Tribute
Both Karthus and Achlys had reread the book on courtly etiquette Elise had given them and nowhere in it was anything written about giving an animal as a gift.
"I would advise you to use your best manners," Karthus had said "I trust that you know what is expected of you."
And he had left it at that.
Now in her room, Achlys was finishing her preparations for her audience later that day.
"They are expecting a proper young lady of the court," she reminded aloud, "which means you need to behave."
She looked sternly down at the albatross wraith standing before her. The bird preened its luminous feathers, which were such a pale teal color they were almost white, but did nothing else to acknowledge the girl.
"You will walk nicely behind me, right? Show me how you will follow."
This time it looked up at her when she had finished speaking and stretched its two massive wings out.
"Gah," Achlys exclaimed as she took a step back, "careful!"
It made a hollow whistle in response as it closed its wings once more.
Achlys huffed and took several steps back before issuing a command.
"Follow."
And it did, one slow, one ungraceful step at a time.
"You look so awkward walking your weird waddle," she moaned as it came to a stop before her, "I can't look silly in front of the king. Acheron, what do you think?"
Acheron touched down on top of her head for a moment before rising again.
"Carry it? It's half as tall as I am."
A frown crossed Achlys's face as she looked down at the bird. Carrying something that large wasn't a great idea, but it was the only other alternative she had at the moment.
"Better than waddling up to the king I suppose."
She knelt and held her arm out, just as she had seen the wraith of a falconer do before. The albatross tilted its head and looked down at her arm before hopping up to try and perch on Achlys's shoulder.
"Aahh! Wait, no!"
Feathers battered her head as she lurched back upright. The albatross though was determined, and even as the girl shook her head and shoved at it, it fought to place its webbed feet on her shoulders to balance itself.
"Get down! You're messing up my hair! Ouch!"
There was a knock at her door.
"Achlys," Karthus's voice came, "are you ready?"
"I don't – ouch- no!"
Karthus opened the door.
"What are you doing?"
"Trying to get this stupid bird to listen. Argh, get off!"
With that, Achlys reached up, letting the threads of her magic wrap around the bird and more directly exerted her will over it.
"I said get off!"
She tugged with her magic to pull it down and the albatross finally obeyed, flopping down unceremoniously. Free of the bird, she rushed to the mirror she had hanging on her wall to try and salvage her appearance.
It was an odd mirror that had been found for her room. It possessed an enchantment that showed the viewers visions of their deaths. For Achlys, she would see herself enveloped by the Black Mist or her father's magic or, on rare occasions, run through by a spectral blade. She had seen these many times over the years and right now, she did not have the patience to view one again.
"Yes, I know," she grumbled to the mirror as it showed her body being saturated by a cold light, "that's how I'm going to die. Can you hurry up and just show me my reflection normally now?"
The illusion finished its course and Achlys began the frantic work of cleaning herself up. Her dress was straightened out in a moment but the braids in her hair were proving to be more difficult.
"Where is your hairbrush?" Karthus asked.
Achlys pointed to her pillow as she continued to work at her hair.
"I believe it would be easier if we unbraided your hair instead."
"But we worked so hard to get it pretty," Achlys sighed, "and we don't have time to redo it. Stupid bird."
Karthus took one of her thoroughly tousled braids and undid it.
"Your hair looks beautiful as is."
He could feel her anxiousness rolling off her with each stroke of the brush.
"I wanted to look nice."
"You do, but if you would like I can try to tie your hair in a simpler braid. We have time enough for that."
"No, it's fine."
Karthus put a hand on either one of her shoulders and gave a small squeeze.
"Everything will be fine."
A half-hearted nod was Achlys's response.
"It's time to go."
Up and out of the cathedral they went and began their trek to Helia. Effortlessly, the albatross glided above them, obeying the orders it was given to "fly and follow." Achlys had not loosened her control over it and she had no intentions of doing so until it after Viego accepted it.
With the sensation of wisps fluttering in her stomach, the walk to the city was felt longer than usual. Achlys's mind kept replaying the events of the Harrowing to her and wondering if there was anything she could have done differently to be more useful. Karthus had assured her that she had done everything in her power, but that didn't stop a parade of supposeds from spinning through her mind.
She was so wrapped up in her mind trying to think of answers for anything Viego might ask her that she hardly even reacted when they arrived in Helia and would have remained lost in thought had Karthus not spoken to her.
"Watch your step, Achlys," he said.
His warning came just as they were approaching the crest of the hill that the shattered ruins of Helia's grand temple that once housed the Water of Life stood. The earth around the imposing structure was cracked with fissures that still radiated magic centuries later.
