Serpents, Cobras, and Vipers and the Long Road Ahead
Seraphis stood above Michael and Anabel as they slept. His beautiful amber eyes reflected the moonlight as he looked at the magical threads of the Reptilian Mark incantation that lay on them.
He could see the power in it and knew Esmeralda was right; it was the work of Elsa the Great. He allowed his magic to stroke one of the strands, and both the humans before him and the other three in the home sat upright in their beds – fully awake and alert.
"I want the Princess of Serpentia – Ardyn – and you will give her to me. Where did she sleep?"
Seraphis's voice was just as beautiful as he was. It slid over them like fine wine and beautiful song, and it took the Stronghoods a moment to understand.
Michael slid from his bed and onto his knees before Seraphis. "My Lord. We need her alive. Please."
"I can find what I need without you," Seraphis said. Michael shivered. "I will help you."
Seraphis moved his fingers in intricate shapes; sigils formed in the air, and the threads of the incantation illuminated. The sigils sat on certain strands, and they dissolved away.
The Stronghoods felt the difference almost immediately.
"This will cut the effects in half and reduce the frequency. I cannot completely break a Great One's work. If I cannot keep the Princess of Serpentia alive, I will help you regain what you lost."
"Now direct me to what I need."
"Thank you, My Lord! Thank you. She slept in the small shed behind the old outhouse. We have not entered it since she left."
Seraphis left without a word and appeared in the crude, filthy shed. He now understood why he could not find this place before. The stench was overpowering all other scents for him, and she was different when she lived here.
He thought he would not be able to find anything to lead him to her, and then he saw it: a small, misshapen hairpin. The small, malformed hairpin reeked of Ardyn of Serpentia.
Seraphis smiled. His cream and honey scales shimmering softly as he thought about overtaking Ardyn and exacting his revenge.
Seraphis left as quietly as he had arrived. He was gone twenty minutes before the shadow in a distant corner of the Stronghood's front room seemed to bubble like something warped by a flame.
It poured from the corner, out the house, and into the night. Then it shimmered and appeared in a dark cave in the Serpentia cave system. From there it arrived before Lord Varric.
"Report."
"Seraphis hunts Princess Ardyn, My Lord." The shadow's voice was a mix of ethereal hissing and dry leaves blowing across the ground.
Varric set forward, his obsidian armrests crumbled as his fingers gripped them.
"When did he leave?"
"Twenty minutes ago, My Lord."
"Go back and watch the Stronghoods."
"Yes, My Lord – one more thing – Seraphis weakened the Mark left on the family."
"So be it. They are for Ardyn now. They can rest and think all is well."
The shadow bowed and faded like smoke from a dying fire.
"Atina. Come to me."
A black pool of shiny liquid rose from the floor stones before Varric. It rose and shaped into a tall, thin woman. Her hair was thin, dark green, woolen cords, and her scales were deep purple and shimmered gold in the light. Before she had fully formed, she was on one knee.
Her beautiful face was low before her Lord. "How can I be of service, My Lord?"
"You will protect Ardyn."
She bowed lower. "It will be my honor, My Lord."
Varric slid a sharp claw between his scales and pulled out a thin, glistening purple strand. It extended to Atina, and she instantly felt Ardyn and her location. She nodded, her face still toward the floor.
"Go to her tonight. Seraphis is hunting her."
Atina's head turned slightly. The Viper Clan had been enemies with the Cobra Clan since before living memory.
She would protect her lady and kill her enemy.
Ardyn's first day on the road was uneventful. When she was ready to sleep, the rainbow gem around her neck warmed and disappeared, and then a small rainbow dome sat before her.
She only needed to think about entering, and she was inside. The dome was warm and inviting. The interior was dark wood with black and lilac accents.
When she fell asleep, she instantly awoke in Varric's arms. She knew it was real – the familiar cool warmth of his scales, the rich scent of myrrh, and his unique touch.
"Where are we?"
"You brought me here." He kissed her forehead. "This is the gem around your neck. It has created a pocket space connected to your soul sea."
He kissed her again and drew her in closer. He felt her warmth and her power. She had become even more of a jewel to him.
"Someone hunts you, my love – the Cobra Empress's son. I have sent you a loyal Viper Lin. She was Master's student before me."
Ardyn simply nodded. Her mind went instantly to her defense and what she needed to do to protect herself.
They spent the night together, their souls intertwining in ways both sensual and mystical. It was hard for both of them to awake and leave each other. But they looked into each other's eyes and did what they had to.
Varric kissed her softly – memories of last night ignited within them both, and the entire scene shattered.
Ardyn was inside the rainbow gem; its soft wooden walls and intricate purple and black accents were oddly comforting.
She smiled at the thought of her night with Varric, and when she thought of leaving the gem, she was outside and on the road again.
Atina bowed to her, and she nodded in return.
"We have the same teacher, and we will be traveling together. No need to be too formal."
They set off. Their road was set in both adventure and danger – both of them ready for whatever came their way.