Year 1: Lyle - Chrysalis has just been overthrown, and Chylla eagerly
joins the Lyle cause.
Ander massaged his forehead wearily. It had been some time since he'd last heard from Seth and he had been hoping for a transport. Ander knew Seth had troubles of his own and continued to tell himself that Seth was merely "busy". However, he could not completely smother the fear of the Fachans going on a rampage and destroying things when they realized their wages would be drastically cut. The Lizards had already deserted Wolfen's army.
The Lyle family had been having a turn of bad luck as of recent. Ever since the Durahan had galloped across Dunmoor their gold and food had decreased to very little and Banshees had continued to shriek their curses. Ander could not supply everyone with enough provisions. Prices were low and even trading was scarce. Ander's only consolation was in the Blanche family. Aughiskies had gobbled their crops and Black Annis terrorized their people.
"At least we don't have it that badly," Ander said to himself, though it was of little help. "Our alliances run *so* smoothly."
A guard raised his eyebrows, unused to his prince's sarcasm. He did not state this opinion out loud.
"Leti," Ander called and a servant woman came to stand before him.
"Yes, your Highness?" She looked at him expectantly.
"Please send word to Lord Wolfen that he is relieved of his post at Erewood and appoint Kneulf to take his place, if you can find him."
Leti nodded quickly and walked briskly to the end of the throne room, opening one of the two large doors and leaving. At her exit, Wolfen came through the door. He gave a low bow. "Your Highness."
Ander quickly sat up in his throne. "Wolfen!" he exclaimed. "It is good to see you! But I was not expecting your visit . . ." His eyes probed the other man for some kind of explanation. "You have received the news of your replacement, I assume?"
Wolfen rose and walked to the bottom of the great stairs that led to where Ander sat. "Yes," he confirmed. "I am grateful that his Highness has not forgotten the great responsibility and hardship that comes with overseeing three provinces."
Ander smiled. "But that is not why you came."
Wolfen's expression grew grim. "Unfortunately, no," he said. "I know you understand the difficulty in ruling the island, Lisle."
Ander nodded.
"I have come to request another transport of provisions," Wolfen continued. "May I remind you that I have continued to send new recruits to you and Seth?"
Ander nodded again. "I have not forgotten your deeds. Yes, of course. I will do what I can and arrange for one to leave tomorrow morning. Hopefully, as you have had a long travel, you will stay here and leave with the shipment?"
Wolfen bowed again. "Yes, thank you. I am grateful of his Highness's hospitality."
Ander smiled. "You are always welcome here."
Turning to leave, Wolfen remembered something. "Oh! Prince Ander?"
Ander looked at him expectantly.
"You know Garth? Who originally ruled in Lisle?"
"Yes . . .?"
"After the battle was won, I'd asked him to join our forces – as any of your men would," Wolfen explained. "He refused then. But he's just come to me, requesting the Lyle name of political asylum! I know it's your place and not mine, but I don't know what to do, considering who he is – turn him away and say that he missed his chance, or accept him and risk him thinking he can take advantage of us?"
Ander thought a bit. "We'll accept him."
"Accept?" Wolfen echoed.
"Accept," Ander repeated. "But never trust him with anything. Not until we know where his loyalties lie. And you need never worry about him ruling his own province for a long time," Ander grinned, "as *I'm* the only one who can appoint him for that."
Wolfen grinned.
At that moment, two guards burst in, dragging a struggling, cursing stranger with them. By the person's voice, it was female; however, her clothes would never have supplied this information. She was dressed in a torn and dirty beige shirt, brown leather pants, and boots that came to mid shin. Her short, jet-black hair covered her face. The guards threw her down at the base of the stairs.
Leti looked through the double doors fearfully. "I-I told them you were busy, your Highness, they just – "
Ander dismissed it with a wave, a frown clouding his blue eyes. "It's alright, Leti. Please, close the doors."
Leti nodded, still nervous, and pulled the doors shut.
Ander let his eyes rest on the stranger. "A woman," he murmured. "And an elf . . ."
"An elf, yes, but I doubt this one's come to sing praises of our triumphs," Wolfen said harshly from where he now stood at the prince's side.
