Martial Preparations IV

[Swordsman]

Nækos sprang straight up from his spot on the floor next to Tæbryn's bed, landing on his feet, hand already at his sabre. The knock came again, on the front door - loud and urgent.

Quick strides brought him to the front of the house; one movement yanked the door open and extended the sabre at the same time, bringing the point to the intruder's throat.

Meekal didn't even flinch. "Nækos, you have to come with me. Moon and I were attacked."



Meekal glared up at the Swordsman from where he sat, arm around Moonitic, comforting her as she cried softly. "You said you would keep us safe. And look what happened. How am I supposed to believe you now?"

"I did not expect assassins already in place. My men were to begin shadowing the two of you first thing tomorrow morning." Meekal opened his mouth to speak, but Nækos cut him off. "I realize this is completely my error, and in complete violation of what I promised you. I offer no excuse for this, only my apology. And I know you will not accept that right now."

"How do you intend to keep us safe? You told me you would have us safe, nothing could happen to us! And look! Why should I believe you again? More men will come!"

The Swordsman shook his head. "No, they will not." An extended hand silenced Meekal's protest before it could begin. "Hear me out. No more will come. Your father will die, and you will be king. I doubt very much that you will send men against yourself."

"Do not tell me my father did this! You don't know for sure!"

"Meekal, you're not daft. You know as well as I it was him. They were Muuvians, you could see it in their facial shapes. Could. They're in Muuvian uniform and using the standard Muuvian weapon of choice for assassinations. Your father threatened you. You know why I didn't think there would be a problem yet? Because nobody could get here that fast, not ahead of us. Let alone be able to survey the area, know the rooms, and get in that way. Do you realize what that means?" The Swordsman paused for a moment to let it begin to occur to Meekal. "Your father sent those assassins before we left. Most likely before we even arrived. I would hazard to guess that after seeing the two of you and getting your pledge at the summit, he sent word for the assassins at his next possible opportunity.

"Meekal, your father needs to die. Now."


A few minutes passed in near silence, as the Swordsman watched the color rise in the prince's face. Red, then darker, a purple. His fists clenched. "You are beginning to see now, Meekal. You see what they tried to do. You see that your own father betrayed you, promised you safety, and yet tried to kill you and the one you love most..."

"I'm going to kill him." Meekal stood slowly with the statement. "I will finally be a man, and do what I should have long ago, rid my country of that tyrant. I will curse him for ever using the word 'son' on me, and I will watch his blood drain."

The Swordsman could not help the small grin. "Now you see, Meeekal. Now, you are not daft. I will take care of matters here; go get Onyx ready, and a horse for yourself. We ride for Muu within the quarter hour."

Moonitic looked numbly up at him, unable to believe the one person she had been clinging to all this time was leaving her, now, when she needed him most. "Meekal..."

"My love. I have to go. I have to do this, for us. Please...I will be back. I love you." And he bolted from the room before he could change his mind.

[Swordsman]

Fifteen minutes later, the Swordsman galloped out from the walls of Arconia City atop Onyx, the Prince of Muu beside him. He was fully loaded out for the mission - sabre on his left side, shortsword on the right, throwing stars and knives on blackleather bandoliers. The leather pads laced to his feet were designed for perfect silence along with speed; three knives down each leg, one short knife with a broad, thick blade sheathed along his spine in the back.

"What about Moonitic?" Meekal shouted across the wind.

"Darion is with her currently, along with half the castle guard! Any minute now, a dozen of my men should be arriving to take over! Senyik is with Tæbryn now, and Darion will join him when he's relieved! Don't worry - you will be king before your father even knows his men failed! We'll be back by sundown tomorrow!"

Though he did not say it, the Swordsman was concerned with the timing - they would be arriving in the late afternoon, in nearly broad daylight. He had no doubt in himself, but did not know so much about Meekal, whether he could be covert enough in the light. But that was something to be dealt with when the time came. Additionally, the horses would be exhausted, especially for the return trip. That was not so big a problem, however; fresh horses could probably be gotten in Muu.

A few guards tried to stop them on their way in, but they galloped straight past, down the main avenue of the capitol city, dodging carts, pedestrians, other horses. Thankfully traffic into the castle was sufficiently heavy to prevent the guards' closing the gate in front of them; the prince and the Swordsman were able to gallop straight up to the front doors of the castle, dismounting straight into a sprint - they had been in constant motion since reaching the stables late the night before.

Those in line already before the empty throne cast the newcomers strange glances as the sprinted through - one dark, heavily armed man, and one who looked like Meekal the Daft, if a little larger. But, they were momentarily past, and everybody assumed they had urgent business there.

Which they did.

The guards, however, realized differently. And the Swordsman counted on their realization, as he ducked into a dark corner of the hall one floor up. He shoved the prince even further back, a finger to his lips for silence. The first guard to come charging down the hallway was caught and yanked into the shadows, neck quickly snapped. The second was dispatched the same way, but the third and fourth came together, forcing the Swordsman out into the light, where the fifth and sixth guards could see him and come running. The prince could only watch numbly as the Swordsman smashed the throat of the first guard, cut it out of the next, and felled the final two guards with throwing stars just below the chins. "Come on," he growled. And they were off again.

It was like some kind of nightmare to Meekal. The same corridors and stairways he had always known as a child, could traverse in the pitch black. But now he followed a ghost, a black machine that seemed to sprout pointed objects at will, guards dropping before them with hardly a pause. Once or twice they would slow down or speed up, diverting to use shadows, slipping past guards where necessary. But the majority died.

