Responsibilities

Responsibilities is a part of Tales of Arkain.

## Synopsis

Saphira Whisperwind visits her friend Salana Woodhunter, which was still in coma.

## Story

It was a clear night, the moon was shining and there was only the faint sound of the wind. There was no lights aflame in the village, its populace was sleeping. A peaceful sight. And still, she could find no peace, not even here.
Saphira stood at the open window and looked out. Illusion spells made her look as if she was still alive. Bloodclaw was still looking for her, only mere months had passed since their last confrontration. If things had gone her way, he'd be dead. She did not think that Arkain needed this Imperial tyrant anymore. She had seen his true colors before her death. They called him the 'saviour' in the villages and cities. Yes, he put an end to the demonic threat, but at what cost? Is it really that much better to be a slave than dead? Then again, who was she to talk, she was dead and bound to the will of the Watcher. She was his loyal servant and believed in his vision, though her serfdom was still more 'forced' than Rahandirs' who had brought himself back to life and served Aridon **out of free will** without asking for anything in return.Saphira had been driven by revenge for a long time. Now the queen who had left her to die her was dead, but the price? The race of Elves was now in the hands of Bloodclaw, a puppet sat on the throne. The Watcher had said that he permitted Bloodclaw to have this power for he was to be a shield against the Demons for the rest of Arkain. But he had also said that the Orcs would fall before the might of the Bonelords - and the opposite happened. Twice.

Saphira sighed. She hoped that this time, the Watcher was right and there really was no other way - but she was not entirely convinced. She turned around and looked at the bed. She could hear faint breathing. They were still asleep. Good. Saphira went from the window to the bed and looked at the two figures sleeping on it. Two little children, babies. They were still very very small but their faces had obvious elvish characteristics. They laid there, sleeping. Peacefully. And Saphira was watching over them. She should not be here. This was wrong. But orders are orders and she'd never defy the will of the Watcher, even if she could. And still. It felt wrong that she was watching over these children. Not because the task was below her but... "What are you doing?" she heard a familiar voice coming from the door. She looked up and saw Rahandir enter the room. Unlike her, he was not disguised. He never left the building through any other means than teleportation. Saphira looked over her shoulder out of the window. "I should not be here. It isn't right." she said. Rahandir came closer and looked on the babies on the bed. Saphira stepped towards the window again. "I killed their mother. I shouldn't be the guardian of Renova's children. It is wrong." she said, watching the empty roads again. "I killed their grandmother who now serves the cause of our master, do I complain?" Rahandir rebuffed. Saphira snorted. "Of course you don't. I am as much of a loyal servant as you are, Rahandir, but I am not like you. You follow the master because you chose to, you have no idea what the rest of us feel like since he... left us behind." "Left behind? Or did you mean to say... betrayed? Like Renova did?" Rahandir asked. Saphira hesitated. Then she turned around and looked in his cold, lifeless eyes. "He gave us a purpose. He gave us the possibility to serve something that was greater than us. He bound us to his will. And then he left us. We are still bound to him, but we lack his directive. He has gone silent. You do not know what it feels like. His orders and my desire to take revenge were driving me onward. Now both is no more." Saphira said. Rahandir returned her gaze. He seemed to study her. There were several minutes of silence until Rahandir spoke again: "You say that you lack purpose yet you see it right in front of you. You are just too blind to see it." Rahandir nodded towards the bed. Saphira's eyes followed his nod to the children. "THEY are your purpose now. If Bloodclaw ever learns of their existence, he will hunt them down. He will want to use them against his half-brother, the Emperor. And if they proved to be of no use, he'd slaughter them. I have saved them, as our master has wished, to prevent this from happening during the war and now you and I protect them to make sure that they stay safe. These children have a great part to play in the future, Aridon has foreseen it. We are to make sure that they are prepared for what is to come." Rahandir explained.

Saphira's gaze was locked on the children. Her right hand formed a fist. "Yes... I understand." she said. She had regained her unwavering will that had been shaken by Aridon's disappearance. Rahandir was right. They all had their part to play and these children needed someone to look after them. Who else if not her? The only question that remained in her mind: Were these children tools? Or allies? Only time would tell. She nodded and left the room, leaving Rahandir with the two sleeping twins.

She climbed the stairs to the top floor. She used her magic to open the door. Behind it, a group of skeletons looked at the entrace as she entered. Realizing it was Saphira, the skeletons turned their gazes back to stare into nothing. Saphira walked past them. Should anyone ever find out about this place and attempt to invade it, it'd take an army to actually defeat them. The skeleton fighters were heavily armored veterans and they were supported by several unliving magicians. It would of course still be better if they were never found out about. Saphira stood in front of another door and entered. Inside there was a single bed with an motionless body lying on it. Apart from this bed and the undead watching it, the little room was empty. Saphira stepped closer to the bed. "Any sign of life?" she asked. The undead who was tending to the body on the bed shook his head. "Nothing special, mistress. These wounds will take a long time to heal. Even my magic has its limits." he explained. Saphira now stood on the other side of the bed. She kneeled next to it and looked at the body. It was crowded with cuts and bruises. They had tried to bleed her out, slowly and painfully. The person who truly deserved this treatment was the very person who was responsible for this. Salana had been in this state ever since Bloodclaw's henchmen had done this to her. If Ornasion and Rahandir had not found her in time... Saphira and Salana had trained together, they had been good friends. Salana was better when it came to words and diplomacy, Saphira was better with her bow. Prior to Saphira's death, they had ben a good team. And now, Saphira was dead and Salana was almost dead. The irony of fate. "Continue to take good care of her. We will need her when the time is right." she ordered the undead and then faced Salana again. She could feel it. An all too familiar feeling. "You have my oath, Salana. Bloodclaw will pay for his deeds. One day. For revenge is best served cold."