

“In a sense, but not exactly. I am the representative of me goddess. An believe me, your words down there pissed me an her off, just a little bit.”

“You are like him, a child to a god?”

Rhuthain half-nodded as he looked back up to the growing stars, “Aye, to a degree. Similar, but not quite the same.” he glanced back at the tent, “He’s different. Not exactly sure how, but he is.”

“My name is Ja’Sessh.”

Rhuthain turned, “Well met, Ja’Sessh of The DeKaalenstaad. I am Rhuthain, King of Mortegarrd and one of the Hithren, voice of my goddess upon the Eld.” he said, “Not that she’s taking much interest of late.” he added quietly.

The rakshasa went quiet as he sat cross-legged, his eyes occasionally reflecting the stars above. Ja’Sessh glanced up at the rapidly darkening sky.

“The world I knew is no more, Rhuthain of Mortegarrd. I wake to find that it has moved on without me. The dragons we thought dead are only sleeping. My mistress lives. The Host among others is no more. Gods not of the old world now claim the Eld and guide it. And here I am, sitting in a desert that was once a jungle, looking at the stars and wondering how our people can fit into this new world that is not so new.”

“Aye, seems like Winter really gave you a shock.” said Rhuthain quietly to himself, glancing back up at the stars with a smirk on his face, “Did you know that the bastard Jade was betraying your mistress?”

Ja’Sessh shook his big head slowly, his eyes glowering slightly.

“The Lady of Shadows, who is she?” Ja’Sessh rumbled, flexing his hands experimentally.

“Lady of...That would be Aisling. One of the three sisters.” responded Rhuthain without looking, “A goddess, an a strange one at that. Maybe it would be best to ask your Empress about her dealings.”

“She has kept everything quiet, our people are unaware. They…”

“You got that wrong, they are ‘her’ people, an you are a part of ‘her’ people. She has kept them safe. Its not a good look, but this is exactly what she is avoiding. She kept those secrets close an you all got to live happily without fear. Since you know of Aisling, then I would say she has a hand in it.”

Ja’Sessh frowned, “Then she sent me, so I could find the truth myself and from those she trusts.”

“Good to see you’re catching on.” commented Rhuthain drily as he glanced back to the horizon and the last glow of the fading sun.

“As strange and unnerving as she is, to know that Aisling has been guiding your Empress is a welcome thought.” Rhuthain said his eyes on distant horizon, “Unless she has ulterior motives.” he breathed out, stomping his feet as the warmth of day started to flee, “Not saying she does, but it is not unlike her.”

Ja’Sessh nodded slightly, breathing out and admiring the crystal clear sky, “What do you know of Toth?”

Rhuthain paled, grimacing, “The Absent God.” he said quietly, shifting some sand under his feet and turning to look at the rakshasa, “You sure you want to talk about that one?”

Ja’Sessh gave a curt nod, the white in his fur showing more clearly under the growing starlight.

“Don’t get me wrong, it’s just there is not much to say. Unlike the others, he’s a mystery, if he even is a ‘he’.” muttered the dwarf.

“But if he is a god, then…” said Ja’Sessh.

Rhuthain chuckled half-heartedly, “Aye, he’s a god or a formless entity, the three will speak on his behalf at times. But, he usually stays out of the affairs of mortals. It’s just the stories that float around, well, they are equal measures of outright fear an divine wonder. A type of terror that would make your memories of the Host pale.”

The dwarf squinted, picking out a shooting star and watching it dart across the sky, “I have got no bearing on him. Never dealt with him. Winter could tell you more. Antrandis even more so, but don’t expect much.”

Ja’Sessh nodded slowly, catching the tail of the star as it ducked over the horizon, “My sister, she speaks of the dark panther, Toth. The guidance she feels sing though her limbs. That we have lived so long in the – in the…” he said, his voice trailing off.

“Hard to make sense of it?” Rhuthain said, not bothering to turn and watch the rakshasa’s nod, “Just like you opening up to a dwarf you never met before.” he continued as he rubbed his hands together.

“Count yourself lucky, Ja’Sessh. Your sister saved you an her people the agony, uncertainty an fear that others lived through as the world was stripped of life. She sent you out here to learn the truth, don’t squander the opportunity.”

Ja’Sessh glanced up at him, “To think that only a few hours ago I was attempting to kill you.”

“Aye, you could have tried, I might have found it interesting.”

“I thought you were taunting me.”

Rhuthain chuckled darkly, “Aye, taunting is all.”

Ja’Sessh frowned, his ears slicking back as he watched Rhuthain. His pale saucer-like eyes catching the strange expression on the dwarf’s face.

“You can’t remember.”

“No, I can remember, just lost track of how many times. Used to keep a tally. Stopped counting how many times I died, instead started counting how many lives I saved by sacrificing myself.” Rhuthain looked up, “Got a handful of stars, an I am prepared to fill the sky before my time is truly up.”

He took a few steps off, his eyes on the horizon and a frown slowly growing, “Speaking of stars.”

On the edge of the distant horizon four faint pinpricks of light blossomed. Slowly growing more defined as they streaked out from behind the serrated teeth of the mountains and into the night sky. Steadily they shot out over the sky, shooting stars that left a long trail in the heavens.

Ja’Sessh stood and watched in curiosity, a feeling of trepidation building within him as they steadily converged and cut their way unerringly closer, his ears pricked in readiness and legs tensing.

“I suggest you ignore that, or you’ll be pissing yourself an trying to dig a hole to hide in. Its only going to get worse.” said Rhuthain as he glanced at Ja’Sessh, “Get a hold of yourself.”

