Sufferance Ch. 15

At this moment, however, Auranka simply stepped to one the side of the throne and waited as her queen followed silently into the room to join us.

We all bowed properly as the Valsharess entered wearing the same elegantly venerable, full-body wrap of gold and purple that She'd worn the first and only other time I'd seen Her this close. Her crown was still interwoven into Her solid blonde hair, diamonds and amethysts and rubies glittering in candlelight. Matching necklace, rings, and a bracelet around Her left wrist completed the ensemble, and this time She wore a ceremonial dagger at Her waist.

I still thought She seemed either bored or tired as She sat in Her throne with Her back straight and Her wrists resting on the padded arms of the seat. She scanned all of us with those pale, tawny eyes.

"We understand there are two events whose consequences need immediate redress," She said in Her rich, low tone. "The non-writ death of Wilsirathon's Draegloth, and the escape of a dangerous prisoner."

She looked at the Red Sister Prime, who nodded once and bowed.

"We've determined the sequence of events, my queen," the Prime said. "Further motives may yet come to light."

"Accounts will no doubt vary," Roshenthanon quirked her brow at the much older Prime, who smirked.

"That tends to happen when the holder of one account spends half a cycle lying on a cold floor in a tangle of web," the Eldest Sister replied blithely.

Wilsirathon's body trembled at the Prime's jab, and the younger Priestess behind her touched her shoulder almost as if to give her balance. By the elder Priestess's expression, I could not tell if it was rage or loss which had hit harder. I didn't have any anger to match hers, not even after all that had happened, but—unfortunately for me—I could imagine too well the void she now felt.

The Valsharess held up Her hand to stop the exchange and looked at Wilsirathon. "Priestess, as it was your son who was killed, state your case first. Do not waste Our time with embellishments."

Wilsira shook off the hand holding her shoulder and stepped forward to bow. She took two deeper breaths to steady herself. "Certainly, my queen. You have long known of my affection for my son. I have volunteered his use in Sisterhood trials well, but the one of note was a little over two years ago. He became distracted by one of the newest Red Sisters."

"This happens sometimes," the Valsharess said. "Did you give him what he wanted?"

"I tried, my queen, but Elder D'Shea blocked my requests until she needed a Draegloth again for another trial. Then we were able to make a deal." She glanced narrow-eyed at D'Shea, who stood with her arms crossed and face impassive.

"You indulged him," the Valsharess said. "And which Red Sister was this? I do hope you brought her, Red Sister Prime."

The Prime gestured to me, and I took a step forward from the line with a courteous bow. I didn't say anything. The Valsharess noted me and nodded, looking back at Wilsira. I was motioned to step back again.

"How long before you were able to indulge him?" the queen asked.

"Just over a year, Valsharess."

I was a bit surprised Wilsira hadn't tried to lie about that part, given that Kerse hadn't lost interest as he should have, according to Auslan, but then... it would have been easily and readily disputed.

"Hm. And did it work?"

"It did, my queen. He showed no further interest in her upon having her after we returned to the Sanctuary. He was as he had been before."

My mouth twisted a bit at that one. No, he'd only been biding his time.

"But this is not the end of it."

"No, Valsharess. I had much opportunity to observe the young Sister and was impressed by her. I thought she would make a good candidate for further training as she had a natural ease around Draegloth."

"I can vouch for this, my queen," Roshenthanon interjected quietly. "Wilsirathon sponsored this idea to me months ago."

"And the Red Sister who stepped forward, is that who she proposed?" the Valsharess asked the High Priestess.

"Yes, my queen."

A nod and a gesture to continue. I genuinely could not anticipate what Wilsira was going to say next. Everything so far was close to the truth as I knew it, with a few "tiny" omissions.

"I requested her presence again just four cycles ago, and the Prime granted another short term of service to me by the same young Sister. I had intended to present her to the High Priestess first and, if acceptable, to Yourself next, Valsharess. I soon discovered, however, that she was present only under direction to assassinate me."

Wilsira's voice was filled with utter conviction and she was standing straight, her aura was stronger, as she delivered the last line. In truth, that wasn't too far off the mark but the details would no doubt differ immensely.

"Under whose direction, Priestess? Do you know?" the Valsharess asked, seeming a bit bored still, Her long fingers gently touching Her face as She rested Her chin in Her palm.

