The Forsaken Hero

We sailed into Duskwood airspace shortly after midnight, beneath a full canvas of stars. Shortly into the flight, Commander Whitemarsh had cornered me with Selena and squeezed me dry, asking so many questions I lost track of what answers I’d already given. As the ship came to a rest, I groaned, rubbing my horn, and let out a yawn. From what I could remember, they hadn’t managed to pry anything too secret out of me.

Commander Whitemarsh thanked us yet again, promising to set up an audience with Lady Whitemarsh, his grandmother and head of the Whitemarsh House. Selena called a carriage, but I dozed off against Fable before it arrived. I was barely cognizant on the entire ride back, remembering only the moment Luxxa literally carried me out of the carriage, and when she laid me in my bed. I clung to her, mumbling incoherently as she tried to pull away, but she extricated herself.

The next I knew, light streamed through the sheer curtains covering the balcony windows. I yawned sleepily, sitting up and rubbing my eyes. A slight twinge in my side caused me to wince. Everything ached from the tip of my horns to my tail, like I hadn’t slept at all. My soul, on the other hand, felt fantastic. Exerting it yesterday, testing its limits, had brushed the cobwebs off, filling me with warm, gentle power. If only the strain on my body wasn’t so great.

After letting the maids bathe and dress me, I found Elise and Aerion having tea in one of the small outdoor pavilions in the gardens. Elise rose gracefully as I approached, greeting me with a smile and a quick hug.

”Good morning. Or afternoon, I suppose,” she said cheerfully.

I nodded, smothering another yawn as I glanced at the sun. It was well past its zenith.

”I heard you were quite the force,” Aerion said, leaning back and giving me an appraising look. ”They say you defeated an eighth-level Risen dragon on your own.”

”Not really. Fable did most of the work,” I admitted. ”But R’lissea and Korra did great. They managed to defeat Connor.”

Elise took my hands, beaming. ”Don’t be so modest! Because of you, we were able to secure an audience with Lady Whitemarsh.”

”Really? I’m glad,” I gave a small, relieved smile. Commander Whitemarsh was true to his word, it seemed. ”But isn’t that a little soon? We just got back last night.”

”It’s not for a few days. Early next week, in the morning. You’ll have to get up early if you want to go,” she said with a giggle.

Elise pulled me into the chair next to hers, waving to a servant to pour me some tea. I sipped it slowly, content to watch as Elise and Aerion began reviewing a document. It was several pages long, written in Elise’s clean, neat handwriting. A proposal for Lord Splitbark, apparently. Our previous conditions had been their lives and shards for the demon’s occupation, and now the two were looking at adding more concessions, like guaranteeing specific trade routes and additional restrictions for demons passing through Sylvarus.

Once they were satisfied with the current draft, Elise spent the time catching me up on the events in the city. Tensions were rising between the commoners and noble houses. Civil unrest was common, forcing the city guards to nearly double their patrols to keep the peace. Restrictions had grown tighter on nonelves, too, leaving us vulnerable to on-the-spot investigations and questioning by city officials.

”Is that because of the Risen?” I asked, brow knit in confusion.

She shook her head. ”Apparently, another demon cult was discovered–before they could act this time, fortunately. But it was in the city itself, forcing everyone to be on high alert.”

”Demonkin?”

Aerion nodded. ”My sources say most were humans, but there were a few demonkin and beastkin. None of which were supposed to be in the city.”

”Strange.” I pursed my lips. ”I wonder where they came from, and why they’re acting up? Most of the escaped slaves and rogues were gathered up in Luke’s army. They have orders not to interfere with us.”

”Perhaps they belong to a different faction,” Elise said. ”You said that not all the demons are happy with the plan to spare Sylvarus.”

”Maybe, but I don’t like it. Rash’alon’s faction was the only one that really opposed us and would risk disobeying Luke. But he’s gone, and the rest of his demons were slaughtered if they didn’t accept Luke’s mark.”

