Part 2

It took many more hours for Syndra to explain her plans to Taenya, but at the end Taenya was left shocked and afraid. Syndra so casually spoke of murdering tens of thousands of people for no crime other than who they were related to, and with great malice and glee as she did so. But that was the Princess after all, she carried the pain of her betrayal in her heart for all these years, of course it would have only gotten worse over the centuries.

"Princess... no, Syndra, are you sure about all this?" Taenya eventually asked her. "You're describing a sonata of blood, one that would make even the most ruthless warlords hesitate."

Syndra looked back at Taenya for a long moment before answering. She wanted to rage at her, but then remembered she didn't experience it firsthand. The snow outside briefly intensified, then calmed. Syndra slowed inhaled and exhaled, her eyes closed, before she answered.

"Taenya, I understand your hesitation. You weren't there when it happened, you didn't see your family put to the sword, your homes burnt, every record of you destroyed in an attempt to erase your family. I have held that pain in my heart for hundreds of years. Meeting the insane Emperor Lazarus, he reminded me a bit of my father."

"You met Emperor Lazarus? The Last Orcish Emperor? When?" Taenya demanded, incredulous.

"A few weeks ago. I made Lady Eigengrau very unhappy when I did so, but such is the price of time magic. Emperor Lazarus reminded me of my duty to my subjects, and how I must not disappoint. I'm still the Avalanche Princess and I must return the suffering endured a hundredfold, no, a thousandfold. All those responsible for the betrayal of House Valmaris must pay."

Taenya still didn't like it. But it's not like she was capable of stopping a myth with the backing of half the North. She recalled something Neptis said to her not long before she left The University, though.

"The price of love when faced with tragedy. Of course. The world was built on pain." Taenya said. "The Dawn itself was tragedy, why would the world be any different?"

"I don't expect you to understand, Taenya. I expect you to not interfere." Syndra said, politely but firmly. "But since you aren't here to help, I need you gone."

With those words, Syndra made a symbol using both of her hands, and Taenya vanished from sight.

"Princess where did you send her?" The Captain asked, looking concerned.

"I sent her home, back to The University. The North won't be safe for her for a long time once we get started. Now then, the Capital. I have some ideas on how to deal with the Usurper King, but nothing solid yet."