Shecclad reclaimed his perch once Be’naj landed, the wood crackling under the pressure of his mighty talons. “Are you ready to visit Criesha?”
Be’naj looked to Saffron, hoping things hadn’t changed between them because of her new status, and received a nod in response. A glance at Dyphina produced a similar reaction, but Thaelios was timidly tapping his foot as if he had a question.
“Is there any chance you’ve recreated the spell books Dyphina was stowing in her pack?” he asked the giant eagle.
“Oh, I completely forgot,” Dyphina said, though a backpack instantly appeared. She slung it from her shoulders to check the contents. Sure enough, everything seemed to be there, including both Cauzel’s and Trigilas’s books.
“Satisfied?” Be’naj asked.
Thaelios nodded and grinned. “Just wondering.”
Confidence brimming with her new gifts, Be’naj faced the Sky Lord. “We are ready.”
“Very well, my Champion. Succeed on your quests, for there is much I look forward to achieving upon your world.” Shecclad stretched his wings once more, and as soon as he flapped them, the mountain and the sky collapsed in on itself, disappearing to leave Be’naj standing in a dark, endless void.
Her friends were still with her, but they all drifted as if weightless. “Did something go wrong?” she asked.
“I don’t know,” Saffron answered. “I feel fine.”
“Look!” Thaelios exclaimed, pointing into the empty space before them.
Only, it wasn’t entirely empty anymore. The twinkle of distant stars began populating the void until it took on verisimilitude of the night sky. A bank of thin, gray clouds swept in as well, carried on a sudden wind to form a misty carpet under their feet. Heavenly bodies, nearer than the stars, swept in above until planets, moons, and comets completed the illusion that they were somewhere, beyond the normal pull of the world. While Be’naj was mesmerized by the scenery, a shaft of pale green light shown upon the clouds a dozen paces in front of her. Just as quickly as it had appeared, the light started fading. In its place stood a woman of undeniable, yet otherworldly, grace.
Her hair was dark and drawn up in a style of precise loops and curls, adorned with bands of silver, set with emeralds. She wore a sleek blue gown, with extra fabric draped down the low-cut front. Her skin was luminescent, shaded slightly green like the shaft of light that brought her there.
Be’naj couldn’t deny her immediate attraction toward the woman and felt guilty for it a breath later. She reached out and took Saffron’s hand.
“Are you Criesha, then?” Saffron asked, apparently not nearly as impressed as Be’naj.
“Of course I am. You know that, just as I know who you are, Lady Saffron.” The woman took slow steps toward them, her dress clinging to her thighs with each step. “I must say, when Shecclad told me you were among a troupe seeking to petition me for aid … well, I cannot remember anything so unexpected.” Criesha halted when she was within a few paces, close enough for Be’naj to see that her eyes were an unusually dark shade of blue – like the sea near the horizon when she took the ship to Zeblon.
“You, you’re stunning,” Dyphina murmured, a hand absently raising to her lips.
“Why, thank you,” Criesha said, bowing her head slightly at the compliment. “I don’t believe we’ve been introduced …”
“This is Dyphina and Thaelios,” Saffron said tersely, “and I presume Shecclad mentioned his Champion, Be’naj.”
Criesha smiled disarmingly. “The Sky Lord mentioned each of you, but that is not the same as an introduction, now is it? You are all welcome to my realm.” She extended her palms in a gesture to the night sky.
“Thank you,” Thaelios, Dyphina, and Be’naj echoed while Saffron stood mutely, arms crossed over her chest.
“Now that we’ve been properly introduced …” Criesha said, folding her hands over one another in front of her. “I know I’m immortal, but the suspense is just about killing me.” She gave a sly smile and Be’naj looked from her to Saffron, noting their eyes were locked on each other’s.
Clearly something odd was going on, but Be’naj could fathom what kind of history Saffron could possibly have with a goddess. She’d never talked about anything remotely pious before. “My Lady,” Be’naj began, trying to break the tension and hoping that Saffron would come around, “we have learned of several threats to our homeland recently and are in search of aid.”
