Something, I want to mention: They alternatively call days "cycles" and months "lunar cycles". This is because a cycle/lunar cycle is a general day/month on a hive ship where as a day/month is determined by that specific planets orbit. There are some odd hints in this chapter about what happened in the past, but I plan to have it explained in more detail a little later. Enjoy the suspense, muhahahaha! Please review.

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Norvely - I felt one of them touch my mind but the gate opened and we flew through the portal.

Lorez - My veins felt alive and my mind clearer than it has been in 140 years. My lovely…

~---~

My arm hurt as we ran. He did not talk to me and only stopped to check an open area before grabbing my arm again and we ran even further. My arm was getting sore at being half dragged through dense bushes and forests.

I whipped to the ground as he threw me down on a small dense clearing.

Reyta: "What were you thinking?!"

I was worried I had broken something on the fall but after rubbing my arm and sitting up, I realized it was nothing serious.

*Reyta* continued to stomp around growling at me. There were times like this I wish he was older. His youth reflected in his impatient behavior.

Norvely: "It was wrong-"

Reyta: "Wrong? Wrong is not answering correctly to a test. You deliberately called out to them!"

He hit a nearby tree branch, successfully tearing it off and sent nervous shivers through me.

I know he would not hurt me but…

I rubbed my arm as he came very close above my bowed head. His breath heated against my forehead as I kept my eyes still to the ground.

Reyta: "I will keep you safe but NEVER-"

His hands grabbed my shoulders harshly.

Reyta: "Never do that again!"

I wanted to reflect exactly why I did it but past experiences told me that I should wait till he calmed down.

Reyta: "Now, climb up that tree and stay out of sight till I come back for you."

Norvely: "Where-"

He sounded a low growl that I was not to speak, only do what I was told.

I looked at the tree he mentioned and got to the highest thick branch it had. When I looked down, I was alone.

A cold wind blew by and I huddled against myself and looked at the night sky. What have I done? What was I thinking?

Though I wonder…is my hive still alive even? Was that them? They traded wraith right? Was one from my hive there? What exactly would they have done with me?

I continued looking at the valleys on the moon as if an answer would appear. Think rationally…

First off, moons are just chunks of rock that glow with the reflection of the solar systems sun. Next, it does not matter what they would do, the fact is I cannot let them get me. If I get captured then I cannot save my highborn. The death toll would continue as if I did not exist. I have to do this….find the keys, find Nightingale, and sway the other factions that either of us would win and bring peace. I would not mind if Nightingale had won the throne. By all rights, she SHOULD be a queen and her presence might swing every wraith together again as no other could. As a chosen, I had a duty to do what I could to protect wraith. Even if that meant sacrificing my own rank and even my life.

I looked back down at my hands and saw ants biting me. They had climbed all over me and I realized I was sitting very close to their nest. I swiped them off and jumped to another tree but it was not as stable and I slid. I caught the branch and my arms got scrapped from the bark that did not slid. I crawled back on and made myself secure. It likely rained hard recently that weakened the bark. I looked at the scraps and damaged arm cloth. Great…

I heard some animals howl and the wind picked up. I had left the capital before but I knew what was out there. Here… There were worlds that held great beasts that even wraith and getta feared. I huddled up closer to the truck and thought of better times. How I would love to be sitting with *Royten* with a large overstuff blanket and pillows during the winter seasons as he talked of old stories.

~---~

He spoke of one of my favorites. The one of Nightingale, the sleeping chosen.

Royten: "She was perfect in every way, she learned her words and spoke in graces. She listened to her Elders but one day a traitorous wraith scientist took her away by means of knocking her unconscious with a forbidden drug. She was taken to the rebels and suffered harsh treatment, but her words of truth weakened them and they faulted. If she had stayed, history believes she would have convinced them enough to stop the rebellion. But as it was, there was a cruel hive warlord that meant to have her as his own.

