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Post by Markus Everglade on Dec 17, 2013 19:25:30 GMT -5
“The blood on your hands was your blood,” Kenetari said. She lifted his chin, studied his face. Raythor was too stunned to put up any kind of fight. He sat motionless as she stripped the glove from his right hand and held his wrist. She traced the half-moon shaped scar on his palm, forcing both him and Anella to look at it. Raythor felt like violated, like he was going to be sick. Kenetari was smiling at him. “I left that mark just before I left you there. I was so sure you were dead, convinced that I’d finished you, but then the stories about the Karian Killer started. At first, they foolishly named me as the murderer.” “You are the murderer,” Raythor shot back. He pulled his arm out of her grasp. For the first time in almost a decade, he felt like crying. He was innocent. “I couldn’t have that known. Not once I was a lord’s daughter. My father paid and killed to have my existence erased. It was just so simple to blame everything on you once we learned you were alive.” “I won’t be for long.” He laughed bitterly. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Anella move. “Can I ask you one thing before you end this?” “Why not? Go ahead.” “Why kill them? Why kill two people who loved you and attempt to murder a third? I loved you, Vera. You’re my sister, of course I did.” “You did, didn’t you?” She roughly let go of his chin. “Because it was the only way to get what I wanted. For me it was a small price to pay but for you… death would have been so much kinder, wouldn’t it? It seems like an act of mercy now.” “Stopping my breath will be no less than a colossal act of charity to the greater populace.” He heard the darkness seep into his voice, the pure loathing. Even now he hated himself more than her. She hadn’t made him isolate himself or demonize himself, hadn’t made him run- she’d just left behind all the pieces for him to destroy himself, he’d been the one to push them in place. Raythor gritted his teeth. No, it wasn’t his fault. He was innocent. He was free. No matter what she did to him now, he was no longer the Karian Killer and he never would be again. “How have you survived for so long with such a strong will to die?” Kenetari asked him, her expression curious. Raythor flicked his eyes up. Anella had his cast away sword and was edging behind his sister. Keep going, Raythor. Hold on just a little longer. “I never let myself get attached to anyone or anything. I thought if I did I’d kill again. Death was too easy a retribution, every second I was alive was far more of a punishment.” “You’ve never loved anyone?” Raythor blinked, trying to think of an answer that would keep her busy. “No. Never.” “You were also so full of guilt, even when you were little. Even about the things you did right,” Kenetari said softly. She put her hand on his shoulder and squeezed it but it didn’t hurt. For a while, everything was silent. “Now, would you want a second chance?” Again, he hesitated. Why would she even ask that? “Yes.”
****
Ross reached out and grabbed Kylara’s shoulder, hoping she would stop. None of his fairly continuous stream of verbal requests seemed to be working. Kylara turned her head and gave him a look that would have stopped most men in their tracks. Most men, however, hadn’t ticked off as many women as Ross had. “Those are Markus’s footprints that we’re following now,” he told her. “Oh? Do you study his boots?” Kylara asked dryly. “Actually, yes. As his bodyguard I have to pretty much stalk him. Usually I travel with the end all, be all of Markus stalkers but she’s busy right now. I’m still good enough to tell you those are Markus Everglade’s footprints.” “You distress me,” Ketra said. She regarded him as though he were something unpleasant she had just stepped in. “Just doing what I get paid for, Princess Ketra.” “I trust you on the footprints but, luckily, they fork. We go the other way,” Kylara took command again. Ross wondered if she was this forceful in all aspects of her life. He certainly hoped so. No, Ross, focus. She tried to kill your best friend several times, it doesn’t matter what she looks like. Ross refocused on Kylara in a refreshingly non sexual way and followed her chosen path. He nervously began fiddling with his bowstring, watching the ground. There was blood in the snow, a dried sickly brown now, but it was still there and there was still a lot of it. He was beginning to think someone was dead already and he didn’t particularly like that idea. Markus was going to handle that very poorly if it were true. As much as Ross loved his friend, he knew that Markus was a bleeding heart and bad news hit him like a punch in the face. It would also be catastrophic for relations with Carina if the queen or her favored knights were killed. Everglade, and specifically his father, were bigger weak points for Markus than even Ross and Laura so that would cut deep. Carpenter wasn’t really a big deal either way, but Markus would still probably blame himself for it for whatever messed up noble reason. And Anella… Ross didn’t even want to think about that. Really, things were looking grim and Ross had a very high chance of ending up with a depressed friend and a political or emotional nightmare on his hands. “Hey Ross, you’re starting to look like there’s something going on in there. Try not to hurt yourself.” Rose nudged him with her sword pommel. “I’m just worried about my cousin.” Ross shrugged. “Don’t worry your pretty little head about it.” “Oh, I wasn’t worried and you shouldn’t be either. If Anella is with Raythor, then she’s safe. He’ll make sure of that.” She smiled with conviction. Ross snorted at that and Rose smacked him. “You might be so sure that he’s useless, but I’m not. He’s saved my life multiple times.” “Uh huh. And you’re sweet on him.” Rose went redder than her hair and hit his shoulder harder. “I am not! Besides, wouldn’t you rather believe me than think she’s dead right now?” “Yes,” Ross smiled, “you’re right. I would rather see it your way.” Ross looked surprised, but nodded. “Our sure our fearless leader will find a way for all of us to get out of this bloodlessly.” “I can’t promise that but I’ve gotten father than Prince Perfect.” Kylara turned to look at them smugly. “Does this look like a hideout to you?” “Not really. It kind of looks like a noble’s house to me. It’s not even….” Ross thought about what would be a good word. He couldn’t think of anything that great, so he just wiggled his fingers. “Evil looking.” “The very face you will soon be a knight of Everglade saddens me deeply,” Ketra said. Ross grimaced. “Remember the Wildflowers hideout? The Whitestars have to be even more careful. This is a noble’s home. Any obvious signs of it being more or less than that create rumors,” Kylara explained, “which would kill their chances of taking over Laina far more effectively than we ever could.” “Do we care if they take over Laina?” Ross asked. “I know I don’t care. Is anyone here even Lainan?” “Listen,” Kylara snapped, “Kenetari and her rebellion are the reason the Wildflowers- my family- are dead. If they want Laina I want to stop them from having it.” “Alright then.” Ross smiled nervously. “I’m glad we understand each other. Follow me and keep your mouth shut.” Ross nodded. It was going to be difficult for him to do so, he wasn’t the best at that, but he’d try. Kylara seemed like a hitter. He moved behind the assassin, raising his bow to cover her as she opened the door. Everything was silent. That was weird. He’d expected to be shot at immediately. Ross waited a few seconds, listening to the breathing of his four other companions. Then he lowered his weapon. He expected Kylara to do the same but she just kept moving. She ignored the brightly lit hallway that lead to some nice looking rooms and headed down the creepy, dark, winding staircase instead. He would have told her this was crazy but he wasn’t allowed to talk. Ross thought as loudly as he could at Kylara as he tried to find the steps in the darkness behind her. As they got farther down, and became enveloped completely in the blackness, a hand grabbed the back of his tunic. He smiled, going a little slower. It had to be Rose and he didn’t mind that at all. She was pretty and certainly had a strong personality but, honestly, they were going to be spending a lot of time together after she married Markus so they might as well get along. “Oh thank God, lights are….” Ross’s excitement tapered off. It was true, there were torches everywhere all quite effectively illuminating twenty of Kenetari’s armed guards. “Fuck.” “Seconded,” Rose put in. “Ross, cover me,” Kylara ordered. She stepped into the room, seeming to ignore the fact it was clearly a dungeon full of men wanting to kill them. “Are you kidding me? We should run, now. Either that or beg for mercy,” Ross protested. “Aren’t you a knight?” “I’m not seeing your point.” “Do what I say before I kill you before they can.” “That, on the other hand, is an excellent point.” “Give it up before someone gets hurt.” A beautiful girl came out from between the soldier’s. Ross’s jaw dropped. It was Maya. He’d guessed that she was a part of this, but he’d wanted to be wrong. She wasn’t even looking at him, she was looking at Kylara. He felt so betrayed. Yeah, they’d never been exclusive or anything but that didn’t mean that this had to end in a death match. Why did all his relationships with women who could actually fight have to end in death matches? Well, nothing to do but try and find some way out of here. There weren’t too many options. It was a square, dour, windowless stone room with four cells. He couldn’t see into them, and the only slot to do so was covered on all four. Where there any prisoners here? Was Anella here, or had she been?
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Post by Markus Everglade on Dec 17, 2013 19:27:53 GMT -5
“Hold the blond boy and the princess, by her orders. The assassin and the maid are expendable,” Maya told the men behind her. “And myself?” Blade asked dryly. “Elementists are useful. You we keep alive to break and use.” “What are you keeping me alive for, beautiful?” Ross tried. Maya smiled at him in a way that made his skin crawl. “To torture.” Ross’s mouth hung open. Everyone else drew weapons and moved into battle positions. He, arms shaking, raised his bow. They were so, so screwed. Blade darted out in front of them, squaring off to get some kind of grip on the stone floor. Then all the darkness from the staircase swirled around him like a whirlpool as his body emitted a faint purple glow. The first of the guards had reached their rank, lunging for Blade, when the blackness exploded. All twenty soldiers and Maya flew back, their skin riddled with deep cuts, their eyes rolled back in their heads, all screaming in terrible pain. The front five men looked dead, with Maya broken and bleeding but still breathing beside them. She was draped against the wall, like she’d almost planned it, her eyes staring blankly forward and her breathing fast and shallow. Ross had the urge to shoot her, just to make that look go away. “We lose, she kills us,” Mays struggled out. She raised her arm to order the living men forward. The survivors rushed them. Ross squeaked. Oh God, he missed Laura and Markus right now. He really, really missed Laura and Markus right now. He took aim and fired at Maya, closing his eyes as soon as the shaft fired. Ross was actually relieved when he opened them to see the shot had missed. Before he could register much of anything, the severely injured Whitestar guards were gone and only five fighters were left standing. “We won?” Ross let out a sigh of relief. “Thank God for dark magic. I always knew I could trust you when it really counted.” “I suppose he expects us to pretend he didn’t squeal like a rat being strangled,” Ketra commented to Rose. “Well, now we have to burn him as a witch so I suppose it doesn’t matter,” Rose replied cheerfully. “We stab these bodies to make sure they’re dead,” Kylara said. She stared them all down. “No witnesses. Why don’t you start with your little friend over there, Ross?” “Of course.” Ross couldn’t meet her eyes. He went and knelt by Maya’s side, drawing his emergency dagger with trembling fingers. She stared through him, pale eyes devoid of anything indicating life. He raised the weapon to her neck, heart pounding. “Please…kill me….” Maya begged the air over Ross’s shoulder, voice catching painfully. He swallowed, knowing killing her would be a mercy. He also knew he would never forgive himself if he killed her. Ross leaned closer and slid the knife beneath her arm, stabbing into his own hand with a wince. He let the blood fall on her clothing. “Fake it,” Ross pleaded back. He tried to ignore how pathetic he sounded. “What?” “Die. Fakely.” “You... can’t be serious….” “Come on, Maya. You’d have to have fake died if Carpenter had gotten you into bed anyway. Do it for me now.” Ross managed a smile. She actually laughed, a sound as painful as her voice, and let her head drop and her eyelids close. Ross didn’t know if she was faking it or not. He didn’t want to. When he finally stood and turned to leave he found himself staring right into Rea’s eyes.
