AN: This chapter took me some time to figure out, but I think it works rather nicely. I apologize for the lateness of this chapter. I was on vacation for the last couple weeks and all my attempts at writing were met with distractions. Then I became fairly ill and found in really hard to focus while I was hacking my lungs off. I originally intended to get a lot of work done, but it just didn't pan out. But it worked itself out in the end. I have been really enjoying writing this story for you lovely people and I would really appreciate your feedback. Please take the time to review and let me know. I would also like to mention that it appears I have some new followers for this story. Thanks so much for showing interest and making me feel good.
Also Foamy has a facebook page. Foamy Fanfiction Productions. The link is in my profile if you wish to take a look. As of right now, I have only things for this story posted. Updates are posted there as well as pictures of original characters so that you can put a face to them.
Disclaimer: I only own Arathnia, and the characters from there. I do not own Escaflowne, even though I wish I did.
The Past, Future, and Somewhere in Between
Chapter 18 : Basram: The Land of Ice and Snow
Two days. Two agonizingly slow days of coasting over the increasingly dense forest that surrounded the Arathnian holy land. Two long days before the forest gave way only to reveal barren ice lands below. The incessant chill could be felt through the hull of the ship and invaded the craft depositing pockets of cold air in almost every nook and cranny of the poorly insulated aircraft. It was obvious that the airship was not intended to travel through these icy climates. They were ill-prepared for such conditions. Food and supplies were no worry for Freya had been far more than generous to their small envoy. Flying along side them unaware of the cold was Aza. The large dragon barely spent time in the airship for it was such a tight fit. Even the cargo hold could barely contain his bulk making it difficult for him to stay within. However, he did not seem to mind. Often he disappeared, only to rejoin them an hour or two later with no indications of where he had been. This many thought of as rather peculiar, especially Van, but he never voiced his opinion aloud.
As the days slipped by, the airship began losing speed and altitude. The snowy climate seemed to be affecting the ship's motor functions, which quickly became the main focus of their attention. The cause was not entirely known, but it was growing increasingly apparent that their ship would not last the entirety of their journey. This was a major set back. Without the aide of the aircraft, they would be thrown back to square one once again. Trapped with no means of transportation and no idea on how or when they would be able to return home. The only ones who appeared unperturbed by their predicament were Galaxia and Sannah. The tundra beneath them seemed a wonder to the forest girl. She was oblivious to the problems that the adults seemed to be facing. Galaxia, on the other hand, was stone-faced and emotionless. She remained calm, but silent while everyone else around her seemed to be losing all sense.
On the second night, Allen held a meeting in the control room. Everyone clustered together in the small room. The only ones not present were Reeden and Gaddes. They had gone to check on the engine. It was crowded, but unfortunately it did nothing for raising the temperature. Allen, Van, and Mendelev stood together around a small table. On the table, a map rested. As they were studying the small yellowed piece of parchment, Gaddes waltzed back into the room. His expression was grim.
"Our energist is failing," He announced wiping his filthy hands off on a spare cloth. "It's a small one, and old. Looks like it came from a older green dragon. Not the best choice to power an aircraft like this," He explained tucking the cloth into his back pocket. "We need to land, and soon. There is no telling how long that thing is going to last us. We need a new one."
Allen sighed in frustration, his brows furrowing. "We will have to land then," He stated turning his gaze back down to the map before him.
"In Basram?" Van spoke up controlling his expression to block out the emotions flowing through him. It did him no good. The frustration rolled off of him in waves alerting everyone to his distress. "It's one of Arathnia's closest allies," He stated flatly not liking the odds of their situation.
Allen shrugged leaning forwards and resting his chin palm of his hand. "We don't really have a choice in the matter Van," He began slowly, "If the energist stalls, we could all die," He explained bluntly. There was no sugar-coating the facts.
"There is a small port not too far from here," Mendelev interrupted pointing down at the map. "A town actually. Cleyra," He began casting his gaze up to look at the two men across from him. "We should be able to dock and obtain a new energist there."
Van pinched the bridge of his nose and closing his eyes tightly. It was obvious that this idea did not sit well with the young king. "Can we avoid detection?" He asked pulling his lips into a thin line. His main concern was the safety of their crew and he did not want to jeopardize that.
Mendelev shrugged with uncertainty, "It's a risk I am afraid we must take," He began bowing slightly to his king. "If my memory serves me correctly, Basram's main source of economy is trade. Their harsh climate makes it difficult to cultivate the land. They are accustomed to strange airships coming to port," He explained running his hands through his peppery hair. "If that is the case, we may be able to slip through unnoticed."