A faint rumble of thunder started to roll across the dunes, shaking the air and making the ground quiver in anticipation.

“What are they?” Ja’Sessh asked with clenched teeth as he fought back the fear that was making him take an involuntary step back and his heckles rise.

“Four beauties I would say, all of them are.” Rhuthain said with a smile, watching the silvery trails with interest as they continued to approach overhead.

Finally as the thunder grew to a heavy rumble that made the air reverberate, the stars arced sharply with a deafening crack and speared toward the dunes. Silver light trailed in its brilliance as they shot toward the sands with a shrieking whistle. In the faintest of moments before impact with the nearby dune, the first of the bright spears slowed, silvered wings outstretched, braking her descent. The heavy landing throwing up sand and sending a dull thud through the night. Another three came in fast and in quick succession, pummelling the dune and shaking the sands.

Ja’Sessh watched in surprise as four silver-armoured valkyries walked toward them, their large shields and spears reflecting starlight in the night. Their impressive wings tucked while they walked with purpose. He frowned, noticing that Rhuthain had walked out to meet them, calling out a greeting in dwarven and getting the sounds of laughter in return. His eyes narrowed as he saw the smiles and the animated discussion. The four winged warriors conversing and at ease, surrounding the dwarf, no longer the stoic and expressionless war machines of the past. Rhuthain led the four, all continuing to speak in the tongue of the dwarves as they came closer.

He slowly stood tall, allowing his fur to resettle and his jaw relax. The faint shimmer of silver in the night had vanished. The spears, armour and shields no longer glinting. Instead the women wore matching functional soft pants and jackets over blouses of what would be woodsy tones when seen in the light of day. Their swords still hung at their sides, as did their wings remain, but their hardened bodies were softened with the alluring and exotic features akin to the wilderelves of old. For the first time, he realised that each was different, unique and not cast from the same mould. His eyes picked out their features in the wash of faint starlight.

Rhuthain laughed, “Don’t be fooled with this lot, they’ll still cut you down at a moment’s notice. If they’re ordered to.”

“Thain, please.” the one at Rhuthain’s side admonished, her voice lilting attractively, “We recognise Ja’Sessh. Though, it has been such a very long time.” she came up closer, her eyes glowing slightly in the night, “Neither our commander or our master has thought of taking his life. At least, not yet. Besides, we are here for a different purpose.” she said, stopping in front of the rakshasa and looking up, meeting his eyes.

He looked at the woman before him, frowning before glancing at the other three, “Your kind are not like I remember.” he rumbled in surprise, catching the smile of the closest while she stared at his bare chest.

“Is that actually your fur?” she asked, stepping closer still.

Rhuthain chuckled, shaking his head, “Welcome to being a curiosity, Sessh.”

Ja’Sessh glanced at the dwarf before looking down at the valkyrie, “Yes.” he said.

She looked up at him quickly, “Can I touch it?” her question sudden and catching him off guard.

His frown deepened and he nodded, watching the curious valkyrie as she reached out and gently touched his fur with her fingertips. His ears pricked and he looked at her, the smile on her features as she looked up and met his eyes. He did not complain as she ran her hand deeper, running her fingers through his fur and feeling the heavy valleys and ridges of his stomach muscles hidden beneath his coat.

Rhuthain shook his head, “Next thing she’s going to be hugging you.” he looked at the others, “She one of last?”

The leader smiled at Rhuthain and spoke, “Brensladine was one of the last, only a few years since our Commander recovered her from the hall. She’s still learning of the Eld.”

“You are her mentor, Jesse?” he asked as they both watched Brensladine.

“She goes where I go.” Jesse said, shaking her head, “Brensla…”

Brensladine looked up apologetically at Ja’Sessh, “Thank you.”

Ja’Sessh stared at her and placed a large hand around her shoulder. Kneeling on one knee, his face at her level, he looked at her carefully, his eyes searching.

“May I?” he rumbled, his voice calm.

She quickly looked at Jesse, seeing her shrug she nodded, watching his eyes as he bought a hand up and touched a single finger tip to the union of her collarbones. A small faint glow was lit under the skin, the sigil of Darkfall overlaid the emblem of the Valkyrie.

“Then it is true.” Ja’Sessh whispered, looking at Rhuthain and Jesse, “You no longer bear his mark?”

“No, we do not, our true master claimed us. By his grace, we can live, no longer without thought or used as a mindless tool bent to a purpose. We now live, respected as individuals. We now live as our creator intended us to, with glorious purpose not enslavement.” Jesse said, a smile in her eyes before they grew sharper, “Do you, Ja’Sessh, child of Azzar Kah'Sharn? Do you know your purpose? Do you not know why you walk the mortal realm?”

Silver eyes watched intently from the entrance of the main tent, a dark shadow on the sands as night deepened. A reflective glint from the stars catching the strands of platinum hair, making them shimmer in the dark. Silvast watched as Ja’Sessh stared at Brensladine for a moment before she nodded. Her eyes on him intently as the rakshasa carefully embraced the valkyrie, engulfing her in his thick fur and muffling her laugh. She noted Rhuthain’s glance and nod her way, the clipped salute of Jesse. It was time.

Silvast looked out over the desert, the small mound of stone wreckage above the sands where they had entered the Sanctum. The tent had been pitched far enough away, at Rhuthain’s insistence, set on the outside of the broad and slight indentation in the sand. The buried lip of the shallow dish that led from the rolling dunes to the stone of the temple and the iris that made the ceiling of the pit. The ancient sanctum would finally be uncovered, eventually restored to a semblance of its glory. Tonight the depths of the pit would feel the cold light of the stars before its zenith.