Lament of the Iceborne

Syndra's leisurely patrol of the town finally begins to come to an end after what seemed like an eternity. In reality, it had only been the standard patrol of eight hours, but in this sleepy town where nothing ever occurs and at night no less, it seemed to stretch on. A long loud bellowing song begins to fill the air. The horn of Alazais that sits atop the tallest tower of the keep above the surrounding farmland of the town of Light Tree, signals the approach of dawn. With this welcome sound, Syndra's mood suddenly shifts as it also signals the end of her patrol. She turns on her heels and begins to beeline it to her favorite spot. She should have just enough time to stop for a few minutes before she has to report back to the captain of the guard. As she trots by she is greeted on a few occasions by a few of the townspeople who unintentionally attempt to thwart her plans. She skirts by answering questions about the night watch almost absentmindedly. She didn’t have any time to spare to be accosted by the mundane. She rounds the corner of the nearby street at a trot and walks past the open wooden gate. She goes to rap on the door but before she can it is thrust open. “Syndra!” yells her most favorite person in the world. Syndra bends down and picks up the small child as she exclaims with equal glee, “Liz!”The small child no more than 5 years of age runs her fingers through Syndra's black hair and up to the points of her elven ears. Syndra responds in kind, running her fingers through Liz's blond hair and her round ears. The two touch foreheads for a moment of silence before Liz breaks it with a shout, “I have a gift for you!” “Close your eyes and hold out your hand”, Liz instructs. Syndra complies and holds out her hand but half-jokingly tries to open one eye. “No peeking”, Liz chastises her. Syndra shuts her eyes tightly until she hears the magic words. “Okay, open them!” Liz commands again. Syndra’s eyes fly open as she gazes down at her palm. In it sits a small handful of the daintiest marigold flowers Syndra had ever seen. “Do you like them?” Liz questions. Syndra hugs this bundle of joy tight as she whispers in her ear, “I love them”. Liz takes the bouquet and begins to place them behind Syndras’ and her ears. “Now we look the same”, she exclaims with a smile. Just then the door opens wider and Syndras heart begins to flutter. There standing in the doorway stood Michael. A handsome man with a full mustache and beard matching his blond short cut hair. His piercing green eyes and dark tan skin contrasting one another. He ushers Syndra in and gives her a warm and gentle hug. “It’s good to see you”, Michael says. He motions to the seat at the simple table and Syndra sits. “ Breakfast is ready and I know, I’ll keep it small.” “Wouldn’t want you getting in trouble for being late again”, he firmly said. Syndra sits and puts Liz down, who quickly scrambles into her own chair. The smell of fresh bacon and cooked egg caused Syndra's empty stomach to respond before she could. “Knew you’d be hungry after your shift”, Michael responded as he glanced over his shoulder at her, locking eyes for a moment. Syndra patted her belly and replied, “Well hopefully this time your cooking won’t make me sick”. This was an outright lie as Michael’s food was always tasty, but she enjoyed teasing him. His only response was a simple “Hah” as he began to distribute food. Syndra then spent the next several minutes in what her head was in heaven. Just her two favorite people in the world and her playing house. Maybe one day she could wake up to this rather than her dingy barracks she lamented. After a while, a long while Syndra sat up in a frenzy said her goodbyes, and bolted outside towards the keep. She was going to be in trouble for being late again, but it was worth it,she thought.

Syndras’ day was as boring and repetitive as her night shift. She wasn’t allowed to go to bed till she polished each and every last sword in the armory. She was sequestered from the outside world as she set about her task. She was the last to know about the danger that befell the city. She was the last to know her world was about to come crashing down

The only warning she got came from the horn of Alzais. The deep bellowing sound shook her bones. She sat puzzled for a moment as there was no way it could yet be noon. She sat about her work again as it bellowed again and this time it was accompanied by the sounds of armor clanking footsteps as dozens of men and women rushed into the armory. She shouted around to those near her, “What is happening?” “Dragons!” someone fearfully shouted. Syndra's heart sank for the first time today and the blood drained from her face. Dragons? Here of all places. Why? Then the why was replaced with another thought. An image of the two most important people in her life. She shook the fear and summoned her courage as she charged from the armory mace and shield in hand into the bright sunlight and the unknown.

