Is It Enough? - Chapter Six
Jonathan, accompanied by five members of the Palace Guard, Raoul, and the Lord Provost sat outside the suite of rooms belonging to a new palace arrival-a young Mithran novice, Kiernan Temptest, waiting for him to emerge. Kiernan was a man of about 19, a boy really, slight of build, and quiet in manner, with a persistent air of nervousness about him. The King and Myles both thought he might be their assassin-mage.
Lord Provost and his men leapt to their feet, as the heavy oak door swung open. Temptest reeled back in shock, clearly not expecting the Knight Commander of the King's Own, a dozen members of the Palace Guard, the Lord Provost, and His Majesty himself to be sitting outside his door.
" 'Majesty," the man acknowledged, bowing, as beads of sweat began to form on his pasty features. "To what do I owe this...honor.?" Kiernan asked, stumbling over his words in his obvious fright.
The Lord Provost grinned wolfishly, as Raoul and two members of the Palace Guard approached him. "Ye wouldn't be protestin' to a few good natured questions as to ye're business here in the palace, would ye lad?" the Provost asked, almost hoping the man would be crazy enough to refuse. He hadn't had a good fight in weeks, and his adrenaline was running high.
"Nnnoo, no, of course not, whatever His Majesty wishes, of course," Temptest stammered, turning even paler than he was. "Although I can assure you, I'm here on legitimate business for Lu Zen," he replied, his voice taking on a more indignant tone.
"Lu-Zen?" Raoul inquired thoughtfully. "The noted Master and head of the Mithran Cloisters of Harmony?"
"Aye, him!" Kiernan nodded, relieved.
"Really? That's very interesting. Or didn't you know that Lu-Zen was killed two years ago, in a rather tragic riding accident?" Raoul replied, his voice taking on a good-natured air of nonchalance.
"Why don't ye be comin'wit my boys and me?" the Lord Provost suggested, as two swords blocked Temptest's path, and he was marched down the corridor, his protests silenced by a threatening look from one of the Guardsmen.
Jonathan watched Kiernan Temptest being marched away, his expression thoughtful. Maybe now, we'll get some answers, he thought.
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Some hours later, Raoul and Myles emerged from the rooms where the interrogation was taking place.
"Well?" Jon asked, a questioning look on his face. "What did you find out?"
"Not much, that's for sure," Raoul replied, sinking into an armchair with a groan.
"The man isn't as stupid as he appears. He refused to say much of anything- demanded that his rights were being violated. We can't do much more, not without a writ of investigation, and some solid proof that he was definitely involved with Alanna's poisoning," Myles replied with a tired sigh, lowering himself into another chair, opposite Raoul.
"Although he did give up this," Raoul continued, fishing a wrinkled and grimy piece of paper from his navy blue silk tunic, and handing it to Jon.
Jon took the paper, turning it over in his hands, wrinkling his nose at the odor that emanated from the slip.
"Sulfur?" he asked. Raoul nodded.
"There were traces of sulfur found in the poison on Alanna's glass," Myles reminded Jon.
"I highly doubt our stammering friend is as innocent as he protests," Myles finished, with a dry smile.
"There's something written on the paper," Jon murmured, his brow wrinkling as he struggled to decipher the writing.
"Alleva-Regala mean anything to you Myles," Jon asked. "I think that's what's written on the paper."
Myles slowly shook his head. "Alleva-Regala, no can't say it does.." Myles voice trailed off, as he appeared to be struggling to recall some fact.
"Wait!" he cried, his eyes lighting up in triumph. Raoul, Jon, the Lord Provost and Gary, who had entered the room some moments before, looked at him.
"Could the paper have said Alleviaregála perhaps?" Myles asked.
"It could, yes," Jonathan agreed. "The paper is so smudged, it's hard to clearly make out the letters. Why? What significance does Alleviaregála have?"
"It's a city," Gary said, answering his cousin's question. "A Scanran city, if I'm correct." He looked to Myles, who nodded his affirmation.
"A Scanran city 'ay?" the Lord Provost asked. "Why this gets more and more interesting doesn't it?"
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Alanna yawned and stretched, sitting up in the bed George had swept her off to, where he had taken great care to insure that she really was perfectly fine. Alanna smiled at the memory, looking down at her sleeping lover. Creeping out of bed, she pulled on a soft fawn colored tunic and breeches, and padded to the door. She was about to pull it open, when her ember stone unleashed a burst of light and fire, as the young man that would later be identified as Kiernan Temptest, burst through the door, yelling and screaming, brandishing a sword. His muddy brown eyes had the glassy look of those who are possessed.
George jumped to his feet, startled awake when the door was smashed open. He yanked a very sharp and very deadly looking knife from his tunic pocket, which was lying on the floor by the bed, as he tossed another blade to Alanna. He pushed Alanna behind him.
"Not today lass," he murmured into her ear. "You aren't well enough for a fight and you know it!"
Alanna opened her mouth to protest, but seeing the fiery look in George's hazel eyes, decided it might be wiser to shut it instead.