The Swordsman sprang from the shadow, one hand outstretched to catch the man's face, a dagger in the other whipping quickly to the front, moving cleanly straight through his throat. Scarcely had the body fallen when the dagger was replaced in its sheath, the braod knife appearing from its sheath at the Swordsman's back. The second guard turned, opened his mouth to shout for help, received a fist stuffed in it for silence. The shadow with the green eyes reached around behind his head, planting the point of the knife and driving sharply up, then removing it. By the time the second guard slumped to the floor, the two invaders were already racing up the final curving staircase in a crouch, legs burning, chests heaving from the adrenaline and the exertion, sweat pouring off, diluting and rinsing away some of the spilt blood.

A throwing knife silenced one more man who stood before the door to the king's personal study. The door opened and another walked out, dressed much finer than the guards. The Swordsman's hand halted, still holding the second throwing knife. Instead, he replaced it in its slot, and shoved the prince back aroudn the corner again.

"Here we are, Meekal. The way is clear; I have the door covered." Thd Swordsman reached behind him again, brought out the broad-bladed knife, flipping it in the air to hold it by the point. "Let the point find the soft indentation just below the skull, at the top of the neck." He held it out to the prince. "When you feel this point, and you will know it, push. The blade will separate the brain stem from the top of the spinal column - instant, silent, painless death." Meekal's hand slowly closed around the handle. "Now go."

[Moonitic]

From the moment her head hit the pillow, Ken-dall slept. She woke, & puttered about, glad to have time to herself after the failed attempt to send her away "to rest." No wonder her sister looked like she might explode at any given moment. Arconia & her people were just too crazy! Well...except for Darion...

It was in her solitude that she did not know of the goings on across the castle, where her sister's chamber was. She did not know, that is, until a chambermaid burst into her room saying, "Your sister was attacked, m'lady!"

She thought of saying "again?" but realized by the maid's face that it might not be a wise idea. "What happened?" The young woman rattled off the story of the assasination attempt, & Meekal's disappearance, which made Ken-Dall rise from the chair she lounged in. "Is someone with her now?"

"Aye, m'lady. That nice young man Darion is with her, along with the castle guards."

Ken-Dall nodded, & ran from the room, straight to her sister's door. The guards there raised an eyebrow at her, the duplicate of Moon, but allowed her to enter without a word. The scene before her looked like something she had never seen before. Well armed guards stood or sat all around the charming room. Darion himself sat in a chair near Moon's bed, where she lay curled into a ball & covered to her shoulder. A maid kneeled on the floor, scrubbing away the remainder of blood.

"Buffy!" Ken-Dall exclaimed. She ran to her sister, catching the attention of the guards. Darion simply raised his hand, & they settled down at once. "Are you all right?" she murmured to her sister.

From under the covers, wide eyes peeked out. "I didn't think he could do it...I've never seen him so angry before..." the small voice said.

"Who? What happened?"

Darion stood & moved to Ken-Dall. "Meekal killed the assasin," he stated.

Ken-Dall's eyebrows raised. "Oh." She looked from her sister to her love. "That's good, isn't it?"

"That's not all, apparently." He looked to Moon.

"What is it?" Ken-Dall wondered.

"Meekal...he's gone to...kill his father," Moon admitted. She burrowed herself further into her blanket as her sister gasped.

Ken-Dall really had nothing to say to such news. Instead, she climbed onto the bed herself & took her sister into her arms. "Wow..." she finally muttered.

[Darion McNair]

“The Swordsman is with him.” He told Ken-Dall. “No doubt he will be safe, but his father is probably already dead.” He tried to hide a mild tone of satisfaction in his voice. If it were up to him the king of Muu would have been dead long ago. Ken-Dall looked up at him and knew immediately how he felt about the whole situation.

“Suddenly Meekal doesn’t seem so daft anymore.” she said, flatly. “He couldn’t stand for this. He had to do something.” she said, softly, trying to console Moon who still had her face hidden in the sheets.. “What’s done is done.” she said, “None of this was your fault.”

“I imagine they’ll be back in a few days.” Darion mentioned. In the span of several days, his opinion of the Muuvian Prince had risen a great deal. No longer was he Meekal the Daft but rather to Darion he was Meekal the Prince, and the man. Suddenly he remembered an order given to him before the Swordsman left. He moved closer to Ken-Dall.

“I need to go find Senyik. The Swordsman wished me to, once I was relieved by the guards.” He gently kissed her cheek. “I’ll be back.” he told her. He looked up to Lady Moon who looked up suddenly, hearing Darion mention he was leaving. “I must go Lady Moon, these guards will protect you while I am gone.” She nodded slowly. With that he made his way out to find his friend.

[Swordsman]

Meekal walked slowly into the study, fingering the weapon the Swordsman had given him, going over and over in his mind how to use it. "Hello, father." The king jumped in his chair, turning it around from his desk to face the man behind him. Shock was quite evident on his face. "Your men failed. The Princess Buffy and I still live."

The king began to recover his wits. "My men? What are you talking about?"

"I'm talking about the two assassins you sent, even before you and I talked. They failed."

After a moment's consideration of the merits of continued denial, the king decided it didn't really matter. "I don't care if you are a prince, or if you are my own son. You do not humiliate a king, and especially not this king. Did you really think I'd be as daft as you, and believe that you would actually go along with things? No, I'm not that stupid. And now, here you are, with a knife. What are you going to do? I am your father still. You cannot do a thing to me."

"Your assassins are dead, father. I killed them both, with my bare hands."

The king paled even a bit more than he already was. "You never were a good liar, Meekal."

"Turn around, father. Be still, and this will go easier."

He just smirked. "You still can't kill me. Those children from the inn? I have them here, locked in your own old bedroom. I suppose they have your damned rocks to keep them company. If anything happens to me, they die."

