The Forsaken Hero

I nodded, clutching R’lissea’s hand tighter. It was true that my allies were stronger, but the real reason was much simpler. Our potential foes were just that much weaker. I could summon Borealis, Fable, and perhaps a thousand other demons with a simple wave of my staff.

It had mattered in Blacksand because there were foes who could kill me before that, but there were no ninth-level beings here. Even the archmage, the strongest elf in the kingdom, was only eighth-level. Perhaps, were they a physically oriented being, I would worry. But mages were too slow. Fyren could handle them alone, much less buy me enough time to escape.

We entered the central keep, walking into a grand hallway with a vaulted ceiling. Magically preserved murals decorated the walls, showing elvish cities, armies, and leaders. Crystal chandeliers hung from the ceiling, shaped like branches and twisting vines, illuminating the hall. More guards stood at attention, posted at doors leading off into the keep.

We took another hallway from there, then another, each more grand than the last. Finally, we emerged in a spacious room even more breathtaking than the rest. Twenty-foot-tall statues of Elvish heroes dominated the sides, carved into the very pillars that supported the towering ceiling. Stained glass windows on the roof, some two hundred feet above, sent shafts of colored light dancing across the floor. Elves dressed in regal clothing of silk and satin mingled between the pillars, leaving the central floor clear. On the far side of the massive hall was a raised dais and a throne.

Sitting on the throne was an old elf with white hair and heavy wrinkles. He wore a deep purple robe trimmed with gold, and a ceremonial sword at his gold-threaded belt. His soul placed him at the beginning stages of the sixth level. Around him were five sixth-level guards and a seventh. Their eyes bored into us, weapons drawn and in hand. The seventh was a woman with short-cropped hair and a spear with a sword-like blade, reminding me of Victor’s.

Our escort moved aside as we entered, greeting the lord with sharp salutes. He raised his hand, dismissing them, and they faded to the sides, falling behind the assembled nobles.

”You have brought a great evil to my holy city,” the lord said, standing. There was a deep frown carved across his face.

”Lord Greenpine,” R’lissea said, stepping forward. She drew herself up to her full height, slight as that was, her expression solemn. ”I am R’lissea, the Life Hero. I had the pleasure of visiting this city once, some years ago.”

I followed after her, gripping my skirt tightly. it wasn’t so much in fear, but because if I relaxed, I was worried I would curtsey. With so many nobles and aristocrats gathered, every instinct I had was shouted at me to lower my eyes and show as much obeisance as I could.

”I know who you are, hero, and I know the one with you. Xiviyah, the defeated. Self-proclaimed Oracle of Eternity.” Lord Greenpine spat, glowering at me.

A cold pressure suffused the air, radiating from R’lissea in waves. The weaker nobles stiffened, driven back against the walls, and even the lord’s personal guards drew shallow breaths. Lord Greenpine paled, clenching his jaw.

”That was most unpleasant, Lord Greenpine. I won’t hear you disrespect my friend like that,” R’lissea said in a quiet voice that rocked the room. She took another step forward, forcing the elves an unconscious step back.

”Hero?” There was a tremor in the lord’s voice. ”What do you mean by associating with this demon? Are you not aware of the atrocities she’s committed against our world? Against our people?”

”We have no quarrel with the elves,” I said, tail swishing anxiously. ”We’ve come here to save you from the Risen and demons.”

He snorted, falling back into his throne. ”You’ve brought a horde to my doorstep. Hardly the actions of a savior. But what could we expect from a filthblood?”

The pressure increased, and he gasped, fingers digging into the polished wood of his throne. A few nobles passed out, unable to suffer the burden of R’lissea’s aura. I shivered as she took another step forward. Her presence was always so warm and comforting, like the summer sun or the gentle caress of a spring breeze. But now it was cold and sharp, like a rose’s thorns, and rigid like unyielding oak.

”R’lissea,” I said worriedly, touching her sleeve, but she shook me off.

”No, Xiviyah. Not this time.” Her hands closed into fists. There was hurt in her voice. ”I’ve longed for this place ever since the day I was brought back to the Divine Throne. TO think it’s filled with the same hateful scum that dwell among human lands. Lord Greenpine, I won’t ask again. You will treat Xiviyah with the respect and dignity you deserve, or watch as your lands burn around you.”

