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Post by Markus Everglade on Jun 18, 2009 23:45:49 GMT -5
"I’ve heard they are extra fancy in Caltha." Markus said. "Isn’t that where you said you were from, Rose?" "Yes." Rose agreed readily. She would have to check her tongue from now on. Anella noticed both Raythor and Kylara visibly flinched at the mention of Caltha. She recalled faintly most people from Caltha loathed it and its royal family with equal intensity. "I’m going to go out for a bit." Markus told Laura. "Sure, Markus." Laura said passively. She absently fingered her necklace, a black stone carved in the shape of a cat’s head. Markus had given it to her, she never took it off.
****
The prince inhaled deeply once he was outside the castle walls. The events of the night before would not leave his head. All he knew was her name. Who was she? Why had she beckoned him outside? How had she even gotten into the castle? He decided to take a short ride, to clear his head. He had already started in the direction of the stables when the sound of voices drifted by. "She’s out by the graveyard, and she wouldn’t let me go with her." "You let Lady Oraia go up there alone? What were you thinking, Kaslon? Don’t you remember that peasant who was eaten by wolves in that graveyard?" "David, that’s a ridiculous myth. There’s no need to worry. She took a sword." "That wouldn’t help at all against a pack of wolves!" "Well, what do you want me to do about it?" "Go up there and protect her." "Fine, fine." Kaslon’s voice got closer, and then the boy himself came into view. His brown eyes filled with interest as he spotted Markus. "Hello, sir. Are you part of the queen’s quest?" Markus nodded, adding: "Who exactly are you supposed to be protecting?" "Oh, that." Kaslon rolled his eyes over dramatically. "The lady Oraia Songsteel. I’m not much of a soldier, to tell the truth. That’s a bit of a long story, though." He did look nothing like a soldier. Kaslon’s clothes were worn and he wasn’t even carrying a weapon. His hair was an unkempt, mousy nest of brown, and he slouched continuously. Markus smiled slightly. "I’ll go find her, if you want me to. I was planning to ride anyway." He said. Kaslon was surprised. Markus laughed a little. "It’s just that you don’t seem up to wolf fighting." "Oh, thank you! Well, I mean if you’re sure you want to..." He trailed off, hearing David approach. "How about I go with you? The stables are this way." He grabbed the prince’s arm and started off at a remarkable speed. Ducking inside the stables, he freed poor Markus and darted further back. David, who didn’t look much more like a professional soldier than Kaslon, but at least had a weapon, passed them by. His hair was blonde, but just as tousled, and his brown eyes were far less pleasant. Kaslon breathed a sigh of relief. Markus chose not to comment on any of the other boy’s strange behavior, and started going about the task of readying his mount. She was a beautiful horse, with a white mane and tail and a glossy black coat. Markus had been riding her since he was ten. That was almost seven years ago now.
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Post by Markus Everglade on Jun 18, 2009 23:46:05 GMT -5
"Ready to get out of here, Eclipse?" Markus asked softly. The horse snorted in reply. Markus turned back to Kaslon. "Which of these is yours?" Kaslon hesitated before answering that. "Well, honestly, none of them. But I walk fast." The brunette boy admitted. Markus sighed heavily. "Borrow my friend’s then. She won’t mind." He offered Kaslon the small roan horse’s reins. Kaslon stared back at him blankly. "You can’t ride either?" Markus asked. "Um...no." "I’ll tie her horse to mine. Come on."
****
Laura stared blankly at Markus’s invitation. The unfamiliar lines and shapes didn’t have anymore meaning then they usually did, but one thing caught her attention. The seal on the bottom was an eagle with a missing foot. Strange. Every other letter from Carina always had a lion on it, not an eagle. Only Laura, Rea, and Raythor were still at the table. Everyone else had dispersed. Rea had come to eat late after finishing up her royal business. "Did you get a new seal, Queen Rea?" Laura asked curiously. "Why, no. Carina has always been the lion." The queen said, absently finishing her food. "My letter had this eagle-"Raythor started. "That’s missing a foot." Laura said excitedly. Rea blinked. "I don’t recall that." "That girl last night can’t have been here for no reason. She wanted something." Raythor stated. "The bracelet she dropped had the same eagle on it. Can I see your letter?" Laura nodded, handing it to him. He glanced at for half a second, before speaking again. "This is different than the one I got. Rose’s and Ketra’s were different too. They all had slight variations. Could you look at this Queen Rea?" The queen took the letter, a confused look on her face. "Sunset... I remember one of my servants talking me into writing that. You’re right. Some of this I never wrote. And the way this ‘g’ curls. It’s very strange." "Do you have the original letter?" Laura asked. An overeager maid rushed it to the queen. "This is an extra one." Rea explained. "I decided not to invite Lady Priscilla." She gave both letters back to Raythor. He started at both of them, eyes darting from one to the other. "There are three differences... This line about veiled pasts. I think it’s a warning to Markus, maybe to Laura. Markus’s also says to bring a friend. They had to know he would pick Laura. And this section, about no possible harm. It could be a taunt, a reassurance. Someone wanted to control exactly who went on this quest." "But why?" Rea asked. "I did notice some people I invited didn’t show... but that’s to be expected, really."
