The Search For Kathea, A Leap Into Finding The Grand Matre's

 The Search For Kathea, A Leap Into Finding The Grand Matre's

     Iriisii and Letho step into the portal leaving the kitchens of the White City of Minas Tirith and arriving in the bustle that is the Prime Tower of the Tar-Ayim Krang, perhaps soon to be renamed as the 'Krang of the Dovahkiin'. 

     "I promised to show you the babies, come, follow me."

     Iriisii walks to a corridor that leads to the nursery. As they walk, Letho takes note of the increased activity levels and new people surrounding her.

     "When did you recruit Lambert and Eskel?"

     "Very recently, I will have to tell you the story of what happened before that set up the opportunity to do it. Novigrad has changed a bit for the better, and Nilfgard has a new Regent on the throne."

     "A new Regent? What happened to Emhyr?"

     "He took voluntary exile after he crossed the wrong Dragon Empress." As Rigmor comes up and embraces Letho. "It is so good to see you again. Gloriana is already in the nursery, admiring the babies. Come!"

     "So who is the new Regent?"

     Rigmor waves a hand toward Iriisii, "or rather her doppelganger is."

     "How in the 'Hells' did you manage that? It could not have been easy. It is not like you could just waltz in and sit on the throne."

     "Lord Henry var Attre was of tremendous help, once I showed him the letter Emhyr wrote naming me as Regent."

     "Yes, I imagine he would be, his loyalty has always been more for Nilfgard than for whoever ruled it. Almost a pity all of that did not occur when you first arrived."

     "I agree, but there is so much that might not have happened had it gone that way, I will never complain about that for as long as I live."

     "I will agree completely, as painful as some times have been. I would not change any part of it and change what I have now."

     "It is only a pity that some never know what you have learned until it is too late. But come and see what Gloriana has discovered."

     They walk into the nursery to see Gloriana holding Kallekiiraaz, in her arms, a huge smile on her face.

     "Look, my love, see who I hold, this is Kallekiiraaz, Iriisii, and Dettlaff's child. Never had I ever known it possible for a mortal child to be born to an Aasimar War Goddess and her Vyrkolos, much less one with the 'Wings of Spirit Power'."

     Letho walks over and looks the baby over with both eyes and enhanced Witcher senses.

     "She is extraordinary indeed. I hope she treads the 'Path of the Gods' before she comes into her 'Power'. It will be much easier for her to learn to control and use it, if so she does. Not to mention having parents of such glorified lineage, much will be expected of her. But I am no Sage or Prophet, yet I feel she could very well eclipse both parents when she learns her full capacity.

Watch her carefully, and teach her all you know. The good and the bad, the triumphs and the mistakes. That she quickly learn the miracles and the costs of the use of the Celestial Power that is her legacy."

     Then Rigmor comes up with Sot Yol Dovah and lets Letho and Gloriana take her.

     "She is such a joy to hold, the feeling of peace that seems to enfold her. Never have I felt the like before. And her wings..."

     "They are the 'Wings of the White Phoenix', I have yet to discover their history, although I am told there is one concerning them."

     "I know not anything of a child born with these wings, but of the 'White Phoenix' itself, I do know a little. The 'White Phoenix' was the child of the last Phoenix to live in the Creations. It was said to have come from somewhere else, somewhere outside even the Great Void. It witnessed the forming of the Creations and decided to make a new home for itself within them. What it did, how it lived, no knowledge remains, but something came hunting it. In desperation, it ran through Realm after Realm seeking help, but the Creations were too young for any of the needed power to be born.

     It met a dragon, who took pity on its plight. No known record exists of just who the dragon was, or even how it managed to keep the Phoenix from its pursuer for so long. How a child was conceived between them, it had to be somehow within the power of the Phoenix to do. And maybe the Phoenix knew its pursuer had finally run him to ground. He told the dragon to run, to disappear from all knowledge until the child was capable of defending itself. And only then to allow the child to return from their hiding place.

