/boom

~~~~~~~

Dear Lexi,


Come home at once. Pappa is home and safe. I hope you haven't acted hastily or done anything foolish.


Azi

~~~~~~~


Azaeli read the letter once more with a frown, hoping it portrayed the right amount of caring and sternness that she would have shown her sister in person had she been there. She rolled up the parchment quickly and stamped it with her seal in blue wax, then gathered up the copies of rubbings in her arms and rushed them to the courier. It was midday, and Pappa was still soundly asleep. She would stay by his side until he awoke, and pray to hear from someone, anyone..soon.


~~~~~~~~~~

Dearest Tobyas and Crispian,


Pappa is home and safe, though I fear he isn't well. I have much to tell you, find included some rubbings for your consideration. I shall explain more when we meet face to face, could you come to see me?I wish your help and company as soon as you are available to give it.


Truly yours in friendship and need,

Azaeli

~~~~~~~~~


~~~~~~~~

Dear Ayslyn,


Your visit was not unwelcome, I hope to find you creeping about unexpectedly sometime soon. Please be in touch should anything come to you, and I will do the same.


Azaeli

~~~~~~~~


Pappa lay deadly still, breathing evenly as Azi brushed a graying golden lock of hair from his face.

"Cousin, you got a letter."


"A letter Twr... but, how?"


"Hm... good question, but here you go." Twr threw the scroll up to Lexi.


"Thank you Twr."


"Anytime Cousin." Twr said with a smile, going back downstairs shutting the door partially behind him.


'Come home at once. Pappa is home and safe. I hope you haven't acted hastily or done anything foolish.'


Lexi read the letter... then looked around her. 'What AM I doing here?' she thought, looking out the window into the lake. 'I came to meet a demon possessed old man? Why? Am I running from my problems again? Why didn't I stay with sis... and help her save father?' These thoughts raced through Lexi's head over and over. "I must go back..."


"Back cousin?" Twr returned with a mug of ale handing it to Lexi, in her thoughts he never saw Twr come back up. "Back where?"


Lexi took the mug, "Thank you Twr..." and set it aside, not drinking out of it. 'Can I really trust Twr? He isn't my real cousin... if I were to say I was going back would he let me?'


"Mine cousin, speak to me, what is the matter?"


Lexi looked around the room. She then noticed something on the scroll that she did not notice before... the seal. There was none. Lexi looked to Twr again, and knew instantly what the *matter* was, Twr read the letter. "Um, well, I had a fight with my old family. You know, the ones that took me in. That witch of a sister of mine is trying to get me to return to them, chain me up in thier rules and regulations you know how it is. I hate them, and I stabbed my so-called *Father* before I left." Lexi didn't know how to respond to Twr. All she knew of him was he wasn't her cousin... realizing this realized the danger she was in. The avalonians do not take kindly to strangers. Twr watched her unmoving. 'How much does he know?'


"ou said go back, you plan on returning to them cousin?"


"Um, no of course not Twr. I said I hated them, I would never go back."


Twr smiled. "That is good news Cousin, it'd be horrible if you left after only returning to us."


"Oh and Twr, I want to help out more." Twr raised a brow at her. "No I'm serious Twr, I mean cousin... I wish to help Olvryn Wynford, I have become a pretty good smith myself and Olvryn seems to be very busy. Two smiths in the area could be a great benefit..."


Twr eyed her carefully. "Hm... very well then cousin. He's outback getting some wood, why don't you go help him?"


"es Twr, of course." rising to her feet, she walked out with Twr close behind. "Just out back cousin?"


"es, and stick close to him... I have errands to run... see you soon cousin..."


"es cousin." she waved to Twr, then turned around the corner of the house, walking to the back of the woods she took off into a run, never stopping before she reached the station of snowdonia, then quickly mounting a horse she rode south to Camelot. 'Im coming home sis...' riding hard, not wanting to look back.

Sometimes the hand of fate moves erratically and suddenly.. sometimes there are forces guiding it... whatever the case, the Hibernians had attacked the relics of Midgard, allowing the opertunity for Albion to gain the Falls, albeit briefly. It had been enough time for Azaeli, thrice accursed be her name...


So she had taken the Vessel into her own home, along with her rescued father? Truely they knew not what they were dealing with! As he sat watching them, he caressed the cold form of the Vessel. He had tried once to possess a mere mortal, but it was impossible for a puny flesh covering to hold him now. It was not strong enough. That is why the Vessel had been created, to hold his essence when his servant ripped open the fabric of time and space to let him through. He would consume his servant entierly, and become more powerful than anything in existance, man or God.


He looked to the sleeping Judan. Let him slumber fully three days and three nights hence. He would awake to a new world.

The Vessel was almost ready. the last pieces of the Rebirth were moving into position, and Azaeli had unwittingly brought the moment nearer. The Vessel existed in both this realm and the mortal earth, halfway between them. To fully complete it's dual nature it needed to be fed one final component...


____________________


The young Infiltraitor rode hard on his mission. Inside his pact was an item of great value, at least so he was told. He had been warned expressly not to look upon it, and a handsome sum of gold was his for deilvering it safely. Marrak was going to get rich from this.

