The Search For Kathea, A Leap Into A Kangaroo Tribunal

 The Search For Kathea, A Leap Into A Kangaroo Tribunal

      Once Iriisii and Rosa are done, they return to the physical world, back to their bodies, to find Henry var Attre and Edna var Attre waiting for them. Iriisii releases Rosa, who jumps up and wraps her arms around her father begging for his forgiveness for what she did. He looks to Iriisii who nods her head. The relief on his face is easily seen and read. Even Edna is relieved that things have gone so well.

     "Rosa has much to discuss with you about her future. Once I have settled myself in Nilfgard, I want her to come to me there to begin her training."

     "Her training? May I respectfully ask in what endeavor?"

     "She has a strong and keen interest in weapons, as I am sure you know well. I know you thought this a passing thing with her, but I have looked deep inside her and I see differently. The training she has gotten so far will only lead her to her death at some point. Therefore I want to see that she is trained and equipped to be all that it is possible for her to be.

     There are several steps that she can climb if she wants to badly enough to withstand the training needed. I think she can do this, for when I was still mortal, I did it. Even before I became an Ascended, I was and still am considered the most dangerous warrior to walk the roads of Nirn. It will not all take place here or in Nilfgard, if she progresses far enough, I will have her inducted into the 'Temple of the Ancient Order of the Blade Dancers' on Nirn, my homeworld. 

     There, they will hone her skills to the razor's edge as they did mine. Once she has passed their trials, if she wishes to continue, I will place her within my 'Sirens'. A greater, more dangerous group of War Maidens I have yet to find. I would put them up against any mortal enemy, and they constantly seek to expand their abilities and knowledge. They train among themselves, against my 'Dragons of the Balance', once called the 'Lost Legion' before I found them and gave them a new purpose.

    They also train against my personal bodyguard legion, my 'Fedakiin', my 'Hand of Blood'. Desert warriors, unmatched in their ferocity and determination. Together they are my triumvirate, the 'Dragons' are my 'Hand of Flesh', my bodyguards, my 'Hand of Blood', and my 'Sirens' are the 'Hand of my Soul'. They and my High Council of Advisors form the core of my 'Celestial Army of the Balance'. For I include mortals, immortals, gods, goddesses, angels, and demons alike within my army and some I have encountered that defy description.

     I only ask that they follow the 'Balance', and seek the path that lies between absolute good and absolute evil. This is the path that will allow all of the Creations to survive and flourish in the times to come. There will be more to come and I will keep you apprised of what I know that will involve you. Now that all is once more, well within your household, I will take my leave."

     "I cannot thank you enough for keeping my family whole, my daughters are my life, and anything that will enable them to live and survive whatever may come, you will have my complete support."

     "We have yet to secure Nilfgard, nothing needs to happen until I am secure as Regent, and have made the palace as safe as it can be. You should know if it becomes necessary to seek temporary asylum, go to the 'Church of the White-Gold Phoenix', tell Willem, you are one of mine and he will see to any of your needs. I expect some retaliation from the Criminal Overlords of this city, although I do not know exactly what form it will take. I would not have you in danger for something you had no part of, except for your affiliation with me."

     "What did you do to expect retaliation?"

     "I refused to allow them to come into 'Church' property and take citizens who had come to me for asylum. Our doors are open to all, but for those who enter with ill intent, 'accidents' happen. Nothing permanent, yet, mainly just sprains and broken bones from slips and falls. I directed that they be treated and escorted from the properties.

     I knew the Overlords would not stop, and I anticipate seeing them unveil themselves to come after me. When they do that, I will hold them up for all within the city to see, and their judgment will then be decided by the populace they have wronged for so long and tried to control."

     "Finally, someone with the guts to take them on and deal with them as they would deal with others that have crossed them."

     "I must go now. I still have much to do. Make certain your guards are especially wary for the next few days. If you need more, send word to the 'Chameleon' and I will send you some of my own. If need be they will give their lives in defense of you and yours, but I do not think that will need be. They are good enough that it will take more than those in this city can muster to take them down."

     Iriisii turns and walks to the door, Henry gets there first and opens the door for her. He sees some city guard waiting beyond where his own guards are positioned, both looking warily at each other. He makes to stop Iriisii, but she motions him aside.

     "There is no need to start anything, I am more than capable of taking care of this. We need to allow this to work its way through the system to flush out all of the ones responsible and show their works to the light of day. Then we can see what needs to be done. But if you would, go to the Chameleon, inform Rigmor Ragnarsdottier of what is happening. Ask her to summon some of my 'Sirens', to watch over your home, the Chameleon, and to wait and see if I need some for more direct action."

