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Realms Converge	By : Candice Category: +G through L > Legacy of Kain Views: 3562 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 1
Disclaimer: I do not own Legacy of Kain, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.Don't get to Nosgoth itself til chap 5

Chapter List
- 56
- 57
- 58
Chapter Fifty-Seven: Rally the Troops...
I awoke hours later. The air was heavy with the scent of early-morning dew. I squirmed about a bit in an attempt to turn onto my stomach and stretch out, yet found that I was firmly pinned into place by the two males. It was odd in a way, waking up so. I'd not woken with a lover in my bed for a number of years now, let alone two. On the other hand, the heavy, slumbering weight of their powerful Aura's left me tempted to remain in bed. Luxuriating in such warmth was a tempting thing indeed. Still... I wanted to check in on the Eldar Raziel's well-being. I was concerned. Finally managing to wriggle free, I slipped out of the bed and moved to stand. Kain's hand coiled about my wrist barely a moment later and I turned to look at him in surprise. His expression was blank, guarded. He thought I was... leaving...? I smiled gently and bent over to press a gentle kiss to his lips.
~I am just going to go and check on the Eldar version of our Knight,~ I Whispered as the younger Raziel looked to yet be slumbering. ~You remain here with the younger, enjoy some time with him before we start to make any further plans to defeat the Parasite.~
~My Dear Katrina,~ he purred into my mind, relaxing.
He pulled me back to him for a deeper kiss. I pulled back a few moments later and nipped at his lower lip and laughed softly.
~We will have time enough to see what has changed and what is yet the same between us. All of us,~I told him and he released me reluctantly.
~Call if you have need mine own,~ he ordered firmly before he turned to draw the slumbering Raziel closer to him.
~I will,~ I responded. I smiled fondly at the sight that the pair made.
Finding my clothing took a few moments and, once dressed, I slipped from the room silently and made my way toward where I could sense Eldar Raziel's recovering Aura. Given the sudden teleportation, it was the fastest way to find where we had placed him. Opening the door carefully, I slipped into the room and padded quietly to his side. I relaxed as I took in his form. He was still unconscious, but no longer was his brow drenched with sweat and his expression no longer seemed quite so tormented by things only he had seen. I summoned one of the male servants by using the rope in the room and briefly fed from him. Thanking him, I then sent him on his way with instructions to rest.
From there I took some time to clean away the dirt and grim from Eldar Raziel's form and stripped him out of the dirty armor that he was yet wearing. It might not be much, but I knew that sometimes waking up clean could be a boon in and of itself after a long campaign. And this had been his longest if one looked at it from a certain perspective. Once I had him tucked back in under clean sheets, I tipped his head up and back and opened a cut in my wrist in order to feed him. He swallowed on his own this time, which was in and of itself a good sign, but he still did not wake. I used the Telekinetic Gift that I had gotten thanks to sharing blood with Kain and kept the small wound open for a time since I did not need to worry about my blood overflowing and staining the bed sheets. Cancelling the magic after a few more swallows, I reached out to comb my fingers through the dark-haired male's hair and sighed softly.
"Must you worry us so?" I murmured softly. "When will you awaken?"
His eyes fluttered as if in response to my words and I held my breath. There was a brief flaring of his Aura, not quite giving the sense of wakefulness but a definite sense of something. My shoulders slumped a few moments later when there seemed to be no further change and his Aura's energy started to fade back to its' slumbering state.
"Raziel?" I questioned hopefully.
Surprisingly, his mind brushed against my own a moment later. Sluggish, tired and so soft as to be an almost non-existent touch, but there none-the-less.
~Core... Deep... Witch...~
Almost undecipherable that, I thought to myself even as I leaned close to him to press my forehead against his own.
"'Core'? What 'core' Raziel?" I asked in a soft tone. "And what 'witch'?"
His mind fluttered briefly against my own as if trying to form more words yet only emotion could be felt. His mind fell silent once more, quiet and lost in healing slumber. I let out a soft sigh, filled with a faint amount of frustration and reached to brush my fingers lightly against his brow.
"Rest and come back to us soon my sweet Knight," I murmured. I stood and started back towards Kain's chambers.
In returning to the room I found a pleasant sight indeed, the pair that I had left behind were sprawled out in a state of near-regal disarray that hinted strongly at a missed opportunity to witness the pair in action together. I had spent some time taking care of the Eldar. Raziel was spread out on his stomach next to Kain, wings spread out over the bed and laying in a way that left his head upon the other males chest. Kain was idly playing with the dark-haired males hair. A moue of disappointment escaped me and Kain flashed me a smug look at the noise. Laughing at his unrepentant expression, I moved to sit on the edge of the bed near the headboard. I combed my claws lightly through his silver strands and he nipped at my wrist.
