Lisila
A woman with long, raven-black hair knelt at the edge of the pool. Her hair covered her completely, reaching all the way to the ground and spilling around her in a midnight black pool. She had the tips of her fingers barely touching the surface of the ware and she was murmuring softly to herself. A breeze rippled the water for moment and teased her hair, revealing that she was completely naked beneath her hair. Ever so slightly, a mist rose from the water and an intangible glow formed around the woman. As the glow brightened, the her murmuring increased in tempo. Slowly, the mist coalesced into a perfect sphere hovering before her.
Suddenly the woman’s eyes flew open, revealing clouded, milky irises and pupils. Her mouth contorted into a rictus of agony and her head snapped back. A single pure tone sounded from her grimacing mouth and she toppled backwards, breaking contact with the water. The mist held together momentarily, still showing the vision that had appeared to the woman. A copper-haired woman stood arm-in-arm with an olive-skinned man. Both wore circlets of flaming gold and emerald green. Standing next to the man was a gray-haired man in armor holding a long spear that pinned a silver coronet to the ground. Next to the woman was a long haired woman who held a limp dragonet in her outstretched hand.
After a brief moment, the mists dissipated along with the vision.
—-
A raven haired woman sat in front of a silver mirror. Behind her, a blond man stood with his hands resting on her shoulders. “Are you sure that you should travel now, dear?” he asked. A single tear trickled down the woman’s cheek as she nodded.
“But why? Our daughter is barely a month old. She needs her mother. How can you abandon her like this?” he pleaded.
She looked up into the mirror and met his eyes. “Ajel, this is not my choice. Were it my choice I would stay here. With you and Najal. But I have been commanded to Asery. Every day I delay endangers us all. I have seen the signs as have you. I have spoken with the Sanctuary of Kunir. They will be sending an acolyte who will serve as a wet nurse to Najal. You have everything you need to care for her.” She sobbed and tears ran freely down her cheeks as she spoke.
Ajel looked at with growing desperation. “I can’t accept that, Lisila. I don’t care about having a wet nurse. How can you expect a mere nurse to replace my wife?” he asked angrily.
Lisila turned around with tears in her eyes and pulled Ajel to her. “I will always be with you, love. But I must find out the reason for the summons and the signs. Staying here only puts both of you in danger. In your heart you know that just as well as I do.” Ajel wrapped his arms around her and they both cried.
The dawn was overcast and rainy as a pale woman knocked on the manor door. She wore the simple clerical robes of the order of Kunir. When Lisila opened the door, she bowed low. “My lady, may the gods smile upon you and keep you safe.” she said.
Lisila glared at her but responded nonetheless. “And you as well, priestess.”
“I am but an acolyte, my lady. I have not yet passed all the trials of priesthood.”
Lisila nodded. “Very well. I trust you understand your position here?”
“Yes my lady. I have been commanded here to aid your husband in raising your daughter while you, my lady, complete the trials and tasks set before you by the gods.”
Lisila’s eyes narrowed at the phrasing used by the acolyte and nodded again. “Good. You will obey my husband in all things, correct?”
The acolyte inclined her head. “Yes my lady. Of course, my lady.”
“Good. Come this way.” Lisila turned abruptly and headed back into the manor. The acolyte followed several steps behind her as she headed to the nursery. There, Lisila reached into the ornate cradle and lifted a copper-haired baby girl out. Cooing and caressing the baby for a moment, Lisila then turned and presented the girl to the acolyte.
“Najal, I am very sorry to do this to you. This woman will be your nurse while I, your mother, am away. I love you dearly and will always be there for you.” With that she kissed the girl on the forehead and handed her to the acolyte. As soon as the acolyte took hold of her, the baby immediately started squirming and crying. Lisila couldn’t bear it and, with tears streaming down her face, she grabbed the travel pack on the floor and fled the nursery. As she left the nursery, an evil smirk crossed the acolyte’s face. “Shh, Najal. Have no fear. Your mother is weak, so very weak, young one. Ithen will make sure you are strong. Yes. Ithen will show you the way of power when she gets here.” The acolyte cooed and caressed Najal until she quieted.
