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Emperor Shadow Chapter 30

Preparing her spells had never been so difficult, facing not only the distractions that threatened to consume her, but also the ones that dwelled within. She couldn't get the thoughts of Cordenth from her head, of that pleasing river in which they'd dwelled. Sunflower eyes haunted her quiet moments when she was supposed to be reciting words of power, preparing the motions to leave just but the trigger for her to cast. Several times she could almost swear she felt him over her shoulder, whispering for her to continue, that he was ever so proud of her. Each time she would tremble, utterly drained to the core.

Lyyreth and Infinity spent the time bickering with Vishta as dragons didn't have to prepare their spells, trying to figure the best avenue to destroy this giant floating monstrosity, figuring they better have a backup plan in case the first one of slaying Tiamat didn't happen or present itself. They thought about loosing an explosive down a thermal exhaust port, but figured they'd not get it down far enough, then came the idea of simply overloading the core; but Vishta countered that with the amount of power the Uniter required, hardly anyone here could have the magical aptitude to do it. Infinity suggested trying to disable the floatation runes, to have the castle plummet to the ground, letting gravity do their dirty work for them.

"Except there are multiple ones, here, here and there." Vishta proclaimed with a smirk, pointing to sections on the blueprint spread out on the floor, "By the time you take out one, whole castle shake, Master find and stop you. He very smart and handsome."

Infinity growled, causing the little one to yelp and scamper away, "You didn't need to add the last part."

"And you didn't need to snarl at her." Lyyreth huffed, giving the shivering kobold an empathetic look, "Her thoughts are not her own, you have to remember that."

The black dragoness pinned her ears, shifting her snout away as she muttered an apology under her breath.

By the time Lyndis' was finished with her multitude of illusions, enchantments and other deceptive spells, the dragons had already been reduced to bickering with the kobold once again as she shot down yet another plan. The rogue settled down with a confident smirk, ready to solve this problem once and for all. She, after all, was the master of infiltrating and using the enemies strength against them, all she had to do was find the weak spots and exploit them. Unfortunately for them all, deciphering schematics was not one of her skills.

"So...what have you figured out?" Lyyreth asked her after several minutes.

"That...I'm...not good at this." She said slowly, gesturing to a point on the map, a small square with several lightning bolts, "Is that a weak spot?"

"That's a rune for magical lights." Vishta said, "That won't stop master, he can see in dark!"

"And how about here." She tapped a circle with a symbol for water, "Could we clog that in some fashion? Maybe overheat the entire system? You know, like a boiler?"

The kobold's brow rose, "How is clogging the piping for toilets going to help?"

"I don't think I'm getting anywhere, that's like what, the tenth thing I've thought of that wouldn't work?"

"Twentieth." Vishta chortled, tail thumping the floor, "At least you more creative than dragoness. She wants to collapse area on his head."

"It would have worked!" Infinity hissed.

"If Master was oblivious and deaf, he would be!"

As the kobold shifted away from the growling dragoness, Lyndis figured there was another avenue they could take. "Vishta, you can read the schematic right?"

"Yes." She nodded with a smile, "Excellent at it."

"Delightful, and you're aware how this place works?"

"Studied it in our spare moments on the journey."

"So, you'd know how to take it down if we asked."

Vishta crossed her arms, "Course I could, easy peasy."

The room went dead silent, all save the sounds of the gears clicking over their heads.

"You mean this entire time; you could have just told us how to destroy this place?" Infinity rose, snapping her jaws, "Instead of wasting all our time shooting down our ideas?"

"You never asked!" Countered Vishta, snapping to Lyndis to use as a shield.

"Alright, then here is us asking." Lyndis turned to her, "Can you help us destroy this place? That way if we fail to kill your master, he won't be able to use this against the people of the world?"

The kobold blinked, realizing what all this had meant. She took a deep breath, stomped down her foot and glared defiantly at them, "I won't help you take down master's home!"

"Vishta; I order you to do it." Lyyreth rolled his eyes.

"Ok!" Vishta replied without skipping a beat. "If it were up to me, I would go to these five junctions." She started pointing to several spiral-like designs on the map, "Each here helps absorb extra heat from amplifying spells. If they go away, heat have nowhere to go but inside. I don't need tell you, too much heat suck, strain everything." She clacked her claws together, "Whole place might fall apart, or fall from sky. Maybe even explode when used!"

"Won't there be...an alarm to alert them of this very plan?"

"That's why we shut off the alarms...Lyyreth. It special ward by master, tell ruler of sky castle when thing go wrong." She caught herself from saying master, laughing nervously and bowing to the frill fluttering dragon. "Without it, master won't know about heat until it too late."

"And you have no issues with this?" Asked Lyndis with crossed arms, "You're exceptionally chipper for us destroying your master's home."

"I like it if Lyyreth likes it. As he say, he my...boss now!"

"Uh-huh." She exchanged looks of skepticism with Infinity. Could they really trust her to get the job done?

"What do you think Lyndis? Can she, do it?" Lyyreth cocked his head.

