The large ornate doors slammed shut before Bree could get a proper look in the door. The spicy scent of incense hit her like a wave as well as as the sickly sweet rotting stench of a decaying animal.
Twen gave out a small hiss as she placed both of her her hands on her back, the guard coming to her side at once. “Vivari’s fucking saggy tits,” she hissed.
“ Breathe Twen,” Said the guard, surprisingly soothingly for drakkan.
At the same time the runty puppy decided he had more than enough of this and gave a final yank on the leash causing the collar to slide off. The small dog shook his neck and head, gave Bree and frustratingly mocking look (if dogs could give mocking looks) before taking off down the hall. Bree gave a quick glance towards the guard and the prince’s gem. They were quite distracted.
She started walking quickly towards the pup, which then turned into a quick jog and then a full out run. The wretched creature always stopped to wait for her at every corner turn and seemed to be enjoy the game of letting her get just close enough before taking off again.
Bree soon lost count of the number of twists and turns the dog had taken and there was little else she could do, it wasn’t like the creature had a name to call or that it would listen to her if it did. Turning a final corner she collided with….something.
Bree found herself splayed on the ground, looking up a one of the palace gems, holding the puppy who was making quick work of licking her face.
“Is this little one yours?” Said the gem softly, before reaching out a hand to help Bree to her feet.
“I think so, he seems to have other ideas about the matter,” muttered Bree.
“Haha, yes well Fret not sister, for Drun was born last,” said the Gem.
“I...don’t know what that means,” Said Bree, the woman from the market had said something similar before. ”Can I have my dog back?” The gem left and uneasy feeling in the air, like she was waiting for something.
“Soon you will. Your aunt and freedom is waiting for you” said the Gem. “Also, sorry about this, but it is a precaution,”
“What-” Bree there was an exploding pain in the back her head, then her world went black.
Stupid dog. Bump into new gem. Supposedly kidnapped to freedom
“The history lesson is quite fascinating, but I assure you it is far from necessary.” The young prince retorted, following his guest’s speech with a curt gesture with his cup. Taking another drink of the ale, Ehkota eyed Kagan from across the table as if he were attempting to sort something through in his mind.
“While it is foolish to think the death of the king will be anything less than the greatest political upheaval of the dynasty… it would be equally as dishonest to deny that I could wait another century for it to happen. This is not a matter in which I wish to challenge Gaelnesh over which might come as quite a surprise. Contrary to common belief, I don’t actually want to see him dead.” Setting his cup down on the table, Ehkota shifted backward into his chair.
“Any fight between us isn’t likely to end cordially and besides… he is the only family this world has seen fit for me to have.” The pregnant Gem shadowing the prince shifted uncomfortably where she stood, the man’s tone of voice bearing just the slightest hint of malcontent. Inhaling deeply, Ehkota sighed and pushed himself up from the table.
“Perhaps things will make more sense for you if I were to let you see it with your own eyes.”
Ehkota made his way toward the door, pausing only long enough for Kagan to rise from his seat and follow suit. The guard that had granted their entrance followed the group closely from behind, ushering Ehkota’s bride into the center with Kagan’s own. It was becoming increasingly clear that the guard was present less for the prince and more for the woman, though his presence certainly deterred any thoughts of straying too far from the chosen path.
“My bride tells me that congratulations are in order, it is somewhat rare that a Gem would fall pregnant so quickly.” The prince spoke as they walked down the corridor, maintaining a lower volume so that his conversation would not carry to uninvited ears.
“Although I suppose congratulations might be a bit premature, it is afterall a common occurrence for the first child to be lost within the month. Gems are so fragile you see, but one could only hope that yours proves to be the exception. You are, after all, a man in favor with the divine.” Ehkota smirked as the pair led the group along.
As they walked, the surrounding atmosphere was quick to change. Up until this point stone had been the only thing they tread upon, it made up the floors and walls alike. However, as the number of candles increased the available lighting the more decor could be seen. Rooms they passed contained couches and tables with walls covered in paintings of varying styles, the bleak floor standing in stark contrast to the bright woven rugs made by Geminite hands. Every so often a scarcely dressed Gem would dart in and out of view, working girls tending to the royal family’s every need.
Ehkota stopped the group in the middle of the hall, eyes flitting back to the girls before addressing Kagan.
“I think you’ll agree that your… family… should wait for you outside. Gem’s are so easily put to hysterics.” Both his words and tone suggested that regardless of Kagan’s true feelings on the matter, Ehkota was not willing to allow the girls any further on their current journey.
“Don’t worry, Twen will care for them until your return.” He added, before signalling for the Kinner to follow him. Leaving the girls behind with the guard, Ehkota walked a few more paces down the hall to a set of ornate doors.
No warnings were given to his entrance, simply pushing the doors open so that he and Kagan could enter before pushing them shut once more. The room was cast in an eerie twilight, an obscenely large room kept dark, cool, and filled with a thin haze of incense. It took a few moments for the eyes to adjust to the new lighting, new details to the room being revealed bit by bit over time. A grouping of about twelve Gems slowly faded into view, eight of them surrounding a large bed while the other four could be seen resting on tiny cots scattered about the floor.
