At the Altar of Dragons

Session 32 | Chapter 6

“Have you two forgotten the mission? People are dying! You’ll have time when our people are not–let’s go,” Layna shouts, the level of her anger evident in her icy hair, her cheeks shining with frost, and the way she clutches tightly at her cloak.

Getting to my feet, I exclaim, “Layna! What the fuck? What happened to knocking?” Unwilling to let this moment entirely pass, I keep Lendys’ hand in mine. Layna knows about us, so the risk is worth extending our contact.

She huffs, “Knocking went out the door when you decided to take five minutes to talk about your feelings. Do I need to remind you that my sister, who I’m supposed to protect–bitch or not–is being stalked by the fucking Witch Queen?” She’s gesturing wildly, and the frost creeps along her skin a little further.

I understand her frustration–I do. However, my blood runs hot as she presumes this was merely to talk about our feelings. Layna is the one that understands me in the party. Layna is the one that relates, that I can relate to. But her lack of faith in me stings more than I care to admit.

She’s upset…she’s panicked, I reassure myself.

Her glaring stare shifts between Lendys and I as she paces. She huffs, “At least Lendys got with the program. You’re staying like this right?” Sulfur billows through my veins, and the taste of ash coats the back of my tongue.

Lendys looks to me, composed and unaffected by our interruption. He squeezes my hand lightly to get my attention. Peeling my eyes off of Layna, I look up at him, the fire blooming in me cooling a touch. “If I have permission to fight freely?” he asks.

My fiery emotions are immediately doused at his words, replaced with something equally raw, but innately colder. I blink rapidly, trying to read his face, as I respond, “What do you mean ‘freely’? Ha-have I been holding you back?”

A light smile forms on his lips as he corrects, “No, not at all.” He raises our intertwined hands, and kisses the back of mine. The gesture is so tender, so instinctual, it softens everything in me. “You’ve never held me back,” he finishes.

Breaking our brief reverie, Layna snorts, “Great–then you have permission.” She leans against the wall and blows a lock of hair out of her face with a huff.

I shoot her a glare, feeling an odd sense of territorialness over this moment. Her own emotions are overtaking her–that’s all it is, I remind myself.

My gaze returns to Lendys, and I hold his eyes as I state firmly, “You don’t need my permission for this.”

His entire demeanor relaxes, and I wonder for a moment if he was worried about my answer. “Okay then,” he replies.

“So this form from now on?” I tighten my grip lightly.

He nods, saying, “Yes, I’ll stay in this form to help.” He pauses momentarily before looking around. With a grimace, he says, “But I’ll need a sword.”

“Do you think Markus has one?” I ask, my gaze flicking between Layna and Lendys.

Layna gives me a concerned look before whispering, “I don’t think Markus has a sword, Maire.” She clenches her jaw for a moment in thought before continuing in a normal tone, “I have a sword from…Yes, I have a sword.” She kneels down and rifles through her pack briefly, before pulling out a shortsword. I recognize the blade as the one she used in our spar at Skyreach. She hands the blade over, and it looks almost comical in Lendys’ hand. Layna takes a step back, eyeing the weapon in his hand and coming to the same conclusion as me.

Despite our scrutinizing stares, Lendys is unfazed. Instead, he eyes the sword in his hand, and declares, “Well, that will work.” He adjusts his grip and closes his eyes. Silvery blue light weaves out from his hand and around the blade, extending the steel until it grows to the size of a greatsword. It takes every ounce of willpower to not shove Layna out of this room and bar the door, so we can finish what we were starting earlier.

From the doorway, Layna observes, “That’s a cool power.”

“It’s just reacting to me,” Lendys explains.

Involuntarily, a hum of satisfaction escapes me and I quip, “I understand the feeling.” A light, momentarily embarrassed laugh bubbles out, and heat rises to my cheeks.

Lendys’ eyes flick to me and he groans, “Let’s be serious for half a second.”

“Okay, okay,” I chuckle, “I’m sorry.”

He shakes his head lightly. “No it’s fine.”

A laugh bubbles out of me and I quickly try to get myself under control, feeling giddy at the onset of adrenaline. “Hold on, hold on,” I giggle, holding out my hands. Layna and Lendys share an unamused expression, and I take a deep breath. “Hold on. I’m working on improving myself.”

I pause briefly, pulling together all of my willpower before I drop my voice and growl, “Let’s go to war.”

The silence in the moment after that statement is palpable, but it's quickly replaced by Layna and I laughing hysterically. “Oh, we’re all gonna die,” Layna wheezes between laughs.

Lendys rolls his eyes, but smiles as he says, “That wasn’t worth it.”

“What? Going to war?” I laugh, wiping the tears from the corners of my eyes.

