A/N: Now this chapter, I'm quite proud of. I particularly liked a few of the lines I came up with and of the queen's song. Here's the chapter 'where the darkness feeds on flesh and blood.' This is my darkest chapter yet, and where we are introduced to one of the monarchs that threaten Tortall.
I hope I conveyed the emotions well!
Sunlight woke Midori up that morning, and she groaned, turning on her left side only to be met with a startled pair of bleary hazel-green eyes. She yelped and fell out of the bed with a hard thump. Cursing and groaning, she got up and winced as her back muscles protested the movement and glowered at the grinning cat. "If you weren't in the condition you were now, I'd pull the sheets off and then you'll know what it feels like to be dumped from your bed at…what time is it?"
"About…time for me and you to get ready." Nicola stretched and yawned, shape shifting and standing to dress in light cotton breeches and shirt. Nicola's pregnancy was only slightly exposed through the shirt, though in another month or two it would begin to truly be apparent.
"That's not what I meant." Midori sighed, picking out clothes for the day. She dressed and rubbed her temples, slumping into her desk chair.
"You know you still need to talk to the king about your early knighthood." Nicola replied, "And talk to Owen."
"No need, I already heard." Owen replied. Midori jumped again, she hadn't heard him come in, and glared at Owen who grinned. "Ha, ha very funny." She muttered, putting her head in her hands.
Owen ruffled her hair and smiled, "I believe you mean: Ha, ha very jolly." "What makes you so jumpy today?"
"I'm nervous, that's all." Midori murmured her voice muffled by her hands.
"Nervous about…?"
"Talking to His Majesty about early knighthood." Owen and Midori answered at the same time.
"As I guessed," Owen murmured, kneeling so he was eye-to-eye to Midori, and sighed, "Do you really wish to—he swallowed hard and continued—"To take the Ordeal early?" "Do you really want to?" his tone revealed his concern and—was there a greater hint of fear?
"I want to, for friendship and to help the realm, the king needs younger knights. But… I don't know what will happen in the Chamber."
"The Chamber shows your greatest fears, Midori. Remember that." Owen pointed out.
"Why are you afraid for me?" Midori suddenly asked, out of curiosity.
"Some squires have gone mad and some threw themselves off the Needle to escape their nightmares the Chamber gave them and some…have even been killed by the Chamber." Owen met Midori's eyes with his own, "You've become like a daughter to me, Midori, and Neal should be proud of your progress, very proud…I'd hate to have failed you in any way!"
"You haven't, not in the least." Midori whispered, placing a hand on her shoulder.
"That's good to hear. Now I believe we're to go speak with the king?" Owen straightened and walked to the door.
"Wait, we have a few more people to bring first." Midori replied, standing and leading a bemused Owen down the halls.
Kalen and Sir Bennel of Tyra met them in the halls as well as, Amyl and Alan. Oriana waited with Sir Eosin of Goldenlake, the oldest nephew of Sir Raoul, at a table in the mess, with Sheba and Sir Pallaton of King's Reach.
Midori gestured for them to come over, and soon all ten of them, including Nicola, who was being carried by Midori, walked to the king's study.
As they walked, the walls melted to blood-soaked stone and the floor to shallow black water. Midori knew it was a vision, but the sudden draft that blew down her neck made her mind panic and her hand instinctively reach for a sword that wasn't there. Midori heard a scream and realized it wasn't hers but Oriana's. Midori noticed the source: Spiders scuttled across the walls, their gluey silk of glowing white sticking to her hand as she struggled through the water. "They're in this vision too, they see it just as visibly as I do." She thought.
Owen drew his sword and led the group as the other knights withdrew their blades, surrounding the squires. "Follow our footsteps in the water, it's quite dark." Sir Bennel ordered. The chill that ran down Midori's neck gave her a coldness that no winter could match, it was if winter had come again. She shivered and felt Nicola begin to shift to human form. "You can't fight with me in the way. " she explained as Midori put her down and Nicola shifted to a fully clothed human, except for her hands, which had kept their cat shape. Nicola's eyes glowed and she moved near the front of the line.
"Nicola, no! Your kittens will be in danger." Midori cried as Nicola faced her with determined eyes, "I've got to help someway." She replied, "I can see in the dark better then you can."
Owen and the other knights formed a group around the squires and the shifter, two at the front and two at the back with one leading.
Midori could hear a soft humming noise, a sweet melody that calmed her nerves yet made her tense up all the same. It was the same melody, the singer was again the female she had heard in her dream after the horse had beaten her in the stables, and only the words were different this time.
They walked on, the melody getting louder, Midori's panic rising. The words whispered and weaved through Midori's mind, it cut through her thoughts and forced all other feelings away:
Take yourself child
Go and flee this life
Sink into temptation
Sink and drown…
Release your anger and pain
Vengeance and bloodshed are yours
Sink into temptation
Sink and drown…
Midori covered her ears with her hands and screamed defiance. She wouldn't submit.
