So yeah. Super sorry for how long this took to get out to you guys. I was hitting a nice stride there for a bit with writing, but then life decided to play shitty with me. Anyhow. I hope you enjoy!
"Absolutely not!" Tania screeched. "You will not be offering yourself like some pig to the slaughter!" She stood at the head of the small detachment of magic users from Mystic Spire as they regarded the brazier, along with the commanding officers of the military group, Night Fury and the remaining Scalebinders. Atali had just stepped forward and officially offered to accept the dragon-killer poison into her own veins to save Astrid and Fishlegs. Needless to say…the Matriarch was not taking it well.
Atali stood her ground, her shoulders set firmly and her chin held up in defiance of her grandmother. She had spoken firmly and without even the slightest waver to her voice. Several soldiers around, especially those from her squad, had called out their support of her bravery. She probably looked like the bravest of the brave there, ready and willing to accept a poison from another realm of existence, and at the direct disobedience of the supremely powerful Matriarch of Mystic Spire. Who was also her grandmother.
Inside, Atali felt like she was barely holding herself on her own two legs. The fear that coursed through her when she just saw her grandmother's facial expression nearly toppled her entire resolve. Even though the soldiers spoke highly of her in this moment, she couldn't help the thought that maybe they were just grateful that someone had offered to accept the huge responsibility and toll of taking the venom into their bodies. That perhaps they did not actually support her, but only her sacrifice.
Honorable? Of course. More so than many would ever hope to achieve. Did she fear her decision? Far more than she would ever fear her grandmother's wrath. She had no choice but this path though; her family would never respect her, mainly for the fact that she had failed so spectacularly in her tests to entire Mystic Spire. In effect, she represented one of the few Maidenwing women who would never be a successful sorceress.
"I will do this, Matriarch," She spat the final word, knowing that even if her family didn't respect her enough to care about her barb, she had still scored a personal point for herself. "As an enlisted soldier of the Dragonoa military, it is my honor to sacrifice myself for this cause."
Night Fury, having remained mostly silent this morning, spoke up candidly. "There is no guarantee of death; you are not dragonkin. The poison will react quite different once it runs through your veins."
Tania turned her furious gaze on the cloaked man. "How do you know this!? As I recall, you were not even aware that moving the poison was possible! How could you know the effects it will have on a normal human!?"
He did not move. "I do not know. She may die immediately. She may not. I do know that dragon-killer poison is lethal to dragons. She does not have any dragon blood flowing through her veins. I have to assume that it will not kill outright."
The Matriarch was unimpressed by this explanation and slammed her hand on the table before them, a flash of magic shattering the wooden furniture. "Assume!? Assumptions kill more effectively than any blade, Night Fury."
He still did not react. Secretly, Atali wished that she had his ability to stay in such tight control. He did not betray anything with his voice, movements or anything else. He could probably stand himself against a thousand foes and not even have a quiver in his legs. She yearned for his confidence.
"It is simple," Viri, Atali's oldest sister, interjected. "We will not perform the ritual without the approval of the Matriarch. Despite our sister's disgraceful existence, our grandmother does not see fit to commit to this. There is no alternative." She summarized. Atali wanted, with every bone in her slim body, to shove those words straight down her sister's throat. Her anger bubbled deeply, but then a thought occurred to her. Disgraceful…
She decided that she was already taking a risk that could leave her dead. "Grandmother, please," She noted how her sisters all bristled and her grandmother flinched at her improper address, but she forged onward. "I have brought enough disgrace to the Maidenwing Clan. There are few callings greater in Dragonoa to defend and protect the people and the land. The Scalebinders are key in this calling. Allow me to make a final payment for my disgrace; allow me to save two of the mightiest fighters this land will ever see. Please. Bards and artists will sing and paint of this day for the next thousand years. The day when a mere human saved the mighty Scalebinders. And you will always know that it was a Maidenwing who brought that honor. Please…it is all I am good for now."
It made her sick to think…to know, somewhere deep inside, that this plead would break her grandmother's opposition. Placing the clan before her own well-being. Essentially claiming that her only use in life would be to die to increase the clan's standing. It made her weep internally that her family might accept such a proposal. That, in this moment of choosing between life and possible excruciating death, her family would go with the option that would benefit themselves. She stood, hoping that her grandmother would accept her offer. The part of her that missed her family, no matter what they had done to her in the past, hoped she would refuse.