Criesha broke her stare with Saffron and angled her head toward Be’naj. “And what sort of succor were you seeking from me?” No sooner had she spoken than her gaze returned to Saffron.
“We—”
“I want her to ask,” Criesha interrupted, gesturing toward the stoic Begnari.
Saffron huffed and uncrossed her arms. “I know you have some influence over Jaiden Luminere. We— I, was hoping you could convince him to help us stop a plot by the Name of the Beast. The cult is seeking to free a destructive force that would threaten Elisahd.”
Criesha looked to be weighing Saffron’s request for a few moments before answering. “See,” she said, her features and posture relaxing, “that wasn’t so hard, was it?” She walked closer to Dyphina and bent down to draw up a handful of cloud. Dyphina looked nervous but didn’t move, and Criesha gently blew on the grey vapor in her hand. It dispersed into a fine mist that encompassed the half-fey’s head before disappearing entirely. “You have a secret,” the Juda-cai said nonchalantly, letting her eyes trail down Dyphina’s body before turning back to Saffron.
“So you want my Champion to fight beside you against great odds and at significant peril to himself and my cause … and do you offer anything in return?”
“No,” Saffron answered, as if she could barely be bothered to. Her hands moved to her hips. “If I have things my way, Jaiden and I will be nowhere near one another. I don’t know what your cause is, but Jaiden loves his homeland and he would be protecting that. Though yes, there would likely be some risk. But as you would surely attest, your Champion is quite capable, yes?”
Be’naj could hardly believe her ears – Saffron was not nearly this irreverent to Shecclad, or at least not that she’d noticed. Was her friend going to put their cause at risk simply because of, whatever was between her and Criesha?
Luckily, Thaelios stepped forward to salvage the situation. “What I think Lady Saffron is trying to say, honorable Criesha, is that our desires most likely intertwine. By all accounts, the Spawn of Raug are formidable creatures, and we have no way of knowing how many we may face. Preferably, we would stop the cult before they set any loose. But we have more than one imperative task to complete, and if I’ve read my friend’s statements correctly, she intends to go with Be’naj on another quest,” he glanced at Saffron as he said this, “leaving Dyphina and I to deal with the Name of the Beast.” He strode calmly over to the half-fey and rested both hands upon her nearest shoulder. “As you can probably ascertain just by looking at us, martial prowess is not our strength. Until we learn otherwise, we should consider the entirety of Elisahd in danger, which means, like it or not, your Champion and all else you hold dear there. Confounding the cult quickly – before the situation grows more dire – seems our best course.”
Criesha tilted her head askance as she considered the silver-haired Eladrin. “I had a long and mostly kind relationship with your people in the centuries prior to the Banishment, you know.”
Thaelios nodded slightly. “I have read many poems honoring your gifts, Lady Criesha.”
“Ironic, isn’t it, that I provided magical inspiration to the Eladrin when they first learned to create spells, only to have it used against my kind in the end.”
Thaelios remained motionless and silent, and Be’naj worried once again that their hopes were slipping away. “I think our history with the gods is complicated,” she said, hoping her intervention could smooth things over. “Even after the Banishment, the Eladrin continued their faithful worship of Eriane, and the Shrine of Shecclad in Gils
age has seen continual use as well.”
“Yes, Be’naj.” Criesha took a step back to get a better look at all four. “Some have remained pious, for sure.” Her gaze came to rest on Be’naj after considering the others. “You are unique, aren’t you? I have a feeling it was the Sky Lord who was blessed by your joining and not necessarily the other way around. So, a winged mortal and three Shapers. However this turns out, I shall have to keep an eye on you four.”
“And how will this turn out?” Saffron asked. “It’s your decision, is it not?”
“Clearly your manner had nothing to do with why Jaiden pined so long for you. Hmm, I suppose you must have other talents, though obviously they weren’t enough.”
What was this? Be’naj thought her heart stopped beating for a moment. Had Saffron been in a romantic relationship with this other Champion? Did she still have feelings for him and that’s why she was being so short with the goddess?
