City of Fenira, Eve of passing, Year 7895, Imperial calendar
Blocks of ice tall as a man stood in the chamber’s corners and dribbled, offering next to no reprieve from the scorching heat. Nahira’s tail warped itself around a fan and generated a steady breeze. Even for her cold blooded self, the heat stretched past the border of inconvenience way into the territory of annoyance. She reached out to ring for an attendant though her hand stopped halfway. Even her tail froze.
“Daughter of the night, so far away from your beloved forest, so full of questions. Sheath your weapons and I may suffer to humor your mistress.”
One of curtains shivered and where there was no one before, a shade appear in the window. Nahira turned to face the young elf.
Without putting away her daggers, the woman dropped to her knee and spoke.
“She who shall drown the world in blood, Maidan of dead eyes and empty face arrived. We shall strike her before she ascends the throne of blood. Do not hinder us.”
“Why would I? Dear sister is enough hinderance to herself as it is.”
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The seer let out a sigh.
“Of all the questions you could ask… I see you have chosen poorly. Begone, I shall not waste my time on you.”
Ignoring the elf, Nahira rang her bell. Then as if remembering something, she spoke again.
“And before you start murdering innocent girls and causing a war, neither I nor your mistress knows who the woman is. None of the seeing can peer beyond the veil of blood. Remember that, young blade.”
Gripping her daggers ever tighter, the elf rose and went back to melt away in the shadows.
“How may I be of service?” Ever so formal, Dee entered the room. Stern and tightly wrapped in servant’s full robe, as if the heat did not bother her. Her eyes swept the room, pausing on a certain curtain before they traveled back to the seer.
“Shall I inform the guards?”
Nahira smiled. Nothing went past the calm, almost sleepy eyes of her servant.
“No my dear. Better not. Let the guest leave as she came. Finding trustworthy guards is too bothersome and I do not enjoy the stench of blood in my temple. Especially not in this weather. Prepare my bath and perhaps, join me if you will.”
To that, Dee said nothing. Neither her face harbored any emotion. She bowed in well-practiced manner and left.
Nahira’s thoughts wandered. The veil of blood had never been so close before. Even on the street, people felt something coming.
One slab of ice cracked and shattered. Nahira watched as one shard fell and creshed against the floor. Just like the ice, her seeing fractured into myriads of possibilities as tree of life once again branched out into the unknow where the veil of blood prevented her from following.