"I think it's better than any other idea that we've had. She worked with the Kobold Information Network, kept up with us like any old adventurer, outsmarted the Queen of Eternal Flame. Question isn't if she can do this, better question Lyyreth is if we can trust her."

"I could always tie her legs together so she couldn't run off." Added Gerald, in the middle of his morning stretches.

"My aren't you helpful."

"Anything for you mum."

"I bet he's trying to betray us." Infinity padded to him, eyes sharp and nostrils flaring, "Them both, biding their time, having us get our guards down, leading us by the snout into another trap."

"They wouldn't do that." Lyyreth swished his tail, rolling a paw, "Would you two?"

"Not a chance Lyyreth." Gerald winked. "Loyal to the end Lyyreth."

"I'm only listening to you because you told me." Vishta smiled, "Otherwise I'd tell master."

The dragon's blinked, what they feared made vocal. Lyndis could only laugh at it.

"Least the girl is honest to a fault!"

Infinity grabbed her by the collar with her teeth, dragging the little lizard to the schematic with a snarl. She dropped the kobold, who yelped when she hit the floor. "Now, you're going to tell me everything about how we're going to dismantle these heat absorbers, you're not going to lie, scheme or plot against me. Otherwise..." She dragged a claw across the kobold's scaled throat, "You won't have to worry about running to master again."

"O...okay." Gulped Vishta, returning to her work, Infinity's snout right over her shoulder.

** * * * * * * * * *

"How are you holding up?" Lyyreth asked, padding right on Lyndis' heels.

They were deep within the network of steel and oil, careful to not make a sound. Though no one was saying it, the rogue could feel the walls closing in all around them. Not an arm length away, tensions were high, nerves poised to strike should anyone stumble upon them. Vishta was leading the way under the fierce, watchful eye of Infinity who kept bumping her along with her nose.

Lyndis swallowed the lump in her throat, "Well enough...Given the circumstances."

The green dragon pinned his frills, ducking his head from a protruding pipe, steam whisking off it's surface. "How were you going to do the other part of the plan?"

Within her pack the black arrow whispered, furrowing her brow. "Killing Tiamat? Just a gift from your mother."

"The black arrow?"

"How did you know?"

Lyyreth growled, "I did know her, she was my mother. Plus, that was one of _my_treasures."

"You can't be serious, one of your treasures was a black arrow? You're aware they're made to slay dragons."

"It's not my fault their rarity and magical nature are vast." He huffed, "I'm only a dragon after all, it's in my blood."

She laughed bitterly, the means to put an end to Cordenth came from his brother? Sometimes life seemed to be exceptionally cruel. Staring blankly ahead, she drifted past the black dragoness, kobold, and knight, losing herself to someplace far off. Somewhere that didn't involve her, forced to slay her love, endure his final breath. The face of her dream flashed before her, charming and full of life as it had always been. She smiled sadly, with each step realizing she might never see it again.

"I just wish he didn't look...so much like him."

"Or sound like him. While I was hiding there...I half expected him to sink back into his old ways...you know, before the spirit possessed him. Yet as he spoke it was hollow, empty, like something was missing, that this sound was nothing more than a ghost."

"He gives off some of the same quirks as well." Lyyreth's voice went flat, "He would tilt his head, flick his frill, simply walk around and I would be looking at him again. I tried to tell myself that he's still in there Lyndis, trying to fight..." He heaved a great sigh, "But I don't think he's in there anymore."

"I had a dream about him last night."

"That...seems understandable...we're all tired and exhausted. I dreamed of him as well."

"No, not that sort of dream." She shook her head, "Something different."

"Different how?"

Pain welled up in her temples as she held them, trying to conjure the delightful image from her slumber. With a breath she was back by that riverbank, hand resting upon his scales, taking in his scent. When he looked at her it was like the sun had filled her, casting away any cold that gripped her ever so tight. Lyndis whimpered, tears welling in her eyes as she caressed his beautiful cheek.

"It was real." She sniffed, dragging herself back to drab browns and silvers around them. The warmth was gone.

"Yes, dreams can sometimes seem real."

"No...I'm telling you it wasn't a mere dream. Things had weight, a sense of spirit, a realness_that cannot be described. He _was there." Her heart ached as they stopped, Lyyreth resting a paw around her.

"I'm sure it seemed very real." He whimpered, "I wish I could have experienced it with you. It would have been nice to have a dream like that one."

"I told you...It wasn't a dream...I could _feel_him."

He blinked, raising her eye to his, "What do you mean feel him."

What_did_ she mean? It sounded ridiculous, didn't it? But Arcturus spoke of being able to feel Veledar's emotions, a connection to the soul. Did this mean that Cordenth was not gone like they thought? That a tether to her remained? "I know this might be daft, but I believe that Cordenth and I share a similar bond to Arcturus and Veledar."

"Are you sure?"

Oh, the hope in that voice, she nearly gave in. "How I want that to be true Lyyreth, it would mean something to tug, drag him back."

