Chapter 61 - Epilogue

Antrandis smiled, the crystal blue shimmer in the air expanding, flowing out until it encompassed the pillars once more as the last glow of dusk surrendered to the night.

“I will not leave a mark on you, not when you carry a piece of me within you.” he said quietly.

Silvast continued to keep her eyes on his, their contact unwavering and resolute, “I desire it, the world is on the edge of turning and I will have no other than you.” she said softly, reaching up and touching his face, “Sian has shown me the truth of your and her bond, Winter has always been transparent of her purpose. It is I that always clung to the shadows, watching but taking as I willed, in fear of committing that same mistake while others hold out their arms to me.”

She smiled, “Just like Winter did, it is I who has been hesitating.” she took his hand and placed it over the glow under her skin, “Your mark is for me as much as it is for you.”

Her hair shifted in the crystalline silence, shimmering silver in the light as a bright glow lit under Andrandis’s fingertip. He ascribed his sigil into her skin, the glow of the sapphire responding sharply and making her gasp with parted lips. She leaned in and kissed him, her lips roughly on his, tasting him passionately. Parting, she rested her forehead on his, looking into his stormy blue eyes.

“Tell me, why could you not let me die back then? Why did you break your promise to my father for me?” she whispered.

“Because there was another that I could not save.”

Silvast frowned, her eyes glowering in the light, “Another? But if you could save me as you did, could you not…?”

She calmed as faint regret came to his eyes.

“She was beyond anyone or any power of this age, Silvast.” he said.

She continued to watch his eyes for a time, the faint swirl of the storm within them, the silence stretching as she tried to make sense of her thoughts, “Is that why she grew distant, why she keeps you at arms length?”

Antrandis frowned slightly, “Whom are you speaking of?”

“Eira. Could you not save someone close to her?” she said softly.

Antrandis’s eyes narrowed, “Eira Lin?” a faint smile on his lips, “Who do you understand her to be?”

“She was always so coy with you, so close that I envied it, that time when I followed you and confronted her. When she was still the Steward of Meliandra. Her and her sisters. I never understood why they were so close to you.” she asked, with a frown.

“And she still lives now; she is almost as old as I am, maybe older. Is she of the Hithren, or was she adopted into the role, a representative, did Lumos bless her with long life since she favours her so much?” she said, her frown growing deeper as he shook his head.

“Eira Lin is not of the Hithren. She has no living sisters, except those she adopted as her own.” Antrandis said, “Is this your concern?”

“Antrandis, when you saved me, when I found you in the wastes afterwards…”

“Sil, that was an eternity ago. It still plagues your thoughts now?”

“Please, answer me. Why did you lie for me, why have you always said that I woke you, brought you back to your senses? When even Lumos, your own mother, a goddess, could not. Why did Lumos leave and return with Eira Lin? It has always troubled me.”

Antrandis kept his eyes on Silvast’s, her silver sheen intense as she thought, “It was necessary, Eira Lin’s identity was at risk.” he said.

Her eyes narrowed, “Antrandis, was she your first wife?”

A sudden chuckle burst from him, calm and of surprise, “Eira Lin Haarlstarn, the woman you met before we were, always so close to me, is of my flesh and blood. She is my daughter, Lumos’s grandchild.”

Silvast stared at him, the disbelief on her features quickly crumbling, “Your daughter?” she blinked quickly, “Her mother?”

“I could not save.” he replied quickly, “Nobody of this age could. She slipped through my fingers only moments after giving birth. Those you thought as her sisters, were her aunts.”

Silvast swallowed, her eyes glowing brightly, “She is your daughter. Then Aleenastra, Arla, they are… The Steward of Scarosant, Arla’Ren is… She is your descendant?”

Antrandis nodded slowly, “My line rules and protects the city of Meliandra in my stead. Eira governs and is the Empress of Knocht in my name.”

She brought her hands up to touch his neck, “But… If she is. But if this… Her mother died at childbirth… By the gods, Antrandis, she died at...” she said, desperately looking into his eyes, “Why did you not tell me?”

“I made a promise that I did not wish to break.” he said gently.

Sian sat on the edge of the bed, leafing through a selection of bound papers. Her thoughts were dancing around Silvast’s sudden interest in Eira. She shook her head, barely noticing the content of the papers in her hands, diagrams, measurements and designs from before the world fell. Glancing at the strangely made case on the floor, she placed the papers aside and sighed.

