My waking thoughts were of the conversation with Tiamat and what it meant to be her kin with regards to the mark she had engraved in my chest. My fingers brushed along the black scar of the seven headed Hydra her voice wringing in my mind-
“What need have you of me, child of mine?”
The sound of her voice caused me to jump in fright pulling my hand away as my heart raced for a moment as I tried to figure out if she had actually spoken or if it was my mind playing tricks on me.
Raising my hand to the mark again-
“My time may seem infinite, but my patience is not, what questions have you?” She asked, sounding more annoyed than before.
“I- uh- Tiamat?” I questioned in confusion.
“It is I,” She affirmed before asking. “Child of mine, was this perhaps unintentional?”
“Yes?” My response caused the Hydra to grumble an indiscernible noise into my mind.
“Since your acceptance of the contract we have become connected, this is one such capability of our binding, you may ask whichever question holds highest priority and my answer will sate your mind. Should you ever request my help I will send Lahamu and Lahmu to aid your struggle, as well you may have encountered those more willing to help you; this is another such effect of our bond.” She started explaining what I felt right in assuming were the benefits of being marked by her.
I was about to say thank you to her for- well such a great gift but she beat me to it.
“Do not think this a trouble and do not share thanks, it is merely the love of a mother. In the future, should you require my assistance, you need only touch my mark and think of me.” She made a noise akin to a sigh as it sounded like she turned away as her voice receded. “For now we part, I have much to attend, be well child of mine.”
Whoa…
Was all I managed to think after the conversation as the realisation set in I had a direct link and way of contacting a primordial being who was willing to help me at the drop of a hat. It was so much different from the ‘blessing’ of the goddess my mother served and the curse the Hydra had made clear to me was affecting my life.
[When you befriend the branded and his word is law, you will descend to the warmth of what you seek.]
Her premonition? Or whatever you’d call it returned as I stared at a reflection of the mark on my chest in a bowl of water set aside for me to drink.
I met a branded in Theodoric right? Or was it someone else? I mean he did run away after the Spriggans were caught by the king's men…
It was hard to really tell despite my earlier notions that I was grateful she was far more clear about what I had to do, but that didn’t make it any less cryptic when I couldn’t see all the details. Then again I guess that was the point wasn’t it?
The Spriggans had thought I was conspiring with an Exile…
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Later that morning I left the guest residence attached to the king's estate with an Æsc Guard and the goblin attendant in tow, the guard was there to help keep me from slipping as to how or why I was here and the attendant was apparently for more than just yesterday's feast.
As I walked around some of the city I’d come to the conclusion that the Æsc were very militarised as I failed to see any that weren’t soldiers, all the guards that I’d seen being Æsc. It was kind of interesting that there was an entire clan of the Áes Sídhe that was dedicated to the protection of the others or at least specialised in a martial nature.
Aside from that I was otherwise entranced with the decor of the city with many of the homes and buildings either encased or built with the body of giant flowers and fauna like I mentioned when first saw the city from above at Caturix’s hall.
Obviously just about ninety percent of the people I passed in the streets were Áes Sídhe with most of the clothing around being like that of rulers I’d met which was interesting enough on its own but I also wondered whether it was just preference keeping them from the extravagance I’d seen in around in Logos and in Zaros. It was almost like those other places were desperate to show their wealth whereas here everyone was happy to wear what they had or just less interested in presenting it anyway.
I made sure to abuse the fact that I had two people following me around and spent most of my time walking from the residence I’d been staying in to La Pucelle asking them questions about the buildings and whatnot.
“Excuse me?” A voice broke into the conversation I was having with my goblin attendant.
Turning to my right on the side of the street I found a red skinned fȳr woman, she dressed in a dark cloak over a grey tunic and trousers. “Are you Marduk of Ahkula?”
Naturally speaking I shouldn’t talk to strangers and I shouldn’t interact with people that approach me on the street in a city I’ve never been before who know my name- But I knew Alex wouldn’t let me live down ignoring what was clearly going to get me kidnapped and dragged into some huge adventure.
