Cassandra Pendragon
“No,” Ahri and I stated resolutely. “You’re great, compassionate, strong willed… and pretty much everything I could have hoped for,” I continued. “As a person, that is. A soldier, a companion, not so much. You already said so yourself, if you want us to take you along, you’ll either have to be strong enough to fend for yourself or you’ll have to do as we say, no question asks, whether you like it or not. Is that truly something you even want? Is that something you could truly live with? Mull it over, it’s going to take a while until you have to make a decision but once you do, you better be sure it’s going to be the right one.”
“I’m not so sure about that,” she mumbled and pressed her back against me.
“What do you mean,” Ahri quickly asked while she handed me another towel and began drying herself off.
“I… you’re not going to go back on your word, are you?” We looked at each other, our faces mirroring the other’s exasperate expression. There was only one way this conversation was going to go from now on…
“No,” I finally answered after a few seconds, “we won’t. Alright then, let’s see it.” She squirmed in my arms and I released my hold. She scampered to her feet and shrugged out of the towel, her back still turned to us. The tendons in her neck pressed against her skin when she tensed all of her muscles and a deep groan reverberated through the baths, loud enough to make Estrella and Layla stop their antics and glance our way but after a moment they resumed splashing around. Huh, it surely seemed like we weren’t the first to be treated to the sight.
A scent I had come to associate with Viyara, molten gold, filled the air and a nimbus of that colour started seeping through Reia’s skin until she appeared like the depiction of angel from earth. Soft light swirled around her, glimmering sparks, like miniature suns, danced along her form and I felt the pressure of an ancient magic push against me. “You’ve got to be kidding me,” I whispered and groped for Ahri’s hand blindly, the scene much too entrancing to avert my eyes.
The glow intensified until I had to strengthen my sight with a trickle of energy from my core and behind the glaring curtain, a ghostly, insubstantial figure formed around Reia. At first I couldn’t place it until I understood that I was looking at a chimera, parts of different creatures mashed together into an abstract conglomerate of ever transmuting claws, wings, tails and fangs.
For a few moments I worried that she might turn into an abomination that resembled nothing more than a monster I would have willingly struck down if I had met her in the wilds. I squeezed Ahri’s hand, oscillating between amazement and a deep seated unease the unnatural figure instilled in me but my anxiety was unfounded. Another groan escape Reia’s lips and the cycling limbs slowed down until they settled on the outline of a giant eagle that surrounded her like a cloak of light. The next second, the golden corona flared brightly enough to blind me if I hadn’t been channeling my energy towards my eyes and I saw her body flow like water and expand.
The glare subsided until the dim, rosy light of the crystals illuminated the room again and a magnificent, huge bird perched on the floor in front of us, panting heavily. I removed my hand from Ahri’s grasp and took a step forward, whispering the most idiotic question:
“Reia, is that you?” Who else could it be, but I wasn’t yet ready to accept what my eyes were telling, or rather shouting at me.
The golden eagle, it’s tail feathers streaked with black, presumably the colour of Reia’s fur if she wasn’t changing it to her liking, turned around, metallic claws clicking on the hard marble. It winked at us and spread its wings, each of them easily longer than she had been tall. A piercing cry reverberated through the chamber, a mixture of pride and satisfaction, while she took a few, wobbling steps in our direction and promptly lost her balance.
With a burst of energy I was at her side, my tails snaking around her middle to keep her upright. The feel of her feathers was strange, silky yet surprisingly sturdy, like massive, compact bolts of cloth. She was surprisingly light weighted, like a real bird, her body, which was, including her wings, easily taller than me, felt more like a child’s when she slumped against me. She looked up and met my gaze, her eyes, larger golden spheres with pitch black pupils, were filled with exhaustion and happiness. As much as I wanted to be mad at her, she had manipulated us once again, after all, I simply couldn’t pull it off. Her good mood was palpable, even in this form, and infectious. I grinned at her and ran my fingers down her head, patting her beak, a formidable, golden weapon in its own right. She even smelled like an eagle, with a touch of molten gold.
“You’re beautiful,” I murmured and continued brushing my fingers through her plumage. “And one sly creature. Can you speak?” She shook her head and I heard Estrella’s chirping voice behind me
“No, apparently most animals lack the necessary organs. We’ve tried a few transformations and she really turns into the animal. She keeps her mind, but she can’t speak.” Layla and her had exited the bath and were standing behind us, dripping wet.