Meanwhile, Lisila had reached the front door and wrenched it open when Ajel got there and grabbed her arms. “Lisila,” he said softly. “Please be careful. Please hurry back.” He tenderly kissed her tear-streaked face before stepping back from her.
“Ajel, I love you dearly. I will return as soon as I am permitted.” she said softly before stepping through the door and closing it behind her. Ajel looked at the closed door, tears welling up in his eyes.
—-
A woman with long braids rode through the southern gate of Asery under a rainy sky. The guards took one glance at her and let her through without questions. She rode through the central square and into the stables of the citadel that made up the northern wall of the city. A stableboy appeared as she dismounted and took the reins with a bow. She stalked into the citadel and nodded at the guards in the main hall.
“Where is the Lord Commander?” she asked the first guard she came to.
“He would be in the Overlook at this time of day, Lady Namalin. It is good to see your holiness back in Asery.” he said.
She nodded curtly. “I wish it was good tidings that brought me back.” she said as she bounded up the stairs towards the Overlook.
Minutes later, she had reached the Overlook and walked into the massive room. It was named the Overlook because it was at the top of the citadel and stood facing down the trail through the Northern Shield pass. It was from this room that any invaders could be spotted more than a day away down the pass. Standing at the balcony of the Overlook stood a man in brilliant silver-blue plate armor.
“Lord Commander.” she said as she bowed.
The man turned around and smiled broadly. “Ah. Lady Namalin. The gods have smiled this day. It is truly a pleasure to see you. I did not think you would leave your daughter this soon.” he said.
The woman stopped short and stared at the man. “Lord Commander? What do you mean? I have the summons here. My husband and I saw the signs that assured us this was authentic. We saw the warnings against delay.”
“I assure you, Lady Namalin. There was no summons.” he said, walking towards her with his hand extended.
She handed the scroll to him and crossed her arms.
The Lord Commander unrolled the scroll and quickly scanned it. His eyes narrowed as he read it. Finally, he held up his hand next to the bottom of the scroll. A brief light flared from one of his rings. He frowned upon completing the scroll.
“This is, unusual. I can not fully explain it, but this is genuine. I know that it did not originate here, however.” he said. He bowed to the woman. “Lady Namalin. Lisila. I apologize. I must go meditate and pray on this.” She nodded and he left, walking quickly down the stairs.
Lisila stood on the balcony and slapped her hands against the railing. Clenching the stone railing, she swore. “How could the Citadel not be aware of a summons?” she asked the cliffs.
—-
A small grove of trees stood in the middle of a side courtyard within the walls of the Citadel. Within the grove, there is a small pool of water with a woman kneeling beside it. A few white hairs streaked her black hair. She murmured softly as her fingers trailed over the surface of the water. Slowly, a white mist rose from the pool and swirled around the woman. She opened her eyes, revealing milky irises and pupils. Her head dropped suddenly to her chest. She took two deep breaths and toppled to her left. The mists swirled for a few moments, holding the vision that she had conjured. A copper-haired woman stood wreathed in flames and lightning. To one side, an olive-skinned man stood with a pair of swords dripping with blood. Behind them, a gray haired man in armor stood with a broken spear and a cloven silver coronet. A white-haired woman knelt before them with her head bowed. The mists dissolved along with the vision. The woman groaned as she pushed herself up off the ground. Slowly she staggered out of the grove back to her room.
When she woke up the next morning, she walked to the Overlook. The Lord Commander was there, watching the pass. As her steps took her out onto the balcony, he turned. “Lady Namalin.” he said as he bowed.
She smiled and inclined her head. “Lord Valadur.”
“Have you had any luck these past three years?” he asked.
