Sacrifice

Iris awoke sometime later with a pounding headache, yet her body felt like she was floating on clouds. She had never felt so comfortable in fact, and she wondered if this is what death felt like—a perfect balance between physical bliss and mental hardship.

Opening her eyes, the first thing she noticed was the absolute splendor of the room. On the ceiling above her was a mural depicting what she assumed to be some of the history of the kingdom, not that she cared enough to try to decipher the images. Surrounding that, the white walls were inlaid with golden trim around the edges, giving the room an annoyingly beautiful shimmer when the light of Rynor’s beams reflected a certain way. As she took it all in, the feeling underneath her body gave her pause. She looked down and would have cried if not for the headache that flared up when she turned her head.

She was on a bed.

A proper, soft, clean, bed.

Then she remembered how clean she was, which was to say, not at all. Fearing what the owner of the bed would do in retaliation for her dirtying the no doubt expensive sheets, she flung herself out of the bed, haphazardly landing on the tiled floor and causing her headache to flare up. Standing up, she saw her hands, but instead of the chipped nails and stained fingers, all she could see was unblemished skin. She examined the rest of her body, and found nothing but the same. To top it all off, her usual torn and ripped rags-for-clothes were gone. In their place was a simple white tunic that draped over her figure.

Between the room, the bed, her now clean body, and the clothes, Iris was sure she had died and moved on to the Mother’s Glades. The only thing that could make it better would be a hearty—

She sniffed.

No way.

She felt like Tarros when he first smelled the bread Elder Varron had given her. It seemed like a lifetime ago. Thinking of her only friend sent a pang of regret through her, but there was nothing she could do about it now. Sure, she was sad and felt bad he had gotten hurt while trying to protect her, but now she was definitely dead, and unless her nose was malfunctioning, she was positive there was food on the other side of the intricate door.

Iris made her way to the door, and a couple raps against the metal to signal someone knocking happened right before she swung open the door with a strength only brought upon by the promise of a good meal.

The covered tray wielding servant on the other side let out a squeak, not expecting someone to answer the door that quickly, and especially not so violently. Behind her, Aerowyn stood there with hands clasped behind his back, looking at her with a mix of judgment and humor.

Huh.

If Aerowyn was there, that meant she wasn’t dead, which was both a relief and a curse. On the bright side, that meant she could hopefully find Tarros again, make sure he was alright. At the same time, unless Aerowyn was about to tell her she was secretly lost royalty, or some bastard noble, that meant she was still an orphan with no dreams of a future.

Iris moved aside, letting the two visitors pass, one of which placed the tray on the corner table before excusing herself, the other sitting down on a cushioned chair, leaning back and crossing one leg over the other. Iris rushed over to the table, reverently removing the silver lid from the tray, hands shaking with trepidation.

A burst of steam met her face, smells making her mouth salivate, stomach grumbling with anticipation. When steam cleared, she saw the most beautiful sight, one she had only dreamt of.

Under the lid was a plate with eggs, perfectly scrambled to resemble a yellow cloud, but mixed with chunks of an unknown meat and vegetables Iris couldn’t name. Next to that were some dark brown cubes, with a peppering of a darker spice that made her nose tingle. She didn’t know what this one was, but it smelled heavenly. Taking up the last third of the plate were some greens and other vegetables that looked like they had just been picked from a garden. These were dressed with light brown sauce, giving them a contrasting look that said, “try me.” Next to the plate was a large cup of what Iris assumed to be juice, if the pulp was anything to go by.

She had questions for Aerowyn, but in front of this feast?

That could wait.

With a gusto born from a lifetime of starvation, she descended upon the food. That was probably the first time the grand room had been graced by such animalistic sounds. She never knew how to act like a lady, and if she did? She wouldn’t have cared.

Aerowyn took this opportunity to study Iris, not saying anything of importance, just watching her as she committed war crimes on her prey.

