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Post by Markus Everglade on Jun 18, 2009 23:31:20 GMT -5
(Well here's all there is, and probably ever will be, typed up of this version of three)
Cast of Characters
The Royalty of Everglade Markus Everglade Age: 19- The blue haired young king of Everglade. Husband of Laura and the brother of Ketra. Has a slight water magic ability.
Elaura ‘Laura’ Everglade (Glasswater) Age: 18- Daughter of the Lainan hero, Vyncent Glasswater. Wife of Markus and the queen of Everglade. The elementist vessel of myth.
Raythor Karian Age: 19- The legendary Karian Killer. Anella’s fiancée and Kenetari’s younger brother. Has a photographic memory.
Anella Nightheart Age: 19- Carinian peasant girl. Raythor’s fiancée and Ross’s cousin. Turns silver in the moonlight.
Rose Thistlethorn Age: 20- Princess of Bloodroot. Formally engaged to Markus and the antagonist of Raythor. May or may not have a romantic attachment to Ross.
Blade Ghosttail Age: 21- Elementist shadow prince. Dasher’s ex-fiancée and Firelight’s older brother. Theo’s best friend.
Dasher Starchaser Age: 18- Elementist light princess. Blade’s ex-fiancée and Saria’s friend. A shape-shifter.
Rocelin ‘Ross’ Rainbird Age: 20- The son of a lord in Carina. Anella’s cousin and Rose’s on again off again love interest. Tried to propose to Anella.
Kylara Waterwind Age: 20- An ex-assassin. Obsessed with the Karian Killer myth and the boy who goes with it. From Caltha.
Ketra Mantle (Everglade) Age: 20- A princess of Everglade. Markus’s elder sister and Geoffrey’s wife. She had a lot of issues with her recently deceased father.
Roland Nightspeaker Age: 19 Caltha’s deposed crown prince. Forcibly saved by Markus and his friends, he now waits for some way to get his throne back.
David Catshadow Age: 20- Carinian artist. The husband of Caldria and the father of Emma. Kaslon’s best friend.
Caldria ‘Cally’ Catshadow (Archer) Age: 20- Lainan seamstress. The wife of David and the mother of Emma.
Kaslon Blademender Age: 19- Carinian peasant. David’s best friend and Emma’s babysitter. Saria’s boyfriend.
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Post by Markus on Jun 27, 2009 19:04:22 GMT -5
Saria Straightarrow Age: 20- Carinian peasant. Kaslon’s happy-go-lucky but very spacey girlfriend. Dasher’s friend.
Dione Klara (Thayet) Age: 18- Angry maid. Acts more like Rea’s advisor than anything else. Married to James, a knight.
Rea Greatly Age: 20- The queen of Carina. Markus’s greatest political ally and Dione’s best friend.
Tallith Age: 18- A healer. Was desperately in love with Anella, and asked her to marry him repeatedly. Upset that she said she was not in love with Raythor for two years.
Theo Lancewood Age: 18- An elementist prince from the Earth kingdom, Erika. The best friend of Blade.
Firelight Ghosttail Age: 16- An elementist princess from the Shadow kingdom, Lakita. Blade’s little sister and Theo’s close friend.
Lila Fairfax Age: 15- Calthan peasant girl. Has a crush on Markus.
Other Characters
Kenetari Archer (Whitestar)/ Vera Karian Age: 21- Sociopath and the murderer of her own parents. Raythor’s sister and Lydrion’s wife. Also the mother of Ava. Lydrion Archer Age: 20- Once a well known finder of lost children, now a feared figure in Laina. Caldria’s twin and the husband of Kenetari. The father of Ava. Jason Whitestar Age: 20- The head of a respected noble family in Laina. Kenetari and Raythor’s cousin, Oraia’s husband and Benvolio’s brother. Father of Tess. Kira Softpetal Age: 20- A previously mute lady of Laina. Jason’s cousin. Oraia Whitestar (Songsteel) Age: 19- A lady from Carina. Jason’s wife and the mother of Tess. Maya- Works for Lydrion and Kenetari with the elementist sisters, Ghost, Loss and Twilight. Ivy Everglade- Markus, Ketra and Benedict’s mother and a recent widow.
