Terack sighed heavily, and let his eyes fall closed as he sank into his bathtub, the Dark Eyes attacking so close to the Capitol is utterly unheard of. It must be something to do with Kayarona, as she was clearly the target of the offensive, and he pondered what that could mean for the Lighthand as a whole. Was she truly the one they had been looking for? Could she really be that child? It had been so long with no even a scrap of information or knowledge, he cautioned himself not to hope too deeply that he could finally have an answer and just accept this was an interesting development to say the least. Lost in his musings and the steam gently rising from the waters surface he didn't notice his attendant enter the bathing room.
"My Lord?" she spoke softly.
"What is it Milicent?" he almost snapped back without opening his eyes.
"My Lord, it is time for Chapel." she was carrying some luxurious crimson robes, lined with gold filagree and made from heavy silks, "Your… priest" she said nervously, "awaits your communion."
His eyes snapped open, "Very well, leave me Milicent, I shall dress myself today."
She bowed, and left quickly and quietly after placing the robes on a small table near the bathtub. He rose slowly and stepped out of the bathtub, grabbing a towel that was hung on the rail nearby, he began to pat himself dry. His mind swan with scenarios and possibilities, and again he had to caution himself against thinking about them too deeply. He dressed himself and made way to his private Chapel. As he slid the bolt undone once more and made his way inside, his thoughts drown in doubts. The priest was in his usual spot, wrapped in the familiar black robes, and that all too unsettling crimson glow of the candles filled the room still.
The priest began to stand as he spoke, "Terack… you… are… distracted."
"She was attacked, by the Dark Eyes. What does it mean? Is she who we have been looking for?" Terack sounded anxious, this answer could mean so much.
"She means… something… to them." the priest groan out.
"What would you have me do?" Terack asked, his voice shaking.
"Let her… find… truth." The priest began to curl up in front of the altar again, Terack knew this signalled the end of the conversation.
Terack was frustrated as he took his leave from the Chapel, bolting the door closed when he got outside. Nothing. No answers just more questions. "No one must find out the priests true intentions and actions, yet I am to let her seek the truth? What does that even mean? What truth?" His thoughts raged like a hurricane in his mind as his confusion turned to a biting rage at the uncertainty of what would transpire. He returned to his chambers and had Milicent help him don his armour.
She sensed his turbulence and questioned, "My Lord, what disturbs you?"
"Its nothing Milicent." He dismissed her.
"My Lord?" she probed again.
"Enough, Milicent." his words coated in a weary anger. She bowed and continued to strap various pieces of his armour together and then on to him in silence. When he was fully dressed, he grabbed his Greatsword, and threw it round to his back, holding the straps and knitting the two ends of the belt together, securing the mighty weapon to his equally mighty frame.
He breathed heavily and took a moment for himself before commanding, "Milicent, fetch Commander Velixar… have him report to me at once."
"My Lord." she said in confirmation, before bowing and leaving with haste to carry out her masters wishes.
He was alone once again with his thoughts, and once again they wandered. He had searched for so long for any clue that could help him finally achieve his goals, even going so far as to align himself in secret with the loathsome Cultists… perverting the gifts of the necromancers to their own designs. But he had no other choice, his own investigations had proven fruitless, and none of his Inquisitors had come up with anything. The child was lost to time. He allowed himself one moment of desire and hopefulness amid the barren tides in his mind… maybe, she is connected, maybe he could finally find answers, and with them, find peace. He was broken from his inner wanderings by a knock at his chamber.
"Enter" he boomed.
"My Lord, Commander Velixar." Milicent opened the door and stepped aside to reveal the Commander.
"Thank you, Milicent, take your leave."
"Yes My Lord." she closed the door behind her as she left the two men alone.
"You sent for me My Lord?" Velixar questioned.
"Yes, please be seated." Terack sat himself at a large Firwood table, adorned with his breakfast offerings, Porga sausages, eggs fried in butter, breads and fruits, "Share a meal and a conversation with me."
"You honour me my Lord." Velixar bowed and took his seat, and they both began to add foods to their own plates.
"Velixar, I want to know more about the Dark Eyes attack."
"My Lord?" Velixar prompted him to continue through a mouth of sausage.
"Tell me, has anything come to light following about why they targeted her?" Terack himself was eyeing his Commander carefully studying for any examples of treachery.
"No, my Lord." he swallowed is morsel and continued, "Kayarona has no idea why they came for her the way they did, nor why their tactics appeared so different during this attack." he grabbed another small roll and bit into it, "however, I'd like to stress that she knows precious little of life outside of her village, so if there was anything to note, she likely would have not been the one to notice it."
"Hmmmm…" Terack groaned, "we should speak with her again, now she has had time to recover, it is my understanding she is to return to active duty today?"
Velixar nodded, and Terack continued, "Then I would like to see her before patrols begin today. Take my word to the barracks and have her briefed, Commander." Velixar shoved one more sausage in his mouth, and dusted his hands off before standing and saluting, "It will be done my Lord." after, he turned to take his leave. Terack started to feel that someone was keeping something form him, too much happened that could not be a mere coincidence. He would have answers.
