Author’s Note

The prologue of this fic contains rape, torture, psychological torment and more. The rest of the fic won’t be as bad. If you would like to avoid reading about these things you can stop reading around “The second day is worse” and pick up again at “I broke down crying again and was dragged to my cell.”

Springfire: A wheel lock type musket. Gunpowder is poured down the barrel, rammed in, then a tin ball and cartridge are dropped in. The wheel is cocked back and when the trigger is pulled the hammer strikes a flint which sets off the gunpowder cartridge.

1 pole = 1 meter

1 line = 1 centimeter

1 pic = 1 gram

I recite the words again, “I Wyn’neth Tenebria, eldest female heir to Anat’tria Tenebria, dedicate myself to the Lord of Light and the Kingdom of Arcion named after him. I turn away from all works of darkness and abjure them. From this day forth I shall always be dedicated to the light.”

I finish with a small frown and mother’s onyx hand touches my chin, “Again this time with a smile.”

I look up into her bright amethyst eyes and she shakes her head, “You’ve asked that question any number of times. The answer is the same.”

How does she do that? I mentally sigh, “It matters because, long ago the elven people split into two clans one that venerated Arcion the god of light, and the other that venerated Viilse, the goddess of darkness. The war between them was only ended when the great alliance of elves, humans, and dwarves defeated the dark elves and the orcs and goblins that served them. The Tenebria family rule over the lands of the dark elves and our oath to the light means that we ensure the tribes of orcs and goblins will never again join together with dark elves and that any forces dedicated to Viilse will never rise again.”

I shake my head, “It’s just that the ritual seems silly. The priest of Arcion draws some ‘holy’ sigils of Arcion around me. I recite the pledge, slice my palm, and drip some blood into a ‘holy’ plate and that’s supposed to just work?”

My mother grabs my chin and points my face towards a mirror in the room, I see my own face. A well-shaped face with dusky grey skin, bright purple eyes, and white hair stares back at me. My mother points at the image, “Generations of our family has had purple eyes just like these. Most of the people in our duchy have green, blue, and brown eyes. We should by all rights have the same I married a human, my mother married a light elf, her mother a human, and so on. All of them had purple and according to current knowledge that should not be possible.”

“Magic? Do people even believe that anymore? That long ago there were wizards and priests who could cast spells that defied the C’dian laws of physics and gravity? That somehow Arcion could grant people some portion of his power.”

My mother rolled her eyes, we’ve had this argument before. I don’t believe that Arcion is real, there’s no evidence for it. His priests only seem able to cure simple diseases and never plagues. They can only mend simple injuries or at most ones that can be sewn with needle and thread. Some people claim they’ve been cured of blindness or deafness but, where are the amputees who have grown back a limb?

Before I can start arguing my mouther hugs me close, “The church has power dear. Whether or not you believe in magic or divine grace you must not state such heresy and you know it. Even when you think I am the only person around. I am a duchess and only one of fifteen on the High Quorum. We are but one voice against the enslavement of the dark elves.”

I clench my fists, “What about the orcs and goblins? They live in our duchy too, we’re supposed to be a barrier against an invasion of their tribes, but we do nothing when ships come to our shores and take them to work in the plantations, mines, and factories.”

The argument is not new as my mother reminds me, “I speak out against these atrocities. Our fields and our factories are run by the workers themselves as an example but, again I am only one voice just as you will be. We can speak for the people in our duchy, we can decry the enslavement of the tribes on our borders.”

I finish for her, “We have no army, the last slave revolt was broken, and your grandmother had to live with the High General and his armies in our lands to keep the peace. It was only when you became duchess that the armies finally left. I know I just feel so…helpless.”

My mother hugs me and it helps as she says, “I know dear, I know. I have felt the exact same way. Arcion is the god of light, justice, and the heavens. I point these things out in the Quorum, I remind the humans, elves, and dwarves that the goblins and orcs are people who deserve justice too. Yet, it falls on deaf ears again and again. We are not gods my love, we may rule this duchy but, even that is not enough.”

We pull out of the hug, and she looks to me, “Now, once more from the top.”

 Hours and hours I practice the ceremony. I am the heiress, and I will rule this duchy one day just as my mother does. By the time I am back in bed the words go on and on in my head as do all the motions. Everything will be done perfectly tomorrow, and nothing will go wrong.