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Post by Laura on Jul 21, 2009 1:46:18 GMT -5
Chapter One Father
Markus Everglade had his eyes closed in the semblance of sleep. Beside him, his wife really was dreaming. The room was lit only by faint light, but even staring at the black in front of his gray irises it was comfortingly familiar. His old desk sat peacefully in the corner, the window next to it. Laura’s mirror stood by her side of the bed, with a small table that matched his own. The looming shadow of the table at the foot of the bed was flanked by two smaller dark patches of the chairs his mother had given him on his wedding day. He’d slept in this room his entire life. It still couldn’t cushion the blow of his father’s death. Audrion had died while his son was in Caltha, the neighboring country. Markus had intended to be gone three days, on a simple diplomatic mission. The journey had become a three month long living hell. Caltha’s king had fallen during violent revolution and his disposed son, Roland Nightspeaker, had returned with them to Everglade. Markus, and the twenty some people who had been with him, had been arrested, attacked and threatened at every turn. The last thing in the world he had expected to come home to was to find his father dead, his mother widowed and himself less than forty eight hours from becoming the next king. At this point though he was almost… resigned. The dark gray world outside was blanketed in white, thriving in the depths of November. In another two months, Markus would turn twenty. He had a handsome, softly featured face and eyes that always seemed to be filled with kindness. Laura had her fingers curved in his light blue hair, a smile curling her lips. Elaura Everglade, his wife of three months and his best friend for over ten years, lay on her side, turned toward him. Her face had a highly forgiving quality about it but her eyes, green and very cat like, barely seemed to fit her. Laura’s brown hair had been cropped to her shoulders in Caltha and she was still getting used to it. So was her husband. “Markus?” She yawned, blinking at him. “You’re still awake, aren’t you?” He nodded, eyes still closed. “How can you tell?” The prince asked lightly. She gave a small laugh. “Your breathing, silly. People don’t breathe like that when they’re asleep.” “My breathing…” The corners of his mouth turned up slightly and Laura mimicked the expression. “You haven’t smiled much lately. Not that you should be smiling. We all miss him.” “You miss him?” The muscles in his face quite visibly tensed. He felt her fingers withdraw away from him, like a hermit crab returning back to its shell. “He was the only father figure in my life for eleven years. Even if he hated me, I loved him. Even if he could never accept the fact that I…” “You didn’t make me fall in love with you. It just happened. That’s how it works.” He said. Markus shifted, sitting on the edge of the bed and cradling his forehead in his hands. He fell silent. Laura moved to hold him, burying her head in his back. “Why won’t you talk about it? You’ve been calm… numbingly calm since we got home.” He shivered beneath the warmth of her arms, trying not to absorb too much of this affection that he didn’t deserve.
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Post by Jason on Sept 4, 2009 17:10:53 GMT -5
“It’s just… I have a lot of responsibilities, and I can’t…” He swallowed. “We… we missed him by three days.” “Audrion was murdered. There was nothing we could have done.” “If this was all about power, why aren’t I dead? Why isn’t Benedict?” Markus stood up suddenly, and Laura made a little sound of surprise as she let go. She was so small Markus had actually lifted her a few inches before she’d managed to untangle her arms. Laura sat back on the disheveled sheets and watched him worriedly. Eventually she rose to her feet and stood behind him, hugging him tightly. “There was nothing you could have done, Markus.” Laura repeated softly. He turned to face her, his gray eyes wet. She put a hand against his cheek, brushing away a tear with her thumb. “You never let me see you cry.” Markus wrapped his arms around her, resting his head on her shoulder with a sigh. “I’m not ready for this, Laura. I’m not.” “Yes you are. Audrion knew it. He wouldn’t have let himself die if he wasn’t, you know he wouldn’t. He was way too stubborn for that.” She said. Markus managed a weak laugh. He pulled back, meeting her eyes. He seemed to be struggling with something and he pushed a lock of her hair behind her ears, studying her face very carefully. The prince knew how strong she was, how sweet. They’d been through so much together, and stood to go through so much more. He trusted her, he knew he did. “Laura, I’m going to declare you as my regent.” “I’m…but…Ketra... I-I’m… I shouldn’t…” Laura shrank away, eye catching her thin princess crown in the corner. She trembled. Markus stepped forward again, taking her face in his hands. “You’re going to be my queen, Laura. Everglade is on both our shoulders now.” His tone became almost hopeful. Something in Laura’s expression changed. “If Everglade needs me, then I’ll do the best I can.” Laura gently kissed him. “If you need me.” They drew so close together that he could almost feel the grief radiating off him and sinking into her pale skin… Before he knew what was happening, both of them were crying openly, their kisses growing longer and more passionate. “He loved you, Markus.” Laura said breathlessly. “I know he did.” “Then I won’t disappoint him.” Markus said, tenderly stroking her cheek. “I’m sorry, sweetheart. I shouldn’t have lost it like that.” “It’s all right for you to grieve. He was your father, not just your king.” “But now is when I have to be strong.” “Not when we’re alone.” Laura whispered. “You’ll always have me, my prince.” Markus put his head on her shoulder again. He stayed there motionless for a long time.
