Chapter 10 - Midsummer Night’s Dream
“AHHH!!!” The Winter Queen That Was cried out as she dropped to the ground.
“What has happened sister?!” I asked. ‘Wait why does my voice sound off?’
“Our Huntsman has died! They killed him!” In a rare act Queen Winter wept.
The older woman tried to get up, but she found she couldn’t. Her magic was intrinsically tied to her Huntsman. She felt a wound that would not go away.
“I-I cannot stand!” The Winter Queen said in shocked realization.
I quickly withdrew something I had made. I was saving it as a gift, one for each sister. “Do not worry sister. Take this cane. It is from the Tree of Life. I crafted one for you and one for our sister. This one I made just for you. I keyed it to work with your unique ability to Unravel anything. Quickly, take it!”
I thrust the carved cane into my sister’s withered hand. She took it without question. The moment her magic touched the cane I saw visible relief on her tear-stained face.
“Good, it worked perfectly. Now you shall not fade away, my sister. This should help both you and Mother Summer deal with the massive losses dealt to us by the Light this day.”
I helped my sister slowly stand on wobbly legs. “This must have taken great time and skill to craft. How did you know I would need this sister?”
“I felt something in the Weave, but it was Chronos who came to me. He helped me understand what was coming. Together we connected our powers and poured them into our craft.” I replied.
‘Wait, Chronos? Am I re-living someone’s memories? But who?’
“It is good my daughter abstained from the fighting otherwise it might have been much worse.” Mother Winter commented as she got her bearings.
“Our niece may disagree.” I replied.
Mother Winter spat, “Bah! Our sister’s ilk have always been too hot tempered and emotional. I do not care what her daughter thinks. The war is over, we lost!”
“The Dark lost sister, not us.” I clarified.
My sister gave me a scowl only she could manage. “We lost! The Dark may have been the cause, but it matters little when we still lost so many of our own people.”
She then leaned on her cane, and I could feel her power flow into it, causing Mother Winter to smile. “This is quite impressive sister. It appears I now owe you and that old dragon Chronos a boon.”
“Do not sound so sour about it. He, he, he, he.” I chuckled.
“I am not sour about you; it is that stubborn dragon. Fate and Time are intrinsically linked, and that old coot never lets us forget it. The idea of owing him a favor is just… distasteful.”
I reminded my sister of one important fact. “Well, he is gone now, so it may not matter. He gave the last vestiges of his power before sacrificing himself.”
“That is what bothers me most! Now I have to see to it whomever gets his Infinite Well of Time Magic is worthy of such a legacy. How annoying!” Mother Winter complained.
“Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha! Leave it to you, sister, to be finally rid of the Father of Time, someone I have heard you argue with on numerous occasions. Now you are upset he is gone. You actually liked him, admit it sister!” I teased.
“I will do no such thing! Besides our sister approaches and you have a gift for her.” Mother Winter said before turning around and heading to the other side of the cabin.
————
Deathwalker awoke startled and looking around. “What was that?!”
It took him a moment to realize he was back in his bed in Timberfall Manor, and he was surrounded by multiple tired faces. Mrrsha, Prrsha, and Frrsha rushed to his side when he awoke. Garry was nowhere to be seen. General Marius, Geeves and Elder Martha were also nearby.
Still feeling groggy and out of it, Deathwalker asked, “What happened?”
The three cat girls rushed to his side.
“That is what we hoped you could tell us, alpha.” Mrrsha stated.
Elder Martha spoke up. “Marius sent Mrrsha after me to see if I could help in anyway. You have been unconscious for the last day. I can honestly say we have no idea what the cause was.”
“Frrsha and I tried to attack the giant black bird in case it was the cause, but it just flew away faster than it should have been able to move.” Prrsha shared.
“I am sorry alpha. We failed in our duty to protect you.” Frrsha whined.
Deathwalker patted her hand and tried to sit up in bed.
