A Tahakén Prince
Alanna glanced over to Raku in amusement and stifled a laugh. The Lord was attempting to gain prestige by riding with his men into the capital. As of yet the reputation he wished to gain was far away. His mount, a well tempered and placid creature was throwing its weight across the road in an attempt to keep his rider, who was seated like a sack of potatoes. The guards couldn't keep the amusement off their faces, at least the ones that could actually ride; they noticed and threw pitying glances to the horse.
Raku looked at her and nodded, his hair tousling in the soft wind, the mane of his bay jerking as she begged for her head. Raku patted her neck with a gloved and she stilled though snorted in annoyance. Leaning forward he whispered into her ear and she immediately quietened though picked up her steps, almost trotting sideways down the road.
Alanna looked at her, eyebrows raised, "What did you tell her?" she asked Raku.
His teeth flashed white in the sun, "That I would give her her head on the next straight. There is a flat that runs steadily for about a mile. I will run her then, regardless of the consequences."
Alanna nodded and looked down at her own horse. "May I join you?" Raku tilted his head and then nodded.
"How goes your Dance of the Snake?"
Alanna allowed herself a smile, "Good, the exercises you gave me five nights ago no longer cause me trouble."
Raku's eyes gazed into hers and something began to burn in them, "You are growing stronger and more agile, soon you will progress to the next level," he said as he quickly looked away.
Alanna grinned even wider, Raku she had learned very rarely praised and to hear it made all the sweat and tears as she forced her body into positions she wasn't accustomed to worth it.
"Though you will never be muscled, you will have the strength and grace of a cat." Raku informed her and Alanna was content, though she was jealous of the muscle part.
"Worry not, "Raku said as if he could read her thoughts, "without muscle you will be underestimated, that is good when it comes to a fight. Your opponents will tread less cautiously than they should."
Alanna nodded to the wisdom of his words then turned her eyes forward in wonder. Far on the horizon a great jumble of buildings sprawled across the plains of grass. A long road ran all the way forward and disappeared into the masses of towers.
Next to her Raku urged his mare forward, closer to the warriors surrounding them, Alanna hesitated then followed. The warriors ahead moved aside like water around a boulder, though they seemed surprised as they did so. Rounding the bend Raku loosened the reins and yelled the mare shot forward, her ears pricked. Alanna's roan followed her lead and Alanna let her run.
Wind breezed through her horses' mane and tickled her face and Alanna was hit with a memory.
Moonlight tossed her head begging for more rein, which Alanna granted, and her hooves pounded the lush green grass. Alanna lifted her head back in joy and uttered a fierce battle cry and lifted her arms up, riding with only her legs. Air rushed over her tunic and ran tendrils through her hair which streamed out behind her. Sunlight kissed her upturned face and Alanna felt as though she was flying...
Suddenly coming to her surroundings Alanna lowered her arms and clasped the reins again, regaining control of her roan. Next to her Raku was ginning, the first she had seen him and he seemed younger and free in a single glance. Ahead of them people scattered out of the way of the two galloping horses and indignant screams were lost behind them as they thundered past.
Their wild ride wasn't to last however and as they reached a small withered tree they slowly pulled in the reins and slowed to a trot. The horses were snorting with excitement and fighting the bit, Raku got his bay under control but Alanna was having trouble. Her roan had a very hard mouth and had taken the bit between his teeth, his back coiled and then launched upwards, trying to unseat her. Alanna snarled and pulled her reins even tighter as her gelding began to buck and rear in an attempt to toss her.
Raku watched nearby, an unreadable look in his eyes. Spinning around Alanna could have sworn she saw him smile but then she was moving again. Suddenly growing tired and feeling rage building inside of her Alanna hissed, "G'vananex." Around her thunder boomed and Alanna's sense of the world sharpened. She could feel the life force of the tree under which she had ridden, the small rodents scurrying through the grass and the nobility of an eagle soaring overhead. A roaring filled her ears and she slumped dizzy in the saddle and obsidian began to veil her vision, the roan had frozen and had his ears clamped to his skull in fear.
A look of horror and wonder crossed Raku's face and faster than any mortal could see he leapt from the bay and appeared at her side. Whispering words in an ancient language that leached power, he touched her forehead and energy flooded into her body. Reaching out he touched the roan's neck and he calmed as green fire rippled across his coat. Then Raku swiftly remounted his mare, which never noticed his weight loss and acted as though nothing was wrong as the guards drew closer.
