Amnur gasped, fighting back the tears that welled up in his eyes. Sariel observed him for a moment, before putting a comforting hand on the demon's arm.
"There's more. Dumon believes that Sebastian may be coming around to the idea that you're not the evil individual that he thinks you are. You can thank your daughter for that one. Speaking of..."
Amnur found a few leather-bound packages being thrust into his hands, each of decent weight. "Food. She requested that specifically."
The demon laughed. "Sounds like her alright. Even if Sebastian's mind is changing, I doubt I can just walk back in there though."
"There is something I can offer you," Sariel replied, keeping a keen eye on Amnur's expression, "Uriel's curious about your daughter, given that she saved him and all. He'd like to meet her and since she's currently in Shadekeep, it covers both requests."
"You'd take me with you?" Amnur enquired. The angel nodded. "Could Uriel actually swing that, though?"
"That's what I can't promise, but Uriel's good with words. If anyone can, it'll be him."
Amnur thought on the words, tapping his fingers on the food bundles. He was being asked to put a lot of trust in those that have always been enemies, but at the same time, Dumon trusted them. Sariel noted his unease and took a breath.
"I don't blame you for being wary. There's one final bit of info that I can give you; Uriel knew that you never died, but he kept that silent from Sebastian. Having you deal with the angels that stupidly decided to try the West was a boon to him."
It gave Amnur some questions, but it calmed his mind. He glanced around and noticed demons that had crept back peering out from behind houses, their eyes locked on Sariel. With a twitch of his wings and a twist of his head, he instructed Sariel to follow him. The two of them flew through the skies until Amnur spotted the vague gap of trees below, and descended. A single house sat nestled in the trees, his home. Amnur landed on the porch with Sariel in tow, hiding him from the eyes of the locals. He unlocked the door and welcomed the angel inside.
"You live a while away from the village," Sariel remarked, gazing at the wooden walls.
"Not due to any animosity, there just happened to be an abandoned house out here."
The demon deposited the food on a table and then rustled around, trying to find a spare key to give Sariel. Drawers were dragged open and searched until he found his prize. He offered the dull metal key to the angel, a gesture that surprised him.
"It'll help you prevent a diplomatic incident next time," Amnur jested.
"Quite a leap of trust, isn't it?"
"You know where I live now. If you wanted me dead, a locked door wouldn't stop you."
Sariel laughed and took the key, stashing it away to keep it safe. "I'll leave you to your meal. I'll get back to you with news, whether positive or negative."
Amnur bid him farewell and then turned to the food. He was ravenous. The weight of the parcels said good things, so he unravelled them in earnest. A second bundle sat inside, wrapped in a paper-like material. Once that had been opened, he found himself staring at a thick, juicy slab of meat. His eyes lit up and his hands rushed to place it above the fire, eager to prep his feast. Sakura's plea hadn't fallen on deaf ears, he had been well provisioned.
Chapter 6: Unusual Matters
The wait hurt. Amnur had been keeping himself busy by reading books to help distract him away from the issue. Or, that's what he'd like to think. He found himself staring at the front door, waiting to hear it unlock. His hunger had been tamed thanks to the food he had been provided, but it would soon run out. Right now, he had sat himself in front of the fire, book in hand.
A clack grabbed his attention and his head shot round, staring at the front door. It creaked open, revealing a familiar face: Sariel. The angel noticed his stare.
"Have you been sat in here the whole time?"
"Maybe."
"Well, come along then. Uriel managed his usual."
Amnur suppressed a squeal and shot up, dropping the book on the table. A sweep of his hand smothered the fire, an act that impressed Sariel. He locked the door behind them as they left, taking to the skies. The sensation of leaving the swamps for the first time was unusual; he felt fear, and yet freedom. His home had been his security, but also his prison. It was an end of a chapter, or so he hoped. This time, he could move on. Nathaniel’s influence was broken, if he could make it up with Sebastian, anyway.
