A Proud Reunion

Amongst the High Crags, above the Wolf Gen Village

The moon was high and frost was thick upon the ground. Ishma stood amongst the gathered warriors as they looked down upon the village of the Wolf Gen. The funeral had been an unexpected boon. They had watched from their hidden places amongst the high crag as the village had gathered around the ritual pyre. Some of the men had wanted to attack then, but she had forbade it. She would not risk offending the gods with such needless sacrilege.

Many of the denizens below would be deep within their cups by now, drowning their grief with salty ale. If some amongst them were sober and alert all the better, the Blue Rock clan would savour the challenge.

"Someone approaches." hissed one of the men and Ishma followed his gesture to see two figures below. They were walking directly toward the hidden warriors, one short and slender, the other a hulking figure that trailed behind. She caught the glimmer of moonlight as it reflected upon the weapon he carried. A challenge perhaps?

"Do we kill them?" the warrior asked.

She considered it for a moment before shaking her head. "No, let them come."

The path to the high crags was steep and difficult, but the pair made good time as they continued to head straight toward the Blue Rock clan. As they drew within hailing distance Ishma felt a strange tug within her chest, a familiar presence that... she gasped with delight.

"Mother?" came the call from the darkness.

The smaller of the two strangers broke into a run, leaving her companion behind. Likewise, Ishma broke rank and ran to meet the girl who approached.

"Trienne? Truly is it you?"

In answer the girl sprang toward the older woman and wrapped her arms around her. The heavy scent of iron filled the nostrils of Ishma and she breathed it deeply. Good girl, she had not forgotten her lessons. The two embraced for a time before separating to study each other in earnest. Tear stained cheeks and puffy eyes were broken by grins of elation.

"I thought you dead," Ishma breathed.

"I was taken to wife." Trienne explained, "The bastard is dead now, I called the sea god to drag his corpse to the deep."

"That was you?" Ishmas eyes grew wide, "I could feel the power all the way across the bay."

"Not me truly. Power stirs in the south, it adds potency to my craft."

"Yes, I have felt that also." Ishma agreed. "It is so good to see you daughter."

"Fuck me that's Feldrin." one of the men cried from behind the pair.

There came a sharp whistle as an arrow flew from the rocks and struck the hulking warrior with a wet thud. Fedrin did not flinch. He continued to walk forward with an arrow protruding from his chest and a wild grin on his face.

"Stay your weapons fools." Ishma barked, "Can't you see he is blood bound?"

The Blue Rock clan did not view blood magic with fear as the other Gens did. They embraced its power and honoured its practitioners and for that they were feared in turn throughout the curve of Hel's Bay.

Ishma walked up to the hulking warrior and appraised the rune work etched in his bare chest. She traced her fingers along the puckered wound before raising her hand to grasp the protruding arrow. She grasped it firmly and yanked it free. Still the tall man did not flinch.

"Beautiful work." she gave her daughter a warm smile, "You were always a quick study."

"He will join the raid." Trienne was beaming with pride in response to her mothers approval.

"Yes... yes he will. Tell me daughter how did you find us this night?"

"There are rumours in the village." she replied, "...and I could feel... I mean I could sense you out here. Like..."

"...Like a soft tug upon the heart." her mother completed the sentence as she reached over and cupped her daughter chin in her open hand.

"Magnificent." she whispered.

Her grip stiffened on her daughters chin and the girls eyes grew suddenly wide as Ishma drew her dagger and opened up the girls throat in a clean slash. The warrior Feldrin dropped to his knees, keening with unearthly horror as the girl Trienne fell likewise.

Ishma held her firm and unhooked a chalice from about her waist. She filled it with the girls hot wet blood even as Trienna clawed weakly at her dress.

"I am so proud of you my daughter." Ishma soothed as she lowered the girl to the ground. She tore open the front of Triennes dress and placed an open palm above her heart. Slowly she sank her nails into the soft flesh until rivulets of blood pooled around each rigid finger. Then as she felt the pulse of her daughters heart begin to slow she raised the chalice and drank deeply of her power.

Such power!

At last the deed was done and Trienne lay still upon the ground, her eyes wide and frozen in horror. The warrior Feldrin had stopped his keening and knelt panting heavily. She watched silently as the mans grin slowly returned. She could feel the link snap into place as her daughters power became her own.

"You are mine now." she smiled as the warrior rose to his feet, his eyes locked on hers.

She called back to the men, "Feldrin will lead the raid this night."

It was clear from the looks on the mens faces that they did not like this turn of events but they did not gainsay her. They dared not.

She watched as they gathered about her new champion before making their way silently toward the village below. Soon the sounds of screaming and the smell of burning timbers drifted on the cold night air toward the high crags; where Ishma performed the grizzly work of preparing her daughters corpse for consumption.