"Or it could be a trick." Infinity growled, eyes aflame. "One meant to lure us out, ruin what surprise we have. We already know he uses Cordenth like a puppet, his voice and form to throw us off, make us weak, prevent us from doing what needs to be done."

"How can you say that?" Lyyreth asked, "If what she says is true, perhaps there is a chance to- "

"Lyndis, you and I discussed this in the wild, Cordenth is gone. There is no point in hoping for that not to be the case. Trust me..." She lashed her tail against the bulkhead, "We can't let this distract us...not now."

"But now...now I'm not so sure. Infinity...When Tiamat was right upon us, I had a sensation, like I could feel through him." She closed her eyes, letting distractions fade around her, with a practiced breath she was experiencing it all over, what Tiamat must have been experiencing.

"You're not doing a good job in convincing me that it isn't a trap."

"Would you feel the same if this were Axton?" Lyyreth growled, "Would you do anything to get him back, even if it were just a fleeting chance?"

The dragoness snorted, eyes narrowed before she turned around, "But this isn't him. Deal with the way the world is before you, instead of wishing for what it _could_be. Hurry up unless you want to fall behind. If you must talk, walk as you do so."

Lyndis scoffed at the coldness in her voice, "Real determined, isn't she? Here I thought she cared about Cordenth."

"You told her that her son is alive, brought her proof. What mother would let anyone stand in her way?" Lyyreth rose his head, following upon her hinds, "You've lit a fire under her scales."

Did she not also owe Cordenth that fire? Had he not done the same for her when she was in danger within the forest of despair? A queen saving a dragon multiple times, the idea of that sort of story made her smirk, no one would believe it. She rested a hand on Lyyreth, using him for support, "You know, in all my travels of Sethera, I've never rested my eyes on a face that captivated me so. Oh Lyyreth, it made my heart weak, my knees shake, breaths catch in my throat. I found something I thought I might never..." She trailed off, picturing that familiar dragon beside her, head held high, guiding her along.

"It sounds like you were in love." Lyyreth said softly.

Said in the open it seemed obvious, the perfect word to describe what troubled her. She loved Cordenth, fallen head over heels for the big green beast. How she wished to be at his paws this instant, watch the recognition spark in his eyes as she whispered it in his ear. Smiling bitterly, she imagined his pleased warble, only to grab her tight and rear up, using his tail and wings to balance himself. He'd say it back with a growly voice, trying to keep his draconic pride.

"I wish I hadn't." Lyndis growled, retrieving her hand. "It would make things easier."

Infinity suddenly stopped, raising her head till horns scratched the ceiling. "We've gotten faster." she uttered; eyes wide.

"Are you sure?" Lyyreth asked, "This place all feels the same."

"Trust me, I can feel it in my bones. It shifts...ever differently, we _have_picked up speed."

"If we have what does that mean?"

There could be several ideas on why the uniter had picked up it's travel, that Tiamat was getting impatient, that this was always a part of his plan; but Lyndis knew better, her stomach twisting to knots. "That our dearest big green is scared and desperate."

Lyyreth warbled, fluffing his wings, "This is good news, right? Tiamat is worried, just more evidence that he can't predict the future." His snout snapped to the two sullen females, cocking his head, "What's the matter, isn't this good?"

"No." Infinity growled, gesturing to them to follow. "It means that he's desperate."

"And desperate means dangerous." Lyndis added, quickening her pace, "Vishta how far are we? I fear time is running out."

** * * * * * * * *

Tiny mice they were, slipping from cramped tunnel to cramped tunnel, ever careful to avoid the prying eyes and vigilant ears of Tiamat's minions. Hearts ever caught in their throat at the slightest sound, fearful that they would be caught, their plan swiftly ended, Sethera doomed to rest beneath that dragon's paws. They must have crawled through miles of ducts, bug infested, moisture ridden areas that had not seen a maid's hand in many a year. When they emerged, each of them was thankful for the fresh, albeit stale air.

Before them was a sizable hall, one in which Tiamat himself could stretch his wings and be comfortable. The walls were in the image of roughly hewn rock, with dragon heads protruding outwards, mana lanterns hanging from their jaws. These ghostly, turquoise lights brought an unsettling aura to the pillars of hardened stone that sprinkled about the area, their surfaces carved with images of dragon's in flight. The air was cold, crisp, like they were standing on the peaks that overlooked Drakenburg.

Lyndis stretched, careful of her next few steps upon the tiled floor. It was pristine, darkened stone, with a mana stone methodically placed at the center of each tile. The crystal shimmered with a crimson light, hinting that the soul inside might be aware of their presence. She crouched low, careful not to make a sudden move as the dragons behind her shifted back to their true sizes.

"Why does it have to be cold? I hate the cold." Infinity growled, pinning her wings.

"That would be the after effect of head absorber." Vishta chortled, tugging at Lyndis' side, and gesturing to a statue further along in the hall.

