126. Of trust, rules and a little tale

Cassandra Pendragon

I wouldn't have spared him a second glance in the street, if I had met him accidentally. A small, gaunt male with a greying chin beard and thinning hair, somewhere between blonde and brown, clad in a simple, brown robe. His squinting eyes were half covered by his reflective glasses and when he smiled, I could spot a missing tooth in his upper jaw. Only the huge paw prints around him hinted at his hidden nature.

"I've only ever heard rumours, or rather the rumour about rumours," he continued, "half forgotten tales about different planets and the wider cosmos where we dragons are but one of a million different species, all struggling to survive. I never believed in them until I saw you, Viyara. I know you can't feel it yet but you're aura, your presence… it's much stronger than it should be, even considering your origins. I can taste the touch of eternity in your blood and it humbles me."

He leisurely strolled over to another cask and conjured a tankard with a flourishing gesture. After he had filled and emptied it twice in quick succession he belched and added: "a little, at least. Now, I think I've explained myself in more detail than I have in a long time and I'd like to get your side of the story. Preferably without any glaring holes or veiled insinuations. Who is this sorcerer you've hinted at and why are there two immortals on my world?"

"A bit more than that, actually," I replied. "The more I come to know, the more it feels like the answers to your questions are closely linked, if not the same, but I don't know them. All I have are memories and the worst week of my life. I'll gladly tell you what I know, but I fear it's not that much yet. We are… have you heard the name Amon before? Or maybe even met him?"

"I haven't, but I've been around when he crawled from the shadows and burned the largest empire this world had seen to the ground. I've heard of him, oh yes. But he vanished across the ocean, long before this continent was shattered, a ghost from the past, for all I know."

"The ghost has returned, quite literally. He hasn't come here in the flesh, yet, but his will already taints the land and brings suffering to all he turns his attention to. He knows of me and he wants my power, as well as our freedom. Aided by one of my cousins, he strives to again hold dominion over these lands and my people as well as your son have fallen victim to his schemes. At the moment, he's the one we have to deal with for should we fail, not even the dragons will be save anymore."

"Now I've got a question," Ahri interjected. "Before you said that it'd be possible for her to forge a name of her own. Is that true? Could she become accepted as one of you? Or could I, for that matter? Could we try to gain the support of your people?" He digested what I had said right alongside another swig from his tankard before he answered:

"Yes, we are an arrogant people but if it became known what you are, what you both are, no one would object. Some might even try to push you in that direction. But I have to wonder, is that what you want? As it stands, maybe a handful of dragons could identify what Viyara is becoming or what you are. That would change. Who you are, what you are, would be obvious to any dragon at first glance. While only the most foolish or desperate would needlessly seek a fight with you, we are greedy by nature. I can't imagine that there won't be several attempts to either manipulate, blackmail or outright kill you from the shadows. Galathon had already succumbed to your enemy, from what Viyara told me, it stands to reason that he isn't the only one. Also, we don't have many rules but you'd be bound by them."

"Such as?"

"If you make a promise, everyone who shares your name will be bound by it. If you are defeated and the victor claims your name, he'll inherit your favours, your promises, your legacy... your family. I'm not sure if you're capable to find a way around that or if it would even be binding for you and yours but usually it is." Had Shafeer expected to be killed at one point? Was that the reason why he had never imprinted his family? It seemed likely but I was hesitant to ask, it didn't change much and it basically was none of my business.

"What do you think we should do?" I asked. "Between what Viyara already told you and what I've just explained, you know of the challenges we have to face. What would you do?"

"I'd probably retreat with those I care about to a mountain range that's high enough that nobody could bother me and let things sort themselves out. In a couple of centuries the woes of today won't be more than a distant memory. But I imagine that's not what you want to hear, much less do… Who's this cousin of yours and how does he tie back into your story? It's hard to offer advice when you only know half of what has happened. Or don't you know yourself?" Viyara picked that moment to transform herself, a welcome distraction since I wasn't sure what to say.

