With Daine
The fog surrounds her like it had done the night before and for a week of nights before that. Once more she hears the whimper of a small child and heads towards it with a lessened hope than that of the day before. 'Hello, who's out there?….' she bellows and the whimper increases in volume. She walks thither into the forest and turns a corner that is made by the bend of the trees. There on the floor is a small child of two or three winters. 'Hello' she gently says, the baby had little more than rags to cover her and bruises all over her small exposed body . The Smokey brown hair covers the babies face and the child pulls it to the side as she looks up. She is surprised to see her own blue-grey eyes look up at her. She opens her mouth to speak and her voice quakes 'who are you…what is your name?' she bends to look at the babe.
'Help me pwease' the baby begs, as she falls to the ground.
With Ellyessa
Blood drips from her lip and then she drops the weapon in her arms. She finds herself on her knees.
'It's not fair' she yells. 'Why must it be her, why is it always her?' her body beguines to shake and something warm slides down her nose. It passes onto her blooded lip and stings. 'WHY?' she yells again.
'She is born of the gods, it is her very blood that condemns her to life as a half human, never quite as good as other humans always somehow inferior' a voice informs from the sidelines.
'Who are you, What do you mean?' she yells but there is no reply. 'Show yourself' she demands.
'They fear her and the power she holds.. she is something that the people fear. They turn on her because she is above them and we gods shun her because she is beneath us' the voice breathes in. 'What a cursed life she leads, but we are getting off subject. I have a task for you youngster one to help you clear her name and maybe even save her life' the voice quietens and suddenly a young woman of about twenty with ebony hair and pale skin emerges. She has golden yellow eyes and wore a green and brown dress that looked as if it was made of the leaves and sticks of the forest floor. She was bare footed and a crown of silver and gold flowers nestled just above her brow and then Elly could only think this woman was the most beautiful being she might ever set eyes upon.
'I am Selene, trainee goddess of the forests and streams;' Selene smiles a soft kind of smile that eases away her worry.
'My brother is Drew, god in training of the sky's and mounting, we shall help you in the tasks ahead'
'Trainee…' She whispers.
'we are young, we are just babes in terms of the gods, my brother and I where born of the mortal woman Isis, and the god Marten of flames and woods, on the dawn of are seventeenth year we where given the choice of joining are mother and father in the hall of gods or returning to the earth as mere mortals, we chose the first and begun are training, that is five of your years ago'
'But gods are not allowed to meddle, wont you get into trouble' she inquires. She knows she is biding time, not sure what the task will entitle but if gods are melding then it would be big.
'We are allowed for this, this involves the gods just as much as it does you mortals, ah here comes my brother now' the goddess informs. Elly watches as a black crow lands on Selene as he gently preens her hair.
'Hello, winged sister' the crow speaks and before she notices what happens the crow became the most handsome man he had seen. He had short messy black hair with golden tips that crowned his godly face. His eyes reflect a sunset of colours before settling into a gentle sky blue. He was tall, taller than Numair or Lord Raoul of Goldernlake. His sister turns to hug him, she was only up to his shoulder. His eyes turn to face her and suddenly he smiles. 'Elly, How good to finally meet you, your mother spoke highly of you'
'My mother, how do you know her' Elly asks.
'Later, first we need your help, are aunt has sent the only witness of your mothers 'treason' to a safe place, we are to find are way to him and guide him the rest of the way here, her name must be cleared, but it shall not be easy' he looks at the sky then sighs. 'The road will be covered in are enemies and allies both, we will need to swerve through them both and reach are destination as quickly and safely as we can, will you agree to this mission.'
She falls into his gaze, her mind filled with fog and she finds herself nod. 'Yes' she mumbles.
Nearly four candle marks later and she was ready to leave. She had saddled Shadow and Spirit when a voice spoke from behind her. 'Where do you think you are going' comes the voice from the shadows, as Vania comes out of them. She was wearing cloths that hid her pregnancy well and as she looks closer she gulps. 'Your Vania…. As in princess Vania' it was not a question but a statement. The clothes she wore could only belong to a member of the royal family, and now her mind was working at the right pace she could see that Vania looked a lot like the queen, but more so like her father.
Vania gulps, her body fills with tension and she nods. 'Now tell me where you are going' the princess demands.
