Sauxaur seated himself at the main stool at the far point of the inter-dimensional stone tablet that formed in the shape of a pentagram in the centre of the summit chamber and for a second nourished himself in pride; for it was considered the main chair of the summit; which could only be taken by the likes of a direct Helsoyn descendant.
Sauxuar had inherited this position, as well at Castiel De Helderzon from his late father; who gave him the honour of foregoing the De HelderZon as the head and leader of the formation. De Helzon the emblem of which was the black twelve-pointed star, to symbolise the darkness stretching out into forever-endings where the brightest of lights could not touch., before the twelve descending rings to represent the endless voids, which symbolised Dehelyn, the bottomless pit of forever-endings. The name was founded after the fall of Szaltore; by those who refused the transition of the changing tides of Evalend. De HelderZon castiel, which he too inherited along with the honour of the main-seat, was built, and forged long ago by his powerful ancestor; strong enough to withstand the unpredicted currents of the dark; just as the name of the formation would suggest. Inaccurately.
Sauxaur smiled as the other ends of the tablet before him lit up and revealed outlines of the four other figures which held the main-seats within their pocket under the S’haivel. It was the first summit where all five seats were to be present in the last eighteen sociclysses. This would be the first one that Sauxaur were to attend as the head of sitting. He could not help but wear it with glee.
"Sauxuaruas Hellson," said the tall figure to his direct left; his trans-projection revealing the outline of his cap; his voice hoarse. Sauxaur could sense from dimensions across that his old friend was in good spirits as always. "Trust all is well in your Therom affairs."
"All is well, Franklor," Sauxaur smiled. "Better in fact than expected."
"So we hear," said the figure on the second seat to the right. Her voice young and husky. Her outline leaned forward; her short spiky hair imminent in her appearance. “The seat of Kalieo has informed us that you have gotten your dirty hands on a Flarezword....”
Sauxaur was shocked to hear this. For he had not disclosed this. He masked his frequency instantly as the transmigration to his right suddenly became ever more present.
"You have kept this from us, Sauxuaruas," said she. Her voice croaky. She was small in her outline; as short as Sybil currently was. But she was older. Much older than Sauxaur. Her energy was so sinister is brought fear to the outskirts of him. He managed a smile as fast as he could.
"With the victory in Apalorn things have been rather busy, Maestrame Kayne."
"What victory Sauxuaruas? You left a Hellblitzeon unsupervised and tore Apalorn to shreds. What do you expect the Shadao, S‘haivel to think when he comes home to find a shyt-stained city surrounding a pile of ash and a castle in the sand?”
She was embarrassing him in front of the sitting; but he knew it best to not to start defending himself less she finished.
“Not to mention you left your puny Hellblitzeon behind! The secrets of your fore-fathers; have you no respect for the Cause?”
She was asking him; but what words could he possibly find? He clenched his fists.
“Do not dare constipate yourself so in front of me young man."
Her presence overflowed into the surroundings around Sauxaur and he's eyes widened in fear as he felt her enter his own presence. It became instantly apparent to him that she had phased right into his dimension; yet her transmigration was still as present as ever.
"Forgive me Maestrame Kayne," said the right most figure. “Time is wearing thin.”
Sauxaur looked over to the tarns-migration to the far left; he could tell that even in her outlines, she was hooded in her anonymity. Sauxaur knew nothing of her. He trusted her even less, as she stood in for the Kin of Kalieo. Which was most peculiar; for the Kalieos have not had a member stand in during council in almost eighteen years. Franklor had informed him during their last trans-dimensional meeting that Maestrame Kayne had employed another seat to the council. He would protest; were he strong enough to stand up to Kayne.
Yet he dared not challenge Maestrame Kayne. She would override him in an instant. Delete him from existence. Scratch his name from the flaming tongue of the Levidiel herself.
Kayne's energy withdrew from Sauxuar's dimension and settled as if it never happened at all.
"That's right," she said. "Sassanae, please deliver the order to this gemors. I will not entertain his cries for attention any longer; I am not my weakling of a sister."
Sauxaur dare not move a thought.
The far-right hologram of Sassanae nodded. “Right, Salvatore; your subject, the Fyrevere holder, is travelling through the Unnamed Forest; on par to Pheax.”