Every single one of the girls wore simple black dresses, their pale skin draped in scars from head to toe. If one were to look closely the could also see the dark circles surrounding all but lifeless eyes. The four resting were quick to rise from their cots, adjusting to a kneeling position as they recognized the presence of the prince. With their hands behind their backs and their foreheads brushing the ground, the girls greeted their masters with a bow customary to the royal household. It was among the highest formalities for servants and was rarely seen outside of the palace walls, however, their posture was clear enough to be self-explanatory to the guest.
Unlike the girls who had been resting, the eight surrounding the bed outright ignored the commotion behind them; not a single girl flinched or even acknowledged the prince and his companion. Even through the heavily scented air the smell of rotting flesh was apparent within the room.
Approaching the circle revealed the bed’s occupant, the body of what appeared to be a Drakkan… Or what was left of him anyhow. He looked more like a breathing corpse than he did even the most vile of Drakka’s creatures. Two air Gems stood at the head, one whose job was to move air to fill his lungs while the other was to pull the stale air back out. A small hole had been made in the man’s chest to expose a weakly beating heart, only a thin stretch of skin standing between the vital organ and the rest of the room. Stones that had been embedded through the broken ribs were manipulated by another two earth Gems in order to maintain the rhythm in perfect intervals. The next pair of girls were located with one at the head and the other the foot of the bed. Standing at the head of the bed was a girl carefully providing a stream of sugared liquid into the man’s mouth while the other shifted in place. What exactly it was that the second girl was moving, however, was unclear. Fire Gems completed the circle, moving only to shift and reheat stones that were placed on, around, and under the king.
Ehkota remained silent for a few moments to allow the horrendous sight to sink in before he spoke, his tone remaining low so as not to disturb the process.
“May I formally introduce you to Drakka’s greatest warrior, conqueror, and leader… I present to you King Toran.” The young prince’s eyes were fixed on the sight before him, entranced by the decaying corpse that was once his father.
“Or what’s left of him. I don’t suppose you would argue that a little dignity is long overdue. Is it even really considered killing at this point?” Ehkota’s eyes snapped up from the bed as a familiar voice spoke up, one far different from the one he had been expecting.
“Hello, brother.”
Prince: Cool story Bro, but like. Just come see. Good job knocking up your gem, but the baby probably won’t make it. Just leave them outside while I introduce you to the king of the living dead. Oh shit. My brother is here
“You better make me enjoy it. Oh and if it wasn’t clear yet, neither of you whisper even a word about this. Or you’ll learn what the definition of Wrath is.”
She didn’t blame Nadia. How could she? What could the Gem have done? Stopped him? Gone for help?
It was easier to pretend it didn’t happen. That she didn’t...that she wasn’t….
That she didn’t walk down the hall to replace the clothing that she lost. That she didn’t scrub her skin raw to get rid of the feeling of Kieran’s hands on her body.
The fact that she didn’t put on every article of clothing she could, if it meant covering her skin just a little bit more.
That she didn’t lay in bed, covered in blankets despite the ever rising temperature.
That it wasn’t the fear that Kieran would remain behind as well that pulled her from her bed when Keregar called.
---------
“We are going to wander the market. If you see anything you want, clothes or jewels or whatever you like, you tell me,”
Xaelia face tightened in pain as she was helped down from the horse. Her walk was careful, slower than usual. The entire time she chose to remain well with in Keregar’s line of vision. Well out of arm’s reach. But Keregar seemed to be the best defense against his hoard.
The group cut through the crowd on foot very much in the same way as the did on horses. Giving very little head towards a space already being occupied if it was the quickest way to their destination. None of the wares drew any real attention from her. Half heartedly reaching out to take hold of something only to drop it a moment later.
She heard someone talking, but the question had already been finished before Xaelia realised that it was Nadia talking and that her words were directed towards her.
“Uh huh,” Said Xae distractedly, her hands vaguely brushing Nadia’s words away, hoping that he answer was enough to placate her.
But she kept talking.
Xae nodded, and made a sound every once in a while, but her vacant expression made it clear that she wasn’t understanding anything that was being said to her.
A small look of longing flashed across Xaelia’s face as they passed an open tent selling foods of every kind. Meat hissed over a grill and fruits hung from long poles. Her mouth open as though she had worked up to courage to ask her husband for something, only to pause, a look of horror filling her face as she pulled her hand back and closed her mouth. The slightly vacant look returning as they passed it by, entering the areas that Nadia had been speaking of before.
There was a commotion nearby, some of the people who had been shoved passed earlier by Keregar’s caravan seemed to think that they would fare better against the war lord now. One of the thugs took a swing at one of the twins.