She was horrified when, after a moment's quiet reflection, her grandmother's rage faded. "Very well. Atali Maidenwing, I will perform this ritual. Should you pass on…I only hope that Valhalla welcomes you with open doors and cold drink."
The acceptance shocked her. Atali fought her own strength to remain standing, to keep from falling to her knees and weeping. Family was meant to support and love each other. To be the one thing in every life that does not waver. That does not wilt away when difficult decisions rock their worlds. She did not have such a thing, and it nearly broke her spirit entirely.
With a cold look on her face, Tania Maidenwing took out a scroll and unrolled it. "Commanding officers, these are the things that must be arranged for this ritual to take place. I need them done within the hour, and then, you must all remain in exactly the places you are assigned." Her eyes never left Atali's while she spoke, something in her gaze sending the coldest of chills up the young woman's spine.
She didn't know what she was supposed to do during this time, but that was answered for her when two of her sisters, Viri and Auri, came to stand in front of her. The looks on their faces betrayed exactly what they thought of her and her decision.
"So, sister," Viri began. "Deciding to do something better with your life? I cannot say I agree with your pathetic attempt at honor, but I commend you for doing something."
Auri, her middle sister and quite possibly the most venomous of them all, smirked devilishly. "At least you haven't become a whore for coin. Honestly, I thought that was what you would end up doing, so congratulations on not becoming a toy of men."
Atali grit her teeth painfully, pressing so hard she thought one might break. "You could only hope to ever do something as selfless as this, Auri. Have you stopped bullying small children to assert your dominance?" She shot back.
Auri's gaze turned cruel and her sadistic side began to emerge. "You are no longer there to bully, sister. I wish you would have taken grandmothers offer so I could spend the rest of my life making you understand just how much we hate you."
The growl from behind the sorceresses didn't make them turn, but Atali noted the rage in Ruffnut's eyes. "You two have nothing better to do?" She hissed.
Viri didn't turn around, but Atali noted the look she gave her sister. It was…concerned, to say the least of it. "Leave us, Scalebinder. You have no authority with us. Do what you are to-" She didn't even finish the words before she suddenly straightened, her eyes wide and her hands splayed painfully. A reptilian hand, scaled and complete with long talons, was wrapped around her neck from behind, the razor tips of the claws coming to rest on the front of her throat.
A shifted Ruffnut had her eyes narrowed and a fang-filled scowl on her face. "Let me make this perfectly clear to you, for the last time," Her voice and her partial shifting had stopped all progress as gathered soldiers and the rest of the magic users watched. She drew in a sharp breath when she noted that her grandmother had made no movement to rescue Viri from Ruffnut's wrath. "Unless you have something to say about the ritual, you need to keep your mouth shut."
Atali was stunned when suddenly, there was a harsh flash and the smell of sizzling clothing. A patch of Ruffnut's tunic, worn because she did not wear armor unless combat was nigh, was lit and burning, the skin beneath barely harmed. Even Auri, generally ready and follow Viri to the end of the earth, no matter how stupid the ploy, backed away. A draconian laugh echoed out and Atali found the joy…unnerving.
"You really think that you can hurt a dragon with fire?" Ruffnut laughed. "Some sorceress you are."
"Release me!" Viri shrieked.
Ruffnut only laughed again. "Now why should I do that? You just attacked me. Probably with the intent to seriously harm. Now…the case could be made that I started it all, but you know what? I think I don't like that narrative. So here's the deal, little sorceress. Matriarch Tania!" She turned, her strength easily handling Viri, to glance over.
"Do you mind if I make a deal with your granddaughter here?"
The Matriarch shook her head calmly "She was warned to not antagonize you or any of the Scalebinders, Ruffnut. She did not learn her lesson. Feel free to teach her a new one." The rest of the grandchildren standing around the Matriarch had their eyes planted on the ground, but Atali could see them angling their heads to look at each other.
When she was still liked by her family, their grandmother would come to the manor often to work with them and just spend time. One thing was always made perfectly clear; she would not be coming to their aid if they did something stupid. Especially if they were warned about it first. Her strict eyes molded them into fine young women. Mature, experienced and intelligent, with no hindrances like petty jealousy or hate. If only she knew how her granddaughters really were.
Ruffnut grinned a wide, draconian smile. "So we were warned to not fuck with me? Well, well, well... See what you've gone and done now?" To her credit, Viri set her lips in a firm line and stuck her chick out as much as she could.
