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Chapter 38: Pentagrams and Plans

Hours seemed to pass Struport by in a blur, people going about daily routines, unaware of the goings on of their leaders. Some may have questioned their alliance to an undead mage, who months ago had damaged part of their city for his own goals, but there were little options that seemed more fruitful. So, they agreed, leaving all the consequences upon the shoulders of their Lumarian ‘guests’. Everything that would become of it would be theirs, the glorious victory, or the crushing failure. It wasn’t long until the sun had long since faded from this world, dragging to prominence the twin moons. Under their combined majesty came the night, bringing the shimmer stars above.

Nivra reclined herself in a chair forged from the very snow, her dragon stitched ropes wrapped around her, doing their best to beat back the oppressive cold. Her fingers worked tirelessly to wind together three different strands of twine, soaked heavily in twice cured fish oil. Long ago she might have recoiled at the pungent smell that dominated her every breath, but years of engrossing herself in the magical art dulled her senses to such squeamish matters. She merely mused how fireballs often required bat droppings if you lacked the proper magical focus, this wasn’t the worst she’d ever encountered in her tenure.

Her staff, plunged into the snow illuminated the area outside the city gates with a golden glow, sadly not providing a modicum of heat. She’d recruited some of the others to assist her in gathering what reagents Nigel had requested of her, things to ensure the spell would function properly. Most of which had been simply matters to apprehend, like chicken feathers and charcoal, while others like displacer beast blood had taken the entire day to track down and acquire. Unfortunately, in the case of the blood, that was securely within the halfling merchant Fred Applebottom’s greedy hands. She’d paid the man what he’d wanted, though despite his claims to the contrary, she believed they’d been over charged.

Sitting beside their cart of gathered goods was the blue gryphon Krotos, looking horrified at the charcoal dust that covered his blue and teal highlighted feathers. His eyes darted from each feather, counting the hours it would take to finally clean them, never quite trusting magic to get the job done. His ears splayed on either side as he gave a labored sigh, “Why could we not be enjoying the comforts of a raging fire, pleasing drink and welcome company? The bigger question that astounds me is why I even agreed?”

“You’ll find the answer most simply my dear Krotos, its far safer for us to cast the spell than Nigel himself.” She replied calmly, not even looking up from her handiwork. “To let the lich, do this on his own would borderline on the imbecilic. You’ll note that’s why they haven’t returned the man’s arms, and the why for yourself?” She gave the gryphon a teasing smile, “I’d like to think it was out of pride for your country.”

Krotos looked to her, fire in his eyes as his ears stitched themselves to his head. “You know I was being rhetorical. The fact you can sit there…making jokes after you decreed upon me a demand?” He gave a dramatic whimper, trying to shake free what dust still clung to his feathers and failing. With a defeated chirp he went back to dragging a sizable sack filled with charcoal through the snow, joining the equally dirty kobolds who were lending the gryphon a helping paw. Azzik and Feku had already began planting the charcoal like seeds into the snow, beginning the arduous task of creating the pentagram.

“To think I could have been drinking with Merlia! Trading songs with Asterion!” Krotos plopped the sack to the snow, giving another pathetic whimper.

Azzik perked up, his grey snout filled with nothing but innocence and joy. Coming back to life had seemed to light a new spark within him. “Didn’t you say you were good with your talons?” The kobold wiggled his tiny fingers, earning an ire filled glare from the gryphon at least four times his size.

“When I said that, I meant for like…Good things…Picking locks, playing cards, little sleight of hand, perhaps juggling…Tending to the ladies.” Krotos fluffed up his feathers in an exaggerated way, gesturing to the coal as if it were the most loathsome of beings. “Not this…Menial Labor.”

To this Tenzin did give a blusterous belly laugh, striding over with axe in one hand, a bundle of wood shouldered in the other. “What is wrong little gryphon? Perhaps allergic to hard work? I can see no other reason why you complain!” Without a rebuttal he strode to what would be the pentagram’s center, setting down the wood and shouldering his axe. He turned to Krotos, twinkle in his eye, giving the big, aggravated bird a wink. “Worry not kitty bird, the time for reveling will come. Perhaps the drink will dull the loss you will suffer at my skill.”

Grumbling indignantly, the gryphon returned to task, assisting the kobolds where he could. Occasionally he would chirp under his breath, ruffle more his feathers or lash his tail. One thing was certain, he’d be complaining about this later tonight, until whatever drink he indulged ran dry. Nivra could only occasionally watch in between the time it took her to pull more wire, also getting a fleeting glance from her beloved. The black gryphon had just spat a fresh length of twine at her feet. Though he said nothing as he looked to her, she’d come to know him. Within those apricot pools was the mass of concern that was usually there but intermixed within was irritation that was making itself known as violent tail lashes against his haunches.

