Cassias Arelius appeared next to Lindon, and he lost a breath when he noticed that he was suddenly hovering hundreds of feet in the air. He gripped the saber at his belt, and his blue eyes went wide, but he grasped the picture quickly. As expected of an Arelius.
He drew himself up and bowed to Lindon, even while floating. His golden hair shone in the sun.
Fisher Gesha did not react so well.
“AAAAHHHH NO!” She shot a web of purple Fisher madra into the sky, trying to catch herself on something, but of course there was nothing to hold onto and no need. The old woman was curled up, even smaller than usual, breathing heavily and clutching her chest as though afraid her heart would burst.
Her gray hair, usually neatly tied up, had come loose from its bun. The spider-construct she used as her drudge flailed helplessly, purple legs clawing at empty air, and then it scrambled up to hold onto her back.
“Wha—Did you do this, boy?” She flailed at Lindon, trying to hit him. “What were you thinking, hm? Send a message into my thoughts, and before I can turn around, you’re trying to drop me from the top of a mountain! You weren’t thinking at all!”
Lindon’s cheeks burned. “My humble apologies, Fisher, I was in a—”
“Some kind of Monarch now, and he thinks he can frighten old women to death! Don’t have wings, do I, hm?”
At least the others had adapted more quickly.
Kahn Mala of Redmoon Hall looked scornfully on the complaining Truegold. She had reacted more calmly than anyone, as expected of an Archlady. A fall from this height wouldn’t kill her, and she had experienced spatial transport before.
She calmly tied back her hair to stop it from flapping in the wind, giving Lindon a respectful nod as she did so. Her Blood Shadow, in the shape of a cobra, nodded to Lindon as well.
The other three hadn’t panicked either, which was to their credit, as they were the least advanced of anyone.
Jai Chen wore an outer robe of pale blue and burnt orange with the Twin Star logo on the breast, and she gasped when she appeared but adjusted quickly. Fingerling, her pink dragon spirit, swam merrily through the air.
Her Path, strange as it was, had wind aspects. She would have cycled at high altitudes before, and Lindon had helped her design some of her techniques himself. If she fell, she could catch herself.
His sister Kelsa couldn’t, but she reacted to sudden events well. She would have been ready the moment Dross’ message ended. Her White Fox madra had frozen when she found herself floating in midair, and her purple-and-white tail of foxfire stiffened for a moment. Then she mastered herself, exerting control over her Goldsign.
Lindon’s father, the last of those he’d summoned, had merely closed his eyes and taken a deep, shuddering breath. He carried the cane he no longer needed, and even the scar that had pulled his mouth up into a permanent sneer had been healed somewhat by his advancement to Jade.
Lindon saved him for last. He had been surprised enough to hear Wei Shi Jaran call his son’s name at all.
“Apologies to all of you for the abrupt transfer,” Lindon said. “I am very limited on time. I will answer your questions, after which I hope you will spread explanations to the others.”
“How can we explain anything if we die of fright, hmmm?” Gesha turned to Lindon’s father. “What did you teach this boy?”
Jaran looked over, revealing the pinkish-white color of his restored eyes. “Apologies on behalf of my son, Fisher.”
“Tch.” She waved a hand. “Quiet. I know you didn’t teach him anything.”
Even in midair, Lindon’s father shuffled uncomfortably.
[Oh no, your family isn’t getting along with Fisher Gesha,] Dross said. [What a pity that is. Can you feel my pity?]
Lindon looked to the Redmoon Emissary. “Archlady, I’ll address your concerns first.” Not only was she the highest-ranking one here, but she was also the one he personally cared about the least. Best to get rid of her first.
“Thank you…Monarch?”
“Sage will do.”
“Thank you, Sage. The Hall has been working closely with your Twin Star Sect, as instructed, but many among my number are…uncomfortable with the current circumstances. The Lion Monarch openly assaulted the Valley, and we have heard nothing from Yerin in days. Of course, we are grateful for your protection, and I know my people will feel more confident knowing you can repel an attack from a Monarch.”
“Yerin is in isolated training, but she has not forgotten you. When she emerges, which I expect will be soon, she will be as strong as I am currently.”
Or so Lindon hoped.
In fact, Yerin had grumbled more than once about Redmoon Hall attaching itself to her, but she would indeed blame herself if anything happened to them. Lindon didn’t know to what degree her soul oath bound her, if indeed it still did, but Yerin felt that she’d taken responsibility for them anyway.
And they were the most advanced sacred artists in the Valley, so Lindon wanted them to stay where they were.
The Archlady pressed her fists together in salute. “Thank you for taking pity on us, Sage. Do you expect any further…disturbances…anytime soon?”
Dross answered that one. [We’re hoping we sent a strong enough message this time. But we doubt it.]
Lindon agreed. Even if Reigan Shen stayed away, out of fear of the Silent King Bow, the other Monarchs were still likely to bother him.
Kahn Mala thanked him again, and Lindon sent her back. He turned to Cassias, who spoke without preamble.
“The people of Serpent’s Grave have heard about the Empty Ghost,” Cassias said. “There are those who are calling the Twin Star Sect a Dreadgod cult. Especially given our recent company.”
He didn’t have to gesture to indicate Redmoon Hall.
“What do you think, Cassias?” Lindon asked. He had the Arelius bloodline legacy, and he had known Lindon well enough. His own testimony should carry weight with the refugees from the Blackflame Empire.
The Truegold sighed. “I don’t know, Lindon. I need you to tell me. Are you a Dreadgod?”
Lindon couldn’t quite put his finger on why, but that hurt to hear.
“I am borrowing the power of the Dreadgods to defeat them,” Lindon said. “By the time I’m done, there will be no Dreadgods left in the world.”
Cassias’ eyes pierced Lindon deeply, scanning him even without spiritual perception. “I don’t know whether to be proud of you or sad for you.”
Gesha snorted.
[How about both?] Dross suggested.
“I will tell them that I saw you with my own eyes and that you’re fighting for us,” Cassias went on. He hesitated before adding, “For what it’s worth, I’m sorry. We should never have let you carry so much responsibility. I’m just…sorry.”
Lindon gave him a smile he hoped was reassuring. “I’m not.”
Cassias sighed. “Good luck, Lindon.”
Lindon sent him back and turned to Fisher Gesha.
“I just wanted your permission to use the Soulsmithing facilities in those tunnels! Not so urgent, was it, hm? Not something you needed to summon me into the sky over!”
“Apologies, once again, Fisher. Of course you have my permission. I will give you better warning next time.”
Gesha peered at him through her mask of wrinkles. “I’ll hold you to that, you hear me? There will be a next time. You’d better make sure you’re around, and not killed fighting Monarchs in the sky, or I’ll find your Remnant and beat some sense into it myself.”
Lindon promised before he sent her away. She disappeared while still grumbling.
[You think I should tell her that Dreadgods don’t leave Remnants?] Dross wondered idly. Lindon highly doubted that would help.
The two young women in the Twin Star Sect colors were next. Kelsa drew herself up, almost as tall as Lindon, though she stood on nothing.
She gave him her usual intense focus. “The Sect is worried. You’re gone, Eithan’s gone, Yerin’s gone. All the most advanced sacred artists are missing, and now they’re calling us a cult. We need some direction.”