Katiya Damodred's Untitled Opus

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Katiya Damodred

Initiate

Posts: 9

(12/4/01 3:45:57 pm)

Reply Katiya Damodred's Untitled Opus

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The carriage door opened and the Lady poked her head out, looking around. She grimaced as freezing rain patted against her bare face; she hated rain. A thick blanket of clouds, obscured by night’s shadows, hid the stars that should have shone. Street lamps that had been lit for hours flickered fitfully in the icy autumn wind.

Sighing resignedly, she stepped down, drawing up the hood of the fur-lined cloak even as it fell about her thin shoulders. Her bodyguards (only two, she didn’t dare presume any more than that), moved in to flank her. They both wore plain gray cloaks embroidered with a crimson charging bull on the left breast. Their swords clanked mutedly against their legs as they walked.

The Lady paused at the foot of the steps, to gather herself. She smoothed the burgundy silk underneath the cloak and composed her face to regal smoothness. Then, just as if she were in her own palace, she ascended the stairs.

Heavily carved golden doors, doors she had always found a trifle gaudy, swung inward silently as she approached. The two bodyguards didn’t bat an eye, but the Lady arched a skeptical brow. Those doors opening apparently by themselves just as she walked up made two things very plain, at least to her. One was that, somehow, Edora knew her every move, even now. The other was that the always-levelheaded ruler of Tanera had acquired some flare for the dramatic. She filed it away in her mind.

A servant in green and gold livery met her in the main entry hall as soon as she walked through the door. Without a word, the man bowed, then turned and led her silently to the throne room.

The guards stopped three paces form the throne, but the Lady herself didn’t stop until she was at the foot of the dais. She spread her skirts wide, but kept the curtsy shallow, a bare bending of her knee.

“Edora,” she said respectfully, if not quite formally.

“Aleina,” the other monarch returned just as respectfully. The Lady, Aleina, thought she detected a hint of frostiness in that greeting, a thing she didn’t remember.

Even at night and with Aleina’s unexpected arrival, Edora, Queen of Tanera, was the picture of grace and serenity. She was clothed in a gown of green velvet, with golden scrollwork up the sleeves and across the bodice. The crown of golden morning drops, centered with the green-banded heron of Tanera, nestled on her mass of dark curls.

That surprised Aleina. The crown was only worn on ceremonial or extremely formal occasions. She hardly considered arriving in the dead of night, cloak dripping with rainwater, formal, even if it was a meeting of two queens. The only conclusion she could draw was that Edora was trying to make her see who the real queen was here, that she had power. Overall, Aleina was not impressed.

“Hedrick,” Edora said to the servant kneeling beside the dais. He rose, looked at her expectantly. “Take Her Majesty’s cloak.”

Aleina calmly swung the dripping thing from her shoulders, using the motion to mask her irritation. She had noted that faint mocking tone in the other woman’s voice when she had ‘Her Majesty’. She handed the cloak to the man graciously, almost ostentatiously so. Upon receiving his burden, he bowed his way out of the throne room.

Edora critically eyed the young queen of Somel up and down, taking in her burgundy dress, suitably high-necked and made of silk. She noted the absence of scrollwork, noticed the only decoration the dress seemed to have was a bit of gray embroidery around the neckline. The woman’s fine dark red hair was left to hang loosely about her shoulders, pulled back from her face by means of a wide burgundy strip of cloth.

Aleina did not flinch beneath that cold, considering blue-eyed gaze. She took the scrutiny, staring the elder woman down with eyes of green ice. Her hands remained at her sides, completely motionless. Behind her, she heard the soft hiss of steel against leather, as if one of the guards had loosened his sword in his scabbard. With iron self-control, she managed to not tighten her mouth in vexation. She kept her face smooth, impassive and cool as a frozen pond.

Finally, Edora spoke.

“What brings you here in the dead of night?” There was a faint pause at the end, an unspoken ‘child’ ringing in the air.

Was everyone trying to get under her skin tonight? “You told me to come as soon as I could, regardless of the hour. I regret that it is so late, but I left as soon as I received your summons, and you know it takes several days to reach the border of Tanera from the Saretheon Palace.”

A momentary pause, then,

“Of course.”

Aleina nodded, carefully not showing anything on her face. The woman was trying to gain an advantage, trying to put Aleina off balance with her considering stares and weighing questions. And then there was the feel of mother to child, a child playing at being adult. Aleina would not, could not, let it get to her. One could never see, think, or move clearly if one’s emotions were all in a jumble. She kept a tight lid on her emotions; politics came first.

“I sensed your summons were of great importance, Edora.”

“More than you could possibly understand.” Another pause. “Our countries have always been allies.”

