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Post by Markus Everglade on Apr 9, 2010 17:23:25 GMT -5
“She likes me the way you like me. You know.” He kissed her. “That way.” Anella laughed. “Raythor, that’s not funny. Ok, it’s a little bit funny… but you can’t really think that Rose is in love with you.” Anella said. Raythor’s face didn’t change. “Can you?” Raythor did his best to explain their conversation, downplaying the way her talking about his scars had made him feel. She fell silent for a long time, not looking at him. “I love you.” Raythor said, running his hand through her hair. Anella nodded. “I think you’re right about Rose. I guess I s-should have figured that o-out. I… I h-had an i-idea of it…” Anella scrunched against him, almost embarrassed by how familiar his chest was to her. “And I-I love you too…” “Anella,” Raythor kissed his fiancée deeply. She smiled weakly when he drew back. “This isn’t going to affect our relationship at all.” She nodded again, fiddling with the cross around her neck. Then she looked up again, a real smile on her face. “I’m always going to know you love me.” “Really?” He said, sounding relieved. “Yes.” She wrapped her arms around his neck. “Because you cried for me.” “You uh… you… how did you…?” “Blade told me before he left.” She kissed him a couple times and his eyes slid shut. “I know that’s one thing you’ve never done for anyone else. I wasn’t your first kiss, or even your second… I wasn’t the first girl you risked everything to protect… I’m not even the first girl to be in love with you… but I’m the only one you’ve cried for.” “You’re the first girl I ever fell in love with.” Raythor said, caressing her cheek. She smiled a little more and hugged him tightly. She wasn’t going to let anything happen to him ever again.
Chapter Three Conspiracy
“Markus, there you are, you blue haired idiot.” Rose grabbed his arm and dragged him into a side room, shutting the door behind them. “What is it Rose? I do have a lot to do today.” Markus said, not unkindly. “Many things. You’re a negligent prince.” She crossed her arms and Markus noticed that Ross, Raythor, Anella, Dasher and Laura were all crammed in the room with them. “First and foremost, we should address the sleeping in the barn issue.” Ross tried. “No.” Rose rebuffed. “Markus is short of time and I think his father is a little more important.” “And it is for your safety.” Laura clasped her hands. “Kenetari…” “I know, I know. It’s better than she continues to believe that we’re dead. But, just for the record, I tried.” Ross said. “Just let me say that, unlike most of our little Royalty of Everglade band, I have to enjoy the hay in my clothing.” “Straw.” Rose said obstinately. “There is really not much left to say about my father.” Markus interjected with a weak smile. “I’m pretty sure there’s no point in bothering with the subject any longer.” “Yes, but your wife thinks there is something left to tell you.” Raythor said.
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Post by Markus Everglade on Apr 9, 2010 17:23:50 GMT -5
“It’s a rather excellent theory.” Dasher admitted with some reluctance. She and Raythor avoided looking at each other. “Theory?” Markus said, raising an eyebrow at Laura. “I could be wrong.” Laura said quickly. “You could be right.” “Well…I think that Audrion knew that he was going to die.” “What?” Markus said. A practiced, formal smile spread across the prince’s face. He was so obviously not understanding her, or at least not wanting to, that she wanted to scream. She knew this would be difficult; Audrion had always been a touchy subject between them. “Let me do this, L.” Ross said, raising his hands. “God knows I need some way to exercise my mouth.” Laura nodded, with a mixture of gratitude and amusement. “So, the king tells you to go to Caltha before you and Laura even had a child to barter with. That makes no sense. Then, Laura pointed out how many cousins you have. Setting one of them up with Roland would have worked just as well. Finally, the guy hates Laura’s guts for over a decade and suddenly, just like that, he tells her to be a good princess. Before that he would have given his right arm to keep her from becoming a princess. Now come on, what the hell Audrion?” “And he told you that he loved you exactly once in nineteen years… right before you left for Caltha.” Laura put in timidly. “Like he would never see me again.” Markus said slowly. “And he told me to stay in Caltha for no logical reason.” “That part you didn’t mention at the time.” Ross chimed in again lightly. “You just told us some sh-” “He was also completely understanding about my miscarriage.” Laura cut him off. “He barely pushed for an annulment between us.” “But what…” Markus ran his hand through his hair. “Why? Who killed him? Why not me?” “That’s what we don’t know. Yet.” Dasher said. “But your mother has to know something.” “I refuse to interrogate my mother.” The prince said sharply. He instantly felt guilty, remembering that this was just what he had done early today. “Well, if she was just talking to her son…” “Dasher.” Raythor said coldly. “Ivy just lost her husband. I don’t think it would be anything but cruel to question her now.” “But what if knowing or not knowing this information means whether or not Markus lives or dies?” Dasher shot back, glaring up at him. “He’s right; who ever killed Audrion for the throne still has Markus standing in their way.” “As well as Ketra, Ivy and the younger brother.” The dark haired boy argued back. “And, as of tomorrow, Laura. Don’t you think it would be just a little bit suspicious to take out five members of the royal family all at once? I think we have some time to figure it out.” “We don’t know this. This is a murder, Raythor. It’s not just going to disappear because we want it to.” “I know that, Dasher. I’m just saying we should think twice before we harass a grieving widow.”