"Any change?" he asked.
"He woke up just enough to Whisper to me," I responded with a nod. "Three words; 'core', 'deep' and 'witch'. I am not sure what he meant, but by the way he was focusing, it seemed to be important to pass that on to me."
"Hn," Kain tilted his head thoughtfully and Raziel shifted his head in order to look up at me with a small frown. "That he was so focused on passing on said information could be a hint that he might not wake before we deal with our enemy. As for the rest, perhaps a clue as to where to look next for information as well."
Dangerously-sharp talons continued to card through Raziel's hair as my silver-haired mate frowned in thought. Raziel let out a hum himself before he spoke.
"The Seer did say that we would need to seek out the Witch the next time we needed her aid, did she not?" he asked as he turned his head around to look at Kain.
"'The Seer'?" I asked, momentarily drawing a blank. The puzzle-piece clicked into place and I snapped my fingers a moment later. "Oh! The Hylden woman. Vorador's 'friend'."
Kain flashed me a look that was both amused and annoyed. I held up my hands defensively.
"I thought she was supposed to be dead," I said in explanation. "The story said something about her home being burned down. I'd thought nothing of it at the time."
"Her home was burned down, but she escaped. I had returned to her hut after the Hylden Lord's defeat to see if I could find anything useful left in the wreckage. I found a hidden path that led underground and away from the burnt ruins. It had amused me, finding out that the woman had been too clever for the Sarafan's trap," he rumbled softly and he nodded his understanding of my words. "It is understandable that you thought her dead. You had no reason to question it. Since then though, we have had the chance to work with her and have learned much about the original war that started due to the Parasite's influence. It is also thanks to her that we learned that you would need... extensive aid... after your capture the first time. She was able to say that, while she did not know the extent of the damage that had been done to you..."
"...what state I would be in afterwards," I finished for him and he nodded. "So a true Seer then? And she is how you found out the true history?"
"Yes," Kain responded. "And she does not need the Chronoplast to See. Though when it came to seeing what happens in regards to yourself, she was as limited as I."
"I remember. You said something about being unable to see me unless I was with a 'Key Player', someone who might affect history adversely if they made 'x' or 'y' choice or perhaps were slain before their time," I said with a hum. "The Lordling had been a lesser player and should have remained so save for Auron's influence, so she nor you could See what happened. I imagine she would also be limited, again like yourself, to what can be Seen in the Physical Realm, yes?"
"Correct, she did infer that," Kain said. "Still, that the Eldar Raziel referenced her..."
"Then we will need to figure out where the Seer has sequestered herself," Raziel said as he sat up.
"Hmm," I tilted my head a bit in thought. "Perhaps... we could start by asking the humans? We can go and check on the youngsters that we rescued, both to ensure that they made it home and to see if she has made her residence nearby? It's unlikely that she would have made her home near any of the territories that are controlled by the now wild vampires..."
"A fair assumption mine own," Kain said as he slid off of the bed.
He began to slip back into his armor with a casual ease. Raziel mirrored him on the other side of the bed and rather than help either of them, I just watched them dress with a happy little hum of breath and a faint smile. The pair of them really made a wonderful contrast. Silver hair versus black. Blue-gold eyes compared to blue-white eyes. The buff form similar to that of a body-builder compared to the sleeker form of a speed-fighter. I shook my head to clear my thoughts as Kain continued to speak.
"We will have a problem however," he was saying as he buckled his vambraces into place. "We will not be able to approach the village openly as we are."
"We could use the Guise Spell," Raziel offered as a solution as he worked on his greeves.
"You've not yet mastered that spell my Raziel," Kain rumbled. "And these humans will be more attentive as they will be looking for 'demons' trying to invade their homes."
"Are you two forgetting that I can easily pass as human without the wings? Or what I am know as by said humans?" I asked with a near to bitter laugh. "I might as well capitalize on my... deification if approaching as a 'human' fails. You two can remain at the edge of any settlement to act as backup in case anything goes south."
Raziel and Kain both looked at me with equally entertained expressions. I stood up and crossed my arms, narrowing my eyes on them at the same time.
"What?" I asked gruffly.
"It is only..." Raziel let out a small chuckle before he continued. "You are yet uncomfortable with such reverence regarding your person. It is..."
My eyes narrowed on him in warning and he coughed faintly into his hand. I just knew that he was hiding a smile.
"...charming, My Lady," he finished as he turned to pick up his own vambraces.