She shook her head. “No, Lord Commander. I have not. All the visions are similar. A copper-haired woman and an olive-skinned man, both close in age. Both close, to each other. A gray-haired man in armor and an old woman. The people are definitely the same in all the visions, but what they mean I don’t know. And every time I think of going back to Ajel and Najal, the signs all indicate that it would be unwise.”
Lord Valadur nodded. “Perhaps, Lisila, we are looking in the wrong place. What little I have found suggests that the answer may lie with the Thornfire elves.”
She looked up sharply at him. “Laenatar, don’t even say it. You know that’s not possible. We are forbidden to go to them.”
He sighed. “I think that perhaps something has changed.” He handed her a heavy scroll. “Read it. Then come find me in the library.” He walked back off of the balcony and down the stairs. Lisila unrolled the scroll and started reading.
—-
A lone rider raced across the dry, grassy plains, her hair streaming behind her like a black pennant. Far behind her, several dragon-born hunters followed, keeping pace with her atop enormous six-legged lizards. They rode casually, a stark contrast to the terror-filled speed that their quarry was moving at.
One of the riders raised a great curved horn of bone and blew and ear-shattering note. As the note reached the lone rider, she shuddered and looked behind her. Less than a dozen strides behind her, a swarm of kobolds, riding atop wild dogs, boiled out of the grasses and gave chase. Looking ahead, she ducked just in time to avoid a volley of arrows and spears launched from more hidden attackers. Before another volley could be launched, she was past them. Sparing a quick glance behind her again, she noticed that her pursuers had more than doubled in number.
She turned back to her goal, a smudge of green in the distance. She muttered a brief curse directed at the dragons’ whose territory she raced across. Leaning forward, she murmured softly in the horse’s ear for a moment before wrapping her hands in the mane and holding on tightly. When she clicked her tongue, the horse’s eyes rolled back in it’s head and the froth of panic around it’s mouth gained a reddish hue as blood started to mix with it. A surge of power infused the horse and it’s speed increased enormously.
Individual trees could be seen now, along with the dense scrub brush that covered the last hundred yards before the forest. The baying of a hound behind her told of the continuing, albeit distant, pursuit. Suddenly, a sickening crack jolted her as her horse toppled forward and tumbled to a stop. She was thrown forward through the air and landed with a crunch on the beginning of the scrub land.
Painfully dragging herself up, she looked at the horse writhing in agony. There was nothing she could do for it. If she stopped, even to just put it out of it’s agony, her pursuers would be on top of them. Healing would take far too long as well and she could now see the nearest of the wild dogs leading over the grasses to see her. A brief prayer for a quick death left her lips as she scrambled into the scrub, running for the forest.
When she had reached the first trees, she looked back at her pursuers. The kobolds and dogs were more than halfway through the scrub and the dragon-born hunters were just entering it. “Gods above, help me please” she muttered as she dove headlong into the forest.
She had gone no more than twenty yards when she heard the snarling growl of a wild dog and looked back to see the first dog break free of the scrub and charge her, it’s rider whirling a sling.
The sling bullet zipped past her head as she dove out of the way and she glanced around for anything that could be used as a weapon. Scrabbling on all fours, she grabbed a fallen tree branch and spun it like a staff as she turned around, expecting the dog to be upon her. When she turned though, she found the kobold and the dog staked to the ground with enormous arrows. She immediately dropped the branch when she felt eyes upon her.
Umau’ryelerssou emo’paeestlia taioi’roeeldsee oughoo’tuakelbe sulea’chiyashmi cero’measayqa rode’noaughsee emau’yaeadfie enay’tyabelyi? said a harsh voice behind her. <Do not move unless you want to become a target like that dragonspawn. Who are you that is chased by the demons?>
She raised her arms wearily above her head and fell to her knees. “Nama’lin anei’jiatorne.” she replied breathlessly. <I am Nama’lin.>
—-
“Nama’lin-sah, are you sure that you will make it?” asked an elf that was visibly old.