"I understood it to be Elder D'Shea's direction, likely without the Prime's knowledge, Valsharess."

I glanced at D'Shea; as she no doubt still felt Shyntre's presence like an illness, she paid the most attention to her expression and her stance, both of which she kept still and calm as possible. She refused to look intimidated, insulted, or in denial of the accusation.

"The young Red Sister, Sirana, drugged me with intent to murder me, but not before using my compromised state to discover a few secrets about our Sanctuary." She flung a scathing look toward the line of Red Sisters. "I shan't go into detail here, but it was where I was eventually found by Priestess Lelinahdara. Sirana bound me in webs and struck my face repeatedly, intending to interrogate then kill me in that room. My son stopped her, but I do not know where they had gone to, or why they left me, except that Kerse must have been trying to defend me."

Her lower lip actually trembled as she took a breath before the last statement. "I felt when he died, when the Red Sisters killed him. I want justice. I want Elder D'Shea's son punished in exchange, as You see fit, Valsharess. It is a fate he surely deserves as his very presence confirms he has involvement in my son's death. I also want this Elder and her servant, Red Sister Sirana, executed for their direct plot against me and their actions which led to the unwarranted death of a Draegloth, against Your own writ, my queen."

The Priestess knew when to stop speaking, but she awaited the signal to step back before doing so. I was a little surprised she hadn't insisted on dominating the stage for much longer than she had, but part of it may have been physical weakness. She looked as though she had lost half her power and youth in a very short time.

I wondered that I could relate to her grief in my mind and yet I felt no sympathy for her or her lies. It was a conflicting, confusing feeling.

"Elder D'Shea," the Valsharess gestured next. "As this is quite a lean against you, the next statement is yours."

This was where I wished I could have taken Shyntre elsewhere; through no fault of his own, he was damaging my Elder's ability to put up a strong, confident front. Though I knew—and Wilsira knew—that she was in fact fighting hard against illness, her voice had that edge of strain to it that made her sound nervous or uncertain. It was just enough to draw the attention of all in wondering whether blood was already in the water.

"I agree with Wilsirathon's version of events up until her claim that my subordinate drugged and attacked her with intent to kill," she said. "Sirana can tell you more of what the Priestess was hiding about her son, as Sirana is a rare one with whom—as has been said—Wilsira 'indulged' herself as well as the Draegloth."

It was a very short statement, not very impressive, but all D'Shea could manage under her taxed state and still seem mostly normal. She looked at me and gestured to finish it for her.

I stepped forward slightly and bowed again to the Valsharess. "My queen, I coupled with Kerse during...three separate occasions over the last two years. Each time, his genitals were different. His form was altering, and his mental state was changing. The Priestess Wilsirathon would have known this; she witnessed and participated in the second occasion. She chose, however, to ignore the signs. I only did not know what the signs meant. It was not me who struck Wilsirathon in the face—it was Kerse. He had finally changed enough to be able to act against her of his own will."

"LIAR!" Wilslirathon blurted, her voice nearly choking on her anger and plain denial.

The Valsharess held up Her hand in mild irritation. "Continue, Red Sister."

"Kerse had changed so quickly in large part due to the prisoner who escaped." I made sure I got that part out next. "The Draegloth must have come in contact with the Illithid prior to this past cycle, and the prisoner psychically compromised Wilsira's control over her son. I did not leave the Sanctuary under my own volition, I was held captive by the Draegloth's increased magic and he took me to where the Illithid was imprisoned. My Sisters discovered this when they initiated the search for me, and they acted accordingly to stop the threat that Kerse had become."

The Valsharess seemed a little less bored as She put Her wrist back down on the arm of Her throne and tilted Her head at me. "Indeed." She looked at the Priestesses. "Would Kerse have come into the vicinity of the Illithid at any point?"

There was a bare hesitation on the part of the High Priestess and Wilsirathon. However, Auranka spoke then, sounding mildly amused and calm as the queen.

"He would have, yesss, my queen," she said. Her voice contained a natural rasp that surprised me, as if that would be what a spider would sound like if it could talk. "Wilssirathon had vissited the prissoner on four occasionsss of which I am aware. My Drider informed me of her pressence, and the pressence of her ssson."