Sauxaur sat absolutely still.
“You are to have Sylus retrieve the Fyrevere and when this is done you shall rapport him back to us for further instruction.” Sassanae finished.
“Ask him if that is understood?” Kayne said sharply.
Sassanae sighed. “Sauxaur?”
“Understood,” said Sauxaur.
“Adjourned,” said Maestrame Kayne; her beam detached and her presence vanished around Sauxaur. The Informant from Kalieo's seat's transmigration faded right after hers.
“You sure did it now,” Sassanae laughed. “See you soon. Do your best to make no game of this."
Her beam vanished. Leaving Sauxaur only with Franklor. Sauxaur brought his fist down hard on the stone-tablet before him and regretted it instantly. Maestrame Kayne had all but allowed him to feel the might of his position as if he were not in charge at all. He felt naive in thinking that she would allow him the pleasure before a full council.
They had already meddled in his plans. He cursed the informant from Kalieo as he wondered who she could possibly be to have leaked the information. His sense of power vanished from him in his ponder; clearly, he had not been as free as he had allowed himself to believe. The Cries of the Crows were seemingly letting him down.
“Why did you not inform the council of your finding?” asked Franklor. Sauxaur had nearly forgotten he was not alone. He looked up to the hologram and was glad that Franklor's abilities were not as adapt as the Maestrame's; he could not see or sense the hatred behind Sauxuar's eyes. He could not expect Franklor, who sat in his mansion full of riches in the better sides of Nedergand, who was far favoured over him by a long-shot when it came to Maestrame Scyscilia Kayne, to understand; Hell, she had hated Sauxaur and that was putting it lightly
“There has been little time,” said Sauxaur after he managed to alter his frequency enough to not let escape any of his current deep hatred towards his council. “I first had to ensure that we were indeed looking at the legendary sword of odd.”
“Ah, but the Informant has already ensured us that it very much is,” said Franklor sounding glee.
Sauxaur had to think of it for a second; the informant seemed to be well informed about everything surrounding him; and it became apparent to him, that the informant must be one of Galserta.
Sauxaur chuckled. “So, Sylvia has come back the Maestrame begging and crying like you predicted she would?”
“Hell, I dunno,” said Franklor. “But that did not look or sound like the Sylvia I remember one bit. Besides, I am sure Maestrame Kayne would never disrespect the name of the Kalieos as such. Sylvia and Stoph hated one another.”
Sauxaur felt silly for jumping to the conclusion.
“Well, Sauxuaruas I bid you good luck on your mission this night, you best get to it, you heard the daezellas.”
Sauxaur nodded as the beam of the hologram pulled back into itself.
He decided he would kill Maestrame Siscylia Kayne with the Phaeonix itself; he would tarnish them all in due enough time. And whomever the Informant was, he would kill her too for the thorns on his path she layered. Yet deep down he was afraid; for they were on to him, and they wanted to speak with Sylus themselves; and he could simply not allow for that to happen.
For he was a Helsoyn too; and Helsoyns align with whoever proves the strongest. If Sylus knew the truth of his Family, and how weak Sauxaur was compared to some of them...
He would have to attain the powers of the Flarezwords before that should happen, Sauxaur thought finally in desperation.
He straightened himself and went to go summon his children.
Evil set foot upon the sacred lands of Little Feganwood.
The first two dark portals to vortex into the Unnamed‘s atmosphere were that of Sauxaur and S'veareance. Hooded against the night, it was as if even the rustling of the Feganwood trees came to an abrupt halt as its secrets crept ever deeper away from the tragedy that was about to beseech the lands.
Sauxaur looked at S'veare and they turned to examine their surroundings. Sauxaur considered S'veare his oldest since his true oldest, Sylver, had escaped the womb mangled before birth and slaughtered his mother along with it; he barely considered the abomination his son at all. S'veare however, although not made by him, carried every trait he desired in a son.
S'veare took of his hood to shaved sides to his long dreads that was tight against the back of his head, which lowered far down into cloak. He was handsome like his late father had been, with the same shaped electric yellow eyes and a strong-jawline; layered with a recent shave; but wiser, like his mother; who Sauxaur had once believed he had loved.