Kayarona woke for the first time since the attack in her own bunk. She slowly pulled herself upright and sat there for a moment, her breathing still laboured and her mind still swimming, it had been over a week, but she was certainly feeling stronger, and she had been promised by her co-captains that she would be on light duties for a time, until she was back to her full strength. She checked herself over, moving was still a chore as it felt like her muscles were on fire with every flex and bend, her eyes still burned in the light for a time before they settled and even her bed clothes felt heavy against her body, minor swelling still in places and a couple of faint cuts still needing time to heal completely but other than that, physically at least she was feeling good to go, if still a little delicate. She started pulling her clothes on as Soren appeared at her bedside.
"Mornin' lass, how you feeling?" He brightly chirped as he approached her, sitting on the edge of her bed.
"Stronger, Soren, thank you." she winced as she pulled her arms through her jerkin, every fibre felt rough on her skin, and Soren rushed to help her, but she pushed him away with a look.
"Ya alright, lass?"
Kayarona chuckled, "I'm sure you've not tended to other wounded warriors with this much attention, so why me?"
Soren seemed a little taken aback by this comment, "I'll 'ave ya know, lass, I care for ev'ry one on my warriors, jus' like this."
"Well then I'm sorry to question you, but I'm fine really, just a little sore." Kayarona stood to keep getting dressed and Soren stood with her, gently cradling her back with one of his arms, helping to support her. As she rose a recruit walked towards them, "Captains" Soren nodded at him in acknoledgement and he continued, "Commander Velixar has asked to speak with Kayarona, please head up to the War Room as soon as you can." he saluted and left, his message delivered.
"Wheres Salec?" Kayarona asked.
"With the unit lass."
"I would like you both to come with me to speak with the Commander."
"One of us must stay with the troops, but I'll come with ya." Soren spoke softly as he released his friend to stand up on her own, and she stretched herself to stand straight.
"We can't tell him of the Dark Eyes warning, Soren." Kayarona sounded fearful that her friend would betray her trust.
Soren smiled gently, "I would'na tell if Terack himself asked, lass." he joked. They finished gathering Kayaronas equipment and started towards the War Room. They spoke in hush tones as they made their path.
"We need to find a way to gain access to the library at Gormang."
Soren Laughed, "Gromarg, lass, and aye, ya got any thoughts?"
Kayarona rolled her eyes at her failure to pronouce the name again, "Hmmm… we need to convince someone who can grant us access that we can find the answers there."
"Only Commanders can do that, maybe we can talk Velixar into it?" Soren suggested, "Do you trust the Dark Eyes, lass?"
Kayarona pondered the question for a moment then replied, "I don't know Soren, but there is something more to all of this, that much I am sure of, I don't think anyone is telling me the whole truth."
Soren nodded respectfully, "I can understand that, long as you still trust me?" his voice pitched up at the end, almost sheepishly and Kayarona couldn't help but chuckle at her friend.
"Of course you great oaf, else I wouldn't have told you any of this would I?" she punched his arm playfully.
Soren chuckled, "Still a harder punch than Salec." he laughed. They were not far from the war room and the conversation turned to idle small talk, as Kayaronas mind began to wander. Why would Velixar call her to the War Room in the first place? Normally, he would consult with the recruits in the barracks, he was not one for pomp and circumstance. It made Kayarona panic a little that this was not going to end well for her, but she reassured herself that she didn't know everything about the ways of the Lighthand and this could be normal procedure after an unusual event, like the Dark Eyes attack.
They made it to the War Room, and as expected, Velixar was outside waiting to greet them.
"Captains." he saluted as they made their way up the stairs to the massive double door that led to the War Room proper.
Kayarona and Soren returned the salute, "Commander." they both said one after the other.
"We only sent for Kayarona, why are you here also?" he gestured to Soren.
"Beggin' pardon, Commander, Captain Kayarona requested I join her."
"I see." Velixar looked puzzled, "I'm not sure how he will feel about this." he began to push the doors open.
"How who will feel?" Kayarona started, but as the doors opened further, her answer was revealed, as she saw sat at the head of the council table was Terack.
Kayarona let a small gasp slip out, and took a deep breath, turning to Soren hoping for comfort, his eyes were wide and he was just as stunned as she was.
Terack stood as Velixar ushered the pair into the room and to their seats, "Please join me, there is no need for alarm." he spoke and gestured to the empty seat, as each of his three guests took their respective place around the table, "We are merely here to discuss recent events." he sat down as everyone was in place, "Tell me, Kayarona, what do you know of the Dark Eyes?"
Kayarona became very aware of a cold sweat that was coating her skin, her back was chilled even though she felt like the room was getting hotter. Terack stared at her so precisely it felt like he could bore right through her bones with just his look. She gulped, "Not much, sir."
"My Lord." Velixar corrected her and nodded gently.
Kayarona began again, "I'm sorry, not much My Lord, mostly hearsay among the recruits. They claim that the Dark Eyes can move without trace, that they kill unmercifully and have sorcerers that command the darkness itself… and that they are shadows themselves."
Terack nodded patiently as she described her knowledge, "These are all correct in some form or another from what intelligence we have gathered."