The battle caught like fire, spreading through the people in the roads, the merchants, she even saw a fair few who had been minding their own business pointedly run down the block to join in the fighting, unconcerned for sides or reasons.
But all that meant for Xae was that Keregar was distracted. That he was far too busy to see anything his children did. She pulled herself back into a tent with every intention of hiding until the fighting ended, only to back straight into a hulking drakkan.
He was younger than Keregar, perhaps slightly older than Kieran. She let out a small noise of fear. “S-sorry,” She turned, caught between the unfamiliar new drakkan and the fighting going on behind her. “I just.. I-Zeldria?” Her eyes focused on the gem standing near the drakkan she bumped into.
It didn’t matter that she had only met the girl once before. It didn’t matter that they weren’t friends or anything.
She was a familiar face. A familiar face that didn’t know anything that had happen.
She lept, tossing her arms around the girl and hugging her close, probably longer than was wanted or needed.
The rest of the day passed far slower than Bree would have liked. The lateness of the day was marked by the ever growing shadows around the group, the sun already beginning to set by the time they made their way toward their destination. Between the shopping and Kagan’s ridiculous insistence on walking everywhere, the short trip to the Royal Palace swiftly turned into a tedious one.
Fatigue came much quicker to a being that spent very little time near deserts of any kind, each step forward more grueling than the last. Bree’s mouth felt dry and her skin had collected a film of invisible particles of sand that she couldn’t dust off; rubbing her raw with every move she made. As if that weren’t irritating enough for the young girl her stomach ached with hunger and the smaller puppy nipped at her ankles, pouting at the fact that it had been put down soon after leaving the market.
After what felt like months of walking the group finally approached the castle, though the term was one she used lightly. It wasn’t exactly wrong, now that she saw it in the light, though castles back home appeared dainty in comparison to the hulking structure they hiked toward. The Palace seemed unapproachable with its high walls and armed guards posted all over the place, yet that didn’t stop Kagan from marching right up to it anyway.
Much to her surprise, however, Kagan didn’t lead them in through the front doors they had used the night before. Instead the trio turned to move around the side of the building until they reached a secondary door guarded by a single hulking monster of a Drakkan. The scowl the man wore was sharp enough to cut a fly clean in half and for a moment Bree believed that he might just prove it for poking their noses where they didn’t belong. Rather than dealing with them, the guard turned away as if disinterested and opened the door for them to enter through.
Awaiting their arrival was a loosely dressed figure that could have passed for a young man had it not been for the growing bump around her stomach. Her face tightened as she appraised the two standing before her, eyes running them over from head to toe.
“Well that didn’t take long.” The woman said after a moment, eyes locking on to Bree’s midsection. Bree fought the urge to cover her stomach with her arms, opening her mouth to respond.
“And you’re still alive.” She continued on, giving Bree no time to speak as she addressed Adorabella.
“ Twen, arm’s length away.]” The guard barked, reaching out to grab her arm and pull her back in closer to him.
“ The prince is waiting for them in one of the dining rooms, we best not keep him waiting.” He followed up, saying no more as he lead the group along.
“I was beginning to wonder about your directional skills.” Ehkota spoke up as the trio entered the room. His eyes immediately ficked down to the Gems and the small beasts trailing behind them. It would have been an understatement to say that the prince was surprised to see them, especially for what he was being asked to do. Personally he would have preferred them to stay behind. The less who witnessed the unfolding events the safer he would be when his brother found out. Still, Ehkota maintained his nonchalant composure and welcomed the group into the large side room.
“I was not aware that kinning was a family affair.” He raised an eyebrow at the man, nodding his head in the direction of his companions.
Bree’s eyes had to adjust to the relative darkness of the room as there were no windows to allow natural lighting. The only thing keeping the shadows at bay were a few lit sconces and a fireplace off to the side. To say it was eery was selling the vibe short.
“Kagan, you must be famished. Please, join me.” The table in the center of the room was fairly large, certainly large enough for the whole group, however only two chairs had been set… clearly neither were meant for the Gems who tagged along. Bree could barely contain her groan of displeasure as she realized she would very likely be forced to stand for the duration of their meeting. Out of the corner of her eye she watched the guard and the Gem disappear into another room, returning after a few moments with a tray in the girl’s hands.
Ehkota took the seat facing the door motioning for Kagan to take the one opposite his position. The prince’s bride set down a mug filled with some kind of ale before her husband before walking over to place an identical mug before the empty seat. Returning to Ehkota’s side, the girl bowed her head to and settled in to await further instructions.
“History is to be made this night, my friend. Are you prepared to be on the right side of it?” The prince cooed, picking up the mug and taking a drink from it whilst looking expectantly at his guest. Just the mere thought of what was to come sent shivers down his spine, he could taste the victory he long sought after. The look on his brother’s face when he realized his position as next king was no longer safe was all Ehkota needed to make his efforts worth the price.
Bree is hot and wants a bath and something to eat and drink and a nap. Ehkota is ready to kill some shit
TheDoctor
urukhai
