The Aspect: The Cessation's Harbinger

by Ajax Lygan

  When she spoke, it was like her voice carried on the wind, magically echoing much further than should have been possible. “Brothers and sisters, hear me!”

  She waited for the last murmurs to die down. “As all of you know, our great city was attacked by an unknown threat, killing our beloved Academy faculty and students. In a matter of minutes, everyone was killed, save for a lone librarian. During that rescue attempt, myself, Halairim’s finest, and those standing to my left brought swift justice to The Academy’s killers.”

  Her stern gaze swept over the crowd. “But that was not the end of it. We needed to find out who these people were who dared attack our beloved people. Thanks to a monumental effort by our very own Lead Investigator Windcatcher, we were able to identify the group known as The Cessation. This group was led by five powerful people, including the patriarch of the Bank of Bothnan itself!”

  The crowd’s displeasure was immediately felt as the sea of people below them churned like a stormy wave in the sea. Queen Vatia’s hands were not enough to calm the crowd, resulting in the Queen giving King Orum a look, signaling him to produce a low, rumbling roar that shook the nearby shutters.

  “By the blessing of Yuria, these leaders are no more, thanks to the fine individuals next to me: Sir Tempest of Meadow’s Crest, his wardens Lady Riika Treehammer and Ellazarra Fleetfoot, and Lady Saïgra of the Firegrove. After discovering the headquarters of the group, they were tasked to bring justice to those responsible.”

  Tempest turned and looked at his companions, who returned a slight shrug and similarly confused looks before the Queen continued.

  “They killed those responsible, except for the few shackled to these pyres. But make no mistake, these five will see judgement today!”

  A thunderous cheer from the crowd erupted, many chants called for immolation, which seemed to bring a deep chuckle from King Orum. As Tempest watched the massive red dragon spill smoldering flame from his body, he got a sense of déjà vu from someone behind him.

  When he turned, he saw Queen Kasta staring directly at him. He couldn’t quite get a read on her deadpan gaze. Eventually she turned away as Queen Vatia went on with her speech.

  “But before that, we must take time to honor our heroes!” Queen Vatia shouted before turning and waving Tempest forward. “Those who practice the tenants that the gods have set before us. Those who show selflessness and sacrifice to bring about justice, are worthy of a reward. So, by the power vested in me, I award the heroes beside me Halairim’s Medal of The Hydra!” Queen Vatia turned and placed a medal around Tempest’s neck.

  He turned and saw General Eldrict place medals around each of his companions’ necks. Tempest turned and got chills as the crowd chanted his name.

  Queen Vatia leaned in close as the cheering echoed in the streets. “It’s nice getting the recognition you deserve. Why don’t you give the crowd what they want?”

  Tempest smiled and took a step forward, raising his medal into the air. The crowd responded with an even greater shout and chant for the new found hero. As he retreated from the edge, Queen Vatia finished her speech.

  “Now that we have honored our heroes, it’s time to pass judgement.” Queen Vatia raised three fingers into the air as the crowd did the same. In unison, they all spoke a chant.

  Probity by the light

  Perseverance by the flame

  Prudence by the shadow

  The hydra protects

  Tempest turned as Sophia called out his name. The others had already retreated down the stairs, and he saw Sophia waving him towards her. Tempest quickly joined the others and stood behind the main gate, looking up at the hydra.

  Tempest watched as Queen Vatia transformed into her dragon form as a beam of light shot from the heavens. She and Queen Kasta took off, soaring in flight above the city as King Orum turned toward the prisoners. His mouth took the shape of a small circle as a stream of liquid fire sprayed upon the pyres.

  The prisoners’ screams only lasted a few seconds before the dragon fire consumed them and their pyres. The city’s cheers reached a climax as they informed the hydra of their satisfaction. King Orum crouched down and then launched his massive form skyward. The dragon royalty circled the skyline in a show of strength before retreating to the castle’s spires. Tempest turned toward his companions to find Riika biting onto her medal before slipping it into her endless pouch.