"Cleyra is close to Mideen, Basram's capitol," Galaxia spoke up stepping forward from the small crowd. "Being so close to Castle Stromgard might pose as a problem," She expounded resting one hand on her hip. Her skin was still pale, but she seemed much steadier on her feet than she had been at the start of their journey. She seemed to be regaining her strength more and more as the days wore on. Scars were the only reminder of her encounter with the poisonous reptile. "The port will be guarded and ships searched more thoroughly," She added grimly shattering the illusion of any undercover maneuverings.
"What do you suggest we do?" Allen asked turning to look at the blonde haired warrior. He sincerely doubted her loyalty, but she seemed to possess the most knowledge of the lands below which left her as their best source of information. They had no other choice but to put their faith in her.
Galaxia shifted her posture crossing her arms over her chest. "We shouldn't try to hide our identities. If we are discovered, it may work out in our favour if we play to the truth. There has been a lot of tension between Queen Brahne and Basram's king as of late. If we play our hand correctly, he may be willing to help us rather than turn us over to her," She stated rather flatly.
Despite her lack of involvement in their endeavour, the information that she had offered as a part of their expedition so far had been rather helpful. Her insight into the lands around them, and the inner workings of the Arathnian court were most endearing. It was strange to see the shift in her allegiance switch entirely in such a short amount of time. Despite her willingness to help them in their cause and his brother's unwavering faith in the young blonde, Van couldn't help but be wary of her presence. Perhaps this had been a ruse. It was not entirely illogical. Queen Brahne could have persuaded her into infiltrating their envoy and sabotaging their escape. He would put it past the dragon queen to stir up such a coup. However, he lacked proof of this theory and therefore he had no reason to alert anyone to his suspicions. Not when he himself was left uncertain. It would do nothing but make him look the fool.
Van turned his gaze to his brother's lover. "Are you sure of this?" He asked his voice firm. The seriousness and uncertainty of the situation were not lost upon him. It was times like these that his leadership instincts kicked in full gear.
She nodded curtly, "Yes. Lord Stromgard is a reasonable man," was her tart response.
Allen glanced at Van silently asking permission to enact their new found plan of action. Van looked between his General and the Asturian knight before sighing deeply. His eyes dropped to the map in defeat and he gave a stiff nod. "Do it," he ordered before turning and walking away from the map towards the exit of the control room.
Out of surprise, it took Allen a moment to act. He blinked a couple of times, shocked, before he stood and began to bark out orders. The group quickly dismantled as the men rushed around to carry out their orders. Crew members ran about preparing for their course and preparing themselves for port whereas the others went back about their business as if no event had occurred at all.
Van wandered down the halls of the airship mindlessly. It would be another hour before they reached the town of Cleyra. Another hour to stew over the pros and cons of this stop. His mind was swimming with contemplation of the unknown variables of the situation that their crew now currently found themselves in. It seemed as though they possessed the worst of luck and at the most inopportune moments. Perhaps it would have been better to push onward into less volatile territory. Then again, would they even make it that far? There were too many things to consider. All that was certain was that if they did not take the risk of the risk and stop, their journey could be even more perilous. Such were the thoughts racing through his mind. He sighed running his hands through his unruly hair as he turned around a corner entering the common room of the aircraft. He was too tense.
Out of the twenty or so people on board, only one was present. Sannah. She sat alone on the corner by the window. Her knees were pulled up to her chest as she stared almost longingly out the thick glass. Her arms encircled her legs just below her knees keeping them in place. Her dress pooled around her, bathing her in the loose and airy fabric. Even from a distance, he could make out the faint tremble of her body and the bumps on her skin that revealed her sensitivity to the chilled temperature. He stepped towards her the stiff, frozen wood creaking beneath his feet. To his surprise, the young girl failed to notice or acknowledge his presence.
His eyebrows furrowed in concern. Though he did not know her well, it worried him to see her so disheartened. He wished he had made more of an effort to find time to speak with her since their departure. "Something troubling you?" He asked stopping his stride a couple of feet away.
She jumped slightly startled by the sound of his voice. She had been so preoccupied with her thoughts that she did not notice his appearance. The young girl tore her gaze from the window, a frown etched onto her face. Her sullen expression seemed uncharacteristic for the usually upbeat preteen. "I don't like being cooped up in here," She stated with a small huff. "I'm not used to being inside. I've always been out in the wilderness, you know." She added softly running her fingers through her hair. A small blush appeared across her cheeks. "I just miss it." There was a slight look of longing again. It spread across her face as she turned to gaze back out the window.
