RP:Silver Knight, Snow Queen, & Ice King- A Frozen Game of Chess
Part of the The Ice Plague Cometh Arc
Continued from The Ice Queen Cometh.
Field of Snow
The Winter Lich has come.
“Him? Who do you mean?” she demanded to know, rising to her feet as Satoshi did. Hilde couldn’t recall any time when the Queen had mentioned such a presence in her mind or anything of the sort to her, perhaps she hadn’t been listening well enough to her or perhaps Satoshi merely didn’t speak of it to her. Either or she cannot dwell upon it now, for whatever it was, was advancing upon them now.
She falls silent though, fixing her sole eye on the horizon to watch the seven figures approaching. Part of her wants to shoo Emielle away right now, to get her out of their reach or line of immediate sight. She even mumbled, “Emielle,” without thinking, obviously wondering about what to do for the couatl. Although Hildegarde is not a native to Frostmaw, she has spent long enough here and long enough speaking to the resident devil slayer to understand what an Elder Devil looks like.
Her fingers curls around her halberd and her free hand gently tugs the pommel of her blade, resulting in a soft ‘click’ sound as the blade loosened in the sheath, meaning she could draw it swiftly and with minimal effort. She is ready for combat, regardless of who or what she has to face, she is ready. She will stand between them and Satoshi if she must.
“What?” she said with a glance to Satoshi, finding it difficult to believe that the being approaching them was the famed general Hrathgar. She had heard a mix of him: good and bad. She had even read his war strategies and found some written records in regards to his ability to command armies. He was an impressive man, that she could not deny.
The only indication that Satoshi hears Hildegarde at all is the flicking of her vulpine ears, otherwise her gaze is locked on Hrathgar's approach. To the knight, Satoshi murmurs, "Emielle chooses to stay." For the couatl seems unwilling or unable to speak, as she's draw herself up to hover poised above Silver and kit, with wings half-extended protectively.
Emielle is no fighter, however her presence is invaluable, even if easily missed by non-empaths or psions. As her father before her, Emielle's abilities allow her to forge barriers around the minds of others, to ward off mental assaults or unwanted emotions. This is precisely what the couatl is doing now and it requires every ounce of her psionic abilities to wrought a shield over them that fends off the worst of the unholy energies. Without the barrier, Hildegarde and Satoshi would be assailed by crushing waves of dark emotions, foul thoughts, feral impulses, and negative energies by merely being in the presence of Hrathgar and his Kingsguard.
Naturally, Emielle cannot ward against all of the Elders' and Lich's essences, yet her mind is fixated on the task with every bit of concentration she is capable of--and being of a personality that is one giant ball of focus, it's a considerable feat Emielle should be proud of.
With a crunch of snow, Hrathgar stops paces away from knight, magus, and couatl. Flanking him, the Elder devils halt as well, with the only movement being the ceaseless thrashing of their tails.
Satoshi does not move, react, or even speak, instead standing tall and dignified as she would were she preparing to greet an ambassador for a discussion.
Hrathgar's helm shifts as he looks for queen to Silver knight, likewise wordless. Neither Satoshi nor ex-general seems to want to speak first. Both content to let the tension mount as the opposing sides stare each other down.
The break in silence comes not from Satoshi or Hrathgar, but one of the Devils. Furthest back among the group, the being steps forward and snaps its razored teeth together in a threatening gesture, only to have Hrathgar's hand jut out to wordlessly halt its advance.
At the movement, the tense lines in Satoshi's body relax marginally. She's won that round.
Hrathgar chuckles, the sound echoing eerily in his helm to make it seem he speaks with multiple voices. "It is a pity we find ourselves on opposite sides," the Frost Giant's voice is, strangely, soft. Where one might have expected a harsh, grating, cruel voice to match his appearance, Hrathgar speaks low and light, an alluring tone that is persuasive and draws listeners, enraptured, to lean forward to hear more. A voice of honey to trap countless flies. "I tasted your essence on the battlefield. Such fury and malice. Primal, vicious, and cold. It was delicious. You would make a fine match for one of my deathknights, were it not for your choice of sides..." Although his head doesn't turn, the shift in Hrathgar's voice makes it obvious his next words are directed at Hildegarde, "And pets."
