The tour he led the two dragons on during their walk back to the main building was a tense affair. He rather felt like a lamb running before two hungry wolves. Owain could tell that neither sister truly cared about the historical architecture of the Carian Manor, but for once, he was uncomfortable with silence.
As he closed the heavy oaken doors of the small library he used as his study behind them, he squared his shoulders and hardened his resolve. He'd had servants run ahead to prepare afternoon tea, but both ladies only stared at him coldly. "Have you considered my offer, my lady?" He sat at the large chair across from them, back to a small fireplace.
"Yes, Wain. We shall join you." Lady Fortissax's eyes bore into his own.
He stared stupidly for a moment, it could not be so easy. "I will have rooms prepared for you both at once, then-"
"There are two conditions, sentinel." Lady Lansseax gingerly picked up a proffered teacup. "The first; you will provide my sister with whatever assistance she requires in her endeavor to revive Lord Godwyn." Where her sister's human form was lithe and delicate, Lady Lannseax's was tall and brawny, tan of skin and pale haired.
Lady Fortissax too, picked up a cup, warming it with small magic from her palm. "The second; you will provide my sister with whatever aid she seeks in locating Lord Vyke."
At the man's name, Lady Lansseax bared her teeth. It was odd to see in her human form, but no less intimidating. "He is not dead! My heart can yet sense his, he lives!" Her green irises flickered amber.
Owain raised his hands placatingly. "I believe you, my lady. I agree to both conditions gladly. My forces have secured all of Limgrave, Liurnia, and all of the southern peninsula apart from Castle Mourne. If Lord Vyke had been spotted, the news surely would have been passed to me. Do you have an inkling of where he might be?"
The two sisters looked to each other and nodded in vision; Lady Lansseax breathed out slowly, trying to calm herself. "I…thought I had caught his scent in the northern mountains, but some magic yet hides him from me."
What could fool a dragon's nose? Ranni might know, but could he let any of the three meet without him? "I will not make for Leyndell until I have secured Castle Mourne and Caelid, but I will give you a sealed letter. Lord Morgott will aid you, and you have leave to avail yourself of the forces of Leyndell. Ranni may yet hold answers on the nature of this befuddling magic, but I need both of your vows that you will not bring her harm."
After locking eyes for several moments, as one, they proclaimed, "We vow no harm shall befall the Carians by our hands."
Owain smiled as he stood; his princess had once been friends with these sisters, perhaps they could be again. "Then, I bid you welcome once more to Caria Manor."
The queen called for him the next day. Her chambers were much changed since her arrival; the windows were opened wide, fresh flowers lined the shelves. Owain bowed as he entered. "I am here, mother."
"Come, child." She patted the bed beside her. It seemed today was a more lucid day. She continued as he sat. "Mine preparations are complete, but thine are not."
"Mother?" He said, hesitantly. He did not wish to grow too excited before he knew for sure of what she spoke.
"Do not gawp so, Wain. It is unbecoming of a prince consort." He schooled his face. "Empower thee thy great rune atop Stormveil's tower. We shalt need its binding properties. Seek thee Ranni's-her-." The queen broke into a sob that appeared to surprise both of them. "Retrieveth her form from her tower."
Owain could hardly contain himself! At last, the day of Ranni's great healing was near! He wrapped the queen in a vehement hug, laughing raucously as he spun her around the room. Her long mane of dark waves was frazled as he kissed her pale cheeks. "I will depart at once, mother! Thank you, noble and wonderful queen!"
Queen Rennala sputtered as he placed her delicately back on the bed. "I-well. Yes, Wain, go!
He made for the fortress at once. He'd already been intending to journey there that day, Owain would finish his prior business as swiftly as he could before continuing to the divine tower. The main courtyard of Stormveil was rarely silent now. It had taken a few months, but with the coordination of Owain, Oswald, and few other newly promoted sentinels, training had begun of new pages, squires, and those knight candidates that may yet achieve the rank of sentinel. Owain stood before a line of those his own squire had deemed most fit to eventually take up a halberd. One among them had recently been stirring up trouble, even gainsaying Oswald during training. This was unacceptable.
Owain could tell him apart easily, he stood cocksure in the middle of the small group, slightly ahead of his peers. His eyes met the commander's own with far too much self assuredness. Owain delicately placed his great spear on the cobbled stone before the upstart, the man's eyes looking at him with growing hesitance. "Pick it up." The knight-candidate rushed to obey, heaving at the haft of the gilded weapon with all his strength; struggling to lift even a single end of it.
He staggered back, red faced and stammering. "My- my lord, it is too heavy, I can-" Owain halted him with a raised hand.
The courtyard was silent now, all the many trainees pausing to watch the scene unfold, it was uncommon for Owain himself to step in. "That spear is the symbol of my command and the mark of my station." He crouched to pick the weapon up with a hand, easily twirling it in his grip. "It is much lighter than a sentinel's halberd, yet you can not even lift it. Odd, that one so feeble should think themselves worthy of challenging my squire"
The recruit flushed red as he knelt hastily. "Please, forgive my impertinence, my lord!"
