Flames of Darkness (Started- Still accepting)

Dryden

Dryden sighed as he looked back at the palace before standing up. He looked out over the lands again, watching the shadow move silently.

Ever since the Queen was attacked at the ring, they've upgraded defenses. Dryden thought bitterly, looking around for a hunter or a bowman. He caught sight of one, giving a low whistle and beckoning for the man to come forward.

"I need either your shooting skills or your bow and an arrow. If you're gonna offer your shooting skills, they'd better be up to par. Because if you shoot me, I might be tempted to bash your skull around for a couple."

The man gulped, clearly nervous at the comment and handed over his bow and an arrow. Dryden leaned his sword against the wall, notching the arrow. He leveled the bow, aiming at the shadow, sucking in a breath. He counted to 5 before letting the breath loose along with the arrow. He watched as the arrow struck home, spinning around before dropping to the ground. He handed the bow back, picking his sword up and sitting back down. He gave the bowman a look and nodded before turning back to the lands.

"By the way, send a messenger to the palace. Tell them to be on the look-out for any assassins that may have slipped by anywhere else. And find someone to relieve me long enough for me to go get some food." Dryden growled to the bowman before watching in minor amusement as the bowman ran off.

Dryden chuckled as he could imagine having been told off for that.

"Dryden, you shouldn't be harsh mouthed to everyone you come across!" His mother had scolded him.

Dryden barely lifted his eyes to see his mother and turned his head slightly, as if studying her.

"I am not harsh mouthed to everyone, mother. Just those that flinch when I make a command. If the lands come to a war front, I'm not going to be able to rely on anyone who flinches when I make a command. They have to have my back, I have to have theirs. If I cannot trust them to be at my back without flinching, I will be backed against a corner."

He glanced over his left shoulder, watching the road to his house. Since his father's passing, his mother barely spoke two words one way or another. He often wondered how long it would take for someone to find her if she was to perish as well.

No time to think of that. He gave a minor sigh as he looked over the lands once again.

Ulric Jensen, Fire Soldier

I had a split second to consider the fact that maybe I should have withheld my comments about the bartender's wife...and then a large booted foot collided with my ribs. Even two pints of whiskey couldn't blanket the pain that shot through me, and I prayed that nothing was broken. Opening one eye, I saw that the foot was being drawn back for another attack; in one quick motion I grabbed the bartender's other ankle and yanked as hard as I could.

The ground, slick with mud, betrayed the bartender. He fell on his back next to me, giving me opportunity to scramble upright.

"Well," I wheezed. "This has been great, but I must be on my way now. Thanks for the drinks." I made my retreat as the now-enraged man tried to regain his feet.

The pain was both a blessing and a curse as I navigated my way through the dirt-and-cobble streets; my ribs throbbed with each step, but it cleared my head enough that I wasn't stumbling into everything like, well, a drunkard. Even in my inebriated state, I noticed the groups of people clustered in the street, muttering to each other like old gossips. There was definitely a hubbub about something...and I knew just where to go to find out about it.



After I had walked for a while and sobered up, I found Alun out with the cows and goats, as usual. Today he seemed to be having a long conversation with a disinterested young doe. His white hair blew wildly in the breeze, and his craggy face was plastered with that ever-present grin. He was one of those skinny little old men who possessed an unnerving strength and agility, even though they played the fool most of the time. I had known him for many years, often relying upon him for advice. For someone who seemed to know everything about the goings-on in town, I actually couldn't recall ever seeing him away from his little cottage on the edge of town.

The old man smiled and waved as I approached. "Hail, Ulric! Looks like you've been fighting again. What did ya say this time, eh?"

Damn it all, but he knew me well. "I asked the bartender's wife when the baby was due."

Alun gave me a look. "Ain't none of the barkeeps around here expecting a child."

"Indeed. She didn't appreciate my humor. Neither did her husband."

He chuckled and shook his head. "Lad, you're more trouble than you're worth. So what brings you out here?"