“Is it something in the air?” She delicately clenched her hand, making a gesture to the cold air. “That has our local gryphon population in a twist?” Voidwing didn’t respond, merely splaying his ears and gesturing to the muscular ilbir, chopping apart his wood. Nivra could only sigh, “Look, I’m busy. So, speak what you will and stop with the eyes, I’m ever sorry for whatever I’ve done.”

Voidwing shifted, talking infront of strangers was always a difficult thing for him to do. He planted himself before his princess, extending his wings to at least blind himself from the constant chopping of the towering sabretooth tiger man. “Do you remember the night with Shandalar?”

Of course, she did, how could she not? Nivra’s heart skipped a beat but she maintained her composure. “I do.” She replied, distracting herself with the work. “Did you not hear? We completed her quest, found what she was after. Lucky us, it just happened to be something to bring about the end of our world. Amusing if you think about it, in a way it was something to bring Lumara’s end.”

“I did, but that’s not what I meant.” Voidwing crept closer, trying to pull her attention. “I meant when Nigel…He had you accept what he said as true. That the only way out of his scheme was joining him…Could you not remain here?”

“No.” She stated flatly, “Without his hands, I’m needed for the casting of the spell.” She peered up, letting Voidwing understand there was no wavering on this. “Would you rather be left within his tender company?”

“I’m not saying that…I-“

“Cause it sounds as though you don’t trust me.” Voidwing’s clamped beak and wide eyes were all she needed to know. She buried herself into twisting the twine, doing her best to not reveal how that’d just pierced her like a lance.

“Nivra I-“ Voidwing began to flounder, but she cut him off with a sharpened tone.

“What we’re making is the lock Voidy. Without Nigel we have no key. With none of this, we havn’t the slightest clue on what to do with this orb. If you have a better idea I am all ears, but until then, this is the one we’re going with.”

He recoiled, ears splayed, not expecting such fierceness. “I didn’t mean to…You didn’t fight that hard.” Voidwing rose, starting to pace through the snow. “It’s exactly the situation with the hag. Where if you look at it from the outside, you can see the betrayal coming.”

Nivra’s brow rose, was he not supposed to be the optimist? “If you recall, I got us out of that situation. That’s a poor example to –“

“That’s not the point.” Voidwing snapped his beak to her, eyes narrowed, ears pinned. “Think about what he asked. The only guests being myself, you and Arcturus…There’s a scheme a paw.” Voidwing’s expression did soften as she met his eyes, moonlight twinkling in them. “You ask me to analyze situations and keep you safe. Nigel is certainly not that.”

How could she blame him for keeping her safe? She empathized but now wasn’t the time. As if on it’s own her hand found his cheek, rubbing it to reinforce his trust in her. She softly laughed as he scowled, remarking she’d make his feathers smell for a week. “Not the first time it’s happened. Do you remember the skunk?”

“Don’t remind me.” He scowled, flicking his tail, remembering how even with magic he stunk. “But why only us? I’d feel vastly safer with the whole party here to support us.”

“But that’s not what we agreed.” She softly shook her head. “I know it’s hard, but compromises must be made. Nigel wishes not to reveal his laboratory to a vast number of people, you can respect that in a way. Imagine what secrets and things dwell within such a place, years of research, study, contemplation. Imagine it even has his phylactery, if so Voidy, that would be the safest place in the entire world.”

“I care not for what he wishes safe or hidden.” Voidwing stated bluntly, lashing his tail against the snow. “He will just use this time to undermine us all….And it’s not that I don’t trust you…I don’t trust his motivations and reservations to not put you under some kind of spell. We can’t forget he chose not to ask Veledar’s help but instead attacked him…” He clutched at her wrist with a talon, so delicate a baby would have been safe. He looked to her with great fear in his eyes, “You almost perished beneath the waves, beyond my sight. I wish for that not to happen again.”

“Voidwing-”She began softly, guiding the gryphon’s head to her chest and holding it. “I know your heart is ever in the right place, but you needn’t coddle me. I’m not some delicate flower in need of protecting against the winter’s chill. Ask Asterion, we had an entire adventure without you…We survived…Struggled...We handled a mythical Abolyth for god’s sake, I think we can handle the likes of a disarmed magician.” She gave the concerned gryph a comforting smile, letting her terrible pun linger on his beak. It wasn’t long until his concern crackled, his beak parted and a chuckle put them momentarily at ease.

“When you put it like that, it’s certainly hard to not agree with you.” He softly chirped as she began to scratch at his chin. “I just don’t like the idea of you in danger.”

“But from the equine woods to the darkness sea, danger could find us anywhere.” She poked his beak, “Lucky for me, I have the bravest soul in all of Lumara, and Arcturus there for support.