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Post by Markus Everglade on Jun 18, 2009 23:47:06 GMT -5
"You were surprised to see me. Is there anyone else you didn’t invite who is here?" "A few." "I knew that girl looked suspicious. I think Markus said her name was Kenetari. Does that mean anything to you, Raythor?" Laura said. "No... But I have a feeling it’s going to."
****
Kaslon fidgeted repeatedly in his saddle. They had only been traveling for a short while, and the cemetery was in fact in sight, but that didn’t stop Kaslon. "Are my legs supposed to ache this much?" "No," Markus said cheerfully. "Not really." "Are you sure?" "Positive." "Perhaps I’m injured-" "No need to worry." Markus slid off his horse, and started walking toward the cemetery. "Lady Oraia?" Markus asked. There was a thump behind him that he assumed was Kaslon getting off his horse. The prince’s eyes scanned the small graveyard, until he caught sight of a kneeling figure. "Lady Oraia!" He called, a little louder. The figure turned her head, her hair shifting in a curled auburn wave behind her. The clear eyes focused on the boy as she stood. "I am the lady by that name," she said softly. Markus didn’t even notice Kaslon come up behind him. Oraia brushed off her skirt, gaze never shifting. "Well? What do you wish of me?" Kaslon, noting that Markus seemed unable to respond, decided to take matters into his own hands. His lady frequently had this effect on people. "David was worried about you." Kaslon explained, "Told me you’d be eaten by wolves if I didn’t come up here straight away." Oraia laughed, and her eyes closed. The spell was broken. Markus felt his voice box unfreeze. "I’m Markus Everglade." "Pleased to meet you." She held out her hand and he shook it gently. Oraia laughed again. "You must be the prince. The... famous one, shall we say?" "Famous for only one thing." Markus said, suddenly very aware of his hair again. "For two, if the village girls tell me right." Oraia whispered, her clear eyes looking him over. She smiled. "Oh. Them." "I found ‘them’ most informative, though I certainly see why you resent them so. One of them told me that their knives had just been confiscated." "What are you talking about?" Kaslon demanded. "Never you mind," Oraia waved a hand at him. "What exactly did David want?" "I swear he was just worrying again. One of these days he’ll make himself sick." "I’ve never known there to be wolves-"Markus started. He was cut off by a screech. Oraia, eyes wide, pointed behind the boys. She started to faint, and Kaslon caught her. Markus turned, sword drawn, stepping in front of them. A black shape rushed
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Post by Markus Everglade on Jun 18, 2009 23:47:21 GMT -5
by him and the others, darting to the back of the graveyard. It disappeared behind a headstone. "A wolf!" Kaslon cried dramatically. Oraia, who had miraculously recovered, stood up. "Go back there and kill the nasty thing, Markus!" "What? Why?" Markus asked. "Because if we don’t, it will come out and maul us in the night. Go, quickly! If it comes out, I fear I may faint again." "All right..." He turned reluctantly toward where the wolf had gone, still grasping his sword. Markus wanted to kill it quickly, so he wouldn’t have to think about it. That was the first thing he had learned about fighting. Don’t think about it. It only makes it worse. A dark head peeked out from behind the stone, eyes narrowed. "If you value your life, I suggest you put that away. Killing an elementist prince isn’t worth the horror you would have to endure." The three humans stared dumbly at the beast. He, for by his voice he seemed to be, resembled a wolf in the way a unicorn was said to resemble a horse. His fur was glossy black, and there was a golden ring pierced through one of his ears. What looked like another animal’s claw hung from his neck by a chain. A symbol on his forehead, a purple circle surrounded by black flame, started to glow as his teeth bared. "Demon wolf!" Kaslon said. Oraia looked ready to faint again. "I told you, or tried to, I am an elementist. We are not wolves, human," the creature snarled. "Step back, water human, or I will be forced to kill you." Markus sheathed his sword and stepped back. "We don’t want to hurt you." The prince said quietly. "She does." The other boy said, pointing to Oraia. "Kaslon!" "Enough." The creature stepped out from behind the grave stone, all traces of fear gone from his dark eyes. Bat wings folded over his back, and his tail was like a scythe with skin over the top of the blade. The symbol of his forehead flashed again. Kaslon’s mouth shut. He tried to speak again, but his jaw wouldn’t budge. The creature smiled, something very odd to see on an animal’s face. "All right, humans, listen to me. I am being followed by more of your kind. I cannot fight them alone. Do you understand?" Kaslon tried again to pry his mouth open. The other two stayed silent as well. The creature shook his head. "As I told you, I am a prince of shadows. My name is Blade Ghosttail. It would be in your best interest to help me fight off my pursuers. Elementists make powerful allies and worse enemies, if you can comprehend that. Is it a deal? I’ll let you discuss it." Blade’s symbol flashed again. Kaslon’s mouth fell open. "That thing is evil." Kaslon exclaimed. "Look what he did to me. Evil!" Oraia rolled her eyes. "If there’s a large force coming, we don’t have a choice. Clearly the demon wolf is magic or something. Markus?" "I’m willing to find out whether or not we can trust him," he responded. The lady nodded. "Fine, Blade. We’ll help you." "I promise you will not regret it." Blade answered cordially.