The magic clung to Achlys as salt from the sea clings to skin. It sent a shiver down her spine and made all her hair stand on end. But despite the chill, she felt invigorated. She had been so weak the last time she had been to this place that she had not noticed this sensation, but now that she was well she found it exhilarating. Her mind felt sharp, her breathing was cold and clear, and the magic within her seemed to dance. A quick glance up at her father and she imaged that he was feeling much the same, as the faint aura of light that hung about him shone brighter.
Once they stood before the building, Achlys turned and held her arms out before her.
"To me," she called, looking skyward to the gliding wraith.
The albatross circled around once and descended towards the girl's outstretched arms. Achlys caught it and stumbled back under the impact, forcing her father to catch her in turn.
"Careful," he said, easing her upright.
"Thank you," Achlys said, "I think I've got it now."
It did not appear that way to Karthus. The albatross kept fidgeting in her grip, threatening to knock Achlys over.
"Stop struggling," she hissed.
She wound her magic tighter and tighter around the wraith until it grew still and she was finally able to get an almost decent grip on it.
"Is that how you want to present yourself?" Karthus asked.
"It's the best I can do," she huffed as she strained to carry the bird, "So which way are we going?"
Karthus reached out with his magic and located Viego who was once again on a lower level.
"This way."
For a dozen steps, she carried the bird before dropping it.
"Let it follow," Karthus said, "if you wish to carry it, do so the final few steps."
"Yeah," Achlys sighed, "you're right. Ugh. Okay bird, follow."
Karthus led them through the ruins, traveling deeper into the dark until the only light was that given off by the him and Acheron. Achlys did not know how much time passed while walking in this darkness but soon another light became visible up ahead, radiating through the threshold of a decorative arch. The Black Mist curled in from every direction to the arch and likewise seemed to flow out in every direction from it. Even if Karthus had not told her, Achlys understood that that was where Viego was.
"I will enter first," Karthus said, "you and Acheron will follow in after I motion for you to do so."
"I will."
Achlys crouched down, cupped her hands, and held them out before her.
"Climb up," she ordered the albatross.
This time, with her will so thoroughly wrapped through its own, the wraith obeyed exactly as intended and stepped gently into her hands. Achlys stood slowly and balanced herself with Karthus's help.
"Everything will go well," he reassured.
"I know it will."
The chamber was as dismal as it had been the last time Karthus had visited it, an incomplete throne room furnished with two thrones on a raised platform, sconces flickering with green balefire, a banner so tattered it was impossible to tell which nation it originally belonged to, and little else more. Viego was seated upon one of these thrones, but unlike last time he did not appear lost in thought. Instead he sat looking towards the entryway with an impatient, eager eye.
"Karthus," he said the moment the lich came into view, "I have been waiting. Enter."
Karthus gave a short bow and entered the room.
"My king,"
"You have brought your daughter," Viego said, cutting off Karthus before he could say anything else, "tell her to enter."
Karthus moved to the side.
"Achlys," he called, "you are invited."
The young girl took a deep breath in.
"Listen," she whispered to the albatross, "obey a little longer and then we won't have to deal with each other anymore."
She reaffirmed her hold over the wraith a final time and willed it to be silent and still. Then she straightened her posture, held her head up, and entered the room. Behind her, Acheron's light flared with anticipation, causing her to cast a long shadow along the ground. It mingled with the ethereally blurred shadow of the albatross and made her shadow looked as though she had feathered wings of her own.
She took several steps forward and lowered her head in as low and polite of a bow as she could while holding the unmaneuverable wraith.
"My king," she said, mimicking her father.
Viego did not respond. For three agonizing seconds, Achlys kept her head lowered in silence until he spoke again.
"Why have you brought this animal here?"
His tone was not angry but rather confused.
"It's an albatross," Achlys said.
"You have not answered the question."
"I have brought it as a tribute for you. I killed it for you, uh, in your name. I killed it in your name and now I am offering it as tribute so that you know I wasn't doing nothing during the Harrowing," with each word she spoke, Achlys could feel her cheeks grow pink and her words begin to drift from what she had practiced, "I was trying my best, even though it wasn't very good, but I did try my best to serve in a way that I could and that was killing this bird. Please accept it."
"Is that so?"
"Yes, please accept the albatross tribute bird," she held out her arms as far as she dared without dropping the bird, "please."
Viego gave a small chuckle.
"I do not recall if I have ever been given a gift such as this before."
Another laugh escaped him but his eyes showed no mirth. They were distant, lost in fragmented memories.
"Have I?"
But the expression was only for a moment.
"Karthus," he continued, "you have done well in raising her. I knew allowing you to do so was the right choice."