Ander put up a hand to quiet his lord's bitter words. He looked to the guards. "What is the meaning of this?"
"We found this . . . *ranger*," a guard said the word in disgust, "sneaking around and stealing from the already nearly barren fields!"
Ander rose and walked slowly down the stairs, Wolfen following at a distance. The guards yanked the stranger to her feet and she hung her head. Ander gently lifted her chin to look at her closely and she cringed.
"What is your business here, Kathilde Anoiran?"
The guards blinked, startled by this. Wolfen looked from the ranger to Ander, surprised.
The woman squeezed her eyes shut. "I was just passing through," she said defiantly. "Never stole a thing. Now get your hands off of me or I swear I'll bite you!"
Ander obliged, keeping a straight face, but Wolfen noticed a slight hint of amusement in the prince's eyes.
"Very well," Ander shrugged. "Suppose you were." He turned to the guards once more. "You are dismissed," he told them.
They looked at each other, surprised and confused, but they obeyed. The elf looked at Ander suspiciously. Wolfen gave his prince a concerned look. Ander merely smiled and raised his eyes. Wolfen followed Ander's gaze and discovered archers standing sentry along the walls on a balcony surrounding the throne room. This made him feel more at ease, but he still wasn't completely comfortable standing there with the ranger.
"Kathilde," Ander began.
"Kat," she interrupted.
"Yes, Kat . . ." Ander said slowly. "Anyway, Kat, what *were* you doing here?"
"I already told you, I was just passing through!"
Ander paused and studied her, a frown still darkening his features. "So be it," he said finally. "You are released."
Wolfen stared at the prince in disbelief. He was just going to let her go? Just like that?
Kat had turned around and was about to leave when Ander called out to her again.
"Though I can't see where you can go without running the high risk of being arrested again."
Kat froze, then turned around slowly. "What do you want of me?" she asked cautiously.
"Join us," Ander said softly. "Help us in this war. Eselred has corrupted the crown. We must unite Ishmeria to take him out of power and restore peace." His blue eyes shone with honesty. "Please."
Kat hesitated. Inside she wanted to laugh at him, mock him, scream at him, 'Unite Ishmeria? That's what everyone else claims they are doing when all it comes to is conquest over land and *ruling* Ishmeria for their own selfish natures!'
Next, a shy, quiet side of her broke into her thoughts. 'Eselred has been horrible to his people. It is he who has been destroying families for land. He has even locked his own daughter away in a tower! Have you no heart for them? Have you no feeling at all?'
'I live off the land,' her harsh side sneered. 'What happens to the people is not my concern. What have they done for me?'
And then a new thought occurred to Kat.
'After Eselred's done with the people, he will move on to destroying the land and the peaceful creatures that dwell in it.'
With this, her mind was quieted. Kat was about to do something she had so tried to avoid. She took a deep breath.
"I'll go," she said at last.
Ander's eyes were deeply grateful. "Thank you." He straightened, for he had bent to look at Kat face to face. "You will be placed under Wolfen."
Wolfen's eyes went round as dinner plates and he mentally screamed 'WHAT?' He quickly bit his tongue so that he wouldn't say anything he'd regret, and stood motionless.
Ander continued, "Excluding dismissing you of your position, Wolfen may do with you what he wishes. Wolfen!" Ander barked, bringing the other man to complete attention. If there was any idea that Wolfen's mind was not focused, it was gone now. "You will treat Kat fairly and equally as any other man. She will be in charge of your soldiers. Do you understand me?" Ander looked between the two of them.
Kat nodded.
Internally, Wolfen cried, 'My soldiers!'
"Yes, your Highness," he said quietly.
"Good. Leti will show you to your rooms and I'll prepare the transport." Ander nodded farewell.
Wolfen placed his right fist over his heart and bowed, then turned to leave. Unsure of what she was to do, Kat copied Wolfen. Ander smiled slightly at their retreating backs and returned to his seat. An attendant crept up quietly.
"Are you sure about pairing them, your Highness? No offense meant, I *do* trust your decisions," the young girl said nervously with much curtsying.
"It's alright, no offense taken," Ander assured her. He sighed. "Well . . . at least they can't complain of being bored." He grinned.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
New installment, this chapter 5 pages, trying to keep this as short as possible, gotta go, bye!