A quiet smile came to her lips, Silvast was asking her questions of a time long lost. Of a remarkable elven woman with white hair and ice-blue eyes whose time was cut so short. A natural force that could see the beyond and lived it with every spare moment. A young woman who lived countless lives as she looked into the future, making the most of the little time she had so she could walk beside him and their daughter for an eternity. An eternity she would never have.

She knew of Silvast, of Reilena and her murder, of their daughter Aleika and her sacrifice and of Sian. She had walked beside them all, living tenaciously through their experiences. She cried her tears beside them, rejoiced in their moments of happiness and welcomed them.

Sian smiled gently, feeling the shift as Antrandis explained to Silvast. The pain that still tore a wound no matter the time that passed. She felt the place he went whenever he needed to speak of his first wife, the dive he took, the respect and love that was his for her.

“You might be watching right now, penning it in your book as you look forward.” she said to the air.

“Eira Lin Arla, if you are seeing this moment, I have always enjoyed our discussions through time. To know you and your fears, your wishes for the future. You were right about Silvast.” Sian commented, reaching into the case and lifting out a nondescript box, “And right this moment she is learning about you. Your daughter and how she shares your name. Next, he will tell a dragon of your tragedy.”

“And knowing Silvast, she will feel it keenly. And soon she will realise that she lives because you foresaw it, she will draw that conclusion eventually.” Sian said with a small laugh, “I swear it, sometimes it feels like I can almost feel your presence, like you are among us, a shade that observes. Or is it his and mine shared souls that makes me more aware? The memories he gave me of you?”

Sian frowned slightly, opening the box and looking at the oiled leather wrap inside.

“And now Ekavira, did you see her too?” Sian smiled, carefully taking out the wrapped item, turning it over to unwrap and inspect it, “Your capacity to see so far, so accurately…Oh.”

Sian’s eyes widened as she lifted the strangely heavy piece from its wrap, letting it fill her palm. Gently turning it over and inspecting it, it’s darkened gold, bright platinum and mysterious black metal shining in the light from the sconces of the room. Two serpentine dragons, one white, the other black, grasped and surrounded the darkened sun. Turning it over, a black moon was rimmed with golden fire. Sian took in a deep breath as the familiar small ruby glinted from the black.

“Gods, another one.” she whispered, her eyes dropping to the large case on the floor, the papers she had just been perusing laying open, diagrams, measurements and calculations; all of which were of the device in her hand.

A number of glowing lanterns dangled from branches among the trees, shedding pools of warm light in the dead of night. Moths and other insects fluttered, drawn to the flames. The sound of the forest, dripping water from the recent rain and the scent of lichen and damp earth overwhelmed the senses. The humidity hung thick in the air, mists winding between the trunks and obscuring the undergrowth. On the narrow path, little more than a well-worn animal trail stood a valkyrie, her wings loosed and spear with its butt driven into the leaf-litter. Her large shield hung unmoving and set in place as the faintest breath of a breeze disturbed her feathers.

Before her, only a score of strides away, a narrow cavern lay open. Its entrance partially obscured by hanging lichen and the trees that bordered the path. Another lantern hung from a stand in the cave, its light being shed over shadowy figures that appeared to be talking amongst themselves. The Valkyrie stood unmoving, impassive as the figures shot her furtive glances. Finally she blinked, the sharp glow of her bronze eyes hooded momentarily, sparking a quick chatter of conversation among those in the cavern.

“On behalf of my people, thank you for staying your hand Valkyrie.” Ja’Sessh rumbled, “They do not understand your kind’s capacity for violence, and my orders alone are what compelled them to action.” he said, bowing deeply before the raven haired and sharp amber eyes of the winged leader.

Her eyes blinked, narrowing, “Your thanks is acceptable, Ja’Sessh of the Rakshasa. Though, we were only sent to secure and guard the entrance from outside intruders, not murder the Ke’Shasan.” she glanced at Winter, “Commander, your will?”

Winter looked along the path, the stoic and lone guard on duty in the distance, “Remain as you are, Mathilde. I will enter alongside Ja’Sessh.”

The valkyrie nodded and turned, signalling to others before falling into step beside Winter.

“Winter, he bares Jesse’s mark. Has she truly…?” she asked in a hushed voice, quickly glancing at the rakshasa’s back.

Winter gave a slight nod, “It would seem so.”

“Has she lost her mind?”

Winter noticed the flick of Ja’Sessh’s ear, “That is her choice to make, Mathilde.”

Mathilde nodded, “When should we expect your return? Before dawn?”

