Champion, Chapter 71: Vanished Voices

Aidan

The Realms

Fourthday, 2nd week of the 11th month, Age of the Chosen 1

Late Evening

Caellach Macht, Mistvale Highlands

The crowd began to disperse once it became clear that Aidan's speech and proposals were finished. The process took a quarter-hour or so, but no one minded. Aidan's fiancees showed him their approval with tight hugs and lingering kisses.

Their affections weren't limited to their fiance, either. Aidan caught glimpses of Brighid entangled with Aoife while Sunnild and Ailis took turns kissing him and each other. Then the partners swapped. Ailis and Brighid hugged each other with Aidan between them while Aoife pinned Sunnild against Brighid's flank.

While they celebrated with enthusiasm, Aidan and his lovers were aware of the eyes on them. The Starchasers had no nudity taboo and a relaxed opinion of public passion. However, both the Ash Shroud Sisterhood and the Mist Stalkers were more reserved. As a result, the quintet kept their hands outside of each others' clothing and their tongues mostly to themselves.

"Where did you get the rings?" Ailis asked once the noise died down enough for them to hear each other.

"That's a curious story," Aidan replied. "They're from my Patron, which is interesting enough in itself. The thing that unnerves me a little is that they came in a set of seven."

"Seven?" Brighid asked.

Aidan nodded. "Yeah." He raised his hand, showing off the ring on his finger. It had six settings of equal size arranged in a circle, two of which remained empty. "This one was clearly mine. The rest were like yours." His lovers looked down at their own rings. Unlike Aidan's, each had one large gem with five smaller diamonds along the band. "And they came already sized for our fingers."

"I see what you mean," Ailis said. "That does raise questions."

"Those aren't the only questions I have about all this, but this isn't the place to discuss them." Aidan gestured at the people still surrounding them. "I've had some things on my mind that I want to discuss with you. All of you," he added, making sure to catch Aoife's golden eyes. Aidan received four nods in return.

"My Lord Aidan," Ruari cut in, "I believe that we can proceed now if you wish."

Aidan looked up and saw that the crowd around them was thin enough for the party to proceed. "Thank you, Ruari. Ladies, I believe it's time to mingle with our people and our guests."

"Mm! Let's go celebrate!" Sunnild's bright enthusiasm was even more contagious than normal.

"I think I saw someone setting up a Sisterhood-style kitchen earlier today," Aoife said. "How about we head that way?"

The line at their destination wound out into the common area. The majority of the people waiting for food were harpies, but in addition to handfuls of centaurs and catfolk, Aidan spotted three wolven wrapped up in layers of robes. They spotted him a moment later, and after a brief discussion, one of the trio approached them.

"Night Mother bless you and yours, Lord Aidan." The pitch and tone of the wolven's voice identified her as female, but Aidan couldn't make out her features. Between the flickering torch and firelight and the hooded robe covering her head to toe, only her hands were visible. "Once we each receive our meals, would you care to join us? We have many questions about you and your city."

"Thank you," he replied. "I would love to share a meal with you and answer your questions."

"Thank you, my Lord. We will wait for you beneath the shade of that oak tree over there." Fabric rustled as the woman inclined her head to Aidan. A lock of dark hair spilled from beneath her hood.

Once the wolven returned to her own party, Brighid shuddered and muttered in a low voice, "See? Creepy."

Aidan patted her flank. "I don't really see it, but you don't have to join me if you don't want to."

Brighid snagged his hand and entwined her fingers with his. "You will not get rid of me that easily, mister. I can handle it."

"Good. Now, what does everyone want?" Some enterprising Starchaser youths carried hastily-made menus around to those waiting in line. Aidan smiled at the cross-species cooperation and entrepreneurship.

A short while later, Aidan, Brighid, Sunnild, Ailis, and Aoife sat on the grass beside the three wolven envoys. Aidan's guards spread out in a perimeter, keeping well-wishers away and giving the dignitaries a semblance of privacy.

"Good evening," Aidan said to start the conversation. "I hope your journey here was peaceful."

"The ancestors marked our path," one of the Bonekin said in a soft tenor. "We experienced no difficulties. Thank you for your concern. I am Tadek ar May. My companions are Gwilhou ar Lann and Maelia le Coadic." Maelia was the woman who approached them before. Gwilhou's appearance, shrouded as they were, was indeterminate. They could be a man with a slender build or a woman with a modest bust. The layered robes each of them wore masked the shapes of their bodies.