Alanna shook her head and looked about her dazed but then she straightened, perfectly all right. The fury on the guard's faces was outmatched by the Lords, his face was a livid purple and he seemed at lost for words. Suddenly a horseman yelled out, the knight was mounted upon a big steal charger and wore his chainmail as though it were only a winter coat. The shield on his arm and that of his man at arms was an acorn glowing above a reaching hand.
The Lord turned to face the Knight and his entire manner changed, he finally drew himself up off the poor horses back and stood proud in the saddle. The guards turned to face the arrival, some with distrust and others with amusement.
"That is some fine riding of some very fine horses." He said earnestly addressing Alanna and Raku. Suddenly Raku's air changed.
He bowed from the saddle, subtly motioning Alanna to do the same, "Why thank you my Lord Charles. It is an honour that an accomplished horseman thinks so highly of one's so unworthy." He bowed again and the Lord cut in.
"Sir Charles," he said in false conduct, "how generous of you."
The arrival looked over at Sir Francis of Golden Field in contempt, his demeanour changing. "Not generous, "he snapped in reply, "fact. Any fool with eyes could see the potential these mounts have, and the skills of their riders."
His man-servant shifted in his saddle and looked the horses over before returning his attention to Sir Francis. Alanna's master simmered, "Are you offering to buy them?"
Sir Charles snorted, "Not likely, too old for me and I like my possessions with spirit, these have speed only."
The guards in purple and red shifted and at the Lord's signal nudged their horses forward and around Sir Charles.
"Well, that may be the case, "Sir Francis sniffed as he drew level with the other Knight, "but we know you couldn't afford it anyway."
The man-at-arms reached for his blade with a snarl and was halted by his Lord, "Let me hear you say that on the duelling courts My Lord, and we will see who cannot afford the best."
Kicking his grey he trampled through the ranks of guards, nodding to Alanna and Raku, his man following him. The Lord stared after him furiously and sword under his breath. Turning his livid gaze on Alanna he snarled, "I will punish you later."
Alanna gulped and glanced to Raku, who kept his face blank, she knew what her punishment would be. Hanging her head she avoided looking at Raku and fell in behind the carriage as the procession wound its way into the city.
The capital was surrounded by tall smooth walls that surrounded it almost full circle; as though a bite had been take out. From her room Alanna could see that where there was a small gap there were towers seemingly build out of the sea rising up as seagulls circled. Each had a great cannon sticking out of it facing the harbour entrance. The remained of the wall had been built out across the sea, leaving only a very small entry/exit for any ships. Towers had been built at the end of each wall and Alana could see people marching from the sea right around to the other end. The space in which a variety of warships, merchant ships, fishing ships and diplomatic vessels lay tiered was massive. It was as big as the Lords house she thought with amusement, even bigger and just for boats.
To the side of these ocean fortifications was a great cliff, needing no guard against enemy vessels as jagged rocks lay beneath vertical rock stretching into the sky. It would be a long trek if someone were to run to the top and back, very good stamina training.
Alanna returned her attention to the Lady and began to weave her hair with netting and pearls. Anya was stretching up on tippy toes to link necklaces across the Lady's neck, and would replace each necklace with a new as the Lady disapproved of her reflection.
Each Noble family was only permitted to bring in on male servant or slave and two female slaves, an extra precaution Raku whispered to her as he was forced away and he and the other male slaves and guards were escorted to different housing. The Palace had extra slaves working around the clock and one was assigned to every family, a lot of hassle just to prevent the assassination of the King and his heir. The queen had already been slain, within hours of the Kings awakening the towns people knew and within days the entire country new in which the horror she died and the spoken threat against the King.
The King still held this ball, on the sixth month of his son's birth, even though there was an even greater chance his safety would be threatened than usual.
Brophy was with Lord Francis, dressing him and seeing to his Lords needs, Anya and herself were to see to the Lady's. Alanna had been selected to wait in the shadows during the ball in case she was required; Anya was to wait in the Ladies room, as Brophy was to wait in the Lords room. Alanna was worried about Anya's safety, though she knew any complaints would fall on deaf ears and she wanted to see all the Lords and Ladies dressed in their finery.
She felt a tinge of apprehension though, for she was sure that just before they had entered the Palace walls a statue on top of one of the temples had moved and she couldn't shake the feeling she was being watched.