He shakes his head. “I’ll give you three or four more,” he says, resting the greatsword behind him on his shoulder.

Thinking he’s ready for us to go, I frown and say, “Okay, let’s go then.”

“No, no, I’d like to hear another one,” he challenges.

Behind me, Layna chuckles, not hiding her amusement in the slightest. I look between the two of them and ask, “Oh? Different from ‘let’s go to war’?” I pause, then groan, “Oh gods.”

“Do you need a hint or something?” Layna chuckles.

I shake my head, eyes a little wide, as I reply exacerbated, “I mean, I really just shot for the moon with that one.”

“If that was shooting for the moon…” Lendys mutters.

“Then it was daytime,” Layna finishes, holding her side as she continues to laugh. A moment later she adds, “You know that saying ‘if you shoot for the moon, you still land among the stars’?” She pauses for me to nod before composing herself briefly to say, “I think you just fell.”

Deadpan, Lendys comments, “She didn’t even jump–she just tripped.”

In disbelief, I look between the two of them and snap, “I don’t like you two teaming up against me.”

“He has his moments,” Layna replies.

Lendys shrugs and concurs, “There’s only a few times we agree.”

“And apparently one of them is my shortcomings,” I scoff, mostly joking, but somewhat sincerely annoyed.

Lendys shakes his head. “That’s not a shortcoming. If that was a shortcoming, I wouldn’t be doing this.”

“It’s a work in progress–we’re workshopping,” Layna adds reassuringly.

I roll my eyes sarcastically and take a moment to think of another statement. “Oh, here we go!” I perk up and clear my throat theatrically. Wryly, I declare, “Let’s go save my ex!”

The other two’s groans echo throughout the corridor and into the dojo beyond. Layna’s groan turns into a choking laugh as she repeats, “Let’s go save your ex–gods.”

“Any better?” I smirk, rather pleased with myself.

“No, that’s worse,” Lendys replies.

Layna counters with, “We can go with that. I say that’s the one. We do actually need to go save them, because they might all be dead.”

Lendys pulls the sword from his shoulder and sheaths it at his side. He crosses his arms and sighs, “Honestly, I’d rather you just say, ‘Let’s go find the goobers’, but no, just nothing.”

I shrug, satisfied with my statement nonetheless.

Layna cocks her hip, knocking her fist against the doorjamb as she declares, “Let’s go find the winter bitch.”

A grin spreads across my face as I repeat, “Let’s go find the bitch.”

✦•······················•✦•······················•✦

After a brief debate over what order of locations the other group was going to, our trio heads towards the exit of the dojo with the determined destination of the Crystal Tree. The melted walls and shattered roof are unnerving. It’s difficult to reconcile the damage I see with my own two eyes with the story that Layna and Markus shared with me–that an arcane bomb of poison exploded from my body, causing this level of destruction; that I could have killed Layna, Markus and Lendys without even knowing it.

I place a hand on Lendys’ arm before we leave the dojo. “Do you need armor?” I ask, attempting to keep the concern from my tone. But I am concerned. He’s currently only wearing traveling clothes, without an inch of armor in sight.

Lendys shakes his head. “No, not right now.”

“We’re trying to go unseen anyways,” Layna adds. “His armor would just draw attention.”

“Well, depending on the type of armor,” I mutter, still not convinced he’s protected enough for us to be running headlong into a battle.

Lendys levels a challenging glare at Layna and retorts, “I’d still be stealthier than you. I at least know how to silence my footsteps.”

“You fucking bitch,” she snarls. “I know how to silence my footsteps! I started my training as a rogue mind you!”

I throw my hands up, unsure why I thought that we could make it out of the dojo without these two arguing. Well, Huntress, you have decided to tie yourself to a god of Justice, and befriend someone with rather questionable morals…the Priest hisses in my ear, and ice shoots down my spine. I push his presence away, and glare at my two companions. “I’m quieter than both of you!” I scoff, “And I’m not a rogue!”

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“Yes, you are,” Lendys states.

His reply is so calm and even it catches me off guard. “What? I am what?”

“Quieter,” he elaborates.

Feeling a slight swell of pride at the recognition, I straighten my spine and reply, “I know I am.”

Layna grumbles, “You are quieter. It bothers me.”

“Except at certain times,” I wink at her.

Lendys groans, moving towards the door, “No, you were still quiet enough that we didn’t get caught.” After a pause and a glance in Layna’s direction, he adds, “Until afterwards.”

I giggle, then stop them from exiting just yet. “Give me a second to give us some magical assistance.” I take a moment to dig around in the satchel at my side, retrieving a vial of ashes and a sprig from a spruce tree. Pouring a small amount of the ashes into my palm, the scent of burned mistletoe fills the small space before I rub my hands together to coat them. I take the spruce twig in hand, tracing arching shapes in the air, and utter the arcane incantation. Deep blue tendrils of magic trail behind my movements before I complete the shape, and a vague essence of silence billows out from around me.

