Anniya
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" This is excellent wine! I see why it is a well guarded family secret," Charles of Asnee, a guard of the old palace and under Count Frederick Di Fallon's employ, exclaimed loudly.
He wasn't a handsome man, but neither was he ugly. His dark brown hair was long, and it matched his friendly chocolate eyes. He wasn't a particularly tall man if one thought about it, but his wide frame added inches. At thirty two years of age, he merely succeeded in marrying his childhood sweetheart who was now pregnant with child. He didn't really think what went on with his job; all that Charles knew was that it paid the taxes and put food on the table.
Andre, his fellow guard, nodded in agreement. The cloaked guard laughed heartily. It was a rich, full sound of a man at the prime of his life, and Charles took an instant liking to him. The guard had come to relieve them of their watching duties at the back entrance. Normally Charles liked to get a head start on his way to the cottage, as his wife hated when he was late. She had ridiculous notions that thieves had gotten him if he were only a few minutes late. But it wasn't as if he would be finding brigands around the old castle, so when the guard had offered them some wine, Charles hadn't declined. And now he was quite jolly that he hadn't, as it was the most delicious he had ever encountered.
" What do you got in that sack of yours," Charles asked him curiously. The cloaked guard glanced over at the large burlap sack he had brought along with him. From within the dark folds, a flicker of golden hair caught Charles's eye.
" Well, you've caught me. I'm carrying around an unconscious gypsy girl," the man replied easily, amusement in his voice.
Andre roared with laughter, and Charles joined in. A grin spread across the cloaked man's face, and he too laughed, just as heartily as the two themselves.
Charles stopped laughing first. He wanted to take another swig of wine. The sweet liquid bubbled in his throat. It was truly the most delicious he had ever tasted.
" Your sense of humor is as fine as your wine," Andre told him. The cloaked man merely smiled, and Charles realized that he had still not introduced himself.
" Charles of Asnee, and my companion's Andre of the same. Wine has made me forget my manners."
Charles waited for the man to introduce himself. He didn't. After several moments of silence, Charles asked him. " I don't believe we've heard your name yet."
The cloaked guard shook his head. " My apologies. I thought I had already given it. You may call me Tsew of Calenburg."
Charles frowned, and scratched his head. He didn't want to seem like an ignorant fool, but he had never heard of Calenburg. It couldn't be in Kyrria. And Tsew wasn't a common name at all; in fact, Charles had never heard of it. Thankfully, Andre voice his question.
" Where in bloody hell is Calenburg," Andre asked, taking another swig of wine.
He had downed more of it then all three of them put together. Actually, just the two of them. Charles had carefully noted that Tsew had not taken a sip of his wine. But of course, he was on guard duty next. If any of their superiors caught them drinking on the job, it was twenty five lashes guaranteed.
" It is in Bast. I have not been there since I was a child, which is obvious from my lack of accent."
" I hate to interrupt," Andre began, his words slurred. " where is the hanging this eve?"
Charles rolled his eyes, and opened his mouth to change the subject. " So how have you been-,"
" A hanging?," Tsew interrupted suddenly, the interest in his voice apparent.
Charles was surprised. By now, he was sure that everyone knew of it.
" You don't know? Since the prince of Kellia has been caught guilty of attempted assassination, the news has been racing through the country. Our good King Jerrold has decided on hanging one of the spies. Count caught her himself. It's said that she was at the ball, trying to seduce him to his death. Tis a pity, she was suppose to be a pretty little blonde thing. A bit disgusting that a lass is going to hang, but I suppose that is the way with war."
Tsew was silent, and it unnerved Charles slightly. What had he said to make the much taller man so quiet?
" Everything all right," Andre asked. Even in his drunken state, he realized that the atmosphere had changed.
Two knives suddenly whirled out of no where into Tsew's hands. In an instant they were was one on Andre's neck, and one on Charles's.
Charles stared at the man, suddenly terrified. He had just realized that this man was not a guard.
He moved his hand toward his sword buckle.
" Touch the sword, and I'll cut your hand off. Scream for help and I'll do cut more then just your hand," the man said quietly. Charles did as he said. His years had made him learn that bandits didn't really care about lives, and they didn't give a second thought about slitting someone's throat. Andre, however, was sixteen years old.