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Post by Markus Everglade on Apr 9, 2010 17:24:22 GMT -5
“So there’s nothing that we can do right now.” Anella spoke up. “Maybe we should change the subject.” “Good plan, lovely Anella.” Ross said eagerly, rubbing his hands together. “Now, four of us have been sleeping in the barn-” “Ross, for the love of mercy, drop it.” Rose said. “Markus wouldn’t have us in the barn if it wasn’t for our own protection.” “Laura, who is supposedly dead, is going to be crowned queen in less than twenty four hours. How is Kenetari going to miss that? Mice are not going to miss that.” “Laura is the vessel. No one knows the extent of her powers.” Dasher snapped. “She’s allowed to come back from the dead, unlike the rest of you. It’s Blade, Markus and I who are in real danger.” “You want to know danger?” Ross pulled a piece of straw off his shirt and waved it at Dasher. “This is danger.” “That is for feeding horses.” Rose snatched the thin yellowish wisp and threw it on the ground. “Stop being a wuss.” “Kenetari slit your throat once, she’ll do it again.” Dasher said darkly. “Would you rather feel that charming sensation again or continue waging war on inanimate objects?” Her eyes flicked briefly over the offending straw. “Hm.” Ross said. “When you put it that way, it seems so clear.” “I thought that it might.” Markus had been quiet, pensive, up until this point. He had ignored all the arguments, not even trying to stop them or calm anyone down. He had let everyone hurt each other without lifting a finger. And he hadn’t seemed to hear a word they’d said. Markus caught sight of a pair of hard blue eyes out of the corner of his own gray ones and turned around quickly. Raythor blinked. “What?” “Nothing,” Markus said, forcing a smile. “Nothing at all.”
*****
Kenetari went down the line of sandy, stick marked graves and systematically kicked each and every one of them over. She picked up an individual stick and read the simple engraving of ‘Rose’ before tossing it away. “Where is it?” She demanded aloud. “You won’t find it. He’s not dead, you can’t kill him.” The boy behind her taunted. “Shut up.” “Stop trying, there’s no point.” “Don’t make me water the sand with your blood.” “Like you could.” He laughed. Kenetari grabbed his shoulders and slammed his back into the stone side of the nearby house. She kept at it, bashing him harder and harder until she was out of breath. Then she moved on to punching him until his lip split open and his eyes rolled back in his head. When she drew back, panting, he looked up at her with boredom. “Don’t you ever get tired of beating me up?” He reached up to touch the crown of red in his hair. “Nice.” Kenetari threw him on the ground and proceeded to ignored him,
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Post by Markus Everglade on Apr 9, 2010 17:24:41 GMT -5
concentrating on the grave he had fallen on. She snapped the grave marker bearing her brothers name in half, shoved the boy to the side and started digging “Ken?” She looked up into familiar, deep brown eyes. Lydrion crossed his arms. “What are you doing?” “Digging.” Kenetari said tersely. “Do you really want to do that?” “What do you think?” “Kenetari, Raythor is dead. Try to let it go.” “He says he isn’t.” She pointed accusingly to the boy on the ground. Lydrion’s gaze followed along and he stared into nothing. “The black thing has a gender now? You know I can’t see it.” “It’s always a he.” Kenetari said quietly. Lydrion nodded. “All right. Well, regardless I think we should leave here now.” “I know he’s not under here, Lydrion.” “Yes he is, come on home-” She hit him in the face as hard as she could, able to hear the resounding crack as she did. They both froze. Lydrion finally managed to breathe again, turning his face away and hiding it with his dark hair. Hiding from those demonic blue eyes… “You’ve never hit me before.” Lydrion commented, keeping his voice even. “Ly…” She put out her hand and he flinched away. To her surprise, he started laughing. Just like her apparition always did whenever she hurt him. “I chose this death the minute I put on this ring. Someday, you will kill me.” “Lydrion-” “It’s really something to know how you’re going to die. Maybe not when, but certainly how. Thanks to you, I’ve mastered fate.” He told her coldly. “I love you.” “So?” He challenged. She clenched her jaw. “I loved him too.” Kenetari’s fingers sunk in the sand. “You’re right. If she hadn’t killed him, I would have. I was going to.” “Leave your brother behind.” “As soon as I-” “It’s not a request.” Lydrion said, finally meeting her eyes again. “Our daughter is waiting.”
