Author´s note: After the long explanation of the last chapter, I think we all deserve some nice action, movement, drama! I´m taking my time these days but all for a good reason. On Friday, I am off for the weekend because I have a wedding. But I´ll back as soon as possible.
The Court of Blood is on the move!
Songs belong to Within Temptation and Nightwish.
7. Out of Heaven
Aisha, Taito and Gru are waiting at the doors of the palace. Guy is about to arrive to present himself to Pharaoh. And afterwards, reporting for Abra. Not bad for the first day although, it is hard to come up with a plan to find Wagyl and take it back to his place.
"Well? Did you followed Amesh?" Guy is now well dressed and ready for the audition.
"Yep. He has a big plan on the move. He wants to blackmail that Queen and anger the spirits."
"So much for villains creativity. And did you get all the details?"
"Aye."
"Good. Now let´s see what colours does this Theti have for eyes." They walk inside where many noblemen are presenting their loyalties to the crown. Guy spots Papyrus easily and smiles. "And there is our little bundle of joy." Wagyl is next to the fisherman. A grin appears in his face for a few seconds before bowing before Pharaoh. "Life, force and Strenght, lord of the Double Kingdom. My name is Guy L. Pride, I am a noble man of a near country."
"What business do you have in Egypt, Sir Guy?"
"Just a few for my king. I have heard wonderful things about your land and I am honoured to be here before you, your gracious." Taito, Aisha and Gru hold a snigger. If Guy is sucking up to someone, that means he is up to something. And often, that he does not like his adressee.
"What position do you have?"
"Governor or Administrator." The gray hairs of his black bob make him look a bit more older. Most of the court nods but Papyrus frowns, there is something about this man that he does not like because Wagyl looks a bit scared and Ratopher seems a bit unsure.
"Then please, feel welcome."
"I will, your grace. And if there is anything I can do for you, please tell me." Only a few notice the black tattooes in his right arm but they say nothing and see him leave.
"Quite an elegant fellow." Says the Grand Vizier.
"Indeed."
XXXX
Back in the courtyard, Sal is introduced to Pharaoh. Theti smiles widely. Salvador is quite a young, handsome and witty character. And what´s best, he is staying along Poly and Cheshi. And speaking of the domo, when he hears Papyrus mentioning Guy, he goes all pale.
"Oh, dear. I can´t believe you just let him walk away like that."
"What do you mean?"
"Oh, dear me. You didn´t take notice of his tattooes?"
"Yes but they were not like Wagyl´s. They were strange and a bit horrifying."
"You Egyptians are so ignorant of the world! Guy L. Pride is a well known criminal!" Says Cheshi.
"WHAT?"
"What I´ve just said. Guy is a murderer. A regicide. He is one of the prisioners of Sunken Island, the prison for the worst creatures on earth. He is also a member of the Court of Blood."
"The what?"
" (Sigh) It is an ancient brotherhood of all the inmates of Sunken Island. Its origins are quite dark but its rom baro, its leader, is the Rain God. All the members have done horrible crimes and in order to redeem themselves and leave the island forever, they must proof themselves to their chieftain and gain his forgiveness. Is a bit complicated."
"So, this man killed a king?"
"His brother, to be exact. Guy loves slaying important folks. Anyway, can you remember the drawings he had in his skin?"
"Yes."
"Then you must have seen a big wolf with only one eye, the symbol of the Court of Blood." Cheshi draws it in a piece of papyrus. The boy´s heart stops dead. That creature, one eye. It´s...
"The child without a name grew up to be the hand
To watch you, to shield you or kill on demand
The choice he'd made he could not comprehend
His blood a grim secret they had to command
He's torn between his honor and the true love of his life
He prayed for both but was denied
So many dreams were broken and so much was sacrificed
Was it worth the ones we loved and had to leave behind?
So many years have past, who are the noble and the wise?
Will all our sins be justified?
