"So that's aberration? The fact that she-"
Mi'ishaen was interrupted by a rapid fire pecking. She repressed the urge to look for the messenger, but Silveredge looked up into the few pitiful trees that grew low in the area.
"I suppose it is late enough at night to be early morning," she commented softly, "but it's unusual to hear the stirring of birds-"
And then she herself was cut off by the sudden, sharp cry of some large bird- the sound of it stopped all her forward motion, which surprised Mi'ishaen into stillness next to her. A split second later, she noticed that she had closed some of the precious little distance between their bodies.
"Are you alright?" she asked, leaning forward slightly to look into Silveredge's face. The Shadar-kai shook her head quickly, and with a look of distant concern.
"Betzal- I'm certain that's Betzal-"
Another avian screech- a higher one- echoed up to the two females standing still in the massive graveyard. Niku bounced around in front of them without barking, and Mi'ishaen began looking up into the trees herself. She caught movement on the horizon that gave toward the docks, and turned her back on it quickly.
"Do you know that second one?" she asked after a few moments of silence had gone by.
The rapid pecking came again, and Silveredge finally caught hold of Mi'ishaen's hand.
"I don't know who that is," she responded quietly. "Elder Sakhma doesn't have a companion, so the only other raven down there is Vashte. And I can't remember ever hearing her voice."
"Maybe it's some bird out here, then," Mi'ishaen reasoned, feeling strangely weighted by Silveredge's grasp.
"There's no bird out here," Silveredge breathed quietly, releasing Mi'ishaen's hand and turning her attention to the entrance of the catacombs. "There are shadows, though. Long ones. Perhaps you will go look at them."
"I- they're not going to let me down there, you know," Mi'ishaen called as the Shadar-kai moved away. "You're the convert, not me. They're liable to make me a permanent resident."
"My lord, the Shepherd Aric, is kind- remember when I told you? Not even when Bahlzair spat in the fire did he wish any harm to him," Silveredge reminded gently as she began to descend. "I'll wait for you, though, in the hall."
Mi'ishaen turned around and looked up again, then moved down away from the source of the tapping- toward the water. In a few minutes, she was intercepted by a figure that stepped out of the shadow of a stark, leafless tree.
"She's smart, Dodge," a Human male breathed, coming close to her at once. "You're trying to play it down, but she's gonna be on the business end of a knife or a arrow pretty soon."
"Dark can talk to her like a woman," Mi'ishaen replied. "Just like she did to me. And she hasn't witnessed anything, so if somebody starts-"
"She hasn't," the Human admitted. "you're right. She doesn't go looking for trouble, but if she keeps point blank seeing right through-"
"I said, let Dark handle her like a grown woman. She deserves it. She's a pickpocket extraordinaire, and she can disappear into any shadow naturally- I've seen her do it. And she's got a better handle on how to manipulate people than anyone would ever give her credit for at first glance- sometimes I don't even know what she's really saying. She's a born rogue; I can vouch for her."
The dark haired, rosy faced young man looked deeply into the red eyes before him until they had to tear themselves away. He sighed deeply, but quietly, telling himself that he would, in fact, remind Dark that the Shadar-kai did have a proven affinity with the shadows.
"Well, here's the message- the Cormite convoy sent for Leath- um- for the Dragonborn isn't gonna come 'til tomorrow, because a Semmite ambush busted the cart to shit and killed nearly half the soldiers. Everybody left has to go on foot. Dark says if you wanna go, she can make a place for you in the company. And she's already gotten to work on that ring research- wanted to get started on it as soon as we heard about it."
"You guys eavesdrop just a little too much," Mi'ishaen grumbled. "I guess I was going to ask her, but whatever. Tell her that if I get a place, Silveredge gets talked to like a grown woman. It's her ring we're looking for anyway, and I can promise that I'm not going to be nice to anybody who tries to get rid of her 'for the good of Spectre'."
"I'll tell her, I'll tell her," the messenger laughed lightly. "We've got a day to tie the ends up, so come on up out of this hole as soon as you can."
