Enemies Within

*Eversong Woods, Dawnsea Chapterhouse*

The chapterhouse was a small structure, containing a central shrine surrounded by corridors that had several rooms to accommodate the priests and priestesses that called the edifice their home. Deeper within the building, behind the main shrine, were a few rooms reserved either as storage or as the personal office and living quarters of the Prioress of the shrine. It was within the deepest part of these private areas where Alizathel's personal sanctuary was placed, and it was here that she performed her morning rituals.

Young for a Sin'dorei in such a position of power, Alizathel looked humble kneeling upon black velvet cushions before the marble slab of her personal altar. Eyes closed in meditation and prayer, her hands rested in her lap and her breathing was calm, even as the acrid, burning scent of the incense drifting from the censers on either side of the altar stung her nose and throat. Her prayers were silent, her inner voice quiet as she sought wisdom not from the Light, but from the shadows that gather at the light's edge; from the power rooted deep within the individual and their own selfish desires.

The priestess released a deep breath, her next inhalation taking in more of the incense and causing her eyes to water. The painful distraction was part of her meditation, part of her ritual to maintain her inner focus and iron will. It was nothing compared to the discomfort of bending and channeling shadow through her living form, the destructive force unnatural to one who had once been a simple healer.

Just as she was in the very deepest recesses of her meditative pose, the door to the small shrine burst opened, startling her; no one should be entering this part of the chapterhouse, as the only way into the almost closet-like room was through her own sleeping quarters. She rose quickly, her fel green eyes affixing the intruder with an intensity that made the other Sin'dorei falter in the doorway.

"P-prioress! A thousand apologies for the interruption, but he's here!" the novice priestess squeaked under Alizathel's stern gaze.

"Calm yourself, Namari, and tell me who exactly 'he' is if you would," Alizathel responded, her voice calm and controlled. It would not do to make the novices too fearful or they would not think for themselves, which is precisely what had put them all in this remote chapterhouse in the forest in the first place.

"T-the Master at Arms, Prioress," novice Namari replied, her voice frightened. "H-he said he wishes to speak with you immediately, without delay."

Alizathel's eyes widened and she felt her heart beating fast in her chest. The Master at Arms of House Dawnsea did not pay a visit for friendly chat, nor should his attention be on this minor little branch of House Dawnsea's holdings. Alizathel had spent great effort to avoid the notice of the rest of the House for as long as possible. It seemed now her efforts had failed. Worse, she had recently had a clandestine meeting with a member of House Sunfire. Should someone have discovered this...well, it was best not to think of it. When she replied, her voice had the same tightly controlled tone to it, "Very well. Bring him into the shrine room itself and I will be there in a moment."

As novice Namari bowed and backed out of the room, Alizathel silently cursed to herself. She turned to the altar, taking up one of the censers and hanging it from her belt. From the top of the altar she grabbed a skull-headed mace and also strapped that in place, and then sat a crown of dark iron atop her short, black hair. As she passed through her sleeping quarters, she paused to glance at herself in the mirror. Blackness greeted her gaze, her own dark black dress with its long sleeves drinking in the light. Combined with the black crown and her own black hair that partially covered one of her eyes with the way it was styled, she was as unlike the typical Sin'dorei as one could get. She gave herself a grin before turning from the mirror and heading towards the shrine; impressions were important after all.

As she passed through the corridors she saw the rest of the novices gathered here and there in alcoves, talking quietly to themselves. Everywhere fear permeated the very air; all here knew what such a visit might entail and after the disaster that had befallen Dawnsea Manor recently none wished to guess what might come next. Alizathel offered her flock grim smiles as she passed, feeling very much like she was walking towards her own noose.

