Reprisals

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Time and death sleep side by side. This proverb was one of the first she remembered learning from her father, Rimmon, back when they lived together in Ashkha. It came to her mind the moment they returned to Daring Heights, a street or two away from her home. It was not the same day they had left. It wasn’t even the next. Three days had passed during their short trip to the Fugue Plane. It was bitingly cold which only added to the weight that came crashing down on all of them, Death’s heavy caress not ready to let them go.

Returning to her family’s home was the obvious place to go, the next logical step. A chance to rest somewhere safe and warm where they could discuss all of the things they had learned — a place where Orianna could keep Azharul’s key safe.

It really was cold though. A shiver that went bone deep raked through Orianna, and she pulled her cloak tighter around her shoulders, the Starlight Cradle clinking softly on the cobbled street. Their group turned right onto Archslson Avenue and she saw it. Home. A nice warm fire, a hot pot of spiced tea and they all would be feeling better, more alive and present in no time.

She couldn’t say what made her slow down, but there was something different, something that seemed off the closer they got. Frigus and Calla looked at her, Matches and Mendal obvious to her slowing pace. Then Orianna gasped, nearly dropping her staff as she saw it. The entrance to her home was gone, the door removed from its hinges. Waffles made a low growling sound in his throat as Frigus murmured something to him. Then she was running, towards the gaping hole and the dark chill within.

If they thought it was cold outside it was nothing to the temperature drop once they passed the threshold. Calla managed to get ahead of her and so was the first one inside. She looked over what once was Orianna’s front door, finding icicles on the latch and hinges. Orianna wasn’t far behind, looking around wildly as she entered, all manner of scenarios raced around in her mind as to what could have happened, or who she would find. She was followed closely by Matches, a flame held in his hand, already waving it around threateningly. But the air was still. There seemed to be no movement other than the three just past the entrance. Matches’ flame almost couldn’t burn hot enough, it was so cold. It was by its light though that they saw the thin layer of frost covering every surface.

No. It cannot be. Not here. Not my home. Not-

Orianna shoved those spiralling thoughts away and turned to Frigus, Waffles, and Mendal who were still outside. “Check the street and around the back. If you see anything untoward, let us know,” she said softly. They nodded and left her doorstep.

The three inside each took a floor. Calla the main level, Matches the second, and Orianna the top. Every room had been pulled apart by whoever had come here searching for something.

Calla found Maurice and Valethra huddled together in one corner of the kitchen frozen in ice. Valethra’s mouth was open, forever ready to unleash her draconic breath whilst Maurice was half hidden behind her, hissing, one paw raised up, claws half extended. Calla’s discerning eye could tell that this ice was different from the type used on Rimmon. It was, in fact, a containment spell meant to hold them in pace until such a time as it could be released. It also seemed to leave them aware of their surroundings. Hurriedly checking the rest of the kitchen revealed nothing else amiss beyond the obvious ice and mess.

Matches’ search of the second floor resulted in the same discoveries: more frozen surfaces and rooms torn almost to shreds in search of whatever the intruder had been looking for. It also revealed Thaneni and Rimmon were not home, though the latter’s notes on Vulcanax’s key were remarkably untouched, almost like a dreadful clue. Matches moved the flame in his hand from one to the other, before picking them up, reading them over, a cold thought of certainty forming in his mind.

As Orianna climbed the narrow stairs to the upper floor the air only seemed to get colder. But she was unaware. Instead, as she rushed to the door, praying she would not find Gerhard’s frozen body in their bed, she was flooded with relief. All she saw was more frost, thicker than anywhere else in the house, and a hurricane of destruction of their room torn apart, same as elsewhere. But that relief evaporated nearly as quickly as it came as she saw the trap door to her loft open, the ladder half broken.

“Oh no…”

She knew even before she climbed up what would be missing. Still, when she saw it, the place where Throdrazz’s key had been kept, it was the one place that was not covered in ice and its absence was like a slap to her confidence in everything she had been doing. Almost like the Primordial that had invaded her home was mocking her.

“Baker’s! I think you’d better come down here! I think we know who did this…”

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The next hour or so was a bit of a blur. Someone went to find her fathers to ensure they were alive and not kidnapped, whilst someone else went to the Academy to find out if Vulcanax’s key was still there. Mendal and Frigus came back when she had been alone, saying something like they did not find anyone suspicious or no other signs of disturbance. She must have said something — or perhaps she didn’t say anything — because they were gone by the time Calla had returned from the Academy with worse news: Vulcanax’s key had been stolen as well. The only traces she found of who did it were sample amounts of green slime left around the protective cabinet the key had been kept in. When Orianna didn’t respond, Calla said she would go help Matches find her fathers, wherever they were in the city, and come back with them as soon as she found them. Then Orianna was alone in her cold, empty, desecrated house.