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Post by Markus Everglade on Jun 18, 2009 23:47:37 GMT -5
"I will, when you rip my throat out." Kaslon protested. "Don’t tempt me." "When are the soldiers coming?" Markus said, giving Kaslon a warning look. "Soon, I imagine. Have you more humans?" The elementist glided past Kaslon and sat down. "Yes, in the castle. There are a lot of us." "Good. Take me there. I wish to have a word with them." Oraia and Markus exchanged glances. "Err; it might be better if you let us go in first." Oraia suggested. "They might want to kill you at first glance, and some of them are quicker to do so than out kindhearted prince." "Fair." "Wait just a second. We’re bringing him to Rea’s castle? The evil demon wolf?" Kaslon protested. "My lady, it is my duty to protect you and I don’t think-" "Kaslon, you will obey your Lady’s requests, even if she should decide to make a deal with the devil. Which, by the way, Blade is not." "Thank you." Blade said evenly. Markus closed his eyes for a second and breathed in deeply. "All right, let’s get this over with."
****
"Ly, darling, I’m sorry I couldn’t finish him for you." Kenetari walked behind a dark haired boy sitting in a chair. She rested her hands on his shoulders, putting her lips next to his ear. "You understand, he had this silly brunette girl protecting him-" "Kenetari," The boy responded quietly. His deep brown eyes matched his hair perfectly, the locks framing a thin face. Lydrion smiled. "I couldn’t have asked for better information than what you given me." "Information?" "Yes. You have given me their weaknesses. The prince cannot resist helping anybody, and the girl in turn wants nothing more than to keep him safe." Lydrion stood, turning to face her. "We are not impartial witnesses. Simple death is no victory for us. We have to use their fears against them. You and I fear nothing we cannot destroy." "Yes, I understand." "I knew you would." Lydrion said. He put his hands in the side of her face. "No matter what happens, nothing can separate us. I love you, Kenetari..." She kissed him. "Nothing."
****
"What is taking him so long? We’re leaving soon." Laura fretted, pacing back and forth. "Don’t worry. My brother can take care of himself." Ketra assured her. "Does he disappear like this a lot?" Rose asked suspiciously. She started twirling her engagement ring. Anella looked at all of them. "Is there something we should be worried about?"
