"Here?" Ranni moved her cooling fingers down the plane of his shoulder.
"Ah-yes." He groaned out. This was heavenly, he was delighted with this surprise. Their quarters at the upper garrison were freshly cleaned, his charges all were surrounded by hundreds of his soldiers, Owain would allow himself this one evening to relax.
She shifted slightly in her place astride his hips, running chilled hands down the ever tense iron of his shoulders. "I love thy muscles, mine great warrior."
"I am glad they serve another purpose besides function." He groaned, eyes closed.
Her laugh was husky, unguarded and amused. "I love thee, Wain. I know I have been difficult of late, and I thank thee for thy patience." Ranni kneaded at his lower back. "Thou'rt greatly treasured and adored. My spirit blooms only in thine light, sweet Sunbeam."
Owain almost began to cry at the unexpected declaration. He knew her feelings, but he'd never grow tired of hearing her speak the words. He wished his wife would see herself through his eyes for once. Hers were far too unkind when faced with her reflection. "I would be lost without you, my brightest shining star." He murmured.
She was silent for a moment, busy hands working through a knot. He almost dozed off waiting for her reply until her heard small sniffles. "Wain." Before he could turn, he felt her press herself against his back, her lips coming to kiss his ear. "I am fine. My heart only aches in joy, my dear. That one so wretched as I might be allowed to love one so noble as thee."
He felt her fingers intertwined with his. "You are not wretched." he whispered.
She huffed a crackling laugh. "My sweet man." She pressed uncounted kisses into his cheek and hair. "Mine mine mine."
He carefully shifted an arm, the palm of his free hand coming to rest against her cheek. "Yours yours yours." He promised.
Lansseax was exhausted. Traveling as a human always took its toll upon her, what with all the social cues these creatures expected her to undertake, but she needed to be sure the queen would arrive in the capitol safe. It was not that she did not trust the skill of good Owain and his men, it was that far too much rested on one woman's continued good health. She and sister were aligned in this, the Carian queen must reach Leyndell safely, else they lose her skill and likely the alignment of her family.
Owain's oaths would always see him firmly at little Fortissax' command, but the man was spread too thin already. The arrogant princess might snatch him away afore they could, should the worst come to pass. So it was that Lansseax rode in a carriage in the company of the young princess Melina and her sworn maiden, Therolina. Both children were poor conversationalists, but it bothered the dragon little, she had not the mind to keep them entertained. At least Melina had enough sense to stay out of Queen Rennala's sight, that was a headache Lansseax could live without.
Lansseax had been postponing the needed conversation with the carian princess, but now that they were almost a week north of Dectus and nearing the start of the road that led to Volcano Manor, she conceded it was nigh time they spoke. The dragon waited until camp had been made that evening, and a small dinner had been served and eaten, to seek out the girl. Lansseax was wary of disturbing Owain's rest, as she, and the rest of the camp, knew the man had been having rather…powerful night terrors since their departure from the grand lift, if his nocturnal cries of anguish were any indication. Lansseax was of the mind that it was the addlement of the dual runes he carried. They could not overpower his waking will, so at his slumbering mind they tore instead. She had no basis for this, but her gut told her she was correct. Owain may not have been the mightiest or most cunning of men, but the man had discipline and willpower in spades.
"Princess, might we speak?" She asked the towering redhead. It was novel for her to have to look up to meet a mortal's eyes. The abject exhaustion on the woman's face would have made Fortissax happy.
Princess Ranni turned in surprise from the entrance to her tent, Lansseax had caught her just before she'd retired for the night. "Aye, Lady Lansseax." The princess eyed the rising moon, then her tent. "A moment."
"I will wait." Lansseax conceded, she knew well, the need to keep a husband safe.
"Henry, Friso; do not leave mine husband's side." Both men saluted with twinned calls of affirmation. Ranni looked about for a moment before spotting a third sentinel. "Werner, accompany us, near apace." The sentinel rushed to stand at her back. "Alright, Lady Lansseax, let us take a walk."
Owain had clearly left instructions to his sentinels that his wife was not to be allowed to wander alone. In addition to the boy Werner, some fifty sentinels surrounded them at all sides. They had the courtesy to remain at a distance. Lansseax would have preferred little Oswald as their only guard, but the boy had gone off on some errand of Owain's at the Altus junction.
