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Chapter 17

With the Drenedarian princess secured, Skywing and the gathered Lumarian forces made their way back to Suntail's fortress. The inquisitor had been clear, no one was to know of this, not a hint of their passing to be left to follow. Frostbeak had hidden their retreat with a pass without trace spell, ensuring that only magical detection would be able to follow in their wake. The commander had grown used to using such methods in Rothdell, using it here within their own lands, within their own city? That made Skywing's stomach tumble with unease, though he told himself it made sense, they couldn't risk Lyndis' allies learning of their base.

As he carried on through the sky, his gryphons were joking about just as they usually did after a successful mission, which meant boasting and taunts were all around. Even he was not immune from their chirps, all of them nearly dying as he described just where the princess had struck him. Thankfully as he'd been there, shifting his hinds at the dull ache, Talonheart had lent her aid, even if Powerfeather and Frostbeak had been snickering the entire time. He got them back by making some quip at Powerfeather pissing tears and not being careful, that had put an end to their ribbing.

Though the princess that was being carried unconscious by one of the many gryphons had been the focus of the good commander's thoughts. She hadn't sought out their deaths during the entire capture, not even when they had her cornered in the tavern. He supposed she saw a better way to escape and didn't needlessly wish to take life, it was admirable, he was grateful for that, but would someone like that truly be planting bombs and desire the death of their king? His ears had splayed in the night air as he pounded his wings, it would be something that he'd have to ask the mysterious woman about when she woke.

Once landed and talons clicking upon the stone, they dragged the captured rogue to her cell with care. She was stripped of all her belongings, gadgets, assorted gear, and weapons, counting no less than twelve daggers that she could have drawn, only making her reservation over injury far more impressive. As it was, they clapped a pair of manacles on her, specially made and meant to contain the nefarious mages from Rothdell, thus not allowing the captured to cast spells.

She looked so peaceful as they set her down into the simple bed, her room devoid of any other furniture or articles in case she could use them as weapons or tools. He asked of the guards that would be asked to watch over her that she was to be taken care of and respected, she was royalty after all. It pleased him that food was already being prepared for her, courtesy of the kobolds that resided here. He gave a parting glance to the slumbering princess, shifting with unease at what would await her. Knowing the creature that Suntail had at her employ and was unafraid to use.

Perhaps he could find another way. When he was asked to be brought to Suntail to inform of her success, her office was not where he was brought to. Instead, he was led through the network of hallways until they climbed a tower, one whose marble stairs were spotless. As he climbed to the sound of his clicking talons, the scent of burning incense and vanilla came in pleasant waves to his nose. In the distance he could hear a harp playing soft melodies, enchanting and comforting, reminding him of nostalgic days upon the fields of the sword, basking in the sun.

Upon the top of this tower was a sprawling room with high arches of white wood. Navy and yellow tapestries were hung about the walls, adorned with lovely stitching of gryphons praising a grey furred wolven woman. Candles were hung at regular intervals, their red orange light setting a comforting visage to the intricately carved wooden beams of humans and gryphons above. The ceiling itself was a work of art, metal winking in the light of mechanisms that were meant to show the stages of the moon each month.

Upon a raised section there was an altar of sorts, a pool of crystal-clear water surrounded by smooth stones of granite. The water's surface was caught in a perpetual mist, that seemed to shift in the air with sentience. Beside it a gryphon female draped in silver and blues attire, played away at an ivory harp, plucking each note as though it came from her very soul.

It was in this atmosphere that Suntail was laid upon her belly, surrounded by burning candles as she whispered words beneath her breath, head bowed in reverence.

“Terrible night for a follower of the moon goddess." Skywing said softly, after waiting for her to finish her prayers, “Rituals ruined on account of bad weather."

“Just because we can't see the moon doesn't mean she isn't there, nor does that excuse a lapse in our duties." Suntail spoke softly, gazing into the pool, “Rest assured, Sartren is there, casting down her wise gaze to the countryside of her making. How could she turn away from the beauty in which she and her kin helped forge all those years ago?" The gryphoness rose with a deep, pleased breath as she reset her wings, “One just has to stop, cast away distractions and see the truth laid bare before your beak."

His ears splayed, “I'd rather it be that the gods were not always watching me. I do appreciate my privacy you know."

Suntail sighed, “Rest assured the gods would not be interested in that."

“I do think Parunga might say otherwise."

Amusement flickered in the inquisitor's gaze, “How presumptuous of yourself to think that you could entertain the goddess of Fertility."

“What sort of gentlegryphon would I be if I didn't give it an honest try." He chuckled.

The inquisitor's demeanor shifted back to that when he'd first met her, the moment of vulnerability passing like the wind. With a breath her eyes were steeled, feathers were put into place, she was one more the fortress of composure. She greeted him with a bump to the head, before gesturing for him to follow after her flicking tail.

“I was already informed of your teams success tonight over the princess of Drenedar." Suntail clicked her beak softly, “One without any casualties, you should be commended."

“Thank you, mam, but the praise cannot be mine alone. Lyndis- “

“Lynalla. That is her true name."

“Lynalla." He corrected himself, “She did not take opportunities for death when presented to her. If her skills are to be believed, she could have easily ended several of the guards this very evening."

Laughter came in the form of a soft warble as Suntail opened one of the circular doors of the temple. Outside was a series of perches that gave vantage points over the great city below, each one engraved with designs of the moon and wolven, thick enough for gryphon kind.

“Careful to assume intent of one's deeds. It could ever be a misdirection to sway your thoughts Skywing, remember that." Suntail clambered onto one of the perches, keeping her wings tight as she gestured for the commander to do the same. “Our quarry is a crafty one, equipped with a silver tongue and as elusive as a displacer bear slathered in oil."