The Valsharess nodded.

"Why did Kerse take you to the Illithid, Red Sister?" the queen asked directly.

My mouth was dry even though I knew my part, which was essentially, "be truthful," at least up to a specific point that I hadn't reached yet. "To force me to break the ward Wilsirathon had set, so he could let the Illithid go."

Fortunately for us, even the High Priestess looked surprised; we had done a good job controlling information.

"There is no evidence for any of this," Roshenthanon said.

Wilsirathon nodded in agreement, her anger still blazing. "My son's appearance had not changed, that is a blatant lie. And it would be impossible for him to force a Red Sister to do anything against her will!"

She even laughed a bit. "How weak-willed is this young Sister, then, to be so easily persuaded to break a ward and set a dangerous prisoner free? Perhaps her training has been sorely lacking! I think it much more likely that she intended to act on this the whole time and planned to blame my son! He is surely not alive to refute it." She pointed at me. "If this one has released this ill upon our race and compromised the secrets of the Sanctuary and the Sisterhood both to our enemies, she deserves damnation as a Drider!"

The Valsharess looked to be pondering during the Priestess's rant; at the end of it, She nodded and gestured languidly but was still looking in my general direction. "Being that Kerse himself would not have been able to affect that ward with his demon's blood, I believe he would have needed an accomplice. Why would you have helped, Red Sister?"

"I had no will to resist, Valsharess. The Draegloth had something against me based on the previous times we'd coupled, at Wilsirathon's insistence that I indulge him. If anything, it could have been her intent for her Draegloth to gain magical ability over a Red Sister through ritual and repetition."

"Conjecture," the High Priestess scoffed. "And clearly a contradiction in terms! We know that it requires willpower to break wards. You cannot have it both ways, Red Sister, make up your mind. Either you had will to break a ward that Kerse could not, and therefore were not captive, or you could not have broken the ward if it is as you say."

I swallowed, not sure how to respond at first and I looked at Elder Rausery, who smiled what I thought a beautiful smile as she chuckled and gestured to the wizard. Shyntre slowly withdrew a familiar blood-red cloth from his belt—Rausery had been very pleased that he had kept it even through the battle and cave-in—and all eyes were drawn to the movement he kneeled to present it to the Elder. Maybe more *his* Elder.

Rausery accepted it with a nod and held it up and out toward the Prime. "Our evidence, First Sister, which supports Sirana's testimony."

The Prime accepted it in turn, clearly demonstrating that our chain of command was still in place, and waited that proper moment for the Valsharess to nod before she brought it forward with a bow. To Her credit, She did not seem put off by the stiff, soiled remnant; She fingered it gently, even sniffed it delicately, Her tan eyes seeming to penetrate the blood and see something within it.

As She stared at it, I again felt the subtle warmth of the stone at my chest and I tensed slightly as I hoped the suggested drain was not enough to distract my queen...

"Fascinating," She said quietly. "Do you recognize this, Wilsirathon?"

The Priestess hesitated but ultimately swallowed and answered truthfully. "No, Valsharess."

"Not at all? You do not know what it is."

Roshenthanon shared a look of concern with her, but Wilsirathon had to repeat herself that she did not.

"I smell male seed," the Valsharess said quietly. She looked at the Prime. "Bring me the other sample, Prime, if you would."

The Eldest Sister broke the line and strode over to me, drawing a plain steel dagger. "Remove your glove, novice."

I tugged the black leather glove off and presented my hand, and by now figured what that "sample" might be. As I anticipated, the Prime made a shallow cut on the back of my hand, drawing blood and staining her blade with color. She nodded and allowed me to press my wound as she brought the dagger to the Valsharess, holding it up on the tips of her fingers using both hands. The queen took it and held the blade beneath Her nose as I wrapped a cloth around the cut before putting my glove back on. She did not inhale audibly, but I saw Her eyes flash with power. She nodded.

"Did you teach Kerse how to create a talisman, Wilsira?" the queen asked.

My enemy looked startled, and I was glad to see it. This was her first time standing in a corner: plead ignorance and accept that Kerse had become a threat, or claim knowledge of the teaching and take responsibility for the Illithid escaping. This was the part where D'Shea knew she had her pinned, and the Priestess was clearly aware of it as well. She trembled in impotent rage.

