The Search For Kathea, A Leap Into The Keep Of The First Ones P4

  The visitors begin arriving to see for themselves just who and what Iriisii is. They have listened to rumors and the hype surrounding her and her actions. Their interest, expectations, even doubt in some cases, as it seems incredulous that she could rise so high so quickly. All in all, this warrants a personal view of this 'Dragon of War'.

     And then there is the 'Vampiric High Council' representative. He is torn, wondering how did he end up involved in this? And what are the chances he is going to walk out of it alive? Who is going to be the one to end him, this Iriisii, one of hers, or one of his peers when he reports back and the 'Council' takes offense at what he has to say. As he still ruminates over his fate, his hostess is beginning introductions, and it seems he is the first of the sacrificial lambs.

     "I would like to introduce Dehemial Van De Fronnes, Envoy of the Vampiric High Council, this is Iriisii Dovahkiin, Greater Goddess and Harbinger of the Gods of Eld."

     'Oh shit, if my hostess is introducing her as a Greater Goddess, then all of it is true and I am soon to be a pile of ash blowing in the breeze!'

     "Pleased to make your acquaintance, may I call you, Lord Dehemial?"

     "Whatever serves your pleasure, my Lady." 

     "Thank you, Lord Dehemial. I am aware of the unfortunate situation you have found yourself in and would like to take this moment to reassure you that I do not punish the messenger for messages I do not like. I prefer to deal with those who originate those messages, especially if they do not have the 'guts' to face me with their accusations and instead choose to send others to do their bidding.

     I am aware of their 'misgivings' as to the status of my 'Vyrkolos' and hope to 'clear the air' of any apprehensions thereof. As I am sure you realize by now, I am a Greater Goddess, the first of the 'Gods of Eld' to reach that status. I am Aasimar, being 'flesh of flesh' and 'blood of blood' of the Line of Kthanid of the 'Gods of Eld'. The first to ascend since he shared himself with my people some few thousands of years ago.

     This is no reflection on him, simply the circumstances of the situation. We lived simple lives and had no need or desire to reach beyond until other circumstances intruded and changed things."

     "I am sorry for whatever came about to cause you such distress that brought you down this path."

     "Your sympathy is well received, but I cannot doubt the evidence I have seen that so much of my life was orchestrated to bring me here. Whereas I could wish to have been passed over, what I have learned and gained, tells me it was necessary for the greater good, and I cannot say that the rewards have not been equal to the risks. Krosis, please pardon me for running on.

     In answer to the 'High Council', you may relay to them that they should tread carefully lest they bring about a self-fulfilling prophecy."

     "A prophecy?"

     "They have only anecdotal stories of the previous failures of a Vyrkolos being raised. I am aware of them, and why they occurred. You may rest certain that I do not intend to fail as they did. As to what position he will take for himself. Please look over there, on the pedestal." 

     Iriisii points to an ornate scroll case of deep violet, scattered with pinpoints of light.

     "That was given to me by an Elder Katakan, just outside the walls here, within the cave system. If you do not know its import, I can tell you. That is a 'Scroll of Skelos'."

     "What?! But he disappeared from public view millennia ago! No one has seen him since, and so he was thought to be dead."

     "No, he is not dead. I have spoken to him recently as he 'spoke' another prophecy concerning my future and watched as it was written into another scroll by the 'Hands of Prophecy'. Some of it has already begun to come about. The 'Dragon of Spirit' has been born along with her sister, the 'White Phoenix'."

     Lord Dehemial goes pale as he remembers something spoken of in fevered whispers among the hidden oracles. Oracles that were hunted and almost extinguished before a safe haven was found for them, for their pronouncements always came true and many blamed them for the results of them. He remembers one in particular, 'When returns the White Phoenix from the sleep of the Ancients, when first the Dragon of Spirit born of the same birthing, their parents the highest of the high ones, thus the signs of the 'Times of High Change' begin. For all must soon declare their allegiance, and woe unto those who choose not wisely. For 'War' comes to all the Realms, upon the back of Ragnarok!'

