Harry Potter The Master of Death

[Aarik]

*Sigh*

Well I did say I was your campaign manager.

Ryuugi is currently running for forum moderator, please go here and vote for him.

Even if it seems kind of pointless, it would still be appreciated.

 

[e39042]

Had been waiting for the next snippet for quite a while. This fight has been enjoyable but I hope it really is over this time. It feels like forever since we got some character interaction, and the scenes between Harry and Dresden have been my favourite. Keep it up!

 

[Ryuugi]

The Master of Death
Interlude: Godfather Death

“It is done,” He said.

“It is,” She agreed. “The seat of his power has been broken, his kingdom destroyed, and my people freed. You have my thanks for your assistance.”

“No need; I prefer to think of it as assisting one another. This would have been a great deal more difficult without your aid. We were both quite fortunate to have met when we did, to the point that I rather doubt it was a coincidence.” He mused.

“You believe someone intended for us to meet?” She asked, but didn’t seem to disagree. “Have you any idea who?”

His fingers drummed lightly over the fabric of his cloak as he pondered the conclusions he’d come to.

“I think I do,” He said at last, drawing out the invitation he’d been given and made water proof, holding out to her. “And though I wonder if this too was designed, I have a question to ask. Do you know of a ‘Queen Mab?’ I received an invitation from her and am here to attend.”

She took it and stared at it silently for a long moment.

“It seems we have a great deal to discuss,” She said at last, a fingernail tracing a sigil on the letter. “I know of no Mab, but I recognize this sign—and there is a celebration due to start quite soon.”

The man looked around slowly before speaking.

“A celebration of our victory?” He guessed.

“Of that,” She agreed. “And of my daughter’s birth.”

XxXXxX

I looked at the portrait of the Fall of Conand, if it could even be called that. It didn’t seem like something that had been painted, looked nothing at all like the carvings I’d seen mortal and fae alike craft, but instead more of a window into the past, with everyone an exact likeness rather than an imperfect copy. The figures within it were so lifelike the moved on occasion when I wasn’t looking—and sometimes even when I was.

I clicked my nails against the frame twice and watched as the flames within danced before pulling myself away and continuing down the hall. There were other portraits lining the walls in-between the many doorways, alongside the other, weirder things that graced the house. I walked past a mirror, not bothering to glance in—whatever it showed, it’d be more than my face and there was no point to letting myself get distracted.

“I’m going out,” I said as I reached the doors.

“Be careful,” One of the reflections that guarded my home replied and I nodded before stepping out into the world.

I then proceeded to carefully examine the area to make sure it was the right world, which it seemed to be. A glance back confirmed I’d left through the building I’d intended, at least, which meant I was likely in the mortal realm, unless someone had shifted it to the other side out of spite. No one had done that in a long time, didn’t dare to, but it had happened before and may happen again, and given what today was, I wouldn’t put it past someone exceptionally foolish to try something.

But, if nothing else, it seemed the failures of those who’d tried before had bred out some measure of the fools and nothing seemed wrong. Good; it was an important occasion.

The town had been built around my home, settled by people who had followed my Godfather and near the center of the land he’d won from the Fir Bolg. It had grown as the people there had prospered under his protection and, more loosely, the protection of her mother. It was a bastion for their peoples, a growing seat of power for them both, and I’d lived there almost all my life.

And now its King was returning.

My Godfather was coming to visit.

Though perhaps visit wasn’t the right word, as they lived together. Returning home was more accurate, I supposed, but as the world would sometimes fray at the edges if he stayed in one place for too long and he had many places to be besides, he was absent as often as he was present, now more than ever as the battles worsened and other matters drew him away. He returned less frequently and stayed more and more briefly. Last time, he hadn’t even bothered changing out of the robes he’d fought in, merely cleaning them with magic before sitting down to talk to me.

This time, it appeared he hadn’t even remembered to leave his army behind.

On any other day, the village would have been overjoyed to see him return. He’d have dazzled the town with magic, sweeping through it to fix any major problems that might have occurred in his long absence, and they’d have worshiped him like they always did, whether silently or aloud. They loved him as much as the Fomorians hated him.

Today, however, the village was as silent as a crypt, but for the marching of the soldiers and the beating of hooves. Human soldiers and Fae of all kinds, from Malks near to the ground to towering trolls followed after the figure at their head who floated silently forward, feet never touching the ground. I could see his eyes scan the town, but he didn’t stop and he said nothing until he reached me, settling lightly on the ground before the house.

For a moment, his grim expression faded and he smiled very slightly.

“Mab,” He said, the name he’d always called me by. He reached up to touch my face and kissed my forehead. “You’ve grown again while I was gone. You’ll be taller than I am, soon enough.”

“Godfather,” I greeted, returning the smile. “You’ve been gone nearly a season. You must have been busy.”

“Troubled days, I’m afraid, and strange times as well,” He replied mournfully. “I suspect it shall get worse before it gets better.”

“I see,” I said, glancing past him at the army that had stopped moving. “I suppose you’re on your way to another battle, then?”

His expression immediately became pained.

“In part, yes,” He said. “Balor’s gone mad and abandoned his duties entirely, so you’re mother has asked for my aid.”

I nodded seriously, understanding.

“But,” He said grimly. “This army is not mine.”

“What?” I asked, surprised. I reevaluated it, but they certainly looked like my mother’s soldiers. “whose is it then?”

“It’s yours,” He said, grimacing. “Your sister believes you’ve prepared long enough and your mother agreed. She’s called all of you home and you, at least, have been given command.”

Translation: Big sister wanted me dead.

I nodded at him to show I understood but I couldn’t suppress a grimace of my own. I’d known this would come eventually, my family being what it was; we both had. I’d prepared for it as best I could and he’d helped as much as he’d been allowed to and probably then some. But I was the youngest of seven, still, the least experienced by far, and I knew my sisters better than to expect mercy because of that.

A part of me wished I could put this off a bit longer—another part was just glad the wait was over.

“Are you ready to fight?” He said and I knew he didn’t just mean the war.

“Of course,” I said, smiling. “It’ll be fun.”

He patted me on the shoulder.

“If nothing else, we’ll be close then we have been, at least for a time.”

Translation: I’ll help as best I can.

I nodded.

“What does my Queen command?” I asked.

“You’re to march on those who follow Balor,” He said. “She wants them dead, of course. Set fire to their homes and fields, destroy all that the Fomor have twisted, and then…feed their eyes to the crows?”

He said it calmly, less like it was a speech and more like he was reciting a hastily memorized list. His brows furrowed slightly as if trying to remember it exactly.

“Her words?” I asked.

He nodded.

“I’d say she was rather melodramatic about the whole affair, but that would be rather hypocritical. To be completely honest, though, I just kill them,” He admitted. “I’ve never heard any complaints despite the state of their eyes or their fields.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

“I’ll help you get ready,” He said, nodded towards the house and floating gently up the steps. “We still have much to talk about.”

XxXXxX

 

[Innortal]

Excellent addition.