When Anella saw Thunder bounding over the hill she almost cried. He looked so happy with his tail wagging furiously and his tongue hanging out, bouncing along with those rabbit like leaps. She wanted to hug him. Thunder went straight for Raythor and buried his snout in his master’s knees. The dark haired boy knelt and hugged his dog, a wave of visible relief washing over his face. The slight shiver that passed through him made Anella’s heart clench. “Anella.” Raythor lifted his head, a real smile gracing his features, and met her eyes. Anella flushed. It was like he was a different person. Just looking at the curve of his lips made her want to smile too. “Thank you for convincing me to live.” “Y-you’re w-welcome,” Anella stammered. She offered him a hand, expecting him to ask why or stare at her with stoic displeasure. He took it almost instantly. Her heart sped up with surprise and she let him go almost as soon as he was upright. “So… I never expected to live this long. What do we do now?” He blinked. “Explain why you tried to leave,” Juliet said. Markus, Laura, Maria and Gabriel stood behind her, weapons tentatively raised, their eyes on the trees. “It’s a long, long story. I’m not sure you want to hear it now?” “Please go ahead, we’ll cover you,” Markus said. “Magically,” Maria agreed. She raised her hand and a blue shield appeared around them. Raythor nodded and proceeded to explain everything that had happened. Anella listened, feeling more and more exhausted as everything that they had just gone through sunk in fully. For the flicker of an instant, she felt brave for what she had done. Like wanting to change had actually borne fruit and made her more than the little nothing she used to be. Anella looked up at Raythor, saw him smile as Juliet hugged him. Juliet, at least, was crying. For him, probably. Raythor wasn’t shedding a tear and he wouldn’t. Not where anyone could see him. “Anella!” She had the wind knocked out of her as Ross tackle hugged her. “You’re alright!” “Raythor took care of you, didn’t he?” Rose said smugly. Everyone else slowly filed in around them, everyone smiling and talking to everyone else. “She took care of me,” Raythor returned. He finally hugged Juliet back, causing her to gasp. He smiled at Rose. “Hey, irritant. How are you doing?” “What’s wrong with your face?” She retorted. “Let’s see… I think people call it happiness. I’m not sure though, I’m a rock face.” “I am this close to prying Juliet off you and beating you senseless.” Juliet buried her face in Raythor’s shoulder. “I kind of have something to tell you too. Juliet Shine is not my real name.” “Want to tell me with or without the audience?” He asked, holding her closer. “Without. This is… kind of personal.” “Done. Do I… have to tell mine again?” “L-let m-me,” Anella said faintly. Raythor thanked her again and she told everyone else in the group the same story Raythor had just finished with. She supposed they had some right to know, but all she knew was that she needed to say it. Let the words pass through her lips and make some sense in her head. Anella had never blamed him, never believed that he was guilty but… it just seemed impossible that the nightmare that had begun last night was over. It had seemed like an eternity. “So, do you think we’re still going to be made dead?” Ross asked conversationally, when Anella was done speaking. “Unlikely,” Rea cut in. “I prepared for this. My knights are taking care of Kenetari’s forces as we speak.” “Is that blowhard Dav-” Dione cut off quickly when a rider and soldiers rode up beside them. “General Porthe,” Rea said formally. A tall man with brown hair and blue green eyes dismounted and bowed. Anella looked up at him blankly, before during back at Markus and Laura laughing uncontrollably at Ross. Sometimes she really didn’t understand the three of them. “My queen,” Davon said, when Rea gave him the signal to rise. “There were few soldiers remaining here, I believe the Whitestars have fled. We did, however, recover what you asked of us.” “Rea!” A blonde girl rushed out from behind Davon’s horse and hugged Rea. “Sister, I’m back!” “Sister?” Rose burst. “Saria Straightarrow, daughter of the late king’s mistress,” Ross whispered to Anella. “She’s a spy.” “Why d-do you know that?” Anella asked, eyebrow raised. “Uh… long story.” “What the hell are you whispering about?” Rose snapped at both of them. “Are you cheating on me Rose?” Raythor asked. “I thought what we had was special.” “Take your face and shut it, idiot.” She smacked him. He just smiled at her again. Rose bristled. “I wish you could see your stupid face right now, Raythor. You look almost good.” “Rose, that means a lot to me.” Raythor rolled his eyes. “I think you look all the way good, Rayth,” Juliet said. “So do you, Dash. Whatever you name might be.” “We shall be staying with the Porthes tonight.” Rea announced, cutting off any response Rose might have made. “I thank you all for my rescue and I intend to reward you with warm beds, good food and, most of all, at least temporary safety.” “Yay!” Ross pumped his fist in the air. Slowly, the group moved forward. Anella started after them but someone grabbed her arm. “Sorry. Also… really sorry about everything. Obviously she wanted me, not you, and I… I’m sorry.” His mouth was in its normal line again. Anella felt a little sad at that. That bright smile of his wouldn’t last long or be too frequent. “There was no reason for you to have gone through any of this.” “N-no, it’s n-not. I-it n-never w-was.” Anella shook her head. “Your s-sister d-did all of t-this. Y-you d-don’t have t-to f-feel guilty.” Anella turned up the corners of her mouth. “Stay h-happy.” He laughed slightly. The sound was strange, but she liked it. “I’ll give it a shot.” “Y-you l-look s-so n-nice when you smile.” Anella started walking again. Raythor was only a few steps behind her.
Chapter Eighteen
Small Victories
“I suppose the question here isn’t why,” Lydrion said. He eyed his girlfriend. She was sitting on the table. Kenetari never seemed to want to sit in chairs and when she did she refused to sit in them normally. She was still dressed to fight, her arms wrapped around her tan legging clad knee, her body in a dark tunic. Black didn’t show blood. Did that mean he should be worried about her? She had, after all, not lost a fight he could remember. “I couldn’t kill my sister.” “It wouldn’t have been satisfying to kill him as he is,” Kenetari explained. She watched her leg swing back and forth beside the table. Lydrion wrapped his fingers around her ankle, placing her foot in his lap. His hand slid up her calf and she finally looked at him. “He came broken.” “You broke him,” Lydrion pointed out mildly. He knew there wasn’t any point in reasoning with her, she did things her way regardless, but he liked to try every once and awhile. He liked her persistence anyway. He liked a lot of things about her. “Isn’t that how you expected Raythor to be?” “I’m not sure what I expected.” Kenetari frowned, staring at something behind him. Her mouth moved as though she were enticing someone to lip read. “That’s probably a safe bet in your family.” “Ly, how far does this set us back?” “Truthfully, not very. Everglade and Carina will be aware of our actions now but I don’t think they’ll tell King Ian. All Laina has with these countries is neutrality, thanks to Laina’s tie with Dragoon. If King Audrion and Queen Rea’s trade routes aren’t disturbed, they aren’t going to give a damn.” “We wouldn’t dream of harming their trade, would we Lydrion?” She grinned, moving a hand down to touch his. “Never.” He raised her fingers to his lips and kissed them. She seemed to find that amusing. She was used to being treated like a lady but not usually by him. Not when they were alone. “Then I’ll do my part and make sure my past doesn’t interfere with anything.”
****
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Post by Markus Everglade on Dec 17, 2013 19:30:25 GMT -5
Every time David came home, he felt guilty. Kira didn’t know what he was doing, who he worked for. She didn’t even know that she was in danger. He hadn’t told her, she didn’t need that after everything she’d gone through with her brother. Kenetari was the root of the evil, sure, and that horrible family but Lydrion was just as bad as they were and had been for a long time. “Hey Pallas,” David said blankly. The elementist nodded listlessly. “Kira home, or is she with Davon? I think the Queen had something going today.” “I’m here.” Kira stood in the doorway to the kitchen. Her hand was on her stomach, but she took it off quickly, stepping into the hallway. “Davon finally noticed I was pregnant. I’m not going to be working anything but guard duty for a while.” “If that, hon. Pregnancy makes Davon very, very nervous.” David stepped forward to hug her. “How are you feeling?” “Fine. Just a little nauseous.” Kira hugged him back. “I missed you. Porthe is keeping you very busy.” “He tends to do that.” “I’ll be surprised if you aren’t promoted soon, you know. You’re his favorite and he needs a new second since Henderson died in Dragoon.” “It should be you. You’re the one with the best record.” “And I’m the wrong gender for General Porthe’s seconds. He hasn’t had a single female one since he took power in the Carinian war, even when Ames was primed for the position back when she was still alive. He’s going to choose you.” “I know.” “Has he… asked you?” “Not yet, but he wants to speak to me as soon as he can.” “You deserve it.” Kira pulled back and smiled at him. She kissed him gently. “You’ll be the second most powerful person in the Carinian army. That’s impressive.” “Maybe I’ll pull some strings and get you off guard duty,” he teased. “You’re only three months, after all.” “Well, Davon might be overly nervous about this sort of thing but he probably has a point. Cloak and dagger stuff should probably be put off until we’re officially parents, at least for me. You don’t have a choice.” She poked his nose and let him go. “Are you hungry? I’m hungry.” “I ate, but let’s get you something. I’ll bet you didn’t have lunch yet, right?” “Right.” She nodded. “Let me, Kira.” Pallas offered. He bounded off into the kitchen, and there was a brief flash as he took human form. They heard a clatter of plates almost instantly. “I need work with my thumbs!” “Enjoy yourself, Pal.” Kira laughed. David reached down to take her hand and they headed down the hall, stopping when they were out of the elementist’s hearing range. “Is he still going over there, still helping the Whitestars?” “Yes, I think so,” David said apologetically. “Damn it. Why can’t Pallas give up on him? I did….” “Well, Kira, you raised Lydrion and you raised Pallas. They grew up like brothers and when Lydrion-” “I know all of this.” “Sorry. You’re right, sorry. I’m just saying, it takes a lot to break up a family and that’s why Pallas hasn’t given up on Lydrion. I don’t think he can.” “I had to.” Kira ran her finger over the diagonal scar on her neck. David had to admit he barely even saw it anymore, but he knew what it meant. All he saw was his beautiful wife, her brown hair, dark eyes, thin face, and ghostly skin. She did look like her twin but… she wasn’t like him. She never had been. “Lydrion didn’t give me a choice.” “He wasn’t always like this,” Pallas said sullenly. They both looked at him, startled. He was holding a plate, some sort of food… object on it. Pallas’s human form was as nondescript as his natural form, his blond hair too long for his face, his blue eyes too pale to stand out in his face. “You know he wasn’t always like this. They just set the princess free. Like they promised they would.” “I’m sure they only did that for political reasons,” Kira said gently. “Mm hm, but they let her live. That’s something. I think if I could just… shock Lydrion he would come back to us. I know you could help me, he hasn’t seen you since… it happened and the scar would be quite the shock to him. You must not think so poorly of Lydrion, Kenetari hasn’t ruined him completely yet. Inside, he’s still the person he used to be.” “Pallas.” Kira shook her head. “I know you love him, we both do, but the brother I raised, who saved you from the fire, is gone. If he wasn’t he wouldn’t have killed-” “He didn’t kill Charity! He can’t have!” Pallas burst. “I’ll find a way to bring him back, with or without you.” He shoved the plate at her and stormed back down the hall. “That went well,” David said. Kira sighed, massaging her temples. “I suppose he can’t hurt himself trying, really. He’ll give up eventually. Lydrion isn’t coming back.” “I wish that wasn’t true.” “I wish a lot of things weren’t true.”
****
“Should I consider all of this a success or not?” Markus asked. His forehead was resting on the table and he was rather hard to hear. Laura, however, was used to him doing this when he was tired. She’d learned to speak mumble. “I myself didn’t actually well… do anything much at all but….” “Everyone lived, everyone got rescued. Militarily, it was fantastic. Even if Kylara led the group who saved the queen. Which does irk me a little, I’ll admit, but she did get the job done.” Laura shrugged, though he couldn’t see it. She had to learn to stop doing that. Markus mumbled something actually incomprehensible in reply, not moving. Laura sighed, moving to massage his back. She did this often at home but, if she’d been thinking clearly she wouldn’t be doing it now. Touching him was becoming less and less appropriate and she would have thought of it were she not… hung over. Bad life choices, she’d just made a fair few.