She looks at the woman who had pretended to be her friend, probably to see if she was really like her aunt, the woman who was probably never her friend in the first place. It hurt, this betrayal that Vania had committed, what moments in there so called friendship where real. She looks at the princess a flame in her eye and suddenly her 'Lana' temper appears.
'YOU…. HOW…. WHY DID YOU PRETEND?…. WHAT DID I DO TO YOU?…. DO YOU THINK IT WAS AMUSING?, DID YOU THINK THAT I COULD EVER TRUST YOU AFTER THIS?' she yells unable to stop herself. She felt betrayed and hurt. The same warm liquid from earlier falls down her face and onto her healing lip causing it to sting.
With Vania
'YOU…. HOW…. WHY DID YOU PRETEND?…. WHAT DID I DO TO YOU?…. DO YOU THINK IT WAS AMUSING?, DID YOU THINK THAT I COULD EVER TRUST YOU AFTER THIS?' Elly was yelling now. She guessed she should have expected it. This was a betrayal even if it was unintentional and Elly was even more upset because aunt Daine had been unconscious for two weeks now.
'I'm sorry, I wanted to tell you, I wanted you to know I was a princess. I just thought that if you knew you would treat me different, treat me like royalty. You are my first real friend, you're my best friend and I don't want to lose you' she watches as Ells face darkens and then slightly lighten.
'You didn't do this to spy on me, you actually wanted to be my friend, I…why? Elly stammers a befuddled look on her face.
'Of course not, did you truly think I would befriend you to… spite you?' she enquires. This is another reason she hates being royal. Her friend shakes her head, she did not truly believe it. 'Now tell me where you are going… if they catch you, you will be done for desertion.
'Wrong highness, I am mealy someone who gave up the idea of becoming a rider to follow a different path' Elly strokes the horse as she talks her voice cracks.
'But it is your dream to be a rider…. Why would you give it up when you are so close to achieving it' she ask looking, no searching for the a clue to the answer that her friend may display'
'BECAUSE SOMETHINGS ARE MORE IMPORTANT THAN DREAMS' Elly yells… 'and besides one can not disobey gods…'
'Then I shall come with you' She blurts without thinking.
'YOU ARE WITH CHILD' her friend yells in reminder 'and even if you where not I would not risk a princesses life…. That would be borderline treason'
' I shall be coming' She insists after all this was perhaps the only time she could use being royal to her advantage. Both jump when there is a chough from behind them.
With Alanna
She storms out of the infirmary. She can not believe they had kicked her out, sure she had not got enough energy left to heal a small cut let alone wherever ailment Daine had. The fact was she felt a need to be in the room as both an enemy and friend of the Wildmage,
She wonders what the woman would think of her now…. The girl that was not treasonous for no other reason than greed, the girl that she should have known did not write the letter.
'I hate you' she mumbles as she rests her head upon a glass pain. She is not sure who, Jon for kicking her out. D..Daine for being in the situation in the first place. The gods for not stopping the events in the first place or even herself.
She had been stupid., thinking that a letter proclaiming the Wildmage reasons for treason, had to be true. After all e had liked to think she knew the girl better and if it was true why would the child save the royals so many times even after her banishment. She remembers a time just six months after the MayDale battle. When the court had got a message to them delivered by a golden bird that Alanna had never seen before.
Flash back
It was an unusually bright morning at the palace that she had been forced to stay in until the twins had been born (last week). Groups of pages whispered to each other in hushed circles and she tries to listen to the quite whispers. She spots some pages in font of her and carefully she hides behind a suit of armour. She positions herself comfortably and begins to listens to what the group she had started to call Roulds group had to say. There where a few others who had joined them and Rould was noticeably absent.
'A letter that's what I heard' Nealan of Queenscove informs loudly his hands wave franticly in the air,
'How dare she, after all she has done she dare write to them' Keledry scoffs her eyes are dark and threatening'
'what did it say?' Owen asks.
'How would I know, she was probably begging for forgiveness' Neal shrugs.
'Bloody traitor should have been killed the moment master Numair caught her' Kel declares her lips pierce together in anger.
'But we all know why he didn't he loves her' a girl Alanna did not recognise informs.
'He loves her more than he is loyal, maybe he should join her in banishment' Joren snips in ' I always knew it was no good to have females In a positions of power' his eyes flick towards kel at this.
