The Sight

Chapter 9 : as long as I live

We crawl down the rocks towards the sea caves. The other team quickly finds one large enough worth exploring, and enters. It takes us a bit longer of picking across the rocks. I simplify the tale of my escape to not include a full car chase, broken glass, or any mention of druids.
"But why'd they arrest you? They should think you're in Neath's custody," Elin says.
"Missorted," I simplify. Zara said the Grandmaster does the paperwork Colm isn't my number one fan I assume he did it wrong. I'm not worried about that right now I'll tell Neath in full later. They all knew Zara went to get me so they weren't overly worried. Apparently the odd hospital visit is a bit standard in our line of work.
"Right well we'll get it sorted," Elin says, squeezing my upper arm.
"Shh," Colm reminds us, climbing on ahead.
"It does look deep," Freddy immediatley whispers. His dad glares at him.
There is a sizable cave in front of us, set deep into the rocks.
Elin moves forward, nodding a little. She moves to take one side and Colm immediately follows her. Freddy and I take the other side, staying near the cave wall. Freddy has a flashlight, I only have Cryptfiller so I hold that.
"Light down," Colm hisses, reminding his son. I assume we're trying not to shine it in the dragon's eyes or anything rude like that.
We walk a decent distance down slick rocks. It's slow going and I fall more than once. The other side of the cave is clearly higher, Elin and Colm having to climb in places. There's no way to see tracks or anything on the rocks, which is what Freddy appears to be thinking, shining his light on the pebbles more and more dismally.
I didn't know I was claustrophobic till now. Good to know.
I hear a small gasp, and follow Freddy's gaze up.
What I took to be rock he was shining his light on, is not in fact the back of the cave. It's the deep slate colored scales of a huge dragon. This one is easily the size of an airplane, albeit a curled up one. It is fast asleep, head on its huge paws. I find imaging the thing in a cute little hat, makes it not at all less terrifying. Locke's creatures look like puppies. This is an elder being if I ever saw one, with crooked rows of teeth and huge jowls.
Immediately I look up Elin. She saw it too. She makes eyes contact and quickly motions to go back. We need to get out of here now.
Freddy nods, clearly relieved, he nearly backs into me in his haste to get out. I'm with him there, and hold his arm, backing up towards the treacherous rocks. I look back up at Elin though. She's backed up, Lucidity in hand. Colm hasn't, slowly shining his light on the dragon.
Then, with one swift motion, he throws his torch directly into the beheamouth's face, fully lit.
The dragon stirs, groaning, red eyes half closed. It has seconds at most before it spies us.
"Why did you do that?" Elin hisses, looking down at us. We're steps from the dragon, at least they are on the high ground. The thing could step on us as easily as eat us.
Freddy and I try to climb up the next rock but it would put us in the now crooked flash light's beam. And the dragon is now stirring if we move up it's going to be in its line of sight. I'm contemplating if we can hide till it leaves and come up blank.
"Go. Slay it," Colm says, coolly.
"What?" Elin looks back down at us in horror, clearly contemplating if she can even begin to attack it before it sees us.
the dragon groans, and I feel heat. It's got fire in it's belly. It tips its head, smoke coming from it's nostrils. We have moments before this whole cavern is engulfed in flame.
"Your father could have chosen anyone to be the. Elderblade. He picked you. A little girl. So prove it. Prove you are worthy of his legacy," Colm holds his hand out towards the dragon.
"Dad—?" Freddy begins, as it dawns on him a moment before me.
This was. A test.
This was all a test.
"You woke it up," Elin realizes, "You woke it to make me prove I could slay it."
"Yes. Or give the blade to me," Colm holds out his hand for Lucidity, "choose. If you truly are the Elderblade you'll do what you must. When the beast moves to consume your friends you'll have the perfect chance to strike."
"No," Elin shakes her head, looking down at us, clear horror in her eyes. She knows fully well how to slay it. And I've seen her train. She can do it. She also doesn't want to lose us. But if she doesn't strike while the beast is distracted by us then she'll likely be killed too. But there's no way it'll die by her blade prior to eating us alive. But she's not ever going to choose to sacrifice our lives.
I lock eyes with her, gripping Freddy as he shakes, staring at his father pleading for mercy. I look into her eyes and feel myself smile, weirdly calm, "Ellie. It's okay. Listen to me. It's okay."
She tears her eyes from me, looking back at Colm who is still holding out his hand for Lucidty.
"Well? What is your choice?" Colm asks, hand out.
Elin looks at him, and her face shifts into a mask of calm as still, and evil as my own. And with one smooth swing of Lucidity she cuts off his hand, kicking his leg from under him so he falls to the floor of the cave, screaming.
Right in front of the dragon.
The dragon roars, leaning back, happy to lunge at the already bleeding meal.
I draw Cryptfiller and dart from my hiding place, Freddy follows me. First line. We're up. If we want to get out of this cave alive we need to be the next distraction.
Elin leaps from the shelf, directly onto the dragon's head as it bends down to eat a screaming Colm. The dragon snatches up Freddy's father, but then feels Lucidity pierce it's hide. Elin drove the blade deep into its skull but the dragon is huge. It tosses it's head, roaring fire in anger.
