Caius only hesitated a bit before he slowly inched his way into his Pretty Birdie's nest. He was so… listless. Aiya, his Pretty Birdie didn't even look as Caius gathered him up in his tails.
Neolani glanced at the darkening sky. A storm? With Ashton here?
Alexei glanced around. Those weren't normal storm clouds… there was an absurd amount of mana charging the air. Even though there wasn't any rain yet, sparks of electricity were causing flashes of light.
Sebastian walked over to meet with the Inago, "Chief warrior, Regina, we will be going inside. There is room for all," Sebastian pointedly did not look at Lord Reece. "The entry way is even large enough to fit the nest, should there be any concerns."
Alexei hesitated, the foxes had encircled the nest… and Ashton hadn't said a word since Ru disappeared. "We will keep your offer in mind your Grace."
Randal stood up, carefully tucking Kokono's nest under his coat. "I'll be inside. Should you have need, one of my men will be available to provide any assistance." Nix's depression had spread to all the little ones. They were all listlessly laying about. Not even bothering to protest as his men teased them with snacks.
The mountain man gathered up the three weary little birds he could see. Nodding to the assassin and necromancer, he gestured for them to follow.
Novak's displeasure had been conveyed directly. Four of his men had already committed suicide before word even reached the guild. Two had been instrumental to the guild's reputation in the last fifteen years.
Jakub had summoned four spectral knights to deliver their messages. Spies, spies after all their precautions, truth wards, oath spells… and still the wretched church had found a way into their core members. He was tracing all his enchantments, seeing how many others had found their way to unintended recipients.
Jakub waited until the wards were activated before presenting seven wards not where they should be. "All seven are together, making this a lead. The problem your grace… is…"
Randal picked up the paper with the listed enchantments, wards or spells. Two he'd purchased regarding curses. One a ward against nightmares. Two enchantments to soothe infants, the rest spells. One to reinforce a wall, the remaining three all regarding the safeguards of the deceased.
"You can track them?" Randal asked glancing over the intended recipients. Himself, Sebastian, house Harlow, Crawford, and Darnings…
Jakub nodded pulling out a compass made of bone. "Instead of pointing north, this will lead you to anything with my mana. The more mana, the stronger the reaction."
Randal nodded tossing the compass to the Ranger. "Ranger, looks like ye be up."
The ranger snatched the compass out of the air faster than the human eye could follow. "Oh ai, perhaps I be finden meself on ah bit of… ah walkabout. Tis such a beautiful day an all."
"Take First and Third with ye. No diyen ya hear?" Randal added tossing a pouch of their bartered wards against death. He could barter for more, he couldn't get another ranger or more death soldiers. Even if he could, he didn't want new ones.
The Ranger grinned, pulling his hood down. Ah, away from prying eyes, away from the nobles. "Am I to be taken… prisoners ye grace?"
Randal snorted, "Just bring their corpses. That should be enough for ye, necromancer?"
Jakub gave a sinister smile, "The head will be more than enough to get some answers."
Novak wanted to go with, but he still had to clean house. Using a bone puppet proxy wasn't the same as going in person. For now, he would remain at Jakub's side.
"Guess I'll go speak to his majesty." Randal said with a sneer. There was much to do before Nix's body perished. Even if the dragon blessing didn't kill them… the fae were oathbound to kill them after three days. If he could just find an incentive for help.
The healer snorted. "Oh ai, mayhap a few slaps will help em see da light yeah? Or knock some sense into the stubborn lizard."
The mage grinned, "Ai wouldna mind testin da theory."
"Now, before ye be losing half ye mind Randy, anything else we should be up to?" The Ranger asked as he stood up. Even with his speed, it would take him a full two hours to reach the capital.
Randal cracked his neck, "Ai, kill anyone who donna hear reason. Eventually I be finding the head of this wretched dragon."
Novak didn't even register the ranger… was gone. He turned in a full circle… the wards were undisturbed… doors and windows still locked… Novak flicked his gaze over Duke Hammer. The ranger… wasn't human either.
Jakub counted the birds. One of the little ones was missing.
Jaxon gritted his teeth as Duke Hammer casually informed them he'd sent someone to the capital. "Mage Devlin would be invaluable for such reconnaissance. Or any of the mages working on the bone enchantments."
Randal raked a disdainful sneer over the group. "I'd rather his majesty focus on seeing the light. Considering most believe Lord Reece is going to die before winter, the imperial bloodline should have other priorities."
"Or, if you really wanted to help, you could share what you have learned." Randal added with a sarcastic smile, "Not that I think you're incapable of putting the information to use… actually, that's the problem. None of you put anything you learn to use. So, just sit here and wait for Lord Reece to die, the dragon to release the damned, and the fae to come for our heads."