It was of a stone dragon upon it's hinds, a handsome white dragon with feathery wings tucked behind it's back. Within its paws was an orb, innocent as could be, a marble of blues hues and whites, swirling together in a vast storm of color. If the dragon minded the frost that had gathered across it's paws it didn't give a sign of caring, for it's snout was frozen in an image of perfect reverence to some unseen god.

"What was this place again?" Lyndis found herself asking, "It's not like anything I've ever seen."

"Well, what were you expecting?" Lyyreth rumbled, eyes darting to every surface, gathering excitement with each moment. "Some machine of metal and oil? This is an ancient magical device, of course it uses more elaborate methods. Just look at it, I wonder if it's a portal to the plane of ice, sealed away in a simple orb. Or could it be that they harnessed a storm and are channeling the excess heat into it! Oh, my snout tingles at the very thought!"

"I'm glad one of us is having fun." Infinity growled, eyes narrowing upon the spherical object. "So, we just smash it to get rid of it yes?"

"We're smashing it?" Lyyreth's frills pinned as he whined. "But...think of the knowledge...we'd be throwing it away to- "The dragon's snout snapped shut as he drew both female's ire filled glares, "Suppose history takes one for the team."

"Hold on there missy." Lyndis' placed a hand on the impatient dragoness' chest, halting her advance.

"What? Don't tell me you're going to object me vandalizing history too?" Growled Infinity, lashing her tail.

"No, but I do care about the half dozen or so traps that are between us and it."

"Traps? Where?"

She gestured to the tiles that ran the length of the floor between them and the statue. The rogue traced a finger along one such tile, similar, but slightly depressed than the rest. "Might not look like it to the untrained eye, but if you go stumbling over there, who knows what madness you could trip."

"I bet whatever trap it is I could take it." Infinity huffed, snapping her snout away. "Stroll right on through, come out the other side no worse for wear."

"Wonderful, and would you elaborate on what happens to us in this scenario of yours?"

Clearly, she had not thought of that, Infinity merely growling and gifting the rogue with a huff, "Keep your distance?"

"If it's all the same to you love, I'd rather disarm the lot of them, _then_you can galivant to your little paws content."

"Then by all means, get to it little adventurer." She waggled a paw, "Try to not get your face blown off."

"Always the plan." She smirked, "Now Vishta, be a dear and remind me what we're looking for. Great that we know about the orb and smashing it but can't exactly going about doing it if the big green guy is alerted about it."

The kobold rose upon her tippy toes, making sure to not step on the next tile. Her nostrils flared, taking long huffs of the air. She smiled, "There at the end of the hall, square box size of cow!"

Of course, it would be. She groaned, counting more than two hundred tiles between themselves and the coveted box. Walking upon the walls with one of Lyyreth's spider climb spells might have worked, if not for the faint runes that she could spy littered across the uneven stone. It would appear whoever crafted this place wanted to make it as frustrating as possible. Who knew what sort of spells those could be, they were better off disarming the ones down here.

"I could always rush through them." Infinity whispered, right by the rogue's ear, "Would save a lot of time."

"No, we're not bloody doing that!" She shoved the dragoness' snout away. "Just means I better get started. If you want to help, keep watch or something."

Grimacing at the arduous task, she returned to her work as Infinity growled and did as was requested. One by one Lyndis went through motions, marking out which tiles were safe, and which were not, with tiny applications of chalk. Thankfully, unlike her last time in dealing with such things, the dragons actually listened to her.

"You're all being so well behaved."

"Why wouldn't we?" Lyyreth cocked his head, currently sitting on his haunches behind her, one paw raised as he protected her with a shield of shimmering light.

"You know...I got this."

"Yes, but we can't be too careful." He grinned, "And what about us being well behaved?"

"Oh, it was nothing." She rolled her eyes, dragging her chalk over the next pressure plate, "Just last time you should have seen Cord- "

The sentence died as she recalled the time in the temple, deep within the forest of despair, yelling at that emerald idiot trying to impress her. Lyyreth's frills pinned in understanding as the rogue grunted, "Anyway, doesn't matter now. There we are...looks clear enough." She eyed the simple box of stone, resting far beyond she could reach, "Give me a boost."

The green dragon padded over, lowering himself to give her better access. "Such a simple thing, isn't it?" He rose, sniffing the air, only to wrinkle his snout, "Scratch that, it reeks of magic."

"Yea, that's what I ruddy thought." She scowled, spying the engravings that littered the surface of the shadow choked stone. Each one was in draconic, trying to warn any who might tamper with this device. She counted not just _one_magical trap that adorned this, but three. "Looks like someone went the extra mile to make sure we don't get our paws on this."

"Why do you say that my lady?" Gerald called from Infinity's side, "And when can I get a weapon to better protect you?"

"Never." Snapped Infinity, "You're only here so you don't go running off to your master."

"But I promised lady Lynalla I wouldn't."

"And_I_ don't care. You stay, no weapons."

"What do you see?" Asked Lyyreth, "I can see there is obvious magic there, maybe the start of a spell? It's unclear."

"You're seeing three magical traps, all woven together." She gestured to several lines of runes, innocent on their own but she'd spied similar things in Rothdell. "Usually they have the one, but this special guy has three."