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Post by Markus Everglade on Dec 17, 2013 19:30:47 GMT -5
“Your father is going to see it as better relations with Carina. Rea is very thankful to all of us, she isn’t distinguishing,” Laura tried. “Well, I suppose Ross was there representing Everglade… I’m not sure that’s a good thing, actually….” “He is a knight. Future knight. And you did tell him to be a good boy.” This got Markus to raise his head and blink at her. She sighed again. “Markus, you convinced two assassins who probably hate all of us now, if they didn’t before, to help us save a queen they couldn’t care less about. No one got through to Kylara but you, and you ruffled her feathers doing it. Rarely have I been more proud to know you.” Markus smiled at her gratefully. Laura inwardly applauded herself. That was real, he was out of it now. “You always know exactly what to say, you know that? Sometimes I think you should have been born the noble instead of me.” Laura laughed. “I do mean it, you know.” “So do I.” He took off his crown and put it on her head. “It suits you, I think. Goes with your eyes.” “And my standard issue Gladian soldier’s garb. It matches that perfectly.” She touched the crown. Things wouldn’t be… different, really, if she was the noble rather than him. If that was the only aspect of their lives that had changed, why would it? Perhaps their outlooks would be slightly different and- would the king then be her father or would it be Audrion? That creeped her out. And what about John? The thought of growing up without her dad made her a bit sad. “I think I’m happy where I am.” “Do you just think about that?” “Maybe a little.” “I suppose I am too. I mean, yes, I have a lot of responsibility and an arranged marriage in the near future but… that’s my life. I can’t imagine it without being a prince, I guess.” “It does compliment your personality.” “Being a soldier does the same for you, I think.” “Thank you.” She returned the crown to his head. “I’m actually thinking of trying to become an elite.” “You are?” Markus looked surprised. Clearly he’d had the same little fantasy about she and Ross working as his bodyguards forever but, honestly, if she didn’t have feelings for Markus she would too. It was just that she didn’t trust herself to fall out of love with him if they kept being together so constantly. A little time away would give her perspective- she’d be able to see him as the Prince of Everglade over just her best friend- and the chance to find someone else. Someone like her, another soldier. Her profession was, after all, one of the most important things in her life and being an elite would be the crowning achievement of her career. She would, of course, tell him none of this. “Yes. It just seems natural to me.” “Well… that’s great. I mean, I suppose we won’t get to see each other as much but….” He swallowed. “That will make my father very happy.” Markus’s smile faded a little. "And it will make you happy, right? Your bow is your life.” “It will make me happy,” Laura agreed. His smile returned. “Then I’m happy.” Markus meant that, she could always tell when he did. He made it pretty hard to let him go. After all, he quite clearly hated the thought that the three of them weren’t going to be together forever but he was smiling about it anyway. Supporting her choice just because she wanted it. Could she just… tell him the truth? Tell him that every time he sincerely smiled all the heaviness she’d felt since Jack’s death, and the war, left like that? Tell him how sweet he was, how moral he was, how was the only thing that actually made her feel human at all? Laura’s eyes caught on his crown again. Markus had trained all his life for politics. Laura had been trained most of hers for war. They were a good match. She chided herself for the very political terms but… it was true. He was painted in shades of white, she in shades of gray. He would always see the good in people, she distrust them and the balance when they were together always ended far better than the choices they made on their own. Oh, she should not be thinking any of this. “Markus?” “Yep?” “Have you been flirting with me?” Markus’s eyes widened considerably. “Uh… uh…well…” He quickly ran his hand through his hair. Well, Laura had been stupid to ask the question, but why couldn’t he just have said “What? God no, we’ve known each other since we were five the thought is completely foreign to me”? “Yes. Yes I was, but I haven’t been for a while… have I?” “Not since I told you the truth about Rose.” “Oh you noticed that…” Markus stood up, which put them awkwardly closer together. He swallowed. Laura was sure he hadn’t thought about that. “I was practicing, to see if I could but you never called me on it before now so I figured I was messing up. When Rose turned out to be Rose I thought hey, well, I should probably focus on her with my little experiments. I’m not sure she’s noticed either but I’ll um… ask her at the wedding. That will be an um… really fun time so. Looking forward to it.” This was one of the more pathetic, half assed explanations he had ever given her for anything. Laura smiled. So he did find her physically attractive. That… that would carry her all the way through what everyone said was the hell of elite training. “I see.” “Yep.” Diplomatic smile. “So… I believe Everglade’s relationship with Carina has been strongly reaffirmed.” “Well, Rea is notorious for favoring young, attractive men in politics anyway,” Laura agreed. “You’d have to mess up pretty colossally to lose her favor.” “After everything Everglade has done for Carina, you’re giving the points for this one to my face?” “Yes Markus. Yes I am. But if it helps you sleep at night that it’s definitely your father’s superior political skills.” “That would help me sleep at night.” “Now, I’m not sure how meaningful that actually is coming from someone who sleeps like Lancelot.” Markus grinned. “So you do listen to the stories I tell, huh?” “I only pretend not to so you’ll do those excited hand gestures to get me to listen. They’re adorable, by the way. Almost as adorable as when you whistle when you shadow fight.” “Hey! I thought you weren’t going to bring up how you caught me doing that!”
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Post by Markus Everglade on Dec 17, 2013 19:34:36 GMT -5
“No, I only agreed not to bring up the drunken singing at your sixteenth birthday party. You were almost on key.” Markus grimaced. “Thanks.” “What’s this I hear about Markus being Lancelot?” Ross breezily walked in. Markus say down again quickly. “Because he actually got laid, Markus. Unlike yourself.” “She meant that I sleep as soon as the sun goes down, like Lancelot was cursed to,” Markus explained. “As I would never disrespect my fiancée or endanger our needed marriage for cheap sex.” “How about expensive sex?” “Oh Ross.” Laura shook her head. “How is the Porthe’s house? We haven’t seen much outside of the front door and this room.” “It is very nice, Rea must pay him tons.” “Then you’ll live in luxury, Mrs. Porthe,” Markus commented. Ross looked at him with horror and Markus and Laura started laughing. “Well you didn’t want to be Mrs. Flameron, Ross. You should really pick a suitor before you become an old maid,” Laura added. Ross scowled. Then he shrugged. “I’m too pretty for Davon. It’s been a rough relationship and I just….” He tried to sniff dramatically, making his friends laugh again. “So is this our room tonight Markus?” “Uh huh,” Markus said, when he managed to stop laughing. “There are two other beds so sadly it won’t be just us.” “My love, say it isn’t so!” Ross touched the back of his hand to his forehead and pretended to fall into a chair. “Wow, you are Lancelot.” Laura shook her head. “Carrying on with a married woman like that. Shame, Markus.” “I’m sorry, he’s just far too pretty for me to say no to.” Markus rolled his eyes. “Flattery will get you everywhere,” Ross chuckled. “So… Laura and I have something to tell you. And then I have something separate and more shameful to tell you. After that, if you have any horrible secrets, it’s your turn Markus. I know you don’t though, so I can take your turn and throw my third one in there.” “Well it is terrifying that you have three in a row and that one of them involves Laura, I actually do have something I need to tell the two of you,” Markus’s tone became serious. Laura sat down too. “If that’s the order you want, that’s the order we’ll do but… well, I guess we all need to talk.” “Oh.” Ross looked nervous. “I uh… was going from least to most horrifying so where do you suppose you fit into that?” “Well, for you it would be a Tuesday. For me it’s a big deal.” “Okay, we’ll put you third then. Laura?” “Fair.” Laura let out a long breath. “Last night I got exceptionally drunk as you… may remember?” “Yes, I do. I carried you upstairs, actually.” Markus nodded. “You did? Ross didn’t mention that.” “I didn’t think it was relevant and, besides you didn’t ask,” Ross returned. “Again, fair.” Laura sighed again. “And Ross and I… kind of kissed.” “A lot of times.” “And spent the night in the same room.” “Platonically, though.” “Okay,” Markus said. Laura and Ross stared at him, waiting for some kind of surprise or even… a reaction, really. Markus just shrugged. “Things like this happen. Laura was pretty drunk, you kept calling Maya Kenetari, Laura, and Ross is well… Ross. Are you two… thinking about anything serious?” “Oh, no, nothing like that. Just a one-time thing,” Laura said. Markus… didn’t care. She’d thought he’d be upset. She wasn’t sure why she thought that. After all, what reason would he have to be? This was a very logical reaction. “I love one-time things,” Ross said. “Wow, Blue, you sure took this well.” “Hey, I trust both of you to make good choices when it comes to your love lives. I’ll admit it would be weird if something came of this but… you do fight a lot. Sometimes that kind of means the opposite of hate.” Markus gave a second shrug. Laura was pretty sure she regurgitated something in her mouth, but she didn’t remember having eaten anything this morning. “All that sparing you do I mean- you two touch a lot, really. This whole thing kind of makes sense. If Ross was ever going to be ready to be actually serious with someone, of course it would be with his only female friend.” “Whoa, whoa, whoa, hold on there wedding bells.” Ross stood up. “You may be about to be shackled to a redhead with a temper but I will not be tied down. Sorry, Laura, but keep dreaming. Dear God, what the hell Markus? Serious with someone? With Laura? She punched out my baby teeth.” “You shouldn’t have had any baby teeth left at twelve; I was doing you a favor.” Laura gave him a little shove so he’d sit back down. “Why do all of your favors have to hurt so much?” “If you can think of a better way to knock at teeth, please let me know.” “You didn’t exactly give me time and besides, you did it because I ate your cake anyway.” “Well, it was my cake wasn’t it?” “Do you want to take this outside?” “Do you want to focus?” “Alright, so nothing’s changed here. I think it’s your turn, Ross.” Markus was clearly trying not to laugh. “You know what, Markus, you go,” Ross snapped, crossing his arms. “Dear God, wanting to be with Laura, it’s like he thinks I have a death wish….” “The feelings mutual,” Laura returned cheerfully. “Alright.” Markus became serious again. “This is… kind of a similar story, actually. I… used to get drunk a lot.” “Don’t remind me.” Ross rolled his eyes. “Yeah… and, well, at this one party I kind of met someone.” Ross sat forward in his chair. Markus grimaced. “Her name was Shula. She was actually at a lot of the parties; I think she was minor nobility-”
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Post by Markus Everglade on Dec 17, 2013 19:35:45 GMT -5
“You think?” “Hey, if she told me her last name I forgot it. I’m not really proud of any of this. Anyway, we kind of had a… thing.” “What?” Ross stood up again. “Really?” Laura raised an eyebrow. She was trying to imagine Markus having a “thing”. What did that constitute for him, holding hands and picking flowers together? “We just kissed.” He gave Ross a pointed look. “A lot of times. So… when I say I haven’t kissed a girl… it’s kind of a lie. I just have never kissed one when I’m sober.” “Wait to go, Blue.” Ross thumped him on the back. “So you didn’t sleep with her? I mean, we’re halfway there, make my day.” “No, I didn’t but I almost did.” “How close to almost?” “Well, after we’d been… having a thing for… about month, I sort of um….” Markus started fiddling with his engagement ring. “We used to meet in the stables, you see, because no one went there after dark so my father never noticed but one day she kind of… convinced me to go back to her room… do you actually need to know more details?” “Yes.” “Ross.” Laura shook her head. “Hey, he needs to get this out, don’t you Blue?” “I guess.” The engagement right started twirling on his finger. “Well, we were… kissing… and we both kind of lost our shirts somewhere in there- she was wearing something under it, by the way, she wasn’t… anyway- and then I… freaked out. I freaked out, because I remembered well… who I am.” He stopped twirling his ring and his eyes fixed on it. “What I promised when I took this ring. I know I didn’t choose but… she didn’t either. Rose is the only one I’m ever supposed to be with. I could never have forgiven myself if I’d gone through with it and, well… Shula broke up with me. I never saw her again after she did.” “That’s kind of depressing.” Ross’s brow furrowed. “Well, we weren’t really… friends, if you know what I mean….” “I know exactly what you mean.” “Right. Of course you do. And well… that’s why I had you help me quit drinking, Ross. I never wanted to do something like that again.” “Would it really have been so bad if you just had a one night stand with this girl? I mean, come on, you never get what you want and you know that’s true.” Ross’s expression became sympathetic. “I mean you’ve been trained to lie right? Great way of putting that to Kylara, by the way, Laura told me. You could have just lied to Rose or, hell, told her. I really don’t think she’d care if it happened before you had even met each other.” “It would matter to me,” Markus said. “And it would matter to my father, if he ever found out. That’s not really as important though. I’d feel like I’d cheated on Rose if I’d gone through with it, I really don’t even feel good that I kissed Shula. Rose is going to be my wife and my queen someday. She’s the only girl I should even think about.” “Someday being the key word there. If Rose was going to be my wife someday, I’d get it all out of my system beforehand.” “Well… I’m not you. I’m saving everything I have for her, good or bad. For better or for worse, I guess.” “To each their own.” “What? Really? You’re not going to tell me out to get laid?” “Okay, I’ll probably mention it a few more times before the wedding but I see where you’re coming from.” Ross turned his head, seeming to notice Laura again. “Well, what do you think Laur?” “I… think it was just a little mistake,” Laura said blankly. “But you stopped yourself from making one I know you couldn’t have forgiven yourself for, one that probably could have kept you drinking. However, it got you to stop. So… something good came of it really.” It was horrible of her to feel so sick thinking about him with Shula. Laura had actually seen her at those parties once or twice; she didn’t actually attend many of them, and had seen the two of them talking. Now she could see them doing a lot more in her head. She nibbled at the corner of her lip. Even if Markus liked her back, and he didn’t, Laura had courted Jack for three months and intended to marry him. That probably would have killed Markus if he had any feelings for her. So… she could just move on. “You could almost thank her, just for the end result.” Ross snorted. “Finding her for that conversation would go really well.” “Your turn, Ross,” Markus said. “Right. Well, I was going to save this for last but I’ve reassessed: I had an affair with Maya when she was in Imperia, and was definitely going to sleep with her again last night but staying with Laura stopped me. She was definitely working for Kenetari, though.” “Was?” Laura raised an eyebrow. “She… she’s dead.” The room was quiet for a second. Markus patted Ross’s shoulder. “Sorry, Ross. She died in the rescue?” “Yep.” Ross nodded. “I tried to save her but… well, I don’t think I did.” “Your hand,” Laura guessed. Ross nodded again. “Let me fix that and you tell us their other thing, if you want. You can wait.” Ross held out his hand. She took it. Relatively superficial, but it had probably really hurt. She started looking around for something to wash it with. “Wait, I’ve got this.” Markus took a flask off his belt and poured out a little on Ross’s hand. Then he pressed two fingers on it. It glowed blue and the skin knitted itself back together. “I love magic.” Ross grinned at his fixed hand, moving his fingers around a little. “I’m going to do this one, because we’re on a roll. Remember when I went to Carina, after the war?” “Of course,” Markus said. “Well, I went to see Rea. She was my brother’s widow at this point, after all. I was just going to comfort her, I felt so, so guilty-” “You didn’t kill Will, Ross.” “I know, I know. I didn’t kill him and apparently I look a lot like him. Rea kept making me stay longer and longer and we kind of got close. We kind of had a… thing?” “Oh God.” Markus looked at Laura. Laura opened her mouth and then just managed to shake her head.