**** Raythor Karian tried to sit as still as he possibly could. His black hair just barely fell over his face, still not quite long enough to be tucked away behind his ears. His fiancée, Anella Nightheart, had her head rested on his bony shoulder. She didn’t seem to mind, she was fast asleep. Her dark blonde, wavy hair was obscuring part of her face and her gray-green eyes were hidden behind closed lids. Anella’s lips were very slightly parted as though she was trying to say something, but the only sound was that of their rhythmic breathing. Raythor tried to keep his blue eyes off her, but it was proving to be difficult. His eyes kept sliding to the crystal cross around her neck, particularly to the scar
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Post by Markus Everglade on Oct 30, 2009 22:00:31 GMT -5
he had unintentionally given her just above the collar of her dress. Eventually, he was going to forgive himself for that but it was going to take a long time. A very, very long time. Across the expansive barn, Rose Thistlethorn was just as focused on him as he was on Anella, but with a decidedly more negative expression. Her dull, red hair was done up in a ponytail and a silver circlet rested on top of her head. She and Raythor were not a brightly colored pair. Rose was garbed in a gray dress that rather resembled a monk’s robe, apart from the gold trim at the waist. Raythor was, as always, dressed in a black tunic brightened only by the white, long sleeved garment underneath. “How long are we going to be in here?” Rocelin Rainbird demanded. He and Anella looked very similar, though they were only distant cousins. Raythor glanced at him very briefly. “I don’t know.” “I think Markus has bigger things to worry about than the fact we’re sleeping in the barn.” Rose said, glowering at the stalls and the hay bales and especially the pitchforks. Raythor did his best to ignore the resulting argument between Rose and Ross about Ross’s insincerity and looked back at Anella instead. He felt his eyelids get heavier, but he managed to keep himself awake. Anella shifted against his side, twining her arm around his. Rose and Ross stopped fighting and looked over at them. “Does she know she’s doing that?” Rose asked, perking up like a terrier watching a rat. Raythor shook his head. “No. I don’t even think she knows she fell asleep.” He said softly. “Yeah, remember when she just cut off in the middle of a sentence?” Ross said. He leaned back in his hay bale, watching a bug crawl by with apathy. “What was it again?” “Raythor, you know you always…” Rose recited. “We never did find out what he always, though.” “She’s pretty exhausted.” Raythor said, grinning slightly. He moved very slightly so that she would be more comfortable. Rose raised an eyebrow. “Don’t you hate being touched, stupid?” “Not by Anella.” “Ew! Tell me you just said that to bother me.” “Yeah. Mostly.” “Gross!” “…say that you’re sorry. For no reason.” Anella mumbled into Raythor’s sleeve. She curled up into a ball, still clutching his arm, and looked very content. “Mystery solved.” Ross said, throwing his hands up in mock celebration. He laughed. Raythor nodded, glancing back at Anella. He smiled unconsciously. Rose’s expression became a little sad. “You really love her. That’s the way Markus looks at Laura.” Rose said. Raythor lifted his head. “What? I wasn’t looking emotionless?” He said. “No, lover boy. You looked… happy.” “Oh.” Raythor said. The back of his head touched the wall of the barn and he smiled again. Rose, inexplicably, started crying.
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Post by Paramour on Dec 13, 2009 18:36:17 GMT -5
“If you’re happy, who am I going to fight with? Whose self esteem am I going to batter? Who will I call vampire face?” “You’ve never called me vampire face.” “I wanted to! Now I can’t!” “Try not to wake Anella.” “Anella?” Rose fairly shrieked. She got up, slamming the door of the barn on her way out. Both boys just stared after her for a minute. “Your relationship is really weird.” Ross noted finally. “Yeah.” Raythor agreed with a sigh. “I know.”
