When Ice Breaks, When Gold Cracks

2 ~ Release

"Forgive us, goddess. It was surely not our intention," Stellae's low voice rumbled. It flowed clearly, unmuffled by the floor. Unda risked a glance at the Black Head Dragonborn to find his head raised, black curls hanging in his eyes that almost disguised his inky ram-like horns.

"Who instigated this conflict?" the black head of the goddess, Nox, asked. Alone, her voice was like the scrape of a sword against its scabbard. "Do not lie; I will know."

"It was Aurum. I merely followed his orders." Stellae dipped his head again, but the way his voice lifted suggested he was smiling.

"Traitor," Aurum muttered. If it bothered him that his actions had been exposed, he didn't show it. His face was still painted with amusement, and only a hint of anger glittered in the depths of his metallic eyes as they shifted to Stellae at his side.

Unda bit his tongue. He wished his ahkirel would try to be remorseful, but it had never been in his nature. He couldn't think of a single time Aurum had apologized for his actions to anyone besides Unda himself, and he always said it with such softness that Unda couldn't help but forgive and forget. Selini was not so merciful, but she was not ignorant of Aurum's ways. She had raised him for hundreds of years before Unda came to the temple.

Selini sighed. "Aurum, you cannot act as foolishly as you have today. You are the leader, and I expect you to act like one," the golden head hissed, drawing each of her words out slowly so that Aurum winced. "It is inexcusable for any one of you to act as you have today. You destroy my temple, disrespect your fellow chosen Dragonborn, and fight over mundane things. I understand that you are restless, but I can no longer turn a blind eye to your actions."

"What would you have us do, goddess?" Aurum asked, lifting his face from the floor to meet the stare of the golden head.

Slowly, Unda raised his head as well, heart pounding in his chest. The goddess exchanged glances among her heads, though not a word was spoken aloud. After a few seconds of silent discussion, the golden head addressed them again.

"I have a task for you," she said. "You may not return to the temple until it is completed."

Unda's breath hitched. The image of the elf woman flashed through his mind, and his muscles tensed. If she sent them to kill Vivian, war would be upon them. Aurum and Ignis did not know another way to handle conflict besides escalating it, and Stellae would rather watch the world burn than try to stop them.

"What is it, goddess?" Foliis sat up—the only one whose face had softened with apology. "What would you have us do for you?"

Ignis's head snapped up next. "Shall we go hunt for you? Shall we go scout for you? Goddess, whatever we do, we shall make you proud."

Stellae narrowed his eyes at her but said nothing.

The goddess's five heads exchanged another look, and the green one grinned while the black one laughed to herself. Finally, she said in the voice of the gold head, "I wish for you to catch a unicorn. Do not return until you have done so. Surely, the four of you can do something so simple?"

The four of you. Her words echoed in his mind, a subtle nudge that pricked his skin. Another reminder that his place was the temple, and he would only be able to watch his siblings from afar through the scrying pool. But catching a unicorn was a simple task, one far removed from the threat of war. It was unfitting for the skills of the four—warriors renowned for their efforts in the last war. It was ignorant of Vivian's threat and the concerns of the dragonborn leaders. And yet... such a peaceful mission was perfect to get him out of the temple. It was tantalizing, a promise dangled just out of reach that was meant to make him leap.

"Goddess." Unda shot to his feet, the word tumbling out before he could stop himself. Her five heads turned to him, their stares piercing and questioning. He stiffened, ice overtaking his fingers. "Please send me with them."

For once, Aurum's smug aura was broken. His smile faltered and the confidence in his gaze wavered as it swung to land on Unda. Foliis opened her mouth to protest but shut it again just as quickly. Ignis scowled at the suggestion, while Stellae remained as emotionless as always as if he hadn't even heard. Their looks solidified the icy fear overtaking Unda's gut. The words slowly began to leave a bitter aftertaste, and he wished he had kept them locked inside.

Selini's heads exchanged another look, this time more hesitant and less amused. Finally, the blue head, Coae, gave a firm nod, and all five turned to him again. "Very well. You may go."

"Goddess Selini, please reconsider." Aurum stepped between her and Unda, his rigid back a powerful wall that almost blocked the great dragon from Unda's view. "Unda wasn't involved and hasn't done anything wrong. He shouldn't have to go—it's dangerous outside the temple and he is untrained."

Unda clenched his fists, but he bit down on his tongue to keep from arguing. Selini had made it clear that bickering was one of the reasons she was sending them away, and he didn't want to risk having her wrench this opportunity away from him. Not when it would leave him chained to her side again, confined to the tiny window offered by the scrying pool.

Dangerous as it may be, the world was something he had never seen for himself. He deserved a chance to leave—to live and breathe and see for himself.

Selini scrutinized Aurum. "My word is final."

Relief crashed over him, and Unda let out a breath. It wasn't long before excitement crept in, a buzz that chased out the chill of fear in a matter of seconds. The corners of his mouth twitched up in a smile. He remembered his place and dipped into a bow as Aurum stepped away. "Thank you."

"I will give you all the rest of the day to prepare, but you must be gone by nightfall. I do not want to see you until you have caught a unicorn." The great dragon rose from her throne and turned to a large gap between the pillars that led out into the sprawling courtyard of the temple. Sunlight reflected off her multicolored scales in an iridescent glow. When she paused between the columns, the golden head looked back at the five. "And Aurum, do not disappoint me," she said. "Use your head, but more importantly, use your magic."

He dipped his head with a murmur of acceptance. When she had said all that she wished, Selini left.

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