Tales of the Amber Vipers

by Mattwho81

In the time of the Dark Imperium a new Brotherhood arose, fighting in the forgotten reaches of the galaxy. Fresh and newborn they must walk a perilous line between honour and survival and the decision as to whether they shall be known for their nobility or callousness has yet to be determined. These are the stories of the Amber Vipers.

53. Chapter 53

Tales of the Amber Vipers Chapter 53

The sacred glade was heavy with the weight of expectation, the gathered Wind-dancers looking for the first sign of their guests. Under the first touch of dawn's light they stood upon the piled rocks, spears and bows held ready should a wandering predator appear or for the first hint of treachery. They were awaiting the commencement of the kinsmoot and though the sacred glades should grant the peace of parley it was hardly guaranteed. Eldar emotions ran quick and deep, oft spilling into violence and such meetings had degenerated into bloody strife before.

Near the summit of the hill Elhyn stood by his mother and scanned the Everforest for the arrival of the other tribes. He kept Wyrmfang close, ready to use at a moment's notice for he was surprisingly nervous, the only times he had ever seen the other tribes was when they raided his lands, or if he was honest when he was raiding theirs. The idea of having all the tribes together in one place was disquieting but it had to be, the Wind-dancers could not fight the invasion of Athelling on their own. Nearby stood Laegwen, the Treesinger looking dishevelled and tired. Yet Elhyn looked at his mother and was amazed at how calm she looked, regal and unflappable, if she felt the same as he did she did not reveal a hint. Another soul however was not so composed.

Behind them the Mon-keigh Saffor was standing with his shoulders hunched against the dark. His rough treatment was still evident on his face but he was no longer bound. He had been surprisingly helpful, laying out the strength of the invading force, their numbers, skills and firepower in exacting detail. He had described their tactics and methodology, and the unbending iron will of their warrior-caste. Elhyn had been surprised at his candour but it seemed the application of sufficient wealth was enough to loosen his tongue, a lesson worth remembering.

Saffor stamped his feet and rubbed his hands together for warmth as he said in the Eldar tongue, "I don't see why I have to be here."

Celasia didn't deign to look at him as she retorted, "You are here to speak before the kinsmoot, they will want to hear you testify."

Saffor sniffed, "I doubt they'll believe me."

"They better had, if you want to survive," Elhyn snapped, "If you have led us false I will end your miserable life."

Saffor looked at him with a mockingly pained expression and said, "You wound me, to think I wouldn't tell you the truth. We have a deal, and I always stick to my deals. My word is my bond."

Laegwen snorted, "You twist words like raindrops in the wind, nothing you say can be trusted."

Saffor let loose a small grin as he said, "No, not really. But you can rest assured I know what's in my best interest. I haven't lied to you; I know you'll never let me go without the truth."

There was a sudden whispering beyond the trees and all eyes lifted to take in the darkness lurking in the distance. Hissing noises betrayed the approach of a great many bodies, all hanging back just out of sight. Elhyn felt the disturbance sweep over him and knew the other tribes had arrived, yet they did not appear. He frowned in confusion and mused, "What are they waiting for?"

Laegwen uttered, "They are here, I can feel their breath moving the trees."

Elhyn queried, "Then why don't they appear?"

Saffor muttered under his breath, "Probably deciding an order of precedence among themselves, determining who had the most authority."

Elhyn sneered, "Don't compare us to your pathetic race, we are not so mean and petty as Mon-Keigh."

But Saffor only laughed, "Keep telling yourself that, maybe you'll come to believe it one day."

"Enough," Celasia snapped, "Here they come."

Elhyn looked up and saw several figures emerging into the clearing, each one riding a different order of beast. These were the Dynasts of the clans bordering the lands of the Wind-dancers, old rivals and enemies of his kinband. They came alone, confident that no violence would befall them since the vast bulk of their people lay waiting in the darkness beyond. Should the Wind-dancers offer violence their retribution would be terrible. All knew it to be true, a better guarantee of peace than any sacred prohibition.

First came a surprisingly young warrior, wearing garments of tanned leather and carrying a shining lance tipped with an energised crystal. He was riding a two-legged Tfysis or 'Longstrider', its reptilian skin glistening and its heavy tail sweeping out behind to balance it. It had long legs, ending in sharp talons and thin arms but its jaw was heavy with many vicious teeth. It moved with startling speed and grace, carrying its rider in bounding leaps that could surpass any Drake in speed. The rider was Galahyn, a bloodthirsty warmonger who defended the Swift-runner kinband's land with great vigour.