"For what your schemes wrought unto my sister and her line, I despise you, Ranni." Lansseax was a forthright woman, and she would not start being indirect now. "You are the slayer of Godwyn the Golden and Owain the Burnished both. Without your magic, they could not have been slain, the shattering entire would like never have happened at all. "
The princess clasped pale hands at her waist. "The shame of my desperation wilt never truly leave my heart."
Lansseax' anger was a distant thing, overpowered as always by her worry for her pretty bird. She gazed at the northern mountains mournfully. The dragon endeavored to spark but a lick of the flame of her younger sister's wrath, that this human might understand the weight of her wrongs. "Only half the sin has been struck, and by the queen you so detest." she barked a short laugh, "I had considered you…friend. Now, you are naught but useful tool. No trouble wilt I or my sister seek to gift unto you, and your husband holds tight our solemn vows that we shall not harm you."
"Should I thank thee?" Ranni's voice was small.
The grief Lansseax found upon the carian's face irked her. "We need your mother's wit and your lover's means, our need for you is only so great as it compels their compliance."
"I will make it right, Lady Lansseax." The princess' voice was hardly more than a whisper now.
Lansseax decided to dig a deep a blade as she could. "It is surprising, human. How can so righteous a man, love so wretched a craven? You do not deserve the grace he shows, nor the love he gives." She laughed bitterly, her own anger at the forefront now. "What a cosmic irony. That your family is the one that is being mended, yet mine remains broken."
Princess Ranni flinched at her harsh words, halting and turning to Lansseax with eyes earnest. "I am trying to be better than I once was! I will say it now, and I shall say it once more to your noble sister," she bowed low, "My deepest, most fervent apologies for the great wound I have done to your family, and for the mayhem mine blind panic wrought."
The dragon was surprised, dumbfounded even. She'd never expected the ever prideful princess of Caria to bow her head and admit her sins, much less apologize. The glint of falling tears caught her eye. Lannseax could see this apology was heartfelt, perhaps some of the lord commander's honest nature was finally spreading to his wife.
"Lift your head, Ranni. I-" she sighed, scowling into the dirt. "My words were purposefully cruel, but I had not expected this reaction from you. It heartens me to see you understand the pain you caused."
The princess righted herself, worrying at her lip. "Then-"
"Your apology is accepted, Princess of Caria, but your folly is not forgiven. Should my husband be brought once more to me, should Godwyn be restored…perhaps then my own heart will shift. My sister has ever held hotter wrath than I, do not expect her clemency."
Ranni loosed a wet laugh. "I will right my terrible wrongs, old friend. For what little my word is worth to thee." Lansseax stared at the human, contemplative. Perhaps some needed humility had at last begun to find its way into the princess' heart.
"We shall see." Was all she said.
The arrival of so many redmanes stopped the manor from feeling too empty. The general's forces flooded into Liurnia in excited droves, word of their lord's recovery having spread far and wide. The portal stone Lady Ranni had placed in the courtyard saw almost constant use. Tanya and the newly trained soldiers of Caria had their hands full with the logistics of housing so many. Lord Blaidd had cursed Lord Owain many times over the course of the last few weeks, the man's paperwork was almost his undoing. Especially with how industrious Radahn's soldiers were even as they were meant to rest, they'd supplemented over half the current construction project in Caria within a few days.
"Tanya?" She stepped forward to her lord's shoulder with a nod, thankful her helm hid her rising flush from hearing her name upon his lips. "Could you fetch Wolfram please?" She saluted briskly before hurrying from the room.
As she walked, she brooded. She knew her feelings for her lord were unbecoming of a knight, but even still, they had not abated even after his near death. Tanya had loved her lord Radahn since they were both gangly adolescents and his queen mother had appointed her his personal knight. She smiled to herself. Back then, she'd been taller than him, stronger than him. Who could have expected he would grow to such a towering height, he'd make even the queen look short in stature. Tanya dodged a scurrying maid with a clipped nod.
The knight knew too, that he was unaware of her feelings, even after all this time. Radahn had long been preoccupied with his dreams of heroism, fantastical declarations of power and skill and fame and he'd made them all reality. There had been no space in his heart for romance, especially not to one so meek as she. Tanya frowned as she passed another of the busy castle staff. She felt poorly that they had to work so hard to make ready so many beds, but there was little any of them could do.
