The Dadæf Chronicles

“You’ve never done this before, have you?” asked Emma, standing at the stove watching Drakaya suck her burnt fingers.
“No… I’m not used to this.”
“What’d you do before, then?”
“I was… a…”
Drakaya tried to think. There were obviously a great number of things to be other than an assassin, but she was finding it hard to think of them.
“A… um…”
“Look, you can trust me. I won’t hate you for it,” said Emma.
“A… er… well, I didn’t really do anything. I just tried to get along… I had to pinch food sometimes.”
“Oh, don’t worry. I wasn’t much better… I just found what I could to get by. I wound up getting this ring from some high elf a while back. I managed to get enough to apply for a school of maid…ing. I guess.”
“Wh…what did he look like?”
“Oh, I dunno. Usual high elf stuff… long blonde hair, some robe or something, just… you know, elfy,” said Emma, “but his coach had a rearing unicorn painted on the doors.”
Drakaya gasped.
“That’s… that’s… my…”
“Come on, we should keep working. It’s not like it matters.”
*
Serrus stared out the window at the pre-dawn city. It was nearly dawn, maybe ten minutes. He knew that inevitably he’d lose control.
Unfortunately, however much control he might have over his body, it wasn’t the one he was used to. He looked down at his… chest… and the nightgown he was wearing, and turned his gaze away.
It wasn’t nice to wake up like this. It’s one thing to wake in a familiar…ish… room with two girls looking after you… kind of, and quite another to wake up in a massive bed in such a huge room, completely alone.
Coming to think of it, there were worse times.
He smiled with grim satisfaction remembering when he and Rivia had assaulted Teraura. It might have been pointless, but it had been fun.
Come to that… where was Rivia?
He backtracked through his thoughts desperately. He hadn’t seen her since he’d been force fed that potion.
So the girls must’ve done something with her.
He pondered for a little while.
Teraura would have had a grudge against Rivia, after Rivia helped Serrus fight her. And Drakaya… well, she’d blackmailed him with Rivia, and just for some conditioner! She could have easily done it again…
He stopped that train of thought.
No, they wouldn’t do that. They were honorable, in a way, and among assassins there was a code.
So someone must’ve taken her.
But… for that to be true… then someone must know about the assassins.
Serrus shivered. They’d have to be very skilled to get in and not be detected. And very determined.
*
“Hey, look. It’s dawn already,” said Emma, pointing out the one tiny window in the kitchens, “So we better get a move on.”
Drakaya’s expression changed.
“Yes, we should. I’ll finish up those poached eggs, you take the drinks.”
Emma raised an eyebrow. “You seem different now. Like, suddenly.”
“What? Why?” said Drakaya, levering one of the eggs onto an exquisitely crafted plate.
“I dunno. You just seem more professional now…”
“Oh, yeah. It just takes me a while to wake up in the mornings. Come on, we’d better hurry. They’ll be down at the tables in a moment.”
Drakaya only realized what she was doing as she carried four plates at once in the direction of the dining room.
Oh, crud. I’m really being Maisie right now.
She put down the plates very carefully, and went to find the only person she felt she could talk to.
Well, maybe not person.
But good enough.
*
The Sara part woke up. The Serrus part gradually lost control.
Kind of.
Which made no sense, seeing as Sara was just him as a girl.
Oh, my gods… I am SO glad that’s over.
Serrus? That you? came Drakaya’s voice over the thoughtwaves.
No, this is me. Something odd is happening, said Serrus.
What’s so odd about me?
You’re in my mind! That’s what’s so odd, replied Serrus.
Who… who else is talking? Teraura? Is that you? asked Drakaya.
No, I’m here. I only just woke up. What’s happening?
There’s someone else on the… um… thought… talk thing, said Serrus.
Yup. Hi, said the voice.
Who are you?
I’m just… well, kind of you. Part of you, I guess, the voice replied.
Um, you are a girl, right? Like… really, asked Drakaya.
Er, I suppose so. I’m… well, Teraura’s potion had a double affect.
Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait. You know about all this? Who ARE you?
Um. This is awkward, seeing as I’m not really sure… but… as far as I can tell, I’m… um, you, Serrus.
Wh…what? blurted Serrus.
I’m basically how you’d be if you were a girl. Teraura’s potion type thingy created me. Or whatever.
Right, then… um. Wait, what?
