Arcturus Chronicles: Interview

154 AGW

”SENN!” Shouted a voice of surprise and relief “I thought they would kill you!”

”I’m ok Drak I just need some rest.” Said Senn

”Your turn.” Said a gruff voice. As Drakius was dragged away into the darkness. A few moments later Drakius was in a large dinning room with a tall panelled glass ceiling. At the head of the dinning table sat an Ardoni with bright red, almost orange, markings. The Ardoni had a blazing sword. A sword that had killed hundreds of innocent people.

“Deathsinger!” Spat Drakius spitefully.

“So you recognize me.” Said the Deathsinger, his voice low and intimidating. “I am the Deathsinger but…who might you be?”

“No friend of yours.” Said Drakius.

“So it’s like that is it?” Laughed the Deathsinger. “Very well then. Keep your name whatever that may be. Where are your friends hiding?”

“You can’t expect me to tell you that when I won’t even say my own name. I knew you were a murderer but I did not expect the great Deathsinger to be a fool.” Mocked Drakius.

“It matters little wether you tell me or not. We will find them sooner or later.” Said the Deathsinger, ignoring the insult. “So once again I ask. What is your name?”

“And once again I ask. Why should I tell you.” Asked Drakius.

“Well then Arcturus if you will not tell me your name so be it. Yes I know your house name. You have the runes of your father.” Said the Deathsinger, replying to Drakius stunned look.

After a long pause Drakius said, “why do you care? Wouldn’t having a name to the person you kill make you feel worse, But I forgot, you must have no conscience left.”

“Conscience? Conscience! Did the other clans have ‘conscience’ when they murdered my brothers? Was it conscience that kept them from wiping out my people entirely?” Roared the Deathsinger. “Who are you to talk about conscience when your clan and family have shown none themselves.”

“Do you know how your father, Kraen Arcturus Kaltaris, died.” Said the Deathsinger. His voice was now low but still full of anger. “Your father was every bit as much of a murderer as myself. It was just after the Great War. My clan had returned to the shadows. I personally was no longer with them but as I stepped through that portal I heard every scream of pain, every cry of a child who had lost their father, every sob of a woman who had lost her husband. I heard the tale from fifty different mouths, all of which had witnessed the atrocity. And there, right in the middle of it, was your father.”

“That accursed champion Thalleous was there as well. I hear that it was his plan and leadership that carried out the massacre. He and your father had brought twenty others and they did their work well. By the time they were through my clan’s numbers, which were already greatly diminished after the war, were halved as every man woman and child who stood in their way was struck down in cold blood. Fortunately for my clan, he was killed. And he received nothing more than he deserved.”

“So you, who’s father killed enough innocent people to rival my own bloodshed, have no right to say *anything* about conscience or morality.”

Drakius was dumbstruck. He had never heard of this atrocity. *And…my father. Who I have always looked up to, even in his absence*. “I…I am sorry, but…those were not my actions. Whatever my father may have done.”  Replied Drakius, getting to his feet. “I will not try to excuse his actions. I can do nothing but move past them. I am sorry about what happened but we were defending our own.”

“Defending your own?! How was it defending your own if the Voltaris were already defeated? We no longer posed a threat to your people. But this is off topic.” Replied the Deathsinger. “You do not know my true name, do you?”

“No.” Answered Drakius. He was now curious and figured whatever information he could get out of the Deathsinger would be useful.

”Well I’m not surprised, most people don’t. My name is Ingressus Voltaris.” Said The Ardoni Drakius now knew as Ingressus.

“I am Drakius Kaltaris.”

“Drakius eh. Well I never knew Kraen and Aria had a child.” Mused Ingressus. He had now calmed down and assumed a conversational tone.

“How do you know my mothers name?!” Interjected Drakius in surprise.

“Oh Aria, she, her sister Zinia, and I all grew up together.” Replied Ingressus. He was now lightly enjoying the conversation.

“My mother had no sister.” Said Drakius, still defensive and suspicious.

“She not only had a sister, they were also both Voltaris along with their younger brother.” Answered Ingressus.

“I knew about uncle Tysoar, but How come I didn’t know about my mother’s heritage, or her sister?” Inquired Drakius.

“When your mother married your father she moved to Kaltaria and tried to put her passed behind her. When she learned what I had done she tried to sever all ties with the Voltaris.” Said Ingressus. “She also ‘disapproved’ of her sister’s marriage.”

“Who did her sister marry?” Asked Drakius.

“Me.” Replied Ingressus.

Comprehension flooded Drakius’ mind. “But that would make you my…”

”Your uncle, yes. I never knew Aria had any children before I first saw you. I assure you that you would not be alive had I not recognized our kinship. But I digress, what has become of her?” Asked Ingressus.

”She is dead. She died when I was born.”

”I’m sorry to hear that. She was a good woman, even if she tried to renounce her own people.” Said Ingressus.

”Well? What happened to Zinia.” Asked Drakius.

”She died long ago. Only had one child. And the war was hard on us as well.”

“You have a child?”

“Yes we have a child. I believe he is downstairs.”

“How did Zinia die.” Inquired Drakius.

”It’s not a story I would like to tell, but you have a right to know. It was dark and we were fighting a band of Nestoris when…it was an accident…I struck at one of the Nestoris but…He moved out of the way and there was my beloved. I couldn’t stop myself, I had to much momentum and…she was dead.” Said Ingressus. He had started to weep softly, and anger at himself and his stupidity in bringing Zinia with him flashed in his face.

”I…I’m sorry.” Whispered Drakius, who had put his arm around Ingressus shoulder. “But you couldn’t have helped it, it wasn’t…”

”IT WAS MY FAULT!” Roared Ingressus, “I KILLED HER! WITH MY OWN HAND! NOT EVEN INDIRECTLY!”

”I…” Drakius started.

”Leave me.” Muttered Ingressus. “Guards! Take him back to his cell.”

Drakius could still hear Ingressus sobbing as he left the room.