Mortance: Summer's Snow

Ouran Ⅰ

I was training what few recruits Merian's meager had when Lyria came with the news. My twin was a witch, one who could see into near everywhere in Ert, and she'd been watching Jade for me. I could guess why she'd come by the grim look on her face and tone of voice when she called my name, but I tried to remain hopeful.

"Keep practicing," I told my recruits. "It seems my twin has need of me." The twelve boys and one girl complied quickly. I put away my dulled spear and moved towards Lyria, fearing the worst and hoping for anything but. "What news, sister?" My voice nearly broke when I saw the tears on her face.

"Our niece," she sounded as she looked.

"Her mutiny was a success, surely..." I trailed off.

"A different sort of treachery killed her," Lyria said. "I could never have foreseen it. I'm sorry..." She trailed off into a sob.

I stepped close and embraced her closely. She was almost a head shorter than me, and her tears stained my serpent scale practice armor. I could feel myself nearing tears as well. "Does anyone else know yet?" I dared ask.

"I came to you first," Lyria wiped her eyes. "The king will want to know."

I nodded. "I will be with you." my sister's embrace loosened, and I stepped back to my recruits. "You are all dismissed for today," I announced as loudly as I dared. "Return your practice weapons. I will see you when we next meet."

I stripped off my practice armor and followed my twin through the tunnels of Merian. Last we'd talked of Jade, she'd been wounded and victorious in her mutiny. I thought she'd do well now, what with Ahryn's first mate at her side. Lyria told a different story.

"She went in that temple with Christopher James and the swordswoman," she told me. "They went deep, and then split up. Jade went ahead, alone..."

"She wouldn't," I said. "She's smarter than that."

"Would that it were," Lyria agreed. "There was a moment after that when I lost sight of her. The temple must've had some old protection spell over it to ward off prying eyes."

"As it would," I agreed. The greatest enemy of the witches has been themselves, after all.

"When I saw her next..." my sister paused and lapsed into silence. The memory seemed to pain her. We kept onwards through near-empty halls until we arrived at one of Merian's many gateways to the sea. It was guarded by two men, both of whom I'd trained myself. The room itself was moderately sized, with rough stone walls, a few trickles of glowing water providing light, and the great pool that led to the sea in the center.

"Noc, Rehn," I greeted the two guards.

"My prince," Rehn replied, raising her spear in salute. Noc echoed the gesture silently, as he tended to do. "My princess."

"Leave us." My sister had turned her head to hide her tears. I put a comforting arm over her and watched until the two guards were gone. "Take a moment, sister," I said. "We need not rush to see the king."

Lyria nodded and wiped her eyes. "Tell me what happened when you are ready," I stood and began to strip off the rest of my wear. The pool of seawater looked warm and inviting. My twin seemed almost calmed by it as well, but it still took a few moments for her to speak.

"She made it all the way to the bottom of the temple," Lyria said. "Far ahead of Christopher James and the swordswoman. Jade had nothing besides a sword."

"Nothing? How?" that didn't sound right.

"She swam... I don't know exactly. It was hard to see."

"Right. Continue, please. If you can."