Queen's note: OOF… Okay this turned out a loooot longer than I first thought but… LOORE LOL

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Garnets

Chapter Sixty:

Jekkad Blessed

Something was wrong.

It brought Balter up short as he scanned around once exiting the portal first, expecting something hard to be thrown at him. Or the familiar cannons to swing around and track him. Gatebreaker did not even growl at him. The Altan mech was alarmingly dark and still in its lava pool.

"Lord Valen?" A deep voice called out, having a slight metallic echo in it, the old Marauder paused as he had to stoop to put a hand out to stop the small one from darting into the normally safe area. Feeling the top of his charge's head clunked into his fingers. The mask she normally wore made the sound as the quiet registered in the much bigger creature as the short distance portal closed behind them.

The background sounds were still far away, and more alarmingly the Atlan mech was actually… dark. Having slumped forward, it almost looked like it had bowed and then never gotten back up. The bracing hand had reached forward to hold the left side stairs to them. The other hand it somehow lifted to its body was now frozen digits almost touching its neck, helping to make a bridge.

"What happened, Balter, to the Atlan?" A young female voice spoke, unsure as the small form looked around to the areas she was used to finding Valen in. Her cloak swayed a bit as it lost the rich reds, dark blue and gold colors of her clan, taking on the colors and shades around her after a minute.

Valen was not at the forges, or the upper levels, the meditation spot or the… unlit fire pit? Those easy to see spots from the portal area. She hugged the thick tome to her chest, unsure what to do now. She had just wanted to spend the day with the old Sentinel, showing what she had learned.

The Immora Marauder, Balter, nudged the small one to stay in the shadow of the unpowered Atlan's arm by the stairs. Walking her over there and scanning around for any recent signs of life from his once commander. Thankfully the girl was used to unspoken commands to keep herself safe, settling down and pulling her hood up. Balter started to systematically search for the unaltered Sentinel, and then signs of what had happened.

There were some tracks in the ash, before more ash had fallen, but even as parchal prints they matched to Valen's boots and armor. The weight from what the Fallen being could tell. The things taken had all been packed efficiently, not ripped or haphazardly grabbed. The big cannons were expertly taken down as well.

Balter paused once done, crouching on his heels for a few long moments to think, not fully sure what to think of this situation. Finding several important things missing, worryingly all of the man's proper tools as well as all weapons were also gone.

Had the Atlan finally died, and Valen had to flee to one of his hidden back up camps? Had another Fallen finally made it to the camp and disrupted things? There was that new Gorgon, but Balter was sure his once commander had enough sense and Wraith energy to resist her. More so at this distance to the canyons.

Even if Valen was somehow charmed, that would mean he would have left as is, not taking time to pack. The fact that the forges were still and as cool as they had ever been (not anything was able to be cold in Hell outside of Immora). That was what really settled that something was wrong to Balter about everything here.

"Meaka, he is not here." The red armored Marauder spoke as he got up, coming back over to crouch on his beside the Atlan's extended arm. Watching as the 'stone' under gigantic metal wrist shifted and revealed the young one as she sat up. Her cloak worked well to blend her into whatever background as long it covered her fully.

The girl reached up, pushing the blank white mask up to look at the bigger being with wide golden eyes in a round face. "Where did he go?"

"I… am not sure, my little one." Balter extended a hand, careful of his claws as a small bronze, not quite metallic shinned hand grasped two of his fingers. "With the Atlan dark, we can not ask the Gatebreaker what happened."

"Can we wait for him?" The young Jekkadian child asked, tilting her head and then looked back up at the still mecha. She missed listening to it talk already, even if she did not have the translation device.

Balter frowned, looking around at the offline guns, noting how one that was normally higher up was just completely gone. He shook his head, "No, it's not safe for you here now my little one. We can return later and see if a message was left."

He was not that sure if Valen would return, but could not bring himself to say that to the little one as she looked around sadly. The girl pulled down the mask to hide, hugging her tome before holding her arms up to her guardian.