Mi'ishaen turned away from the Human, walking back toward the entrance to the catacombs. It was so plain, so like a simple hole stuck into the ground, that she passed it twice- and as she did, got an opportunity to notice some of the engravings on the plethora of tombstones that spread out around it. This or that man, killed by Semmite siege, this or that woman, died in childbirth, this or that noble killed in honorable combat, this or that child, lost to disease. Another sharp bird cry alerted Mi'ishaen to her reverie as well as to the entrance to the catacombs, and she descended the cut stone stair quickly. Once she'd gone so low that she could no longer see the sky, a carved hallway stretched before her. At the other end, where the hallway began to slope downward again, there stood an old, scarred man with a staff and a vigorously young- if a bit pale- man who stood right next to him. Both males sported large black birds on their shoulders, as though they were falconers. Silveredge knelt before them both, which sparked a defiant spirit in the Tiefling, who couldn't keep her feelings from powering her steps and rising into her face.
"Welcome, child," the older male said calmly, his worn, reedy voice settling into Mi'ishaen's bones like heavy clay. "It is good to at last meet the one for whose fate this dedicant has so faithfully prayed." On his shoulder, the large black bird turned its head so that one of its eyes stared directly at the Tiefling, who felt irked by its gaze.
"You chose well, lamb," the pale male said to Silveredge. "Surely this one will keep a knee in your back for the rest of your days."
"Who the hell are you?" Mi'ishaen asked immediately, inexplicably insulted by the comment.
"This is Elder Vhalan, who is the chain master," Silveredge explained, turning her head over her shoulder. "He is very perceptive, in his way. And this is Shepherd Aric, who leads us all- he is blessed with the beyond-sight."
"Well, they can both keep it to themselves, thank you so very much," Mi'ishaen stated flatly. "Do what you have to do here and let's go- we have a convoy to catch."
"I go where you will have me," Silveredge replied. "I hope my masters will understand?"
"They're not your masters," Mi'ishaen replied, squeezing her eyes shut as she realized her own words. "No one is- you get to choose where you want to go. I-"
"I'm glad you thought to bring me along," Silveredge interrupted, turning half way around to put a hand on Mi'ishaen's foot.
"You'll always have a place here, my daughter," Aric smiled. "No matter how far you go."
"And I will expect you to continue honing your understanding of your implement," Vhalan added. As he spoke, Mi'ishaen got a glimpse of his fangs and nearly jumped. "Interesting- your fear flashes quickly before your violent response like a streak of lightning before a torrential downpour. Not rank, more- like still-warm coals in a furnace- I suppose it's the touch of the Hells."
"And you all sit down here with a vampire like that?" Mi'ishaen shot back, feeling again as though she'd been insulted. "What are you, all insane?"
"I have known Elder Vhalan for some time," Aric replied simply, adjusting his stance around his cane with a phantom, well-hidden pain. "There are stronger forces at work here than you can now imagine- though it may come, in time. If you will allow it, of course. I have no doubt that Jyklihaimra will find in you a loyalty very similar to that which I find in this my brother. Indeed, and it must exceed it, in order to survive."
"Oh, that's enough," Mi'ishaen spat, lifting her arms in surrender. "I can see why Bahlzair- okay, never mind. Just- just never mind." With that, the Tiefling turned and marched right back up and out of the hallway to the catacombs.
"She tries so hard to give you the freedom that she cherishes," Vhalan smirked. "But you crave her dominance- you invite it."
"I'll go with her," Silveredge breathed. "It's what she wishes."
"Have you learned so little, lamb?" the vampire replied, reaching down to lift the Shadar-kai to her feet. "Speak of and for yourself. You wish to be with her." He brushed her cheek with the back of two of his fingers and sighed. "Even without Aric's blessing or my curse, you know her. You can feel her feelings as you do magic- truly a gift of your delicate soul."
"My lord will forgive my leaving?" Silveredge asked hopefully. "I have spent so little time as your student."
"There was time enough," Vhalan replied. "You must be much better when you return. What I have been will be weak and haphazard in comparison to what I will be."
On his shoulder, Vashte turned her head to one side and ruffled her feathers, as though she were showing off. Silveredge, who remembered her old perch, simply smiled.