Hive wraith in that time were rebellious as the ones we know today and only fight for blood lust."

Norvely: "They do not."

Royten: "You did not see much of your hive. You did not experience it as a full, they are truly a fallen race. I thank the chosen, Nightingale, that she guided us to you."

Norvely: "I thought she was asleep?"

Royten: "She is but there is a belief that the device she slumbers in allows her to view the galaxy and manipulates the ways of wraith as she desires."

Norvely: "Is that really possible?"

Royten: "Truly, I doubt it. However, the idea comforts the soldiers and inspires pride where one might see disaster."

Norvely: "What would happen if she woke up?"

Royten: "What do you think? That would be a good lesson to start tomorrow. However, I promised you the story."

I snuggled deeper in the covers as a fresh breeze slipped in. *Royten*'s mate had come in to close it and pat me on the head before continuing back to her nest. She was heavy with her next young, but did not mind and even enjoyed my presence.

Royten: "Now, this warlord had held her in a dripping cage for two months, everyday saying that he might either kill her or bred her. In all this, her faith never faulted. She remained stronger and stronger the more he threatened. Then finally, her Vas-ka came and saved her."

Norvely: "How?"

Royten: "The details are not written but one of the guards with him wrote that the Vas-ka had thrown the rebels that caged her in a lake and swept Nightingale away on a Teleri to take her home."

I giggled and he smirked: "You should have a strong Vas-ka too. Have you been looking?"

I pulled the covers over my nose so he would not see my guilty face, but I could not hide my aura.

Royten: "Hmm…we must work on that as well. The Vas-ka business and hiding your aura better when you do not want it felt."

I popped my head out and smiled: "I would like that. I heard some wraith talk about it, Master *Zoen* had even demonstrated but said I was not ready to learn."

Royten: "We may start the basics, now, after Nightingale was returned to her home she spoke to the false queen. Her words open and pure fell on the queen's false ears, but not on the councils. She warned them that the hive wraith could not be trusted and that action was needed, but the queen would do nothing. The war continued on, but Nightingale tried her best to learn all she could to stop them. She even befriended a hive wraith to send messages to the more reasonable hive wraith to deter them. These wraith, only ended up betraying her. It is believed that one night she left the safety of her Vas-ka and Elders to meet these wraith. They wanted to talk to her face to face about stopping the war but it was a trap. The same traitorous wraith that took her before had returned. He took her to the temple-ship where he intended to keep her away from wraith forever. You see he was young and very selfish. He saw her beauty and decided she would be his or no one else's. So he froze her in the device so that he may gaze upon her beauty forever.

What he did not count on was her Vas-ka's determination to see her safe. The Vas-ka had left the lost battle when he heard she was taken and bravely set out to find her. He tracked them all the way there but arrived just moments too late. The traitor just finished when the great soldier killed him. It is a tragedy what that wraith did. See he had studied the ship so well that he locked anyone else that wanted to get to her out. So the Vas-ka remained faithful and watched over her till his fall in one of the great battles over her guardianship. He was one of the longest lived wraith by even today. It is believed he lived over 20,000 years old and like his direct descendent, our Council Lord, he bore only to ensure there would be great wraith guarding her. Though he mated, he never once took the rites, for his life belonged to her just as every wraith that has been fortunate enough to see her."

Norvely: "Have you seen her?"

Royten: "No, but our Council Lord, *Clivion* has. He says that she is beautiful beyond compare with skin whiter than clouds and hair that shines of a soft cream and then drowns in gold fields. You know why she is called Nightingale right?"

I shook my head.

Royten: "She sang to the troops before every culling to ensure their minds were clear in the coming morning. It is believed that she was born with the spirit of Nightingale. A great mythical god, that sang in dreams to warriors in a similar manner. Even at a young age she must have been noticed for her gift. She then became known as Nightingale, the chosen songbird."