"Know what they are?"

"Figure it has something to do with the elements, I see a symbol for fire and ice, so that's easy enough." She rolled her eyes, pointing to one of a skull, "Death, not really informative that one...have to probably wing it."

"Is that wise?"

"Not really, but if I didn't roll the dice we wouldn't be where we are now."

With a raise of the hand, she began to manipulate the magic binding the traps. The first one was a great ball of fire, meant to consume all within its embrace. This collected around her fingers with the warmth of a pleasing fire, tendrils of flame coiled between every digit, pulsating with a hungry light. When it began to heat up, she let it fly, casting it uselessly away against the walls. One trap down, she began the next, a wave of the most intense cold; if she had not whisked it away as a cool breeze it would have made sure they became permanent additions to the room's décor.

"Be careful of that one." Lyyreth shifted his paws, weaving another spell of protection around her.

"Think I'm not?" Laughed Lyndis, already starting her process. This one, she had to admit, was different than the rest. When it's magic collected in her palm, it stung as though a needle had been pressed to flesh. She wouldn't have long. Pushing through the pain she continued her work, not to be deterred, after all, if she stopped now, she might accidentally set off the spell right there and then. Just as her heart began to beat ever faster, she subverted it, tossing the magic away to have it explode upon the air in a shimmering cascade of light.

"What was that?" Infinity wheeled around with a growl, "Are we under attack?"

"Quite the opposite. Just me kicking ancient magic's arse."

"Great...now that the traps are down...now what?" Lyyreth sniffed at the stone, confirming no magic remained with a nod.

She couldn't see a way to open it, no handhold to grab onto. "Vishta, before we make fools of ourselves, how do we get this off?"

"I'll never tell!" The kobold growled.

"Tell her." Lyyreth snarled, pressing down his paw before her.

"Righto boss."

Lyndis dismounted as the kobold instructed Lyyreth on how to position himself, the dragon quickly rearing upon his hinds to grasp the box on either side with his paws. Grunting and growling he lashed his tail, claws digging lines through the stone as muscles came to life. With a final snort the stone broke free with a crack, ancient air escaping in a lingering hiss.

"See, I help Lyyreth!" Vishta bounced upon her feet, clapping her claws. "I good kobold, yes?"

"Very." Grunted the dragon, setting aside the slab of stone.

Within was their prize, a rune of draconic power, glowing with the intensity of fresh magma. It was in the shape of a draconic eye, wicked and cruel, pulsating upon the air as though it were alive. Lyndis couldn't help but shiver under it's gaze, swearing that it was searching right through flesh and bone, straight to her very soul. Breath caught in her throat; could it?

"Now, you must be careful. Mess up, and master alerted." Vishta chuckled, "Which I want of course...but-"She yelped at Lyyreth's coming growl, "Now don't want that!"

"Got this one?" Asked Lyyreth as Vishta scampered back to hide by Gerald's side, clinging to the man's leg. "It...seems different doesn't it...Smells...old."

"Just like everything else in this place." Quipped the rogue, reaching out as if it were just another rune to subvert. At her presence the surface dulled then flared to greater intensity, was it aware of her presence? She pushed down that thought and swirled her wrist, reaching out to connect with the enchantment. It's magic was stronger than the others, that much was certain, stranger as well. Unlike the traps, when the connection was made there was no pain, no sense of unease, just a soothing sensation that slithered seductively down her spine.

What was this? Lyndis could sense something deeper within the spell, rooting it here where the others were swiftly pulled away. She felt a weight settle upon her chest as she pushed deeper, never had a spell done this to her. It was old as Lyyreth said, powerful, was that pine that she smelled?

"Something is wrong." Lyyreth said, frills fluttering. "Lyndis, are you okay?"

"Its...just harder than the rest." She replied with effort, adding a smirk, "And don't go making a joke about that...unless you want a smack upside the snout."

"Just be okay."

Her movements became sluggish, this sensation was familiar, right on the tip of her tongue. Why could she not identify it? Oh, it would drive her mad as she pulled this tether further along. With her next breaths came the sense of power, pride, like the entire world should throw themselves down at her paws. It was then that her eyes widened, knowing what this was. The spell was connected to Tiamat himself.

"Lyndis."

"Tiamat."

"Tiamat? I heard Tiamat!" Infinity pinned her ears, snout darting around to every corner, "Has he found us?"

"Lyndis...what do you mean Tiamat?" Lyyreth huffed, eyes stern upon the half-elf's face. "Is he the one doing this to you?"

"Yes and no...It's connected to him Lyyreth." She groaned, the weight upon her chest now as if a horse was sitting upon it. "These spells are not just _mere_alarms, they are connected to his mind...In some way, this entire place _is_him."

"So, what does this mean?"

"That if I don't get this perfectly...he's going to know exactly where we are. And honestly...I'd rather hold off that reunion until I'm good and ready."

With that the final die was cast, she'd succeed or fail. Her heart raced as the final part of the spell clicked into place, the tether was cut. Frozen, she didn't dare move as the eye faded to nothing; put to sleep.

