Chapter 56 - Family

Four silken curtains hung from a central point of the ceiling, billowing down before hanging from sweeping rods and falling as a semi-transparent drapes that surrounded and obscured the bed from direct view of the entry. Winter shook her head as she slipped back into the room from the bathing chamber, glancing about the lavishly appointed sleeping quarters. Before the Sanctum was reclaimed, it was one of the previous occupant’s rooms, full of heavily decayed wares, wreckage and ruin. The refuse and discarded remnants of the Sanctum before it was left as it was, and abandoned. The dwarven artisans out of Meliandra had worked tirelessly in the Sanctum’s restoration since it was found, at the request of Antrandis to strip it out and refurnish in the styles of the fortress of Shadowfalls.

She walked toward the bed, a fresh set of clothing had been attended to, laid out atop the silk-sheathed blankets. The sound of running water drew her attention, one wall of the room with water sheeting down it, trickling over the stone. She smiled, walking over to the wall and touched the cool water, a finger creating a part in its path. Glancing about, she chuckled at the austere and subtle touches the artisans had worked into the room.

“Do you approve, Commander?” said the soft voice from nearby the door.

Winter smiled and nodded, “Yes, I recognise the work.” she said, glancing at Kenda momentarily, “Come and get me when they are resting this afternoon, I wish to thank them personally.”

Kenda smiled, “It will be so.”

“Your report.” prompted Winter as she walked back to the bed and started to undress.

“The party out of Meliandra and Knocht. They have arrived; Silias and Peletrinala are accompanying Talessia in briefing. They are not yet aware you or the rakshasa are here.” she met Winter’s eyes, “Do you wish for this to remain and meet with them when you return with the emissaries from…”

Winter shook her head, slowly slipping a silk clad arm into the shimmering black, wide-sleeved jacket, “Is one of the smaller private audience chambers still available?”

“Yes, we retained one as a part of this suite; the others have been remade into guest suites, as requested.”

Winter nodded, “An early, simple lunch then. In an hour, the inner garden. Send for Talessia, Pele and Silias, I will meet them in the private audience chamber as soon as they have refreshed themselves.” she said as she thought.

“The Rakshasa?” asked Kenda.

“Ja’Sessh?” said Winter thoughtfully, “The inner garden. Have one of the girls keep an eye on him. Introduce the emissaries of Knocht and the General of the DeKaalenstaad.”

“Are you not concerned?”

Winter smiled to herself, “Do not underestimate Harks, Kenda. He is of the Aletere, a skilled warrior, ranger and woodsman. Eira sent him with good reason. You will understand soon enough.”

Kenda frowned in curiosity, “Commander?”

“That is all, Kenda.” Winter said, watching her nod before slipping from the room, the door closing quietly behind her.

Winter let out a sigh and sat on the bed. The myriad of sensations that she had been subjected to over the last hours had her wishing to hole herself up in her room for the rest of the day and shirk the responsibility of company.

“Gods, what have you two been doing to her?” she whispered, the copper sparking in her eyes as she gasped.

She closed her eyes and let herself sink back onto the pillows, her cheeks flushed now that she was alone, pondering his thoughts and the conflict that was Silvast.

“I know, I chose to delve.” she whispered in response to his thoughts, her eyes darkening, the copper hues becoming more dominant over the steel grey, “Not that I have much of a choice. I feel what you feel, to every nerve-end if I so desire it.”

Her skin paled as she resisted her change of form, “I so desire it.” she whispered to the empty room, touching her lips, her incisors starting to lengthen, “Just a little taste.”

She bit at her lip as a sublime bolt of heat washed through her, making her tremble as she exhaled. Her eyes opened, their copper flecks lit and she gasped, her hands wandering. Reining herself back under control, she closed her eyes.

“I know you are in there Vira, soon you will be whole too. I am no longer afraid. A broken dragon showed me what I could not see with my two eyes.” she chuckled to herself, another smaller tremor making her shiver, “Oh Sian...”

A faint knock brought her back to the present, drawing a disappointed sigh from her as she rose from the bed. Reaching the door, she placed a hand against it, pausing, catching her breath and collecting herself. After a moment and another gentle knock, she opened it. In the doorway stood a dwarven woman, younger and in her early twenties with thick earthy brown hair, tied back tight. Winter looked down at her for a moment, both of them silent.

