Indebted

87

Nightmother had forgotten how strongly the currents of mortal emotions could pull on her mind. She was enraged in a way she had never wanted to feel again. While also feeling pride in how the Crystal witches she had allowed to cross into this world had proven to be truly worthy of the favour she had granted them. Delia was both an empath and one of the most powerful witches Nightmother had knowledge of ever existing.

Then there was dear Dotty. The end of a long history. One of the last Daughters of Lilith, the first witch and first mother. Dotty had invoked ancient magic when she made her key for Esti. A promise to come when needed, and a channel to pass the magic and knowledge that had no where else to go when Dot's time came. It had been so long since any had made a charm that invoked Nightmother's power and domain. She had been thrilled to be called especially when the whole of the situation was revealed.

Nightmother like all deities could see the path the pattern of life wanted to weave, and could also see how subtle changes could alter the destination. Last Nightmother looked at the only bonded earth dragon. Barely alive, stitched back together by magic that had left the queen depleted.

The brave eighteen year old girl who had surmounted all obstacles, who survived, who had managed to bring back original creatures of the earth from the very edge of extinction. Estella would forever have Nightmother's favour and blessing.

Nightmother looked at the wretch of a shifting dragon by her feet. Estella's still warm blood stained on her hands. The blood of so many others hidden in the past. "Lord Magnus, Seventh of his name, Flock leader of the Sovran Dragons. Nightmother, guardian of dreams, protector of the realms and divides, offers you a chance to know the crimes committed by a child of your child. Do you wish to know? Or would you like to continue your life in ignorance." Nightmother was the goddess of night, of dreams, or secret paths between. Myrrh should finally face consequences.

A scribe was whispering in the king's ear using the best knowledge that he had available to him to advise the Sovran king. Except the scribe was significantly out of his depth. Nightmother was an ancient power. One who had not been seen since long before the Sovran dragons had arrived. The scribe was stumbling.

Damon Black made his way to the king, "Nightmother has offered to reveal truths, a wise king would readily accept the gift." He whispered before going back to Laurel and Delia. Delia was exhausted from healing Esti. It had been a long day, Damon had heard many rumors that the hermit dragon enclave Kings were stubborn to a horrible fault. He might have underestimated the validity of the stories he realised now that he had spent time with The Sovran.

Magnus looked at Myrrh. She liked to nickname herself the spider, believing herself to be an elegant mastermind. Magnus sighed, she was a cockroach. One that seemed able to survive anything unscathed. "You humble me with your offer Nightmother. Reveal the faults of my descendant." There had been an unspoken law that kinslaying when there were so few of their origin left, family bonds were sacred. Times were changing.

Perhaps with the Kingdom opening up to more integration with the larger world, the court could afford some pruning for the greater good. Isadora had been a good, woman, he had loved her well. Loved their children, and their children's children. Myrrh was several generations after. Born when Magnus had new children of his own to be concerned with. Nightmother bowed her head just a little, smiling at Magnus. "There is always a choice Sovran. Choose carefully." A word of advice Nightmother gave freely.

She was fairly certain she knew the ending, and found it acceptable for now. If Magnus noticed that Nightmother had given him an extra blessing he did not show it. "Myrrh Evonka, seventh generation of Isadora, would you like to speak your truth or shall I?" Nightmother spoke the ancient words for the first time in a new language. This was part of the ritual. She granted clemency for all crimes to a room of people, and always someone would commit a new crime before Nightmother departed.

The crime would be serious and reveal the person with the most atonement to make. Nightmother would offer to reveal the offences committed. If refused, she would leave. If she stayed she would offer the guilty party a chance to confess on their own. Reveal what needed to be told. Offer a blessing or a curse depending on how the interaction had gone and return to her realm to closely watch over the world of dreams.

Few of the guilty parties Nightmother revealed opted to reveal their crimes on their own. Myrrh was stubbornly refusing to say anything. Looking at Estella as Atticus held her near lifeless appearing body. Almost like the weak wretch of a woman could will Esti to actually die with her gaze. "Myrrh conspired and used slaves to murder Andromeda because she had been raised by humans from outside the kingdom. One innocuous compound in her sweet bun, another in the tea. Together poison in the digestive system. Thankfully young Caspian was not feeling well that day and skipped the morning snack." Magnus looked at what he considered to be a young woman, barely past two hundred years old. For the first time in years Magnus fought as his dragon surged inside him. Wanting to seek Vengeance.

Magnus had only managed to calm the beast as the truth of who had murdered the woman his dragon had chosen to cherish compounded with the knowledge that his son was also supposed to have been targeted was nearly too much. The other dragon's of the flock lent their strength to their king. They all needed to know the breadth of Myrrh's crimes.

"After Andromeda, there had been a mourning period. Court was stagnant. But then Alric had come to court, had large dreams, aspirations. Myrrh moved whole sections of court through election manipulation. Harlen had been Myrrh's pet since his first promotion. Until he saw sense and acted on his own conscience. Myrrh has also murdered her brother as she had overdrawn her trust and needed more money. Atticus's mother had died the same day Myrrh committed fratricide. Myrrh has been telling multiple members of your highest council how to act and manipulate the court to better suit her needs." Myrrh had run out of space to hide. Nightmother knew all secrets always. "Myrrh has murdered, tortured and treated the servants, slaves and scribes as disposable. She has lived a life only dedicated to her own selfish ends." Nightmother finished. Revealing to all that there was nothing redeemable in Myrrh.

Myrrh had thought she had outrun the possibility of being held to account for the crimes she had committed in the past. No one had anticipated an ancient goddess coming to court. Not a single person had expected this day to play out like it had. Magnus looked at Myrrh, seeing all the worst of himself concentrated into one person.