     "I will do so immediately, your Imperial Majesty."

     "Father, you cannot let her go alone, anything may happen."

     "Edna, it will be fine, I promise. I want no more trouble or possible harm to come to your household. I can deal with anything that may happen, the City Guard will allow nothing to happen that the City Council would have to answer for. This is not as it would be were Radovid still sitting on the Throne." And then in a whisper, "tell your father to pass to Phillipa, to stay out of sight, no need to inflame sentiment at the moment."

     "You mean..."

     "Yes, she is with me now, as one of mine. She is host to one of the souls of the Dragons of Destiny, as I host the first, she hosts the second."

     "How many...?"

     "There are four, only one remains to be hosted, and the candidate for the fourth has only recently been determined. No one else needs to know of this, for no others understand their purpose, interference in the process cannot be tolerated, it is too important. Also, have someone find Tamara Strenger and have her bring the documents she has found to the City Council. There is soon to be a grand revelation if I do not miss my guess."

     "I understand, I will tell him after you have gone with the City Watch."

     "Good, you do indeed understand." She turns to the squad leader of the City Watch, "let us be on to the City Council. I am sure they feel they have waited long enough."

     The City Watch enfolds itself around her and begins to escort her through the streets. The populace wonders who she is and what could she have possibly done to be escorted by the Watch before the City Council. Agents of the beggars, the thieves, and other guilds vanish to report to their respective bosses that she is on her way to the City Council.

     As they approach the building the City Council is using to conduct their business, a crowd has gathered asking questions about why she has been escorted here like a wanted criminal. It seems many of them were at or knew of what happened at the wedding and thought this might have something to do with the disappearance of the 'Church of the Eternal Flame'.

     She turns to the crowd, and speaks, "Be calm, and wait patiently, you will find out what all this is about. And you may be called upon to render judgment on those responsible if so, be fair, and render judgment according to the law, not for revenge. May the 'Phoenix' bless you." As a white-gold sparkle settles of the crowd, they calm down, and settle to wait, allowing the escort to pass through.

     The squad leader turns to her at the entrance door, "I do not know what you did to calm the crowd, but thank you for that. It could have gotten bloody in a hurry. I am sorry for what is about to happen."

     "Do not worry for me, squad leader, those who initiated this will find they have bitten off far more than they can chew, and are likely to find themselves being chewed upon. I hold no blame to you or your men, you are doing your duty as best you can. Hold your head high and know you find favor with the Gods."

     The squad leader bows to her, opens the door, and hands her off to another escort, warning them to treat her as a noble guest or face his anger. The leader of this escort looks at her surprised, for never has that squad leader ever before made such a statement.

     "I do not know what happened to make him say that, but I know he does not speak words like that lightly. If you have impressed him that greatly, then we will do as he has asked. Would you please follow us and we will take you before the City Council?"

     She follows the Council Guards as they wend their way through to the Council Chamber. The guard knocks on the door, opens it, and announces that they have brought Iriisii before the City Council as requested. The guard then turns to her and motions for her to follow. They walk forward toward where the City Council sits at a long table, about eight of them total. The head of the council nods to the guard and he turns and leaves, whispering, "good luck", as he passes by out of the chamber.

     She then turns her attention to the City Council, immediately evaluating the defenses, offensive positions, places where hidden 'murder holes' might be. She knows these Councillors are just what they appear to be, and so not a threat except for giving commands to others to take action.

     Some of them seem to be a bit apprehensive as her gaze moves over them as if they can sense her evaluating them, and she has not even begun to peer into their minds and souls. The 'Head Councillor' clears his throat, and begins with a statement.

     "You have been asked to appear to answer a number of disturbing charges that have been leveled against you. What do you say to this?"

     "Do I not have the right to face my accusers? To determine if there may be ulterior motives on their part for bringing these charges. In fact, you have not even informed me of the exact charges that have been leveled against me, and so how can I know how to answer in the absence of such information?"

     "We the 'City Council' stand as the accusers, as the charges, the chief one is being an agent of the Emperor of Nilfgard. That charge covers several others all involving taking actions on behalf of Nilfgard to weaken Novigrad. There is the matter of possible involvement in the disappearance of the 'Church of the Eternal Flame'. The amount of gold that you have spent is far more than any one person could amass and so must have come from another source, namely Nilfgard. There are rumblings among the non-human population of a savior of some kind appearing and promising equality and a new home to move to. This is causing quite the stir among the businesses that rely on non-human labor."