     "Are you alright, Lord Dehemial, you look pale. Do you need something?"

     "No, no, my Lady, I am fine, thank you for offering though."

     "You may inform the 'High Council' that if they fear for their positions, they would be better served to examine why they feel such fear and seek to alleviate that which stands at the base of the pillar on which their fear stands. Whether they survive what comes or not, is up to them and the decisions they make. Choose their actions wisely and all benefit from what comes, choose poorly and 'Reaper take the hindmost'."

     "May I speak privately with you, my Lady. It concerns something you touched upon that resonated with something I had heard a long time ago. I thought maybe you could see it there maybe someplace where the two may interact."

     "Please follow me then." 

     Iriisii leads the Envoy to a more dimly lit area, seeing no chairs, she conjures a pair of stuffed chairs and a lightly fuming incense censer floating nearby, a table with a pair of goblets filled with a light red vintage.

     "Please sit, and tell me what has so disturbed you."

     He sits and takes up one of the goblets, absently takes a drink, and begins.

     "Quite a long time ago, we had oracles living amongst us. These were very different from the ones you might encounter somewhere else. These were unerringly accurate in their predictions. As I am quite sure you understand, when these predictions kept coming true, the objects of these predictions"

     "Blamed the Oracles and started a pogrom, didn't they?"

     "Yes, my Lady, they almost killed them all before a safe haven could be found for them to live unmolested. They slowly gained in numbers. My family was one of their protectors, and as such, I heard many of their pronouncements. Some good, some bad, it can be very hard to know what is to happen and yet can give no warning or even hint that something is coming."

     "I do not envy you that knowledge, or the responsibility that came with it. But please, continue."

     "This is one I heard that I believe parallels something you said."

     And as he goes on with the prophecy, Iriisii stops him.

     "Wait before continuing, my Vyrkolos, Dettlaff needs to hear this, as it concerns his daughter as well as mine."

     She conjures another chair next to hers and distance whispers into Dettlaff's ear to join them. As he walks over and sits, he greets the Envoy, takes Iriisii's hand in his, and kisses the top of it.

     "Now, please go back to the beginning."

     As he recites what he had said before and then continues on, Dettlaff's face becomes more serious. When he finishes, Dettlaff asks.

     "Does anyone else know about that prophecy?"

     "Not that I am aware, the oracles are particular about not only what they say but who they say it to."

     "True, they have good reason to be cautious. If the 'High Council' got wind of it, there would be a bloodbath before it was over. There is no way they would let that one get away from them.

     "Have you told him of what the Elder Katakan said?"

     "Not yet, I wanted you to be here before I did. The Scroll cannot be opened yet, it must be done once we step foot on the homeworld and not before. Also, think on this, what would the 'High Council' do if they learned that the 'lesser vampires' had given us their loyalty and offered to fight for us at our 'call'?"

     "It would mean genocide, all of the lessers would be slaughtered."

     Dettlaff seriously nods his head, agreeing with the Envoy.

     "There can be no way they can ever find out until they can be placed where they can do no harm. And there will be loyalists among the people that will have to be dealt with as well. People who the 'High Council' owns, body and soul."

     "How many do you think?"

     "Not as many as you would think. The 'High Council' has not been very popular for quite some time. The people have come to see that they act more like parasites than vampires. I know many outside would not be able to see the distinction, but.."

     "No need Envoy", looking over at Dettlaff, "I have come to be able to see a great many things I could not only not so many years ago."

     Lord Dehemial looks at Dettlaff, slowly shaking his head.

     "My Lord, you must be the most luck-filled vampire to have ever lived, to have the love of such a woman."

     "You do not know the half of it, Lord Dehemial, believe me."

     "I would believe anything you told me of her."

