Blood on the Sand
Chapter 3: The Eastern Blade
There is a saying in Hueco Mundo. "War is waged in the Eastern Mountains by two methods: a handshake in the light and a blade in the dark."
Much like the Southern Plains, the Eastern Mountains was never truly a unified area. It was an area composed of many city-states, each ruled by a family who could trace their ancestry back to any of the Major Houses such as House Luisenbarn or House Starrk or House Leonisra. However, this caused for many Arrancars who wished to gain any power to falsify their family lineage to include at least one member of such a family. As a result, wars broke out over claims of legitimacy.
However, unlike the Southern Plains where wars were waged with brutality and vast armies, wars in the Eastern Mountains were handled by bribery and assassinations. As a result, many families were completely wiped out in secret. It proved to be effective that some families in the Southern Plains began to adapt it as well and the influence of houses who built their power on assassinations and bribes grew.
This gave rise to another saying, "Beware the Eastern Blade. No one can escape its edge."
Silver Daggers
The mournful procession made its way through the streets of the city of Silver Daggers located five Sonído southeast of Noche Resplandor. The corpse of the deceased was being carried on a bier. The banners of the deceased's House depicting three silver daggers on a black field with gold trim were carried alongside the four corners. Surrounding the bier were twelve clerics, six male and six female, from the Faith of the Twelve. The smoke from the burning incense rose to the night sky.
Behind them, the other members of the deceased's family followed. His widow was dressed in the traditional white kimono of mourning. An emerald green sash was tied around her waist and the mask remnant that ran along one side of her nose like some exotic jewelry gleamed in the moonlight. Her dark purple eyes observed which of the other Houses sent at least one representative.
As they came closer to the large Temple of the Faith that her husband had built when he converted, she saw touches of many of the other Houses. She wondered how many of the other Houses did it out of gratitude for what her husband did and how many did it to try to get a foothold into his treasury.
"The vultures are gathering," her son said from beside her.
She looked at him. He had long black hair and his mask fragment covered the top of his head and came down in vine-like decorations down his forehead and around his eyes. His bright blue eyes glittered with loathing at seeing the banners of the other nobles of the Eastern Mountains fluttering around their House's banner.
"Yes, they are, Lyndon," she said as they entered the Temple.
She was not surprised to see that the pews were filled with representatives from the various noble Houses in the Eastern Mountains. They all wore green and white bands to show their unity in her mourning. However, like everything else in the rituals that the Eastern Mountains held so dear, it was nothing but a façade. She knew that some of them were already making plans on how best to control her husband's estates as well as whether or not she and her children would need to be "taken care of." She shuddered at the thought, but when the Head of a House died, the others gathered to try to clean the remains.
"Lady Reyvar," someone whispered.
She turned her head and saw a rather handsome man with shortly cropped dark red hair leaning towards her. She could see her own family crest of the silver hawk clutching a crescent moon embroidered on the left breast of his dark blue coat.
"Did my sister send you?"
"She did. She sends her regards and will come visit when she can."
"I'm sure she will."
"Lyanna, your sister wants to make it clear that she will support you and your family during this time until young Lord Lyndon comes into his titles."
"What about afterwards?"
"I'm sure that you two can work things out," he said and smiled.
"Where is she anyways?"
"She's at a wedding."
"I see. I trust that she is enjoying herself at my expense."
"Your sister will stand by your side, but she gave her word to attend the wedding first."
"Since when does a Luna woman ever keep her word?"
"Touché," he said. "We'll talk more after the funeral."
Lyanna Reyvar sighed as she made her way forward. She saw that some of the representatives were talking among themselves. Some gave her polite nods or whispered how sorry they were for her loss without really meaning it. She knew that the only reason why they were even there was because their masters sent them as a courtesy. The worst thing about it was that she knew that she would have done the same if she was in their position.
