Omnixius
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DKP 9-7 Two families, two pains.
🕑 Added 2023-01-01 00:00:52 +0000 UTC“It explains why we can’t find them,” Sarah said with a voice that dripped with anger.
“But this must have taken years to prepare,” Thayle said as she looked at the faces gathered around the table. Ayawa was there with her family, as were leaders from every faith represented in the camps. In addition, dozens of sub-commanders were on hand, as well as representatives of the seekers. Gersius wanted them all to hear Ayawa's report so the entire army could understand just how shocking it was.
“They have been preparing for years,” Gersius sighed as he realized his maps were useless. “And we have no idea where these tunnels are or how many of them there are.”
“We can’t garrison the entire northern mountain range,” Lengwin said as he heard the distress in Gersius’s voice.
“No, we cannot,” Gersius agreed and leaned away from the table to think. “As much as it pains me to say this, we need Lilly to find those tunnels for us.”
“She said she thought they were close to the border keeps,” Ayawa reminded. “She was sure that moving your army west has upset them.”
“Begging your pardon,” A man with a white eye on his armor said. “But how do we know they aren’t feeding her false information?”
Everyone looked to the seeker who represented Jessivel as he hunted in the east. The man's name was Rogar, and by all accounts, he would replace Jessivel as head of the order if he fell. He was a brave man with a good head for lies and deceptions, so his speaking up to this point carried weight.
“I don’t mean to disparage Empress Lilly's efforts, but we have to accept that the enemy has very uncharacteristically accepted her,” he pointed out. “We have to consider that they saw an opportunity to use her as a means to lead us astray.”
“He has a point,” Sarah grumbled. “I love my wife, but she is naive and trusts people far too easily.”
“Sarah, Lilly is trying to prevent the greatest shedding of blood since the dragon wars,” Thayle insisted. “We have to respect what she is doing.”
“I respect the idea,” Sarah countered. “But does anyone in this room believe the Doan will turn aside just because Lilly asked them to?” She waited to see if anyone was foolish enough to respond, then went on with her point. “The fact is the dragons are driving the Doan, and they are after something much bigger than simple conquest. Lilly has flown into the arms of our enemies and might very well be used as a weapon against us.”
The point settled on the group as many nodded in agreement. That the Doan hadn’t outright killed her was a miracle. That they were foolish enough to share their battle plans and strategies where Lilly could hear them was just too unbelievable.
“We have to assume none of this information can be trusted,” Gersius said. “The Doan would not be foolish enough to discuss their plans while Lilly was listening.”
“I disagree,” Ayawa spoke up as she came to the table. “I believe we need to act on what she said.”
“Forgive me,” Rogar said with a nod. “But Gersius is right. No enemy would allow such vital information to be shared before a leader of the enemy unless they were in chains.”
“She is in chains,” Ayawa said as people gasped.
“What do you mean she is in chains?” Sarah demanded. “I thought you said she was safe?”
Ayawa could see the distressed looks in their eyes but held her ground as she explained Lilly’s message. She explained how Lilly had vowed to remain until their plan was done. She didn't know what that plan was, but Lilly had suggested it would only be a few more days before it happened. She also argued that it was very likely the Doan didn't know she was communicating through the dream.
“But why take the risk?” Thayle asked. “They have to know who Lilly is.”
“That's exactly why they are doing it,” Ayawa suggested. “This is vanity and pride. The Doan have a dragon leader of their enemy, and now they want to show her how useless it was to resist them. They are probably showing her their vast armies and boasting of how easy the war will be.”
“But you can’t be sure?” Gersius said.
“There is one thing I haven't told you yet,” Ayawa replied. “I wanted to do it privately, but it needs to be said now. Lilly said you were right. The Doan are not interested in reason or diplomacy, and stopping the war is out of the question. She would only have said this if she had tried to sway them and discovered her efforts were worthless.”
“But that still doesn’t mean they aren’t feeding her lies,” Sarah insisted.
“No, but they aren’t hiding what they are either,” Ayawa said. “They believe they have her honor bound to stand witness to the destruction of everything she loves. They have no idea she can communicate with us, so they are taking every opportunity to boast. Lilly has realized her mistake but is now trying to turn the tables on them by encouraging this boasting. She is challenging them to prove to her that they can win this war, and they are the ones taking the bait now. We all know from her first encounter that they revere dragons, and I believe this is why they accepted her. They may see turning Lilly to their cause as the greatest blow they can inflict on Gersius.”
