They lurked beyond the cavern's bend, she knew. They waited, twitching and sullen. Her cast away fingers, her jailers. Ranni halted, knuckles white as they gripped her husband's scarred hand. "Starlight?" he murmured, voice a breathy growl. She crouched to place the killing blade at her feet.
She scanned his noble face, the lines of his thick neck, the planes of his powerful chest. He was lax, assured in her victory. His confidence colored her own resolve and she chuckled, "To think I waver, no coward am I."
"No coward indeed, beloved." his blazing eyes crinkled in mischief, "Go forth unto your foe, fearsome one. I will mend you, ere your triumph."
Ranni breathed her tension through her teeth, eyes flickering from waiting entrance to watching mate. She shook the tension from her hands, bounced on her toes, she would need be the spirit of agility in this. Wain's martial lessons would be put to full use. She wrapped her hands about Owain's throat, minding his pulse, locking her gaze to his. "I shall steal a kiss from thee, sentinel." Ranni whispered. She trapped his lips before they could tease her.
A kiss she would steal, at this cliff's edge she would steal the greatest of embraces. Too much ice caught in her, too much frosted wind! She leapt upon her startled consort, wrapping legs about his hips even as her hands were fervent witness to his rising pulse. He lived! She lived! Form and flesh they had, but freedom they had yet to take! She would defeat them, Ranni would be free.
The heat of him, she yet to have her fill of. The scalding heat of his skin, the searing heat of his hands upon her flesh. The roaring heat of his soul pressed so close to hers, stars above this sacred heat gave her courage! She bit his lip with a smile, grinning wider at the small whine of frustration that escaped him as she reared back.
He pressed his brow to her's, glowing eyes closed, "A kiss so brazenly stolen must be doubly returned." his voice was hoarse, throaty in anticipation, "Fear not the vile beast's trembling, my brightest shining star. You are many qualities of wondrous power, but today you are wrath. You are victory, you are might and justice," his hold on her tightened, "you are loved."
She swallowed heavily, nodding, "I am loved." He placed her gently once more aground and she picked up the blade of slaying. Enough dallying!
Knowing he watched to catch her should she fall gifted her fearlessness. The fingers struck at them as soon as they'd entered the cavern. Incantation and sorceries both did the thing spit at her. Ranni dodged, dancing through the spells with a grin. She vanished, she appeared, she slashed at the beast. She leapt away.
A deadly rhythm did they set. Ranni sent forth her own magics, frost and hate and slicing spellblade. She laughed as she spent ever more mana. Her fingers were as vicious as she herself was, they held too much of her own knowledge of magic. Ranni dipped aside a spear of ice, the cold of it kissing her cheek. She laughed.
Her sentinel's eyes burned into her and it set chills of excitement down her spine. To know he witnessed her prowess made her wish to preen. She dared more dangerous spells, she taunted her foe with louder laughter. A stray glint blade slashed through the flesh of her side and she gasped. Focus, foolish girl! Oft did she chide Wain of arrogance she too possessed in great quantity. This wound served her right. She quickly waved away his worried call. This contest was dragging too long! Ranni refocused, knowing mother would need her soon.
Her grip upon the slaying blade was slipping, so covered in their joined blood. The things' wounded trembling was exhilarating. They were flagging! She threw unto them even more spells, masking her approach. No noise could they make as she stabbed at them savagely, but she knew in her heart they were screaming. Ranni screamed too, though hers was in triumph.
The fingers curled, they flailed, they made more magic. It mattered not. Ranni took the blows with grunts and gasps, she bore the spells with hissing pain. Still, her hold and her violence towards her fate could not be halted. With a final roar of defiance, she dragged her weapon twixt the digits. They spasmed for only a breath more before falling away from each other. Lo, she was victorious!
The impact of their death cast Ranni to her back. She curled to a ball, sobbing at the rush of pain. It was an agony of both soul and body, her long chained spirit ached as it tore itself free. This desperate fight had cost her, and taken a severe toll on her flesh; but the worth of this battle could not be overstated. She pressed cooled palms to heated face, wiping her sweat away feebly.