Owain slammed the butt of his spear on the stone at his feet with a resounding boom, the man falling back in fear. "You may ask Sir Oswald for that forgiveness. Should I hear tell of anymore arrogance from you or any other, I will personally see to your training." He leaned forward in a crouch to match the cowering recruits eye level. "I have not my squire's temperance.
The courtyard echoed with a chorus of 'Aye lord'. Owain gave the recruit a small nod before continuing towards the base of the tower. He had not the time to waste on training!
The two fingers that awaited him were dead and hardened; windswept and rain scoured by decades of neglect. Blind devotion and jaded disillusion warred in his chest. The man he'd been when he'd first awoken in that far away chapel was no more, but his naive reverence for all that was golden yet lingered in some small corner of Owain's heart. He trudged his way forth; a mirror of the great rune of binding springing up betwixt the withered digits as he neared. The sentinel huffed at his own hesitation, he would take it and begone to Liurnia! Owain thrust forth a hand, snatching up the great rune.
Unfathomable power filled him, surged through his limbs, spread insideously through his core. He felt strength unending, strength enough to pull all the Lands Between together by sheer force. The sentinel collapsed to his knees, trying to steady his breath. Was this the madness of a shard bearer? An ungodly body unfit to handle such power?
He roared out his defiance, struggling to rise to his feet, but his shaking legs kept giving out beneath him. Fie! He could do this, he must! It was through this power that Ranni would be restored! Owain did not know how long he lay there, mastering himself, but it was late noon by the time he stumbled up from the cold stone. He felt dangerous arrogance fighting to overtake him, he felt the uncaring force of godhood. Owain would not falter now though, not when he was so close.
It was as he descended to the lower terraces of the tower and looked out over Limgrave that an unexpected memory once more robbed him of his senses.
"And that is checkmate, Wain." Godwyn's mischievous smile taunted him from across their makeshift table.
"I suppose it would be no fun if I were the only one winning, Wyn. Congratulations." Owain laughed at his lord's sigh of exasperation.
"That is ten to nine this month! Thou'rt hardly ahead."
"Ah, but I am ahead; and victory feels rather good."
Godwyn waved him off with a laugh, getting up to lean on the broad banister of the open balcony. "I know Ranni hast been teaching thee mine weaknesses, that is hardly fair." His golden hair flowed in the heavy breeze.
Owain pushed away from their finished board as well. "Do not act as if Lady Fortissax has not been coaching you behind my back." He glanced at some of the scorched stone pieces of their chess set.
Godwyn threw up his arms with a laugh. "So little escapes thine gaze, it is no wonder that the twins have such difficulties sneaking out of the palace."
"I am on holiday, my lord. Pray, do not remind me of the hellions that await my return." Godwyn smiled broadly and wrapped an arm around his shoulders.
"Such golden days will not last forever, Wain. Treasure their youth whilst thou can."
Owain blinked away tears as he clutched the very same banister from his memory. It had been some time since a memory of such potency had returned to him. His chest felt hollow, he forewent his planned detour to check on Oswald, instead choosing to appear as near to the Carian study hall as he could.
Clear across Liurnia from the manor, he had yet to personally visit the site, but had sent a few sentinels out to apprise its condition. He had been pleasantly surprised that Preceptor Miriam and many of the students of the academy had taken up residence there in the wake of the shattering to defend the tower of knowledge. The ride to the tower was swift, Torrent had been dormant for too long and Owain was more than happy to let the noble stallion run to his heart's content. It was early evening by the time the sentinel arrived at the study halls massive doors. He did not need to wait overlong after knocking.
Preceptor Miriam herself greeted him with a bow. "My lord, I saw you approaching from my study, forgive me for the lack of a proper welcome."
Owain removed his helm, smiling at her in what he hoped was a kindly manor. "It is I who must beg pardon, good preceptor. Forgive my lack of warning, I am here on urgent business. I have need to visit atop the divine tower." The woman's eyes, lined but sharp, studied him quietly.
"No time for tea then, my lord? Alas, I had hoped to apprise myself of the royal family's condition." She gestured him inside.
"I would have you journey to the manor, we are in the midst of a great work and could well use your insight. For now, know that Lady Ranni and the Queen are safe, and I will see to my lord brothers soon enough."
She inclined her head, hiding a smile behind a hand. "I will do as my prince commands, expect me by the next moon. Allow me to transport you to the tower's base, my lord." Owain nodded and in a flash of blue magic they appeared at the end of the long bridge that connected the study hall to the divine tower. Preceptor Miriam held up a hand in caution. "I have had this entrance sealed since the shattering, I know not what lurks in yon place, but I beg you be on your guard."
Owain regarded the mist covered bridge warily before nodding once more to the preceptor. "I thank you, Preceptor Miriam. We will await you eagerly." The older woman bowed before disappearing in another blue flash. He summoned Torrent, eyes sharp. Owain would not be one to take such a warning lightly.
The sentinel was only halfway across the span when he felt a dark change in the air. Ancient magic the likes of which he knew he'd faced previously, but its origin did not come to him. Before his eyes, a horrific creature with rolls of bulbous white robes, lined with fat and fashioned of patchwork skin, appeared in black fire. A Godskin Noble.