Satisfied this will assist us in getting safely to the Crystal Tree, I direct the others, “Let’s go.”

Setting out into the city, Layna takes the lead, with Lendys and I following behind her. Shadows pull from the edges of the street around us to fill the spaces around me and my companions–the spell doing its job to help cloak our movements beyond our own skill. Thankfully, as we immediately exit the dojo, the only creature we see is a small automaton working diligently to clear debris caused by the explosion from the street outside.

After traveling another block or so, Lendys gestures, getting my attention, and motions towards Layna. He rolls his eyes, shaking his head, and I turn to see what he’s observing. Ahead of us, Layna steps briefly in a puddle on the walkway, leaving ripples in the water, and the barest trail behind her.

I stifle a giggle and hip check Lendys–both of us maintaining our silent progress. Once again, he shakes his head, a faint smile playing on his lips.

It’s no wonder she got arrested so many times, I reach out to him mentally to maintain our group’s cover.

Of course she did! She’s got two left feet. How does she even sneak?

She doesn’t–she’s been caught every time.

It’s crazy, he chuckles, the sound reverberating through my mind and bringing gooseflesh to my arms.

We round a corner, moving down another street as we spot a group of people on the opposite side breaking into a small shop. They’re dressed in plain clothing, and clearly taking advantage of the vulnerability of the city at the moment. The sign above the shop’s entrance reads “Data Haven” in glowing purple light tubes. Arcane sigils glow in various colors around the door frame, casting an eerie glow on the mist hanging along the ground outside the door.

I’ve noted multiple shops and stores alluding to ‘data’ throughout our time in the Southern Forest thus far, coming to the conclusion that data is a vital part of the make up of this city. The fact that this group is looting a store dedicated to that commodity has me taking extra care to remain silent as we pass.

Closer to the store and the looters now, I can make out a box hooked up to a long cable feeding into the broken storefront. The box pulses rhythmically, causing the street lights a block in either direction to dim in tandem. The sound coming out of the box is wet as steam billows out the back of it periodically with a shrill hiss.

I hold my breath until we’re over a block away from this scene, but the sounds of destruction and chaos still envelope us. That immediate threat might have been avoided, but the entire city is an enemy as far as I’m concerned. The way this city operates, the technological infrastructure, and the tenuous political climate has my head on a swivel.

A moment later, Lendys’ voice fills my mind once more.

Honestly, I’m surprised she asked.

Asked what? For your help? I pause briefly, then add, Probably means…

We’re in deep shit?

I huff a single, uncomfortable laugh, then say, Yeah. Clenching my jaw, I work up the courage to ask, So what was Bahamut and your brethren unhappy about, if it wasn’t our relationship?

It’s a moment before he answers, and when he does, there’s tension in his tone. The conclave and the whole situation is just not good.

Not good?

Not at first. He’s very angry.

A shrill whine scrapes overhead as part of a towering building explodes, raining debris onto the street below. Quickly, we duck into an empty shop entrance to take cover until the air clears, then proceed on our expedition to the Crystal Tree.

When we’re back on our way, I mentally ask, What was Bahamut angry about?

The conclave, Lendys replies, without any outward sign of our conversation.

I furrow my brow in confusion. What about them?

Lendys steps falter ever so slightly at this as he replies, Oh…I held off for a while on that.

About telling me? I ask, a shred of fear runs down my spine that he’s not referring to telling me about their worship of Tiamat.

No, he pauses, his eyes widening almost imperceptibly before he exclaims, Oh I never told you…

And with that single phrase all my fears come back to the surface; he hasn’t been completely forthcoming with our history, with his history, with his understanding of the conclave and the cult. I’m immediately reminded of how new our dynamic is, and the fact that we are rebuilding the trust between us with each conversation, brick by brick. “None of it was a lie,” I repeat the words Lendys said to me at Skyreach like a mantra.

Choosing to trust and allow him the opportunity to share with me, I quietly ask, What didn’t you tell me?

I was supposed to destroy that place, he informs.

Okay…I mutter, my mind not fully comprehending what he’s saying.

And I didn’t, he adds.

I clench my jaw, the information sinking in. When?

Around two years ago.

Okay…what happened instead? I ask.

The seriousness of his tone shifts and is a little softer as he responds. I saw that there were innocent and good people. They were just being led down the wrong path. And so, I said ‘that’s not justice’. I petitioned for change, for them to send emissaries, send people to try to get them out of there. He pauses, and his face contorts with frustration at the memory. I was denied.

