Dreadlords The Second Domino

[Rion]

She wasn’t a hardy dreadlord. Roseline had to be honest with herself when she was twelve years old and had to accept that her magic wasn’t suited to ripping enemies apart. It was a sad day for her, filled with disappointment and tears and blood as she put dear Freddie in a deep sleep before stabbing him in the chest a couple of times. Yes, very sad day for her indeed.

But there was good news when she had learned that centering magic in certain parts of the body could help protect them! Mixing that with some runes for self-defense, stealing some enchanted armor, and knowing a little (or a lot) of this defensive magic and Roseline felt sure enough to handle herself in a fight.

For a minute or two. This sort of magic was draining her and fast. She could feel little pinpricks of mental fatigue already, and soon enough the physical fatigue would tire her out further. But she had to get close enough to Zola. Even if it meant going the long way— which she had to do, not quite sure enough she could withstand longer than Erodin’s wraiths after whatever attack Zola did (and it had to be Zola, didn’t it? No one else could manage such a thing!)

Roseline, peaked out from a short stone wall that was starting to fall apart, cracks crisscrossing like intricate spider webs. She took a deep breath. She wouldn’t be able to get closer than this, she suspected, and so she began to nurture between her hands a shimmering ball of light. Purely made of magic, the rainbows that danced around were only reflections of the mass of arcane energy being condensed into such a small area. Tightly wounding these threads together like maid tightening a whalebone corset, Roseline was sweating profusely.

If it worked, wonderful. If not, she’d have to hide and fast.

She had the ball of light resting in her hand, lighter than a feather, and when she threw it over the stone wall, everyone who looked at it would see the glittering ball turn into a eye. It blinked and when the white lids open, the iris was a bright swirl of color putting anyone who looked that way into a deep sleep and a very happy dream.

Zola Erodin

 

[Zola]

No!

Zola could do nothing to help the guardsman as he ran forward to fight Erodin one on one. The dragon bore down on her locking her in place. She couldn't even give voice to her anguish for if she stopped her magic, the dragon would devour her whole. So she watched, helplessly, as the man crumpled in Erodin's grip and let the anger whip her magic into a frenzy. With the emotional boost she pushed with her magic enough to force the dragon back and give her time to pivot out of the way. The dragon lurched forward a fraction when her shield no longer held it at bay and it turned with a nasty snarl to lunge at her again. Zola shot forward. Her sword flicked round and up into the tender scales beneath it's throat where in a real dragon they would be weakest.

Which is when the eye suddenly shimmered.

With the ghostly dragon between them, Zola did not suffer the full impact of Roseline's magic but it was enough to make her body slacken, to teeter forward for just a moment. The sword slipped from the dragon's throat and enraged the beast lunged at her, catching her on the arm with its sharp teeth that sliced through her maille with ease.

 

[Erodin]

Erodin didn't even seem to pay attention to the rest of the fight.

The Dragon operated entirely on it's own, battling Zola without a single second of input from it's master. As it lashed out and was then driven back by the Dreadlord, Erodin suffused his magics into the Guardsmen. Slowly peeling away every bit of his soul. "You."

He said with a chuckle.

"Are surprisingly willful." The Dreadlord mused as he dragged away the Guardsman's essence. "Wonderful."

Erodin complemented as a grin spread across his lips, arm suddenly wrenching, as the man let out a wordless scream of horror. His soul was torn away, disappearing into the Dreadlord's grasp in one smooth motion as he turned.

Eyes settling exactly on Zola just as Roseline's magic's took effect.

The Dragon bit down, slicing through her maille.

Then, within the span of a breath, the very soldier that had a second ago charged at Erodin suddenly appeared at her side. His ghostly visage was one of abject terror, but nevertheless the wraith reached out. Grasping Zola by the throat and sending her slamming to the ground.

 

[Rion]

How splendid! Roseline’s motherly smile reached further across her face and if she didn’t know better she’d have thought she was crying tears of joy. Unfortunately these tears came from the side effects of using her illusion magic, even with the runes etched into her face, they never could stop the fact that the magic always seemed to build up in her eyes.

Anything more and she would lose her vision for some time. It was a good thing that Zola seemed to be in very good hands already!

“Oh, you poor thing, are you hurt?” She called over to Zola, still careful not to get too close to the sound dreadlord. “You shouldn’t have insulted Amelie like that, you know Erodin has always been the sort to defend his lady’s honor.” A dreamy sigh escaped through her lips. “How romantic. My Theo used to do the same for me. Everything was all true, of course, but I did like it when he defended me.” Somehow, she laughed, her dulcet voice wafting through the cries and screams of those around her.

