Chapter 20: Endings and Beginnings

Savren waited in the small chamber in silent vigil. He had remained in the room since he returned, refusing all guests. Upon the altar before him lay Trelyana. The magicks wrought upon her were terrible indeed, but it was possible that his love could bring her back to him. At least, that is what both his Master and the Lady Murelle had said. He prayed daily to his Goddess for both strength and patience. The magicks that warped her mainly affected her unique nature. She was born of a Vampire, and shared many traits with her mother, but she was also part human, and also shared traits with her blood sire. She would never be fully human or vampire, and while she seemed at times cold and distance, it was her own way of keeping others at bay. His interest in her and his asking of her to partake in his Offering helped bring her out of her shell. Her mother was pleased that someone had taken interest in her daughter, and was equally pleased that she cared about the young sorcerer enough to inquire to the General his mate-price. The core of her current state was her soul. During her captivity and servitude to Cymra, she was forced to do many dark and terrible things, reduced to the state of that of a simple, mindless beast. Savren's appearance shocked her, and in some way, she tried to protect him in an animalistic way. The question remained, was he strong enough to stand by her as she was now, and was she strong enough to forgive herself.

So Savren kept to his vigil. He ate sparingly, and tapped into reserves during the times he felt himself begin to falter. He cast no spells during this time, only remained himself. Part of him despaired in that she would never return to him, but he held on. She was the only one for him, and he resolved if she would not return to him, he would journey to her. His resolve was routed in iron will, and he would endure.

Her eyes fluttered.

His heart skipped a beat.

"Where?" The raspy voice echoed from her throat.

Savren rose and brought a goblet of wine to her parched lips. He brought her head up so she could sip. Her eyes flickered from the wine to his face, and the scars that decorated his neck. She started to move away, but he held her close.

"It is okay my Lady."

"I did that to you..."

"It is okay."

She shook her head. "I hurt you terribly."

"I love you."

Her eyes widened slightly at his statement, and she could taste the truth of it. The wine was cut with his own blood.

"What happened to you was unforeseen." Savren spoke. "But it is over and done with. Cymra is dead and the crystal destroyed."

"You saved me."

"I did what I had to do." He helped her sit up. "Both your mother and Lady Esmerelda said it would take time for you to regain your full strength."

"Will you stand by me?"

"Yes." He stared into her eyes. "Without a doubt."

"Forever?"

"Forever."

Clara stepped into the High Priestess chambers and knelt. "You wished you see me your reverence?"

The High Priestess handed Clara a scroll. "This arrived this morning, addressed to you."

Clara accepted the scroll and unrolled it.

"My darling Clara,

By the time you read this, I will be on board a ship for the Island Republics. My initial assessment in searching out the geas of my quest was wrong, but in many ways, it was right. I have been given a lead on a great evil that is currently stalking Demitros, and Goddess willing, I will be back with you soon. Know that I love you, and will always be yours.

Love, Toril"

Clara blinked back tears and crushed the scroll to her.

"He has passed his first test?" The High Priestess gently asked.

She nodded. "He is going to the Island Republics, looking for the object of his second geas."

"Then his trip to the Empire was productive."

"Productive?"

"A great threat to the stability of the world has been removed, the actions of Iceholme will be curtailed for a while. And he has learned several truths that will be of great benefit to him."

"He knows the truth of our order then?"

"After a fashion." The High Priestess shrugged. "He accepted the Goddess as his own, and taken the first steps as her champion. His quest will be long and hard, but if he can survive Lady Murelle, he will survive most dangers."

"I will pray for his safe return."

"As will I."

Toril stood on the railing of the galley as the waves rocked across the bow. In the distance he could see the outline of the shore that was Gilead. He reached out with his hand to as if to wave to a distant figure.

"You alright kid?"

He turned to Aerick. "I am fine."

The resurrection of Aerick was a chancy thing, involving many forces within and without, with assistance from a distance Guardian. The two stopped in Iilead after leaving the Empire so that Aerick could turn over command of his Mercenaries to his second in command, and offered to travel with the young paladin on his quest. As to his survival, all Aerick spoke of was his tie to the earth, and that the spirits of the earth would not let him go... at least, not yet...

Kieron awoke in darkness, struggling from the nightmare of the days before. He felt his neck many times, but there were no marks, no abrasions from the rough hemp that he dreamed encircled his neck nightly. The fires of the chamber were banked low, and cast dim shadows along the walls. A pair of eyes stared at him from the darkness, and then stepped into the dim light. His aunt was dressed in her formal robes of office, in her hands a set of heavy silken robes and cloaks.

"Come... it is time."

He slipped out of the bed and padded across the gulf between them. She pulled him into a tight embrace.

"Your mother would have been proud of you." She whispered.

"Nothing has changed, has it?"

"Everything changes Kieron. You have avenged your parents, and ended a threat to the Empire."

"And don't forget the warm reception in the aftermath."

She stroked the back of his head. "By blood, Cymra was of the Royal House and of the Empire. You 'killed' her in quite a spectacular fashion, and as such, you are in many ways a threat to the Empire."

"And the penalty for murder is death." Kieron spoke. "But she didn't die."

"Toril has spoken with Murelle about the incident. It seems that Cymra was possessed a long time ago, probably due to her ventures into the darker magicks, and while that spirit inhabited her she could not die."

"And Toril banished that spirit."

"Indeed." Serena nodded. "Once that spirit had fled Cymra died, and you were taken because it was your sword impaling her.

"You worry too much." Serena spoke. "Hallia has interceded on your behalf with the Empress, and you will not be executed or imprisoned."

Kieron was silent.

"Are you having second thoughts about becoming her mate?"

"No." Kieron shook his head. "I love her."

Serena smiled at him and released him. "Here, since your mother is not here to help you, it is up to me to make sure you are properly attired." She set the robes down and opened up a small case hidden in the volumous silks. She with drew a set of butter soft leather straps and quickly affixed them to his penis, making sure he was secure in his chastity. A set of leather wrist and ankle cuffs followed, and a thin silver chain several feet in length linked them. A white silk loin cloth was wrapped around his waist, and followed by several layers of cloaks. A final cloak was draped over his head, totally obscuring him from view.