“And you believe Lilly has something to gain from this still?” Sarah asked.
“Lilly wants to remain long enough to learn when the attack on this army will take place. If she is right, it will be a few days, and that will prove everything else,” Ayawa said.
“Hmm,” Gersius said as he looked to Sarah. “I must consider that Ayawa is right, and their pride is blinding them to the danger Lilly represents.”
“And we do what about it?” Sarah asked as she folded her arms. “We can’t sit here and wait for them to come out of their tunnels.”
“No,” Gersius agreed. “We march west as if heading to reinforce the walls. If we stopped now, these wise ones might get suspicious that we learned of their plans. If Lilly is right, the further west we go, the more urgent their efforts to stop us become.”
“It still doesn’t explain why the Doan haven’t attacked weeks ago,” Thayle said. “Why are they waiting so long?”
“Maybe Lilly can tell us that,” Gersius said as he looked to Ayawa.
“I will ask her,” Ayawa replied before turning to Sarah. “But Lilly said she was under constant watch. She didn’t think she could meet you in the valley when you wanted.”
Sarah trembled, not saying a word, but the look in her eyes spoke volumes. She hated that she was needed to be in near-constant flight to protect the army and had little time to look for Lilly. Ayawa could understand their pain as Lilly was the beating heart of their family. With her in harm's way like this, they all had to be suffering from worry.
When the meeting ended, Ayawa was quick to be away, dreading another moment under that angry gaze. Gersius set about preparing the army for the march so that the pressure could be put on the Doan. Ayawa ran for her tent and quickly huddled inside, rocking back and forth as she felt terrible over the situation.
“You need to stop blaming yourself,” a woman said as soft hands came around her neck. “I can see it in your aura. You feel responsible.”
“Of course, I feel responsible,” Ayawa said. “I am the one she is speaking through. Did you see the look on Sarah's face? She hates that Lilly isn't talking to her. If anything happens to Lilly, she will blame me and say I should have told her to come straight home.”
“Lilly chose this path for herself,” Gedris argued as she tried to rub some of the tension out of Ayawa’s shoulders. “You are only trying to help.”
“I tried to help back in the temple of Eastgate,” Ayawa said.
“What is that supposed to mean?” Gedris asked as she knelt beside Ayawa and embraced her warmly.
“I couldn't deny they loved one another,” Ayawa said. “I had been very vocal about my beliefs that they should not mix, but I changed my mind. I wanted to show Lilly that she had my blessing, and I wanted something more.”
“You wanted a daughter,” Gedris said as she held Ayawa to her chest. “And along comes sweet innocent Lilly, discovering the human world for the first time. She must have appeared so childlike back then.”
“She did,” Ayawa agreed. “And I fell in love with her.”
“You did nothing wrong there either,” Gedris insisted. “You were hurting, and Lilly was a blessing to all of you.”
“I care about her,” Ayawa said as she looked at Gedris. “I care about her, and I fear for her.”
“Of course you do,” Gedris urged as she held the hurting woman tightly. “I am terrified for her. I can’t imagine why she did this.”
“She did it because she loves like no being I have ever known,” Ayawa said. “But Sarah is right, her love makes her naive, and she trusts people she should not.”
“All we can do is pray for her,” Gedris urged. “If what she told you is right, this plan will unfold soon, and she will be back.”
“Or dead,” Ayawa corrected and looked away. “If Gersius finds this army and destroys it, they may go mad with rage and take it out on her.”
“Oh, Ayawa,” Gedris cried. “You can’t dwell on that. You have to hold fast to faith. Remember, Lilly has been guided by the divine every step of the way. We can only assume this was part of their plan. We have to trust they know how to get her home safely.”
“Your right,” Ayawa replied as her aura filled with shame.
“Don't be ashamed to be so worried,” Gedris insisted. “You love Lilly as a daughter. So you have every right to be upset.”