He wiggled and caught sight of her in the corner of his eye, scratching at his white furred chest. “And this bravest soul…This wouldn’t happen to be-“

“Its you. It’s obviously you.” She rolled her eyes as he plucked her up, trapping her in a great big hug. She pressed against him, trapped within his feathery embrace, glad to be rid of the cold. His head fell over her shoulder with a softened coo, making her feel so small, safe, secure within his forearms. Time seemed to freeze for the two as they held one another, softly kneading at one another and relishing in each other’s breathing. They looked to one another with small smiles before the princess laid a passionate kiss upon his silver lined beak.

“Hey, if I’m supposed to be working, how come they’re aloud to be kissing?” Krotos shrieked, no doubt gesturing with a wing.

“It’s called snogging here.” Tenzin remarked, “And you can do that when you die.”

“Hmmpf.”

To the pair however, nothing seemed to matter but one another. Silently they continued to hold one another, briefly looking to the brilliant stars above. When they parted it was accompanied with another brief kiss and the promise everything was going to be alright. This however was proven to not be the case as a familiar sound of leathery wings soon overtook the gathered companions.

The red dragon circled above on his majestic wings, spreading them wide as if to reach every inch of the vast night. He dipped, curled, spun, almost to take what pleasure he could from the cold winds. When he landed he brought a tidalwave of white, dusting upon every face that beheld his landing and covering whatever strange shape Krotos and the kobolds had been constructing. He just hoped it wasn’t important. Though by the grating sound of Krotos’ shriek of despair, he bet it was.

“Look what you did, you clumsy oaf!” Krotos blurt in a shrill chirp, “Covered the entire thing! Now we have to start all over!” He stomped his way over, buffeting Veledar’s hide with a wing.

He’d repay the kittybird for such an affront, but for now it could wait. Veledar clenched tight the blood soaked sack between his teeth, despising the very taste that lingered on his tongue. He stepped past the blue gryphon, unphased by the continual, useless assaults by his wings. The dragon growled with what ire he could, letting the sack fall at Nivra’s feet with a sickening plop. “One heart of a horse, ripped out by a dragon. For the life of me, I cannot fathom why we would need it, or why to such a precise degree.”

“Something about a focus.” Nivra stated, returning to her work with the twine as Veledar proceeded shove his head in a snowbank to ‘rid himself of the taste.’ Krotos on the other hand was asking exactly where the dead horse’s remains were stored.

“What?” The gryphon sneered, clacking his beak. “Don’t give me those long stares. You know my fondness for the horse meat. Honestly, how rare it is in this kingdom, I was starting to think such a delicacy was reserved for the monarchy.”

“I thought your poor taste could not sink any lower.” Veledar replied, striding passed the gryphon with a click of his tongue, “Yet there you are, doing your hardest to surprise me.”

Joined by the dragon, the work of the group soon began again. The pentagram so cruelly taken from this world was reset, forged by dragon, gryphon and kobold. Uniting around the sizable shape was Nivra’s twine, interspaced with chicken feathers to line the exterior. Sticks engraved with runes were jut into the snow, taking place around the pentagram like hours on a clock. The air, thick with various pungent scents seemed to breath, thrum with power, hinting at marvels yet to come. Beating at the pentagram’s heart was a wooden altar to Nutambar, where the horse’s heart was sickly plopped as Krotos watched, licking his beak. Chuckling and smiling in amusement the group watched over their handiwork, now just needing the lich himself to put the final touches.

“Which means one of us needs to signal the sapphire guardians.” Nivra remarked, catching Veledar out of the corner of her eye. The dragon had taken to laying in the snow, eyes closed, his frills fluttering softly with every breath. He seemed to be speaking to himself in guttural tones, lost in deep thought. When she approached with a sigh, he averted his gaze to the stars. “It’s time.”

He blinked, taking a deep breath of the sweet night air. “Is it though? The time draws close, but our plan is not…Quite complete.”

“What plan?” She replied, squeezing the bridge of her nose “We had everything figured out already. The guardians will bring the orb, you get Arcturus. Then we can hide the orb in this laboratory. There is nothing more to discuss!”

The dragon’s snout wrinkled as he regarded her, “So you say, but I don’t agree with the plan.” He held his head up with a snort, rolling a paw to his chest. “I’m not saying I have a better one, but I would like to make an addendum.”

Nivra turned to Voidwing, getting splayed ears and a trying to be innocent smile. Of course he’d love the dragon being on his side in this matter. “Very well dragon, do enlighten us with your addendum.” She stood tall, not shying away as Veledar turned to her with a low, powerful rumble.

“Excellent.” He hissed, eyes filled with glee as he slunk his head closer. “Though I must warn you, do try and contain your excitement at how clever it is.”

“I will be the judge of that-“

“Just do me a favor.” The dragon sighed, looking to Voidwing as well, frills splayed wide. “Don’t go blabbering to Arcturus, for it kind of involves breaking our word.”