Now it was much later, that some of the story did not make sense and I confronted him. It seems some of it was changed to provide answers and moral to those who listened. I wonder what the real story was. Would she tell us?

I was thinking about chancing some sleep when some movement below me caught my eye. Some large mammals had crowded around the tree. I felt out but they were not greater spirits. I threw a stick at them and it spooked them enough to run. I was glad I was the one spooking and not the other way around.

*Reyta*'s aura was still irritated when he came closer and I came closer to the ground to greet him. I threw another stick and hissed at the creatures when he called me toward him.

I walked slowly up to him but he threw me against the tree trunk. I gritted my teeth and the pressure released from my sides but his body held me with both arms on either side of me.

He did not say a word. I dared breath a few times but when he did nothing, I relaxed. His forehead lightly brushed mine. It was one of his ways of apologizing. He knew what to say at times but others he was at a lost.

Norvely: "We-ugh-we need to get moving. It is best to head to the old capital now."

Nod.

The trip back to the gate went smoothly though awkward and it was only when we got there that he asked: "You do know the address right?"

I took out my book and unlocked it with one of the crystal keys braided in my hair. The book itself was completely sealed to ensure the paper did not get destroyed, so the lock lifted hinges and the three sides spread apart to the front and back of it. This was MY book. All my thoughts and research I poured into this book. I wrote it all in the old language and drew in what I wanted. There were various pieces of paper that stuck out but I just had not taken to binding them yet. I had flipped through these pages so many times it took me only a moment to find what I was looking for. It was all the information I had on the old capital including the address.

We dialed it and I relocked the book to put it in my bag. I remember showing *Royten* the book. He was proud until he saw the more…questionable parts. The parts that tried to scientifically base things and parts that most wraith were not supposed to know about. What I figured out was a lie the council told to keep wraith in order, the effects of certain drugs, some more interesting telekinetic moves, and even some cute romance stories I liked. He was concerned if anyone else found it, and unfortunately Master *Zoen* and *Viken* overheard. They both served *Clivion* directly and took after him in many ways. They both did not take the mating rites but mated. It was not hard to tell why they were allowed and I remember Master *Zoen* catching me more than once looking at him.

With the book he was more amused than anything, especially the drawings while *Viken* just got a deeper frown. *Clivion* found out and asked politely that he be allowed to see it. I was allowed to say no, but after a few times that he asked I allowed him. He was bias about it all and only questioned some of it. He made sure I understood why they lied about certain things and that this information was not to be circulated.

*Reyta* lightly pushed me toward the gate. We entered and what I saw was…morning dew. *Lor-*…I pushed the thought away and focused.

This world was at dawn and must have had a large storm roll through as the gate area was dripping. The room held the stones that were once the capital and trees had taken over the care. There were occasionally wraith that attended to the more prided parts of the old capital but mainly it was left alone as a memorial to that time.

Reyta: "Now, where are we to look?"

Norvely: "It should be in the hall of patient reflection of the 1st story. The reason for the keys was in preparation for such a happening and so it makes sense."

I had copied a map of the general layout of the old capital to my book but parts of it were blocked and we had to make our own way thru.

*Reyta* was unusually attentive to make sure I got through the tunnels and over the fallen pillars and trees.

The room was like the rest of the capital with large amounts of dirt and vines absorbing it. I looked to *Reyta* who seemed to have been staring at me but looked away as I turned.

Norvely: "I…I should not have called out to them. All I could think of was my former home. What if that was them? They would die and I could have prevented it."

Reyta: "You cannot protect EVERY wraith before yourself. You have a greater duty that must come first."

Norvely: "Even if it means sacrificing my wraith?"

Reyta: "THEY are not your wraith. What they do is in full knowledge of what THEIR queens tell them to do. What their science tells them to do."

I did not like it but he was right.

Norvely: "The keys should be in this room somewhere."

It did not take long to find a large crack in the wall. Inside was a box, but all that was in the box was a note.