Winter glanced at her while they walked, “Expect a few representatives of the Ke’Shasan and of their Empress. I will take them on to Dagnatheln.”

Mathilde closed her eyes momentarily, “Eira has recently arrived and Kenda expects Aleenastra before dawn.” she watched Winter as she walked, a frown creasing her brow, “Winter?”

Winter looked at her, “Do not be concerned, it will be as it was meant to be, but thank you.”

Mathilde gave a small nod and hung back, “I will await your return, Commander.”

Winter nodded and walked in Ja’Sessh’s steps until she reached his side.

He looked down at her, wingless and walking with predatory grace, “At Escorath, you said…” he paused momentarily, “You said that you will restore Ekavira.”

He watched as Winter nodded, “What you did to her…” he said with an edge in his voice, “How can you expect her to forgive you, when even I will not?”

Winter chuckled deprecatingly, “I was a tool, with my razor edge beaten out of me, Sessh. Wielded by clumsy hands and dubious intent. Do not speak of what I took when I had no choice or voice to refuse, the bastard cut me deeper.”

Ja’Sessh drew in a sharp breath as she glanced at him, her eyes dangerous.

“Unlike you and yours, I was never allowed free will, an opinion or the right to a voice.” she said calmly, “The rest of me raged from my cell as I enacted his will without complaint.”

“You…” he stopped as Winter glared at him momentarily before looking ahead.

“Why should I care if you are willing to forgive me when I can’t even forgive myself?” she said quietly while nodding to the valkyrie on guard as she stepped aside, allowing them passage.

He stared at Winter, considering her words while they moved through a pool of light before slipping back into the darkness.

“I have advice for you, Ja’Sessh. Never assume to know what I am thinking, it can be a dangerous mistake.”

Ja’Sessh’s eyes widened as his body instinctively reacted, his fur sticking on end and his tail tucking tight as an undercurrent of menace surrounded Winter. Darkness seemed to draw around them, the light from the lanterns flickering and dimming as they approached the entrance to the cavern. The Ke’Shasan in the cavern watched, gripping their weapons, resisting the urge to draw despite their General walking at the woman’s side.

“Stop, please…” pleaded Ja’Sessh, growling through his teeth, grinding them while he staggered at her side, “Let me talk with them.”

“Do you still not understand, Ja’Sessh?” she said calmly, seeing the Ke’Shasan guards start cowering in fear, weapons abandoned as they started to drop, huddling.

She bent her gaze on Ja’Sessh, watching him fall to his knees, “Guards of the Ke’Shasan. I am here to speak with your Empress, Ja’Ekavira, Representative of Toth, the god of Twilight. Your General will guide me to her, unhindered and uncontested.” she said quietly.

Winter walked along the path, each step closer to the panicked guards until she stood over a lightly armoured woman, her feline face covered by her hands and shaking with tremors.

“If there is any resistance to my passage there will be consequences.” she said, looking at the woman with a curious expression, “Tell Ja’Ekavira that Winter, Commander of the Valkyries bears a message from the Lord of Meliandra.”

Winter looked deeper into the cavern, how it tapered into a craggy tunnel with lanterns lit at wide intervals. She stepped away leaving them at her back, allowing the guards respite from the crippling fear. She did not turn or slow as she heard Ja’Sessh speak with his people, nor did she respond when a few ran past her in a wide berth.

“Winter, that was not necessary!” Ja’Sessh growled at her as he reached her side.

She looked up at him, the steel in her eyes starting to dominate.

He grimaced, “Act of war…” he said, growing silent and seeming to shrink beside her.

“You can explain as much as you wish. It does not change their actions nor yours.” she said quietly, “While you and your brethren can have a blind eye turned to you, the immature Ke’Shasan; none of which have experienced the world outside The Dekaalenstaad, must be made to understand.”

“My Spears did not enter the path, just set themselves before the entrance. That is not a provocation.” she continued, “Being silently surrounded then ambushed when not bearing arms, is. While I am sure it was not the intent of your order, but the one left to command in your absence made it his or her responsibility.”

Ja’Sessh stared at her as realisation slowly dawned on him.

“Are you prepared to hold one of your own accountable for their mistake?” she said with a chillingly calm tone, not reacting to his faltering steps.

She continued to walk with the rakshasa trailing behind. A slight bend in the natural formed tunnel and the start of a crevice opening up to the left that cut deeper the further she walked. Silence reigned amid the occasional drops of water that fell from above in the humidity. Her lips twisted into a knowing smile, she could feel the gateway up ahead, the shift like a stain in her vision. Rounding a long bend in the tunnel, an expanse opened up before her. Lit by lanterns, the road crept along the wall to the right as the crevasse that they had been walking beside turned into a chasm under the mountain that stretched many hundreds of yards and large enough to fit the whole of Escorath within it.