The change in the air told Marrak he was in the Black Mountains North now, and it wouldn't be long before he reached Barfog. But even as he drew into Snowdonia station he felt the strange lure of greed. Perhaps this item had even greater value to an interested party? But how would he know without looking?

Marrak quickly took a room at Snowdonia station, and had his hip-flask refilled. He never drank ales that any foe could just slip poison into. Making his way up to his room he felt the rush of breaking his word, for he'd always thrived on doing the wrong thing. He opened the box.


Inside was a carved ivory, or perhaps bone sculpture. Looking at it it seemed as if this were the head of something, like a staff, that had been snapped off. It was exquisitly made, almost lifelike, but white as a bleached bone.


It was the very image of a serpent.

Ceowyr stalked out towards the Church, arriving before dawn. He set himself up in a hidden priest-hole, and waited for Tobyas and Crispian to arrive. The boy cleric and his lover would pay dearly for crossing his Master. He'd slay the boy, and besmirch his name by planting these forbidden texts around him. By the time all was resolved the Rebirth would be complete, and all would tremble before him!

As dawn took root in the sky, he heard the tread of footsteps, and the voices of Crispian and Tobyas. Excellent.. now he'd just have to await Crispian's departure. He clutched his Pygmie Mace, and whispered devotions to his Master.


___________________________


Arcalan put on her new finest purple robes. She'd made an extra special effort changing hairstyle, applying very faint cosmetics to her eyes, and to her nails. She looked ready to attend a Royal banquet. Turned heads followed her as she gracefully strode through Camelot, and women were filled with envy. Arcalan had a purpose.


Her betrayal of the Master's wishes was terrible, it had eaten at her night after night. It had made her come to realise she was wrong, and must redouble her efforts for him to show him her love.

But Jashen still lingered in her mind. That infiltraitor had captivated her with his strong will and good looks. She would admit affection to no-one, for afterall this man's brother was that infuriating Crispian, a vile and backwards thinking dog. But she'd let him live and flourish for the sake of Jashen - she knew the brothers meant a great deal to one another.


She walked into the League Hall and sought out Jashen in the training room. At this time of the day he was the only one here, Crispian and Tobyas had set off to the library, and most others were out on the hunt. The frontier had been busy of late.

She approached jashen carefully so as not to startle him.

"Good morning Jashen" she said.

He stopped his swordplay, and bowed to her slightly. "Good morning lady Hemlos"

"Please" she said "Just Arcalan to you" she turned reddening slightly. Her heart beat fiercely in her chest and the words choaked her throat. How could she say what she was about to say? And how would he respond?


"Jashen.. Jashen" she faltered and then began at haste to speak "I am leaving for Llyn Barfog again today, for I have pressing concerns there. I want to ask you.. ask you to come with me again"

"To find Basaia?" he inquired.

"No. No, Jashen, I want you to join me, to be a part of what's coming. I want to share with you the power that will soon be ours. I have never admitted it, but you know I work towards greater ends, don't you?" he eyed her warily "I serve a powerful lord Jashen, the greatest of men, and kind, very kind of heart. He's coming back Jashen, and nothing, not even all the host of angels will stop him." she spoke with a twinkle in her eyes, a far off dreamy look "And I will be at his right hand. He'll unite the three realms under his power, and make us immortal like himself. Oh Jashen, he is no infernal demon, he was once a man, mortal like you or I... but he's so much more now." she sighed happily and then returned to her original purpose.

"Jashen, I have never cared about another so deeply since I lost my father. I have always been alone. But you.. you captivate me... I want you by my side Jashen, I want you to share this new beginning with me. The League will be his forerunners, bringing news of him to all nations, and I promise I shall take care of all the people here. Oh Jashen, it will be wonderful.. and we will be side by side, together forever!" her eyes glistened with tears of joy and her heart was fit to burst, she shook not a little and looked to him for his answer.

"Jashen, what do you say?"

The reeds along the lake shuddered in the wind as a distant rainstorm brewed over Barfog. Basaia stood with his leather leggins half-rolled up to his shins, standing upon the water's edge. His harpoon of bone thrust into the waters, procuring a small afanc. Handling the fish with the greatest of care, he took the spikey-finned half fish-half mammal and tossed it within the bucket of murky lakewater.


The old Duke gave a resilient smile as he waded back towards the shore. The small Avalonian village was within eyesight, though the path back was barred with a large host of silver-plated soldiers. Their smooth skin and their pearly-enameled armour shoen brilliantly despite the cloudcover, their halberd and polearm in hand stood resilient to the oncoming storm. Basaia looked curiously towards the body of soldiers, setting his bucket to his side.


With yet that motion, immediately, the Avalonian knights lowered upon one knee before him as he approached. The head knight removed his helmet, his stark-white hair cascading down his shoulders. Standing before Basaia he spoke -


"My Duke, Avalon calls...the Isle beckons again."

