General Tathiel had arrived sooner than planned. It wasn't entirely unexpected considering his engagement to the princess, but it was inconvenient, and the castle was nowhere near ready to receive him, especially after the fire in the kitchen. All the staff were uneasy, especially around Joram, and there were whispered rumors of the general having finally snapped and planning on burning down the castle with everyone inside it.
Knowing Joram, it wouldn't be surprising, leaked planning aside.
At least said general was behaving and close by where Tigad could keep an eye on him. Speaking of which, it mightn't hurt to have someone follow the general around and keep an eye on him. At the least, it would prevent a repeat of the kitchen fiasco. At the best, it would make keeping Joram in check much easier. He would have to assign someone personally after this meeting with General Tathiel.
The king turned a corner and stepped out into the courtyard, just as Tathiel and his retinue rode in. Emilian, Tigad noted with displeasure, was nowhere to be found, though the king did not allow his irritation to show as he stepped forward to meet the foreign general as the man dismounted.
"General Tathiel." He inclined his head politely. "Welcome to Acoteg. I hope your journey was uneventful."
"King Tigad." Tathiel bowed, but not as low as was entirely proper. "Our journey was as pleasant as could be expected under such circumstances. We are quite anxious to see our princess safely back home."
"Of course," said Tigad, hiding his pique behind a mask of perfect politeness. "Unfortunately, the princess is a bit indisposed at the moment, and you must be weary from your trip. Perhaps in the morning, when you are well-rested, a visit can be arranged. In the meantime, General Joram," said the king, gesturing for the man to come forward and silently cursing Emilian's absence, "will show you and your men to their accommodations."
Joram gave a flourishing bow, his characteristic grin plastered over his face, making him look quite friendly and harmless. Tigad didn't buy it, but he had other, more pressing, matters to attend to than greeting a soon-to-be-dealt-with guest.
And so Tigad gave a polite bow and continued, "So if you will pardon me, gentlemen, I have other pressing matters to attend to. There was a recent fire in the kitchens, and the staff are still quite unsettled."
The king turned to leave, lingering only long enough to glare at Joram and mouth "Behave," before he returned to his study.
A nightmare, an absolute nightmare. The hospital wing was full of people Emilian wished he didn't know, but he was horrified to recognize some of the burnt faces. And he had no one to blame but himself. He should have been there when Joram was asking for flour, and he shouldn't have told the man flour was flammable.
Damn. It. So. Stupid. And for each word, Emilian hit his head on the wall twice.
"Sir?" squeaked one of the men.
"What?" Emilian snapped, more annoyed with himself than with the other man.
"General Tathiel has arrived."
Emilian ignored the man, resumed hitting his head against the wall, and for a good few minutes that was all that happened. The cool plaster banged against Emilian repeatedly, and the other man simply stood awkwardly by as his superior attempted to bash his skull into bits.
The other man coughed, taking a risk. "General Tathiel has arrived, and General Joram is showing him around."
That caught Emilian's attention. Emilian froze and grabbed the other man by the collar. "What? Joram? As in Joram my superior Joram? Flour incident Joram?"
The man nodded, weakly, shortly before crashing into the ground and wheezing for air as Emilian burst out of the hospital wing in a mad frenzy of panic.
"Gods, I don't know why the general puts up with General Joram's madness," piped up one of the men in the wing.
"None of us do," muttered the still coughing messenger on the floor.
--
Emilian caught up with Joram just as Tathiel poked his head into a new room. Fought hard to resist the urge to yank Tathiel out of there for fear Joram had rigged the door with a guillotine or something similar. Instead, Emilian settled himself with tapping Joram's shoulder.
Emilian was aware he was disheveled and quickly ran a hand through his messy hair in an attempt to quell it before Joram did something embarrassing again. Not that it helped, because his hair only stuck out in even more directions, making Emilian appear to be the madman of the two.
"Joram!" Emilian hissed. "What are you doing within ten feet of Tathiel?"
"The moral of this story, is that if I cause a stranger to choke to death for my amusement, what do you think I’ll do to you if you don’t tell me who ordered you to kill Colosimo?“
My eyes darted nervously between the two generals. Being face-to-face with two of my most powerful enemies was unnerving, especially when one of them didn't seem quite right in the head. Joram was an odd one, and to be completely honest, the man scared me. Not that I would ever admit that to anybody, but he did. Then there was also the fact that they weren't letting me see my Ceria, which angered me as well as upped my caution about the situation.