Reyta: "I thought the keys were supposed to be here."

I read it aloud: "To choose is your life, then to rule is your rite.

3 hold the keys, and all are singled apart.

Use only one, for existence does have an end.

Chose well of them, or may feathers lay your slumber.

Follow straight from the dawns and look with your eyes of the night.

For one is of home, one of stone, and one of old.

Seek well then,

to the gates of honor."

I turned the page over and 21 stargate symbols marked randomly all over the page.

Reyta: "That…makes no sense to me."

Norvely: "Oh no…unfortunately, it does to me. *Sigh* the keys were hidden to make sure it was a chosen that was desperate and not just power hungry."

Reyta: "How did you get that from *points* THAT?"

Norvely: ""To choose is your life, then to rule is your rite" refers to a chosen.

"3 holds the keys, and all are singled apart" is odd but it reminds me of an old puzzle and must mean there are three boxes with the seven keys among them.

"Use only one, for existence does have an end." Is…umm…not entirely sure yet…

"Chose well of them or, may feathers lay your slumber." Obviously means that the journey could be deadly.

"Follow straight from the dawns and look with your eyes of the night," has two meanings in that stargates were sometimes called "The waters dawn" but also could mean that it takes a day's journey to the hiding spot.

Then that means that these stargate symbols are all used to find the location."

Reyta: "21 symbols? The possibilities could take our lifetimes and does us no good."

Norvely: "THAT is what it means. "Use only one, for existence does have an end." Means that each symbol is only used once."

Reyta: "That still gives us well over 200…I believe that "choose well" could be referring to the stargates among the stars."

Norvely: "231, and yes…we will have to get maps somehow."

Reyta: "What about the rest? "One is of home, one of stone, and one of old."

Norvely: "THAT could mean anything. Likely it is a hint as to where they are. Whoever hid them would not allow them out in the open after all."

I walked outside with it and sat down in a heap. This was unexpected and an unwelcome adventure. I continued looking at the map as if hoping it would suddenly say "Just kidding, it's under the queen's throne. Good luck!." I glared at the old leathered note. It made sense they would protect them but it was so unfair.

Reyta: "Alright…what do we do first?"

I leaned back so the sun was shaded by the note and what I thought were just deep crinkle lines were suddenly clearer.

Norvely: "Whoa…it is a map."

Reyta: "A…map of the stargate address? You already said that."

Norvely: "No no, see here. There are three distinct paths. Each starting at a…"stargate" circle thing and then the first is this thinner line, the next thicker makes a different shape, and then the thickest makes yet another path."

Reyta: "So?"

Norvely: "So…*sigh* it means that along with 231 address to search we have a possibility of following three days worth of paths each."

I did not look at him but I knew he was as frustrated as I felt. 231 possible address with 3 paths each means at least 693 days plus time to cull humans, fight terrain and weather, and avoid wraith and humans alike. This could take YEARS.

Reyta: "My chosen…it will do no good to sit here."

I nodded with a heavy burden sinking in my chest and looked at the symbols. But where to start?

Norvely: "You are right, first we need to reduce what stargates exist and which ones are among the stars. For that we need maps and since we certainly cannot go back to a wraith city then we have to go to a human settlement or…or…Vorek's way."

Reyta: "NO! Absolutely not, you know what is there."

Norvely: "Maps."

Reyta: "And more cutthroat humans and rouge wraith then assassins in all Trennva."

Norvely: "We can hold our own. Just look like a fithy weak wraith and blend in till we find *Bethem*."

Reyta: "What if we just trade with a local?"

Norvely: "Do you know how they barter? What would we trade?"

Reyta: "Some of those crystals are of no use now, yes?"

I glared: "They are ALL of use to me. And do you really think they would see a pretty prism like that and not try to cut our hands off to see if we have more?"

Reyta: "Grrr…fine, we TRY for *Bethem* but if he is not there then we should try to barter and get out of there."