~Adryl
Ander massaged his forehead wearily. It had been some time since he'd last heard from Seth and he had been hoping for a transport. Ander knew Seth had troubles of his own and continued to tell himself that Seth was merely "busy". However, he could not completely smother the fear of the Fachans going on a rampage and destroying things when they realized their wages would be drastically cut. The Lizards had already deserted Wolfen's army.
The Lyle family had been having a turn of bad luck as of recent. Ever since the Durahan had galloped across Dunmoor their gold and food had decreased to very little and Banshees had continued to shriek their curses. Ander could not supply everyone with enough provisions. Prices were low and even trading was scarce. Ander's only consolation was in the Blanche family. Aughiskies had gobbled their crops and Black Annis terrorized their people.
"At least we don't have it that badly," Ander said to himself, though it was of little help. "Our alliances run *so* smoothly."
A guard raised his eyebrows, unused to his prince's sarcasm. He did not state this opinion out loud.
"Leti," Ander called and a servant woman came to stand before him.
"Yes, your Highness?" She looked at him expectantly.
"Please send word to Lord Wolfen that he is relieved of his post at Erewood and appoint Kneulf to take his place, if you can find him."
Leti nodded quickly and walked briskly to the end of the throne room, opening one of the two large doors and leaving. At her exit, Wolfen came through the door. He gave a low bow. "Your Highness."
Ander quickly sat up in his throne. "Wolfen!" he exclaimed. "It is good to see you! But I was not expecting your visit . . ." His eyes probed the other man for some kind of explanation. "You have received the news of your replacement, I assume?"
Wolfen rose and walked to the bottom of the great stairs that led to where Ander sat. "Yes," he confirmed. "I am grateful that his Highness has not forgotten the great responsibility and hardship that comes with overseeing three provinces."
Ander smiled. "But that is not why you came."
Wolfen's expression grew grim. "Unfortunately, no," he said. "I know you understand the difficulty in ruling the island, Lisle."
Ander nodded.
"I have come to request another transport of provisions," Wolfen continued. "May I remind you that I have continued to send new recruits to you and Seth?"
Ander nodded again. "I have not forgotten your deeds. Yes, of course. I will do what I can and arrange for one to leave tomorrow morning. Hopefully, as you have had a long travel, you will stay here and leave with the shipment?"
Wolfen bowed again. "Yes, thank you. I am grateful of his Highness's hospitality."
Ander smiled. "You are always welcome here."
Turning to leave, Wolfen remembered something. "Oh! Prince Ander?"
Ander looked at him expectantly.
"You know Garth? Who originally ruled in Lisle?"
"Yes . . .?"
"After the battle was won, I'd asked him to join our forces – as any of your men would," Wolfen explained. "He refused then. But he's just come to me, requesting the Lyle name of political asylum! I know it's your place and not mine, but I don't know what to do, considering who he is – turn him away and say that he missed his chance, or accept him and risk him thinking he can take advantage of us?"
Ander thought a bit. "We'll accept him."
"Accept?" Wolfen echoed.
"Accept," Ander repeated. "But never trust him with anything. Not until we know where his loyalties lie. And you need never worry about him ruling his own province for a long time," Ander grinned, "as *I'm* the only one who can appoint him for that."
Wolfen grinned.
At that moment, two guards burst in, dragging a struggling, cursing stranger with them. By the person's voice, it was female; however, her clothes would never have supplied this information. She was dressed in a torn and dirty beige shirt, brown leather pants, and boots that came to mid shin. Her short, jet-black hair covered her face. The guards threw her down at the base of the stairs.
Leti looked through the double doors fearfully. "I-I told them you were busy, your Highness, they just – "
Ander dismissed it with a wave, a frown clouding his blue eyes. "It's alright, Leti. Please, close the doors."
Leti nodded, still nervous, and pulled the doors shut.
Ander let his eyes rest on the stranger. "A woman," he murmured. "And an elf . . ."
"An elf, yes, but I doubt this one's come to sing praises of our triumphs," Wolfen said harshly from where he now stood at the prince's side.
Ander put up a hand to quiet his lord's bitter words. He looked to the guards. "What is the meaning of this?"
