Private Tales Read between the lines

[Zana]

"I suppose killing them would create a bit too much attention," Zana sighed and leant against one of the trees, her arms folded over her bump. Unlike her husband there were parts of the Dreadlord upbringing she hadn't quite shaken, including when it came to resulting to killing if it made her life easier. She tapped her fingers against her arm in thought.

"Intelligence would be useful. Even if they don't know who Nassau and Adelaide are, they're bound to know if there is a dragon lying around somewhere," they were a little harder to hide than a couple of Archons. Her eyes flickered in the direction of the pyramid the tip of which could just be seen above the treetops. "Could you ghost one of them here?" she didn't particularly like the idea of him going out there solo but his skills were better suited to the task.

 

[Talus]

Talus glanced over his shoulder. "Probably."

His magic worked quickly, phase-walking was faster in some ways than even the speediest Dreadlords. On the other side Talus was not bound by the laws of physics, nor the limitations of the human body. He had never once taken someone unwillingly to the other side, but it wasn't impossible.

He didn't need someone to want to go to take them.

"But, once I take them, that'll be that." The former Dreadlord said, shrugging his shoulders. If that was the play they wanted to make, then he would gladly make it. Information was worth it, but there was no telling if these creatures would even know anything. "You sure?"

Talus asked, already beginning to strip himself of his pack and other superfluous gear. "I'll take someone who isn't going to be missed, or try."

He said, rolling his shoulders, already knowing the answer Zana was likely to give.

 

[Zana]

"It's the best idea we have," Zana sighed and pushed off from the tree. It took three steps to reach him. She brushed her knuckles gently across his cheek and then slid her fingers into the silken tresses of his hair. "Just... be careful," it was a quiet plea. No matter what either of them had faced and overcome in the past, they had lived too long in Vel Anir not to make the mistake of taking it for granted they would always meet such a lucky fate.

With a last kiss she stepped back, releasing him.

"I'll wait right here."

 

[Talus]

Talus nodded his head, taking a deep breath.

At home there was not truly much call for the use of his magic, in fact he tried to not use it more often than not. Though their gifts were a privilege, and the twins used their magic more naturally than he ever could, it was important to remember to live without it as well. They still practiced of course, training was essential, but it had been a while since Talus simply let his magic…go.

Without another word, the world around him suddenly snapped into a field of ethereal blue. His ghostly form shifted in the world for a moment, translucent and glancing at Zana before suddenly disappearing in a blur of motion. The slight wispy trail left behind him quickly disappearing into the expanse of the jungle.

It took him only a few seconds to retread their steps and reach the encampment.

What took him longer was finding someone to take.

His eyes quickly flew over those milling and moving about around the pyramid, eventually finding one lone orc wandering back towards camp. Likely just having relieved himself. Talus bucked to the left, and within the span of half a breath grabbed the man and swept him into the ether. Seizing him and dragging him back to the clearing Zana was standing him.

Reality snapping into place as Talus threw the orc-like creature to the ground. The man reeling as a wave of nausea and confusion overcame him. His stomach contents spilling onto the floor. ”Didn’t have time to warn him.”

 

[Zana]

Zana managed to step back just before the orc covered her new boots in vomit. She scrunched her nose up and covered her mouth as her own stomach heaved. Usually she was not so squeamish but pregnancy made a lot of smells offensive. Orc vomit apparently was one of them. She stalked a distance away where the air was a little clearer and waved a hand in front of her face in an effort to unclog the smell from her nostrils.

"Lovely. Ah, ah ah," the orc made a disorientated run for it but a wave of Zana's hand and her magic locked his legs firmly in place. "We have no intentions of hurting you, but... We have a few questions we'd like to ask you first."

 

[Talus]

The orc-like man froze, his legs comically splayed out in a sprint. His hands shaking and immediately snapping to his legs. Fingers wrapping around his thighs as he tried to force them to move, Talus nearly cursing into a laugh as he watched him almost topple over from the effort.

”Take it easy.” The former Dreadlord said, a hand held up in what he hoped was a common sign of peace. ”We just want to ta-”

As he took another step forward, the man's eyes snapped to Talus, a jumble of words padding from his lips as he interrupted the Dreadlord. “Lisan et truild de kof!”

