Chapter 30:

Chapter 30: Journeys are just longer lessons.



The Divine are an important part of the culture of the Empire of Ten Million Suns, even among those that do not hold the gods dear for they are a part of us and we of them, for they love us same as a parent loves their children and children love their parents.

Despite this, there are two divines that can be said to embody love as part of their aspects, those being Isha and Khaine, even if few seem to understand why or how the love of the second works.

Nonetheless it is true, for all gods have purposes they help each other with.

For example Gea who has her position as consort of Asuryan-Khaine, is the goddess of rites, dance and history said through such and more.

Her purpose is ensuring that the rites are followed, she ensures war is waged in a matter that does not destroy the Great Wheel, ensures the smooth functioning of bureaucracy and other stewardship mechanism and ensures that tales of villainy and heroism are made and said the proper way and most importantly teaches you how to dance.

All Eldar agree that the last part is the most important because dancing is much more important than all that other nonsense but she does that too so it should be said.

Khaine teaches you lessons through Murder and cleans your messes because he truly wishes you would do well. His purpose is the creation of heroes, of cleaning up villains and scum, gathering them all in one place and allowing heroes to rise by teaching them to love their people and let love fuel their swings and showing them that the desire to kill is less important than violence born of love.

Those of his servants that realize their purpose and continue to do it with joy and manage to live until the end of their natural lives will become his mortal blades that he will use in his purges of the Eldar, and they are giant swords the size of stars meant to kill decadent empires in a slash. They are mortal swords because against peers they don't do too well but they are still divine implements.

He also helps clean up worlds of idiots and together with his twin teach you how to wield a sword and why one should be doing it.

All Eldar gods have things in common and things they help each other with, but the only ones that have love for the Eldar as a core functionality are Isha and Khaine, and their followers and those blessed by them must know this and make use of this if they wish to make the most out of themselves.

"I'm sorry master but your apprentice just does not understand it, how can Khaine be loving? You don't harm the ones you love, not intentionally at least." My apprentice sang without the voice of Khaine.

My apprentice doesn't understand this, but I still have some time to make him see that. He's been my apprentice for only a week after all and he has unlearned plenty of bad lessons, and now he needs to learn the good ones.

Also learning to not Sing as Khaine is pretty simple. Give it something, anything to kill and it'll go there and leave you be.

I meditate for a bit and create some memories specifically made to be sacrificed every few days then feed them to the whispers.

The boy wanted to hit himself for being so stupid and that he did not think of it and how easy it is, but I told him not to because not even the Masks of Khaine knew they could do that until the story of the Craftworlder hero Taraithe Tagasta taught them how.

"It's simple my apprentice, there are three reasons one swings a blade those being: love, hate and mastery of the blade, and of the three I am of the opinion that love is the best reason, followed by a desire for mastery, and hate is the least useful." I explained as we walked through the forest.

Our search for the sirens of the south had only given me cultists to kill so far, but that's never a bad thing especially when the purpose of idiots is to be a stepping stone to learning the right lesson.

"I don't get it, how does that relate to Khaine's rampages being fueled by love, don't his followers always lose?" My apprentice continued his foolish battle against master.

I allowed it for those blessed by Khaine always need battle to learn their lessons.

"Have you heard of Khaine ever losing a duel?" I asked

That caused him to stop talking and think a bit more.

My apprentice is not dumb, far from it, his world simply hasn't learned the right lessons and he has been learning them with the same ease he learns from me.

"No, I have not, but does that not mean that it is hate that is stronger than love?"

An annoying answer, but it seems there's some hidden lesson I failed to find and deconstruct. No matter, his answer is easy to refute.

"Tell me something my apprentice, I have told you of the nature of blades in our first lesson and you do still remember our first interaction when you asked me to help your sister. Do you think you would have achieved a better result with hate or a desire for mastery at that which you set your mind to?"

That caused him to shut up and think more.

Hate is the weakest power source because hate is like steam, you can use it all fine and good but it needs something else to fuel it otherwise it leaves you hollow. Love doesn't have that issue, for as long as love is given and returned it is infinite and inexhaustible. A desire for mastery is a form of love as well but it is love of that which you do, and not a lot of that which you wish to achieve with it or why.