She nodded to the sentinels besides the door to Lord Owain's study, which was currently being occupied by Sentinel Wolfram. A captain that had, until recently, been guarding the Pope Miriel. He'd been recalled to Caria to oversee the sentinels south of Dectus that were not being commanded by Aldo in Caelid. Tanya nodded as she entered, "My lord wishes to see thee, Wolfram." She said softly. Tanya had always been slightly embarrassed by her voice, it was too gentle for a knight, she thought.
"Aye, Tanya. Pray, inform him I shall be there post haste. Just as soon as I finish this report to my own lord" She nodded before departing. Wolfram was a serious man, who took his duties seriously. Tanya appreciated such diligence.
Her walk back to her lord began her mulling anew. Many a soul in the lands between viewed things in a grand dichotomy. Their lives before the shattering, and the miserable existences that they held afterwards. Such was the burden of sometimes unwanted immortality. Caria especially, had been struck by fell tragedy. Tanya shook her head. Things were different now, now she had a chance! She must only decide if she would take it, or if she would live with her cowardice.
As she passed one of the many windows that framed the inner courtyard, she spotted what had become a common sight. The young sentinel, Rolant, and the young Albinaric woman, Latenna. The maiden rode her faithful wolf as always, but was unarmored. The sentinel too, must have been off duty, as he wore only plain clothes. Tanya watched them laugh together and it made her chest feel…hollow. Here were two that had found companionship despite the weight of duty. Perhaps she should be brave enough to follow their example, when her lord had settled into his new flesh.
She entered his study quietly, surprised to see tea time set for two on his large desk. "Come, Tanya. I had the kitchens send up a small repast, I know thou hast not eaten." She walked slowly, willing the blush from her face but knowing she was not successful. Her helm, she removed hesitantly. Her lord smiled weakly, the sadness had not left his eyes since she'd first seen him restored and it faintly made her wish to sob.
She pushed the small plate of sandwiches towards him, "Pray, lord. Eat." she murmured. Her stomach rumbled and she hoped he had not heard.
Piercing eyes of deep blue told her he had. "Tanya." He scolded. She sighed, taking a sandwich for herself. The man could eat twice this, she only wished he would not go hungry. Her tea was delicious and it made her smile. "I missed this, old friend. I know that thy oaths to mother proceeded any oaths to me, but I-" He cut himself off with a frown. "No, it is better thou were not in Caelid." The small levity that had been growing on his face, died at the mention of his lost domain.
Tanya set her tea down with a frown of her own. Come on, girl! Be brave! She reached across the desk with a slow hand, taking his bulky fingers in her own. "Do not despair, my lord." She pushed past the urge to remain silent. "The queen hast returned, thine silvered sister, thy brother of gold. Surely with so formidable a family, the restoration of thy lands shall come to pass."
He looked at her for a long breath before a soft smile lit his face. For a moment, she felt as if they were youths again, before all these terrible happenings had done such dark damage to them. "Thou'rt a balm, Tanya. Thou'rt right, as well. Surely mother shalt yet be able to devise a way to restore Caelid." She smiled fully then, unrestrained in her relief. The air had shifted to something warmer, if only for a moment. They took their tea in comfortable quiet, and Tanya thought perhaps if there was hope for Caelid, then there was hope for her as well.
Alas, it was the dream again. Owain sank to his knees, whatever it was he queen was trying to tell him with this horrible vision, he could not decipher. "My queen," he called tiredly, "What must I do?"
As ever, her eyes remained shut. He could not hear her words, it was as if they were stolen from the air the moment they slipped from her lips. All he heard, all he ever heard, was his name. "Wain." She whispered, brokenly. He began to sob, this repeating nightmare was defeating him more and more every night.
He woke with a shout.
Ranni's exhausted face met his in the dark of their tent before she pulled him slowly to her chest, hand smoothing his hair. "Hush, my dear. I am here."
"I am so-" She kissed his brow.
"Dare not apologize, Wain. I am sorry that mine magic can not withhold these dreams any longer."
"I only wish I could glean meaning from them."