This confession made Van wonder if it was wrong for him to allow the young girl to accompany them. To take her away from her home land and into unfamiliar territory with complete strangers. Their quest was no minor feat and her safety could not be guaranteed. Still, she had appeared so excited about the prospect of adventure. Perhaps she had been dwelling too much on Mendelev's tales and grandeur. He watched the young girl curiously taking note of the quick shift in her expression. Instead of longing, concern was defined within the creases in her face. Somehow he sensed that her desire for the wilds of the forest were not the root of her problem. He would not voice it out loud, but her problems would serve as the perfect distraction for his wandering and torturous thoughts.
"What's wrong?" Van asked sitting down on the seat next to the girl. "You look stressed," He commented adopting a more casual stance.
Sannah frowned, "I haven't seen Aza for a while," She admitted biting her bottom lip. "He goes off, but he comes back. I haven't seen him since early this morning. He always comes up to the window to make sure I'm alright," was her explanation emphasizing always being the operative word.
He kept his face calm as a small alarm bell went off in his head. If Aza had disappeared, where could he have gotten to and what could possibly be preventing his return. He was careful to shielded his expression sheltering his concern from the girl in front of him. He reached out placing a hand on her knee. "I'm sure he's fine Sannah," He added more for his benefit than her. "A big dragon like Aza can handle himself."
The young girl sighed shaking her head, irritation shining in her ruby coloured eyes "You don't get it." She whined with slight annoyance. "It's not like him. I have a feeling that something bad happened to him," She confessed, her voice shaking slightly.
Van sighed inwardly sensing this discussion was going no where, "Listen," He began dropping his hand from her knee. "Don't dwell on it. You'll do nothing but make yourself go crazy," He stated following her gaze out the window. She made no reply casting a cold glare in his direction. It seemed as though she did not appreciate his intrusion and a tense silence fell over the two. Sensing her desire to be alone, he rose to take his leave. He did not wish to intrude on her solitude any longer.
He only made it a few steps before stopping, "You know I have been meaning to thank you," He began turning back around.
This seemed to catch her attention. She looked up at him, her eyes filled with curiosity. "For what?" She asked tucking a long strand of her hair behind her ear.
He chuckled halfheartedly as not to convey the idea of poking fun at her obliviousness. "Have you forgotten already?" He teased with a smile earning yet another annoyed glare from the preteen. "It's because of you that we acquired this ship and escaped Caladonna relatively unscathed. I wanted to thank you for that," He explained with true honesty. "I am truly grateful that we stumbled upon you."
She shrugged, "It was nothing. I like to help," She added with a small, though still sad smile. "How's your leg?" She asked after a brief pause.
As she mentioned it, the wound throbbed painfully. He had been trying his best to push it from his mind. He was using the ointment sparingly as the supply dwindled. The effects lasted for a much shorter period of time. He lifted his leg and moved in back and forth slowly to demonstrate before putting it back on the ground, "Stiff, but I do believe I will need more of those flowers soon. The cold is doing a number on it," He admitted without hesitation.
She nodded knowingly. "When we land I will go find some. Frost cap is more abundant in cold areas like this place," She mused forcing her fidgeting hands together by clasping them in her lap. "Sorry, I am restless," She apologized.
"Then I will not bother you," He remarked heading towards the door. "If Aza doesn't show up before we land, come and tell me alright?" He called over his shoulder not bothering to look back at the dark-haired girl.
She nodded though she knew he could not see the gesture. "Don't worry, I will," was her quickly reply.
With that said, Van stepped out of the room and back into the hallway. He was surprised to see Hitomi standing next to the door. He jumped slightly. He had not been expecting anyone to be lurking around in the shadows. Hitomi's cheeks reddened with embarrassment as she realized this fact a moment later. He nodded in acknowledgement before brushing past her and continuing down the hall.
She followed after him. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to startle you," She apologized tucking her hair behind her ears. "I just wanted some company and I heard you two talking," She stated falling into step beside him.
He nodded in understanding, "It's alright Hitomi," He assured her flicking his hair from his eyes. "You shouldn't eavesdrop though," He scolded her in a teasing fashion.
A smile spread across her face at his joking tone. "You are very sweet with her," She commented clasping her hands together in front of her as she managed to keep up with his steady pace. She hadn't noticed before, but he had grown a fair deal taller over the three, almost four, years since she had last been on Gaea. He stood a good five or six inches taller than herself.