“It’s just been harder and harder to find a good man after Zana saw it fit to lop off their heads,” she used one arm to swing down like a executioners axe. “And all the new men in our cause are so young. Sure, they have all that spunk and stamina, but holding a conversation with them? Kress, it’s awful….” Roseline trailed off. “Oh, but I’m getting off topic. What was I saying… oh, yes, that’s right! Surrender now Zola and I’m sure Erodin will keep his offer to you.”

Zola Erodin

 

[Zola]

Bright stars flashed in Zola's vision as she was brutally slammed into the cobbled street. Tiny cracks appeared and some bits of stone broke off entirely leaving a rough indentation of the Dreadlord's body. Every bone along her back screamed in protest but she bottled it up through gritted teeth until the wraith was leaning over her, reaching for her throat once more to strangle her to death. When it was close enough it would never be able to avoid her attack, she let that scream ring out.

The wraith splintered and winked out of existence, and the dragon beyond which had hovered waiting for his chance to strike roared and leapt away tail lashing. Zola rolled onto her side and spat blood onto the path before rising to her feet. Her gaze was full of murder as she glanced between Roseline and Erodin. When she smiled her teeth were painted red with blood.

She drew a dagger from her thigh and pointed it at Roseline.

"You talk far too much, let me help you with that."

The knife had left her hand before she had finished her last word then she spun for Erodin, sword aimed high.

 

[Erodin]

Erodin didn't move.

In fact he stood as though nothing in the world could harm him. His face a grinning mask of confidence as Zola pulled herself up and off the ground. He glanced over towards his companion as th Dreadlord offered her rude retort, to gue clicking. "Seems like she doesn't appreciate your kindness."

The words came even as Zola raised her sword.

Her blade flickered, and Erodin should have moved to counter with his own. Yet instead he stood still, and in the last minute a flicker rushed over his eyes. The air shifted and moved once again, and suddenly besides the charging Dreadlord another wraith appeared.

It launched itself forward, crashing I to the Dreadlord with a sudden tackle.

Only then did Erodin move.

He knew the Wraith would last only a second, a split heartbeat before Zola would notice it and bring her magic down to bare. But that second was just enough time. With an impossible speed gathered from a stolen life, Erodin launched forward. His knee came up, h adding directly towards Zola's face.

The appendage intending to slam into her, hopefully disorienting Zola just enough for Rosaline to set in her magics.

 

[Rion]

“Or yours.” Roseline chirped. It hadn’t hurt her feelings in the slightest that Zola had refused her offer, if anything, it made her admire her even more. If Zola had complied so easily, well… where was the excitement in that? She had always loved the will-they-won’t-they? romances in her Scarlet Fanny novels. Even better was the enemies to lovers trope!

Maybe she could convince Gilram to let her share a room with Zola with there being only bed? Even if Roseline had to be the one on the floor it would be worth it, for after days upon days of proving herself to Zola, they would finally reconcile. Perhaps Zola had a young sister that was running away with a smarmy guardsman? Roseline would happily find him and offer him a large sun to marry that runaway sister and bring dignity back to Zola’s family so that none of her other sisters could be ruined!

“Oh, waiting on me?” Roseline came back from her daydream of being a dark and brooding man saving a bold and witty woman. The red haired rogue would join the fray, coming behind Zola. Her arms went underneath Zola’s arms, cold hands pressing into the sides of Zola’s face with tremendous force that was surprising to find in dreadlord. Sharp fingernails dug into her skin, her index and middle fingers sandwiching Zola’s eyes.

She forced her brows to be lifted, for the soft delicate skin under her eyes to be pulled down.

A risky position Roseline put herself in even as a bright iridescent eye (now the size of a clementine) began forming in front of Zola. But Zola was worth a few stabs!

Zola Erodin

 

[Zola]

Zola swore as the wraith met her blade instead, wasting her strong swing and the offensive upper hand she had gained as she was forced to switch to the defensive. Now she had perfected the noise and frequency that disrupted these minor wraiths all it took was a shrill whistle for the form of an unfortunate soldier to break apart but Erodin's knee swung upwards just as the wraith vanished. Zola barely had time to blink as the knee went crashing into her chin. Her own teeth sliced through tongue and lip filling her mouth with blood and the impact had her whole head ringing.