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Post by Markus Everglade on Jun 18, 2009 23:48:06 GMT -5
"Just something gold Rose should be worried about; because it matches something else I’ve seen today." Raythor said, looking directly at Rose. He held up his right hand. She inhaled sharply, slipping her ring into her pocket. Anella looked at Raythor’s empty palm. "What? Does she owe you money?" "No. It’s a poem I wrote. An ugly one." "Are you kidding me? That didn’t even come close to rhyming." Rose said. "You have absolutely no artistic talent." "Thank you, that means so very much to me." "I just know you’re being sarcastic." "Hey, here comes Markus with a lady, some guy, two horses and a black dog." Ketra interrupted. "Black dog?" Raythor said, sounding as though he were about to curse. "Thunder! Thunder, you stupid mutt, where are you?" "Wait. You have a dog?" Rose demanded. She didn’t see any dogs. "Where has it been all this time? In those stupid gloves you’ve probably slept in? Aren’t they cold? They don’t even have any fingers." "If you would stop nagging me and pay attention, you would notice two things," Raythor said, keeping his voice perfectly steady. "The first is that whatever that thing is, there is no way it’s a dog. The second is that, a little farther back, you will notice Markus is being followed." There was a rush to get outside after that. In under a minute only Anella and Raythor remained. She looked uneasy. "Not a nosy one, are you?" Raythor asked, clearly amused. "No, not really." She turned her face away, she was blushing again. Raythor was about to say something else, when Kylara, Dione, Rea and Gabriel drifted in. Three of the four left through the gaping door, following the crowd outside. Kylara remained, eyebrows raised. "What’s going on in here, exactly? Why is everyone out there?" "Markus is being chased by what looks like a scout, in the company of something resembling a dog. Where have you been?" "Don’t ask." She looked at Anella. "Why aren’t you out there?" Anella didn’t seem to have an answer. A large, black dog padded in. His little black triangle ears bounced in sync with his long stride. Raythor glared at him. "Thunder, come over here." The dog whined and sat down at his feet. "Aw, he’s so cute." Anella gushed, smiling a little. "That’s about all he’s good for, big dumb mutt." There were a few shrieks outside. Everyone who had rushed out came back inside. "There is a big, bat-winged, wolf outside and it wants to eat us!" Rea said shrilly, and she tore down the hall at breakneck speed. "There seems to be an army coming, by the looks of that scout." Gabriel noted calmly and slowly. "All right, everyone grab a weapon. You’ve got to get ready to fight. I must warn the soldiers, and find Rea." Dione said, instantly taking command. "She went that way." Raythor said dryly. Dione hurried down the hall. "Where is that idiot?" David stormed in, his dark eyes flashing. "What idiot?" Rose asked.
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Post by Markus Everglade on Jun 18, 2009 23:48:56 GMT -5
"Kaslon." "Kaslon?" "Does he have brown hair and an unkempt appearance?" Gabriel inquired. "That would be him." "He’s outside." "Thanks." David left. The hall started clattering as soldiers filed by, and people pulled out their swords. Anella and Rose stood behind it all. Rose sighed. "I can’t fight. Can you?" "No..." "Then let’s stick together. If we’re destined to die, let’s at least have some fun doing it." She drew a dagger decorated with patterns of flowers. It had obviously never seen battle before. Anella didn’t say anything for a moment. She felt tired, like she couldn’t move. The look in Rose’s eyes gave her a little confidence. Anella raised her own sword meekly. "Let’s do our best."
****
Kylara watched Raythor carefully. He didn’t know it, but every movement he made and every word he spoke betrayed exactly what he was trying to hide. "Who are you?" Kylara asked. He finally stared back at her. "Why does that matter?" "You deciphered a code in a letter you barely glanced at. You knew there was a scout coming." "So I’m spying on Carina now, am I? What would the purpose of that be?" "I thought it might be a little farfetched. Of course, maybe you are hiding something else." Raythor froze. She was from Caltha. She must know the story... "What would that be?" He said after a long pause, icily. "Something that happened nine years ago. Something you’ve been running from." "The soldiers are coming. I see them over that hill." Kylara shook her head. He couldn’t avoid her forever.
Chapter Four
Battlefield
"Blade, who exactly is chasing you?" Markus asked. He sat atop Eclipse near the head of Rea’s army, surrounded by other mounted units. Blade regarded him thoughtfully. "I don’t know, but they are powerful. I had a royal guard with me originally. I’m fairly sure they’re all dead now." Markus nodded at the shadow prince, but his thoughts were elsewhere. What would happen if he died? So much of the future, his country’s future, rested on his shoulders. What would his father do? If Audrion knew he was out here, now... but he didn’t. That thought struck him acutely. For once in the prince’s life, Audrion had absolutely no idea what his son was doing. Markus was filled with a strange feeling of freedom. He knew just how easily he could lose it.
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Post by Markus Everglade on Jun 18, 2009 23:49:13 GMT -5
****
Laura stroked her horse’s neck, nervously scanning the horizon. David stood next to her, silently. "Please, please, please let Markus stay safe." Laura whispered, clutching her necklace. "What are you whispering about?" David asked warily. "Nothing in particular, just nervous." "Don’t worry, whoever you are, I’ll cover you." "Laura. You’re David, right?" She smiled. "David Catshadow, nice to meet you." "I feel safer already. Markus told me you and Kaslon are here protecting the Lady Oraia?" "Yes. She’s in the castle. She doesn’t fight much. You do?" "I’m a decent archer. It comes from having a male best friend. Of course, he went onto swords and I stuck with the bow." David nodded. "My wife’s an archer too." "Where is she?" The first line of soldiers started to fight.
