Pinkerton realised that I won't always be writing so he tossed another material at me. Lucky him, I flipped Heads.
Chapter 1
A few weeks passed and Daedalon fell into a somewhat comfortable if lazy lifestyle. Not fully of her own intent the role she'd been given by Diaemus was not what she'd expected; he'd described it as a 'personal attendant of sorts' and indeed she had spent a good amount of time attending to his needs. However a good portion of it was simple activities such as organising his study, bringing him food and wine, offering advice with and writing letters and other busywork. Not a problem, anything to repay the Imperial's kindness after all. What bothered her most though was how much time was spent simply being with him. Not necessarily doing anything or even speaking, just being at his side as he did his own routine.
When they did talk Diaemus was curious about her and her origins, constantly asking what it was like, what she knew now and what she wanted to do. In return he would expand on her knowledge, tell tales (whether true or not she could not tell) of how Squallwatch came to be and how he became its leader. And a lot of what he found fascinating about the Aergate. When there wasn't anything in need of doing she was free to explore and should he have need of her Diaemus had given her an enchanted bell: when he rang it, she'd hear it no matter where in the world she was.
Today the Imperial was out of town for 'personal reasons' and had requested that Daedalon remain within the clan's boundary until he came back. This was standard for every time he'd leave, much to the Obelisk's annoyance as that meant she could not go far to explore. While he understood her frustrations Diaemus insisted it was for her own protection and so she'd comply.
A contented sigh left Daedalon's lips as she stared out over the Plateau, chin on paws as she rested on the balcony joined to the room Diaemus had given her. His chambers were on the opposite side, overlooking the Aergate. She would've liked such a view as well but she certainly couldn't say no to the one she got either: rolling emerald fields sprawled in every direction, dotted with small towns, camps and settlements between Squallwatch and the Great Sea. To the north hints of bamboo sprouted at the edges of Reedcliff Ascent. To the south was the Millmeadows, the myriad of sails turning mesmerising her. And then to the west was the endlessly swirling Twisting Crescendo with the colourful Cloudsong dancing above it. Earthshaker said it once blew in the opposite direction to what it was now. Daedalon couldn't imagine it.
Being stuck within Squallwatch wasn't necessarily a bad thing of course, as it gave her the chance to explore the settlement. The outside of it she'd gotten a good idea of by now, the way it followed the curve of and spiralled down and around the large hill it was situated on. But what fascinated her most was that there was so much more inside the hill as well! So high and wide and yet so steep it was that many caves and tunnels and chambers had been dug in, around and through the vast grassy mound. It was almost a whole different world in there. What little she had come to know about the underground was that little of it went near the centre of the hill. No one could say why explicitly and it was assumed it was because the castle extended far inside, with vaults and dungeons and all sorts of hidden, unspoken of rooms besides.
As she strode out onto the battlements Daedalon spotted the small, dark form of Reynauld, captain of the clan guard and one of the few friends she had managed to make so far. They'd met as he was doing his rounds through the castle and came across this strange newcomer. At first meetings were short and blunt, the Skydancer not being much one for conversation. Or so he'd shown then anyway. Perhaps it was her talkative and inquisitive nature that got him going. Or perhaps it was more talkative than he let on because of their other partner in crime.
Speaking of.
Reynauld was leaning over the stone walls, lips pursed in annoyance at something down below. Daedalon had heard it as she was leaving the tower so there wasn't much needed to ask except, “Dismas again?”
Dismas was something of a rogue and loved causing trouble for others. Frequently stealing money, food and supplies, causing commotions for the fun of it and terrorising newcomers to the town the red Pearlcatcher had something of a name for himself. Well known enough for the guard to be on his tail constantly. Why then had he not been taken in? Turns out nothing otherwise happens in this sleepy community and so Reynauld often let him get away with it, or else secretly released him later. It was rumoured that the guardsman even put Dismas up to it personally just to have something to do.
How Daedalon had managed to fall in with them so quickly she did not know. For whatever reason they both believed the Obelisk would keep their secret partnership and, better yet, they all enjoyed one another's company. Despite having been here a few weeks now and with word of the Obelisks spreading the local denizens would continue to stop and stare at her unique form whenever she passed. She didn't mind, though now and again she'd hear her new, unwanted nickname of “the Master's pet”. These two didn't do that, which she was grateful for. As odd as their friendship was and how they interacted because of it. Having friends who didn't judge her status as “the new breed” or “the Master's pet” was great, plus now she had many people to turn to and learn from.