Balter knelt at once, humming as the girl first offered the thick book for him to slip into his deep-space. Climbing up on the bent leg and then wrapping arms around the Marauder's neck. Her hood jarred off, exposing the clean, more metallic silver hair for a minute as Balter stood. Right arm making a seat for Meeka, and his left hand bracing her back. Then lifting to push her hood back up as a small chin rested on his shoulder.

"Can we go see if the temple in the umbral plains was rebuilt yet?" Meeka asked, clearly pouting as her guardian summoned a portal back to Immora.

"It has not, I checked the reports before you woke up." Balter said, smiling under his helmet as a tiny hand patted at one of his blunted horns as Meeka pouted. He would not mention that he would not have let the girl back into the Umbral plains, even if the temple was rebuilt. Balter knew without being told that the Unchained Predator was freed again, and had been seen in the plains several times culling through the hordes.

As much as he trusted the old War King to not intentionally hurt a child… Balter glanced down as he used the backs of his knuckles to give the child a comforting rub.

Meeka was still a Jekkad born child, native to this realm, one of the very few children born in hell every few centuries. She was still innocent as Balter knew, being her main guard, but… he knew that she was in every sense… Valuable. Even as ransom from other Immra clans.

Not that anyone has tried again since that last attempt.

The Maruder hummed as he felt Meeka finally sigh as he carried her back into one of the gateway parks in the outer wall ring of Immora. The shorter city guards shifted from the ready position to one of alert.

Not for him, or the height he towered over the other guards, but the respect was automatically given to the small one he held. Balter knelt, loosening his hold and hummed in amusement at the huff.

Meeka seemed to be debating on climbing higher on his shoulders, but then hopped to his knee, and back down to the ground herself. Shaking her cloak of the little dust on it before pulling her hood down again, as this was the safest place in all of the realm. "Come on Balter! Maybe we can see if there's anything in the offerings that seem fun?"

"That seems like a good idea my Lady." The once Sentinel spoke as he got up to follow the smaller Jekkadian child. Having to walk extraordinarily slowly with modified steps as Meeka was not in any hurry anymore.

The girl was pulling her hair back, paused as she realized that she had to let go and look around the small pockets in her cloak as its color. Pulling out a dark blue ribbon of one of her clan's colors. She paused to eye Balter, and though he was always gentle with his claws… they always caught on her hair. Golden eyes looked around to the guards and walked to one near the entrance to her home city. Meeka tapped the back of his hand and smiled as the gate guard shifted to turn and knelt to her.

"Yes my Lady?" The guard dipped his helmet to both show respect and get a look at the younger being.

"Can you tie my hair up, please?" Meeka asked, holding up the ribbon.

The guard hummed in surprise, shifting his spear against his shoulder and offered his hands out flat. "I would be deeply honored dear Lady."

"Thank you!" Meeka smiled under her mask, setting her current favorite ribbon on the hands as she turned around. Even with his armored gloves, and having a modified Marauder keeping a watchful eye on the actions. The guard was gentle and sure, tying up the silver hair as if he had experience.

Making sure no hair was pulled free, the guard tucked his hands back against himself. Giving a happy sound, "You are most welcome Lady, thank you for the honor."

"I like you!" Meeka's smile was heard as she turned back around, reaching out to pat the guard's streamlined helmet a pat. "Please guard our city well, and be safe!"

Balter hummed a pleased sound, noting that several other guards were in a better mood for the kindness offered. Good.

"Come on Balter! I'll leave you behind!" Meeka called over her shoulder, freely passing through the energy field. It made her cloak brighten to a light red with the darker blue and rust red and gold glyph on the back.

"I'm right behind you my little Lady." Balter said, his stride letting him catch up quickly, and then having to slow to match her pace as she ran over to the kennels to get her favorite hellhound.

"I hope they didn't try to feed Ankaramite," Meeka worried, hoping from one stone to another in the path, keeping away from the wet looking dirt off to the side. "I don't like her eating the soulless and unwilling things."

"You told the caretaker of the kennel not to feed your hound. It has not been long since we left." Balter reminded, eyeing a shivering unwilling that was in a round cage off to the side.

