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Post by Markus Everglade on Jun 19, 2009 1:37:14 GMT -5
“That’s not what I’m afraid of.” He told her, grinning oddly. “I’ve always been terrified that I’d be the reason they’re getting hurt, and that I could never feel anything because of it. None of you are dead, though, and I care about all of you.” “Are you trying to tell me something?” Anella asked, confused. “Did Laura know that you were out there?” “I think so.” He stared at his hands, sensing rather than seeing the scar beneath the cloth covering his palm. The weight of his sword was still there, always there, but it wasn’t quite as menacing as it usually was. Anella took an unsure step forward, trying to meet his eyes but it was obvious he was thinking about something else. She slipped her fingers under one of his palms, staring at his hands now too. “What are you looking for?” “A reason, anything. But there isn’t…” “I’m not sure I understand.” Anella said, and he finally looked up. She was a little disappointed to see that the blank, expressionless mask was still there but she didn’t comment on it. “Anella, I’m not sure that I can say this, or even that I should say this.” Raythor said, the tone of his voice strangely flat. “I just never thought that I’d want to. Anella…Anella, I-” “Hey you two, Thunder’s been bothering me to feed him for some reason.” Kylara said, stopping next to them and putting one hand on her hip. Then she raised an eyebrow. I’m sorry; I couldn’t help catching the last bit of that. ‘Anella, I…’ what?” “I…” Raythor said, thinking quickly and keeping his face as impassive as possible. Nothing was coming to mind that he’d ever want to say to, in front of, or near Kylara. “I can’t remember what my middle name is. I apologize for that.” “Why didn’t you ever think you’d want to say that?” “I hate it when I can’t remember stupid things like that, but for some reason I’m thrilled I don’t have a middle name. I’ve never liked them, and you always end up with the worst initials. I just didn’t want poor Anella to feel bad that she has one.” He sounded slightly amused with himself by the time he finished his long, meaningless explanation. Anella could see he was lying in his eyes so clearly that she barely even had to try to read them. “Sorry to break your heart, but you have a middle name.” Kylara said. She didn’t seem to notice how close he was to laughing. “It’s James, actually. When the story first became well known, RJK was like a bad word. I always wondered what the ‘J’ stood for, so I looked it up.” “The scary part of that is that you knew that and I didn’t. Perhaps I was still in emotional shock and that point and time.” “You still are.” Kylara replied flippantly. “Anyway, I’m going to go get your stupid dog. Then you can say whatever it is you want to say to Anella, and I don’t mean your deep regret for her possession of a middle name.” She strode away, irritated but still slightly pleased with herself. “Raythor James Karian. That’s a very nice name.” Anella said. She hadn’t been able to speak a single word during the entire exchange, and the sides of her eyes burned slightly. He can’t really have been trying to say what she thought he had been, that was impossible. Things like that didn’t happen to Anella Nightheart, they happened to people
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Post by Markus Everglade on Jun 19, 2009 1:37:32 GMT -5
like Markus or Laura or Kylara. Strong people. Yet, she found herself saying: “You can’t say it now, can you?” “No, I can’t.” He replied softly. “Then I’m not going to ask what it was.” “I hope that someday you won’t need to.” Raythor said, giving her a smile. She returned it, much more hesitantly. “Let’s go feed your poor dog.”
****
The door into Markus and Blade’s room pushed open again, but this time Dasher strode in, trying to look even more detached and professional than Laura had. The two boys exchanged a ‘here we go again’ sort of look, but didn’t actually say anything. Dasher glanced from one to the other, clearly to indicate that she’s been expecting silence and was prepared to combat it with more silence. Then she flicked back her ears and changed her mind. “The spell Tobias used on you is called ‘phasing shadow’, which, might I say, can only be the product of a very original Shadow’s mind. I mean, wow, putting the word shadow in a shadow based spell? I’m completely blown away.” Dasher said sarcastically. “I didn’t name it, so you can save your righteous indignation.” Blade responded coolly. “Perhaps they didn’t want to use ‘twinkle’ or ‘glitter’, like every light spell known to elementist.” “Regardless of your breed’s lack of imagination, the effects of this thing are pretty scary. It can be used for mind control.” “But it’s against the law to, if I remember my endless hours of being lectured on the subject well enough.” “Yes, I was getting to that.” Dasher said, annoyed. “The point is that Tobias was slowly destroying your minds, which is why both of you couldn’t stop screaming or move. That spell has the ability to cease all motion and all resistance to itself.” “Where are you going with this?” Blade said. “We’ve already been through it; you aren’t going to scare us.” “I’m just wondering why you didn’t block it, Blade.” “I was protecting Theo. Besides, Markus didn’t block it either.” “Markus is human…mostly.” “I’m human!” Markus protested. “Could a full human knock out a spirit general by attacking her with blue energy that only works when you’re touching water?” Dasher asked coyly. “No…but I was just thinking that the power came from Mercury’s vial of blood in my system. You’re saying it actually changed what I am as well?” “It certainly could have, I’m just trying to keep you open to that possibility.” “If it changed me…then my children…” “Could inherit whatever this is too. Don’t worry, that doesn’t seem very likely.” Dasher’s face softened a little. “Ivy didn’t have a choice, Markus.” “Excuse me, miss know it all, but why are the cuts Tobias gave us gradually disappearing and the ones we got from everyone else not?” Blade cut in.