Next came a proud soul with a haughty bearing. He wore grey robes of fine make and bore a long rifle in the crook of his arm, a craftworld Lasblaster. He rode a quadruped animal with thick legs and bulbous flanks and a short tail. Its mouth was flanked by two ivory tusks and its face was a bony crest similar to a Drake's much heavier than any flying beast could manage. Over its head rose a bony frill that shielded the rider, who was tucked into the base of its neck. This was a Pstrys or 'Leviatatus', one of the most feared predators on Athelling and it was a point of pride for the Bloody-talon kinband that they had bonded with the ruthless hunters. The rider was Gonredil, a suspicious soul whose defence of his lands had been nearly impenetrable.

At his side rode a stern-faced female, in a suit of armour made of hardened carapace. She rode a Cytrss or 'Chellonian' a towering beast whose body was encased in a thick shell. Four stout legs emerged from the shell and a stumpy tail, then there was a broad head that ended in a hooked beak. The crown of the beast bore a Reaper launcher and Elhyn knew firsthand how powerful that weapon was, and how impenetrable the Chellonian's shell was. The rider was Olalath, Dynast of the Stone-Hearts and she was famously rigid and unbending in her judgements.

Over them all flew a massive orange beast, three times the size of a drake. This was a Tytyss or 'Kraken' and its broad wings supported a thick torso with feet large enough to snap an Eldar in half and a beak wide enough to swallow them afterwards. Krakens were the largest flying animal on Athelling, so big they could only just navigate between the trees. Elhyn had duelled with them many times and found them awkward and cumbersome, compared to a Drake, but he could not doubt their strength and ferocity in combat. Riding on its back was a savage warrior wearing many skins painted with blood. This was Dalsaar, Dynast of the Kraken-riders and most zealous rival of Celasia's rule over these lands, an old and bitter enemy.

Together the four Dynasts approached the hill, then made their beasts stop just short. Each of them dismounted without looking at the others, declaring their mutual disdain. They stepped forward as one, climbing the hill with regal poise, passing the waiting Eldar without deigned to acknowledge their existence. As they approached Celasia muttered, "Only four kinbands answered the call… I had hoped for more."

Laegwen whispered, "Be grateful, had more come then bloodshed would be certain. Four is the best we could hope for."

As the Dynasts crested the ridgeline Celasia stepped forward and lifted her arms to proclaim, "Welcome noble leaders to this kinmoot. The ancestors watch over us this day and I offer thanks and praise for your…"

Dalsaar cut her off with a sneering retort, "You can skip the rituals, we're already here."

Gasps arose at his calculated insult and Laegwen snapped, "These traditions are sacred!"

Yet Galahyn grumbled, "You called, we came. Let's get on with it."

Elhyn realised that none of the Dynasts were particularly interested in ritual greetings or lengthy discourses on etiquette. They were not friends but rivals and this meeting would last only as long as their patience held out. He hurriedly stepped forward and said, "We called you because danger comes to Athelling. A Mon-Keigh force has invaded the Everforest, they drive for the Vale of Midnight Tears."

Olalath sniffed, "I hardly see how that is our concern."

"Yes," Gonredil uttered, "Kill them and be done with it."

Elhyn lowered his eyes and said, "We have faced them once and been driven back. The invaders are different this time, more powerful and deadly."

In response Dalsaar laughed scornfully, "The Wind-dancers could not defeat a bunch of Mon-keigh, how feeble you have become."

Celasia stepped in, glaring at her son for speaking out of turn, and said, "These are not typical Mon-keigh, they are warrior-caste. Such as those who befouled our forests in the time of our fathers. They seek that which is forbidden, they seek to let loose the doom of Athelling."

Galahyn started in shock, "Warrior-caste, here?! My Father fought the last of them who dared come to Athelling and he wept for the piles of dead left in their wake. They must not be allowed to violate our world once more!"

Gonredil replied coolly, "I too know of these tales and I know the cost of facing the warrior-caste. I will not spill the blood of my kinband in a worthless cause."

Dalsaar concurred, "Let the Wind-dancers bleed, it is their lands being violated. This does not concern the Kraken-riders."