Talon didn't seem to like the man much either. He was constantly growling, and for once, when I tried to silence him he disobeyed. Embarressing, perhaps, but at least the old cat was making it clear where he stood.
Emilian's arrival had put Talon on the brink, and he had stopped growling. His tail was twitching. The cat was just waiting for an opening, my signal to pounce, or perhaps he would just lunge by his own judgement. Not good. Couldn't have Talon mauling the two fine generals, now could we?
I gave Talon a quick, reassuring, scratch on the head and glanced over my shoulder into the room that I would apparently be staying in. My little tour wasn't over yet, but Joram sent shivers down my spine. That and the fact that at no time on this tour would I see Ceria were enough reason for me to usher Talon inside quietly while Joram and Emilian argued. About me of all things by the sounds of it.
I slipped inside after Talong and slammed the door, locking it quickly. I leaned on it, though I doubted I needed to. Or that it would be effective.
"Ge-"
I cut off whichever of the two generals had just spoken before they so much as finished the word. "You know, I'm absolutely exhausted, in no shape whatsoever to walk around with either of you on a tour of all things," I said, voice dripping with sarcasm. It was the excuse they had pulled on me about Ceria. It seemed suiting. "Be sure to let me know when I am able to see Ceria, but until then I'm not going anwhere."
The bird, eventually, stopped eating Lyss' hair, though that didn't stop Ceria giggling.
"He probably thinks it's straw," she said, and Lyss giggled too.
"He's really sweet. I like animals! Epecially small ones, they're so cute." She touched his beak affectionately.
Ceria sighed. "Yes, he's a dear."
"Something up?" Lyss asked, cocking my head.
"No, I'm just... homesick, I suppose," she said a little sadly.
"You don't like Acoteg? It's a nice place, really. You should meet my family, my mother's, like, the best cook ever and my brothers are all really good looking, if you're into soldiers, which I think you are because aren't you engaged to that guy in Nesereda- oh, I suppose that means you wouldn't like my brothers."
Ceria laughed, then her face fell into sadness again. "Tathiel," she said quietly. "I wonder when I'll see him again."
"Oh, I'm sure it will be soon," Lyss said in a throwaway comment, but she noticed the princess' face lighting up.
"I know," she said.
Lyss frowned at that, not sure what to understand from it, and instead gave all her attention to the white bird. "He is very pretty," she said. "Does he do anything special?"
"Stella. You were in my dream the other night. And everyone called you Princess." -Lauren2010
I smiled lightly, looking at Fach, then back up to Lyss. "Yes, he does, he's a messenger dove. As long as he's around I can communicate with my loved ones at home. Maybe when I go home, we can still write each other. I would hate to lose a friend as good as you." She beamed, and I smiled back. "I would love that." Then her expression changed. "Is something wrong Lyss?" I asked, concerned for my new friend. The only real friend I had made here so far. "It's nothing, nothing you need to worry about." She said, trying to smile. "Are you sure. We're friends you can tell me anything." I said, trying to be reassuring. "Positive." She smiled up at me. Fach flew back over to me, landing on my shoulder and rubbing his head on my cheek. I giggled and ruffled his feathers, sighing.
"Even in the end --even in death-- I can't hate you." - Neri Hereford's last words.
"The Gods demand blood, for they... do not bleed." Jaska.
(Still confused on this, so correct me if I'm wrong.)
King Ghia was now infuriated. His general had insisted on going to Tigad's castle, even after Ghia had expressed his concerns for the boy. Tathiel was most wise, so he had no fear for his general's life. Unfortunately, Tigad's men were usually of the deranged type, and Ghia had just received word that part of Tigad's castle had went up in flames recently. Had his dear Ceria been hurt? Fanchon had not returned with any letters from her, making the king sick with fear for her life.
If Ceria had been hurt, though, Tathiel would have returned by now demanding an army to destroy Acoteg itself. This only slightly alleviated his fears.
"Your highness?" A smooth voice chimed out from behind him, giving him a good start. It was not one that he recognized.
Ghia turned to face this man, and looked upon him with wary eyes, "Who are you, and how did you get in here unnoticed?"
(I'm leaving this open for anyone, hopefully for one of the mercenaries.)
Joram "What are you doing within ten feet of Tathiel?"
Oh, there was Emilian, looking like hell had just swarmed over. Was that plaster?