My past, our past was convoluted enough as it seemed. What was I supposed to tell him? Corruption might or might not be spreading through the ranks of the immortals and I had died in an attempt to seal it off? Amazeroth meanwhile had been planning for ages, presumably towards the same goal, and the role he played here, we all played, was nothing more than another step in a choreographed dance? Did it even matter…

"Tell him," Ahri interrupted my musings. "Tell him what we know and what we have guessed. We don't have much to lose and maybe he can understand more than us. We need help, Cassandra." I sighed. She was right but I found it difficult to honestly explain my past to a stranger. I had never spoken of it before, except to Ahri and my mom and I loathed the idea to figuratively let my pants down in front of someone I had just met for the first time. Maybe I was also starting to hoard my secrets, especially after the last time I had made the mistake of trusting someone else. That wouldn't do. I'd be heading down a very lonely, very dark path, the end of which I didn't want to reach. It was better to get hurt while trying, than to give up, it always was.

"Fine, give me a moment. I'll collect Mephisto, he should be here for this."

"No need, did you seriously think I wouldn't be listening in?" He said while his body slowly manifested from thin air. Surprisingly Ignus was the one who took his appearance in stride, the rest of us were stunned. "I'm not going to let you run around alone and get impaled on another altar. And for future reference, I won't be collected anywhere, anytime. Hello, lizard. It's a pleasure to meet you. I'm Mephisto, the other cousin she hasn't come around to tell you about. In contrast to the two lovely ladies, I'm not a newborn, though, and you'd do well to remember it."

And I had thought that we had left threatening each other behind us… oh well, it seemed like they had to work out a pecking order and I wasn't going to get involved but watching sure would be fun. Two apes beating their chests… if I hadn't behaved exactly the same, I'd have thoroughly enjoyed the sight. As it was I felt a little silly. At least I had a few moments to finish my mug.

"Age and youth are surprisingly similar… the pleasure is all mine. I suppose you're the grumpy grandfather of the posse? We should get along splendidly, I'm an old fart myself, after all. I'd offer you some mead but after that introduction… if you want some, go get it yourself. Now that we have assembled the group of tiny gods, could we get on with it?'

"You're bold, even for a dragon," Mephisto replied. "Most of the fire breathers either grovel, bargain or bribe. Tell me Ignus, are you not afraid?"

"Of what? I can smell you, I can taste your aura. You're crippled, the shadow of what you once were, elder, and those two, while brimming with power are still wet behind their ears. I don't honour what you could be, only what you are and in that department, my hollow crowned friend, you're lacking. But don't worry your ancient head, it might become damaged. If I had wanted to hurt you, I wouldn't have shown your little protégée how fast I can be. Cheers." And there it was. Would we get to see a mud brawl, I wondered. Hopefully they weren't stupid enough to escalate things that far, but I wasn't convinced. If they were to… Damn it, I really didn't want to get involved.

"Oh, enough, you two." While Ahri and I were watching curiously and maybe a bit worried, Viyara had decided to stop them. Good for her, and us, probably, but a small part of me still regretted her intervention.

"You're both mighty, wise and not to be trifled with. We get it. Unless you want to battle it out, you're just going to have to accept that there's someone else here who might just be as mighty, wise and short tempered." I looked at Ahri and her small smile told me that I wasn't the only one who thought it funny when a naked girl berated an elder dragon and a demon but I quite enjoyed the sight.

"Can we skip the part where you have to prove it? The more time you waste the longer we have to wait and I for one," she turned to me, "really want to hear what you were going to say. You haven't told me much and I would like to know what happened in your past, especially since it always seems to be cropping up."

"Even that is speculation," I huffed, "but a pretty good one. I only think it's all tied together, neither do I know for sure nor has anyone told me. Maybe… Mephisto, isn't it time for you to tell us what you know? What truly happened? After what I went through in the tomb I'd say it's a safe bet that I won't suddenly explode only because you triggered a memory. Last time I dreamed, I could even choose what I wanted to see. By now your silence is much more dangerous than it is necessary."

Ignus and him had been staring each other down, more or less ignoring Viyara, but now he reacted as if he had been whipped. He immediately faced me, his features frozen in an unreadable, stony expression.

"You're probably right, but probably means jack shit when you're risking your life. Granted, you've earned the right to ask those questions and I won't refuse to answer." His expression softened.

