Not An Afterthought

Ordell had made the decision to cross into Lamina to look for her weeks ago. He had first heard of her in passing on the street and had taken it upon himself to learn more. He asked Analia what she knew and found out she met the dragon during the rising. That the person he thought was a story was real. He spent the next three weeks learning what he could, and eventually found a a name and a location. The Daedra went by the name Ayri and was supposed to be supporting Laylovahn in the war against Lamina. He found that the next challenge came when finding out where exactly in Lamina she was fighting. It took Ordell another a week and a half of searching to find out she was on the front lines. It only took him four hours to get to there, once he knew exactly where to go. For all the trouble he had finding out where she was, it was easy once he arrived there. She was the only person on the battlefield with wings and horns. He was watching her fight from almost fifty yards away, but the fear her presence caused was nearly tangible, even at that distance. It was the kind of fear only a dragon, a Daedra, could instill in others. This woman was supposed to be the one called the Traveler, or Ayri in her native Laylish. He couldn't see her face, only her horns as they poked through the holes of her hood. Deciding whether he should approach her was the next difficult task. This Daedra was rumored to have knowledge of the future. Analia herself believed it to be true, saying she had personally heard and seen the woman predict the future. Ordell remained skeptical. It was possible she had knowledge of the future, maybe being one of Ayvohra's children, but it was still unlikely she could help him. His job, and the question he was here to ask, was one made for a god, not for a mortal. He was still contemplating his decision when the fighting finished and any remaining Laminians fled the field. A win for the Laylotee, he supposed. He remained unsure it was a good thing, but he didn't really find himself in any position to stop the fighting. There was something he could do though. Finally making up his mind, Ordell made his way across the battlefield. It was only a few moments before he came within a few feet of the person he had spent the past few weeks looking for.   "Would you be the one called the Traveler?" Was his voice wavering? Why was he so nervous? He was basically a god for Alton's sake, why was he worried about speaking to her? "Maybe. It depends on who's asking." So his suspicions were confirmed. It was her. Of course it was, no one else he knew of fit her description. Not anyone he knew was alive, anyway. "Creation of Laylovahn." The woman, Ayri, the Traveler, froze where she had been inspecting one of the fallen Laminians. "And what does a god need from a mortal?" She was nervous too. There was a tremor in her voice. Good. He wanted her to know what position she was in. Who he was. But how much should he tell her? "I believe I have a question you can help me answer." Her back was still to him. Why wouldn't she turn around? He wanted to see her face. "Don't the gods know everything already?"   "Not everything." Like what Alton did with his soulmate, or who would succeed the gods when they died. "So what's your question?" Where's my soulmate. That's what he wanted to ask. "I have been tasked with bringing together a group of saviors for the Realms," He took a step towards her, "I heard you knew about the future of the Realms. I wanted to know if you could give me advice."   "That's all you wanted to ask?" No, the thought rang through his mind, not the question he wanted to ask at all. "Yes."   "The King. Analia Darya. Sylvester of the Vae." It was said in way that he thought was intend to be dismissive, but it sounded hopelessly forlorn. It caught him off guard and it was a moment before he noticed the names she had said. People who would likely not be alive at the time he needed them to be. He quickly elaborated. "I need heroes for an event that is to happen thousands of years from now." She started walking in the direction of the Laylish camp and he made to follow her. "You need me to recommend heroes for an event that won't happen for five thousand years." It wasn't phrased as a question. It sounded like she was saying that's what you decide to ask? "So you do know what will happen?"   "Yes."   "Then why won't you help?"   "I guide, not interfere." Ordell grabbed her arm and spun her around to face him. "I am not omnipotent. I need guidance." It was a split second before her face registered in his mind. She was glaring at him. She said something, he knew she did, but he barely heard it as he took in what he saw. She looked so close to crying. His soulmate. She was there. Infront of him. She spoke again and he heard her this time. "There are four people who will be able to help you. To fill the role you need them to." Sharp words. Hard. Angry. She pulled her arm out of his grip and stepped away from him. "A Laminian, a Havenian, a Voltayian, and one of Idunn's children."   "Kay- "   "The oldest will be born in 4888 as a chaos engine of Witchaven. The rest will make their way to her of their own accord." Her wings spread wide and came down quickly enough that he had to shield his eyes from the wind. When he opened them again she was gone, but all he could think about was that she was alive. Ordell laughed and covered his mouth with his hands. She was alive.