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Post by Markus Everglade on Dec 17, 2013 20:59:38 GMT -5
“It was a your kind of thing, Markus, at least until the very end. See, I got a little too passionate the last time we were together and she reciprocated and we sort of… slept together.” “Oh Ross….” “I was halfway convinced we were going to have a real relationship, I stupidly thought I loved her. I told her that, afterwards and she said,” he paused for a moment, “she said ‘I love you, Will’. Well, that was pretty awkward when that sunk into both of our heads and ended it because we both realized how sick what we’d been doing was. I mean, I don’t think she ever really saw me as me, and I certainly didn’t see her as much else but this link to Will. I… had sex with my brother’s widow. I am, really, really messed up.” He sat down again hard. “That’s the reason I don’t go home anymore. I mean, how can I look at my family after what I did? I told them about it and they couldn’t even meet my eyes. My mom wouldn’t say my name when she told me to leave. She just kept calling me ‘Son’. My dad… my dad left the room without saying anything at all and Everard… he looked like he was going to murder me. Will and Rea had been friends since they were little, they’d always loved each other, and less than a year after he died I… I took advantage of that, I didn’t even think I just I… I thought I loved her. Like he did. Like my brother.” Ross let out all the air in his lungs. “My brother who was everything I’m not.” Laura got up and hugged him. Ross’s entire body stiffened, probably with surprise. She didn’t really care. “You aren’t a bad person. I have spent a lot of time with you- a lot of time- and I know you did what you did out of grief. Yes, it was a poor decision but we all just proved that all kinds of people make those all the time. We all dealt with the war in different ways.” She stepped back so she could look him in the eye. “I feel like I kind of dealt with it the worst.” “Alcoholic,” Markus said lightly. “And you know what I did,” Laura said. Markus’s eyes flicked over before he looked back at Ross. “When you think about it we all tried to find relief in other people.” “And none of us got better until we turned to each other instead.” “…Still the worst,” Ross persisted. “Maybe a little,” Markus agreed. Ross punched him in the shoulder and they both laughed. “Seriously though, Ross, I don’t think differently of you than I did before. You saved my life, pretty much, by getting me to stop drinking.” “You did the same getting through Will’s death, both of you did.” Ross draped his arms over both their shoulders. “I love you guys.” “I’m every bit as indebted to both of you.” Laura agreed, proving it by not shoving off Ross’s arm. “I love you both as well.” “None of this changes anything,” Markus chimed in. “Do you love us?” Ross teased. He rolled his eyes. “Of course I do.” “Say it for me, Lance.” “I love you, Ross, and I love you, Laura. There, Gwen, we’re going to last forever.” “Wait, who does Laura get to be here then?” “Elaine.” Laura rolled her eyes. “I’ll go get my boat.” “Ross, if you want to talk this through more-” “No, Markus. Just no. Let’s play a stupid drunk royal game instead,” Ross suggested. They were all more than ready to agree.
Juliet found Raythor talking to Thunder, his gloved hand scratching the dog’s ear. She watched him for a minute, taking in how surreal it was to see him look so happy. He was still a skeleton, really, but he seemed healthier somehow. Less like a desperate street mutt and more like just a boy. “Hey Raythor,” she said finally. He turned his head, focusing those sharp blue eyes on her. Thunder wagged his tail. “I don’t suppose you actually ate today.” “A little. But I’m fine, Dash. I don’t want you to worry.” Raythor draped his arm over Thunder’s shoulder blades. “Isn’t it a little cold for you to out in that?” “I’m not the one sitting in the snow, Rayth,” she pointed out. “Good point.” He grinned. “I guess if I’m fine, you’re fine.” “Did you… know?” “That you’re an elementist? Yeah, I knew. I figured it out recently, if that makes any kind of difference. It doesn’t bother me though. You’re still you.” “Did you start the spell on purpose then?” “The what?” “To make me a human lover?” “…Huh?” “Okay.” Juliet quickly explained how the spell worked to him. Raythor stayed stone faced throughout. “Here.” He tossed her necklace at her. “This is why I should stick to stealing food.” “I thought it was a trade.” Juliet tapped the belt he had made her. He smiled. She felt her heart flutter, just a little. “Was the kiss free, or…?” “It was just on the cheek,” Raythor said defensively. “How did the spell work? I thought it had to be a consensual thing?” “It just has to be some kind of lip contact and we have to have strong feelings for each other. We fulfilled those requirements. And Rayth… Ray.” He looked a bit confused by this name. “I know you’re dark, and you’re cold but that day, the day we met, you saved my life. Came to me like a ray of light. So if I have to be trapped in a human body, I’m glad it was because of you.” “I’ll pay you back. I didn’t know what I was doing, but this is still my fault.” Raythor stood, hand shifting to Thunder’s head. The dog wagged his tail again. “I’m sorry.” “You don’t… like me then?” Juliet asked. Raythor froze. Yep, not a good question for Raythor. She went with the direct route instead. Her eyes lit up. Juliet was an empath. It was a rarer skill in light elementists, and she was proud to have it. She just didn’t like to use it much, particularly on people she knew. Especially Raythor. “Oh. When were you going to tell you?” “Tell you what, that I was the Karian Killer? I was going to go with never; I’m going to be honest.” “That you have a crush on someone. It isn’t me so… why…?” “Okay, first, no I don’t. Second I was just saying goodbye. You’re my best friend, Dash, and who I’m closest to in pretty much the whole world, but I don’t have any… romantic feelings for you. Sorry?” “Don’t be. I don’t have romantic feelings for you either.” “Great.” She made a face at that and he laughed. “Sorry, sorry. I’m just glad we don’t have to complicate our partnership in any way.” “Are you going to tell me who you like?” “Are you going to tell me your real name?” “My real name is Princess Dasher Starchaser of Illios. I ran away from home shortly before you found me starving in the street.” “You’re a princess?” This seemed to amuse him. “Wow, it always has to be princesses with me doesn’t it?” “Is it Rose?” Juliet- Dasher… she hadn’t been Dasher in a long time- would laugh for days if he said yes to that one. “Dear God no it’s not Rose.” Raythor made a face. “So… funny about the nickname I gave you.” “You’re quite perceptive, I’ll give you that.” Dasher titled her head, thinking about who else it would be. Then she smiled. “Is it Anella?” Raythor didn’t answer. Bingo. “It’s Anella. Oh Raythor, that is so cute. She’s a very nice girl, you’ll be great together.” “I’m not going to tell her,” Raythor said quickly. “What? Why not?” “Because… well, I’m sure she doesn’t like me back and… can you imagine me telling someone something like that? Can you?” “Sure I can, it’s a great mental image. Also, did you just admit to liking her there?” “…No?” “Come on, Ray. It’s just me.” “Anella’s my friend. That’s all.” “I’m an empath.” “My friend that I have a crush on. But it’s no big deal, it’s really not. It will go away.” “Why do you want it to?” “Because I just learned today that’s okay for me to have legitimate emotions.” Raythor looked down at the dog again. “Before feeling anything meant that I’d kill and I’d forget what I’d done. So forgive me for not being excited that I’ve developed any kind of feelings for someone as innocent as Anella.” “But you’re innocent now. You can have a life. Any kind that you want.” “Hm.” He shrugged. It had started to snow again. Dasher felt the flakes stick in her human hair and, suddenly, longed to be in her real body. It had taken all of her magic, before, to keep her in human form. Now she could use it again but if she wanted to be in her body she’d have to do the same thing the other way. For now, staying like this was easier. “I’m so used to running I’m not even sure what I’d do if I stayed in one place.” “Be happy, for once in your life?” “Be happy as Raythor Carpenter or as Raythor Karian?” “As whomever you want to be.” “What about you, Dash? Are you ever going home?” “I don’t know. Maybe. All I know is that I want to stay with you.” “I want the same.” Raythor held out his hand and she took it, smiling. “We’re partners until we die.” He squeezed her hand. “How do we break the spell I put on you?” “Cheat on each other emotionally or physically. Emotionally has to be really strong to work. Physically, we just have to kiss someone else because that’s all we’ve done.” “Both of us?” “Mm hm.” “Any specific time?” “Nope. Any time, any place.” “Can it just be the cheek again or does it have to be the lips?” “This time it has to be the lips, yes. Or you know… further but I don’t think that’s going to happen.” “Any real emotions behind this or no?”
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Post by Markus Everglade on Dec 17, 2013 21:09:17 GMT -5
“Nope. It just has to be on purpose, with either intent to break the spell or intent to do anything sexual with the other person. The magic… knows.” “Well here’s a great way to torment Rose.” “You’re going to get punched in the face.” “I’m kind of a masochist, I’ll enjoy it.” He snapped his fingers and Thunder stood up. “I better walk him.” “Alright.” Dasher glanced at the dog. Then she raised her hand. “Don’t freeze.” Raythor sucked in breath as a faint white light outline him and then sunk into his skin. He stared down at his arms with curiosity. She was struck by the fact that her magic didn’t scare him at all. “Are you going to be alright? After everything that happened today?” “Yeah, I’m going to be fine.” Raythor gave her a smile. It would take a while to get used to him just doing that. That didn’t mean she didn’t like it.