     What happened after that, I do not know. I do remember only this bit more, the place the dragon hid until the child was born and raised until her return was somewhere in the Dreamlands. For only the Dreamlands could deny entrance to the pursuer. How the essence of the 'White Phoenix' is passed down, I do not know. Only a few times has it reappeared, only to disappear again. But each time before it was not a child but a grown adult who appeared. What this means I do not know as well, but maybe you may know where you can pick up a thread to search for the rest of the story."

     "How did you come to find this out?"

     "In the time I was trapped in 'Coldharbour', many came from time to time, wandering, trying to escape. They brought tales they had heard or experienced. This was one such tale, one that has stayed with me for all of this time. Why did I remember it now and not when I first met you, or even when I first entered your service?"

     "Both are good valid questions, I would hazard a guess that the source waited until the information would be of actual use. Now that I am completely involved, the 'Wings' and 'essence' of the 'White Phoenix' have manifested in a child of mine. The source knows there is no force I would not bring to bear to protect my child, no distance I would not travel to find what I need to defend her with. I have sources of knowledge no one else has, more allies within my service than any army ever brought together. Let this pursuer come, for there is no greater force in existence than a mother defending her child."

     "We and all we command stand with you, both of these babies are too precious to lose for any reason. The hue and cry shall go forth, asking for word of anyone who seeks the 'White Phoenix'. There are enough that someone, somewhere, will hear and send word to us. And woe to any who aid this pursuer."

     "Goddess, we approach Silistra."

     "Good, as soon as possible establish communications. I will need to speak with the Sages as to whether the Honored Matre's or the Praetor has come through. Letho, attend me on the bridge when I speak with the Sages, I will want your counsel."

     "Of course."

     "Gloriana, until we need you and the Valkyries, would you watch over the babies?"

     "I would be honored, Elder."

     "Thank you. Letho, follow me please, we should be close enough to speak to the Sages when we get to the Bridge."

     Iriisii leads the way through the corridors and junctions that lead to the Bridge.

     "This is like a maze!"

     "Should a hostile force make it inside the tower, it will not be easy for them to reach the Bridge. And should a hostage be taken to direct them, the Krang has the power to move it anywhere else within the tower or any other tower that it feels necessary."

     "How can this be?"

     "Before I took the 'Wisdom of the First Ones' it was beyond the capabilities of the Krang to do this. Since then, as I have linked with it and given access to the knowledge, it has increased its abilities considerably beyond what its creators imagined. As long as I am physically within its structure, we are linked. Outside the structure, I can link with it through Reaper.

     And if you think this is powerful, you should see what we have done for the Dragons and the Pegasi. By the way, do you know anything about the crystals embedded with the Dragons bodies?"

     "Since I have been in Meridia's Court, there have been rumors and whispers of something that may be involved. There is a tale in another Realm of a woman who came into possession of a small statue made from the 'red' version of the crystals. It is said the crystals somehow changed her mind and body, taking control like the Wamphyrie do. It was a close thing, but a group of warriors living in the city it took place in were able to defeat the woman. She was left in the form of a statue of solid crystal. It is said the city government makes certain that no one can approach close to her even to examine the statue."

     "That is probably the smart thing to do. Not knowing how it spreads or how it grows, breaking it up could spread it and cause even more trouble."

     "What about the 'blue'?

     "They say it can be used by the 'mages' of this world to enhance their power. But the use is restricted because of the addictive qualities it has."

     "I see, that is usually the case, anything that has strong positive qualities, usually balances it with negative ones as well. We are here and it looks like my crew is ready to establish communications. Stand to my side, and one step back, but close enough that they can see us both."

     Once the comm screen clears and the Sages can be seen in its view. Iriisii steps up within its pickup distance. The Sages immediately bow in greetings to her.

     "It is good to speak with you once more, I assume all has been well with you since last we spoke?"

     "Yes it has, Your Eminence, thanks to your taking the contents of the Time Vault, we avoided great unpleasantness  when the Grand Matrons came through looking for the Vault and its contents."

