GreivousKhan — Roleplayer Guild

Chapter 3- Twin Flames
Date: 5th of Seliel, Turn 698
Location: Phoenix Palace

“Machinations? What in Kammeth's name is a machination?” -Sir Alfric

Fate was a cruel mistress, an inescapable inevitability that trapped every man and women in it's cold embrace sooner or later. One could not run form it, or hide, and though any could try to pull against the harsh leash it coiled about their throats, there was found little give to be had. Fate had decided for Agrippa Paragon, that he should be orphaned, and lose a brother he dearly loved as well. At least he could still give the boy moments like this, though rare they were. Agrippa stood a few feet away, wide eyed, as he stared at the creature before him. Smiling with ease, Shamgar placed a reassuring hand on the young kings shoulder.

“Go ahead,” He said in a high whisper. “You need not be afraid.

Agrippa nodded, and walked forward. The bird; a dire hawk of mighty proportions and regal beauty, crouched in its pen, head turning back and forth as it regarded the young boy. Agrippa touched the feathers of its neck, quickly pulling away after a sudden movement for the hawk. He gingerly returned to slowly petting the creature. To the boys utter amazement, the creature moved slightly against the hand, accepting the touch. Agrippa smiled back proudly to Shamgar, who smiled in turn with an approving nod.

“What's his name?” He asked in a high whisper, as if speaking too loudly might shatter the moment.

“Her; and it she is known as Sliverwind.”

“Silverwind,” Agrippa repeated, more to himself as he stared, enthralled, at the great raptor before him.

“Just so,” Shamgar nodded again. “A dire hawk is a proud creature Agrippa, they take only one master in their life, choosing them when young. The masters within the Skysentinel know all too well that the hawk chooses their master, never the other way around. And serve them well they do, for even in the death of a rider, a dire hawk will never leave their masters side.”

“Did father have his own?”

“Oh yes, Bloodrain, one of the most impressive of the great hawks who remained to us.”

“I miss him.” Agrippa said in a quiet voice.

“Yes,” Shamgar answered with a sad smile. “That we both do. He is with Kammeth now, he looks down upon us even know. His strength will always be with you when you need it most.”

They remained quite for a time as Agrippa cherished this brief respite from the near endless studies and attention. After a time he said. “Will I ever be as great a rider as father, uncle Shamgar?”

“I know you will, Agrippa, just as your father, perhaps more.”

There was anther pause, and Agrippa almost whispered. “Will I ever be as great a king?” He said, looking back.

“I have no doubt young Lord, you will be a great king.”

“How can you know?”

“Because I have seen it, now come I have indulged you long enough here, but we shall return soon I promise.”

Agrippa sighed, and jumped from the stool he had been standing on. The day he knew, would be another dull affair. He had never wanted to be king, before the day of his brothers death, he had not even known what that really meant. He was still not sure he did even now.

Date: 77th of Zieliah

Asura stalked through the dark halls of the Palace, past guards with hooded visors, maids, and servants dashing about with hurried steps as if they were rats dodging a roaming cat. He ascended the staircase- an nearly avoided running into a young servant girl- who hastily apologized before running off again. The Palace had been a buzz of activity more then usual of late. It had no doubt something to do with the intrusion several days passed. So far the High Council had been hush with details, but the rumor abounded that the Scorpions had struck again. If that was the case, as it likely was, Asura needed to know more.

It would seem Kenten had failed in his part of bringing Asura's claim to the other lords. It was an unfortunate outcome but one that he would not let slow his ambitions in the slightest. He needed to find out who the major players were in the upcoming days. Thankfully, he had more reliable means at his disposal. He arrived at his chambers door, and quickly entered before locking it securely behind him. His chamber was a fairly modest bedroom with a single bed, a desk at the fair end bellow the bared window- which marked the only one present in the room. Along the wall to his immediate right was a large dresser, and a single chest was positioned on the other side of the room opposite the door.

It was this chest he quickly walked to after locking the door, and stopped over before fumbling with the lock. In a moment more he was able to open it, revealing the contents. At a glance it looked like nothing of interest resided within, a few folded pieces of clothing. Asura carefully removed bundles of clothing until the bar bottom of the chest was open. He neatly piled the removed garments of the chest on the floorboard beside the chest and inspected the chests floor. Running ruined fingers across the surface until he found what he was looking for. He carefully removed a now revealed section of the chest bottom half- a false bottom as it were.

