|
Post by Markus Everglade on Dec 17, 2013 23:07:41 GMT -5
“I can get to Imperia in a matter of minutes,” Dasher said with a slight smile. “Thanks to Raythor I can stay in this form while I teleport because it no longer uses any energy. If I had to go into my natural form, we’d have a problem. As it is, we can do this.” “How did you manage that one, idiot?” Rose asked, eying Raythor and grinning. “I don’t see how that’s relevant, Rose,” Raythor returned flatly. “I’d like to look like a princess again first.” “I think we can manage that.” Markus patted her shoulder. “My sister can spruce you up and Laura and Ross can get all your things ready while she does.” “And I would love, more than my own life, to play errand boy and give all of those requests,” Raythor said sarcastically. “Come on, Dash, let’s leave these two crazy kids alone. You’ve got to practice your shiny teleportation magic anyway.” “Oh Raythor, taking you anywhere is a hard, hard thing.” Dasher rolled his eyes. “I know I have to be kept on a leash.” Rose watched them go with lips pursed. Why the hell did Dasher let that bastard off his leash at all, some sort of misguided compassion? She swore to God, if he hadn’t had such a terrible day she would beat the shit out of him right now. They didn’t need him in here, not when she was busy with Markus. Markus was her prince, after all. Raythor was just her pain in the ass. “Sorry about that.” Markus seemed like he was trying not to laugh. “It’s fine.” She started toying with his hair and she saw him flush. “You’re just taking care of things for me. What were you going to do if I said no, anyway?” “Ask Dasher to take me back alone. No one else needs to see what my father would do to me, after all.” “Take you back alone. That sounds so lonely.” “Well thanks to you I’ll never be lonely again, will I?” That smile again. She kissed him. He started at the unfamiliar sensation and she could feel him try and match the movements of her lips. Markus’s hands reached up and touched the edge of the coppered curls hanging near the edges of her cheeks. Rose realized she had no idea what exactly it was he tasted like but he smelled like soap. In a very good way. She guessed she’d never been quite close enough to notice that before. Rose pulled closer, feeling him shake, and she gripped his shoulder blades. He gasped as she slipped her tongue in his mouth and their teeth clicked, just for the flash of an instant. Rose knew she was smiling- he was clearly pretty new at this or at the very least very rusty at it- and it was kind of adorable. When she pulled back, both of them were breathless. “Had to see if that would work.” “Did it?” Markus asked, with a nervous smile. “I could get used to that.” She patted his cheek. “Thank you, for all of this. I never thought I’d get to be proposed to.” “I never thought I’d get to meet you before our wedding, my lady.” “You’re still so damn formal!” Rose laughed. “We did just make out in the hallway, you know.” “We did, didn’t we?” Markus put his arm around her waist. That he was good at. She guessed it was because he was such a hugger. Rose felt his lips touch hers again. She didn’t have an overpowering sexual attraction to him, but there was something there. Something warm and nice and sweet. She liked kissing him. “Whoa there, Blue. The honeymoon is supposed to come after the wedding,” Ross teased. Rose watched Markus flame red and she pecked him on the cheek. “Glad you two are getting along, though.” “We’re getting along very well.” Rose smiled up at Markus. “We are,” Markus agreed. “Well, Laura and I have your bags ready. Markus didn’t warn us about this but we are fast packers. Ketra’s waiting through there.” Ross shook his head. “Where’s Laura?” Rose blinked. “Laura went back to sleep. The girl’s over efficient, she’s like that.” “Oh. Alright. I kind of wanted to thank her, but that’s fine.” “Thank her? For ratting you out?” “Mm hm.” Rose smiled at Markus again. Ross rolled his eyes. “Oh God, you two are going to be perfect for each other. I’m going to have to melt wax and shove it in my ears….” He glanced at Rose nervously. Rose just smiled. She’d start hitting her fiancé’s best friend again after they were married.
Chapter Twenty One
Princess Rose
It had been twelve days since Markus had come home to Imperia. Twelve days since Dasher had begun moving the Royalty of Everglade here. Since the prince had been confined to his room. Since he’d had twelve days apart from the girl he’d asked to marry him. Markus had spent that time in a sort of numb haze. He wasn’t supposed to leave the room without attendants, to reduce the risk of “meeting” Princess Rose and he solved that problem by rarely leaving the room at all. He just sat on the edge of his bed, eyes unfocused and mind blank. The dull blue walls around him faded, the stones of the floor seemed to blend together. For most of his life, the sheer familiarity of this room had brought him comfort. It had already been changed to bring that same sort of comfort to Rose. Her trunk of clothes was at the foot of his bed, and a beautiful new vanity sat in the corner. A set of chairs and a table had appeared on the rug in the center of the room. His trunk had been moved to the corner of the door, his writing desk by the window. The room was so close to it had been but it was a room for two now. That simple fact had made the reality that he was getting married was weighing down on him far more than it should have. Markus had been thinking about his future bride as long as he could remember, but as an idea. Not a person, not his flesh and blood friend. Not someone he had kissed in the hallway. And that had been fine. Far different when he was sober. Pleasant, definitely. He just didn’t think he should probably describe something like that as “pleasant” or “fine”. That was okay, though. They had years to fall in love.
|
|
|
Post by Markus Everglade on Dec 17, 2013 23:09:13 GMT -5
“I have a message, my lord. Entrance requested.” A metallic sounding fist knocked, obscuring the, he thought, deliberately deepened voice. The accent seemed Carinian, but off somehow. Markus had an idea why. He wasn’t particularly worried. “Entrance granted,” he said. He didn’t bother moving. The door opened and closed without him looking up. “I’ve come to ask if you wish to see Princess Rose,” the voice was tentative, the deepening and accent of it wavering. “She wishes to see you, we’re-” “Does she?” Markus got up, walking over to the speaker. He took the helmet from her shoulders, letting it drop to the floor. “I’m impressed you found a way in here, Laur.” “You saw right through me,” she said with a smile. Markus nodded, a slight laugh escaping his lips. He hugged her tightly, even as the sharp metal of her armor dug into his skin. “Where have you been?” “Finding you a way to get to see Rose again. It was far from easy.” “You never do anything for yourself, do you?” He pulled back, trying not to look so happy so see her. He hadn’t seen anyone from the group since he’d left the Porthe’s mansion. Laura stepped a little further back. Markus swallowed, suddenly remembering their awkward conversation about flirting and his very unimpressive answer. No wonder she’d come in here with a suit of armor. In addition to having let the assassin’s walk all over him for so long, he had spent far too much time treating her like he…wanted her. Which, of course he did but he not only should not but he could not. Well, he’d fixed everything now. Everything but Kenetari, and she would be just a little bit less of a threat after his marriage. Bloodroot would be on their side and that would make a powerful difference. “I’m not sure about that, Markus.” She smiled mischievously. “But my indulgences are beside the point. I just want to tell you not to be afraid before we continue with all of this.” “Afraid of what?” He smiled wryly. “That Rose won’t fall in love with you. That you’ll never be the king your father is. You’re an idealist; you want both of those things as much as you want to keep breathing. No one could have taught you not to hope for love in this marriage even if they tried.” “Laura-” Markus tried. She covered his mouth with her fingers. He had the urge to kiss the glove, but he resisted. His thoughts were so jumbled he felt he shouldn’t act at all. “Princess Rose may not love you now, Markus, but she will,” Laura’s voice became gentle, like a caress. “There’s no way she wouldn’t come to adore you and there’s no way that the two of you together will not be able to rule this kingdom well. I promise you that. You’re so terrified of your flaws and your weaknesses, so afraid that if you aren’t perfect you won’t be able to handle all that’s happening to you and to all of us… but Markus, those flaws are what make you who you are. What make you so important to Ross and I and what gives you such potential to be the kind of king your father is- maybe even more. You have made mistakes before, but so has every single human being that was ever born and ever will be born. You’re just human.” Laura’s gaze dropped to the floor and she laughed mirthlessly. “So… there’s my heroic speech. You’re a bit better at them, but I’ve tried my best.” Markus opened his mouth to reply but he couldn’t think of a single thing to say. He would have asked how she knew what he was afraid of, what he wanted, but he didn’t really need to. Laura was his best friend, of course she knew, probably always had known. They loved each other. Even if it wasn’t romantic, it was powerful. Just being with her for as long as he had been enough. He could let her go, for both of them. Markus smiled happily, watching as she echoed the expression. “Take me to my princess.”
Rose has missed being treated like a princess. Her crown was so much a part of who she was it felt like greeting an old friend to have it on again. Her days in Imperia had been pleasant enough and it was nice to be able to begin to feel at home here. Still, it hadn’t been long before she’d wanted to see Markus. He was going to be her husband and she had started to miss him. It made sense; Rose thought somewhat proudly, that she wanted to do the one thing she wasn’t allowed to. She’d always been that way. “Redhead,” Ross knocked on the door, “you decent?” Rose clenched her fists. Just a few days until she could start hitting him. “Yes, Ross. Come in if you really have to.” “I’m just here granting your wish.” Ross came in, blinking as he studied her room. “Markus is coming, we found a way.” Rose perked up. “Good! I knew you could do something right if you actually tried.” “Your beauty spurred me to an astonishing level of competency,” Ross said, with an air of fake innocence. Rose glared at him but didn’t respond to the comment. “When is he coming?” “At the most, ten minutes. I’m here to lay down the ground rules and then watch the door with Laura.” “Go ahead.” “First, don’t leave this room. That one should be obvious; the two of you can’t be seen together.” Ross put his hand on a nearby table, shifting his weight onto it. “Second, try not to make too much noise. If you’re thinking about doing anything I would do in your situation, wait until after the wedding. Unless you aren’t a screamer, that is.” He scanned her face for a reaction with a slight grin. When he got nothing but the usual glare, he shrugged. “Finally, if anyone knocks twice on the door hide Markus somewhere, that’s the signal that someone is coming. I know he’s call but, boy, can the man squish into tight places when we need him too. Ah, the found memoires. Anyway, sound reasonable?” “Sounds adequate,” Rose said. Ross nodded, slipping back into the hall. She sighed, taking a moment to straighten her dress and fix her jewelry. She waited a few minutes, restlessly moving from foot to foot, before she sat down. Rose sighed again, tapping her fingers on the table, glaring into the mirror, she felt nervous and antsy and just wrong. It wasn’t until she saw the face she’d been drawing for over ten years reflected in the mirror that she understood why.