"Footprints," said S'veare, bowing to observe the soil. "Plenty of them. They can't be too far from here."
The next portal opened and Sylus walked out of it, hooded likethose before him; he nearly tripped over a root and S'veare let out a low chuckle. Sylus could feel his father smile. He would speak up towards S'veare if they weren’t on a mission to recover the Fyrevere. He bit his tongue. He personally never understood why Sauxaur treated S'veare so well; he was not his true son, after all. It made little sense to him.
As for S'veare and the rest of his so-called siblings, Sylus border-line hated them, for Sauxaur seemed to cherish them, ever so slightly more than he cherished him.
All except for Sylvestor; the oldest of his half-brothers, who truly drew the shortest-straw amongst them all.
Sylus shared a mother with S'veare and Sinobia; who had previously been wed to his father's brother; who had passed before Sylus was born. Sybil came not to long after him, and he disliked her because, even though she had been his only full-blood sibling, she seemed to be the apple of Sauxuar's eye.
"Should I manifest my wyverns and look from above father?” asked S'veare.
"Don't he daft, S'veare, "said Sauxaur "We will alert the Reineiriers before we even have the adequate weapons to fight such forces. "
The last portal opened and Sinobia stepped out. Her long black girls springing with her bounce, her electric thin eye-lined, highlighted with black, eyes narrowed seriously as she smiled a red-lipped, sharp-teethed smile; in her hand she carried a black iron cane with the knob of a snake-shaped ferrule.
"Speak of the devil," said Sauxaur.
"She is ready," said Sinobia with a nod. Smiling widely. It was the only time Sylus ever saw Sinobia smile. Was when she was looking at Sauxaur. Sauxaur nodded promptly.
"Right, walk slowly. Be aware of any sudden movements. Sinobia, at my call..."
She nodded excitedly.
Sylus drew the Fyrevolt and suddenly he was on his head as something collided hard with the side of his face. He gasped as the same something flicked the Fyrevolt out of his hand with a kick. He tried to jump to his feet but Fallion's hoof collided hard with the side of his cheek.
"Father!" Sinobia called.
S'veare pulled both his lancerians from over his shoulder and weaved them around him and pointed. The blades sharp on the end; yet splicing down to at least half the lengths of the shaft; made from blacksteele; at their ends was a large gem of lime-green a piece; he had named them Crocide and Lucero.
Sauxaur held out his hand to stop S'veare from jumping. It was far too early to run into this sort of trouble. The mission would fail if too much commotion were made. If the Reineiriers had to show up...
"You are all under arrest," said Fallion. "For entering the Unnamed Forest by the means of the forbidden dark portal, and for drawing your weapons under the canopies of these trees!"
S'veare burst out laughing. "Did that buck just speak to us?"
"S'veareance please," said Sauxaur sternly. "Be quite at once and let me speak to this gentledear."
"Ha!" said Fallion. "I am not of the dumb Wyld-folk. You cannot manipulate me, Sauxaur Helsoyn."
"It knows your name, father," said Sinobia. Her electric eyes beaming at the creature before her. She seemed completely apathetic towards unfolding events.
"Your Elder has told you about me, has he?" Sauxaur smiled. "And where is my old friend, Qwer of Valon?"
"I am right behind you, little Sauxaur."
Sinobia and S'veare jolted with a gasp and they swung around to see Elder Qwer standing before no less than two hundred other raindear who had appeared behind them like thieves of the night. Some of them larger than Qwer himself. Their antlers dangerous; like weapons of wars, all uniquely curved and shaped dangerously. Their eyes were filled with rage and all seemed ready for battle.
Sauxaur had been a fool and he knew it. He had been so adamant to prove himself to the council that he had waltzed right into suicide without giving it a second thought; they always had those kinds of effects on him.
"Father..." Sinobia began to his side.
"Argh! father!” Sylus called as Fallion stomped on his wrist.
Sauxaur ignored them and stepped forward. Removing his hood. The raindear before him was a about twice as big as he was. His heart was racing.
"Old friend,” said Sauxaur "My, you have grown! "
"Cut it, Helsoyn, "said Qwer. "You have already been tried by the Dellfelldell High Court and found guilty for the murder of the Mayor of Apalorn for which that is punishable by death."
