Lament of the Fallen

As Dee led them back towards the city that housed the headquarters of the five major communities, Razark assumed she was going back towards the Radiant Sun for some reason. Even after she pointed out that her destination was different, Razark decided it was better if he went to do some last minute preparations of his own among the scouts. It was like he didn’t want to be here anymore, now that he didn’t really have to. Dee and Noyala looked at each other with amused expressions as he disappeared back into the portal.

“So where are we going, if not the order?” Noyala asked, having a pretty good guess in mind.

“Give me a second.” Dee said instead of replying. She approached one of the kids loitering nearby. She hired one of them to deliver a message. The little ruffians were familiar with being used as messengers, though they had a habit of misplacing the messages if they were paid before delivery. This time that thought didn’t even occur to the kid who took the job, as Dee’s hand signals made it clear just how dark his future would be if this particular message got lost.

“What was that about?” Noyala asked as Dee returned.

“Setting up our next meeting after we’re done with this one. Assuming the recipient of the message is around. She might not be. Anyway, you asked where we were going now. Well…” She thumbed up towards the floating island that functioned as the headquarters of the Threads of Fate.

Noyala sighed. “I guessed as much. Let’s get this over with. Trust but verify, was it? I know it’s a bit much to just take my word for your help erasing your debt to them.”

Dee shook her head. “No, I’m pretty sure you aren’t lying about that. That’s not why we’re going.”

Noyala looked confused. “Then why are we going?”

“I want to haggle some additional information from them.” Dee replied with a small smile.

It didn’t take much effort from the two to reach the island. Noyala had her magic, while Dee had wings. She did decide to mask the color of her wings, making both of them white instead. It most likely wouldn’t matter, seeing as she had not kept them a complete secret before, but why not take some small precautions? The island had a landing spot for any flying visitors and actually had its own teleportation gate for the times the island was flying somewhere harder to reach than above the city.

The island itself was moderately sized. Compared to the headquarters of the other four communities in the city the island was downright small, but having to put everything on a flying island was a great motivation to save space. The island was separated into three major segments. One housed the military power of the community, and it was clear from the size of the area that Threads of Fate favored quality over quantity. That, or they had most of their forces elsewhere.

Even with tight spacing, the military area was only large enough for about a hundred thousand people at most, and the few glimpses the duo managed to get inside made it obvious that the buildings were anything but spaced tight. They suspected some spatial magic shenanigans were involved, but even Dee couldn’t detect the spells properly because the whole island was filled to the brim with magical spells, ranging from area enchantments that held the island in the air to endless magical items.

A majority of the magic was focused in the second area of the island which housed the commercial area of the island. The Threads of Fate performed the vast majority of their business in other locations, but some of the most important deals and auctions invariably happened here at the headquarters. The commercial area was dominated by a large palace looking building that reminded Dee of a similar facility she had visited in the past, owned by the same community.

The third area was closely guarded and had a tall tower rising from the middle of a domed temple looking building. From the little intelligence she had managed to gather, this was the tower that housed the seers of the community, and the temple at the base was where the seers met with those seeking their knowledge. This was also the destination of the duo as they walked on the stone paved path towards the tower. Surprisingly none of the guards spared more than a glance at their approach and none tried to stop them.

As the two entered the temple looking structure and found themselves in what looked vaguely like a reception area. It was a little different to a normal reception area though, because there were no desks or counters anywhere. What they did see were areas separated by curtains, and all of the areas had spells in place to stop sound from traveling. Each area had sitting cushions placed on the floor, and something like a receptionist lounging on a divan made from large pillows.

The two looked at each other in slight confusion. What were they supposed to do here exactly? Luckily they didn’t have to make any decisions about that as almost immediately a veiled woman approached them from one of the areas. “Haydee, yes? I was sent to take you to your destination.”

“Seers.” Dee grumbled to herself quietly, eliciting a laugh from Noyala and even a smile from the woman now leading them.

They found themselves being led to the base of the tower, or to be precise the hole in the domed ceiling where the tower started. It was clear that the whole thing was only held together by magic, as there was no way the simple dome could have supported the tower above. Below the hole in the dome, they stepped on one of many platforms that magically rose towards the opening in the ceiling, taking them inside the tower. It was hard to judge as the hollow space in the center of the tower had no windows to the outside, but the duo was pretty sure that they were being taken all the way to the top of the tower. At the very least it was the highest point the floating platforms could travel.