Plata Torre
The music filled the hall. Servants made their way through the crowds of revelers with trays of roast mountain boar cooked with nuts and mountain berries. The fires from the many torches cast the shadows of the revelers throughout the room. The tinkling of the silver bells worn around the ankles and wrists of the young girls added to the merriment. Everyone was dressed in bright colors and in flowing silk gowns and coats.
Tyanna Luna stood against one wall, her long silver and blue gown seemed to make her radiate with the moonlight. She looked at the central table where the bride and groom sat. They both wore laurels of flowers on their brows. The bride wore a laurel made from silvery moon-dew blossoms while the groom wore bright red heart's-blood blossoms.
Behind the bride was the banner of a golden ram charging on a crimson field, the sigil of House Odelschwank. Behind the groom was the banner of a silver tree on a dark blue field with the words RISE UP embroidered around it in gold thread, the banner of House Aidann, one of the wealthiest merchant houses in Hueco Mundo.
"A good marriage, don't you think?"
She turned and saw a thin man dressed in crimson. His hollow mask fragment was wrapped around one ear and looked like a shell. She noticed the gold twelve-pointed star and the chain around his neck with twelve disks of gold, each embedded with a gem. He was a high ranking cleric, probably a member of the Council of the Ilustrado.
"Ilustrado," she said and curtseyed. "I apologize for not seeing you earlier."
"That's quite alright, Lady Luna," he said and smiled. "So, do you think it will last?"
"It's difficult to say. House Aidann is a good House to make an alliance with. House Odelschwank is very fortunate to have had another daughter considering that their eldest…what was her name?"
"Nelliel Tu Odelschwank," the Ilustrado said. "Yes, she ran off to Las Noches shortly after becoming an Arrancar. Did you know she was originally betrothed to marry into House Gilga?"
"Who do you mean, Nel or the blushing bride up there?"
"Nel," the Ilustrado said and smiled. "Thank the Twelve that didn't happen."
"I pity any man whose daughter is forced to marry into that House," Tyanna said.
"Indeed. I understand that your sister's husband died. I understand that he died suddenly…in his sleep if I'm not mistaken."
"Yes, but Lord Reyvar had not been feeling well for quite some time. So, it really didn't come as any surprise."
"What surprises me is that you are here and not with your sister during her time of grief."
"I told Lord Odelschwank that I would come."
"In exchange for…?"
"I'm sure that you would like to know, Ilustrado…I'm sorry I didn't catch your name."
"I am Orexis Grindina, a humble Ilustrado."
"There's no such thing as a humble Ilustrado. And besides, now that I've seen your right hand I know that you are a member of the Council of Twelve. The rings say as much."
"Nothing can escape the notice of a hawk; especially one with such lovely lime green eyes." He then placed his hand on her buttocks and squeezed and rubbed. Tyanna reached for his hand and pushed it away from her.
"I thought that Church Officials were supposed to remain celibate."
"We're supposed to be many things, but does that necessarily mean we are?"
"I see. From your words, I would say that you are ambitious for a…higher position. Perhaps you are looking at the position of Capataz?"
"I would be lying if I didn't say that I wasn't imagining myself holding the Scepter of the Capataz."
"And you came to me because you know that I want something so badly that I would do anything for it."
"This is a hypothetical situation," Orexis said and looked around.
"Of course," Tyanna said. "Hypothetically, you have someone who is considered a better candidate for the position when the current Capataz retires. As a result, you need someone to get your rival out of the way so that way you'd win. However, you want to hire the best to make sure it gets done and you are willing to grant them what they request in exchange. Of course, this is all hypothetical."
"I agree."
"Hypothetically, if you were to come to me with your request, then you would make my title of Queen of Noche Resplandor official and I in turn would legally become the Queen of the East. However, only the Capataz could make it official and so, hypothetically, I would have to make sure you gain the Scepter."
"That's right," Orexis said and smiled at her.
"Is that your only aim or is the Throne of Las Noches in your sights as well?"