'How dare you Kel is far better than that traitor… erm guys Rould' Cleon informs
Alanna notices her nephew now he lips pierce together in worrynat his ash white face'
The group make noises of 'What's wrong?' and 'What happened?'
He looks at them and then he turns and he spots her…. 'Aunt Alanna you are needed in the study' he looks scared and defeated.
Alanna rushes to the hall ignoring the shocked look of Roulds group. 'Jon, Thayet… what is wrong' she inquires. Her eyes take in the form of the large golden bird. Jon hands her the letter without comment.
To Their Majesty's King Jonathan IV and his Queen, Thayet of Tortall, on the 4th day of June 457 He
And also to those of there inner circle who I am sure will read this letter.
This letter is to inform your Majesties of a threat I have heard to both your people and yourself.
By sending this letter I can rest easy knowing I am not allowing people to die needlessly.
I hope you are still reading. When passing through a small town I overheard two men talking in hushed whispers what I heard made me shiver.
The men who went by Ryan and Thorn spoke of a poison that there college a man named crown had placed into the water sources of Teppi. The poison is designed (from what I gathered) to take a month to activate. Some of the symptoms include a headache, stomach upset and feeling fatigue. The poison is called Rangor meaning Bloods Flow. It is a banned substance in Galla after the destruction of 439.
What worries me most is the fact they claimed the Queen and young prince Liam where already infected and that they plan to contaminate more of the water sources in Tortall.
After hearing the mens plans of attack, I took them aside and managed to get that the poison had been advanced so that the cure is not quite the same as it was in the Gallan massacre. Sadly healing two legers was my mothers strong point and not mine so I can not tell you the cure.
Wishing you the best of luck
The former Wildmage
Daine
They had thought the letter a lies to make them panic and had gone on pretending it did not arrive, that was until the queen showed the symptoms. The healers did what they could but to no avail. There hope came when two men entered the palace and walked right up to her, Numair and JON. 'You are the lioness' the first tanned man asked, his hair was dark brown and he stood about six foot five. She nods 'We have a delivery for you and a letter' he informs.
She carefully takes the letter. 'The package is outside' she nods and her hand opens the letter.
To Lady Alanna of Olau and Pirates swoop aster mage Numair, Spy masters Miles and George . Their Majesty's King Jonathan IV and his Queen, Thayet of Tortall, on the 28th day of June 457 (also anyone else who reads this)
I heard about the reception my last letter got… I thought this time I shall not send it by bird, but through two trusted friends of a friend. I am in Galla and I thought I can not get answers out of Ryan and Thorn so I will send them your way, on the other paper is all I have found out about the poison including that it killed over ten thousand people…
I am sad that you ignored my letter, but I understand… well good luck again and remember the antidote will have changed due to the modifications of the poison.
See you in my memories
The traitor Daine.
When they had walked outside they found two beaten men in a cage. It took hours but they eventually gave them the cure.
end flashback
She shakes her head. And beguines to walk, her feat taking her out of the palace and too the stables. She stops when she hears voices. '… if they catch you, you will be done for desertion' Vania voice informs.
'Wrong highness, I am mealy someone who gave up the idea of becoming a rider to follow a different path' Elly's voice is harsh and bitter. She listens as they argue, it is a gods order that Elly will leave, Vania wants to come and Elly is unable to persuade her to stay. She wonders how long the two girls had known each other.
'YOU ARE WITH CHILD and even if you where not I would not risk a princesses life…. That would be borderline treason'
Alanna decides to but in just as Vania informs Elly she will be coming.
'No you shall not Vania, but Elly shall not go alone, I will accompany her after all the more help the better.
? Pov
He feels his plans slipping through his figures, The child was back in Tortall abate unconscious and that retched queen was still living. His fist slams against the wooden table.
'RAT' he yells
'y…yes master' whimpers a man of twenty summers. The man had tatted black hair and blue eyes. He wore only rags to cover his disgusting body.
'Is the ritual prepare' he asks his eyes daring the man to say no.
'Yes, master' the lips quiver.
'It had best be or the boss shall have your guts for garters' he stands and storms past the scrawny man.
The boss would not be happy if he failed again, in fact it would be disastrous…. His body moves to the black hole that would be his help to destroy Tortall. A scream exits the hole and he chuckles he beguine to chant and suddenly the room is full of a dark light.