Zola stumbled backwards cursing as her vision danced, bringing her sword up to parry the blow she assumed would come next. She hadn't given Roseline a second thought after the dagger which would turn out to be her crucial mistake. Surprisingly strong arms wound about her arms pinning her in place and clawing at her eyes. At first she thought it was a wraith and pursed her lips to dispel that magic but the body behind her was warm, real. As soon as she realised who it was she screwed her eyes shut and clawed at Rosealine's fingers like a wild animal.

"Get off me you, bitch," letting go of one of those prying hands she went for the dagger at her thigh.

 

[Erodin]

Erodin's hand snapped out in an instant.

The ghostly whispers still rose from his form, marking him as carrying the strength and speed of one or several of his wraiths. His fingers wrapped around Zola's hand like a vice, pinning her hand in place even as she griped the dagger in her hand. "Oh come on!"

He complained.

"Why are you fighting so hard?" Erodin asked. "Why do you even care?"

Oh he knew very well what Zola had done. His ears throughout the Vigilite and beyond had earned him the tale more than a few times. Stories of what she had done to her crew, soldiers, even fellow Dreadlords. A delicious peace of work that should have been appreciated. "They demoted you, for doing your job!"

Erodin laughed.

"This is the ass-backward Republic you want to serve?" His tongue clicked. "A government that would throw away one it's best because she did her duty?"

His head shook. "Doesn't seem like something worth serving, eh Rose?"

 

[Rion]

Roseline was fighting Zola back with stern gentleness, or at least she was trying to. The blonde was strong. Who didn’t like a strong and spunky blonde? They were the perfect foil to the tall, dark and handsome love interests found in her enemies-to-lovers romance books. The redhead was smiling, her magic slowly taking its effect.

She had ran her arcane reserves dry and it wouldn’t be long until she felt the consequences of her magic. She could hold a little longer though. Maybe it would even impress Zola!

“It’s not her fault, they brainwashed her into thinking she was the problem.” Roseline shook her head. “Gaslighting at its finest. I had a ex do that to me once. Not Theo, of course, he would never. Anyways, the Republic loves to manipulate their little puppets.” She sighed. “They’re even doing it right now, having us fight against each other when we should be working together.” A pause and Roseline winced. “Please stop struggling now Zola, I’m getting a cramp in my hand.” She said plainly.

Zola Erodin

 

[Zola]

"I serve my country, whatever form it decides to take," Zola snarled back. She had lost but every second of resistance brought the other men more time. Time to clear out the town and load people onto ships, to send messages ahead that this worthless shithole had been lost, that she had held the line. Maybe it would clear her name enough that if - when - she died here they would let her name be written in the halls of the Academy on the rolls of the fallen.

Tears rolled down her cheeks mixed with blood from where Rosealine's nails dug in to pry her eyes open. Thin cuts slashed into her upper eyelids and the lower membrane of her eyes. With one last heaving breath her eyes were finally forced open to behold the magic in front of her. Before sleepy fully took her she spat on Erodin's boots.

"Just... kill me... you... cowards."

Then Zola's body suddenly slumped forward.

 

[Erodin]

Erodin looked down at his boot, letting out a tsk. "Disgusting."

He said, edging his shoe forward and wiping it on the unconscious woman's clothing.

The Rogue Dreadlord let out a long sigh, not entirely sure why he had even bothered with this. It would have been easy to simply stab Zola through the spine. Killing her at this point would have been easy, though he wasn't entirely sure Rosaline would have even let him.

"Well." He noted, glancing up at Rosaline. "That'll be a fun conversation later."

Erodin mused with a chuckle.

With a motion he called to some of the lesser Dreadlords that they had brought along. Dragging their attention from the slaughter. "Tie her up, blind fold her, and make sure she doesn't do anything until we finish taking the island."

He glanced towards the central keep, a wicked grin spreading over his lips. "Shouldn't be long now."

Then, then they could really talk.

 

[Rion]

“I know the game by now,” Roseline sniffed but the smile hadn’t faltered, feeling Zola limp in her arms. She’d worry about everything else later, now was the fun part: tying her up! Plucking a strand of hair from her head she transformed it into rope with a simple whispered college spell. The rope was thick and long enough, and perhaps to add salt to a wound that would surely form soon enough, Zola’s wrists would be tied to her ankles, arms and legs behind her back.

