Comatose pt. 2: The Autumnfall Burden
The crimson halls were all too familiar. The torches, laminated in their thalassian gold, illuminated the path that the physician so eagerly took. His footsteps were hurried, the doing of urgency, all in an effort to reach the chamber doors that established his destination.
Korwyn paused before the doors. Nostalgia had captured him, but had not settled the sickening feeling that weighed in his stomach.
The doors parted by the doctor’s command, revealing the formal chamber room that hosted the congregation. Several of Quel’thalas’s most notable lords and ladies were gathered around the oval table, some seated while others remained standing. Amongst the many heads that turned, a single voice overcame the atmosphere of intrusion.
“Welcome, Doctor Autumnfall. I am pleased to know that you received my summoning. Please. Have a seat.”
Korwyn swallowed hard. “I apologize for my late arrival, Lord Lightwield. Dalaran is--”
“In a state of emergency, yes, we are fully aware, Doctor,” answered the elder that sat at the helm of the gathering. The elder cleared his throat as he rose from his seat. His radiant sapphire gaze shifted to all those that gave their attention to him. A single hand was raised from his pearly colored robes commanding the doors to close and the torches to dim. “Let us not waste time in this hour of crisis, this moment of wickedness and grim fate…Lord Or’theros, if you would.”
The Lord nodded as he stepped to the front of the conversation. “Approximately 72 hours ago, a criminal suspected of treachery and the murdering of a feudal lord was brought before the magistrate by the hand of King’s Guard Commander, Lord Sapphiron Starseeker, for trail. Some of you that are here now were in attendance, as was, his grace, the Sun King and the Prince.” He began, resting his hand upon the hilt of his blade. “It was during the trial that the suspect broke free of his bonds and targeted Commander Starseeker with the assistance of three impersonators…”
The atmosphere grew tense as many shook their heads in disgust.
“As of yesterday, Lord Sapphiron Starseeker, Patriarch of House Starseeker and its following households, has been declared dead, and his firstborn son, Kel’thelan Starseeker as its new patriarch.” The lord continued. “Since then, several members of prominent families across the eastern kingdoms have been targeted, and many, successfully assassinated.”
“What could this mean?” cried one of the ladies. Korwyn looked up towards the woman, had he not already recognized her, it would’ve been her broach that established her as the Dawnreaver matriarch.
Many spoke in unison, declaring their disbelief and their questions. Between the information and the unknown, there was little room for solace. Korwyn closed his eyes. He was fully aware of the situation, and dreaded every moment of it. There was so much more to the evident crisis than what was given, but he could not grasp even the slightest bit of it until a single voice pulled his attention back into the circle.
“And what of the Starseekers?” Voiced the Eventide patriarch, accompanied by his equally rational matriarch.
There was an eerie silence that lingered as the lords and ladies looked between each other. “Doctor Autumnfall..?” Spoke the Lightwield elder as he turned his wrinkled face toward the physician. “Perhaps you could alleviate the Eventides, as well as the rest of us, of our inquiries, yes?”
Korwyn pursed his lips before rising slowly. “As of four hours ago, 25 members of House Starseeker and their lesser houses have been assassinated. Fourteen of them being direct descendants of the Starseeker lineage. It can be reasonably concluding that the other killings that are happening around the globe are simply a distraction for the true wickedness at play. Someone is targeting the Starseekers and is succeeding.”
“What of Sapphiron’s children?” Interjected another. “How do we know that Kel’thalan and Kil’anas Starseeker are safe?”
“Kel’thelan is under the protection of his subordinates, seeing as how he, too, exists as a division commander within the King’s Guard.” Voiced a decorated magister, a speaker for the Bloodsworn family. “As for Kil’anas, he is currently at the right hand of one of the Kirin Tor’s Council of Six. Considering their abilities, I would concern myself less with Sapphiron’s children, but rather their families. What of Kel’thelan’s heir?”
The prophet of the Lightwield family shook his head. “Kel’thelan has taken no wife, nor bore any children...however…”
The elder’s gaze was cast upon Korywn who, in turn, swallowed before speaking. “Two hours ago, Kil’anas’s wife, Serrena Or’theros-Starseeker arrived in Dalaran seeking emergency treatment.” He paused. “Twenty minutes before my arrival, Serrena Or’theros delivered a child. A healthy baby boy.”
“The boy is not safe in Dalaran!” Voiced a Lord
“He is no safer in Quel’thalas!”
The voices gathered in debate, only to be silenced by the hand of the Elder. “The boy cannot remain under the care of either the Starseekers nor the Or’theros families...” Lord Or’theros remained silent as the Elder continued. “...for simply existing in either family’s houses would bring about suspicion and endanger the child. It also goes without question that no one bearing the Starseeker surname can know of his existence.”
“Perhaps we should place him into the care of another house.” voiced the Eventide matriarch. “The Eventides have long been friends to the Starseekers. We would take the boy in with open arms.”
The Elder smiled. “Your generosity is most gracious, Lady Eventide, but the matter has already been discussed.”
Korwyn watched the elder rise with a curiosity that matched the climate of the room.
“I have spoken to my granddaughter in law over this particular occasion. It is with her consent and her persistence that the boy be placed under the care of an individual whose family has long served the Starseeker House in times of sickness and in health.”
The lords and ladies looked amongst each other, eager to solve the riddle the Elder had offered them.
“Who is it?” A lord chimed.
“Yes, who shall bear this burden?” Inquired another.
The elder pointed a single gesture, and with it, directed the attention of the room. “Will you take this burden, this grand responsibility, to guide the child born of the Starseeker lineage? Will you raise him to bear the burden of his bloodline whilst naming the child neither Starseeker nor Or’theros? Will you take Anasuren Sapphiron Lightwield as your own and see to it that he fulfills himself as one of High Thalassia’s greatest legacies?”
Korwyn lifted his head.
“What say you, Korwyn Autumnfall?”
--
Korwyn woke with a start. He had fallen asleep on his desk again, specifically on his paperwork; something he made note of as he peeled the parchment that had stuck to his face.
Another dream…
The Doctor peaked his head out into the infirmary. Nothing had changed. The setting was still dark, and the only patient present remained in his bed.
“Bloody hell…” Korwyn groaned as he ran his fingers across his face. He looked amongst the scatters of paperwork, the build up of medical records, research, and personal notes.
“I wonder...”