"I have a…suspicion. One I shall test whence we relieve mine brother of his rune."
"Is it wise for me to house a third shard?"
"There is no other that can bear the weight, husband. Even one a piece was enough to distort mine family passed all reason. Thy will has ever been thine greatest strength."
"You give me strength, even as I doubt myself." He whispered. Owain knew it was time he at last asked the question he was unsure he wanted an answer to. "Ranni, what awaits us at Volcano Manor?"
"I…." She sighed. "Into the manor, I have not gone. Years ago, one of his knights, came unto Caria. I was so weak then, so bereft of mana and magics both. I had spent nigh all mine power in attempts to resurrect thee, I could not even leave my tower. I did not see her memories, only heard her words as repeated by Iji. In his efforts to divine a way to truly kill…Marika, he had struck an accord with a great serpent."
"A deal?" This did not bode well, yet another outer being to contend with.
"The power to devour a god, only, Rykard… he was consumed instead. The knight was not the first to desert him, only to seekest me out. What horrors she saw, she would not describe to Iji, only that my brother's nobility had been wholly subsumed by cruelty." His princess; lips quivered but she did not shed tears.
Owain frowned. "The Gelmir knights were steadfast and devout all. I worry at what great evil could drive them from Rykards side."
The two were silent, only the faint noises of camp disturbed the heavy weight. "Wain, I do not know what to tell mother. She is not wholly hale. I fear her fracturing." Her fingers clasped his arm and they trembled.
"She held herself together for Radahn's sake. Her love for Rykard is no less, we must have faith such devotion will overpower any despair. Mother Rennala is stronger than you give her credit, wife." He hoped some measure of his attempted conviction would make its way through his voice.
"Then…on the morrow. I shall tell her on the morrow, before we begin the mountain path."
"Have faith, sweet Starlight." He kissed her gently before settling back to sleep. Only, he knew he would not find it, so he brooded instead. What reports and accounts Morgott had shared with him of the battles that had taken place upon the mount left Owain with deep unease. He'd pulled any forces of gold from the region almost as soon as he'd regained his station, so at least they would not be journeying into active war.
Yura sought him out at sunrise, almost as soon as he'd left his tent. "Owain. The greatest of the bloody fingers, I have traced her path even as we traveled, she is close, I know it." Owain eye'd the man's full pack, it seemed he was rearing to set forth immediately.
"How far will this quest take us? I can not wander overlong." He slowed his pace, squinting at the rising sun.
"It is not far from us, the second church of Marika." Yura's voice held an odd edge.
"How could you know she would be there?" Owain estimated it was hardly an hour's ride from their current position.
The man would not meet his gaze. "I…I will tell all when all is done, sentinel."
Owain frowned, but nodded. "I'll hold you to that, hunter." He told sentinel Friso exactly where he would be before departing astride Osgalth. He would not repeat his folly with Alecto.
Yura's quarry stood waiting in the crumbling ruin of his queen's church. Owain felt perhaps the blood mother was playing a prank on him. How had one of Lord Vyke's stalwart drake knights fallen to the blood curse? The way that Yura called out to the woman made him realize that it was not his greatest enemy they hunted. "Yura…."
"Let me try to reason with her first, sentinel. Please, do not kill her, should I die." Owain met the hunter's eye squarely with a nod. He would respect the man's wishes.
He stood a ways away from the two, watching them first as Yura spoke in frantic motions and a desperate tone. His words did not seem to reach the drake knight, who readied her bloody polearm. The clash between warriors was heartbreaking for Owain. Yura held great skill, but Owain could see his aged body could not keep step with the song of his sword. This Eleonora was fierce beyond expectation, her movements precise yet ferocious. She did not hold back against the hunter.
Owain's scowl deepened as he watched Yura slowly lose ground, he'd given the hunter time enough, and he would not allow the man to be slain. Eleonora's poleblade met his shield just before it slashed into Yura's exposed front. "No, sentinel! Do not-"
"I will not kill her, nor will I allow your death. I need answers, hunter, not blood." He grunted at he caught a blow from her frothing weapon against his spear.