"Well, people seemed riled up about something in town. What's going on?"

"Ahh, now that is an int'resting matter." Scratching a passing goat between the horns, he seemed to be thinking something over. "The Queen was Challenged by Cordel Silva today."

I winced. Some men I disliked because of past disagreements with them, some because of their poor treatment of others, some because they were just generally unlikeable. Cordel managed to fit neatly into all three of those categories, and was high in the running for my least favorite person on the planet. And while I neither liked nor disliked Queen Anaki, I did not envy her being Challenged by him. "Did she accept it?"

"Aye."

She was either insane or wildly confident of her fighting skills. "And...did she survive."

"Aye." A gleeful little gleam entered Alun's eyes. "Not only that, she won."

"What?"

"She felled him like a great oak, laddie. 'Twas a sight to behold. Though she did faint afterward and was carried off to a healer."

We talked for a while longer as the sun set, then I bid Alun farewell and headed home, still amazed (and very happy) that Cordel Silva had been put in his place--and by a woman, no less.

Korhel, King of the Nekoites

Korhel bent over the table and granted the Yulaki a light brush of his lips over her cheek. She giggled and blushed at the gesture he so rarely gave. The king rose to his feet and shut his book of Mitchellan philosophies. Without a word he absconded, leaving the clever girl alone in her robe of green silk.

"Sire, news from Atria." The voice from down the hall could only belong to one person. Blackburn.

"By the gods, hit puberty or quit sucking in helium." Korhel snapped, not bothering to glance at the meager servant on his way to the throne room.
The footsteps following him stopped. "Your Majesty, I'm 42."
Korhel didn't laugh, hardly smirked despite how amused he was and refused to show.

"Alright, you've humored me, now what is the news?" He finally turned around upon having settled into his throne. A highbacked chair with purple cushioning and a solid onyx frame that perched upon four steps.
Four exactly.

"The queen-"

"Don't call her that. Is she your queen? No, besides, I won't hear of someone I know ever so well be addressed that way. Now carry on."

"Uhm...uhm....your opponent sire, she was taken down in battle and is now in bedrest. Security has been fortified and..." Blackburn trailed off, the king's eyes had lit up, another rare occurrence. The blue gray of his irises shone with delight, and his messenger realized too late the joke was on him.
A strike of force hit the quivering man's back, he collided with the marble floor and split his lip.
Korhel's smirk was now a grin of sick pleasure. "Vespera, what a wonderful trick." He mused, and his pet began the stride forward, her feline head perched high on a long fawn's neck, cat paws graced her legs where a deer's hooves should be. She was a Catsparella, a mix of fawn and cat. Vespera rubbed her head into his outstretched hand and her long tail swung about.
"My apologies Blackburn, ask Myamis to heal that for you and have Raer ready my travel clothes. It is time I visit my city."

Hunter
"Do I let my people starve to death or do I allow them to be slaughtered in a conflict that is not our own?"

I sighed and quickly leafed through my book with all the notes I had made this year. Most had been checked of, some had not. It was too much work for one man, no doubt about it, but choosing sides was dangerous, and we did not have the means to defend ourselves from a direct attack. I closed my book with a bang that startled the king.

"Genor has arranged peace negotiations between those countries in the past. Why don't we try that again? They can divide land until they're happy, and we can try to make a deal with both of them, without taking sides."

The king looked at me like I was insane. "You mean we should invite the king of Neko and the queen of Atra here?"

"It's at least worth a try. Worst case scenario, they kill each other and then we're rid of them." This earned me a smile. "And there's something else that I've been thinking about for a long time now. It's going to take a couple of years, but in the end we might actually become self-sufficient."

"Why haven't you told me sooner?"

"My plan has a lot of ifs. If I had a few students and if they had the potential to cast magic and if I managed to teach them how to turn stone into soil, enrich it, control the weather and cast warding spells against bugs.." I sighed. The list was longer than that, but I didn't feel like reciting them all. " If all of that became reality, then our problems would be solved. But as I said, that would take years, so I think we'd be better of inviting the royals to a peace negotiation."