"I…I don't understand."
"Don't play me for a fool. Everyone knows that Baraggan is dead and Aizen isn't coming back. That leaves the rule of Hueco Mundo wide open. My eyes and ears have been finding out many interesting things."
"You've enlisted the service of House Occuldae, haven't you?"
"Information, and gold, is vital in any kind of warfare. Didn't you find it odd that my request would only be to be named the Queen of Noche Resplandor? Of course, as you pointed out, since Noche Resplandor is the official capital of the Eastern Mountains, I would be proclaiming my rule over the East."
"I see. So you are thinking of claiming the right to reign over Hueco Mundo as well."
"Yes, but I will not declare myself openly until I'm sure of a clear field. Of course, the support of the Faith of the Twelve would be much appreciated."
"You are clever," Orexis said. "But I must warn you that those who underestimate me have a tendency of…regretting it."
"The same is true with me. I'll support you in becoming the next Capataz and in return you will support me. Now, then, tell me who you need to be rid of."
"Do you see that cleric over there?" he asked and pointed to a man who was standing with the parents of the bride and groom and who was dressed similarly to Orexis except he also wore a gold cord around his waist. "That's who stands in my way."
"Then I'll be sure that one of my Black Adders sees to him," Tyanna said and smiled.
La Vista
Raella Occuldae stood at the edge of the cliff. As one of the Chancellors, she had the authority to rule over one of the Great Cities in Hueco Mundo. La Vista was not the largest of the Great Cities, but it was the highest. She loved being in high places because they gave a view of the terrain around her and that was what her House specialized in, gaining views of the political and economic landscape of Hueco Mundo.
She knew that with Baraggan dead and Aizen unable to rule in Las Noches, the Houses would begin to gather their forces. However, only those houses who enlisted her house's service would truly know what the others were doing. She had the largest network of spies in Hueco Mundo and she proudly displayed that in her House's banner of a crimson eye on a white field with grey trim. Even the Words of House Occuldae, "We See All," boasted of where House Occuldae's true power rested.
If any House tried to plot against her, she knew about it and she made sure to give their enemies vital information that would lead to that House's downfall. Her father was forced to do that against a very powerful House that decided it wanted House Occuldae's lands for its own. Her father offered vital financial and military records to that House's enemies and not long after, that House was completely wiped out. Ever since then it became common knowledge throughout Hueco Mundo that if you fucked with House Occuldae, they fucked you harder.
"It won't be long," she whispered.
She heard footsteps coming behind her and she recognized them as coming from the representative from House Luna. The representative was slender with a beak-like nose and his hollow mask remnant was a skullcap on the back of his head. He went to one knee.
"Lady Occuldae," he said in a humming-like voice. "I am here on important business from Lady Luna. She wishes for your scouts to look further into House Odelschwank and House Aidann."
"I already have the report prepared for her. You may inform her that neither House has shown interest in the throne as of the moment. They are not to be viewed as a threat at the present time. I will continue to have my eyes and ears gather data on them of course to see if anything changes."
"I am impressed. My Lady will be happy to hear it," he said and she heard the Arrancar drop a purse filled with coins onto the ground. "Your usual fee," he said.
"That's what I love about doing business with your Mistress. She always makes good on her payments."
"She's also wondering how things outside of the Eastern Mountains are looking."
"Essentially, every Arrancar who can build an army is building an army. However, if she's interested in the Throne of Hueco Mundo, I know which Houses could present a problem to her."
"My Mistress has shown no interest in the Throne."
"She has. Just that she doesn't show it the way some of the others do. Right now, it looks as though she could have some tough competition."
"Will you share what you know?"
"Not for free," she said and turned to him. Her silver and hazel eyes shone in the moonlight.
"I understand."