They waited in silence, anticipation racing through every vein, expecting guards to be coming down to find them. Weapons would flash, they'd be forced to defend themselves, the entire endeavor put to an end before it could truly begin.

"Did...did it work?" Asked Infinity, eyes locked upon the far entrance, smoke curling off her nostrils.

Lyndis breathed a sigh of relief, exchanging glanced with Lyyreth.

"It would appear to be the case."

"Know you could do it!" Lyyreth rumbled, "Didn't doubt you for a second."

"Now it's time for smashing!" Huffed Infinity, practically stampeding to the stone statue.

With both paws she grabbed hold of the magical orb, hissing at the cold that stung her scaled paws. Snarling, she hurled it to the floor with all her strength, exploding the ancient device into thousands of tiny fragments. From the remains came a flash of blinding, brilliant light, and the howling winds of a blizzard. It bit at flesh and scale alike, drowning out any sound before it's fury. Snow was loosed upon the hall and those within, coating them all in a healthy dose of the frigid, white powder.

"That...was...utterly reckless!" Lyndis' teeth chattered, sweeping off her shoulders and head. "Who knows what the fock could have happened!"

Infinity shook herself free of snow, gifting the queen with an amused huff, "You said it could be a snowstorm trapped within the orb, obviously it would be free when I broke it."

"We said maybe it could be that!"

She rolled her eyes, stretching out each of her limbs, a satisfied smirk upon her snout, "One down, four to go, isn't that right Vishta?"

The kobold nodded with a weak whimper, clutching tight her chest.

Criticism would have to wait as the dragoness celebrated her victory. Lyndis groaned, there were worse things than being slathered in snow and having to endure bitter winds. With a bark of orders, she had the dragons ready to move out, the cold ensuring her words were heeded to the letter. Besides, if they _hadn't_prevented the alarm, they didn't wish to be there when the enemy arrived.

But there was no alarm, no shouts, no demands that they had been found. With every step that Lyndis brought them from that room, it was ever clearer that they'd gone unnoticed. The rogue breathed a sigh of relief to quell the rapidness of her heart, it would appear as though her plan was to work.

One by one they dismantled the magical orbs just like the last, each room practically the same. The only difference was the décor, which matched the various dragon children that Tiamat had created. Lyndis found the dragon's snouts over her shoulder watching as she'd worked on the traps and alarms, especially Lyyreth, who seemed dedicated to commit her technique to memory. She could tell with how he huffed; a detailed explanation later was to be inquired.

For the alarm, she found herself hesitating after the second one, getting harder and harder to focus on the connection and remove the rune. Her skin had begun to crawl at the sight of them, hair standing on the back of her neck, swearing that Tiamat was right at her side, watching in amusement.

"We've slowed down." Infinity finally blurted after the fourth room, their handiwork from the previous ones beginning to become apparent. The spheres that contained the spells were glowing ever brighter now, thin whisps of steam rising off their cracked surfaces.

"What do you mean slowed down?" Lyyreth asked as Lyndis already had gotten to work on another stone panel. "Don't tell me he lost interest in getting to Struport?'

"Or he's were he needs to be." Lyndis grimaced; they'd hoped to put this plan into motion before he'd reached the city. She could sense their stares on her back, the question on what would happen to the people right on the dragon's tongues, "Just means we need to work faster. Only a matter of time until he does what he does." She didn't finish the thought, not wanting to picture all her friends and innocent subjects all slaves to that gold bastard's whims.

"Can you finish it in time?" Infinity's voice crackled, the concern for her boy ever apparent. "Or do we need to leave right this moment to have any hope of _saving_anyone."

"I'll manage it." She tried to push the dragon's concerns from her mind, focusing on the task at hand. "Disabling this is a delicate task."

Infinity's response however was dull, a hiss upon the wind that Lyndis could not decipher. When Lyyreth below growled his answer, that too was nothing more than a fleeting sound. She blinked as she could no longer feel the dragon between her thighs, it was as if she were floating away, being dragged to another place. It sent a shiver down her spine; it was just like the previous night within Lyyreth's room.

Her next breath had the taste of metal in the air, she could feel the cold beneath her paws. Fear, doubt, despair? These were sensations for the weak, the helpless, much unbefitting of a grand dragon such as her. The rogue shook as gratification wove it's way into her paws, quickening her pace, victory right on the tip of her wings. She almost smirked at the satisfaction, of the pride in one's job shining bright as the sun within her chest. This wasn't right, this wasn't her.

She struggled to free herself from the overwhelming scent of stone around her, the moisture in the air, the delight at which the minions at her paws had such frightful hearts. It was a quagmire of the mental kind, holding her fast, unwilling to let go, it took all that she had to unwind the tethers and return to her own body. Pain welled up in her bones as the work around her began to take shape. She was not Tiamat through the halls of the uniter, but Lyndis deep within, undoing his traps. The last thing she heard was his voice upon the wind, dripping with pleasure.

"I found you Lyndis."