Ranni's eyes were closed, but she would recognize her consort's gentle touch and purposeful mana always. He cradled her to his lap, layering many spells of healing and fortitude to her battered body even as he whispered his praise. When at last she felt she could breathe without pain, she opened her eyes.
He smiled tightly at her, had he been struck too? "W-Wain." She groaned, arms around his neck. She was so very exhausted, but she knew mother yet required their aid.
His arms were the gentlest of coiled steel around her, their safety made her almost sleepful. "You were magnificent, my hero." he murmured.
She fought her heavy blinks, placing her teeth upon the skin of his neck, "Mine destiny is my own." she whispered fiercely.
"It is in safe hands then." he hummed.
She raised her face to kiss him softly, "Name me not a thief." She teased quietly. Owain's breathy laughter made her smile. Ranni allowed them to sit in the stillness for a few minutes. Respite….just a short respite.
Rennala's eyes took a few moments to adjust to the gloom within the tree. Calm was she now, logical. Betrayal she had named it, but she should see things with more sense. Radagon had…the loss had destroyed her but she was sure there had been reason worth such tragedy. Marika would never have forced the breaking of Caria and of their friendship lest it was absolutely needed. Rennala would find out why she had suffered, and whether it was in vain.
Rennala floated up, the crucified queen the only light in with the cloaking dark. The witch could sense the potency of Marika's bindings, she must be careful not to touch them. A presence lingered there and she could guess at its allegiance. Her guile would only hold for but a little while. The weight of so many shards had almost robbed her of her sense entire. That this projection separated her from their influence was a needed boon.
As Rennala flowed within arms reach of the tortured queen, the woman's eyes opened blearily, "Ren…how?" her whisper was hoarse, her eyes dull, her skin dry and peeling and bleeding. Rennala scowled. She was calcifying upon the dazzling cross, though the process seemed to have just begun.
A hand came unbidden to the Marika's side, almost touching the spear of red energy that pierced her midriff before Rennala yanked it back, chiding herself. Another fragment of death, to keep the queen unhealing. Precarious magic this was. Rennala watched the silver mist about her projection, it was holding for now. She did not smile, "I stand atop all others. We can speaketh somewhat freely for a time. The fingers art…distracted." A half-truth, to fool the digits. She was sure they would come to know of her passing soon enough.
Marika coughed weakly, gold dribbling from her parched lips, "My-witch." her gaze brightened.
Rennala's eyes widened, "Thine?" She would need to discover if Marika and Radagon were yet separate entities within one body, conjoined as one, or some mix of the two.
"Mine." Marika promised, teeth bared, voice fierce and guttural. How much was instinct? How much was the queen's feelings?
Rennala leaned forward, inspecting the gold that pierced her old friend's wrists, "Doth what trapeth thee, bindeth Radagon within?" Marika nodded tiredly, "To free thee both, this mother of fingers must die?" Marika nodded once more. "Whence doth it lurk?" The quiet wheezing of the queen was disquieting to Rennala.
Marika grit her teeth, "The l-land of shadow."
"How canst we enter the sealed domain?" Rennala pressed.
Marika heaved a breath, "I do-not, without mine magic…I doth not know."
"Shouldst we succeed in securin' a way within, how shall we tear down thy veil?" Rennala asked.
"The tower. Seek thy sister, she shall aid thee" Rellana held secrets as well then, it figured.
Rennala frowned, "What god didst thou speak of to Wain."
Marika scowled at her navel, "The beast within. It is order. Ringed beast, hated oaf. It is mine cage." her voice was becoming clearer. Was her mind beginning to re-ravel?
Rennala closed her eyes. Beneath the stench of long unwashed skin and long dried blood, Radagon's scent remained. Beneath the stately magic of the queen, Radagon's earnestness lingered. There were more pressing questions to ask, but selfishness took her. She clenched her fists, she was so close, "Afore me I see one but feel two." she whispered, afraid of the answer.
