Chapter Text
The smell of charred earth and tainted blood covers all my senses, it threatens to choke me, and I almost close my eyes as they water, but I can’t.
I can’t look away from him, from this moment.
It’s the only gift I have left to give. I look down into his eyes and clasp his hand in mine while he looks straight into my soul and gurgles,
“Tell Sloan I love her.”
I finally close my eyes as the tears flow.
“Riorson”
I open my eyes and blink a few times, just to assure myself that I am not in that field anymore, I’m in my house in Aretia with 10 other people staring at me expectantly.
I did call this meeting, but honestly, every waking moment feels as if I’m losing more and more of myself to the past and the very bleak future.
I clear my throat and lick my dry lips
“Yes, sorry. I called everyone here to tell you our next move.”
In my opinion, it’s our only move, but I’m not sure if it’s based on bleak facts or pure bias and need.
“After our last loss on the outskirts of Anca, it is extremely apparent we are fighting a losing battle, we need to reopen our discussion from last month about Leothan.”
Of course right when I’m done talking the older members of the assembly absolutely lose their shit.
I look to my right at Rhi, and she is staring at Suri with disgust as she says
“We don’t have time for these idiotic plans; there are too many variables, and we have to focus on the here and now.”
These past two years, after the battle of Draithus, have cost us so many people. Loved ones, riders, family, but of course, Suri survived.
I think it was just to fuck with me.
After Xaden turned asim and we married, she was..less than happy that I was now a permanent fixture in Tyrrendor.
Duchess or not, Riorson or not, to her, I’ll always be a Sorrengail. I look to Rhi’s right at Ridoc, and he is smiling at the members on the opposite side of the table as they argue with each other.
Honestly, I can’t even make out what
they are saying as the noise level reaches a new high. Breath trickles on my left ear before he starts talking
“Do you think we could all leave the room while they yell, and we could have an actual meeting in the hall?”
I smirk and turn towards him
“Well, well, Durran, it sounds like you're finally ready to agree to my plan.”
His lips slightly turn up into a smile, and my heart clenches.
It’s so hard to look at Bhodi sometimes, he looks so much like Xaden. It’s not his fault, so I try not to let it show on my face.
I spend almost every waking moment with him trying to run Tyrrendor, work with the fuckers in Navarre, and plan this war but it never gets any easier.
I turn away and take in the room again. I open my archives door to Tairns' power just a little and let it run through my arms into my hands and slam them on the table, lightning shoots through my fingertips and makes a large crack form in the wood of the table, which immediately silences the room.
Thank the gods.
So dramatic silver one
Tairn grumbles into my mind
It was that, or executing my plan with no further discussion
Which I seriously considered.
I put my shields up again so I can focus and look up. Sawyer looks at me with a grin from the corner, and I raise my eyebrows slightly in acknowledgment.
I take a deep breath so I don’t say something drastically unduchess-like and finally begin.
“ I know you all want to focus on the venin trying to take over Cordyn, and I understand, but we have been fighting in these battles for years and making no real progress. There seems to be a never-ending amount of venin and Wyvern, and through all of our research we have done in the royal archives in Navarre, the last time they were beaten was when the first six used their signets together to drive them away.”
I glare at everyone in the room.
“Well according to their signet records we can’t fucking use those six signets together unless we all ask Malek to grant us a favor since half of us are dead.”
I breathe heavily out of rage, always rage. I’ve slowly been taken over by that one emotion since Draithus, hell, since Basgiath.
“With what Leothan says he can do for us, we will have the fucking chance to do this correctly. To win this war once and for all, and not just jump from one battle field to another while we all fucking die”
I meet Mira’s eye at the other end of the table and plead with her silently. She barely nods, but I know what it means: she’s in.
I look next to her at Brennan, and he looks pained. Like he doesn’t like what I’m saying, but knows I am right.
He opens his mouth to speak, but before he can, Felix clears his throat and says
“Violet, I understand what you're saying, and in theory, you're right, but that’s the problem. It’s just a theory; you don’t know the ramifications of this action, or that it will even work! But what we do know is that we need you. Without you in the battlefield field we will most certainly die.”
His eyes are soft and laced with pity. I let the fact that he didn’t use my title go, I wouldn’t if it were Suri, but Felix is honestly the only reason I’m still alive.
He worked with me night and day for an entire year until I got complete and utter control of my signet and made it possible for me to keep my family and squad safe.
I turn from him and look directly into Brennan's eyes, and say
“One day I will fall. I might be the last one standing in this room, but I will die. My power has limits, but this plan gives us the edge we need to finally be ahead and not put the fate of our entire existence on me and me alone.”
