The Matriarch reached out with preternatural empathy, given from her Heart-gate, and was met with a stubborn wall of pride. Gallet had always been stubborn, an older sister to the tee. Gallet always had a way of knowing when and where someone needed her. Of course, it had been because of her affinity to the Pineal-gate but the two of them hadn’t realized that when Gallet had found her, that came much later. In the infancy of her development into one of the Daeva, she had been too weak to survive. Gallet had taken on the burden herself, scouring the streets, stealing food and keeping thieves at bay. Gallet had always been willing to take in another stray, of course, but the two of them quickly formed a bond they both desperately needed – a sense of normalcy, a sense of family. Gallet had never made so clear the betrayal she felt when the Matriarch left.
She wished she could explain. She had no choice when the clan had come for her and if she had, it would have been to take Gallet with her. By then, of course, Gallet had taken charge of a whole group of children and would never leave without them. From Gallet’s perspective it must seem that the Matriarch, finally able to walk and do things for herself, suddenly able to contribute to the community that Gallet had worked so hard to create, left her for a new family – away from the struggles of the street.
“You’ve seen it then?” The Matriarch asked.
“I have.” Gallet said simply.
“There is nothing I can do?”
“Not and keep the children safe. We have a deal, Venara. You get them out safely, I keep them safe.” The anger had faded now replaced by regret.
The Matriarch’s plan had always been to eventually convinces Gallet to accompany her back to Sunder’s Peak, to build the commune she’d always dreamt of. But the longer they worked together bringing children out of the city, the more the Matriarch was sure Gallet would never leave. There would always be children to help in the city.
In the deep recesses of her mind, the Matriarch longed to embrace Gallet. To somehow allow her to relax and tear down the walls of her own pain, but the truth was that part of her had been locked away for years. The Raven Clan trained each new Daeva to be impassive and detached – skills needed for those so often employed as assasins. Instead, she simply nodded.
“You’ll find them in the beds below the window. They drank Ylla root tea before bed. They know your coming.” She took her bowl to a small wash tub, still full of tepid brown water, rinsing and scrubbing it with a cloth at her waist. “Poor Mayris is terrified of leaving her brother behind.” She turned to face the Matriarch after putting the bowl away.
“And what of you, Gallet?” the Matriarch asked.
“For me? Likely the headsman. I’m not sure why I did it Venara. So few of the children even recognize the things I do for them. Perhaps that’s my gift to them. All I can ask is that the rest don’t suffer for the ones we’ve saved.” She shook her head, contemplation still deep in her brow before she said to herself, “I just pray he isn’t lost to us completely.”
The turmoil was as plain on Gallet’s face as it was in the Matriarch’s heart. She had come back to save Gallet, not send her to the executioner’s block. The children would come first, though. If anything, she would not damage the oath she gave to Gallet by abandoning the children in place of her. The truth was Gallet valued the children far above herself; the Matriarch would no longer be able to fulfil her end of the agreement without Gallet as Head Mistress of the dormitory – these would be the last children to escape the bonds of the Order. In Gallet’s mind, saving two of the children at the cost of her own life was well worth the exchange.
That didn’t mean she wouldn’t try.
“Await me in the foyer,” she said, turning curtly towards the door. Gallet snorted softly, still leaning against the wooden counter as the Matriarch strode out of the room. It seemed the both of them were too wrapped up in plans and counter plans to give much argument.
The Matriarch left the room without another word to climb the spiral brick, suitable to be attached to the kitchen but a stark contrast to the elegant foyer. Though purposeful, she stepped lightly in her rubber soled boots. Gallet knew more than she was letting on; the Matriarch didn’t expect to walk into an ambush – from a Gatekeeper or otherwise - but the precaution had to be taken.
In her stealth training, she had learned much about the other Soulgates. The one she was most cautious of now was the Root-gate. Though no sound escaped her movements, a Keeper of the Root-gate could sense rippling vibrations emanating from footfalls. It was a rare skill, but one she was cautious of none-the-less. The children would be left alone in their beds but Gallet’s demeanor had put her on edge. Her old friend’s skill with the sight was not so acute as to be infallible, but one relied on their senses in all things.
From her heart the Matriarch quested out, even as she approached the crest of the stairs. Gallet’s essence was unreadable, she had expected the sallow mask of pride to crumble away as she left her friends side. In all things we are alone, Gallet, she thought, yet we hold tight to company in the darkness.
The stairs ended in a grand opened hall lined with bunks, children sleeping in each. The half-circle window at the far end of the room illuminated a sliver of the room; the moon still cast shadows along the courtyard. The Matriarch never knew the children she escaped with until they reached Sunder’s Peak, where they could begin new lives: staying with the sanctuary and helping to build the community that she had started or striking out to find their way in a city further to the east. Most of them stayed, those that left did so with the Matriarch’s blessing but weren’t allowed to return for fear that they would be followed back to the sanctuary.