“Glenna?” Winter asked in slow shock.

A smile blossomed across the dwarf’s face, an excited gleam in her eye, “Winter, it is you! The men were unsure, an only a few saw you arrive.”

Winter frowned, guiding her in and closing the door, “Glenna, what are you doing here? Last I saw, you were back in Meliandra.”

The stocky framed woman met her eyes with an uncertain glance, “Escaping Mother. Father for that matter too.”

“Glenna…Come. Sit.” Winter said, patting the bed, watching the stocky beautiful dwarven woman shuffle herself into a comfortable position, “What is the matter?”

“You said I could always come to you, if-if I needed to. An you are here now…” she glanced at Winter, “Only if it-it won’t be trouble.”

Winter watched her carefully, “I will be here until nightfall, then I must leave. Any free moment I have. What is troubling you to join the artisans here?”

Glenna gave her a small embarrassed smile, “I think I-I made a mistake.”

Winter raised a brow, “What type of mistake? I have known you since you were a babe, Glenna. I doubt you could make enough of a mistake… to…” she stopped, watching Glenna’s expression fall.

“I-I ran. I did not stand my g-ground.”

Winter’s frown deepened.

“Aunty Silias told me to fight, an Aunty Pele said I must do what is right. An, I-I just needed to get away.”

Winter stared at her, watching her carefully, “Does he know?”

Glenna looked at Winter in shock.

“The one you are pining over, Glenna. Does he know?”

“How did you…?”

Winter chuckled to herself, “Both Silias and Pele are right. Both are long-time friends of your parents. They were just steering you in the right direction.” she said, watching the bewilderment on Glenna’s face, “You can ask them both. They also arrived this morning. I will be meeting with them shortly.”

Glenna’s face paled, “They are here?”

Winter glanced at the door, “You will accompany me.” she said, rising from the edge of the bed and standing, “Come, they just arrived at the private audience chamber, I can feel Talessia nearby.”

Glenna stared at her, the blood draining from her features, “I-I…”

“Running does not solve anything.” Winter said, reaching the door, her fingertips on the handle, “It only delays the inevitable, Glenna. I am sure both Silias and Pele will be relieved to see you are safe.”

Glenna met her eyes and nodded uncertainly, “Do I-do I have to, right now?”

Winter smiled slightly, giving a gentle nod.

“But-but Aunt Silias, she will…Be angry.”

“Most likely.”

Glenna winced, watching as the door opened, following Winter as she led the way into the corridor.

Winter passed through the pools of light, her eyes shimmering, the copper glow pulsing quietly as she allowed the calmed sensation of Antrandis and Sian’s afterglow to ripple through her.

“The sun would only just be rising.” she said quietly.

“S-Sorry?”

Winter glanced to Glenna as she walked at her side, “At Escorath. The sun rises later there. Almost two hours difference.”

“I saw Escorath in the m-map room.” said Glenna, “Is it really a jungle there?”

Winter shook her head, “Once, but no longer. It is a wasteland now, a desert. That map, is a reminder of what was in ages past.” she stopped in front of a door, giving Glenna an understanding look, waiting for her to compose herself before opening it. She watched as Glenna sighed to herself before nodding, then opened the door and entered with Glenna close behind. The room beyond was spacious, a circular table with enough seating for a score or more dominated its centre. Walls covered with hangings and etched motifs, polished agate floors with thick woven runners to soften the footfall and swallow echoes.

A smile came to Winter’s lips as she saw the women before her, the attendants of Darkfall. Silias, fiery and brash; her sister, calm and thoughtful Peletrinala, and one of her own, Talessia, the winged fury, once protector and escort of the twins, but now family itself. All three were looking in her direction as she stepped into the room until Silias’s slipped to the smaller, stocky form behind her, her brows furrowing in anger.

“Gods, you are not in Scarosant!?” Silias growled in surprise, “What in hell’s name are you doing here?” she said, stalking over to them.

