Nimue sighed and, for a beat, it really was Trudy there. “A long time ago - thousands of years ago, right after the Last War, way before the Rift, this world changed. Not for the better. The orcs you see on the continent? They’re nothing to what dwelled in the world in those days. And yet, there was a lot more evil brought by man, shifters, and elves. Corruption, cruelty.” The creature closed her eyes. “In those days, we mages - the original kind - not the watered-down version with a drop of our blood, running around and creating healing salves - lived in our world, away from it all. Until came a day when a worthy man rose, and ruled this world.”

“The Once and Future King.”

Nimue was impressed again. Having a great memory and a thirst for knowledge helped.

“The one and only. He brought forth a golden age of prosperity, until, again, darkness prevailed. That time, the cost was too dear. That time, we decided to act.”

Nimue left it at that for a little too long. “Act?” Talia repeated, an invitation to carry on talking.

“Yes. First, we brought those who were worthy to Avalon, where they still dwell. Then, we closed off the continent from vermin. Legions of orcs and undead try to break through every day. They’ll never pass our defenses. The wall you see in Norda is just a puny little thing, compared to what our kind can do.”

That explained how Nimue could destroy it so easily.

“Right. But that was a long time ago - what does it have to do with anything happening now?” she asked, because, fascinating as that history lesson was, Talia needed to stay on track, navigating back to the whole ‘we’re all going to die’ thing.

“Everything,” replied she. “We separated the two worlds in a hurry, as a temporary solution. When things were settled, the fate of your world was brought to a vote. It’s one of the only fertile lands left in the entire universe, relatively untainted by evil. There’s just your so-called civilized humanoids on this continent. Some believed we ought to purge this and claim it back - there are men, dragons, and elves in Avalon, all of which have been raised to believe in something bigger than themselves. The era they could bring forth would be one of purity and goodness. Others believed that your kind deserves another chance.”

“Why should you get to decide who lives or dies?” she frowned, replying hotly.

“When you own a pet, and they bite at a child, do you get to decide whether you wish to put it down?” Nimue countered. “You’re young, and unprepared to understand it, but my kind created yours. We’re the gods you’ve heard of in legends. Our ancestors grew bored, and shaped men and elves. We tamed flying fire-breathing beasts and sealed them in worthy men. We then found the process amusing and replicated it on bears, wolves, and any other animal in the world, creating the various races of shifters. We can end you because we created you in our image.”

Talia’s blood grew cold as every protest died on her lips. “Well, that’s not quite accurate. Some amongst you are something else altogether.” Nimue smiled unexpectedly. “Making you so much like us, genetically, means that our race is able to reproduce, and, well, our kind has never been known to resist the pleasures of the flesh. The mages of our blood are our descendants, the main reason that has stilled our hand when we talked of starting over here.”

“So, you’d kill thousands of sentient strangers, but it wouldn’t do to do the same with your children,” Talia spat.

Nimue didn’t think to take it as the insult it was. “Exactly.” She paused before finishing her explanation. “It was decided to delay the final decision until a test was conducted. Around the time when this debate divided Avalon, the Queen of our world had given birth to twins, who already used magics. One favored her light, the other, her Shadow. They were raised to hone their natural inclination. Then, when they were of age, the girls were cast out of their realm and brought here. They were told to come back when they couldn’t take any more mortal nonsense. If the one who favors Shadow comes back first, they’ll have to conclude that there is hope for this world. If the child of light was to give up before her, though…”

Talia immediately understood what that meant.

“You’re the Shadow child.”

Her heart hurt for that poor creature. She’d stayed here for thousands of years, away from her people, from her family?

“Why don’t you just give up? Go home?” It made no sense. If she did that, all of them would be saved.

Nimue smiled sadly. “It’s not quite as simple as that. In our society, those who contribute, and do their purpose well, are revered, honored. If I were to go home, I would lose everything. My sister will rise to be the Heir of Avalon and I’ll forever remain the one who felt homesick.”

Oh, for the sake of every god listening in. “You’re kidding. You’ll doom us all for your pride.”

Nimue tilted her head. “I will.”

She wasn’t even a little bit apologetic. What the fuck.

“Although, I am giving you a fair chance. When my sister gives up, soon, I’ll be recalled home. I’ll leave a breach in the wall for a short time - a breach through which thousands of monsters will pass, so it certainly shall be dangerous. But you’ll feel it. You’ll see it. And, if you’re smart, you’ll do as I tell you, and pass through.”

Nimue got to her feet, swiping dirt off her ass, before walking away.

“It was nice seeing you again, little hick.”

“I wish I could say the same,” she retorted, before asking, “What of Vincent?”

Nimue clicked her fingers and the man opened his eyes immediately. Jumping to his feet, he pushed her behind him, away from Nimue, who just smiled kindly. “I would have already killed her if I’d wished to,” she said, before vanishing as suddenly as she’d appeared.

“Was it her?”

Talia nodded. “Yes, yes it was.”

“Where are we?” he asked, and she just laughed.

“No clue. Not too far, I hope.”

Vincent smirked. “That shouldn’t be a problem, regardless. Now tell me what happened here; then, we can go.”

* * *

She hated flying. Hated it. Hated it. She screamed the whole time. Which was why she had no clue how, when they reached Farden, landing before the gates of the King’s palace, she laughed.

Vincent’s beast’s large blue head bumped her and she caressed its rough scales softly. “We’ll have to do that again,” she told the dragon, who - unless she wasn’t mistaken - actually purred.

Were dragons supposed to purr? Before she could question that, he shifted back into a very naked man.

Despite the late hour, there were people about, guards and midnight walkers, who all gasped, before rushing to his side, full of congratulations.

Vincent accepted a coat from a guard - no doubt, they kept these handy around here - and made his excuses, as politely as he could, to get them inside the walls of the palace.

They needed to see their sovereigns, immediately.