The first thing Markus saw when he turned the corner was Ross. Ross’s chin was on his chest, his eyes closed and his arm crossed. Markus was too happy to see him to even be exasperated. “Ross!” Laura said sharply, her voice masked again. “Wake up!” The blond jumped, blinked at them in confusion, and then smiled widely. “Blue, you are a sight for sore eyes.” “Guinevere, you’re as lovely as ever yourself.” Markus laughed. They hugged, to Laura’s amusement. “So, are you ready to sweep Princess Rose off her feet a second time?” “I would be thrilled if it went that well again.” “Then knock her for a loop, Prince Charming. Make her one of your female admirers, you have so many already. What’s one more?” “I’ll use my masculine wiles,” Markus said. He was trying not to laugh again; he didn’t want Rose to hear. “Wonderful.” Ross clapped his shoulder. “Now go in there and lay a good old heroic line on her.” “Or I could just talk to her like she’s my friend and we could discuss all of this reasonably.” “Do what you’ve got to do.” “Markus.” Laura took his hand. “Good luck.” “Yeah, Blue.” Ross took the other hand. “Good luck.” Markus held on to them both for a while, staring into the triangle made by their arms and bodies. Finally, he squeezed both their hands and put on his formal smile. “Thank you. For everything, not just-” “Hey, hey, you’re not dying. Calm down.” Ross rolled his eyes, pushing Markus toward the door. Laura opened it for him. Markus walked in, catching his own eyes in the mirror. The door shut behind him. He froze, unable to move. Rose’s eyes locked on his reflection. He had said he wouldn’t use a heroic line but his mind was wiped- he could think of nothing but her name. “I’ve been waiting seventeen years to truly meet you,” he said softly, “Princess Rose.” Rose turned to meet his flesh and blood eyes. “I’m so sorry I lied to you.” “This is much better than what I was expecting. We know each other, we’re friends.” Markus held out his hand, hesitantly. “Right?”
|
|
|
Post by Markus Everglade on Dec 17, 2013 23:13:49 GMT -5
“Yes.” She took his hand firmly. For the first time, he noticed how soft they were, how unlike a maid’s. The only blemishes they had were the new calluses she’d acquired from Raythor’s training. “We’re friends; we’ve been through a lot together. We trust each other.” Rose managed a smile. “I’m ready for this.” “I think I am too.” Markus nodded. “After all, we’ve had our entire lives to prepare.” He studied her in her new clothes- her true clothes, he supposed. She was wearing a green dress with bits of gold on the sleeves and around her waist, with varying shades of green on the skirt. Rose was a princess, dressed just as immaculately as his mother did every day. “You look pretty,” he told her, a bit sheepishly. “Green is my favorite color.” “I know,” Rose laughed. “Ketra told me. I picked this out for you.” “Oh.” Markus colored slightly. He gently lifted her hand to his lips. “What’s your favorite color?” “Red. I just can’t wear it with my hair.” She scowled. “I know exactly how you feel.” “I guess you really do, don’t you?” She reached up the hand he wasn’t holding and ruffled some of the blue strands on his head. He was still getting used to that. “Did you hate growing up with this?” “Yes.” Markus had a brief flash of a young boy, crouched in front of the thin reflection of a sword, trying to pull out the blue mass on is scalp, hair by hair. “Not quite as much as my father, but yes.” “I always liked it. My older sister might have married for love but I knew my prince had something no one else does.” “I’ll do my best to be more than that to you.” “Do you….” Rose faltered. Then she squared her feet beneath her. “Do you love Laura?” “No,” he said quickly. “I was and will always be faithful to you.” Rose squeezed his hand, a conflicted look on her face. “Are you okay?” “I will be.” She let go of his hand. “See you at our wedding.” “Alright, Rose. Goodbye.” Markus turned, starting toward the door. His head was pounding and his chest constricted almost painfully. A voice in his head was screaming, begging him not to do this. They had met before the wedding; he could call it off…. “Wait,” Rose said sharply. Markus stopped, feeling like he could breathe again. Everglade needed him to marry, to stop a war and save countless lives. He had been to war and he didn’t want that for his country again, not as long as he could stop it. Marry his friend, not a stranger. He was lucky. Rose gripped Markus’s arm, turning him to face her. He opened his mouth to ask what she was doing but she’d already covered his mouth was her lips. She tasted like the rose water perfume she had always smelled of, even on the quest. Markus tried as hard as he could to kiss her right, to hold her right, but he didn’t know what he was doing, even with Shula as prior experience. It had all been quite different drunk, after all. She pulled back and rested her head on his chest. Her tiny body was warm against his and, for the first time, he felt like they had a real connection. Like he wanted to just hold her like this, to protect her. Markus had no idea from what, but he did. “I love you,” he promised. “You’ll get there,” she returned. “You should go, before we get caught.” “Yes, I should.” Markus kissed her lightly, feeling a little awkward about it. “Thank you for letting me see you before the wedding.” “I just wanted to see you again.” Rose smiled at him. Markus stroked her cheek. “Thank you.”
As much as Dasher wanted to be in her own body again, it sure was nice to be able to use magic in her human body. Before it had all gone into her human form and, even during the day when her magic replenished, she couldn’t risk even the tiniest of spells. Not if she wanted to help the form all night. She sighed, slumping further into the chair she’d found in one of the more isolated hallways. She was exhausted. Transporting everyone here had drained her to near breaking point ad she still had Ketra to get in the morning. She could do it, yes, but that didn’t mean her body
|
|
|
Post by Markus Everglade on Dec 17, 2013 23:15:14 GMT -5
wouldn’t hate it for her all the same. It wouldn’t exactly be the first time her flesh had wanted to rebel. She’d wanted to heal Raythor thousands of times, after all, but been unable. “Well I’m sure you’ll get to show him eventually, Anella.” Dasher’s ears perked. Thinking of Raythor apparently summoned him. Her ears perked further as the sound of laughter. Raythor’s….? “It’s not that great a sword, you know.” “I know, b-but I have a theory.” Anella sure sounded excited. That was a change of pace, Dasher thought. A nice break from her usual meekness. “Markus has told me the type of technique Kenetari f-favors- pushing the opponent’s blade toward their face?” “Yeah. She used that on me.” “Well, now I have a sword s-similar in c-caliber to hers. It even looks l-like the same make. If I help Markus devise a-a strategy a-against it, maybe w-we can b-best her. Markus c-came the c-closest on his own. If all of us f-fight together, e-even she won’t stand a c-chance.” “She won’t,” Raythor agreed. Dasher titled her head and saw them both walking through the hallway. He was smiling again. She shifted uncomfortably. Dasher was pretty sure that Anella had a bit of a crush of Raythor too. Couldn’t they just admit that to each other? “Hi, you two. What’s this I hear about killing your sister?” Dasher blinked at them. “Oh, hey Dash.” Raythor flashed his lopsided, bright smile at her. “We’re just dissecting this whole Kenetari thing a little further.” “And Anella has a bit of a battle strategy?” “Y-yes.” Anella flushed. “M-Markus has b-been teaching m-me and he t-told me h-how she fights, at l-least when h-he fought her. I thought if h-he could work with s-someone who fought l-like h-her he c-could figure out how t-to win.” “Hm.” Dasher nodded. “I can see how that might work. She’s not training you then, Raythor?” “She saw how badly my sister beat me. At least Markus put up a fight.” Raythor shrugged. Anella’s hands went to her necklace, fiddling with it. Dasher could tell there was something she wanted to say but wasn’t going to. There were probably a lot of things it would be difficult for Anella to say aloud. “It’s okay, Ray. You can still beat me in a fight.” “Only because I taught you how,” he said. “You and Rose are my little disciples for life.” He glanced at Anella. “Speaking of which, when are you going to train with the prince again? You were so excited to show him your new sword before.” “I d-don’t know. I h-haven’t seen M-Markus since we arrived h-here.” “That’s because I’ve been hiding.” Markus walked up. The prince nodded her head at Dasher respectfully. “Are you still interested in training, Anella? Since you’re so fond of horses, I thought we could train in the stables.” Anella’s eyes lit up. “I’d l-love to. I m-meant to v-visit Ranier anyway, and u-um….” “We can go on now if you want.” Markus looked at Dasher and Raythor, inviting them to go along. Dasher shrugged, glancing at Raythor. The dark haired boy nodded. “Sure, why not?” He didn’t speak to any of them as they walked, didn’t join in Markus and Anella’s conversation about horses or try to engage Dasher in any way. Still, it wasn’t the miserable silence she knew he could fall into. He seemed… okay. She felt like she could thank Anella for it. Raythor slung himself up on a tall bale of hay as soon as they entered the barn, leaving enough room for Dasher. She moved beside him, briefly watching Markus introduce Anella to a dark brown horse before he turned her attention to Raythor. “Anella’s pretty, huh Raythor?” Dasher nudged his foot with hers. “Hm.” Raythor shrugged, crossing his legs. “Why don’t you just read my emotions and find out how attractive I find her yourself?” She winced. “I should not have told you that.” “Ignorance is bliss.” “Ignorance is bliss,” she agreed. He met her eyes and then, slowly, smiled. Dasher felt relieved. “I’m sorry. I know how guarded you are. If it helps, I rarely use these powers.” “Only when you really want to know who I have a thing for?” “You could put it that way.” “You know,” Raythor pulled his sword from its sheath to clean it, “I used to be so scared to feel anything. Terrified that if I cared for anyone again, I would kill them and forget them. Just like I did to my parents.” Dasher’s face went ashen. He hadn’t explained it quite like that before. “But I never laid a hand on you and you’re still locked in place up here,” he tapped the side of his head with a half sheepish grin. “Guess maybe I should have known I wasn’t the cold blooded killer I thought I was. Maybe I shouldn’t have been running for as long as I have been. “All that running led you right here. Where else would you rather be?” Dasher said simply. Raythor chuckled. “Nowhere at all, Dash. Nowhere at all.” “So… what do we plan to do about your sister?” “If she’s not going to kill me then I’m not going after her. A revenge mission will only get us killed.” “What if she tries again?” “Then we fight back and stay alive. This is one time I don’t want to play the hero and I don’t think anyone else should either. Vera… Kenetari is unstable. Too dangerous for us to deal with if we don’t have to. Let the kings take care of this one.” “Do you really think this is some challenge meant to scare all of us?” “I think we’re missing something. The more convoluted she tries to make it seem; the more I think the answer is actually incredibly simple. I know she’s crazy, but is she this crazy? Why would she wait so long to kill all of us, if she meant to?” Raythor frowned, eyes drifting. “Markus.” “Markus?” “The wedding. Because Rose disappeared on this quest, at this time, it was postponed. None of us were where we would have been on the twenty third of January without it, and we certainly aren’t where we would be normally now. Do you think that matters?” “If it does this there is some heavy magic involved here.” Dasher almost laughed. “That would get us into prophecies, fate… ridiculous old myths.” “Stranger than shape shifting, magic in general or blue hair? Before now, all of that was just a myth to me. To most of us.” “That’s crazy, Raythor. Illogical.” “You’re probably right.” Raythor sheathed the bright, shining sword. “I hear insanity runs in my family.”