"Excuse me, my lords." Meekal recognized the Swordsman's voice, and turned. Beside him stood the same well-dressed man they had seen leaving the study earlier; the Swordsman's hand was behind the small of his back, and he looked rather uncomfortable. Meekal also noticed an empty sheath on one of the Swordsman's legs. "Meekal, I would like to introduce to you Mr. Polus Thiem, one of the king's closer advisors. Before the king encountered you at the summit three days ago, he presumed himself to be without an heir to the throne, and so named this man as his successor. However, we have many witnesses of your being named the heir at the summit. This man is quite familiar with the way things work around here. He is also a capable manager, and can command the loyalty of the government and the military. Though unaware of it until just now, he has a second shadow, one which he does not see. This shadow obeys my command, and will if necessary kill him without hesitation. When you become the king, the shadow will obey your command. If this man does not rule in your abscence exactly as you prescribe, he will die painfully. In the event of the unfortunate death of the king, this man will immediately come under your command. That includes the immediate release of three prisoners from your former bedroom."

The king started to get up from his chair, hand already reaching toward the side of his desk, where a sword leaned. Meekal shoved the old man back, however, forcing him down into the chair. He tried to fight back up, but could not move under the force of the younger man. Meekal clamped a hand quickly over his mouth to prevent his shouting, and moved around behind the chair. As the old man's hands clawed at his arm, trying to pull it from his face, the point of the blade traced down the back of his head, then settled into a soft depression just beneath the skull. One surprisingly easy thrust, a grating sensation. The king's arms and legs smasmed once, then went limp.

"The king is dead," the Swordsman said softly. "Long live the king."

[Moonitic]

Meekal moved away from the body of his father, staring at the weapon in his hand. "Let's go get the kids..." he said softly. All of his anger drained away in that moment, replaced with...nothing. No relief. No guilt. Just...nothing. He hardly breathed now. He hardly saw a thing. Mechanically, he moved past Naekos & the man toward the door. What had he just done?

Naekos swung around, propelling Theim as well. "Come along," he growled to the man, who complied despite his own shock. "You know, Your Highness, you do have other things to do," Naekos stated to Meekal's back as they followed.

Meekal kept walking. "I want to get the kids. Then, I will deal with 'other' things." He had to walk. Walking helped. It gave him feeling again. It gave him something to hold onto. He was thankful that they met no guards along the way, for he was not sure what he would do if he encountered any resistence. But that time would come when he reached his own bedroom door. The guards posted there looked on in shock as Meekal barrelled toward them, eyes blazing with a fire they had never seen from the prince. "Move," he commanded. "Now." At the sight of the well armed man behind him, as well as the King's Advisor, they did just that, running down the hall as fast as they could. Meekal slammed his shoulder into the door, & it caved in under his weight. "Hey," he said to the kids. "Who wants to get out of here?"

[Moonitic]

"To hell with the guards," Ken-Dall whispered in her sister's ear. "If anyone so much as looks at you wrong, I'll take them out myself." She meant it to be funny, but Moon burrowed further under the covers in response. "Hey...no one is allowed to try to hurt you but me. You know that."

From under the covers, a little snicker escaped. "Thank you," Moon whispered. Then, ater a moment, she peeked her head out, eyes on Ken-Dall. "Really. Thank you. I'm so sorry about what has happened between us."

"Ah, it's nothing," said Ken-Dall. "That's all in the past. Just know that now I will always be on your side. I won't leave you alone." Moon nodded, frowning at the words. She had heard them before, & the person who uttered them ran off to kill his father, leaving her alone in her moment of greatest need. And part of her wasn't so sure if she wanted him to come back. "Take a rest, Buff...you need it."

[Darion McNair]

Darion left the castle and headed through the city to the Swordsman’s cottage and he arrived there sooner than he had expected. Approaching the front door he no sooner knocked that he heard several violent noises coming from behind the house

Thud, thud, thunk, crack! Thud, thud, thunk, crack!

Alarmed, Darion hurried around the house to see what the unsettling sound was. The sight that he beheld was something he would have never expected. Taebryn was standing over a log and hefting a single bladed axe. A swift strike with the axe blade put a reasonable sized cut in the wood. She lifted the axe up again for another swing. Darion glanced over to see Senyik nearby, sitting in a reclined position with his back against the side of the cottage.

“Um Senyik, what’s going on here?” asked Darion a little dumbfounded.

“The Swordsman showed me this. He said it relieves stress.” Taebryn told him without looking up from her wood chopping. “I figured I’d give it a try.”

“Keeps her busy.” Senyik said with a shrug. Darion could tell that he was keeping close eye on her, even though he seemed relaxed. Darion walked over and, standing next to Senyik, watched Taebryn as she sought to disfigure another piece of nature’s growth.

“Maybe you two can help me out.” Taebryn started. Taking a break from her chopping, she lowered the axe and looked at them. “I’m trying to figure out the Swordsman. He seems really nice. I mean, he saved me and everything, but I really don’t know that much about him."

“He’s a good man.” Senyik told her. “I don’t fully understand him myself, no one does. But trust me, he means well and his heart is always in the right place.”

“He seems kind of dark.” She commented.

“He’s had a rough past.” Senyik replied. “You may be hanging around the three of us for a very long time Taebryn, you might as well get used to him. If he wants you to know him better he’ll explain things when he’s ready.

“You’re probably right.” she murmured. “I need more stress relief. I had a bad dream last night. I dreamt about my parents, like everything was normal again before they were killed and this morning I woke up to prince what’s-his-name . . . Meekal, that’s it. He was at the door telling the Swordsman that someone got attacked.” She lifted the axe and soon took another chunk out of the log. “I’m tired of violence. I’m tired of death.”