"No, I used love to fuel my cuts and was rewarded for it and none others would have helped me and hate is limiting. But why is a desire for mastery weaker than love then Master? Aren't they just tools fit for purpose?"

I laughed, my apprentice truly is smart. A pity he is not talented at what I can do and teach him to achieve his full potential but I'll set him up on the right path and he'll adapt.

His soul is a molten blade that changes shapes depending on need, so adapting to issues is what he is meant to do. Unfortunately, the only thing I can give him is the right frame of mind to do so with.

"Your understanding is expanding my apprentice and I am proud of it, but the reason a desire for mastery is lesser than love is because it too is a form of love, all reasons one could have to truly swing a sword and cut with a blade is love. Using only love to fuel and guide our cuts grants the greatest clarity and purpose for doing so, the others rely on love to exist and thus they provide less results."

It is simple truly, and there is not a single day I am not disappointed more and more by the eldar of this world. The conditions may have made it more likely but we are Eldar, we can rise above such things easily.

"I don't understand master, could you please explain? Because your apprentice is lost and he does not see the mountain he should be seeing." My apprentice respectfully asked.

Demanding children are always a joy when they demand the things they need and not merely what they want. He's not where he should go and be and yet is willing to ask of me even if I just told him.

"Why would you hate something? If you can find the answer to that question the others that follow become easy."

'My lord, there are beasts watching us.' My swords informed me at the same time.

I have asked them to both do things at once to see if synchronizing themselves will fix their madness, for they have two minds when they are twins and there should be only one there. If I can't do that I'll see if I can't find someone for them to both love, for love cures most maladies of the soul.

My siblings have one mind after all, even if they have three souls and I love all three of them dearly and it hurts seeing the madness they could have fallen to if left for themselves.

'They are expected, please do not scare them as I have letters to deliver from their family.' I sang back.

They acknowledged it but did not sing more of it.

"You don't need to respond to it today, the lesson is important and I'll leave you time to think of it as we have guests and it would be rude to keep them waiting, especially when we wish to talk with them."

"Yes master I will think on it, but should we be worried about the beasts?" He asked in his voice now.

My apprentice is perceptive as well. He knew that we've noticed it for some time and is wondering what he should be doing about it.

"Not at all apprentice, I am a messenger today, and I have letters to deliver them and debts to repay. We will move closer to them." I replied kindly.

We have been walking near but not in sight of rivers in order to allow the sirens to spot us but not enough to scare them as my lady-wives have taught me I should do in order to request a meeting.
A standard scout group met us. A lady of noble birth, with her daughters by her side and sons and husband further back. The river is wide, at least one hundred meters from shore to shore where we are and among the widest it can get in order to make them feel safe.

One noble lady, her three daughters and six men behind them and ready to shoot at us shuriken and lasers and sell their lives for their family that if things go well will sell their lives for the benefit of their people.

Good thing that I bring an end to this nonsense.

'Please bow in respect to a noble lady, even if you would call her beast. I owe her people some favors and it would rude to not respect them."

'Yes my lord.' My blades sang back.

'Yes master.' Sang my apprentice, his song marred by confusion.

All three of them bowed deeply but remained standing as I gave a small bow. It would not for a lord-husband of a queen to bow too deeply.

"I greet you noble lady, I am Bessar Agail, 'Sharp and Valorous' by the traditions of your people and I bring good tidings, for a queen has been crowned and her name is Sian Ceasanna and I bring joy and letters for your princess and a letter from a father to his daughter 'Shatter blade'." I greeted with joy and kindness in my voice and song.

The four women looked in stupefaction at my words and deeds and I took the chance to look at them.

Four women with burning red hair and harsh features even by Eldar standards and blue eyes. Their scales showed they had not prepared themselves for sacrifice as they still had the few face scales the women remove to ensure the only ones left are those that make them look more appealing. They were more beautiful for it in my eyes.

The girl furthest to the left and the youngest bowed first and the rest of her sisters and mothers bowed in the next heartbeat.

"We greet you noble lord Bessar Agail and thank you for the good tidings and in the same breath beg you to tell us more." They said as one.

