Kaddyr

 The office was not that big. The blandness of the walls and furniture made me think twice about whoever thought to furnish a palace with second-rate goods. We all barely fit inside. Behind the giant desk by the far wall was a large wolfman. His appearance was a mixture of Fenrir and Hercules. Big, muscular, and imposing. His fur was gray and white. He somehow dwarfed the desk.

 Abryi bowed. "We have come to seek your wisdom." He really did like putting it on thick. "There has been some kind of issue to address with Mara's training."

 The wolfman arose from his chair. His eyes bore into me as if he was trying to burrow into my soul. I could feel the air suddenly grow dense. I put my hands up to shield myself from whatever might come. Except, there was nothing. The air returned to normal.

 "I see no issue, King Over the Mountain." The wolfman sat back down. "Child of the Ram, I am Kaddyr Lothbrok. What is it that has brought you to me?"

 Rygol had already made me worry. I was hesitant to ask anything at all. Especially now that he had dismissed Abryi so easily.  It must be great to be a god. I thought to myself. I honestly didn't know what to make of him. He was imposing. He didn't make me feel safe like Nesbeth did. That was a feeling I hadn't felt in quite some time.

 "It is. Most times." Kaddyr said suddenly. "But, I know that is not why you came to see me, Mara Windmire. I already know who you are."

 "Is no thought sacred to you gods?" I burst. I was finally tired of everyone reading my mind.

 "We can only hear the thoughts you project." Kaddyr said coldly. "If you don't want us to hear them, reject us."

 "O' Lord of the Mountains," Abryi began again, "there is something concerning us that we require knowledge of."

 "I'm sure we will be getting to that, Abryi lez Rayne, once Mara has given us the situation." Kaddyr replied, very nonchalantly. It seemed like Kaddyr wanted to do everything to dismiss Abryi as much as he could. I could tell Abryi wasn't used to it either.

 I took a deep breath. I decided to start at the beginning of the fight. I briefly explained that Yog had been cornering us and instigating battle after battle. I told him about how hard it was for us to do any damage to the god. But, when I started using my abilities, he suddenly faltered and shifted into a larger and more menacing form before I landed a stronger blow to him. I then mentioned that he vanished.

 Kaddyr listened as I talked, silently with his hands folded against his face, one over the other with the back of his hand against his nose. He nodded slightly as I spoke, which I acknowledged as him taking everything in. He waited until I was done before he said anything at all. "So good for all of you to join us." He addressed the crowd that had formed in the back of the room. "Thoren, son of Dhel, I see you managed to finally capture Harvey, and Campbell, you have finally brought in Ashitaka. Now, if only you could bring your brother before me." Then, with a nod. "Ah, Talanys' boys. Rygol, Gaian, and Grey." Kaddyr once more rose from his chair. "Mara, you have indeed fought with Yog Thalthos, the Lord of the Shadows. That crystal that you have described is something no other Fraction can see. You alone inherited Ban'iel's power. A gift, you may say. Given to you for his life. That object is known as a Soul Crystal. Destroy that and you destroy the one to whom it belongs." He paused a moment. "That is not all you can do with your power, however. I just wonder what exactly Nesbeth and Rammel have been doing all this time if not preparing you for the task they entrusted you with."

 "Rammel?" I was confused. I had never heard that name before Campbell started using it. I was still unsure about who this person was or why it was such a big deal that I was the daughter of Rammel.

 "He is the Ram. Your father." Now, it was Kaddyr's turn to be confused. "What exactly has Nesbeth been doing all this time? Has he not educated you at all?"

 Murmurs grew throughout the room.

 "If Nesbeth had been doing his job, you would have understood your place."

 The murmurs grew louder.

 Frustration. Indignation. Wrath. All of those things began to take root in me. With each insult, I felt it fester and rot. Something in me gave, releasing a sensation I could only remember in glimpses. Then, everything went black.