The ceremony feels wrong at the very beginning, High Priest Nonnus and several acolytes have prepared the circle I will stand in, but it feels like too many of the army are here. The ducal protectors, of which there are only fifteen, are far outnumbered and while the army is supposed to keep the crowd away from the podium where I will take the oath still, there are so many of them.

Mother, Father, and my sister T’riell stand just behind me as I approach the High priest. He holds out his hand and takes my own. Instead of guiding me into the circle he yanks me forward and I feel binders on my wrists. “Wyn’neth of house Tenebria you are accused of heresy!”

My parents move closer even as shots are fired, springfires from the army take out all of the honor guard in perfect synch with army men who grab each of them and push them to the ground. My sister shakes in terror even as a man shoves her to the ground as well. The crowd is pushed back by the army even as I look into Nonnus eyes, and he is smiling wide then everything goes dark.

I wake in darkness; my hands are bound, and the carriage moves evenly over a smooth road. The memories come back to me, and I shout for help. Pain hits my stomach, and the air is driven from my lungs, I choke as I try to even out my breathing and a voice says, “That’s a warning, no noise heiress.”

The trip is long, and I only see daylight when the carriage is opened, and a guard comes with me into the bushes. His deep brown eyes stare at me with a leer on his face and he says, “Well go on, we ain’t got all day heiress.”

Somehow, I get my bladder to cooperate even with his eyes staring at me. After I am done, we go back to the carriage and the dark box I have been in. I see three others just like it along the road and I want to ask but the guard just leers at me, and I think better of speaking for now. The next stop a bowl of gruel is put in my manacled hands and I eat. After I eat it is back out to the bushes. I think about running when I finish but the manacles are connected to a long metal chain held in the guard’s hand.

The second day is worse, after the first bathroom stop, I am no longer a virgin. After that the rest of the day is somehow even more humiliating and painful. I lose track of time after that until we pull up at the Red River Factory and prison. A huge wheel is in the water to power the machinery inside and I finally see my family again and I cry out before remembering and then there is pain as my guard hits me three times with his springfire. I feel ribs and my arm break, and I scream then there is even more pain until, somehow, I pull my screams in. Then I am forcefully pulled up and I see that my mother and father have experienced similar treatment to my own. My sister stares at us in silent fear. I want to comfort her and yet I know the penalty if I even were to try.

After that my life is a cell and work in the factory with interludes of pain and humiliation from the guards. The tedium, pain and humiliation are broken one day when I am pulled into an office. The room is brightly with a desk in the center and a huge painting of Arcion on one wall. He flies in the sky on white wings, his pale skin glows with an inner light, and the golden halo on his head reflects the sun. He is flying in the sky with lightning in his hand and using it to destroy orcs, goblins, and dark elves. The man seated at the desk is High Priest Tatersly his blue eyes stare at me with clear disgust as he says, “Your sister has confessed her heresy. Her testimony implicates that you and your mother drove her to it. You will renounce your title as heiress and confess your heresy.”

I shake my head and what follows is pain, horrible pain, and then I wake back in my cell. Again, time has no meaning to me beyond more pain, humiliation, and tedium. Then I am back in the room again, this time I see my mother and father seated on either side of Tatersly. Mother’s beautiful white hair has been shaven, and her onyx skin is covered in livid bruises and cuts. Father’s pink skin seems almost worse though it could just be that bruises show up easier on it. Tatersly speaks saying, “Your Father has confessed his heresy and blames your mother while your mother has confessed and blamed your father. Which of them is telling the truth?’

You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

I stare at the man in confusion, they are both lying torture does that. I’m the only heretic in the family and yet I can’t confess that now, can I? How did anyone even know I never spoke of it in front of anyone other than mother did I? I can’t remember and right now it’s not important. Tatersly makes a motion, and two soldiers come forward and each points a hand springfire at one of my parents. “It is simple you tell me which is lying and then the heretic dies. The other lives. Now, you have thirty seconds. Which of them is lying?”

I wrack my brain what can I say? Who do I choose to live and who to die? My parents beg me each telling me to pick them and let the other live. How can I? Who do I pick. “Four…three…” What, it can’t be so quick already I have to speak up just say a name. All I have to do is…

*BANG* Both hand springfires go off at the same time. My parent’s bodies drop lifelessly to the floor and Tatersly looks at me with a horrible smile. “See, just like all dark elves you are evil to the core. You killed both your parents right here in this room.”

