Chapter 8 – Indecision
Selina woke in a warm bed, the sunlight streaming through opened shutters accompanied by a gentle breeze that billowed through the satin curtains which hung atop her. She smiled contentedly, closing her eyes and running her fingers over the silk sheet on which she lay, relishing the smooth texture that was so hard to find in gritty land of Nasr. The air smelled damp and moist, probably because of the stream she could hear running through the room. The moving water kept it cool but comfortable when mixed with the warm beams of light which filtered in as well.
In a moment of remembrance she ran her hand inside the silk sleeping gown she wore to touch the pink scar which ran horizontally over her side, just below the rib cage. She didn't feel any dried blood, which must have meant she cleaned it sometime in between being shuffled into the guest house and getting into bed. She certainly didn't remember it though. In fact, most her recent memories seemed to be somewhat hazy.
"Milady?"
Selina opened her eyes and looked toward the doorway, squinting her eyes against the light. A young Yafutoman girl, probably about sixteen or seventeen years of age, was framed in the middle of the opening, her arms buried deep within her massive sleeves. She was pretty in a unique kind of way, like Selina herself. Her long raven hair fell to about waist and was clasped into a low ponytail with a bronze circlet, her bangs short on her forehead with two long strands flowing in front of her ears and down her front. Her eyes however were a stunning indigo, the color taking her slightly off guard.
"The Emperor has requested an audience with you."
"Me?" Selina knew she shouldn't be particularly surprised; it was just that she'd never met any... royalty before. She knew her family had connections, there wasn't a person on the planet who didn't know her grandparents, but the surname which she'd taken from her mother wasn't all that well known. The Delasari's had only been mildly successful merchant trader, or so she'd been told for most of her life. "I don't have anything to wear..." was the only excuse she could come up with as she pulled herself up into a sitting position.
"Don't worry about a thing milady, I took the liberty of taking the measurements from your dress and finding suitable clothing." the girl said, walking to the closet and pulling it open, "I think you'll find that most of it should fit you nicely."
Selina smiled, studying the girl, "Wow, such great service." She said finally, getting off the bed and crossing to the girl, thrusting out her hand, "Selina Delasari, and who might you be?"
The girl looked at the hand for a moment, then blushed and bowed deeply keeping her hands hidden inside her sleeves. "My name is Elysia."
"Elysia, eh? That's a pretty name." She complimented, starting to shuffle through the various gowns that hung in the closet. "Doesn't sound very Yafutoman though."
The girl's cheeks flushed even darker, contrasting her pale skin. "My father was Yafutoman... my mother... well... I don't know what my mother was. But it was she who named me."
"Anyway, it suits you well."
Selina pulled out a deep blue gown with deep white sleeves with baby blue accents. She was hoping the blue would bring out the accents of her eyes, while the white sleeves would compliment her hair. She held it up in front of her slim form, turning to the young Yafutoman.
"Is this appropriate for a meeting with a king?"
"It's lovely, miss."
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Ryne shifted his weight trying to find a position that was a little more comfortable with his hands shackled behind him, but failing miserably. His Valuan captors weren't being very hospitable, but he supposed that was to be expected. He was probably public enemy number one, though he'd done nothing to deserve it. As angry as he thought he should feel at Valua, he couldn't seem to find it in himself to hate them. They were doing what they thought was the right thing. The person he was angriest with was himself.
In his mind he kept replaying a scene. His daughter's face before he left her stranded in Nasrad. It was an expression of shock, of hopelessness, and even... hate. He couldn't let that be the last time he saw her. So this was what he had to do. He had to find some way to get to her, even if it meant relying on the people that were trying to kill her. He hoped that he still had some friends in high places...
A bust of light hit his eyes suddenly as the door cracked open on its slightly rusted hinges. For a moment he couldn't see who it was who come, but slowly his eyes had adjusted to the light and he could see the form of a man in Valuan armor come in and kneel by his side. He noticed that while he still wore the full metal uniform, absent was the bulbous helmet. He was a kid, no older than nineteen he guessed, with closely cropped brown hair and large brown eyes.
"Hey," he said, nudging him gently in the ribs with his fingers, "Are you awake?"
"Yeah..." Ryne grunted, "That would be why my eyes are open."
"I'm sorry, sir, my eyes are still adjusting to the light..."
"Yeah, you and me both, kid."