Joram met his eyes, a frown stealing over his features. “I could not quite leave him to wander on his own, could I?” A speaking glance in Tathiel’s direction; the Neseradan was looking at them warily, and that large cat of his was glaring at them like it would like nothing more than rip their throats out.
The sentiment was shared. When they set their plan in motion, Joram was putting it down himself. Unless he could keep it for himself, maybe.
“Joram.” Emilian’s tone was low enough that it wouldn’t carry over to Tathiel, and harsher than he’d heard in a long time. “You were told to stay away from it. We can’t afford a diplomatic accident right now.”
Joram might have taken offence, but there was little to object here. Tathiel and he had faced each other across battlefields, and peace or not, the other general had obviously never quite dropped his guard around him.
Smart man.
With a last glare, Emilian was wheeling around to face Tathiel, obviously about to try and repair any damage Joram might have done, only to be shut down before he’d managed a full word. A closed door in one's face was a bit abrupt, but it got the message through.
Joram couldn’t help it: he laughed.
“I thing we’ll have our fun with him. What do you think?” There was little point in lingering now. He nodded at the guards that casually passed by, a guard-but-not just in case Tathiel got cocky, and dragged Emilian along the way before he snapped and did something drastic. It wasn’t in the younger man’s habit, but his temper had been fraying lately.
“We will have to tread softly around our dear guest, at least for a while.” He paused, almost hesitant for a second as he looked at Emilian—the tired look to him, the tension—then shook his head, chasing anything he might have wanted to say away in favor of quirking a brow at his friend. “Should we see if His Highness requires our services?”
Lumi: they stand no chance against the JAG SAFETY BLANKET
I sat talking with Lyss. Wishing Tathiel was here. Fach flew out the window, making me even more home sick. At least with Fach around I had some bit of home with me. When he left he took that. I hoped Lyss didn't see my sudden change in mood. One of the servants brushed passed me and started talking to a servant nearby. They were just within earshot. I leaned towards them a bit, a little interested with what they may have to say. "I heard from my sister who works in the gardens that the Neseradian general arrived earlier today." That was all I needed to hear. I quickly jumped up, eager to go see my love. "Where are you going?" Asked Lyss, sounding a little confused. I smiled happily, taking her hand and pulling her up. "Didn't you hear them? Tathiel is here. I want my future husband to meet my close friend." and with that I pulled her out of the room and headed down the hall. I would see him before the end of the day, if it was the last thing I ever did.
"Even in the end --even in death-- I can't hate you." - Neri Hereford's last words.
"The Gods demand blood, for they... do not bleed." Jaska.
Marlon's orders had changed. They were being pulled from the walls to escort General Tathiel around. Marlon was surprised that he had come to Acoteg in the first place. The only thing that kept Acoteg from invading Neserada was Tathiel. His forces were smaller, but better led. Now, he walked into the lion's den. All King Tigad needed to do was kill him and he could take half of Neserada in a single stroke. The general was foolish to enter the enemy fortress by himself; to do something that could easily be done by a lieutenant, and all the more foolish since his army was now headless. The only difference between them was that Marlon was keeping his identity a secret.
The only good news, if you could call it that, was that if the order did come down for Tathiel to be assassinated, they would probably ask Marlon to do it. He wouldn't fetch nearly as much as the princess would, but the amount would still be well worth the trouble.
Marlon found the general with his pet... jaguar. The animal growled at Marlon and his detachment.
"General Tathiel, my name is Captain Toodles Oxfield. My squad has been ordered to escort you as long as you are in the castle," Marlon said.
"I can protect myself quite well and Talon is more than capable at that job," General Tathiel said.
"That is the reason that we have been assigned to escort you. You represent a large threat to the security of Acoteg. I am here to make sure you do not kill my leaders in their sleep. I am for my leaders like your jaguar is for you, sir," Marlon said. Tathiel only shrugged.
"It is well that your leaders have thought for their own safety. I was beginning to think they were all fools."
"We wouldn't want that General. If you will please follow me, I will take you to your quarters. My instructions are that the jaguar must remain in your quarters but that you may wander around the public areas of the castle with one of my men present."
"And if I refuse?"
"My instructions are to escort you and your jaguar out of the city and to kill you both if either of you attempt to resist." The jaguar growled deeply and Tathiel quickly placed his hand on the creature. It calmed down, but still glared at the detachment.