Above ground, Mi'ishaen was slowly making her way back toward the Dark Quarter when she saw a familiar figure moving down toward the entrance to the catacombs.
"Hey- Seyashen?" she called, relatively certain that there was only one maimed Tiefling in the town.
"Mi'ishaen!" Seyashen replied gratefully, quickly making his way to her. "I'd figured I might find you near Silveredge- well, I at least figured I could ask her where you were. Are you too converted to the ways of the Raven Queen?"
"For gods' sakes, no," Mi'ishaen sighed, rolling her eyes. "The day someone can explain to me why they think the gods are responsible for the outcomes in their lives and actually make logical sense, then you may have to worry about that, but since that'll never happen, just assume that I'll believe in greed, hate, war and death until the ending of the world."
"Love," Seyashen prompted. "Don't forget love."
"You've seen it; I remember," Mi'ishaen shrugged. "What were you looking for me for?"
"A convoy's coming for Aleksei from Cormyr," Seyashen replied. "Seems as though he's going to have his head poked at- and for whatever reason, the Merchant Council didn't trust the Bone College to do the poking. I-"
"What, did they stop and ask you for directions?" Mi'ishaen laughed. "I thought Aleksei was supposed to be publicly punished somehow, not shipped off to the dream land that no one here has apparently ever seen."
"Iaden," Seyashen sighed heavily. "I would have stayed quiet in the Bone College cellars, if Iaden hadn't kept asking me to tell you."
Mi'ishaen stared at Seyashen as though he'd just admitted to eating his own offal.
"My older brother has been dead for years."
Seyashen's form seemed to wither slightly, as though Mi'ishaen's terse statement had been the radiant and unforgiving glare of the noonday sun.
"I know."
"So then how-"
"He's here," Seyashen interrupted, his voice very small. "They all- they're always here. With me. Hundreds of spirits, walking between, around and through the living, looking over their shoulders, whispering unheard messages- but, I can hear them. I hear them all."
"He's here?" Mi'ishaen asked, trying to keep the cynicism out of her voice.
"Yes."
"And he told you about Aleksei?"
"I wouldn't have known any other way," Seyashen replied simply. "I study with the Master Inquisitor Semnemac. Sometimes he doesn't come out of the Stonerows for days- and I stay right with him, until I have to eat, or bathe. He- people think he's mad, but- but it's just like it is for me. He sees everything I do- it's the first time I've ever met anyone like me. But sometimes things on the outside world go by. I honestly would not have known anything about Aleksei even being imprisoned if it hadn't been for Iaden."
"Why would Iaden even care about Aleksei?" Mi'ishaen frowned. "He died fighting Dragonborn-"
"He died doing as he was commanded," Seyashen corrected. "There was no hate in him, you know there wasn't. There's no hate in you, either- just bitterness. He gave his life protecting his home-"
"Which fell apart anyway," Mi'ishaen interrupted sharply.
"He regrets that!" Seyashen charged. "He regrets leaving you. If he had it to do again, he wouldn't. He-"
For a few moments, the hornless Tiefling's golden eyes looked at something else- there was a sliding of focus so strange that Mi'ishaen wanted to check his back for fatal knives or arrows.
"He would have taken- taken you with him to- back to Maelvalle or-"
"To where?" Mi'ishaen suddenly interjected.
"Maelvalle," Seyashen repeated, his eyes abruptly refocusing. "Where he-"
"And where was I born?"
"Vor Kragal," Seyashen replied, confused. "Why-"
"What did Mama call Papa when she thought we weren't listening?"
Mi'ishaen felt a strange chill, as though a breeze had just passed. Not a single leaf on any tree moved, however, and she watched as Seyashen's eyes glazed over again- just for a few seconds.
"Mencho."
"What did he do with his precious stone collection?"
Mi'ishaen stared directly into Seyashen's eyes, and watched them lose focus for a breath before snapping back into living reality.
"Sold it," he said, nearly whispering. "to buy Noc'mala. Please believe me, he-"
Mi'ishaen closed her eyes and held up a hand to shush her cousin.