Winter stopped, looking out at cavernous expanse, the air humid and warm from the stone itself. In the crevasse, the strange luminous foliage of the Everdark glowed gently. a faint current of warm rising air making the leaves sway and glimmer like a shimmering wave on a sea of subdued blues and greens in the dark. Her eyes tracked the road, the lanterns and Ke’Shasan warriors that were retreating in small groups.

“Winter, let me take the lead.”

“Then walk faster, Sessh.” she replied, setting off once more, barely raising a brow as the rakshasa strode past, bristling.

“Tell me that your warriors have more grit than those I have seen so far.” she said, her eyes on him, “Or have they all been training against a simulated foe?”

She shook her head in the returned silence, “Gods, Sessh. They don’t stand a chance.”

“Then what is your master’s intent?” he growled back.

“My husband’s?” Winter smiled, “You are already aware. Remaining within The Dekaalenstaad is no longer an option and your numbers can be readily absorbed into Meliandra for the time being.”

“He would do this?”

“For Ekavira and I, he already has.” she said, noting the curious flick of his ear.

She followed in silence, unconcerned that he led them off the roadway where it branched. One side continuing along the cavern wall and the other following a tunnel carved into the rock. No words passed between them as they continued to walk, the passage broadening and the scent in the air laced with the slightly acrid taint of sulphur.

“This is the entrance to The DeKalenstaad.” rumbled Ja’Sessh, “The guards have withdrawn.”

Winter nodded, her eyes picking out the sigils that scored the walls. The inscriptions of old magic carved by the Ebony and Alabaster dragons, parents to Silvast and Sian. She could see the path they had taken to secure an enclosed space of the Shadow Realm, the instabilities the maw of the Eld offered a unique prospect to form their den. The closer she neared the gate, the brighter the sigils glowed with a ruby light.

“They have never done this before.” said Ja’Sessh tentatively, watching the pulsing lurid glow warily, “This has never happened.” his eyes slipping to Winter.

A smile twisted her face, the copper glow in her eyes responding to the sigils. She chuckled softly and did not answer, instead walking past him to the broad onyx ring that arced over the road.

“He built it into the tunnel itself.” she said to herself in wonder, reaching out and touching it with a finger.

Immediately silver runes came to life within the polished black. Her eyes quickly reading the lines and drawing a laugh from her.

“You do not know?”

“What is there to know? I have never seen this before.” he said, inspecting the glowing characters, “I can not even read this, what is it?”

“Dragon, the language of the elders. The three.” Winter whispered, staring up at the words, “This place is a gift, between the realms where they could…” she shook her head, “It is not my place to say.”

Ja’Sessh stared at her, “Tell me.”

“I will not tell you the words of love passed from one to another.” she said, continuing to read, her brows pinching before she smiled, biting at her lip and shaking her head, “I can not translate its true meaning. There are no words in the common tongue or even elvish that can express what is written.”

“Then how can you read it?”

Winter glanced at Ja’Sessh, a wry smile on her lips, “Experience.”

Giving him her shoulder, she stepped under the onyx arch and the world turned.

Kitaraiya walked over to Rhyker, releasing her thread as Calasylara started patrolling. Hendosphyre stood with her brother giving occasional brief clicks and low vocalisations as he carefully uncovered the remains.

“Rhy?” she said while watching his movements, “What are…”

“Can you feel it, Sphyre? Is it still here?” he said, staring at the gryphon and waiting.

Immediately Hendosphyre fell silent, raising his head and concentrating.

Kitaraiya crouched across from him, “Rhy?”

“Shhh… Not now.” he said abruptly, stilling her with a hand.

She stared at him, not even reacting after seeing the intense expression on his face as he watched Hendosphyre. The tension grew as they waited, the gryphon almost a statue as seconds stretched to minutes. Finally Hendosphyre turned and nodded, tilting his head before looking into the distance, his gaze fixated on a place beyond the mountains, valleys and dunes. He let out a low sound that rumbled deep in his throat.

“Gods, its still here. Maybe – Maybe they…Sphyre?” Rhyker said in relief, stumbling over his own words.

Kitaraiya continued to watch, observing the exchange with stilled breath.

“Far from here, in the mountains?”

The gryphon tossed his head.

“But the other amulet is..?”

