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Post by Markus Everglade on Dec 18, 2013 1:22:28 GMT -5
“Very true.” A voice Ross faintly recognized promised. He turned to see who it was. His blood ran cold. Nightshade. She was alive. Well, not for long if he had anything to say about it. It wasn’t just her, either; it was a big, blue… fish wolf merman thingy. With a scarred as hell Blade and a purple winged wolf behind him. In his fury, Ross couldn’t even remember what they were called. He and Laura drew their bows at the same time. Ross glanced at her, urging her to be the one to speak. If he did it would only be a lot of swearing. She nodded. “Who are all of you? Her, we know.” “Markus never does mention me, does he?” Ross watched the wolf things weird-ass tail swish behind it. “My name is Mercury. I’m an… elementi maker, Markus’s guardian, if you will. It’s a pleasure to meet you both.” “Charmed.” Laura didn’t lower her bow. “Enough with the cute stuff Mercury. We want this done. Putting if odd last night was a personal favor,” Nightshade said testily. Ross fired an arrow at her, which she blocked with a magical shield with much irritation. “You again. You’re everywhere I don’t want you to be.” “The feeling is mutual. I’m also pretty damn disappointed that you aren’t dead,” he returned. “It seemed unfair to do this when she was so distraught,” Mercury ignored them both. “Laura, you may want to be seated.” “I’m comfortable where I am.” She kept her voice perfectly even. Adrenaline tended to send her into hyper competence mode. She wasn’t going to back down. Neither of them was. They were so screwed. “I rather assumed you’d say that.” Mercury took his own stance. “Restrain the boy if you need to but I don’t think he’ll put up much of a fight.” “Think again.” Ross fired an arrow at him. Mercury froze it and it fell to the ground and shattered into a million pieces. “Alright, I have to admit that was pretty great.” “Thanks,” the elementist said dryly. Mercury’s water drop lit up and a pure shot of blue energy hit Laura’s necklace and split into four parts before it wrapped around her body. That could not be good. “Laura!” Ross started toward her, firing another shot at Mercury. Maybe he could do two things at once. The purple elementist wind whipped his own arrow back into his arm, freezing him with pain. He started toward Laura directly but the scarred elementist wrapped him in a shadow cocoon. He started struggling as hard as he could. Laura’s bow hit the floor as her wrist lost control and her body shook violently. The light bled into her skin and she cried out, crossing her hands over her chest. For a moment, nothing happened. Then her skin flashed jet black and her eyes glowed. She had just turned back to normal when the energy, now black, shot from her eyes, fingertips, and feet, lifting her from the ground. She started screaming and the black scorched the floor. She dropped like a rock and Ross screamed her name again, fighting even harder. His arm, by this point, was gushing. Mercury’s eyes lit up again and Ross got a sense of imminent death. Instead, he and the other elementists disappeared in a flurry of snow. Ross dropped hard to his knees. He winced at the acute pain in his knees but got up, putting his hands on her shoulder. “Laur, I’ll get a healer. Can you hear me?” “Yes.” Laura let out a labored breath. “I think I’m fine.” She sat up, blinking several times. “Just a few bruises.” “You just screamed like you were dying.” “You’re bleeding.” “I think magical torture trumps that.” “Not if I’m not hurt.” Laura grabbed his arm. The arrow had wormed its way out of his skin in his struggles and it was just the tornado of ripped skin left behind. “We’re going to stich this up. If anything happens to your arm, it could permanently hurt your skill with a bow.” “What just happened to you?” “I have no idea. But I think I might really be the vessel.” “The vessel? You mean the… holder for Phoenix’s reincarnated soul?” “Yes.” Their eyes met. Hers were tinged with black now, but only when he looked at them straight on. Ross knew both of them were thinking about what had happened with the mirror, what all of this could possibly mean. “Those eyes look good on you, Laur.” “I imagine they do suit me.” “Laura, General Glasswater has provided us with some soldiers. We’re leaving for the castle as soon as everyone is ready,” Maria said. “Did you not just hear all the screaming?” Ross asked. Maria just looked at him like he was crazy. “We’ll come with you,” Laura said. “What?” Maria balked. “You heard the lady. We’re shooting for the good guys,” Ross put in.
****
“Hey Jayce. What took you, man?” David got up, stretching, his tight chains releasing his limbs and hitting the floor. Jason, shaking his head, shoved his lock pic back in his sleeves. “I’ve been convincing my sister I’m a destroyed wreck and my allegiance is to her and her only. It slows my reflexes.” “You are a destroyed wreck. Anybody would be after what Kenetari told you.” Jason shrugged noncommittally at that. It was true. He’d been in a dark place since Kenetari had told him the truth but that didn’t mean he was going to let his friend rot in a cell. “Why didn’t you lie to Porthe?” “I did. I just told him what I wanted.” “It still got you thrown in jail for treason and corruption.” “I wanted Davon to know how I came to be where I am now. How Lydrion’s lie was good enough to make me turn. Now he’ll know how much of a threat this all is.” “Don’t tell me you want him to save Rea?” Jason looked up and down the hallway outside David’s cell. The two guards he’d knocked out with a practically violent wind blast where the only ones down here. He slipped into the hall, David behind him. “Porthe is a little lax for housing traitorous elite down here.” “He needs the men to find Rea. I may have let it slip where she is.” “You bastard.” Jason smiled. It was pitch black down here and utterly miserable. He had to feel his way along the walls to find the stairs. He had never been more grateful to see the light at the top. “David.” Davon’s cold eyes stared them both down. Jason froze. He wasn’t supposed to be here. This wasn’t good. “Well done.” “My pleasure, sir.” David bowed his head respectfully. “What?” Jason burst. “Sorry, Jayce. I was never a traitor, not to Carina anyway. When Kenetari threatened Kira, I told Davon I stupidly wanted to go to Laina and kill Kenetari myself. General Porthe had a better idea.” “We’ve rooted out all the true traitors.” Davon, severe, had his arms behind his back. “And killed them last night.” “Carina knows everything. It’s just a matter of time.” David smiled. “Kenetari’s going down.” “Spare my father and brother and I’m your side until my dying breath,” Jason said. He hadn’t seen this coming and he was willing to bet, after the display last night, Kenetari hadn’t either. “You have my word,” Davon said, extending a hand. Jason shook it. “The two guards I attacked?” “Catshadow had the feeling you wouldn’t kill them.” “You’re good.” “So is my opponent.” Jason was about to ask more questions to firm all of this up in his mind when the headache struck. He sat down quickly, pressing his fingers to his temple. It was a lot of images this time, in quick succession. David came over, holding his shoulder, and Jason rattled off names. “…the group made it in. Ahh… Silentshadow… I don’t know if they planned this, General Glasswater had men… God on high… has men there with them. They’re in the… Lightforce… actual castle, David. They’re like hell soldiers… damn it, Hiddensight….” “What is he doing?” Davon demanded.
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Post by Markus Everglade on Dec 18, 2013 1:25:03 GMT -5
“He’s the spirit elementi. Every person he learns the name of and meets in person will appear in his head when they die,” David explained quickly. The images were clear now. He recognized eight people from the group Kenetari was fucking with. The brunette girl and the two Calthan assassins were doing the most damage, cutting through the guards like butter. They stopped in front of a door Saria indicated. Here, the sound faded and the image blurred. The longer haired assassin started arguing with the group, her mouth moving quickly. The brunette violently shook her head, arguing back. Eventually, though, the two assassins ran down the hall, leaving the others behind. “They’ve got to be after Kenetari,” Jason said aloud, as the image faded. “Who?” “The Calthan assassins whose guild she wiped out.” David laughed. “There are few things she deserves more than two angry trained killers after her.” Davon was regarding both of them dubiously. Jason couldn’t really blame him. He knew full well that he looked completely insane when he was having death visions. Being the son of the spirit elementi, and inheriting her powers when she died, tended to suck. “This happens every time someone you know dies?” Davon blinked. “Uh huh. Without fail.” Jason twitched. “Whitepaw.” “I liked him,” David said sadly. “Right then. Catshadow, get the men ready. We’ve got a long way to go to Laina and we’re in hot water if anything happens to Everglade or the princesses. Catching up to them is part of this. “Understood, sir.” Jason watched his friend snap into action, effortlessly ordering the men. All of them, he realized, must have known expect the traitors. It had been a delicate balancing act. He’d just stepped into another one.
Chapter Twenty Eight
Revenge
“Shouldn’t we have listened to Laura?” Maria shouted. Kylara heard her stumble behind her and then sprint to catch up. Maria had always been the slower of the two. Kylara slowed her pace but she could only stand to for a few seconds before she sped up again. “Laura can suck it. She doesn’t understand.” “These people had her mother killed, Ky.” Maria was panting. “She understands.” “The mother she barely knew. It’s not the same as what we went through.” Kylara stopped hard at the end of the hallway. “This is it.” “She supposed to be better than anyone in our guild.” Maria stared at the vast set of doors like they had the word “doom” carved into them. “Almost as strong as Talonshade.” “That doesn’t change the face there are two of us and one of her.” Kylara calculated quickly in her head than slammed her foot into the door. It crashed open. Kenetari, seated on the desk at the front of the room, glanced at them. There was a little boy stroking a striped brown cat in the corner, sitting cross legged in a chair with arm and leg clamps and a middle aged man reading a book in a much softer looking chair beside him with a bland elementist sitting at his feet. All of them looked up as well, blinking at this. This wasn’t quite what Kylara had expected. Maria grabbed her shoulder. “Let’s go,” she begged. Kylara shook her head. They both watched as Kenetari slipped off the desk and drew her sword. She used it to slip her long, purple gown to the knee on both sides. “I take it you don’t want to talk,” she carelessly spun the sword. “You killed my family. Not especially,” Kylara snapped. “Ben.” “Mm hm.” The little boy put the cat on his shoulders and stood up, patient at the side of the room. Kylara didn’t care to find out why that was. She charged at the dark girl, Maria following close behind. Kylara slashed and ducked to the side, hearing Maria’s throwing knives clang to the floor, Kenetari’s sword and hit their mark. To her surprise, she pulled the knife from where it had lodged itself in her hop and threw it back at Maria. Unprepared, Maria started moving late and it grazed the top of her shoulder. Kenetari struck at Kylara, keeping her defensive and pushing her back. Kylara tried to read her movements but she was unpredictable, like a feral animal. Kenetari forced Kylara down just as Maria hit her with a boiling water spell, scorching her shoulder and bubbling the skin beneath. The dark haired girl looked at her with empty eyes and brushed the water off, reddening her fingers before it hit the floor. Maria followed with knives and Kenetari took two hits dead in the area beneath her chest. Again, she pulled them out and tossed them back. Maria raised her hands to save herself and the knives went through her left palm and her right arm. She crumbled forward, screaming. Kylara lashed out furiously, aiming for her wounds, but Kenetari had seen that coming and pushed her to the floor a second time. “You’re going to bleed out, bitch,” Kylara breathed. Kenetari didn’t answer verbally, she just went for Kylara’s arms. The assassin got to her feet and blocked most of it, taking just a slice to her finger. The dark girl smiled, almost hungrily, and fought her off to the side. Ben scrambled forward, toward the blood on the floor, and put it into a thin vial. Kylara, distracted, got hit again, a deep shot to her chest. She gasped, trying to staunch the bleeding with one hand and fight with the other. She knew it was over. Losing any advantage against an opponent like this meant death. A light field appeared around the three of them. Kenetari forced Kylara down again. Arrows pelted the shield and Kylara watched them, her vision blinking in and out. She thought Kenetari would kill her then but she had stopped too, staring. Laura had put her hand on the shield and the magic shattered and made a sucking noise going into her hand. “Oh, Phoenix, decided to get out of bed today did we?” Kenetari smiled. “What makes you think anything has changed? That you’re no longer weak?” “Let go, Pearl. Please let go,” Laura said in a weirdly masculine voice. Before the dark girl could answer, Maria launched a flood of red energy at her. The bland elementist teleported all three Whitestars away and Maria’s energy shattered the window and left blood stains on the wall. Laura let out a little gasp and the magic released, washing over Kylara and Maria. Kylara picked up her hand and stared down numbly. Her wound was gone. By the look on Maria’s face, her wounds must be too. “Are you alright?” Laura knelt by Kylara, her eyes scanning the ripped cloth. “Yeah.” Kylara sat up, rubbing the sickly blood between her fingers. “I guess I am.” “That woman is not human.” Maria shook her head over and over, picking at the little raised scar on her palm left behind by the magic. “She’s not elementist either.” “You’re both alive though.” Ross gave Maria a thumbs up. “That’s pretty impressive.” “We should get out of here,” Hector suggested mildly. “Right on, Blackbird.” “Okay then.” “Need help?” Laura offered Kylara a hand. Kylara took it, feeling groggy. “What did you just do? What did you even just say?” “I don’t know.” “Thanks for saving us.” This she had to force. “She wasn’t what I had expected. We hit her but….” “She didn’t seem to feel it,” Maria supplied. They all started running back the way they had come. All Kylara could think of was that little boy with the vial of her blood.
