Without so much as a sound, the figures left just as quickly as they appeared, leaving almost no trace of their presence behind except for the subtle scent of fresh ink. "Anyone care to tell me what the fuck just happened?" Athar's alternate muttered over his shoulder. "I think they're some kind of messengers, but the way they move is almost inhuman," Haldir said, having watched them carefully.
"And you would be right, Voice of Caegwen," the Mouth said with a grin that immediately left his face as he turned to offer Syldir a bow with one arm across his chest, and the other spread perpendicular to his body. "Thank you for allowing me to atone for a few of my sins, Hand, though I know that alone will not suffice," he said quietly, almost as if it pained him to say it aloud.
Syldir stared at him with cold indifference for a few seconds, then nodded and gestured for him to rise. "Perhaps not, but it is a step in the right direction. Thank you for giving them a chance this time, Mouth," she said, relinquishing her cold stare for a much softer one. Nodding once, he rose from his bow with a pained smile.
"Now then. Shall we?" Sydir said, opening a portal behind her that led directly to Kalia's front door, the thick air wafting into the gloomy area and filling our nostrils. Without another word, Ysevel and I stepped through first, followed closely behind by Mom and Kalia, then the rest of us.
Just like old times, Ysevel sent with an encouraging smile. Right, except last time we weren't in the company of a deranged dragon with an inexplicable power, I chuckled. No, just a very, very angry Irun, she smirked.
I couldn't tell if Irun knew we were talking about him, but he sneezed as soon as she'd said the name, forcing the two of us to stifle a laugh.
The moment we stepped through the portal, I immediately recognized the handful of hegraphenes that were already waiting for us at the front gate. "Krozz! Niashin! Buruz!" I called out with a wave, getting their attention instantly. "Thoma Fayren and Ysevel Phrys! Egeshe krag, mata dun in grusstek mire ba," Krozz said with an outstretched forearm for me to take.
"Egin oxi, Krozz," I replied with a smirk as I took it and squeezed just as hard as he did, earning me a look of surprise through the slits in his face plate.
"And so strong. What did Kerre Kalia do to you in the dome?" he asked bluntly. "You already know what she did, Krozz," Ysevel said with a chuckle, offering him a greeting. "I know, but it's one thing to hear about it, it's another to see and feel it for myself," he said, offering her a greeting in return, but his words triggered a slight tinge of guilt in me.
"We're sorry we couldn't come to say our farewells. There were just too…" I stopped when he raised a hand and shook his head. "No need for apologies. Ardrin already informed me of everything that happened," he said warmly.
Because of course he did, I nodded, recalling that Ardrin was to maintain the sanctioned portals between Vareluth and Kavrass.
"Even so, I don't think he made mention of your friends," Buruz added, gesturing to the portal behind us that spat the rest of our group out. As we turned to make sure everyone else had arrived, I felt an almost instant thirst for blood the moment the Mouth stepped through.
"No, wait! He's on our side," I said, immediately turning to Buruz, the source of the feeling. "He's on your side? Do you even know what he is?" he snarled in return. "I do. I wouldn't be here with him if I didn't. I don't know the history you might have with him, but for the time being, he's an ally," I said, spreading both my arms out to let him know that I wasn't lying.
During our time in the dome, Kalia explained to us that this gesture for the Iron Plume Clan was both as close to a sign of surrender as it was to telling someone to stop. The only difference was the context, and at that moment, I needed Buruz to believe me.
Bold move, Ysevel said, knowing exactly what I was trying to do as she joined in, putting her arms up as well. Buruz glared at us, the violet and golden tendrils in his eyes racing around his irises as he shifted his gaze between us rapidly. I could tell the others who didn't understand what we were doing had frozen in confusion, but the violent aura Buruz gave off likely played a heavy hand in that, as well.
His gaze settled on Kalia, who, surprisingly, had performed the same gesture we had. I could feel her apprehension about doing so through our connection, but she set aside her own personal feelings to give Ed a chance.
Thank you, I sent her a glance over my shoulder. He wouldn't have listened any other way, and I don't think Buruz knows he wouldn't stand a chance right now, Kalia said flatly, though I knew she was battling her own emotions.
His gaze shifted away from Kalia and settled back on me. Ysevel and I both gave him a nod, and after a few seconds, he relented and took a deep breath. "I hope you know what you're doing, Thoma. As a fellow member of the Iron Plume Clan, I will trust you in this decision," he said, his tone low and still fighting back the anger I could tell was just behind his eyes.
"Duned koma ataike, Buruz. I hope you'll understand," I said, lowering one of my arms while I put my right on his armored shoulder. "A lot has happened, and I hope Kalia can explain it better than I can. I know you listen to her more than you would me," I said, but he shook his head in response.
"No, Thoma. After what you two have done for not only us, but this realm as a whole, I will listen to what you say," he said with a firm nod.
I didn't want to outwardly show it, but I'm sure Ysevel felt the same amount of relief I did when he said that.
A few moments and a score of introductions later, we moved inside Kalia's home, which earned us more than a few stares. Thankfully, Kalia was able to quell their curiosity with just her presence, and while the Mouth continued to earn dirty looks from the rest of the Clan, they were forced to accept it.
"Thoma, I hate to be the one to ask this, but what are we doing here?" Eirenne whispered over my shoulder. Ysevel and I shared a look, knowing exactly what was coming next. "Well, to put it simply: it's a right of passage," I said with a shrug.
I could almost feel the look of confusion on her face, but when Kalia led us down one of the many streets that led to the arena, Ysevel and I couldn't help but grin at what was to come.
"Thoma, Ysevel, would you lead the others to the preparation room, while I make sure everything else is ready with Krozz?" Kalia asked over her shoulder with a slight feeling of nostalgia. "Of course, Kerre Kalia," I said, glad to see the feeling was mutual.
Thoma, what the hell is going on? Bernar asked, likely having been prodded by the others to do so. Don't worry. I'll explain everything when we get there, I smirked.