[Ok, this sucks. My coding system for Word does not seem to be working. And I haven't been drunk lately, which is the only other explanation. This is the right chapter. Insert a disclaimer, please review, etc. Maybe at some point I will get around to more chapters.
PS: Does anyone really want me to continue with Shang Mouse? Email me or something and help me out here. Or don't.]
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Jaina spent most of her last week of freedom packing, and saying goodbye to Devin, Corick and Sayo. Her last day was spent wandering the palace. It was a nice place. It had an echo of home. The imperial palace in Anguis was cold, and unfriendly, like the Queen who commanded it. She wondered what Darkholm would be like. That was not something she wanted to imagine.
The boat trip was an easy one, a fine boat, full of the luxury fit for a princess, but Jaina remembered little of it. She woke up to her nightmare as she was walking the steps of the palace, greeted by a beautiful woman whom she knew all too well, and the man beside her.
"Jaina, this is-"
"The girl knows who I am." His voice was cold, dark, and completely unkind. He was very tall, and broad shouldered, with a powerful, slender build. His hair and eyes were black, and his skin was pale; very pale, for an Anguan. She was terrified. This was the man her life was to be turned over to. He looked young; he was rumored to be over 100; he was at least as old as her grandmother. He did not look kind. Jaina stood, frozen, a few steps from the top. Her mother's glare, usually so powerful, seemed petty in comparison, and she managed to finish the stairs.
He took a few long steps forward, towards her. It was all she could do to stop herself from backing away. She looked down, properly, thankful to avoid his eyes. Thankful too soon. He grabbed her chin, not roughly, but with impossible strength, and forced it up. He gazed into her eyes, and it was almost physical pain. Power radiated from him. He tilted her head, left and right.
"Yes," he said. His voice was like a tomb. "She has great power, or she will soon. Almost completely untrained. "Girl," he said, and either did not notice or ignored Jaina's flinch from his gaze. "Do you wish to come with me?"
"I have no choice."
"You do not. I would have known you were lying if you had said yes. We will leave today. There is nothing for either of us here. Darkholm is several days ride away. Say goodbye to your mother." He went to fetch the horses. Jaina hoped he would be quick. His orders were as unquestionable as the sky or the sea. I will not cry, she told herself.
Her mother looked as if someone had been strangling her. Her face was white, her eyes pained. She has a headache, Jaina thought, without malice, but without pity.
"You do not regret this?"
"A queen has no time for regret," her mother said coldly. "I expect you to make me proud. This is an incredible opportunity. Behave yourself, and learn. I expect you to be obedient."
"She will be obedient." There was no trace of cruelty in his voice, not trace of kindness, simply implacable truth. Jaina shivered. He was leading two horses; a plain brown mare, and a magnificent huge grey stallion that must be his. They were saddled and ready; he packs were stowed on the brown. "Come." He nodded to the queen. "Majesty."
Jaina turned back as they rode. He did not. She saw her mother, pale and drawn. A queen has no time for regret. Her mother noticed her glace, and turned away.
PS: Does anyone really want me to continue with Shang Mouse? Email me or something and help me out here. Or don't.]
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Jaina spent most of her last week of freedom packing, and saying goodbye to Devin, Corick and Sayo. Her last day was spent wandering the palace. It was a nice place. It had an echo of home. The imperial palace in Anguis was cold, and unfriendly, like the Queen who commanded it. She wondered what Darkholm would be like. That was not something she wanted to imagine.
The boat trip was an easy one, a fine boat, full of the luxury fit for a princess, but Jaina remembered little of it. She woke up to her nightmare as she was walking the steps of the palace, greeted by a beautiful woman whom she knew all too well, and the man beside her.
"Jaina, this is-"
"The girl knows who I am." His voice was cold, dark, and completely unkind. He was very tall, and broad shouldered, with a powerful, slender build. His hair and eyes were black, and his skin was pale; very pale, for an Anguan. She was terrified. This was the man her life was to be turned over to. He looked young; he was rumored to be over 100; he was at least as old as her grandmother. He did not look kind. Jaina stood, frozen, a few steps from the top. Her mother's glare, usually so powerful, seemed petty in comparison, and she managed to finish the stairs.
He took a few long steps forward, towards her. It was all she could do to stop herself from backing away. She looked down, properly, thankful to avoid his eyes. Thankful too soon. He grabbed her chin, not roughly, but with impossible strength, and forced it up. He gazed into her eyes, and it was almost physical pain. Power radiated from him. He tilted her head, left and right.
"Yes," he said. His voice was like a tomb. "She has great power, or she will soon. Almost completely untrained. "Girl," he said, and either did not notice or ignored Jaina's flinch from his gaze. "Do you wish to come with me?"
"I have no choice."
"You do not. I would have known you were lying if you had said yes. We will leave today. There is nothing for either of us here. Darkholm is several days ride away. Say goodbye to your mother." He went to fetch the horses. Jaina hoped he would be quick. His orders were as unquestionable as the sky or the sea. I will not cry, she told herself.
Her mother looked as if someone had been strangling her. Her face was white, her eyes pained. She has a headache, Jaina thought, without malice, but without pity.
"You do not regret this?"
"A queen has no time for regret," her mother said coldly. "I expect you to make me proud. This is an incredible opportunity. Behave yourself, and learn. I expect you to be obedient."
"She will be obedient." There was no trace of cruelty in his voice, not trace of kindness, simply implacable truth. Jaina shivered. He was leading two horses; a plain brown mare, and a magnificent huge grey stallion that must be his. They were saddled and ready; he packs were stowed on the brown. "Come." He nodded to the queen. "Majesty."
Jaina turned back as they rode. He did not. She saw her mother, pale and drawn. A queen has no time for regret. Her mother noticed her glace, and turned away.