The Emperor's City *Permission Only* (Dead)

Isolde

"Well, well. I didn't expect you to find me this quickly, Lady Isolde." He grinned at her almost cheerfully, but she could detect a hint of malice about it. Isolde stared back at him cold and hard, unlike their last encounter, as she flicked a speck of dust from her dress.

"You forget my bloodline, Asraadi. Tracking is in my nature." She smiled internally as he flinched and stepped back, his eyes flickering with disbelief. "Now then, why don't we get onto more serious business? Such as your presence in this city, Prince."

He chuckled sardonically. "I thought you might have realized. You're clever. Too clever for a princess."

"Such says the crown to the scepter."

"Interesting analogy." He rubbed his cheek - it was an almost childish gesture, Isolde thought - as he peered back at her. "Why haven't you handed me over to your guards, then?"

"Because I would like the pleasure of taking care of you myself, Prince. And no, it isn't the blood this time around." Isolde brought out her knife out of her dress, licking her lips. This was going to be awfully amusing.

Ravel:

The instant Isolde drew her knife Rav felt his instincts leap forward. His senses were magnified to the point where he was aware of everything around him. One thing the legends had got right about the Asraadi, they lived for battle. Rav thought sardonically as he circled the Princess, like a shark scenting blood. There was a good reason they were favored by the God of War.

Isolde turned with him, never taking her eyes off him. Rav spread his arms wide and smirked at her. "You would stab an unarmed man Princess? Here I had heard Lyansa was renowned for it's honor." Rav's taunt hit his mark as he saw a muscle twitch on her oh so controlled face.

"You're hardly defenceless." Isolde pointed out. "According to my information you can command three different elements."

Rav stopped smiling, his orange eyes glittering in the darkness. "True. Which is why it was foolish of you to come alone Princess. I'm in no mood for the head games you're famous for. Happily for you my father didn't give me any orders concerning the Royal family. So you're safer than you could have been."

Isolde glared at him in irritation. "I don't need anyone to protect me. If I were you Prince Ravel, I would be more worried about my own hide."

Shawnee

We had finally emerged from the mouth of the tunnel. I blinked as the light poured into my eyes and my sight adjusted to see the street. Seghed chuckled and stared at me with bright eyes. That's when I realized I was smiling. Not an awkward smile, a full happy smile. I blushed and adjusted my hood.

"I can't believe we just did that!" I giggled happily and smiled up at Seghed.

"See, that wasn't so hard." he chuckled back.

I let out a soft breath and stared up to him longer, he didn't look away either. When we realized we were staring at one another he coughed and looked away, I looked towards the ground and blushed harder. Without another word we started walking in the first direction we saw.

"So, now what?" I asked quietly, not bothering to look up to him.

He was about to answer me when I walked into someone and fell back. My hood came loose and my cloak came untied, falling off and exposing my torn blue clothes. Blue was the uniform color for healers. I rubbed my head and looked up to the man, it didn't take a second glance to tell who he was. He was the captain of the guard, and I wouldn't doubt he knew who I was.

Isolde

As usually happens in these cases - especially when you didn't pick your battleground out properly -

The bell rung. Isolde, unnerved, jumped back - and he did too. They glared at each other across the ringing bell, with Isolde's hands over her ears. She watched in disbelief as he jumped off the tower, clean of her dagger's reach and out of her sight. And she still couldn't move - it was too loud to. After a moment, the bell stopped ringing - and when she ran over to the other side, hoping to see him as he escaped -

There wasn't even a hint of him.

----

Christan

Christan stared at her in shock - unable to believe his luck. Were the Gods finally listening to his prayers? He dropped the bag of groceries he was carrying and grabbed Shawnee by the shoulders, forgetting her companion and ignoring the small shriek of fright and pain she emitted. "You - you're that rogue healer!" He growled. "You're coming with me."

"Not if I have anything to say about it, Captain." Her companion calmly moved between them, a charming smile lighting up his face. "I understand you know exactly who I am?"

Christan stopped in his tracks and took a step back, his expression quickly changing from intimidating to almost frightened. "You - but you're that - "

"Yes, I am." He quickly took Shawnee by the arm and started to walk away, only to turn around and beam broadly at Christan. "I won't forget this, Captain!" And Christan scowled.

Why do you Gods have to keep teasing me?!

*I will now try to bring all the characters together, It's a little difficult with us scattered every which way. *

Seghed:

Shawnee breathed a sigh of relief as they walked away from the guard, and Seghed chuckled under his breath. The look on the Captain's face had been truly priceless. He turned to Shawnee with a grin. "So. You've lost your pursuers and it seems the night is ours for the time being. Where do you want to go?"