"That's good. Tell her to watch out for Rureaux and Leonisra. Those two will present problems, but in all likelihood they may end up at each other's throats before too long. In that case she should watch herself around House Harribel as long as they don't get too caught up with their little squabble with House Tiburón in the North. Right now, House Starrk is not a factor since the Second Wolf is currently working to make peace with the two other factions in the Northern Lands. That is all."
"What about inside Las Noches?"
"So far, none in Las Noches are making bids. However, make sure she doesn't deal with House Gilga. But, then again, it is common knowledge that you never trust a Gilga. At any rate, that is all of the information I have, but it does seem as though a Council of the Houses will be called in hopes of avoiding another Days of Chaos."
"Will it be that bad? I mean, there were 500 factions at one point."
"It will probably not rise to 500 factions, but it will be bad. There's a lot of bad blood between the Houses and they're looking for an excuse to wipe each other out. That's why House Occuldae doesn't get involved in political matters except to observe and report."
"And to make extra money," he said and chuckled.
"Well…information is vital and I provide it to those who can afford it."
"Like you did with Aizen?"
"Aizen wanted information on where he could find powerful Vasto Lordes and I directed him to three of the most powerful Vasto Lordes in Hueco Mundo at the time: Ulquiorra Schiffer, Tia Harribel, and Coyote Starrk. He, in turn, paid me with information about the Soul Society. I've always been curious about the Soul Society and he satisfied my curiosity. I considered that a fair price."
Plata Torre
Shilya Tu Odelschwank sighed and looked at her mother.
"Mother, I really don't want to do this."
"I know, but Olson is a nice young man. I'm sure you'll be happy," Velle Tu Odelschwank said.
"Maybe," Shilya said and sighed. She felt someone put a hand on her shoulder and she looked at her new husband who was smiling at her.
"It'll be alright," he said.
She had to admit that Godfrey Olson Aidann was a good man and their family had a lot of wealth and influence among the merchants who used the Silver River to transport goods and passengers.
"Hey, where's your brother? I haven't seen him since the ceremony," he said.
"I'll go find him," Velle said. "I think I know where he might be."
She got up just as the minstrels began to go into a song with an even faster tempo. She looked over and saw that Tyanna was talking with Orexis. She always shivered when she saw Orexis. When she heard that the former Capataz would be retiring, she immediately talked with Ilustrado Certus, who was currently the favorite to become Capataz, and threw her full support behind him. However, seeing Orexis talking with Tyanna caused her blood to run cold. House Luna was known to have the best assassins in the Eastern Mountains, and therefore the best assassins in Hueco Mundo. Only the rumored Onmitsukido Squad of the Soul Society could possibly rival them.
She turned away and made her way to the outer courtyard. When she was outside, he breathed in the fresh air and looked up at the ever-constant crescent moon whose light illuminated Hueco Mundo with its silvery light. She listened and heard the sounds of leaves being hit by a thin bit of metal. She smiled as she made her forward and saw her only son. She was surprised that he and Nelliel both had their father's hair and hazel eyes. However, Nelliel inherited her calm while her son inherited his father's temper.
He was tall and slender and thinly built. His mask remnant was a pair of ram horns that curled around the sides of his head. His turquoise hair was shortly-cropped and he was dressed in a red satin jerkin and tight dark blue breeches that were tucked into a pair of black and silver boots. He was swinging his rapier that sealed his Resurrección at a bush. The moonlight shone off the blade and the silver Pappenheimer hilt that was embedded with a single amethyst stone.
"There you are, Ropera. You're missing your sister's wedding."
"So are you," he said and he swung at the bush again.
"What are you doing?"
"I'm preparing."
"Oh…and what are you preparing for?"
"For war."
"Why?"
"You know there's going to be a war. The Skull Emperor is dead and the Soul Reaper is not coming back to reclaim the throne. That means that Hueco Mundo doesn't have a central leader anymore."
"Oh…and are you going to take the Throne?"
"No. What would I want with some stupid crown or throne? I just want to fight and win glory and honor for our family, just like in the songs."