I gasped, my hand recoiling to my chest. There was such venom in her words, venom I hadn’t known was possible in her gentle soul. Korra took my hand, pulling me back slightly. I realized, with a start, she was placing herself between me and the throne. Or, more accurately, the seventh-level ranger, who had an arrow knocked.

”R’lissea, that’s enough,” Elise said suddenly. She drifted forward, lips pursed in a thoughtful form.

R’lissea relaxed as she laid a hand on her shoulder. The entire room took a collective breath, sagging in relief. Even the seventh-level ranger looked a little pale, despite being about the same strength as the Life Hero.

”The disgraced daughter of Ornth,” Lord Greenpine muttered, rubbing his head. His shoulders heaved as he caught his breath. ”Why am I not surprised?”

Elise faltered a step before catching herself, hiding her lapse by moving a thick lock of golden hair over her shoulder.

”I’ve heard of you before,” she said, looking into the eyes of the lord. He seemed remarkably steady, given R’lissea’s threat.

”Your father spoke of me, no doubt. We had many dealings, before...” the Lord sighed, waving his hand. ”What do you want?

”The Tribunal has made their decision, haven’t they?” she asked.

He went rigid, his ears giving an involuntary twitch. ”...they’re always making decisions. It’s their role as the head of this nation.”

”I see. And you disagree with it.”

”I’m afraid I don’t understand what you’re saying. It’s even less intelligent than this filth--oracle,” the lord said, glancing at R’lissea.

”When did the order come? Yesterday? The day before? No wonder the people treated us so fearfully,” Elise murmured.

”What’s she talking about?” Korra whispered.

I shrugged. ”Just let her go. She’s way more talented at things like this than me. I’m sure she’ll tell us afterward.”

Lord Greenpine leaned forward, glaring at Elise. ”I’ve allowed your presumptions because of my relationship with your father, but I’m afraid anymore insolence--”

”Souls are worth nothing to the gods,” Elise interrupted. ”They’ll sacrifice kingdom after kingdom. It’s what they did to Britain and Blacksand. It’s what the Tribunal decided Sylvarus is going to do, isn’t it? But what about you? What is the worth of your city, of your people? It’s obvious you care for them, else you wouldn’t have gathered so many refugees here for safety. There are too many mouths to feed, and you lack the manpower to properly protect them. You may think you’re doing the right thing, but if you continue on this path, they will all die. You may as well feed them to the demons camped without your valley.”

”What do you know of making sacrifices?” Greenpine spat.

Elise flinched. She touched her chest, faintly, before hiding her hands behind her back. ”I know what it is that it be sacrificed. A casualty in a war I didn’t start, nor did I want any part in. You’ve heard of that, haven’t you? Of the horrors I suffered in Brithlite. It wasn’t the demons that did that to me, but the church. And if you obey the Tribunal, the best case scenario is that the same thing that happened to me will happen to each of your people.”

Lord Greenpine was silent for a long time. He stared at us, but his eyes were far away and distant, filled with dull shadows. The entire room held its breath, the nobles and guards shifting anxiously. I gripped Korra’s hand tightly, and she pulled me closer, again keeping herself between me and the guards.

After an eternity, Lord Greenpine blinked, shaking his head. He sat back, shoulders slumping.

”Perhaps...there is something to what you say. Why, exactly, have you come? To what end do you speak these words?”

I started to step forward, opening my mouth to explain, but Elise cut me off, giving me a wink.

”Please, Xiviyah. Let me take care of this. There is much we have to discuss, and it would be best if he did it with a familiar face.”

”Familiar?” Lord Greenpine snorted. ”Fine. Take them to the guest quarters and post a detail. You know what to do,” he said, speaking to the soldiers who escorted us here.

The lead soldier looked about to protest, but one look at his Lord’s steely expression, and he saluted.

”Please, follow me,” he said, not meeting our eyes.

As we followed him, I looked over my shoulder at Elise. She cut a small, frail profile against he room of nobles and lords, but she faced it bravely. Her lip curled in a smile, and she gave me a wink, whispering something. I squinted, struggling to read her lips, but caught only the word ’trust’ before she turned back to Lord Greenpine.

Trust. Could I trust her? Perhaps, a month ago, I would fret, but now...?

”I’ll leave it to you,” I whispered, turning without another look back.

Without another look back, I turned and followed the others through a side passage, deeper into the keep. Things hadn’t gone as I’d hoped, but...trust. I could do that. We would save the shards. We had to.