2023-05-17 Smoke & Mirrors - Wik

Wik keeps pacing, wandering into the kitchen to lean over the wash basin and splash cold water on their face.

"There was a notice posted from the Queen of Ken and Cunning. She wanted help to fight the wolves at the gate, the shadows that sought what was buried."

Rux and Yom listen quietly, looking to each other for support. Yom goes to open their mouth, but with a glance to Rux, they nod for Wik to continue.

"Her agent was this fey, Jasper. I'd met him a couple times before, always lurking around. You remember that symbol I mentioned, in the Temple of All Seasons? Apparently he'd be seen trying to wipe a similar one away in the Summer Warrens.

"Anyway. He told us that we were going to steal the last piece that the Wild Hunt needed, The Weapon. He didn't know what it was, but he knew that it was being kept in a vault deep in the Dark Weave."

Wik shivers, remembering the feeling of traversing the Summer Court, the Feydark, the Court of Air & Darkness, and into the Dark Weave.

"We found the vault easy enough - Jasper had clearly been scouting ahead. And we opened it without too much trouble, either. I helped another of the party, Pipper, pick the lock. She didn't need much help, being an artificer.

"Unfortunately, being an artificer meant she had a variety of tools under her belt. One of those lent her truesight, and she saw right through me. I tried to find her after, when it was all done, but she'd already left. She doesn't seem the sort to tell anyone, but I haven't worn Dulgrun since."

Wik turns to Yom, their expression clearly pained at breaking the first rule: never let them see your true face, for then the others will forever be seen as the masks they are. But Yom only smiles sadly, nodding in understanding towards Wik.

Wik turns back to face the wall over the wash basin. "It turns out the lock wasn't the only measure of protection the vault had. It was filled with different artifacts; that's where I got this Necklace of Adaptation. But with each item we took, the vault took something back. Our images, reflected back at us, taunting us, and eventually doing everything in their power to stop us.

"We got distracted. Calla, another of our party, had found the Weapon: a ring, inlaid with small blue gemstones. She got it to Jasper, although we found him untrustworthy. And he begged us to get to him, so that we could leave.

"Then the others arrived. The... Wildlings, wearing masks adorned with that same symbol, the one from the Temple and the Warrens. A bird, or a moon, or something. They knew Jasper, or they used to know him, at least. They hurt him, and the others. Pretty badly."

Wik sighs, grabbing a cup from the shelf before filling it with water and taking a long drink. It's late, now - too late to be sharing so many stories, but it had never seemed like the right time. And now, on the eve of their journey to try and put a stop to the Hunt, it feels like there might not be time enough.

"And they took the Weapon. Ripped it from Jasper's hands as we watched, as I ran to try and make it to him in time. And then they left."

Wik turns back to their parents, their head low in shame. "And I failed."

Rux and Yom turn to each other before standing in unison to rush to Wik's side, the three embracing as a family in the middle of their modest kitchen.

Yom opens their mouth to speak, but it's Rux that eventually breaks through the silence. "You weren't alone, Wik. The fault does not lie solely with you. A heist- er- a party needs a team."

Wik nods, solemnly.

Yom reaches a hand up to stroke Wik's cheek, stopping at their chin, to lightly cup it. "And now you're going to try and right that wrong. That's very noble of you, my child. Cechec would be proud. And I'm sure Dulgrun would be telling you it's foolhardy, before coming up with a plan to get you home safe. You'll have them both with you."

Wik raises a hand up to hold Yom's, nodding towards them. "You're right. It's not over yet."