It’s been 60 days since my surgery. Two months have passed since the Hunter cursed me and my arm was taken. So much I have had to sit back and watch through a window. As my comrades bleed and died under the threats of the Hunters, under the threats of the Legion. How much longer must I remain idle?
My grasp on the gravitational magics of my Uncle has nearly tripled, along with the present of the false arm I am able to disguise this condition. But I am a soldier, a Sunward of the Sunspear, I am the Sentinel. Hiding behind such tricks is not an option. I am to be at the front line with my sisters and brothers at arms.
Anything less in unacceptable….
My dear cousin is on the front lines doing what she must, I have no excuse to do any less. The Sunguard has been called to contest alliance movements on the Broken Shore, how many will be injured, how many will die because I cannot take the field in this state? The time for mourning has long passed. It’s time I return to my duties
Lord Cathein Starsunder.
A great deal of time has passed since the Legion has invaded. There is still no word from Seilaran. I grow more and more concerned with her whereabouts each passing day. This is not the first time Seilaran has slipped behind lines to help a cause, her heart is noble and proud in that way. That being said we cannot leave a vacuum at the head of the house. Until the time we do locate her I am invoking the words of her will and testament. Doing so I will issue the below decree to our House.
To all residents of the House of Sunders. One month has passed since our last correspondence with Lady Lightsunder. At this time I will be conducting my best efforts to locate her and ensure her safety.
It is however with a grave tone that we will assume the worst has transpired. In accordance with Seilaran’s wishes I Zalin Shadowsunder will be assuming the role as active head of the entire House.
I know there may be some lingering concerns with my name and my heritage taking the mantle of the House. I will take the time to remind any that are unsure about this transition that Lady Lightsunder herself chose to leave this responsibility. Any opposition to the decision will be known as opposition to her.
I pray to the Light that my tenure as Head of House is brief and for the quick return of our Lady. If you have any concerns please direct them to Lord Cathein Starsunder as I personally will be overseeing Seilaran’s return.
I am again overjoyed to hear that your desire of this restoration project has not waned in the passing time. I do know that a large amount of time has passed since our last missive so I did have concern on your ambition. I will of course have to remind you again that we are still a noble house, and regardless of being Kin or not I have taken the mantle of Lord of Starreach and will request to be referred to as such even in communications of a written nature.
I have spent the time to review your request and your plans for the restoration of the complex in question. While I have no doubt that the contractors you have selected are more than sufficient for the task I do appreciate the estimates in question and I will be sure to have these plans filed in case of future need.
To my recollection I believe the establishment is also on neutral land so in order for the housing to be legitimate I will look into the section being annexed into the greater Shimmervale holdings. Perhaps this project of yours could serve as a foot hold for the eventual movement to reclaim our home from the scourge blight that still infects it.
You also mentioned that you would be funding this project of your own accord, which unfortunately is the only thing we can allow. At this time the House Starsunder can little afford to spend resources on external projects and due to the progress on this effort I do not believe it to be a valid investment.
I will however take a moment to say that I do wish the best of luck with this restoration, it is my deepest desire to have our home taken back and cleansed. Perhaps this will be the start as you mentioned the possibility of housing soldiers, along with the ability to maintain said facility.
The next thing I will ask of your however is to ask yourself of what importance this location is to you. You have written to me before with the desire to restore this establishment, I ask you to what ends. This will not be a cheap project and to fund it with your own pocket I would very much like to know the reasoning, even more so if it is to become part of Shimmervale.
In closing I approve of your plans to restore this small area and surrender complete control over the project to you. I am giving you this chance to ensure that someone from your family can uphold our prestige and beliefs. I pray that you are better equipped for leadership then your elder brother. I will not tolerate a black mark on our house in the public eye.
Clutching the infant to his chest the druid wove his hand over the pool. It was often a tradition of communal bathing in House Starsunder, the chance to speak and clean in the water heralded back for milena now. His mother left the young infant in his care as she tended to other matters. Many people had claimed parentage, but Cathein knew his answer.
The young boy was barely over a year old and stared up at Cathein with a happy smile. Clutching onto his silver hair the child wrapped short arms around the Sunmages’s neck. He was still too young to speak but the incoherent babble filled the elder with euphoric warmth.
“Now I won't be there to watch your every lesson Sedrix, you are a Lightsunder, your Mother has given you a future that I never could. You were born to lead us.” A parental smile returned as he stopped in the bathing pool. Waist deep in the warm water Cathein brought his lips to the baby's forehead. “I will be there for you when I can, I promise that my son.”
Mouth opening wide exposing the growing teeth the Lightsunder child reached up and poked Cathein’s nose. “Da~da!”