"Get off me!" Sylus yelled as Fallion pressed down on his wrist. He reached for the Fyrevolt with his free hand but it was just that much out of reach. He tried to throw a scratch at the raindear's legs but Fallion kicked him across the face.
"Ah, is that all they have on me?” Sauxuar's voice falsified a sweetness. He put his hand behind his back. “Do you intend to kill your old friend?"
"That I'll never do Sauxaur, I will restrain you and your followers."
This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
Sauxaur showed the sign at Sinobia and she widened her eyes. There were two signs. Two fingers meant open the dark portals. One finger meant summon Silizet.
Sauxaur was holding up two fingers. She had to make sure first. She was so sure that Silizet could take them.
"Stop him before he makes an escape!" Qwer called and they charged. "Leave their leader to me!"
And it was chaos around Sauxaur as suddenly his children were thrown into a stampede of raindear. He heard the panicked yells of stupid Sinobia who had failed to open the portals in time. A little to his side, however, blood squirted as S'veare swung his lancerians in every direction with a smile on his face. He was skilled enough to take them; he vaulted into the sky and pierced a competitor as Sauxaur turned to face Qwer.
Fallion said a silent prayer as he felt the Reineiriers’ forces fall little by little; keeping his hold on Sylus stern. Sylus, on the other hand, wat watched in horror as hundreds of raindear kicked at Sinobia by the thousands of long hard legs worth of sheer chaos, and although S'veare was in the thick of it, they were so greatly outnumbered that it was hard to see any chance.
Fallion and him were left a little off to the side. He wished he could just reach his Fyrevolt. It dawned upon him that Sauxaur had led them into danger; ill-informed and unprepared. His heart in the bottom of his stomach as he considered the worst.
"It was foolish of you all to come here tonight," Qwer said; looking Sauxaur deep in his electric-sullen eyes.
“Clearly so,” said Sauxaur, sighing but mustering a smile. "I suggest you get on with it, Qwer. Before I unleash a Helblitzer on this little Feganwood."
Qwer narrowed his eyes. For it was unspeakable for any of those who knew the name of Feganwood and what it stood for to speak of it with such disrespect Qwer narrowed his eyes and charged. He dived at Sauxaur with full thrust.
The blade that pierced right through his ribs and into his heart came seemingly out of Sauxuar's very chest itself. Qwer coughed blood onto Sauxuar's face.
"No! Fallion cried. His hoof pressing down ever so hard that it snapped Sylus's wrist in half. He screamed in agony.
"There, there old friend," said Sauxaur as he put his hand around the dragon shaped hilt of the blacksteele-bladed sword. He pulled it out from Qwer's body as the life begun to fade and ultimately vanish from the proud Elder of the Reineiriers' eyes and his body fell empty to the Unnamed soil.
His absence immediately evaporated from the network that connected all Feganwood. Fallion cried in horror; and it struck each and every Reineirier at battle, and slowed them for just a second long enough for Sinobia to reach her cane and to cry the incantation in a gasp of desperation.
"Adire: Unë āsit’era DZer Qüdrətlit Cākara Gorrotoarena!
SILIZET!"
The Unnamed soil itself began to rumble as suddenly the Reineiriers scattered as the earth gave way before them; Sinobia herself had to jump to her feet with great difficulty to not cave in with her surroundings as suddenly a pit formed, taking a few of the raindears with it.
Sinobia cackled as Sauxaur turned to see her wink at him. S'veare landed next to him and Sylus himself sighed in relief. However, Sauxaur could not help but realize that their mission was going far off course.
“What is going on?' Fallion said out loud as he watched a large group of his fellows observe the large hole that now separated them from the Helsoyns. A raindear spotted Fallion and ran over to his side; not as far as looking at the culprit that Fallion had pinned to the soil.
“What is it Rooke, what Magik has she cast?”
Rooke, whose antlers were long and his raindear beard plated; was an old warrior of the Feganwood. He shook his head desperately.
Then there was a loud shaking hiss of malice that echoed from the depths of the hole that Sinobia had cast. The monster's head reared suddenly and within the same second no less than five large raindear were snapped and caught in its horrifically wide mouth; it almost swung itself out of the pit as the rest of its gigantic body collided with anything in its surrounding; knocking many raindear into different directions and crushing just as many.