As Satoshi confirms that Emielle has chosen to stay, the knight gives a small incline of her head in acceptance and acknowledgement. She knew who her allies were in this field and who her enemies were, that much was clear. But she does not yet understand or know quite what it is that Emielle does, she merely thinks that the couatl is stubborn – like her brother – and refusing to leave the side of her companion. No doubt, should she live to discover the truth, she would show her gratitude somehow to Emielle for this.
The knight, however, follows suit with Satoshi’s dignified silence; standing tall as she stared down the enemy without a single word. To speak now would be to show weakness, to show an anticipation or nervousness that would give the foe the upperhand, that much she knew. So when the Devil snaps and is quickly silenced, she feels some sense of relief: but she refuses to let it show on her countenance.
But Hrathgar’s voice is eerily reminiscent, to her it seems familiar, he speaks in such a way that she knows and admires it. At the words directed to her, the knight only offered Hratgar a bright and winning smile, as if to say the words were nothing to her; they were simply powerless.
Satoshi's answer is much like Hildegarde's, a shrug and a smile. She is not so easily baited after frequent encounters with the Patron of House Stavret.
Another chuckle comes from Hrathgar then. He is pleased to learn that neither knight nor queen are of quick temper. It would be of no entertainment to him, if they reacted to the first weak taunt he throws their way. "I had expected you to arrive sooner," the ex-general states simply as his hands remove his helm with a single, fluid motion, to be tucked beneath one arm. Where his voice is inviting and gentle, Hrathgar's face is another matter entirely. One side of his skull is completely caved in, bits of bone and brain matter clinging to the round wound, blood frozen into crimson crystals while flesh dangles in macabre icicles. He stands there, letting the sight sink in.
If Satoshi had not seen the gruesome sight before when it had been the deathblow she'd delivered, she may have recoiled in shock. Instead, she blinks once before flashing Hrathgar a grin. "I was unexpectedly delayed. To our advantage, I think, for now we may enjoy some privacy, non~?" Hrathgar's voice may be honey, but Satoshi's is liquid sugar of deadly proportions woven into impish singsong. It carries hints of mockery lurking behind veils of diplomacy, provoking the same Devil from before to snarl deep in its throat.
Satoshi doesn't miss it, and can only hope Hildegarde has noticed too. There is the weak link in Hrathgar's chain of command.
Hildegarde would not be in the position of Queensguard – nor would she still be alive – if she was quite so easily baited by weak, verbal insults. To be easily goaded would mean death in Frostmaw. Satoshi may have already seen Hrathgar’s caved in skull, but Hildegarde had not. Her eye fixates upon his face, but she does not show any other sign of surprise, shock, disgust or anything of the sort. After all, she has seen such horrible things over the course of this war: this is just another part of that; another factor.
Although she admires the witty banter between the two, the knight feels somewhat dismayed that she has little to offer to the conversation. Of course, she knows her place, she knows this is something that should be saved for between those two, so she is not too disheartened by her inability to add anything witty to it.
If Hilde has noticed the weak link in the chain of command, she makes no show of it. Her eye is fixated upon Hrathgar and she wears a complacent smile on her face. Her posture suggests she is relaxed; that she does not expect combat to break out at any moment. If anything, she looks like a lazy protector.
Satoshi cannot afford to glance back at Hildegarde. She has to trust the knight remains, steadfast and watchful as she's always been. There are few others the magus would want at her back, and fewer still who are as unflappable as the dragon. Hrathgar may have six Elder Ice Devils surrounding him, but Satoshi has Hildegarde the Silver, and that's all she needs.
Bolstered by the presence of the knight, Satoshi stares down Hrathgar and, despite their considerable height differences, looks as composed and capable as he does. "A giant who became undead is a rare story," the magus remarks, casual as can be. The undamaged side of Hrathgar's face pinches with a barely concealed scowl. Undead, is that all she thinks he is? The foolish little queen does not know she stands before a lich? Satoshi's whiskers quiver once, hinting at a smirk. "You've strayed from the path of Aramoth further than any Frost Giant in history. Congratulations."
