Graven : Cavern
Dramatis Personae
Graven : Cavern
Somewhere in the depth of Bleddynia’s mind, she felt a dim spark behind one of her eyes, one that couldn’t be real. There was a foreign clink and thud that didn’t come from the waterfall or the steam, and something landed by her reposed body. It was a chunk of amber with a prehistoric spider-wasp captured in the ancient resin, and though she couldn’t see it, when she grabbed to hold it she could feel its electric signature.
She held it in her hand and felt its familiar energy warm her hand, so different from the cold rocks. Then she felt a spark and swore the light flash was real and not a dream, the smell of smoke, a fresh lightning strike and a heightened buzz in the room. It overwhelmed her and she backed away from the amber stone as she tossed it on the ground.
This was Rodoric Maur’s energy. His scent. His breath. She was tired of smelling things. “H-How did you get in here?”
Rodoric huffed pridefully. “I know this place. I can transfigure myself to get through the small gap.” When Bleddynia’s lip curled in panic, her private space having been invaded, Rodoric sighed loudly. “Everyone knows about this place. They don’t come here ‘cause they think it’s where I boil my prey.”
“I can’t say I find that any more reassuring,” Bleddynia retorted.
“The draw is over. I was surprised to hear my name in it,” he said knowingly, standing over her but still allowing her space to stand. “Your name came up too. Very interesting.”
“Not that interesting. What rank did I pull?”
“The last one. You get to start off in the Marches. Looking forward to it?”
Bleddynia hugged herself protectively and looked away. “I could always start off in a pair with you, Equita Runara Rodoric, my dearest husband and master.”
“That you could,” Rodoric sighed dryly. “Except for the fact I’ve got no plans to compete.”
At that, Bleddynia seemed to snap out of the intimidating energy Rodoric’s height and power brought with him. She stared up at him, narrowing her rotting eye sockets painfully. “You’re not competing?! That’s nonsense!”
“You cast my lot in the urn, didn’t you?” Rodoric asked, steam pooling into his joints and causing his shadow to cast even larger upon Bleddynia. Bleddynia grumbled at him and snapped her fingers, and the moisture in the cavern was drawn all into her palm, then falling through her fingers in powdery sand. The water slowed to a trickle, and it suddenly felt very dry and cold. Bleddynia enjoyed the vibrations and sensation of Rodoric’s pruning body shriveling up in defense, but she did not injure him badly. She just wanted to talk.
“I got it the worst,” she said. “Because I was Lou’s favourite, Blodaiweth hated me the most.”
“Look,” Rodoric said. “I sympathize with your family situation, but I don’t want any involvement in this. Running an encampment in Threatening Valley is nothing like running Caer Coed.”
“You told Blodaiweth you wanted to start a Pan-Vespulan army with me as the mother of your progeny.”
“I chose you as my offering to put him in his place. The little raptor thinks he knows everything and I’m sick of it.”
“I thought you actually had a plan for me!” Bleddynia cried. “Why does everyone want me only to toss me to the side? I was always the most ambitious sister, even though Hith got whatever she wanted and Hyx beat me in fencing all the time. It was my power that birthed Blodaiweth, and so for that I am maimed and disowned!”
“...Yeah, so… Why don’t you just go back to the Lagona Orchard and let them take care of you?”
“Because they’re using me as leverage in the arbitration,” Bleddynia moaned in frustration. “I told you that.”
“Bleddynia, I still think it’s a waste of your potential to be crying alone in my death-pit. I rebuilt my reputation on fear, and I can’t be seen coddling a disgraced princess if I want to keep it.”
She didn’t respond and the young Pompila sighed a bit deeper. “Listen. If they discover I’m not actually feasting on debtors or my own kind, they’ll turn this into an attraction and it won’t be your secret place anymore. Do you get me”
Bleddynia turned toward him and found that even though her new “eyes” were grossly deformed, she could make out some kind of recognizable electric signature that showed Rodoric Mawr’s presence.
“I thought maybe you were like me,” Bleddynia said with a defeated nod and glance away, making to leave. She tossed the powder onto the floor and it slowly began to condensate into puddles of warming water. “The Sinnox invaders took away your sovereignty. They ruined your reputation. They turned your name into a symbol of defeat. So I thought, if not now, then when? And then, I thought, who gives a fuck if he gets mad and punishes me. I’ve already lost my sisters, my reputation, and my eyes. What else can you take from me that actually matters?!”
She felt Rodoric’s presence grow again as steam hydrated his body but she seemed unwilling to continue the conversation and kept her back turned as she slowly shuffled out of the cavern. “I’m going back to Blodaiweth’s place. The fungi he fed me is rotting again and killing my mood.”
Rodoric Maur breathed deeply in the echo of water returning to the cavern. “You didn’t stay for the rest of the names to be announced. How can you expect me to take you seriously when you didn’t even stay for your own announcement?”
“I get it, I get it,” Bleddynia moaned, exasperated, but then she felt Rodoric motion for her to wait.
“There are a few other dregs in Threatening Valley who made the cut. Their names came as unexpected additions to me. So I plan to meet with them in the Iron Koid on the next Market Night. Some of the people who joined have… they have no business fighting in the tournament. Something is wrong.”
“Oh, like who?”
“Hm, well, if you’re curious and brave enough, you can come with me. But at least help me get out of here in exchange, if you don’t mind.” His voice trailed off as his presence clinked and clattered on the ground and Bleddynia realised he’d transformed into amber again. With some initial hesitation, Bleddynia reached around blindly for the electric signature, and tucked the piece of amber into the pocket of her dress before crawling out of the cavern.
Bleddynia Lacona
Assignment: TBD
Talent: 7/10
Political Influence: 5/10
Charisma: 2/10
Military Insight: 3/10
Resources: 2/10
Total Score: 25/50
Final Grade: I
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