I nodded, it was a plan and I followed him to the gate.

*Bethem* often told stories to impress, including stories of Vorek's way. He did not think I would remember but he told me the address once and I wrote it down and the whole story among my book. The book was thick and I wrote small. Granted drawings took a lot of it as well. I even had a picture of what I thought Nightingale would look like. *Clivion* said it was beautiful and as accurate as any had gotten thus far. I remember practicing on drawing the female anatomy just to make sure it was accurate. I looked at the passing females in the sanctuary and tried to take in what made them similar. The curves were dependent on the amount of breeding so hers was small, the facial detail was neutral that I used some of the younger females to mimic for me, but I exaggerated the hair and dress to be silky and ride into the background around her as a web would. It was the impression more than accuracy but it worked.

*Reyta* insisted that I stay behind while he surveyed the area. If he did not come back before nightfall on this world, I was to go to the highborn planet I promised I would. I felt so useless. I could fight…ish. I was better than most females, but that was due to my desire to dance. I did not do crafts well or even make beautiful speeches but I could dance and make a powerful argument among the best of any wraith. Master *Zoen* was my Elder to teach fighting and military aspects as well as a secret heart flutter. He taught me that dancing and fighting had many things in common and I flourished from that idea. He even started teaching me life dancing by starting with throwing knives to give me a projectile skill. It made sense that it would be better to deter an attacker from a distance versus up close. I can now throw ice shards with deadly accuracy but it takes time to form the ice and then throw it and…now that I think about it. It would probably be a bad idea to use ANY telekinetic skill outside highborn territory. I should use knives…I just need to get some.

I was annoyed and nervous as I sat among the thick foliage by the gate, supposable ready to run at the first signs of an attacker. I stretched and looked through my book till the gate activated. My heart beat as the brief thought of *Reyta*'s prediction came true when it was *Reyta* himself. I ran to greet him and as he dialed the gate again.

Reyta: "It looks to be unoccupied till the swamp. We need to gather some disguises but it should not be too hard."

Vorek's way was centered in a swamp of a swamp. The trees were huge. The bases alone would fit 20 of me. We stayed on the dry path as much as we could but then we heard voices and had to enter the swamp well... It smelled bad and I swore to myself that I would wash my clothes for three days but to just stick it out.

Human: "That damn whored wench…should have broken her arm."

Other human: "*Hic* we could go back-back and uh…*hic* haha…it was *hic* umm."

This was painful. These humans were obviously drunk but *Reyta* took his time to make sure there were no others and we snuck up behind them. I used a piece of wood I found to hit the drunk one while *Reyta* went for the one the drunk was leaning on. He was caught off guard but the human knew how to fight. In the end, the human stood little chance against us but *Reyta* did get stabbed before he fed off him.

Norvely: "These clothes smell worse than the swamp."

Reyta: "It is the alcohol. If anything it will keep the others away."

I wanted to gag: "I have tried alcohol before, but this is revolting."

Reyta: "When did you try alcohol?"
Norvely: "*Royten* let me try some wine for cultural purposes."

Reyta laughed: "Wine is nothing to real alcohol and I suggest you never try it."

I finally got used to the smell enough to throw it on and shivered. Made our way toward the inner…place? It was a very backwards version of a town. The trees were homes yes but the windows were boarded up as if to just allow enough room to see and shoot something. The street had a few very musky and equally drunk bystanders. I followed *Reyta* hoping he would know want to do more than I. The town smelled of death. I craned my neck a bit as I think I saw a rotting corpse in the street but it could also have just been a very skinny human. The street was quieter than I liked and I strained my ears for any indication of a trader or information of any kind.

What I did not expect though…happened.

I screamed as a figure dropped down beside me to break his neck and other bones I heard crush. I stared wide eyed from under my hood as the now dirty corpse bleed all over the street and no one else seemed disturbed. I looked up at the very high broken window he must have fallen from.

