The Lives of Death Part II
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Alanna gazed at her for a moment before sighing and clapping her hands together and booming a foreign word. The room began to shake and thunder began to boom, all eyes were on Alanna as she began to chant and then she vanished. Lianne, George, Gary, Baird, Gareth and Myles all blanched as they suddenly began to dissolve, in the distance, like thousands of wasps, the sound of a crowd could be heard.
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Raoul, Gary, George, Myles, Lianne and both Dukes suddenly dropped and landed in a pile between two isles of chairs. They untangled themselves and Duke Gareth helped the Queen to her feet, all of the men reached for blades that didn't exist and hurriedly circled the Queen for protection. A man carrying a large box appeared at the stairs and began to walk towards them, booming in another language.
They were in a large arena, with stairs and seats stretching into the skies and ending far below them, where a large sheen of silver covered the ground, it held moving pictures on it and flickered as they watched. Beneath the screen, tiny figures, barely visible, moved slowly about like ants through rivers, marshland, forest and deserts. Several figures were gathered on small squares of emerald, though they were surrounded by others who were watching them carefully, waiting for movement.
Other squares, crimson in colour, had figures dashing for them, they were swarmed by others and a transparent picture of their death formed on the screen. The crowds screamed at the death and waved flags, banners and chanted, all in unfamiliar languages. The symbols and images on the flags varied, such as a black battle axe gleaming on a red background, an oak leaf against a lake, a castle in a blue circle, a sword and a shield on a maroon field and scroll before a cross. Other flags were similar; there were four stags against a green field and a gleaming sun. One stag was rampant, another bucking, a third was charging and a fourth was calmly surveying the area about it.
Beneath the crowds, behind the patrolling of giant warriors gleaming in gold, sat a variety of people at a rectangular table. Each group had their own flag before them, and their own screen of a smaller size. Their screen only showed one person, or was split into several portions such as the one before the stag flags. Behind each group sat rows of white robed people, each intensely focused on the miniature screen before them, these screens all had different people on them. Some screens were grey and without a watcher, while others had extra people crowded around them.
In the far corner, seen by everyone, was a giant board with the symbol of every flag next to a variety of numbers that increased and decreased as they watched, the symbol at the top was that of a giant gold cat, and the symbols at the bottom were grey and their numbers immovable. Next to the board was a giant hourglass fringed in gold and running fine granules of a crimson colour, it was nearly empty.
There was a large area below them, gleaming silver and showing moving paintings, beneath that tiny people moved through rivers, marshland and forest, with several taking refuge on areas marked green. Other figures hovered around the edge of theses squares and waited or fought themselves.
Around the arena sat groups of people and with them were symbols and flags. Some looked similar, such as there were four of so stags strutting across flags, though one was rearing, another was bucking, one was charging and one was calmly gazing around. Another section had an oak leaf, a pheasant, a castle, a sword and a scroll. The only similarity between those was that they each had the same background, it was a green field with the sun in the sky.
A giant board was in the far corner and it held the symbols of each flag and their position, those at the bottom of the list had dulled to grey. Next to that was a giant hourglass, running almost empty.
The people about them were yelling and screaming and chanting in a variety of languages that it all became too much, and they quickly ushered the Queen up the stairs, searching for Alanna. Thankfully no one noticed them, and as they passed the vender he didn't even look in their direction. Reaching the top of the stairs they heard a voice echoing around the arena and the crowd went wild, some cheering others booing, but all were screaming.
Glancing back the Tortallan's froze, an image was forming across the screen and they watched in horrific wonder as a giant blonde man swung a vicious looking axe through the air and brought it down upon his opponent, cleaving him in two. The crowds roared at this achievement and the giant glanced heavenwards with a great smile and lifted the axe in salute. "Your next, Kitten!" He roared in promise and took off into the forest, his flag flashed across the screen and on the board his symbol rose several tiers and the numbers scrambled. At his proclamation some of the crowds cheered, the ones waving the battle axe flag, but the ones nearest to the Tortall gathering booed and began to scream at the other crowds.