Elin flies off the dragon and onto the opposite wall. Freddy runs forward to distract it, slashing at the monster's paw then rolling out of sight.
Lucidity also falls to the floor from the dragon's head.
Throw me to her right now, the sword commands.
I throw Cryptfiller directly into the dragon, and then dive, snatching up Lucidity and throwing the huge sword back toward's Elin. It twists directly to her hand and she immediately turns back to the dragon, running up its side.
Cryptfiller flies back to my hand as the dragon snaps at it angrily. Freddy, bloodied but alive, is at my side, and together we dive for the dragon's talons.
Cryptfiller slashes off one and I barely roll free of the incoming fireball. Freddy is less lucky, his clothes catching light before he can roll to extinguish them.
Elin meanwhile has run up the dragon's side, and is going back in for another stab to the back of the skull.
The dragon screams, the cries threatening to deafen me. Freddy and I crawl back on instinct, weapons in hand, nowhere near able to defend ourselves. This time though there's no need. The blow hit home, and the dragon falls dead. Elin, gripping Lucidity, stands upon the corpse, covered in dark dragon blood, still holding the sword for dear life.
I stumble to my feet, grabbing Freddy. His father just got eaten before his eyes and he's been a bit on fire I realize it's a bad day for him. Cryptfiller slides back in the sheath, babbling with joy about how much fun that was.
Elin stumbles down off the dragon and we both move to catch her. She's as filthy and shaking as we are, I have no plans for it but I simply grip her in a fierce hug as I can manage, one hand on the back of her head. She and Freddy are both shaking as we all three embrace and try to breath.
Lights flick on.
Oh our other rescue party heard the screaming and final boss fight sounds.
Flashlights glow. Locke is crying. There's more Guards now even and Locke is still crying. Neath comes to us immediately, of course, Elin and Freddy and I are sort of hugging each other and breathing. Freddy is more burned and Flynn tugs him away gently to start caring for his wounds. Elin and I are mostly unscathed except mentally. I think at this point everyone assumes Colm was a casualty. We're not correcting them yet. Zara is taking pictures of the dead dragon. Not like as a job just like for fun.
"What the hell was that?" Elin asks, sort of recovering herself with the renewed activity. She pushes my chest, "You picked up Lucidity?"
"Yeah I'm not as weak as I look and act, when I'm that terrified for my life good show let's not reapeat that again?" I ask, confused.
"No how the hell did you do that?" Elin asks.
"Outside," Neath takes us both by the arm and starts marching us out of the cave.
"What—he—," Elin begins.
"I heard. We're talking about this outside. Right now," Neath says.
Elin actually obeys, and it takes me the full walk out of the cave with zero help from either of the talking weapons, to remember that she's the only one who can use the sword.
"I'm sorry! I assumed it was an emergency, the sword— sort of told me to anyway so I had permission," I say, holding up my hands.
"What?" Elin stares at me.
"Or I'm insane, someitmes I hear the sword talking to me it is sarcastic," I say.
Neath sighs, face in his hands.
"What?" Elin stares at me, like I'm a stranger, "No it talks to me too but that's because I'm me."
Shit, Ludicity sounds ashamed.
We both look at the sword.
"Is there something you want to tell us?" I ask, folding my arms.
Not really no.
"How are you hearing it—only an Elderblade can speak to it," Elin shakes her head, "Who are you?"
We both look at Neath who appears in pain.
"I don't know," I say.
"You're lying," Elin shakes her head, "Nobody calls me Ellie because my father did why did you call me that?"
"I don't know," I say, "I am not in this plot because I know things. I feel like if I knew more things I wouldn't be in this situation."
"You weren't surprised—you knew—what's going on?" Elin asks, looking at Neath.
"All right. I don't actually know fully,, but I have an idea," Neath admits, taking a deep breath, "El you know your father got sick, when you were still a baby."
"Yes," she says.
"He knew he wasn't going to live to see you grow up. And as you know he always said you were his heir—but during the last couple of years of his life he expressed to me concerns—that you wouldn't want it," Neath says.
"What?" Elin frowns.
"No one else. He told me—I think he vaguely told your mother. He loved you, so much. But he didn't want you to have to carry the burden alone," he looks at Lucidity, "He kept saying if someone else could wield it—if you didn'T want to. He woudln't be leaving you alone. He didn't want to leave you."
"So he's my brother—?" Elin asks, looking at me, "Is that what you're saying?"
"Okay if so—who dumped me and left me to die? That is a terrible way to be a back up kid, no one including aprpeantly you knew where I was?" I say.
"No, no. The night we picked you up I had no idea till I saw you. You're—him. I'm sorry, Damian, you're my brother. A perfect match right down to the way you comb your hair and don't at all subtly argue with that stupid axe," he taking a long breath, "I assumed for a while you knew. Then it was obvious you didn't and—I have no idea, what Luc did, but somehow you're him. Able to wield Lucidity if it was necessary—and I bet the fucking sword, knows fully well, and knew to find you as needed."