Darion didn’t have the heart to tell her that a war was coming soon.

[Lord Tellurine]

Harold Wesley, Anton the stable boy, and Peggy Roenseller looked up at Meekal. Peggy shouted, “We’re saved!”

Meekal told them, “We’re here to take you home.”

Harold said with gloom, “I’m grounded again.”

Meekal glanced back at Naekos who stood in the hallway. “Take him with you… Your parents won’t give you any trouble. I know that from experience.”

Anton trumpeted, “Saved by Meekal the Daft! Wait till the other kids hear this!”

The King’s advisor cleared his throat with authority and said, “Excuse me, young master, but that is hardly the way the King of Muu should be addressed.”

The kids’ chins hit the floor. Luckily it was a good strong floor.

Meekal rolled his eyes. He wasn’t ready to be called that.

Peggy quickly put two and two together. She got something worse than four. She said softly, “That means your father…”

“Is dead,” Meekal finished for her. “By my hand. His treachery almost saw the death of Lady Moon and myself. I also couldn’t let him defile the pact that united Muu and Arconia against the Russ.”

This time the Swordsman cleared his throat. Meekal was saying too much.

“The Russ?” asked Peggy. “I’ve read about them… They’re not invading are they?”

Naekos stepped up. “I think we’ve said enough. You kids have got some explaining as to how you ended up here in Muu.”

Harold answered, “It was Lord Tellurine! He framed us for the murder of Gregory Thatch!”

A sneered appeared on the Swordsman face. He knew of Tellurine’s deceit against not only Lady Moon, but of Arconia. Perhaps it was time to put a permanent end to his scheming ways.

[Darion McNair]

The woodpile began to dwindle as Taebryn continued her chopping. Darion meanwhile had assumed a similar position as Senyik, sitting and leaning his back against the cottage wall. Darion spoke up, seeing that her activity was almost complete.

“What did you usually do for fun back in Muu, Taebryn?” he asked. He put his hands behind his head, trying to relax.

“Well, not much really.” She told him, finishing up her last log. “I helped my parents farm most of the times.” she pointed to the swords that both Senyik and Darion wore. “I never even had time to learn to fight . . . but you saw in the courtyard that I can get pretty mad.”

“Pure anger never gets you anywhere.” Darion told her. “Did you play any games with your friends or anything like that?”

“Oh sure, we played the Hounds and the Fox all the time.” said Taebryn. “Someone was the fox and went to hide somewhere while the others were the hounds and had to find the fox. It gets pretty fun if you have someone who knows all the good places to hide. When one of the hounds finds the fox they become a fox and have to hide in the same place. The last hound to find them all is the fox for the next game.”

“Sounds like fun, maybe we should play it sometime.” Senyik said. Taebryn walked over and sat in between the two strike force members.

“Sure, but not now. It wouldn’t be very good with only two people.” she replied. Then she smiled and put a hand on both Senyik and Darion’s shoulders’. “So, what do you two do for fun?” she turned the tables on them.


Darion cocked his head sideways and furrowed his eyebrows in thought. “Well, I don’t have much fun nowadays anymore. But I guess I have fun when I’m spending time with someone I care about.” he was thinking of Ken-Dall.

“You have a girlfriend?” she inquired. Darion looked at her with a look that seemed to say ‘What’s it to you?’

“We both have girlfriends.” He said and motioned to Senyik who nodded in acknowledgement. Taebryn tilted her head back and her mouth formed a small little ring.

“Oh.” she said. “Good for you. I guess I had a few crushes back in Muu but nothing serious. Nice boys though”

“You’re just fourteen.” Senyik said, a little amazed that she expected to have a serious relationship at such a young age.

“Yeah so?” Taebryn became a little defensive. “I’m very mature for my age.” Senyik only nodded.

“This is true.” he said, not wanting to argue.

[jBirch]

Now that is nice posterior, Thlinto thought as he wandered the city and a stunning blonde noble, decked out in the latest fashions that put her ample charms on display, crossed his path. Memories of ladies past and the comfort of what inevitably lay beneath those silks flashed through his mind.

He'd arrived a few days ago and had been wandering about most of the morning, checking out the shops and the inns while he waited for the damn buraucracy to process his application for immigration. Nations were the same the world over, he thought. Monarchs throught they ran the place, their lords and ladies plotted against them, the merchants connived, cajoled and convinced, the peasants worked and, through it all, the buraucracy moved mountains of parchment.

"Know the ground," his father had always told him and the city around the Castle Arconia was certainly a place where that knowledge could be useful. The alleys were dark, the doorways deep and the roads winding; exactly as a castle city should be designed. Thlinto let a smirk cross his face as he remembered how often the "standard" castle city design had failed in the past. Oh well, there was always comfort in the familiar.

And that posterior was certainly begging to be learned and those curves were certainly familiar...

[Moonitic]

"No, Naekos. No more," Meekal stated, recognizing the look his comrade gave. "We'll let Ken-Dall & Buffy take care of him. I'm sure they can come up with a punishment much worse than ours." He laughed quietly, without an ounce of humor in it. Naekos merely shrugged while the kids stared on, unsure of what to do, say or think. How could they? They just found out that sweet, happy & a little daft Prince Meekal murdered his father & became King of Muu. Meekal turned to the kids, & said, "Why don't you guys go wait outside? The Swordsman & I have some business to finish up, then we'll be along."

Harold, Anton & Peggy nodded, glancing at one another as they made their way toward the door. Then, they noticed the weapon in Meekal's hand. He quickly handed it off to Naekos, who sheathed it without a word. At that, they hurried from the room, their footsteps echoing in the corridor. "It was the right thing to do," Naekos stated.

