With no other option, I stepped forward and reluctantly took the hilt of his sword in my hand.
“I needed no oath from you, my friend,” I told him as a tear fell from my eye.
“And yet you have it,” he replied as he slowly rose to his feet without even a trace of his usual smirk on his face.
As Stel stepped aside, I saw a line forming behind him. Every single one of my companions stood waiting to offer me their solemn oaths. Most were without their weapons, so Stel simply handed off his sword to Venna, who was next in line.
“I don’t want this,” I tried to tell her with tears streaming down my face as she knelt in front of me.
“I have already told you that it is rarely about what you want, Sintári,” she reminded me before repeating the same oath Stel had offered.
Each of my companion took their turn kneeling before me and repeating the same solemn oath Stel had offered. Broda was the last of them, and I thought the emotional event had finally ended when Madren took Stel’s sword from her hand. The young dwarf then repeated the same words, offering me his life in service and I almost broke down completely as I accepted his bond.
Madren was only the first of my people to swear allegiance to me that night. It took well over an hour for me to accept the last of their oaths, and when I was finished, every single citizen that was old enough to offer the binding words had done so.
Venna and Tási had stayed by my side as I accepted their vows, and I was so overcome with emotion that tears streamed down my face the entire time. While Madren had been the first of my citizens to offer his pledge, Clorid was the last, waiting until the end to give me her vow.
Once I accepted her words, Clorid walked away to stand next to Madren, taking his hand in hers. All of my people had remained to watch the solemn process and now seemed to be waiting to hear from me once it was complete. I wiped the tears from my eyes and gathered myself before attempting to form my emotions into any sort of words. Venna and Tási each took hold of one of my hands, and their steady resolve gave me the strength I needed to compose myself before speaking.
“I have no words to express how humbled I am by the honor each of you have bestowed upon me. I can only offer you my own solemn vow in return, to promise you that I will always do my best to be worthy of the trust you have placed in me.”
“Dreya Sintári!” Khorim shouted, raising his mug in a toast.
Cheers broke out as his toast was echoed throughout the crowd. The musicians soon began playing again, and with the solemn moment over, the celebration resumed in earnest.
“Thank you for that, master dwarf,” I whispered to Khorim when I found him in the crowd.
“You’re welcome,” he winked back at me. “Truthfully, I couldn’t stand to see you cry anymore.”
The rest of the evening was a blur for me—I remember passing among everyone as the celebration went on, speaking to my people and sharing drinks with them all through the night, but despite all that, the familiarity we had once shared was gone. What took its place was an even deeper bond that sealed us together more closely than before, but that new bond also came with a sense of duty and obligation that altered their perspective of me. While they had seen me as their leader before, I had still been perceived as an equal of sorts. The revelation of my status as one of the Deathless, and a Sintári on top of that, changed their perspective of me irrevocably. Gone was the casual familiarity, and in its place was a deferential respect akin to hero worship. I knew things would change when I disclosed my true nature to them, but I was unprepared for just how much that revelation would affect them.
“It was unavoidable,” Venna said as she took a seat beside me.
I had retreated back to the dais for a while to absorb the dramatic changes I had wrought with my Charisma enhanced speech. I had hoped the power that my Attribute added to my words would serve to bind my people together and persuade them to my cause, but I’d had no intention of evoking the fervent display of devotion that had occurred.
“I need to confide something in you, Venna,” I told her as I took her hand in mine. “And when I do, you may wish to withdraw your vow.”
I confessed to her how I had fueled my speech, funneling the power of my Charisma into the words and using it to persuade the people to follow my cause.
“I had only hoped to convince them to see the wisdom of working together,” I conceded. “I never intended to coerce such powerful oaths from any of them—especially not from you.”
“You think I did not recognize your power in those words?” She asked me rhetorically.
“I’ve tasted your power. I recognized it in every single syllable,” Venna continued. “Remember what I told you once before. You do not compel anyone to do anything, Dreya. Your power only brings out the best in each of us. You don’t urge us to do things we don’t want to do, you merely lend us the power to do what we already want to; to do what we already know is right.”
I had been struggling with the concept that I had unfairly influenced the events that had occurred, that the use of my power had forced my companions and my people into their actions. Venna’s reassurance comforted me, letting me know that my actions had not been as overbearing as I had believed.
“Thank you, Venna,” I replied as I pulled her into a tight embrace.
“You’re welcome, my liege,” she whispered softly in my ear.
“Please don’t call me that,” I implored her as we separated.
“Like it or not, that is your role now, Dreya,” Venna smiled back at me coyly. “You will have to get used to being addressed by that or some other formal title from now on. If you have something else you would prefer us to use, let me know and I will spread the word.”
I certainly did not like the idea of my companions, or anyone else for that matter addressing me as ‘my liege.’ I was no queen either, and all of the honorifics that came to mind made me uneasy. Then I remembered Khorim’s impromptu toast. Although it was more a description than a proper title, I thought I could get used to being addressed with it rather than some ostentatious label.