His duel with the drake knight was swift. He was fresh and prepared, she faced two opponents, even if one fought half-heartedly. It was only a few fiery moments until he delivered a resounding blow to the woman's helm, knocking her unconscious. He watched Yura tenderly remove the woman's helm, cradling her head on a thigh. "Oh Eleonora, I'll rid you of the cessblood yet, my love."
Owain was loathe to interrupt the moment, but he had not the time. "Bind her tight, Yura. We must move. We shall talk as we ride." He whistled and Osgalath came running; Yura's own mount, a borrowed sentinel steed, tied to his saddle.
Their ride back was full of tidings he would need to discuss with Ranni, once he gave himself time to properly brood.
Her children schemed once more. Rennala had watched Owain return from some secret quest, she'd watched Ranni skirt about her all morning. The queen had no doubt it had something to do with Rykard. Her daughter pulled her into her tent as the rest of the camp finished breaking, Owain joining them mere moments later.
"Mother, I would tell you what I know of Rykard's condition." Ranni's eyes were shifting, and Owain had clasped his hands behind his back. Why were hey nervous?
"Enough coddling, daughter. Show me." She beckoned with a hand. Ranni showed to her the memories of her conversation with Iji, the knight, her words, her foul message. Rennala stumbled back slightly before quickly righting herself. The queen made sure not to let her worry mold her face. "I shalt seest to him, just as Radahn. Come, let us depart." Her children were speechless as she brushed by them.
Owain had warned her there would be grisly scenes of battle and carnage, remnants of the lingering battles betwixt gold and her son. There were none. Only tilled earth and scant vestiges remained. If Rennala did not know better, she would have thought the land was being prepared for farming. Owain's ever deepening scowl as they journeyed north assured her it was not. She knew he'd received reports of a very different path, knew it vexed him.
The days dragged, nary a wayward animal nor band of brigands to slow their path but still Rennala grew impatient. It was only a day's journey from her son's manor, as they approached what had previously been one of the larger cities of his domain, that dread truly began to creep its way around her heart. Owain had spent the morning preparing his troops for an encounter with a city lost to frenzy; but the city was empty and not a corpse was to be found. The sentinels had already culled the small villages in northern Caria that had fallen, but he'd wanted to go forth personally to handle the larger threat of a city in truth.
"There is treachery afoot, some plot we dost not see." She mused to her stoic knight commander. Their carriage at least was comfortable, and Moongrum was as skilled at chess as he'd ever been. She'd put Ranni to sleep with a potent spell she'd devised after studying the odd blade Owain had gifted her. The girl desperately needed the rest, what with her consort being tormented every night as he was.
"Aye, my lady." Her old friend was as dry as ever. His eyes, though, watched the windows in shifting glances.
"Thou needn't worry so, Moongrum. The boy is overcautious enough for both of thee." Owain's protectiveness was equal parts endearing and frustrating. They would have already arrived if he'd not insisted she travel by carriage. Relios outsped even Osgalath in a sprint. It mattered not, her hound had been relegated to watchdog duties and she'd been forced to plod along with several hundred of his sentinels.
"It is not the skill of his arm I doubt, Highness. The frenzied foe we were set to face is not to be underestimated. Where have they gone? Who in the lands between could cull a city wroth with such fiends?"
"Perhaps Rykard is not so waned as we fear." She posited, trying to stay optimistic.
"Perhaps." Moongrum agreed halfheartedly.
The city had been truly empty, as had all the villages between it and Mount Gelmir. They were but hours from her son's manor when Owain called another halt. What was it this time? "Linde!" She called through the small window that remained uncovered by shields.
"My lady!" Came her knight's clear voice.
"What impedes us?" She questioned.
"A moment, my queen." The knight rode towards the head of the convoy, returning a few minutes later. "This bridge was apparently supposed to be collapsed." Rennala sighed.
"And that is ill news? Rykard is repairing his domain." She tried to restrain her annoyance, but she'd been cooped in this contraption for too long.
"Lord Owain has sent engineers to inspect it." Linde's voice was apologetic.
It was not until early evening that they finally arrived at the front gates of Volcano Manor. Rennala held back yet more irritation as Owain had sentinels sweep the entire area before he allowed her to exit the carriage. She and her children, along with her knights, were met at the door by a small woman with a mask and…was that a crucible knight? "Welcome to Volcano Manor, Mother." The masked woman bowed low. Tanith?