She thought everything had been going well, that they would be able to tip the scales more towards the centre, that there might not be no a need to fight. But she had been foolish, too naive in her hopes and now, the one place Orianna had believed would always be safe, the place she had vowed she would protect, had been invaded, her people hurt, and two of the four keys they had managed to gather, stolen.

The one saving grace, the thing she was glad of was that Gerhard had not been home. She did not know why that thought kept running through her mind but the idea of him facing off against Abrax on his own was just too much. The last time one of the Infinite had crossed paths with a hostile Primordial Incarnates, it resulted in her heart being torn out. If Abrax had done that to him then she—

“Mrowrrrrph!”

Maurice’s indignant cry as the small flame Orianna held got close enough to almost scorch his whiskers made her jump out of her skin. She withdrew her hand, fresh tears falling from her extremely tired eyes. She had been crying off and on, and no matter what she did she couldn’t seem to stop.

“I’m sorry, Maurice,” Orianna coos softly. “I know, the flame is hot, but these icicles need to get out of your fur or you will be in pain. J-just a little more and you will be free, hmm?” She sniffles.

Valethra was curled up beside him, her own scales still partially covered in ice. Calla had dispelled the magic but Abrax wasn’t called the First Frost for nothing. The chill of his magic lingered despite the roaring fire in the stove of the kitchen they sat next to. The rest of the house was still frigid, and she would not realise it until later that Mendal must have set her front door to rights before leaving, but warmth was coming back to it. The place just just wouldn’t feel the same.

“There, you can-”

As the last of the ice melted Maurice’s patience was done. He bolted out of her arms and did not look back.

“-go…” Orianna finished halfheartedly. She turns to look at Valethra, wiping more tears away. “Thank you for your patience little one. Come here, let me help you…”

Valethra was less adverse to the flame though by the time she was done, Orianna was emotionally if not mentally exhausted. But there was still one more thing she had to do before she even dared think about resting, let alone what to do about defrosting the rest of her home.

Putting Valethra down on a cushion next to the stove, Orianna pulls herself up from the floor, joints clicking. She hadn’t realised how late it was but it was dark out, which meant contacting Stellarum would be easier. A small favour after the harrowing state she had come home to.

Her fathers had not returned yet, either because Matches and Calla could not find them or because they were… Orianna shook her head. Rather than letting the possibility consume her, she decided to focus on the task at hand. Moving around the table to the farthest window at the back of the house, picking up her staff as she went, Orianna took out the crystal foci from her bag on her side and held it up towards the soft starlight shed by the Cradle.

“O Mother of Starlight, hear me. I call upon you bearing grave news.” She paused, then added. “I fear I have f-failed you, as your Herald.”

A moment of silence that lingered too long for comfort with just her thoughts and fears. They crept closer, getting harder to keep at bay when the Crystal Foci began to rise out of her hands. It hovered on its own, starlight from her staff creating patterns and textures through its crystalline form, twisting and swirling around until the human face of Stellarum was looking at her, like a reflection in a mirror.

“Whatever do you mean Orianna? Did something happen with Azhural, is he ok? Are you ok? Tell me what happened.” Stellarum half pauses then adds. “I highly doubt you have done anything close to failing me.”

“Azharul is well,” the young tiefling says in a rush to reassure Stellarum of the fact. “We were successful in helping him. That isn’t where I failed. I-… when I came back-” Orianna begins to wring her hands together. “-I found Valethra and Maurice frozen and Throdrazz’s key I had left here… was gone. Taken. Vulcanax’s too, from the Academy. I-… I couldn’t keep them safe.” Her voice cracks on the last word, the omission and her guilt at her failure nearly crushing her.

Stellarum’s visage in the foci goes through several emotions from confusion to disbelief, then understanding to anger. Such a burning anger. Orianna nearly shied away for a moment fearing the anger was at her. But then the Wyrm Queen’s expression became concern, and it was all directed at her. Then, Stellarum closed her eyes. The image of her in the foci shattered into tiny points of light, like thousands of tiny stars. They flowed out of the crystal and swirled around the room before coalescing into her humanoid form.

She looks to Orianna, placing both her hands onto the young tiefling’s jaw and gently lifting her chin so there was nowhere else she could look but directly into Stellrum’s eyes.

“Now listen to me. This is not your fault, Orianna. Okay? You did everything you could and you could never have predicted this. Even I didn’t. In fact I do believe that all of this can be blamed on me. I am the one who sent you away to speak with Azharul and failed to ensure my own Herald’s home was protected. This was not your fault Orianna, do you understand me?”