Saffron seethed but bit her tongue, then took a step closer to Be’naj and grasped her hand. “Jaiden missed out on something he never deserved, but it doesn’t matter now. I’ve found the one I’m supposed to be with …” She punctuated this last statement with a squeeze of Be’naj’s hand.
A confusion of emotions pulled Be’naj in different directions. She needed some time to work through everything but didn’t think she could do so while still in the presence of this goddess. “Lady Criesha,” she said once she found her voice, “can we count on you to intercede on our behalf? We would be most grateful – all of us.” She looked into Saffron’s dark eyes, strong and fiery, then down at their intertwined hands.
“Of course,” Criesha said with a gentle smile, all the challenge removed from her tone. “I was already aware of the danger posed by this cult, and quite honestly, I think Jaiden is better motivated by a challenge. We can all use allies, after all, and I’m confident none of you will forget this.”
Her last words lingered in the air until Be’naj punctuated them with her own voice. “Excellent. Then would you do us the further kindness of sending us back to Mount Celestia?”
“With these bodies, of course,” Saffron added.
Criesha shook her head slightly, and Be’naj worried once again that all their plans were about to unravel. “Even the Juda-cai cannot Gate directly from a Lower Plane to an Upper one.”
“I thought Shecclad said you could send us back?” Dyphina squeaked.
Criesha shut her eyelids at the high-pitched sound and sighed. “No, but I can send you as far as the Doomwait,” she said as she opened her eyes, “and I trust you can make it from there. I doubt you would have ever reached me if you could not.”
“That will be sufficient, thank you,” Be’naj replied, willing the others to remain quiet long enough for them to be on their way. She was dying to find a peaceful spot to trance, with so much to consider.
Criesha nodded. “I will let Jaiden know to expect you soon, and look forward to our shared successes…”
“Thank you, my Lady.” Be’naj bowed slightly.
“A pleasure to meet you,” Dyphina shared, mirroring her bow. Thaelios did the same but had enough sense to remain silent. Saffron did not.
“I appreciate your help,” she said, never letting go of Be’naj’s hand.
Be’naj was pleasantly surprised and hoped the gesture mitigated the possibility that Saffron would reach their destination with some sort of physical deformity – Criesha would be the one granting them new bodies, after all.
Without responding, Criesha’s body was suddenly enveloped in a green moonbeam and vanished. Be’naj and Saffron looked at each other, but before either could speak, the night sky collapsed on them in a rush. An instant later, with a rumble like the thunder, the void was replaced by the gloomy gray of the Doomwait, and the four companions found themselves at the edge of Anarchiapolis.
“Is everyone all right?” Saffron asked.
Be’naj looked her over to make sure everything was as it should be. Saffron still looked like her normal, perfect self: long, dark hair, fiery eyes, and smooth, tanned skin. In a flash of concern, Be’naj extended her wings and looked to either side – they remained long and powerful, and already she yearned to fly again.
“Yes, and you?” Dyphina answered.
“We should make for the Rift with haste, given our lack of weapons and Be’naj’s new physique,” Thaelios added.
“Indeed,” Be’naj agreed. “Perhaps I should fly ahead so as not to draw attention to the rest of you?”
Saffron shook her head. “I don’t think it’s necessary we split up.”
“Perhaps not necessary, but possibly wise,” Thaelios mentioned. “She does look more like an Aasimar than ever, and we know the reaction they tend to cause.”
“Yes, I don’t wish to put you in danger.” Be’naj checked over each shoulder to see if she’d already drawn unwanted attention. Not seeing any Tanar-ri in plain view, she clasped her warm hands over Saffron’s and leaned forward until their foreheads rested together. “Be swift, and I’ll meet you at the Abyssal Rift.”
Saffron licked her lips and nodded, rubbing her skin against Be’naj’s. After backing away to gain room, Be’naj leapt, and with a great flap of her wings, thrust into the gloomy air, taking silent enjoyment in her new ability.