She is my partner. I serve her. NOT you Lucidity says.
Anymore, Cryptfiller mutters.
I went to hell literally with you this is your problem now it was your bloody idea.
Elin and I look at each other.
"What? I don't hear it," Neath says.
"Lucky ah—he just said this is my idea—what I restarted my life?" I ask, hand to my chest, "Why like that? Why not —tell you?"
"I don't know. Whatever Luc did, he didn't want me in trouble, and I'm guessing he didn't want El to be overshadowed if they'd had a boy they'd have given him the sword," Neath says.
"Fuck," Elin breaths, looking at me again.
"I—was assuming that you were some sort of clone. But that would be too easy for Luc, and he'd have made sure you had a family—and you're not a copy of him like a twin, you like the same expensive scotch you—have all the same mannerisms," Neath sighs.
"No I'm him," I say, quietly. Dreams of the woman. And of fire. And it was never Elin in the flames. It was her mother. And something else. I smile as slowly the pieces come together. "Did Luc by any chance remain friends with Orpheus after the dragon incident?" I ask.
"Oh yes,," Neath says, "I didn't want to know more about that relationship actually."
"I do," I say, "We're going back to the Castles. Now. I have a feeling Orpheus knows a lot more than he's telling. And I'd finally like some answers.'
We take a very awkward car ride back to the castles, during which we fill Neath in on the entire dragon fight, play by play. Neath is incensed to discover that Colm not only woke the dragon, but literally woke the dragon and nearly got us killed. He's proud of Elin for killing it, but angry that we were that in danger. He swears not to let us out of his sight, which Elin and I quickly attempt to get out of.
It's nearly dusk so dragons are stirring. Orpheus is waiting for us, next to a big silver dragon which he's clearly saddling. He's still dressed like a vampire though, which is a Choice.
"Ah. I had a feeling you'd be back. El Maddock, I hear you should be congratulated," Orpheus says, smoothly.
"Thank you, but that's not why we're here," Elin says.
"You recognized me last night, didn't you?" I ask.
"Of course," Orpheus says, coolly, "I don't suppose Luc left you a charming letter? Note to future self that sort of thing?"
"What do you know?" Elin asks.
"Your father didn't fear death, not till he had you. He was sure he was leaving you too soon," Orpheus says.
"We were here for her," Neath says, a little protectively.
"But he wasn't. And his Lucidity was in a tiny girl's hands. I told him to just father a couple more kids, women aren't that bad when you're drunk, and he liked her mother anyway," Orpheus says.
Elin and I both look disgusted and are about to cover one another's ears.
"He said he didn't want that. Just wanted her to have the choice as she would if he were alive. So, he persuaded me to go back to the wheel of fire with him."
"Back?" Neath and I say.
Back, Ludicity clarifies.
"Back," Elin says.
"We discovered it as young men, and swore to keep it a secret. Entering means granting your worst fear, and your one wish. But Luc was Luc. He always had a way to cheat. His worst fear—forgetting his little girl. His wish? To be able to be there for you, if you need him," Orpheus gestures to me, "If you cease needing him he's going to cease to exist more than likely. That isn't a person it's the magic, left over. Pieces of what mattered to him the most. Tell me you didn't know that girl before you even knew that you had the sight."
"I knew you too, you used to wear starched white shirts and a black coat with—pearl buttons," I say.
He smiles.
"And that dragon was a lot smaller, this one's Virgil isn't he?" I ask.
Orpheus just smiles, a raw, cruel grin.
"You're saying he's—a curse he put on him self? To exist again?" Neath asks, holding up his hands.
"Something. Of that kind. I didn't enter. I just went with him because I enjoyed watching him make poor decisions. You're nothing good or meant to be," Orpheus says.
"Nor are you," I say.
"But he's Luc," Neath says.
"Not anymore."
"That's why the druids tried to kidnap me, makes sense," I nod.
Elin and Neath stare at me.
"They wanted to cut out my organs. It wasn't even a big deal," I say.
"If you needed proof—is that not a Luc thing to say as in he's said that to me at least twice with no context? Right. It's a good night for flying and I got a panicked text from my youngest son sounds like a crisis I'm blaming you provisionally," he gestures to Elin and I.
"Oh it's our fault," Elin says.
"Yeah it's totally our fault but in our defense we had fun and would do it again," I say.
"Thank you, Oropheus," Neath says, with no gratitude, backing us both up so he can mount his dragon.
"What do we do now?" Elin asks, looking over at me.
"Up to you Elderblade," I say, half smiling.
She does too.
"Next adventure?"
"Home first," she says, wrapping an arm around my shoulders.
"Yes, let's go home," Neath says, hand on both of our shoulders, "I think we're taming this story down to long lost cousin or something."
"Agreed," we both say.
"And if I'm going to disappear from lack of attention we should probably establish I have a rare and weird condition."
"Oh shut up we're keeping you around," Elin says.
"You two are going to be lucky to be out of my sight before you start university," Neath says, "or leaving stack rock."
"That sounds like a challenge, doesn't it?" Elin asks.
I grin, "That definitely sounds like a challenge."

Game Over ;)