****
"Here they are." Rose said, voice hard. Many had fallen on both sides already. Rea went pale, and rushed behind a rock. A series of horrible noises followed. Kaslon turned to his fellow non-fighters. "Did she just throw-up?" "I think so." Anella replied. She watched Kylara efficiently kill someone, and Ketra knock someone else down. Then she watched in a horrified silence as the princess was boxed in entirely. "Somebody help her!" Rose called out. She, and everyone else around her, were more or less helpless. Ketra slipped behind her horse, fighting like a trapped wildcat. "We have to do something. She’s going to die out there." Anella said frantically. Kaslon and Rose just stared back at her blankly. Then Rose’s eyes lit up. "I don’t know what good this is going to do, but we have no choice. Come on, Kaslon." "I don’t have a weapon." The boy complained. Rose glared at him so intensely Anella backed up a step. "Then go find the barfing queen of Carina and take care of her, if you can do that." Markus reached his sister’s side as she was slashed through the shoulder. He started fighting off those around her desperately as Anella and Rose barged in on the other side. By sheer willpower alone they managed to repel the enemy, but every moment shattered Markus’s nerves. He was covered in his sister’s, his enemies’s, even his own blood. Ketra, who was so strong, who was always there for him, was dying before his eyes. His earlier thoughts of freedom came back to him cruelly.
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Post by Markus Everglade on Jun 18, 2009 23:50:05 GMT -5
"Ketra! Come on, please get up Ketra!" She didn’t answer him, she didn’t move. He tried as hard as he could to reach her, but yet another soldier stopped him. Markus raised his sword, filled with hopeless rage. Laura saw an archer she couldn’t possible hit take aim at Markus. He was trying to protect his sister. There was nothing he could do. If she did fire at the archer, and missed... no, she couldn’t even think about that. Raising her bow, she took aim at the soldier Markus was fighting. She changed her mind at the very last second. The prince felt a sharp pain in his arm and dropped involuntarily to his knees. Another arrow shot over his head, hitting and killing his opponent. Markus said stunned for a moment, unsure of what had just happened. Then, reacting on instinct more than anything else, he took out the archer behind him. Across the field, his best friend sat completely still, her eyes squeezed shut. Whenever Markus’s left arm was hit too hard, he fell to his knees. She had been counting on this to work, but... "I just... I just shot Markus." Laura said, somewhat hysterically. David’s eyes flicked over her. "It’s all right, Laura. Look." She didn’t want to believe what she was seeing. It was too impossible. Markus was carrying Ketra from the field, and the arrow was missing from his arm. He wasn’t dead. She hadn’t killed him. "That was good thinking." David grinned, firing another arrow himself. "They’re all fine over there, thanks to you-" He stopped. Laura’s face had gone pale. Before David could ask what was wrong, the maid slid off her horse and hit the ground. He shot blindly over Ruby’s back, hurrying to help Laura. Her leg was cut deeply, but her sword was covered in blood. "Don’t worry about me. He’s dead already. Anella’s hurt and Rose can’t go on much longer."
****
"Anella, get out of here. I can hold them off alone." Rose was completely lost to an adrenaline rush. Anella’s arm hung limp at her side, and she no longer had a sword. The pain had taken her beyond fear. She just wanted Rose to live, she wanted to live, and she wanted so badly to get out of here. "Find your sword and do something." Kylara called, riding past. She was gone before Anella or Rose could say anything. "I can’t believe her. We’re getting killed over here, and she rides away." Rose raged. Anella nodded complacently. The words were beginning to lose meaning to her. She heard Rose’s voice again, and it took her mind a long time to understand the other girl. "Raythor’s coming, hopefully he can help." Raythor fought toward them as though he didn’t really care. His sword went flying everywhere, hitting everything, but it seemed to be working. Anella and Rose fell into a stupefied daze as the tide of battle finally began turning in their favor. "Anella, go get help." Rose commanded, returning to her senses. "He protected me before, he can do it again."
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Post by Markus Everglade on Jun 18, 2009 23:50:26 GMT -5
"No, Rose, I’m not-" Anella began. Ranier turned and ran, leaving his hapless passenger to hold on for dear life. "Ranier, stop running! Listen to me for once!" Rose smiled faintly, and turned to focus what remained of her energy on the battle. To her side, Rose heard a sickening thud. With a look of horror she saw Raythor fall. He had been hit in the back of the head with a shield. Without thinking, she rushed forward to help him. Just as suddenly as they had come, the attackers started to retreat. Rose, completely exhausted, slid onto her horse’s neck. Rea’s army started cheering. Nobody was quite sure what had happened, but everyone was positive they had won.
