Chapter Five Hundred And Fifty Nine - 559
Vess watched Felix zip into the sky, and despite the lightning that enveloped him, she could still make out his form quite clearly.
Working on your Perception, Lady Dayne? Darius asked.
Vess coughed and turned away from the sky. What is it you need, Darius?
Her fathers Chosen Hand was following the fading trail of Felixs ascent. Are you certain of your path?
Vess blushed. That is none of your business, Hand. Felix and I
Are not what interests me. Darius chuckled and glanced down at her. The man was just as tall as Felix had become. HeI think I understand the Autarch now. Your father might have some words for you, but not I. Not anymore. No, what concerns me is that Dragon. I dont trust it.
The Hands words for Felix set Vess off-balance, but she was quick to plant her feet again. Him. We have spoken of this already. Yin is not a thing, Darius.
Darius snorted. He is a monster the Dragoons swore to eliminate utterly. An order that you and I both trained for all our lives. Weve seen how dangerous draconic Types can be, how clever and bloodthirsty. And youve bonded with it. He held up a hand, forestalling Vess angry response. Him. I need to know that you are well. The changeshave you had any issues with your core space? Your Skills?
Vess took a calming breath before replying. My core space is stable and my Skills are strengthened greatly. Nothing has changed since last we spoke on the subject, save that I am greater now than even two months prior.
Iam happy to hear that, he said, and his Spirit rang with the sound of earnest forbearance. I can see that youve grown more powerful, Lady Dayne. That much is obvious to even those who do not know you as well as I do. You have told me the Dragons perspective on the Betrayal, how the Dragoons moved against them and not the other way around. I cannot accept that, yet.
Darius was right: they had both been trained by the Dragoons since a young age. She couldnt expect him to buck the tradition of centuries based on her testimony alone. Yet if I cannot convince him of things, how can I convince the order? Or my father?
ButI can trust you. I have been trusting you. I only ask that you hold whatever the Dragon says at arms length before embracing itI could not bear something happening to you.
Darius
With regard to the Autarch, he said, clearing his throat as his Spirit went utterly opaque to her senses. If you desire to pursue him, you will need to tell your father. He deserves to know, considering the implications, and from your own lips.
Vess pursed her lips. I plan to visit home again. Soon.
The big man grunted. Hed been spending too much time with Harn. Good. For now, I need not tell you to proceed cautiously.
I know. I plan to find out what that was. We were lied to, Darius. All of us. My mother too. I want to know why, and that requires me to return home. She felt a hurricane in her chest, swirling without relief. We will have the truth, and we will grow stronger for it.
Darius blinked at her. Youd bring a Dragon into PaxVrell?Ñøv€l--ß1n hosted the premiere release of this chapter.
He is proof.
He is the enemy, Lady Dayne. Wyrmling or not, you can expect an uproar. He regarded her with hard eyes. I simply hope you are ready for such a fight.
In the distance, Vess could feel Yin basking in the glow of the last rays of sunlight, his meal utterly demolished. She smiled, but it was a thin, grim line.
We will be.
You did it! Pit cheered. Finally.
Felix still felt the embarrassment that had crawled up his spine and across his cheeks, despite the rush of success that propelled him across the skies. He felt lighter than he had in a while.
I didnt need audience commentary, Pit.
Its limited by my personal strength and the rarity and level of the Skill itself. So far Ive had zero issues bringing five others with me, and the Passages were way more structured than what youve described.
It would be exceedingly useful for your Legion and Claw to be able to move across your Territories so swiftly. Nine Exemplarsa heady power. Zara frowned. I would advise only giving it to those you trust a great deal.
Mhm. Felix had thought the same, and had already made a bit of a list. Ill be handling that shortly, in fact.
How are the Risi, then? she asked.
Fractious, apparently. The Coven of Cold Rock was there, along with a bunch of novice Risi Warriors. Thankfully I left an impression, and Kimaris went with her people to work out the terms of our new alliance. Felix was fairly certain Naberius wanted more than just an alliance, but hed handle that when he had the time. But thats for another day. Now Iwell, Im here to talk.
Zara spread her hands, palm up. Are we not talking now?
You know what I mean. He fiddled with the hilt of his dagger, which buzzed pleasantly beneath his fingers. Ive been avoiding you.
So I have gathered. Her ice blue eyes flashed. Why?
A lot of reasons. Partly because Isla left a sour taste in my mouth, partly because Pits condition has taken all my attention and none of you could help. Felix gritted his teeth and swallowed the mingled hope and anger Pits curse brought up in him. And mostly because I dont know what your people want with me.
Zara leaned forward in her chair. I have apologized for Islas behavior, Felix. I know that is not much, nor nearly enough, but I do trust that she was attempting to do what was best, given the circumstances.
I Felix wanted to rant about that, to rage against how Isla had nearly destroyed Vess core space in her misguided attemptsbut he held back. It wouldnt solve anything, and Vess had come to terms with her power. I dont know that I believe that, Zara. Isla seems to be playing a game where I dont know the rules or the stakes. I know you Chanters want the Unbound to fight the Ruin. But I dont know what that means! I dont know what the Ruin is, what it can do, or how exactly Im expected to stop a genocidal force of nature that can erase history itself!
Books fell off the shelves around him as the force of his voice shook the air, turning the Mana around them into a tempest. Furious, he grasped that Mana with Cardinal Flame and hurled it into the fireplace, where it ignited the unblemished wood. Zara flinched.
I want to trust you, Zara. But this order of yours Felix grasped at the air before letting his hands fall down to his sides. It hides too much.
Zara stood up. Then in this moment, I will be as open and as honest as I can, Felix.
Really? No lies? No omissions?
I will tell you, as it was once explained to me, she said, and her voice was sonorous. It echoes in the parlor as if it were ten times the size. The Cantus Sodalus is the last remnant of the great Sorcerers of the Fallen Halls. Once called the Empyrean Halls, before the Ruin.
Wait. Felix held up a hand. The Empyrean Halls was a Nymean thing. Youre saying theyoure saying your order is
A relic of the Nymean Empire, she finished. Yes.
Whats the point of it? he asked. Whats your orders mission statement?
To protect the Grand Harmony, those who can hear itand to prepare the world for the coming of Ruin.
A flurry of feathers and flapping wings heralded Zaras kingfisher friend, Keru. He tore from the hall to land in a crash on the mantle. Lady Zara! The basin is lit!
Felix frowned as Zaras entire body tensed. It seems they have arrived a bit sooner than I anticipated. If you had been here sooner, or if you would have met with usno. I should have explained all this long ago. Felix. She licked her lips nervously. The Cantus Sodalus wishes entry into Nagast.
What? From where?
From the Bitter Sea.
The one made of acid?