“Careful, your grace. Let me assist you.” Geeves said as he helped Deathwalker sit up and propped pillows behind him.
Still feeling off, Deathwalker checked his notifications.
Warning you have been affected by an Unknown Effect! Insight has failed to determine the source of the effect!
Congratulations! Your understanding of Fate and Time Magics have increased! Continue to practice these magics to understand these fundamental forces of existence.
‘Was that from the dream I just had? Was that someone’s memories forcibly coming to the surface? And what the heck is an Unknown Effect. How useful is that supposed to be to me? Like what do I do with such ambiguous information?!’ Deathwalker thought.
Deathwalker was about to continue reviewing his notifications when his brain finally realized something important. “Wait where is Garry?”
General Marius answered his Duke. “He vanished after you collapsed. Your bodyguards said he was somehow unsummoned or killed.”
“What?! How?!” Deathwalker replied in shock.
“We do not know alpha, but we could no longer hear the annoying floating ball in our minds.” Mrrsha explained.
Checking his remaining notification he got his answer.
Your familiar Garry has been killed by Unknown Effect! As he was not killed permanently, you can re-summon him in a few days. Time remaining before re-summon possible: 2 days, 3 hours.
Deathwalker was stunned. Whatever that Unknown Effect was, it killed Garry and nearly took him out, or at least that is what his body felt like had happened.
He heard Lilandra in his mind. “Perhaps I can shed some light on things now that you are awake Master.”
“You know something Lilandra?” Frrsha telepathically asked.
Deathwalker just leaned his head against the headboard. “Elder Martha, Geeves, and Marius, I find myself still quite tired. Please, for now let me rest and we can speak later. My bodyguards will remain and call on you should I require it.”
Elder Martha had a look of concern on her face, but she nodded. “As you wish, my Duke. I will check in on you in the morning just to be sure you continue to be on the mend.”
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“Thank you.” Deathwalker replied.
Geeves spoke next. “Ms. Mara, Cal, and Grimhold have also expressed their concerns, having heard the rumors of your collapse. What shall I tell them, your grace?”
“The truth. I have awakened but am still tired. We think something attacked me, but we do not know anything further.” Deathwalker answered.
Geeves bowed. “Very good, your grace. I and the rest of the staff are but a moment away should you require anything.”
“Thank you, Geeves.”
Both Elder Martha and Geeves left the room. General Marius bowed. “I have extra men posted outside and I posted additional soldiers throughout the manor. I will keep watch as well.”
Deathwalker tried to shake his head but found that to be a mistake when he winced from the pain. “No. I gave you an order General. I want that secret base stocked and manned. We have already lost a day. Whatever happened, I do not think there is anything the men can do. I require rest to recover.” His voice softened a bit. “Please, my friend, see to this important work.”
“As you command, my liege.” General Marius said as he stood. He looked at the three cat girls. “Watch over him.”
All three girls gave their nods of agreement. General Marius gave his Duke one last bow before he too exited the suite. Once it was just Deathwalker and his three disciples he spoke both out loud and telepathically. “Alright Lilandra, the others have left. Please go on, but before you do, open a portal here. I would prefer this conversation face to face.”
“As you command, Master.” Deathwalker heard Lilandra telepathically reply as a portal opened up in his bedroom and Lilandra walked out. The portal closed behind her.
“Is it safe for her to be away from the primary portal room?” Mrrsha asked in concern.
“I am still close to the Life leyline connected to the Nexus. As the portal guardian, I can open up portals and return as long as I am close enough to certain leylines.” Lilandra explained.
Mrrsha nodded her understanding.
Lilandra turned her full attention to Deathwalker. “If you will permit me, master, I will explain what I was trying to tell you earlier.”
“Please do.” Deathwalker answered.
Lilandra erected a barrier blocking the doors leading to the rest of the manor to ensure they were not disturbed. Once that was accomplished, she began her story. “I heard the soldiers talking about a crow or black raven. I believe that is what triggered this. I do not know what caused your collapse, but I have a feeling I know who the black raven could be.”