****
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Post by Markus Everglade on Dec 18, 2013 1:30:51 GMT -5
Markus settled the cloak around his body, sealing his natural heat beneath the fabric. They had made good progress today. Bloodroot was a small country, if they kept it up at this pace it could take as short as a week to go straight through. No longer than two, anyway. It wouldn’t be long before he was at King Ian’s castle. The thought had kept him awake long after sunset and he had volunteered for watch duty. The shimmering Anella was his partner. Raythor had volunteered by the group as a whole voted that he sleep. Markus was happy to have her. They’d become friends over the course of the quest and it would be nice to talk to her without weaponry involved. “Picking at your bandages again?” Anella’s eyes laughed at him. “It’s strange to have them all over. It’s better when I can’t see them but I am scratching the ones under my cloak,” Markus admitted. “Don’t they bother you?” “Not really. I for the least of it, anyway.” “So you did.” “So you know when the silver thing is happening?” Markus asked. He’d tried not to mention it before. He imagined it was like his hair for her and she heard enough about how strange it was to last her a lifetime. “I do now that I look for it.” Anella moved very slightly, so that her fingers touched a patch of moonlight coming through the trees. Her hair drifted around her shoulders as she was wrapped in silver light. “Do I really look that different?” “Now that I look for it,” he laughed, “it does. It’s actually pretty striking.” Anella gave him a dreamy glance he unfortunately knew quite well. This one, though, he didn’t take too seriously. He knew her personality, knew she didn’t feel that way about him. At night, though, if they trained beneath the face of the moon she flirted with him. Pretty intensely, too, and he was familiar with the levels. He didn’t think about it much, not after he figured out when it happened and guessed why. Having blue hair had made him just a bit more attentive to what people couldn’t control. “What?” He smiled. “Do I look weird too?” “No….” Anella sighed like he had just recited a love poem. She leaned closer to him. “Cold?” “Yes I’m very cold.” She was smiling too now, leaning so they were almost touching. “Would you care for a blanket?” This was still just funny to him. Until, of course, her nose found its way an inch from his. “Anella?” “No, that’s not what I want….” “What are you doing?” His heart was pounding in the worst of ways. Markus didn’t really believe that Anella could… he could feel her breath on his face now. Markus grabbed her shoulders. “Anella!” She stared at him for a second. Then a cloud covered the moon and he couldn’t see anything. “Oh Markus!” Anella cried. He felt a whoosh as she drew back. “I’m s-so s-sorry. I d-don’t k-know w-why… I’m s-so s-sorry.” “It’s fine, Anella. It’s not your fault, sweetie.” “Sweetie?” She laughed. “Sorry.” He laughed too. “Sometimes you just seem like a little sister.” Markus felt sure she was blushing beneath the shadows. “Have I ever told you the full story of my ancestor? Because I blame her for what almost happened.” This time he sat forward. “No, but I would love to hear it.” “I’m sorry I haven’t told you before, it’s just your type of story.” “And it’s one I’ve never heard before,” Markus said excitedly. “Well….” He could tell Anella was trying not to laugh again. “Fifty years ago, or more, there were sightings of this… woman. It was only when the moon was full and she was silver, like me and my family are. She wasn’t kind or gentle and she would also frighten the woman and try to seduce the men.” “I noticed,” Markus said. Now that his eyes were adjusting to the darkness, he could see her blush. “They say one day she fell in love with a moral and gave up her own immortality to be with him. That’s the basics of the story. I can also tell you the long, romanticized part that I saw in a dream once-” “Yes.” Anella did laugh. “One night, my ancestor was in the forest during a full moon. She was untouchable, nothing could hurt her. She could look like a demon or be as beautiful as an angel and the people of the town near where she was appearing were terrified of her. None of them would go in the woods at night because of it. Then, on that night, someone shot her. The arrow shouldn’t have hurt her but it did and it was lodged deep in her back.
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Post by Markus Everglade on Dec 18, 2013 1:36:53 GMT -5
She got up quickly, but she was angry all the same. She moved with the light until she was directly on top of the threat. He was a man with deep blue eyes and he was yelling. Apologizing as fast as he could. ‘They told me you were a demon,’ Henry Nightheart said, ‘but you’re not like that. You’re beautiful’.” She let him go, but she was shaken. She couldn’t get him out of her head.” “The mortal she fell in love with,” Markus guessed. Anella nodded. “She took out a long silver knife and stabbed herself through the heart. The light drained out of her and she just looked… human. That’s when she started watching Henry, night after night. He had a lovely fiancée with long brown hair and blue green eyes. Eva- the name she chose as a human- was crushed. Each day, she faded a little more, just like the moon above her. When the sky was almost black, Henry and his fiancée had a screaming fight. She threw her engagement ring in his face and stormed off, leaving him there devastated outside his house. He didn’t go inside for a long time.” Markus hugged his knees. That was probably similar to how his and Rose’s engagement would have ended if they had somehow chosen to be together. He touched his former engagement ring, now on a chain around his neck. Because it was a family heirloom, he was supposed to always have it on him. He shook off the thought and held out his drinking water flask to Anella. He was only using Mercury’s flask for spells. He had the secret hope it was magic. “Need some water?” “Thank you.” Anella smiled gratefully. “Eva gave him a little time. Then she showed up on his doorstep haggard, staring, and pale. Henry took her in at once. It caused a scandal, of course, but Eva became his maid rather than his mistress. After a while, the whispers died and it just became normal. Nothing new happened and the town had nothing to gossip about. Still, the whole time, the two got closer and closer. The one thing they didn’t talk about was that first night in the woods. He didn’t know it was Eva, not with the way she looked now, but somehow it did come up. ‘You’ve heard about the Moon Lady of our village, haven’t you Eva?’” Anella looked sheepish doing the dialog. “‘I met her once, not too long ago,’ Henry said. ‘What did you think of her?’ Eva was nervous. No one likes to know that an uncomfortable conversation is on its way. ‘She was beautiful as they said but… I don’t know. It was like she was made of ice. Like she only cared about things as lovely as her, cold things that stroked her vanity and handsome men she could use and drop as easily. She did scare me but… she didn’t impress me.’ Eva stood, stepping toward a patch of moonlight. ‘She loved you. It didn’t make sense to her because all she’d ever cared about was her cold, beautiful world, but she loved you.’ As Eva stepped into the light, she was herself again expect for the tears on her cheeks. Henry was shocked. ‘I’m sorry,’ he said, like he had in the woods, ‘but I love you too’. Then, slowly and carefully, he kissed her.” Markus stayed quiet for a moment, taking all of it in. It was just his type of story. He had enjoyed every second of it and, he realized, he believed it. Believed that the girl before him came from a line born of the moon. It was pretty exciting. He knew he’d write it all down, if she let him. “It must have been more than fifty years ago,” he said finally. “Oh yes,” Anella agreed. “That’s just how the story is supposed to start. Fifty years would have made Henry my grandfather.” She looked at him curiously. “Did you like it?” He smiled widely. “I loved it. I’m jealous, even.” “Jealous?” She eyed his hair. “As far as I know, this doesn’t have a great story behind it.” He blew at his hair. “Did you ever ask your mother?” “No.” His throat tightened. “Part of me is still afraid. Despite what my father and Mercury have said, despite what I can do, I’m still afraid.” “You really don’t have to be so afraid anymore,” Anella said in a matter of fact way. She seemed so sure of it that he smiled. “You’re right. When I get home, I’ll ask.”
****
Vyncent Glasswater sat at the head of the table, absorbing the silence of the strange group his daughter had brought with her. They couldn’t have been any sort of functional team working together but somehow they had not only found the missing Princess of Dragoon but given him the real reason as to why King Brian wasn’t interfering in any of this. At this point, with the Prince Caleb missing, though not publically, Ian must have been begging for help from his greatest ally and had not been receiving it. The exhausted princess, sleeping upstairs, explained virtually everything he’d been trying to figure out for months. It boggled his mind. The queen of Carina, who had not seen any battle today and probably never lifted a sword, was cheerily chatting at the other end of the table. On her right, Princess Saria, just as happy, was making excited hand gestures and nodding a lot. Queen Rea had her usual infamous angry bodyguard to her left and the tall black haired one who rarely said much next to her. Maria and Kylara had chosen the opposite side of the table and were both eating quietly. Hector was as well, with the three light elementists behind his chair. They rarely even seemed to move. Elaura was to his left, with that blond lord’s son friend of hers next to her. Vyncent didn’t like him. He was worried Ross was her boyfriend and she just hadn’t mentioned it. Elaura was still pretty mad at him. Even though she’d been so shaken up about Charity, she was still angry. She just wasn’t showing it anymore. He sighed into his soup. Vyncent had half hoped Elaura would come back to him with someone she loved; her guardian, one of the Everglades. The boisterous, flirtatious Ross was far from what he had been expecting. Part of him has also wished she’d fall for Ivy’s son as well but he supposed that would be too perfect. What was the boy’s name again? Marius? No, Markus. Markus with a ‘K’ for some unfathomable reason. “Do you know Prince Markus very well, Elaura?” Vyncent tried to sound casual. He sipped his soup after he said it. “Yes.” She nodded. “He’s one of my best friends and I serve as his bodyguard.” “We’re both going to be knighted when we return to Imperia,” Ross added in. “You’re a soldier?” Vyncent’s voice was tentative but he was already proud. His strong daughter, following in his footsteps. “Which weapon?” “Bow. Ross and I are both archers.” Ross and I. Vyncent frowned. “Laura’s one of the best in Everglade,” Ross sounded a bit proud himself. Oh dear. “She wants to be an Elite Knight.” “Really?” This distracted him “She would love to train with you. She told me so; she’s looked into your military career. It is impressive, sir. Even General Flameron is in awe of you. We read it together, didn’t we Laur?” “Yes. I’m actually illiterate, so I needed him.” Elaura rolled her eyes. Vyncent had the memory of his little daughter, a large book on her small lap, patting the pages and laughing. He’d been on the verge of teaching her when she’d had to be sent away. Vyncent fiddled with his soup. He loved his daughter, always had. He’d had dreams of giving her everything he hadn’t had growing up, letting her be a lady or a warrior, as she chose. Anything she wanted. She looked like she’d had to work to get what she wanted. Audrion would have made sure of that. “I would be happy to give you a few lessons, if you want. My archery isn’t quite as proficient as my swordsmanship but I’ve become a fair marksman over the years,” Vyncent offered. “Might as well say yes. We’re going to be here until we can find enough men to take out Kenetari,” Kylara interjected, after Elaura had been silent for a while. “I’m betting Prince Perfect is going to find some way to come through, though.” “He will,” Ross agreed. That started a heated discussion Elaura didn’t seem to want to be a part of. “I would like that. You’re a skilled general,” she said faintly. “It would be quite an honor. Thank you.” “No thanks necessary. You’re my daughter.” Vyncent smiled. “What is all this about Prince Markus coming through?” “He’s supposed to come after us if… anything changes in how Everglade is approaching the Laina situation.”
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Post by Markus Everglade on Dec 18, 2013 1:39:10 GMT -5
“It doesn’t seem likely that Audrion would want to interfere, no matter what Kenetari did.” “No. Prince Markus might.” “Do you think he will?” Elaura paused at that. Then, carefully, she nodded. “Yes. He’s like that.” “Is he like his mother?” “Definitely. But he’s like his father too, more than he thinks he is.” “Most people are.” That got a smile. “What was my mother like?” “Oh.” Vyncent thought about it. How to describe her in a few words? There had been so much to Charity. “She was honest, extremely so. Very frank and pragmatic. Smart. She loved cats- I see you might too- and she treated everyone with respect. She looked quite a bit like you and her eyes had the same shape.” “I hear she walked like me too,” Elaura tried. Vyncent laughed. “Oh, yes. Exactly! I noticed it at once.” “This,” Elaura held up her necklace, “Markus gave me. I do like cats but I’ve never had one. This is a Phoenix charm that he gave me when we were little.” “Of course it’s a Phoenix charm.” Vyncent set down his spoon. “I should have known one would find its way to you. Does yours mean…?” “For everlasting friendship in our case,” she stressed. “Sexually charged friendship,” Ross jumped back into their conversation. He winced almost immediately and Vyncent was fairly sure she’d kicked him under the table. “Ow! Why must you abuse me so?” “That was for saying something like that in front of my father.” “Tell him the truth. Not that I owe you any favors after that, but owning up to it will make it better.” The other end of the table had gone nearly silent. Elaura flushed, toying with her knife. “I elected to take this journey, mainly to meet you but also to step away from Markus for a little while. Both of us care for each other, but….” “But you aren’t a noble,” Vyncent guessed. She nodded. “The best way for you to become one is if King Ian falls, isn’t it?” “No shit?” Ross blinked. “That’s true.” Elaura flipped and flipped the knife. “If Ian wins this- if we win this- I’ll speak to the king. Tell him that this time I am personally asking for a title so that my daughter may marry the prince of Everglade. He’ll expect that. He’s always been terrified that if I get a title, rebellions will rise up in my name but if we squelch the Whitestars and we bring Everglade to him with this marriage he will say yes. I’ve never asked before.” “You’d do that for me?” “I’d do anything for you. You love each other, don’t you?” “Yes.” “Then we’ll find a way to make you queen.”