I decided to sit on a large flat stone the sirens have made specifically for such from the looks of it. These sort of stones is how they treat with others after all and I sat first to show that I am the one requesting an audience.

"I will speak with the noble lady, please do come for I bring a good meal and fruit." I said as I removed my backpack from my back.

I brought from it a large plate that I slowly filled with fruit and placed in the center.

I then placed two smaller plates closer to where we each sit, each with a still warm steak of an avian creature that reminds me of a weasel but that tastes like beef and when living was as large as one too.

The noble lady did not know how to treat an eldar that treated them as they would treat those they wished to ask for a favor of, but did place herself on her seat as she coiled herself to sit.

She only started to speak when I was done and never once has she looked away from my hands as I placed the meal and the plates.

"I thank you for the meal valorous one, do you wish to talk before or after the meal?" She asked

She was confident, or at least pretending well to it. It was clear however that she has never experienced what she does now. It is usually them who offer a meal and ask for favors.

"We can enjoy our meal first, for it has been prepared with love and care then we can talk. I believe we have much to talk and I wish to talk with your princess to deliver my letters and ask some questions."

"Very well." She replied with an honest smile.

It felt unnatural on her face as if the very act of an honest smile was all but alien and it was a pity.

It made her even prettier.

We ate in silence the ritualistic meal and I made sure to eat from the fruits as I ate from the meal and switched between the two. The fruits themselves were something akin to apples yet blue compared to the red, green, black and yellow from my past life, if just as sweet as properly raised ones despite being wild.

This entire meal was a ritual. The meal close to us being meat and not fish spoke of the fact that it was important that we speak, but the fruits in the center said that it was good news. The fact that I placed the food said that I wished to ask for a favor and even the fact we would speak after we ate said something and that something being that I consider them friends, for only friends would sacrifice getting to the point to provide sustenance to another.

It was a degree of familiarity with their rituals that has to be taught and that meant I was one of them or a dear friend to them and considering the fact I had no silver bracelet, yet walked without care on land meant that I was a friend of their new queen's master.

I doubt they considered me their master, as my lovely wives said that the sirens would normally shower any master in so much love and pleasure that they'd be hard pressed to leave their bed, and if they did succeed in this monumental task then they would find it almost impossible to leave their room for they would want for nothing in there. None would normally allow them to go alone to deliver letters where they could die by accident.

Good thing divine missions are rarely normal.

Even what I ate and in what order I did so said something too. If I ate fruit first it meant that we should hurry, if I ate the meal first it said that danger approached and if I switched between the two it meant that what I wish to do would take time and should be done in privacy.

Our two parties looked at each other and I sang to them to prevent any standoff or misunderstandings.

'You have your fruits in your packs, go near the shore with them in a plate and offer the sirens some, you won't be harmed and you can just place them on a plate and sit a bit further from the shore if you do not wish to mingle.' I sang.

My blades obeyed instantly, my apprentice after a heartbeat, and pulled their own fruits and plates from their packs I had made for them. They only increase volume by five times and decrease mass by five times as they were done in a rush but they were useful.

Neither chose to mingle but the offerings were taken and bows given, received and returned before my party sat down a bit further from the shore.

Once she finished eating she would introduce herself if she wished to hear me out, or create an excuse to leave and apologize and ask to reschedule for they were called back by their people.

If they gave me a day we would meet again I would meet their princess next time we met if I wasn't doing so already. If they gave me no day to meet them on I would have to find another of their scout groups or sacrifices to stop.

We both finished eating at the same time from our plates, the fruits having been finished long before the meal for it was a final test. If I finished the meat first after eating both fruit and meal then I was pretending to be what I was, for sirens would rather enjoy eating fruits for longer than the eating of their meat and all their friends knew this.

Enemies and predators would not be taught such no matter what they did to those they forced to reveal the rituals, for it is not taught or spoken of and only experienced by those that live among them and are welcomed.

"I thank you for the meal our friend and it was a very good one too, so good I forgot to introduce myself, I am 'Singer of the bloody depths" it is truly heartening to meet a friend." She said with joy.

She accepted me as a friend, and would agree to hear me out.

"It is a good meal indeed for it made a beautiful woman and mother even more beautiful, for it brought a smile on her face and that of her family and whose daughters are just as beautiful as her, for their mother is beautiful, happy and has taught them well." I replied with a smile and a song in my voice.