He turned to look at her, "What do you mean?"
"You and Sannah," She began casting him a knowing glance. "The only other person I have seen you connect with like that is Merle," She commented recalling the way her lover had tried to comfort the young girl. Even though he had not been very successful, the fact that he tried was the more important matter.
"Is that so?" He asked raising an eyebrow at her statement. He had not noticed it before, but she was right. Since when had be grown so close to the young Draconian girl that he cared when she was unhappy? They had only known one another for a few days. How could a bond form so fast?
Hitomi watched his face, noting the thoughtful expression. She nodded, "Yes. You seem to care for her," was her added remark. She sensed that there was more to the story than either one of them knew. There was something more to the wild girl that was now under their care. Many possibilities began to swirl around in her mind, but she pushed them aside. Now was not the time to dwell on such thoughts.
He chuckled, "It seem so," he agreed stopping his stride. Blinking a couple of times he turned to face her. "Doesn't it seem odd? I mean, I barely know her and just after some apologies and a rather deep conversation, it's like we are old friends," He commented running a hand through his hair. "Perhaps it's our ancestral blood that somehow connects us."
She nodded, "Perhaps," she agreed with a small nod. "I think it's nice to see you connect with another person," She added a small smile appearing on her face. "You know, one a more personal level," She clarified when her statement was met with a look of confusion. "It's good to see that, through everything that has happened to you, you haven't forgotten how to open yourself up to someone new. A stranger to say the least. A lost little girl in need of real human companionship. I'm glad that this world hasn't turned you completely cold."
He stood silent for a few minutes as he turned the words over and over in his mind. His shifted his gaze, turning his eyes away from her, "You think I am cold?" He asked
"No," She exclaimed instantly pinpointing where her statement could have been taken the wrong way. That had not been her intention. She was merely trying to compliment him, and being her, of course she had to screw it up. "That is not what I meant," She continued her cheeks heating up indicating the blush that was sure to be returning to her cheeks. "All I meant was that you are very suspicious of strangers, with good reason. I just think that it's sweet how a little girl quickly wormed her way in and gained your affections," She explained gently squeezing his arm as a sign of her own affection towards him. "You've been through a lot, and so has she. It's good for both of you."
He nodded understanding her statement as well as her concern. She was right. She usually was. It was very foreign to have her here. How well she knew him. She knew him better than even he knew himself. She always seemed to know people very well. Easily gaining their trust and getting close to them, worming her way into their hearts as a good and loyal friend. It was one of the many, many things that he loved about her. Though sometimes, it was also very aggravating. She always did her best to see the good in people. Even when the good was extremely hard to find, almost non-existent. He had a hard time believing that good existed in everyone. Especially when the events perpetrated by them seemed so vile.
Hitomi tilted her head watching his expression as he failed to respond to her statement. "What's on your mind?" She asked letting her hand slide back down to rest at her side. "You seem a thousand miles away."
He blinked a couple times as her voice pulled her out of his own head and back into reality. He offered a small smile and rested his hands on her shoulders. "It's nothing," was his short reply. "We should be landing soon," He stated changing the subject entirely. "We should prepare."
She nodded stepping back causing his hands to fall from her shoulders. "That's probably a good idea," She agreed tucking her hair behind her ears. "Who knows what we will run into once we touch ground."
"Exactly. Best to be prepared."
With that said, he turned and continued down the hall heading towards the control room. Hitomi sighed deeply before turning and heading back to the room that she had been staying in. Their worries just seemed to keep piling up. She had a feeling that things could only get worse from here.
The airship shook as it connected with the ramp which locked it into port. The city of Clerya was much larger than they had originally thought. The grungy workers did not offer much in the way of conversation. Gaddes explained their predicament and they instantly went to work. About six or seven men piled aboard checking the engine and searching through the ship. They did not ask many questions which suited them just fine. During this process, their group left the men to their task and headed out into the frosty air.
It was freezing. Nearly ten times colder than it had been inside the aircraft, hundreds of feet in the air. Luckily, they had jackets and boots on board the aircraft and had managed to clothe everyone the best they could. Some of the clothing was much too large, but they made due. Sannah had been their biggest challenge. She had wanted nothing to do with the boots and even less with the large baggy jacket. After much complaining and arguing she complied and donned the jacket. The boots were way too large for her small feet so they settled on a pair of Hitomi's shoes. They were still too big, and very thin, but it was better than leaving them bare.