"Tell him he's got nothing to regret. He did what he was told- he was the responsible one- the good one."
"But he's also the dead one," Seyashen urged, moving forward and grabbing Mi'ishaen's shoulders before she had time to move away. "He's glad you question things more than he ever did. He's very proud of you."
"Maelvalle collapsed," Mi'ishaen shot suddenly, not sure where the anger that suddenly laced her voice had come from. "It fell into the Hells or something, so we'd both have been dead anyway! I probably wouldn't have wanted to go; I'd have been scared. But he was always brave, always. Tell him that. He did what he had to, and I understand, I do. Tell him it's- that I'm fine. Tell him I-" Mi'ishaen stopped herself and sighed deeply. "Never mind. I'll find this convoy, see this Cormyr for myself- you coming too?"
Seyashen shook his head as he released his cousin and backed up a pace. "I've applied for permanent registration- for citizenship. I have so much to learn-"
"From a madman?"
"From a man who sees exactly what I see, and hears exactly what I hear," Seyashen reminded. "Maybe madness is the price I'll pay someday, but it's better than what- it's better than being a bitter old lich, how's that?"
And surprisingly, Mi'ishaen stepped forward and hugged Seyashen tightly. "You're all the family I have left. You'd better not undead-ify yourself, or go crazy, or just disappear or something."
Seyashen accepted, then returned the embrace. "If I promise not to undead-ify myself or go crazy, will you promise me that you'll learn to read and write?"
Mi'ishaen didn't bother to ask how he knew that she was illiterate, assuming that either she'd told him herself or he'd spoken to some spirit who didn't know how to keep a secret. "I'll try. You know, Iaden didn't, either."
"So he said," Seyashen laughed lightly. "It's never too late to learn- even for him."
"So you two will- I dunno, I guess stick around each other?" Mi'ishaen asked, leaning back to look up at Seyashen's golden gaze.
"I've done significant research on precisely what happened to him," Seyashen replied with a sigh as he released the embrace completely. "It seems that one of the lords of the Hells enchanted Noc'mala and made him a death knight- he has more leeway than most other spirits, and can come and go as he wishes with no other focus than the desire to spread death and destruction."
Mi'ishaen shrugged. "That's not really his style. Knowing him, he'll wait until he gets told to spread death and destruction, and then he'll ask precisely how many people need to catch it."
The chill breeze passed by again, and Mi'ishaen shivered in spite of herself, feeling as though it had gone straight through her clothing and into her bones.
"That would have been a hug," Seyashen explained apologetically.
"I'll take it," Mi'ishaen smirked, rubbing the back of her neck with her knuckles. "Take care of each other, you two."
A grateful smile spread across Seyashen's face, and with one final, tight hug, he turned and moved back up toward the Bone College. Mi'ishaen pivoted slightly to watch him go, but still caught the nearly imperceptible sound of movement just off to her right side. She chose not to turn toward it just yet.
"How much did you hear?"
"The whole thing," Silveredge admitted quietly, stopping her advance immediately. Much farther behind, Niku obediently sat with his heavy head on both paws. "I lost my sisters. All three of them. I was the only one that survived the tiarnaí- they just- couldn't."
Mi'ishaen stared straight ahead of her, not willing to move a muscle. Silveredge, sensing a Bahlzair-like need to hurt something, finished her intended movement to her side and knelt down.
"At this hour, I should be training," she admitted quietly.
Mi'ishaen reached a hand out to Silveredge without looking at her. "I have a lot to do."
"If you tell me what to put my hands to, it's done," Silveredge replied calmly.
"Remember that time when Aleksei said we were both his wives, and you just went right along with it like he was right?"
Niku, somehow feeling as though something exciting were going to happen soon, got up and trotted to close the distance between himself and Silveredge, who took Mi'ishaen's hand and stood.
"I'm going to get some things from the place I was staying," Mi'ishaen concluded, taking Silveredge's silence as an encouragement. "Meet me at the mouth of the prisons tomorrow?"
And in response, Mi'ishaen felt her hand get squeezed ever so gently.
In the distance, a tapping began again.
Both women ignored it.
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