Anella had always focused when she was training but now it was like Markus was the only person in the room, the only thing she could really see. He was bleeding, barely, from his arm where her sword had slipped. She’d switched to the blunt training sword after that, and into wearing breeches and an old pair of his boots. They hadn’t stopped since then and she didn’t know how long it had been. It didn’t matter. She wouldn’t stop until they found a way to counter this and she knew Markus was just as determined. She had only a split second of frustration when she again hit Markus’s chest with her sword and his latest counter failed. He just frowned and they reset mechanically. Anella did everything she had before, as precisely as she had before. She pushed against Markus’s sword, excreting as much pressure as she could. Anella actually gasped when the resistance disappeared completely. She took a stumbled step forward, weapon striking out at air. She felt a sudden pressure in her stomach and realized that if the prince had been holding steel, she would be dead. Calmly, she dropped her blunted weapon and picked up the real one. Markus nodded wordlessly, readopting his true sword as well. They set up one more time, far less stiffly and methodically. He was even smiling. Before she really knew it, there was a small tear in the stomach of her borrowed tunic and Markus was looking up at her, half crouched on the barn floor. He buried the point of the sword in the ground, letting out a sigh of relief. “We did it.” “We d-did it,” Anella repeated gratefully. She sheathed her sword, extending a hand to help him up. “You were excellent, my lady.” Markus bowed his head respectfully. She flushed, still so pumped with adrenaline she wasn’t even embarrassed by the compliment. “I know Kenetari is stronger t-than I am, but I think this will help you.” “I know it will.” The prince smiled gratefully. “Allow me to repay the favor. I believe you need a dress for the wedding?” “Oh.” She did blush. It was true. All of her dresses, most of them white or green, were graying with wear, even after she’d had the chance to wash them. She had nothing fit to wear at a royal wedding. “If it’s n-not t-too much t-trouble….”
|
|
|
Post by Markus Everglade on Dec 17, 2013 23:17:00 GMT -5
“None at all. My sister has many, many dresses and she wears few of them. You’re about the same size, you’re pretty tall. Just like Ketra.” “Hey! Did you find a way to burn the witch?” Dasher called. “Heck yes.” Markus fairly beamed. He started over there and Anella followed thoughtlessly. “Excellent.” She laughed. “Normally, a brother wouldn’t approve of someone stabbing his sister but I’m in favor of this plan,” Raythor said. “Can’t imagine why.” “Well I’m guaranteed at least one hit now,” Markus said. “What have you two been doing?” “Discussing Kenetari’s motives.” Dasher’s eyes brightened. “This entire time?” “Long discussions are pretty much the corner stone of our relationship.” Raythor shrugged. “Mm hm.” Dasher nodded. “Our current theory is that she’s trying to create connections between us. The close all of us are, the more it will hurt if one of us dies.” “She’s playing a game.” The dark haired boy shrugged again. Anella caught a strange look pass across Markus’s face. The prince nodded slowly. “I’m sure that’s at least part of it. We’re all connected now, after all.” “Y-yes we a-are,” Anella said quietly. She began fiddling with her cross, not wanting to say how comfortable she felt with all of them. It was… different than her friends back home. They weren’t concerned with clothes; money, how to marry as well as they could like the ladies she had grown up with. They talked to her, treated her like a person. Like an equal. Markus touched her shoulder gently. “Where did you get that beautiful cross, Anella? I’ve always meant to ask.” “My Rainbird relatives. Ross’s family a-actually w-went across t-the ocean and g-got it. B-before the cities sank.” “It must be hundreds of years old.” Markus held the cross for a moment, fascinated. “I think these symbolized resurrection or sacrifice. They always reminded me of Phoenix charms, at least what I read about them.” “Before what happened?” Raythor raised an eyebrow at both of them. Anella almost laughed. Of course he didn’t know what they were talking about, it was a Carinian story. Just as the Karian Killer myth had been entirely foreign to her, this story would be unfamiliar to him and maybe Dasher too. Markus glanced at her. She nodded. He liked telling stories. “Before the island across the ocean sank beneath the waves. Supposedly, there were more land masses- huge ones- that also sank but we only know for sure of the one. They were supposed to be where our continents are today. Where Anduin is- the little islands- there used to be this larger one. I think they called it England?” The prince glanced at Anella again. “Mm hm. E-England,” she agreed. Raythor exchanged looks with Dasher. “It was the last of these former land masses to sink. The people- the English- fled slowly as the water rose. The ones who had stayed the longest, who had hoped that their land would somehow not fail, came to Carina when it finally did. Anella’s family went there before it happened. A lot of relics from England came through people who visited.” “And they believed in stuff like Anella’s necklace?” Raythor’s eyes fell on her neck. She held it out for him to hold it but he didn’t move. “From what I understand that’s a symbol of some type of savior. Their god was his father and the father was the one who judged people at their deaths,” Markus explained. “That’s… strange.” The prince laughed. “Yes, but to me it’s also fascinating.” “Who judges you at your death?” Dasher asked. “For us, it’s the god or goddess of our kingdom.” “Who we kill or in some way wrong.” “The dead?” “Essentially. The living wronged are said to travel there in a dream to help decide as well. If the killed or wronged can forgive you, you cross the river into heaven. If not, you stay on the other side begging for forgiveness for the rest of eternity. Hell.” “Interesting….” Dasher mused. “Eventually, do the people on the other side stop listening or leave?” “It depends on the person. How evil they were.” “They’d leave Kenetari,” Raythor put in. “Absolutely,” Markus agreed. He looked over at Anella again. “Shall we get you that dress?”
|
|
|
Post by Markus Everglade on Dec 17, 2013 23:17:24 GMT -5
Chapter Twenty Two
Giving In
Rose truly was impressed by her image in the mirror. The dress her sister’s had sewed for her was beautiful, the fabric her mother had chosen flawless. The dress itself was peacock green, the sleeves long enough to cover her wrists. The neckline was squared, allowing her to show off the sapphire necklace against her pale skin. The most eye catching was the fabric over the skirt, a nearly translucent layer that seemed to shift and change the colors beneath as it moved. She turned from the mirror, adjusting her gem studded crown carefully. Rose met her maid’s eyes, raising a questioning eyebrow. “You look simply lovely Princess Rose,” Lucy gushed. “Your prince will feel so lucky when he sees you!” “I certainly hope so,” Rose said. She was aware she was preening, but this was her wedding. She had the freedom to. “Oh, my lady….” Lucy began rummaging through the little bag she carried everywhere. She soon withdrew a small box. “This was sent to you by your intended.” Lucy placed the box in Rose’s hands. “I’ll go tell your father that your preparations are ready.” “Hm.” Rose nodded. She didn’t look up as Lucy left the room. Her eyes stayed fixed on the little brown box. What was it? Did she have time to look at it? She shook her head. Of course she did, she was a princess. They had to wait for her. Rose set the box down on her vanity, not daring to sit and muss her dress. The light reflected from the mirror was, for a second, so bright she couldn’t see the contents even when she did open it. Her fingers fumbled, brushing fabric and something round. She came out with a note: “Rose, If red is your favorite color, you should be allowed to show it. Wear any color you wish around me- I want you to be happy. Markus” Rose set the paper down, heart pounding. She withdrew red ribbons, barrettes, jewelry…. Loving little objects from a fiancé who would try to make thus work until the day he died. She closed the box, letting out a long breath. Why couldn’t she feel a thing for him now? Why was kissing him just “sort of a good time”? Rose had a choice. Again, she had a choice.
“Mmm… no. No blue. You really shouldn’t own any blue.” Ivy paced as servant after servant brought by Markus’s clothes for her to choose from. She had disposed of almost everything he’d worn on the “quest”, and had done so almost immediately upon his return. To be fair they had been torn, ragged, dirty, and sometimes bloody. No longer fit for a prince to wear. It just drove home that the quest was truly over. “Markus.” His mother prodded his arm. “What do you think of gray? Is it too dreary? You do look good in gray.” “What shade of gray?” Markus asked, trying to focus again. They’d been at this for a while. “I think that matters with grays.” “Oh! This one.” Ivy lifted a tunic from a servant’s hands and held it up against Markus’s chest. He craned his neck down, trying to catch a glimpse of it. Ivy shook her head, smiling, and pulled it back so he could see. It was gray, nearly the same gray blue as his eyes. It wasn’t flashy, but it did look nice. There were circles of white on the shoulders and a thin strip of it where a belt would be. His mother set it on the bed, choosing a white shirt to go beneath it and a lighter colored pair of pants. She clasped her hands. “Well, get dressed Markus. I’ll be back when you’re done to see how it looks. I’m never sure how clothes will work with your hair.” “I always just put on clothes and hope they get distracted by my pretty face,” Markus joked. Ivy shook her head. “I’m sure that works, Markus.” She left in a cloud of servants. He got dressed without much thought, only half glancing at himself in the mirror when he was finished. The focus was not going to be on him, it was going to be on Rose and her dress. Markus called for his mother, finally looking into the glass as he placed the fancier crown on his head. His reflection was like a slap in the face. Markus has never really had sleeping problems before but this week getting more than a few hours at a time had been nearly impossible. He was pale, almost frighteningly so, and the bags beneath his eyes went so low they met the level of his scar. Markus closed his eyes for a moment before meeting his own gaze. After the initial shock, it wasn’t as bad. Just slight paleness and a few dark rings beneath his eyes. Nothing serious. “Oh Markus.” Ivy hugged him, beaming. “You look so handsome! I just know you’ll make all of us proud today.” “I’m going to try,” he said. He hugged her back, calming down. “I have been preparing for this most of my life.” “Mm.” She smiled, letting him go. “I remember when I told you about Rose, when you were little. You were so excited then. I think you were convinced Rose was the princess in the fairytales you were supposed to save.” “Good to know I haven’t changed much,” he laughed. For a moment, he saw Laura standing in front of him again, almost killed by the arrow. He’d never been good at saving princesses.
|
|
|
Post by Markus Everglade on Dec 17, 2013 23:18:25 GMT -5
“Markus.” Audrion entered the room, studying Markus critically. The prince stood straighter, eyes firmly staring into his father’s. Audrion crossed his arms, looking Markus over top to bottom one more time. “Good work, Ivy. He looks ready.” “I think we’re both ready,” Ivy agreed. Audrion nodded, shutting the door. He moved next to Ivy, placing a hand on his wife’s shoulder. She smiled at him. “Markus, we wanted to wait to speak to you together about this.” “Alright.” Markus tried not to sound confused. “I’m pregnant.” Ivy told him happily. “About four months!” “Wow.” Markus’s eyes widened, his gaze immediately dropping to her abdomen. It did look different. “That’s wonderful, mom. My little sibling can grow up with my children.” He laughed a little at the end. Ivy just nodded. “It should be nice for your heirs to get to grow up with their uncle. I always wished I was closer to mine,” Audrion said blankly. Markus started. Very rarely did his father discuss anything personal with him in the room. Audrion was looking at him now, his sharp blue eyes troubled. Markus adopted a formal smile, trying to look as princely as possible. “Markus.” Audrion stepped forward. “I… am proud of you. You never gave into temptation, which is fairly impressive considering how much of it was laid before you. You’ve lived up to my expectations. I wish you luck in your marriage.” “What? Really?” Markus asked, losing any semblance of composure he might have had. “You… I just….” Audrion rolled his wrist inward. When Markus didn’t move, Ivy whispered something to him. Numbly, the prince hugged his father, very nearly flinching when he received a pat on the back. He was fairly certain he’d had dreams roughly this weird. “Continue on in the same manner,” Audrion said. He let Markus go. He reopened the door and stepped into the hallway.