The young soldier circled around behind him and he could hear the ringing of metal on metal, a click, and then his hands popped free from the restricting shackles. Ryne rubbed his wrists, feeling the deep grooves that were etched in his reddened skin. He'd never been put in cuffs before and he hoped he'd never have to repeat the experience.
"Trust me, eh?"
The soldier looked at him warily, as if he hadn't slept in days. "Not particularly," he said simply, "but it's not my place to think about it. I'm just the guard, I don't really have a say in any of it."
Ryne pushed himself off the ground, standing face to face with the young man. He looked him for a moment, his fierce green eyes penetrating, then softening into a sort of grin. He placed his hand on the shoulder piece of his armor.
"It's alright, you probably shouldn't trust me." He said nonchalantly, "I am the enemy you know."
"Not in all circles, sir."
With that simple statement a face appeared in the doorframe that Ryne hadn't seen in years. He was heavier than when he last saw him and his auburn hair had begun showing traces of white, but there was no mistaking the deep brown eyes under that wrinkled brow. His face split into a wide smile as he was taken into a huge bear hug that reminded him just how long he'd been lying shackled on the floor of the ship.
"Well, you haven't changed at all Sly."
The larger man set him down, flashing a crooked grin. "Oh, you'd be surprised. I'm a respectable man; I even go by Wallin now."
"Wallin?" Ryne cocked an eyebrow, shaking his head with amusement, "That's an awful name..."
"Hey, that's the name my momma gave me," his old friend teased in mock- seriousness, "You're not exactly in the best position to be talking bad about other people's mothers."
Ryne smiled. For a moment he'd almost forgotten that he was a prisoner of Valua for suspected terrorism. That was probably the purpose of his old friend being here. To either "pacify" him, or get him out of this mess. He hoped it was the later, but with the betrayal of Rafe Falloy still fresh in his mind he was careful not to get his hopes up.
"So, what are you doing here Wallin?"
"I was hoping you could answer the same question, Ry." Wallin answered slickly, falling into the senatorial role he'd been elected into four years prior, "What are you doing here?"
Ryne heaved a deep sigh. To be completely honest, he didn't know exactly why he was here. He was just getting to the source of the problem. He hadn't formulated any plans as to what he was going to do once he got there. Sweet talk the Chief of State? Unlikely. Rage in, guns blazing, swords ringing, taking out everyone connected to the assassination attempt? The only thing that would accomplish would be practice for them to take out one Silvite before the last...
"I'm here to get answers." Was what he finally told his old friend. Wallin nodded his affirmation, patting the younger man on the shoulder.
"I understand," He said slowly, "If it were my daughter..."
"You're married?" Ryne interrupted, grinning.
"Hey, believe it or not, women appreciate a man who can make 'em laugh."
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He was late. Jaycera stood out on the widow's watch searching the skies for something, anything that would signal the return of her husband. It was an old habit she'd picked up from her mother and one her conscious mind despised. She should have more faith that the moons would bring her husband home. Worrying about something that wasn't in her power to change was pointless. But still, here she stood.
Below she could see her twin suns sparring out by the small pond, Celeste's daughter sitting at the sidelines. She couldn't help but wonder if this was a symbolic match of sorts. Their antics to try and win the heart of the brown eyed girl was a secret only to the trio... or maybe just the twins themselves. Something told her that Rachel knew too well what they were going through. She could see it in the weight she seemed to carry. The older they got, the bigger the beast grew that would devour their hearts. She could see it, but was powerless, and that killed her.
So many things to worry about...
She hadn't heard from Selina in months now. It comforted her a little to know that Ryne might be with her and forgetting about the time. But then again, something might be wrong.
That was when she spotted it. The great wooden bow at first, then the sails, the great white sails. As it neared she could see the flag, a white background with a blue handprint with a white circle in the middle of the palm and small white triangles bursting forth from it. She had designed it herself, based on the silver crystal embedded in her husband's right hand. It was this distinctive symbol that kept pirates away and now gave her hope.
She watched as it as it grew larger and larger, waiting for it to pull up to the dock before she burst away from the railing which she had been grasping white knuckled. She cleared through the front door, making a beeline for the dock as Ryne's first mate Jeyr hopped over the side to moor the Last Heir to the dock. She slowed when she saw him. Something was wrong. Ry was always the first one off the vessel when it came home, and when she finally caught the young man's eye her suspicions were confirmed.
"What's happened, Jeyr?" She asked slowly, her hand wandering up to her neck and clenching a fist-full of blouse, "Where is my husband?"