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Post by Markus Everglade on Jun 19, 2009 1:38:00 GMT -5
“It doesn’t last forever, obviously. The cuts, as part of the spell, fade with it.” Dasher said, rolling her eyes. She padded over to Blade’s side, star flashing very faintly as she worked on his few remaining injuries. Dasher leaned over by his ear, whispering: “I’m just glad I don’t have to look for you beneath your silly stars.” ****
Gabriel was sleeping, slumped against the wall. He’d refused to take the cot tonight, just as he’d refused it the night before. He kept telling her that no lady should have to sleep on the floor. The weak bonds around Rose’s hands had long since broken and she had never been so happy to separate her wrists before. She watched Gabriel’s chest rise and fall, her eyes feeling heavy. Rose pressed her fingers into the cover of Mary’s diary. “Is this what you meant, Mary?” Rose whispered, “Is this why I’m running out of time? Am I going to die here? Is Gabriel going to die?” Of course, there was no answer. Just the room and the darkness and Gabriel’s chest rising and falling…rising and falling… At least that meant he was alive and so was she, at least for now. She glanced down at the page reading ‘Be not afraid, fair maiden, for it shall find you once again’ for a second time, and trying to make sense of it. Then her eyelids slid shut and she didn’t think at all.
****
“Red, green, blue, two sevens, six threes and a picture of what I assumed was a dog.” Raythor said, adding a very long sigh at the end. Waiting for Vyncent’s army to get ready was taking longer than it should have, and Saria kept flashing pieces of paper in front of his face and asking him what was on them. “Why, might I ask, did you chose this game?” “Laura told me about your memory trick, and I wanted to see it.” Saria said cheerfully. “It’s a lot of fun. You just have to teach me sometime. This ones going to be really hard.” “None of this has been hard,” Raythor said dully. Saria ignored him, flipping the sheet over and inking away at the back. Then she turned it over and held it in front of his face again, counted to three, and whipped it around. “Ok, go!” She said excitedly. “Half a horse, two flowers and a feather with one part shaded in near the bottom.” “Where are they on the paper?” Saria asked. He stared straight ahead, as though he were still studying the paper. “Hmm… the horse is here, the first flower is there the second is there and the feather is there. The shading would be around here, I’d say.” He touched the air in front of him in five different places as he spoke, not really thinking about it. Saria clapped her hands. “See, Markus, I told you that he does that. He has some invisible wall that helps him remember things.” “It’s not an invisible wall, I just still see the paper if I want to.” Raythor said with a shrug. Markus gave him an odd look. He returned it. “What, is that not normal either?”