"I know." The images of the attempt on Moon's life swam through his head, strengthening him. She was the only thing that kept him going now, & she seemed a world away. He moved to his table, where he kept most of the rocks in his collection...those he didn't take with him. In the center he found his once beloved Nigel, his favorite stone. He had left the rock the last time he was home, to break away from his past. And now...Meekal clutched the stone & threw it with all his might.

The advisor shrank away from Meekal's display, then cleared is throat. "Your Majesty, we really must begin planning. I will need to know what you wish of me in your absence. And the people will want to know when your coronation is...&, I assume, your wedding."

"Coronation? Wedding? Yes..." Meekal hadn't really thought that far. "All right, sit down. We can plan." He gestured to a chair where Thiem immediately dropped, then said, "Naekos, you may sit..." He looked around & discovered that Naekos had vanished again. "Lucky him," Meekal muttered.

[Darion McNair]

The captains of the Enoch’s organizations filled into his Symposium Chamber. Each one took a seat, quietly. Lucious was already seated and was joined by Captains Quintus and Filnian on either side. Captain Filnian’s lack of a right arm drew many stares and condolences. Filnian seem to be dealing with it as best he could. The loss of his arm was a constant reminded of the mistaken engagement he led his troops into. Lucious, Quintus, Filnian, and the other two captains looked to their Chair Consul.

Suddenly, Gaius Gracchus entered the room and took a seat. The Captains respectfully stood as their Commander took his seat before they too returned to their places. Enoch waited a few moments before he spoke, and what he said was quite uncharacteristically short: “Report.”

“Sir,” Gaius began, “Your captains have briefed me on their defensive preparations. They have come up with several plans in which to engage the enemy in guerilla warfare. In addition, several key points have been designated for use in counter and flanking attack.”

“My lord, if I may.” Quintus spoke up. Quintus was perhaps the shortest captain in Enoch’s entire Military Wing but he was by far the boldest and most courageous, though a little foolhardy. Enoch nodded a signal for him to speak. “Since we have very few companies to work with, I feel it necessary to stress the fact that complete cooperation from the Intelligence wing will be necessary. We will need to know exactly where the enemy is at all times if these hit and fade attacks are to be successful. If we are off by even a little, the preemption aspect of our plans will be completely absent.”

“You can expect such cooperation, Quintus. Having recently demoted Paulo to a simple agent, I have complete confidence in my Intelligence wing once again.” He mentioned his rather inept former lieutenant. Quintus nodded, a smile brushing his lips.

“That’s good to hear, my lord.” he said.

“Chair Consul,” One of his other captains spoke up, this one by the name of Polybius. A man of medium build, Polybius said very little unless absolutely necessary. His piercing blue-eyed glare behind shaggy hair hinted at quiet intelligence. “Any word if Chair Consul Tarbin will assist us?”

Enoch nodded. “Yes Polybius, he will be sending reinforcements as soon as he is able. He had to deal with an insurrection of sorts by those unwilling to fight the Russic, but as soon as possible he will contribute a great deal of forces.” He looked to one of his captains that had said nothing thus far during the meeting. “Captain Cato I would like your company to keep watch to the south of the city. Work closely with the intelligence wing, those in that region will report to you.” Cato nodded, smiling while he popped his knuckles.

The Chair Consul then stood a moment, addressing every man in the room. “I would like to take this opportunity to make the announcement that henceforth Lucious Prodicus will be my Lesser Consul. He will retain command of his Company but bear the title of Lesser Consul nonetheless.”

This news seemed to lighten the spirits of every man in the room. Enoch dismissed his captains. Lucious, Quintus, Polybius, Filnian, and Cato made their way out to return to their units, this left only Gaius and Enoch left in the room. They sat there in silence for several minutes before Gaius spoke.

“We’ll certainly give them one hell of a fight, my lord.”

[Crin Dalmeiier]

Crin was quite disoriented to wake up and discover that she had been moved during the night. She was once again lying on the floor of her own room, a blanket lying over her feet in a way that suggested it had been kicked off. She sat up slowly, running a hand down her face and trying to figure out why somebody had thought to move her at all. Miri was sitting on her bed, playing a soft tune that made Crin think of a bug or maybe a bee flying. She stopped when she noticed that Crin was awake, but Crin just waved at her to keep playing. "He put you in Ame's cot originally," Miri told her, resuming the song. The elven woman's fingers almost flew faster than Crin's eyes could travel. "You didn't like that idea too much, so he put you on the floor and put a blanket over you. Of course, didn't take you too long to kick that off." The woman's eyes spoke of amusement as she looked at Crin.

"S'warmer in Russland," Crin muttered, not really sure she sounded coherent. She didn't mind, either way.

There were pastries and juice waiting on the table with all of the books she and Talmour had read the week before. "Courtesy of your gypsy friends," Miri informed Crin. "They've just left."

The first bite practically melted in her mouth, reminding her that she had not eaten since breakfast the day before. Crin ate single-mindedly, half-listening to Miri's music, until she was satisfied that the hungry pangs were long gone. Only then did she lift her head and ask, "Where's your smith? I thought he was glued to your side."

"He's not my smith," Miri said, sticking her tongue out at the other woman, "and a personality like mine does not need glue to attract a man, thank you ever so."

"Mine just seems to attract the ones I would normally want nothing to do with," Crin muttered under her breath. She nodded at Miri's harp as she stood to leave and find out about the proceedings with the gypsies. "I like that song." Miri just nodded her thanks. "Anyway, places to go, people to harass. I'll catch you later."

And like a puff of smoke in the wind, she was gone, off to see Talmour.