A smile is Hrathgar's answer. "Thus Vakmatharas has forged me into the finest Frost Giant in history as reward. Is this what you intend to make our confrontation? The might of Aramoth against the cunning of Vakmatharas?"
"Non, non. I thought we were both better than that. That we do not need to stoop to a petty exchange of powers. Such matters are for our warriors. You and I, however... We are both creatures of thought. A game of wit seems more suitable to us. That is, if you're willing to put your life on the line." Satoshi pauses to spread her hands in a disarming gesture. Quick, almost too quick to be seen unless one is wacthing closely, Hrathgar's gaze flicks to the uneasy Devil beside him before his eye is back on Satoshi, the magus still speaking. "I certainly am willing. This war cannot end until one of us falls."
Silence follows, Hrathgar's expression thoughtful, albeit not dubious. This little Ice Witch acts like she has the upperhand, but if she does not know the giant's true nature, it will spell her doom.
The dragon had never known Ice Devils to sit still for quite so long; she’s quite willing to bet that they are absolutely itching to leap forward and cause mayhem. Of course, that much is made clear in the one Devil who continues to snap, who is continually shushed by Hrathgar. She says and does nothing to indicate she has taken notice of that Devil in particular or any of the Devils. The Silver merely keeps her gaze affixed to Hrathgar. She sees things in him that make her uncomfortable.
Things that remind her of herself.
Like herself, Hrathgar has only one eye, thus a quick flick of his gaze is noticed – at least by Hilde. She has learned to be wary of every and all action, small or large. They are bound to his command, but that Devil sure wants to break it. That Devil in particular is the one yearning to fight.
Hildegarde remains deathly still, continues to retain that seemingly relaxed posture because anything hostile; anything the opposite might launch them into a fight that should not yet be commenced. Even at Satoshi’s words, the knight is unmoving. She is the epitome of patience in this moment. If she is afraid of what her fate might be, she gives no hint or sign. But she is ready.
"What game do you propose?" Hrathgar asks, voice politely neutral.
Satoshi reaches for her bag then, the gesture done with deliberate slowness to avoid the tense guards from leaping to conclusions. After a moment, the magus draws out a small bag that Hildegarde will recognize as the same metallic material that her gauntlet had come in. As Satoshi steps forward, she voices a gentle whistle, coaxing the snows to rise up gently and form a table, upon which she places the bag. Opening it then, two chalices are removed alongside a ceramic vial and a bottle of ordinary wine. With the items set out, Satoshi indicates them with a wave of her hand. "A game of chess, if you will, with a single move. You and I are beings of the undead. Anti-magic is our bane. In this vial," a claw clicks against the ceramic container, "is a powder. It is unique in its properties, for it unweaves any form of magic it comes in contact with. I have seen a single shard swallowed by a grown dragon, and poison her in moments. It would do worse to either of us. Thus, I propose this: I shall pour the wine, and place the powder in one of the chalices. You choose, we will both drink. And so, the war shall end."
Throughout, Hrathgar listens, expressionless. When Satoshi finishes speaking, he lifts his single eyebrow. "You're staking your life on chance?"
"Tsk. You are cleverer than that, don't try to act otherwise. This is not chance for either of us."
The ex-general chuckles again. "You are right. It is a battle of wits. Can I predict your move? Can you predict and counter what I predict?"
"So on and so forth," Satoshi answers. Above her, Emielle utters a faint whine, straining to maintain her barrier while listening to the exchange. This is a battle the couatl would dearly love, were the circumstances not so dire, for there is nothing more intricate a tapestry to unravel than two minds engaging in invisible chess.
This game is not one Hilde particularly likes, but she is confident that Satoshi has a trick up her sleeve; that the Queen has rigged it to be in her favour and would not be foolish enough to take such a risk without being certain the outcome would be in her favour! She has faith that Satoshi knows what she is doing, why else would she suggest such a dangerous game?
But no game of chess relies solely on two pieces, there are other pieces at play. The knight cannot help but wonder whether or not Hrathgar will place a condition or term on his participation, such as his Kingsguard versus her Queensguard. Would she have to stand still and watch over this entire game?
Emielle’s whine draws her attention but she does her best to make no show of it. She cannot determine the meaning of the whine: be it fear, be it pain or fatigue, she cannot tell.
