Chapter 1 - The DeKaalenstaad

Winter felt the turn of time, the shift with every occasion she stepped into the Shadow Realm. The inky tendrils that were hers to command, following and chasing her, aiding her, were not with her. Passing through the Ebony dragon’s gateway to The DeKaalenstaad resonated uneasily within her, making the pit of her stomach lurch and seating her on the edge of discomfort. The passageway beyond the ring set into the tunnel walls was shimmering in her vision, ripples shifting beneath its surface, stone that was not quite stone. She stepped to a wall, placing a hand against it, watching carefully while she ignored the derisive exhalation of breath behind her.

“How long has it been like this Sessh?” she asked, feeling the texture of the veil beneath her fingertips.

“It is how its always been. To my eyes there is no difference; it is only a wall of stone.”

“A wall of stone?” she remarked curiously, glancing at him and immediately noticing his scepticism, “Do not attack as hearsay what you can not hope to understand, it is another of your weaknesses.”

She pushed off and followed the bend of the tunnel as she heard the faint echoes of boot on stone ahead of them. The runner that was to announce her arrival to their Empress was only a few steps ahead.

“You can call your person back. Your Empress already knows I have entered and I am sure there are immediate matters you must attend to.”

Ja’Sessh frowned, his eyes boring into her, “How would she know if she were not told?”

“Sessh, do you still not understand?” Winter said, “She and I are connected. Before I walked through that gate I could not feel her.” she glanced at him, and flexed her hands, “But now, it is like a thread of fire under my skin, burning with heat from its suddenness, a sensation I have not felt before.”

“Call back your messenger or I will.” Winter ordered.

He grimaced, “As you wish, Mistress.” he muttered before drawing breath.

Within the confines of the tunnel Ja’Sessh released a roar, its echo charging down the passage.

Winter gave him a look of distaste, “Is that you telling everyone you have returned or warning them to not approach?”

“That I have returned.”

Winter gave a slight approving nod, the lack of footfall evidence enough, “Your messenger is waiting. You have matters to attend to, but you will escort me to Ekavira.”

Ja’Sessh grimaced and strode past her, his steps heavy. Within moments she had passed the messenger and Ja’Sessh as they conversed, walking slowly while they spoke in their native tongue. She could feel the woman’s eyes on her, the fear reeling off her in waves and leaving an acrid scent in the air. Only a moment later she ran past, sleek and fleet of foot with her tail trailing in her wake. Within moments she felt Ja’Sessh near her side again.

“We will be leaving the Undermountain in a few moments, Ekavira’s abode is the highest place within The DeKaalenstaad. A temple, we believed it to be a place of worship when we first arrived.” Ja’Sessh explained, “Though, when we first entered, we… Or, only Ekavira knew what this place truly was. She was the one who led us here.”

A slight smile twisted Winter’s lips, “So it was she who spoke with the Ebony, she secured your safety.”

Ja’Sessh continued to walk without responding to her words.

“She led us and our people into the mountains, to conceal ourselves. Our greatest hope, Meliandra and the Eladar were too far. The eastern dwarven colonies had refused us. And the remnants of the Aletere, the Fyreling colony that were closest had already dispersed and had hidden themselves.” the rakshasa rumbled, his eyes ahead but his thoughts in the past.

“The Ke’Shasan were dying, at that point the world had shifted into the hands of the humans. I am sure you remember.” he said, his eyes wandering to Winter and catching her nod.

“The old gods, they just let it happen. Our mistress, Neci, she was nowhere to be found, she had simply disappeared. The rainforest, Winter, the rainforest we lived in, our homes were being torn down to feed the human’s need for fuel. They took the Ke’Shasan and enslaved them, so we ran. Ekavira was the last to leave, she burnt it down…” he went quiet for a moment, gathering his thoughts, “She had been to Escorath one last time, it was after then that she guided us here, to these mountains, had us hide in the caves. Then, she left.”

Winter looked up at him, walking in pace, “How long?”

The fur on his face shifted, thinking carefully, “It felt like months passed, but it was just under one. Us scrounging in the forests, hunting and becoming like the animals we partly are. She returned, and she seemed diminished somehow, something was weighing on her mind that she would not speak of. All she would speak of was the world was turning, and our only hope was to survive. She then led us here, to the Undermountain in the Maw of the Eld. We walked through that gate and what was dark became our salvation. Without a word, she went to the highest point alone, the temple and then…”

Winter raised a brow, watching his deep breaths while he thought.

“...The DeKaalenstaad came alive.”

He gestured to her as they reached the end of the tunnel, stepping ahead for a moment before nodding.

“In the beginning, there was something that resembled night and day, wet weather and dry. An abundant forest and life when the world outside had less to give.” his lip and ear twitched, “The forest is now only of shadows, it no longer rains or is dry, and we rely on our casters’ to make life strive. We have brought in crops from the Evernight and survived.”