  “Ugh, it’s not even real gold. What a waste,” she said, letting out a huff.

  “I don’t know,” Tempest said. “It’s kind of nice to get the recognition we deserve, but the Queen lied to the people, telling them that they’d sent us.”

  “Most likely due to the context,” Ella said, giving her medal to Riika. “They don’t want to send a message that people are able to take justice into their own hands. That’s anarchy, which is what they are trying to avoid. They want the people to know they are the ones in control and are competent at maintaining that control.”

  “Yeah, I guess that makes sense. What do we do now?”

  “The Queens and King are waiting for you on the top floor. I’ll take you to them,” Sophia said, heading toward the main entrance.

  The group ascended Queen Vatia’s spire to the top floor, once more. However, this time they turned down a different hallway than the one they had frequented before. Armored royal guards lined the entire length of the hallway, with Queen Vatia and King Orum awaiting Tempest and his companions at the end of it.

  Sophia stopped in front of them before they went any further. “This is where I leave you,” she said, looking off to the side.

  “You’re not coming with us?” Tempest asked.

  “I want to, I really do. But I need to stay and finish my debrief. Then I’ll need to help The Umbra with descriptions, testimony, and pretty much anything else they might need.” She shook her head sadly before looking back up at Tempest with her best attempt to stay positive. “Once I wrap all that up, though, I should be able to follow.”

  “How long is that going to take?”

  “A few days? A week at most.”

  Tempest crossed his arms and let out an exasperated growl. He looked over at her and couldn’t help but smile as she placed her chin on her hands and gave him an uncharacteristically childish grin.

  “Well, I guess I’ll have to settle for that. Don’t let them keep you too long.”

  “Yes sir, your Eminence, sir!” Sophia said, giving him a salute. Sophia reached out and glided her arm along his hand before waving to the rest of the group before heading back toward the lift.

  Tempest and his companions continued down the rest of the hallway where they found Queen Vatia and King Orum standing in front of a large mirror.

  “Ah, I’m so glad you’re here, your Eminence,” Queen Vatia said with a smile. “I hope the announcements were to your satisfaction.”

  “Indeed, they were, your majesty,” Tempest said, bowing. “I am honored with your recognition.”

  “I think it’s a matter of honor that we give credit where credit is due, wouldn’t you say King Orum?”

  “Most certainly, my Queen,” he said, keeping a laser focus on Tempest.

  Tempest’s hair on the back of his neck rose as if someone had breathed cold air upon it. He slapped at his neck and quickly turned to glare at Riika, who was standing too far away to have caused the sensation.

  “Is everything, all right?” Queen Vatia asked.

  “Yes, it’s nothing,” he said, rubbing his neck.

  “Wonderful. Shall we depart?”

  Tempest furrowed his brow and looked around them, expecting a third royal. “Where is Queen Kasta? Is she not coming?”

  Queen Vatia rotated her arm and snapped her fingers. “I knew I was forgetting something. Unfortunately, no, the Queen had to return to the mission she was tasked with, prior to your arrival. However, she told me she can’t wait to meet you, and I imagine you will get the opportunity to do so before you know it.”

  Tempest nodded a
nd the Queen turned toward the mirror. Once it activated, Tempest’s eyes went wide, and he began to backpedal. He felt the same overwhelming sense of dread he’d felt in Honeybrooke, The Academy, and The Cessation’s fortress.

  “Queen Vatia, King Orum get back!” he shouted. The clanking of metal filled the hallway as Tempest pulled his blades. His companions reacted in kind, and the guards did so as well, though unsure about the threat.

  Queen Vatia turned with a surprised look on her face, while King Orum snarled at the display of aggression.

  “My world, your Eminence, what’s gotten into you?” Queen Vatia asked.

  “That’s the same type of portal that spills the horrors we’ve seen. It’s dangerous!”

  The Queen let out a forced laugh as she shifted back toward the group. “My boy, these are the infinity mirrors. They’ve been around for centuries. Only the IRC has the authority and knowledge to use these. They are perfectly safe.”

  Tempest shook his head, sweat visibly falling down his face.