A woman with black hair streaked with white smiled at the elf. “Lis’irala, I am. It is time. The goddess has blessed me with the clarity I need. It is time I returned to my people.“
The elf nodded. “The past twelve years have proven worthwhile then?“
“Very much so, dear friend.” said the woman.
The elf shook her head. “You look like an ancient, Nama’lin, with the white streaks in your hair. No one will recognize you.“
Lisila laughed softly. “I am still myself, Lis’irala. Val’adur will know me, as will those that need to.“
Lis’irala sighed. “You are sure that you can make the trip? When you first arrived, it was in an inauspicious way, chased by the drake-kin.“
Lisila smiled. “Yes, that was inauspicious. However, the goddess has granted me the vision to know I will make it through.“
Lis’irala nodded. “Very well. Then we shall make sure you do so in good health. You will be proved for.“
Lisila walked up to the elf and hugged her. “Thank you, grandmother.“
—-
The chase was on. A lone rider sped across the desert waste, heading northeast. Far above, an enormous skeletal dragon flew, pacing the rider. Ahead, the rider could see hills and trees. It was there that she was heading. The edge of Kaemorth’s Waste was near. Unfortunately, so was Kaemorth herself. The rider glanced back at the dragon chasing her.
The edge of the Waste was visible, but Kaemorth was closing fast. If the rider could make it past the edge of the Waste, Kaemorth would lose track of her and she would be safe. If not, the rider was doomed. Several horse-lengths remained when the first blast of fire washed past the rider, burning her right side and scorching the ground. The horse panicked and turned away from the fire, but the rider wrestled the horse back on track. Feet from the edge of the Waste, another blast of fire washed over the rider and literally blew her off the horse and out of the Waste. The horse toppled over, dead, but the rider rolled through the grasses to extinguish the flames. Kaemorth swerved away with a roar as the rider escaped her Waste-tied senses. Painfully, the woman staggered to her feet, cursing dragons. She looked back at the charred remains of her horse and sighed. She would have to find a horse if she wanted to get home before it was too late.
—-
A shaggy horse staggered out of the plains towards the walls of the outpost. A shapeless lump on it’s back gave the horse an odd appearance at a distance, but as it got nearer it became clear that the lump was bundle of torn clothes and hair. A squad of guards rushed from the gates and guided the horse into the outpost where the bundle was removed from it’s back. The guard that lifted the bundle gave a shout and dropped the bundle. The other guards immediately drew their weapons and looked at both him and the bundle. A leg extended from the bundle awkwardly. The guard tentatively reached down and toss aside some of the clothes to reveal a haggard woman, little more than skin and bones, underneath. Two guards immediately ran for the outpost’s cleric while the first guard gently picked her up and carried her to the captain’s quarters. Knocking on the door first, the guard entered the room and deposited the woman on the captain’s bed. Just then, the captain arrived and upon seeing the woman immediately called for and dispatched a runner down the pass to Asery.
—-
A splinter-thin woman rode atop a horse out of the pass towards Asery. The Lord Commander stood in the Overlook and watched as she approached the northern gate. When she entered the gate, he made his way do to the stables and arrived just as the woman was dismounting.
“Lady Namalin? Is that truly you?” he asked.
She turned around and he saw that it truly was. She grinned wryly. “Lord Val’adur. It is truly the gods own blessing to see you still here.”
Started for a moment, he replied “Indeed, Lady Nama’lin. It is the gods own grace to see you still on this earth. When you had not returned after the first year, we all feared that you were lost to us. We are blessed that it was not the case.” He bowed deeply.
She sighed softly and cupped his chin in her hand, tilting his head up to look at her. “Laenatar, there is no need for such formality. Things are moving too quickly now. I left the northern outpost as soon as I could convince the cleric there that I could ride. Even still, it took too long. Relerin is a fool and Alrarahur must be put in his place. Then we must find the armored fury and the dark love.” She smiled and laughed lightly. “Oh, it is good to know the meanings of things.”