"Lyndis!" Lyyreth shouted, breaking her from her stupor.

She was still trying to undo the trap but had frozen in the middle of manipulating the spell. The magic now remained frozen within her palm, crackles of cerulean light sparking off her fingers. It brushed against her gloves, spreading pain through her flesh, tiny lances stabbing inwards and taking hold. Frantically she hurled it away, hastily going through the motions as the light swelled in intensity, at any moment it would fail, explode right in her face.

"Lyyreth, wing up!" Lyndis shouted, mere moments after flinging the spell away from them.

The dragon complied without a word, just as the loosed spell exploded upon the air. In the blink of an eye, it enveloped his light green membrane with it's crimson embrace. His wings burned; the green dragon winced as his hiss gave voice to his pain. Soon as it came it was over, leaving Lyyreth to grit his teeth, taking deep, slow breaths.

"What the hell was that?" Infinity snarled as Lyndis blinked. "I thought you had this handled?" She stomped to their side, ears pinned, eyes as intense as the spell's fire.

"Guess...it got away from me." Lyndis opened and closed her hand, poking at the palm to ensure that yes, this was her.

"Question is if you're alright." Chuckled Lyyreth, extending his wing when Infinity offered her snout to inspect it. "Can't have all of these getting away from you after all."

What_had_ happened? Her brow furrowed, piecing it all together. It had been just like the night before, where she and Tiamat had experienced each other's emotions. Her heart sank at the whisper of her name, had he known she was there?

"You burned his wing! I hope your happy small snout." Infinity snapped her jaw, "If you're not going to disable the traps, what's the point in not having me trip them?"

"Get off her back. It was only one." Lyyreth nuzzled along the female's neck, "We've all had long days."

"Apologies." Lyndis rested a hand on his nose, sadness lurking within her tone.

"Well, be more careful." Infinity snorted, wheeling about to go check on Vishta and Gerald, "Or I'm just going to charge on forward anyway."

"Blunt one isn't she."

"That she is, but not exactly wrong...What happened?"

"I can't stay." She said softly, knowing if he could sense her, she was more a liability than a boon.

Lyyreth huffed, "I know she's rather sharp at times, but that doesn't mean that you have to...The burn isn't even that bad, see?" He wiggled his wing, clearly biting his snout to hide the pain, "No...problem."

"Be that as it may." She grimaced, knowing what she had to do, "I have to go."

"Well, I know it's been a long day...But if you need to do that. I promise not to look."

The rogue gently slapped the dragon on the nose, offering a soft chuckle, "Not that kind of go."

His head drooped, "I know...It's Tiamat, isn't it? Those runes have not been so free of his detection, have they?"

"Possibly? He knows that I'm here alright, but I don't think it's from the alarms. Girl does have to have a reputation and I won't have you tarnishing it by implying I couldn't get the job done."

"Then how?"

She gave a great sigh, "The bond that we share. The one I was telling you about. I can sense his emotions and sensations as if peering through a hidden door, exposing himself to me in the most intimate of ways. Arcturus and Veledar described things such as this."

His eyes lit up, "But isn't this wonderful?" Lyyreth warbled, "You had a connection to Cordenth, not Tiamat, he must still be alive!"

"Or it's a trap, like Infinity said." She tapped him between the nose, "Regardless...If I can feel him, you can bet your haunches he can sense me too. Means the longer I stay with you lot, the more risk I put in him finding us." As she took a labored breath, the black arrow in her pack got heavier, "Bout time I swan off to do the main plan anyway."

Lyyreth replied with a harsh snort and narrowed gaze, "Lyndis, he's my brother, you should not have to shoulder this burden alone. We'll hurry up here so that we can head all together, safer that way."

She grabbed his snout, redirecting it back to her as he adjusted to Infinity, "Lyyreth that's not the point. The fact is, I'd rather not all of you die. I'd rather you lot go on, fly away and be safe." The rogue pat the dragon's scales with a soft, saddened sigh, "Don't you worry, I can handle the big guy. Just you and the lady focus on getting this done, make sure he loses either way ya?"

A moment passed across Lyyreth's face, fraught with concern and unease, the dragon mulling over what she'd said. His eyes drooped; a great sadness contained within.

"And don't you dare go be trying to be a hero and try to rescue me when you're done. If I'm not out by then, just take your girl and swan off alright?"

Lyyreth growled, bringing his head high, "If it's anyone's responsibility, it's mine."

"Well, I overrule you." She rolled her eyes, "I love the bastard."

"Wait...you love him?"

Her heart ached, forcing her to lean forward and press her forehead to the dragon and close her eyes. If she cast away her thoughts for even a moment, it was as if she were holding him right now. "Yea, stupid I know, but that is what it is. I won't let him get away with stealing him."

"You're...going to give him a chance aren't you...that's why." Lyyreth huffed, "Even when he might just kill you."

"I have to try." She sniffed, "I owe Cordy that. Figure it will make a great story anyway, queen going off to save her dragon? Come on, the bards will go nuts for a tale like that."