All she can do is wait.
Satoshi and Hrathgar stare at each other for a long moment more, reading every movement, twitch, and unspoken word, both trying to determine a loophole or a chance to cheat. Which is all part of the game too. Eventually, however, Hrathgar speaks, "The catch?" In all truth, he cannot see any advantage Satoshi has, although his own secret gives him a considerable one.
The magus' answer is to lift her brows. "One of us has to die. It is this, or mindless combat, where you have the advantage of numbers." The antsy Devil twitches now, its forked tongue tracing along its lips hungrily. Satoshi ignores it. "And where I have the advantage of Frostmaw."
A scoff comes from Hrathgar. "Frostmaw is no advantage, or this war would have ended already."
"I. Am. Frostmaw." The declaration ripples throughout the clearing, coming from every snowflake, ice crystal, and blade of frost, spoken in a thousand voices as equally cold as the last. Beneath their feet, the ground rumbles and groans like a hungry beast, creating fissures to appear in the permafrost. All around them the winds begin to howl, rabid, primal, and armed with frozen fangs. Hrathgar may be taller, larger, stronger, and armed with a troop of Ice Devils, yet the expression that ghosts across his face then clearly says he knows combat would be to his disadvantage. In this land, Satoshi reigns supreme, Winter herself, unyielding, potent, and immeasurably violent. Frostmaw is the heart and fangs of the Snow Maiden.
The challenge of a game is an offer to level the playing field. Hrathgar sees that now. And it is a playing field he has a trump card on. Conceding, the ex-general gestures toward the wine. "Pour." Satoshi does so, and while she's filling the goblets, Hrathgar looks over her toward Hildegarde. "Know this, knight. When your queen falls, I grant my Kingsguard all rights to your corpse. Enjoy your final breaths." In response, the Elder devils grin in unison to bare needle-filled maws. The greedy eyes they fix upon the Silver are violating alone without them lifting a single talon.
Hildegarde’s lip twitched for but a ghost of a moment as Satoshi declared herself as Frostmaw. She knows full well the might that Satoshi has, the power she has just by being in this environment. She is the Snow Maiden herself! Satoshi, surely, cannot be defeated in this environment. Perhaps that’s just wishful thinking or just the thoughts of someone with unquestioning loyalty to their regent.
Until this point, Hildegarde had remained stonily still, only allowing her eye to track Hrathgar’s movements and expressions; relying on her hearing and those eyes in the sky to relay other information to her. But when Hrathgar deigned to speak to her, rather than merely make a dig at her, she smiled brightly and dipped her head just slightly in his direction, “They may try,” she said, her voice soft and light, just as his had been to begin with.
Though she speaks as if she’s ready for combat, she doesn’t look it. If anything, she looks as though she’s ready to sit back and watch the show, she looks just that relaxed. If the looks of the Ice Devils bother her, she doesn't show it.
With the wine poured, Satoshi takes the goblets in hand, along with the vial, and turns her back to Hrathgar. It's not an ideal position, but a necessary one to ensure he does not see which cup the amber powder goes into. Satoshi uses this time to likewise fix a look on Hildegarde, her expression stern and her mouth set in a determined line as she whispers; the words carrying on the frozen wind to be heard by the knight alone, "Trust me. Please." For she doubts the knight has missed that Satoshi's poured powder into both cups. The magus can only hope Hildegarde doesn't react and give the action away as Satoshi turns back to Hrathgar.
"Are you ready, then?" Satoshi places the cups before herself and the giant. Her back is straight, her voice unwavering, the image of a queen prepared to face death for her city. "You may choose."
Hildegarde continues to keep her gaze fixated upon Hrathgar and only him, even as Satoshi fixes a look at her. The knight seems to gaze beyond Satoshi and solely at Hrathgar, but that does not meet she has not noticed the stern expression. It is unclear if she heard anything for she does not react: she does not straighten her posture, she does not flex her fingers around her halberd, she only remains still to look at the giant.
Although she is the image of placidity, internally she is constantly thinking of regulating her breathing, of keeping as still as she possibly can so she does not give a single thing or thought away.