Brennan's eyes look glassy and distant as if he’s conversing with Marbh, and he finally says
“ I agree with Duchess Riorson. It is hope for a better future, instead of the certain death we are living in now.”
I exhale a short breath. Shit I have both of them. That’s all I really needed. I already know my squad is in. We have talked about literally nothing else for weeks since Leothan approached me and told me what his irid power was.
Cat and Drake both look at me and nod while she says
“I agree, the duchess’s plan might be fucking insane, but it’s better then whatever it is we are doing now.”
I try not to roll my eyes at her.
Cat can’t ever just say “I agree” and move on, she has to remind everyone of her charming personality.
I give her a small smile, she’s been in our squad for years now and will always be a part of us, but I remember back when I couldn’t even fathom being in the same room as her, and now more often then not her, Ridoc, and Rhi are sleeping in my room piled on my bed.
It’s been hard on her losing her entire drift, including Maren. After they all fell, Ridoc pretty much stuck to her like a shadow, saying he learned from the best.
Liam.
Fuck, I have to swallow past the lump I my throat. So many people are dead.
Suri uses this time of weakness and quiet to make a snide comment, of course
“You say you're doing this for the good of the continent, but I think you're doing it for personal gain.”
she spits
“You are still just trying to save him.”
Saving him saves us all.
I’ve had enough of this.
“Enough”
I yell.
“ I will now remind you all I am the Duchess of Tyrrendor and you-”
I point around the room
“-are just the assembly, the advisors. What you say is an opinion, and I will take it under advisement.”
I pause for ten seconds
Still dramatic silver one
I mentally snort and say
“Alright, I’ve thought about it, and I’m going through with my plan. This meeting is over.”
I hear the squawks of protest, but
I rise from my -his- burned throne and move to leave quickly.
My knees pop at the speed I’m making my feet move, but I don’t care. I need to get away from this room. My squad fans out behind me, and Brennan and Mira walk next to me while Drake brings up the rear.
We walk across the house at a fast pace and into my room.
His room.
I shake my head, This is the right choice. It’s not only about him. It hasn’t been in a year.
Since the day my heart shattered and I became even more broken than I already was.
We all file in, and I stop by the desk and turn to face them all. My family. My friends. My squad.
My heart clenches.
I don’t want to leave them. But I have to save them all. Ridoc, of course breaks the silence first
“Well, that went really well, Duchess.”
a smile pulling at his mouth. I grimace back
“Did any of you think it would go better than that? I actually think it was a success.”
My try at a joke falls flat into the silence of the room. Felix was right, this is all just theory it’s not like any of us have ever done this shit before.
If you doubt your plan, then let us not do it, Silver one
Don’t say that old man, she isn’t doubting, it's just something new for us, and I trust Leothan just as Violet does
Andarna does trust him, and honestly, so do I now that he’s been fighting with us, but I can’t help but fear the unknown.
Tairn, are you saying you don’t want to do this?
He sighs as if he’s annoyed, which he probably is
I will follow you anywhere, silver one. Even through time.
I take a shuddering breath and close
my eyes.
The past.
That’s where we are going, and I just can’t believe it’s happening. Im so worried it won’t work or I will change something so drastically somehow we still all die or worse, they don’t bond with their dragons, I can’t completely change everyone’s fates but I have to change enough or we are so fucked.
And my plan..its fucking big.
Brennan touches my arm to get my attention and says
“I’m coming with you.”
I startle, what? That is not what I expected to hear.
Guilt tripping, concern, a stern talking to, that is what I expected, but not this.
I shut my gaping mouth,
“No, you're not, you can’t”
Mira interjects
“Yes, we can, and we are. We have already discussed this. We talked to Leothan, and he can do it; he can’t take our dragons, so we talked to Teine and Marbh. They also agreed that this was the best plan. We are going”
She looks down at me with love and soft eyes.
“You can’t do it all alone, we will do it together.”
She grabs my shoulder and squeezes. I look over at Drake, his face is blank, but his body is rigid, and his hands are curled into fists, gripping so tight his knuckles are white.
They have been together for a while now, even if Mira won’t give me any details. And it looks like he is not happy with my sister's decision to come with me.
I look around at everyone’s faces. I’ll do this for them and for those who were lost.
“Okay, we will leave in the morning. I will tell Leothan.”
I turn to my squad
“Go do whatever you need to do, I’ll see you all tonight for one last sleepover.”
I give them what I hope is a big smile, but I know it looks like a grimace. They nod and all hug me tightly.
Rhi is last and doesn’t let go for a long time. Once she does, she says
“Vi, you are still the smartest person I know. It will work. You’ll figure it out.”
I just nod, dripping silent tears
“And tonight I will bring chocolate cake, and I will not let Ridoc eat it all.”