The flight over to Eriden was chilly, in part due to the height they had to maintain. Eriden was a tall building, and they needed to land at the top to keep Amnur from being lynched. Sariel had told him that it was better than walking all the way up, at least. They landed on top of the towering building, with Sariel pausing to check that they were alone. Amnur’s attention turned to a set of thick, rusty nails that were arranged on the side of the building.
“They’re not for me, are they?”
“Hm? Oh, the nails. No, they’re an old form of punishment for treason,” the angel replied, “do you think I would’ve answered that question if they were?”
He had a point. Treason was a serious crime, but those nails looked particularly vile. Based on how they were spread, two of them went through the top bone in the wing on either side. The punishment was supposed to be public, and agonising. It was a good deterrent, but the thought made him shudder.
“Looks like we’re clear,” Sariel said, gesturing for Amnur to follow him once again. They dropped down a few feet, hovering in front of the top floor windows. An angel on the inside tugged at the window, pulling open the latch. Amnur perched on the ledge, finding the cramped corridors awkward on his wings as he tried to prevent a crash landing. Sariel nodded to the angel, thanking him. He too thanked the angel. The youngster didn’t know how to react to Amnur, but his eyes spoke of curiosity.
Sariel approached a grand set of doors and knocked. A few seconds later, Arariel appeared. He stared at Amnur, saying something in a hushed tone. Amnur heard Sariel reply, but he was unable to understand the conversation. Angelic tongue and all. A few more lines of dialogue got thrown around before Sariel regarded him once more. “Come on in.”
Inside stood Uriel, or who Amnur believed to be Uriel. The other two angels regarded him with reverence, waiting for him to act. Considering who he was stood before, Amnur thought it best to make a good first impression.
“Thank you, your Majesty, for setting this up,” he said, offering Uriel a bow. He kept his head low to show respect until he heard Uriel chuckle.
“Not a fan of the formalities? Although after Nathaniel, I don’t blame you,” Uriel replied. His light tone told Amnur that this situation wasn’t forced, he welcomed the demon if anything. It made him relax, knowing that he was safe.
“How did it go with Sebastian?”
“He was resistant at first, but I worked him around. A hint of guilt-tripping and the right choice of words goes a long way.”
“Is there no animosity between you two after the events of what happened? I mean, I suspect the blame was initially laid at the feet of demons…”
“That’s just procedure, and he knows it. It’s better for me to be proven wrong and concede defeat, else we end up with Wanderers.”
“Those determined to prove their suspicions without any care for who gets in the way?”
“So you remember them, then. I try my best to avoid any more deciding to go down that line.”
Amnur rubbed his fingers together. The fact that Uriel had succeeded suggested that Sebastian didn’t despise him, but he doubted that he would be pleasant either. Having the angels present may deter the King from acting on anything, long enough to clear up the situation. That was the theory, anyway. When it came to theories, Amnur preferred magical ones. They were logical and not based on emotion.
“Sariel you already know, but this is Arariel, my Court Mage,” Uriel stated, placing a hand on Arariel’s shoulder. Amnur offered a hand for the young mage to shake, which after a touch of prompting and what so
unded like a whimper, he accepted. Sariel gave him a murmur of the angelic tongue, having seen his reluctance. “Now, on to the main topic. Your daughter, what’s she like?”
The emotions welled up inside him once more and he gushed, letting out everything and anything that entered his mind. He told them of her perks, her flaws and her habits. Amnur then mentioned her wound, praising her for how she had coped with losing an eye. Past the initial shock, she had done well. After a while of the one-sided conversation, Uriel reached up at patted him on the shoulder.
“Let’s go get her, shall we?”
Chapter 7: A Return to Shadekeep
It had been twenty-five years since Amnur had seen the obsidian structure that was Shadekeep, and now it stood before him. He was flanked by angels, providing him with protection. Passing demons didn’t know which of the two things to react to more. The one thing he did notice is that their reactions were not one of scorn, surprise was a better description. They didn’t all believe Nathaniel’s lies, something he put down in part to Kyrith.
“Don’t cause any trouble,” one of the guards warned in the common tongue, telling Amnur that the warning didn’t apply to just him.