The night was surprisingly calm as I walked along the battlements. What strange happenings lately, I thought, gazing out over the dark landscape. I smiled, thinking of my mother and how she would chide me for being out so late, especially on the battlements of the castle. She'd ask me if I wanted to die. I lost my smile; I wouldn't know how to answer that question...
A flare of light out of the corner of my eye caught my attention, and I turned towards it. Someone was on the wall with a lamp. I wonder why... As I watched, the light vanished and then reappeared a moment later. I followed it, and came across the new recruit, Toodles.
"What are you doing?" I asked, watching as he moved a blanket, folded in half, over the lamp and then removed it.
Startled, he turned towards me. "What am I doing?" he asked. "What are you doing? Walking the battlements at night, you're asking for trouble."
"I...couldn't sleep...."
"Ah," he said and smiled, placing the lamp on the wall. I hugged myself as a cool wind blew across the battlement, chilling me. "Here," Toodles said and offered me the blanket.
I let him wrap it around my shoulders and frowned. "What are you doing up here? It's the middle of the night."
He sighed and turned to look out over the darkened countryside. "I was talking to my cousin," he said in a low voice. "She's all alone back at the farm, no help from me..." He let the sentence trail away and blinked, turning back to me. "We lost our family to a drunk Acoteg General and his men about a year ago." He shook his head and picked up the lamp. "It was horrible..." he whispered and turned towards me. "Shall we?" he asked, gesturing to the steps behind him.
I looked at the steps, then at him. "What happened to your family?"
He sighed again and ran a hand through his hair. "My father was captured, tortured and then ripped apart by horse. My mother, my poor mother. I don't know if she's still alive or not; they must have..." He stopped talking. "You don't need to hear that... And my little sister, she was struck down by an axe."
Tears burned behind my eyes and I tried to blink them away. "How old was she?"
"Five," he said, head lowered. Then he looked up and stared at me. "Are you crying? Oh, my. You are! I'm sorry! I didn't mean to make you cry."
I gave him weak smile and turned my face away. "I'm fine. Your poor sister, your family..." I shook my head. "That's...sad. I don't know what more to say."
Toodles stepped closer to me and placed a hand on my shoulder. "It's okay. It was a long time ago now." He led me over to the steps. "Shall we? You look rather tired now."
I nodded and let him lead me down the stairs and back to the castle. What a horrible thing to happen to his family, and to think I never knew my father... At least I had my mother for as long as I did.
"With friends like you, who needs a medical license?" - Paimon, Aether's Heart
“It's easier to ask forgiveness than it is to get permission.” - Grace Hopper.
Things were going well, if the lady on his arm was any indication. The acting lessons were paying off handsomely. He was sure that he wouldn't see Callista again, but she had taken the bait. Marlon chanced a glance. Her eyes were still wet from crying, but she was still hauntingly beautiful in the moonlight. She turned to glance at him and he averted his eyes just in time to see Joram emerging out of the castle.
It was a good opportunity. He quickly grabbed her and pulled her into the shadows and covered her mouth to prevent the screaming.
"I'm sorry, but Joram would have seen us if we didn't hide. How well do you know him?"
"He's the King's top general, he talks to me sometimes," she whispered. Her eyes betrayed her fear of the man.
"He's also the general that killed my family and a very dangerous man. After I buried my family, I swore I would take him down," Marlon said.
"You mean to kill him?"
"No. Killing him won't bring my family back. They deserve justice, not vengeance. I want to expose him and those who follow him to the King. I hear that he is a just man and a reasonable one. But before I can do that, I need solid evidence to bring to the King. Otherwise, Joram will say I'm lying, then have me killed."
"How can I help?" she whispered.
"Show me where the records are kept. If I can get my hands on the reports made that night, as well as those of the team that discovered my parents; then I can bring those before the King and make my case. If you can locate where the classified documents are kept, I can get in and find them. Will you help me?" Marlon explained.
"Yes," she said.
"Be careful. If Joram finds out what either of us is doing, we're both dead. If I'm captured, go out to where my cousin lives, she'll get you to safety. Don't say any goodbyes, just walk out and keep walking." Marlon peeked around the corner, to see Joram enter his quarters.
"Looks like he's gone to bed," Marlon said. He turned back to Callista only to be caught in her embrace. She kissed him and stars seemed to explode in Marlon's brain. It lasted only a few seconds, but it seemed to last forever and it wasn't nearly long enough. She pulled back and looked into Marlon's eyes. Marlon saw her eyes sparkle, like diamonds and he found himself speechless for a moment.