George pressed his knife into the young mage's throat-a threat no one could miss.
Alanna, having noticed the look in the man's eye, gripped the ember stone firmly. She wasn't surprised to find that he was steadily glowing a pale yellow. A definite sign of magic being used.
"He's being controlled," Alanna said aloud. "Not with his gift-another's."
Alanna dropped the ember stone as five members of the Palace Guard burst into the room, sweaty and out of breath. One murmured something about the Provost having their heads for letting the mage out of their sight.
George easily knocked Kiernan Temptest's sword aside, as a burst of purple fire sent him into a deep sleep.
The Guardsmen looked at the Lioness quizzically. "No use letting him get away again," she answered.
Three men were hoisting Temptest onto their shoulders as an outraged Provost met them outside.
"YE LET HIM GET AWAY????" the Provost roared at his men, his face slowly turning an interesting shade of red.
"SOMEONE COULD HAVE BEEN HURT ER WORSE KILLED! I SHOULD HAVE YER HEADS! ALL FIVE OF YE!!!"
Alanna shook her head, knowing that no matter how long she or George assured the Lord they were fine; it would satisfy the easily angered man.
George glanced at Alanna as the humiliated men were escorted away, along with Kieran's slumbering body, Provost's voice reverberating throughout the wing.
"And were did you think you were going?" he asked.
"I can't just sit around in bed all day!" Alanna cried. "No matter how much fun being in bed with you can be," she added mischievously. "I have to be doing something! Fighting, practicing, something!"
"You're right." George agreed, his expression serious. "You're obviously recovered from your little brush with the Black God, no matter how much other folk were scared witless by it. Didn't you mention Gary asking you to teach a class for him? If you're up to it, why don't you?"
"You know something, I think I will," Alanna said, as she set off to find Gary.
"And don't worry lady-me-love, I'll try to avoid any more assassination attempts. Boy, do people hate me here. And I thought it was good to be back in Corus!" Alanna couldn't help but laugh at George's expression, as she walked giddily down the hall, nodding to servants and nobles alike, just thrilled to be up and well.
She'd let Jon, Provost, Raoul, Myles, George, and Gary worry about their mystery attacker. She had a class to teach!
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Author's Note: And so my newest chapter comes to an end. I hope you liked it! I'm sooo sorry that it took me this long to get it up, but I was really busy the last few days. Yesterday was my birthday! I'm 15 now! Yay! Lol sorry got off topic. Anyway, thanks to everyone who reviewed so far, you're great! R/R please!!!
Jonathan, accompanied by five members of the Palace Guard, Raoul, and the Lord Provost sat outside the suite of rooms belonging to a new palace arrival-a young Mithran novice, Kiernan Temptest, waiting for him to emerge. Kiernan was a man of about 19, a boy really, slight of build, and quiet in manner, with a persistent air of nervousness about him. The King and Myles both thought he might be their assassin-mage.
Lord Provost and his men leapt to their feet, as the heavy oak door swung open. Temptest reeled back in shock, clearly not expecting the Knight Commander of the King's Own, a dozen members of the Palace Guard, the Lord Provost, and His Majesty himself to be sitting outside his door.
" 'Majesty," the man acknowledged, bowing, as beads of sweat began to form on his pasty features. "To what do I owe this...honor.?" Kiernan asked, stumbling over his words in his obvious fright.
The Lord Provost grinned wolfishly, as Raoul and two members of the Palace Guard approached him. "Ye wouldn't be protestin' to a few good natured questions as to ye're business here in the palace, would ye lad?" the Provost asked, almost hoping the man would be crazy enough to refuse. He hadn't had a good fight in weeks, and his adrenaline was running high.
"Nnnoo, no, of course not, whatever His Majesty wishes, of course," Temptest stammered, turning even paler than he was. "Although I can assure you, I'm here on legitimate business for Lu Zen," he replied, his voice taking on a more indignant tone.
"Lu-Zen?" Raoul inquired thoughtfully. "The noted Master and head of the Mithran Cloisters of Harmony?"
"Aye, him!" Kiernan nodded, relieved.
"Really? That's very interesting. Or didn't you know that Lu-Zen was killed two years ago, in a rather tragic riding accident?" Raoul replied, his voice taking on a good-natured air of nonchalance.
"Why don't ye be comin'wit my boys and me?" the Lord Provost suggested, as two swords blocked Temptest's path, and he was marched down the corridor, his protests silenced by a threatening look from one of the Guardsmen.
Jonathan watched Kiernan Temptest being marched away, his expression thoughtful. Maybe now, we'll get some answers, he thought.
************************************************************************
Some hours later, Raoul and Myles emerged from the rooms where the interrogation was taking place.
"Well?" Jon asked, a questioning look on his face. "What did you find out?"
"Not much, that's for sure," Raoul replied, sinking into an armchair with a groan.
"The man isn't as stupid as he appears. He refused to say much of anything- demanded that his rights were being violated. We can't do much more, not without a writ of investigation, and some solid proof that he was definitely involved with Alanna's poisoning," Myles replied with a tired sigh, lowering himself into another chair, opposite Raoul.
