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The Myth
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2023-03-16 23:27:27Every Harbinger knew the ancient myth.
A song once sang by the elders. Of both the First Water Fey and the Harbinger kind, alike.
It told of one born from demon blood and harbinger fey that would emerge as the strongest among them.
One to lead them all.
One that would demand utter obedience and destroy them.
It was sang that this Dark Harbinger would irrevocably change the ways of First Water Fey and Harbingers.
Clawdus and the injured fey next to him, looked from Disseus monopolizing the air to Nierwae who stood with trees bowing in toward him. So tall that he bent them.
And the words of that song echoed in their minds.
As did Clawdus’ words. ‘Who do we fear most?’
His meaning was clear.
The harbingers were going to have to choose who they’d continue to attack. More were getting injured. Raining from the sky in crumpled heaps. Seeming to have little effect on the densely armored skin of the airborne Dar
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“No!” Nierwae roared. Making birds scatter and creatures stir in the underbrush. Those which had been too afraid to move before, now ran in terror. Nierwae could see what was happening. He saw the slow turning on the Harbingers faces. The brightening of their eyes, the lightening of their hair. They made their choices. Abandoning the darkness that had been feeding on them. Aborting the decision that had pulled them down. Bringing them so close to true evil. Disseus knew. Somehow…They were choosing to save themselves. Even after all the cruelty they’d known amongst the fey. Nierwae emanated ugly energy even as he breathed. His rage was truly something to be reckoned with. “No!” He growled in a sound that was more like a rockfall than an actual word. “I liberated you! I set you free. I gave you mates. I brought you from the world where you were hated. I treated you as my own!” “You made us your slaves.” Clawdus
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He drew a long breath and began carrying her. He found one of the dead harbingers and stole his pants. Collecting Nim again and aiming back in the direction of the cabin. It was going to take a long while on foot if he couldn’t find where Nim had originally tied up her horse. He whistled a few times and heard a responding huff and prancing. He veered that direction and was very grateful to see the mount coming into view from between a couple large trees. She concealed it well. He looked down at the beautiful woman in his arms. Her dark lashes rested against her cheek. One arm dangling stiffly from her side. “You’ll be okay, Sweetheart.” He lifted her enough to press his forehead to hers, reassuringly. “Rest. I have you.” Somewhere in Nim’s numbed subconscious she heard the soothing words. Felt the reassuring push of something flat to her face. Feeling so familiar, that she knew instantly what it was.
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“Forever Knights.” Sebastian said quietly. As if he feared anyone in the distance might hear sacred words. Disseus jerked to a stop. His head rolling to one than the other. “You were hunting them.” That is what Forever Knights do, at least as the legends say. Disseus had heard many whispers in the assassin guilds he visited while looking for work. “Or perhap followin’ them ta see what they was up to.” RedBayne rumbled. “Depending on how many it were.” “It was a lot. And we fought them for you.” Disseus nodded to Nim. “Now if you don’t mind.” “Did some get away?” Sebastian hurried a few steps to ask urgently. Of course they did! We couldn’t kill them all. “A few.” Disseus muttered dryly. A muscle in his jaw ticking. “Mmm.” Mardichi’s disapproval tightened his mouth. “If you wanted them all rounded up, perhaps you should’ve travelled faster.” He felt indignant tension rise from bo
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Nim looked down the valley and finally saw at least part of what they had done, at the same moment the wind came up and the smell of smoke and rot filled her sinuses. The sticky sweet scent lingering there in a way that made her want to vomit. It clung to her throat. Only one thing could smell like that. Nierwae’s fortress had possessed that same horrendous odor. The scent of death and demons. A village in the distance emitted too much smoke to be from hut fires. There were spots of smoke in various directions that looked the same. Once they walked a bit down the hill, they came down the backside of the rise, she found the whole valley bottom was covered in bark like darkness. It looked like rotting tree roots with spots of pus and splitting boils. Twining over the ground. From this vantage point, it was apparent that the nearest village was abandoned. Long since, torn to shreds. “How long were you gone?” Disseus look
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It was reasonable that Lon would mourn the death of all they’d built together. It had been Lonnix that had spread news of Disseus’s feats far and wide. Inspiring others to hire him. And keep our pockets fat with coin. It was Lonnix that built the name. “You keep it going.” Disseus suggested. “Most only dealt with you anyway.” They’d hardly know my face were I standing before them. “Nobody would believe that!” Lon cried in appall. “Talk to King Phalanx, he’ll back your story as a favor to me. Remind him how he became King of the Paladines.” Disseus gave him a stunned look. Disseus knew Lon had it in him to do the job. But at the very least, Phalanx would offer Lonnix a job or a new Ardae assassin to befriend. Lon had a cunning way about him that made him very personable. “Don’t fear yet.” Nim assured. “We’ve a bit before we must go.” “No.” Another voice interjected as Bernus
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Disseus sat on that rock, holding Nealinim well into the night. Relieved and in awe to have all his joy back in his arms. What a strange journey it has been. She’d fallen asleep at some point. Lying on that rock with her head on his leg while he stroked her hair. Listening to the water and her soft breathing. As much as he yearned to make love to her. He wanted her to heal more. She needs her strength now more than ever. He heard a branch snap behind him and knew what he’d suspected for a while now. “How long have you been there.” “I’m a bit ashamed to admit, the whole time.” He rumbled from the shadows. His dark skin blending with the night darkness. Only the orange of his eyes glowed from the trees. “Why?” “You weren’t here when she wandered off.” Styx explained. “I was worried about her out here alone. Away from camp. Especially after all she’s been through.” “You as well.” Disseus reminded.
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