“Queen Rea.” Markus bowed his head respectfully. He was trying to get the image of her with Ross out of his head but, wow was it difficult. Markus smiled, briefly meeting her eyes as an equal before scanning the room. Rea was holding court and they both knew it. She must have spent a lot of time here during the war, after the previous general died in battle and Davon Porthe had been forced to take over in medias res. He had also taken the position Rea was sitting behind what looked like a banquet table, Dione and James flanking her left side, Davon and Gabriel on her right. They were all standing, hands at their hilts, staring forward as though they were in Avior castle before a visiting noble. Markus hated to admit to himself he kind of felt at home, but he did. “I hope you’re all feeling well.” “I was not treated especially roughly, due to my rank I believe. It was Gabriel who sustained injury.” “He was pretty damn brave to escape like that,” Dione said, breaking the court feel. Markus’s smile became just a fraction more genuine. “I would have trouble running in his condition. Me.” “You would have done it anyway,” Saria giggled. She had been slouched in a chair in the corner, only her bright hair visible over the back of it. Markus hadn’t even noticed her. “And sprinted the whole way, without breaking a sweat.” “Would have been tough though,” Dione said. A grin graced her face anyway. She sounded proud. “Markus, regrettably I have called you here to ask a favor,” Rea said. “I understand I have you to thank for organizing my rescue.” “But you know who to thank for the actual rescue as well.” Markus bowed his head again. “I just got a few people to calm down; it was nothing to thank me for. I’m just happy everyone is safe.” “Regardless, they did listen to you. It’s important for someone like that to be around in a crisis. Markus, I believe we are in a type of war with the Whitestars now and we need to plan accordingly. I’m naming you second in command for the remainder of this quest.” Rea caught him as he opened his mouth to protest. “You are also the second highest rank. There is really no better choice than you and I must ask you to accept.” “Then how can I refuse?” Markus said politely. He was going to have to lead an entire country someday. This really shouldn’t be a problem and he doubtlessly wouldn’t have to do much of anything at all. “On that note, I think we should consider what to do about the Whitestars.” “It makes no sense that they’d take Rea if they didn’t want her to care about their takeover of Laina. Without that, Carina sure wouldn’t give a damn,” Dione supplied. “We’ve all started to suspect there’s something much more complicated than a rebellion in Laina going on here,” Markus said, “Don’t fall for this, Markus.” Kylara stood in the doorway, arms crossed. “Rea and her little toys weren’t harmed because they went willingly. Gabriel was because he didn’t know about all of this. They let him escape.” Rea frowned deeply and Dione raised a fist. James gripped the redhead’s wrist. “After you association with the Whitestars, you really shouldn’t be making any accusations,” The queen said coldly.
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Post by Markus Everglade on Dec 17, 2013 21:13:29 GMT -5
Kylara ignored her and looked at Markus. “Come on, pretty boy. All the pieces fit.” Markus stood speechless. He didn’t know what to think. It would explain a lot of things if Rea had been in on this all along, but he also still didn’t really trust Kylara. He looked around the room at everyone’s reactions, hoping to get some clue. Kylara looked determined, Rea furious. Dione looked about ready to explode, with James’s face empty, his whole being stopping Dione from killing Kylara. It was when Markus saw Gabriel’s shocked, almost betrayed face that he knew Kylara was telling the truth. “How could you let all of this happen?” Markus stared straight into Rea’s eyes. “We could have been killed, we’re lucky no one was hurt.” “Kenetari meant for quite a few of us to be corpses,” Kylara put in bitterly. “Because I couldn’t let the last family I have die.” Rea met Markus’s eyes and kept them there. “Kenetari captured Saria when she was returning from a mission in Dragoon. I didn’t know what to do. I had already planned to make stronger ties with Laina but I hadn’t planned to go for months yet. She told me when to start and who she wanted me to invite. I let her write the invitations and I brought all of you to the Purple Rose. She was supposed to kidnap me and my knights so I could hide the fact we were meeting at all. In turn, Kenetari promised to release my sister. I didn’t think anyone would be in any real danger.” Her blue eyes became pleading. “Someone trying to overthrow a king wouldn’t harm any noble from another country, not really. Not if they didn’t want a full scale war. So my… my guests were safe.” Her voice took on a harder edge. “If the people she chose didn’t see the threats in their invitations, it’s not my fault.” “It won’t stop me from telling me what you did,” Markus said quietly. Rea looked taken aback but eventually just shrugged. “Suit yourself. It makes no difference to me.” “I guess you do need a second in command.” He shrugged too. Kylara muttered something about nobles and their egos under her breath, which sent Dione into a fresh bout of rage. Markus repressed a sigh. “My lady, we won’t get anywhere at each other’s throats. I will do my best to protect both you and-” “The Royalty of Everglade,” Rea returned with a slight smile. “All of them, if that’s what you wish.” “We need your help to kill Kenetari,” Saria said cheerfully. “I’ll do anything I can,” Markus said. “My loyalty lies with whoever kills that blue blood Lainan bitch,” Kylara said shortly. “I don’t care if any of you join me or not.” “I see.” A frown creased Rea’s face. The two women exchanged glares. Markus had a feeling that this was going to be a very long journey.
****
Jason had been ten years old when he’d last really spoken to his mother. She had patted her stomach and softly explained how his little sister or brother would come into the world. It had been a little toned down, for his age, but it had calmed his down. He had thought she’d be alright and Janine had hugged him gently. She’d called him “Jayce” one more time, said she’d loved him. She’d never come out of her bedroom again. Jason opened her eyes and stared at the wall. His sheets were stained with blood and little drops marked his path to the bed. He’d only managed to bandage himself, rather pathetically, before slumping on his side. He had no tunic, no belt, and no boots. Just his leggings, his bandages, and his caking blood. He’d never felt so terrible before. He couldn’t even sleep without dreaming of his dead mother. He wondered if this was what his sister intended to do to Raythor. “Jason?” A tiny, timid knock sounded at his door. He made no answer. Benvolio shouldn’t have to see him like this. The door creaked open anyway and Jason swore in his head. “I brought you some dinner. You haven’t come down to eat in like… forever so I thought you might be hungry.” “I’m fine, Ben. Don’t worry,” Jason said, trying to keep his tone as blank as possible. “You can leave it on the table if you want. I’ll eat it later.” The words sounded false, even to his ears. “Hm.” There was a slight click as Benvolio set the tray down and, for a hopeful minute, Jason thought his little brother would leave. Then a hand rested on his shoulder. “You’re hurt,” Benvolio said. He sounded so terrified that Jason sat up and forced a smile. “It’s nothing serious. I just got a little dinged up bringing in the Karian Killer. He was really a strong fighter and I guess I’m a little rusty.” “You’re bleeding.” Benvolio sounded on the verge of tears. He held up his small, still boyishly chubby fingers and showed off their new sheen of red from Jason’s shoulders. The sides of his eyes crinkled and he loudly sniffed. Jason winced. “I’m going to be just fine, I promise. I’m all bandaged up, see? That means I’ll get better.” “I don’t want you to die of red sickness!” Benvolio persisted. “Charity was all bandaged up too, but she died! She was a really nice lady and she died!” “Oh Ben….” Jason pulled Benvolio against him in a hug, ignoring the sting. He felt like crying himself, but he would stay strong. Benvolio needed strong right now. “You still remember that, huh?” “Mm hm.” Benvolio nodded against his brother’s chest. “I can’t forget.” “Well I’m not going to get red sickness. Would Ken really let that happen? Come on, I’m sure even death is afraid of her.” “Mom died.” “That was before Kenetari was scary.” “I think she was always scary,” Benvolio said conspiratorially. Jason was sure he was right. “Raythor Karian did this to you?” “The Karian Killer did,” Jason said. He wasn’t going to tell Benvolio the truth about their sister- he wasn’t going to tell anyone. He was going to stay loyal to the family, stay numb to all he had learned. For the first time, he felt like there could be no redemption for any Whitestar but Benvolio. They’d all been twisted by their lust for power, the need to add crowns to their already considerable treasures. They all deserved to follow the curse of their greed to their own destruction. Jason would stay until then the end to keep Benvolio from ever touching that darkness. “Ken will take care of the one who hurt you, then. It will all be alright,” Benvolio said confidently. Jason nodded, patting Benvolio’s head. “She certainly will. Pass me that tray, huh? I feel hungry all of a sudden.” “Okay.” He smiled, freeing himself from Jason’s hug so he could place the tray in Jason’s lap. “Can I stay, Jayce?” “Of course.” Jason smiled too, this time genuinely. He remembered the first time Benvolio had called him that, just when he’d begin learning to speak. It had also been the first time Jason had gotten back that little piece of their mother, the one that had kept him from completely self-destructing for so long. He’d need that little piece now.
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Post by Markus Everglade on Dec 17, 2013 21:13:45 GMT -5
Chapter Nineteen
Beneath the Stars
“She was going to let us die?” Ross pulled a horrified face. “You have got to be kidding me- this is the thanks we get for saving their asses? Well, for Blade, Kylara and Ketra saving their asses but the point is asses were saved. Rose and I provided moral support.” “Hey! Don’t group me in with you, useless! I did plenty!” Rose protested. She punched him in the arm. “Ouch! Stick to hitting Karian, huh? Dear God you have strong little fists.” Markus hoped this wasn’t the tone the rest of the meeting was going to take. He’d thought that everyone would be as shocked as he was that Rea was potentially still working with Kenetari when he gathered all of them into his assigned room. The group was sitting on the four beds, at the table, or in Raythor’s case, standing. No one looked especially concerned. Markus wondered if he should be disturbed that everyone else wasn’t worried about Kenetari right now- or if he should consider himself paranoid for being worried at all. “Oh suck it up, pansy.” Rose made a face. “Raythor takes it like a man.” “I bet he does,” Ross said with a grin. Rose socked his shoulder again. “Markus, if Kenetari was going to kill us she would have done it already. We don’t have to worry for a while.” “But what does she actually want from us? She had the chance to kill Anella and Raythor and she didn’t. She’s had the chance to kill… all of us. Why bring us to Laina?” “I think she wanted to see if I was truly alive.” Raythor shrugged. “She might not have known herself if wanted to kill me or not. As for Anella….” “S-she would h-have killed m-me, i-if R-Raythor h-hadn’t a-agree to fight Kenetari,” Anella put in quietly. “K-Kenetari seemed like s-she j-just… f-forgot I w-was there.” “That makes sense.” Juliet’s eyes lit up. “Vera Karian worked hard to become Kenetari Whitestar, daughter of a duke. Presuming that the Karian’s have no legitimate royal blood, she would need to erase everything that proved she wasn’t a Whitestar.” “And she did, nine years ago. Everything but me.” Raythor nodded. “She doesn’t see me as much of a threat or I’d be dead already. I think my guilt has helped her keep up the façade.” “So why is any of this happening now? What’s the variable?” Ketra asked. She looked irritated. Markus knew that face: she considered this a pointless topic. “That depends if we are the variable,” Raythor said. “Markus, did Rea tell you who she didn’t invite?” “No.” Markus shook his head. “But Rose has an idea.” Rose blushed but looked proud. “Well, Raythor, Anella, Maria and I all got letters with the image of the one footed eagle on the back, that Markus and Ketra’s letters didn’t have. Juliet, Kayle, Blade and Kylara are also here because of Kenetari. She messed with Markus letter too.” “Mm hm. The wording, mostly. Comparing it to my sister’s, it was more focused on getting me individually to come, meaning she probably wanted me and possibly Laura and Ross as well on this journey.” “And she clearly wanted us to figure all this out,” Kylara said darkly. There was a general murmur of agreement. “So it’s possible what she wants is for us to know that she’s here- and what she could do to us?” Markus tried. “That would make her sound a little… oh….” Rose trailed off. “She is pretty crazy.” “What clued you into that one?” Maria asked. “Was it the killing of her own parents part of willing to kill all of use for power part?” “The part where she killed Jack so Markus would have a reason to follow her a year later,” Ross said smugly. Maria nodded, looking vaguely impressed. “Why would she do all of that to get me to find a bracelet?” Markus blinked. “What bracelet?” “Can I see it?” Raythor asked. Markus nodded, taking it out of his pocket and handing it to him. Raythor ran his finger along the inside of the bracelet. He held stock still for a minute, not moving, not even seeming to breathe. Then he shook his head. “Nothing significant. Guess I was wrong.” “Have we changed our opinion that this is all the challenge of an insane lady?” Ross asked. “I don’t think so,” Markus said. There was another murmur of agreement. “Then I have to ask another question- how many people here are actually elementists or otherwise magical in some way?” There was a bit of a silence. Markus closed his eyes, quietly wishing that Ross had been more tactful about it. Really, it wasn’t bad as many ways he could have put it but… to say it out of the blue like that…. “I’m a water elementi. Basically a vessel for magic that keeps elementist magic in check. I’m not very powerful.” “Alright, then. I’m a full water elementist who became a human lover after I married Rowan Waterwind. He was burned to death in Caltha but I decided to stay faithful to him, and will remain a human lover until I sleep with someone else, which I don’t plan to do. I was never very skilled in magic because I focused on training in human weaponry whenever I could but I can basic things- shields, healing. I’ll do what I can anyway,” Maria said. Blade chuckled. “As you have heard, I am an elementist shadow prince here to escape a minor scuffle in my country. I am quite skilled in magic but the spell I used in the dungeon drained me almost completely. I will help when I can again help.” Juliet looked at Raythor. Their eyes met and he smiled at her encouragingly. Markus kind of wondered what was going on there. “I am an elementist light princess. My real name is Dasher Starchaser and I am, temporarily, a human lover. Raythor triggered the spell accidently, but we’re going to undo it when we can.” “She’ll take volunteers,” Raythor joked. “Until then I have access to all my magic in this body. I am a skilled shape shifter, teleporter and decent healer. Ray?” “I think I’m a trace blood- not actually sure- but my power is not dying as fast when I’m injured. Yeah. Really. Juliet… Dasher laughed for a long, long time when we figured that out.” “Keep calling me Juliet.” She patted his hand. “I prefer Dasher, but not out of you.” “Um… I-I g-guess I h-have s-some s-sort o-of magic. I r-react t-to t-the moon but… w-well, it i-isn’t v-very u-useful….” “We can use you to guide our way in the dark,” Kylara said sarcastically. “Better than me, the meat shield,” Raythor returned. “Well, we’re in good shape.” Ross rubbed his hands together. “They have magic too, sure, but we’ve got a lot of different types….” “He likes magic,” Markus explained. “He really likes magic.” “Are there like… reverse elementi? Human-menti or something?” “No.” Blade looked a little pained. “There are not human-menti. In exchange for our magic, we have taken physical weakness. Humans get physical strength. Your bodies are much stronger than ours, but that need not be balanced like our magic needs to be balanced.” “You… say a lot of words.” Ross blinked. Blade continued looking pained. “Do you just not use contractions?” “It is simply not how we speak in Lakita.” “It’s true. They’re notorious,” Dasher agreed.