“Is it wise to easily dismiss mercy as an act of deception?" Skywing tilted his head, taking a deep breath of the cool night air.

Suntail sighed heavily, a hand briefly touching the burn across her face, “The lax mind is one that can be taken advantage of Skywing, it ever must be vigilant as a dragon's gaze. Your princess has lived a life of deception, trudging through the underbelly of town after town in her little adventures."

The idea didn't sit well in his paws, sending an icy shiver through him. Though he knew the inquisitor spoke from experience, he wondered if she was letting her own past cloud her judgement. “I didn't get that impression, especially not after having fought her."

This only made the inquisitor flick her burnt orange tail in interest, “Ah how it appears as though I look on a reflection of myself. It's poignant in a way, a reminder of where I was."

“Reflection?" Skywing chirped, shifting on the perch, “Unless I'm not mistaken, I've never been orange- “

“Your empathy and kindness are fair traits commander, ones that I value greatly. However, see to it that they were not your undoing. People in our world don't share the same values that you or I do, they hate our way of life, despise the fact that Lumara possess so much strength and power, loath they lack this for themselves." She gazed out to the rolling clouds, taking a deep breath, “Just think to the Rothdellians, whose mages enslaved the masses beneath their spells. That if one did not possess the skill and magical expertise you were nothing, here, here in Lumara that matters not."

“That is why I served, tried to protect our lands." He grimaced, as flashes of brutal battles and harrowing encounters haunted him, whispers of the lives he'd taken with his talons creeping into the back of his mind. “How does this- “

She sighed, “All of this, the land in which you serve, the people in which you wished to protect, the way of life that you hold onto. It all requires people like you or me to make sure that others get the chance to experience it. If not the giants to the north, bands of orc marauders to the south, or the vile magister's of Rothdell and their magics, it will always be someone trying to tear us apart." A smile crossed her beak as her amber gaze fell upon the dwindling lights of the city, sweeping across the spires and towers that were littered out before her, “We must ensure that the princes that united our kin were not in vain. That gryphets and kids can grow old, not dwelling on what separates us, but instead of the bonds that tether us together. Gryphon kind and the human's fates are intertwined, it will be a cold day in the hells when I'll let this crumble to dust." She bowed her head, eyes closing as if she were whispering a solemn prayer, “I used to believe as you once did, that you could protect and shield them without getting your feathers dirty." She sighed, raising her head, giving the commander a tired look over, “But that is the whimsical fancy of the naive. In the world we live in, one has to get their feathers dirty."

Of course, she was speaking of her methods, the callous nature in which that elf had been tortured, it reminded him of the Emerald Lady in a way. Did she know what he was thinking of asking? He wouldn't put it past her, to already predict his next move, after all, it was her job to know things. “I don't think I'd ever be ok with what you showed me."

“Only the tip of the mountain dearest Skywing." She chuckled, “I once said the same thing when my mentor told me. How righteous I was, sure of myself…pure."

His ears splayed as silence fell between them, “Care to elaborate further?"

“Knowledge is power Skywing." She replied softly, yet guarded, “Shield it well. There will be more time to learn in the future. Now, you came this way to ask me something. Have at it or leave me be." She grew silent as she cast her gaze towards the city lights, “I would like to be alone for awhile to clear my mind."

“It would seem that you know of what I will do before I do." Skywing said with a laugh, not getting one in return he cleared his throat, “Yes, I was afraid, with the capture of the Drenedarian princess, my team's contributions would be put to the side for now- “

“That was to be the plan, you are correct in your assessment."

“Which I believe would be a mistake, all things considered." He held his head high, tucked his wings as the inquisitor rose a brow in his direction.

“And why would you think that? You're aware you've just said I've made an error in judgement." A sharpened gaze fell upon him, an aura of cold seemingly radiating from her pinned feathers, “Most in your position would never do such a thing."

She was one of the most powerful gryphons within this city, able to order about anyone under her, able to conjure whatever resources she needed to accomplish her task. That did send a wave of unease through his paws, but the commander who'd faced down Emerald Lady held firm. “I have seen what you do on a wing to get what you want. That girl, whether you think deception or not, showed mercy this eve to my gryphons and myself. She should be treated with the respect and empathy that is due her, especially given those circumstances. I believe that I would be better suited for the questioning that will be brought upon her."

“Would you show such empathy and conviction if this woman didn't possibly know where to find your wing-mate?"

It was his turn to harden his gaze under her scrutiny, “I would treat anyone in such a manner befitting of it."

“And you still hold firm on this statement? That I, Suntail, an inquisitor of Lumara am unsuited for this task?"

He nodded, “I would at least like a chance to speak with Lyndis, hear her side of this story. Perhaps what information we have is unfounded, that she is a victim in all of this as is Arcturus. There is no need to unleash your monster if I can get the information peacefully."

Instead of derision or ire, Suntail instead pulled back, her ears perked with interest as she gave a pleased coo. “You are quite the brave one Skywing. Many would be shivering in their hinds right now, afraid that I would strap them to a rack and stretch their limbs till they snapped!"

He laughed nervously; no doubt she'd done such a thing to someone else.

“But our thoughts are aligned, believe it or not. I admire your courage and I believe, yes, you would be well suited for the task. I know as well as anyone that sometimes, you must use sweetness to uncover the truth, instead of relying upon a blunt instrument."

Wonderful, she was more flexible than he would have imagined. His heart flickered with a ray of hope, perhaps Arcturus was not far from his grasp. He bowed his head, “You have my thanks. I shall do my best."

“Of that I have no doubt commander." Her reply came swiftly, chilling the air. When he caught her eye there was the sharpened blade he knew, “But know this, should you fail, I will do whatever is required to get the information that I seek."

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