Fear
It was very quiet in the large room. It was usually quiet and that was just the way the caretakers liked it. This was not a hall of debate or of training. No, this was a hall of repose. One of many that were what was left of the population of Craftworld Ulthwé. The Infinity circuits that were all that protected the souls of fallen Eldar from the ever hungry grasp of Slaneesh hummed as always.
But, one wasn't humming.
One the caretakers paused in his rounds and stared at the pedestal on which sat a small red stone. A soul stone like any other. It pulsed with energy, filled with a life that had once held so much promise and then been cut short. But here of all places, it should have been at peace. Were those sobs coming from the stone? That wasn't right!
The Warlock stepped up to the stone and laid his hand on it. As always, his power came to his call, gentle and soothing as he sought what was wrong. Indeed, the sobs were coming from the stone! The soul within was awake, aware and crying. He didn't know her, except as one of his wards, but he had been selected for this duty specifically because he was good at it. He did know her name.
"Singer Liriel, you should not be awake. Easy, sister, easy. What is wrong?" He crooned and her sobs eased a bit.
I felt… I think I had a vision. A vision of horror that woke me, Caretaker. The dead Eldar pleaded. Some kind of doom comes for us. I don't know why or how, but I do know who. Georgia! Something is wrong with Georgia! The Warlock stiffened. That wasn't an Eldar name, was it? Wait. He remembered some of what had transpired. Why this sister had been brought to this place in such dire straits. The fallen bonesinger all but gushed as she replied to an unspoken question. Yes. She was the human that I was bonded to. We shared something terrible and wonderful! I touched the mind of Kay's daughter and she was so pure! So innocent. So… nice. Untainted.
"The humans did this to you. Hurt you even after you were slain." The caretaker's rage was a terrible thing and he worked hard to tamp it down. This was no place for anger. The souls that resided inside the stones were far too fragile for such power to be let loose untempered. Especially one such as this, who had not been a warrior in life.
Yes, but not the girl, Georgia. The singer corrected him carefully. She was an innocent! She was just as harmed by what happened as I was. If not more. She had no training. No protection. All she had was her mother's love. It was enough to save us both. If only barely. A frisson of fear swept through the dead Eldar's mind and the caretaker soothed it as he was trained. She sent gratitude to him and he smiled. Said smile faded at her next words. This is bad, Caretaker. If something happens to Georgia…
"Mon-Keigh problems are not ours." The caretaker said firmly. "We have enough problems. For the first time in millennia, we have a slim hope and we must all work to gain that hope."
And what if none of us will survive whatever wrath the Imperium lets loose on whoever dares harm to that child? The fragile memory said softly. I saw Imperium Space Marines kneel to her mother, caretaker! At that, the Warlock stiffened. He didn't know much about the humans, but he knew all the Eldar's tales of the Imperium Space Marines. They didn't kneel to anyone but their Emperor! I need to talk to a Farseer. This needs to be addressed. No matter what she said, the debt is not paid!
"You are weak, sister." The Warlock said softly. "You need to rest." His power soothed her gently back into slumber even as she cried in dismay. He shook his head slowly and then bowed it. "And yes. From what little I know about the situation, yes." He nodded as he removed his hand from the stone and relaxed as it remained quiescent. "You are right. A debt is still owed. One life cannot pay such a thing. Even a child's."
Another caretaker came up and he nodded to the female Warlock who nodded back. She had heard. Nothing needed to be said, both had worked with each other for hundreds of years as humans told time. He knew she would ward the souls of the fallen while he reported this and keep a careful eye on the stone which had woken. That wasn't supposed to be possible for a soul to wake on its own, but all sorts of impossible things had been happening recently. Good and bad.
He shook his head as he exited the shrine and nodded to both of the Guardians on station there. Then he paused.
"Is the Council still in session?" The caretaker asked the closest guard who nodded, her posture curious. "Something very odd just happened." He could not have missed the sudden tension in both Guardians if he had been as blind as a human. "Nothing bad. Just odd." He reassured them and they relaxed a bit. "I am not sure what it means, but I need to report it so I will wait their convenience."