Next to the arena, the group of people behind a flag of a horse all rose and stalked from the stadium, the other groups jeered and spat at them as they passed.
A disturbance at the edge of his vision caused Raoul to turn in time to watch a fully armoured Knight walk straight through him. He stiffened and grasped Gary's arm hard and with the other arm, tried to touch one of the screaming members of the crowd. His fingers passed straight through him as though he was air. Next to him the Knights copied his movements and slowly relaxed.
The voice began to speak again, and the crowd quietened to listen to it, as he spoke George, Gary, Raoul, Myles, the Queen and both Dukes heard a buzzing in their ears.
"- see how they think their contestant is going."
The image on the screen changed to that of a red-haired warrior fighting off three heavily armoured men, one carrying a spear, two a sword and another already dead holding a long spear with blades sticking out of the end. The image halved as the warrior wrestled with the swordsmen, their blade flashing, and increased the size of a group of very well composed men sitting in a small section of the ring.
This section was coloured black, red and gold, the colours of the symbol on each chair back, tablecloth and flag. A gold cat stalked across each flag, its tail snapping back and forth as it paced along the black background. Red coloured its paws and face and some smudges graced its coat, every so often it would crouch and pounce.
Along a large rectangular table sat men of various sizes, all eyeing the dome before them where their contestant fought. Behind them, a man in white sighed and leaned back in his chair, a grin growing on his face, as his dome went black. As he did so, the large, main dome flashed to another image. This was of two brown haired warriors holding another warrior beneath the raging waters of a river, their flag was of two wolves, one howling and the other snarling.
"And the two D'avan brothers kill the Reaper!" The voice announced to the stadium, over in the corner at the scoreboard, a picture flashed the red of blood and slipped down the poles.
Suddenly the group before them got to their feet with a yell and fist pump, before resuming their seats as the crowd next to the Knights, George and the Queen went wild.
"The Lioness has now killed two of the four Sons of Alacnke!"
The dome flashed to show the red-haired warrior block a sword stroke to her side and flick the enemy blade to the left. The other swordsman saw his chance and drove his blade towards her unprotected shoulder and she allowed the blow to land, spinning so that it caused the least amount of damage and flicked her sword back into the first swordsman's arm pit. He stiffened and convulsed and she used the momentum from the blow to her shoulder to fall backwards, dragging the living swordsman with her.
"And a third!" the announcer screamed.
As she fell she twisted in the air and left her blade buried hilt first into the earth, her opponent saw his danger but failed to avoid it and the sword point drove through his armour and into his chest. The flags of two of the stags crossed the screen and in the corner, their symbol slid down the ranks. The Lioness' numbers scrambled and continued to increase as she rolled to her feet and took her opponent's blade, the one raining crimson drops and, after seeing no competition, slid the blade into her belt. The remaining spear carrying warrior had fled and left The Lioness to rummage around the warriors belongings.
She gained another hand-and-a-half sword, and several daggers. She also took the long pole with the blades and put it in a pile along with armour and boots and when she found a small green bag she gaze a whoop of joy. Immediately she opened it, constantly glancing about her, and withdrew the small container.
She dipped her fingers into the mixture and brought it to her sword wound, grimacing as she moved that arm. The flesh stopped weeping and then stretched forward to meet each end of the gash. Eventually the entire wound was healed, though it was an angry red and there was deep purple bruising about it.
She left the container and then began to drag the bodies close to one another; she laid them side by side and closed their eyes. Stepping back she touched her two first fingers of her right hand to her lips and then clasped that fist to her heart after touching her forehead.
At a flick of her fingers, the bodies ignited and began to burn. She shouldered a pack and took the long pole in her hand and began to jog calmly away from the dead, as she did she glanced skyward and inclined her head slightly. Purple eyes pierced into the audience and some members blanched and looked away while others, those in the crowd next to them, went wild with pleasure.