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Selina walked timidly into the Imperial Throne Room, gazing in awe at the beauty of it all. Almost everything in the room seemed to be made of gold, including a long dragon that bordered the edge of the ceiling. On a dais in the middle of it all sat a fierce looking man older than her grandfather. A man who knew her grandfather if memory served her correctly, but didn't everyone? To his left were three aides, who stood waiting with parchment, ink and quills. To his right sat the heir to the throne, a handsome young man in his mid twenties with several tattoos on his bare chest.
Her first instinct was to fall face-forward onto the marble floor before the throne, so she did such. The Emperor waited for a moment before a deep chuckle resounded throughout the room.
"I see you've been taught some manners," He said shaking his head, "I can't imagine that it came from your grandfather... or the company you travel with."
Selina lifted her head, her blue-green eyes questioning.
"You don't have to bow to me," He said, all traces of ferocity she saw there earlier erased by a wide grin. "I don't even make my own people bow."
Selina got off the ground and smiled appreciatively. "I'm sorry; it's just that I've never met an emperor of anything before."
"That's alright, I'm sure old Vyse met enough royalty for your entire family line." Selina merely nodded, not really knowing what to say. The old ruler seemed to sense her discomfort, "I'm going to get right to the point Selina. I think you may be in over your head."
"To tell you the truth, I don't even know what I'm in, sir." She said, "All I know is that a couple days ago some people were trying to kill me."
"And you don't know why?" Daigo asked, his head cocked slightly, "No one ever told you?"
Selina paused, cocking her head slightly but keeping her eyes trained on this old man, "What are you talking about?"
"Your Destiny, Selina Delasari," He said, holding his brown eyes to hers, "your destiny."
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Markos paced about in his room, running his fingers through his hair, which was beginning to take on a life all its own. He found himself pulling it back into his old familiar short ponytail, which he'd cut off when he left his home. He hadn't realized until now that his nervous habit was to play with it. He hadn't had much cause to be nervous before.
He could hear everything that was going on in the Emperor's throne room. It was rampaging through his head like a wildfire in the Ixa'Takan wilderness. If he concentrated hard enough he'd be able to see the room through the eyes of anyone he chose. Right now he was using Selina's ears, trying his best not to slip into her thought stream, which was becoming increasingly difficult with the onslaught flood of information that was streaming at her.
He didn't know what to think for himself at the moment. He'd known, of coarse, that Selina knew nothing of the prophesies concerning her, and had planned on keeping it that way. Now that she knew, things were going to be more difficult.
But then again, he seemed to thrive on adversity...
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Leos' first thought was to grab his family's sword. His thoughts were jumbled and erratic, but all kept coming back to the same thing. His father was being held captive by the Valuans, and he had to do everything in his power to get him back. A distant memory nagged in the back of his mind, something his grandfather had told him long ago, giving him a strange sense of déjà vu. But he couldn't concentrate on that right now, he had to run.
He gritted his teeth and ran to the last heir, bounding up the ramp and throwing his small satchel and weapon on the deck and bursting into the captain's quarters where his mother, Jeyr, and Celeste were. They didn't look in the least bit surprised to see him, his mother least of all. She looked at him for a moment with her icy blue gaze, then pulled back the open chair beside her.
"Sit down, calm down," was all she said to him, turning back to the other two people in the room who were seated on the opposite side.
"All I'm saying is that he knew what he was doing," Jeyr continued, looking right at Jay, "He turned himself in of his own accord; I don't think he would want us to go after him, guns blazing."
"I agree," Celeste added, leaning back in her chair and folding her arms, "We don't even know what they plan on doing with him, and it's not like they're going to execute him."
"And what would we do anyway," Jeyr piped up again, "Bust him out of the Grand Fortress?"
"Yes."
All eyes turned to Leos, who had been watching the exchange silently with a rising frustration. But as soon as he heard Jeyr's last statement, his grandfather's old tale sprung back to life. He had saved his father from Valua. And escaped the Grand Fortress... twice.
"Grandpa did it, why can't we?" he said after a moment, folding his arms across his chest.
"Leos, it's not the same," Selina said softly, in a firm but gentle voice that only mothers can manage, "Your grandfather escaped forty years ago. Valua's changed drastically in my own lifetime; I can only imagine what it was like before. The fortress was one of the only things on Valua practically untouched by the Rains, and was said to be impregnable before Vyse managed to get out."
"Not to mention that no one's ever broken out since." Jeyr added, "You think they didn't learn anything from those two escapes?"