     "So if I interpret this correctly, as Kalli and I will begin the Jihad of Truth, then Sot and yourself will have something to do on the homeworld, that will likely have to do with overthrowing the 'High Council' and installing yourself as Godking, at least according to the 'lessers' anyway."

     "That will have to be the decision of the people and the 'lessers'. I am not going in to put myself anywhere near a throne. It will have to be a consensus of all before I will even consider it."

     "He will do it. Trust me. I said almost the same damn words just before Lord Chancellor Blackwell looked at me and asked me to take my place on the Ruby Throne of the Empire of Cyrodiil, just after I took Sethius's head from his shoulders. I looked to Rigmor and she almost kicked me down the steps, so relieved she was at not having to deal with it herself."

     Dettlaff laughed, "I can see her now, morning sickness notwithstanding as she sent you on ahead to claim the throne. Probably doing the best she could to hide the smirk on her face."

     "You have come to know her almost too well. Just what have the two of you been talking about lately."

     "I promised not to say."

     "You and I are going to have a serious conversation very soon about how much she has spilled."

     "I am very sorry if I have started anything."

     "Not at all, Lord Dehemial, this has been building for a while now. I guess I am going to have to keep a closer eye on the two of you from now on."

     "I for one would welcome your eye being closer onto me."

     "Oh, you! Back to business. We have to give him something to go back with that will not get him killed once he gives his report."

     "Why?"

     "What do you mean, why?"

     "He can stay with us, let them think we killed him. Then when the time comes for us to go to the homeworld, he can come with us, under our protection. The reaction of the 'High Council' would.."

     "they would soil their breeches wouldn't they?! Wondering just how much he told us."

     "There is only one further thing I should mention."

     "Ok, go ahead."

     "The 'Mistress of the Oracles' is the High Lady Aranessia."

     Dettlaff goes silent.

     "What is wrong, love?"

     "Nothing, really nothing. It is just a shock. A big shock."

     "Tell me."

     "I thought Lady Aranessia was long dead, she disappeared when I was just a lad."

     "You knew her, then."

     "She is my mother's sister, I called her 'Aunt Aran'."

     "Oh my, who would have thought. Are you for certain they are safe?!"

     "As much as I can be."

     "What do you think, if we could contact them, would they come with us, room is not a problem, you know this?"

     "We can but ask them, but it will take time to get back in touch with them."

     "No, if you can picture them in your mind, and with her being Dettlaff's aunt, the blood tie will allow me to find them. Then I can open a portal for them, and if I do not miss my guess, they may very well be expecting us."

     Iriisii gets up and moves to a close-by open area. She then calls Nodens and Reaper, telling them what they are about to do.

     "If we need help, I will call on you both. I have no idea how many oracles are there, or what their status is. It is my intention to bring them over and on to the Krang, where I know they will be safe. As to why I am doing this, we just discovered the High Oracle is Dettlaff's aunt. Someone he thought dead long ago."

     "Don't worry, we will be ready."

     "Thank you both, neither of us will ever forget this."

     She goes to Lord Dehemial, places a hand on his head, and asks him to imagine the oracles. She feels the image build in her own mind and calls to the blood she shares with Dettlaff to help build the image of his aunt, as blood calls to blood. It doesn't take long before the image before her is crystal clear and razor-sharp. She feels she could reach out and touch them, then she releases her power and tells it to seek.

     It goes straight to the image in her mind and connects. She feels the portal open, as yet they on the other side have yet to notice. She begins to hear banging on a heavily barred door.

     "Have they found us yet, are they trying to find us?"

     Iriisii knows all she needs to and throws wide the portal, gesturing for Nodens and Reaper to join them as they all enter the room.

     "Someone else is here, what is that? Did they just step through that? Who are you?"

     Dettlaff stands forward, "I am Dettlaff van der Eretein, Vyrkolos to the 'Dragon of War'. We have come to get you to safety, Lord Dehemial told us of your plight. And it does look like we got here just in time."

