Chapter Text
Dawn rose over the Seventh House. The sun was just barely visible between the distant mountains, casting its light over the rolling hills that surrounded the palace buildings and making the frost-covered grass sparkle like crushed starlight. The sounds of the early risers singing the sun’s greeting sounded especially ethereal, a haunting melody drifting across the land. Scott took a moment to admire it all before he stepped into the church.
His footsteps echoed around the empty room. It was one of the smaller churches on the planet, only meant for the royal family, but it still seemed far too large for the one person who regularly visited it. He walked by the empty pews and approached the altar, atop which lay a book; tales of the stag gods Aeor and Exor, preserved from the time before there were necromancers and brought to the Seventh House at its founding. Often he’d come here to pray or to read through the familiar stories, but this time he lifted his gaze to the stained glass window and the Lyctor it portrayed, flanked by their gods. A necromancer ascended, founder of this House Scott called home, and, in almost all respects, a complete mystery. Even their name was unknown. Some claimed it was Alinar, others Cohnal, yet none knew for certain.
He wished the Lyctor were still alive. He had so many questions for them – who they were, what had happened, what their expectations for the Seventh House had been – and especially now, with a letter in his pocket promising him the opportunity to stand alongside them, all Scott wanted was answers. But that was something he could never have, as the Lyctor was long dead. He’d have about as much luck demanding answers from the glass itself.
Lowering his head, he sang a prayer to the gods for their aid in what he was about to do and for the House to be protected in his absence, then he turned on his heel and left.
The grass crunched under his boots as he walked towards the docking bay, where already he could see the ship approaching. Skeletons were rushing to and fro when he reached it, securing the ship and loading the luggage, but besides Jimmy, Scott couldn’t see a single living soul. He was surprised that the ship’s pilot hadn’t disembarked, though had expected no one coming to see them off; large gatherings weren’t for the sickly Seventh and their secretive royal family. He doubted most people even knew his name. Briefly, he wondered whether his fate was to fade into mystery too.
Jimmy paced back and forth with a frown on his face, his scabbard hitting his leg with every stride. As he turned, he caught Scott’s eye and a smile spread across his face, brighter by far than the distant sun, and Scott let his thoughts melt away like the morning frost as he returned it.
“Scott!” Jimmy called, rushing forward to hug Scott as tightly as if it had been an eternity since they’d last seen each other, rather than the hour it had actually been. “You’re cutting it a bit close, love!”
“They’re not going to leave without me,” Scott said, hugging Jimmy back. “That would defeat the whole point, wouldn’t it?”
“It’s unmanned.” There was a note of wonder in Jimmy’s voice, entwined with his worry. He pulled back to frown at Scott, saying, “They might not even notice you’re not on it.”
Scott rolled his eyes, doubting the Sixth House would be so careless when organising the transportation, but he let Jimmy drag him onto the ship. Once aboard, Scott paused to look back out of the door.
The whole world was painted in light now, a glittering tapestry of bright snow on the mountains and a colourful carpet of flowers on the land beneath. He committed the sight to memory as best he could, fingers curling around his pendant.
A skeleton approached the door and Scott stepped back, eyeing the flowers it had been decorated with. Though the skeletons by and large were decorated in a rainbow of colours, flowers wound between their bones in whatever configuration wouldn’t impede their movement, this one bore only a simple flower crown of poppies, almost the exact same colour as the glow at the back of its eye sockets. Even if it was their House flower, Scott couldn’t help but feel it looked especially macabre.
“Come sit down!” Jimmy said suddenly, pulling Scott out of his thoughts. The ship had started rumbling beneath their feet. “You don’t want to fall over, do you?”
He took the seat next to Jimmy and tore his gaze away from the door as the skeleton closed it. “Only because you asked so nicely.”
They sat in silence as the ship took off. Jimmy’s leg was bouncing, a clear sign of his nervousness, but greater by far was his excitement as he twisted to look through every single window he could. When they darkened to block the light, he sagged against Scott in disappointment. Scott patted his hand but kept his gaze on the clock hanging opposite, wondering how long the journey would take. It had to be less than a full day, as the ship was too small to bear sleeping or eating facilities, though with no time given nor any clear way of contacting the Sixth for further information, he was left in the dark.
Well, however long it would take, it probably wouldn’t be long enough to ensure Jimmy was fully prepared, so he stifled a sigh and turned towards his husband. They had a lot to do before they landed.