Laenatar looked at her and confusion warred with relief. “Lisila, what are you speaking of? What of Duke Relerin and Baron Alrarahur? Who is the armored fury? And the dark love?”
Lisila started walking out of the stables. “Not here Laenatar. If you truly wish to know, meet me in the sacristy after the noon meal. I will tell you what I know.”
—-
Lisila stood before the great fireplace in the sacristy, rubbing her arms. Laenatar watched her for a moment, awed at the changes in her. Thirteen years ago, she left Asery a vibrant young mother. Now she looked the part of part of a grandmother, with streaks of raven black in her white hair. He knocked on the door before crossing the soft rug silently.
Lisila looked up at the knock and smiled. She turned her back to the fireplace and walked over to the overstuffed chair that faced it. “Come and sit, Laenatar. I must tell you of my travels.” she said as she sat down.
Laenatar strode over to the couch and sat opposite her. “Before you tell me of your travels, I have a question.”
Lisila nodded for him to continue. “What you said earlier. About Relerin and Alrarahur. What do you know of them?” he asked.
Lisila sighed. “Duke Relerin. He is a fool. He doesn’t know that his youngest daughter is madly in love with his guard commander. He doesn’t know that his guard commander is reciprocating that love. And he doesn’t know that she is with child. He must be commanded to bless their union.”" Laenatar swallowed and motioned for her to go on.
“As for that idiot Alrarahur, he must be stopped before he throws the middle of the Empire into chaos with his schemes. His son must be found a suitable wife from another barony, though, to assuage the Baron’s petty ego.”
Laenatar coughed and Lisila shot him a look. “What is it Laenatar? You know something.”
Laenatar sighed and she looked shocked. “No. Damn it. I’m too late now, am I not?” she demanded.
He nodded. “Duke Relerin found out about the intimacies of his daughter in the worst possible way, she told him she was with child. And then he reacted in the worst possible fashion, by denouncing his guard commander and trying to kill them both. Unfortunately, he did manage to kill her. His guard commander, in the words of one of his personal bodyguards, ‘flew into a dragon-possessed rage and slew everyone that attempted to come near him with a weapon.’ The bodyguard escaped by dropping his weapon and hustling the Duke out of the room. Several guards saw their disgraced commander carrying the daughter’s body out of the keep, but then they disappeared. The commander was almost unscathed, though drenched in the blood of those he had killed.”
Lisila’s face paled at the description and she whispered, “The armored fury. Oh crap.”
Laenatar nodded before he continued. “It gets worse. The Duke’s daughter had been promised to Baron Alrarahur as a bride for Alrarahur’s son. When Alrarahur got word that the Duke’s daughter had been, in Relerin’s words, ‘befouled’, he too went off the deep end. It didn’t help that his son accidentally foiled a smuggling scheme of the Baron’s as well. In the end, Alrarahur killed his son and dumped him in the river. No one has seen or found the body, but the three ‘kidnappers’ that Alrarahur claim did it were killed walking back to Alrarahur’s keep that night.”
Lisila hissed. “That idiot. I knew it was too good when we heard he had just the one son. I suppose that the Baron already has another child?”
Laenatar nodded. “Three more sons. By one of his own guards, who is now his consort.”
“Gods have mercy on us, Laenatar. Gods have mercy on us.” she groaned. “It does explain one thing though. The armored man I have seen in my visions is the guard commander of Relerin’s. Do you know where he is?”
Laenatar shook his head. “No. After that night, he disappeared. Our people have not seen or heard of him since that night a year ago.”
They sat quietly for a moment before Laenatar asked of her travels. Lisila grimaced and related the events of the last thirteen years to him. She related her visions, her quests, the tasks laid upon her my the elven goddess. Finally, she looked up at him and emotion drained from her face. “And Kaemorth still lives, though she is tied by blood, magic, and senses to her little patch of the world. Step onto that patch and she will find you. Step off and she loses you completely, even when her head is within feet of you.”
