Inferior Part IV
X'aa'nath and Lae'zel have an audience with their queen, and X'aa'nath's loyalty is questioned.
“Do you really think this Inquisitor will help us?” Astarion whispers to Gale.
“It’s never been that easy before. I don’t see why it would be now,” the wizard mutters despondently, his eyes never leaving X’aa’nath’s back.
“Do as I do,” Lae’zel orders, overhearing them. “The Inquisitor shall only tolerate the utmost respect.”
Only X’aa’nath bothers to reply, whispering a soft “yes, kin” without stopping his forward stride.
The Inquisitor warmly welcomes Lae’zel into the inner sanctum of the creche. “My ardents spoke of one of our kin that escaped a crashing ghaik slave-vessel.”
Gale bristles at the man’s intentional snub of X’aa’nath and Astarion’s hand on his shoulder is the only thing that stops him from speaking out.
“Ch’r’rai. Vlaakith’s justice in the flesh.” Lae’zel inclines her head in a show of respect, X’aa’nath quickly following her lead.
“You have accomplished much, child. I am pleased to finally meet you. I’ve heard there is so much goblin blood on your hands that it soaks their children’s nightmares.” Ch’r’rai W’wargaz’s eyes slide from Lae’zel to X’aa’nath. “You’ve done well to not let Khou’zal’s runt impede your progress.”
X’aa’nath remains entirely still, only the faintest twitching of the fingers on his left hand betraying his distress at the elder’s words.
“I suspect you plucked something precious from the ghaik ship,” W’wargaz continues. “Something our queen has been looking for. The weapon. Give it to me.”
Alarm spreads from the artefact, making Gale faintly nauseous. Astarion doesn’t seem to be completely unaffected either, and it’s strong enough to make X’aa’nath hesitate.
“The ch’r’rai speaks. You must obey,” Lae’zel orders.
Her voice seems to knock X’aa’nath out of his stupor and he reflexively pulls the artefact from his robes and places it in the Inquisitor’s hands. The planecaster in the center of the room begins to glow, and soon a projection of the githyanki queen towers over those assembled. The githyanki in the room immediately fall to their knees, their heads bowed in reverence. Gale catches hold of Astarion’s arm, tugging him further away and out of sight of the imposing queen.
“Vlaakith gha’g shkath zai!” W’wargaz cries worshipfully.
Lae’zel manages to raises her head long enough to gaze upon Vlaakith in admiration. “My Queen – shkath zai!”
X’aa’nath remains silent, respectfully keeping his gaze low.
Vlaakith leans closer to Lae’zel and softens her voice. “These attendants you keep – you taught them well. My child. My Lae’zel.”
Gale’s heart twists as he watches X’aa’nath’s shoulders sag at his Queen’s clear indifference to his presence and devotion. The wizard knows too well the feeling of having the one you worship turn their back to you, but to have the obvious disdain from all of his kin as well? Gale cannot even fathom the depths X’aa’nath’s distress.
“Ch’mar, zal’a Vlaakith,” Lae’zel murmurs rapturously. “You know me.”
“Urion of K’liir speaks most highly. As did Al’chaia before him.” Vlaakith stands, her tone once again forceful. “You seek purity. I may yet grant it.”
The lich queen turns her attention to X’aa’nath. “Do not think I do not recognize you X’aa’nath, he who never should have been. Khou’zal prolonged his return to the Astral Place, to my service, in order to train you. And now he is dead. Your existence robbed me of one of my greatest warriors. And now you carry what is mine. So what do I call you child of Gith? A loyal servant or a thief?”
“I am at your command, my Queen. The artefact is yours,” X’aa’nath murmurs, keeping his gaze low.
The artefact screams in fear; Gale and Astarion exchange a worried glance.
Vlaakith gifts X’aa’nath with a benevolent smile. “Your will is strong. Perhaps you are not as worthless as I initially feared. Prove your fealty now, and you will be recognized among all githyanki as one of my chosen. That ‘weapon’ you carry – the Astral Prism – it is corrupted.”
“I will cleanse it for you, my Queen,” Lae’zel blurts out. “Tell me how.”
X’aa’nath scowls at her, the only time Gale has seen him express any sort of negative emotion towards his kin.
“There is someone inside,” Vlaakith continues. “Their mind is warped, broken – a blight. They are an agent of the Grand Design. Sent to sabotage the Astral Prism – our last defense against the return of the Illithid Empire. As long as they live, the Prism is compromised. Kill them. Do this, and I will cleanse you and your allies. Do this and ascend.”
Lae’zel gasps. “Ascension? My queen. An honor gained, a burden borne.”
“Cleanse the Prism, ardent of Khou’zal,” Vlaakith says, returning her attention to X’aa’nath. “Eliminate this danger to the githyanki and finally claim your place among your people.”
Gale’s heart drops into his stomach at the hopeful look on the sorcerer’s face, and fear shoots through him at X’aa’nath’s next words.
“It is my greatest honor to obey.”
Vlaakith smiles, something about the expression deeply unsettling to Gale. “Use the planecaster’s power to enter the artefact. Be wary of the creature’s lying tongue. Cut it out if you must. W’wargaz. They are not to leave until it is done.”
The Inquisitor bows his head. “As you say, my Queen.”
“Ch’mar zal’a Vlaakith. We will not waste a second,” Lae’zel vows.
Vlaakith’s image fades away, the silence left in her wake is broken only by the sounds of X’aa’nath’s boots against the stone floor as he strides towards the planecaster.
“Hold on a moment, don’t you thin-”
Astarion’s protest is cut off as X’aa’nath steps into the portal and the group is swept away. They’re spat out on floating bit of rock, and the four crash together, each trying to stay upright. Once he regains his footing Gale gazes around in awe, taking in the asteroids and gigantic bones of fallen gods that languid drift around them, perfectly preserved in this small pocket of the Astral Plane.
“Boundless, timeless – like every dream that ever was, stitched together,” Lae’zel murmurs.
“My home,” X’aa’nath mournfully whispers, his expression momentarily twisted into something Gale can’t quite interpret.
The four move towards a second portal, coming to a standstill as the voice of their dream visitor echoes in their minds. “So you came. Despite all my warnings. Disappointing. Come. We will talk in private, just X’aa’nath and I.”
“No!” Lae’zel snarls. “I will accompany you, we will cleanse - ”
X’aa’nath places his hands on her shoulders, cutting her off. “I can do this, kin. Trust in me, as I trust in you. I will do this, for both of us.”
Her brows draw together as she frowns, but she finally nods. “Go, kin. We will be waiting.”
X’aa’nath’s eyes flit over to Gale, and the wizard gives what he hopes is an encouraging smile. He takes in the determined expression on the sorcerer’s face, the proud tilt of his chin, the flashing silver of his eyes… and he says a small prayer to whichever god may still be listening that X’aa’nath will return to him.
One final deep breath and X’aa’nath steps through the portal. Now all that’s left to do is wait.
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