“Dreya Sintári,” I told her. “If you insist on giving me a title, that is the one I choose.”
“Very well, Dreya Sintári,” Venna replied, somehow managing to make the simple words sound like a grand honor.
“I will make sure everyone knows how to properly address you from now on,” she finished with a mischievous twinkle in her eye.
“You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?” I asked her. “You enjoy making me uncomfortable, don’t you?”
“Yes, I do,” Venna replied, wearing a smirk that she’d apparently borrowed from Stel as she stood up.
“Now, if you’ll forgive me, I have to go inform your subjects of the title you have chosen for yourself,” she added before dipping into a curtsy and practically skipping away on her errand.
She is truly happy with herself. Bane sent me.
He had stayed with me all through the night, perched on my shoulder and offering me words of comfort and encouragement through the many difficult moments.
‘Venna has been pushing me towards some elevated status almost from the first moment she realized I was a Sintári,’ I sent back to him. ‘And she seems to take a great deal of pleasure in my discomfort with that role.’
Most spend a lifetime being groomed for such positions, Sintári. It is no wonder that you chafe at it being thrust on you so suddenly. But it is your destiny, and no matter how hard you may want to resist, the role is yours whether you like it or not.
‘You’re not helping.’
Yes, I am. Your refusal to acknowledge the truth is holding you back. And more importantly, it is holding back your vision. It will take time to fulfill your destiny, and every day you delay only adds to that time. You want to bring peace to the realms, but you must make peace with yourself first. You must accept who you are and the responsibilities you must bear for your vision to move forward.
‘When did you get so damn
insightful?’ I sent back to him with a mixture of respect and annoyance.
When you grew in power; ‘leveled up’ I believe is the term that you use. As your power grows, so does mine Sintári, whether you like it or not.
Bane smiled at me as he sent the words and I felt the subtle, yet friendly mocking tone he sent along with them.
‘I will try, Bane,’ I finally sent back to him. ‘I know what I must do and the role I must play, but it’s difficult for me to accept, as you already know.’
I know that you not only resist the responsibility that comes with leadership, but the isolation that accompanies it as well. The role of a leader can be a lonely one, Sintári, but you will always have me and your companions by your side. We will not abandon you, have no fear.
‘Did you learn to read minds, Bane?’
No Sintári, he sent in amusement. But your feelings are clear enough to me even without the ability.
I let the conversation end there and contemplated Bane’s words while stroking his scales. He lay his head back down across my chest and basked in the heat of my body while purring softly in contentment. I couldn’t help but notice how much heavier he had gotten since the first day we had met. His increase in size and weight was subtle, but definitely noticeable to me as he sat perched on my shoulder.
The celebration finally wound down after a few more hours. Even with the momentous events that had occurred that night, we all knew there was still work to be done the next day. That fact hadn’t prevented a determined few from overindulging, but the majority of my people filtered away slowly as the night grew late.
I made my own departure once the crowd began to thin out. The evening had taken its own special toll on me, and I was looking forward to wrapping myself up in the comfort of my blankets. I reached our camp and thought I could slip inside my tent and go to bed, but when I entered, Tási was already inside, clearly waiting for me.
“When can we try? When will you help me find out what is hiding inside me?” She plead almost before I stepped inside.
Tási looked at me and the turmoil within her was clear in her eyes. She didn’t know what her mother had left behind for her, and the fear and anticipation she felt because of it was tearing her apart. I couldn’t stand to see her so distraught, and if I thought it would be safe to do so, I would have tried to pull the secret from her right then. But we both knew that there were risks involved in that process, and we needed to be prepared for them before we made the attempt.
“Tomorrow night,” I answered, taking hold of her hands to reassure her. “Maybe the night after, if we need to wait for some reason, but no later than that, I promise.”
“Thank you, Dreya Sintári,” she replied, clearly relieved that I did not intend to keep her waiting.
“I see Venna has already gotten to you.”
“Yes, she did,” Tási answered with a trace of a smile finally curling up the corners of her mouth.
“I understand if you feel the need to call me that in public, or when others are around,” I said somewhat exasperated. “But please Tási, don’t make me feel so distant when we are alone.”
“I’m sorry, Dreya, I didn’t mean for it to make you feel that way,” she said, clearly regretting the effect her words had on me.
“It’s alright, Tási,” I responded. “I’m trying to adjust to my new role, and it isn’t easy for me. It will help a lot if you let me just be myself when I can.”
“I can do that,” Tási smiled back at me.
I gave her a quick hug, and then we got ready for bed. As we lay down together, I wrapped my arms around her, and found reassurance in the comfort of her familiar warmth. Bane curled up across the both of us and we drifted off to sleep together peacefully.
I began the next day with a quick stroll through all of the various projects that were underway. Ridge continued to build the structures that had been planned behind the fortifications, and I had him add a workshop for Dellon to the list of projects as well. The dwarven woodworker had an affinity for the siege weapons that needed to be built, and also enjoyed constructing the wooden elements for many of our other weapons. It seemed only logical to provide him with his own space nearby.