”I don’t pretend to know much about demon affairs, but is it possible this...Rash’alon is still acting from the shadows? Might he have agents that weren’t with the rest of the horde when they were forced to submit?” Aerion asked. He rubbed his chin, sighing wryly. ”It’s what I would have done.”

I shiver ran down my spine and tail. ”I hope not, but...I don’t know. Maybe Fyren or Incinderus has heard something. I’ll ask them to keep an eye out.”

Elise coughed lightly, clearing her throat. ”Sorry, I didn’t mean to kill the mood. Just thought you should know.”

I nodded, swallowing the lump in my throat. ”It’s alright. We’re at war. A little reminder of that never hurts.”

Aerion stood, nodding at an attendant, who ran off toward the manor. ”It’s been a pleasure, Lady Lastlight, Oracle, but I’m afraid I have business to attend to. I trust I’m welcome to join you tomorrow?”

Elise rose hurriedly, giving him a small, polite curtsy. ”We would welcome you.”

I flinched, gripping my skirt. Aerion didn’t seem to notice and walked away, dragging the rest of the guards with him. I let out a small breath as he left, one I’d been holding since sitting down.

”Is everything alright? You look a little pale,” Elise said softly.

”Is it that obvious?” I ran a hand over my horn, letting myself sag into the chair. ”It’s Aerion. Has he been...strange, recently?”

”Hmmm.” Elise tilted her head. ”No, I don’t think so. He’s always a little eccentric, but no more so than usual. Why? Should he be?”

”No, it’s just that...no, it’s nothing.”

She nodded slowly, and I could tell she didn’t fully believe me.

I shifted anxiously, the tip of my tail curling around the chair leg. ”Um, about the Risen, R’lissea found a way to counteract the black mist. She said she’d go back to develop it with Selena once she’s tested it some more,” I said.

Elise’s eyes narrowed. ”You’re terrible at changing the subject. You saw something, didn’t you. What was it?”

”It’s just, um...Aerion. He saw the inquisitor. Lord Evlon.”

She gasped. ”What? When?”

”I don’t know. And maybe it hasn’t even happened, or won’t altogether. I don’t know. I just saw a little.” I lowered my head, biting my lip. ”I’m sorry.”

”Why are you apologizing? I’ve known in my gut he’s a suspicious character for a long time. It’s nice ot have evidence to validate that.”

”But we still have to work with him.”

She pursed her lips. ”Work? Maybe. But honestly, it’s more like using. He’s using us to get what he wants, just as we’re using him. His name, his power, his influence among the younger generations...everything.”

”I don’t like it. I don’t like using people. And being used,” I admitted.

She nodded solemnly. ”I know, I feel the same. But there’s a difference between us and the circle. We’re not doing it because we want to, but because we have to. And the ways we use people are honest. You only fought the Risen because it would help us here, right? Would Alverin have done that?”

I shook my head wordlessly.

”Exactly. There’s no good and evil in this world, not anymore. All that’s left are those who have and will survive. If using Aerion’s connections helps us there, I won’t hesitate.”

”Even if he betrays us?” I asked in a small voice.

”Even then. But now that we know he might, we can be on guard. It makes it easy for us to know he might partner with the church, because they only want one thing. You. That means we don’t have to worry about me, or Korra, or anyone else. Just keep your guards and demons close, and even if it’s Aerion, he won’t find it easy to make a move.”

”...thank you,” I said after a long pause. ”I didn’t think of it like that.”

She gave me a small smile. ”Scheming’s my job, remember? Now, why don’t we head in? It’s getting late.”

As we returned to the manor, I pondered her words. There was something soothing about telling her, a weight removed from my chest. And she was right. We didn’t know if Aerion would turn traitor, but if he did, we wouldn’t be at a disadvantage in power anymore. I couldn’t remember the last time it was like that. For once, it was our enemies that hid in the shadows, and we who walked in the open.