I turned my glare on Kain and sighed when I took in his familiar smirk. I waved a hand dismissively at them both and turned to look at Raziel.
"I've never truly seen myself as a 'deity' of any sort Raziel. Lover, Scout, Captain, Queen..." I flashed a look Kain's way once more, offering him a faint smile. "Now 'Empress'. Those titles I know. I can answer to and associate myself with. A deity? A Goddess? The 'Mother of Mercy'? That will take some getting used to in truth..."
"Ah, that explains your request that I refrain from referring to you as such," Raziel nodded to himself as he fastened the final buckle of his vambrace into place and stood. A contemplative, almost teasing expression passed over his face as he glanced Kain's way. "I wonder, are you as demanding as our Lord? Would you command me to call you 'Mistress' as he is called 'Master'?"
His words came out in a purring, tantalizing tone of voice that sent a shiver down my spine. At the very last word I felt heat pool low and a soft, hissing sigh escaped through my clenched teeth. I turned away from the pair with a huff of breath that caused Kain to let out a loud laugh.
"Are we to fly or will you be teleporting us to the area near where we found the youngsters?" I asked with an even tone as I ignored Raziel's teasing.
"Teleport and then fly in order to find the settlement," Kain responded, his tone laced with delight at the byplay between myself and Raziel. "You may as well extend your wings now in preparation Dear Katrina."
"Hmph," I turned away, ducking my chin in the process and he let out another chuckle at my open display of defiance.
I extended my wings as suggested though and reached into my pack to pull out my own bracers. I slid them on and started to buckle them into place with prim and precise movements. My hand was caught in Kain's large grasp a moment later and I stilled. He examined the snap-buckle design on the bracer, an improvement on an old design. Humming thoughtfully, he then finished buckling them in place for me. He pulled me close a moment later and held out his hand toward Raziel. Raziel closed his own taloned hand about Kain's wrist. Teleportation magics coiled about us moments later and we reappeared upon the plateau where we had tested, and proven, my idea. I glanced up at the smoke-covered skies and frowned as I tried to judge the time.
"Two hours 'til dusk," Kain rumbled conversationally as he released me from his hold.
I shot him a look, brow raised. He chuckled.
"Your expression has always been less guarded and easier to read when you are around those you feel safe with my Dear Katrina," he said as he brushed his knuckle over my cheek. "I am glad to see that some things have not changed..."
I nipped at his knuckle playfully in response to his words and he pulled his hand out of reach with a knowing smirk.
"Shall we be off?" I asked.
"Yes," Kain nodded his head firmly, expression serious once more. "Let us see if the village for the little ones is nearby and if they know anything that can help us."
The three of us took wing moments later and began to search the area, Kain's bats coiling around the pair of us during the flight. It took little effort to find the small, struggling hamlet that was too small to be a proper village. Traveling on the wing made it easier to find such settlements. I could not see the children that we had saved, but that did not mean that they were not inside or doing other chores. We landed nearby, far enough not to be seen and I scented at the air. Nodding, I turned to Kain and Raziel.
"This is their village," I said. "The scent-trail of the youngsters is fresh enough to indicate that they returned safely."
"Good," Kain responded with a frown. "I do not think many other villages are out this far at this point in time. The Wildlings have become more and more numerous over the centuries and have expanded their territories accordingly."
"'Wildlings'?" I asked.
"The vampires who have lost themselves to their instincts," Kain answered with a small shrug.
"I see," I frowned a bit. Raziel cleared his throat a moment later and I turned to him, thoughts derailed.
"Is Lady Katrina to approach alone?" he asked. "They may be a small hamlet, however there may still be a number of healthy warriors within. That and there might be several traps. Such a place cannot survive on luck alone."
"I can take care of myself if there is a need Raziel," I said to him with a frown.
"I do not doubt that My Lady," Raziel said with his own scowl turning his lips downwards, "but all it takes is one human sneaking in close whilst the others distract you in order to cause you injury. I would prefer to be closer at hand then the forest-line."
Now that was annoying...
"Do you believe that I cannot scent such a one as you suggest as they approach? That I would be unable to hear them and take note of their position?" I asked with a warning growl laced through my tone. "That I cannot hear a weapon being drawn? Gaia might well be a gentler world compared to Nosgoth Raziel, but I did not sit about on my laurels twiddling my thumbs whilst waiting for time to pass before I could return here!"
