Kaeleer: Little Terreillle

            Lord Rafel rubbed his throat gingerly as he stood in front of an elaborately carved black door. The Dark Priestess would certainly not welcome the news he had brought. Hopefully, the fact that part of their plan had worked would appease Hekatah. Rafel took a deep breath, opened the door quietly and slipped in.

            Hekatah narrowed her eyes as Lord Rafel entered the room. He looked apprehensive, as he should be approaching the Dark Priestess. Her lips curved in a smile, which rapidly faded; but the wariness in his appearance probably meant that the plan hadn't worked perfectly. Of course it had been a hastily made plan…

            She had been looking for a way to meet Jaenelle, Saetan's newest pet, while Jaenelle was in Little Terreille. So far the girl had evaded any chance for a meeting. Hekatah needed a way to meet her, the first step in learning how to control her. Everyone in Little Terreille had heard about Jaenelle's run in with the Dark Council. Hekatah needed that formidable dark power to serve her own ambitions. But on how to control Jaenelle, that was the question. Jaenelle wasn't likely to be swayed by the promise of power, riches or glory, thanks to Saetan's spineless teachings. So Hekatah needed to control her by using her weaknesses. Hekatah had never met the girl herself and therefore didn't know what things would have power over her. But one of Saetan's weaknesses had been his caring about family and friends. Hekatah sent one of her spies to see what he could find.

            In a matter of days Lord Rafel sent a message to her from Amdarh saying that a young Queen by the name of Karla had been asking about passage to Little Tereille to visit a friend, one Lady Jaenelle; Hekatah knew it was too good an opportunity to pass up. She instructed Rafel to bring the young witch to Little Terreille. Once there, he was to bring Karla to Jaenelle, then bring both to her, by whatever means necessary.

            Hekatah planned to present a plan to Jaenelle. If Jaenelle refused, well, Karla would be used to persuade her.

            Lord Rafel approached Hekatah; she smiled seductively. "Won't you please sit down, Warlord."

            "Thank you," said Rafel quickly, sitting and accepting the glass of wine. He glanced at the man sitting beside Hekatah.

            Hekatah took a sip from her own glass. "Lord Rafel, this is Lord Hobart from Glacia; he has a personal interest in our current situation." She then looked over her cup at Lord Rafel, conveying great interest. "How was your trip, Lord Rafel?"

            Rafel cleared his throat. "Most of my trip went well, Priestess. I am happy to report that I have the Lady Karla in my custody."

            Lord Hobart let out a small noise of victory.

            "However?-" Hekatah asked lightly.

            He continued. "However, I also have two other Queens, Morghann of Scelt and Kalush of Nharhava, two Warlords, Morton of Glacia and Khardeen of Scelt and a Warlord Prince, Aaron of Dharo. All professing to be friends of Lady Jaenelle. They were traveling with Lady Karla, so I was obliged to bring them along."

            Hekatah looked him coldly. "More bargaining tools, then. What of Jaenelle?"

            "When we went to my cousin's estate, she told me Jaenelle had left earlier in the day and was traveling towards the Dhemlan border."

            Hekatah let out a hiss. "So, we are too late. The plan is useless."

            Lord Rafel hesitated and then nodded. "It does look that way, Priestess."

            Hekatah stood and started to pace. She wanted to scream. She had been so close and with the perfect bargaining chips! She struggled to keep her voice calm. "Very well, thank you for your time and dedication, Lord Rafel. You may depart."

            "What of Jaenelle's friends, Priestess? I have them at the fair grounds in Goth. They are unharmed but I did have to use the compulsion spells and drugs you gave me on them. Even still, one of them half killed me. I can't just release them."

            Hekatah whirled about, nails curled in claws. Stupid man! Why had he bothered to go through with the plan when it had been obvious that the biggest quarry had already escaped? She started to say just that when a thought occurred to her.

            Lord Hobart had told her that Saetan was acting as Guardian for a number of young Queens for the summer, his own niece Karla among them. Even if she couldn't use Jaenelle, she could still get revenge on Saetan. How he would squirm if other young Queens were harmed while under his protection, and how the people of the Territories would shout for Saetan's blood! And she could get rid of a couple of potential rivals, as Dorothea so often did.

            Hekatah asked innocently to Lord Rafel. "The Fair is still going on in Goth, isn't it?"

Rafel looked confused for a moment, then smiled maliciously. "Yes, it is Priestess. The fair is on for two more days. I'm sure the visiting Terreillian Queens would be most eager to purchase young Dark-Jeweled Kaeleerian males from the Outer Territories. They are a rarity I'm told."

Hekatah returned his smile. "The High Priestess of Hayll has sent some of her representatives to the fair, be sure to point out those young Kaeleerians to them."

"With pleasure, Priestess. I'll need to get some Rings to control them but that should be easily taken care of." Lord Rafel bowed. He straightened but then frowned. "That takes care of the males, but what of the Queens?"

Hekatah looked at Lord Hobart. "Do you wish to have your niece returned to your care, Lord Hobart?"

"No, I don't want her back. In fact, I'd do anything to be rid of that young bitch and her troublesome cousin! Dealt with in a way that they would never be a nuisance again!"

Hekatah murmured, "That can be arranged."

She turned back to Rafel. " With the Queens, deal with them but quietly with expendable men that can't be traced back to you. I trust you'll be able to accomplish this, Lord Rafel?"

"Accomplish what, Priestess? What should I do with the Queens?" asked Rafel warily; he had an idea but…

"Don't you understand, Lord Rafel?" asked Hekatah sweetly.

"Have the Queens broken."