The city was roaring with activity. People were running about carrying their wares and setting up their shops for the day. Some held brooms and proceeded to sweep the snow from the walkways clearing paths to shop doors and providing a place to walk aside from the heavy snow. It seemed to be a morning ritual in the slight gloom that seemed to envelope the city. Children ran about chucking carefully compacted balls of snow at one another laughing gleefully as they moved about. The people were clothed in heavy coats and thick pelts. Much heavier clothing than their group were clothed in. Many men walked around with spears held tightly in their hands. It was obvious that these men were the port's guards. They paid their group little attention, though some did eye them with suspicion.
A loud ruckus seemed to hold the majority of the cities attention. Walking down the street it was easy to see that the source of the commotion was a rather large crowd that had gathered at the edge of the marketplace. Mostly men and children stood in rows hotting and hollering as well as bursting with amused laughter. Their rambunctious and boisterous behaviour filled the air with a strange type of excitement. It was obvious that something unusual was occurring to create such a reaction. Curiosity drew their group towards the crowds. It did not take long before the cause of the source of all the attention was discovered. It was a sight not easily missed.
Aza stood surrounded, a fair distance away from the rather rowdy crowd, by a large number of guards. Several stood armed, their spears aimed towards him acting as a warning. They had managed to restrain him with thick and heavy chains that weighed him down, keeping him grounded. A large steel muzzle was firmly clamped over his mouth with thick chains that held firm against the rapid shaking of his head. The muzzle eliminated the threat of his teeth and blocked the possibility of him spewing flames at his captors. He shook his body attempting to rid himself of the chains, but they held tight. He growled his body shaking with rage as he separately tried to free himself from the shackles.
Sannah eyes widened in panic at the sight and she rushed ahead. Hitomi reached out to grab her arm, but the girl was too quick. She pushed through the crowd that had gathered around the large blue dragon. "What are you doing!" She cried, nearly hysterically, slipping over the ice and falling. This did not seem to slow her down any. As soon as she was on the ground, she was back up again. "Let him go!" She demanded as approached them. None of her companion tried to stop her. She was determined.
"Get back young lady, this creature is very volatile," One of the guards stated as he walked towards her, placing a hand on her shoulder to keep her from getting any closer.
"Let me go!" She snarled shrugging his hand off of her. "He's harmless! He is of no danger to anyone!" She snapped attempting to brush past him.
The man grabbed her shoulder again, clamping down a bit harder. "I am afraid I cannot allow that." He told her sternly.
She scowled at him. It was obvious by her expression that she was not willing to listen to him. She took a small step back before ramming the palm of her hand into his nose. He cried out, staggering backwards in surprise. He had not been expecting retaliation from the young girl. She then slammed her elbow into his stomach with enough force to cause him to fall onto his back. Wasting no time, she continued forward towards her close friend. Other guards abandoned their posts and moved towards the girl intent on stopping her as well. Sannah noticed this and knew she was about be to cornered. Obeying her first instinct, she tossed her jacket aside and wasted no time in sprouting her wings and taking off into the air where they would not be able to reach her. This was met with gasps of both surprise, as well as fear from the crowd and guardsmen around her. She paid them no mind as she cut through the air at a much faster pace. It was mere moments before she landed roughly on her dragon friend's spiked back. Knowing that there was only a limited amount of time before someone intervened, she withdrew her wings and pulled at the thick chains trying to pull them up and away from the scales. They would not budge. The thick links were much too heavy for her.
"What is this?" One man laughed grabbing a hold of Sannah's ankle and roughly pulling her from Aza's back with minimal effort. She cried out in pain as he let go causing her to slam into the ground below knocking the air from her lungs. She gasped arching her back as pain shot up her spin while attempting to catch her breath. "A Draconian girl," He mused jumping from the dragon and landing on the ground beside her. He wore spiked shoes which explained how he was able to scale the dragons side. The spikes were perfect for catching the small grooves in between the creatures scales. He chuckled as Sannah scrambled to get away from him, breathing heavily from the exertion. He reached down grabbing a hold of her wrist pulling her towards him as he moved further away from the large reptilian creature. He dragged the small girl with him. A smirk graced his lips as he pulled a long and thick strip of leather from his belt. Despite her struggling, he managed to tie her wrists together with it quite quickly and with minimal difficulty. "Such an beautiful girl," He mused eying her as one would a fine piece of jewelry. "Perhaps you could be useful to someone. Yes, a pretty girl like you would catch a pretty penny on today's market," He smirked tugging her back once she turned to take off. Sannah cried out in pain as the leather straps pulled and dug into her skin. She lost her footing and slipped on the ice stumbling back onto her behind.