Balik
I drummed my fingers against the wall, slouching against it. I was comfortable enough with Hunter to relax. He had seen me far worse.

"I would still have liked to know the ifs," I muttered and sighed heavily. "So you want me to invite two angry royals here?" I asked slowly.

"Do you have any better ideas?"

I thought for a moment and shrugged. "If this makes the conflict worse, we'll be smack in the middle."

"And we can pull out."

I groaned, not liking the idea of opening Genor to my cousins after seeing what they could do to each other. "Fine," I finally spat. "Send out messengers throughout the mountains calling for volunteer soldiers. If we're going to invite people to my kingdom, my kingdom is going to be prepared for the worst." I dug the heels of my hands into my eyes and ground out, "I'm afraid any message I send to the Anaki or Korhel will be a disaster..." I lowered my hands to look at him. "Would you..."

Hunter was already taking up a pen and writing. "Yes, Your Highness."

I rolled my eyes but didn't say anything, grinning. "I'll leave you to that. I believe I can handle the call for soldiers. That's easy enough." I started to walk out and paused. "Ah, Hunter," I began, proud of myself for not forgetting common courtesy, "...Thank you."

Dryden

Dryden continued to stare out over the land, barely glancing at his fiancee who had just arrived.

"Despite your attempts to dissuade everyone that you are not a spy, you do a grand find job of sneaking up on people."

Dryden ducked the blow aimed at his head before he heard his fiancee growl lightly.

"And how is it you know what's coming before it comes?"

"That, darling, takes a lot of practice. Here, I'll show... hold on a second."

Dryden quickly got to his feet, peering out at the land. He gripped the handle of his sword, his knuckles turning as white as snow as he tightened his grip.

"By the gods... If my eyes don't deceive me... Send for the War Advisor, or the Queen. And be quick!"

Dryden barely looked away to see Nalia's displeasure at being addressed so crudely, but she understood enough to know he wasn't doing it intentionally.

Nalia

Nalia grunted, throwing a punch at the back of Dryden's head, where he barely shifted his head, causing her swing to miss. She glared at his back.

"And how is it you know what's coming before it comes?"

"That, darling, takes a lot of practice. Here, I'll show... Hang on a second."

In less than a second, Dryden was on his feet, leaning over the wall slightly. She noted that he was tightening the grip on his sword to a painful level, but he barely noticed the action.

"By the gods... If my eyes don't deceive me... Send for the War Advisor, or the Queen. And be quick!"

Nalia made a face of displeasure, but upon seeing the way Dryden's back was tensed, ignored it and turned on her heel. She ran as fast as she could for the palace.

If Dryden is that tense, something must be coming. Or he's got a bit of Seer in him. I didn't see anything.

Despite the facts, she quickly made for the Palace. Seeing the Palace guard, she started calling frantically.

"Get the War Advisor or the Queen now!"

She continued running forward, barely noting the looks of laughter on the guard's face. She stepped up to the closest one, flicking her wrist so they could see her Magician's Mark.

"When someone comes to you telling you to get the freaking War Advisor, be it man or woman, you should already be moving. Now get up there and get one of them."

When the guard started to laugh, but stopped at the sight of her Magician's Mark, he turned. With a simple whisper, she let some heat burn the back of his thighs, causing him to jump and run up the stairs to get the attention. No guard dared to laugh at her, knowing that a Magician in their presence would easily beat them down in a fight.

Dryden, what did you see? She sighed as she turned to look towards the wall where she came from.

Adrian Flare, War Advisor

I followed Eira to the dungoens, curious as to whom the assassin might be. It had to be one of the Nekoites, who else would wish to assassinate the queen? We had almost arrived at our destination, before a guard ran towards us, yelling, “Flame Rider, sir!”

“What is it?” I answer.

He finally reached me, out of breath. “ You've been summoned,” he gasped. “Please, come quickly.”

“Summoned? By whom?”