As soon as they stepped off the platform, their guide gestured them towards the open door on one side of the room, while she returned back to the bottom of the tower along with the platform. Once they got to the door, they found themselves in a fairly odd space that seemed to circle around the top of the tower. The place was lined with apparatuses and various magical mediums Dee imagined were used to divine the future. Anything and everything from telescopes to read the stars, small ponds that could be used as magical mirrors, crystal balls and myriad other things that they couldn’t even recognize.

They didn’t have to walk far before they ran into the inhabitant of the space, a young looking woman of seemingly almost divine descent. She had the aura of a priestess combined with that of an angel, except without wings or a halo. Despite her aura, she was clad in fairly simple garb and had an odd glowing image of a third eye on her forehead. “I believe it would be somewhat redundant to say I have been expecting you, although that is true nonetheless.” She waved for the two to take a seat on cushioned divans surrounding a table filled with different drinks and delicacies.

“Well, if you’ve been expecting me, then you know why I’m here.” Dee said simply while plonking down on the divan in an odd combination of graceful movement and lack of any care for decorum, sighing in slight contentment as she could spread her tails freely thanks to the ‘seating’ arrangement. Normal chairs were really not suited for tails; hence she tried to avoid them when possible.

“Partly yes. As your powers grow along with your fate, our ability to make accurate guesses of your future declines. I know part of the reason why you’re here. Yes, I can confirm that our community really wants you to help…Noyala here in return for our earlier help.” The little gap in the seer’s words made it clear that Noyala really was a false name. Not that Dee hadn’t already known that. It mattered little what the Sidhe woman decided to call herself.

“Yes, about that. I’m getting the feeling that my part of the bargain is a little out of proportion when compared to the favor you did for me. Don’t get me wrong, your help was appreciated, but I have a hunch that I’ll have to deal with the entire internal fiasco of the seasonal courts to help her properly. So while I’ll do what you ask, I’d like some additional information to make things a bit more equal.” Dee started to haggle.

The seer smiled. “We recognize your claim as fair. However, whether I can answer depends on your question. Depending on the question we might require something else as well.”

“You don’t already know what I will ask?” Dee was genuinely surprised, even though the seer had already mentioned their lack of knowledge for Dee’s reason for being here.

“I think you have a slightly wrong picture of how this works. Someone with a fate as powerful as yours is both the easiest and hardest to read. You bend the tapestry of fate around you, so your general path is easy to see, but as someone with so much pull, you can also change directions easily, throwing everything out of place. It’s not like we can see every detail of your life at best of times, and we also see too much. We can see hundreds of possible paths that you can take, and we are reduced to guessing the most likely one to come to pass. For instance, we knew you’d be here, but there are several dozen different things you might want to ask.” The seer explained.

Dee didn’t beat around the bush and asked straight out. “How can I stop my dragon side from influencing my personality and decision too heavily.”

This question brought out wide eyed surprise from Noyala and a deep sigh from the seer. “I was afraid that would be the question you wanted answered.”

“Why?” Dee demanded to know.

“Because it is the one most difficult to answer out of all the possible questions you might have decided to ask today. Oh not difficult because we don’t have an answer, but because who is involved. There are certain people whose toes we dare not tread on lightly.” The seer replied with a difficult expression.

“Who can scare you so? Can you not divine the ramifications?” Dee asked again.

“There are two types of beings whose futures are extremely hard to divine. Beings like you who have too strong fates, and then there are beings that possess skills or powers that mask them from sight completely. The being you need belongs to the latter category. They are almost entirely hidden from our sight and we can only infer things based on beings that surround them. We simply know that some of your futures where you meet this being result in you mastering that part of yourself.” The seer explained.

“So what can you tell me and what will it cost me?” Dee asked, knowing that this information would not be free. She had been afraid it wouldn’t be.