"Although he did give up this," Raoul continued, fishing a wrinkled and grimy piece of paper from his navy blue silk tunic, and handing it to Jon.
Jon took the paper, turning it over in his hands, wrinkling his nose at the odor that emanated from the slip.
"Sulfur?" he asked. Raoul nodded.
"There were traces of sulfur found in the poison on Alanna's glass," Myles reminded Jon.
"I highly doubt our stammering friend is as innocent as he protests," Myles finished, with a dry smile.
"There's something written on the paper," Jon murmured, his brow wrinkling as he struggled to decipher the writing.
"Alleva-Regala mean anything to you Myles," Jon asked. "I think that's what's written on the paper."
Myles slowly shook his head. "Alleva-Regala, no can't say it does.." Myles voice trailed off, as he appeared to be struggling to recall some fact.
"Wait!" he cried, his eyes lighting up in triumph. Raoul, Jon, the Lord Provost and Gary, who had entered the room some moments before, looked at him.
"Could the paper have said Alleviaregála perhaps?" Myles asked.
"It could, yes," Jonathan agreed. "The paper is so smudged, it's hard to clearly make out the letters. Why? What significance does Alleviaregála have?"
"It's a city," Gary said, answering his cousin's question. "A Scanran city, if I'm correct." He looked to Myles, who nodded his affirmation.
"A Scanran city 'ay?" the Lord Provost asked. "Why this gets more and more interesting doesn't it?"
************************************************************************
Alanna yawned and stretched, sitting up in the bed George had swept her off to, where he had taken great care to insure that she really was perfectly fine. Alanna smiled at the memory, looking down at her sleeping lover. Creeping out of bed, she pulled on a soft fawn colored tunic and breeches, and padded to the door. She was about to pull it open, when her ember stone unleashed a burst of light and fire, as the young man that would later be identified as Kiernan Temptest, burst through the door, yelling and screaming, brandishing a sword. His muddy brown eyes had the glassy look of those who are possessed.
George jumped to his feet, startled awake when the door was smashed open. He yanked a very sharp and very deadly looking knife from his tunic pocket, which was lying on the floor by the bed, as he tossed another blade to Alanna. He pushed Alanna behind him.
"Not today lass," he murmured into her ear. "You aren't well enough for a fight and you know it!"
Alanna opened her mouth to protest, but seeing the fiery look in George's hazel eyes, decided it might be wiser to shut it instead.
George pressed his knife into the young mage's throat-a threat no one could miss.
Alanna, having noticed the look in the man's eye, gripped the ember stone firmly. She wasn't surprised to find that he was steadily glowing a pale yellow. A definite sign of magic being used.
"He's being controlled," Alanna said aloud. "Not with his gift-another's."
Alanna dropped the ember stone as five members of the Palace Guard burst into the room, sweaty and out of breath. One murmured something about the Provost having their heads for letting the mage out of their sight.
George easily knocked Kiernan Temptest's sword aside, as a burst of purple fire sent him into a deep sleep.
The Guardsmen looked at the Lioness quizzically. "No use letting him get away again," she answered.
Three men were hoisting Temptest onto their shoulders as an outraged Provost met them outside.
"YE LET HIM GET AWAY????" the Provost roared at his men, his face slowly turning an interesting shade of red.
"SOMEONE COULD HAVE BEEN HURT ER WORSE KILLED! I SHOULD HAVE YER HEADS! ALL FIVE OF YE!!!"
Alanna shook her head, knowing that no matter how long she or George assured the Lord they were fine; it would satisfy the easily angered man.
George glanced at Alanna as the humiliated men were escorted away, along with Kieran's slumbering body, Provost's voice reverberating throughout the wing.
"And were did you think you were going?" he asked.
"I can't just sit around in bed all day!" Alanna cried. "No matter how much fun being in bed with you can be," she added mischievously. "I have to be doing something! Fighting, practicing, something!"
"You're right." George agreed, his expression serious. "You're obviously recovered from your little brush with the Black God, no matter how much other folk were scared witless by it. Didn't you mention Gary asking you to teach a class for him? If you're up to it, why don't you?"
"You know something, I think I will," Alanna said, as she set off to find Gary.
"And don't worry lady-me-love, I'll try to avoid any more assassination attempts. Boy, do people hate me here. And I thought it was good to be back in Corus!" Alanna couldn't help but laugh at George's expression, as she walked giddily down the hall, nodding to servants and nobles alike, just thrilled to be up and well.
She'd let Jon, Provost, Raoul, Myles, George, and Gary worry about their mystery attacker. She had a class to teach!
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Author's Note: And so my newest chapter comes to an end. I hope you liked it! I'm sooo sorry that it took me this long to get it up, but I was really busy the last few days. Yesterday was my birthday! I'm 15 now! Yay! Lol sorry got off topic. Anyway, thanks to everyone who reviewed so far, you're great! R/R please!!!