2/Caleydra

Author's note: Lot of action in this chapter. God, I love Taborlin. I almost hate what I'm about to do in the next couple chapters. Mild language and some slightly adult content.

Stella marched through the palace. Servants and attendants scurried out of her way like vermin. No! That couldn't happen. If that child realized the full extent of her power, it could mean the end of her rule. She'd always thought that Kentar should have been destroyed, but at the time, she'd had too many problems in her own territory to see to it. That could easily be remedied. That child wouldn't ever think of destroying her--she would serve her. Now. Where were the servants she'd need?

There. That one would do nicely. He was the most beautiful man in her court, and the most troublesome. He was tall, with long, thick, black hair, a well-honed body, and alluring blue eyes. He was also reluctant to submit to his proper place in the court. Yes. This offer should intrigue him.

As she approached him, his ocean-blue eyes hardened. "Lady," he greeted her with cold civility. "How may I serve?"

"Taborlin," she murmured. "Why do you regard me with such hatred? Have I not done everything in my power to help you?"

"You are a liar, a usurper, and a bitch. I serve you because I am forced to, and our feelings for each other are mutual dislike. Now. I ask again: How can I serve? Tell me what you want, so that we both may return to our own devices."

"Taborlin. You forget your place. I am the queen here, and you are but a slave. If you continue with this insolence, you may yet force me to kill you."

"I forget nothing, lady," he said, smiling mockingly. "And you'll never have me killed."

He was right, of course, but no reason to let him know that. "Why do you rest so assured of your value to me?"

He sighed and began walking slowly toward her. When he reached her, he slid his arms around her, holding her against him. The look in his eyes was wild, but his lips were soft and warm as he kissed her. Before she could stop herself, she moaned, and opened her lips, sliding her tongue into his mouth. Could it be possible? This was exactly what she'd always been waiting for. She needed to feel him harden against her. She reached for the zipper on the jeans separating them.

He pulled away from her roughly, laughing coldly. "That, lady is exactly why you won't kill me," he said softly. "The chance that I might one day give you an offspring strong enough to hold Caleydra after you're dead is just too much for you to give up."

"All this is just a game to you, isn't it?" she asked, tears involuntarily falling down her cheeks.

"You insult me, lady," he said mildly. "Just so we understand each other, no. this is not a game. I take undermining you with deadly seriousness. So, for the third time, I ask you: What do you want here?"

"I... Yes. It is time that Kentar was destroyed completely. I will send all the wizards there, including the servants, with one exception, that being Kerawon there." She turned to a tall man in his early thirties. He was tall, with short, curly brown hair and eyes, and a short, neatly-trimmed beard. "We will have a meeting of the queens who work under me in the territory. He will stay to entertain the coven. Or would you prefer to go to Kentar? She smiled in anticipation.

"No, lady," he answered resignedly. It would be my honor to serve the coven."

"Very good. Now, Taborlan, if you find anyone who has a trace of the power, they are to be brought back here immediately."

"I see. And when do we leave?"

"Tomorrow at sunrise."

"Very well."

*

AS Stella left the servant's wing, Taborlin turned back to Traeliass, Jaynaos, and Kerawon. "She oversteps her duties as queen, again. As if enslaving less-powerful wizards wasn't enough, she sends us to destroy one of the last old places. What the lady proposes will be a slaughter of who knows how many Innocent. I will not partake of this. It's time to risk the spell."

Traeliass shuddered. "You think a lifetime of madness would be worse?" That was it. The reason So few people refused to defy Stella. Once any person was put into her service, a spell was woven around there mind so that if they ever tried to leave her, they would be lost forever in madness.

"It is," he said. "It's us or them, and even if she continues with her plan, I will not be part of it."

"You speak treason, my friend," said Kerawon. "Brave and noble words, but I fear that I can not join you. I must wait here if I am to be any use should the nainen unet appear. I give you my word, however, that I will reveal nothing of your plans to the lady."

"Well, that is the most I can ask of you. So, we meet at the edge of the woods, and leave at midnight. Agreed, Traeliass? Jaynaos?" The woods were the only safe place in Caleydra. For some reason, Stella could not control them. Some said it was because the old creatures still lived there. Some said that the gods had been merciful and left one safe place. Even some speculated that all the ghosts of her victims made a home there, and she could not overwhelm their combined power. But, for whatever reason, her magic could not penetrate its borders.

When both gave their ascent, he felt as if a great weight had been lifted from his shoulders. It was likely that he would forever be trapped in madness, but he wouldn't be alone.