Run, run…hide from the voice
Hide, hide…run from the voice
The voice that beckons you sweet, innocent child
To me, come to me…
"Who are you?" Midori demanded, eyes shut tight and tears pricking at her eyes. "Show yourself!"
I am Queen of ScanraQueen of sorrows, majesty of pain
Temptress of the soul and mind
Tamer of fire, born from the ash
Keeper of the darkness and eclipser of the moon…and yet
I am only a fragment of the Hell you shall face
She was still singing but for a moment her song was interrupted as the shriek of a hawk cut though the air and Midori fell to her knees in the water as the familiar shriek sounded again.
The woman chuckled, a deep sound that echoed around the reservoir, and spoke: "Take a good look at your lover, now child." Midori's head was forced to look at Kalen's crumpled body; he was on his knees, his body changing to that of a black hawk with blood-marked feathers and back to a human at random intervals, his screams of pain from the shifting, making tears well up in Midori's eyes. The woman's voice rang in her ears, "Is he who you love? This mere boy of seventeen is a monster now, naïve child, he is nothing but a shell of the man he once was."
"No!" she screamed, "no, no, no!"
"The darkness of the hawks bubble in his blood."
"No!" "It isn't true…please tell me it isn't true." Midori pled, tears falling like unseen prayers from her eyes. She saw Nicola try to help Kalen by talking to him. Two of the knights, Bennel and Pallaton, stood with their swords high. Eosin stood by a terrified Oriana, sword drawn, and Sheba tried to restrain a panicking Kalen, who had shifted again, with the help of Alan. Owen and Amyl knelt on each side of Midori, trying to keep her still.
But she was far from composed as the queen began singing again.
Run, run…hide from the voice
Hide, hide…run from the voice
The voice that beckons you sweet, innocent child
To me, come to me…
Take yourself child
Go and flee this life
Sink into temptation
Sink and drown…
Queen of sorrows, majesty of pain
Temptress of the soul and mind
Tamer of fire, born from the ash
Keeper of the darkness and eclipser of the moon…and yet
I am only a fragment of the Hell you shall face
Only a fragment, only a glimpse
Only an illusion, only a fragment of what you shall face
Born from ash, tamer of fire
Keeper of your darkest dreams
Eclipser of the moon
Tempest of pain of sorrow
Run, run…hide from the voice
Hide, hide…run from the voice
The voice that beckons you sweet, innocent child
To me, come to me
Sink into temptation
Sink and drown
Come to thee…
The woman laughed, "Welcome to my little corner of Hell."
The ground then pitched forward, sending knights and squires tumbling into a void of darkness that the black water had become. Midori's thoughts were in a mess as she fell through the void, a silent scream wedged in her throat. She couldn't scream in fright, she could only hide behind her years of Yamani calm as the void dumped them at the entrance of a temple made of black obsidian stone and large gates made from ginger wisps of flame.
"Please, you are my guests, enter if you wish." The woman crooned in a sickly-sweet manner.
Nicola helped Midori to her feet and held her forearm for Midori's comfort and her own, "This is one guest that wishes not to enter." She muttered, hand pressed briefly over her stomach, as if to protect the kittens in her womb.
"Come now, Nicola of Cria, your young will not be harmed." Came the reply.
"I do not trust one who deals in darkness." Nicole retorted.
"We were friends once, you and I…but you had to choose the way of a guardian and I, the tempter. But look at me now, foolish Nicole, I am a queen. A queen of a place where the darkness feeds on flesh and blood and the new Queen of Scanra, and you—she scoffed—a cat shifter with a supernatural beings' spawn in your womb."
Nicola hissed at this comment and her eyes flashed with anger, "I am proud to be who I am. Now send us home!"
From the tongues of the flaming gate, came a woman with skin as light as sun-beaten sand, with eyes as sharp and orange as the flames of the gate, and hair as black as ash. Her hair was piled atop her head and a crown of moonstone shone bright against her black locks. Her gown was a rich violet with a golden sash round her slender waist, and long lavender sleeves that dragged on the ground.
"I am Narcissa." The woman bowed slightly and raised her head to scrutinize the group, "Queen of Scanra and formally of Tusaine."
"We all know who you are." Sheba muttered, honey eyes turning molten gold with anger.
The woman smiled slightly, "Then tell me, Sheba of Blue Harbor, tell me who killed your father that one night when you were just a child of seven?"
Sheba's eyes sparkled with tears, but her face remained as stone, jaw set. Her body was tense and her fists clenched. "You. Your people raided and killed my father and left ma with no choice but to raise me, helpless and alone!" Her voice was harsh and held all the anger she had since kept hidden.
"And Oriana of Galla, no relation to Blayce the Gallan I suppose?" Narcissa's words were soft yet laced with spite.