"I still don't think what I know matters overly much since I'm not privy to Amazeroth's plans and nothing I can tell you will make his motives clear but you might still have to pay a steep price. Not to mention you, Aur… Ahri. You're as much a part of this as her. Are you willing to take the risk? For your life and hers?" That was low, in my opinion. I wouldn't want Ahri to risk her life or sanity whatever the potential gains and he had told me that I was asking for precisely that. Admittedly, I could have figured as much out myself, considering she had been an integral part of my last life and played a role in my death, but I had never thought about it. Of course knowledge that could trigger my memories and core could just as likely trigger hers.

"Don't make me a part of this, Mephisto," she answered. "Even if your information pushes me over the edge, I think I can deal with it. I've… the last few days were nearly more than I could cope with and I've grown, I can handle one transformation. As for Cassy, it's her call. I'll support her either way." Thanks for the vote of confidence, hon, but I wasn't too sure anymore that her trust in my decisions was justified. Looking back, I had stumbled from one mess to the next and every turn I had taken had brought me deeper into the mire. At least I was fairly certain that she wouldn't have told us she'd be fine if she hadn't believe it herself. Probably... Maybe.

"Thanks," I said. "Spill it. It's time." There was no point in conveying how unsure I actually was.

"As you wish. Listen closely, lizard. You're about to hear a tale that's not supposed to reach mortal ears. Now, where should I start…" he massaged his temples and began:

"For the first time in aeons, angels and demons were marching to war. Surprisingly it wasn't against each other as had happened countless times before, no, while it started out like that, we ultimately marched against a single member of our species, you. Not since times primordial had the cosmos seen an army as mighty as ours, reality warped around us and time stood still wherever we went, but in the end it didn't matter. We were baited into the void, a place where the rules of creation don't apply, a place where immortals came to wage their wars and fight their battles without endangering existence in its whole. Why, you might ask. Why had we mobilised every immortal, why did demons and angels march side by side against one of their own? Embarrassing as it is, most of us had been deceived, again, by you. You stole from us, Cassandra, you stole from the demons and in the process you killed one of the most powerful members of our species, Chaleb. Even worse, you weren't caught and back then, we didn't even know who had breached hell and taken the one thing we feared above all else. Incidentally, we never found out what happened to it. You don't remember a dark ring cast like the ouroboros, seemingly made from obsidian? A fairly inconspicuous piece of jewellery but I have to wonder, do you know where it is?" My heart sped up and I involuntarily touched the dark ring I was still wearing on my finger. I had never intended to keep it secret, nor had I openly talked about it, but why hadn't he seen it before? I had been wearing it for long enough now, he must have gotten a glimpse at it, one time or the other.

"No, no I don't think so," I replied haltingly. "What was it?" Another lie, another secret… I didn't know what prompted me to not tell him, maybe I had imagined a greedy glimmer in his eyes or heard something in his voice, but I had a feeling we'd be better off if the ring stayed hidden.

"It won't matter if you can't remember it. It's probably long gone, destroyed by your last incarnation out of spite. Lucifer could be like that… stubborn, resentful. But I digress. Like I said, you weren't caught but you left behind more than one corpse. At Chaleb's side, covered in wounds obviously caused by his axe, laid an angel: Metathron, his wings cleanly ripped off and what remained of his neck, covered in the residual energy from Chaleb's weapon. Strangely enough, none of us could part the veil and see what had happened, time had been scarred and cut to ribbons around that time, so we were forced to guess. None but another immortal would even have stood a chance to get there and with the fresh bodies before us, most of us came to the same conclusion: war, another war against heaven and we had already suffered the first, maybe lethal blow. Only Delilah and a few of her allies argued against it, claiming we were being played but since she couldn't name you as the culprit, no one believed her.

To make matters worse, Michael was rallying the heavenly armies, we knew that much, but we didn't know why. I'm still not certain, to be honest. Anyways, as could be expected, we didn't intend to take the final blow laying down and so we marched to the void and to our last battle. All of us but one, Amazeroth. He… I don't have the foggiest what he was doing, but he didn't join us until much later. We were ready for a final confrontation, either to perish or get back our freedom when we entered the void and then, you fucked up. Royally. You had to watch, you know. You couldn't just allow things to play out, so you had to be there. Some of us saw you, some of the angels saw you... Delilah's fantasies suddenly became much more convincing and we decide to take a chance and… talk. About a second later, two immortal armies turned on you. You're unbelievably powerful, Cassandra, or you have been, but you didn't stand a chance."