Syndra took the stairs two at a time, sometimes fumbling and having to right herself at the last minute. She reached the battlements with a dozen or more guards. She scanned the horizon and could not make out the shapes of the great drakes. What she did see was the great blaze as the town she had just passed through was being consumed. She also noticed pockets of greenish gas that lingered in places. She didn’t have time to lose. She rushed out of the keep ignoring the various higher-ups who were shouting orders in a frenzy. She could hear the multiple roars behind her and the thrum of bows letting loose. Syndra plowed by the droves of villagers making their way into what they hoped to be their salvation. As she hit the outer edges of Light Tree her breath was consumed by smoke and ashes sting her eyes. She rushed toward that small little building that housed her small slice of Heaven. “Please, please let them be okay”, she pleaded to her god.

She saw it as she rounded the bend, almost falling as she took the corner sharply. She dropped her mace and shield. The house stood erect, untouched by any of the destruction. She leaped over the gate and burst through the door. There she saw them huddled together with their eyes shut tight. Michael holding a scared Liz in his arms. Syndra rushed to them and held them tight, but they never reciprocated the hold. She shook them and they did not stir. She pressed her head to their chest and heard nothing. She opened their mouths and recoiled as a burst of acrid air hit her, sending her reeling. She slumped to her knees as the tears filled her eyes. “No, please God, not them please” she shouted. Then she fell forward and a primal scream filled with grief, hopelessness, and rage burst forth from her mouth. She crawled towards the two still bodies and kissed them both on their heads ignoring the poisonous fumes that threatened to make her pass out. She took her bright yellow marigold and set them in Liz's hands. Syndra stood as anger washed over her. She was out for blood as she rushed to the keep.

Syndra had never been afraid of death and now she actually sought it out.

Syndra fought tooth and nail against the onslaught of the great drakes and their minions. She along with what remained of the castle guards a dark elf spell slinger, an elven archer, and a human warrior of the light from the same order as her. Together they fought as the blood ran down the walls. As the shields, they wielded splintered and broke under the onslaught of attacks. Until their arms became burdened with their weapons. All the while the green monstrosity sat back and watched. Toying with them as they fought against insurmountable odds. Waiting for them to no longer be even considered a threat. Then and only then did the green dragon allow them to pass. It exhaled its’ toxic fumes, which made their final moments excruciatingly painful.

Syndras’ crawled on hands and knees toward the thing that had robbed her of her dreams. She swore she could hear it chuckle as she finally succumbed to the toxin.

Syndras’ thoughts in the dark were of her calling out to the light. To her god. To aid her in her final endeavor of vengeance. She heard nothing in response. How could this be what the gods had planned, she thought. She cursed in anger at nothing and everything.

“It seems you finally understand that the gods have no plan,” a deep silky voice said. Syndra shot up from a cold floor covered in ice. She stood and looked around. “Is this the afterlife”, she said. “Yes and no,” the same deep voice said in a jovial tone. “You are somewhere in between. My lovely abode or prison rather”, he continued. Syndra turned towards the noise and saw a giant of a humanoid sitting on a throne encased in ice. Nothing but the piercing yellow eyes gave notice that the figure was alive. “I have a proposition for you my dear.. Syndra was it?”, he chuckled. “The light has failed you, but I can offer you what you seek.” Images begin to dance in Syndra's head of her standing over the corpse of the green dragon. Of strength and power and most importantly of her standing hand in hand with the two people she wanted to be her family. “What do I have to do to bring them back?”, she said grimly. “I have a few simple requests but the most pertinent is my freedom,” the large figure said. “Free me and I have the power to pluck them from death's grasp and give them back to you”. “We will need something from those dragons who robbed you of your happiness.” “Take from them their essence and bring them to me so that I can use it to break these shackles.” “We’ll get to that minor detail in time but first let's get you fixed up.” “I can’t have my champion looking so disheveled”, he laughs in a pompous manner. The laughter trails off as Syndras’ vision begins to fade as the ice whips around her.

Syndra awakens to the blinding light of the sun. No longer was she in the company of the figure. Now she was back where she started? The keep didn’t look the same. It was older and more rundown. Dust and debris covered the area and where it didn’t vines took over. The piles of bodies around her were gone save the three others who had fought with her. They rose as well and she could see that they had a thin layer of frost over them, in fact, so did Syndra. Syndra looked at all of them and a wave of understanding seems to pass between them. They all had their reasons for taking the pact, but regardless of what it was, they all shared one thing in common, to free their new master. Then and only then could they have their wishes granted. Syndra focused on that thought of Liz and Michael walking hand in hand with her. She looked around to the others and sternly says, “Who wants to slay a dragon?”