*****
“So, Laura, what is this about?” Raythor asked as he came into the council room. He looked around with mild curiosity. All that seemed to be here was a long table surrounded by at least a dozen chairs. No tapestries on the wall, no paintings. Just bare stone and the one boring table. This was going to be a truly fascinating meeting. “It’s very exciting.” Laura said, beaming. He nodded, glancing at Anella bouncing sort of nervously on her heels. He started thinking about how cute that was before he realized that he should be focusing on Laura. Raythor shook himself. What the hell was wrong with him? Was he actually standing here daydreaming about his girlfriend, like a love struck puppy?
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Post by Markus Everglade on Apr 9, 2010 17:24:57 GMT -5
“We’re generals?” Anella said, voice high like it always was when she was particularly surprised or nervous. Raythor mentally slapped himself. “Wait, what?” “Haven’t you heard of Everglade’s knife?” Laura asked, blinking. He forced himself to pay attention. “I’m a Calthan peasant. We’re lucky if we know what numbers look like.” Raythor said. Good. Sarcasm. Cover up the fact you have no idea what she just said. “It’s not exactly a general. The position is unique to Everglade, actually. If you accept this job, you’ll be the leaders of Markus’s council, his advisors and the equivalent of generals in times of war.” “Can we talk about it?” Raythor tried. “Oh, absolutely.” Laura said. “Markus chose you, but I thought it would be wonderful if you could use the money to get married sooner. I think you’ve both all ready done enough waiting. When you’re finished deciding, I’ll be in the hall.” “Thank you, really.” He managed a smile. As soon as she was gone, he looked at Anella again. “What just happened?” “What?” Anella said. “I uh… may not have been listening…” “Is there something wrong? Were you thinking about something else?” “No and then yes.” “What then?” “That is not important.” Raythor said. Anella looked resigned; he knew she was used to his not letting her in until he was ready. It just had never been about anything as trivial as this before. “Markus wants us to work here, in the castle. As his advisors. He’s giving us a job.” Anella bit her lip. “Both of us.” “Is that what you want?” “Is it what you want?” She watched his eyes, trying to read him. “Do you want to live in Carina? I mean, your family is there.” Raythor said, gently putting a hand on her cheek. “I could find another job eventually. It would mean waiting awhile to get married, but…” “Markus is offering this position to us because of you. He knows you could be a wonderful advisor. You’ve earned this, Raythor. Earned not ever having to think about where you’re going to eat next. Sleep next.” “This is about both of us, Anella. Not just me.” He moved his thumb across the side of her face. “You’re really smart, and you’re good at the tactical stuff even if you don’t think you are. Don’t do this because you think I deserve it. You deserve it to.” He hesitated, thinking. “Because… because I know that you want to do something that you feel is important with your life, not just raise horses and marry a peasant who isn’t good enough for you. You’re not meant for that.” “How did you know that?” She asked softly. He shrugged. Her eyes moved off his face. “I know you’re going to agree with my choice, no matter how you really feel. I want this to be your decision too.” “All right…” Raythor took some paper off the table. “We’ll write it down.” “And if we should disagree?” “I’ll go with you.”
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Post by Markus Everglade on Apr 9, 2010 17:25:55 GMT -5
“I thought you’d say that.” “As long as I get to be with you, it doesn’t matter. Promise.” He handed her the paper and ink. Anella smiled and wrote without hesitation. Raythor sat down and stared at the paper, thinking. Finally, his eyes flickering to just the smallest degree, he wrote something too. “You over think everything.” Anella teased. Raythor nodded, weakly returning her smile before reading her answer. “Did we agree?” “Yes. We agreed.” “Yes!” Anella leaned down and kissed him. He finally really smiled. “When do you want to get married?” “Soon. I’m going to go write to my family about the job and you and everything.” Anella put her arms around his neck and pressed her nose into his shoulder. He reached up to run his hand through her hair. “I love you…” He said. “So much…” “I love you too, Raythor. And you are good enough for me.” She kissed his neck and he started. She had never done that before, but she was doing a lot of things she had never done before today. It didn’t seem fair that he should be this happy. Until he remembered he was innocent.