At this point, Atali took a quick glance around. There was nothing going on around the small square. Soldiers watched from their feet, from logs they sat upon and even in windows. Townspeople watched as well from various places. Tuffnut sat not ten feet away, looking bored as he picked his teeth was a long, thin talon.
Ruffnut growled lowly in her throat. "I also warned you. So how about this for your…motivation? You don't fuck with my soldiers, and I won't peel your skin and use it to polish my teeth? Dried skin works so nicely to get blood and gore from them…"
Atali felt a small creeping sensation of horror move up her spine at Ruffnut's words. She had to believe that the Scalebinder wouldn't do such a thing but…she also knew that she was one hundred percent capable of doing such a thing. Although she had only seen the fairly benign bits of Ruffnut's personality, she couldn't deny that scalebinders were terrifically powerful beings. Nearly immune to fire, insane healing abilities, not to mention the breed specific abilities granted by their blood. To oppose them…nearly impossible for anyone who was merely human. Viri, all pretense of arrogance and superiority gone, visibly shook in clutches of the angry hybrid.
"I-I am sorry, Grandmother! Please…please, help me!"
Ruffnut cackled, a draconian mixture of hissing and chortling before her glare was back on the young woman. "The only reason that you are not already dead is that I believe that you are needed for this ritual." She said lowly, with finality in her voice. With those words, she dropped Viri to the dirt and came to stand next to Atali. Her older sister crawled through the mud to her grandmother's feet, her head still bowed and her face marred with dirt and streaks from her own tears. Matriarch Tania kneeled down and whispered something to her, and Atali winced at the sudden cries that came from her as the male sorcerer led her away.
The Matriarch looked unbothered. "Thank you, Ruffnut, for your mercy. We do not actually require her for this ritual. I am certain that Viri will always remember this lesson. Now, in order to begin…" She turned and began to give instructions to Atali's other sisters. All around the town, soldiers were soon hurrying about, many of them taking vast quantities of dirt, sand, and rocks to create a large sigil on the ground in the main square. Without surprise, Atali noted that five large sacks of salt had been brought out and were sitting near the center of the sigil. The most basic understanding of demonology could tell one that salt was a natural deterrent to demons and was a crucial reagent to any demon related ritual.
Tuffnut came up to them, his head turning to see all of the work being done. "Wow. Some ritual huh?"
Ruffnut nodded. "It better work. If it doesn't…I don't even want to consider it. Where is Snotlout?"
Tuffnut jerked his head towards one of the homes. "Been lazy as hell every since we got here. Hasn't left that house."
Ruffnut glared over at the building and growled as if the wood and stone structure had somehow aided in the lazy disposition of the red-scaled man. "Doesn't he have any concern for Astrid or Fishlegs? The bastard."
Her brother shrugged, shaking his head. "He does. I think he just doesn't want to face the reality of losing them. He wants to put on a show that he's macho, remember?"
Atali scoffed at that. When the others looked at her, she couldn't resist looking down in embarrassment. "What?" Ruffnut queried.
"Why would a Scalebinder need to look or act macho?" She explained quietly. The twins shared a silent look that lasted all of ten seconds before they burst out laughing. Atali blushed harshly in embarrassment before sputtering. "What!? What did I say?"
Ruffnut halted her laughter to try and explain, but she broke out again and couldn't. Tuffnut managed some better control and spoke. "Let's just say that Snotlout hasn't ever done too well with scalebinder women. He likes that he can show off to normal women. That's why." At the words, Atali burst out in laughter, so much so that a tear came to her eye. Before long, the other two joined her in that laughter. Together, they enjoyed the bare moment of humor. When it ended, and they had regained control, a silence extended.
"Are you scared?" Tuffnut asked, glancing over. Atali closed her eyes, really not wanting to say anything about it lest she lose her nerve. Ruffnut only hummed quietly.
"It's alright if you are. That is a venom that would kill us…and you're taking it of your own will." She said. "We don't know what it will do to you. This is your last chance. We won't hold it against you if you choose to back out."
Atali considered it. For a bare moment, she considered accepting her grandmother's offer and living a boring, disgraced, pain-free life at home at the estate. She would have to deal with a lifetime of embarrassment and ridicule, sure, but she wouldn't be dying from a horrible venom. She could live in relative peace. No drill sergeants. No weapon training. No long marches on sore feet. Such a…calm life. She would never have to worry about death…but was it worth it all? Was it worth turning her back? Inside, she wanted desperately to leave and go home. To save herself. She continued to tell herself that even if she did leave though, she would never forgive herself and move on. She would be forever haunted by her choice to be a coward.