My Aura flared in warning and Raziel's rose up at the same time. It was a sluggish and almost confused press of energy however. I calmed somewhat. He was honestly concerned for my well-being, in a way that many an Eldar can be for a vampire that was younger than them and also Clan. Yet, I had defeated him in an instant and subsumed his Aura with my Gift in such a way that his instincts recognized me as an Alpha with a greater power than he. But that was not strictly true. He was physically stronger and faster than I and he knew it in his head, it was simply that his instincts were now warring with the facts of the situation. Which was the opposite problem that we had been facing earlier.
A chirrup sounded in my ear and the noise drew our combined attention. I flashed Kain a dark look, frowning at him even as I reached up to pet the small bat that had remained on my shoulder rather than merge back into Kain when we landed. It had made itself at home in my hair during the flight and I had not really paid it any mind. I'd not needed to. Kain's eyes were narrowed on the both of us though, with a stern and commanding expression upon his face. I kept my gaze locked on his own but tilted my head up faintly in a token baring of my throat. Raziel mimicked the action. Kain nodded as both our Aura's calmed under the subtle pressure of his own. He turned toward the hamlet.
"Katrina will approach without us, Raziel," he said in a tone that brokered no back-talk. "We will remain close at hand however. Hidden in the woods. If there proves to be a problem, then it will be dealt with accordingly."
Containing a sigh, I turned away, my fingers still scratching idly at the back of the small bat. I idly wondered what it would cost him to maintain the small form. Raziel looked away from Kain's form as well, though he shot me a perplexed, side-eyed look. It was clear from his expression that he was not quite certain as to why he was reacting the way he was now. He may had been physically present at the time that I had explained my Gift to Kain, but he had not been aware of the discussion. I would need to talk to him later...
At any rate...
"Very well," I said calmly as I started forward. "Let us see how they react and what information they might have..."
I drew my wings in close to rest comfortable and cloak-like upon my shoulder. Their normal resting place. The bat tucked itself further into my hair to avoid being pinned under my wing. A glance about the area showed that Kain and Raziel had seemingly melted into very shadows of the woods. A number of humans noticed my approach at that point. Several hid themselves away inside their ramshackle homes. Others milled about worriedly, protectively. Ready to react to a proven threat at a moments notice. A single, scarred older male looking to be in his thirties approached me. His expression was wary and his hand lay ready upon the hilt of his sword.
"Hold," he ordered in the gravely voice of someone whose throat had been badly damaged at some point. A blow anyone would be lucky to survive in this wild world. "Wha's a noble like you doin' out this way?"
"I seek information, if you have it," I said calmly even as I came to a halt. "I also wish to confirm if three youths were able to make it to safety as I assume this is their home given that it is the closest village to where they were being held captive."
"You rescued the brats?" disbelief rang clear in his voice and I smiled a grim, toothless smile in response.
"I and some companions of mine," I responded in a careful tone.
"Idiot children," he growled. He abruptly pulled a skin off his belt, popped out the cork and handed it to me. I blinked at it and raised a brow. "Here now, it's jus' water."
"Hn," I took the skin with a bemused chuckle and took a whiff first. "So it is."
And then I took a large drink. Several of the humans that had started to cluster a little closer visibly relaxed as I swallowed the clear fluid. I stoppered the skin and then handed it back to the man in front of me. I glanced about briefly and noticed that a few people had come out of their homes at that little 'show', a few children peeking through doorways past the legs of their parents or relatives. I frowned.
"Where are the three children that I rescued?" I asked.
"Bein' punished ma'am," came the blunt response. My head whipped back around and I narrowed my eyes on the male. He held his ground without flinching, which was impressive.
"For what?" I asked, barely managing to keep my tone level.
"Fo' hearsay an' blasphemy," he growled. He then spat to the side. "Damn brats came back sayin' tha' the Mother Herself saved 'em. Her an' the Demon King. E'eryone knows that the Mother turned her back an' blessin' away from him. Why else would he have turned on his favored spawn? Poor blighter received her blessin' by gainin' the sky, even what with her bein' gone, and got tossed int' the Abyss for it."
"I see," I said, tone now empty of emotion. That was how the human populace viewed things these days? Not surprising in all honesty. Still... "Where are the youngsters located then?"
"The Oubliette," the male answered with a careless shrug. "Bein' that their youngin's, they'll be down there for another day fo' their words."
"The 'Oubliette'," I repeated slowly in a dark tone. My Aura pulsed faintly with my anger.
~Katrina,~ Kain's voice purred through my mind in a dark thrum. ~Be mindful.~
~I'll not have children be punished for speaking true about me,~ I growled back mentally.