Another strand of hair and spell later, Roseline had a red blindfold. She followed Erodin’s suggestion on this, even if in the back of her head she wanted to tell him the blindfold could actually end up being a saving grace for Zola if she woke up. Yet the rogue didn’t voice that thought, flipping Zola onto her belly and not caring if her face was right in the debris and dirt.

“She’ll come around. You’ll see.” Roseline smiled a wide smile. “Zola is currently having a lovely dream right now. Of her true inner desires, what she deep, deep, deep down wanted with all of her lovely dreadlord heart. You’ll see, once she wakes up, you’ll see.” The redhead clapped with excitement. “It’s hard to argue when your heart and mind align as one!”

Zola Erodin

 

[Zola]

"Captain Zola!"

She blinked. The image of the harbour, the island, and the two Dreadlords she had been fighting vanished. Before her was the calm sea and the prow of The Antagonist. Her ship. With a shaking hand she touched the worn, well oiled wood she knew so well. She had bled on this prow. Had made others bleed too. This was impossible, this was-

She turned.

"Antigone," she breathed. Pain laced every part of her to see that smiling face again, those golden eyes, those lips curving up into one of her grins.

"I thought we agreed to keep it professional in front of the others?" she teased then stepped closer, her hands curling about her neck and tangling in her hair.

Not real. Not real. Not real.

But then her lips were crushing hers and Zola could feel the tears running down her cheeks. Relief. Love. Zola kissed her back with everything she had, drawing her closer seeking to touch every inch and convince herself that this was reality. That she was alive. That she hadn't driven a sword through her chest when she had sided with the rebels. In that moment she didn't care if this was a dream, Zola just hoped she never woke up.

 

[Erodin]

Erodin gave Roseline a look. Gods, she's still nuttier than a squirrel shit.

He thought to himself, but only nodded and gave the woman a smile.

After that little exchange, the conquest of the island did not take much longer. The remaining Guardsmen and Dreadlords were either captured, killed, or fled. A single long-boat ended up making it off the island, using a small smugglers cave on the opposite side of the isle.

Someone asked a question of pursuit, but Erodin only laughed.

A few hours after that, Erodin, Roseline, and the unconscious Zola found themselves in the great hall of Vel Arnen's central Keep. A room that should mostly have dropped the moniker of 'great' and simply went with 'hall' by Erodin's estimation.

Place looked more like a half-assed war room than any kind of feasting hall. "Really let the place go."

"Ah well, it'll do." He mused, pulling out the chair which sat at the head of the table and throwing himself into it. "So, wanna wake her up?"

Erodin asked, though paused, then added. "Or would you rather I didn't watch?"

He said with a chuckle.

 

[Rion]

Roseline had carried Zola, bridal style with more exertion she’d like to admit to, into the hall. At first she set her on a chair but with Zola’s head lolling off to the side and her limbs looking so limp, Roseline couldn’t help but think she looked dead. She didn’t like the look of a dead Zola.

So without saying anything she began to clear off the table, grabbing whatever littered it and tossing it over her shoulder onto the ground. She quickly made a mess but the table was cleared and there was room for the super sonic blonde. Placing Zola on the table, Roseline gave Erodin a look.

“She’s not the brat you and Amelie like to babysit.” Roseline patted Zola’s cheek softly. Zola was going to be so much better than that new recruit that had been doing… whatever it was he had been doing the last couple of months! She couldn’t wait to share Zola with Gilram. “She looks so much younger when she’s sleeping.” She mused with that never fading smile. She glanced back at Erodin as if just understanding his words then. “Ew. Erodin. Dis-gus-ting.” She said and wagged a finger at him. “You should wash that mouth out with soap.”

With a snap of her fingers, Zola’s dream would end and she could wake up. But just in case she needed some help with it, Roseline punched Zola into her soft, lower belly. There, that should do it!

Zola Erodin

 

[Zola]

Perfect bliss was replaced with pain.

Zola groaned and attempted to roll onto her side to curl around the agony blooming from her kidney but the ropes and binds made it difficult to do anything but rock slightly. The dream had felt so real it took a while for her to adjust, to realise what she had hoped for had been nothing but a mirage, and that she was somehow back in what had passed for the keep on this shred of dirt. One crack of the eye to reveal two faces she frankly never wanted to see again had her shutting them and turning away.

"I told you to just kill me," she muttered. Perhaps they would. At least then she could be with Antigone again.