“Let me guess,” I replied without turning around, “that’s how you spent your time while travelling here.” With a sigh I added: “and how do you fit into the picture, Layla? When did you even have the time to fall in with these rascals?”
“Rascals,” the vampire in question replied and came closer. “That’s a bit harsh, isn’t it? While you were away with my mother. Ahri and the others were all busy with Aurelia and Reia pulled me aside. We talked for a while and… she’s nice and when she told me you’re her sister… I like them, even Archy…. he can be a bit tiresome, though. Anyways, when they heard I was a vampire, they started asking some strange questions and I soon figured out that there was something going on with Reia’s bloodline. We’re quite good with everything related to blood, you know? I managed to help her figure out how to trigger her first transformation. But that was only a few hours ago. I didn’t know she already had this much control. Are you mad?”
“No, not really. Surprised and maybe a little miffed.” I pinched the eagle’s neck. “You tricked me.” The transformed vixen released a melodious cry that almost sounded like an apology, tainted with a good portion of smugness, though. “Can you change back? I’ve got a few question and I’d like you to be able to answer. Plus, if I decided to yell at you, I’d prefer you not having a beak as long as my forearm.”
“Before you do,” Ahri suddenly interrupted, “would you mind if I plucked a feather?” The bird shrugged and offered her her tail feathers. She deftly ripped one out of the plumage and even though Reia had known what was coming, she couldn’t suppress an undignified squawk.
This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it
“What do you plan to do with it,” I asked, wondering if I had missed something.
“Nothing, really,” she replied and admired the soft, golden glow. “They’re simply beautiful. Maybe I’ll turn the feather into a necklace for you. Plus… with this,” she raised the feather, “we’ll always be able to find our little troublemaker. It’s chock full of her magic and as good a focus as any I’ve seen before. You won’t go back on your word and she’ll probably be staying with us, won’t she? I’d quite like to have some insurance. We don’t want a repetition of what happened when we first came here, now, do we.” I kissed her cheek.
“Smart and pretty, no wonder I can’t keep my hands off you. Thanks, I hadn’t thought of that.”
“You’re welcome. If we have to keep her safe while travelling, we should do it properly. Which also means,” she added and narrowed her eyes at the majestic eagle, “you’re in for quite the treat. We still have five days until we have to head for the Emerald Island. Time enough to make you wish you hadn’t decided to come along. We’ll have to whip you into shape and make sure you understand what you signed up for.” Reia stiffened and the golden light from before engulfed her again. Turning back into a vixen went much more smoothly and decidedly faster than the prior transformation. A second later, my little sister blinked at us sheepishly.
“I can’t wait,” she mumbled. “Are you… are you really going to take me along,” she then asked excitedly. We exchanged a quick glanced before I sighed again.
“We’ll try, but I imagine mum is going to have my ears for this. If she kills me, I’ll haunt you for all eternity, mark my words. You’ve no idea how much trouble I’m in.”
“Actually,” Estrella piped up, “she does. Why do you think she came to you instead of Helena?” My eyes grew wide. Rascal had been a much too friendly term. She was a devil in disguise!
Half an hour later I was slowly making my way towards the room Alassara had allotted to my mum, even though she could have technically stayed with either of us without much problems. The refreshing bathing experience had already gone to hell, I had worked up a sweat simply thinking about the pending conversation. The arguments I had lined up seemed more than feeble now, that I was actually forced to justify my actions.
Taking a child with us while we were probably going to scamper all over creation, hunted and hunting, rushing from one dangerous encounter to the next was, in essence, nothing but insanity. Still… at first it had been an impulse and the conviction that Reia would never be able to fulfil my conditions in a short amount of time, but even in hindsight, I couldn’t really say that I wasn’t…pleased. First of all, I selfishly wanted her with me. I liked her and she had already become a part of my family. If I had to let my mum and Mordred go, I, at least, wanted my sister with me. It might be an egregious form of hubris, but I truly believed that I could keep her safe from anything this world could throw at us. Damn it, we had faced fallen gods and dragons, emperors and pirates and we had always come out on top. Admittedly, never unscathed but since I had been forced to watch Greta die for me, I had always managed to protect those I felt responsible for. Ahri and I were immortals for crying out loud, if we couldn’t keep a single child from harm, we’d hardly deserve the title.