Human chuckled: "Got yourself a new woman I see. Care to trade her? I haven't played with a new girl in months."

He did not even know what I looked like but I saw through the thin cloth that he was licking his lips at the idea of "playing," whatever that means.

Reyta: "She is not for sale."

He grunted and put his arm around me to lead me away.

Human: "I know many others that could please you better than that broad. Ones that knows how to follow the whim of their masters. I can trade for a room and humans. Even some spare jewelry if you can deal right."

I was getting the idea and really did not want to be here.

He went for my arm and I clawed at him before *Reyta* could do anything.

Human: "A-a WRAI-"

I tackled his mouth and *Reyta* helped me pull the human to the side and I got very close to his face: "Yes human, I am a wraith female and I need information. Where can I find a tall rogue wraith, jewelry, and long gun at his side? Likes to tell treasure stores?"

Human: "My lady, I could offer you an enormous-"

I brought my hand to his chest and he panicked: "He is at the other end of town! The other end! Please, I have no qualms with the masters! I live to serve and can take you if you wish."

I considered his offer and looked to *Reyta*.

Reyta: "We need to get this done and leave."

I nodded and turned back to the pitiful human: "Lead me, after that we may discuss…any further arrangement."

I hoped to keep his cooperation to lessen the chance of a betrayal. He lead us down several more allies, some *Reyta* had to walk sideways in. I was either getting used to the smell or it was not as bad the more we got to the other side despite all the drunks and filth we passed. There were definitely more humans but I did see some almost bald wraith that looked starved. I had to stop at one ally that had a human at the end piling a large pile of dirt very hastily but it fell just as quickly, "My dirt, my dirt, it is dirt of my ooooo'dirt!." The more I saw the more I could not understand.

Human: "The one you speak of is in the richer part of the way. Though I would caution you little wraith, he is not as chivalrous as you think. It might be a better idea to let me get you to your hive."

I growled: "It is not his company I seek. Continue or I have no further use of you."

The area we walked into was just as dark and fog rolled heavily over our feet but I could feel a sturdier surface under neither. It was not much better, but anything was better than the swamp itself.

Human: "It is not likely we will be able to get up to see him as you are. The smell would offend and we would either be found out or thrown out, like you saw earlier."

That human was simply…thrown out? I looked at the brick building in deep thought.

Reyta: "How do we get in then?"

Human: "I would be willing to help the masters if say…for a small fee."

I had felt into the cloak's pockets and felt a few items and pulled them out for him. There was a small bag with three gold rings and *Reyta* did the same to give him a partially drank bottle of some kind of alcohol the human seemed to like. He took a swig of it and smiled: "This will do, now how badly do you need to see him?"

Norvely: "Enough to come to this place."

He nodded: "I thought so, now we need to do this the old fashion way. You my dear get to play at being a human slave girl."

He gave me a "nicer" cloak and sprayed me with some perfume he bought just off the street.

Human: "Now you need to act shy and struggle a little. Beg about going home but quietly so as you sound like a human. Occasionally wraith females show up but they would not think me having one to sell."

If I was an youngling I think I might have thrown up, but focused on breathed in and out as he wrapped my wrists in a rope.

He turned to *Reyta*: "Now you must stay here."

Reyta growled: "I am not leaving her in your hands or theirs."

Human: "I never bring any help with a girl, it would throw them off. Anyway, this is the only exit other than the window. Stand here and you will be there to ensure she leaves with the right one."

He nodded hesitantly and I gulped. My mind was screaming at me that this was wrong, but I could not see any other way.

The human pulled and I struggled a little like he suggested and he smiled at me: "Good, your rogue wraith will not be able to resist."

Norvely: "Wraith males do not desire HUMAN females, this will not work."

He turned back with a wide smile: "You do not know much do you?"

I looked back at *Reyta* once more before receding my aura tightly to my body and walking up the steps.

Great Queens….what have I gotten myself into?

~---~