Chapter 17: Daughter of Hadraix
Fastion stood in-between the Queen and Mornhavon doing his duty as a Weapon, it was his job to defend his Queen and yet he felt like he should be standing protecting Karigan instead. She stood there frozen by some unearthly force the huge hulking body of his brother-in-arms bearing down on her. It took everything he had to not abandon his post.
His muscles tensed as the man that was currently Mornhavon leant in and kissed Karigan on the cheek. Your duty is to your Queen, he reminded himself; you are not a traitor, Karigan can handle herself. Despite himself he wanted to go to her aid not just because she was his sister-in-arms but because she was also his friend. He knew moving from his post could mean Saverill's fate but her could not just stand still and watch a friend stand against Mornhavon the Black alone.
He noticed the determination on the King's face and realised that he was not the only one that felt the need to act. I must move before the King does so he does not get killed, he justified his decision to himself. I must protect them both. Confident in his decision Fastion stepped towards the Weapon bearing down on Karigan his sword drawn. As he moved forward he noticed the others in black moving towards the enemy as well, out of the corner on his eye he noticed Willis and Donal move in behind him protecting the Queen.
Mornhavon was now holding Karigan's hand as if it was a great prize; the face of the Green Rider was full of anger and determination. Her hand twitched towards the Bonewood staff that was tucked in to her belt. Fastion realised that she must be fighting the compulsion that had been put on her.
Mornhavon seemed to flinch back in surprise as Karigan broke free and drew the staff in one sleek movement. She is a strong lass, he thought proudly, she is defiantly one of us. As if empowered by Karigan's defiance the Green Riders began to move forwards to join the weapons surrounding Mornhavon. They had him surrounded with Karigan in the centre her long hair gleaming in the sunlight filtering through the long windows, her face set as she held the staff out in front of her.
"Distant daughter of my dearest Hadraix, your pure Arcosian blood has been much diluted by the savages of this land, yet I would still claim you as a niece in memory of the man who was as a brother to me." He smiled coldly down a Karigan, "You who are the rightful heir to Hadraix's lands would do well to stand aside."
Once more the sound of Mornhavon's voice coming from a brother-in-arms sent shivers down his spine. He held the hilt of his sword tighter and noticed many around him doing the same. He did not care about her heritage nor would his fellow Weapons, she was a sister-in-arms they would protect their own no matter what. Not all of us are from privileged backgrounds, he sighed he had spent long enough in the castle to know who would care, the Lord Governors' would want her suspended from service, many normal folk have murderers in their families and get along just fine.
"She is still our Sister-in-arms." He heard Donal murmur from behind him.
Karigan seemed to stand taller, her stance very similar to a swords master where even in a relaxed position she looked like she could be deadly. He put the change down to pure spunk and Drents constant pounding on the training fields. There was no doubt she was the same person that he had saved in Amilton's coup years ago yet now her skins had been honed from raw skill in to something as deadly as any Black Shield.
"I am Galadheon."
He smiled at the pride in her voice as she announced her name no doubt it was some sort of defiant act, he wished he understood what it actually meant though. Fastion had a keen love of history, maybe when this was all over he could sit Karigan down and perhaps ask her about her strange heritage.
He watched Mornhavon intently as the possessed Weapon looked around as if noticing the circle of armed swords masters surrounding him for the first time. The brief look passing over him sent chills down Fastion's spine, like many Black Shields he had a deep mistrust of magic. Yet sentience did not try to harm any of the small army surrounding it and instead turned back to Karigan.
"You may have been born Galadheon girl, but you will be mine." Mornhavon growled.
The Mornhavon possessed Weapon stepped forward towards Karigan and for a moment Fastion though he was going to hit her, instead Mornhavon pointed at her in a long sweeping motion. He could have sworn he had seen an elusive Green Rider badge shine momentarily before her miraculously neat formal uniform transformed in to a bizarre looking dress. The sleeves flared out at the shoulders giving the Knight a rather more feminine look than usual however despite the change in outfit she still looked ready to kill.