     An older but still beautiful vampire in an ornate pearl gown stands, "Dettlaff, is that really you?"

     Dettlaff recognizes her and goes to her immediately, "Aunt Aran, indeed it is me. Thank the 'Gods of Eld' we got here in time." 

     Without having to be told, Nodens and Reaper station themselves close to the door.

     "I know we do not have much time but..."

     "The large hulk by the door is Nodens, God of Eld and Lord of the Abyss, the one with him is Reaper, Avatar of the Tar Ayim Krang, and this is my mate and Aasimar Goddess, Iriisii Dovahkiin, Dragon of War, among many other names."

     Iriisii bows to Dettlaff's aunt, "if you would go through the portal, there is more than enough room for all of you, and the place is some distance away and sealed against unwanted guests. If all of you would make your way through, I and Reaper will make sure no one breaches the door before you are through."

     "Dettlaff, you would make your mate fight for you!"

     "Please, if you knew her as I do, you would know that she has faced down entire armies alone with nothing but her blade and her skills, which are unmatched by anyone."

     "Blade, what blade!"

     Iriisii raises an arm into the air, inside a ripple and returns with her 'not yet forged Katana'. The sword sensing the vampire centurions on the other side of the cold iron door begins pulsing with light traveling up the blade.

     "How did..?"

     "She is a Greater Goddess after all, and First of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse."

     "The 'First'? Then she is 'War'?"

     "Yes, that was the first Mantle she has earned, there are several that are hers. We can speak more on the other side, come. Do not tarry, love, I know it has been some time since your blade has fed."

     "Go on, my love. With Reaper by my side, we will only be a few short minutes. Reaper! 'Dragons Dancing on the Mountain'."

     As he hears her call the battle movement, he moves into position to her right about eight feet away and two feet back. Her katana slings a light pulse to Reaper and forms itself into his signature Scythe.

     "Go please, we can hold this without effort, but if you stay you become a target for those who come through. Nodens, go through with them and hold the portal open for us."

     "Of course, good hunting Harbinger."

     The iron door begins to bend as the pounding finally begins to warp the metal. Nodens passes through with the last of the oracles as the door breaks from its hinges and armored centurions begin to run into the room.

     "Now Reaper!"

     Where one of their weapons is, the other is not, yet each finds a victim. As they move in carefully planned steps, each protecting the other, as each finds a new victim to slice, stab, impale, dismember, disembowel. Every movement is an exquisite shining moment of dealing death. This is the Blade Dancer's art in its most pure visceral form. The two work together as a seamless one, each knowing where the other is and will be, each knowing what the other is doing and will be doing next.

     Time has no meaning in the dance, there is only death. Pain has no meaning in the dance, for there can be only death. Victory has no meaning in the dance, for there can be only survival and death for their enemies. Soon enough they stand back to back, their enemies scattered across the floor, unmoving, unliving. Nodens sticks his head in to check on his Harbinger and surveys the carnage. Looking everywhere but seeing nothing moving. He whispers, 'damn, I have got to learn how she does that.'

     "If you truly wish to learn, I will gladly teach you. All of our warriors that wish to learn, I will teach."

     "Then I will begin whenever you are ready."

     "For now there is unfinished business back within the keep."

     She bends down and takes an embossed helm after pulling the head out of it. "Let us go and see what Lord Dehemial can tell us of these."

     They return to the 'Keep', Iriisii closes the portal, then she finds Lord Dehemial and tosses the helm to him.

     "Can you identify who we faced for that?"

     "This belongs to the High Council's Centurions, their best fighting unit. How many were there?"

     "Reaper, did you count?"

     "No 'mother' you did not instruct me to, but maybe the Krang recorded the event. Yes, it did, it reports we faced fifty-seven of these 'centurions'. The battle lasted four minutes twenty-two seconds."

     "I must get back into practice, I am getting lazy."

