Page 80 of Court of Aether and Shadows

"Perhaps. Their hand has been more active in recent years than in all the centuries prior. But whatever his origin, Finn's loyalty is to us." She squeezed the boy's shoulder gently. "He has been raised in the knowledge of his duty to the Twilight Court."

Finn shifted uncomfortably under my scrutiny but met my gaze steadily.

"I want to help," he said, his voice carrying a quiet determination that belied his youth. "I can feel the rift's instability. If it's not closed properly, it could tear wider, creating a cascade effect that would..." he trailed off, but I understood his meaning.

Unchecked, a tear, in reality, could spread like cracks in glass, eventually shattering the barriers between worlds entirely. It was precisely the kind of catastrophe the Void Court dreamed of causing.

Suddenly, Moira's expression sharpened, her head tilting as if listening to something beyond mortal hearing. The shadows in the room deepened, responding to a disturbance I had felt growing for the past several minutes.

"A threat approaches," she warned, her voice tight with urgency. "The rift draws them like moths to flame. And this one..." She paused, her eyes widening slightly. "This one is different. Powerful. And somehow... familiar."

"I am aware," I replied, having sensed the disturbance in the shadows moments before.

The presence approaching was indeed powerful, carrying with it an energy signature that tugged at ancient memories.

"Kaelon and I will handle it. Take Elenore and Finn from this place. The shadow energies that may be unleashed are not for those unprepared to withstand them. It could cause a situation of manipulation or potential possession. Both gruesome and a pain to reverse if one falls victim to their merciless captivity."

Moira nodded, gathering her materials with a gesture that encouraged them to float to her grasp.

At the door, she paused, looking back at me with eyes that seemed to hold the wisdom of ages.

"Be cautious, my Lord,"she said, slipping into the old tongue once more. "Vash'nor thy'lar sul'van.Nyr vash mor’neth... thy’rin elar vel’tar elva, faen'shara ul’ven kai’el, drithar nyra sul’keth te'lan far’eyn.”

Not all shadows dance to the same rhythm. This threat... it comes bearing old magic, older perhaps than even you suspect.

The ancient words carried weight, a warning and a prophecy wrapped in one.

I inclined my head, acknowledging both her counsel and her right to give it.

"Shal'ven mor'eth, Vesh'na Shal'ira," I responded formally, before shifting back to mundane language while keeping the power woven in my tone."Your wisdom honors us, as does your service."

With that, she ushered Elenore and Finn from the cottage, leaving Kaelon and me alone with a sleeping Sparrow.

The air grew heavy with anticipation, the shadows deepening as we prepared to face whatever force approached through the rift.

But even as we readied ourselves for confrontation, my mind was racing with plans.

The appearance of a young portal master, the involvement of the Fateweavers, the increasing instability between realms – all of it pointed to changes coming faster than even I had anticipated.

We would need to adapt our strategies and find new ways to protect Sparrow while allowing her to grow into her power.

Perhaps most importantly, we would need to discover who among our potential allies could truly be trusted.

The game board was shifting, the pieces moving in unexpected ways.

At the center of it all, lay my sleeping queen, her power calling to forces both light and dark, drawing them all inexorably toward whatever destiny awaited us.

Trials Of Threatened Uncertainty

~AETHEREON~

It’s coming…

As the door closed behind Moira and the others, the atmosphere in the small cottage shifted perceptibly.

The shadows deepened, responding to my loosening grip on my power now that there were no weaker beings present to be affected by it.

Like a predator finally able to stretch after being confined, my magic expanded through the space, turning the corners of the room into pools of liquid darkness.

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