“I don’t intend to,” Uriel replied. The answer satisfied the guard, permitting him to open the doors. Blackness welcomed them, punctuated by streaks of sunlight as it filtered in from the windows. Aether lamps softened the shadows, but they remained dark.
Amnur could feel his breath leaving him with every step he took. He gasped to try and get it back, but his chest ached. Fear crept up his spine and took hold, making his legs numb. His eyes darted around and he caught sight of Sebastian, towering above the other demons. Crimson eyes bore into him, scratching at his skin. A small murmur came from one of his companions, and then he felt a hand on his arm.
The touch focused him for a moment, causing him to look down. Arariel was holding on to him, trying to stay his nerves.
“Come with me, Uriel will handle it here,” he cooed, tugging Amnur’s arm. He did as instructed, allowing the angel to lead him down the familiar corridor. A shout rose behind them, but it was silenced. “It’s okay.”
Arariel found the healing chamber’s doors and tried the handle, letting out a sigh of relief when the door opened. He used his back to push open the door, ensuring his hands remained on Amnur’s arm. As the room was revealed, Amnur broke away. The action startled Arariel, who flailed his arms to try and retrieve him. Amnur’s attention was on his daughter, and her alone. The demon dashed over and buried his head into her neck, feeling the warmth against his face. Tears rolled down his face, splashing on Sakura’s shoulders.
“Shh, I’m here. You’re safe,” she whispered, rubbing his back. Sakura spread her wings wide, before turning them inward to cover her father. The generated warmth and darkness was a comfort, but Shadekeep was an insurmountable beast to him. It loomed into view at every angle, taunting him. Shadows lashed the walls if he kept his eyes open, and nightmares haunted his mind if he shut them. He knew that he was putting his weight on her wound, but fear kept him bound to her side. A second touch informed him of Abel’s presence; he too was attempting to calm him.
“Uriel and Sariel are talking to Sebastian outside of the ruling chamber,” Arariel stated.
“Calming him down, hopefully,” Dumon replied with a sigh.
“It’s also good to see you awake, Solomon. You had me worried.”
“I should thank you for acting so quickly, might’ve been a different story if you hadn’t,” Solomon said. The conversation was removing the agonising silence, filling Amnur with a sense of normalcy. He knew that the worst was still to come, however. Sebastian had yet to arrive, having been kept back by Uriel.
A creak of the door once again crippled his nerves. He gasped, feeling Sakura reassure him in reply. Footsteps echoed through the spacious chamber and the voices hushed, awaiting a verdict. Amnur could feel his daughter’s grip increase, and he began to quake.
“Don’t give me that look. You already know the truth, even if you refuse to acknowledge it,” Sakura exclaimed, letting out a minor growl to back it up.
“And what might this be?” Uriel queried. He could tell that the question was pointed towards Sebastian, rather than Sakura.
“That lying bastard murdered my wife!” Sebastian bellowed. Amnur was hit by confusion and managed to muster the strength to peer out from the wing shields.
“I… I thought Rin was still alive? She was the last time I saw her, and Ciel made no mention of her passing,” he stuttered.
“Well, what did you expect, Sebastian? Obviously, it was your father,” Uriel replied, shutting down the King before he can speak. Defeated, Sebastian remained silent. He turned to leave and collided with something smaller. Sariel had stood in his way to block his exit. “I didn’t hear an apology from you.”
“So what? He still lied.”
“Do you really trust Nathaniel’s word on the issue?”
Sebastian refused to answer and went to step around Sariel. His path, however, was once again blocked. Uriel gestured to Sariel and then the King found himself being spun around, once again facing Amnur.
“Take a good look at him. He’s terrified, even stepping foot in here hurts for him. Is that truly the response of the cruel individual that you believe him to be?”
He gazed at Amnur, and Amnur flinched. Above, he could see Sakura’s cold expression. The King took a deep breath, unsure what words to use.
“Be honest, Sebastian. All these years you wanted something living to hate because your father died before he could be held accountable,” Sakura interjected. Silence hung in the air for a moment, with the crowd of eyes split between the King and his accuser.
“…I suppose that’s correct.”
This time, he was allowed to leave. Once he had gone, the room let out a collective breath.