“It's Silizet!” cried Rooke. Fallion watched in horror as their numbers dwindled by the second; destroyed by the monster, the Serpent of the pit of Deretah, of which Qwer had told him many a horror before. “Fallion we must get help!”
The monster was twenty-feet in length, and wide in its stature; trees were de-rooted as it shifted its enormously strong black and gold scaled body; vibrating her triple tongue furiously when it had no raindear in its mouth; with venomous fangs threatening and oddly angled horns on both its brows; its large yellow eyes were demonic, unconscious slits that spelt nothing but hungering hatred.
Sylus laughed underneath Fallion as tears winged up in the terrified raindear’s eyes.
“Fallion! Go get help!” Rooke shouted.
“Kovrilo Sve Mej Duisternis!”
Sinobia's shout sent a jolt through Fallion as suddenly a thick darkness emitted from the pit which Silizet had slithered out from; and it surrounded everything in sight; vastly gaining speed to where Rooke and Fallion were. Sylus knew he would soon be set free as Silizet's darkness engulfed them.
And as it happened, Fallion jumped off his wrists and Sylus quickly scurried and found his Fyrevolt and turned around and twisted it in to Rook's sternum before kicking the Reineirier off him and darting in the direction in which he had sensed Fallion speed off too.
In the darkness of Silizet however; which was a peculiar darkness in the sense that all it appeared to do was submerge all-conscience life in smudges of endless black. But Sauxaur could still clearly see all as the trees vanished to reveal a large amount of raindear scattering around in utter confusion whilst Sinobia's hand moved over her bumps and bruises.
“Where's Sylus?” Sauxaur asked as it struck him.
S'veare looked around; for the range in which they could see was only how far Silizet's darkness had spread. His eyes widened in panic when he could not detect his younger half-brother anywhere.
“Find him,” Sauxaur demanded.
S'veare watched as Silizet tossed the bodies of more lifeless victims to the side. They were certainly had the upper hand again.
“But father, you said to not manifest the wyverns?”
“That was before we halved the only strong force in these parts, I'm aware of.”
S'veare nodded as he watched Sinobia get back to her feet in what seemed to be top shape again; besides for her mangled clothes.
He pointed his left lancerians to the space before him and gave it a jolt; saying “Amoi!”
From his hand he felt the vibration as the green gem surged and bolted through the shaft of the lancerian; first accumulating as a small orb, which then exploded into a horrendous blue-scale bodied; electric eyed flat-headed, and bat winged wyvern; the speedster of the two S’veare was capable of manifesting, which he had named Schidiba.
Its squeal screeched as S'veare hopped on to its back. Sauxaur sighed in defeat as Sinobia pointed her rod to wherever she saw sign of Reineirier life.
But this was not why Sauxaur had come to Feganwood. He had ultimately wasted precious time in retrieving the Fyrevere from the Galserta boy; to make matters worse...
“Oh, Sylus get your ass back here already!” he cursed.
Allaana looked up as a series of bird life flew overhead in what she interpreted to feel like panic. Odeson did his best to not look up at Luthane at this point for she was wailing songs of terror. He stayed to the task at hand. He could sense their guests were on to them. His mother would not be happy if she knew that he had caused them worry.
"What are you guys not telling us?" Allaana asked.
The three girls were riding on the long backs of the centicorns; it had been a peaceful and beautiful journey, up until around an hour ago; when Mizune had notified his centicorn brothers that the dark-portal had frequented. As the hour had dragged by, more and more of Feganwood's inhabitants' energies seemed to vanish off the inter-dimensional web Queen Laszathier had woven many moons ago.
"The Unnamed Forest is currently under attack," said Odeson with tremendous seigh. "It appears our main guard has just fallen in many tremendous a number."
Allaana gasped.
"We should go and help them," said Eldason though gritted teeth.
"We cannot leave the guests,” said Odeson very sharply and finally.
"You should go!” said Allaana hurriedly. “I mean; would you be able to help them?”
“It is not to say,” said Aladon. “With the Reineiriers defeated, we may be outnumbered.”