"I...no, Valsharess. I would not teach him something like that. That could not have been created by my son."

"Could it have been created by you, then? Or another? It has Draegloth seed on it. If you wish to confirm, feel free to come forward, though We recognize Kerse's aura regardless."

Wilsira was tempted to claim knowledge of someone else, even herself, making the talisman, but she could not think fast enough on her feet how to justify it.

"A curious link," the Valsharess murmured. "The taste of the spell is such that the male was to be the dominant between the two. A very odd choice indeed if it was not made by the Draegloth."

"I...would have been happy to see that Red Sister humiliated in such a way," Wilisra hissed. "I am sorry I did not see it."

"Yet you were impressed by her and wanted to sponsor her," D'Shea added with a smirk. "Which lie is the first one?"

"You should be silent now, Elder," the Priestess shot back at her, and the cruel slant of her mouth as she flicked a glance at Shyntre drove the point home. "Any real mother would change her mind about any cunt if her son were killed because of her!"

Wilsira looked at the Valsharess and changed her tactics. "My queen, if it is true that my son was compromised by the Illithid, then clearly that creature instructed him on how to make the talisman and use it against that Red Sister! It was not Kerse's fault. The Red Sisters were responsible for setting it loose and destroying the only one who may have been knowledgeable enough to help us recapture it! Had I just been given the chance to cleanse my son's mind, we wouldn't be in this situation. All of this began with D'Shea's assassination attempt, my queen, and she should face the punishment for her failure!"

One delicate eyebrow raised as the Valsharess looked at the Red Sisters. "We should like to hear more about this part. Show Us all involved in the Draegloth's last moments."

The Prime nodded to Elder Rausery, who gestured, and Jaunda, Gaelan, myself, Jael, and Shyntre stepped forward in that order.

"Tell the Valsharess what you observed, Lead Jaunda," Rausery instructed.

I had to admit that my Lead was all grace under this pressure; she didn't even seem to be breaking a sweat. "The wizard came to our cloister as a result of a divination spell that saw one of my Red Sisters under threat. That is all I acted upon, Your Grace, to recover one of my subordinates. I knew nothing of any plot or action taken prior to that point."

"Your Elders did not direct you?" the queen asked.

"No, Your Grace. Elder D'Shea had left on another mission with my usual team, and I had just finished a solo task for her. Elder Rausery and the Prime were not available in the time the mage said we had left, so I made the call to take him and Gaelan and leave the cloister.

"My plan was that we recover our Sister and deter the Draegloth, then inform the Priestetsses who can control him. Bringing more Red Sisters would have been seen as a direct threat to the Sanctuary and increase the possibility of violence against him. I did not want that in keeping with proper respects to the Priestesses. We only didn't know how powerful he'd become or I would've brought more."

The Valsharess casually flicked a hand toward Jael. "And this one?"

"She was on standing orders to keep an eye on things at the cloister and watch anything unusual. Part of her training, Valsharess. She did that and followed us. I decided to take her along as extra fighting power if needed." She smirked a little. "It turned out to be a good thing."

I could not help but be impressed by my Lead's unflinching acceptance of her decisions. It made her a good leader in the field, even though the more conniving could always try to take advantage of it in a Court setting like this one. Wilsira hissed and took that advantage.

"So you let this slip of a Red Sister loose on my son, knowing she has intense hatred for his kind?"

"At the time, Priestess," Jaunda said without flinching, "it was him or us. And Jael landed more hits that any of us."

I winced inside. That could be construed as skewing the responsibility of the actual death more toward the youngest Sister, if anyone was to be punished for it—and as the youngest, she was the most vulnerable.

"Duly noted," Wilsira ground her teeth.

Our queen held up Her hand, looking more amused as She observed Jael for a few more moments. "Continue, Lead. What happened when you found your quarry?"

Jaunda said, "As we began to approach the cavern where the Illithid was kept, we heard the screaming of our Sister being tortured, long before we got eyes on.

"We arrived to see the Drider guardian slain, the prison empty, and the Draegloth performing a ritual powered by sexual energy within a circle drawn on the ground. Sirana was in the circle as well, alive but bleeding from the changes to his sex that she mentioned. The wizard told me later that they were similar to what a Priestess undergoes to conceive a Draegloth in the first place."