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Post by Markus Everglade on Jun 19, 2009 1:38:27 GMT -5
“It’s about as normal as my hair.” The prince responded. He frowned, thinking. “You only need to look at something for three seconds, and you remember it?” “Yeah, that’s how I learned to read and write.” “Saria, try it on me.” Markus suggested. She nodded and picked up one of the old sheets, flashing it in front of his face and counting to three. “What was on it?” Saria asked, grinning. “Uh…a drawing of something and a bunch of words.” “You’re just saying that. That one was the word ‘grass’, six fives and a drawing of this really fuzzy cat.” “Raythor, you didn’t even look at it this time and you barely had a chance to see what sheet she picked up.” Markus pointed out. “Come on, you really don’t see an image… Laura, could you come over here for a second?” “Why Laura?” “She never lies. If she says she can’t see it, I’ll believe that I’m a freak of nature. Again.” “What do you guys want?” Laura asked, tugging at her bow string and looking nervous. “Look at this drawing for three seconds and tell us what you remember.” Raythor explained. Saria flipped the sheet and flashed it at Laura. “Was that a person?” Laura asked, confused. “It’s supposed to look like Anella, according to Saria that is, and there’s a frog in the corner and three sevens near the top. It was the first picture she did.” He said automatically. Then he groaned. “I’m sorry, but I don’t understand. Is that the same trick you showed me before?” Laura inquired, raising an eyebrow. “Apparently, it’s not a trick.” “It’s… it’s…” Markus said, struggling to describe what ever it was the dark haired boy was doing, “a perfect memory.” “It doesn’t seem so ‘perfect’. It’s missing a pretty big section.” “Do you want it back?” Everyone looked up as the new voice entered the conversation. David continued with: “Because there’s only one person who can fill in the blanks.” “Then if we can, we keep her alive.” Laura said resolutely. Before Kenetari’s brother could protest, she crossed her arms. “I don’t want to hear anything out of you. You deserve to remember your parents.” “And you deserve to know what really happened to your mother.” Markus interrupted. “Doubtless she knows that too. Kenetari might even have killed her.” “I think we’d all like a few answers from Miss Karian.” David said sourly. “She has a lot to answer for.”
****
“It can’t be much farther.” Markus said, but his hands gripped the reins a little tighter. He didn’t want to be the leader of fifty trained soldiers or responsible for his
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Post by Markus Everglade on Jun 19, 2009 1:38:45 GMT -5
friends lives, but he learned a long time ago that what he wanted didn’t matter. He just wished he wasn’t so young and so inexperienced, but he’d been up all last night going over tactics and choosing where to put everyone among the ranks of Vyncent’s men, based on their strengths. Theo was the only one left behind and it was just one more missing part of their quickly fading whole. In the beginning, they had been a bunch of nothing more than kids wandering around in the forest. Now… now they weren’t quite so innocent. “I’ve got to fight her.” Laura said suddenly. Raythor looked over at her. “Fight who and why?” “Kenetari. I have this beautiful sword and it’s never left a mark in her evil and twisted skin.” “From the mouth of a peasant to a future queen, you’ll have much better luck getting an arrow through her ‘twisted and evil skin’. Your aim is incredible.” “A future queen?” Laura said. She gazed intently at Markus, who just smiled because he hadn’t really been listening. Laura laughed. “I’m glad to see you happy.” The prince said, still completely clueless. Laura just nodded. “It’s inevitable, trust me.” Raythor said to Laura. “Wait, what is?” Markus asked, finally snapping out of it. “You’ll see at the time, I’m sure.” “I can’t wait,” Laura said, clearly cheered up. Markus just kept smiling. Tallith, who had been listening, nudged Anella. The girl started. “Huh? Oh, it’s just you.” “Interesting conversation they were having,” Tallith said casually. “I wasn’t paying much attention, actually.” “Well, they sort of mentioned marriage.” Before Anella could reply to that, Markus burst out: “We did?” This prompted a conversation between himself and Laura about the king of Everglade. Raythor jumped in occasionally, with various arguments on both sides. Tallith took this opportunity to steer Anella away from the others. She was so preoccupied thinking about who could, maybe even would, die today that she barely noticed. “Marriage,” Tallith persisted bluntly, “what do you think of it?” “Just what Raythor said,” Anella replied absently, “for most of us, it’s inevitable.” “No use waiting around forever, then.” “None what so ever.” “Well,” Tallith continued, a bit nervous but encouraged, “I’ve admired you for a long time.” “Oh…thank you...” “Yes…anyway, I have a job waiting for me back home. I could help you live comfortably and make you happy.” “Are you saying…?” “I am.” Tallith grasped Anella’s hand and she resisted the urge to back away. “Anella, will you marry me?” For a long time, she couldn’t speak. Anella was looking into Tallith’s hopeful face, but she wasn’t really seeing it. She couldn’t help seeing past him, seeing someone else’s face, one she might accept. All she didn’t know was whether or not he loved her.
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Post by Markus Everglade on Jun 19, 2009 1:39:38 GMT -5
“I’m not sure Tallith,” Anella forced herself to say at last. “I barely know you, which really seems strange considering everything that’s happened.” “You’ll have time to.” Tallith persisted. Then his face fell slightly. “There isn’t someone else, is there?” “Not exactly. I just… have to think about this. Is that ok?” “Of course, take all the time you need.”