"Then…thou knowest our hated secret." Tears brimmed unheeded in the goddess' eyes, "First-" Marika wheezed, wincing, "I was one, then we were't two. That thing compeleth our rejoining as…punishment for shattering the ring. Radagon attempted rectification of mine grieving wrath, but it mattereth little. The mother is a spiteful thing. We must be unspindled soon, Ren, lest both art lost and neither remain."
This was grave news. Rennala absently wiped away her own tears, they did not have much time, "Can he…is it to Marika alone that I speak?"
"We art not entirely separate after such a forced crashing together, pieces of him linger within me just as shards of me remaineth in him. I am Radagon, of a sort. What parts are not wound through with forcing, meddling fingers. All will be madest bare to us both, ere thine leaving, I am sure. Mine bitter captor wilt not be long blind to thy spellcraft." Marika's eyes slid up to the curving cross of gold and she sneered at it. Then Rennala's suspicions were correct.
There was a viciousness in her that thrilled at seeing Marika suffer. A vindictive sort of evil that writhed in her veins. To see he who had turned from her and she who had ordered it in such agony…the ache in her chest flared not only in heartbreak. Her hands twitched, to comfort or to punish, she was unsure. Rennala knew this savagery, her madness with it, had passed to her children, had led them down ever darkening paths. She clenched her jaw, unwilling to let hate erode her a moment longer.
"Then my love shall know I work to rescue him." her treacherous hands rose unprompted and brushed the matted bangs from the hanging queen's brow.
Rennala sighed, humoring her own nonsense. Swift but gentle winds unmade Marika's braids to brush and rework them, a small cleansing spell unsoiled her hanging skirt, rinsed her skin of lingering grime, and laid an icy balm atop her many crumbling wounds. The goddess shuddered out a sob, sighing in small relief, "Rennala, I-am sorry. For it all." For a brief moment, Marika's form was replaced with Radagon's, Rennala blinked away her own delusion.
Radagon would know her love after she left, he would recognize her tending. She did not meet Marika's eye, focusing instead on her little magics, "Was…was my life a lie? Was I naught but b-broodmare? Naught but simpering tool?"
Marika growled, "Never. We wanted to-" she shook her head, " We- I was afraid thine knowing would lead to thy death. Radagon falling for thee was not…I didst not think such love would steal my-his wits so. I detested ripping him from thee, but his godly blood wast needed. He was spark to plotted flame." Marika panted, face contorting in twisted pain, "He hated me for it, but I am master, I forced his hand that we might both be freed. All is my fault, Ren, layest not too much loathing at Radagon's feet. Thou'rt beloved beyond reason." Though they were Marika's words, Rennala saw clear, Radagon's influence. The tender way in which Marika spoke made Rennala's throat tighten. Radagon's visage supplanted Marika's once more, though she did not try to fight away her rising mania. The two flickered in Rennala's eyes and she was slowly being consumed.
Then…this was a rabid attempt to free them all of this looming, binding god? Rennala had not been disdained? That she had been coddled by consort and queen infuriated her, but that it had come from love and worry soothed her smally. Forgiveness and wrath and lurking violence churned in her gut, she needed to know more.
"Beloved by king alone? Or…queen as well?" What was she doing? Oh, she was a bewildered fool in the face of this impossibility! If both had loved her so, then both had suffered without her aside them, both had mourned what they'd deemed needed. If Rennala was idiotic enough to forgive one for leaving her, then should she not forgive both?
Marika leaned forward in her bonds, the hated light that speared her sizzling anew. Her face was scant inches away and it seemed Rennala was just as trapped as she, "Even splintered and divided, still a love whole doth we two feel. My… our heart is treacherous in its longing, its burns for thee, its sear undiminished. I shall be p-punished for aiding thee, but a million times more wouldst I make this choice." Such longing did she hear in her heaving words, such poignant yearning. It had Rennala dazed. She knew Marika loved Godfrey with nigh the same passion Rennala herself loved Radagon. Had the queen's love of a friend been overwhelmed by Radagon's love of his wife?