     "Fifty-seven of the High Council's best in less than five minutes!"

     "It should have taken no more than three."

     "Shhh, it has not been that long since you gave birth to our daughter, remember?"

     Iriisii gives Dettlaff a look that promises much when next they are alone.

     "How could I not remember" as she traces his jaw with her fingers and then suddenly draws him in for a fierce kiss.

     "You have found the woman for you that I had always hoped you would find, and almost despaired that you would not."

     Iriisii accounts for everyone who went through and all that returned making certain no one was left. No one suffered any injuries, save for the centurions' bodies left behind.

     "Lord Dehemial, what in your opinion will the 'High Council' make of this?"

     "They will do their utmost to 'sweep it under the rug'. They cannot allow word of this to get out and obliterate their already damaged reputation."

     "Will they attempt any further action against us, such as a more covert attempt?"

     "It is a strong possibility. It will depend on how far at arm's length they can contract anything. It is certain they will have to rely on outside entities. You have decimated the best they had, and showed them up for at best, incompetent, at worst, fools. They will not take this lying down."

     "Then we need to make certain there is no one left that they can use as leverage or for revenge. Dettlaff, love, can you work with those we brought over to determine if there is anyone left on your homeworld that the 'High Council' can directly use or punish for what we just did and get them out safely?"

     "Where should we bring any we find?"

     "Take them to the Krang, I will have Reaper set up quarters for all of them to be housed together, but I want no one to be in separate towers. There is plenty of room in the main tower, more than we can use in a lifetime, so let us make use of it. It will also allow for all to get to know one another and hopefully break down some misconceptions.

     And on a personal note, do you think your 'aunt' would like a trip to visit your 'mother' sometime soon?"

     "I had hoped you would bring that up, indeed I think she would like that very much indeed."

     "Then we will make it happen when we can do so. For now, I need to see to the other guests that came to view us, maybe some have seen what they wished."

     As they part, Lady Aranessia walks up to Iriisii.

     "Please, pardon my intrusion."

     "It is no intrusion, how may I be of help?"

     "It is rather I who should be asking that of you. For what you did today, none of us can ever repay you. But I must ask, wherein the Realms did my nephew find you, not to mention how he found you and won your heart?"

     "To tell the tale properly, would take more time than we have right now. But I think the highlights should go something like this. I was first acquainted with someone Dettlaff knew, the Witcher, Geralt of Rivia. Who joined with my cause to aid me in some tasks I was to perform in this world where we currently are. We traveled to other worlds tracking a trail of 'crumbs' that I hoped would lead me to my lost daughter, Kathea. I will explain her part in more detail later.

     I had a vision of her while on a desert world ruled by sandwyrms. In that vision she spoke to me, asking me to find her, and said I would need help. She specifically mentioned Emiel Regis Rohellec Terzieff-Godefroy, who is a good friend to Geralt. She did not mention Dettlaff by name but said there would be someone with Regis and that I should ask both to help me. This I did, by the use of a portal just as we did to bring you and yours to safety.

     It was there that I had a series of dreams about my trek to find Kathea. They led me to look into the 'Streams of Time', where I first saw Dettlaff and another traveling with me. It was only with the two of them, that I was successful in rescuing Kathea, and all of us returning. If the group I went with consisted of anyone different, some would not come back. Of course, that brought up another problem."

     "Vampires cannot dream."

     "Yes, but there was a way to circumvent that."

     "Taking him as your Vyrkolos."

     "Yes, I went to him and Regis. Spoke to them in private of what I am telling you and asked what they thought, what they might advise. I knew what the 'blood sharing' would do, and truth be told, I had already felt things inside me when I was in Dettlaff's presence. When I realized that I had no misgivings about what would happen between us, then I knew it was right."

     "You do not have to go further, my dear. It is quite apparent to me that the depth of the feelings you both share goes far deeper than with all but a very few legendary couples in our history."