Grey just stood in the Great Hall's throne room as if he were struck by lightning. That impolite annoying girl was a sorcerer's daughter? Grey smelled a rat, but he didn't want to make a scene in front of his father. That would lead to scolding and the upbringing of old disputes. All Grey did was bow courteously and leave the room. The girl was hot on his heels.
They walked in silence the dimly lit corridors of the castle. Gwenneth was looking to her sides, acknowledging the architecture of the place. The palace was a large stone monument, with tall rooms and stained glass windows. It had twisted corridors, and arched bridges, as well as hidden gardens. Every castle of this sort had them. They were a must. The walls were made out of square brimstone, blocks each of them carved and adding a part to the big picture, in order to complete the massive stone carvings which were decorating every wall. She guessed that it took a lifetime for the artist to carve most of these panoramas featuring the rich and glorious history of the Upper Lands. It was all very majestic, and very impressing to the newcomer, in the dim light of the torches. However, Gwenneth knew not to let herself be impressed by such artistic displays. She saw their sole purpose; to intimidate. "Well, you aren't intimidating me," she thought, and a smile crept to her lips. All of a sudden, she found herself thwarted against the cold brimstone. She felt the cold sharp tip of a blade at her neck.
"You think you've won, little witch? Well you might have fooled my father, but you haven't fooled me. Who are you really?" Grey whispered menacingly.
Gwenneth swallowed coldly. Her whole relationship with this boy depended on what she was going to say next. "Caution." Her conscience advised.
"I am Gwenneth el Alcatrez, the daughter of Ispano Royal Sorcerer Vincent el Alcatrez. Remove your sword… Grey." She said in an expressionless voice.
"I didn't ask who you were pretending to be I asked who you were. Do you think your games fool me? First the merchant, then Leon, now my father, what do you want with me?" Grey asked her slowly.
"I want nothing with you. I seek protection. Nothing more. Let me go Grey Fanel de Salazar." She said in a strong voice. The lessons of Command the Keepers had given her seemed to work. She could see a shadow of doubt cross Grey's face.
"I don't believe you, who are you really?" he asked pressing the sword deeper into her skin.
"I don't think your father would look lightly onto your treating your guests this way. Let me go this instant, or I…" she threatened.
"You're what? You know what little girl, there's nothing you can do to me that can hurt me. Your complaints to my father won't work. I don't listen to him. Now tell me!" he grabbed her wrists and squeezed painfully.
Gwenneth winced a little bit, and between clenched teeth, she hissed. "I would think you to be honorable, and honor your father's debt. However, I see that you're only lowly scum." She was about to add more, when she felt the blade of the sword retreat. "That did the trick. His honor is indeed impeccable." Gwenneth thought.
"A piece of friendly advice, don't mess in things you don't know anything about." Grey said darkly. He then grabbed her hands, and dragged her after him.
"Let me go!" Gwenneth cried. "Don't you understand anything?" she asked him madly.
"I'm afraid I can't do that. Until we clear this up, you're my prisoner." Grey told her.
With a swift pull, Gwenneth freed her hands. "I'm not going anywhere until you apologize for the things you've been saying!" she cried, her eyes thundering. To make her statement even more important, she stamped her foot on the floor.
Grey just looked at the fiery young woman in front of him. She stood in the dimly lit hall all tall and proud, her red hair hanging past her shoulders in wild wavy rivers. She looked like a smoking red dragon, with the cloud in her eyes throwing bolts of lightning at him. Grey stood there, astonished for a minute, that there could be so much beauty in the world. However, heartbeats later, he came back to reality, and did what had to be done. With a slick movement, he grabbed her waist, swiping her off her feet. He took her in his arms, and began to carry her towards her designated room.
"Let me go you beast!" she cried alarmed. "Let me go or I'll scream. There's no way you can stop me. I swear I'll scream and put the whole palace on alert. Let's see how you like that!" she threatened.
Grey just chuckled. "You're not used to losing much." He laughed.
"Grey, let me go! Let me go now!" she said infuriated.
"Not yet witch. And remember, you're the one that put yourself in this position. If you'd have come with me quietly… well, we could have settled all this." He told her calmly.
"Never, you're a savage beast. I'll never go anywhere with you! Now let me go!" she cried, and applied a fierce blow to his face. The sound echoed loudly in the empty hallway. She attempted to fight him with every step he took, but Grey just tightened his grip around her, squeezing her tighter so that her breath became ragged after a few minutes of slapping and hitting.
The whole incident had echoed through the hall, and Grey could hear some voices down the corridor. He quickened his step. It wasn't far now, and he'd get rid of the annoying wretch in his arms. Then, as soon as he tied her down, he could take care of his blistered cheeks, and then proceed on confirming her story. By now, he could hear servant voices at the far end of the hall. They were getting nearer, and Gwenneth took the chance to speak up. She had long stopped her fretting, once she saw there was no way to escape her captor.