Rose looked down at the ruby bracelet. She’d tied it around her wrist, eyes fixed on it as soon as she reaffirmed her decision. There was nothing else she could do, not if she wanted to live with herself. Rose nodded to Lucy and she opened the door. She stepped back and took in the sight of her family, and Markus’s, before she went into the throne room. Her sister’s smiled, enjoying their chance to wear all their finery. Her brother looked solemn, practicing his formal expression. All four royal parents had their own master and aimed at the opposite family. Ketra and Markus were the only two in the room who looked actually familial. They were standing behind their parents, out of the couple’s view, close together. Their fingers were touching though still at their sides, almost intertwining. Ketra looked almost comforting, alien against her features. Markus had no expression at all. “Rose,” her mother nodded at her. Queen Marina was thin, pale and beautiful. She’d passed her auburn hair to four of her six children and her soft features to her two eldest daughters. Only Rose and her little brother, Ronald, had the bronzed red hair of their father, King Onbrin. All of them had eyes in shades of green and all the daughters, Lily, Rose, Poinsettia, Flora and Posy had shared the same inspiration for their names: the queen’s garden. Rose’s was a large family. The kind she’d always thought she’d have with Markus. “We present the bride, Princess Rose Mary Time, second daughter of Queen Marina and King Onbrin of Bloodroot,” Onbrin said. “I return to her the prince promised at her birth, Queen Ivy and I’s son Markus Audrion Everglade of the Castle Imperia,” Audrion said. “I accept your presentation and offer my acquaintance.” Markus stepped forward and took her hand to kiss it. Rose shivered, remembering those lips against hers, her body pressed to his, the desperation of his affection. He lifted his head, briefly meeting her eyes with a little smile before he moved away again. “I shall be grateful to take someone as beautiful as you as my wife.” “And I would be just as grateful to wed you, my prince,” she composed herself, “had I not met you before this day.” “What?” Markus’s calm faded completely. She could see him struggling to dig their way out of this. “I… I do not know of what you speak, Princess Rose.” “Don’t lie to me,” Audrion said sharply. He grabbed Markus’s collar. “Is what she’s saying true?” “Not as of my memories,” Markus attempted. “Perhaps she saw me from afar?” “Oh Markus.” Rose shook her head. “If I wasn’t telling the truth, how would I know that you run your hand through your hair every time you’re nervous?” “I don’t do….” Markus proceeded to do exactly that. “Uh… Ketra told you. You’re friends; she told you everything about me.” At this point, Audrion was very nearly strangling Markus with his own tunic. “I did speak with her a great number of times about Markus,” Ketra put in. She glanced over at Rose. Ketra shrugged her shoulders, clearly not sure what side to take here. The king gritted his teeth. “That could be true.” Markus’s hands went up to paw at his collar. “Rose, dear, why are you saying this?” Marina tilted her head, eyes confused. “Because it’s true. When I ran away, I went to find Markus and get to know him. We traveled together and we became friends. I would marry him, if I could mother, but I won’t lie to you. We’ve broken Bloodroot tradition.” “Rose….” Her own father regarded her with suspicion. “Father, you taught me never to lie. If nothing else, I learned that,” Rose said. “You lied to me,” Markus retorted. “I asked you to marry me, and you said yes. You kissed me.” It was the most furious Rose had ever seen Markus but she had known that would happen. “I… I gave you a way out of this, Rose. Why are you doing this to me?” “Why did you ask me to marry you?” They stared each other down. Markus might be pissed but Rose was oh so much better at it. “I….” “Tell me the truth. Tell every here the truth, Markus.” “I asked you to marry me to preserve the political alliance.” Markus broke her gaze. “If anything happens that leads to war, we’re going to need Bloodroot on our side. Especially if we lose Carina.” “Then I’m doing this for both of us.” “I wish I could believe that but we were engaged to prevent a war in the first place. This is not about us, it never was. Can’t you see that?” Rose said nothing, her mouth in a line. Markus turned to her father. “I ask for Princess Rose’s hand in marriage on the grounds of political gain and mutual affection.” “I deny it.” Onbrin took Markus’s hand. “Our countries became friends because of this engagement. We are your allies now. Do not marry my daughter unless you truly wish to.” “I-” “Do not have to go through with this.” Audrion put a hand on his son’s shoulder. “I’m proud of you, Markus, and the choices you made but it’s plain that we will gain what you hoped to gain without this marriage. So I want you to tell me what you want.” “I… don’t want to marry her.” Markus closed his eyes. “Let us retire to sign an official alliance agreement,” Audrion said. “I trust the trade we had planned is still possible?” “Of course,” Onbrin agreed. “I am interested in some of those famous Gladian horses myself.” The royal families began to leave. Rose felt a weight lift for her shoulders. She knew she should have felt bad for hurting Markus but she didn’t. In the Porthe’s house, she had thought this could work but the more she thought about it the more she knew they’d spend all their lives trying to fall in love, trying to fan a spark to life that just wasn’t there. Neither of them deserved to go through that. “Markus, stay here,” Audrion ordered. “Rose, don’t go far. We must speak to you alone later,” Maria snuck in. The doors closed. “Why did you do that?” Markus asked, after a long silence. “We both still have to marry nobles. This barely changes anything.” “I’m not in love with you,” Rose said simply. “How does that matter in a political marriage? We aren’t peasants, Rose. How we feel plays no part in who we wed. I know I’m idealistic, naive, even stupid. But I do understand what it means to be a noble.” “I know you understand the duties of being like us. I don’t think you understand the power, Markus.” Rose patted his cheek. “You are not happy. Find something that actually makes you smile. Not that fake political crap you put on for your parents- and me- all the time.” “I’m happy.” “Keep telling yourself that, Blue. I think that’s why you’re so convinced it’s true.” “I’m convinced my father is going to tear me apart when he comes back.” “Could you marry Laura?” “What?” “Could you?” “No, I couldn’t. She’s not only not a noble, she’s my subordinate.” He gave her a suspicious look. “Why?” “Can you admit to me now how you feel for her?” Rose crossed her arms. “Now that I kind of shattered you a little?” Markus made a face. “I can’t admit that out loud to anyone. I’m engage… Oh.” He blinked. “Oh.” She agreed, starting toward the door. “Come on; give in to what you want for once.” “You aren’t going to wait?” “This is far from the first time I’ve disobeyed my parents.”
|
|
|
Post by Markus Everglade on Dec 17, 2013 23:20:50 GMT -5
Chapter Twenty Three
Snow
Anella was the last one down to the wedding. She had deliberately taken her time, staying upstairs talking to Blade as long as she felt she could get away with. Blade couldn’t go downstairs, after all. She kept clinging to the idea that he would be lonely once she left, trying not to admit that she was scared to be around so many people she didn’t know. So many nobles. As much as Anella had opened up around her friends, she knew she was still very, very shy. Anella was in a state of anxiety until she spotted the group- or, at least everyone who wasn’t in the wedding or sitting with the nobles. This amounted to seven people: Rea’s two knights, her blacksmith, the assassins, Dasher and Raythor. All seven of them had been cleaned up and royally dressed, just like she was. The girls all had square necked velvet gowns and, being unaccustomed to wearing dresses, looked fairly uncomfortable. James, Gabriel and Raythor had just been put in cleaner, nicer looking tunics. Raythor’s was even still in black. He was slumped down, looking completely out of place next to the immaculate powder blue clad Dasher. Anella waved timidly, earning her the enthusiastic wave of Maria who looked like she was about to laugh, and the glare of Kylara. She hurried toward them, stopping in front of the bench. She wasn’t going to sit, even though Dasher had moved to let her. She was in a small part of the wedding, after all. “Wow, you look better than the rest of us,” Dasher said with a nod of approval. Anella’s dress was a little fancier than theirs. It was cut in a straight line, from shoulder to shoulder, and held up by two straps. The dress itself was pure white with long sleeves accented only by a belt at the waist and gray slippers. Her hair was up in a bun with two free tendrils held back with a gold bar barrettes that had three white pearls hanging from each. It was all too expensive for Anella to ever afford on her own. “The prince knows how to dress his guests.” “Not surprising,” Kylara said. She shifted her legs, trying to cross them, sighing and moving back to her original position. “He always looks as put together as a portrait. And he doesn’t, you know, wear black to a wedding.” “They asked my favorite color.” Raythor shrugged. “Then they gave me this.” Kylara laughed, rather loudly. “That would be your favorite color.” “What are you doing in the wedding?” Maria asked, looking curious. “I’m j-just supposed t-to hold up the end of R-Rose’s dress. M-Markus t-told me Ketra w-would come find me when it w-was time,” Anella said. She hesitated another few seconds then sat down between Dasher and Raythor. “Y-you look like y-you’re melting, R-Raythor.” “I don’t like crowds.” The dark haired boys sunk a little lower. “He doesn’t like Karen,” Dasher amended. “K-Karen?” Anella blinked. “His ex.” “Ex is such a strong word. I wouldn’t call what we did courting. We just kissed once.” Raythor shrugged again. “And how long did you know her?” Dasher poked. “Six months.” “And what did you promise?” “I lie a lot, Dash. More than the average human being.” “What did you promise?” He sighed. “That I’d come back for her one day, to get her out of Caltha.” Raythor lifted his head to stare down Dasher. He caught sight of Anella first. His entire expression changed and he immediately dropped his head. “I told her a variety of things to get myself out of prison.” “Prison?” Gabriel suddenly looked up with alarm. “Pardon?” Dione and James started laughing at him. Anella, by this time completely beet red, gripped the fabric of her dress. As the group around her started talking about why Raythor had been arrested- food theft, unsurprisingly- all she could see was Raythor in Karen’s embrace. Holding him to her, touching her skin. Letting her touch him. Anella realized she’d never really touched him when he wasn’t bleeding. “You okay?” Raythor asked, actually meeting her eyes this time. “You look…uh….” “R-redder t-than u-usual?” Anella mocked herself. “I’m s-sorry, c-conversations a-about r-relationships just f-fluster m-me.” “Yeah, relationship is still a strong word.” “Ladies and gentleman,” Audrion boomed. The rows and rows of people in the banquet hall quieted down instantly. It was only Audrion at the head of the room but, honestly, that was enough. “I’m afraid that there has been a problem.” Anella raised her head, staring up the aisles of people. They all glittered and shone like gold, all smiling and poised. She didn’t think any of them really knew Markus and that made her… sad. Anella stopped getting caught up in her nerves, the wedding, blushing, even what Audrion was saying and had a genuine moment of pity for the Gladian king’s son. She realized she no longer wanted a life like Markus’s and she wasn’t going to let her Rainbird relatives tell her she should try to have one any longer. She also realized something much harder for her to accept. “Holy shit,” Kylara said aloud. Anella heard everyone around her gasp in roughly the same instant. She raised her head, looking around. “What did she do?” Raythor rolled his eyes. “Damn it, Rose….” “W-what…?” Anella asked. Dasher opened her mouth to explain but she was drowned out by Audrion. “I assure you that no war is forthcoming- Bloodroot is still willing to negotiate an alliance between us, even without the wedding. However, we’ve also come to a second agreement. The Princess Ketra is to wed Duke Geoffrey Mantle of Bloodroot, cousin of Princess Rose. The wedding will not be tonight.” Audrion looked stern. Anella felt, somehow, chastised. What would this do to Markus, to Rose? Would they be happy, or-? She remembered the two dancing at the Purple Rose. She didn’t know what to think. “I do not wish such preparations to go to waste,” Audrion continued, “so I shall welcome you to the engagement party of Princess Ketra and Duke Geoffrey- may their health be preserved.” A few people laughed. Audrion didn’t. Everyone else clapped and it became a thunderous roar when Ketra and Geoffrey descended down the aisle, hand in hand. Ketra looked strangely smug, Geoffrey as though he were about to be sick. He couldn’t have been much older than Anella, maybe even younger. It struck Anella that she knew what Ketra had done.