She cast her discomfort aside as worry for Anya and the fact this was the first ball she had been to in a new country. When the Lady was satisfied with her own appearance she sent Anya to a chest and ordered Alanna into the bath she had previously vacated. Alanna obeyed, having learnt the folly of disobeying the Lady many times over. The Lord was cruel when disobeyed but the Lady had him seem tame in comparison so now when she ordered Alanna to remove her clothes and "step closer" Alanna obeyed, even though she felt uncomfortable.
The Lady tilted her head as Alanna removed her clothes and stepped into the scented bathwater. Alanna scrubbed herself into her skin was red, cleanliness was something she had in common with her Lady master, and stepped out of the tub. Water cascaded off her skin in streaks and goose bumps crawled across her skin as she shivered.
Anya laid her bundle on the bed and stepped forward with a towel, Alanna smiled her thanks and quickly dried herself, used to the Lady's eyes on her.
The Lady flicked her finger to the clothes and Alanna walked over to the bed, her hair stroking her dry skin. A satin black dress was on the bed and Alanna gulped, it was something she had never worn let alone seen before.
The Lady cleared her throat and Alanna glanced to her before reaching for the dress. Anya helped her into it and zipped it up as she held her hair up. "Dry your hair, "the Lady commanded a strange look in her eyes and Alanna obeyed.
The Lady fluidly moved towards a desk and after Alana had dried her hair, bade her to sit before it. Alanna closed her eyes as a horse hair brush ran through her hair, she had long got used to The Lady deciding to groom her and decided she enjoyed the feeling of the brush. Anya watched and occasionally held strands of hair as the Lady began to braid it, after she applied face paint to her skin. Finally the Lady stepped back and sighed in content, Anya too stifled a gasp.
Slowly Alanna opened her eyes and rose to face the mirror. Her eyes widened as she took in her reflection, agreeing with the Lady's smug smile. Her hair was pulled back in layers from her face and was straight down her spine to her lower back. The black dress had a plunging neckline though didn't reveal anything un-fitting of a young woman and showed her tanned skin. The dress flowed down from her breasts pinching at her hips before billowing out in layers of silk, reaching slightly above her knees. Black lines on her eyes and a light shading of purple powder above her eyes complimented the entire look. She was beautiful, even in stillness she held an aura of grace and subtle strength, and she looked tall, a fact she had to smile at.
There was a knock at the door and the Lord entered, followed by Brophy. When he saw her the Lord paused and Brophy stopped in his tracks and stared, his eyes roaming over every inch of exposed flesh and snagging on her breasts, hips and legs. Alanna glared at him and he just smirked, eyeing her with lust. Internally she shivered and externally she straightened, her gift unconsciously shifting beneath her skin, glowing a warning through amethyst eyes. Brophy ignored, or chose not to see her eyes beginning to smoulder dangerously and kept looking at her, a hungry look in his own eyes.
The Lord and Lady linked arms and the Lady gestured Alanna to follow. She complied, though skirted slightly around Brophy, missing as she walked out the door, the promise in his eyes.
Raku slipped silently out of the makeshift barracks and slunk down the cobblestoned streets, avoiding the irregular patrols of guards supposed to be preventing against an escape such as the one he was making.
Weaving his way through alleyways and over buildings Raku made his way to the great walls surrounding the Palace. Shrugging his powerful shoulders and clenching and unclenching his fists Raku took a run forward. Reaching the wall he dug his boots into the stone and launched himself from foot to foot and free climbed the wall. Perching on the top he waited for a patrol moving through the garden to move past.
Leaping down he stiffened when he heard the furious barking of dogs and black shadows streaked towards him. Reaching out his hand he spoke to them, in a language of old and they slowed down and sniffed his hands before trotting off happily.
Internally cursing at his arrogance Raku called to his gift and cast himself invisible, silent and un-sensible. Some would consider it cheating to use magic, Raku disagreed. He wouldn't kill a non magic user with magic just as he wouldn't kill an un-armed man with a weapon. He would fight and kill as they did, magic just made achieving his task easier.
Striding down a side track, marked with small flat stones he came across an apprehensive looking man that was glancing from side to side hurriedly. Raku frowned and walked straight up to the man, waiting until he looked away before making himself visible.
