Wow- see, no one had reviewed it, so I figured I’d let it die, but if even one person liked it- I’ll try to update now.

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(Siridion)

I awoke the next day with a headache, and a message from the Temple, that the Crux wanted to speak to me. Oh great. I dressed with care, sighing as I flipped my hair through the necklace of office. I took my time, but still, I got there too fast for my taste, waiting in the giant room they keep for visitors, until I heard the door behind me open and shut reverently.

“Headmistress Siridion…” I turned, and was surprised.

“Crux…Kier.” He was dressed to impress, not the simple robes of yesterday, but in a full length robe of the brightest white, with silver thread woven throughout the hems. And yet it had no sleeves, merely armholes where his flesh seemed darker against the white, and his Manacles shone very brightly in the sun. The robes were open, allowing me to see that he wore underneath, a doeskin tunic and trews. He nodded to me in respect, and I perceived that he wore a circlet of silver around his head, resting against his forehead. It reminded me of something so strongly, I stored it away in my head, and resolved to think about it later.

“Idora came to me last night, and bade me admit the Shudoi.” I had nothing to say to that, but glee ran through me. Triumph! Oh, the sweetness of triumph. He was watching me closely, so I merely inclined my head.

“I see. Magius also came to me last night, and bade me step carefully with the Shudoi. I realize they might not all have been raised as I, and may yet still be unworthy. Be assured that I will weed them out.” At once I knew I had said something to annoy him.

“As will I.” He said pointedly, and again, too late, I realized I had said only I would test the Shudoi, again stripping him of equal power. I sighed.

“My apologies Crux. I only meant I was willing to alone suffer the disillusionment of my dreams of Shudoi.”

“Accepted.” He then pointed to the door.

“Accompany me a moment.” I followed him, wondering what he had further to say to me, as I knew he didn’t seem to enjoy my presence much. That much was painfully obvious. We again ventured to his garden, where the flowers of the peas and tomatoes were beginning to open to the sun.

“I have something of importance to tell you. Vudaninn would not have told you of this, but when he accepted you as his replacement, he came to me and asked me to tell you at the appropriate time.” I took a seat when he gestured, surprised to find a simple bench out here, and even more surprised when he sat next to me, staring off into the distance. “It goes back many years ago. Many many years ago, back to when I had just taken over for the previous Crux, Crux Haldon. I was walking with Vudaninn, and he was giving me advice, getting to know me, helping the Temple and School to be one, as it needs to be. The day was late, the skies were red from a coming storm, and I had just mentioned perhaps returning home before it hit, when Vudaninn froze, stiffened as if he had suddenly petrified into stone. I looked up, to see what had alarmed him, and saw….” I looked at his face. He was clenching his jaw so hard, I could hear his bones groan.

“You saw?”

“….Freskilin….” he whispered. “You would not know them, they were-,”

“Shadows of death.” I interrupted, whispering as he had, feeling the horror in my blood. “Shadows that steal the soul, and weaken the most stalwart of heroes. They are born when a mother murders her children and drinks their blood, born from the basest of evil acts.” Kier gave me a look.

“Then you remember?” he asked.

“Remember what?”

“The...Freskilin…were laughing, joyful if you can say that, approaching something small, huddled on the ground, whimpering. I grabbed Vudaninn’s arm to make our escape, but Master Vudaninn was not to be swayed. He wielded the staff in great circles, and called upon Magius, blasting one into the Etherworld before it could flee. The other turned their heads towards us, and in the shifting shapes of shadows, I saw them, and knew finally what death felt like. I ran forward, grabbed the thing, a child, and escaped to Vudaninn, who again wielded the staff to drive them back when they made as if to follow. They screamed in rage, and began to drip black amounts of blood, that smelt of decay and disease. ‘Give us the child’ they said. ‘She is our’s’. Vudaninn refused, and thwarted them again. They were unwilling to leave, and unwilling to face our gods. ‘She is wild, she is evil.’ ‘Give us the child’. They finally were screaming this, horrid wails of agony, but we returned to the Temple and School, and Vudaninn and I wove a spell of protection against them, for the child. We made it so- they would not be able to return until she had the power to fend them off herself.” I was cold, very cold, as I licked my lips and trembled.

“What happened to this child?”

“Once I looked closer, I was aghast. I demanded we turn her out at once, for what I saw, I could not forgive. That was the only time Vudaninn ever said he was disappointed in the choice for Crux, and never again did I say nay against the little Shudoi girl, while he lived.” My eyes widened.

“What?” I looked at the vegetables, aware that he was looking at me with a raised eyebrow.

“Scared, Siridion?”

“They are Freskilin! Those who do not fear do not know what they are!” I snapped, and clutched the staff tightly, my mind whirling. “Vudaninn never- why didn’t he say?”

“He must have assumed that while I lived, the spell might extend longer? I do not know what possessed him to keep this a secret from you, but now you know. Now you know why I disapprove of his choice. Not only are you of the Betrayer race, but the Freskin desire you, and now they are free to return. What will this mean for the students, Headmistress? What will you do?” I stood.

“I…cannot believe this. I just cannot. Why would they be after me, when I have done nothing. And even more- I do not remember this, at all. Surely I would have remembered such horrors of the Freskilin!”

“But you did. The Freskilin disappeared when he brought you in, and none of the students nor priests know of them. How then did you know?”

“I’m not sure. When you said their name, I suddenly….knew.” I shook my head. “No, no, you must be lying!” Suddenly the staff began to heat up and burn, so quickly, my hands were smoking before I even had the thought to release the staff.

“I do not lie, and the Staff of Magius seeks to warn you not to be foolish.” I picked up the staff, now cooled, and gingerly clutched it to my chest.

“I must think upon this, Crux. If anything, thank you for alerting me to my danger, and the danger of those who are under my protection.”

“Indeed.” He stood and walked along his plants, plainly agreeing that our conversation was quite over. After half a moment, I left, returning through the Temple to my own building, where the students were milling to their next class. I was surprised to see it had not been very long since I had awoken. It certainly felt like an eternity to me.

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OOOOOOOOOOOOkay then- I’ll update soon.