***** Markus retreated to his room, massaging his temples. All the things he’d needed to be ready for tomorrow had been done. It had been a ridiculously hectic and stressful day, but it was over at last. He glanced out the window, at the growing shadows, before closing his eyes and taking a minute just to think about nothing at all. A smile spread across his face, thinking back at all the insults that had ever been thrown at him- empty headed Markus; slow, stupid, useless… what he wouldn’t give to be empty headed Markus all the time. To have nothing to worry about or to be unable to worry about it. But he knew he’d be slow forever. A blue creature watched him from one corner of the room, its white eyes carefully trained on him. Mercury was sitting on Markus’s desk, scaled front legs dangling over the edge. The shape of a water drop rested on his forehead, the blue fur around it and covering his entire body the same shade as Markus’s hair. He tilted his head with quizzical amusement. A much taller figure stood in the room’s other corner. The figure had dark hair, nestling a golden crown within his locks. Hard, blue eyes watched the prince just as intently, every feature of the worn face sharp and uninviting. Audrion had his arms crossed, disappointment radiating out of him like a cloud. Both sets of eyes watching him flashed blue at the same time. Markus knew he had been the one to create these phantom images. He hadn’t registered that he had used his powers at all, but days of exhaustion and the season were working against his control of his magic. Winter controlled the blue energy within him almost more than he did. He could see the swirling snow skeletons that held his two potential fathers together. “Markus, you have to choose.” Mercury said airily. “Tomorrow you receive the crown of one of us. And you can’t reign under a lie. You said that yourself. Am I your father or-”
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Post by Markus Everglade on Apr 9, 2010 17:26:17 GMT -5
“Am I?” Audrion’s expression didn’t change at all. “I’m not human.” Markus said shakily, barely able to believe that he was standing here talking to hallucinations of his own making. Every nerve in his body screamed. A dead man stood before him so calmly, without any emotion. A dead man who had raised him, who he had loved. “But you are certainly not elementist.” Mercury chided. His attention shifted to his ghostly companion. “Don’t you agree, Audrion?” “You’re merely a flawed human. No demon would live the way you did.” Audrion said gruffly. “The way I did?” Markus’s teeth were chattering and he could now feel energy coursing through his body like it was blood in his veins. “With so much… kindness. Imperfect as you may be, you were never cruel. My son.” “Son?” “I can’t believe you ever had doubts. Only an Everglade would obsess so over whether or not he would be a good king. Other kingdoms do not have this fear. I told you that. Remember?” “I… I remember…” Markus swallowed, pushing the memory away. It hurt just a little too sharply right now, to remember anything about his father. “Markus, you know what you are. You know you are born of two human parents.” Mercury scoffed. “Can’t you be human?” Markus shot back. Mercury’s eyes danced. “I can and I can’t. But never mind that. You know what you are… think. Ever creature like you knows. A human injected with elementist blood… what are you, Markus?” “Ele…ele…” Markus struggled, his mind searching desperately. He knew this, he knew this, from the moment he’d allowed the blood to cross his lips nineteen years ago he’d known this… Somewhere, somewhere in that slow mind of his… “Elementi?” “Elementi.” Mercury agreed, smiling. “Everglade.” Audrion told him proudly. “Markus.” Markus said, covering his face with his hands. When he took them away, the illusions were gone. A pile of snow fell in their place.
Chapter Four Not Like Markus
Anella found the prince talking softly to his mare. His black war horse, Eclipse was one of the things he loved most in the world and he visited her almost nightly. Anella usually just made a passing remark and went on to bed without paying him much thought. Now she was happy she knew right where to find him. “Markus,” She leaned over the stall. He smiled pleasantly. “Hey, how are you?” “Fine.” Anella thought for a moment and then darted into the stall next to him, that held her own stallion, Ranier, who was dapple gray. She searched for a brush and started working on Ranier’s fur. Her horse whinnied appreciatively and went back to eating hay.
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Post by Markus Everglade on Apr 9, 2010 17:26:50 GMT -5
“I take it you’re here to ask about the job.” Markus said, after a pause. The barn was so quiet that she could hear the sound of him brushing Eclipse. “Ask anything you want.” “Why did you choose me?” She focused on a particular spot in Ranier’s fur, trying to decide what she thought it looked like. A rabbit, maybe. A very round one. She did anything but think about what she’d just asked. Anella didn’t know if she could bear it if he said ‘because of Raythor’. She loved her boyfriend, loved that he wanted to protect her and take care of her. But she wanted to be someone herself too. Wanted to be something that mattered. “Because I think you’ll make an excellent general.” Markus said simply, without hesitation. “You think when you’re fighting. Raythor is a good fighter, but he just acts on instinct. He’s going to be good at the logical part, being the advisor. You’re going to be good at the military part. So it’s pretty convenient for me you two are getting married.” “Convenient?” “Yes, you have to be married or related to each other to be the Knife.” “You really think I’m going to make a good general? I… I just…” Anella shook her head. Markus looked down at her over the side of the stall. “Is there any way for you to know if you don’t try? I trained you to fight for two years; I know how you think in battle. I’m pretty sure you’re going to be good at this.” “But do you really-” “Markus, what the hell are you standing on?” Raythor said, leaning over the door of the stall in just the same way. “Hay. Not a good idea. But I don’t think things through, not like Anella.” Markus said, pointedly looking at her. She tinted red. “And hello, Raythor.” “Hey. Listen, about that job… you sure you want me? I do have kind of a… negative association with my name. Also I’m completely uneducated-” “You two.” Markus shook his head. “What?” They both looked up at him. Markus laughed. “Never mind, you’re both going to do well in this job. Just,” He spread out all his fingers, “believe in yourselves.” “Have you been drinking, Markus? Because I thought you said you didn’t drink anymore.” Raythor said. Markus shook his head. “I haven’t slept in awhile. Please forgive me my ridiculous hand gestures.” “They were very nice, Markus.” Anella said. “But maybe you should go sleep now.” The prince considered that and jumped down from his bale of hay with a thump. Eclipse made a sound of protest. Raythor and Anella waited until the door opened and shut and Markus walked by. He nodded a goodbye. Raythor shook himself and turned his head. “Hey! Markus! Thanks!” He called after him. The prince just laughed again and left the barn.