     "I see. Yet you have done nothing to correct the faulty information you have been fed. I am most certainly not an agent for Emhyr var Emreis. If your information was current you would know that he is currently in 'exile' very far from here and has named a 'Regent' to sit the Throne until such time as his daughter decides to take the Throne."

     "So you are working for this Regent then?"

     Iriisii bursts out with a laugh, shaking her head side to side, "Radovid would know exactly who I was and what I was before I was in the city two days. No, I am not working for the Regent of Nilfgard, I am the Regent of Nilfgard."

     A deafening silence overcame the chamber, just before a cacophony of curses, threats, calls for the guards, and even a few claps of hands in applause, all erupted at once. Each one drowning out the other, such that the guards could not hear being called. The High Councillor finally got things under control and asked if Iriisii had any evidence of her claim.

    "Right now Lord var Attre, has the letter the Emperor wrote to his daughter, outlining his intentions. She gave it to me since it also concerns me and I took it to var Attre to authenticate it and gain his assistance in navigating the Nilfgardian Court. I fully anticipated something like this happening and so there are some very interesting and damning documents being brought here shortly. I do hope this Council is ready to have its eyes opened wide enough to see the depths of corruption that have been plaguing it for some time now."

     Now the uproar has taken a more ominous turn as several on the Council know exactly what Iriisii is talking about and what their fate would be if the information came to light. Still, she has a firm hand on things, the battleplan she developed before walking in is proving to be exceptionally accurate at predicting the actions she is seeing, thus her counters that she has ready will work just fine.

     It takes the High Councillor, a few minutes to regain control of the chamber and stop the raucous outcries for Iriisii's immediate execution. Once he has it under control once again, and he sees that either she is a mistress of deception, able to maintain complete control of her facial expressions, but can think of no reason why to go to these lengths for practically no gain and a great deal of risk, or she is exactly who she says she is, in which case they risk open war to do anything to her but release her.

     But there is one thing she did say that he wants clarification on. She may indeed have properly identified who she is by her proclamation of being Regent to the Nilfgard Empire, but 'what' she is, needs cleaning up, and so he begins this line of questions.

     "My Lady, I am ready to posit that you are indeed the new Regent for the Empire of Nilfgard", banging his gavel several times to once again recover control of these proceedings, "but there was something you said that I feel needs more digging into."

     "Finally, someone in a position of authority with more than half a brain in his head. Please, High Councilor, continue and ask your question."

     "You have, I think, adequately answered the question of 'who' you are at least how it pertains to these proceedings, but I wish to explore the question you posed of 'what' you are? Are you ready and willing to answer that question?"

     Iriisii bows to the High Councillor, "I take back the 'half-brain' comment, you obviously have a whole one in your head, which is far more than I can say for the others at this moment." 

     The uproar from this is even louder than before. The High Councillor, never took his eyes from her face and so noticed the small smile on her face at the response to her comment, and realizes first, how true her words in fact are, and second, that she is reading each and every one of the Councilors, evaluating them by their responses to her 'jabs'. She is an 'old hand' at this, likely at one time, high in political circles herself. No wonder she was chosen by the Emperor to be Regent, an exceptional choice to be sure, but on to the question.

     "Just what 'are' you, my Lady, other than the new Regent for the Nilfgardian Empire?"

     "Now we get to the 'heart' of the matter, this is the first true question of merit that has been asked."

     Just then, a commotion behind the chamber doors can be heard, and a female voice that Iriisii knows all too well can be heard berating the guards for attempting to bar her from entering. Although somewhat muffled it can be heard that, "you buffoons will get out of my way before I drop all of you into the nearest patch of pig shit, and if you do not believe I can do it, then just stay between me and that door!"

     The lead guard pokes his head inside looking to the High Councillor as to what he should do. Iriisii speaks to the matter, "High Councilor, I am well acquainted with the woman outside the doors. She does indeed have the power to enforce her threat, in which case it would be to everyone's benefit if they allow her entrance before something 'odorous' occurs."

     The High Councilor nods his head to the guard, who opens the door for Rigmor, followed by Tamara, with a stack of documents in her hands nearly a foot tall.

     Rigmor signals Tamara to take a position over to the side as she approaches a grinning Iriisii. 'Giving them a show? How about we really blow their minds!' Rigmor steps right up in front of Iriisii, without acknowledging anyone else in the room, reaches up a hand behind her neck, and pulls her down into a kiss that everyone who witnessed it, swears there was steam rising from the pair before they separated. Even Tamara thought about using some of the documents to 'fan' herself, to cool down just a bit.

