I
was awoken early hearing all three of them bustling like mad around
the home forcing me to take to the trees overlooking the dining room.
What I had caught from them and the machinations set in the foyer,
Kestrel was home. I had not even attempted looking in on him last
night for fear of getting caught before given a chance to prove
myself. I waited impatiently looking and hearing the words that a
meal was being brought from the Royal Kitchen this morning for Lord
Kestrel's return. My mouth watered considering how little I had been
eating of late while hiding here.
Lord
Kestrel arrived in a cloud of wanting to be at work immediately as
the meal from the Royal Kitchens arrived being carried by the new
head chef and two helpers. I found it hard to believe that one of the
most gifted technological engineer trainees was a kitchen helper but
this man genius caused him to have moments of social ineptitude. This
and the fits of his mind being overloaded with ideas causing him to
lose himself in the thoughts to the point of walking without
realizing it into a dolphin pool. I wanted to head out hearing some
of these stories before coming to Lord Kestrel's estate to be his
guardian angel but the call to Lord Kestrel's side was older and much
louder in my heart.
I
listen only half hearted to the conversation about Her Holy Highness
being imprisoned. The words that it was the bastard Munin's fault
made me ready to perform regicide for Her Holiness and all of
Atlantis. I held back bursting in when the lie of the Council's
family reaction was stated by chef Chichi. From what I had
discovered. The supposed ousted Council Guards had been ordered to
disassociate with the Council to offer their protection to the
foreigners as spies for the Council members they served like faithful
hounds. I would list these small lies being placed in Lord Kestrel's
view as part of my duties to protect this most noble citizens to
Atlantis. It was true that the Egyptians, Romans, and Greeks had
requested specific Guards from the Royal Feral Guards because of
their own belief systems but a handful of collared Council Guards had
insinuated their embassies as spies for the Council.
The
truth as how forcibly the Greek and Romans harassed the Council with
requests was downplayed to Lord Kestrel. I found it simplistic how he
let it slide to forced them forward to the next item. I
just feared his reaction as he learned the truth that trades was
failing outside of Atlantis linking to all the humans who fought to
be isolated while pushing their beliefs on other lands. My respect
for the head chef Chilörąn grew as I heard his analytical though
simple views of how the outer world clashed over past bloodshed. The
fact that the Atlantian in the room missed what the Royal Chef stated
directly to them. The truth that human paranoia had them seeing every
other race as enemies was hard to accept but Meli redeemed them all
with her thoughts. I liked sipping the cold remains of tea as I sat
watching over them. It calmed me to no end as I sat hearing them
discuss a way that was so clear and simple for them to bring the
humans, non-humans, and Atlantians together without any chance of
fear or pride interfering with their thoughts.
I
feared my laughter would be noticed but Chichi's snicker hide my
outright mirth at them getting caught in missing information. I felt
pity for them wanting to keep Princess Sara a secret but word was
that Lord Kestrel had meet Her after giving Her a clear path to visit
Her Holy Mother. I listen to them trying to explain and their
illogical conclusion about Lord Kestrel's departure. Then shock took
me as he tried pushing away his duties to just eat. He had been
wolfing down food as if he was a starving man finally able to feast.
Even the little Royal Chef agreed that this was not normal.
“It
has been too long since I have had such a truly good meal.” He
nearly growled as explanation. I could smell from my spot the under
cooked meat preferred by predators; the undercooked vegetables and
more specifically prepared food for his feral nature than what I
smelt from the other plates. I froze on the branch realizing what
Lady Mekiliean missed. He had starved himself to be able to return to
us as quickly as he did. His lecture of soul rebirth meant nothing to
me since I knew this soul was ageless like Lord Kestrel smelt to me.
I
felt as if my soul froze as I
heard the Royal Chef Chilörąn's progenitors. “The Dragon-God of
luck and prosperity, and a willing Priestess of his faith in Chin.”
he answered. I felt Lord Kestrel's power surging in the room but not
touch me in my tree perch.
“Watch
your words child!” Kestrel
growled. “It is too early
for them to accept such stories.” he
remarked quickly.
“The
minor deity of the Chin Pantheons and a priestess.” he answered to
them. “Nothing truly special to me but my gift at cooking which
grows even stronger with each reincarnation.” he explained to them.
His boyish smile hiding the
fact he had spoken twice of his birth to them
“But I am a good second set of ears and hands to assist all of
you.” he added still smiling. I
felt no distrust as whispers escaped Lord Kestrel toward this
definitely inhuman cook. This chef smelt of dragon stronger than even
the spirit dragons making me fear and admire this little
unassuming man. Then Sertian spoke.
“We
will see what a chef can do to help us.” Sert returned caustically
to my ears. I nearly pounced into the room to attack him over his
childish comment but Kestrel's word held my actions. I noticed Meli
heard the words making me believe she heard the retort and agreed
without speaking.
“Word
from the Fairies will show you what I speak of.”Lord Kestrel
whispered. I was off before he could say more. This was the proving
chance I needed since his gift saw what was to come. The Fairies
would make a move that threatened Atlantis directly. It is what I
gleamed from his final words before I rushed off. How truthful his
comments was left to be discovered but it did turn valid as the
rumours of a Fairy tribe going rogue without purpose was being talked
about in the Fairy district of the mighty city.