Markus, in the hour or so he had been waiting in this room, realized he’d never been in it alone. Sure he’d been in here often, since he was ten years old, in fact, but he’d never really looked at it. It was the conference room, where the king’s council met every week, more in times of crisis. Where the crown prince sat at the end of the table, leaning what he needed to in order to be king someday. There wasn’t much in it. Just the long table with the fifteen chairs, the desk in the corner with all of John’s papers. The stool he was sitting on, meant for his uncle’s feet years ago, had been abandoned in the front of the room years ago and it always stood out. The room was simple, suited only for its purpose. Exactly what he’d been trying to be his entire life. Well, he was simple. He’d sure got that part right. “Markus.” Audrion sighed in exasperation at his son’s relaxed position. Markus’s limbs jerkily shifted into a more acceptable arrangement, acting almost without him. He blinked, coaxing his eyes into focus. His mother wasn’t here. That was never a good sign. “Well, at least you listened to orders.” “I fucked up the only thing I’ve ever done right, didn’t I?” Markus heard himself say. What was he doing? Had he just sworn? In front of his father? To his continuing horror, he felt the sides of his eyes burn. He lowered his head, hoping his hair would shield at least some of his face. It seemed to work for Raythor. “No. She did,” Audrion said. He sounded like he was conceding something, or had perhaps lost a bet. Markus tried to imagine his father gambling and promptly failed. “I believe Bloodroot’s recognition of that is the reason they were still willing to ally themselves with us. Ketra’s decision was a sound one, all the same.” “Ketra’s…?” “She’s to marry Duke Geoffrey of Bloodroot. Princess Rose’s fifteen year old cousin,” Audrion said stiffly. Markus went silent. “Hm. Obviously she didn’t discuss that prospect with you. Well, Markus, there’s no need to hedge this issue. Through little fault of your own you no longer have a bride. I suspect you had nothing to do with any of Princess Rose’s plans. You tend to be a bit oblivious. Regardless of that, as crown prince you must marry and produce an heir. You are well aware of this.” “Yes,” Markus said blankly. “Then you know, with the moves Kenetari is making, how important your choice is. That being said, my only requirement is that it be a noble. Outside of this, you are free to choose.” “I can… marry for love?” He asked tentatively.
|
|
|
Post by Markus Everglade on Dec 17, 2013 23:21:54 GMT -5
“You may marry a noble for love,” Audrion said firmly. He waited a few seconds, as if he expected Markus to say something. When he didn’t, Audrion continued. “Any of the six countries would be acceptable. It seems unlikely that a Lainan or a Dragoonian bride would consent to that, but if they do it would only be beneficial to Everglade. We have not been on good terms with them since the war, but you know this.” He turned, starting to pace. “This is all on the condition you at least make a choice by the time you are twenty one. On the occasion of that birthday, I shall have your mother arrange a match for you. I trust these conditions seem fair.” “Very. Generous, in fact.” Audrion viewed him with suspicion as he paced by. “Excellent. I am, naturally, not as pleased at how this turned out as I could have been but this is an acceptable outcome. Getting your sister engaged is certainly an accomplishment. I was beginning to wonder….” He shook his head. “Never mind those concerns. I’ll need you at the party. Make an appearance, at least. Give no details. Most importantly, take notice of the women there. Fairly every lord that is allied to us is here and many of them have daughters.” “Mm hm. A lot of them know me already.” Audrion looked pained at the memory of all the love letters his son had received then forced what Markus supposed he could call a smile. “Time to put that handsome face to some good use. They’re all in love with you; find one you can live with.” “I’ll find one beneficial to Everglade.” Markus raised his head again. Audrion opened his mouth, then closed it again. “Father?” “Yes. Fair idea. Keep your integrity. I believe you can manage that.”
Laura swirled her wine in her glass over and over. Since she had been in the wedding she’d been relieved from guard duties and, with no wedding, she was free to have her own personal heart attack. How was she supposed to feel about this? How should she feel about this? She was still a soldier and Markus was still a prince. Not a hell of a lot had actually changed. “Hey beautiful.” Ross popped up beside her. “You look a bit anxious. Waiting for something?” “My best friend. I imagine he’s in a bit of a state,” Laura returned. “He’s also single now. Incredibly single. You know what I mean, Laur? Quite without a fiancée?” “Still a prince though, isn’t he Ross?” “You look like you’re going to break that glass with your fingers.” Laura rubbed the bridge of her nose. “I just… didn’t expect this to happen. He seemed so ready for it. I was actually happy for him.” “Happy about my stupid, stupid wedding?” Markus asked with an amused smile. Laura looked up and quickly lowered her eyes, trying to ignore Ross’s thinly concealed laughter. She met his eyes stubbornly and caught Markus staring at her drink. In under a minute, an over helpful maid had given the prince his own glass, smiled at him coquettishly and disappeared before she could see Ross take it. “I was warming up to it,” Laura replied. “It might not have been quite as stupid as I originally thought.” “Was it because I actually smiled after I came out of Rose’s room?” “That might be part of it.” “Your hair’s down. It looks nice.” Markus touched the ends of it. Laura stiffened. He never touched her when there was a chance his father would see them. Had breaking his engagement stopped him from caring? Laura noticed that his engagement ring was already absent from his finger. “Thank you. Rose’s maid selected this style for me. See the hair clip?” She tapped the rose shaped decoration holding back her hair on the left side. The right side was completely loose, the side he had touched. “I’m pretty sure she thought this was funny.” Markus laughed. “Almost everyone in the wedding has a rose on them somewhere. I think it was my mother’s idea, to promote peace with the Bloodish. She… likes stuff like that.” “Oh, I know.” Laura hesitated, swishing her wine some more. “Are you… alright, Markus?” “Of course I… well….” He trailed off. He’d clearly been about to give her some of his “I’m always happy and fine” bullshit and decided against it. “Red called it off, didn’t she?” Ross asked. “How did you…?” “I know you never would have done anything to mess up this wedding.” Laura tried not to look at either of them, finally actually sipping her wine. She listened as Markus recounted Rose’s little confession to the royal parents. He left out the usual flourish and hand gestures, voice even and level. That alone made her worry. “Wow, I guess every princess does not want Prince Charming,” Ross said. “I’m not Prince Charming,” Markus said tersely. “Blue, come on. Have you looked in the mirror lately?” He patted Markus’s shoulder. “Seriously, though, she would have made you miserable. What she does to Karian daily would have been your life. And,” he patted Laura’s shoulder, “now you can pursue other options.” Laura and Markus glared at him in unison. He removed his hands. “Alright then. I’m going to go flirt with all of Markus’s female cousins. I’ll get back to that whole emotional support thing later.” They both watched him leave in silence. “My mother did a beautiful job on all of this,” Markus said. Laura nodded. Her eyes followed the dancers and then surveyed the transformed banquet hall. The layout was similar to the way it always was but the tables had been removed, leaving only golden benches at the sides. There was one chair, Audrion’s, at the head of the room. He was there now, talking to John. Everyone else was drinking, talking, dancing. There was music played by servants she knew to be the most talented ones. The most striking change was the flowers everywhere. Blue, white, red. Hidden, so they gave the atmosphere of being in a garden. Of it being spring. Ivy had to have ordered them from Caltha. She’d expected this wedding to happen. Everyone had. “My father’s letting me choose now,” Markus said blankly. “I don’t know what to do. Even when I didn’t know her, Rose was a big part of my life.” “Find someone who makes you happy, Markus.” Laura smiled. “Stop being the perfect prince for once.” Markus met her eyes, expression suddenly unreadable. That was odd. Usually he was an open book. “Laur?” “Hm?” “Can I talk to you later?” “We’re talking now.” “I mean… alone.” He looked down immediately. Laura fixed her eyes on a blue flower next to a bench. She didn’t know what he wanted, but he was her best friend. It didn’t matter. “Of course. Anytime you need me.” A strange smiled crossed his lips, one he usually reserved for the rare times he was actually humoring Ross. He half opened his lips but didn’t say anything. Laura found herself staring at them. Expectantly, she supposed. “Everglade,” A voice said sharply. They both turned their heads. Rose regarded them regally. “My parents just chewed me out but good. I imagine you just got something similar.” “You could say that.” Markus inclined his head. “My father is… kind of an intense person.” “I’ve heard. Listen, I need to relax. Dance with me? I can actually dance, by the way.” “That I guessed. I’ve been dancing with woman since I was… twelve?” “Eleven,” Laura said automatically. “Yep, what she said. I know when one’s faking it to get me to touch them.” “Cute.” Rose smirked. “Well?” “I would be honored to.” Markus bowed his head. “Also, our relatives will love it.” “Exactly. Let’s go, Blue. I know this is what you’re good at so I’m expecting the moon.” Markus answered only with a smile, taking her hand and leading her out onto the floor. Laura knew he’d do exactly that.
