King Takes Queen
It was the early morning, but one could never tell from the smog that blanketed the sky. It poured ceaselessly from the spire in the center of the Ikal Expanse, fed by the Black Formians through their strange Daemon magic. Flay watched it spread, her mind adrift, ignoring the aches in every joint and muscle of her body.
River: "Still no word?"
Flay looked across the campfire to River, who was preparing something that looked vaguely like food. With all the fighting, there'd been little time to forage, and the initial fires that started the conflict had destroyed most of their crops. Rations were getting smaller and smaller, and morale was running thin.
Flay: "No. Some dreams about my friends... But nothing about the Aga Jain."
In the past week, she'd had two dreams about reinforcements coming to Castrovel, but the Dreamer had not elected to elaborate further. Depending on where the Aga Jain was docked, it could take weeks to get here, and so she hadn't shared the news with anyone beside her inner circle -- Whispers, Dances, Clouds, and River.
River: "We just need to hope. Unari will light the path."
Flay: "River..." River shook her head, but she wouldn't look at Flay. Her eyes lit up, as if she meant to burrow through the stew pot with her gaze. River: "I still hear him, Flay. When I pray, I feel him. My magic comes from him."
Flay: "I-- I hope that's true."
River: "Good. We'll hope together... Although I wouldn't mind a sign."
???: "I believe that's my queue..." Flay's sword was in her hands before her feet hit the ground, White Flame lighting up the shadows of the jungle. River slid behind her, a spell building in one hand, the other clawing for her blaster. There was no one there. Or at least, not a first. A paw print pressed into the wet earth, and then the cat followed, ghosting into place like liquid poured into a cat-shaped glass. He was white and fluffy, with yellow eyes that could pierce the soul. Flay: "Chess! You're early!"
Chess: "Me? Never. I always show up when it's dramatically appropriate." Flay searched the skies, but there was no sign of a starship. Sensing her familiarity, River relaxed, but only a little. Chess: "The Aga Jain is a tad behind me, I'm afraid. They were in Near Space when I called, and they have business to complete there. But they should be here in time for the attack."
Flay: "Attack? Wait, you mean you won't help us now?" Chess chuckled, his eyes rotating in opposite directions, and then meeting back at their original positions. Chess: "Of course I am... But the plan hinges on you, Flay. The grandaughter of the great Beast in the Night... Unari's chosen, keeper of the undying flame." River stiffened, her face stilling to mask her emotions, but Flay saw the jealousy there... And relief? But this wasn't the time. Flay: "Okay. But if the attack is later... Why are you here now?"
Chess: "Aha, at last a delicate question. Perhaps you will impress me after all..." Chess tilted his ears, cleaning a pick of mud from his paws, and walked forward. With each step he grew larger, his torso soon rivaling her entire body, his tail thick enough to whip down trees. At the end of the transformation, a great tiger stood over them both, the firelight reflecting wildly in those yellow eyes. Chess: "Your training begins now, Flame in the Night."
Flay: "River..." River shook her head, but she wouldn't look at Flay. Her eyes lit up, as if she meant to burrow through the stew pot with her gaze. River: "I still hear him, Flay. When I pray, I feel him. My magic comes from him."
Flay: "I-- I hope that's true."
River: "Good. We'll hope together... Although I wouldn't mind a sign."
???: "I believe that's my queue..." Flay's sword was in her hands before her feet hit the ground, White Flame lighting up the shadows of the jungle. River slid behind her, a spell building in one hand, the other clawing for her blaster. There was no one there. Or at least, not a first. A paw print pressed into the wet earth, and then the cat followed, ghosting into place like liquid poured into a cat-shaped glass. He was white and fluffy, with yellow eyes that could pierce the soul. Flay: "Chess! You're early!"
Chess: "Me? Never. I always show up when it's dramatically appropriate." Flay searched the skies, but there was no sign of a starship. Sensing her familiarity, River relaxed, but only a little. Chess: "The Aga Jain is a tad behind me, I'm afraid. They were in Near Space when I called, and they have business to complete there. But they should be here in time for the attack."
Flay: "Attack? Wait, you mean you won't help us now?" Chess chuckled, his eyes rotating in opposite directions, and then meeting back at their original positions. Chess: "Of course I am... But the plan hinges on you, Flay. The grandaughter of the great Beast in the Night... Unari's chosen, keeper of the undying flame." River stiffened, her face stilling to mask her emotions, but Flay saw the jealousy there... And relief? But this wasn't the time. Flay: "Okay. But if the attack is later... Why are you here now?"
Chess: "Aha, at last a delicate question. Perhaps you will impress me after all..." Chess tilted his ears, cleaning a pick of mud from his paws, and walked forward. With each step he grew larger, his torso soon rivaling her entire body, his tail thick enough to whip down trees. At the end of the transformation, a great tiger stood over them both, the firelight reflecting wildly in those yellow eyes. Chess: "Your training begins now, Flame in the Night."
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