****
It had been nearly a week since they’d set out from the Porthe’s mansion. Gabriel wasn’t sure he’d seen the sun since then. The Forest of Death- he’d long since forgotten its real name- was the densest and darkest forest he had ever been in. Sometimes he had to dismount and squeeze through the trees, pulling his reluctant horse Isaac behind him. It had not been an easy journey for either of them and Gabriel felt lost in more ways than one. Yet his seven companions allowed him to do something he hadn’t been able to do in a long time: trust. Somehow, someway they’d become friends, allies and partners. Gabriel might be unsure what he was fighting for but he knew he would fight for all of them. He had to. It didn’t hurt that Princess Rose was among them either. Gabriel was shy and he wasn’t much of a talker. He’d gone through life peacefully ignoring members of the opposite sex he wasn’t related to or working for or with. Helping his sister through her numerous crushes and heartbreaks had helped with that. She’d always seemed to appreciate his removed, studied-from-afar advice on the subject. Yet, if she could
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Post by Markus Everglade on Dec 18, 2013 1:41:32 GMT -5
see him now, attracted to a Princess from a hostile country, she would have laughed at him. He wouldn’t have blamed her. Rose was irritable, came off as mean and in a different social circle completely. Still there was something about her he couldn’t get out of his head. “Stupid,” Rose stretched out the ‘I’, “can’t you take my hunting duty tonight? I hate it.” “No way in hell. If it causes you pain, you’re doing it,” Raythor returned. There was also that relationship to contend with. Gabriel didn’t think anyone understood it, the two of them included. “You’re a bastard,” Rose said. “Maybe. I certainly wouldn’t ignore the possibility.” Raythor shrugged. Gabriel watched Rose fume but, unusually enough, she did so silently this time. “Hey Rose guess what? My mother was a Whitestar.” “Bullshit, Raythor.” “How would you know that?” Ketra asked disdainfully. “The bracelet.” He dug around in his bag. “Here, Gabriel, prove it for me.” The dark haired boy tossed him the red and gold bauble. Gabriel caught it, bewildered, and ran his finger along the inside. For a moment he was silent. This certainly explained Raythor’s haunted look when he’d first read it. “Yes, this was given to a Kari Whitestar, or made for her at any rate.” “So wait… your uncle took in your murderous sister after she slaughtered her own parents?” Rose burst. “What the fuck? Your family is so messed up!” “I know.” Raythor shrugged again. Gabriel decided it was primarily Raythor’s lack of reaction that set Rose off. She seemed used to being able to get under people’s skin and, most of the time; she couldn’t make a scratch on Raythor’s. “Do you think she left Laina for your father?” Dasher asked. Gabriel had been able to accept that she was an elementist. He’d heard of them. He’d even met a few before Blade. Dasher as a talking, unusually effeminate palomino took more getting used to. He jumped every time she spoke. “Raises the question as to why a Calthan would be in Laina,” Raythor pointed out. “Particularly, as far as I know, a poor one without a title.” “Yeah, Karian isn’t a noble family I’ve heard of. Ket?” Markus threw a glance at his sister. “No. Not even a lesser noble.” Ketra shook her head. “I think my mother went to Caltha,” Raythor said. “But you can’t prove it?” Dasher teased. Again, strange coming from a horse. “Yes.” “Do you all want to keep going? The moon’s full tonight, I know I can see pretty well.” Markus seemed largely unaware of the conversation. Yes, he’d commented about the nobles but that was drilled into him. Their ‘secondary leader’ had been distracted for a while. Distracted or not, he was still more trustworthy than Queen Rea. That, now that Gabriel had sworn himself to her, had been the hardest to take of everything that had happened. There had been a time when Gabriel had believed in Carina, believed in Queen Rea. He didn’t anymore. “It will keep me from hunting duty,” Rose brightened. “I say yes.” “Well we wouldn’t want Rose to have to actually do something,” Raythor said. Rose picked a bur out of Violet’s mane and threw it at him. It landed on Thunder’s head and he whined pathetically. “Rose! The poor doggy!” Anella sat up straighter on her horse, looking indignant. Rose opened her mouth to reply and Blade cut her off. “Do you hear that?” “Sounds like footsteps.” Dasher raised her nose and scanned the trees. “Close.” Raythor dismounted, hand at his hilt. Seven pairs of eyes looked forward. Gabriel looked back. He was the only one who saw Anella’s eyes widen and fill with tears. Saw her face contort with pain and her body slump and fall off Ranier’s back. In a daze he detached his medical supplies from his saddle bag, dismounted and ran to where she lay. There was talking all around him but he didn’t know if they were still being attacked. All he could see was Anella face down on the ground, the shaft going diagonally into her back. Had it gone through? Would pulling it out make her bleed out? If she lived, would she be able to walk? Gabriel took a small knife and cut away her dress around the wound. He was afraid he would nick her but even when he seemed to, the knife wouldn’t cut her skin. The only blood was coming from the original piercing. He had to get the arrow out and they had to find help. He was positive she needed surgery. “Hey, what happened? She going to be okay?” Raythor was kneeling beside them, fingers laced through Anella’s. She made a noise and shifted to fully hold his hand. “Can you hear me, masochist?” “Mm hm.” She sniffed loudly. Gabriel saw her squeeze Raythor’s hand. “Dash!” It was the first time Gabriel had heard him raise his voice. Gabriel’s attention actually shifted from the wound and he was able to regain control. “They’re not attacking anymore, just the one arrow,” Dasher said breathlessly. She was in her natural form and panting like a dog. Her eyes fell on Anella’s back. “Merciful Illios.” “Can you do something?” Raythor asked sharply. “I won’t know until that arrow is out. If she’s bleeding internally, somewhere I can’t see, I can’t fix it. We have to be able to see the wound and know what the damaged area looked like originally to heal it. Since I don’t know human organs….” “Damn it, damn it, damn it….” “I can get the arrow out. I just need someone to hold the wound open and someone to hold her hand.” Gabriel poured alcohol over his hands quickly. He knew what he had to do, but it wouldn’t be easy. “I’ll get the wound.” Dasher shifted at lightning speed. He watched her readjust to having fingers and then follow where he told her to move. “Anella, I’m about to pull it out. This is going to hurt but you can squeeze Raythor’s hand as much as you want. Go ahead and cry or scream as well. This won’t take long, you can do this.” “Okay,” Anella’s voice was shaking. Raythor cradled her hand in both of his, not saying anything at all. Gabriel shifted the arrow so it matched up with the notches in her skin, feeling like a perfect bastard as he did. He could hear her crying softly, trying to hide it. Slowly he pulled the arrow free and as soon as it left her body, Dasher’s hand moved to staunch the blood. Anella twitched and Gabriel faintly recognized that she’d passed out. That was probably for the best. Dasher pulled away and they both studied the carnage left behind. “We’ve got to get her to a trained healer,” Gabriel assessed. “I can fix up what I can see but the arrow went deep.” Dasher’s fingers moved around, glowing faintly. “Should I seal her up? Would that help?” He thought about it. No matter how she was carried, she would be jostled and the wound would be agitated. “Yes, I think so. So we’ll just reopen it once we get there.” “Blade should be able to do that.” “Where do we find a healer?” Raythor demanded. Dasher shook her head, brighter lights shining from her fingers. “There’s this famous healer, Sinclair, along Bloodroot’s border.” Rose came forward, the others behind her. “Could we get to her before…?” “Maybe. It’s hard to say,” Gabriel told them honestly. “I guess we don’t have much of a choice?” Markus asked. “Pretty much.” “Alright. Blade could fly ahead and find Sinclair’s house? We’ll just keep moving straight forward until we know where to go, so at least we’ll gain some ground. Gabriel and Dasher, you know about what’s happening with Anella so I need you to stay with her. Putting her on a horse is probably a bad idea so we’ll need to carry her. Ketra, you can take the extra horses.” “I’ll tie them to Exro.” Ketra hurried off. “Raythor, you could ride Ranier-” “I don’t think I could,” Raythor admitted, eyes down. “Help me carry her?” Markus offered. “That I can do.” Gabriel shielded Anella’s back as they lifted her with his hands. They’d formed a sort of stretcher with their arms, managing to keep her face down. Raythor adjusted to hold her head. “What can I do?” Rose fidgeted. “Keep leading us toward the border. These trees look all the same to us but you know them. We’re counting on you.” Markus nodded. “Everyone ready?”
**** Three hours later, and a mere twenty minutes until they reached Sinclair’s, Anella stopped breathing for the first time. In a rush of activity they managed to get her breathing again with Dasher’s magic but they were all scared, tired and hungry. Markus had come close to openly weeping when Anella had almost died. He’d spent years training himself not to cry in front of other people but… it didn’t matter anymore. If she died, even his father couldn’t stop him from curling up in his bed and not moving out of it for at least a week. “Just through here. The path goes on for a while, but it’s straight.” Blade guided them through two close together trees and unto the first actual path they’d seen in over a week. Markus, his arms so far past aching they were numb, adjusted his limbs for the thousandth time and matched with Raythor’s pace. His entire body hated him at this point but he had to keep pushing it all the same. Stopping now wasn’t even a choice. The little group drudged on in silence, following behind Rose on her horse and Blade. They hadn’t really talked much lately. Markus realized Rose and Raythor hadn’t even bickered this entire time. Did that mean she was just being nice to him? No, more than likely she was worried about Anella. He started as an old woman, crimped gray hair piled on top of her head, emerged from over the hill. Her eyes, narrowed, were beautiful blue and whitening around the centers. As he might have guessed she didn’t seem to see them until she was a few feet away from Violet’s chest. A blond boy, around Markus’s age, ran up behind her breathlessly. “Are you the ones with the injured girl?” The old woman asked, peering up at Rose. “Yes. Are you Sinclair?” Rose began to dismount, beckoning her toward Anella. Blade doubled back and his symbol flashed. Markus saw fresh blood well on Anella’s back and Gabriel stanched it quickly. Dasher and Blade exchanged looks but, while the blond was looking at them funny, Sinclair was unmoved. She was already stooped over Anella, shoving away Gabriel’s hands. “I need to see it, boy.” “Sorry, ma’am,” Gabriel said. He quickly filled her in on the details of the injury. She bobbed her head rhythmically the whole time. “Three hours old, huh?” “Yes.” “We need to operate, Tirian.” The boy snapped to attention like a hunting dog. “Ready the room. Hurry.” Tirian took off at a run. “The rest of you lot, follow me and do it fast. She needs the time.” Keeping up with Raythor got a little harder and Markus used his height to his advantage to try, eyes falling on Anella. She was still breathing. Thank God, she was still breathing. It seemed to take an eternity to get to Sinclair’s door and as they walked Markus felt every rise and fall of Anella’s chest. He flinched every time she was and second late and Raythor’s arms were tensing up. Markus tried to keep calm but he couldn’t quite manage it. “In here,” Sinclair barked. The door opened and a room spread before them. It was small, well lit and shaped like an off kilter rectangle. There was a wide bed at a place of honor- pushed against the center of the right wall- and surrounded by long, low tables full of jars and glasses. There was a row of smaller beds along the opposite wall and shelves in some sort of poetic chaos against the back wall. The center of the room had a red, tattered rug, a little tall table and roughly twenty lit candles. “On the bed. The big one.” She looked at them accusingly. Markus and Raythor set Anella down carefully, meeting each other’s eyes with matching worry when she was out of her grasp. Gabriel withdrew his scarlet stained hands. “Now I need you to leave,” Sinclair said. “What?” Raythor and Rose said together. They stared at each other like they were demons. “I need to focus. Blubbering friends give me no focus. Go. Tirian?” Tirian herded the seven of them out into the hallway with surprising efficiently. “I’ll fetch you when Sinclair’s finished. She recommends you all rest, eat and bathe. She says especially bathe.” The door shut on all of them. Half an hour later they were sitting around Sinclair’s table picking at the food Markus had made them. Rose had called taking a bath first and no one had argued with her. It was just the six of them not really eating together. “She’s been in there for thirty minutes. What does that mean?” Raythor asked. He was cutting a piece of bread into smaller and smaller pieces. “It could mean nothing,” Gabriel said, trying to be reassuring. Raythor just shook his head, scratching Thunder’s ear. The dog had the better part of his upper body on Raythor’s lap. “Thunder’s a wolf hound, right?” Markus made his fork dance on its tines. He liked dogs but he was more hoping to distract Raythor. “I guess so, yeah.” The dark haired boy straightened Thunder’s bright red collar. “I found him so I’m not really sure of his pedigree.” “We think he’s about three,” Dasher put in. She was sitting at the table, but in her natural body, her wings folded awkwardly behind her. “Mm hm. Found him as a baby. He was at least half this size and actually inside a crate of food that I stole. We shared it.” He almost smiled. “I am so glad Rose didn’t just hear that.” “Hear what?” Rose came in scowling, pulling at the curled strands of hair at the sides of her face. Markus didn’t think he’d ever seen her with her hair down. She had a lot of it and it fell past her shoulder blades, shining as always like rusted copper. “I can’t find my stupid brush.” “That’s because you tried to brush my hair with it, couldn’t get out the tangles and chucked it at a squirrel while swearing profusely.” Raythor ate a bread fragment. “Don’t you remember?” “Borrow mine,” Ketra said. She lazily indicated her bag in the corner. “Fine.” Rose flipped off Raythor as she walked by. “You’re up, Ket.” Ketra nodded gravely, waiting for Rose to retrieve the brush before she picked up her bag and took it down the hall with her. “So you have dogs?” Raythor asked. He hadn’t seemed bothered by Rose’s reaction. “Uh huh. A lot of the hunting dogs are technically mine.” Markus watched Rose warily but she was just brushing her hair. “My father doesn’t want them in the castle, though, so he has me call them by number so I wouldn’t get attached. It didn’t work. Fourteen- my favorite- I call Mystic. She’s a deerhound so she’s pretty big too.”