* * * * * * *

Chapter 39: Gryphon’s Tribulation, Into the Unknown

Arcturus strolled from he and Veledar’s quarters, masking the unease in his heart with a stoic face. One that those looking upon it could find strength and resolve, even when his own was ever doubtful. Like a haunting woodland troll, the tension gnawed away at the back of his mind, draining what spirit he had within. The cure of course had been the evening coffee, hot, simmering, reuniting the man with the strength he’d lost. Wrapped tight in his onyx, wool gambeson the knight strolled through the halls, his red tabard with silver lining fluttering along.

How naked he felt without his layer of steel, vulnerable, exposed. He admired himself in a mirror, caressing the scruffy nature of his beard. Even with his strength he could see bags below his eyes. Why did he look to be older than he should? When did that even happen? He shook his head of such thoughts, trying to focus on the trouble brewing in the night ahead. From the halls came the distance sound of the evening bells, eight times to mark the hour. Thankfully, his beloved would be there to see him off. To their plans he wished they would be short and to the point, to give that rotted bag of flesh anything else was painful to dwell upon.

To his surprise when he emerged into the bitterly cold night was not his red scaled Umraadi, eager to bring him through the sky on his mighty wings. Instead, what rested before him was a black feathered gryphon that didn’t even stand up to his head. The patiently waiting bodyguard was by the tree, ears flicking from the bell’s assault on his sensitive ears.

“Apologies.” The gryphon rose, flicking his tail as he strolled politely over. “Veledar was-“ He paused, choosing his words carefully, “Distraught over your flagrant disregard to your wellbeing. He informed me to insist upon you that a great misdeed has been done to him, which will carry with it the forfeiture of your gathered treasure for the next few-“ Arcturus silenced him with a sigh and raised palm.

He thought such things were behind the prideful beast, but evidently that was not to be the case. It would appear as though on his return an argument was to be had between he and his Umraadi, something no man would look forward to. When Voidwing went to apologize for the news, Arcturus put an end to that forthwith. “No, you were doing what he said. If he wishes to be agonizingly stubborn so be it. You’ve shown we can manage without his stubborn nature.” He ran a hand across the gryphon’s flank, fingers parting gleaming feathers like an inky sea. How like a dragon yet not, he furrowed his brow at the runt’s evident size, would he even be able to carry the man? The knight froze, noting Voidwing lacked even a harness for him to ride on. “Even if the accommodations are a bit…lacking.”

“It was last minute…I didn’t have time to stop and look for my harness…Nivra doesn’t mind riding bareback.”

The man shifted uncomfortably, remembering a time he’d done so with his father’s prized mare. It had left him sore for at least a week. “I didn’t think she would. Least of all with you. I suppose it will do the eve, cherry on the top for the strange times we find ourselves in…Honestly, working with an undead wizard? I thought I’d never.”

“Right?” Voidwing sighed with exasperation. “And she looks to me as if I’m the crazy one. I’m left with the only hope being it’s a short partnership. I wouldn’t even want to fathom the long term complications of having a relationship with that monster.”

Arcturus grinned as he and the queen’s bodyguard shared a look of common understanding. Patting the gryphon’s wing joint he prepared himself to mount, figuring it was similar at least to a horse. “Then let us expediate our departure and put an end to it.”

“I couldn’t agree more.” Voidwing swiftly remarked, fluffing out his silver lined feathers that seemed to gleam in the twin moonlight. With Arcturus’ arms wrapped intimately around Voidwing’s neck and leg secured over his back, the gryphon pounced to the sky with his mighty legs. With but a few beats of his wings they’d broken the bonds of the earth below, passing into the realm that countless others below longed to dwell. Chirping in delight of the wind, Voidwing climbed, banked and swooped across the towering structures, nothing but playthings for the gryphon now. His tuft tail followed like a snake behind him, eagerly chasing the gryphon’s playful antics.

Soon as it had started it seemed to end, districts below racing hastily out of their view. The pair faded into the oblivion of night, becoming little more than a ghost and wingbeats. Voidwing, used to carrying a softer passenger, soon found his breaths labored. He chuckled to himself, almost forgetting what even a passenger had felt like on his back.

“You might not be large Arcturus, but you’re certainly no dainty princess.”

Pressing his wind bitten face into Voidwing’s feathers, the man muffled back his reply, “I’ll take that as a compliment! Veledar has yet to complain!”

“Now that’s something to take note!” Voidwing gave a squawking laugh, aiming for the distant wall. “Considering the magnitude of offenses found on that list. I’ll just count my feathers your gear waits in your quarters, unable to harm any poor gryphon’s back.”

“You won’t be the only one.” He remarked grimly, watching the lantern lights below pass like blur. With his next breath they were free over the wall, the white countryside below, broken up by the dotting houses and trees that stubbornly refused to yield. Arcturus pulled tight his crimson cloak billowing behind them, while his scabbard thumped at Voidwing’s side. It was a miracle he’d even gotten permission to bring the blasted weapon, the lich’s stubbornness had put Veledar or Merlia to shame.