"You're so much like your father," Velle said and smiled. "He was always going on about how he would fight alongside Baraggan against the Soul Reapers, but…"
"I know. He was one of those killed when the Usurper came and overthrew Baraggan. But he died a hero. He died in service to the true Emperor and I want to do my part and fight alongside the rightful Emperor."
"Ropera, do you really believe that going off and getting yourself killed on some battlefield will bring you any real honor or glory? What if the House you fight for fails? There is plenty of honor to be had in trading and making money."
"Yeah right," Ropera said. "There's no real honor in someone gaining so much money that they drown in it. Father always said that honor comes from what we do and not just in gold or silver or silk. Besides, they don't write songs about merchants. They write songs about brave knights who go off to fight against Soul Reapers or other Arrancars. Just think of it, our name could be remembered like the names of Starrk or Schiffer or Andjo or Leonisra or…"
"Those are all the names of the High Houses. They've had millennia to build them up and we're only a Minor House in the grand scheme of things."
"I know, but even they had to start somewhere," Ropera said. "I just…I don't want our House's name to be forgotten like so many other Houses. I want our House to make its mark."
"Ropera, what are our House Words?"
"Calm in Fury," he said and sighed. "I know you're going to say that it means that an Odelschwank always keeps their temper even when facing the fury, but I disagree."
"Oh, and what do you think they mean?"
"It means that an Odelschwank remembers what they're fighting for. They never lose focus even if the world burns around them. I mean, our sigil is a charging golden ram on a crimson field. Doesn't that mean that we're supposed to charge into battle when there's a chance that it will bring glory and honor for our House?"
She paused at her son's words and she laughed. Ropera was just like his father. In fact, she would have wondered about him if he hadn't wanted to go off into battle to win glory and honor.
"What?"
"It's just that I saw a bit of your father in you just now."
"You loved him didn't you?"
"Of course I did and he loved you and your sisters. I'll let you in on a little secret about him."
"What is it?"
"Your father always said that there were only three Houses in all of Hueco Mundo he would like to fight for. One was House Luisenbarn, the second was House Starrk, and the other was House Tuma."
"House Tuma, I've never heard of them."
"That's because they faded into obscurity a long time ago, shortly after the Starrk-Leonisra Rebellion. The name of Tuma is long forgotten by many of the Houses, but those who listen to the old war stories remember it. House Tuma was a proud and noble House who fought for what they saw as the good of Hueco Mundo. Many Houses try to reach their level of honor, but only three have reached that same level and one of them is House Starrk. I remember, when Alden Starrk, the head of House Starrk before Lupos, came to make a treaty with the Eastern Mountains, your father said that it was the first time he saw a True Knight."
"That's what I want to be," Ropera said. "I want to be a True Knight."
"Do you even know what it means?"
"No, but if father held someone like Alden Starrk in high regard, then that's what I want to be like."
"Well, I guess if you want start down the road to being a True Knight, then you will come in to celebrate your sister's marriage."
Silver Daggers
Lyanna watched as the twelve clerics made their way slowly around the body of her dead husband. Once they made the twelve rounds and the twelve bows, they would light the twelve candles and then permit the guests to come up to lay some offering for the dead. Then, when the candles burned down, they would put a coin over the eyes and in the mouth as passage for the River Man who would take his soul into the Twilight Fields.
"Mother," Lyndon said. "You know that there will be a Council of the Houses."
"I know," Lyanna said and gritted her teeth.
Damn that Luisenbarn for dying so close to my husband. Damn that Usurper Aizen.
"I think I should be the one. If I'm to inherit my father's titles then I must show that I can perform his duties and one of them is to attend the Council of the Houses."
"Then you should. After all, perhaps it will persuade some of these vultures not to take you lightly. I trust that you've been studying combat with the Master Shadow."
"I have. Most of those here would be easy targets."
"What of their Houses?"