Hendosphyre gave a more certain nod, eyeing the remains in the dust and sand before looking at the surrounds in confusion.

“Can you feel if she still lives?” Rhyker asked softly, “Is she still your other’s mistress?”

Kitaraiya slowly dropped to her knees, realisation sinking in with the line of Rhyker’s questions. She listened to Hendosphyre’s chatter and clicks, her eyes closed as she focused.

“The last to summon his other was a woman, not a child. A woman has possession of the amulet.” Kitaraiya said calmly, swallowing the knot in her throat and continuing to listen to Hendosphyre.

“He is confused... by the gods…He is not sure.” she said, her breath catching.

She quickly stood and looked up at the crippled structure before them, “Maybe you are right. Maybe we have been here before. This place Ven, this place in our world.”

Hendosphyre continued to vocalise, pacing and repeatedly looking at the structure.

“He says...”

“I know what he says, Tiff.” Rhyker quietly said, looking down at the remains, “But that was eighteen years ago, nineteen since they passed. Those wagons, the abandoned supplies, have been here no more than a year at the most.”

He carefully dug more sand away with his hands, “There are likely more remains inside.”

Kitaraiya patted Hendosphyre’s neck, “They are far from here?”

She listened to his clicks, and the toss of his head, “Far? Beyond the mountains? They are safe? Then this could just be a coincidence, just one of many looting the ruins or… No Sphyre. We have never found that city that we told you of.”

She frowned, listening and seeing Rhyker’s nod in silent response.

“We uncovered the remains, the least we can do is give them the proper respect.” she said, rubbing at the gryphon’s neck as he nuzzled her.

“Kit?”

She dropped beside him, drawing at her thread as his eyes flickered to life. The chill surrounding them while the sands around the bones crystallised in the heat. She lifted a hand, protecting the remains from the scorching heat as they sunk into the molten glass, encapsulated within a cavity. She focused further while Rhyker withdrew, chilling the glassy coffin. Moisture damped the untouched sand, freezing to a crust around them.

Kitaraiya looked at the glass sarcophagus, the final wisps of steam rising from it in the chill of night as she grimaced in concern, “Rhy, have you been watching them?”

“No.”

She looked at him, “Tell me the truth.”

“Selera Desilantre graduated from the academy of Knocht eight years ago. I came across her name while I was there.” he said quietly.

Kitaraiya’s eyes widened, “Selera?”

Rhyker nodded, “Eira told me that she had been aware of the Desilantre family since before we arrived here. She warned me to keep my distance, to not pry and if our paths were to cross…”

Kitaraiya nodded, “What we already knew. What we decided upon.” she said softly, “But this, even if it were, we can not interfere.”

“Kit, do you want them to experience what we did? At the least we could protect them from that.”

Kitaraiya glanced at him, “Father is already taking care of that possibility.” she said, noticing Calasylara’s movements, “Both of you, we are here for a reason. No matter how much seems similar, it is not the same. We were never here, nor were our birth parents.”

Rhyker nodded, his eyes lingering on the abandoned wagons for a moment. He watched Kitaraiya walk toward the structure and he followed, a few steps behind and shaking his head sharply at Hendosphyre as the gryphon’s thoughts started to break through to his mind. He frowned, feeling the disjointed ideas.

“I said no, Sphyre.” Rhyker responded as Hendosphyre looked back at the encased remains and clicked his beak.

Kitaraiya glanced at them and shook her head as they passed under the roof of the structure. Stars shone through the holes and tears of the massive arced structure. To either side of the main passageway, rusted hulks and crumbling internal structures littered the grounds. Caricatures of winged creatures made of twisted metals and glass lay half buried and dilapidated by time. She wrinkled her nose, the scent of decaying iron strong in the air.

“It looks like the other one we came across this morning.” Rhyker said as he looked at the massive door sunk into the cliff, “Just larger.”

Kitaraiya grimaced, “It is here too, that taint from back where we rested. Its setting my teeth on edge.”

“I feel it.” Rhyker said, pointing, “That heavy door, the portcullis drops from above. There is a smaller entrance to the side.”

They both neared the closed entrance, Kitaraiya squinting at it in the dark as it towered over them, “Do you see that, Rhy?”

He brought a flame to bear, lighting the immediate surrounds in warmth, “This door was open recently, maybe when that woman died.” he said, walking up to it and placing a hand on its cold surface, inspecting the scrapes from movement before tapping it experimentally.

He gestured to his right, spotting Calasylara as she wound her way through the hulks, lithely sidestepping the ruins, “Come, we will try the other way.”