A short time later, she sat back with a contented sigh and a distended stomach, food sloshing and mixing together inside. She probably should have eaten slower, as she could already feel the discomfort building, but she tampered down on it with sheer will, commanding her body to accept the beautiful gift she had just received. She looked up at Aerowyn, who hadn’t moved an inch during the ordeal.

“Why?” she asked.

For a moment, he just stared back, eyes unblinking. He sighed, which he apparently liked to do more often than most. “Why what? Why did I free you from jail? Why did I drag you through the city to get here? Why did I knock you out? Why did I feed you? Be more specific, girl.” Iris noticed he wasn’t using her name, even though she had introduced herself the night before.

Rude.

“Yes.”

“Who could say?” he said, smiling mischievously. She went to give a retort, but he continued, standing while he spoke, “I do have answers for you,” he smoothed out his purple silk robes. “But those answers are for after our next guest arrives.”

She gave him a conspicuous look, unsure if she was willing to deal with more people. She didn’t even know what they planned with her.

“I can see you have suspicions, which you are right to have. But please just wait until my associate and I can talk this through.” he held his hands out in a placating manner, attempting to alleviate her concerns. It worked slightly, but Iris still felt on edge from being in an unfamiliar environment, not knowing what was coming next. At least as an in the Reaches she could decide where the day was going to take her.

Approximately one wave later, there was another knock on the door, this one done with a steady yet strong pace. Iris stayed where she was, but Aerowyn moved from where he had been studying one of the paintings on the wall, opening the door to reveal a man only a few cycles older than herself, and…and…

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Wow.

Iris could only stare as he stalked in, moving with a predatory grace, footsteps nearly silent against the tiles. He wore dark blue armor, made not of metal, but from a beast’s hide that would be fitting of either the ocean’s depths or the northern mountains’ peaks. Although young, he held a rugged handsomeness that could only come from his strong jaw and broad shoulders that helped grant him quite the presence. It wasn’t the same like when Aerowyn had visited her outside the cell, but impressive still. He had some slight stubble and weary eyes, dark bags already formed.

Aerowyn closed the door behind the young man and then moved to the adjacent wall, touching a spot that sent a pulse throughout the room and then striding back to one of the seats.

“We can talk freely now. I’d say good morning, Colin, but you look like you just had a night in a Middle District whorehouse.” Aerowyn said. Well at least Iris now knew the newcomer’s name, rolling it around in her mind. He could have just introduced her, though.

“Rough night, nervous about…you know.” Colin said absentmindedly, looking at Iris even though the last part was directed at Aerowyn. “Is she…?”

“Yes, but there’s things I’d like to discuss, and they require her to be present.” Aerowyn motioned towards Iris.

“Before that, why was she brought to the castle? Cleaned up? Isn’t she a criminal?”

“For the love of the Mother—”

“Let me handle this, Iris… although, I do have to say… you love to use the Mother more so than nearly everyone I know.”

Pouting, Iris rolled her eyes as she mumbled, “Grew up in a church…”

“Anyhow,” Aerowyn stood up once more, walking over to a side table where he poured himself a drink. Since when had that been there? “Iris was jailed for a crime, but one she claims to have not committed.”

“So she’s a proficient liar, is what you’re saying.” Colin probed.

Turning back with a small cup in hand, he sipped while making his way back to the table. “Mmm, I wouldn’t say she’s lying. You see, young Graven, in all my days…I’ve dealt with all sorts of individuals—both righteous and not. And for some strange reason, this young woman…” Aerowyn found his way behind her chair, putting his hand on her shoulder as he continued, “did not lie to me when I asked her for the truth.”

The entire time he talked, Colin was looking between them with increasing concern.

“Spit it out, Aerowyn.”

“I can see your turmoil, Colin.” he said it in such a grandfatherly way, like trying to comfort a troubled child. “For so long, have I also disagreed with this…this unholy ceremony!” He stepped around Iris’ chair, making his way over to Colin who had his eyes downcast. “I didn’t think she wasn’t actually a thief until we were nearly here. Us being in this position is on me, I will take that burden. But Valdoc will not care about the who, you know this!” Aerowyn set down his drink and placed both hands on the other man’s shoulders. “Look at me, Colin. Come on, look at me.”