Winter stared at him, “You did not know she had left before or why?”

“I was unaware. You saw my surprise. That was first I learned of it.” he growled softly, his temperament immediately turning.

“She must have had more than one reason to visit Scarosant.” she said.

“Why Scarosant?”

“Where else could she find the Ebony dragon?” Winter replied before stepping out into the night, the warm, humid air immediately enveloping her in its oppressive embrace.

The road split before her, the exit to the Eld behind. One path rising, the other dropping down and into the mirrored caldera of the sleeping volcano in the real. The dip away was quickly covered by the canopy of trees from the Evernight, the glow of their foliage stifled and dim, their branches thin and starved. Winter’s brows immediately bunched as she let her eyes roam the contained wilderness. The dim light of a muted twilight filled the Dekaalenstaad, the indicator of night over the realm. She cast her sight further, the breaks in the trees allowing for the signs of habitation, similar to the elves of Meliandra in the summer. Open platforms and dwellings among the trees, off the ground and allowing for the flow of air.

The glimmer of lanterns shone through the foliage, lighting paths and roadways. The movement of the people visible as word spread of Ja’Sessh’s return and the Valkyrie at his side. Winter pursed her lips, her eyes narrowing as she noticed a strange emptiness within the deepest part of the forest, the mottled tones in the glow from the nearest trees to the centre.

“It’s collapsing.” she whispered under her breath, “Sessh, you said that Ekavira went in alone?”

The rakshasa nodded, “Yes, we waited at this point here and she walked into the darkness, there was something she carried that she spoke nothing of.”

Winter looked at him, nodding as it all fell into place, “When was the first time she mentioned Toth?”

He glanced at her, a slow and deliberate movement, “She always spoke of being guided from the darkness. A voice in the shadows.” Ja’Sessh said quietly, looking back out at the domain, “The first time she mentioned a name was only a few years ago.”

He shrugged, his large shoulders shifting, “I can not take you directly to her. I can escort you to the landing, but no further. No male is allowed in the temple and you carry what matters most to her and to the survival of our people.”

Ja’Sessh grimaced, a defeated sigh escaping him, “I have to do what must be done.”

He turned to her and knelt, his eyes slightly below her own, “Winter?”

“Yes, Sessh?”

“As the General of the Ke’Shasan, and one of the eight. I offer my allegiance, compliance and strength as an ally. I accept your word and order as my Commander. I recognise you as no longer of the Host’s will.” he said softly.

Winter smiled gently, “Ekavira is your leader, but I do appreciate the sentiment.” she watched as he looked down, “Your people will be needing you and your guidance in her absence. It is time to show what you were once more as you leave this place behind.”

“Absence?”

Winter walked under the boughs, the gentle flickering glow of the lamps casting pools of light and the sickly pallor of the trees giving a dull luminescence from above. She glanced up at them, grimacing, feeling the wilt and the uneasy thrum in the air. Ja’Sessh had left her side earlier, a steadily growing tension in his speech and stance. He had listened to her words and intent as they walked, his mind open to her suggestion. He had left with a firm gait, leaving the path and cutting through the damp forest, calling out loudly with a roar that fell flat across the treetops, absorbed by the forest and its people. Within moments there were calls in return, cries in the night. She had watched from the higher road as lantern light moved through the trees, all of which headed for common ground, a clearing, a meeting place.

She had turned from the sight, occasionally seeing shadows flitter across the road as those called by Ja’Sessh responded to his call. Before long, one of the Ke’Shasan, a woman dressed in voluminous pants, a tight, revealing vest of crimson silks, and bearing polished steel bands about her forearms waited on the road ahead, her feline features sleek and fur well groomed. She had bowed and gestured to Winter to follow. Leading her from the main road and under a set of stone archways adorned with ivy and vines they moved along a path.

Finally the woman spoke, her deep mauve eyes not straying, a boldness in her voice and step born from the shared silence, “Ja’Sessh is not the man that left five days ago.” she commented in the native tongue of the Ke’Shasan.

Winter remained silent.

“He is not what he was.” the woman said, her tail flicking with grace, “I do not know who you are, your appearance here is unwanted, foreign and harsh on my eyes. He has deigned to send his first mistress without explanation to guide a lesser.”

She glanced back at Winter, their eyes meeting momentarily in the pale glow, her movements graceful, “Who are you to command our Lord and General? To make him act with purpose none of this age have seen?” she said, the ire rising in her voice.

“Five nights... How many of those did it take for you to claim him, what does he see in you to have me do a servant’s work?” she growled, suddenly stopping and facing Winter.

“He dismissed me, ordered me here to escort a drough, an outsider who is worth nothing more to the Ke’Shasan than a slave.” she spat, her elegant feline features twisting into a snarl.

“Filth from outside our borders is all you are, a hairless bitch of…”

Winter continued to walk, not bothering to break stride as she passed Ja’Sessh’s mistress.

