in the court of princes

[Talon]

T A L O N

“The Northlands of Karnor went to war after my Mortal Father was murdered. Zaichaer suffered a terrible catastrophe not long after I was captured by the Imperium.” The memories played out vividly in Talon’s mind. Beside him, he could feel Aoren shift. Not in discomfort but in quiet anger. Across the Bond, he pulled his husband closer. The both of them were no longer wrapped tightly in a coil of dread or fear when they thought about those times. Now it was just anger or sadness.

“The sky was torn open in the wake of the ascension of the Draegir of Rebellion, ripping through the Veil and causing an outpouring of horrors from the Aetherium. Some time after we escaped out bondage, we went to Zaichaer after I was indirectly called to it by the actions of an archdemon. He called himself the Demon of Sacrifice.” When he thought about Franky and how far the Hobgoblin had fallen, Talon felt only pity and sadness for the man that once was. The Knob had lost an objectively decent man that day, despite some of the horrors that Franky had committed. No life in this world was easy and in truth, Franky had done the best he could for most of his life from what Talon had been able to infer and even observe.

“He sought to steal the Gem of Chaos and usurp its power for his own. Together, with the goddess Varvara, we put a stop to him. I sealed the rift using the Gem of Chaos. When I returned home, the Gem of Order was waiting for me.” He watched as the refractions of light played out around them. The dominion he held over the Idea of Light was called to. He felt it stirring inside of him as the light of the chamber worked to reveal the many facets of the gemstone.

“In all of my searching, I have found no writings about it. If such things exist, I suspect only Sol’Valen possesses records of it.” He was unsure of how much time he had spent scouring texts in the libraries that he had been able to access.

“Divination tools that have been used, have been rendered inert upon attempting to inspect it. I have only been able to study it by sembling it myself directly.” Talon glanced at the eldritch armored individual who was aiding in the examination of the gemstone. The choice of attire was curious. He wondered for a moment if this advisor was connected to Keela but that did not seem quite right. The thought that this advisor might be connected to Lyren also popped into his head but that seemed heretical to think about in the heart of the ancient Hytori homeland.

“The gem is easiest to study when I am in my true form. Less because of its power and more because…” He searched for the right words. “…it feels like a language that I can almost speak and all that I am missing is the primer. Distant but still familiar, almost as though it wants to be studied through archmagic.”

He hesitated to take such a step. Whenever he invoked the archmagic of his divinity, Talon always felt as though he was losing a piece of himself. It was harder to step away from the realm of Infinite Ideas because the mortal realm seemed confined by comparison. It was always as though he came back less mortal than he had been before. Talon did not want to lose that part of himself.

"More than that, I know nothing of it. Only that it was gifted to me by the Avatar of the Divine Pantheon who serves as liaison to the gods for both Mother Chaos and the Highfather."

[Hekatos]

In the Court of Princes

"Ah, yes," Ailuin said, dreaming eyes erring toward the door for a moment, then back. "We were aware of a tumult in the fabric of things far across the continent. Strange, a draegir claiming rebellion and all the chaos that ensued. A rebellion born and quickly quelled. If you would be amenable to describing these events to our Chronicler, posterity would thank you as would I."

The records of the Hytori were shredded to bits compared to what once they had known. Still, even diminished, they knew more and remembered more than most still living.

"I wonder whether my father's rebellion would have been faster, suffered fewer losses if the spirit of rebellion were made manifest in his lifetime." An ancient sadness passed through him. Sorononar frowned behind him; the prince had not known his grandfather, knew him only from stories of his heroism and from what his father shared.

"Attend."

Ailuin seemed unbothered by his counselor's lack of courtly decorum, or perhaps he was glad for the distraction from old woes.

The lines of power, intense and impossibly thin, but bleeding misty light, concentrated on the gem, outlining it, detailing its inner structure like some sort of geometric impossibility. Then the linear framework expanded so their eyes could see that structure in more detail.

"We are not in the Aetherium, but we are closer to it than we were before we crossed the threshold. If you wish to See in your divine form, the room will... hm... augment you. The Allfather's hand is upon this thing. See."

[Talon]

T A L O N

“We would only be able to speak of its aftermath, Your Majesty.” Aoren’s eyes remained did not look to Ailuin but continued to observe the workings of the king’s advisor. Neither Aoren or Talon had been present for the devastation that had befallen Zaichaer but both of them had worked toward helping the city-state out of the rubble. Before Franky had revealed himself to be who and what he was, they had collaborated to help funnel resources to those who had been suffering. Of course, the reason for their absence was the same reason that Zaichaer and Kalzasi had gone to war and Talon’s mortal father had been killed.