"How...are you going to do it? Mother's crown didn't even- "

She tapped her heart, "The bond Lyyreth, the bond. I didn't make it with Tiamat, but with Cordenth. I'm going to pull on that thread till my heart bleeds. If that fails?" She sniffed, tapping her back. "Always have plan B."

"Or plan C." Lyyreth whimpered, gesturing to the hall.

"Nah, this place always needed to die...It got my dad."

For a moment they said nothing, merely holding each other close. Hands stroked emerald scales; a paw found the half-elf's back. They realized that this might be the last time that either one of them spoke to one another.

"I wish I'd known you longer." Lyyreth finally pulled away, licking the rogue's face. "Cordenth was lucky to meet a woman like you."

"Course he was." She laughed, cheeks reddening as the dragon's frills turned a dark green. "Though you're not so bad yourself. Now granted I plan on succeeding, but on the slim chance I don't could you do me a favor?"

"Anything."

"Nothing big, just a few messages."

Lyyreth nodded, "I think I can handle a few of those."

"Such a good guy." She pat his face with a sad smile, "Tell my brother and sister in Tetragon that I'm sorry they grew up without their big sister around. That I'm going to not be there for the years ahead either, though tell them I did it for them, so they have a future." Her head hung at the thought, "And my mother, if her mind still remains, I never meant to hurt her by leaving."

"Is that all?"

"Veledar and Arcturus." The thought of those two, reclining in their victory over Tiamat made her laugh, wish that also could be her fate, swapping stories over the grandest tale of this era, "tell that paladin bastard I'm going to haunt the shit out of him for getting me into this. Double goes for the dragon, my life would have been far easier if I hadn't had a moment of weakness and went off with them!"

Shifting on his paws, Lyyreth gave her nuzzle along her side, lingering for a few moments with a soft whine, "And what of me? I'm going to miss you."

"For you, that's easy." She laughed, "Have a good life Lyyreth, live it well. One where you can gather as many books, scrolls and maps to your heart's content. Go nuts, just don't forget to poke your head out every now and then." She kissed his cheek, "And what the hell, name a kid after me alright?"

He wrinkled his snout, "Kids, what are you on about?"

She rolled her eyes to Infinity with a smirk, "Just go ask her about it, I'm sure you two will figure something out."

"And what about the traps?" He called to her as she padded away.

"Guess you'll have to find out how durable Infinity truly is!"

At mention of her name, Infinity snapped at them, cutting off the half-elf with an extend of her star covered wings. "Where are you going?" She growled with a narrowed gaze, "You're supposed to be disarming the traps...Not...taking a break."

I'm not taking a break; I'm making sure that the job you can do gets done." She'd have reached for her blade at the coming growl, if not for Lyyreth right behind her.

"She's got to go; Tiamat has found her." Lyyreth insisted.

"Good." Snorted the ness, lashing her tail. "I prefer a fight to this sneaking around anyway. We make our way to the final room, if we cross paths with him, we have the arrow. It's what we were going to do anyway."

The idea had merit; however, they were putting a lot at risk, which could be avoided by her absence. "Or he interrupts us and we don't manage to put an end to this blighted place. My way, I buy you lot time to get it done. If I fail at my task, you lot bring everything down."

"Can't you see you're just going to get yourself killed?" She fluffed her wings, stopping the queen from shifting around her. "Let's get this done _then_go after him."

"Infinity, we don't have time for this! I already suggested that." Lyyreth snapped his jaws inches from her snout.

"And I'm not going to let another person throw their lives away." Infinity countered, slamming the green dragon into the wall.

Lyndis had to avoid the coming tail, the blunt appendages missing her by inches.

"I've seen too many people do it. So, since both of you are acting like idiots, I'm making a decision."

So, there it was, the pain in her voice, that piercing stare of hopelessness, unwilling to let go.

"Besides small snout, you're supposed to bring me to Axton." She huffed, cutting Lyndis off with her tail, "Can't do that if you're dead."

She sighed, looking to the dragoness with empathy, "Find a human, name of Arcturus. Short brown hair, beard, emerald eyes, hangs around a red dragon by the name of Veledar. Sweetheart, but kind of an arse at times...There." She crossed her arms, "You don't need me anymore." She turned to depart, but found her pack snatched between Infinity's powerful jaws.

"You're not leaving." Infinity snarled through the pack, giving the rogue an insistent tug, "Not while I draw breath."

"Infinity...you must let me go. You need to if you want any chance at living."

She held, unwavering in the face of these words, tears welling in her eyes. It wasn't until Lyyreth padded to her, nuzzling along her neck with a saddened whine.

"You have to let go...You know she's right." the green dragon said.

"Who will watch after Axton?" Lyndis pressed further, knowing her weakness. "And this goofy guy in love with books and scrolls? Come on, don't you want a chance at a peaceful life?"

With that, Infinity let her go, ears pinning to her head. The dragoness shifted, nudging Lyndis with her snout, "It's not fair. I would have fought claw and fang to keep you all safe...It's not fair."

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