"Is there a problem?" The Caretaker spun and stiffened as a pair of forms strode out of a passageway nearby. Both Guardians had hands on weapons as well even as the avatar of Ynnead shook her head. None missed that she and her companion both had hands on their swords. As fast as regular Eldar were? These warriors were legendary. The newcomer slowly shook her head. "I do not like to waste Eldar blood but I sensed a wrongness here. If you draw weapons on us, Eldar blood will be wasted here and now." That was a warning. Two guards and a caretaker had no chance against these two.
"Stop!" Another voice, a sort of familiar one. Macha of Biel-Tan strode into view, her face serene, but her posture? It was worried. She wore no armor, but her spear was in hand as it always was these days. "There is no need for violence here, Yvraine." She shook her head. "I think we both felt it, didn't we?"
That wasn't really a question, but the Eldar who was now an avatar for the Eldar God of the Dead nodded. Then she shook her head and relaxed.
"I felt a disturbance and there have been far too many disturbances recently." The pale form said softly. Neither of the guards had released their weapons and Yvraine's companion still had his hand on his weapon. "A soul stone woke, didn't it?"
The Caretaker stared at her and then at Macha who slowly shook her head and seemed to wilt a bit.
"She is here to talk to the Craftworld Council, just as I am." One of most famous Farseers of Biel-Tan said softly. "And yes, she and hers make us all nervous." Yvraine snickered and Macha shook her head with a small smile. "I know you do it on purpose."
"Of course." Now, both of the Ynarri relaxed as Yvraine smiled. It was melancholy, that smile, but a smile nonetheless. "Being the avatar is no fun at times, but I can amuse myself as long as no one gets hurt. Right?"
"Ulthwé has suffered enough, Yvraine." Macha said firmly. That was both a warning and a request. "As bad as what you went though? As what I went through? You know how bad it has been here."
"I do." Yvraine bowed her head and then nodded to the caretaker. "I mean no harm to those you ward, caretaker. I felt an oddity in the aether and discerned it came from here. I was both curious and worried. A stone woke on its own?"
"Our sister Liriel woke from her sleep on her own. I heard her crying." The caretaker said softly. Everyone tensed at that and he shook his head. "I soothed her back to slumber. She was very distressed."
"Well done. That shouldn't be possible." Macha mused, but then shook her head. "Then again, how much of what has happened recently has been possible?" That was sour.
"You are asking me that?" Yvraine asked with a grin.
That was more a bit joking, but then again, she had been there for the rebirth of the Eldar God of the Dead and had become his avatar. Anytime before that the very thought of Harlequins, Drukhari and Eldar uniting for a single course had been beyond ludicrous. Now? Hope was rising for the first time in a long, long time, but that hope had to be guarded, protected. There were many who would stop at nothing to keep the Eldar from rising out of the ashes of their hubris.
Then there had been the minor matter of her helping the Primarch of the Ultramarines be healed to take his place at the helm of a faltering Imperium of Man after the horrors at Cadia had shaken the whole galaxy. As much as most Eldar detested the Imperium for all of its excesses and often outright evil, it was the largest and most powerful force in the galaxy. Love it or hate it, a reasonably stable Imperium was better than a fracturing one for everyone. Frankly? Most Eldar hated it for good reasons. That said, there were good people fighting for it as Macha knew far too well.
"She rests again?" Macha asked. The caretaker nodded and she smiled. "Good. I don't know her, but something about the feel in aether was familiar. Oddly… reassuring?" She mused. Everyone looked at her and she shrugged. "You know how visions are."
"She was asking for a Farseer." The caretaker said slowly, only to pause as Macha shook her head.
"Autarch Kyre very nearly started a war between our two Craftworlds when he held Taldeer's stone against her will." Macha said firmly. "I am not that stupid. I am a guest and I have no power to interfere here."
"Yet." Yvraine said very quietly and Macha glared at her. "I speak true, Farseer. You know I do."
"I will not." Macha said firmly. "I cannot. I broke my oath." She shook her head and turned away. "How many Eldar died fighting my warhost? She cannot be serious."
"I have never known Jain Zarr not to be serious." Yvraine slumped a bit. The avatar was serious now. "Macha, you are needed. Will you stand aside and let our race falter?"