****
"Ketra-ow-I don’t see why you needed to take off my shirt." Markus said irritably. "You shouldn’t be up anyway. This wound isn’t even that deep-Ouch! Did you have to do that?" Ketra just laughed at him. She was feeling much better and her shoulder was heavily bandaged. Markus was thrilled she was all right, but he was not happy to be shirtless and tended to by his sister. No matter how much his wound stung, he could still see the completely uninjured Rea staring at him. She wasn’t even trying to hide it. "How’s Raythor doing, anyway? Heard he was hit in the head or something." "I’m not sure. Hold still." Ketra scolded. "What about Laura?" "Markus, really. You saved my life, and I’m grateful, but you have to hold still if you don’t want a giant scar on this arm." Markus sighed heavily, but didn’t ask any more questions. He gazed directly into Rea’s eyes, hoping she’d look away. She grinned. Markus was revolted. He quickly looked away to see Rose standing in front of him. "Hey, anyone know who can help me get Laura inside? She needs to lie down and David is in shock." "Dione’s over there with Rea. One of them should be able to help you." Ketra said. "What’s wrong with Laura? Is she-" Markus cried. "She’s fine. It’s just her leg." Rose said icily. She walked away. Anella looked on in perfect silence as a healer bent over Raythor. She didn’t think she could have said anything, even if she wanted to. Bodies littered the battlefield, and twisted faces haunted her mind. It was the first time she had ever killed someone. The whole world seemed bathed in red. The healer got up and faced Anella. She was an older woman with hard eyes and faded brown hair. Her expression was very serious. "Is he your husband?" "No." Anella answered, startled. "I just met him yesterday." The healer looked thrilled. "Thank God. Some wives get so emotional, ranting on about their twelve children." "Is he dead?" "Oh, heavens no. He probably won’t wake up for awhile though. Let him get some rest, he’ll be fine. I must run along now." The healer waved. Anella didn’t move. Ranier nudged her arm, and he stroked his nose. Then she formed a plan. Kneeling beside Raythor, she tried to pick him up. "He’s...so...heavy." She whispered to herself. Anella had managed to move the boy a few inches when Rose and Rea walked by, supporting Laura.
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Post by Markus Everglade on Jun 18, 2009 23:51:02 GMT -5
"I really don’t want to be a burden to you." Laura said sadly. "You’re light as a feather." Rose assured her. Rea didn’t say anything. She was too depressed Markus was fully clothed once more. Dione and Kylara were following them, doing nothing in particular. "Can you help me? I can’t lift him alone." Anella called to them. Dione spun around and Kylara gave her a bored glance. "He’s skinny. You can handle it." Kylara said lazily. "No, really, I need help." Anella protested, but they were already gone. Summoning all her strength, she hoisted Raythor unto Ranier. It was going to be a long day.
****
Gabriel had wandered off to where nobody could see him. He thought about what a truly terrible, no good, absolutely rotten fighter he was. He was an equally dreadful blacksmith, if he really thought about it. Absorbed in these musings, he didn’t notice a blonde girl walk up and sit beside him. She was wearing a vibrant pink dress with a flower patterned skirt. She started at Gabriel with big, bright blue eyes. "Hello. My name is Saria Straightarrow. This is my friend, Dasher. We’re hungry and we just ran out of stolen money." Gabriel still didn’t answer, so absorbed was he in his many supposed faults. Dasher walked up and sat directly in front of Gabriel. He still didn’t move. "What’s wrong with this guy? Isn’t he at least going to call me a talking dog?" Dasher said scornfully. Saria shrugged. Dasher was an elementist, like Blade. Her fur was frozen blue and her legs and ears were white. A long wavy horse tail that flowed like water curled around her feet. Swan wings extended from her shoulder blades. A star symbol graced her forehead, and a white blaze extended from it to her little black nose. She also had big blue eyes. Two tiny feathers grew from each ear tip. Together, she and Saria were almost impossible to ignore, but Gabriel was managing. "Cover you ears. I’ll get his attention." Saria said cheerfully. Dasher covered both ears with her paws and waited. A piercing shriek erupted from Saria’s throat. Gabriel finally noticed.
****
Rose, Anella, Raythor, Laura, Markus and Blade were all crowded in one room. Laura and Raythor lay in separate beds, across the room from each other. Rose said placidly in a chair at Laura’s bedside. Raythor wasn’t conscious yet. The other three were standing. "You humans fight better than I expected." Blade said. He was cleaning the sharp edge of his tail with his paw. Markus couldn’t take his eyes off it, his fascination mingled freely with disgust. Anella’s arm, now freshly bandaged, hung weakly at her side. She said softly: "We can’t leave Rose to care for both of them." Markus wrenched his gaze from the elementist. "I’ll stay..."
