Alratha – Amber Dust, Daggers Rust

One and a half months since Uklag left.

No one ever knows the secret of her past. Alratha wakes up and with a single nimble movement jumps out of her bed. She grabs her clothes, the black leather uniform, and starts dressing. Afterwards she takes a mirror that was lying upside down and makes her hair.

Alratha hates mirrors. They have this uncanny thing called a reflection. Trying her hardest not to look at herself more than necessary, she takes care of her hair. For nothing, more than a quick glance she looks into her own face.

There she is. Beautiful with softly swung eyebrows, fair, white skin, tear formed face, her unusual amber eyes. Oh Saeletra her eyes. A sudden pain makes her whole body jerk, ‘Here it comes.’ She thinks with a small snicker and fights against the memories that try to rise up.

Small flickers of imagery. A tropical garden. The view from a huge balcony. Golden ornaments. A black haired woman, older then herself but just as beautiful. Five pairs of Amber eyes. A naked back, a woman, the Archprophetess. “This isn’t going to hurt.” She says and grabs a tablet of needles.

Alratha continues her struggles and finally the memories give up. A last picture, her own reflection on a wall-sized mirror, covered in blood over three bodies, dagger in hand, smiling brightly.

The pain disappears and Alratha’s cramped hand at the mirror relaxes. She puts the mirror down, the reflecting side on the ground, and walks over to the shrine of Saeletra in the middle of her room. One of these days she would have to face those memories.

“Not today though.” She says in a bright mood and grabs a few toys to drown the pain in pleasure. She is just about to begin when the torch on the wall changes its colour to green. The twins just called for a meeting of the inner circle, which she is part of. With a sigh, she puts back the toys and back on her pants.

She walks the first through steps. ‘Eh, boring.’ She thinks and turns cartwheels the rest of the way, which is somewhat of a challenge at the sudden turns these tunnels make but she manages with a bit of wall jumping. At the end she is warmed up on one side and feels slightly sick on the other – maybe repeating turning upside down isn’t that good for her.

‘Eh, whatever.’ She thinks and does one more cartwheel into the dining hall. “There you are.” Droy grumbles from the second level as she goes up the stairs. Everyone else is there already. “Here I am.” She agrees with a small giggle. “Or am I? Maybe I will be poof and gone in the next moment.” Her giggles becomes laughter and she jumps on an empty spot on the bench.

“Very funny.” Catherine drily says. ‘I think so yes.’ Alratha thinks but keeps her laughter inside her head for now. “So, what is going on? Droy here shouldn’t have been back for another three days if I recall correctly.” Aelana asks with a nod towards the Albino.

“That is correct.” Droy says, “But Meltzer send me back, we have a bit of a situation. An ambassador of Acrae.” The laughter inside Alratha’s head dies and her head turns at Droy. The smile on her face is still there but weakened considerably. “-has arrived and she is asking questions about us. Tienal has managed to feed her lies for now but I fear it won’t be long until she tries to find us. She seems entirely unconvinced that Tienal was actually successful.”

Alratha takes a deep breath. “What is her name?” Droy and everyone else in the room turns at her. They are shocked to find her smile dead, her eyes darkened and calculating. Where her normal insanity shows itself in overly happy gestures this is the face of a murderer. A murderer that has cast away all signs of sanity in this world and only has one goal in mind.

“Her name.” Alratha repeats in a slow and patient voice. “Rethal.” Alratha’s clenches her teeth and stands up. “I will take care of this.” She says and goes down the stairs. “What are you going to d-“ Catherine wants to ask but is silenced when two black streaks fly close by her head. “I said.” Alratha says calmly, “I will take care of this.”

Catherine turns around and sees two stilettos of black glass stuck in the wall. The assassin just threw her away the weapon Uklag told her to use in non-lethal engagements. It is very clear what she wants to do.