She blushed and so did her daughters, while her sons and husband laughed and thanked me for making their mother and her daughter smile and blush in song.

"Now we can talk of what I wish to ask of you for I have two favors to repay, one to a queen rightfully crowned and another to a father who has earned plenty from me yet has only asked for one."


~~~~~~~~~~

'My beloved, you are a man and thus might be able to help your poor wife on this matter for I am lost, truly and completely lost as to why is an eldar charming to me?' I plead of my husband in hidden song

Maybe he has an answer for me, for I am truly lost.

He came to us, spoke and treated as us and now he's so charming both my husband and sons cheer as their poor wife and her daughters and cousin blush? What is this thing for it sure isn't an Eldar !?

'I believe we should take him at face value, we truly have a new queen and he bears messages. What he did is the sort of thing men do to try and court favor without trying to insult or provoke the men but still make the women feel as beautiful and as precious as they rightfully are. If he wanted to dance under the stars and sheets he would not have complimented our daughters and their cousin so. Even if he wanted them to join he would not have used that compliment.' My husband explained.

I thanked him in kisses and love, yes we'll treat as such.

"I am not telling our families this, you do realize?" I asked teasingly.

'Naturally, he nearly charmed your garments off as we cheered him do it and meant it, and it was only our rush to send the message to our princess that stopped it from going too much beyond that.' He sang with a smirk and an echo of chastisement.

That echo did tell me that I was stupid for even suggesting it.

I wish I could kiss ' Cold Current of the Seas' body as much as his soul right now then suck his soul out of his body. Unfortunately granting my husband a new child would wait.

"Yes brave, and oh so charming and kind messenger, if I may ask as to the exact contents of the messages? I am willing to provide passage regardless but I would like to warn my princess and the song-keeper in question to prepare if they demand anything." I spoke to the very kind skin walker in eldar skin.

This thing is not an eldar I have decided, it is just wearing the skin of one it killed so well that he can fool Maton. Or maybe the Eldar is not dead, and that is why it can fool the Maton?

"Naturally, my noble lady, albeit I cannot help much with either. All I can share is that the new Queen and her sister-wife had managed to extract many gifts from their own husband as he is a craftsman of many useful things, including contraptions of Wraithbone that can create food. I can show you one to prove my claims if you would allow me." The skinwalker said sweetly.

'Husband, children, niece I did not hear wrong did I?'

None thoughts so even if they all sang it sounded too good to be true.

"Please do so, it would not do for me to earn the displeasure of my princess by not checking." I replied and hid the feeling of incredulity in my voice.

At least I hope I did, for I cannot even hide it from my soul or song.

His pack was to the side and away from the shore, and pulled out of it something that proved to me it is indeed larger on the inside, that something being a cubic thing of wraithbone covered in strange runes

"Please help me place the fruit plate away and I'll place it there and teach you how to use it."

I gathered all three plates and put them away, it would not do to leave work undone for later. He put it where the central plate stood before and I could feel my scales and muscles shiver.

'If this is actually capable of feeding people then we'll never have to migrate again.' I thought to myself.

The process was pretty simple, just put one's hand on the runes on the top and pour energy slowly and something called nutri-cubes came out of one of the sides.

I made one for each of our audience, both for my own family and his fellow skin walkers. All took one of the small cubes I made.

'They are his children perhaps? A father taking his young skinwalker children to teach them of the world and earn valor perhaps? I hope we did not keep them too hungry.' I asked my husband.

He laughed at me for he was a fool and thought these things were Eldar.

My husband ate first and said it tasted good as he ate slowly. Our children and the skinwalkers did the same.

"I thank you for letting me use this, these nutri-cubes are quite tasty." I said and bowed after finishing the cube.

I've eaten both better and worse but it came from something we can build so this made it very valuable.

"Not a problem my lovely lady, this is one of the gifts the Queen wishes to grant your people and more will come if you do decide to call her your liege. I will take it back into my pack now that it helped verify my words so that it may be presented properly with my letter."

If more such gifts came our princess would sell herself into being the slave of a slave to allow her people to enjoy them.

"Aha a mighty gift indeed, I cannot imagine our princess doing anything but accepting her offer if such gifts become normal." I said with a laugh.

"A mighty gift indeed, so have I managed to earn the favor of an audience with the princess of such a fiery fair lady?"

'I was perhaps too quick to judge my love, he might be a skin walker after all.' My husband sang in amusement and concern.

Skin walkers are myths now, things that slither inside your skin and wear you like clothes. We've long since exterminated them out of our waters but perhaps some other princesses took them as vassals in exchange for Eldar to wear?

"Yes valiant messenger, I am willing to take you with us to our settlement to talk, but I will need to ask for permission as it is hidden to keep it safe from the monstrous eldar clans and cults. I should be back tonight or tomorrow with a proper escort for someone of your status as a royal messenger."

"I thank you noble lady, we will wait within sight of the shore and await response. Please do send something for my two blades and apprentice to swim in, for they do not know how to do like your people." He asked kindly.

"I promise I will do so." I said and I meant it.

They truly were baby skin walkers to learn of the world with their parent.

I uncoiled slightly and kissed him on the left cheek as thanks and invitation. He knows our ways and knows what it means.

He laughed as I did so.

"I thank you for that as well but I am already married and my two wives already tire me day in and out, if they learned I showed interest in more women I'd have no time left to walk, and they'll know if I take you on your offer for their godmother is a mighty seer!"

'I didn't hear a no.' my husband and I sang as one.

We just need to convince his wives to trick him to allow us in their sheets.

