Wind Wielder

Chapter 3 - Unravelling Truths

The next morning, Zara found her paperwork was far easier to get through than it was the night before. She finished it quickly, before bounding up the stairs to reach her post upon the tower for the meeting, where she diligently set up her post and created the network of sound for the sentries, peregrins, father and Thesan once more. The presence of the High Lords was overwhelming, and the strain of keeping so many ribbons of sound connected on the winds was at once tiresome and difficult. And yet she remained in high spirits, still running the high of her adventure and victory last night.

And besides, how could Zara possibly be upset? From the way the meeting was going so far, it was clear war was coming. And because of that, Thesan would have no choice but to let her take part. Sure, it would be from behind closed doors and secrets and veils and shrouded nightfall, but Zara would finally be allowed to leave Dawn. Finally explore more of the world besides Dawn and under that dreaded Mountain. Zara figured she was likely naive, knew she would soon probably see horrors only the most wretched fae would have imagined. But she would be out. No more creeping around the palace and western wood at night. She would see the world with her own eyes. Not just hear reports of the worlds coming and goings from fae whom she technically wasn't even allowed to properly speak with.

It was during a female speaking during the meeting downstairs, that Zara first began to feel it.

Every hair stood on end, and a sense of wrongness filled her so greatly Zara nearly doubled over. Zara clasped the edge of the balcony tightly, eyes frantically scanning her surroundings, the landscape. Nothing. She listened to the voices of those on the network, and yet no one seemed to feel anything wrong, except for her. And yet, It was strong. And growing stronger.

"High Lord Thesan," Zara began, daring to project her whisper soft voice directly to her High Lord. "Something is wrong."

The woman downstairs suddenly stopped speaking, and the scent of vomit filled her nose. Zara could hear the scraping of chairs, a sudden commotion. The feeling of wrongness intensified, and panic began clawing up her chest. "My Lord, something is coming," Zara warned again. She scanned the horizon desperately, searching for anything amiss, but the sky remained the same, and there was no one, nothing unusual on the ground below, or in the forests or city beyond. No, what was coming was beyond the physical. Something God-like in power, a behemoth, and it was coming quickly.

The woman from the meeting below began screaming.

Zara bolted for the doorway, and soon was sprinting into the palace and into the stairwell, leaping down three at a time. "Put up a shield my lord, warn the others," Zara cried.

A sentry saw Zara as she bolted past, now on the same floor as the meeting. "Go back to your post, wielder," He warned.

It was only then, that Thesan finally deigned to answer, "Back to your post, immediately." He warned, his voice immeasurably quiet, but laced with power and warning.

But Thesan could not feel what was coming, and Zara was ready to throw up at the sheer might of it, terror gripping her. Zara could feel it leaping across the world, raging and rolling and zooming across land and sea as a wall of sheer power made its way across the world. It was terrifying, ancient and formidable. Zara could hear the winds screaming in protest, could hear the wails of the creatures deep within The Middle as it soared past. Coming here soon, Zara realized. Perhaps towards this very place, where the seven highest powers of the continent sat, unsuspecting.

Thesan was not listening to her, and he might soon be dead because of it.

So Zara ignored the orders of her High Lord. And raced towards the meeting room.