Sometimes, in order to stay in power, Bia had to do things she regretted. What she had done to Thistle seemed simple enough, but the echoes of that act continued to plague her. Thistle had not, as the others suspected, sealed her fate by rescuing Eitan. That was just a convenient rumor that Bia permitted to exist.
“I know the great tragedy is you, Bia. By my oath as a guardian of the basin, I won’t stop you. Know that if you keep on this path, it will.”
Only two being heard those words, and Bia made sure the other one was dead.
As the black rabbit debated with her mate, she remembered those words. The basin wasn’t magic, not to her. Not in the way the rabbits thought it was. But, there were enough hints that something was there to make her hesitate. That’s where those echoes seemed to come from. Still, despite them agreeing to her demands, she knew they knew what had happened.
“That’s remarkably simple,” Ghostpaw said.
“We’re just taking advantage of a perfect moment,” Erebus said. “My presence will also help, adding to the darkness within the eclipse.”
“With your connection to Death.” Ghostpaw looked out over the water. “How much longer will we have to wait?”
“It’ll only be a short time now. While the whole chamber will see the darkness, this rock is the only place you’ll be able to see the eclipse. Did you want to invite anyone up here?”
Bia narrowed her eyes at the black rabbit. She kept herself composed otherwise. She had worked too hard to get where she was for her mate to go soft on these upstarts. Convincing him to step up as king wasn’t easy, and Ghostpaw had this frustrating impulse to be sympathetic. Still, he was powerful and dangerous and held the warren together. He had gotten complacent at the other warren, so, yes, she had encouraged deer to eat their reserves. It encouraged them to chase rumors of Starbasin. Her whole life she’d been smaller than others, and finally she was in charge of the biggest warren in the area.
The Starbasin was known for their herbalists, with powerful herbs said to control fire itself. The herbalists had claimed not to know how to make such things. It didn’t matter, she would force them to surrender their secrets. With those, every warren would bow to her. Perhaps even predators would fear her. Predators like Eitan.
She winced at his previous plea for his friend. He didn’t fear her. He was afraid for Rhizome. The subtle difference made her stomach churn.
Ghostpaw finally answered the black rabbit. “Bia, you may stay, of course.” He looked out among the rabbits gathered. “Mange and Ferris, I cannot say if what you have done has harmed the warren. Perhaps the Sun and Moon will offer clarity.”
The guards winced. Bia frowned. She didn’t like the idea of absolving them of their actions, but they had furthered her ambitions. Even if accidently.
“Mune, Gurin, Eitan. I suppose your oaths have earned this, and I will not deny you a chance to observe what happens to your friend.” Ghostpaw flicked his ears again, and looked around. “Sand, you’ve been part of this. Myrrh, captain of the watch, and one watch member you wish to reward.”
The pillar of light intensified and a small sliver of Lord Sun became visible in the water. “It’s beginning.” Erebus leapt off the rock and began his work of getting Rhizome into the water.
Finally, Ghostpaw added, “Alvis, and any two herbalists of your choosing.”
“What?” Bia objected. “You would bestow this honor on those who wouldn’t even fight for their warren?”
“They chose to welcome us.” Ghostpaw’s voice was absolute. There would be no swaying him this time. “They are not a conquered warren.”
Bia settled onto the speaking rock without further noise. No use showing how frustrated she was. Absently, she amused herself by watching the black rabbit attempt to get under Rhizome and wade into the water. He gaze drifted back to the image of Lord Sun. It was just an image. She might not understand how it was on the water, but she knew that the sun wasn’t actually in the basin.
The sun slowly expanded until the full circle was reflected. Alvis was explaining how to observe safely, some long standing oral tradition as a few other rabbits brought herbs to reduce the danger from looking directly as Lord Sun. Bia only had a half-ear turned toward him, but did eat whatever the herb was she was given.
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The other rabbits had a collective gasp as a part of the sun turned dark. It started on the edge, then the darkness slowly crept inward. Everyone tensed as the image of the sun was nibbled away. The rest of the chamber grew darker. A temporary twilight even to those on the shore of the basin.