The curse of his powers tormented his life
Obeying the crown was a sinister price
His soul was tortured by love and by pain
He surely would flee but the oath made him stay
He's torn between his honor and the true love of his life
He prayed for both but was denied
So many dreams were broken and so much was sacrificed
Was it worth the ones we loved and had to leave behind?
So many years have past, who are the noble and the wise?
Will all our sins be justified?
Please forgive me for the sorrow, for leaving you in fear
For the dreams we had to silence, that's all they'll ever be
Still I'll be the hand that serves you
Though you'll not see that it is me
So many dreams were broken and so much was sacrificed
Was it worth the ones we loved and had to leave behind?
So many years have past, who are the noble and the wise?
Will all our sins be justified?"
InTerrUptinG oUr gaME… THis ONe diD Not KNow hOw to PLay… PRoperLY. NighTMAre of PEOple liKE tHIs PuNY priEST. I Am thy HANd Of SOrrOW. DO YoU KNoW THis ONe, RiVEr CHilD? QUIte NAUghtY… QuITE thE NAUghtiEST of THEM ALL. WhAT A bIG EYeS YOU hAvE, CHilD.
That wolf, that nighmare creature that he met in the village. Now he is sure. The wolf is far from done with him and Egypt.
"Not him, not this beast." Mutters the boy.
"Am afraid, young master, that it is. The one-eyed terror has still things to do in Egypt."
XXX
Guy waits for sunset and goes to a shore where he throws a stone into the waters of the Nile. After a few seconds, Abra appears in the surface of the water sitting in his favourite spot of the island, the belltower.
"Well?"
"Ahmes has decided himself. He will blackmail the Egyptians and bring the anger of the Spirit World. And to do so, he has the help of Aso, the Nubian Queen."
"I see. Well, in that case, we will act before he does. I shall send someone to hustle things a little bit. Papyrus will surely act but our goal is that dim witted prince, don´t you forget about it."
"I won´t, my lord."
"You, Guy, will make sure that Ahmes stays away from the crown, no matter the costs and if there is any Aker minion around, you know what to do."
"Aye, sir." The image disappears. "Time to set the playground. Oh, boys! Is party time, my darlings!"
"YES!" The three lycaons bark at once.
Meanwhile, a strange dream full of fire, ghost and dreadful creatures wakes up Maestro from his slumber. He lives between worlds and serves Hakuwaka in his quest to keep balance between creatures, but this dream cannot be good. They must act and fast before Abra rushes things too much.
Maestro bounces around his etereal little space with the whirlwind that is his legs and with a movement of his hands, the coloured and strange walls formed a window where the head of the River God appears.
"What is it, my good friend?"
"Am afraid, I have a bad foretelling. Wagyl is on Earth, we do know that, but terrible things are about to happen due to his presence."
"Then we must act." The white dragon moves his ears.
"Yes, we must. But we must not disturb the Realm of the Spirits or Enaguda will send his soul catchers to erase men."
"Very well, I shall leave this to you, Maestro. But please, be careful. The balance between Middle Earth and the Spirit Land is very important."
"I will handle it with all the care in the universe."
"Go now and do not doubt to call our friends if you need them."
"Riddler Riddler ask me why
The birds fly free on a mackerel sky
Ask me whither goes the wind
Whence the endless tick-tick stream begins
Make me guess if the earth is flat or round
Set a guessing if fantasies are unbound
If tales aren't just for children to see
That it's peace if sleep walks with me
As you wish
For kingdom come
The one to know all the answers
You think you dwell in wisdoms sea
Still sweet ignorance is the key
To a poet's paradise
Challenge the Riddler and you will see...
Riddler Riddler ask me why
All mothers beneath the Earth and sky
Hold their children's hands for a while
Their hearts forever - yours and mine
Make me wonder what's the meaning of life
What's the use to be born and then die
Make me guess who's the one
Behind the mask of Father and Son
As you wish...
For nature hates virginity
I wish to be touched
Not by the hands of where's and why's
But by the Oceans' minds
As you wish..."
Who will Abra send this time?
Who is Maestro and how will he help our friends?
What is Ahmes up to?
Next stop: The Reign of Fire