Velixar added, "We have reason to believe the Dark Eyes act against the Light as they wish the world to be plunged into a godless, eternal and inescapable darkness. They have been trying to achieve this end since the Gods Age ended."
"It is why I established the Order of Light in the first instance," Terack rejoined the conversation, "and why we continue to fight their designs. A world bereft of the Light and given wholly to demons and shadow is not a world for mortal men." he lent forward, "So, given all this is what we know, why didn't they kill you?"
Kayaronas cold sweat seemed to get so much worse at this question and Teracks gaze intensified, Velixars eyes were also fixed on her. Soren shifted uncomfortably in his seat, but he remained silent and stoic. She was thankful for her friends solid presence at her side and steeled herself to lie to the Lord of all the Light. She took a deep but casual looking breath, "I honestly don't know, My Lord."
"Did you hear or see anything that might give them pause?" Velixar questioned.
"No, Commander." Both men sat back in their chairs, "It is a very curious situation we find ourselves in." Velixar pondered.
"Indeed Commander," Terack looked at Soren, "What do you make of these events Captain? You were there with your comrade, were you not?"
Soren looked just as off put as Kayarona was feeling, "Aye, that I was My Lord. But I'm not sure I saw anything she didn't. I agree tis a curious lot." he looked back at his friend and loosened his tensions slightly, "Per'aps, there are those more learned than us soldier types could 'elp?"
Everyone fell silent for a moment that felt like a lifetime to Kayarona, as Teracks piercing stare never left her. Every shift in her chair, every breath she took, Terack was watching, studying and judging and she could feel it. He did not trust her.
"There are precious few scholars in the Capitol, most of them reside at the library of Gromarg." Velixar seemed more to just speak into the air than to any one person at the table, "Perhaps if we gave the unit leave to travel there and ask among the researchers there, we could find some answers. They know more of evert facet of this world than any one soldier."
"A pragmatic proposal, Commander." Terack spoke quietly and for the first time let his eyes leave Kayarona as he mulled over the suggestion, "If we pursued this course of action, we'd have to change the patrol routes for every unit to cover their absence. It's at least a five day journey to Gromarg."
Kayarona started to get excited. By all accounts the truth of these matters could be settled by travelling to the library at Gromarg and talking to the scholars there. Her cheeks flushed red with anticipation and she sensed her companion was trying his hardest to contain himself also. It couldn't be made too obvious that this was the course of action they were seeking to undertake, it had to appear as though the choice was not theirs. Suspicions were already high and they knew they would have to maintain an appearance on utter and complete loyalty to the Light if they were to avail themselves of the resources that they offered.
"I'm confident we can manage, third company has just been re-enforced and we have two more units heading back from their respective hunts. It shouldn't take much to cover the unit patrols." Velixar spoke with determination, he belived in his suggestion and wanted answers just as much as Terack, though it was clear to Kayarona he put more trust in his soldiers than Terack had. Although, she thought, he was right not to trust her, as she knew she was lying to him. There was much more she could tell them but the illusion must be maintained for now.
"Thats settled that then" Terack stands, and the guests all stand in unison afterwards, "You and your unit will make travel to the great Library at Gromarg and do everything you can to discover the truth of what has transpired here." Everyone nods in agreement, as Terack finsihes, he stares daggers into Kayaronas mind once more, "Dismissed, go with the Light." he salutes.
The three soldiers salute their lord as he turns to depart the War Room. Velixar escorts the two captains back down to the barracks, conversing about various logistic preparations that need to be conducted so they can be ready to depart proper before offering his own salute and leaving the two to reunite with their unit. Kayarona and Soren continue to travel through the barracks making path towards the courtyard where Salec waits with the troops.
Salec greets them as they begin to come into view, opening his arms and hugging his friend when she gets close enough "Its good to see you up and about, lass," Kayarona returns his hug as several recruits mutter their own sentiments of relief, Salec loosens his hold and speaks to the meeting that just happened, "What in the gods name was all that about? We got told Velixar had called you both to the War Room?"
Soren speaks up, "We are to travel to Gromarg, brother." he smiles.
"You fuckin' what?" Salec is stunned at this revealation.
Kayarona smiles softly, "We have been given leave to try and figure out what is going on, Terack himself has charged us with this mission."
Salec abruptly shifts his gaze to Kayarona, "YOU WHAT?!"
Soren laughs, "Get the unit ready, we leavin' as soon as the Commander 'as made the arrangements." Salec is utterly confused and Soren continues, "We'll explain everything later brother."
"And much explaining is needed I think. But we still have a patrol to do today and we're late."
Kayarona shouted, "Lighthand we are on patrol, and we are late! LETS MOVE OUT!"
"AYE!" the soldiers roared back as they shuffled and mingled about getting themselves ready to leave on patrol.
"We'll talk more on the road, Salec"
"If I'd known you'd be this much trouble, lass," Salec grinned and leaned in closer, "I'd 'ave left ya at the Warriors Rest."
Kayarona jabbed his arm, as Salec giggled and Soren grabbed up Thunderstrike, they headed out on what might be their last routine patrol for some time.