Chapter Thirty-two: Through The Glass
The band had been granted a smooth trip home in a matter of days and from this, there was definitely something to the tales of star dragons being lucky. The sun was low in the sky when Novus finally came into view. The plan had been laid out since the morning Callum woke up. Amaya, Gren and Soren went directly to the council building with Claudia in tow to report everything. Rayla, Ezran, and Lain took Kiara, Mira and Kimaare to Amaya's house, where Tiadrin was still waiting.
Callum was now observing himself in a mirror from the clinic. On his aunt's demand, he was forced to go to the medics to be looked over, even though he'd felt fine for days. His own intuition had proven right, because there was nothing for the doctors and nurses to do about it. The injury had already been treated, all of his vital signs were in order and it hadn't even acted up. He had heard Rayla and Amaya had immediately gone to get Wendell, who had treated him to the best of his abilities. The only thing of note he got from them was that the scar would, at the most, lighten up to a lighter shade of red and not become thin, raised white skin as most scars did. He would bare the scare for the rest of his life. Not wanting to have come here for what amounted to nothing, Callum had requested this mirror.
Now, he was taking in his new appearance; one massive red mark that couldn't have come from anything but lightening, capturing the shape flawlessly, not even an inch of border was fuzzy. The scar began between his stomach and chest, then reached outward to his stomach, chest, arms and neck. It was like a tattoo of red lightening on his pale skin. After asking for a moment of privacy, Callum quickly checked below his waist where, thankfully, his belt had seemed to do its impromptu second job and kept the spell from reaching below his pants. What he saw under his shirt was the entirety of the scar.
"Rayla!" her mothers cry was startling in its loudness after the peace of the early evening had gotten everyone into a bit of a doozey mood. The comfort of this was shattered when Lain, Mira and Kiara were led by Rayla and Ezran to the house they shared with Amaya, Soren and Callum, where Tiadrin remained. Rather than her husband, her escaped ward, the little girl or even the baby dragon, her eyes went directly to her daughter.
Rayla found herself in the tight embraces of her parents; her mother so happy to see her alive and well, and her father, perhaps, simply wanting to have both of them in his arms for the first time in months.
"We thought you were -" Tiadrin started, a happy cry in her voice. Her eyes were shinning and watering as she buried her fingers in her daughter's hair lovingly.
"Dead? Yeah, we heard." Rayla returned and led the others into the house. Kimaare was looking at everything too quickly to really be able to absorb everything, and in contrast, Mira kept to Rayla's leg, clinging to her as she entered this unfamiliar house. "I'll explain everything."
Soren had never thought he'd be looking at his sister through bars, yet there she was, in the single cell that had never known an occupant before. Opeli and Amaya had agreed it was needed just in case, though most people of Novus, himself included, hadn't seen the point. He guessed he'd been wrong. Amaya and Gren had managed to catch Opeli before she was to head home for the night and were now filling her in on the happenings of the past weeks in another room.
Claudia was sleeping now, and by the tears falling from her closed eyes, it seemed she had at least regained some semblance of life to her. She'd been catatonic since Aaravos did what he did, only perking up for a moment when Callum had awoken. Eating and drinking just enough to keep the breath in her body and never talking. This was the first expression of emotion she had shown. Soren looked out the window. It was getting dark now. He'd come back tomorrow; maybe then she'd be willing to talk. Maybe now that Viren was gone, she'd finally see sense.
It was a late, comfortable morning for most of them. Amaya had gotten her usual early start and Lain and Tiadrin had gone home last night. Callum and Ezran were taking Kiara, Mira and Kimaare up the Storm Spire, partly to see what could be done about this orphaned star dragon, and partly to clear Kiara's name. Soren and Rayla went to the council building to visit Claudia and see if she was up to speaking. Rayla wasn't thrilled with the idea, but Callum had said there was something more he needed at the top of the spire, and Ezran no longer held any affection for the woman; one didn't easily forget someone who, directly or indirectly, had tried to murder them. Rayla felt this last point was flimsy at best, but conceded, not feeling like talking in circles, so she had been made to go with Soren to see the guy's sister.
When they appeared in front of her cell, Claudia's eyes darted up to them before she lifted her head to look at them properly. It seemed she had stopped crying and only regarded them with contempt. Rayla returned a look of scorn as if to ask what her problem was, but Soren kept his face neutral.
Rayla was the first to speak. "You almost killed him."
"It wouldn't have been a problem if you hadn't gotten it into his head that you elves are worth protecting." She returned coldly. Soren's blank expression was replaced with a reproachful frown. "Callum's sympathies are only with your kind because of you."