"Hey, you over there h…" the rest was lost in a mumble as Grey's silencing lips came upon hers. As the people came closer, they saw two figures kissing in the dark, and a door opening, while the man carried the woman inside. Lucky for Grey, the torches were out in that area and he couldn't be recognized.
"Who was that?" one of the servants asked the other.
"I don't know. Some children in love. Remember when we were their age?" the other asked.
They both began to laugh as they passed by. When their voices faded out, Grey broke their long lasting kiss, and let Gwenneth fall on the bed.
She was speechless for a moment, but as her wits returned, so did her anger.
"You slob! How could you?" she asked as she got up and tried to slap him again. However, Grey caught her hand in his, and twisted it painfully.
"It shut you up didn't it? This is your room, and it's where you'll stay until I find out who you really are." He said and grabbed one of the silk sheets. He let Gwenneth go, as he ripped it into thin long strips.
"It's locked!" she cried as she hopelessly tried to open the door.
"Yup, I told you, it's where you're staying until I find out who you really are. I don't want you causing trouble about the palace." He said and came towards her. "Now do not try to fight me, we know who's gonna end up winning in the end. If you'll let me tie you without a sound, I promise that first thing tomorrow morning, I'm going to look into your problem." He told her.
Gwenneth had stopped her struggling. She could see that everything was in vain. He was way too set on his goal for her to try to persuade him. She had already tried that, and had gotten herself worse off. "What am I going to do until morning?" she asked him.
"You're going to stay here." He told her as he guided her to the bed and proceeded on trying her right hand to the bedpost.
"Alone?" she asked.
"Yes alone, you're not afraid of the dark are you?" he asked her, while grinning in the dark.
"No, you can't leave me alone and all tied up like this. You're supposed to protect me. They could come at any time. You can't!" she said, and you could hear fright in her voice.
"Who could come?" Grey asked.
"I…I… can't tell you. But trust me. If they find me, it's going to be very bad. That's why I came here. That's why I need your help!" she begged and grabbed his hand.
Grey looked down on the figure in the dark. He could see her eyes, and could feel the way her hand was shaking. She was really scared, unless this was some woman's trick.
"Listen, you've got nothing to fear. There's no one in the palace, and you're safe. My room is right across the hall, and I'll hear if anything goes wrong." He assured her.
"No, no you can't!" she begged. "Please don't do this. I assure you, I am who I say I am. Just please don't do this!" she pleaded.
Grey looked at her again. Was this still part of her trick? The witch had proved resourceful, and she had almost escaped him. He wasn't about to underestimate her again. Without mercy, Grey tied her other hand and feet. He was about to leave when her cry called him back.
"No, please, at least if you tie me, stay here with me. No! No, please?" she cried. Grey could almost bet she was crying. Or at least doing a good job of faking it. With a sigh, he ripped another piece of the silk sheet, and rolled it into a gag. With her unstoppable protests, he got the gag in her mouth, and checked to see she won't suffocate.
"See you in the morning witch." He said and left.
Gwenneth looked after him with pleading eyes. She could feel the hot tears stream down her face. "Gwen, come on don't cry. They won't come. They haven't had the time to find you. Then, in the morning, you can show him something. Anything, to convince him that you are who you really are. The letter. Your father's letter! You can show him that! Why didn't you think about it before? Great going Gwen!" she thought. "Oh no, Grey, come back, please! I have something to show you. Come back!" Gwen thought. She helplessly pulled at the ropes, but they only got tighter. A few hours later, finally, exhausted from the struggle, she gave up. "Calm down. Nothing's wrong. A few hours have passed, and no one came. They haven't found you. Tomorrow will come soon, and then you'll be free. Don't worry! Nothing's wrong can't you see?" she asked herself.
Indeed a few hours had passed. Gwenneth el Alcatrez's senses were indeed sharpened from what they used to be. An Apprentice Keeper would be nothing if he or she couldn't have that special link with time. When she concentrated, she could feel the slow movement of the planet, and feel its positions amongst the stars. Then, comparing that, she could tell what hour of the night it was. The two rotations spent amongst the Keepers had done her well, and taught her many things she did not know. However, Gwen was not any closer to discovering her true importance in the Path. She didn't have the time to acquire the knowledge needed to read the waves of the Path. Only a true Keeper could do that. However, there was no going back. Not after what she had learned. "They won't find me. They won't find me. They won't find me. The letter said this was a safe place. A safe haven. They won't find me." She thought in fear.
"Wrong again, Kya." A man's voice echoed from a corner.