He told himself to be mindful and vigilant, anything could go wrong this eve. In the distance he could barely make out the clearing that Nivra and her helpers were supposed to be waiting. How tiny it was within this massive landscape, a tiny dot in the sea of white, you could miss it if you were not careful. It was hard to think they could even make a difference when you stopped to think, he bitterly held tight Voidwing’s feathers. Their plans were mere ants before the raging storm that was this Emperor. Even the Emerald Lady had been nothing in his schemes. The paladin of Bahamut, hard faced as he’d ever been, composed himself with a breath. Not even trying would be unthinkable, a crime of the highest magnitude. To that fact he whispered a prayer to the gods that might be watching overhead, wishing for their success. Who knew, perhaps for once they would listen.

“How did you deal with the war with Rothdell?” Voidwing peered back, his voice troubled. “Gazing upon the scores of dead, unable to pick out anyone that deserved it? How could you face the days beyond?”

He grimaced, reminded of soldier’s screams as fireballs and lightning surged out to obliterate those he’d come to trust and know. Even now, years later it haunted him if he lingered too long upon them. “Looking back, I’m amazed we could. In those moments, I believed everything we’d set out to do. I looked to bloodied dirt and charred corpses, insisting with words I’d do better.” He hung his head, reminded of what just had befell those towns he’d helped sway. Used as fodder for the mana stones. “Even still, for those that died in the conflict…We had to do better.” He composed himself with a cough, “You’re the bodyguard to the queen, surely you have seen such things. What lingers on your thoughts?”

“Nothing like that no.” Voidwing looked away, loosing himself to the stary speckled sky. “Our village, Tomigus. Far to the north, south of Whitedell, known to some as the birthplace of gryphon wine. Sure we had skirmishes with bandits, goblins, engaged in drills and such, but nothing as terrible as war.”

He noted how soft the gryphon’s voice had fell, it was troublesome to hear him over the cold wind’s howl. There was a flick of those lion like ears, a sea of emptiness in those apricot eyes. He’d seen it far too many times on fellow warriors, gryphons to count a few. “What troubles you?”

“Back in my journey…” Voidwing stuttered, “Before we even tried to return…Before I became…” His heart chilled, beak unable to even say the wretched words as he remembered in grisly detail what he’d become, what he’d done. He drifted, bones chilling from within until Arcturus offered a compassionate rub around his feathery neck, warming him to speech once again. “We were held, forced to fight against numerous people. Monsters and animals certainly, but most of them captured people…Innocent people…Woman…Men…Thankfully they did not offer us children…” The gryphon quivered, looking into their dead, horrified expressions upon their faces. “People whose only crime was to be set between myself and my survival. I cut…Slashed…Battered my way to freedom, insisting to return and see my princess. Each scream whispers at me, I can still feel the blood on my talons no matter how hard I wash. Arcturus…How do I make it all stop?” With desperation and the night forgotten, Voidwing turned, eyes hungry for a modicum of comfort as his soul oozed in despair.

“It will not be an easy thing to do.” Arcturus answered after a moment of contemplation, “But you’ve still a good heart, even after all that’s happened. Lesser people would not care of what they’d done, but not you. You suffer, cry out in agony over what you were forced to do. Remember that.” His voice grew firm but keeping that kindness within. “Do better for those you could not help, ensure their lives were not lost needlessly. With luck, those that inflicted such suffering will be brought to a swift end.”

“They already have.” Voidwing spat bitterly, “Dreadflame rounded them up, tied them to posts and watched as the sunlight ate away at their flesh. How they screamed and writhed but the dragon didn’t let up, devilishly watching, relishing every cry of anguish that met his ears.”

That gave the man pause, to hear an act of Dreadflame that he agreed with. He told himself It was for selfish ends, knowing there was little light within that particular dragon’s blackened heart. “Then try to do what I’ve said. Help those that need it, bring kindness, rebuild in this world what you’ve taken from it.” The knight’s voice wavered, lingering on what could be said of his own family and their misdeeds, especially on dragonkind. Perhaps that would be his legacy if, when they survived this, to help rebuild and unite what his kin used to destroy? The contemplation kept them both busy the remainder of their journey, until the ritual sight was on full display, with not a single soul save Nivra, bound within her dragon cloak in view.

Voidwing nodded once, letting the wind’s guide his wings down to where his beloved did wait. He circled with a resonating chirp, bringing a moment of light to the dark night sky. He admired the pentagram from above, noting the heat that seemed to be radiating off it’s features. Staring at the design brought a sense of wrong between his furry ears, slithering into a shiver down his spine. As Nivra waved he landed, spraying the girl with a wave of powder, noting that gone was their cart and the others. Good, he thought. They must have already enacted their plan. When Arcturus slipped free of his back the gryphon couldn’t help but release a relieved sigh.

“Save your thanks Arcturus, you’ve reminded me I must keep getting stronger.” He tucked his wings, gave the knight a teasing chuckle. “If I am to carry ones as heavy as you.”