“Aren’t you going to dance, Raythor?” Juliet asked, on the arm of some Gladian soldier. Raythor shook his head. She looked almost assaulting attractive. She usually looked pretty damned good, though Raythor no longer knew if that was her choice or spoke to the
|
|
|
Post by Markus Everglade on Dec 17, 2013 23:23:42 GMT -5
appearance of her real body, but cleaned up and dressed the other women here had no chance in hell. All he knew was that Juliet had danced with roughly half the Gladian army already. He finished his glass of wine and handed it off to a servant. “I told you, Dash, I don’t know how to court dance.” “I feel like you could manage it, based on what I saw in the Purple Rose,” Juliet teased. The soldier at her arm laughed awkwardly. He didn’t know what they were talking about, but he was trying. Raythor actually looked at him. He felt his smirk fade. White blond, swooped hair, thin pinched features, eyes of an indistinguishable color. Why did this guy look familiar? “Well, Saria, Rea’s bubble head of a sister-” He started. “Yeah, I remembered.” “Forced me to dance. Someone came up and told her she didn’t have to dance with her brother anymore and they left me there. It really didn’t boost my self-confidence too much.” “The fact you said all of that in a monotone is just so… you.” Juliet held out a hand. The soldier at her side looked nervous. “Want to dance with me? You seemed to Raythor-enjoy it last time. “Raythor-enjoy…?” “Pleasure without a facial expression.” “Right. No thank you, Dash.” This time, he caught himself. “I mean, Lady Juliet.” “Alright then, Ray. Suit yourself.” “Hm.” He started looking around for more wine. He spotted Anella. He didn’t notice Dasher leave. She was alone. Fiddling with her cross, probably feeling out of place. In that dress, she didn’t look it. She even had a wine glass in her hand, albeit a nearly untouched one. Raythor stalled another moment then walked over. “Hey,” he said. Anella looked up, a little smile fitting across her face. “Hello, Raythor.” “Are you not a dancer either, masochist?” “I… I a-actually like it.” Her pupils raised and lowered. “M-my friends back home taught me h-how. I just d-don’t have a partner.” Raythor shifted his weight, thinking. He didn’t want her standing here alone but all he knew how to do was “commoner” dancing. He could learn fast, sure, but she probably wouldn’t enjoy teaching him. He shifted his weight one more time and then came to a decision “Want to dance with me? I’m bad at it, but at least you’ll have a partner.” Anella’s face lit up. “Really?” He nodded, smiling without even thinking about it. “I’d be happy to teach you.” “Good luck,” he said. Anella waited a second, as though she were expecting something. Raythor had a brief image of the soldier taking Dasher’s hand the first time they’d walk away to dance. He took the shy girl’s hand, sharply drawing in breath. Raythor led her forward, finding a space in the crowd, and dropped his arm when he did. “It’s up to you, teacher.” “Alright.” Anella smiled, a little nervously. Her cheeks had tinted but she still looked happy. “Put o-one hand on my waist,” she guided it, “and I h-hold the other one.” Raythor complied with the instructions, shifting his shoulder a little when she rested her fingers on it. “S-sorry.” “It’s fine, I’m just not normal.” “I know.” She laughed a little. She kind of had a nice laugh. He shook his head. What was he thinking? “R-ready?” Raythor heard the chords of a song staring. He had never been good at identifying music so he had no idea which one. He nodded. “Yeah.” “I’ll lead and p-pretend you are,” she said teasingly. “Generous of you, masochist. Thank you. You’ve saved my dignity.” Anella laughed again and they started to move. “Then my dream has been achieved.” He tried to keep his eyes off his feet but she was looking down, lips moving. “Hm?” “Just c-counting. I thought it might h-help.” “Just tell me I can do this. Maybe you’ll trick my brain into thinking it can.” “I know you can. I believe in you.” “Maybe you haven’t seen me fight after all,” he said lightly. “I have and you’re very good. You just don’t know when to quit so you don’t get sliced open.” “I know,” he said with a faint smile. Anella’s face paled a little and her attention focused on their feet again. Self-destructive comments were not the best thing to say around Anella. He’d try to keep that in mind. He wasn’t so great with people, but the only ones he would ever purposely upset were Rose, nameless opponents and his sister. What he didn’t know was why Anella even gave a damn if he got hurt. He’d always made sure she and everyone else were safe, right? “I’m sorry. I bet talking is distracting you.” “Not really. You’re one of the few boys I can actually talk to.” Anella raised her eyes, searching for confirmation that he understood. “Boys make you nervous.” Raythor nodded. “I noticed that. Can’t imagine why I don’t, though.” “I guess I’m just lucky.” “Lucky for finding someone as screwed up as me to be friends with?” Anella shook her head. “I’m lucky I got to help you find your innocence, help you rebuild. I know you seem so cold, Raythor, but you’re not. You never really were.” She flushed crimson. He held her gaze, felt himself smile and his heart pound. What the hell was wrong with him? “You have nice eyes. I never really realized it before, but you do.” “M-me? You’re the one with the beautiful eyes, r-really. They were the first thing I ever n-noticed about you.” “So that’s what you were staring at,” he joked. “I thought I was just terrifying.” “Well, that too.” She smiled a little. Then it faded. “R-Raythor…?” Why, why, why did his heart have to do that when she stuttered his name? Was he getting sick? Ever since he’d been released from being the true Karian Killer, from being caged by the knowledge that he could hurt the people he cared about, he’d felt different. Innocent, yes, but that was the simple part. “Yeah, Anella?” “Are you… w-with Dasher?” Anella was looking at him almost fearfully. “Huh? Oh no, of course not. I just kissed her cheek, actually.” “S-so you w-were j-just t-talking o-outside….” “Yeah, I was telling her pretty much… everything I ever lied about. Took a while, naturally. What, you thought we were out there making out?” Raythor grinned. “Um….” She, if possible, went redder. “W-well….” Someone tapped Raythor’s shoulder. He turned his head, curious. “Hello, Raythor. Mind if I cut in?” Kylara stood behind them, grinning like a predator who had just stuck its claws deep into its prey. Raythor just rolled his eyes but Anella stepped back. Before he really knew what was going on, he was dancing with Kylara. “You have nothing on me now, you know that. So what do you want?” Raythor stared at her, refusing to shift his focus even when she tried to look away. “I may still be the Karian Killer- I may always be- but I’m not guilty. I didn’t kill my parents. I’m not your legend anymore.” “Oh, you’re still the legend. You’re just not the reality anymore.” Kylara sped up their pace with the shifting music. “Why did Kenetari let you go?” “I don’t know. I don’t understand it myself. If I were in her position, I would have killed me.” “She must have said something.” “So you wanted her to soak the ground with my blood?” “That’s not it at all,” Kylara said. Raythor looked off over her shoulder. He didn’t need her asking him this crap right now. He still couldn’t really deal with it himself. “Rayth, come on. If we find out why she let us go, we can find out how to stay alive.” “Don’t call me that.” “Sorry.” He could practically feel her rolling her eyes. “Kenetari killed your parents, Raythor. Stole the life you used to have and let you take the blame for ten years.” “Nine.” Raythor locked his gaze on her again. “She also killed the Wildflowers. Basically, your family. You want revenge and you want my help to get it. It makes sense. She is my sister.” “And you don’t want her rotting in the ground?” Kylara actually looked suspicious. “You don’t want her to pay for what she did? You certainly punished the last person you thought was guilty heavily enough.”
|
|
|
Post by Markus Everglade on Dec 17, 2013 23:36:35 GMT -5
“My sister let me go because I was I pieces. She wants me whole when she destroys me,” he said quietly. “Like I was the first time. I don’t want anyone else to die, not because of me. If I have to let my sister go free to make sure of that, then I have to.” “Because of you?” Kylara laughed. “We’re all her toys now. You’re just one part of the equation.” “And I’m sure the rest of the equation doesn’t want to go on a suicide mission.” “Saria’s perfectly ready to and if she is, Rea will back here-” “Saria is leaving tomorrow. If you want your revenge, you’d better leave with her.” “Without you?” She raised an eyebrow. “Absolutely.” “And just what are you going to do after this?” “I can’t see how that’s any of your business.” “Um….” Raythor felt another tap on his shoulder. This time Anella was standing behind him. He raised his eyebrows with faint surprise but didn’t say anything. “You’re back,” Kylara said dryly. “Um….” The shy girl swallowed. “C-could I… um….” “Could you what?” Raythor prompted hopefully. “C-could I… um… have t-this next dance?” Kylara was clearly about to make some sort of protest by the expression on her face. Then she rolled her eyes and walked off without saying anything. Raythor looked back at Anella, felt the corner of his mouth turn up. He held out his hand. “Of course you can.” She took it and they fell into step with the music. “You came back. Thank you.” “You’re welcome.” She nodded. Her cheeks were pale now. “And… I suppose she asked you to go with her to Laina. You know, she could get killed if she gets angry enough to try and face your sister alone.” “I don’t think Maria would let her do that. Besides, they’re both assassins. They can handle themselves if it comes to that.” He shook his head. “It shouldn’t have to.” “I suppose not.” He felt her fingers shift on his shoulder; he figured they were imagining having her cross between them. “There’s… a lot about the two of them to e-envy.” “What? Really?” “Well… they’re beautiful, outgoing, strong, independent, versatile… everything I’m not.” Raythor blinked at her. He waited for a second, to see if she was serious. She looked it. He sighed. How could she say those things? How could anyone compare themselves negatively to Kylara? “You’re beautiful,” Raythor argued. “And you’ve proved so many times that you’re strong and brave. Not everyone is out going, I know I’m not particularly, but you can’t say you’re not independent. You stayed here without that friend of yours and….” He trailed off. Her expression had changed. “Do you really think I’m....?” She stopped and then smiled. “Thank you.” “Do I really think you’re beautiful?” He guessed. Anella nodded, those fingers twitching again. Raythor hesitated. He’d said pretty much all of that without thinking it through, but he didn’t believe it. She had a very- he cut that thought off. “Yes. Absolutely.” “It’s just that no one’s ever told me that before.” Raythor started. “Are you serious?” “Y-yes.” She seemed almost ashamed. “My friends back home used to say ‘Anella you would be so pretty if you just trimmed your hair or you could be so pretty’…. It always felt like I wasn’t trying hard enough. But you hear it from you is really n-nice.” “I can’t imagine that my opinion means all that much but… don’t think you aren’t, alright? At least from what I can see.” Anella seemed like she was going to answer when the music slowed again. Instead of pulling closer, she let go. “Thank you for the dance, Raythor,” she said softly, “thank you for e-everything.”