Certainly Stellarum’s tone makes her words irrefutable, and for that alone Orianna breathed out a half sigh, half sob of relief. She nodded, tears still falling, but she didn’t seem to notice them. Her own hands have come up towards the Ancient Wyrm Queen, seeking to hold onto her. Stellarum thumbs gently wipe away the tears running down her face and without hesitation she pulls Orianna in for an embrace. She couldn’t say for sure, but Orianna thinks Stellarum even grew a little to better envelop her in a tighter hug.

After a moment, when the tears stopped and she was finally able to breathe without sniffling, Orianna pulled back, head still hanging low.

“I should be the one to tell Vulcanax and Throdrazz about their keys. I hope-… I hope they will not be too angry with me. But after that… what do we do?” With the question she looks up.

The expression of the Night Keeper had changed drastically. Any trace of the earlier concern was gone. The Wyrm Queen is angry, very angry. Her eyes shone a deep purple as her hair gently lifted at the ends. Orianna began to feel a great pressure, almost like gravity, coming from Stellarum. A manifestation of her growing fury perhaps?

She placed a gentle hand on Orianna’s face once again. “No, I shall tell them, I shall inform them all of this… of this act of WAR.” On the last word she took a step back, letting Orianna go, though the tiefling felt the pressure only increase, certain there was some form of gravitational pull to Stellarum.

“How dare they invade the home of my Herald and steal what does not belong to them. HOW DARE THEY BREAK THE SANCTITY OF THIS HOUSE. I WILL NOT ALLOW THIS TO STAND. THEY HAVE VIOLATED THE HOUSE OF MY HERALD AND THEREFORE THEY HAVE ATTACKED ME. I WILL MAKE SURE THEY KNOW THE WRATH OF THE WYRM QUEEN.”

Though Orianna was sure she did not shout, Stellarum’s voice returned to its normal dimensions and volumes, matching her returned and gathered composure despite the anger still trying to pull her in. “It is time, Orianna. I need you to open the way to Wyrmhold. The Archwyrms must convene at once. I take back what I have said previously. After this attack the Archwyrms will be entering this fight. The Incarnates have forced my hand and in doing so brought about their end.”

“T-Their end? I-…” Orianna’s mind was racing. This was such a contrast to what she had known Stellarum to be. It terrified her. “I agree, we must convene with the others. This v-violation on my home, of our Family’s safe haven is no small thing. But-…”

But what? Didn’t she also want to do something? Wasn’t she just as angry and upset? Is the time of conversations and alliances truly over?

But what about all they have done, all she has tried and worked for? Is there anything she could say that could convince the Queen of Archwyrms to slow her course even just a little, before committing an act that could not be undone?

“…if we move too quickly we could be falling into a trap. This underhanded action,” she gestures to her home around her, “might have been done to elicit this exact reaction from you.” She gestures to Stellarum.

In a horrible way it made sense. Doing this, hurting her, was the best way to get the one person the Primoridals feared the most. If they got the Wyrm Queen, the leader of the opposition, to react in a way that would only serve Abrax and his ilk… Orianna shuddered to think of it. There was no way she could know this for sure but it somehow felt true. She hoped Stellarum could see it too.

“I don’t want to see you get hurt, Stellarum. Please… I know you are upset just as much as I, but we have allies in some of the Primordials as well. If we attack their kin without at least speaking to them first, what is to say they would not have a change of heart and stand against us too? Eighteen against nine is no fair fight.”

There is a deep rumble that emanates from Stellarum causing the whole house to shake, almost as if the entire city has just been hit by a moderate earthquake. Orianna tries to see past that anger and connect with the heart she knows cares for more.

“Please…” she begs.

The rumbling stops and Stellarum turns away from her. She releases a large exhaling growl, a noise no human could possibly make — only a dragon. When she turns back to Orianna, Stellarum’s eyes have returned to normal and her expression, whilst still clearly furious, has also returned to her usual calm and regal state.

“I am so incredibly fortunate to have such a wise and thoughtful Herald. Thank you Orianna. Even my temper can get the better of me. But you are correct you have worked hard to foster an alliance with other Incarnates and it would be foolish to jeopardise that.”

Orianna relaxes a little, relieved that even through her anger, Stellarum can see the wisdom of her words.

“I am afraid I must leave it to you to contact our allies though,” she continues. “There is much I must prepare for as the Archwyrms still must convene in Wrymhold. Our enemies now hold five of the keys, and there is still one unaccounted for.” She begins to pace gently back and forth, calculating, seeming to consider all their options. “I will have Throdrazz concentrate their efforts on divining the location of the stolen keys and will get that information to you as soon as possible. I will also have Eroshira assist Adai, who I believe is currently trying to marshal support from those Incarnates who are still neutral on the matter.” There is a slight pause. “Though I don’t know how successful they will be.