I chuckle lightly and put my forehead against hers. She gives my shoulders one last squeeze and leaves.
I see Cat by the door as she watches me.
“Save my sister Riorson.”
She says in a tone that leaves no room for argument.
I nod.
I will try.
“Any tips on how to make you not be such a bitch when we meet?”
I say with a smirk.
She smiles back.
“No, don’t change how you treated me, it helped me open my eyes. Helped me trust you.”
I nod again and look away.
“I do you know? Trust you. I know I’m not the softest person, but I wouldn’t be here without you, none of us would.”
She says quietly as she walks toward me, and I have to choke back a sob.
“Do you remember everything, or do you want to look over Navarres notes we stole again?”
I shake my head.
“I remember every fucking detail, don't worry”
I grasp her hand and pull her in for a hug.
“Don’t die, Cordella.”
I whisper into her neck.
She hugs me back.
“You either Riorson. I know you don’t think you can be with him, but I’m quite sure that’s not possible. Think about what I said yesterday.”
A sob does break through my lips now.
I feel her lingering touch and then hear her boot steps leave my room.
Finally alone. I hate it.
A knock at my door startles me, I just yell come in, because I couldn’t give a fuck anymore and it’s Garrick.
I slump my shoulders and walk to him. I give him a tight hug and look up into his eyes
“You scared me asshole. I was worried when you didn’t make it for the meeting, which went great by the way, what happened?”
He gives me a small smile
“I’m sorry, Vi, I got stuck on patrol when my replacement didn’t come to give me leave. Turns out he was killed yesterday in Anca, so it's not his fault. I found someone as fast as I could.”
He steps back, arms fully extended and hands on my shoulders, he looks down at me
“So you’re going? They said yes?”
I scoff
“Fuck what they say Garrick I’m going because I need to.”
He nods and releases me
“You think it’s possible, Vi? To..save them all?
He says, save them.
But I know he really means save her. Imogen.
It’s been 1 year since she was killed. They only got six months together because of their sheer stubbornness.
But I will never say that to him.
He was broken, hell, he still is. We all are.
“I’m going to do everything in my fucking power to save them.”
He smirks and looks at me.
“Can you do me a favor?
I raise my eyebrows
“Can you make the past me stop being a little bitch and just make me tell her how I feel, just to give me more….time”
I look away so I don’t start to cry, and go for humor like he does
“I’ll try but if memory serves me well you were quite the bitch back then, so we will see”
He lets out a breath of a laugh and pulls me into a hug again.
As I go to excuse myself to take a well-needed shower, the alarm bells start to ring.
We both still
One ring - breath
Two rings - breath
Three rings- we’ve been breached.
Right as the third one is done with its deafening peel, I feel the wards snap around me like a blanket being pulled from my body, and all I can feel is the cold air and vulnerability. I surge forward to to the door, and I follow Garrick into a run.
I’m already armed, as is he.
We run down the hallways to the front entrance and run into Mira, Brennan, and Drake.
We stop for a moment, and Garrick just looks at me, panicked and grabs my neck to pull me to him. I feel his lips softly touch my forehead.
“You got this little sister,” he whispers and then turns to continue down the opposite hall towards the ward stone.
Mira and Drake are whispering frantically, and then he stops, grabs her, and kisses her with a passion that makes me need to look away with the intimacy of it.
He lets her go and gives her one last look, and runs after Garrick.
Silver one, we must go. They are within the grounds. If we are doing this, it must be now
“Tairn says we have to go to Leothan now, or there is no chance.”
Brennan nods, and Mira, still looking affected from Drake's departure, removes her hand from her mouth and nods as well.
We all start running towards the flight field.
We are on the way, we will land before you reach us
I try to calm my racing heart as we run.
Be safe, all of you, especially you andarna
I hear her chuff
I am always safe
I choose to ignore that lie. She has grown in the last two years, about half the size of Tairn, so the size of a normal dragon.
She can now bear a rider, and since then, she has taken nothing but risks. But so have I, so I haven’t complained so far.
As we reach the flight field and step outside, I look up to the sky and see pure chaos.
Wyvern everywhere with riders, there have to be hundreds.
112 at last count silver one
Fuck that’s a lot
We all reach our dragons, and Leothan is in the middle. I hear a high-pitched whistle, and I know he’s now in my mind.
I look to my siblings and know he’s connected to them as well by the furrows between their brows.
Are you ready?
I say out of breath
Yes, you must all join and think of the day you will go back to. I have informed the others as well
I nod, and he pauses
I do not do this lightly, I have never meddled with time, but I believe you are worthy, do not prove me wrong
Tairns growls lightly
Do not insult my rider, she has proven enough
She is worthy, I chose her for this moment
Andarna adds.