“I am.” I answered and the fȳr held out her left hand giving me a letter and moving the cloak in a way that revealed she was missing her right arm.
“My master asked for me to deliver this to you, with this done I take my leave.” I watched the woman disappear into the shadows of the nearby alley.
My guard walked over and eyed the letter in my hand before taking step back once he noticed there weren’t any markings on it indicating who it was from, but also I think it was clear the parchment wasn’t poisoned or anything like that. Not that I would notice because I was immune to poisons…
I completely forgot about that part.
I probably shouldn’t give the letter to anyone just in case it is poisoned.
Considering the effort of whoever sent it to me had put in though I doubted it.
I decided to wait until I was alone and after I’d seen Lappe again to read the letter though in case it was one of those ‘secrets to the state’ kind of letters.
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Entering through an old door into a lantern lit tavern my eyes scanned the room for who I was meeting, the bar was empty with only an array of alcohol bottles on the shelf behind the bartop which was to the right of the entrance. The left side of the room was a host of booths and tables that were also empty with only the furnishings of tablecloths and seat covers hiding the make of the wood.
One thing I noticed was how large the tavern was with the ceiling being pointed like many of the houses with easily fifteen feet of height making it easy for me to stand under it without issue, aside from that the floor space was just as large making me think of Sophus’ house.
As I approached the bar though it became clear why it reminded me of Sophus’ house.
“Ah, a Lizard in my home” An ethereal toned voice echoed followed by the sounds of hooves on the stone floor brought my attention to a Centaur.
Well I thought they were anyway until I noticed the head on a pillow in their arms.
The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.
I blinked a few times and just stared.
The woman in front of me was a Centaur in all that counted, a horse hind, a human torso, but not head or neck with only a billowing dark flame where it ought to be. The head on the pillow was pale white with dead fish like blue eyes and cinnamon coloured messy red hair, her well endowed torso wore a sleek midnight blue dress that extended over her horse half.
I wasn’t sure what to make of what I was looking at as the headless body placed the pillow and head on the bartop moving behind it as the head spoke.
“I hardly thought Theo to bring pets into my bar, or are you sentient?” She asked in that same ethereal yet dry flat tone.
“-I -Uh yes?” My answer didn’t seem to sway her placid expression.
“Good, well he shall be along shortly, you are free to seat yourself or should the mood find you- order a drink.” The body standing behind the counter gestured to the bottles lining the shelves behind her.
Taking a seat at the bar I asked the woman for what she would recommend, which happened to be a sweet smelling, glistening amber ale of some kind. While her body retrieved and poured the drink into a wooden mug sized to my hands the woman asked me questions.
“How did you meet Theo? And if you aren’t offended by it- What are you?” Her tone stayed emotionless and her face moved only enough to form words and watch me with her eyes.
“He saved me and my friend from what he called a Barghest, it was a large black dog that attacked us while we were trying to enter the Lakar.” I answered and the head bobbed in a way that made me assume she was nodding.
“They’re nasty spirits,” She noted before continuing. “I fear their repugnant nature might have coloured your impression of us Fey Folk, but we are not all so bad.”
“You’re a fairy?” I asked back almost immediately.
The head bobbed again.
“My people are called Dullahan, but I am Laeticia of Aymeric.” She introduced herself and her body bowed behind the counter.
“Oh- ah I am Marduk of Ahkula, my people are the Saurians of Duranki.” I quickly responded and for a moment I thought I caught the ghost of a smile tugging her lips.
“And now we are met.” Laeticia said as her body handed me the mug and I took a sip of what she gave me.
Mhm that’s sweet
I winced internally, I normally wasn’t one for sweet things but my lizard brain and body thought it tasted awesome knocking half the mug back before I could stop it.
“I’m glad you found it satisfactory.” The cinnamon colour haired woman commented before there was a knock at the door I had entered the bar from.