“Of course,” Aleina replied, seemingly not at all surprised by this sudden change of topic. ‘Our countries’, not ‘we’. So Edora wasn’t ready to see Aleina as an equal, didn’t fully trust her. It was a small comfort, one she should take no pleasure in, should simply use it. She felt a little guilt that it gave her a warm glow inside. It was always inside, never any outward emotion. Edora was watching.

“Tanera and Somel, working together, always helping on another in time of need.”

“IT has always been so.” Aleina made the appropriate responses, made her mouth move while she tried to see where the elder woman was going with this. She must want some favor, else she wouldn’t have spoken of helping. Edora may have had the years and experience, but politics had been bred into Aleina practically from birth. She knew how to see past deceptions, flowery speeches, and empty promises. She could run circles around other rulers, and Edora was no different.

“Yes, it certainly has. There has never been a need to question that alliance- even in the midst of the great Dragon War, when all other countries abandoned their ties to one another for self-preservation, we stayed together, and came out virtually unscathed.” Here she looked over at Aleina, seeing if she had missed that small insult, that small hint. Aleina remained expressionless.

Of course she hadn’t missed it.

I won’t rise to the bait, she thought savagely.

Abruptly, Edora switched topic.

“Something has come to my attention recently. An object, obviously of great power, has been discovered deep in the Caves of Desna. The miners there came across it while digging for more iron. It appears to be a word, but a sword of molten fire.” She shook her head, undoubtedly wondering how such a thing was possible. She went on, studying Aleina’s face carefully. “Many propose that this is the legendary sword of Hamnan.”

Without missing a beat, Aleina said coolly

“Legend says the sword is silver.”

“Much can change in the course of three thousand years. Legend also says Hamnan decided to unmake the sword, fearing it to be too powerful an object to be left lying about. In case it should fall into the wrong hands, he cast it into the mouth of a great volcano, and there was a great flash of light. He returned to his kingdom then, believing the sword destroyed.”

“You believe differently?”

Edora leaned forward on the throne, deliberately ignoring the question.

“Shortly after that, the Shattering. Nations destroyed, continents appearing and disappearing, the seas rising and falling. In one last attempt at victory, the evil dragons, together with the Dark Mystics, called down the Power of Heaven to shatter the earth. Of course, all was destroyed, including their strong armies.

“I know the legend, Edora,” Aleina said calmly. “What does this have to do with the sword?”

“Just this. The volcano erupted, spilling lava across the land. Then it collapsed in on itself, flattened out into a low mountain. Others rose beside it and created the Desnian Chain. The lava hollowed out the ground beneath, creating those caves we know as the Caves of Desna.” Her voice was low and intense. “Isn’t it possible that the sword was not destroyed, merely returned to its original state? And it went with the lava, coming to rest in the newly formed caves?”

Aleina pretended to consider. It was nonsense of course, but if Edora believed it…perhaps there was something to be gained here.

“I suppose it’s possible,” he said carefully. “But, forgive me, how is this relevant?”

Edora sniffed haughtily, straightening in the same motion. “Can’t you see the benefits the appearance of an object of legend would bring?”

Strike now!

“Benefits for whom, Edora?” Aleina asked coolly. “Yourself, your country?”

Edora’s beautiful face, normally a golden color, turned a delightful shade of plum. Her sapphire-blue eyes caught flame and burned. Aleina suppressed a giggle. The older, more experience ruler had made a crucial mistake, had given was to anger and lost her composure.

With visible effort, she regained control of herself, but her eyes still smoldered.

“Benefits for everyone, Aleina. It could even restore order to Somel, if such a thing is possible.”

It was Edora’s return blow, hitting Aleina full in the stomach. She was, of course, referring to the chaos in Somel, ripped by civil war. Two opposing factions were at the root, one wanting a nation of independent city-states, overseen by a king or queen, the other wanting the king or queen to rule over every city, town, and village within the Somelian borders. Brigands had taken advantage of the chaos, looting and burning everywhere they roamed. Her country was near anarchy, she herself gaining the throne when the old king was murdered. She hung onto the Throne of Waves, quite literally, by her fingernails.

What would she give to have her country back in order, to have the throne even remotely secure? Would she stay and listen to whatever hair-brained scheme Edora could cook up? The safety and preservation of Somel came first; whatever it took, she would look out for herself first, her country second, and nothing else mattered.

“What are you proposing? Will you go after this sword?” she asked.

Edora narrowed her eyes, chewed her bottom lip. She simply sat there, the silence stretching. Finally, she stood up, briskly clapping her hands.