Meeka considered that, as she came to a bridge first, then made a chirp-like clicking sound at the two hulking forms sitting on either side. The were already rolling up, because of their digitigrade legs, the two armored hellknights were able to stay crouched low on all fours as Meeka came over. She grasped the head of one, admiring the polished silver metal on one, as that was not a normal color she saw around her much. Have such a blatant confidant air about her of a child that knew she was safe as Meeka pet the creature.

"You're pretty!" The Jekkadian child grinned, and smiled under her mask as the hellknight chuffed and shifted, its yellow and black eyes squinting as something like a rumbling came out.

Not quite like the purring sound the hellhounds could do, but Meeka thought it sounded nice.

"Put the gate down, you and your brother seem really strong." Meeka noted, giving the other creature a pet as well as that hellknight whined for attention. "If you do, I'll play fetch with you two for a bit!"

Balter shook his head a little to himself, watching as the two beasts that were drawing back. Making sure to be well away from Meeka and him as they started to turn the wheel to the right and start lowering the bridge over the lower area, it was where the hunting grounds were for training for the city guard's hounds. Or hellknights.

Once the gate was safely anchored, one of the Hellknights grabbed a good sized bone, paused. Then grabbed a smaller one to come back and crouched lower, offering it to Balter's charge. He shifted to be out of the way and spoke up, "Don't be cruel, Meeka, keep it in range of the space they are guarding."

Meeka picked up the long bone, almost as big as her leg! She hefted it to test, but it was well in her range of strength. Meeka concentrated, charging the bone for a short time, and making sure it would break in half later so they would not fight when they were supposed to guard. "Okay, I'll throw it now, and again on the way back."

The hellknight chuffed, crouched back on its hind legs and tensing, while the other was doing the same by the wheel.

Meeka scanned around, shifting her hold on the bone and fainted where she was going to throw it. The Hellknights already launching off that way, before the girl laughed and tossed it into the wide area to the right. Beaming as the guards scrambled and roared in pleasure before pouncing on the bone. They must be a bonded pair, as they were rolling with one another in clear play, no aggression.

"I'll be back!" Meeka called as she headed to the path, looking forward and seeing the caretaker hurring over. They had long pretty wings, and a smooth tail, their body was almost all black in suddenly soft velvety way.

They were using their wings to fan around the path, both getting the worst of the dust away, as well as the natural gasses they stopped producing. Wide eyes like cut topaz stared at the girl, and her protector, before they bowed respectfully. A soft, rich voice spoke, "Young Lady of Immora, did your trip not go well? I was not expecting you for another day."

Meeka pointed a bit, but sighed as she came over, one of the few that were naturally not affected by the toxins from the Wretched. Or any poison as most of her clan were. "No, I didn't find what I wanted. You didn't feed Ankaramite right?"

The Wretched demon shook their head, starting to back up. Giving Balter a quick glance, nervous of him but starting to lead the way to the kennels, "No my Lady, they are waiting for you."

"Ankaramite is a she!" Meeka said, letting the black demon lead the way, "She's going to lay eggs soon!"

"That is marvelous news," The Wretched said, speaking honestly as they shifted their wings, "Pardon me for a moment, I will open the gate to your… Ankaramite? Ankaramite's kennel."

"I think you're scaring them," Meeka said in a not so whisper while looking up at her guardian after the demon took to the air and flew over to spot to the far left.

"Perhaps." Balter chuckled, watching the Wretched hesitate at the gate and then used their magic to open it. From in the air out of biting range. They were likely disappointed they could not brag about being trusted to care for a noble's hound for a long time.

The refined hellhound that came out stretched and eyed the demon, but caught the scent of her master. The creature's shoulder was up to Balter's hip, and had whole, unburnted, almost polished looking pale gray speckled hide. A little more reptile like in body and head with a thick mane and broad shoulders and hips. It was originally from a temple guarding line but having only been fed refined energy it showed in the strong, smooth lines of the body.

It was only of the few that could also have a saddle. Though currently it was just a fabric one as its sides were starting to bulge out.

The hellhound crouched low, purring as her face was scratched and rubbed. "Good girl! Come on Ankaramite, we're going to see the offerings."