[Willow]

A day or more after Nækos and Meekal had gone to Muu, and Willow had heard the latest news from her crows, she quickly gathered Daphne into her baby sling and ran towards Moon's room. At the door were many guards. "Let me through, I must get to Lady Moon at once!" The head guard informed her, "No one gets through under orders from Prince Meekal and the one he left in charge, Darion." Exasperated, Willow shook her head and said, "Do you not know who I am? Don't you know that I am allowed to be with Lady Moon whenever necessary?" The guard, looking a bit huffy, said, "I have my orders, ma'am." She glared at him, and the rest of the guards, then said, "I don't have time for this." She lifted her hands, and said, "Separate." The guards were pushed aside away from the door. Willow opened the door, turned towards the guards, and said, "Resume your positions." The door closed behind her and the baby.

She saw Ken-Dall sitting on the bed and a lump under the covers. "Moon?" She heard a sniffle from the lump. "Are you hurt?"
A voice from under the covers said, "No, I am fine." Willow took one of the blankets from the bed, spread it on the floor and put Daphne on it, along with a couple of soft dolls for her to play with. Then, she sat on the other side of Moon, and she and Ken-Dall looked at each other. "So," said, Willow, "Meekal is now king. My crow friend has told me that the King of Muu is dead and that Meekal rescued 3 children from the castle, as well. The children are headed home. Your Meekal has proven himself worthy to be a king." Moon sat up and looked at Willow in amazement. "He really has come a long way, hasn't he?" asked Moon. Both Willow and Ken-Dall nodded and from her pallet on the floor, Daphne gurgled and waved her arms and legs as if to agree with them. The three women looked at each other and laughed.

[Willow]

<editor's note: It has come to my attention recently that in a much earlier thread, it was stated that Willow and Lord Tellurine actually knew each other in the past. Recent interested parties have asked me to inform everyone of the past relationship between Willow and Tellurine. This post will attempt to clear up any misconceptions and allow the reader to understand just how the two met previously.>

Moon looked up at Willow and asked her, "What should we do about Lord Tellurine, now? Should we have killed him when we had the chance. You know him better than any of us, for all he's kidnapped me."

Willow sighed, "I just don't know." Her gaze turned inward, and she began remembering just how it was that she and Lord Tellurine had met.

It was just 5 years ago, when she was 13, that the two had first crossed paths. Back then, she hadn't yet been a Lady in Waiting to Princess Buffy. You see, she was adopted by her parents, Lord and Lady Giles, and the kingdom rules at that time, stated that one had to be born of noble blood to be a member of the court in any way. However, she and Princess Buffy had always been inseparable and best friends, from the very start. Lord Giles had been known for his kind heart and devotion to his people and his king, but he did have his own personal dark side. You see, he had been a gambler. His wife had had to put up with it for several years. Luckily, Lord Giles hadn't done much damage to his estate with his gambling. Until one day....


It was Lord Giles' turn to host the card game at his estate. Five of the top elite had come to join him, including Lord Byron Tellurine, Sr.. However, tonight, the cards failed him for the first time. He lost some of his wife's jewels, and the piece of land that had been in his family for years, the one just outside the forest, near the stream. All he needed was just one good hand! There it was....3 Kings and 2 tens! He could win all his losses back! He showed his cards and started to reach for the pot. Just then, Lord Byron grabbed his hand and said, "Not so fast!" All Lord Giles could do was look on in horror while Byron showed what was in his hand: 3 aces and 2 queens! "NO!" Lord Giles had just lost his entire estate! Just then, Willow came in, to kiss her father good night. Byron looked greedily at her. Word had been spreading about just how talented this young lady was getting with her magic. With someone like her, perhaps he could take over Muu or another kingdom! "Lord Giles, how about we strike a deal. You get to keep your estate if...." Lord Giles looked a bit relieved. "If what?" "If you let me have your daughter for a year in servitude."

Lord Giles looked shocked. Willow looked shocked. Go with this man? How could she? Surely her father would object and refuse! Her father looked at her, then at Lord Tellurine Sr. and then said, "She's yours." Willow looked at her father in horror. Lord Byron looked tickled pink.

<I will post what happened when Willow moved in with the Tellurines later today when I get home from work.>

[Lord Tellurine]

The Swordsman. Scourge of the Russ, protector of the weak, and a man with spies and agents in every government on the continent found himself in the hallway facing his next challenge.

“Are you taking us home or not?” groaned Peggy Roenseller. Her pudgy faced contorted in such a way that it reminded Naekos of the death throes of a recent victim. He wondered if the resemblance was a sign.

“Let’s go,” he said simply and he began a quick walk down the hallway.

Harold caught up with him and met his stride. He asked, “Are we going after Tellurine? I bet you could slice him up into next week. He deserves it!”

“We’ll leave him to the Lady Moon. She needs to close that chapter herself.” He quickened his stride.

Harold kept up with him. “We should capture him and take him to her. We could find him. He might be in this very castle.”

“That won’t be necessary. If I know Tellurine, he’ll show his face in Arconia again.”

They started down a winding stairwell. Peggy pointed out to him, “You know, you shouldn’t have let Meekal kill his father. Arconia has laws about Arconians killing foreign leaders. I know, because I’ve read the law. And the law says…”

Naekos stopped. The kids came to an abrupt stop behind him. He turned to look at Peggy, who was a few steps behind him and above him. “Meekal is not a resident of Arconia. He’s only a visitor. He took care of a family problem. And if you don’t be quiet for the rest of the trip back to Arconia then I’ll take care of my problem. My problem is you.” He spun around and continued the steps.

Harold snickered as he followed. Anton tried to place a reassuring arm around Peggy. She threw it off of her and then continued after Naekos in a huff.

When they reached the stables Naekos requested the fastest steeds they owned. He wanted it to be a quick trip back.