"Well we can't just sit here!" Leos' fist crashed onto the table, though few looked surprised at the sudden outburst.
At that moment the door creaked open softly, a gentle contrast to the violent outburst from the enraged young man. Aerin and Rachel poked their heads in then slipped through the crack, Aerin shutting the door behind him and taking a seat beside his twin brother, the fourteen year old girl sitting beside her constantly stoic mother.
"What'd I miss?" The longer haired of the two boys asked, learning forward on the table to see both his mother and brother.
"Nothing," Leos answered, sighing, folding his arms across his chest and sitting back in his seat low, "Basically that we're not going to do anything to get Dad back."
"No one said we weren't going to do something Leos," Jaycera said calmly, "We just can't rush in recklessly. We need to send someone in to gauge the situation. Find out if he really is in any trouble."
"The trouble is most of us are pretty well known in Valua," Celeste cut in, "So we can't send the Last Heir or any of her crew..."
"Which is why you need us..." Rachel said meekly. All eyes turned to her now, the young brunette seeming to shirk even smaller in the limelight. "Aerin and Leos are known in Valua only by name, if at all, and I virtually don't exist. We can get in, get news, then come back if Ryne is in trouble."
There was silence for only a moment as all the adults looked at her as if she had gone insane, the twins trying to hide their own excitement at the prospect. However, one look at their mother dashed any hope that they had been fostering.
"No way," She said simply, shooting daring looks at her two sons, "I am not going to send three unsupervised children into Imperial City. Whatever trouble my husband has gotten himself into, it's not worth that risk by any stretch of the mind."
"Mom!" Leos protested, hunching up his shoulders, "You and dad were sixteen when you were trying to save grandma and grandpa!"
"Neither of us had parents at that time," Jaycera glared at the older twin, her voice becoming icy, "The situation was totally different, Leos."
"It's not a bad plan, Jay..." Celeste said, cocking her head to look at her long-time friend. Jaycera started to protest, but the last Moon Silvite held up one finger and continued, "I'd only make one change... you should go too. While the kids are there incognito gaining information, you should go and see if they'll let you, his wife, in to see Ry. If they do, you can find out first-hand what's going on."
"But won't they take her too?" Aerin asked, pursing his lips and resting his cheek on his palm.
"They can't, at least not without incriminating evidence," Jeyr said, inserting himself back into the conversation, "Valua is a Republic now. They can't just arrest anyone they want without reason."
Jaycera looked at everyone seated around the table one by one, meeting their eyes to hers before leaning back in her chair, sighing deeply. The rest waited for her to say something, the teenagers most of all. She closed her eyes, rubbing them with her thumb and forefinger for a moment, searching her mind for a legitimate excuse to keep her children out of this.
"Alright..." She said through gritted teeth, relenting for once in her life, "We'll leave tomorrow morning in the Last Heir, moor at Sailor's Isle, and buy a small ship in Rachel's name to take to Valua."
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"So let me get this straight," Selina said slowly, biting her thumbnail nervously, "The Valuan Republic is trying to kill me because of some prophesy made by a Silvite seer some thousands of years ago, that says that I, Selina Delasari, will one day bring ruin to the entire planet?"
"Yes, that's right." The Emperor looked grim as he nodded his affirmation.
"And Markos, the man I've been gallivanting across the skies with, is a member of a 'thought to be extinct race' of people known as the Melosians, who are the same people I'm supposed to take over the world with."
"Right again."
"Uh huh..." Selina propped her elbow on the arm of the seat she'd been provided with about fifteen minutes ago, resting her head on her palm, "And there's nothing anyone can do to stop it, eh?"
"Not that I am aware."
"Right..." She shook her head, bit her lower lip, then pushed herself up out of her chair, "Can I talk to Markos about all this?"
Daigo rubbed the side of his face then rubbed the bridge of his nose between his eyes, "Yes, you may. But I bid you to guard your mind around him. His people have the tendency to read and sometimes dominate minds. Question even thoughts you think are your own."
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In the old world, the people of the Black Moon were extremely devoted to their moon and the religious practices thereof. While the rest of Arcadia was experiencing a technological revolution, the Melanites were going through a spiritual revolution. Their moon granted them great mental powers in this time through their dedication and service to it. It was because of this gift that they gained the technology of flight, from the mind an engineer who'd stumbled upon their lands.
It was not long before they left the shadows and came into the sunlight.