Red faced, the knight searched the area, contemplating their loneliness. Had Feku, Azzik and Tenzin just gathered up and left? He spied three trails that could only been their footprints, plus the obvious paw prints of his Veledar. So, the dragon was here he thought, giving Voidwing a suspicious eye. Why would he lie? The paladin looked to the snowy landscape, back towards the jewel of a city, looking equally as cold as the wilderness. He could not spy trace of his companion’s lingering presence. He tucked what suspicions he had within, turning his attention to Nivra and the gryphon currently seated beside her, one ear flicking in the breeze.

“Cold night to be on your lonesome my lady. One cannot help but wonder why your bodyguard left you so.”

“Across all of Sethera I am not alone…In a sense.” Nivra retorted, brushing away the concerned look in Voidwing’s eye. “With what enchantments I can weave, I am anything but defenseless. I can manage a few moments of my lonesome can I not?” She rose her brow, almost daring Arcturus to question her.

“Apologies, I meant no disrespect at your abilities.” He politely bowed, “But there was an air of nervousness about you and Voidwing here. I was just curious about it. Tonight has more than enough ill tidings.”

“Nervous?” She scoffed at such a notion, waving away the determined look in the man’s eye. “There is nothing in the slightest to be worried of Arcturus. We have a plan, Nigel agreed to it. This is how diplomacy works. You should know after all.” She slung a leather pack over her shoulder, no doubt filled with regents and scrolls she might need on their trip.”

“I would imagine there was plenty to be concerned with.” He gestured to the darkened pentagram, innocently waiting their involvement. “Nigel being but one concern. The spell he wishes to have you cast is one you’ve never attempted. I would say that’s enough reason by itself. I’ve heard the phrase, one wrong move and be turned inside out-“

“Don’t remind me.” Voidwing winced, whispering to himself that it was going to be another spell, just like all the others that Nivra had bested over the years.

“Worry not my beloved Voidy.” Nivra padded around the seated gryphon, tenderly gliding a hand across his feather neck, flashing Arcturus a confident smile. “He would not have suggested it if I were not capable of the task. I can get us wherever this spell is meant to take us.” This seemed to ease the gryphon, but Arcturus was not as easily swayed.

“Except he has a phylactery should things go amiss.” He scoffed, folding his arms towards the city. “The risk for him is quite light.”

“Don’t you have a go with me as well.” Nivra stood beside him, summoning her staff to her hand at a gesture. When she looked to Arcturus, her eyes told the tale of numerous nights before, where a young mage had bested spells that had eluded her only a few hours ago. She rested a kind hand on his shoulder, hoping to quell the reservations within him. “Arcturus…I have this, have a little faith…Please…Within the hour the orb of dragon kind will be safe, and the first strike against this Emperor will be made. Honestly, I almost wish we could see the wretched look on his golden maw.”

He could only offer a knowing nod to let her know he was of the same mind. He rubbed where his heart would be, feeling the slithering tendrils of doubt and anxiety already begin to chip away at his resolve. But how could his heartbeat so rapidly? He’d been to operations as equally as dangerous as this and emerged safe? True he had armor then and a team at his back, but this was to be no different. The lich wasn’t even supposed to be armed! He grumbled to himself as he caught sight in the distance of a caravan of numerous knights, their precious cargo carried in toe.

Dangling lanterns deemed it so to set an orange glow to the caravan’s steady approach. Men and woman, clad in armor, rode wolves clad in blue and gold barding. Their faces were as hard as their steel, eyes fixed upon their destination. Behind them was dragged a hooded figure, chains wrapped tightly around their chest, connected to at least three of the ten dire wolves. There would be no escape. Among the riders however was a smaller figure, face filled with questions, eyes lingering on the hooded figure, which must have been Nigel himself. Arcturus scowled at this particular part of the deal, his blood already starting to boil.

“Why did we agree for the apprentice to attend?” He hissed, counting a Ruby guardian among the mass of sapphire ones. To his distain, he could already make out Alonso’s personal direwolf, pure white, with steel that gleamed malevolently in the lantern like.

“It was actually not of Nigel’s request.” Nivra added softly, drawing Arcturus to turn with a surprised look about his face. She held tight her staff, fighting down her equal amounts of distain. Giving that child to be poisoned by the lich? How could the dragon do such a thing? “It was Storm’s.” She added bitterly, fighting how her lip curled into a sneer. “Something to guarantee that Nigel didn’t betray us.”

“Then he and I shall have words on our return.” The knight’s furrowed brow set itself upon Axton. “They will not be kind.”

“You’d berate a dragon of his Stature?” Voidwing recoiled, feathers fluffing in disbelief. “You’re either quite brave or foolish.”

“Perhaps, but it wouldn’t be the first time.” He grunted, eyes fixated on the darkened figure, “And I doubt it will be the last.”