" You bastard! You tricked us! Guar-," Andre began to scream. The man's hand came down immediately, and Charles looked away. Silence immediately followed.
" He's not dead, if that's why your eyes are closed. I just knocked him out. He's brave and willing to fight for his life. A foolish quality, but a brave one and I'll let some other slit his throat," the man said quietly.
Charles was still too scared to glance over, and too humiliated to look the man in the eye. Even if this man didn't kill him, the Count would probably hang him if this man planned to do anything serious.
" Look, just tell me a few things, and I'll let you go. If you refuse to cooperate, don't think I'll just give you a kind blow to the head. I forgave his youth, an excuse you really cannot use."
Charles didn't doubt him. He just now noticed the blood on the blade that was against his throat. It glittered menacingly. The man noticed his gaze, and grinned.
" Ogre blood. Hard as hell to clean off," he said, a hint of a smile in his face. It disappeared as quickly as it had come. " What do you know about this hanging?"
Charles gulped, but forced the words. " Everything I already told you, nearly. She'll hang in the center of Frell at sunset. I know nothing more milord, I swear! Spare my life," Charles begged, adding the milord touch in an attempt to flatter him. It had the opposite effect.
" Do not call me milord," the man said harshly, and pressed the knife closer for a moment.
" Where is you're horse?"
Charles made a motion with his head to the right. He shot an angry expression at Wolf, his stallion. The humongous, black horse had stood silent throughout the entire time. And it hadn't made a single noise when the man had stepped out from the shadows in the first place. Wolf was stubborn, bad tempered, wild, and had a mind of his own. Charles should of sold the worthless horse the moment he had found it wandering outside the ogre's forest.
The man glanced at it, and inhaled sharply. He seemed to forget about Charles for a moment as he walked toward the horse.
" Diobla," the man breathed in. The stallion snorted, and flipped the man's hood off. It revealed a handsome man with golden hair.
The horse and man contrasted sharply, like night versus day. But at the same time, one could see the bond between the two.
Charles saw this, and pulled out his knife. The man seemed oblivious to him. Charles raised the knife high, and brought it down on the man's back.
The horse screamed as the knife was coming down. The golden haired man whipped around and plucked the knife out of Charles's hand just as it grazed the skin. He swore, and pinned Charles down.
Charles's began sobbing, knowing what was coming next.
" I have a wife, she's with child," he began crying. The bandit ignored his pleas.
" Which hand do you write with? Don't lie. You won't benefit from anything."
" Left. Please no, god no!"
" Hold out your right."
" I beg you!"
" Hold one out or both, take your pick! Now," the man said forcefully. Sobbing, Charles extended his right hand and closed his eyes, bracing himself.
The knife flicked across his hand, as if it was writing words. But it wasn't cut off.
" Luck be with you," the man said, and then brought his sword down on Charles's head, knocking him out as he had Andre. Thunder rumbled in the distance.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
" Your majesty," a man cried out urgently, knocking Sir Stephan over as he made his way to Char. Char slowed his horse and waited as the man caught up.
Perhaps it was word from his mother and father about his engagement. The thought of the word brought a smile to his face, and the thought of Ella widened it. He wished that Sir Stephan hadn't received an urgent message about a roaming ogre party near the Ayorthora border while they were at Dame Olga's. At the moment, there was nothing that Char wanted to do more then to go tell his parents the happy news.
" Don't disturb the prince," Sir Aubrey barked at the guard. Char held his hand up at him.
" Don't get excited Aubrey. It's fine. What news do you bring me?"
The guard, who looked several years younger then Char himself, stopped for a moment to gasp for breath. He pulled several parchments from his tunic and thrust them into Char's hands.
Char frowned, then unfolded the first one. It read:
" To Count Frederick Di Fallon, rightful ruler of Kyrria and it's surrounding lands:
King Jerrold and Queen Daria suspect nothing. They think that your idea for the balls is fabulous, and can't even guess that there might be a motive behind it. The Duke of Kenton will have the knife, as you have instructed. He will stab Prince Charmont, and while everyone is in an uproar, the ogres will move in, directed by TSSal of Mniqa of course. He will send you a separate letter detailing the exact line up outside the palace.
