Maledictus Terra Book 3: Vetitum Nemus Part 87
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Noxus faltered for a moment. Had she heard right? Did the male elf just refer to her as a disciple of Hiral Kai? Her face burned, but she wasn’t sure if it was pride or embarrassment. She wanted to correct him, but he held a hand up.
“What’s said, is said; and what is done, is done.”
“But I…”
“Did you think that the work you did in Dragonshold didn’t influence this decision?” asked the male elf.
“Kai always observes.” Said Sylthra.
“I failed.” Exclaimed Noxus, holding up her magical arm. “People died!”
“You persisted. You stayed true to your vows. One challenge failed isn’t a failure. That test is to introduce you to the horrors that Kai is trying to keep at bay. Most initiates die or flee. You chose a different route.” Said Sylthra.
“I fled. I hid.”
“Did you?” asked the male elf as he walked around, still bouncing the pear up and down in one hand. “Gorox says differently. He speaks highly of your achievements in court.”
“That’s different.”
“Is it? As an initiate of Hiral Kai, isn’t court work one of your skills? Haven’t you been an advisor to the Queen of Dragonshold? An ear to her daughter?”
Noxus remained silent as the parrot hopped onto Sylthra’s shoulder. It then spoke once more.
“You have taken everything you were taught and applied it. Protected barriers and training the young. A letter isn’t enough to break your bond with me.”
Noxus should have felt cold at those words but instead, something warm sank in her belly. It wasn’t fear, it was relief. Relief that she had never been viewed as a coward. That she hadn’t betrayed the memories of the fallen.
“I…”
The parrot ruffled its feathers and said softly. “Come to me. Let us talk as disciple and God.”
It then turned to nip Sylthra in the ear, resulting in a soft yelp.
“And you, return to Dragonshold and keep an eye on what moves. Both above ground and below.”
Sylthra nodded her head and rubbed at her ear.
“As for you Zathon, make sure that all the beasts coming are treated as my guests. I will not have them chained and thrown overboard if one were to transform. Are we clear?”
The male elf grimaced and said. “It happened once! Just once! Let it go!”
The parrot seemed to grin, as much as a beaked creature could, before looking at Noxus once more.
“You are my child, and I am not done guiding you. Return to the isles so we may talk and discuss the steps needed to prevent the barriers falling and worse things than the Cold One and Fiery One from descending upon us.”
Noxus had heard rumours of Kai choosing vessels, but she had never seen one face to face, and she wasn’t sure what she should do. Instead of bowing fully, she inclined her head.
“Zathon, ship. Sylthra, return to Dragonshold. We all leave at sunrise.”
When Noxus returned to her companions with Zathon in tow, she went right up to Gorox and jabbed her metal fingers into his side. The large man grinned but said nothing.
“You knew all along, didn’t you!” she demanded.
“I follow a different part of Kai, I can’t possibly know everything.”
“You knew!”
He shrugged, nodding his head, silently admitting he did.
“I thought that you would eventually catch on. You know, with your magical abilities never wavering or your magical artifact not disappearing.”
“You could have told me!”
“Wasn’t my place to. Who is this, by the way.”
“Captain Zathon.” The elf bowed. “Scoundrel, pirate, adventurer, and more. But for this adventure, your humble guide to the isles.”
“And the older twin of Sylthra it would seem.” Added Noxus.
“Indeed!” proclaimed Zathon as he straightened. “Are the rest of your companions comfortable? I apologise for spiriting them away so suddenly but the last thing I want is for a Ghoul King to be recognised here.”
“Even in disguise?” asked Noxus.
“Especially in disguise. You’d be surprised by how many people can see through the unseeable. But enough talk. I will have food delivered to your companions, and the two of you will join me at the captain’s table, at my favourite in. Prepare your coin purses!”
And with that, Zathon turned and matched back into the crowd.
“Kai sure knows how to pick them.” Said Gorox as he followed.
And back to you Zak
Here is an explanation of Chain Stories and here is the current Chainstory Library
Mortis Custos
Sanguifex
Vetitum Nemus
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Zathon is so Fabulous! lol
He totally is!