****
Rose had been gone for almost three hours when Raythor finally forced himself to get up and look for her. Anella had finally lain down and Ross was fast asleep. The Calthan insomniac was the only one still awake and, sadly for him, the duty of retrieving the temperamental princess fell on his shoulders. It wasn’t too hard to find her. She was leaning, half asleep, against a tree just outside the barn. “Rose, come on.” He said, gently nudging her awake. She made a tired sound and leaned against him for support. He sighed but started guiding her back inside. “Let me see.” Rose said, stopping him. Raythor tried to pull her forward but she was pretty insistent. “See what?” He said finally. “Your palm. Let me see.” “Why do you want to see my palm, Rose?” He asked patiently. “I really want to see.” “Fine, fine sure.” Raythor said. He pulled off his right glove, so she’d only have to look at what he judged to be the less ugly scar. “What is that thing?” Her nose wrinkled, eyes running over the white half circle that slashed across his palm. “Just a scar.” “Where did you get it?” “I woke up with it nine years ago, so Kenetari. Can we go inside?” “No. Let me see all of them.” “You want me to take my shirt off?” Raythor said with slight concern. She shook her head violently. He slipped his glove back on. When he looked back up she was smiling with satisfaction. “I knew it. She isn’t going to want you, because you’re covered with all those hideous marks.” “What?” “Anella. She’s never going to sleep with you. No woman wants to have to look at that all the time.” Rose said triumphantly. Raythor opened his mouth momentarily, as though he was going to speak. Then he just pushed her off him and went back inside. Rose blinked, feeling a little bad. She followed him inside. He was standing, pressed against the wall, hand holding one sleeve as far down as it would go. “Hey Raythor.”
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Post by Pearl on Dec 13, 2009 22:44:48 GMT -5
“Yes, I’m hideous and malformed. Thank you for reminding me.” He said flatly. Rose shook her head, coming closer. She pulled his hand away and shoved back his sleeve, gripping his wrist. He winced, looking at all the scars. Rose bore no expression. “They’re just little white lines. I didn’t mean what I said. If I absolutely had to marry you, they wouldn’t bother me.” “You don’t have to apologize. You just told the truth.” “Do you think I would try to make you feel better? Hardly.” She traced the scar on his right hand. “That one is almost pretty. Like a crescent moon.” “Good for me.” Raythor rolled his eyes. Rose scowled at him. “You know, if I was your wife, I would think of these as my scars.” She said quietly. “I would think ‘my husband is so brave, he went out and got these protecting people.’ I would count them and know where they were. I’d love to touch them.” “Sure you would.” “I would, really.” Rose ran her finger over a scar at the very end of his wrist. “And your wife is going to think that too.” Raythor just looked away. “You don’t know that.”
**** Blade Ghosttail sunk his teeth into the bird’s neck, tongue running over the feathers. He tried to keep his mind on the taste of the probably hard won bird, rather than his amusement at the servant’s resentment over his and the other elementists presence. He supposed, upon further thought, that he couldn’t blame them. Four wolf-like creatures with free run of their pantry would disturb any self respecting cook, maid or soldier. Blade had started coming either very early in the morning or late at night, when none of the servants would be awake. That way he could cause as little trouble as possible, even if it meant missing the expression of distress on their faces. It was no wonder. Blade had dark eyes, deep gray fur that clung to him like a cat’s and bat wings that were deep black on the outside but encased a soft purple. On his forehead was the shadow symbol, a purple circle was engulfed with black flame. A claw hung from a chain on his neck, a gold ring pierced through his right ear and a metal snake encircled his left leg. His tail, idly twitching behind him, resembled a scythe framed by skin rather than wood. All told, it was probably best the maids didn’t see him. He finished eating his bird with a yawn. Blade knew he should get out of here soon but he just couldn’t make himself move. “Blade,” A feminine voice said coldly. Blade glanced up with nothing more than vague disinterest. The lithe blue eyed blonde who stood before him was his former girlfriend Dasher’s human body. She had barely been out of it and in her normal body for three days. As a light elementist she was the only one among the four of them who could shape shift. It had always been beneficial before, but now it was almost invaluable. “Good morning.” Blade answered personably. “I don’t want any cracks about how life on two legs is treating me.” Dasher snapped in return. “I wasn’t going to say anything. That’s Theo’s department.”
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Post by Markus Everglade on Apr 9, 2010 17:19:36 GMT -5
“Well…well… Dione him. Dione him to death.” She said venomously. Blade chuckled. “That is a deep wound, lady Starchaser.” “Princess.” “Yes, of course. And why are you gracing the pantry with your presence today?” “I knew you would say something.” There was a flash of light and Dasher reverted to her natural form. “It’s easier to eat like this, if you must know.” A canine smile spread over his face, unconscious but none the less undeniable. In this body, to his race, she was the kind of beautiful no one questioned. Her white ears pressed against her skull with irritations, the little feather at the end bobbing. She had ivory legs and wings, pale blue fur and an almost ethereally clean blue horse tail. A golden collar accented her throat stating what she already had: she was a princess. While the mark on Blade’s forehead declared him a shadow, Dasher’s star made her a light. The white blaze going from the pretty diamond to her nose said that she was female. Very, very female. “I have many things to do today. You don’t have to worry about my unwanted company, Juliet.” “Do not call me by my human name.” Dasher bristled. He was all ready gone.