Tension fills the air, creating an illusion of heat despite the frigid conditions, as every being present waits on a razor's edge. Hrathgar stands before the table, facing Satoshi, who likewise remains unmoving with a face as impassive as a glacier. She cannot afford one twitch, not when the ex-general is watching her and analyzing every tiny detail for a clue to which cup is tainted. But Satoshi has been to maintain such a facade before, when contending with the Mother of Ice Devils. She's prepared for this. Her mask is in place. It is Hrathgar's move.
Hrathgar does not know Satoshi personally, he had been banished from Frostmaw before her reign had begun. What he does know is that she managed to obtain the crown without battle, the only bloodshed that of the former Jarl at the hands of Frostmaw's then Champion, Gunnar. It is a testament to the magus' cunning and deception, of that Hrathgar is certain. As such, it weighs heavily as his mind works through the possibilities. When he looks toward the goblet in front of himself, he catches the slightest blink from Satoshi, and uncertainly is born anew. Was that an unconscious reaction from her? Was it a bluff made to seem like a reflex? Which did Satoshi poison? If he guesses wrong, it will mean the war is lost--although it will not be the end for Hrathgar, whatever Satoshi may think. The amber may destroy his body, but his phylactery is still intact. Satoshi's game, should she 'win', will prove only to be an inconvenient delay in his plans.
Such thoughts are what compel Hrathgar to take the goblet in front of himself, the action mimicked by Satoshi, and both lift the glasses to their lips. Together, the regents drink the wine to the last drop before returning the cups to the table. Neither moves, eyes locked on each other...
And then, with a strangled cry, Satoshi hunches forward. Claws dig into the icy table's surface as she tries to remain standing. Agony and hatred is etched over the magus' face as she squints at the ex-general. A laugh is halfway out of Hrathgar's throat then when it's cut off with a choke. The frost giant stumbles backwards into the claws of his Ice Devils. Already his face is covered in veins of amber, skin cracking to spill the blazing light. His undead body is collapsing under the effects of the powder.
Yet still he laughs, despite the ragged mess his smooth voice has become, despite the agony of a crumbling form. He sees it now, the trick Satoshi has pulled. "You poisoned us both." But whereas the queen would fall, Hrathgar would return. The little fool, she'll never know she faced a lich, gambled, and lost.
Satoshi groans in pain again, pushing herself off the table as it collapses back to snow, and stumbling into Hildegarde. She's relying on the knight to catch her, for Satoshi's hands are reaching out to the Silver as she gestures urgently to be heard. There is something she must tell Hildegarde...
Hildegarde’s eye moves for a moment to Satoshi as she lifts her cup, but is soon back onto Hrathgar. She cannot bear to take her eye away from him, for fear she will miss something, that she will miss something vital and lose her Queen to him, lose Frostmaw to an unworthy soul.
It is difficult for her to remain still as Satoshi hunches forward and reacts to the drink audibly, it is with all her might and willpower that she remains as still as she does. It is only when the Queen pushes off the table and stumbles backwards that she finally moves, arm winding around her waist and pulling her backwards; pivoting on her foot in order to shield her entirely with her body, her back to the enemy for the sake of the Queen’s security.
“Satoshi,” she but breathes the name, her grip is on the Queen and halberd alike, ready to defend her with her last breath.
Satoshi is limp, bleary-eyed, and half-conscious by the time Hildegarde catches her. But once she's shielded by the knight, the magus is clinging to Hildegarde's armor earnestly. "A lich. He's a devil-made lich." Hrathgar was wrong. Satoshi knows. She's known since she first felt his presence in the ruins months ago. She's encountered and worked alongside more than one lich in her lifetime, her whiskers are more than familiar with the signature magic. She has been preparing for it since, but the gamble she took was not the poisoned goblets... it was locating one vital thing. "His phylactery. Destroy it. Now. It's... the devil." She doesn't need to tell Hildegarde which devil. She trusts the knight's intelligence and watchful eye, she's had to have seen Hrathgar's glance toward the anxious Elder Devil when death was mentioned. It was all the clue Satoshi needed. He told her precisely where his soul resides, after having pacted it to the Elder Devil for his rapid growth in power.