“You dare ignore me?” the woman hissed at Winter’s back with teeth bared, claws unsheathing from her blunted finger tips.

Winter looked up, the copper glow growing in her eyes as she noticed faint movement in the shadows above the nearest arch. The snarling approach from behind was violently cut short with a faint wheeze and gurgle of a clawed hand being clamped around a slender neck followed by frenzied scrabbling. She turned, watching the shadow force the Ke’Shasan woman to her knees.

A sharp gleam of claws unsheathed, readied and raised to strike hovered in the air being watched by terrified mauve eyes as she struggled to free herself.

“This drough is death herself.” whispered the voice sharply, its face close to hers, clamping its hand harder and lifting her until only her toes touched the wilted grass.

“Do not impede her passage, do not stand in her way were the orders I myself gave less than hours ago.” the voice hissed, “What makes you think you are above them?”

The shadow slowly strengthened its grip, twisting it to make her head turn to the side, her terrified eyes on Winter as she kicked feebly, the life being strangled out of her. Bared teeth of the shade were close to her ear, the breath of fury shifting her fur as she suffocated.

“Do you see as you come close to the veil, your life meaningless before death, your words empty?” it whispered, a faint gleam of golden eyes piercing the black, “Do you see a winged demon, or the silvered feathers of the Valkyrie on her back?”

Those mauve eyes were wide and fixed in terror on Winter, dilating as her mouth slackened.

“Do you see her?” it said straight into her ear, its long fangs brushing her ear tip, “Do you see death?”

She kicked limply, arms and hands flailing, her eyes even wider as she screamed silently.

“Good.” the shadow said quietly, “Now you can truly see.” it said, relaxing the vicelike grip ever so slightly.

Those golden eyes shone from the dark as its attention fell fully on Winter, “I will not have the actions of an arrogant whore dictate the fate of my people. Your will, Winter, High Priestess of Toth?” said a female voice from the shadows, strong and with conviction.

Winter tilted her head slightly, distant recollection being stoked, “Let her live… Ja’Freya of the eight, sister of Ja’Ekavira, for one as ignorant as her, it will be punishment enough.” she said in the native tongue of the Rakshasa, her lips twisting into an aggressive smile.

The golden eyes blinked before turning back to the captive, “This drough has spared you, whore.” it whispered, “Now go and find a hole to hide yourself in, do not expect much comfort from my brother either, considering the mark he carries.”

The powerful clawed hand suddenly released and she fell to the ground, gasping and choking on the air as she clawed at her throat. Drawing deep breaths in her attempt to drown herself with air, coughing hoarsely, rolling onto her side and tucking herself into a ball, trembling.

The golden-eyed shade stepped away, silently gliding to the path and stopping before Winter, “You have not forgotten me, winged death?”

“Ja’Freya, it would be hard to forget one who delivered so many to me and my sisters on the battlefield. Especially so that you even changed your name to one of our kind over your own.”

“The least I could do to honour one who revived and stole me from battle. For being used the way you were, you and your sisters still had their moments.” Ja’Freya said, releasing the cloak of darkness that surrounded her.

Dressed in supple black leather and rich blue silks, her mane was plaited tightly to her head in rows, accentuating her sleek appearance with her ears slicked back. Her fur was a dark rusty red, with vivid blacks and defined whites. Standing to Winter’s eye line, Ja’Freya was a ball of taut muscle, her form softened by the lines of fur that accentuating her broader shoulders, hips and waspish waist. Silvered claws gleamed, their edges barely visible, yet still shining through her fur. Her tail moved hypnotically, a number of polished bands looping it before the tufted end.

“And then I see that same mark on my brother’s back…” she said, raising a brow, “Jesse always had an eye on us.”

“A weakness.”

“Maybe so, Winter. My brother returns, walking beside you of all creatures. He might be blind, but I am not.” Ja’Freya said, her golden eyes scrutinising Winter, “The lack of wings aside, you are not the same as you were.”

Winter nodded with a smile.

“I am sure you are aware, I have been shadowing you since you entered. I listened to your discussion with my brother. Is it true that the Host is no longer?” Ja’Freya asked, her eyes searching Winter’s steel, “It is true...Your master…? I can see both sides of you, where they meet. Before, there was only one. But that would mean…”

Ja’Freya stared at her, covering one eye then swapping to the other, “You are whole.” she whispered, “My sister, Ekavira… Gods…”

“I do have a master, my true master, something that the Host never was. He who gave me life and freedom to be more, he is my beloved, my partner and I am one of his chosen.” Winter said, giving one last glance at the Ke’Shasan recovering in the grass before turning.

“Have you spoken the truth, everything you said to Sessh?” Ja’Freya asked, her eyes narrowed.

Winter met her golden eyes, the copper in her own shining through the steel.

“By Azzar Kar’Sharn…” the rakshasa exclaimed.