*****
Ketra’s fists clenched and unclenched as she paced in front of her window. She could see Markus outside, walking back from his grave and it was making her angry. He shouldn’t be out there alone, not while Kenetari still drew breath. If than woman lay a hand on her little brother… She was fully awake that, no matter how furious she got, no one was going to let her outside. As soon as the servants and, more importantly, her mother, had discovered she was pregnant Ketra had been followed everywhere and the queen had forbade her from even setting foot outside the castle. “It would be different if it weren’t winter,” Ivy had lied placating. Ketra made another circuit of the room while Geoffrey, her husband, watched as best he could through his blonde, brown hair. “That’s not really going to help, you know.” Geoffrey said passively. Ketra turned on her heel. “I know that. Do you think I don’t know that?” “Yes. Just saying,” He shrugged. Ketra sighed loudly, glaring at her stomach with contempt. “After three months, I shouldn’t be this giant.” “You aren’t giant.” “Yes I am.” Ketra insisted, tugging on her dress so it was tight. “See?” Geoffrey blinked his brown eyes, struck by just how much she looked like her father. Same hard features, same critical blue eyes. If it weren’t for all the flaming red hair, she could have been Audrion’s double. That and the fact she was a woman. A pregnant woman. “You’d be twice as big if it were twins.” “Thank you so much, Geoffrey.” “Just saying.”
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Post by Markus Everglade on Apr 9, 2010 17:20:17 GMT -5
“I’m sure.” She glanced out the window again and noticed Markus was gone. Geoffrey recognized the look on her face. “Go ahead. I’m not going to tell your mother.”
*****
“Good morning, Ketra.” Markus said, trying not to crack a smile. “Are you really going to appoint me to your council?” Ketra said, crossing her arms. She was mostly grasping for a reason to be there, but he didn’t need to know that. “Yes. Why shouldn’t I? Father appointed all his brothers and I’m keeping them on. You’re perfectly qualified.” “Markus, no king has ever appointed his sister before. This will not go over well.” “I need someone to replace Sean and Ingrid. Why not you and Geoffrey?” He let his shoulders roll a little shrug. Ketra frowned. “Markus…” “I can’t show myself as weak. Any decision I make is going to have to be listened to.” Markus said, voice gaining an edge. His eyes glazed slightly. Ketra took a rough hold of his arm. “Don’t be like that, Markus. Don’t be how he would have wanted.” “I’m being who I have to be to be king.” “No it isn’t, this is-” “Ketra, I know what he wanted me to be. I also know I’m not what he wanted. He was never proud of me.” Markus said, with a there’s-no-room-for-argument kind of voice. “And he was our father, not some jail guard we had to escape from. I loved him.” “How could you?” Ketra asked, sounding betrayed. “He didn’t deserve it, especially from you.” “He was my father. You only get one.” “Thank God. All he ever saw was our weaknesses.” “And he was good at using them against us, yes I know. If I want any chance of being the king he was, even half of the king he was, I’ve got to use every strength I have. And all I have is the Royalty of Everglade. Our friends.” “Don’t say that.” Ketra retorted. “You’ve listened to him demean you for so long that you’re starting to believe it.” “Not starting.” “No-” “You’re the one who left when I was thirteen. Not father.” Markus shot back. Inside, he was wincing. The words had left his mouth before he could think, something that happened to him all too frequently. He wished he could take it back, but he knew this was what he had needed to say to his sister for a long time. Ketra looked as though she had gotten the wind knocked out of her. She turned away, angrily clenching her fists. “I had to get away from him.” She said, through gritted teeth. “It had nothing to do with you. I love you.” “So did he.” “You could have come with me.”