Eyes widening for the briefest of moments before settling into a misty smile. Lost in the eyes of the youth the druid brought a finger to his mouth. “Shhh~ that is our secret.” Sedrix began to splash happily as they settled into the pool. Water spraying everywhere as the pair laughed. “Now then~ let me get the soap, have to keep you clean.”
Taking a deep breath Cathein pulled his white gloves off his fingers. Spreading the digits over the ivory and ebony keys he began his meditation. Striking a pair of keys at a time he closed his eyes as the sounds filled the room. Again he pressed each in time as he swayed from side to side the waves of the melody flowing over him.
Keeping the gentle rhythm he struck the keys as the star filled night stretched over his thoughts. The gentle and ageless rotation of the distant heavens as they danced across his mind. The arms of the spiral bright and outstretched as each fled into another.
The rhythm of the universe was eternal in its ceaseless promenade through the minds of the observant. There was a glorious balance in the waltz of existence. With each sunrise there was a sun, with each moment another paired before and behind in the cycle of reality. The inky black of the sky outlined through the brilliance of each star as it was watched from a distance that could not be fathomed.
In this serene place the small problems of a man, a family, a world, even a system of planets did not exist. Such things were truly insignificant when gazed from such a vastness.
As the song he crafted to describe the heavens altered in his mind the notes slowed almost to a pause. The stars collided and reshaped and the cosmic model of the galaxy molded and shifted. No longer a pristine spiral the stars now formed the face of a woman. A smile, familiar yet new to the Sunmage, he had often seen the ghosts of the past in this place, so far from everything it could only be described here that the true ever existed.
The woman did not have the knowing gaze of a mother, or the mischievous smile of a baby sister, or even the warmth of a lover. He expected to see his wife gazing back at him, but this was not Anvitalia, she was younger more unsure, so much like the string of other he had seen in the dream of heavens.
The clarity of the image still his hands, and with a slow return to the world he sat in Cathein looked over the pale blue wood of his piano. How quickly did his heart shift from one to another, why was it her that he saw. The haunting image lingered a moment longer as his bright teal eyes focused on the keys. Without his knowledge his universe shifted to fixate on another star in his mind, and she like all the other stars was beyond his reach.
Cathein stood at the pyre long after the words and lip service had been rendered. He stood before the smoldering ashes as the raging inferno charred the armor. He stood staring at the lone egg in the center of the funeral pyre. The sunmage didn’t even notice the death knight approaching him, so when Vulthaen spoke it came as a shock. “It's hard to believe she is gone, I miss her already.”
“Yes, she was just like the phoenix, bright and fiery, the lack of her presence will be felt for quite some time.”
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Gently running his fingers through the crest feathers of his partner Zalin sat in the aviary. Leaning against the thick wooden pillars the spellbreaker took a moment to take his eyes off his floating book. Turning to his cooing pet nestled in his lap another phoenix caught his gaze.
She was a chick, couldn’t have been more than a few months old. Her blazing red feathers shone deep like cooling ashes. Perching on the other banister the young phoenix quirked her head as if trying to recognize the pair. Inferna had been rumored to be temperamental on good days, and vicious on bad days. Clicking her shimmering talons along the banister she gave an odd sense of unease in the pit of Zalin’s stomach.
“Yes little one? Is there something you are looking for?” Bunching up the feathers on her back the small chick took to the air and soared right at the questioning man.
Tossing up his arm to defend from the attacking bird Zalin did his best to shield Sedeli without falling off the ledge.
Inferna had other plans and gripping the Advisor’s forearm gave a welcoming squawk. The elder phoenix was not amused and rustling her feathers brought her own wings up and lifted off her master’s lap.
“Sedeli stop!” Moving as quickly as he could Zalin separated the two, diving their space with a free arm. Ignoring the irritation in his companion’s eyes he returned to Inferna who seemed content to cling to his arm. “You~ don’t seem to be half as much of a menace as you care takers have informed me.”
Twisting his fingers the spellbreaker began to levitate a small satchel from his bag. Plopping the brought leather into his hands he awkwardly produced a small dried plant. “This is fireweed, it’s from Draenor. It's one of Sedel’s favorite snacks.”
Inferna cautious lowered her beak to pluck the plant away before eagerly devouring the offered treat. For her part Sedeli seemed utterly offended that what was her’s was given away so quickly. The young chick didn’t seem bothered in the least and crept up Zalin’s arm. Nestling on his shoulder she gave a beaky smile to the man before resting her head on her plumage.
Blinking as he tried to watch his new companion. “It would appear I have made a new friend.” Gaze shifting back to Sedeli he scoffed as she stared daggers at the betrayers. “Oh come on Ms. Jealousy.” Straightening his lap he patted gently. “If you stay huffed up like that you won’t get any snacks.”