There was a rustling nearby and the seven of them jolted to alertness and young Fallion dived before them; bowing low and sobbing and whimpering. Allaana exchanged Tamoria's confused glance; Luciana, devastated by the sound the young-dear was exasperating in his grief, clutched her heart.
"Aladon... Eldanon... Odeson... They..."
"Breathe Fallion."
"They have... They murdered Elder Qwer... And have summoned Silizet of Deretah!”
"Silizet! " Odeson cried." I should have known better to ignore the tears of Luthane!”
“Odeson this is of dire importance!” said Eldanon. “If we do not do something at once, all life in these parts will be in great danger!”
“How many of them are there, Fallion?” Odeson demanded.
“Five with the Serpent, Odeson,” cried Fallion. “We must hurry... but I fear... it was so powerful it depleted our forces so quickly... I fear we don't stand a chance!”
He buckled in hiss sorrow and Luciana made her way over in a hurry to offer comfort.
“Fallion, pull yourself together and tell us of their powers...” Adalon egged.
“It was the famzel who summonsed the beast; the youngest of the wallans had the Fyrevolt but I managed to disarm him; from their leader manifested a blade that came from his very body itself, and I came to find you three when the monster's darkness began to spread across the lands...”
“We must call mother,” said Eldanon seriously. “She is the only one of us who has any hold over the elemental darkness.”
Odeson sighed; it did indeed seem to have come that Queen Laszathier would indeed need to be summonsed to this point – far beyond her secret sanctuary. He closed his eyes and breathed as he focused his intention to his horn.
“On my way,” said Laszathier and true as day
Tamoria gasped as suddenly a beam of rainbow iridescence zipped open in the centre of their surrounding; seemingly unfolding reality apart like the petals of a flower sprouting outwards for a moment to reveal a cavern of endless light.
Laszathier, followed by the long haired Skaladapi and Skyscope hopped and landed on four feathered hooves before them; not an atom out of place. Allaana gasped in amazement at the sight on the yunicorns; she had heard many beautiful stories her father had told them of them; the chosen steeds of the ancient and legendary Niapheria.
"I have not been in these parts of the Unnamed Forest in ages," said Laszathier as Skyscope and Skaladapi neighed behind her; stomping at the soil with their front legs and looking ready for battle.
The Queen of the Unnamed forces glanced over to Luciana, by Fallion's side, and then to Tamoria, but her eyes stopped and rested for a moment on Allaana; who was frozen in her glance. She could feel the yunicorn's aura wash warmth and a smile over her; and when she spoke it was telepathically in this moment:
“It is good to see you again, old famaeda,” she said.
Allaana blinked at her in confusion.
"Queen Laszathier of the Silver Age," Fallion got to his feet, but then again bowed low. "The Reineiriers have fallen!” he sobbed.
"Up to your feet, young Fallion," said Laszathier. "There comes a time for your grief, but now we must first protect our sanctuary. "
"How can we help?" said Allaana, stepping forward; Laszathier had not moved her indigo eyes off her just yet.
“You can help us by getting to your destination safely," said Laszathier. "Do you know where you are going?"
" To Mount Pheax," Tamoria piped up before her friend could get themselves in to any more unnecessary trouble.
"Very well," said Laszathier. "Alas, Skaladapi, Skyscope, I want you foals to transport these famzels to said destination with mighty haste. It appears the age has dawned where you shall again ride amongst the Niapheria."
Allaana's eyes widened. "You knew the Niapheria?"
The Yunicorn turned back to her; her aura shining brightly against the surrounding darkness. "As do you, Allaana. You may not remember yet. But you will."
"Mother will you be safe?" neighed Skyscope in worry. Skaladapi herself seemed most frightened at the situation at hand.
“Do not underestimate your mother-mare,” Laszathier nodded. “Be off at once and let me get to ridding this sanctuary of the evil that has come to threaten its good-will.”
Allaana looked over to Tamoria, who nodded furiously at her. Skyscope and Skaladapi trotted forward to meet them and Allaana made sure to look Skyscope in the eye before she mounted.
“Hello, Allaana is the name,” she said with a small smile.
He neighed. “Skyscope, hop on young mare.”
She mounted and was first surprised at how familiar the enormous beast felt beneath her.