Then Laegwen spat, "You fools! I have seen the doom of Athelling, I have seen what they seek to unleash. The Vale of Midnight Tears must not be violated; else the Everforest shall wither and die."

Olalath declared, "My Treesinger too speaks of this doom, he has foreseen a tragedy unfold. The torment of the World Spirit gnaws at him night and day. We must act, the Stone-hearts will not stand by and allow this tragedy to pass."

Galahyn agreed, "Let us ride forth and send these Mon-keigh to their graves for their trespasses!"

Elhyn was gladdened to hear them speak so but Dalsaar sneered, "Vague prophecies and dire omens, pah. This is Farseer talk and I will have none of it. What could be so dangerous as to threaten an entire world?"

"Hear for yourself," Celasia replied gesturing Saffor forward.

Gonredil looked like a beast had taken a dump on his boot as he sneered, "A Mon-Keigh?"

"Hear him out," Elhyn urged, "He will explain the danger."

Saffor looked at the circle of hostile faces nervously but he spoke clearly, "We came seeking an ancient treasure, a lost starship that crashed on Athelling millennia ago. It fell during the Dark Age of Technology, when man's power was at its zenith."

Olalath cut him off, "We already know this, for our memories are better than yours. When the Eldar empire was at its height and your feeble species were mere apes grubbing around the edges of our aegis our forefathers came to Athelling, seeking to join the song. They saw this craft fall from the stars and instantly knew it contained poison. In their wisdom they set wards to contain its filth and commanded all generations that followed them to stay away. Your kind does not understand the danger, they seek that which they cannot control and it will destroy them."

Saffor shook his head as he said, "That won't stop them, they want that ship no matter the cost. The Space Marines are fanatical in their zeal, nothing will dissuade them from their course once set. They will break any ward, shatter any barrier to get their hands on the contents of that ship. They will take it for their own and drag its secrets into the light."

Celasia proclaimed, "The Wind-dancers alone cannot stop this doom, only together can we avert disaster."

Olalath declared, "If the Mon-Keigh get their hands on that ship they will destroy not only themselves but us too. I will not let that happen, the Stone-hearts will fight alongside the Wind-dancers."

Galahyn agreed, "Fates and prophecies be damned, these Mon-Keigh have violated our lands, I want blood. The Swift-runners shall fight!"

Gonredil lowered his head and said, "Only a fool ignores the gathering storm. We must fight or die, the Bloody-talons choose to fight."

All eyes slid to Dalsaar but the Dynast crossed his arms and said, "This is foolish, I will have no part in it."

Elhyn gasped, "But without all kinbands we cannot win!"

Dalsaar sneered, "Dead Wind-dancers give me no cause to weep."

Laegwen spat, "You doom Athelling for the sake of petty pride!"

Gonredil agreed, "Your kinband shall ever be marked out as cowards, the Kraken-riders shall be outcast for three generations."

Dalsaar didn't look bothered as he said, "I care nothing for the opinions of one who walks upon the ground. We soar above all and none of you can challenge us. We fight for our own prosperity and protection, unless you can offer more we will not join you in battle."

Elhyn was outraged at that but Saffor spoke out, "You want to be paid?"

Celasia's eyes narrowed as she hissed, "You can't mean…"

Dalsaar grinned wickedly as he said, "I do, I want what you owe me. What your late husband took from me."

Celasia spat, "It was never yours, he bested you fairly and without trickery."

Elhyn had no idea what they were talking about and said, "What do you speak of?"

Dalsaar laughed, "I see you never told the whelp about how his father duped me, that will be a fun conversation. But for now I want my due, give me the Star of Vandiala, which you stole from me, and my kinband shall ride forth."

Celasia we turning red in outrage, but through gritted teeth she hissed, "You are a petty and spiteful wretch but as the World Spirit is my witness it shall be yours… after the battle is won.

Dalsaar smirked, "Good enough, now shall we discuss how we are to defeat these Mon-Keigh?"

Elhyn was confused as to what had just happened, but at least the tribes were united. He wasn't sure what it had cost his mother but they now had the forces they needed to defeat the interlopers. Together the Eldar would strike down the invaders of Athelling and cleanse their world of their filthy kind. He was sure that the Mon-keigh would stand no chance against what was coming for them.