Despite the fact she had paled a little at the change this girl truly was meant to be one of their order. He did no doubt that thanks to Drents relentless training she could probably hold off most fully armed men even if her attire was unconventional. He hid smile at the thought of Karigan battering down Mornhavon with her Bonewood staff while being forced to wear a dress.
Suddenly without warning Karigan and the Weapon simultaneously collapsed. The ring of Weapons and assorted military broke, the Green Riders running to Karigan's side. Fastion noted that Zachary had caught her, he nodded to himself, she is in good hands.
Nodding to Willis who had control of the situation Fastion went about his duty, they would have to remove everyone from the throne room in order to fully assess the situation. The wedding would have to be put on hold for the moment, if they were lucky it might be ready to begin again by night fall. Fastion sighed and accompanied Estora from the hall.
"Distant daughter of my dearest Hadraix, your pure Arcosian blood has been much diluted by the savages of this land, yet I would still claim you as a niece in memory of the man who was as a brother to me." He smiled coldly down a Karigan, "You who are the rightful heir to Hadraix's lands would do well to stand aside."
Zachary was in shock. Karigan... His Karigan was descended from Mornhavon the Blacks right-hand man. He watched for her reaction to the news but it did not seem to bother her, in fact the only change was that she seemed to grip her staff tighter. Perhaps she already knew, he mused. I do not blame her for keeping something like that a secret, despite her forefather's service to Sacoridia people would not look well on her as descendant of the Arcosian Empire with such access to their King.
He noticed that for the first time since Mornhavon had showed himself a soft murmuring had started from where the Lord Governors and their families sat. Although it was quickly cut short by a burning stare from Laren Mapstone who was standing with her Riders helping to try and surround his Karigan and Mornhavon.
He watched as the woman he loved stood straighter, almost blocking the Weapon that was also Mornhavon from his view. Zachary would have loved to see what she looked like fully, he smiled slightly as he imagined her full of fire and passion staring back at her enemy. My wild spirit, he thought trying not to smile openly, no one will ever be able to tame her.
"I am Galadheon" She announced.
Zachary did not know how this statement was significant but the passion in her voice made him want to embrace her. He fiercely wanted to defend this fiery young woman who stood before him acting like a Black Shield instead of the Rider she was. Yet he hoped it was not only for her duty to Sacoridia she stood there, part of him hoped it was for him as a man she defended him.
He looked over Karigan's shoulder to see anger flicker across the face of the Weapon. Whatever the meaning behind Karigan's declaration of her name it clearly had managed to get the desired effect on Mornhavon.
"You may have been born Galadheon girl, but you will be mine." Mornhavon growled.
Before his eyes Karigan's uniform turn in to a finely made dress of deep green. Although the style was unfamiliar to him he could not help but admire how much it suited her. He was pulled from his thoughts by something knocking in to him. He frowned until he realised it was Karigan.
Despite the danger of Mornhavon he relished their closeness in that moment. They were so close he could feel the warmth radiating from her body, and yet she held her staff much tighter her gaze still fixed on the possessed Weapon.
Oh how I wish I could protect you. He sighed. Yet it is your duty to your country to defend me... Is it your duty to your heart I wonder?
Karigan let out a small gasp and he caught her in surprise as she collapsed in to his arms. He held her closer than he should have but he did not care, he looked across to the Weapon Mornhavon had possessed, he too had collapsed.
Willis checked the Weapons pulse and looked pointedly at two Weapons in the circle hiding Karigan from the view of the wedding guests. The Weapons came forwards and collected the body of their comrade silently with their heads bowed; others took their places no doubt pretending to protect their King as the Weapons around the sides of the hall emptied the grand room of wedding guests. Zachary sat oblivious to all but the woman lying in his arms.