“It isn't that,” Ayawa replied as she got up to pace. She had been harboring a deep wound ever since they had relayed the first warning. Sarah had accused her of seeking a dragon's aid to recover her lost secrets while denying her husband the right to do the same. Gersius then chastised her and suggested she should be ashamed of her actions, and she was. It was all too much to bare as she realized how terrible she was being to Tavis. She had been trying to convince him to give up his past and leave fire weaving behind for so long. It had been a long road, but now Sarah was bringing all that pain back. She told Gedris about it all and how she was just as afraid for Tavis as she was for Lilly.
“I just don’t want anything to happen to him,” Ayawa said as she covered her mouth. “Not until I have born him a child.” She broke down into tears as she said that last comment, the pain welling up from years of suppressing it.
“Oh, my love,” Gedris sighed and came to her. “I am so sorry you are carrying all this burden. Now I feel terrible that I am pregnant already.”
“Please, don't feel that way,” Ayawa said and took her into a hug. “I am glad you are pregnant. I am glad we will soon have a child.” She clutched Gedris as if, at any moment, she might run off like Lilly did and be lost behind enemy lines.
“I promise not to leave your side,” Gedris said as she saw the pain flaring in Ayawa’s aura.
“And that worries me too,” Ayawa said, holding her out to look into her eyes. “Lilly has warned us the enemy intends to ambush and destroy this army. I would feel much safer if you were safely away to someplace where you were not at risk.”
“I understand,” Gedris said as she stroked Ayawa's cheek. “I will return to Calathen if that will give you peace of mind.”
“She's staying with us,” Tavis said, alerting them both to his presence in the doorway.
“How long have you been listening?” Ayawa asked as she trembled under his gaze.
“Long enough,” Tavis said and entered the tent. He went right to Ayawa and took her into his arms. She melted as he held her firmly, letting his hug say what words could not.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered.
“Don't be,” Tavis said and clutched tighter. “I have always loved you and understood why we could not have children. It was never safe for us to linger in any one place, and always running was no life for a child.”
“I brought all this on us,” Ayawa began to sob. “I am robbing you of the life you deserve.”
“No, your people did,” Tavis replied. “They made it, so the only way you could love me was to accept this life.”
“But Two Crows said he will end any further efforts to reclaim her,” Gedris reminded. “He promised that she was free, and the tribes have said she was welcome to return.”
“They said she would be tolerated,” Tavis corrected. “They aren’t going to be welcoming.”
“But at least we know now that it is safe to start planning a family,” Gedris insisted. “And we already have a daughter in Lilly.”
Ayawa could tell he was nodding in agreement as he held her tight. She was torn in fear for so many things as the potential to have the life they always wanted was dangled in her face. Gedris was pregnant and southern tribes were no longer hunting them. If only they could end this terrible war, they could settle and finally begin raising children. With that thought, she realized what Lilly was trying to do. The poor child was thinking of her family and, more than likely, the daughter she had discovered in Rose. Lilly was trying to end the war so their families could finally begin properly. This was a sacrifice of love for them all, and Ayawa finally realized how wrong she was.
“Tavis,” she said and pulled away so she could see his eyes. “I am sorry about how terrified I am of your skills. You have suffered so much to wield the fire and carry the pain of past mistakes. I just didn't want you to suffer anymore or lose you in the next loss of control.”
“What are you talking about?” Tavis asked. “I told you I won’t use the fire again.”
“No,” Ayawa said and put a finger to his lips. “I want Sarah to train you. I have been selfish and proud, accepting Lilly’s help while denying you Sarah’s. I am sorry, and I won’t stand in your way if you want to learn how to control it.”
“You are sure?” Tavis asked as he held her out to study her face. “I am prepared to give it up and live a normal life with you and Gedris.”
“I am sure,” Ayawa replied and reached out for him. “Just promise me you will be careful. I won't be able to live with myself if I don't hand you a child.”
Tavis sighed and pulled her in tight, stroking her back as he took a moment to think.
“Gedris,” he said after a long moment. “Give Ayawa the blessing of fertility.”
Gedris smiled as Ayawa struggled from his arms and shook her head. Her aura flared with the colors of uncertainty and panic as she stepped away.
“Ayawa,” Tavis said in a calm voice and held out his hand for her to accept. “It's time you stopped running.”