Markus stepped outside, sinking his feet down into the white snow. He took a deep breath and a visible cloud rose in front of his face as he let it out. It was nice to be outside, eve with the wind biting at him. The sharpness of it helped him fell more awake, made everything that had happened feel more real. Hearing a crunch behind him, he looked back and met Laura’s eyes for a second before looking down again. He could do this. He knew he could do this. Laura’s face was apprehensive, her eyes more focused on the ground than on him. Her dress, pale blue and velvet, fit the weather perfectly. He hadn’t even noticed it before. Her gaze met his and he could see snow melting in her dark hair. Of course he could do this. Markus held out his hand. “Listen, Laur… tonight you can be my calm, controlled body guard like you always are. Take Prince Markus’s hand and he’ll take you inside. That’s fine.” “Or?” She raised an eyebrow. “Or take my hand and we can dance in the snow. Just like we used to all those years ago when I taught you how. No titles. Just your best friend.” Markus smiled. It barely broke out of his formal, diplomatic one. He was nervous, very nervous. “Just Markus. Certainly sounds intriguing.” The corners of her mouth turned up. She took his hand and he pulled her forward. For all her strength, for all her wiry muscles, she was pretty small. Markus put a hand on her waist, lower than when they were kids, and smiled fully at the weight of her slim fingers on his shoulder. “You look like an ice princess,” Markus swallowed. “Does that make me cold?” Laura smirked. “What? No, of course not I just meant….” “Frozen?” “Royal.” “Oh.” Her expression changed and she fell silent. Snow fell on them both. It was almost invisible against her pale skin. They were swaying so gently now, barely making a sound as they moved, focused on each other. “You’ve always been an excellent dancer, you know.” “Princes are endowed with numerous useless skills,” he told her cheerfully. “I thought Prince Markus was inside,” Laura returned. He laughed. “Yes, with all those royals doing exactly what he’s supposed to do. Certainly not the person you’re with now.” “I’m sorry you’re not enjoying the freedom of what happened.” “I still don’t really know how to feel about it.” “Do you think the king expects to find someone to marry on your own?” “I think he might,” he said. Markus unconsciously pulled her a little closer and their dancing slowed even more. “He’s always thought I wanted to marry for love.” “Do you have someone in mind?” Laura asked. Her hands shifted on his shoulder, caressing the fabric of his tunic. “Because I’m sure he means any noble you fall in love with.” “He does. And….” He ran his eyes over her carefully. Markus loved her, so deeply it almost hurt not to tell her. After all, he told her everything else. Yet he was still scared to tell her and risk everything they did have. It wouldn’t be easy, not when he knew her heart had been buried in a coffin with another boy a long time ago. “I still don’t know what to say to the one I do want to be with. The one I always have wanted to be with.” “Just tell her. If it’s meant to be, it will be.” Laura moved a fraction closer. “But now that it’s… possible to be with her the idea of telling her is even more frightening.” Markus loosened his grip, his heart pounding. What in God’s name was he saying? There was no backing down now, he chided himself. No more cowardice. “Because I know she doesn’t want me.” “How can you know that if you haven’t asked her?” Laura raised an eyebrow at him again. Markus turned his head to the side, considering his options. Then he pulled her closer, hand raising her chin. His lips hovered over her suddenly trembling mouth. He wanted to kiss her and possibly not stop for a good long time, but that urge could be repressed more easily. He just wanted one taste of what he couldn’t have, and then he could finally let her go. Let both of them be at peace. He kissed her gently. Laura started in surprise, but didn’t resist. Her lips were soft and she tasted of the sweet wine she had just been drinking. Markus felt calm, safe and… happy. Really and truly happy, something he hadn’t experienced in a long time. Markus pulled back, suddenly feeling selfish. “Sorry.” “Markus….” Laura turned her head, eyes steeling. “Nothing about us has changed." “I know.” Markus took a step back and she started walking. “I shouldn’t have done that.” “It’s alright.” Her voice was faint. “No harm done.”
|
|
|
Post by Markus Everglade on Dec 17, 2013 23:42:15 GMT -5
He followed her, catching up to her pace fairly easily. Markus wondered if she was chewing her lip, if it would bleed again. He didn’t want it to. “Did you have a good time at the wedding?” “Yes.” She nodded blankly. “Great.” “Mm hm.” Laura was chewing her lip now, definitely. Her voice only got muffled like that when she was. “We’re going to have to walk awhile,” he said, after a few minutes of silence. “I’m familiar with the layout of the courtyard.” He nodded, knowing that the corner of her eyes caught the movement. Markus was trying not to cringe, not if she could see it. “Why did you kiss me back?” “I said I would, if ever given the chance with no repercussions,” Laura said flatly. “I’m not a liar.” She raised her eyes. “Why did you do it?” He ran his hand through his hair, sighing. “I… I don’t know. I just did.” There he went, lying to her again. Lying one more time to make it alright. He couldn’t be so selfish anymore. He had to let her be. “Well try not to act so beneath your station from now on. It must hurt your neck to look down from that white horse,” she snapped. Laura stopped walking. Markus put his hand on her shoulder, confused, and she pushed his fingers away. “What?” “I’m not that girl you were talking about. I know that.” Her voice faded just a little at the end. Markus shook his head. “Laura there isn’t another girl, it’s….” He felt the words die in his throat. She was right. He was a prince, she was a soldier. That hadn’t changed. Still, he’d promised himself. “It’s you.” “I’m… sorry?” “I’m in love with you.” She didn’t answer, didn’t even look at him. Markus felt his heart sink. “Laura, you said find someone who makes me happy. You make me so happy and-” “And what? And we’re together until you’re twenty one and you have to marry someone else? What would that do to both of us, Markus? How would that feel?” “How do you feel about what I said?” “How do I feel?” Laura looked up at him like that was possibly the most insane question she had ever heard. Any other time, he probably would have laughed at that expression. “I love you, Markus. I always have.” “What? Jack-” “Jack was meant to help me forget what I felt for you. All of this is irrelevant anyway, Markus.” “It is. We love each other.” Markus put his hand back on her shoulder. Laura put her hand over his, eyes dropping. “I can barely believe you feel the same for me, but… well, I want to believe it…. Laura, four years is a long time to figure out something. Some way to always be together. I want to be with you.” “It’s surreal to hear you say that.” She adopted a strange little smile. “Like some sort of dream. It’s just a dream, though. There is no way we could ever legitimately be together. Both of us know that.” “Then what do you suggest we do?” “You stay in Imperia, where you belong. I’m going to Laina.” “Laina? To fight Kenetari? That’s far too dangerous; my father is taking care of this now-” “I’m going to meet my birth father.” Her smile became weak but it was genuine now. “Saria and the others can do what they will once they get there but… I’m not doing anything dangerous. I’m just going to stay with him for a little while, and then I’m going to come home. I think it will be best for both of us.” Markus swallowed, hard, but he nodded. “You’re probably right. I… I know it isn’t possible. I just… I had to tell you. I’ve always wanted to but… I was engaged….” “I’m glad you did. I’m glad I know and that I’ve told you.” Laura squeezed his hand. “I’ve never admitted that I love you, even in my head. I always say ‘like’. But I can’t lie to myself anymore. Or to you.” “Is this what they call an amicable break up? Because the one with Rose involved a lot of yelling. And my father trying to strangle me.” He tried to sound light. His heart was kind of breaking. This had not been one of those good days, all things considered. Everything but kissing Laura had been kind of a letdown. And hearing her say “I love you” even if it boiled down to their being separated for a very long time had been more than a little thrill. “You could call it that.” Slightly bigger smile. Somehow, they’d reached the other side of the courtyard. Her hand moved behind her, on the door that was the fastest outside entrance to her room. “I wish all of this could be different.” “Me too.” Very, very badly, he added in his head. Markus didn’t know what he’d been expecting, but it had probably been something that ended more depressingly than this so… this was fine. This was okay, really. Laura pulled them back up against each other and their lips met a second time. This was probably a bad idea, but Markus managed to keep it very restrained. As restrained as he could anyway. Kissing in the snow, the flakes in their hair, and moonlight on their skin… it was just like a dream.
|
|
|
Post by Markus Everglade on Dec 17, 2013 23:46:43 GMT -5
Chapter Twenty Four
The Three of Us
A book hit the floor as an elbow ran into it. The girl, Ross was struggling with her name right now, giggled, her lips tickling his neck. He pulled her closer, whispering how very sweet she was into her ear. Oh, he liked it when they kissed his neck. He liked it a lot. It usually meant they were willing to put their lips lower. “Rainbird,” a feminine voice barked. Ross and the girl jumped. He squinted in the darkness, settling on what he had thought was just another stack of books. There were a lot of them in the library, but he was fairly sure this was the only one over five feet tall. “Lynn, hi. Can this wait? I’m kind of busy here.” Ross darted his eyes at the girl. She giggled again. “Markus and Laura just kissed in the courtyard,” Lynn said patiently. Ross’s jaw dropped. “Did you just severely mispronounce one of those names?” “Prince Markus and Elaura Aurelia Glasswater had their lips connected recently.” “Laura’s middle name is Aurelia?” “Focus, Rainbird. Are you even listening to me?” “I just don’t see how that’s possible.” “What were you just doing? That made it look pretty possible.” “But they’re… them.” “I have met them before.” Lynn sighed heavily. “I’m pretty sure they then broke up about five second later.” “What?” Ross was horrified. “But they are,” he splayed his finger and then brought them together, “one.” Lynn stared at him. “Okay then. You’re right about one thing, this isn’t exactly normal. The point is that Laura is not doing well. She’s trying not to show it but I can tell. I also can’t get through to her.” “You think I can?” Ross asked. He let go of the girl all the same. The giggler looked confused, eying him warily. “You and Markus are her best friends. Markus is the problem this time. Who else knows the two of them as well as you?” He nodded. “Honey, I’ve got to go help my friend out. But surely we’ll meet again, my love.” Ross took the girl’s hand and kissed it. He was rewarded with one last giggle before he followed Lynn out of the room. “You really never stop, do you?” She frowned at him. “Seduction is what I do, Lynn. I’d try it on you if you weren’t my superior officer. Also, I really like to lord your dirty little secret over you,” Ross teased cheerfully. “First, it wouldn’t work on me because I know you. Second, tell Laura and I’ll have you professionally killed.” “What if I tell Markus?” Lynn gave him a death glare. Ross mentally added it to his tally of death glares and waited, with a blank smile, as Lynn unlocked the door and led him down the hallway. This was a lock Ross had picked numerous times, as the Door (he liked to think of it as special) was meant to protect the hall where all the female soldiers and servants lived. It was always kept locked- Lynn secured it behind them- and, as was the same in the male hallway, only those who lived there had the key to get in. Ross merely had the passion. “This is Laura’s-” Lynn started. “Yep, I know,” Ross said, without thinking. Lynn this time gave him an expression he could only describe as nauseous. He mentally marked that tally too. “Good luck,” Lynn said, after she composed herself a little. “I’m going to attempt to believe in you.” “That means so much to me, Lynn. Don’t worry though, beauty, I can do anything. I’m Ross Rainbird.” “Hence my apprehension.” Ross shrugged that off, not bothering to watch her leave. Her ass wasn’t all that memorable; it was really more about her front. He knocked firmly on the door, looking forward to seeing Laura’s