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Post by Markus Everglade on Apr 9, 2010 17:20:32 GMT -5
“I’ve got responsibilities here. I’m the one who’s going to become king of… of fucking Everglade tomorrow. Not you. Maybe it should be you, but I’m going to be the one sitting in that throne for the rest of my life.” “Oh, and I didn’t have any responsibilities?” Ketra said furiously. “I don’t have pressures?” He didn’t answer. She counted to ten and felt a hand on her shoulder. “I’m sorry I swore, Ketra.” Markus said softly. She flipped around and hugged him, a lump rising in her throat. “You sound like you’re seven.” She told him. Ketra felt his arms go around her and she pressed her face into his chest, the tears she’d held back for so long starting to fall. “He was my father… and I did love him…”
Chapter Two He loved you
“What did you and Ketra fight about this time?” Laura asked, leaning up on her elbows with a yawn. While Markus had gone on his pre-dawn trek to the graveyard, Laura had just rolled over and gone back to sleep. “What do we always fight about?” Markus joked, walking over to sort through the pile of letters that had been left for him on the table. “Audrion.” Laura said, dropping back into the softness of her pillow. “Yes, even dead she can’t stand him.” “You always do that, you know.” “What?” “Fight with Ketra when anything goes wrong. I suppose you must feel safe taking it out on each other.” “That’s what Anella said about us in Caltha.” Markus said blankly. “Oh, please don’t use the word Caltha.” Laura moaned, rolling onto her side. “Don’t use the word Caltha?” He sat on the edge of the bed, loosely draping his arm over her stomach. “Funny, I thought you loved Caltha.” “Markus, you idiot.” She laughed. “But I’m your idiot.” He lightly kissed her neck. Laura closed her eyes, reaching down to hold his arm. She snaked her fingers through his. “I love you.” Laura told him happily. He smiled. “Love you.” “Are you nervous, about tomorrow?” “Of course. But I can handle it. I have you.” “I know you can, my prince. You’ll be a wonderful king.” “If I’m lucky, I’ll be a fairly decent king.” Markus said, playing with her hair. “You are the luckiest person I know.” Laura informed him, curling up into a tighter ball so that her back would be closer to him. He chuckled to himself. Then he remembered the real reason he had come back in here and swallowed. “I’ve got to pick the Knife today.” “You do? Well, who are you going to pick?” “You’ve got to agree because we’re going to be joint monarchs. All right?”
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Post by Markus Everglade on Apr 9, 2010 17:20:57 GMT -5
“Who, Markus?” She sat up slightly. “Just tell me if I should pick someone else.” “Markus!” “Raythor and Anella.” His smile faded and he looked at her with uncertainty. Laura wrapped her arms around his neck in response. “They’re perfect. And it’s great for them too, now they can get married and not have to wait until he earns enough.” “Great.” He seemed relieved. “I’ll tell-” “Let me tell them.” Laura jumped in. “Please Markus? Please?” He laughed. “You tell them. I’ve got to go see Roland.” “That will cheer you right up.” “Oh, I know.” He kissed her quickly and started to leave. She stopped him, her hand behind him head. “Are you all right, my prince?” “Yes. I’m not going back to… to the way I was in Caltha again. I promise you.” “I believe you.” Laura said, green eyes looking up at him innocently. Markus felt a pang in his chest. Her faith in him was so absolute… “I love you.” He said quietly. He tried not to think of her watching him as he left the room.
**** “You’re really leaving today?” Anella said. She let go of the string, watching her arrow hit a little to the left of the center of her target. “Darn it.” “You’ll get it soon.” Blade assured her. He yawned, stretching one paw to dig his long claws into the branch he was perched on. “And I must. My wedding is not so far off.” “Political marriages are important. Are you… are you sure about Nightshade?” “On paper, she is perfect.” “I mean… I wish you could feel for her the way I feel for...” “I don’t love Dasher enough to get hurt like that again.” Blade said, ears back. “She hurt a lot of us.” An arrow hit the center of the target with a thunk. “Yes.” Anella said blandly. Her hand trembled on the bow slightly, but her expression didn’t change. “For him, it was a grief ritual.” He replied quietly. “For her…” “It doesn’t matter now.” “It does because there’s something I should have said a long time ago.” Blade said. Anella opened her mouth to protest but he shook his head. “I have always looked for the worst in Raythor, from the moment he told us about his past. I was so sure he had murdered them. I thought he left to escape making any commitment to you. I even believed he knew who he had really killed when you died.” Blade’s ears swiveled, almost nervously. “But the way he fell apart when he lost you, the way that he cried… even I couldn’t doubt his feelings for you any longer. He is a good man. And maybe he’s good enough for you after all.” Anella stayed silent for a moment, taking that in. “I… Blade, thank you. You don’t understand what that…” Anella trailed off. “That means a lot to me. I know that he’s worth it, but everyone else seems to…”
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Post by Markus Everglade on Apr 9, 2010 17:21:49 GMT -5
“My apologies for being among them for so long.” “I don’t blame you. I mean… the Karian Killer is an off putting type of name.” She smiled and he laughed. Blade knew he had done the right thing. He flitted to the ground, landing directly beside her. “Farewell, Anella. I wish I could be there for the wedding.” “I wish that too.” She knelt to hug him and he closed his eyes, praying to himself that she was going to be all right.
