The Forsaken Hero

”Xiviyah! You can’t do that. They swore to follow you,” Elise gasped, staring at me. Her soft, amber eyes widened in startled surprise. Fearful, maybe.

”For a season, perhaps. But many of them left friends and family behind, on a quest for vengeance against the church and Circle. They’ve grown strong in their many battles, with few remaining beneath third-level, but they’ve also grown tired. They’re ready for home.”

”But that’s...you’re serious, aren’t you.” She rubbed her forehead, staring at the scroll. At last, she looked at me again. ”They’re really going home?”

I nodded. ”Just as soon as I convince them I don’t need them anymore. I’m hoping Bethiv will help.”

”If Bethiv were to go back, it would be far easier to...no, I still haven’t said I’d do anything,” she said, shaking her head vehemently.

”Why not?” I stood, walking over to the window and looking out over the gardens. ”You said it yourself, you won’t be accepted in Sylvarus or Ornth.”

She hesitated, absently chewing on a strand of hair. ”Do you really think I could do it? Could I make a difference?”

I turned to her with a smile. ”Absolutely. Just like you did in Blacksand, and here in Sylvarus. Only, you’ll be fighting for yourself. For your own people.”

”I need some time,” she said, clasping her hands in her lap, staring at the letter from her father.

”What for?”

She flinched. ”Because I...ha, maybe you’re right about this, too.” She let out a pent-up breath and stood. Her gaze lingered before her hands clenched into fists. A single magic circle, glowing red. The letter crackled and curled, igniting with a small spark of orange flame that consumed it from the inside out. The spell winked out, a gentle draft stirring the fine white ash in its wake.

”Alright, I’ll trust you,” she said solemnly.

I moved, taking her hands and lacing our fingers together. ”I know you can do it. I’ll be with you all the way, in vision and prayer. I promise.”

She gave me a half smile. ”I wonder how much good that’ll do from across the world. Also, I should mention I’m only going if the Company is. I’ve no interest in hiking all that way just to be laughed at and tossed out.”

”Then, shall we go see them?” I started toward the door, tugging her after me, before I froze and groaned, my tail drooping. ”Oh. I just remembered. Bethiv declined taking a skyship back. It’ll be another week or two before he returns.”

She squeezed my hand, her smile warm. ”You’re awfully enthusiastic about this.”

I blushed, my tail twitching for a different reason. ”That’s because I know how much the people there need you.”

”Then it wouldn’t do for me to rush into this. I can do much of it during the journey, but I’ll need time to draft plans and prepare for arrival. That’s another thing to learn from Aerion, I suppose. Before you tear down the old, make sure you have something to replace it with. Speaking of him, it’s probably best if we inform him of my intentions now. That’ll help him make a decision regarding the southern kingdoms. What’s left of them, that is.”

We left her chambers and made our way across the manor. But before we could even reach the grand staircases, a blur of red and white flashed around a corner, practically leaping at me. The Star Guard reacted instantly, hands on their weapons, but they relaxed as they recognized my assailant.

”Sari!” I cried, stumbling from the force of her hug. Was it just me, or did she actually weigh more than I did?

”You’re back! I knew you’d win!” she cried, nuzzling my cheek with hers. The soft, downy fur of her foxkin ears brushed my horn, sending a tingle across my scalp.

”Calm down, you’ll squeeze me to death,” I gasped, frantically patting her back.

”I heard all about the ninth-level dragon from Korra. Did you and Fable really defeat it?”

”Ninth-level?” Elies gasped. ”You didn’t mention that!”

”Didn’t I?” My tail curled as I gave a helpless smile. ”Must have slipped my mind. You were more important.”

”I’m flattered, but...wow.”

Sari nodded excitedly. ”Korra said you were so cool, ordering the armies around and everything. Even Aerion had to listen to you!”

”That’s King Aerion, to you,” Elies said, giving her a sharp look.

The foxkin rolled her eyes. ”Fine, King Aerion. But he’s still a bit of a prick.”

”Don’t let any of the elves catch you saying that. They’re sticklers for decorum, you know. And even if you’re a guest, you’re still just a commoner.”

”Even Alverin treated me better than that. Who do these elves think they are?”

Their bickering sounded rote and played out, and I couldn’t help but smile. ”You’ve been teaching her?”

”Everything I know about courts and nobility, both human and elf,” Elise admitted. ”She practically begged me to.”