Karigan stood frozen. She could feel the wild magic emanating from Mornhavon, wrapping itself around her making her unable to move. She had to do something, I must protect the King, she told herself, I cannot let him get hurt. She knew Estora was in the safe hands of Fastion, the Queen would not be harmed.
Anger boiled inside her as the body of the Weapon reached for her hand. She was no one's possession. She would not be treated as some prize not even by Mornhavon. She felt the magic around her weakening as if it could feel the fury directed to the source of it. She tried to move her fingers, testing if the magic had abated enough for her to move. With satisfaction Karigan flexed her hand in a small movement that she hoped her enemy would overlook.
Her mind raced with the possibilities of how she could get Mornhavon away from the King and Sacoridian's. She shivered at the thought of the White World but it seemed like it was the only way she could possibly move both of them far enough away so that no one she cared about would come to any real harm.
Out of the corner of her eye she saw Fastion begin to move forward, taking it as her cue she drew her Bonewood staff from her belt and held it in an offensive stance before her. She did not anticipate what happened next, Mornhavon seemed to shrink back from the staff for a split second dropping her hand in the process, surprise momentarily crossed his features before he straightened up again.
She met the Weapons eyes as his possessed body moved towards her once more. This time she was ready for him. Mornhavon's borrowed flesh body met with her staff as he tried to reach for her again but this time he was pushed backwards. She knew he was playing with her but the more time she could keep his attention meant the more time she had to formulate a plan.
She saw Fastion jump as the Weapon laughed the cold harsh laugh of Mornhavon. It reverberated around her head making her hairs stand on end. She shook herself and forced herself to meet his gaze. I will not give up, she told herself.
"Distant daughter of my dearest Hadraix, your pure Arcosian blood has been much diluted by the savages of this land, yet I would still claim you as a niece in memory of the man who was as a brother to me." He smiled coldly at her, "You who are the rightful heir to Hadraix's lands would do well to stand aside."
She shivered as he laid her heritage bare for all Sacoridian's to hear. She did not want to be known for her ancestor's connection to Mornhavon it was something she believed that was best left forgotten. A slight murmuring came from the nobles at his words but silence soon reigned in the grand hall.
"I am Galadheon." She heard herself say.
All around them stood the people she knew and loved in the city. The Weapons and Green Riders stood fully armed no doubt ready to act if something should happen to her, yet they seemed to sense that at least at the moment this was her own fight. Mornhavon seemed to notice their presence and but it did not seem to bother him, perhaps he knows we are not ready for him. He sneered at her.
"You may have been born Galadheon girl, but you will be mine." Mornhavon growled.
She watched with horror as her uniform dissolved, in its place she wore a deep green dress in the style she had seen the fine ladies in the court of the Arcosian Empire in her dream of Hadraix and Mornhavon as young boys. Realisation dawned on her; he was not here for the King or to topple Sacoridia, yet. Mornhavon was here for her, the descendant of his beloved Hadraix. He did not want to kill her, he wanted to make her his.
Mornhavon moved towards her again. She involuntary took a step backwards accidentally knocking in to the King. A slight blush colouring her cheeks she gripped her staff tighter ready to fight. She stood ready for any attack Mornhavon might use of her by via magic and by manoeuvring the Weapon. She shivered as the Weapon came within range of her. What if I kill the Weapon, she thought, Yates face seemed to hover in front of her. She could not bring herself to strike out at the innocent man who had the misfortune of being possessed by the evil spirit.
Yates, she thought sorrowfully, I cannot avenge you without harming another.
She felt the presence of Mornhavon waver. She fell back in to Zachary's arms as the Weapon collapsed unmoving on to the stone floor. Yet for a moment the face of Alessandros the boy who had tried to save his toy ship from being damaged by the fountain seemed to hover in front of her. As her strength left her she heard his voice speak to her alone.
"Come to the D'Yer Wall Betrayer Princess. Then you will join me or die."