****
“Tallith proposed to you?” Markus said, clearly in shock. The group was resting, waiting for night to get another slight advantage. “I should think that warrants a flat out rejection,” Blade commented, “but ‘I’m not sure’ certainly isn’t decisive either way.” “It’s just that it’s harder to say no than I thought it would be,” Anella said helplessly. “It’s just that, you know… I don’t want to bother him and I don’t think that anyone else will want me.” “That I doubt very much.” “Thank you, Blade.” “If you hesitated at all, you shouldn’t marry him.” Caldria advised. “I didn’t even let David finish the question.” “And what a prize you have won.” Kylara said sarcastically. Caldria didn’t take the bait. Tallith was off collecting fire wood; David and Kaslon were with him. Raythor and Laura were over talking to Ketra about Audrion some distance away. The group was unusually peaceful, almost as if they were forcing themselves to be. “What about you, Dione?” James asked, “What are your thoughts about marriage?” “It’s for idiots,” Dione said, “but I’d accept you.” “Isn’t it marvelous?” Rea squeaked. When he no one agreed, she added, “They have a strange relationship, but that means they’re engaged.” Saria seemed thrilled to pieces. “Again,” Dione sighed. “Yes, again.” James agreed. “This time, we’re really going to go through with it, I promise.” “Caldria’s right,” Dasher said thoughtfully. “Oh, and congratulations Dione. See, she didn’t have to think about it, Anella.” “Yes…” Anella mumbled. “I wonder what Raythor thinks…” “You haven’t told him?” Markus, Blade and Dasher burst out all at once. “No. Should I?” “Of course, why wouldn’t you?” Saria asked innocently. “No reason, I guess. None at all.” Anella replied blankly.
****
Something rustled. Firelight raised her head from her paws, blinking the sleep from her eyes. “Blade, is that you?”
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Post by Markus Everglade on Jun 19, 2009 1:40:02 GMT -5
“What?” The shadow prince asked, still lying down a few feet away. His eyes didn’t even open as he spoke. Firelight shivered. “So if that’s not you… who is it?” Nightshade’s head appeared from behind a tree. The younger girl relaxed. “Thank goodness. What are you doing back there?” “How far is the earth kingdom?” Nightshade said, as though she hadn’t heard. “Why?” “How can that matter? Just tell me.” “Everyone knows you just follow the little leaf carving at the bottom. They’re mostly straight. It’s so if any elementist got lost in the-” “Thanks. Don’t wait for me, all right?” Nightshade said. She melded into the shadows, and Firelight watched her leave in a stunned silence.
****
Sixteen figures stood before the stone fortress, and a seventeenth was held in her mother’s arms. Rose and Gabriel had been kidnapped, Nightshade had left, Theo was terribly injured… Still, somehow, there was that triumphant feeling of making it to the end of a long journey, and making it alive.
Miles away, Audrion Everglade stood in his own bedroom. Ivy was still sleeping, her head lolled comfortably to the side. His country was thriving and his people were content, but his children had left him. He had never before realized how used to having them here he was. Ketra would be striding around overseeing her world, where she really belonged, not in some silly village ‘searching’ for a husband. Then there was Markus, always smiling, working so hard to be he was meant to be.
“What now?” Saria asked. “No one is even throwing things at us. I’m disappointed.” There was no answer to that, none of them had expected peace. Then Lydrion appeared on the stone walls far above them, regarding those who had evaded death for so long with indifference. He said something to Kenetari, who raised one of her arms. A veritable stream of humanity burst from the front gate, elementists scattered among them. The Royalty of Everglade backed up quickly. Markus, at the front, hand on his sheath, ordered Vyncent’s army into the fray.
Vyncent’s daughter was at the root of this, that much the king knew. Markus had never befriended any of the other royals, just one silly little maid. What could possibly make her different? Ivy stirred, opening her eyelids slowly. “Good morning, dear.” “Where do you think they are?” Audrion demanded. “The children? I don’t know. Rea will take care of them.” Ivy said, swinging out of her bed. She patted her stomach. “This will be a boy.” “You said that about Ketra.” “Yes, but this time I know for sure.” A sharp knock resounded on the door. “That can only be John,” Audrion said gruffly. He briskly opened the door. “Morning, sire,” John said. He had been in the king’s service for many years and was the only servant who ever dared to knock on the king’s bedchambers door. Often,
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Post by Markus Everglade on Jun 19, 2009 1:42:05 GMT -5
other servants enlisted him for the job. John handed him a letter, smiled, and disappeared down the hallway.
