Tales of the Foxsyn Arcanum:

The Twins of the Aletere - [Book 3] - Shadow of the Rakshasa

Prologue

Faint whispers wound their way through the silken curtains that hung from velvet darkness. Corridors and passageways made of the luxurious gauze, creating shadowed translucent walls that swam gently with the faintest currents of air. The air was heavy this night, the light itself only a few shades darker than day in the endless twilight of The DeKaalenstaad. A faint sigh came from deep within the structure, a soft breath that was almost lost among the whispering walls.

A gentle chime of bells could be heard drifting above the calming babble of water from the inner garden. A garden forever bathed in the glow of moonlight with carefully sculptured masterpieces, snowy maples, whose limbs stretched out and through the centre of the open roof. A faint glow of fairy-fire limned the leaves, giving the appearance of natural luminescence and shedding a soft light into the garden below.

Laying on an intricately carved lounge setting was the source of the sigh, a combination of svelte lines, sensual curves and luxurious fur. A rich orange glow peeked momentarily from the crack of her eye from between long lashes. Yawning, her mouth opened wide, displaying gleaming fangs and teeth. A deep rumbling purr throbbed in the air as she stretched out, arching her back before rolling onto her side, her tail whipping around to hang over her legs. Her thin black gown was twisted from her movement, pulling in tight at her narrow waist and accentuating her broad, strong hips. A furred leg had slipped out from the split in the skirt, a downy white on the inside of her thigh and rich fiery orange, slashed with defined black and white accented stripes running down the outside of her leg.

An exposed ear flicked before she nestled her head into an arm. Her languid movements of one still on the edge of sleep. Whiskers bent and sprang back into place under the force of her tongue. Again a faint crack of vibrant orange shone through, as fingernail absently tracking one of the many carved tracks in the lounge. Another sigh escaped her as she heard the distant tap of boots on the stairs that wound, doubling back on itself in its ascent. Four, almost five days it had been since she sent Ja’Sessh out into the Eld to investigate the valkyrie presence at the ruins of Dagnetheln and to sight the other ruins of the Sanctums of old. Four weeks would have passed in the outside world, but it did not relieve her impatience.

That tapered golden disk; nothing more than a large coin she had sent with her brother was burning at her thoughts, keeping her at the edge of dreams and not letting her rest. She gently ran her tapered and expressive fingers through her fur, tucking her ear and tracking them to the back of her neck through her short mane. Her unreasonable requests of one she hoped to see again and that coin returned with a reflection of his thoughts created an anticipation that put her on edge. The Lady of Shadows, those assuring feminine whispers from the dark, it did not still the concern she felt so keenly. She breathed out, slowly sat up and stretched again with her hands reaching for the midnight sky above the canopy of glowing leaves, her light gown settling itself, sliding back into place and hanging alluringly.

A frown rippled her fur, both her ears turning to the distant sound on the steps, boot-shod feet were now two and running. Her eyes finally opened, gently simmering a deep orange ringed with black, the ghostly white and blue from the fairy-fire glimmering in them. Life had been peaceful for their time hidden within this domain. But the rot had started, eating away at the people, they could no longer remain if they were to survive. Her people, the Ke’Shasan were in decline, and their continued survival relied on the answer to her missive. They needed new blood.

The booted steps were closer now. Only moments away. A knot of anticipation, Ja’Sessh’s return and that coin almost turning her stomach. She drew herself up and walked nearby the trees, feeling the soft grass under her toes and the lack of life in the soil beneath. It was a stark indication of the magic of dragons dwindling and in decline, that power which kept this place a sanctuary losing its thrall. Days and nights could barely be defined as one or the other, the weather within The Dekaalenstaad remained the same, no longer fluctuating and mimicking the outside word. Without the Ebony’s presence, it was failing. She stood, waiting, her eyes now closed.

Those steps slowed as they neared. They stood before the temple, the shadows within the silk allowing passage until they stopped before her, waiting her acknowledgement at the edge of the stone. She opened her eyes, allowing them to settle on the Ke’Shasan warrior as the woman knelt, head bowed with one hand on the ground.

“You may rise, guardian of the realm.” Ja’Ekavira said softly, her voice quiet.

The woman stood, keeping her eyes averted, “Empress, I bring word from our border.”

Ja’Ekavira nodded slowly, “And what word would that be?” she said lazily, her eyes taking note of the other’s dishevelled appearance.

She gestured to the shadows and an elderly Ke’Shasan woman appeared, her markings starting to fade, but her stance still proud to be in service to the Empress. She carried a silken robe to match the slip Ja’Ekavira already wore.

The warrior visibly flinched, the scent of fear in the air as her ears slicked back, “Empress, eight warriors from beyond our borders approached and set watch on the road outside the entrance to the undermountain.”

Ja’Ekavira glanced at her, holding her arm out for the aide to help her dress, “Did you and the guard leave them be, stay to the shadows, withdraw, conceal yourselves and observe?”

The fighter visibly started to fidget nervously, “We followed General Ja’Sessh’s orders, Empress.”

Ja’Ekavira stared at the soldier, “What orders would those be?”

“Empress, to defend the entrance until he returned.”

She brought her other arm around, allowing the aide to help her into the robe, “These warriors, who were they, guards of merchants? A wandering band of adventurers or bandits?” she asked smoothly, her eyes on the fighter.

The woman flinched, “Empress, we…” she said before she became silent.

Ja’Ekavira’s eyes narrowed at the silence, she scrutinised the messenger, testing the air with her nose, her eyes widening in recognition of that most faintest of scents.

“No… It could not be.” she said before stepping forward and sniffing at the messenger, fear suddenly flared behind her eyes, “No, you did not… Valkyries…”

Ja’Ekavira stood unmoving, “Who landed the first blow?” she said in a tight, angry growl, her eyes drawn to slits.