“Who dares attack our alpha?!” Prrsha roared.
“That is just it. I do not think she would intentionally attack you. It makes no sense why she of all people would attack you.” Lilandra chimed in.
Deathwalker spoke up. “It is the Morrigan isn’t it?”
“H-how? How could you know that?” Lilandra asked in shock.
“When you said ‘she’ is when it clicked for me. In my world’s myths the Morrigan was associated with crows or ravens and death, as she was a battle goddess. There are other beings associated with ravens like Odin but when you alluded to her being female it clicked for me. You wanted to tell me something before I cut you off. You were expecting her, weren’t you?” Deathwalker replied.
Lilandra sighed. “Morrigan is one of the original Parcae. She was also very active in your Irish and Welsh homelands.”
“What is a Parcae?” Frrsha asked.
“Sisters of Fate. They had different names in different cultures in my homeland. What was so odd is that their duties seemed very similar in those multiple cultures across the globe. They were readers of the Weave of Fate. One spun, one allotted, one unraveled. Guides to one’s Destiny. It appears Fate and Time are intrinsically linked.” Deathwalker explained.
“You are well informed in your world’s lore, Master.” Lilandra commented.
“Those who do not understand history are doomed to repeat it. That saying always stuck with me. Besides certain myths and legends seemed to call to me more than others.” Deathwalker stated.
“Our alpha is wise.” Mrrsha chimed in.
“Hmph. I just remember the origin of the fey and fairies. It is just another way of saying Fate or the guides and manipulators of one’s Fate. That is how my people gave them their name, as a warning to not cross one or lose sight of what they were capable of. That could not be coincidence.” Deathwalker said more to himself in realization than to anyone else.
Deathwalker pondered a few things that seemed to click now that he knew the Morrigan was real. “The djinn, some myths around them are similar to the fey. They can manipulate or influence one’s Fate or Destiny. You all are the same species, just different offshoots, aren’t you?”
He felt her trepidation before Lilandra sighed and then answered. “Yes. I did not mention it before when we talked about Oberon, but we were part of God’s creation. The universe itself has fundamental forces that move it forward. Those forces can partially differ or be interpreted differently but they are still there… Some of the most important forces are Fate and Time. The two are just as intrinsically linked as Life and Death is. The forces of Growth versus Entropy. Order and Chaos. These diametrically opposed forces are tied together, my children and I, well we embrace the elemental forces of the universe. Whereas some other are focused on one principle versus another.”
“What does this have to do with our alpha’s question?” Prrsha asked.
“I am getting there. The races began to diverge as we embraced, no, a better word would be embodied, different aspects of the forces of the universe. The more you attempt to understand the Weave, the more it can influence you. Mother Summer, the Morrigan, and Mother Winter were the first. Mab, Titania, and I were their successors. By the time it was our turn we all had differed greatly in our paths.”
“How did you end up imprisoned where I met you, Lilandra? I remember you saying Oberon sacrificed himself and you and your children were imprisoned, but that is a far cry from becoming the arbiter for the Hidden Infinite Nexus Realm.”
Deathwalker’s question caught the djinn and the pumas off guard. “She was imprisoned?” Frrsha asked.
Lilandra answered. “Yes, I was imprisoned, Frrsha. You see, Summer allied with the Dark and the demons in the last great cosmic war for the Omniverse. The Light killed many demons, fey, djinn, and others. I lost many children in that war. They would have killed many more had not our King interceded. He had secretly helped the Light and their forces like the dragons, high elves, and dwarves. He sacrificed his life to pay for the sins of those arrogant children who thought they knew better… You see someone had to pay the ultimate price one way or another, choices have consequences. The war had broken his heart, and he could not bear to let even more die. All this I shared with you before, master.”