     Then to make matters worse as they started to part, Iriisii reaches out and runs her tongue across Rigmor's now swollen lips. The effect causes her to stand perfectly still, her eyes closed, the muscles along her back quivering with the shivers that are running up and down her spine.

     Whispering, "you had better be ready later to make good on that promise, or you are going to join those guards in the closest pigpen."

     "Oh, I intend to, love, I most assuredly intend to."

     "Now what in the blazes, is going on here?"

     "This is the ruling City Council of Novigrad, and the High Councilor has just asked me, 'what' I am, as you made your grand entrance."

     "I think I am more than qualified to answer that. She is one of the Greater Goddesses of Creation, Leader, and Harbinger of the Gods of Eld, Holder of the 'Mantle' of 'War', first of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, called 'Mother of Dragons' by all of Dragonkind that exist across the Realms of all the Creations, called the 'Dragon of War' by the 'Soul Hounds of the Mother of the Cosmos'. Empress of the Empire of Cyrodiil by 'Right of Combat', and co-parent of our two daughters, born of two mothers by the 'Grace of the Mother of the Cosmos'." Looking toward Iriisii, "did I leave anything important out?"

     "No, I think you covered the most important ones, the rest would take days to recite."

     "Might I respectfully inquire as to your identity, my Lady?"

     "She is Rigmor Ragnarsdottier, of the House of Ragnar, High Queen of Cyrodiil, and my mate."

     In a flash of light, three figures appear off to the side, all three wearing some form of armor, Iriisii recognizing all three immediately. She bows to the trio and introduces them.

     "I have the honor to introduce to this City Council", moving her hand toward the first of the three, "Azura, Boethiah, and Meridia, Goddesses of the Daedra, of the Realm of Mundus, where my homeworld of Nirn resides."

     Azura steps forward, "it was decided to allow me to speak for the three of us. Since you passed beyond Mundus, we have continued to watch and follow your exploits. As during the time you lived on Nirn, you have lived, fought, and loved with all of the powers granted unto you, by both the Daedra and the Aedra, thwarting all who crossed your purpose as Dovahkiin, Anointed heroine of Akatosh, Dragonchild of Alessia, and Thunderchild of Kyne.

     You have stood before threats great and small, dealing justice as declared by Akatosh, even unto his firstborn, Alduin, and his first Avatar, Bormahu. You have traveled the streams of time into the future of Nirn and secured the safety of 'Landhome' with the defeat of Orphis, and again with Ouroburous, the final retreat after the destruction of Nirn itself was made safe thanks to your efforts. 

     We watched with great interest as on your return from the future your path was diverted by Sithis, your destination, his fortress, deep with the greater 'Void', and then your path was diverted yet again by the actions of two sorceresses from this world, who unknowingly set in motion events that have echoed across all the Realms, across the Dreamlands, across the distant past, and the far future.

     The things you have done, have defied description, even the 'Fates' themselves stand in awe of what you have so far accomplished. And so we have come here to stand as witness to another extraordinary feat. We know you can do this, and we stand behind you as you go forward."

     "High Councilor, what did you have to test me with?"

     "Bring the bone in here!"

     It takes several men to bring in a huge bone and lay on the floor close to Iriisii. As she looks at it, it almost seems to speak to her. She walks up to it and lays her hands on it.

     "Do you know what it belongs to?"

     "High Councilor, I suggest you refrain from speaking, when she is ready she will speak."

      A suitably chastened High Councilor sits back into his chair and waits. Iriisii not even aware of his question or Rigmor's answer to him takes a slow, deep, breath. Letting the faintest of odors fill her senses. She takes a fingernail and scapes it along the bone, then places it in her mouth, letting the taste of it speak and tell her whatever it wishes.

     "High Councilor! What do you know of it, was it buried? discovered in a cave? is this the only bone?"

     "It was brought to us as-is, nothing was disclosed as to how it was found or if there were more. Have you any idea what it belongs to?"

     "Yes, I do. Something I have read of in the most ancient of tomes, tomes found only in the Lost Library of Carcosa, all knowledge of it was thought lost even as far back as the time of the Empire of Acheron. How did even one bone find its way here?"

     "But what did it belong to?"

     "A very rare kind of dragon, it lived during the time the Four Dragons of Destiny lived and flew between Realms and Creations on their Wings of Power. This belonged to a Chymeric Dragon of Chaos."