A moment later the cool blue skinned hercules with the same muddy silver hair and dull purple eyes walked through the door, he looked far more worse for wear than when he had saved me and Lappe. His clothes were in tatters and showing off even more of his perfect physique as the red skinned woman who had delivered the letter to me trailed in behind the branded hero of mine.
“Marduk you’re here!” He said in a bright tone, or at least comparatively bright to the bar owner.
He walked straight up to me and I barely had time to stand before I was pulled into a genuinely caring hug. It was weird for a moment as I hadn’t expected it from a man I met once, but he seemed to think otherwise so I dropped it.
“When Brìghde said you were being marched around by Æsc guards I was worried you’d been arrested- that they knew we met.” The deep tone of the man didn’t fit the concerned expression he wore or words he said, but they did make me think.
“Why would I have been arrested for knowing you?” I questioned and the man’s face hardened some.
“Ah I didn’t mean to say it like that…” His voice trailed off for a moment. “In any case I’m glad you’re in good health- and Lappe? Is he well?”
“In La Pucelle’s care.” My reply earned a nod from the man.
“Azra’s clinic is the best place for him, that was a good choice.” He frowned at my next response.
“I didn’t choose it, Caturix sent him there after his guards found us.”
“What happened?” He questioned brow furrowed as he joined me at the bar, the headless Centaur serving him as he did.
“I lost the fight with the Spriggans.” I stated flatly.
Some part of me, the bit that was still Saurian and proudly Ahkula had a wounded pride from just saying that much. I imagined it was that same part of me that found fighting fun in this life.
“I’m sorry about that, I had to leave before the Æsc saw me.” He breathed a sigh, the brand on his face contorting with his expression. “But, you are fine and your friend is in good hands so all's well ends well.”
I might have appreciated his blasé attitude if I hadn’t been the one thrown through several trees and smashed by a twenty foot tall tree person's arm.
As I was about to reply to him there was a knock at the door again causing a silence to consume all of us as we looked at it, I caught a confused glint on Laeticia’s face before I focussed on the door as it opened revealing a familiar figure.
After all, how could I forget those red eyes?
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You could say the cat caught my tongue as Augustus entered the bar, red eyes catching Theodoric first and causing the warlock to erupt in an excited shout that sent chills down my spine as the recognition set in.
“Brother! I knew to find you here! Never far from the same watering hole no matter your status?” He laughed, wrapping arms around the branded man who looked just as surprised as I felt.
It was as he pulled back from his sibling that his eyes landed on me and dazzled with curiosity far greater than I could remember from the cell, causing the words of Blair to fill my mind again.
[You cannot trust red eyed godkin, they’re the most unstable and deranged- promise me if you ever meet one that you’ll never accept their help or be cordial with them.]
My mind was clearly clouded when I was in the cell because the moment the crimson eyes landed on me I wanted to run, I wanted to sprint as far away from here as quickly as I could and never turn back. I couldn’t, not just because I remembered what he was capable of, but also because I knew he wouldn’t let me. He was a researcher and his life was spent studying things, which meant the pure idea of my change that he could see, physically at least, was worth Tiamats weight in gold to him.
The moment he removed himself from Theodoric he cheerily exclaimed my name.
“And Marduk! How wonderful to find you here as well!” He was dressed very similarly to how he was when we first met.
Even though he spoke in Auran to me I responded in the Fey language spoken around Bailey instinctively.
“Uh you too.” Was my dull response as I tried to subside that niggling feeling for the time being until the conversation was over and I could leave.
Thankfully he ignored me and went back to speaking with his brother, breathing a sigh of relief. I tuned what was being said out as I dragged my hand down the underside of my jaw. It was the closest I could get to dragging my hand down my face in exacerbation with this snout of mine.
When my eyes roamed back to the bar owner I found her empty expression more telling than a clear one as her eyes sparked with worry as they watched the Warlock speak with the Branded.
I waited for their conversation to finish hoping I could hear what it was Theodoric had been leading to and finally get away from the spell flinger.