“We are so outnumbered!” Kylara yelled to the front. “You better have some seriously great tactics planned here, blue boy.” Markus just smiled. He signaled to the three remaining elementists, who ran forward, symbols glowing. A massive blast of energy shot forward, blowing the first line of soldiers off their feet. Kylara looked on incredulously as another line was felled by their archers. Maybe this wasn’t quite as impossible as she thought it would be.
“Who’s the letter from?” Ivy said, yawning in a most un-queen like manner. “Our son,” Audrion replied grimly. Ivy stopped fiddling with her hair and walked over, reading the letter over his shoulder very quickly. Then she grinned. “Ah, Markus…”She sighed and drifted over to her mirror to continue messing with her hair. Audrion read it much more slowly.
Markus felt himself wishing desperately that it would rain. He was out of tricks, now the two armies were actually going to have to fight. Flashes of light were going everywhere; there were already bodies from both sides. Markus gripped his sword a little tighter and lost himself in the empty thoughts that came with fighting.
“‘Father, I have tried to become the prince you wanted me to be. I was willing to do anything you asked of me.
Markus’s sword sunk deep into his opponents flesh and the man fell with a thud to the ground.
Now I understand that being a great king doesn’t mean walking the same path that all other kings have walked. It means using my own strengths to benefit this title and this kingdom.
Raythor dodged the end of a silver blade and slashed forward, not looking back as he moved away, unto the next victim.
For me, that also means finally admitting to myself and to you that I am in love with Laura. She has always loved me. I think you have always known that and it’s the reason you resent her so much.
Laura pulled back her bow and shot the arrow into an archer’s chest on the wall, carefully watching Markus fight at the same time.
She is meant to be Everglade’s next queen, and I challenge you to find any titled lady who has the same compassion for others that Laura is so full of.
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Post by Markus Everglade on Jun 19, 2009 1:42:21 GMT -5
Anella’s leg wasn’t bothering her in the slightest; in fact she couldn’t believe how well she was fighting today. Apparently all she needed was a little life or death motivation.
Despite all that I have written, I never knew that any of this was going to happen. Never could I have imagined that our creatures of myth would become our greatest allies, or that we would fall in love with those we can never truly hope to understand.
Dasher found herself covering Raythor more than anyone else and, every time she pulled away, her paws found their way back to him.
We are the cowards and we are the heroes. We are leaders and we are worthless.
Blade’s tail almost sliced a soldier’s arm clean off, reminding him again that he was, in their eyes, a nightmare creature.
After all we’ve seen, after everything we been through… we have truly become the Royalty of Everglade.
Kylara knocked one man to the ground, and cut into two others before dancing away into the safety of Vyncent’s quickly fading soldiers. No matter what I am, I will always be your son.’” Ivy whispered as her husband finished reading.
“Markus, you’ve pulled a few miracles so far but,” Kylara stopped talking for a moment to stab someone, “we’re still going to lose. We have fifty, they have six armies. It doesn’t add up.” “I don’t suppose you have any suggestions on how to get out of here then?” Markus asked sarcastically. “Because I’m pretty much out of ideas.” “I can’t believe you inconsiderate people left me behind.” Theo called, appearing suddenly from behind them all. “It looks like you could use me here.” “Can you make earthquakes?” Markus yelled back. “Yes,” Theo responded hesitantly, but there was barely time left to hesitate. “Than make one! Run in front of us, and make one!” “You know, the fact everyone is now running in the other direction isn’t really building my confidence.” Theo said, but he charged forward, halting mere feet from the oncoming army. He dug his claws into the earth, his eyes turning white as the power focused through his body, down into his paws and finally into the ground. For a split second, everything was quiet. Then everything in front of Theo’s nose started shaking violently. The solid earth beneath the feet of Lydrion’s army became a quivering puddle of brown liquid. The forest prince drained all the energy that he could before turning to run. His comrades were far ahead of him.
****
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Post by Markus Everglade on Jun 19, 2009 1:42:36 GMT -5
“Gabriel, can you see anything?” Rose asked. She darted her head from one side to the other, trying to see past the blacksmith and out the small window he was staring out of. “Not much…” Gabriel replied. “That could be Kylara, or it could be a tree.” He inched to the side, and Rose darted into his place. She saw just as much nothing as he had. Rose sighed, stepping from the window. “This is insane! We have no idea what’s going on! They could all be dead!” “They aren’t dead,” Gabriel assured her. “Don’t you think we would know, somehow?” “How could we?” “It just seems that we would.” “I’ll have to… I’ll have to trust you.” Rose smiled, almost crying but fighting it back. She vowed never to cry again.