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Post by Markus Everglade on Dec 17, 2013 21:32:55 GMT -5
“Can we trust Rea?” Gabriel asked. He was sitting quietly, as far into the corner as he could push his chair. He looked pale, like he couldn’t believe any of this. Markus couldn’t blame him. Gabriel was the only other person taking any of this seriously."She's always been… eccentric, but I’ve always believed that her heart is good. Lying about all of this, even to save her sister… that’s not what a good hearted person would do….” “Well, we could play it safe. Elect a sort of… secondary leader,” Maria suggested. “Rea suggested that same thing. She chose Markus, because we trusted him to organize us so we could find her. I… don’t know what to think anymore.” “I think Markus is too naive not to trust.” Kylara shrugged. Markus tried not to take this personally. “Long live the second in command, back up leader of the soon to be dead.” Ross saluted Markus with a silly smile. Laura just saluted. No one argued. Markus didn’t think they would have known what to say.
“Lydrion! Lydrion!” Lydrion heard his sister, her voice screeching with desperation. His ears were about all that was working. The fire raged around him, burning pieces of the only home he had ever known falling down around his ears. His father, passed out, hadn’t moved for a very long time. His mother lay beneath a beam of their former ceiling. She’d stopped bleeding. Kira… Kira was safe, Kira was outside. Where was Pallas? “Lydrion!” He pushed to his feet, the smoke assaulting him almost instantly. He made it a few steps before he fell again, coughing. Lydrion began to crawl along the floor for what felt like an eternity. He couldn’t remember how the fire had started, didn’t know how Kira had gotten free or how his parents had died so fast. Everything was heat and stinging eyes and a terrible pain in his lungs. It nearly knocked him out when fresh air swept down his throat and he rolled onto his side, gasping and writhing. “Lydrion.” Kira gripped his shoulder, with tears in her eyes. “We’ll get you to a healer; you’re going to be fine. I promise, you’re going to be fine.” “Mom…and dad…” He coughed. Kira let out a shuddering breath. “Ly they… they… never mind. We’ll get you to a healer, we will. Just… just don’t think for a minute. Just a little minute.” “Where is Pallas?” “I don’t know, I haven’t seen him.” “He was… near me, in the house….” “I’m sure he’ll get out.” “What if he’s hurt?” “Ly-” Lydrion got up with energy he didn’t know he had left, sprinting back into the house before Kira could stop him. The smoke hit him hard but he ignored it, coughing as he ran. His ears caught the sound of whining and he went toward it. It took him another few minutes to find the source, another few painful gasps of breath. Soon, there he was. Pallas. The last member of his family that Lydrion could still save. Lydrion grabbed the burning remains of what has once been a chair and pulled them from his adoptive brother’s body. Pallas looked up at him, squeaking like a puppy, and Lydrion swept him into his arms. The elementist threw a shield up around him and, soon, they stepped blinking into the sunlight. “Are you tired?” Lydrion’s eyes refocused. There was suddenly a room around him, one not on fire, and Kenetari’s fingers were fiddling with the hair touching his neck. “You haven’t moved much today.” “I guess I am.” He turned his gaze away from the fire in the hearth. “But you’re the one who should be.” “I teleported. My mutts are useful. So is yours.” Kenetari reached for her sword on the table, beginning to clean it. “Pallas’s healing gifts are vastly improving.” “Hm.” He nodded. “Good.” Lydrion hesitantly raised his head. “You aren’t hurt, are you?” Kenetari smiled. “He couldn’t touch me. He never could.” “Your brother-” The door opened, hitting against the wall. Jason, dressed in that damned black cloak he always seemed to wear, smugly viewed Kenetari. Lydrion sat back and prepared to watch the show. “Did I not stab you hard enough?” Kenetari asked, voice mocking. “Because I am truly impressed you’re still standing.” “I am of the unstoppable Kenetari’s blood.” Jason returned her tone. His eyes flicked over the sword, still covered by the cleaning cloth but very much in her grasp, then stared back at her face. He knelt, head down. “And I bow to you.” “What?” She actually looked surprised. Lydrion couldn’t help but smile. It took a lot to be one step ahead of her. “I bow to you because no matter what I know about you, I am loyal.” Jason’s eyes looked up again, like a knight to a queen. “You are my sister, if not by blood than by circumstance and I will not turn against a Whitestar. No matter what they’ve done.” “I’ll hold you to every word.” “I would expect no less.” “What has she done?” Lydrion asked curiously. “I hear you two got in a bit of a fight. And how is she not of your blood? Even bastards claim that distinction.” “I’ll let your lover tell you what she wants.” Jason stood carefully. He was clearly conscious but sheer power of will. “It’s not my place. I may have trained her to fight but she is now my better.” “Get out of here,” Kenetari said flatly. The silver of the sword glinted as the cloth slid off the blade. “You’ve made your point.” “So I have.” Jason turned, leaving his back exposed, and went out the door and into the hallway. He didn’t manage to close the door before he dropped to his knees then to his hands. He coughed harshly, body shaking. Lydrion thought he smelled iron in the air, but he knew that couldn’t be possible from where he was sitting. All the same, he was relieved when the swords closed the door and started attending to Jason. “What was he talking about, Ken?”
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Post by Markus Everglade on Dec 17, 2013 21:33:19 GMT -5
“I told him a lie to break him,” Kenetari said. Lydrion reached forward, gripping her wrist. He stared steadily at her back. “A… lie that was once true.” “You told him you were the Karian Killer. The truth.” He shook his head, disbelieving. “You lost control.” “And the secret will die with him and the Royalty of Everglade. They’re the only ones left.” “I can kill anyone. Jason, father, anyone….” “Me? Benvolio?” “For our crown, I will murder anyone who stands in our way. Just like I killed my parents.” Kenetari’s eyes flickered dangerously. Lydrion lifted her hand to his lips and kissed it. “That’s all I needed to know.” “Wonderful.” Her breathing slowed, her voice lowered. Kenetari’s eyes widened when Lydrion slipped a ring on her finger. “Marry me?” She kissed his lips. “You know my answer.”
****
Raythor had gone outside again once the discussion was over. This time he had left Thunder behind sleeping. It was late, Thunder was lazy and Raythor wanted to be alone. Alone enough to let the darkness take him. The bracelet had what he called “dot letters” on the inside, something his adoptive father had done a lot for his customers. Philip Carpenter had been a blacksmith who had taught his “son” how to make weapons, armor, jewelry and how to read and write the little “sweetheart messages” the customers asked for in the dot letters. So he knew perfectly well that the bracelet his sister had left behind had said “I promise to love you forever, Kari Whitestar.” Raythor had never thought his blood was anything but red before today. “Ray.” A hand rested on his shoulder. Raythor put his hand over it. “You don’t look very well. Are you okay?” “I’m fine. Did you bring a crowd in case I was out here having an emotional reaction?” Raythor looked back at Juliet. “We’re just here to keep you company.” “Dasher told us that if we left you alone out here too long you’d start to brood.” Rose taunted, touching his back. “Damn and I was getting started too,” Raythor returned. “By the way was it hard for you to reach all the way up here? Because you didn’t quite make it to my shoulder.” Rose’s face turned furiously red and she sunk her knuckles into his back. “Shut your vampiric face, bastard!” Raythor turned and prepared to start an argument but Juliet had brought Anella, Markus and Blade with them. They all looked incredibly awkward. Raythor sighed. He could imagine how they’d all been roped into “helping” like this. Juliet had asked Anella, who had been too shy to refuse and Blade had followed her. Doubtlessly Markus had been brought by Rose in much the same manner. He smiled as genuinely as he could at Rose instead. She blushed, fists clenched. “I’m sorry, Rose. It’s been a long day.” “Can’t argue with that. You’ve got… no reason to smile….” Rose trailed off, her voice almost inaudible. “I just learned how. You have to give me time to understand how to use it. So I shouldn’t smile when I look at you?” “Ray… damn….” “You are so full of it,” Juliet teased. Raythor just gave her a little grin. “Didn’t Anella request a story, Blade?” “Oh. Yes, but if Raythor is not interested….” Blade blinked, looking up at the sky. Raythor said nothing, just nodding his head. “The brightest star in the sky, by elementist lore, is the home of Lakita, the goddess of love, stars, women and the patron deity of shadows.” “Seems strange that the shadow goddess is also the love goddess,” Raythor commented. His eyes darted to Anella briefly, who was staring fixedly at the moon. She was glowing again, the soft silver hugging her like a cloak. He looked up at it too, sighing faintly. Blade chuckled. “Shadows are not all graveyards and torture spells. We were the first to legalize love based unions-” “Hey, Shadow. The story?” Juliet prodded. “Indeed. Every night Lakita would stare and wonder at the moon. She had a palace, a beautiful one where she and her mate lived, but she could tell that the moon held one far more beautiful than her own. So one day she flew through and sky to the palace of the moon. Lakita made her way through the kingdom of the dead, so determined that she ignored the stares of the spirits as she went up the great silver staircase and into the palace itself.” “Kingdom of the dead?” Rose asked. She took her cloak off, spread it in the snow covered grass, and sat down. “The sky roughly correlates to your hell, because it is so fast the spirits get lost within it. The moon is like your heaven in that same sense.” “Spirits of the just dead,” Juliet added. “Angels,” Raythor agreed. “At the top of the stairs, Illios was waiting for her. He was radiant, all white save for the yellow star on his forehead. Like all immortals, his eyes were blank but he was still gifted with sight. He is often described as the most handsome of the gods. Lakita had not seen Illios since they were children and now that she saw him again she realized how well he had grown. He had been an awkward puppy, with tufts of fur sticking up all over- quite amusing to look upon. Illios, however, told her she had not changed since the day she was born-” “And you have changed so much I swoon to see you,” Juliet said. She smiled at Blade. He nodded in recognition. She was playing a part and Raythor got the sense that the story was supposed to be told this way. “So our great king had finally allowed his queen into the world.” “Riuku lets me do anything I want. He does not control me.” “Then why have I not seen you in years?” “Because, Lord of the Sun, you were not worth seeing.” “This sounds like Rose and Raythor,” Markus commented. Everyone but Rose laughed. She kicked him in the back of his legs. “Don’t deny our love, Rose,” Raythor said lightly. “It means so much to me.” “Blade, please continue,” Rose said, trying to sound civil. She sounded like she was trying not to stab something. Raythor hoped it wouldn’t end up being him. He’d been stabbed enough lately. “Lakita came back again and again to see Illios. She could not seem to stay away and she did not dare tell Riuku where she was going. She knew her heart would betray him long before it did- for she was created to be with Riuku, but she had chosen him. She wanted to be loyal, had promised to love him eternally; yet she had lost her heart to Illios,” Blade said. “And one night she gave into everything she felt and lay with him.” Rose gasped slightly. Markus chuckled and she looked back at him with worry. “Sorry. That was just kind of cute.” The prince smiled apologetically. Blade continued with slight amusement. “To this union, there was born a daughter called Adele. She was first Shade child, offspring of a Light and Shadow, and sister of the young God Jasper, son of Lakita and Riuku. Riuku was angry, heartbroken, confused. If the king of the gods could not keep his wife from adultery how could he rule them? This left Lakita with a choice and she chose her husband, her son and the order of the gods as it was. She never saw Illios again.” “Oh.” Rose frowned. “Still, every night, from her palace in the sky Lakita would watch the moon, thinking of her once lover and whispering-” “Beneath the stars, I see you still,” Juliet whispered. Blade smiled across his canine mouth. “From the mouth of Lakita herself. The story promises that if you stand beneath these stars with someone you love, you will always come back to them.” “Does that mean none of us will be affected?” Rose asked, her nose wrinkling with disappointment. Blade shook his head. “You do not have to be with someone to love them. It could even be referring to friendship.” “Oh.” Rose looked pleased. “We’ll all find each other again,” Markus said cheerfully. Raythor felt a jolt and looked at Juliet. She smiled at him hopefully. That he was innocent seeped into him fully and he smiled back. He really wasn’t alone anymore.