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Post by Markus Everglade on Dec 18, 2013 1:46:16 GMT -5
“I’m surprised he didn’t make you call Laura and Ross by numbers.” Rose’s hair swooshed back up in a ponytail. “No, he just calls them Elaura and Rocelin.” “Ross’s full name is Rocelin?” “Yes it is.” Rose started laughing uncontrollably and Raythor smiled. Slowly, everyone was actually starting to eat. “How big is Mystic?” Raythor ate another bread fragment. Markus measured from off the table, starting to describe what his dog looked like. For the first time in hours, he wasn’t thinking about Anella.
Chapter Twenty Nine
Full Moon
Anella woke up with her face in a plush pillow. The last of her confused fever dreams slipped out of her head and her back throbbed painfully. Was she really awake this time? She wasn’t sure. This wasn’t anywhere familiar. “You’re awake.” A grizzled face stared down at her. “That’s a good sign.” “Where am I?” Anella’s hand ran over the line of bandages around her torso. A skirt lay loosely on her legs, the bandages meeting the waist and going up to her chest. Just her underwear covered her breasts and that little section of side and back. Her arms were bare and her shoulders were only slightly hidden by the wide strap. She blushed. “What happened?” “You got shot. Your little friends brought you here to my house of healing. My name’s Sinclair.” She laid a faded blue dress on the bed beside her. “You can put that on if you want, girlie.” “My name’s A-Anella.” Anella sat up slowly and carefully, slipping the dress over her head. “T-thank you v-very much.” “No need. The prince is paying me. He had this little blue coin purse.” She laughed. “M-Markus?” “Think so. Has freak hair, anyway.” “Am I g-going to be o-okay?” “Probably.” Sinclair shrugged. “It’s hard to tell with these kinds of things.” She handed Anella some herbs. “These are for pain.” Sinclair watched Anella chew and swallow. “I’ve done about all I can do right now. How do you feel?” “Sore.” “Not bad.” Sinclair fluffed the pillows and straightened the blankets. “Try to stay off your back as much as you can.” She set a cup of tea on the side table. “You’re still pretty weak, Anella, but I’ll let you have one visitor. Tell me a name and I’ll get them.” “Raythor,” Anella said, before she could think. The name just spilled out. She colored. She should have said Markus, nice Markus, who she hadn’t been lost in fever dreams for kissing for what felt like days. Anella colored worse. Had she really just thought that? Anella was about to open her mouth to change her mind but Sinclair was already gone. She was alone in the room. She hugged her knees, waiting. Anella didn’t know how to feel. How long had she been asleep? Her eyes fell on the tea and she realized she was starving. It must have been a long while. Suddenly she was scared and her back hurt more. That all faded when the door opened. Raythor was smiling just like he’d had the first time she’d ever seen him smile. “Hey.” He he’d held a glass of water and a little rounded roll. “You’re awake.” “Y-yes.” Anella’s eyes fixed to his immediately. “Alright. Don’t take too long and don’t do anything but talk,” Sinclair commanded sharply. Anella snapped back to reality. “When you’re done, drink that tea. It will let you sleep through the night and it has more pain killers in it. I’ll let you be but get me if anything goes wrong or when the boy leaves. Understand?” “Of course.” Raythor nodded. “Don’t let her leave that bed.” She pointed a crooked finger at Raythor before she shut the door. “She terrifies me slightly,” Raythor said. He looked around for a chair but there wasn’t one. Anella touched the end of the bed and she sat down, handing her the water. “T-thank you.” She gulped it. “Thank you, thank you.” He didn’t answer; just cutting of careful slices of the roll with a little knife. He handed them to her one by one and she ate them quickly. She probably would have choked if they had been any larger. “No problem. I don’t remember you having eaten anything all day today and when you’re hungry that’s all you can think about. Would you have filched more but I don’t know what she wants you to eat.” Raythor sheathed the knife carefully. “How are you feeling?” “Sore and g-groggy, mostly.” Anella brushed some crumbs from her mouth. Raythor’s eyes caught the movement. “How l-long was I o-out?” “About four hours.” Pity flashed over his mask of a face. “Oh.” She swallowed hard. She was scared again. Terrified she wouldn’t be okay. “How did I get here?” Raythor carefully explained minimizing, she guessed, his own role. “We’re e-even,” She said, smiling but biting her lip. For some reason she felt like crying. “Anella… don’t….” He tapped his fist on the bed. “Look, we all got you this far and we won’t give up on you. I won’t. I’m… really happy you’re awake.” He managed a weak laugh. “Welcome back to consciousness.” “T-thank you. It was so strange to be in and out like that. I had the weirdest dreams.” Anella toyed with a loose string on the blanket. The similar… subject matter of her dreams had made her think that they hadn’t really talked about what had happened in the moonlight. Maybe they should but he wouldn’t bring it up and she didn’t want to. It was too embarrassing; her crush on Raythor had become too real. She hadn’t had a crush in a while. Anella could remember all the boys she had liked and how she’d waited for the infatuation to pass. The feeling has been different with them. With Raythor…. She shook herself. Raythor was her friend. She would have never risk losing that over some silly crush. Anella liked him a lot, though. She was starting to be able to admit that. “Oh yeah. It’s all a mix of weird images when you’re out like that, isn’t it?” He chuckled. Then he just barely glanced up at her. “Listen I know it’s… surreal to wake up after losing time like that. You try so hard to fill in that gap but it’s never more than fractured memories and blurred dreams. It’s scary.” “It’s scary.” She felt her face crumple. His fell. Anella shook her head when his mouth opened, putting her hand over his. They sat like that for a while as she clung to the warmth in his fingers. “How d-do you live w-with it?” “I always scramble for information. Try to let other people fill in the blanks so I know the whole world wasn’t black while I was out. Just me. Just me, who woke up still breathing and the same person I was before.” “And you filled in the blanks for me. I’m still breathing.” “Yeah, you are.” The relieved smile came back. This time it didn’t make her blush. “I like it when you s-smile. I a-always makes m-me want to too.” “Then I’ll try to make you happy more often.” “Thanks f-for h-holding my h-hand. It’s the l-last thing I r-really remember.” Shyly, Anella laced her fingers through his. Raythor didn’t flinch, didn’t pull away. He met her eyes, the corners of his lips still lifted. For a moment, everything was peaceful. Then her back felt like it was on fire. She let out a little cry, unable to think clearly. Raythor asked her what was wrong again and again, but she couldn’t answer. It hurt too much. Anella felt him pull away and she whimpered, succumbing totally to the agony. She was dimly aware of the door opening and shutting before she fell back into blackness.
****
The princess hadn’t said much, even after she’d woken up. She and Vyncent had gone and had a long chat about something, probably political, and taken Laura with him. Ross was left bored. Rea made him feel awkward; he wasn’t big on the assassin’s, Dione scared the shit out of him, and James wasn’t too interested in anything not in a skirt. Saria might be okay to talk to, she was pretty and all, but she was always with Rea so that was out. Hector and the three elementist ladies seemed to be his only option and, well… he might have three girls following him everywhere but they spent a lot of time covered in fur. This was not sexy to Ross. “Ross.” Laura looked down at him, her expression back to that serious sternness he was used to. Thank God. “My father and a fair number of soldiers are going to King Ian’s castle with the Princess Daphne. We could use you, if you want to come.” Ross leapt up. “Back in the saddle again! Let’s go as soon as possible.” He rubbed his hands together. “What the hell is that castle called anyway? I mean, Everglade has Imperia, Carina has Avior, Caltha has Oasis… I don’t even know this one.” “It’s going to be called Whitestar if we don’t hurry. My father thinks King Ian might be in a great deal of danger as we speak. Having Princess Daphne in our care forces Kenetari’s hand and I doubt she likes it when people force her to make any sort of move.” “I’m going to call it… uh… Sexyfine. Castle Sexyfine.” “I’m going to call you Sir Blackeye if you don’t hurry.” “I’m going to go get ready then. You know, just because I’m feeling like it.” “Uh huh.” Laura rolled her eyes and walked off. Ross felt excitement rush through him. They were going to King Ian’s castle; just liked they’d planned all those months ago. Yeah, Markus wasn’t here and, yeah, the Whitestar army was a scary thing but he was very much a soldier of Everglade. He could take down anything he put his mind to. “Is General Vyncent going to need our services?” Hector asked. Ross jumped. He hadn’t even seen the pale knight walking up; he was more silent than frigging Laura. “I don’t think so. He’s bringing an army or something so I don’t think the girls could handle it.” “I see. Well, I will stay and protect my queen then.” Hector bowed his head and left. He was a higher rank than Ross was. That was weird. His elementists, trailing after him, stopped and started at him blankly. Ross waved. “Hey girls.” “Hello,” The tallest one said. “You are Rocelin Rainbird, correct?” “Ross. Call me Ross.” “I see. Someone wishes to speak with you. You’re going to need to come with us to a neutral, safe location.”
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Post by Markus Everglade on Dec 18, 2013 1:47:52 GMT -5
“That doesn’t sound safe. I don’t like that plan.” Ross wished he had his bow, but he hadn’t thought he’d need it today. He had that knife in his boot but that wasn’t going to help with three elementists. Not that his bow would, but he’d at least feel like he had a chance in hell if he had it. Maybe he should start screaming. How far away could Laura be? “She was most insistent,” the elementist told him. “Did her name start with ‘K’ or perhaps ‘V’ if it’s every other Wednesday? Because I’m sure she was very insistent.” “It begins with ‘M’.” “Markus ain’t a lady.” “No, but Maya might be called that.” Ross froze. Maya? Maya was alive? He swallowed. He should say no to this, he should scream to Laura. But what if there was a chance she was really there? What if he could get her out of this? “How and why did she come to you three?” “We are mercenaries. We go where the money takes us but we befriended Kenetari’s ally, Pallas, while in her service. He contacted us when she contacted him.” “Well that sounds legit,” Ross said sarcastically. “Let’s go.” “Indeed?” The tall girl looked wary. One of her sisters- they looked so damn similar they had to be- giggled. “Well then let’s depart.” She put her hand on Ross’s shoulder and that feeling of his stomach dropping and being left behind hit him hard. He came back from his dizziness in our darkness, the tall girl’s hand still on his shoulder. Squaring his feet, he waited for his eyes to get used to this. “Maya?” “Ross,” her voice returned, breaking. Ross felt arms around him and was finally able to see her a little. “I was all set to hate your guts for saving me but she didn’t hurt me. So… thank you. Thank you so, so much.” “How could I not save an angel like you?” He hugged her back. “I thought you were dead. I really thought you were dead.” “I’m a great actor.” “You are, beauty, you are.” “Ross, I promise not to kill or manipulate you if you do the same for me, alright?” Maya looked at him earnestly. His eyes caught on the heart shaped birthmark on her neck, one he’d seen many times. He’d always marveled at how perfectly shaped it was but now he suspected it was her “unusual feature”. If she was like Markus, as Anella and Karian had told them she’d said, she was one of the elementi. As for which he couldn’t began to guess. “And I promise not to touch Karian, of course.” Ross laughed. “Deal made. I won’t even pretend to hurt you ever again. Well, unless it will save your life.” “After this, maybe I’ll come back to Imperia.” “Maybe you should.” He kissed her neck. “If we both live through this, I say we have celebratory sex every day for a week. Deal?” “Deal.” “You should go before anyone misses you. And Ross,” She put a single finger to his nose, “be a good boy, won’t you?” “Only if you’re a good girl.” He grinned. Maya stepped back and he felt the elementist’s hand on his shoulder again. In a flash of light, they were gone.