His words were a shout, though they would never reach beyond small jungle clearing. The thickets of trees and vines forming an almost impenetrable sound. Talus glanced over at Zana for a brief moment, his brow furrowing as he recognized pieces of their captives spoken language.

”I think that's…” Confusion touched his features. ”I think that's old Allirian.”

Talus said with a frown, having heard it only once. ”Before the common tongue took over.”

What the hell was this guy doing speaking that?

 

[Zana]

"I... think you're right," Zana's frown deepened. Old Anirian she might have understood; Nassau had had a deep interest in Old Alliria and the first Dreadlords, but Allirian? House Luana had taught her many things for the various diplomatic missions she would be sent on but her Old Allirian was beyond rusty. "I've only ever heard it spoken once, by an old ship merchant the Luana's used to use to ferry rare artefacts across from Sheketh," the man had been so old there had been several rumours he had sold is very soul to the sea to sail it for eternity. She'd once asked Ashur if it was true and he had merely smiled at her.

"What..." Zana hesitated, searching her memory for the words. "Wetin...yu de du ya?"

 

[Talus]

"At lu del win!" The man replied almost instantly in a panic, his words clearly denoting the fact that he did not wish to be here. Fear playing across his features as he looked from Talus to Zana in sheer and utter terror. Almost as if expecting to die.

And yet, even with the language barrier Talus could tell...he did not fear them.

"Sweetheart..." The former Dreadlord said softly. "I don't think he's...scared of us."

Talus said softly, as he raised both of his hands and took a step towards the man. Slowly squatting down and reaching the floor. His hand brushing some of the leaves and foliage away to clear a patch of dirt. Quickly he scribbled within the earth, to simple figures, holding hands. As if in friendship.

The orc-like being looked down at it, and then at the two Dreadlords. "Atellra?"

He asked slowly; friends.

 

[Zana]

Zana grimaced when she received a stream of shouted gibberish back. Had she congregated the wrong word perhaps? Said something she hadn't meant? She raised her hands up to show she held no weapons when the orc began to show true terror.

"Hey, it's okay, look--" she glanced across to Talus when he interjected and stepped forward. The Archon lowered her hands and watched with a small frown as her husband quickly sketched in the ground. Her lips twitched as the image brought to mind one the twins had done not two weeks ago.

"Yes! Atellra," Zana nodded encouragingly at the word she recognised. "Rose, Jacob," she gestured between them, the lie rolling off her tongue easily. If the orc did repeat anything she had no intentions of him leading their masters back to them, or their family. Grabbing her own stick she sketched the pyramid with a question mark beside it.

"What... is this? What are you doing here?"

 

[Talus]

"Wre chropa wud futr toil." The Orc-like creature seemed to slowly put together Zana's words, replying to her half in his own tongue, and half in a quick drawing on the floor besides where Talus had made his offer of friendship.

The language barrier slowly began to break down as the two Dreadlords committed to a back and forth with the creature.

It seemed through their own base of knowledge within Old Allirian and the help of drawings, they were able to communicate well enough with the strange creature. Before long it became obvious that despite their happy disposition, these creatures were not toiling under the weight of their own will, but instead had what they referred to as a 'King' reigning over them.

"Nassau?" Talus asked Zana with a slight frown, glancing at his beloved with no small amount of concern as he observed the latest drawing offered by their new ally. "Where you...born here?"

He asked the man, slowly drawing a figure of a small child and then an island.

The orc quickly nodded his head in affirmation, but then drew chains around the very figure that Talus himself had drawn. Pointing insistently at the artistry, and then reaching up to fold two hands around his own throat. As if signalling a threat.

Glancing at Zana again, Talus frowned. "He enslaved them."

He said softly.

 

[Zana]

Zana tried not to look as concerned as she felt.

"Have you seen a dragon?" she asked the orc next, reaching down to draw an impression of the beast in the sand. The orc nodded vigorously and, as he had with Talus' drawing, drew chains around it causing her heart to sink. At least it appeared as though the dragon were not dead, though that didn't mean it was not in a similar state to the one they had encountered before. Mind racing, she began to pace back and forth in an effort to soothe them.

"Azhrak is not going to leave if he thinks he can save her," female dragons were rare than their male counterparts and from the agitated way the monstrous dragon acted, Zana suspected she meant more to him than a simple den-mate.