"Pleased to meet you. I am Aidan, and my companions are Brighid Fireheart, Sunnild, Ailis Silverhair, and Aoife." Aidan gestured to each of his fiancees in turn.

"I understand congratulations are in order," Maelia said. "I confess to a certain curiosity. The Sisterhood," Maelia inclined her head toward Sunnild, "has experience with long-term intertribal relationships, but we do not. How will your marriages proceed? Do you plan to marry all at once or in separate ceremonies? And what traditions will you be married under?"

Aidan and his lovers exchanged glances. "We haven't had time to decide any of that yet. I have my thoughts, but I would not dare make those choices without consulting everyone involved."

"Ah, that is fair. Pray, forgive me for asking so premature a question."

"There is nothing to forgive. It was a good question. I just don't have an answer for you yet."

"Your city," Gwilhou said, "how is it governed?" Even their voice didn't solve the mystery. Aidan couldn't decide whether they were a countertenor or a contralto.

"We use a two-tiered system. A Council, led by Ailis as my Chancellor, decides most of the day-to-day matters. Land use, permits, budget, that sort of thing." Ailis nodded in agreement. "For larger matters like laws, they provide me with proposals, and I make the final call. They also have the power to overrule or bypass me in certain situations."

"Oh?" Tadek leaned forward. "You willingly give them power over you?"

Aidan waggled his hand back and forth. "Over me? No. They can't compel me to do anything. One of the few benefits of my role as a leader is sovereignty over my own actions. But if enough of the Council believes that one of my rulings is erroneous or damaging, they can fix that."

"I see. And is the reverse true as well?"

"Yes. Technically the Council is an advisory body with no direct power. The authority they have is delegated from me, and I could withdraw it at any time." Aidan grimaced at the thought. "However, that would spark some unpleasant political battles, and I have neither the time nor the inclination to handle everything that comes before the Council. It's a mutually beneficial arrangement. I share some of my power, and they allow me to focus on the larger picture."

"Such as fighting a dragon?" Maelia asked with a tone that hovered between amusement and sarcasm.

"Such as establishing a coalition so that I don't have to try and fight a dragon alone, yes." Aidan shook his head.

"You defeated it once already, did you not?" Gwilhou tilted their head to the side.

"Only by virtue of surprise. Judging by his self-proclaimed titles, I don't think Karsarrym is very used to pain or severe wounds. I was," Aidan hesitated, trying to decide on the right word. "Not bluffing, exactly. I didn't have anything left to bluff with. But Karsarrym wasn't aware of how limited my ability to fight him was at the time. Once I blinded his eye, he decided not to push his luck any further until he could come back prepared."

"At the time?" Maelia leaped on the implication like a hawk striking a rabbit. "So you believe you are better prepared now, only a few weeks later?"

Aidan gave her a shark's smile. "Oh, I know it. Don't get me wrong, I can't kill him alone. I don't have the durability to withstand his attacks. But with proper support? Yes, I can end the threat that Karsarrym poses to all of us."

"We look forward to a demonstration, then," Gwilhou said. "We acknowledge the threat of a dragon holding Ceallach Macht and its Throne, and we are reluctant to abandon our ancestral lands. However, it is our duty to shepherd the living, not preserve the dead. The ancestors will forgive us if we leave rather than fight an unbeatable foe."

Aidan nodded. "We already planned a series of exhibitions. We will not be showing every aspect of our strength, of course, but I believe there will be enough on display to reassure you." It's a good thing Eldrid isn't around, Aidan thought to himself. She would've been able to detect the misdirection.

Aidan didn't intend to withhold much of his personal strength, keeping only Soulfire Blast and Phoenix Pyre to himself. He'd let the others assume he had more power in reserve. Ysbail was part of the demonstration, and she couldn't show off her full strength in a controlled setting like that anyway.

Silence reigned for a few moments after Aidan's response as everyone took a few bites of their meal. "Do you mind if I ask a few questions of my own?" Aidan asked once he thought enough time had passed.

"Of course not. Ask what you will, and we will answer if we are able."