”Did not,” Sari said, turning her head with a sniff. ”I wanted you to teach me magic, but all you’ll talk about is politics. I’ve been so bored since you left, Xiviyah. Emlica must be dying to see me again.”

I chuckled. ”Somehow, I doubt that.”

”Actually, Sari, there is something I have to tell you,” Elise said, sobering up. ”I’ve decided to return to Brithlite.”

Sari’s ears shot straight up as she gawked at her. ”What? You did? When?”

”Just now, when I was talking with Xiviyah. I’d like you to come with me.”

”No way,” she shook her head vehemently. ”I’m sticking with Xiviyah as I promised.”

”Oh, Sari...” I sighed, resting a hand on her shoulder. ”I’m sorry, but you can’t.”

She stuck her lower lip out in a pout. ”Why not?”

I shook my head, a pit in my stomach. It wasn’t fair that she could look at me like that. ”What about Ror? And Tanna and Sorrin? Don’t you want to see them again?”

She wavered, her lip quivering. ”I...I do, but what about you?”

”You’re worried about...me?” I looked away as my warmth blossomed in my chest, fighting the moisture gathering in my eyes. ”You shouldn’t concern yourself with that. My burdens, my shadows, are too heavy for you to carry. They’re my responsibility.”

”But I want to help.”

I took a breath, composing myself. ”You already have. I never could have gotten this far without you. Not with Luke, or anything. But right now, you need to focus on yourself. You’re still young, still a girl. There will be plenty of time for you to worry about adult matters later.”

”I’m not a child anymore,” she reared up, perking her ears to get as much height as she could. She needn’t bother, she was already taller than me.

”I know, but you’re still learning. And the people of Heartland need you. They need your magic, your courage, your strength. And Elise needs you, too. More than anyone can know yet.”

Elise blinked, taking a half-step back, but I ignored her, sweeping Sari into a hug. She resisted, stiff as a board.

”Can you do that for me? Can you take care of her?” I whispered.

A tremor ran through her slender frame, her ears slowly sinking again. She returned the hug, burying her head in my shoulder. I stroked her back, noting with a bemused smile as her tail began to swish.

”I’ll make sure nothing happens to her,” she whispered back. ”But do we have to leave now? Can’t there be more time?”

”Not yet. But soon.”

”We were just on our way to discuss that with the king, actually,” Elise said, still looking at me, her brow furrowed.

”Why don’t you go see Emlica while we talk? We’ll let you know once we make any plans,” I* suggested.

Sari nodded, scampering into Haven as I opened the gate. I let out a long, tired breath as it closed behind her, slumping on my feet.

”She’s a little much,” I mumbled, rubbing my eyes.

Elise shrugged. ”She was practically raised by the soldiers. It’s only natural she’s a little headstrong. Being doted on by the remnants doesn’t help, either.”

I could only nod, feeling a small twinge of guilt inside. ”I wish there had been a chance to send her back to Heartland before everything happened.”

”I’m sure she’ll end up alright. After all, look at us!”

I chuckled and shook my head. ”Right. Nothing wrong here at all.”

The hallways felt lighter and brighter as we continued along our way until we arrived at Aerion’s study. The royal guards looked about to send us away, claiming Aerion needed rest after the long journey, but Selena stuck her head out. With a single glare, she got us through unmolested.

Aerion sat in a heavy, cushioned chair behind his desk, masking his exhaustion with a diplomatic smile. ”To what do I owe the pleasure, Oracle? I still have yet to thank you for your contributions during the battle. Without your visions, we never would have been able to track down and defeat every one of the liches in time.”

I waved him off, long since bored with the constant platitudes the elves had been giving me. Elise cleared her throat, giving a small curtsey. His eyes narrowed, sensing the weight with which we came.

”King Aerion, I’ve come to formally request your blessing,” she said, lowering her head even more.

Aerion’s eyebrows rose. ”My blessing? Are you here to declare your intentions to reclaim your homeland?”

She shook her head, and his brow hiked even higher.

”Thank you, your majesty, but no.”

Aerion’s brow rose even higher as she shook her head. ”Then what? To remain in Sylvarus? I believe I’ve already told you that you’re always welcome in our halls.”

Elise looked up, her eyes bright with resolve. ”I’ll be returning to Brithlite, your majesty. I intend to claim the throne.”