"How canst we slay our foes? How can I free thee?" she murmured.
"Fire. Seeketh mine children of dream-ed fire. Messmer and Melina both were't needed but-" Marika choked out a sob.
"Melina lives anew." Rennala interjected.
"H-how?" Marika breathed. Her face was a hopeful sort of anguished.
Rennala brushed the tears from her friend's face, "There is not time enough for mine gloating. Continue."
"Oh, Ren." Marika's smile was watery but bright, "With flamed entwined, enfire the tree, release destined death, entrance shalt be given. Freedom must be stolen." Marika's straining cadence flowed for a moment to Radagon's smooth tenor. Rennala swallowed heavily.
Then, she had nigh all the answers she'd sought and time to spare. Preposterously, Rennala closed the gap betwixt them but a little more. She could not tear her eyes from Marika's mouth. Her mind was being exceptionally cruel, "And if I shouldst kiss these crack'ed lips of thine, wouldst he feel it?" Rennala could scarcely believe her foolishness, but she could feel Radagon within reach. She could sense him, nigh taste him in the air. Such proximity to her lord was a frenzying flame.
Marika's uneven breaths hitched as Rennala's hand found her cheek, "When n-next he fully wakes. Though, thou wouldst kiss only q-queen now. Forgive me, Renalla, but mine eyes and soul art in such disarray. I see my friend, but sense my wife. We… I wouldst taste thee once more." her voice was low, timid but spined with desire. Marika blinked rapidly, as if surprised at herself.
Madness this was, but was that unexpected? Rennala had long been mad. Her husband was afore her at last. His shape, his scattered soul, it mattered not at all. He would know she came for him, he would see bare her still loving heart. He would have her long forsworn love. She knew she began this forgiveness too swiftly, offered clemency with too easy a hand. She cared not.
She held Marika's weary face in careful, trembling fingers. Her thumb parted the queen's lips delicately. Rennala was entranced by the small noise of desperate desire that came forth from the eternal one. A woman starved of water, lost in blistering desert. Rennala felt the queen's fractured heat, the binding magic brushed against her senses as she brought her mouth but a thought's breadth from Marika's, "Thou'rt a great evil. A villain and a scoundrel art thou." she murmured, gaze heavy. "But so too doth thee host mine love. Why must I adore thee so? Why must I be so weak?"
"Rennala." Marika whined. Rennala heard Radagon's embering lust through Marika's lips. A thousand moments of intimacy flashed through her spirit. The sacred heat of her husband, his searing warmth and scalding passion. She wished to hold this love that would burn her in her hands. They were callused now, it could not hurt her, surely.
She wrapped Marika's legs about her waist, the eternal one crying out in anguish at the pressure relieved from her shoulders. Rennala was mindful not to touch the spear of death, "Ah- argh. Ren- Rennalla." Marika cried, legs tightening, pulling Rennala to her.
Rennala could no longer deny herself, could no longer make her hated -loved half await her. She pressed her lips softly to Marika's, a dance they'd twirled countless times. It should not have surprised her that Marika's kiss was twinned to Radagon's in method, though painted in laggardly exhaustion. She reared from her lover with a gasp, growling in glacial rage. "Wirra, mine heart is cold, my mind crumblin', and I...I am not so good as I wished." She pushed forward again, now with pillaging tongue. She worried for Caria, that its queen was so selfish, that its queen was such a raving loon as to invite this destruction.
Rennala grinned, rejoicing at their shared breaths. Queen and consort shimmered afore her and she was hopelessly bewitched. Heat flooded the core of her at Marika's little whimpers. Saliva bound them in a dripping arc, Rennala's eyes were wide and her breath came far too quickly. Her blood had only ever sang so wildly for one man.
Radagon.