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Post by Markus Everglade on Jun 18, 2009 23:51:22 GMT -5
"I don’t mind." "Really? I’m worried about Ketra." "That’s fine." They both looked back at Blade. "I can sleep on the rug." Blade assured them. "I see." The prince said. He left the room, saying ‘thanks’ as he shut the door. Blade yawned, curling up in a corner of the room. "So, I promise not to kill any of you in the night." Blade said, one eye open. "Thank you?" Anella stammered, confused. Blade laughed and closed the other eye. The room filled with silence. Anella fetched a chair and took up her post next to Raythor’s bed. "How does he look?" Rose asked quietly. "Really..."Anella searched for a word. “Human, I guess. Do you know what I mean?" "Yes, but for him that’s not a good thing." "How long have you known him?" Laura interrupted. "Honestly, about a day longer than everyone else. I know virtually nothing about him, but his name and that stupid look he’s always got on his face." A look of anger spread across hers. Why did he have to keep getting hurt? Stupid, heroic boy. Laura shifted her leg and grimaced, taking out a piece of cloth to sew on. Rose got up. "I’m going to go get something to drink." She left the room, slamming the door behind her. Laura pursed her lips, but didn’t say anything. Rose went down the hall, ignoring the voices floating out of other rooms. When she ran out of steam, she sat down, her back pressed against the wall. She didn’t budge again until the sun had set, filling the castle with shadows.
Chapter Five
Gone in the Morning
When Rose did come back, she went straight to sleep. Laura sewed doggedly well into the fading twilight. Rose moved a lot in her sleep, she probably had to, and she’d dozed off in a chair. The light finally became so dim Laura was forced to abandon her tatting. "Lovely night, isn’t it?" Laura said. Anella started. The two of them had been too shell-shocked to say a word for hours. "Y-yes." The shy girl stammered. Faint moonlight drifted in through the one small window, illuminating the side of Anella’s face. It had a more dramatic effect than what Laura might have normally associated with moonlight. The silver coloring encompassed Anella’s entire body, and clung to her like a blanket. "Where are you from?" Laura asked, finally. "Carina. I grew up on a farm." "Markus said you were a friend of Kayle’s." Anella sensed the question in the other girl’s voice. Laura was not the first to wonder why Anella, a simple peasant, was friends with so many titled girls. "Yes, I am. Would you want to know why?" Anella inquired, smiling slightly.
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Post by Markus Everglade on Jun 18, 2009 23:51:53 GMT -5
"Not if it bothers you." Laura said quickly. She was really a vulture for a good story, but she didn’t show it. "Four or five generations ago my mother’s ancestress ran away with a stable boy. They disowned her." "Really?" Laura was intrigued. "So I am told. I guess the sister of the disowned girl always worried about what had happened to her, and passed this worry onto her children. So her multiple great’s grandchild decided to trace that side of the family down, and eventually they found my mother." "Are you a lady now?" "Not exactly. I’m not going to inherit anything. My relative just felt I should see some of what I could have had. I believe she also hopes I’ll marry someone rich and restore our family name." "I understand. It would look strange if a lady gave a dowry to a peasant. She’s trying to trick some lord into thinking you do have a title." "Exactly. It has been nice to feel like I’m special somehow. No lord is going to fall for that, though. Our family will return to the salt-of-the-earth way of life after this generation. Unless of course my brother tricks someone." "You don’t see yourself with a deceived lord?" Laura said lightly, the corners of her mouth turning up. Anella shook her head. "Not really. I’m a bit shy around men. If I do marry, it will be to a broke mongrel like me. I guess a lot of Rainbird women are a little shy." "Rainbird?" The name sounded familiar. When Laura remembered why, she was highly amused. "One of the Rainbird’s wrote Markus the most charming love letter once. She found his hair to be ‘romantically fascinating’." They both laughed. The moon slipped behind a cloud and everything plunged into blackness.
****
Markus was barely conscious. He was more or less of a Lancelot when it came to staying up late, but he was forcing himself. In his hand he held Kenetari’s dropped bracelet. He’d been wondering, on and off, what it reminded him oft. Red, inlaid with gold... he knew it meant something. Markus hadn’t had a chance to ask Laura about it, and Ketra didn’t know either. He hadn’t asked anyone else. He felt strangely protective of the little trinket. Markus had decided it was good luck, saving him from an archer and protecting his sister. He didn’t know Laura had been the one to shoot his arm. Tracing the eagle with his fingers, he sighed. "What are you?" Markus asked, inwardly laughing at himself for doing so. He set the bracelet down, almost immediately falling into a heavy and dreamless sleep.
****
Raythor woke up with the sunlight shining on his face. As his eyes opened, the last mists of a dream escaped his grasp. It was then he realized there was someone sleeping on his chest. At first, he thought he was still dreaming. "Anella?"