She entered the shrine room itself through a side door, moving past the red and gold holy shrine to stand in the center aisle of the rows of intricately carved marble benches, her eyes taking in the sight of the Sin'dorei who had entered from the main double doors that lead out into the forest beyond. Two of them she dismissed at once, for they were clearly Blood Knights wearing Dawnsea's emblems and had been brought as bully-blades as necessary to ensure compliance. It was the third she studied shrewdly, her eyes taking in the sight of the exquisite leather armor and slender swords at the Sin'dorei's hips. A short cropping of blonde hair capped a face that held only malice in its gaze, the Master at Arms of House Dawnsea being a slender, lithe elf yet capable of inflicting death in a moment's notice.

"Master Methas Sunspark, it is an honor to greet you. How may I assist you?" Alizathel purred in just the correct tone of politeness. She offered the other a deep curtsy to show respect.

Master at Arms Methas Sunspark grinned when she addressed him, his eyes running up her curvy form in a manner that she found immediately distasteful, as if he were appraising her for her value or selecting an excellent cut of meat. He strode towards her, his voice booming, "Prioress Alizathel Dawnsea, I come on official business to bring you the word of your Matriarch."

Alizathel felt a lump forming in her throat and simply nodded; the last thing she wanted was Kenzie Dawnsea taking an interest in her, or in the chapterhouse. It was the primary reason she'd reached out to Selenthiel Sunfire in the first place; to avoid being under the thumb of the ruthless woman who, until now, had seemed content to enjoy the finest things in life and leave the rest of the Dawnsea bloodline alone. It seemed that time was to come to an end abruptly.

Getting no response, Methas drew closer, his Blood Knights milling about behind him and eyeing the shrine over with disinterest. When he spoke, it was in an almost gloating tone, as if he knew her discomfort, "Lady Dawnsea has purchased a new estate close to Silvermoon. It is to replace the one that was...so unfortunately lost in recent times. You and your clergy are to rededicate and bless the structure prior to the magic users laying down the wards and guards against our enemies."

"It would be our honor to bless the estate and its grounds," Alizathel responded dutifully. "It seems that you have been sent on an unnecessary journey, as I would happily have agreed to this request even if it came through missive only. You honor us by personally delivering it."

Methas's grin widened and he came within a few inches of Alizathel, this time not hiding his gaze as he ran his fel green eyes up her body from her boots to the crown atop her black hair, "It is my duty to ensure that the House is running in an orderly fashion so the Lady Dawnsea is not...bothered. Things such as the loss of an entire estate and the guards who are stationed there tend to get her notice, and she would prefer that such an event not recur with her new holdings. It would be a shame if someone had to be...harmed...to ensure that such a thing didn't happen again, wouldn't you agree?"

There was no mistaking the menace in his tone or the implications of his words. Alizathel swallowed and nodded, her voice low, "I would have to agree, Master Methas. House Dawnsea's holdings should remain unsullied by our enemies. You can, of course, depend upon us to bless the structure properly."

"Good, good," Methas purred in her face. His grin widened, becoming mocking now as he said something that shocked Alizathel to her core and made her gasp aloud. "There is another matter that I am to task you with. We know that Seluna's essence has been placed in a phylactery. Lady Dawnsea wishes it found. Immediately."

"I-I know nothing of such an artifact," Alizathel stuttered, her eyes wide. "I was not of Seluna's inner circle as you well know. I have already answered all of the questions that your Blood Knights put to me on the matter."

Methas moved so close now that his breath was hot against her neck as he whispered in her ear, his hand caressing Alizathel's face, "That is a shame, because the Lady Dawnsea suspects otherwise. Very few of Seluna's priests escaped the fall of the estate. You and those here are all that is left now, treasure that you are. It would be a shame if you failed to reveal information that you might be aware of. Possibly fatal..."

While she had been intimidated before, Alizathel found Methas's touch to be repulsive. When one of his hands slid up her thigh, rage built in her. Dark, inky black shadows began to seep from her, the power of her faith drawing from her anger and bathing her in the energy. A tendril of the shadowy power came up, wrapping around Methas's wrist where his hand was still caressing her face. When she responded this time, her voice was icy cold and condescending, "If you do not step back from me immediately, you will come to learn just how I survived. Commoner trash will not place their hands on me, regardless of their station. You forget what blood flows in my veins."