“We can’t give you full information, but we can put you on the path. As for the price…well, I’m not sure if you’re aware that the upper echelons of the Day and Night cities of Pantheon are about to come to a clash in the relatively near future. The Day city’s first circle will have an opening in the next hundred years or so, and the biggest communities of Day and Night city will be vying for that free spot. The Threads of Fate have gathered the Authorities that grant the power of a seer, but that has come at a price. We have been forced to sacrifice when it comes to military power at a certain level, more specifically the kind of power that would let us contend with immortals and powerful hero Authorities. We want you to help shelter us when the storm hits. In return, we will provide you with the information you seek, as well as certain other favors that you might need in the future.” The seer made her offer.

Dee frowned. “I don’t really have enough power to make a difference on that scale.”

“Not yet, but you will. Also, keep in mind we aren’t directly involved in the struggle, we just don’t want to become collateral damage. I imagine the Four Winds will be willing to take us in on your recommendation, and with our combined forces we should able to weather the storm. Assuming your help that is.” The seer explained.

Dee had to consider this carefully. She would have to help protect the Four Winds anyway, and if the Threads of Fate really would help, then that might even make things easier. Besides, she really did need that information and she had no other leads. “Fine. You have a deal. But I reserve the right to pull back if you go and pick a fight with those involved in the struggle. I might be willing to shield you, but I won’t become a sword you can wave around. Now tell me what you can.”

The seer gave a relieved sigh. Apparently this was also one of those things still not decided by fate before this meeting. “The being you’re looking for is already somewhat known to you. Weren’t you supposed to meet someone when you came to this world for the first time? That being also holds the key to your draconic heritage.”

Dee growled. “That person never showed up. I’d have tried to find them more actively myself, but I have no idea what to look for.”

“They have already found you and are watching over you. Surely you have seen some signs? They are monitoring you, which is why they know you’re here and what I’m telling you.” The seer said.

Dee frowned. “I have trouble believing they can hide from me for so long.”

“You will detect them eventually. When you’re strong enough that is. You need to be aware that you’re dealing with something from the first circle. The domain of the immortals. Also, while I can’t tell you exactly who or what you’re looking for, I can give you a hint. If only there was a type of being that had a lot of information on dragons. If you want to know about elves, you talk to an elf.” The seer had a slight smile on her lips as she dropped this piece of rather obvious information. Obvious in hindsight.

Dee had considered seeking out help from a dragon, but she knew whatever was inside her was a little different from normal dragons. Besides, you didn’t just walk up to a dragon and ask for sensitive information.

Noyala gave a small giggle. “Well, that’s obvious enough of a hint at least.”

Dee was still digesting the information while they exchanged some slight pleasantries before the duo left. She wasn’t sure how to feel about the whole thing. Whatever being, apparently a dragon of some kind, was supposed to have met her when she arrived on Pantheon hadn’t shown up, and that had resulted in her being captured by the Zabaniya. To say she was displeased with the mysterious being was an understatement of epic proportions.

Then again she wasn’t sure why that being had not shown up. Some powerful being from the first circle in the heart of the city probably had a lot of matters to deal with, and it was hardly within expectation that Dee would wind up being captured, trained and abused by assassins. Still, they had left the child Dee at the mercy of the world and whatever might happen. Pantheon wasn’t safe at best of times, though Dee had met with pretty much the worst possible scenario short of dying, and some would’ve preferred death to what she had faced.

And now she found that this being had indeed found her. When? How long had they observed her? Had she been found only recently? That seemed unlikely. She and Croestia had suspected someone was interfering in things during the time Dee had met Moirai and acquired the Authority that could help hide her from other psions. If her whereabouts had been known then, had she been found much earlier? How much earlier? Had her whereabouts been known all along? Had this mysterious being known she had been captured by the Zabaniya and done nothing? ‘At the very least they could bloody apologize for not showing up!’ She thought heatedly.

Noyala could sense Dee’s thoughts were taking a darker turn. She didn’t know any details, but she could make some guesses. She had traumas of her own. That was part of what made the two so compatible. She knew thought spirals like the one Dee was probably now experiencing could lead to some very dark places, so she decided to put a stop to it. “So where are we going next? You said you wanted to meet with someone.”

Dee’s thoughts ground to a halt. The message she had sent was for Nessera, the succubus that had taught Dee some very interesting things in the past, and was one of the few demons she had met and gotten to know to a degree at least. Her intention was to find out what information Nessera had managed to gather after leaving a couple of years ago. Yet something about the situation felt weird to Dee.

For some reason, it felt wrong to take Noyala to meet Nessera. Why would that be?