Light and the Night Sky

False Light

The human was weeding her way into the court of Morvanna as easily as a fox slipped into a den, Riven wondered how he had fought a war against this Court for so long and not won. Truly a shame. At least that was his thoughts until her startled eyes met his. She was hovering above her chair, eyes glowing white with a blank expression on her face. It was just a moment but he knew he had seen it.

When she demanded with those angry green eyes to heal a female with the sickness? The incurable plague that took all that it touched? Ridiculous. Yet, Riven let her try. The young High Lord of Morvanna believes that she is the Sheild that Guards the Realms of Men, the bringer of light. The one sent by the Goddess herself.

No matter how many ridiculous names the human tries to assume, she is just mortal.

Yet, Iridessa began to breathe easier. The color coming back to her skin, the strain leaving her body. They had been partners, friends for decades, and seeing her come back from the dead was nearly a miracle.

Glancing behind him, he heard the silent footsteps of the second son Sorren. In a low tone, the child spoke. “She is the light bringer.”

Riven emitted a warning growl, one that Sorren respected. “She is human.”

Before leaving, Sorren mumbled quietly. “She can be both.”

Time passed slowly,

The human stood frozen over Iridessa’s form for longer than he cared for however, what he truly could not stand was the distress that crossed the humans face as she struggled with their tongue. There was no place for her kind here. He watched the human leave before moving to his friend’s side, he could hear her breathing that was struggling not long ago but now was easier.

What confused him was her scent, she had been covered with a sickly stench that no amount of bathing could cleanse. Now the scent was gone, no trace left behind. This proved nothing. Riven sat next to his friend and nodded to the fae beside her, giving person to do the final prayer. Riven may not believe in the false god however Iridessa never wavered in her faith, she deserved this mercy.

When the male was done, they walked her back to her room where they stayed the rest of the day waiting for the end that never came. The plague is always fatal but not always contractable. By these final stages, the rage begins and then the end. When night fell and Iridessa was still resting quietly, Riven accepted that they judged the signs wrong and the rage was not going to appear tonight.

Accepting this, he stood. “Keep a guard, send for me if she worsens.”

The young fae bowed his head and returned to his watch. “Yes, my Lord.”

Riven strode away, his thick clothes tugging at his skin. They had ridden from the eastern province to get here by this time, the Court of Morvanna was the only Court left that openly worship Hecate and still had an altar. Their alliance was still in its infancy, so arriving here without permission was a strain that the Lord had to risk.

Growling, Riven walked around the corner to his common resting space. He noted a bird folk was quickly walking toward him, to his distain stepped in front of the door he was to walk through. “For give me, My Lord. We have arranged different sleeping quarters for yourself during this stay.”

A deep rumbled filled the silence, reflecting his irritation. “I have stayed here, always.” He could smell the fear wafting from the bird folk.

“My apologies, these are the light bringers quarters.”

Again, the human again. Riven walked pass the bird folk and slammed open the door. By the end, the human had the gall to tell him to stop talking? This is before she was on the floor. Looking down at her in disgust, he looked back at the bird folk. “Put her on the bed.”

Laughter echoed from the hall, Riven knew it was Lirael before he walked through the doorway. The Lord of Morvanna looked pleased at the human at the ground. “That was the most I have heard Daphne speak. She must dislike you.” He walked forward and grabbed the human, no Daphne, by her slender shoulders and picked her up slowly.

Sorren was standing in the door behind him, Riven’s body tensed in response. They were not at war any longer however, they would pose a significate threat to his life if they chose to fight.

“The girl,” Lirael paused looking down at the human, shifting some of her light red hair away from her face. “Is learning. We are the last of the believers, which is why Hecate delivered her to us for safekeeping.” Looking up to meet Riven’s gaze, a challenge rooted in the young Lord’s eyes. “She is my ward, you do not have to believe but you will respect that.”

It took a few moments to reign in his feelings of rage, the only thing that quelled his urge to challenge the Lord was knowing why the war was ended. The war was killing the strongest of them, while the plague was killing anyone in its path. At this rate, there would be no one left.

“My new rooms.” He said sharply.

The Lord motioned to the bird folk, he turned to leave but was stopped with a sharp “Oh, Riven.”

Turning back to Lirael, he gave him a questioning look.

“I will expect you for morning meal, Sorren, Daphne and I usually eat in the smaller chamber.” Looking back at the human, Lirael was joined by Sorren. They were taken in by a fantasy that just wasn’t real.

“Yes.”

He strode from the room and stalked after the quickly retreating bird folk. The lack of taste in his company was of no consequence to Riven. If Lirael wanted to fawn after a false light bringer, then he could waste his time.