“Still looking out the window, Laur?” Ross teased. Laura started, banging her elbow on the stone window sill she was resting on. Ross laughed as she tried to get her bearings. “Did you need something, Ross?’ She turned her head, raising her eyebrows. She was doing her best to pretend that she hadn’t been watching Markus’s dark shape in the grass. “I think there is something we should talk about.” “What?” “Last night.” “Oh.” Laura’s nose wrinkled. “What about that?” Ross wrapped his arms around her waist, nuzzling against her neck. She just patted his hands, slightly loosening their grip on her stomach. “You’re not shoving me off,” Ross said happily. “Your tongue was in my mouth, Ross. This is nothing.” “Ah, the pretty girl has a point. How’s Blue doing out there, by the way?” “He looks really happy. And his hair looks all shimmery in the moonlight, of course.” He laughed. “So it does, Laur. So it does.” “Ross….” “Hm?” “I know you told me not to apologize but I’m still sorry about last night. When I kissed you, I did have the same feeling as when I first kissed Jack. Part of me wanted to be with you and try the same thing again and that was… a militant thing to do but it wasn’t a right one.” “Everything is battles to you.” Ross shook his head. “Things make a bit more sense in those terms; I don’t see what’s wrong with that.” “Nothing. It’s just nothing close to how Markus thinks. Maybe if he did, he wouldn’t be hurt so often.” “He wouldn’t be him either.” “No. He wouldn’t. You’d have a point; I’d miss his ridiculous naivety.” “Naivety? You’re starting to sound like Kylara.” “Kylara’s lucky I haven’t shot her in the face as a matter of national security.” “I think you might hate her more than I do.” “I think I might too.” Ross let her go. She watched him go and sit down at the table in the center of the room. It was identical to the one Markus and Ross would be sleeping in later tonight, and she would be sharing this one with three other girls. She probably wouldn’t speak to them much. Unlike Markus and Ross she hadn’t made too many new connections but, really, she’d never been excellent with people. Maybe she would make an effort tonight. “Seems hard since you asked if you could kill her today but I think I’ve managed it.” “Maria too?” “I don’t know what to think about Maria.” “I think she’s less of a threat. She honestly seems like she does like Markus as a person. She won’t hurt him if she’s not forced to- or paid to. Kylara is a different story. I think she’d kill him, or any of us, if we got in her way.” “Well… we can handle this, right? Both of them, if we have to?” “We can.” Laura nodded. “They’re both trained at hand to hand but we can shoot them down before they get close. We’re both watching them all the time they aren’t going to get a thing past us.” “Should we be keeping watch at night?” Ross looked back at her. “That’s a fair idea. I appreciate how seriously you’re taking this.” “I feel like we kind of have to after Rea turned on us like that. If should already has Carina, she could have other countries too.” “Good point. If Kenetari gains control of Laina and attempts to attack Everglade Dragoon will join her. If she has Carina, our only ally would be Caltha.” Ross grimaced. “And Caltha is Caltha. This whole thing is becoming so complicated….” “And it’s starting to look like Kenetari hasn’t done a single thing randomly. That she’s known what she’s doing all along.”
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Post by Markus Everglade on Dec 17, 2013 22:51:00 GMT -5
“I actually have an idea about that. You’re going to think its super crazy, but I do.” “Try me. Our best friend has magical powers.” “Touché. Alright, Everard used to tell me stories about desert wolves… elementists to scare me. Well, I pretended they scared me but really I just wanted to hear about magic. Anyway, they told me about something called a Blood Reader. I’m not sure exactly how someone becomes a Blood Reader, but I do know that they’re human and that they can, using other people’s blood, ‘read’ all these different outcomes of the future with it. Everard didn’t know many specifics- he thought the word blood would be enough to creep me out- but… what if Kenetari has one or is one? That would explain why Bruce is so convinced they have things planned years in advance.” “Have you talked to Markus about this?” “No. Not yet. This is… kind of the only card I have up my sleeve and I don’t want Kylara knowing it. I was afraid Markus might tell her.” “Even if you told him not to?” “He wouldn’t mean to, but yes.” “After today he won’t.” “No, after today he won’t.” Ross smiled. “Seemed like he snapped a little.” “Seemed like it was time. You talk to him tonight, tell him about this. I think you might be right.” “You know, even if Kylara betrays us again Markus won’t want us to kill her.” “Markus is like that. We’re more… militant. Learning politics is generally about trying to solve problems without violence, after all. We’re just there for when that doesn’t work out.”
The forest had begun looking blue before Markus turned around, but he was really struck by the suddenly azure moon. He glanced back at Anella, who was no longer moving, and noted that she was shimmering blue as well, more than anything or anyone else. “You don’t seem surprised to see me this time,” Mercury sounded disappointed. His long, mermaid like tail swished behind him in a repetitive rhythm. Markus’s eyes fixed on it. “I thought the blue moon might impress you- a bit of a joke, might I say?” “After the first two times, I kind of expect it.” Markus shrugged. “Since I saw you so recently, I think the joke is a bit ineffective.” “Pity, I hadn’t thought of that.” The water elementist padded past Markus, surveying the group around him. He looked especially hard at the building, his tail moving a little faster. He turned his focus back to Markus. “Ready for your next test?” “I didn’t know I had any say on the matter,” Markus said. “So we might as well get this over with.” “Oh excellent!” Mercury said with heavy but, somehow, thrilled sarcasm. “We’ll just use one of my lesser tricks.” His nearly white eyes lit up and his frozen friends shifted position. The window closest to them somehow got closer and larger. Laura was framed in the window, leaning on the sill, looking out at him. Ross came up behind her and she turned, after banging her elbow on the stone. “I like to call it replay.” Before Markus could ask why he had to name all of his spells Ross and Laura were talking. He fell silent. He stayed that way, listening to every word they said, barely even breathing. “That was… real? That conversation happened?” “Yes, in the very near past. Does it not feel real to you?” “No. It seems very real.” “Seems that they love you but don’t respect you, doesn’t it?” “Yes.” Markus toyed with the pommel of his sword. “And I can’t blame them. I’ve messed up a lot lately. More than I usually do. They have no reason to respect me. And I guess… I’ve been letting my heart win a lot lately. I need to be a prince, act like a prince. I have to earn back their respect….” Behind him, something moved and Markus drew is sword, spinning to attack without thinking. Ross smiled at him, the same cocky smile Markus had just imagined on his face. “Hey Blue. Why are you so twitchy?” Markus pulled his sword back quickly. “No reason. No reason at all.” “Hey, about what you said earlier… I think it might be true.” Ross met his eyes. “Laura might mean more to me than I pretend. Are you… okay with that, Blue?” The cocky smile faded and he actually looked serious. Markus shifted through every thought in his head, all the things he felt and didn’t understand, how he had come so close to losing his friend’s trust completely. Then he smiled. “Okay with it? I’m happy. You’re the only person good enough for her.” Markus surprised himself again by actually meaning that. He belonged with Princess Rose and always had, no matter where his heart strayed. He hadn’t been ready to let go when Ross came along but Ross… Ross was his friend. No matter how incredibly womanizing he was he wouldn’t be like that with Laura. “Really? You’re happy for us? Great!” Ross looked relieved. “I guess you seemed like you would be before, but wow. Thank you!” “I know you’re really a good guy, under there,” Markus said quietly. The blue light covered everything but Markus and Mercury, pulsating faintly with energy as it did. “Optimists terrify me slightly,” Mercury commented. Markus jumped. “Was… that real?” “That? No, that was not, merely illusion. But not telling you made your reaction real, didn’t it?” “Yes. Of course yes.” “Then I suppose you pass. You chose faithfulness to your country above all else as far as I can see. It’s time to attempt to really learn magic. That girl said she’d teach you but she disappointingly never did.” His eyes lit up again and Markus felt a weight in his hand. It was a flask, a plain brown flask, pretty much like the type he’d used in the army. “Hey Markus! Are you coming inside or what?” Rose beckoned from the doorway. Anella and Blade, already half inside, looked back at him blankly. Markus clutched the flask in his hand, clinging to the only tangible suggestion that any of that had happened. He quickly attached it to his belt and followed Rose inside.