Ilvain remained focused on producing as many boards as possible from our stack of lumber. The idea of constructing houses and even setting up a few small villages in the green lands of the valley nearly consumed him, and he set about the task with a single-minded focus on getting it done.
The dwarven prospectors also brought back the first deposits they had mined from the caverns that morning. Hilgreth pronounced the ore to be of good quality, and set up some bins for them to store it in. The ore would require some processing before it was usable, but having the resource available ensured that she would have material to work with once her stockpile of scrap was depleted.
I traveled from one project to the next, inspecting the progress that was being made all across the canyon and beyond, eventually making my way to Venna’s temporary hospital to speak with her about Tási.
“Good morning, Venna,” I greeted her as I entered her domain.
“Dreya Sintári, to what do I owe the pleasure of your visit?” She inquired all too formally.
“Cut the act, Venna, it’s only us in here,” I smiled at her.
“Sorry, just having a little fun at your expense,” Venna replied innocently.
“Never mind that,” I said setting aside her prodding. “I’m here to see if you’re available to help Tási tonight. She’s desperate to have an answer, and we’ll need you there for us when I delve into her.”
“That sounds a bit more involved than you led me to believe,” Venna said, raising an eyebrow at me skeptically.
“Truthfully, I don’t know what the process entails,” I confessed. “Bane was only able to tell me that I needed to tune myself to her heartbeat, and the rest would then become clear to me.”
“Bane is the one who told you what to do?” Venna replied incredulously as she glanced at the Rhastoren perched on my shoulder.
I do not appreciate her tone, he sent me as he glared back at Venna harshly.
A low grumbling sound escaped him as he stared her down. It sounded like the low, ticking growl of a tiger, and I felt the thrum of it vibrating though me as he made his displeasure known to her.
Venna stepped back in shock at his aggressive display. He had never made a sound like that before, and it was truly intimidating to hear the threatening tone coming from him. I eased my hand over his scales and pulled him back gently, calming his anger.
‘That’s new,’ I sent to him, attempting to divert his ire.
He didn’t respond to me directly, but he did relax and lay back down as I stroked the scales along his neck.
Taking it as a good sign, I turned my attention back to Venna and tried to soothe her as well.
“Bane has grown a great deal, Venna,” I explained to her. “His knowledge and ability to communicate with me have both increased tremendously. He’s far more than just a scout—he is a friend and advisor, and I take his counsel as seriously as I do yours.”
“I had no idea he had changed so much, Dreya,” Venna replied. “I only remember you explaining how difficult your conversations were when he first came to you.”
“I should have told you sooner. Bane’s abilities increase as my own do. Every time my power grows, he does too. He’s always been incredibly smart, it’s just taken a while for me to help him uncover his true potential.”
“I apologize for underestimating you, Bane,” Venna said to him directly. “I will not make that mistake again.”
Bane lifted his head up and offered her a slight nod, accepting her words. With their little spat over, I returned to the matter of Tási’s problem.
“Tási’s very anxious about this, Venna. Can you join us tonight so we can help put this behind her?”
“I can, but first you must tell me, have you given any thought to what happens after?” Venna asked me.
“What do you mean?” I replied. I hadn’t given the matter any consideration at all, trusting that whatever it was would only be a good thing for both of us.
“You have no idea what you’ll discover,” Venna said in an exasperated tone. “How is it that you haven’t even considered the next step?”
“There is no ‘next step,’ Venna. Once we help her with this, it’s over and we move on. Tási will be Tási again, and that’s it.”
“Perhaps,” Venna replied. “But what if Tási isn’t Tási anymore. What if this changes her somehow? What will you do then?”
“I never even considered that as an option,” I confessed. “Even so, there is no way for me to prepare for such a vague possibility. We can only do what we need to do to help her and hope for the best.”
“I want to believe that Dreya, I truly do,” Venna replied carefully. “But it may be wise to not only hope for the best, but to prepare for the worst as well.”
“What do you suggest?” I asked her reluctantly.
Venna took a deep breath before replying. When she did, her voice was firm, but tinged with regret.
“She needs to be bound,” Venna began. “Even if what you discover is benign, there’s no telling how the process of drawing it out will affect her. I will also prepare a restraining spell, but I want us both to be armed as well.”
“No, Venna this is too much,” I began to protest before she cut me off.
“This is what we are going to do, Dreya; I must insist on it. And when I talk to Tási about it, I’m sure she will agree.”
I couldn’t bring myself to speak the words, so only nodded my concession back to her. I had to admit defeat; to admit that she was correct. Not about the precautions she suggested, but that Tási would feel they were necessary as well. Tási was unnerved by the prospect of revealing her hidden secret and would undoubtedly agree to Venna’s almost paranoid precautions.
“Very well,” Venna said in satisfaction. “I will prepare myself after dinner tonight. Once I am ready, I will join you in your tent and we will find out what Tási has hidden inside her together.”
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