The Wretched landed only once Meeka had the attention of her hound. "If you are my Lady, I heard that the Soulless Calling priest has sent several things back to Immora not long ago. Perhaps you can find a nice toy. Or servant companion that's closer to your size, for inside the safety of your clan walls?"

Meeka brightened up at that, looking up at Balter, "That should be okay with mother and father right?"

"If it makes you happy, they will not mind." The massive marauder said with a nod, crushing down a faint uncomfortable feeling in his gut. As long as his charge was safe and happy, he could live with the less pleasant sides of Hell for all eternity.

At a faint, unseen touch, he lingered a moment while Meeka led Ankaramite across the bridge again. As she was picking up the bone to throw for the two Hellknights he snapped a hand out and caught the Wretched but the neck and hauled up up to his eye level, snarling as he glared at the wide topaz eyes. "Do not even attempt it wretched, I do not feel like having your blood staining my armor today."

"My…apologies… lord… protector…" the black demon scrambled and pulled back their power, clearly regretting their attempt to feed a bit off the emotion.

Balter gave a soft snarl, and chucked the smaller demon off the bridge as he started across. The guardian caught up to his charge before she could miss him, helping the Jekkadian girl up onto the back of her hound. That way he could have a full stride as the hound easily kept up.

He could live with being the monster Balter knew he was now. Long as this girl was safe, but he would not tolerate being used by anyone that was not holding his binding.

Balter listened to the voices and delects as they came to the nearest area towards the inner city walls, closer to the life-giving tower. Immora was built with two great walls, and they were still on the outside of the inner one where the clans really lived.

"I am worried about the Beast being free…"

"The Heir has not come too close to Immora yet."

"He was not intentionally looking for us though. I fear what he might do once realizing how to find Immora."

"Or the Beast is not ready to cull the city. "

"Oh…dear do not mention that. That's far more frightening of a thought of the Heir."

Balter made sure not to look over at the group of Jekkadian, as they were talking while Meeka hopped off to go get the attention of a Blood Angel. A still Jekkad-loyal Mayker, one of the older ones. They were being very respectful of the child, not just because Balter was watching. It was more like reverence to the born child of Jekkad.

"I wish those creatures had not found Him. We were nearly ready to bring him to the tower's well."

"True, but it did give us access to a new world and new souls."

"This is true, at least these new creatures are soft and small. Possibly useful for caretakers or companions of the newest children."

"True… to think the heir of the real Lord came from a world like that."

"I hope someone can… well not catch but subdue the Beast again."

"Heh, perhaps Urdaks current blinded attempt with an Icon can help? I would not be surprised if he's actually exhausted enough to be distracted for once after what that Khan Mayker is trying."

The Angel looked up to the massive red and orange tree above them as Meeka pointed up. Their wings spread wide and the Angel lifted up into the branches, carefully picking several round, ripe fruits.

"Ah, the offerings are here, Oh my, mentioning a child. Look at the sweet one. Is that not your husband's clan?"

"Yes… Ah, I think I know who that is. Do you mind waiting a moment to let little Meeka go first? She's so loney much of the time, no one else is her age right now."

"Not at all, at least the new creatures are closer to her size. I can't wait to see the new children in my clan soon!"

Balter flexed his hands and started moving once Meeka had her fruit to eat while heading to the line of offerings set out. Noting that she was not the only child allowed first pick, and seemed happy at the chance. While Balter almost tilted his head as he heard another

"Have you heard one of Soulless Calling's Wretched almost found one of the gorgon mortal souls?"

"Really! That is-"

"...unfortunately they died… shame because it would be nice to keep them safe in Immora."

"-oh bother. We need some creatures with more sense looking. I shound send something to Soulless Calling."

"It would be so nice to have gorgons around again. I do love them, and miss them…"

"I know what you feel brother, it was so nice when one would come to visit and sing. They had the most calming voices once they were settled."

"What do you want to bet that the Heir found one of the two?"

"Oh don't say that, it's a horrible thought."

The altered Marauder smirked in his helmet. He hoped his once war king did find the mortal gorgons. He would at least limit their threat or keep them safe. Balter also hopped to never meet his once king, as he looked after Meeka on the ground, coaxing a… human. What the Slayer used to be? He wondered how young these humans were as they were so small.

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