His unknowing mind screamed out the danger, he cast a great blessing of the tree swiftly. The serpentine man smiled as he thudded forward, revealing rows of blackened teeth. Owain eyed the trembling of his own fingers with a deep scowl. The ordeal at the hold had shaken him, if he were wise he would face this threat atop horseback. Torrent could maneuver with greater ease than a normal warhorse, a sentinel was at his most dangerous while mounted, Owain would have the advantage.
He dismounted.
His pride had been rankled, his confidence shook. Fie! He was Lord Commander of the Order of the Tree Sentinels. He was mighty! Owain would not be controlled by the fear of death. If he allowed such fear to fester, it would kill him just as surely as any blade. So much of his skill had returned to him, but still so much more there was that was yet lost. Moments where his mind still caused his body to trip up; a feeling of deep familiarity that was just out of reach. Owain had once stood at the pinnacle of martial prowess, he had combated dragons and demigods! He would not let this blasphemous mongrel give him pause. He shrugged his shield into place, leveling his great spear at his foe. "I will not offer you clemency, wretch. Your robes denote your sins. Come then, gluttonous one, feast upon your own death!"
The first wave of back fire scorched against his shield, he could its heat even through his enchanted armor. Owain charged forth, sidestepping rapid rapier thrusts and impaling his foe cleanly with his great spear. The screech it let out only further gave proof to its lack of humanity. It was far more beast than man.
He was blown back by the sudden swelling of the robes, his spearhead cleaving through the spinning robes as he braced himself. More screeches as the godskin flung its massive weight against him. Were Owain a normal man, he would have been flattened and slain right there; but this monster did not face a normal man. Owain bellowed as he rallied against the weight, heaving his foe above his head and slashing with his great spear as it passed.
They clashed like this several more times, its swordsmanship was excellent and its apparent weight hid the speed of a serpent. Twice, did the monster's huge rapier pierce the joints of Owain's armor. Alas for the beast, it would take more than that to slay him. Once more springing free of his opponent, he found his moment of victory as the rapier dipped too low to guard its head. In a flash, Owain shifted his grip to hurl his spear through the thing's smiling maw; the force of his throw flinging the Godskin to its back many feet away, where it lay twitching upon the hard stone.
Owain let his shield slip from his arm to rest against his leg, bending at the knees to take great gulps of air before bellowing out his victory at the snake's corpse. He alone was the strongest, he alone stood atop all others! He- no! That was the rune speaking through him. The sentinel worked to slow his raging heart. He must not allow the great rune to rule him. Owain was a man of discipline, he would not fall pray to the allure of power.
He strode forward, plucking his spear from the thing's ghastly face, not giving it a second glance. His destiny yet awaited him atop the tower!
She waited just past the archway. Owain stood rooted to the stone steps. Ranni waited for him, he could feel it in his bones; but the sentinel could not make his way to the tower top. He pounded a fist into his chest once, twice; come on, man! Dare not falter! He rushed out past the archway in a blind stumble.
Owain had been strong for his princess, for her mother. He'd reassured his beloved that he was yet hale, that her half death had not ruined him. Alas, he could not bear the sight of her charred corpse! Horror, such terrible horror! He fell to his knees, great spear and shield clattering to the ashen stone. Oh sweet Ranni, what had his death caused her to do? Owain threw off his helm, desperate for air he could not seem to breathe; it was still too choked with ash and death!
The sentinel shucked off his gauntlets, wiping streaming tears with bare hands. His poor bride, he had failed her! He was a wretch, he was unworthy of the love she shone upon him. Owain crawled forth, gingerly slipping his arms under her still smoldering corpse. Her true flesh was much diminished, so much smaller than he remembered. His breath came in choking gasps now, unable to halt his sobbing, unable to breathe in the horrid stench of his greatest failure.
Delicately, a memory overlay his view.
Her eyes did glitter ever so beautifully, he idly wondered if she could read his mind as she batted her long lashes at him. "Dare not say mine beauty has stolen thine tongue, Wain." Ranni laughed breathily, tracing his jaw with a lithe finger.
"How am I to speak at all, when you steal the very words from my mouth, my dear?" She scoffed and pulled him by the front of his shirt into a slow kiss.
"From the look of thee, one would hardly imagine thou'rt such a charmer." At his grin she continued. "Tell me, art thou to warm my bed tonight? Or must thee scamper back to thy lord?"
Owain chuckled, what a woman she was. "My lord is gracious, he has given me tonight for myself."
She frowned at him, tugging him along at the wrist. "For yourself?"
"For you, Starlight." When had she mastered him so completely?
Ranni pecked his cheek with a laugh. "That is better, Sunbeam."
Owain's eyes met the burnt husk of his princess; it was too much. There, alone atop the tower, holding the body of his beloved; Owain mourned. He mourned all the days he'd wasted dallying in Leyndell. He mourned all the days he'd lost because he'd been too blind to stop his world from shattering. He mourned the wedding they'd yet to hold, the children they'd yet to have. Owain mourned; and he wept.