*****
“Roland?” Markus tentatively peered into the guest room the Calthan prince currently inhabited. The auburn haired boy looked up blankly, dark eyes rather confused, as though he had just woken up. He was sitting on the edge of his bed, the same way Markus had just been doing, arms draped over his knees and on leg tucked up beneath him. He was, to Markus’s exasperation, still dressing only in black. Of course the Gladian prince was also in mourning and wearing black. But at least he actually left his room during the day, much as it hurt. “Good morning, Roland.” “Oh… yes… I suppose…” Roland said; squinting at the sunlight coming into the window like it was a foreign substance. Markus resisted the urge to swear profusely. “So… you asked me to come here today…” “Right, yes I did…” Roland said a little straighter. “I was wondering if you could help me get back into Caltha. Like you promised.” “Oh.” Markus was impressed by this flash of initiative. “Yes, of course. Gervase has all ready come to our spy in Caltha. I’m confident in our ability to work something out with him and with the Calthans themselves. But it would be best if you spoke with him, with a guard accompanying you.” “Do you think a peasant bride would benefit me as much as it benefited you?” “What?” The blue haired boy was taken aback. “Do you not listen to the gossip in the maid’s quarters?” “No. Usually it’s insulting.” “Laura’s lack of a title is very popular with most of Everglade.” “What about the rest of it?” Markus said, fully expecting an answer that would make him very angry. Roland just smirked. “Not as complimentary. I am relying on you to set up a meeting between myself and Gervase. I have no doubt that I can convince that upstart peasant to step away from power.”
****
Markus knocked on his mother’s door, mind automatically drifting to the coronation as he waited for her to answer. Any spare second seemed like a good excuse to worry about it. He was jarred back to reality when it became obvious his mother had been crying again. “Are you all right?” Markus asked worriedly. Ivy nodded, ushering him in. “As I can be.” “I was just thinking about the-”
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Post by Markus Everglade on Apr 9, 2010 17:22:12 GMT -5
“Markus, I can handle the black ball. I’ve done hundreds of similar events.” “But mother this is… it’s different…” “It’s in honor of Audrion. It will be good for me.” “If you’re sure…” Markus said doubtfully. Much as there was a close resemblance between Audrion and Ketra, Markus’s features closely resembled Ivy’s. Her softly lined face, topped by the bright red hair, was pretty if not beautiful. She has passed her deep brown eyes down to her younger son, Benedict, who was curled up sleeping on the bed. His black hair obscured his tiny face completely. “He stayed up late last night,” Ivy said, smiling softly at Benedict. “Poor dear.” “Want me to take him?” Markus met her eyes sympathetically. She looked away, carefully stroking Benedict’s hair, just gently enough so as not to wake him. “You’re so busy today…” “Then Laura. She only has one meeting today.” “He does love Laura,” Ivy said, as her hand returned to her side, “Though he has been missing Audrion quite a bit lately.” “We all do.” The prince replied, a bit uncomfortably. There wasn’t much he could do for his mother’s suffering. As much as his father’s death at hurt, he knew it was ten times worse for her. “Even… even Laura.” “Laura’s a good girl.” Ivy said absently. Markus hesitated, running his hand through his hair. “Mom?” “Yes dear?” “Laura’s… Laura’s pregnant.” “W-what?” “She’s less than a month along but…. We know. There’s a spell…” “Oh baby…” Ivy tightly hugged her son, the tears coming back. “That’s so wonderful…” “It is?” “Of course, honey.” “It’s just… the timing…” “It will bring a little joy into my life.” Ivy said, pulling back to look at her son. “Just as you do.” “One out of two isn’t bad.” Markus said lightly. Then he bit his tongue. “I didn’t mean that.” “He was too hard on you.” She shook her head. “I know that.” “You used the… past tense. For the first time.” “Oh…” Her lip trembled. “Mother…” “We’re not like Audrion and Ketra. We’ve always been able to talk to each other.” Ivy took a few steps back, clasping her hands. “And there’s something I never told you.” “Mother, you don’t have to tell me now. You’re not well.” The prince protested, unable to ignore the unwanted rush of curiosity. She just shook her head. “Your father… didn’t believe you were his for a long time.” Ivy said slowly. Markus felt all the air rush out of his lungs. “In fact, both of us were almost thrown out of the castle because of public pressure to get rid of the ‘demon pretender to the throne’.”