  “That’s not true, your majesty. We saw that The Cessation had one.”

  “Impossible!” King Orum shouted, spewing spit with his anger. “These are closely guarded, and there are only a few in existence. What you saw must have been a fake.”

  “He’s telling the truth,” Saïgra said, taking a step forward. “We all saw it, including Queen Maileath through my eyes. She can confirm it if you wish.”

  The two dragons looked at each other for a moment, as if speaking telepathically.

  “We believe you, your Eminence,” Queen Vatia said. “But I can assure you these are completely harmless. While we investigate the theft of an infinity mirror, we must venture forth at once. There’s simply no other way for all of us and our guard to travel to Joromund’s Peak instantaneously.”

  She frowned. “The members of the IRC are expected to be there by tonight. Should we not get there before they do, they’ll start the deliberations without us and we will lose any ability to influence decisions which will impact all of Iðna. Now, if you’d please, lower your weapons.”

  Tempest looked at the portal, his reflection waived as if he was looking into silvered water. He pushed the sensation aside and reattached his blades to his back. Queen Vatia smiled and nodded, before turning and walking through the mirror. Half of the guards followed her, while the rest stayed back with King Orum.

  King Orum took a few steps forward, looking over the group. “You may have the divine authority, your Eminence, but there are only so many times I can take having a weapon pulled on me.”

  He leaned forward, getting only a few inches away from Tempest’s face. “And I can assure you, if it happens again, it will be the last time.” His cape snapped Tempest in the face as he quickly turned and marched into the portal. The remaining guards followed, leaving only Tempest and his companions.

  “We don’t have to go, if you don’t want to,” Riika said, placing her hand on his upper back.

  “The Queen is right,” he said, looking back briefly. “We have to go now. If we don’t, we’re going to miss the opportunity to bring about much needed change.”

  Ignoring everything that told him not to, Tempest took in a few deep breaths, sprinted and then jumped into the portal. Once his body touched it, he knew he had made a mistake.

  16

  The Heralding of The Aspect

  When Tempest returned to consciousness, he heard the sound of bubbling water followed by a strong sulfur smell. Acting like a shot of adrenaline, the confusing senses shocked him awake. His heart pounded as he rolled from the bed, jumped to his feet, and took a defensive position. He reached around his back for his blades, which to his surprise, were no longer there. When he realized he was not in immediate danger, he relaxed.

  The design of the room was unfamiliar. The room itself, was large and open, but save for the bed he slept on, there was no other furniture in the room. The bed was a little less than a wooden platform with a cushion on top of it. Dark brown wood with light tan accents framed the walls surrounding him. The flooring was a light tan and felt padded to walk on. A sliding door had a design of a thin wooden tree with pink petals flowing through the wind, accented by the far wall. As Tempest took a step toward the door, a cast shadow loomed through the thin paper as the door began to slide open. Tempest hurriedly tiptoed to the side of the door, intending to surprise the approaching foe.

  A cotton tail jutted out of a slit in the backside of the blue and silver robes as the rabbitfolk walked backward into the room. Her pink nose twitched in an effort to slide her glasses back toward her face as she slid the door closed with one hand while carrying a tray with a steaming cup and a plate of dried food with the other. When she turned, her eyes lit up as she caught Tempest lurking in the corner.

  She jumped back and screamed, dropping the plate onto the floor. Tempest, reacting on instinct, reached out with a hand to subdue the woman. However, to his surprise, nothing happened. That’s the moment when he realized he couldn’t detect his magic. It was like when he was back in Meadow’s Crest, training with Riika. That piece of him felt numb, like an appendage he slept on the previous night. While he stood there staring at his hands, the woman dropped to her hands and knees, placing her forehead on the floor.

  “Y-your Eminence, I am so sorry to startle you,” she said erratically. “I wasn’t expecting you to be awake.”

