Kestrel's Journals: The Thoughts of Animals (2)

It felt odd standing in the old throne room where so much blood had been spilt in the name of honour and freedom over the blood of arrogance and greed. The constant pressure of being observed while in this dusty and untouched place still persisted from the moment we spotted the prints in the dust. The Captains placed themselves into a loose circle including myself, miss Hope, and Khën. I noticed they glanced around in silent worry telling me that they too felt the unseen eyes upon us. Fleeting mental touches to minds that hide themselves from me bouncing around the upper galleries of this old throne room.

      “Do you sense the presence of unseen eyes in here?” miss Hope asked softly.

      “You have noticed it during your other private meetings here?” I returned easily. A group growl answered me. “May as well ignore the ghosts watching our actions and complete our discussions without holding back.” I continued casually.

      “As you see fit Lord Kestrel.” Ent growled back at me.

      “Best to start with the event just after your departure.” Curd began. I could still hear the growl in the voices of the three Captains and miss Hope while Khën remained calm. “The arrival of Munin heralded the fact that Atlantis learned that the rumours were truthful.” he continued. “It also caused a group of protests regarding the wedding plans.”

      “Most of them claimed it was Lord Kestrel's place to sit next to Her Holiness instead of this lesser half-blood deity.” Rez grumbled with a small chuckle. “But with the release of Her Holiness' missive to the Council claiming it as Odin's will, they stepped down from violently opposing the event.”

      “The wedding came with the coronation of that vile man making us ready to leave the island en mass which was suggested by the populace during the protests.” Ent remarked. “But our duties to Atlantis and watching over Her Holy Highness took precedence to us escaping with the Atlantian people.” he reported.

      “Our departure would leave no one making sure Annianka remains true to Herself.” miss Hope explained harshly.

      “There are still protestors that disagree with Munin being seen as the King of Atlantis but they all support Her Holiness completely as a true queen of Atlantis.” Khën reported. “We will have to deal with them calling for him stepping down with your return to Atlantis.” he continued. “But as he is now seen as the father of the Royal Heir may keep them partially silenced.”

      “The Council will continue stating that they are block from action because of the Holy Missive quoting this as being Odin's Will.” Curd told them. “Even if most seem to support his removal for the betterment of Atlantis and true honour.” he hazarded.

      “You could easily take the throne from Munin without us interfering claiming it as the Will of Atlantis.” Rez added with a dark rumbling chuckle.

      “A situation we and our troops would die for.” Ent admitted. “And the Council Guards would join us in this venture without question.” he continued. The three Captains looked expectantly at me as I stared back in silence. I sighed and slowly shock my head at them dashing their hopes of and easy victory.

      “It was a vain attempt Captains.” Khën stated calmly.

      “They never listen to reason when told to them Khën.” miss Hope agreed.

      “I cannot forsake my duties to the rest of the world to simply sit upon the throne of any single nation.” I told them. “And this freedom give me the chance to act more directly than a throne saddled king.” I added in a whisper.

      “And if the Royal Guards decided to force you upon the throne?” Curd growled at me. I glared back letting my eyes slide to blackness with the twin spinning orbs.

      “Force me and I will remove Atlantis from history permanently.” I answered in a blank cold voice. The growl turned into a hard gulp as he stepped back from me. “You will drop these attempts immediately and never bring it up again!” I ordered in that same cold empty voice. A round of salute from the trio of Captains was my answer. I gave them a stern and stiff nod. “After the marriage and the announcement of Her Holy Highness being with child?”

      “Many of the dissidents have quieted but still exist.” Khën stated. “During the time after the wedding and pregnancy notice, Her Holy Highness seemed to soften and act like Her normal Holy self.” he reported.

      “But it did not last long once the Princess Sara was born.” miss Hope admitted. “The bursts of uncontrolled rage returned and held the same blunt edge shown so far without worsening.” she continued.

      “You might ask Lady Mekiliean about the incident with her losing her eyebrows.” Curd purred. “Your team has been acting as escorts and guides for the new Ambassadors from the human lands to Atlantis.” he explained casually.