"Why?" he asked when he regained his voice.
"Because you seek justice, not vengeance," came her reply. Marlon pulled her close and kissed her. This kiss lasted longer as they lingered in their embrace.
The king sat at his desk, looking over reports of Tathiel and Ceria's movements and the spring cleaning inventory. Currently the Neseradian General was keeping to himself in his quarters, though he had placed a request to see Ceria. Ceria was in the company of what Tigad understood to be a female bodyguard (though he could not recall any women among the ranks). Neither were causing trouble, something which the Acoteg King was grateful for, and so he felt inclined to grant the pair's request to see each other. First thing tomorrow morning, perhaps, and the three of them could have a pleasant conversation over breakfast. Maybe even a nice, picnic lunch out in the country; Ceria would probably enjoy that.
That decided it. Tomorrow the three of them would have a light and early breakfast before setting out for a picnic in the country (with entourage, of course), perhaps nearby at Lady Aneta's villa. A late dinner feat at the castle, complete with entertainment, would bring the day to a satisfying close. A wholly enjoyable day, perfect for fostering fond memories in all parties, especially considering it would be the last time Tathiel and Ceria would be together.
The "spring cleaning" had progressed most speedily, and currently the only furnishings in the tower were those in such disrepair as to be worthless. The day after the picnic, in the early hours of the morning, the mercenary attack would take place, as would the tragic fire which would claim General Tathiel's life. Upon seeing the charred body (of a convict with similar build to the Neseradian General, but the princess would not know that), Ceria would be understandably distraught, be in no condition to travel, and seek comfort, comfort which Tigad would be in a ready position to provide. It would take time before the gratitude would become something stronger, but Tigad was patient; if all went well, Acoteg and Neserada would be peacefully united within the decade to the benefit of both countries, leading to an era of unprecedented prosperity...
But he was getting ahead of himself. With a sigh, Tigad turned to the accounts; they were not good. Furnishing the princess' rooms had not been cheap, and attending to her wants was expensive. Coupled with the fact that there hadn't been much in the treasury to begin with, and the kingdom's finances did not look good. If only more merchants would set up shop in Acoteg, but how to entice them? There were few goods worth exporting, and there weren't enough folk rich enough to afford imports...
At least there was no need to hire mercenaries to deal with Tathiel and his men. Joram was quite useful in that regard; if only the man could be consistently more useful than the hazard he usually was...
A knock at the door disturbed Tigad's train of thought. "Come in," he called, trusting his guards to screen potential visitors.
The door opened to reveal an apprentice healer, quite young, carrying a familiar package. The boy tentatively stepped inside the room before coming to an uneasy stop a respectful distance in front of the king's desk.
"Sorry to disturb you, Your Majesty, but Master Ilgard sent me to give this to you." The boy laid the package gingerly upon the desk. "You forgot it in his room. He also said that the night is late and that you had better be either going to bed or in it when he comes to visit." Ilgard's messenger smiled apologetically.
Tigad sighed heavily, but took the package in hand and pushed back his chair. Trust Ilgard to follow up on his threats. "Ah yes" he said, smiling wryly at the boy. "It is quite late. Retiring for the night is probably wise. Tell Ilgard that his reminder has been noted."
"I will, Sire." With a bow the apprentice departed, and shortly after, Tigad rose and went to bed, hoping that Ilgard would see his guards at his bedroom door and not actually peek in.
I blushed and pushed him back, glancing around the corner. "He's gone," I whispered. Toodles tugged me back out of sight. He was watching me, silver eyes scanning my face. "What?" I asked.
"You should go back to your room."
I stared back at him for a moment. Callista, I told myself. You just kissed him and now he's suggesting that you go back to your room... I didn't finish the though.
"Yes," I said and stepped away. "I should go back." I smiled slightly and stepped around the corner only to be yanked back again.
"Let me walk you back?" he asked.
I nodded and together we left the safety of the shadows and wandered back to my room. It was a short, but quiet walk back. And he left me outside my door and walked off down the hall, pausing once or twice to see if I went in, which I did.
The door clicked shut behind me, and I leaned against it. Well, that was an interesting conversation... Smiling, I went and changed into my nightgown and climbed into bed, falling into a dreamless sleep.
"With friends like you, who needs a medical license?" - Paimon, Aether's Heart
“It's easier to ask forgiveness than it is to get permission.” - Grace Hopper.
Gender:
Points: 9046
Reviews: 114