Chapter Forty
Gathering the Storm
“We have no hope of beating them without any backup. I should think that’s obvious now,” Kylara said. She had led them to an old hideout of the assassin group she used to work for, a cottage sort of building. It wasn’t very big and, if you didn’t know it was there, almost impossible to find. “Lucky I showed up,” Theo said proudly. Blade rolled his eyes; Firelight giggled. “At least we’re all safe,” Laura said. “That was quick thinking, Markus.” Blade said. The prince shrugged. “Theo did all the work.” He said. “I could have done so much better.” Raythor watched all of them from the farthest corner of the little house, listening to every word as he did so. Anella cautiously approached, determined to do what Dasher had suggested she should. As usual, the dark haired boy did not turn his head to look at her. “They were expecting us to follow them and expecting Rose to tip us off… I should have guessed that earlier. I have to stop getting distracted.” “From what?” Anella asked, before she could stop herself. “Life?” “Never mind. You must have wanted to tell me something.” “Y-yes,” Anella stammered. “Tallith has asked me to marry him.” Raythor started. He knew instantly that she wanted some reaction from him, but if he was to die… Aloud, he said: “What did you tell him?” “That I’d think about it.” “You can’t possibly love him then.” “What if I do?” “I don’t know. What if?” “Raythor!” Anella said, cheeks burning. He finally looked at her. She added, barely audibly: “I don’t.” “What?” “I know you heard me.” Anella shot back. Raythor avoided her eyes.
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Post by Markus Everglade on Jun 19, 2009 1:42:56 GMT -5
“Are you going to marry him?” “Does that matter to you? Does anything?” “Yes,” He said, very softly. “I know I act like I don’t care about anything, but you all matter to me.” Then he sighed, and repeated: “Will you marry him?” “I don’t…” “Yes or no. It’s not a hard question.” “No.” He nodded. “Good. Then you don’t love him.” Raythor said, hair shading his expression once more. Anella was dazed. “Raythor?” “What?” “You’re my friend, aren’t you?” “Yes.” “And you care about what happens to me?” “Yes.” “Then I won’t marry him.”
****
“My father is sending soldiers,” Laura said. “Lydrion has six armies,” Caldria reminded them, “and six well trained generals. I don’t know all of their names.” “There’s no way Everglade is sending us reinforcements.” Markus said gloomily. “I’ve made so many mistakes.” “You did everything you could have done under the circumstances.” Laura said firmly. “Despite all that emotional junk, we still have serious problems.” Kylara interrupted. “We are vastly outnumbered, they have the high ground and half of us can’t fight. It’s pretty much suicide to go back there.” “Not to mention that we’ve exhausted our allies already.” Ketra agreed. “We still have Carina,” Rea said. “I sent for them earlier.” “And father is going to get Laina to send as many soldiers as they can.” Laura put in. “That’s two and a half armies plus sixteen of us against six armies.” Kylara said. “Five.” Blade commented. “We took out one of them at Rea’s castle, probably the weakest.” “It was mine, so that’s true.” Nightshade said. “The other five generals are Kenetari, Sabbath, Lydrion and my parents. The one in the forest was Sabbath’s, it’s mostly gone now. His was the one Kenetari was ordering around when Rea was kidnapped as well.’ “Two on four and a half then, which means its still suicide.” Kylara said. “Can you give us anything else, Nightshade?” “There are three entrances; he probably has them all pretty well guarded. As for tactics, they don’t really trust me so I don’t actually know much else.” “Can you tell us where the entrances are?” “Not off hand.”
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Post by Markus Everglade on Jun 19, 2009 1:43:13 GMT -5
“We’d need someone who remembers…” Laura started, and then trailed off. They all stared at Raythor. He blinked. “I’ve got paper.” David said. “And ink.” “I see where this is going, and I can’t draw.” Raythor protested. “You said you couldn’t dance either, and I thought you were very good.” Saria said. “It doesn’t have to be good; it just has to be vaguely recognizable.” David insisted. Raythor took the parchment and stared ahead of himself for a moment before he started scribbling. “Is there any way we could reason with them?” Laura asked. Caldria shook her head. “Reason with my brother? Impossible.” “He’s as stubborn as…” David started, and then revised it to: “I am.” “They’ll find us eventually.” Firelight said. “Its death here too, only murder.” “A truly tempting choice,” Theo said sarcastically. “You’ve gotten so much darker.” Blade said, a little sadly. Firelight canine grinned at him but made no reply. “We may have no choice but to retreat.” Kylara said. “If we retreat, they die. If we attack, we die and, most likely, they die.” “Are we going to have this same silly discussion again?” Saria said impatiently. “The Royalty of Everglade has already gone this far, it would be so… um… pointless...yes, pointless to turn back now.” “How heroic are the dead?” Kylara demanded. “I don’t think we’re going to die. Look at this.” Raythor said.