Colin’s head tilted back up and Iris could see he was not happy.

His voice started soft, but built with every word until he was almost screaming, “What you speak of, is fucking treason!” his chest heaved, emotions so riled they were boiling over. He brought his voice back down, his gaze seething with anger and fear as he faced down Aerowyn. “I have a duty to do, to both my King and to my family! I will not tarnish our name because of a risk you want to take. Every fiber of my being is yelling at me to run into the King’s chambers and tell him you want to save her!” He said as his finger jammed into the older man’s chest.

Iris had been asking herself this whole time what the actual fuck was happening, but one part of the phrase stood out to her.

“When you say save—” she tried.

“Oh so you’re fine with watching her and another innocent get sacrificed for nothing more than adding to the King and Queen’s already ridiculous control over Elyria?!” It was Aerowyn’s turn to snap, getting in Colin’s face in his own outburst. But wait, why had he pointed at her when he said sacrifice?

Wait.

Hold on…

Sacrifice?

“What the fuck?!” The two turned towards Iris in surprise as she poured every ounce of her being into her tirade, chair toppling over as she shot to her feet. “You want me to get sacrificed?!”

“No!” Aerowyn was quick to try and settle down Iris. “There are going to be events transpiring later that we will have to go to, and I plan on trying to get you prepared before that happens. But we are going to figure out a way to get you out of here. The both of us.” he said, the last part directed towards the still angry Colin.

“Get me out? You’re the one who brought me here!” she shot back.

“I did, but we still have to go through with the first part. Once that’s over, I promise Colin and I will have something worked out.”

Looking back at Colin, Iris could see he was flush with conflicting emotions, his face warring between anger, hesitation, and doubt.

“Here is what’s going to happen. Colin, you must see to the upcoming ritual, as is your duty. Once you’re done making sure the new connection is in place, join us for the ceremony. Iris, you and I are going to the ceremony. Once you kill the man there—”

“Huh?!” She spluttered, her voice squealing towards the end, Iris was completely baffled at this point.

“Yes, you’re going to have to kill someone. Afterwards, you might notice a change. We aren’t sure what that change is going to be, but you might notice you gain a certain Trait you’ve never had before. They are going to put you in a state of danger, and the Trait might come out on its own. No matter what you do, do not use it. If for some reason you do end up activating it, pray it’s not noticeable. I will do my best to delay the examination.”

“I understood about half of what you said.”

“I don’t expect you to completely understand, either. I’m telling you this for both your sake and mine. The only thing you need to take away from this is to not use the ability, and if you do, do not disclose what it is.” Aerowyn’s face was devoid of all emotions, radiating nothing but a seriousness that sent shivers down her spine.

By this point, Colin was looking like he was past the point of arguing, just settling on acceptance. He shot Aerowyn with a dark look, “You better know what you’re doing, Advisor Night, or we’re all fucked.” Iris couldn’t help but notice the use of a formal title along with what she could only assume was Aerowyn’s sired name.

“No one can really know what is going to happen in the future, can they?” His tone had taken on some of the humor he had before, perhaps to try and lighten the mood. “All we can do right now is wait. They will let us know when they’re ready.”

“I have to go to the ritual, I’ll see you at the examination.” Colin stated, giving Aerowyn one last side-eye as he opened the door and stepped out, the spot on the wall Aerowyn had touched before pulsing once more.

Iris turned towards Aerowyn, still conflicted about the events transpiring out of her control. “What is the ritual you two keep mentioning?” she asked.

“Shhh. We can talk about that at a later time. For now, just prepare yourself for what is to come.”

With no other choice, she sat back and before long, dozed into what might be her last undisturbed sleep, the thought she was being told she would have to kill someone present the entire way.