Blood Moon
Sydney Alexis X
The brutal wind clawed its way in from the ocean and brought with it the sand it had collected from the beach. The abrasive material scorched and battered my skin.
In the distance, the sun was dipping into the sea. The last of the fishing ships were docking and the taverns were beginning to fill. Within an hour, the entire area surrounding me would be pitched in the silver-grey moonlight. At night, the scavengers--men and beasts alike-- would venture out, picking clean the bones of the weak.
The temperature continued to drop. The air took on a bitter chill once the sand in the area cooled. Within a short while, death would set in on any victim caught unprepared. Despite all that, I kept my vigil.
The orange flames before me grew taller with each passing moment. Gleaming tendrils bent towards the north, they stood against the black void seemingly brighter than any other object near it.
This had become part of routine-- a ritual of remembrance. Every tenth cycle of the moon, I would wait until Artemis completely disappeared from the night sky, light a large bonfire, and tend it until dawn. It was how I honored my family and gave thanks to the Furies and Athena for allowing me to avenge them. I was grateful my path had crossed with Duessa when it did; she was the one that reminded me of my duties.
"If you were trying to be discreet by sneaking out of the palace, I hardly think that you succeeded." I smiled, surprised that it had taken him this long to find me.
"Tuvok. Come. Sit."
"This is your ritual. Not mine, Crycus. I do, however, find it odd that a man as self centered as yourself would risk death for charges of heresy when he, himself, has lost no one in his life of any great importance."
"I merely lit a bonfire, Moor." I didn't chastise him for speaking against me; I realized that he was working up to something.
"A ritual of mourning," he corrected. "This time last year Crycus held a party to celebrate his victories and show off his wives. That entire night he never once shown any interest in mourning. Then again, you are not him."
"What makes you think that I am not Crycus?" A smile tugged at my lips. Kathryn had never mentioned that he was so direct.
"Would you believe me to be an affective general in your army if I was unable to detect your deceit?"
"Touché. The question does remain of what you intend to do with this 'truth' you may or may not have uncovered." I volleyed, not turning for my watch to look at him. I didn't need to; I felt him tense behind me. In the whisper of movement, he was sitting at my side.
"I have no proof to offer, and I have no intention of collecting it, " he said, pausing to motion to the fire. "You are either brave or suicidal for honoring them so openly. I imagine it hasn't been long since you have lost them?"
"Five winters," I said, noting how quickly he had changed the subject. "You have avoided my question. What do you intend on doing with the knowledge you now possess?"
"Knowledge is a powerful thing. It can afford the bearer great insight or haunt him to the point of madness. With the little that I know, I can only guess that you are preparing the men for a war. One the size of which this world has never seen. What I have to wonder is who you are targeting? It would have to be a great power for you to push my men so hard.
"The fact that you are using the old ways to pay tribute would suggest that you are not going to follow the King blindly into his crusades. That lowers the number of armies to fight substantially. Those areas to the west and east of the King lost their leaders not more than a few months ago and are rebuilding. Not much of a challenge and yet you do not strike. That suggests that broadening the land is not on your agenda. Men of your position are only out for a handful of things-- land, property, or revenge.
"You seem uninterested in filling your coffers. If that was, indeed, your goal, you would have taken over easier lands as well," he said, turning to look at me for the first time that night. "My guess would be that this is about revenge, and that the army that protects the man or group of men is quite capable."
I raised my eyebrow and turned to regard the Moor. Kathryn had told me months before when this started that Tuvok was a great leader, but she never mentioned his intelligence or cunning.
"So tell me then, old man, who you believe my target is? Can't leave a tale without the remainder of the questions answered."
"My guess would be your target is either the king and his favorite themselves and not their armies. Why fight and kill thousands when you could take out their leader? It's a brilliant method. One Solomon has used before. One Proteus adopted," he said, pausing to look at me...to gain my reaction.
"Curious how a warrior as well trained as he could be killed so easily by a woman. Of course, women have always been your downfall."
I chuckled at the last bit. He made it sound as it I were the moth and she the flame. Time to gauge how much more he knew. "Interesting theory, but why would Proteus go through all the trouble of assuming an identity and lying in wait? He is an assassin. He kills for the highest bidder."
"In the early days of his reign perhaps. But most of his larger targets were people in Solomon's inner circle. Men that had his blessing because they dirtied their hands with his orders. They deserved to die."
I noted the venom in his voice, the slump of his shoulders, the cloudy look his eyes had taken on and I knew, without a doubt, that his life had somehow been touched as well.
"Killing is not always the answer," I said softly, looking down at my hands. The same hands that had killed the aforementioned generals, their families, and any loyal servant that got in my way. My blood rage was even more voracious then and was still hard to ebb once it had started.
"Sometimes it is the only message that a leader can understand." I nodded in agreement.
"Who did you loose?"
"My parents. My wife, children, and I were in Thrice visiting her family for the month," he paused, looking at me with glassy eyes. "I sent them back to stay with her parents while I tried to figure out who had killed them and why. By the time I found out, you had already killed him."