“These are things to be discussed in the morning. I took the liberty of having rooms prepared for you and your men. Hedrick will show you to them. We will talk more with the sunrise.” The audience was over.

This time, Aleina did not curtsy. She simply nodded to show her understanding, and then quite deliberately turned her back on the Queen of Tanera. She glided away, the guards turning with her as she passed between them.

 

Edora watched the girl go, a child pretending to be queen. Any child needed a firm hand, a mother to guide her, to reprimand her when she misbehaved. Edora planned to be that mother, take advantage of her close relationship with the girl to control her, take the petulant child in hand and discipline her. She would rule two kingdoms, one openly and one through her “daughter”.

“A child,” she said quietly, firmly.

“But a dangerous child, I think,” said her companion.

Edora shifted on the throne as the man came out from his hiding place, the shadows of the grand columns that lined the throne room. He didn’t look like the sort of man who would lurk in shadows, and his appearance continually surprised the queen, though she had known him for years uncountable.

He was a tall man, well built, with shoulders as wide as any blacksmith’s and rippling muscles, despite his wavy black hair had become increasingly silver-streaked over the years. He had a strong jaw line, a hooked beak of a nose, and sharp, calculating gray eyes. Most women found him attractive, and not just for his looks; he was also very rich. Edora sometimes wondered why she had never considered him as a possible husband.

“Dangerous?” she sniffed. “She’s a girl who doesn’t know what she’s doing.”

He laughed, a deep, throaty laugh that matched his voice. “You’re a fool, Edora, especially if you think you can control her that easily.”

She smiled wryly. He always managed to do something to remind her exactly why he wasn’t her husband, other than the simple reason that it wouldn’t be politically sound.

“Oh?”

“Anyone can see which of you is more skilled at the Game,” he said dryly. He was referring to politics, or course, sometimes referred to as the Game, because that was how nobles saw it. It was a dangerous game to play, maneuvering people as pieces on a board, trying to outguess and outplay the other person.

“She was taught to weasel from birth,” Edora said defensively. She winced when she heard her whiny tone. Whiny? Queens were never whiny!

“It doesn’t matter,” he said, waving a hand as if to brush away unimportance. “She can outplay you, or anyone, for that matter, and that makes her dangerous.”

“Even you?”

He narrowed his eyes, a wolfish smile framed by imposing black moustaches playing on his lips.

“Perhaps.”

“Do you think she’ll take me up on my offer?” she asked.

He frowned, absently thumbing a large ring on his right hand.

“It’s hard to be sure. She has the skill, but lacks the experience to put it to any real use. Do you know how to get a child to do what you want?”

Edora blinked, wondering where that had come from. Taking her silence to mean no, he went on.

“You can’t force them to do something, because they dig their heels in and sullenly refuse. You can’t yell at them because they become hurt and nurse a grudge against you. What you must do is offer them something they want, then persuade them to do you a favor in exchange for that precious thing.”

“And you’re saying this is how we’ll use Aleina? What would we offer her?”

He smiled again, a feral smile that made Edora unconsciously sink back into her throne.

“You truly are a fool, Edora. Listen to my plan.”

She did, leaning forward as he explained it. By the time he left by means of a secret passage, she was feeling much better about the girl. Much better indeed.

 

(This is what I had on my application, so it's nothing new.)

Consolidated for ease and excellence in reading by your friendly neighborhood Eldership.

 

Edited by: peredhil31 at: 12/5/01 3:17:22 pm

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Jechum

LoreMaster

Posts: 169

(12/4/01 11:26:01 pm)

Reply Installment Two by Katiya Damodred

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Inatallment Two

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Aleina swept down the hall, her eyes focused on the air above Hedrick the servant. He led her and her escort through several long, carpeted hallways and up a flight of stairs, stopping before two large doors made of redwood.

“Here is your room, Your Majesty,” he said, indicating the doors. “The rooms for your men are there, across the hall. Food will be brought to you?” The last was asked, in case she shouldn’t want it.

“No, Hedrick, I’m not hungry, thank you. I assume I will be breakfasting with Queen Edora in the morning?”

The man shrugged apologetically. “Her Majesty has not left me orders concerning that, Highness. I wouldn’t know.”

“Very well. If she does not extend the invitation, could you have my breakfast brought to me in my room?”

“Of course, Your Majesty.”

“Thank you, Hedrick. My compliments to you and the rest of the staff.”

He bowed. “Yes, Your Majesty.” He padded off down the hall, moving quickly and quietly as only a servant can.

She turned to the guards. One fingered his sword, looking at her expectantly. The other remained as expressionless as a stone.