I wouldn't worry about the Kellia men. Several court officials have planted the idea in their head that they can't be trusted, and without evidence they'll get no where.
- Captain Raungard of Frell
Char's deep chestnut eyes had hardly finished the letter before he moved on to the next one. It was written in ogrese characters. He shuffled through the letters and came to a startling conclusion: Anniya had been right. The Count was trying to kill him. He had been thwarted by Anniya, Char now realized. Which meant that as he stood there, Anniya and his family were in danger.
" Aubrey! We need to turn around immediately," Char told him in a clipper, matter of fact voice. He handed the parchments over to the knight, who quickly read the first one. The color drained out of his face. Char didn't wait for him to finish it.
" Turn around! We're going back to Frell!
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
" Esperanza. Wake up. Esperanza," a voice called out to Esperanza. It sounded dimly like West's. She opened an eye. It was West. Or at least it appeared to be.
Before Esperanza could say anything, he clapped a hand over her mouth. Her skin tensed, and she began clawing at West. He ignored it, and merely proceeded to holding down her arms as well.
" Listen. I'm West. Last time you saw me you started raving like a mad woman. Do you think I'm who I say I am?"
Esperanza studied him carefully. His golden hair was tangled, his face was smeared with blood and dirt, the determined scowl on his face with the sparkling green eyes told her who it was.
" You're West," she said slowly, " No other creature alive could have that unmistakable scowl on his face."
She stared at his face as she told him this, gauging his reaction. West laughed, and at that moment Esperanza confirmed that it was him. Like Anniya, he had an unmistakable laugh. But this one was tired, and made him sound so many years older.
She rubbed her head and was surprised to find a sticky wetness. She glanced at her hand. It was blood. For the first time, she thought to look around.
They seemed to be underneath a gigantic tree, willow tree to be more exact. It's long leaves touched the ground, shielding them from the view of the road. The space near the trunk wasn't much bigger then six feet long and wide, but it was enough for both of them to squeeze under.
" Where are we?"
. " We are underneath one of the largest Willow trees in Kyrria, and ten miles away from the center of Frell."
" Where's Robert? Where's Anniya? Are they ok."
Esperanza waited impatiently for an answer. But West got a distant look on his face, and he merely shook his head. " We can ride hard now that your awake. Follow me, there isn't time to lose."
Esperanza bit her tongue in anger, and stood her ground. " I'm not moving a bloody step until I know where Anniya and Robert are!"
If looks could kill, Esperanza would of probably died from the one West sent her. He stopped for a moment, and seemed to be considering something. Then he spoke.
" I left to go after you as soon as we decided you were missing. But I'll sum up what I know now: Somehow the Count's made it look like Robert was trying to kill Char in order to start a Kellia-Kyrria war. Anniya was the one who was supposedly going to kill him, so now she's going to be hung at sunset unless we can get there in time. Now follow me before I bloody put you in the sack again," he said flatly.
With that much said, West turned around and pushed the vines aside. Esperanza stood still.
Anniya was going to be hung in what, a few hours? Death was a hard thing to comprehend, no matter how much Esperanza was exposed to it. She continued to sit there deadly.
If there had anyone that Esperanza could of ever called a true friend, one that didn't use her for some reason or another, or because she had something they wanted, Anniya would be the person. She had offered her friendship, laughter, and love, despite who she was. Anniya had even offered her life, that one time when Gleex had nearly burned her to death. Anniya was the closest thing that Esperanza would ever have to a sister again. Esperanza wasn't about to let her die, and the same thing went for Robert.
She leaped from her place underneath the tree, and made her over toward West. He was mounted on none other then Diobla. Esperanza arched an eyebrow at the horse, but did nothing more. He offered her a hand up, and she took it.
At West turned the horse toward Frell, Esperanza asked him a question on a subject he had been very quiet on.
" Do you still love Anniya?"
Despite the seriousness of the question, it earned a chuckle from West.
" Do I love Anniya," he repeated, and kicked Diobla. Esperanza tightened her hold on his waist as the stallion raced down the road. Looming thunder clouds proved that a race might be coming up.
" Good. You remembered the question," Esperanza said sarcastically. Few events could keep her sarcastic wit away.
" Of course I love Anniya. I love her just like I would love a sister."