****
They hadn’t let him fight. Jason wasn’t speaking to any of them. Bruce was the only one who felt slightly bad about it, Oraia and Kira had no remorse. Oraia was a little miffed that he wasn’t speaking to them; she in particular needed to talk to him. Bruce wasn’t much company, so Oraia wandered away. “Oh, hello,” Someone said. Oraia focused on the face and recognized it instantly. “The little lord, Benvolio Whitestar…” Oraia said with a smirk. Then she really looked at the face and realized that he resembled… Jason. “I am of noble birth. My name is Jason.” “Jason what?” “Never mind that, Lady Songsteel. I previously worked for Archer myself, but it became obvious to me what he really wanted.” “Jason’s your brother.” “And Kenetari is my sister. What’s your point?” “He just… never told me. I see why, though.” “I’ve been disinherited. My brother is getting all the money.” “How about-” “He’s ten. That’s pushing it, even for you.” “Why did he leave home?” Oraia asked. Benvolio frowned slightly. “Why do you want to know?”
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Post by Markus Everglade on Jun 19, 2009 1:43:39 GMT -5
“Because I love him.” “You do? That’s great; I’ve always wanted an aunt. Or, I guess, a sister-in-law. No one can call you a baby if you have a brother-in-law and a sister-in-law.” “Will you tell me?” “He and my sister got into a fight when a lady was staying with us. Father told me that she died of the red sickness and that Jason was very upset. So he and Kenetari were yelling at each other in the hallway, I heard the whole thing. He kept calling her a monster and she kept calling him a coward. There was something about her deceiving him for so long, and then she said she’d never tried to hide it, not since the second they died. Then Jason called father dirty and corrupt, just like she was, and called Lydrion a senseless victim of their black hearts. He said he was leaving and he was never coming back, and he didn’t care if he never got a cent or if they tried to kill him. He left screaming-” “Death is my choice, as it was hers.” Jason finished. Benvolio’s eye lit up and he ran over to him and hugged him tightly. Jason watched Oraia with dark eyes. “Where have you seen him before?” “I don’t understand why that should-” Oraia stumbled over the words. He cut her off: “Answer me, Oraia.” “He answered the door when I went to see Sabbath.” “What, when you were promising to be Lydrion’s whore?” “Lydrion’s whore? Is that what you think of me?” “Why do you have to yell at people all the time?” Benvolio interrupted. “I just don’t like it, Jason. The poor nice lady didn’t do anything, and if you aren’t careful she’ll get the red disease too. It’s terribly contagious. Charles just got it.” “Charles is dead?” Jason said. He glanced away from Oraia’s furious face and down at his brother’s confused one. “What is the red sickness?” “It’s when you die all suddenly, remember? And if someone touches you, they turn all red? That lady had it, Lady Glasswater?” “Oh… of course. How foolish of me to forget,” Jason said, trying to keep his voice level. “Ben, go home. If father sees you with me, he won’t be happy with you and he’ll take your cat away.” “He will?” “In a second.” “Well, all right, but I wouldn’t leave otherwise you know.” Benvolio said. He turned and left. Oraia hit Jason in the chest as hard as she could. While he was still struggling to breathe normally again, she started in on him again: “Lydrion’s whore, huh? Would you be surprised to know that I’m still a virgin? Because I am! Yet you’ve been trying so hard this entire time to not let me find out that you’re fighting against your own family, and when I do, I’m the enemy. I had to find out from your ten year old brother, who would probably tell an assassin where the king was hiding. You don’t trust me at all, you don’t care anything about me and you never did.” “Yes I do… that’s why I didn’t want you to know that I’m a traitor to my family.” Jason said, hand over his chest. “I’m sorry I called you a whore, it was a… gut reaction, I guess. That’s what I used to think of you, when we first met. Now that I know you, I know that you’re different.”
