Chapter 60-Rekindle Flames
Tamli could sense the growing darkness over the land, its source stemming from two completely different individuals. Corruption's magic, long since buried within the hearts and souls of humans and dragons alike, reminded him of a coming storm as its influence seemed to expand with each passing day. The other area was directly concentrated around his darker 'brother' and it worried him far greater since he had seen the depths of its desperation to kill those close to him in order to bring about his own emotional pain. Had it not been for Rados's death, he would have never recovered his memory in time to see his beloved mate through the loss of her closest friend and ally. Makiar had been like a second mother to Finca and it made sense to let her grief but he was concerned over when Tanui would strike next.
Sighing, he opened his eyes to glance around the small chamber Finca had lay claim to months before his return to life, pleased she wasn't with him as he was grieving in his own way over the death of his son by the hands of an unstable clone. A single ripple of energy from outside the Compound attracted his attention and he stood, growling softly as the presence felt familiar to him. Reaching out to Sitedal, he asked the dragon if it would accompany him just to be certain they weren't being attacked by Corruption's forces.
I understand your concern, hybrid, Sitedal snorted in reply before assuring Tamli he would follow only to protect their home.
Meeting the dark dragon at the base of the structure, Tamli studied Sitedal as he let the younger scale-flier take the lead. Before him was a dragon that, based solely upon its upbringing, should have turned to Corruption's dark influence as had its mother. It still surprised him that Sitedal continued to hold against him Tanui's murder of Seraphina's two siblings when he had been unconscious at the time.
Shaking his head, Tamli snorted softly and stopped, remembering why the presence felt so familiar. Nethial had followed after him yet he did not sense Tanui anywhere close by, implying only she and the dragon had come. A low hiss from Sitedal caught his attention and he blinked, stepping out into the open area as his gaze was met by two other dragons alongside the ones he had sensed already.
Who are you to come upon our land? Sitedal questioned with a rippling growl as Tamli felt a shimmering darkness rise temporarily to the surface from within the dragon.
"We come for protection and for help," Nethial admitted, her voice bringing back the memories Tamli had buried for years and he snarled, focusing his entire attention directly on her.
The two we have with us . . . they require medical assistance.
A low growl rippled from Sitedal as the dragon spoke and Tamli glanced at him, noticing the similarities between the two in terms of color and stature. Nethial took a step to the side and Tamli's gaze flickered back to her before he realized she had moved to let him see the two scale-fliers they had brought with them. He took note of the fact that the leading dragon was a small grey female with blue irises standing protectively in front of a white full-grown male with teal colored eyes nursing an injured hind limb.
"This is Malie and Tyst, the offspring of a loving family that was ripped away all too soon." Nethial's gaze fell to Tamli, her grey irises darkening as she directed her next words to him alone. "You know who the one was that did this, Tamli. Something must be done about him before things get worse."
Hesitating as her words stirred up emotions long hidden with him, Tamli quietly asked Sitedal to take the dragons down below and leave him with Nethial. Although he sensed the male's displeasure to let him be alone with her, the dragon turned and led the others inside the Compound, pausing only briefly to glance back at him before descending as well into the underground. Left with the woman he had fallen in love with so many years ago, he was uncertain what to say as she studied him, tapping a finger against the side of her right leg.
"You've changed," she remarked icily as he sighed, forcing himself to shift back into his human forme so it would be easier to talk to her directly.
Clenching his hands to keep from showing the pain of his change, Tamli chuckled at her reception of him, realizing she still loathed him for what he had done to protect her and Raoul. "As have you," he replied after a moment, relaxing and collecting his hands behind his back. "Why don't we walk? I'm certain there's much to discuss."
Leading her away from the entrance to the Compound, Tamli briefly wondered how she had survived the long years since he had last seen her as she lay dying in his arms. For Nethial to now have metal legs indicated something traumatic must have occurred, although exactly the reason was unknown to him. She also carried herself differently as well, her once regal stride now slowed and she seemed uncertain as they walked into the surrounding forest.
"Why single me out when you mentioned Tanui? Sitedal knows he exists and even blamed me for a crime the delusional clone committed."
Nethial stopped, placing her hand on a tree right beside her, avoiding his gaze as he turned to face her. "I learned valuable information about the clones from one of them before Arxa killed him and maimed Ladetis . . . It reminded me of how powerless I was when that light shard ripped through my body . . ."
"I witnessed it, remember? Everything in me wanted to save you but, in that state, I couldn't do anything and had to watch you die. You don't know how much I blamed myself for that for years . . ."