Glancing at the Nobles, George began to walk down towards the group before the Lionesses flag. They looked between themselves before following him, shivering every time someone walked through them.
Each man at the Lioness' table had access to platters of food and wine was readily available, their glasses appeared to refill themselves. Their wealth was obvious, rings sparkled and gold gleamed in the light and each looked to be smothered in silk. The great screen flickered and a group of warriors fell upon another pair, though the small screen before the Lioness table remained on the red-head. Two white robed men rose from their seats as their domes turned grey, signalling the death of the warrior's they were watching.
One of the white robed men gestured to another and spoke in a hushed voice; the other nodded and then snapped his fingers. The Tortallian's all clustered behind the table, but in front of the white robed desks, and watched as a man cloaked in black satin leaned forward and slapped his palm on the table, "Alanna, " his voice was soft, like velvet, "You are running out of time, get to the fountain and get there now!"
Cursing reached their ears, coming from the screen in front of them, "You come down here and compete then, if you keep thinking you know what I don't!'
The man frowned, though his reply was lost as cannon blasted across the sky and a voice thundered around the arena. "The hour is upon us! The final heartbeat of this life begins!"
Around them, the crowds hushed and then the sounds of trumpets accompanied a tremendous roar. A giant cat burst from an opening before each flag and dashed into the dome, shrinking in size until they matched the size of the terrain before them. The cloaked man roared into the air, "Watch out! There is a giant cat for each contestant!"
The curse Alanna uttered would have made the hardiest sailor pale and they watched as she suddenly increased her pace, throwing herself up the track, weaving between the trees. The screen covering the arena flashed time and time again in the next half of an hour as the cats threw themselves upon their prey, once their own contestant was slain they would retreat and return back to the doorway the entered the arena from.
One thing that Lianne was first to notice though, was that several cats formed together and attacked contestants at the same time, it was then voiced by the narrator that each human slain, that warrior's cat would try and avenge their contestants death. At this the men before them stirred and looked worriedly to each other, and one of them began to count upon his fingers. The board went crazy, the numbers scrambled and the symbols rose and fell, and the Lioness' symbol slipped to third position.
The cloaked man growled and barked in a foreign tongue, the screen in front of them shimmered and Alanna looked straight at him, before smiling softly and speaking to him. He snarled but calmed down, "Get to the fountain, now!"
Alanna nodded, and once again started to run, she had long dropped the pack and the long pole, in favour of the shorter blades that didn't catch as often on the trees grasping fingers. The large screen began to shrink and the symbol of each warrior was shown above them and a great number were beginning to converge on one area, the area Alanna was heading.
"That's the fountain, " one of the men told another, "that whore had better get there first." At this the Tortallian's stiffened, though not as much as the cloaked man. He slowly turned to face the speaker, and the air suddenly chilled. He didn't speak, but as goose-bumps rose along their arms the man next to the speaker began to sweat and inched away from his companion who continued to insult Alanna, unaware of his impending danger.
"While that may be the case," he finally spoke, in a voice like ice, "She is mine. And I regret to inform you that only I can call her a whore."
He returned back to the screen after a moment of making the Lord squirm and the Lord waited barely a heartbeat before he turned to flee.
Back at the dome Alanna was throwing herself up a mountain trail, leaping nimbly from rock to tree branch, clinging to the bark like a monkey. Her breath was even and deep, her strides measured and she was barely breaking into a sweat. There was a heavy panting ahead and as Alanna ran faster she came across a brown haired man, gasping as he tried to climb the track. He clutched his shoulder, red oozing from between calloused fingers and turned to face her. Alanna barely paused as she reached him, nimbly moving to the side of the track and reaching the top of the small hill in moments. The man gasped in shock and then shook himself before quickening after her.
The stands murmured as Alanna passed the easy kill and continued for the fountain, in the far corner her numbers scrambled and she dropped into fourth. The group in front of them shifted in their seats, but remained silent, watching the cloaked man from the corner of their eyes.