"You of all people know better than to ask that!" Macha all but snarled that and eldritch energy snapped around her hand that clenched the Singing Spear tightly. The caretaker stiffened, such displays near the Infinity Circuits were not a good idea. Before he could protest, she relaxed. She focused her mind and the power faded. "Apologies. I have made far too many mistakes to ever trust myself as an Autarch. Let alone what she demands!"
"You think she never makes mistakes, Macha?" Yvraine asked, her voice oddly kind. "You think I don't?" Macha shook her head and relaxed a little. "I know you are afraid, sister. I know why. Fighting Kyre was hard but it was needed. I do not blame you for having doubts after such a horror of kin war, but we need you. The Aeldari need your voice, your power and your experience. Please. Think it through, sister."
"I..." Macha shook her head. "I will." Her voice held defeat. "I just… My visions are clearer now that Taldeer has shown me her way. But I am still fumbling in the dark. I cannot guide the entire Aeldari people!"
"No one is asking you to." Yvraine chuckled a little darkly. "Any more than they would ask me to. We both know our roles. Leading an entire people is beyond us. That said-"
Whatever else she was going to say was cut off by a scream from inside the shrine!
All six of the Eldar were in motion before the scream faded. Yvraine and her companion led the way, but Macha was a bare moment behind them as they tore into the shrine, weapons drawn and powering, ready for anything. The caretaker and guards also had weapons out, a bit belated. They were ready for almost anything.
Almost.
The female caretaker had her hand on a soul stone that shimmered with power. It pulsed, almost straining from its resting place. The guards and male caretaker froze, unsure what to do but the other three did not pause even as another scream of fear and pain came from the soul stone. They all moved to stand beside the straining caretaker and both Ynarri laid hands on her shoulders, their other hands still with drawn weapons. Macha shook her head and remained slightly apart. Ready.
"Calm." Yvraine's quiet voice resounded in the chamber like thunder and power swept form her to engulf the straining caretaker and the stone she was trying to calm. That wasn't a female Eldar speaking! That had to be Ynnead, the God of the Dead. "Be calm, Daughter. Your cry is heard. Be calm. We will help."
She hurts. A tiny voice spoke from the stone and everyone felt sadness at her abject sorrow. I cannot help her. Please!
"Your stone is bonded to another mind!" Yvraine's voice was more normal now. "What madness is this? Who did this to you?" She demanded angrily. Such a sacrilege would infuriate almost any Eldar. But the God of the Dead? Oh, he took extreme umbrage to such things.
It wasn't her fault. The tiny voice begged. It wasn't! They did it, the humans hurt her and me! She wasn't responsible! Please! I need a Farseer! I need to show them what I see!
Yvraine looked at Macha who sighed and nodded, reaching past the pair of Ynarri to lay her own hand on the still pulsing soul stone.
"I am Macha of Biel-Tan." Macha said formally. "I felt your distress, sister. I mean no offense, but no Ulthwé Farseers have arrived yet. I am here."
No offense is taken. Liriel replied just as formally. Macha of Biel-Tan. I know of you, your pain and loss are known to all Eldar. You have fought against and beside humans. You will understand.
"I understand my sister is in pain." Macha said quietly as Yvraine nodded approval. "Our lives may be pain, but few of us enjoy such. Anything I can do, I must. What has happened?"
I was killed. The fallen Eldar was subdued now, her energy fading a little, only to revive when Yvraine did something. I do not remember it all, just pain and fear. Then more pain. My stone was taken by the human Mechanicus. They were trying to study it, replicate it. Not that those silly Mon-Keigh could.
"They will pay." All four of the Ulthwé Eldar said in unison. Both Ynarri and Macha nodded as well. Such an affront could not stand! But Liriel chuckled?
They did. The slain singer was calmer. Kay saw to that.
"Kay?" Macha and Yvraine both exclaimed. Yvraine shut her mouth and Macha continued. "You knew Kay? The human immortal?"
Of course the Eldar knew about that. Such things would draw the attention of other immortals.