Selina woke in a warm bed, the sunlight streaming through opened shutters accompanied by a gentle breeze that billowed through the satin curtains which hung atop her. She smiled contentedly, closing her eyes and running her fingers over the silk sheet on which she lay, relishing the smooth texture that was so hard to find in gritty land of Nasr. The air smelled damp and moist, probably because of the stream she could hear running through the room. The moving water kept it cool but comfortable when mixed with the warm beams of light which filtered in as well.
In a moment of remembrance she ran her hand inside the silk sleeping gown she wore to touch the pink scar which ran horizontally over her side, just below the rib cage. She didn't feel any dried blood, which must have meant she cleaned it sometime in between being shuffled into the guest house and getting into bed. She certainly didn't remember it though. In fact, most her recent memories seemed to be somewhat hazy.
"Milady?"
Selina opened her eyes and looked toward the doorway, squinting her eyes against the light. A young Yafutoman girl, probably about sixteen or seventeen years of age, was framed in the middle of the opening, her arms buried deep within her massive sleeves. She was pretty in a unique kind of way, like Selina herself. Her long raven hair fell to about waist and was clasped into a low ponytail with a bronze circlet, her bangs short on her forehead with two long strands flowing in front of her ears and down her front. Her eyes however were a stunning indigo, the color taking her slightly off guard.
"The Emperor has requested an audience with you."
"Me?" Selina knew she shouldn't be particularly surprised; it was just that she'd never met any... royalty before. She knew her family had connections, there wasn't a person on the planet who didn't know her grandparents, but the surname which she'd taken from her mother wasn't all that well known. The Delasari's had only been mildly successful merchant trader, or so she'd been told for most of her life. "I don't have anything to wear..." was the only excuse she could come up with as she pulled herself up into a sitting position.
"Don't worry about a thing milady, I took the liberty of taking the measurements from your dress and finding suitable clothing." the girl said, walking to the closet and pulling it open, "I think you'll find that most of it should fit you nicely."
Selina smiled, studying the girl, "Wow, such great service." She said finally, getting off the bed and crossing to the girl, thrusting out her hand, "Selina Delasari, and who might you be?"
The girl looked at the hand for a moment, then blushed and bowed deeply keeping her hands hidden inside her sleeves. "My name is Elysia."
"Elysia, eh? That's a pretty name." She complimented, starting to shuffle through the various gowns that hung in the closet. "Doesn't sound very Yafutoman though."
The girl's cheeks flushed even darker, contrasting her pale skin. "My father was Yafutoman... my mother... well... I don't know what my mother was. But it was she who named me."
"Anyway, it suits you well."
Selina pulled out a deep blue gown with deep white sleeves with baby blue accents. She was hoping the blue would bring out the accents of her eyes, while the white sleeves would compliment her hair. She held it up in front of her slim form, turning to the young Yafutoman.
"Is this appropriate for a meeting with a king?"
"It's lovely, miss."
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Ryne shifted his weight trying to find a position that was a little more comfortable with his hands shackled behind him, but failing miserably. His Valuan captors weren't being very hospitable, but he supposed that was to be expected. He was probably public enemy number one, though he'd done nothing to deserve it. As angry as he thought he should feel at Valua, he couldn't seem to find it in himself to hate them. They were doing what they thought was the right thing. The person he was angriest with was himself.
In his mind he kept replaying a scene. His daughter's face before he left her stranded in Nasrad. It was an expression of shock, of hopelessness, and even... hate. He couldn't let that be the last time he saw her. So this was what he had to do. He had to find some way to get to her, even if it meant relying on the people that were trying to kill her. He hoped that he still had some friends in high places...
A bust of light hit his eyes suddenly as the door cracked open on its slightly rusted hinges. For a moment he couldn't see who it was who come, but slowly his eyes had adjusted to the light and he could see the form of a man in Valuan armor come in and kneel by his side. He noticed that while he still wore the full metal uniform, absent was the bulbous helmet. He was a kid, no older than nineteen he guessed, with closely cropped brown hair and large brown eyes.
"Hey," he said, nudging him gently in the ribs with his fingers, "Are you awake?"
"Yeah..." Ryne grunted, "That would be why my eyes are open."
"I'm sorry, sir, my eyes are still adjusting to the light..."
"Yeah, you and me both, kid."
