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The Blood's Fate

Chapter 5: Players and Pawns

Once the skies cleared and sun beamed down upon the two of us I did not weep, I did not shed tears, but the sorrow was still there. An empty gnawing at my heart, I felt only that gnawing pain of loss and sorrow, "If only there was something I could have done," I thought, "I could have pushed her away, I could have-"

"There was nothing you could have done, Lea," Raven said to me coldly, "My sister's death was written in the stars, all this was set in motion because of Yama'Eld's lust for power." Her lack of sympathy for my mother, her "sister," made me ache even more, "How could she say such a thing?" My mother's body turned to ash as the wind blew, carrying the soot up and away towards the sky, the sun's rays welcoming that which was once my glacial guardian. I reached up to catch at least one fragment, to hold my mother longer, before saying goodbye, but not even my hope, not even my love for her, could buy me time. "Mother," I whispered, "I'm sorry for ever taking you for granted." I picked up her pendant as I got up, "It's almost unfair," I thought, "How I only get a trinket at the cost of her very life." Raven's cold and emotionless stare brought me back from my mourning, "Why are you here?" I snarled, "I don't care about how you are related to me or how the others can't see you, I just want answers!" The dragoness chuckled, "You are dense aren't you? I am here to guide you down your path. I am an emissary of Amatreris, the Lady of Light and Hope."
"Why would Amatreris send her?" I thought, "There is no reason for me to deal with a spirit that has no sense of empathy."
"How dare you," Raven growled, "I cannot believe you are Agatha's son, I am certain she had raised you better than that. To insult your own aunt that, way how insolent you are." "Checkmate!" The thought finally broke her facade like a pickaxe through masonry. Her harshness gave way to her true nature. "Perhaps I underestimated you, Lea," Raven said, knowing full well her act would not fool me any longer, "You're right, I have no sense of empathy, all my emotions... they are just memories now, thus is the curse of a phantom." "That's impossible, dragons can't become phantoms, their spirits go directly to Amatreris." "You are half correct," Raven corrected me, "Dragons do return directly to Amatreris, but only to serve as her guards, vessels, and retainers. Those are the ones who blindly follow her, I sought the truth and gained her trust, and fear. When I died on the day of your mother's union with your father, Amatreris gave me the 'right' to be her representative as your guide." What Raven said, confused me even more, I couldn't wrap my head around any of this. "I can see you are trying to grasp the situation and the truth," Raven said at last, "But we don't have time for you to be absorbed in thought. The pendant, give it to me." I stared at the silver spike with two aquamarine gems aligned down the middle, on the circular face was the rune for "Faith" etched in such a manner when in the right light it glowed a light blue. I was reluctant to give away the only thing I had left of my mother, the only thing that still had her cooling aura. "I understand your sentimentality over her pendant," Raven chided, "But you must trust me."

"Why should I?" I fired back, "You certainly didn't leave an impression of trustworthiness when we met. And I sure as hell won't allow you to take what is not mine to give!" I felt tears starting to well up, the levies slowly giving way to my emotions, "I would rather the abyss take me than let some phantom take what they want!" Raven's resolve finally cracked, or rather the block on her emotions. Tears started rolling from her eyes as she stepped toward me, "Lea," she said, her voice quivering with grief. She did not need to say anything; I knew exactly what I had done for her.  She touched my shoulder, my birthmark cooled by her hand, and without a word I placed the icy charm in her other. "You don't know how hard it was watching you grow up," Raven whispered, "Not being able to hold you. My only nephew, my only next of kin." She buried her snout into my chest, and the memories came.

A temple, tall, solemn, and hollow. Snow covered mountain peaks in the distance, cut off by dense cloud cover, the wind howling as the sun rose above the tallest spire. A bell rang, there she stood, at the base of the staircase, Raven, weary, but determined. Runes on the ancient limestone door glowed with a sickly green power that arced. The runes read Face thine fears, lest thine fears consume thee. Raven climbed the crumbling stairs, robes fluttering in the harsh wind. In her right hand was a crystal staff, in her left, a worn short sword. Three flasks hung from her belt, one filled with yellow soupy substance, one filled with a strange blue-green fluid, and another filled with ale of some sort. Once Raven reached the top of the stairs she conjured five crystal orbs which hung above her head and meditated. One by one the runes' energy dissipated, releasing the seal on the ancient stone doors with a hiss. The doors opened slowly inward, grinding against the floor. Raven stood up and entered the temple, crystals still hovering over her head.