“They
seem to want to simply be left alone and not be forced to follow the
rules upon all the other mounds,” a fairy stated in a whispered. No
time had passed it seemed from the moment I left the estate to when I
was here listening to a grouping of higher ranked Fairies speaking.
“If they persist, the rest of the Fairies will force an attack upon
them.” he added so quietly that I nearly missed it.
“We
face something that has never taken place in the Fairy ranks before.”
the other retorted. “How can we know that Atlantis will react
negatively to this isolation ideology they are pushing forth?”
“Because
we will harass the Council until they cave.” a female fairy stated.
“They will do exactly as we force them to do removing this problem
from our back.” she
continued forcibly. “And nothing will stop us from doing this
wonderful act including Atlantis that will submit as our assassins in
this matter.” she concluded.
“As
long as word from their supporters in the area doesn't reach them.”
one of the male cautioned.
“We
will keep those documents hidden away from the prying eyes of
Atlantis.” she remarked bluntly. As she spoke, the documents were
in my hands ready to be used. I sensed the maleficence in this fairy
that was not fully shared by her companions. I could feel they wanted
a way out of this destructive path. It made them hold their tongues
as they noticed the documents they spoke of having vanished. “I
leave it in the hands of Odin to deal with.” one muttered under his
breath. I smirked even if I did not feel the mirth I showed. This was
a serious matter than Lord Kestrel need to know and be prepared to
counter these action with my indirect help.
I
attempted
dropping
the letters upon his desk with a copy in the hands of a lesser Fairy
princess that seemed trustworthy was
a failure. I hoped that his
heart saw truthfully or the information would
keep Lord Kestrel from making them pay for the injustice they tried
to place upon Atlantis shoulders. But
I was too slow. Lord Kestrel departed his estate faster than I
believe was possible with his Guard and Medic. I barely had time to
drop a second copy on the desk of Burdish before rushing to board the
Herald secretly to accompany them. I thanked Odin's brood for the
slow walk they had taken to reach the Herald that day. It seemed too
easy for me to remain hidden during the voyage and follow Kestrel as
he marched upon the Fairy Mound. My heart stopped as I saw first hand
the immenseness of his power that surpassed the gods themselves.
I
could not even fathom how Lord Kestrel had
already been
placed in the middle of this mess with
the furor of a beast to follow his orders.
He rose one hand and the
Mound's protective shielding shattered against Lord Kestrel's anger
and impossible strength of
will. I followed unseen and
unknown watching in
horror as fairies shatter
under Kestrel's balled fist. I smelt his anger and indifference
toward what could only be seen as lesser being to someone as evolved
and honourable as Lord Kestrel. Sert
and Meli did what they could in a vain attempt to save the lives
snuffed by Lord Kestrel's beast-god rage.
He
faced off alone with the headman of the Fairy tribe with but me as
witness. I felt and saw his overwhelming rage at a group of fairies
thinking they mattered as he heard the words. I suddenly choked in
the room seeing him not only hold back but concede to the Fairy
leader while realizing that Atlantis was being played in this dark
matter. I felt like I was a pawn in all this but my information was
in Lord Kestrel's hands and I hopped he took heed of my words upon
his return to see what backed this Mound that tried detaching
themselves from the world. I felt it as well as saw it in his body
motions as he sudden pulled back from the fairy. This was the other
side of the coin.
“We
must not allow them to turn Atlantis and the World against us while
all we do is to protect ourselves from them?” the mayor screamed at
Kestrel. He had not moved since entering the place.
“I
will do what I can to protect you but I need that information you
hold about this Fairy Conspiracy,” he returned bluntly. I felt his
anger being redirected in his spirit as he looked at this man
pleading for his people to survive against the hordes of fairies
waiting to be ordered to exterminate a traitor in their midst.
Felt
myself shuddering as I listen to the words. This was more of the
rumours that a group in the Fairies, which including the bitch I had
seen, wanting to remove the power in the hands of Atlantis when it
came to the Fairy nation as a whole. The fact of using it as a weapon
against the Fairies that decided to rebel with good reason against
the Fairy Royal house. I cursed my blindness of seeing all fairies as
the same while not seeing the honour in some that lacked in others. I
cried tears over those that Kestrel murdered as he entered this
village. It was all I could do for the fallen fairies of
this clan that had tried to escape the corruption that infected the
other fairies.
I
gulped and retreated seeing if I could help put together those
Kestrel had shattered in his anger of being sent to perform such a
fruitless
act. I fared no better than my
companions, Sert and Meli, which made me retreat in fear-filled
depression back to the Herald to hide and cry at the dark events that
took place that day. He sat in
silence brooding in his cabin that I stowed away in secret.
“I
will do anything I must even destroying all the non-human races in my
duties force me to protect.” he stated to himself. He returned to
his silent brooding, snapping angrily at any that disturbed his
solitude during our return trip. I remained quietly hidden away even
if I sensed he knew I was present. His only other words he whispered
were uttered on the last day of this sea voyage. “Leaving them with
nothing but their adaptability to find their own path in solitude.”
he whispered to himself. “You proclaimed it so my Masters, so must
it be done.” he added. He left the cabin at that point and I did
not need to follow to know he would be perched on the prow of the
ship as was normal for a kestrel.
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