"Thank you," Karthus said.
"Her name, what was it again?"
"Achlys."
"Yes, Achlys, that was it. Achlys, approach."
Achlys obeyed, moving until she stood before the raised platform.
"My lord," her heart skipped a beat and she focused all her attention on this time trying to recite her practiced response, "I regret that I was not able to answer your summons and accompany you on this last Harrowing. Still, I served as faithfully as I could and slayed this albatross in your name. I may not be able to fly across the sea, but this wraith can. I hope that it may serve in my stead until I am able to. Please accept my offering."
"Child, you are earnest," Viego said, his response also a practiced one, "I accept your gift and shall remember this generosity. I reward loyalty and can be generous in turn."
He held out his open hand.
"Go," Achlys willed the wraith, "go to him and perch on his arm in a way that isn't embarrassing please."
The albatross spread its wings, giving Achlys's shadow an even more impressive shape for one final moment, before it leapt into the air and glided to Viego. Suddenly, tendrils of Black Mist sprang up from Viego's hand ensnaring the bird like brambles and held it suspended over his hand. He admired the trapped wraith for a moment and ran the back of one of his fingers down a length of one of its extraordinarily long wings.
"It is an impressive animal, beautiful even," he commented, "and it is one that I will be sure to make use of."
He curled his fingers below the bird and the Mist closed around it like a tightening snare. It dug into the wraith and writhed across its body, then there was a snapping noise and the wraith made a pained shriek. Its beak looked like it shattered, becoming more jagged. Claws poked through the end of its webbed feet. Black Mist congealed around its head and chest, forming skeletal armor that appeared wrought iron in make. Feathers fell like leaves as its form jerked and thrashed from the magic coursing through it. Its pale light darkened into a radiant green the same color as the mark on its master's chest. And then it was still and Viego let it down on the floor beside his throne.
"There," Viego said approvingly, "that is a more fitting shape for it, would you not agree?"
Though it lasted for only a few seconds, the wretched transformation left Achlys dazed. She had still been connected to the wraith as the magic warped its form. The sensation was like a broken bottle dragged across skin and the resulting wounds being filled with cold mud. It was painful in a way she couldn't fully comprehend.
Pain. For those moments, the albatross was in pain. But wraiths weren't supposed to feel pain. Her father had always said that the dead should feel no pain, that death was liberation from it and all forms of mortal suffering.
But what about the wraiths Thresh would have her practice on? Or the knights she had seen Kalista throw spears through? Or the drakehound after it had been injured by the invader's strange weapon? Or all those voices she hard when she touched the Mist during a Harrowing? Had all those wraiths been in pain? Or did she only perceive it as pain because she was mortal? That had to be the reason because Achlys hated what any other answer implied.
And even if she wanted to think further on the matter, she could not. Viego had to be answered.
"It looks more dangerous," Achlys said neutrally, "is that what you wanted?"
"It is," he replied, running a finger along the now splintered beak of the wraith, "before, it would have been able to do little more than scout, but now look at it, I have given it the ability to fight," he withdrew his hand from the bird and tapped it against the armrest of the throne, "Ah yes, that reminds me why I have called you here."
Viego stood suddenly from the throne and descended from the platform, completely forgetting the albatross he had been occupied with a moment before. Achlys took a precautionary step back as he came to stand before her.
"I want to see what magic you are capable of," he said, "and what you are lacking in order to become a better servant."
"I can't fly," Achlys answered with the first thing that came to her mind.
"I am aware of that and that is something death will be able to mend, but I understand that it should not occur for several more years, not if I want your magic to continue to grow. I want to know how I can improve you now, which is why I need to see what you are currently capable of. Follow me."
He strode towards the doorway but stopped before Karthus.
"Karthus, you are dismissed," he continued to speak without giving the other wraith time to interject, "I wish to see her powers without any interference and without you making excuses for why she cannot do something. You may remain here or go elsewhere."
Karthus did not allow his emotions to show and nodded in response.
"I shall await your return here."
"And you," Viego turned back to Achlys, "dismiss your creature," he waved a hand towards Acheron, "I am only interested in what you are capable of alone."
"Acheron," Karthus called as he held out his hand, "come."
The construct turned between Karthus and Achlys and made a confused chirping sound. Achlys reached up and placed a hand on him.
"Go, Acheron," she said in a soothing voice, "I won't be in danger."
Acheron pressed into her palm and she had to push him back.
"Go. I will be fine."
He retreated, gliding over to Karthus's hand. Achlys smiled at the two of them.
"Everything will be fine."
"Good," Viego nodded, "now follow."