When the man turned back and saw the heavily built Raku he gulped after leaping through his skin. Reaching inside the door in which he was standing he bought out a bundle and handed it to Raku before disappearing into the shadowed doorway. Raku scowled down at the slave garb and used magic to switch his clothes with the slave clothes. Turning his attention to the small pouch of black satin Raku made it rise until it reached his hands. Opening the string he looked inside and smiled, it was a special Spaceless pouch, a pouch that never ran out of room and never changed size, no matter what was its content.
Tucking the pouch into his slave robes Raku inhaled deeply before entering through the shadowed doorway. He, like the Prince before him knew every single crack and crevice of this great castle built by slaves and fluidly walked down corridors, sliding easily past other slaves and guests.
As he slipped into a forgotten corridor and opened a secret passageway, Raku steeled himself for the task to come. The King that commissioned the building of the Castle he had conceded to an advisors request to have secret chambers built within the very foundations of the palace, passageways to provide an escape route for the members of the royal family if they should need it.
Pressing a brick in the wall Raku waited silently as the door before him began to rumble and slid to the side in a puff of dust. Holding his breath Raku walked into the room, the young slave girl looked at him in horror and opened her mouth to scream.
Raku's eyes slowly closed as she inhaled and then snapped open, his magic flooding through his body and slowly veiling green across his eyes. He thrust his hand forward as though to catch what could have been thrown and power burst from his palm and slammed into the slave. Raku was a peaceful man, before his breaking and while he could kill now without mercy and torture others without respite he killed those he considered innocents quickly and as painlessly as he could. The green magic hit the slave in the chest and rippled up her body and she collapsed as the blood vessels within her brain burst simultaneously, killing her instantly.
Magic gently caught her and lowered her onto the carpet as Raku walked deeper into the room and looked around him. Long silk curtains were drawn across large windows and a single pair of glowing lanterns cast light onto the pearl crib. The room was positioned so the slave could have seen him as he walked out of the tunnels even if there had been no noise. The slave could have been looking in his direction anyway. Walking forward Raku withdrew the pouch from his slave garb and reached inside. With his mind he called forth the "Kavankanla" or Deaths Breath elixir.
Deaths Breath was an elixir given by the Tribes of The Plains to young warriors before they attempted the Trials of Life. The elixir was an offering to Death himself and the young warriors would mark ancient runes in the liquid across their skin before setting forth the journey to become a man. If he survived the journey and returned with more elixir he would become a man, a warrior and be permitted to take a mate.
Raku withdrew the elixir and drew symbols softly on the sleeping babes' skin, brushing away the small locks of brown hair from his forehead. Moistening his lips he began an incantation that would send the Prince to Death and wrote runes unto the air which hovered above the child like mist. Replacing the elixir Raku leaned over with his right hand and placed his little finger and forefinger to the corners of the boys' eyes and curled his remaining middle fingers. Stretching his thumb he gently touched the tip to the newborns lip. Straightening and removing his hand he whispered, "Sleep well little one, your mother is awaiting you and shortly you will be joined by your shire."
The runes began to swirl golden in the air and spun like a tornado above the child's forehead before being sucked into the symbols. His eyes fluttered and the rise and fall of his chest slowed and became still. Raku sighed at the dead child before him; he loathed killing innocents, especially children. His only comfort was the knowledge the child hadn't felt a thing and had felt an immense happiness before he died.
Pivoting Raku strode back into the open tunnel doorway; his task was not yet finished.
Holding the tray before him Raku kept his head lowered as he navigated the pillars and people in the dining hall. Lords and Ladies stood dressed in their finery clutching diamond glasses and eating the greatest food while silent slaves wove between them, filling drinks and offering food to the Kings guests. Raku's own "Masters" were trying to edge their way into a group of younger, better dressed laughing nobles. Raku snarled and withdrew deeper into his mind, he hated Nobles, rather he hated all those who thought they were above everyone else. The thoughts and the feelings of the Nobility swirled around his consciousness in flashes of vibrant colours, usually silver, gold, green, red and blue. The mental movements of the slaves were similar though each was tinged with dark colours like brown and black showing their feelings, they were caged, and they were animals.
Suddenly purple flashed through the colours and burnt away at the bright colours before vanishing. Raku blinked in surprise and tried to find her, when he did he stopped. A Lord snapped his fingers in impatience as he demanded a drink, Raku quickly bowed and apologised and offered him a refill.