I scream as I launch myself at him, all I can think of is killing him but, I don’t make two feet before there is pain. My ribs are broken again and this time my dominant left arm is broken. Tatersly stands over me, “Confess your heresy! Renounce your title Duchess Tenebria”

I open my mouth and shut it again, I can’t do it. I don’t want to give him the satisfaction. Everything goes dark and I wake in my cell once more. I sit in the dark looking at the rags my once beautiful clothes have become and shake with pain and tears.

Tomes goes by and even the pain and humiliation of each day becomes almost tedious. I think I have nothing left in me until I find myself once more in Tatersly’s office. Standing next to the man is my sister wearing the Holy Raiment’s of a Sister of Arcion. I am pulled on his right and he orders my sister into the center of the room. She stands there next to two guards and Tatersly says, “I need that confession. It’s very simple dear Duchess just confess your heresy and renounce your title. Tell her T’riell go on.”

T'riell stands there in the center of his office, her small onyx frame seems even tinier there, I can’t imagine what they have done to the ten-year-old girl who used to play silly pranks and would run everywhere around the castle. There is no light in her amethyst eyes and her tone is eerily without emotion, “I saw the light and repented. I am a Sister of Arcion cleansed of my sins and bathed in his loving light. You too can follow this path dear sister.”

I look at her and I can’t do it, one of the guards who brought me into the room move closer to my sister as the other comes over to me. I am grabbed and held still fingers push my eyes open as Tatersly says, “Are you sure this is what you want Wyn’neth?”

The guard tugged on my sister’s outfit, my eyes were forced open, and I couldn’t take it. I didn’t want to see. “I confess, I am a heretic.” The guard standing next to my sister slit her throat, the crimson sprayed over the carpet, and she dropped lifelessly to the floor. Then I waited for my turn to come. Tatersly’s voice said, “Oh no dear, not yet. We’ll have to send you to the capital where there will be a public execution. Last of the Tenebria line and all that.”

I broke down crying again and was dragged to my cell. This was it, all I had to look forward to was more pain, humiliation, and tedium until one more cart ride to the capital and death. I lost both my parents, my fault. I lost my sister. I lost the duchy that had been my family’s right for thousands of years. I had nothing left except the final embrace of death. If Arcion exists then he truly is not a god of justice but, I was sure he did not. Hells if Viilse existed I would pledge my soul to her right now.

“Is that so?”

I looked around and saw nothing in the darkness. “Who’s there show yourself.”

“I can’t because I am the darkness, I am loss, I am death.”

The voice was odd, it was in my head and yet also a sound, it was tempting and yet cold. I didn’t believe it could possibly be an actual goddess. After all, if she was real then Arcion would be real too.

“Oh, he is quite real. Your priests have just lost their connection to him. Well, most of them have, maybe a few here and there might have some small connection but the rest…no…they don’t much practice his ways anymore.”

I hadn’t spoken, she’d heard my thoughts. How was that even possible?

“You are one of mine. Your people were my people long ago. Arcion was too rigid, all justice and no mercy, and while I am the cold dark at the end of all things I am also the darkness that shrouds lovers, the cool darkness after a day in the hot sun.”

“Why me and why now?” I asked her aloud.

“You never performed the ritual. You never denied me my place. Now, because you had a flicker of belief. A tiny flame of faith that is already growing. Pledge yourself to me and I will help you.”

How, how could she possibly help? I had lost everything in my life I had nowhere to go except…

“Silly girl, I do not want your death yet and I cannot bring back anything for you. I am the goddess of loss, grief, sorrow. I can comfort you in the darkness, but the loss will always be in your heart. However, I can give your enemies loss as well. I can welcome them to death.”

I felt her dark fire, I wanted that, I wanted those who put me here to experience loss just as I had. I wanted them to know the jagged pain in my heart and then I wanted them to die.

“There we are, now pledge yourself to me. Become my priestess and we will show them.”

I turned the words I knew by heart around, “I Wyn’neth Tenebria, eldest female heir to Anat’tria Tenebria, dedicate myself to Viilse the Lady of Darkness. I turn away from all works of light and abjure them. From this day forth I shall always be dedicated to the darkness.” One of my injuries was scabbed over and it didn’t take much to get it to bleed.