Secondly, considering everything I had learned about her, she’d be coming with us, whether we wanted her to or not. The kid was much too independent for her own good and sneaky and clever on top of it. Now that she could change into pretty much any animal she could think of, a transformation that even fooled my second sight, I had tested it, there was no chance in hell we’d be able to keep her away. And in that case, I’d much rather know where the little troublemaker was, to begin with.
I sighed, even when I iterated my reasons to myself, they seemed hollow and superficial and my mum would pick them apart in a heartbeat. Unfortunately, I had given my word. I hadn’t promised, not literally, but if I was going to leave her behind now, she’d never trust me again and that was something I couldn’t live with. Once again, I had spoken without thinking and now I had to own up. Gods, maybe I deserved the scolding that was going to await me on the other side of the door I was dreading to knock on. Get a grip, Cassandra, you made your bed and now you have to lie in it.
I steeled my self and called: “mum, are you there? I… there’s something we need to talk about.”
The door opened as if by magic, or rather by magic, and I entered a luxurious room that was pretty similar to the one Ahri and I had been told to stay in. Dark marble, sparkling in the light of glowing jewels, a massive, unbelievably soft bed with a veritable sea of cushions on top and an empty cupboard since the silvery vixen didn’t have anything in the way of clothing she needed to store, complemented by an expertly crafted desk, which, again, didn’t hold anything. The only difference to a palace was the lack of windows, which wouldn’t have been of much use, three stories below ground.
The source of my worries reclined on top of the bed, lolling between silk and brocade like a spoiled house cat, her low, reverberating purr filling the room. Slowly I inched closer, my expression somewhere between guilty and troubled. Of course, she immediately picked up on my mood and nimbly rolled around, fixing the stare of her glowing, silver eyes on me.
“What have you done now,” she questioned, her tails rising behind her like a wall of molten silver.
“I… that’s a long… no it’s not.” I sighed again and sat down on the edge of her bed. “I might have allowed Reia to accompany Ahri and me when we’re going to leave for the Emerald Island… and probably afterwards as well.” I closed my eyes, waiting for her outburst, but to my surprise it never came. Instead, she produced a hackling sound in the back of her throat I had come to associate with her laughing.
“And now you’re worried I’m going to rip your ears off, aren’t you? Well, no need to, I already knew. I might not be as powerful as you or your fiancée, but my senses are second to none. I smelled her magic, you know, and when I went looking, I stumbled upon her and her friends. They were in the midst of a discussion on how to proceed and I decided to listen in.” Instead of her, it was me who turned red and stammered with indignation. “You… you knew? But… how… by the Great Fox, you didn’t think to warn me? Why on Gaya wouldn’t you tell me?”
“I thought you deserved a little payback,” she replied leisurely and started cleaning her fur. “You know, keeping secrets, leaving others in the dark… it might do you some good. Being on the receiving end, for once. And also, I don’t think it’s half a bad idea. I did, at first, but then I thought about it… bringing another Pendragon child to Arthur is dangerous and she’ll keep you grounded. Prevent either of you from being too reckless since you have to look out for her. Cassy, you’ve grown much, you truly have, and I’m damned proud of you, but taking care of a child might just be what you need. I don’t have to tell you that you’re still acting without thinking far too often now, do I? I hope Reia’s presence might change that. I know you’d never willingly endanger her… so I don’t really mind her tagging along.”
“You… she’s not some toy you can use to manipulate and teach me a lesson,” I spluttered.
“No, she’s not. She’s your sister and, with time, might become my daughter. Which is why I’m convinced she’ll be as safe with you as she can be anywhere else, safer probably. Don’t think for a second that I’d allow it if I wasn’t convinced you and Ahri are capable of protecting her and going to make her well-being your utmost priority. Because you will, I know that much about my own child.” I fell silent and regarded her from under my bangs, my thoughts swirling.
“Have you always been this… wise? Or am I just now starting to realise it?” She ceased her movements and her gaze settled on me, grief plainly visible in the silvery depths of her eyes.
“We’ve all had to change. The amount of pain, fear and suffering we had to go through… it either breaks people or it makes them stronger… wiser. Just look at your brother. But of course, I’ve always been the epitome of wisdom. I’m your mother, after all,” she added with a lopsided grin that revealed her fangs.
“That you are,” I replied and picked her up, relieved, burying my face in her silky fur. “And I love you, I hope you know that.” She began purring again.