****
Tirian was gone for the night. Raythor had managed to replace him through pure stubbornness rather than actual medical skill. He knew more about getting injuries than treating them, after all. Sinclair hadn’t had time to complain. It was a rush of herbs and knives and blood. He didn’t even have time to think that it was Anella he was helping drug or cut open. He was just obeying every command he was given. When they were done and Anella was supposedly stable, Raythor was exhausted. He’d had maybe a flask if water and bread fragments all day and he hadn’t slept in about twenty four hours now. He was used to abusing his body, sure, but all of that combined with the…emotional…strain had left him weak as a baby. “You didn’t do so bad. Not as bad as I thought you would do, anyway.” Sinclair was washing blood off her hands in a little bowl, clutching a rag. “Tirian is a useless hunk of flesh and I didn’t notice the difference anyway.” “Thanks,” Raythor said dryly. “I think whatever shot her poisoned her. She’s full of antitoxin right now, every one I’ve got. We’ll know if she’s going to make it or not soon.” “Seems like a slow working poison.” “Some are just as meant to cause pain as they are to kill. I gave her stuff for those first.” “Thank you.” He didn’t know what else to say. He was just sitting on the edge of the rug, his eyes unfocused and his mind blank. Sinclair was cleaning up now, the little sounds all her jars made clicking back onto the shelves deafening his quiet mind. “What do I do if she dies?” He asked aloud, whispering so she wouldn’t hear. “I don’t know. Dance? Cry? Kill yourself. I really couldn’t say,” Sinclair commented. “I may be going blind but I have ears like a dog.” Kill myself. The words stuck for a minute. No, he told himself firmly. That still wasn’t an option. Not even if Anella died. He hated when the innocent died, but…. “Good news.” “So, your name’s Raythor.” “Yep. Raythor Carpenter.” He was not up for dealing with the Karian baggage right now. Sinclair made a tut-tut noise in her throat. “I don’t understand the names in this ‘new world’. Carpenter makes sense. Means your family are Carpenters. But a lot of them are just two words stuck together- Raythor, Treewatcher, Firestorm. I don’t understand what’s wrong with Johnson.” “Your family was from the sunken cities,” Raythor guessed. “Yes. We’re all English.” Her voice filled with pride. She had an accent like Anella’s, Carinian as he knew it, apparently English to her. It always sounded like every word was important for just being a word, at least to him. “My ancestor was one of the last to leave.” Raythor pictured a stubborn woman who looked like Sinclair, clinging to a wet rock in the ocean, waving away small wooden boats as they circled to rescue her. “Well I guess names are chosen for different reasons here. Markus was talking about that once. It’s not about being the son of John, it’s about what your family believes or represents. ‘Catshadow’ means a family who is literally in the shadow of the great cat, the lion, the symbol of Carina. It means loyalty to the royal family. Our names come from stuff like that.” “Markus talks a lot, doesn’t he?” “So much.” “What does Raythor mean? I know that’s Calthan.” Sinclair didn’t say it with disdain, exactly. More like she just couldn’t understand their arrogance. “Wise Thunder. Kind of like… wise sound?” “Smart aleck,” she said firmly. “Smart aleck,” he agreed. Anella made a little whimpering noise and his whole body tensed up. She started breathing in raspy, jerking movements. Sinclair grabbed a jar and poured the contents down Anella’s throat. She stared at him. “Get your friends. Now.” Raythor took off in his fastest felon run. He was there in the kitchen where he’d left everyone before he had time to think about why he’d been sent. Markus was staring at him, pale faced, clearly expecting to be told Anella was dead. It was then Raythor realized she was dying. He said something- it was gone once it left his lips- and ran back. Sinclair was holding Anella’s limp wrist, her expression serious. The other filed in behind him. He could hear them all breathing hard. Sinclair looked at each of them in turn, her eyes lingering on Raythor’s face. She set down Anella’s arm carefully, like it would break. “I’m sorry.” “What do you mean? You mean she’s dead?” Rose sounded furious. She started to shed hot, angry tears. “Yes,” Sinclair said simply. Blade, Markus, and Dasher stepped forward, disbelieving eyes on Anella. All three had a stream of salt water washing down their faces. Ketra had put an arm around Rose, stern features as comforting as they could be. Gabriel hung back, hands folded, the awkward kind of mournful of not knowing how to feel. The moonlight stretched through the window, pale fingers on Anella. She didn’t glow. Numb, he followed the silver path it made out the window. It was full. His throat dried. It should have set a long time ago. Raythor heard a little gasp of breath and turned his head. Sinclair was backing up fast, face stricken. Anella was breathing. Her eyes were open and she was funneling big gulps of air into her lungs. She lit up again, like someone putting a match to a lantern. Her eyes locked on his, their normal gray-green for a split second before they went silver. They brightened and her hair and clothes floated. Then the moonlight went away, leaving a scared and sickly looking sixteen year old on the bed. “She had no pulse,” Sinclair said incredulously. “She wasn’t breathing. This had never happened before. It can’t happen.” “Full moon,” Markus said, brushing tears away. “Anella?” “Markus….” Her eyes welled. “What happened?” “Eva brought you back.” Markus explained everything that had just happened like it was perfectly normal, his voice as calming as it always was. Anella seemed to be able to accept it. She was breathing normally now and looking settled. “Do you need a hug?” Rose asked. She gripped Raythor’s arm. “Y-yes,” she managed. Rose tossed him at her. For a split second he panicked. Then he met Anella’s eyes again. They melded together like two sticks of melting butter. She had her arms beneath his, holding his back, his fingers were wound through her hair. His sharp knees shoved into the carpet, smarting, and he could feel little wet drops sinking through his tunic, right on the shoulder Anella’s face was pressed into. This was almost like finding out he was innocent all over again. “You only hug me when I’m terrified,” she whispered, lips against his ear. “It’s the only time I have the nerve,” Raythor replied. She laughed the little and he felt the heaviness inside him lift. She was going to be okay this time. “I’m going to bed. Sinclair threw up her hands. “Don’t keep your demon friend up too late; by all means she should need a few days to get the toxin out of her system.” Raythor let Anella go, feeling self-conscious. She took the tea from the bedside table and held it out to him. “What?”
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Post by Markus Everglade on Dec 18, 2013 1:57:45 GMT -5
“Take it. Please? I know you won’t sleep otherwise.” She looked at him pleadingly. He didn’t want to take it. Someone had to say up and make sure that she kept breathing and he was the insomniac here. However that face was hard to refuse after she’d just died and come back. “Take it or we get a shovel,” Rose said. “A shovel?” He raised an eyebrow at her. “What do you want me to call it, a dream stick?” “Rose!” Markus looked appalled. “Do we really need another medical emergency on our hands right now?” Raythor just took the tea. He studied it for a moment, wondering if a sleeping drug meant for someone with a gaping hole in their back would be too much for him, especially on a mostly empty stomach. “I think we should let Anella rest for a few days. Even if… some miracle just happened she was still poisoned and Sinclair thinks she needs to stay here.” “I’m not sure we have that kind of time, Markus,” Ketra said. “Two, three days- that’s a lot of time to loose when every second counts. I recommend we leave in the morning.” “You can’t be serious.” “She just came back to life. I think she can handle walking. Markus?” “Markus….” “How do you feel, Anella?” Markus asked. “I’m f-fine,” Anella promised. She tried getting up and she winced, biting down hard on her lip. “I can w-walk or r-ride j-just f-fine.” Markus gently guided her back onto the bed. “Ketra, Raythor, you both have a point. Kenetari told me herself that she’s about ready to attack, but she’s not the most reliable source. On the other hand, she might be playing a game but as the pawns set up to die we have to take every threat she gives us seriously. We’ll leave in the morning, but Raythor stays here with Anella.” Raythor and Ketra opened their mouths and he cut them off. “We’ll be back as soon as we’ve seen King Ian. It will just be a few days; his castle isn’t far from the border. Hopefully by then Anella will be able to walk without pain.” “Why me?” Raythor asked. “I don’t think I’m strong enough for this. What if Kenetari or one of her men find us here alone?” “Then you’ll fight with every last breath to protect her. But I don’t think she’ll come here.” “I t-trust you.” Anella said with a faint smile. Raythor downed the tea, setting the cup on the table. “I guess this is a fair compromise.” “Good show.” Rose applauded sarcastically. “Quite.” He smirked at her. “Dear God, the two of you,” Ketra sighed. She surveyed the room, hand on her hip. “We may as well sleep here.” “Yeah. I don’t want to search this house for rooms.” Rose’s nose wrinkled. Even when she’d been pretending to be a maid, she’d showed her vanity like that: she was too good to be in this house, these people were poor and untitled. She probably thought stuff like that all the time. No wonder Rose found him so grating; he had absolutely no money to his name. It explained why she’d pretty much screamed when she found out he had noble blood. Raythor felt his head start to fog. That was fine. He drank fairly heavily, in binges, and could usually handle it. He was, predictably, more of a depressed drunk than anything else. He didn’t talk more but he got stupidly brave if anyone talked to him. Okay, this wasn’t good. His mind was already dissecting how he would react to getting drunk on pain medicine tea. He sat down on one of the beds on the left wall, pretty much against his will. Raythor got once glance at Anella, taking in that she was alive, before he started blanking out.
****
“General Porthe?” David pulled his horse to a stop. The tall brunet reappeared from the shadowed forest; face pulled back in the same pained expression it had been in all week. “You doing okay, sir?”
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Post by Markus Everglade on Dec 18, 2013 2:01:04 GMT -5
“Of course.” Davon looked at him as though he were insane, a look he gave Queen Rea quite often. “Keep the men moving, Catshadow.” “Of course,” David echoed. The general pushed forward again. “The same day he got the sour face, my mark almost died,” Jason commented. He had borrowed a big, black horse that was nearly as dour as he was. The two of them together had kept David pretty well amused the entire trip. “I think she might have died.” “You think?” David actually started. “What do you mean? You always know when someone kicks it.” “I saw her stop breathing but she didn’t feel… gone. It’s hard to explain. That part always happens, the feeling that the person is lost. That didn’t happen this time.” “Maybe she got revived by a healer. What does this have to do with General Porthe?” “We’re tracing the prince and his group’s footsteps. Somebody shot her. Where has he been going?” “That’s ridiculous,” David scoffed. “You’ve been having too many death visions to think straight.” “You might be right. I’ve actually started feeling bad about-” “No.” “I know she’s horrible but she’s my sister.” “Horrible is an understatement. And not by blood anyway, right?” David frowned at Jason. “I don’t know. I still kind of believe she’s my bastard sister.” “Whatever she is to she’s a demon who deserves to die.” “I suppose….” “Don’t you go soft on me, Jayce.” “I’m not. I promise I’m not.” Jason let out a long sigh. He already had. David swore in his head. “David?” “Yeah?” He tried not to glare. “You did all this crazy stuff, dangerous stuff. What if my sister found out, what if she killed Kira or you because of it?” “I bet on Lydrion stopping Kenetari from killing Kira, no matter what. If I died, it would be in the line of duty.” “Elite Knight to the end.” “Until my last breath.” “My family tends to have that same view.” “Especially your sister.” “What do you think she is to me?” “I think she’s poison, pure and simple. Poison to all of us.”
Chapter Thirty
Prince Caleb
“Why are there no guards? This is the front gate, isn’t it?” Rose peered inside the slightly opened gate. “Holy. Shit.” “What?” Markus peered over her shoulder and froze. Rose reached down and grabbed his hand, trying to keep down the bile in her throat. The giant wooden gate at the center of the thick stone walls, meant to keep out any threats to the royal family, now held in dozens and dozens of dead Lainan soldiers. Bodies lay in the courtyard, up the steps to the front door, leaning out of windows and sprawled along the wall. There were low, haunting moans coming from the dying men and Rose covered her ears to try and block them out, her eyes shut tight. “Dasher, Gabriel, the three of us are going to try and help the survivors. Ketra, Blade, Rose go further into the castle. Everyone keep your weapons out or as handy as you can. I don’t think the… fighting is still going on but it doesn’t hurt to be safe,” Markus said. He slipped his flask from his belt, saying something that could have been a prayer under his breath, and started toward a fallen soldier. Rose felt the safety of his hand in hers leave with a sinking heart. Ketra and Blade started up the stairs and she followed after, throat constricting. What if this was her kingdom? What if her little brother was probably dead and all her country’s strongest soldiers had been slain? This whole thing was closing in around her like a vise, putting everyone she had ever cared about in danger. This castle had nothing in it but bodies. The scars of battle clung to what had once been the home of probably over a hundred people, tarnishing all in it that had once been beautiful. Something moved and she flinched, drawing her sword. A man stared up at her, his hand clawing at the remains of a tapestry, living a few seconds longer before the light left his eyes. “Lakita of the Stars,” Blade breathed. Rose turned her head to see what he was seeing as slowly as she could. Then she dropped to her knees and threw up. The royal family sat in their thrones, like they were still alive, throats slit ear to ear. It was clear that Prince Caleb had been dead for several days longer than the others and the smell of him pushed into her nose. Rose was crying and shaking and, somewhere in the back of her mind, she was screaming something. She had no idea what the fuck it was but the noise was piercing her ears. “Rose.” Hands closed around her shoulders. “Rose, no one’s going to hurt you. You’re safe, it’s okay.” “It’s not okay. It’s not okay.” Rose shook her head. “What… what are we Markus? What the hell are we trying to prove?” “We’re trying to stop her.” Markus pulled her to her feet and started steering her out of the throne room. “We’ve got to make sure she can’t hurt anyone else like this.” “No… no… not the ROE, royalty. We sit there on our thrones and we do the best we can or we do what we want and all because we were born to be who we are. If a peasant fucks up, even if a minor noble or a knight fucks up, that’s okay. They get a second chance. If we fuck up people get angry. They get so angry they can follow a madwoman. They can do something like this and there isn’t shit we can do to stop it. I knew of them, they were good people, Markus. My sister was supposed to marry Caleb, what am I supposed to say to her?” “Rose.” Markus stopped her, made her meet his eyes. “This isn’t going to happen to our kingdoms or our families. King Ian was seen as weak by his people for a very long time and he did nothing to change that. He just sat on his throne taking the gifts of this job and not the responsibilities. Your father isn’t like that, my father isn’t. When you’re responsible for people’s lives like that you have to do everything in your power to make them happy. I know we weren’t chosen through any merit but for our blood- but we can make ourselves have the merits that the people want and that they need. Make the best choices possible for them and not just for ourselves. Ian never did that, maybe Caleb could have. This is a tragedy, Rose, but it won’t be our fates.” “I… I didn’t do that. I didn’t marry you.” Rose felt herself panic. Markus shook his head. “No one is going to kill you for that. If you had we’d be in a full scale war right now and a lot more people would be dead.” “Markus, there appear to be more survivors in the dungeon. If we are to save them we need all the healers we can manage,” Blade said. “Of course. Ketra, could you-” “No, Markus. I want to stay with you.” Rose took his hand again, that little measure of safety from before returning to her body. “Okay.” He smiled and they went after Blade. They went down a set of stairs that deeply reminded her of the incident at the Purple Rose, and into a dungeon that could have been its twin. She shivered, Markus held her hand tighter. “Markus.” Something about that voice was familiar, but she couldn’t see much of the face at the door. “Markus Everglade.” “Yes. We’re here to get you out of here, is anyone else alive in there?” “A few of my men survived that slaughter, yes.” “I have the lock.” Blade said. His eyes lit up and it melted into what looked like liquid shadow. General Vyncent stepped out of the cell, several men behind him. “Thank you all. I… have to ask, is my king…?” “I’m sorry, sir.” Markus held out the rusted crown. Rose realized he’d had it the whole time, that’d he’d been clutching it this entire time. She saw that his palm had been torn open when he let the crown go. Rose would be worried about him getting some sort of an infection but he apparently didn’t get sick. Physically, they would both be okay. “They were dead when we arrived.” “Yes.” Vyncent looked very solemn. “Did you find my daughter’s body?” “Your daughter?” Markus looked confused. Rose’s heart clenched. Markus didn’t know who this was. “Elaura. Is she… is she dead too?” “Elaura?” Markus’s composed expression fell away. “Elaura… Glasswater?” “Yes. I told her to run when her arm was injured but….” “But she’s so stubborn.” “My men and I will search the castle. I’d be obliged if you and your unit would see if she did run.” “Yes. Yes, of course.” “It’s alright, Markus.” Rose pulled him back up the stairs. He didn’t answer, so she kept pulling him until they were outside the castle, outside that horrible wall. She felt clean, untainted air fill her lungs and she counted her small blessings. Rose looked back at Markus, who still seemed relatively blank, and stared ahead trying to figure out where someone would run to. “She probably went back towards Vyncent’s castle. They were staying there. Do you know what direction that is, roughly?” “Roughly.” They went behind the castle and started walking. “Laura! Ross! Kylara!” Slowly, Markus’s voice joined hers screaming names. She got as shrill as she could, throat already aching after a few repetitions. It didn’t matter. She had to scream until one of them heard, until her voice crossed their barren wasteland of a country and find someone who could get that look off Markus’s face. “Rose?” Ross appeared over the hill, supporting Laura. Both of them were beat to all hell but alive. “What are you doing here…? Markus!” Rose beamed. “Blue, you came!” “You’re alive!” Markus returned. “I’ll tell Vyncent.” Rose squeezed his hand and let go, turning away. No, she hadn’t married Markus, but not because it was best for her country, but because he could never care for her the way he did for the two of them. Trying to make him would have been the cruelest thing she ever could have done.