Serrus, I’m you. It’s really confusing. I’m part of you, and thanks to Teraura, we’ve only got one body between the two of us.
Do… you have a name… then?
No, not really. I guess Sara, but… said Sara.
Wait… wait… why… Darokh… this can’t be right.
I’m here, and you can’t stop it. Stop worrying so much, I’m basically you. I don’t wanna betray Drakaya or Teraura anymore than you. I’m just you, but with a different take on things, I guess. I’m on your side, she said.
Um. Okay, then… he replied.
Look, for some of the bits where you need to act… well, feminine… I’ll take over. Okay?
I guess so.
Good.
*
Drakaya tried to stop listening to the rambled duel thoughts of Serrus, and she eventually found what she was looking for.
There was a small altar in the palace, but it wasn’t used much. Royalty and the like tended to use the official cathedral of Dadæf city, and the poor tended to use the Church of Arakan, which was less demanding. Nevertheless, the altar was used and tended to by the servants of the royalty and aristocracy who felt too grand to use Arakan’s, but not quite grand enough to use the cathedral of Dadæf.
Drakaya knelt down in front of it, keeping her head bowed.
Drakaya.
“Yes. It is me,” she said.
You come to me again.
“Yes.”
What is it you seek?
“I merely want your blessing, and an answer.”
The hidden voice was silent for a moment.
Blessings are not easy to obtain, it said, affronted.
“Oh, of course not. I think it might help if you saw what I’d brought, though…”
Drakaya held up the massive roasted sheep carcass. Despite there being no eyes, no face, and no mouth, she got the impression it was impressed.
You treat your god well, don’t you?
Drakaya grinned as she placed it on the altar. “Yeah, I guess so. But… look, I feel kinda… confused. Someone’s playing with my mind… and I thought you could help me with that.”
You seek answers or a cure?
“Answers, I guess. I’d like to get this off myself…”
I will ponder it. And I will give you the answer tomorrow.
The altar caught aflame. Drakaya didn’t bat an eyebrow.
When the fire went out, the corpse was gone.
There was a sound like a celestial munching.
Drakaya smiled.
Being the only worshipper of a god had its advantages.
*
Vana lay down on her bed, trying to make sense of what had happened.
She tried to get comfortable, but it was hard. The bed wasn’t designed for a 19 year old. Or whatever she was.
But either way, it was the only bed she’d known.
Remara seemed dangerous… Albërcht was confused and worried. At least, that was how they’d seemed. She’d seen a coach pull up from her window.
She hadn’t been able to see well, but it looked like an elven family and their servants. She’d seen Remara open the door, but… it didn’t look like her. She couldn’t really tell how she knew it was Remara, but it was. It didn’t look like her… but…
Vana shook her head. Her life had been simple… well, kind of simple.
She’d just been running around and having fun… now… well, what was she meant to do? Remara still seemed to be running the place.
Maybe she should see the two elf girls. Maybe they could help.
Or at least give her someone to talk to her own age…
She opened the door in her room. The stairs weren’t far, and she went down and tried to find a servant to ask for where they were staying.
A maid scurried back from the eastern wing of the manor. Vana didn’t recognize her, and she didn’t seem to recognize Vana either. Although, Vana realized, she did look completely different.
Hm…
Vana stuck out a foot and tripped the maid. The maid fell, but managed to avoid hitting the floor by sticking her arms ahead of her. She winced, and then got up.
Drakaya glared at Vana.
“Why…why’d you do that?” she stammered.
“I just needed your attention,” Vana replied.
“You didn’t have to trip me.”
“Look, I’m sorry. But I need to ask you something.”
“Yes? What?”
“Where’s that elf family staying?”
“Um, somewhere up on the first floor, in one of the guest rooms,” replied Drakaya.
“Okay, thanks.”
“Just… who are you?”
“Oh, I’m Vana. Have I really changed that much?” she asked, slightly worried
“Um, no… I mean, yes. Sort of,” said Drakaya.
As Vana walked away, Drakaya thought as loudly as she could, I found Vana, and I heard Darokh talk a bit about her when we entered… but who is she?
Um, I’m not sure, actually. Darokh hasn’t explained much, came Serrus’s voice. Or thoughts.
I dunno any more than Serrus does… said Sara.
I… I know… said Teraura.
You do? Who… who is she…? asked Drakaya.
She’s… my sister, said Teraura.