" We all do. I want to know if you love her like Robert loves her."
Lightning cracked the sky, and thunder came roaring back to greet it. The trees swayed a bit, and West swore. He managed to avoid the question for several minutes.
" Are you going to answer me?"
" I already gave you a damn answer. I should of left you back at the castle, you're more trouble then your worth."
" I know. Don't answer then."
West abruptly stopped the horse, and he turned around to face her. His face was in all earnestness, and Esperanza knew that she was going to get the truth.
" Look. Any un-brotherly feelings that I had for Anniya died along with her un-sisterly ones for me. It's been a year and a half since anything happened between us. Then I changed, she changed. She loves Robert, I'm back to being the bachelor. There. Done. End of story."
With that little monologue finished, West started to turn back around. Esperanza changed the subject before he could kick Diobla.
" Where are they keeping Robert?"
The crease of a frown suddenly appeared on his face, and if the situation hadn't been so serious, Esperanza would of smirked. His brotherly feelings were stronger for his non-sister then they were for his half brother. But her mind only dwelled on that for a mere second.
" I would think the dungeon. He's a valuable prisoner, so he'd definitely be in the palace. But if they think he tried to kill the Kyrrian Prince, then I'm almost certain that he'd be in the dungeon. Heavily guarded."
Esperanza was silent for a moment, her mind calculating. After several moments, she had a semblance of a plan.
" Well, as of now, it's you, me, and you demon like horse against the nation. We need to free Robert as soon as possible; out of all of us, he's the only one with real power. People respect him almost as much as they respect their own monarchs. People will laugh us back into the dirt, but they'll listen to Robert. He's really our only chance. I propose that one of us goes to try to get Robert out, and the other goes to try to save Anniya."
West arched an eyebrow and didn't say anything. He seemed to be weighing the outcomes.
" I say this: I should go and get Robert, because I'll have an easier time getting into the dungeon since I'm a girl. It'll probably take some sort of brute strength one way or another saving Anniya, so you would be better suited to that task. Where are they hanging her?"
" Center of Frell."
" Perfect. It's only a mile away from the palace. As soon as I free Robert, we'll ride up to meet you in the crowd. We meet at midnight in the north corner of Frell. Dead midnight. No later then half an hour. At that point, whoever isn't there is dead," Esperanza finished.
West stared at her for a long time. Esperanza shifted, uncomfortable. Once again, despite the seriousness of the situation, he cracked a grin.
" By god Esperanza, if only you'd been born a man. If I had half of the impeccable strategy you have and a quarter of common sense, I would be the richest man alive."
Esperanza smiled too, knowing that was probably the biggest compliment West would ever bestow on her.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
" I trust that they are treating you well," Queen Daria's voice rang out, startling Robert out of his reverie. Tired, he mustered just enough energy to look up.
Robert had always liked the Queen. Her long black hair was lovely in Robert's opinion, and her chestnut eyes that were identical to her son's sparkled with life. He had always gotten along with her better then his own mother; although the Queen Marie of Kellia was beautiful, she was also vain, catty, and shunned her son. But Robert could hardly blame her. His mother had been ripped away from the man she truly loved and pledged to the king, and Robert when she was sixteen years old. West's mother, on the other hand, had born him when she was twelve, nearly thirteen. It was odd that the king had taken her at such a young age, and the thought disturbed Robert. But this pondering had little to do with the image standing in front of him.
" They've been treating me well," he echoed, glancing at the guards. The Queen noticed the glance. She snapped her fingers. One of them started to protest.
" He's a killer, your majesty. He tried to kill you son. In all due respect-,"
" You would leave as I commanded you to. Do you doubt the sincerity of my words," the Queen asked the guard, silencing him.
The guard blushed, and turned to lead the rest of the guards out of the room. Robert grinned wryly. The Queen never yelled, never lost her temper, and seemed so frail that one wondered if a breeze might blow her away. But even so, her voice was the word of the people.
The Queen turned back to look him straight in the eye, blue meeting brown. Robert looked her dead on, and remained silent, giving her the respect to speak.
