Blood And Stone

Chapter 45: Trials of War

Threads groaned with strain before snapping so forcefully that the thin fibers cut into Fate's pale cheek. Her lavender eyes fell upon the severed strands of the tapestry, her breath rushing from her lungs as she watched the black spread across the fibers. Her eyes locked onto the border of the black and studied it, calculating the speed at which it moved. The tapestry sagged, the weave using its strength and tension as evil spread across Hyboné.

"Sisters!" They appeared before she finished the word. War flew through the door to Fate's room, her dress replaced with shining armor. The metal rested against her so firmly that it seemed more like a second skin than a shell atop her clothing. The helmet that sat atop her head stretched upward with two wings, one on each side. The wings were metal as well but they moved, a clever addition to her armor that War had added herself. Even in the middle of battle, the wings could move and deflect any projectile that approached. Her crimson eyes sparkled with concern as she noticed the spreading decay on the tapestry.

Spirit emerged from thin air, her stride serious and calculated. Her tall frame crossed the room in only three steps. Her jaw was set. A muscle twitched and jumped, betraying her calm demeanor and alerting her sisters to her anxiety. Even though she was concerned, Spirit retained her elegant posture as she bent to run her fingers over the darkened strands. "This just came to be?"

"Just now." Her eldest sister's eyes darkened as they followed the line of blood running down her cheek.

Spirit straightened, her blue-grey eyes taking in War's armor. She had noticed the power shift the moment that happened, seconds before the tree split even more. She hadn't taken the time to look but had immediately headed to her sisters' home, knowing that this shift was the last that could be allowed to go ignored. Her sentiment was echoed in War's appearance. "Shall we?" She asked without really waiting for an answer.

With a simple wave of her hand, the Hyboné realm came into view. The view settled on a desert city that the Winged Council never enjoyed seeing. The Celik'r people were godless, and soulless, and never considered what their actions could do to the balance of the mortals. They were selfish and hungry for more than human flesh. They wanted power, much like Torvir so, it was no surprise that they found him there. Fate's eyes widened as the faces of the two women speaking to him registered in her mind. "Vantorak."

"Peace." Her sister was all War could think about. There was no other reason to awaken the Vantorak. She knew Torvir was planning to take Peace but why? He couldn't know about the stone. She searched his mind, diving through every crease in his brain. "He is going to march on Sitharu."

"Peace is his target." Fate acknowledged. "Can you influence him or his armies?

"Having allied with the Celik'r, it can no longer influence him. He's relinquished his soul entirely."

Fate turned to gaze at the tapestry, her eyes searching for the strand that belonged to the sorcerer. It had detached itself from the tapestry altogether and floated lightly in the air. She took a deep breath, studying the color. It was not one identifiable color but a mixture of colors that left it looking like a pale grey from a distance. This was considered the absence of color as it pertained to the tapestry. That meant his soul had indeed been released with no claim or destination. He was beyond her influence as well. He was beyond the influence of all of them, including Spirit, which left Fate's throat dry.

"It's time to intervene." War nodded, finally agreeing with something Spirit said. "Fate, what can you see?"

"The fate of the Fair and Bloodless are unwritten. Sitharu's Fate is shortened."

"The war there will rage for days. I can feel the power of Torvir's army. He's built a force unlike any were have seen since the Brother War and he is it done yet." War said, her arms crossing over her chest as her eyes remained on the mortal realm.