     "So they have been through?"

     "Yes, Your Eminence, they were furious that there was nothing left, but they boarded back onto their ships and left. No one was injured or killed, for which we are eternally grateful to you. Had you not taken the action you did and they acquired what they sought, there is no telling what they might have done."

     "Then I am glad that things went well for you. Any word on the Praetor?"

     "His ships arrived soon after the Grand Matre's left. They scanned the location of the Vault, determined it was empty, and left following the Grand Matre's."

     "Damn, I had hoped to get between them."

     "If I may be permitted?"

     "Go ahead, please."

     "I am sending the course-plotting of the Grand Matre's ships. We monitored them as they left to try and determine where they might go next. Their course should take them to the star system marked on the map. If you take the alternate course, you will arrive a day or so ahead of them."

     "Why did they not take the alternate course?"

     "There are several junctures along the way where they can obscure their travel directions. This will slow them down a bit, enough that even now you can arrive ahead of them. The Praetor is about a day behind them."

     "Gentlemen, I owe you a great debt, if ever you are in need send word and I will come as quickly as I can."

     "It is we who owe you, Your Eminence. If not for your intervention, we likely would be a dead world now. All who live here owe their lives to you. If we can do anything more, just ask."

     "I am going to send down some questions I am searching for answers to. There may be information in some of the oldest scrolls that have bearing on them. If so then send me what you have, I will come back after I deal with the Grand Matre's and the Praetor, to see if you were able to find anything."

     "We will start immediately, Your Eminence."

     "May the 'Mother' bless you all, and I add my own as well." Iriisii makes a hand gesture, as a golden glow forms around the Sages' bodies, as they bow to Iriisii in recognition of her importance to them.

     "Enter the new course and engage engines."

     "Course entered, engines engaged, proceeding with all due speed."

     "Time to the destination?"

     "Three days, six hours, twenty minutes."

     "Inform me when we are six hours away. Duty Commander, you have the con."

     "Duty Commander has the con. Set range sensors for maximum, let us make certain there are no surprises along the way."

     "They have come a long way since they first came over to your side."

     "Indeed they have. They have confidence in themselves again. They know what I expect and they deliver. I am even-handed in my praise and my punishment. They know where they stand with me at any time. As long as they do what is required, they will have no problem from me. If something happens that is beyond them, they know they will not be punished for it. Only if they could avoid or take care of it and did not, will there be punishment."

     "That is as it should be in a fighting force, and so very often it is not."

     "And it is that very thing that works in my favor. Come, I will show you what we did for the dragons. I think you will be impressed."

     They make their way over to the tower the dragons are inhabiting. They cross over by means of a large pipe structure, with lights inside, and cool air passing through between the towers. 

     "There are viewing ports that can be opened but I am afraid I do not know how to dim them first. To open one without dimming would blind us instantly."

     "It is that hot outside?"

     "You could say that the Krang is a structure of towers connected by these pipes. Outside is what is called a 'brown dwarf' star."

     "Wait a minute, you mean a real star!"

     "Yes, smaller than most, and cooler, but only in comparison to all of the others out there. It was necessary to use this for camouflage and for power. The Krang takes its power directly from the star. And the star produces enough that we will not run out of power for a very long time."

     "And these Tar-Aiym made this?"

     "Yes, they did. Here is the door into the tower."

     They open the door and move to the door to the holding for the dragons. As they walk in, Letho stops speechless, eyes wide as he takes it all in, or at least tries to. Where he expected to see walls, there is open space, for as far as his eyes can see is ground, grassland, trees, skies, sunlight, even a cool wind blowing across the tops of the grass. Then he sees a few far shapes of dragons soaring high in the sky.

     "How?!?"

     Iriisii smiles and responds, "can I cook, or can I cook! I got the idea from another friend and ally, who calls himself the 'Doctor'. I had already done something like it, just had not thought to arrange it within an enclosed space. Reaper figured out that using certain metals with a separating layer of void metal creates an energy storage plate that is also very strong and tough. It seems to be able to absorb energy from its surroundings. I had enough made to place here and there throughout this enclosure and use the energy to maintain the 'bubble'. If I need it bigger, I just add more plates and the added energy allows to 'bubble' to grow, but it always stays within this enclosure."