Marika pulled ever forward against her bonds, gripped Rennala's hips harder in manic search, "M-more." she pleaded, " We beg thee. To know thy guiding love anew after such long torture and loneliness. I- we-"
Rennala crashed her mouth once more to Marika's, the iron of her brutishness metallic upon her tongue, the tang of salt from mingled tears a blasphemous spice. Lo, was she lost. She cared not whose flesh she held, the soul within had long held her devotion. This was a wretched thing she did, to embrace a woman so wounded, but Marika's fervid whispers spurred her on. Rennala's shaking hands roved in joyous treason. She cupped a goddess' breast, but heard her king's cries. She plundered a queen, but knew only her consort's moans of passion. She was a madwoman! Senses given only to depraved adoration, she was-
Her spell made its weakening known with rising mist and Rennala cursed. Marika wept softly as they parted, her eyes miserable and hungry and scorching, "Thou'rt sacred silver, mine s-saving grace." Both women were a shuddering mess, breathless and flushed. She laughed weakly with misplaced joy, this was absurd.
Rennala met the heat and the ache of Marika's stare squarely, they were partners in this insanity, "Thou shall answereth in full, all mine questions. When I hath freed thee, when this mother and this god art slain." She was not done, too much still was there to say, but still could she feel her spell continuing to fray. She once more wiped away the queen's tears with tender hands.
Marika's eyes, Radagon's eyes, would not leave her own. The gleam was clear and bright now, "When we art free, when we hath won." she breathed.
"Aye." Rennala murmured. "I knoweth not if I shall be able to fool these wards, ere we part. I wouldst have as much of thee as I am able, afore I am gone, my lord." It was another little lie to fool the mother when she returned to her watch. Rennala had planted the most secret of locating spells atop Marika's tongue, not that the disoriented royal would have known.
"Thine eyes art clear when mine art not, it seemeth." Marika smiled shakily.
Those had been Radagon's words. Rennala again conquered Marika's lips, lost in the familiarity. She must recommit the feeling to perfect memory before her spell broke. The queen's whimpers, her shudders and her crying gasps, all were captured by watching eyes and keen ears and a heart that crowed its supremacy.
Rennala awoke to burning flesh. Her yearning dream was snatched by waking fire of gold. It was her flesh that burned. The queen rolled upon the ground of the throne pavilion to no avail. It seemed her screams made no noise, or perhaps, she simply could not hear them over the roar of the shards. The pain was too great, it ate her mind whole and left nothing with which she could think.
ORDER. ORDER. ORDER. ORDER. Argh! Be silent! Be still! Stupid, imbecilic, beasts! They would not heed her splitting will! Her sight was tinged only in gold. She saw praying perfumers, her own frantic knights. The shard bearers running about like panicked children. Miriel chanted, Miriam casted. Through cursed gold she saw Sellen weep, hands splayed in spell that would not take. Ah. Hah! When would Rennala learn humility? Her outstretched arms were wreathed in holy fame, her robes falling away in whirling ember. As always, she'd been arrogant.
She'd gambled on this spearing rite and she'd failed. Ranni would not arrive in time. Rennala could not muster the concentration to pull the runes from herself. Not with this pain, not with this punishing flame. She'd no mana left to try, even if she could. ORDER. ORDER. OR- Silence! Obeisance! Oafish fiend! Her writhing was panicked, but the flame grew unabated. Rennala knew she wept, but her tears were steam from her failing eyes. The Full Moon Queen would die here, laid low in the city of her greatest folly. She laughed, but could not hear it.
How could one's sight grow dim whilst enshrined in fire? How could one feel so very cold when wrapped in such singeing heat? Through her breaking knowledge she felt her body moving, but felt not the hands upon her.
Then a rune was ripped away.
The idea of pain turned to true understanding of it as some scattered remnant of what was once queen returned. Agony ripped noiseless howl from her.
Another rune was snatched.
Rennala could hear her own screams now, but it was no great gift. She could hear the lessening of her own inferno and the cacophony of her watchers. She could hear her flesh burn.
