The Queen's Champion

A/N Sorry I didn't update sooner…. I know it's been a while since I've even looked at this story, but since I now have the time, here is the next chapter, Chapter Six. Just to warn you, I am going to move away from Kalasin and Thom in order to build the connection to The Search for the Jewel, which comes after this story. So, here you are, the next chapter.

Chapter 6

Devious Plans

The messenger pulled his horse to a halt outside the tent of Joren of Stone Mountain. Dressed in a black cloak that obscured his body and facial features from anyone that looked at him, he easily passed through the camp of the King's Own without much notice. Many a messenger came wearing the same garb.

The messenger dismounted and handed the reigns of his horse to a squire and ducked inside Joren's tent.

Joren, who was studying a map didn't turn at the rustle of the tent flap. "What do you want?" he asked in an irritated tone.

"I bring news from the South," the messenger said.

Joren snorted. "If it's about that mouse from Corus and her rouge Champion, I don't want to hear it."

"Nay," the messenger said. "I bring news from The Sorcerer."

Instantly, Joren turned around. "Show yourself," he said in a hushed tone.

The messenger pulled back his hood to reveal the face of a very beautiful woman. Blood red hair curled becomingly around a perfectly proportioned face that was as pale as cream. Dark wine colored eyes slanted like a cat's were framed by red brows and blood red lips curved into an evil smile.

"My Lady Bellatrix," Joren whispered as he sank to his knees before the woman. She held her hand out to Joren, and he placed a kiss on it. "What have I done to receive the honor of the presence of the exalted Goddess of War?"

Bellatrix's lips curved even more. At least someone remembered her. It had been eons since her exile from the Lands of the Gods, and since then, she had been forgotten entirely, even by her younger brother Mirthos and his consort, The Great Mother.

The Goddess of War, Bloodshed, and Bloodlust, Bellatrix had once ruled supreme with her minions; Terror and Discord. The feared Stormwings were once her messengers, and had helped her wage war all over the land. They had thrived on the blood that was spilt, and her followers offered blood sacrifices to her and her minions. Children had been sacrificed, and hearts had been ripped out as they were still beating to give honor to this horrible goddess. It had been a time of fear and of endless bloodshed. No one could leave their homes without fearing that they would find themselves on an altar as a sacrifice to Bellatrix.

But, it had all come to a halt when the other gods and goddesses had risen up against her, stripped her of her god status, and had banished her from the Land of the Gods and had locked her in a prison that lay far to the south, beyond even Carthank.

Now, more than three millennia later, she had escaped from her prison with help from Garvey and Joren, who wished to restore the goddess to her place as supreme ruler and in doing so receive places of great honor, maybe even immortality. Even though she had escaped, Bellatrix was not at full power. At this moment, she was only an immortal, with powers that were only a shadow of what she had had before.

"You have served me faithfully so far," she said as she withdrew her hand. "Now, we must discuss the next phase."

"And what is that, My Lady?" Joren asked.

"Your next mission, Joren," she replied. "I need you and Garvey to fulfill the next part of the ceremony to reinstate me as the Supreme Goddess." Bellatrix then reached for his right arm, and pulled back the sleeve. There was a white scar running the length of his forearm where he had cut himself while performing the first part of the ceremony. Bellatrix traced the scar with a long red nail.

"I need blood, Joren," she said in a sickly sweet tone.

Joren swallowed. As he watched her, her incisors lengthened and her eyes turned bright red.

"I need the blood of one born of both mage and of an ancient line to complete the ritual," she said.

Joren nodded. "We will find it."

Bellatrix sighed, and her eyes retuned to their wine color and her incisors to their appropriate length. "Good," she said. She drew the hood back over her head and left the tent. In a moment she was mounted and headed out of the camp.

Joren smiled evilly. "Beware Kalasin, for soon comes your destruction."

It's short, but I hope you liked it. The next chapter is coming soon…..