“I will also be sending Kesserax here shortly. She will put up a protective barrier around the house to stop anything like this from happening again.” Stellarum stops her pacing with her back to Orianna. Then she adds, almost too quiet for Orianna to hear. “I should have had her do it sooner. That is my mistake.” Stellarum takes a deep breath and turns around.

“But I want you to know Orianna that I will not be letting this transgression slip by. Abrax has assaulted your home and by extension mine. There will be repercussions for this, I will promise you that… but there will be a time and a place for it. Not right now.”

Orianna nods. She had been listening as Stellarum spoke but somewhere along the line her gaze drifted, staring somewhere into the middle distance, her own thoughts forming a plan.

“I would be lying to myself if I did not admit that what Abrax has done makes me feel angry, violated, even. It reminds me of when Mister took me from here to… that other place. I was helpless then. I am not so anymore. I have a larger Family than even I could have hoped to find… That also means I have more to fight for and to protect.” Her eyes get a little brighter as they come back to meet Stellarum, her own mix of anger and distress causing Orianna to stand up straighter.

“If it will help Throdrazz find the other keys, you should give him this.” Orianna takes Kesserax’s key from her side and holds it out to Stellarum. “When it comes time to find the last key, we may need it, but for now, it would serve him better, I think.”

Stellarum reaches out to Orianna’s hands and holds them over the key, letting out a deep relieved sigh.

“Thank you, Orianna. I think Throdrazz will be very appreciative of your lending this key. It should definitely help in their efforts to locate the others.”

Orianna gives the tiniest of smiles. There is a notable pause from the Wyrm Queen before she continues.

“I feel like I should apologise, Orianna. It seems that you have handled this situation better than I. Even in a moment like this you have maintained such a level head and have seen this situation so much clearer. My manner tonight has not been befitting of my titles, but more importantly… I fear I have not conducted myself in a manner that you deserve. For that, again, I apologise.

“I shall take my leave now, Orianna. You should go, rest, and in the morning Kesserax will be here to cast some protections over this house. I just want to make sure you know how very proud I am of you and all you have accomplished thus far.”

“You tell me that often enough, one of these days I might actually start believing it,” Orianna admits, with a half chuckle. Her smile fades. “If I were in your position, if I had the aeons of knowledge, wisdom, and power you did, I might have reacted the same as you, Stellarum. But I do not have those things, nor am I an Archwyrm. I am me, a mortal blessed with your starlight… Only a fraction of what you are is in me. All my life I have been taught to be observant, to think of all possibilities, and to strive to walk the path best suited for all.” The smile starts to return. “It’s because I am able to remember Ashkha that I can recall these lessons more clearly. It has not been easy… but neither can the responsibility you carry be either.”

She steps in for one more hug, quicker this time, but just as warm and tight.

“Thank you for coming. I-… I really really appreciate it,” Orianna finishes, letting go.

“I will also answer when you call, my Herald. I may not always be able to appear before you but I will always be there.”

Stellarum gently kisses Orianna on the forehead directly on the symbol between her brows, framed in crystalline scales. There is a slight pulse of magic that travels through Orianna filling her with a warm, safe, and comfortable sensation that eases a little more of the tension she still held within her. For the first time since returning home, she feels a tiny spark of hope, that perhaps not all is irremediable.

Stellarum slowly steps away from her, her humanoid form becoming more and more translucent until she is made entirely of tiny points of starlight.

“I will see you soon. Goodbye, for now, Orianna.”

The motes of Stellarum’s nebulous form begin to disperse, fading away, leaving Orianna standing in her slowly warming, empty kitchen. She exhales a long sigh, closing her eyes and wrapping her arms around herself. She was so tired. Perhaps it would help to light a fire in the front room as well. She could sleep there if only so she could be within easy sight of the door for when her fathers returned. Not if, when.

Valethra’s head rose up from where she lay curled on the cushion by the stove, nostrils flaring as she turned towards the archway that led to the front of the house. Listening, Orianna recognized the distressed sounds of her fathers’ voices as they entered the house.

“Careful, imi-ib,” Rimmon says. “You could slip on the ice if-”

“I care not if I slip. I need to-” Orianna hears Thaneni yelp in surprise as they did indeed slip. “Orianna! Child, where- where are you?!” they shout aloud and telepathically. In her head, her father’s panic made the ring of their mind’s voice come in sharp and a-tonal.

Bending down to pick up Valethra who was already half climbing up her leg, Orianna does her best to keep hold of the tranquil calm Stellarum bestowed before her departure.

“I am here, baba. We’re here…”


Continued in ‘Woeful Omens’💫