*

In silence the trio stood watch in the chilly night, tracking the sluggish pace of the guardians. Arcturus found himself looking to the city walls, half expecting Veledar to come soaring over them, his scales shimmering brightly in the twin moons. The dragon would land, berate the knight for his endangerment and with a grumble, wish him well. With each dragging moment the man knew this was likely to be, the paw print’s presence hounding at his thoughts. It was not long before he found himself side eying his companions, wondering what they were keeping from him. So bluntly he asked them, gesturing to the paw prints. He noted how the pair shared a look before Nivra laughed, spinning a yarn about how Veledar had initially arrived to berate and criticize their efforts.

“Claimed he could do it better himself, arrogant beast.” She dismissively waved her hand, recounting how he thundered around, acting so full of himself. “But no…We whisked him away before any damage could be done. Dragon magic has it’s place, but this was a wizard matter. He took…offense to that.”

“Course he did.” He sighed, picturing the dragon hissing out an insult and springing away atop his wings. What suspicions he had dulled for the time as his focus instead shifted to Alonso, gesturing for his wolf mounted knights to spread out around the area.

With a commanding presence the lead knight met Arcturus’ eyes, letting the lumarian bear witness to all his distrust, hatred, ire. He dismounted as did the others, their armor clanking as they approached. “Remain ever vigilant knights. Night is the time of devils and monsters an here we find ourselves in company of both it would seem.” He searched from Arcturus to Voidwing, expecting them to make a move as he approached. “So listen well Lumarians. I care not what kinship you have with the dragon storm. Any sign of betrayal and we won’t hesitate to put you down for the betterment of our people.” He gestured to the weapons he and the other knights carried with them, lances tipped with explosives and sizable rifles packed and ready to be fired. “I do hope such things don’t have to be tested.”

“And still, you seem oblivious that we’re on the same side.” Nivra remarked coldly, not one to be goaded by this stubborn oaf. But Alonso continued, arms folding behind his back as a simmering fire lit in his eyes.

“That remains to be seen your majesty. While you and your Lumarian minions were off, having fun little adventures, our lands continued to be ravaged by the hoard of undeath. Don’t stand there and insult me, if you genuinely cared about our people, you would have returned home, put an end to this vile treaty and sent your soldiers to aid us. Face it your majesty, you’re the spitting image of Cornellious.”

“She is absolutely not!” Voidwing thrust himself between them with a threatening display, his tail lashing, wings extended. To the ruby guardian he looked with contempt, eyes narrowed into blades. “I will not stand idly by with this slander.”

“One can only admire the loyalty and anger within such a diminutive package.” Alonso replied calmly, tapping his sheathed sword at his side. “But I’d caution against such an action dear gryphon. There are plenty of those within Struport ebullient for an accident to happen.”

“If an accident were to happen it would not be upon us.” Arcturus was at Voidwing’s side, undeterred by the knight’s threat. “We came here to burry a dangerous artifact, don’t let hatred and bitterness get in the way of that. We only do the work of the undead if we come to blows.”

To this Alonso had no arguments as he held Arcturus within his steeled gaze. “I suppose we would, then were would we be.” At a gesture the other guardian’s breathed a relieved sigh, “We are not fools.”

“That is quite subjective.” Came Nigel’s voice, uniting them all in a common hatred once more. All eyes fell upon the wizard’s robes. “If you simpletons are done bickering, we can get to the plan. I will of course need to be unchained to inspect Nivra’s work.”

Gritting his teeth, Alonso ordered half of the chains to be undone. Like hell he was going to give this creature free reign until they needed to. As the lich glared daggers at him, the ruby guardian kept his composure, meeting those inky pools with a bulwark of hatred. “You’ll make do lich, or at a word you will return to your cell.”

Arcturus strode to Axton’s side as the boy dismounted his direwolf, dark navy robes kissing the snow. Icy eyes fell to the knight, his face drained of what color it usually held. There was no warmth, hope, only hesitation and worry. It would appear despite Storm’s suggestions; the boy was terrified, something that would have to be rectified. “If it isn’t the great and powerful Axton, master magician. Voidwing and I can rest easy now that a master has arrived.”

The boy blushed, clearly not used to such compliments made of him. “I’m…just here to watch and stuff. Make sure that Nigel doesn’t try anything strange. The great Storm seemed to think I’d keep his more sinister motives in check.”

“One can only hope.” Arcturus remarked, laid a hand on the young man’s shoulder. “Just stick with us, don’t stray far. Can you do that for me?” Axton softly nodded, what fear he had fading for the moment. “Speaking of which, where is the dragon of which we speak?” Emerald eyes flicked to the cities walls, “You’d think he’d have been keeping an eye on such a hated foe.”

“He was kept away, for the good of all.” Alonso interjected, “Considering his history with the mage, he was deemed a complication.”