"Do you really think he's that simple-minded?" Rayla was growing outraged, so that Soren placed a hand on her shoulder - a rare moment in which he displayed wisdom - in a plea for her to calm down. It only seemed to help a little bit. "It wasn't because she's an elf, it was because she's a child who was in danger from you." This had been stewing in Rayla's mind ever since it happened, and she was relieved that Claudia was finally receptive to words and would hear her. Her initial anger at what had been done to Callum – her Callum – was a given, but Rayla surprised herself right now, realizing that she was also fuming over Mira herself. Mira was still so little and innocent, and herself and Callum were all she had in the world. They hadn't even gotten her to talk yet, and Claudia would have taken her away so easily. The elf's blood ran hot with anger at the thought.
Part of Soren wanted to lighten the mood with some wise crack. He thought better of it, with the fierce mood the elf was in right now, he doubted she'd apricate any joke he could come up with. In fact, it would probably be in everyone's best interest if he took the reins of this conversation for the moment. Give Rayla a chance to cool off, even if she had never been the type to do so. Rayla was about to start back up, so he covered her mouth.
"Claudia, I don't want to see you like this." he told her, and her rage-filled look was moved to him.
"You're a deserter!" she said with a slight growl, her eyes as hard as the moments in which Soren had been made to believe he had slain their father. "You ran away with your tail between your legs and abandoned us, just like your mother. It should have been you that Aaravos…" she paused, the next word stuck in her throat. Her face was contorted in pain, but that was quickly lost to a look of anger. "You're nothing, Soren. You've always been the dim one, the follower, the second thought. The only thing you're good for is battle fodder. That's your job as a guard, isn't it, to get killed in battle?"
Soren and Rayla were silent. It was clear Claudia didn't mean any of it, she was just saying things that would hurt him. "Viren was sick, Claudia." Soren said with conviction. She seemed startled hearing Soren refer to their father by name. "He said he loved both of us and dropped me like a rock the moment I stopped following his plans. I bet he wasn't even upset, was he?" Claudia was quiet. She didn't want to confirm to Soren that, in fact, when she had reported his leaving, Viren had all but said 'good riddance'. She refused to give him such satisfaction. "And what about the Dragon Prince? He's just a baby and Viren took him from his mom. How can someone claim to love their own kids and be so ready to rip other families apart?" There was silence for a long while after this.
"Who cares?" she said, at last, seeming almost confused by the statement. It was as if Soren had asked why fish can't breath air or why clouds were white; a question that had so little importance that it was almost silly. By this tone, it was clear she absolutely meant this with her whole being. "They're just elves and dragons." Something seemed to break in Rayla when she heard that. She went still and silent. How…how could anyone be so…how could she? Claudia watched as Rayla backed away a couple of steps as though she were in shock. Soren also watched, more concerned than his sister. Neither had ever seen the elf this way before. Rayla ran.
"Rayla, wait!" Soren called, but he didn't pursue. Rather, after hearing the door slam violently, he took a moment to send a furious look to Claudia, who looked at him with anger. Soren's face hardened in disgust as he turned and ran after Rayla.
Mira and Kimaare's eyes grew wide upon seeing Queen Zubeia. Mira backed up, hiding half-way behind Callum. Perhaps it was the scar on her face, making her look more dangerous than she was. Or it might have been the way Kiara was bowing lowly, looking like she was in trouble.
"Queen Zubeia," she began. "I am Kiara of the Moonshadow elves. I'm the only one left of the ten who hunted Rayla, and the mission is off. The rest are…dead."
"Rise and face me." The queen's voice was firm, but not angry. Kiara did, on slightly shaky knees, but she stood tall and put on a brave face regardless. "You've repented?"
"I have, Your Majesty." Kiara said, not knowing how she managed to keep her voice level. The queen gave her a court nod – perhaps an indication of acceptance of this. Forgiveness, maybe? "You Greatness, I think the elves of the Silvergrove might not want me back. It's been so long."
"Than should Novus not be to you taste, there is a small band of Moonshadow elves living at the Moon Nexus." the dragon told her. "I believe this includes your father, Lykis. I'm sure he would be pleased to see you, and to see that you have, at last, come to your senses."
Kiara bowed again, trying to remain cordial but unable to hide her smile. "Thank you, Queen Zubeia. I'll…I'll think about it."
The queen than looked at the little ones in turn and with interest until Zym charged forward to greet them. Callum took Kimaare from her place on his shoulders and set her on the ground beside Zym. Seeing the two of them side by side, it was suddenly easy to see just how much Zym had grown; he just under twice the newborns size. He spread his wings and fluttered a short way over her, with her looking in wonder. His kind, sky dragons, commonly began flying within weeks of hatching, but Kimaare had yet to even unfurl her wings the full length.
