Be not so disdainful of familial affection, my good Rathma, Trag’oul remarked so that all could sense him.
“My experience with such has not been the best and you should know that.”
Mendeln and Uldyssian separated. The first thing out of Uldyssian’s mouth was, “Serenthia…Lilith’s possessed her…it happened before Hashir…”
“As I also understand it, although at first I feared that she had been slain like Master Ethon.” Mendeln gave the starry being a short look of frustration for that temporary shock. Still, Serenthia’s current situation was not all that much better. “We must find a way to force the demoness out…”
“That will not be so simple,” interjected Rathma. “I know of old how tight my mother can cling to that which is of use to her…as you might also recall, Uldyssian ul-Diomed.”
Uldyssian bared his teeth at the tall figure. “I don’t give a damn! I’ve got to save her…and the others, too! At the very least, they need to be warned!”
Rathma looked to the dragon. “Trag?”
Her influence is already mounting. Uldyssian is weakened in the eyes of his edyrem.
“And whose fault is that ?” Mendeln’s brother roared. He shook a fist at the stars. “Who took me away? Who kept me from going to her?”
Had you returned immediately, in the condition that you were in, she would have easily subdued you…
“He speaks the truth,” Rathma added. “She had already infested you with her darkness. A return to Lilith at that time would have only served to allow her to complete her spell.”
Mendeln understood just what they were saying, but felt the need to defend his sibling. “Why could we have not done more, then?”
“You should understand better than that,” returned Lilith’s son bluntly. “Trag’Oul cannot be known to exist, neither by my dear parents nor the Burning Hells or High Heavens. For the greater good of all Sanctuary—and for its very survival—he must always be hidden from their sight in order to help make certain that the world remains in Balance.” Rathma took a breath, then added, “As for me, my fate lies elsewhere, as I have known all along. I can say no more.”
It was hardly an answer to satisfy Mendeln, much less Uldyssian, but both had come to know that they would get no more from Rathma.
In fact, Uldyssian was clearly growing impatient to do something… anything. Mendeln had seen his brother like this on a few rare occasions and feared what would happen if they delayed further.
“All is not without hope,” he started to tell Uldyssian. “There is another who is even now—”
But he got no further. Uldyssian blurted, “Small wonder that Inarius and the demons have been able to play with our world for so long! You do nothing but interfere with those who’re no danger to you and stand idle against those most of a threat!”
Mendeln put a calming hand on his brother’s shoulder. “Uldyssian…”
But the older sibling ignored the younger. “Tell me, Rathma! Did we accomplish anything with the Worldstone? Has anything changed?”
“Most certainly, but how much must be deduced by careful observation—”
“I’ve observed enough! I—”
HOLD!
Although Trag’Oul’s outburst happened only within them, it was as if thunder had just exploded. Even Rathma clutched his head in pain from the loudness.
The angel is active.
Those words brought the three others to attention. Uldyssian glanced at Mendeln, who indicated he should instead study Rathma.
The pale figure was, if anything, more pale than ever. Yet it was not fear that Mendeln sensed in the other. Rather, he believed it something more akin to resignation.
“It is settled, then,” Rathma said.
That is your choice. I have always said that…
“No…it is my father’s choice…never mine…” Rathma eyed the two mortals. “But perhaps…perhaps I have been overanalyzing…perhaps…” His narrow eyes narrowed further as they focused on Uldyssian.
Mendeln’s brother vanished.
“What did you do?” Mendeln demanded. He could not sense Uldyssian anywhere.
“I sent him where he needed to be.”
Loyalty stirred within the younger brother. “Then, I shall go with—”
“No…I will need you for the confrontation.” Rathma’s resignation grew more pronounced. “I trust you’ve been educating him swiftly, Trag?”
As much as can be done. You are not bound to this…
“Aah, but I am. Come, Mendeln.”
Well suspecting that he had no choice in the matter, Mendeln still wanted to know into what he was being forced. “And where do you take me when I would be at my brother’s side? Where?”
Rathma spread his cloak wide, his look now that of death itself. “I would take you to the place I would rather be farthest from. I would—no—I must, I am sorry to say, bring you with me…to stand before my loving father…” Uldyssian stood in the jungle.
At first, he welcomed the sight. Rathma had finally given in and sent him where he needed to be.
Then, Uldyssian noticed that he was once more missing Mendeln.
He shook a fist at the thick canopy above. “Damn you again, Rathma! You’re no better than those you disclaim as your parents!”
But neither Lilith’s son nor the great beast responded. Uldyssian concentrated on Mendeln, trying to first draw his brother to him, and then when that failed, attempting to return to the emptiness that was Trag’Oul’s domain.
But still nothing happened.
Before he could consider what else to try, Uldyssian sensed something that completely took his attention from his brother.
Serenthia—Lilith—both of them—were nearby.
Aware that for the moment there was nothing that he could do for Mendeln, Uldyssian immediately focused on the new situation. Trust Rathma to throw him into the thick of things. Why was Lilith’s son not here to deal with his mother? What could be more important than that?
But that could not be a concern for Uldyssian. What mattered at the moment was to make certain that the demoness did not sense his presence. Throwing everything he could into shielding himself from her sight—and hoping that he knew what he was doing—Uldyssian cautiously moved on. If it was to be him alone against his former lover, then so be it. He would not let her continue her evil…
It was now nightfall, something that at first disconcerted him. Time in the dragon’s realm seemed to pass oddly; he had expected it to be much earlier in the day. Still, the cover of darkness would surely assist Uldyssian, who wanted to stay out of sight of his followers until he could gauge what influence Lilith might have already had on them.
While it was tempting to confront her in front of the others, Uldyssian doubted that such a maneuver would work in his favor. With Lilith it was best to render her harmless first…somehow. Only then could he worry about the rest of the problem.
As he approached the encampment, it was evident that the ranks of the edyrem had swollen since Hashir, something that did not please Uldyssian as it might have once. Most of the newcomers would be of Lilith’s making, although he wondered how she had accomplished that. The fact that the demoness had chosen him for her dupe had made him assume that she needed him to easier awaken the gifts within other humans, but the large number of new edyrem Uldyssian sensed gave the lie to that…so it seemed.
Uldyssian circled the area, surreptitiously seeking evidence of Lilith without her noticing him in turn. He did not have complete faith in his ability to stay hidden from her for very long.
The jungle sloped down, giving him at last a fairly good view of the main part of the encampment. He gazed with only the barest interest at the hodgepodge of tents, blankets, and lean-tos. Somehow, he doubted that Lilith would deign to sleep in one of those. Still, he knew that she had to be close—