"Thank you. I don't intend to ask anything sensitive. I'm mostly interested in your culture and traditions. Gerwyn and Ailis told me a little about the Ebon Bonekin from their travels and studies. I know that you have a ruling Council like the Starchasers do, but I understand you choose your Councillors differently?"

Maelia nodded. "Yes, from your point of view, that would be so. To us, it is quite similar. The Starchasers elect their Councillors by acclamation, correct?" At Ailis's and Brighid's nods, she continued. "We do the same, but instead of the living, we follow the will of our ancestor spirits."

Aidan paused, a bite of food halfway to his mouth. "Your ancestors?" The three wolven nodded in unison. "How does that work? I'm sure you contact them using magic, but wouldn't you have tens of thousands or more ancestors? Can they view the world of the living to understand the situation they're voting on?"

Aidan's question didn't appear to bother his guests. Tadek took up the narrative while Maelia finished off her meal. "That is not an uncommon question for outsiders to ask. When we say 'ancestor spirits,' we are speaking of a select few from each generation. Most of those who pass on have no reason to linger. We make sure of that when we Send their spirits to their final rest. Only a rare few possess both the motivation and power to resist Death's embrace."

Maelia took over when Tadek paused for a sip of his wine. "Once they choose not to pass through Death's gate, they are forever linked to this existence. It is a selfless sacrifice, for they can neither act on this world nor return to the cycle of reincarnation. They give that up to guide us with their wisdom."

"As for viewing the world of the living," Gwilhou said, "the ancestor spirits exist between life and death. They perceive the world, although not in the same way as you or I. Our mages can strengthen their ties to the world of the living for a time, allowing them to manifest. At any given time, a dozen or so ancestor spirits walk through each village."

"Fascinating," Aidan said. "Please forgive me if this question is rude. I mean no offense by it. Do the ancestor spirits not favor their own descendants?"

"No offense was given or taken," Tadek assured Aidan. "Part of becoming an ancestor spirit involves severing the bonds of flesh. This is both literal and figurative. No ancestor spirit can ever wear a body again, either through possession or, Night Mother forbid, being raised as embodied undead. It also breaks their connection to their bloodline. They still know who their children are, but they feel no attachment to them."

"It can be hard for the young children the first time they meet a parent or grandparent who returns as an ancestor spirit," Maelia added.

"I see. Thank you for sharing that with me." Aidan had more questions but couldn't think of a way to ask them without causing offense. In particular, he wondered how tradition-bound the Ebon Bonekin were. From an outsider's perspective, relying so much on the guidance of strong-willed ghosts seemed likely to slow the wheels of progress.

Maelia asked another question, saving Aidan from a potential faux pas. "We noticed that you are building a great temple within the city. Who is it dedicated to, and will there be room for worship of other Gods and Powers in your realm?"

Aidan sent Brighid a look. The Tabernacle was her project, after all, and she was the Councillor in charge of religion. That said, Aidan knew she wasn't comfortable around the wolven and didn't want to force her to talk to them.

"Lord Aidan is the Brighaid's herald, so They have the most prominent place in the Tabernacle of Dreams," Brighid said. "There is room for other deities beside Them, however. We welcome the worship of any faith that does not run counter to our ideals." Before the visitors could ask, Brighid clarified. "Ceallach Macht is dedicated to peace, community, and creativity."

"So you would not object if we set up a shrine to the Night Mother and Her children?"

Aidan answered in Brighid's stead. "I am not familiar with Her tenets, but so long as She does not promote wanton destruction or misery, She would be welcome."

Tadek laced his hands together and raised them to shoulder height. "Lady Keridwen teaches a message of peace, slumber, and acceptance of the inevitable. She is Death in its aspect of relief from the burdens of life. Followers of the Night Mother do not seek to bring about death or suffering. The former will come without our intervention. The latter is abhorrent to us."

"Then I would love to host a shrine to Her on the Tabernacle grounds. It sounds like She would be at home there."

All three of the wolven gave Aidan a shallow sitting bow. "You have given us much to think on, Lord Aidan, and eased some of our concerns. We look forward to the summit." So saying, they rose to their feet, bowed again, and took their leave.

Zurai

Pronunciation Guide (infinitesimal spoiler warning, names only without any details)

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