"Strike true, Mithril. "With an effort, Satoshi pulls herself out of Hildegarde's hold to fall to the ground. As if this is a signal, Emielle abruptly rears up with a hissing scream as wings snap open wide. The couatl is not a hasty creature, she has been waiting and preparing during the entire exchange for this moment, knowing Satoshi's mind. As is her nature, the barrier Emielle forged to shield Hildegarde and Satoshi's minds is not a wall, but a sponge, an embrace, a means to absorb the ambient negative energies and allow them to build up... and now, the couatl's psionic mind is released of its burden as Emielle hurls the accumulated energy in an outward burst. It is hardly deadly to beings such as a Lich or Ice Devil, yet the sudden rippling force is enough to knock them off-balance and startled them. Hopefully, it's all the time Hildegarde needs to bury her halberd through the Elder Devil's heart, extinguishing itself and Hrathgar alike.
Hildegarde continues to hold onto Satoshi until she is told to ‘strike true’, dipping her body so she might politely drop her Queen to the ground. As soon as she has been dropped, she wastes no time. The Devils are distracted in upholding their false king, that kingsguard is too distracted fawning over their already dead king to consider the fact that the knight is coming for them.
Even with Emielle hurling that accumulated energy, the knight has no time to think on it. She is running, running towards the general and his damnable guard. More so, she is running towards that twitchy devil; knowing precisely what she must do. With Hrathgar having stumbled back onto the group of Devils, it is fair to say he is somewhat sprawled out upon them, five of them attempting to hold up his weight while the twitchiest of the Devils clings to him and snarls impatiently.
The Silver growled as she leapt forward, forcibly onto the general: “Aramoth keep you,” she spoke with finality, as she speared the point of her halberd down with might. But her halberd was not aimed for the general, her halberd skewed off to the right and directly into the chest and heart of the twitchy Devil, the one she had to aim for. They thought of themselves as some twisted kingsguard, of course they would come closer if she looked as though she was going to strike Hrathgar himself.
Satoshi's faith in Hildegarde is well-placed, for the knight's halberd hits home. With a crackling thunk, the blade plunges through the Devil's iced flesh and buries itself in the core of the being. As effectively as stabbing the heart of a living foe, the blow cuts off the lifeforce that empowers the Elder, ending its ties to Hrathgar even as the lich's body dissolves into soot and dust.
However, Ice Devils do not die gently, and an Elder is no exception. With a deafening screech the creature erupts in a whirlwind of ice shards, threatening to shred anything that stands too close--including its companions. Two are unfortunate enough to be within range, having been attempting to heft Hrathgar back to his feet, and swiftly find their arms torn away. There's an almost comical pass as the pair glance down at their missing limbs and then at each other, before they quite simply turn tail and run. With Hrathgar and their leader dead, they have little reason to stay and fight when the odds are even. They have not survived so long by facing every enemy that's crossed their path.
Despite defecting Devils, Hildegarde is not out of the woods yet. Nor is she fighting alone, as Emielle still lingers, coils drawn protectively around Satoshi's trembling form. Being a couatl marks her as incapable of taking a sentient life, but that does not stop Emielle from being of use. Even as the remaining Devils are recovering from her psionic blast, she is assaulting their minds anew, and with an Emielle appropriate twist: rather than deliver thoughts of weakness, doubt, surrender, or fear, Emielle's mind sings to theirs of comfort, friendship, warmth, and kindness. If the couatl had arms, she'd be offering her enemies hugs with a welcoming smile. ...To Devils, beings who thrive upon misery, pain, and suffering as nourishment, it is a venom, producing lethargic brains and sluggish movements.
The knight twisted her halberd for good measure, making sure she had utterly destroyed the heart of the Ice Devil for this was not the time to be taking risks or to simply deal one blow and assume it was a job well done. Of course, she is aware of the explosive nature in which Devils die, she’s experienced it one time too many. Though she would typically attempt to move out of the way of the whirlwind of icy shards, the deafening screech has sent the knight into a wave of disorientation.
She can only attempt to clamp her hands over her ears and scream with the agony of such a screech. When her world stops spinning so violently, she raises her head only to spot two Devils turning tail and sprinting off into the distance, leaving only three Elder Devils remaining. But they have not sprung towards her, nor have they danced about her in a taunting way. She can only assume there is a force at work here that is preventing them from instantly attacking her. Not exactly keeping them still, but slowing them down and that was an advantage sorely needed when fighting their sort!