Ayawa trembled as she accepted his hand and was led to their sleeping rolls. Gedris gave her a small kiss before beginning the song that would bestow the most sacred of blessings. For the next hour, they made love and completed the task that would end their life of running. Soon the life they had long sought would begin, and it would start with the birth of two children.
The next morning the army marched before dawn, with Gersius determined to gain ground. If moving west angered the Doan, he wanted to accelerate their progress. It was a sound strategy to force their hand, but Gersius had his worries. He was pushing hard, hoping Lilly was right and the missing army would attack. He was gambling that Lilly would be free to return once the battle was over.
He spent most of the night planning various ways to rescue Lilly if things went wrong. His biggest fear was that the Doan might kill her in revenge for the defeat of their army. The words of Rogar haunted him as he agreed the Doan had been too willing to accept her in. They must have an ulterior motive, something they were hoping to gain, but there was nothing he could do now. He had gone to see Ayawa and asked her to warn Lilly that they believed the Doan were using her. He wanted to make Lilly suspicious of their reasons so she would be alert for danger.
Ayawa and Sarah had tried to enter the dream again, seeking to make contact with Lilly a second time. Lilly hadn't visited either of them, and he suspected that was because she feared sleeping for very long. She had told Ayawa she was being watched, and Gersius had no doubt she was. What bothered him most was the potential that Lilly was being used as a tool to feed him false information. If not for Ayawa's theory about their enemy's arrogance and the fact that they likely didn't know about the dream, he would have to assume it was a lie. He was pushing ahead under the assumption that Lilly was right and that this army would be forced to act if he kept going west.
Of course, this necessitated Sarah being on watch, soaring the land to the north to locate the army before it pounced. It would be disastrous if he were taken by surprise while his army was on the march or otherwise preoccupied. She was enraged and in despair by the need to keep vigilant when her heart was so in pain. If she had her way, she would sleep all day, hoping for just a few minutes to speak to Lilly. Shadros was also doing some of the work, buying her a little time to be in camp. This was better spent training Ayawa to enter the dream and stay there long enough for Lilly to convey her message.
Ayawa had been uncharacteristically emotional this morning with Gedris on hand to support her. He wasn't certain, but he almost felt she looked happy about something as if a great weight had been taken off her shoulders. He now rode with Thayle at the side of the army so that they were on hand to deal with situations that arose. Thayle had been a rock in this storm of pain and emotion, holding fast to the belief that Lilly was protected by the divines.
“She is,” Thayle said as she read his thoughts. “We all are. Look at how our path has been filled with traps, yet somehow, we always come through. Sarah, being trapped in the dream was a good example. We all walked directly into a trap we knew was waiting for us, and you came out the hero of two faiths.”
“I see your point,” Gersius said as she made a very good argument. He had gone into the jaws of death to face an enemy that was waiting for him and come back stronger. He had reembraced his faith in Astikar, and the god had answered. Now he could call on Balisha and Astikar, a feat that only heroes from ancient legend could claim to have achieved.
“The prophecy said you would be twice blessed, but we assumed that meant your two wives,” Thayle said. “We should have known that was an incorrect interpretation when Lilly dug up the part that said you would marry Sarah and have three wives.”
“I suppose we should have,” Gersius agreed as he considered the prophecy. Nobody but the highest leadership had access to the original, and they disseminated only the parts they found useful. Gersius had only learned what they wanted him to know, but Lilly had taken it upon herself to read it. She was the one who discovered the third wife and details how the dragon knight foresaw his own demise.
“Lilly likes to read,” Thayle said when he started to question why he hadn't found time to read it himself. “And you have an empire to run. You don't have the time to do everything.”
“I am glad you are here to comfort me, but I still have my doubts,” Gersius replied.
“Gersius,” Thayle said as she rode next to him. “We all do because Lilly is away from us. Without her as our guiding light, we doubt the sun will rise, and the rain will continue to fall.”
“Very poetic, but I suppose it is true,” Gersius agreed as he tried to focus. “What we need is more information. I hate how we are getting it, but I believe you are right, and the divines are behind this.”
“It only makes sense,” Thayle said to be supportive.
That night he tripled the guards at the edge of camp and kept them on a tight perimeter. He didn't want his men spread out so they could be easily overwhelmed. Shadros would fly the night sky and offer early warning of an enemy approach but Sarah raised a new concern.