A third rune was taken.
Rennala could see again. She observed her skin rekniting. She eye'd the tears on Sellen's face and the trembling of Tricia's ever-steady hands. She saw now her daughter, bloodied but alive. Her gaze lastly fell upon her golden son, the gargantuan man had wrapped her in his cloak and pulled her to his lap. She regarded his expression of fear with rising sadness. ORD-
The last rune was lifted from her.
Rennala could not help her own tears. She was alive and she was her own again! Her children crowded round her, her friends laid gentle touch to her violently shaking body. The queen wailed. The horrid things were apart from her now, they could not- her mind was her own! Her cries of distress could not yet be consoled and the words of the worriers aside her went unheeded.
Moon above the weight of the things was too great. To carry four was to invite obliteration. The recollections of her frantic spellcasting returned and she faintly lauded her ability to see her plan through. Even just shouldering the shards for a few moments had almost killed her, they lashed at her for making them the fool. Rennala tried to even her breath, gratefully accepting a water skin.
She shifted in her seat, cloak tight around her trembling shoulders. Her palm found Owain's cheek and Ranni's reaching hand. "Pray, I shall…truth shall be bared. I need only…rest, I must…" She slumped to her son's shoulder, spent.
Osgalath was bullying the sentinel candidates again. A sight that set Owain's restless heart at ease. With his return to Leyndell, many had come forth to join the knighthood, with a few of their rank even attempting sentinelship.
It was Owain's policy to not even entertain a recruit if they were unable to ride properly. He had been allowing Shaselfa, Oswald's horse, to take charge of the duty; but Osgalath enjoyed it as well.
His beloved warhorse was as prideful as he was, and had a nose for troublemakers. Owain posed it as a test of ability, but truly it was a measure of temperament. Any knight that attempted to bully the steed into submission was quickly humiliated by the surly horse. It was a test reserved for arrogant initiates, one they would need to pass to take up a halberd. He watched the latest attempt be bucked from the saddle to slam into the nearby rampart that the training ground was built into. The small crowd of spectators winced in unison. Owain hid a chuckle.
He'd paused the requirement until now, but Owain was sure Osgalath was happy to oblige once more. Reginald had taught the steed how to breath massive blasts of fire and watching the recruits scramble about the training area to escape the heat was just what Owain needed.
Mother Rennala still slept after her rite to fool the tree. Ranni too, rested after her battle with the fingers. Sellen had gone again with Lady Fortissax to collect Godwyn's soul, and the capitol was peaceful after mother's storm. Owain though, brooded. He would need to take up the shards once more soon. His parents and aunt had bid him prepare himself.
His father had actually pulled him aside, worried for mother. Apparently she had been plotting the deaths of any remaining black knives. Owain would need to relieve her of the instigation of her shard before she went forth to mete out death to those she did not know were in his service. He clapped as an initiate actually managed to gain a seat upon Osgalath. The man was bucked before too long but Owain noted his skill.
Winter was in full swing, but he could not delay his northward journey. He must apprise himself of the haligtree's state and of Malenia's…wellbeing. He worried greatly for his cherished princess. After what Radahn had recounted, Owain suspected Miquella's influence was to blame for the disaster of Caelid. Though if the prince had charmed his sister, if she had requested it, or if she had chosen the path on her own, Owain would need to determine.
He worried at the return of the runes. The three had already been so heavy, could he truly bear a forth? The peace he felt had been so hard won, this quietness behind his eyes was serene. It would be stolen as soon as the runes returned to his heart. How had his queen ever managed to possess the ring entire for so many years? Owain sighed.
He spent the rest of the day supervising the training fields, looking for exceptional knights. He was just beginning to gather himself to return to Ranni when a page ran to him, panting from her sprint.
"Highlord! The carian queen calls for you." the girl called out.
Owain nodded, waving her towards a nearby fountain. He shook the tension from his shoulders, it seemed he would know clear his path forward soon enough.