****
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Post by Markus Everglade on Dec 18, 2013 2:02:31 GMT -5
“Are your friends even coming back for you?” Sinclair asked. She’d become a fraction less harsh towards Anella and Raythor since they’d been stranded here, but Anella suspected that was Raythor’s doing. Tirian hadn’t returned, he was apparently on a run to get more of the herbs that had been used up in Anella’s treatment and Raythor had stepped in to take his place. It was probably for the best that Sinclair hadn’t been too busy; Raythor wasn’t a healer, after all. He just seemed very good at following the master healer’s orders. “It sure seems like it’s been more than a ‘few days’.” “Markus is an optimist. I doubt he figured in the return journey,” Raythor said. He started replacing the little containers of herbs on the shelf, which he seemed to have memorized, from when Sinclair had used them to help someone with a rather disgusting infected foot. Anella tried not to remember what it had looked like. “That guy going to be back? I think you need more of this one.” Raythor flicked a container. “Probably.” Sinclair nodded. “Tirian is getting more of everything. Well, he better for, for taking this damn long.” She glanced at Anella, who looked down instantly. “Why don’t you walk demon girl? If you’re going to ride into the sunset with Prince Markus you’re both going to need strong legs. Take that dog of yours with you.” “Sure.” He slid the last container into place and moved toward Anella. “Can you get up?” “Y-yes.” She proceeded to do so, with only a little wincing. She was pathetically proud of that. Raythor had pretty much had to lift her out of the bed before. He went to support her anyway, promising Sinclair not to be gone too long, and guided her out of the room. “Have y-you thought about c-coming back to work here?” “Huh?” He blinked. “Well, you s-seem kind of g-good at it. I b-bet she w-would hire you.” “I didn’t think about that. I honestly have no idea what I’m going to do after all this.” “Oh.” Anella swallowed. What if just disappeared, like he had used to? What if she never saw him again? “You okay?” “Y-yes.” “I’m really sorry you got shot. That none of us saw this coming.” Raythor glanced down at the dog. “One of us should have.” “You all saved me. You d-don’t have to feel g-guilty. Especially you, R-Raythor. You h-helped with m-my back and you carried m-me and….” She bit her lip, cutting off. Anella raised her eyes to see he was smiling, though he probably didn’t know it. “You aren’t going to d-disappear again, are y-you?” “No. Not this time, I promise.” He guided her around a patch of ice. “All of you are stuck with me. Sorry about that.” “Why would I b-be sad about having you around? Y-you’re one of my best friends.” “I am?” She heard him swallow. “Really?” “Well you never want t-to talk about y-your hair or cute boys or c-clothes. Believe m-me, that is v-very refreshing w-where I c-come from.” He laughed. “Well, I think why I stray away from those topics should be sort of obvious. I mean, look at me- clearly my hair and clothes are pretty far from my top priorities. And the only boys I get close to are the one’s I’m stealing from.” “You d-do seem to get along better with women,” Anella said, without thinking. “Huh… wow, you might be right about that. I’m as bad as Ross. Except for that whole being a virgin thing, I’m one of those.” Anella blushed. He shook his head. “Sorry, that was probably more than you needed to know. You seem to be walking much better. You know, by way of an awkward subject change.” “I feel m-much better, t-thanks to you helping me.” “I’d give the credit mostly to Sinclair.” He looked out the window and started to lead her back. “And uh… you’re one of my best friends too. I know the competition isn’t actually that stiff, because I have like three friends but… you are important to me.” Anella smiled. “Thank you.” They walked in silence for a moment. “R-Raythor?” “Yes?” “D-do you… want t-to t-talk about w-what happened?” “Could you be more specific?” “T-the night under t-the m-moon.” “Oh.” Raythor stopped walking. “What… what about it?” The sun was just beginning to set outside, and the orange light spilled in through the many windowed long hallway. The moonlight had saved her life but she still didn’t know whether to regard it as entirely benevolent or not. Whatever was causing it- Eva, some sick elementist, something she couldn’t even imagine- had a very clear plan for her and that plan very obviously didn’t involve Raythor. After everything the two of them had been through together, with and without the Royalty of Everglade, made Anella want to disagree with it already. Raythor had never deliberately said or done anything to hurt her and, if he knew that he had her heart, he would never break it. “Do you… k-know w-why you could h-hear it too?” “I assume because I was such a major component of those crazy visions. Look, Anella, I know they were… disturbing but they weren’t real. I don’t know what they were but that stuff is never going to happen and we shouldn’t let what we saw bother us. We’re friends. We’re not about to go falling in love.” This was meant to be comforting. Really, it should have been, so she didn’t know why her throat had to constrict like that. “R-right. You’re r-right; I should just forget it happened. H-hopefully it won’t h-happen again a-and i-if it does, we’ll f-figure something o-out.” “Yeah. Dash can do something, maybe. She’s magic or whatever.” “Or whatever?” Anella smiled. “She’s furry.” He shrugged, smiling back. “You kind of are too, actually.” Raythor flicked her hair. “It’s like you have spaniel ears.” “Ah, so that’s why you talk to me. You’re a dog person and I have spaniel ear hair.” “That’s pretty much the size of it, yes.” Anella tilted her head. It was just something she did naturally, but it seemed to make him smile every time she did it. It didn’t fail this time. “Maybe I’ll start wearing pigtails.” “I’m not sure I could handle it, it would be way too cute… I just said that out loud.” She blushed. Wait until this crush goes away, wait it out like all the others. He just flat out told you he wasn’t interested- well, sort of. There was still no reason to read into anything he was saying. It wasn’t like he was flirting, Raythor didn’t flirt. The idea was kind of funny, actually. “You’re n-not making me want to do it less.” “You know, I have that effect on people.” He stopped before the door back into Sinclair’s healing chamber. “Maybe I could ask her for a job. Then I’d be somewhere everyone could find me.” “I’d like that. I think we all would.” “Carpenter, we’ve got another case in here. Move your skinny butt!” Sinclair barked. “Be right there!” “Are you going back to Carpenter?” Anella asked. “Call me what you will. Just lie in front of her.” “So this is your helper, is it?” Kenetari smiled at both of them, perched on the edge of one of the beds. Sinclair was quite obliviously wrapping her injured arm. “A little younger than the last one.” “He’s just covering until that girlie gets better and Tirian gets back,” Sinclair told her dismissively. “Right, Carpenter?” Anella and Raythor just stared at her with disbelief. They were literally in the middle of nowhere, how had she found them? How had she even known to look here? Had Kenetari been the one to have her shot and, if so, why had she waited this long to make sure Anella was really dead? She sure didn’t seem surprised to see either of them alive. “Right,” Raythor said, managing to keep his voice steady. “I feel like you’re going to need a lot of pain killers, Miss…?” “Karian. Vera Karian.” The smile focused on him. Anella felt her fist clench. “I got a little roughed up recently and I knew the famous Sinclair could help.” “Really? And however did you hear of her?” “I am Lainan nobility. We always know the best ways to take care of ourselves.” “Carpenter, I’m going to go get something from the closet. Keep an eye on lady dead things for me.” Sinclair started toward the door. They all stayed frozen, staring at each other, until the door closed behind the old woman. “What the fuck do you want now?” Raythor asked. “I’m not a fraction less broken than when you last saw me.” “I’m not interested much in killing you right now. I just want to see if correctly did my job nine years ago.” “Obviously you messed up a little bit because I’m still breathing.” “They deserved to die,” Kenetari said. Her voice got higher, lighter. It sounded like it couldn’t possibly be coming from her throat, nothing that sweet ever could be. “I did what I had to, and so did you.” “I’m not saying they didn’t deserve to die,” a heavily sarcastic but also heavily female voice responded from Raythor’s mouth. “I’m saying they didn’t deserve to be murdered and that I don’t deserve to be rotting in jail for what you did.” “Excellent.” She stood, stepping forward and patting his cheek. “See you another time.” Kenetari raised her hand and disappeared. “I really need a vacation from being me,” Raythor said. At least his voice was his again. “I mean, dear God what was that? I am clearly not a girl; I should not be able to sound like that. Ever.” “It was… p-probably magic?” Anella tried. He just looked at her. “M-maybe you h-have… m-mimicking skills. R-really, really g-good o-ones. You n-never knew about.” “You’re humoring me, aren’t you?” “Y-yes.” “Where did she go?” Sinclair squinted in at them. “Believe me, I wish I knew,” Raythor said. Anella wished she would never know where Kenetari was again.
****
“My father is staying in King Ian’s castle for the night,” Laura said faintly. Markus had healed her arm almost instantly after he and Rose had found her and Ross, but somehow it still throbbed. Throbbed with the reminder that she’d run away. True, Ross had dragged her and she had been too weak to really fight him but that didn’t change the fact she’d just left her blood father behind to die. Nothing would ever change what had happened today. “One of the Whitestars has to be crowned here, with a new royal council in attendance, to officially become king or queen. He’s going to try and make sure that doesn’t happen. It’s inevitable, though. Sabbath Whitestar is next in line to the throne and King Ian has already more than lost the war.” “Are there any loyalists left?” Markus attempted. “Not to the King.” “But to her father,” Ross said. He popped up between them. “There are probably going to be some scared people gathering at his castle by the time we get back there. We still have a chance. A slim, pathetic little chance. Isn’t that great?” “It’s the best news I’ve heard all day,” Markus returned. It being Markus, Laura took a moment to consider if he was sincere or not. It might actually be true. “It’s about a two days journey from here. It will probably be three, because we are so stopping early tonight. The Royalty of Everglade leaves now and then we send Dasher back to get Anella and Raythor when we reach Vyncent’s castle. This plan is just falling into place.” Ross pressed his hands together. “I’ll go get everyone.” “You do that.” Laura rolled her eyes. “There isn’t a lot that makes that guy frown.” Markus shook his head. “Indeed. Thank God he’s going to be out of our hair for a while.” “It’s been a long trip here for you, hasn’t it?” He smiled. It wasn’t as fake as his diplomatic one, but it was strained. She dropped her eyes. “Yes. A lot has happened since I met my father. I imagine your journey hasn’t exactly been easy either.” “Easy wouldn’t be the word I’d use, no, but we all got through it alive.” “That’s something. You’re not that much less positive than Ross, you know.”