****
“So, hon, how about you and me…” Ross began, smiling big and bright. He so had this maid in the palm of his hand. She was one of the easy types who just wanted attention and not all that much else. He didn’t even have to fake a different personality.
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Post by Markus Everglade on Apr 9, 2010 17:27:09 GMT -5
She was pretty too, classic Gladian with her dark hair and light eyes. He had gotten so lucky with this one. “What, Ross?” Bianca smiled at him. She twirled the end of her hair. “Oh come on. Another one?” Two voices, one male and one female, melded together on the same line. Rose and a very tall dark haired boy walked in, both of them looking indignant yet at the same time indulgent. “I had this one!” Ross and Bianca said together. Than they both, equally bewildered, looked at each other. “You were playing me?” Bianca said, mouth dropping open. “Hey, you were playing me?” Ross responded. “The game’s over for both of you.” Rose said, grabbing Ross by the collar. “Thank you for telling me, Vince.” “No problem. It happens all the time.” The tall boy, presumably Vince said. Ross noticed the crown on his head and swallowed. “I take it this is your girlfriend?” The lord said nervously. Vince burst out laughing. “Girlfriend? This is my sister. I know the way she works. Learned it from our father.” “Half sister…” Bianca muttered. She took her crown out from where she had hidden it which was, to Ross’s happiness, down the front of her dress, and put it on her head. “I’m a God damn princess of Everglade. So happy to meet you, Lord Rocelin Rainbird.” “Yes, but we’re supposed to be full siblings.” Vince said. “To make our mother-by blood, her mother- feel better about our father.” “Our disgusting, perverted, low down and useless father.” Bianca grumbled. She looked up at Ross and smiled seductively. “You’re the only one who’s ever played me before. That’s pretty attractive.” “Yes, it’s wonderful.” Rose said sarcastically. She gave Ross another yank by his collar, causing him to gasp, and pulled him down the hallway. “See you later, Vince.” “Yep.” Markus’s cousin said cheerfully. Rose dragged him a safe distance away and then let go and kept walking. Ross grabbed her arm. “Hey! You are not just walking away, are you?” “Yes Ross. Yes I am. See you in the barn later. It’s all ready dark.” She said flatly. “Hey, Rosie-” “Shut up!” They both jumped at the very loud voice down the hall. There was a following crash and then the voice got much lower. Rose and Ross exchanged glances and then moved wordlessly down the corridor. Ross pressed himself against the wall and Rose peered out slightly from around the corner. Roland was shaking a terrified looking Calthan girl, his eyes narrowed to slits. “You will do this for me. I don’t care what it takes, you will. I am your King now, and you are going to obey me.” “I’m not going to do anything against Markus.” Lila Fairfax said, trembling. Her black hair fell over her dark eyes, a few strands following the path of her deeply bronze cheeks. “I was a revolutionary under Amaria and Gregory. You will not order me
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Post by Markus Everglade on Apr 9, 2010 17:27:27 GMT -5
around.” She kept trembling, however. Roland slammed her back against the wall again and she winced. “I need you to go to Caltha and talk to your little revolutionary friend Gervase. Make a deal with him; tell him I can give him anything he wants after I’m in power. But I want him to make sure that Markus’s dies, make it look like an accident. Who ever killed his father made it harder for the rest of us.” “I will not be responsible in any part for Markus’s death. He is a good man and you… you…” Lila spat in his face. Roland calmly wiped it off and let her go. “You will do this if you want to live. If you want your mother too.” He said impassively. Lila reached into her pocket, eyes locked on his. What her mother had given her before she left home, to be used only in an emergency… she hadn’t looked at it but now she really, really needed it. She unwrapped it carefully and clutched it in her hand, lifting it out into the air. Before she could realize that it was merely a clump of dirt, her entire body glowed green and her eyes flashed dangerously. Roland, confused, didn’t move. He reached out for her again. Lila flashed again, blindingly green and Roland hit the other wall with a sickening crack. Ross turned and ran away. Rose ran toward them.
