Frozen Echoes: The Last HallowFrost

Epilogue

Nimbus

A few hours ago...

Nimbus strode down the hall, the early morning had called him into consciousness, and after checking on Cryo and the prince, he had begun the retreat back to the Interrogation room. His mind was just about as messy as one's mind could be, and the Book of Bloodlines in his talons wasn't helping. Neither did the voices in his head, they constantly whispered and bickered amongst themselves, the only two who stuck out were two stern voices.

One belonged to Shiverthorn. The other was Nimbus' guide-- an entity that hardly ever spoke to him, her haunting words were always cryptic and unknown to him, no matter how many times he asked for clarity. 'Please, be quiet!' He ordered of the voices, only managing to silence half of them as he swiftly strode down the hall. The whispers, oh the whispers, 'sometimes they never end...' he thought to himself, remembering the night when Cryo had one of her nightmares. He couldn't sleep at all, they berated him, his guide spoke oddly of him, and Shiverthorn had been no help.

"But I DID help you, Nimbus," said the HallowFrost, "I told you what was going on inside her dreams, and I helped you sort out your thoughts that following morning."

'But that was AFTER the fact, Shiver... don't you realize what they say to me? Sometimes they have full control, sometimes they twist my tongue... other times they morph my mind and make me think of the not-true.' Nimbus thought back, 'I have yet to hear from her...'

"You mention a "her" sometimes... who is she?" Asked Shiverthorn, "I know it isn't your Mistress..."

"What? No!" The dragon blurted in the real world, 'this... "she" is another voice, like you. She whispers behind my back sometimes, and then she whispers in my ears as you do, but she makes no sense...'

Nimbus found himself stepping towards the door of the Interrogation room, but not before he felt a phantasmal talon brush against his face, and an ethereal face flashed before his eyes, 'she's urgent to speak to me, but I cannot,' he thought, opening the door. As he walked in, he was met with the stares of the guards who helped him find CryoFangs, and Queen Sselvu was present in the room, as well. "Ah, welcome," she said sweetly, "I see you've brought it with you."

He nodded, "yes ma'am, and I have something to share." He said, seating himself across from the Queen, opening the Book and pulling the parchment out. As he looked up at her, she nodded for him to continue. "I have been studying this for a bit, and I think I found out what we have to do next in our mission, ma'am."

"Well then: get onto it, Nimbus."

He nodded, "so: do you see this picture here?" Nimbus pointed to a crescent-shaped island with Runes written next to it, "this is Lunaris. Your Elders said it could be here, the Animus Assailant– and then this here–" he pointed to a blurry figure surrounded by mountains. "This is... Her."

Sselvu blinked, "who is she, exactly?" Questioned the Queen, Nimbus looked up at her. "A HallowFrost deity. Her name is Novembus: Goddess of the Cold, the Skies, and the Seeles. Her mate is the Holy Ruler, the Maker-of-All and Bestower of Souls. This picture may tell us simply: we have to seek Her guidance."

Sselvu shrugged, "I only believe in the Holy Ruler, He's who I follow, I don't worship Novembus, so I haven't much to say about Her."

"You haven't got to know about Her, I just need you to help me... tell my Mistress about the mission, I don't know if I can..." Nimbus trailed off, the whispers had returned, speaking in their odd, echoing voices. He sighed and looked back at the Book of Bloodlines, the figure surrounded by mountains glimmered oddly, as if it contained a magical energy. 'This whole book is Enchanted, so I'm not surprised if the different images do things.' He thought, hearing as Sselvu cleared her throat, "I agree to helping you out with telling her about this mission of yours. But..."

She sniffed and rose to her feet, "your Mistress has a few... crimes to answer to, if you catch my drift."

"What crimes?"

"According to my guards, Vilethorn was murdered. Sapling– the blade?" She turned towards a guard with pale-green scales, the dragoness revealed the bloodied silver blade, its shine dulled by deep reddish-brown and black blood. Nimbus had heard Shiverthorn's Smite drive through flesh, but he hadn't seen the slaying of Vilethorn. "He's dead?"

"Yes, this sword of hers was found in the Elder's skull... either she was defending herself, or it was an act out of wrath... I do not know why she killed him.

"Now, Nimbus... tell me: is your Mistress an angry, vengeful soul?"

'It is none of your business,' he thought, shaking his head. 'The Shadow Souls are who she is angry at, not any mortal.'

"Oh, I see. But I suppose dragons like you are good at keeping secrets... I may still consider questioning her when I see her again. Anyways, I have yet another question for you, if you don't mind." Sselvu sighed heavily, leaning over the table. The little dragon shifted in his seat, slightly uncomfortable as he nodded, "what do you want to know, ma'am?"

She paused for dramatic effect, "how could I possibly persuade you to assassinate EmberWrath for me?"