"I made my choice." She said firmly. "I will do this." Tuffnut have Ruff a grin and a nod and walked away with a few words of encouragement towards Atali. Ruffnut did not say anything to her, but stood there with her for a good hour before finally, things were beginning to calm down. The large main sigil had been marked out surrounding the inferno of the brazier, salt placed at every central point on it, along with other magical reagents. In a smaller sigil sat Atali, her legs crossed and her hands placed palm side up on them. In her right palm sat a small pile of salt. The palm of her left hand had been cut with a blade and left open to the air.
Between her and the brazier sat her grandmother and two of her sisters, and they were already beginning a chant. She knew enough about ritual magic to know that it could take anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours t get the appropriate amount of magical saturation in the air for the magic to ignite. Nearby, the scalebinders stood, even Snotlout having emerged for this event. To say that he and the others looked uncomfortable was the understatement. They continued to flick their eyes from Atali to the trio of Tania and Atali's sisters to the brazier and back. It had to be harsh for them, waiting to find out if the ritual would work.
Even more mysterious was the figure of Night Fury. He stood beside the scalebinders, as silent as ever, his hooded face betraying nothing. She had assumed that he would be here to see, but what she did not guess is that he would be here armed. Others had their weapons, yes, but he was the only one who had them drawn. A small part of her wondered why he had his swords in hand for this, but she shook it off. She had to focus on the here and now, and that here and now was the ritual that was slowly taking form in front of her.
For nearly a half hour the chanting continued before the air suddenly sizzled and cracked, the magic saturating it beginning to be too much to contain. When the cracking reached a thunderous climax, her grandmother suddenly threw her arms into the air, screaming something entirely different from what they had been chanting up to that point. The words faded away in the crackling energy the began to emerge from the air around Atali. Her vision tunneled, all the things to the sides of her view disappearing into a haze as her mind was assaulted by the sheer amount of magic bombarding her. The center of any sigil was like the eye of the storm…except the storm was harshest at the center.
Her vision seemed to pass straight through her grandmother and into the flames of the brazier, the flickering tendrils of the flame beginning to change color as the magic pulled at them. Time fell away, and what felt like hours could have been seconds as even the details of the brazier faded away until she could only see large tendrils of magical energy. These tendrils extended down into what she knew was the brazier and emerged from where she knew her grandmother sat. The only other thing she could discern with her vision was two swirling masses of black…miasma. The undulated straight ahead of her, and inside she knew that this was the venom running through the veins of her scalebinder commanders.
As her mind decided that, the tendrils of magic, glowing a luminous blue, suddenly shot straight into her body through the cut in her palm. She opened her mouth in an anguished yell, but she could hear nothing except the beating of her own heart. When she opened her eyes again, tears at the edges of her vision, she saw the other ends of the tendrils penetrating the black masses. Her heart began to beat faster as the black miasma crawled over the tendrils, slowly but surely coming for her body. She could tell nothing of time. Nothing of what was happening anywhere else. She couldn't tell if the ritual was going well or not. She couldn't tell if the world still yet existed outside of this moment.
The venom crept along the magic as slow as a dying slug, yet faster than a diving hawk. She both welcomed it and feared it. She did not know if death rode along the magic with the venom. She did now know what pain would come with it. Would her veins burn like Nadderfire? Would she grow cold, as cold as the frozen north without protection from the chill arctic air? Would her body eat itself away trying to ward off the unnatural intruder? She didn't know. She couldn't know. She wouldn't know.
All she would know is that she had accomplished only two things in this moment. She had accomplished two things that she wanted to. She had defied her grandmother. She had burst free of the shackles off disgrace and petty familial hatred. She was making her own choice in this moment. She was choosing to do this. She wasn't being pushed. She wasn't being told that she had to or fear the consequences. She was making this choice freely. And she was freely decided to sacrifice herself to save Commander Hofferson and Fishlegs. Would she be remembered for this in the days, weeks, months or even years after? She did not know. She did not need to know. In Valhalla, amongst the gods and the dragons, she would know that what she had done made a difference.
Again, super sorry for how long I took to update. Life got perty busy there for a bit. Enjoy!