[Lily of Denerim had helped to free a maleficarum. Instead of Death in Aeonar, however, her jailers have something different in mind. Death is too easy for those who owe the Maker a favor...]
Chapter 6: At Peace with the Maker
Caeörlyr Sestin had been a Magister. He remembered those days clearly, despite the brand on his forehead. He recalled with perfect efficiency his magnificent power, his army of eager servants, the deaths of his many rivals.
His defeat, by the woman to whom he bowed.
Yveline de l'Abriante.
He hated her. He loved her.
In return for his reconnection to the Fade, he had given her his soul.
"Cae, you mistake me. The prisoner's death was his own doing," she told him, not looking up from her work on the desk before her.
He sighed with relief and stood. The runes he designed were meant to dwell in living flesh, but his latest creations took too large a toll. No one had yet survived the entire process. "I will destroy the rune, Excellency. I beg forgiveness for my error."
Yveline regarded him then, the ice in her gaze a calm, steady thing. She pursed her lips in thought, then shook her head. "Non. There is another, and I believe her to be stronger than the others you have had."
Cae lifted an eyebrow in surprise. He'd been busy with his work the entire day and had not heard. "Another? Is she willing…?" he asked, licking his lips with anticipation. To have another chance to see his most powerful creation come to life …
Yveline's lips curved into a hint of a smile. "She is eager to serve the Maker, Cae. I have reason to believe that she may be the one we have prayed to receive."
He could not believe his good favor. His body tingled eagerly. He bowed again, "I will prepare the chambers, Excellency."
"Let us hope that we are worthy enough to have the Maker's favor this time," Yveline replied, fighting to keep impatience from her voice. Without her gifted Hunters, she would be powerless to serve both the Divine and the Maker from this desolate post. It was up to the powerful Enchanter before her to give her those Hunters.
It was time for Lily of Denerim to find her own Peace in serving the Maker.
IOI
The Hunter Captain stood alone on the highest tower of Aeonar.
The bitter winds of the mountain night tore at his cloak and ruffled his short, unnaturally white hair.
It seemed sweet to him. He welcomed the painful cold.
It was less painful than the hum of magic in his blood.
He closed his eyes and reached for peace. Duty. The sure satisfaction of a task well done…
The feel of a soft woman's body next to his.
Vehne drew back his lips in a hiss of anger.
Why? Why had those memories returned?
He closed his fists in frustration. His Cleansing had left him still male. Her Excellency had thought, with the runes of inhuman strength and endurance grafted into his body, his maleness would be an asset.
She'd been right, of course. He was her best Hunter, he knew. He had a drive to succeed against any odds. Many of the others, no longer male nor female, could not match him in this.
He wondered what would become of the prisoner.
He hated that he wondered.
They would shape her. Magic her. Give her the runes, and a fantastic new rune that would make her into a most powerful weapon indeed.
She would need training.
If she survived.
The magic seething across the thinness of the Veil screamed at his senses as he surveyed the steely black of the towers around him. He felt the sheer power of the lyrium in the mountain beneath him. It was as much a part of Aeonar as the towers and the stone.
He basked in all of it, but still could not distract his mind.
He would ask to train her. Surely Yveline would not deny him this.
Vehne whirled in a blur of black and silver and plunged into the stairway, fading into the shadows as he went.
IOI
Lily shivered, naked in the darkness, curled up into a tight ball on the bare cot.
She'd been shaved and bathed in a silvery water, then left here with instructions to rest.
The Revered Mother had told her to embrace her new life; to live every moment with the desire to redeem her past mistakes. She would earn her forgiveness. She would find peace and acceptance.
Lily shivered and swore. All she had found so far was a growing case of possible frostbite.
And terror.
Damn you, Jowan, she thought. Damn us both.
Her cell door was open. There was no one to stop her. She could leave at any time, although the only exit to Aeonar for her would be dangling at the end of a long rope. She was welcome to go claim a noose and jump at any time she wanted.
She thought of the knife Eveline had offered her. The next time she offered, would it be so easy to refuse it?
Next: The Cleansing. *shiver* Not sure if I want to write it, but I'll give it a try.
Please review! First go at writing something edged with darkness...