“As I said before, honorable leader.” Deathwalker commented.
Lilandra agreed. “Yes, he was the love of my life... His royal, selfless sacrifice impressed the Light. As such, instead of being imprisoned somewhere or losing my own life, the Light gave me a choice of where to serve out my eternal sentence. The Morrigan had come to me, she had told me to be careful in what I chose, that if I picked correctly, one day I might be free… So, I took a gamble. If anyone claimed the Infinite Nexus, I knew they would have the power to free me. I was right, as you did.”
“Good to know. You brought up Oberon’s sacrifice for a reason. What is it?” Deathwalker asked.
Lilandra continued her tale. “One thing I must admit, is God is a god of Hope. You see, the Light agreed that one day the most precious of those lost in the war would be reborn in a time when they were most needed. This hope has been something our people have held on to over the millennia, even though we waiver, it is hard to let go of such a powerful driving force such as hope, for without it, there is only despair.”
“True enough. So, God promised several of those lost would be reborn. Where are you going with this Lilandra?” Deathwalker pressed.
“I am getting there, master. I must first finish my tale. In addition to that sacred promise, those who fought for the Light; the dragons, dwarves, a few fey, and elves, were promised a future royal that would give them the prosperity and wisdom they deserved. It was believed that each of the races would receive a ruler to guide them. There were many lost, so it was not like the Light did not have enough to choose from.”
“Did this ever happen?” Deathwalker asked.
Lilandra shook her head. “No. Shortly after the war the royal bloodline of dragons, the Omni-dragons were killed off. There has not been one of them for thousands of years. The dragons would never follow any other but their royal bloodline. The dwarves have had kings and queens, though they may have had prosperity at times, none seemed to be the fulfillment of prophecy. Even the fey and djinn were promised the return of some of their key warriors, including our king. Not all fey joined the Dark and the Light believed Oberon should get a chance to live again.”
“So, the stories I grew up hearing were true? Oberon was king of the fey and apparently the djinn as well.” Deathwalker commented.
Lilandra sighed. “Yes, he truly was the best of us. We are only here now because of him. So, after the war, all were banished from Avalon, only Oberon can claim Avalon again. The summer fey were to live close to humans and in the forests to help guide and learn the importance of life. As I mentioned before, my children and I were imprisoned, bound to no longer use our power for our own whims and instead forever forced to guide or serve others. That was the price of abusing our power and letting our emotions control us.
“However, I think Winter got the worst of it. They mostly abstained from the war. As such, Queen Mab was given the burden of protecting the Omniverse realities from the Eldritch and their abominations who seek to destroy what is so different than them. Summer must assist when called, but it is Winter who bears the brunt of the fight against the demons and those outside our realities.
“You see that is what our ignorance failed to understand. The war cracked some of the barriers between the Omniverse and the truly perverse. We garnered the attention of beings that despised our very existence and then weakened the locks for them to get in.” Lilandra said with clear sadness in her voice.
“Talk about poetic justice. Do not get me wrong, thousands or years without a home, or imprisoned, or fighting an endless war, pretty harsh. But it sounds like nearly destroying all life as we know it is probably the worst thing someone could do.” Deathwalker admonished.
“This we as queens understood. We accepted our burdens without complaint. It has been this way for thousands of years… I gladly gave up my freedom to give my children a chance. As much as I may not agree with the Light at times, they always keep their promises, that I cannot deny. It may not occur how and when you expect but it still happens.” Lilandra finished explaining.
“Will there be backlash because I freed you?” Deathwalker asked.
Lilandra shrugged her shoulders. “Possibly. I doubt it. I did my duty as arbiter, and you have gained both your class and Specialization. Duty fulfilled.”
“Fair enough. So, you want to tell me why the Morrigan would attack me?” Deathwalker inquired.
Just then, the doors to the balcony opened, and a giant, black raven flies in before it transforms into a beautiful woman. “Perhaps, I can best answer that question.”