“Hold by the hair,” Queen Laszathier nodded and Allaana did so; his hair like strands of silk in her feel. Tamoria clutched on to Skaladapi, Luciana tightened her arms around Tamoria.
"You ready?" Skyscope neighed. Allaana felt his warmth and connection the moment she was on him.
"I guess..." said Allaana. She looked over to Odeson and Laszathier. "Will you all be okay?"
"All will be fine," said Laszathier "when you find Thielzaphere, send her my warmest love, and tell her not a day has shone where I have not missed her as the nia fell."
Allaana's eyes escaped a tear. Yet she was not sure why.
“May the wings of the Omnevlions guide you safely back to shore,” Laszathier nodded and neighed and they were off; at god-speed – by the time Allaana turned around to bid the centicorns goodbye they were already far out of the sight of their bright auras. Allaana wished they could have stayed but a bit longer; perhaps Laszathier had all the answers she was looking for.
“Follow them, Svenessen!” Sylus whispered urgently; and his crow familiar darted after them.
And then he was thrown from the tree he had stationed himself in; having followed Fallion by hopping from branch to branch; he had witnessed the entire unfolding, but wondered how little that meant as he groaned; having landed hard on his broken wrist; he would not even dare clutch at his pain, as it would mean he would have to let go of the Fyrevolt again.
He rose and was taken aback by how humongous the centicorns, standing behind the enormous Yunicorn Queen of Feganwood herself, truly were.
“So young, and still so innocent,” the magnificent Laszathier said before him.
Sylus did his best to meet her with all the strength he could muster; but the Fyrevolt was somewhat weak in his left hand and his heart dropped to his stomach as the centicorns began to move in.
A screeching roar: QWEAER! rung around them, from above it came from behind Sylus.
Eldanon and Adalon caught the wyvern Schidiba by its big big wings and began to pull on either side as the monster snapped its furious jaw at the Queen. She did not budge a single inch; looking the monster straight in its eyes and she neighed mightily and threw her hind legs into the monster as her sons ripped it in two and it disappeared in a big puff of purple smoke.
“Dammit!” S'veare swore at the lancerian in his left hand as the qnite cracked. Sylus and he were already high and far away from the three centicorns and the yunicorn upon S’veare’s remaining green-scaled venomous wyvern, which he had named Liskwat. “That's going to cost me at least three dantians of fixing!” he spat in the fast Unnamed below him.
Sylus sheathed the Fyrevolt and grabbed on to Liskwat with a tremendous sigh of relief.
“What were you playing at, you fool?” S'veare spat at him. “You cost me a damned wyvern!”
Sylus did not look at him; allowing the gusts of the nia to whip through his long black hair. He's mind was more wondering what part the girls from Apalorn had to play in this greater unfolding. Svenessen would let him know in due time, he was sure.
“Silizet is well fed,” said Sinobia. “Shall I withdraw the serpent, father?”
She stood with Sauxuar as they watched Silizet slither amongst the plentiful causalities in a horrifically sad scene. Sauxaur sighed, and was just about to give his approval, when the rainbow light-portal unfolded before them to show the magnificent yunicorn, whose light emitted brightly around her; especially within Silizet's daunting darkness.
“Shyt!” Sauxaur shouted; Laszathier galloped and threw her front legs high into the air as pure white energy focused around her horn in the form of an orb expanding magnificently; with a mighty neigh she brought herself down and blasted the spheroid right into Silizet's open mouth as the monster dived for her.
The light that touched him seemed to fold him into it and suddenly all darkness around them evaporated as what use to be Silizet shot into the pit it had formed and came from upon its arrival.
Sauxaur stood frozen, along with his so-called daughter. Sinobia was utterly shocked as she felt the presence of her servant vanish completely within her consciousness.
“What have you done, you monster!” she spat at the yunicorn and her three sons; who stood still in their strength; knowing they now far outweighed the enemy in power.
“I have banished Silizet with the strength of my light,” said Laszathier. “Consider her lucky, compared to the punishment I will bring down upon you.”
“Ah, Laszathier, I have heard the words that spoke that you still lived. Still spreading your hybrids all over Evalend are you?” Sauxaur called at her; although he was doing it from his arrogance, as deep down he felt rather fearful. “My father told me of your pitiful attempts to find anything as familiar as the age we ended.”