The Silver wastes no time in leaping from the giant’s corpse and crashing into the Devil that was closest to her. Her halberd is like a spear, pointed downwards as she leapt and crashed into the devil, piercing the heart as she roared furiously. She twisted her body and swung the polearm, sending the Devil flying towards a fellow mischief maker; twisting and screeching as it exploded into a vicious whirlwind of ice.
This time, she hung back a little, not wishing to be in the epicentre of the whirlwind and inflict more wounds upon herself in the process. Although they are being slowed down by Emielle, they are still much quicker than the dragon – armoured as she is – and in the blink of an eye, they appear by her side. One rakes its talons over her face, leaping away as it giggled hysterically. The other stepped in close and shoved taloned fingers through the leather eyepatch and into the disfigured flesh of her ruined eyesocket, sending the knight to her knees in screaming agony.
Her screaming melts with the rising laughter, the sense of humiliation gaining upon her and poking at her pride. She felt that familiar – yet so rarely seen – emotion building within her: that anger that had grown ever stronger under the power of Whim. With fingers raking at the flesh of her eyesocket, she screams and lets her fist fly forward: pummelling through the icy chest of the Devil and exiting on the other side, with the evil heart clinging to her fist. She growls as she pulls her arm back through the hole, heart becoming dislodged in the body once again. The knight rolls away before it can explode in a whirlwind of ice beside her, looking to deal with the final Devil.
It has long since stopped laughing, staring at her as she slowly rose to her feet. For a long time, they merely stared at each other, as if in a stand-off.
“Boo,” she said lowly, eliciting a yelp from the Devil before it too scampered off.
The Ice Devil scampered off to the north.
Kneeling in the snow, braced by a hand, Satoshi remains hunched over while Hildegarde dispatches the former Kingsguard. She has felt the brief but fierce combat through the frost, but has not had the strength to join the fight. She has another matter to bend her mind to... Satoshi gasps suddenly then, the sound rich with pain. Beneath her is spattered a dark, blue hued liquid that can only be the eidolon's 'blood', dripping from her abdomen where the magus' own hand is buried into the frozen flesh up to her wrist.
The agony is clear on Satoshi's face as her hand is slowly pulled free of the self-inflicted wound with something clasped firmly in her grip. It appears to be some sort of serpent, yet is no truly living animal. This is a creature woven from the lights of the Aurora to bear the same roses, oranges, seaglass greens, and daffodil yellows within its scales. A spell taught to Satoshi by Svilfon in repayment for a lost bet. Satoshi had kept the creature since to become a vital part of her plan against Hrathgar. For conjuring the serpent from light is only a part of the spell, the rest being that these creatures burrow into flesh with ease, meant to chew apart their target as they swim through the body. Satoshi knows the pain well, when Svilfon has first used the serpents of light on herself. She'd wanted to learn it after that time, and the wizard had agreed.
This time, Satoshi had directed her own creation onto herself, and Hildegarde had nearly stumbled in on the painful introduction earlier in the War Council room. Since that moment, the Aurora serpent had lain coiled within Satoshi's stomach--an organ made defunct since becoming an eidolon. It had waited for that moment when poisoned wine would be consumed, and taken the liquid into itself instead. But like Satoshi, the serpent is woven of magic, and is now made a victim of the amber as it serves as a sacrifice in its creator's place.
Dropping the writhing snake upon the snows, Satoshi slumps back with an agonized hiss to watch her Aurora construct dissolve into nothing. She knows Svilfon and Kasyr would be proud of such a stunt, yet Satoshi does not feel pride at the moment. Instead, she is numb.
Absently, Satoshi begins murmuring to herself, "The hand of the abyss touches Winter, tainting the snow with blood. Ice meets darkness and the Lady falls. Beware the prideful show of the mighty! Friends and allies heed the call..." Eliason's prophecy. She had interpreted it wrong. The warning of pride was for Hrathgar, not herself. And falling? It had not been death. It was succumbing to Asorial's influence, falling into that bloody abyss of unending fury.