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Post by Markus Everglade on Apr 9, 2010 17:22:43 GMT -5
“Did he ever? No… no I overheard him say he did, when I was really young…” “You… you heard that?” “I was outside the door. I’m sorry, I was a stupid little kid and I shouldn’t have been eavesdropping. I’m not much smarter now.” “Don’t say things like that.” Ivy retorted, gripping the fabric of her skirt. “Your father realized you were his. He loved you.” “Was…” Markus let his back touch the wall. He felt like if he just let his legs hold him up, they’d give out completely. Ivy regarded him solemnly, hands now neatly folded in front of her stomach. “Ask me anything you want.” “Was he really my father?” Markus asked softly. His fingers traced the cold stone behind him, heart slamming against his ribcage. Ivy’s entire body became tense. She looked at her son without even turning her head, his reflection catching in her deep brown eyes. His own face looked back at him almost accusingly. If she said no, if he was not really the prince of Everglade… he would never be king, he would have to leave everything he had ever known. He, Laura, his mother… all of them would be cast out and look down upon. Left a shell of everything they were. By just one word. Because Markus refused to take the throne on the power of a nineteen year lie. Ivy looked up. “Of course he was. Neither of us would be living here if you weren’t.” “Well… if you convinced him that I was his child or that I might be… I was your only son for a long time. If I wasn’t his he couldn’t be sure of… getting another son…” “I’ve told you about Mercury. You’ve seen your own powers; you know what you can do. He’s the reason for it.” “Elementists can be human. Usually just the Lights, but Mercury isn’t normal-” “Markus!” Ivy turned and moved in front of him. Taking hold of his chin, she finally met his eyes, her expression very serious. “This line,” She traced his cheek, “is his. And this,” her finger drifted across his chin, “is his. Your ears… especially your smile… those are his. You’re made up of little parts of both of us, so don’t even try to tell me that Audrion is not… was not your father.” Ivy broke away, tears threatening at the sides of her eyes. Markus’s expression slid to one of guilt. “I’m… I’m sorry…” “You only asked the question all of Everglade has been asking for nineteen years. You had the right.” “But this wasn’t the time.” “Look at you.” Ivy said, as though she hadn’t heard him. “All grown up and so much taller than me. You’re going to be a wonderful king, Markus. You’ll make your father proud.” “Why does he have to be dead to be proud of me?” Markus said weakly. “That’s just the way he was. Even I can’t deny that.” Ivy put a hand against his cheek. “You are like him but you’re so… sweet. Promise me you won’t lose that.”
*****
Raythor walked in the door with his black dog Thunder trotting next to him. Thunder was panting despite the fact it was cold outside. Raythor tended to walk fast
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Post by Markus Everglade on Apr 9, 2010 17:23:09 GMT -5
when he was thinking, and he’d been obsessing over the things Rose had said yesterday. Even with his long legs, Thunder didn’t really stand a chance. Raythor sighed, ignoring his dog’s plight. First Rose made him worry about Anella’s eventual reaction to his scars. Of course, she has seen them before but she didn’t really look at them. She blushed and turned her face away, applying bandages without really getting any clear view of his chest, or his arms. Especially the arms, which were so laced with those “white lines” it was hard to see the skin beneath them. The second thought was even more concerning. If I was your wife… He was by no means good with emotions, but he was fairly sure Rose had been flirting with him. Really, intensively flirting with him. First she’d suggested that Anella would not accept him for his physical appearance. Then she had suggested that she herself would. That she herself would in fact enjoy it. That she wanted to… “Raythor.” A feminine voice said. Raythor, for once in his life, jumped in surprise. Anella bit her lip to keep herself from laughing. “Hello, Raythor.” “Anella.” He said, struggling to regain his composure. Anella was still struggling not to smile. “Where have you been all day, huh?’ “Where have I been? You’re the one who was in Raythor-land since early this morning.” She dropped to the balls of her feet. “Hey Thunder, how are you?” The dog wagged his tail furiously and pushed his nose into Anella’s lap, ears back with bliss. “I was feeling unsociable.” Raythor shrugged. Anella nodded, glancing up at him briefly. “Are you all right?” She scratched Thunder’s ears. “Is it… I mean…” “No. No withdrawing, not this time. But… can we go somewhere to talk?” “O…ok. Um…” Anella looked a little bit nervous. “Can we go somewhere to talk is kind of an um… break up line…” “What?” Raythor said. He was genuinely surprised and she laughed with relief. “Where do you want to go?” “To not break up with you? I don’t know, anywhere private.” He shrugged. Anella stood up and they headed down the hall together. She spotted a guest room free of anybody’s things and looked at him. “That’s fine. I just don’t want… someone to find us.” “Someone in particular?” She asked, closing the door behind them. Raythor looked away. “Rose. Rose said some… things last night.” “She did?” Anella put a hand on her cheek. “Did she hurt you?” Raythor put his hand over hers. “I… I guess. But the thing is I think that she might…” His voice faded. Anella studied his face. “What?” “You know…” “I’m not sure what you mean.” “She… she… the way you…” Raythor met her eyes, willing her to understand. “She likes me.” “Rose is your friend. I know she treats you poorly but I think she does like you deep down.”
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