Kokono popped her head out of her warm pocket. With a flop, she rolled into Randal's lap. Growing into her battle form she held Randal's face in her hands. Looking into his surprised eyes.
"She is still young, not beyond hope, the problem not the curse, but her goal." Kokono informed, "One side of the story, one of hate and despair. She thinks to punish offspring, to make old debts square."
Randal gritted his teeth, "How is sacrificing thousands of people every year making the debt square?"
Kokono shrugged, "She wallows in pain, indulges in hate, to make others suffer, some how seems to equate."
"She needs a new goal, to love, to see the whole. She's so blinded by grief, she hates all that shows even the tiniest greed." Kokono added.
The ranger nodded, "Ai, she needs ta see the dragon's side. She only be looking at it like the holy maiden."
Randal nodded, "I agreed, but how to make her see the other side be the question."
Kokono glanced around sneakily before shrinking back into her bird form.
The ranger's lips twitched… birds… were not subtle. He'd have to keep an eye on the wee beasties to see what exactly they had planned.
"I'll send word to First to have them start unearthing the library you mentioned. Until then, stay out of sight. I don't want anyone knowing your back just yet. The empress has been… strange since yesterday." Randal ordered tucking the small bird into his pocket.
Nix opened one eye as the large fox nose continued to nudge him. He wasn't really in the mood to do anything. He just wanted to enjoy the small bit of silence. His Beloved had only left him two days ago. He couldn't even muster the motivation to sing… let along eat.
He felt so heavy. Sleep… if he could just get enough sleep he wouldn't be so exhausted. Except the large nose nudged him once again. Nix lifted his gaze to the concerned fox eye.
"Pretty Birdie, you should eat. It's almost night already." Caius was getting concerned. Even when his Pretty Birdie had been hatching, he'd gotten up. Today, his Pretty Birdie had slept since last night. It had been a full day. He'd hadn't woken to eat, to sing, hadn't even shifted in his sleep.
"Hmm, I am not hungry, there is no sun to see, rather than rise, I'd much rather sleep." Nix remarked closing his eyes again.
Caius was tempted to keep pushing… but just curled around his Pretty Birdie. He was scared… scared his Pretty Birdie would leave… get tired of him. One more night… broken hearts needed time to heal, he could wait one more night before he started pushing.
Alexei sat on a stump. Something was off with Ashton. His eyes were still silver. There was also this incessant rain. Mana rich rain. If the Adarians weren't acting overly normal he wouldn't have been so suspicious. But twice Prince Zane had come to an abrupt halt for several seconds, only to continue as if nothing had happened.
Tie tigers were playing with their new blessings, but Lamont had grown especially wary of Prince Zane and Princess Lucera.
Alexei glanced over the Seibel delegation. Prince Terrence had officially separated from Prince Theodore's group. Alexei was only slightly surprised that Alphonse had decided to make camp with Terrence. Even under 24 hour guard he didn't complain.
Now the Gippsi delegation was a whole other concern. They'd been… dancing in the rain all day. The priests, mages, soldiers… Princess Hazel. Even their flower looking beast had been seen zooming around the clearing as if chasing something.
Sometimes they were all chasing… something only they saw.
Alexei sighed, none of the imperial nobles had stepped a foot outside the entire day. Tilting his face up to catch the mana rich rain… Alexei hoped Ashton would snap out of his funk soon.
A warrior tapped on Neolani's tent waking them. "Come in." She called looking around, it was probably just past midnight, whatever was happening had to be important. Two warriors escorted a bedraggled messenger.
The messenger fell to his knees, "Regina, I come with destressing news."
"Get on with it, what happened?" Neolani demanded already reaching for her armor. Were the tribes under attack?
"Regina… Master Thomas and mistress Samantha… they… turned to ash the day before yesterday. None of our mages know what happened, all that was left were…" The messenger pulled an enchanted pouch out of his bag, "Two crystals with an enchantment… we dared not delay. Two of the gryphons provided escort."
The messenger continued to ramble on but Neolani wasn't hearing any of it… Thomas and Samantha… Ashton's parents. She didn't know exactly how Ashton had usurped the real Ashton's place… but surely the child must have perished. Did Ashton already know? Did he do this?
Alexei stared at the cloth… dead. "Were they acting strangely? Did they meet with anyone?" He demanded reaching for the cloth. He hadn't even realized his hands were trembling until the small crystals shook on the cloth.
"No Chief warrior. They were acting the same as usual, helped tend the crops, ate with the same people as usual, we've recorded everyone's memories… when they didn't join everyone for breakfast one of the warriors went to check… only two piles of ash was found on the bed. Nothing else was out of place."
Alexei turned to Neolani, "Regina… Regina!" He added with a touch more authority when she didn't face him. When he had her attention he placed the gems in her hands. "Regina, we have to tell him." Alexei whispered.
Neolani stared at the gems… how… how was she supposed to tell Ashton his parents were dead?
Neolani found herself standing in front of the nest. Caius was glaring at her, using his tails to try and shoo her away. "I must speak with him. It's… it's important." Her voice cracked as she clenched the cloth to her chest.
"There's no need to worry, I already know. Laid Ashton to rest, his parents did follow." Nix said without opening his eyes. He'd immediately heard the gryphon's arrival. The panicked messenger's song had been flooded with fear, worry, remorse, pity.
Alexei still, staring past the fox tails as if he could see Ashton. "Laid… Ashton to rest? What… what do you mean?"
"This is not the time, I have not the patience, though I expect little, now I insist obeisance." Nix called with a noticeable chill in his voice. He was not nocturnal, he was already exhausted. Could they not even afford basic curtesy? He'd already told them he knew. Surely the rest could wait until morning.
The wards keeping them warm suddenly lost its effectiveness. Alexei felt the wind whipping at his skin. A bone deep chill settled as he quickly bowed, "Of course, we overstepped." Alexei quickly led the stunned Neolani away.
"He's… never, obeisance? What?" Neolani asked in a muddle as Alexei handed her a mug of warm water.
Alexei rested his head against hers, "Love, he's going through a lot. Give him a few days." He didn't want them jumping to conclusions. For now, he settled the messenger, after a rest the warriors would ensure both were well fed then sent back.
The important part, was Ashton knew. Alexei took a deep breath. Hopefully… hopefully it wasn't as he feared.
Two more days went by. Occasionally Nix would rouse himself just long enough to be fed, then he'd go back to sleep. He wasn't interested in the process of the Empire's or Adarian's plotting. Only what decisions they made.
Bodies of flesh were so inconvenient… Nix examined the last three threads keeping him in this body. There was only one he was truly concerned with. It may not be how the Black family wished it… but one way or the other the sacrifices would end.
Randal watched the giant nest… he hadn't spent much time with Ashton Reece, but… he'd seen men who'd lost the will to liv. Ashton didn't look like he wanted to die, but he needed something to jolt him out of this… lackluster state.
Randal watched as Kokono sneakily made her way into the dungeon. Her black cloak hiding ever her talons as she slowly inched along the walls. Whenever someone walked by she would crouch down and pretend to be a rock. She'd been practicing for the last two days.
The mountain man pretended to see nothing. He was a smart man. He figured there would be two kinds of people who saw Kokono and some of the other birds sneaking around. People like him, smart enough to know nothing. Or people who were dead.
Sebastian forced his lips into a stern frown. If he gave any indication of amusement, the birds went into a full bawl. Hopping, chirping, pointing… and one soldier who'd hit one of the birds with a rock had found himself without the arm… or head.
It had happened so quickly Sebastian didn't even know which bird had done what. Needless to say, no one had admitted to seeing the small birds sneaking around since.