“They were so close... We attacked and we were defeated.” the woman stuttered, “They stand on the trail on the mountainside. They do not advance, they are waiting.”

Ja’Ekavira’s lips drew back, her fangs and teeth showing, “How many dead?” she snarled.

“None.”

“They let you go free? And the wounded?” Ja’Ekavira quickly asked as she tied her sash.

“Empress… They-They healed the wounded and never crossed the threshold.”

Ja’Ekavira shared a quick glance with her aide, “Healed?”

The guard nodded, showing her arms.

“What am I meant to be seeing?” Ja’Ekavira asked, glancing at the offered limbs.

The woman quickly parted her fur, searching until she found the fading remains. Ja’Ekavira quickly inspected, parting her fur and wincing with realisation.

“Their leader treated me. She barely said a word before releasing us, Empress.”

Ja’Ekavira looked at her sharply, “Her name, what was her name?”

The guard looked at her, “Mathilde.”

“Mathilde…” Ja’Ekavira echoed.

“Yes, she gave the order to mend and let us go. She gave me this.” she said quickly, carefully extracting a feather from her battered vest, “And told me to give it to you, my Empress.” she finished, offering the feather to Ja’Ekavira.

Ja’Ekavira quickly took it from her, eyeing the feather and is medium length. Sniffing it, her eyes widened as she inspected it more closely. Not of wing’s edge, neither of down.

“Empress, what does this mean?”

She glanced at the fighter, her eyes

“Neutrality. It means that our fate may be determined before the night is through.” Ja’Ekavira said quietly.

“Empress?!”

She turned from the guard, “Run, get back to the outpost with my order: Stand down, watch, wait and grant clear passage, I do not care if it is demanded or requested, do not slow or stop them.”

The guard’s eyes were wide in shock, “But…Empress?”

“There is no ‘but’, do as I say. Go.” Ja’Ekavira said quickly, looking over her shoulder, her eyes sharp, watching as the guard backed away bowing before breaking into a run.

She gently turned the feather over in her hand, absently brushing it against the edge of an ear then nose before running it through her fingertips. A frown came to her, her eyes half-lidded as she thought.

“Vira?”

“Yes, child?”

The older woman stood before her, her pale eyes on the feather, “What does a feather mean?”

Ja’Ekavira glanced at her, leading her carefully over to the lounge and sitting beside her, “We may not survive the night, child.”

“Then we must mobilise, our army…” the elder of the Ke’Shasan whispered.

“A fruitless effort.” Ja’Ekavira said with a comforting look.

“Vira, surely they do not have the power to…?”

Ja’Ekavira nodded, a firm expression on her face, “Eradicate us? Yes, they have that power and more. If it is her will, or her master’s, they will cut through us like a scythe through tall grass.”

“But, we can’t let them. We would be surrendering without a…” the elder said, stalling with the slightest movement of the Empress’s finger.

“You can’t fight death itself, young one. And they are death.” Ja’Ekavira said softly, her eyes sad as she watched her while stroking the elderly woman’s fur, “Sometimes it is better to be brave and accepting in the face of what cannot be stopped. They have found us; all we can do is wait.”

Ja’Ekavira held out her arms and drew the woman in close, embracing her frail frame, “Their Commander is either on the way or already at our gates. We have only a few hours at best.”

She looked at her, a gentle smile in her eyes, “If we don’t make it, it was an honour, Ke’Ita. Go, be with your grandchildren.”

“But, Empress?”

“Go. Please.”

Ke’Ita placed her hands over Ja’Ekavira’s, “Thank you, Empress.” she said before bowing and disappearing among the shadowed silks.

Ja’Ekavira stood in silence for a moment, unmoving as the leaves above gently shifted with the faint breeze. Her ear flicked slightly, the sound of the curtains shifting.

“Did you hear everything?” Ja’Ekavira asked.

“Mostly.” came the voice from her side.

Turning, she looked at the rakshasa woman clothed in a mixture of reds, golds and black, an elegant dress that hugged her supple form with sleeves that tapered to a flare. Silvery turquoise eyes met her own with a measure of trepidation as she approached. Ja’Ekavira gave a small nod.

“Valkyries… And where in Toth’s name is our brother, he was meant to return already?” the woman asked in exasperation.

Ja’Ekavira shook her head, “I can only assume he was delayed. Finding Antrandis of Darkfall might be taking longer than expected.”

The woman’s brows raised, “Ahhh… This man you are so vested in, even after all this time, the one in league with a dragon. You still believe he can save us, protect our kind and offer us sanctuary?”

“Yes. He can do that and more.”

The woman scrutinised Ja’Ekavira’s expression, “Are you sure your trust is not misplaced? What have you bargained Sister? What did you offer when you sent our brother into the Real?”

“Myself. Alexa.”

Ja’Alexa’s eyes widened, flashing in the low light, “Yourself? Are you going to offer the same to the right hand of the Host or are you going to brandish that elf’s name like a talisman and hope it he has some kind of influence? From memory, Winter is not to be bargained with, she is a weapon, no better than a blade.” she muttered angrily.

Ja’Ekavira handed the feather to her, “This could go either way, Alexa.”

She watched Ja’Alexa as she inspected the feather, her frowns and whispers until finally she glanced back at her, meeting her eyes, “No matter your decision, I will support it. At least I can remain your voice of reason. One brother is too busy finding a tree to butt heads with and the other is half lost to his inane pursuits. Our sisters, at least they are being somewhat productive.”

Ja’Ekavira smiled slightly, “Are we any better, my dear sister?”

Ja’Alexa chuckled to herself, “No, in some ways we are not…”