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Post by Markus Everglade on Dec 18, 2013 2:05:50 GMT -5
“No one’s quite up to his level. I’m… sorry I’m not here with any good news. I wanted to be.” “I think your father actually consenting to even the idea of the two of us marrying is something.” She managed a smile that she hoped was a little less worn that his own. “I always thought it would make him violently ill.” “It only doesn’t because allying ourselves with the new Laina is beneficial to Everglade. I’m not entirely sure the new Laina will be beneficial for Laina but I guess my father doesn’t really see that as his problem.” “Deal with the devil.” It was a wry smile now. “Not if we make your father king.” “If we don’t we’re all quite likely to die so I suppose that’s our only option no matter what we want.” “Probably.” He reached down and took hold of her hand. “I’m sorry about your mother.” “It’s fine. Just another reason to take down Kenetari.” She looked up at him. She wanted something to feel good again, wanted to just give in and be with him. Laura chewed her lip. Statistically, they were going to die or, at the very least, fail miserable, if not literally than morally. “Markus… I love you.” “I love you too.” “Would you want to court me, whether or not this works?” “Yes, it’s what I want but would you be able to live with that, really? Because I won’t touch you if it’s just going to make you feel guilty and angry-” She covered his mouth with her fingers. “You’ve never made me feel that way. I mean, at this rate, neither of us will live four more years. I don’t feel the reluctance I did in Imperia.” “So this is kind of a ‘we’re going to die, why the heck not’?” Her fingers brushed his teeth. “You could put it like that.” “I only want to be with you for the right reasons.” “Is wanting to feel some sort of happiness a substantial enough reason?” Markus’s expression changed at that. “Yes.” He stroked her cheek. “But we’ll find a way to do this right. Without making any deals with any devils. I promise you.” “You’re right. We should go help Ross.”
****
“Okay, Markus, desperate angry people. It is time for the heroic speech of the decade; I hope you were born ready.” Ross said. Markus made a face. He, Laura, Ross, Ketra, Rose, Gabriel, Dasher and Blade had managed the journey in less than three days and now, as the afternoon wore on, they stood before Vyncent’s castle. Markus was half afraid when he saw the gate slightly opened, but it was being opened for them. He supposed they were an eye-catching group, even from a distance. Two figures stepped out. The male figure took one look at Markus and beamed, darting forward. The rest of the group flinched but he didn’t react to Blade at all. He just reached up a hand and Markus, blinking, took it. The blond boy shook it vigorously. “This is an honor, Prince Markus. We’ve all been waiting for you and… I get ahead of myself. My name is Tyligo, servant to General Vyncent. I know this is not a customary way to greet a noble but we at General Vyncent’s castle have been rather involved in Lady Elaura’s story since her birth and to see that her prince has indeed come….” Tyligo let out a dreamy breath. “It’s a true miracle.” Markus flushed, not exactly sure what to say to that. “Ty, do we have any refugees here?” Laura asked sharply. She didn’t look his way. They’d been fine the last few days but that was probably now how Laura wanted to be reminded that they weren’t together. “My father is at Whitestar castle burying the king and his family. He is willing to fight for the memory of the rightful king. Powerful or not the Whitestars do not deserve that crown and I need every sword I can get on his side.” “Never mind, Markus. Laura has this one,” Ross said. Markus smiled. “Why, of course my lady!” Tyligo clapped his hands. “Every person here would gladly fight for General Glasswater! They came expecting to.”
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Post by Markus Everglade on Dec 18, 2013 2:07:49 GMT -5
“They did?” She looked at the two boys. “Welcome to Laina,” Ross said. “The general’s supporters are very committed.” Tyligo nodded. “We’ve all been training as best I can. Tonight, I recommend you rest but tomorrow you and your friends are welcome to join us.” “Of course.” Laura nodded back. It only took them about a half an hour to get settled. Since the castle was now so crowded, they’d all taken roommates again and, again, Markus was sharing with Ross. He was happy about that, he’d missed both his friends terribly and with the pace they’d kept up getting here there hadn’t been as much time to talk as he would of liked. Sure, Ross was flirting with the maid straightening the room for them but that was about to be expected. He also watched her butt as she left, equally expected. “You know, I was never that big on Lainan women, they’re probably sixth on my list because they are just too pale. It’s like a ghost thing. Laura makes it work, probably because she doesn’t have those brown nearly black dead person eyes everyone else in this country has. Now I’m reconsidering. The ghost thing is kind of… alluring and those eyes are really starting to do something for me.” Ross leaned back on his bed. “I’m really not sure what to say to that, Ross,” Markus said. “This is why I get all the ladies, Markus. Because I take time to appreciate each and every one of them individually.” “I thought it was your Carinian accent. Gladian girls really love Carinian accents. “I’m not saying that isn’t a factor. You know what else I do?” “Is it going to make me nauseous?” “I would never walk away from someone who genuinely loves me and who I love in return. That’s just crazy, Markus.” “Ross-” “No. You made her cry.” “What?” “Yeah, you heard me Blue. You made her cry.” “What? But she’s the one who broke up with me, that makes no sense.” “Did she want to?” “No.” “So there you go!” “What are you really trying to say here?” Markus crossed his arms. There was no point not listening to him when he was like this, he would just keep talking. “I’m trying to say that, no matter how this nightmare turns out, you’re probably going to end up with a way to marry Laura. So stop torturing yourself like a proper Prince Charming with your own virtues go in there and do everything but impregnate her. Because if you do that, you’re screwed.” “Ross!” “Go.” Ross stood up dramatically and pointed at the door. Markus waited, giving him an are-you-really-doing-this-look. The blond didn’t budge. He sighed and stepped outside to humor Ross. Then his feet just kind of kept moving. Steered him down the hall and into the half they’d filled with women. Some watched him as he passed, mostly curious, and one actually looked a little disappointed when he stood before Laura’s door.
Laura, reclined on her bed, was embroidering a pillow case, the one intended for Markus’s wedding, with tiny roses. Her eyes kept falling on the completely unsuitable gift Tyligo and Hydria had collaborated on for what they felt was her very impending wedding. She could really imagine Tyligo sewing and it was obvious a lot of sewing had been required for that dress. It was just so… elaborate, and vibrant garnet red with some sort of girly matching head thing. She couldn’t ever imagine wearing it and it gave her a little bit of a shiver to think that Tyligo and Hydria could. The knock on the door made her start. She got up, deciding it must be one of the brother sister pair, or both of them, asking if she’d tried on the dress yet, which was a futile hope on their part. She thoughtlessly pulled the door open. “Laura,” Markus said faintly. “Yes?” She managed to remain calm. “Hi.” She rolled her eyes. “Come in. Those girls will keep staring at you otherwise.” He did and she closed the door behind him. “What’s up? Is there something we need to talk about?” “Yes. About what you asked me before… about being together… if you still want that I want that too.” “What?” “Something good has to come out of all this. If it’s us that would kind of make my life.” Laura felt herself smile. She caressed his cheek. Markus put a hand on her hip, as though they were going to dance, and brushed his fingers along her jaw before she settled them behind her neck. She spread his fingers on his chest and they stood, just enjoying each other’s touch for a moment. Laura couldn’t believe it, couldn’t believe she was allowed to feel like this, to touch him like this. Markus lowered his head but didn’t come any further. She pressed her lips to his carefully, still a little scared to give into what she really felt for him. He responded but didn’t push. She could feel the desire in his kiss all the same. It rose up in her, boiling her skin starting where their mouths touched and spreading through her body. She let go, kissing him and kissing him and kissing him. Markus’s back was pushed into the wall and he smiled against her lips, pulling her closer. When they finally pulled apart they just stood there, staring at each other. “I know you’re never going to wear it, but you would look really nice in that dress,” Markus said. “Maybe I’ll wear it for you.” Laura kissed him again, working his lips open. He seemed to like that quite a bit. “Are you flirting with me, Markus?” She ran a hand through his hair. “Shouldn’t I flirt with my girlfriend?” She had to kiss him again after that too. Everything with Markus felt so natural, even with her whole world falling apart around her. What she was doing and who she was doing it with sunk in fully and she found herself clinging to him tightly. He did the same. “I know. This is weird, but good weird.” “Very good weird,” Laura agreed. “We grew up together but….” “But,” Markus agreed. He smiled at her, not saying anything else. He didn’t need to, really. “You really do want to marry me, don’t you?” “The second Rose let me free, yes.” Markus put his forehead on her shoulder. “I love you.” She stroked his hair. His crown was missing. She hadn’t noticed that before. He’d always hated it because he thought it was just a little too girly. He was particularly scatter brained about things he didn’t like. Laura drew his face to hers, kissing him tenderly. Markus had always tried to be perfect but without his silly, endearing faults he wouldn’t be him. She wouldn’t be in love with him.
Sinclair had asked to come to Raythor and Anella’s wedding when it happened. If he wasn’t so practiced at keeping a straight face he would have given something away for sure. He’d patiently explained that he and Anella were just friends, to which Sinclair had declared “Bullshit” and “For now”. She’d then explained to him that “meathead boys” didn’t do that much for girls they weren’t related to unless they were interested in them romantically and that, frankly, from what Sinclair had seen Raythor’s heart was not only on his sleeve but it was bleeding from every pore for Anella Nightheart. Raythor didn’t want that to be true. If it was, that would mean that he’d fallen in love and that was not good. Even without the “hurting people he loved” thing hanging over his head, it still wasn’t good. To the world, he was still the Karian Killer and he always would be. They had no way to prove Kenetari was his sister and he had no right to involve anyone else in his life while she was around to hurt them. Even if she did like him back, that was. There was no reason for her to, that was for sure. On top of that little debacle, there was whatever had happened with Kenetari and his sudden… girl voice… and the whispering in his and Anella’s heads, that was probably triggered by his feelings for her (oh God, feelings?) and the war coming on, where he was going to have to fight like he was some sort of knight and not just a thief. His life wasn’t what it had been months ago. It was still probably ten times better than it had been.