Zym's playfulness must have been infectious because, little by little, Kimaare lost her shy demeanor and soon was joining him in play, their cries of joy filling the chamber as they ran around. "Remarkable." The queen said as she watched the hatchling now playing with her son. "Star dragons were a rarity even when they were around, so I've heard. That egg must have been down there for untold millenniums."
"Queen Zubeia, we apologize for putting such a huge choice on your shoulders, especially out of nowhere, but we can't keep Kimaare with us." Callum told her.
"Say no more." the queen interrupted; she knew perfectly well what he would ask next. She took a moment to look at Kimaare and Azymondias playing, with Mira seeming to have joined in, and it filled her heart with joy. "I'd be honored to take in the last of the star dragons. I truly would."
Callum and Ezran smiled for the moment before Mira and the pair of rough-housing baby dragons seemed to decide to involve them in their play and began running around their legs. Kimaare was taking full advantage of her smaller size, climbing up onto Callum where Zym couldn't really follow. She leapt back and forth between the brothers, who laughed at the two little dragon's antics while trying to avoid Zym's playful snaps.
When Callum tried to straighten himself out, Ezran and Kiara seemed to get the message and herded the little ones away from him so he might be able to speak with the queen properly. She looked at him, knowing he had something to say Callum produced the Key or Aaravos as he saw the mirror out of the corner of his eye. No going back now.
Rayla supposed her only option was the Storm Spire. She needed to talk to someone, although she wasn't even sure what it was she wanted. Advice? About what? Condolence? She wasn't a child. All she knew was that Callum and Ezran were the two to talk to; Soren, who she could hear calling her name and following her, would probably just try to say Claudia hadn't meant what she said or something blatantly untrue like that. Her parents already had enough issues with humans, it didn't seem smart to go to them with this.
"Rayla, hold on!" Finally, Soren caught up with her, mostly through the fact that she had been walking briskly while he'd been running. "I'm sure Claudia didn't mean it! She-she's probably just parroting something Viren said."
Rayla looked back at him, but before she could respond, something from the sky came down and barreled into her, screaming her name. Within seconds she found herself constricted in the embrace of a Skywing elf, a bit older than herself, with a pair of familiar gray wings that melted into arms. Soren watched this silently, his heart spiking at seeing Zephyr. Eventually, Rayla was able to tug herself free to see her affectionate assailant.
"They said you two were dead!" Zephyr told her, happily.
"Just a slight exaggeration." Rayla said simply, "I just lost my swords. No idea how they got into Claudia's hands. Well, okay, I can believe that she killed the elf that took them." Recognizing the name, Zephyr turned to Soren, feeling happiness that along with her friends he was okay and back, but at the moment, her expression was questioning.
"My sister's been taken into custody in the village. Viren is dead." The casualty with which Soren said this, as easily as saying it would rain that night or some such piece of trivial information, would have shocked anyone who didn't know him and the nature of his and his father's relationship. Neither Zephyr or Rayla could really blame him.
"Callum's up at the spire." Rayla said, "I…I just need him to be with him right now."
By her tone, Zephyr knew this was on of those times when Rayla didn't want to be questioned. When she continued up the Storm Spire, Soren and Zephyr followed her, keeping close to each other. Silently at first, then they began talking. Soren began filling Zephyr in on the happenings of the past month or so, whether from memory or second-hand from Callum or Rayla, about Aaravos, Mira, Kimaare and everything else. Thankfully, this in itself didn't seem to upset Rayla, who just quietly listened to them.
Callum stood in front of the mirror, with the Key of Aaravos in hand. It was imitating a typical mirror and Callum beheld himself, much the same as he had been before he left, save for the scar that he knew his clothes now hid. Off to the side, dragons, elves and Ezran all watched as Callum set a rune to the glass and mentally went over the list of instructions once more. Keep the key, find the green cloth with the star rune and wrap the key up with it. The mirror went its whitish color and taking a reassuring breath – he'd be able to come back, of course he would – he stepped through the mirror, the library appearing before him. Behind him, not a single eye was off of him as he disappeared through the glass.
Author's Notes: To be clear, star dragons are like Jinx from 2006 Teen Titans; they can manipulate probability in favor of whoever they're fighting for. Obviously to varying degrees if they went extinct. I find that to be a cool power and have been wanting to use it in something. Anyway, the inspiration for this chapter's title is one of my favorite songs, 'Through the Glass' by Stone Sour, parts of which really do remind me of that mirror. Review.