"Some of the Houses spend too much time counting their gold and silver to even bother learning combat. They think that everything is dependent on gold. However, they spend too much time in the Light that they forget the Shadow."
Lyanna nodded and smiled. It was true. Many of the other Houses thought that Words of House Reyvar, "Pierce the Night," was a Northern motto. However, it was a motto with multiple meanings. On the surface it meant chasing away the darkness of deceit with truth and honor and that was the meaning House Reyvar wanted to convey. However, deep down it came from the image of a knife piercing the night into a person's heart. That meaning should have been obvious from the three silver daggers on their sigil. Yet, so many only look at the surface that they ignore what lies beneath.
"I always felt that the saying, 'What you don't know won't hurt you' is such a ridiculous saying," she said. "And it's not true. What you don't know almost always kills you," she said.
"What they don't know is that we are not to be taken lightly."
"Exactly," she said. "I know full well that most of those here will want to take your father's inheritance away from you. However, if they try…"
"…they'll only find Shadows," Lyndon said and smiled. "Perhaps, even a dagger in their back."
Plata Torre
One of the minstrels began to play a slow and rather erotic tune on his gemshorn, which was made from the horn of a mountain bull. Everyone turned as four Domesticated Hollows came in carrying a large bed between them. The revelers began to stomp their feet and the girls shook their wrists and ankles to cause the bells to jingle in time with the tune.
Godfrey stood up and offered his hand to Shilya. She took it and rose and the two made their way to the bed. Ilustrado Certus made his way before them and raised his hands.
"We have gathered here to bear witness the consummation of the marriage vows these two have taken. They have pledged faithfulness to one another in sight of the Twelve and in sight of their Houses and their Allies. They have pledged perseverance through any and all situations. However, they have not sealed the bond between them. If any of you gathered have any objections to their Union, speak now or forever remain silent."
"I find it rather awkward having to see them fuck each other," Ropera whispered.
"I know, but the marriage must be consummated in front of witnesses in order for it to be legitimate and the families of the bride and groom must watch as well to offer…support."
"Support in what? I thought this sort of thing came naturally."
"It does, but the Law is the Law and Tradition is Tradition."
"And maybe they did it in order to discourage marriage in the first place."
"Don't be ridiculous. I know how much you love going to the brothels."
"Yeah, but…I don't exactly see or hear my sister fucking someone there."
"Now, the couple shall undress each other and get into bed to begin the consummation in accordance with our traditions," Certus said.
"On second thought," Ropera said. "Maybe they came up with those traditions because they were perverts."
"Hush now," Velle said and hit her son on top of the head. "Don't let any of the Faithful hear you say that. They'll consider it blasphemy."
"Yeah, yeah, but it's still pervy."
Elsewhere in the room, Tyanna watched as the bride and groom undressed each other. She sighed as she made tapping gestures on her palm. She watched as the couple got into bed and began the act. The minstrels were making the tune go faster and the stomping and tinkling of bells quickened with the couple's movements. She always thought that this part should be more private. She saw that some of the men and women in the room were growing red-faced, but it was hard to tell if it was from embarrassment or if they had a fetish for this kind of thing. Then the moment of climax arrived and everyone shouted as the bride and groom climaxed together.
Well, at least she has an adequate lover. She turned away as the group converged on the bed and the couple. The minstrels struck up again and this time, the guests were dragged out of the bed and re-dressed. The banners for their houses were carried over and they were lifted high into the air. The sheets were torn off and people began to rub their faces on them in hopes that the virility they witnessed would rub off on them and make them prosper in all of their endeavors.
The wedding was over.
Silver Daggers
Schalson Marr, the Tyanna's representative, stood outside the cathedral as he watched the others file out. He pursed his lips as he watched them. He knew full well that none of them were talking about the former Lord Reyvar. Instead, judging from their lips, most of them were talking about Las Noches' defeat by the Soul Reapers and the implications it had.