The young soldier circled around behind him and he could hear the ringing of metal on metal, a click, and then his hands popped free from the restricting shackles. Ryne rubbed his wrists, feeling the deep grooves that were etched in his reddened skin. He'd never been put in cuffs before and he hoped he'd never have to repeat the experience.
"Trust me, eh?"
The soldier looked at him warily, as if he hadn't slept in days. "Not particularly," he said simply, "but it's not my place to think about it. I'm just the guard, I don't really have a say in any of it."
Ryne pushed himself off the ground, standing face to face with the young man. He looked him for a moment, his fierce green eyes penetrating, then softening into a sort of grin. He placed his hand on the shoulder piece of his armor.
"It's alright, you probably shouldn't trust me." He said nonchalantly, "I am the enemy you know."
"Not in all circles, sir."
With that simple statement a face appeared in the doorframe that Ryne hadn't seen in years. He was heavier than when he last saw him and his auburn hair had begun showing traces of white, but there was no mistaking the deep brown eyes under that wrinkled brow. His face split into a wide smile as he was taken into a huge bear hug that reminded him just how long he'd been lying shackled on the floor of the ship.
"Well, you haven't changed at all Sly."
The larger man set him down, flashing a crooked grin. "Oh, you'd be surprised. I'm a respectable man; I even go by Wallin now."
"Wallin?" Ryne cocked an eyebrow, shaking his head with amusement, "That's an awful name..."
"Hey, that's the name my momma gave me," his old friend teased in mock- seriousness, "You're not exactly in the best position to be talking bad about other people's mothers."
Ryne smiled. For a moment he'd almost forgotten that he was a prisoner of Valua for suspected terrorism. That was probably the purpose of his old friend being here. To either "pacify" him, or get him out of this mess. He hoped it was the later, but with the betrayal of Rafe Falloy still fresh in his mind he was careful not to get his hopes up.
"So, what are you doing here Wallin?"
"I was hoping you could answer the same question, Ry." Wallin answered slickly, falling into the senatorial role he'd been elected into four years prior, "What are you doing here?"
Ryne heaved a deep sigh. To be completely honest, he didn't know exactly why he was here. He was just getting to the source of the problem. He hadn't formulated any plans as to what he was going to do once he got there. Sweet talk the Chief of State? Unlikely. Rage in, guns blazing, swords ringing, taking out everyone connected to the assassination attempt? The only thing that would accomplish would be practice for them to take out one Silvite before the last...
"I'm here to get answers." Was what he finally told his old friend. Wallin nodded his affirmation, patting the younger man on the shoulder.
"I understand," He said slowly, "If it were my daughter..."
"You're married?" Ryne interrupted, grinning.
"Hey, believe it or not, women appreciate a man who can make 'em laugh."
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He was late. Jaycera stood out on the widow's watch searching the skies for something, anything that would signal the return of her husband. It was an old habit she'd picked up from her mother and one her conscious mind despised. She should have more faith that the moons would bring her husband home. Worrying about something that wasn't in her power to change was pointless. But still, here she stood.
Below she could see her twin suns sparring out by the small pond, Celeste's daughter sitting at the sidelines. She couldn't help but wonder if this was a symbolic match of sorts. Their antics to try and win the heart of the brown eyed girl was a secret only to the trio... or maybe just the twins themselves. Something told her that Rachel knew too well what they were going through. She could see it in the weight she seemed to carry. The older they got, the bigger the beast grew that would devour their hearts. She could see it, but was powerless, and that killed her.
So many things to worry about...
She hadn't heard from Selina in months now. It comforted her a little to know that Ryne might be with her and forgetting about the time. But then again, something might be wrong.
That was when she spotted it. The great wooden bow at first, then the sails, the great white sails. As it neared she could see the flag, a white background with a blue handprint with a white circle in the middle of the palm and small white triangles bursting forth from it. She had designed it herself, based on the silver crystal embedded in her husband's right hand. It was this distinctive symbol that kept pirates away and now gave her hope.
She watched as it as it grew larger and larger, waiting for it to pull up to the dock before she burst away from the railing which she had been grasping white knuckled. She cleared through the front door, making a beeline for the dock as Ryne's first mate Jeyr hopped over the side to moor the Last Heir to the dock. She slowed when she saw him. Something was wrong. Ry was always the first one off the vessel when it came home, and when she finally caught the young man's eye her suspicions were confirmed.
"What's happened, Jeyr?" She asked slowly, her hand wandering up to her neck and clenching a fist-full of blouse, "Where is my husband?"