     The faces of the councilors look at each other with blank faces, never even knowing what the name meant, much less what it was, but the 'Soul of the First' woke from his nap, read what Iriisii had found using her senses, 'you are correct, My Lady. I knew this one as a friend when I lived. The scent and feel of his bone bring back memories I had thought lost long ago. But do you have or can you get the rest of him?'

     'The High Councilor says he has no knowledge, but there may be a way.'

     'Pray tell me it is possible to retrieve them.'

     'I can bridge all the forms of reality, memories, dreams, visions, alternate timelines, and others without names as yet. I can use this bone to draw the rest to me, and then we will see what may be possible.'

     Iriisii draws a multi-level iconic sigil on the floor using pulsating blue magical energy. She then encompasses that not within a pentagram, no she decides, too weak, she needs something much stronger. She draws within her mind a tetraduohedron, traces out the three-dimensional image, and layers it into two dimensions, laying the image to surround the sigil. The two forms shift just ever so slightly and then join into one.

     Everyone inside the chamber feels reality, shift as this happens, from the center of the new form, a pinpoint of blue fire forms and expands to the outer edge before fading and a new wave of a different color begins. She levitates the bone and places it completely inside the form. She then stands on the edge, head bowed in deep prayer, bordering on meditation. Staying like this until the Council grows edgy, she then raises her hands in supplication to someone only she can see, saying in Dovahzul.

    

                                 Naal alok-dilon, faal art do dinok

                                 yah fah daar pogaan qethhe

                                 drun niin wa zu'u nol kolos nust kos

                                 daar zu'u uth.

     With the power of the Thu'um of a Dragon Goddess empowering each word, they take on physical shape as Dragon Runes. They fly into the magical circle and disappear, where, when they go, even she does not know. Rigmor sees her begin trembling and goes to her side, calling for Tamara to bring a chair for her. Tamara grabs a close one and drags it over, looking at the pulsing circle of magic as she does so. Rigmor gets Iriisii in the chair as Tamara asks, "What did she just do?"

     "Some kind of summoning is as close as I know, but I have never seen her pour so much power into something like that. Likely only she knows where, when, or how far back it reaches."

     "What do you mean?"

     "She seeks the other bones that go with this one, drawing them from wherever they can be found, in space, in time, in dreams, memories, dimensions. This spell is strong enough to find them wherever they are and bring them back here. And there is only one reason I can think of to do that and it also explains why 'they' are here."

     "What is she going to do?"

     "Resurrect him."

     "You mean that?"

     "If a dragon is killed in any way that does not involve its soul being consumed, they can be resurrected. I have seen it done, but the one who did it was another dragon. I have never seen it done or even attempted by a non-dragon. But if anyone could do it, it would be Iriisii."

     "I hope you are right."

     "Honestly, so do I."

     Slowly pieces begin to form in the circle, then move to where they would be if the skeleton were whole. It does not take long to see that this is a giant of Dragons. How large did they grow back in the time he lived in? The councilors are all rapt as they watch the skeleton grow, piece by piece. Somehow Rigmor thinks they have no idea that Iriisii is going to resurrect him. She thinks it would indeed take something like this to draw the attention of the Gods and Goddesses that pooled their power and brought these three, known to Iriisii, to be their eyes and ears, witnessing this event.

     Then the skeleton in all of its past glory stands within the chamber, the room itself just large enough to accommodate it. Iriisii having replenished her power closes the magic circle. And then she prepares herself for the finale. She looks up at the skeleton, drinking in who it was from the aura still clinging to the bones. When she parses out his name, she pools her power until it threatens to burst from her control.

                                  

                                    Ek Diiv Grah

                                    Slen Tiid Vo

     Meyz wa dii bel, ek diiv grah, hon dii thu'um

     meyz wa hin qethhe, ek diiv grah, lahney nu.

     She keeps speaking the words of Dovahzul as flesh grows once more upon the bones. The skull raises itself to the skies it senses beyond the roof of the chamber. More flesh keeps reforming, then skin and scale begin forming. But these are not any kind of dragon scale she has ever seen.

They are thinner, prismatic, and yet stronger than anything she has knowledge of.

     As his eyes grow within his skull, he sees the one who has called across the gulfs of space/time, beyond the 'Void', drawing him from a place that as yet has no name, a place his soul was bound, even as his bones were scattered across all existence. Who is she, what does she want with him, the power she wields to bring him back beggars description. There is something familiar, something within her he feels he should know, remember. But it has been far too long and his memory escapes him. But he does feel it would be polite to at least speak to her, it has been so long since he has heard Dovahzul.