~I know your tells yet, mine own,~ he responded. ~We will get no information from corpses.~
~I am well aware of that fact Kain,~ I rumbled back. ~Do not mistake my ire for a sign that I will lash out. I am long past the days of my impetuous youth, nor have I made such an error since my second century on Nosgoth's soil. Besides, a simple action should have them on their knees and changing their tune faster than any physical blow...~
~A fair enough assessment,~ he purred. ~We will remain on guard, of course.~
~Of course,~ I agreed.
The male's stance had shifted at my darkened tone and his expression had blanked from a more relaxed expression to that of one that read ' it's none of your business, outsider'. Only this very much was my business now. I crossed my arms and allowed my wings to slowly rise from my shoulders to spread out to their full wingspan. I allowed a low growl to escape my throat. Many of the humans let out startled exclamations and either fled back into their homes or collapsed to their knees in their shock. The male in front of me went white as a sheet but managed to remain standing, hand now clenched white about the hilt of his sword. I waited a few moments and then shifted my hand so that I could extend and examine my claws.
"This... 'oubliette'," I purred in a low and dangerous tone. "Take me to it."
"Y-you c-c-can't..." he stuttered for a few more seconds before he swallowed roughly.
"Can't what?" I asked in a level, yet still threatening, tone. "Be real? Be... here?"
I waved my hand dismissively as I looked back up at the male. My wings gave a lazy beat at the air that ruffled the hair of the humans closest to me. Many of them whimpered. I let out a heavy sigh.
"Suffice to say that I am real and that I am indeed here. Obviously some of your stories about me are either wrong or lack information," I said firmly. "Now, one of you will lead me to this... oubliette... so that the children might be let out. You had best hope that they are all well."
Shock could be a wonderful thing sometimes. The male who had greeted me nodded his head dully and he turned to lead me toward where the youngsters had been placed. It was as I feared, a true oubliette. A literal hole in the ground with a stone slab covering the opening. A hole to place someone... and forget about them. He moved the slab with the aid of another, younger, male and then tossed a rope down the hole. I frowned at the older male.
"Go down," I ordered and he blanched. "You are to tie the rope under their shoulders, one at a time. I will pull them up myself."
He started to open his mouth to say something and fell silent under my glare. He climbed down the hole. I waited to feel a tug at the rope and then easily hauled the youngsters up one by one, mindful of the crowd that was growing behind me as I worked. Most were staring at me in a worshipful, spell-bound kind of wonder that made me uncomfortable. I dismissed the sensation and waved over a woman who also had a water-skin on her belt. She moved over eagerly and helped the three thirsty youngsters to drink. Rather than toss the rope back down for the male, I glared at the crowd.
"Who ordered the youths to be placed down there?" I asked in a low tone.
An older woman stepped forward slowly, also looking to be in her thirties and with the limp of one who had long ago broken one leg. Old by Nosgoth's terms at least.
"I did, M'lady Mother," she responded in a voice equally firm yet tremulous with awe and fear. "When... when the youngsters came back sayin' that the Mother o' Mercy 'ad saved 'em we had merely thought that they 'ad been speakin' figurative-like. Then they started sayin' that it was true an' tha the Demon King 'ad been there too. We don'... well... pardon please Lady Mother for my sayin', but t' say that the Mother, that you, be helpin' the Demon King in any way has... has been blasphemy for a long time now..."
"I left this world for my own in order to defeat my own foes," I said and I pinched the bridge of my nose. "Not because of any disagreement with Kain."
Ignoring the startled gasps that escaped the crowd at my use of the 'Demon King's true name', I glanced behind me at the opening of the oubliette. I turned back to the woman a moment later, rope still in hand.
"How long have they been down there?" I asked. It had not been that long since we rescued them. Just one full day...
"Since dusk last eve," she answered.
"And it is almost dusk now," I murmured. I nodded to myself. "Down you will go woman. You yourself will await the dusk of tomorrow eve for having placed those children into the Oubliette in error. Once your time there is done, you will return to your prior duties. There is to be no ostracization, nor any further punishment for your error."
The last was said as I glared at the rest of those gathered. I waited until I heard at least a noise that sounded like acknowledgement before I turned to look back at the woman. I ignored the wide-eyed looks of the youngsters. That I had been able to save the three of them a second time was likely a shock indeed and I did not want to add to what would likely be a growing case of hero worship... or outright worship, by acknowledging them any further. But they would make their own choices.
"Before your punishment begins however, I seek information," I said.
"Anythin' Lady Mother, if'n I know the answer I shall help," she said with a small bow. She was likely grateful that I had not ordered her to remain in the Oubliette til her death.
"Have you heard of a woman known only as 'The Witch' or perhaps as 'The Seer'?" I asked.
"Don' know of any 'Seer' Lady Mother," she responded carefully. "Bu' the Witch? We've heard o' her..."