     "And you can do this in any or all of the towers?"

     "Yes. I had worried about how to transport the Celestial Army when I am ready to deploy it, but this will let me solve that problem easily. I also have plenty of space to dock their ships. And I am working on something that is really going to turn heads."

     "And what would that be?"

     "Later when I have more of the details worked out."

     "You did something like this for the Pegasi?"

     "Yes."

     "Amazing, simply amazing."

     "Thank you, my friend."

     "This is making me hungry, can we go back and get something to eat."

     "Let's go."

     Letho, Lambert, Eskel, and Geralt are sitting at a table stuffing themselves with some kind of freshly roasted meat sitting in a bread trencher, pitcher after pitcher of beer, ale, mulled wine, Cyrodillic Brandy sitting on the table. Rigmor, Iriisii, and Triss working on bottles of Tessio's Special Brew. Glorianna is happily playing with the babies in a specially padded area.

     "Now this is what I hoped for after becoming a Witcher, but I had to go and leave in order to find it. But now that I have found it, I will be damned if I will ever go back. What do you say, Eskel?"

     "All of this is fine, but helping people who don't look at me like I was something they would rather scrape off of their boots. I had forgotten what it felt like to be around people like that.

There is even one of the 'Sirens' who likes my scars, says she wants me to tell her the stories about how I got every one of them. Says it gets her 'hot'."

     "I know the one you are talking about, her name is Melanie, and I must warn you, she is very serious about your scars. Be honest with her about how you got them and I promise you, you will not regret it."

     "Who is the blue-haired one, who walks like a wildcat?"

     "That is Lilith, if she decides she wants to pass time with you, that is fine as long as it is her decision. But push too hard when she says no, and we are likely to be spending a week finding all of your little pieces all over the ship."

     "Tough woman then?"

     "You do not know the meaning of tough until you cross her, and nearly all that have, are underground pushing up flowers. She grew up killing Tsaesci from the time she could hold a blade in her hand. Living on the island of Akavir at that time, was the only way she could survive. She has been with me for years now, and I still do not know the whole story. She will tell me when she feels ready, if ever. And I will not pry it out of her for any reason, I respect her too much to betray her in that way."

     "Understood."

     "Like I said, as long as she is the one starting it, I have no problem with it. If she does not want the attention, she knows how to put a stop to it. If she likes you, there is no better friend to have. Now I need some sleep, Bridge should be calling me soon."

     As Iriisii stands, Rigmor does as well and whispers in her ear, "Illyria wants you tonight. I would ask to share but it has been a long while since the two of you have been alone, and both of you deserve this chance. Go and make her happy."

     "Thank you for being so generous."

     "Don't worry, my time will come around again. There is still some of that vial potion left, I put it in the drawer next to the bed."

     "You little minx!"

     "Go already, she is waiting for you."

     Iriisii walks steadily to Illyria's quarters, opens the door to the darkened room, and slips inside. She goes to the still form of Illyria laying in the bed, sits down next to her, and lightly draws her hand down the side of Illyria's face. As she wakes and sees Iriisii sitting next to her, her face lights up in a smile that threatens to banish all the shadows in the room. She takes Iriisii's hand in hers and kisses her open palm.

     "Before we go on, I want to tell you something."

     "Ok, tell me."

     "On another night, when we have all the time in the world. Desidarius and I would like to make love to you, the both of us together, just the three of us."

     "She has been speaking with you?"

     "Yes, and we feel this would be the best way to start building a new relationship. I knew she would have to come forward some time, and this way we can begin to build trust in each other, as you and Shivista have."

     "Then I say yes, we will make time the next chance we get."

     "Will you sing that song you sang to the both of us?"

     "Of course, and I will mean every word of it."