“You have been a great help to me tonight, gentlemen. I thank you for it. You can go to your room, Thoraf, but I would like to speak with Maeus for a moment.” Both men bowed, fist over heart, then one marched off to his room. Guards always marched. The other, the expressionless one, followed her as she entered her apartment.

Edora had gone to some length to decorate the room in Somelian colors. The carpet was red, and covered in the pattern called Taneran snowflakes (a maze of interconnecting circles) in gray and gold. The bed had a red comforter draped across it, and the curtains were gauzy lace, dyed red. The chest, washstand, bedside stand, wardrobe, and two chairs were all of redwood, like the doors. A lamp burning on the bedside stand made the room seem to glow.

“Sit,” she commanded. He obeyed, his face reminding her of a stone. She herself sat in the other wooden chair, ignoring the plush red one by the wardrobe. “Maeus, what did you think of Edora tonight?”

Maeus seemed to explode, his face turning as red as the rest of the room.

“Gods, Aleina, can’t you see what the woman is trying to do? She’s going to get you to go after that bloody sword or whatever it really is, and use you to give her power! She thinks she can control you because you’re young and inexperienced. By the Light of Hamnan, you should be figuring a way to end this talk without offending her and get back to Somel as quickly as you can!”

Aleina bore the torrent without comment, waiting until he blew himself out. When he was finished, she nodded.

“I saw as much myself,” she said calmly.

“Then why are you staying? You shouldn’t let her even think she has you, it gives her the upper hand….”

“You’re wrong, Maeus,” Aleina said firmly, cutting him off. “It gives her a sense of false confidence. Let her think she can lead the bull around by the nose, and she becomes convinced the bull is tame. And then, when she isn’t looking, it bites.” She smiled to herself; it was an appropriate analogy.

Maeus looked doubtful. “I still think there’s something we’re missing,” he said stubbornly.

Aleina laughed. “Don’t worry, Maeus. Edora is a woman who refuses to see change, who can’t understand that a woman who has barely seen twenty-four years can lead a country as well as she who has seen fifty or however old she is. We’ll deal with her, I promise.” She smiled fondly at her childhood friend.

Before she ascended the throne she had been a noble of high rank, the upper class of the upper class, her father being a close friend of Simone, the King of Somel then. When the civil war broke out, all the Houses turned against one another. Well, almost all. A few remained tied together, those houses that were so closely related by marriage and age-old friendship that nothing short of another Shattering of the world would break them. House Narashin and House Bavonine were two such.

Aleina of House Narashin had always been a good friend of Maeus of House Bavonine, the son of the head of the house, Lord Markus Bavonine. When Simone was murdered, along with several high-ranking lords of powerful houses, Aleina’s and Maeus’s fathers among them, Aleina ascended the throne. It was not without a long, hard struggle, certainly, but with Maeus’s help and council, she managed. Maeus vowed to follow her, no matter what, even if it meant losing rank in his house. She had given him the position of Captain of the Guard, taking out two birds with one stone. She had Maeus there, to guide her and help her and back her up, and someone she could completely trust held the important position of Captain of the Guard. She took him with her everywhere, and valued his council more than that of her whole staff of advisors.

“Not that there’s much ruling going on in Somel right now,” he muttered to the carpet.

Aleina frowned. How that galled, to be ruling half-heartedly over a broken kingdom! She simply had to find a way to settle this war! City-states were uncalled for, they bred rebellion and disagreement, and though they talked of having a ruler to oversee them, it was just talk. Every country that had been made up of city-states had eventually fallen, long before others ruled by monarchs. She knew this, if she could only find a way to make them see it! She had to reunite her country.

If what Edora talked about WAS the Sword of Hamnan…but she would not think about that.

“Enough of dismal talk. I suppose we’d both better get some rest, Maeus, it’s late. I suppose I’ll see you in the morning?”

“Thoraf and I will take turns guarding your door,” he said flatly. “Since I’m here, I’ll take first watch.” He rose and bowed, his warm brown eyes never leaving her face. She smiled.

“Of course.”

“Sleep well, my Queen,” he said softly, then turned on his heel and walked out.

Aleina stood staring after him for a long time. She had contemplated about him loving her often enough, and each time had discarded it. They had known each other for years and he had never said anything about it. And yet there were times when the things he said, the things he did, made her think he meant something more. She had always thought him a good friend, like a brother, but sometimes….

“Aleina, you’re too old for fancy, little girl thoughts,” she said firmly. “You must get some sleep, you need to think clearly tomorrow.”

She pulled the strip of cloth out of her hair and doubled her hands behind her back to unbutton the dress. She hung it in the wardrobe, and then climbed beneath the covers clad only in her shift. The Queen of Somel blew out the lamp and snuggled down into the bed, sleep already claiming her.