Dauntice Found

They left Sonnis with a small group of Enderman, Maiguh assured her the imprisonment was informal, she was a prisoner of the conflict. She sulked, but seemed to brighten when Dio was told to stay with her. After all Dio had to care for Rissa, who was still injured.

Maiguh, Onicent, Elsbeth and Maiguh's two daughters set off to find Dauntice. As they went and got closer and closer the evidence of damage was more and more frequent. There were craters on the land near the palace, in places things seemed almost scorched.

"What could have happened?" Elsbeth said in quiet tones. She was thinking about her mother.

"I am not quite sure," Maiguh admitted.

They headed for the water. It was eerily silent. The serpent twins did not come to greet them. Maiguh stayed slightly back from the waters edge. He could not find the courage to jump in, he was a dweller of the End, and alike to the Enderman was averse to water. Elsbeth on the other hand dived in before anyone could stop her.

Onicent looked toward the water himself and taking a breath dove in after her. That left the last three on the shores looking uncertain.

"Is it wise to leave her with him?" Dinetee said.

Maiguh nodded slightly, "he is her father. I will give him a fraction of faith for that. This may be hard for you, my daughters, but we must stand together."

They said nothing.

Below the surface Elsbeth did little spirals as she swam toward the castle. Onicent was not far behind her, watching as she went.

When they reached the palace they both knew immediately that something was wrong. All was quiet, not a sound came from anywhere. Elsbeth wandered the halls calling out names, Onicent took a different method, searching with his powers for signs of anyone.

"They are gone," Elsbeth said, she sounded lost.

Onicent nodded slightly at her, not sure if he should offer comfort. His last daughter had been hidden here, he knew not the fate of Feia. Slowly he turned to leave. Elsbeth though stood there in the hall.

"We have to keep searching," she said, arms crossed defiantly.

Onicent stopped when he heard her speak.

"My mother is out there somewhere." Elsbeth insisted. "Don't just do nothing! You're children are out there too!"

An older version of Onicent would have turned on her in fury, but he was tired. Instead he agree to search around the castle in the sea.

They found him not long after, he had been half buried in the mud. Dauntice looked worse for wear, his body was injured by the spiky fish. He had his eyes half closed. Onicent took him into his arms and carried him to the palace.

Dauntice started to wake up and called for Farren. Neither had the heart to tell him the truth. Using his power Onicent formed a platform under Dauntice and lifted him up and up toward the surface of the water.

Above water Maiguh watched as the broken form of his brother rose onto the surface. Together Onicent and Maiguh, though they hardly spoke to each other carried Dauntice towards the mountain. There, Dio would have potions for him. It was the first time the three brothers had been together since the older times. They did not fight or speak to each other. Instead they were mostly silent. Elsbeth and the other two girls defended them from the few monsters that came to challenge them. The night was quiet, unusually so.

When they returned to the mountain Dio began to give Dauntice the same potions he was using for Rissa. Dauntice begun to wake more, and then Onicent had to tell him the truth.

Both of them had lost their wives to the Enderdragon.