Laszathier neighed; she would do best not to lose her cool as she had with so many a Helsoyn before Sauxaur.
“You will not speak to my mother and the Queen of the lands you tread in such a manner,” said Aladon.
"Your mother is an un-rare mare whose muzzle flares at the scent of the hairs of any herds rears," said Sauxaur.
“How dare you curse the Queen!” roared Eldanon.
“Send him to the Lady for a hiding!” declared Queen Laszathier.
Sauxaur showed two fingers to Sinobia; who nodded quickly as she began to wave her hand. The moments Sauxaur started disappearing in the other end of the portal, Queen Laszathier narrowed her eyes.
"Not so fast," she said and a ray of light agreed with her as it shot from the tip of her horn into the portal after them.
Sauxaur materialised some kilometre away; much to his horror, before the same trees he had tried to escape of the Unnamed Forest. Sinobia gasped in horror and nearly began to sob.
"Sauxaur Helsoyn," said the Lady and Sauxaur turned to meet her in full form standing atop the Derminicia she materialised from. "You have brought great stress to the lands so many of us have sworn to protect, and I the Lady of Derminicia hereby sentence you to annihilation by the Queen's horn.”
She lifted her liquid arms and the waters surrounding began to levitate without gravity around her. with one swift swoosh she burst from the lake and hard into the two Helsoyns.
Sauxaur could do nothing but scream as he was flung; to his horror he was coming down with all his weight towards Laszathier; storming as fast as lightning; her horn pointing, ready for execution.
S’veare pierced the Lucero hard into her back and fell head first next to her with a gasp. Sauxaur collided on top of him. Sinobia right after him.
From above a diving wyvern; Sylus unleashed a swirl of dark essence which shot into his family below and swallowed them in. The wyvern carrying him dived in afterwards and the portal swirled shut immediately.
"Mother!" cried Eldanon.
It had happened so fast; even the Lady herself returned to her lake and looked on with major upset as big golden streams formed from her eyes.
Laszathier spat blood; she turned her head of meet her three sons as they began to wail around her.
"Be... Be..." blood gushed from her mouth.
"Mother save your strength!" Eldanon begged.
She closed her eyes and put her last bit of energy into her horn; and spoke directly from her horn to theirs.
“It seems the time for my strength has come to pass;
My foals you will travel all Dellfelldell and tell them of the tragedy that has taken place in our sanctuary; warn them of the powers at hand. Apolothanks my dear sons, but know that mother-mare has now seen the light and hope of Evalend for herself.”
The centicorns wailed around her; their horns pointed together in their grief.
“I can feel myself slip into the Neveah, I bid you farewell my foals. May the wings of the Omnevlions guide you safely to shore.”
Skyscope stopped suddenly; and so abruptly that Allaana nearly flew forward.
Behind them, Skaladapi neighed in despair. Shaking so rapidly that Tamoria and Luciana had to hold on tighter.
"Allaana Wincrest, could you kindly dismount me for a moment," there was sorrow in the yunicorn's hoarse voice.
Allaana did so. She now found tears in his multicoloured swirls for eyes.
"What's wrong, Skyscope?" she asked, digging her fingers deep into his long strains of silver hair.
"My darlings," she had said as she touched their horns with her last essence. "Death is a strange thing. I have already greeted most of my beloved friends I have lost so long ago; and your father is here with me too.
You are exactly where you are supposed to be. Stay close to Allaana Wincrest.
Skyscope, Skaladapi. When Thielzaphere is home,
May she grace you with wings as she once graced me.
Love is all I have for you. Mother-mare is as free as can be.
Live long. Live strong. May the wings of the Omnevlions keep you safe. And remember that death is never the aftermath, but merely a step in a dance we all shall take.”
Skyscope sobbed and wailed as Queen Laszathier 's energy left her kingdom of the Feganwood once and for all. Skaladapi came forward to console him, and to be consoled by him as Tamoria and Luciana watched anxiously with worried looks on their faces.
"What can I do to help?" Allaana cried sadly.
"You can help us," Skaladapi said to her, absorbing her deeply in the neons of her eyes. "By finding Thielzaphere.