"We found this . . . *ranger*," a guard said the word in disgust, "sneaking around and stealing from the already nearly barren fields!"
Ander rose and walked slowly down the stairs, Wolfen following at a distance. The guards yanked the stranger to her feet and she hung her head. Ander gently lifted her chin to look at her closely and she cringed.
"What is your business here, Kathilde Anoiran?"
The guards blinked, startled by this. Wolfen looked from the ranger to Ander, surprised.
The woman squeezed her eyes shut. "I was just passing through," she said defiantly. "Never stole a thing. Now get your hands off of me or I swear I'll bite you!"
Ander obliged, keeping a straight face, but Wolfen noticed a slight hint of amusement in the prince's eyes.
"Very well," Ander shrugged. "Suppose you were." He turned to the guards once more. "You are dismissed," he told them.
They looked at each other, surprised and confused, but they obeyed. The elf looked at Ander suspiciously. Wolfen gave his prince a concerned look. Ander merely smiled and raised his eyes. Wolfen followed Ander's gaze and discovered archers standing sentry along the walls on a balcony surrounding the throne room. This made him feel more at ease, but he still wasn't completely comfortable standing there with the ranger.
"Kathilde," Ander began.
"Kat," she interrupted.
"Yes, Kat . . ." Ander said slowly. "Anyway, Kat, what *were* you doing here?"
"I already told you, I was just passing through!"
Ander paused and studied her, a frown still darkening his features. "So be it," he said finally. "You are released."
Wolfen stared at the prince in disbelief. He was just going to let her go? Just like that?
Kat had turned around and was about to leave when Ander called out to her again.
"Though I can't see where you can go without running the high risk of being arrested again."
Kat froze, then turned around slowly. "What do you want of me?" she asked cautiously.
"Join us," Ander said softly. "Help us in this war. Eselred has corrupted the crown. We must unite Ishmeria to take him out of power and restore peace." His blue eyes shone with honesty. "Please."
Kat hesitated. Inside she wanted to laugh at him, mock him, scream at him, 'Unite Ishmeria? That's what everyone else claims they are doing when all it comes to is conquest over land and *ruling* Ishmeria for their own selfish natures!'
Next, a shy, quiet side of her broke into her thoughts. 'Eselred has been horrible to his people. It is he who has been destroying families for land. He has even locked his own daughter away in a tower! Have you no heart for them? Have you no feeling at all?'
'I live off the land,' her harsh side sneered. 'What happens to the people is not my concern. What have they done for me?'
And then a new thought occurred to Kat.
'After Eselred's done with the people, he will move on to destroying the land and the peaceful creatures that dwell in it.'
With this, her mind was quieted. Kat was about to do something she had so tried to avoid. She took a deep breath.
"I'll go," she said at last.
Ander's eyes were deeply grateful. "Thank you." He straightened, for he had bent to look at Kat face to face. "You will be placed under Wolfen."
Wolfen's eyes went round as dinner plates and he mentally screamed 'WHAT?' He quickly bit his tongue so that he wouldn't say anything he'd regret, and stood motionless.
Ander continued, "Excluding dismissing you of your position, Wolfen may do with you what he wishes. Wolfen!" Ander barked, bringing the other man to complete attention. If there was any idea that Wolfen's mind was not focused, it was gone now. "You will treat Kat fairly and equally as any other man. She will be in charge of your soldiers. Do you understand me?" Ander looked between the two of them.
Kat nodded.
Internally, Wolfen cried, 'My soldiers!'
"Yes, your Highness," he said quietly.
"Good. Leti will show you to your rooms and I'll prepare the transport." Ander nodded farewell.
Wolfen placed his right fist over his heart and bowed, then turned to leave. Unsure of what she was to do, Kat copied Wolfen. Ander smiled slightly at their retreating backs and returned to his seat. An attendant crept up quietly.
"Are you sure about pairing them, your Highness? No offense meant, I *do* trust your decisions," the young girl said nervously with much curtsying.
"It's alright, no offense taken," Ander assured her. He sighed. "Well . . . at least they can't complain of being bored." He grinned.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
New installment, this chapter 5 pages, trying to keep this as short as possible, gotta go, bye!
~Adryl