The Fae and an Urgent trip to the center of Pa

  “Come out Fae. Has your master sent you?” Yana smiled as her new serpent servant moved to her side. This time the shadows brought her two humans – she was ready to test her new abilities.

  The Fae stepped forth from the shadows. A tall male with narrowed eyes and tall sharp ears. His angular face showed that he understood what was going on and he nodded in approval. He bowed respectfully and began to speak without preamble.

  “My boss has sent me to you Fate Mistress. She wants to join your organization. She…”

  As the two humans lost their defiant look Yana roared with laughter. “Your boss had you lie in wait to see who won so she could prostrate herself before the winner.” Yana looked to the Fae as two Serpent beastkin moved toward her. Her head seemed to turn at an odd angle on her slender neck, her eyes focused on him and seemed to dive deeply into his soul. “Go tell your boss that she has decisions to make, I hope she chooses wisely.” She turned to the serpents. “My Shadow Fae companion will come to you in two weeks. Keep her happy so that she does not kill you all.”

  The Fae looked at her for a long moment before he spoke again. His ancient voice becoming more and more subtle. “We mean you no harm Fate Mistress.”

  Yana looked at him with greater intensity and his body trembled. He felt the lines of fate that connected him to the great tapestry of fate quiver in an ominous way. He felt himself slip from reality and then snap back with a jarring force that rocked his soul. Yana smiled as the two Serpents moved to an eye level position with her. She slowly looked to them as she responded to the Fae.

  “Your sister sent you because she is a coward. Stay with me now if you like – I do not sacrifice my own.”

  The Fae froze. Not only could she read fate she could discern the fate connections. His sister had underestimated her. He nodded respectfully – his sister was a coward with no true idea of loyalty but he wasn’t - and vanished into shadow without another word.

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  Yana finished taking her five humans and five serpents and turned to the others. “Go tell your leaders I will either have all of you in my organization or I will kill you all and have your territories as my own. It’s their choice.”

  The humans and serpents looked at their dead, not knowing what to do. Yana shook her head. “These are all my spoils of war. Return to home and claim what I leave.”

  Vora watched the ten remaining warriors leave as Heli began going through the battlefields looking for anything to do with shadow, Void, or fire magics. She gazed over it all and her mind wandered; she hadn’t watched Yana directly but she felt the power roll over her – it had been tremendous.

  It was more than just shadow magic it was an essence of shadow that seemed to be ancient and omnipotent. Shadow magic forgotten by time because of its potency and vast potential – it was a thing most could not control.

  Vora looked at Yana and something settled within her. “Mistress Yana. I am yours.” She bowed and they both felt the bind click into existence like a lock clicking into place.

  Yana looked at her and nodded. “I need you to watch over Shi for me while I go to Sho. I may be gone for a few weeks, you know the time of the rings is and Sho is on the inner most.” Vora nodded. Power had begun to stream into her from Yana as soon as their nascent bond had been completed and secured. She understood Devon’s meaning now and felt the fool for resisting access to such power. “Tasha will handle the Fae clan, you take on the Pra and use Ka and his people if the Humans or Serpents remain resistant.”

  Yana looked to the Pra Princess, the black light in the depths of her black eyes sparkling for a moment. She jutted her chin toward the battlefields before them. “Go. Claim your spoils.”

  Vora nodded, her thick tail coiling beneath her, and she sprang into the middle of the carnage to where she sensed a powerful treasure. Yana nodded. She had sensed the item as well. She had already looked at all of the items of potential here. They would be good winnings for her people.

  She went into herself and tugged on her connections to Amber, Tasha, DD, Alisha, Ka, and Joe. She spoke to them all at once. ‘I am going to Sho. We routed the Humans and Serpents. Tasha take care of the Fae, I told them you would be there in two weeks but do as you will – I want them with us or gone from Shi when I return. Vora will handle the assassins, Ka you and DD will help her if the Humans and Serpents still wish conflict. I will be gone for two weeks or more. Starlight will stay here, send her to me if you need me. Alisha you are with me.’

  Yana felt their compliance through their bonds even as Alisha materialized on her shoulder. She looked to Heli as the demon dog ate another treasure. “That’s enough Heli. Vora and the others will save the rest for you. Come with me.”

  Without hesitation he was at her side and the three shifted from the battlefields.