Once the blood dropped, I felt her power. Near omniscience everywhere in the world where it was dark or even just a shadow. I saw everyone who was dying, I saw lovers breaking up, I saw children losing toys, I saw knowledge of the past that was gone forever. Then it was gone but, she was still with me, the darkness around my cell was gone, I could see through it as if the moon shone upon it all. The moon? Wasn’t that light?

“A reflection of light, only she and the stars are in the night sky when light has gone to the other side of your world and thus, they are mine."

My injuries were gone, the aches and pains I had felt gone, my body was still malnourished and weak, but I felt her supporting me. There was, of course, still the matter of a closed and locked cell door.

“Reach out my priestess, allow me to work through you and the door will open.” I reached out and darkness reached from my hand to crumple the lock. The door opened and I walked out of my cell. The factory was quiet and dark but, I could see. I moved to Tatersly’s office; the door ripped off its hinges, but no light spilled out. I frowned at his absence. Well, I wasn’t just going to give up because he went home.

So, was there a wardrobe? Anything? No, not in here. I stepped out and began my way down the stairs. Other prisoners cried out, dark elves and goblins, I had worked with many of them here in the factory. All of us sitting at machines powered by the water wheel used to spin fiber into thread and thread into fabric. I’d seen goblins loose hands or die because they were small enough to get into machines that were stuck, I’d seen other dark elves forced to work all day until their body gave out. I would not leave them here.

I gestured and Viilse worked through me, doors were pulled open or crashed down, prisoners were freed, and they followed behind me. Alarm bells began to ring and lanterns from outside started to come in. The lanterns lit some of the place, but darkness was everywhere. Springfire weapons came into hands and a man in the front said, “Stop where you are. Head back into your cells and no one needs to get hurt.”

“Fascinating weapons they have there. Sodium nitrate, sulfur, and potassium chloride. A steel barrel and a metal ball. Certainly, a long way from a crossbow, but nothing we can’t handle.”

Could a goddess yawn? I think she yawned and so I moved forward, and weapons sprang to life. Fire, and smoke with the sound of fifteen weapons going off one after the next. The smoke began to clear, and I was uninjured, the prisoners behind me were no worse for wear. “Reload!”

“No, I think not, would you be a dear?” I moved forward and gestured. Darkness rose up among the guards and then there was the sound of fifteen bodies hitting the ground. That’s when I realized that I could not see through the darkness when the goddess was using it. She made me able to see in normal darkness, she made it so I could rip doors off hinges with a gesture, she stopped bullets and then with a gesture from me she killed numerous guards at once. How powerful was she? How powerful was I? Was there anything she couldn’t do?

“Now that you are bound to me you are as powerful as I can make you. As for my own power it is small right now but, once we gain more faithful it will be great indeed. Still, I cannot do any of this without you. Without a human to channel my power I cannot lift even a single pebble. As for you well right now you can’t work my power well in the light, your range with my power is limited to 90 poles from you, you can’t affect more than a thousand kilopic and using my power will tire you. Don’t worry though it will increase. This is just parlor tricks compared to what we can do once we have more faithful.”

Did the ancients really have this power at their fingertips? They say the war between darkness and light nearly destroyed the world maybe they weren’t wrong.

“There were only so many who could handle even a fraction of our full power. Most would hardly be able to have ripped off three doors before they had to rest. Still, those who could handle the power did so to great detriment of your world. Still, without people like you I would be alone.”

The goddess of darkness was lonely? The goddess of death? Wait if she was death then shouldn’t all the souls… “No, I am death not what lies beyond. I usher your soul into the lands beyond, but I cannot go there. Neither can Arcion or his servants.”

Interesting that arcion had servants...ugh, no more more questions now. Still, I would have to ask them later when I was not busy walking out of the prison and the prisoners, I had freed were not still assembled around me. I was the daughter of a Duchess; I knew how to command, and I knew what we needed first. “You are all free thanks to Viilse. The goddess of darkness has always favored dark elves, goblins, and orcs. She, not Arcion is the one who deserves our praise. She is the one who heard our pleas for freedom against injustice and tyranny. The religion of Arcion is a lie, darkness is not evil, she is our goddess and though we abandoned her she has not abandoned us.”

Some of the goblins and dark elves were already running off but apparently my little speech was good enough for the others. I could almost feel the power of their faith in the air as I continued, “Those who wish to follow me may, we will have to find clothes, food and transportation but I know Viilse will provide. Those of you who wish to flee may do so. I will not demand loyalty and faith.” A few more decided to head out but the rest followed me into town and into history.