Death was a striking figure. Tall and broad like the peoples who lived west of the Spine of the World. With dark hair and bright blue eyes, and draped in fabrics even Eirian couldn’t afford. His cloak looked like it was a continuation of the starry night sky.
He had fair skin in this form and sharp features that were another signature of the people beyond the Spine. It was rare to see them east of the Spine, though they traded over the mountains with the lands that bordered the mountains that made up the Spine of the World; they were content to remain on their side of the world.
At least, that’s what all the strategists in the capital said. In reality, none of them knew why the peoples West of the Spine had so little interest in the rest of the world, but it had been that way as long as anyone could rember.
Why had Death taken that form? Was there so connection that Eirian and the rest of the world didn’t know about?
Her hand flexed around Ardain; the blade’s song hadn’t faltered, but it hadn’t started screaming either.
Was Death able to confuse the blooding blade? Or was he so inhuman that even the blade didn’t know what to make of him?
For several minutes, they stared at one another across the remains of the burnt camp.
And then he smiled and started to sing.
“Starlight, starlight, burning bright,
set all the heavens alight.
Heart of fire, will of stone,
who walks the path alone.
Flicker, flicker, flas aloft,
kiss the earth as all is lost.
Wings of wrath, hands of grace,
silence in all the world’s embrace.
Burn, burn, all life to ashes,
free the hells as all else passes.
Deep in the burning, low among the tombs, and all the darkest rooms.
Raise the standard that flies alone,
as sword and shield are sown.
The will of stars,
alone.”
The words haunted Eirian from her earlier dreams. It was a curse of so kind, as beautiful as it was, but Eirian was unsure what it was supposed to do to her.
Death smiled, and it was almost inviting.
Eirian’s magic went still under her skin. It was the first ti it had ever done that, and for a mont, she was terrified it was gone. She’d never not had her magic, never a second without it trying to claw its way out of her skin to freedom.
It was still there, but almost…ek? Afraid?
She hadn’t had ti to dwell on her dreams with everything that had happened, but rembering now that they’d left the World of the Dead for the World of the Living and how angry Death had been…
“Why don’t you co closer?” Death offered, holding out an inviting hand.
Eirian took a few steps closer but stayed well out of reach. “What are you doing here? Did you do this?”
He had the gall to look insulted. “Of course not. Your precious humans are more than capable of this kind of horror all on their own.”
Eirian couldn’t argue with that. “Then why are you here?”
Death blinked like it was obvious. In this form, he had to be at least a decade older than her, but in truth, he was eons older than any living thing. Eirian included. “To see you.”
“How flattering,” Eirian drawled and walked a few steps closer. “Why now?”
“You finally rembered.”
“Rembered what?” Eirian scoffed. “I had a few dreams. Detailed dreams, I’ll give you, but still just dreams.”
Death snorted. “You’re lying to yourself and you know it.”
“I don’t know anything.” Eirian snapped. “That’s the problem.”
“You know where you co from.” Death rumbled. “You know what you did.” His eyes flashed with anger.
“You an when we left? Because that’s all we did that I know about.”
This ti, Death’s smile had a vicious edge to it. “You are not of this world. You abandoned your ho, your family.”
“We all left.”
“I didn’t!” Death roared, and the whole world shook. “You were my children, and you left . And for what? A single mortal life? Where you scrimp and struggle and then die? Was it worth it?”
“How am I supposed to know?” Eirian sputtered. “I’m only twenty-five.”
One of Death’s eyes twitched. “That body, perhaps, but you are much older than that.”
Eirian scowled. “That’s what you ca here to say?”
Death smiled again. “No. I simply ca to check in on you.”
The response was imdiate, defiant. “I’m fine.”
Death rolled his eyes. “Of course. That’s what you all say. You’re always fine, even when you’re stretched out on the racks begging for rcy.”
“You’re killing us for leaving?” Sothing cold and dark twisted in Eirian’s gut. She wasn’t strong enough to defeat Death.
She would never be strong enough to defeat Death. It was the one foundational truth of life. All living things would one day die. There were no exceptions.
All life returned to death in the end.
“I will never harm you. Any of you.” Death corrected, and sothing about him softened. “You are my children. You abandoned , turned your backs on , but I will never hurt you. I ca to remind you of the cost of your rebellion.”
“It seems more like freedom than rebellion,” Eirian muttered.
Death sneered. “Either way, it is a betrayal and that requires recompense.”
Eirians stiffened, understandably wary.
“You can never go ho, starlight.”
Eirian’s eyes narrowed. “What do you an?”
“You may not long for it yet, but you will. All living things long for ho eventually.”
Eirian swallowed. Endless longing for sothing sounded like hell. Maybe she’d been spoiled thus far, but the re idea was enough to make her itch.
“None of you are allowed to co ho until you have earned it.”
Eirian sneered.
“I have been alone for ages in the darkness. Should I just forgive and forget my own suffering?”
Eirian certainly wouldn’t, so she couldn’t honestly tell him to do the sa.
“None of you are allowed to co ho until you have undone the damage you did when you left.”
Eirian sputtered. “What does that an?”
“Dead things do not belong in the world of the living. When you left, you damaged the balance, allowed for the mixing of elents that were supposed to remain separate. There are things in this world that only exist because you opened the door, so you must correct one before you can co ho and rest. And by the ti your life is over, Defender, you will long for rest.”
~ tbc
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