Oriana bowed her head, "It's time you all knew the truth," she murmured to her friends as she faced the woman. "Blayce captured my ma, before his death, and raped her…my ma then remarried and I've always thought my foster-father was the father that conceived me but…" "I'll always be loyal to the Crown and never to Scanra."
"Even if Midori of Queenscove's own aunt, Sir Lady Keladry of Masbolle, formerly of Mindelan, killed your father in the Scanran War?" Narcissa challenged.
"Even if." Oriana replied, words true.
Midori stepped up, face free of emotion, "Your raiders killed my uncle and cousin. Shalem was only five!"
"Such a large price to pay for a life so short." Narcissa said, mouth twitching. "Kalen Haimaid of the Bloody Hawk—she raised a hand and Kalen, now human again, was forced to listen—"Your true blood has awakened, yet you're viewed a monster. Your true mother, Kara, Shaman of the Bloody Hawk, died in childbirth, now how do you think she would have reacted if she learned her son was this…animal?"
Kalen sighed, "She would have turned me out, or raised me to control this…"
Narcissa nodded, "Yes." She then smiled bitterly as Amyl came forward, "What do you believe is right?" "You, the daughter of a priestess and yet you strive for you father's work of a knight, Why not honor your mother?"
Amyl came forward and joined her friends, the knights forming a half-circle around their charges, "I honor the gods and my mother yet I also honor my father and kingdom by becoming a lady knight."
Turning to Midori, Narcissa scowled, "There are traitors in this friendship, Queenscove, traitors who you've trusted with your most intimate secrets, even your life and love…" "Allies to Scanra are among you…what will you do if they turn on you?" "What will you do if King Denvar and I attack?" "A good knight chooses wisely, and clearly, you have not…"
Suddenly the vision faded and the ten were back in the hallway. Shakith stood before them, eyes skeptical, "Narcissa of Scanra is a great foe you all must face, her king is yet a greater one. If you speak to your king, he will believe your reasons for knighthood are true, for he is a good man." "Now go." Shakith disappeared in a swirl of white mist as the group of baffled squires and knights picked themselves up from the floor.
………………………………………………………………………………..
Jon sat in his study, organizing the papers on his desk, when he heard a knock. He told them to come in and the squires and their knight-master's entered. The king asked a servant to fetch Thayet and as the servant scurried off with a bow of his head, Jon turned to the group. "I hope there's been no problems with these squires."
"No sire," Bennel shook his head, ushering the squires to the front of the group. "In fact they'd like to speak with you concerning their knighthood."
The king nodded, folding his hands neatly on the desk, waiting for one of them to speak.
The study door then opened and Queen Thayet entered, nodding to the knights and squires before standing beside her husband.
Midori found herself compelled to speak, "Your Majesties, I'd like to—we all actually—would like to have our Ordeals early."
Jon's eyebrows rose. "You would?" "Why?" Thayet too looked surprised but remained silent.
Oriana spoke next, "For friendship."
Kalen spoke to explain, "I am taking my Ordeal a year earlier this fall and they would like to as well."
Jon tapped his bearded chin with a finger. "It seems wise, concerning the circumstances we've got ourselves in with Scanra, but do you truly wish to?"
They all nodded as Bennel spoke, "I've seen Kalen and Midori duel and, by the sword of Mithros, they're excellent in staff work. Kalen also can shoot a crossbow quite well, though he mainly practices the sword on ground. I haven't seen him duel mounted but I'm sure he has practiced."
Kalen nodded, "I have."
Alan spoke on Amyl's behalf to his godparents, "She is almost as good as Daine with the bow I've seen her and she has bested many of our own knights in archery."
Jon nodded and turned to Sir Pallaton who spoke for Sheba, "Sheba is a wonder with the battleaxe, I've trained her myself and she has done very well."
Eosin of Goldenlake spoke next, as the king listened, "Oriana is very quick when it comes to the blade and has been focusing on footwork and tricks with the daggers, incorporating her Shang training into the moves. I am proud to have seen her progress so quickly and well."
Owen spoke last. "It shocked me at first that she wished to train, but after telling me the reason today, I realized that her reckoning was true. The realm does need younger knights and if she's doing it for the realm, what better reason is there?"
Thayet smiled, "Those seem to be the only reason that come to mind, Sir Owen, considering our issues now. Scanra wishes to wage war and we could use the assistance these squires are willing to give."
After a long moment of thought, Jon finally nodded, "Your reasoning for their early knighthood is just. Their Ordeals will begin this fall with Squire Kalen's on the autumn equinox."
A/N:
IDEAS FOR ORDEALS ARE GREATLY APPRIECIATED FOR THE ORDEALS ARE PRACTICALLY GOING TO BE THE NEXT FEW CHAPS.
I'm only going to show Kalen's and Midori's however because they're Ordeals further the plot!
I MAY ALSO DO Amyl's ORDEAL if inspiration comes.
Plz. put ideas in reviews!
Regards,
- Notebook