Talon’s attention was pulled to the geometric lines of power that radiated all around them. He did not need to be told that the Dragon King’s hand touched the gem. He had known it. In his bones, he had known it as soon as he had picked it up. The gem could have been an ordinary mundane diamond for all he cared and for the simple fact that Eikaen had gifted it to him, he would have treasured it. It was the confirmation of such a thing that spoke to him.

The dissolving of the mortal veil that clung to Talon was a slow and gentle thing in this instance. It was not the righteous fury of Justice that drove him in that moment. Like the soft glow of a rising dawn, he revealed Himself. Light shone from his wings, each feather gilded with silver morning light. His Presence was not a heavy thing but rather the whisper of Hope that urged others forever onward, pushing toward their truest and greatest selves. With eyes capable of beholding the high realm of the Aetherium without flinching, Talon observed what was before him.

[Hekatos]

In the Court of Princes

"Even that is closer to the source than we are now, my Lord Auravacis," Ailuin assured him.

The light of the room's magic was unlike any other Talon had encountered, though likely it would tickle the memories he had recovered from his previous incarnation.

"The gem is structurally perfect," Estolië said, "and that in itself is aberrant. Perfection does not exist in nature." They continued to narrate as they divined more, though truly, even with tools such as they had inherited from Hytori long dead and gone, this sort of thing required time. It was unlikely Talon would leave it in their care long enough to plumb the depths of the gem's capabilities.

The princes observed with keen attention, green-eyed and the younger prince, at least, was awed. They took a step back; even though Talon hadn't grown in size, his Presence had grown and needed space. As his light was added to the room, the geometric patterns of the room altered to accommodate him, to include him, and everything grew exponentially more complex. This didn't seem to trouble Estolië, but Estolië was generally unreadable.

Because of his nature, Talon felt the hopes of those around him: Aoren's, that he would find what he sought; Ailuin's, a safe path to Daemora for his people; Sorononar's, to prove worthy of succeeding his father in the fullness of time; even the faintest thread of Estolië's, to understand this gem as utterly as possible. But, as his attention was focused on the gem itself, those hopes faded into the background buzz of a world's worth of hopes.

Estolië and the room showed him the gem's depths, the crystalline structure, and down and down and deeper to the size that the new Goddess of Stars struggled to articulate when she spoke of both stars and the building blocks of creation, when she tried to explain that light was both particle and waveform. These elves didn't have the context of millennia, the full legacy of their immortal ancestors, and couched science as magic, though, in a sense, they were one and the same.

Estolië's strange, disconnected voice faded from his awareness too.

For a moment, Talon thought he saw Eikaen peering back at him, Naori behind, Her hand upon His shoulder.

When he came back to himself, back to the room, Estolië was still speaking.

"...the purpose being, ultimately, to enforce order where chaos has gone too far. A mortal of sufficient skill and power might manage it. A divine will would be better suited for it. I would venture to guess the chaos gem balances this one, tools to ensure balance."

Ailuin was looking at him strangely now even as the lights began to retreat into the altar, the gem making the air hum again before settling gently once more upon the pedestal.

"If I were you, I would wear it to the Temple of Eikaen Pater. The Gods are, I think, always listening, but sometimes They want a sign that we are before They speak."

[Talon]

T A L O N

The hopes of many heard by one, every sunrise, every hour, of every day. He knew how many of those hopes were dashed. He knew how many of those hopes were realized. Some of them were small. Some of them spanned generations unbeknownst to the living inheritors of those old hopes settled upon young shoulders. In the moment that he beheld Eikaen and Naori, the gods higher than them all, the weavers of the infinite balance that kept creation turning, his breath stilled. He saw and was seen, of that he had no doubt. One did not gaze into the eyes of the Highest and go unnoticed.

He blinked, realizing that he had lost himself in the endless complexity of the gemstone. All else had faded into the background. Estolië's words came into focus like he was waking from a dream. Talon watched as the gem was lowered back onto the pedestal. His head was spinning with a dozen questions. It was not lost on him the enormity of such an artifact's purpose.

Was he supposed to use it?

Was he supposed to guard it?

Why entrust it to him?

Reaching out he gingerly picked up the gemstone, fingers closing around it lightly. He stroked a thumb over its surface. Nothing the Dragon King did was without reason, just as nothing was done by the Masked Queen without purpose. The answer eluded him for the present moment but he felt something dancing around on the edges of his consciousness, waiting for the right question to be asked.

“No tool was made that did not have its appointed time to be used.” He placed the gem back around his neck, pulling the veil of mortality back around himself. Mentally he had to pause. The mask of mortality was slower than usual to put back into place. It was as if it were harder to pull about himself, the threads of that mantle did not weave together as seamlessly as they once did.

“A moment with my father, I think, is indeed what is needed.” Talon looked to the Phoenix King, Sorononar and Estolië. He bowed his head in thanks.