" My thoughts are not the same as my husbands, but I do not believe that you plan to kill my son. You and Char have grown up together, and neither of you have ever particularly longer for the throne. And the more I thought about it, the more certain I have become. Even if you wanted to kill Char, it would make no sense to do it with only a wench's help. And you would of never done the work yourself. And of course, what could you benefit? Nothing."
Robert seized the iron bars that separated them.
" Your majesty, then you have to believe me when I say that Count Frederick Di Fallon is plotting to kill you son! He is in direct line for the throne after Cecilia, and it wouldn't be nearly as hard to get her out of the way as it would be for Char. In the midst of all the chaos, did you think to ask him where he got his information?"
" He was told by a spy that turned on you. The spy disappeared moments after the information was passed."
" It's a bloody lie!"
" Or a lie that is bloody," the Queen answered wryly.
Robert smiled despite the circumstances, and profoundly apologized.
" My apologies your highness. It's been a long while since I was in the company of Ladies. But do you believe me?"
The Queen studied him, and as Robert watched her, he realized that he disagreed with the Count. Although the Queen was shy and reserved, underneath that shield was mind that could rival her husband's.
" I do not need to believe you, for I have suspected the truth myself for some time. Like the balls. I thought they were a charming idea at first. But the Count has never been a kind person to me, which was what made me suspicious. At first I thought he was trying to bridge the gap between us, but now that you tell me this, it changes my mind slightly. Who is the wench that he is hanging?"
" Anniya is what she goes by. She was trying to save Char's life. He would of died if she hadn't intervened."
A questioning look crossed the Queen's face. " Anniya. What a pretty name. I feel as if I have heard it before."
" What time is it now," Robert asked eagerly.
A shadowy look crossed the Queen's face.
" The sun will begin sinking at six. It is fifteen minutes until that time."
Robert stood up, enraged. He leaned as close to the Queen as he could.
" Your highness, you have to open the gate! She is going to die, and there isn't a goddamn thing I can do to save her! I'll give you my life for hers, and they can kill me any damn painful way they please as long as you spare her! The people of Kyrria follow you, as does the Count! They won't let him do anything if you say something, " Robert shouted, slowly sinking to his knees.
So this is how the story ended: Esperanza was most likely dead, West was missing, Anniya was about to be executed, and Robert was in the dungeon.
Queen Daria only shook her head sadly. " This 'real' power you speak of is something I do not possess. I should not even be down here right now. At this point, there are not many people who can save the wenches life. Except for these My husband, who is blinded with anger and Count Fallon, who is blinded with corruption-,"
" And then we have it, both who will don't give a damn what happens as long as she's dead," Robert said bitterly. The Queen ignored him and went on.
" That is where you are wrong. The third is my son, who will be able to see more clearly then either of them. He has always spoken highly of you Robert, and anyone who is friends with you is friends with him. Char is your only chance, as of now."
A knock was on the door. The Queen's head turned slightly, only for a moment. And then, reaching from underneath the folds of her skirt, The Queen pulled out a dagger. Robert accepted it gratefully, and tucked it in his right boot.
The Queen nodded, and rose. " Good luck, Prince of Kellia," she told him before opening the door. The Queen was replaced with guards. Robert turned his back to the door, and counted minutes until sunset.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
" She's awfully young. Are you sure that she tried to kill the prince," the captain of Count Frederick Di Fallon's guard asked.
The Count fingered the ruby and emerald ring on his hand. A chilly winter breeze swept through the sky, ruffling the hairs on the back of his neck. He smiled with satisfaction at the scene beneath him.
The town center was crammed with people of all kinds. The poor and the rich had gathered to see the evil assassin who had tried to kill their beloved prince, even the disgusting, rat like gypsies. The nearby trees roared down dead leaves, the chilly winter winds setting them free. The sun was lowering itself on the horizon, and the sky was streaked with a mix of violet, orange, and white. It was indeed a beautiful day.
Everything was turning out perfect. That damn little sewer rat gypsy, even with the small amount of information she had, was responsible for this. It brought a smile to his lips, to think that the race that polluted his country with their existence was going to be responsible for making him king. He had a lot to thank her for. The Prince was in the dungeon, the girl's neck in the noose, and West was lying in some gutter dead, according to his information.
