Greetings all
After a short break, we're back, and here is today's update. Be sure to check up on what @zakludick has been up to, as he is busy setting up all our future villains.
The rest of the castle was asleep, though there were a few soldiers scattered throughout the hallways. If they were curious as to where Letulah had come from, they didn’t show it. That made her believe that the rumours she had been hearing were very much true.
“So, the twins. How old are they now?” she asked.
“Fifteen soon.” Mary guided her and Adiran to a private chamber they had set up earlier. “Though you’d think Magna is 30 with the way she carries on. Too much like her father that one.”
Adiran grunted under his breath but said nothing further.
“So why not use the front door?” asked Mary.
“It has been too long, and I didn’t know if you would even want to see me. It has been over a decade.”
“Well, I’m glad you are here all the same. I’m glad you came.”
“So, you really got an old woman to spread ridiculous rumours to bait me out. How did you even know I would be here?”
“I didn’t know. I was taking a chance. I assumed that if you still considered me a friend you would occasionally stop in but not talk. Also, those weren’t rumours but truth.”
Mary opened a door and ushered the pair in. Letulah was shocked to find others already gathered around a large round table.
“Some introductions are needed I think.” Said Mary as she gently nudged Letulah into the room.
Adiran closed the door behind them and muttered a spell to seal it and prevent outside ears from listening in.
Mortis stood up and gave a stiff bow, his mummified face betraying no emotion, much like Letty’s face. Next to him, sitting on the edge of the table, was what appeared to be a small, blonde girl. However, the leaves growing throughout her hair told Letulah that this was no normal child. There was a large silver wolf that sat with its forepaws on the table which seemed to have its tail wrapped around a young woman. Letulah didn’t need to ask who she was, she looked exactly like her mother did when she was younger.
Letulah then looked at the second last member of the party and assumed that this was the other half of the pair. Sitting quite close to him was the biggest greenskin Letulah had ever seen in her life.
Keeping her shock to herself, she took a few minutes drinking in the features of those before her, then turned to Mary.
“You keep interesting company for a queen of the realm.”
“She is another Clarpratian!” the child jumped from the table to come stand before Letty.
She looked her up and down and even touched her clothing for a minute before recoiling.
“How are you still cursed when I freed the land?”
Letulah fixed Mary with a glare and demanded, “Why would you tell anyone?”
Mary raised her hands in a show that this had nothing to do with her.
“Letulah, it’s a long story, sit.”
Letulah didn’t move but did nothing as Mary and Adiran sat down. Now the entire table was looking at her, and the strange child was still attempting to touch her clothes again.
“This is wrong. You should be free. I freed all my people. Your curse wasn’t as deep as Sebastian and Bellatrix’s. You should be free.” The child had tears in her eyes.
Vitex, sit down.
The voice resounded in her head, but Letulah instinctively knew it had come from the wolf. She looked at it and wondered if it too was a Clarpratian.
“Oh no, the boy is from Loghaven.” Said Vitex, “And is my avatar.”
Vitex turned to Adiran and stated, “She shouldn’t still be cursed. It is odd.”
“Of course, I am cursed. Many from Clarprati were cursed with strange powers. At least those who got out in time. Those that didn’t became monstrosities.”
“Letty, Clarprati is free.” Said Mary.
“Bullshit!”
“Manners.” Said Adiran.
Then, before her very eyes, the wolf turned into a grinning man. As soon as he turned, Vitex came to sit next to him with a grin on her face.
“This may seem strange, but the country of Clarprati is free.” Spoke Mortis.
Letulah turned to look at him and wondered what his involvement was. Walking, intellectual undead was something she was used to, but this one seemed different.
“Letty, please sit down. There is a reason I tried to get your attention.”
Letulah looked around the table and was almost ready to bolt when the undead made his way toward her. He bowed once more and indicated that she should take his seat. Unnerved by the move, she seated herself between Adiran and Vitex.
“The revenant is Mortis, guardian to my daughter. The wolf is Derric, a member of a race that used to occupy a country known as Loghaven. Lost to us for centuries. Gorma is an orc from the same era.” Started Mary.
Letulah raised her hands, begging Mary to stop.
“None of the rumours covered this.”
“Would you prefer us to tell you that my brother and I are meant to be vessels to two ancient god-like beings who just last year nearly destroyed our kingdom?” Snapped the princess.
“That would be Magna, fiery-tempered, just like her avatar.” Said the other twin as he stood up. “I’m Adrian, the vessel to the Cold One.”
That name made Letulah grow cold. She knew that name and not from rumours but from fact. Darius was working for others who worked with the Cold One. She stared at the young man until he finally sat down, looking dejected that she hadn’t acknowledged him.
She traced his face with her eyes, put it in the back of her memory, and then slowly turned to look at Adiran. The resemblance was uncanny. Too uncanny. Letulah had seen many things in her escapades, and while some would think that the man next to her fathered the boy, she knew better. She could feel they weren’t related, not in the conventional sense of the matter.
“Not very clever.” She said with a chuckle.
“Excuse me?” said Mary.
Letulah pointed to Adrian and then Adiran, “Only switching a letter around? Really. Did that fool anyone?”
“It fooled everyone for years. I’m surprised you weren’t fooled.” Said Adiran.
Letulah allowed herself to relax at last. She then looked at Mary and said, “Okay, let’s hear the story that brought all these people together and why you need me.”
And now it's back to Zak
Here is an explanation of Chain Stories and here is the current Chainstory Library
Mortis Custos
Sanguifex
Vetitum Nemus
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