I whip my head towards her about to ask what the fuck that means, but a loud noise from above draws my eyes
Wyvern are drawing near us, seeing their perfectly grounded targets. I look right above us and see Feirge and Rhi are locked in a battle with three Wyvern with riders.
The rest of the squad stuck with their own adversaries, can’t help.
One of the venin raises his staff, and I swear I see her look at me and our gazes lock.
A loud crack sounds, and I see Fierge start to fall and Rhi go boneless on top of her.
A strangled cry comes out of my mouth, and I close my eyes as I shout her name.
No, not her, too.
You’re willing to trade a boot?: We’re not just squad mates, we’re family: I love you Vi: She was my best friend before she was you’re girlfriend Riorson: Iron squad for life.
I hear our laughter echo in my mind as all of the memories I have with her plays behind my eyes. I open them to see her broken body near her dragons, only yards from us.
Rhiannon Julia Matthias.
Daughter, aunt, Friend, leader, family.
Dead.
Leothan is loud in my mind
“Focus now, or it is all for nothing.”
I push it down, my pain, my regrets, my earth-shattering heartbreak.
I wrench open the door to Tairn's power and let it consume me.
Let it burn the emotions from my body. I throw the lightning that’s a part of my very soul around us with a deafening shout.
I just need to shield us until we leave. I throw my hands on Tairn and Andarna, Brennan reaches over to grab Andarna and then Leothan, and Mira throws her hands out to complete our circle. I feel my strength waning. My lighting is still shooting from the earth around us in an arc, killing all the Wyvern trying to penetrate it. I don’t care, I can last.
You won’t leave me right?
I yell at both of my dragons.
Nothing can break our bond. No time, no age.
Tairn grunts back to me as the world seems to shift.
Never
Andarna whispers.
I just think of where we need to go, and the people I’ll see once I get there.
Xaden
I sob as I scream with the burn of my power.
And then the world goes black, and I’m falling.
———
Brennan Sorrengail:
“Fuck!”
I yell as I shoot up in bed.
Gods, my head is throbbing, my chest throbbing.
I lick my dry lips and try to turn.
As I see my surroundings, I gasp and physically hold my chest.
Aretia.
We are in Aretia.
But not the same Aretia I was in just moments ago.
Flashes of wyvern and Venin fly past my eyes.
If that Aretia even still stands.
Gods gods gods,
Did it work?
Did we go back far enough where Violet wanted?
You will calm yourself
Mharb’s deep rumble soothes something in me.
Mharb. Do you know?
I say back to him, panicked.
I hear a chuff in my mind.
I see all, we are one. I know who you are and what you’ve seen. You are still my undying one.
A huff runs out of me, and I try to calm my heartbeat.
“Hey, you need to lie back down. Your still
not completely healed.”
I whip my head to the door and look into the dark brown eyes I’d never thought I would see again.
“What?”
I say quietly in a trance.
I literally signed up for going back in time.
I knew what I was doing, and yet I am not handling this well.
This is so surreal.
“Your chest, it’s not fully healed. Lay down, now.”
I nod and comply as I blink rapidly at the ceiling.
We came back to the exact fucking day we needed to.
We did it.
Violet:
“Fuck!”
I shout as I fly up in bed.
My arms are tingling, and I feel sweat pouring from my face.
Did we do it?
Are we here?
I look around, eyes wide.
Holy shit.
Tairn?? Andarna??
I scream into my mind and close my eyes to see into my archives.
I still see them, but it’s weak, stretched. Especially Andarnas. Fuck.
Where did he say he was around this time?
Hiding in a cave with Sgaeyl to recover.
Well he better be able to fucking fly.
I send my thoughts anyway
Hurry up, old man. We have to get there by tomorrow
I have no idea how Andarna will be.
Grown? An egg?
She just told me, all will be well.
She became so fucking cryptic when she started shadowing Leothan.
I have a queasy feeling in my gut I won’t see her for a long fucking time.
I stand up finally in my small room I haven’t seen in almost 9 years.
Mira is in the quadrant. Having to battle to survive again, but she already did it the first time and I’ll sneak to see her as soon as I fucking can.
Brennan, I’ll see him tomorrow.
See him exactly as I remembered him when he left so long ago.
I take stock of my body as I walk and feel how fucking weak it is.
My joints slide and shift awkwardly as I move, and the pain I once thought was normal sings through my veins again for the first time in years.
I flick my eyes into the floor-length mirror to see my reflection.
Gods.
I must be fucking crazy to do this.
Certifiably out of my mind.
Because who in the fucking hells would ever want to be 15 again.