My eyes narrowed when she did not elaborate further. It was easy to read the woman's stance. She wanted to protect the Hylden woman. 'Scripture' might well say that I was the 'Mother of Mercy' and that I had turned away from Kain, yet I had just proven scripture wrong. The woman was intelligent enough to recognize that fact and wonder what else that scripture had gotten wrong. I let out a soft sigh.
"I do not mean to cause the Seer, the Witch, any harm," I offered in a softer tone. "She has proven to be an ally. She told my companions that if we needed to seek out her aid in the future, to ask for 'The Witch' and that we would find her that way."
"I... I am meanin' no disrespect M'lady Mother, bu'..." a nervous tremor had crept into her tone and spread through the crowd. By the looks of things, they were all protective of the woman. "Bu' th' Witch... she helps our village in return for not a thing. The two smaller hamlets in the mountain caves get help too. She's been helpin' us to keep our village safe from the... the vampires that have gone wild. She set up wards meant t' keep 'em away."
I blinked and raised a brow at that. I'd not noticed any wards myself... and Hylden based wards were usually noticeable, as well as painful. I sent a wordless question Kain's way via the Whisper and got a response nary a second later.
There are a number of weak wards around the area, he hummed. They would drive off a mindless young fledgling venturing far from their usual territory in search of food, but not a vampire that is in control of their instincts, such as us.
~Hm, good thing that,~ I responded. ~Does it affect you at all?~
~Tis' nothing more than the brush of a feather against the edge of thought,~ he said with a mental chuckle. ~Far too mild a warding for someone in control of one's mental facilities. They are not like the powered wards that the Sarafan used in Meridian.~
~Ah,~ I hummed softly. I narrowed my eyes on the woman once more.
"I'll say again that I mean her no harm," I said in a firm tone. "She is my ally and I seek further aid and advice from her if she is yet willing to assist me in my endeavors. If she does not, then that is her choice and I will not fault her nor harm her for such a decision."
"I... I..." the woman let out a low sigh. "As you will M'lady Mother. You'll find her North of here. Look fo' the raven on the rock and then follow the left hand path a mile out til you reach a river. From there you'll want t' take a right at the river an' then follow the river t' the cave with a rose bush. Always in bloom it is, so you'll not miss it. Tha's where you'll find her..."
"Thank you," I said with a small, yet grateful smile. I indicated the oubliette. "Now down with you. If anyone disobeys my instructions, I will find out about it."
I said the last with a side-eye glance toward the crowd as the woman was assisted down into the Oubliette both by the male still in the hole and by two other younger males. The male climbed out and then sealed up the Oubliette behind him. I listened as the others shared my instructions with him and he shot me a surprised look. Again... did they really believe that I would be so cruel as to leave her below for her mistake? I shook my head and looked over the youngsters briefly to ensure that they were in good head before I moved away. I took my leave of the awe-struck hamlet and met up with Kain roughly a half-mile North. We pushed on without word, keeping an eye out for the signs that the woman had said to look for.
My previous good mood had been all but eradicated at that point however. What else had been done in my name that I would never have agreed with? There would be nothing that I could do to change the past but... hopefully... The backs of Kain's talons brushed lightly along the line of my wing and my head snapped in his direction. I honestly couldn't say if he had been speaking to me or not. I shifted my wing and pushed at his hand lightly.
"Hn, you are quite upset," he rumbled in a bland, conversational tone. Raziel remained quiet yet watchful a few steps behind us.
"Of course I am upset," I said in a tone that was carefully bland. "The children were being punished in my name for speaking naught but the truth. For perceived 'blasphemy'. How many more were harmed in my name? Slain in my name?"
I sighed and came to a halt, pinching at the bridge of my nose in the process. Raziel and Kain both came to a halt, yet remained silent. They were allowing me to vent as I needed. If needed. I let out a low, frustrated growl and let my hand fall back to my side.
"This is one of the main reasons that I have never liked organized religion in general," I said and a note of sorrow entered my voice. "Things can be twisted so horribly as time goes on."
"Indeed," Kain offered in a soft tone. "Whilst it was made known to all that you had returned to Gaia in order to put down your own foe and that you would be gone for an undetermined amount of time, most believed that you would return swiftly. Not several millennia later."
"A fair enough point, especially when dealing with those who are short-lived..." I let out a softer sigh.
"Your return will likely be hailed as the return of the 'Blessed Times' that the humans oft speak of," Raziel offered in a dry tone. I shot him a dark look and he shrugged shoulder and wing. I was pleased to note that he had not tucked them in close. Protective. "We can use such a view point to our advantage later as we begin to rebuild."