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Selina walked timidly into the Imperial Throne Room, gazing in awe at the beauty of it all. Almost everything in the room seemed to be made of gold, including a long dragon that bordered the edge of the ceiling. On a dais in the middle of it all sat a fierce looking man older than her grandfather. A man who knew her grandfather if memory served her correctly, but didn't everyone? To his left were three aides, who stood waiting with parchment, ink and quills. To his right sat the heir to the throne, a handsome young man in his mid twenties with several tattoos on his bare chest.
Her first instinct was to fall face-forward onto the marble floor before the throne, so she did such. The Emperor waited for a moment before a deep chuckle resounded throughout the room.
"I see you've been taught some manners," He said shaking his head, "I can't imagine that it came from your grandfather... or the company you travel with."
Selina lifted her head, her blue-green eyes questioning.
"You don't have to bow to me," He said, all traces of ferocity she saw there earlier erased by a wide grin. "I don't even make my own people bow."
Selina got off the ground and smiled appreciatively. "I'm sorry; it's just that I've never met an emperor of anything before."
"That's alright, I'm sure old Vyse met enough royalty for your entire family line." Selina merely nodded, not really knowing what to say. The old ruler seemed to sense her discomfort, "I'm going to get right to the point Selina. I think you may be in over your head."
"To tell you the truth, I don't even know what I'm in, sir." She said, "All I know is that a couple days ago some people were trying to kill me."
"And you don't know why?" Daigo asked, his head cocked slightly, "No one ever told you?"
Selina paused, cocking her head slightly but keeping her eyes trained on this old man, "What are you talking about?"
"Your Destiny, Selina Delasari," He said, holding his brown eyes to hers, "your destiny."
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Markos paced about in his room, running his fingers through his hair, which was beginning to take on a life all its own. He found himself pulling it back into his old familiar short ponytail, which he'd cut off when he left his home. He hadn't realized until now that his nervous habit was to play with it. He hadn't had much cause to be nervous before.
He could hear everything that was going on in the Emperor's throne room. It was rampaging through his head like a wildfire in the Ixa'Takan wilderness. If he concentrated hard enough he'd be able to see the room through the eyes of anyone he chose. Right now he was using Selina's ears, trying his best not to slip into her thought stream, which was becoming increasingly difficult with the onslaught flood of information that was streaming at her.
He didn't know what to think for himself at the moment. He'd known, of coarse, that Selina knew nothing of the prophesies concerning her, and had planned on keeping it that way. Now that she knew, things were going to be more difficult.
But then again, he seemed to thrive on adversity...
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Leos' first thought was to grab his family's sword. His thoughts were jumbled and erratic, but all kept coming back to the same thing. His father was being held captive by the Valuans, and he had to do everything in his power to get him back. A distant memory nagged in the back of his mind, something his grandfather had told him long ago, giving him a strange sense of déjà vu. But he couldn't concentrate on that right now, he had to run.
He gritted his teeth and ran to the last heir, bounding up the ramp and throwing his small satchel and weapon on the deck and bursting into the captain's quarters where his mother, Jeyr, and Celeste were. They didn't look in the least bit surprised to see him, his mother least of all. She looked at him for a moment with her icy blue gaze, then pulled back the open chair beside her.
"Sit down, calm down," was all she said to him, turning back to the other two people in the room who were seated on the opposite side.
"All I'm saying is that he knew what he was doing," Jeyr continued, looking right at Jay, "He turned himself in of his own accord; I don't think he would want us to go after him, guns blazing."
"I agree," Celeste added, leaning back in her chair and folding her arms, "We don't even know what they plan on doing with him, and it's not like they're going to execute him."
"And what would we do anyway," Jeyr piped up again, "Bust him out of the Grand Fortress?"
"Yes."
All eyes turned to Leos, who had been watching the exchange silently with a rising frustration. But as soon as he heard Jeyr's last statement, his grandfather's old tale sprung back to life. He had saved his father from Valua. And escaped the Grand Fortress... twice.
"Grandpa did it, why can't we?" he said after a moment, folding his arms across his chest.
"Leos, it's not the same," Selina said softly, in a firm but gentle voice that only mothers can manage, "Your grandfather escaped forty years ago. Valua's changed drastically in my own lifetime; I can only imagine what it was like before. The fortress was one of the only things on Valua practically untouched by the Rains, and was said to be impregnable before Vyse managed to get out."
"Not to mention that no one's ever broken out since." Jeyr added, "You think they didn't learn anything from those two escapes?"