Erebus was almost to the image. He struggles to stay afloat with Rhizome over his back, but refused to let his burden overwhelm him. Bia frowned at his determination. She wasn’t sure if he knew, but he knew about Eitan’s old warren, and he was heroic. Even with their promises to help, they would be trouble. She would have to make sure the tasks took their ears or worse.
Slowly, the black rabbit made it into the hole growing in the sun. For a moment, it seemed like such a silly ritual, swimming within the Sun in effigy. Bia frowned and flattened her ears, as the rest of the chamber grew dark as night.
There was no noise made by the closing of the circle. As the hole in Lord Sun moved to his center, and there was a glowing ring held in the Basin. There was no brilliant flash, and certainly no change in the odor of the well. Yet, there was a difference. The air seemed to hold its breath as Lady Moon shone with the light of her lord behind her. The only sound was the gentle lapping of the water and the black rabbit swimming in the center.
Then, Bia’s world shifted. The ring of light grew into a column that went from well to ceiling and up through the ground into the sky. Tiny floating motes of light played in the pillar and danced to meet the two rabbits within. This was the work of the gods, the miracle of forces greater than mere rabbits.
Bia watched in awe at a vision only she and Erebus saw. Rhizome was lifted gently off of Death… Erebus wasn’t Death’s Paw; he was Death given rabbit form; what could Bia hope to do against him?
The motes tugged at the hollow Rhizome connecting him to something above. A spirit form of the unconscious rabbit descended from above, guided by the tiny lights. When they touched, there was a flash of light and a falling sensation.
A web caught her, something impossibly large that was not in the chamber before. A similarly large spider slowly made its way toward the struggling rabbit.
“Hello, Bia.”
It took her a moment to realize the spider had spoken. She stopped struggling against the web and sat up, letting it support her. “Fate?”
“Yes,” the spider nodded slightly. “I have come to ask you to be my paw in the upcoming conflict. Rhizome needs to be tested and eliminated should he fail.”
“I am no one’s paw.” Bia turned away, but kept an ear toward the god. “No rabbit and no god will control me.”
“Yet, I dictate Fate. Perhaps then, a bargain?” A large spider leg gently nudged Bia’s side, a strange sign of affection. “You simply agree to follow your fate and I will make sure this warren becomes the strongest in the land.”
“Not enough. What if I am killed?”
“Then, what if I offer the warren will be run by your children?” A second leg settled nearby as the spider leaned lightly against the queen. “A long life would be likely, but with that rabbit disrupting fate, I will simply state I will do my best.”
“What do you mean?”
And the true strands flashed into Bia’s mind’s eye. The connections between her and Ghostpaw, his love for her. Between her and the warren, a mixture of respect and manipulation. To Erebus and the herbalists, fear and conflict. Even Eitan, with that strange, inexplicable offer of friendship. Yet, among all of that, Rhizome had no strands to or from him. Even the powerful connection that had his companions risking their lives for him were as outside of Fate’s control as that strange rabbit was.
Bia shivered. “And, if they break the web, if he breaks them out, then you can only offer, not promise?”
“Yes. Although, keeping your children in charge of the warren is a simple task. If you go to Ghostpaw tonight, such will be the bargain. Even if fate is broken, you will have me as your family patron.”
While Bia had always wanted power for herself, she was quite aware her own life could end. Yet, a dynasty, a strong family that kept the power she put so much effort into acquiring… She thought of the bargain again. “If I live, I will rule the most powerful warren, and no matter what happens to me, when I die, you will be my children’s patron and help them keep power?”
“Yes.” The spider chittered lightly. “Onto at least as many generations as your paws and ears, and then for as long as it keeps my fancy.”
Bia thought for a while or an eternity between a heartbeat. This web, like most things of Fate, was outside time. Eventually, she said, “I accept.”
“Done.” What Fate had not said was that no matter how things turned out, Bia’s name and the names of her children would become a curse. They would be known for many great, yet terrible, things. Bia would have agreed even if she knew. She was, after all, fated to agree to the offer.
Time snapped back into motion. Bia had leaned too far over the edge of the rock and fallen. The cold water brought her awareness back to the basin. Her strength was gone, spent in the conversation and bargain. As she faded out, she felt herself being tugged to shore. She did not know at the time, but Eitan had saved her.