"The clone isn't evil, Tamli. I've seen a side of him that I never thought would exist after learning what I did," Nethial commented as she turned and leaned up against the tree, crossing her arms over her chest as she looked him in the face.
"Tanui murdered hatchlings, killed my son and his mate, maimed Tyst . . . and you say he's not evil. He is the exact opposite of everything I am, Nethial. Amia set out to make a perfect replica of my being and he ultimately created the perfect weapon to use against me," Tamli spat, resting a hand on his hip where his pommel would usually be had it not been broken into pieces by the delusional copy of himself.
Straightening herself, Nethial stared him down as she hissed, "You're wrong. Everything you are is exactly who he is down to the most basic needs. I've been with him in the quietest moments, seen how he spends each day in torment because of the duality of his nature and how driven he is to complete the task Amia gave to him . . ."
"Before he killed his creator in cold blood. There is no humanity in him, trust me."
Nethial lifted a hand, rubbing her neck gingerly before she spoke again, her voice softer and guarded. "I know what he's like but there is a darkness to him that wasn't in you."
"He attacked you?" Tamli questioned, curious but also realizing that he might have found the answer to why she now had metallic legs.
"Tanui held his imperfection a secret for so long only to bring it out on me by accident. I had already been attacked by Ladetis, the dragon's poison stripping me of my legs from knee downward, and then for him to damage me . . ."
"What type of damage?"
Acting on instinct, Tamli snarled, shoving Nethial back against the bark behind her as he spun around, grabbing her sword from its sheath and settling into a crouch. From the way they had come, Raoul walked out of the shadow of another tree, hands upraised to show he meant no harm.
"Relax, I heard your voices and came only to see for myself," Raoul informed them as his eyes focused on Tamli, directly avoiding Nethial's gaze as she pushed her way past the hybrid and took a few steps towards him.
"My son-"
Violet eyes narrowed as a low growl rose from Raoul's throat automatically. "I want nothing to do with you, mother. Last time we interacted, you nearly choked me to death so imagine my displeasure at learning you survived the war. Father didn't tell me because there was no need to, the clones took care of seeing that I was informed."
Tamli relaxed, returning the blade back its sheath and standing back up at full height as he glanced at Nethial briefly before his attention focused back on his son. "Raoul, leave us. This does not concern you-"
"Of course it concerns me, father. If I can sense the stirring of emotions within you at just the sight of her, then imagine what she feels in this instant. For me to leave you alone with her is breaking every commitment to Finca you ever made once she turned you."
"How dare you claim I value your mother's life over the promise I made to my soul mate," Tamli snapped back as he advanced towards Raoul. "Now go back to the Compound."
"Listen to your father, Raoul," Nethial whispered as she retreated back to the tree, averting her gaze from both of them as she wrapped her arms around her chest.
Raoul stayed where he was for a few seconds before sighing and walking off, leaving Tamli and Nethial alone once more. The hybrid wasn't exactly sure what to say as he turned around to notice Nethial tenderly uncross her arms and raise up the front of her tunic. White cloth had been bound across her chest and, as Tamli watched, she untied the fabric and let it fall to the ground, revealing bloody, cracked skin that looked inflamed.
"Did Tanui do this?" Tamli asked tentatively as their gazes met, unspoken pain masking Nethial's grey irises as she hesitated to touch the red area.
"He panicked, reacting the only way he knew how. Raoul mentioned the choking and Tanui did the same to me," Nethial confessed, lifting a hand to indicate the bandages on her neck. "I got the healers in Tel-var to look at it but they never did anything and left me to deal with it myself. What I don't understand is that Tanui has electricity yet this resembles a burn . . ."
"You've gone through so much since I last saw you with my own eyes," Tamli admitted as he placed a hand on her shoulder, hoping she would see the action as one of friendship. "Tanui has become a threat to all of us but I think I know someone who can help us figure out how to stop him."
"How? I spoke with another clone and found out nothing stops the mental decay once it passes a certain point and Tanui has, most certainly, surpassed that milestone."
"I don't know, Nethial, but we will find out how to stop him, I promise you." Gently taking her arm, Tamli encouraged her to follow him, determined to meet with Sitedal and discover all the dragon knew about the clones so they could formulate a plan to stop Tanui.
Sitedal made sure Tyst and Malie were seen by Aurelia before he motioned for Ladetis to follow him into a small corridor just feet away from the chamber the healer used. His son had come back to him changed, that much he could sense without having to be told. It did worry him to notice the lack of the clone hybrid though and he decided to question his offspring on its location.
He broke the bond with me and then left, that's all I know, Ladetis confessed as he avoided his father's steady gaze, glancing down at the chains around his ankles.
Tanui is still a threat to us. If you know something, tell me.