"Just as we will be able to use your own return," I pointed out. I got a raised brow and an almost sardonic smile in response. "The return of Kain's First Born combined with my own return? Still... my main concern is how we will be handling the younger vampires that have not yet been lost to madness..."
At the odd look that passed over both of their faces, I sighed. A small bit of almost expected dread filled me.
"...or are they already lost?" I asked.
Kain looked back toward me and shook his head.
"As time has passed, even the newest fledge has shown signs of madness upon Turning. Most loose themselves to their predators instincts immediately nowadays," he said grimly. "I have discussed things with Raziel in detail and believe that the Children of my other Sons are lost. Unless there is some way to share the purification that Raziel granted to me en masse without endangering Raziel, then there is nothing to be done to restore them."
"You gained quite a bit from that purification then?" I asked as came across the river. We turned to follow it.
"Yes," his tone became wistful and pleased.
"Not only did he gain the ability to see the Parasite," Raziel started, "he also gained what Gifts I had... absorbed... from my fallen Brothers."
"Hnn," I thought for a moment, trying to recall all that Raziel would have gained. There would have been the boost to Telekinetic abilities from Turel. Dumah gave him some kind of constriction ability. Rahab... I snapped my fingers. "Water! You are immune now, aren't you?"
"I am," came the smug response. I glanced at Raziel with a grin on my lips.
"How long did it take to drag him away from the baths?" I asked. Kain let out an indignant, yet playful, huff of breath.
"What, pray tell, makes you believe that I could drag his lazy carcass anywhere?" Raziel asked me. His tone was playful, with a hint of wariness as he side-eyed Kain.
Wise, as Kain's hand lashed out to cuff Raziel upside the head in a playful blow. The other winged vampire dodged the blow easily enough and I used that second of distraction in order to use my own Telekinetic Gift to send roughly a bucket-full of water at the back of Kain's head. A flicker of magic briefly filled the air and was then released barely a second later. I recognized the fading magic as the beginnings of a shield spell and I blinked as he allowed the water to hit him. He looked over his shoulder at me and raised a brow. I shot him a cheeky smile and a wave before frowning.
"You could have continued to call up that shield," I said and I walked to his side as if nothing had happened. I eyed the rivulets of water as they dripped down his hide and nodded to myself when I saw no signs of even the beginnings of irritation.
"I will not react to something that no longer harms me mine own," he rumbled in a soft tone.
"Good," I said, pleased yet again by his wonderfully stubborn nature. I dodged his first, testing grab for my arm nimbly and then yipped with the follow up lunge pinned me in his arms.
I beat my wings rapidly, managing to lift us upwards a few feet in playful struggle. Dark laughter escaped his lips and he twisted about so that he could grab a handful of my hair in his hand. Sharp fangs pressed against my throat in a silent demand for me to yield and my wings stilled, dropping us back to the ground. He caught us both easily enough, preternatural speed and grace preventing us from falling over. He nipped at the skin of my neck lightly and let out a purr as he lowered me down to my feet. Raziel shook his head and let out a small sound that drew my attention. I raised a brow at him.
"Are you always so... playful?" he asked. "Outside of more serious situations you often seem... kittenish."
I let out a small laugh.
"I can be, when I choose to be," I answered with a small smile. "And normally only when away from the dreariness of politics when one's every action and very breath is being watched for signs of weakness. Only a few individuals know this side of me, simply because I do not trust easily and such playfulness is pleasure that cannot always be indulged in. Still, sometimes you just need to... hm..."
I shrugged and finished my thought with a wistful smile.
"...carpe diem."
"I... can understand that," Raziel said with a small bow of his head. "Still, it is a surprise to see you act so. To see Kain act so. I am... honored."
I smiled gently at him, glad that he understood what I meant by my actions. It was not merely an indulgence in playful actions, but a showing that I trusted him just as I did Kain. This was especially true given how he had aided me in my youth. The events were likely fresh for him, given the pairs time-travelling. Kain let out a hum of breath and released me a moment later, eyes no longer playful but serious. At the look on his face I pulled away and scented at the air warily. Raziel tensed as well and did the same. The scent of roses was on the breeze.
"Ah, we're close," I said.
"Indeed. Let us proceed," he turned and started ahead of me along the path. "Remain between myself and Raziel."
I blinked and then frowned as I started after him. Raziel followed on my heels.
"You are being protective," I said in a low tone. The 'over' remained unsaid.
"The Seer's assistance has proven valuable indeed," he started with a low rumble, "however that does not mean that I am unwary of a potential trap. Be it a trap lain out for us..."