Trusting Saffron would find a way to keep the others safe, she tested her wings to see how fast she could fly. Without scenery rushing by for context, it was hard to tell, but she felt as if she could keep pace with the birds that migrated south from Ifelian for winter. She found the crackling, bluish energy of the Rift before she was truly ready and circled above it a few times before landing, deciding it would be foolish to tire herself before they’d reached the safety of Mount Celestia.
Waiting beside the Abyssal Rift was trying. Not only did its buzzing start to give her a headache, but time seemed to crawl and Be’naj started second-guessing herself. Had she been selfish to leave the others or was it truly for their own safety? She was about to head back toward Anarchiapolis when movement in the gloom caught her attention.
Be’naj resisted calling out, aware of the consequences if these were not allies. Soon enough, she caught the red flash of Saffron’s kank-hide armor and was able to distinguish the group of three as they drew closer. She released the breath she’d been holding and rushed forth to greet her friends.
“Did you have any trouble on the way?” Be’naj asked, still fearful her choice had led to some unforeseen negative outcome.
“No, we’re fine,” Saffron assured her.
“It did seem longer than before, now that we weren’t flying, too,” Dyphina added. “But at least we remembered the way.”
“I am eager to leave this place behind,” said Thaelios, looking over his shoulder. “Might we step through and talk later?”
Be’naj nodded and took Saffron’s hand. Together, the stepped through the Rift, it unsettling effects leaving Be’naj disoriented when they arrived in the tunnel underneath the Mountain. Once they’d all appeared, it hit her harder that Palomar wasn’t with them. They’d returned to his home without him, and even though she knew the way, she missed his guidance.
“We have no weapons,” Saffron noted. “No source of light.”
It was true. Though the Rift itself crackled with blue and midnight energy, casting an eerie glow about them, Be’naj remembered the heavy blackness of the walk through the rest of the Mountain. There was no way they could navigate it in the dark.
“I can cast Cauzel’s light spell on something,” Thaelios said. “Give me a moment.” Luckily, Criesha had faithfully re-created Be’naj’s pack, and after foraging through it for a moment, Thaelios retrieved a drinking bladder. “Lucemi,” he chanted, and the waterskin emitted a soft, white glow.
“Lead the way,” Dyphina coaxed. Though he’d been hesitant to do so prior, Thaelios sighed and took the forward position. Perhaps they all felt the heaviness of Palomar’s absence.
They walked the span of the tunne
l in near silence. Be’naj felt her own somberness reflected in the joyless faces of her companions. She tried preparing what to tell the other Celestials when she saw them, but fitting words eluded her.
The cave entrance and corresponding triangle of daylight lifted her spirits somewhat, and once she felt the breath of the warm, Celestial wind upon her face, a sense of solace accompanied it. Though she experienced sadness at Palomar’s loss, she didn’t want to ascribe such emotions to his brethren. Perhaps the Aasimar had ways of dealing with such things that she could learn from. Part of her belonged here, and she decided to pay closer attention to the ways of her previously mysterious heritage.
The training fields were busier than she’d seen them, and worry that their excursion had brought on dire circumstances gnawed at her gut. As she hesitated, Saffron passed her, heading determinedly toward the armory. As Be’naj followed, she noticed a crimson-haired Aasimar standing near the building with a pair of others and wondered if it might be Khanarme.
When they got closer, she recognized the Aasimar Marshall, who turned to face the mortal foursome as his companions dispersed. Be’naj had no doubt he’d noticed who was not with them.
“So, you survived your trek through the Abyss! I’m glad to see it,” Khanarme said when they’d closed to within a dozen paces. “Where is your guide, Palomar?” he asked, crossing his arms over his thick chest.
Saffron kept moving and didn’t answer until she’d drawn to a comfortable, conversational distance. “Marshall, I’m glad to see you alive as well. We succeeded in our mission, but also bring sad news.” She hesitated and swallowed before continuing. “Palomar was separated from us and swept into the Chaos Cyclone without a Destination Stone. Is there something you can do to find him? I will go back to the Abyss myself if it will help.”
Khanarme’s face fell. “That is grave news for Palomar, for there is no way of knowing where the Cyclone might send you.”
The Hall of Doors Page 20