A low growl rippled from Ladetis's throat. I told you all I know! The clone isn't even mentally stable anymore and, I suspect, likely can't trust its own mind.
Psychosis is that advanced . . . Anything about visions?
Ladetis shook his head, snorting. No, but he was considered extremely dangerous when Nethial and I left Tel-var to find a way to help him. She thinks he can be restored to the sanity he once held but I know that isn't possible.
You would be right, my son, Sitedal growled, nuzzling him briefly before he stepped back. How broken was Nethial when you found her?
Raising a foreleg, Ladetis examined the stained talons in detail before he muttered, Completely lost and unable to remember much of anything, why?
Because I fear there will be others like her once this war ends. Those steeped so far into Corruption's darkness that they will be unable to rejoin those that exist without it . . .
Ladetis growled, lowering his leg back onto the ground and lifting the tip of his tail. You asked the question because you're worried about Narssia, aren't you?
She was my mother so I naturally fear for her sanity, whatever may remain now, Sitedal replied with a low snarl, glancing back towards where Aurelia was examining the two dragons. What about the darkness I sense in you, my child? Arxa attacked you because of your closeness to us . . .
Arxa had little part in my change, father. Corruption told me it could fix Tanui and I believed it, trusted it. My hope killed an innocent clone and left me unable to fly.
Sitedal hummed, realizing how similar the path he had once walked himself had been when Corruption's power first sprang to life inside Narssia. A sudden crash and scream from inside the room startled both dragons and Ladetis turned, readying a sphere of poison in his maw. Surprised by what his son's element was, Sitedal stepped past him and hissed in displeasure as a rippling thought from Tamli entered his mind.
What is going on, Sitedal? Aurelia's screams reached me all the way outside. Check on her but I suspect Dhran will be there within moments to aid you, especially with his love so close to giving birth.
Another scream rose from inside the room and Sitedal growled, sliding his tail against his son's side as he turned to leave. Relax, Ladetis, this is not our fight. Follow me, I have something to show you . . .
Snarling softly, Ladetis reluctantly closed his maw and followed after his father. As they traveled, Sitedal didn't waste much time in getting reacquainted with his son and did his best not to bring up the clone after what had happened. He suspected it would likely cause a rift between them and he didn't want to repeat what had occurred with him and Jormundur.
You trust Nethial, don't you? Sitedal asked after a moment, still continuing to make his way down the hallway as his son walked behind him.
Is it that easy to sense? Ladetis retorted wearily, shoulders sagging as he lowered his head and slowed to a halt.
I only ask because I am curious, Ladetis. You don't have to answer but, if what I feel is correct, then you have nothing to hide.
The dragonet snorted, closing its eyes as Sitedal stopped and turned to look at him. Ladetis had been through numerous conflicts which had left scars, both physical and mental. Perhaps it was fitting that his son had finally returned to heal the wounds of its soul in the place where all the pain had begun.
I blamed Tamli at first for the murder of your siblings, Sitedal admitted as Ladetis had not commented on what he had said. I didn't realize the impact the clone had until it was too late and you were gone.
Ladetis snorted in dulled interest as he glanced at his father. When we met Nethial, I saw her as who Tanui would eventually become. I loathed her at first simply because I was afraid that I would lose the only one who had defended me. Once he started declining, I reached out to her, although it was, at first, a way of keeping contact with him since he wouldn't let me touch his mind. After he broke our bond, I realized I was growing attached to her and now . . . Now I wish to bond myself to her at a proper time.
Sitedal hummed soothingly in reflection, tapping the floor with the tip of his tail as he thought over the words he had heard. I see . . . You may do as you wish, my son.
Thank you, father. Your words give me guidance in a world in which little makes sense anymore. When the time is right I will announce myself to her and see what she will make of it, Ladetis growled before he hissed, crouching to the floor as his eyes narrowed to tiny slits. It can't be! Why would he come? Our bond is broke, thus there is nothing to tie him to me anymore . . .
Concerned, Sitedal extended his senses, trying to detect whatever his son had picked up on but not picking up anything of interest. Raising his head, he growled softly, motioning for Ladetis to continue to follow him as they were not far from where he wanted them to go as he reasoned Verdra might like to be reunited with her child as much as he had enjoyed the returned connection.
I sense nothing out of the ordinary, Ladetis. Whatever has spooked you is something I cannot detect but do not let it worry you . . .
Worry? Ladetis scoffed, snorting in disgust. You don't know what I sense, otherwise you would be trying to kill him right now. The clone is coming this way, I can still feel a lingering trace of our former bond. Inform the hybrid, he will need to know this at once.