equally pleasing front. When the door opened, his jaw dropped for the second time that night. “What?” Laura looked at him coldly, her eyes particularly feline. “Your hair. It’s different,” Ross said, trying to be tactful. “Yes,” she agreed. Ross stared at what remained of her hair. It was above her shoulder now, just inches below her ears, and he tried to remember why he was here. He actually swallowed when he saw that her necklace was just lying on the table. “Did you want something?” “I came to see if you were okay. You’re not okay. Like at all.” “What makes you say that?” “Markus has told us a lot of fairy tales. In all of them, cutting off that much hair tends to symbolize something big.” “This isn’t a fairy tale, Ross. Go away.” “No.” He walked in, sliding past her. “Lynn was right, you need me.” Laura cracked her knuckles. Ross swore in his head. He was so not feeling this tonight. He started groping on the table for something to use as a shield. Ross smiled when he found something better. Laura’s eyes honed in on the dangling necklace. “Put that down.” “Why? You’re not wearing it and yet you’ve never taken it off before, not even to bathe. Obviously you don’t care about it anymore.” He toyed with the string, taking the carved head in his other hand. “Thought you wouldn’t care if I borrowed it.” “It’s still mine. How did you know that I bathe in it?” Whoops. Saying that out loud had been a bad idea. “Why’d you take it off, Laur?” He countered. “Because Markus said he loved me so I told him the truth,” she said flatly. His jaw dropped. He wondered if repeated action could cause cramps. He didn’t want anything to hurt his face, after all. “You’re kidding me.” “Are you laughing?” “Well shit. I think I need to sit down.” Ross pulled out the chair of her vanity, a rather wrong-headed gift of Markus’s, and sat. “So I guess he actually doesn’t want us to have babies. That’s kind of a relief. Anyway, being completely serious here- what happened?” “Markus said he wanted to speak with me alone. I complied. He used a line worthy of you and we danced.” Laura stopped. Ross held up the necklace up and opened his mouth. She looked disturbed. “He flirted with me, I suppose. I may have responded. Then he started talking about a girl he would marry for love and had always wanted to.” She watched him carefully. He lowered the necklace. “Then he kissed me. I implied that, due to our stations, he probably should not have. He apologized.” “Oh that moron….” Ross massaged his temples. “Go on.” Laura did. He listened, feeling like he was very slowly falling down a hole. Ross had known that Laura had a thing for Markus, and honestly knew it was more than just the “crush” she clung to like a lifeline. Markus, on the other hand… well, he’d had his suspicions in the back
|
|
|
Post by Markus Everglade on Dec 17, 2013 23:49:39 GMT -5
of his mind. How could he not, after all? But, of course, Ross had also known he would never act on them. Unless he spontaneously became un-engaged. “So you’re… leaving.” Ross gave her a sad little smile. “Blue isn’t going to be the only one who misses you, you know.” “Yes.” She held out her hand and he returned her necklace. “And I’ll… miss you too, Ross. I was actually wondering if you’d come with me.” “I….” Ross took a minute to think about that. Markus was in this same position. If Ross went with her, he’d be losing both of his friends, probably for a long time. All the same, he would be in this safe castle and Laura would be in the middle of nowhere with that psycho killer on the loose. “Yeah. I’d love to.” “I hope this works. Hell, I hope he marries while we’re gone.” Laura covered her eyes with her hands, her necklace woven through her fingers. “Why did we both have to do this to each other?” “Why didn’t you give into his fantasy that you could be together?” Ross asked. “Because it’s impossible.” “But four years of happiness is… four years of happiness even if it doesn’t work in the end. Maybe you’d even break up naturally though I… kind of doubt that but hey. The stress of the impending doom of the relationship could shatter it. Actually, maybe you guys made a good choice and ended it before the layers and layers of bitterness set in and neither of you ever spoke to each other again and I had to be there, kind of awkwardly in the background, crying myself to sleep every night because my two best friends less than secretly want each other dead and probably hired the Calthan assassins, one Maria, one Kylara-” “Ross, you’re doing that thing where you stop making any sense at all again.” “Sorry. I’m just not big on change.” “I know you’re not, Ross. I’m not excited for it either but we’ll get through it. We always do,” Laura agreed. Her voice was still carefully steady, but her shoulders were shaking and she hadn’t lowered her hands. Ross got up and pulled down her arms- which was a fight- and got a look at her now tear stained face. He froze. “What? Why are you looking at me like that?” Ross pulled her up against him and her head drooped on his shoulder. He felt tears sink through the cloth of his tunic. “I just didn’t know you had tear ducts.” Laura laughed a little. “Strong as I try to be, I guess sometimes I’m just a sixteen year old girl whose life didn’t go the way she wanted it to in the slightest.” He voice finally caught a little. “This is my fault… if I’d be able to let him go, Jack wouldn’t be dead, we wouldn’t be leaving… I’m so pathetic….” “Laura, it’s no more your fault that Jack is dead than its Karian’s fault his parents are dead.” “If I can’t do it now, I’m going to stay there… with my father….” Ross really hated hearing that. He did his best to suck it up. “Laura, even if it’s really over between you and Markus you can still be grateful for the time you did get to be with him.” “How can I be when it turned me into this?” “Aw, you’re pretty when you cry, babe. But yeah….” He took a deep breath. “You remember how I was right after Will died, right?” “Of course, but Will was your brother and you watched him die….” “Well, when Will died I felt like I’d never really be happy again. It was hard to wake up in the morning, sometimes hard to breathe if I didn’t think about it hard enough. I hated feeling like that.” Ross toyed with her hair, steeling himself. “If I never had an older brother, he wouldn’t have died like that. I wouldn’t have been torn apart. Yet no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t wish for that. I loved William, I loved being around him. Even if someone up there wanted him to die, even if I had to hurt like that, I still got to have him as my brother. If I was given the choice to do it again, even if he still died and I couldn’t change anything that happened I would choose to have my brother. Somewhere in there I managed to be grateful for the time I did get to have with him. No matter how I felt when he was taken away, it was worth it to know him at all.” Laura hugged him tightly, reaching up to kiss his cheek. “There is a lot more going on up there than you ever give yourself credit for.” She pulled back, slipping her necklace back on. “That was genuinely the sweetest thing I’ve ever heard.” He smiled awkwardly. “Too bad you can’t put your hair back on, huh?” Laura almost imperceptibly shook her head. “This I’ve wanted to do for a while, I just lacked the motivation.” “I’ll get used to it.” “Ross, I really think that was-” “Hey, don’t mention it. Just remember, somewhere in there, it’s always going to be the three of us against the world.”
Anella had been feeling dizzy for a half hour. She’d sat down, for what she assumed would be a few minutes, on a golden bench and had not moved since. The party was all but over and she was almost alone in the banquet hall. Still, she didn’t have any motivation to get up. Her head felt funny. She had never had more than a few sips of wine before and tonight she had at least two… three? …full cups tonight. At least she wasn’t as drunk as Laura had been at the Purple Rose. She found herself laughing out loud at that. A few servants stared at her like she was crazy. Someone else sat next to her. She glanced at her new seatmate. “Where’s Kylara?” Anella asked blankly. “She didn’t take what Raythor said well. She went for a ride to cool off.” “What do you do?” “Why aren’t you stuttering?” Maria returned, eying her coldly. “I’m pretty sure I’m drunk,” Anella informed her. She laughed again. She couldn’t seem to help it. “Yes you are.” Maria shook her head. She began jimmying her leg up and down. “You probably won’t even remember we talked in the morning.” “I won’t?” The shy girl took that in with confusion. Her head was still spinning. Who knew what else could happen? “Yep, your memory will be a blur of random sounds and sensations. I’ve been where you are. Being where you are takes me just a drop, but hey….” She sighed, staring straight ahead. “I don’t think you’ve ever been where I am now.” “You kind of sound like Raythor. So sad.”
|
|
|
Post by Markus Everglade on Dec 18, 2013 0:06:53 GMT -5
“Do I?” Maria chuckled a little. “I kind of feel like him. I really can’t handle everything that’s happened to me. I know if I show that, Kylara’s going to lose it so….” “Everything?” Anella nudged. This was like talking to Raythor. He had to be nudged to say anything, especially anything personal. “Well… I made the choice to become a human lover. I loved Rowan so deeply I didn’t mind being trapped in this human body to be with him. I don’t mind staying in it to honor his memory. When he was killed by those Calthan soldiers, I didn’t know what to do. His sister did.” Maria smiled. “Kind of nice to get this out to someone who will not only not judge me, but also will have no memory of it later. Refreshing.” “Refreshing,” Anella agreed sleepily. “Kylara killed two of the soldiers herself and collected the bounty from Ashlin herself.” Maria switched which leg she was crossing. “It was then she let me know what her job was, and asked if I wanted to join. I became a Wildflower because killing was something I was always good at. They became my family, after a few years. Like my sisters, Kylara and Lila most of all. Lila’s still alive and that’s something but… things are never going to be like that again. I’ll never have my family back again.” Anella actually felt a little more sober. Awkwardly, she patted Maria’s shoulder. She didn’t even know what to say. She hadn’t known how to articulate how she felt when Will died, even at the time. Anella fiddled with her cross, thinking. Then she tilted the wine glass she hadn’t touched in an hour at Maria. Maria laughed. It was a horribly confused sound. “Thanks but no thanks. You’re still drunk as hell, silver princess. I’ll help you up to bed.” “Thank you!” Anella said, a bit over enthusiastically. Everything seemed just a tad more… bright? She didn’t even know. Then her brow furrowed. “Silver Princess?” “Sorry, force of habit. That’s what Kylara calls you.” Maria stood, offering a hand. She made a small “oof” noise as Anella got up, leaning most of her weight on her. “Are you some kind of mixed blood? I really can’t tell.” “I love humans but I’m not like you and Blade.” Anella’s voice was getting sleepy again. “I don’t know why I’m sparkly, not really anyway. Eva was….’ “Hm?” Maria was only half paying attention, eyes on the stairs as she guided Anella up them. “…not always human. Then she married Henry and her descendants changed too.” “Uh huh.” Maria sighed with relief at the top of the stairs. “You must be a trace blood or something.” Anella stumbled a little and Maria tightened her grip. “All I know is that you have strange ‘powers’, I guess you’d call them, and Kylara calls you silver princess because of them and because she’s jealous. Extremely jealous.” “Of what?” The hallway looked funny. Like a long, dark snake with little chair shaped markings on the sides. She wasn’t sure what room she was in. Did she have a roommate? “How much time you spend with Raythor. That and you two never fight. They always fight.” “We don’t, do we?” Anella’s cheeks tinted and she smiled dreamily. Silly dark snake. “That’s nice. I like that.” She was fairly sure it meant something important too, something nice. “He’s very kind.” “Sure he is.” Maria opened the door to Anella’s guest room with sarcastic flourish. “My lady, your chambers. Try not to fall down and good luck with your crush.” “My what?” “Your huge flaming crush on Karian. Pretty sure I’m right about that.” “Oh.” Anella blinked, feeling unsteady when Maria let her go. She walked into the shadowed room anyway, Blade’s ears flicking in his sleep at the noise. He had his own big, cushiony chair to sleep in. That was funny. “I think I do like Raythor like that.” “I know you do. Goodnight.” Anella was lucky she made it to the bed before she passed out.
“It’s Imperia’s prodigal daughter.” Markus swished the drink he hadn’t touched yet and smiled at her blankly.
|
|