“I don’t know sir; she just said to call you or the queen.”

I turned to Eira, “You go on ahead, I’ll catch up later.”

She nods and begins walking away. I was annoyed that I wouldn't be able to observe the interrogation and find out who the assassin worked for, but the war chief was more than capable of gathering the information on her own.

I turn back towards the guard, “Well, lead on then.”

I don't mean to interrupt, but is there a DT where I can post my profile?

yup
here's the link
http://www.youngwriterssociety.com/viewtopic.php?f=200&t=96028

Luna

"C'mon, Luna. Focus!" he said as he charged at me again.

The clang of our swords clashing made my ears ring as I pushed him back and darted to the side. We'd been practicing for a few hours now. He came in with a low swipe. I jumped and sent the blade slicing straight through the air at him. For a moment, I was afraid I'd hurt him, but as always, I worried for nothing. He blocked the blow and sent me flying back. I managed to catch myself before barely blocking one of his meaner blows. I came back with a side swipe and cut his arm. Too busy being occupied by the sight of making my father bleed, I missed his next attack and paid for it. He cut me right across my stomach. I pulled back in time to elude his next one.

"Mmm." I seethed as I put my hand to my stomach and pulled it back with red, warm, and slick liquid.

"You can't be distracted like that." Dad said. "Not unless you wanna die."

I glared at him. Don't you think I know that? Instead of saying anything, I attack, going for his left side. He evades my advance and we dance back and forth, locked in an ancient dance of blades, when Mom's voice floated over to us. "Enough of that, now. Come and have a rest before you kill yourselves!!"

We both looked over at her. She raised and eyebrow. "What? Don't give me that look. You two have been out here since eight o' clock. Time to stop."

"In a minute," Dad and I say together.

"Alright," she turned to leave with a wave of her hand. "just don't hurt each other too bad."

Dad swung low to high and almost gave me a lop sided hair cut if I hadn't ducked in time. Our swords clashed again and I managed to knock his sword far enough from him that he couldn't get to it. He tackled me to the ground sending my sword flying I my back met the springy grass. His fist came flying at my head and all I could do was move my head to the side. His fist connected to the ground and put a giant hole in it. Holy shit!!I kneed him ribs three times, then elbowed him in the neck.

"Umph!" he grunted.

Before he could go for another blow I pushed him off of me and kicked myself back to my feet taking the ready. My heart was galloping so fast I thought it would hop right out of my chest and keep on going. Hand to hand with Dad always made me nervous. He smirked as if reading my thought. "Nervous? If so, it's understandable."

My temper flared and I pulled out a dagger before flinging it at him. He caught it and tossed it to the ground. "Temper temper."

I came at him with a jump kick he dodged and went for a scissor kick that got him right under the chin. He stumbled back a few step before coming back with spin kick I ducked and went in with a jab to his gut.His grunt registered in my ears taking a hit square in the chest and having the air knocked from me. He kicked me right in the stomach and sent me sailing backwards. I pulled myself to my feet and retreated back to catch my breath. It was a small reprieve, but a necessary one. We went back and forth for what seemed like forever. Then I got him with a Judo sweep and put him on his back. He grabbed my ankle and yanked me down to the Earth. We rolled back and forth tossing some serious blows before he ended up on top. His hands closed around my throat and he squeezed. I started to struggle, then remembered what he taught me. Don't panic,don't flail, and don't show signs of distress. I stopped moving. Don't let the lack of oxygen get to you. Keep cool. I brought my arm around, pushing my elbow against his arms and rolled in top of him. I brought my elbow up and let it fall against the side of his neck, stopping before making any actual contact. Pulling back on my haunches, I tilted my head up towards the clear sky and began gulping in air. Just then, I heard clapping and noticed a little crowd had gathered to watch us. I rolled back to my feet and held a hand out to Dad. He took my hand. I walked over to the Oak tree i'd sat my bow and arrows under.

"Hey," he called.