****
Anella leaned slightly out the barn door, looking at the moon. She breathed in as at the pale light touched her, turning her skin silver. Anella stepped out into it, letting the light take her completely, palms outstretched, feet barely leaving tracks in the snow… The whispering started, so softly that she couldn’t really make out the words. She strained to listen, just curious now that no one was around. “Can’t you sleep?” She turned at the sound of Raythor’s voice. He smiled at her. “No.” Anella said, the transformation adding an edge to her frustration. “I keep having nightmares.” The part of her that hadn’t given itself over was panicking. The whispering had gotten deafening now and it was focused on the only living thing around her. “You didn’t tell me that. How long has that been going on?” Raythor asked innocently. “Since we got back from Caltha.” “Why didn’t you tell me?” “You finally started sleeping like a person.” She teased. Her silver eyes flashed and her stomach dropped. “I didn’t want to disrupt that.” “Can I help?” Raythor asked, looking slightly worried. Anella turned her head away. “They’ll go away.” “Mine took a long, long time.” “It doesn’t matter.” Anella glanced coldly at her fingers. “How can you not like this better?” “I’m in love with you, not her.” He said without thinking. Anella took a sharp breath and the ‘silver’ part of her lost some control. “Her?”
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Post by Markus Everglade on Apr 9, 2010 17:28:20 GMT -5
“I don’t know… I’ve always had this impression that there’s this different person… when you’re like…the moonlight…” Raythor swallowed. “I’m sorry…” “You’re always sorry.” Her eyes flashed again. He took a step closer, unafraid, and stopped. “What are the nightmares about?” He asked softly. “I don’t remember.” “Sometimes that’s worse.” “Yes…” “I thought my nightmares were going to last forever but they didn’t. You’ll get through it and I’ll always be here.” He smiled. Her eyes flashed. “Come here. I just… need to know you’re all right.” “I’m ok.” Raythor ran his fingers over her cheek. Anella felt completely in control again. His familiar blue eyes caressed her face, making her smile. “Sorry. Shouldn’t be staring at you.” “Staring at me?” The corners of her mouth turned up. “I don’t mind, really.” “I’ve got these scary eyes, though.” “I love your eyes. I mean, I think they’re beautiful…” “I still shouldn’t stare.” “It makes me feel pretty, silly as that sounds.” She felt so warm, like the moonlight couldn’t touch her anymore. Like he was wrapping her in a safe cocoon. The whispers grew so faint that she could barely hear them. Only the sound of his voice. “Finally.” Raythor seemed like he was trying not to laugh. She tried to look indignant. “What?” “You never admit that you’re even moderately attractive because all those rich boys ignored you in Carina. I mean, it may not matter to me, but you are a goddess like this.” “What am I normally?” She asked, fully expecting him to say what he had two years ago and fully ready to kiss him for it. What had started off as a battle of control with her own strange ‘powers’ was turning out quite wonderfully. “A kitten.” He smirked. “A kitten?” She pretended to be offended. Not what she’d expected, but… “Shy as a kitten. And kittens are traditionally considered cute.” “But only traditionally? Not by you?” “Well, they also have that sleek fur and those smooth muscles.” “I’m going to scratch you soon.” She rested her head on his chest. “If I always just count your opinion… then I’ll always be beautiful…” “You are always beautiful.” Raythor said softly, holding her gently. “Promise.” She pulled back, kissing him gently. “You’re such a good friend…” “I’m trying my hardest.” He kissed her back. “You look really tired.” “Will you talk to me until I fall asleep?” “Of course.” Raythor let her go and ran straight into his sister. He stepped back, in front of Anella and drew his sword. “Get the hell away from me, Kenetari. I’m not going to play your games anymore.” “Why are you still alive?” She demanded coldly.
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Post by Markus Everglade on Apr 9, 2010 17:28:38 GMT -5
“Raythor.” Anella put a hand on his shoulder. “She can’t hurt me. Let me-” “I’m tired of running. Just you and me, sister. Let’s go, right here right now.” Raythor said darkly. Kenetari laughed at him. “I’m not here to kill you. Yet.” She held up something. Anella assumed it was a weapon and moved out from behind Raythor, drawing her own sword. Instead of attacking, Kenetari threw something at his feet and signaled to an elementist behind her. When Raythor and Anella looked back up she was gone.