Kitaraiya followed him, his form casting long shadows as he lit his way. Quickly mounting some fragile steps she moved in his wake, entering the door and passing down a short passage. Her eyes widened as a faint green and orange alternating glow lit the darkness in the distance.

“This is new.” Rhyker said softly as not to disturb the pitch-black that surrounded them, making his way toward the light, “It still works?”

Tentatively picking his way through the rubble at his feet, he let the flame grow, expanding its perimeter until the wall could be seen.

“Another door?” Kit whispered.

Rhyker frowned, looking up at the blinking soft green and orange light set in a box on the wall above them; a tube ran down, terminating in another box with its door half torn off and hanging limply.

“Kit, these look like… Do you remember at Scarosant?”

Kitaraiya came over and looked around him, “Off the forge, there was a room with all those strange instruments. Switches, or was it lightning gates?” she said, quickly searching the ceiling and pointing, “There…The lanterns on the ceiling.”

Rhyker gave a nod, reached in and pulled at the lever, a faint whirring sound and crackle sounded before a soft white glow started to emit from the enclosures above them. Gradually the glow grew to a stark brightness, bathing the entire landing with an occasional flicker.

Kitaraiya squinted, shielding her eyes from the glare, “Rhy, there is another.” she whispered while sweeping the floor with her eyes, searching between the crates and boxes that had been stacked in groups.

She stopped in front of the body and crouched, not daring to touch it, “Its stronger here, the taint. Gods, it’s in the air, prickling under my skin.”

Glancing over to Rhyker, she watched as he stood before the massive door. His hand on it, leaning and coughing quietly, “We have to get out of here, Rhy.” she said, quickly standing.

The faint sound of soft crumbling reached her ears. Glancing back at the desiccated body her eyes widened in fear, only a pile of ash, bones and the remnants of cloth remained.

“Rhy, we have to go now!” she growled urgently before suddenly coughing.

The metallic taste of her own blood was in her mouth and nose. She coughed again, more harshly. Feeling the slick sensation between her fingertips, she quickly glanced at her hand, crimson specks of blood were smeared through her fur. She swallowed, wincing and gasping, her throat was raw.

“Rhy?!” Kitaraiya raggedly whispered, not realising she had dropped to her knees.

She looked up, her eyes hot in her head. Before the inner door Rhyker was slumped, his hand steadying himself as he coughed wetly, shaking as repeated convulsions made him double over. Blood dribbled from his mouth and nose as he struggled to stand, his hands on his knees, pushing himself up until he stood. She watched him stagger toward her, his strong frame shaking between coughs.

“Rhy?” she breathed out, her voice gone, not even feeling herself fall to the sandy floor.

Struggling, she managed to keep sight of him, watching as he dropped to his knees and started crawling. She could see his eyes were on fire, the flames lit and burning away the blue. Darkness was invading her vision, the buzzing sound in her head overwhelming her as she watched him tumble to the ground and lay still.

“...Rhy…” she breathed out, hot tears making the last of her vision swim before she slipped from consciousness.

Winter looked up through the leaves, the path ahead now clear and the carved steps winding back on themselves as they climbed the face of the cliff. Above, stood the tiered open-walled house with sweeping tiled roofs that overlooked the domain from its highest point akin to a temple of the gods. The half-light shimmered down on Winter as she continued to ascend on her own, Ja’Sessh refusing to go further and excusing himself, saying it was not his place to see the Empress in her abode.

Finally mounting the last set of carved steps after the lengthy climb, she slowed. Winter stood at the summit, looking at the building. The shadows within the temple residing between silken curtains that hung from the ceiling to the floor. Lantern light bloomed and cast shadows of movement from within. Winter waited calmly as the moving shadows shifted and swam; the sleek silhouette of a rakshasa female growing defined and coming closer until finally the burning, luminous eyes from Winter’s memory could be seen in the darkness. The rich orange fire of life.

“Winter, an honour.” said the gentle voice, the liquid smooth purr, the flicker of fire as those hypnotically captivating eyes blinked, “Have you finally been sent to kill me, now that you found me?”

The silence hung between them, stretching in time as Winter’s steel and copper eyes hardened, meeting the rich orange fire of the rakshasa.

“Ekavira.” Winter said quietly.

End

The Twins of the Aletere - Book 2 - In the Shadow of Dreams

The story continues in The Twins of the Aletere - Book 3 - Shadow of the Rakshasa (Coming March 25th, 2023)