She pulled out a chair and sat, leaning forward and gestured for the dwarf to come closer, “Damn it, Glenna! I told you to fight! Your Ma wants you to show her that you’re ready to fight for what you believe in. To stand your ground.” she scolded lightly in frustration, “Not to run and hide with your tail between your legs.”

Glenna squirmed, trying her best to not meet Silias’s eyes, “B-but Pele said…”

Silias quickly met Winter’s eyes before glancing to Pele and seeing her nod, “To do what was right?” she asked as Winter walked past her, “Right by you and what you believe in girl. It doesn’t matter to your Ma that you didn’t follow in her footsteps and take up the spear.”

Glenna looked up and into her eyes, “I-it doesn’t matter?”

Silias shook her head and drew her into a firm hug, “Your Ma… She is so damn proud of you, so young and skilled in your craft. Your Da is out of his mind that you took off, and that you buckled at the first sign of resistance. They thought you went to Scarosant, but you’re here? How?”

“Well, they were leaving with supplies an-an I just…”

“You just held up your hand and said ‘me too’?” asked Silias, watching Glenna’s nod.

“I am in the right mind to drag you back there myself.” she said, turning her head slightly, “Don’t you give me that look Pele. I know I won’t be. But you can sure bet that Greta will do it herself.”

Glenna stiffened up and pulled back, fear in her eyes, “Ma?”

Silias nodded with a grimace twisting her lips, “Yes, Aleenastra will be arriving here tonight. I’ll bet anything, Greta will be her escort. She was heading off to Scarosant with a glint of anger in her eye when we left a couple of weeks back. She was supposed to be here with us.” she said, watching Glenna’s reaction.

“Glenna, that boy you left behind. Did you think once how he could be feeling? Did you even tell him that you were going to disappear? If you didn’t, he’ll be hurting bad at you running like this. You just left it to your Da to console his apprentice. Please don’t tell me that you didn’t think that far.” Peletrinala said with a concerned look.

Winter leaned in closer to Peletrinala, “Apprentice?” she asked quietly.

She winced and nodded to Winter.

“The Wilderelf?” Winter asked

Peletrinala nodded again, her eye glinting in the light, “Our very distant cousin.”

Glenna stared at Silias, “I-I… Mother will be here?”

“If she is not with Aleenastra, then you be sure to ask the Steward to return beside her. Beg if you have to.”

“But…”

Silias shook her head slowly, “There is no ‘but’, girl. You’ve fallen in love with an elf, and he with you. And you’re already buckling to the slightest pressure, and from your mother at that. Outside of Antrandis’s and our allies’ domains, the both of you will be ridiculed, treated like some type of deviants, shunned even. Think hard, Glenna. And get yourself back there to either fight for what you want, or to cut ties with him and set you both free. I’ll back you either way, as will Pele. Now if you still want him, you best hope he is not hurt so much he gives up on you. You made this a hundred times harder than just telling your Ma what she already knew. We were all rooting for you, and then ye did… Damn it, I’m starting to talk like Greta.”

“Pele, you got anything to say?” Silias asked over her shoulder.

“You said it for me, sister.” Peletrinala said, watching as her Silias turned to glare at her, “Alright, alright, I am the sensitive one. Glenna, we need to have a talk.”

Winter caught Peletrinala’s look, “My rooms, as long as you need. Glenna knows the way.”

Talessia watched the exchange with a mildly amused expression, sharing a look with Winter as Peletrinala and Glenna left the room.

“Silias, really?” Winter exclaimed.

Silias shrugged, resting her elbows on the table and making a steeple with her fingers, “We set it all up Winter, all Greta gave her was a stern face and she fell apart and ran.”

“The boy?”

Silias looked past her fingers, a distasteful expression in her eye, “Head over heels for her. Worships the ground she walks. Its sickening.” she grimaced before smiling, “But, he is a good kid, his head is screwed on proper, he’s just a little on the sensitive side. I just wish Glenna’s was.”

Winter gave a quiet chuckle, “I wish mine was.”

Silias frowned, looking at her, “Winter?”

She smiled in return, ignoring the question, “The road?”