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Post by Markus Everglade on Jun 19, 2009 1:44:47 GMT -5
“How am I different?” She asked quietly. “All I’ve ever used my life for is trying to get more power. I’m no better than your family is, I’m a whore. The only good thing I’ve ever done is helping you, and even that was, at first, because I thought you were handsome and had money. That’s it. I’m selfish and shallow.” “No you’re not. You’re a good person.” Jason told her. “I never should have said that. You don’t understand how much you’ve changed since I first met you. I doubt that David and Kaslon would ever recognize you if they saw you now.” “David was in love with me once, a long time ago. I didn’t care because he was poor.” “I’m poor, and you kissed me.” “Yeah, but I kissed him too. Just to see what it would be like to kiss a poor person. Not much different. I was slightly disappointed, frankly.” “I’ll tell you what, Oraia. You have a choice.” Jason said. “Stay with me, even though I insult you all the time and I’m fighting against my own blood, and probably die for a cause that doesn’t directly involve you, or…” “Or?” “Or leave now, go home, marry someone rich and spend the rest of your life, long as it may be, in complete money covered happiness.” “I’m staying with you.” ****
“All the allies we could get are at Vyncent’s castle. They can be here any time we need them.” Kylara said, pacing restlessly. A few weeks had passed, and they were all cooped up and nervous. “If we’re really going through with this, today is the day. I can’t spend another minute in this stupid house.” “Neither can I.” Markus agreed. “This is the last chance for anyone here to back out.” He was met with silence. Again, they stood before Sabbath’s fortress, this time with two armies behind them, watching Kenetari call her hoards with a flick of the wrist.
Chapter Forty One
Nineteen Voices
Theo started at the oncoming force and realized that, for the first time in his life, he was not afraid to die. The earth prince wove easily through Lydrion’s ranks, running as fast as he could up to the castle walls and slightly to the side. He spotted it right away, even though he had only really seen it before in Raythor’s drawing: the crack in the wall. Their advantage. It was up to him entirely, provided that it was actually useable. He glanced around him to see if he’d been followed, but he hadn’t, so he sunk his claws into the earth once more and let the energy flow. Above him, there was a terrible cracking sound and stones began to crumble off the walls and crash to the earth. Theo backed up and ran, feeling totally invincible. A gap wide enough to squeeze through at least a few soldiers at a time had resulted from Theo’s magic. If the Royalty of Everglade and their army could fight to it, they had a chance.
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Post by Markus Everglade on Jun 19, 2009 1:45:17 GMT -5
Caldria held her child close, possibly for the last time. Then she passed her to David, who did the same. “Just like we agreed, Kaslon,” David said, placing his daughter in his friend’s arms. “I’ll protect her.” Kaslon said firmly. “No matter what happen to me or what happens to Cally, keep her safe. Don’t let Lydrion touch her.” “I’ll keep her safe, David. No matter what.” The two men shook hands. Caldria drew her bow. So did David. There was no time left. Kaslon and their daughter disappeared.
Dione and James formed a human wall in front of Rea. “Go with Kaslon.” Dione said suddenly. “I trust David. If he trusts Kaslon enough to let him look after Emma, I trust him enough to take care of you. Rea, you saved me a long time ago. I want to do the same for you now.” There was no time to argue. Rea hugged Dione and then followed the ex-guard into the trees.
Blade turned to look at Dasher, who had a very determined look on her face. The shadow prince fought with everything inside him that was telling him to keep silent. This was his last chance. “Dasher, whatever happens…” He told her softly. “I love you.”
Kylara cut into Lydrion’s units, dropping them left and right. She did not think that she would die. Kylara had seen and caused too many deaths to perish here, so simply. She moved like a precision machine, slashing, dodging, blocking with incredible grace. This was not the end of her story, and it was not the end of Raythor’s.
Rea had caught up with Kaslon, but they hadn’t spoken a single word to each other. Emma was a quiet baby, she rarely fussed. Even with all the noise around her she was tranquil. Maybe, somehow, she knew what her parents were fighting for. Rea thought of the first moment she had met Dione, the unkempt run-away. She fought away the thought of what she would do without her. It barely seemed possible to live that way again, with no parents and no one left to dry her eyes. Dione just didn’t realize that there was no favor that needed to be repaid. If anything, Rea owed her.
Anella had spent most of the time they were trapped in Kylara’s hide out training with Markus, and she was surprised how quickly she learned. She was able to fight through the small hits that she took, able to block almost everything. Anella drove her sword deep into the back of a man who had been defeating Saria. The shy girl could protect herself now, and she was proud of it.
Ketra, still darting in and out of the fray on Exro’s back, knew that they were beginning to lose again. Everything that Kylara had told them again and again was true. Nearly half of what had been left of Vyncent’s army was gone, and Laina’s was quickly losing ground. Carina’s soldiers would be terribly depleted; Rea’s kingdom would be
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