She reminded them that the Doan were using tunnels dug by dragons and suggested those dragons might participate in the attack. If they did Gersius might quickly find his lines overwhelmed and shattered. Gersius had to give this possibility seriously, considering how Lilly also brought to light another concern. If the attacks in the east were a ruse to lure him away from the border keeps, then two things could be readily assumed. First, the Doan had excellent intelligence of his movements. This was proven by Lilly's warning that they were angry he was still moving west. Second, it showed that the Doan considered him the true threat. By not going east, they were now planning to strike at him directly and win a decisive battle. He was the one element of uncertainty in their plans, and they needed to ensure a victory. So why wouldn't they use their dragons if such a key battle were so important? They could only assume that dragons would participate in an effort to ensure victory.
Thankfully, there was a large detachment of Weavers on hand and significant numbers of the priests of Astikar. Any dragon diving on his formations would be battered by hammers, arrows, and weaves to great effect, hopefully driving them away. Those willing to suffer the injuries and make the attack would see the women of Ulustrah raising their green shields to protect the lines.
It was an effective countermeasure to any dragon attack. However, this would only be effective if his army was in position and ready. If he were caught on the march, it would take precious time to organize battle lines and create a solid defense. The worst outcome would be an attack at night, as this would catch men and women out of armor. Soldiers roused from sleep would need precious minutes to prepare before they could be pressed into combat. He began to have visions of the thirty men he led to find Lilly and how many had died in their bedclothes. Had they been prepared, that battle would have ended very differently.
“Listening to your thoughts is tiring,” Thayle sighed. “All you do is think strategy, strategy, strategy. When you're not focused on strategy, you're going over past battles, tactics, and disasters. You keep replaying these events as if you can learn something more from them. Do you ever let your mind rest?”
“I do not want to let this army down by not giving the possibilities my full attention,” Gersius replied. “The more possibilities I consider now, the faster I can react to those situations on the battlefield. I let those thirty men down because I never believed the enemy could strike at us so far from the lines. I had only four sentries on duty, and they were likely half asleep.”
“Gersius, had I been in your shoes to make that decision, I would have made the same one,” Thayle said. “You had absolutely no reason to believe you were in any greater danger than what the forest itself presented. Nobody would have suspected a midnight attack by masses of bandersooks so far from the fighting.”
“But it happened,” Gersius said and looked at her firmly. “And now, thanks to Lilly, we know our enemies are trying to repeat that tactic on a much larger scale. I cannot be taken unaware again. This time we have to be ready.”
“This time is very different,” Thayle insisted. “You know they are coming, and you have been drilling your formations on how to form a proper line to resist not only the Doan but their dragons. Your scouts won't be thin or half asleep, and Shadros will prowl the night skies where he can scarcely be seen. If they manage to ambush you a second time, it will be a miracle.”
“We can't underestimate them,” Gersius cautioned. “We went to crush Whiteford only to learn the entire thing was a ploy to lure our dragons into the open so they could skewer them. Do not forget how close they came to removing Sarah from the battlefield. The Doan have proven they are thinking ahead and have contingency plans in the event things go astray.”
“Gersius,” Thayle said with a pleading expression. “When this war is over, you and I are going to have a long talk. No man should have to spend his every waking moment trying to plan the spilling of blood. I am going to help you put this thinking behind you so you can focus on family.”
“I would be grateful to put all this behind me,” Gersius agreed as he. “But for now, I must keep preparing and fighting. If we are ever to have the family we seek, we must win this war, and I will spend every second planning how best to do it.”
“I understand,” Thayle said. “But never forget, you have two children on the way, and Sarah has promised you a third. Your family is already here, and the war will not stop your children from needing their father.”
Gersius nodded as he thought of his children growing inside eggs and understood the simple truth. One way or another, this war would be over before they were born. He was going to do everything in his power to ensure he was the one who was their greet them. It was the driving factor of his heart, but one fear overshadowed it all. Would Lilly be there to greet them as well?
Comments
Thank you so much for pointing that out. I have been under such a terrible workload recently I haven't been reading the comments. Wow, do I feel stupid.
naton
Don't have a Royal Road account but it looks like 9-7 there is 9-17 here.