All of Hueco Mundo knew the implications. He heard rumors that Domesticated Hollows in the western most parts of the Empire went berserk and killed their masters. He thought that rumor was false. There were also rumors that the Western Towers were adding more Arrancars to make sure that the Exiles didn't return. That one he believed to be true since Mordrath Luisenbarn was most likely building an army to reclaim the Throne and Crown.
"Well, you're hard in thought," Lyanna said from beside him.
"Lady Reyvar," he said and bowed.
"There's no need for that with me," she said. "What were you thinking about?"
"Rumors," he said, "especially those surrounding Baraggan Luisenbarn's death."
"I know all about that and so does all of Hueco Mundo. A Council of the Houses is going to be called in Las Noches."
"There's no doubt. They'll want to get someone on the throne as soon as possible. I trust that House Reyvar will be represented."
"Of course it will. My son will be going since he is now Lord Reyvar."
"I congratulate him and offer him my sympathies. Your sister will be coming to see you soon to discuss things with you."
"I will wait for her."
"I…have a rather delicate question to ask you. How did your husband die?"
"He died of an illness."
"It's rather odd. The last I heard, your husband was recovering. Likewise, it is rather…odd for an Arrancar to die of any illness. I thought that violence was the only way to kill an Arrancar."
"You heard wrong."
"I'm sorry if I offended you, but…your sister told me. She told me about five previous marriages you had before Lord Reyvar. All of them died suddenly, but not Lord Reyvar. You were married to Lord Reyvar for about 500 years or so while all of the other marriages only lasted about a week."
"Are you implying something?"
"Not at all," he said and smiled. "I just hope you remember who's on your side."
Lyanna watched as Schalson walked away. Her hands were clinched into small fists. She thought about the small vial of Night's Kiss, a rather potent poison, she kept hidden at home. She thought that Tyanna guessed her little secret about her previous marriages. She married and then poisoned the men after she made sure that she got most of their inheritance. However, Reyvar had been different. Unlike the others who were rough with her and beat her, he was kind and courteous to her.
As a result, she truly fell in love with him and on the night she planned to poison him, she merely knocked his wine glass off the table. The past 500 years had been the happiest she'd known, until he fell ill. She prayed to the Twelve that the illness would pass, but it didn't. Instead, he only got worse until finally it was beyond what she could bear. She took the bottle of Night's Kiss and poured some into his evening glass of tonic. She remembered how the tears flowed down her cheeks when she did it and when she brought him the glass.
She remembered how he looked into her eyes and said that he loved her as he drank his final tonic. She kept watch over him as he died to make sure that he died peacefully.
She looked up and felt tears in her eyes.
"Mother, are you alright?" Lyndon asked from behind her.
"I'm fine," she said and put a hand on his cheek. "Let's go home."
They walked back to the Palace of Daggers as a cold mountain wind began to blow.
Plata Torre
Ilustrado Certus sat in the guest room and sipped at the glass of mountain berry wine. He sloshed the wine around in his mouth, enjoying the combination of sweet and bitter that seemed to create a perfect harmony of taste. He swallowed the wine and exhaled in pleasure. Unlike most of the other Ilustrado, Certus believed that the Faith should strive to help Hueco Mundo become united and not just seek personal advancement.
It was true that self-interest was a motivation for him, but he also genuinely cared for his fellow Arrancars. He was among those who voted against replacing the sacred Crystalline Groves with Hogyoku Technology that the Soul Reaper Aizen helped to establish. He was among the few who saw that Arrancars created by Hogyoku Technology had a tendency to be weaker than those who went into the Crystalline Grove. He thought that it was because Hogyoku Technology made it much easier for Arrancars to be made while the Crystalline Groves truly weeded out which Hollows could or could not make it as Arrancars.
He was one of the few members of any of the Councils who recognized a troubling fact. Hollows were becoming Arrancars at an excessively fast pace. He looked at the evidence for it and he came to the conclusion that the use of Hogyoku Technology was changing the very atmosphere of Hueco Mundo. He knew that some would welcome it, but what were the consequences?
