Guardian's Key
Part 7
The Shadowqueen
III
Telaan felt her hand on his arm and stopped. He turned as she said, “Do you know where you’re going, my lord?”
“Your lord? What? Don’t you get to be a lady?”
“No, my lord, I’m merely a priestess and that is all I wish to be. I don’t wish to pretend I’m anywhere near as great as you and the Shadowqueen.”
“Damn, you buy into all her bullshit, don’t you?”
“My father was merely a human, a low-worthless human of no real value. She allowed me to kill him for my fifth spring; it’s a present I’ve always cherished.” Her voice grew wistful as she continued, “I don’t have Elf blood, nor do I resemble our mother in any way. Unlike you, I don’t even have her eyes.”
“I can give you her eyes, if you have a knife, which I believe is what Medea used on her.” Fuck, the woman was sickening. Eris had corrupted her beyond anything even he would have expected of her.
He remembered more of Eris’ teachings than he ever wanted to, despite Aglaea’s attempts to cleanse them from him. He’d embraced the teachings of the Sundara, but he always felt tainted. Now he realized how Medea had unwittingly saved him from a kader he would rather be dead than embrace.
Turning away from her, he waited for her to take the lead. He wanted nothing more than to remove himself and the others from this place before the taint of evil engulfed them all.
The corridor was long and it passed many rooms, none of which had doors, but a barrier shimmered across them, distorting everything within. Finally, Pele turned toward the right and passed through the barrier, he followed suit; secretly hoping it wouldn’t let him pass.
“Damn,” he mumbled as he walked effortlessly into the room.
“It is your mark of honor that allows you into this home.”
“My mark of shame.”
“That’s a blasphemous thing to say, my lord. That our mother created us and gave us her power is something that should be cherished. But you carry the taint of the Sundara, and it has blinded you to the true way.”
“The only thing around here that’s blind is the bitch-witch and you. Now go away.”
“Oh course, my lord, as you wish.” He watched in disgust as she knelt to the floor and bowed, her head nearly touching the floor, before she rose and left the room.
He looked around, knowing he’d have to let go, push his Sundara teachings into the background and let the Shadow he’d kept hidden for a hundred Times of Change come forth.
He felt nothing at first. Maybe, just maybe this wouldn’t work. Maybe finally, after a thousand Springs he’d cleansed himself of the taint. Then he felt it growing and burning in him, the force of it pushing him to the hard marble of the floor. The weight growing until it lifted and he was able to stand. Hatred unlike anything he’d felt in years coursed through him. Standing looking through eyes filled with the power of Shadow Spirits he saw it. Walking forward he looked at the map; the directions to the casque’s resting place glowed red.
“Yes, my most beloved son, that is the way, but note the small cluster of rocks denoted on the southwestern most portion of the castle. That is your means in; it is the only way you and your Sundara worshiping companions can get in.”
Telaan turned and saw Eris’ form transparently standing behind him, her amber eyes undamaged. She’d invaded his mind and part of him was fighting to remove her, thus her transparent appearance.
“Why is this the only way in?”
“Because it will open for my mark and my mark alone. That very same mark you bear so poorly.” She waved her hand as if dismissing something he’d said, “Don’t worry my son, Medea knows nothing about it. It was placed there during my reign.”
Telaan’s subconscious pushed harder to reject her intrusion into his mind and she began fading even more, “Go, take your damn companions, the casque is in my bedroom. Follow the tunnels; they lead directly to my personal chambers. Whether Medea has taken them over or not, I can’t say, but if you allow your mind to be natural, you will find what you seek.”
Once again he was thrust to the floor. Something Aglaea had planted within his subconscious pushed forward. A suggestion he had no idea she’d planted took root and forced its way to the forefront of his mind. He lay on the cold marble floor shaking with the reaction of it as the Sundara of Aglaea’s magique warred within him. As he lay there, time having no meaning for him, he remembered this from his child years. Many times he’d lie, just as he did now, on his bed and shiver. The cold warring with the burning within his soul. Now he understood what he never had as a child. Aglaea hadn’t just taught him the way of the Sundara, she had embedded him with the way. There had been more than just teachings in her words.
Unknown amount of time passed before he pushed himself from the floor. Understanding and gratefulness beyond words filled him. Aglaea had known he hated what he was, and had given him a gift to battle it all of his life. Had she known he would once again face the temptation of it, or had it just been a means to help the child overcome it? Whatever her reason for the magique, it didn’t matter. All that mattered was that she had once again saved him from the taint of the bitch that had spawned him.
Returning to the others even more resolute in his hatred for his mother, he remembered the location of the casque. It wouldn’t be easy to reach. Not too far to teleport, but in an area where there was a dead zone for teleporting. There were certain areas within the continent of Neith where no one could manipulate time and space, therefore making teleporting impossible. And Kumara was one of those places.
He tried to remember which priestess lived in Kumara and just as he entered the room where his mother was entertaining her “guests” he remembered. Bala, the bitch-witch of priestesses. Great, grand and wonderful. This just kept getting better. Hopefully with Eris’ entrance they could get in and out without Bala or Medea knowing.
He walked over to Nanda, taking her hand and pulling her up, he said, “I have it; we’re leaving.”
He looked at Eris and the look of satisfaction on her face reinforced what he’d suspected ever since they’d arrived. Ghalt’s life was forfeit. Since she was clearly helping them find the casque and let them keep the key, Ghalt had become more of a burden than a help. Burdens with over-inflated egos were crushed by her as easily as any bug she found crawling on her windowsill. He tipped his head, silently letting her know he understood what she was looking for them to do.
Without another word, he led the way out, Nanda clinging to his hand, Adrostos following quietly alongside, keeping pace with Telaan’s long strides.
4 comments:
I thought Eris was being way too accommodating, she had to be getting something out of this whole deal, although I assumed it was going to be Telaan himself, not Telann doing a bit of her dirty work. That whole experience has certainly got to weigh heavily on him, it should be interesting what he shares of it with Nanda and Adrostos
I love this story and end up jumping in my seat when I see it updated.
I loved Telaan's eyes they were so cool.
That Pele is one evil woman but then if you live and are surrounded by evil it has a habit of rubbing off on you.
I was glad they were finally leaving but something tells me their stepping from the frying pan into the fire - the path to goodness is never straight.
Great update and shots, your sets look fantastic. Look forward to more.
Hey G_s. Eris will only do what's good for Eris. Selfish rulers know no other way. ;D Oh, I highly doubt Telaan's going to win in the end. Eris will see that he's punished for turning his back on her world and her teachings.
Remember, this is Adrostos' quest. He most likely knows more than everyone else, and nothing will surprise him. Nanda, however, Telaan does his best to protect from the realities of his world, so what he'll tell her only what he thinks she needs to hear.
Awww, Iron Mum, thank you. Me, too, I love this world. It's the first thing I wrote when I came back to writing, and I have a very soft spot for the entire world.
*snort* I'm probably weird, but I get so excited when my hubby gives me cool gifts like PS Elements 9. I just have to play around with the effects. Telaan's eyes really did turn out cool.
Pele's a lost soul. She has no redeeming qualities whatsoever. And that makes her very, very dangerous.
They have a long road ahead of them, and their numbers are cut in half. The Spirits had reason to choose six to go on the quest in the first place.
Thank you! It's the cc for TS2 that makes a great shot. Their talent makes me look good. ;)
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