“Who else?” Reynauld sighed without looking up at the much larger Obelisk. It continued to amaze and amuse her that a dragon so small could be the captain of anything when there where Guardians, Gaolers and Imperials around. And one Obelisk, not that she'd want that kind of responsibility. “Looks like he tricked someone into running his shenanigans again.”
Placing her broad paws on the wall Daedalon joined her friend in glancing down at the ruckus below. Near the bottom of the hill, on a flat patch in front of one of the gates used to control the flow of ground traffic, a sizeable crowd had gathered around the familiar red-and-black form and a new orange one. Even from here it was obvious it was a Guardian from their size. Their attire was, however, questionable with it's almost mismatched brown theme, marred in places with grey. The most striking piece was the pick dangling from their wing.
“Should we go see what he's done this time?” It was a half serious, half teasing question as the fluffy blue dragon shot the dark Skydancer a knowing smirk. It wasn't uncommon for him to let Dismas run with it for a while.
“I suppose we ought to.” Reynauld replied in mock-defeat as he rolled his wings and shoulders, similarly dark armour rattling as he did so. “At the very least I want to hear what story he's come up with this time.”
Voices carried high into the air as the crowd and its hosts yelled and cajoled and cried and shouted, words ineligible from this distance. Both dragons flared their wings and, with the captain leading the way, leapt from the castle to glide gently down towards the scene. Stories the pair had shared with her whirled excitingly in Daedalon's head. Had the Pearlcatcher “discovered” something? Met a “famous” dragon? “Defeated” something “dangerous”? She looked over at her companion gleefully, only for the smile to fade as he pulled up and point to a roof below them. He was frowning, and not in the persona he used to pretend to detain Dismas. This was serious.
“Is he completely insane?” Reynauld spat in a low tone as they touched down a little away yet close enough to hear them clearly now. “Why would he be spouting that nonsense?”
Tilting her head in confusion Daedalon turned back to the crowd and strained her ears to pick up everything. “...been true all along!” Dismas called over shrieks of outrage, of confusion, of... fear? “We found a secret passage inside the castle! I've seen it for myself!”
“It's true!” The Guardian added as a rush of “no way!” and “you're lying!” erupted from the gathered residents. “The passage is behind the wheelhouse, where the river passes through!” Now that she was closer Daedalon realised that the patches of grey on the orange Guardian's clothes, and Dismas's now that she looked, was actually dust and cobweb. “Your master is keeping a grave secret from you and we can't just leave it!”
“Who in their right mind would willingly work with the Shade?” Someone piped up within the throng. “And now you're saying Diaemus is? Hogwash!”
Shade. The word dug at the insides of her mind like some caged animal using its claws to escape. Ice ran down her spine, making the Obelisk shudder despite herself. “W-what are they talking about?” She whispered, having missed what Reynauld picked up on in her daydream. Why was she so unnerved?
“The Shade,” the Skydancer began, fixing her with a steady, crimson stare, “is supposedly a very powerful and very dangerous entity. Ages ago the Deities themselves were said to have fought it off as it tried to destroy the world they had made-”
“Destroy Sornieth?”
“Yes.” Undeterred by the interruption he continued, “No one knows entirely why, only that the Deities fought it back and formed the World Pillar to keep it at bay.” Another shudder, this time more pleasant as the Pillar was mentioned. “Except it came back when the Arcanist was born and now lives in fragments around the planet.” Plague eyes narrowed slightly as he frowned under his helmet. “But as far as I'm concerned it's just a fable.”
It was Daedalon's turn to frown. “But if it's just a fable then why is everyone getting so worked up by it?” Including me, she added silently.
“Because in the story the Shade exists only to destroy. So for one to invoke its name generally means they want to destroy something, or someone.” Claws clicked as he moved to the ridge of the rooftop they stood on. “It's been heavily rumoured for a long time that it does exist and that many have attempted to use it in some way. Mostly it's the reason why wildlife goes berserk out of nowhere.” He plumed tail swished behind him as he poised to fly. Noticing this, Daedalon prepared herself to take off as well. “Basically they're claiming that our leader is running Shade experiments in a secret vault beneath the castle. Idiots.”