  “Where am I, and what have you done to me!” Tempest shouted. He could see the body of the woman visibly shaking as she curled into a smaller ball. The shouting alerted others and thumping footsteps echoed nearby as more foes approached. Tempest leaped away from the door and resumed a defensive stance, preparing for combat. His chest grew tight as his mind filled with the fear of losing his abilities. The door swung open to reveal a familiar face.

  “Is everything okay? I heard shouting,” Saïgra said as she stepped into the doorway. Saïgra and several other robed figures slid into the doorway behind her, including an elderly elven man with a long pointed black beard that extended down toward his midsection. Tempest’s body became tightened as the crowd began to grow.

  “T-they did something to me,” Tempest repeated, looking at his shaking hands. “We need to find Riika and Ella and get out of here!” Saïgra raised her hands and sauntered toward him.

  “Tempest, everything is going to be okay. Whatever it is that happened to you, we’ll figure it out, but you need to calm down. You’re scaring everyone.” Tempest looked out at the robed crowd who had gathered by the door. Everyone seemed to retract behind the doorway as his eyes caught theirs. Out of the edge of his eye, he saw that the rabbitfolk woman was still shaking. Her sniffling filled him with regret. As soon as he relaxed his body, the robed men rushed to their compatriot as Saïgra did the same.

  “Where’s Ella and Riika?” Tempest asked, looking into Saïgra’s red eyes.

  “They are still unconscious,” she said.

  “What happened?”

  Saïgra just shook her head. “I don’t know. All I saw was you, Ella, and Riika jumping through the portal. By the time I got through, you three were lying motionless on the ground. Your bodies had sparking red energy coming off of it and you were smoldering like you had just been cooked. I screamed for help, as soon as I saw you, and that’s when Gregoro,” she said, nodding toward the elven man, “and the other heralds sprang into action.”

  Tempest leaned over and looked up to see the elven man consoling the rabbitfolk woman as she sobbed into his chest.

  “I’m guessing they are the Heralds of the Aspect?” Saïgra turned to look at them, before catching Tempest’s gaze and nodded. He slid his legs underneath his bottom and with Saïgra’s help, pushed up toward his feet. As he approached the heralds, they all immediately dropped to their knees and placed their heads on the ground. “Please stand,” Tempest said, reaching his hand down to the rabbitfolk woman. “I humbly apologize for the misunderstanding moments ago and I ask for your forgiveness.” One-by-one, the heads of
the other heralds popped back up after Gregoro stood from the ground. The woman smiled, wiping away her tears and snot filled nose, as she grabbed onto Tempest’s hand.

  “Your Eminence, it is an honor to be in your presence,” Gregoro said, giving a small bow; the others repeating the action of their mentor. “I am Gregoro. The young woman you have met is Imina. The gentle giant in the back is Arigore. The man standing next to me is Mala. And last but not least, our youngest and newest member, Qi. We five are your heralds, your Eminence.” Each of the members had a twinkle in their eye and a smile larger than the moons. He was unsure if it was the quick shift of emotions he had gone through, but as he looked at them, he felt a bit uneasy.

  “Well, it’s great to meet all of you,” Tempest said, doing his best to put on a smile. An overwhelming sensation of lightheadedness washed over Tempest. He quickly grabbed Saïgra’s arm as he began to lose balance. Gregoro grabbed his other arm to help provide him a bit of stability. Tempest let out a slight laugh as he looked at the concerned faces in the room. “I am sorry about that. I guess I still feel rather unwell.”

  Like a Captain issuing orders to his command, Gregoro gave instructions to the others. “Imina, go replace what you spilled, and bring it for his Eminence right away,” he said, pointing toward the sliding door. “Arigore and Mala, please go check on Lady Riika and Lady Ella. Qi, please gather some cloth and begin cleaning up the mess on the floor.” Everyone took their orders without hesitation.

  “I think I just need some air,” Tempest said, nodding. “The sulfur smell is making my head spin.”

  “Oh, I am sorry about that, your Eminence. Going outside might actually make it worse. The smell is coming from the natural hot springs that reside as part of the complex.”

  Great, Tempest thought to himself. Just what I needed right now. “Well, if I can’t escape it, I’ll just need to get used to it.”