Hounds Rising

Myla showed her newly-given card to Rhokhishi.

“Looks like I get to ask you a question! Hmm… What’s up with your performance name?”

“Oh, you mean Philomena Ballbuster?”

“Yeah! Where did that come from?”

Rhokhishi chuckled to herself. She took her shot first, then looked around the table.

“Before I knew any of you, I was a part of The Eternal Pillars. After working with them, I left and ended up in Ilavine. Trying to find money, I joined a small troupe that provided services to people who paid well. I was supposed to be a big, strong woman that men could be submissive to. It was fun for a bit, and I made a decent amount of coin, but I couldn’t stop laughing during shows. Eventually, it turned into a comedy show, where I would take people on stage and tell jokes, be a dominatrix, and do silly things on stage. I ended up meeting Lopper and Rags in Ilavine, who could direct me to the right people to get some leatherwork done. We became friends, and eventually, we all left and joined the carnival at Master Elysium’s request.”

“Sounds like an exciting life! Traveling, taking jobs, and making the best of it,” Ana stated.

“Yeah, but a dominatrix show in a carnival wasn’t something Elysium wanted. He likes his shows to be a little more kid-friendly. I mostly have been just helping out Lopper and Rags with the shop. When I’m not doing that, I’ve been performing juggling shows, pounding stakes, and raising tent poles.”

Lyla sat upright in her seat, a quizzical look on her face.

“Wait, I thought you were gay, Kiki?”

“I am?”

“Pounding meat and raising poles doesn’t sound very gay, Kiki,” Lyla smirked.

“You’re one to talk, little one,” Rhokhishi laughed and smiled back. She pulled one of her juggling balls out of the pouch and threw it at Lyla’s arm playfully.

“Okay, let’s go again,” Lyla said, reshuffling the six cards and laying them out in front of each person. They all turned their cards over, and Rhokhishi saw she had the low card again. Looking up, Lyla turned her card around to show she had the high card.

“I’m not saying you’re cheating, but you are shuffling,” Rhokhishi said.

“Oh! But I have a good question. What do you think The Eternal Pillars might need from the Draconic Monasteries?”

Rhokhishi thought for a moment, confused about the question. She let her thoughts move around her mind, trying to find any connection between the two. She couldn’t remember when they were aligned, but there was a lot she didn’t know back then.

“Mostly power. They might seem inspirational, but at the end of the day, they’re only trying to gain more for themselves.”

“Isn’t that what most churches do, though?” Mr. Muffins cut in. “Churches, cults, monasteries… They’re all just there to gain more for themselves.”

“Not all paths are cult paths, though. The Path of Light is only a concept and philosophy that the people of Lyla and my heritage believe in. While our family has been followers for as long as I know, I wouldn’t say we’re a cult.”

“Are you saying we’re in a cult, Mr. Muffins?” Lyla asked him, with a drunken look of worry and hurt.

“I don’t know much about the path of light, you two, but most things that involve followers tend to be a cult of some sort. Following a doctrine, tenets, philosophies. Unless it’s proven true, backed by science, it is probably a cult to some degree.”

Rhokhishi watched as Lyla pulled a book from a hidden pouch in her satchel and laid it on the table before everyone. It was made of blackened leather, with what looked like a dragon scale with various colors that seemed to move in the light. The book had three latches on the side as if a lock had at one point been attached to them to stop people from opening and reading it. Lyla gestured to the book and spoke with her words now slurring a little.

“If the Draconic Monasteries are a cult, I don’t know why they didn’t want anyone to have this.”

“What is it?” Leaf asked her.

“It’s called the Book of Io. I’ve only been able to read some of it, though.”

“Can I look at it?” He asked.

“Sure.”

Lyla pushed the book across the table towards Leaf.

“The front of the book started to vibrate and glow during the fight with the dragon. I’m still unsure why. Maybe the scale is connected in some way?"