"How did you end up here?"
"No matter how many generals you managed to kill, Solomon would have a replacement to send. In fact, the more you killed, the more powerful his empire became. His land has expanded exponentially. Crycus...he was never the type to take orders. He was planning on sending Kes to kill the king. That was why she was summoned to the palace."
"And you were to go with her. Make sure that she did the job and bring back proof?"
"And help her clean up any...messes that she may encounter."
"You mean kill the witnesses."
"The king has no heir yet. Crycus believed it was because the elder woman put a curse on the Queen's womb. Under the old laws, anyone that manages to kill the king would claim his crown and his lands."
"So the tribes were willing to meet to form an army, expand the lands, and then kill one another in an attempt to gain the throne."
"You forget one thing, Proteus, you have been taking out the largest of his threats. All the remains are you and his favorite."
"And his favorite would never turn on him," I said, feeling a terrible sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach. It was the type of queasiness that helped support intuition. Sixth sense was a gift from the Gods to guide us on the right path...avoid disaster. The question was which path.
Tuvok gave a long pause while we both stared at the fire. He finally broke the silence. "Solomon has spies hidden throughout the palace. You need to be more cautious. If I was able to learn the truth..."
I raised an eyebrow at him, but did not speak.
"The first wife is suspicious. She had been trying to cause trouble since you killed Chakotay. The other wives miss your...company."
I nodded, and returned my gaze to the fire. "I've only trusted three people since this journey has started. " To my surprise, Tuvok offered the hint of a smile, seemingly more than willing to follow my lead into an unrelated topic.
"I take it I'm not one of them."
Perceptive this one, and quite capable of connecting the dots. "Not necessarily."
He nodded, rising from his seat beside me. In a swift motion, the dagger from his belt was drawn. Confident steps walked toward the ritual fire. Sharp metal sliced through the palm of his hand.
"Hear me Goddess, Furies, All, I pledge my sword and heed this call. Victory, vengeance's final act."
Tuvok balled up his fist over the blade, letting his blood fall into the flames. Allowing the shock to fill me, I rose and repeated his words. With his blade, I inflicted the same cut. My blood added to the fire, we stood back and watched it jump. Flames shooting to impossible heights, it burned a radiant white until I clasped my hand to his.
"With these words, I seal this pact." Our voices chanted in unison.
Pride and appreciation shone in my eyes as I looked at Tuvok. He'd sworn a blood oath in the eyes of the Gods to stand by my side til death or completion took form. My trust in him was still not absolute, but he had gained my favor as a warrior and a man of honor.
§ Ø §
Following Tuvok's advice, I decided to make a personal appearance at the bath house that morning to let Kathryn know that I was, in fact, still alive as well as allow her to establish her position as my favored wife again. The heated room was brimming with energy as I entered. No doubt servants sent word to them of my arrival. The moment that I stepped into the room they all sank to the ground foreheads touching the floor. The action reminded me of what the king expected of all of his servants--be they cooks, concubines, or lords.
Each of the five wives were in a row, hastily dressed in embroidered robes of varying colors. All but Kathryn tensed as I approached them. I kneeled before her. Touching the underneath of her face, I bid her rise to her knees. The tension drained from her face when her eyes locked on to mine. As she offered me a coquettish smile, I couldn't help but wonder what had spurred her to become so panicked.
"Didn't mean to worry you, love. Had to take care of a few things before the sun rose," I whispered softly to her.
"I was just worried when you didn't return home last night. Their was mention of a strange woman delivering a scroll?"
"Just some old business that had to be dealt with," I said, taking her hand in mine and squeezing it briefly before I stood. The first wife took that as her cue to rise.
"It has been many weeks since you have visited us at all. Do you intend on taking us with you to see the king?"
"Having an entourage is a bit tacky, Annika. Besides, I don't need bluster the king's feathers any more by showing up with a harem. Since Kathryn and I's marriage is the only one sanctified by His Royal Highness' church, she'll be going with me."
"Need I remind you, husband that I am your first wife, and with that comes certain privileges? I have a say over the other wives and I say that she stays."
"And need I remind you that you are my property? To do with as I please. If I'm not taking the furniture, why should I take a vacuous shrew?"
Her jaw jutted out slightly, fists balling, chest heaving with fury she dare not release.
"How do you know that she won't simply slip away while you are there? She's been trying to find ways back to her homeland for years. She's been impious, crass, calculating. Not more than a few months ago you had to have her dragged to your bed and now she seems content to stay there? It seems utterly convenient, Crycus."
"Impetuous woman. Are you quite finished?" I asked, fully prepared to strike out at her when her rampage was complete.
"And why did you sneak out last night? Was it to visit the whore house again? Has it been so long for you that you feel you have to pay for enjoyment?" She asked, her hands slipping down the front of my tunic. "Have you forgotten that you have other wives?"
