Lyrianne of the Song, Part 6

Hymns of Family, Part 6

Lyrianne surveyed her mother's room from the doorway, her eyes pausing to take in the sight of her brother's family. Mama was perched on the edge of her bed listening warmly to the young No'lan chattering about his most recent studies, the young dracoling squealing with laughter at his grandmother's startled reaction to the small brief sparks emanating from his finger snaps. No'lan's older sister Gianna cradled the baby near the window while carrying on a two-sided conversation of happy baby coos at the fading Sagewood flowers littering the grounds, their delicate petals carried across the dirt by the whims of the wind. Periodically Gianna would beckon the wind with her finger, spinning it in a tight circle to collect a mass of petals before suddenly propelling them towards the transparent silk of the window to explode in a burst of pinks, reds, and browns. Lyrianne smiled wistfully as the baby's joyful shrieks elicited a grin from Mama before No'lan jealously demanded she watch another of his magical displays.
Lyrianne slipped into the room and took up a position next to her brother and sister-in-law, nodding her head politely towards both in greeting. They returned in kind, smiling in her direction before returning their attention towards their children. Tianna's face bore the visage of a proud mother watching her children behave for the relatives. A'drol's was tempered with a wistful sadness, and a realization that moments like this with Mama would be slowly coming to an end.
"I see their schooling is going well." Lyrianne broke the silence first, nodding towards her nieces and nephew. "They will become powerful mages someday."
"If that's what they want," Tianna corrected proudly without looking away from her children. "They certainly have the aptitude. But a career in magic isn't for everyone."
"Career or not, they are already mages, Tianna." Lyrianne's smile held the mixed emotions of past memories. "They've certainly outpaced my own meager magical skills."
"You have your own talents." A'drol spared a reassuring smile for his sister before returning his attention to his children. "Your talents with thread are magical in their own right. You really should study threadmancy, you already have the aptitude. Remember poor Master Dorian? I don't think he actually taught you those spells."
Lyrianne laughed at the memory, partly from the reminder although she had to admit she was embarrassed at his praise. She had taken rudimentary magical training from a skilled Naturalist when she was younger but had shown little interest in mastering the abilities, preferring instead to use her lessons to torment her poor tutor with practical jokes. Her mother used to tease her about the time she had carefully rearranged the threads in Master Dorian's clothing to bind his legs together without his notice, causing him to topple into an undignified shrieking heap when he attempted to give chase as she bolted for freedom from his lessons. The old mage had quit that day, and her parents had not hired a replacement.
"The things you put that poor man through." Lyrianne looked up to find her mother giggling at the memory, pride written across her face. "We were never able to find another mage to tutor you after the tales he told of your exploits. I told your father that I shouldn't encourage you but I was so proud of your creativity. Do you remember..." Mama paused in an effort to stifle her laughter. "Do you remember the time... you unraveled his robe..." She paused again, struggling against her mirth. "Just at the hemline... Just enough that when he lit that spark... His caught himself on fire?" She couldn't hold back anymore, laughter finally spilling out uncontrollably as she struggled to catch her breath.
No'lan looked up in awe. "Did you really set someone on fire, Aunt Lyrianne?"
Lyrianne caught Tianna's warning glare. "Only a little."
"Will you teach me?"
Lyrianne leaned in and grinned at him conspiratorially, pretending to mull it over. "No."
"But Aunt Lyrianne...!"
She walked over and tousled his hair, the black strands now splayed in every direction. "I was a terrible student. Don't be like your aunt. There is so much to learn, and you want people to want to teach you. Otherwise..." She backed away from her nephew, holding her hand out in front of her in a fist before suddenly spreading her fingers wide. No'lan's hair obeyed, quickly and neatly untangling itself, each strand falling perfectly in place. "... You might end up like me. Magically perfected hair, and completely useless otherwise."
No'lan beamed back at Lyrianne before wrapping her legs in a hug. "I love you," he mumbled into her thighs before releasing his grip and smiling up at her. "Wanna see my new trick?"