[Willow]

Willow continued to remember her brief life with the Tellurines.

Her mother, Lady Giles, had been furious with her husband over his agreeing to give Lord Bryron Tellurine their only child. She tried everything she could to stop her husband. Willow's beseechings to her father also failed to soften his heart. Lord Giles couldn't even look Willow in the eyes when the day came for him to deliver her to Lord T's estate. They rode in the carriage to the estate, where Lord Byron, his son, and his wife, Lady Embeth waited. Like Lady Giles, Embeth was furious with her husband for what he had done. Children, no matter how talented, should never be pawns for adults, especially to try to gain things magically.

Lord Giles stepped out of the carriage and pulled Willow out. "Lord Tellurine, may I present to you my daughter, Lady Willow? She knows what she has to do for you for the following year and she WILL obey. You have my word of honor on that." There were tears in Willow's eyes as she dropped a brief curtsy to the three adults before her. Lord Giles quickly stepped back into his carriage and ordered the horses to leave. One would think he was rather heartless, unless one happened to look into his eyes at that moment. He sobbed the entire ride home, hating himself for what he had done, yet too selfish to let his entire estate be given over to the Tellurine family.

Lady Embeth took Willow's hand and introduced her to her son, Lord Byron Tellurine the Second. He sneered at her in what he thought was a seductive manner. To Willow, he looked rather silly, though. She hoped she could put up with him for an entire year. Willow was led to the chamber she would reside in for the year. It was rather small, but the bed was decent and it was clean. She was rather surprised to see books on magic and magical supplies on the table in the corner. So that was what Lord T had in mind for her! He wanted to use her magical powers for HIS gain. Lady Embeth looked at Willow and told her, "I am so sorry that you were dragged into this mess. I will intervene for you as much as I can, but I am afraid that my husband expects you to make him even richer than he is now." Willow nodded. She hadn't the faintest idea how that was going to be acomplished....she hadn't learned that much at magic school, not yet, anyway. Lady Embeth left, leaving Willow to study the books that were there and try to figure out what she could do that would fulfill the bargain between her father and Lord T., and still remain faithful to good magic. She remembered how mad Moon, then called Buffy, had been. Buffy was losing her best friend for a year! At this age, that was an eternity. Buffy was almost about to pick up her sword and run Lord Giles through. The only thing that saved him was the King of Schoolcraftia. He, too, hated to let Willow go, but the rule at that time was that daughters and sons under the age of 17 were the property of their parents. Buffy's objections didn't sway her father in the least.

Willow studied the books until suppertime, when she was summoned to join the Tellurines. Lord Byron Sr. looked at her and asked, "Well? Have you figured out how you are going to make me a very rich man?" Willow looked down at her plate and answered, "Not yet, sir. Apparently, it is one of the hardest things to learn to do....make money and increase wealth. I'm afraid this might take time." Byron Sr. glared at her and replied, "You better get on with it, then, child. You were brought here for one purpose and that is to make sure I get more money than anyone around here." She looked up from her plate to find his son, Byron Jr., looking at her. She didn't like the look in his eyes. This didn't speak well for the future.

Willow lasted exactly 2 months at the Tellurine estate. During that time, Lord Byron berated her every day for not making him money, Lady Embeth tried to prevent Willow from being hurt, and on more than one occasion, Byron Jr. attempted to get himself alone with Willow. Thank goodness he hated rats. Willow was able to use her powers to have several rat friends who stayed around her as much as possible. She was able to make them impervious to traps and poisons, so that no matter what Lord Tellurine ordered done to get rid of the rats, they stayed around Willow as much as possible. The day came, however, when Lord Byron tired of waiting to be rich. He came to her room with a whip and beat her, trying to make her submit to him. He left only when the rats had attacked him, biting him severely. Lady Embeth came in and helped clean Willow up. Embeth had had enough. She secretly wrote to Lord Giles and the King of Schoolcraftia and to Princess Buffy, herself, informing them of what her husband had done to Willow and what her son had tried to do to Willow.

Princess Buffy was all for attacking the Tellurine estate and killing both Byrons, but her father talked her out of it after much, much, MUCH debate. He decided that because he was King, he could change the law any way he saw fit. Children were no longer property that could be traded back and forth for personal gain (funny how he changed the law yet again when he expected his own child to marry into the house of Muu...but then again, royalty has always been unusual), and he also repealed the law that said that one must be of noble blood to be a member of court. He also forbid Lord Giles to ever gamble again, under penalty of death, should he ever be tempted to wager his child ever again.

It was a very interesting party that assembled at the Tellurine estate. Lord and Lady Giles were there, accompanied by the King of Schoolcraftia, Princess Buffy, and the Schoolcraftian Army. As Willow was led from the castle, she looked at Lord Byron and his son and told them, "The Giles debt is now paid in full." She was taken back to the King's castle and nursed back to health by many servants, and by Princess Buffy. After this, she was appointed to be Buffy's Lady in Waiting, where she had proven herself to be the most loyal of friends. It had taken her a while to be comfortable with her father again, but it must be said that this was the one regret of his life and he would have given anything to be able to change it. On a much sadder note, soon after Willow was rescued, Lady Embeth died under very mysterious circumstances.

Willow sighed and came back to herself again. Memory lane was not always a good place to dwell. It was time to come back to the realities of today.

[Moonitic]

For Meekal, the return to Arconia was not a pleasant one. He had no one to talk to for the ride. No one to help him keep his mind off of his newfound troubles. Sure, his father would be a threat no more, but the man's death created a host of new concerns for the new King of Muu. King of Muu...

He had much to do in Arconia, including the collection of his bride. But first, Thiem had to be informed as to how to run the country in his absence. "I will be back in no sooner than a month," Meekal told him.