Slipping behind a pillar at the side of the room he looked for Alanna again. Her flaming red hair ended below her shoulder blades and was woven among each other right down the centre of her head in an elaborate braid. The jewel usually hidden by her clothes gleamed at her neck and an expanse of skin gave way to a revealing coal dress, showcasing her figure. Its length ended above her knees showing the contours of her entire body, feeling eyes on her she looked up. Black lines emphasised her eyelids and her lashes looked longer, framing her vibrant amethyst eyes.
Her head turned as she scanned the room and as her gaze passed him Raku felt caught, like a rabbit in the clutches of a hawk. Her eyes pinned him in place for the briefest of moments and Raku felt a strange stirring within him, her gift lurked just under her skin, giving her a strange glow that no one but an impressive mage could see. Where the non- gifted could see her magic was in her eyes, they were gleaming fire, though nobody looked. Each person told themselves it was because her eyes were purple, Raku knew better. Her gift was slowly taking control, and that worried him.
A magician's gift only took control when it felt itself in danger, Raku was the only magician in the capital able to challenge the expanses of gifted mages and he had disguised his gift behind that of a much lesser healer. It was true he hadn't really used his gift in the time her had known Alanna, but he had used it when he saved her life after she had drained her magic. Thinking back on that Raku again wondered how she had known the words of power. Only ancient manuscript told of the language and all complete translation had been lost for millennium, Tahakén was the exception.
She hadn't even known she had ordered the gelding to "Be still". It had taken all her gift and was sucking her life force when he had interrupted. The words of power were only spoken in great need and where never used lightly especially to command a horse to stop bucking. When words of power were spoken it was at great risk but the end result was what was desired. As Alanna had ordered the horse to stop moving the horse had no choice to obey, words of power granted power over all. Alanna didn't know any words of power, he had checked by invading her privacy to scan her mind and memories.
Yet now her gift was stretching inside her body to cover her in a shield and it was coiling inside ready to lash out. Looking about with his gift Raku saw every gift of every person flaring beneath their skin, some instinct telling them danger was nearby. The gifted ignored the feeling, telling themselves they were excited for the crowning of the Prince and kept up conversations, believing they were safe. All accept one, Alanna was obviously on edge. Her eyes constantly looked about the room and she flinched when she heard something loud.
Raku's eyes narrowed, if it wasn't his presence scaring her, then whose was it?
Conversations halted as the King rose to his feet. Raku inhaled and withdrew his pouch, now was his chance. Walking through the nobles returning to their seats he walked up behind Alanna and reached into his pouch. His hand was on the hilt of a blade when the doors suddenly burst open and a scream cut through the air. "The Prince,' the voice hollered, "He has been killed!"
Alanna spun around and looked to the door, along with every other person in the room. Collective gasps hung on the air and a strangled groan came from the King. Suddenly guards crashed into the ballroom, pushing nobles out of the way to get to their King. Screams began to fill the room and the Nobles began to flee as chaos pursued.
Alanna looked around for her Lord and Lady when she suddenly saw Raku in the Palace slave garments. He had frozen with his hand in a small pouch and the hilt of a blade was peeking through his fist. When he looked back from the departing King surrounded by jostling guards and saw her something strange flashed across his face, then he turned and ran. Alanna frowned, certain her mind was trying to tell her something but no matter how hard she tried to reach it she couldn't.
Making up her mind she wove between the fleeing Nobles and chased Raku down the hall, unaware a pair of eyes was watching her in puzzlement.
Dropping from the ceiling the Prince watched as the girl with purple and green magic ran down the hall, chasing the Assassin. Then suddenly he smiled, the slave girl obvious meant something to his "brother", the banished Tahakén Prince, known as Raku.
Authors Note: As always, please review. Its a late birthday present for me :D Dont leave me presentless :)
I hope the storylines are now making sense. From now on it will be a lot easier to understand, I hope. More Alanna now and maybe some Jon, Gary, Raoul and George.
JZuliaGirl: I know what you mean, now hopefully its a bit clearer.
Some one who cares: Who cares about Jon? Hes a dick for betraying her! But on a serious note, he will feature soon...
Twilightjen: You reviewed asking if
"im just wondering do you hate keladry or is it just that you want it to bemore dramatic? just wondering, hopefully i dont sound rude or anything"To answer: No I dont like Kel, (how did you know) but your question doesnt make sense to me. PLease rephrase. On a better note, Im glad you like when I get creepy :) A little more to come :)