“The road was the road, uneventful. Near to a week of riding from Knocht, since we claimed Dagnatheln, the byways are quiet. Can feel the eyes though, watching from the trees.” Silias said, tapping the surface of the table with a finger, quickly glancing at Talessia, “Or it could be the threat alongside.”

Talessia smiled but remained quiet, her eyes straying to Winter repeatedly.

“Knocht, well, was Knocht.” Silias said with a raised brow, “Though, Eira was unsettled. Told us to be on our toes, that unrest and the fraying of... Doomsday speech. Told me that she kept getting flashes of blood-red cloth and raspy laughter in her dreams.”

Talessia nodded, “She feels that her sight is being stymied, there is someone or something’s fate that will be among us soon. She fears for Rhyker, something she did not see that escaped her.” she said, her eyes on Winter, “I must return with you to Escorath and be the shield at their backs.”

Winter stared at her.

“Eira requested that I do so; said that you have other concerns that could prove… Distracting.” Talessia finished.

“Ekavira…” Winter said, drawing Silias’s concerned gaze.

“Who?”

“The Empress of The DeKaalenstaad, it has already been decided.” Winter said quietly, noting Talessia’s nod.

“We were meant to act as emissaries, but Talessia had us turn back.” Silias said, her eyes on Winter, “And I have heard that the ways to the city have been secured by force. What is going on Winter? Both Eira and Aleenastra arriving tonight, on such short notice.”

Winter nodded, “Antrandis received a missive from the Empress, I am to deliver his response alongside her brother. The unfortunate clash between the valkyries and the Ke’Shasan was due to a misunderstanding.”

“There is more to it than that.” Silias commented as her eyes narrowed, “Did you just say the Empress’s brother is here, at Dagnatheln?”

Winter smiled tightly.

“There is more. I can feel it. I know that look.” Silias said.

“The leaders from the DeKaalenstaad will be meeting with Eira and Aleenastra to negotiate. Meliandra will be hosting and resettling the Ke’Shasan, Knocht will provide safe passage.”

Silias stared at her, her hands on the table as she rose suddenly, “We will be doing what?” she whispered in disbelief.

Winter grimaced and nodded.

“An entire people? Who are the Ke’Shasan? Secretive elves, or another?”

“They number near to nine thousand, and to answer your question, to a degree, their ancestors were once elven, much like the Aletere were.”

“Elven, once they…” Silias stopped, watching the shake of Winter’s head, “Why has Antrandis offered?”

“It is a unique situation, Silias. You will understand once you meet her. Ja’Ekavira is…”

Talessia looked at her, “It is time, isn’t it? I have vague memories of what took place. From then. She is not free in the Eld, she is a…” she stopped, her expression softening, “We were unaware, we could not feel her since becoming whole, being hidden within the Shadow Realm.”

Winter nodded, meeting Talessia’s eyes, “She is my responsibility, and…” her eyes slipped to Silias’s intense stare, “And Antrandis’s.”

Silias slowly sat again, glancing to Talessia, “What is she talking about?”

Talessia quickly met Winter’s eyes before turning to Silias, “Ekavira, the Rakshasa. Their leader, like Winter is to our order. But unlike us, the Rakshasa were not designed to be instruments of will, except for Ekavira, they are free, an experiment of Azzar Ka’Sharn.”

“Rakshasa, they are demons?” Silias asked, her eyes wide, “What is a ‘Rakshasa’?”

Talessia looked at her, “You will meet one of the two males shortly. My words can not describe what you will see with your two eyes. Just know that he pales to the presence of Ekavira, much like myself beside Winter. Though Winter keeps it well hidden, but you have seen before.”

Silias saw the darkened look on Winter’s face, “But why…”

“Ekavira, to exist she is tethered, an anchor for her kind.” said Talessia, her eyes quickly blinking to Winter and back, “Winter is her tether. Like a ring that keys are stored upon, Winter is the ring, Ekavira is a key and both are bound to our Master. Whereas Winter is the dark mirror of his soul, Ekavira is merely his bride.”

Silias sat silently, her gaze gravitating to Winter as Talessia’s last words sunk in, “Her people, the Ke’Shasan what are they?”

Winter took a deep breath, feeling Talessia’s eyes on her, “The union of the Eladar Wilderelves and Rakshasa.”