~~~~~~~~~~

"You have questions my apprentice I imagine, so please do ask them when you can formulate them. My blades do you truly not care?" My master asked me after the beasts left.

"No master, we swore we would serve you and protect your lady wives. We care not for who you wish to keep the company of and the noble lady beast was kind enough to share food with us." The male blade said.

"Their people are called sirens, they are kind and sweet enough to have earned the right to be called as they wish."

"Yes master we apologize, for the sirens are indeed lovely people." The female blade continued with a smile.

I had come upon a strange thought, one I did not believe was true but felt it did not hurt to ask, as master never denied me questions or was angry at them even if they were foolish.

"Are they the people of your lady-wives master?" I asked.

It fit, even if the puzzle was incomplete, with master being so knowledgeable of their rituals, capable of charming them with ease and even being on a mission from his lady-wives to grant them citizenship. I guess he could have just been helped by them and is repaying the favor which is the more likely thing even if it does not feel right.

Master laughed at my question and he laughed for several minutes.

'I guess it was a foolish question.'

My master continued to laugh until ten minutes passed.

"Each day you make me regret I can't keep you as my apprentice for longer, but you are correct. The people of my lovely wives are indeed sirens and yes before you ask I am on a quest to have them reclaim their citizenship for it is a simple thing to do with princely favors."

'Or maybe not so foolish.'

I thought for a few heartbeats and realized this changed little even if some distant part of me told me it should. But I ignored it,for master's words fit better with who and what I am.

"I see master, then know that I'll continue to support you in it, for I am Lanniar Narainn, son of the Copper Sword and apprentice of my master the Sharp and Valorous and neither of those have taught me to go back on my word or to look upon my master and those he respects with anything but respect!"

My master seemed even happier now, which is stranger for he just spent 15 minutes laughing and now seemed even happier than then.

"My apprentice, come give your master a hug for I have never been prouder to call myself your master and I do not think that it is possible for a master to feel more pride in his apprentice than I do right now!"

I did so and I did hug him and he me and as I did so another thought came to me as the lessons he tried to teach me earlier mixed with my own thoughts and what I saw right now.

Hate is inferior to Love, because hate is the result of love being threatened and I have come to this answer now because during the entire conversation master had with the sirens I had abandoned hate in heartbeat as love for my master came first and allowed me to be alert and jump to his defense as reality crawled to a standstill as I prepared for any sign of treachery.

"Yes and I believe I have found the answer to the lesson you tried to teach me before!" I said as master stopped hugging me.

"Truly do tell me apprentice!" My master asked.

And I did and he was just as happy for I got that right too. I just wish he would warn before hugging me because all my instincts screamed I was in danger when he did so.

But he's master and I know master wishes me well.