 

[Talus]

"No." Talus agreed. "He will not."

There was of course...always not telling the dragon. Perhaps slightly underhanded, but if the great beast knew that his kin was still alive he might go rampaging across the whole of the isle. There was no telling what chaos would break out, and that wasn't even to mention that these orc-like creatures hardly seemed at fault for their current state.

Talus couldn't let them be harmed. "We need to get a better look at things."

The Former Dreadlord suggested.

"If we go back now we still don't have much information anyway." There was a dragon, but where were the two Archons? What other forces did they have? Would the orcs fight alongside them or against them? Too many questions. "We get inside, I think."

As much as he hated saying it, there wasn't a way to avoid any danger. Sooner or later both of them would have to venture into the lions den. At least they could keep doing it together.

 

[Zana]

Zana folded her arms over her chest and pressed her lips into a thin line. From the look on her face she seemed more inclined to let the dragon rampage across the jungle. If they had been sure there was only one Archon she certainly would have advocated for it, but two... Dragons were strong but so were Archons. In the end she blew out a breath and let her arms fall to her sides in resignation.

"Agreed," though she was hardly happy about it. She wanted to be heading back to the twins, not delving deeper into this mess. She turned her cold green eyes back to the orc who instinctively flinched back; prey sensing the attention of a predator. "We can't just let him go though. Someone might have noticed he's gone and if he comes back question him, what's to stop him from talking to them as he did to us?"

 

[Talus]

Talus gazed at the orc-like creature. "Sometimes I wish I never developed morality."

The former Dreadlord commented with a slight frown.

"Their way was easier a lot of the time." It was a conversation the two of them had had many times over the years. How the need to do good, the path they had chosen inevitably ended up being twice as hard as doing the wrong thing. A lesson both of them had learned, and come to hate in part. "Alright."

He said, taking a deep breath and moving towards the Orc. He raised his hands, and then once again began to draw in the dirt. Doing his best to communicate to the creature that it would be best for it to stay here. That they would help it's fellow...creatures, that it just had to stay.

After more emphatic signalling, Talus looked at the Orc expectantly. "Understand?"

Talus asked, pausing for a second until the man finally tipped his head in a nod.

"I think he's got it." The Dreadlord said, looking over his shoulder at Zana. "We just have to be quick."

 

[Zana]

The older Dreadlord didn't look convinced. She gave the orc the same kind of withering stare she had given many cadets in her time and - most recently - the twins when they had something truly disgusting. The orc shrunk back under the weight of it until reluctantly she followed after her husband. At least now she was fairly certain the orc was too frightened of her finding him to leave the little clearing. For an hour or two anyway, then the fear of his master would no doubt creep back in.

"I think looking inside the creepy pyramid is probably the best place to start. We should at least be able to sense of any magic has been used recently inside, might give us a clue as to whether this is Nassau's doing."

 

[Talus]

Talus’ head tilted from side to side as he considered the words of his beloved.

He knew that she was right of course. The only way to figure out what was going on here would be to get inside of that pyramid. His lips pressed to a thing line, and he let out a long sigh as he finally nodded his head. ”We’ll go around the back.”

The former Dreadlord declared.

”Most of…his companions seem to be corralled around the edges of the clearing.” In his mad dash to seize their new companion, Talus had managed to get somewhat of a look at the pyramid and it’s surroundings. ”So if we cut around the back and get through their line, we should be able to make it to the Pyramid fairly quickly.”

Talus surmised, through frowned for a moment. ”I didn’t see any Guards.”

Nor had there been any in the city where they had first found Nassau.

”But, we should be careful anyway.” Talus said, stating the obvious as he shifted and began to move. Glancing back towards the Orc-like creature one more time, wondering if he would actually stay put.

After a moment more, he drew in another breath, and then set off alongside Zana. Not longer after, perhaps thirty minutes or so, the two of them had made their way around the clearing and towards the back of the Pyramid. A few of the workmen continued their hacking at the trees, none paying much attention to what might lay in the forest beyond.

Talus crouched low in the bushes, glancing at Zana to see if she was ready to make their mad dash.

A part of him wanted to simply utilize his phase-walking again, but his beloved had never done well with the after-effects. If they moved through the use of his magics and found themselves in an…uncomfortable position, Zana needed to be ready to fight. Mostly because of who they were chasing.