"What has Aizen done to us?" he asked himself as he sat back and looked at the flame. "He's only made things worse for us here."
He sighed and then heard a knock at the door. He straightened and narrowed his eyes.
Who could that be?
He walked to the door and opened it. He looked out into the hall and did not see anyone. He shrugged and closed the door. He returned to his chair and sat down. He never noticed the figure that stood in the shadowy corner and watched him as he drank the now-poisoned wine.
After it was done, the figure made its way carefully to where Tyanna waited. The two looked at each other and the figure nodded. Tyanna nodded back.
"I trust that no one saw you."
"No one saw me, my Lady."
"You did well."
"Thank you my Lady," the figure said and took off the hood of the shifting-cloak.
She had closely cropped olive-colored hair and dark violet eyes. Tyanna smiled as the cold mountain wind began to blow.
"Come here, my Chief Black Adder," she said.
"As my Lady commands," she said and came closer.
Tyanna stroke her cheek and smiled. They didn't say anything. Instead, Tyanna brought her lips crashing into her lover's lips and the two kissed with a fiery passion. Tyanna knew that it would be good tonight. She was always much more passionate after making a kill. The cold mountain air began to rise around them and Tyanna separated herself. Her Chief Black Adder wanted more of it and she would.
"Come inside," her lover said. "The wind is cold tonight and I am as hot as fire."
"That's what I want to hear, Sakhal Sung-Sun."
La Vista
Raella sat in her study as another raven came in through the window. She watched as it landed and she stroked its back. The bird's feathers were still cold from the mountain wind blowing outside, but she loved the cold. It kept her awake and it kept her alert. She untied the message tube that was attached to its foot and read the scroll of parchment.
"So, Ilustrado Certus is dead," she said and sighed. "It looks like Ilustrado Orexis will get what he wants after all. That's too bad."
She walked up and looked at the map of Hueco Mundo that hung on the wall. She took in every detail of the mountains and forests and oceans and rivers and desserts. She began to wonder how long it would be until blood covered them. The time was coming and she would make sure that she would survive. That was the power of information. She thought about the Eastern Blade.
The Eastern Blade was merely a metaphor for how the Eastern Mountains handled acts of war. There were two ways of fighting war for them: with the coin and with the dagger. Bribes and assassinations went hand-in-hand. It was an art that the merchants knew all too well. If one House's coin took over a market, then they won a war. If one House was completely annihilated by a bowl of poisoned soup, then they lost a war. War was fought with coins and daggers. Houses bickered among each other and tried to outdo each other with contracts and bribes and even threats, but if you truly wanted to win, you had to lay a trap.
"Knowing there's a trap is the first step in evading it," she said and began to chuckle. "And I know. Oh yes. I know."
She turned and looked at the reports before her. Knowing that even a high ranking official in the Faith of the Twelve could be killed only further proved the old saying to be true.
No one can escape the Eastern Blade.
End of Chapter 3
A.N.: When writing this chapter, I knew that I wanted to get in a bit of the politicking and back-stabbing and bribing and corruption that was so much a part of Medieval and Renaissance Europe. While doing research, I was astonished at how much the courts of Europe revolved around self-interest and furthering one's position by any means necessary. Many of Europe's nobility were essentially people who knew how to kiss-ass either through flattery or bribery. What astounded me even more was how much religion played a role. Thus, the Faith of the Twelve became Hueco Mundo's version of the Catholic Church in the Middle Ages and Renaissance. It seems as though there were three major powers at play in Europe during this time period: The Nobility, The Merchants, and The Church. This inspired how I wanted to portray the culture of the Eastern Mountains. I wanted it to be a place where many of the Houses are plotting against each other and fighting wars not with swords and bows, but with coins and daggers.
Anyways, that's all for now. Thank you for reading and please review.