Aza growled glaring at the brutish man with fury. He shook his body harder banging his chin against the ground with such force that the ice cracked beneath him. The muzzle remained undamaged. He growled in frustration flapping his wings frantically in an effort to try and protect his young companion but to no avail. He only succeeded in lifting himself about three inches from the ground before the chains blocked his objective. He snarled in irritation and hopelessness. He could not protect his charge.
Van stepped forward, fury blazing in his eyes. The man's words did not go unnoticed and just added fuel to his anger. He had seen and heard enough. The man's intentions were clear and he could no longer standby idly by and just watch him manhandle the young girl. He paid no attention to the people he shoved as he made his way through the crowd to put a stop to the scene taking place before them, "Leave her alone," He snapped authoritatively, resting his hand on the hilt of his sword. "You sick bastard, she is just a girl." He snarled.
Before he could take another step, a spear was pointed at his throat. "Not another step," The guard snarled menacingly at him. "This is none of your business boy," He added coldly.
Van scowled but did not hesitate. He began to draw his sword, but a hand on his wrist stopped him. He turned his head to see that Hitomi had followed him. She shook her head in warning, 'Stop,' She mouthed to him her hand sliding from his wrist once the silent message was given. Van shook his head in response indicating that he was not going to listen to reason. With that, he drew his blade. The guard was surprised by this bold action and took a cautious step backward still retaining a firm grip on the spear. Van held the sword up so they could see the royal crest, "I am Van Fanel, King of Fanelia," He announced loudly ensuring that all in the general vicinity could hear him. "I demand that you relinquish your hold on my ward and release the dragon at once," He ordered firmly his eyes narrowing at the brute holding the young girl captive.
Before a proper response could be issued, they were interrupted by a sharp clapping sound. "My what a touching display of chivalry unexpected from the King of Fanelia," A male voice called from somewhere behind them.
He crowd parted as a brilliant white stallion trotted through the cleared path. An ornate and stylized black letter 'I' was painted upon it's forehead. Seated a top the horse was a young man. He looked to be in his early twenties. His hair was a long and light brown in colour. It was held back away from his face in a low ponytail. His brown eyes stared down at the young king with amusement. He was clothed in a thick grey pelt that looked as if it had belonged to a large wolf. His boot clad feet rested in the stirrups gently guiding the horse along. The smug and pompous expression resting upon his features did nothing to hinder his looks. He was extremely attractive. A 'pretty boy' for certain. The guards lowered their weapons and bowed at his arrival. He smirked at them nodding his head pulling back the reins to stop his horse. A golden signet rested on his left ring finger that held the same symbol that marked the horse's face.
Behind him, going at a much slower pace, was a woman. Her appearance was much different. Her horse was plain, black, unlike her companion's. Her skin was dark, a copper tone that was only emphasized by her long raven coloured hair. Her eyes were a very vivid shade of green. She too appeared to be rather young. She wore a fur pelt as well, only hers was completely white. A small fur hat encircled her head to retain her body heat. She held her head high with the same pompous air that her comrade did.
"Well, well, what do we have here?" The brunette man asked with a cocky smirk on his face. He gripped the horse's reins tightly as it shifted restlessly. The extravagance of his attire, the guards surrounding him, and the regal air that seemed to radiate from him indicated that he was a person of great importance. The man circled around their group his nose held high in a snobbish manner. "Looks like we have a group of fugitives on our hands gentlemen," He stated with an amused chuckle.
"Since when does the King of Fanelia have a ward," The woman added wrinkling her nose in distaste. Her voice was deep but smooth. If applied differently, it would prove to be rather soothing.
The man laughed turning his head to look a the woman, "Who knows Erunia. Maybe he keeps her locked up in a tower to keep the men away. I mean, Ivor is right. She would fetch a decent price," He added earning a laughs from the guards as well as his female counterpart. Van growled at the comment as anger began to course through him.
Galaxia stepped forward pushing people out of her way as she came to stand next to Van negating some of the attention away from him. She glared up at the man before them, "Isaac," She snarled through clenched teeth. The irritation evident in her expression as well as her stance did nothing but indicate her feelings towards the young man in front of them. She loathed him. That much was obvious.