Ravel:

Ravel ran as fast as his legs could carry him. Quickly leaving behind the inhabited parts of the city and plunged into the forest. He paused to catch his breath in a small clearing. He supposed that technically he had already done as his father had ordered. Rav had learned the spy's identity so in a way his mission was complete. But that wasn't enough for Rav's peace of mind, he needed answers and the only one who had them was still in the city. Tracking Seghed would be difficult though, Rav's best friend was slippery as an eel.

Lost in thought Rav didn't notice the soldiers slipping out of the trees until he was completely surrounded. Not all that surprising except that they wore Melnaran uniforms. Rav distinctly remembered Niran saying he couldn't get any soldiers into the city. "Well apperantly that was a lie." Rav's thoughts were thick with sarcasm. The elven prince had a sinking suspicion he knew what was about to happen. A suspicion that was confirmed when the soldiers attacked without warning.

Rav spun and jumped around them, nimbly dodging their swords. Battle was a dance the Asraadi were born knowing. A dance Ravel excelled at. His thoughts were elsewhere as his body moved putting the pieces from the last few months together. After Rav's foster brother had turned fourteen Niran had become more distant then usual. Sending Rav away on more dangerous missions with less and less support from the army. Rav was an elf who could convievably outlive not only Niran but his entire bloodline. And some factions in the Melnaran Empire had begun to favor the more moderate adopted Prince over the Emperor's birth son and heir.

He had become a threat to Niran's ambitions of founding a dynasty. Rav thought bitterly. Honestly he had more than half expected this outcome. But the betrayal still came as a shock. Niran had been the sole constant in his life from the time he was small. It felt like his foundation had been swept out from under him.

The thought of yet another betrayal in his life was like a spark to tinder, igniting the ever present rage in Rav's heart. When one of the soldiers got too close and nicked Rav's arm it was the last straw. Rav snarled as his vision turned red. The world may have wanted him dead but Rav would be damned if he died without a fight. It was his last clear thought as the quiet forest clearing erupted in flame.

Seghed:

Seghed and Shawnee were walking down the street talking with each other. Seghed thought he might actually have a friend in the young healer. Shawnee was too solemn by half, she didn't laugh enough. When Seghed opened his mouth to tell another joke a crack like lightning split the air. And the night sky lit up like it was day time.

He froze in place in shock. Seghed knew that sound, but he had only ever heard it one or two times before. He whirled around to stare at the forest. In the distance a pillar of brilliant red gold flames rose from the forest to pierce the clouds. The column of light was to bright to look at, seeming to bridge the earth and sky. Both beautiful and fearfully wrought.

At the sight of the fire column Seghed swore. "Damnit Rav, what happened to you while I was gone?" Seghed fancied he could almost hear the screams of his friend's broken heart in the roar of fire. Even as he watched the incandescent flames faded and died, leaving the world black with the abscence of light. Before he could think clearly his feet were moving and he took off running towards the source of the fire.

*Shawnee can choose whether or not to follow Seghed. Also if someone else gets there first Rav would be unconscious since he just used way to much power.*

Elphame

Elphame was growing tired of waiting for Shawnee to come out. She should have peeked outside by now, maybe the guy that went is helping her?

Elphame looked around from her hiding place, but could see no signs of Shawnee. Letting out a sigh, she jumped down from the ledge she had been perched on and landed on her feet. She opened the door slowly and looked around, there was still no sign of Shawnee. Where had she gone?

Taking a moment to calm herself she communed herself to the stones that made up the floor. Some of the stones darkened, showing Elphame where Shawnee had stepped over them. She followed the path that was left behind.

Eventually Elphame found the tunnel opening that Shawnee had used to escape, Dammit! She couldn't believe that she hadn't sensed Shawnee leaving. She must be slipping. Chiding herself she let herself into the tunnel and followed it, hoping that she could find her target before too long.

((Kels, it's the Melnarians attacking Lyall, not the Ronasians. Ronas is a friend to Lyansa.

From the main post:

Lyansa is a beautiful country full of enchanted forests and rivers, far-stretching fields and towering mountains. Sadly, it's also at war--with Melnar and it's Emperor, Niran.

Also, I will be posting in a moment. So please wait until you see more here before posting.))

Sanura | Room; Palace - Lyall:

Check on me? Pah! Like anyone would. I gave him another fierce glare before straightening up, rather painfully and closing my eyes. Gods, who the hell was the healer in this place? He was hopeless. Honestly, he was. I hugged myself tighter, trying not to let out a gasp of pain as it put pressure on my ribs.

"Well?" I snapped, opening my eyes and levelling a cold look on him. The man blinked.

"You look pale," he commented, placing his hands on the footboard of the bed and tilting his head to one side.

I snorted, turning my face away from him, towards the window. "So?" I asked, "What's it to you? I shouldn't matter...I'm just another healer being forced into stuff. Again."

The man gave me a strange look. "Are you now?" he asked quietly, looking down at his hands.