Methas withdrew a pace, his face contorted in rage. Behind him his bully-blades turned, each grasping sword hilts in a menacing fashion. With the distance between them restored, the shadows around Alizathel began to fade. It was for this reason that she was taken by surprised when Methas rushed forward again, his hand coming out to backhand her before he shoved her. She tumbled backwards, falling onto the smooth marble floor, her iron crown clattering on the stone as she crumpled, her dress like a pool of spilled black ink around her. Shadows raged from her, tendrils lashing the air around her. Through a purple haze of dark magics she gazed up at him, fearful and infuriated all at once.

He grinned down at her, hands on his hips and his Blood Knights flanking him with drawn steel. His voice was cold and commanding now as he gazed down at her, "Learn your place, Prioress Dawnsea, lest you lose it. The Lady Dawnsea has been disgraced, and she has not forgotten who was present at the battle, who failed in their service to her. As you lay on the floor, consider that it is symbolic to where you are in her mind even now."

Silence reined for a moment, and the shadows around Alizathel continued to rage. After what seemed like an eternity, she managed to choke back her rage enough to get them under control. Still laying on the floor, she dipped her head, her voice low, "I-I apologize, Master at Arms. I will heed our Lady's word."

"Good, see that you do, Prioress," Methas said coldly. He eyed her over again like she was some treat that had been dropped, his gaze lingering on where her dress had exposed her pale white legs. "The Lady Dawnsea wishes to have the phylactery in her possession as quickly as possible. Being one of the few survivors of the manor house, you will investigate and locate it before bringing it to her. Do not fail her, and do not fail to bless the new estate properly. Her eyes will be upon you, do you understand?"

"Yes, Master at Arms," Alizathel responded from her place on the floor.

Methas grinned, "Good. I will leave you to your reflection and meditation then, Prioress. We will meet again quite soon."

With that he turned, his Blood Knights grinning at her before sheathing their blades and stalking after him. It was not until the double doors had boomed closed behind them that Alizathel managed to release the breath she'd been holding. A shaking hand came up to rub her face where she'd been struck. A side door opened and two novices rushed in, gasping as they saw the Prioress on the floor. They ran over to her, quickly helping her to her feet, one of them handing her the dark crown that had been on her head. All of them looked worried, their eyes full of questions.

Alizathel shook her head, knowing the news she would share would not be good. The priests and priestesses of the little chapterhouse were part of House Dawnsea, yes, but they had secretly betrayed it. That they lived was because they had fled the battle at Dawnsea Manor, and had refused to support Seluna in her madness. How much of their rebellion Kenzie Dawnsea knew of was questionable, but the Master at Arms would complicate matters and could have them all killed if they were not very careful. They were walking on a sword's edge now, all of them, and it was up to her to lead them safely across.

In a voice tinged with worry, she gave orders to her novices, "Gather the others. We must prepare for a blessing. Send the senior novices to my personal quarters. We need to begin planning how to seek out Seluna's phylactery. The day we've all feared has come."

The novices gasped and then bowed deeply before hurrying off, their concerned shouts beginning to echo through the chapterhouse as the news spread. Alizathel herself stood still, gazing down at the black iron crown in her still shaking hands. She glanced up at the door to where the three had left, her voice laced with venom now, "I shall do your task, Methas, but not in the manner in which you would prefer. When I find her, when I find Seluna's phylactery, I will ensure that it is taken care of properly. Never again will I stay my hand, and I swear I will prevent a recurrence of what happened. Even if I must be used as a game piece by others, I will take Seluna somewhere that you will never get her."

She breathed out, her anger growing, her last words an echoing whisper spoken through rising shadows, "And once I do, I will have the resources necessary to ensure that you never touch me or anyone else ever again."