I turned to see and apple hurtling towards my head, and lightening fast, I brought an arrow to my bow, took aim, and sent the apple flying back at him with an arrow through it. He caught it pulling the bow and and taking a bite. We both heard Mom's voice again and fell into step together. He wrapped an arm around my shoulder and kissed the side of my head. "I'm proud of you, my little moon."

I turned to kiss his five o' clock shadowed cheek with a smile. "I learn from the best."

Korhel

He had bad habits, like lurking, and hating, and clenching his teeth. He lurked now in the small mass of people. The envelope's ripped paper crinkled in his gray palm, the more he closed his hands around the message the more it cried. Words drifted in his head like hornets. They stung and stung again,Meet, Queen Atra, peace, losses, death, agreement, Balik.

Korhel growled quietly, he could just nit go, but if he did he would receive more knowledge of Genor. The more the merrier, that turned his growl into a chuckle. He nodded to Blackburn, who looked up in confusion.

"Go get Ms. Luna and her father." He murmured sourly, but before the bumbling slave could run forth Vespera sprung. The graceful creature bounded forward and batted a paw at Luna's leg.

Luna

After eating lunch, I headed into the city for a few things when something sent the wild feline inside of me itching to jump out of my skin. I stopped to look around with a frown on my face. Hm. Nothing. Just as I begin to walk, the feeling of a paw on my pant leg stops me. I look down to see a beautiful chocolate brown Felinnulei with the prettiest amber eyes sitting at my feet. The feline on me purred. I smiled. So this is what woke up the fury beast inside of me. I dropped do to one knee in front of....her, and found the soft soft spot behind her left ear. "Hey there beautiful. Where's you owner?"

All she did was pur and rub it's head against my hand. Her tail swished back and forth languidly as she enjoyed the attention a I gave her. Though Felinnulei were a mixed breed, the feline in them were dominant. Slender delicate body and legs of a Fawn, sleek head, paws, and tail of a cat. My core temperature began to rise as the need to shift came over me, but I pushed it back. It'd been a while since I went for a run, and now my animal getting antsy. Well, I would put an end to that tonight. And who knows, maybe i'll have a companion tonight. I stood up and she pawed at my pant leg again. It was then when I looked down at her and saw her collar. The silver heart pendant read Vespera. That name sounded familiar. Where has I heard that name before? The light bulb came on in my head. Holy mother damn!! This is the king's pet!! Not realizing i'd spoken aloud when I wondered, "If you're here, then where's the king?", and got an answer.

"Right here." the King answered.

Wow. King Neko was standing right in front of me. Crazy right. I a slight bow of my head and smiled. "Your highness."

"Ms. Wenchester. " he nodded in acknowledgement.

Vespera rubbed her head against me with another pur. King Neko looked at her for a long moment before looking at me. "She's never taken to anyone like she has to you. In fact, she usually doesn't leave my side. She never lets anyone touch, and she certainly doesn't saddle up to anyone, or let them near her."

"She's such a beautiful creature." I patted her still moving head. "I can't imagine why."

"Well enough of that then." he said. "I'd like a word with you and your father. Do you have a moment?"



"So," my father said as we all took a seat on the benches under the giant Oak tree. "My daughter said you wanted a word with us?"

As he sat down, Vespera saddled up and took her place beside him on the ground and looked at me. I raised an eyebrow. My wild cat kept trying to claw it's way to the surface, but I pushed it down. My body was on fire, and my heart was thundering so hard I thought they could hear it. Dad could, though. If my canines hadn't come out, they were about to. And if my eyes weren't already glowing, they should be now. I hadn't realized it, but they had stopped talking, though I hadn't actually noticed when they began, and dad touched my hand clenched on the bench.

"Honey?" he looked at me. "Is everything Ok?"

I took several deep breaths before turning toward him. He and the king were both staring at me. Vespera strolled over and her chin on my thigh with a pur, as if feeling my struggle, as if trying to comfort me. "I'm fine."

"Are you sure?" he touched my face and his eyes grew wide, but he quickly recovered. "Do you need to go lay down?"