*sorry for crappy-ness, it's like, five am here*
Shawnee

I could admit it, I was pretty scared then. But what I was more afraid of was when Seghed ran off and left me alone in the street. Obviously this mattered a lot to him, but I couldn't push through the crowd to get back with him. It was dark out, and apparently the slums were most active at night.

"Seghed!" I screamed after him, but he didn't wait or turn around. Whatever had caused that commotion was definitely important to him.

I felt a hand grasp my wrist roughly and yank me back. It nearly made me fall back with the yank. I pulled my wrist away to see the tracker smiling ruefully at me. I gasped and turned to run but she grabbed my other arm and twisted it up painfully behind my back.

"No, no! This isn't fair!" I gasped, both in pain and to hold back tears.

Suddenly, leaving the tracker to watch an empty building didn't seem so amusing. She seemed rather angry. I tried to pull away, which resulted in her pulling my arm higher up my back, impossibly higher. I needed to get to Seghed. Why? I wasn't sure. He had just ditched me in the slums, but something kept telling me he had a good reason.

"Tried to give me the slip, eh?" she breathed, I could almost hear the venom in her spit.

I quickly used my free arm to elbow her in the ribs and took off running towards Seghed.

Isolde

The clearing was packed with ash and dust - the trees were relatively unharmed, considering the magnitude of the flames and how much they would've burned up the whole forest. The only thing that could be seen at the center of it all was exactly what Isolde had expected - Prince Ravel, unconscious and unaware of his surroundings. She knelt down, fiddling with her knife, wondering whether to finish him off now.

And then, something startled her - a body lay just at the corner of the clearing, wearing what was undoubtedly a Melnarian uniform. Isolde bit her lip. Was this a trap? To gain Lyansa's confidence, perhaps? She didn't think so - that magic was too intense to be fake. But he was still Melnarian -

"Oi! What are you doing with - " The voice stopped in its tracks, and Isolde turned around, only to realize it was the young man - the spy who lived in the Melnarian court.

Seghed.

… How did I miss that? -.-

Jarelle | Sanura's Room

“Are you now?” Jarelle said, looking at his hands. Honestly. Some days, he really wished he had chosen to stay in the Palace of the Gods. It would have been so much easier than dealing with all these mortal problems. But, then again, he knew that he would forsake the Palace again in a heartbeat, rather than helplessly witness pain on Earth. At least, here, he was doing something.

“Are you now?” he repeated, looking up and smiling ruefully. “Healers are always in the thick of things, aren’t they?”

“You could say that, yeah,” said Sanura, shooting him a scathing look. Jarelle shook his head.

“It’s a shame,” he said, “That your own brother here at the castle doesn’t appreciate that. I must have a word.”

“What do you mean by that?” “

“I mean,” said Jarelle, making a snap decision, “That if my own son doesn’t do his job right, I’m going to have to give him what-for.” His eyes seemed to swirl, fading into a deep, solid blue.

He smiled, and as he did, the guise fell away. He didn’t usually show himself to his children – but, no, that wasn’t strictly true. He often showed himself to his children. They just never remembered, or thought it was a dream. That was what would most likely happen for Sanura after he left. She would wake up, and think it was a dream. But for now…

“Hello, daughter.”

Niton-

Alice was already in his room. She once again was busy cleaning. Niton wasn't exactly sure what she was cleaning since his room hardly got dirty, but she seemed to always find soemthing to do. He flopped down in his bed and closed his eyes.
"You're not going to ask me about the healer?"

"She is how she should be, alive but injured. What is there to inquire about?"
"I don't know, maybe there could have been complications."

"If you were inept enough to screw up such a simple wound to the point of death, then you would not be in my services."
Niton opened his eyes and sat up. The problem with Alice being comfortable with him also meant she tended to ask too many personal questions.

"She is your sister after all I thought you'd show some…"

Niton had gotten up from his bed and slapped her. "She is not my sister."

Despite the slap she didn't back down and Niton had to admit he respected her strength. It was one of the reasons he kept her around. "But your father...."

Niton laughed, and walked to his window. "Father? What father? That old washed up god in tales. The father that knocked up random women on the street creating hundreds of offspring? The father that has never once visited me, or for that matter any of his "children." The father that cursed me into forever being a freak?"
"I'm sorry I did not mean."

"Drop it. I have no father as far as I'm concerned. I have no mother, I have no brothers and I have no sisters."

Alice nodded

Niton couldn't stand being in the room with her any longer and brushed passed her. Despite what he had said he decided to check on the prisoner. He still had no plans on healing, especially now that it was a direct order not to. He simply needed to check. He came to the door where Alice had placed the prisoner and opened it. He would just look to see if Alice had done the patch up correctrly. Niton was a expert healer even without his powers and he used it more often. If there were and "complications" then he could easily deal with them.

