Part 17
Iblis watched as the giant eagle left the cavern. He knew it would be back - the bond between it and Illestra was obviously a strong one. He turned back to the table where his goddess lay. She had chosen him - passed her gift on to him - but at what cost? She lay there motionless, her perfection shattered by the gaping hole in her chest. Drawing a dagger from his belt, he drew the blade across his hand and watched as the blood seeped up through the cut. Gently laying his hand upon the wound, he concentrated, willing Illestra to somehow heal herself. He could feel the flesh under his hand move, sealing itself, and with a soft gasp she opened her eyes.
"Tis enough, childe" she spoke softly as she gently pushed his hand away. "I thank you, but you need it now more than I." He started to protest but was hushed as she placed a finger to his lips. "Trust me, Iblis. You believed in me enough to search for 2 years. Believe in me now."
"You now have the gift you sought, my dear." Her words came out in short gasps, the pain evident in her voice. "Power... eternity... freedom... all are yours. You have become more than human - so much more. But be careful, childe, that you do not fully shed your humanity. Tis not just your body that has grown stronger, but your emotions as well. You must maintain tight control of them, my son. To become the beast is to exchange your mortal chains for chains of blood."
Her voice grew softer, weaker, and tears of pain welled in her eyes. It was much later that Iblis realized with a shock that they were not tears of blood. Her voice was barely a whisper when next she spoke, so that even with his improved hearing he had to lean in close. "Learn from Talon. Follow his ways that you may rise up and soar in all glory and majesty."
There was so much Iblis wanted to tell her - so much he wanted to ask. But his words were cut short by the return of Talon and the arrival of strange man. "What have you done to her!?" he demanded as he rushed forward, a stricken look on his face. Without thought he pushed Iblis aside that he may stand close to Illestra, taking her hand in his. Her eyes fluttered open and a soft smile curved her lips as she whispered his name.
"Xarth..."
"Tis enough, childe" she spoke softly as she gently pushed his hand away. "I thank you, but you need it now more than I." He started to protest but was hushed as she placed a finger to his lips. "Trust me, Iblis. You believed in me enough to search for 2 years. Believe in me now."
"You now have the gift you sought, my dear." Her words came out in short gasps, the pain evident in her voice. "Power... eternity... freedom... all are yours. You have become more than human - so much more. But be careful, childe, that you do not fully shed your humanity. Tis not just your body that has grown stronger, but your emotions as well. You must maintain tight control of them, my son. To become the beast is to exchange your mortal chains for chains of blood."
Her voice grew softer, weaker, and tears of pain welled in her eyes. It was much later that Iblis realized with a shock that they were not tears of blood. Her voice was barely a whisper when next she spoke, so that even with his improved hearing he had to lean in close. "Learn from Talon. Follow his ways that you may rise up and soar in all glory and majesty."
There was so much Iblis wanted to tell her - so much he wanted to ask. But his words were cut short by the return of Talon and the arrival of strange man. "What have you done to her!?" he demanded as he rushed forward, a stricken look on his face. Without thought he pushed Iblis aside that he may stand close to Illestra, taking her hand in his. Her eyes fluttered open and a soft smile curved her lips as she whispered his name.
"Xarth..."
posted by Shadowsong | 10:32 AM
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