The man gave her a curt nod of acknowledgement at her presence, "It is Prince Isaac to you Galaxia," He warned her with a stern look ensuring to place emphasis on his proper title. However, as quickly as it had arrived, the look vanished and the cocky smirk returned. "To what do I owe the pleasure of this visit?" He asked and raised a curious eyebrow as he followed her path. He studied their small group just beyond the crowd of commoners. The dark skinned woman behind him rolled her eyes adjusting her seated position on her own horse. Boredom filled her face.
Galaxia snorted crossing her arms over her chest, "You seemed to have a pretty good idea of that yourself, seeing as you brought your security detail with you," She retorted mimicking his arrogance.
He chuckled with amusement, "My security goes everywhere I go. Even to small ports barely outside of Mideen," He informed her sliding his fingers through his hair. "I assure you they are more for the protection of Princess Erunia than myself," He explained idly fiddling with the ring on his finger. Unexpectedly, he drew the sword at his side and pointed it towards Van, "Make one wrong move and I will not hesitate to remove your head from the rest of your body Fanelia," He stated coolly and without a moments hesitation. "You are in my lands now," He warned.
As he had been conversing with the golden haired woman, Van had turned his sword towards the prince as a show of defiance. "Though I mean no ill will," He began narrowing his eyes at the arrogant man perched upon the horse. "I do request that you show me some small amount of respect as both our positions demand," He replied sharply before reluctantly sheathing his sword without further statement. He had made his point.
Isaac scoffed, "Oh please, don't pull the title card on me," He spat keeping his sword pointed at the younger man. "Who is the fugitive here? Who broke their treaty with the high Queen and started a very unnecessary war? A war which all nations, including this one, will soon be dragged into."
Van's eyes narrowed and he clenched his fists at his side at the older man's goading. He was right, but it was obvious that the prince was trying to get underneath the his skin. Unfortunately It was working. "Isaac," Galaxia spoke up taking a step forward drawing the prince's attention once more. This situation was getting no where fast and it was painfully obvious that Van possessed very little tact when it came to negotiations. "Cousin," She added reaching into the front of her blouse to retrieve the amulet around her neck. "On behalf of the throne of Arathnia, I humbly beseech you to grant us audience with your king," She stated formally, holding the polished amulet up for him to see. "Would your grace be so kind as to escort us to Castle Stromgard."
He eyed the amulet silently noting it's significance. He knew the piece of royal jewelry well. It had once belonged to a good friend of his father's before it had been passed to the golden haired warrior. Entrusted to her as a sign of her rightful place, draped around her neck for all to see. Still, no one else in their party seemed aware of it's significance. Isaac did. However, he feigned indifference and scoffed, "Why would I waste father's precious time with the likes of you?" He asked his tone dismissive. He yawned expressing boredom of their conversation, "Or mine for that matter."
Galaxia growled in annoyance clenching her teeth tightly together to prevent the string of profanities threatening to spill from her lips at his apparent ignorance. She was losing her patience and his lack of decorum was most unfitting for a man of his status. She drew in a deep breath to help her remain calm. Van glanced at her before stepping forward of his own volition. He forced his anger and distaste for the man down before speaking. "With all do respect your majesty," He began addressing the lower ranked monarch with more respect than he deserved, "If you want our full cooperation I would suggest that you direct us to your king at once," He stated authoritatively kicking into king mode. "As one royal to another, I am sure the last thing you want is to deal with a disagreement between our nations, especially at a time such as this," He remarked casting his eyes around the group of guards that had taken up positions around them. "If you do as we ask, I will turn myself over to your charge and you may do with me as you will. Be it turn me over to Arathnia or cast me out to brave the tundra."
Isaac rolled his eyes at his dramatics, "Ugh, politics," He ground running his fingers through his hair. "Such matters bore me," He commented waving his hand dismissively. "Very well," He added with another yawn. "For the purpose of my own amusement, I shall entertain your request though my father may not be as welcoming," He said sliding his sword back into it's sheath. He snorted turning his horse around and gesturing for his guards to circle around them. "Follow me. It would be wise for us to leave immediately. We do not want to be stuck out here over night," He stated more to his companions than the group of fugitives that now joined their escort.
With only a few short orders, they were off towards Mideen, the Capitol of Basram.
"They have landed in Basram your majesty," Arathnia's fourth General,Virgil Heideggar, stated from his bowed position in front of his Queen's grand throne. "I have just received word from Prince Isaac that they landed sometime in the late morning. Galaxia is with them." He added flatly.
"So she survived," She stated with faint amusement. The Queen gestured for the General to stand. "That does not surprise me," She stated rising to her feet. "If that girl is anything, she is resourceful. However, if I had not cast her out, she never would have left voluntarily," She stated walking towards the marble steps at the edge of the platform where her throne resided.