“To which he was thoroughly cross about.” Axton grumbled, crossing his arms, “Rightfully so.”

“I’d not be so swift to defend the dragon.” Arcturus added, catching the young wizard’s troubled eye. “When we return, he and I shall be having a heated discussions over perilous situations.”

Axton merely nodded, “Fear not paladin, Storm insisted upon your abilities to keep me safe.”

“Does he now?” His brow rose, wondering where that had come from. Axton seemed to understand the oddity, his little eyes grew wide.

“Sorry.” He nervously laughed, “I thought knights talked like that all the time and stuff.”

Arcturus could only insist that they didn’t, Alonso motioned them towards the ritual site, where Nigel stood silent and waiting. Blackened eyes that could pierce the strongest of men now darted back and forth over every inch of the area. When they lingered the undead wizard mumbled to himself, ignoring the un-nerved look on his captor’s faces.

“Is there something wrong?” Nivra asked the mage, despite her distain, a part of her still wanting to impress him. “We did everything to your specifications.”

“Its not that girl. I trust in your ability to get things done. It’s merely the help you implored to get this done.” He gestured to the footprints of the kobolds and ilbir. “I must be sure they didn’t sabotage the spell.” He stopped before the outer ring, bending down to inspect the charcoal and twine, measure if they were in their proper places. “What blood did you get anyway?”

“Rat blood.” She grimaced, recoiling how the kobolds delighted in such a task. “Which…I must say, never again. Feku and Azzik kept eating the things. I think we collected three times what was required.”

Nigel rose, chuckling in a throaty way. “It’s why I use goblins or constructs my dear. Much more focused on their tasks” He turned to the pentagram’s center, eyes fixating on the blood covered heart on the altar. His head tilted in interest. “Would that happen to be the horse heart I requested of you?”

“Should it not be?” Nivra asked, going over the instructions again in her mind. “I reiterate, we got everything I reiterate, we got everything you requested, no matter how bizarre.”

“And for that you did wonderfully child.” He chuckled, “But we can get rid of it. If you must know it was merely a way to get under that dragon’s scales. I’m aware how much he despises anything equine in nature.”

“You just toyed with him?” Arcturus blurted, anger and disgust bubbling up out of him. Honestly, he was surprised with how his blood burned over it. The man composed himself, but his voice remained sharp. “Here I thought you were above such things.”

“I’m still human…Partially at least. The dragon wished to poke fun of my predicament; he could expect a rebuttal.” The lich turned and strolled back towards the knights, giving his blessing over the entire ritual. “It looks positively perfect.” He looked to Nivra with a grin, “What I’ve come to expect to such a prodigy.” At his command, the guardians brought the orb of dragon kind, sealed in a chest wrapped in chains. Atop the altar they dropped it, brushing aside the un-needed horse’s heart. The knights briskly departed when the lich let slip they’d not want to be partially in the circle, lest they find themselves ripped in two.

“T-That can happen?” Voidwing chirped in alarm, ears pinning to his head.

Nigel merely tutted at him, “Fear not feathery guard. For inside you shall be safe…Well, safeish.” The gryphon could only look to Arcturus and Nivra, apricot eyes wide, frozen in horror. “Now if there can be no more delays, let us depart.”

Nivra looked to her companions, shaking away what nervousness gripped her. Confidence began to take hold as she hung off every word out of Nigel’s mouth as he went over the intricate details of what was to be required of her. Not only did she have to say the words of power in an exact way, but in the same tone and inflection. She had to practice saying it a few times outside the circle. With every repetition the air seemed to throb, swell with a heavy sense of foreboding. The hair on her arms stood tall, like moments before a lightning storm. After the twentieth time she was ready, taking her position at the circle’s center, standing atop the wooden altar.

Chanting, she let the weave flow through her movements, give power to her will. What came before had been a mere precursor of the strength that was to come. As she spoke the world below shook, the air thrummed with ancient, terrible power. Snow melted as if it were spring, night became day as light exploded to touch upon the countryside. Still Nivra held the others in awe as she ripped apart the sky at the seams, forging a portal of cascading shades of crimson and lavender. It writhed and twisted like a living thing, unsettling all those that looked upon it. It was not of this world, but of the gods themselves.

From this sliver in the universe came a beacon of every shade of color, wrapping tight around all those within the pentagram’s embrace. It told of other places, sights and sounds never witnessed by this world’s inhabitants, thousands of untold wonders. Fighting the exhaustion that began to eat away at her consciousness, Nivra uttered the final words of power, nearly collapsing from the effort.

One by one, unbound by gravity’s oppressive grip, they began to float innocently in place. Then, without warning, they were loosed like arrows towards the hungry portal, serenated by twin screams from Arcturus and Voidwing. There they crossed the shifting surface of the portal, disappearing from this world with a resounding pop and shower of sparks. When Voidwing’s tail slipped beyond sight the portal slammed shut, erasing any evidence of them being there.