"Well we can't just sit here!" Leos' fist crashed onto the table, though few looked surprised at the sudden outburst.
At that moment the door creaked open softly, a gentle contrast to the violent outburst from the enraged young man. Aerin and Rachel poked their heads in then slipped through the crack, Aerin shutting the door behind him and taking a seat beside his twin brother, the fourteen year old girl sitting beside her constantly stoic mother.
"What'd I miss?" The longer haired of the two boys asked, learning forward on the table to see both his mother and brother.
"Nothing," Leos answered, sighing, folding his arms across his chest and sitting back in his seat low, "Basically that we're not going to do anything to get Dad back."
"No one said we weren't going to do something Leos," Jaycera said calmly, "We just can't rush in recklessly. We need to send someone in to gauge the situation. Find out if he really is in any trouble."
"The trouble is most of us are pretty well known in Valua," Celeste cut in, "So we can't send the Last Heir or any of her crew..."
"Which is why you need us..." Rachel said meekly. All eyes turned to her now, the young brunette seeming to shirk even smaller in the limelight. "Aerin and Leos are known in Valua only by name, if at all, and I virtually don't exist. We can get in, get news, then come back if Ryne is in trouble."
There was silence for only a moment as all the adults looked at her as if she had gone insane, the twins trying to hide their own excitement at the prospect. However, one look at their mother dashed any hope that they had been fostering.
"No way," She said simply, shooting daring looks at her two sons, "I am not going to send three unsupervised children into Imperial City. Whatever trouble my husband has gotten himself into, it's not worth that risk by any stretch of the mind."
"Mom!" Leos protested, hunching up his shoulders, "You and dad were sixteen when you were trying to save grandma and grandpa!"
"Neither of us had parents at that time," Jaycera glared at the older twin, her voice becoming icy, "The situation was totally different, Leos."
"It's not a bad plan, Jay..." Celeste said, cocking her head to look at her long-time friend. Jaycera started to protest, but the last Moon Silvite held up one finger and continued, "I'd only make one change... you should go too. While the kids are there incognito gaining information, you should go and see if they'll let you, his wife, in to see Ry. If they do, you can find out first-hand what's going on."
"But won't they take her too?" Aerin asked, pursing his lips and resting his cheek on his palm.
"They can't, at least not without incriminating evidence," Jeyr said, inserting himself back into the conversation, "Valua is a Republic now. They can't just arrest anyone they want without reason."
Jaycera looked at everyone seated around the table one by one, meeting their eyes to hers before leaning back in her chair, sighing deeply. The rest waited for her to say something, the teenagers most of all. She closed her eyes, rubbing them with her thumb and forefinger for a moment, searching her mind for a legitimate excuse to keep her children out of this.
"Alright..." She said through gritted teeth, relenting for once in her life, "We'll leave tomorrow morning in the Last Heir, moor at Sailor's Isle, and buy a small ship in Rachel's name to take to Valua."
*********************************************************
"So let me get this straight," Selina said slowly, biting her thumbnail nervously, "The Valuan Republic is trying to kill me because of some prophesy made by a Silvite seer some thousands of years ago, that says that I, Selina Delasari, will one day bring ruin to the entire planet?"
"Yes, that's right." The Emperor looked grim as he nodded his affirmation.
"And Markos, the man I've been gallivanting across the skies with, is a member of a 'thought to be extinct race' of people known as the Melosians, who are the same people I'm supposed to take over the world with."
"Right again."
"Uh huh..." Selina propped her elbow on the arm of the seat she'd been provided with about fifteen minutes ago, resting her head on her palm, "And there's nothing anyone can do to stop it, eh?"
"Not that I am aware."
"Right..." She shook her head, bit her lower lip, then pushed herself up out of her chair, "Can I talk to Markos about all this?"
Daigo rubbed the side of his face then rubbed the bridge of his nose between his eyes, "Yes, you may. But I bid you to guard your mind around him. His people have the tendency to read and sometimes dominate minds. Question even thoughts you think are your own."
*************************************************
In the old world, the people of the Black Moon were extremely devoted to their moon and the religious practices thereof. While the rest of Arcadia was experiencing a technological revolution, the Melanites were going through a spiritual revolution. Their moon granted them great mental powers in this time through their dedication and service to it. It was because of this gift that they gained the technology of flight, from the mind an engineer who'd stumbled upon their lands.
It was not long before they left the shadows and came into the sunlight.