I did. The voice from the stone was so very sad now. She was my friend. She was such a pain at times, but a good being. She tried so hard to be a good being. To do good and the universe never cared. She sighed deeply. And then, they hurt her as badly as they hurt me. She didn't know I was there. She didn't know I was awake and watching as they hurt her. All of the Eldar gasped at that. Such a horror done to a soul was unthinkable. Pain to a human was far lesser. But then, Liriel continued. You will be angry when I continue, Farseer. Everyone who knows is. Even Kadas.
"Kadas..." Macha said slowly and then jerked. "Wait. Kadas? The one who killed Kay after she rescued his warhost?" Yvraine just shook her head. She didn't speak.
Yes. Liriel said quietly. Even Kadas was angry when I explained what I had seen, Farseer. She insulted him, insulted his honor and he is far too close to the Exarch path for comfort, but even he realized that the mad humans had done had gone far beyond the pale. What the human Mechanicus did was… She came within a hair of losing her mind, of falling to darkness. The soul was crying again. She is my friend, Farseer! I have to help her child!
"Her...child..." Macha said weakly. "Kay's child?" She all but pleaded.
Georgia is a good kid! Liriel pleaded. She doesn't have any powers, any special abilities. She is just Kay's daughter!
"That is enough." Macha said with a growl. She might personally never have children, but she knew other Eldar who had. Time and horrors beyond counting had eroded the memories in most Eldar, but the few that remained were treasured. Children were different for Eldar, but the memories remained and she had shared them. "You will show me what you have seen and then you will sleep. You need to recover from this ordeal on top of the other. We will ward your mind, place you in a deeper trance, in a shielded place. You will not be disturbed again." Yvraine nodded soberly even as the male caretaker sheathed his sword and started preparations for such. None of the others sheathed their weapons.
But… Farseer... Liriel begged.
"As humans say, no 'buts'." Macha said sternly. "I give you my word, as Farseer, that I will act on this. Show me, sister Liriel. Show me what frightens you so badly and then you will sleep."
Yes, Farseer. Liriel was resigned now as Macha focused her mind. She gasped as Liriel opened her mental shields and images flooded into the Farseer's mind. Her will was the equal to the task and the images ordered themselves, but what she saw… She felt her own eyes burn and for the first time since Acheron, Macha cried. Yvraine looked at the Farseer and nodded, her face grim. She knew.
The images ended and Macha nodded as she managed to stem her tears, her face assuming a grim mask. "Sleep now, sister. I understand the threat. We will act." That as a promise.
Don't hurt her. Liriel begged and then heaved a long, deep sigh that faded as Yvraine and the female caretaker soothed her back into slumber.
"I will do my best to see that we don't." Macha promised the now sleeping soul as she removed her hand. "But this..." She stepped back as both Ynarri did as the male caretaker stepped up to take the stone in shimmering hands. He would move it to a protected place. The female caretaker kept her hand on the stone as they moved into the shrine together. The Farseer looked at the Ynarri. "You saw."
Not a question.
"They are mad." Yvraine's normal good humor had faded. "They have to be mad! They cannot think this a good idea! Not now of all times!"
"The Imperium is distracted, what better time for them to act?" Macha asked as she started for the door, only to pause as it opened, showing several Ulthwé Farseers and others, most with grim faces. They had seen what she had. They knew. "We need to talk." Macha said as she stepped from the shrine. All of them nodded in unison.
"All of us." Yvraine agreed. "This is not good. And no." That was so firm that more than one Elder stared at the avatar. "No one is killing Kay's daughter Georgia. Anyone who tries will answer to me. If anyone succeeds? They will answer to Ynnead! That might be the fastest solution, but it is not the right one here. It would cause far more problems."
Adamantium might have shattered under her words.
"Many will think that, Yvraine. One human life is meaningless, even a child's. Maybe especially a child's. But no, you are right. That would not end well for us. Any of us." Macha said softly as the Ulthwé seers formed up around the trio, leading the way to the Council chambers where there would be loud discussion. "We cannot allow it. Not this time."
"No, or our hope is gone." Yvraine agreed. "I am with you. We are with you." The Ynarri both nodded to the Farseer whose mind was still whirling with horrific images.
"Thank you." Macha said softly, still shaken.
"I hope it is enough to stop the Tau."