"With all do respect your highness," Virgil began bowing his head respectively, "You told us that Galaxia posed a threat to our cause. How is that possible when you held her in such regard? If she was so loyal to the throne that you promoted her so quickly, how could she be considered a threat?" He asked taking a step back from the staircase.
To his surprise, the Queen chuckled. An look of complete amusement stretched across her face as she stared down at her subjects. "Foolish Virgil," She began shaking her head. "It was the throne she was loyal to, not to me. That is where the problem began," She continued on with a small pause. "It was only a matter of time before Galaxia's loyalty to Strategos or Astra grew stronger than her loyalty to myself. I did what was necessary to prevent the destruction of our master plan," She expounded crossing her thin arms over her chest. Her stance and expression did nothing but project annoyance towards the man below her. "Do not question my motives again Virgil. I know what is best. Besides, her presence was becoming more of a hindrance than an asset."
Virgil nodded curtly in response sensing the boundaries in which he need not cross or face the Queen's wrath. "I apologize for my ignorance," He forced out holding his tongue to keep himself silent.
"What is your plan of action highness?" Her third General, Sersi, asked stepping forward to command the floor.
Before the Queen could respond, Lorelei stepped forward and dropped to her knees in a overly gracious bow. "I will depart to Mideen immediately. I will deliver the Fanelian envoy and that traitor Galaxia personally your majesty," She announced coolly. "You have my word."
"No!" Queen Brahne's voice echoed throughout the throne room making the four General's jump in surprise. She cleared her throat as she returned to her seat, "They are on high alert," She began calmly settling down into a sitting position. "Let them go. Let them feel as though we have given up. That they are safe," A sinister smile spread across her face as the words slipped past her lips. "When their guard is down, we will strike," She announced slamming her fist down on the arm of her chair for emphasis. She chuckled darkly at the mere thought of her clever ploy, "They will not see it coming." Her confidence was apparent. "Then we shall be victorious."
Lorelei's jaw dropped in slight surprise, but she quickly recovered. "But...but your majesty..."
"Silence!" Brahne slamming her fist down again effectively cutting her off. Her eyes darkened as she glared down at the warrior under her command. "Do no try my patience Lorelei," She seethed rising to her feet once more. "Your impulsive actions and radical thinking are proving to be most taxing," She hissed pressing her fingertips together in front of her as she slowly inched her way down the pristine steps. "Perhaps I should have promoted another one of my knights to General instead," She concluded with the hint of a threat lacing itself with her words.
Lorelei reacted immediately. She dropped her head resting her hands on the ground in the fullest form of submission. "Forgive me your radiance," She breathed keeping her head down. Her long red hair hung around her face like a curtain, sheltering her face from the Queen's intense stare. "I am your humble servant. I swear I will not fail you again."
Brahne rolled her eyes in slight annoyance before nodding, "Of course," She said gesturing for the younger woman to rise to her feet. She did so with no further provocation. "Your loyalty is certainly appreciated, but do not disappoint me again. If you do, you will pay with your life. I will not tolerate insolence amongst my ranks," She warned crossing her arms over her chest.
The General nodded disregarding the snickers from the two other women behind her. "Of course my Queen."
Queen Brahne nodded, "Now leave me be, I need to think," She barked waving her hand dismissively at the Generals. "I must be left alone."
The four Generals did not need to be told twice. With no further encouragement, they marched from the room leaving the dark haired queen alone in the cold silence of the marble throne room. Once they had departed she ascended the steps once more. She always had a problem sitting still when she felt the adrenaline pumping through her veins. A satisfied smirk etched itself upon her features. Everything seemed to be going as well as she had hoped. It was only a matter of time before Fanelia was firmly in her grasp. Still, there was unfinished business that needed to be tended to.
"I must see what this union between the girl and the Fanelian King yields," Brahne stated to herself as she reached back and pressed a small stone button on the back of her throne. The room rumbled as a small door opened up between the stone seats. She turned her heel and began to descend the staircase leading into the dark hole. "I must know if my plan is proceeding forward as I had envisioned," She added speaking to no one but herself as she disappeared. The trap door closed behind her leaving the throne room barren as if she had never been present.
AN: Again, I apologize for the super long wait. A month is a really long time to wait. I didn't mean for it to take so long. This will hopefully put me back on track with my regular update schedule. Thank you so much for your patience and cross your fingers for me. Read and Review. Reviews make me smile and work much harder.
Next: The Warrior King.