"No," I shook my head "I can wait."

"Is everything Ok?" King Neko frowned.

"Yes," I said again. "everything is fine."

"Luna," Dad warned. "if -"

"Dad," I closed my eyes and took another deep breath before opening them. " You can stop worrying." Then in a lower voice said, "I'll take care of it tonight."

He frowned but didn't argue. "Ok then. As you were saying, your highness?"

"Yes," he sits straighter. "well, the Genorians have called for negotiations of peace, and I want you two as escorts in my personal guard while i'm there."

The air went still, as if waiting for a reply. That brought both me and my father up short. Dad threw a hand through his hair and looked at me. I nod. He looks back at the King with a Giant smile on his face. "Well, we would be honored to."

Nalia

Nalia watched as the War Advisor and the guard approached her. The guard seemed out of breath and Nalia smirked at him.

"Piece of advice. Get some exercise. If my fiancee would be to see you out of breath in his platoon on the battlefield, he'd make you charge the enemy."

With that, Nalia turned to the War Advisor, ignoring the guard's look of rage.

"My fiancee saw something out in the fields which was enough of concern that he sent me to get you."

Without waiting, she turned and started running back to Dryden, glancing back every so often to see the War Advisor behind her.

Eira

I watched Adrian go, not sorry he couldn't accompany me. ...I like to do my dirty business alone. It makes me uncomfortable to do some things, the worst things, in front of people. I know it makes me look ruthless and cold, but some things are necessary, and a little sacrifice is required.

A part of me wanted to follow Adrian, wondering what could possibly be so important, but whatever it was was hardly ever as exciting as the messengers made it seem at first... and I had a prisoner in the dungeons.

I gave one backwards glance and sighed, rolling my shoulders, before continuing to the dungeons.

The attacker, for he couldn't possibly be an assassin armed with nothing more than his fist, intrigued me. He was little more than a youth, and he had attacked his queen for what purpose I could not tell. It couldn't have been to kill as he had only hit her which didn't necessarily mean he had 'failed' per say.

I puzzled over the attacker's quest as I worked myself lower and lower into the castle, shrugging when I reached the dungeon door. It would be easier to beat it out of him anyway.

I took a quick step back when the door flew open and frowned. It wasn't time for shift changes yet. That was explained when I saw the new prisoner standing defiantly in the doorway.

I shook my head, grinning ferally as my surprise was replaced with outrage, and laughed at his own expression of shock. "Almost caught me unawares as well," I growled, happy with the threatening note running through the words. "But it looks to me that the gods aren't on your side today, youngling."

Spoiler

Shady, I know you had a plan, but what with the two failed attempts, I think it may be against the will of the YWS fates, so I winged it. I hope you don't mind.

Hunter
"Thank you."

"One more thing," I said looking up from the already half finished letter. "I'm going to go out and find my tribe. I need them to escort the two groups through the mountain pass, since I'm going to be busy here. I'll be gone for at least one day."

The mountain pass was infamous. Due to weather curses that countless magicians had put up in the area it was nearly impossible to get through, unless you had a magician to accompany you, a magician who knew how to lift the curses. The curses was the main reason that Genor had been able to stay isolated for so long. Of course you could go around Genor, through the pass on the other side, but that would take months and wasn't much safer than the stormy pass. There was the third option of climbing the mountains, but very few attempted that, and it definitely wasn't a good choice if you wanted to bring an army with you.

"Alright. Hurry back, I'm going to need you when they come."

"Yes, You Highness."

As soon as the king left I continued with the letters, and made sure to mark the correct route on a map. Then I gave the letters to a messenger, who of course, was accompanied by a magician, and limped out from the castle. When outside I turned into my canine form, and ran out of the city, up the mountains. This time of year my tribe would probably be near the pass, so I headed in that direction.

To finally be able to move without pain was exhilarating, and before I knew it I was running at full speed. That was the best thing about my canine form. No pain, and I could run for hours without getting tired. Maybe I'd be back in less than a day after all..