With the same care as she took the stairs, the Matriarch strode towards the window. As her feet touched the moonlight her shadow left a stain, and in it, she redoubled her resolve. The two children were in their beds. Moving the threadbare blankets aside she found them left as she had instructed Gallet each time before, bound in a rope tied harness. The Matriarch could not carry the children on her back – not in flight. The harness held them upright and centered over a hand grip. The clandestine nature made the binding necessary. As much as she didn’t like it, they were unconscious and the straps would be removed before they awoke.
She approached the window, peering out; the courtyard was still empty save for the drunken guard leaning against the wall. All that remained was to eliminate the guard and instruct Gallet to run. She could return after her flight to Sunder’s Peak in time to pick her up in the outlying forest surrounding Kanton. Neither would be safe, but she couldn’t lose Gallet.
The window creaked as she pushed it open. She had little time, once she unfurled her wings the entire Ministry would be alerted and running would be her only option. She turned back, ready to grab the children and run, and found a dark figure just cloaked in the shadow. She had changed out of her worn gown and wore fitted cloth leggings and a vested tunic. The motherly figure had donned a burglar’s garb and the steely calm to accompany it. Her left hand rested on the hilt of a sheathed short sword, a knife hung at her other hip and before the Matriarch could speak Gallet raised a hand to silence her.
“The Order knows a break out is happening tonigh,” the Matriarch tried to speak but Gallet simply rushed on. “They placed Kelen by the door to feign regularity, but Lord Kant has recalled an entire company. There’s no way I’ll make it out on foot.”
The Matriarch stood in stunned silence. She had assumed so much in the face of Gallet’s visions; with all her bravado on the subject of betrayal Gallet knew her childhood friend would risk everything to save her. “A Keepers accompanied the latest political envoy to the dormitory.”
The Matriarch nodded along absently, her attention weaning from the stress of the situation. Finally, “A powerful one, Ven! I could see five of his gates opened” she said, near panic in her voice, “I’ve never seen anyone who could channel like that. The threads of fate were spinning the events of tonight out even as we sat making pleasantries.”
Silence spanned several moments before the Matriarch fully regained her composure, “Then you’re to make a distraction.”
Gallet nodded curtly.
“And you see no other way?”
Gallet looked away, avoiding the question. There was no was no despair in her aura, only resolve. She had made the decision long ago, as had the Matriarch. These children deserved a better life than what they got from the Ministry. Their lives a small price to pay, but Gallet’s check was soon to be cashed.
“This Keeper,” the Matriarch started, “What is his name? So that I might avenge the sacrifice of the last person I was to call friend.”
“He came with the servants entourage,” Gallet said, “The minor noble he accompanied tried to be calm and dismissive of the man but his nerves were obviously frayed. His head was covered but I’m sure he was bald, and his eyes were unmistakable!”
The Matriarch raised an eyebrow at that.
“They were gold!”
The Matriarch gasped. Not just any Keeper then, The Son of Order himself. “What in the stars was he doing in a place like Kanton?” She asked, “The children cannot be so important to have the Son himself involved.”
“We are irrelevant to his plans, Ven. The children deserve a better life but he’s playing a game beyond the scope of my vision. I doubt he’s thought twice about the children.”
Gallet moved to the bedsides containing the two litters. She reached down and cradled the child in her arms for the last time, a mothers tear in her eye. She walked back to the other, a little girl, and lifted her into her arms. She looked upon the girl as she walked back to the Matriarch, pushing her golden locks from her face. “They are so precious to me,” she said. “All of them, and you were the first.” The two stood face to face as Gallet gingerly set down the girl. The Matriarch could sense the affection Gallet had for her, and shared it as well, but her resolve was hard as stone.
“Then let what must be done, be done,” The Matriarch said.
Gallet reached forward and embraced her friend, catching her by surprise. A soft kiss landed on the corner of her mouth, then she said: “Through all things, we are together.”
“And together, even when apart,” she intoned. A memory from the dark recesses of her mind.
With that Gallet grasped the rope that held the Matriarch’s wings and cloak in place and slipped the knot loose. In a sudden chime that would sear Gallet’s eardrums, the black wings of the Matriarch stretched wide open with a sudden gale of wind, knocking the window open. Beautiful and majestic. It was the first time Gallet would have ever seen her sister in all her glory. The wind whipped at her feathered wings which began to hum like vibrating crystal. The melody of her wing-song would wake the other children in moments, and the guards would be on alert. Gallet had forced her to flee quickly, leaving her to the guards. The Matriarch grabbed the littered children.
“I charge you with the protection of my children, Venara, as I protected you in the streets so long ago. Do not incur my wrath, Matriarch.” Gallet said with mock severity.
“On the honor of the Raven clan, I will repay the debt that is owed, sister.” The Matriarch said.
Ducking under the Matriarch’s wing, Gallet leapt out of the window. Spinning, she grabbed at a harness under her left arm before flinging a knife at the guard, Kelen, who had just started to stir. He slumped back and down to the ground, motionless. She landed in a backwards tumble and was off in a sprint toward the inner city. The Matriarch was stunned to see the efficacy of her friends combat but she had no time for that. One foot on the windowsill, she hefted the children up and leapt out into the night with the haunting melody at her back.
On to Rise of the Order 2.1 > >
On to Rise of the Order 2.1 > >
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