I double posted, new chapter on previous!

So, Heart of Thorns comes out tomorrow. (Squee!)
But ever since the Sylvari-Are-Minions-Pact-Fleet-Destruction confirmation I have been seeing tons of examples of role-played mordrem-sylvari, and "Burn the cabbages!" rallies. So as I have my chapter submitted for beta reading I came up with this little glimpse of what is to come. But be warned; to know the future, even a mere possibility, can be a great tease.

OOO

Looking around the camp and seeing the battered, bruised and burnt survivors it was the sight of Laranthir being held at weapon point by his former comrades that truly showed just how far things had fallen to Jai.

"You are a welcome sight Commander," The sylvari breathed, his tone conveying relief and also bracing for that hope to be crushed. Jai however had no intention of doing so.

"Report Laranthir." She said steadily, tone warm as she held his gaze steadily, ignoring the affronted gasp of the nearby charr.

Larenthir straightened slightly, "The situation here is grim. Mordremoth tore the fleet apart and the Pact is in ruins." At this point his dull amber eyes shifted to an anxious Braham. "Trahearne and Destiny's Edge were taken prisoner; they were alive but now- MIA."

Swallowing hard Jai felt as though she had been plunged through ice. "No, please no, please be safe. Please. I- I can't…lose…" ignoring the burning at the back of her eyes the assassin kept her emotions in check, keeping her face blank and posture firm.

"And the remaining soldiers no longer trust me." Well, that explained why the scholar was holding him at wand-point.

Next to her Marjory angrily cut in, "Ain't you surprised? Scarlet, Aerin and now this." She gestured at the burning ship just beyond them, a scowl on her face, "Mordremoth always does the most damage when sylvari are involved."

Clenching her jaw Jai cut her off with a sharp reprimand, "That's enough Marjory."

Marjory turned to her, eyes wide in surprise, "But-"

"Enough." She repeated. "Laranthir, continue."

The charr scoffed, cutting the sylvari off. "We need to strengthen the defenses around here. Our priority has to be salvaging weapon parts from the crash site."

Laranthir looked appalled, "What about our comrades in the cavern? The Pact does not abandon its own." He implored.

"Look around 'sir' there is no more Pact, and the prisoners you want to save are probably already dead." She sneered, muzzle lifting to show her fangs.

But Laranthir stood his ground, "Think it through soldier," He said carefully, "We need greater numbers, or any salvage party we send will disappear like the others."

Braham strode forwards, his large form easily parting the small group, "This isn't helping," he said in frustration, "Just tell us where Destiny's Edge is, please."

"SILENCE!" Jai shouted the action surprising everyone gathered as they all turned to stare at her. Their reactions were expected though; the assassin normally never raised her voice. Pointing at the sylvari she started barking orders, "Laranthir, organize a search party. The rest of you, start to fortify the camp. Now is not the time to be ripping out each other's throats."

The charr stepped forward, "-Commander I don't think you under-"

Pinning her with a glare that would cower demons Jai hissed, "What happened to 'there is no Pact'? If you listen to my orders then we do not leave our own behind. Yes I am aware that sylvari were created by Mordremoth but I don't fucking care." Looking back at the others she addressed them, "Now get to it!"

"Boss,"

Turning around to see Marjory looking at her with an unreadable face and Kasmeer looking slightly uncomfortable Jai raised an eyebrow. "Can we have a, private discussion?"

Eyes narrowing she nodded, following the couple as they approached the ravine and were just out of earshot of those back at the camp. "How are you so sure?" The necromancer accused, arms crossed. "How can you trust the sylvari after everything we've seen?"

Jai felt herself crack, worrying about Trahearne, about Logan, Zojja, Eir, piled on top of her already present worry about Rytlock and the concern she held for all sylvari. Everything hit too close to home, everything was history repeating itself, and this inquisition was the stick that broke the dolyak's back.

"Why do I trust them?" She repeated in a deadly whisper, "Why do I defend them? I'll tell you why." Standing closer to the necromancer Jai violently tore her goggles off, pinning Marjory under her pupiless purple eyes, "Can you honestly say you think of me as human? After everything you've seen?" Unsheathing and cutting her hand on one of her blades after she tore the glove off the assassin shoved the wound into the woman's face. "My skin is grey, my blood is black, my eyes have no pupil and are purple, I can't stand bright lights, I don't have to eat, I survive things I shouldn't, I couldn't touch the holy fire without hurting myself. So tell me, am I human?"

Marjory stared at her with wide eyes as she leaned back, "N- I mean,"

"I'm not." Jai confirmed, "I know what it's like to be made of something you have fought with every ounce of your being, to have felt that damn presence in your mind, overwhelming you, smothering you, to whisper sweet, sweet terrifying madness into your ears as you sleep and as you walk through the dark." She stated, voice heavy with conviction and with truth. Behind Marjory, Kasmeer was looking at her in horror, though for her or because of her Jai didn't know. "He always spoke in absolutes, so sure he was that I'd serve him as my ancestor did before me, that he already tasted the murder and betrayal in my blood." Her hands were clenched into tight fists her cut stinging in protest, "But I said 'no', despite how only two others of my kind turned from him I got back up from the ground, I looked that bastard in the eyes, and I. Gouged. Them. Out. with the very blades my ancestor once used to prove his loyalty to him." With her last word Jai ripped one blade out and slammed it into the nearby fallen trunk where it stood quivering.

Breathing heavily with the weight of her emotions that whirled through her mind Jai growled, "When non-sylvari were the corruptible ones the sylvari still fought alongside us, they didn't doubt us and I will do the same for them. I will make my vow here and now upon my cursed blood and damned soul. That is why so long as even one sylvari fights Mordremoth I will fight beside them. That is why so long as even one sylvari fights Mordremoth I will defend them. That is why I trust them still."

With that the demoness turned on one foot and marched away, still quivering blade glowing orange in the setting sun as she left Marjory and Kasmeer in silence. She had sylvari to find.

OOO

An unpopular opinion? Perhaps. But one I defend staunchly. And I wanted to say it before the story of Heart of Thorns comes out. And while the future can change in the blink of an eye Jai's opinion on the sylvari most certainly won't. And if you are wondering about Marjory and her being extra spiteful, I think she harbors a bit of a grudge, I mean she didn't come with the search party. In my BetaWeekends none of DE 2.0 came with except for Canach and he doesn't really count.

Like always review and tell me what you think. Should I burn with the rest of the cabbages? lol