When Ice Breaks, When Gold Cracks

3.1 ~ Whispers Overheard

"We should all get moving," Ignis snapped from where she hovered impatiently in the entryway to the corridor that led to her wing of the temple. "We'll never make it out by nightfall if Foliis doesn't stop overreacting to every little thing."

Foliis's eyes flashed a dark forest green as she whirled to glare at the younger dragonborn, her lip curled to expose her fangs. "I didn't overreact! You should have kept your sticky fingers to yourself if you didn't want this to happen. Or what, did you not even bother to think this through? Or consult Stellae's oh-so-blessed future sight? He could have told you that we'd all be punished. That's probably why he left in such a rush."

Ignis stomped back into the throne room. Flames licked at her fingers, ruby red like her horns and hair. Unda flinched from the heat that rolled off her in sickening waves, pushing out even the constant chill that surrounded him. She slammed her horns against Foliis's with a clash that echoed around the open room. "You think you're better than us?" Ignis growled.

"Alright, that's enough." Aurum separated the two with a shove. He rubbed his temples and squeezed his eyes shut. All signs of mirth had been sapped from his expression, and a deep furrow was set into his brow beneath unruly black hair and gleaming gold scales. "Let's not fight. Just go get ready, alright? We have a long journey ahead of us."

Foliis jabbed her finger at his chest one last time, opening and closing her mouth but no sound ever came out. Finally, with a frustrated shout, she stalked off down the hall with Ignis at her heels. Despite the tension crackling between them, only the sound of their footsteps reached Unda's ears. It wasn't long before that faded and he was blanketed once again by silence.

Once they were gone, Aurum sighed. His shoulders sagged as if a physical weight had left him. Unda found his own muscles relaxing in his eldest brother's presence, and the stillness between them wrapped him in a comforting sense of relief. Though Aurum was prone to mischief, he had been Unda's closest companion when he was younger. It was only on long days when he was away that Unda had begun to cling to Foliis, but even then it was hard to forget Aurum's playful antics. A part of him wanted to smile, to laugh about what had happened, but he kept his jaw tightly locked as he studied Aurum's sullen expression.

"I made a mistake," his brother whispered.

"Ahkirel?" Unda frowned. The goddess's punishments never bothered Aurum. He couldn't fathom why this would be any different—Aurum always longed to be sent out from the temple, and would return after long journeys happier than he left with hundreds of tales to tell all while he grinned and laughed. Unda had always wanted to go with him; this was his chance, yet Aurum's gaze was dark. It stamped out the last fleck of excitement.

Aurum shifted, and the sunlight flashed across his golden scales. When his gaze landed on Unda, his face brightened and a smile found its way to his lips. "Sorry," he chuckled. "Lost in thought. You should be on your way as well. You're finally going to leave the temple, huh? Don't want to delay that."

Unda twisted the wrinkled satin sash across his chest and bit down on his tongue. Of course he was excited, but not if it meant dragging everyone down.

"Don't look so down." Aurum's hand landed on his head and, in a familiar motion, he ruffled his sandy curls. "I need to speak with the goddess one last time. Why don't you gather the others after you get yourself ready? I'll meet you all in the courtyard by the white gazebo."

"What do you have to speak with her about?" Unda asked before he could stop himself. At Aurum's look, he quickly shut his mouth and dipped into a low bow. "Apologies, Ahkirel. It's not my place to ask."

"It's alright. I just have a few things to clarify, and I need to apologize for my actions personally. Go on now."

"Of course." Unda turned to leave, but he kept his steps slow and deliberate. Frost cracked under his boots, a sign that his magic was leaking through his hold again. He set his jaw and pressed on. When he was out of Aurum's line of sight, he ducked behind one of the pillars and waited.

Alone in the throne room, Aurum's shoulders drooped. He glanced at the goddess's empty throne in silence. It took a moment before he left through another corridor, one that led to a familiar room—the council room.

Unda's ears twitched. His heart pounded against his ribs. He shouldn't linger; he should do as he was told and prepare for the journey ahead, the one he had asked to go on. It wasn't his place to spy on his brother, but suspicion gnawed at the back of his mind. He couldn't shake the feeling that Aurum, who was normally forthcoming about what was on his mind, meant to dissuade the goddess.

It wasn't his place to spy on his brother, but it was his duty as the Eyes of Selini. And if that included eavesdropping on occasion, he was sure Coae could forgive him.

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