 

[Zana]

Zana had decided jungles were certainly not for her by the time they were crouched around the back of the pyramids. Her skin was slick with sweat and she was certain there were several bugs walking over her skin. She dared not use her own magic lest it be sensed by the Archon's. There was a unique signature to a member of their ranks magic that was like a target to those who could sense it. She needed to wait as long as she could before using it.

That didn't mean she had to be unarmed entirely. Drawing the dragon-forged blade from its scabbard she felt more confident with the weight in her hand and nodded to Talus that she was ready. On a silent count of three, the pair dashed across the clearing.

It was not far to the base of the pyramid and as Talus had reported, this area seemed relatively unmanned. They snuck around the edge until Talus indicated the doorway lay up ahead and they slid inside.

 

[Talus]

”Well.” Talus’ whispered quietly. ”At least it doesn't smell like death.”

The comment wasn't meant to be funny, but more a reminder of what they had encountered the last time they'd run Into Nassau. The gruesome sight of the strange diseases dragon and the citizens which had been twisted into…whatever those strange monstrosities had been was still on the forefront of his mind.

Yet the inside of the pyramid contained no hint of such things.

There were no strange pods, no smell, in fact, there wasn't even any light.

Talus’ eyes flared blue as he peered through the darkness. His vision cutting through the abyss of the dark tunnels. A frown pulling at his lips as he looked left, and then right. Noting both tunnels headed on opposite directions, though one notably began to pitch downward the further it went. ”Up or down.”

The former Dreadlord mused.

”Last time we found him at the top of the tower.”[/Colo] He said softly, gripping the broken blade in his hand slightly tighter. ”But she liked to hide underground, no?”

He asked Zana, reminding himself they were here not just to look for one Archon; but two.

 

[Zana]

Zana's brow quirked at the choice of words and her lips curved into a half smile; her love did not often share her dark sense of humour, even if he unwittingly made comments which could be taken as such. She leant forward to press a kiss to his lips. A quick, chaste thing in a moment of love.

"She did, and do the Pharos of this land not have themselves buried beneath it?"

Down it was. Adelaide was a far greater threat, at least to Zana's mind. Nassau reminded her of an absent-minded grandfather, focused entirely on some unclear goal. Adelaide on the other hand would set the world aflame for her own amusement. With a sigh she started down the steps.

It was blissfully cooler the lower down the went and the sweat finally dried on her skin and the flies stopped buzzing about her. When the steps ended they opened up into a corridor lit with torches. An ominous single door sat at the far end.

 

[Talus]

Talus lips pressed to a thin line as torchlight began to cast down the hall, eventually revealing a single doorway dashed with shadows. He glanced over to Zana, his eyes rolling. So melodramatic.

He thought, the reflection of those words echoing down in a sense through the bond. The former Rogue not wanting to speak in case the Archon had set wards.

For a brief moment he held out a hand to Zana, motioning for her to stop as he slowly moved down the hallway on his own. Half-way through, his form flickered, turning into it's wraith-like visage. Within the span of another step he disappeared, slipping into the pyramids wall.

A few seconds passed, and then he reappeared. Motioning for Zana to join him.

The two Dreadlords reached the far wall, the single doorway a heavy stone slab. Talus hand slipped towards a handle on the side, and with a quick yank pulled back a handle. There was a quiet click, and then the door slowly began to fall open.

Within a few moments the stone had fallen away, and the room beyond was revealed. A massive open chamber filled with dozens upon dozens of giant tubes of glass. Each one filled with Liquid, dozens of tables scattered about, all holding an assortment of instruments and dozens of journals, grimoires and other pieces of aethercraft.

At the center of it all, facing away from the two Dreadlords stood a woman. Her attention bound to something on the circular desk which half enclosed her, white and red hair flowing down to her back. Quiet mumbled escaping her lips. "You weren't due back for a week."

She said softly, barely audible to Zana and Talus.

 

[Zana]

Zana hesitated and glanced across to Talus at the woman's words. They had a split second to make a decision; turn and run or face the Archon before them.

It had been many years since Zana had laid eyes on Adelaide. The last time had been during the formers trial some ten years prior, barely a year after Zana had walked out of the Tower alone. There was no mistaking the raspy voice however. The younger Archon had heard that voice repeatedly in her nightmares over the years and the quiet promise of death she had made Sloan.

