Word
spread much faster than even the full mind of Genin could realize was
possible. Many dozen procurers of goods upon Atlantis gathered
pounding at the doors of Lord Kestrel's estate. Meli answered the
door as the pounding increased in intensity to be besieged with inquiries of when Lord Kestrel would be free now that he had returned
to Atlantis. The sound of the porcelain cup shattering on the floor
released from Meli's numbed grip drew Sert's and Cole's immediate
attention to the foyer now filling with procurers all speaking at
once. The men quickly shoved their way through the moving crowd to
stand at Meli's sides protectively.
“What
has caused this sudden chaos in our foyer?” Sert called out over
the din. He glanced back to find Meli pale faced, wide eyed, jaw
dangling, and unmoving in the middle of this crowd in complete
silence. “Meli?”
“When
do you expect Lord Kestrel to return here?” was shouted in the
crowd. Sert moved at the man that had spoken while Cole scanned the
crowd closer realizing they were all procurers that Kestrel dealt
with regularly before his sudden departure and long absence.
“It
should be soon since he was seen at Her Holy Highness' chamber to
free Her from Council oppression.” another hollered back. Cole had
him by the collar of his flowing robe as his last word escaped his
lips.
“What
do you mean?” Cole growled in the man's face. He lifted him forcing
the procurer to be standing on the tips of his toes before him. “Lord
Kestrel was seen by the Holy Queen's Chambers?” he yelled. His nose
nearly touched the other man's nose as he held him with his toes
barely touching the floor. Sert had grappled the other speaker by the
shoulders holding him firmly in place in front of him.
“When
was he spotted?” he screamed at the man. After an hour, they
escorted the lot of them out of their home barring the door at their
backs for privacy from the procurers. Meli still stood like a quartz
coloured statue in the middle of the foyer unresponsive. “He must
have returned on the Herald that was to dock this morning.” Sert
commented.
“He
learned of Annianka's predicament and rushed to Her side.” Cole
surmised.
“But
none of them reported seeing him on the streets between the harbour
and Annianka's tower.” Sert retorted. “We could use your help
here Meli.” he stated loudly. She remained silently frozen. He
moved closer to her raising a hand to her cheek. “I am sorry
Mekiliean.” he muttered to her. He pinched her cheek hard between
his index and thumb.
“Sert!”
she howled angrily in pain. She lashed out with a clenched fist
connecting solidly with Sert's jaw. The thunderous crack of the
impact had Cole jumping back showing true fear at Meli's prowess at
fist fighting. Sert dropped to his knees holding the side of his face
in pain. “He has returned!” she screamed suddenly.
“Without
sending us word.” Sert reminded her. He still nursed his jaw with
one hand as he slowly forced himself back to his feet. “Try hitting
Kestrel with that stone fist during the next training session.” he
continued with a small laugh.
“If
you two are done playing,” Cole began in serious tones, “we
should begin searching for him.”
“Agreed!”
Sert interjected.
“But
how will we find him since he appears to be able to move without
being seen now.” Cole remarked annoyed.
“Simply
using the Atlantian portalling because of his magical abilities.”
Meli retorted impishly. “We could track his movements using the
energy network since his energy signature is unique.” she informed
them. She moved quickly to the devices that monitored fluctuations in
the magical network that covered Atlantis fully. “We have a traces
of his heightened energy moving from the harbour to the Holy
Highness' tower prison.” she stated to them. “He should still be
there unless he physically walked away from that location.” she
added quickly.
“Let
us go meet him there immediately.” Sert exclaimed.
“Agreed!”
both Cole and Meli interjected back in unison. A pair of feline eyes
watched them file out pushing the procurers back from their door to
give them a chance to escape. The cat moved to peek from the upper
windows watching the crowd follow them away. Young Redpath waited
patiently sensing that eventually Lord Kestrel would be home once
more.
* * *
Sert
and Meli were received warmly by the Royal Guards entrenched in the
halls of Her Holy Highness' tower but Cole was blatantly ignored.
While the two not linked to the Council were allowed to enter the
area unopposed but Cole was forced to prowl on the outside of the
tower. He took it upon himself to question and move the Council
Guards into a circle clear of the tower itself. He hoped it would
prove his acceptance of this being the Royal Guards' territory.
“We
cannot allow you to go further than this cross way.” one of the
tigers told them. “Princess Sara is visiting with Her Holy Mother.”
he continued softly. “Best to give them time in private.” he
added quickly but quietly.
“But
Lord Kestrel is not with Her Holy Highness and Princess Sara?” Meli
asked quickly and loudly. Sert's attempt to hush her gained him a
hard elbow to the ribs.
“Her
Holy Hand is in a conference with the Captains and the Holy Highness'
Guardian, Lady Hope.” one of the nearby Ferret Guards remarked.
“His duties toward Her Holy Highness must take precedence over
greeting his team.” she added quickly.
“Please
return to Lord Kestrel's residence and wait patiently for him to
return home.” the tiger suggested.
“It
would be dishonourable for him to not have his personal guard at his
side.” Sert protested.
“With
three Captains and Lady Hope, I see him perfectly secured Sir
Sertian.” the tiger returned calmly.
“Khën,
the representative of the Ferret Guards is also at his side.” the
female ferret reported.
“Sertian
would feel better if he was personally present also.” Meli stated.
“He takes his duties to Lord Kestrel very seriously.” she
explained. “I would wish to see him to verify his health since he
has been away from Atlantis longer than most normally would attempt.”
she continued. “He may have suffered from the damages of age
without the benefits of our Atlantian healing net.” she told them.