Before she could voice her curiosity No'lan was already hard at work, sending miniature lightning arcing between his hands, leaping from finger snap to finger snap. Lyrianne couldn't help but watch with amusement as he contorted his face with concentration, his pink tongue periodically darting from his mouth to caress the red scales of his cheek. He noticed her attention then, breaking his concentration and sending the miniscule lightning to dissolve into his left hand.
"Aunt Lyrianne!" The disappointment grew thick in his voice. "You weren't watching!"
"I was watching the most important part of all." Lyrianne smiled proudly at her nephew. "You are quite the skilled Elementalist."
No'lan beamed back. "Do you want to see another?"
Mama interrupted their exchange from her perch on the bed, her voice frail but kind. "I'd like to talk to your aunt for a moment, if you can spare her attention? And your father. Why don't you go play with your sisters for a bit?" Mama beckoned Lyrianne and A'drol to her side as No'lan skipped to join Gianna and the baby at the window.
"Yes, Mama?" Lyrianne carefully sat on the bed next to her mother. Her brother stood nearby, attentive and cautious.
Mama turned her piercing eyes to A'drol. "What's this your wife mentioned about Lyrianne and the Goddesses' favor?"
Lyrianne felt her cheeks flush with embarrassment. Of course her brother would have shared their discussions with Tianna, but somehow knowing that Tianna also knew made Lyrianne wonder how many others knew. Not that it really mattered, she supposed, but she enjoyed her simple, private life, and direct messages from the Goddesses were rare enough they tended to grow into tales told across Rol'na, embellished with each retelling. She shuddered unconsciously at the thought of unwelcome fame. Surely it was only a matter of time.
"It's Lyrianne's story to tell..." A'drol floundered.
Lyrianne couldn't help but smirk a bit at his discomfort. Clearly Mama had been fading to Dementia for so long her brother had forgotten how to handle her intensity when looking out for her children. "The Goddesses told me they had a job for me, and they'd let me know later what it was."
Mama's eyes turned to gaze past Lyrianne, as if she could see something no one else could. Her voice was soft and distant. "What a blessing we have on Rol'na, our abilities to listen to the songs of the Goddesses, and the freedom to act accordingly." She turned her piercing scrutiny towards Lyrianne. "The Northern Reach doesn't have these same freedoms. That's why I had to leave."
"...What do you mean?" Lyrianne tried to shake her confusion at the sudden change of topic. "Northern Reach?"
Mama's face took on a soft smile, wistful about years long past, oblivious to her daughter's confusion. "The Heathen Church controls the people, and will not let them listen to the songs." Mama's voice was childlike now, innocent and fearful. "Someone needs to make them stop."
"Make who stop?" Lyrianne looked to her brother for guidance, but he appeared as lost as she felt.
"Someone needs to go to Red Chapel and make them stop. Make them stop!"
Mama's hands were shaking now as Mama pulled her knees to her chest and began rocking herself in jerky, stuttered motions. Lyrianne looked towards Tianna helplessly and watched as her sister-in-law slipped from the room to find help.
"Grandma? Are you okay?" No'lan started towards Mama before Gianna grabbed the scruff of his shirt, the multicolored fabric pulling taut until he stopped to turn questioningly towards his big sister.
"Stay put," she instructed. "Give her space. I don't want anyone to get hurt."
No'lan protested feebly but nodded his head begote turning back to Mama. "I love you Grandma! It's going to be okay!"
Tianna returned in that moment, two caretakers close at her heels. They took up positions on either side of Mama and helped rotate her into the bed. The smaller one, a multicolor striped Katanoj with kindly green eyes, motioned her head towards the door.
"She'll be fine," the feline reassured them kindly. "But you need to leave. Now. You can visit again tomorrow."
A'drol began to protest but Lyrianne gripped his arm. He looked down at her in surprise.
"She's right. We should go."
A'drol swallowed nervously, looking worriedly at their mother, before allowing Lyrianne to guide him through the doorway and into the temple.