Seghed:

Seghed bolted through the trees, flecks of ash drifted on the air making it hard to see. He stumbled into a small crater and glanced around. Really it was what he'd expected to see. The trees on the edge of the crater still smoldered, glowing a sullen red but they wouldn't catch fire anytime soon if past experience was any indication. Rav was sprawled in the center of a smoking crater of blackened earth. A badly burned Melnaran soldier lay against the trunk of a tree, he had apparently been thrown clear of the blast. His comrades hadn't been so lucky judging by the charred bits of fabric and melted lumps of metal scattered here and there.

What came as a surprise was that someone had beaten him there. Most people would run away from that much magic. Not Isolde though, it was no wonder she drove her father up the wall.

Internally Seghed cursed as he took in the scene. He didn't pause to question what Rav was doing inside Lyall's walls, Seghed had learned long ago never to underestimate his best friend. He moved carefully to crouch beside Isolde instinctively seeing the lady as a threat to the vulnerable elf. As he walked his feet stirred up a cloud of ash and soot.

Behind him he heard branches breaking and was surprised when Shawnee stumbled into the clearing, with her Tracker right on her heels.

Shawnee

I panted and headed straight for Seghed, not noticing anything else at the moment. My breathing was ragged and uneven, so when I reach him I didn't think twice about clutching onto him and waiting to catch my breath. The tracker stepped into the clearing. She was used to running like this, it was obvious. She wasn't doubled over trying to breath.

Seghed didn't say anything but kept his hands up and away from me nervously. I couldn't see his face but I could bet he was blushing. That didn't matter at the moment. What mattered was that the tracker was trying to take me in. I couldn't give up now.

"Just leave me alone!" I coughed, still trying to catch my breath at the time.

Her attention didn't seem to be on me anymore. That's when I noticed something gentle and white falling around. It wasn't snow. I turned my head and looked over my shoulder. I swear my eyes grew twice as wide as I thought natural. The whole clearing was charred. Red embers speckled the ground around everything.

In the middle of the carnage laid a young man.

His skin looked pale and sickly. He almost looked dead. But the uneven raising and falling was a sign he was alive. I turned and looked at Seghed. His eyes were filled with sorrow and pain. This must have been what was so important to him.

"Seg... does... can he be healed?" I asked.

I normally wouldn't use my powers. Not under any circumstances. But this one needed it, and it was to help Seghed more then anything. I bit my lip and looked towards the ground.

Seghed:

"I honestly don't know. He's never been Healed before Shawnee, I don't know how he'd react." Seghed focus was split between the girl and his unconscious friend. The Tracker stood at the edge of the clearling, her face a mask of shock as she took in her surroundings.

Behind him Isolde scoffed in disbelief from where she was crouched on the ground. "That's impossible, he's a Prince. He would have had the slightest scratch treated." Of course she would have figured out who he was.

Seghed looked at her and raised his eyebrows. "His father's also insane." He stated, pointing out the obvious. Seghed deepened his voice to imitate the Emperor's baritone. " 'You're a warrior boy. You can heal on your own or not all. It'll make you stronger.' " He snarled in irritation but his face softened when he glanced down at Shawnee. "But if you can help him Shawnee please do it. Otherwise he'll be unconscious for days. It's mostly shock and exhaustion so you won't take on his injuries."

"You're talking like this has happened before." Isolde pointed out as Shawnee knelt beside Rav's body and looked it over, trying to see where to start since there were no obvious wounds.

Defensively Seghed glared at the Princess. "Only once before, and they totally deserved it." He snapped then amended his statement. "Okay twice."

The Princess rolled her eyes as she stood brushed ash from her breeches. "I'll drag the answers out of you later Seghed. In the meantime..." She trailed off and looked around the burned out glade. "It seems we have a bit of a mystery on our hands."

Seghed snorted derisively as he glanced down at Rav. "Hardly a mystery. I'd say Niran finally got around to trying to kill Rav and the men he gave the job to bit off more then they could chew."

Sanura | Room; Palace - Lyall:

Startled, I looked up. Daughter? Pah! Frowning, I eyed the other man. Standing before me was the god of healing, Jarelle. I couldn't believe it. No way in all of Lyansa was he here! "You...you're...you can't be real!" I blurted out, pointing at him. "You never show yourself to anyone! How can you do that?!"

The God just stood there gazing back at me. I kept staring at him. No, no. It couldn't be real...it couldn't. Jarelle opened him mouth to say something, then paused, glancing towards the door. The door opened to reveal another healer--who was this? But I didn't have time to think about it as he stepped into the room--yet to notice Jarelle standing there--and closed the door behind him.

I groaned and covered my face. Lovely. Now there was Jarelle---my father--and one of my hundred odd siblings in here! The stress was way too much for my still injured body. I remember the fleeting glimpse of a bandit killing a man. Why couldn't I remember? Oh, for the love of the gods. Someone kill me now?