In the stone crypt was a massive obelisk sanctified, and dedicated to Amatreris. "At last," Raven said, "I have found your secret." The temple echoed with a sinister laugh. Raven spun around and was face to face with a mirror image of herself, however with glowing red eyes and fangs protruding from her upper jaw. "So glad to finally meet you my dear," Shadow-Raven hissed, "I was beginning to grow impatient." At that moment the stone doors sealed themselves, the sconces ignited and the fight began. Raven had the first strike due to her crystal orbs being ready for battle, but the Shadow was just as agile as the original and avoided the spell with ease. The two dashed away from each other and encased their swords with shards of ice, and cloaked themselves in a blizzard. Blades clashed, kicks, punches, and jabs were thrown, both mirroring the other's moves. Ice covered the walls, floors, and ceiling, days turned to weeks, weeks into months until both Ravens collapsed with exhaustion. "I see how it is," the real Raven said, "My greatest fear... is that which lurks in the darkest parts of my heart. But how can I defeat myself? Eventually, I'll die of hunger or thirst, and you'll continue fighting me beyond my death. I guess I must admit defeat, I can't destroy the darkness within me, not alone." Raven turned toward the obelisk and prostrated herself before it saying a prayer to Amatreris. The shadow chuckled, "You are a fool, not even a god can save you now. You have submitted to the darkness, now relinquish your body so that we can be free!" Without warning a pillar of fire formed between the two dragons. Out from the flames stepped a young and strong male Eastern dragon, his muscles rippling as he shook off the flames, he looked a lot like my father. "I should have known you'd get yourself into trouble Raven," He said. "Shin?!" Raven was shocked to see what might have been her brother in-law. The male dragon laughed heartily, "No, not quite, we'll meet again... eventually, whether we know it or not." The male dragon summoned a sword made of flame and dispatched Shadow-Raven in one slash. "Hrgh!" the real Raven clutched at her breast in pain, coughing blood. "No!" the male dragon cried, racing to Raven's side. "I knew I would die once I reached this place," Raven whispered, "A small price to pay, to learn the truth." The male dragon shook his head, "A price not many are willing to pay, but you were already dying. Why make a pilgrimage knowing death awaits you at the end?"

"Because I want to keep you safe," Raven murmured. The male dragon laughed again.

"Then please tell me your name before I die."

"I'm afraid... I can't do that. But in time, you'll know."

The memory faded and I was home, Raven's phantom still crying on my chest. "Good grief," I thought, trying to keep Raven from reading me, "How can things get any worse?" I hugged Raven, somehow she felt real, as if she were flesh and bone, comforting her. "Lea. Are you okay?" my father sprinted toward us, "Raven... I thought... I thought you were dead!" He hugged the two of us, suddenly I felt at ease, the cold comfort I missed was replaced with the warmth of my father's hope and joy. It was then my own emotional block was broken, but instead of sorrow, I felt joy. All my anger and frustration melted away, at last I remembered my father's love. Roy stepped closer, smiling, "I wish things were better than this, but praise the Light," I thought, "I'm glad to at least to have a family."

"Um excuse me," a voice said, "Forgive me if I'm interrupting an emotional moment between family." Everyone tuned toward the location the odd voice came from. Before us stood a diminutive rabbit wearing a leather tunic, and oddly baggy pants.

"And who might you be?" I queried

"Oh! Yes, I forgot to introduce myself!" the rabbit said with a formal bow, "I am Bruce Tuzi, servant to his lordship, Audrey Ignatius Bartholomew the Third, High Lord of Trensis."  I believe I've heard of this Bruce Tuzi from the local taverns. Some time ago he was an owner of a small farm several kilometers outside of Beacon's Landing. One day a small caravan was passing by his farm carrying gold, fine clothes, and an assortment of wines. As it was passing bandits ambushed the undermanned cargo shipment. Bound by his honor Bruce leapt to the aid of the caravan armed with a scythe and a passion for battle. Many of the barkeeps told me that he had slain the entire raid on his own, others told me that he had only killed three of them, and the rest retreated, hard to say which was true as only one person out of the caravan survived the attack. "Now that we have the formalities out of the way," the rabbit continued, "I have come to deliver word that my master cordially invites you to his manor, to discuss matters of the utmost urgency." Bruce handed me a parchment with the wax seal of the High Lords. I carefully opened the letter and read what was inside.

Dear Mr. Lea Branwen,

My name is Audrey Ignatius Bartholomew III, and am greatly pleased to have had the honor of reading your essays on future colonization strategies in the Outlands. I invite you to be my guest so that I may discuss with you the matter further. I have also received word of an incident with a mysterious being several days ago involving you and two of your companions. I wish to hear your accounts post haste, it may be a matter of life and death for many innocents.

Sincerely his lordship, Audrey Ignatius Bartholomew III

P.S. I will allow you to bring your family and one friend with you for I fear they may not be safe on their own.

I was curious as to how fast word travels, but to be invited to a Lord's home is truly something that I had never imagined happening. I passed the letter to my father so he could read it, Raven peeking over his shoulder along with Roy. I could see their faces turn from curiosity to pure amazement, it was not every day a High Lord invited the family of a merchant to enter his abode. "I believe we should start packing for the journey then," my father said following up with, "I hope the shop will be fine without me to tend to it." I couldn't help but crack a smile, "Of course he'd be worried about the shop. But I know he's not serious about that comment at all." "So," I said to Bruce, "When are we expected to leave for Derna?"

"Right now," the rabbit said with a straight face. "Shit!" the four of us shouted.
End of Chapter 5