Azi sat beside Pappa, watching him. She was not worried. The worst was behind them, she knew. He was safe, and they were together. Still, she wished in desperation that he would wake and speak to her. Or that someone would arrive to call on them, for she was in dire need of some sort of comfort.


She turned her gaze to the lump of packs and shivered, pulling Pappa's arm around herself for reassurance.


((lil /bump amongst the SI madness))

Had it been so long, he pondered to himself?

____


He stood upright, a proud and old Avalonian before the polished mirror of his quarters. The Avalonian village had been haven for him and his peoples for many, many winters. The settlement, erected when Arthur was merely a child, was the retreat of the Avalonian of Caer Gothwaite. The soldiers of the old Duke layed down the mantle of war many years back, most becoming fishmongers and some even smugglers. Xenophobic, they were not open to travelers and strangers in their midsts, though this would change all too soon.


He rubbed his hand, a weathered and leathery hand through his visibly thinning white hair. Resembling a Britonian man easily in his late seventies, Basaia was worn thin from war and age. The inherant magicks of Avalon kept his spirit alive and his flesh young; it was the gift of King Evelake, or Arawn as his worshippers called him. Lo, the old Duke became ragged within his exile from the Isle of Glass, his soul torn and shredded by the promise of power and had all but betrayed every person in his family.


Yet, Evelake offered him salvation...and Avalon calls.


Donning his bronze plate armour, beaten and brazen with battle and hardship he then hefted his great shield to his side.


"Ma', how long'it ha'e been since I last had this in ma' hands..." the old Duke remarked to himself.


Bearing the weight of the metal carapace, he reached for his frayed cloak. The edges had lost their colour, faded visibly within the light of the eastern sun. The bronze brooch helped fasten each side to the shoulder pieces of his armour, though the attire was still not becoming, it's brilliance and emminance lost with his exile.


His final accompaniment was the most difficult to bear. It was not the heft of the body of steel he wore, nor was it the hammer-headed mace he bore at his side. The thin bejeweled crown, the symbol of his Dukedom, he held within his hands shakily. His glassy eyes passed downward towards the wreath of silver, his refelction captured within a single sapphire on the head of the crown.


Avalon calls....


Basaia, the once-proud Duke of Caer Gothwaite, bore the crown around his forehead; stark-white hair falling near his ears. The vision of his youth, the proudness of being Avalonian, the great Tor of Avalon City and the winds of change gave the old Duke a renewed vigor.


"It's time...ta'e return home."

Lexi rode as fast as she ever before. Her paranoia drove her to speed home, lest the ones who chased after her would bring her back... Dismounting at the gates she found herself sprinting home, never stopping. Tired, full of sweat, and worn from the journey she managed a smile as she came upon her Hammerfel home. She turned to open the door... locked... "SIS! FATHER! I'm home... please open up!" She banged on the door, a guard came over to her in the night with his sword drawn, causing Lexi to jump back. The guard sighed, putting away his blade then looked to her.


"ou cause much commotion this late at night youn... oh, it's YOU..."


Lexi forced a charming smile as she could. Almost every guard in the city knew her by now... and not because of good things either... "Um... yes... I was just trying to get inside my home..."


The guard let out a "HMPH", not believing her one bit.


"Honest sir..."


"Then where is your key?"


Lexi searched her pockets... 'Where IS my key? Must've dropped it...' "Um... I dropped it sir... lost it... please, these folks adopted me, I wouldn't do them any harm!"


"Adopted then cast you out eh?" he said with a smirk. "Last I heard the young Azi was at her father's shop."


"Oh! That explains it! Thank you!"


Lexi turned but then had her arm grabbed and spun back around. "Listen here... I don't want to hear you causing any trouble, or else..." saying the last two words very firmly. Lexi gulped. "Now it is night-time, and your father and sister are probably asleep. I suggest you goto a tavern for now, and see them in the morning. You wouldn't want me to hear any citizens complaining about a young lass running around waking people up would we?"


"... yes, sir..."


"Very well." he released her arm. "Now go, I'm on patrol this night, and I will hear if you gotten into any trouble."


Lexi nodded, running off to the tavern, but then looking back out at the dark street. The guard was continuing his partol... 'Father's shop aint far from here...' running off back down the street.


Turning the corner, she approached the shop. Walking over she knocked on the window. "Sis, father, you inside?" She knocked on the window again.


"I thought I told you to wait!" She heard the guard's voice behind her.

Jashen pondered for a moment. Tucked safely away in his old vault was a terse, six page draft from Tobyas, reflections on what had happened at Ludlow and what the portent of it could, and most likely would, be. He looked at the blazing, glistening eyes of Arcalan. Sadly, he shook his head.


"Arcalan, you've come so close at times to turning from that course," he said as his brows furrowed. "ou ask me to make a choice I cannot make, for what it offers. Though my heart might again break, and sorrow be my sole consolation, I cannot in truth or good faith," he said with a blessing gesture, "agree to that."


He watched the scowl form on her face and rage build for a moment. "Understand that I have to oppose this, if it is as all seems to suggest. I'm sorry, Arcalan, I truly am."

 

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