"Or for her," I finished with a nod.
"Correct," he sniffed at the air and then let out a huff through his nose. "The scent is almost overpowering at this point. We are close."
I scented at the air delicately and had to fight off a sneeze, biting my tongue in the process. A small, choked squeak escaped me. They both paused long enough to raise a brow at me and I continued to move as if nothing had happened. Before I could actually pass Kain, he started moving again. Amusement rippled over the Marks.
"The scent is strong," I said as I fought down the blush that threatened to stain my cheeks. "It's likely to hide her own scent from predators as well as act as a confirmation that the one searching for her is close to their destination. I imagine the scent is less potent to a human's nose."
"Likely," Kain said in an agreeable tone.
We continued in silence for several long minutes before we finally found a rose bush that seemed to sprout from the side of a cliff wall. There was a single, narrow opening in the cliff that was an obvious entrance to a cave system. Kain frowned as he looked it over. I raised a brow and eyed it warily myself, glancing first at Raziel, then at Kain. I hummed. Raziel and I both, despite our wings, were of slight enough builds that we would be able to slip through the opening without issue. Kain though, had long ago grown in bulk and would not be able to slip inside without either Misting or turning into his Cloud of Bats. A huff of breath escaped him and he Misted, slipping through the opening and into the caves. Raziel and I waited rather than follow. A moment later Kain's voice sounded clearly in my mind.
~The way is clear. Come through,~ he Whispered.
We shared a brief look before I started through the small opening, wings tucked in close to my shoulders. Raziel moved to follow me after a few moments and it was obvious that he was having a little more difficulty given the way his own wings folded against his back. Still, we made it through the narrow opening and into the larger cave system within. Kain watched us with bemused patience as we extracted ourselves from the narrow entrance.
"There are wards up to prevent teleportation," he said softly as I brushed some loose rocks from where they had gotten stuck in my wings.
I jerked my head up at his words and frowned in concern. He would not be able to teleport us out in the face of an emergency. Not unless said wards were brought down first. How wonderful...
We continued deeper into the tunnel as there was only a singular path to follow. The scent of roses faded almost immediately to be replaced by the scent of nearly finished stew. The tunnel opened up into a large cavern and I let out a soft hum at the sight before us.
The cavern was large and had been turned into as much of a 'home' as possible. Plain silvery cloth lacking in pattern lined the walls and ceiling of the large cavern and helped give off the illusion that we had entered an actual building. Furniture that looked to be finely crafted, yet again lacking any unique designs, filled the large space and there were wooden dividers spaced about that clearly marked out the different 'rooms'. The Seer might well habitat in other locations from time to time, but this was clearly the place that she called 'home'.
There was a faint rustling sound from the closed off area that the food-scent originated from, likely the 'kitchen', and a voice, soft and lilting, rose in a soft, humming tune. The Hylden Seer moved out of the room, book in hand and she started faintly when she looked up, snapping the book shut with a soft clap of sound. She blinked rapidly for a few moments, as if disoriented, and then frowned.
"You are... early?" she said to herself and the frown faded as a rueful smile curled her lips upwards. "No, I simply lost track of the date..."
"A Seer can do that?" I quipped in a gentle tone.
"It happens more often than one might think My Lady," she answered with a self-deprecating smile. "Especially when one has recently had multiple visions regarding past, present and future. In no particular order. Combine all that with a recent trip through time itself and one's sense of time can become skewed and muddied."
"..." I blinked and shook my head. A glance at Kain showed that he was nodding his head in bemused understanding. I turned back to her with a chuckle. "That sounds headache inducing."
"Indeed, it can be," came the dry response. She set aside her book. "May I interest my guests in some refreshments?"
"That would be appreciated," Kain rumbled as he crossed his arms over his chest and idly looked about the cavern.
She bowed her head respectively and moved to open a nearby cabinet to pull out a large bottle. She opened it deftly and set it to the side to breath for a moment as she pulled out three goblets. A bit of magic was used to warm the goblets with an idle wave of her hand as she turned to pick up the bottle once more. From there she poured a satisfying measure of the sweet-smelling blood-wine into each goblet and then passed the goblets to us, starting with Kain and ending with Raziel. I took a sip from my own goblet only after Kain had sampled his and Raziel mirrored me a moment later. Amusement flickered through me at the subtle intricacies of vampiric social norms that we slid so easily into without a thought. The Seer stoppered the bottle and then clasped her hands together in front of her. I would almost say that she was nervous.
"If I may, I do hope that the half-vision that I had of two Raziel's has come to pass?" she questioned hopefully. "Somehow?"
The three of us shared a wary look.
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