Another dome went black and the robed man got to his feet with a grin, tossing his brown hair out of his eyes. The Tortallan's watched and listened with interest.
"Hey Zayne," this was directed at an elderly man with blue eyes, "wanna place our bets now?"
Zayne shook his head, grey hair shining, "I have already placed my bets, did so the moment I heard The Lioness was to compete."
The young man looked shocked, "But why?" Zayne raised an eyebrow, "I mean she's got lucky and only fights when she is cornered."
Zayne sighed, "I have been watching these Games for seven Tournaments, been in them six, each time, that girl has pulled through. After the first time, when she was but a child, short and scared, I have placed my money in her hands, for she hasn't lost yet, despite the odds, and only that first loss."
"B-but she's a girl!"
Zayne snorted, "Be sure to tell her you noticed, Jeoffrey." Jeoffery still looked scandalised, and Zayne glanced around before gesturing for the younger man to come closer.
"See that man?" he subtly rolled his eyes in the tall black robed mans direction, Jeoffrey nodded. "Thats Raku," he whispered, his eyes wide.
"Who?"
Annoyance flashed across Zayne's aged features, "He's a Tahakén Prince!"
"I don't know what that is. Is he a Royal?"
Zayne looked traumatized, "You have never heard of Tahakén? Where have you been living! Well, yes he is a Royal."
He sighed and leaned even closer, "Tahakén is a giant castle and grounds where time stands still and where Mages battle each other to the Death! Everyone who is a Tahakén is immediately the best in anything they call their craft."
Zayne glanced over towards Raku and continued, in a softer tone, "To become a person of rank in Tahakén you must be exceptional, to be called a Prince you must be a God of Men in every skill, or near enough."
Jeoffery looked slightly apprehensive, "That's not possible!"
Zayne glared at him, "It is. And The Lioness, she is one of Raku's students which means she is being trained to become of Rank. She has been tortured beyond compare and has been trained to win, if she doesn't..well, let's say she returned with many more scars."
Raku, who had been intently watching the screen turned towards them as the crowds went wild. While they had been distracted, The Lioness had reached the fountain, slain the giants cats after her and completed the task, meaning she had won this round.
He appeared at their side, brushing through the watching Tortall delegation, and hooked his hands through his belt. "As you can see, she will win."
His voice was barely heard over the screaming and the announcer's voice, "The Lioness takes the eighth life of the Tournament! Let's see if we can get an interview!"
The dome flashed to show a bloodied Alanna, as she sat, dripping wet, next to a pool beneath a waterfall. Other contestants stumbled into the area and launched themselves into the pool, some resurfaced alive, others did not. Those that did, waited near Alanna, blood seeping from their bodies, their clothes ripped and torn and sporting bruises, broken limbs and strained muscles.
After a few minutes of rest, Alanna got to her feet and put her arm directly into the air, holding tightly to a small golden box in her other hand. She vanished with a pop, and appeared on the ground before her table. Raku spun around and made his way over to her and the crowds began to chant, "Li-on-ess! Li-on-ess! Li-on-ess."
She smiled, a genuine smile as she caught sight of the Tahakén Prince making his way towards her. The table had got to their feet and were swarming around her; other team's watched in fury as her flag appeared on the dome, signifying her winning the eighth round. There was a whistle and the clanking of armour, the Knights and the Queen turned. At the barrier armoured warriors were taking up position as the crowds began to converge on the area where Alanna's team stayed.
With a roar, the crowds swarmed through the guards and across the barrier, charging towards The Lioness. Raku glanced at them, before turning back to Alanna. She nodded and vanished, he quickly followed.
At this the earth began to shake again, thunder crashed and waves roared. The Queen stumbled as she came back to her time in Tortall and George snatched her arm to keep her from falling. Alanna was standing in the same place, watching them calmly.
"If you wish, you may watch the final?"
The Knights and George all nodded and Alanna nodded slowly, "Okay. I must go, I only have twenty-four hours to recover and I have injuries I need to heal before my time is up. Your globes will ignite in twenty-two hours, dress for cold. No openly worn weapons, and if you wish any souvenirs or food, bring any coins and they will be changed."