By Bahamut? I ask.

He hums in confirmation, then continues, And so they planned, and I left when I found out…and then you know the rest.

Do I? I ask, knowing in my gut this is a simplification of events, that there’s surely more to this story he isn’t saying.

He glances over at me, raising an eyebrow as he thinks, We’re in the rest.

But that was two years ago? I protest.

Yeah! I lost a lot, he scoffs. I couldn’t even manifest.

It pains me to think of him like that, formless and aimlessly drifting through existence. My gaze drifts over to him, and the hurt in my chest swells to admiration thinking of him choosing that fate over going against his principles–the fact that I am alive because of that is only responsible for a small shred of the respect I feel for him and his choice.

So what were you doing? Just floating around in the ether somewhere? I ask.

He hums, I was watching.

I stifle a laugh and wryly state, That’s creepy.

That’s…what I expected.

Watching who? I ask cheekily.

Shut up, he groans, Don’t flatter yourself. You know exactly who.

So say it, I teasingly challenge.

He sighs, meeting my gaze, You.

A bright smile forms on my face, in direct contrast to the chaos of the city around us.

He continues, It took a while to come back, and when I was able to show up…

Yeah, you were a grumpy shit at first, I chuckle, thinking back to the tiny emerald drake I met in the forest.

I was very grumpy, he exclaims. Think about losing your entire form… clawing it back bit by bit, just because you decided to get a little stronger.

Your power coming back was tied to me?

At the start of it, he replies in a more even tone.

I can’t help my laughter at the thought of a draconic god’s power tied to me, a mortal human, and my training at a cult-run conclave. That’s unfortunate.

His face breaks out in a smile as his laughter fills my mind briefly. Yeah it was, but we’re here now.

We’ve been weaving our way through the city for nearly fifteen minutes, ducking down alleys and side streets to avoid looters, or to circumnavigate debris from other explosions, when we stop at the mouth of an alleyway. Above the street beyond, a swarm of small, buzzing automatons hovers in the air. I’ve never seen anything like this before, but the only thing I can equate it to is a cluster of angry hornets. The mechanical creatures are flying erratically, ducking low, reaching for people fleeing the area we’re about to enter.

Before Layna motions for us to follow, Lendys places a hand on my arm and asks in a hushed tone, “So what’s our plan after we find them?”

Layna glances back at us and whispers, “Find a way back.”

I nod, resolute. “To the Northern Forest.”

Lendys thinks for a moment before asking, “But how are we getting back there?”

“Markus said he was working to find a way there,” Layna replies, “I would say we head back to the dojo and go from there once we know more.”

“How long if we walked?” Lendys asks.

I hum, thinking back to a passing comment Perona made when we arrived, “A couple weeks.”

Layna adds, “By airship it’s three days.”

“And the teleporters?” he inquires.

“Down,” Layna groans. “Everything’s down.”

Lendys paces a short distance in the cover of the alley before stating, “So we save the rest of the group, then to get to the North…we steal an airship? Try to use that to get out?”

Looking over at Layna, I gasp with excitement, “A heist!”

The former draconic god grumbles, “I cannot believe I was the one that thought of this…”

Enthusiastically, I glance between the two of them and ask, “Are we gonna steal an airship?”

Layna nods and Lendys murmurs, “I guess we are.”

“I can show off my rogue skills!” I cheer in hushed tones.

“You don’t have those!” Lendys whisper-shouts.

I look at him with a gleam in my eye as a grin spreads across my face. “Wanna bet?” I ask, stepping back into the alley slightly, and allowing the shadows to creep around me through the spell I’ve been concentrating on. “I am the shadows!” I quip.

Layna crosses her arms over her chest and pops a hip. “Actually, to be fair, she could make a really good rogue.”

“You can teach me!” I offer, slipping out of the cover and back over to my companions.

Lendys groans, pinching the bridge of his nose, “I don’t enjoy any of what this is becoming. Teaching her to stab people in the back?”

In a too cheerful tone, I reply, “Well, I’ve experienced it enough times.”

Lendys levels me with a stony stare. “That’s not… you are mean.”

“You’re mean!” I retort.

“I’m not mean,” he states.

Layna and I look between us and she replies, “Really?”

“Oh yeah sure,” I mock.

“What was it you called me? That ‘glitter bitch’?”

“There’s been a few,” I comment, nodding at her.

“Popsicle.”

“Creamsicle.”

“Cumguzzler.”

I hum, “Yeah that was pretty pointed.”

“Pretty bad,” Layna corrects.

“It was pretty accurate,” Lendys mutters.

“Fuck you!” Layna exclaims, before quickly adding, “No–don’t say it!”

I smirk. “Don’t worry, I’ll handle that later.”