I clasped my hands around her wrists roughly and pushed her away. She stumbled backwards, falling against one of the many marble columns that surrounded the large pool. "Other wives that lay with other men. Funny. It didn't seem to take you long to mourn for your beloved Chakotay before you decided to get back into my bed. Are your sheets so cool that you would willfully choose to lay with his murderer?"
From behind a curtain of blonde hair, she looked at me then, blue eyes filled with rage. "How long has it been, Crycus? Your sheets show no evidence of your encounters with her."
I felt Kathryn stiffen behind me and the slow, steady burn of blood rage take over. I knew she was doing this to rile me. To test my bounds. The real Crycus wouldn't kill her. He'd come up with some awesome torture to get even. A small hand touched my shoulder, without turning I knew who it was.
"Beds and sheets are not a required part of the equation, Annika," Kathryn's strong, even voice said from behind me.
I laughed that raucous laugh people do at a well told, bawdy joke then turned my sights upon the shrinking woman upon which so much venom had been strewed.
"You've forgotten another law of the Ancients, wife. A man can choose what to do with his property-- beat her, sell her to the highest bidder," I said, stalking towards her, my hand on the hilt of the dagger in my belt. "I could hang you in the dungeon and let you starve to death, or tie you down in the desert and let the carrion birds have you." I grabbed a chunk of her hair and bent her head back at a painful angle. She didn't flinch. "Remember this moment well, Annika, when your muscles are sore and your face is filthy." Confusion marred her features as I continued. "This is the moment you lost my favor."
I turned from her and addressed one of Tuvok's guards, telling him his orders before grabbing the whip from his belt. Turning quickly on my heel, I ambled toward her again, drawing the familiar braided leather through my hands. Duessa had taught me how to use a whip to disable or kill an enemy in seconds. She'd also taught me how to use it in another game of hers. One that I never enjoyed. Quelling those thoughts, I reached out, cupping her cheek with the palm of my hand.
"I don't want to do this, love, but you're making me. Speaking out against me... If I didn't care for you so much," I started, moving in closer so only she would hear me, "I'd snap your neck." Her body went still as I pulled back, motioning for the guards closest to me to hold her down on the marble floor. They pinned her down just as they had been trained-- palms up, one knee on their forearm and the other on their shoulder blade.
I loosened the loops I held in my hand so that all remained was the woven leather handle. My arm extended behind me, my stance wide and at an angle to her body before I brought the strap forward to kiss her flesh. The first two licks tore open her robe's back. The third, fourth, and final lick applied tore wide lashes into her back. She didn't cry out for any of them. Just took it like it was no more than a mosquito biting her.
Rather than seeing, I felt a guard approach behind me. In his hands, he held the object I had sent him for-- a branding iron.
"You've forgotten who you belong to. Maybe you just need the reminder."
Without so much as a word, the two guards holding her moved back as I approached with the red hot metal. Her head turned towards me then, eyes wild with disbelief.
"I'm sorry," she murmured. "I'm sorry."
"I really don't want to do this. You know I don't, but you're making me," I said, kneeling beside her.
"The skin on the wrist is the thinnest point on the body, and it just happens to be the most prominent location, besides the face of course. And your beauty is what makes you worth as much as you are." With that, I touched the curved C to her skin. A shrill scream filled the hollow room that reminded me of the sound rabbits make when they're dying. Black tendrils wisped through the air just above her skin. I pulled the metal up, and she shrank away, cradling her burned flesh to her body.
Dropping the branding iron into one of the coal containers that heated the room, I approached her, reaching for her. She backed away from me, straight into the column behind her. She let out a startled gasp as her wounded, bare back made contact with the icy cold surface of the marble.
I kneeled in front of her. The haunted look in her eyes...Gods above they reminded me of the look B'El had locked on her face when I found her. My chest constricted. What had I done? She had slept with a man that I barely knew. She'd only wanted to be with her love and Crycus had snatched her away.
"The water," I said, softly. Despite that, she flinched at the sound as if it were too loud to bare. I swallowed hard and ventured forth. "The water will stop the burn from spreading."
Darting her gaze from me to the pool then back, Annika made a wild dash for the bathing pool beyond me. The moment her arm hit the water, the tears that were threatening to spill started.
"Go to the Apothecary. Get something for her burns...and her back."
Guards and wives alike stood perfectly still. I turned toward them, agitation quickly turning to anger. "She's worth nothing to me if she dies of infection. Go!" I bellowed. Each group scrambling towards a location. All but Kathryn who left slowly, casting hate-filled eyes upon me as I stroked Annika's hair, trying to soothe her.
The third wife, Constance, appeared a few candle marks later, bearing a small leather pouch and a bottle. Smiling weakly at me, she slipped between the first and I, gently taking her wrist in her hands. I watched her brow nit in sympathy and concentration as she applied the aloe based pulpus to her skin before wrapping her wrist with clean bandages.
Without a word, I slipped from the room and made my way into my private bath. There, I emptied the contents of my stomach into the chamber pot until I had nothing left.