"IMPUDENT!" Empress Charmaine roared jumping to her feet. "You will watch your tongue duke Hammer. You've already been stripped of your title once! Next time you'll be stripped of your head!"
Randal snorted, "Ye can try, ye majesty. But I donna think ye could, even if ye really wanted ta. Now, I have more important things ta do than listen ta ye talk en circles."
The mountain man opened the doors for Randy, "If ye think of anything useful, mayhap we can trade information, until then… well, hope ye know who ye be braking bread with." The mountain man glanced over the empress meaningfully before he closed the door behind them. Randy would be losing his memories soon. They all would, in part, forget until the Ranger returned.
Lucian was seething. The armrest crumbled beneath his clenched fist. "Have the Hammer women confessed anything yet?" Lucian demanded releasing the rubble.
Devlin sighed, "No your majesty, as soon as any of them are conscious they start trying to commit suicide, or attack anyone in the room."
"What about the necromancer? Did he say anything?" Jaxon asked rubbing his face. The visiting delegations had been sending messages out since the snake god left.
Leonard slumped into a seat. "He's refusing to speak unless his Majesty continue… the experiments to embrace the light. Though… the daughter seems to be coming around. I think if we separate her she will break."
Lucian waved for it to be done. He wanted to see them. Something about Hammer's mother… it caused him to have a reaction… flashes of memories were returning. He just needed time to remember.
Caius cast four overlapping spells to shield them from the wind and rain. His Pretty Bird was so… lethargic. Uncaring of the rain, not accepting food, not refusing his warmth but not actively accepting either. Caius curled around his sad Pretty Birdie. Could birds die of a broken heart? Aiya, he needed to do something!
Alexei stood just inside their tent. Ashton wasn't responding at all, the foxes refused to budge. Neolani was struggling with self doubt… lightning was striking the ground all around. The thunder was so loud it was shaking the ground.
Nix closed his eyes. Ashton was fading fast. He was a good boy, taken too soon. Just one of the thousands of sacrifices… hopefully in his next life he would liv a full life. Thomas and Samantha… they were good people. Good parents… if Samantha's aptitude had gone undiscovered they may not have been targeted by the church.
Ashton smiled, he'd known this day had to come. It had been part of their deal after all. At least… at least no one else would be sacrificed.
Nix gathered the last vestiges of Ashton's consciousness. Sleep little mage, sleep and be safe, the next time you wake, with loved ones again.
Ashton hesitated, "Thank you, for saving us."
Nix gently brushed the hair away from the youth's face. "You made a barter, a deal with a god, you didn't faulter, your faith did not fall. The dragon will be freed, the souls released… more sacrifices, there will be no need.
Now, it's not yet your end, but now you should sleep. Until the body perishes, will only cause you undo agony."
"Will we ever… meet? Not like this, but, face to face?" Ashton asked as Nix tucked him into a bed. His bed. Glancing at his hands, he realized he was that four year old child again. Before he knew just how cruel the world really was.
"I will see off you three, you won't remember, and I think that's for the best, ensure you're all again family when next we meet." Nix promised pulling the blanket over the child. Half memory, half illusion.
"Will mom and dad be here?" Ashton asked closing his eyes.
"Always together, the distance in body, never in heart." Nix promised as three souls joined them. A younger Thomas, and a pregnant Samantha. He'd kept the infant's soul safe. Unfortunately, the soul was too damaged to join them in their next incarnation. Needing at least a hundred years before it could survive without assistance. Perhaps another three hundred years before it could enter the cycle of reincarnation.
Thomas offered Nix a hand. "Thank you. For taking the memories… I knew something was different… but I'd do it all again for the time we had together."
Samantha held her pregnant belly as she leaned into Thomas. "Thank you, and God Ru for answering our prayers. I… I don't" She covered her mouth as teers fell. Her baby, who never even saw the world… used as a sacrifice just because she was a mage.
Nix accepted Thomas's hand. "You offered your all, and we did take much. Now, it's time to rest, no more pain your souls touch."
Both smiled as they joined Ashton in his small bed. Holding each other tight as the illusion sent them into a blissful dream. A dream without the dragon's sacrifices, where Ashton grew up with two younger siblings. Thomas and Samantha passed of old age in their sleep, surrounded by half a dozen grandchildren.
Nix stepped away as he sealed them deep within his consciousness. If he could, he would send them to reincarnate now… but if Ashton's consciousness left, the body would reject him. Souls did not inhabit foreign bodies without a strong anchor.
Nix pulled the memories from all three, turning them into a journal. He would remember them. Their lives, their pain, their sacrifices… their hopes and dreams. So long as the sun rose, Thomas Black, Samantha Porter, and Ashton Black would not be forgotten.