That last thought brought the widest smile of all to the Count's face. He stroked his face, and mused of how wonderful it would of been to strangle the man himself. He had a hatred for the brigand more then any man alive, making an excuse only for Eirene's greenie. The thief had never broken down, even in torture, and had merely spit in the Count's face. It was truly a shame that the thief couldn't hang tonight either.
He was on one of the two platforms, so he rose above the rest of the common horde. The first platform was built for the nobility. The second was built for the execution.
" Yes, I am quite certain that our little lass here attempted to murder the prince."
The captain's light brown hair blew in the breeze, and an evident frown crossed his face. He was a smart man. Too smart. The Count would have to dispose of him soon.
" What would a pretty lass like her have to gain by killing him? She could certainly charm her way into marrying her if it was riches she wanted."
" How in god's name am I suppose to know the mind of a criminal? It was most likely a side job to her whoring; after all, she did work for the Prince Robert of Kellia. It's a bit far fetched to think that he would want a pretty thing like her for only a spy."
The captain glanced at the Count, and their eyes locked. The Count didn't say more; he knew that the captain wasn't believing a word he said. The man had gotten too clever, knew too much. As soon as this girl was hung, the Count would have to arrange another 'accident'.
A part of his conscience nagged at him. She was Eirene's daughter. A spitting image of her, nearly. But at the same time, a memory of the greenie, and of his ruined plans.
Fredericka should of been his daughter. If only he had known who she was before he had begun hating her.
The image of the elf returned to him, and the Count's mixed feelings returned to hate and disgust. Fredericka was lucky that he hadn't decided to burn her, along with the memories of her father.
" Milord? There's something you should see," a guard told him.
The Count nodded absent-minded. Another man came forward, and extended his arm. The Count lifted an eyebrow.
" Why in god's name are you wasting my time? Tell me what you have to say!," he snapped.
The man's eyes were wide and frightened, but somehow he managed to speak. " A man in a cloak knocked me unconscious, stole my horse, and escaped. At first I thought he was a bandit, but then I saw what he left."
The Count leaned down and looked closely at the man's arm. It was beginning to scab now, but from what it looked like, someone had taken a sword and carved words into the man's arm. The Count grabbed the man by the arm and jerked him closer as he read the words.
They read, as inscribed: " I'll see you at sunset-W."
The Count turned around abruptly to the captain of the guard. " I thought you told me that one of our informants had seen him lying dead in a street gutter, rats crawling on his body! Did you lie to me," he snapped angrily.
The captain looked extremely puzzled, and shook his head. " No milord, I did not lie to you. I remember clearly that a man in a guard's uniform came up to me not more then several days ago-,"
" Do you remember what he looked like? How old? How tall? What color was his hair?"
The captain scratched his chin nervously, obviously racking his memory. " I really don't remember much milord. They all look the same to me."
The Count swore, and was about to bark out orders to a more complying servant when the captain's face suddenly brightened.
"It was a bright gold color, I believe, milord. A blond color, I remember that much."
The Count nodded, and his face darkened. The bastard had managed to make a fool out of him once again. Well, it was the last time it would happen. That thought brought a smile to his face. He cared about the girl, that was obvious. Which meant West was somewhere out in the crowd, one of the faces. Which meant the Count would have the chance to kill the thief himself after all.
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~Author's note~
Nine pages! I hope everyone's happy with this chapter; I think this might be the longest one I've posted so far. I wrote it from several different points of view this time, and found that I was on a role if I switched every once in awhile. This story has gone by so fast, it's amazing! I'm beyond the 700 review point, and it seems like just yesterday that I was waiting for my hundredth!( I'm completely spoiled on reviews, I admit it) Thanks for all the reviews guys, towards the end I'll thank you all personally.
Now go click on that little review button, and do me a favor: PLEASE WRITE an actual, real, detailed review. Don't get me wrong: I love hearing about how much you love my story, but I know it's not perfect. Even though were toward the end, give me your feed back. Say you like Robert better. Tell me why! Or you think I should do something with a certain character. I love advice! I love constructive criticism!( this story would suck without it!) What has helped me evolve into a decent writer is those things, and I can step up the evolutionary path if I get more( thank you chava, and many others that I can't name right now!). So while I love people telling me that they love my story, it'd be great if you could tell me why too. Thanks guys!!!
~ Faerie_gurl A.K.A. Kira