      “Considering they are well versed with many of the foreign languages of the outer world, it made sense allowing them to do this during your absence, sir.” Khën remarked.

      “And the outlanders seem to accept them easily even if they are so much taller than they remember them being previously.” Ent chuckled.

      “How many groups of Foreigners do we have on Atlantis of late?” I asked. “And which ones have join us openly?”

      “The Egyptians were the first to finally place a representative upon our shores.” miss Hope replied. “Within the week after your departure, they arrived and requested a place for a representative and Feline Guards calling them the children of Baat.”

      “True to form selecting a Guard group that is linked to their deity of mischief and protection.” I replied. “I do presume they still wished for Atlantis to be the intermediary between them and the other human groups?”

      “Yes.” Curd replied. “Asking the Feline Guards to be present as watchmen over the Atlantian representing them indirectly.” he stated with a purring chuckle. “Made the Greek and Roman very nervous seeing a great humanoid cat glaring down at them.”

      “Which does reveal that both the Greek and Roman have placed representative upon our shores.” Rez grumbled softly. “They truly dislike each other?”

      “They have just went through a very long trying war between them over a woman.” I returned with a deep chuckle. “It has both side very tense in any future dealings they will have while the Roman plot revenge for the Greek's action in Troy." I explained softly. “I see them keeping it off Atlantis as we hold true to not allowing them weapons and handing Guards they can trust to protect them.” I continued easily. “I must believe that the Lupus Guards would give them that peace of mind because of the stories of Romulus and Remus childhood with the she-wolf.” I told Ent directly.

      “Both have requested Lupus Guards to watch over them.” he growled. “My troops are constantly making sure they do not attempt beating each other to death with their bare fists while requesting their own soldiers and weapons to protect themselves properly.” he told me angrily.

      “I will explain to them directly to stand down while on Atlantis or as representative of their people to us.” I replied to him. “They are very easy to deal with once you understand that both are driven purely by pride alone.”

      “We have some that have come from India, Africa, Spain, and from the Celtic regions of the far North.” Rez continued. “Most are very well behaved to a point of seeming absolutely afraid of offending us.” he stated. “Some cannot see the difference between Atlantis and Lemuria expecting physical retribution for any small misstep on their part.”

      “The Royal Guards are not alone at helping to protect the outlanders' representatives.” miss Hope admitted. “Some have stood with Council Guards when presenting themselves to our Royal Throne.” she continued. “Too bad they have mostly only seen the arrogant childishness of Munin lording his position over all of them.”

      “This does make them side with the Council if a conflict occurs between the two powers.” Khën commented drily.

      “Have they not meet the young Princess Sara, Prince Bryan, or Her Holy Highness Annianka directly?” I returned bluntly.

       “No one but Munin of late has the right to visit Princess Sara.” the tigress growled. “Our cousin has been acting as Personal Guard for her but she does need more contact than one lone Guard.”

      “That will be slowly changed.” I remarked softly.

      “Both Munin and the Council seem fully geared to prevent any outside influences in Princess Sara's life.” Curd countered in a matching growl. “Prince Bryan is mostly ignored because his is preoccupied with his studies and his duties to the Guard quadre his is linked too.”

      “I must believe he is going to begin getting angry over being left in the dark soon enough.” I told them. “I see many changes I will have to force upon the man who sits upon the throne.” I said blunter than I wanted to. This gained me a round of deep grumbling chuckles from the predatory animals before me. Khën glanced at me for but a moment with sad eyes. “It will not be easy, but I will do what I can.” I added to him.

      “The Royal Adviser will butt heads with you at every decision as he sides with Munin and belittles all other requests.” the ferret reported. “And Munin only listens to him and his bitch concubine.” he continued blunter still. “Once King Munin impregnated Holy Annianka, he sleeps and resides far away from his wife.”

      “I am assured Her Holy Highness is pleased with that fact.” I remarked toxicly.

      “Over joyed sleeping alone!” miss Hope growled at me. I feigned a look of shame forcing myself to blush boyishly at her comment. “You should have remained even if it would have caused a civil war.” she snapped at me. “She needed you and you were not there for Her!” she nearly roared at me.