Gwenneth gasped in shock, as she felt the man materialize within the room. He was wearing that same familiar black cloak. The thing which she knew all too well. A candle appeared in his hand as he came closer and sat on her bed. Gwenneth tried to scream, but the gag prevented her from doing just that. The man sat down beside her, his scarred face appearing from beneath the cloak.
"Kya, Kya, Kya, there's no running from us." He muttered.
"My name is Gwenneth. And there is running from you. I've made it this far, haven't I?" she asked silently knowing he could read her thoughts.
"Kya, we found you in the end didn't we?" he asked, his voice echoing in her head.
"You would have never got me was I not tied to this stupid bed." She hissed. "Get out of my life!" she screamed.
"Quiet down, do you plan on blistering my brain?" he asked.
"What do you want Garret." She asked unhappily. There was no use arguing with him, or fighting him. "Grey, come help me!" she pleaded.
"Your "Grey" won't be able to come help you now. You're in our hands now, and you're taking the test every Apprentice takes." Garret said and brought out a hot iron band like bracelet.
"I'm not with the Keepers anymore. I quit! I don't want to be one! Let me go!" she struggled, but the band locked onto her arm, burning her flesh.
"You can never leave the Keepers, you're ours forever Kya. Let's see if you're worthy of your name. Don't make this harder." He said.
Gwen winced in pain. The iron band was burning her skin. She let out a muffled cry, as the pain was spreading up through her biceps and shoulder, and down past her elbow to the fingertips. She could feel the smell of sizzling skin, and with all her strength Gwenneth tried to scream, but no piercing cry escaped her sealed lips. Instead, she just moaned painfully.
Garret was watching her vainly clasp the air, and trying to call out in pain. Behind his dark cloak, a smile was slowly creeping to his lips. He just loved watching her pain. Of all of the Apprentices, his Kya (the names the Keepers gave her) was the sweetest to watch. Her pain would be triple that of what they felt, only because she dared run away. Only because she dared defy the masters whom she now belonged to. "Soon Kya, soon we shall see where your loyalties lie." He whispered.
…
The tired man made a sign with his staff, and soon the lab equipment disappeared. He turned around and watched the open door, listening to the hurried footsteps of the coming soldiers. He just sat there, muttering his words, and remembering.
"Father! There you are!" his daughter came up behind him and gave him a hug. "You should stop working so late." She said lovingly.
"Gwenneth, you know what I do is extremely important. Now be a good girl, and get into bed." The man said.
"But Vincent, she's right, why must you work so late?" The little girl asked in a sweet woman's voice.
The man stopped what he was doing, and turned around. His little girl stood there, with a look of pure innocence across her face.
"Gwen!" He cried. "I've told you to stop that! She's never coming back you hear? Never, and we're just going to have to get ourselves used to that!" he grabbed the little girl's shoulders. "Do you understand? Never ever, make that voice again." he said shaking the young child.
"Papa? She said shakily. "I didn't do that." There were tears in her eyes.
"What are you saying?" he asked.
"Well, I was thinking of mama, and I wished she'd come back, and she did, for just a moment." The girl told her father. She came up to him, and gave him a hug. "I miss her so much papa." Tears began to roll down her cheeks.
"So you're saying that you were able to do that?" he asked.
"Yes. I've been able to do other stuff too. I just need to think about them, and wish them to happen." She confessed.
Her father searched her face to look for any traces of humor or lying. There was none. She was telling the absolute truth, and there was no way he could deny that. The little girl's tears were dried, and she was now looking at her father expectantly. She knew something of extreme importance was coming. Her father took her on his lap.
"Gwen, you're not serious. You can just do things?" he asked her again.
"Yes!" she said frustrated.
"Oh god, no! I won't let them take you too." he muttered under his breath.
"Gwen, I want you to close your eyes." He instructed the child. She complied. "I, Vincent el Alcatrez, by the right of Anubis and Negal, invoke the right of Concealment on Gwenneth el Alcatrez. She is not to know of that lurking deep within her soul, until her services are required in the Path. Until then, she is to be protected by her gift, yet it shall not reveal its true nature, until she is of an age when her services are required, and she can deal with it. By the three sprits of this earth, the heavens and the underworld, I declare this Concealment begun." He muttered a few more words in a incomprehensible gibberish, and the girl fell asleep in his arms. "Do not worry, you are safe." He whispered to her, and then left the room, taking the sleeping child to her room.
The soldier appeared in the doorway. The old man looked up, with a grateful look on his face. "Good bye daughter. All is well." He thought. In a flash, the giant brute sliced the man apart. He fell to the floor, his lips not stopping from the tremor they engaged in.
Thunder reaped through the window, throwing its eerie light across the gruesome sight.
