The fortress' mood in general was very chipper. After all, they had all witnessed an Abhorrant single handedly torturing and killing a full grown Brass dragon that very evening. There's nothing quite as fulfilling for an army than a display of sheer power. But to Malachive, something was not right. Although his plans were coming into fruition, he did not feel anything good or bad. He was completely empty.

He strolled down into his chambers and laid down in his bed, his eyes wide awake as he stared at his ceiling.

"I can no longer read your thoughts" a female voice said softly. "And you look much different than before, more like an attractive human instead of a half Abhorrant beast. The horns were not a good look for you."

Malachive sat up and stared at his mother, who had not aged a day since he last saw her years ago.

"I know" Malachive said calmly.

"Do not alert anyone to my presence here, Malachive, the Abhorrants would be less than kind if they I know I walked in their fortress" Drakkara said. "I wasn't exactly the most hospitable person when they walked Algoron all those years ago."

"It's MY fortress, mother." Malachive said.

"Ah, of course it is" Drakkara responded with a sarcastic tone to match her sarcastic smile.

"What do you want?" Malachive asked.

"I have some concerns and I also bring to you a warning" Drakkara stated. "What you are allowing, even encouraging Seanan to do is both dangerous and very disrespectful towards me. I want you to stop it. Stop it now!" Drakkara glared at Malachive with her eyes warning that at any moment, she could explode in anger.

"What is the matter, mother? Are you afraid that mortals will learn that there is magic available in this world that doesn't require your permission to exist?" Malachive said with a smile. He said this knowing full well that his words would strike a nerve.

"That's NOT magic!" Drakkara said loudly. "It's a perversion. It's an abomination! You have no idea what you are doing and I can't always protect you from."

"Protect me?" Malachive interrupted angrily. "Where were you when I was stolen from the heavens to be raised by mortals? Where were you when my real moth.... The woman who loved and raised me died and left me here alone? Where were you when I fell in love only to have them snatched away by IDIOCY? Where were you when I couldn't control my power and was made an outcast by all who knew me? Where were you when your very own tower of magic barred me from living there? Protect me? Do I look like I need your protection? I do not need anything from you!"

"Is that a fact?" Drakkara asks using her calm voice once again.

"That is a fact!" Malachive stated boldly.

"Well then at least I tried" Drakkara said before staring at Malachive as if she were trying to memorize his face. "We won't see each other again" she added. "What?" Malachive asked quickly.

"The Gods have met, Malachive. All of them. You are exiled and will stay on Algoron for your remaining days" She said with almost sadness in her voice.

"When have I ever left?" Malachive replied sarcastically.

"There's more. And I assume they knew I would tell you this, but consider it a mother's final act to protect her son. They will be sending someone to kill you." Drakkara said with full seriousness.

Malachive stared at Drakkara a moment before speaking. "Who?"

"I don't know. They won't tell me. I can only tell you who it is not, and that is me and Taliena. We both protested. No one else did. Not even Kadiya, and of course not even your father. The things you are doing is of great risk to the world that we built and the Abhorrants presence here is beyond .. Insulting. Do you have any idea how many of us died to those beasts before we won that war? One already came very close to killing Cliath! Not that we would miss him, but who would they go after next? They will turn on you one day Malachive and you will not see it coming if you do not open your eyes. You are the only one who walks this world that can kill them and that doesn't make them your servants, it makes them fear you and it's only a matter of time before they kill you."

Malachive stared at his mother without even a blink. "I can handle the Abhorrants. But if I am to be outcast from the other gods and assassinated, then so be it. But you tell them this, you tell them to come to me. Tell them to come to me and be prepared for a war unlike they ever could have imagined. I will not go quietly. And if they dare attempt this, they better do the job well because I will become their worst fears. I will become even your worst fear. You tell them."

Drakkara looked at Malachive and nodded. "Malachive, I wish things could have been different. I really do."

In a blink, Drakkara was gone and Malachive stood in his room alone. For the first time since he started his campaign, he felt something. Fear ran through him like a cold wind. War was upon him much faster than he had anticipated and this time, it wouldn't start with his armies. Malachive stormed quickly out of his room. The Abhorrants would need to know that they could expect a God coming to visit.