“Well, that was progress, no?” Uriel remarked, a smile creeping onto his face. He turned his attention to Sakura, taking a few steps towards her. “You impress me, girl. It takes some guts to stand up to your superiors.”
“Thank you,” she replied. The response enabled Uriel to come alongside her. Sakura could see his object of interest; her wound. His fingers ran down the bandages, and she felt the ache dull.
“That’s only a temporary measure, unfortunately. I imagine that it hurts.”
Sakura smiled. “I’ve become used to it.”
With the threat to her father gone, she had retracted her wings, creeping him into view. The ordeal had taken a lot out of him, he was tiring fast. Abel tapped on her shoulder, whispering that he’ll keep Amnur safe now. She released him and Abel leant over her, lifting her father away. Now that she was free, Sakura took interest in the angel.
Sakura stretched an arm towards his feathered wings, feeling the soft tufts under her fingers. The feathers filled her with an unusual sense of awe. Seeing her curiosity, Uriel puffed up his wings.
“I’m jealous, you have such beautiful wings,” she remarked, running a finger along the thick shafts.
“Yours aren’t half bad,” the Angel Monarch responded, letting out a chuckle, “for a demon.”
“Oi. What are angels doing here, anyway? Not that I’m complaining, mind.”
“Your father wanted to reunite with you, and I wished to meet you.”
“I don’t remember anything about what happened, I’m not even sure I was in control of my actions when I saved you,” Sakura admitted, but Uriel shook his head.
“Does it matter?
She shrugged and then grinned. The demon slipped off the bed and gave Uriel a firm hug, taking the angel by surprise. A laugh erupted from him, but she felt him return the gesture.
“Hugging angels now, eh? Better not let the other two miss out,” he teased, giving her a pat on the back. Sakura noticed his game and opted to consent, splintering off from him and latching on to Sariel. The armoured angel stuttered, holding up his arms. In the end, he conceded, giving her a light cuddle.
Arariel got the final cuddle, something he reciprocated with joy. Uriel snickered and then sighed.
“As much as I’m enjoying this, we, unfortunately, can’t stay. If Sebastian gives you any trouble, get in touch. I don’t think he will, though.”
“Thanks again, it really means a lot.”
She offered Uriel a bow and then waved them off as they departed. Her attention went to her father, who had now fallen asleep.
“That didn’t seem too bad,” Solomon said, distracting Sakura for a moment. “So this is Amnur, explains why no one introduced me to him previously. Not that knowing his identity would’ve swayed me.”
“Ah, right. You sealed off that poison,” Abel replied, alleviating Sakura’s confusion on the matter. Not knowing the specifics of what happened a few weeks back was proving awkward for her.
“Yep, I’ll get that sorted while he’s out. Dumon also wants to check him over, I can see that. Why don’t you leave your father with us while you get some rest yourself?”
“Works for me.”
Chapter 8: Past Memories
Over the next few days, Sebastian attempted to speak to Amnur. Every attempt ended in failure. His presence stressed the mage too much, which in turn angered Sakura. The King had to reconsider his approach, as his current method was making things worse if anything. He knew that Sakura was everything to Amnur, so he wondered if the key to mending the bridge was her. One thing he could say was that she didn’t fear him.
Sakura soon found herself on the receiving end of Sebastian’s intentions. At first, she wasn’t sure how to react but in the end, she could see that he was genuine. He sat her down and described Shadekeep and its populace to her, giving her all the information that she would need. She already knew the majority of it, but she kept silent. Sebastian was trying, that’s what mattered. Now that they weren’t arguing over every matter, Sakura found him rather amiable. The thought appeared to be mutual, too.
Today was another conversation, Sebastian sure had a lot to talk about. Nothing of what he said felt forced to her, though. He was genuine in his desire to talk, he enjoyed it. Sakura felt sympathy for him, the loss of his wife still had an impact on him. After a few hours of the back and forth discussion, a guard stuck their head in. Sebastian excused himself, apologising for the sudden interruption. Once he was gone from the room, Amnur flitted over to check on her.
Skies of Fyir Box Set Page 47