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Post by Markus Everglade on Dec 18, 2013 2:09:08 GMT -5
“You going to actually sleep tonight?” Sinclair peered out into the hallway, where Raythor had been pacing. “Girlie isn’t even here anymore. She got magicked away. Do you really and have to pace and worry about her right now? She’s in a castle with a number of armed men.” “Yeah, I know.” Raythor sighed. “I’m just an insomniac; it’s got nothing to do with Anella.” “Uh huh.” Sinclair rolled her eyes. “Do what you want, Carpenter.” There was a flash of light and Juliet stood there in her human form. Raythor and Sinclair both jumped. “Hey Ray. Moving Anella and Thunder didn’t wear me out as much as I thought it would. Would you like to go tonight?” “Oh.” Raythor looked at Sinclair. “Yeah, might as well.” “Go on. You’ll feel better when you’re back with that girlie of yours.” Sinclair waved him away. “Thank you again,” he said. Sinclair nodded. Juliet put her hand on his shoulder and they both disappeared. This time, he managed to keep his legs when they landed. “You alright? You don’t seem so good at teleporting,” she teased. “I’m fine. I’ve got my sea legs now, apparently.” He yawned. “Who am I stuck with tonight?” “Just Blade and Thunder. You should be able to handle that.” “I don’t know, Thunder’s probably going to talk all night. That dog just never shuts up.” “You’re incorrigible.” She shook her head. “Care to take a walk with me?” “Oh, sure. Where’s the dog?” “With Anella, of course.” “Ah, of course, his true love.” “I hear you liked being a healing assistant.” He dropped his bag in the hallway and they walked along chatting about what had happened while they were apart. Raythor had to admit, even with his sister visiting, her journey had been a lot more traumatizing than his. That kind of made him smile. It didn’t really happen often. “Oh, hello Anella,” Juliet said brightly. Raythor realized that this was quite planned. Juliet patted his shoulder. “I’ll see you later. “Hey Anella,” Raythor said to his shoes. Juliet was going to get it later. “Hello.” He could see the glow reflected off Anella’s skin. “Dione’s here too.” “Oh joy.” “Stuff it Calthan,” Dione said. “Don’t think I’m happy to see you either. James is just pissing me off lately and since Blue decided none us should go out without a partner I’m out here with the silver princess on her little walk. Got it?” “Redheads are never happy to see me. By the way is James your husband…fiancé…boyfriend…perpetual one night stand…?” “Raythor!’ Anella laughed. “What? I really want to know.” Dione gripped the front of Raythor’s tunic. He was quite familiar with this threat. “Husband. And you’re an wonderful person, you know that?” “I’ve been told.” “Don’t talk to him like that,” Anella snapped. “Let him go. Now.” “You don’t like me touching him, do you?” Dione latched on to that. Raythor swore in his head. Not responding to Dione or using short sentences was the best way to deal with someone like her. He’d messed that one up and now Anella, in her altered state, had focused all of her volatile attention on Dione. When Dione was as angry as a wet cat. Wonderful. “Whether I do or do not is none of your business.” Anella’s voice was calm now. She was… indescribable; a cold goddess with her wrath shimmering around her. “You just made it my business.” Dione was angry, but it wasn’t blind rage. She was focusing it and that was scarier by far. “Hey.” Raythor held up his flat, non-threatening palms. “I’m sorry. That was callus of me.” “It’s not about you anymore, Calthan.” “I was kind of afraid you’d say that.” “Of course you were, you pasty little coward.” “What does that make you for picking on him instead of me?” Anella took a step closer. Raythor swallowed. “Smart because I’ve got you by the tail,” Dione taunted. “Look at him- he’ll bolt the second you think he’s committed to anything. You are such a fool for like him, you know that?” “Please.” Raythor rolled his eyes. “Think she doesn’t, Calthan?” “Pretty sure I’m right as often as I run, Carinian.” Dione shoved him back until his head hit a tree. It hit one of his relatively fresh bruises and, disoriented, he didn’t even respond. Her face drew close to his, her breath hot. “You may be able to get away with mocking my relationship, bastard , but not with saying my country’s name like it’s as filthy as yours.” “Gonna hit me?” Raythor raised his eyebrow. So what if she did? Pain wasn’t exactly a big deal. “No. I’m going to go for your weak spot.” To his infinite surprise, she didn’t violently jerk her knee up. Instead, she shoved her mouth against his until he could taste the alcohol on her breath. He struggled, finally getting free and pulling his flask from his belt to wash his mouth out. “Was that necessary?” Anella’s fist stopped Dione from answering. Raythor stared at him, expression unchanging. The flask hit the snow. Anella smiled at him in a way that made his insides squirm before turning her attention back to Dione. “Want more?” Dione rubbed her face and grinned. “That was nice, princess. Really.” “Thank you,” Anella returned. She took a step closer. “You know I could stay here and fight you but I’ve got a better idea.” Dione punched Raythor in the guy. He doubled over and Anella moved to help him, hand steadying his back. When he stood again, Dione was already gone. They were alone. “Are you alright?” Her hand stayed on his back. “Yeah, I’m good. I get hit a lot.” He managed a smile. He was nervous as hell, especially since this wasn’t really Anella. “I can’t believe you hit her, though.” “Well you provoked her. I did what I had to.” “I’m not good with people.” “I like you.” “Thanks. But you are a masochist, remember?” “I remember.” She smoothed his hair behind his ear. Raythor couldn’t bring himself to push her away, even though he knew he should. He was also still smiling and he couldn’t stop himself from doing that either. “But my memory isn’t as amazing as yours.” “How did you…?” Nerves gave way to surprise. “I have spent a lot of time with you, you know. How exactly does it work, your memory?” “I just… see things and remember them. My verbal memory is not that great but my eyes save images. I don’t know if that makes sense.” “I think it does.” Anella tilted her head. “I’ll have to work it out.” “Tell me when you do. I’ve been trying all my life.” “How did you hear my whispers?” She came even closer. Raythor watched her eyes change and knew he wasn’t really speaking to Anella Nightheart any longer. He also didn’t know who or what was inside her head. If it was a part of her, if it was some magical force. He remembering wondering the same thing about his sister before he lost his memories. “I don’t know. It was just in my head.” “I didn’t know anyone else could hear it.” “Hope that makes you feel a little less crazy,” he teased. Even if she was different this was still her body. Her face, her expressions. Nothing was going to happen, right? She laughed. “A little, Raythor. We never really… figured out what happened that night, you know.” He’d really been hoping she wouldn’t bring this up again. Raythor reached behind him, picking at the bark of the tree he’d been shoved into. The way he’d looked in those… visions, she way she had… Raythor knew what it was to feel hopeless but he didn’t think he’d ever been that lost, knew Anella never been that angry and resentful. Talking about it again would make it more real and that was the last thing he wanted. “Yeah,” Raythor said, finally. “That’s true.” “What do you think it meant?” Her wide, silver eyes started to study him. “Someone doesn’t want you to desperately kiss me in a stairwell?” “You’re nervous, aren’t you?” She put her hands on his shoulder, fingers squeezing. “You do tend to get more sarcastic when you are.” He blanched a bit at that. He didn’t really like that he could read him so well. “I think the Moonlady you’re descended from is still around and she thinks you have a thing for me or vice versa but, again, it’s no big deal. We’re friends.” Her eyes got brighter and a smile distinctly not hers graced her face. “Really?” She kissed his cheek, the corner of her mouth just brushing his. If he just moved his face a little… he backed up, driving the bark of the tree into his body. “Guess you didn’t like that much, huh?” She put her arms around his neck. He tried to stay calm. “I care about the Anella I know.” He met her eyes. The silver faded and she was staring at him with confusion. Her cheeks colored and she jerked back. “W-what h-happened? I’m s-sorry!” She covered her face. Raythor crossed his arms. “A bit of um… silver problems.” “Oh.” He could only guess at her expression. “A-again.” “Yeah.” “D-did w-we-?” “Almost, but no.” He chewed the corner of his mouth unconsciously. “W-we almost k-kissed? Her face was so red he could see it in the darkness. “The m-moon i-is s-still o-out, w-why did I…?” “I don’t know.” For the first time, he considered that. Nothing he came up with made sense. “Maybe it only lasts so long. Yeah, let’s go with that. We should go in.” “Y-yes.” She nodded her agreement. Raythor let her go first, Thunder trotting after them in dead silence. The dog hadn’t made a sound the whole time. Anella looked back at him; face still partially covered, when they were safe again. Raythor prepared to say something placating, not really any ideas offhand (well hey Anella, you just almost kissed a felon. Yay?) When Dione and James morphed into the room. Great. “How did that go?” Dione asked. Raythor resolved to not answer in anything longer than monosyllables. Anella just squeaked. “Hey,” James said. Raythor and Anella stared at him wide eyed. Raythor was pretty sure he’d never heard the knight speak. “Is she the one who hit my wife?” “Yeah, that’s her.” Dione nodded. James cracked his knuckles and Raythor actually moved in front of Anella reflexively. Instead of violence, however, James poured out the longest and most vile stream of swearwords Raythor had overheard. Some of them Raythor didn’t even recognize which he found particularly surprising. His fellow prisoners had taken pleasure in teach him an entire alphabet of bad words and James had just topped them all and done so with a truly stunning mix of creativity and hurtfulness that he almost had to applaud. “That’s how to do it, babe.” Dione patted James’s chest. “Let’s go.” James nodded. As he was leaving he turned back, looked straight at Raythor and said: “And fuck you too.” Then they disappeared around the corner. “Wow,” Raythor said. “I h-hit Dione?” Anella asked. They both started laughing. It took quite a while to stop, Raythor was fairly sure they were both half hysterical. When they finally did, Anella sat down and hugged her knees, looking completely exhausted. He sat next to her but carefully didn’t touch her. “You alright?” he eyed her warily. “Y-yes. I t-think s-so.” She nodded. “It was just uh… right here.” He tapped the corner of his mouth. Anella looked confused for a second then shook her head. “I w-was more c-concerned a-about hitting Dione.” She smiled at him, trying not to laugh again. “Oh.” “I-it wouldn’t b-be the w-worst thing i-in the world to have g-gotten my first k-kiss from y-you. We’re f-friends.” She gave a little shrug. “At l-least then I w-wouldn’t have t-to worry t-that….” “Hey, don’t worry. I’m sure you can control this somehow. Your father probably has a few ideas.” “Y-you’re right.” She smiled again. He felt relieved. I was b-being silly.” “Not at all. It’s scary when you think there’s a part of you you can’t control.” This slipped out but the recognition dawned on Anella’s face all the same. He looked away. “So uh… Markus is probably having some big plan of attack meeting, right?”
Markus had his arm over Laura’s shoulder as he reviewed what had happened to his half of the group while they were separated. He had a paper with all of the things they’d figured out about Kenetari, slightly frayed around the edges, clutched in his other hand. He didn’t particularly want to let go of either of them; one he was afraid to lose and forget the information, the other he was scared would just disappear. That he would wake up in some barn somewhere and they wouldn’t be together anymore. That he’d never gone to see her. Laura shifted beside him, slipping her arm around his waist. Well, maybe he was starting to believe she wasn’t going anywhere. She tapped the paper: “Could Blade tell you anymore about Blood Readers?” “Yeah, a little. It seems like Blood Readers are kind of among their myths.” “Really? Does he not believe the idea has much merit then?” “Well he does after everything that’s happened. Apparently, a Blood Reader is always the second born child of an elementi. Since elementi’s rarely live long enough to have one child, it doesn’t happen very often. I guess the first child gets the ‘unusual feature’ and the powers of a trace blood. Don’t ask me what that means.” “I guess we’ll have our own little Blood Reader. That will be adorable,” she teased. Markus flushed anyway, which was probably what she was looking for. “If my apparent powers are ‘in the blood’ we’ll have a little magical menagerie on our hands.” “Well what can you do? Sometimes the heir to your country has blue hair and can flick water drops at people. Shiny water. And then the spare can smear blood, and the cute little guy gets to…?”
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Post by Markus Everglade on Dec 18, 2013 2:11:28 GMT -5
“My powers… I really don’t have any of my own; really, I just have the ability to affect the magic of others.” “Let’s see.” Markus pulled the flask from his belt, trying not to notice as her eyebrows rose, and poured water into his hands. He breathed in, smiling. Water felt so good now, so relaxing. It reminded him of what it had felt like to drink when he’d first started. He coursed energy through the water, making it glow. “Pretty,” she teased. Laura took hold of his wrist. Markus felt like the magic in him died. He tried to call it back but he couldn’t, no matter how hard he tried. “That’s pretty amazing,” he said. She let go. “I suppose.” “What?” He tilted up her chin. Her cheeks got a little less pale and she smiled. He had never noticed he had that effect on her but he was kind of enjoying it now. “It seems like such a small ability to have caused so much turmoil. I can’t understand why Lord Whitestar is so interested.” “Maybe it’s about the portal to the reverse world?” “From the story? You can’t be serious.” “The rest of it seems to be true.” “I suppose we can’t afford to doubt anything anymore. It takes extreme fear to open the portal. That seems quite likely at this point.” “It is okay to show you’re afraid, you know.” Markus ran a hand through her hair. It was still a little strange that it was so short but he was getting used to it. It fit her somehow. “I’m Lainan. It just isn’t in our makeup.” He laughed. “I missed you so much.” “I missed you too.” Laura pulled back and studied his face. Then she put her hand behind his neck, pulling him forward to kiss him. This was all still so surreal but he loved it about as much as he loved her. Really, his best friend shouldn’t be able to make him feel like this but she could- oh, how she could. Markus never had been able to focus on much else when she was touching him, now it was like there wasn’t anything else in the room. Laura pulled back, green eyes fixing on something behind them. Markus just smoothed her hair back. “What’s wrong? Too much?” He kissed her cheek. “I’m sorry, Laur.” “You could say that.” Laura turned his head. “Ross. Hi.” Markus swallowed. “Did you just see…?” “You and Laura connected at the face? Heck yes.” Ross actually applauded. “It’s about time, Blue. Really, really it is.” Ross looked over at Laura. “How’d he do?” “Pretty well.” Laura took Markus’s hand on the couch. Markus’s eyes darted to Ross’s face but there was not a trace of jealousy or regret in his expression at all. He was just happy for them. Markus felt strangely relieved but he knew he shouldn’t have expected anything less. “Was he cute?” “Very.” “I am right here,” Markus said jokingly. “Took me a while to get here, but I’m here.” “Ad we both appreciate it.” Laura kissed him and stood up. “I’m going to go round up the others for you, general.” Markus lowered his voice. “I love you.” “Love you too.” She gave him a little smile and he watched her leave. When he looked away, Ross was smirking at him. “She’s a damn good kisser, isn’t she?” “Yes, she….” Markus grimaced at the implications of what Ross had just said. Ross just laughed at him. Laura and nine people he recognized came in the room, with four people he’d seen before but hadn’t really expected to still be here. She was focused on him, face impassive. Then she sat next to him again, face impassive. “Just so we’re all clear, Markus and I are together now. Shall we discuss how to defeat the Whitestars?”
Chapter Thirty One
Endless Night
All they’d been talking about was Blood Readers. Kylara leaned forward, heart pounding. She saw that little boy again, eyes darting all over, vial of blood clutched between his fat fingers. She knew she couldn’t explain the chill that had run up her spine knowing Kenetari had any piece of her. Only Raythor could really understand and he hadn’t even bothered to show up for this at all. “Well, we have to assume that Kenetari knows where we are and whatever we’re going to plan here already, or can guess at what path we’re going to take, anyway,” Markus said. “That scares the shit out of me,” Rose said. Dasher, Ketra, Blade, Anella and Gabriel murmured their agreement. They were all, Kylara realized, completely in Markus’s sway. Whatever it was about him that had compelled her not to kill him had made all of these people trust him. She couldn’t help but think Queen Rea hadn’t inspired this same sort of confidence and because of it the people she’d travelled with hadn’t been as much of a group as a collection of unconnected mercenaries. They’d spent so much time arguing they hadn’t even discussed how lucky they’d been to survive the rescue. They’d been lucky; she and Maria had talked about that. Kenetari hadn’t expected it, and so much of her army had been busy taking down the Lainan King that they’d caused a fair amount of damage. She’d taken down two trailed assassins by herself, though. Kylara was slightly terrified of what she could pull off when she was prepared. “That little boy had my blood,” Kylara reminded them all. “Sounds dangerous.” Raythor stood behind Anella’s chair. His face looked blanker than usual, eyes completely empty. Kylara had to wonder where he’d been. Dramatic little bastard. “What do you suppose they want with your blood specifically? They’ve had ample opportunity to get almost anyone’s.” Dasher tilted her head. “It might not be her. It might be someone her life touches,” Blade commented. “Does it work that way, I wonder?” “According to Everard.” Ross shrugged. “So all of us,” Raythor said flatly. Kylara rolled her eyes but, somehow, kept smiling. He had more of a flair for his doom and gloom routine than she’d given him credit for.
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