The Power to Struggle
'We all make mistakes, have struggles, and even regret things in our past. But you are not your mistakes, you are not your struggles, and you are here now, with the power to shape your day and your future.' – Steve Maraboli
"Did you think we would trust you enough to bring you straight to Lord Kivar?" he asked. "No, you are going to be tested first."
Eowyn's blood ran cold. "Tested?"
When Eowyn entered the room and saw who was there, her blood ran cold. It was the Tria of Seers. The Tria were a semi – religious group and as such were autonomous and neutral, under no one's rule but their own. They were talented clairvoyants and, in extreme cases, allowed themselves to be used in political disputes. Disputes that could only be solved by reading the defendant's mind. They were highly respected, and it was acknowledged that they never lied. Their honesty was legendary, as was their prowess in mind reading. And now they were going to test her! Eowyn attempted to gather herself for the struggle as Nicholas dragged her to the centre of the Tria, who were standing in their customary triangle in the middle of the room. Eowyn mentally berated herself. She should have anticipated this. It was unfortunate timing, even with her increase in powers, she was already a little tired; having had to mind warp Nicholas, speak telepathically to her people, and create a shield for them. Eowyn squared her shoulders, 'enough with the self – doubt' she told herself – 'you can do this!' The Skin General turned to her. "The Tria are here to ensure the truth of your intentions, to ensure that you are truly going to submit to Lord Kivar." He said.
The leader of the Tria, identifiable by the black robes that she wore instead of the white of the other two, turned to Nicholas. "We shall require you to leave the room while we test the Queen, General" she said. "Your energy would disrupt the reading." Nicholas nodded curtly and left the room with one last leering glance at Eowyn.
The leader of the Tria turned to Eowyn and bowed as did her two companions. "Know that we would rather not be performing this reading Queen Eowyn" she said earnestly. "But threats have been made and we must protect ourselves." Eowyn nodded. "I understand" she said smiling at the Tria. "I too must do what is required to protect my people."
And then it started, the Trai directed all the strength of their minds collectively towards Eowyn's. All thought that she had of resisting, all thoughts of struggling, immediately seemed futile. There was no resisting this. It would be like building a beaver's dam to hold back a tsunami. Eowyn shuddered as the Tria roamed through every crevice of her subconscious. Viewing and exposing her inner-most thoughts and secrets, even some that she had been unaware of herself.
As the Tria finished, Eowyn slumped to the floor in exhaustion. She was vaguely aware of the Tria calling Nicholas back in, and of the General dragging her to her feet as he waited for the Tria's verdict. The head of the Trai turned to Nicholas. "We have examined the subconscious of Queen Eowyn and have found that Her Majesty is guilty of no crimes. Her mind is pure." Nicholas's brow creased. "But is she telling me the truth?" he asked impatiently. "Does she intend to submit to Lord Kivar?" The lead Tria paused, looking at Eowyn with an indecipherable expression on her face, an inner struggle appeared to be consuming her. She answered the Skin General levelly, her eyes never leaving the Queen's face. "Yes" she answered, unflinchingly. "Queen Eowyn intends to submit to Lord Kivar."
Eowyn stared back at the Tria incredulously. They had lied for her! Broken their vows of honesty for her! She looked into the lead Tria's unwavering gaze, tears of gratitude in her eyes. 'Thank you' she said into the woman's mind. The woman smiled briefly and gave her a barely perceptible nod before turning and leading her companions out of the room. Nicholas turned to Eowyn, noting the tears in her eyes, and misreading their cause. "If you're crying now, wait until Lord Kivar is finished with you!" he threatened. Eowyn straightened. "Lead on General" she instructed him and followed him down the corridor, her back straight and her head held high. She had the backing and love of her people; she could endure any struggle for them. She tried not to think of Zan. He would be on the planet now, coming for her, desperately worried. She hoped that this would not make him reckless. He would risk all when it came to defending her.
Zan was on the planet. At almost at the same minute that Nicholas's ship had entered Antar's atmosphere, one hundred, small two person ships, manned with the best of Antar's and Solaris's army had drifted through the barrier. Zan sat in the cockpit of his ship, which was being piloted by Rath, his brow was creased in concentration as he focused on shielding the ships and their crews from detection by the Skins.
Having safely landed, the two hundred men and women made their way in small groups, towards the capital. Their mission was to take out the Skin guards stationed around the capital without anyone within the city being aware, so that they would be in a prime position to storm the capital once Eowyn had disabled the Orbital Barrier, and they knew that the reinforcements in the larger ships were on their way. Zan struggled to both concentrate on blocking their ships from the Skin's detection system which sporadically swept the country-side surrounding the city for signs of any craft, while at the same time maintaining an awareness of his surroundings.
Creeping through the undergrowth, Zan's force inched inexorably nearer to the city. Nearer to Kivar, nearer to Eowyn! Zan frowned, he had been trying his best not to think of his wife, not to be distracted by thoughts of her under Kivar's power. He could not afford to be distracted, if he started to think too much about his wife, he would be unable to stop himself from rushing immediately to her defense, hang the consequences.
Pausing behind an outcrop of rock, Zan struggled to collect his racing thoughts. It was then, at the last second, that he sensed the man lunging at his unprotected back. Spinning around swiftly, Zan aimed a kick at the man's torso, at the same time casting a disabling shield to hold the man in place on the ground where he fell. Standing over the masked and hooded man who was struggling under the shield, Zan swept out his sword and held it to the man's throat. "How many are you and who else is aware of us" Zan grated. Suddenly the man's struggling stilled and a muffled voice said something unintelligible from behind the mask and shield. Zan weakened the shield slightly so that Rath, who had rushed to his King's aid could reach the man. Ripping off the man's mask, Rath took one look at the man's face and collapsed to his knees, shock and elation on his face. Seeing Zan, the man struggled to his knees. "My King" he choked out. "Welcome back. We have been waiting for you." Zan acknowledged the man with a nod, "Thank you, Laven" he said with a huge smile. As Rath tackled the man to the ground in a massive bear hug he added. "With you and your brother, Rath, fighting together, we cannot fail!"