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Post by Markus Everglade on Jun 18, 2009 23:52:11 GMT -5
"Don’t worry, mom, I already fed the horses..." She mumbled in reply. Her eyes opened slowly, and she sat bolt upright. "Oh, Raythor, I am so sorry." Anella’s face was as red as a beet. "Hey, don’t worry about it, really. You couldn’t help it." He sounded amused. "What happened yesterday? My memory’s sort of a blur." His voice held a twinge of fear. "The army retreated. We’ve all been worrying about you, especially Rose." Raythor sighed with relief. "Good, perfect. Where are we?" "Rea’s castle. You don’t remember being carried in here?" "No. Who bothered with that?" "I did." "Oh." "Listen, Raythor..." The door opened and Dione walked in with a truly malicious look on her face. "Well, good morning you two. Sleep well?" Dione said. Her face didn’t change the entire time. Raythor felt as though he were walking into a trap. "I don’t remember any of it." "Oh, really? Well, that explains a lot. I never imagined you to be the type." "Dione, out with it. The type to what?" "I guess she didn’t tell you. I didn’t think she would." "Dione, really." Laura said. "Well, I came here about an hour ago. Rea made me. Did you know she was lying on top of you?" "Oh, is that it?" Raythor rolled his eyes. "It was just her head. She slumped over in her sleep." "Believe what you want to. I know she was imagining being held in your arms yesterday." Anella reddened again, and Raythor glared. Dione just smiled, and left the room. Rose woke up. "What’s all this noise about?" "Anella, don’t listen to her. She has a few problems of her own, obviously." Laura consoled, ignoring Rose. "I better go feed my horse," Anella said, and left quickly. Rose was severely disoriented. "What just happened?" The princess asked. "Nothing." Raythor said. "I’m not stupid." Rose bristled. "Not like you are. Why don’t you watch what you’re doing next time? You’re going to get yourself killed." "Who would care?" "No one in their right mind, that’s for sure!" "Calm down. Don’t let Dione get to you like that." Laura soothed, leaning on her elbow. "Who said anything about Dione?" Rose demanded. "She was just here. She said some pretty nasty things." "What the heck is wrong with her? We’ve only known her for two days. It’s supposed to take longer than that for her to hate us."
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Post by Markus Everglade on Jun 18, 2009 23:54:05 GMT -5
"Don’t ask me." Laura said passively. Markus walked in. It was hard not to see Laura’s face light up. "Good morning. Where’s Anella?" The prince asked. Blade lifted his head from his paws with a sigh. "Please don’t start that again. We just beat that horse to death." "Right then. Anyway, not to depress you all again, but I found this note outside. It’s from Kylara. She said if she wasn’t here in the morning, to look for her. Markus scanned the other faces, hoping someone would say something. No one did. "I’m afraid something terrible happened to her." "I did see her last night. She didn’t speak to me, but she looked scared." Rose offered. "Let me see it." Raythor said. "Sure." Markus handed him the letter. Raythor glanced at and handed it back. Rose gave him an odd look. "That handwriting is strangely familiar." The dark haired boy commented. Rose got up and peered at the piece of paper over Markus’s shoulder. "Yes... the way the lower case ‘g’ is written. I’m sure it’s the same as Rea’s note. The fake one." "And the seal. It’s the footless eagle again." Laura added. "What did the note say, Raythor?" "To whoever finds this- I’m worried about what may happen to me. I think someone has been after me for a long time, and now they’ve finally caught up. If I’m not here in the morning, fear the worst. Kylara." Raythor recited. "You couldn’t have read that by just glancing at it. I bet you don’t even know how to read." Rose said. "What does it actually say, Markus?" "He got it word for word." Markus said tentatively. "You’re kidding me." "Sadly no, milady." "How did you do that?" Laura said, fascinated. "It’s just a trick." Raythor shrugged. "Maybe I could teach you." "Trick nothing. You just got lucky." Rose scoffed. "Where did you learn to read? I can’t read." Laura said. "Let’s discuss my life story later. All that means is that someone wants us to find Kylara. Possibly they’re using her as bait." Raythor said. "We have some ground to cover." "I could track her, from the air. If she’s anywhere outside, I’ll know it." Blade volunteered. Markus nodded. "I can stay here and take care of Laura and Raythor." Rose suggested. Laura smiled gratefully. "I’m fine. I’ll go see if Anella wants to join us." Raythor said. He didn’t wince until the door had shut behind him. Pain crushed down on his skull from all sides. To him, it was all sickeningly familiar. He fought to stay standing, to keep moving. There had to be a reason, any reason, that the dream had come back to him. It had been almost six months since the last time it had haunted him. For the first time, it had been preceded by a silver maiden with moonlight covering her like a veil. It could have been as simple as
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