Emielle's snout lowers then to deliver a nudge to Satoshi, a sound of worry rumbling in the couatl's throat. She can feel the magus' dark thoughts beneath the surface.
Hildegarde stared into the distance, watching as the Devil scampered off like a frightened dog. Once beyond the horizon, she exhaled heavily and allowed her posture to relax a little bit. But her brief reprieve is quickly interrupted, as she hears Satoshi gasp, causing her to pivot on her heel and rush to her side; dropping to her knees beside her in the snow. “Satoshi,” she said, hand reaching apprehensively for her shoulder.
As the serpent like creature appears, the knight stares at it with worry, concerned it had been somehow harming the Queen, only to see it disappear within a few moments. Unlike Emielle, she cannot hear the dark thoughts plaguing Satoshi’s mind, she can only continue to crouch there and stare at her worriedly. “Satoshi,” she repeats, “we won,” she said, with just a hint of disbelief – or was it just sheer exhaustion?
“What should we do with his body?”
Satoshi glances wearily at the mound of soot and dust that had once been one of the finest generals of Frostmaw. A hand extends then, still painted with her unusual blood, to beckon, and in answer the snows where Hrathgar fell smoothen out into a single thick sheet of ice. Deftly, as if wrought by invisible hands, the sheet begins to bend in upon itself, joining at corners until a crystalline, lidded box is formed around the ashes. Upon the air the chest drifts, to rest before Satoshi. "I will tend to it," is Satoshi's answer to Hildegarde. Exhaustion both physical and mental is drawn in thick lines upon the magus' face when she looks up at the Silver. "We won, but we do not yet know the cost. Many of his forces will have fallen with him, for he held their leashes of magic. However, not all will stop fighting. I hate to ask more of you, after you've given so much, Hildegarde... but can you see the fighting ended, without me? I have to find him before it's too late..."
Kasyr.
She has to make amends. For choosing Frostmaw's safety over his own. For drawing him into this conflict in the first place.
With an effort, Satoshi drags herself to her feet and looks toward the north. He's there, she can feel it as a throbbing, sinister malice through her wedding band.
Had she the energy, the magus might have laughed then, realizing the devils who fled had gone in the direction of her rampaging husband. It may have been safer for them to face Hildegarde instead.
Hildegarde shook her head at Satoshi’s words, as if disagreeing with her. “I have more to give,” she assured her, raising up to her feet. After a few moments, she set her closed fist upon her chest, “By your orders,” she replied obediently. << Kenway,>> she called to her companion in the skies.
The armoured couatl’s descent was swift and easy, a circular descent as he curled around and round until he landed just behind Hildegarde. <<Captain,>> he said to her, unable to restrain the relief in seeing and hearing from her. Obviously, he had feared for her wellbeing, but he would have known if their connection had been permanently severed. <<Lady Icicle,>> he greeted politely, dipping his head. Upon his massive scaly head, there was a sleek mithril helm with curled horns carved from the same metal, obviously for him to gore opponents. A weapon and form of defense, all in one.
Hildegarde wastes little time in climbing up onto his armoured back, “To the battlefield, Kenway, we will join the Queensguard and disperse orders through the field. We shall end this war now.” His forked tongue slithered forth, before he turned his head to Emielle. << Thoughtful sister, >> he said warmly, << I wish we could see each other again in better circumstances. A curse upon whomsoever dare to harm you on this day, >> he promised before spreading his iridescent wings.
“Satoshi,” she said, “tell me when you return to Frostmaw. If you do not, you know full well I will come looking for you!” she said, smiling fondly before offering a quick salute and rising into the sky with her companion.
A ghost of a smile appears on Satoshi's face at the words. "Strike true, Mithril. fly strong, son of Emiur." To both Silver and couatl, the magus dips her head in farewell. Beside her, Emielle raises her wings in a couatl-salute, her mind radiating with gentle pulses of pride, love, and well-wishing.
Once the knightly pair are gone, Emielle sinks back into the snows and begins nestling deeper. She will remain here, her blue and white coloring perfect camouflage so that she may rest. Satoshi, however, will not be resting. She refuses to until Kasyr is back home.
With that determination frozen in her heart, the magus begins her trek through the empty land.