“He
is in private consultation with the Captains and Lady Hope regarding
the events during his absence.” the tiger repeated. “Nothing can be
done to disturb them during this meeting and no harm will come to
him.” he stated more forcibly. “Please go home or take a post
soldier to keep this hall under control.” he added pointedly. Sert
saluted him before taking Meli's arm and forcibly pulling her away
from the hall.
“What
now?” Meli whispered as they exited the tower.
“We
look around since from his words Kestrel never left the tower.”
Sert replied. “The safest place for them to meet in private
securely would be where multiple Guards are in place.” he explained
slowly.
“With
Ferals crawling inside and the Council Guards keeping the outside
locked down makes it the best place to meet in my eyes also.” Cole
commented. He was next to them before they noticed his presence. “And
a safe place for us to discuss openly to see what they let slide.”
he added.
“What
do they have to say?” Sert asked bluntly.
“Two
Council Guards attempted to stand against Lord Kestrel's anger to be
turned into corpses.” he reported. “He tossed them through a
solid wall to let them plummet nearly a thousand feet down.” he
continued. “And the rumours have him doing so to over twenty Guards
in his zeal to free Her Holy Highness.”
“That
does sound normal with how rumours grow.” Meli returned. “But Her
Holy Highness is still in Her prison cell.” she continued.
“At
least Princess Sara has the chance to visit her mother.” Sert said
softly.
“What
else have either of you discovered?” Cole asked.
“Nothing
other than being told to return home and wait for his return there.”
Sert answered.
“Or
we continue floating around here waiting for him to reappear?” Meli
suggested.
“Sert
or myself can do so by playing assistant to the respective Guards.”
Cole admitted. “But you would be out of place here more or less.”
he added slowly.
“You
could return home in case we miss his departure or if he portals to a
new location.” Sert suggested.
“Why
do our thoughts seem much clearer now that Kestrel has returned?”
Cole commented. The other two shrugged their lack of answer to Cole's
remark. “We may have to ask Lord Kestrel about this but I see a
secondary problem coming from the Council over the two dead Guards.”
he continued softly. “I will not be returning home tonight until I
have our friends in the Council agreeing to the Guards having
overstepped their bounds ending with their disciplining by the Right
Hand of Her Holy Highness.”
“And
with luck, we can be breaking fast with Lord Kestrel in the morning
all together.” Meli replied.
* * *
The
black furred feline prowled around the foyer in silent contemplation
of the machine that hummed to his heightened hearing. He stared in
silence trying to understand how it worked so he too could follow the
movement of Lord Kestrel. He wanted to find a way to get ahead of him
and prove himself quickly to him opening his proper place at Lord
Kestrel's side as Guardian with Sir Sertian.
“It
cannot be that complicated.” he told himself. Only small clawed
hand reached out to collect a small note book by the machine. He
slowly read through it as he glanced from time to time at the machine
learning how to read the messages it revealed. “If I am
understanding right, he is at the Royal Tower of Her Holy Highness.”
he mused out loud. “But I think he's moved to the abandoned
sections even if it sounds crazy to me.” he continued softly. “That
place is haunted and no one that enters stays sane.”
* * *
“Still
no word?” Sert asked. He came across Cole during one of the patrol
check outside for the Royal Guards.
“Nothing.”
Cole returned quickly. “But so far the rest of the Council Guards
all see the deaths as stupidity on the part of the two hotheads on
duty.” he continued. “And word from Burdish agrees that the
Council blames them for their deaths without seeing it as Lord
Kestrel's misdeed.”
“Minor
good news to us, but will it hold after this mess is over with?”
Sert remarked.
“Burnish
has already drafted the edict to make it so and forcing it through
the Council as we stand here waiting for Lord Kestrel to reappear.”
Cole answered with a cold sneer. “Sometimes underhanded
strong-armed tactics do work best for Atlantis.” he remarked
coldly. “Anything to help Lord Kestrel protect us is the least we
can do, correct Sparrow Hawk?”
“It
is a show of honour that can never be removed from us, Viper.” Sert
returned. “I am assured that Meli will be returning soon with tea
for the troops from the Royal Kitchen.” he stated softer. “You do
know how she worries about all of us.” Cole chuckled and patted him
on his back.
“We
returned to our watch and wait for word.” Cole replied softly. Sert
nodded back before they parted company.
* * *
“Also
make sure to send word to the kitchen of the Council's Garrisons to
have food and drink brought for their troops on duty.” Meli stated
to Chilörąn.
“Yes,
mam.” Chichi replied. “Is it true that Lord Kestrel has
returned?” he asked with a half smile.
“Yes,
but he is in a private council with the Royal Guard Captains.” she
answered.
“I
will make sure to have a meal sent to his estate for him and his
people in thanks for his prompt actions upon his return.” Chichi
stated with a deep bow to her. “I will make sure to have a full
course morning meal for all of Lord Kestrel's house.”
“You
believe it will take that long for him to return to us?” she nearly
shrieked at him.
“Much
must be discussed regarding his long absence from Atlantian shores.”
he returned easily. “And much must be discussed in the morning with
him.” he continued softly. “I will send food and drink to the
Royal Guards entrenched peacefully with their Council counterparts.”
he concluded with another quick bow to her. He rushed away before she
could ask any more of him. Within his mind, he was already discussing
indirectly with his Brother and making arrangement for food to be
brought to a place for the Captains to have food after their meeting
was concluded.