“Thank you.”

[Hekatos]

In the Court of Princes

All three of those who lived in Silfanore bowed their heads in response. Estolië stepped back, their purpose fulfilled for the moment. The light was slowly fading from the walls, from the pedestal, everything returning to normal, or at least what passed for normal in this ancient room.

Talon, at least, could still feel how it was connected to the Aetherium on some fundamental level. Even Aoren could feel something independently of his bond with Talon. Vicis claimed Fate, but the Order of it belonged to a higher power still. The gem was powerful and, in the wrong hands, dangerous. The room, too, had potential for good or ill. Perhaps it were better they not linger if they wanted to keep a hold of their mortal seeming.

Even Ailuin, who was merely a Hytori, was emanating something, perhaps resonating more closely with Thiovan here than he did outside.

And Ailuin, who wished to be cognizant of any threat to his people, asked the important question: "Where is the Gem of Chaos now?"

Sorononar, who had gone to the door to open it, paused. He would wait to open it until such intelligence was shared. As open as the Hytori monarchy attempted to be, there were things that must needs be kept secret for the good of the people, for the good of the world.

[Talon]

T A L O N

“Gone.” Talon closed his eyes for a moment. He remembered quite well the raw power that had seared through his body, claiming every ounce of his strength just to wield. Instinctually, Talon knew that he was a deific power aligned more closely with the forces of Order than of Chaos. Opening his eyes, he ran a hand through his hair. The memory of so much raw chaos flowing through him being woven for an orderly purpose had left him exhausted for weeks.

“I was allowed to wield it to seal the rift above Zaichaer, to banish the abominations that spawned from it. Afterwards, its physical shell crumbled. Doubtless, sent to wherever Mother Chaos wills it.” He did not think for a moment that the Gem of Chaos was gone forever. Displaced? Perhaps. But destroyed? No. He had felt firsthand the hand of Naori Herself guiding him as he had wielded the gemstone. It was Her instrument, fully and completely.

“Where it is now?” He shrugged his broad shoulders. “Only She knows.”

Aoren stepped forward, touching a hand to the small of Talon’s back. Talon looked to his husband, feeling a shift in the Bond between them. His eyes grew slightly wider as he felt something or rather, someone speaking through his partner. The red witchfires that burned perpetually in his eyes softened, becoming banked coals. Aoren looked distant.

“It will return.” The red-haired man stared directly at the Phoenix King then. His eyes shifted to become reptilian, the fires that burned in them becoming more akin to staring into a pool of molten lava. In that moment, staring at Ailuin was not Aoren, but Auravacis, the ancient red dragon of fate.

“When it does, the way will be open. The Storm shall fall quiet. The Spire will be waiting. Look to the Stars, King of Princes. For as in the Days of the Dreaming, they shall chart your course.” Aoren blinked, his eyes returning to normal. The tall man furrowed his brow, swaying slightly. Talon wrapped an arm around his husband’s waist, steadying him with his other hand pressed lightly over his heart.

“Aoren?” Concern colored Talon’s voice. That concern seemed to snap Aoren out of whatever trance he was in. Aoren shook his head, reaching up to touch a hand to Talon’s face. Talon stared steadily into his husband’s eyes until Aoren gave a lopsided smile with a breathy laugh.

“Sorry. I…uh…got dizzy for a moment.” Aoren straightened, pinching the bridge of his nose, squeezing his eyes shut as though he were fighting off a headache. Talon gave a meaningful look to the Phoenix King before tending to his husband. Talon reached through the Bond, pressing at the edges of the throbbing in his partner’s skull. He looked to the others.

“Please excuse us.” Entwining his fingers with Aoren, he walked toward the doorway where Sorononar waited.

[Hekatos]

In the Court of Princes

"That is a relief," Ailuin opined. If such a thing were in the hands of some mortal creature, they were all in danger. If it had returned to Mother Naori, then Chaos was aligned with Order still, though he had to wonder why Pater Eikaen had placed its twin in Talon's hands.

Surely, there was a purpose to it.

There he was: Auravacis. And there was Prophecy.

Aoren did seem different from other dragons he had met, though he didn't dig for details.

"Of course," he said, indicating they should feel free to leave. And, "Soren."

His son nodded, and exited to follow. He would ensure they got safely to wherever in the Enclave they were staying. It would not do for such august guests to not receive the hospitality they deserved. After the door closed, Ailuin turned his gaze upon Estolië.

"Well."

A strange sound resonated from his counselor, strange and thoughtful.

!	Message from: Hekatos
	Oo, mysteries upon mysteries! Please enjoy 15 xp for use at your discretion. Not sure what your plans are for this gem, but happy to moderate more. You know where to find me!