She strode to the door and turned, "Make sure you have hidden blades, George, just in case." She smiled and then she was gone.
George nodded the Knights, bowed to the Queen and followed her, pulling up his hood as he left.
Duke Braid ran his fingers through his hair with a sigh, "So, this is what you have been doing, Gareth." It was a statement, not a question.
"Thank you for your help," Raoul rumbled as he too left. Gary smiled to his father and Aunt and also left, calling out to Raoul as he entered the hallway.
The Queen was still staring at the doorway and at Gareth's touch to her shoulder she started. "What have we done? What has happened to that girl because of our idiocy?"
The Duke's, for all their combined power, wisdom and knowledge, could not answer her.
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Authors Note:
Rayo: Thank you!
RoyalLady: Thanks :D
CoTB: Explanation to follow, I hope its understandable.
Fang: Hehe, doesn't it sound so cool? HAWT! :D lol. No questions are pesky To answer your question. Yes, there would be two Alanna's but only if she went back further than when she left. EG- She lives from 2000-2050 In 2050 she returns to Tahaken and returns back to that world, only she goes back to the year 2025, so in a sense if they were to meet there would be two of them. There is only ever 1 person, unless they are cloned. (Think Harry Potter, a Time Turner.) Also, re read the chapter where she is broken ;) *Wink Wink*
Right, to clarify. Sometimes I forget that not everyone is on the same level as I, or have as ready access to mind as I. So, if you are ready, I shall explain to you the time differences that are confusing you all so much :D
Have any of you read the Sword of Truth Series by Terry Goodkind? (Or Watched the Legend of the Seeker series?- I think it has the same thing) If you have you will know that in book 2 Richard goes to the Prophet Palace and is taught there. The lands have a magical barrier( if memory serves correctly) that only allow entrance and no entry. Here Richard learns that there are spells on the Palace that slow the aging process- this means for every year he spends on the inside, those on the outside age 10-15 years.
Tahakén has a similar spell, however this spell is the opposite. For every year on the "outside" (any where but Tahakén ) there is a time of 1000 in Tahakén. The average lifespan of a Tahakén person is about a thousand years, they age slower.
For example;
A man OUTSIDE of Tahakén could be 20 years old, he could spend 50 years there (at Tahakén), become 70, and return home. This is about 2 weeks and 2 days in his home time. So this man will age 50 years in about 2 weeks.
A man INSIDE Tahakén can reach 500 years old-midlife, he looks about 50 or so. If he were to go to another world he would look 50, he would age as that time did. If, on his death bed, he were to return to Tahakén (50 years later) he would have missed about 50k years.
So on the inside, life is very fast. For every year on the outside, it is about 1000 on the inside.
Now, as Alanna has been in Tahakén for a great deal longer than 1000 years she should be dead or very, very old looking. But because of her magical power, her lovely friendship with The Master ( and a third reason that you do not need to know :D ) her aging process has been slowed even more. Her body has effectively been frozen in time. Think (as much as I can't believe I am saying it) Twilight. Once they become a Vampire, they do not age, they live the years but remain unchanged.
The same thing has happened to Alanna.
When she gets married, it is another world, another time-zone. This time zone can be the same or completely different to the Tortall World. It does not matter because that time is relevant only to that time and Tahakén. Alanna lived until say 86 in that world (under an illusion) and when she returned to Tahakén it could have been only a few hours or several hundred thousand years. That world does not matter. It only matters because Alanna spent a lifespan of her time in that world. This means she is as old as are her years in Tortall + her years in the world where she got married + her Tahakén years.
And that made complete sense...
So to re-cap
1 Year in the Tortallan world = about 1000 in Tahakén and vice versa.
Alanna does not age very fast, only the smallest percent per year. In over 1000years she only ages less than a day.
The time she got married has absolutely no affect on those in Tortall. To them it does not exist.
:D I hope that clears a lot up?