Running no longer seemed an option.

"And you," Zana drawled with all the arrogance and calm of an Archon grown. "Are not where I left you. Prison suited you far better than Pyramids."

Adelaid turned with a slow smile, any surprise she had at their presence did not show on her face.

"I see the little mouse has grown a backbone... but where's your old guard dog? I wouldn't mind seeing the old bitch again."

 

[Talus]

Talus gripped the broken blade in his hand just a little bit tighter as Adelaid turned. She might not have had the reputation of Nassau or Gilram, but that didn't meant she wasn't dangerous. One didn't earn the title of Archon by being weak.

Even those with little reputation among their rank were still some of the most powerful Sorcerers in the world.

This woman was extraordinarily dangerous. Talus reminded himself of that as he slowly began to step away from his beloved wife. His boots echoing out within the vast emptiness of the chamber. Adelaid only half keeping an eye on him as he began to move. "She didn't think it was necessary for her to come."

Did Adelaid not know Sloan had passed in the Revolution?

It was unlikely, the news had been everywhere. She'd even been promoted post-humorously to Archon herself, but Adelaid had never been one to keep track with the news of the day. Too busy burying herself in her work, taking another 'step forward' as she was always so fond of saying.

"Oh? That's funny." The Archon mused, absently glancing away from the two Dreadlords as she ensured something upon her table didn't move away from where it had been pinned. "Sending the children to do her dirty work..."

Talus glanced over at Zana, and she would feel a flicker of confusion through the bond. Did she really not know?

He seemed to ask.

 

[Zana]

For a moment, Zana was as confused as her husband. A niggle of doubt crept in and she even began to wonder if the Archon even knew about the revolution.

But then she saw the other woman's smile.

Red filled Zana's vision and purple energy sparkled down her blade, crackling like living lightning. Adelaide's smile grew wider.

"Tsk, you never were good at controlling your emotions, were you Zana Dear? No matter how many times we put you on the wrack. It's good to see the rumours of you losing your magic were only that, rumours."

Zana snarled.

"I'm going to enjoy carving out your heart."

 

[Talus]

“I'm sure you'll try.” Adelaide said, still composed as a Queen on her throne. Never seeming all that bothered by the two Dreadlords, just as Nassau had been.

A frown touched Talus’ lips as he took another sideways step. His gaze slowly drawing over the room. He took in the ceiling, floor, anything and everything as the Archon continued her taunts. Her words striking like a viper within the echo of the room.

“It's really unfortunate that you never learned to behave.” The Archon said as she swiveled back, turning her attention to Zana fully again. “You could have been something great, but instead what? You wasted it on this…”

She turned to Talus. “...Wretch and a few spawn.”

A ‘tsk’ clicked from her tongue as he attentions returned.

“A shame really. Destroying your potential for such little reward.” She shook her head in disappointment, the needles flowing from her tongue as though there was nothing more natural. “If you wanted a legacy so bad, I could have made you one.”

Talus barely listened as the Archon continued, his eyes still searching when he found what he was looking for. Tension flickered through him as he realized what Adelaide was trying to do. Everywhere within the room, on the furniture, the walls, the floor, even the ceiling had been decorated with intricate rune-lile patterns. Not carved into the stone, but seemingly grown through vines. All of which covered the room. Hidden within the darkness of dim Torchlight.

Through their bond, Talus sent Zana urgency, warning of the trap the Archon was trying to lure them into.

 

[Zana]

There was a brief moment where panic replaced her anger. There were very few in the world who knew of their children existing and despite the curve of her stomach, Zana knew Adelaide spoke of the twins. If she thought them worthless though, they had at least managed to keep their gifts a deeper secret. Her eyes briefly flickered to Talus; Adelaide had to die not only for Aniria but their children's safety too.

"You have no legacy," Zana returned her attention to the other Archon, putting on an almost bored tone. "Sloan and I made sure of that. Only the old guard remember who you are and they mostly remember how you were beaten by a level one empath," it hurt to talk of Sloan that way but she knew it would injure the other woman's pride and buy Talus more time to seek out a way to dismantle her trap.

"Once you're dead, I'll bring down the whole pyramid. Then scour the bricks entirely. There won't even be charred earth to mark you're grave when I'm through."