Both leapt from their perch towards the gathering, much of which had begun to disperse as other guards that had arrived as the pair was talking began to usher them away. A larger gap was formed hurriedly as Daedalon came in to land, giving Reynauld plenty of space as well as he strode towards his friend and the stranger. Ignoring the salutes from his guards the captain stuck his face right into the Pearlcatcher's and demanded, “And what in the Deity's names do you think you are doing?!”
“Giving them the truth!” Dismas shot back insistently, a glint of adventure in his golden eyes even as concern laced his words. “All this time, I knew something was off. And now I've seen it for real! All thanks to Musard here.” The Guardian bowed, pick rattling against various hooks intertwined in the thin rope keeping them together.
“And who are you, outlander” Reynauld asked the larger dragon, “to come to our community and start poking around and spreading rumours?”
Giving off a highly offended air Musard replied brusquely, “Excuse you but these rumours have been circling for a long time. I simply wanted-”
“It was rumoured,” the Skydancer cut in just as bluntly, “that the Shade was locked away within the hill and that's why we don't dig that far in. There was no mention that Diaemus was in any way involved with it much less conducting experiments! We've already had many individuals leave in fear of those lies, we don't need more thinking the Master is corrupt!” This was news to Daedalon, the Obelisk standing quietly aside as she drank in the argument. “Honestly Dismas,” he turned back to the rogue, “this time you've really gone too far.”
The force in the Skydancer's voice made the Pearlcatcher flinch, clearly hurt by his friend's accusation. Then with a low, almost desperate tone returned with, “Then come with us and see for yourself.”
“Shall we take them away, sir?” One of the guards, a muddy red Ridgeback with black ringlets decorating his hide, asked curtly. Already he had a large hand on Musard's shoulder and a yellow Tundra with faint blue stripes shuffled awkwardly next to Dismas.
Reynauld glared at the two dragons in front of him then directly at Dismas, who returned the gaze with a daring stare. He knew, Daedalon thought, that the captain wasn't going to do it. And indeed, with another flick of his long tail, Reynauld turned away with a huff. “No, let them go.” The two guards exchanged questioning looks. “However, if this happens again...” He whirled around to stick his beak-like snout right in the Pearlcatcher's face. “Then there will be consequences.” With that he gestured to the Obelisk the he was returning to the castle and prepared to lift off.
“Ah but we're hitting up the tavern together later, right?” Dismas called jovially after his friend. Plum-coloured plumage ruffled slightly right before the Skydancer took to the air and flapped away. The rogue chuckled, waving off the guards like he had any authority to command them and sidled up to Daedalon. “And what about you, Dae? I'm sure you're dying to see the hidden vaults.”
Having paused a moment to see off the Ridgeback and Tundra Musard also joined them. “Friends of yours?” She muttered dryly, clearly not caring for the situation she'd found herself in.
“Only Daedalon here and grumpypants Reynauld he flew away already.” Dismas clarified almost proudly.
“Daedalon?” the Guardian repeated. “The Master's pet I've heard so much about?”
The Obelisk in question had been preparing to answer, now put off by that stupid nickname. Puffing out in annoyance she instead said, “Honestly, no. I don't like what you've been saying about Diaemus. He's too nice a dragon to work with such things.”
Dismas's smiled faltered slightly as Musard adjusted her battered overcoat. “Surely your Wind heritage begs you to explore though, right?”
“I'm definitely interested!” the blue dragon admitted, torn between excitement and offence. “I just don't want to encourage slandering the Master is all. So I'll pass for now. Thank you.” Like the Skydancer before her Daedalon motioned that she was heading back to the castle before spreading her dark wings and bounding skyward.
“Well Musard will be sticking around and you know where to find me if you change your mind!”
Something made her pump her wings harder than normal, putting on unnecessary speed to get back to her chambers and alighting on her balcony. Striding inside she began to pace around the circular room, deep in thought. Largely arguing with herself over whether to believe Dismas and this Musard character about the hidden passages inside the hill, about the supposed hidden chambers inside. The idea blazed with possibilities that needed to be confirmed by seeing them. In amongst the personal tug-of-war though was a question she didn't want to ask aloud.
If it truly is real, then was Diaemus really involving himself with the Shade?
Small note: I realised a couple of names might be confusing to pronounce, so I added how I personally pronounce them to the Stage Coach.
(I actually lost what I pulled from Pinkerton by accidentally closing the browser after grabbing it. This is what Crim was after.)
x4