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Post by Markus Everglade on Dec 17, 2013 22:51:22 GMT -5
Chapter Twenty
Red Hourglass
Anella hadn’t felt the moon’s effects too strongly tonight but she’d been happy to get inside all the same. She didn’t always know what she said or did beneath its light but she did know that Blade tended to lessen its influence with his presence. She didn’t even know all the things she’d said to Raythor yesterday, but she hoped they hadn’t been hurtful at all. He didn’t need anything like that, especially right now. Anella sighed, fiddling with her necklace. Why did the next full moon have to be so close? She really could do nothing but listen to the whispers when it was that full. “Are you quite alright, Anella?” Blade asked, glancing at her. “I do not recall your saying a word outside.” “It’s j-just t-the m-moon again,” Anella said, blushing. She had almost forgotten he was there. “Who a-are you r-rooming with?” “Dasher and Raythor. Apparently they have convinced the Porthe family that they are siblings.” Anella couldn’t keep herself from laughing. “R-really? How c-could they b-believe that?” “I preferred not to ask.” Blade chuckled. He glanced up at Anella. “Did you not have your sword on you before?” “Oh.” Anella checked her belt worriedly. “I m-must h-have dropped i-it. I’ll b-be right b-back…..” “Would you like me to accompany you?” “N-no, I k-know you’re tired. You w-wings are drooping.” “So they are,” Blade noted. “I will see you in the morning, Anella.” Anella nodded opening and shutting the bedroom door behind him. She started retracing her steps, scanning the floor. She hoped it wasn’t outside, particularly if Raythor and Dasher were still out there standing very close together. She shook off the thought and kept going until she caught sight of someone’s boots. “Looking for this?” General Davon Porthe dropped her sheathed sword on the table in front of her. He regarded her appraisingly, at least as far as she could tell. Anella was too nervous to raise her eyes above his black clad chest. “It’s a good sword. A little too ornate for battle but it seems like it can take a few hits.” “Y-yes….” Anella managed, swallowing. “T-thank y-you….” She semi-blindly groped on the table and picked up the sword, securing it even more awkwardly to her belt. “What’s your name? You look familiar.” “A-Anella Nightheart.” “Hm. I guess not.” Davon sat down, drawing a goblet of dark liquid near him. “Oh, there you are masochist,” Raythor said, “and you got your sword back.” Davon looked up at him distastefully. Anella caught a flash of longish, brown hair. Raythor just bowed his head respectfully in return. “Thank you for taking it for me. She might not have gotten it back before morning otherwise.” “No, I imagine your little chat with your ‘sister’ would have gone on too long.” “It might have, I guess. Dash is still outside, Anella, but she well… Can I talk to you alone a minute?” Raythor asked. “Mm hm,” Anella agreed readily. For some reason, she really wanted to get away from Davon. “You know, Carpenter, the Whitestars have the most beautiful portrait of Kari Whitestar in their front hall. Black hair, ice blue eyes, deathly pale skin… she looks a lot like you. Curious,” Davon said. Raythor didn’t react at all. Anella began fiddling with her necklace. “Well I expect to see neither of you again in the morning. Try to get a decent night’s sleep.” He didn’t particularly sound like he meant it. Anella hurried into the hall, Raythor calmly following her. She took a moment to calm herself before looking back at him. “W-What d-did you want t-to talk t-to me a-about?” “I just wanted to thank you again,” Raythor said, smiling at her almost as fully as he had before. She blushed, dropping her eyes. He really did look even more handsome with a smile on his face. She blushed redder. How could she even think that? “I know I did before but really… you’re the reason I have a second chance. If it had just been me in that cell I’d be dead now and I never would have known the truth. Anything you need- or want- ask me for it. I’ll do my best to pay you back.” Anella raised her head, finding she was smiling too. “I h-helped m-my friend. Y-you owe m-me nothing.” Raythor laughed. She was fairly unused to the noise but she liked it. “That sounds a lot more noble coming from you.” “I don’t k-know, it w-was fairly i-impressive i-in Rose’s r-retelling. You s-standing there, shoulder b-bleeding, refusing a r-reward.” “Rose is prone to exaggeration, but I try,” he joked. “Oh, is your sword really that weak, by the way?” “I-it might b-be. This is my e-extra one.” She withdrew the sword and let him take it. Raythor studied the blade running his fingers over the hilt, weighing the weapon by tossing it from one hand to the other. “Yeah, this is definitely mostly decorative or for training. Hold on.” He gave her back her sword and ducked into his room for the night. He came back fairly quickly, holding another sword in a sheath. “Here, use this against Markus.” “Thank you,” Anella said with surprise. She imitated the way he’d studied her sword, feeling a little silly but excited all the same. “I-is this…?” “No, it’s not my main sword. Dash actually got my bag back. Guess I dropped it outside the Purple Rose.” “It s-seems s-stronger.” “It should be.” He turned his head at the sound of Thunder scratching at his door. He sighed, rolling his eyes. “I can’t believe he woke up. Well, I should let you sleep anyway.” “Y-you can’t m-make m-me believe y-you d-don’t like T-Thunder anymore.” Anella grinned. “I s-saw you hug him.” Raythor chuckled. “You have me there. See, thanks to you I get embrace my true feelings for my dog as well. You’re quite the heroine.” “I c-couldn’t let Thunder be an orphan t-too,” she teased. “He n-need me t-to save h-his master.” “We both thank you.” He bowed his head like she was a noble. “Goodnight, Anella.” “Goodnight, R-Raythor.” Anella smiled at him again. “Thanks for… saying we’re friends.” “W-well we a-are, aren’t w-we?” “Yeah… I’m just not used to people just admitting it,” Raythor said wryly. He turned, starting to go in his room again. “Hey- I never really noticed you were left handed before. That’s really going to give you an edge in battle, much more than the sword.” He closed the door behind him. It took Anella a minute to move out of the hallway.
Markus was glad Kylara and Maria were alone when he knocked on their door. Kylara answered, looking at him like he was the largest idiot in the world. Maria was sitting on her bed, hand keeping a book open. She looked up at him with blank curiosity, which he supposed was an upgrade from Kylara’s face. “Good evening.” Markus flashed the most genuine smile he could under the circumstances. “I need to speak to both of you.” “Really?” Kylara’s eyebrow went up. “Why?” “Because I think there’s about to be a war on all of our hands and I want to be able to trust everyone around me. I don’t trust you.” “Being a secondary leader seems to have gone to your head, Charming. Make sure your watch dogs keep their eyes open and have a very good night.” She started closing the door. Markus stopped the door with his arm. “Prince Markus to you, assassin. And I know now, before today, you were only with us so you could be closer to the Karian Killer.” Kylara slammed her arm against his, face coming dangerously close to his. “Shut your fucking mouth, pretty boy.” “Think I don’t listen to you, don’t you?” “What, come in here on your high horse and then you hit me with something like that? Please. You’re no better than your barking hounds.” “No, I’m not. I’m probably never going to be and, honestly, I’m afraid for my country when I become king. What I have is the loyalty of two people stronger than I am and I completely understand why you in no way respect any part of me. That’s fine. But I have your attention now, don’t I?” “Fine. Heroic speech number two. I’m so very excited.” “I don’t want a war. I don’t think any of us do and I don’t think any of want Kenetari or her family on Laina’s throne. However much you might hate me, I bet you hate her more. So work with all of us, Kylara. You are a very skilled fighter and you’re a very good leader. You proved that today and I’m sure you could prove it again many times over.” “Where are you going with this?” “I want us to be able to work together. Without the constant threat of being killed by each other or our friends in the night. And I kind of need some assurance of that. Can I trust you?” Kylara went silent for a long time. Maria was watching them both with the corner of her mouth very slightly turned up. “Like what kind of assurance?” “Can I trust you?” Markus held out the hand she wasn’t grinding her elbow into. “You just want me to shake your hand?” Kylara’s eyebrow rose still further. “After all the crap I’ve done to you?” “Yes.” He shrugged. This was a stupid gamble, but…. “You can trust me. I promise you.” Kylara took his hand and shook it. Then she let go and reached into her pocket- still pinning his arm- and retrieved three glowing stones. She placed them in his palm. “You watch those for me.” “I’ll guard them with my life.” “One thing, royal liar… name the victims for me. All of them.” “They killed six, to represent each of the six countries and burned them according to age, oldest to youngest. Linda Weaver, 45, was Caltha. She was a minor noble. Heath Goodman, 32, was Everglade. He was a knight. Amy Gellar, 27, was Carina. She was a carpenter. Rowan Waterwind, 19, was Laina. He was a notary. The last two, Bloodroot and Dragoon, were six year old twins named Ruby and Amos Firestone. They died holding on to each other.” Kylara closed his fingers over the stone, finally letting him go. “I’ll give you one thing, you can sure sound convincing. Rea goes against you, I support you over her. That good enough?”
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Post by Markus Everglade on Dec 17, 2013 23:00:46 GMT -5
“More than good enough.” He nodded, raising his hand and stepping back. “I’ll take good care of these.” “You better or I will kill you in your sleep.” “I’ll help,” Maria said cheerfully. “Wonderful news. Goodnight, ladies.” Markus quickly closed the door behind him. Alright, assuming these rocks were actually real he had something here, he really did. He also had Nora’s dead stone. If he really, really had to he could force Kylara and Maria into action by switching it out for Lila’s. He hadn’t planned it like that but it was perfect. Sadistic, but perfect. Mercury was rubbing off on him in the worst of ways. “Rose,” the redhead woke up groggily at the sound of Ketra’s voice. “I need to speak with you.” “No one trusts the assassins to be in on their private conversations,” Maria said. “That is so hurtful.” Kylara and Laura laughed. Rose covered her ears, groaning. She had been so happy, lying in the nice quiet darkness, in a real bed. Sure, she wasn’t alone but Kylara, Maria and Laura were pretty much the most silent roommates a princess could hope for. They all walked like they expected to be shot by random snipers at all times, and thus shouldn’t make a sound. She loved all three of them for that. “Endeavor to hurry, Rose,” Ketra said, clearly displeased. She shut the door behind her loudly. “Endeavor to,” Kylara repeated into her pillow. Rose watched her three roommates jealously as they went back to sleep and put her shoes back on. “What is it, Ketra?” Rose asked with irritation, stepping into the light of the hall. “It’s me.” Markus stood there, formally smiling at her. His hair was perfect; he seemed to have changed into a nice, unlined tunic and she was pretty sure that was a different crown. Rose crossed her arms over her chest. She was wearing a nightgown. And shoes. With her hair in a red tornado. She looked like complete crap in comparison. She’d have to remember to thank Ketra for not warning her about this later. “I’m the one who wished to speak to you, my lady.” “Oh.” Rose tried to straighten a little. “What is it, Prince Markus?” “I’ve been concealing something from you.” “Please tell me you aren’t a serial killer too. I don’t think I could handle that today.” “I’m not. But you’re a princess.” “Ketra!” Rose gave her best friend an accusing stare. “Really? You couldn’t say no to his stupid puppy eyes one frigging time? Really?” “It wasn’t me.” Ketra’s mouth set in a line. “It was Elaura. She has an even harder time saying no to him that I do.” “At least call her Laura when you insult her, Ket,” Markus said with exasperation. “Princess Rose, Laura did tell me but she told me so I could do the same thing you’re trying to: get to know you, the real you.” “I thought you knowing I was a princess would do just the opposite,” Rose said quietly. “To me, Rose, you aren’t a princess you’re the princess. So don’t even think I’m seeing anything but your pretty face when I look at you, okay?” There came a dazzling smile. God damn, why did he have to look like that? Stupid muscles under that stupid tunic, stupid long legs and long fingers, stupid shiny ass hair… he was prettier than she was, the stupid bastard. Rose tried to contain a furious blush. “I think that’s the cue for me to leave.” Ketra shook her head and went off down the hallway. She was probably going to go sleep. Rose was still a little jealous. “I’d apologize for that but I guess you know her as well as I do. She never told me that until I asked her to get you tonight.” Markus sighed. “She is so like our father. She would punch me if she heard me say that, but it’s true.” “What’s… what’s your mother like?” “Well, I’m more like her. She’s way sweeter than me, though.” “I didn’t know that was possible.” Their eyes locked on each other. This, Rose thought smugly, was going well. Even though she looked like a nightmare and was half asleep. “Did you just want to tell me you that you knew who I was?” She asked. Markus shook his head, dropping to his knee. He held up his right hand, his engagement ring around the third finger as always. “I came to ask you to marry me.” He was silent, she assumed to let that sink in. It was a little difficult to process. They had been engaged for seventeen years. “We’ve met before and I know that you’re country had very strict laws about that with regards to birth engagements so… you have the right to say yes or no to me. I’ll take care of the fallout if the answer is no. I’ll be by your side until the day I die if the answer is yes.” His thumb slid to touch his ring and she realized he was prepared to take it off or push it that little distance back down his finger. Theatrical, Prince Fucking Charming. Did Rose love Markus? If she had to ask, probably not. Yet there was that little flutter in her chest whenever she looked at him and how well they got along. They would work as a royal couple, love or not. Rose knew she just might fall for him after they were married, even if she hadn’t yet, and she liked that possibility. “Yes.” “Yes.” He smiled again, his thumb drawing away. Markus stood up and they looked at each other for a minute. Rose reached up, putting her hand behind his neck. His hair was about as soft as it looked. “Are ready to get married, Markus? Because I can go back when you are.” “I’m ready when you are.” “Well I’ll get my engagement ring and we’ll start back as soon as we can. We’re on the border of Bloodroot. I would have been caught as soon as I set foot in my home country; all of the peasants have seen the royal family at least once.” “That must be nice.” “It has his benefits. I’ve always been a little excited to live in a big castle like Imperia.” “How would you like to reach there tonight?” “How fast do you think I can run?” “You’re not going to have to, princess.” Raythor and Dasher stepped into their section of the hall. “You know how my sister gets around so fast? She uses elementists, specifically Light elementists.”
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