Grey jumped out of bed, the dream having ended. "It was different. IT WAS DIFFERENT!" he yelled. For two rotations, he had been having the same dream, and tonight, on this full moon it was different. "Why?" Grey asked himself in the darkness. As he sat back on his bed, and recalled the dream, he recognized the familiar names. "Oh no, I am such an ass!" he swore and dashed out the door, with his sword at his side. Finally, the names had registered in his head. The girl he had tied up in the room across the hall had been telling the truth. It was just he, with his suspiciousness, that he chose not to believe. "I've been dreaming of her for two rotations, and when I meet her, I…why me?" Grey thought. He ran to the door, and quickly twisted the key in the lock. Somehow, he was getting a bad vibe from that place.
Gwenneth finally managed to get the gag out of her mouth, and just as Grey was twisting the key in the lock, let out a horrendous cry of pain. After that, she went limp. The hot iron bracelet came off her hand.
"Let's see how you did." Garret said as he took a look at her hand. Miraculously, only two round entwined circle like objects stood out where the bracelet had once been. Gwenneth opened her eyes, thankful that the horrible ordeal had been over.
"No! I don't believe this! It's impossible! It cannot be! NO! NOO, MONSTER, DIE! I won't let you destroy us!" Garret screamed. He took out his dagger, and prepared to kill the helpless prisoner.
"Gwenneth! Hold on!" he heard a voice outside the door.
For a moment, Garret paused, and when the door came open, he covered himself with the cloak.
"You there! How did you get in here! Stop!" Grey yelled, and unsheathed his sword. The next minute, Garret was gone, disappearing in a flash, just like he had appeared. The only proof that someone had been there, was the burning candle on the side of the bed.
"Grey!" Gwenneth called.
"Watch out!" he called, and with a smooth movement, he cut her loose. "I'm so sorry, you were telling the truth, and now I've put you in danger!" he said coming closer to her on the bed.
"Grey, they found me." Gwenneth told him.
"What happened? How did he get here? What's going on?" Grey, who was very confused asked her.
"They're Keepers. They have strong magic. They made me take their test. Look." She showed him the red mark of the two rings on her arm.
"What did that?" he asked.
"A magical bracelet. Help me." She told him.
"Come on, he might come back, I'll take you to the infirmary." He picked her up, and took her to another room. There, he put cold water compresses on her wound. Gwenneth moaned in pain. Beads of sweat fell off her forehead.
"Your father died under an attack from the Emperor didn't he? And with the last of his powers, he sent you randomly about the world, giving you a letter telling you what to do didn't he. The letter said that this was a safe place to be didn't it?" Grey asked her.
Gwenneth nodded. "How do you know?" she asked weakly.
"It's a long story. We need to talk in the morning. That man, he was going to kill you, wasn't he?"
"Yes, he said I was a monster. I don't understand. What does this mark mean?" Gwenneth asked.
"I don't know Gwenneth. But we'll find out. Rest now." Grey told her.
"I should kill you for what you did. You do realize that if you were only a second too late Garret's knife would have found its way into my heart?" she asked him.
"You know him?" Grey asked surprised.
"Yes, I, I need to rest. We'll talk tomorrow. Please don't go, he might come back!" she grabbed his hand when he got up from the side of her bed.
"Don't worry, I'm not leaving. I was just going to get you a blanket." Grey smiled kindly at the girl lying in the bed. Her face was congested, and she looked in pain, but there was nothing more Grey could do. He gave her a blanket, and sat on a chair, watching her sleep, and wondering how her whole phenomenal story connected to his life. Grey was certain of something, it wouldn't be an easy job protecting her. Not after the way that man had so easily sneaked into the palace.
He didn't know, that outside his window, with hawk-like eyes, was a man bent on having his way. Hanging by a thin thread, Garret looked into the infirmary, and silently cursed his misfortune. "Sorry Kya, you have failed." He thought as he let go of the rope, slipping further down the stony outside of the castle.
Author's Note:
Hello there, thanks for all the wonderful replies, you guys really motivated me to get writing. I know it's all very complicated at the moment, and there's a lot of things that you probably have answered, but I've left Gwen's story for another chapter. Hehe, and now, the fantastical, amazing adventure shall begin. Tell me if you liked the little romantic stuff I threw in. I'm not too sure about those. How was this all over all. Was it still slow picking off? Heheh, and who's this Garret dude, and what do the Keepers do. Well, you'll see, answers come to those who wait. Please tell me what you thought of this, and once again, a million thanks to Celene who issued this challenge in the first place! Hey, I hope you're enjoying the second part of my adventure! Thanks a lot for your reply!!! And that goes fro everybody. I hope I haven't disappointed ne of you!!!! Millions of thanks, and cya next chap!!!