*****
“Markus, you can’t let him stay here.” Rose said. When he didn’t answer, she got so furious she smacked his shoulder. He was too, too nice for his own good. Sometimes you shouldn’t give people second chances. And, as far as she was concerned, Roland had given up chances one through a hundred with that little display. “Markus, get Roland out of this castle now.” “Rose… he just lost everything.” Markus said. “Sometimes when you lose someone important to you you do things you wouldn’t normally. I know that’s true for you.” He looked at her significantly. Rose turned her face away, still angry. There was no way that he knew about that little mishap, no way at all. “Roland is basically a good person, I knew him growing up.” “How he was as a child means absolutely nothing now.” Rose said. She knocked a book off the table and smiled at the loud sound that resulted, getting to her feet. “I’m going to go check on Lila.” Rose stalked out and she could hear Markus sigh in the background. Lila was sitting on a bed in a small guest room, a blanket wrapped around her. She was shivering anyway, clutching her clump of dirt. She didn’t seem to see Rose when she came in. “Lila, hey.” Rose said awkwardly, sitting next to her. This was really a job for Markus, she knew this but she wasn’t about to crawl back in there and tell the stubborn boy that. Roland deserved to be out on his princely butt in the snow. “Hello.” Lila said, trying to focus her eyes. Rose wondered whether or not she should touch her. She decided against it. How hard could comforting someone be, if Markus could do it? He had gotten her through the hardest two years of her life, time to repay the favor. “So… you threw the king of your country against the wall with powers you didn’t know you had… must be tough…” “Yes…” Lila tensed. “He’s a bastard. Don’t feel bad.” “I know. My… dad was one too. Just like him. Worse than him.” She curled up tighter in her blanket. Rose finally put a hand on her shoulder. “I just… I feel bad, and I feel weird… this…this energy won’t stop in me…” “It doesn’t seem to make Markus’s life any worse than it all ready is. Cheer up.” “But… but that elementist controlled him, made him see things to test him… what if he does that to me? I’m not strong enough for that… I’m not like Markus.” “Hey, you were brave enough to ask a strange man for help in Caltha so you could save your mother’s life. That takes real guts, Lila. I mean, sure, the strange guy
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Post by Markus Everglade on Apr 9, 2010 17:28:59 GMT -5
turned out to be Markus… but it still took guts. He could have been crazy. Crazier, anyway.” “I don’t know how I did that…” “Because you have it in you.” Rose said. There. That sounded so Markus like. She was proud. “Some part of you can do what it needs to do when it really matters.” “You think?” Lila asked, looking up. Then she saw something out of the corner of her eye and blushed. “Good job, Rose.” Markus said, leaning against the door frame. He smiled. Rose was livid. “How long have you been standing there?” She asked harshly. “Pretty much the whole time.” “Hi Markus…” Lila said timidly. “Hello Lila. Listen, when I have enough time, I want to help you learn to control your powers.” Markus said. “You must be earth. As you can see…” He put his fingers in his water flask and his opposite hand glowed blue. “Touching our element triggers the magic. This is what happened to you. And, when you are physically threatened, that reaction gets about tens times stronger. So you don’t have to worry about losing control. I think the hardest season for you is going to be fall, but you should have a pretty good grasp of magic before that rolls around again.” “All right.” Lila said, looking up at him with wonder. Rose grudgingly calmed down. “Oh… and one more thing.” Markus pulled out something small and metallic. He carefully took Lila’s dirt from her shaking fingers and fiddled around quickly with the metal. He then held up a heart shape necklace that looked like real jewelry. “All right…” He fastened the chain around her neck. “Not touch your fingertips to that.” Lila nodded. When she did, they glowed green. She gasped, pulling back. “Sorry. Should have warned you. It’s going to be easier for you to naturally find your element, now that you’re out of Caltha that just has sand, but that hollow necklace should work like my flask.” “It’s really pretty.” Lila said, touching it and glowing again. “T-thank you.” “No problem. Get some rest, if you can. Using magic is tiring.” Markus said. He looked at Rose. “You can sleep inside the castle tonight, if you want.” “No… I’m fine…” Rose grumbled, getting up again. He was so irritatingly nice. Let him handle that bastard Roland any way he wanted, see if she cared. “Good night, Rose.” “Good night.” She strained to hold back all her little nicknames. “Markus.”