"A month! Your Majesty, that is a considerable amount of time."

"And that is my wish. That should give you plenty of time to plan both a coronation & a wedding, & to set in place the orders I have given you," Meekal had told him. Ah, the orders. When asked what Thiem was to do in Meekal's absence, Meekal said, "The exact opposite of what my father has done." The first change would be in the punishment of those who could not pay taxes. No one in Muu would ever suffer as much as Tæbryn had suffered again. In fact, the man's jaw nearly hit the floor when Meekal informed him that he would be lowering taxes in the near future. With the dowery that his future bride would bring as the Princess of Schoolcraftia, Muu would certainly be fine in the financial department.

Meekal still had to consider whether or not to accompany his friends on the dragon hunt. His kingdom needed him, as well as his love, but he felt certain that all things would work out for the best regardless of what he chose. His love...he wanted to return to Moon. When he left her she had been so frightened, & so sad. Yes, he would return & all would be well again. This thought made his heart swell as he finally rode into the main hub of Arconia. He was so preoccupied with his thoughts that he never noticed the shadow following him as he rode along.

[Crin Dalmeiier]

Crin felt the tail before she reached Talmour, but gave no sign as she hugged him and Ame, smiling at them for the first time in days. "All better," she announced, twirling about and holding out her arms.

"Ye gads!" Talmour exclaimed to Ame, getting up off of the barstool. He reached over and picked her up, as he was known to do, pretending to spend a great deal of time studying her face in complete amazement. "Is that a SMILE I see on Ms. Dalmeiier's face?"

"Put me down, you lout," Crin told him, and was promptly dropped. "Thanks ever so." She sat on the barstool next to Ame, her nonchalant expression not giving away the fact that she knew she was being stalked. "Ame! I haven't seen you since the night they drugged me! How are things?"

"Getting a bit excited about this quest, to tell the truth," Ame told her, handing over a goblet of wine. Crin watched the shadow flit over the outside of her vision as she took the goblet. "When do we leave again?"

"Early, so don't drink anymore than what you've got right now." Crin took a long gulp of wine, set it down on the counter, and nodded to her friends. "If you'll excuse me, I've got to see a man about a knife." And she walked straight for the door, not even glancing at the shadow once. Her gait was perfectly natural, her expression calm and uninfluenced. When she hit the night air, however, she twisted right and ducked into an alley beside the pub. Her stalker lost her for a second and wandered right by, straight into her trap.

The next few seconds passed by in a blur--Crin leapt straight for the would-be attacker, slamming him face-first into the wall and using her momentum to pin him there. She was small, but her knife digging into the small of his back prevented any struggle as he was efficiently disarmed. The assailant was tall and fit, dark hair chopped short to tell her that he was one of the Elite. "Your name," she growled at him, her voice dropping into its guttural soldier state. When he didn't answer, she pushed the knife to the point of drawing blood. "Name, soldier! I've killed before and don't think I won't stop at you!"

"Rint," the Elite soldier finally said, sounding as though he might be in a little pain. "Rint Montella."

One of John and Kathryn's recruits, by his call name. Crin scowled and backed up slightly, keeping her knife at him so that he wouldn't attack her. "Sit," she barked, "and keep your hands on your head. No sudden movements or I'll kill you like I killed Trey." She didn't bother to correct herself and mention that it had been Falcour to throw that fatal knife into Trey.

Rint sat. The moonlight gave him sharp, almost painful-looking features and brown eyes that sparkled with malice. No Elite soldier liked being captured alive. "So the rumors are true," he spat at Crin. "You've turned yellow on us."

"I turned yellow on nobody. My plan for my life did not match what Kreump had in mind, so I left." Crin wiggled the knife near Rint's face, making sure that he was aware that his chances of living were slim. "I can see that my warning was ineffective. Maybe I should send him ANOTHER dead agent--perhaps that would make him start to see things my way."

Rint's eyes hardened. "I hope you die in your own juices, pig!"

Quick as a flash, Crin grabbed a handful of his hair and slammed his head back into the stone wall. He grunted, but did not yell out as her previous victims had. "Insulting me doesn't really help inspire me to let you live," she said softly, drawing the knife under Rint's neck once. "But today is your lucky day. I'm turning you into the Arconian guards and you're going to spend a nice few days in the prison before they send you packing back to Zarconia. And please tell our dear Kreump that the next agent he sents after me won't be as lucky."

"The next agent won't miss," Rint promised savagely.

"You didn't miss either," Crin informed him. "Of course, that's because you didn't even get a chance to try and kill me. Oh, yes. Kreump is going to be VERY displeased with you." She turned her head, keeping Rint in her peripheral vision. "GUARD! GUARD!"

Several guards had been stationed around the Bitter End after the near mob a week before, so it did not take long for two guards to come running. By that time, Crin had hidden the knife and was pretending to be hysterical. "Help me!" she cried, flinging herself at the first guard. "That man tried to ATTACK me!" Her voice came out a pitiful wail.

"Attack you, miss? We take that sort of thing seriously in Arconia--Reggie, help me get him shackled?" Crin was pushed to the side as Reggie helped the second guard with Rint, who knew better than to struggle with Crin so close. She smirked at him after the guards assured her that he would be in prison a good long while and carted him off.

Her next order of business was to find a carter headed towards Zarconia, but in a trade town like Arconia City, that did not take long. "Deliver this," and she held out Rint's special Elite dagger, "to the leader of Zarconia. Deliver it personally." And she handed him a good sum of coins from her travels before disappearing into the dusk.

"Where'd you go?" Talmour asked as she returned to the Bitter End.

"Nowhere special." And Crin took another drink of wine, pleased that she still had her Elite abilities.