      “It could not be helped.” I replied in false sadness. “I believe these documents showing how many outside parties were employed by both the Usurper and the Council of that time to squash any hopes of a Royal House remaining in power.” I stated quieter. A tightly tied bundle of scrolls suddenly appeared in my hands as I held them out to her. “Over two dozen assassination contracts signed by both the Usurper and Council heads in that order.”

       “This proves that our Royals had a right to fear the Council during those dark times.” she stated softly. “But changes nothing with their present fears.”

      “All those agreements are past collection date and no new contracts were ever signed with the new members that now sit upon the Council.” I reported to her. “Letters from the representatives of most of the assassin clans swearing to never accept any such contracts ever again.” I continued easily. “And a list of their members with full descriptions so the Guards can keep them off Atlantis.”

      “I thank you for this small feat during your long absence.” the tigress answered sarcastically.

      “It is not easy gaining such items from those cutthroats.” I returned casually. “Anything else major to report?” I hazarded. “Like why Her Holy Highness Annianka was imprisoned and segregated from everyone including her daughter?” I suggested. I glared at each of the Captains, the Ferret representative, and finally at miss Hope.

      “She scorched the eyebrows off Mekiliean's face while the dear was showing a Norse representative the Royal Towers.” she answered slowly. I stared silently at her. “The representative screamed that Her Holy Highness had gone mad to King Munin who had Her put away for the safety of all Atlantians.”

      “He forced the Council to go along using the screaming Norse as his reasoning to imprison Annianka without actually looking into the facts of the event?” I surmised with a mirthless laugh.

      “Our King has done everything to remove his Queen from any royal showing claiming Her weakened by the pregnancy at first, then constantly nursing the new Princess.” Curd stated bluntly.

      “Does not help when She has been talking about a winged Lupus Guard that has never existed being Princess Sara's original guardian.” miss Hope let slip.

      “Any other oddities in Her Holy Highness that may suggest keeping Her away from general population?” I asked tensely.

      “Violent verbal outburst toward what I assume to be the Heartstone of Atlantis.” Hope reported.

      “Pelting three cadres of Guards as they practised by the Royal Towers with boulders.” Curd stated.

      “Cursed at a group of harmless insects that they will never eat Her precious flowers before freezing the ground they sat upon.” Ent remarked.

      “Which was nearly a square acre of farmland prior to Her outburst.” Rez corrected.

      “And She often speaks as if She is the Heartstone itself claiming Atlantis to be part of Her Royal body.” Khën concluded. I glanced from one to the other seeing if they were simply making a rotting farce at my expense because of my long absence. I meet serious and scared eyes.

     “I see.” were the only word that escaped me. My mind cringed at this change wrought in just over ten years in Annianka's personality. I barely listen to the rest of their reports before telling them I needed time to meditate upon these events more deeply. I portalled away from the abandoned Throne Room directly to my bedroom on Atlantis. I sat at my writing desk staring blindly at the blank sheet before me. I barely heard the rushed footfalls of Sert and Meli as the rushed to my door.

      “It says he is here!” Meli shrieked at my door. It was followed by the tentative soft knock of Sert's knuckles against my door. M mind snapped to attention as I growled deep in my throat. Items flew around my room as my anger at how badly things turned during my absence. I let the door flip open for them to see my back now covered by a wet looking deep blood red half cloak. With barely a thought, I slammed the door hard hearing the privacy latch fall in place.

      “Was that truly him?” I heard Sert whisper. “Something truly unhealthy seemed to be coming from him tonight.” he added even quieter.

      “Give him a night of sleep so he may recover his strength from being so long away from home.” Meli chided him. Once more I was being seen as an Atlantian finally returning home while all I saw was the bloodiest ending for Atlantis if nothing was changed. I would sit and play nice with them in the morning to discover what the Captains did not reveal to me.

      “Maybe I did stay away too long to save this place now.” I reprimanded myself. I sighed deeply before moving to the small feather bed I had missed the most during my absence. Sleep took me quickly and hard as my body ached from using my abilities. Another sign that the darkness was closing in and the thousand millenniums of life had finally caught up with me heralding my possible and permanent ending.