Laenatar’s eyes widened. “And how do you know this?”
Lisila grimaced and rolled up the right sleeve of her robe to reveal her scarred and damaged arm. “She and I had a bit of a disagreement about rights of passage. This was the worst of it though. I managed to heal my leg rather completely. My horse wasn’t so lucky though.”
Laenatar looked horrified for a moment, but then he nodded. “The trials of the gods are varied and unexpected.”
Lisila laughed. “That they are.”
They sat quietly, listening to the crackling of the fire for while, each staring into the fire for their own reasons. Lisila, without taking her eyes from the fire, asked “What of my daughter, Val’adur? Is she well?”
Laenatar jerked his head to stare at Lisila. Then he looked down at his feet. “I am truly sorry, Nama’lin. She, she, we do not know where she is right now.”
Lisila stared at him. “What are you talking about, Lord Commander? My daughter would be barely sixteen. How can it be that you do not know where she is?” she demanded.
Laenatar tensed and closed his eyes tightly for a moment. Then he stood up and knelt on one knee, looking at the floor. Lisila stood up, horrified.
Exhaustion flooded over Laenatar. He sighed and said, “You and your husband were deceived. The summons, while authentic in every way, had been altered in one important way. The signs you saw were correct in every way, but in the opposite meaning. Leaving your family put them in danger. We didn’t understand this until we looked back at all that had happened. The Sanctuary of Kunir reported a missing acolyte a month after you left home, but we didn’t get word until much later. Your husband re-married after convincing them that you had abandoned them. That was twelve years ago. Two years later, your daughter manifested her powers. And six years ago, she killed a powerful shifter named Ithen through sheer force of will. According to your husband’s parents and grandfather, this Ithen was actually tied somehow into the disappearance of the acolyte. We assume that the acolyte actually disappeared well before your request for one and that the acolyte that did get assigned to you was actually tied to Ithen somehow. But the point is that six years ago, your daughter entered the Academy of Force and Faith in Artina. Last month, she disappeared from there after an unfortunate incident in which she used fire to trap six of her fellow students after they attempted to assault her.”
Lisila clenched her fists as Laenatar spoke. She gritted her teeth when he mentioned the disappearance of the acolyte. But rage turned to horror and fear, when he said that her daughter had left school. “No. Laenatar, that can’t be. Corus wouldn’t let her run away. He wouldn’t.” she said in disbelief.
Laenatar looked up into Lisila’s grief wracked face. “Nama’lin, ache’staeerrou ranee’boustssay iaoi’deiburshui.” <Nama’lin, we share your grief and strive to make it right.>
Lisila slumped back into the chair and shook her head, saying “No” over and over again.
Laenatar stood up cautiously and walked over to her chair. He picked her up and held her tightly. After a moment she held onto him as well, sobbing. He continued to hold her until her breathing even out and he realized that, exhausted as she was, she had fallen asleep. He placed her on the couch and covered her with a blanket. He knelt next to her and whispter “Nama’lin, atha’heydarsai.” <Nama’lin, my love is yours always.> Then he left the sacristy and closed the door.
—-
The next morning, Lisila woke in the sacristy and sat for a long time staring at the fire. She then stood up and headed for her official quarters in the Citadel. There she washed and changed clothes, only to find that all of her old clothes hung off her like tapestries. She headed out of the Citadel and into Asery.
Later, back in the Citadel with new clothes that fit her properly, she dressed in travel clothes and headed to the stables. When she got there, Laenatar was waiting. “Lady Namalin,” he bowed “will you require an escort home?”
She shook her head. “No, Lord Commander. A ten-day journey through civilized lands alone will do me good. After all, it is less dangerous than Kaemorth’s Waste.”
He nodded and handed her the reins. “Journey safely, Lady. May we see you here again under better circumstances.”
“Thank you, Lord Commander.” she said as she mounted and rode southeast out through the gates towards Aturoane.