He lifted it open and retrieved the single bundle within- an object wrapped in pure Aglil silk. He closed the chest again and walked to his desk before sitting down and unwrapping the contents. As he removed the cloth a faint glimmer of luminescent golden light shun from a round gem like stone.

Having freed the sightstone, he placed it gingerly upon his hardwood desk. With a wave of a hand, and using the words he had been instructed to use, he mouthed a simple spell. There was a several heartbeats of silence that followed, where in which Asura had begun to think he had done wrong. Another failure to account for. Soon however, the stone pulsed before a faint shadow seemed to appear within the gems heart.

“Asura Sky,” came the voice, as if tasting the words for the first time.

“Shadow,”

“Would I be right to suspect your attempts for legitimization have been so far been unrealized?”

Asura sighed. “You would know all to well, as I am sure your spies have kept you well informed.” He bit a nail nervously in thought for a moment before finally adding, “Kenten failed in even bringing up the topic during the Summit, the Lords remain ignorant.”

The voice within the stone was silent for a time, “That is unfortunate. Still, not a complete loss, we did not expect Shamgar to agree in any case. The recognition would have been a weapon in and of itself, but now we still have anonymity- and that is a weapon that can be just as deadly or more in the right hands.”

“How will we proceed?”

“For now you must watch and wait, remain my eyes in the Palace. In light of that, I hope you have something else of import then your failed attempt at kingship.”

Asura chewed his lower lip. “There is something else. It would seem another group of assassins infiltrated the Palace, at least one of them might have been captured. So is the talk among the guards.”

The voice within the gem said nothing in response.

“Though I wonder,” Asura continued after a moment of silence. “Who could have hired this particular hit. Surely not those who took the crown, they would have little need to strike again so soon.”

“Indeed, there was whispers in the winds. I was not certain until now.”

Asura inhaled, in slight frustration. He never expected to get much information from his mystery 'benefactor.' He never even gave his true name, only ever referring to himself as the 'Shadow,' and his those in his employ as Whispers. Still, what information he was willing to share had always been beneficial, as well as accurate, but Asura knew enough to know this 'Shadow' always knew more then he let on.

“There are few I can think of that would benefit from Shamgar's death. Too many in fact, but few who would be so bold to strike against him in such a manner.”

“Of course, but one name emerges from all the rest. His is an ambition that has been interesting to watch. One we might even use to our advantage.”

“And this would be?”

“Why, James Conrad of course, and it would seem your friend Lord Kenten has thrown in with him as well.”

“That is news,”

“Aye, whispers speak of a rebellion, and such conflict could benefit your ambition. If you act quickly that is.”

“What do you mean?”

“As you know, Royal Houseblades march now to arrest James Conrad and most of his kinsmen. With the assassin in chains, it is only a matter of time before they learn who sent him.”

“By which time James will already be in the Capital. Ending his rebellion before it ever begins.”

“A most troubling situation for the Conrads. But such gives opportunity.” The voice on the other end took a darker tone as he continued. “Send word by messenger bird, a spell bound twitter should deliver the news in warning quick enough before the Houseblades arrive in Stone Reach. Where he even now resides.”

“Warn him off? Too what end?”

“He will be, thus, in your debt, once more, he will trust you. That is the most important part of all. Warn Conrad, and be sure to include the capture of the assassin, embellish if you must- but he need not know how you learned of all this of course. From then on he will have no choice but to play his hand, thus rising his banners in rebellion. All the while you shall be his confident here in the Capital.”

Asura nodded, seeing now the benefits, and a smile creased the corners of his mouth. “I understand.”

“Good, contact me again when you learn anything of the assassin captured.” With that the darkness within the gem slowly faded. Asura wrapped the sightstone and returned it to it's hiding place. Before long he had returned to his desk, first he needed to compose his letter. Then find a twitter, the damned birds were rare and expensive, but Asura had his connections. The coming events in the realm were about to get very interesting.

Chapter 2 Sum [+]

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