*****
Laura sewed carefully, waiting for Markus to come so she could sleep. It had been nearly impossible to without him after they had started sharing a bed. Just the comforting warmth, just knowing he was there, got her through everything she knew she would soon have to face. Her head bobbed up when she saw the tall figure come in. “Hey sweetheart,” Markus said tiredly. He started to fiddle with his belt, an action she associated with him going straight to bed without saying much. Laura was slightly disappointed, she had wanted to talk to him, but she knew how tired he was. She also knew that there was something he wasn’t telling her, but that could wait. There was way
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Post by Markus Everglade on Apr 9, 2010 17:29:29 GMT -5
too much pressure on him right now to start anything. Markus suddenly stopped, closing his eyes. Swearing in his head, she thought knowingly. “Something wrong?” Laura asked, pulling tight another stitch without looking at it. “I forgot about Roland. He’s going to be waking up soon and the entire castle is going to give me hell if I’m not there to… ‘Talk to him’.” “You’re going to yell at him? Why, what happened?” “You don’t know?” Markus said. Laura glanced almost guiltily down at her belly. In the whispering chaos that had resulted from the Roland-Lila incident, the future queen had been spared due to her condition. Whether she had wanted to be or not. Markus caught the hint, a charmingly infrequent occurrence for him, and he sat down to explain it as he’d heard it. “And you’re letting him stay?” Laura asked, less with judgment than with curiosity. Markus made a face. “I want to hear his side of the story first. Lila wasn’t talking much and Rose is… Rose. I mean, I know he’s a politician just as much as I am and he’s going to try and smooth his way out of everything Rose said, but I think I can see through that. If I have to anyway.” Markus rubbed his wrists, removing the archer’s guards. The bandages underneath were finally gone and his skin was marked with deep scars. Laura bit her lip. She was getting used to them but she wasn’t sure how she felt about him hiding them. Raythor did the same, sure, but he had more and he was far more guarded about… everything. She supposed that they had both gotten their indelible marks from the same person. Maybe that was why they both hid them. “What?” “Nothing. Just looking at my handsome husband.” She said with a little smile. Laura returned to sewing. “Thank you for telling me and not just trying not to upset me.” “You are my equal, sweetheart.” Markus said, pulling his sleeves down over his wrists. “Besides, you aren’t fragile mentally. The only thing I’m going to tell you not to do is to ride Ruby anytime soon.” “Or have an affair?” She teased lightly. “That too. Don’t do that.” Markus kissed her quickly. He grinned mischievously. “Besides, you are not supposed to be sleeping with anyone while you’re pregnant. So there.” “Darn it. Oh well, I’ll write Raythor in nine months.” Laura said, laughing at his reaction. “Really, how did you pick him?” “My lady, I feel that question has been answered as sufficiently as it is going to be.” He said. Laura just kept smiling at him. He was just about to go out the door when she stopped him. Markus looked back expectantly and she realized she didn’t know why. She just had the sudden, overpowering feeling that he should not leave this room. “Hey, I want to test something. Just really quick, I promise. Then you can go to yell at Roland.” Laura said. She gave him the sad eyes and he sighed. “All right. What is it?” “Hold out your hands like this.” Laura said, facing her palms up and spreading her fingers. Markus nodded. She swallowed. She had sort of wanted to try this anyway. It was just a little experiment she had been working on in her head, to see just how his powers were affected by hers. Laura put her hands over his and concentrated, calling up the dark energy so they it flowed from her fingertips and into Markus’s. He kept his head
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Post by Markus Everglade on Apr 9, 2010 17:30:02 GMT -5
down curiously. For a moment, nothing at all happened. Then Markus drew in his breath sharply. His magic had started working without him ordering it to and without any water or blood to trigger it. The blue energy snaked up his arms and through his hands into her body. Laura started shaking. This felt very strange, but kind of good. The sound of rushing water pounded in her ear. She stood a little taller and glanced back at her husband. He was pale and breathing hard. His hair was flashing from blue to dull, auburn red and his eyes stayed glowing blue. Eventually, the irises took over his entire eye and tendrils snaked out from all around the sockets. “Laura, what’s happening? I feel like…” He bit down hard, as though he were trying not to be sick. “Does this hurt?” Laura said. Markus nodded weakly. He was looking sicker and sicker and his knees had started to shake. Laura hurriedly tried to pull her hands back but she couldn’t manage to. It was as though they were connected; like her fingertips were needles and they had dug in so deep that they wouldn’t come out. Laura desperately kept trying to pull away. “Laura, you’re draining the magic out of my blood. Stop it.” Markus managed, before he sunk slowly to his knees and threw up. Only he seemed to have thrown up only water, mixed with flecks of blood. Laura was dragged down with him, still unable to pull away and by this time desperate tears had started snaking down her cheek. Sharp nails dug into the backs of her hands and the connection between her and her husband was forcibly broken.
*****
Raythor stared at the little jewel Kenetari had left behind. He knew that it had some meaning, something meant to torment every fiber of his being. Anella sat beside him silently. Being in the moonlight seemed to have drained her almost completely. She was sleeping, rather than having collapsed like she usually did. Raythor’s fingers closed over the jewel and he watched her face. Using magic seemed to be exhausting, for the elementists as well as Markus and Anella. He wondered if there was any connection between her powers and theirs. Hers were stronger, and seemed to be subject to a higher being. Thinking about that was useless, he told himself. Knowing what she was wouldn’t change anything. Raythor loved her. He messaged his temples as soon as that fact crossed his mind. He was so far gone from who he had been two years ago that it was ridiculous. Raythor put his hand over hers, smiling. No reason to obsess about all of this tonight. He closed his eyes. “Raythor!” He jumped, jerking to his feet and drawing his sword. Rose laughed at him, still down on the balls of her feet. She gave a little wave. Raythor rolled his eyes and sheathed his sword. “Hello Rose. Haven’t seen you all day.” Raythor pretended to consider that. “Hm. What a good day I had.” “Playing face tag with Anella? Yeah, I’m sure you liked that.” Rose said peevishly. “Rose?” Anella yawned, stretching. She blinked. “Hello Rose.” She put her fingers against her temples. “Hm… I feel so dizzy…”
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